Development of your baby from 4 - 8 weeks gestation.
The fifth week after conception, tiny arm and leg buds have formed. Hands with webs between the fingers have formed at the end of the arm buds. Fingerprints are detectable. The face has a distinctly reptilian aspect. The sixth week after conception, the embryo is about 1/2" long. The face has two eyes on each side of its head; the front of the face has connected slits where the mouth and nose eventually will be. During the seventh week after conception, the embryo has almost lost its tail. The embryo measures ¼” in length. Lens pits and optic cupseye. The brain divides into 5 sections, leg buds form, and hands form as flat paddles on the arms. In the eighth week after conception, the embryo will be about 8-11 mm long. The baby's hind brain is clearly visible. This week the baby's gonads will become either testes or ovaries and spontaneous movement begins. Also, the elbows appear and the process of ossification begins. form the start of the developing
How Mom's body is changing.
A mom’s body is experiencing many changes. Some things a mom will experience are nausea, acne, stretch marks, weight gain, and in increase in the production of hormones. It is very common for pregnant women to feel nauseous during their first and second trimester. The nausea may vary, but most often it occurs either in the morning or in the late evening. Also, a mom might see an increase in acne on her face and on various parts of her body. Acne is a normal way for her body to adapt to the chemical changes and should not remain or continue after her pregnancy is over. Women may start to see lines forming on their abdomen, thighs, hips, buttocks, or arms as they gain weight. Moms may feel overwhelmed by these changes, they do not have to. Women will also experience a significant amount of weight gain and women become very hormonal. There will be an increase in estrogen and progesterone which stimulate the growth of your breasts and milk glands.
What are the odds of having twins or triplets?
The chances of having twins these days are about one in 32 births. This rate has gone up 65 percent since 1980, and it's more than double the rate among women who conceive without medical assistance — one in 89. The rise in triplets and quadruplets is even more dramatic. Between 1980 and 1998, the rate of triplets and higher-order multiple births shot up by more than 400 percent, but it's crept back down over the past few years as fertility treatments have become more refined. In 2003, one in 535 births resulted in triplets, quadruplets, or more. Meanwhile, the likelihood of having identical twins is about one in 250. This rate has stayed constant all over the world.
How do you choose a doctor/midwife...or can your baby be born at home?
Women have the choice of choosing a midwife or doctor for their pregnancy. Women who either have medical problems or have had a previous c-section and know that they are going to have another one, choose to see an obstetrician because only they can perform c-sections. A midwives’ office is much more personal, friendly, and quicker than a doctor’s office. The wait isn’t as long, and the midwife is willing to listen and answer all your questions no matter how long it takes. While in labor, either at home or the hospital, a midwife will generally not leave the mothers side until labor is over, remaining with the mother to give constant support. Midwives are usually more personable and more willing to listen. Midwives generally support and believe in a more natural, comfortable birth for the mother and baby, as well as using less traditional birthing aids such as birthing balls and water births. Also, if a mother-to-be wants to have a home birth, a midwife is who she would choose to assist her. Doctors can offer a lot of benefits as well. Often a doctor can come with a lot of recommendations from friends. Many times you will actually see all the doctors at different appointments so you’ll get to know each one. You will also be able to get several different opinions regarding any problems you might be having in your pregnancy in one place, rather than having to go elsewhere for a second opinion. Also, if your doctor is ill, or has to deliver a baby, you probably won’t have to reschedule your appointment because there should be another doctor that you could see in the practice that day. Obstetricians can also support and believe in a more natural method of childbirth, but they can also be quick to recommend pain medication during labor. They might also be quick to recommend a c-section if labor is not progressing as fast as they want.
Safety Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy.
Start changing your food habits to include a healthy variety of foods.
Exercise! Starting now will help you stay in shape during pregnancy, can lower your risk of miscarriage, and has been proven to help reduce labor complications and length.
Educate yourself! Check out a book on pregnancy.
Stop smoking. There are many programs to help you.
Take a prenatal vitamin. They can be prescribed by your practitioner or you can buy them over the counter. Ensure it contains 0.4 mg of folic acid.
Avoid chemicals that could possibly harm your baby. You can find these at work, in your home, and just about anywhere, be environmentally sensitive.
Stop changing cat litter.
Do not drink alcohol because it can cause birth defects.
Rest when you can.
Drink six - eight ounce glasses of water a day.
Remember to add 300 - 500 calories a day while pregnant.
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