Month One
By the time you miss your period and find out that you are actually pregnant, a tiny embryo that will become your baby has formed and begins growing at an incredibly rapid rate. In fact, the embryo is now 10,000 times larger than a single fertilized egg. The placenta, baby’s heart, spinal cord, and digestive system are all beginning to develop.

Month Two
By the end of this month, the embryo has grown to approximately 1 inch long. The heart is now functioning, and facial features are beginning to appear. While the embryo is moving, you will not feel anything for another couple of months.

Month Three
The embryo is officially called a fetus and measures almost 3 inches in length. His or her arms, legs, hands, and feet are fully formed. At this stage you can probably detect a heartbeat using a device called a Doppler.

Month Four
Growth continues rapidly, and your baby’s gender is now determinable. While looking human in appearance at this point, your baby will still need much more time before he or she could survive outside of your body.

Month Five
At about 10 inches long, your baby is beginning to grow hair, eyelashes, and eyebrows. He or she is also growing a type of fine hair called lanugo that will cover the body until it is shed shortly before or after birth.

Month Six
Fetal movement is becoming more and more pronounced as muscles strengthen. Eyelids begin to part and the eyes will open occasionally. Also, hearing has developed to the point of being able to hear sounds from outside of the womb.

Month Seven
The average seven-month-old fetus is 15 inches long and over two lbs. in weight. If born at this stage, your baby would be premature but would have a good chance of survival.

Month Eight
Growth is especially rapid this month, with tremendous development of the brain, lungs, and other organs. Your baby will most likely turn head down during this time to prepare for delivery.

Month Nine
Congratulations! Your baby is ready to be born. He or she likely weighs between 6 and 9 lbs and measure 18 to 22 inches in length. The lungs and other organs are completely mature and the skin is pink and smooth. Don’t forget that most babies are not born on their exact due date and there is no benefit to rushing it. Anytime from the 38th to the 42nd week of pregnancy is optimal.

Author: Julian Hall
About the author: Julian Hall of GiftBabies.co.uk and The Baby Gifts Company - The Most Unique, Innovative Gift Ideas for Babies, Christening Gifts, Newborn Gifts, Personalized Gifts, Organic Clothing, Nappies, Blankets, New Baby Gifts

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“For many parents, pregnancy and childbirth are an awakening to the organic world. Suddenly, vague or distant-seeming concerns about health and the environment become focused on the new baby in the home. Studies have shown repeatedly that contaminants in the blood can pass from mother to fetus with alarming ease, and that the developing organs and tissues of infants, children and teenagers are more susceptible to damage from chemical toxins.”

The Complete Organic Pregnancy, was published by HarperCollins in October. The book is a user-friendly guidebook for the busy mom or dad whose bookshelf is already over-stuffed with baby advice manuals, but who - like Zissu - found themselves sitting awake at night worried about invisible threats in the home environment.

The four steps recommended in the article are: (You should read the full article for a more detailed explanation)

1.Don’t renovate your home during pregnancy or early childhood
2.Switch to non-toxic cleaning products
3.Choose certified organic foods whenever possible
4.Pamper yourself with products that are not loaded with chemicals

A couple of other ideas that I am going to throw in are:

Try making your own cleaning products. Vinegar and water in a spray bottle works as well as Windex for example. This will give save you a lot of childproofing hassle in the future and also allow your little one to help you clean. Take it from me, they wont spray themselves in the mouth twice with vinegar and water. The look on their face in priceless and there is no need to call poison control.

You can also try making your own cosmetics, skin and hair care products from items in your kitchen. This will not only be substantially better for your body but will have the same benefits as home made cleaning products. You will not have to call poison control if your toddler drinks your homemade olive oil body “lotion”.

Lastly, make sure to avoid toxic people. Something about pregnancy makes the non-pregnant people act stupid and weird. People say preposterous things and of course think it is perfectly OK to tell you how to handle your pregnancy and birth. It is a personal, intimate, magical and beautiful time so if the toxic people are getting to you and you are finding the bad vibes hard to shake then avoid the people if you can. The precious nine months goes by so quickly and you want to enjoy this magical time with your little one.

Click here to read the full story at www.thedailygreen.com

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ST LOUIS, MO — (MARKET WIRE) — A study by researchers from three of America’s top universities suggests U.S. women aren’t getting adequate amounts of a nutrient thought to promote normal fetal brain development.

Sponsored by the National Institute of Health, researchers found the average American consumes just 314 milligrams of choline each day — much less than the 425 milligrams (women) and 550 milligrams (men) recommended by government health officials.

Choline is a nutrient essential for human brain development, normal memory function and fertility, and is thought to be particularly important during pregnancy. Foods rich in choline include soy lecithin, beef liver and egg yolks, although soy lecithin delivers one of the most bioactive and natural sources of the nutrient without cholesterol or saturated fat.

A new study by researchers from three of America’s top universities suggests U.S. women aren’t getting adequate amounts of choline thought to promote normal fetal brain development.Taking egg yolks or soy lecithin while pregnant can provide the choline that your fetus needs for proper brain development.

Click here to read full story at www.marketwire.com

Find choline and soy lecithin at http://naturalpregnancy.amuchbetterstore.com

Source: www.PRWeb.com

Prenatal Belly Dance Fitness DVD — Make Your Pregnancy Fun and Sexy

New York, NY (PRWEB) — “Prenatal Bellydance Fitness” — now available on DVD (WorldDance New York) — The ancient art of bellydance is a natural and graceful way to stay active during pregnancy and prepare for motherhood.

Originating in ancient dances and rituals related to fertility, family, life cycle and childbirth, bellydance is based on movements that come naturally to the female body. Some bellydance movements mimic the intuitive natural motions associated with pregnancy and childbirth. Others have been traditionally used to move the baby into the best position or to relieve the discomfort of labor.

The organic, flowing, energizing movement of bellydance helps to improve abdominal control and awareness, relieve aches and discomfort associated with pregnancy, promote better circulation, avoid swelling and cramping and prevent excessive weight gain.

Bellydance hip movements will tone the muscles of your pelvic floor, whose strength is all-important for the birth, as well as for your postnatal recovery. And, beyond these benefits, it offers women a fantastic motivation to stay beautiful and graceful throughout the pregnancy — remain in touch with your inner goddess.

The unique prenatal fitness and dance instruction DVD based on the movement vocabulary of bellydance. Safe and effective for pregnancy, the fitness program and features a 25-min workout including warmup, cooldown, and 3 exercise sections: lower body, upper body, and aerobics composed of faster moves and steps.

Benefits include improved abdominal control and awareness, relief of aches and discomfort associated with pregnancy, and the prevention of excessive weight gain.

This unique dance/workout program has been designed to be safe and effective for pregnancy and follows the guidelines of the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.

“Prenatal Bellydance Fitness” DVD is available at Amazon.com, and distributed to retailers by Navarre Corporation (www.navarre.com)

Buy the Prenatal Belly Dance DVD from Amazon.com

A developing fetus is highly susceptible to outside influences. Most people know for example, that smoking and drinking can have serious adverse effects on a fetus, some permanent. Unfortunately many women are not as aware of the effects of common household chemicals and how they can affect not only their baby but even their great, great grandchildren.

What can affect a fetus? There is very little that a pregnant women consumes, breathes, or slathers on her skin that will not affect her fetus in one way or another. Some chemicals are clearly dangerous and should be avoided at all costs. An excellent starting point for a pregnant woman is to consider how natural a substance is. If something grew out of the ground it is quite likely safer than something developed in a lab. There are obviously exceptions to this rule such as poisonous mushrooms and certain herbs but for the most part it holds true.

The hard part is not determining what is safe as much as what is unsafe during pregnancy. Many substances have never been tested on pregnant women and their unborn children so the truth is, you may never know what is safe and what is not. So as a conscientious mother you may choose to err on the side of caution and avoid substances that may potentially be harmful to your baby. This is not feasible all the time but it is certainly worth the attempt.

What is potentially harmful to a fetus?

DRUGS & CHEMICALS
First you should evaluate all drug use including prescription, OTC, and illegal. The FDA has Use-In-Pregnancy ratings for drugs based on their known or unknown dangers. Perinatology.com has a fairly comprehensive list of prescription drugs, vaccines and illegal drugs and includes the class and the potential effects on a fetus or newborn.

What chemicals should you avoid if you are pregnant? Honestly, all of them. Some are clearly more toxic to your fetus than others and some may be totally safe but nobody knows for sure. Some of the dangerous chemicals which are proven to cause miscarriage, birth defects, developmental problems, and stillbirth are:

Pesticides, phthalates (found in some plastics, cosmetics, and bath products), paint, carpet, nail polish, gasoline fumes, routine dental procedures, some household cleaning products, polyurethane foam, hair dyes, and tap water (which can contain fluoride & chlorine). Read Pollution in Newborns by the Environmental Working Group to learn more.

You shuold also research your skin and hair care products at skindeep.org. The almost 15,000 beauty products in the Skin Deep database will tell you not only the safety rating of your products but what questionable chemicals your favorite beauty products contain. Skin Deep provides brand by brand comparisons and safety ratings. Search by product name, product type, brand, or even look up the highest concern brands. They will even give you a personalized shopping list of the safest beauty products.

PRENATAL TESTING (prenatal “scare”)
Additionally, prenatal testing carries inherent risks and potential benefits which must be weighed by each couple. In many cases the testing is totally unnecessary and can even result in miscarriage. What is the answer? Educate yourself. Thoroughly research prenatal tests prior to agreeing to them. The Center for Unhindered Living has a number of articles explaining the pros and cons of Ultrasound, Dopplers, Alpha Fetoprotein Test, Glucose Tolerance Test, Amniocentesis, Chorionic Villus Sampling, and Prenatal Rhogam.

If the test is not absolutely necessary then you have the right to refuse to have it done because it could potentially jeopardize your unborn child. Only you can decide if a test is necessary or not based on your physician’s advice, your research, and your instincts. Please do not take a “medical professionals” word for it. As a responsible adult do some research first.

Nutrition, exercise, and mental health.
Proper nutrition means avoiding processed foods, sugar, commercial meat and dairy products, caffeine, alcohol, among others. Soy, wheat, sugar, and caffeine should be avoided.

There are so many books available about pregnancy nutrition and if you need a bit of guidance then by all means get a book. Dr. William Sears has a great page on prenatal nutrition as well. In addition to avoiding negative food items, you need to accentuate the positive. Certain vitamins and minerals are vital to a healthy pregnancy. The RDA of most vitamins and minerals increases substantially during pregnancy. Folic Acid, calcium, and iron are essential. Organic produce should be your best friend. If this is all new to you then you are probably overwhelmed and confused. If you are committed though, making sensible food choices will be second nature in no time.

Lack of exercise generally will not result in direct harm to your baby but it will make your pregnancy and labor substantially more difficult. The increased blood flow from regular exercise will enhance your child’s development and some studies link prenatal fitness with increased apgar scores and mental development. A walking routine or prenatal yoga course is ideal. You certainly do not want to overdo and many fitness routines need to be modified for pregnancy. The key is to avoid inactivity and increase blood flow. So whatever you do, get off the couch and get moving.

Finally, if you are seeking a natural pregnancy, it is very important to avoid stress. Stress has been linked to miscarriage, autism, and other many other fetal developmental problems. Unfortunately it is unlikely you can quit your job and move to an island for nine months so you need to play the cards you have been dealt. In other word if you are prone to stress you can learn to identify your stress triggers and avoid stressful situations. You can also learn how to handle stressful situations once you are in them.

Both meditation and yoga are proven, fabulous ways of lowering stress levels. Counseling may also help with current stressors in your life. Even a ten minute walk has been proven to reduce stress levels considerably. In any event, please do not resort to drugs or alcohol which don’t reduce stress, they only numb you temporarily and they will certainly cause harm to your child.

You may also want to try other stress reducing techniques include biofeedback, EFT, or a mantra such as “This too will pass”. And never underestimate the value of a good friend or family member that you can call if things get rough.

If you are committed to an organic pregnancy you can certainly do it. Having a partner and family who support your decision will certainly help but even without their help you are certainly capable of trusting your instincts and standing your ground. Your body and your baby will thank you.

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“Do you dissolve into tears at the slightest provocation? Is your husband starting to call you “Mariah Scary”? Do your friends say you’re a “diva” and you know they don’t mean the operatic kind?” – You Know You are Hormonal When…… An I Village Top Ten

Author: Belinda Johnson
Finding out that you are pregnant is usually a very emotional experience - you are either delighted, terrified, or somewhere in between. However you felt when hearing that you were pregnant, the chances are that you were not surprised to be a bit emotional about it. Such things are to be “expected”. What does surprise many women -and their partners- on the other hand is the ongoing emotional changes which may occur during the course of the pregnancy. This is perfectly normal, but understanding what to expect, and why, will help both you and your partner get the most enjoyment out of this amazing experience.

Hormones
During your pregnancy your body is going to undergo some tremendous changes in hormone levels. Mood swings are very common because of these hormone changes - it is not something you have much control over. Nearly all pregnant women are prone to emotional ups and downs. Common “side effects” include bouts of feeling unsure and panicky, extreme reactions to minor things and even crying.

The important thing to realize is that all of this is perfectly normal, and has nothing to do with you as a person. As soon as you and your partner accept this, the low points become so much easier to deal with. Some women suffer from terrible guilt or feelings of inadequacy because of these mood swings, which just makes it harder for your “moods” to pass. There is no need for you to feel guilty at all! Accept that you will feel down from time to time, make sure your partner knows this, and look forward to the “up” part of the mood swings.

Self Image
As your body shape and size changes during your pregnancy, you may begin to feel very strange about yourself. At times you may even feel that you are trapped in someone else’s body, or worry that you are getting “fat” and unattractive. We live in a very image conscious world, so these concerns are natural. However, pregnant women are in fact extremely sensuous, and there is no more potent symbol of womanhood than being pregnant. You should feel proud of the obvious signs of your fertility! You should remember, too, that pregnancy gives you some advantages from a looks point of view. The increased blood flow normally improves your skin and gives you that healthy “glow” that pregnant women have.

Your image of yourself while you are pregnant is very important. If you feel good about being pregnant, you will probably look good too.

“Anxiety in regard to how a woman may feel about herself and the way her body is changing is normal, and her concerns regarding her own health and the health of the fetus are paramount. Anticipation of the new role of being a mother and the changes a new baby will bring to the family may be overwhelming. The pregnant woman should be encouraged and supported by her spouse, family, and health care providers in all her concerns.” Expectantmothersguide.com

Anxiety about the baby
It is normal for pregnant couples, but especially the mother, to spend a lot of time worrying about the health of their baby: What if there is something wrong? Will he or she be “normal”? Keeping up to date with all your checkups and visits to your health care provider will help calm you. Making sure that you follow a decent diet plan and keep yourself physically well will also be reassuring.

If this is your first pregnancy you will probably feel a bit of anxiety about how good a parent you will be, and whether or not you will cope with the strain of caring for your newborn child. Again, this is perfectly normal - most women worry about accidentally harming the baby or not being able to deal with the day to day baby care. Having a good support network (partner and family) in place before the birth will go a long way towards making you feel confident that you can do it, so make sure you discuss your fears and worries with them. Try and learn as much as you can about caring for a newborn baby, and speak to other mothers that you know. Having this knowledge will make you feel more equipped to “do the right things” when the time comes.

You may find yourself having bad dreams or nightmares about your baby. This is just your subconscious dealing with the fears you are probably trying hard not to think about while awake. It’s important to remember that no matter how disturbing these dreams are, they are not reality. Try and think of them as your subconscious mind blowing off steam.

Concerns about Labor
Almost all women worry about childbirth and how they will handle it. Fear about the pain and worries about whether or not you will embarrass yourself are common. You will find yourself thinking of this more and more as your pregnancy comes closer to full term. Learning about labor and childbirth, and practicing your exercises and breathing techniques will go a long way towards making you feel confident about the birth process. You will be more aware of what is going on around you, and you will likely feel less pain too.

Final Words
Although it might sound like your pregnancy is going to be nothing but a long string of emotional crises, this is not the case for most women. You will have various ups and downs, but for the most part this will be perfectly manageable, especially if you have a supportive and involved partner. Just remember that all the emotions you experience are felt by most pregnant women, they are perfectly normal and you shouldn’t allow yourself to be stressed by them. Pregnancy is a wonderful experience, so don’t allow normal emotional changes to ruin that experience for you!

Finally, remember that one of the main tasks for you during the nine months of your pregnancy is to mentally prepare yourself for motherhood. Your future planning and lifestyle are going to have to include this new human being. For most people, these are big changes. You might even find yourself having second thoughts at some stage during your pregnancy. Having these thoughts does not make you a poor mother, or a bad person. If you are to successfully prepare yourself for becoming a mother (or father), you and your partner need to be completely honest about these feelings. Very often just talking abut your concerns will make them easier to deal with.

Sheryl’s comment:
If stress in your life is contributing to your rollercoaster of emotions during pregnancy, then try to take every opportunity to relax. Take a walk each and every day to tone and strengthen your body for childbirth. Sign up for a prenatal yoga class or get a DVD. Drink chamomile, raspberry or nettle leaf tea which can help you relax while providing many fertility and pregnancy benefits.

(Learn more about herbs for pregnancy
Pregnancy Calendars

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Pregnancy is one of the most special times in a woman’s life. The feeling of carrying another living being in your womb is a very unique experience. It is also a time of physical and emotional transformation for the woman. The hormones released by the pituitary gland, placenta and ovaries lead to a variety of physical and emotional changes. These physical changes include an increase in the basal metabolic rate, breathing rate and blood volume. Also, as the body prepares itself to support a new life, additional strain is placed on the abdominal muscles, internal organs, back, legs and the weight-bearing joints. These hormonal fluctuations also cause emotional mood swings that range from joyous exuberance to intense sadness. Symptoms such as nausea, constipation, urinary frequency, gastric reflux, varicose veins, edema, lower back pain and general fatigue are also common during this period.

To ease this transition, many health professionals recommend massage therapy as a complement to prenatal care. Prenatal pregnancy massage is designed to alleviate many of the common physical discomforts of pregnancy and provide emotional support.

How does Prenatal Pregnancy Massage work?
Prenatal pregnancy massage aims to alleviate the discomforts experienced during pregnancy through skilled touch and communication. This soft and gentle massage therapy soothes tired, achy muscles and joints. The massage is combined with a series of passive manipulations to increase the range of motion and lubricate the joints internally. The therapist also teaches the patient methods of correcting the postural imbalances that occur as a result of the pregnancy. Prenatal pregnancy massage also helps the patient to identify, isolate and strengthen the muscles that she will use during labor.

Prenatal pregnancy massage is usually started during the second trimester of the pregnancy. Before commencing the massage therapy sessions, the therapist will teach you some gentle exercises to improve your posture and strengthen your muscles. He or she will also teach you techniques of diaphragmatic breathing and relaxation. The actual massage is carried out in a series of gliding strokes with the application of a light, soothing oil.

Benefits of Prenatal Pregnancy Massage
Prenatal pregnancy massage reduces the discomforts associated with pregnancy and enhances the physiological and emotional well-being of both mother and fetus. It alleviates many of the conditions associated with pregnancy such as sciatica, back and neck pain, and stomach disorders. Prenatal pregnancy massage also promotes better functioning of muscles and joints, improves circulation and overall body tone. It also decreases mental and physical fatigue. Studies have shown that pregnant women who receive regular prenatal massages are more at ease than those who don’t.

Precautions for Prenatal Pregnancy Massage
Prenatal pregnancy massage therapy is not meant to be a substitute for thorough prenatal care. Before starting a course of prenatal pregnancy massage therapy, do consult your obstetrician. You must also ensure that your massage therapist is properly certified to carry out prenatal pregnancy massage. The massage should be stopped if you experience symptoms such as an increase in abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, heavy discharge of blood or water or high blood pressure.

Author: Sharon Hopkins
About the author: Sharon Hopkins manages sites related to Massage Health Therapy, your online guide that introduces pregnant mothers to Prenatal Pregnancy Massage. She also writes for Aromatherapy, Yoga besides many other health related sites.

Buy the Video (VHS): Massage Practice For Pregnancy

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When pregnant, a woman is not only responsible for her body, but also for her growing fetus. For the period of her pregnancy, whatever she does is doubled. In this case, the primary concern is her health, and the health of her unborn child. She must take considerable care of herself. Should she get the flu, it may only affect her short term, but it could have a long term effect on her baby.

An illness that affects an estimated 4% of the total women pregnant in the United States is gestational diabetes. These are women who haven’t had diabetes before pregnancy, but have high glucose levels while they are pregnant.

It is uncertain what causes gestational diabetes, and most pediatricians believe it involves the placenta. The hormones in the placenta are responsible for the baby’s development. However, should these hormones become blocked, the mothers body is deprived of the injected insulin it needs. This is scientifically called “insulin resistance.” This hormonal blockage makes it difficult for the mothers body to use the insulin that is being injected in her.

Why would insulin need to be injected? As a result of gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs when the mothers body is no longer able to make the insulin that is required for her pregnancy. This shortage of insulin prevents glucose from leaving the blood. Glucose must leave the blood in order to convert to the necessary amount of energy required by the mother and her baby. Should the glucose build up in the blood to a high level, hyperglycemia will occur.

What are the side effects for the baby when hyperglycemia occurs? It depends on when the mother has the ailment. If she is in her late trimester, when the baby’s body has already been formed, she can consider herself and her baby very lucky. At this late stage, it is unlikely that the baby will suffer any kind of birth defect whatsoever.

However, should she have gestational diabetes when the pregnancy is less than six months old, the baby may very well have problems when it comes to body formation. This is because the mothers pancreas must function twice as hard in order to produce the needed insulin for her and the baby. When glucose gets stuck in the blood, then other nutrients are also stuck. Extra blood glucose now seeps into the placenta. The effects of gestational diabetes will now cause the baby to have high blood glucose levels, and the baby will slowly become fat.

The results of this added fat are referred to as “Macrosomia,” or what is known to be an overly large baby. As a result of the additional insulin being created by the baby’s pancreas, a newborn will tend to have a really low blood glucose level at birth. This condition puts the baby at a higher risk when it comes to potential breathing problems. These babies are prone to obesity, and their mothers will most likely be affected by type 2 diabetes.

Treatment for this condition must begin immediately after the problem is discovered. Successful treatment for gestational diabetes will result in a lowering of blood glucose down to normal levels.

Treatment consists of a special diet containing just the right amount of sugar, along with a regular exercise program whenever possible. Daily testing of blood glucose, and regular insulin injections are also necessary.

Soon-to-be-mothers must do everything they can to maintain good health for their own sake, and the sake of their child.

About the author:
Carl DiNello is an Article Author whose articles are featured on websites covering the most popular topics on the internet. To read more on this topic, please visit Diabetes Symptoms & Risks! You may republish this article on your website, or e-zine so long as none of the content, or author information has been edited or changed in any way, and all links are left active and unchanged.

Sheryl’s comment:
Gestational diabetes could possibly be yet another money maker fabricated by the medical community against pregnant women. Please read the article on this Gestational Diabetes at www.unhinderedliving.com. The author feels (and I agree) that the biggest problem with large babies is that women in America are forced to deliver their babies on their backs or semi-sitting rather than in the natural squatting position which allows even large babies to be born easily by opening the pelvis and propelling the baby out naturally.

Buy the Book: Managing Your Gestational Diabetes

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