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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

1 – Stay Calm

This is perhaps one of the most important things you can do during this time. Remember your partner is generally going through a very rough time.  She might be experiencing various physical and emotional distresses that might not make her as logical as she was when she wasn’t pregnant. Theses distresses might include nausea and vomiting, unfamiliar sensations that may cause pain, discomfort and general feeling of unwell.  You partner may also be experiencing a lot of emotional stresses including changes in body figures and mood swings mainly due to hormonal changes and imbalances that are occurring in her body.

During this time you should be as supportive as you possibly can and always try to be the calm one. If you panic together with your wife, then the two of you might end up where you don’t want to be.

2 – Be Patient

Your partner may lose interest in sex during pregnancy. You have to realize that this is a normal occurrence for many pregnant women. So try to be a bit more patient when it comes to these things. For now, just look forward to the coming baby and the time when she will become interested again. And perhaps this is the time to just think about the needs of your pregnant partner rather than focus on your primal needs. There will be time for that later, you just need to be patient.

3 – Be Supportive

This is particularly important in the latter part of the pregnancy. This is when your partner’s tummy is distended from the weight of the unborn baby. Her feet maybe swollen, she might be having backaches and have trouble sleeping. This is the time when your partner’s self-esteem can be at an all time low.

This is the time you need to be supportive and show how much you care for her and how beautiful she still is despite her size. You should also make her as comfortable as possible

4 – Understand the Situation

Another thing you need to do is to understand the situation. Make sure that you get important information regarding pregnancy and the changes a woman goes through in order to bring a baby into the world. The more you know about, the better you can understand it and the better you can support and reassure your partner that everything will be alright.

Finally, you do need to realize that pregnancy is a just a part of your life as a couple in order to bring a bundle of joy into this world. The woman will experience a lot of difficulties, changes and physical as well as emotional stresses that may strain you and your relationship.  The best thing you can actually do is to make sure that you get all the information you can get about pregnancy so that you can better understand what you partner is going through and in turn you will be able to support her better and in the end, it will make you a greater father as well, when you learn to understand what it took for your baby to come into the world.

There are times when you are sure you know which name or names you want and there are times when picking a name become an arduous task. There are so many things to consider. Should it be a family name, a traditional name, an unusual one or just something that strikes your fancy?

Sometimes you also need to consider the desires of your spouse and your immediate family members and it may not be easy if you aim to please everybody with your baby’s name. But make sure that whatever you ultimately decide, its something you as the parent likes and something you know your baby will appreciate when he grows older. Perhaps this is even something you can work on even if you aren’t pregnant yet.

Rare and Unique

You can choose an unusual name for your child to make sure that he or she stand out from the crowd but you also need to make sure that the name is unique and not weird.

A More Common Name

You can also choose to name your baby with a common name.  But even though the name maybe one of the most beautiful names ever concocted, you do need to consider how many others will have the same name as your baby.

Family Names

Sometimes old family tradition dictates that a particular name be given to your child, but you do need to consider the name that will be given and how it fits in with the times.  Don’t give in to the desires of your older family member. Remember, you are the one who’s pregnant, you should decide.  Although you can choose to use the name as a second or middle name for your child in order to pacify the desires of the family.

Trendy Names

Should you deem to choose a trendy name for your coming baby just make sure that you pick a name that will be trendy for a long time to come. There might be a name that is trendy now but is also a beautiful name to give your child and as such then you should pick that name out.  Remember that your child’s name is something he will carry for his whole life, even when he grows up. So make sure that the name you choose will fit him at any age.

Meanings of Names

You can also consider the meaning of the names you choose to give your child.  There are plenty of online resources that allow you to seek out the meaning of any name you can conjure up. You can make your choice from there.

Finally make sure that you and your husband agree on the name together. Make sure your partner likes the name you will give and vice versa.  You can make a list of names you like and pick out a name that will be satisfy the two of you. Pregnancy is a wonderful thing. Don’t make it hard by not being able to choose the perfect name for your baby.

It is but natural for the older child to feel a little bit left out or neglected with the excitement of coming baby. He might not understand why your tummy is big and why Daddy keeps on hugging your tummy and doing baby talk. It is also natural for some regression and even some temper tantrums to occur.  But hopefully with some love, affection and attention you will keep these events to a minimum.

First and foremost, you need to talk to your child about what is going to happen, the changes that will happen and what they should and can expect from the older members of the family as well as from mommy and daddy. You should always make them feel loved and appreciated. Never lie to your child and allow him to absorb the events that will happen from the get go.

Don’t leave him/her out.  Try to incorporate your older baby into the life of the new baby. Introduce the baby as his little brother or sister and not Mommy’s new baby.  Talk about the role they will be taking on when the baby arrives.

Let your baby feel needed. Let them feel that they are a part of the family by letting them participate in activities for the coming baby.  Let them help in picking out names and decorating the nursery as well.  Also if you need to make any major changes like room transfers, do this before your new baby arrives and let your older child fall in love with the new room.

You should also reinforce their role as the older brother or sister. Let them feel their importance to life of the new baby. Boost their self-esteem by letting them know what a big help they are to you and to the baby.

Let your baby hold your tummy and/or talk to the new baby. Try to let him bond with his unborn brother/sister. Let him have a some time with you and the baby inside your body. If he can read or tell stories, let him read or tell stories to your tummy. This will allow him to bond with his brother or sister while the baby is still inside the tummy.

The most important thing about preparing your older child to receive a new baby is to make sure that he never feels left out or neglected just because a new baby is coming. Make sure he feels a part of the family by getting him involved. It is also important to talk to your husband and any other family member about not teasing your child about the baby. Let him fall in love with the unborn child and allow him to think of the baby as a blessing to your family and not as a rival for your love.

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.

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.