PREGNANCY: HOW TO SURVIVE IT

PREGNANCY, it can be a special time for you and your whole family, but for the women who is carry this litttle miricle inside her i am pretry sure that she she will have mixed emotions.the best feeling is when you first find out that you will be bring a little life into this world. I have one daughter, 9months old, and I can tell you from my experiences that it can be a bumping ride. with having my first one I did not know a whole of lot about raising a baby and and i wanted to make sure that i always made the right choices for her. well with my expericene i have found out if you sit and worriy about whats right you will drive your self crazy. As a mom your natural instinct to be a mother will kick in. just love and cherish that baby, cause they need confidence, and support. trust that you wil make the right decisions for your little one.

A normal pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks from conception to the birth of a baby. This time is roughly divided into 3 periods: the first trimester, from conception to about the 12th week of pregnancy; the second trimester, from about 13 to 27 weeks of pregnancy; and the third trimester, from about 28 weeks of pregnancy until birth.

Each trimester of pregnancy is marked by developmental changes in the fetus.

• By the end of the first trimester (about week 12 of pregnancy) the fetus has a recognizable human form.
• By the end of the second trimester (about week 27 of pregnancy), all the vital organs of the fetus have developed. Also, the mother begins to feel the fetus begin to move (quickening), usually starting between weeks 16 and 20.
• During the third trimester (about week 28 until birth), the fetus''s size increases and organs mature.

The first few months of pregnancy are marked by an invisible — yet amazing — transformation. Knowing what pregnancy symptoms to expect can help you face the months ahead with confidence.

Your body

Within two weeks of conception, hormones trigger your body to begin nourishing the baby — even before tests and a physical exam can confirm the pregnancy. Here are some common physical changes you may notice early on.

• Tender breasts. Increased hormone production may make your breasts unusually sensitive.

• Bouts of nausea. Many women have queasiness, nausea or vomiting in early pregnancy — probably due to normal hormonal changes. . To help relieve this pregnancy symptom, eat small, frequent meals throughout the day. Suck on hard candy. Try ginger ale or ginger tea.

• Unusual fatigue. You may feel tired as your body prepares to support the pregnancy. To combat fatigue, rest as much as you can. Make sure you're getting enough iron and protein. Include physical activity in your daily routine, such as a brisk walk.

• Increased urination. You may need to urinate more often as your enlarging uterus presses on your bladder during the first few months of pregnancy. If you're worried about leaking urine, panty liners may offer a sense of security.

• Dizziness. Normal circulatory changes in early pregnancy may leave you feeling a little dizzy. Stress, fatigue and hunger also may play a role. To prevent mild, occasional dizziness, avoid prolonged standing. Rise slowly after lying or sitting down. If you start to feel dizzy while you're driving, pull over. If you're standing when dizziness hits, sit or lie down.

  Pregnancy may leave you feeling delighted, anxious, exhilarated and exhausted — sometimes all at once. Even if you're thrilled about being pregnant, a new baby adds emotional stress to your life.

It's natural to worry about your baby's health, your adjustment to motherhood and the financial demands of raising a child. You may wonder how the baby will affect your relationship with your partner or what type of parents you'll be. If you work outside the home, you may worry about your productivity on the job and how to balance the competing demands of family and career.

You may find that the second trimester is the easiest part of pregnancy. For some women, the breast tenderness, morning sickness, and fatigue of the first trimester ease up or disappear during the second trimester, while the physical discomforts of late pregnancy have yet to start. Pressure on your bladder may be less as the uterus grows up out of the pelvis.

If this is your first pregnancy, you''ll begin to feel your fetus move at about 18 to 22 weeks after your last menstrual period (LMP). Although your fetus has been moving for several weeks, the movements have not been strong enough for you to notice until now. At first, fetal movements can be so gentle that you may not be sure what you are feeling. If you''ve been pregnant before, you may notice movement earlier, sometime between weeks 16 and 18.

Normal symptoms you may experience during the second trimester of pregnancy include:

• Breast changes.
• Leg cramps.
• Back pain.
• Pelvic ache and hip pain.
• Stretch marks and other skin changes.
• Hemorrhoids and constipation.
• Heartburn (also a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD).
• Nosebleeds and bleeding gums.
• Hand pain, numbness, or weakness (carpal tunnel syndrome).

 Third trimester pregnancy can be physically and emotionally challenging. Your baby's size and position may make it hard for you to get comfortable. You may be tired of pregnancy and anxious to get it over with. If you've been gearing up for your due date, you may be disappointed if it comes and goes uneventfully.

Your body

As your baby grows, his or her movements will become more obvious. These exciting sensations are often accompanied by increasing discomfort and other third trimester pregnancy symptoms.

• Backaches. As your baby continues to gain weight, pregnancy hormones relax the joints between the bones in your pelvic area. These changes can be tough on your back. Hip pain is common, too.

  If you must stand, place one foot on a box or stool. Sit in chairs with good back support. Apply a heating pad or ice pack to the painful area. Ask your partner for a massage. Wear low-heeled — but not flat — shoes with good arch support. If the back pain doesn't go away or is accompanied by other signs and symptoms, contact your health care provider.

• Shortness of breath. You may get winded easily as your uterus expands beneath your diaphragm, the muscle just below your lungs. This may improve when the baby settles deeper into your pelvis before delivery. In the meantime, practice good posture and sleep with your upper body propped up on pillows to relieve pressure on your lungs. As long as your health care provider approves, aerobic exercise can help relieve this third trimester symptom, too.
• Heartburn. During third trimester pregnancy, your growing uterus may push your stomach out of its normal position, which can contribute to heartburn. To keep stomach acid where it belongs, eat small meals and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid fried foods, carbonated drinks, citrus fruits or juices, and spicy foods. If this doesn't help, ask your health care provider about antacids.

• Spider veins, varicose veins and hemorrhoids. Increased blood circulation may cause small reddish spots that sprout tiny blood vessels on your face, neck or arms, especially if you have fair skin. Blue or reddish lines beneath the surface of the skin (varicose veins) also may appear, particularly in the legs. Varicose veins in your rectum (hemorrhoids) are another possibility.

Braxton Hicks contractions. These contractions are warm-ups for the real thing. They're usually weak and come and go unpredictably. True labor contractions get longer, stronger and closer together. If you're having contractions that concern you, contact your health care provider. Weight gain. By your due date, you may weigh 25 to 35 pounds (about 11 to 16 kilograms) more than you did before pregnancy. Your baby accounts for some of the weight gain, but so do the placenta, amniotic fluid, larger breasts and uterus, extra fat stores, and increased blood and fluid volume. Vaginal discharge. Potentially heavy vaginal discharge is common at the end of pregnancy. If you saturate a panty liner within a few hours or wonder if the discharge is leaking amniotic fluid, contact your health care provider. Swelling. As your growing uterus puts pressure on the veins that return blood from your feet and legs, swollen feet and ankles may become an issue. At the same time, swelling in your legs, arms or hands may place pressure on nerves, causing tingling or numbness. Fluid retention and dilated blood vessels may leave your face and eyelids puffy, especially in the morning. If you have persistent face or eyelid swelling, contact your health care provider. To reduce swelling, use cold compresses on the affected areas. Lying down or using a footrest may relieve ankle swelling. You might even elevate your feet and legs while you sleep. It may also help to swim or simply stand in a pool.

Make sure to keep up with all your appointments, cause in the last stages of pregnancy are the most vital.

 

If you experience any bleeding, excessive amounts of discharge or anything out of the ordinary just to be safe get checked out by your ob doctor or if very serious  go to your emergency room.