In earlier times, when a woman is suspected to be pregnant, she often needs to have a doctor, a midwife, or a medical practitioner check on her if she is with child. Nowadays, a woman can check if she is pregnant by simply performing a home pregnancy test.

A modern pregnancy test determines if a woman is pregnant or not. These tests look to markers like urine and blood samples to determine pregnancy. The test determines a hormone called hCG or human chorionic gonadotropin, the pregnancy hormone. This particular hormone is made when the fertilized eggs adheres to the uterus.

There are two kinds of pregnancy tests: the blood test and the urine test.  The urine test determines the hCG hormone. This test can be performed with a home pregnancy test (HPT) or at the doctor’s office. The blood test, which also determines hCG, must be done at the doctor’s office. Nowadays, women use the HPT, which are private, inexpensive, and very easy to use. If the HPT results come out negative, there is no need for you to go to the doctor. Therefore, there is no need to pay extra charges. There are also two kinds of blood tests: the quantitative and the qualitative. The quantitative test accurately measures the amount of hCG in the blood. The qualitative blood test determines if hCG is present in the blood or not.

There are a lot of HPTs out in the market and are sold at most pharmacies over-the-counter. The choice is entirely yours. Most HPTs work the same way. Common instructions call for the user to dip the stick into the urine. Other HPTs call for collecting urine and then dipping the stick in it. After that, the woman should wait for a few minutes. One a few minutes have elapsed, the user must check the “result window.” A woman is pregnant if a plus symbol or line appears. Whether faint or bold, a line means you are pregnant. There are also new digital tests that flash the words “not pregnant” or “pregnant.”

A lot of HPTs claim 99 percent accuracy on the first day of the missed period. However, research shows that most HPTs do not readily detect pregnancy that early. When these HPTs do, results are so faint, they are often misunderstood. Perhaps, if you wait for a week after the missed period, most HPTs give a more accurate answer. If you want to know results earlier, just check with your doctor.

Most HPTs have a “control indicator” in the result window, with the symbol or line showing if the test is working properly. If no control indicator appears, then the test is not properly working. The bottom line is you should not always rely on the results of an HPT.

If an HPT shows a positive result, you should consult with your doctor immediately. The doctor can employ a more sensitive test with a pelvic exam to really determine that you are pregnant. Remember, that the foundation for a healthy pregnancy begins with the right visit to the doctor. Your doctor will guide you for the next nine months, ensuring a healthy pregnancy.

A pregnancy takes around nine months. Thus, it is only fitting that there are nine stages for pregnancy, one stage for every month a woman is pregnant. A pregnancy is also one of the most demanding periods of a woman’s life, as it is one of her best. In this period, you will experience a lot of changes ranging from the physical, to the emotional, and to the psychological. During pregnancy, you get to experience concerns like fatigue, nausea/vomiting, dizziness, back pain, indigestion, cramps, and blood pressure issues.

In the first month, you start adjusting to you circumstances. You may experience dizziness, weakness, and morning sickness. This stage sees the fertilized egg grows into a group of cells, adheres to the uterus, and keeps growing. This is the time when you experience breast tenderness and enlargement and darkening of the areolas. This month sees the development of the brain and spinal cord.

In the second month/stage, it is recommended that you stop drinking and smoking as this is a crucial stage in the pregnancy. The embryo keeps on growing and the vital organs start to develop. The head begins to take shape and the limbs develop. A tiny human shape takes place during this time.

The embryo, in the third month, is now called the fetus. All the important organs, fingers, toes, and sex organs are now developed. The teeth also start forming in the gums. The fetus weighs 14 grams and develops certain immunity to infections.

A woman’s pregnancy stabilizes during the fourth month. The fetus is now 6 inches long. This is a period of relief to the pregnant woman as she no longer experiences the initial discomfort and hormonal levels are now stable.

During the fifth month, features like eyebrows and eyelashes appear. As the baby grows in size, so does the baby’s senses. A pregnant woman should start wearing comfortable and loose clothes as this is a time when the baby rapidly grows.

The sixth month sees the development of the immune system, digestive system, and the pulmonary system. The seventh month sees the completion of the baby’s vital systems. Except for the lungs, the fetus starts using these organs. This is the time when the baby is nearly ready for delivery.

In the eighth month, you may get to experience the same levels of discomfort that you experienced in the first trimester. The pregnant women may again have to deal with fatigue, dizziness, heartburn, and back pain. The baby is also fully developed. During this time, the woman must also maintain a healthy lifestyle and proper eating habits.

The ninth month is, of course, the final stage in a woman’s pregnancy. This is a time when would-be mothers experience Braxton-Hicks contractions or false labor pains. The baby is now ready in position. Indeed, this is a very exciting time for the mother as she would soon meet her baby for the first time.

During these nine months, it is important for the pregnant woman to be healthy and maintain a positive frame of mind. What lies ahead after nine months would surely be one of the most gratifying years of her life.

It is a given that a woman should gain weight during her pregnancy. Correctly gaining the right weight means having a balance diet with all the proper nutrients in place. You do not have to eat for two during this stage in your life. However, you need to add about an extra 300 calories so that you will meet your unborn child’s dietary needs.

Normally a woman with average must gain an average of 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. Overweight women need to gain about 15 to 25 pounds during pregnancy and underweight women must gain 28 to 40 pounds during pregnancy. Depending on what your doctor or nutritionist suggests, you may need to gain less weight or more.

During her first three months of being pregnant, a woman must gain about two to four pounds. Then she may gain one pound a week for the rest of the pregnancy. If twins are expected, the woman should add a healthy weight of 35 to 45 pounds during the pregnancy.

One might ask where the extra weight would go during the pregnancy. The unborn baby gets to take 8 pounds, the placenta gets 2 to 3 pounds, the amniotic fluid weighs about two to three pounds, breast tissue weighs two to three pounds, the blood supply weighs 4 pounds, and fat stores are give five to nine pounds. The uterus gets heavy by two to five pounds. In all, there is a grand total of 25 to 35 pounds.

To keep your pregnancy weight in check, exercise is an essential part of your routine. Moderate exercise is acceptable. Pregnant women may engage in swimming or walking. But first, you must consult with your doctor before starting a pregnancy exercise regimen.

You could also gain a lot of weight during pregnancy, more than the recommended 25 to 35 pounds. Your doctor could suggest that you lose the weight safely but under his or her supervision. There are also women who gain only a little weight during pregnancy. The doctor might suggest to these women dietary modifications to ensure that they gain the proper weight.

Your doctor may suggest that you eat five to six small and frequent meals daily. The doctor may also suggest that your snacks include nuts, raisins, crackers, cheese, ice cream/yogurt and dried fruit. You could also spread peanut butter on crackers, toast, bananas, apples, or celery. To safely add weight, non-fat powdered milk may be added to foods like scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and cereal. To add flavor to your meals and gain a healthy pregnancy weight, you may add condiments like margarine, butter, gravy, cream cheese, cheese, and sour cream to you meals.

It is really important that you attain the correct pregnancy weight gain. If you gain too much weight, you might find it hard to lose that excess weight when you have given birth. If you gain only a little weight, the health of the baby may be compromised. Don’t gamble with your weight. Gain the right weight to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

A pregnancy is one of a woman’s joys in her life. Nothing gets her excited more than the signs of pregnancy that she expects. However, most women are not attuned to the rhythm of their bodies. One of the first signs of pregnancy is a missed period. If you have regular periods and you notice that your period is late and suspect that you are pregnant, then it is a good idea to get a pregnancy test.

Before you consult with a doctor, it is wise to take a home pregnancy test. Most pregnancy test kits can be bought at your local pharmacy. If you missed a period and a blue line appears on the test window of the kit, you are most likely to be carrying a child. If you are positive, don’t delay. Visit your doctor so that you will know what to do to ensure a safe and satisfying pregnancy experience.

Cramping or implantation bleeding is also an early sign of pregnancy. Around eight days after ovulation, you could experience implantation spotting, a slight stain of a brown or pink color, and cramps. These symptoms are caused by the egg penetrating the endometrial lining. You may also see spotting around the time you look to during your period.

Another sign of pregnancy is the darkening of the areolas. You may have a successful conception if the skin around the woman’s nipples becomes darker. Or this may be a hormonal imbalance not related to pregnancy or be a holdover from a previous pregnancy.

Now this is one of the greatest signs of pregnancy: food cravings! However, food cravings can be an inaccurate indicator of pregnancy. Your body could be lacking on a certain nutrient. But if you have food cravings couple with other pregnancy signs, then it’s a sure bet that you’re expecting.

A suspected pregnancy accompanies exhaustion or fatigue. With this kind of fatigue, you feel like you have been run over a truck instead of working at the office for the day. While not probably a symptom on its own, exhaustion is a sign of early pregnancy.

Frequent trips to the bathroom could be another pregnancy sign. That means frequent urination. This happens when the embryo starts to product the hormone: human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Aside from food cravings, one of the most common early signs of pregnancy is morning sickness. As early as a few days after conception, you could begin feeling queasiness and nausea. This is also an early symptom that troubles the pregnant woman all throughout the day. A woman is indeed lucky if she does not experience morning sickness at all.

During her early stages, a pregnant woman may also have swollen and tender breasts. This sensation is similar to what a non-pregnant woman feels before her period. Only a pregnant woman’s breasts are tenderer. The pain will be gone once the woman gets used to the hormone increase.

A pregnant woman may also have altered taste buds. Some women may have a metallic taste. Other women cannot tolerate the taste of tea, coffee, or a particular food.

Now that a pregnant woman knows the early signs of pregnancy, then it is the right time for her to visit her doctor, who will guide her throughout the pregnancy.

A pregnant woman’s diet is crucial in ensuring the health of her unborn child. Whatever the mother takes in her body during her pregnancy can affect the health of the child when he or she is born. Therefore, it is very important for the mother to be aware of what she eats and drinks. Aside from her usual food intake, it is normal for the pregnant woman to take in an extra 300 calories during this period.

During pregnancy, a woman usually experiences food cravings, which normally occur during the first few months of pregnancy. Some women have cravings for spicy food, chocolate, comfort foods, ice cream, and fruits. In certain cases, some women also crave non-food items like cornstarch and clay, which are not supposed to be eaten. If you have such urge to eat these items, consult with your doctor.

A pregnant woman’s diet must be without alcohol. If you can, avoid caffeine. That includes coffee or tea. There is also the question of herbal products and vitamins. Consult your doctor first before taking in vitamins, some of which could harm the unborn child.

Food-borne illnesses like toxoplasmosis and listeriosis may pose dangers for the unborn fetus. Thus, the pregnant woman needs to avoid certain foods like soft/fresh cheeses like goat, feta, Camembert, and Brie; juice, apple cider, and unpasteurized milk; raw eggs; undercooked or raw fish, meats, or shellfish; processed meats like deli meats and hot dogs; and fish high in mercury like king mackerel, swordfish, shark, and tilefish.

As mentioned earlier, a pregnant woman must ask her doctor if vitamins are safe to take during pregnancy. However, doctors would encourage a pregnant woman to take folic acid supplements. Some foods that contain folic acid are breakfast cereals. Foods rich in calcium should be part of the pregnancy diet. Calcium sources include milk and dairy products. Other calcium-rich foods are salmon with bones, sardines, broccoli, tofu, and spinach.

Doctors do not always recommend a strict vegetarian diet during pregnancy. However, some pregnant women stick to a vegetarian diet. Your doctor would probably prescribe to you vitamin B12 and D supplements, so that you can get the proper nutrition during your pregnancy.

A pregnant woman must integrate more fiber in her diet, about 20 to 30 grams a day. The iron in pre-natal vitamins could cause constipation in pregnancy. Fiber-rich sources include vegetables, fresh fruits, cereals, whole-grain breads or muffins. Other options for fiber include high-fiber drinks or fiber tablets. Check with your doctor first before ingesting these pharmacy products and avoid laxatives during pregnancy.

The key to a healthy pregnancy diet is to eat foods from various food groups in the recommended portions. If you experience lack of appetite or nausea, you don’t need to worry as the baby gets first dibs at the nutrients you take.

It is recommended that a pregnant woman should gain about 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy, but you don’t need to be serious about this. The important thing for you to do is to be able to eat a good variety of nutrient-rich foods. These foods will keep you and the baby healthy during the pregnancy and after you give birth.

Hemorrhoid in pregnancy is actually a very common occurrence in most pregnant women. But nevertheless, it can be a real nightmare when you do get one and you’re pregnant. Here are some things that you should know about hemorrhoids and what you can do in order to relieve any pain and discomfort caused by hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids – What Is It?

Hemorrhoids are actually swollen veins in or around the anus.  This is usually due to a weakened venus wall the veins in the anal canal gets swollen allowing blood to pool in and around the anal canal and this blood pooling extend the walls of the veins thereby creating a visible ball on the outside of the anal canal.  The visible ball is called a hemorrhoid and when hemorrhoid occurs during pregnancy, it is called pregnancy hemorrohoids.

What causes pregnancy hemorrhoids?

In order for a woman to carry a healthy pregnancy, the total blood volume is increased by at least 40 percent so that nutrients and nourishment can be sent to the unborn child in the womb.  This increase in blood volumes requires that the blood vessels expand in order to accommodate all the extra blood.  Perhaps this is the biggest reason why pregnant women experience hemorrhoids. It is also the cause of blood clots and varicose veins.

Types of Pregnancy Hemorrhoids

1. Internal Hemorrhoid Of Pregnancy
   This type of hemorrhoid during pregnancy is an ‘invisible hemorrhoid’. This is because that hemorrhoid isn’t felt or seen on the outside but it can be strained or irritated by passing hard stool and it can bleed.  You might see small droplets of blood on your tissue or on the toilet bowl. This type of hemorrhoid also don’t cause much discomfort since internal anal membrane don’t have any pain receptors. Although a hard stool can push it outside of the anal canal/opening, if this occurs then pain and irritation might occur.
2. External Hemorrhoid of Pregnancy
   External Hemorrhoids tend to be quite painful, it can even form blood clots that are very painful for the pregnant woman since the clot becomes swollen and inflamed. The pain felt is usually compared to a stab of a knife or a hot poker.

What are the Treatments For Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy?

The good news is that this type of hemorrhoid usually withers down and improves after your baby is born. In the mean time, you do have some alternatives in order to relieve the pain and discomfort caused by this condition

1. Take a warm bath with baking soda.
2. Use Witch Hazel to reduce swelling or bleeding on the anus.
3. You can use tucks medicated pads
4. If you can, do switch position every now and then. Do not sit or stand for long periods.
5. Drink  at least 10 glasses of water and do take in more fruit juices and the likes in order to strengthen your system
6. You can drink prune juice or other juices that will allow you to pass soft stools so you can avoid irritating the hemorrhoid.
7. As with any pregnancy and general health considerations, you should add a lot of fruits and vegetables in your diet.

If or when the pain from hemorrhoids becomes unbearable or you feel a lot of discomfort from the condition, it is actually best to go to your obstetrician so you can be prescribed medications or at the very least given alternatives in order to get relief.

Caring for your baby should start even before your baby is born.  You should start to bond with your unborn baby from the onset of your pregnancy and even after your delivery and this is where Prenatal Care comes in.

What is Prenatal Care?

Prenatal care is caring for your baby in the womb, even before you give birth to it.   Prenatal care for most women begins early in the pregnancy usually during the first trimester.  The first step is usually a visit to the doctor. For the first 6 months of a normal pregnancy, the doctor’s visit is usually restricted to only once a month. During the third trimester of pregnancy though, the visits are increased to once every two weeks, then once a week as the pregnancy comes into full term.

During your initial visit to the doctor, various tests are done in order to check for your health and the baby’s health as well. The tests usually include blood tests to check for blood type, anemia, immunity and Rh factor.  Tests are also done to determine a variety of disease processes that may affect your baby or your pregnancy like rubella or hepatitis. There is also the routine urinalysis which checks your urine for signs of diabetes and any kidney changes. A pap smear can also be done in order to check your cervix.  There are also test to determine birth defects in the fetus, should you want one done. Some tests maybe repeated as you progress in your pregnancy. Now these are the medical aspect of prenatal care.

Now that you have taken care of the medical part of prenatal care, it is now time to bond with your unborn child. You may think it odd for one to talk about bonding when the baby is not even born yet. But the truth of the matter is, you can actually bond with your child even if they are yet to be born. There are many things you can carry out in order to ‘bond’ with your unborn baby. This will foster closeness between the two of you and will also allow your baby to recognize your voice even before you give birth.

Perhaps the simplest and most effective way to bond with your baby is to talk to your belly. You might find it odd to do, so you can spend a couple of minutes in the privacy of your own bedroom or bathroom to talk to your baby and let him/her know how much you love them and anticipate their entry into the world.  Expectant fathers can do this as well and they can add stimulus by touching the mommy’s belly to stimulate the sense of touch for the baby and enable the baby to recognize the father as well.

When your baby is big enough (inside your tummy) you will be able to feel its feet, elbow or knee. You can gently push on your tummy and you might be amazed if your baby pushes back. Daddy can push the belly too and you can let dad feel the baby’s push back. Don’t be afraid of hurting your baby, the amniotic fluid actually protects him and you can always be gentle.

It is also a good bonding time to sing to your baby or perhaps just play music. Doing this will also stimulate your baby’s language skills. You might be shocked that your baby actually hears what you play. This is evident when after you give birth and play music or sing a song that you played when the baby was yet unborn that he turns his head or widens his eyes when he hears the familiar tune.

These are just some of the ways you can bond with your child while you are still pregnant. Try them out and see a major difference when your baby finally comes out into the world.

Who says getting pregnant is all about women’s health? Research shows that 40 percent of fertility problems originate from men. Male infertility can originate from sperm production (sperm count or shape/structure of sperm) or sperm motility. There are many causes of male infertility but many of them can be reduced by our day-to-day lives such as

• Having a healthy diet and taking necessary vitamins that helps increase fertility
• Quit smoking
• Reducing alcohol intake. While the occasional drink is considered safe, daily alcohol consumption can reduce testosterone levels and sperm counts.
• Keeping testicles at a healthy temperature. Things to avoid 3-6 weeks before conception are sauna, steam baths, hot tubs, and extra hot showers.
• Activities that can injure the reproductive organs such as football, soccer, hockey, baseball, and even bicycling (anything where the speed and impact of the sport can injure a testicle).

So, it is now clear that getting pregnant is a responsibility shared by both parents and both males and females have to protect their fertility to ensure a healthy reproductive system.

Nutrients that boost male fertility

Certain nutrients are essential in ensuring a healthy sperm production and balanced hormones. Below are examples of some nutrients that are essential to produce & maintain healthy sperms:

• Zinc – Important for sperm formation and motility. A deficiency can reduce semen volume and testosterone levels.
• Folic acid – Maintains healthy sperm chromosomes and prevents birth defects such as down syndrome
• Vitamin E – Assist with sperm motility and egg penetration by reducing free radical damage to sperm cells
• Vitamin C – Increase sperm count and prevent sperms from sticking together
• Arginine – Assist with the production of sperm (increases sperm count & quality)

While it is important that you maintain a high nutrient intake when you are trying for a baby, make sure that you do not overdose in vitamins as taking too many vitamins can also reduce a man’s fertility.

Food that increase fertility

Your diet should be well varied and balanced. Here is some specific advice to help guide you:

• Zinc – Oysters, extra-lean beef tenderloin, baked beans, and dark chicken meat
• Folic acid – Fortified breakfast cereals, leafy greens, legumes, and orange juice
• Calcium & Vitamin D – Skim milk, yogurt, and salmon

A missed period is how a woman normally considers that she is pregnant. But even before you miss your period, you might have already noticed something different about you and your body that tells you, you are actually pregnant.  Here are other signs and symptoms that may mean you’re pregnant.

Increased Body Temperature

If you’re basal body temperature (your oral temperature taken first thing in the morning) is unusually heightened. You do have to realize also that this temperature is also heightened at the onset of ovulation and stays until your menstruation.  If the basal temperature is elevated even after your expected menstrual date, then this is a sign of pregnancy.

Tender and Larger Breasts

You might feel that your breast is tender and might look and feel larger, this feeling is also typical a few days before your menstruation. Some women report that this feeling starts around one to two weeks after conceiving.  The areola and nipple may also appear darker and bigger, this symptom usually persists after pregnancy, more so if you choose to breastfeed.

Fatigue and Irritability

You might also feel unusually tired even after mild activities. You may also be a little bit more irritable than normal. The cause of these symptoms is not really known but it is thought that this happens because of the changes in hormones that pregnant women experience, thus the mood swings and tiredness.

Nausea

Although often called ‘morning sickness’, nausea and vomiting can occur at anytime and vary in severity from woman to woman.

Cramping

This might resemble the cramping you experience when you have your period.

Frequent Urination

You might start to feel like you always ‘need to go’, this happens because the uterus is expanding and putting pressure on the gall bladder so you often feel the urge to ‘go’.

Bloating

You might also feel bloated, like you’re always full. Weight gain might also be possible, but not in all cases. You might also start to feel like your clothes are tighter, especially around the waist area.

Headaches, Dizzy Spells and Fainting

There are some cases when a pregnant woman is prone to fainting spells and dizziness. This occurs when the blood vessels dilate and blood pressure drops, sometimes the body has difficulty adapting to these changes, so dizziness, sometimes fainting occurs. If you don’t usually faint, you might want to go see a doctor immediately, to see if you are pregnant.

These are only some signs and symptoms of pregnancy; you may or may not experience them. But knowing them will give you a clue or a warning that you are indeed pregnant. Once you think you are pregnant, you can get one of those pregnancy test kit, to test at the privacy of your own home or go to the doctor to have yourself tested.

It is imperative to realize that not all pregnant women will experience these symptoms or experience the symptoms to the same extent. Even the same woman can experience different symptoms of pregnancy in her next pregnancy in comparison to her previous one.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, there are about 6 million pregnancies in the U.S. each year, 53% of which are planned. Understanding the menstrual cycle and the periods of time when fertility is at its highest can improve the chances of a couple becoming pregnant.

The average menstrual cycle is 28 days. Day one is the first day of menstrual bleeding. During the time of a female’s menstrual period, the least likely time to conceive is day one through day seven. For women with regular periods, an egg is released from the ovary, called ovulation, about 14 days before the start of the next period.

The most fertile time for most women is between days 12 and 16. It is important to note that an egg, if not fertilized, will die twenty-four hours after ovulation. Sperm, however, can live up to 48 hours inside the vaginal environment. Therefore, a woman’s best chance for becoming pregnant occurs in the day or two closest to ovulation.

For women who have regular periods but who may have cycles longer or shorter than 28 days, the method of measuring peak fertility can be more complicated, however the timing of the egg’s release from the ovary is almost always 14 days before the start of the next menstrual cycle. For women with 30 day cycles, for example, ovulation can be expected around Day 16.

Women with irregular cycles can often not predict when they will ovulate. The use of tools such as an ovulation calendar or ovulation predictor kits can help determine the peak time of fertility during a menstrual cycle. Women can also measure basal body temperature or changes in the cervix mucous to assess for signs of ovulation. During ovulation, the body temperature increases by 0.5 to 1.6 degrees and the cervix mucous is clear and stretchy (other days of the cycle, the mucous is pasty and thick).

For couples who are planning a pregnancy, the best method to determine individual peak fertility times is to chart the woman’s period on a basic calendar for at least three months to first determine if the cycle is regular and when ovulation is most likely to occur.