Posts Tagged lining of the uterus
9 months of pregnancy
Posted by in Pregnancy on February 12th, 2010
These months are designed to be generic and may or may not specifically relate to your pregnancy. Please direct any questions you have about your baby’s growth or your progress to your doctor or midwife. Pregnancy is a normal process and questions are a natural part of that process.
2 of 10Prev NextFirst Month of Pregnancy
Photo © K. Harrell
The beginning portion of what we consider the first month of pregnancy is actually your period until you ovulate. You are not actually pregnant during this time frame, but knowing the first day of your last normal period (LMP) we are able to more accurately calculate your due date.
Conception usually occurs within 24 hours of ovulation, about 14 days before the start of your next period. The egg and the sperm meet in the outer third of the Fallopian tube and travel over the course of the next seven to ten days, down the tube to the uterus. Once in the uterus, the fertilized egg will implant into the fluffy, nutrient rich lining of the uterus. Immediately chemical signals are sent to your body that pregnancy has occurred. Ovulation will halt. Your period will not come.
Your baby is called a blastocyst as it implants. The baby measures about 0.1-0.2 mm. At the end of the fourth week of pregnancy, the chorionic villi are formed. The yolk sac is helping to sustain the pregnancy until the placenta is fully formed. You might even begin to suspect you’re pregnant
The second month of pregnancy is a critical month in fetal development. Your baby goes from being a blastocyst to an embryo. Early on in this month your baby’s heart will begin to beat. First it beats slowly, then very rapidly, later in pregnancy the heart rate will slow a bit more.
In the beginning of this month it’s hard to tell which way is up on your baby. As this month progresses it becomes very easy to tell which end is your baby’s head is and which end is your baby’s bottom. By the end of the month your baby’s upper and lower limb buds will also appear. And the primordia of the liver, pancreas, lungs, and stomach are evident. While your baby is a girl or a boy, it is not yet apparent without genetic screening.
Your baby is now measuring between 8-11 mm from crown to rump (CRL). By the end of this month heart activity is always present on ultrasound. Toe and finger rays are present, though not quite enough for you to count yet
During the third month of your pregnancy, your baby’s bones begin to ossify or harden. Your baby is already moving spontaneously, but you usually can’t feel these movements for awhile yet. Your baby’s eyes are large and open. Eyelids will form later. External ears have formed.
External genitalia begin to differentiate, though it’s still very difficult to tell whether your baby is a girl or a boy without genetic screening. Your baby moves from being an embryo to the fetal period, now called a fetus. S/he also loses their tail!
Your baby’s head is the biggest part of their body. It is about 1/2 the size of the rest of the body. While the head is large, the brain’s structure is similar to what it will be at birth. S/he weighs about 14 grams and is approximately 3.54 inches in total length. By the end of this month you should be able to hear your baby’s heart beat with a Doppler.
The placenta has taken over production of the hormones needed to sustain your pregnancy. Your baby is also making some of its own insulin and bile. Your baby even urinates into the amniotic fluid in small amounts every 45 minutes or so.
Your baby’s heart pumps about 25 quarts of blood a day. This will increase to be about 300 quarts by the end of your pregnancy. All of the teeth have formed and you even have a scalp hair pattern!
Your baby is about 3 ounces (85 grams) and 6.3 inches (16 cms). The gender may be detectable by ultrasound. Though gender predictions at this point are much harder to rely on
No new organ structures are really forming at this point in pregnancy. Though the pads of the fingers and toes are forming. Your baby is also developing his or her finger prints. Your baby is also forming permanent teeth buds behind the baby teeth that are already formed. A baby girl will also begin to develop primitive eggs in her ovaries. Gender is usually visible by ultrasound, though accuracy varies.
Your baby’s movements may be more apparent. Loud noises may even cause your baby to startle. It’s still pretty unusual for your to be able to feel your baby move at this point unless this is not your first pregnancy. You may be aware of sleep wake cycles in your little one.
Your baby is also covered in a fine hair called lanugo and may begin to develop a lotion like substances on their skin called vernix. The weight is now up to 10 ounces (283 grams) and the baby measures about 25 cms total length, about 9.8 inches.
Eye brows are forming now and the lanugo darkens in color. Your baby is moving and practicing breathing for when he or she will be born. The practice contractions that you may or may not notice don’t bother your baby one bit. Your baby may or may not be head down, because of the amniotic fluid your baby can move all around still.
Your baby is also depositing brown fat. The brown fat will help him or her regulate body temperature at birth. This brown fat will continue to be laid down until birth.
S/he weighs in at 1 lb 5 ounces (595 grams) and 30 cms or 11.8 inches total length. A few babies are born this early. They do have some chance of survival depending on many factors.
Baby’s movements at this point in pregnancy have gone from wild kicks and flurries to smaller movements as the room becomes crowded in the uterus. At about week 28 babies begin to start turning head down. This is automatic in most babies and they seem to like it that way.
Your baby can sense light and dark in the uterus. This may also effect the pattern you notice of sleep and wake cycles. The uterus is also not a silent environment. While the baby can hear your heart beat, your digestive system, etc. your baby can also hear your voice as well as others close by. Think of what you can hear in a pool.
Your baby’s eye lashes are developing, as subcutaneous fat is deposited. If you have a baby boy, his testes will probably begin descending. Your baby is about 13.8 inches long (35 cms) and weighs about 2 pounds 4 ounces (1 kilogram)! A baby born at this time has a good chance of survival with the help of medical technology.
Your baby is really getting ready to be born. Every day in the uterus is said to be two less days your baby would spend in the hospital at this point. Red blood cell production is done entirely by your baby’s bone marrow. Amniotic fluid is still present and your baby urinates into it daily, about a half a liter of urine a day.
The baby’s irises can now dilate and contract in response to light. He or she opens and closes their eyes at will. Even the finger nails reach the end of the fingers. Some babies might even need a nail trim at birth! Your baby may have a lot of hair on their head or none, both extremes are normal.
The weight gain has been fairly incredible recently. Your baby has put on about 2 pounds of weight, mostly fat and muscle tissue, since last month, bringing the total to an average of three pounds eleven ounces (1.7 kilograms), and measurements to 40 cms or 15.8 inches!
Your baby’s organs have been finished forming for a long time. Now is the time for finishing touches. For example, the lungs make final preparations for birth by secreting surfactant to help them expand at birth. Your baby’s kidneys are still producing lots of urine every day, helping to make up the almost two pints of amniotic fluid.
While your baby may be putting on half a pound a week up until about week 37 at which point weight gain slows drastically. The average birth weight is still about seven and a half pounds. Your baby will measure between 18-22 inches at birth.
Your due date is a guess as to when your baby may arrive. The majority of babies will show up from two weeks before this date to two weeks after this date. Labor is caused by the baby’s signals to the mother’s body that he or she is ready to be born. Good luck and good birth!
Article Source: 9 months of pregnancy
Detecting First Pregnancy Symptoms
Posted by in Pregnancy on February 3rd, 2010
Getting pregnant is a great feeling any woman may experience but the first pregnancy is often accompanied by innumerous questions, anxiety and panic. As you enter this wonderful phase, there are several symptoms which reveal your condition. Great importance lies in recognizing these signs so that you may get the required assistance and necessary medical help from your doctor as soon as possible. Take a glance through the various symptoms which may prove to be indicators that you have conceived that follow. However, keep in mind that they may not necessarily be the same for every woman.
There are several minor changes physically as well as mentally indicating that you have conceived, owing to hormonal changes. Missing a period is one of the symptoms but you may also miss a period for several other reasons including stress. One initial sign is spotting that is bleeding due to implantation of the egg. Here the egg is implanted in the lining of the uterus. However, this spotting is much lighter than a menstrual cycle and often mistaken as the beginning of a period.
Basic symptoms appear due to the release of hormones which may affect the breasts, making them bigger and tender. They may feel heavier than before and noticeable small spots appear may appear around the nipples.
A week or so after conceiving, you may experience tiredness, fatigue and a lower energy level. This is due to the process of producing more blood and hormones. You will often feel sleepy and indulge into naps and also sleep earlier at nights compared to previously.
Symptoms like nausea and motion sickness are likely to be some of the early signs. Besides, you may feel the urge to urinate frequently which is due to pressure put on the bladder by the enlarging uterus. Digestion also slows down leading to constipation, forming yet another sign.
Some more first pregnancy symptoms are frequent headaches and a higher basal body temperature. You may also go through mood swings that may last only a few weeks but could possibly return at a later time. A sudden urge for a certain food product is also an early sign.
These symptoms are never a cause of worry. However, too much of any one of them should be given medical assistance. In fact, on experiencing these symptoms get a home test done and also re-confirm it with your doctor.
The earlier you detect your pregnancy, the earlier you can adhere to the dos and don’ts associated with expectant moms. You can also begin preparing for the birth of your baby. This is why recognizing and knowing the symptoms for faster detection is essential.
It’s very important to take care of your health to ensure a safe and healthy environment for you and your baby. On experiencing any of these first pregnancy symptoms and after taking a home test, do visit your doctor.
The first pregnancy symptoms are marked by emotional and physical discomforts. Visit the following link to know more about the early pregnancy symptoms and warning signs.
Article Source: Detecting First Pregnancy Symptoms
What Causes Infertility? How to Overcome Infertility in Women
Posted by in Pregnancy on November 29th, 2009
There are many causes of infertility in women. These have been examined thoroughly by medical experts and doctors. Some causes of infertility can be linked to eating habits, drinking alcohol, drugs, smoking, the age factor, heredity, and sexual diseases. In the article we will go over the causes of infertility and the solutions to overcome infertility in women. Infertility is a condition in which a woman cannot conceive a child because of different health issues. Sometimes a woman might be able to conceive, but will not be able to carry the baby for nine months.
A common cause of infertility in women is a problem with the ovulation process. Ovulation occurs when an egg is released from the ovary, goes down the fallopian tube, and is then ready to be fertilized. The lining of the uterus is thickened to get ready for a fertilized egg. If there is no conception, the uterine lining will be shed with some blood. The shedding of an unfertilized egg and the uterine wall is the time of menstruation. When the menstrual cycle has an irregularity this means there is an existing problem with ovulation.
How to Overcome Infertility in Women
Infertility is a serious problem that needs to be looked at. There are many different ways that you can treat this condition. Conventional infertility methods sometimes do not work and can have many side effects. These methods can also be very expensive. There are alternative methods with a holistic approach to help cure the problem of infertility causes in women. These methods are preferred by many women because they they have hardly any side effects.
With the alternative methods, lifestyle changes and diet are given huge importance. Regular intake of coffee, green tea, black tea, chocolate, cocoa, and soft drinks are discouraged. Two cups of coffee for a women who is trying to conceive can cause a delay in her getting pregnant. Coffee is off limits because it can be one of the things that causes infertility in women.
I am going to show you how to get pregnant right now. Pregnancy miracle is an online guide for women who are having trouble trying to conceive.
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Article Source: What Causes Infertility? How to Overcome Infertility in Women
Pregnancy Symptoms: Determining Whether Or Not You Are Pregnant
Posted by in Pregnancy on November 5th, 2009
Identifying if a symptom experienced is related to pregnancy can be challenging because many symptoms could be signs of other things. If more symptoms are experienced at the same time, this could be a clearer indication.
Some women experience pregnancy symptoms within a week of conception, while others don’t experience any symptoms until weeks into their pregnancy. There are those that hardly experience symptoms at all – other than a missed period and a growing belly!
The following is a list of the most common pregnancy signs and symptoms:
Missed Period
This is one of the most obvious tell-tale signs of pregnancy, especially if your cycles are regular.
Fatigue
This is one of those very early pregnancy signs that is challenging. There is no other kind of exhaustion like it! Bedtime may be 7pm for many! Being tired is due to the rapid change in hormones in the body.
Tender/Swollen Breasts
Many women experience tender breasts even before/during their menstrual period, so sometimes this sign may not necessarily point to pregnancy. However, if other symptoms on this list are occurring, then this symptom is more likely to be related to pregnancy. This discomfort should decrease after 12 or 13 weeks as your body adjusts to the changes in hormone levels.
Darkened Areolas
This is also a sign of pregnancy.
Nausea
This is a very common – and awful – early pregnancy symptom. Some lucky women don’t experience nausea at all! “Morning sickness” is a deceiving term, because nausea can occur at any time of the day, and in some cases, it lasts ALL day! Nausea can last part of the pregnancy, and sometimes during the entire pregnancy.
Sensitivity To Smells
Particular odors you used to enjoy may actually make you sick when you’re in early pregnancy.
Implantation Bleeding
This happens when the fertilized egg buries itself into the lining of the uterus, which can cause slight bleeding. This may happen a few days after fertilization, which can cause some women to think that they are having their period. The bleeding is usually very light, is pinkish, and lasts just a day or two.
Frequent Urination
Pregnant women find themselves running to the bathroom more often. This is largely because the amount of blood and other fluids increases during pregnancy. The extra fluid that is processed by the kidneys ends up in your bladder. This may start around 6 weeks of pregnancy, and may escalate as the baby grows and starts putting pressure on the bladder.
Higher Body Temperature
A basal body temperature that remains elevated more than 18 days after ovulation could be a sign of pregnancy.
If you checked off many of the above pregnancy symptoms, you may want to take a pregnancy test – especially if you have missed your period after having unprotected sex!
A home pregnancy test will show a positive a few days after a missed period (if you are pregnant, of course!). The extra few days will allow the pregnancy hormone – hcg – to build up in your system, which is what the urine test is testing for.
A blood test can actually detect hcg in the system days before a home pregnancy test could. A blood test measures the amount of hcg (which is short for “human chorionic gonadotropin”) in the blood to determine pregnancy. Blood tests done 48 hours apart will show if the pregnancy is progressing at a normal rate.
You may experience most or all of the pregnancy symptoms listed above, while some lucky women may hardly experience any of these symptoms! If you have these pregnancy symptoms, and a test has a negative result, wait a few days and test again in case it was too early.
- Lisa Simonelli Rennie, author of complete-pregnancy-guide.com. This website has all the info you need on conception, pregnancy, childbirth and labor, including a week by week guide.
Visit http://www.complete-pregnancy-guide.com
Article Source: Pregnancy Symptoms: Determining Whether Or Not You Are Pregnant
PCOS and Infertility
Posted by in Pregnancy on October 7th, 2009
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS is one of the main reasons for infertility problems among women. They say that excessive insulin production in some women makes their bodies respond by producing high levels of male hormones or androgens. Some women with PCOS are insulin resistant and this can lead to diabetes.
In a women’s normal menstrual cycle, a couple of follicles develop within the ovaries, each containing an egg. As the menstrual cycle progresses, only one follicle will remain and this will produce the egg during ovulation. After the egg has matured, LH levels will surge and this will cause the egg to burst. The egg bursting from the follicle causes the ovulation. Women with PCOS do not normally produce enough female hormones needed for ovulation so the follicles do not mature to become the actual eggs. Some follicles may even develop into cysts.
PCOS can be seen in an ultra sound as a “string of pearls” within the ovary. The “string of pearls” represents the follicles that have not developed. At this point, the ovaries will typically have several small cysts covering the outside, and because ovulation does not take place, progesterone is not produced that cause the lining of the uterus to thicken.
Some Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome symptoms include an irregular period or an absence itself. The older the woman is, the higher the propabality for PCOS to happen and some women may also ovulate irregularly as well or not at all. Five to ten percent of women within the childbearing age show PCOS but most of them are unaware. Only less than twenty-five percent of women with PCOS have been diagnosed and some of them are lucky enough to conceive even though they have an irregular ovulation cycle. Symptoms for PCOS vary from woman to woman and these include increased hair growth on the back, chest or face, thinning hair, obesity, high insulin levels or Type 2 diabetes, acne or pelvic pain among others.
PCOS affects women’s ability to conceive due to the lack of ovulation. But there are steps that can be taken to counteract this. Some women can address PCOS thru weight loss which can also help to improve hormone imbalances. Metformin, a drug that improves insulin absorption, is considered safe to use on women who do not have diabetes. It affects insulin levels and does not directly lower blood sugar. Clomid or other fertility drugs are also used in PCOS-related infertility treatment. It blocks estrogen receptors in the brain so that the brain will register a low estrogen level. This triggers the body to produce more FSH and LH which then signals ovulation. Clomid is often successful for ovulation purposes but only thirty to forty percent of the women ovulated from Clomid will actually become pregnant.
In Vitro Maturation (IVM) and In Vitro fertilization (IVF) are also options for PCOS cases. In Vitro Maturation involves immature eggs being harvested early in a woman’s cycle. These are matured in a laboratory then used for fertilization. In the case of In Vitro Fertilization, the eggs are harvested after they are already mature. They are then fertilized before implanted in a woman’s uterus. IVF treatments also include medications that help the eggs develop. IVM is helpful for women who do not respond to drug therapy.
For more FREE information about PCOS and Infertility, visit http://acupuncture-and-infertility.com/pcos-and-infertility/.
Wentzel Coetzer is an Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncturist and Chinese Herbalist. For more great information regarding PCOS and Infertility, visit http://www.acupuncture-and-infertility.com.
Article Source: PCOS and Infertility
Are You Pregnant? Signs and Symptoms Associated with Pregnancy
Posted by in Babies on September 27th, 2009
Here are some clues that you are pregnant long before the signs will be evidenced by anyone else. The first signs that you are pregnant show up within two weeks of conception.
Breasts will experience noticeable changes such as tenderness and swelling. And yes, they are usually tender right before your period begins. So that may not be clue enough. Here is another clue that many wouldn’t know to look for. If you stand in front of a mirror without a bra on and look at your nipples you may see a dark ring around the outer rim of your nipples. It almost looks like eye liner was drawn around your nipples. Interesting isn’t it?
Next clue and probably the most common is nausea. Yes, your stomach may feel like it is tumbling around. You may actually vomit but it is more common just to sense the feeling of nausea or to experience your stomach lunging at the smell of trash or certain foods. You will notice that the nausea is closely related to a heighten level of smell.
Fatigue: Exhaustion. This is the next clue that you are indeed pregnant. Increased levels of the hormone progesterone can make you feel so sleepy. Also, a change in sugar levels can cause the exhaustion that some new mommies experience as their blood sugar works to deal with the new levels of hormones.
Cramping and even a slight reddish bleeding is a normal sign that you are pregnant. This may cause you to believe that you are starting to menstruate. However, this often is the first clue of the fertilized egg attaching to the lining of the uterus. That’s right the first sign may be the most upsetting if you are longing to be pregnant. But, have no fear a bit if cramping is normal in the early weeks of pregnancy.
Mood swings are a sure sign of the early days and weeks of a pregnancy. Often as the pregnancy advances the emotions and moods become more even and consistent. But, the first few weeks can include some sudden tears or even sudden laughter as your hormone levels escalate.
If you are experiencing several of these symptoms and are experiencing a late menstruation then it may be time to head to the doctor’s office for confirmation and pre natal care. It is great to take note early of your pregnancy so that you can get those vitamins as early as possible.
Find information about infertility treatments such as IVF, as well as tips on getting pregnant.
Article Source: Are You Pregnant? Signs and Symptoms Associated with Pregnancy
Understanding How to Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy
Posted by in Pregnancy on July 13th, 2009
Your body will be a sanctuary and home to a new spirit. You will need to make some changes in order to prepare it for the needs of a baby that will develop inside your body for nine months. Taking care of your body will help ensure the healthy growth of your baby. Changes can happen anytime and anywhere. The woman’s body will experience maternal changes that are at first difficult to understand because they feel so extraordinary and uncomfortable. Your changing body that was once fit and slim may begin to experience the appearance of stretch marks and darkening of skin for some, and the sensitivity to things around you are just a few of the many adjustments your body will undergo the moment a baby is conceived.
Most women find it hard to adapt to changes because they are not yet ready for the coming of the baby. But, as a would-be mother, you have no choice but to be able to accept the alterations in the body and work hard to give yourself and the baby the comfort during pregnancy. The pregnant body is the most important consideration of the mother. Sensitivity to changes is a must as a mother must be conscious with the proper health care to deal with the said transformation.
Maternal changes start with the breasts as they become tender and heavier and larger. After the absence of the menstrual flow, the breasts start to prepare for lactations. Mornings for the pregnant woman become remarkable with what they call the morning sickness. Here, the woman starts to feel nauseated and begin to vomit from the early weeks of pregnancy. Moreover, you might notice that you tend to tire easily and that your need to urinate is more frequent than normal. The latter is the result of the thickening of the lining of the uterus and the enlargement of the blood vessels to provide food for the baby.
For most women, gaining weight maybe considered the worst effect of pregnancy in their body. Logically, weight increases as the body is about to welcome another individual inside. Expect a 2-pound gain right after the end of the first trimester. Maternal changes continue in the second and third trimester. As the breast and the uterus become larger to accommodate milk producing glands and the growing baby, the eyes, the skin and even the toenails are transformed too. This time, the nails become brittle, vision becomes blurry and skin usually glows. The third trimester, on the other hand, is characterized by several alterations like skin pigmentation, varicose veins and increase perspiration.
To the baby, there is nothing more rewarding than having a home inside your pregnant body. Express your joy in having the baby by taking care of yourself. The changes occur and they happen for the good of the baby. Find something good with the changes and see the joy beyond compare in being a mother. Pregnancy is a nine-month journey to a more essential part of motherhood – giving birth and cuddling the baby in your arms for comfort.
Understand your body as it undergoes maternal changes as early as the first week of pregnancy. Search for tips in taking care of your pregnant body at Aha! Baby.
Article Source: Understanding How to Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy
