Let me start by saying that some activities you should avoid during your pregnancy. The effects of smoking during pregnancy showed by studies are definitely one on those activities. Smoking during pregnancy is a very bad choice. You risk the nightmare of having a stillborn baby, to suffer a miscarriage, or to deliver a low birth-weight baby. Sudden death syndrome referred to as SIDS is a condition whereby a perfectly healthy baby dies unexpectedly during sleep.

But more than that, it can also harm the health of both mother and baby. Currently, in the United States alone, almost 10% of women smoke during pregnancy. This is an alarming fact since a stick of cigarette contains more than 2,500 chemicals that can be harmful to the developing fetus.

Smoking has been linked to various pregnancy complications. Women who smoke have a greater chance of having an ectopic pregnancy, whereby the embryo becomes implanted in the fallopian tube or any other abnormal place outside the uterus. In most cases, this type of pregnancy does not come to full term. A surgical procedure or drug treatment is usually recommended in order to protect the woman's life.

Taking it one step further, consider what the effects of smoking during pregnancy are on both the mother and the child. The effects range from mild to very extreme. Also, the effects of smoking during pregnancy, has negative repercussions not only on the baby but has continual implications through childhood and possibly into adulthood.

Before they even have the chance to fend for themselves outside the womb, babies that have been exposed to smoke directly or from second-hand smoke are at risk for being born underweight or with smaller head circumference. They are also more prone to having episodes of apnoea or Baby Crib Death, or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Not to mention the risks to the child's health during the pregnancy.

Smokers are three times more likely to have smaller babies. On average, babies born to smokers are around 200g lighter than those born to non-smokers. Low birth weight babies run a higher risk of death and disease in infancy and early childhood.

Smoking during pregnancy can lead to severe and even deadly complications during the pregnancy. A woman's risk of developing placenta problems is nearly doubled if she smokes cigarettes. The problems include placenta previa, in which a low-lying placenta covers part of all of the opening to the uterus, and placental abruption, in which the placenta becomes detached partially or completely from the uterine wall before delivery.

As if these potential risks to your unborne child weren't enough, cigarettes don't stop there. You also face problems in your own body. Any mother who thinks a smaller child may be better for birth will be suprised to learn their smoking habit can greatly disrupt normal birthing. It does this through Placenta Previa and Placental Abruption. In the former, your placenta changes position to cover most or all of the opening in your uterus.

Nicotine Replacement - There is a debate whether nicotine replacement therapies are safe are not during pregnancy? The nicotine replacement therapies are nicotine patches, nicotine gums, nicotine nasal spray, and nicotine inhaler. Consult your doctor on replacement therapies.

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Depression during pregnancy is a health condition that needs to be paid attention in order to ensure a healthy pregnancy without any complications to the mother and the child. It is a fact that nearly 10%-20% of pregnant women are afflicted with depression. The cause of depression in pregnant women is attributed to hormonal imbalances that change the brain chemistry during pregnancy.

Just a few years ago, doctors thought that your body produced chemicals that helped with depression while you're pregnant. In reality, it's the opposite: Depression during pregnancy often happens as a result of hormonal imbalances caused by your pregnancy, because your body needs to prepare for the oncoming baby.

Worrying thoughts about yourself and the baby can make you feel stressed about the well-being of your baby. You probably already know about new findings stating that everything that you experience also the baby will. As a result you start feeling guilty that makes the situation even worse.

Common theory has held that pregnancy creates a wholly new "hormonal mix" that typically "protects" women during pregnancy. However, a number of women are "falling through the cracks" and don't conform to this theory. So, what's contributing to depression in pregnancy? Usual suspects include hormones, stress, health, money matters, kids and husbands, a recent period of infertility.

Pregnancy is a life-altering event that can cause women to feel anxious, scared and often stressed. Prenatal depression seems to be increased in the first trimester, suggesting it is the time of maximum vulnerability. Experts believe that the rapid increase in hormone levels at the start of pregnancy can disrupt brain chemistry and lead to depression.

Depression in pregnancy results from the hormonal secretion in the mother’s body which is required to support the development of baby. There are several external factors which lead pregnant women to feel depressed. other These factors can be the levels of stress arising from health matters, finances required to support the pregnancy treatment and the baby after delivery, other kids, relationship with the spouse and other family members, previous experience of infertility etc.

Possible triggers of depression during pregnancy include marital problems, abuse or trauma and stressful events. Other probable causes are previous pregnancy loss, complications in pregnancy as well as family or personal history of the condition. When you feel like you are struggling with the condition, it is important for you to seek help. Treatment can involve the use of medications and psychotherapy. There are also support groups that can help you to overcome the situation.

If the depression in the women is severe then medication treatment is preferred. Only those medicines are prescribed which have minimum side effects otherwise it can cause complications during pregnancy and delivery. If you are unable to discuss your problem with the doctor frankly then you can choose any other person who is aware of your situation and showing any interest to help you.

Depression and anxiety may not be diagnosed because pregnant women often do not give serious consideration to their feelings, and simply take it for granted as normal mood changes during pregnancy. So when you are depressed, do not feel ashamed to tell the doctor. Mental health is as important as physical health. In fact, mood changes will also affect your health.

Read about Week By Week Pregnancy and also read about Pregnancy Week 31 and Pregnancy Week 32

Motherhood is a unique and beautiful experience of life. Every woman desires to go through this phase. It has its own share of joys and difficulties. The happiness of bringing a new family member overcomes the difficulties.

Of course you have probably been trying out some old wives tales in an effort to get pregnant so here are a few that signify pregnancy: if your own or other peoples kids are showing you more affection then you are likely pregnant, if your cats cant keep themselves away from you and are constantly purring on your chest you are probably pregnant, and if you are having more nightmares that usual it is a sign you might be pregnant.

On conceiving, within a week or two you may feel tired very quickly. There is a loss of energy and you start feeling tired even with your usual daily activities. You may hit the bed earlier than usual and also prefer small energy naps. However, you can conserve energy by including a healthy diet.

If you have tracked your menstrual cycle very carefully, you may be able to pick out abnormalities in how and when certain symptoms occur. For instance, if you know about when you ovulated and it’s possible you could have conceived during that time, you may be able to spot implantation bleeding through our tracking. Typically spotting that occurs about ten days after conception, it is caused by the fertilized egg implanting in your uterus.

Swollen or tender breasts: Perhaps, this is the first sign of pregnancy by which many women confirm conception. The reason for this sign is with the breasts undergoing physical changes for the ensuing breastfeeding. Some women may feel pain at the breasts or nipples if it is the first pregnancy.

Heightened sense of taste and smell - There may be a change in your preferences as far as food is concerned. A change in taste is quite common during pregnancy. Women often end up disliking things they loved before pregnancy. An increased sense of smell and taste may cause aversions and cravings for certain food items. Some women also experience a metallic taste in their mouth during this phase.

If these signs and symptoms are accompanied by a missed period, there's a strong likelihood that you are pregnant. However, you cannot be too presumptuous. The best thing to do at this point is to buy a home pregnancy kit to find out for sure, and then do the home pregnancy test twice. If the result is positive every time, consult with a doctor whom you trust. He may recommend that you undergo a blood test to confirm the diagnosis.

As you can see many of these symptoms mimic what many women feel just before their periods begin every month. Most symptoms do not show up until around the time that you would miss a period. That's why if you suspect that you're pregnant is really is best to wait until a pregnancy test can detect the hormonal levels. Some home pregnancy tests are now able to detect the hormone levels even before you miss a period.

Read about Week By Week Pregnancy and also read about Pregnancy Week 23 and Pregnancy Week 24

Pregnancy after miscarriage is a common concern for many women that had a miscarriage. Read on to see what you can do to create a more successful pregnancy after a miscarriage. 65% of all pregnancies are unplanned and when a pregnant woman has ambivalence about her pregnancy it increases the chances of a miscarriage. Therefore, if you want to have a successful pregnancy, immediately accept this baby.

Although the Doctor is not always able to say what the exact cause of a miscarriage is, you will be reassured that its natures way of looking out for your best interest… because lets face it, no one wants unnecessary complications during their pregnancy. One’s pregnancy is meant to be a special and unforgettable experience. Those of you who've experienced a miscarriage will admit that you try to find every reason to justify why it maight have happened. But the truth of the matter is none of this is relevant. Unfortunately, miscarriages do happen and it does so most times to prepare you for the joys of motherhood with a successful pregnancy the next time around.

Many couples want to know about their chances of having a repeat miscarriage. They worry about having to face the unfortunate loss once again. The good news is that approximately 85% of women who have had one miscarriage in the past prove to have successful and healthy pregnancies the next time. For those who have had two or three miscarriage cases in the past, the risks of a full term pregnancy is 75%.

Pregnancy message boards are also a great place to learn. As you may know, pregnancy message boards allow you to discuss with the other members your pregnancy problems, fears, or share with them your pregnancy experiences. It is also here where you can find other women with similar pregnancy due dates and discuss issues such as symptoms of pregnancy in the first week or first month pregnancy signs and symptoms, stages of pregnancy development and pregnancy trimesters.

Brown implantation bleeding is the color of old blood. When you get brown implantation bleeding it normally means that when the fertilized egg buried it way into the womb, a little blood was released. The bleeding that occurred at the moment of implantation stayed in the womb for some time so by the time you see it on your underwear or when you wipe yourself it showed up as brown implantation bleeding.

Missed miscarriage – Some women have a miscarriage prior to knowing that they are pregnant. A missed miscarriage is characterized when the fetus died but there remains no expulsion of the embryo. The causes for this are oftentimes undetermined. Most women who experience a missed miscarriage claim that the lose pregnancy symptoms and the fetal heartbeat at some point of their pregnancy.

After the incident, many women would feel jealous of other pregnant women and mothers with new babies. These feelings are normal, but they will certainly not make grieving women feel better. Women who have just experienced miscarriage need some time on their own; they need to grieve for their loss. They will most likely undergo the five stages of grief, which are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Some families and friends may provide comfort. Some of them may never relate to the feelings of the mother, especially those who have never experienced a loss and they can cause additional stress.

Read about Week By Week Pregnancy and also read about Pregnancy Week 21 and Pregnancy Week 22

How to wean a baby from breastfeeding? The preferred (and suggested) method of choice for mothers who went through it and who are considering weaning would be gradual - a slow but sure way of making the transition from breast to bottle an easy one. Not only that. It also benefits the mother as there would less of the dreaded breast engorgement.

Now, society dictates that babies should be weaned at a certain age. Yet, this is not always the case as changes differ from baby to baby. Some may take longer, others may wean as soon as their sensory faculties start working full-time. But pressure from society confuses a mother, sometimes even clouding her better judgment if she needs to wean from breastfeeding.

Sometimes, there are reasons why mothers choose to wean from breast to bottle. Most of the time, mothers let go of breastfeeding because of medical reasons, like having breast cancer or an abscess right after giving birth. Others feel that the reason their baby is crying because he's not getting enough milk.

Give new food one solid at a time. This will not only help the child adjust to the taste and texture of new foods; this will also help you in identifying what food he likes or dislikes. Also, this will give you a chance to observe if your baby is enjoying the food normally, or if he is exhibiting any sign of allergies or problems. Avoid eggs, shellfish and cows milk if the child is below 12 months. Give him small amounts of food first, gradually increasing the quantity over the next few feedings.

Weaning a baby from breastfeeding may also mean that you need to make a list of things baby needs before eating. Also, you would need to check if your baby can sit straight with or without support, hold his head upright, the emergence of teeth, if he imitates you while you or someone else is eating, and if he is curious enough to grab your food.

Give him a snack. Instead of a nursing session, give him a snack instead. You can give him some juice. If he's already big enough to chew, you can give him baby cookies. You can also give him some cereal or some mashed fruits. Either way, let your imagination and creativity show as you think up of new ways to feed baby.

Teeth. This is one of the first signs mothers take when they wean their children into solids. The mouth, teeth and tongue develops at the same time that his digestive system is starting to develop. The appearance of more teeth automatically prompts the baby to imitate a chewing motion. Baby will also less likely drool during this phase because he is now learning to swallow efficiently, signaling that he can possibly be given solids now.

Introduce new food by using the 4-day rule. Refrain from introducing new food once you've started on a new one. Wait for 4 days. This is to check if your baby will develop any allergies or rashes from a particular food. If that happens, discontinue the food immediately. It is recommended to go back to cereal for a day or 2 before introducing new food again.

Read about Baby Care and also read about Baby Feeding Bottles and Night Weaning

When you have a new baby, you soon discover that to get your baby sleep through the night can be an overwhelming task. As it always happens when overwhelming tasks are involved, the solution is based upon simple actions that will make a slight difference until you have a marked change in what is happening: these are known as baby sleep patterns.

This sleep pattern lessens as the baby grows so by the time he is 3 months old, he is only sleeping twelve to fifteen hours every day. Your child at this age has also dropped most of his night feedings. This may be the time to try to start to establish regular sleep patterns. You should begin by starting a nightly routine, such as giving your baby a warm bath, reading him a story, and then putting him to bed.

Sleep patterns differ. This is a great challenge already to every parent since baby sleep patterns requires a lot of tiring and a very irregular routine especially during night time. Newborns sleep a lot. Of course, a baby's sleep cycles are far shorter than the adults. Being able to respond to the newborn's cues or signals can really become the most demanding part of parenting.

Many experts seem to think that babies are able to soothe themselves to sleep. While this may be true to some extent, it is very unhealthy for the child. It teaches them that their parents cannot be trusted to solve their problems and could cause self-esteem issues later in life if they being to feel abandoned.

One of the most helpful things you can do right from the outset is to set a routine early. How we sleep, largely depends on habits and signals that our bodies interpret as signs that it is time for sleep. For example, always putting your baby in the crib at sleep time will help the infant realize that this is the time and place for slumber. Remember, however, that it could take some time for your baby to pick up on the differences between night and day.

Baby Sleep Routine
The key to baby sleeping patterns lies in preparing your newborn with a routine. This is much like watching a film you've seen many times before - you've seen the sequence of events so often that your mind will automatically expect what's coming next. Similarly, if anything different were to happen, you'd feel slightly disorientated.

Sleeping can be difficult for children just as it is for adults. If it?s too hot in your room, sometimes you can?t sleep. This is a problem for babies too. Make sure the temperature in the baby?s room is good. If it?s cool, make sure they have enough blankets. If the room gets too dry, keep a humidifier in the room for added comfort.

You will notice that sleep turns into one solid period of time by the age of three months, because the neurological system is maturing and the cycles are combining. Unfortunately, this cycle does not always coincide with night time. The pattern of more activity during the day and more sleep at night does not fall into place until the baby is closer to four months of age.

Read about Baby Care and also read about Baby Sleeping and Baby Sleep Training

Being healthy during pregnancy is a must. This is for the fact that the mother and the baby's well being are highly critical. Because it is of top priority to keep healthy and fit throughout the course of pregnancy, most mothers indulge in safe exercises during pregnancy.

Swimming, walking, and yoga are two very popular exercise activities that are suitable for pregnant women. There are other forms of exercise such as weight lifting that are acceptable as long as it isn't too strenuous. Most specialists recommend exercise during pregnancy at 3 - 4 times a week, unless you have a medical condition that prevents it. If you are ever in doubt, you should consult a physician first.

Your and your baby's wellbeing is very crucial to depend on conjecture. It is imperative to comprehend and be up to following the exercise rules during pregnancy, which will truly assist you and your little one to keep in the best of health all through pregnancy, smooth the progress of labor and the delivery, and maintain excellent postnatal health.

Extensive studies have shown the safety of walking, swimming, cycling and aerobic exercises during pregnancy. Running, racket sports and strength training should be done in moderation. You should stay away from sports like snow skiing, scuba diving and contact sports, for example ice hockey, soccer and basketball etc.

If you were very physically active before your pregnancy, you can continue your exercise program, with some modifications, during your pregnancy. If you were not physically active before, but want to exercise during your pregnancy, start slow and don't try to accomplish too much in too short a time.

Avoid extreme tiredness by not exercising to the point of exhaustion. Limit stretching and bending exercises from the 26th week of pregnancy until delivery.

Take extra care when exercising in hot weather as when doing strenuous exercises your core body temperature can rise. Excessive heat is unhealthy for you and the baby.

A few guidelines exist for exercising when pregnant. It is important to exercise at a comfortable intensity and not to undertaken anaerobic exercise. Try to avoid overheating, particularly in the first trimester when your baby is more sensitive to high temperatures. Exercise wearing light, comfortable clothing and drink plenty of water.

Provided there are no medical reasons non exercisers may begin our program during pregnancy. The majority of women who exercise in pregnancy are doing so for the first time because they make the decision to begin a healthier life habit now that they are pregnant.

Exercise during pregnancy can be very beneficial. You will feel much better. The common pregnancy symptoms like morning sickness and the feeling of nausea will not disturb you much. Exercise keeps you fit and a fit body will make things very easy for you at the time of the labor. For an unfit body, labor can be a physically very intense experience. Weight gain during pregnancy is one of the things that most women are concerned about after birth.

Read about Week By Week Pregnancy and also read about Pregnancy Week 6 and Pregnancy Week 7

If there is one time in the life of a woman when it is absolutely essential to take the utmost care of overall health, it is during pregnancy. This is because it is not only the pregnant woman's health in question but also the health and development of the fetus, or the unborn baby in the womb. With all the hormonal changes going on in a woman's body during the time of pregnancy, it is absolutely important to take care, especially in case of diet and nutrition, weight gain, development and management of health conditions if any, and so on. Here are some of the aspects of pregnancy care one must not overlook.

Pregnancy and delivery of a child changes a woman’s hormones, which can trigger headaches and make stress on the body worse than was before the pregnancy. Pregnancy does affect the whole body’s functions. Chiropractors’ feels if the nervous system is functioning better, the body functions better, and also gives your baby a better chance of developing normally.

In order to breastfeed the baby successfully, a pregnant woman should be prepared for it mentally as well as physically. It is also useful to seek the guidance of a person who has successfully breastfed her baby. Such person can give good practical advice. It is also advised that a woman should share her thoughts on this topic with her husband, or with any other women close to her.

The specialist may prescribe either, Retin-A or Accutane or other antibiotics like tetracycline, during pregnancy time. Retin-A is a lotion that may be applied directly over the effected region, while Accutane or Isotretinoin is a pill that treats zits at the time of pregnancy. Antibiotics-Tetracycline is used for treating respiratory infections and acne in pregnant women.

Some additional benefits realized by chiropractic care are controlling symptoms of morning sickness, reducing labor and delivery time, avoiding a potential caesarean section, relieving back, neck and joint pain, and bringing about a healthier pregnancy in general. Additionally, if a baby is in the breech position, the Webster Technique can be used to establish balance in the pelvis and make it possible for the baby to turn to the correct position.

Kegel Exercises

Pregnant women who perform Kegel exercises often find they have an easier birth. The best thing about Kegel exercises is that they can be done anywhere, and no one knows you are doing them. Just squeeze the muscles that you use to stop urinating for a few seconds and do this 10 times per day.

Women who complain of having dry skin may have to face more problems during their pregnancy. Dry skin gets aggravated during pregnancy because your body fluids and water present in your blood are in high demand. Your growing child needs them for nourishment. Your only weapon is water. Therefore drink ample of water. You can use moisturizers and sun block creams to revitalize your skin.

Also, try to maintain a regular exercising routine. It not only prevents excessive weight gain during pregnancy but it also helps reduce other pregnancy related problems like back pain, swelling and constipation.

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