On Being Pregnant-The Joys of Pregnancy

Getting pregnant is probably one of the most beautiful things that a women experiences in her life. The experience is nothing short of miraculous and the happiness felt by the couple once their bundle of joy comes out into the world is immeasurable.

Getting pregnant is fairly easy for some couples but not for some. While most women become pregnant after a few tries, there are also couples who wait years before they become pregnant and some even resort to asking professional help from fertility doctors. Once pregnant however, everything changes and the future mother should carefully track her pregnancy carefully until she gives birth.

How does one know she is pregnant? Most women buy home pregnancy test kits to find out if they are indeed pregnant or not. If no kit was purchased, some early signs of pregnancy could signify this condition and these signs include a missed period, morning sickness, dizziness, lack of appetite, paleness and sleepiness. Once these symptoms are present, a woman has to go to her doctor to verify if she is indeed pregnant or not.

Once pregnant, the woman has to ready herself emotionally and physically for her baby’s arrival. It would be good for her to read books on pregnancy so she is aware what to expect while she is pregnant. Aside from books, there are hundreds of websites on the internet which offers tips and insights on what to expect during pregnancy.

Pregnancy calculators are also available on the internet so that the mother-to-be will know more or less when she will be giving birth. Other websites offer a week by week guide on pregnancy so that the mother can see for herself what goes on inside her womb on a weekly basis. In these websites, one can monitor her weekly, monthly and quarterly pregnancy progress. These websites also offers other wellness topics such as nutrition for the mothers and babies, weight monitoring and fitness and other topics.

Pregnancy is not easy for everyone but there are ways to make one’s pregnancy healthy and almost pain-free. While pregnant, one should not forget to exercise to make herself fit and strong. Eating healthy and nutritious food not only benefits the mother so she doesn’t gain so much weight but also the baby.

Mothers-to be should avoid foods high in fats, sugar and salt content since this might cause complications in pregnancy such as gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. Mothers should also quit smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages since this also has adverse effects on the fetus such as low birth weight.

Once the mother makes sure that she has ditched the bad habits and is taking care of herself all through-out her pregnancy, there should be little for her to worry about. Before she gives birth, the mother should also discuss her options when she gives birth. It would be best if she could discuss a birth plan with her doctor so that she is prepared for any surprises that may arise when she gives birth.

Once the bases are covered, all that the mother has to do is wait until her bundle of joy arrives and experience the true happiness of being a mother.

Conception Misconceptions – Debunking Infertility Myths

In an Asian country, there is a popular practice where couples wishing to have a child dance on the streets carrying images of saints. The frenzied procession of couples have become a tourist attraction of sorts but the sad fact of it is that the couples are there seriously imploring the heavens to give them a child.

Here are some other myths about infertility that range from simple misconception to downright ridiculous beliefs:

1. Getting pregnant is easy.

Not true. Getting pregnant may seem very easy and effortless especially when you hear stories about teenagers getting knocked up fairly quick but the truth is, one in seven couples all over the world find it difficult to conceive. Infertility is a medical issue that is mostly caused by physical problems in the reproductive system of one or both partners. Even in perfectly healthy, fertile couples engaging in unprotected sex, the chances of fertilization is only 20%. Which means, that your neighborhood teen probably had several tries before getting into the problem she is in now.

2. Failure to get pregnant indicates infertility in the woman.

Not true. Only 35% of infertility cases are caused by problems in the woman’s reproductive system. An equal 35% is caused by male infertility. Another 20% is caused by problems in both partners while the remaining 10% of infertility cases cannot be diagnosed even by today’s modern fertility clinics. As such, when trying to find out the cause of infertility, both the man and woman will have to be thoroughly evaluated.

3. Stress from work and personal problems can cause infertility.

Not true. Unless of course the stress and personal problem actually prevents the couple from having intercourse in the first place, there is no conclusive medical study to indicate that stress actually directly causes fertility problems. However, if stress leads you to smoke and drink more, then fertility problems can arise. Smoking is directly linked to infertility, preterm delivery and stillbirth especially among women.

4. Bedroom acrobatics can increase the chances for pregnancy.

Not true. There is a popular belief that, if a couple wants to get pregnant, they should use certain positions to aid the flow of semen into the cervix. There are no medical tests to prove this. However, there are new medical devices that can be used at home which address fertility problems such as low sperm count or mobility. In the US, the FDA has approved a prescription device called a cervical cap which allows all the semen to be collected and placed up directly on the cervix to increase the chances of fertilization.

5. Adopting a baby will “induce” a couple to get pregnant naturally.

Not true. Probably owing to the fact that Angelina and Madonna got pregnant after having had a couple of adoptions, people actually think that adopting a baby can somehow “induce” the couple to get pregnant with their own child. Not only is this ridiculously unfounded but is actually sadly twisted. Adopting a baby should not be used as a means to achieve an end because parenting, whether naturally or through adoption, is not only a physical but a moral responsibility.

Monitoring Your Pregnancy

Finally, you’re having a baby! After several years of trying you are about to experience how it is to become a parent. Pregnancy is one of the most wonderful things that a woman experiences in her life, but also one of the most dangerous. Getting pregnant and giving birth has risks and in order to overcome those risks, the couple should make sure that the mother monitors her pregnancy from day one up to the day of her delivery.

Once a person realizes that she is pregnant, she has to undergo a total lifestyle change in order to make sure that she and her baby are healthy and safe. The best way to make sure that both the mother and the baby are healthy is to properly monitor her pregnancy, her body and the food she eats.

During the first trimester, most mothers will start experiencing some inconveniences such as morning sickness, drowsiness, nausea, dizziness and lack of appetite. The good news is that most women only experience these symptoms during the early stages of pregnancy.

During the second trimester, the woman then starts to experience weight gain. The mother has to make sure that she monitors her weight gain because gaining too much weight during pregnancy could result in complications such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes. Gaining too much weight will also make it difficult for the doctor to check the baby’s vital signs due to the increase in the layers of fat in the mother’s body.

On the third trimester, the mother should be physically and emotionally ready to give birth to her baby in a few months time. Everything that she and her baby will need during the delivery should be prepared already so that nothing is forgotten. It would be best if the mother was able to discuss a birth plan with her health care provider so that the mother will not have to think of anything anymore once she gives birth.

Prenatal visits are very important in monitoring one’s pregnancy. Before the delivery, the service provider needs to frequently monitor the baby’s height and weight. During the first trimester, the visit to the doctor can be done around once a month but as the delivery date of the baby draws near, the mother’s visit to the doctor becomes more frequent to make sure that the mother and the baby are both doing well.

The doctor usually monitors the mother’s weight, blood pressure and food intake. For the baby, the doctor checks the fundic height and the heartbeat. For a period of nine months, a mother should not have less than 4 prenatal visits with her doctor to make sure her pregnancy goes smoothly. Lack of proper monitoring could result to a lot of complications that could easily be avoided, if only the mother had regular check ups earlier on in her pregnancy.

A lot of infant and maternal mortalities have resulted due to lack of pregnancy monitoring on the part of the mothers and their service providers. As much as possible, the mother and her doctor or midwife should work together to make sure that the mother undergoes a safe pregnancy and should complications arise, both parties should be prepared to handle the situation so that the mother and the baby are healthy.