Archive for the 'pregnancy' Category
37 Weeks Pregnant
So you have reached the “37 Weeks Pregnant” stage and you just can’t wait for baby to arrive. At this stage of pregnancymany women begin making preparations for delivery. Planning for their babies to arrive is first and formost on their agenda. The natural process of getting things in order, for the new arrival is the most important task facing a new mother. Even at 37 weeks of pregnancy, mother and child are continuing to develop and change as the big day gets closer. If you are 37 weeks pregnant, you will notice some new occurrences in your own body. All women experience pregnancy differently, but a number of things are common to this stage of pregnancy. At this time your cervix will begin to soften as your body prepares for the process of labor. You may have even felt some contractions.
Many women experience Braxton Hicks contractions which usually precede the real contractions. These are natural painful pangs that women experience. They are often mistaken for the onset of labor. Women, who are in their 37th week of pregnancy, need to familiarize themselves with this stage of pregnancy. Since many things will change quickly, it’s important to know what to expect. Things could start moving at a rapid pace over the next few days and weeks.
Some of the signs that labor is near are things like spotting or even the breaking of water. Being aware of your body’s changes could be especially crucial now. Spotting, although not unusual, must be monitored and you should inform you doctor if it occurs. And if a woman’s water breaks, she could potentially have only hours before her baby’s arrival. Getting to the hospital should be done straight away.
The baby has also significantly developed in that time. The baby is now able to practice sucking, turning, and breathing, all while inside the womb. This unborn child has officially reached the milestone of being a full term baby. He or she could be anywhere near 6.5 pounds.
You are approaching the end of the third trimester. Your focus now is on the birt and ensuring everything is ready when the baby comes home
Related articles for 37 Weeks Pregnant
- Health Tip: What Are Risk Factors for Preterm Labor? (nlm.nih.gov)
- Benefits of Breast Feeding : Why You Should Breast Feed (parenting-success.com)
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What are the Reasons for Spotting during pregnancy
Light bleeding or spotting, as it is often called, is a common occurance during pregnancy. It may be regarded as an event that may occur, but you should always double-check with your doctor if it does occur.
If you are spotting and you are not pregnant… you might want to take a pregnancy test!
Some might confuse the spotting from bleeding although the latter is more serious and requires immediate medical attention. The spots can vary in color from light red, red, pink to brown, which is a usual color of a blood when it dried up.
During the first three months of pregnancy, spotting can be quite common. But while most people usually regard spotting as nothing but a common event at this stage, monitoring ones health should be put at the top of everyones priority and you should contact your doctor if you experience spotting
Causes of Spotting During Pregnancy
There are many reasons for the cause of spotting and one some of them are enumerated below.
1.Dividing Egg Cell Burrowing into the Wall of the Uterus. This can also be caused by the action done by the dividing fertilized egg cell which clinging into the walls of the uterus, the organ where the developing baby is nourished and undergoes development.
2.Increased Blood Supply To the Cervix. The increased blood supply to the primary internal genital organs of pregnant women. This increase blood supply may leak out to the linings of the cervix and, in turn, causes scant bleeding.
3.This is also caused by after-effect of Pap smear examination, sexual intercourse or any internal activity which destroy the internal linings of the cervix. For implant patients, several episodes of spotting is expected during the first week of the fertilization.
This type of soft bleeding will only last for about one or two days but may extend until the fourth or fifth day but should it continue on the sixth days, it should be consulted with your medical doctor for checkup.
It shows that less than 8% of women experiences spotting or none at all, however, for any concerns on pregnancy, especially for first-timers, regular check up is needed in order to check no any developments of spotting.
d.Vaginal Infections. Several vaginal infections may also cause spotting for pregnant and non-pregnant women alike. Sexually transmitted diseases for example may cause spotting. Vaginitis or Bacterial vaginosis, several types of vaginal yeast infections and trichomoniasis, are just some of the vaginal infections which may cause spotting.
Others such as herpes simplex, gonorrhea, and Chlamydia may irritate the linings of the cervix and causes the vulnerability of the cervix to irritation.
Irritated cervix would then cause bleeding if external means will be applied in the area such as when undergoing a Pap smear test or after having sexual intercourse or any serious medical condition such as cervical (benign) polyp which can become cancerous at anytime.
It shows that 10 to 64% of American women suffer from any of these diseases at any time during their lifetime
Complications Arising From Spotting
Spotting can be very dangerous especially if it would last for a week. For most women, spotting may suggest that an early onset of an abnormal pregnancy or miscarriage. Along with this sign, other may include dispersed bouts of abdominal pain and frequent cramps.
At this stage, ultrasound and a series of other laboratory tests carried out by your OB should be done in order to ensure the safety of the unborn. Half of pregnant women who experiences advanced spotting and bleeding miscarry and most experiences severe complications.
For the first week of spotting, an ultrasound showing heartbeat between 7 and 11 as a rate is a good indicator of ruling out miscarriage and continuing pregnancy on a clear and healthy state.
Despite in advances in technology, most doctors are still unable to find the reason for the causes of spotting among pregnant women. While many of us are concerned on the daily activities that may induce spotting and in turn endanger the health of your unborn child, it is well advised to consult your local physician or obgyne so that they would be able to look closely on the cause and advice you on some activities will help you lessen the chances of recurring any episodes of spotting.
Pregnancy swine flu
Pregnant women, even if they are healthy, are at high risk of hospitalization and death from H1N1 swine flu, this is the findings of a CDC report.
A CDC analysis shows that pregnant women are much more likely than the general population to develop severe disease after infection with the swine flu virus. They are four times more likely to be hospitalized, with an unusually high death rate.
The findings do not mean that all pregnant women will suffer severe disease, but the likelihood is increased in pregnant women. Pregnancy and swine flu are a bad combination.
During pregnancu, your immune system is weaker, so you’re more vulnerable to illness in general. During pregnancy, any type of flu can get bad very quickly and be complicated by infections such as pneumonia or by fetal distress.
Many moms-to-be who get the flu have no complications. But statistically, you’re more likely to develop a severe case when you’re pregnant.
How can I avoid catching swine flu?
- Get the swine flu vaccination as soon as possible. It takes a while for immunity to develop after you get the vaccine but it will protect you
- Hygiene is an important weapon in preventing Swine Flu in pregnancy. Wash your hands frequently, including immediately before eating, after sneezing, and after going to the bathroom. Use good hand-washing techniques, rubbing both sides of your soapy hands for at least 15 seconds and rinsing with plenty of water.
- Be careful that you don’t spread your infections. Don’t cough or sneeze into your bare hands. That puts the virus is all over your hands, where it can easily spread to others. Instead, cover your mouth with your arm and cough or sneeze into your sleeve or cover your nose and mouth with a disposable tissue and throw it away after using.
- Viruses and bacteria can live two to eight hours on hard surfaces. Wipe down surfaces at home such as toys, bedside tables, doorknobs, telephones, and bathroom and kitchen counters with a disinfectant, following directions on the label.
- Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. You may think your hands are clean, but if your hands have touched a doorknob, a cup, a refrigerator handle, or any other item that someone else has touched with a virus-covered hand, your hands carry the virus and can infect you.
- Keep at least 6 feet away from people who are sick, including anyone in your household who is sick.
Symptoms of Swine Flu
The following are some of the symptoms you should look out for if you think you may have Swine flu.
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Body aches
- Headaches
- Chills and fatigue
- Sometimes, diarrhea and vomiting
Check out Swine Flu for more information. Finally, don’t take a chance if you have any concerns, contact your doctor immediately
“When did I conceive, this is one of the most common questions we are asked by pregnant women (unless it is obvious!). Well we decided to give you guidelines to answer that question. Now that you’ve received the wonderful news, there are several key dates at the beginning of your pregnancy that can help you calculate your due date and your conception date, including the first day of your last menstrual period . Here’s a quick rundown on how the calculations are made.
Doctors count the length of a pregnancy as 280 days, which equals 40 weeks or 10 months. Why not nine months? The counting begins with the first day of your last normal menstrual period before you got pregnant. In other words, the counting begins about two weeks before you have even conceived.
It starts at that point primarily it is because it is difficult to pinpoint the exact date a woman conceived, and the first date of her last menstrual period is a much easier marker to identify. Once you have that date down, you can establish your estimated due date by adding 40 weeks, or 280 days.
You can chart your ovulation cycle and this can help you pinpoint your conception date more accurately, if that is important to you.
Conception calendar
This is a bit of fun, where you can predict the gender of your baby using the conception calendar. This come from ancient Chinese beliefs. It has some success with around 80% of people saying that it was correct in their experience. Try out the conception calendar and add a comment below to let us know if it was successful or not.
Find the line with your age and move along until you reach the month in which you conceived. In most of the cases the gender was well predicted.
Try and choose for yourself whether you want a boy or a girl
by following the chart. The woman’s age from 18 to 45 (Chinese
reckoning) is on the top line while the months 1 to 12 indicate
the month when the baby is conceived. By following the chart you
will be able to tell in advance whether your baby will be a boy
WOMAN'S CONCEIVING AGE
MONTH OF
CONCEPTION 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
January G B G B G B B G B G B G B B
February B G B G B B G B G B G B G G
March G B G G B G B B B G B G G B
April B G B G G B B G G B G G G G
May B G B G B B G G G G G B G G
June B B B G G G B B B G G B G G
July B B B G G B B G G B B B G G
August B B B G B G G B B B B B G G
September B B B G G B G B G B B B G G
Gctober B B G G G B G B G B B G G G
November B G B G G B G B G G G G B G
December B G B G G G G B G B G G B B
_____________________________________________________________________
WOMAN'S CONCEIVING AGE
MONTH OF
CONCEPTION 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45
January B G B B G B G B G B G B B G
February G B G B B G B G B G B G B B
March B B B G B B G B G B G B G B
April G B G B G B B B B G B G B G
May G G G G B G B B G B G B B G
June G G G G G B G G B G B G B G
July G G G G G G B G B B G B G B
August G B G B G B G B G B B G B G
September G G G G B G B G B G B B G B
Gctober G G G G B B G B G B G B B G
November G G B B B G B G B G B B G B
December B B B B B B G G G B G B G B
_____________________________________________________________________
EXPLANATION
Understand the Conception Calendar
Our conception calendar, works by calculating the lunar age of an individual as well as the month of conception and uses these to calculate the possibility of getting a baby boy or girl. This calendar has a historical significance. It was originally found during 13th century and presently kept at Beijing Institute of Science in China.
- December 2009 (6)
- November 2009 (7)
