A: Missed period
Feelings of breast swelling and tenderness
Nausea sometimes w/vomiting.
"Morning sickness"
Fatigued
Abdominal enlargement (bloating)
Urinate frequently, especially at nighttime, may leak urine when coughing, sneezing, or laughing.
Deepening color of the areola (area surrounding the nipple),
Increased body temperature
Darkening of skin on the forehead, bridge of the nose, or cheekbones and a dark line going down from the middle of the central abdomen area to the pubic area.
Enlargement of the abdomen is a normal feature of the growing fetus
Q: Can I exercise?
A: Exercise during pregnancy is generally considered safe for most healthy women and can even relieve some of the discomforts of pregnancy.
Some forms of exercise that are particularly good for pregnant women are walking, swimming, stationary cycling, and yoga. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, get plenty of fluids, and don't work to the point of exhaustion.
When you reach your second and third trimesters, don't do exercises that require lying on your back, and never do workouts that pose a risk of trauma to your abdomen while pregnant.
And always be sure to check with your doctor about any exercise program before getting started. Some women -- such as those with preeclampsia, preterm labor, and hypertension or heart disease -- may be advised not to exercise or to pursue very limited physical activities while pregnant.
When you reach your second and third trimesters, don't do exercises that require lying on your back, and never do workouts that pose a risk of trauma to your abdomen while pregnant.
And always be sure to check with your doctor about any exercise program before getting started. Some women -- such as those with preeclampsia, preterm labor, and hypertension or heart disease -- may be advised not to exercise or to pursue very limited physical activities while pregnant.
Q: Can I still have sex?
A: Sex is a natural, normal part of pregnancy -- if you're having a normal pregnancy. The movement and penetration of intercourse, in itself, won't harm the baby. Your baby is protected by your abdomen and the muscular walls of the uterus. Your baby is also cushioned by the fluid in the amniotic sac.
As a general safety precaution, some doctors advise avoiding sex in the last few weeks of pregnancy, believing that hormones in semen called prostaglandins can stimulate contractions.
One exception? Women who are overdue and want to induce labor. Some doctors believe that prostaglandins in semen actually induce labor in a full-term or past-due pregnancy, since the gel used to "ripen" the cervix and induce labor also contains prostaglandins.
If you have a high-risk pregnancy -- for instance, with a complication such as preterm labor or risk of miscarriage -- your doctor may advise you to avoid sex during pregnancy.
As a general safety precaution, some doctors advise avoiding sex in the last few weeks of pregnancy, believing that hormones in semen called prostaglandins can stimulate contractions.
One exception? Women who are overdue and want to induce labor. Some doctors believe that prostaglandins in semen actually induce labor in a full-term or past-due pregnancy, since the gel used to "ripen" the cervix and induce labor also contains prostaglandins.
If you have a high-risk pregnancy -- for instance, with a complication such as preterm labor or risk of miscarriage -- your doctor may advise you to avoid sex during pregnancy.
Q: Should I take vitamins?
A: Regular multivitamins and prenatal vitamins are safe to take during pregnancy and can be helpful. Women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant should take a daily multivitamin or prenatal vitamin that contains at least 400 micrograms of folic acid. It is best to start taking these vitamins before you become pregnant or if you could become pregnant. Folic acid reduces the chance of a baby having a neural tube defect, like spina bifida, in which the spine or brain does not form the right way. Iron can help prevent a low blood count (anemia). It's important to take the vitamin dose prescribed by your doctor. Too many vitamins can harm your baby. For example, very high levels of vitamin A have been linked with severe birth defects.
Q: Do I need to change my diet/eating habits?
A: Fine-tune your diet – even if you already eat well
Almost all pregnant women need to get more protein, more of certain vitamins and minerals such as folic acid and iron, and more calories (for energy). If your diet is poor to begin with, making the transition to eating nutritious meals is one of the best things you can do for your baby's health.
But eating better doesn't mean eating more – or rather, not much more. If you start off at a healthy weight, you need no extra calories during the first trimester, about 300 extra calories a day in the second trimester, and about 450 extra calories a day in the third trimester. If you're overweight or underweight, you'll need more or less than this, depending on your weight gain goal.
It's easier than you think to get those extra calories: Find out the best ways to eat for two.
Steer clear of raw seafood (such as oysters or uncooked sushi), unpasteurized milk and cheese made from unpasteurized milk soft cheeses, such as Brie or Camembert, and Mexican cheeses like queso blanco and panela), pâté, and raw and undercooked meat and poultry. All are possible sources of bacteria that can harm an unborn child.
Learn more about how to avoid listeriosis, a food-borne illness that's particularly dangerous during pregnancy.
Nearly all fish contain traces of methylmercury, a metal believed to be harmful in high doses to the growing brains of fetuses and young children. The FDA recommends limiting your consumption of fish to about 12 ounces a week, the equivalent of about two servings.
Read more about eating fish during pregnancy and find answers to all your food safety questions.
You'll need to give up that cocktail after work, too. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause physical defects, learning disabilities, and emotional problems in children, so many experts recommend that you give up alcohol for your entire pregnancy.
For nonalcoholic alternatives, see our list of the best virgin drinks.
Consider cutting back or skipping caffeinated beverages. That may be a snap if you're suddenly revolted by the stuff during your first trimester. If you're still craving it, cut back very gradually to avoid side effects such as headaches.
Some studies suggest that women who consume 200 or more milligrams (mg) of caffeine per day (about one 12-ounce cup) are twice as likely to miscarry as women who consume no caffeine. Large amounts of caffeine have also been linked to slightly lower birth weight and even stillbirth.
In addition to coffee, caffeine is found in teas, colas, other soft drinks, cocoa, and chocolate. Switch to decaffeinated brews and sodas instead.
Better still, replace these nutritional losers with healthier choices such as skim milk, 100 percent fruit juice, or water with a squeeze of lemon. A mug of flavored steamed milk can stand in for your morning latte.
A: Most people just estimate. The method typically used by healthcare providers is simply to count from the first day of your last period. For women with a menstrual cycle of average length, that day is usually about two weeks before conception, which explains why pregnancies are said to last 40 weeks. This method doesn't take into account how long your menstrual cycle actually is or when you think you might have conceived.
Q: When can I find out the sex?
A: By 18 to 20 weeks, your practitioner or technician may be able to identify your baby's sex during an ultrasound -- if your baby cooperates! He or she has to be in a position that allows the technician to see the baby's genitals. And even if the technician gets a good view of the baby's genital area, the image may not be clear.
The more experienced the sonographer and the higher the quality of the sonogram machine, the more likely you are to get an accurate assessment. But even the best sonographers can't usually guarantee whether it's a girl or a boy.
The more experienced the sonographer and the higher the quality of the sonogram machine, the more likely you are to get an accurate assessment. But even the best sonographers can't usually guarantee whether it's a girl or a boy.
Q: What over the counter drugs are ok?
A: 10 over-the-counter drugs to avoid during pregnancy
Some of the best-known medicines from the local drugstore can be harmful to pregnant women, yet many mothers-to-be regularly take them. Studies show that, on average, women take between one and four medications during pregnancy, not including vitamins or minerals. An estimated 60 percent of pregnant women use over-the-counter drugs, not always with physician oversight.
To help you and your doctor make more-informed choices about which medications to take, we've identified 10 commonly used ingredients found in OTC drugs that are risky for pregnant women, and offer safer alternatives. For example, moms-to-be should not take castor oil and should avoid aspirin during all stages of pregnancy. During the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, they should use the following products with caution and avoid them entirely during their third trimester: bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol), chlorpheniramine (Actified, Chlor-Trimeton, and many other combination cold medicines), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve).
When choosing an OTC medicine, you'll need to be a careful label reader since brand names can be deceiving. For example, while acetaminophen (Tylenol) is considered relatively safe for use in pregnancy, some combination products that include the brand name "Tylenol," such as Tylenol Allergy Sinus Maximum Strength, contain chlorpheniramine.
Most medicines approved by the Food and Drug Administration are not tested on pregnant women because of ethical concerns. In fact, there is no pregnancy safety data for more than 80 percent of prescription and OTC drugs, making it extremely difficult for doctors and pharmacists to provide guidance. Currently, the FDA uses a rating system for more than 270 active ingredients in prescription and OTC drugs on a scale of A, B, C, D, and X. But in the coming months the FDA will no longer use that rating scale and instead will provide study data on how drugs affect pregnancy, lactation, and fetus development.
Pregnant women and women considering pregnancy should approach the use of all drugs (OTC and prescription) and dietary supplements with caution and use them only after discussion with their physician.
Q: Can I still drink caffeine/alcohol?
A: You'll need to give up that cocktail after work, too. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause physical defects, learning disabilities, and emotional problems in children, so many experts recommend that you give up alcohol for your entire pregnancy.
For nonalcoholic alternatives, see our list of the best virgin drinks.
Consider cutting back or skipping caffeinated beverages. That may be a snap if you're suddenly revolted by the stuff during your first trimester. If you're still craving it, cut back very gradually to avoid side effects such as headaches.
Some studies suggest that women who consume 200 or more milligrams (mg) of caffeine per day (about one 12-ounce cup) are twice as likely to miscarry as women who consume no caffeine. Large amounts of caffeine have also been linked to slightly lower birth weight and even stillbirth.
In addition to coffee, caffeine is found in teas, colas, other soft drinks, cocoa, and chocolate. Switch to decaffeinated brews and sodas instead.
Better still, replace these nutritional losers with healthier choices such as skim milk, 100 percent fruit juice, or water with a squeeze of lemon. A mug of flavored steamed milk can stand in for your morning latte.
Q: How long will it take for my stomach to go back to normal?
A: We've all heard stories of new moms whose tummies are tight and flat immediately after giving birth. Although this does happen, it's rare. For most women it takes months to get rid of the "pregnancy pouch" — and sometimes it never goes away.
Patience is key. It took nine months for your abdomen to stretch to accommodate a full-term baby, so it makes sense that it would take that long or longer to tighten back up.
The speed and degree of this transition depends largely on your normal body size, how much weight you gained during pregnancy, how active you are, and your genes. Women who gained less than 30 pounds and exercised regularly during pregnancy, who breastfeed, and who have had only one child are more likely to slim down quickly.
If you're not breastfeeding, you'll need to watch how much you're eating in order to lose pregnancy weight. You need fewer calories now that you're not pregnant. (See our "Diet for Healthy Post-Baby Weight Loss" and our "Diet for a Healthy Breastfeeding Mom."
Patience is key. It took nine months for your abdomen to stretch to accommodate a full-term baby, so it makes sense that it would take that long or longer to tighten back up.
The speed and degree of this transition depends largely on your normal body size, how much weight you gained during pregnancy, how active you are, and your genes. Women who gained less than 30 pounds and exercised regularly during pregnancy, who breastfeed, and who have had only one child are more likely to slim down quickly.
If you're not breastfeeding, you'll need to watch how much you're eating in order to lose pregnancy weight. You need fewer calories now that you're not pregnant. (See our "Diet for Healthy Post-Baby Weight Loss" and our "Diet for a Healthy Breastfeeding Mom."
Resources:
Conrad Stoppler, Melissa, MD (2008, January 27). What are Pregnancy symptoms? Retrieved October 7, 2010 from WebMD Answers:
Nihira, Mikia A., MD (2008, December 19). How can I safely exercise while pregnant? Retrieved October 7, 2010 from Web MD Answers:
Hoffman, Matthew, MD (2008, October 7). Is sex during pregnancy safe? Retrieved October 7, 2010 from Web MD Answers:
HHS, (2008, May 14). Are vitamins safe for me while I am pregnant? Retrieved October 7, 2010 from Web MD Answers:
BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board (2009, November). Seven Priniciples of eating well during pregnancy. Retrieved October 7, 2010 from Baby Center:
The Baby Center Editorial Team. How is pregnancy due date calculated? Retrieved October 7, 2010 from Baby Center:
Haratz-Rubinstein, Natan. Could the sonographer be wrong about my baby's sex? Retrieved October 7, 2010 from Baby Center:
Consumer Reports (2008, October). 10 OTC drugs to avoid. Retrieved October 7, 2010 from Health.org:
Rauch, Catherine Ann (2006, October). Your post-baby belly: Why it's changed and how to tone it. Retrieved October 7, 2010 from BabyCenter:
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