Birth Parents Blog

Are you curious about how your baby is growing, but it's not time yet for an ultrasound? Here's a new app (for Droids and iPhones) that lets you see week-by-week development: See Baby Pregnancy Guide. It's free, easy to use, and so loaded with info!

Whether you've had a missed period or just feel strange, you're probably wondering what early pregnancy symptoms are. "How soon could I have pregnancy symptoms?" is a question women frequently ask. The truth is, there's no one-size-fits-all list of common pregnancy symptoms. Every woman's body is different in the early weeks of pregnancy. Some throw up every day, and others don't feel any different. Some women even experience symptoms that feel like PMS!

We recently took a survey, and asked women how they felt early on in their pregnancy. Here's what they had to say:

If you're pregnant, you’re probably gotten lots of advice about what not to eat during pregnancy: under cooked meat, soft cheeses, too much caffeine, etc. So, here’s a quick list of tips to help you through Thanksgiving dinner when you’re pregnant:

At around 11 to 14 weeks into your pregnancy, your doctor will see if you want come in for a few optional first trimester screening tests. Read on to find out what these tests are all about!

If you're pregnant and feel like it's turning your brain to dough, you're not alone. "Pregnancy brain" makes your short-term memory worse. Some women have told us that they go to the grocery store only to forget what they went there to buy.  Or maybe you wrote a list on the back of your hand and forgot where you put your pen.

Question: I’m a little freaked out about getting an ultrasound done. How does it work? Will it hurt my baby?

At five weeks along, you’re just starting your second month of pregnancy. By now, the levels of the pregnancy hormone are high enough in your body that you can confirm your pregnancy with a pregnancy test if you’re not sure.

(#4 will really help!)

Is your growing belly making it difficult for you to get a good night’s sleep? Or even fall asleep in the first place? One pregnant woman shared, “I never had issues sleeping before I got pregnant. Now I can’t seem to relax at night.” Sleep issues are common during pregnancy. They happen as a result of lots of things: bathroom trips in the middle of the night, cramped legs, heartburn, carrying the extra pounds on your belly, and feeling over-heated.

The question “when should I stop driving” comes up commonly for birth mothers. If you are able to fit in the driver’s seat then you are still able to drive, as long as you don’t have any dizzy spells and the doctor has not requested you stop driving.

You will notice at the doctor’s this month that you are being checked for the same things most every visit: weight, blood pressure, urine, size of uterus, and more. These are to monitor how your body is handling your pregnancy. Your baby, while still small, is beginning to make a more notable presence. In fact, you may feel movement before the month is over. You are likely getting ready for maternity clothes that offer a little more room for you and your growing baby.