Healthy Pregnancy - Stages of Development

Your pregnancy is generally about 40 weeks in length, calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP) and is referred to in terms of three periods (trimesters) of foetal development. There are three basic pregnancy stages that potential moms to be should be aware of. In order, they're the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Each one is very different, and the mother's body will change a lot from the beginning to the end of each one. For example, in the first trimester in particular the mother experiences a lot of changes. From tiredness to breast changes to nausea and vomiting, they may not be as pleasant as one would hope. It turns out, that pregnant glow that some women have might be related to hot flashes! Also, by the end of the first trimester the baby will have grown from a cluster of cells to having a heartbeat, reflexes and the ability to move its tiny little limbs!

The second trimester is one of the easier pregnancy stages. The mother will have to start buying maternity clothes as the baby will start to show. The mother might also start having troubles sleeping. On the baby end of things, it will go from being the size of a cherry to around ten inches in length. The child will also start growing hair all over its body and its senses will begin developing, as well as begin kicking quite frequently.

The third trimester is the craziest of all the pregnancy stages. The mother will have to urinate quite frequently as the baby puts extra pressure on her bladder. It might be a good idea for the mother to look into breastfeeding and child birthing classes to prepare for the inevitable. The third trimester ends when the baby is born, usually about 40 weeks from the date of conception. Couples who are expecting a baby might also get good use out of a pregnancy calendar that can illustrate what your body is going through over the course of the three pregnancy stages.

Safe medicines

As soon as you know you are pregnant, check with your GP or midwife about any medicines you might already be taking. And always ask a pharmacist for advice on over-the-counter medicines, including things you usually take for colds, headaches, hay fever and so on, and any complementary therapies - some aren't suitable when you're pregnant, particularly herbal remedies.

Nutrition and Exercise

* 2500 calories
* You may need to resume small frequent feedings to prevent heartburn
* Continue prenatal vitamins as prescribed
* Continue to avoid the use of alcohol
* Adequate hydration and avoiding overheating are important to protect the baby and you
* Further modify your exercise regimen as needed to protect muscles and joints

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