Getting A "Period" While Pregnant.

Many women report getting what seem like regular periods during early pregnancy. How can this be? First of all, it helps to realize that since the hormones of pregnancy totally prevent ovulation, the bleeding is not truly a menstrual period, but rather early pregnancy bleeding. That said, the perception of having a menstrual period (or more than one) in early pregnancy can confuse the due date and delay some pregnant women from seeking appropriate and timely medical care.

Implantation bleeding
Many mothers-to-be get a few days of bleeding right around the time that the early embryo is burrowing into the wall of the uterus. On average, this occurs five days after conception and may be confused with an early period, especially if the woman is not keeping close track of her cycles.

This implantation bleeding is normal and is not a sign of any problem with the pregnancy. The biggest problem with implantation bleeding is that it can lead to a mistakenly later due date if it is counted as a menstrual period. The real last period from which the due date should be calculated would be the prior one.

Conceiving while using birth control pills
Women who get pregnant while on the Pill might have intermittent bleeding before it is obvious that they are pregnant and they stop taking their pills. The calculation of the due date based on these episodes will most likely be inaccurate, so Ultrasound is almost always needed to date a pregnancy in this situation.

Early pregnancy bleeding
Bleeding in early pregnancy is a common occurrence, but this does not signal a true menstrual cycle, as pregnancy hormones prevent the ovary's release of an egg as well as the buildup and subsequent shedding of the uterine lining. If these episodes are intermittent, they can be perceived as periods, and the mother-to-be may not recognize that she is pregnant. In instances where a couple is unaware that they are expecting, it can be particularly emotionally challenging to find out about the pregnancy at the same time they are told that the bleeding might signal a problem.

Figuring out the due date
It can be hard to calculate when the baby's due when you aren't sure which period was the true last menses. A number of timing issues can help provide a ballpark estimate of when conception took place: when you had unprotected intercourse, when the pregnancy test turned positive (especially if there were some negative results before the positive one), and when you first noticed symptoms of pregnancy (such as breast tenderness or nausea). Usually an ultrasound is needed to narrow down the dates.

Identifying the due date is quite important in prenatal care, since some tests, like the triple check, are standardized by the exact number of weeks gestation. In addition, most couples (as well as their practitioner) want to have some idea of when to expect the baby!

POLL RESULT: Two

Do you want to know the sex of your baby?

Yes = 12 votes
No = 2 votes
We want to be surprised. = 2 votes

***************************************************************************************
Which pregnant celeb said,? I'm holding so much water and I have a backside that
looks like a cauliflower?

Selma Hayek 7 votes
Kate Winslet 5 votes
Britney Spears 4 votes
Marcia Cross 3 votes
* The right answer is Kate Winslet.

************************************************************************************* Who do you think is the cutest celebrity baby?

Shiloh 41 votes
Suri 33 votes
Dannielynn 15 votes
Apple 4 votes
*************************************************************************************
Which actress suffered with infertility?

Kate Hudson no votes
Halle Berry 3 votes
Julia Roberts 5 votes
Tori Spelling 1 vote
The answer is Julia Roberts.
*************************************************************************************
How many babies are born every minute?

388 - 2 votes
469 - 2 votes
544 - 1 vote
247 - 3 votes * 247 is the right answer.
**************************************************************************************
The water (amniotic fluid) surrounding the baby?

Is made by the placenta - 6 votes
Is made by the bag of water - no votes
Appears by magic - 2 votes
Comes from the abdomen - 2 votes
Is mostly baby urine - 3 votes (this is the right answer)
**************************************************************************************

Champagne Wishes And Caviar Dreams!!!

It's funny how every bodies opinion of this expression differ. For some
people it would be loads of money and never having to work again. For me it would be dirty diapers and Four O'Clock feedings. To have my very own baby, that I have wanted since, as far back as I can remember. I have watched other people's children for so long, that sometimes having a child of my own seems so surreal. When I found out I was pregnant for the first time in my life, I thought I was dreaming. I kept pinching myself, I was so happy. When I miscarried my world shattered. I was beyond devastated. Words can not express what a blow this was to my heart, let alone deep down in my soul. Wow, too have a long life dream come true, to just have it taken, just like that. I felt like someone ripped my heart out. Having children someday has always been a dream of mine. Problem is, now I am thirty- three. When I miscarried my doctor informed me my eggs are old and that in your thirty's your odds off conceiving go down considerably. "Are you kidding me"? "Is this some kind of joke"? I was stunned! I mean I know that as you get older, your chances of conceiving go down, but for heaven sakes, that is the last thing I wanted to hear.... I am now more determined then ever to stay positive and keep trying to have my own little angel. For anyone out there that has suffered a miscarriage, or are having trouble conceiving, please don't give up hope. Keep trying for your sweet baby! Anything worth achieving, is worth fighting for. It will happen, but you have to manifest it. Want it, see it, believe it! Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it! For me, those words are music to my ears! A dream is a wish your heart makes, a dream you keep alive, no matter, how much sometimes you want to give up. The Cinderella song rings true- In your dreams, when your fast asleep, if you keep believing, even when your grieving. The dreams that you dream really do come true!

Yearning for a baby!

Yearning for a baby is the hardest thing to deal with, especially after suffering a miscarriage. The good thing is knowing I can get pregnant again. The bad thing is I lost a child. Every time some one said, "Well at least you can try again", or when someone said," They were so sorry, it made me,
just cry harder". I actually felt like someone ripped my heart out every time I heard those words". Why do people assume you can get pregnant again, and "No Big Thing". "HELLO"! " I Just Lost My Baby"! Nothing anyone says makes it better! Except maybe time, will help ebb the pain.Every time I saw a baby, or a pregnant woman, I would start sobbing uncontrollably. It's been three months since my miscarriage and we are trying again, but the miscarriage is still difficult for me, especially because I would have given birth to my precious angel in 11 weeks. I am moving on, and giving my strong yearning for a baby to God. I pray that someday soon, I too will be blessed with a miracle. It's funny how some people can get pregnant so easily, and others have to try so hard. It doesn't seem fair, or make much sense, but then God knows better then me what's best!

Unintended Pregnancy Down Among Teens But Up for Young Adults

News that America's teen pregnancy rate fell 36 percent made for celebratory headlines this year, but a lesser-known finding is that among young adult women, rates of unwanted and unintended pregnancy have actually increased.

"The nation has made extraordinary progress in teen pregnancy, but there's been no corresponding progress among twenty-somethings," says Bill Albert, deputy director of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

The rate of unwanted pregnancies among women ages 20 to 24 rose by 6 percent from 1994 to 2001, though it declined among teens, according to the National Campaign. Further, 54 percent of unwanted pregnancies occur to women in their twenties, with the largest proportion, 32 percent, among women 20-24.

In complementary findings, the Guttmacher Institute calculated an increase in the rate of unintended pregnancies among women ages 19-35. (The 'unintended' category includes unwanted pregnancies, described as such by the women surveyed, as well as those that are wanted but poorly planned or ill-timed.)

From 1994 to 2001, according to Guttmacher, unintended pregnancies among 25 to 29-year-olds rose from 66 to 71 per 1,000 women. In the same period, unintended pregnancies among 30- to 34-year-olds increased from 38 to 44 per 1,000 women. This trend has given researchers and reproductive health activists cause for concern:

"What you find is one in three pregnancies are unwanted. There's a lot of fertility chaos out there," Albert says. (Both Guttmacher and the National Campaign estimate the majority of unintended and unwanted pregnancies to be among unmarried women.)

The two organizations drew heavily on newly released data from the U.S. National Survey of Family Growth, which collected information from more than 17,000 women in 1994 and 2001.

Researchers are trying to find out why adolescents appear to be more capable of controlling their reproductive destinies than young adults. Most experts agree on one fairly obvious explanation: young adults are more likely than teens to be sexually active, though they don't appear to use birth control any more consistently.

The National Campaign has conducted 16 focus groups around the country this year with college- and non-college-educated 20-somethings, some with firsthand experience in pregnancy, and found that while many do not actively pursue pregnancy, they knowingly take their chances through hit-or-miss birth control.

"The question is, why is it that so many young people who say they do not want to get pregnant are rolling the dice?" Albert asks.

Experts are finding that young people's reasons for foregoing a condom or some other measure may have less to do with the urgency of the moment and more to do with their feelings about marriage and child-bearing.

"We are talking to women about why some do and don't use contraception even if they don't want to get pregnant," says Lawrence Finer, director of domestic research at the Guttmacher Institute. "Some people are ambivalent about getting pregnant. They see it as something that happens or doesn't happen, something they have less control over."

Adding to their feelings of helplessness about pregnancy prevention is a casual acceptance of unintended pregnancy. In fact, young people are more alarmed by the prospect of an STD than an unwanted pregnancy, Albert's organization has found.

"It's almost as if pregnancies are not as important," he says, citing some of the statements that surfaced in focus groups, including:

* "Having an STD is so much worse than getting pregnant. If it (pregnancy) happens, it happens"

* "It's not going to kill me if I have one"

* "I'm 28. A baby is not the worst thing that could happen to me."

Similar statements emerged in in-depth interviews with 48 unmarried, mostly low-income parents in a study by Paula England, senior scholar at the Council on Contemporary families and a sociology professor at Stanford University. Here is a sample of one 22-year-old woman's reasoning from England's upcoming book, Unmarried Couples with Children:

"Well, we were planning on getting married, and planning to save for a house, so Myron and I are very committed to each other, so we just were -- I don't know. If we were to get pregnant it wouldn't be a big deal. Or it wouldn't be something unwanted or unplanned. And if we didn't [get pregnant] it wasn't a big deal either."

In England's study, low-income parents said they had access to birth control and could afford it. Further, they used it properly in the beginning of the relationship, but as the partnership grew more serious, they tended to use it less regularly. One explanation is that some people see the use of condoms, in particular, as a sign of mistrust in the relationship because condoms have come to be associated with disease prevention, according to England.

Another reason for the increased rate of unintended and unwanted pregnancies is the widening window of opportunity for them to occur: the age of matrimony has risen even as the onset of sexual activity has fallen. The median age of first marriage has risen from 23 to 27 for men and 21 to 26 for women over the last 25 years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Further, there may be more unplanned pregnancies because of because of changing attitudes about births outside marriage, which have skyrocketed since 1970. But there is probably far more to the story, England says.

Poll Results!


POLL RESULTS!

What boys name from the 1920's do you like better?

Reed won by 21 votes.
Clark 20 votes.
Lincoln 11 votes.
Lynwood, Basil, and Harland tied with 7 votes.
Alvie 5 votes.
Thurston 4 votes.
Herschel 2 votes.
Alonzo and Lon tied with 1 vote.


What is your favorite girl name from the 1920's?

Hallie won by 31 votes.
Greta 19 votes.
Olive 12 votes.
Mazie 11 votes.
Vada 6 votes.
Mable 5 votes.
Fern 3 votes.
Birdie and Ardis tied with 1 vote.


Which name do you think is prettier?

Savannah won out by 27 votes.
Halie and Skyler tied with 9 votes.
Kirsten and Maggie tied with 8 votes.
Kendall 6 votes.
Brinley 3 votes.
Maylee 2 votes.
Sailor 1 vote.

Which boy name is more becoming?

Gavin won by 23 votes.
Ryder 10 votes.
Kingston 8 votes.
Hunter 7 votes.
Brice, Ryland and Teagan all tied with 5 votes.
Brooklyn 4 votes.
Finnigan 3 votes.

Which actress named her baby Story Elias? You voted!

Kristy Swanson 4 votes.
Naomi Watts 12 votes.
Jenna Elfman 33 votes.
Bridget Moynahan 2 votes.
* The answer is Jenna Elfman.*

Which color was used for boys in the 1900's? You voted!

Red 10 votes
Blue 18 votes
Pink 8 votes
Green 14 votes
Yellow 10 votes
Orange 2 votes * The right answer is pink.*
* Pink was believed to be a strong color, so naturally people
would dress their boys in pink. Girls were dressed in blue
because it was thought to be a delicate color. *

What time of day are fetuses most likely to move around in the womb?
12 a.m. - 1 vote
7 p.m. - 11 votes
4 a.m. - 7 votes
10 p.m. - 20 votes
* The answer is 12 a.m., according to a survey conducted in 2002.

Am I Pregnant?


Am I pregnant? Well actually that is a really good question! I hear this so often, so I decided to come to your rescue with signs and symptoms of pregnancy during the waiting period before you can test and get an accurate result.
In addition to the basic signs, I am also going to list the signs and symptoms that I had before I found out I was pregnant. Here are the signs and symptoms.

. Have missed one or more periods.
. Have your period, but less feeling like you are going to start
. Headaches
. Indigestion
. Bloating and weight gain
. Breast tenderness or enlargement.
. Nausea or vomiting
. Gas
. Increased urination
. Hungry often
. Heightened sense of smell.
. Lower back pain.
. A really bad gag reflex when brushing teeth.
. A really bad itch on the bottom of feet.
. Mood swings
. Crying easily over the littlest things.
. Constipation
. Faintness and dizziness
. Raised basal body temperature
. Slight bleeding or cramping
. Hemorrhoids
. Insomnia/Difficulty sleeping
. Pelvic discomfort and pressure
. Nasal congestion and or nosebleeds
. Metallic taste ( Dysgeusia)
. Darkening of areolas (the skin around your nipples)
. Veins appearing on your breasts
. Increase in vaginal discharge
. Stretching of pelvic ligaments
. Just feeling pregnant ( womens intuition)
. A positive pregnancy test ( even if the line is faint)

** Please Note That All Women Are Different, So Not All Women Will Have Symptoms. Some Women Will Have Two Or More Symptoms, Others Will Have None At All. **


Teen Pregnancy!

Each Year, almost 750,000 teenage women aged 15-19 become pregnant. The teenage pregnancy rate in this country is at it's lowest in 30 years, down 36% since it's peak in 1990. A growing body of research suggests that both increased abstinence and changes in contraceptive practice are responsible for recent declines in teenage pregnancy.

* The teenage pregnancy rate among those who ever had intercourse declined 28% between 1990 and 2002.

* Between 1988 and 2000, teenage pregnancy rates declined in every state and in the District of Columbia.

* By 2002, the teenage abortion rate had dropped by 50% from it's peak in 1988.
* From 1986 to 2002, the proportion of teenage pregnancies ending in abortion declined more than one-quarter from 46% to 34% of pregnancies among 15-19 year olds.

* Among black women aged 15-19, the nationwide pregnancy rate fell by 40% between 1990 and 2002.

* Among white teenagers, it declined by 34% during the same time period.

* Among Hispanic teenagers the pregnancy rate increased slightly from 1991-1992, but by 2002 was 19% lower than the 1990 rate.

In general, states with the largest numbers of teenagers also had the greatest number of teenage pregnancies. California reported the highest number of adolescent pregnancies (113,000). followed by Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois (with about 37,000-80,000 each). The smallest numbers of teenage pregnancies were in Vermont, North Dakota, Wyoming, South Dakota and Alaska, all of which reported fewer than 2,000 pregnancies among women aged 15-19.

State -Level Statistics:

* In 2000, teenage birthrates were highest in Mississippi, Texas, Arizona, Arkansas and New Mexico. The states with the lowest teenage birth rates were New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, North Dakota and Maine.

* Teenage abortion rates were highest in the District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Nevada and California.

* Fifty percent or more of teenage pregnancies end in abortion in New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia.

* By contrast, teenagers in Utah, Kentucky, South Dakota and North Dakota had the lowest abortion rates. These states also had fewer than 17% of teenage pregnancies end in abortion; South Dakota, Utah and Kentucky.

* Nevada had the highest teenage pregnancy rate (113 per 1,000), while North Dakota had the lowest rate ( 42 per 1,000).

* Among states with available data, Arkansas had the highest pregnancy rate among non-Hispanic white teenagers (77 per 1,000). Pregnancy rates among this group were also high in other Southern states: Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky and South Carolina (71-73 per 1,000). Meanwhile, North Dakota had the lowest rate among non-Hispanic white teenagers (33 per 1,000).

* Among black teenagers aged 15-19, pregnancy rates were highest in New Jersey (209 per 1,000) and in Wisconsin, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Oregon (161-177 per 1,000). They were lowest in Utah, New Mexico, West Virginia, Rhode Island and Colorado (71-114 per 1,000).

* Georgia, Arizona, Tennessee, Colorado and Delaware had the highest pregnancy rates among Hispanic women aged 15-19 (154-169 per 1,000) In contrast, pregnancy rates among Hispanic teenagers were lowest in Mississippi, Missouri, South Dakota and Ohio (71-115 per 1,000).


Implantation Bleeding!!

Implantation bleeding is very interesting to me because it's different for everyone. Which means that for some women they will have spotting, some women will notice a small pink color when they wipe. Other women like me with my first pregnancy, will get a light- to medium flow, that will be a reddish brown color and can easily be mistaken for a period, while other women will have no implantation bleeding at all. The way to know the difference is that this will only last a day or two and will not be heavy like your normal period. You also should be able to get a positive reading on a pregnancy test after you aren't bleeding or spotting anymore. There is the misconception that implantation bleeding is just spotting, or a little tiny amount of blood, which is just simply not always the case. I had a light to medium flow like implantation bleeding with my first pregnancy, and no implantation bleeding with my second pregnancy. In my first pregnancy I had implantation bleeding that lasted two days. I was not able to get an accurate reading on a pregnancy test, until after the implantation bleeding stopped completely. Along with implantation bleeding I had some pregnancy symptoms. I had really bad headaches. I was unbelievably tired all the time. I would wake up in the morning and still feel extremely tired. I would take a nap in early afternoon and wake up four to five hours later. Having to use the bathroom frequently. Heartburn, indigestion, hungry more often, nauseous, moody, gaging every time I brush my teeth, (especially my tongue), constipation, and feeling like I have the flue. I didn't get a positive reading until ten days after my first missed period. Remember everybody is different! I had implantation bleeding seven days after I missed my period, so just remember you might not get an accurate test reading until a few days after your missed period.



The nursery is the first place to start when you are preparing your home for your new baby. The crib is likely the first major piece of furniture you will purchase for your child. Be sure that the crib you purchase meets all of the mandatory and voluntary safety guidelines. You will also want to invest in a quality crib mattress, as your baby will be spending upwards of 70% of his or her first year on it. Bedding is another consideration, and very much a matter of personal preference. Just don't forget to pick up a mattress cover! A changing table is another option, but not entirely necessary. Alternately, a baby monitor is an absolute must-have for your child's nursery. Standard crib or convertible crib? Changing table? Breast or bottle? Do I need bottles if I breastfeed? Cloth or disposable? How hard is it to use cloth diapers? When should I look for a nursing bra? What kind of stroller do I need? When do I move my baby into a convertible car seat? Bath time involves the largest number of baby care items. The soaps, shampoos and lotions are all specially formulated to be gentle on your baby’s tender skin. There are bath tubs and towels that are smaller and softer than your own. The variety of natural baby care products is increasing as parents try to protect their babies from chemicals and coloring additives. You have just as many choices with these baby care products as you do with baby clothes – a staggering amount! The classic event for mom is the baby shower. Of course, you can turn any baby shower into a co-ed event, but they are truly mom centered parties meant to encourage, support, and frighten, all in the name of love and good humor.Not all keepsakes and gifts require that forced smile and thank you. Plenty of keepsakes for mom are meant to bring out the emotional new mom in you. They will continue to bring out the memories of your baby’s arrival for years to come. Your baby’s birth announcement lets you scream to the world that your baby is finally here - your way, in your words, in your style. A baby memory book is yours to flip through and allows you to re-live every moment again and again. Nannies offer one-to-one care in your home. A good nanny should be experienced, understand your child’s developmental and emotional needs, be patient, and be reliable. Nannies work well for children of all ages from infant to toddler and beyond.Daycare centers and home daycare are the most popular child care options. Daycare centers are well suited to children of many ages, if it is a high quality center. Daycare centers offer structure, an educational program that promotes your child’s physical and mental development, and socialization. Daycare centers work best when the teacher-child ratios are low.Home daycare can be a good alternative to daycare centers—if the home daycare is licensed and high quality. Home daycare offers smaller groups of children, a single, consistent caregiver, and offers the comfort of home.