The best way to keep you updated with memories of your pregnancy is through a pregnancy journal. For those who are already enjoying their motherhood, sharing the personal benefits by keeping a pregnancy journal to others can prove to be extremely beneficial. Pregnancy journal or diary, allows oneself to analyze how pregnancy brought changes to their lives and what they learnt about themselves and also the environment in which they are living.

Tips on the five elements: (1) Clearly state the thesis.  (2) Under methods, answer the following questions.  “What methods did the author use to investigate the topic?  Were the appropriate methods used?  Did the author’s approach to supporting the thesis make sense?  Did the author employ the methods correctly?  Did you discover any errors in the way the research was conducted?”  (3)  Evidence of Thesis Support:

Writing a journal critique can be a hard task to begin unless you have a good guide to follow on just how to critique.  The best way to learn how to critique is to have access to a good journal critique that can help you along your way with writing a well-researched critique with nothing left out or to the imagination.  Searching online for guides on how to write a journal critique, I found an online website that has an excellent critique of Middle Eastern Studies.

Sign of pregnancy There are several symptoms and signs of pregnancy experienced fairly early, even before the missed periods stage. Nearly all women go through it. Some women may overlook it, as they are not able to distinguish the early signs of pregnancy from similar health problems. While some women immediately sense the abrupt change in their body and take precaution. Some of these early signs of pregnancy are:

Keeping a pregnancy journal is another great idea, to keep a record of the happenings and feelings experienced by you during your pregnancy. It is a way of focusing on a your successes or changes to pave the way towards positive outlook and change in perspective during pregnancy. It also serves as means of sharing your personal experiences during pregnancy with other people, friends or family. Pregnancy journal can be reference record for your subsequent pregnancies too.

If your computer savvy, you can make them from the privacy of your own home. Just put together a layout or download one from the internet; import your picture, and get printing. If you’re not a computer whiz or don’t’ have the time you can easily find an online greeting card retailer that specialized in announcements. Just send them the chosen picture, pay for their services, and wait for them to come in the mail.

Being pregnant is a joyous time. There’s nothing more rewarding than bringing a new life into the world. While you may be taking steps to ensure your baby’s safety, you have to look out for yourself as well. Below are a few tips for maintaining safety and comfort during your pregnancy.

Morning Sickness – It’s believed that morning sickness is caused by high levels of estrogen in the bloodstream. If you’re one of those women who went through her first trimester without even a hint of nausea, count yourself among the fortunate. Many can’t even think of food without having to run for the bathroom. In most cases, morning sickness only lasts for the first few months, and while there’s no cure, there are several ways you can relieve the symptoms. Munching on salt free crackers between meals helps ease the feelings of nausea you may feel when hungry. Mint and ginger are great natural remedies, especially when used in tea or cookies. Try not to go for long periods without eating and do your best to eat several small meals throughout the day instead of three large ones. It might even be a good idea to avoid greasy or spicy foods.

Sleep – Getting adequate sleep is important during pregnancy, but as you grow bigger, it’s not too easy to find a comfortable sleeping position. Try using a long body pillow or sleeping with a pillow between your legs. Sleeping on your left side helps to reduce the swelling around hands, feet and ankles. When you sleep on your left side, you not only assist the flow of blood to the placenta, you also reduce the chances of low blood pressure and hemorrhoids. Try to avoid sleeping on your back, which puts the full weight of the uterus on your back and intestines. When you can, take naps during the day to avoid feeling fatigued.

Indigestion and heartburn – Many women suffer through indigestion and heartburn throughout their pregnancies. Although it’s a perfectly normal occurrence, it is one most women can do without. There are a few things you can do to ease these symptoms, however. Try eating several smaller meals each day rather than three larger ones. This way the stomach doesn’t have to work as hard. It’s also best to avoid caffeine. Wait an hour or two after eating before taking a nap or retiring for the evening. Also, most women can take an over-the-counter antacid, such as Tums, for relief. Make sure to check with your doctor first and always follow recommended dosage.

Shoes – Since wearing heels can make you lean forward, it’s best to wear low or no heeled shoes. High heels can also lead to back aches. Since your feet will probably swell, you’ll want to find comfortable shoes that are roomy. Slip-on shoes are a good bet since the last thing you’ll want to do as you get bigger is bend over and tie or buckle shoes.

Painting the baby’s room – No one really knows for sure if inhaling paint fumes causes birth defects, but it’s better to be safe than sorry, right If your nursery needs painting, enlist someone to do the work. If you’re home while the painting is going on, open the windows and wear a mask or ventilator. Make sure you stay out of the freshly painted room for a few days until the fumes are gone.

Hot tubs and saunas – It’s not a good idea to use any method of relaxation

that can cause you to become overheated during your pregnancy. During the first trimester, soaking in the hot tub or sauna is frowned upon as it might harm the fetus. Overheating later on in your pregnancy can cause you to become lightheaded and faint. Try not to raise your body temperature during pregnancy. If you’d like a bath, a warm tub bath should work just fine.

Leg Cramps – Leg cramps are very common during pregnancy, especially in the second or third trimesters. To prevent leg cramps, try increasing your magnesium and calcium intake (with your doctor’s blessing, of course). Also, avoid excess protein in your diet. (A word of caution, don’t change anything in your diet without first consulting with a doctor.) If you do get leg cramps, don’t massage or apply heat. Instead, straighten your leg and flex your ankle and toes towards your face.

Constipation – Hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect bowel movements. Because of this, many women experience constipation. Be sure to eat foods rich in fiber such as fruits and vegetables, wholegrain breads and cereals, and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Exercise such as walking thirty minutes each day also helps. Avoid taking over the counter constipation medication or laxatives without your doctor’s approval.

Clothing – One of the best things about being pregnant is that you get to wear comfy maternity clothes. When else can you get away with wearing loose and baggy clothes Dressing for comfort is essential, especially during the later months. Loose clothing around the legs and waist also help to prevent varicose veins and is better for blood circulation. Today’s styles call for tight clothing, even during pregnancy. Sometimes, however, it’s best to go for comfort over style.

Things to avoid – It goes without saying you should avoid smoking while pregnant, but even if you don’t indulge, you should stay away from those who do. Second-hand smoke can be just as harmful to your fetus. Avoid alcohol as well since it can cause birth defects and failure to thrive. Limit caffeine intake to one to two cups per day, especially since it can kill your appetite. In addition to coffee, there is caffeine in tea, soda, chocolate and even some medications.

Your pregnancy is a memorable time. Wouldn’t it be best to remember it for all the right reasons Taking care of yourself means ensuring your comfort and safety. You, and your baby, deserve it.

Treatments to avoid during pregnancy

-         Avoid using tretinoin, it is used to treat acne and it is very effective. It is one of the most familiar retinoids used. Because this treatment is a Vitamin A derivative, it will not be prescribed to a pregnant woman. It is very effective so pregnant women should avoid it. Try to stay way from any other retinoids.

-         Stay away from any antibiotics especially tetracycline. They cause weak the bone and some slight defects in babies.

-         Try and avoid any derivative of vitamin A. especially when you are suffering from severe or moderate acne cases. The one that is common is isotretinoin, it is banned and forbidden to be given to a pregnant woman.

Treatments to use during pregnancy

The first thing you must do is to go and see your doctor or dermatologist for the recommended drugs or treatment for pregnant women. So I will advice you see your doctor first before using any self medication or treatment.

The treatment that a dermatologist can prescribe to a person that is pregnant is the usage of natural methods, home remedies or topical treatments. The treatment you can try to use is benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. But if you can wait the acne will clear off after pregnancy.

You can also try to apply these short tips

-         Drink at least ten to fifteen glasses of water daily.

-         Wash your face at least three times daily.

-         Use a dry towel to clean your face after washing.

-         Do not pinch or touch your pimples, it might lead to severe scarring.

-         You can apply tea tree oil.

-         Relax and do it repeatedly.

-         Avoid stress

These are the safe acne treatment during pregnancy that you must use. Do not forget to go and see your doctor for the best remedy for your skin.

For a majority of pregnant women, the toughest part about the first phase of pregnancy is bouts with morning sickness. Morning sickness refers to those symptoms that pregnant women experience such as vomiting and nausea. The symptoms affect approximately 75 percent of pregnant women.

Since morning sickness affects more than 80% of pregnant women anytime between the sixth and twelfth week of pregnancy, learning how to deal with it is very important. Today, women have their choice of remedies used to counter morning sickness. The best treatments, however, are natural remedies that can be easily and conveniently used from the comfort of home or even otherwise. Morning sickness bands or sea bands for morning sickness are some of the newest products used to assist women suffering from it. These bands, sometimes referred to as acupressure bands are considered a natural, drug-free way of dealing with morning sickness. They are known to provide relief from nausea which is the symptom most commonly noted in morning sickness.

Morning sickness usually occurs in the pregnancy first stages, which starts in the 4th week, get worse around 6th and 8th week, and then decreasing when you enter the 12th week of pregnancy. The rapid increase of hormone level in the blood is the culprit of morning sickness you had. The hormone change is needed for your body to prepare your womb and your body for developing the pregnancy. It might takes a while for your body to adjust with the hormonal changes, which will trigger morning sickness.

Morning sickness is basically not dangerous for you nor for the baby. However, in some cases the vomiting could gone so bad that the mother can lack of food and fluids in her body. And when this continue over several days, it can cause dehydration and malnourishment, which may lead you to the hospital for intensive care and diagnosis.

If you’re trying to figure out how to ease morning sickness where nutrition is an issue, you need to look closely at your diet. If you had the habit of skipping meals prior to becoming pregnant, doing so now can hurt you more than ever. Knowing how to deal with morning sickness by eating the right quantity of food at the right time may be paramount.

Often when a pregnant woman’s stomach is completely empty, she is more likely to experience some of the worst aspects of morning sickness. Learning ways to deal with the sickness requires some women to eat more than they are accustomed to. Eating as many as six small meals a day, instead of the normal three, can help prevent nausea.

Another way to avoid morning sickness is to get required amount of rest. Some pregnant women find that their symptoms are more severe when they are overly tired or have not slept well. There is a correlation between sleep and morning sickness symptoms. One simple remedy can be napping during the day. For some, this may not be possible, but perhaps going to bed earlier may be a better alternative.

So you can see how connecting the dot between symptoms and treatments is paramount in finding ways to prevent morning sickness. With the wealth of information available a pregnant woman will find not only symptoms and treatments, but also causes. Each expectant mother experiencing morning sickness is going to have a different experience, so knowledge about one’s own case is good.

Pregnancy and Exercise: Most recent findings reveal that mothers who engage in exercise during pregnancy regularly are helping to increase their child’s IQ, children whose mother exercise 30 minutes a day during pregnancy score higher points on standard IQ test than children whose mother were more sedentary according to experts, because exercising large muscle group increase the growth of neurons and adds to the blood supply of the brain. However, care must be taken not to engage in strenuous exercise so as not to restrict oxygen from your uterus and make sure to stick within a recommended heart rate level to ensure that your baby is getting the oxygen he/she needs for improved growth. It is pertinent to mention some exercise considered harmful which include ones that may involve the risk of abdominal trauma, falls or excessive joint stress as in contact sport and vigorous racquet sports.

Pregnancy and Intake of fish-oil drugs: Cod-liver oil and other related fish-oil preparations are potent source of DHA which is needed by the body for normal development of the brain and of visual function in baby’s development, in this regard women who take cod-liver oil during pregnancy and the first 3 months are likely to have more intelligent children because of the presence of fatty-acid in fish-oil which serve the function of optimal brain development. However, mothers during pregnancy should take caution on this point not to exceed two tea-spoon of cod-liver oil because this might put them at increased risk of having a child with certain birth defect ; two tea-spoon of cod-liver oil contains approximately 8000 to 10000 IU of vitamin A which is prescribed to be normal dose a day.

Breast feeding: The follow-up by british researchers on premature infants reports the intelligent result of 8 year-old who had fed with their own mother’s milk after birth, the children who had received their mother’s milk had significant higher IQ than children who did not received breast milk which made many parent realize that breast-milk conferred substantial advantages for cognitive development and that this could perhaps be explained by the presence of various factors in breast-milk necessary for the development of neural tissue such as long chain fatty-acids which are completely missing in infant formulas. More so, exercise before birth and breast feeding combined will raise typical child’s IQ to about 144, that is, 14 poits above average (Nisbet)

I hope you benefit from this write-up, I wish you safe delivery and happy nuturing, the time to take the bold step to add value to your baby begins now

One thing about morning sickness is that no one knows when it actually begins to happen.Ickness begins during the first three months of pregnancy (first trimester) and may last up even throughout the pregnancy for some. This is because the woman’s body is undergoing chemical changes as a preparation for the incubation of the child. And even though it is called morning sickness, it may last all throughout the day.

Experiencing morning sickness can really be rough, but it can be avoided or may only have lesser encounters as much as possible throughout the entire nine months of pregnancy even without the aid of conventional medications.Give you an idea, here are a few techniques that you can use:

Diet: During pregnancy stages, there are changes that are happening to a woman’s body. One very obvious is being very sensitive to the smell of the foods. This is because the body tries to see if taking that food in can harm the baby inside or not. And aside from that, you should also try to avoid certain foods which are greasy, spicy, or fatty as they can make you feel nauseated.  

Water: During pregnancy period, avoid getting dehydrated as it doesn’t only make you have morning sickness, but it may also endanger not only your baby, but also you yourself. Being hydrated can also help you in alleviating some of the symptoms of pregnancy such as sciatica and back pains. Pregnant women are recommended to drink even more than the usual suggestion of 8 glasses a day. They should be drinking around 9, 10, or more glasses of water daily.

Dry Foods: It is good to always have a cracker or biscuit beside you.Uit beside you.When pregnant, a woman’s stomach becomes more concentrated to be able to meet all the changes that are going through her body. This results to faster digestion of the food in the stomach, so you’ll never know when you’ll be hungry and need something to eat.

There are still a lot of techniques that can be given when avoiding morning sickness. Try these techniques first, and if ever you still are experiencing morning sickness, then do not hesitate to visit your doctor as he/she can surely give you more tips on how you will be able to avoid it.

Most Recommended Tips for How Can You Lose Weight After Pregnancy  http://www.dietbuzzer.com/blog/diet-pills-see-what’s-experts-say-about-them.html

 Losing weight after pregnancy is not a fool’s errand, but neither is it an easy errand; it requires patience, a realistic attitude, a positive outlook, and when it comes down to it – persistence and dedication. A realistic outlook by any means is to expect to lose no more than 1 or 2 pounds per week. For an extra 10 to 25 pounds, then, that can take anywhere from 2 months to 2 years.

There’s no quick fix to losing weight after pregnancy – not a sustainable and lasting one, at least. So the best way to succeed is to start out with realistic expectations for the time frame in which to achieve your results and with the commitment to seeing the process through, however long it may take.

Now that you have the right mental attitude, let’s go over a few suggestions for ways to get rid of that unwanted weight postpartum:

Most Recommended Tips for How Can You Lose Weight After Pregnancy  http://www.dietbuzzer.com/blog/is-meal-replacements-is-best-way-for-weight-loss.html

 Don’t start right away: Contrary to the “do it now” mentality you’re normally advised to live by, when you’ve just given birth, your body needs time to adjust to the changes it’s undergone over the preceding 9 months. Remember, you are not “returning” to the state you were in before your pregnancy; you’re in a new state you’ve never been in before. You are in the body of a new mother, and this body needs time to get used to this new way of being. Avoid weight-loss dieting of any sort for a good three months after delivering. Don’t worry about exercise so much as just being sure you remain active and moving around. You can use your menstrual cycle as an indicator of when your body is ready to take on a more intentional program of diet and exercise; when it normalizes, you’re ready to go.
Start slow: Your body is still healing from the pregnancy, and diving headlong into a heavy-duty exercise regimen may be too much of a shock to your newly-adjusting system to do you any good at all. Walking around the block or the park with your baby is an excellent way to begin, and it primes your body exquisitely for taking on more extensive and intensive exercise at a later date.
Set yourself up for success: That means keep your kitchen stocked with fresh and healthy foods, particularly snacks, so when you feel the urge to eat something, you have only suitable options around. Several smaller meals throughout the day will serve your ends far better than just 2 or 3 large meals. And don’t try and starve yourself. You’ll do no good to your new baby that way, and you’ll invariably find yourself binging sometime later on to compensate.

Shedding excess weight after pregnancy is not an easy task, but it can be done. Every body is different. Rather than comparing your rate of postpartum weight loss to that of any other new mother, focus on sticking to the slow and steady path to the long-lasting results you crave: a body that glows more than it ever did during or before you got pregnant.

If you’re two to four weeks pregnant, make sure you avoid environmental hazards that will affect the formation of your baby. Refrain from smoking, or drinking alcohol which are medically proven to be dangerous to you and your baby. During this time, the chorionic villi begin to form and gestational sac becomes vivid in a transvaginal ultrasound. The yolk sac or the sac responsible for feeding your baby until the placenta is ready is also evident. Count seven more days from here and you’ll be able to hear your baby’s heartbeat. The fifth pregnancy week indicates that your baby can be the size of the tip of a pen. Hearing your child’s heartbeat is music to every mother’s ear. The wonder of being a mother is greatly felt as another heart beats with yours.

During the seventh week, your baby’s umbilical cord appears, while the fingers and toes form and movement begins during the eighth and ninth weeks respectively. On week ten, neurons multiply and baby’s sex may be apparent on week eleven. This time, your baby’s neurons multiply to 250,000 every minute. Together with this change are eyelids becoming more compact and outer ears assume their final form. For male babies, the testes begin producing testosterone. For those who are ten weeks pregnant, it pays to do pregnancy exercises that will ease the pain of your physical transformation. Seek doctor’s advice before taking some medications. It is also recommended that you take in healthy diet and be able to refrain from stressful activities. Maintain a normal weight and be able to take prenatal vitamins.

Your baby will start to grow and the activities you engaged in during his most crucial stages will greatly affect the person he is when he comes out and become part of the world as an individual. A healthy mother ensures a healthy baby. Your week by week pregnancy monitoring will help you know more of what your child needs.

Expecting a baby is an incomparable joy for expectant parents. The curiosities and concerns about what to expect increases as the baby develops inside the mother’s womb. Each stage of growth represents an achievement for the mother. Monitoring the changes in the development of your child can help you with information about the baby and the expectant mother’s mental and physical well being.

Take the weight gain (and resultant stretch marks) that every one who gets pregnancy has to deal with, and you see just how off-putting the idea of pregnancy can be to the image conscious woman. But while there is really no way to avoid the weight gain that has to accompany every pregnancy, there is plenty that one can do to keep herself from falling into stretch mark’s way. Out of the considerable body of literature offering information on how to stay away from stretch marks’ way, we have culled these simple tips to help every expectant mother steer clear of them.

1. Be conscious about your food choices during your pregnancy. While there are surely those cravings that come with pregnancy, you don’t have to yield to them every time, because doing so could leave you with a huge mess to deal with after the young one is born. Foods that are rich in Vitamin A, for instance, have been known to be major culprits in inducing stretch marks, which means that you should avoid over-indulging in them, and instead opt for foods that are rich in vitamin C, Vitamin A and the mineral zinc, as these have been shown to help in keeping stretch marks away. Take note, though, that reducing intake of foods rich in Vitamin A does not mean avoiding them altogether, as this could have very bad effects on you and the unborn baby.

2. Aim for a steady rather than a rapid gain of weight during your pregnancy. While some considerable degree of weight gain is inevitable during pregnancy, it is within your power as a woman to control the pattern that the weight gain takes place in. If you gain weight too rapidly, it is inevitable that you will find yourself struggling with stretch marks later.

3. Increase your water intake. Increasing your water intake will do wonders on your skin’s elasticity, which could keep you out of stretch marks’ way, while also doing you and your expected baby a lot of good in many other ways.

4. Keep fit. Engaging in exercises (of course with your doctor’s blessings) during the course of your pregnancy could also help enhance your skins elasticity (and tone, one might add), which will go a long way towards keeping you out of stretch marks way.

5. Consider going for the increasingly popular pre-natal massages. These have been noted to work wonders on blood circulation in the body, which is important to everyone looking to steer clear of stretch mark’s ways; because poor circulation is one of the factors behind the formation of the stretch marks.

6. Consider making use of a stretch mark cream. If you decide to go this route, though, you need to be extra careful about your choice of stretch mark creams, as quite a number of them may contain substances that are not safe for expectant mothers and their young ones.

Being pregnant is the most valuable thing in a woman’s life. You should have a proper plan and must be aware on what to do and what not to do to stay fit. Some women are of the view that it’s good to plan even before you conceive. In fact the nine month journey for you and your baby becomes smoother and safer, if you start planning early. The right way to do so is to chalk out a proper diet chart and exercise program.

An appointment has to be fixed up with the doctor for the regular visits as he might provide valuable tips. These suggestions will help you attain a good health during those nine months. You should strictly follow the doctor’s advice. Moreover a continuous medical assistance is required during pregnancy. If you’re financial limitations do not permit you to afford to visit gynecologists regularly then you can still seek the help of local public health doctor for your regular checkups. Apart from this, you should give a stop to all your unhealthy habits.

It is not advised to continue with practices like drinking, smoking etc which will affect the health of the child. Moreover, it’s strongly recommended not to purchase non-prescribed medicines. If you are feeling sick immediately consult a doctor and follow his medication. Apart from this your diet plan should include all nutritious food items to ensure healthy pregnancy. In fact you need to be very specific and careful about the food you consume. Do not consumer oily food items and other items which are rich in fat levels. Do not take self medication at any cost.

A nutritious diet should comprise of fresh vegetables, lean protein and fruits. This food items supply you all the nourishment that you need to give birth to a healthy baby.