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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Pregnancy is probably the most sensitive period in a woman’s life. You carry the responsibility of another life within you. This in itself can be the primary cause of anxiety during pregnancy and can be very difficult to avoid.

While pregnant, you undergo many inevitable biological and psychological changes, but the eternal anxiety is the undercurrent of all such changes. Headache can be one such ‘inevitable’ suffering. Pregnant women often suffer from severe headaches during pregnancy, as a matter of routine. In general terms some say that headache is a side effect of pregnancy.

What are the reasons for this type of headache? The main ones are hormonal changes, the general stresses related to pregnancy and increases in the your blood volume. In addition, the changes in the contours of your body help to contribute to poor posture. Naturally, poor posture creates stress on various parts of your body. Your brain will eventually get the signal of discomfort, often from the burden of carrying the extra weight.

The vast majority of pregnant women are very cautious about what they consume during pregnancy. Many women will avoid even a Tylenol during pregnancy to err on the side of caution. So what can you do if you are contending with a massive headache during pregnancy?

Try these steps to minimize your pregnancy headache:
Eliminate certain types of food, such as packaged and preserved foods, chocolate and spicy food. Understand your diet very well- what is good for you and for the baby growing within you. Don’t overeat. Eat several small meals in a day. Take lots of liquid diet, fruits and juices.

Improve your circulation and overall health by taking leisurely walks in the nearby park or on the lawns of your own garden. You can also improve your mental and physical state with a prenatal Yoga or Pilates DVD if you can’t find a class near you.

Try to adhere to nature’s schedule if at all possible. Wake up with the sun and get adequate sunlight during the day to regulate your circadian rhythms. Keep your bedroom as dark as possible and try not to stay up too late past dark with inactivity, packaged foods, and stressful news or TV shows. Keep electronics (especially the TV) out of your bedroom.

This is not the time to experiment with any type of strong medication to get relief from the headache. Try to understand the root cause of your headache. Try to control it with a natural process. Practice meditation or deep breathing.

Due to the fact that your symptoms may be related to poor posture or some other physical condition, you may find relief after a visit to the chiropractor or acupuncturist. You can also try your own acupressure or having your partner massage your neck, back and shoulders.

While many women avoid coffee during pregnancy, most experts do not see the harm in a pregnant woman having one to two cups of coffee a day. The caffeine in coffee is often shown to reduce or eliminate a headache. A healthier choice would be a cup or two of green tea.

If all else fails, try to remember that “this too shall pass”. Pregnancy is but a blip of time in your life and most women will put the discomforts of pregnancy and childbirth far behind them as they enjoy life with their new angel.

Author: Javier Fuller
About the author: Many Headache articles are available at Headacheupdates.com for Headache During Pregnancy.

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HCG is a hormone, which is secreted by the embryo and creates progesterone. The level of HCG and progesterone are generally parallel to the symptoms you experience. The worst symptoms seem to go away once the placenta takes over, at which point cholecystokinin increases, and digestion becomes more efficient as it makes better metabolic of your food. In turn, this can contribute to things such as low blood sugar, nausea, dizziness, and after-meal sleepiness.

To help alleviate morning sickness, avoid smells which are unsettling or uncomfortable to you, such as coffee or fish. Small things that didn’t affect you before can now force one hand to your mouth and the other to your stomach, things such as left over food, garbage, or perfumes.

Try to pinpoint these scents and do your best to avoid producing or encountering them. Figure out what times of the day you feel worse, and spend it at home, then figure out what things make you feel both worse and better.

Starting the day off feeling sick is likely to result in spending the day sick. For this reason, try to eat before bed, and right when you get out of bed. If you get up in the middle of the night, try to eat then too. Nibble on foods throughout the day and you should feel at least better than you would, if not good.

As you are eating throughout the day, eat foods which are packed with nutrients (such as cheese, tofu, or brown rice). Try to avoid rich, spicy, acidic, fatty, fried foods when you are feeling nauseas, and avoid eating too much at once. Try to consume as much protein and as many high-energy foods as possible, and force yourself to continuously eat. The result of not eating will get you an acid-filled stomach and low blood sugar.

Drink as many liquids as possible! Anywhere from water, to sports drinks, to juicy fruits. If you have to leave the house to buy, get, or go something try driving instead of getting a ride, as many women feel waves of nausea if they are along for the ride, rather than driving themselves.

Wear loose, comfortable outfits. Make sure they are not pressing into your skin. Take the time to relax. If you’re having troubles relaxing, try acupuncture. It is important to relax for yourself and your baby. And, when all else fails, sleep it off. If you use these suggestions as a general guide throughout your pregnancy, you will be certain to expend comfort as much as possible.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Maternity Clothes and More at http://www.maternityandbabystore.com

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“Answer: Most likely, it won’t. Most women find out that their second pregnancy differs from first one. As a rule, if there are no complications and special problems with health, second pregnancy proceeds easier, than first one. Nevertheless, it’s better for you to plan your second pregnancy in 2-5 years after delivery of your first baby. During this period your organism will be able to restore completely after bearing, delivery and breastfeeding of a baby.”
Click here to read the full article at Baby-Health.net

Most experts readily agree that a second pregnancy differs from the first in many aspects. Usually you will show sooner due to abdominal muscles that have been stretched out from the first pregnancy. The pregnancy can also be more difficult physically because you may be carrying a toddler on one hip. Proper posture is much more important if you are caring for a toddler to avoid back problems.

One of the positive points of a second time pregnancy is that many of the worries and concerns of a first time mother are no longer concerns. You already know what to expect and what is a valid concern. You have the opportunity to learn from your mistakes. Many mothers learn from their horrific hospital births to take matters into their own hands and have a midwife assisted home birth or an unassisted birth. By and large this allows for a peaceful, gentle pregnancy and a blissful, pleasurable childbirth.

Pregnancy has always been a time when I have been so thankful for my knowledge of essential oils and aromatherapy. I am not one of those women who carry pregnancy beautifully. I gain tons of weight, have heartburn and gas, swell up and sleep all of the time. Even though I am not the perfect pregnancy specimen, I still feel like one with aromatherapy.

When I lived with midwives as a teen, I first saw the results of aromatherapy on pregnancy. For my own pregnancy, I expanded upon this knowledge. I discovered that a wonderful thing about aromatherapy when pregnant and after the babies are born is that it gives you a reason to take the time to heal and pamper yourself. What could be better than pampering “medicine”?

I originally formulated the following blends for myself in 1996. Pregnant women,midwives and doulas in the United States have since used them.

Leg Cramp Oil
This oil is so soothing and relaxing on tired muscles. It is not only great for leg cramps, but also for varicose veins, varicosities and sore backs. Put the following ingredients into a container and shake well before using:

• 2 ounces St. John’s Wort oil
• 5 drops neroli essential oil
• 5 drops grapefruit essential oil

Belly Balm or Stretch Mark Prevention Oil
This oil feels wonderful going on. It is smooth and moisturizing and can help with the itching that so often happens when the skin starts stretching. In a double boiler, melt the carrier oils listed below. Carrier oils are nut or seed oils, like almond oil, shea butter, coconut butter and olive oil, for example. These are pressed and not distilled.

• 1 cup coconut oil
• ¼ cup cocoa butter
• 1/8 cup apricot, almond or grapeseed oil
• 1/8 cup Kukui nut oil, shea butter or mango butter (I love using mango butter.)

When these oils have melted completely, remove the mixture from the heat. Allow it to cool for 15-20 minutes, then add the essential oils listed below. Essential oils are distilled from leaves, seeds, roots and flowers that are very concentrated and fragrant. Transfer the blend to a container and allow it to cool completely before using.

• 10-20 drops sandalwood (try to purchase from an ethical source*)
• 15 drops patchouli
• 15 drops sweet orange essential oil

There are additional options for essential oils. Use what you like and/or can find locally. You can also try rosewood, rose, lavender, tangerine and neroli. If you blend your own mixture, be sure to keep the amount of essential oils used at less than 50 drops total.

Massage the balm all over thighs, breasts, stomach and anywhere else that needs nourishing and moisturizing. I have also used this on my face. Living in the Green Mountains, I often need a protector from the frigid winds for my fair skin.

Nausea Spray
Add the following to four ounces of distilled water and use in a spray bottle:

• 20 drops spearmint essential oil
• 15 drops lemon essential oil
• 5 drops sweet orange essential oil

Shake the mixture well and mist the air with it when a woman feels nauseous. You may find that different women prefer other types of scents, so you can also try ginger, neroli and rosewood. Experiment to find the mixture that works best. When making an alternative blend, keep the amount of essential oils used at less than 60 drops.

Labor Mists
The point of using mists during labor is to be as noninvasive as possible. Every person is different and has individual needs. Make sure that you understand and know the person you are making a blend for because the wrong blend can assault the senses. In our need to help, we do not want to create something not so beautiful for a mother.

Relax and Focus
This is a relaxing blend to promote clarity and focus. Fill a four-ounce spray bottle almost full with distilled water and add:

• 20 drops grapefruit essential oil
• 15 drops sweet orange essential oil
• 10 drops spearmint essential oil

Shake well and mist labor room. You can also make a compress by misting a wet cloth with the blend and applying it to the laboring mother’s forehead or back. This mist is great for fathers, too.

Uplift
Transition can be a trying and tiring time for the mother. We want to support her and use a mist blend that will ground and calm her and help lift her spirits. Add water to spray bottle as
above and add:

• 15 drops mandarin essential oil
• 10 drops bergamot essential oil
• 10 drops lavender essential oil
• 10 drops Clary sage essential oil

This is a strong blend and it should be used away from the mother. Never spray the mother directly. Always remember to use essential oils with education and care. Research each oil before use, especially in regard to pregnancy and labor.

* Companies that are ethical sources try to use plants that are sown and harvested for essential oil use specifically. When plants are taken from the wild, these companies insist that they be taken from a sustainable source only.

Author: Demetria Clark
About the author: Demetria Clark is a childbirth doula and runs Heart of Herbs Herbal School in Vermont (see her Web site at Heart of Herbs ). She lives with her husband and two sons, and is currently writing an herbal sourcebook for mothers. Originally printed in BirthKit www.midwiferytoday.com

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Source www.PRWeb.com
Morning sickness, which can be debilitating at times, is drawing more attention and greater concern from pregnant women looking for safe and effective remedies.

New York, NY (PRWEB) — From Angelina Jolie to Jane Doe, women around the world have suffered the debilitating effects of morning sickness during pregnancy, and many women are beginning to grow increasingly more concerned about the remedies available.

“I was so sick during the first few months of my pregnancy that I couldn’t eat, couldn’t go to work. I could hardly function,” Anita Rubio, 25, Island Heights, NJ explains. “I was afraid to take any of the over-the-counter or other medicines because all you read about is how dangerous they wind up being,” she continues.

With many over-the-counter and prescription medications for pain, weight loss and other common conditions being removed from the market, pregnant women are becoming more reluctant to take any medication for morning sickness.

“I thought about taking the herbal remedies but then I read that even ginger could be bad for you and the baby,” Lisa Custodio, 33, Brooklyn, NY states. “I really just felt like I didn’t want to put anything harmful into my body while I was pregnant,” Custodio added.

Custodio, like many pregnant women around the world are discovering that acupressure technology found in BioBands alleviates nausea without the risk of harmful effects for the mother or her unborn child.

“BioBands are great, they are easy to wear, completely stopped my feeling sick and I didn’t have to worry about hurting my baby,” Custodio explains.

The acupressure technology used by BioBands disrupts the transmission of nausea signals to the brain thereby eliminating the nausea associated with morning sickness without the need to take anything orally or topically that is absorbed into the bloodstream.

Pregnant women are becoming increasingly more aware of everything they take into their body, including topical treatments absorbed through the skin. The use of BioBands wristbands for nausea is proving to be safer and more effective than many of the medications and home remedies that have turned out ineffective or potentially harmful.

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She was suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum which afflicts approximately 5 out of 1000 pregnancies. Her doctor told her that she was “pregnant, not sick”.

This story is simply beyond tragic. This is just another example of medical doctors causing more harm than good. This poor woman must have gone through hell. I have a few friends who have endured Hyperemesis Gravidarum and from what they have told me, they would not wish it on their worst enemy. If your doctor tells you that you are “pregnant, not sick” then find yourself a new doctor or midwife. If you are really sufering from this debilitating condition then I do not recommend doing your own prenatal care because you may need intravenous hydration or nutrition.

If you are diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravidarum some of the treatment options are: (and they do not include abortion)

• Hydration and anti-nausea medications
• Nutrition by vein
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin K
• Ginger
• Chamomile
• Anti-nausea bands

Click on the following links to learn more about hyperemesis gravidarum:
www.med.nyu.edu
www.pharmasave.com

Click here to see full CNN report

A pregnancy calendar is a fun and informative way to keep track of your pregnancy and ensure a healthy outcome for you and your baby. For most women, pregnancy and birth is one of the key points in life and a pregnancy calendar will help you live the experience to the fullest. Detailed week-by-week information about the bodily changes happening to yourself and your baby, as well as handy advice regarding everything from nutrition to exercise, are just some of the things pregnancy calendars have to offer.

Standard features of most pregnancy calendars include: how to take care of yourself throughout each stage of pregnancy; tips on how to meet increasing nutritional needs while staying physically fit; and how much weight you should gain during pregnancy. Some may also include a detailed outline of your baby’s weekly development and instructions from the experts on how to ensure that you both progress the way that you should. Many pregnancy calendars can be customized to fit your own unique personality and include spaces for a diary and a record to keep track of doctor’s appointments and other important dates.

Pregnancy calendars are fun to use and, best of all, they are often free or cost a minimal amount. Many internet sources offer free downloads of pregnancy calendars and a simple online search will reveal dozens of choices. Most can be personalized and some websites will even send you e-mail alerts as important milestones draw near. Some pregnancy-related or Women’s and Children’s Health magazines offer a free pregnancy calendar to paid subscribers.

Huggies offers an excellent pregnancy calendar while American Adoptions has an online version accompanied by weekly updates. American Baby and Pregnancy Weekly both have calendars that are available online and can be personalized. Baby Fit features a week-by-week, development-specific pregnancy calendar while Baby Center has create-your-own pregnancy calendar options and tools. The choices are endless and the results amazing. Many people treasure their pregnancy calendars as keepsakes or use them to compare with future pregnancies.

Most pregnancy calendars are very simple and user-friendly. Anyone can understand them and the facts are presented in a clear-cut, down-to-earth manner. The hardest part for most people is calculating the due date, but this is usually provided by your physician. Even if it is not, most pregnancy calendars include instructions on how to calculate the due date that are easy to understand for even the most math illiterate person.

Pregnancy is no longer just a 9-month waiting period for the big day. With the help of a pregnancy calendar, expectant mothers can become actively involved in all the exciting changes of pregnancy, while at the same time benefiting their health. A handy source for expert advice, it can also do much to alleviate anxiety, as the due date looms closer. The truth is, a pregnancy calendar is just one excellent way to make the most of your pregnancy.

About the author:
Celia Nemart writes about family and medical issues on the internet, Celia is a dedicated mother that is aware of the dangers of the lack of information about Pregnancy.

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Click here to read the full story at Associated Content

Author: Kat Beechum

“Congratulations! You are pregnant!” That is probably one of best lines you will ever hear from your doctor!

There are so many things to think about when you are pregnant and one of the questions I hear often is “How much weight should I gain? What is a safe weight gain?” It can be so easy to just take the opportunity to eat lots of food and not worry about the consequences! While you are eating for two, it pays to remember that you ARE only eating for two, not three or four (unless you are of course!).

Weight gain is going to be different for each of you, so you just have to feel what is right for you. Fast weight gain is not good for you or the baby. Weight gain should be gradual over time as your baby grows inside you. If you find that your weight is increasing rapidly, see your doctor for some guidelines on what to eat and if at any stage during your pregnancy you feel that things are just not quite right, do go and see your doctor, it is not worth the risk to ignore your instincts.

As a rule of thumb, you should gain 2 to 4 pounds during the first three months of pregnancy and then 3 to 4 pounds per month for the rest of your pregnancy to equal a total of about 25 - 30 pounds over the whole pregnancy.

By slowly gaining weight throughout your pregnancy, you will decrease the risk of delivering a low-birth-weight baby. After all, you want a healthy, happy baby.

The weight you will gain includes 6 to 8 pounds for the weight of the baby. The remaining weight consists of a higher fluid volume, larger breasts, larger uterus, amniotic fluid, and the placenta. Phew, that is a lot to be carrying around!

Make sure you keep up with exercise during your pregnancy as well. If you don’t exercise, now is a good time to start! Light walks every day will keep your weight gain to a healthy amount and you will feel so much better for it.

Above all else, do what makes you feel good and keep in mind the health of you and your baby… with those things in mind, you can’t go wrong!

About the author:
Kat Beechum is a writer who loves to writer about her interests and passions, which are many and varied.

If you found this article useful, for further information visit Pregnancy without Pounds

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