Trying to Get Pregnant

If you and partner are trying to get pregnant, there are some things you need to know. It is easier to get pregnant during certain times in a woman's menstrual cycle, there are four stages in a woman's menstrual cycle. The first is Menstruation, or what is commonly known as a period. The second is Postmenstrual, which is the resting stage when the egg matures. The third stage is the Ovulation period, when the egg enters the fallopian tube; this is when pregnancy is most likely to occur. The last stage is the Premenstrual stage, this is when the uterine lining builds back up to prepare for a fertilized egg.

There is an easy way to figure out when you are in your Ovulation phase! You can try tracking your period (there are a lot of apps that can track it for you), but the most sure-fire way to make sure is to do a test, they are similar to store bought pregnancy tests. The tests can sense different chemicals that your body produces, helping you and your loved one create a little you!

What Happens When You Get Pregnant?

When you get pregnant there is a lot happening on a very small scale inside your body. When the select sperm reaches the egg it is absorbed into the egg to fertilize it. A sperm cell and an egg cell each have 23 chromosomes unlike normal cells, they have 46; so, when the cells come together they create the full 46 chromosomes to start growing a baby.

Once the egg has been fertilized it should move from the fallopian tube into the cervix and embed itself into the lining. When it is settled it it starts to divide and create many cells that become the base of life for the zygote that is forming.

The first thing you will notice as an expecting mother is missing a period, as well as nausea, fatigue, and sore breasts, these things are all normal and shouldn't be a cause of worry. Worrying can be very bad for the baby and should be avoided if at all possible.

What NOT To Do During Pregnancy

There are a lot of things that you may enjoy that you have to give up once you get pregnant. Things like alcohol and drugs (including tobacco) should be avoided. There are other things that may not seem as obvious that you need to avoid. Uncooked deli meat and sushi need to be avoided as well as raw or undercooked eggs and meats.

Soft or unpasteurized cheeses should always be avoided because they can contain harmful bacteria for your unborn baby. When you are pregnant you should also try to avoid heavily caffeinated drinks and foods.

There are also many things you shouldn't do. Hot tubs can be harmful for a baby, if you are going to use one make sure it isn't too hot and only stay in for 10 minutes. Try to stay relaxed when pregnant, stress can cause premature birth or a spontaneous miscarriage.

Also, be sure to get lots of the vitamins and minerals you need, including folic acid.

Birth Defects

A birth defect is some sort of DNA mutation that has physical or cognitive effects caused by genetics or the environment. There are some preventative measures you can take in order to try and have the healthiest baby possible! Birth defects like Down Syndrome are fairly common and well known, there are others that are less well known.