Pregnancy Symptoms, Signs and Symptoms of Being Pregnant
Saturday 24 May 2008 @ 6:44 pm

EARLY PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS

Although a lot of women experience pregnancy symptoms, and find signs of being pregnant, other’s don’t “feel” pregnant. Certain signs and symptoms of being pregnant can be confused with other illnesses. The following list are some telltale symptoms of pregnancy. Morning sickness is one of the most common signs of being pregnant, but you also might be one of the lucky ones who never experience this pregnancy symptom. Missing a period is another sign and symptom of being pregnant. We’ll go into greater detail below, and you can read below.

MISSING A PERIOD

One of the most common signs and symptoms of being pregnant, missing a period can also be caused by other reasons. Although missing a period is one of the most common of the pregnancy symptoms, stress, illness, weight fluctuations or coming off the oral contraceptive pill can also be the cause of this. Irregular periods are a common symptom of polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition in which periods can occur several months apart. If you still feel like you are experiencing other pregnancy symptoms, continue reading the other signs of being pregnant.

TENDERNESS OF THE BREAST

Another sign and symptom of pregnancy is the changing of size and feel of your breast. As early as a few days after conception, this pregnancy symptom may occur. Your breast is beginning to enlarge, as it gets ready for breastfeeding. Many women claim that their breasts are very sensitive and that they experience a very sharp, tingling sensation as well. Being one of the signs and symptoms of being pregnant, the tenderness of the breast often disappears a few weeks later.

NAUSEA AND VOMITING

Considered another one of the classic sign and symptoms of being pregnant, nausea and vomiting, (aka morning sickness) has become one of the most feared of all pregnancy symptoms. Feeling sick is a common complaint and is experienced by most women from weeks 5 to 6 of their pregnancy. However, morning sickness can also be felt as early as two weeks after conception. Morning sickness can occur at any time of the day, and can vary from an occasional faint sensation to overwhelming vomiting and nausea. By and large, morning sickness is one of the pregnancy symptoms that tends to disappear towards the end of the first trimester.

TIREDNESS

Many women experience fatigue as one of their pregnancy symptoms. Although this might be a sign of being pregnant, it can also indicate other things as well.

DARKENING OF THE AREOLA

Being one of the first physical symptoms of pregnancy, the darkening of the areola can occur throughout your entire pregnancy. If you notice the darkening of the areola, this could be considered one of the signs and symptoms of being pregnant.

FREQUENT URINATION

If you experience that you are urinating more frequently, this might be another of the pregnancy symptoms that confirm that you are pregnant. As early as two weeks after conception, you might find yourself experience this pregnancy symptom. The pressure of the literally reducing size of your bladder is the cause of this. Your uterus beings to rise up into the abdomen, and this annoying pregnancy symptom is the result. Rising levels of the pregnancy hormone progesterone stimulate the bladder muscles, so that it feels full, even though you might not need to urinate. Of all of the pregnancy symptoms, and signs of being pregnant, women sometimes find this to be the most annoying.

CHANGES IN TASTE AND SMELL

Don’t be surprised if you experience this pregnancy sign and symptom. Many women claim that certain foods make them feel queasy - while others experience a craving for other foods. Another sign of this pregnancy symptom, is a strange metallic taste.

CONSTIPATION

Another of the annoying signs and symptoms of being pregnant, constipation occurs.

CONFIRMING YOUR PREGNANCY

Two weeks after conception, your baby is no bigger than a pinhead, comprised of a few balls of cells. As it begins to develop in the lining of the uterus, the placenta begins to form and produce necessary pregnancy hormones. Below are some ways to confirm that the pregnancy symptoms and signs of being pregnant that you have noticed are accurate, and that you will be having a baby.

HOME PREGNANCY TESTS

Being very accurate, these tests can be purchased at a local drugstore, and can confirm pregnancy by detecting the level of HCG in your urine. Your health care provider may rely on this test, and may only repeating testing if complications arise. If you receive a positive result, you may want to make an appointment with your doctor so that they can confirm you are pregnant and begin follow-up.

OFFICE URINE TEST

Similar to that of a home pregnancy test, and office urine test confirms pregnancy by also detecting the level of HCG in your urine. Being nearly 100% accurate, this test does not require you to urinate first thing in the morning. This type of test also can determine that the signs and symptoms of being pregnant hold true, and that your pregnancy symptoms are right.

PREGNANCY BLOOD TEST

In order to assist dating your pregnancy, your healthcare provider may also perform a pregnancy blood test. This particular pregnancy test can give you a positive or negative result, and once again detects the level of HCG. This time, it detects that level in your blood, and depending on your pregnancy symptoms, helps them determine what kind of care to give you. Pregnancy blood tests are useful if there are any concerns about miscarriage, or if there are indications that an unusual pregnancy is occurring.

INTERNAL EXAM

Four to six weeks after conception, your doctor can receive indefinite proof by examining you internally. Certain signs like the thickening of vaginal tissues and the softening of your uterus will confirm that the pregnancy symptoms are right on!

Brian Gardner is the Founder of PregnancyEtc.com - An Online Pregnancy Resource For 9 Months & Beyond. Having recently experienced pregnancy firsthand with his wife Shelly, Brian has dedicated his efforts towards pregnancy research. The development of http://www.pregnancyetc.com was to ensure that expecting parents had a place to find information on pregnancy and babies.

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Baby Shower Centerpieces - Have Your Shower Standout by Unusual Table Decoration
Saturday 17 May 2008 @ 4:18 pm

What is the big hit to any baby shower? The baby shower centerpieces are no doubt-ably the best answers.

Traditional baby shower centerpiece ideas often revolve around floral arrangements with a few balloons, though the modern era welcomes inventive styles for just about everything.

Floral baby shower centerpieces surrounded with candles are perfect gifts for new baby girls or baby boys. Make sure to use flowers that are in season for greater freshness and use baby bottles as vases for fresh flowers.

You can purchase items needed to make centerpieces from party supply stores, craft stores, Dollar Stores, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Shopko and Target. Online baby shower stores will carry table centerpieces of a much wider variety than the local merchants. Remember to stick your centerpiece to the theme and color scheme.

Look for something unusual? If you are baking a baby shower cake as the centerpiece, have guests arrive early to help the cake decoration - you want to make a surprise for the new mom right?

Nothing can be more appealing to have a fabulous diaper cake. It’s a three-for-one baby shower gift (a centerpiece, a baby gift basket and its baby items can be used for your shower games).

A gift basket can be a nice centerpiece too. It’s lined with a receiving blanket and filled with all kinds of baby items. To make your gift basket centerpieces more appealing, add a soft toy with helium balloons attached to the blanket handles, and wrapped in cellophane with a pretty bow.

Putting some glass pebbles in the bottom of a clear glass bowl and two-thirds fill the bowl with water. Floating frogs, rubber ducks, or any plastic cartoon toys. The coolest idea is to have a family frogs or ducks, and add a few drops of blue food coloring to the water to make it like a pond.

For an Asian theme shower party, you can purchase Japanese lanterns at party supplies or craft stores. Use one lantern as the base of each arrangement and surround it with bamboo pots or votive candles. And have a traditional Japanese table setting to complement your baby shower centerpiece.

Most of baby shower hostesses make their own centerpieces as they love such a creative activity as well as it shows their love and support to the mom-to-be.

If none of the baby shower centerpieces above knock your socks off…close you eyes. What do you see? A giant Rubber Duck, a green plant topped with a stuffed Pooh, or any stand alone items related to your theme?

Just unleash your creativity and open your mind to new and memorable ideas for unique baby shower centerpieces. Some of the most elegant, unusual and unforgettable decorative touches can exist even within a strict budget.

Whatever you do, photograph your masterpiece before your guest of honor takes it home!

Note: If you find this article useful, you may reprint it on your website, e-zine, or in your newsletter as long as the credits and resource box remain in tact and the hyperlinks are active.

Qing Gu is a party planning expert and professional writer for baby related websites. Sign up with the “Planning A Baby Shower in 7 Easy Steps” FREE eCourse at www.coolest-baby-shower-idea.com/ecourse, you’ll be mastering all the exciting, fun and innovative ways to make sure your baby shower a huge succes.

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