We, as the first-time mum and dad, not an experienced parent, having a new baby is an experience to treasure. Each pregnancy is different, and each baby is an unique individual who comes with vivid, new experiences.
For that reason, a baby care guide book will be invaluable for us as we care for our new baby. We share the vital information in our baby care guide books with our baby's other caregivers, such as grandparents, friends or nanny. And tote this handy book along with us or keep it by our bed as a quick reference.
This is just the beginning. As our baby grows and passes all the magical milestones, keep abreast of parenting how-to's and health trends, and discover what other parents are going through, by subscribing to mother & baby magazine.
Parenthood isn't always easy. But it's a precious experience that makes our life ever more vivid, allowing us to see the world in brighter colours. Hope we may enjoy every moment of it.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
Week 6
My Baby's Development
By this week, your baby’s brain and nervous system are developing at a rapid pace. Optic vesicles, which later form the eyes, begin to develop on the sides of the head, as do the passageways that will make up the inner ear.
Your baby's heart begins to beat by this week. It may even be detected on ultrasound examination. The beginnings of the digestive and respiratory systems are forming, too. Small buds that will grow into your baby's arms and legs also appear by this week.
Since their legs are curled up against the torso for much of the pregnancy, it makes the full-length measurement difficult. So, babies are measured from the crown to rump, rather than from head to toe. By this week, your baby only measures 0.08 to 0.2 inches (2 to 5mm) from crown to rump.
My Body
Common pregnancy complaints may hit in full force by this week. You may feel extremely fatigue as your body adjusts to the demands of pregnancy. And tender, aching breasts, nausea and vomiting (morning sickness) may leave you feeling less than great. Despite its name, morning sickness can occur at any hour or all day. So, don't be surprised if your queasy stomach doesn't pass by noon. Nausea isn't the only thing that has you running to the toilet, hormonal changes and other factors (such as your kidneys working extra hard to flush wastes out of your body) cause you to urinate more frequently, too.
By this week, your baby’s brain and nervous system are developing at a rapid pace. Optic vesicles, which later form the eyes, begin to develop on the sides of the head, as do the passageways that will make up the inner ear.
Your baby's heart begins to beat by this week. It may even be detected on ultrasound examination. The beginnings of the digestive and respiratory systems are forming, too. Small buds that will grow into your baby's arms and legs also appear by this week.
Since their legs are curled up against the torso for much of the pregnancy, it makes the full-length measurement difficult. So, babies are measured from the crown to rump, rather than from head to toe. By this week, your baby only measures 0.08 to 0.2 inches (2 to 5mm) from crown to rump.
My Body
Common pregnancy complaints may hit in full force by this week. You may feel extremely fatigue as your body adjusts to the demands of pregnancy. And tender, aching breasts, nausea and vomiting (morning sickness) may leave you feeling less than great. Despite its name, morning sickness can occur at any hour or all day. So, don't be surprised if your queasy stomach doesn't pass by noon. Nausea isn't the only thing that has you running to the toilet, hormonal changes and other factors (such as your kidneys working extra hard to flush wastes out of your body) cause you to urinate more frequently, too.
Labels:
Week-by-Week Foetal Development
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Pregnancy Test
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In July 2007, the monthly period never shows up yet. So, we went to buy a Pregnancy Test. After urine testing, it shows a positive result!Here's when the little one's life started to grow up in my womb, for the rest of the next 40 weeks...Please refer to the Week-by-Week Foetal Development.
At this moment, it's only a 2mm foetus with strong heartbeats staying inside my womb.
Labels:
pregnancy
Monday, July 23, 2007
Week 5
My Baby's Development
Until now, the embryo has been a mass of cells. By this point, a distinct shape begins to form. The neural tube, which will eventually form into the spinal cord and brain, runs from the top to the bottom of the embryo. A bulge in the center of the embryo develops into your baby's heart. At this time, the placenta develops. It is through the placenta and its fingerlike projections, called chorionic villi, that an embryo receives nourishment from mother.
My Body
Even if nausea hasn't hit you yet, you need to steer clear of certain foods. Foodborne illnesses, such as listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, may cause birth defects or even miscarriage. Here are some foods you need to avoid:
•soft cheeses such as feta, goat, brie, Camembert and blue cheese
•unpasteurized milk and juices
•raw or undercooked meats, including hot dogs and deli meats
•raw eggs or foods containing raw eggs, including mousse and tiramisu
•raw shellfish
•paté
Toxoplasmosis can also be spread from soiled cat litter boxes. So, try to have someone else to clean the litter box if you are pregnant.
Until now, the embryo has been a mass of cells. By this point, a distinct shape begins to form. The neural tube, which will eventually form into the spinal cord and brain, runs from the top to the bottom of the embryo. A bulge in the center of the embryo develops into your baby's heart. At this time, the placenta develops. It is through the placenta and its fingerlike projections, called chorionic villi, that an embryo receives nourishment from mother.
My Body
Even if nausea hasn't hit you yet, you need to steer clear of certain foods. Foodborne illnesses, such as listeriosis and toxoplasmosis, may cause birth defects or even miscarriage. Here are some foods you need to avoid:
•soft cheeses such as feta, goat, brie, Camembert and blue cheese
•unpasteurized milk and juices
•raw or undercooked meats, including hot dogs and deli meats
•raw eggs or foods containing raw eggs, including mousse and tiramisu
•raw shellfish
•paté
Toxoplasmosis can also be spread from soiled cat litter boxes. So, try to have someone else to clean the litter box if you are pregnant.
Labels:
Week-by-Week Foetal Development
Monday, July 16, 2007
Week 4
My Baby's Development
Four weeks into your pregnancy, your baby (called an embryo) consists of two layers of cells (the epiblast and the hypoblast) that eventually develop into all of your baby's organs and body parts. Two other structures that develop at this time are the amnion and the yolk sac. The amnion, filled with amniotic fluid, surrounds and protects the growing embryo. The yolk sac produces blood and helps to nourish the embryo until the placenta takes over that role.
My Body
Your baby continues to implant in your uterus, burying itself deep within the endometrium. Once implanted, your baby starts to produce a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which helps to maintain the lining of the uterus. The hormone also sends a signal to the ovary to stop releasing an egg each month, which stops your monthly periods. Some women experience slight cramping and spotting of blood during the week 4 while implantation is taking place. They may mistake this as a period as it also occurs around the time their monthly period was due.
hCG is the hormone that is measured in pregnancy tests. A pregnancy test will probably be able to detect your pregnancy by this week. hCG also causes the symptoms of pregnancy such as fatigue, tingling or aching breasts and nausea. These might lead you to believe your period will be starting any day because the first pregnancy symptoms resemble premenstrual syndrome (PMS). But by the end of this week, your expected menstrual period will not take place. Because you are pregnant!
Four weeks into your pregnancy, your baby (called an embryo) consists of two layers of cells (the epiblast and the hypoblast) that eventually develop into all of your baby's organs and body parts. Two other structures that develop at this time are the amnion and the yolk sac. The amnion, filled with amniotic fluid, surrounds and protects the growing embryo. The yolk sac produces blood and helps to nourish the embryo until the placenta takes over that role.
My Body
Your baby continues to implant in your uterus, burying itself deep within the endometrium. Once implanted, your baby starts to produce a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which helps to maintain the lining of the uterus. The hormone also sends a signal to the ovary to stop releasing an egg each month, which stops your monthly periods. Some women experience slight cramping and spotting of blood during the week 4 while implantation is taking place. They may mistake this as a period as it also occurs around the time their monthly period was due.
hCG is the hormone that is measured in pregnancy tests. A pregnancy test will probably be able to detect your pregnancy by this week. hCG also causes the symptoms of pregnancy such as fatigue, tingling or aching breasts and nausea. These might lead you to believe your period will be starting any day because the first pregnancy symptoms resemble premenstrual syndrome (PMS). But by the end of this week, your expected menstrual period will not take place. Because you are pregnant!
Labels:
Week-by-Week Foetal Development
Monday, July 09, 2007
Week 3
My Baby's Development
Even though you may not feel that you're pregnant yet, you have a fetus growing and developing inside of you! Although your baby was just conceived, he or she is working overtime. The fertilized egg goes through a process of cell division. About 30 hours after fertilization, it divides into two cells, then four cells, then eight and continues to divide as it moves from the fallopian tube to the uterus. By the time it gets to the uterus, this group of cells looks like a tiny ball and is called a morula.
The morula becomes hollow and fills with fluid. It is then known as a blastocyst. Near the end of this week, the blastocyst will attach itself to the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. This is called implantation. The implantation in the uterus creates an essential connection. The endometrium provides the developing embryo with nutrients and removes wastes. Over time, this implantation site will develop into a placenta.
My Body
Adequate intake of certain nutrients (such as folic acid, protein, calcium and iron) is essential for nourishing your baby.
A folic acid supplement is particularly important because it helps to prevent defects of the neural tube (the structure that gives rise to the brain and spinal cord), which forms very early in pregnancy.
Your intake of protein is used to create new tissue. You should increase protein during pregnancy.
In addition, calcium is necessary for the development of bones and teeth. So, make sure you're getting a good dose of dairy products, leafy green vegetables and legumes.
Iron is essential during pregnancy as you support the continual increase of your baby's blood volume. Good sources of iron include red meat, eggs, leafy green vegetables and legumes.
Even though you may not feel that you're pregnant yet, you have a fetus growing and developing inside of you! Although your baby was just conceived, he or she is working overtime. The fertilized egg goes through a process of cell division. About 30 hours after fertilization, it divides into two cells, then four cells, then eight and continues to divide as it moves from the fallopian tube to the uterus. By the time it gets to the uterus, this group of cells looks like a tiny ball and is called a morula.
The morula becomes hollow and fills with fluid. It is then known as a blastocyst. Near the end of this week, the blastocyst will attach itself to the endometrium, the lining of the uterus. This is called implantation. The implantation in the uterus creates an essential connection. The endometrium provides the developing embryo with nutrients and removes wastes. Over time, this implantation site will develop into a placenta.
My Body
Adequate intake of certain nutrients (such as folic acid, protein, calcium and iron) is essential for nourishing your baby.
A folic acid supplement is particularly important because it helps to prevent defects of the neural tube (the structure that gives rise to the brain and spinal cord), which forms very early in pregnancy.
Your intake of protein is used to create new tissue. You should increase protein during pregnancy.
In addition, calcium is necessary for the development of bones and teeth. So, make sure you're getting a good dose of dairy products, leafy green vegetables and legumes.
Iron is essential during pregnancy as you support the continual increase of your baby's blood volume. Good sources of iron include red meat, eggs, leafy green vegetables and legumes.
Labels:
Week-by-Week Foetal Development
Monday, July 02, 2007
Week 2
My Baby's Development
This may sound strange that you're still not pregnant. Fertilization of your egg by the sperm will only take place near the end of this week (read more about fertilization in the ‘Your Body’ section below).
Although you'll have to wait to find out what color to paint the nursery, your baby's gender will be determined at the moment of fertilization. Out of the 46 chromosomes that make up a baby's genetic, only two will determine the baby's sex, one from the sperm and one from the egg. These are known as the sex chromosomes. Every egg has an X sex chromosome; a sperm can have either an X or a Y sex chromosome. If the sperm with an X chromosome fertilizes your egg, you'll have a girl; if the sperm with a Y chromosome, your baby will be a boy.
My Body
Your uterine lining, which will nourish the fetus, is developing and your body secretes follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates an egg to mature. At the end of this week, if you have a regular 28-day menstrual cycle, you will be at the midpoint of your menstrual cycle, ovulation will occur. Your ovary will release an egg into the fallopian tube.
This is when you're most likely to conceive a baby. If you have sexual intercourse without protection around the time that you ovulate, you can become pregnant. After your partner ejaculates, millions of sperm travel through the vagina and hundreds of them make it to the fallopian tube, where your egg is waiting. Only one sperm succeeds in penetrating the egg and fertilization takes place. When that happens, you will be pregnant. But you will not feel any body changes yet.
This may sound strange that you're still not pregnant. Fertilization of your egg by the sperm will only take place near the end of this week (read more about fertilization in the ‘Your Body’ section below).
Although you'll have to wait to find out what color to paint the nursery, your baby's gender will be determined at the moment of fertilization. Out of the 46 chromosomes that make up a baby's genetic, only two will determine the baby's sex, one from the sperm and one from the egg. These are known as the sex chromosomes. Every egg has an X sex chromosome; a sperm can have either an X or a Y sex chromosome. If the sperm with an X chromosome fertilizes your egg, you'll have a girl; if the sperm with a Y chromosome, your baby will be a boy.
My Body
Your uterine lining, which will nourish the fetus, is developing and your body secretes follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates an egg to mature. At the end of this week, if you have a regular 28-day menstrual cycle, you will be at the midpoint of your menstrual cycle, ovulation will occur. Your ovary will release an egg into the fallopian tube.
This is when you're most likely to conceive a baby. If you have sexual intercourse without protection around the time that you ovulate, you can become pregnant. After your partner ejaculates, millions of sperm travel through the vagina and hundreds of them make it to the fallopian tube, where your egg is waiting. Only one sperm succeeds in penetrating the egg and fertilization takes place. When that happens, you will be pregnant. But you will not feel any body changes yet.
Labels:
Week-by-Week Foetal Development
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