1. HCG below 5mIU/ ml : Result : negative or not pregnant
2. HCG Between 5mIU and 25 mIU / ml:  Result Inconclusive: may or may not be pregnant. Test to be repeated after a gap of at least 2 days for confirmation.
3. HCG above 25 mIU / ml: Result: Positive. The woman is pregnant.

So what does the presence of HCG indicate other then being pregnant? Normal HCG levels during early pregnancy have to steadily increase during pregnancy and hence the repeat test for confirmation and viability of pregnancy. The steady increase in levels of HCG especially in the first three months is an indication of a healthy pregnancy and if the HCG levels are too low then it is an indication of impending miscarriage. Of course later in the first trimester after the seventh week a healthy heart beat of the fetus is indicative of a healthy pregnancy.

Normal HCG levels during early pregnancy- Some facts:

1.    In a normal and healthy pregnancy the HCG levels will become twice the amount in every two to three days. If you have 25mIU /ml on day one then you will have 50 mIU /ml on day three or day four.

2.    During the second and third trimester the time taken to double HCG levels may increase to four days.

3.    However it is very important to remember that in some cases normal HCG levels during early pregnancy is low and the woman can still have a healthy pregnancy and a good delivery. In such cases an ultra sound will give a clearer picture of the baby’s development and the progress of pregnancy.

4.    The unit of measurement for hormone HCG is milli-international units per milliliter.

5.    Normally an ultra sound is taken only during the end of second month. This is because the trans-vaginal ultrasound will then be able to detect the amniotic sac or the gestational sac because the normal HCG levels during early pregnancy would have gone above 1000 mIU/ml and be probably closer to 2000mIU/ml.

6.    It is advisable not to depend on a single test of HCG levels. A series of tests done with a gap of at least two to three days can give more accurate results and reading of the pregnancy situation.

7.    Since normal HCG levels during early pregnancy can differ from woman to woman, it is not proper to calculate the date of conception based on the HCG count.

8.    The HCG tests for pregnancy are of two types. The “Qualitative” test for HCG will indicate its presence in the blood confirming or denying a pregnancy. The “Quantitative” test for HCG known as beta HCG will give you the levels of HCG present in the blood stream. This will be useful for any corrective action if necessary.

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Week 1 and 2
You are really not sure yet if you are pregnant or not during week 1 and week 2. This is still the time for ovulation and fertilization. When the ovaries release an egg, this is the ovulation period. If the egg will be fertilized, it will travel to the uterus and resides there for the next 40 weeks.

Your body is experiencing a lot of changes during the first weeks of pregnancy. You can feel ovarian discomfort during ovulation. You are fertile if your discharge is clear and most abundant.

Monitoring your body’s temperature is one way to tell if you are fertile during the first two weeks after your menstrual period. During ovulation, an increase of about .4 to .6 is normal.

You can identify your fertile time if you are jotting down your menstrual cycle since peak fertilization is during the second week after menstruation. Every woman has different experiences when it comes to the signs and symptoms of pregnancy.

Some signs and symptoms that you will encounter when you are pregnant are breast tenderness, increased fatigue, increased temperature and frequent need to urinate.

Week 3
Even though your baby is growing fast at this stage, you can’t still detect him/her through your naked eyes. There is also a possibility that you are conceiving a twin. When your ovaries released more than 1 egg, twin happens. When an egg is fertilized but was divided into two, identical twins develop. Identical have the same physical appearance and gender. There are a lot of possibilities that may occur in a woman’s body during this stage. It is really a memorable experience.

Week 4
Your baby is about .04 to .10 centimeters long. Although it is not that long but you can still consider it as an improvement!

During this stage, the fetus is developing. The ball of cells will be imbedded more deep into the lining of your uterus. The placenta is now forming as well as the amniotic cavity. Your baby’s body parts and other organs will eventually develop when several different layers of cells also develop in your body.

This is the start of the embryonic period. Usually, this stage is considered as the risky stage of development.

There are some substances that may damage or can bring harm to you developing fetus when you are in your week 4. You must avoid any potential pollutants or other threats at this stage. Always see your obstetrician to help you get more informed about other toxins that may affect the development of your baby. Always remember to put down cigarettes and stop drinking alcohol when you are pregnant. This may cause abnormalities to your baby.

Week 5
Week 5 is somewhat similar to week 4. You baby is continue growing in many ways! Many he/she is about the size of a grain of rice now.

Your baby is starting to form his skeletal. Every skeletal development varies from one baby to the other.

The most exciting event at this stage is what happening in the heart. From the mesoderm, the heart is formed. At this stage also, the umbilical cord and primitive placenta develop.

Week 6
Your baby is really growing! With the use of ultrasound, your baby will be measured based on the distance from the top of his/her head to his/her buttocks.

At this stage, your baby is starting to look life a human but not quite. He/she also has the capability of displaying reflexes with response to touch. The central nervous system is already developing and it links the muscles in the body with the limbs.

Week 7
Your baby is no longer have the size of the grain of rice but more likely of a small grape. A tongue and a mouth are forming in your baby! He/she is squirming in his/her home now, you just can’t notice it.

During this week, a slight development in fingers and toes are happening. Thin veins start to form beneath your baby’s skin and also the teeth are forming inside the mouth. To be able to produce red blood cells, the baby’s liver is working very hard at this stage.

Week 8
Your baby is probably about 14 to 20 mm long! As you continue with you pregnancy week by week, you notice that your baby is more like the size of a bean now. Few more weeks and soon you will be able to give birth to a full size baby!

Your baby is growing very fast at this stage. The arms and legs are becoming longer. The nerve cells starting to connect with one another so your baby’s brain is also maturing.

You maybe can’t see it now with your naked eyes but the tip of your baby’s nose is even formed in week 8. The lungs are not yet fully matured but are working hard at maturing.

Week 9
In week 9 your baby will about the size of a large grape, approximately 22 to 30 mm long. Your baby is really growing.

Arms, head, legs and torso are in place now. When you try to see your baby through an ultrasound, you will see a miniature of a human being with a very large head. Your baby’s organs and limbs are gradually forming and your baby will become heavier in the next few weeks. Your baby is starting to function completely! The mouth, nose and nostrils are now visible and your baby’s eyelids will shut.

Week 10
Your baby is now heavier and is really getting big! Your baby will measure approximately 31 to 42 mm long.

Your baby grows rapidly and is now less at risk for some abnormalities. Again, always remember that any exposure to harmful substances can damage your fetus. Stay away from wherein people are smoking to avoid second hand smoke.

Your baby’s organ is growing quickly. Brain, intestines, kidney and liver are start functioning, also the internal organs. Your baby is now kicking and swallows amniotic fluid!

Your baby’s liver is busy making blood cells and spinal nerves are now visible.

Week 11
Your angel is growing more and more. You can even hold him/her in the palm of your hand at this stage. He/she is about 4.06 cm and weighs about 7.09 g.

At this point, your baby is starting to form little buds and is now able to open and close his/her fists. She is continually squirming and kicking inside your tummy. She will undergo more rapid changes during this stage.

Week 12
Your baby is now 5.56 cm and weighs 14.18 g. during this week, the nerve cells of your baby is multiplying fast and your baby’s brain is starting to create hormones.

It is essential to learn what happens during early pregnancy week by week. Learning about how to care your baby’s health as well as yours will help you prepare as you deal with early pregnancy week by week.

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Possibly, the top objection of women who try to maintain their weight when they are expectant is that they usually suffer from hunger during pregnancy most of the time. This is not a lie because pregnancy leads to a higher metabolic requirement on the body that can make you hungry. Several women go through many cravings when they are expectant, making healthy eating pretty taxing. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the notion of eating for two people is inappropriate. Essentially, you specifically require an extra 300 calories on a daily basis and normally, these calories are not as important as when you are approaching your second and third trimesters.

When you suffer from hunger during pregnancy, it is important that you avoid cutting back on your intake of calories. This might possibly rob your child of the basic nutritional value, important for her/his development and growth. Below are some of the guidelines that will help you maintain a healthy diet all through your pregnancy period:

Never skip meals. If you have a tendency of skipping breakfast, you will realize that you are not just more tired but very hungry when you are expectant, which makes you overeat. Ensure that you eat every meal on a daily basis.

Eat many mini meals all through the day. This does not make you feel fuller longer, it assists in minimizing the nausea you experience in the third trimester.

Satisfy all your cravings by eating nutritious snacks. Have different things to eat like snacks readily accessible to ensure that you do not over-eat foods that are excessively decadent. If your craving is something sweet, you need to consider having a number of mini chocolates close to you or opting for hot chocolate (at least one cup). The two are better off as compared to a whole piece of cake or candy bar.

Do not drink beverages that have high calorie amounts. Although it might not be exceptionally healthy for you when you are expectant, soda pop, flavored drinks or juices normally contain approximately 100-300 per serving. Therefore, you need to stick to flavored water or water when you are expectant.

Take a lot of water. When you are expectant, you might have a feeling that you are hungry when in the real sense, you are thirsty. Actually, the brains thirst and hunger centers commonly get mixed up, so when people are dehydrated, they tend to feel hungry. The more hydrated you are, the less the probability of you over-eating, meaning hunger during pregnancy is also very rare.

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The change in body temperature during pregnancy is something common for any woman. The metabolism of a woman speeds up during pregnancy and this result in the creation of additional heat by the body. To assist in coping with this, the body temperature of a woman actually decreases during her pregnancy to ensure her base temperature is kept from rising in respect to her rising metabolic rate. This rising metabolic rate equally attributes to the reason why she requires additional calories during the pregnancy.

In addition, hormone fluctuation has a capacity of creating hot flashes as well as various temperature changes in the course of the pregnancy. It is common for pregnant women to have an experience of hot flashes and this can occur during the day or even at night.

With the progress in pregnancy, the body of a woman requires to do additional work. Besides processing the nutrients for the baby, the baby itself eventually creates additional weight, which requires to be carried around by the mother. This additional work equally causes the woman to overheat more easily.

Exercise is among the most significant concerns regarding changes in body temperature during pregnancy. It is particularly important that the clothing used by pregnant women to exercise should be breathable and they should equally avoid exercising when it is excessively humid or hot. The clothing she should wear when exercising should be loose-fitting. Other than ensuring that she does not become overheated, this equally aids with dehydration. It is obviously important that a pregnant woman should ensure that she gets sufficient clear liquids since this will prevent her from experiencing dehydration in addition to cooling her body.

A material that is particularly appropriate for pregnant women to wear is denim. During summer, denim keeps you cool, but during the year’s cooler months, it keeps you warm. It is equally wise to dress in layers since it permits the taking off or putting back on the desired parts of the outfit in response to changes in body temperature during pregnancy.

In case of severe temperature changes or especially when experiencing hot flashes, it is essential to talk with your physician. Your healthcare provider may assist you in formulating a treatment plan for getting you past the pregnancy discomforts.

It is common for an elevation of the body temperature from what the regular pre-pregnancy temperature was. A combination of an elevated progesterone level with an enhanced metabolism is bound to somewhat raise the body temperature in the duration of the pregnancy. It is imperative to report temperatures that exceed 100.4 F to the doctor. When the body temperature during pregnancy exceeds or is ranging at 102F, it is advisable to visit an emergency room.

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Movements of the Baby During Pregnancy

What Causes the Baby’s Movement?
As your infant continues developing, he/she is bound to flex and stretch his/her tiny limbs. As your pregnancy progresses further, you will start feeling movements that are more obvious such as punching, rolling and kicking. Your baby has a likelihood of moving in response to either your emotions or noise in general.

Movement Felt During Pregnancy
How frequent should the child move?
This question has no correct or incorrect answer, but there is one definite thing; the movement of the baby is not continuous. In their most initial stages, the fetal movements are likely to be considerably intermittent to an extent that recognizing them for their real self may be utterly impossible. At certain times, it is just when the baby grows stronger and starts to produce kicking and thumping movements that the sensation of the baby’s movement inside her is first experienced by the mother.

What Do Prenatal Visits Entail?
The doctor starts by having a talk with you regarding your health history besides how you feel physically. Your weight will be determined while the bloods pressure will be taken on each visit.

When you visit for the first time, you are highly likely to have an examination of the pelvic to check out the shape and size of the uterus or womb and if required, a Pap smear for checking signs of cervix cancer at the opening of the womb as well as cultures for checking out infections. Blood and urine tests may be carried out on your first visit or later again.

Movement of the Fetus During Pregnancy
Feeling the baby movements during pregnancy like baby twisting, wriggling, punching, kicking and hiccupping is simply among the biggest thrills during pregnancy (and it actually beats puffy feet, heart burn, aching back and the other various hallmarks that the nine months of pregnancy entails). It is not likely that there is a better way of proving the existence of an impressively energetic and brand-new life within you.

Monitor the Baby’s Kicking
Once the kicks are regularly felt, attention should be paid to them besides your practitioner being immediately informed once a reduction in the movement of the baby is noticed. A problem may be signified by less movement and this may necessitate a biophysical profile or non stress test to check out the condition of the baby.

Counting The Baby’s Movements
A kick chart can be referred to as a grid or graph that is printed on a paper that comprises spaces for recording the baby’s daily movements normally after 28 weeks or seven months of pregnancy. Kick charts in Australia are mostly used for those women with a tendency of expressing concern regarding the movement of the baby. When experiencing baby movements during pregnancy, such kick charts may also be used by women with a condition regarding their health or complications in their pregnancy that may increase the risk of their baby being sick after birth.

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According to the general consent from several specialists, it seems like sleeping on your back during pregnancy is not advisable. His position is not good for you and your baby; nevertheless your own body may be able to answer that query for you. When you lie on your back, you will certainly wake up after a short time. Though this may not harm your body, the body will be telling you it is time to switch positions

Here are some reasons as to why sleeping positions during pregnancy matters. Throughout pregnancy, your abdomen develops, so extra weight needs to be transferred somewhere else when you are lying down. The sleeping position during early pregnancy may not mater a lot because you are always tired such that you do not pay attention. But soon after your body begins to grow, sleeping on your back during pregnancy will result in the whole weight of the uterus pressing on your intestines, spine and main blood vessels. The extra pressure may cause hemorrhoids, digestive problems, breathing difficulties and inadequate blood flow to your baby.

Specialists recommend that the best position is sleeping on your sides more specifically on your left hand side because this position increases the flow of blood to your baby and to the placenta. Since sleeping on your back during pregnancy is not advisable, you should start training in your early pregnancy especially if you are used to lying on the abdomen or your back. Before you realize it, you will find that sleeping on your side is the only comfortable position

However, that does not mean that sleeping on your side is an uncomfortable position. Most of the women who have experienced pregnancy will testify that pillows and more pillows is the key. You may begin with a thin pillow between the legs to keep the hips aligned and knees somewhat apart. Most moms say that they are more comfortable with a thin pillow tucked under their stomach for some additional support. In addition, you may also need to tuck another pillow on your back for some extra support on your back. If you are used to sleeping on your back during pregnancy, you may lean back on your back pillow to form a compromising position between sleeping on your side and sleeping on your back when pregnant.

Some women believe in pillows that are designed for women who are pregnant. These all-body pillows are shaped like a big letter “c” which allows pregnant women to curl on their side while surrounded by the pillow. However, before you decide to buy yourself one, ensure that it offers the support you want. Experiment using the regular bed pillow and maybe you will like your own designed pillow. All in all remember that sleeping on your back during pregnancy is not the best position for you and your baby.

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