Getting Pregnant

Enjoy Your 2nd Trimester!
Congratulations! Your pregnancy now comes to the second trimester, which is within weeks 13 through 27. Your morning sickness has faded away gradually by now. This means, you should be feeling better than before.

It?s actually the stage when you experience the most enjoying moment with your pregnancy. You?ll feel energetic and full of vitality. You can do a lot more than when you were in the first three months.

However, this does not mean you can do anything you want. You still need to be cautious about what you do and avoid doing too many activities.

Check out the points below to guide you in going through this invigorating phase:

1. Control your appetite. Compared to the previous trimester, it?s improving now. Try not to overeat and watch out for getting overweight. Get balanced nutritious food instead of fast food.

2. Handle leg cramps by straightening and lifting up your legs for several minutes. If you get cramp, move your toes upward and hold for a few seconds.

3. Carry out ?low impact? exercise. Getting pregnant does not mean you do not need exercises. They are even needed at this time. Swimming, yoga, and walking are good exercises for pregnant women. Ask your hubby or friends to join you.

4. Perform Kegels to strengthen pelvic floor muscles. Simply squeeze the muscles for a few seconds and let them relax just like when you stop and start urine flow. Do it several times a day as trained muscles can make labor easier.

5. Enjoy love-making with your husband. These months are the most comfortable time for both of you to do it.

Besides you?ll be enjoying this second trimester, another incredible thing is coming up. In the 22nd week of your pregnancy, the tiny little creature in the womb is about to make a little move. Wow! You won?t believe it?s true ?til you feel it by yourself

Enjoy your pregnancy.

Adwina Jackson is a wife and mother of a young boy. She's also the editor of Inspiring Parenting, an online source of valuable parenting information. Please visit <a href="http://www.InspiringParenting.com">Inspiring Parenting</a> for helpful and free parenting info.

The Basics Of The Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
When you go to a fertility doctor or clinic, they will more than likely begin by doing some basic diagnostic blood work and testing. One of the first tests typically performed is a Hysterosalpingogram or HSG. While you have to wait for results from other tests, the HSG is one the few fertility testing procedures that provides you with instant results. The Hysterosalpingogram is used to determine if there are any blockages in either of your fallopian tubes and it will also show if there are any uterus abnormalities or fibroids.

The HSG is usually done at a local hospital's surgical/surgery center, although many fertility clinics have the necessary equipment to perform the test right in the clinic as it is a fairly common fertility test. The HSG is a quick procedure that typically takes less than 15 minutes from start to finish. During the procedure, you will like on your back on a table with your legs raised. The doctor will inject contrast die through your cervix into your uterus while simultaneously taking an x-ray of the area. The contrast die will spread through your uterus and tubes and will show if there are any abnormalities or blockages in the tubes. In many cases, you will be able to watch the die spreading on a TV in the room. I was able to watch the procedure and the doctor explained what was happening and what he saw as the die spread.

Your doctor or clinic will probably advice you that during the HSG you "might" feel a "slight discomfort". I have found through talking with other women in my fertility support group, that the discomfort or pain associated with the procedure is different for every woman. A few women stated that the procedure did not bother them at all and one friend said she came up off the table when they inserted the die. I fell somewhere in between the two extremes. Because my tubes were blocked, the doctors said that added to the pain I felt and that women without any blockages typically feel less discomfort with the HSG. Most doctors will prescribe something like a prescription strength Tylenol for you to take before the procedure. I had a second HSG after I had surgery to unblock one tube and remove the other. My doctor let me take pain medication left over from my surgery before the second HSG. One of the girls in my support group was very scared to have the HSG done because of the uncertainty of the pain. She knew she would not be able to relax during the procedure, which is important, so her doctor prescribed one valium for her before the procedure.

You might experience slight uterine cramping for a few hours after the procedure and this is normal. You should also wear a panty liner for a few days as some of the die might come back out of your cervix.

The results of the HSG are very important in helping to determine your next steps or procedures in the fertility process. A normal HSG that shows no blockages or abnormalities rules out blocked tubes as a possible cause for your fertility problems and your doctor will begin further testing. If the HSG shows a blockage in one or both of your fallopian tubes, your doctor will discuss your alternatives with you. This boils down to two choices: you attempt to unblock the tubes through laparoscopic surgery which will increase your probability of pregnancy or your can choose to not have the surgery, keeping the blockages in place and decreasing the probability of pregnancy. Whether or not to have the surgery is obviously a personal decision and you need to take the time to decide what is right for you.

A blocked tube carries some risks and complications. First of all, when one or both of your tubes are blocked, you are at an increased risk for having an ectopic or tubal pregnancy. This is a very serious condition, especially if the tube ruptures. The second complication involved in a blocked tube is that most doctors will not do an IUI or IVF procedure when a tube is blocked as it will decrease your chances of a successful procedure and can actually work against it. For instance, when you do an IUI with a blocked tube and the sperm is injected directly into the uterus, the chances of the sperm and egg meeting are slim to none since the tube is blocked and the egg and sperm can't get through it to meet. If you do an IVF with a blocked fallopian tube, the blocked tube can cause fluid to back up into the uterus which impedes the embryo from implanting in the uterus.

If you decide to have surgery to unblock the tubes, your doctor will likely schedule a second HSG once you have healed from the surgery. They do this to make sure that the tube is open and that the die passes through the way it should. This second HSG will help determine what your next step will be.

Having gone through the HSG, I want to pass two things that I learned on to you. First of all, take someone with you when you have the procedure done. When I went the first time, I insisted on going by myself because I felt like everything was going to be ok. My husband would have gladly gone, but I guess I was being stubborn. Anyway, when things weren't ok, I really wished that I had had him come with me. Second of all, if your doctor offers you any pain medication before the procedure, take it. You never know what your pain or discomfort experience is going to be like with the HSG, so it is best to be prepared for anything.

For many, Hysterosalpingogram is the most important procedure that they have done during the fertility process. For me, it was the most important procedure done during our fertility journey as it gave us instant results and instant answers as to what was going on to prevent us from getting pregnant. Although, slightly uncomfortable, it is over quickly and you are able to walk away from the HSG knowing what your next step will be.

For more information about the fertility process Click On <a href="http://www.familyhopes.com/fertility/">Our Fertility Help Site</a> or go to our home page <a href="http://www.familyhopes.com/">http://www.familyhopes.com/</a>

Days To Get Pregnant - When Is The Best Time To Get Pregnant?
Are there better days to get pregnant? When is the best time to get pregnant during the reproductive cycle?

The best days to get pregnant will generally be the time when ovulation occurs. To better understand when is the best time to get pregnant, here are tips that are related to getting pregnant:

1. Know your most fertile time - generally, ovulation occurs about 14 days before your next menstrual period begins. That means if your menstrual cycle is a 28-day one, that could make day #14 your most fertile day (day #1 is the first day that your last period began). If yours is a 30-day cycle, day #16 could be the time to go for it. A 32-day cycle would have day #18 as one of the best days to get pregnant.

2. Track your basal body temperature - an inexpensive basal thermometer can be purchased and used to chart the slight elevations in your body temperature upon awakening each day that signal when is the best time to get pregnant. The increases in basal temperature may only be a tenth of a degree or so, but a basal thermometer can detect this kind of minor temperature change.

3. Monitor your cervical mucus - ovulation causes a change in the appearance and consistency of cervical mucus. By checking yourself each day, you'll be able to see the 'egg-white-like' vaginal discharge that indicates ovulation and which are the best days to get pregnant.

4. Obtain and read a good fertility book - learn as much as possible about fertility, getting pregnant, pregnancy and having a healthy baby.

5. Use an ovulation predictor kit - these inexpensive kits predict ovulation in advance so you definitely know when is the best time to get pregnant. This test has proven very accurate in detecting the increase in luteinizing hormone which usually occurs in women 24-48 hours before ovulation.

Making the decision to get pregnant and have a child can be an exciting and rearding experience. While this journey is often unpredictable, choices you make now can definitely affect your health and the health of your baby. The better your health as you are getting pregnant, the healthier your baby will be.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about getting pregnant and ovulation tests at <a href="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/ovulation-tests.html" title="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/ovulation-tests.html" target="_blank">http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/ovulation-tests.html</a> - Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of <a href="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com" title="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com" target="_blank">http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com</a> - a website of natural health articles for healthier living.

Odds Of Getting Pregnant And Age
The odds of getting pregnant decline with age. The odds of getting pregnant are the greatest for a woman in her early twenties and then slowly decline with the passing years. Here are some numbers related to the chances of getting pregnant and age:

1. For ages early to mid-thirties - a woman in general will be about 15-20% less fertile.

2. For ages mid to late thirties - fertility will generally decline by up to 50%.

3. For women ages early to mid-forties - fertility declines by over 90%.

Why do the odds of getting pregnant generally decline as the woman gets older? Studies have indicated the reasons for fertility decline are related to the quality of the woman's eggs as well as the quantity. A woman in her lifetime will typically produce about 400 fully developed eggs (usually one per month) that are capable of becoming implanted in the uterus and causing pregnancy. As these eggs get used up over thirty years or so and estrogen production slows so that the uterine and vaginal linings are no longer properly stimulated, pregnancy becomes less and less likely.

And what about the male's role, age and the odds of getting pregnant? Studies have found that the probability of causing pregnancy for a man in his late thirties declines by about 40% from the probability during his twenties to mid-thirties.

How does a woman increase the odds of getting pregnant? Here are some tips:

? Know your fertile time - ovulation generally happens about 14 days before your next period begins. For women with cycles of 28 days, that could make day #14 your most fertile for getting pregnant (day #1 being the first day that your last period began).

? Monitor your basal body temperature - the slight elevations in your body temperature upon awakening each day will signal your most fertile time.

? Monitor your cervical mucus - ovulation will cause a change in the appearance and consistency of cervical mucus. Check yourself each day and you'll be able to see the 'egg-white-like' vaginal discharge that indicates ovulation and your most fertile time.

? Adopt a healthy lifestyle - the odds of getting pregnant increase the more healthy you are. Healthy living includes a sensible diet, nutritional supplements, adequate quality sleep, managing stress, some exercise and weight management.

Planning to start a family, getting pregnant and pregnancy can be exciting, frustrating, fulfilling and without any certain outcome. Improving your health will add to the likelihood that you can become pregnant and have a healthy baby.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about pregnancy, ovulation tests and fertility monitors at <a href="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/ovulation-tests.html" title="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/ovulation-tests.html" target="_blank">http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/ovulation-tests.html</a> - Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of <a href="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com" title="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com" target="_blank">http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com</a> - a website of natural health articles for women of all ages.

Pregnancy Healthy Eating Plan
Pregnancy is a time when a woman's body under goes drastic change and also weight gain. One of the first concerns of new mothers is to lose the weight they have gained during pregnancy. Even though this is a valid concern mothers must follow a diet that provides plenty of nutrition to their unborn child. Proper consumption of nutritious food will ensure a healthy mother and baby. A healthy eating plan is important to not only an expectant mother, but to a woman who is planning on getting pregnant. Even though a nutritional diet is normally associated with weight loss, this is not the only reason to eat healthy. While you are pregnant you will need to consume foods that will provide the energy and nutrients for the proper development of your unborn child. When a woman plans to get pregnant or discovers she is pregnant she needs to change any bad eating habits and develop a healthy eating plan. By understanding the basic needs of your body and that of your unborn child, you will be able to make decisions that positively impact your pregnancy and minimize excess weight gain. Caloric Intake For Dieting While Pregnant The old adage that a pregnant woman is eating for two is not quite correct. The nutritional requirements for the unborn child are not for a lot of calories but are for highly nutritious foods. Most women only need to increase their caloric intake by about 300 calories for the growth and development of the baby. There are some high risk pregnancies that will require different nutritional amounts such as extremely obese women, teen mothers, underweight women and women with medical conditions such as diabetes. If any of these conditions apply, it is important to be closely monitored by a physician and seeking additional guidance from a registered dietitian or nutritional counseling. Nutritious Dieting While Pregnant For good nutrition as a pregnant woman be sure to include certain foods in your diet and to avoid foods that are not nutritious. One of the changes that has to be made is a significant increase in protein. Two extra servings daily of lean red meat, poultry, lamb or pork, eggs, or a combination of beans and rice will be sufficient to meet this requirement. Two to three sources of calcium rich foods, such as yogurt, orange juice and soymilk will meet this need. Fruits and vegetables are also sources of important vitamins and minerals that are needed during pregnancy. One way to add this to your diet is to use these foods as snacks during the day. Raw carrots and other vegetables are great to munch on and provide key vitamins for the growth and development of the child. Other important sources of food will come from whole grain foods. It is important to note: avoid eating foods that are high in calorie but have little nutritional value. Dieting while pregnant must be focused on eating foods that are high in nutritional value. This focus will enable your child to develop normally and will improve the mother’s health while she is pregnant and leading up to the birth and breastfeeding of the infant.

Additional information on weight loss and pregnancy can be found at <a href="http://www.motivation-2-weightloss.com/StayingFitDuringPregnancy.html"> http://www.motivation-2-weightloss.com</a></p>.

Conceiving A Baby And Conception Positions
Conceiving a baby successfully means understanding the best conception positions, your monthly reproductive cycle and your overall health. Conceiving a baby and pregnancy are wonderful events that are complex but very satisfying and exciting. Here are tips on the best conception positions and getting pregnant:

1. Know your fertile time - in general, ovulation occurs about 14 days before your next period begins. For women with cycles of 28 days, that could make day #14 your most fertile for getting pregnant (day #1 being the first day that your last period began). If your have a 30-day cycle, day #16 may be the best time to go for it.

2. Monitor your basal body temperature - the slight elevations in your body temperature when you awake each day signal your most fertile time. When conceiving a baby is the goal, use a basal thermometer that is accurate enough to detect these slight changes in your body temperature.

3. Monitor your cervical mucus - ovulation causes a change in the appearance and consistency of cervical mucus. By checking yourself each day, you'll be able to see the 'egg-white-like' vaginal discharge that indicates ovulation and your most fertile time for conceiving a baby.

4. The best of the conception positions is the missionary position - the time-proven 'man-on-top' position works with gravity to encourage semen flow toward the uterus that maximizes the chance of a sperm uniting with the egg, causing conception.

5. Use the rear-entry position - another of the conception positions is the 'doggy-style', which allows your partner to deposit semen close to your cervix.

6. Use the side-by-side position - again, this position allows your partner's sperm to start their journey as near your cervix as is possible. For all three conception positions mentioned, after ejaculation, you can remain on your back with your legs bent a few minutes to further maximize semen flow toward the uterus.

7. Adopt a healthy lifestyle - this is one of the most important tips for conceiving a baby. Healthy living includes a sensible diet, nutritional supplements, adequate quality sleep, managing stress, some exercise and weight management. Another of the conceiving a baby tips is to simply relax and enjoy your partner. Enjoy the closeness you'll experience with someone you truly care about.

And your desire for becoming pregnant and conceiving a baby will have even more importance to you if it means you'll be taking better care of yourself and your partner. Not only does that mean a more healthy you, it also means you'll increase the chances of having a healthier baby. That's the kind of beginning you want to provide that new person that you know is going to be a star.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more at <a href="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/ovulation-tests.html" title="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/ovulation-tests.html" target="_blank">http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/ovulation-tests.html</a> about ovulation tests and fertility monitors. Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of <a href="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com" title="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com" target="_blank">http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com</a> - a website of natural health articles for women of all ages.

Best Tips On Getting Pregnant
The best tips on getting pregnant include understanding your reproductive cycle, understanding conception positions and paying attention to your overall health. Getting pregnant and pregnancy is a wonderful event that is complex, satisfying and exciting. Here are seven best tips on getting pregnant:

1. Know your most fertile time - generally, ovulation occurs about 14 days before your next period begins. So if your cycle is a 28-day one, that could make day #14 your most fertile (day #1 is the first day that your last period began). If yours is a 30-day cycle, day #16 could be the time to go for it.

2. Track your basal body temperature - you'll need an inexpensive basal thermometer to chart the slight elevations in your body temperature upon awakening each day that signal your fertile time.

3. Watch for cervical mucus - this can be one of the best tips on getting pregnant since ovulation causes a change in the appearance and consistency of cervical mucus. By checking yourself each day, you'll be able to see the 'egg-white-like' vaginal discharge that indicates ovulation and fertile time.

4. Have sex using the missionary position - the time-proven 'man-on-top' position works with gravity to encourage semen flow toward the uterus to maximize the chance of a sperm uniting with the egg and causing conception. One of the related best tips on getting pregnant is -- after ejaculation, the woman can remain on her back with her legs bent a few minutes to further maximize semen flow toward the uterus.

5. Eliminate smoking and alcohol - not only will doing so benefit your health, when you do become pregnant, you'll not expose the developing fetus to the harmful effects of smoking and alcohol.

6. Take the best vitamin/mineral/nutritional supplement you can find - taking one of the cheap one-a-day vitamins is probably a waste of time and money. Vitamins and minerals are just the beginning. Taking a high-quality, broad-spectrum nutritional supplement helps fill in the dietary gaps that everyone will have. The body needs and will use nutrients such as amino acids, antioxidants, bioflavanoids, neuronutrients, enzymes and other nutrients such as L-Carnosine, alpha lipoic acid, acetyl L-Carnitine and so on.

7. Adopt a healthy lifestyle - this is one of the most important best tips on getting pregnant. Healthy living includes having a sensible diet with nutritional supplements, adequate quality sleep, managing stress, reasonable exercise and weight management.

And finally, just relax and enjoy your partner. Trying too hard is not one of the recommended best tips on getting pregnant.

Your desire to become pregnant and having that special child will have even more significance to you if it means you'll be taking better care of yourself and your partner. Not only does that mean a more healthy you, it also means you'll increase the chances of having a healthier baby.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about ovulation tests at <a href="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/ovulation-tests.html" title="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/ovulation-tests.html" target="_blank">http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/ovulation-tests.html</a> and fertility monitors - Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of <a href="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com" title="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com" target="_blank">http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com</a> - a website of natural health articles for women of all ages.