Archive for December 2nd, 2009

The third trimester of pregnancy, also known as the baby stage of pregnancy, is the final phase of creating a new life. A lot of development takes place in your baby, during the last stage. You, too, undergo many changes in your body. However, instead of worrying about the approaching due date, you should take each day with patience and positive outlook.

Third Trimester Effects

You notice swelling in your hands and feet in the third last month of pregnancy. Besides this, there will be leg cramps, because of the increasing demand of calcium, minerals, and vitamins by your baby. Some of the problems you might face in the second last month of pregnancy include, fatigue, indigestion, heartburn, shortness of breath, and sleeping disorders. This happens because your baby becomes 16 inches long and around 4 pounds heavy.

You can deal with these problems effectively with the help of a balanced diet and relaxation techniques. In the last month, the head of your baby will slide to your pelvic area. This is a preparation for delivery. As you approach the last days of pregnancy, you will start feeling energetic. Your breathing will become easy and you will urinate frequently. The level of anxiety increases significantly. There is a feeling of holiness in you. All these changes are normal. They indicate that everything’s going on properly.

Third Trimester Fetal Growth

The 30th week leads to the rapid development of your baby’s brain. He or she can open and close her eyes and generate tears. Your baby is now three pounds. The 32nd week sees lesser movement of your baby due to insufficient space inside. Your baby has developed all her five senses. Now, your baby’s average weight is 3.75 pounds and length is 16.7 inches.

The 33rd week and 34th week see the dropping of the testicles of your baby into the scrotum, in case it’s a boy. He starts practicing breathing too. The 35th week sees the full development of your baby’s hearing ability. At this time, your baby weighs almost 5.3 pounds and is 18.2 inches long.

The 36th week sees your baby growing to about six pounds. He or she is now 18.66 inches long and weighs 5.78 pounds. The baby slides into the birth canal at this stage. The 37th week sees the development of a sleeping pattern in your baby. Therefore, it is very important that you follow a regular daily schedule, so that your baby is not confused regarding daytime and nighttime. She also gets chubbier.

The 38th week sees the growth of soft hair on your baby’s head, almost one inch long. Your baby might experience hiccups in this week. This happens because the amniotic fluid enters the windpipe while thy\e baby practices breathing. The 39th week sees the development of your baby’s lungs. He or she gains around 7.25 pounds and is 19.9 inches long, by now.

Finally, week 40 arrives! You can deliver anytime. Be ready to welcome your baby!

Disclosure and Disclaimer

The first trimester of a woman’s pregnancy is often her most difficult one. Many of the physical changes that occur during pregnancy will happen during this time. Apart from that, this is also a very important time for the baby as well, as most of the important development happens during this period.

The first trimester starts from the time of conception to the 12th week of pregnancy. During this time, an expectant mother will face a number of overwhelming changes which may be difficult to deal with initially. However, it is important to know that these changes are perfectly normal and are a part of pregnancy. Knowing what kind of changes to expect and how to deal with them, can make your first trimester easier to deal with.

Symptoms Of Pregnancy

Recognizing the symptoms of pregnancy is the first way to know that you have entered your first trimester. The most common sign is a missed period, though it is a good idea to wait a few days, just to make sure that your period isn’t delayed. You can confirm your pregnancy with an at-home test and then with a doctor.

There are other symptoms that may signal pregnancy as well. Many women experience swollen and tender breasts, exhaustion, nausea, vomiting, and food cravings. Some women may also experience mood swings during this time. It is important to note that women may experience different combinations of symptoms at this time.

Changes And Precautions

Women in their first trimester will experience a host of changes in their body; some are brought on by hormonal changes, while others are, changes made in order to accommodate the new baby. The most obvious change will be the swelling of the stomach; this can be accompanied by a feeling of itchiness on the abdomen, due to the fact that the skin is stretching. Some women will also experience swelling of the feet, which will eventually go down on its own.

During this time, it is not unusual to experience a frequent need to urinate as well as constipation. Many women will also suffer from indigestion at this time and will have cravings for certain foods.

There are a number of steps that women can take during first trimester, in order to ease some of the uneasiness. Avoid foods that make you nauseous- rather than having 3 big meals, have a number of small meals during the day, making sure they are rich in vitamins and minerals. Drink lots of water and follow a light exercise routine. Avoid smoking completely, as it can have harmful effects on the child. It is also a good idea to avoid taking alcohol at this time. Following a light exercise regiment is a good idea, since keeping fit is an important part of a healthy pregnancy. However, don’t overexert yourself or do any overtly strenuous activity. Make sure you get as much rest as you need and avoid standing on your feet for extended periods of time.

By understanding the different changes that are expected and means of how to deal with them effectively, a woman’s first trimester experience can be easy to deal with.

How about taking pictures of the different stages of your pregnancy? Terrific! You can have a photo-shoot done with your fashionable maternity clothes on. Women no longer hesitate in showing their pregnant bellies. Besides, the market is flooded with chic clothes, especially designed for moms-to-be. You don’t have to hide in those shapeless, baggy clothes. Buy yourself some chic dresses and get ready for a photo-shoot!

Now, there are no hard and fast rules of taking photos. Shoot at whatever stage you like. The idea is to build a memory album that you can cherish for years together. When your baby grows older, she can see how her mom looked like with her inside the womb!

If your mind goes blank regarding photography, then you must read on. Here are certain ideas to help you get started.

Ideas Of Picture Of Pregnancy Stages
* Why not have photos of yourself the day when you found you are expecting?
* Click a close-up picture of your hubby’s face when he gets the good news. Capture his reaction in the camera. You will laugh together when you see the photos later.
* If you already have kids, shoot them with your camera!
* In case you host a dinner party to celebrate the news, don’t forget to go clicking that night!
* Why leave the doctor behind? Click a picture of you and your doctor during your visit.
* It’s a good idea to click a picture on each pre-natal visit. You will remember how many visits you had and what tests were conducted during each visit.
* Don’t miss clicking your doctor while she hears your baby’s first heart beat through a stethoscope!
* Hey, why don’t you click a photo of your belly?! Get a picture of stages of your belly enlargement.
* Request your friend to click some loving pictures of you and your partner. The photos of your hubby kissing your belly, placing his ears on your belly to hear your baby’s heartbeat, and so on are enough to recall wonderful memories of pregnancy later.
* You can click such photos with your kids too. Let them hold your tummy in their hands. It makes a lovely picture!
* Why not have photos of yourself eating those veggies and fruits for your baby’s good health?
* Click picture of stages when you go shopping for your baby’s stuff. You will double the enjoyment of the trip to the mall.
* Click a photo of your pregnancy journal.
* You can even click a photo of yourself writing the journal.
* Let your hubby take your photos when you are sleeping with a large belly that’s supported by pillows. You can cherish the experience later together!
* And yes, you may want to have the photo of the birth center where you will deliver the baby.
* Last but not the least, click a family picture with your baby in your arms after delivery!

Taking pictures of the different stages of pregnancy is real fun. Enjoy!