St. Louis: Early Signs of Pregnancy

St. Louis,

There are many hints of being able to tell pregnancy in its early onset. There are different indications for every woman. One or more may apply to a person and there may be varying signs each time a woman gets pregnant. Reading through the several symptoms below will help.

The most obvious sign is missing a menstrual period. It especially holds true to those who have regular periods. However, for some women, delays in their period may be caused by several factors. Some of these are ailments, stress/fatigue, reaction to medicines or some food products and/or hormonal imbalance.

Another early indication is spotting or implantation bleeding. The fertilized egg implanting itself in the uterus sets this off. It is normally colored pink or red, sometimes brown. The spotting may be sometimes mistaken as the first-day period discharge. However, it does not carry on into a heavier flow as menstruation would. This sign presents itself three to six days after fertilization.

Increased body temperature is also one of the early pregnancy signs to watch out for. This increase in body temperature normally begins at the period of ovulation and carries on before the menstrual period starts. A prolonged higher body temperature way into the day that the menstrual period should begin may be early signs too.

A pregnant woman may also experience more frequent urination in a day at the early stages of infanticipating. Adjustments of the uterus to accommodate the fertilized egg apply pressure to the bladder. So, a pregnant woman may experience this for the whole nine months. Hormonal changes also cause this common source of discomfort for expectant mothers.

Dizziness and/or nausea, commonly known as “morning sickness,” are also among the early indications. This takes place a month later, after the pregnancy has begun. Though it is called “morning sickness,” an expectant mother may experience dizziness and/or nausea in the afternoon or evening as well. In fact, some would experience it the whole day.

A number of women observe that they prefer some foods or strange combinations of certain foods more than others at the first trimester. Several foods and odors disliked may even trigger nausea to certain expectant mothers. These cravings were explained to be caused by the hormonal changes in the body. Another reason is that the body may be requiring particular nutrients found in these foods being craved for.

Heartburn or constipation is one more common early sign. Swelling of the uterus, applying pressure to the stomach and other organs, causes this. Hormonal changes that cause slowing down of food digestion and absorption is also reason for constipation.

Mood swings and irritability are also early indicators. Emotional adjustment among pregnant woman is one normal phase that she undergoes. Changes in the body, heightened hormonal production, discomforts caused by these changes and the responsibility being put to a soon-to-be mother are rather good reasons to cause mood swings and irritability.

Among these other signs, it can also be detected early through weight gain and bloating. A feeling of tenderness of the breasts and the nipples also occurs. Darkening of the areolas or the area surrounding the nipples also typically takes place. This is a normal condition with expectant mothers.

A woman may use home pregnancy test kit. It is best done after a day or two that the menstrual period is missed. If the test shows a negative result, it is advised to retry after a number of days to be sure. Of course, conclusive pregnancy test results can be done in hospitals and clinics. Nevertheless, there are home pregnancy test kits of high quality and give reliable findings.

Prenatal care with a trusted doctor is recommended for expectant mothers. It is the preeminent thing to do so that a woman can deal with the discomforts gracefully. Certainly, keeping the baby healthy is one main objective of this process.

Source by David Urmann

Early Signs of Pregnancy

St. Louis: Early Pregnancy: Screening Tests Encouraged But Not Compulsory

St. Louis,

During her pregnancy a woman is offered various tests to identify possible chromosomal abnormalities in her unborn baby. These tests are not compulsory and the decision whether or not to have them performed is entirely down to the expectant mother and her partner. However, women will be encouraged to have the tests if they fall into one or more of the following categories:

1. They are over 35 years of age.

2. They have had a previous pregnancy where the foetus was affected by an abnormality.

3. They have taken drugs known to pose a risk to the unborn child.

4. There is a history in either the mother or father’s family of genetic abnormality.

The tests are divided into two categories; the first are known as screening tests and are non-invasive procedures use to identify those women who have and increased risk of having a baby with an abnormality and then to quantify that risk. The second set of tests are known as diagnostic tests and are used to give a definitive answer to whether or not the baby has an abnormality. These tests are invasive and as they carry a small risk of inducing miscarriage are only performed if previous screening tests have identified a risk of abnormality.

The screening tests are performed during the first trimester and possibly early in the second trimester. They are looking to identify increased risk of Down’s syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities and also neural tube defects such as spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Nuchal Translucency screening is a specific ultrasound scan which measures the thickness of the fluid layer at the back of the baby’s neck.

The accuracy of results obtained by this test are further increased when combined with maternal blood test and correlated with the woman’s age. The Triple test is a further maternal blood test carried out at 16 weeks and measures the levels of oestriol, hCG and AFP (alpha feto-protein).

If risk of abnormality has been identified by the screening tests further diagnostic tests will be offered. Chorionic Villi biopsy is performed by taking a sample of tissue from the edge of the placenta (which is genetically identical to the foetus) to detect cystic fibrosis and Down’s syndrome. A sample of the amniotic fluid (containing material shed by the foetus) can also be used for detection of abnormalities (amniocentesis) or alternatively a sample of foetal blood from the umbilical cord (cordocentesis).

Should the tests return a positive result the mother and father will need to think long and hard to come to a decision whether to have the early pregnancy terminated. This is a very controversial subject with pros and cons voiced by various campaigners. However, with guidance and support from the consultant the parents have the right to chose which course of action they wish to take at this difficult time.

As these tests are carried out in early pregnancy the physical health of the mother is less at risk; the psychological effects of a positive test result may take many weeks, months and even years to come to terms with.

Source by Charlotte J Wilson

Early Pregnancy: Screening Tests Encouraged But Not Compulsory

St. Louis: How Can I Find Out For Sure Whether I Am Pregnant Or Not?

St. Louis,

Aside from that most remarkable of diagnostic tools, a woman is intuition (some women “feel” they are pregnant within moments of conception), modern medical science is still your best bet when it comes to diagnosing a pregnancy accurately. Luckily, these days there are many ways to find out for sure that you have got a baby on board:

The Home Pregnancy Test.

It is as easy as one-two-pee, and you can do it all in the privacy and comfort of your own bathroom. Home pregnancy tests are not only quick and accurate, but you can even start using some brands before you have missed your period (though accuracy will get better as you get closer to P-day).

All home pregnancy test measure urinary levels of human chorionic gonadotropin, a (developing) placenta-produced hormone of pregnancy. Human chorionic gonadotropin finds its way into your bloodstream and urine almost immediately after an embryo begins implanting in the uterus, between 6 and 12 days after fertilization. As soon as human chorionic gonadotropin can be detected in your urine, you can (theoretically) get a positive reading. But there is a limit to how soon these home pregnancy test can work-they are sensitive, but not always that sensitive. One week after conception there is human chorionic gonadotropin in your urine, but it is not enough for the home pregnancy test to pick up-which means that if you test seven days before your expected period, you are likely to get a false negative even if you are pregnant.

Just can not wait to pee on that stick? Some tests promise 60 percent accuracy four days before your expected period. Not a betting woman? Wait until the day your period is expected, and you will have about a 90 percent chance of netting the correct result. Test a week later, and the accuracy rate jumps to 97 percent. Whenever you decide to take the resting plunge, the good news is that false negative-which means that if your test is positive, you can be, too. The other good news: Because home pregnancy test provide a very accurate diagnosis very early in pregnancy-earlier than you would probably consider consulting a physician or midwife-they can give you the opportunity to start taking optimum care of your self within days of conception. Still, medical follow-up to the test is essential. If the result is positive, have it confirmed by a blood test and a complete prenatal checkup.

The Blood Test.

The more sophisticated blood pregnancy test can detect pregnancy with virtually 100 percent accuracy as early as one week after conception (barring lab error), using just a few drop of blood. It can also help date the pregnancy by measuring the exact amount of human chorionic gonadotropin in the blood, since human chorionic gonadotropin values changes as pregnancy progresses. Many practitioners order both a urine and a blood test to be doubly certain of the diagnosis.

The medical exam. Though a medical exam can be performed to confirm the diagnosis of a pregnancy, with today is accurate home pregnancy test and blood tests, the medical exam-which looks for physical signs of pregnancy such as enlargement of the uterus, color change in the texture of the cervix-is almost beside the point. Still, getting that first exam and beginning regular prenatal care is not.

Source by Beth Carrigant

How Can I Find Out For Sure Whether I Am Pregnant Or Not?

St. Louis: Telltale Signs That You Are Pregnant

St. Louis,

Pregnancy is a natural process-most changes that a pregnant woman experiences during this phase are considered normal. However, the severity of symptoms indicating the onset of pregnancy may vary considerably in women. While many experience some mild symptoms, others may suffer from severe symptoms that require medical care.

Knowing when you are pregnant:A woman’s body is finely tuned and accustomed to the normal rhythm of the body. Many women suspect they are pregnant even before missing a period or even seeing the line on a urine pregnancy test. But then it is not true for all women. It is common for woman to experience early pregnancy symptoms.

Few of the first and common signs of motherhood: Immediately after conception, the woman’s body begins to make preparations to accommodate the baby. There is a rise in the levels of a certain pregnancy hormones and new hormones are also produced. These produce certain symptoms:

• Morning sickness:Morning sickness is one of the earliest symptoms experienced by a large majority of women. Though not a sure symptom, it presents as nausea that may occur within a few weeks of conception. For many women, morning sickness lasts for the first few months of pregnancy. Unlike the name, morning sickness is not confined to the morning hours only and may occur anytime during the day as well.


• Food cravings: Theother symptom along with morning sickness that is synonymous with pregnancy is the urge to eat certain foods, mostly savory foods. Often pregnant women develop a different sense of taste and smell. In many cases pregnant women may find the taste and smell of regularly cooked food irritating. Food craving for certain foods is normal in pregnancy with a scientific reason. It is primarily due to the high levels of hormones produced during pregnancy. It is also due to deficiency in certain nutrients.


• Fatigue:Exhaustion, fatigue and the feeling of weariness even after a whole night’s rest is yet another common symptom of early pregnancy. The mother’s body has to cope with the increasing metabolism as a result of the developing baby in the womb and therefore requires more rest. This shows up as fatigue.


• Frequent urination:There is a tendency to urinate frequently.


• Changes in the breast: Size of the breast increases and many feel tenderness of the breast. Often the breasts feel sensitive. As pregnancy progresses the skin around the nipples, areola gets darker. There will be fat deposition on the breasts and thighs as well.


• Other symptoms: Other symptoms include bleeding gums due to rising levels of a pregnancy hormone, progesterone. Progesterone causes softening of tissues. Bleeding nose, breathlessness, heart burn that presents as a burning sensation in the upper part of the abdomen and vaginal secretions are other symptoms to watch out for.

Definitive Signs of Pregnancy

Morning sickness, nausea, food cravings and the other symptoms that suggest pregnancy may be easily dismissed if mild or absent. The best tests to confirm a pregnancy is a missed period and a urine pregnancy card test.

Pregnancy Test

The sure test to confirm a pregnancy is the pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests can be done in a laboratory or at home (home pregnancy test (HPT). The test measures the levels of a hormone called the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the urine. This hormone is produced immediately after conception and reaches detectable levels in urine in about 10-14 days. Ideally, the urine pregnancy test is done after a missed period. Many such tests are available in the market and can detect hCG levels even on the first day of a missed period.

Things You Need To Know About Pregnancy Test

While going in for a urine pregnancy test, remember that a test taken very early in pregnancy, may miss a positive result due to lower levels of hCG that goes undetected.

Interpretation of Pregnancy Test

Generally, a pregnancy test will have one line, indicating that the test is negative, meaning the woman is not pregnant. Two lines will appear in case of a positive result. However, kit instructions have to be read while interpreting the test. A pregnancy test is a sure test to confirm the pregnancy, and reason enough to inform the news of the pregnancy to family and friends.

Source by Navendra Pillai

Telltale Signs That You Are Pregnant

St. Louis: Pregnancy After 40 - Things You Need to Prepare

St. Louis,

Pregnancy after 40 is usually quite complicated; woman is getting less fertile around this period and also the risk of losing the baby is high. They even in high risk getting health problems just like preeclampsia, gestational diabetic issues, and premature delivery. Including the risks of the newborn child having birth problems or even chromosomal imbalance are actually much higher.

You Have to Be Ready To Get Pregnant

Having a baby at 40, you might have to build a little extra hard work to get pregnant and then have a baby. Pregnancy after 40 will not happen very easy, when both wife and husband have very low fertility. For that reason, if you are hoping your own self for this wonderful improvement in your family life, you certainly will become successful quickly and easily. The preparations you develop are going to stimulus your whole body system that you are currently getting ready for the great improvement. Keep an eye on the tips in this article to help make pregnancy simpler and easier.

1. Keep relaxed and also calm. Stay away from all kinds’ mental and physical stress and anxiety at your home or even in your office.

2. Develop your positive mindset and look into the future to the great news.

3. Try to make dietary variations and also switch to balanced and healthy diet rich in anti-oxidants. You can ask your obstetrician to get a nutritional vitamin supplements possibly need.

4. Participate in yoga and physical activity.

5. Make full use of pregnancy wheel so that you can decide the perfect period for your childbirth and then appropriately program yourself.

Perform Special Lab Tests to Help You Identify Health Problems

Many prenatal medical tests are carried out at completely different phases. Most of these tests are completed, besides some other standard medical tests while pregnant such as the urine lab tests, blood tests, blood-pressure lab tests for example. Being a pregnant woman over 40, you’ll certainly be requested to have test needed for (CVS) Chronic Villus Sampling and Amniocentesis. This test on fetus to eliminate every genetic or perhaps chromosomal problem just before childbirth is additionally performed.

All of these medical tests to make sure that all things are okay with you and also the optimistic and positive help you to live comfortably and also feel much healthier. At the same time, when a medical problem is clinically diagnosed with the mom or maybe the baby, quick remedial steps is needed. But there is absolutely no surety of these medical tests being 100 % accurate and for this reason there might always be a little uncertainty with pregnancy after 40.

When you are over 40 and conceiving a child, pay attention to some basic factors to make your pregnancy absolutely healthy. Take a break regularly; consume a nutritious and well-balanced eating plan, consume plenty of mineral water, and also keep monitor your body weight.

Every single pregnancy differs from the others, relating to the substantial difference in metabolic process in every single person. It’s means that pregnancy over 40 is actually as normal as almost every other pregnancy. It may also result in a completely natural childbirth as well, which is certainly not really a huge miracle. However paying careful attention and also employing readily available resources to diagnose health problems can go further to make your pregnancy after 40, completely healthier and also complete with excitement.

Source by Melissa R. Bell

Pregnancy After 40 - Things You Need to Prepare

St. Louis: The Pregnant Woman and Normal Blood Glucose Levels

St. Louis,

The following article makes reference to an extensive gestational diabetes study reported in February, 2010 that concluded the currently accepted gestational diabetes blood sugar levels are not safe for baby and mother and that they should be revised downwards.

Current recommended blood glucose target levels during pregnancy

Meanwhile, for the purpose of this piece, cited here are current gestational blood sugar levels obtained from publications of the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, a department of the National Institute of Health, and from publications of the Canadian Diabetes Association’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for 2008. The values for the United States are given in mg/dL, meaning milligrams per deciliter, while most other countries use mmol/L, meaning millimols per liter.

• Fasting blood sugar levels should not be above 95 mg/dL, which is 5.3 mmol/L


• One hour after a meal they should not be above 140 mg/dL, which is 7.8 mmol/L


• Two hours after a meal they should not be above 120 mg/dL, which is 6.7 mmol/L

The Canadian Diabetes Association source states that the A1c level for most pregnant women should not be greater than 6%. A1c levels provide a measure of blood sugars over the prior approximately 12- week period.

A1c levels are determined by a laboratory analysis after a blood sample is taken by a registered clinic. Other daily blood sugar readings can be obtained from a self-administered blood test using an appropriate blood glucose meter.

There is much that a newly pregnant woman must be aware of in taking care of her own health and that of her developing child and high on that list would be the choices of nutritious foods.

One of the considerations regarding specific food choices for the pregnant woman, is to take into account the effect of a food item on her blood glucose levels, not something that most people are aware of, but with the growing incidence of diabetes in our world today, it pays to know and understand some of the risks that higher than normal blood sugar levels can pose. And it could be easy for the symptoms of gestational diabetes to go unnoticed as the body is going through many changes as the pregnancy progresses.

The condition of persistent elevated blood glucose levels that occurs in about 5 to 7 percent of pregnant women is a temporary form of diabetes called Gestational Diabetes that ends after a the birth of the baby. Although not common compared with normal diabetes, the condition is being diagnosed in increasing numbers and for some of those who do become diabetic it does increase the risk of developing, later in life, the full version of diabetes known as Type-2 and also increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease after pregnancy.

Also, some women already suffer from diabetes when they become pregnant and those diabetics definitely face their own set of special problems that carry serious implications for the mother-to-be and for her fetus during pregnancy and perhaps for the longer term beyond, after the birth of the baby. In these cases, the medical professionals are well prepared with established guidelines to monitor and care for the diabetic who becomes pregnant and this lessens the risk to mother and baby and helps prevent the development of diabetic complications during pregnancy.

Important new conclusions that currently accepted blood sugar levels are not safe for baby and mother

In late February of this year, 2010, it was reported by the Northwestern University News Center in Chicago that an extensive study by a panel of 50 experts, coordinated by researchers at the university’s Feinberg School of Medicine, concluded that the blood sugar levels considered normal should be revised downward, that currently accepted levels are not safe. This would increase the number of pregnant women facing the possibility of gestational diabetes by two or three times.

The study, to be published in the March issue of the American Diabetes Association’s magazine Diabetes Care, involved medical histories of over 23 thousand women from nine countries. The lead author of the study, Boyd Metzger, M.D. a professor of Metabolism and Nutrition at the Feinberg School, said “Our research represents an examination of the risks and a consensus about how high a level of risks needs to reach before a diagnosis is made and treatment should be considered.”

Anyone with diabetes must be under the care of a doctor

Health authorities report a growing incidence globally of gestational diabetes and even in the United States I have seen reference to numbers suggesting they are almost double the percentage of 7 percent cited above. As in all forms of diabetes and pre-diabetes, the individual must be under the care of a doctor and supported by an effective health care team. Excellent pre-natal healthcare and advice is readily available to most in North America, as it is in most other developed nations of the world.

Early diagnosis and treatment of even the mildest form of gestational diabetes is important because it can help prevent or lower the possibility of more serious complications developing later. Treatment will most likely involve the adoption of suitable dietary plan for all meals and snacks together with an exercise routine – which is usually beneficial in all pregnancies – and maybe the monitoring of daily glucose levels by a simple self-administered blood test using a hand held meter the same way that regular diabetics do.

We hear nowadays of so many larger babies being born and the need for caesarian surgery. And gestational diabetes, if not treated properly, leads to larger babies, sometime already obese at birth, with often complicated deliveries and a higher risk of birth defects and long-term health problems.

The wonders, the thrills and the excitement in the miracle of the birth of a baby should not be impaired with the complications of gestational diabetes, every necessary step should be taken to prevent or minimize the condition. It is all about maintaining normal blood glucose levels

Source by James K. Robinson

The Pregnant Woman and Normal Blood Glucose Levels

St. Louis: Early Signs of Pregnancy - The Journey Begins

St. Louis,

On the onset of pregnancy, several early signs of pregnancy are experienced by women. The type and gravity of the sign of pregnancy are different for each woman, depending on her hereditary factors, health, age and life-style. One thing is for sure, every pregnant woman experiences one or more of these early signs of pregnancy. Thus, all those who are expecting to get pregnant should watch out for these signs soon as it begins.

Some Most Common Early Symptoms

A missed menstrual cycle is most surely associated with an early sign of pregnancy. When a woman misses her menstrual period, she gets an indication that she is pregnant. This can be confirmed at home by readily available Home Pregnancy Test kits in medical shops.

However, some women get to know even before the missed period. This happens mostly when a woman is expecting to get pregnant and observes even slight changes in her body, very keenly. One of these early symptoms is sore and swollen breasts with a tingling sensation. Second one is a light cramping in the lower abdomen which occurs during implantation.

Another common symptom is spotting. It is a short, light period or just a few drops of period like fluid, which, in fact, is implantation bleeding. But, if you are already pregnant, even a few weeks, and you observe spotting, you must immediately inform and take advice from your doctor. It may indicate some problem in the pregnancy, to the extent of a miscarriage.

Heartburn and nausea are also some early signs of pregnancy. Nausea generally happens in morning, thus is termed as morning sickness in pregnant women. It is due to hormonal changes early in this period. Heartburn too is due to hormonal changes. In the months 5 to 9, it is due to the growing baby which puts pressure on the mother’s digestive organs. The key to take care of these problems is having frequent small meals and doing light exercise, as advised by your doctor during this period.

Less Common Early Signs Of Pregnancy

Apart from these most common signs, others are headache, tiredness through-out the day, anxiety, increased sensitivity towards odors, increased frequency of urination, lower backache. These symptoms may or may not be present. In some women most of the symptoms are only during the first three months, for others it might continue through-out the period that they are pregnant.

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, then you must at once go to your doctor for check-up and start receiving pre-natal care immediately. It is in the best interest of you and your child. Don’t be bogged down by these early signs of pregnancy and discomforts and try to remain cheerful, so that you have a positive attitude towards your present condition as well as you look forward to having a healthy and happy child. Happy Journey!

Source by Apurva Jain

Early Signs of Pregnancy - The Journey Begins