MOMMY AND DADDY DAY 3

- Oftentimes, baby gender expectations are rooted in a pregnant woman’s fears of whether or not she will be able to relate to her baby. A woman expecting a baby boy may worry about whether her son will be aggressive, or become interested in violent games and activities, while a woman expecting a baby girl may experience apprehension because they are well aware from their own experiences the types of troublesome behavior girls can often get involved in.

Having a baby girl can also make moms-to-be anxious because they fear that they will have the same problems that they experienced in their relationship with their own mothers, such as jealousy or competitiveness.

- one of the several options if you can't have a baby or you have lost more than one and you don't want to get risks is to adopt a baby: here are some things you should know about it:

-Who Can Adopt? The traditional eligibility requirements for adoptive parents are changing. However, for many infant adoptions, agencies will only consider couples married at least 1 to 3 years, between the ages of 25 and 40, and with stable employment income. There are a few agencies that accept applicants who are older than 4O. You just have to look a little harder for them. Some agencies require that the couple have no other children and be unable to bear children. Some require that at least one parent not work outside the home for at least 6 months after the adoption.

- Select an Adoption Agency There are both private and public adoption agendes. A private adoption agency is supported by pnvate funds and should be licensed or approved by the State in which it operates. A public agency is the local branch of your State social service agency. Most public agencies handle only special needs adoptions—not infant or intercountry adoptions.

MOMMY AND DADDY (4-8 WEEKS)

-In the second month of pregnancy the eyes of
the embryo are formed and the arms and legs begin to grow . The
internal organs and brain of the unborn baby will
develop.

At this stage, the embryo is about 3 cm and weighs about 3grams. Floats in a kind of bag filled with amniotic fluid.

The rapid development of the embryonic brain leads to an obvious increase in the head.

The face begins to take shape with the formation of the eyes, wide apart and covered by a membrane, and an outline of the ear and pinna. The arms and legs from the baby continue growing.

At first, the bottom of the embryo has an elongated appearance,similar to the tail of tadpoles, which disappears at the end of this period.

By the seventh week of embryonic development toes and hands are defined .

- Most women's uterus expands to roughly the size of a large orange or small grapefruit during pregnancy at 8 weeks. That's quite a leap considering the uterus started out smaller than the size of an avocado seed! Keep in mind if you are carrying twins your uterus will grow much faster than the one of a mom carrying one baby. 

By now you may be anxious to share your precious miracle with the world around you. You are probably feeling very pregnant by 8 weeks pregnant. One symptom many women start noticing around this time is increasing breast growth. It is not uncommon for women's breasts to increase in sizes between one and several cup sizes during pregnancy. This happens particularly toward the end of pregnancy when your body starts preparing to nurture your baby with breast milk

- A good midwife offers education, counseling and support before, during and after the baby is born, by not interfering unnecessarily with the birth process, and by getting appropriate medical attention for mother or baby if it should be needed.

- 10 TIPS FOR A HEALTHY PREGNANCY

1. Eat five or six well-balanced meals each day.

2. Take a prenatal vitamin each day as directed by your obstetrician or midwife.

3. Drink plenty of fluids -- at least eight to 10 glasses a day -- avoiding caffeine and artificial coloring.

4. Don't drink alcohol.

5. Don't smoke or allow yourself to be exposed to secondhand smoke.

6. Exercise -- it's important for your general health and also can help reduce stress. Take a pregnancy exercise class or walk at least fifteen to twenty minutes every day at a moderate pace. Walk in cool, shaded areas or indoors in order to prevent overheating.

7. Get adequate sleep -- at least eight hours a night. If you're suffering from sleep disturbances, take naps during the day and see your physician for advice.

8. Wear comfortable, nonrestricting shoes and put your feet up several times a day to prevent fatigue and swelling of the feet, legs, and ankles.

9. Continue to wear a safety belt while riding in motor vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the shoulder portion of the restraint should be positioned over the collar bone. The lap portion should be placed under the abdomen as low as possible on the hips and across the upper thighs, never above the abdomen. Also,pregnant women should sit as far from the air bag as possible.

10. Don't take over-the-counter medications or herbal remedies without first consulting your obstetrician or midwife.