Fetal Development Month by Month

Fetal Growth: Conception to Birth

You're pregnant. Congratulations! Are you curious how big your developing baby is, what your baby looks like as it grows inside you, and when you'll feel it move?  Take a peek inside the womb to see how a fetus develops from month to month.

Conception

If a sperm cell meets and penetrates an egg, it will fertilize it.  This is known as conception. At this moment, the genetic makeup is complete, including the sex of the infant. Within about three days after conception, the fertilized egg, which is dividing rapidly into many cells, passes through the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it attaches to the uterine wall. The placenta, which will nourish the baby, also begins to form.

Fetal Development at 4 Weeks

At this point of development the structures that eventually form the face and neck are becoming evident.  The heart and blood vessels continue to develop. And the lungs, stomach, and liver start to develop.  A home pregnancy test is now positive.

Natural Ways to Prevent Miscarriage in Early Pregnancy

Most miscarriages happen in first 15 weeks of pregnancy, for this reason it is extremely important to be especially careful during this period. Most miscarriages do not have a cause: some are caused because of complications and defects in the chromosomal development of fetus, others are caused by infections, traumas, anatomical abnormalities and certain systemic diseases, such as diabetes.

While some miscarriages are caused because of risky behavior, that includes habits like alcohol drinking, smoking, drug abuse and even caffeine.

A sign of miscarriage is usually vaginal bleeding, which may be confused with some of the pregnancy signs (especially  implantation bleeding or spotting, which is usually the first indication of pregnancy).

Additionally, there are specific actions a woman must take in order to minimize a chance of miscarriage, and they include the following.

Do Birth Control Pills Cause Miscarriage?

For years now, many women have believed that using the birth control pill can increase the risk of miscarriage. With so many myths surrounding this form of contraception, it can be somewhat difficult to separate fact from fiction. Do birth control pills cause miscarriage? Here's what all women who are planning to use the pill should know about this form of contraception and their risk of miscarriage.

A Link Between Birth Control Pills and Miscarriage?
Using the birth control pill as a form of contraception does not increase the risk of miscarriage, according to the American Congress of Gynecologists and Obstetricians. The main reason this medical myth has come to surface is because many people believe that it is unsafe for women to become pregnant on the pill. Some feel that miscarriage or birth defects may be caused if a woman becomes pregnant while she is taking the birth control pill due to the hormones in this method of contraception. No research has backed any of these claims, however.

Women who take the pill at some point during their lifetime are also not thought to be at a higher risk of

Irritability in Babies

Overview

Babies may be cute, playful and cuddly, but like adults, they are susceptible to mood swings. A baby who's happy one moment can easily grow irritable for a multitude of reasons. But knowing why babies become upset and how to soothe them can make parenting a much easier task.

Symptoms of Irritability

Irritable babies can display many symptoms. Some of the most common are crying and fussing, grumpiness and a generally poor attitude, according to online pregnancy and child-rearing expert Dr. Benjamin Spock. Irritated babies will often display these symptoms at select times, such as meals or bedtime.

Causes of Irritability

Determining what's making your baby upset can be a tough job, but there are a few common causes. Hunger is a major one, according to Spock. Babies will also get cranky if they have digestion or heartburn, or some

How to Prepare For a Vaginal Delivery During Pregnancy in 12 Steps

About 2 in 3 women will deliver the baby vaginally. Our 12 step program will help you prepare for the vaginal delivery.

1. Choosing the right doctor. Mom will want to know what happens during the vaginal delivery but that does not mean it is the safest choice for mom and baby. When choosing an obstetrician, make sure the views of mom are in the same realm as the views of the obstetrician.
2. Where to give birth. Not all doctors have the right to practice in every hospital. Just because the perfect doctor is only 30 minutes away does not mean he or she will be able to attend the birth at the local hospital in case of emergency delivery. The doctor will be able to offer a list of hospitals where he or she has practicing rights.
3. Alternative birth. Does mom want to try giving birth at home? That is usually not the best choice because you are away from good medical care in case there is a complication. Most doctors do not support home births, but there are some midwives who do. You could take a risk, so make sure the midiwife is licensed, in good standing with the state board, and has a good backup hospital.  Mom does need to understand that complications can halt her desire to give birth outside of the hospital.
4. Write the birth plan. A birthing plan is not for everybody. In fact, most women's birthing plan consists of 3 items: Make sure I am healthy, make sure baby is healthy, and don't do any unneccesary

Benefits of Breastfeeding

Breast milk is a unique nutritional source that cannot adequately be replaced by any other food, including infant formula. Although pollutants can accumulate in breast milk, it remains superior to infant formula from the perspective of the overall health of both mother and child.

Infants are fragile and susceptible to disease, partly because their bodies are not fully developed. They must be treated with special care and given adequate nourishment. Infant formulas are able to mimic a few of the nutritional components of breast milk, but formula cannot hope to duplicate the vast and constantly changing array of essential nutrients in human milk. Nevertheless, breastfeeding is often devalued, both in the United States and abroad, and in many parts of the world it must compete with relentless advertising by infant-formula companies.

Studies have demonstrated a number of important health benefits to breastfeeding. Among them:

• Breast-fed children are more resistant to disease and infection early in life than formula-fed children
• Breast-fed children are less likely to contract a number of diseases later in life, including juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and cancer before the age of 15 

Important Nutrients Pregnant Women Should Consider

Starting off your with a healthy well balanced diet is the best thing you do for yourself and your baby. Thus, you should expose yourself to important nutrients that pregnant women should consider when expecting a child. This way, you’ll only need to make a few adjustments during your pregnancy.

If you find it tough to maintain a balanced diet during your first trimester, you can rest assured that you’re not alone. Due to queasiness, some women will eat all of the time and gain a lot of weight in the process. Other women have trouble getting food down and subsequently lose weight.

Preventing malnutrition and dehydration are your most important factors during first trimester.

You should also know the important nutrients pregnant women should consider and must include in her diet. Below are list of important nutrients you should take into consideration when you are pregnant.

Calories

When you are pregnant, you need to consume around 300 calories more than usual every day. The best way