Signs Of Pregnancy

The modern mum-to-be is a stressed out individual, having to cater to increasing pressures of a fast paced society and work place. Yet at the same time, she knows that her wellness is crucial especially during her pregnancy if she wants a smooth delivery process and the birth of a healthy happy baby.

This increased awareness has led to the search for alternative approaches in addition to traditional health services. Pregnancy massage therapy is one such alternative approach. It has much therapeutic value as it enhances the function of muscles and joints, improves blood circulation and relieves mental and physical fatigue.

Fertile mucus is present in the woman’s body during the few days before ovulation, as the ova are ripening. This mucus is produced by the cervix, and flows down the vagina to the outside of the woman’s body. The purpose of the mucus is to protect and nourish the sperm on their journey to the egg. The vaginal canal is normally acid. Semen is alkaline. Sperm die in an acid environment. The fertile mucus is alkaline, like the semen, and so makes the sperm’s journey possible.

When trying to conceive and to have a baby it all starts with a pregnancy test. Well, not really, but we leave the romantic part out of this discussion as this is not really something for the public. The timing of when to take a pregnancy test partially depends on how soon you are trying to find out if you are pregnant or not. Different pregnancy tests require different timing.

Nine months of pregnancy seems an eternity when you get that little pink positive on the test stick. In this day and age, we no longer have to wait until we start having symptoms of pregnancy, which can start as late as 8 or 10 weeks for some. Instead, we have pregnancy tests that will determine a positive just days after conception. This can make the pregnancy journey seem even longer!

It seems like more and more people are talking about post-partum depression, but depression during pregnancy isn’t commonly discussed. It is estimated that about 10% of pregnant women suffer from depression.

Of course, we all know that our hormones are raging during pregnancy and we, and those around us, may decide that our mood swings and weepiness may due to hormones. This may true, but never let serious “down” feelings go by without discussion. Talk to your partner or talk to your doctor and don’t let these things slide.

Pregnant women would be wise to limit the amount of green tea they drink during pregnancy, and should be careful about taking any green tea supplements. Green tea is rich in antioxidants, and has a host of health benefits relating to dental health, blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and weight loss. But researchers have found, whilst examining the active constituent of green tea, the epigallocatechins, or EGCG for short, that it may affect the way the body uses folate. Folate is important for pregnant women as it prevents neural tube birth defects in babies.