Pregnancy

For some women there is no trying to conceive, without any extra thought or preparation on their parts they naturally become pregnant. Some women on the other hand have to put in the hard work before they can reap the rewards.

Quitting drinking and smoking, taking vitamins, losing weight, increasing physical activity, reducing caffeine intake and having an active sex life with their partner, can help a woman more likely to get pregnant.

To help with conception, women can track when their ovulating or use over-the-counter ovulation kits to test urine for the best time to have sex.

Women over 35, those who have reason to suspect fertility issues or younger women who have already been trying for over a year can consult an infertility doctor to find solutions on how to conceive.

Once a woman becomes pregnant, a number of changes begin to occur in her body. As a pregnancy progresses over 9 months a pregnant woman and her unborn fetus go through three trimesters of around 12 weeks each. The changes that occur during the first trimester may include nausea and vomiting, increasing urination, tenderness and swelling of the breast, mood swings, feeling tired and cravings.

In the first trimester, your baby will start as a mass of cells about the size of a small raspberry. By the time the first trimester ends limbs will form and your babies' organ and heartbeat have developed.

During the second trimester a pregnant woman will notice her stomach has expanded, however, for many women this stage of pregnancy is more enjoyable than during the first trimester. Stretch marks, body aches, swelling ankles and additional weight gain happen in the second trimester. By the end of the second trimester, the sex of the baby can be determined, bones start to develop and fingernails and hair are growing.

In the final trimester, women may notice difficulty breathing thanks to the increasing pressure the baby is placing on her organs. Hemorrhoids, varicose veins, increases in breast size and trouble sleeping may occur. The baby may also drop lower in the abdomen, false labor pains can occur and a woman's breast may start producing a special form of milk called colostrum.

For your baby a lot of changes occur also: they rapidly gain weight; open their eyes; kick; can sense light; and their bodies fully develop and are ready to be born.

During birth, some risks can occur for the baby and the mother. Babies may be born with low birth weight.  This describes babies weighing 3 pounds, 4 ounces or less. This is usually an occurrence for babies born prematurely or those of multiple births. Babies with low birth weight will need greater attention to stay warm, fight infection and eat.

Labor can also progress for too long and result in increased risk of infection for mother and baby. Large losses of blood and placenta issues can also be a problem. With advances in modern medicine and taking care of your health and the baby during the pregnancy, most pregnancy complications are not a concern.

Pregnancy will leave you with permanent changes in your body including, stretch marks on the abdomen and breast, nipple changes, loose skin and excess weight that can take many more months to shed.

However, for most women the rewards far outweigh these physical changes. Besides being blessed with a beautiful child, mothers are blessed with a better appreciation and respect for their body and its ability to create life. As well as a greater empathy towards others, the ability to multi-task and greater capacity to love and appreciate all the joys of life.