Posts Tagged ‘signs’

So, you want to become pregnant! Congratulations on yours and your partner’s decision. I am sure that the two of you have many questions and concerns regarding your decision to become parents. First off, RELAX! And when I say RELAX, I mean just that. Conceiving a healthy baby encompasses many intricate details. Of course the first step is to conceive. Sounds easy huh? Well for most couples it is. But for some, nature takes a little longer. Some women have a hard time distinguishing when they are ovulating and when they are not. And maybe for good reason! We’ll get into reasons why in another article. 

This article is about learning how to read your body’s signs and signals to pregnancy. I can’t tell you how important that is for conceiving and conceiving a healthy baby. There are certain tools that can make it easier for you to determine what your body is trying to tell you. We will discuss them throughout this article as well. Ladies, our bodies are like a fine piece of machinery. Every intricate part of that machine, including all the way down to every nut and bolt has a precise job. A good mechanic understands how that machine works and knows how to read the signs and signals to make a proper diagnosis and fix the problem. If just one part of that machine is not working properly, the whole precision for that machine will be off or will possibly shut down completely. Our bodies are the same way! So let’s get started. 

The first thing that women should do is start keeping good and ACURATE records of her cycle. For some of you who are detailed oriented, this will be a breeze. What I mean by this, is to invest in some tools (as mentioned earlier in the article) that will make it easier for you to recognize the changes in your body and when they occur. Such tools include a simple calendar or daily planner that is only used by you, preferably a daily planner so that you can make notes. Another good and very helpful tool is a fertility cart or ovulation chart. They both are one in the same. One reason I recommend having a planner as well as fertility chart is because if you lose one, more than likely you will have the other. But even more so, if you are on a special diet or taking certain fertility medications you can accurately record your activity. Sometimes even having a personal diary and writing down your thoughts and feelings can help with the anxiety you maybe feeling. The purpose of the fertility chart is to record your body’s activity such as when you started and completed your period, body temperature as well as a few other things, depending on how sophisticated your chart is. Writing things down on a daily basis and studying what changes take place and when over a few months will help you see what your body’s pattern is. 

Another sign that you need to pay attention to are the changes to your cervical mucus. Your mucus will change dramatically over the course of your monthly cycle. As you approach ovulation, your mucus will be clear instead of cloudy and with more elasticity (stringy) instead of flaky. For most women, right after ovulation they will see a significant decrease in discharge (meaning their cervical mucus). 

Now let’s talk about your body’s temperature. As women get closer to ovulation her temperature will suddenly rise at least .2 degrees and will last about three days. I recommend that you invest in basal thermometer from your local drugstore or Wal-Mart that can be purchased very inexpensively. Each morning as you awaken and before your feet hit the ground, take your temperature and record it in your planner or fertility chart. Again over the course of a month you will begin to see a pattern. 

As ovulation gets closer some women will also experience tender breast, mood swings, headaches, swelling and sudden sharp pains in the abdomen. All of these are signs that ovulation is approaching. 

For more in depth information on reading your body’s signs and signals to pregnancy, please visit our site below.

Charting the signs of your menstrual cycle is a good way to keep in touch with your body, your feelings, and your health. It is also a good way to predict your days of menstruation in advance, even if your menstrual cycles are irregular, and to know the most fertile times if you are hoping to conceive.

Cervical Mucus
The sign that is easiest to observe is the cervical mucus, since it is noticed in the course of daily activity. Fertile type mucus is produced by the cervix during the days when the ova are maturing and preparing for ovulation. This mucus is not only an indicator of fertility, it is essential for fertility. Cervical mucus nourishes the sperm, protects them from the natural acidity of the vagina, and guides them toward the ovum. Following is a simple way to observe and chart your fertile type mucus.

Pay attention to how you feel as you go about your daily activities. Just as you have learned to notice a certain wetness at menstruation, you will begin to notice a second wet time, but later in the cycle, and without bleeding. The second wet time is caused by your fertile type mucus.

Each time you go to the bathroom, wipe with toilet paper both before and after you use the toilet, noticing: a) the sensation you feel as you wipe with toilet paper, b) what is on the toilet paper. Chart what you see and what you feel in any way that makes sense to you.

1) Menstruation: mark the days of bleeding in some way, such as coloring the calendar day red.
2) Nothing: if you don’t see or feel anything outside your vagina, you can leave the calendar blank on those days.
3) Something: but if you see or feel something – anything – such as pasty or sticky mucus, or a feeling of wetness – draw something, such as a raindrop, on these days.
4) Slippery something: If the pasty or sticky mucus turns to slippery mucus or a slippery feeling, color the raindrop dark to indicate the slippery wetness.

After a few slippery wet days, the mucus may disappear or return to sticky or pasty. When it does, begin to count the days until menstruation arrives. In a normal fertile cycle, the time between the last day of slippery mucus or slippery feeling and the next menstruation is between 11-16 days. You will become quite accurate about your predictions after you chart for about three cycles.

The mucus is your most fertile time, since fertile type is produced during the days leading up to and including ovulation. If you are trying to conceive, use the wet, slippery days for sexual relations. But don’t try to use this information for birth control unless you seek out a qualified teacher of fertility awareness or natural family planning.

When the fertile mucus is present, we are under the influence of the hormone estrogen. We may feel courageous and loving. Men who bored us last week may suddenly appear interesting and attractive. Like Mother Earth in her rainy season, we are full of potential. We may also be interested in sexual activity. These emotions and reactions are caused by the hormone estrogen, which is getting us ready to have a baby, whether or not we want one! These hormonal swings are a predictable part of our cycle that must be safely navigated by all women in their reproductive years.

After ovulation, under the influence of the hormone progesterone, we may feel somewhat deflated compared to our wet, fertile time. Like Mother Earth in her dry time, we may feel quiet, with less energy. When menstrual bleeding begins, both estrogen and progesterone are at low levels. We may feel sensitive, solitary, or inward. Getting to know the feelings that go along with your hormonal cycle can give you a new and sensitive relationship with yourself.

Dark red menstruation for about three days probably indicates that hormones are high enough to build a good uterine lining and nourish a fetus in the event of conception. However, more than three days of menstruation can be exhausting. If your bleeding is excessive, try drinking raspberry leaf tea on a regular basis.

Three to five days of wet, slippery mucus 11-14 days before the next menstruation is a probable indicator of normal ovulation and a fertile cycle. Cycles are often 28-30 days from the first day of bleeding to the first day of the bleeding of the next menstruation. However, irregular cycles do not indicate infertility. If the time between the last day of slippery mucus and the next menstruation is 11-16 days, the cycle is probably fertile. Even if one cycle is not fertile, the next may well be fertile. Much depends on the stress we may be feeling. Keeping a chart allows us to keep all things in perspective, and feel our own harmony with all the cycles of nature.

Basal Body Temperature
If you are not sure you are ovulating, you can take your temperature. The body’s resting temperature increases four-tenths of a degree Fahrenheit or two-tenths of a degree Centigrade under the influence of progesterone at ovulation. Observing this sign involves taking your temperature at the same time each morning before rising. (This is not as hard as it sounds. It takes less than two minutes and you can go back to sleep if you want.)

To observe your temperature rise, buy a BD brand digital basal thermometer. This brand will give you a consistent and accurate reading. Other high quality brands of digital basal thermometers are also probably accurate, but have not been tested for fertility awareness. Make sure the battery is good. (You can replace it.) An ordinary clinical thermometer is not accurate enough for fertility awareness. Nor is the “ear thermometer” (tympanic thermometer).

Take your temperature every day immediately upon waking, before 7:30 a.m. The body’s rhythms (circadian rhythms) fluctuate over a 24-hour period. Your temperature is lowest in the early morning and highest in the afternoon. Fluctuations are greater after 7:30 a.m. If you go to bed before midnight and wake up before 7:30 a.m., you will get the clearest temperature readings.

If it is not convenient to take your temperature immediately upon waking, you may take it during light morning activity. For example, if you need to go to the bathroom, you may take your temperature while getting up and using the toilet. But be consistent about the circumstances under which you take your temperature. If you take it during light morning activity, take it that way every morning. Don’t take it sometimes before getting up and at other times during light morning activity. If you have sexual relations, take your temperature before.

Many women find that the digital thermometers require such a short time to use that it is easy to take their temperature before getting up. Take your temperature by mouth. Under arm and ear temperatures are not accurate enough for family planning purposes. The thermometer will beep softly several times before beginning to beep slightly louder and repeatedly. Keep the thermometer under your tongue until the louder, repeated beeps begin. You can read and chart your temperature as soon as is convenient after taking it. Your thermometer has a recall button that allows you to read the last temperature taken. Be sure to wash your thermometer after each use.

Your Temperature Graph
Put a dot on a graph on the spot corresponding to each day’s temperature. Join the temperature dots of consecutive days. If you do not take your temperature one day, do not join the dots across that day. Also write out the temperature numerically, to guard against errors in graphing.

Interpreting Your Chart
1) Breathe and relax. Study your chart.
2) Can you find six low temperatures during the fertile mucus days of your cycle? (You can chart your mucus and menstruation on the same graph paper.)
3) Draw a horizontal line at the highest of the six low temperatures. This is your low temperature line.
4) Draw another horizontal line four-tenths of a degree F. or two-tenths of a degree C. above your low temperature line. This is your full thermal shift line.
5) Can you find three high temperatures after the low temperatures? All of the high temperatures must be above the low temperature line. At least the third high temperature must be at or above the full thermal shift line.
6) This temperature pattern of low and high temperatures is called a biphasic pattern with a full thermal shift. A biphasic pattern with a full thermal shift confirms that you really did ovulate. A smaller, but sustained temperature rise also probably indicates ovulation.

If you are hoping to become pregnant, please pay close attention to nutrition. Look for unprocessed foods grown without chemicals. Exercise in moderation. Get plenty of rest. Avoid stress. Think happy thoughts. Pray for the child you desire, and begin sending your child love, now. Heal any hurtful feelings between you and your mate, and between you both and your parents. Your mate should avoid hot shower or baths and tight clothing, both of which lower sperm count.To increase your chances of conception, use the wet, slippery days for sexual relations.

If you have observed a biphasic pattern with a full thermal shift, and it is now 18 days since your last day of slippery, wet mucus, and menstruation has not arrived, you may feel confident that you have conceived.

Congratulations and blessings!

According to the United States Census Bureau well over 10,657 babies are born per day, that’s a lot of babies! If you’re a woman who is pregnant or think she might be pregnant, chances are you will want to know all the information you possibly can, either before you have your baby or while you’re pregnant. Or maybe you don’t even know that you’re pregnant and you’re looking for early signs of pregnancy. There are several million sites online with information pertaining to all your questions, worries, or concerns.

For example, if you’re looking for early signs of pregnancy. You can simply look online for specific words such as symptoms of pregnancy or early signs of pregnancy, and you might find information such as this:

Morning sickness

Nausea

Breast tenderness

Fatigue

Frequent urination

Food Aversions (food to NOT eat while pregnant!)

Looks like you a lot to look forward to! Just kidding! If you’re looking for information on pregnancy and diabetes, pregnancy spotting, pregnancy weight gain, prenatal, or things like smoking and being pregnant. You can find all this information online. Another great thing to look for online is foods to avoid during pregnancy. Obviously if you’re a new mother you probably wouldn’t know things like this:

Cut back on caffeine

No unpasteurized milk

No fish or sushi

No soft cheese such as brie, goat, feta, Stilton etc

Keep away from things that have raw eggs in them.

You can also find other information online such as baby names, Lamaze classes in your area, as well as other information you may need before or after the baby is born. If you’re searching for a few baby name sites online, I suggest taking a look at babynames, babyhold, or pregnancyweekly. If you’re looking for Lamaze classes why not try Lamaze dot org its the official Lamaze website. Not only can you find Lamaze classes locally. But you can also find other information on other classes such as aerobic, water aerobic and more! Just as an FYI, hospitals also have this information as well as Lamaze classes! Or for more information, consult your local search engine for topics about pregnancy.

And finally the last thing two things I suggest, ask people that you know, you’d be surprised how much your mom, friends, or other family members know about being pregnant, or pregnancy, especially if they have children or are pregnant as well. Or check out books your doctor might refer you to, or just check in stores like Barnes and Noble for books about being pregnant, or pregnancy in general.

Want to get pregnant but are not sure of your most fertile period? Well, you can use an ovulation calendar to keep track of the days when you are most likely to conceive. By doing so, you can actually plan your pregnancy instead of leaving everything to chance.

Ovulation occurs when a mature egg is released from the ovary, pushed down the fallopian tube, and is available to be fertilized. In lay terms, it is the time you are all set to conceive a baby. An ovulation calendar helps women in understanding the signs of ovulation and preparing ahead for their pregnancy. The following are some of the common signs of ovulation.

Day Count

A woman’s period usually starts 14 days after ovulation. For most women, the number of days between ovulation and the start of the next period is quite consistent. However, the number of days between the start of the period and the next ovulation changes between most of the women. In fact, this number can be different for every month.

Keeping a count of days is regarded as the easiest method of finding the right fertility time in your ovulation calendar. For women having a regular cycle, this method is quite effective for finding ovulation. If you have a perfect 30-day cycle, you will ovulate on Day 16, taking the first day of the next period as Day 1.

Basal Body Temperature
Due to hormonal changes, a woman’s body temperature increases directly after ovulation takes place. During the follicular phase, the hormone Estrogen assists in facilitating the production of an egg in the ovaries. However, after ovulation, a woman’s body witnesses a dramatic rise in progesterone, the reproductive hormone. This rise in progesterone levels leads to an increase in body temperature.

Cervical Mucus
The mucus produced by the lining of a woman’s cervix and cervical canal is known as Cervical Mucus. It is one of the vital signs of ovulation in your ovulation calendar. In the early part of the pre-ovulatory phase, a number of women experience a time of dryness or limited CM. As the cycle continues, the cervical mucus becomes cloudy and sticky. Just before and during ovulation, the mucus is abundant and becomes clear and slippery.

These signs of ovulation are quite easy to identify, even without assistance from a medical practitioner. If you are planning to conceive in the near future, it is best to keep a track of your fertility through an ovulation calendar. Kid Spot, a leading online portal on pregnancy, provides detailed information on ovulation and how women can actually determine when they are likely to get pregnant.

Week 7 of pregnancy is characterized by several signs and symptoms. Besides the ususal symptoms of morning sickness or feelings of nausea you may experience fatigue, swollen breasts, darkening of areolas (the skin around your nipples), headache, backache, frequent urination, possible cravings for unusual food.

In case you are wondering during week 7 pregnancy if you might have twins or multiples, there are some signs and  symptoms that may help you to find out. Faster rate of weight gain, size of abdomen and increased itching on its surface, a feeling of heaviness in the pelvis or vagina, greater tendency to retain water, varicose veins, increased fatigue.

Can a doctor see twins in week 7 pregnancy? In order to do a screening you have to take an ultrasound and blood test. And these tests are usually done during 11 – 14 week of pregnancy. The blood test can help to confirm if you are going to have twins or multiples.

You are not showing at week 7 pregnancy. You may have a small bulge in belly area but this is generally not apparent at 7 weeks pregnant. Before you know it your belly will be as big as a watermelon, so enjoy the last few weeks that you can still see your toes!

Can you believe your baby has doubled in size since last week? Your baby is about 1/3 of an inch in length (like a small bean or a large blueberry). The embryo is now beginning to develop rapidly.

During week 7 pregnancy, your baby’s facial features are starting to pop, with a visible mouth and tongue forming. The lenses of the eyes are forming. The middle portion of the ears continue to develop. Your baby’s brain is developing rapidly and limbs and facial features are forming. He/She is looking more human on a daily basis.