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MY AMAZING PREGNANCY

Copyright 2012 by www.pregnancybymonths.com

Copyright 2012 by www.pregnancybymonths.com

2012

My Amazing Pregnancy Published by www.pregnancybymonths.com Copyright 2012 by www.pregnancybymonths.com

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, and scanning otherwise without the prior written permission of the Publisher. The information in this publication was compiled from the sources cited and from other sources considered reliable. While every possible effort has been made to ensure reliability, the publisher will not assume liability for damages caused by inaccuracies in the data, and makes no warranty, express or implied, on the accuracy of the information contained herein.

LIMIT OF LIABILITY/DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY


THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK ARE INTENDED TO FURTHER GENERAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, UNDERSTANDING, AND DISCUSSION ONLY AND ARE NOT INTENDED AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS RECOMMENDING OR PROMOTING A SPECIFIC METHOD, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT BY PHYSICIANS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PATIENT. THE PUBLISHER AND THE AUTHOR MAKE NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS WORK AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES; INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN VIEW OF ONGOING RESEARCH, EQUIPMENT MODIFICATIONS, CHANGES IN GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS, AND THE CONSTANT FLOW OF INFORMATION RELATING TO THE USE OF MEDICINES, EQUIPMENT, AND DEVICES, THE READER IS URGED TO REVIEW AND EVALUATE THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE PACKAGE INSERT OR INSTRUCTIONS FOR EACH MEDICINE, EQUIPMENT, OR DEVICE FOR, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ANY CHANGES IN THE INSTRUCTIONS OR INDICATION OF USAGE AND FOR ADDED WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS. READERS SHOULD CONSULT WITH A SPECIALIST WHERE APPROPRIATE. THE FACT THAT AN ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE IS REFERRED TO IN THIS WORK AS A CITATION AND/OR A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF FURTHER INFORMATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE AUTHOR OR THE PUBLISHER ENDORSES THE INFORMATION THE ORGANIZATION OR WEBSITE MAY PROVIDE OR RECOMMENDATIONS IT MAY MAKE. FURTHER, READERS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT INTERNET WEBSITES LISTED IN THIS WORK MAY HAVE CHANGED OR DISAPPEARED BETWEEN WHEN THIS WORK WAS WRITTEN AND WHEN IT IS READ. NO WARRANTY MAY BE CREATED OR EXTENDED BY ANY PROMOTIONAL STATEMENTS FOR THIS WORK. NEITHER THE PUBLISHER NOR THE AUTHOR SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING HEREFROM.

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Medical Disclaimer
The information available from this website has been prepared and/or obtained for general information, education, reference, and entertainment purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice. The information provided on this website is not complete or comprehensive. You should not rely on the information on this website as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or healthcare provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or Emergency Services immediately. We are not licensed doctors and are not providing medical advice, or diagnosing or treating any condition you may have. You agree that you will not act upon anything contained in this website without first seeking professional medical advice. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, counsel, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice and counsel of your physician or registered medical practitioner with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the www.pregnancybymonths.com www.pregnancybymonths.com does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the website. The website may contain health or medical-related materials that are sexually explicit. If you find these materials offensive, you may not want to use our website. Dependence on any information provided by www.pregnancybymonths.com, others appearing on the website at the invitation of www.pregnancybymonths.com, or other visitors to the Site is solely at your own risk.

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Table of Contents
Visit www.pregnancybymonths.com to Track pregnancy by months, for pregnancy week by week information, advice to help for pregnancy month by month, weight gain during pregnancy, diet during pregnancy, pregnancy month, trimesters of pregnancy and monthly pregnancy symptoms. Find answers to questions on baby development and baby growth during pregnancy. Calculate pregnancy due date, pregnancy calendar and ovulation calculator. How do I get pregnant fast

First understand Conception .......................................................................... 7 Determine when youre ovulating .................................................................. 7 How to Increase the Chances of Conception: What to do ............................... 8 How to Increase the Chances of Conception: What to avoid .......................... 9 When to consult a doctor ............................................................................. 10 Alternative Approaches ................................................................................ 11

What are the Signs & Symptoms of Pregnancy Pregnancy month by month symptoms ........................................................ 12

Pregnancy Blood Test


Pregnancy Blood Test ................................................................................... 14 What is a pregnancy blood test? .................................................................. 14 How reliable is a pregnancy blood test? ....................................................... 14 How is the pregnancy blood test performed? .............................................. 15 Urine Pregnancy Test ................................................................................... 15 How does a urine pregnancy test work?....................................................... 16 How reliable is urine pregnancy test?........................................................... 16

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What are the different stages of pregnancy?


Stages of pregnancy ..................................................................................... 18 The moms body during the three stages of pregnancy ................................ 18 Stages of pregnancy: First trimester ............................................................. 18 Stages of pregnancy: Second trimester ........................................................ 19 Stages of pregnancy: Third trimester............................................................ 19

Eating healthy for pregnancy


A Healthy Pregnancy Diet ............................................................................. 20 What are some healthy pregnancy diet foods? ............................................ 20 Why is it important to have a healthy pregnancy diet? ................................ 22 How soon should I start a healthy pregnancy diet? ...................................... 22

Foods to avoid during pregnancy

Foods to avoid during pregnancy and why ................................................... 23 Which foods to avoid during pregnancy ....................................................... 23

Diet for diabetes in pregnancy


What can an expectant mother do for the pregnancy diabetes diet? ........... 26 What tips should an expectant mother do on the pregnancy diabetes diet? 26 What are the risks of not following the pregnancy diabetes diet? ................ 27 Is the pregnancy diabetes diet hard to do? .................................................. 27

Exercise in pregnancy

Pregnancy workout routine .......................................................................... 28 Weekly pregnancy workout routine ............................................................. 28 Pregnancy workout routine - Monday, Wednesday and Friday .................... 28 Pregnancy workout routine - Tuesday and Saturday .................................... 28 Pregnancy workout routine - Thursday ........................................................ 29 Pregnancy workout routine - Sunday ........................................................... 29
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Pregnancy after 40

Pros of pregnancy after 40 ........................................................................... 30 Cons of pregnancy after 40 or Risk of pregnancy after 40............................. 31

How to reduce labor pain


How to reduce labor pain- What cause Labor pain ....................................... 32 How to reduce labor pain- Stages of labor ................................................... 32 How to reduce labor pain- some tips on how to ease labor pains ................. 33

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2012

How do I get pregnant fast?


If you're hoping to conceive, don't leave it to luck. Understand how to get pregnant. Some couples seem to get pregnant simply by talking about it. For others, it takes plenty of patience and a bit of luck. If you're wondering how to get pregnant, start the old-fashioned way. Here's what you need to know and when to seek help. Wanting to get pregnant is just the first step in a long road that lies ahead of you. For some couples, conception happens fairly easily, and we hope youre among them but for some, have trouble not getting pregnant. Conceiving a child can be elusive and frustrating. Women are only fertile for a limited time during the menstrual cycle, and there are many factors that can affect fertility and conception.

In the following pages, youll learn how to improve your chances of getting pregnant naturally, and find professional information on what to do if you dont.

First understand Conception


Pregnancy is the process by which women carry children to term, and then deliver them. However, seeing as the focal point of this entire guide is about how to actually get pregnant, what were interested in is what actually goes on to cause pregnancy, and this is, as you may have guessed, known as conception Or, in other words: Fertilization. Conception is based on an intricate series of events. Every month, hormones from your pituitary gland stimulate your ovaries to release an egg, or ovulate. Once the egg is released, it travels to one of the fallopian tubes. If you want to conceive, now's the time.

Determine when youre ovulating


Although the standard rule of thumb is that women have a 28 day cycle, the truth is that for many women, this does tend to vary from month to month. Furthermore, even for those that does have a regular-as-clockwork 28 day cycle, the exact time when the egg is ideally positioned for fertilization can still vary. As you might have guessed, this makes it tough to measure and plan for the most fertile moment, and so youre going to have to rely on some other methods rather than merely counting days. Following methods are relatively reliable in telling time of ovulation:

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Keep an eye on your menstrual cycle: Use your day planner or another simple calendar to mark the day your period begins each month. Use a calendar to take note of the day your period starts and ends each month. If you have regular cycles, you can often estimate the time of ovulation by dividing your cycle in half. For example, if your period usually lasts 28 days, you will likely ovulate around day 14 of your cycle (14 days after you begin menstruating). If you have a longer cycle, you may ovulate as late as 20 days after your period began Track your basal body temperature: Take your temperature first thing every morning before you stir; it drops about a halfdegree when you ovulate. Be aware that false readings are common, and the method cant predict ovulation; only tell you that its happened. Watch for changes in cervical mucus: When you ovulate, cervical mucus increases in volume and becomes thinner and stretchier. Some women may notice the change. Test for ovulation: Over-the-counter urine tests monitor levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), which surges 24 to 36 hours before ovulation.

How to Increase the Chances of Conception: What to do


Discontinue using birth control pills: Stop taking them at least one full cycle before you start trying to conceive. Some birth control methods have a longer "readjustment" period after stopping than others, so the time it takes for a woman's body to be again ready to become pregnant after discontinuing contraception varies.
Do have sex regularly:

Have sex every other day beginning a few days before ovulation until a few days after. In a 28-day cycle, this would be from day 10 to day 18 (the day your period starts is day 1).
Daily intercourse during the days leading up to ovulation might increase the odds of conception.

For healthy couples who want to conceive, there's no such thing as too much sex. For many couples, this might be all it takes because sperm can survive in the womb for several days; sexual intercourse prior to ovulation can increase the chance of pregnancy.
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Maintain good health: Most women find it easier to conceive when they are in good general health. This includes being at a healthy weight, adequately addressing any infections or chronic illnesses, and speaking with a health professional about improving physical wellbeing. Maintain a healthy weight, include moderate physical activity in your daily routine, eat a healthy diet, limit caffeine and manage stress. The same good habits will serve you and your baby well during pregnancy.
Consider preconception planning
Your health care provider can assess your overall health and help you identify lifestyle changes that might improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy. Preconception planning is especially helpful if you or your partner have any health issues.

How to Increase the Chances of Conception: What to avoid


To improve your odds of conceiving, also keep important "don'ts" in mind:

Don't drink alcohol:


Generally, it's best to avoid alcohol if you're hoping to conceive and alcohol is off-limits if you're pregnant. Drinking during pregnancy endangers the growing baby in different ways: first, it increases the risk of pregnancy miscarriage especially in women who are in their first trimester. Then, alcohol consumption during the gestational period is linked with severe brain damage in the baby, so unless you want your little one to have serious speaking, learning, reading and attention problems you should stop drinking immediately after finding out youre pregnant.

Whenever you drink, alcohol passes from your bloodstream, through placenta, directly into your babys developing body. While this may not cause you any unpleasant pregnancy symptom, your babys organism is not yet ready to breakdown sugars and to metabolize the other compounds in beverages, so hell most probably end up with lots of alcohol in his circulatory system. This undesirable situation causes severe damage not only to the central nervous system of your developing baby but also on their heart and spine, babies exposed to high amounts of alcohol during their intrauterine life being born with hearing and vision problems, small heads and incompletely developed brains. Also, these babies usually show behavioral problems and mental disabilities as they grow older.

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Don't smoke:
Tobacco affects cervical mucus, which can prevent sperm from reaching the egg. Smoking may also increase the risk of miscarriage and deprive your developing baby of oxygen and nutrients.

Don't depend on vaginal lubricants:

Do not use spermicides, lubricants, or chemical stimuli. Products aimed at enhancing pleasure or preventing conception should be avoided during intercourse if you are trying to achieve pregnancy. If possible, avoid even basic lubricants unless sex is painful without it. If you must use lubricant, opt for canola oil, which does not interfere with sperm mobility and vitality like many marketed sexual lubricants.
Do not douche:

Douching can upset the natural balance in the vagina and may interfere with the environment your body needs to help move sperm to your eggs, and to enable the fertilized egg to implant in the uterine wall.
Don't overdo strenuous exercise:
Although moderate physical activity can help promote fertility, going overboard might have the opposite effect. Some research suggests that more than seven hours a week of vigorous aerobic activity can actually impair fertility.

When to consult a doctor


With frequent unprotected sex, most healthy couples conceive within one year. Others need a bit of help. If you're in your early 30s or younger and you and your partner are in good health, try it on your own for one year before consulting a doctor. Consider seeking help sooner if you're age 35 or older, or you or your partner has known or suspected fertility issues. Infertility affects both men and women and treatment is available. Depending on the source of the problem, your gynecologist, your partner's urologist or your family doctor might be able to help. In some cases, a fertility specialist offers the best hope.

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2012

Alternative Approaches
Mind/body techniques Cognitive-behavioral therapy involves learning to reframe negative thoughts like I will never have a baby to I am doing everything I can to try to get pregnant. Women with fertility issues have a high degree of depression, anxiety and isolation. Coping methods for this includes deep abdominal breathing, meditation, self-care, visualization and cognitive therapy. Acupuncture Acupuncture increases blood flow to the uterus and decreases stress hormones, both of which help pregnancy attempts. Several good studies report high success rates when acupuncture and in vitro fertilization are combined.

Herbs Preliminary research has yielded good results with a nutritional supplement that includes chaste berry and green-tea extracts. However, experts say its best not to selfprescribe, so seek a qualified herbalist. The American Herbalist Guild sets standards; look for A.H.G after a practitioners name. Licensed acupuncturists (L.Ac.s) and naturopathic physicians (N.D.s) from an accredited four-year school also can prescribe herbs.

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2012

What are the Signs & Symptoms of Pregnancy?


Pregnancy month by month symptoms can be overwhelming for a first-time mom but knowing them in time can relieve the stress and turn the experience into the most amazing adventure of your life. By paying attention to all the changes your body will undergo and to all the new symptoms youll have to manage, youll get to know you better and your perception towards pregnancy and birth will be radically changed. Common for first-time moms, the fear of pregnancy usually disappears as future moms learn about all the manifestations theyll have to face during their babys development and growth. So if you dont want this miraculous event take you by surprise, make some time to read the following details on pregnancy month by month symptoms.

Pregnancy month by month symptoms


The first month of pregnancy begins before the baby actually being conceived, when you ovulate and the egg is released from your ovaries. If this egg gets fertilized the great adventure begins so youll notice your period doesnt come anymore. Until week three when you can take the pregnancy test you may fee emotionally drained and mood swings will be quite present these first weeks. Pregnancy month 2 doesnt bring noticeable external symptoms but important changes take place inside your uterus, as your baby starts his accelerated development. The fertilized egg starts dividing so youll no longer have your period but you will experience mild abdominal cramps. Also, youll feel more tired than normal and you may even have nausea and vomiting episodes early in the morning or late at night. During the third month youll start feeling anxious about your babys health even if no signs of concern will be present. Your partners support can make a huge difference these weeks so make sure to share with him absolutely all your fears and thoughts. As for physical changes, youll continue to experience sickness and tiredness but beside these, youll also notice a decrease in your desire for sex as youll breasts will become sore and tender and your belly will begin to show. Once reaching the second trimester, your pregnancy month by month symptoms will become more accentuated and your bodys shape will change more rapidly. Your belly will become larger, your heart will start pumping faster and your legs will become
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swollen and painful due to water retention and increasing pressure on the lower body. Although you wont look extremely pregnant youll probably feel the need of buying maternity clothes. Anxiety and mood swings will be almost gone despite the stretch marks that will start appearing on your belly and thighs. Month 5 of pregnancy will come with even more changes, not only in your appearance but also in your appetite as food cravings will start manifesting. Your face will look fuller, your back and legs will become painful and skin itching and pigmentation will occur. You shouldnt worry about the linea nigra appearing on your lower abdomen neither about the numbness in fingers and feet theyll be gone in few weeks, as the due date approaches. During your 6th month of pregnancy your belly button will become more obvious, your breasts will look really full and skin around nipples will get darker. Youll feel the babys first moves and this will make you enjoy the experience even more, despite the fatigue and body aches coming back by pregnancy week 19. The third trimester will begin with heartburns, breathing difficulties and a general feeling of heaviness in your legs. Youll have to change your sleeping position as your back will become really painful and your babys kicks will be felt more often. During month 8 youll experience breast soreness, leg and face swelling, frequent urination and an increased pressure in your lower abdomen. Youll find it difficult to sit comfortably on a chair and your entire body will feel tired but youll be extremely excited to know the little ones journey inside the womb is almost over. The last pregnancy month will mark the occurrence of breast leakage and increased vaginal discharge. Your belly will look really big now and your little one will be less active than usually, but youll still be able to feel him moving inside the womb. Youll notice several contractions as you prepare for labor, but the last symptom youll experience before giving birth will be the water breaking.

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Pregnancy Test
Pregnancy Blood Test
A pregnancy blood test is a great and precise way of finding out whether youre pregnant or not. Just like the urine pregnancy test, it detects the HCG level in your bloodstream. The HCG hormone, also called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is produced by the placenta, after the fertilized egg implants in the uterus walls and the pregnancy organ forms. Detectable levels of HCG are present starting with day 10 of fertilization, both pregnancy blood test and urine pregnancy test being able to detect the hormone.

What is a pregnancy blood test?


In case you notice pregnancy symptoms like breast tenderness, vomiting, delayed period or pelvic pain you should take a pregnancy test to be certain about your situation. Pregnancy blood tests come in two forms. There is the qualitative blood test that is only capable of giving you a clear yes or no answer and there is the quantitative test which tells you the precise amount of HCG in your blood. If you want a rapid answer on whether youre pregnant or not, a pregnancy blood test is probably the best choice. Pregnancy can be detected in as soon as 7 to 12 days, this quick examination being able to accurately measure the level of HCG in the blood. You may be wondering why the level of HCG is so important? Abnormal levels may indicate early problems in the pregnancy, so its very important for your health care provider to precisely know this value in order to help you prevent further complications.

How reliable is a pregnancy blood test?


While your regular urine home pregnancy tests are usually 97% accurate, the pregnancy blood test work even better. However, accuracy alone does not mean theyre also more sensitive the used methodology and technique can influence the actual result. As in every other pregnancy test, the results may not always be accurate. There are two types of false results that the pregnancy blood test can come up with. First off, false
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negative results - where the woman is pregnant but the test comes out negative - may occur in case the test has been performed before there is enough hCG in the blood. Secondly, medication containing HCG can lead to false positive results in these cases the woman is not pregnant but the test comes out positive.

How is the pregnancy blood test performed?


Theres no reason to avoid having a pregnancy blood test. The procedure is similar to any other blood test you may have taken before. The puncture site will be wiped clean with alcohol and a tourniquet will be placed in order to apply pressure to the veins. The blood is usually drawn from the vein on the hand or forearm. After the needle has been inserted the tourniquet is removed and the blood is finally collected inside a syringe or a vial to be taken to a lab, where it is further analyzed. There are some disadvantages of blood pregnancy tests: Unlike urine pregnancy test, which gives you a result instantly, blood tests require a little more time for providing accurate results. You may have to wait between an hour and a few days, depending on the lab performing the test and on the used method. A pregnancy blood test is also more expensive and time consuming than a regular home pregnancy test, but it does give the doctor more information about your bodys overall health and development during the gestation period.

Urine Pregnancy Test


Taking a urine pregnancy test is the easiest way for most women to be certain whether theyre pregnant or not. Its fast, easy to use, its not expensive and you can find it anywhere. However, there are certain things you must take in consideration before using it, such as understanding how this test works and also how your body changes during pregnancy, in order to use the tool properly.

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How does a urine pregnancy test work?


If a woman is experiencing possible early pregnancy symptoms, its vital to know whats happening as fast as possible. Not knowing whether youre pregnant or not can become very stressful, especially when youre trying to conceive. A urine pregnancy test determines the existence of the hormone hCG in your urine. This hormone is produced a few days after the fertilization of an egg cell and its only seldom found in women who are not pregnant. In about 5 to 10 days the fertilized egg reaches the uterine lining and implants. This is the moment your body starts producing the hCG hormone. But how exactly is this test taken? Right after waking up, before drinking anything, you should collect the urine sample in a sterile container. From this container you should drop a very small sample of urine onto the testing strip, which is dipped in an enzyme that reacts with the hCG hormone. The specific red lines appear on the strip only if the hormone is found in your urine this is how the test returns a positive result. Although the urine pregnancy test indicates with a high accuracy whether youre pregnant or not, it has the disadvantage of not being able to show if your body produces this hormone because fertilization took place or because of an ailment. There are cases, although rare, in which this substance is produced by a tumor located in the womans body, so the positive result of the urine test can actually be false.

How reliable is urine pregnancy test?


During the first 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy the level of HCG rises considerably. This is why the most reliable period for taking this simple exam is between the 5 th and 10th week after your last period, regardless of the tool youre using. But what about those women saying they were pregnant, in spite of obtaining negative pregnancy test results? Statistical data shows even if you use the test correctly, theres still a 1% risk that the result comes out erroneously. Approximately 1 out of 100 tests shows a wrong result, so the best way to make sure the obtained value is not influenced by anything other than your hCG level is to follow the simple tips below: In some cases the egg takes longer time to implant, thus resulting in a negative test although you could have conceived. In these cases its recomm ended to repeat the urine pregnancy test after a few days to be sure of the result.

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Its best to use the kit in the morning, right after waking up. If you havent had time to do it in the morning though, its just as good to hold the urine for four hours to make sure the concentration of hCG is as high as possible. Another way of taking the urine pregnancy test correctly is by using the midstream urine. You can do that by letting off a little amount of urine, stopping and then using the pregnancy test for the remaining urine. Every urine pregnancy test has clear instructions on how it should be used. Be sure to read them thoroughly and to call the product-hotline in case you fail to understand something or no result appears after taking the test.

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What are the different stages of pregnancy?


Stages of pregnancy
The stages of pregnancy are referred to as trimesters of pregnancy and include 1st trimester of pregnancy, 2nd trimester of pregnancy and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. This classification is based on the chances affecting the mothers body as well as on the events marking the babys development and growth. For the pregnant women things are a little more stable than for the baby, as lots of the pregnancy symptoms appearing in the first days after conception manifest until the last months or weeks of gestation. This makes it easier for the mother to adapt to all the changes her body undergoes and explains the feeling of relief most women experience during the second trimester, when theyre already familiar with all the manifestations and symptoms of pregnancy. So if youre curious to learn more about the signs and symptoms typical for the three stages in pregnancy, give yourself the time to read our brief overview about pregnancy stages.

The moms body during the three stages of pregnancy Stages of pregnancy: First trimester
In the first trimester, the woman is usually concerned and scared as she is unfamiliar with the pregnancy symptoms that start manifesting. She finds herself moody and nervous with no apparent reason, she experiences extreme tiredness regardless of the number of slept hours. She gets frequent urination and sometimes gets constipated and accuses digestive discomfort. Also, the future mom realizes her breasts get larger day after day and along with their enlargement comes tenderness and pain. Cravings or distaste for specific foods and aromas, headaches, weight gain and leg swelling are other symptoms appearing in the 1st trimester of pregnancy, as a result of hormonal changes inside the womans body.

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Stages of pregnancy: Second trimester


Morning sickness, nausea and fatigue, back pain and body aches, the darkening of the skin around nipples as well as the enlarging of the belly mark the second trimester or stage of pregnancy. The future mom notices that her breasts, abdomen, thighs and buttocks start being covered by stretch marks, as a result of the tightened skin. Besides the dark skin patches appearing on the face and known as the mask of pregnancy, a darker line also appears on the belly, running from the belly button to the pubic hairline. Skin on the belly, feet and arms may become itchy and swelling is most often experienced. Numbness in feet and hands and weight gain are specific for 2nd trimester pregnancy. But despite these pregnancy symptoms, most women feel happier and more confident during the second trimester pregnancy and they decide highlighting their bumps with maternity clothes. A general feeling of well being defines the mental state of the mother during these months, although the changes in the pregnancy hormone levels and the growing belly continue to generate unpleasant manifestations.

Stages of pregnancy: Third trimester


The last of the three stages of pregnancy, the 3rd trimester is mostly characterized by discomfort, difficult breathing, frequent urination, increased tiredness and body aches, swelling of the face, arms and legs and increased heart rate. As the belly expands, the mother starts feeling heavier and tired of being pregnant, so mood swings and depression might occur. Weight gain accelerates during 3rd trimester pregnancy as the baby packs on fats very rapidly. The increasing abdominal pressure causes not only aches but also hemorrhoids, respiration and digestive problems. Mom finds it harder to rest and finding a comfortable sleeping position becomes a real challenge. As the baby drops lower into the abdomen, pressure on lungs decreases so breathing becomes easier and most of the discomfort disappears. Still, walking around can be very painful and tiring, so the pregnant woman will only look for activities that involve minimum physical effort. As the due date approaches, contractions may be felt, these being among the last symptoms a future mom experience before giving birth to her child.

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Eating healthy for pregnancy


A Healthy Pregnancy Diet
Eating healthy is not only good for you, but also good for your baby. You need to have a healthy pregnancy diet in your life for the health and growth of your baby. Healthy food for pregnant women must be well balanced. A healthy diet for pregnant women must be low-fat and high in fiber. This type of foods reduces constipation and hemorrhoids. You want to eat foods that are helping your baby grow and develop and also for your own health. During pregnancy your body will need approximately 300 extra calories a day. To carry out the functions, your body will be needing protein also. If your diet is healthy and is balanced there is no need to change the way you eat.

What are some healthy pregnancy diet foods?


There are many foods that you can eat that are healthy pregnancy diet foods. These foods are very important for you to eat as it will help your baby to develop and grow and at the same time keep you fit. You want to make sure that daily you will eat different range of foods to get the right balance of the required nutrients for your developing baby in the womb. Eating healthily means you have to make choices about the right kind of food group which will provide the required amount of vitamins and minerals to you and your growing baby. The USDA Food Guide Pyramid is your excellent source on general guidelines for proportions of servings you should eat in each group when you are pregnant. The USDA
Food Guide Pyramid includes the following food groups:

Vegetable Group (choose fresh, frozen, canned, or dried) Carrots Sweet potatoes Pumpkin Spinach Cooked greens (such as kale, collards, turnip greens, and beet greens) Winter squash Tomatoes and tomato sauces Red sweet peppers

These vegetables all have both vitamin A and potassium. When choosing canned vegetables, look for "low-sodium" or "no-salt-added" on the label.
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Fruit Group (choose fresh, frozen, canned, or dried) Cantaloupe Honeydew melon Mangoes Prunes Bananas Apricots Oranges Red or pink grapefruit 100% prune juice or orange juice

These fruits all provide potassium, and many also provide vitamin A. When choosing canned fruit, look for those canned in 100% fruit juice or water instead of syrup. Dairy Group Fat-free or low-fat yogurt Fat-free milk (skim milk) Low-fat milk (1% milk) Calcium-fortified soymilk (soy beverage) These all provide the calcium and potassium you need. Make sure that your choices are fortified with vitamins A and D. Grain Group Fortified ready-to-eat cereals Fortified cooked cereals

When buying ready-to-eat and cooked cereals, choose those made from whole grains most often. Look for cereals that are fortified with iron and folic acid. Protein Foods Group Beans and peas (such as pinto beans, soybeans, white beans, lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas) Nuts and seeds (such as sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts, pine nuts, peanuts, and peanut butter) Lean beef, lamb, and pork Oysters, mussels, crab Salmon, trout, herring, sardines, and Pollock

You also need to eat foods that have folic acid. Folic acid will help prevent birth defects. Folic acid will also help your baby to have a good weight when the baby is born. Some of the foods that have folic acid in it are Spinach, asparagus and oranges and are good healthy pregnancy diet foods.

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2012

You also need to get plenty of calcium in your healthy pregnancy diet. Calcium is good for you and your baby. Your baby needs the calcium for the growth of their bones. You can find calcium in many foods. Some of these foods are milk, yogurt, juice and cheese. These are foods that you should eat every day. You will need more iron during your pregnancy as both you and the baby are making new red blood cells every day. The foods which are very rich in iron are chicken, red meat, fish and green leafy vegetables.

Why is it important to have a healthy pregnancy diet?


Most women think that when they are pregnant they can just eat anything they want. This isn't true. You need to actually add more food to your day, but you want to add foods that are going to be healthy for you and your baby. Taking a healthy diet when pregnant is possibly the most important thing you can do for yourself and for your growing baby as the food you eat is your babys main source of nutrition. This doesn't mean that you can indulge sometimes. You can have a piece of candy or a bowl of ice cream. This is natural, but you also want to make sure that you are eating all the foods that are in a healthy pregnancy diet. These foods will help your baby grow the way your baby should grow. It also helps to prevent birth defects.

How soon should I start a healthy pregnancy diet?


You should start a healthy pregnancy diet as soon as you know that you are pregnant. The earlier you start eating healthy for pregnancy, the better it is for the growth of your baby. Make healthy food choices. Choose foods that have the vitamins and minerals you need for a healthy pregnancy. Remember you are eating for you and your baby and you want to make sure that you are taking in all the foods that have all the vitamins and nutrients that you and your baby needs.

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Copyright 2012 by www.pregnancybymonths.com

2012

What Foods to Avoid During Pregnancy


Foods to avoid during pregnancy and why
There are many foods to avoid during pregnancy. You want to make sure that you avoid certain foods while you are pregnant because of the risk factors that it could do to your unborn baby. Some of the foods can be deadly. Many pregnant women want to know what foods to eat while they are pregnant so they can have a healthy baby, but you should also know what foods should pregnant women avoid. Eating healthy pregnancy diet is essential when you are pregnant. There are essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that your developing baby needs. Most foods are safe; however, there are some foods that pregnant women should avoid during pregnancy because they could cause food poisoning or damage baby growth during pregnancy.

Which foods to avoid during pregnancy


Thou what to eat when pregnant is important, but what foods not to eat when pregnant is also important. Following is the list of foods to avoid during pregnancy: Rare, raw or undercooked meat: One of these foods is uncooked seafood. You also want to avoid any meats that are rare, raw or undercooked. Beef or chicken are foods that are very unsafe rare or raw and can also contain bacteria that can be deadly for you and your unborn baby. Raw Eggs: You also want to avoid any foods that have eggs in them that haven't been cooked such as cookie dough or cake mix that you havent baked yet. These foods can contain viruses and bacteria. You always want to make sure your foods are all cooked. No raw or rare foods while you are pregnant. Some homemade Caesar dressings, mayonnaise, homemade ice cream or custards, and Hollandaise sauces may be made with raw eggs. Deli meats: You also need to stay away from any deli meats that you see at your local grocery. Deli meats can contain listeria which may cross the placenta and infect your baby leading to infection and blood poisoning. Also listeria in deli meats can cause pregnancy miscarriages.

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2012

Liver or Liver products: Liver or liver products such liver sausage, contains extremely high amounts of Vitamin A. Liver consumed in early pregnancy can harm your baby and may lead to birth defects. Certain types of fish What fish can you eat when pregnant? Is a common question pregnant woman asks. Dont eat shark, marlin and swordfish. Can I eat tuna when pregnant? Is also often ask question by pregnant women. You can eat tuna but limit the amount of tuna you eat to no more than two tuna steaks a week. These types of fish contain high levels of mercury, which can damage your babys developing nervous system. Dont eat more than two portions of oily fish per week. Oily fish includes fresh tuna (but not canned tuna), salmon, mackerel, sardines and trout. So take care while eating seafood when pregnant. There are some fish that you should avoid during pregnancy. Any fish that is caught in lakes, pond or rivers should be avoided. These fish could contain bacteria and pollutants that can cause infections in you and your baby. Unpasteurized Cheeses: Cheeses that are soft you should avoid while you are pregnant. Cheeses such as feta, brie and Mexican style cheeses are soft so avoid these during your pregnancy. Any cheeses that are not pasteurized should be avoided. The soft cheeses can contain bacteria which could possibly cause pregnancy complications like premature labor or pregnancy miscarriage. Caffeine: You should also avoid caffeine. Sodas, tea and coffee that have caffeine should be avoided while you are pregnant. There are numerous studies that show that moderate caffeine intake is OK but still there are others that show that caffeine can increase the chances of a miscarriage, premature birth and low birth weight. You can always switch to a decaffeinated drink instead while you are pregnant. You can also drink ample amount of water, milk and juice instead of caffeinated beverages.

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Copyright 2012 by www.pregnancybymonths.com

2012

Alcohol: There is NO amount of alcohol that is known to be safe during pregnancy, and therefore alcohol should be avoided during pregnancy. Drinking during pregnancy is completely unrecompensed as alcohol can cause not only a wide range of mental and physical birth defects in the baby but also lots of health issues in the future mother. Exposure to alcohol during pregnancy before birth leads to so called fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, affecting up to 40,000 babies annually Drinking during pregnancy endangers the growing baby in different ways: first, it increases the risk of pregnancy miscarriage especially in women who are in their first trimester. Then, alcohol consumption during the gestational period is linked with severe brain damage in the baby, so unless you want your little one to have serious speaking, learning, reading and attention problems you should stop drinking alcohol immediately after finding out youre pregnant. These are foods you should not eat while you are pregnant. Try to stay away from the foods that you shouldnt eat. It can be very harmful for your baby and the growth of your baby. There are many other choices of foods that you can choose from that are healthy and safe for you and your baby. Knowing you have done all you could to make sure your baby is growing and developing properly is more important than these foods to avoid during pregnancy. There are healthier food options to choose from. Stick to the healthy food choices and you and your baby will be healthier. Eating healthy is the first step to having a healthy baby. Avoiding the bad choices of foods will only help your baby grow in a healthy way.

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Copyright 2012 by www.pregnancybymonths.com

2012

The Pregnancy Diabetes Diet


What is the pregnancy diabetes diet? The pregnancy diabetes diet is designed for expectant mothers who have diabetes. If your body doesn't produce insulin properly or knows how to use the insulin in your body, then your body will develop an excessive amount of sugar in your blood. This can be dangerous to you and your baby. This is why you need to follow the pregnancy diabetes diet.

What can an expectant mother do for the pregnancy diabetes diet?


The first thing an expectant mother should do is follow any gestational diabetes diet guidelines given by the doctor. The doctor will work out the pregnancy diet plan that will go along with your pregnancy. As the pregnancy goes farther your doctor may change your pregnancy diabetes diet. The doctor will check the way your baby is growing and how your weight is and sugar levels are to determine how to change the diabetes pregnancy diet.

What tips should an expectant mother do on the pregnancy diabetes diet?


If you are an expectant mother who is on the pregnancy diabetes diet you should always record your sugar levels. Monitoring your blood sugar level is very crucial in gestation diabetes. Check your blood sugar 4 to 5 times a day. Keep the sugar level records and the dates and times in a book to make sure your level stays within a healthy range. Take these records to your doctor and he will suggest some good diet for gestational diabetes to keep your pregnancy diabetes under control while you are pregnant. You should always eat healthy gestational diabetes food. Eating right kinds of food is best way to keep gestational diabetes under control. A healthy diabetes gestational diet always focuses on foods that are high in nutrition and fiber and very low in fat and calories. Eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Make sure you balance out the foods on your diabetes diet in pregnancy so you are getting all the food groups you need to keep yourself healthy and your baby growing properly. Stay away from snacks, foods that are full of sugar and carbohydrates including sweets. They should not be on your gestational diabetes menus. You also want to watch your salt intake. Try to avoid sugary foods and juices that are full of sugar. These can be harmful for your diabetes and your baby. Always consult a dietitian or a diabetes educator to create a pregnancy diet plan.

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Copyright 2012 by www.pregnancybymonths.com

2012

What are the risks of not following the pregnancy diabetes diet?
You should follow the pregnancy diabetes diet if you have diabetes and are pregnant. There are many risks that can occur if you don't. You run a risk of gestational diabetes if you are above 25 years of age, or you have family or personal health history, or you are overweight with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. In view of these risk factors to follow a gestational diabetic diet is extremely important. If gestational diabetes is not managed carefully it will often lead to uncontrolled blood sugar levels and will affect you and your baby and can result in birth defects. Gestational diabetes also increased the likelihood of delivery by C-section. An expectant mother who has gestational diabetes can have larger babies if the mother isn't doing the pregnancy diabetic diet. The babies of these mothers are often have excessive weight due the fact that added glucose in mothers blood crosses the placenta triggering babys pancreas to make extra insulin causing baby to grow large. Another risk factor of gestational diabetes is that it exposes pregnant women to risk of going into labor early and delivering her baby before its due date. These are some serious risks that can happen if the expectant mother doesn't stick to a pregnancy diabetes diet and follow the doctor's instructions on recommended diet for
gestational diabetes.

Is the pregnancy diabetes diet hard to do?


The pregnancy diabetes diet isn't hard to do. Gestational diabetes what to eat? Is really a question of making good healthy food choices. You will be able to make simple changes in the way you eat and be able to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Follow your doctor's suggestions on gestational diabetes food plan. Stay away from sugary foods and eat healthy foods. Your gestational diabetes eating plan must include plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Always check your sugar levels and record them. If you notice that your sugar level is going up immediately contact your doctor. Make sure you always drink plenty of water each day and try to do some kind of exercises while you are pregnant. Doing these small changes will insure you are healthy and you will deliver a healthy baby. The pregnancy diabetes diet is just a change in the way you are eating. You will be taking out the foods that are harmful for you and your baby and making healthy food choices based on plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains that help relieve stress and nourish your baby

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Copyright 2012 by www.pregnancybymonths.com

2012

Exercise in pregnancy
Pregnancy workout routine
A pregnancy workout routine is needed not only for preventing excessive weight gain during pregnancy but also for maintaining your joints, bones, muscles and skin in good shape during and after the pregnancy months. Pregnancy doesnt have to mean loose skin, saggy thighs and buttocks, puffy arms and swollen legs. Through a regular pregnancy workout plans you can keep all these under control and maintain a toned and firm appearance throughout the gestation period. Given below are some suggestions for your pregnancy workout routines, so make sure to check them whether youre already pregnant or only trying to conceive a baby.

Weekly pregnancy workout routine


Pregnancy comes with changes in your body, with tiredness, mood swings, morning sickness and back pain, leg cramps and food cravings. The best way to overcome these pregnancy symptoms is to have a strict workout during pregnancy and follow it regardless of your mood. Being disciplined throughout the pregnancy is important for staying in shape, controlling weight gain and maintaining your health so heres how your training program could look like weekly:

Pregnancy workout routine - Monday, Wednesday and Friday


Start with a cardio session of about 20 minutes, including light jogging or rapid walking, swimming or dancing. If youre in your pregnancy 1 month and belly isnt too big, Yoga and Pilates classes are perfect pregnancy workout. Try not to exceed a total of 60 minutes of exercising per day and in case youre feeling too tired after the cardio session, stop there and postpone the mobility exercises for afternoon.

Pregnancy workout routine - Tuesday and Saturday


Work your core area and do Kegel exercises for your pelvic muscles. Sticking to a 30-40 minutes routine is safe pregnancy workout, taking breaks of 1 minute between sets. For the core region and more specifically for the abdominal muscles, you should do clams
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2012

and dipping toes. These two exercises will strengthen your abs, preventing them from getting too loose during the pregnancy. Do 3 sets of 10 to 15 reps then switch to the pelvic floor routine. Kegel exercises are excellent for strengthening muscles in the pelvis and theyre very easy to do regardless of the place youre in. you can perform these exercises even while driving, sitting in the bus, grabbing a snack with your friends or standing. Contract and relax your muscles regularly while doing quick flicks and long holds.

Pregnancy workout routine - Thursday


Do exercises for the upper and lower body, such as squats, lunges, triceps extensions, shoulder rises and plies with reverse fly. These will prevent your arms and legs from looking too puffy, will stimulate circulation, tone muscles and strengthen bones, improving your mood and self esteem level at the same time. Stick to 3 sets of 10 reps and use light dumbbells for performing the routines for arms, so that you wont put too much pressure on joints. Keep your muscles contracted while exercising, in order to avoid back pain and injuries and pay attention to the position of your legs and knees while doing these workouts.

Pregnancy workout routine - Sunday


This is your day off so theres no need to get the dumbbells or kettlebells, neither the jumping rope nor the exercise map. However, you can still go walking with your partner if youre not too tired and you want to relax a little. Shopping for maternity clothes or for decorations for the babys room is enough for stimulating the cardiovascular function and preventing muscle aches after a 6-days pregnancy workout routine.

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Copyright 2012 by www.pregnancybymonths.com

2012

Pregnancy after 40
Contrary to the general opinion, pregnancy after 40 isnt always linked with severe complications and risks for the mother and the baby. Statistics show 1 in 5 women who conceive a healthy baby are aged between 35 and 40 and although pregnancy after 40 years involves different risks than those carried at younger ages, most babies are born fully developed and healthy. Getting pregnant after 40 is possible. You can have natural pregnancy after 40 or using fertility treatments. In some women the ovaries still produce eggs and the ovules are perfectly functional, so fertilization can occur naturally. However, there are also women, whose reproductive systems stop producing eggs at menopause or only releases them occasionally, being quite difficult for those women to conceive at 40. In such cases women often choose to rely on medical treatments that increase their chances of getting pregnant at age 40. However, note that fertility treatments dont always guarantee the achievement of a pregnancy success rate is somewhere around 10-15%, compared to 5% or less when no treatment is applied. As a comparison, women aged 30 using fertility treatments have a 20-25% chance of conceiving. However, there statistical data are strongly influenced by the type of treatment the woman uses. Egg donation seems to increase the chances of fertility at age 40 to up to 45%, which is quite impressive considering a healthy 30-years woman has 49% chances of getting pregnant! So lets take a look at the pros and cons of pregnancy after 40 and see the viable alternatives a woman having a baby after 40!

Pros of pregnancy after 40


Pregnancy after 40 mean youre more stable financially and emotionally and probably have a great partner to help you with everything a pregnancy after forty involves. Youre more mature and know how this world works so you can give a healthy education to your baby. Pregnancy after 40 mean youre more comfortable in your own skin than most 20 years moms, as you learned to accept your minuses and to highlight your pluses, so your baby will surely learn to love him or herself as well!

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2012

According to recent studies, moms in their 40s are more apt to breastfeed so pregnancy after 40 youll be able to nurse your baby properly and youll also mak e healthier diet choices as you already got over the dieting obsession. Pregnancy after 40 mean youll be more focused on the baby than on your career or appearance, which will be great for the little one as he or she will receive a better education and wiser pieces of advice.

Cons of pregnancy after 40 or Risk of pregnancy after 40


Getting pregnant over 40 is harder without fertility treatments so you may have to invest substantial amount of time, money and patience in these medical treatments in order to have conception after 40. However, lots of the available treatments have a good success rate of pregnancy after 40 so you shouldnt worry or stress too much about this just try to remain confident and have a positive attitude of having a baby at forty and youll surely mange to conceive a healthy baby even if youre in your 40s! On the other hand, these treatments are often expensive so unless youre financially stable, you may have second thoughts about investing in fertility therapies for pregnancy after 40. Pregnancy at the age of 40 involves chances to have cardiovascular problems, such as hypertension, or to develop gestational diabetes. Also, the risk of pregnancy after 40 of delivering an underweight baby is higher and birth complications are more likely to appear than in pregnancies carried at younger ages. However, its not a rule for such unpleasant events to happen having a baby at 40 and regular checkups can tell you in time if there are any complications of pregnancy after 40. After 40 pregnancy mean your body will recover a little slower than it would in your 20s or 30s, but be assure your baby will be more important than the aspect of your belly or the stretch marks on your breasts, right? In the end, eating healthy and remaining active is all you can do for maintaining a nice shape a good tone, unless you want to invest in beauty treatments for regaining your youthful appearance pregnancy after 40.

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Copyright 2012 by www.pregnancybymonths.com

2012

How to reduce labor pain


Labor pain is a fact of childbirth and as such cannot be avoided. Generally the first thing a woman thinks of when she thinks of childbirth is pain. How to reduce labor pain is a general enquire every pregnant woman made to the doctors.

How to reduce labor pain- What cause Labor pain


Easing labor pain is not so easy. Labor is painful for many reasons. The cervix of the woman undergoes severe pressure and stretching during child birth. Your uterine muscle undergoes contracting and relaxing for hour after hour. This leads to achiness and tiredness. Added to it the uterus receives depleted oxygen flow during child birth. There is increased pressure on the fallopian tubes, ovaries and ligaments. Your babys head presses firmly against your bladder and bowel as he descends through your pelvis this lead to great pain during childbirth. Similarly your babys size and position in your pelvis; whether shes face up or facedown (the ideal birth position) is also a major factor of labor pain.

How to reduce labor pain- Stages of labor


Labor pain varies considerably from woman to woman. Every womans labor is unique and dramatically different to each pregnancy. Early labor In the early labor stage your cervix will begin to dilate and you will experience strong contractions lasting up to 30 to 90 seconds at regular intervals. Early labor feels like ever-increasing cramping, and women sometimes experience diarrhea, spotting and discharge. Active labor During active labor, your cervix will dilate to 10 centimeters i.e. fully open state. Your contractions will get stronger, last longer and will be two to three minutes apart and lasting up to one minute. Near the end of active labor, it might feel as though the contractions never completely disappear. You may feel contractions hurt you very much, or it may be very intense, pressuring or tightening.

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2012

Child birth When you hit 10 centimeters, you entered the second stage of labor and your doctor will tell you to push! It can take from a few minutes up to several hours or more to push your baby into the world. It often takes longer for first-time moms and women whove had an epidural and your doctor or midwife will tell you when to push.

How to reduce labor pain- some tips on how to ease labor pains
According to research by the Ohio State University College of Nursing, pain during childbirth has numerous psychological factors. What this means is that childbirth is a scary experienced made worse by the thought of pain. Dealing with the intensity of pain before you give birth may encourage you to learn ways of face with it more effectively when youre actually in labor. A study published recently in Birth suggests that women with higher levels of fear before their first childbirth class in fact reported less anxiety during labor and delivery. The authors concluded that these women probably had dealt with their concerns before they went into labor. Remember no two women have the same degree of labor pain, and no two labors are exactly alike. Ultimately, you need to choose the pain relief option thats right for you. Here are so me useful tips by which labor pain can be reduced

Have faith in God Keep your mind calm and cool Accompany a labor companion, probably your mother or a experienced older woman

Vocalize your pain by moaning and groaning Take deep rhythmic breathing; focus on the breath; try structured breathing patterns and yoga

Try massage, stroking and cuddling Be optimistic

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