Congratulations if you've just found out you're pregnant with your first baby. Hold tight because you're in for a roller coast ride for the next few months as you begin to experience changes to your body and mind that you have never experienced before.
As you've probably gathered from other areas of this site, there are a number of common symptoms of being pregnant. Most people are aware of them, yet will most likely not experience them all through their own pregnancy. This is because every woman will have a different pregnancy, one may suffer for a month with morning sickness, whilst another is absolutely fine.
So it is no wonder that your first baby and pregnancy can be a little bit daunting. Fortunately, most things are never as bad as they seem. Many of us are lucky enough to have great medical facilities on hand to help and advise us. In recent years, support for women having their first baby has improved ten fold. Hospital centers are geared to provide just as much support without being too fussy and in your face. If you don't believe me, try asking your parents or an older friend what their experience of having their first baby was like.
Obviously having your first baby and being pregnant means that your life is subject to some pretty dramatic changes. You should not try to come to terms with these changes immediately, as this would most likely be far to much to take in, especially with being pregnant as well. Try to weather the first 12 weeks of the first trimester, try to get your bearings and get used to being pregnant for the first time before worrying about nurseries, baby names or whether you should stock up on Baby Gap goodies.
My own memory of being pregnant for the first time was one of excitement and relief. Excited because we were finally going to have the baby we always dreamed of, and relief that we'd finally done it as we'd been trying for so long. Ironically, our second baby came along quite quickly after the first and did not seem anywhere near as difficult as becoming pregnant with the first.
I also remember a time of great camaraderie, my partner, friends and family all rallied around and wanted to get involved. At times I felt a little overwhelmed with everything, however I did appreciate their support and joy at the same time. That's the funny thing about your first baby and being pregnant for the first time, whilst you are the one that puts on weight, is uncomfortable and has to go through the pain of child birth, the end result is a lovely tiny baby. There is almost a sense that this small bundle of joy belongs in part to everyone else, they've all contributed to the pregnancy and delivery.
It really is "Team Baby", and of course as the baby grows things do not change. Which is great, as there stands a ready made treadmill of babysitters, helpers, holders and knitted jump suit makers.
If it is your first baby and pregnancy, we wish you every luck. Best wishes.
How to be pregnant for first time ?... Video
Weight Loss During Pregnancy
Weight Loss During Pregnancy: Morning Sickness
Prenatal nutrition is very important to the health of both a mother and her growing baby. Typical weight gain during the first trimester is about five pounds. But many women do not gain any weight or experience weight loss during pregnancy due to nausea and morning sickness.
Weight loss during the initial trimester of pregnancy is not uncommon. Morning sickness typically strikes between weeks 6-16, although for some women it may last throughout the entire pregnancy. It’s commonly believed that the changing hormones in your body cause morning sickness.
While it’s good for a woman to gain weight at a steady pace during pregnancy, most studies show that the babies of women with severe nausea and vomiting develop normally despite their mother’s weight loss during pregnancy. As long as the mother is eating a wholesome diet and getting nutrition from all of the food groups, the baby should be just fine. If there is a concern about the mother’s weight loss during pregnancy, an ultrasound can be used to determine if the baby’s growth and development are on track.
Weight Loss During Pregnancy: Dieting
Almost all health experts advise against intentional weight loss during pregnancy. A growing baby needs a good supply of organic food, protein, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in order to develop. Any effort that the mother may make to lose weight at this critical time could limit this supply of nutrients for her baby. A baby that is malnourished could develop significant health problems both at birth and throughout his or her life.
It’s important to gain some weight during pregnancy. The amount that you gain will vary depending upon your starting point. It’s a good idea to cut back on foods that are high in empty calories such as sodas, sweets, and highly processed foods. But you don’t need to worry about losing weight right now. Just be sure that your diet includes a good supply of wholesome foods for both your nutrition and your baby’s. And if you really do need to lose weight, strengthen your resolve to do so after your baby is born.
But what if you are already dieting when you happen to become pregnant? Should you continue on your diet food plan or resort back to your old habits? The answer to this question depends upon the type of diet that you are currently using. For example, if the “diet” you are on right now involves eating more wholesome foods and cutting back on high calorie, high fat foods, then it’s a good idea to continue. But if the diet you are trying is excessively restrictive, or limits any one particular food group, it may not give you the nutrition you need to support yourself and your growing baby.
What Nutrients Are Most Important During Pregnancy?First and foremost, pregnant women need a good supply of folic acid to keep their baby healthy and reduce the incidence of neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Many health care practitioners recommend that women begin taking folic acid supplements at least one month before they even try to get pregnant, and continue throughout the pregnancy.
Women also tend to have trouble getting enough iron in their diets, and this is particularly worrisome during pregnancy, when iron supplies are stretched thin as the body produces more blood to support the growing baby. Healthcare providers recommend take a pregnant women take in at least 27 mg of iron per day. This is 50% more than the amount recommended for women who are not pregnant.
12 Year Old Tean Girl Pregnant
am just posting a couple clips from the article as the board would not let me post it in its entirety.
The girl fell pregnant aged 11 after having sex with a 15-year-old on a drunken night out with friends in Edinburgh last August. He has been charged with statutory rape.
The girl today told a national newspaper how she was "really excited" to be having a baby. Her mother said she was "proud" of her daughter.
In an interview with The Scottish Sun, the girl, who smokes up to 20 roll-up cigarettes a day and started drinking aged ten, said she hoped the baby would be a boy.
She said: "I am really excited and looking forward to being a mum. I can't wait to take the baby swimming and out for walks in the pram.
The girl told how she feared she might be pregnant after having unprotected sex with the boy after a drunken night out with friends in Edinburgh last August. "We didn't use a condom but I didn't think about getting pregnant. I wasn't bothered at the time," she continued. "He knew it was my first time and I was nervous so he asked if I was all right.
"I slept with him because I was drunk and because I wanted to. I don't regret it, because if I had not had sex with him I wouldn't have had my baby."
The West Lothian girl's mother, who has not been named, told the newspaper: "She's grown up a lot in the last few months and her pregnancy has brought us closer together. At first I wasn't too happy about becoming a gran but now I'm used to the idea I'm really looking forward to having another girl around the house.
"My daughter is already like a mum to her little brothers, so she knows how hard this is going to be. I know she'll give motherhood a good try - and she knows I'll be here for her if she needs help.
"We had a big argument and I ended up locking myself in my room and then running away to a friend's house. It was really hard, but it has brought me and my mum closer together, which is good. "At the weekend, mum and I are going shopping to get stuff for the baby.
She said she began smoking when she was nine years old and started drinking just a year later.
She said: "I can give up smoking at any time, but I don't find it affects my pregnancy. I also don't drink any more."
The eight months pregnant mum-to-be is reported to have quit school following a string of exclusions for fighting with fellow pupils.
Acupuncture during pregnancy
Acupuncture during pregnancy is a safe and effective treatment for many of the complications and discomforts which may arise. At Hatch Therapies we can look after you throughout your entire pregnancy, helping you get through everything from morning sickness in the first trimester to induction of labour once you are full term. At Hatch Therapies we use a combination of acupuncture, Chinese Herbal medicine, massage and cranio sacral therapy to treat conditions associated with pregnancy including: Morning sickness Recurrent/ threatened miscarriage Heartburn Constipation Haemorrhoids Musculoskeletal conditions- lower back pain/ sciatica, neck and upper back pain, pubic symphysis pain, carpal tunnel, rib pain Fatigue Anaemia Anxiety/ depression Oedema Itching Sinus Hypertension Insomnia
From 36 weeks we recommend weekly treatments to prepare for labour. These treatments are aimed at preparing your body for birth by relaxing and softening
ligaments, aiding cervical dilation and nourishing the body’ energy and blood. During this time we also find that by incorporating massage into our prebirth treatments you experience the many health benefits of massage as well as feeling completely nurtured and rejuvenated. During the third trimester acupuncture may also be used to turn a breech baby. This treatment involves the use of moxibustion (heat therapy) at one acupuncture point bilaterally. We recommend this treatment as early as possible for optimal success. From 40 weeks acupuncture is recommended for induction of labour. During these treatments we can also suggest acupressure points which may useful to manage pain during labour.
At Hatch Therapies we recommend pregnancy massage throughout all stages of your pregnancy. As your body goes through enormous physical changes there is added stress on ligaments and muscles which may lead to aches and pains which can often be alleviated with regular massage. Hatch Pregnancy Massage may not only ease muscular pain, it can also be an effective treatment for fluid retention, leg cramps, stress, insomnia and fatigue. At Hatch Therapies we use specially designed pregnancy support cushions which allow you to lie safely and comfortably on your stomach until full term
Types of Birth Control Methods
There are many methods of birth control that a woman can use. Talk with your health care provider to help you figure out what method is best for you. You can always try one method and if you do not like it, you can try another one.
Keep in mind that most birth control does NOT protect you from HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like gonorrhea, herpes, and chlamydia. Other than not having sex, the best protection against STDs and HIV is the male latex condom. The female condom may give some STD protection. Other birth control methods that involve using a spermicide (a cream or jelly that kills sperm) also may give some protection against chlamydia and gonorrhea.
Don't forget that all of the methods we talk about below work best if used correctly. Be sure you know the correct way to use them. Talk with your health care provider and don't feel embarrassed about talking with her or him again if you forget or don't understand. 
Know that learning how to use some birth control methods can take time and practice. Sometimes health care providers do not explain how to use a method because they may think you already know how. For example, some people do not know that you can put on a male condom "inside out." Also, not everyone knows that you need to leave a "reservoir" or space at the tip of the condom for the sperm and fluid when a man ejaculates, or has an orgasm.
The more you know about the correct way to use birth control, the more control you will have over deciding if and when you want to become pregnant.
Here is a list of birth control methods with estimates of effectiveness, or how well they work in preventing pregnancy when used correctly, for each method:
Continuous Abstinence -This means not having sexual intercourse at any time. It is the only sure way to prevent pregnancy. This method is 100% effective at preventing pregnancy.
Periodic Abstinence or Fertility Awareness Methods - A woman who has a regular menstrual cycle has about nine or more fertile days, or days when she is able to get pregnant, each month. Periodic abstinence means you do not have sex on the days that you may be fertile. Fertility awareness means that you can be abstinent or have sex but you use a "barrier" method of birth control to keep sperm from getting to the egg. Barrier methods include condoms, diaphragms, or cervical caps, used together with spermicides, which kill sperm. These methods are 75 to 99% effective at preventing pregnancy.
Keep in mind that to practice these methods, you need to learn about your menstrual cycle (or how often you get your period). You keep a written record of when you get your period, what it is like (heavy or light blood flow), and how you feel (sore breasts, cramps). You also check your cervical mucus and take your basal body temperature daily, and record these in a chart. This is how you learn to predict, or tell, which days you are fertile or "unsafe." You can ask your health care provider for more information on how to record and understand this information.
The Male Condom - Condoms are called barrier methods of birth control because they put up a block, or barrier, which keeps the sperm from reaching the egg. Only latex or polyurethane (because some people are allergic to latex) condoms are proven to help protect against STDs, including HIV. "Natural" or "lambskin" condoms made from animal products also are available. But lambskin condoms are not recommended for STD prevention because they have tiny pores that may allow for the passage of viruses like HIV, hepatitis B and herpes. Male condoms are 86 to 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. Condoms can only be used once. You can buy them at a drug store. Condoms come lubricated (which can make sexual intercourse more comfortable and pleasurable) and non-lubricated (which can also be used for oral sex). It is best to use lubrication with non-lubricated condoms if you use them for vaginal or anal sex. You can use KY jelly or water-based lubricants, which you can buy at a drug store. Oil-based lubricants like massage oils, baby oil, lotions, or petroleum jelly will weaken the condom, causing it to tear or break. Always keep condoms in a cool, dry place. If you keep them in a hot place (like a billfold, wallet, or glove compartment), the latex breaks down, causing the condom to tear or break.
Oral Contraceptives - Also called "the pill," it contains the hormones estrogen and progestin. A pill is taken daily to block the release of eggs from the ovaries. It also lightens the flow of your period and protects against pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer. It does not protect against STDs or HIV. The pill may add to your risk of heart disease, including high blood pressure, blood clots, and blockage of the arteries. If you are over age 35 and smoke, or have a history of blood clots or breast or endometrial cancer, your health care provider may advise you not to take the pill. The pill is 95 to 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy if used correctly. You will need a prescription and visits with your health care provider to make sure you are not having problems.
The Mini-Pill - Unlike the pill, the mini-pill only has one hormone, progestin, instead of both estrogen and progestin. Taken daily, the mini-pill reduces and thickens cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching the egg. It also prevents a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus (womb). The mini-pill also can decrease the flow of your period and protect against PID and ovarian and endometrial cancer. Mothers who breastfeed can use it because it will not affect their milk supply. The mini-pill is a good option for women who can't take estrogen or for women who have a risk of blood clots. The mini-pill does not protect against STDs or HIV. Mini-pills are 95 to 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy if used correctly. You will need a prescription and visits with your health care provider to make sure you are not having problems.
Copper T IUD (Intrauterine Device) - An IUD is a small device that is shaped in the form of a "T." Your health care provider places it inside the uterus. The IUD releases a small amount of a hormone that keeps you from getting pregnant. The arms of the Copper T IUD contain some copper, which stops fertilization by preventing sperm from making their way up through the uterus into the fallopian tubes. If fertilization does occur, the IUD would prevent the fertilized egg from implanting in the lining of the uterus. The Copper T IUD can stay in your uterus for up to 10 years. It does not protect against STDs or HIV. This IUD is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. Requires visits with your health care provider to have it inserted and to make sure you are not having any problems. Not all health care providers insert IUDs.
Progestasert IUD (Intrauterine Device) -This IUD is a small plastic T- shaped device that is placed inside the uterus by a health care provider. It contains the hormone progesterone, the same hormone produced by a woman's ovaries during the monthly menstrual cycle. The progesterone causes the cervical mucus to thicken so sperm cannot reach the egg, and so that a fertilized egg cannot successfully implant into the lining of the uterus. The Progestasert IUD can stay in your uterus for one year. This IUD is 98% effective at preventing pregnancy. Requires visits with your health care provider to have it inserted and to make sure you are not having any problems. Not all health care providers insert IUDs.
Intrauterine System or IUS (Mirena) - The IUS is a small T-shaped device like the IUD and is placed inside the uterus by a health care provider. It releases a small amount of a hormone each day to keep you from getting pregnant. The IUS stays in your uterus for up to five years. It does not protect against STDs or HIV. The IUS is 99% effective. The Food and Drug Administration approved this method in December 2000. Requires visits with your health care provider to make sure you are not having any problems. Not all health care providers insert the IUS.
The Female Condom - Worn by the woman, this barrier method keeps sperm from getting into her body. It is made of polyurethane, is packaged with a lubricant, and may protect against STDs, including HIV. It can be inserted up to 8 hours prior to sexual intercourse. Female condoms are 79 to 95% effective at preventing pregnancy. There is only one kind of female condom and its brand name is Reality. Purchase at a drug store.
Implant (Norplant and Norplant 2) - This product was taken off the market in July 2002. If you are using the Norplant system, you should contact your health care provider about what your contraceptive options will be after the five year expiration date of your Norplant system. Norplant consists of small stick-like devices, or "rods," that are placed under the skin. The rods release a very low, steady level of a steroid that prevents pregnancy for up to five years. However, the rods can be taken out at any time and you then can become pregnant. This method is 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy. It does not protect against STDs or HIV. Requires visits with your health care provider to make sure you are not having any problems.
Depo-Provera - With this method women get injections, or shots, of the hormone progestin in the buttocks or arm every three months. It does not protect against STDs or HIV. It is 99.7% effective at preventing pregnancy. Requires visits with your health care provider to make sure you are not having any problems.
Diaphragm or Cervical Cap - These are barrier methods of birth control, where the sperm are blocked from reaching the egg. The diaphragm is shaped like a shallow latex cup. The cervical cap is a thimble-shaped latex cup. Both come in different sizes and you need a health care provider to "fit" you for one. Before sexual intercourse, you use them with spermicide (to block or kill sperm) and place them up inside your vagina to cover your cervix (the opening to your womb). You can buy spermicide gel or foam at a drug store. Spermicide will also help protect you from the STDs gonorrhea and chlamydia if they have nonoxynol-9 in them. Some women can be sensitive to nonoxynol-9 and need to use spermicides that do not contain it. The diaphragm is 80 to 94% effective at preventing pregnancy. The cervical cap is 80 to 90% effective at preventing pregnancy for women who have not had a child, and 60 to 80% for women who have had a child. Requires a visit with your health care provider for proper fitting.
The Patch (Ortho Evra) -This is a skin patch worn on the lower abdomen, buttocks, or upper body. It releases the hormones progestin and estrogen into the bloodstream. You put on a new patch once a week for three weeks, then do not wear a patch during the fourth week in order to have a menstrual period. The patch is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, but appears to be less effective in women who weigh more than 198 pounds. It does not protect against STDs or HIV. The Food and Drug Administration approved this method in 2001. You will need to visit your health care provider for a prescription and to make sure you are not having problems.
The Hormonal Vaginal Contraceptive Ring (NuvaRing) - The NuvaRing is a ring that releases the hormones progestin and estrogen. You place the ring up inside your vagina to go around your cervix (the opening to your womb). You wear the ring for three weeks, take it out for the week that you have your period, and then put in a new ring. The ring is 98 to 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. The Food and Drug Administration approved this method in 2001. You will need to visit your health care provider for a prescription and to make sure you are not having problems.
Surgical Sterilization (Tubal Ligation or Vasectomy) - These surgical methods are meant for people who want a permanent method of birth control. In other words, they never want to have a child or they do not want more children. Tubal ligation or "tying tubes" is done on the woman to stop eggs from going down to her uterus where they can be fertilized. The man has a vasectomy to keep sperm from going to his penis, so his ejaculate never has any sperm in it. They are 99 to 99.5% effective at preventing pregnancy.
Nonsurgical Sterilization (Essure Permanent Birth Control System) - This is the first non-surgical method of sterilizing women and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in November 2002. A thin tube is used to thread a tiny spring-like device through the vagina and uterus into each fallopian tube. Flexible coils temporarily anchor it inside the fallopian tube. A Dacron-like mesh material embedded in the coils irritates the fallopian tubes' lining to cause scar tissue to grow and eventually permanently plug the tubes. It can take about three months for the scar tissue to grow, so it is important to use another form of birth control during this time. Then you will have to return to your health care provider for a test to see if scar tissue has fully blocked your tubes. In studies of more than 600 women, followed for a year, there so far have been no pregnancies in those whose Essure devices were implanted successfully.
Emergency Contraception - This is NOT a regular method of birth control and should never be used as one. Emergency contraception, or emergency birth control, is used to keep a woman from getting pregnant when she has had unprotected vaginal intercourse. "Unprotected" can mean that no method of birth control was used. It can also mean that a birth control method was used but did not work - like a condom breaking. Or, a woman may have forgotten to take her birth control pills, or may have been abused or forced to have sex when she did not want to. Emergency contraception consists of taking two doses of hormonal pills taken 12 hours apart and started within three days after having unprotected sex. These are sometimes wrongly called the "morning after pill." The pills are 75 to 89% effective at preventing pregnancy. Another type of emergency contraception is having the Copper T IUD put into your uterus within seven days of unprotected sex. This method is 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy. Neither method of emergency contraception protects against STDs or HIV. You will need to visit your health care provider for either a prescription for the pills or for the insertion of the IUD, and to make sure you are not having problems.
