Moms Care - Pregnancy Guide

You’ve conceived by the time you’re three weeks pregnant. The s***m has met the egg and congratulations you’ve made a baby. It’s still very early and there would be no physical signs on your body as of yet. Moreover, you may not even know that you’re pregnant as you haven’t missed your period yet. By the end of this week, your menstrual period will be due and then you would start to think that I’ve missed my period and I may be pregnant.

Early signs and symptoms of pregnancy depend on the pregnancy hormones in your body. At this early stage of pregnancy, most moms-to-be have lower levels of pregnancy hormones in their bodies. So your body may not show a lot of visible signs and symptoms.

Your parental journey has begun but the baby will fully develop in a total of 40 weeks. And at this point, you still have 37 weeks to go before your body is ready to give birth to your child. Giving birth to a human being is always special, whether it’s your first time or you’re an experienced mommy. The feeling itself is amazing, the changes that your body goes through in this phase are just out of this world.

Here are some signs and symptoms to look out for when you’re in week three of pregnancy.

Lower Abdominal Pressure or Cramping

A feeling of pressure in your tummy or even mild cramping may lead to anxiety. So it would be a good idea to know what’s normal and when you should take it seriously.

What is normal when it comes to cramping?

As long as the cramping is mild and temporary, there should nothing that you should worry about. Your uterus has to grow and stretch as the body is preparing for the growth of your baby. Normal cramping and abdominal pressure without bleeding are very common in the early stages of pregnancy. It is also a sign that things are headed the right way.

When should you worry about cramping?

If the cramping persists and it’s severe, we would recommend you to call a doctor. If you don’t have much knowledge about something, then it is always good to check in with a specialist. It is better to be safe than sorry. Similarly, bleeding along with cramping is also something that you shouldn’t ignore.

Finding relief.

Sometimes, cramping is a way of your body to tell you that you are doing too much and it is time to give your body some rest. In such cases, just changing your body posture or position can do wonders. We would also recommend you to try out other ways to relax your body and mind.
Using a hot water bottle can help relieve the pain as well.

Unusual tiredness and fatigue

It isn’t uncommon for women to feel exhausted and tired during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. You may sleep for 10-12 hours and still wake up feeling tired. Your body is slowly adjusting to the metabolic changes that are occurring and the feeling of tiredness will subside eventually.
This may feel like a never-ending process and you may get frustrated after some time. Adequate rest, limiting caffeine and proper exercise will help you fight fatigue.

Hormonal changes (feeling nauseous and emotional)

The hormonal changes taking place at this time can make you feel nauseous and emotional. The very thought of food can nauseate you. Morning sickness is now full day sickness because the sickness doesn’t lessen as the day passes. You probably want this week to end quickly because you would like to know for sure if you’re pregnant or not and that may make you feel a little emotional as well. We recommend you to sit tight, this time is very essential for your baby’s development and it cannot be rushed.

Breast changes

A lot of women go through changes in their breasts when they’re pregnant. Changes in the breast can also be taken as an early sign of pregnancy. During this period, your b***s may sore and your ni***es may darken as your body has started it is preparation so it could produce milk in the future.

Implantation bleeding

Light spotting or a small amount of bleeding occurs after 10-15 days of conception. You may see a bit of spotting on your underpants as the fertilized egg burrows itself into the wall of the uterus. This spotting is somewhat different from your normal period bleeding because the color of the blood is lighter as compared to the blood in your normal period bleeding. Along with implantation bleeding, you may also have mild cramping and headache. Implantation bleeding is nothing to worry about and this is quite normal.

Frequent urination

You may start to feel that your trips to the restroom have increased since you became pregnant. Frequent urination can be considered an early sign of pregnancy. In addition to the hormonal changes that increased urinary production, your uterus expands and puts pressure on your bladder even when your baby is tiny. Your body will now also need to pump more blood which increases the urinary production as well.

Metallic taste

The metallic taste is a side effect of pregnancy that is reported by a lot of moms-to-be. This side effect can make your taste buds go wild. Some women complain that this happens when they’re not eating anything. This feeling of metallic taste will settle down in the 2nd Trimester. For now, fight metal with acid, sip lemonade and other citrus juices. Brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth or gargle with saltwater.

Missed period

It depends on your monthly cycle if your cycle is typically shorter than 28 days you may realize towards the end of this week that you could be pregnant. However, some women have irregular menstrual cycles. So to know for sure, we recommend you to take a pregnancy test.

Positive home pregnancy test

See the box of your home pregnancy test to find out how accurate its results are before your missed period. Some claim to be 99% accurate but it depends on the pregnancy hormone in your body. There are chances that at this time the amount of hCG, the pregnancy hormone, in your body is not enough for the pregnancy test strip to detect that you’re pregnant. The chances double every two days so check again after a few days if the result was negative this time. We also advise you to check the expiry date on the box when buying pregnancy test strips.

Positive blood pregnancy test

Your doctor may call you for a check-up if he thinks that you’re at risk of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy. In such cases, your doctor would want a blood test as blood tests can detect the smallest amount of hCG which urine tests cannot. So you may find out that you are pregnant with a blood test that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to do so with a urine test at home.

Some tips for this week

You’re now into the third week of your pregnancy so try avoiding things that can potentially cause harm to your baby. This is the time when you should start treating yourself like a princess. You’re going to give birth to another human being, you deserve all of this nice treatment.

Calcium and Vitamins: Try eating calcium-rich foods. Vitamin C is also very important as it helps your body in absorbing iron. Your body needs at least 1,000 mg of calcium every day if you’re an adult. Try to meet the calcium needs of your body by taking a supplement or by eating foods that are high in calcium. Some of the foods that we recommend are dairy foods like milk, yogurt, and cheese. If you’re lactose intolerant, then try dark leafy green vegetables.

Eating Healthy: Make sure to eat healthy foods as well as get enough nutrients. Your body will need extra protein so the baby could grow.

Stay away from chemicals: Stay away from things that can harm your baby’s health. Hold off on hair coloring for some time. Once your second trimester starts, it would be much safer for you to color your hair.

Take enough fluids: Drink as much water as possible. If you’re hydrated, it will be easier for your body to fight morning sickness and diarrhea. You’re losing a lot of fluid due to vomiting and diarrhea, so drink water and other healthy fluids and keep your body hydrated.

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Congratulations! You have conceived. - Moms Care You’ve conceived by the time you’re three weeks pregnant. The s***m has met the egg and congratulations you’ve made a baby. It’s still very early...

Pregnancy is an exciting time in any woman’s life whether it is planned or unplanned. It is a nine-month journey and a life-changing experience so it’s always best to be prepared emotionally and mentally to welcome the little human being in your life.

Every month, the body of a woman sheds the uterine lining during the monthly cycle. The monthly cycle varies from woman to woman and mostly it is 28 days long. During this period, the female body prepares itself for conception and if it fails then the uterine lining sheds during menstruation. If you have an active s*x life without any precaution, then it is essential to be aware that there are chances of fertilization which leads to pregnancy. Fertilization occurs if the s***m meets with an egg which is released every month during ovulation.

The first two weeks of pregnancy are similar to the first two weeks before your upcoming period. Thus, it becomes very difficult to give a conclusive answer whether you are pregnant or not. The body is preparing itself to conceive in the initial two weeks yet it does not occur until the end of the 2nd week or the start of the 3rd week of pregnancy. Consequently, the pregnancy mostly goes unnoticed in the starting weeks and you only realize that you are pregnant by the end of 4th week when you miss your first period.

Pregnancy is a 40 weeks’ journey but some women notice the subtle changes in the 2nd week. Let’s take an insight into the 2nd week of pregnancy by discussing it’s signs and symptoms:

Ovulation, the release of an egg, occurs in the 2nd week of pregnancy. The egg starts its journey down the fallopian tube and can survive only for one day compared to the s***m which has a lifespan of 6 days if present in the female body. A couple who plans on having a baby, they should have s*x regularly during or near the ovulation time. If the s***m is present at the time of the release of the egg, then there are high chances that fertilization will occur which will lead to the formation of zygote.

Changes in the 2nd week, just before ovulation

Fall in the Basal Body Temperature:
One effective way to track your ovulation time is by keeping a record of your basal body temperature. The basal body temperature stays the same throughout the month with an exception during ovulation time. This can be measured with a special type of thermometer made for this purpose. Just before ovulation, the basal body temperature will drop and when the egg is released the temperature rises by a degree or half a degree.
Change in the Cervical Mucus:
Cervical mucus, also known as va**nal fluid, is released throughout the month except during me**es. It is important to notice the change in its fluidity to know when your body is going to ovulate. It becomes slippery, transparent and less viscous similar to the yolk of a raw egg during ovulation. This happens to increase the mobility of the s***m and it can swim easily to reach the egg in the fallopian tube for the process of fertilization. After ovulation, the cervical mucus becomes white, thick and more viscous.
Increase in S*x Drive:
Near ovulation, the body starts secreting a hormone called the Luteinizing hormone (LH). This hormone along with estrogen is responsible for increasing the libido also termed as s*x drive. This period lasts for up to six days. The increase in s*xual desire is to help in conception. Regular s*x during the ovulation time makes the chances of pregnancy higher as more s***ms swim towards the egg to fertilize it.
Change in the Cervical Position:
The cervix is the lower part of the uterus which is small and narrow. The purpose of the cervix is to secret the mucus to aid in transporting the s***ms from the va**na to the fallopian tube. Its shape changes throughout the monthly cycle. It becomes soft, moist, more open and high while ovulation is taking place. This helps s***ms to reach the uterus easily. The position of the cervix changes after ovulation and it becomes hard, closed and dry. Most women have never felt their cervix and are not aware of the changes. Here is a step by step guide on how to check your cervix during ovulation:
 Make yourself sit in a comfortable position. It can be on a toilet seat, in the form of a squat or by placing one leg on a higher position. In this way, it would be easier for you to insert the fingers inside the va**na to feel the cervix.
 You can easily detect changes in the cervix during the ovulating phase by inserting the two fingers i.e. index and middle finger inside the va**na. The fingers need to be inserted till the knuckles so that they can reach and touch the cervix.
 Make sure that your fingers are clean and nails are trimmed to prevent any form of internal injury. Moreover, you don’t want any form of infection so it’s better to wash your hands before checking the cervix.
 Move your fingers slowly in an upward motion inside the va**na to reach up to the cervix.
 It is best to check your cervix when you are not ovulating as you will be able to find it easily. During the ovulation phase, it will be in a higher position and you won’t be able to detect it.
 The cervix will feel soft and open just before ovulation. It will also be difficult to reach. Otherwise, it will be hard and closed when you are not fertile and will be lower in position. Before and after menstruation, the cervix is also at a lower position but it is open.
 It takes some practice to learn the technique to find the cervix and detecting the changes in it so therefore relax and keep on repeating this method at the same time every day. Within a few days, you will learn this skill and it is easier for you to know your ovulation time.
 It is best not to check the cervix before or after s*xual in*******se as the cervix is at a higher position.
Breast Tenderness:
Production of progesterone causes the retention of fluid in the breasts which makes them tender. The breasts become heavy and a little dense. Sometimes there can be ache in the breasts as well. Progesterone release also leads to the soreness of the ni***es. This is one of the secondary signs of ovulation and not a sure-shot way of determining the ovulating phase.
Bloating:
The whole body starts to retain fluid due to the production of progesterone. It becomes more in your tummy area and can also cause weight gain. If bloating becomes a problem for you then you need to reduce your caffeine intake and concentrate on a diet that relieves you from it. Managing your diet to prevent bloating.
Increase water intake during the ovulating phase.
Decrease the consumption of salt or any form of processed foods which are likely to have high levels of salts in them.
You can even take magnesium supplements to prevent bloating but for that, you need to consult your medical practitioner.
Avoid foods that have indigestible carbohydrates that lead to stomach gas and ache. Instead, concentrate on eating fresh vegetables and fruits which reduce bloating during ovulation.
Regular exercise is not only good for health but it also helps prevent bloating. It can be some form of light exercises such as a walk or even moderate form of exercises such as aerobics or jogging.
Other forms of relaxing exercises such as meditation and yoga are also good ways to get off bloating.
Abdominal Ache:
The release of an egg during the ovulating phase can cause a sharp ache or cramps in the abdomen. It mostly occurs in the lower part or the side of the abdomen from where the egg is released. If the pain persists or becomes too much it can also be a sign of uterine fibroids or endometriosis. Therefore, it is necessary to consult a doctor.
Heightened Sense of Smell:
When ovulating women are in their most fertile phase, they are very sensitive to certain scents such as musk and male pheromones such as androstenone and aldosterone. This makes them more attracted to men.
Light spotting or Discharge:
The lining of the uterus sometimes does not remain intact due to a decrease in the production of progesterone or a change in the level of estrogen. This causes slight bleeding or discharge when ovulation occurs. This bleeding is also called as ovulation or va**nal bleeding and is harmless. The bleeding is light pink and can last for a day or two.

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You still can’t call yourself pregnant, you’ll find out about your pregnancy in week 3. - Moms Care Pregnancy is an exciting time in any woman’s life whether it is planned or unplanned. It is a nine-month journey and a life-changing experience so...