by Jennifer Shakeel
If you are anything like me, this is probably the hardest trimester of pregnancy to get through. I say this for a couple of reasons, it is so close to the time that your baby is going to be born that you just can’t stand it. You want to hold him or her, hear the cooing, see the perfect little fingers and toes. I can tell you that this excitement does not go away even when this is your third child.
The second reason I think this is the hardest trimester to get through is because by now, you are feeling pregnant. The aches, the restless nights, this is when you are going to put on the bulk of your weight and frankly, you are just tired of being pregnant. That is where I am at right now, counting down the days. To help, I am going to know tell you what you can expect with your growing baby this trimester and the changes in your body.
Month 7
By now you are feeling the movements of that little acrobat inside you. The movements are going to range from bucking kicks and a flurry of smaller movements. I can tell you from experience that each baby is different. My first child was a wild acrobat that kicked like crazy. My second child really didn’t kick, but stretched all the time. These are different feelings I tell you. It was always fun to watch my second child’s head push up or his feet as he stretched.
More on Welcome to your Third Trimester of Pregnancy!
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by Jennifer Shakeel
While I truly hate to burst the bubble that contractions only happen during labor, they can actually start weeks even months before you actually arrive to that magical day when you baby decides to enter the world. Depending on which pregnancy this is for you and how far along you are will depend on when you actually notice the contractions. One thing that you will notice for sure is the pain and discomfort that they cause the closer you get to special day.
For example, I have been having contractions for the last month. First they were just annoying more then anything, they had little to no consistency to them so they were nothing to be alarmed about. They would come and go and drinking a big glass of cold water helped to calm them down and stop them for awhile. Take note of this, if you want to stop the annoying contractions start hydrating yourself. Many times we don’t realize that we are dehydrated and that alone can cause contractions. More on Contractions, Contractions!! Natural Pain Relief Options
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by Patricia Hughes
The use of vacuum extraction or forceps occurs in about one in ten deliveries. These instruments are used in situations where the baby is not in the right position and the heart rate is showing signs of distress. It is also used at times when the mother is exhausted and unable to push the baby out. Of the two methods, vacuum extraction has grown to be far more common than forceps in most hospitals.
Several factors influence whether forceps or vacuum extraction will be used in any given situation. One factor is the skill and comfort level of the doctor. Some are just better at using one over the other. If everything else is equal, the doctor will use the method he is most comfortable with. Since the skill of the doctor is important in reducing the risk of injury, this is an important factor. More on Understanding the Use of Forceps or Vacuum Extraction
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During your first prenatal visit, your health care provider will take blood samples. Several things will be tested, including your blood type. The reason this is done is to check for the presence or lack of Rh factor in the blood. This is important because if your baby has Rh factor in his blood and you do not, this could cause problems in later pregnancies.Filed under Health, Pregnancy Tests by
If you are trying to conceive, the first thing you need to learn is how to recognize your fertile time of month. This will help you conceive quicker than leaving it entirely to chance. There are only a few days of optimal fertility each month and determining which your most fertile days are increases the likelihood of conception.
Determining the date of ovulation isn’t always easy. There is a common myth that says ovulation occurs 14 days after the beginning of the cycle. This is not accurate. Actually, ovulation occurs 14 days before the beginning of the next cycle. In theory, if you had an extremely regular 28 day cycle, day 14 should be ovulation day.
However, many women don’t have a cycle this regular. In some cases, the exact length can vary by a couple days from cycle to cycle. This would make determining the date of ovulation more difficult. Fortunately, there are some common changes that occur in the days leading up to ovulation. You can observe these signs in your body to help predict ovulation. More on How to Recognize the Signs of Fertility
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by Jennifer Shakeel
You just found out you are pregnant, and now you are wondering whether or not your are carrying twins. Not that most women wonder this, the curiosity or fear is usually sparked by comments such as, “Wow! Are you sure you’re not carrying twins, you seem big for how pregnant you are.” While it is important to refrain from slapping this innocent person upside the head from making such a comment, there are a number of indicators that you might experience physically that could give you an inkling as to whether or not the bundle of joy is going to be a double whammy. With that said, here are some of the first signs of twin pregnancy.
The Weight Factor During Pregnancy
Obviously the first thing to consider is weight gain, take for granted that is what sparks the comments to begin with. When you are pregnant there is a certain amount of weight your doctors expect you to gain during your pregnancy, typically that is 20 to 25 pounds. Most of that weight will come in the last trimester. However if you are carrying twins, then by the time you are in your second trimester you will already be at about 20 pounds with an entire trimester to go. More on Signs of a Twin Pregnancy
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Approximately 75 percent of all pregnant women experience some swelling during pregnancy. For the majority of these women, this is mild edema. The swelling generally occurs in the extremities, such as the feet, legs and hands. Swelling in the face can occur as well. this mild edema is most common in the third trimester.
