Months 1-2
This article contains information on ...
Your Baby's Progess - The First Eight Weeks
What to Expect at Monthly Checkups
Warning Signs
Your Changing Body
Emotinal Changes
Nutrition
Saunas and Hot Tubs
Feline Friends
Herbal Teas
Medications, Caffeine and Smoking - What Are the Risks?
Your Baby's Progess - The First Eight Weeks
You’re already aware of what’s happening, but it’s amazing to think about the extraordinary events now taking place within your body. These changes begin at conception. The sperm fertilizes the ovum, or egg, in the outer one third of the fallopian tube. During the first 30 minutes following conception, the cells begin to divide and grow. Within two days, the cluster of cells, resembling a blackberry, makes its way to where the tube meets the uterus.
This journey is made possible with the help of the cilia, fine hair-like projections within the tube. The cells begin implanting within the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, one week after fertilization. The process is complete by the end of week two, around the time of the first missed menstrual period.
In the third week, often before a woman realizes she is pregnant, the baby’s vital organs begin functioning. The limbs are also developing at this time. During the next few weeks the fetus is very susceptible to its surroundings and is potentially affected by drugs, viruses and environmental pollutants.
Although it’s too early for you to notice, your baby begins to move around the sixth week of pregnancy. And by seven and a half weeks old, your baby’s waking moments become quite busy. If you could peer inside the uterus, you might witness your baby squinting, frowning or stretching. Your baby also moves his tongue and swallows. Cartilage starts to calcify and change to bone, and the kidneys are forming. Eyes and ears are continuing to develop, and already your baby’s fingers and toes are well-formed miniatures. Still large, your baby’s head is about one third of his overall body size.
By week eight, your uterus expands to the size of a tennis ball, and your baby measures a ½ inch in length and weighs about 1/30th of an ounce. Your baby’s heart is fully formed, and some glands begin functioning. Your baby’s brain and bones continue developing. Eyelids cover your baby’s eyes but are fused shut until about the 24th week of pregnancy. During this time tooth buds are developing.
BREAST FEEDING RESOURCE CENTER
It’s not too early to start thinking about how you will want to feed your baby. We can provide information that may assist you in your decision. Call for more information.
YOUR BABY IS UNIQUE
You're probably already wondering about the sex of your baby, and what he or she will look like. Will your baby inherit your turned-up nose or your mate’s strong chin? Curiosity is perfectly normal, and during the coming months you and your mate will enjoy predicting how your baby will look.
Your baby’s features, including hair and eye color, height and blood type, are determined at conception. The mother’s egg and father’s sperm each have 23 chromosomes. The combined 46 chromosomes are responsible for making each baby a unique individual. The father’s chromosomes determine your child’s sex. Incidentally, sperm far outnumber the egg – 150 to 450 million sperm in one egg.
What to Expect at Monthly Checkups
At the beginning of your pregnancy, your physician will probably schedule you for monthly checkups. Sometime during the last trimester, your visits will increase to every two weeks. Toward the end of your pregnancy, your doctor may want to check your progress every week. Routine monthly visits usually include:- Weight check
- Blood pressure checks
- Urine tests
- Abdominal exams.
These simple but very important checkups can help your physician detect a problem before it becomes serious. For instance, sudden weight gain, an increase in your blood pressure, and protein in your urine are often symptoms of preeclampsia or toxemia. This illness, which occurs only during pregnancy, can become very serious if not treated early. High sugar levels in urine also may be an indication of diabetes.
When you visit your physician, remember to take advantage of this opportunity to discuss any fears or concerns about your pregnancy. Be sure to call your physician if any problems arise between checkups.
When you visit your physician, remember to take advantage of this opportunity to discuss any fears or concerns about your pregnancy. Be sure to call your physician if any problems arise between checkups.
Warning Signs:
Call your doctor if you experience any of the following:
- Vaginal bleeding
- Infection, fever, chills
- Severe cramping
- Severe vomiting
- Persistent headache.
Your Changing Body
From the beginning, your body begins preparing for the new life inside you. The lining of your uterus thickens and its opening, the cervix, becomes softer. A special hormone is produced in both your blood and urine. It’s this hormone that makes your pregnancy test positive.You may already be experiencing these common physical side effects:
- A feeling of fullness or aching in your pelvic area
- The need to urinate frequently
- Feeling tired or faint
- Nausea and vomiting often referred to as “morning sickness.”
To minimize these effects, make time to rest during the day. Some women find they can minimize the nausea by eating small quantities of food throughout the day instead of having three large meals. Eating dry toast and crackers may also provide relief. One trick is to keep a couple of crackers beside your bed to eat in the mornings, even before you sit up in bed.
Along with other parts of your body, your breasts undergo changes during pregnancy. Regardless of whether you decide to breast or bottle-feed you baby, Mother Nature is telling your breasts to prepare for milk production. As your breasts enlarge, you may become aware of more prominent veins and a tingling feeling in your nipples. The area around each nipple often becomes larger and darker.
Already, you may be experiencing breast tenderness similar to what is sometimes felt a few days before menstruation. Tips to reduce tenderness include:
- A well made, proper-fitting bra with wide non-stretch straps should help relieve your heavy, sore breasts. A supportive bra with several adjustable hooks will expand along with your breasts. Plenty of support during pregnancy also reduces your chances of being left with sagging breasts after your baby arrives.
- Apply cool compresses.
- Wear a bra to bed.
Warm water and a very small amount of soap are all you need to keep your breasts and nipples clean. Lotions and creams aren’t necessary. In fact, their use may even cause your nipples to become inflamed or irritated.
Emotional Changes
Your body is not only changing physically, but also emotionally. For the first few months of pregnancy, your moods may seem like they’re on a rollercoaster. One minute you feel like you’re on top of the world; then suddenly, your mood plunges when you begin to question your ability to be a mother. Don't feel guilty about these mixed feelings. Most women, whether or not they admit it, experience similar feelings at some point during pregnancy.
Your mate may become bewildered by your sudden mood swings. Taking the time now to explain that emotional changes are normal will help prepare him in case you do have mood swings.
Your mate may become bewildered by your sudden mood swings. Taking the time now to explain that emotional changes are normal will help prepare him in case you do have mood swings.
Nutrition
A well-balanced diet is especially important during pregnancy, for both you and your baby. However, don’t fool yourself into thinking that “eating for two” means you should eat twice as much. If you do, after your baby’s birth, you’ll be left with unnecessary pounds that seem impossible to lose. On the other hand, if you’re already overweight, postpone any dieting until after the baby arrives. Now is not the time to lose weight.Some women report unusual cravings during pregnancy. If you have a craving for a certain food or foods, be careful not to overindulge.
Saunas and Hot Tubs
After a long day, it may be very tempting to relax in a hot sauna, Jacuzzi or whirlpool of steaming water. However, keep in mind that prolonged exposure to such heat may raise your body temperature and be dangerous to the health of your baby. Be sure to ask your physician’s opinion.
Feline Friends
Cats are often carriers of toxoplasmosis. This disease causes harmless cold-like symptoms in adults, but can be very harmful to a fetus. A pregnant woman with the disease can unknowingly pass it along to her unborn baby, and toxoplasmosis has been known to cause problems such as birth defects and premature births.
This doesn’t mean you have to send your furry friend away for the rest of your pregnancy. You just need to take these precautions:
- If possible, have someone else empty the litter box during this time. The toxoplasmosis organism can live in the feces of cats for as long as a year. If not possible, wear gloves and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.
- Please note: Because you can also acquire the disease by eating undercooked meat, you shouldn’t eat any rare meat during your pregnancy.
Herbal Teas
There is little scientific information available concerning the effects of herbal teas on unborn babies. Some types of herbal teas have been known to be harmful to adults. If you’re an herbal tea drinker, you should discuss this subject with your physician.
Medications, Caffeine and Smoking - What are the Risks?
Virtually all medications taken during pregnancy cross the placenta, the organ that connects your uterus to the baby. To be on the safe side, do not take any medication, including over-the-counter medications, unless you have your physician’s okay. Be sure to inform your doctor of any prescriptions you were taking before your pregnancy, including those for allergy or sinus problems. Your physician may have you stop taking such medication until later in the pregnancy or until after your baby is born. Some specific things to watch include:
Aspirin. This thins the blood and affects its ability to clot, so taking aspirin during pregnancy can actually increase the amount of bleeding after delivery for both you and your baby. Instead of using aspirin to relieve a headache, try a massage or a cold pack on your forehead. You can also ask your physician to approve a non-aspirin pain reliever.
Caffeine. Coffee, tea, some soft drinks and chocolate all contain caffeine, which causes some harmful effects in adults. Since this stimulant crosses over the placenta to the baby, you may want to limit your intake or switch to caffeine-free beverages. Ask your physician.
Smoking. Tobacco contains substances harmful to you and your baby. One of the best things you can do for your baby and for yourself is to stop smoking. Studies show that women who smoke while they are pregnant increase their chances of having low birth-weight babies, and increase the risks of developing complications. Children of smoking parents also have more respiratory infections from second-hand smoke, not to mention the risk of heart and lung cancer.
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