This article will reveal true and interesting facts about pregnancy. You will be amazed by the following facts and it just goes to show you the unbelievable things the human body is capable of.

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#1: Milk production

Upon conception, your breasts get ready for milk production. This starts as early as week 13. Your nipples will undergo some changes, i.e. become larger and darker and the veins will be more obvious as more blood is pumped to the breast.

#2: Womb size

The woman’s womb is about the size of a small pear before conception. The womb will grow bigger and reach the bottom of the rib cage by the time of the due date which is 500 – 1000 times bigger.

#3: Placenta

Your placenta does a lot of things for the baby. Something new I discovered is that it also produces heat to keep your baby warm, about one degree warmer than the mother’s body.

#4: Girl wonder

If you happen to carry a baby girl, she already has about two million eggs inside of her at only 13 weeks. The number of eggs will drop to about one million over the next two trimesters.

#5: The baby’s eyes

The eyes will develop on the side of the baby’s head in the beginning. The eyes will move closer together from week 12. The baby can move the eyes from left to right by about week 20 and open them by week 22.

#6: The baby’s heart

The baby’s heart will beat twice as fast as yours. By week five, all four chambers are fully developed. The baby’s heart is capable of pumping as much as six gallons of blood per day by week 16.

#7: Fingerprints

Your baby’s fingerprints are in place by week 13. The fingernails only start to grow from week 12 and she may even scratch herself in the womb.

#8: Hiccups

Do you know that your baby may hiccup while still in the womb? I experienced this with all of my three pregnancies and it was amazing! Your baby starts to practice breathing, inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid by week 16. If some fluid gets into the windpipe, it causes the baby to hiccup.

#9: Natural heating

Your baby will develop a special kind of “brown” fat in the nape of her neck in the last weeks of your pregnancy. The cells are special for giving heat during the first few weeks after birth.

#10: The baby’s bones

In the beginning, your baby has supple cartilage which transforms into bones by week 17. However, the bones will remain flexible to prepare for her journey through the birth canal.

You are pregnant and feeling amaze that you are carrying two babies instead of one. After the excitement, you may start to have questions or concerns about your pregnancy. Generally, expectant mothers will discover their special condition at their 12-week scan.

The parents can expect identical twins when the fertilized egg splits into two. Non-identical twins will result when two separate eggs are fertilized by two sperms at the same time. Below are common questions from expectant mothers of twins.

#1: Will there be enough space for two babies?

Yes, the womb can stretch to accommodate two babies easily. Twin pregnancy is considered full term at about 38 weeks instead of 40 weeks as in a single pregnancy. During the first two trimesters, twins will grow about the same rate as a single baby. However, from weeks 26 to 28, the growth will slow down.

#2: Will the mom be bigger in size?

The expectant mother will not be twice the size but the bump will be bigger. The mom will also show earlier at about 11 weeks with twins compared to 13 weeks for a single baby.

#3: Will the mom have double the morning sickness?

Pregnant with twins may cause the mom to suffer the usual morning sickness and may be slightly worse and for longer duration.

#4: Will the mom need to eat for three?

Expectant mothers do not need to eat for three people like having three slices of cake, three servings of meat, etc. In the last trimester, the mother only needs about 600 more calories per day. It is important to eat nutritional foods like nuts and yoghurt instead of taking in empty calories only.

#5: Will the mom need a Caesarean section?

The delivery process depends on the position of the babies. If the babies are in breech or transverse position, i.e. lying across the uterus, normal vaginally delivery is difficult. Your doctor will monitor your condition and decide the best option for you.

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Pregnancy is a time of great expectations which however can be plagued with various health problems. Who has not heard of morning sickness, mood swings, dizziness and feeling tired all the time? Normally, pregnant women will get a lot of advice and tips on how to cope and get through the difficult period. What you seldom hear are the reasons or explanations for the various conditions. Below are the answers to why the conditions happen.

Morning sickness
Morning sickness can happen anytime of the day and normally during the first trimester. The culprit is your body’s rapidly changing hormones. It worsens when you also have a heightened and sensitive sense of smell and increased acid in the stomach.

Mood swings
Feeling emotional during your pregnancy is normal and again blame it on your hormones. Your emotions are affected by the level of neurotransmitters in your brain which in turn is actually affected by the hormones estrogen and progesterone. The neurotransmitter levels will be constantly fluctuating and hence your mood swings from happy to sad and vice-versa.

Dizziness
There is an explanation for having the feelings of dizziness, faintness or light-headedness. Since you are carrying a baby, there is a constant blood flow to your baby. Hence, your blood vessels relax and widen causing blood pressure to drop. This will cause you to feel dizzy. Another reason is if you have a low blood sugar level caused by changes in your metabolism. Other explanations are when you are stressed, feeling fatigue or hungry.

Unusual tiredness
A usual complaint during pregnancy is having the feeling of being unusually tired and having lack of energy. Hormonal changes can cause extreme feelings of tiredness. In addition, your body is doing extra work of nurturing a baby.

Frequent urination
I had this problem with all three of my pregnancies. Hormone changes are again to blame causing the kidneys to produce more urine. As the uterus grows bigger, it can also cause increase pressure on the bladder. In addition, there will be an increased of blood supply to the pelvis also making you want to urinate often.

What problems did you face during your pregnancy? What would you advice other pregnant women?

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After getting married, a lot of couples are eager to start a family immediately. To ensure a smooth and trouble-free pregnancy, below are 6 areas to pay attention to:

* Your menstrual cycle

The normal menstrual cycle is a 28-day cycle. Some women may have longer or shorter cycle or even have an irregular cycle. It is good to pay attention to your menstrual cycle, as this will influence your chance of getting pregnant.

* Your vaccination

Once your are pregnant, you want your body to be resistance against possible infections that may endanger the baby. Hence, it is good to take the necessary precautions to get the required vaccinations or booster shots against Hepatitis B, Rubella and Chickenpox.

* Your past medical condition

It is advisable to consult your personal doctor regarding your past or existing medical conditions before getting pregnant. This ensures that your doctor is well informed to enable him to manage your pregnancy better later. Certain medications may not be suitable to be taken during pregnancy and an alternative is necessary.

* Do a blood test

A blood test can detect the level of your blood sugar and whether your antibody is still protective or not. It also determines whether you have anemia, thallassemia, HIV or any sexually transmitted diseases. In short, it gives an idea of your overall health.

* Your family background

Knowing your family background or medical history of any genetic risks and conditions like diabetes, asthma, blood disorders, etc. helps you to make the proper decision and planning.

* Maintain a healthy lifestyle

Having a fit and healthy body is important to ensure a healthy pregnancy. A healthy body entails the following:
- Getting enough exercise and maintaining a proper weight.
- Eating a healthy diet and getting sufficient vitamins. Folic acid is recommended to be taken 3 months before pregnancy.
- Getting enough sleep and rest.

If you have any doubts or questions, discuss them with your doctor and share your personal information above. A well-planned pregnancy ensures you can rest easy and enjoy the whole experience.

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When pregnant, there are a lot of things to take care off like your nutrition and health. There are 7 conditions or symptoms that a pregnant mom should pay attention to. They are:

1. Pre-eclampsia

The signs or symptoms are a rise in the blood pressure, protein in the urine, upper abdominal pain, vomiting, headaches and visual disturbances. It is caused by a defect in the placenta and there is a shortage of blood supply. Hence, the baby’s well-being is at risk as the placenta provides the oxygen and nutrients. Those most at risk are the following:
• You are a first time mom
• You are overweight
• Your age is over 40
• You have high blood pressure, diabetes or kidney disease
• You have a family history or pre-eclampsia
• You have a multiple pregnancy

2. Placenta praevia

There is usually no symptoms and it is diagnosed by scanning. In certain cases, you will notice some vaginal bleeding. The placenta covers or partially covers the cervix and when in labour, the cervix opens and the placenta may start to disconnect from the wall of the womb. Those most at risk are the following:
• You have more than one child
• You have a multiple pregnancy
• You have had previous surgery on the womb like a caesarean section

3. HELLP syndrome (Haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets)

The symptoms include nausea, abdominal pain, headaches and blurred vision. You may be tested to have high blood pressure and there is protein in your urine. In addition, your blood test will show low platelets level.

This is actually another complication of pre-eclampsia and can cause kidney and liver problems as well as affect the ability of the blood to clot. Those most at risk are women who have pre-eclampsia which generally begins during the third trimester.

4. Placental abruption

About 80% of women with placental abruption will have vaginal bleeding. At the same time, there is abdominal pain and tenderness around the womb. This happens when the placenta has partially or completely separated from the uterus wall. Those most at risk are the following:
• You have high blood pressure
• You are above 35 years of age
• Have undergone distress or injury to the abdomen
• You smoke, drink or on drugs

5. Gestational diabetes

This is diabetes that develops during pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones can sometimes interfere with how the hormone insulin controls the glucose levels in the blood. The symptoms include feeling tired, extremely thirsty and wanting to pee constantly. Sugar is also detected in your urine. Although anyone is at risk, those most at risk are the following:
• Older moms
• You have a high body-mass index
• You have a family history of diabetes

6. Symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD)

During pregnancy, the hormone “relaxin” relaxes the joints but when it softens too much, it can cause pain. The symptoms include feeling pain over the hip joints, pubic bone and lower back. SPD can happen to any pregnant women during any stage of the pregnancy. It is more common after the first trimester.

7. Obstetric cholestasis

The symptoms can include extreme cases of itching especially on the hands and feet. This is a liver disorder where the flow of bile is reduced. This can affect anyone and the risk is high if your mother or sister has had it before.

From the descriptions above, going for your regular antenatal checkups are important to enable the conditions or symptoms to be detected. It also helps to put your mind to rest if you suspect any irregularities during your pregnancy.