What You Should Know About Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is the fertilization of a female egg when a male sperm reaches the ovary at the time of ovulation. Later, a female fertilized egg travels to the uterus where implantation takes place, and you are declared to be pregnant. Normally time span of pregnancy is 9 to 9.2 months, but external or internal factors might affect your pregnancy. If a woman is given proper care before a child’s birth, she will deliver a very healthy baby and won’t face difficulties while giving birth. It is very important to keep important factors in mind for your as well as your baby’s health.

Symptoms of Pregnancy

During pregnancy, there are many factors you might notice before going for a pregnancy test. Also, many symptoms arise later when your hormones change their form. Let us explore what are the possible symptoms of pregnancy.

1. Skipped Period:

2. Blood Spotting

3. Putting on weight:

4. Headache:

5. Hypertension:

6. Heartburn:

7. Constipation:

8. Cramps:

9. Backache:

10. Anemia:

11. Stress and Depression:

12. Insomnia:

13. Change in Breast form:

14. Breakouts on the skin:

15. Puking:

16. Hip Ache:

Pregnancy Weeks

Each pregnancy week is full of a new experience for the mother as well as the baby. Now when we move forward pregnancy weeks are divided into three trimesters-

FIRST TRIMESTER:

SECOND TRIMESTER:

THIRD TRIMESTER:

Pregnancy Tests

Once you miss your periods having a pregnancy test at home itself is quite beneficial. Once the test is positive you must consult your doctor for the date of your pregnancy that is evaluated after an ultrasound. Once you miss your periods your pregnancy hormones (human chorionic gonadotropin) are increased in your body, it can be measured through urine or blood test.

VAGINAL DISCHARGE AND PREGNANCY

Too much vaginal discharge is the early sign of pregnancy. In the first one or two weeks, you tend to have more vaginal discharge. With time it only increases, and your discharge turns thicker. Once it turns thick and comes out with blood it is called a bloody show. If your discharge is weird in color like yellow and gray with a foul smell it is not a normal one and you must look after your doctor immediately.

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS AND PREGNANCY

It is a type of complication women go through during their pregnancy. You feel a burning sensation and pain. Along with that, you suffer from frequent urination as well.

You also experience:

• Abdomen pain
• Fever
• Lower back pain
• Puking
• Blood in urine and cloudiness

Around 18% of women suffer from UTI. To prevent these infections, you must pee a lot, consume lots of water and avoid using anything on the vagina as it is a self-cleaning area. Don’t try to treat your infection of your own and do consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Preventing Pregnancy

Various methods are used to prevent pregnancy and they are as follows:

1. MEDICATIONS: they help you 99% of the times if the use is done properly and 91% when it is used typically.
2. CONDOMS: using male or female condoms can be an effective method to prevent pregnancy as it does not allow your sperm to reach eggs. Male condoms help 98% if used properly and 82% if used during harsh intimacy. Female condoms help 95% if used properly and 79% if used typically.
3. IUD’s: These are intrauterine devices that help 99% with effective use.
4. Natural family planning: Family planning is very important before planning pregnancy so once you do an effective planning it leads to 75% of benefit in avoiding pregnancy. Family planning does not include no sex at all, but it says that before planning unprotected sex you should be prepared for another life to enter your life.
5. NIGHT AFTER PILLS: it is usually consumed within 48 hours after having unprotected sexual activity. It is of 75% to 89% of effectiveness.

PMS or Pregnancy

A few early symptoms of PMS (Premenstrual syndrome) and pregnancy are the same, so a woman needs to know whether she is pregnant or having just another PMS phase. For that, it is prescribed to have a proper test.

Mutual symptoms of PMS and PREGNANCY are:

• Mood swings
• Lethargies
• Breast ache
• Bleeding
• Cramps
• Sensitivity to food

Diet for Pregnancy

Your pregnancy diet should be maintained as much as your daily healthy diet. You must consume food that contains-

• Fruits and vegetables
• Grains and legumes
• Healthy fats like almond
• Protein and complex carbohydrates

Consuming food rich in protein, iron, and fiber is very essential during pregnancy.

Vitamins and Minerals are important supplements–

Workout and Pregnancy

Yoga is the most important type of exercise that you need to perform during pregnancy as it helps you in keeping fit, peaceful, and flexible. Perform it under proper care and don’t overdo it. Exercising prepares you for labor, so it is a must addition to your routine for a better pregnancy.

PREGNANCY MASSAGE:

When to Approach Medical Care

A woman who is above the age of 35 is at higher risk of having complications during pregnancy but women who are in their 20s or 30s are expected to have complication-free delivery. If you are going through kidney disease, cancer or any other underlying disease kindly seek a doctor.

Other risk factors include multiple babies like twins or triplets, being overweight, STD’s and anemia.

Pregnancy complications like hypertension, diabetes, and miscarriage can put you in trouble so you must look after a doctor if you see any kind of symptoms mentioned above for your as well as your baby’s healthy life.

Labor and Pregnancy

It is usual to experience labor pain or feeling usually after 4 months but that is nothing to worry about as your inner body prepares itself for real labor but if you experience such contractions on regular basis you should talk to your doctor. There are 3 types of labor which are described as follows-

1. Early labor- during this period contractions are of about 30 to 45 seconds. In starting it might not be that long but when it at late stage it is up to 5 minutes.
2. Active labor- during this period contractions turn intense, and you should consult doctor for better understanding.
3. Labor pain- during this period contractions will have higher level of pain and you can use methods like listening to music, performing yoga and meditation to avoid such pain. You can consult your doctor for further methods or medications to avoid pain.

Do’s and Don’t’s

DO’s

• Getting enough sleep
• Consuming multivitamins
• Taking a flu shot

DON’T’s

• Smoking and drinking alcohol
• Putting on weight
• Eating nonveg items

Medication

It is very difficult to understand and know which medicines are good for you and which are not during pregnancy. So, for the same, you must consult with your doctor.