Health Solutions

Pregnancy

It is impossible to discuss pregnancy in just one page as the topic on pregnancy covers a wide range of other topics under it. Details and more details are needed in each stage of pregnancy, from planning to getting pregnant to the actual experience of being pregnant and ultimately to the joys of giving birth.

Pregnancy is the term used to describe when a woman has a growing fetus inside of her uterus, though in some cases a woman may have ectopic pregnancy. Normal pregnancy can last about 40 to 42 weeks, or just more than 9 months, from the start of the last menstrual period to childbirth.

What we will be discussing on this page are the early signs of pregnancy and some importance of prenatal care.

  • The most important sign of pregnancy is missing one or more consecutive menstrual periods.
  • Nausea, vomiting, morning sickness, though some call it all day sickness as some experience it all through out the day. Nausea and vomiting is caused by the rising levels of hormones in early pregnancy.
  • Sore breasts or nipples, Fatigue, Headaches
  • Shortness of breath. Shortness of breath is experienced during pregnancy because you need extra oxygen due to the growing fetus inside your womb.
  • Food cravings or aversions, Mood swings. Sensitivity to smells. Because of hormonal changes during pregnancy, a lot of women are experiencing unexplainable moods, food cravings or aversions and the nose seems to be at its peak.
  • Frequent urination In early pregnancy, the uterus grows and pushes on the bladder, triggering the urge to urinate more often.

While these are early signs of pregnancy, these are also the symptoms of other things, including premenstrual syndrome. And there are some women who have menstrual irregularities causing them to have missed periods. 

If you think your body is telling you are pregnant, take an at-home test. Home pregnancy test kits are available over-the-counter and are considered highly accurate.  A research made in the 1970s found that high levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadatropin (HCG) in the urine were associated with pregnancy.

It’s positive, the test shows you are pregnant, now what?

Make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor will explain the changes that are happening inside your body and will make further appointments for your prenatal care. Prenatal care is the care a woman gets during her pregnancy. Getting early and regular prenatal care is important for the health of both mother and the developing baby.

Health care providers recommend women take the following steps to ensure the best health outcome for mother and baby:

  • Getting at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day to help prevent many types of neural tube defects. 
  • Being properly vaccinated for certain diseases (such as chicken pox and rubella) that could harm a developing fetus—it is important to have the vaccinations before becoming pregnant
  • Maintaining a healthy weight and diet and getting regular physical activity before, during, and after pregnancy
  • Avoiding smoking, alcohol, or drug use before, during, and after pregnancy.