Welcome to our group web site. | Babies, bumps n kids

PRECONCEPTION

As you think about planning or growing your family, you want the best for your new baby. Most pregnancies are normal, and most babies are healthy. But planning ahead can help you increase your chances of having a healthy baby.

Some women also need help with understanding how their body works in conjunction with achieving pregnancy. Partners who are trying to conceive need to know the basics of the normal menstrual cycle, the timing of ovulation and the timing of intercourse to accomplish fertilization. Partners who don't wish to conceive need to find which method of birth control are the best for them to use.

Do you think you're pregnant? Some women experience a few telltale signs of pregnancy right away which makes them suspect they are pregnant even before a blood or urine test will confirm it.

Infertility can strike up to as many of 20% of the population. Most of these cases can be helped with the use of fertility drugs. If you have been trying to conceive for over a year without success, it may be time to see a reproductive specialist.

FOLIC ACID

When you are trying to get pregnant,folic acid should figure on the top of your health checklist. Folic acid,also known as folate or folacin is one of the B vitamins also known as a B9.It is a vital raw material for production of red blood cells,aswell as norepinephrine an serotonin(chemical componets of the nervous system),folic acid also helps to synthesize genetic material in every cell of the body and normative brain function.Taking folic acid before conception reduces the risk of neural dects such as spina bifida. Why do i need folic acid? Folic acid is one of the few nutrients known to prevent neural birth defects such as spina bifida,which affects one in every 1.000 babies.The centres for diease control report that women who take the reccomended daily dosage of folic acid will reduce their baby's risk by 50% women who don't get enough may increase their chance of miscarriage or still births,folate deficiency anemia and iron deficiency can have same symptoms of fatigue and weakness,a mild folate deficiency can leave you grumpy and edgy. How much folic acid do i need? The reccomended daily intake of folic acid for all women of child bearing age is at least 400 micrograms(mcg) or 0.4 miligrams(mg), during pregnancy,the reccomended does jumps upto 600-800 mcg or 0.6-0.8mg, a day.If you have a family history of neural tube defects,you should probably get 4000 mcg or 4mg of folic acid a day.Most pre-natal vitamins contain the appropiate dossage of folic acid,along with other vitamins that will help you stay healthy. Leafy green vegtables are a good source of folate.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

There are certain things to ask yourself BEFORE considering having a child, there are certain points to consider:

Are you eating properly?

The health we are in before pregnancy can have either a positive or negative effect on our bodies.

Are we eating right?

Have you spoken to your doctor about the possibility of losing or gaining weight?

Should you begin an exercise & nutrition program?

Are you getting enough folic acid, fiber & other essential nutrients in your body?

Your doctor may want you to change your eating habits, start exercising or even start taking pre-natal vitamins. These things will help to ensure not just your baby-but also you are getting all the nutrients you need.

IF you are smoking, drinking or doing drugs it is VERY important that you stop. These are all things that are detrimental to the health of your unborn child, and you should discuss with your doctor the best way to handle these lifestyle issues & how they WILL affect your pregnancy.

When do i begin to change my diet?

At least 4 months before planning a pregnancy begin to eat a more healthy & well-balanced diet. Begin weaning your body off ALL caffeine products like coffee & chocolate.

Try to eliminate ALL smoking (including second-hand) & alcohol from your life.

If your doctor suggests taking a vitamin supplement, take them as soon as possible but IN addition to eating a healthy, well-balanced diet.

Why do i have to give up coffee?

Health studies have shown that increased amounts of caffeine DO lower a woman's chance of conceiving, even two cups of coffee a day can affect a woman's ovulation. Yet caffeine will help your partners sperm mobility because it changes their hormone levels, which directly affects trying to conceive. Be careful of hidden caffeine in food stuff & pain killers such as Anacin & Excedrin. Read labels carefully.

Do i need specific things in my diet?

Foods low in fat & high in fiber should be at the top of your list when trying to eat healthy. Folic acid is also important, foods rich in folic acid are dark leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, nuts, beans, wheat breads & cereals like cheerios. These are all excellant sources of folic acid & should become a daily part of your diet.

What exactly are pre-natal vitamins?

Pre-natal vitamins are multi-vitamins containing larger amounts of iron, calcium & folic acid. Multi-vitamins WILL NOT match what your pre-natal vitamins contain, since woman who are trying to conceive or who are pregnant need greater amounts of specific vitamins, especially folic acid.

Any foods SHOULD i eat?

There are no specific foods proven to increase your chances of fertility except one, oysters ! This is possible because of their zinc content. Zinc deficiencies hinder BOTH men & womens fertility. BUT a well-balanced diet will do more for your overall health & fertility chances than trying to eat one or two specific foods. Your doctor can help you pinpoint anything lacking in your diet-and it is up to you to fill those voids & eat a healthier diet. Try a variety of foods so you wont get bored. Try & get in your food groups daily, including breads, vegetables, fruit, dairy & meats low in fat.

MENSTRUATION

Menstruation refers to the periodic vaginal discharge of blood and bodily cells that are shed from the lining of a woman's uterus. Menstruation begins at puberty and marks the onset of a woman's capacity to bear children, although other health factors may limit this capacity. Menstruation usually begins between 10 and 16 years of age, depending on a variety of factors, including the young woman's general health, nutritional status, and body weight relative to height. Menstruation continues approximately once a month until a woman is about 45 to 50 years of age, again depending on health and other influences. The end of a woman's ability to menstruate is called menopause and it marks the completion of a woman's childbearing years. The average length of the menstrual cycle is 28 days, but ranges from 21 to 40 days. The length of the cycle may also vary for a woman during different phases of life, and even from one month to the next depending on a variety of factors, including the woman's physical, emotional, and nutritional health.

Menstruation is part of the regular process that prepares a woman's body each month for pregnancy. This cycle involves several phases that are controlled by the interactions of hormones secreted by the hypothalamus, anterior pituitary gland, and ovaries. During pre-ovulation, the cell lining of the uterus begins to develop and thicken. This lining will serve as the anchor for the developing fetus if the woman is impregnated. Hormones signal an ovum or egg in the ovary to begin developing. Soon, an ovum is released from the woman's ovary signalling ovulation and begins to move through the Fallopian tube toward the uterus. A woman's luteal phase follows, the period of time which directly follows ovulation. If the ovum is not fertilized by a sperm during the course of vaginal intercourse (or through artificial insemination), however, the lining of the uterus separates from the uterine wall and begins to decompose. The blood system washes the lining away and it and the blood are discharged through the woman's vadgina. The period of discharge or bleeding, known as the menstrual period (or just "period"), lasts from three to seven days. If a woman becomes pregnant, her monthly menstruation ceases for the duration of the pregnancy. Consequently, missing a menstrual period is a likely although not a definitive sign that a woman is pregnant. Pregnancy can be confirmed with a simple blood test.

Nonetheless, many women experience physical discomfort several days before their menstrual period. About half of all women suffer from dysmenorrhea, which is a painful menstruation. This is especially common during the early adult years. Symptoms of menstrual discomfort may include tenderness of the breasts, sore nipples, retaining fluid (bloating), and irritability. Some women experience quite intense discomfort, including cramps caused by contractions of the smooth muscles of the uterus, headaches, Mittelschmertz or pain in the midsection, nervousness, fatigue, stuffy nose, and crying spells. In its most severe form, often involving depression and anger, this condition is known as premenstrual syndrome or PMS, and may require medical attention.

Some women experience a condition known as amenorrhea, or failure to menstruate over a protracted period of time. This condition can be caused by various factors including stress, rapid weight loss, regular strenuous exercise, or illness. Conversely, some women experience excessive menstrual flow, a condition known as menorrhagia. Not only may the flow of blood be particularly heavy, but it may extend for a longer than normal period.

Pre-Ovulation

The pituitary gland releases a hormone called FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone), which stimulates an ovarian follicle to grow and an egg to mature. The pituitary gland also releases LH (Luteinizing Hormone) which stimulates the follicle to manufacture and secrete estrogen. Estrogen causes the uterine lining to grow.

Ovulation

The pituitary gland releases a heavy surge of LH. Home ovulation kits are designed to detect this sharp increase. 24 to 36 hours after the surge, the follicle will rupture, releasing the matured egg to the fallopian tube. The remainder of the ruptured follicle (called the corpus luteum) recedes back to the ovary and begins to secrete progesterone. Progesterone causes an increase in blood vessels to the uterine lining, inhibits other eggs from developing, and causes the Basal Body Temperature (BBT) to rise about half a degree.

Luteal Phase

The luteal phase is the period of time (usually 11-17 days) following ovulation. The egg can be fertilized within 24 hours of release, while it is still in the fallopian tubes. If the egg is fertilized, the pituitary gland produces hCG which causes the increased production of progesterone. The progesterone in turn causes the BBT to remain high throughout the luteal phase and after the 14th day. High progesterone levels are also responsible for "morning sickness" and other symptoms of pregnancy. If the egg is not fertilized within 24 hours, the corpus luteum regresses and slows its progesterone production. After around 11-17 days, there is no longer enough progesterone to supply the uterine lining with blood, and so menstruation begins again.

HORMONES

Hormones are chemicals which circulate in the blood of both men and women.They carry messages to parts of the body,regulating certain changes to take place.The female hormones,which include oestrogen and progesterone,control many of the events of the monthly cycle such as the release of the egg from the ovary and the thickening of the womb lining.

Once conception has occurred,the amount of oestrogen and progesterone increases.This causes the womb lining to build up,the blood supply to the womb and breasts to increase,and the muscles of the womb to relax to make room for the growing baby.

Heredity:Every normal human cell contains 46 chromosomes,except for the male sperm and female eggs.They contain 23 chromosomes each,When the sperm fuses with the egg and fertilisation takes place,the 23 chromosomes from the father pair with the 23 from the mother making 46 in all.

The chromosomes are tiny thread-like structures which each carry about 2000 genes.It is the genes that determine the baby's inherited charactistics,such as hair,and eye colour,blood group,height,and build.

The fertilised egg contains one sex chromosome from the mother and one from the father.The sex chromosome from the mother's egg is always the same and is known as the X-chromosome.But the sex chromosome from the father's sperm may be X or Y chromosome.

Best time to get pregnant:An egg lives for about 12 to 24 hours after it is released form the ovary.If conception is to take place it must be fertilised within this time.Sperm can live for several days inside a woman's body.If you make love a day or so before ovulation,the sperm will have to travel up the fallopian tubes and will be waiting when the egg is released.So the chances are higher if you make love on the day before ovulation.

Days|First day of last period: |Ovulation

27 28 |1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Most woman ovulate between 12-14 days before their next period day 15 to 28

BEST POSITIONS

Avoid straddling your partner while making love. Positions where sperm is not likely to leak out are the best. Placing a pillow under your hips during or after making love allows your cervix to rest in the semen for a short time allowing sperm time to travel to the cervix.

Make sure the pillow isn't too large and the sperm winds up behind your cervix.

If you have a tilted or tipped uterus, making love from behind may allow the sperm an easier path to your cervix.

Positions to Avoid:

Any position sitting, standing, or with you on top will not allow the sperm time to reach it's destination - your cervix - and will make the job of the sperm much harder if not impossible, in reaching the cervix.