Pregnancy Week 2
The second week of pregnancy picks up where the first week left off. Implantation is completed in the second week of development. Implantation is crucial for a successful pregnancy because if the fetus can’t implant, it will not continue to be viable. Potential Health Risks Like the first week, during the second week the baby is not susceptible to any nutritional issues. This means that if the mother is not eating right or taking care of herself, it is still too early in development for these factors to harm the developing baby. However, this doesn’t mean that the fetus…
Pregnancy Week 1
This is the very beginning of it all. At this initial stage, there is no indication that a woman is pregnant. Morning sickness wouldn’t have started. There are no obvious symptoms and there is no actual baby in the uterus in this beginning stage which is why you won't be able to see anything in an ultrasound. The body hasn’t began to shift to accommodate baby yet. This first week is the beginning part of the embryonic stage which consists of fertilization up until 8 weeks development. Fertilization Fertilization occurs when sperm meets with the secondary oocyte (mature egg),…
Discharging of the Mucus Plug
Many aspects of pregnancy can cause alarm to expectant mothers. One of the most alarming situations one might deal with is the discharging of the mucus plug. What is the Mucus Plug? The cervix produces a special mucus referred to as cervical mucus. Cervical mucus is a natural protection that a women’s body produces. The mucus is secreted or discharged during different parts of the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. The mucus is secreted from the cervix to protect the reproductive organs from opportunistic pathogens and invading bacteria and/or pathogens. Additionally, when ovulation has occurred, the mucus evolves and acts as…
Spotting During Pregnancy
Spotting is one of the most common concerns pertaining to pregnancy. It is estimated that around 20% of women spot sometime during their pregnancy. Spotting can happen at random and can affect women that are pregnant with their first or women that are in their third pregnancy. It is a random occurrence that characteristically happens within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, but can happen during later weeks. What is Spotting? Spotting is a vaginal bleed. A vaginal bleed is considered any type of bloody discharge from the vagina. Many women report spotting within early pregnancy because it is a…
Understanding Doulas
What Are Doulas? The term “doula” originates from ancient Greek and translates to “a woman who serves”. It is the term used to refer to an individual that is trained to provide emotional, informational, and physical support to expectant mothers and their immediate family. The doula is responsible for the wellbeing of the family during pregnancy and after pregnancy in the last stage, sometimes referred to as the “fourth trimester” or the postpartum period. Why Choose a Doula? Many expectant families want the best child birthing experience. The doula provides more than just medical treatment. They are available…
IVF Pregnancy Calendar
In vitro fertilization, or IVF is a medical procedure that has allowed struggling families conceive children. What is IVF? IVF is when the egg and sperm from both parents are removed from their respected bodies and are fertilized in a controlled medical setting. There are a series of steps that every person goes through when completing the IVF cycle. Fertility drugs: Fertility drugs are the first part of the IVF process because they allow a female’s body to start producing more than one healthy egg. The chances of pregnancy increase with the number of eggs that are released during…