One of the oldest myths about signs of pregnancy is that pregnant mothers-to-be crave pickles and ice cream.
You may experience some days in which you crave certain foods. The specific reason for this is not known.
It is thought to be related to all the pregnancy hormones in your system. Often this will pass after the first three months of pregnancy. As long as you make sure you are eating all the important nutrients needed for you and your baby, indulging in some of your cravings every now and then is ok.
Occasionally, another one of the signs of pregnancy is when women get strange cravings for things that are not food at all. This condition is called Pica, and it is thought to be due to an iron deficiency.
Some women report craving dirt, clay, laundry detergent, and ice chips. If you have any cravings for these items, it is important to call your doctor immediately – you may have severe anemia, which would require you to take an iron supplement.
Week 12:
From head to rump, the fetus measures 2.4 to 2.75 inches. Its tiny fingers and toes have nails. Some hair is also seen at this stage. By now, almost all of the baby's organs and structures have formed and will continue to grow until delivery.
The genitalia begin to show some changes in gender. The kidneys have begun to produce urine, and amniotic fluid starts to accumulate, helping your baby stay afloat.
Pregnancy Tip:
As one of the signs of pregnancy is food cravings, some pregnant women urge others to give into an unwholesome craving the first-time around because it will only intensify if you don't. So if Barbeque potato chips are calling you, buy a small bag. The longer you put it off, the greater the chance you'll end up devouring a huge bag.Cravings are a common sign of pregnancy.
The Golden Period
Week 13:
Your baby now weighs approximately 0.5 to 0.7 ounces and measures 3 inches long. At first, the eyes on the fetus are on the sides, but in this week they move to the front and appear closer together (to begin the makings of the face). Also in this week, the ears move to the proper position on the sides of the head.
For most women, this week begins what is sometimes referred to as the "golden period," when the risk of miscarriage has decreased -- though not disappeared entirely -- and you can feel comfortable sharing your pregnancy news with others.
Likewise, the fatigue, nausea, and other first-trimester signs of pregnancy may disappear, your sleeping should improve, and you might even experience a surge of energy. In general, you might feel more like the "old" you.
Sometime around week 10 to 12, your doctor may have listened to the baby's heartbeat using Doppler ultrasound, and, in another few weeks, you might start feeling little flurries inside. Those butterfly-like sensations are the baby, moving for the first time! This is a great sign of pregnancy that your baby is alive and well!
Keep in mind that not all women at this point are without pregnancy symptoms or signs of pregnancy. There is, in fact, a whole new set of issues, which include aches and pains, along with potential problems and complications that may set in.
Other signs of pregnancy you might suffer from are back, stomach, leg cramps,and heartburn. Your skin may act strangely, and you might have bouts of constipation. Look on the bright side-you're 1/3 of the way there!
Pregnancy Tip:
If you find yourself constantly unzipping and unbuttoning your normal-sized clothes, you might want to bring out the maternity wear at last!
The fetus measures 4.3-4.6 inches from top of head to behind and weighs about 2.8 ounces. A common sign of pregnancy is you might actually start to feel it move as its bones begin to harden and it flails about frequently.
Its legs are now longer than its arms, fingers and toenails are constantly growing and are now well formed. If you're eager to find out the gender and you're due for an ultrasound, you may be in luck -- as long as the baby cooperates.
Amniocentesis
What is it? An amniocentesis, more often referred to as amnio, is a procedure in which a needle is inserted into a woman's abdomen to remove a small amount of amniotic fluid from the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus.
An ultrasound is used to guide the needle away from the fetus. Since the fluid and the fetus are formed from the same cells and have the same genetic makeup, the fluid undergoes genetic analysis and biochemical tests in a lab.
What is the purpose of the test? One of the most common uses of the amnio is to identify genetic or chromosomal abnormalities in the baby such as Down syndrome. There are no signs of pregnancy that can detect abnormalities like an amnio can. It can detect conditions including: genetic disorders known to run in the family, neural tube defects such as anencephaly and spina bifida, Rh disease, and fetal lung assessment (the last two are done during the last half of the pregnancy).
Who takes the test? Between 80% to 90% of all amnios are done when women are over 35 years of age or will turn 35 before their due date. It is also done if the results of the triple screen test - MSAFP, estriol, and/or hCG - are abnormal.
When is the test taken? If the amnio is taken for chromosome analysis or molecular DNA analysis, it is typically performed between 16 and 18 weeks of pregnancy. In some cases, however, the test may be done up to a month earlier. If it is to assess fetal lungs, it may be taken shortly before delivery.
How safe is it? The risk of an amnio causing a miscarriage ranges from 1 in 200 to 1 in 400. When it does happen, it is usually because of an infection in the uterus, the water breaking, or labor being induced prematurely.
While the numbers are small, the test should be done only when the benefits outweigh the risks, even absent any abnormal signs of pregnancy.
Pregnancy Tip:
Many pregnant women get their best sleep during the second trimester. One of the signs of pregnancy during this period is that your breasts are no longer tender and some of the first-trimester aches and pains have dissapeared.
So before you really get heavy and uncomfortable next trimester, try and stock up on getting some extra sleep. After you have the baby, you'll have many nights when you may only get 3 hours sleep - if that, so prepare yourself now.
You Start to Really Show
Week 19:
This week, your baby-to-be weighs in at an impressive 7.5 - 8 ounces and measures 6 inches in length. Permanent teeth are taking shape.
At this stage the biggest sign of pregnancy is that your belly is definitely getting bigger as your uterus is growing to make room for the baby! You may consider looking into childbirth classes now so that you can start learning and practicing some breathing exercises.
Another sign of pregnancy is that you may be starting to feel a little dizzy at times. Although it can feel awkward at times, you have to get used to your center of balance changing. The dizziness is a result of low blood pressure that may occur during pregnancy from all the changes that are going on inside your body.
Additionally, it can happen from standing up too fast and the blood leaves your brain quickly. It is best to get out of bed by sitting up and dangling your legs off the side first, then standing up.
Week 22:
Your fetus weighs about 12-13 ounces and measures 7.5-8 inches in length. Your baby is really starting to look like a baby now! Your baby has complete eyebrows and eyelids now.
Pregnancy Tip:
Getting enough iron can be tricky for your system. To make sure that your body absorbs enough of this important mineral, take your iron pills with your morning OJ or other vitamin C-rich foods.
Getting enough Iron can be tricky for your system. To make sure that your body absorbs enough of this important mineral, take your iron pills with your morning OJ or other vitamin C-rich foods.
Do not drink any caffeine, which blocks iron absorption. If your iron supplement makes you constipated, talk to your doctor about safe ways to loosen things up.
Just remember, it is a normal sign of pregnancy to get anemic when pregnant. You have another trimester to go, so just hang on -it gets -well, I wish I could say it gets better, but...
Your Baby Can Hear Now
Week 26:
Your baby weighs approximately 1.5 - 2.0 pounds and measures 9.2 inches from head to bottom. A doctor can check if your baby is measuring up, and it is a healthy pregnancy sign when it is within the correct ranges.
At this point, the baby's lungs and brain are much more developed than before. The baby has eyelashes and is able to recognize light from dark.
Your baby can hear you as well as outside noises. A pregnancy tip is to play classical or soothing music now as your baby can hear it. Some parents even talk to their children at this time, to familiarize he/she to their voices!
Pregnancy Tip:
Take a bath with some aromatherapy drops or bath gel and turn off the ringer on the phone. Once you're safely in the tub, put your feet up and let the energy drain back into your legs. Taking a bath before bed may be a help to getting a good night's sleep.
