Pregnant women find happiness through supportive relationships, feeling beautiful and special, the joy of connecting with their baby (like feeling kicks), self-care like rest and healthy eating, physical activity releasing endorphins, and moments of calm like quiet time or pampering, all while feeling a sense of growth and preparing for motherhood.
Showing that you understand and love her will help your partner feel cared for as she wades (or waddles) into the sometimes tumultuous waters of pregnancy.
In addition to those flowers and beauty compliments, these things include: being as excited as she is, withholding judgment, encouraging her to sit down or take a nap (and not to feel selfish about it), accompanying her to the OB-GYN, and giving her a good night's rest or some alone time.
Research shows that external stimuli like touch and sound stimulate brain development and emotional connections. Engaging with your baby through singing and gentle conversation can promote a calm environment, aiding their growth and preparing them for life outside the womb.
increasing physical activity levels during pregnancy if you can, as it can improve your mood and help you sleep. attending antenatal classes to meet others who are expecting babies around the same time as you. eating a healthy diet in pregnancy.
First trimester
It is also the trimester of 'mood swings' brought on by pregnancy symptoms. One minute you are feeling so happy and the next you are fuelled with doubt, worry or sadness. It can be quite confronting having those feelings of sadness, worry and fear when all you wanted was to be pregnant.
Summary of Tips for Pregnancy
Consume foods and beverages rich in folate, iron, calcium, and protein. Talk with your health care professional about prenatal supplements (vitamins you may take while pregnant). Eat breakfast every day. Eat foods high in fiber, and drink fluids (particularly water) to avoid constipation.
The 5-3-3 rule is a loose guideline for structuring a baby's sleep schedule: 5 hours of wake time before the first nap, 3 hours of wake time before the second nap, and 3 hours before bedtime.
There's no single "hardest" month, as challenges vary, but many find the first trimester tough due to nausea, fatigue, and hormonal shifts, while the third trimester (months 7-9) often brings the most physical discomfort from the baby's size, affecting sleep, mobility, and causing aches, heartburn, and frequent urination. The difficulty often shifts as pregnancy progresses, with the first months focused on adjustment and the later months on physical strain and preparation for birth.
According to Carista Luminare-Rosen, PhD, author of Parenting Begins Before Conception: A Guide to Preparing Body, Mind, and Spirit for You and Your Future Child, research shows that babies in the womb have the emotional and intuitive capabilities to sense their parents' love.
The 5-5-5 rule is a guideline for what kind of help a postpartum mom needs: five days in bed, five days round the bed — meaning minimal walking around — the next five days around the home. This practice will help you prioritize rest and recovery while gradually increasing activity.
Offer reassurance and encouragement regularly to alleviate her anxieties and fears during pregnancy. Let her know you're there for her every step of the way,affirm her strengths, and remind her of her capabilities as she navigates this transformative journey.
We now understand that babies can feel, respond to, and benefit from gentle belly rubs during pregnancy. From early touch sensitivity development to complex movement responses in later trimesters, this physical connection serves multiple developmental purposes.
The "3-2-1 Rule" in pregnancy is a guideline for first-time mothers to know when to call their midwife or doctor for active labor: consistent contractions that are 3 minutes apart, lasting 2 minutes each, for 1 hour (or sometimes cited as 3-1-1, meaning 3 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour). For subsequent pregnancies, the 5-1-1 Rule (5 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour) is often used, indicating labor is progressing more quickly.
Ice cream might be the top pregnancy craving of all time.
Overview
After age 35, there's a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications that might lead to a C-section delivery. The risk of chromosomal conditions is higher. Babies born to older mothers have a higher risk of certain chromosomal conditions, such as Down syndrome. The risk of pregnancy loss is higher.
Week 7: The head develops
Seven weeks into pregnancy, or five weeks after conception, your baby's brain and face are growing. Depressions that will give rise to nostrils become visible. The start of the eyes' retinas form. Lower limb buds appear that will become legs.
But there are some common reasons why you may argue more when you're pregnant. Perhaps: You feel your partner is less interested in the pregnancy than you are. The baby doesn't seem real to you or your partner.
Babies start in 'active sleep' (with faster, uneven breathing) and move into a deeper sleep after about 20 minutes. That's a good time to transfer them into their sleeping place. Many babies don't like being put down into a cot.
Yes, the Navy SEAL sleep trick (an 8-minute power nap with elevated legs) is a real technique for quick rest, popularized by former SEAL Jocko Willink, that helps improve alertness and reduce fatigue, though its effectiveness depends on individual relaxation skills and it's not a substitute for full nighttime sleep. The method involves lying down, elevating your feet above your heart (on a chair or couch), relaxing facial muscles, dropping shoulders, and clearing your mind for about 8-10 minutes to promote relaxation and blood flow, preventing grogginess.
The 40-day rule after birth, often called confinement or "The Golden Month," is a widespread cultural tradition emphasizing a mother's deep rest, healing, and bonding with her newborn, with family often handling chores and visitors, promoting physical recovery (like stopping bleeding) and mental well-being, rooted in ancient practices from Asia, Latin America, and religious traditions like Judaism and Christianity. Key aspects involve nourishing the mother, sheltering her from stress, and focusing solely on resting and bonding, a stark contrast to Western pressures to "bounce back" quickly.
There's no perfect time to share your pregnancy—do what feels right for you. Many wait until after the first trimester. Miscarriage risk drops after 13 weeks, but it's also OK to tell trusted loved ones earlier for support.
During pregnancy you should drink 8 to 12 cups (64 to 96 ounces) of water every day. Water has many benefits. It aids digestion and helps form the amniotic fluid around the fetus.
Your baby starts moving long before you can feel it. By 12 weeks, they're already wiggling around, but they're still too small for you to notice. Most people feel movement between 16 and 24 weeks. If it's your first pregnancy, you may not notice movement until closer to 20 weeks, or even a few weeks after that.