Many women find some kinds of skin changes occurring during pregnancy. While these changes may be annoying, they are perfectly normal. If you are unsure whether a change is normal or not, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor or midwife. They can check it out for you and advise you once they examine you.

Glowing Skin

Pregnant women are often told they are “glowing.” This is due to an increased blood flow to the small vessels just beneath the skin surface. Hormones released in pregnancy also increase the oils that are produced by skin glands that may create a bit of a shine.

Chloasma

This is also known as the “mask of pregnancy.” Some women experience this phenomenon. During pregnancy, a slight darkening appears on the face on the forehead, temples and center of the face. These areas may get darker when exposed to sun. After the birth, these marks usually fade.

Acne

Hormones often cause pregnant women to experience break outs, while women who normally get acne may find it improves during pregnancy.

Itchiness

It is common for the skin on the belly to become itchy during pregnancy as it stretches to accommodate baby’s growth. It may also affect the breasts.

Linea Nigra

This is a dark line that develops from the belly button and runs downwards. This is extra pigment. After the baby is born, the line will fade.

Nails

For some women, pregnancy may cause their nails to become more brittle or soft than usual, or to grow faster.

Rashes

Pregnancy causes many women to perspire more than usual, and this can result in heat rash. Some women also find they get itchy red bumps on their belly, arms, legs and buttocks in late pregnancy. This is not dangerous, but it is itchy and can be uncomfortable.

The Palms

Increasing levels of estrogen may cause red, itchy palms. Some women also experience this on the soles of their feet. This also disappears after the birth.

Swelling

In late pregnancy, you may notice increasing swelling around your ankles, hands and face. This is usually harmless. If you experience swelling along with sudden weight gain and increased blood pressure, get tests done to rule out complications like pre-eclampsia.

Skin Tags

Skin tags are small growths of skin that protrude from the surface of your skin. They normally occur on the neck, breasts or armpits. They are thought to be cause by hormones released during pregnancy. They do not go away after the baby’s birth, but they can be removed by a dermatologist.

Stretch Marks

Probably the most famous of all pregnancy skin changes, stretch marks occur on the belly and breasts. Fresh stretch marks are usually pink, red or dark brown, depending on a woman’s color of skin. Stretch marks can also appear on the buttocks, hips or thighs. Stretch marks are caused by tiny tears in the underlying tissue. There is no real way to prevent stretch marks, but it may help to keep well hydrated and to moisturize your skin. Stretch marks will fade with time to a less noticeable silver.

Spider Veins

Spider veins are small red spots with lines branching out. These are tiny blood vessels that become noticeable because of more blood volume. They fade after the baby is born.

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One of the most dreaded aspects of pregnancy is stretch marks. Stretch marks are lines that appear over the belly and sometimes on the breasts, hips, or buttocks during pregnancy. They mean the skin has been stressed by stretching. Between 75 and 90% of pregnant women develop stretch marks. Stretch marks can appear red, pink, purple, reddish-brown or brown, depending on your skin color. If you are pregnant with multiples, your chances are higher for developing marks due to the extreme stretching your skin goes through.

The chances that you’ll develop stretch marks during pregnancy depend on many things. If your mother or sister developed them, chances are that you will too. Genetics are thought to play a part in whether a woman gets stretch marks or not. It also depends on how much weight you gain and how quickly you gain it.

There are a few things you can try to prevent them, though if you are genetically predisposed, they may show up anyway. Luckily, all the things you can do to prevent stretch marks are also good for you and the baby, so they will be beneficial no matter what.

Eat sensibly. A nutritious, varied diet will provide everything you and your baby needs without adding excess weight. The recommended amount of weight gain for the average pregnancy is between 25 to 35 pounds. A good diet not only makes a healthy baby, it keeps your skin strong and healthy. If your baby grows steadily, your skin may be able to keep pace without damage.

Massage your belly. This increases the circulation in your skin, which may be helpful in preventing stretch marks. It feels good, too.

Be sure you drink enough water. Soda, coffee and other beverage choices are not as wholesome as plain water. You need to keep your body hydrated to make sure your blood volume can expand enough for a healthy pregnancy, and a fully hydrated body is critical to skin health.

Take your prenatal vitamins. They will make sure you get the nutrients that may be missing from your diet. This will keep you, your baby and your skin as healthy as possible.

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Begin in early pregnancy and continue through postpartum. Shea butter is a natural moisturizer that has been proven to have healing qualities. Some herbal oils are also very beneficial to the skin. Find one you like and use it liberally. This will support the skin and possibly reduce your chances of developing stretch marks.

Take care of yourself after the baby is born, too. You lose a lot of weight very quickly when the baby is born. The baby, the placenta, the amniotic fluid and other bodily fluids that are lost during birth add up to a substantial amount. Make sure you get enough rest and nutritious foods to support your body through this dramatic change.

Even if you still get stretch marks, they will fade with time. You might want to consider them a badge of motherhood. Wear them proudly.

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Early pregnancy can be a time of uncertainty, anxiety and worry. You may spend time wondering if you’re actually pregnant. Many women worry over every possible symptom. Does it mean you’re pregnant? If you know you’re pregnant, you may worry about a lack of certain symptoms. Does it mean you’ll miscarry?

Early pregnancy is also a time to come to terms with being pregnant. It is normal to feel apprehensive or ambivalent about it, even if you really want the baby. Having a baby is life changing. It is not unusual to have some cold feet about something that will change your entire life.

There are various signs and symptoms that many women experience in early pregnancy. It is perfectly normal for you to experience all of them, none of them or some amount in between.

Tender Breasts
Many women experience this symptom to some degree. The breasts may be tender, tingly or sore. The nipples become very sensitive to the slightest touch… even from the shirts you wear. This is due to increased hormones that help prepare the breasts for feeding your baby.

Fatigue
While you don’t look pregnant yet, your body is working hard to develop your baby. During early pregnancy is when your baby is making the most progress. This takes a lot of energy, and consequently you will feel tired. Try to get as much rest as possible. Progesterone, which is excreted in large quantities at this time, may also cause sleepiness.

The Vanishing Period
The most obvious sign to most women is when their period does not arrive as expected. While this can be caused by other issues than pregnancy, it is easy enough to find out by taking a pregnancy test.

Implantation Bleeding
Some women experience a little spotting about a week before their period is due. This is usually caused by the fertilized egg implanting into the uterine lining. Some women never see any implantation bleeding. Cramping may also be felt at this time, with or without the spotting.

Morning Sickness
Many women experience some degree of morning sickness, though not all women do. Some only get nauseous, while others spend long days in the bathroom, trying to keep something in their stomach. Morning sickness can actually occur at any time of day. Sometimes nausea can be triggered by odors or movement. Foods can also trigger these feelings. The most common foods to watch are coffee, spicy foods, fried foods, dairy products and meat.

Frequent Urination
You may feel you spend more time running to and from the bathroom than anything else. Changes in your uterus put more weight on your bladder, triggering the urge to go. Don’t worry… this will get better once the uterus grows large enough to grow out of the pelvis. It will come back in late pregnancy.

Raised Body Temperature
For those who take their basal body temperature each morning, you’ll notice that your temperature remains high instead of the usual plunge it takes before your period comes. According to those who practice this, 18 high temperatures after ovulation is usually indicative of pregnancy.

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Many women find some kinds of skin changes occurring during pregnancy. While these changes may be annoying, they are perfectly normal. If you are unsure whether a change is normal or not, don’t hesitate to ask your doctor or midwife. They can check it out for you and advise you once they examine you.

Glowing Skin
Pregnant women are often told they are “glowing.” This is due to an increased blood flow to the small vessels just beneath the skin surface. Hormones released in pregnancy also increase the oils that are produced by skin glands that may create a bit of a shine.

Chloasma
This is also known as the “mask of pregnancy.” Some women experience this phenomenon. During pregnancy, a slight darkening appears on the face on the forehead, temples and center of the face. These areas may get darker when exposed to sun. After the birth, these marks usually fade.

Acne
Hormones often cause pregnant women to experience break outs, while women who normally get acne may find it improves during pregnancy.

Itchiness
It is common for the skin on the belly to become itchy during pregnancy as it stretches to accommodate baby’s growth. It may also affect the breasts.

Linea Nigra
This is a dark line that develops from the belly button and runs downwards. This is extra pigment. After the baby is born, the line will fade.

Nails
For some women, pregnancy may cause their nails to become more brittle or soft than usual, or to grow faster.

Rashes
Pregnancy causes many women to perspire more than usual, and this can result in heat rash. Some women also find they get itchy red bumps on their belly, arms, legs and buttocks in late pregnancy. This is not dangerous, but it is itchy and can be uncomfortable.

The Palms
Increasing levels of estrogen may cause red, itchy palms. Some women also experience this on the soles of their feet. This also disappears after the birth.

Swelling
In late pregnancy, you may notice increasing swelling around your ankles, hands and face. This is usually harmless. If you experience swelling along with sudden weight gain and increased blood pressure, get tests done to rule out complications like pre-eclampsia.

Skin Tags
Skin tags are small growths of skin that protrude from the surface of your skin. They normally occur on the neck, breasts or armpits. They are thought to be cause by hormones released during pregnancy. They do not go away after the baby’s birth, but they can be removed by a dermatologist.

Stretch Marks
Probably the most famous of all pregnancy skin changes, stretch marks occur on the belly and breasts. Fresh stretch marks are usually pink, red or dark brown, depending on a woman’s color of skin. Stretch marks can also appear on the buttocks, hips or thighs. Stretch marks are caused by tiny tears in the underlying tissue. There is no real way to prevent stretch marks, but it may help to keep well hydrated and to moisturize your skin. Stretch marks will fade with time to a less noticeable silver.

Spider Veins
Spider veins are small red spots with lines branching out. These are tiny blood vessels that become noticeable because of more blood volume. They fade after the baby is born.

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Pregnancy tests pick up the presence of hCG in the urine. Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is the hormone produced by the placenta. It starts to be produced as soon as the fertilized egg implants into the lining of the uterus. Since this happens 6 to 12 days after conception, any time you test too early, you will see a negative result because there is not enough hCG in your system yet.

The most sensitive pregnancy tests can detect 20 mIU of hCG. This level may be detected as early as 6 to 8 days past ovulation, but most women will still get a negative result this early. On average, most implantations occur between 8 to 10 days after ovulation, so you may be testing and your baby hasn’t even implanted yet. The closer you are to when you expect your period, the better luck you’ll have getting an accurate result.

Even if you get a negative result, if you still miss your period, retest. By the day after a missed period, 90% of women will get a positive result. The remaining 10% will still test negative even though they are pregnant. In that case, you may want to go to your care provider and get a blood test done. Blood tests can pick up extremely small amounts of hCG, but even they cannot confirm a pregnancy until at least a week after ovulation.

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When you’re trying to conceive, it is easy to begin obsessing about everything. What symptoms should you look for? When can you get an accurate pregnancy test result? How soon will you know for sure? It can be all-consuming!  Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Now that you’ve relaxed a bit, here’s what you need to know.
Pregnancy symptoms will vary from one woman to another… in fact, they can vary from pregnancy to pregnancy in the same woman. While the most obvious symptom of pregnancy is missing your period, there are some other early symptoms you may want to watch out for. All early symptoms can possibly be signs of other issues by themselves, but when you have several, you can be reasonably sure you’ve conceived.
One if the first symptoms experienced by some women is implantation bleeding. This is one of the earliest symptoms that can be detected. Unfortunately, it doesn’t occur for everyone. Spotting and sometimes cramping will occur sometime between 6 to 12 days after conception, when the embryo implants into the lining of the uterus.
You may notice that your breasts feel swollen or tender. This can begin as early as a week or two after conception. This can also be a sign of an impending period, so unless this is accompanied by other symptoms, it may not mean anything.
You may find yourself feeling a lot more tired than usual. Fatigue is normal in early pregnancy. This can begin as early as a week after conception and may last into the second trimester, when most women begin to feel better.
Around two weeks after conception, you’ll miss your period. This is the most obvious sign to most women. A few will continue to bleed during early pregnancy, but the period should be shorter or lighter than normal.
Morning sickness can strike at any time, not just in the morning. Nausea and vomiting varies… some women don’t experience it at all, while others feel it so bad they require hospitalization. Luckily, most women fall somewhere in between. Morning sickness can start any time between 2 and 8 weeks after conception. Most women who get morning sickness will start to feel relief by the second trimester.
Headaches can be caused by the sudden rise in hormonal activity in your body in early pregnancy. Be sure you check with your care giver about what medications are safe to take just in case you discover you are pregnant.
A dull low backache can be an early symptom for some women. While backache is a common complaint throughout pregnancy, it can also be an early symptom to watch for.
If you find yourself making a lot of trips to the bathroom, chalk up another symptom. About 6 to 8 weeks after conceiving, your uterus will have increased in size enough to put a little extra stress on your bladder.
Skin changes may also clue you in. If you notice the areolas around your nipples darkening, this is a good sign of pregnancy.

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I am about 6wks prego and I had morning sickness for about 4-5days and now I just feel queezy. I am likeing foods I didn’t before and not likeing my usually favorites. I am peeing like crazy and I am hungrey all of the time, plus my pre-prego jeans I can’t even zip up. I can’t see the doctor until Wed morning. This is my fourth pregnancy. My morning sickness has gotten better with every pregnany so far.
No it’s not a sign at all your baby should be fine. Morning sickness is very common early in a pregnancy. It tends to go away later in pregnancy, and it’s almost always gone by the second trimester (the fourth month). But there isn’t a set time for it to stop because each woman is different, and each pregnancy is different.

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Labor can be a very intense experience. Some women get through it just fine, and others need a little help. Before you automatically sign up for your epidural in the parking lot, take some time during labor to find out where you fit into the scheme of things. It is possible that labor won’t be as bad as you fear. By moving around the way your body tells you to, you can reduce some of the pain and make your contractions more effective. If you do opt for an epidural, make sure you know the side effects before you go to the hospital. Epidurals usually result in maternal fever, a drop in blood pressure and the baby can have depressed respiration and reflexes.

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Most first-time babies initiate labor around 41 weeks gestation, give or take a few days. Many care providers suggest inducing as early as 39 weeks. While it may be tempting, unless there is a real medical reason to get that baby born, it is best to let your baby determine its birth date. Unless the baby and your body are both ready at the same time, induction will fail and you’ll end up with a cesarean section. Babies are not late just because they miss their due date. That date is only an estimate. Babies are considered on time as long as they are born anytime between 38 and 42 weeks gestation. However, inductions may be performed when the dating of the pregnancy wasn’t accurate, resulting in the birth of a premature infant.

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Ask questions about any prenatal testing. Some tests are non-invasive like the urine tests you do at your prenatal appointments. If your doctor or midwife suggests more invasive testing, ask why they are concerned before you automatically say yes. Just because a test is available doesn’t mean you should necessarily get it. Chorionic villi sampling and amniocentesis, for example, have a 1 – 2% risk of miscarriage associated with them. You should weigh benefits you get with the risks you take and see what that the risks are worth taking. If they are, go for the test. If they’re not, turn it down. The AFP, or triple screen test is a blood test to check for alphafetoprotein. This is used to check for neural tube defects and other birth defects, among other problems. This test is somewhat controversial because there are a high percentage of false positives associated with this test. Up to 80% of positive results (says there is a defect or problem with the baby) are false and the baby is actually perfectly healthy. This can cause a lot of stress and worry for parents-to-be as they undergo more invasive testing to either confirm or deny the findings. Ultrasounds are also routinely done, even though there are some questions about its long term effects due to the strength of the sound waves used and the heating of the tissues that occurs.

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