What are the Early Signs of Pregnancy?

Missed period
This is often the first sign that a woman has that she may be pregnant. A missing period is a good indicator that conception has occurred, however it is not a definite indicator. Missing a period can occur for a number of reasons such as stress or major illness. Some women also continue to have their period during pregnancy. This may last for a few months until the placenta is developed enough or, in rare cases, throughout the entire pregnancy.

Breast changes
Very early in a pregnancy the breasts begin to change. The first thing that a woman may notice is breast tenderness. It may hurt to run, jump or even touch the breast. The nipples may also become sensitive and irritated. This occurs because the breasts are preparing to produce and deliver breast milk even at this early stage. A Lot of women find that they start growing out of their bras very quickly. The color and texture of the areolas (the dark area around the nipple) also changes. They will become darker and the little nodules called Montgomery’s Tubercles, may become more numerous or enlarged. The veins may become more noticeable across the breasts and under chest.

Vaginal changes
Along with changes to the breasts there are also changes to the vagina. May women notice an increase in vaginal discharge. The color of the vagina also changes as the blood flow to that area of the body is increased. The vagina may appear more purple than normal.

Fatigue
The first trimester of a pregnancy is one of the most exhausting periods. Fatigue is common because the body produces more hormones and directs all its attention towards growing a baby. The increased level of progesterone also has a sedating effect.

Craving and aversions
Some women experience aversions to particular foods and cravings for others. No one is entirely sure why this occurs but there is some evidence that the body craves food that can provide it with particular vitamins and minerals.

Heightened sense of smell
Pregnancy can heighten the sense of smell. Smells that do not usually cause a problem may begin to cause nausea and vomiting. In most cases it is related to food and cooking smells, but pregnant women can be sensitive to any smell or odor.

Morning sickness
Nearly all pregnant women experience some form of morning sickness and for many women it is one of the first clues that they are pregnant. It may be mild and occur at certain times or it may be severe and occur continually. Despite the name, morning sickness can occur at any time of the day. Eating regularly and keeping the blood sugar stable is the best way to stop for vomiting and to keep the nausea at bay.

Increased urination
Another common sign in early pregnancy is frequent urination. Many women find that suddenly they need to visit the bathroom more regularly than normal. The pregnancy hormone hCG causes the bladder to become irritated and this increases the need to release urine.

Other common pregnancy symptoms
Cramping – This is the natural contraction of the uterus wall. If accompanied by bleeding it is best to speak to a medical professional.
Bloating/wind/constipation – The hormones produced in pregnancy cause the intestines to relax which may lead to some digestion issues.
Change in hormones – This can cause mood swings, pimples and acne, and symptoms similar to normal premenstrual symptoms.

Less common pregnancy signs
High BBT – If a woman is measuring her Basal Body Temperature she may notice that it says high when her period should be due. This is an indicator of conception.
Implantation bleeding – Some women may notice some cramping and spotting 8 to 10 days after conception. This is called implantation bleeding and is caused by the embryo burrowing into the wall of the uterus.

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When does the second trimester start?
Although there is some debate about the official start date, most experts agree that the second trimester begins on the first day of the 13th week of pregnancy.

Moving into the third trimester
The second trimester finishes at the end of the 28th week of pregnancy. It is at this time that the third, and last, trimester begins and your body starts to prepare for the birth of your new baby!

Fetal development during the second trimester
A number of important developments occur during this time. Some of the highlights include; the baby’s sex becomes clear, the bones of the skeleton develop, the fetus learns to suck and swallow, the fetus is able to hear, hair begins to grow and the fetus may respond to your voice.

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What is implantation bleeding?
Implantation bleeding occurs when the fertilized egg implants in the blood rich endometrial lining. This process can causes some of the lining to dislodge from the uterus. This dislodged lining is the cause of the brownish/pinkish discharge from the vagina. It can be distinguished from menstrual bleeding because it is usually a small quantity of discharge and is a different color. In fact, this type of discharge is usually referred to as spotting and not bleeding.

Is implantation bleeding dangerous?
Any blood loss during pregnancy can be disconcerting, especially in the early months. However, implantation bleeding is perfectly normal and about one third of all pregnant women experience it. However, you should consult with your doctor if the bleeding is accompanied by cramping or backache. If the bleeding seems excessive or increases it may be your regular monthly period. However, if you are unsure it is important to seek the advice of a medical professional.

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What Function Does The Placenta Serve

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What does the Placenta Do?
The placenta has many functions and is vital to developing a healthy and strong baby. The primary role of the placenta is to ensure that the developing baby receives enough oxygen. Oxygen is passed from the mother’s blood to the new baby’s blood via the placenta. It also carried carbon dioxide away from your baby back into the placenta and then into the mother’s blood stream to be disposed of. The placenta is also essential to the passing of nutrients to the baby. Any waste products that the developing baby produces are passed through the umbilical cord into the placenta and out into the mother’s blood stream. The mother’s body then disposes of them.

The placenta also produces hormones that are crucial to the development of pregnancy. It produces three main hormones Human chronic gonadotropin, or hCG, estrogen and progesterone. Another important role that the placenta plays is protecting the developing baby from harmful infections and substances. It can protect a baby from bacteria but not viruses this is why it is dangerous for pregnant women to be exposed to such viruses as chicken pox and rubella. Near the end of a pregnancy the placenta passes antibodies across from the mother to the baby giving the unborn child immunity for about 3 months after birth.

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There are many misconceptions about this process and this is probably due to the Hollywood portrayal of the this event. In pregnancy there is also the chance of premature rupturing of the membranes, which can cause problems for the fetus and mother.

When Does Your Water Break?

Most people believe that the water breaks at the onset of labor and, although this is true for many women, it can actually happen at any time during labor. Many women report their water breaking well after their first contraction and this isn’t usually a problem.

The membranes can also be artificially ruptured to induce labor. This is achieved by brushing a small plastic hook against the membranes to encourage the fetus to move against the cervix. This technique is widely disputed, but is more commonly used than most people think.

When does your third trimester start?

The third trimester starts at 28 weeks and continues until the birth of your baby. This is the seventh month of your pregnancy and during this time the fetus grows larger and the organs begin to mature. You will probably find that the fetus moves frequently during this period and this can be very disruptive. The fetus begins to prepare for birth with improvements in brain, eye, and muscle function. Your due date is the end of the 40th week of pregnancy, however, a full-term pregnancy can happen between the 37th and 42nd weeks of pregnancy and is considered perfectly normal.

Third trimester symptoms

• The navel (belly button) may pop out
• Back and muscle (especially pelvic and hip) aches
• Rapid weight gain
• Heart Burn
• Fatigue
• Braxton Hicks contractions (false labor)
• Constipation and haemorrhoids
• Fluid builds up causing swelling (especially in the ankles)
• Frequent urination
• Difficulty sleeping as the fetus makes more forceful movements.

Despite its name, morning sickness can strike a pregnant woman at any time of the day or night. The symptoms are typically recorded as nausea, dizziness, light-headedness and/or vomiting. Not all pregnant women get morning sickness, but it is quite a common complaint of pregnancy. There does not seem to be any correlation with this illness. For example, If you suffered with morning sickness during your first pregnancy you may not suffer with it the second time.

When does morning sickness go away?

Morning sickness commonly occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy (the first 12 weeks) and by this time it is usually starting to subside. For some people, however, morning sickness lasts well into the second trimester when it finally subsides and for the unlucky few it may last the entire pregnancy.

What is the cure for morning sickness?

Unfortunately, there are no cures for morning sickness, but there are a few things you can do to try and make pregnant life more bearable. Firstly, try eating first thing in the morning to raise your blood sugar levels. This can be hard if you are feeling particularly unwell, but it is reported to work for many women. Secondly, try ginger tea which is a traditional cure for nausea that has actually been proven scientifically and is perfectly safe.