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Article Series: Pregnancy
Pregnancy: Everything You Need To Know
Trimester Pregnancy Basics
The
most crucial time in pregnancy is the first trimester. It carries the highest risk of miscarriage
and this is when all the developing body systems in the baby
are formed. By the end of this trimester your baby will be
no more than 4 inches long and only weigh an ounce. Amazingly
enough most of the major organs are formed and working. The
heart is beating and the baby has fingers and toes. Make sure
you are eating well and try to take in an extra 300 calories
a day to maintain and gain the right amount of weight and for
good pregnancy nutrition. You will only see a 3-4 pound weight
gain during this trimester and some women actually lose weight.
You may not look pregnant yet, but you probably sure feel pregnant.
Hormones probably have you plagued with a variety of maladies
at this point. You have probably asked your self several times
why you wanted to get pregnant in the first place. Most of
your side effects are hormonal now and most people don’t even
know you are pregnant.
Common First Trimester Conditions
- Morning
Sickness and Nausea
- Mood
Swings
- Constipation
- Fatigue
- Food
Aversions and Cravings
- Prenatal
Supplements
- Exercise
Second Trimester Basics
Now that you have survived the first trimester you are headed
into the pregnancy bliss zone. Miscarriage risk has plummeted
and you are probably feeling less anxious at this point. The
plagues of morning sickness, constipation, and tiredness have
begun to go away and you will find you have more energy. You
will start to gain about a pound per week. Your baby is growing
and maturing all its organ systems into perfection. You appetite
has probably come back now that the morning sickness has died
down, but be careful to not over indulge. You don’t want to
gain too much, that is just more work for you when the baby
comes. Make sure you do Kegel exercises every day. This will
keep the pelvic floor muscles toned and in shape for birth.
It will also help decrease your risk of incontinence as pregnancy
progresses. All you have to do is squeeze the muscles in your
vagina like you are trying to hold back urine. Hold them for
about 5-7 seconds and then release, do this as much as you
like and it truly does help. Kegels will also help tone the
vagina up after birth and increases sexual pleasure. The benefits
are numerous. Make sure you get plenty of exercise, such as
walking or yoga; this will help keep you in shape and prepare
for childbirth.
Common Second Trimester Conditions
- Allergies
- Bleeding
Gums/Nosebleeds
- Blood
Sugar Imbalance
- Hemorrhoids
and Varicose Veins
Third Trimester Basics
This is the growth phase of pregnancy. The baby will be perfectly
formed and will be focusing on gaining fat under its skin.
This fat will help the baby maintain its body heat outside
the womb and offer padding during delivery. Most babies gain
half of their birth weight during this time. Now is a time
to focus on labor and delivery, as you are now probably sick
of being pregnant and it is getting more uncomfortable by the
day. Sluggish metabolism leads to an accumulation of extracellular
water, which, in turn, causes edema.
This is to be expected during pregnancy. At this point you'll
be carrying a heavy and awkward load. With the baby running
out of room, you may find you are having some difficulties
breathing. You may also find sleep hard as you can’t get very
comfortable at this point. Try to rest as much as you can and
take naps if need be. You are also probably dealing with heartburn
even more now that the baby is so big. You can minimize acid
reflux or heartburn by eating small, regular meals, chewing
food thoroughly, and eating slowly. Make sure you sit upright
for at least 30 minutes after finishing any meal. This will
cut down on the heartburn. Also try antacids; they can really
be your best friends now.
Common Third Trimester Conditions
- Lack
of Appetite
- Constipation
- Edema
- Shortness
of Breath/Fatigue
- Indigestion
and Heartburn
- High
Blood Pressure
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SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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