1) Start acting like you are already pregnant, leave alcohol and quit smoking. That is half the job done!
2) If you are in the post-ovulation stage, you probably are pregnant by now!
3) The little zygote implants itself in your endometrial lining, in an attempt at survival.
4) You can now confirm your pregnancy with a urine test.
5) Hooray, your little one’s heart beats now!
6) Baby’s heart bulges out from her chest.
7) It is now time for the nasal pits and hand plates to form.
Bones and joints start forming this week. Genitalia also start developing.
9) Toe rays start emerging.
10) Baby’s eyes open up and she loses her little tail, finally!
11) She actually grows finger nails now!
12) Her heartbeat can be heard with ultrasound. Isn’t that great?!
13) The teeth and intestinal tract start developing.
14) Baby can urinate now, into the amniotic fluid!
15) She might actually start sucking her thumb.
16) Limb movements are coordinated at this stage.
17) Ears are clearly developing now.
18) Finger pads now start appearing.
19) There are fine hairs all over her little body.
20) You can get to see your baby now, with ultrasound!
21) Baby starts adopting the head-down position.
22) Her eyebrows start shaping up!
23) Now baby gives out her first stool.
24) Baby is almost totally formed by now.
25) By now, she weighs about 1 pound and 9 ounces.
26) Baby responds to light and external sounds.
27) Her veins start showing now.
28) If it is a boy, his testes start descending.
29) Red blood cells start forming.
30) Baby can now maintain her body temperature.
31) Her little irises respond and change to light.
32) Your baby actually weighs over 1.5 kilos now!
33) Her lungs start functioning on their own!
34) You will feel heavy now – your breasts are starting to develop milk.
35) All her vital organs are functioning now!
36) Baby is getting ready for the world outside.
37) She starts breathing practice inside you!
38) Baby remains stable and is biding her time!
39) Her immune system is falling in place.
40) She is now fully developed. You feel uneasy carrying all that weight around!
41) OK, just a few days more…….
42) Lo and behold, here baby comes!

Remember that this week-by-week pregnancy chart is only a rough estimate. Your little angel might come a few days prior to or even after your expected due date. It all really depends on the whims and fancies of Mother Nature herself! Don’t worry, be happy and the rest will take care of itself!

Your Week By Week Pregnancy Chart is a post from: Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy

Generally speaking, pregnancy can be divided into 3 stages or trimesters, namely first, second and third trimesters. Each of these stages will be different for you, making you feel and react in different ways.

The following are the characteristics of the three pregnancy stages:

The first trimester, which lasts about 14 weeks from the date of conception, is quite horrid for some women, as they experience severe nausea, vomiting and other related symptoms. Of course, there are also other women who sail through it peacefully, but most women complain of some kind of uneasiness or other.

This is also the time when the little zygote grows and fights for survival within you. So you have to take good care of yourself, so that you can support the little one thriving within you!

Make sure to consume a balanced, fiber-rich diet and take all your nutrient supplements as prescribed by the doctor. A little exercise goes a long way in keeping you fit and happy.

The second trimester will most probably be smooth and tension-free for you. This is a stage when you start enjoying your pregnancy and glow with the joy of it all. You will start showing and can bask in the glory of impending motherhood!

You will start feeling the movements of your little one within and that will add to your happiness. You may even come to know the gender of your baby at this stage.

The third and final trimester can again get a wee bit tension-filled, as you will be anxious about the delivery. Besides, the growing fetus might cause you to feel out of breath often, causing some strain. But just hang in there and think positive and happy thoughts about your little bundle of joy!

Though your journey through the different pregnancy stages can get tiresome sometimes, it will be well worth all the trouble when your little one actually steps into this world. So just think of the great times ahead and maintain a positive attitude. Wish you all the very best!

Characteristics Of The Three Pregnancy Stages is a post from: Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy

Once your ovulation occurs, an egg is released and is ready to be fertilized. If a brave sperm manages to catch its attention and teams up with it, your little zygote could be waiting to travel the whole nine yards!

The 16-cell ball egg divides into two. The first half becomes the placenta and the other becomes your little one in the making! Your bust size might already be increasing and your breasts could be feeling a little tender by this time.

This is the most joyous time, as your baby’s heart starts beating. Slowly by the next week, its eyes and digestive system starts developing. Small arms and legs start forming too! By week 10, your child’s genitalia and anal membrane start forming.

Your pregnancy may start showing by week 15 and you start glowing with good health. Remember to eat a balanced diet, rich in mineral, iron, protein and calcium. You are into your second trimester and most of the troubles you faced in the previous trimester are through right now.

By week 17, the baby’s sucking reflexes start developing and you can get to hear the heartbeat clearly with the aid of the doctor’s special Delee Stethoscope by week 20! Isn’t that simply lovely?!

By week 25, your baby’s organs, bones and blood vessels start forming. Also, her skin turns a translucent pink or red. In the next couple of weeks, your baby’s lungs start to expand. Be extra cautious about your movements. Your tummy is really ballooning out, so you should move around carefully. Get to know all about delivery and breastfeeding from your doctor. Be totally prepared for the joyous experience of childbirth.

Your amniotic fluid is far reduced now and you can expect to deliver very soon. Your little one’s skin starts wrinkling due to this perfectly natural process.

Remember, our pregnancy calendar only gives you an estimate of your child’s development. If you have crossed your due date, do not worry. Your little angel is due any minute now! Just wait patiently and enjoy the whole journey!

The Importance Of Knowing Your Pregnancy Calendar is a post from: Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy

There are in all three stages of pregnancy, which is roughly broken up into a timeframe of three months each. These stages are known as ‘trimesters’ and are characterized by the following features:

First Trimester

This stage lasts for about three and half months, or 14 weeks. This is probably the worst stage, as you may experience morning sickness, breast tenderness, fatigue, irritability and all the other negative symptoms associated with pregnancy.

In this stage it is vital for you to consume enough vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, so that your health is fit and fine all the way through!

Put a stop to alcohol and smoke if you are used to them. Consuming about 2200 calories per day, consisting of a well-balanced, fiber-rich diet helps both you and your baby growing inside you. Eating small amounts more regularly tackles the nausea problem as well. Keep up your exercise schedule, so that you can deal with stress and fatigue.

Second Trimester

This stage lasts till the end of the seventh month and is the easiest for a would-be mother. Your pregnancy shows obviously and you start glowing with good health. Your earlier symptoms disappear and you start to feel alive again! You can feel the movement of your child within you and you could also choose to know the sex of your baby.

Consume about 2500 calories per day and keep up a regular exercise regimen. Of course, consult your doctor before beginning any type of exercise and avoid lifting weights.

Third Trimester

You may start feeling over anxious and emotional, but these are natural reactions that all mothers-to-be face. You may be worrying about childbirth and parenting. The growing baby may cause you some discomfort and pain.

Consume the same amount of calories as before and reduce the intensity of your exercise if it is causing a strain in you. Also, take all your nutrient supplements as advised by your doctor.

The third trimester is bound to be a little stressful on you. Just relax and enjoy the last stage of your pregnancy, focusing on the bundle of joy that is coming soon!

3 Stages Of Pregnancy To Track Your Baby’s Progress is a post from: Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy

What Causes Teenage Pregnancy?

Teen pregnancy could be caused by very many factors, such as those listed below:

Lack of proper knowledge about sex or the absence of sex education is one of the prime causes of teenage pregnancy. There is a huge influx of hormones during puberty and this causes emotions to rage and fluctuate among adolescents. Their new-found sexuality, teamed with a sense of rebellion, could cause many teens to have sex without consideration for safety or precautionary methods.

Teenagers living in some developed countries face enormous peer pressure to start dating and have sex from a very young age. This kind of promiscuous behavior sometimes leads to unwanted teenage pregnancy.

Failure of contraceptives is a very common cause of teen conception. Lack of knowledge of how to use contraceptives such as birth control pill and condoms, or improper use of the same, can lead to pregnant teens.

Several studies indicate that the home environment could affect a teen’s development and even indicate how likely they would be to have a pregnant teenager. It has been seen that women who go through abuse and familial strife at a very young age are more prone to becoming teen mothers, than teenagers who grow up in a close-knit, loving, family setup.

Whatever the reasons for teenage pregnancy, this event can be highly traumatic, both physically and emotionally, on the expectant teen. Many countries of the world are now trying to take adequate steps to curb teen pregnancy. Educating teens about the consequences of unsafe sex, propagating the regular use of condoms and other birth control measures, they hope, will help vastly reduce the chances of young mothers in the near future.

What Causes Teenage Pregnancy is a post from: Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy

The following are some of the most common symptoms of pregnancy:

Missed Period

A missed period is probably the most sure-shot way of identifying early pregnancy. It also might be a false positive. Sometimes, the body acts like it has a mind of its own! But most of the time, if your period does not come within the next ten days of the expected date, it is most likely that you are pregnant.

Extra Fatigue

Do you think you have been feeling very lazy and lax of late? You never know – you just might be reacting to the changing hormonal map of your body, due to that little life growing inside you! If you have feeling unusually sluggish since the past few days, you might want to think of getting yourself checked for pregnancy.

Nausea

Morning sickness strikes most pregnant women. It only varies in degree from woman to woman. This could prolong right up to the second trimester, even longer, in some mothers-to-be. Some women resort to eating small meals more frequently – this seems to give them immense relief to this condition.

Tenderness and Soreness

Pregnant women tend to feel heavy right from a very early stage. Tenderness in the breasts is one of the most common symptoms that pregnant women report. This can set in as early as a few days into pregnancy.

Slight Cramping

Many women experience a slight cramping at the time the zygote implants itself in the uterus. This is sometimes also followed by spotting or light bleeding, which is usually lighter in color than that of a normal period. Implantation bleeding may also happen slightly earlier than the expected date of your period.

If you have been experiencing any of the above symptoms of pregnancy, make sure to take an appointment with your doctor and get yourself checked thoroughly.

The Most Common Symptoms Of Pregnancy is a post from: Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy

It is seen that the average age of the first menstrual period or ‘menarche’, as it is referred to, is being reached earlier by subsequent generations of females. But if this is the major contributing factor towards teen pregnancies still remains to be established.

The rate of teen pregnancy varies widely between countries and cultures across the globe. While about 14% of teens fall pregnant in sub-Saharan Africa, the figure is only about 0.3% in South Korea.

Many young teen mothers-to-be face more health risks than pregnant women in their 20s or 30s. This risk is particularly pronounced if the girl lives in a developing country. Sometimes, even socioeconomic factors could be affecting the girl’s health.

Teenage pregnancy shows up as a social issue in the economically and economically backward classes of society. This problem is also very often associated with poverty-stricken communities. In many cultures, teen pregnancy is considered a social stigma and is looked down upon. Such societies try to limit the amount of teen pregnancies by finding more effective ways of preventing its occurrence.

The causes of teen pregnancy are many. Listed below are some of them:

Promiscuity and inadequate knowledge of the consequence of unsafe sex are the major factors giving rise to teen pregnancy.

Failure of contraceptives very often gives rise to unintended and unwanted teen pregnancy.

Many cultures, especially the developed countries, put pressure on teens to indulge in early sexual activity.

Some cultures in the African continent actually welcome teen pregnancy, as they consider it proof of the woman’s fertility.

Teenage pregnancies are very common among rural communities of the Indian subcontinent. This, though, is not prevalent in the urban cities and metros.

Teen pregnancy can cause immense physical and emotional strain on the young mother-to-be. Educating teens about the consequences of early sex and taking adequate steps to curb the problem can bring down the rate of teen pregnancies to a large extent.

How Teen Pregnancy Varies Between Countries and Cultures is a post from: Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy

The problem with an ectopic pregnancy is that there is not much space for the zygote to grow and it cannot be nurtured there either. Eventually, the organ that contains the growing egg can burst, leading to severe bleeding in the mother, sometimes even endangering her life. Usually, the ectopic pregnancy cannot survive for long, as this proves fatal for the fetus too.

An ectopic pregnancy could occur due to the inability of the egg to traverse down the fallopian tube into the uterus. Infection caused by the pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is the most common cause of such pregnancies. Endometriosis or the existence of abdominal or fallopian scar tissue can also cause this abnormality.

Pregnency Symptoms

Symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy are the same as a normal one, but additionally, the expectant woman suffers severe pain in the pelvis, lower back or abdomen, sometimes even in the neck or shoulder.

Pregnency Tests

The blood or urine tests taken during early pregnancy can help detect ectopic pregnancy to a fairly accurate extent. If the pregnancy test is positive, but the HCG hormone does not show a sufficient rise, this abnormality is immediately suspected. The HCG hormone is produced by the placenta.

Ultrasound tests may also help in detecting some cases of ectopic pregnancy, but not all. Culdocentesis is one test that checks for signs of internal bleeding which may be caused by a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

Pregnency Treatment

Treatment for the ectopic pregnancy is different for different cases. If the pregnancy is still early, the egg is dissolved and let to get reabsorbed by the body. Otherwise the fetus is removed surgically.

Some 30% of women suffering one ectopic pregnancy may have poorer chances of normal conception again. It all really depends upon how much damage has been done by the ectopic pregnancy, in what location of the mother’s body and to what extent.

What Is An Ectopic Pregnancy? is a post from: Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy

Here are some of the most common signs of pregnancy, which show up just a few days after conception:

1) Sickness

Morning sickness can occur very early into the pregnancy – as soon as within two weeks of conception. This may be due to the raised levels of estrogen in a pregnant woman’s body, which creates an imbalance in the digestive system.

2) Sensitivity to Odors

Many pregnant women complain of oversensitivity to odors that otherwise never affected them before pregnancy. Odors such as food cooking, cigarettes or cigars can trigger off strong waves of nausea in a pregnant woman.

3) Bloating

Some women experience a feeling of over-fullness and bloating during their early pregnancy. Many report breast tenderness and a feeling of water retention. This is caused due to rapidly changing hormonal levels in the body during the time of pregnancy.

4) Crabbiness

Many pregnant women are prone to crabbiness and mood swings. This could be the direct result of raging hormonal changes within her system.

5) Food Cravings or Aversion

Many mothers-to-be report liking some foods to such a great extent, that they end up craving for that particular food item. Some common foods carrying women crave for are extremely sour or sweet foods. On the other hand, they might suddenly develop an aversion to foods they otherwise liked, such as coffee or oil-rich, fried foods. This might continue till the end of the first trimester.

6) Headaches

Some women complain of frequent, mild headaches into early pregnancy. This could be due to heightened blood circulation.

7) Constipation

Constipation might be caused as a result of increased levels of progesterone in the pregnant woman’s body.

Some of these symptoms are commonplace with normal people as well, so make sure you get a pregnancy test done to confirm if the symptoms you are experiencing are indeed early signs of pregnancy!

7 Early Signs Of Pregnancy is a post from: Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy

The date of conception and childbirth can never be predicted exactly – such is the beauty and mystique of Mother Nature! Unless the woman has had sexual intercourse very rarely, it would become impossible for the doctor to give an exact date of childbirth. This notwithstanding, your pregnancy calculator can give a close estimate of your expected due date.

In order for the pregnancy calculator to work properly, you have to enter the date of your previous menstrual period, counting right from day one of the period. In case you are already aware of your due date, you can enter the same and then calculate backwards to arrive at the approximate date of conception.

Not only that, your pregnancy calculator will tell you how many weeks you are pregnant as of the present day and in what stage of pregnancy you will be at a future date you enter.

Things to keep in mind while using a pregnancy calculator:

Pregnancy calculators are based on the regular 28-day menstrual cycle. If you experience irregular periods or do not conform to the 28-day cycle, this may not work accurately for you.
Even for women who have a regular menstrual cycle as mentioned above, the pregnancy calculator can only give an estimated, and not the exact, due date.

Your due date is arrived at by adding about 40 weeks or 280 days from the first day of your menstrual period. You should remember here, that only 5% of expectant women deliver on the exact expected due date.

Conclusion

Though pregnancy calculators are useful tools for you to determine an approximate date of conception and due date for child birth, this might not be perfectly accurate. Nature has her own way of working. Some children come out into this world as much as 7-10 days after the projected due date, while those in a tearing hurry, could come out as early 4-6 weeks prior to the due date!

How To Use A Pregnancy Calculator Properly is a post from: Early Symptoms Of Pregnancy