Signs Of Pregnancy

Aromatherapy is a natural healing science employing essential oils extracted from aromatic plant sources to treat and balance the body, mind and spirit. During pregnancy, aromatherapy can prove to be extremely beneficial and helpful alternative, while also being very easy to employ and use. In order to use essential oils safely during pregnancy a few extra safety guidelines will need be followed. Though, there are reports of side effects, the user must be cautious enough to report any adverse effects to the physician immediately.

All pregnant women will agree that the first few months of pregnancy are unpleasant, to say the least. You may experience morning sickness, swelling in the legs and ankles, abdominal pains and cramps, heartburn, constipation, fatigue, bladder problems, and a myriad of problems in between. The goal of this article is to help you deal with these issues and feel better.

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.

Stretch marks. Striae Gravidarum. The marks of pregnancy. Call them what you will. But they are the one thing that all women dread will occur as soon as they get pregnant.

• But what are stretch marks anyway? And why do they occur? Well, the reason lies in the anatomy of the skin. The skin has two layers - a thin upper layer called the epidermis, and a thicker, lower layer called the dermis. Scattered in the dermis are fine protein filaments called elastin that, like a piece of rubber band, are capable of stretching on being pulled. But just as a rubber band can stretch only so far and no further, these elastin fibres can also be stretched only to a certain extent. If stretched further, they snap. The increasing bulk of the uterus during pregnancy causes the skin to stretch to a great extent and the elastin fibres are torn. The torn elastin produces scars on the skin called Stria Gravidarum or stretch marks.

A rush of emotions. A little stick. Will it be pink! Or blue? Who should you tell first? What do you do now?

Pregnancy can be a wonderful experience that is full of excitement and love and anxiety and tension. There are a lot of decisions to be made and you must face the realization (whether it’s your first or your 12th) that life will never be the same.

Whilst pregnancy is a time for a mother to really bond with the child she is carrying, it can also cause all sorts of physical aches and pains. As your pregnancy progresses and your stomach enlarges, the backaches and joint sores will only get worse. Having a massage can greatly alleviate these pains and is something all pregnant mothers should consider.