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Constipation and pregnancy often occur simultaneously. If you are pregnant, you probably either are currently suffering from constipation or will at some point. Unfortunately, there are a few different reasons why constipation is so very common during pregnancy.

One of the main reasons you may be dealing with constipation is that your hormone levels are different now. You have probably noticed this in many different areas of your life, such as your emotions or your skin. Your digestive tract is another part of you that may be affected!

Also, you may be eating less fiber now. If you are craving junk food, you may be getting less fiber than you should. Unfortunately, burgers, pizza, and chocolate are not usually good sources of fiber.

If you are experiencing a lot of food aversions and are nauseated, you also may have found that drinking water actually makes you feel sick. Unfortunately, you need even more water than you did before pregnancy. The lack of adequate water may also be a part of the reason for constipation.
Drink 8 glasses of water every day. If the taste of water makes you nauseated, try adding lemon or a very small amount of fruit juice to the water to give it some flavor. Replace your low-fiber snacks with high-fiber ones. There are actually many tasty high-fiber foods available on the market, such as certain granola bars and cereals. Make sure your bread is 100% whole wheat. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables every day, and try to get variety. Try adding some bran or flax seeds to your salad or cereal for added “hidden” fiber. Drink a small glass of prune juice. Move around! It doesn’t have to be intense exercise to get the bowels moving. Go for an extra walk every day and be sure to drink plenty of water. Always check with your physician before beginning an exercise program, though.

Constipation and pregnancy do not have to go hand-in-hand. At least not for long. Try to fix the problem and prevent it from happening again by making lifestyle changes, rather than immediately going to your medicine cabinet.



Posted by Christen Ferster



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To find out which foods you just cannot live without if you are dealing with constipation, go to http://www.happy-healthy-pregnancy.com/foods-that-relieve-constipation.html

There are several signs and symptoms of pregnancy that you may experience very early on in your pregnancy, before your period is ever missed. Unfortunately, these signs are not unlike the symptoms you experience before your period, making it hard to distinguish what is really going on. Determining you are pregnant before a missed period or before you take a pregnancy test is a bit like putting together the pieces of a puzzle. You may or may not experience all of the signs, but it is likely that you will experience at least one of them.

First, you may notice that your breasts are very tender. Many women experience tender breasts and associate it with PMS, but raging hormones also cause this when you first become pregnant. The breasts may not be tender, but they may be a bit swollen in the first hours and days after conception. From the moment you become pregnant your body is preparing itself for the development and birth of your child.

You may notice that you have a general lack of energy. Many women feel very tired early on in their pregnancy. They often attribute this tiredness to other things that are going on in their lives, but it is often owed to pregnancy. This fatigue is a result of changing hormones and body chemistry as well as the sheer amount of work that a woman’s body is doing when conception occurs. The best thing you can do if you experience this is to get to bed earlier and even sleep in later if you can!

Next, you may experience implantation bleeding. This is a very rare sign of pregnancy, but it does happen. A few days before your menstrual cycle should begin; you may experience a brown or slightly pink vaginal discharge. This discharge occurs when the fertilized egg implants in the uterus. If you don’t experience the implantation bleeding it’s not a sure sign that you are not pregnant, as it is only experienced in 1/3 of all pregnancies.

Perhaps the hallmark of early pregnancy signs is nausea. This is also a symptom that many women will blame on food poisoning or a bug that they must have caught at work. Because the nausea usually grows gradually, being very slight the first few days and then increasing, it’s often thought to be a stomach flu or something of the like. Nausea that doesn’t subside is often the first indication to a woman that she may be pregnant, especially if she hadn’t planned the pregnancy. Many women report that they feel achy along with the nausea; although many doctors believe that this is simply a psychological response to the mental preparation for one’s period.

A missed period is a sure sign that there is something going on, usually pregnancy. If you do not keep track of your periods or you do not have regular periods this one can take awhile to catch onto, but if the nausea doesn’t tip a woman off to the fact that she is pregnant, than the missed period usually will.

About the time that the missed period and nausea set in, other women report an increase in hunger. This is probably owed to the fact that the body is working hard to support the development of the embryo. Other women report that they have no appetite at all. This sign can swing either way and may vary from day to day depending on nausea and other pregnancy symptoms. You can read about some other less common pregnancy signs if you visit the http://www.pregnancysafe.com website.

Unfortunately there isn’t a checklist that one can be given to determine that she is pregnant. Every woman, in fact, every pregnancy has different symptoms. Some women report that they had no symptoms at all, while others realize they had all of the signs and symptoms listed here, and then some! Some times pregnancy signs are seen in hindsight, but if you are looking for them, there is a good chance you’ll catch onto what your body is telling you long before you use a pregnancy test!



Posted by John Parks



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Learn more about pregnancy at http://www.pregnancysafe.com.

Pregnancy calculator is a simple tool for those who wish to confirm whether they are pregnant or not. This is based on your menstrual period, symptoms that you have and the tests that you have done. Pregnancy normally lasts from 37-42 weeks from the first day of your last period. This is also used to figure out the estimated date and compute the likely conception date. This tool can also determine the end of the first and second trimesters, determine the weeks you’ve been pregnant, estimate fetal age, determine the weeks you are pregnant over a given date, estimate which date you’ll be pregnant the particular number of weeks, and figure out the possible conception date when you realize the birthday or delivery date.

How To Use A Pregnancy Calculator?

You can use it by simply entering the date of your last menstrual and the number of days in your menstrual cycle into the pregnancy calculator, and click on the calculate button. Normally, during menstrual cycle, there are 28 days and it can last from as little as 22 to as long as 44 days. In a detailed manner, you have to locate first a free pregnancy calculator online, and enter the date of your last menstrual period into the calculator. Some calculators let you select the number of days of your typical cycle. Second, Press the calculate button and you will get the results for your expected delivery date. Fourth, you can use the results of the calculator to determine the week of your pregnancy. This will help you to monitor the growth and development of your growing baby. And lastly, discover the date of conception.

Naegele’s Rule – Manual Pregnancy Calculator

If you want to use the “Naegele’s Rule”, you should use the date of your last period. It is a common way to calculate your expected delivery date, named after the German obstetrician who devised the method over 150 years ago. To calculate your estimated due date using Naegele’s Rule, take the first date of your last menstrual period and count back three month, followed by adding seven days to this date, and the result would be your baby’s due date. For example: your LMP is November 20, subtract three months and the result is August 20, followed by adding 7 days resulting to August 27. August 27 is your expected date of delivery. This method is suggested to women with regular 28 days cycle.

If you have a shorter day cycle such as a 24 day cycle, you will need to adjust your estimated date of delivery accordingly. With the same example mentioned above, you should subtract four days from the date given. Instead of August 27, the estimated date will be August 23.

If you have longer cycle such as a 30 day cycle, you will also need to adjust your estimated delivery date consequently. With the same example given, you should add two days to get the adjusted date of delivery. Instead of August 27, the estimated date will be August 29.

Always remember that Naegele’s Rule is not always accurate, as many babies arrive before they are due and others later than expected.



Posted by Lynn Shannon M Bailey



About the Author:

For help and information relating to pregnancy due dates visit Newborn Baby. Helping thousands of Australian Parents every month with pregnancy calculator week by week information and other baby related topics.

Many women wonder if cramping is an early sign of pregnancy. Cramping can be sign of pregnancy, and sometimes it isn’t a sign of pregnancy. Like most early signs of pregnancy, cramping can also mean something else. For most women who are not pregnant, cramping is a sign of a period coming on.

When cramping is a sign of pregnancy, it can be confusing. Many women either feel that they must not be pregnant when they feel cramping, or they feel that there must be something wrong with the pregnancy. In fact, cramping during early pregnancy is fairly common. There are many reasons why women experience cramping during this time in pregnancy.

Implantation
Some women feel cramping when the embryo is implanting itself into the lining of the uterus. This usually happens between 6 and 12 days past ovulation, or about 3 weeks after your last period began. Sometimes this cramping lasts just a brief time, and other times it may linger as it turns into cramping because the uterus is undergoing changes.

Early Pregnancy Changes
Cramping as an early sign of pregnancy may also occur because the uterus is undergoing rapid changes to accommodate the pregnancy. The uterus must stretch and grow to make room for the developing baby and placenta. There is more blood flow to the uterus and it doesn’t take long to grow from the size of a fist to the size of a grapefruit. Many women think that their period is about to arrive at any time when it is really cramping due to these changes. Once they miss their period for a few days or a week, they may decide to take a test and find out they really are pregnant.

If you chart your morning temperatures every day, you may already suspect you are pregnant if your temperatures are staying in the higher range. In this case, early cramping may either confirm your suspicions or cause you to worry about losing the baby. Cramping by itself usually isn’t a problem, and you can look at it as a good sign. If it is accompanied by bleeding, you should contact your care provider.

If cramping is accompanied by other possible signs of pregnancy like nausea, tender breasts, fatigue, sensitivity to smells, a change in vaginal discharge, and urinary frequency, congratulations! You may want to start picking out names and planning the nursery.

As you can see, cramping is often felt in early pregnancy, and may actually be an early sign. It can just be difficult to decide if it really is a sign of pregnancy, or if it is a sign your next cycle is about to start. Patience is the best way to figure out what your cramping is telling you. Many women will experience cramping from early on in their pregnancy through most of the first trimester. Ask your friends who have had babies how they felt. It will help you through the long days of second-guessing symptoms until you know for sure.



Posted by Susan Baler



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For more information on the earliest date to detect pregnancy, implantation cramping and other pregnancy related topics visit A1PregnancyInfo.com

The entire journey of pregnancy until you deliver the baby consists of the surfacing of several symptoms nausea; pregnancy constipation is one of those. Usually constipation refers to irregular bowel movements. This tends to linger through the early stages of pregnancy to the post delivery phase.

What Causes A Painful Constipation During And After Pregnancy?

The causes of constipation before and after delivery are different. Post delivery, the episiotomy or the torn rectal issue that was repaired after delivery, may lead one to experience an agonizing constipation. Women, who have undergone a caesarian delivery, may find themselves afflicted by ileus or the condition in which the bowel movements are deferred for a short period. Pregnancy constipation symptoms are caused by other factors too. Following are the reasons that cause pregnant women to complain about unnerving constipation -

Changed diet habit

Side effects of medicines

Increased stress level

Low intake of fluid

High consumption of dehydrated fluids like caffeine enriched tea, coffee, and alcohol

Insufficient amount of sleep

Some diseases induce constipation like Parkinson’s disease, stroke, diabetes, uremia, scleroderma and diseases of GI tract et all.

For relief from pregnancy constipation, consult with your physician. Besides, the medical experts’ advice, you can try some measures of your own to stabilize your bowel movement.

Tips To Cure Pregnancy Constipation

To remove pregnancy constipation symptom, take special care and follow tips provided for you in this article. Among all the remedies for constipation problems, exercise has been seen to be a constipation reliever. Avoid heavy exercises, instead expectant mothers could be advised to go for a walk. A light or moderate practice of walking can be effective in the reduction of pregnancy constipation and will lessen the bloating for pregnant women.

The second solution will be adequate consumption of fluids including water as constipation hardly takes place in the presence of sufficient hydration in the body. Some calcium and vitamin supplements, especially composed for pregnant women can be taken to obtain relief from pregnancy constipation. Some women also seek relief through stool softeners. Though these stool softeners are useful to bring relief within a short time, it is not recommended that you make a habit of use of it. You may also use homemade or natural remedies that include lower risks of side effects. You can take homemade remedies during the interval of consuming foods and drinks. Beat constipation with the help of a sensible diet and exercise program.



Posted by Asheesh Mani



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Pregnancy constipation is an early pregnancy symptom. However, most pregnant women experience constipation during later stages of pregnancy as well. Pregnancy Period offers more information on how to cope with pregnancy symptoms such as nausea, vaginal bleeding and other pregnancy related issues including home pregnancy tests, early pregnancy care, pregnancy supplies such as pregnancy pillows and maternity clothes.

Constipation in pregnancy can cause a lot of discomfort, including abdominal bloating and intestinal pain. It can even lead to hemorrhoids. Constipation in pregnancy is a common condition brought about by normal changes in the female body during pregnancy. Most pregnant women experience constipation in pregnancy. Fortunately, it is easy to alleviate constipation in pregnancy through home remedies and other natural treatments.

Causes of Constipation in Pregnancy

Constipation in pregnancy is caused primarily by the spike in progesterone levels. This hormone is responsible for relaxing a pregnant woman’s muscles and ligaments, to make them more pliable for labor. Unfortunately, progesterone also relaxes the intestines, thus causing constipation.

This relaxation of the intestines is also necessary: it slows down the digestive process, enabling the pregnant woman’s body to absorb more nutrients from the foods she eats. This helps ensure that the developing fetus will receive all the vitamins and minerals it needs. It also helps the pregnant woman to absorb more water, which she needs due to increased blood volume during pregnancy. Another cause of constipation in pregnancy is the iron in prenatal vitamins.

Natural Remedies for Constipation in Pregnancy

* More Water

You will need to drink than the usual recommendation of 8 glasses of pure water every day. Ask your health care giver how much water is best for you, depending on your weight.

* More Fiber

Eat more green leafy vegetables, whole grains and fruits. Many pregnant women swear by eating a few pieces of prunes or a serving of old-fashioned oatmeal every day. Prune or apple juice can also be effective.

* More Exercise

Exercise such as walking and yoga can help stimulate the intestines to be less sluggish. Ask a trained yoga instructor for pregnancy-safe yoga poses to relieve constipation.

* Prenatal Supplements

Ask your health caregiver for a different brand of prenatal supplements with a form of iron that does not cause constipation. You should also be getting enough calcium and magnesium – minerals that help ease constipation. Ask your doctor how you can best get the ideal amounts of these nutrients.

* Homeopathic Remedies

Homeopathic remedies are effective and safe. Consult a homeopathic practitioner about the best homeopathic remedy for constipation in pregnancy. Do not attempt to self-treat using homeopathic preparations.

Constipation is a normal but uncomfortable and inconvenient part of pregnancy. This doesn’t mean that pregnant women just have to put up with it. Nor is it necessary to take laxatives and drug-based treatments that can cause more harm than good. Many natural remedies can safely and effectively relieve constipation in pregnancy.



Posted by Alexis Rodrigo



About the Author:

Alexis Rodrigo is a certified childbirth educator and runs an information website on natural parenting. To learn more natural ways to relieve pains in pregnancy, go to http://www.naturalmomsblog.com

Pregnancy complications in women over thirty are several as age plays an important role in pregnancy. There has been a growing tendency to have children well over the age of thirty as nowadays in many families both partners are busy with their professional lives. This is also because many couples are unaware that the risks during pregnancy are higher in a women aged 30 and above. In fact these days it is not unusual for women above 40 and even 50 planning a pregnancy! It is a fact that many older women have successfully given birth to healthy babies and have had no complications, but there are a few risk factors associated with the advancing age of the expectant mother.

Factors That Affect Pregnancy In Older Women

The foremost pregnancy problem in women above 30 is getting pregnant itself! This is because fertility of women starts to decrease with age and in cases where women are over 30 they may even need fertility treatment which has the increased risk of inducing multiple pregnancies in some cases.

A few of the most common pregnancy complications in women over thirty are hypertension, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, placental abruption or placental pervia and bleeding or spotting. Women older than 35 years also have a greater risk of carrying pre-term babies, low birth weight babies and in many cases the babies may be in need of neonatal care. Older expectant women also have an increased chance of having multiple pregnancies. The incidence of fetal death during the last trimester is also high in women older than 35.

Other pregnancy complications in women over thirty include the risks of giving birth to a baby with Down’s syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. Medical tests such as amniocentesis are done to determine risks to the unborn child.

One other risk during pregnancy in older women is the effect that disease conditions of the heart, kidney, or diabetes and hypertension have on the health of the pregnant women. The chances of still birth also increase with age as does the need for a C-section.

These are just a few of the pregnancy complications in women over thirty. It gives you a general idea of some of the risk factors associated with the advancing age of the expectant mother. Remember that women from all age brackets do have their set of pregnancy complications and that despite the high risk and complications involved, many of them have ensured that they have a safe and healthy pregnancy by following the advice of their consultants and by adopting proper pregnancy planning techniques.

Most pregnancy complications in women over thirty can be prevented and the chances of a health pregnancy and birth increased by following a regime of regular nutritious meals, recommended exercise, prescribed increased intake of folic acid and other supplements and by having a positive outlook and attitude.



Posted by Saurabh K Jain



About the Author:

Chances of pregnancy complications in women over thirty are more when compared to women in their early age. Late pregnancy risks among older expectant mothers and possible pregnancy complications should be considered during pregnancy planning. Visit Pre Pregnancy Planning for more information on pregnancy, cord blood banking, maternity clothing, pregnancy stretch mark removal treatments, breastfeeding, and much more.

It is relatively common for small cysts on the ovary to be found by chance during ultrasound scan in early pregnancy. The cyst most commonly found in pregnancy is the ‘corpus luteum’ cyst. The presence of a corpus luteum cyst is normal and it will shrink as the pregnancy advances and the placenta takes over the production of essential hormones. Sometimes a simple,fluid-filled cyst is found and occasionally dermoid cysts are detected. These can contain a whole variety of tissues such as skin, sweat glands, teeth and thyroid tissue. They form because the tissue of the ovary gets ‘confused’ and manufactures the wrong type of tissue.

What treatment will you need if you have a cyst?

Simple small cysts that do not produce symptoms, including corpus luteum cysts, frequently resolve without treatment. Your doctor will usually repeat the ultrasound examination to check that the cyst is disappearing. If the cyst causes pain, is large (greater than 5 cm or 2″ in diameter) or solid then it should be removed surgically. If it is not removed, there is a risk of complications such as twisting of the cyst or the cyst rupturing. Removal is necessary as the cyst could cause not only severe pain and require emergency surgery, but also miscarriage or premature labour. So if you have an ovarian cyst requiring treatment, it is often best that the surgery be performed while you are pregnant before any complications should arise. Your doctor will advise you about this and discuss the procedure, its risks and benefits, with you.

The best time for surgical removal of a cyst in pregnancy is usually between the 15th and 20th pregnancy weeks. This will minimise the risk of miscarriage following the operation, avoid exposure of the developing foetus to anaesthetic medications in the first 12 weeks, when the baby’s organs are being formed, and also allow sufficient time for the scar on your abdomen to heal prior to labour. The most worrying complication is perhaps that the operation on the ovary might trigger a miscarriage. This is uncommon, however, but drugs are sometimes given following surgery to stop the womb contracting as surgery in the abdomen and pelvis can sometimes irritate the uterus, which in turn might lead to a miscarriage.



Posted by Mark W Greenberg



About the Author:

Mark W Greenberg is a experienced professional in pregnancy health care and also a writing editor of Pregnant and showing.

When will my baby arrive? That is a common question asked by pregnant mums and is excited to know their baby’s due date. There are so many things you must prepare for before the baby comes into the world. That is why it is so important that you will know when your baby might be making his or her first appearance into the world. You can use a pregnancy calculator to get answers.

What Is A Pregnancy Calculator?

If you haven’t been to your first prenatal check-up and you are too excited to wait, you can calculate your estimated due date on your own using the date of your last menstrual period. Using a pregnancy calculator, you can estimate your pregnancy due date. You can simply enter the date of your last menstrual period and the calculator will give you an estimated due date that you will find helpful in anticipating your newborn baby. Although this tool will not be as accurate as your doctor’s calculation, it is a very fun and interactive way to celebrate your pregnancy.

How To Use A Pregnancy Calculator?

It is simple to use this tool. First, you have to locate a free pregnancy calculator online, and enter the date of your last menstrual period into the calculator. Some calculators let you select the number of days of your typical cycle. Second, Press the calculate button and you will get the results for your due date. Fourth, you can use the results of the calculator to determine the week of your pregnancy. This will help you to monitor the growth and development of your growing baby. And lastly, discover the date of conception.

Pregnancy And Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle is the sequence of changes a woman’s body goes through to prepare for a pregnancy. In women, the fertile period starts at the menarche (first menstrual period) and ends with the menopause. About once a month, the uterus grows a new lining (endometrium) to get ready for a fertilized egg. When there is no fertilized egg to start a pregnancy, the uterus sheds its lining. This is the monthly menstrual bleeding (also called menstrual period). The menstrual cycle is from Day 1 of bleeding to Day 1 of the next time of bleeding.

In each menstrual cycle uterus releases one egg. If this egg is not fertilized, you should wait for another cycle. One of the proven ways to get pregnant is to have sex more often. Sperm lives in a woman for 24-48 hours after the intercourse, which is why using this pregnancy method, those chances of getting pregnant is very possible. However, it will only work if both man and woman have no other health problems and the woman is ovulating properly.

If you are like most women, you may think that your pregnancy started the day you conceived, or when life began the fertilization of the egg and sperm. This is not how health care providers think. Because the estimated date of conception is often hard to identify, doctors like to use the date of your last menstrual period as the start of your pregnancy.



Posted by Lynn Shannon M Bailey



About the Author:

For information about newborn babies, we can provide a lot of articles every week like pregnancy due date calendar and pregnancy week by week pictures. If you would like to get your free Parent guide visit Newborn Baby today.

Do you know how much blessing you will receive when a mum will have a new born baby? There are lots of different emotions, ranging from the feelings of being blessed, excitement and happiness. Becoming a mother is very challenging that is why it always good to know the goods and the best thing to do when you are pregnant.

Being a mother is a life changing thing, it changes your life in so many ways and in the most amazing things because you have continuously got to be there for your baby anytime. Being pregnant is a lifetime responsibility and a 24/7 job. Your love for your baby is priceless because most women really think that their baby is the most precious above all.

Signs And Symptoms Of Pregnancy

Some of the signs and symptoms include missed monthly period, Nausea: vomiting, dizziness, frequent urination, feels tired every time you moved, always sleepy, breast changes like it becomes tender. If you experience one or more of these signs and symptoms then there’s a big possibility that you are pregnant.

If you found out that you are pregnant, having a regular check-up is a good way to make sure that you are keeping your baby safe and healthy, this kind of health consultation is called prenatal care. You should have a health care provider it may be a doctor or midwife that will take care of your baby. Early and regular prenatal care will help you to keep your baby safe.

Pregnancy Week By Week

The first 12 weeks of pregnancy is called the first trimester. During this first trimester, you will experience the signs and symptoms that indicate pregnancy. During the 13th to the 27th week is called the second trimester. In the second trimester, you will experience less nausea. The baby inside your womb develops rapidly and you will notice that in the end of second trimester the baby will start moving. It is ideal for you to have proper diet and regular exercise to avoid high blood pressure and other pregnancy complications. And lastly from the 28th week until the 40th week is the most difficult trimester because in this period, you will experience back aches and difficulty of breathing. The baby inside your womb is getting bigger and heavier since you will gain weight continuously. After 38 weeks, women usually see their doctors or OB frequently every week to check their condition until delivery.

What Is A Week By Week Pregnancy Calendar?

A pregnancy calendar always helps you to monitor your pregnancy and the fetal progress and improvement taking place week by week during your pregnancy period. Each week of pregnancy includes a description of your baby’s development, as well as a comprehensive explanation of the changes taking place inside your body. This pregnancy tool also allows you to follow your baby’s development from conception to birth. A pregnancy calendar also includes tips for lifestyle considerations from a practical perspective. This is made for you to get all the pregnancy awareness you need.



Posted by Lynn Shannon M Bailey



About the Author:

For help and information about pregnancy week by week visit Newborn Baby. Helping thousands of Australian Parents every month with information about stages of pregnancy week by week and other baby related topics.