All about Pregnancy | How to Get Pregnant | Signs | Miscarriage

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We all agree that pregnancy is the most challenging thing in a woman’s life. And there are a lot of issues that we can explore when discussing about pregnancy; from issues associated when trying to get pregnant, signs or symptoms of pregnancy that occur -- to issues associated with miscarriage.

As well we know that some common early signs of pregnancy are enlarged & tender breast, easily to get tired, morning sickness, frequent urination, and missed period. But before suspecting these common symptoms, you may need the appropriately efforts to become pregnant.

Learn more facts of pregnancy to get pregnant easily!

Unfortunately, sometimes getting pregnant is not easy for some couples. The following are some helpful facts of pregnancy to get pregnant easily!

Facts of male fertility boosters

Either male or female has a significant contribution to result a successful fertilization. To find clearly diagnosis, either male or female of a couple that is difficult to have a baby should be checked.

There are a lot of ways to boost up men and women fertility. But make sure you know what you want to do! In other words, there are also some of them that can be categorized into useless option or even sometimes can disturb your effort to have a baby.

Some common best advises from your doctor to increase men fertility may include:

1. Keep well the ideal weight of the body!
2. Avoid stress or manage it as well!
3. Avoid any bad behaviors that can affect the fertility, such as drinking alcohol too much and cigarette smoking.
4. Having healthy diet. Choose foods that are rich in vitamin E, selenium, and zinc! Talk more with a dietitian for more detailed information!
5. Avoid getting saunas or hot tubs too long -- or avoid it if necessary, because more heat to the testicles can reduce the production of sperm.  

The fertility declines in line with the age

Either in male or female, their fertility declines as they get older. In women, they are more likely to be difficult to get pregnant once they reach their 30s (particularly after the age of 35). Some studies found that the chance of getting a successful fertilization /month is about 20% for 30 year old healthy women, and become only about 5 percent for 40 year old healthy women.

And in men, the quality and number of sperm also declines as they get older. But unlike in women, 40-45 year old healthy men still have a good chance to create fertilization.

Weight and fertility

Some studies found that having ideal weight can improve the fertility either in men or in women. That’s why, as mentioned before you need to keep well your healthy weight if you seriously want to create a successful fertilization.

What else you need to clearly understand?

1. To improve ovulation, eating foods high in folic acids is usually also recommended by doctor. Don’t forget to also prioritize green products and organic foods. 
2. You are still allowed to consume caffeine, but make sure you consume it moderately -- or avoid it if you can!
3. Do exercise regularly. It is not only important for your health but also help improve your fertility.
4. Choose the right time for intercourse. For woman, she needs to get to know when her fertile days (ovulation days) come. Therefore it is so important to have the record of the menstrual cycles, especially for those who have irregular menstruation periods.

The most common early pregnancy signs!

One of favorite topics when discussing about pregnancy is the pregnancy symptoms. There are several symptoms, but what are the most common early pregnancy signs? In fact, the pregnancy symptoms can be different from woman to woman. Even, if you experience pregnancy for the second time, your symptoms also can differ if compared to the symptoms in your first pregnancy. However, missed period is one of most clearly signs in all pregnant women. 

Well … It is so essential to clearly understand the pregnancy symptoms, why? Because this is not only important to get to know whether or not you are pregnant, but also to minimize your risk of something other than pregnancy!

A pregnant woman can experience the symptoms within a couple days and a week after conception, while another may not have any signs for a few weeks after conception. What else you should know? 

The following are some common early pregnancy signs!

Nausea and vomiting

Both nausea and vomiting are often associated with a popular term what we call as ‘morning sickness’. Unlike the name implies, this term doesn’t describe the time when nausea and vomiting occur. Many pregnant women usually feel and experience nausea or vomiting anytime (not only in the morning).

But there are also some women who experience both nausea & vomiting more frequently in the morning. On the other hand, there are also some pregnant women who don’t experience any feelings of nausea in their early pregnancy. You may also like to read when does morning sickness start!

Rapidly hormone changes during pregnancy are believed for the key of the cause of morning sickness.

Light bleeding (spotting)

Spotting is also one of early signs. It can be a symptom of the embryo implantation into the uterus (uterus’s wall). Some women may think that light bleeding is the early sign of their menstrual period. But in many cases, this bleeding is lighter than the bleeding in the regular menstrual periods.

Light bleeding usually occurs about 12-6 days after conception. But there also other conditions that cause light bleeding, such as certain infection, early stage of menstruation, or even changes in using birth control pills. Furthermore, light spotting may also be caused by abrasion from intercourse.

Missed period

As written before, missed period is one of common early pregnancy symptoms -- even some doctors say that it is the most common early pregnancy sign. It can be used for the indication that there is a successful fertilization between the egg and sperm.

But stress, taking birth control, being in not-ideal weight (weigh loss /weight gain), illness, or even excessively fatigue also can lead to a delayed period in a woman’s body. You may also be interested to know what does mean to have irregular period?!

Changes in breasts

Tender /swollen breasts are the most common form of changes in breasts for the early sign of your pregnancy. It can develop and obviously seem in the 1-2 weeks after the process of your conception. In this case, your breasts will be more sensitive to touch. Then in line with the progress of your pregnancy, there is usually also darker skin around the nipples.

Other possible conditions that cause swollen /tender breasts are PMS (impending menstruation), the effect of using birth control pill, or you may experience hormonal imbalance due to other health conditions.

Fatigue /backache /headache

The rapidly changes of your hormone are believed for the responsible of these symptoms. 

Frequent urination

This symptom is usually common after about 8-6 weeks after your conception. This is one of effects from the growth of the embryo (growing bigger in size) in the uterus. 

Other explanations for frequent urination are due to having diabetes (read also about gestational diabetes during pregnancy), having excessively diuretics, you have the increased liquid intake, or even urinary tract infection.

Strange signs of pregnancy

Did you know that there are also several strange signs of pregnancy that may occur in some pregnant women? What are these strange symptoms?

Constipation

Really?! Yes, there are also some cases of pregnant women who experience constipation during pregnancy. Many experts have opinion and believe that changes in hormone during pregnancy have contribution to cause the slow down performance of intestines which then will become sluggish.

What you should do if you experience this symptom? Getting adequate liquid a day by drinking adequate water and eating fresh fruit & vegetable is usually helpful enough to reduce the symptom of your constipation. If this idea doesn’t work, call a doctor promptly!

Insomnia

Pregnancy can make a woman be easily to get fatigue throughout the day. Furthermore, pregnancy also can generate insomnia. The symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or frequent urination usually also can make your insomnia worse. 

Solution: 

1. Avoid drinking beverages that contain caffeine! Moreover for some pregnant women, caffeine also can trigger their nausea symptom.
2. During pregnancy you should not do excessively activities that make you feel very tired. But this doesn’t mean you don’t need to move your body! Choose the right exercise and do it properly to keep fit your body. Discuss more with a professional trainer or your doctor for the right exercises for a pregnant woman!
3. And avoid stress! 

Experiencing vaginal discharge!

During pregnancy, you will temporarily lose your menstruation period. But for some pregnant women, they may also experience vaginal discharge. Generally, this vaginal discharge is normal -- it is similar to the condition when a woman ovulates. But if there is something wrong with the color and odor, let your doctor know!

Nasal stuffiness

The distance between uterus and nose is so far, but sometimes pregnant women can have nasal stuffiness or even nose bleed during their pregnancy. If this symptom occur continuously (especially for nose bleed), you need to see a doctor immediately!

Continuously morning sickness

Nausea and vomiting are some of the most common pregnancy symptoms. But did you know that sometimes they may run continuously throughout pregnancy (from 1st-trimester to 3rd-trimester). Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is the term used to call this condition. A pregnant woman with HG requires specialist treatment, because there is a higher chance of HG problem to generate other health conditions that can affect the baby. If you in doubt whether or not you have HG, for clearly diagnosis -- see a doctor immediately! 

Fortunately, there are a few cases of pregnancy with HG. Only about 1 in 200 pregnant women that experiences HG! However, it is important to clearly understand what actually HG is -- so thus you can prepare better for yourself to get a successful pregnancy! 

Nausea and vomiting

Morning sickness is popular term used to call the condition of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. But there are also some pregnant women who don’t get morning sickness or have little nausea in their pregnancy period.

The following are some possible factors that put a pregnant woman at higher chance of experiencing morning sickness (or even with heavy nausea and vomiting) in her pregnancy period:

1. Stress. High level of stress may also cause more frequent nausea during pregnancy!
2. Having pregnancy for the first time.
3. History of having morning sickness in the previous pregnancy.
4. Pregnant women who have twins or multiple pregnancies!
5. Having history /experience of motion sickness.
6. Having enlarged placenta.
7. Being overweight before pregnancy, particularly for those who have BMI of 30 or more!
8. A family history (your mother have history of morning sickness).

Hyperemesis gravidarum signs

1. Prolonged nausea and vomiting. 
2. Frequent dehydration. This is usually caused by a lot of fluid that go out from the body due to nausea and vomiting. 
3. Having lower blood pressure, especially when you are standing.
4. Losing more weight which is usually caused by lack of nutrient and appetite due to prolonged nausea & vomiting!
5. And even ketosis also can occur in pregnant women with HG. 

Miscarriage

Miscarriage is also often called as SAB or ‘spontaneous abortion’. It is a term used for a condition when a pregnancy ends on its own way. In many cases, the end of this spontaneous abortion occurs within the first 20 weeks or earlier of gestation. 

Causes of miscarriage

Chromosome abnormalities are believed for one of the major causes of SAB, and therefore you have a few options to prevent miscarriage. But being as healthy as possible before and after conception is usually the best option to lower your risk!

Other factors that may contribute in causing miscarriage are:

1. Malnutrition, particularly severe stage of malnutrition.
2. Certain radiation, particularly excessively radiation.
3. Uncontrolled diabetes.
4. Kidney disease in severe stage.
5. Bad lifestyles -- such as the use of illegal drug, alcohol abuse, or even smoking.
6. Abnormality problems associated with uterine.
7. Excessively exposure to unfriendly environments like pollutants and unfriendly chemical properties.
8. The side effect of certain medications.
9. Having certain diseases, such as thyroid disease, lupus, and congenital heart disease. 
10. Certain infection.

And did you know that your risk can increase if you get pregnant in the older age. Some studies found that the risk of miscarriage is high for those with pregnancy at the age of 40. That’s why, getting pregnant in the age of 35 or older should be avoided.

Symptoms of miscarriage

Women with SAB can experience common pregnancy symptoms, but the most common symptom is usually lighter or heavy bleeding. Other signs may include; back pain, fever, crams in severe stage, weakness, and pain in the abdominal.

***For more detailed information, see and consult more with a doctor!