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What To
Expect During Your Pregnancy |
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So from this point on, be a
healthy machine: Eat well and exercise in moderation.
Instead of lunch errands, think lunch naps. Everything you
do is for two, so take a deep breath, daydream often and
let your body perform its miraculous work.
Here's what you can expect during your pregnancy :
Physically, you may be
experiencing any of the following symptoms:
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missed period, nausea,
vomiting, dizziness, headaches, bloating, a feeling of
fullness, light cramping, poor appetite, frequent
urination, and breast tenderness. |
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If you've had some minor
spotting in the past week, it may be "implantation"
bleeding, which is not a cause for concern.
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Some women have no symptoms
at all and feel absolutely wonderful. This, too, is
perfectly normal. |
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH YOUR
BABY
The fertilized egg has made
it's seven- to ten-day trip to the uterus, where it
implants cozily into the endometrial surface. It is now
called a blastocyst and it has divided into two parts.
While you are reading this, the first part is forming the
placenta and the second part will become the embryo. The
two layers that make up the amniotic bag of waters are
newly formed, and the very beginning of the connecting
stalk -- which will become the umbilical cord -- has
appeared. Until your placenta is fully functioning, the
yolk sac, now present, will feed your baby. Basically, the
"home" for your little one is under rapid construction!
EATING FOR TWO
Hopefully you have already
been taking a daily prenatal vitamin that contains 400
micrograms of folic acid. If not, start taking one now.
Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that reduces neural
tube defects in babies and is especially critical prior to
conception and during these early weeks of pregnancy. Some
studies have suggested that folic acid may lower the
incidence of miscarriages and reduce the likelihood of a
preterm delivery. Folic acid can be found naturally in
liver, fortified cereals or whole-grain breads, dried peas
and beans, leafy vegetables, fruit and yeast |
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