Health During Pregnancy

When to Call Your Physician or Midwife

Painful menstrual-like cramps.

Dull ache in the lower back(If you have had a dull backache throughout the pregnancy, then this symptom is only a danger sign if it is different from the backache you’ve had before.)

Pain or pressure above the pubic bone(in the area of the pubic hair.)

Sensation of pressure or heaviness in the pelvic region.

Increase in vaginal secretions, including loss of the mucous plug.

Change in the type of vaginal secretion(for example, from thick to thin or watery.)

Bloody discharge from the vagina.

Diarrhea.

Uterine contractions occurring 10 minutes apart or more frequently for more than 1 hour; even if they are not painful(a contraction is palpated when the top of your uterus-the fundus-gets hard, softens, and hardens again). If these disappear when you lie down, they are probably not labor:

Symptoms of urinary tract infection-pain or burning on urination, especially at the end of urination; urgency-an unusually strong feel of the need to urinate, especially if you actually urinate very small amounts; frequency-needing to urinate very often(although this may be difficult for pregnant women to differentiate from the usual increased frequency of late pregnancy).

Any leakage of fluid from the vagina.This can be a big gush or a continuous dripping of watery fluid. This may indicate rupture of the membranes.

If your work involves heavy physical labor, rotating or night shifts, long periods of standing, or makes you excessively tired, consider changing or reducing your workload. Unfortunately, women in the United States are not uniformly guaranteed paid maternity leave.

As sexually transmitted infections may be implicated in premature rupture of the membranes and preterm labor, you should use a condom if you are at risk for such an infection. Being at risk means that either you or your partner has more than one sexual partner. If you have any doubt about whether this is the case for your partner, or you have had a pre term birth, you should use condoms. In fact, because semen contains prostaglandins-body chemicals that cause uterine contractions-use of a condom from midpregnancy to 37 weeks gestation is a good idea for any woman who has had a previous preterm birth. The condoms provide a barrier between your body and your partner’s semen.

If you have a history of pre term labor or signs of preterm labor, avoid nipple or breast stimulation in the third trimester, before 37 weeks gestation, as this initiates uterine contractions. Abstain from orgasm if there is any question of threatened preterm labor, as it can lead to contractions.

There is some evidence, although not conclusive, that calcium supplementation may help prevent preterm labor. Routine calcium supplementation is not currently advised in pregnancy, but you should certainly maintain an adequate dietary intake of calcium sources. Except for sometimes causing constipation, a calcium supplement is not dangerous in pregnancy. If you have had a preterm birth, discuss with your physician or midwife whether or not they advise calcium supplementation as a possible preventive measure. In the 1980s, some promising studies showed that preterm birth might be prevented with frequent prenatal visits and vaginal examinations for women at risk for preterm labor. A number of “Prevention of Preterm” birth programs were funded by various governmental and private agencies. Unfortunately, these did not demonstrate that such measures were uniformly valuable in preventing preterm birth. Whether or not to do weekly or biweekly vaginal examinations or ultrasounds to check the cervix in the third trimester for women with a previous preterm birth remains controversial.

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The development of your baby –
Now that the basic organs are developed and beginning to function steadily, the next thing that your baby will experience is the development of the sense organs which it will use to learn things about the world once it comes into the world. The tongue is forming the taste buds already, the nerve endings and sensorial in the brain are developed too – developed enough so that the baby can sense touch already. By now your baby is definitely touching his own face and sucking on his thumb to make more frequent use of this new sense of touch that he has discovered. This will make you begin to feel sensations in your tummy too. Te reproductive system of your baby is developed too. For boys the testes will begin to drop from the abdomen area and for girls the uterus, ovaries and vagina have found their right places too.

The development of your body –
This is the time you will start experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions. These contractions are practice contractions that your uterus practices on its own to prepare for the ultimate delivery. If you have not already started experiencing them, you will definitely very soon. Your abdomen might feel squeezed or other discomforting sensations. Do not worry at these natural contractions. Even though your baby would be able to sense these from the inside, Braxton Hicks contractions are not harmful in any way. If they occur once in a while it is a sign of healthy pregnancy but if they become too frequent and begin to hurt too much, you should contact your medical examiner immediately. Uneasy contractions are usually a sign of preterm labour.

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Sanford Signs Bill Creating 24-Hour Wait For Abortions
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford signs a bill into law that establishes a 24-hour waiting period before a woman can have an abortion.

Read more on FOX Carolina

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The first signs of pregnancy are different for everyone and they differ from pregnancy to pregnancy even in the same person. If you are attuned to your body’s senses you might be able to notice the changes that are happening in your body immediately. However, there are some women who do not know they are pregnant until about the third month of pregnancy. The most significant sign that you may be pregnant is the lack of or missing of a menstrual cycle. Again, however, this does not happen the same for all women and some do not necessarily miss a period at first and may be months pregnant before their cycle stops.

The number one sign of pregnancy that women experience is the increased appetite. Some women even report that they have food cravings during the first month as well. While these cravings may not be significant, if you are craving foods that you do not particularly eat a lot you may begin to wonder why. It is important that you not jump to conclusions about your cravings; this may be associated with something other than a pregnancy.

One thing that women will notice during their pregnancy is that there are a number of changes that happen to their breasts, particularly their areolas, and the skin around their nipples. During the first months of your pregnancy the area around your nipples will begin to darken. However, this too could be the sign of some other medical condition. Women have reported that they thought they were pregnant but in fact they were suffering from a hormonal imbalance, which when corrected with medical, the areolas went back to their normal colour. At about six to twelve days after conception you may experience some mild bleeding or cramping. This happens when the embryo burrows into the uterine wall. The blood during this time may be light pink or even a brown colour. The blood flow is light and usually happens after a short period of time.

Throughout your pregnancy you will notice that you have an increased desire to go to the bathroom. This is very obvious during the first few months when you may suspect that you are pregnant.  If you are finding that you are urinating more and more each day or you cannot seem to hold it as long then there might be a possibility that you are pregnant. However the increased desire to go to the bathroom could be linked to other medical conditions as well.

Fatigue is a really good sign of pregnancy particularly if you are a person who does not tire easily. It is during the early months that you find that you are not able to stay up as late and the little things that you could do with ease are now becoming more and more tiresome. In most pregnancies women reported having to take a nap throughout the day during the early months, and this has been known to get worse as time goes on.

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Vital Signs: Infant mortality work recognized by group
The city of Fort Worth Commission for Women was recognized by the National Association of Commissions for Women for its work to reduce infant mortality in Fort Worth and Tarrant County, areas that include some of the highest infant mortality rates in Texas.

Read more on Fort Worth Business Press

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Trying for pregnancy could be frustrating and exciting at almost the same time. This is an important and life changing time in every woman’s life. Coming to know of pregnancy would make every difference to the woman who is essentially trying to conceive. This is the very reason of interest for knowing what the early signs of being pregnant actually are.

Every woman experiences pregnancy in varied ways. It means that early signs of pregnancy would vary from woman to woman. Symptoms of pregnancy could vary when it gets to duration and intensity. Quite a few of them might not experience any early signs of pregnancy in any way.

After the egg is implanted, there are many changes undergoing in the body. The hormone levels increase quite drastically. Extremely early signs of getting pregnant typically don’t appear till about a week or two after missing the first period. Until about 16 weeks post-conception, the initial fetal movement is not generally detected.

Implantation bleeding which is 8 to 10 days subsequent to ovulation, a missed menstrual cycle, an elevated BBT temperature for 18 days are a few of the very premature signs of being pregnant.

Even before missing period, women could test for pregnancy with help of pregnancy detecting equipments. Positive results are determined as early as nearly 7 to 10 days after ovulation.

Week 1 to week 12 implies the first trimester. It could contain 9 very early ciphers of pregnancy. They include food cravings, lower abdominal cramps, morning sickness or nausea from 3 to 10 weeks after conception, swollen or tender breasts from 3 to 4 weeks after conception, larger and darker areolas, darker nipples, fatigue and tiredness from 3 to 10 weeks after conception, frequent urination, headaches, constipation, heartburn and differed mood swings.

There also exist a few unusual types of early signs of getting pregnant.

Few women experience cravings towards particular food or combinations of foods.

Most importantly, pregnant women would always miss their monthly cycle. Any woman who finds her periods later than usual must take home pregnancy tests and consult the doctor.

Every woman should pay dedicated attention towards their body and health when they enter a sexual relationship in course of time. Any woman who might become pregnant or one who is trying to become, need to take care about eating healthy, performing exercises, avoiding smoking and all intoxicating substances which includes alcohol and drugs.

Every sexually active woman must know about all early and vital signs hinting pregnancy.

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Pregnancy and impending motherhood are undoubtedly among the most life-changing experiences for women. Coping with the changes that comes with having a baby can be both exhilarating and overwhelming at the same time, most especially for first-time moms.

It is important for women to understand the transformation their bodies has to go through during this period as these signs may be symptoms of some other medical condition.

The telltale sign and symptoms of pregnancy slightly vary from one woman to another. The significant hormonal changes that the female body undergoes during pregnancy have been known to trigger what is known as pregnancy symptoms.

* one of the most obvious and significant signs is a missed or delayed menstrual cycle, otherwise known as amenorrhea. There are some women who may still experience bleeding even when pregnant, but typically the bleeding is significantly lighter and shorter than the normal period.Women who experience bleeding during pregnancy should immediately seek medical attention to check their health condition as well as that of the baby. In some cases, implantation bleeding may occur during the earlier stages, normally during 6-12 days after conception. This occurs when the embryo embeds itself into the uterine wall, resulting to abdominal cramps and spotting.

* Another common symptom of pregnancy is morning sickness or nausea coupled with fatigue, which is usually experienced during the first three months of pregnancy.This particular symptom often manifests between 2-8 weeks after conception. According to medical studies, eight out of ten women experience varying degree of morning sickness on the first few months.

Some women are fortunate not to experience this symptom, while others have been known to experience bouts of nausea all throughout their pregnancy.

* Swollen and/or sensitive breasts are also a pregnancy symptom, which can begin as early as 1-2 weeks after conception, which can eventually be coupled with the darkening of the areolas or the skin around the nipples.

* Most pregnant women also experience cravings for certain food. Such cravings can last for a couple of months or all throughout the pregnancy

* The sudden rise of hormones in the female body can also trigger headaches, most especially during the early stages of pregnancy.

* The frequent need to urinate is also a common symptom since pregnancy prompts greater kidney efficiency and significant increase of body fluids. As the fetus grows, the swelling in the uterus causes pressure against the bladder, which explains why pregnant women feel the need to go to the bathroom every so often.

It is also quite common for pregnant women to experience mood changes such as the urge to cry and unexplained irritability, while others experience feelings of elation. It is believed that the hormones influence the chemicals in the brain and cause these mood changes.

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Many women know when they could be pregnant and are looking at the very early signs of pregnancy to see if indeed they are pregnant. What are some of these early pregnancy signs that usually occur before week 5 of pregnancy?

Tenderness in Breasts

Early signs of pregnancy are the breasts becoming very tender as well as the feeling of a bloated abdomen. As these pregnancy symptoms are very similar to the signs of the body shortly before the period comes in, it can be very confusing. Many Women also start urinating more frequently a week or so after having conceived. The female body temperature may also rise a little bit about a week after conceiving. This early pregnancy symptom occurs due to ovulation. The increased body temperature might stay until the time when the next period is usually expected.

Spotting

Pinkish or brown spotting similar like at the beginning of the menstrual period is among the early signs of pregnancy. The discharge is an important pregnancy symptom as it is not as heavy as normal menstrual bleeding. At this point it is essential that the pregnancy can be confirmed through a pregnancy test. If there is excessive bleeding while the test shows a positive result then the expecting mother should consult immediately with her OBGYN. This early sign of pregnancy often occurs in the case of an embryo attaching itself to the wrong part of the uterus.

Fatigue and Restlessness

Pregnant women often experience extreme fatigue and restlessness in the very early part of their pregnancy. This is again a pregnancy symptom that can be extremely confusing. It is similar like any other form of tiredness that the body experiences as an example due to stress and physical exhaustion. The cramping of the uterus, due to heavy exercising or when experiencing an orgasm, may be recognized as an early sign of pregnancy, too.

How can a Woman know for sure that she is pregnant in the first month?

There is no 100% sure way of knowing that a woman is pregnant in the first one month after conceiving. Most of the early signs of pregnancy can be easily misleading. A pregnancy test and an exam by an OBGYN is the only way one can know for sure.

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This two-part article educates you about the signs of pregnancy you should be alert to. In Part I we discussed three vital signs of pregnancy, namely fatigue, spotting or bleeding and changes in appetite. Here we are with Part II, listing the other pregnancy symptoms you should watch for.

You feel nauseous

You are likely to have the legendary morning sickness for the first month. Some women have this for up to six months and it could be any time of the day. You might throw up at the most unexpected times. This is a result of the estrogen levels that change. Do not get alarmed, as there are many ways to minimize this.

You keep running to the ladies room

It might seem like your bladder just cannot seem to control itself. The fact is, as your uterus grows in size, it presses against your bladder and hence the urge to pee often. This happens most during the first and third trimester.

Your breasts are tender

Again, estrogen and progesterone are the reason, as they get your breasts ready for nursing your baby. Your breasts can get quite sensitive and this can be uncomfortable. This will eventually pass, but you might want to shop for comfortable bras that support your breasts well.

You feel constipated

One of the most common signs of pregnancy is constipation and that feeling of being bloated. This is because of slower digestion and can be tackled by drinking plenty of fluids.

You develop frequent headaches

Headaches are a common early pregnancy symptom. During pregnancy, blood circulation increases because of hormonal and physical changes.

Your moods are unpredictable

It is those hormones again, so relax. Your moods will get better after the first three months.

You feel dizzy and breathless

When the blood sugar dips during early pregnancy, you can feel dizzy from the fluctuating hormone levels. You can tackle this by eating small but healthy snacks every now and then and drinking plenty of water. You might feel breathless, as you need more oxygen for the fetus.  If you feel breathless for no reason, accompanied by pain, let your doctor know.

You are shocked at your scales

Do not be. There is a baby growing inside you. Remember to wear sensible shoes that can take your weight comfortably.

You develop lower backache

You could gain between 25 to 60 pounds during these nine months of pregnancy, so you must also take care of your back. Lower back pain is quite common as the strain on your joints is more. Your doctor will give you the right advice to make you comfortable.

These are the early signs of pregnancy. If you experience these, make an appointment to see your doctor. A physical examination could also confirm your pregnancy, based on the color of your vagina and the softer cervix. You may also want to get a home pregnancy test to find out.

The sooner you know about the signs of pregnancy, the better, since you can plan your prenatal care and get started with those prenatal vitamins and make the necessary lifestyle changes for a healthy pregnancy.

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Some women don’t have any symptoms at all. Some women have a few of these presented below. Some women may have others that are not listed. These pregnancy symptoms tend to be

the most prevalent, however.

1. Fatigue. Due to the increase in hormone levels, most women begin to feel extreme fatigue in early pregnancy.

2. Sore breasts and/or nipples. Many women feel that their breasts are fuller and more tender with their nipples being more sensitive during early pregnancy.

3. Cramping and/or bloating. This early pregnancy symptom tends to feel very much like your period is coming.

4. Light bleeding. This light spotting is caused by the fertilized egg embedding into the lining of the uterus. Many women feel that their period is beginning, but it is actually one of their first signs of pregnancy.

5. Nausea and/or vomiting. Normally, morning sickness won’t occur until about a month after conception, and some escape this pregnancy symptom altogether.

6. Increased urination. This symptom of early pregnancy occurs due to the increase in blood and other body fluids, which is processed by the kidneys and ends up in the bladder. This increase in urination will most likely only worsen as your pregnancy progresses.

7. Missed period. This pregnancy symptom is the first sign to some women that they are pregnant, especially with menstrual periods that are pretty regular.

8. Increased sensitivity to odors. This early pregnancy symptom may be due to increased estrogen levels, but no one knows for sure.

9. Basal body temperature stays high. If you’re charting your basal body temperature, one of the very early pregnancy signs is a higher-than-normal temperature for that time of the month due to increasing progesterone levels in early pregnancy.

10. Positive pregnancy test . Most pregnancy tests will not detect early pregnancy until your menstrual period is missed. Some tests are more highly sensitive, however, and can detect pregnancy as early as a few days after conception.

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