Moms Care - Pregnancy Guide

The time has finally arrived for the moms-to-be to take the urine pregnancy test. You must be excited to confirm this news and start the preparation to get into the new phase of life. It’s a wonderful feeling and by this time a month has almost passed successfully. There are just 8 months to go from here.

Taking a pregnancy test

Usually, moms-to-be find out a little later about their pregnancy so if you’re already looking to take a pregnancy test, then you’ve found out about your pregnancy earlier than most women. A lot of women are in their 5th or 4th week when they get to know about their pregnancy. As the symptoms are not very obvious in the first 4 weeks.

There are two ways by which a pregnancy test can be performed:

Firstly, you can purchase the urine pregnancy kit from any pharmacy and easily do it at home. The strips need to be dipped in the urine sample. The urine sample can be collected in a cup and dip the strip in it or you can sit on a toilet seat and let the urine fall directly on the pregnancy strip. The change of color on the strip will be an indicator of pregnancy. Every home pregnancy test kit is different so you need to read the instructions carefully on the leaflet of the kit to perform it.

Secondly, there is another option of a blood test to detect the level of hCG in the blood. hCG is called human chorionic gonadotropin which is secreted by the placenta after the process of implantation i.e. attachment of the embryo on the wall of the uterus. This test can only be performed with the consultation of a general practitioner.

Your body is gearing up to adapt to the new changes. The small embryo is on its journey to becoming a tiny human being inside your womb.

Size of your baby

The baby is very small when you’re 4 weeks pregnant. During the 4th week, your baby is busy settling into his/her new home, uterus. The baby will now grow in its new home for the next 8 months.

Here are some of the signs and symptoms that your body will experience in the 4th week:

Implantation bleeding:

As soon as the embryo implants itself on the uterus, light pink or brownish spotting will occur. It can be accompanied by abdominal pain. Don’t confuse it with your periods as the bleeding would be very less in quantity or it would be very light spotting. This bleeding will resolve on its own. This will probably occur before your upcoming period due date. You don’t need to worry if implantation bleeding does not occur because not every woman experiences it during her pregnancy.

In case the bleeding is heavy or there is some foul smell in it, you need to immediately consult your general practitioner. There can be a chance of a miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. Both of these cases are a medical emergency and need immediate medical attention.

Tender breasts:

Your breasts will start to become heavy and tender during this time. This is an early sign of pregnancy which is happening due to the production of estrogen and progesterone. You might also notice blue veins emerging under the skin of your breasts because the veins are now busy to supply nutrients to your developing baby. You need to wear a supportive bra to prevent any form of discomfort.

Mild cramping:

You might experience some mild form of abdominal pain or cramping. It is not unusual so there is nothing to be worried about. This is the result of the implantation process and this pain will subside on its own. If the pain becomes unbearable, then you need to consult your doctor immediately.

Mood swings:

As your body is preparing itself for pregnancy, there is a surge of new hormones in your blood. Until the 12th week of pregnancy, you will feel like you are on an emotional rollercoaster. It’s quite normal to go through this phase and you might end up crying on small things.

Morning sickness:

At this stage of pregnancy, more than half of the women experience nausea and vomiting. The body is undergoing a major change because of the secretion of hormones and the implantation process. And morning sickness occurs as a result of it. Taking tension or stress can also make you vomit or you might feel nausea, dizzy or light-headed. If this becomes severe, you can ask a doctor for medication.

Tiredness:

Your body is bound to feel tired, exhausted and even fatigued due to the sudden rush of hormones. This can be accompanied by headaches. You don’t need to panic, just relax and take it easy. Try to rest whenever possible.

Frequent urination:

The most common symptom of pregnancy is frequent urination. It happens due to the hormonal changes occurring in the body. Moreover, your expanding uterus is putting pressure on your bladder.

Your belly when you’re 4 weeks pregnant

Your tummy is certainly bloated but you don’t look pregnant at all. But that doesn’t mean that you can continue to live the careless life you were living before. Now you should start taking care of yourself. Avoid things that can be harmful to your body and your baby. Stop wearing

tight clothes and see if you’ve any loose-fitting clothes in your closet. Otherwise, you’ll have to go shopping soon.
If you don’t have a history of medical complications, there’s no need to see a doctor yet. But it’s better to be safe than sorry. Most probably when you will go to a doctor, they will congratulate you and will ask you to come back a month later for your first prenatal appointment. And in most cases, an ultrasound is also not needed when you’re just 4 weeks pregnant.

Some tips for this week
Sleep well: Sleep for at least 8-10 hours every night. Your body needs more sleep when you’re

pregnant.
Eat a balanced diet: Eat a variety of food and increase your vegetable and fruit intake.
Do some light exercise: Exercise is very important for your health and the health of the baby. Drink plenty of water: Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water every day.

Don’t stop taking medicines by yourself: If you have an illness or a medical condition, inform your gynecologist about the medicines that you are taking. And in the same way, inform the person who prescribed those medicines that you’re pregnant right away.

Lastly, start taking a prenatal vitamin if you haven’t started taking it yet, limit your caffeine intake, and avoid smoking and alcohol.

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Take a pregnancy test - Moms Care The time has finally arrived for the moms-to-be to take the urine pregnancy test. You must be excited to confirm this news and start the...

If you’re planning to have a baby or recently got pregnant, you may be thinking about what will happen to your body and what you should expect. Usually, moms-to-be want to know what’s happening inside them and what changes will their bodies go through. Our week by week guide will not only help answer your questions but will also prepare you for the next nine months. So you could become a confident and a much happier mom-to-be.

Here are some signs and symptoms you should look out for if you’re thinking about having a baby or are in your early stages of pregnancy:

Getting to know your body and when it ovulates.

Keeping a track of your menstrual cycle: Keeping a menstrual cycle calendar will help you a lot in finding out when your body ovulates. Ovulation generally occurs fourteen days before your period begins. If your average menstrual cycle is of twenty- eight days, you’ll most likely ovulate around day fourteen.
Your temperature will drop and then spike: Before ovulating, your body basal temperature or BBT will drop to its lowest point. However, then it’ll immediately shoot up around half a degree as soon as you ovulate. Therefore, we recommend you to buy a digital thermometer and start tracking! Your BBT will keep changing throughout your cycle because of the fluctuations in your hormone levels. Estrogen will dominate through the first half of your cycle before you ovulate. The body will release the progesterone hormone during the second half of ovulation. The release of progesterone hormone will increase your body temperature as it stimulates the uterus to prepare for pregnancy. This means that your body temperature will be lower during the first part of your cycle as compared to the second phase of your cycle.
Listen to the messages your body sends you: If you’re among the one-fifth population of women, your body will most likely show some signs and symptoms of ovulation. This can be in the form of pain or else a series of cramps in your lower abdominal area. This is your body’s way of sending you a fertility reminder. These types of things usually happen on the maturation or release of an egg from the o***y.
Increased cervical mucus

The consistency of cervical mucus keeps on changing from week to week. Before ovulation, your mucus is thick, sticky, and creamy. The volume will then increase and it will start looking cloudy.

What is cervical mucus/ovulation discharge?

Cervical mucus is a fluid that is secreted by the cervix. Estrogen stimulates the production of cervical mucus. The production of estrogen is very high before ovulation begins and this causes the body to secrete more of this fluid.

Cervical mucus changes throughout pregnancy

Many women look for physical changes like changes in the consistency of cervical mucus as an early sign of pregnancy. The reality is there are some subtle physical signs of pregnancy. However, they do not guarantee in any way that you’re pregnant.

Vaginal bleeding

Throughout this phase, your body will shed the uterine lining which holds last month’s unfertilized egg. The uterus will start shedding the lining it has built up in the last twenty days on the first day of your period.

Lower back pain and cramps

Lower back pain is a very common symptom during periods. The pain is usually muscular and it is caused by the changes in your hormones. To release the lining, your uterus contracts, which causes abdominal cramps and backache. A woman’s body releases chemicals known as prostaglandins, these chemicals are the reason behind most of the discomfort during the menstrual cycle.

Headache

If a woman gets migraines, then the headaches she gets before or after a menstrual cycle are known as menstrual migraines. Non-prescription pain pills and exercise can help relieve the pain.

Mood swings

Hormones can also cause irritability and sudden changes in your mood. You wake up happy but start to feel sad or angry for no reason after some time. Other symptoms can be:
-anger
-irritability

-sadness

Bloating

Hormones that are fluctuating can give you a bloated belly right before and during your period. Your body can also start producing excessive gas during this time. Also, you may observe that your farts have suddenly started to smell. Gas during and before your period is usually caused by changes in your hormones.

Breast tenderness

Various hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle can lead to pain and discomfort in the breast of some women. During menstruation, women can also witness some changes in the texture of their breasts. Breasts may also feel lumpy.

Acne or pimples

Hormonal acne is very common in women. An increase in hormones called androgens can cause the gland in your skin to grow and produce sebum. This oil can clog pores and lead to bacteria, inflammation, and breakouts.

How can you say this is your first week of pregnancy if you’re not yet pregnant?

It can be hard for a doctor to find out the exact starting date of your pregnancy. According to doctors, week 1 of pregnancy means you’re on your period and you won’t conceive until the second or third week of pregnancy.

When you get to know that you’re expecting, you may think you’re in your first week of pregnancy but you’re probably four weeks pregnant. It is hard for the doctor to identify the exact starting date, but most practitioners would want to give a starting date to each pregnancy. So they will use the first day of your last menstrual period as the starting point of your 40 weeks journey.

Last menstrual period

You’ve just had your last period. Week one of pregnancy is just like the first week of the menstrual cycle because that is what it is. You’re familiar with what’s it’s like to be on your period every month. Mostly periods are annoying but that’s what’s most important for all women to get pregnant. Your menstrual period is counted as the first week of your pregnancy even if you’re not pregnant. And the date of delivery is counted from the first day of your last menstrual period.

Tips

Since you’re trying to conceive or are in the early stages of your pregnancy. You’d now want to take good care of yourself.

Avoid smoking and alcohol: Smoking and alcohol can be really bad for the health of your baby. So it is best that you avoid them altogether if you’re pregnant and or are planning to conceive.
Limit Caffeine: If it’s very hard for you to completely avoid caffeine. Then, you should limit your daily caffeine intake to less than 200mg. This is around two coffee mugs daily.
Get regular exercise: Moderate exercise can be good for your body when you’re pregnant. It’s very good for general overall health and helps with reducing stress. So join a pregnancy exercise class or walk 15-20 minutes daily. Try to avoid exercising in sunlight and consult your doctor as well.
See a doctor: It’s never too soon when it comes to pregnancy. If you think you may be pregnant, go see a doctor right away.
Consider pre-conception counseling: If you’re not yet pregnant, considering pre-conception counseling can be a good start.
Avoid sauna and rigorous exercise: High temperatures and rigorous exercises can be harmful. For further advice on this, please consult your doctor.
Use moisturizers: Your skin can become sensitive during pregnancy. Use moisturizers to relieve the itchiness of your skin and also apply sunscreen to save your skin from sun-burn.
Educate yourself: Educating your partner and yourself about the different aspects of pregnancy can be a huge help. So try reading some articles or start attending some classes.
Tracking weight gain: Tracking weight gain is important as well. Too much weight gain is bad for your health. Similarly, being underweight can cause harm to your baby as the baby then wouldn’t get the right amount of nutrients.
Increase water intake: Your body has to do double the work when you’re pregnant. Previously, it was only taking care of your needs but now it has two bodies to take care of. Therefore, we strongly advise you to increase your water intake. Drink at least 8-12 glasses of water daily.
Eat more fruits: We know how difficult it can be to limit your daily intake of caffeine. Therefore, it is important that you replace your caffeine intake with a healthier alternative. Natural sugars in fruits can be helpful in re-energizing the body.
Know when to call a doctor: Pregnancy can be sometimes confusing, so knowing when to call for help is necessary. We recommend you to have a discussion with your doctor about what is normal and what should be taken seriously.
Other Lifestyle changes: You may want to limit doing some of your household chores. It’s best to avoid lifting heavy weights and stop changing kitty litter. You should also stop doing other daily routine tasks that can strain your muscles. What are the chances that you’re pregnant? Sadly, these signs/symptoms cannot confirm that you’re pregnant because they are not unique to pregnancy. This can also mean that you’re sick or perhaps you’re about to get your period. In the same way, you can be pregnant without going through any of this.

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Did you know, you are not even pregnant in your 1st week of pregnancy? - Moms Care If you’re planning to have a baby or recently got pregnant, you may be thinking about what will happen to your body and what you...