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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Common Concerns in Pregnancy (part 2) |
| These problems occur as a result of increased blood volume coupled with the softening effect of pregnancy hormones on blood vessels. Allowing plaque to accumulate may exacerbate these symptoms and also makes the start of gum disease more likely. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Common Concerns in Pregnancy (part 1) |
| Pregnancy hormones affect every system in your body. In this section, you will find a list of common concerns with an explanation of the adaptation process that may cause these symptoms, information on whether medical help is likely to be required, and advice on measures you can take yourself to alleviate symptoms. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 35) |
| One of the best ways to curb your sweet tooth is to eat regular meals. This helps to steady your blood-sugar level and reduce sweet cravings. Try not to go longer than three hours without eating and, if you’re hungry, have a healthy snack between meals, such as a chicken sandwich, a low-fat yogurt, or fruit, which can be fresh, canned, or dried, such as raisins or apricots. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 34) |
| In addition to Down syndrome, screening tests also assess the risk of another chromosomal abnormality called trisomy 18. Babies with this condition have more severe mental and physical abnormalities than babies with Down syndrome and seldom survive beyond a year. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 33) |
| Not all women adapt well to pregnancy and for some dealing with the symptoms and worrying about issues such as weight gain, makes them feel out of control. The best way to cope with these feelings is to embrace the changes and remain in touch with your body by exercising and taking time to focus on what is happening inside you. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 30) |
| The potential effects of taking antihistamines in pregnancy aren’t known, so it’s best to err on the side of caution and not take them. However, if your symptoms are very severe, see your doctor since there is one antihistamine available by prescription that can be taken during pregnancy. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 29) |
| A milestone in your baby’s development—the placenta takes over from the yolk sac to provide your baby with nutrients. Just like your baby, the placenta has needed to grow and develop a circulation to support the ever-increasing demands that are being placed on it. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 26) |
| If you’re expecting twins or more, blood-based screening tests for Down syndrome can mislead, since they rely on measuring the amounts of circulating AFP (alfa-fetoprotein) and other markers, which are present in much higher levels when there’s more than one baby. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 24) |
| A simple solution to help relieve feelings of nausea is to wear acupressure wristbands. Available from pharmacists, these bands have been clinically tested in the treatment of pregnancy-induced nausea. Unlike anti-nausea drugs, they don’t have any side effects and are easy to use. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 23) |
| During pregnancy, your blood and other bodily fluids expand almost 50 percent, an expansion that requires extra water and salt. The majority of salt in the diet comes from processed foods, not from the salt shaker or the salt you add in cooking. To manage your intake, eat whole foods you cook yourself and add your own salt to taste. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 18) |
| Called pytalism, excess saliva is caused by increased hormone levels. Don’t try to keep the saliva in your mouth; if you find yourself drooling, spit into a tissue or small cup. Place a towel on your pillow. Sucking lemon wedges or ice cubes may help. Pytalism usually subsides in later pregnancy. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 17) |
| The exercises shown are sometimes called “functional movement enhancers” because they increase the strength of the muscles that you use for everyday functions such as walking, carrying, lifting, sitting, and standing. The workout can be used alongside walking, swimming, or other cardiovascular exercises and can be done around 2–3 times a week. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 15) |
| Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium, which is vital for the development of your unborn baby’s skeleton. A daily 15-minute walk outside—with the sun on your skin—is sufficient; you can also boost your intake of vitamin D by eating oily fish, eggs, fortified cereals, and bread, and by taking supplements . |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 12) |
| When your pregnancy is confirmed, it’s natural to experience a mixed bag of emotions—excitement, disbelief, joy, and anxiety. Everything is about to change forever for you and your partner. Give yourselves time to take in the big news. You may not feel pregnant yet, but momentous changes are taking place in the hidden world of your uterus. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 11) |
| The March of Dimes advises pregnant women or those trying to become pregnant to drink no more than 200 mg of caffeine a day. Going without your caffeine fix is a good thing when you’re pregnant, since research shows that, in high doses, it can increase the risk of miscarriage. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 9) |
| To do a back stretch, get on all fours and lower your bottom toward your feet while stretching your arms out on the floor in front of you. Lower your forehead as far as you can, keeping your neck and back aligned, and stretch your arms as much as you can. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 8) |
| Egg collection will be scheduled (see image), following the first stage of IVF. Not all follicles that were stimulated will contain eggs. Two days after egg retrieval, you will be given progesterone to thicken the uterus lining. Two to five days after fertilization, the most promising embryos are chosen to be transferred. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 6) |
| One theory is that the female orgasm is an evolutionary device designed to convey semen into the cervix as the uterus contracts. If the woman climaxes up to a minute before her partner, or she doesn’t orgasm, she will retain less semen than if she comes at the same time or after him. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 4) |
| If you have any ongoing medical problems, go to see your doctor before you start trying to conceive. Conditions such as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, heart trouble, a previous bout of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) , thyroid conditions, sickle-cell disease, and epilepsy can all impact a pregnancy. |
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| Pregnancy Day by Day : Welcome to your First Trimester (part 3) |
| Regular exercise can increase your chances of conceiving by allowing your body to work at optimum levels. If you’re fit and have a healthy lifestyle, you will reduce the level of toxins in your body and be less stressed, which makes it easier to conceive. |
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