Most ladies are getting nervous with the pregnancy symptoms like missing a period or vomiting in early morning. It is necessary to confirm whether you are pregnant or not at the earliest. You may not consult a doctor because you want to keep this information secret or it is difficult to get an appointment with Doctor. You may also need the privacy of being able to take a home pregnancy test yet it is very important to get an accurate pregnancy test result.

Pregnancy tests detect the increase in human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) hormone in urine. Home pregnancy tests generally detect pregnancy at 50 mIU - 100 mIU hGG. hCG hormone secretion from the developing placenta begins shortly after a fertilized egg has been implanted in the uterine lining. Once the testing strip is exposed to urine, it detects the presence of hCG.

Step by step easy to follow guidelines for you

It is really simple to use home pregnancy test kit. It’s not rocket science but you need to understand all the directions otherwise you might miss some basics like how long to wait to get an accurate pregnancy test result.

If you’re having trouble urinating don’t try to drink a lot of liquid to try to force yourself to urinate because doing so might dilute the amount of hCG in your urine and the test may not pick it up.

Use the First Urine of the Morning before you eat or drink

There’s a reason you’re supposed to use the first urine of the morning or if you work nights and sleep days, the first urine when you awake. This is because there are higher levels of the pregnancy hormone hCG in the urine after it has been in the bladder for several hours.

Do not try to Re-Use the Test

Once it’s used, it’s done. You won’t be able to re-use the kit and get an accurate pregnancy test result. It’s only going to work one time. Many women like to buy the double pack so they can take the test again within a few days.

If you do the testing too early, you may get a false negative result. It may also happen that you get a positive result but you are not pregnant. In both the cases, you need to retest it.

What are the variables that control accuracy of results?

hCG will not be present in your system until the embryo implants in the womb. That’s why the date of implantation is important.

In most cases, hCG increases very rapidly. The amount of hCG in urine will be at its highest concentration if it is stored for a long period. Hence, it is recommended to do the test with morning urine sample. You should avoid coffee, tea before the test.

If you are taking fertility medications, consult your doctor if or how they will interfere with using a home pregnancy test

Don’t buy a dusty kit on the bottom shelf of a store that doesn’t sell very many of the home pregnancy test kits. The older ones, regardless of the brand name only measure the larger amounts of hCG so unless you’re a week or two late, you’ll most likely get a negative result.

If you think you are pregnant, regardless of whether you get a positive test result at home, it is necessary to consult a doctor without waiting more.

Alta Mukherjee is web based information publisher. She published informattion on woman issue, pregancy, hair loss regularly on her websites and newsletters.

Hello everyone

It has been nearly five months since we changed our forum software and we’ve decided its now time to make a few more changes to the way we run our community.

One of the biggest benefits we saw of using our new forum was the fact that it enabled us to provide a gateway to a number of Usenet communities.

Although many of the Usenet users were really welcoming, friendly and supportive to new moms posting via our forums, we also found that there were many cliques that existed within the Usenet community who would attack our members or post rude responses to their posts.

I have therefore made the decision to cut off these direct links to the Usenet community. Although many of the great posts will be retained and archived within our forums. From this point, any new posts made within our forums will remain within our forums and will not be syndicated to Usenet.

This way we can ensure that we provide a friendly and helpful community for the moms who join our forums without the risks of exposing these moms to the wrath of some of the less desirable users of the Usenet community.

Continue reading ‘Newmomsforum and the Usenet Communities’

The ill effects of alcohol consumed during pregnancy causes a pattern of mental and physical defects in some unborn babies, known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Fetal alcohol syndrome was named in 1973 by two dysmorphologists, Kenneth Lyons Jones and David W. Smith of the University of Washington Medical School in Seattle.

In the United States, there are more babies born with fetal alcohol syndrome than HIV or Downs Syndrome. A child born with FAS may be seriously handicapped, possibly requiring a lifetime of special care. Most of the disabilities of FAS are caused by a pregnant woman consuming alchohol between the 10th and the 20th week of pregnancy.

Alcohol interferes with the ability of the fetus to receive sufficient oxygen and nourishment for normal cell development in the brain and other body organs. FAS is characterized by abnormal facial features, growth deficiencies, and central nervous system problems.

People with FAS have problems with learning, memory, attention span, communication, vision, hearing, or a combination of these. FAS is a permanent condition and affects every aspect of an individual’s life.

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) is a term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual. FASDs include FAS as well as other conditions in which individuals have some but not all of the clinical signs of FAS.

In the United States, FAS rates range from 0.2 to 1.5 per 1000 live births. Other FASDs are believed to occur approximately three times as often as FAS.

FASDs are preventable if a woman does not drink alcohol during pregnancy. Fathers can play an important role by encouraging mothers not to drink. In 1989, the U.S. Congress passed a legislation that made it mandatory for warning labels to be placed on all alcoholic beverage containers.

In 2005, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory on Alcohol Use in Pregnancy to raise public awareness. It is expected that such steps will contribute to a reduction in the number of cases of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum.

Alcohol provides detailed information on Alcohol, Alcohol Rehab, Alcohol Treatments, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and more.

Pregnancy, though wonderful, can be the most challenging nine months of any women’s life. Pregnant women struggle with body image, health choices, food issues, fears of labor and pain management, swollen ankles and aching backs. No wonder so many women struggle through their pregnancies, feeling anything but glowing.

One of the keys to having a happy, healthy pregnancy is having what I call a “conscious” pregnancy: being awake and aware of your feelings, physical needs, relationships and spiritual connection. When a woman becomes awakened to these priorities, she makes herself available to having a truly beautiful pregnancy.

o Emotional Awareness: It’s no joke that a pregnant woman’s hormones can wreak havoc with her emotions. I think of this as Mother Nature’s way of preparing us for the emotional roller coaster that our children will later put us through. There’s no controlling it. You can only hang on and (try to) enjoy the ride. There are, however, some techniques for dealing with the extreme emotions that come up:

o Don’t bury your feelings. It’s imperative that a pregnant woman learns how to own her feelings or else they can (and will!) negatively affect her body and her unborn baby. Your baby is experiencing everything through the lens of your body. Your emotions trigger certain chemicals which are passed from your body to your baby’s. Allow yourself to feel your feelings and deal with them in appropriate ways.

o When you feel overwhelmed with emotions such as fear, anger or frustration, stop and ask yourself two questions: Why am I reacting this way? What do I really want right now? These two questions will give you the ability to have personal responsibility and not be victimized by your feelings. Look to the past to learn why you’re reacting the way you are, then look directly to the present moment to discover what it is that you really need.

o Allow yourself to be soft. A lot of us have learned over the years to be tough, strong women. Pregnancy is your chance to be soft and pliant. It’s okay to cry over trifles. It’s okay to feel more romantic and even a little needy. It’s nature’s way of including your mate in your process.

o Trust your body, trust your process. Fear is a major complicating factor in pregnancy and delivery. When you are able to trust your body and surrender to the process, you are able to release the fear and experience the joy of pregnancy. Also, focus on the positive experiences and not on what could go wrong. Too much pregnancy literature is filled with negative stories and medical trauma. The truth is: your body knows exactly what to do. You don’t have to be afraid.

o There is so much great information out there about what your nutritional and physical needs are during pregnancy: I’ll just highlight some of the basics.

o Drink plenty of water – at least 2 liters a day, if not more. Cut out the sodas and eliminate most caffeine. Juice is okay, in addition to your water intake, but it’s much better for you to eat a piece of fruit than to have a glass of juice. (Juice gives the vitamins, but doesn’t balance the sugars with fiber like a piece of fruit would.)

o Eat plenty of fruits and veggies, both raw and cooked, every single day. Protein is important, as well as calcium. Pay attention to your body’s signals. When I was pregnant with my daughter I ate more meat. With my son it was cheese. I just figured that’s what our bodies needed. Remember that if you’re craving sugar, it’s usually a need for protein in disguise. Try having a serving of meat then, if you’re still craving that ice cream, go ahead. But watch your portions.

o Take your prenatal vitamin every day.

o Make sure to attend every prenatal appointment with your doctor or midwife.

o Be aware of other physical needs. You will need more rest breaks throughout your day as your pregnancy progresses. Be conscious of your aches any uncomfortable places in your body. Know that your sexual desires may change. Just be present to the changes and, once again, trust your process.

o When a woman is pregnant, her relationships change. I have made and lost more friendships during pregnancy than any other time of my life. Being pregnant makes you more vulnerable. You need to have relationships with people you can trust, who will support you emotionally, who will nurture you as you nurture your baby.

o Pregnancy is your chance to clean up your relationship with your partner before your baby is born. Do you argue a lot? Do you shove down your feelings most of the time and sacrifice yourself to his happiness? Do you have a good, equal, give-and-take relationship? What issues have been lying under the surface that need to be addressed? Deal with it now, before the stress of having a newborn makes things worse.

o Being pregnant and having children will bring up any unresolved issues with your family of origin. What work do you need to do to heal old wounds so your baby has the chance to grow within a body that is not harboring resentment and toxic memories?

o A pregnant woman needs the support of her community. If you don’t have loving community (family friends, co-workers, church members, etc), find it. Find like-minded individuals who are conscious, loving people. Begin to build that special community for your new baby, too!

o Okay, so you’re dealing with a growing family, changes in finances, changing relationships, health and nutrition, labor is looming… And the most important thing you can do for yourself and your unborn baby is to reconnect with Spirit. God is the energy of creation. The pregnant woman is channeling that energy every second of every day. When you take the time to stop and consciously connect, you can re-energize every aspect of your life.

o Take the first ten minutes of every day to focus on God and gratitude. This mindset will carry you through whatever challenges the day brings.

o When you feel tired, stop and lift your mind to God. Take three or four deep breaths (as deep as you can!) and with each intake, think of a God-quality and with each exhale, release a negative pattern: (Breath in) I accept the vibrant energy of God into my body and mind… (Breath out) I release any and all feelings of fatigue and depression from my body and mind. (Repeat)

o For many women, learning to be taken care of is high spiritual practice. Do you believe that God takes care of you? Then allow other people to care for you, physically and emotionally. Let yourself be spoiled!

o Learning to meditate can not only have a most positive effect on your pregnancy, but also your labor and delivery. There are some wonderful guided-meditation CD’s out there now. Take the time to reconnect through meditation and prayer. Your body, mind, spirit, AND your baby will thank you for it!

This is a lot of information in one short space. Remember, the most important thing is to be fully present to your experience. That’s what having a conscious pregnancy is really about. You, and your baby, deserve it!

About the Author:

Shelly Walker is the mother of two beautiful children and the author of Awakened Power and the upcoming book Parenting Keys.

Shelly is passionate about children and believes that every child deserves healthy, happy parents. Her website, http://www.parentingkeys.com , has great information and free tools to help parents raise successful, empowered children.

Purchasing an over the counter pregnancy tests kit is the most convenient way to know if you are pregnant. Today pregnancy tests kits comes in different brands, single or multiple tests per package.

Many of them will require the user to urinate on a stick or into a cup, a few les popular will perform the test with a drop of blood instead. Some uses a digital reading, while others will show a plus sign or double line in the event that it detects enough pregnancy hormones to determine a pregnancy.

Some pregnancy tests are “early” pregnancy tests. That means that they are designed to detect a small enough amount of the pregnancy hormone to determine if a woman is pregnant as early as the first day of a missed period, or even a day or two before the period is due.

The fine print on the boxes will tell you that 65% of pregnant women had a positive result when tested two days before the period was due, and the percentage increased with each passing day.

These are usually accurate, but the most accurate results are achieved after the period was expected. A woman will not get a false positive in most cases, but a negative result will occur if there is not enough pregnancy hormone detectable yet, even if the pregnancy is positive.

For a woman, the highest level of pregnancy hormone is found in first-morning urine. That is the best time to use a pregnancy test strip. Most of the kind a woman urinates on need to be saturated with urine in order to work properly. Therefore, be sure to hold the stick in the urine stream for 3 good seconds or more.

It takes about 5 minutes for the urine to travel down the strip and the results to be indicated. The stick must be read within 10 minutes, or it may indicate a positive result after 10 minutes, even if the result is actually negative.

Positive results that show up within the first 10 minutes may be very faint. This would happen if it is early, and the pregnancy hormone is just barely detected. Even a faint result is a positive result. The woman can confirm the positive by taking another test a day or two later to see a darker line appear.

Pregnancy tests are very accurate when used correctly. But, remember, they must be used at the right time of the month. Too early, and a false negative result will occur, due to the need for the pregnancy hormone to be present in a high enough quantity for the stick to measure. If the menstrual period is two weeks late, and the pregnancy test is still negative, an appointment with the doctor might be indicated.

Finally, if you are pregnant, you should make an appointment doctor. Early monitoring of the baby will allow the doctor to monitor the growth of the baby closely and advise you accordingly.

Joshua Poyoh is the creator of http://www.motherbabytips.com

Many pregnant women spend allot of time debating if natural childbirth is for them. It is such a decision to make for any expecting mom. Many women falsely believe that natural labor will make them a better mom, when in fact that has nothing to do with motherhood.

Having a child is not an Olympic sport, so no one will win a medal! The idea of giving birth with no drugs involved is very encouraging for some pregnant women, while other women want to focus more on relaxing with pain medication.

Getting an epidural or other pain management drugs will not make you a bad mom, it will actually allow you to relax and make your labor and much more pleasurable one! Every labor is different, some being 1 hour with others being 24 hours or more. Every woman also experiences different levels of pain during childbirth.

Many women find comfort in the Bradley Method of childbirth. The Bradley Method of child birth was developed by Obstetrician Robert Bradley in the late 1965.

The Bradley Method of child birth came from Dr Robert Bradleys belief that birth is a natural process, that women could handle without drugs or interventions and birth could be natural. For those interested in attempting a natural childbirth, the Bradley Method has helped many laboring women give birth naturally.

The Bradley method is a comprehensive program that includes instruction on pregnancy, birth, and postpartum issues. One of the other primary goals of the Bradley Childbirth Method program is to educate partners to be supportive and effective labor coaches.

Breathing methods are emphasized as a coping mechanism to deal with the intense pain of labor. Mothers are taught to “tune in” and manage pain, instead of distracting themselves from it as other methods teach.

The Bradley Childbirth Method class also instructs partners in effective labor coaching. Couples also learn about the different stages of labor and how to cope with the transitions between them.

Lamaze is also another alternative. Lamaze is a childbirth preparation method where relaxation, breathing techniques and informed decisions are paramount.

The Lamaze Technique is a natural childbirth technique developed in the 1940s by French obstetrician Dr. Ferdinand Lamaze as an alternative to the use of general anesthesia during labor.The Lamaze mission is to promote normal, natural, healthy and fulfilling childbearing experiences for women and their families through education, advocacy and reform.

If you feel that the use of an Epidural or other pain relief medications are right for you, that is ok! You are the only one who knows what you can and can not handle. Talk with your medical professional and ask for his or her input. Your medical professional can help you make the right decision for you!

Pregnancy Guide - Offers information on all aspects of pregnancy that will allow you to make informed decisions about your prenatal care, newborn care, and learn great tips for a healthy pregnancy! We also offer free baby webpages, a due date calculator, baby coupons, and much more! Visit http://www.mypregnancyguide.com today!

Gestational diabetes is a condition that affects pregnant women.

If you are pregnant, you should be aware of the signs of gestational diabetes so that you can seek medical attention immediately.

Although you may not have diabetes and may never have diabetes over the span of your life, you may be at risk for developing gestational diabetes.

Diabetes is a condition where you body fails to covert sugar properly.

This excess sugar builds up in the body and can be potentially fatal if left unchecked. Although this condition can be caused by genetic disposition, diet, and other outside factors, women who are pregnant are also at risk for a unique form of the disease.

Typically, when the baby is born, the diabetes will disappear and may not appear if you become pregnant with another child.

What Causes Gestational Diabetes?

Approximately one in 25 pregnant women is affected by gestational diabetes.

Typically, this type of diabetes will occur during the last three months of the pregnancy , but may potentially occur before that time.

The surge of hormones that are present while you are pregnant can completely change your body chemistry.

Furthermore, these hormones can make someone who has never had any problems converting sugars in their body suddenly unable to do so properly.

The specific hormones that are believed to be the root cause of the problem come from the placenta.

Although not all women are likely to develop gestational diabetes, you may be more at risk if you are overweight or expecting over the age of 30.

Signs Of Gestational Diabetes

The most common signs associated with gestational diabetes are extreme hunger and thirst .

Although a growling stomach is certainly no stranger to a pregnant woman, any extreme feelings may be signs of a problem.

Associated with the increased liquid intake is an increased urinary output. Again, this is a common complaint for pregnant women, but any extreme urination should be noted.

Other symptoms include blurred vision and excess weight gain.

If you believe that you are suffering from any of these symptoms, contact your obstetrician.

He or she will run a test to see whether or not you have developed gestational diabetes.

What To Do After Diagnosis?

If you have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, consider reading up on the disease itself.

Education is the key to acceptance and can make a condition that seems scary very livable, at least until the birth of your child.

Typically, women with mild cases of gestational diabetes can control the condition with a proper diet that is prescribed by your physician.

Be sure to understand which foods can cause problems with the condition and avoid them if at all possible.

If you have been diagnosed with a more serious case of gestational diabetes, you may need to have daily injections of insulin and test your blood sugar regularly.

Especially with women who need to use insulin injections, the threat of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia is especially dangerous.

For this reason, carry the appropriate items, including insulin syringes and sugared candies with you at all times.

If you feel the onset of either hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, immediately call 911 or head straight to your local hospital.

Mike Herman Is a Successful Webmaster and Publisher of 4HealthConcerns.com

You have just found out you are expecting, congratulations! How do you find out how lone have you been pregnant? Is there any way to measure it? It actually depends on how you kept track of your menstruation cycle. Usually obstetrician-gynecologist count pregnancy from the first day of your last menstrual period. Technically, that would make you about 4 to 5 weeks pregnant by the time your next period is late, around the time you took your home pregnancy test.

But, you may not have been pregnant that long! You’re most likely 2 weeks pregnant, if measured by the actual date of ovulation and conception. The pregnancy began when your egg was fertilized about 10-14 days ago.

When a woman conceives, it is within a 24-48 hour window either before or after ovulation occurs. This is usually around day 14-18 of a woman’s cycle. But let’s go back to the beginning of this cycle. You’re 2 weeks pregnant, so when did your cycle start?

The first cycle day is the first day of the menstrual period. It may last 5-7 days. Then, in another week, the ovaries prepare to release an egg. Ovulation typically occurs between day 14 and 18 of that cycle. If there is sperm at the top of the fallopian tube waiting for the release of the egg, (sperm can survive for up to 5 days), the egg could be fertilized. It takes another 6-8 days for a fertilized egg to implant in the uterus. Then, the hormones are released that will cause the body’s temperature to be higher than usual and create a warm, protective environment for the fertilized egg. These hormones can be detected about 10-14 days after ovulation and fertilization. So, do the math, you are 2 weeks pregnant counting from the date of conception.

However, because most women don’t keep track of when they have ovulated, obstetrician-gynecologist count from the first day of the last menstrual period, assuming that a woman’s cycle is normally about 4 weeks. That, however, is a broad generalization because women’s cycles vary greatly from that average. So, if you know the approximate average length of your cycles, you can better adjust the time frame for your pregnancy. If you have a 5-week cycle typically, then you would say that you are 4 weeks pregnant, even though it has been 5 weeks since your period began, in order to be more accurate with the way your obstetrician-gynecologist will measure your pregnancy.

Pregnancy is approximately 40 weeks in length, counting 4 weeks since your last period started, but not taking into account a woman who has longer cycles than 4 weeks. So, if your period was just late, consider yourself 4 weeks pregnant rather than 5, and add time to account for how long you waited to test after your period was due. Congratulations! You are 2 weeks pregnant! But your doctor will tell you that you are 4 weeks pregnant or more! That does not matter most, what is important is to enjoy your pregnancy now!

Joshua Poyoh provides independent opinions on motherhood and babies at http://www.motherbabytips.com/.

HypnoBirthing combines the powerful use of self hypnosis with childbirth education. This method of natural childbirth from the U.S. is now available in Sussex for the first time. This the original HypnoBirthing Programme and not the second Nature Programme. It is taught by qualified HypnoBirthing practitioners.

HypnoBirthing is as much a philosophy as it is a technique. The HypnoBirthing concept is not new, but rather a development of the philosophy of birthing as it existed thousands of years ago and as it still exists in many parts of the world today. Dr. Grantly Dick-Read, an English obstetrician, first forwarded the concept of natural birthing in the 1920s. The HypnoBirthing method, a modern progression of his work, teaches you that, in the absence of fear and tension, severe pain does not have to be an accompaniment of labour.

The HypnoBirthing method was developed by Marie Mongan, a hypnotherapist who first used the techniques for her own children’s birth and in 1990 started the HypnoBirthing method in America. It has gained such popularity among women in the U.S. that she now runs the institute, which teaches the method, not only to pregnant women but also to hypnotherapists and midwives who run their own classes all over the world.

Is HypnoBirthing right for you?

With the HypnoBirthing method you will gain an understanding of how the body works during pregnancy & labour so that when you are sufficiently relaxed, the birthing muscles can work in perfect harmony as they were designed to. You will learn how to achieve this kind of relaxation free of the resistance that fear creates and you will learn to use your natural birthing instincts for a calm, serene and more comfortable birthing. When you have your baby with HypnoBirthing, you will not be in a trance or asleep but you will experience deep relaxation similar to yoga or meditation. You will be fully conversant, totally relaxed but fully in control. Throughout, you will learn to relax into your body’s surges (contractions) using specific breathing techniques and focused visualisations. In this calm state your body’s natural anaesthesia, endorphins, replaces the stress hormones that cause pelvic muscles to constrict and cause pain.

With HypnoBirthing your partner or companion is also fully involved and is taught how to help you practice your relaxation techniques between classes and to help you maintain relaxation during labour. We encourage all pregnant women to bring their birthing companion to the classes, although this does not necessarily have to be the father it would usually be the person who will be present with the mother during labour. Throughout the United States, France, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom trained childbirth educators are successfully teaching women and their birthing companions relaxation techniques that eliminate the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome. The technique is designed to work equally well in a medical or home environment. It is complementary and is not meant to be an alternative to medical intervention when it is deemed necessary. However the technique should allow women to avoid unnecessary drugs and interventions which tend to be used routinely in many hospitals.

At Sussex Natural Childbirth www.naturalchildbirth.co.uk we have been teaching this method for many years and are now recommended by Midwives and women who have used the method.

Article by Sussex Natural Childbirth: http://www.naturalchildbirth.co.uk