The First Pregnancy

• Heartburn
• Swelling of the ankles, fingers, and face. If you notice any sudden or extreme swelling or if you gain a lot of weight really quickly, call your doctor right away. This could be a sign of preeclampsia or toxemia.
• Hemorrhoids
• Tender Breasts
• Trouble Sleeping

As you near your due date, your cervix becomes thinner and softer (called effacing). This is a normal, natural process that helps the birth canal (vagina) to open during the birthing process. Your doctor can check your progress with a vaginal exam.

Weight Gain

Everyone gains weight at different rates. On average, it is normal to gain about one pound per week, or three to four pounds per month, during the third trimester. By the end of your pregnancy you should have gained, on average, about 25 to 30 pounds. About 7 1/2 pounds of that weight should be the baby.

Changes in Your Baby

Your baby is still growing and moving, but now it has less room in your uterus. Because of this, you might not feel the kicks and movements as much as you did in the second trimester. During this final stage of your pregnancy, your baby is continuing to grow. Even before your baby is born it will be able to open and close its eyes and might even suck its thumb.

As your body prepares for birth, the baby will start to move into its birth position. You might notice the baby "dropping," or moving down lower in your abdomen. This can reduce the pressure on your lungs and rib cage, making it easier to breathe.

At birth, the average baby is 20 to 22 inches long and weighs 7 1/2 pounds. But newborns who weigh between 5 pounds, 11 1/2 ounces and 8 pounds, 5 3/4 ounces are considered healthy.

Sleeping in the 3rd Trimester

Your energy may lessen as you enter the ninth month. So you may begin to slow down. This is normal. It's important to get enough rest now, even though it can be more difficult to sleep as you get larger. The baby's movements, bathroom runs, and an increase in your body's metabolism can make sleeping difficult.

Try these tips for sleeping in the last three months of pregnancy:

• avoid eating large meals three hours before going to bed
• do mild exercise like walking
• avoid taking long naps during the day
• talk with your partner, friends, doctor or midwife to relieve stress

Doctors Visits

Be sure to continue seeing your doctor or midwife regularly. In the last trimester of pregnancy, women usually see their doctors or midwives more frequently. From 30 weeks to 38 weeks of pregnancy, most doctors and midwives recommend one office visit every two weeks. After 38 weeks, women normally see their doctor or midwife every week until delivery.

As your due date approaches, ask questions and share concerns you have about labor and delivery. You and your doctor will discuss what kind of delivery you will have. Some women need to have a cesarean section (c-section). During a c-section a surgical cut is made in the abdomen and uterus to remove the baby.

If you plan on a non-surgical, vaginal birth, you should talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of pain relief. Some women opt for pain medicines and others want to deliver naturally, without medicine. Many women find childbirth classes very helpful, even if they have already had a baby. Women often bring their partners or a friend or relative to childbirth classes, particularly if this person will be with them during the birth of their baby.

Inducing Labor

Did you know that only five percent of babies are born on their due dates? So being pregnant after your due date is normal and common. And it does not mean anything is wrong. But sometimes the doctor has concerns about the baby's and/or your health. In these cases, the doctor recommends inducing labor. Inducing labor means that your doctor will start your labor through artificial means. Most doctors will wait one to two weeks after a woman's due date before considering inducing.

Some reasons why doctors induce labor include:

• The mother has a chronic illness like high blood pressure or diabetes that threatens the health of the baby.
• The baby is not growing normally.
• A woman's "water breaks" which means the membranes that surround the fetus rupture but contractions don't start within a safe amount of time.

Most doctors induce labor in the hospital to ensure the health of the mother and baby. There are many ways to start contractions. Doctors can rupture the membranes (break the water) surrounding the fetus. They can also insert a suppository containing a hormone into the vagina. Most often, doctors use a medicine called Pitocin to induce labor. Pitocin is a hormone that causes contractions. Women in the hospital receive Pitocin through a vein in the arm or hand.

Deciding to Breastfeed or Bottle-Feed

If you haven't thought about whether you will breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby, it is time to start. You should learn more about both options and make a decision about what you plan to do. Breastfeeding is much better than formula-feeding for your baby's health and your own.

Find out all the facts about breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor or a pediatrician about breastfeeding. Then make the decision that is right for you. Visit our breastfeeding center to learn more about the benefits, to find out how to make it work best for you, and to get tips on breastfeeding while working.

When to Call Your Doctor

Before your due date, make sure to talk with your doctor about how to reach him or her if you go into labor. It's also helpful to be familiar with the hospital or birthing center, where you should park, and where to check in ahead of time. Know that sometimes you can think you're in labor, but really are not (called false labor). This happens to many women, so don't feel embarrassed if you go to the hospital certain that you are in labor, only to be sent home! It's always better to be seen by a doctor as soon as possible once labor has begun. Here are the signs of true labor:

Signs of Labor

• Contractions at regular and increasingly shorter intervals that also become stronger in intensity.
• Lower back pain that doesn't go away. You might also feel premenstrual and crampy.
• Your water breaks (can be a large gush or a continuous trickle) and you have contractions.
• A bloody (brownish or blood-tinged) mucous discharge. This is the mucous plug that blocks the cervix. Labor could be at any time, or days away.
• Your cervix is dilating (opening up) and becoming thinner and softer (also called effacement). During a pelvic exam, your doctor will be able to tell if these things are happening.

For the other members of the household, it is a different situation altogether. If the women have undergone pregnancies themselves or at least come in contact with other pregnant women, they generally know what to expect in the succeeding months following the conception. The others are totally in the dark, however! A brief description about what takes place during the varied stages of pregnancy is therefore presented in the paragraphs below.

Since no glaring changes are visible in the earliest weeks of pregnancy, the mother-to-be may not even know she has conceived! It is only when she experiences feelings of nausea or what is generally termed as "morning sickness" that she is prompted to go to a doctor, who then confirms that she is pregnant. How the news is received is dependent on the expectant mother herself! Anyway, mood swings can be expected during the initial weeks as her body is trying to cope with all the changes taking place within.

Hormonal changes are constant during the first trimester, that is, the commencement of the different stages of pregnancy. The pregnant woman's body is trying to keep up with the growing fetus within her womb. Without her actually being aware of it, she is subject to vacillating moods and emotions. They stabilize at the end of two months or even more. As a matter of fact, she is already planning ahead and preparing herself to welcome the new arrival into the house! So housecleaning may probably be taken up vigorously and things which have been stored for years are ruthlessly discarded. This is also the time when the mother-to-be starts to gain weight.

During the middle stages of pregnancy, the pregnant woman is more inclined to discuss the pregnancy and what she is experiencing from within. She may even try to complete all the tasks which she might have taken up before becoming aware of her pregnant state.

The last stages of pregnancy usher in a lot of discomfort for the expectant mother and she is eagerly waiting to deliver her child! The discomfort may have been present from much earlier, but she takes notice of it only in the final two months. She tends to feel fatigued all the time. The growing fetus puts pressure on her bladder, causing her to make frequent trips to the bathroom. The baby is actually shifting its position and trying to create more room for itself; so the mother-to-be feels heavier in her front and experiences back pain. To get rid of these feelings of discomfort, she may again indulge in housecleaning!

With the last stages of pregnancy coming to an end and signaling the imminent arrival of the newborn, the expectant mother is too preoccupied to give much thought to other members of the household or even outsiders. This is very normal as she is going to take up a new responsibility and has to plan for her life ahead.

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Some of the following aches and pains may make their first appearance during the second trimester:

• Pain in the abdomen, groin, and thighs
• Backaches
• Shortness of breath
• Stretch Marks
• Skin Changes
• Tingling in hands and fingers
• Itching on the abdomen, palms, and soles of the feet — Call your doctor if you have nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice or fatigue combined with itching. These can be signs of a serious liver problem called cholestasis of pregnancy.

Weight Gain

Everyone gains weight at different rates. On average, it is normal to gain about one pound per week, or about three to four pounds per month during this trimester.

Changes in Your Baby

By the end of the second trimester your baby will weigh about 1 3/4 pounds and be about 13 inches long. With this growth comes the development of fingers, toes, eyelashes, and eyebrows. Around the fifth month, you might feel your baby move! By the end of this trimester, all of your baby's essential organs like the heart, lungs, and kidneys are formed.

2nd Trimester Tests and Procedures

During the second trimester, you should continue to see your doctor for prenatal care. Most pregnant women have monthly office visits with their doctor or midwife until the end of this trimester.

During the second trimester your doctor can use an ultrasound to see if your baby is developing in a healthy way and to find out your baby's sex. You will also be offered screening tests to look for genetic birth defects.

Birth defects result from problems with a baby's genes, inherited factors that are passed down from the mother and the father at conception. Genetic birth defects sometimes occur in people with no family history of that disorder. Women over the age of 35 have the greatest chances of having a baby with birth defects.

Some of the diagnostic and screening tests your doctor might suggest in the second trimester include:

Amniocentesis

This test is performed in pregnancies of at least 16 weeks. It involves your doctor inserting a thin needle through your abdomen, into your uterus, and into the amniotic sac to take out a small amount of amniotic fluid for testing. The cells from the fluid are grown in a lab to look for problems with chromosomes. The fluid also can be tested for AFP. About 1 in 200 women have a miscarriage as a result of this test.

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)

This test is performed between 10 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. The doctor inserts a needle through your abdomen or inserts a catheter through your cervix in order to reach the placenta. Your doctor then takes a sample of cells from the placenta. These cells are used in a lab to look for problems with chromosomes. This test cannot find out whether your baby has open neural tube defects. About 1 in 200 women have a miscarriage as a result of this test.

Maternal serum screening test

This blood test can be called by many different names including multiple marker screening test, triple test, quad screen, and others. This test is usually given between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. It checks for birth defects such as Down syndrome, trisomy 18, or open neural tube defects. Doctors take a sample of your blood. They check the blood for 3 chemicals: alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (made by the liver of the fetus), and two pregnancy hormones: estriol and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Sometimes, doctors test for a fourth substance in the blood called inhibin-A. Testing for inhibin-A may improve the ability to detect fetuses with a high risk of Down syndrome.

Higher levels of AFP are linked with open neural tube defects. In women age 35 and over, this test finds about 80% of fetuses with Down syndrome, trisomy 18, or an open neural tube defect. In this age group, there is a false positive rate (having a positive result without actually having a fetus with one of these health problems) of 22%. In women under age 35, this test finds about 65% of fetuses with Down syndrome, and there is a false positive rate of about 5%.

Targeted ultrasound

The best time to get a targeted ultrasound is between 18 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. Most major problems with the way your baby is formed can be seen at this time. Some physical defects such as clubbed feet and heart defects may not be seen.

Your doctor can also use ultrasound to see if your baby has any neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. In most cases, if you want to find out the sex of your baby, you can ask your doctor during this test. This is not the most accurate test for Down syndrome. Only 1 in 3 babies with Down syndrome have an abnormal second trimester ultrasound.

By the end of your first trimester, you will have a little baby bulge, enough for others to notice and ask if you are expecting, if you haven`t already told them. During the seventh week, the baby has started to develop a face and the vital organs have started to develop. The heartbeat develops during this time and by the time the second trimester starts it is quite possible that you have listened to the heartbeat in your doctor`s office.

The morning sickness usually starts to ease off in the second trimester, but each woman is different. Some are well beyond the nausea at this point, while others have nausea into their third trimester. The danger of miscarriage is past by the time you reach the 12th week, so you can start to relax and enjoy the pregnancy. These three months are usually the easiest of the nine.

Both you can your partner have started to adapt to the fact you will have another member of the family and your emotions are more regulated, which means you and your partner can get back to normal and he won`t have to try to tread easily around you without fear of making you cry for no reason. Your body will start to grow during this stage and you may have uncomfortable periods when the baby seems to be kicking you in the ribs.

The final stage of pregnancy starts in the sixth month. This is when you will see the greatest growth in your belly as the baby starts to fully develop and put on a little weight. During your seventh month you may experience swelling of your hands and feet and need to rest more often during the day. During your final month, the baby drops further down into the uterus to prepare for birth. This will give you relief under your ribs, but it will also put more pressure on the bladder so you will have to visit the washroom even more frequently.

Your anxiety level will probably be higher at this point if this is your first pregnancy and you don`t know what to expect in the delivery. You will have more energy than normal during the final few weeks as you prepare for the coming of the baby.

For more information on pregnancy stages, nausea during pregnancy and older women and pregnancy visit http://www.Pregnancy-Period.com

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Tiredness

Many women find they're exhausted in the first trimester. Don't worry, this is normal! This is your body's way of telling you that you need more rest. After all, your body is working very hard to develop a whole new life.

Try these tips to ease exhaustion:

• Get at least eight hours of sleep every night, and a nap during the day when possible.
• When you are tired, rest or relax.
• Start sleeping on your left side. This will relieve pressure on major blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. If you have high blood pressure during pregnancy, it is even more important to be on your left side when you are lying down.
• If you feel stressed, try to find a way to relax.

Nausea and Vomiting

Usually called "morning sickness," nausea and vomiting are common during early pregnancy. For many women, though, it isn't limited to just the morning. Although it can seem like it will last forever, nausea and vomiting usually go away after the first trimester.

Try these tips to help prevent and soothe nausea:

• Eat frequent, small meals (6 to 8 small meals a day) rather than 3 large meals. Avoid fatty, fried, or spicy foods.
• Try eating starchy snacks, like toast, saltines, cheerios, or other dry cereals when you feel nauseated. Keep some by your bed and eat something before you get out of bed in the morning. If you feel nauseous in the middle of the night, reach for these starchy foods. It's also a good idea to keep these snacks with you at all times, in case of nausea.
• Try drinking carbonated drinks like ginger ale or seltzer water in between meals.
• Ask your doctor if you should change prenatal vitamins if it seems to be making your nausea worse. Sometimes taking your prenatal vitamin at a different time (e.g. at night not in the morning) can also help.
• Ask your doctor about taking vitamin B6 for nausea and vomiting that doesn't get better with dietary changes.

If you think you might be vomiting excessively, call your doctor. Constant nausea and/or frequent vomiting may mean you have a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum. If you lose too much fluid you might become dehydrated. Dehydration can be dangerous for you and your baby.

Frequency of Urination

Running to the bathroom all the time? Early in pregnancy, the growing uterus presses on your bladder. This causes frequent urination.

See your doctor right away if you notice pain, burning, pus or blood in your urine. You might have a urinary tract infection that needs treatment.

Weight gain

During the first trimester, it is normal to gain only a small amount of weight, about one pound per month.

Changes in Your Baby

By the end of the first trimester, your baby is about three inches long and weighs about half an ounce. The eyes move closer together into their positions, and the ears also are in position. The liver is making bile, and the kidneys are secreting urine into the bladder. Even though you can't feel your baby move yet, your baby will move inside you in response to pushing on your abdomen.

Doctors Visits

During the early months of pregnancy, regular doctor visits (prenatal care) are especially important. Become a partner with your doctor to manage your care. Keep all of your appointments — every one is important!

During the first prenatal visit, you can expect your doctor or nurse to do the following:

• ask about your health history including diseases, operations, or prior pregnancies
• ask about your family's health history
• do a complete physical exam
• do a pelvic exam with a Pap test
• order lab tests
• check your blood pressure, urine, and weight
• figure out your expected due date
• answer your questions

1st Trimester Tests and Procedures

For special genetic or medical reasons, you may need other lab tests, like blood or urine tests, cultures for infections, or ultrasound exams in the first trimester. Your doctor will discuss them with you during your visits.

The most common tests recommended in the first trimester include:

Nuchal translucency screening (NTS)

This new type of screening can be done between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy. It uses an ultrasound and blood test to calculate the risk of some birth defects. Doctors use the ultrasound exam to check the thickness of the back of the fetus' neck. They also test your blood for levels of a protein called pregnancy-associated plasma protein and a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Doctors use this information to tell if the fetus has a normal or greater than normal chance of having some birth defects.

In an important recent study, NTS found 87% of cases of Down syndrome when done at 11 weeks of pregnancy. When NTS was followed by another blood test done in the second trimester ( maternal serum screening test), 95% of fetuses with Down syndrome were identified.

Like all screening tests, the results are sometimes misleading. In 5% of women who have NTS, results show that their babies have a high risk of having a birth defect when they are actually healthy. This is called a false positive. To find out for sure if the fetus has a birth defect, NTS must be followed by a diagnostic test like chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis .

NTS is not yet widely used. If you are interested in NTS, talk to your doctor. If she is unable to do the test, she can refer you to someone who can. You should also call your insurance company to find out if they cover the cost of this procedure. NTS allows women to find out early if there are potential health problems with the fetus. This may help them decide whether to have follow-up tests.

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)

CVS is performed between 10 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. In CVS, the doctor inserts a needle through the abdomen or inserts a catheter through the cervix to reach the placenta. The doctor then takes a sample of cells from the placenta. Experts use this sample to look for problems with the baby's chromosomes. This test cannot find out whether your baby has open neural tube defects. About 1 in 200 women have a miscarriage as a result of this test.

Second Pregnancy Stage

During the second stage the baby polishes its body functions and goes on to develop rapidly. In the middle of this pregnancy stage the sex of the baby can be determined. At the end of this stage the baby is about thirty five centimeter long and weighs about more than 1 kilogram. Now the mother's body does not fit into the old outfits. Due to the expanding belly it is the right time to buy new maternity clothes.

Third Pregnancy Stage

The third and the last stage of pregnancy, seems to be the longest. The organs of the baby have become strong enough to survive on their own. The weight of the baby varies a lot here but on the average it is almost three kgs and about fifty centimeters in length. You will again feel tired and exhausted, but now because of carrying the baby. The baby is about to arrive and the body is now preparing for the labor and birth process.

The moment the baby is delivered and he/she comes in your lap all the tiredness of carrying him up will be waived off. You have designated with a new post "The Mom". Though the journey was hard and long but the reward is no doubt marvelous.

For week by week pregnancy picture aided pregnancy details check Pregnancy Stages and enjoy the pregnancy at its spirit.

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1. Make time to rest

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It's a simple thing, but sometimes so difficult to take time out for yourself. Not only is this good for you, but also extremely good for your baby - so don't feel guilty about 'doing nothing'.
It is ok to say “no” when you don’t have the energy to take on extra chores even if you do have the time.
At work, find somewhere to put your feet up and relax during your lunch break and, in the evenings, try to cut down on chores. Let your husband handle the laundry, and forget about housework for a while. Obviously, if you have a child already it can be hard to find the time to rest, so why not get your husband, a friend or grandparents to amuse him for an afternoon, while you have a well-earned break?

2. Antenatal yoga

Yoga during pregnancy not only helps tone your body, but the relaxation techniques that will assist you in labour can have a beneficial effect during pregnancy. If you are prone to feelings of anxiety or have experienced panic attacks, practising your breathing techniques can really help.

3. Talk about it

If you are worried about whether your baby is healthy or whether he will be born safely, you're certainly not alone. Talking about these concerns will really help, whether it's with your husband, mother or a friend who already has children. Other women at the same stage of pregnancy as you, perhaps at your antenatal class, will undoubtedly share your concerns and your doctor can also reassure you.
Sharing your worries on our pregnancy board could also help.

4. Relaxation and complementary therapies

Massage in pregnancy is a fantastic way to de-stress. If you are using aromatherapy or essential oils, it's important to make sure they are safe for use in pregnancy as some are not suitable for the first or third trimester. Oils safe for use after 20 weeks include most lavender oils, citrus oils and ylang ylang, but you should check with a qualified aromatherapist.
Reflexology is also a lovely way to relax, but make sure the therapist is qualified in working with pregnant women. Some mums-to-be find that Bach Flower Remedies can help with feelings of stress or panic, particularly the Walnut Remedy and the Rescue Remedy.
Meditation and positive visualisation techniques can also help. Meditation is a way of relaxing by concentrating on a mental focus, and positive visualisation is a technique for releasing anxieties by creating an inner picture of a peaceful scene. You can find books in your library which show you how to relax in this way if you haven't tried it before. Buy some special relaxation tapes to play in the background - great for helping your mind switch off. Choose a time when you know you won't be disturbed and try to give yourself at least 30 minutes.

5. Preparing for the birth

You may be worrying about the impending labour and how you will cope with the pain, whether you will make a fool of yourself or how your husband will cope. Find out about the mechanics of labour as well as the physical and emotional aspects of each phase by signing up for antenatal classes, reading books and magazines and gathering information from BabyCenter. Being informed will help you feel more confident and in control.
It will also help to visit the labour and delivery rooms of the hospital where you plan to have your baby beforehand, so that you know what to expect.
For a few women, the fear of childbirth can be so overwhelming that they would rather have a caesarean section than a normal delivery. This fear is known as 'tocophobia' and is not uncommon. Tell your doctor about your fears. Research has shown this can be helped with the right counselling and support; cognitive behavioural therapy is one of options available which might help.

6. Relationship changes

It's perfectly understandable to worry about how having a baby will affect your relationship with your partner or how you will cope as a parent. Parenting is something you learn along the way and often there is no right or wrong way to do things, you just have to do what feels right for you. Try and spend some time with a friend who has a young baby to pick up some useful tips and ideas. If you have any anxieties about your finances, job, relationship or housing, speak to your friends and family for advice.

7. Commuting strategies

Like a lot of women these days, you may plan on working until just a few weeks before your due date because you want more time off with your baby after he's born. Commuting can be one of the major sources of stress for expectant mums and one which is made worse the more heavily pregnant you are.
Ask your employer if you can avoid rush hours, particularly if you use public transport. Perhaps starting work earlier and finishing earlier would be possible, or even working from home one or two days a week.
Make sure you always sit down while travelling and if you are not offered a seat you should ask for one. Don't feel embarrassed - it's really not safe to be swinging around in a train or bus - and most people are more than willing to give up their seats, they just need to be reminded sometimes!

8. Money matters

The knock-on effect of having a baby is the dent it makes in your finances. If you have debts to repay--especially credit card debt-- it may be a good idea to pay off your dues before your baby arrives. If you are worried about how you are going to afford everything, make a list of the items you need - in order of priority - then decide which ones you could borrow from friends or family. It really isn't necessary to buy everything, particularly when some items are often only used for a couple of months.
Make sure you get your full entitlement of maternity leave and pay. Find out what it is from your human resources department and don't be afraid to seek further help if you need more advice.

9. Diet and exercise

Eating calming nutrients can help suppress the hormones that rise at times of stress. Foods containing B vitamins, such as yeast extract, wholegrain bread and wholegrain rice, increase your levels of the anti-stress hormone serotonin. Ensuring that you eat well in pregnancy is very important.
Physical exercise also has proven benefits in terms of relieving tension, so continue with the exercise you did before you were pregnant -- so long as it is safe for you to do so. If you're in any doubt, check with your doctor. If you attend exercise classes, always inform your teacher that you are pregnant.
Swimming is the perfect exercise for pregnancy as it keeps you toned and healthy, without being too hard on your joints, although be careful with excessive breaststroke as it may cause backache. Aquarobics classes for pregnant women are also a fun way of keeping fit.
Walking is a wonderful way to stay fit during pregnancy—go for a relaxing walk in the neighbourhood park. At work, make sure you get up and walk around regularly, especially if your job is mainly desk-bound, and pop out at lunchtime for some fresh air, even if it's only for ten minutes.

10.Treat yourself

Laughter is one of the body's best ways of relaxing, so meet up with some friends or go to the cinema and see the latest comedy.
Go on a weekend break and make the most of your time with just you and your husband, or treat yourself to a spa that offers treatments for pregnant women.
Pregnancy is also the perfect time to treat yourself to all those beauty treatments you never normally splash out on. Be nice to yourself - you deserve it.

The Second Trimester

During the second trimester, your belly will become large enough to let the world know you are pregnant. There will be certain pregnancy discomforts like sleeping problems. You will also experience Braxton Hicks contractions. During this stage of pregnancy, there will be growth of hair all over your baby's body in order to regulate her body temperature after birth. This is one of the exciting stages of pregnancy, as your baby starts developing her senses. She will feel light as well as darkness and be able to hear various sounds from the world outside. As second trimester ends, your baby will be about 10 inches (25 cm) long and start her kicking movements.

The Third Trimester

The third trimester is one of the stages of pregnancy where you are almost ready to give birth. Your body undergoes a whole lot of changes, you have a frequent urge to urinate, and your tummy looks real big! This is the time to start taking classes on childbirth and breastfeeding. The better informed you are, the less scary the whole thing looks. All the organs of your baby are developed, except the lungs, which continue to develop until the end of this trimester. Now, you and your baby are waiting for the due date to arrive!

Most of the babies are born within one or two weeks after the due date. If it's your second or third pregnancy, you may give birth a week or two earlier than the due date. Keep in regular touch with your doctor.

Out of the three stages of pregnancy, the last stage is full of excitement and extra care. Involve your partner in this exciting journey of nine months and prepare him for fatherhood! Good luck!

2. Relaxation. You should incorporate some forms of relaxation into your day, and particularly as part of your bedtime routine. Yoga is a good form of both exercise and relaxation, just be sure that you're following a prenatal routine. Meditation, a hot bath, or even reading a book are all ways that you can relax before going to sleep. Relaxation can help you leave the stresses and worries of the day out of the bedroom, allowing you to sleep better at night.

3. Sleep-Friendly Diet. While you're cravings may be telling you to indulge in that enchilada, you'll regret that choice when you're up with a case of raging heartburn. Anything spicy, fatty or acidic are not foods that promote sleep during pregnancy. In order to avoid heartburn, upset stomach or constipation in the middle of the night, don't eat within two hours of going to bed. Try propping yourself up with pillows to sleep in a semi reclining position, and be sure to keep some antacids near the bed in case you have to pop a couple in the middle of the night. Also, either cut caffeine completely from your diet, or limit your intake for several hours before bedtime. Try drinking some caffeine-free herbal tee or a warm cup of milk before going to bed to relax you. If you find that you experience nausea at night, keep some crackers next to your bed. Some women find that their prenatal vitamins make them feel nauseous — if this is the case, decide if you'd rather have your sleep and take them during the day or if you can sleep through the nausea.

5. Stay Hydrated. Be sure to keep yourself well hydrated throughout the day, and even at night. Even though this may mean that you have to take a couple extra potty breaks in the middle of the night, staying well hydrated may mean fewer headaches, less swelling, etc.

4. Napping. Believe it or not, one to two catnaps during the day can actually improve your sleep during pregnancy. Avoiding becoming overtired keeps you relaxed, and your body doesn't put out adrenaline to keep you moving when you should be sleeping.

5. Routine. Get yourself into a regular nighttime routine. By going to bed the same time every night, your body will become accustomed to a regular bedtime.

6.Comfortable Bed. Pregnancy may be the time to get that new mattress you and your husband have been wanting. Although the softness should fit your preference, it should provide good, even support of your body — no waterbeds! A good mattress can make all the difference in getting quality sleep during pregnancy, so if you can, don't skimp on the mattress. If you have anything smaller than a king or a queen sized mattress, you may also want to upsize — women tend to take up a little more space when pregnant for lots of reasons! Choose comfy bed linens that will breathe well, and layer blankets for those hot flashes pregnant women tend to get.

7. Pajamas. If you sleep in pajamas, you may need to get some maternity pjs for added comfort. Sleep shirts, elasticized pajama bottoms shorts all work well. Since pregnant women often experience hot and cold flashes due to hormones and poor circulation, wear breathable cotton so you stay warm, but not overheated.

8.Support Pillows. Women no longer have to resort to creative pillow arrangements to comfortably sleep during pregnancy. While the old pillow-between-the-knees-pillow-under-the-belly-pillow-behind-the-back trick may work in a pinch, there are many maternity pillows on the market that do the job of two to three separate pillows. The body pillow is long enough to hug and support your belly, and maybe your knee. A wrap-around maternity pillow is long for hugging and supporting the belly, but curves up between your knees to help align your hips and spine for better comfort. A pregnancy wedge can support either your belly or back.

9. Room Temperature. Your husband will be jumping for joy now that you want the room to be a little cooler than usual. With all that extra heat your body is generating cooking up that baby, you may find that you're more comfortable turning down the thermostat. You can always pile on an extra blanket if you find yourself a bit chilly in the middle of the night.

10.Sleep Positions. By your second trimester, you'll find that sleeping on your belly is no longer an option, and sleeping on your back is no longer safe for your baby. Get used to sleeping on your left side, which is the safest position for sleeping during pregnancy. This allows the maximum flow of blood and oxygen to your baby. It is safe to sleep on your right side as well, and this may be necessary if you need to change positions periodically.

What changes drastically with the arrival of a child is your relationship with time. Where your days used to be yours to plan, now another person—small and dependent—determines much of your schedule. You can try to maintain your old habits, but most of the time you will be happier following your child's sleeping and eating schedule.

Here are ways to enjoy your free time while you are pregnant. After becoming a parent, you can still make room for anything that is truly important to you, but be prepared for your priorities to shift.

Sleep, Glorious Sleep

When I was pregnant and heard new mothers say that, given a free hour, they would rather sleep than do anything else, I scoffed a little. What about going out with your husband, reading a dishy magazine, or calling a friend? Yet now, on days when sleep deprivation has reached a critical peak, I want nothing more than a quiet hour in a cool room with clean sheets. And while an hour-long nap used to be my goal, now a 10-minute snooze feels like victory.

So sleep in while you can! Feel guilty about nothing. On weekends, make all your appointments in the afternoon, and don't set your alarm for anything. If you find it hard to sleep at night because your baby kicks or you wonder about what kind of mother you will be (a great one!), take multiple naps. It is a myth that sleeping a lot before the baby comes will help you weather the impending sleep deprivation—it's like encouraging someone to gorge on a steak dinner to prepare for two months on "Survivor." But you will remember with fondness these dreamy, pregnant days throughout babyhood and toddlerhood.

Spur-of-the-Moment Decisions

Completely spontaneous trips become the stuff of dreams with a young child in tow. Before having a baby, I was invariably punctual. With my son, I've given myself a few minutes' leeway. Even if I have already packed the diaper bag with snacks, bottles, wipes, toys, and books—a late diaper change can derail the best-laid plans. In addition, my husband and I often took walks together in the evening before becoming parents. We still do, but only when we have given a babysitter both of our cell phone numbers and a detailed primer on how to put our son to bed.

When you go out while you are pregnant, take as few items with you as you can and leave as quickly as possible, without telling anyone. Do you really need a large purse, or will a palm-sized wallet suffice? Do you want to run out for the best ice cream in town, a half-hour's drive away? Is it mid-afternoon and you feel like running along the beach? Is it 11 PM and you want to check out the neighborhood Christmas lights? Then go. No one is stopping you.

Efficiency Goes Both Ways

Once you become a mother, a graph of your efficiency over the course of a day will look like someone's hare-brained scheme. When your child is asleep and you are not, you will often accomplish more in five minutes than you previously did in 30, whether that means responding immediately to an email or folding laundry double-time. Before my son's birth, I often waited for inspiration to strike before planning curriculum for my middle school students or brainstorming for writing projects. Now the idea of such free-floating creativity seems quaint.

When your child is awake, on the other hand, your five-minute unloading of the dishwasher will likely stretch into half an hour, with stops along the way to read a board book, grab a toy he can't reach, and cut bananas into bites. Often you will not want to be efficient. A walk in a stroller for exercise is much more fun if your child stops to run her hand along a brick wall or watch a cat sit prettily on a doorstep.

Before you have a child, then, savor inefficiency. Consider long restaurant waits, airport delays, and post office lines chances to chat with the person next to you, be alone with your thoughts, or read a good book. Visit three gourmet stores to find an imported smoked salmon or a particular brand of tomato soup. You may feel you have no time for such frivolity—after all, life and work consume your entire day as it is! Trust me in believing that, after you have a child, you will wonder how you ever filled all of your free time.

The Zen Zone

One of the most frustrating aspects of caring for an infant or toddler is the sense that few tasks can be completed in one sitting. And uninterrupted time is unpredictable: your child could nap for one hour, or two, or not at all. When you work on a project with your child around, such as cooking a meal or putting photos into an album, the process divides into stages. For instance, I'll cut the vegetables at one point, mix a marinade 20 minutes later, and throw the meal in the oven when we return from the playground.

While you are pregnant, seek out activities that require sustained focus or energy. Cook a complicated gourmet meal over an entire day. Read a complete book in one sitting. Go to a three-hour movie in the theater. Rearrange every cabinet in your kitchen. You have only yourself to interrupt you.

Rethinking Priorities

It might seem that you will have time for little besides parenting after having a child, and this is true for about the first three months. After that, you can create space for your favorite hobbies or leisure pursuits—but you'll find your priorities will change because you won't have enough time for everything. If exercise is your top ambition, it might squeeze out reading the newspaper every day. If you want to cook a homemade dinner each night, you may not have time to keep up with email. You will continue doing what matters most to you, and what doesn't you probably won't miss anyway. In the meantime, enjoy these last months of relaxation as you look forward to a rich future with your new family.

2. Folic Acid
Getting enough folic acid is critical both before and during pregnancy to help assure proper growth and to prevent birth defects. It is present in deep green, leafy vegetables. Women should get at least 400 to 800 micrograms per day.

3. Magnesium
Magnesium deficiency is routine in the American diet and can increase the possibility of high blood pressure and seizures during pregnancy, a condition known as eclampsia. To prevent this deficiency, take 200 milligrams of magnesium in the glycinate form daily. Whole grains, green leafy and other vegetables and nuts are good sources of magnesium. Taking the proper amount of magnesium a day also helps to decrease the leg cramps and constipation often experienced during pregnancy. In addition, magnesium is critical for more than 300 other body functions and will generally help you to feel a lot healthier.

4. B Vitamins
These are critical for energy, mental clarity and to prevent depression. B vitamins have also been found to improve pregnancy-related complications such as gestational diabetes. Taking 200 milligrams a day of vitamin B6 can improve the health of those women suffering from this form of diabetes. But please note that only women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy should take this high level of B vitamins, and should drop the level of consumption to 100 milligrams per day during the last month. For all other soon-to-be moms, take approximately 25 to 50 milligrams a day of B vitamins and plenty of vitamin B12 for normal nerve function.

5. Fish Oils
The human brain is made predominantly of DHA, an essential fatty acid found in fish oils. Perhaps this is why there is an old wives' tale about fish being brain food. Regardless, DHA deficiency is very common and it is critical that pregnant women get adequate fish oils so that their baby can develop healthy and optimal brain tissue. DHA may also decrease the risk of postpartum depression. Unfortunately, though, the FDA has raised concerns about high mercury levels in the same deep sea fish (salmon and tuna) that have the highest levels of these oils. An excellent alternative for those who'd rather not risk it is to take one half to one tablespoon of Eskimo 3 fish oil. This is a special form of fish oil that actually tastes good (most do not), and has been tested to make sure that it does not have mercury or other problematic compounds.

6. Calcium
Ideally, pregnant women should ingest 1,500 milligrams of calcium per day. It is best to take this at night (it helps with sleep) in the liquid, powdered or chewable form. Many calcium tablets are simply chalk and do not dissolve in the stomach, and therefore are not absorbed properly. Each cup of milk or yogurt contains 400 milligrams of calcium.

7. Iron
Approximately 18 to 36 milligrams of iron per day can be helpful. Interestingly, iron deficiency can sometimes cause infertility. Also, pregnant women who don't get enough iron are at risk for anemia, fatigue, poor memory and decreased immune function.

8. Water
Be sure to drink plenty of water. When pregnant, blood volume can increase about 30 percent and it is easy to become dehydrated. If your mouth or lips are dry, drink more! Adequate salt is also helpful in preventing dehydration (less so if you have problems with fluid retention).

9. Check Your Thyroid
Millions of women suffer from an underactive metabolism, also known as hypothyroidism, which often goes undiagnosed. This results in fatigue, weight gain and simply feeling like you've run out of gas. Hypothyroidism accounts for more than 6 percent of miscarriages and can be cause for learning disabilities in the child. Treating a low thyroid is both safe and easy during pregnancy. The earlier it is treated the better. Either once you start trying to get pregnant, or as soon as you know you're pregnant, take a Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) blood test to check your thyroid. Most doctors do not yet know that the TSH has to be less than three — anything above and you need treatment — so look at the test result yourself (many doctors still use the dangerous and outdated criteria of a TSH over five being abnormal). If you like, you can get a lab requisition for a TSH to take to your lab by visiting www.Vitality101.com (click on "online program" then on "Laboratory Requisition Form"). If you were on thyroid medication before getting pregnant, it is normal to increase the dose during pregnancy (the TSH should be kept between .5 and 2.0). If your doctor is not familiar with the new guidelines, he or she can send an email to the Web site above and a copy of the guidelines will be sent to them.

10. Things for Pregnant Women to Avoid
A few cautions for pregnant women: avoid taking more than 8,000 units of vitamin A per day. And don't partake in anything that can raise your body temperature too high (hot tubs, saunas or steam rooms). These have been implicated as possibly increasing the risk for birth defects. Most pregnant women are also, of course, aware that smoking, drugs and alcohol should all be avoided during pregnancy. Exercise, on the other hand, has been shown to be very beneficial and results in babies and moms that are quite healthy.

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