Pregnancy Week By Week: 16 Weeks Pregnant

Angel — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:20:52 +0000

At pregnancy week sixteen the foetus is about 3 ounces in weight and 4 1/2 inches in length. The woman by now will be visibly pregnant and most probably dressed in maternity wear. Movements made by the baby known as “quickening” are more noticeable now and though these slight movements must have been there earlier, they are not really enough for a new mother to be aware of them. However, in those mothers who have had children earlier and this is not their first pregnancy, the movements will be more pronounced.
The baby’s development is at a steady and swift speed. The neck has become stronger and is able to hold the head up straighter and the ears and eyes are also in their proper places. There is hair developing on the baby’s head and the tiny heart is pumping 2 quarts of blood every day through the fetus body. There are further developments in the foetus with the bladder working and passing urine once in 45 minutes, nutrients are provided through the umbilical cord, the arms and legs are stronger and longer now, and the eyebrows, eyelashes and nails are growing. However, the baby has not developed any fat as yet and looks bony because of this. The skin is still translucent and the body temperature is maintained with the janguo until layers of fat develop. The baby can now make out sounds and can hear.
Also at pregnancy week sixteen several tests have to be conducted to find out the levels of AFP or alpha-fetoprotein which is to find out the levels in the blood of this chemical. In case the levels of the AFP are high then an ultrasound or amniocentesis will have to be done as per the instructions of the physician. This is done to see if there are any genetic defects and this is usually done as a last resort to ensure a healthy baby. There is a certain amount of fluid retention during this stage of pregnancy and the skin becomes taut giving the woman a glow to her. There is also increased blood flow adding to this healthy look.

15 Weeks Pregnant

Angel — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:11:19 +0000

By pregnancy week fifteen the mother would have gained between 5 to 10 pounds. She now shows her pregnancy more pronouncedly. The physician correlates the due date of the birth of the baby with the fundal height which is the measurement between the pubic bone and the upper end of the uterus. There can be more salivation and colds with stuffy noses during pregnancy week 15 .

The mother is also more prone to urinary tract infections because the walls of the uterus are relaxed, but these are all pregnancy symptoms. Some of the symptoms of the urinary tract infections could be frequent urination and burning while passing urine, a pain in the lower abdomen, a feeling of wanting pass urine constantly and even blood in the urine. However, if there is a kidney infection during pregnancy this could be a grave danger if it is not seen too immediately. UTI symptoms include fever and nausea and if there is a kidney infection the symptoms will be the same along with lower back pain and vomiting.

In case there is no infection when the woman has her initial urine tests, then the chances are that she will not suffer with this even later. Cranberry juice will reduce chances of infection. Antibiotics will have to be prescribed if there is threat of kidney infection and these have to be of category A as these are safe during pregnancy.

By now the baby is 1.5 ounces in weight and is 4.5 inches in length. Even now the skin is transparent and the veins can be seen through it. Lanugo or a fine hair which covers the entire body of the baby starts forming now. The fetus is now sucking its thumb and breathing in the amniotic fluid. This prepares the baby’s air sacs for breathing in the outside air at birth.

Pregnancy Week By Week: 14 Weeks Pregnant

Angel — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:10:00 +0000

During pregnancy week fourteen it is a good time for the mother to start doing a bit of exercise that is if she has not been doing it already. Pregnancy week fourteen is the beginning of the second trimester and is the period when there is more energy in the mother and she feels like indulging in more activities. However, it is best to do so under the guidance of a doctor and it should be taken up at a slow pace and not indulging in too much of exercise suddenly. Health care is important and the mother should be careful in undertaking anything new. Exercises where the pregnant woman has to lie on her back should be avoided completely as this exerts pressure on the vena cava and the spine.

The mother to be will have a good appetite during this stage of pregnancy and may consume more calories than before. What she should concentrate on is a health diet and should try an avoid calories which are in junk food, but should pay attention to get more of nutrients in her daily diet. However, she should not take any diet pills at this juncture as they are not safe from the baby’s health point.

At 14 week pregnancy the baby is about an ounce in weight and 4 inches long. The body of the fetus is also more proportionate now and the head is not too large as compared to the body. The eyes are still moving closer in the fetus and not as far apart as they were earlier which was on either side of the head. The ears are also taking shape on the opposite sides of the head while the neck is getting longer and rising above the head. The baby is by now becoming more active and its reflexes are stronger. All the nutrients for the baby are coming to it via the placenta. It is during this period that the mother should be careful and stay away from cleaning agents and pesticides and other toxins which will affect the baby. These can be absorbed through the skin and can affect the baby.

Pregnancy Week By Week: 13 Weeks Pregnant

Angel — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:08:15 +0000

Once a woman passes onto pregnancy week thirteen there should be no problem in the pregnancy going through the full term without any complications and mishaps. The fetus will now be between 2 to 3 inches long and will weigh around seven ounces. The position of the eyes will be more normal now and they would have moved closer instead of being on either side of the head. The pancreas of the fetus would have started producing its own insulin and the intestines would have filled up more in the body. At this time of pregnancy the mother could feel pain in the round ligament because of the growing fetus in the uterus. This is a very normal symptom at this stage of the pregnancy, but if the pain becomes more severe and there is vomiting and cramping accompanied by bleeding the doctor should be seen immediately.

This is the time of pregnancy when women feel much better as the morning sickness is over and there is more energy and no more fatigue. There is also a return of libido and women feel more sensitive in all parts of their bodies as there is an increased flow of blood. The woman enjoys sexual intercourse but sometimes the partner may be a bit nervous of performing, so it is important to assure them that it is safe and if required he can check with the doctor regarding the safety of sex during the pregnancy 13th week. However, this is only if there are no risks involved with the pregnancy and if it is a normal one. Of course the position should be comfortable for both partners and there should not be too much pressure on the mother’s abdomen. The breasts are still growing in preparation of nursing the baby when it is born.

Incase the cervix is a weak one and does not close when the woman is pregnant the pregnancy could end up in a miscarriage, so a cerclage procedure is done where the cervix is stitched and closed so that the baby can be a full term one.

Pregnancy Week By Week: 12 Weeks Pregnant

Angel — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:06:36 +0000

During pregnancy week twelve the baby moves around quite a bit though the movement may not be felt much by the mother. The baby will weigh around half an ounce and be about 2.5inches in length. During this period of pregnancy the brain of the fetus will be undergoing more development and hormones will be released. The genitals are also more distinguished to show whether it is a female or male baby.

Now the uterus at 12 weeks pregnancy will begin to bulge out over the pubic bone and grow fast to accommodate and support the growth of the baby inside it. Some women experience changes in the skin during this period, the freckles darken, there is a vertical line formed on the abdomen, there are brownish patches on the neck and face and the areolas become darker. If you have been using any creams which contain large amounts of vitamin A then this should be discontinued as it is harmful to the baby and can cause liver problems and jaundice in it.

The mother will have to take care of her pregnancy diet during this stage of her pregnancy as she will have heart burn which is brought on by the loosening up of the valve between the esophagus and the stomach because of the progesterone increase due to the pregnancy. Sometimes if the pregnancy diet is made up of more frequent smaller meals instead of large meals this could help and also drink water before or after a meal instead of doing this in between the meal. Try and control eating junk foods and also avoid going to bed immediately after dinner.

Now the mother has to ensure the safety of her baby and herself and it is a must to use a seat belt when traveling. Sometimes the uterus might seem to be larger than it should during this period, and it could be a miscalculation or twins. An ultrasound will be able to tell you whether you are expecting twins.

Pregnancy Week By Week: 11 Weeks Pregnant

Angel — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:06:05 +0000

The fetus is now about 3 ounces in weight and is around 2.4 inches in length during the pregnancy eleventh week. The skin of the fetus is still transparent and the blood vessels can be seen through it. During this stage of pregnancy the fetus starts movements and opens and closes it fists and the webbing between the toes and fingers has gone. The fetus enjoys the large space around it and starts kicking around. The gums become swollen where the teeth will form. This is the fasted period of growth and change which the fetus will undergo during its life span. The hair and fingernails of the fetus are also growing rapidly and this also brings the morning sickness almost to a stop now along with the completion of the first trimester. The next trimester of pregnancy brings more weight gain, with a pound a week.

During the pregnancy 11th week there maybe development of varicose veins, not just in the legs, but in the rectum area and also vulva. This is because of the increased volume of blood and the pressure of the uterus which is growing and bearing down on the vagina and the region of the rectum. Varicose veins can also cause hemorrhoids which will give a lot of pain and itching and sometimes bleeding. This problem can be treated and arrested with external creams and suppositories.

Some healthy tips to prevent varicose veins is to wear maternity panty hose during this period and to keep the feet on a stool or elevated while sitting around. Small bouts of exercise and walking a bit will also prevent varicose veins. If there is a family history of varicose veins make sure that you take precautions before they appear so that you can avoid this problem. However, for most people this disappears completely after the birth of the baby.

10 weeks pregnant

Angel — Sun, 24 May 2009 19:51:43 +0000

The end of the pregnancy week ten sees the fetus moving from the embryonic phase to the fetal phase or period. It is now between 31 to 42mm in length. During this stage or pregnancy the growth of the fetus is at an amazing rate. Now the fetus should not be affected by outside toxins and there should be no malfunctions in its development. However, this still does not mean that the mother can smoke or consume alcohol safely. Most of the organs of the baby are functioning and those that are not are continuing to develop. At this stage baby hair and toe nails and the spinal nerves can be seen. The baby starts moving about in the amniotic fluid and has learnt to take breaths and kick around because of its recent muscle formation. The fetal heartbeat can now be heard.

During this stage of pregnancy it is essential to do genetic testing. Chorionic villus is done for women who are having a child after the age of 35. This test of triple screen will show any disorders like deformities of the ventral walls, whether the baby is in danger of being born prematurely, whether the birth weight is going to be far below normal, whether there are any defects of the neural tubes and whether the child suffers from downs syndrome. Such screening results could be wrong at times as even scientific results could go wrong at times. So the doctor should take precautions when carrying out such test that the parents are not unduly upset by the test results. Genetic testing is also not absolutely safe for the mother and the child and is not always recommended unless absolutely required. The doctors should decide on this depending on the level of risk with the pregnancy and different techniques could be used.

9 weeks pregnant

Angel — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:50:35 +0000

The pregnancy ninth week sees a very different fetus with a proper shape with torso, legs and arms and head and the length of the fetus is almost 30mm. Hence forth the growth will be much faster and the mother will also be gaining more weight. The tail part of the body has vanished completely and the internal organs and all the muscles of the baby are working independently. During this week of pregnancy the baby’s eyelids are shut firmly and will only open during the pregnancy 27th week. The sex organs of the baby will also develop during this time but will be seen clearly only in the pregnancy 20th week.

Most of the weight which is gained by the mother is water retention and her weight can fluctuate during the day. This should be monitored closely. The weight in pregnant women comprises of fluid volume, amniotic fluid, blood volume, the breast tissue which is growing, the placenta, the uterus which has expanded, and the fat tissues which accumulate during pregnancy. Weight gain can be anywhere between 18 to 35 pounds during a pregnancy. The infant normally weighs between 6 to 8 pounds at the time it is born. After the birth of a baby women can loose this excess weight if they eat proper healthy food and indulge in an exercise regime.

By the ninth week of pregnancy the morning sickness and nausea subsides though the fatigue can still be there. However, the woman can still feel fatigued and will also have mood swings because of hormonal changes. There will be signs of indigestion like flatulence and gas formation which will give a bloated feeling. This is because of the heightened levels of progesterone. Though they are uncomfortable these are normal occurrences during pregnancy.

Common Problems during Pregnancy

Angel — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:43:15 +0000

Problems during pregnancy are common, and it is not as easier as to give childbirth. Who ever it is, should face problems during pregnancy. But you should not loose your confidence whatever problem occurs. The below mentioned are some common problems during pregnancy.

Nausea at pregnancy period

It is really common at the initial stage of pregnancy to feel sick and nausea. You should make note of it, vomiting and nausea will differ from women to women. You can feel sickness and frequent vomiting throughout the day. But this is only for the first three months of pregnancy period. Then, you will feel nausea only in the morning and it also called as “morning sickness”.

To avoid morning sickness, you should not be hurry while getting from bed, better take some time to get off from the bed. It is better to eat something as early as you wake up from the bed, and also keep some snacks next to your bed during night time. Make a habit of consuming food frequently in little quantity for every two to three hours.

It is not like that you have to have food regularly; you can also drink plenty of water instead of frequent food intake. Most of the physicians recommend to drink nearly 12 glasses of water every day, it is also advisable to have fresh juices and lime tea. After food don’t go to bed suddenly. Let the food to get into your stomach gradually, then only you will not feel much nausea during pregnancy

False Pregnancy

It is important to know about the pregnancy tests to avoid false pregnancy, because it is a must to know your pregnancy without any doubts. If you are aware of false pregnancy you are not bound to do the pregnancy test. It is possible to check the pregnancy through HCG, this is the hormone, which will only appear in pregnancy time.

But this kind of test will differ from person to person, and this is the method followed by most of the doctors in early stages of pregnancy, but we can not be sure about the pregnancy in the early days by doing this test.

The preferred time to test your pregnancy is one week after you missed out your period. It is important that HCG will settle in your body only after fully grown egg attaches itself into the uterus. If you want to get perfect result on pregnancy it is better to go for urine test.

Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure at the time of pregnancy is common. So it is important that every pregnant woman should be aware of blood pressure. Pregnancy time high blood pressure will affect Child growth and slow down the health.

It is important to avoid over salt, tobacco and alcohol during pregnancy. It is also advised to do some practical and physical workouts. This is a must apart from visiting the doctor at frequent intervals.

Diet During Pregnancy

Angel — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:40:14 +0000

Pregnant? then remember, it’s time to be happy and include good food and never go dieting. Pregnancy is still considered as a cause for obesity for many unaware females and a reason to be on dieting and have depression. One must be aware that pregnancy is not the time to think about weight loss rather than the main target should be on eating wise and healthy so that no extra pounds should be added in the form of sagging and goose bumps.

One’s body should be prepared in terms of stamina to carry few extra pounds of the baby and pass through childbirth phase comfortably. Mother to be is responsible for both her and baby’s health so she should take care to include all the essential nutrients, fresh vegetables, fruits in her diet and to cope up with the weight management. She should not munch only on high calorie food. Certain diet regimen is to be carefully followed under the guidance of her gynaecologist or dietician.

Take 5-6 small meals at short intervals.
Diet rich in Proteins and Carbohydrates
More attention to water, minerals, vitamins in the form of salads, soups.
Fresh food, juices instead of canned, refrigerated, frozen, tinned food.
Avoid monosodium glutamate/ajinomoto/msg as it might affects the nervous system of the baby.
Avoid any form of sweetener, coffee, chocolates.
Avoid soft drinks, cakes, cookies, artificial cream, mayonnaise, peanut butter, salad dressing.
Avoid salt, junk food.
Increase intake of milk and milk products for calcium
Increase intake of fresh vegetables, fish, eggs, meat for iron.
Avoid raw eggs alcohol.
Add fresh fruit juices, fresh yoghurt, hard-boiled eggs, fresh fruit, raw veggies, wholemeal bread, Soya beans, 8 glasses of water etc.