When you’re pregnant, you’ll probably face some sleepless nights. That’s because the bigger your belly gets, the more uncomfortable you’ll feel when you’re trying to sleep. Added to that are the multiple trips to the bathroom at night.
By the time you’ve reached month nine of your pregnancy, some women joke that you might as well sleep right next to the toilet!
This blog is part 5 of Pregnancy Help Online’s blog series, Where to Buy the Best Maternity Clothes. If you missed our last three blogs in this series, you can read them here:
Where to Buy the Best Maternity Jeans
Where to Buy the Best Maternity Athleisure Clothes
Where to Buy Maternity Clothes for Work
To help you get as comfortable as possible during this uncomfortable time, we’ve rounded up the best maternity pajamas. As a bonus, most of these pajamas are nursing-friendly and can be worn long after you give birth.
Motherhood Maternity Snuggle Bunny PJ Set
These leggings are super soft, and come with a matching t-shirt. The shirt provides plenty of room for your growing bump, plus it has side access for nursing if that’s how you plan to feed your baby.
ASOS Maternity Sweat and Jogger Set
With a space-dye finish and long-line style to cover your growing bump, this oh-so-comfy set will become your downtime uniform!
A Pea in the Pod Button-Front Nursing Pajama Set
The relaxed, straight fit of these PJs make them perfect for lounging and sleeping. They’re made of extremely soft jersey knit material to keep you comfortable. You’ll want to wear these jammies long after pregnancy! They’d also make really great pajamas to bring along with you to the hospital when it comes time to deliver.
Gap Maternity Modal Sleep Nightgown
This nightgown’s material is modal, a super-soft rayon blend, which makes it perfect for pregnancy. It’s also a great length which won’t get too short as your bump grows. Plus, the ¾ sleeves provide a little warmth for cooler nights without making you feel too hot.
Gap Maternity Modal Soft Sleep Pant
These soft sleep pants are perfect for pairing with your favorite maternity tanks and tees. Oh-so-soft and loose fit, they’re a great alternative to wearing leggings.
Leachco Snoogle Total Body Pillow
OK, so this one’s not technically pajamas, but it’ll definitely help you sleep easier! It replaces the multiple pillows you’d need to help support your hips, back, neck, and tummy. By the end of your pregnancy, you bump will probably start feeling super heavy. This pillow gives you some much-needed support and takes the pressure off your lower back so you can catch some zzz’s.
If you’re having a hard time thinking about how you’ll handle another baby, or how you can make motherhood work, adoption is always an option. Modern adoption allows you to choose the adoptive parents for your baby, and remain in contact in the future. To learn more, visit LifetimeAdoption.com. Questions about adoption? You can call (or text!) Lifetime at 1-800-923-6784.
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If you work in a corporate environment, you’ll want to dress your bump fashionably, while still being comfortable. A great way to do this is to buy a few essential items that you can easily mix and match and wear regularly.
This blog is part 4 of Pregnancy Help Online’s blog series, Where to Buy the Best Maternity Clothes. Last time, we brought you the best places to buy maternity jeans, and shared about top maternity athleisure clothing for your budget before that!
Here, we link to some great, stylish pieces you can wear to the office while preggo. Yes, there are a lot of black and dark colors presented below. That’s because darker hues tend to be the most universally flattering!
Motherhood Maternity Plus Size Side Ruched Maternity Dress
Plus size mamas will love this knit dress for work! It’s super cute and comfortable, and provides just enough coverage. It’s available in two prints and two solids and in sizes in 1X-3X at a compelling price point. The flattering ruched detail will keep you comfortable during each stage of your pregnancy.
The Loft Maternity Floral Tie Waist Shirtdress
Shirt dresses are simple and easy pieces to wear to work during pregnancy. This dress offers a nice mix of simplicity with the silhouette of a shirtdress and femininity with the floral print. The length makes going to work easy any day of the week, and it has a flattering tie waist.
Seraphine Black Maternity Pencil Skirt
Work a sleek look at your office with this form-fitting pencil skirt. It’ll be super flattering to your bump, and uses a soft jersey material in the belly band. Adjust the skirt as your belly starts to grow using the side button tabs. And its tulip-detailed hem is a subtle, delicate way to elevate a classic look.
Kohl’s Maternity a:glow Scoopneck Maxi Dress
Maxi dresses are perfect to wear to work during my pregnancy. They’re so comfortable and effortless! Plus, you don’t need to wear hose, which is great for summer. This knit maxi dress from Kohl’s comes in three patterns and three solids, and in sizes XS-XXL. Pair this flowy dress with a structured denim jacket and flats and you’re set!
Motherhood Maternity Secret Fit Belly Rayon Straight Leg Maternity Crop Pants
These cropped pants look tailored enough to create a polished office look, AND they’re comfy. You can wear this pair in a number of ways; with some cute flats or kittens. A sweater or blouse or sweater complete the look perfectly!
GAP Maternity Inset Panel Girlfriend Chinos
Chino pants provide a nice, polished look for the workplace. This pair from GAP comes in four colors and features a rolled hem, great for showing off cute flats and heels. Try wearing these with a blouse and cardi for a professional yet comfortable office look.
Some women cringe at the thought of wearing maternity jeans in pregnancy. But we promise: once you find the right pair of maternity jeans, you’ll want to wear them every day! They’re as versatile during pregnancy as they are in normal life.
This blog is part 3 of Pregnancy Help Online’s blog series, Where to Buy the Best Maternity Clothes. Last time, we brought you the top maternity athleisure clothing for your budget!
5 quick tips to help you find the perfect pair of maternity jeans:
1. Comfort. Think about it: if you don’t want to wear them, they’re not the right pair. The pair of maternity jeans you buy shouldn’t have any “pinch points,” and they should feel soft and comfy.
2. Fit. You need to feel confident in your maternity jeans; they should flatter your curves in all the right places. This might mean investing in maternity denim that’s designer. But make sure to keep your “price per wear” in mind. Many women continue to wear maternity jeans a few months post-partum, too.
3. Panels: There are three different designs to provide your belly with the support you desire. With a full panel, a piece of fabric that covers your entire belly and supports it as your baby grows. Full-panel maternity jeans are best for cooler climates since they tend to feel very hot in the summer. Side panel maternity jeans have an elastic fabric in the sides of the pants which stretches with your growing belly. For an in-between panel size, choose demi panel maternity denim. It’s best for the first trimester because it covers just the lower part of your belly.
4. Proper care. Maintain the shape of your maternity jeans by hanging them to dry. Air-drying your jeans will also help prolong the life of the elastic panels.
5. Sizing: Purchase your maternity jeans in your regular, non-pregnancy size. Maternity sizing takes into account the typical weight gain that comes with pregnancy.
Many women can still fit into their normal jeans in the early stages of pregnancy. Extend the life of jeans that you already own by wearing a belly band like this one from Ingrid & Isabel. The band goes on top of your unfastened waistband. You can also use a band in your postpartum months. They’re awesome at keeping your maternity jeans up while you start losing the baby weight.
Best Maternity Jeans
H&M MAMA Boyfriend Jeans
These relaxed cut jeans from H&M are great for flaunting your bump with a cute top. They have a full panel, which gives your baby bump great support. Plus, they have a slight stretch so they’ll be comfy throughout your pregnancy!
Target, Ingrid & Isabel Crossover Panel Skinny Jeans
Yes, you can be pregnant AND keep wearing your beloved skinny jeans! These ones from Target are made of power stretch denim, so they’ll shape and sculpt your body as it evolves throughout pregnancy. The low back design will keep you cool in warmer weather, while the crossover panel gives you gentle back support. This pair of skinny jeans will become a staple in your maternity wardrobe!
Old Navy Maternity Side-Panel Skinny Jeans
This pair of maternity denim is so affordable, you might end up buying more than one! The discreet side stretch panels in these dark wash skinny jeans mean you can wear them well after pregnancy, too. Old Navy has them available in sizes 0 to 18 and they come in multiple lengths, so you’re sure to find your perfect fit.
Motherhood Maternity Indigo Blue Secret Fit Belly Stretch Straight Leg Jeans
This classic straight fit from Motherhood comes in a full range of sizes. The jeans are soft and flexible, and the material isn’t too hot. Depending on the kind of support you’re after, the secret belly panel can be worn up or rolled down.
ASOS Super Low Rise Flare Jeans
Flared jeans are back in a big way! This pair from ASOS are comfortable to wear, and the fit is flattering. They’re the perfect partner for your cute maternity tops. They’ll make your legs will look like they’re a thousand miles long!
Motherhood Maternity Indigo Blue Secret Fit Belly Skinny Ankle Jeggings
You can’t go wrong with black jeans. They’re slimming and so chic! These jeggings in black from Motherhood Maternity are a maternity wardrobe staple that you NEED in your closet.
Well, there you have it: our top picks for maternity denim! Do you have a favorite brand or fit that we missed? Please share it with us in the comments!
Last week, Pregnancy Help Online introduced our new blog series, Where to Buy the Best Maternity Clothes. Today, we’re bringing you the top maternity athleisure clothing for your budget!
Athleisure has grown into being an essential part of every girl’s wardrobe. It’s pretty much the new way of life, especially when you’re pregnant. And it’s easy to see why: leggings are so comfy and practical.
That’s why we’re going to share our top maternity athleisure recs. Whether it’s going on power walks with your friends or keeping up with your prenatal yoga routine, you should be comfortable and cute doing all of it!
To dress your growing bump in chic athletic wear, we’ve broken it down into a simple equation:
T-shirt
leggings +
jacket/hoodie +
comfy sneaks +
sunglasses =
a put-together (and comfy) mama-to-be
Tops
Maternity Cross-Front Nursing Top, Old Navy
Old Navy tends to have a great selection of maternity basics. We love that you can wear this cotton crossover top throughout pregnancy. It’s even perfect for nursing, too, so you’ll get your money’s worth!
Side Ruched Scoop Neck Maternity Tank Top, Motherhood Maternity
This long tank pairs perfectly with leggings, and offers good booty coverage. Watch for specials on the Motherhood Maternity site; you could buy two and get the third item free!
Layering Pieces
Maternity Sweater, Pink Blush
Varsity-inspired styles like this one are very on-trend. Wear this with a pair of leggings or joggers and you’ll not only be stylish, but comfy too!
Fleece Maternity/Nursing Sweatshirt with Hoodie and Kangaroo Pocket, Smallshow
You might find that all you want is a hoodie in your postpartum nursing days. But it’s a drag to take off and put on a hoodie all the time for nursing. This sweatshirt comes with a great side-zipper which solves the problem!
Pants & Shorts
Soft-Spun Jersey Lounge Joggers, Old Navy
These elastic-waisted jogging pants are available in multiple colors and extended sizes. Made from 100% cotton, they’re machine washable, very comfortable, and come with a low price point!
Full Panel, Full-Length Leggings, GapFit
The engineered panels in these leggings have maximum compression, which holds you in all the right places, helping blood circulation. Created with high-performance knit fabric, these are moisture-wicking and breathable.
Rollover-Waist Yoga Shorts with a 5-inch inseam, Old Navy
On hot summer days, you need to give those tired legs some breathing room. These Old Navy yoga shorts are made with breathable fabric and four-way stretch!
Bras
Ultra Smooth Nursing Sports Bra, Belabumbum
This bra has medium-impact support and comes with spacer pad cups, which come in handy as your body changes during pregnancy. You’ll love the breathable stretchable cups and the ventilated side panels. Plus, it has a j-hook ring to convert to a racerback bra!
MAMA Sleep Nursing Bras, H&M
These nursing bras from H&M come in a pack to two, which means less laundry to do if you’re planning on nursing your baby. You can choose from a variety of color combos, and at $29.99 for a pack of two, you just can’t beat the price!
Watch for our second post in this maternity clothing series, all about how to find the best maternity jeans.
Happy shopping and bump-accessorizing!
Maternity clothes. Everybody needs them, but no one really wants them. Unless you’re one of those people who “never look pregnant,” maternity clothes are a necessity.
At first, buying a whole new wardrobe to wear for only a few months might seem wasteful and annoying. The truth is, the best maternity clothes—ones that flatter your body and show off your bump so that you can feel cute rather than huge—will help you feel beautiful and comfortable throughout your pregnancy.
Plus, you’ll be wearing your maternity clothes long after you’ve given birth. Most women take about a year for their body to go back to normal. The average person wears maternity clothes for about three to four months after their baby is born.
It can be difficult (and overwhelming!) to pull a maternity wardrobe together out of the blue. If you feel this way, take a deep breath; you’re in the right place! Just start with a few key items. We’ll help you make shopping for your bump easy peasy (AND fashion-forward) with our new blog series.
Pregnancy Help Online is excited to announce the launch of a blog series that will tell you how to pull together the best maternity wardrobe for your body! We’ve divided our series of Best Maternity Clothes into 7 sections:
- Athleisure
- Casual/everyday
- Work Clothes
- Sleepwear
- Jeans
- Coats
- Maternity Swimwear
Watch our blog for our first post in the series, all about how to find maternity athleisure. Happy shopping and bump-accessorizing!
There’s no doubt that pregnancy is a life-changing event! Being pregnant affects every area of your life, and changes your body. Right now, your mind might be spinning with tons of questions, like,
“My period is late… am I pregnant?”
“What should I pack for the hospital?”
“What’s it like to have a c-section?”
Our blog walks you through all three trimesters of your pregnancy, answering all of these questions and more. Pregnancy Help Online has SO much information available, but all that info in one place might leave you feeling overwhelmed.
So today, we’re going to share Pregnancy Help Online’s 3 most popular (and useful!) blog posts. They’ve been popular with many women who are figuring out this whole pregnancy business, just like you. Because let’s face it, when you’re going through a life change as significant as having a baby, it helps to know what’s been beneficial for other pregnant women.
1. Can You Be In labor and Not Even Know It?
The truth is, lots of the checklists out there to find out if you’re in “real labor” say that if it’s real, you shouldn’t be able to talk during your contractions. But this isn’t an exact science: it’s uncommon but possible to have painless labor. In this blog, we cover what to watch for if you’re wondering whether you’re really in labor!
2. Why Epsom Salt Baths During Pregnancy Are So Great
When you’re preggers, Epsom salt baths feel amazing! It’s a natural remedy for aches and pains and is completely safe for pregnant women. Just make sure that the water temp is comfortable but not hot; it’s dangerous to raise your body temperature too much when you’re pregnant. In this blog, we share why Epsom salt baths during pregnancy are so great!
3. I Love Chinese Food! But Can I Eat it During Pregnancy?
Tons of people love Chinese food, so it’s no surprise to us that this blog is popular! If you’re obsessed with Chinese food, then it’s time for you to explore whether is it safe to eat during pregnancy. The main concerns behind the advice to avoid Chinese food are the freshness of the ingredients and the possibility of the presence of MSG.
What would you like to read about on our blog? Please let us know in the comments!
There’s a lot to love about the summer: lazy days at the pool, barbeques with friends, and giant slices of watermelon, to name a few. Truly, the brightest of the whole year.
Except if you happen to be in your third trimester during summer months. Then, summer becomes a whole new experience, focused on battling swollen ankles while eating ice chips and counting the days until fall.
Hot weather and a baby bump. What’s a girl to do? Here are a few tips for staying cool, hydrated, and sane in the heat:
1. Welcome the A/C
If your home or apartment has air conditioning, crank it up! If you don’t, you can find A/C at the library, the mall, or a friend’s house. Being pregnant during the hot summer months is no time to try and save a few bucks on your utility bill.
2. Stay Hydrated
Getting dehydrated is your worst enemy, especially when you’re pregnant and especially in the heat. You can avoid dehydration by being proactive and drinking copious amounts of water. If you get tired of drinking water, try infusing your water with fruit or drinking through a straw.
3. Embrace the Maxi Dress
Flowy, cotton, maxi dresses are where it’s at, so stock up!
4. Stock Up on Ice
You’ll soon learn that ice is your best friend. And it’s not just for your drinks. For swollen ankles, try an ice-filled foot soak in the evening. And when it gets too hot to sleep, you can snuggle up with an ice pack!
5. Water is Your Best Friend
Try cooling off in the pool, the shower, with a sprinkler in the yard, using a spray bottle. Any of these will help you avoid overheating.
6. Start Early, or Get Out Late
When you’re pregnant during the summer, your best bet is to get up while it’s still cool. Do any household work, errands, or exercising you need to do earlier in the day. In the middle of the day, just relax in A/C. If you still have things to do, finish them up once it cools down again at night.
7. Eat Light
Try eating smaller, more frequent meals. This paces your metabolism and keeps your body from straining itself. Luckily, there are lots of fruits and veggies with high water content in season during the summer!
Do you have any tips for surviving a summer pregnancy that we missed? Please share them in the comments!
Once you’re around 32 weeks pregnant, you might find that the questions you’ll get from people switch from, “How are you feeling?” to “Is your hospital bag packed yet?”
It’s a good idea to start thinking about what you’ll bring with you to the hospital. Most experts recommend that you begin packing your hospital bag at 34 weeks. By doing so, you can just grab the bag and head for the hospital once you go into labor.
Here are some things to think about packing, to make your hospital stay a little more pleasant:
For Your Hospital Bag
Pillow
Hospital pillows are about as flat and uncomfortable as pillows come, so it’s always nice to bring one from home. Plus, your pillow from home will kind of smell like your bed, and that can be comforting. Just make sure to put a pillowcase that’s not solid white, so no one confuses it with a hospital pillow!
Flip flops
Remember flip flops in your hospital bag because you can wear them in the shower. Your feet might also swell, so you’ll be glad to have flip flops to wear!
Pajamas and Robe
It’s nice to have a little piece of home to make you feel more human. You’ll be so much more comfortable in them than in the provided hospital gown!
Underwear
Bring some old pairs to wear with the huge maxi pads the hospital will provide you after giving birth. Believe us, now isn’t the time to pack new, cute underwear or thongs! Maternity underwear is going to be your best bet to assure a comfy fit.
Maxi Pads
The hospitals should supply you with maxi pads to deal with post-birth bleeding, but they’re usually thick and kind of like wearing a diaper. It’s nice to have something more comfortable available. With that said, the hospital pads are free, so stock up on the enormous pads if they don’t bother you.
Towel
Towels are a great multi-functional tool to pack. If your water breaks, you spare the seats of your car by sitting on a towel on your way to the hospital. Use it over anything gross that you might need to lie on. And of course, you’ll want it for your post-birth shower.
Toiletries
Remember to pack your deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, brush, contact lens solution and case, glasses, chapstick, hair tie, hand sanitizer, and anything else you would take to stay overnight somewhere. Many women also pack makeup essentials, like mascara and concealer.
Snacks
Once you’re in labor, you might be restricted from eating anything in case you need to have surgery quickly. But if you’re not, it’s nice to have a simple non-perishable snack on hand, so you’re not stuck with the hospital’s apple sauce.
Magazines and books
There’s a lot of “hurry up and wait” involved in labor, especially if you’re being induced. We recommend packing something light to read that doesn’t require too much thinking, like a trashy tabloid magazine. Once it’s time to go home, leave the magazines at the hospital for the nurses and other patients to read.
The Important Stuff
Bring your insurance card, ID, and a few copies of your birth plan. Many women find it helpful to have a general birth plan of what they’d like to do or not do.
Tech
Remember to take your cell phone, chargers, and a tablet or laptop if you have one. You can play games, watch movies, and look at the Internet in the earlier stages of labor.
Clothes
Pack something comfy and clean, like yoga pants, a t-shirt, or a maxi dress.
Big Brother or Sister Gift
If you have children, think about packing a gift that’s from the baby. When they visit, they can open this gift. This is a sweet way to introduce them to the new baby since they might feel displaced over the next few months.
Gift for the Hospital Staff
It’s a nice gesture to give the hospital staff a gift to say “thank you.” Some ideas of gifts that are small enough to fit in your hospital bag include candy, gift cards, or cookies. Or, send your labor partner out to get bagels and coffee, or some healthy snacks like fruit and granola bars.
For the Baby
Diapers and Wipes
Most hospitals will provide with you a few diapers, but it’s a good idea to bring your own. We recommend packing newborn-size diapers and size 1 too. If your baby is nine pounds or more, he or she will probably skip right by the “newborn size” and start wearing size 1’s right away.
Soothers
It’s smart to pack pacifiers, a sound machine, a soft baby blanket, and a small stuffed animal. Bring a few different kinds of soothers with you to see what works.
Receiving Blanket
Receiving blankets can be used for a ton of things: as a nursing cover, to wrap your baby up, and as a car seat cover to block the sun when you leave.
Going Home Outfit
Many mamas-to-be enjoy shopping for an intricate, adorable outfit for their baby to arrive home wearing. If you’re not sentimental about this, you might just pack a simple onesie or sleeper. Just skip the sleep sack, because you’ll want to make sure the car seat clip can go in between your baby’s legs.
Nursing Gear
Breastfeeding can be tricky in the beginning, and every little bit helps. Pack a nursing pillow, pads, lanolin cream, nursing tops, and nursing bras. Since most nursing pillows are pretty big, leave it in your car once you arrive at the hospital. You can send someone to get it if you want to use it.
Car Seat
Make sure to get the car seat installed, and get acquainted with how it works. You’re required to have a car seat installed and be familiar with it in order to be discharged from the hospital. Just leave it in the car and get it once you’re packing up to go.
We hope this list gives you an idea of all the things you may or may not have thought of! Let us know in the comments what you packed, or are packing.
Picture getting ready for an 8 am class after being up most of the night with a crying baby. When you’re done with classes, you go to work for eight hours. Once you get off work, you rush to pick up your baby from daycare. Then, you go home and start this process all over again.
In the scenario described here, you’re not really raising your baby. The childcare provider is doing most of the nurturing and caring for your child.
There are few parenting situations more difficult than caring for a baby with no support while trying to finish college. Raising a child on your own is a full-time job, on top of your course load.
Statistics show that many women who get pregnant in college and decide to parent their child end up quitting school. Many of these mothers grow dependent on welfare programs to help raise their child. The cycle of poverty stays at her door because it’s hard to make much money without a college education.
If you’re pregnant and in college, this scenario may seem incredibly depressing. It can come as a big shock when only a short time ago you were living a life of freedom and had your future all planned out.
Of course, you’ll want to do what’s best for you and your baby. How can you provide the best life for your child while remaining in college?
You have choices that will empower you to set your world right and do the best thing you can do for your child. Maybe you haven’t thought about the choice of adoption yet, but now may be a good time to consider it.
With open adoption, you can select the adoptive parents who will raise your child. You’ll have the opportunity to choose the type of home your child will grow up in. You can even stay in touch with your child as he or she grows up. The adoptive parents will send you updates through letters, emails, photos, and even occasional visits.
By making an adoption plan, you’ll be able to finish your education and better your life. Plus, you can provide your child with a mom and dad who will provide a stable and loving home. You can live your life secure in the knowledge that your child is in the best possible home that you could provide.
You can learn more about adoption by calling or texting
Lifetime Adoption at 1-800-923-6784.
Visit their website at LifetimeAdoption.com to view hopeful adoptive family profiles, read women’s adoption stories, and more!
There are a variety of signs that might mean you’re pregnant, the most common one being a late or missed period. With that said, some early pregnancy symptoms aren’t actually related to pregnancy at all. For example, if you’re throwing up everything you eat, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re pregnant. You could be battling a nasty flu!
If you think you’re pregnant, it’s very important to make an appointment with your doctor to confirm that you’re pregnant and to begin prenatal care. The information here isn’t meant to replace medical advice, but to give you info in simple, easy to understand terms.
Pregnancy symptoms can show up as soon as one week after conception. But some lucky women don’t have any pregnancy symptoms at all!
To help clear things up, we’re giving you a break-down on 8
of the most common signs of early pregnancy:
of the most common signs of early pregnancy:
1. Fatigue
Feeling tired is a common symptom of early pregnancy. Other explanations for fatigue include stress, depression, a cold, or flu.
2. Spotting
You might experience cramping and light bleeding in the very beginning of your pregnancy, typically from six to 12 days after conception.
Other explanations for spotting might be that you’ve recently switched up your birth control, or your period is coming.
3. Missed Period or “Off” Period
If you missed your period, try taking an over-the-counter early pregnancy test. Know that many women get their period, even though they’re pregnant. And some women will continue to get their period several months into their pregnancy.
Light bleeding during your first period after becoming pregnant is common. So, visiting your doctor to confirm you’re truly pregnant is best.
But just because you missed a period doesn’t mean you’re pregnant. If you’re going through extreme stress, hormonal changes, or suddenly lose a lot of weight, you might also miss a period.
4. Vomiting and/or Nausea
Called “morning sickness” by many, nausea and vomiting usually happen between two and eight weeks after conception. Some women are blessed and never deal with morning sickness. Others face morning sickness early on in their pregnancy.
5. Tender Breasts
During early pregnancy, some women notice that their breasts feel sore or heavy. Another change to your breasts that can happen in the early stages of pregnancy is darker areolas (that’s the skin around the nipples).
6. Backaches
It’s normal to encounter back pain during pregnancy as your body adjusts to carrying and growing a baby. But, other explanations of back pain include PMS, stress, or physical strain.
7. Frequent Urination
Symptom #7 usually happens later on in pregnancy, typically around six to eight weeks along. Pregnant women need to pee more often because their expanding uterus is pushing on their bladder. Other explanations for frequent urination are urinary tract infections, or possibly other medical issues.
8. Strange Food Cravings
Many pregnant women crave a specific food, and not necessarily the stereotypical pickles and ice cream. It’s also normal and common to develop a sudden hatred for certain foods or certain smells. Then again, other reasons for craving strange foods include stress, depression, poor diet, or a diet lacking in a particular nutrient.
As you can see, typical pregnancy symptoms can be similar to other medical issues. If you think you’re pregnant, the first step to take is to get an over-the-counter test. Today’s modern pregnancy tests are very accurate, and so if it says you’re pregnant, you probably are. If the pregnancy test is negative and you still haven’t had a period after another five days, take another the test. It’s possible you took the test too early the first time. If you still haven’t gotten your period, it’s time to see your doctor because you may be pregnant or have another medical issue.
If you think you’re pregnant or have just discovered you’re pregnant, it’s crucial that you make an appointment to see your doctor. Prenatal care is essential for both you and your baby’s health.
There are many choices available if you’re facing an unplanned pregnancy. If you’re not ready to become a mom but at the same time don’t want to get an abortion, adoption is a third option.
With today’s modern adoptions, you can choose your baby’s adoptive parents and how you want the adoption to go. Open adoption puts you in the driver’s seat of your baby’s adoption: you decide how involved you want to be. Open adoption gives women a way to find a forever family for their baby while keeping in contact through emails, pictures, texts, phone calls, and/or visits. You can visit LifetimeAdoption.com to get information on how adoption works.
