WHAT IS PREGNANCY?

PREGNANCY

The period from conception to birth.

After the egg is fertilize by a sperm and then implanted in the lining of the uterus, it develops into the placenta and embryo, and later into the fetus.

Pregnancy usually lasts 40 weeks, beginning from the first day of the woman’s last menstrual period, and is divided into three trimester, each lasting three months.

Birthing is an experiential journey.

Each birth is like a rebirth for the mother.

Letting go opens us to the special energy of birthing.

Letting go makes us trust our bodies.

It makes us live in the moment,

In the joy,

In the pain,

In the sorrow.

Letting go we are in our power,

Doing the most female of things,

Birthing our babies.

( Laing, 1994 )

How do pregnancy look like?

PREGNANCY FACTS

F A C T S

• A normal pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks and is grouped into three trimester

• Symptoms of early pregnancy include the absence of menstrual period, breast changes, tiredness, nausea, mood swings or other symptoms

• A pregnancy test measures the hormones human chorionic gonadotropin in the urine or blood.

• By the end of 37 weeks, a baby is considered full term and its organs are ready to function on their own.

• Babies at birth typically weight between 6 pounds 2 ounces and 9 pounds 2 ounces and are 19 to 21 inches long. Most full-term babiesfall within these rangers.

DARKENING OF YOUR AREOLAS

IMPLANTATION BLEEDING OR

CRAMPING

FREQUENT URINATION

FATIGUE

TENDER, SWOLLEN BREASTS

ALTERED SENSE OF

TASTE

A MISSED PERIOD

MORNING SICKNESS

FOOD CRAVING

9 SIGNS

FOOD CRAVING Do not rely on them as a sure symptoms (it maybe all in your head) but if craving are accompanied by some of the other symptoms on this list, start counting the days from your last

period.

DARKENING OF YOUR AREOLAS If your skin around your nipples get darker, you may have successfully conceived, though this may also signal of a hormonal imbalance unrelated to pregnancy or be the leftover

effect from previous pregnancy.

IMPLANTATION BLEEDING OR CRAMPING About 8 days after ovulation, they may experience implantation spotting, a slight staining of a pink or brown color, as well as some cramping. This is cause by the

burrowing into the endometrial lining.

FREQUENT URINATION Once the embryo implants and begins producing the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), she may find herself

going to the bathroom more often.

FATIGUE Feeling tired? No, make that exhausted. High level of hormone progesterone can make women feel as if they’ve run a marathon when all they’ve done is put in a day at the office. Fatigue is a

hallmark of early pregnancy.

TENDER, SWOLLEN BREASTS • If a woman pregnant, her breast will probably become

increasingly tender to the touch, similar to the way they feel before her period, only more so. Once her body grows accustomed to the hormone surge, the pain will subside.

ALTERED SENSE OF TASTE Women may notice that their sense of taste changes. Some women say they have a metallic taste in their mouth, others that may cannot stand the taste of coffee, tea or food they usually

like.

MORNING SICKNESS if a woman lucky, morning sickness won’t hit her until a few weeks after conception. But as early as a couple of days following conception, she may begins feeling nauseated and

queasy.

A MISSED PERIOD If women are usually pretty regular and their period are late, it is worth trying pregnancy test. A missed period is the surest sign of pregnancy in a woman of childbearing age who usually

has regular periods.

FIRST TRIMESTER (WEEK 1-

WEEK 12)

SECOND TRIMESTER

(WEEK 12 – WEEK 28)

THIRD TRIMESTER

(WEEK 29- WEEK 40)

STAGES

• Body undergoes many changes. Hormonal changes effect almost every organ system in your body.

• Period stopping is a clear sign of pregnancy

• Other changes may include:

FIRST TRIMESTER

Extreme tiredness

Tender, swollen breast

Mood swing

Craving for certain foods

Upset stomach

heartburn

headache

• Might need to make changes to daily routine. Fortunately, most of this discomfort will go away as pregnancy progresses.

• The symptoms like nausea and fatigue are going away.

• Abdomen will expand as the baby continues to grow.

• Before this trimester is over, the movement of the baby can be feel.

• As body changes to make room for growing baby, may have:

SECOND TRIMESTER

Body aches

stretch mark on abdomen, breast, thigh or buttock

Darkening of skin around nipple

Numb or tingling hand

Itching on abdomen, palms and sole of the feet

• Some of the same discomfort in second trimester will continue.

• Find breathing difficulty and notice have to go to the bathroom more often. This because the baby is getting bigger and it is putting more pressures on organs

• Some new body changes might notice in third trimester include:

THIRD TRIMESTER

Shortness of breath

heartburn

Trouble sleeping

Belly button may stick out

Swelling of the ankle, finger and face

DEVELOPING BABY

Baby’s brain and spinal cord have begun to form. Also the heart. Arm and leg buds appear. The baby is now an embryo and one-twenty-fifth inches long.

All major organs and external body structures have begun to form. Baby’s heart beats with a regular rhythm. The eyes have moved forward on the face and eyelids have form.

The nerve and muscle have work together and the baby can make a fist. The external sex organs show if the baby is a boy/girl. Head growth has slowed and the baby is much longer at about 3 inches long.

4 weeks 12 weeks 8 weeks

Muscle tissue and bone continue to form, creating a more complete skeleton. Skin form. The baby makes sucking motion with the mouth.

The baby is more active and covered by fine, downy hair and a waxing coating called vernix. The baby can hear and swallow.

Bone narrow begins to make blood cells. Footprint and fingerprint have form. Real hair begins to grow on baby’s head. Lung are formed but do not work. Baby sleep and wake regularly.

16 weeks 20 weeks 24 weeks

Baby’s kicks and jabs are forceful. The eye can open and close and sense changes in light. Lungs are not fully formed but practice breathing movement occur. Baby is gaining weight quickly.

The protecting waxy coating called vernix get thicker. Body fats increase and is about 16-19 inches long and weight about 6 pounds.

Baby is considered full term. Organs are function on their own. As near due date, baby may turn into head-down position for birth.

32 weeks 37-40

weeks 36 weeks

PREGNANCY DIET

Should eat differently now

pregnant ?

It is important to eat well. This

will make sure a mum-to-be gets

all the nutrients and her

developing baby needs

These include bread, pasta, rice and tomato. Choose wholegrain options

Aim for at least five portions each day

FRUITS AND

VEGETABLES

STARCHY

FOOD

Include lean meat and chicken, fish, egg and pulses. Aim for at least 2 portion of fish a week

Include milk, cheese and yoghurt which contain calcium

DAIRY FOOD

FOOD RICH IN

PROTEIN

HOW TO HANDLE DIET

?

Women tended to be dissatisfied with their body image after pregnancy than

they were before pregnancy. Whether or not their postpartum had changed.

There were also some evidence that the lifestyle changes which accompany

pregnancy and motherhood increase some women’s vulnerability to eating

disorder

( Harris et al., 1999 )

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnancy

http://womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/you-are-pregnant/stages-of-pregnancy.cfm

http://www.medicinenet.com/pregnancy/article.htm

http://www.babycentre.co.uk/preconception/activelytrying/toptensignsofpregnancy/

references

Bibliography

diet, p. a. (1999/2012).

Fiona Ford, D. B. (2001). nutrition and food science.

Laing, H. (1994). pregnancy stages.

pregnancy, y. h. (n.d.).

Journals