I'm Pregnant, now what...... Week 5-6
by Chandra Lee
Oh, I think I'm gonna puke....Yep, wer'e gonna have a baby. The
hormones your baby is secreting may cause you to experience the first
symptoms of pregnancy this week, symptoms such as fatigue, tingling or aching breasts, or nausea
might lead you to believe your period will be starting any day because the
first pregnancy symptoms resemble premenstrual syndrome. You won't know
until later that it's your baby causing the symptoms!
Four weeks into your pregnancy, your baby is now an embryo consisting
of three different layers. The inner layer, known as the endoderm, will
develop into your baby's lungs, liver, and digestive system. The middle
layer, called the mesoderm, will eventually be your baby's bones, muscles,
kidneys, sex organs, and heart. Finally, the ectoderm, or outer layer,
will make up your baby's tissues and organs such as the skin, hair, eyes,
and nervous system. A maternal blood or urine test this week would show a
positive result because the embryo is secreting human Chorionic
Gonadotropin (hCG), the pregnancy hormone. Home pregnancy tests, which
test for hCG in the urine, may show a positive result but are not as
accurate as blood tests this early in pregnancy
Until now, the embryo has been a mass of cells, but by this point in
your pregnancy a distinct shape begins to form. The neural tube, which
will eventually form into the spinal cord and brain and is also called the
primitive streak, runs from the top to the bottom of the embryo. The top
part of the neural tube has begun to flatten out and will eventually form
the front part of the brain. A bulge in the center of the embryo will
develop into your baby's heart. The use of a home pregnancy tests could be
positive this week. If you want to use a home pregnancy test, testing in
the morning will give the most accurate results - the first urine of the
day will contain the highest levels of the pregnancy hormone, hCG.
Even if you have not felt the onset of nausea yet, you'll want to
eliminate certain foods from your diet when you're pregnant. Foodborne
illnesses, such as listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, can be life-threatening
to an embryo and may cause birth defects or miscarriage. Here's a list of
foods you'll want to avoid: soft cheeses such as feta, goat, brie,
Camembert, and blue cheese unpasteurized milk and juices raw or
undercooked meats, including hot dogs and deli meats raw eggs or foods
containing raw eggs, including mousse and tiramisu raw shellfish pate
Toxoplasmosis can also be spread from soiled cat litter boxes, so if
possible have someone else clean the litter box during your pregnancy.
The journey continues into the 7-8 weeks, and you can follow the
journey here
I'm Pregnant, now what......Week 7-8 by Chandra Lee
Your pregnancy will come into full force this week and common
complaints have just started. You may feel extreme fatigue, even before
you know you're pregnant, as your body adjusts to the demands of
pregnancy. In addition, tender, aching breasts and nausea and vomiting, or
morning sickness, may leave you feeling less than great. Despite its name,
morning sickness can occur at any hour or all day, so don't be surprised
if your upset stomach doesn't pass by noon. Nausea isn't the only thing
that has you running to the toilet, though - the pregnancy hormone, hCG,
causes you to urinate more frequently, too.
By week 6, the neural tube along your baby's back has closed over. In
addition, there has been major growth in the brain as it grows in size to
fill the now-formed, enlarging head. Optic vesicles, which later form the
eyes, begin to develop this week on the side of the head, as do the
passageways that will comprise the inner ear. Even though it can't yet be
heard, your baby's heart will begin to beat around this time. And the
beginnings of the digestive and respiratory systems are forming, too.
Small buds that will grow into your baby's arms and legs also appear this
week. All of your babys developments are taking place on an extremely
small scale, though - your baby only measures 0.08 to 0.16 inches (2 to 4
millimeters) from crown to rump!
Week 7 your fetus is now at a length of 0.2 to 0.52 inches (5 to 13
millimeters) from crown to rump and a weight of 0.03 ounces (0.8 grams),
your baby is constantly adapting to life inside the uterus. This week the
umbilical cord, which provides nourishment and disposes of the baby's
wastes, develops from the implantation site of the blastocyst. In
addition, the baby's digestive tract and lungs continue to form. Are you
waiting impatiently to see your baby's face on his or her birth day? You
have a long way to go until then, but in the meantime, your baby's face is
taking shape. The mouth perforation, miniature nostrils, ear indentations,
and the pigmentation in the irises of the eyes are some of the changes
taking place this week. The arm bud that developed just last week is
already divided into shoulder segments and hand segments, which look like
tiny paddles.
Pregnancy causes many changes in your body and particularly in your
cervix. As part of this weeks physical changes you'll develop a mucous
plug, which forms in the opening of the cervical canal and seals off the
uterus for protection. Eventually you'll lose this plug as your cervix
dilates in preparation for labor. You may experience slight cramping and
spotting of blood during this week as the embryo implants firmly into the
wall of the uterus. Some women even mistake this bleeding for their missed
periods. Consult with your health care provider if you are concerned about
the amount of blood or if the cramping is particularly severe.Fun
Huh...the journey is only beginning and your body is growing daily,
continue the journey into the next week to see what miracles are taking
place in your body...
I'm Pregnant, Now What...Weeks 8-9 by Chandra Lee
The weeks are moving slowly as your baby begins developing at a faster
and faster rate,marveling over a baby's tiny fingers and toes is one of
the joys of the first day of life. Those fingers and toes are just
beginning to form this week, and the arms can even flex at the elbows and
wrists. In addition, more facial developments such as the formation of the
tip of the nose and the upper lip take place, and flaps of skin over the
eyes begin to shape into eyelids. Blood begins to flow through a
rudimentary circulatory system, and the digestive tract continues to grow,
especially the intestines. The beginnings of the buds that will develop
into your baby's sexual organs make their appearance this week, although
they have not yet developed into either male or female organs.
Symptoms such as a missed period, nausea, extreme fatigue, or tight
clothes due to the swelling of your uterus have probably prompted you to
wonder whether you're pregnant. Once you have confirmation of your
pregnancy from a home pregnancy test or blood or urine test at the
doctor's office, you should call and schedule your first prenatal visit.
Your pregnancy may be monitored by one of several health care
professionals, including an obstetrician, nurse practitioner, midwife, or
family doctor. If your pregnancy is considered high risk (for example, if
you have had multiple miscarriages, are older than 35, or have a history
of pregnancy complications), your doctor may want to see you as early as
possible and more often during the course of your pregnancy. Good prenatal
care is extremely important for the health and safe delivery of your baby,
so be sure to make prenatal appointments a top priority.
The Baby's Development
The tail at the bottom of your baby's spinal cord has shrunk and almost
disappeared by this week. In contrast, your baby's head has been growing -
it's quite large compared with the rest of the body and it curves onto the
chest. By this week, your baby measures about 0.9 to 1.2 inches and weighs
around 0.14 ounces(4 grams). The digestive tract continues to develop. The
anus is formed, and the intestines are growing longer. In addition,
internal reproductive features, such as testes and ovaries, form this
week. Your baby may make some first movements this week as his muscles
develop. If you had an ultrasound now, those movements might even be
visible, but you won't be able to feel them for several more weeks.
Another thing the ultrasound or Doppler could detect? Your baby's
heartbeat!
Your Bodys Development
In preparation for your first prenatal visit, take the time to
familiarize yourself with your family's health history and to review your
medical records. Have you had any chronic illnesses, allergies, or
surgeries? Are you currently taking any prescription medications? Does you
family have any history of genetic disorders?" Has your menstrual
cycle been regular, and have you had any past pregnancies? Do you smoke or
drink alcohol? What are your exercise habits? These are the things your
health care provider will want to discuss with you, so it will help to
have this information at your fingertips when you go. And if any reason
you are still maintaining any poor health or dietary habits, it is
imperative that they are stopped immediately to give your baby the best
possible chance for good health. Remember, while you may only carry your
child for 9 months, those 9 months, and the care that you give your baby
will affect him/her for the rest of their lives. Think of it as your
health legacy to your children...for more info on your babies development
check out the links in the authors bio.
About the Author
Chandra is a freelance contributing writer to http://www.pregnancy-resource-guide.com
and http://www.joyofpregnancy.com
online guides to pregnancy and birthing. She is also a frequent
contributor to websites on parenting and raising your children. More
articles can be viewed at the links above...