Unless pregnancy is uncalled for, having a baby is one of the most important and wise decision a couple could make, for it is a way of accepting God’s plan for them, at the same time, taking the responsibility to care for another human being.

For a first-time mother, it could be confusing to identify the onset of pregnancy. Many women misinterpret missing a menstrual period as a sign of pregnancy. But it may not always be the case, because there are varied reasons for a woman’s delayed menstrual cycle, such as stress, illness, changes in schedule or medications, being overweight or underweight, miscalculation, peri-menopausal, and menopause. For example, when a woman is so stressed, her body may decrease the amount of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH), which causes her to not ovulate or menstruate; while a sudden illness may cause a temporary delay on her menstrual periods.

Aside from a delayed period, a woman may also watch out for these signs of pregnancy: unusual or abnormal period, which happens when a woman experiences a menstrual period different from her typical or normal period; cramping in early pregnancy; nausea and vomiting, which is rather infamously known as morning sickness; changes in libido; soreness and enlargement of the breasts; frequent urination; strange cravings; fatigue; Montgomery’s Tubercules, which are tiny bumps scattered around the darker area of the nipple; stretch marks and skin changes; enlarging uterus and enlarged abdomen; movement of the baby in the womb; colostrums, or the substance that leaks from the breast during pregnancy; Braxton Hicks; palpation of the baby; positive pregnancy test; fetal heart tones; ultrasound and x-ray detection.

Nevertheless, should a woman decide to be pregnant; she should take the necessary steps to keep herself and the baby inside her healthy. A little pre-planning might be helpful to get the new baby off to the best start. First and foremost, the would-be mother must make sure she gets the necessary immunizations. She must be vaccinated for German measles at least three months prior to her pregnancy because this is a viral illness that can cause miscarriage or blindness in the baby.

A good diet of the mother benefits the unborn baby so much. She should take a healthy diet by including folic acid in it until she is into her twelfth week of pregnancy. Likewise, exercise helps keep the mother in good physical condition and improve her muscle tone and posture. Simple exercises like walking, swimming and dancing would be appropriate for her. If the new mother had been fit before she got pregnant, she would not experience the usual fatigue mood as her pregnancy progresses. However, she should avoid riding and skiing because these can make her tired and run out of breath; and when she gets out of breath, the baby inside her would also be deprived of oxygen.

In addition, the would-be mother should refrain from smoking, drinking and taking drugs or medications not prescribed by her doctor. Smoking, as everyone knows, is a major health hazard to the health; and smoking during pregnancy deprives the baby of oxygen.Babies born to smoking parents have the tendency to be born premature and with low birth weight, making him vulnerable to infections in the first few weeks. Moreover, smoking increases the chances of miscarriage, stillbirth, and malformation in the baby.Doctors also discovered that smoking is an important risk factor in cot death.

May these simple tips help first time mothers in their pregnancy and please read more about the symptoms of pregnancy as well.