Fetal Growth and Development
Pregnancy is an exciting time for parents-to-be and their family and friends.
Pregnancy is an exciting time for parents-to-be and their family and friends. It’s also a time when you might have more questions than answers about how your baby is developing. In an effort to help you find the answers you are looking for, we have provided a link to one website we believe offers a clear and concise overview of the different stages of your baby’s development, week by week, trimester by trimester: Pregnancy.org
As each week of your pregnancy unfolds, Pregnancy.org provides detailed descriptions and pictures of real embryos and fetuses to bring the experience of fetal development to life and help you better understand your baby’s growth.
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Morning Sickness
For some women, morning sickness can be the roughest part of pregnancy. About 75% of pregnant woman suffer from nausea and vomiting, with one out of every 10 women living with this past the first trimester. It usually appears early in the pregnancy and lasts about 8 to 12 weeks.
There are many reasons why you may be experiencing nausea and vomiting - hormones, food staying in the stomach for a longer period of time, low blood sugars or sensitivity to odours. Prenatal vitamins that contain iron can make morning sickness worse.
There's good news! There is a lot that you can do to feel better. Try these suggestions:
- Eat smaller meals more often.
- Avoid fatty, spicy or fried foods. These can be hard on the stomach.
- Try eating foods that are salty, tart, crunchy, bland, sweet or dry.
- Try eating cold meals. That way, you can avoid strong odours.
- Drink fluids a half an hour earlier than you plan to eat solid foods.
- Wear loose clothing around the neck, waist and chest.
- Use ginger in cooking or try eating crystallized ginger.
- Drink lemon or ginger tea.
- Try acupressure bands (motion sickness bands) that stimulate acupressure point six on the wrist.
- If you have severe nausea and are vomiting or have other symptoms, too—like fever or cramping—contact your doctor.
You can find even more information on morning sickness at Motherisk's website.
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Increased Vaginal Discharge
A very common and sometimes unpleasant pregnancy discomfort you may notice in the first trimester is an increase in vaginal discharge. This symptom can return during the last month of pregnancy, too, when the baby moves down into the pelvis. The cause? Hormones. It's also due to the increased flow of blood to the pelvic area.
How can you make yourself more comfortable? Wearing a light pad or panty liner will help. Keep the area clean, too. Avoid douches, as they can irritate the tissues of the vagina. Shower and bathe a bit more frequently until things return to normal. You should contact the doctor if you notice any colour change, frothy texture, foul odour or itchiness. Any of these symptoms could be a sign of infection.
If you're pregnant or thinking about having a baby, check out www.welcometoparenting.com. These interactive, online prenatal and parenting classes will provide information on pregnancy, labour and delivery, your relationship and a community of expectant and new parents just like you! Watch the overview video!
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Physical Hazards
Here are some precautions you can take:
- Avoid excessive noise or vibration on your job wherever possible.
- Avoid temperature extremes—either hot or cold. Pregnant workers exposed to temperature extremes should be monitored closely for ill effects.
- Avoid workplaces that operate at a high or low barometric pressure.
- If you think your work exposes you to significant and/or continuous physical hazard, talk to your supervisor and/or occupational health and safety representative.
- Request job modifications or a temporary job transfer where possible to reduce physical risks.
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