Implantation Bleeding

Many women have not heard of Implantation Bleeding and instead interpret it as a sign of a light period. It is mostly pinkish and watery in appearance, though it may also be a brighter red colour. For the majority of women, implantation bleeding settles and stops within a day or two, not to return.

Implantation bleeding occurs about a few days or a week before the scheduled time of a woman’s menstrual period. Even if only spotting occurs, its occurrence after a week of ovulation may indicate it to be implantation bleeding. However, if spotting occurs just before the usual time when a period is supposed to occur, it will most likely be just a menstrual period. - See more at: http://www.babymed.com/implantation-bleeding-or-menstrual-period#sthash.cquf9sbI.dpuf

Implantation bleeding occurs about a few days or a week before the scheduled time of a woman’s menstrual period. Even if only spotting occurs, its occurrence after a week of ovulation may indicate it to be implantation bleeding. However, if spotting occurs just before the usual time when a period is supposed to occur, it will most likely be just a menstrual period. - See more at: http://www.babymed.com/implantation-bleeding-or-menstrual-period#sthash.cquf9sbI.dpuf

It normally occurs 1 week  after Ovulation (that's 3 weeks after the start of last period). Which is why implantation bleeding can be confusing because it can be interpreted as a light period and a sign of not being pregnant.  Women who are keen to conceive can become very upset at the sight of any blood loss and interpret this as a negative sign.

Implantation is the attachment of the fertilized egg to the uterine lining.  This happens when the fertilized egg (now called a Blastocyst) has completed its travel through the fallopian tube and adheres to the lining if the uterus.  Implantation happens on average 9 days after ovulation and fertilization with a range of between 6 and 12 days.

The most normal pattern of menstrual bleeding is that it will start slowly and will gradually increase to heavier bleeding. menstrual bleeding will last for several days while implantation bleeding lasts for les than a whole day and is usually much less bleeding. - See more at: http://www.babymed.com/implantation-bleeding-or-menstrual-period#sthash.cquf9sbI.dpuf

An implantation bleed occurs even before the pregnancy has been confirmed. Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin hormone (HCG) is the hormone which is detected in the pregnant mother’s urine. This is not produced until after the embryo has embedded in the uterus and there has been some very early development of the placenta. Which is why an implantation bleed occurs too early for even the most perceptive of couples to know with any certainty that they have created a baby.

Implantation Bleeding	Period Bleeding
Scanty menstrual flow; on and off; spotty. Pattern is not normal. Light bleeding.	Normal flow; Light at first, then heavy, and then light again.
Lasts a few hours to 1-2 days	3-5 days on average, can last up to 7 days
Usually pinkish to brownish blood. No clots.	Bright red blood. With a heavy flow, may include clots.
Mild to moderate menstrual-like cramps.	Menstrual cramps.

If you think you are experiencing implantation bleeding, you can go ahead and test for pregnancy like you normally would.  If there is HCG present, then the test will come back positive. If there is no HCG present in the urine, it will come back negative.
If for some reason the test is negative but you do not continue to bleed as you would with your period, test in 2-3 days to give you body time to produce the HCG. If you still have not started your period within a week and you do not get a positive test result, you may want to contact your doctor and ask her how you should proceed as he or she may want you to have a blood test done to determine if you are pregnant.

Take the Implantation Quiz to find out if your 

bleeding or spotting is due to implantation

Pregnant? Beauty Products to Avoid

Decades ago, the belief was widely held that chemicals do not cross the placenta however we now know that mother's chemical exposure can affect her baby's chances for a normal, healthy life, especially in early pregnancy.  Should you worry? Well, don't let fears overwhelm your enjoyment of nine months of miracles. But do use common sense, and a little dose of facts, to help protect your little bundle of joy as much as you can.
 

Luxury Bath Products

http://www.blisstree.com/

This is good news for women who do not want to waste money buying expensive organic products for themselves during pregnancy: Tests by German green consumer magazine Öko-Test (Eco-Test) found that cheap shower creams were composed of safer ingredients. The high-end products used more exotic ingredients, frequently including chemicals that can cause allergies. So leave the stuff with the fancy names on the shelf and stick with a classic low-end soap for the shower.   
Safer Solution: Buy products especially formulated for infants and children. Manufacturers make more effort to avoid questionable ingredients in these products.

Nail Care 

www.sonailicious.com

Working in a nail salon made Time magazine's list of the worst jobs in America. Health problems experienced by workers include stillbirths, birth defects, and developmental issues, although no studies have been published on birth defects among nail workers. A North Carolina study did find an increased risk of spontaneous abortion among nail salon employees. Consumer campaigns prompted by these concerns have forced suppliers to reformulate and reduce the "toxic trio:" dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde and toluene. But nail products continue to include many ingredients that are inadequately tested or which have raised concerns about reproductive toxicity. If you are just having your nails done once every couple of weeks, is that a "safe dose?" The fact is, no one knows. Better safe than sorry.  
Nicer and Safer Nails: Even if your friends know you for having the most flamboyant painted nails, wear naked nails with pride when you are pregnant. Treat yourself to a manicure and/or pedicure without using any chemicals. Be sure to select a well-ventilated salon if you have it done professionally.

Spray-on Tanning

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) for use in chemical tanning. The DHA works by reacting with the dead layer of surface skin in much the same way bread browns when toasted. It has been shown not to absorb into the living skin below the dead layer, and is therefore considered safer than suntanning -- which is known to cause cancer. However, these approvals do not take into account the risks of inhaling the particles of spray that get into the air during "tanning".  Studies suggest that DHA can cause primary DNA damage. There is no test data publicly available on development toxicity. Bottom line: spray-on tans may be healthier when applied with proper protections on healthy adults, but it's not worth the (mostly unknown) risk to your developing fetus. Elevated body temperature can also be dangerous to your unborn baby, so tanning beds are not a good option either. 
Safer Solution:  Let your skin show your pregnancy 'glow' and Spin your skin as "porcelain" not "pale."

Chemical Hair Removal

Some form of Thioglycolic Acid is usually the active ingredient in hair removal products. There are no studies showing that this chemical is unsafe on the skin during pregnancy. But there are also no studies showing it is safe. The Thioglycolic Acid reacts chemically with disulfide bonds in hair. Because these ingredients are aggressive enough to react chemically, and no studies have been done to detect potential reprotoxic effects, we recommend the precautionary principle: Leave these on the shelf until after the pregnancy.
Safer Solution:  Get your shaver out during pregnancy and way not get your partner involved. Create a special bond as he helps you shave those places you can no longer even see!

Heavy Fragrances

www.flora2000.com

Many fragrances contain phthalates as carriers. There are a wide range of phthalates, some of which are less harmful than others. But these ingredients are rarely disclosed on labels, hiding behind the general descriptor fragrance. If you are not certain the product is free of phthalates with potential for reproductive toxicity, it is better to avoid it during pregnancy. Phthalates can imitate natural hormones in the body responsible for the proper growth and development of a fetus. Because growth is very sensitive to small concentrations of these hormones, it is considered dangerous to have even low levels of exposure during pregnancy.
Safer Solution: Be fragrance-free.While you are minimizing perfumed beauty products, do away with air fresheners and any other product intended to release scent.

Tattoos

www.fitsugar.com

Traditional tattoos involve needles, and therefore direct contact with your bloodstream. The risk of disease transmission is not high, but not worth taking at this delicate time in life. As usual, little information is known about the effects of the tattoo dyes on your baby's growth. The deliberate penetration of the skin's boundaries adds an additional level of exposure potential. The dyestuff used in the tattoo industry is not regulated in the same manner as cosmetics, and that so-called azo dyes may split into carcinogenic amines in the bloodstream in case tattoo removal by laser treatment is undertaken. Finally, some tattoo inks can cause allergies. It is rare, but when it occurs, a very severe reaction can arise since the dyes have entered the bloodstream.
Safer Solution: If you cannot resist some body art to celebrate the new arrival, get a natural henna tattoo (as illustrated above). This is not permanent, but celebrates the changes in your body. Leave this one for your third trimester to be really sure the risks are acceptable. But CAUTION: Be sure you are using natural henna, which is never black. Black henna is a synthetic chemical, para-phenylendiamine (PPD), and it is not safe for anyone.

Hair Care
 

google.com

First, some good news. New studies seem to have overturned earlier studies that suggested a link to bladder cancer or miscarriage in hair salon employees. Nonetheless, studies continue to find links between occupational exposure in hair salons and birth defects. A couple of hours getting your hair done is certainly less than the long-term exposure your beautician faces, but it is one more vector for exposure that can be avoided.
Safer Solution: Skip the dyes and highlights. Buy a natural bristle hairbrush and enjoy a cup of tea while treating your hair to a hundred strokes. If you absolutely must freshen up your color, wait until at least the second trimester.

Prince or Princess?

♥♥ PRINCE or PRINCESS ♥♥

Have All BOYS or All GIRLS and would LOVE to complete your family with the opposite sex?

Using "TIMING" correctly can help you conceive your desired baby gender!!!

It's SO EASY to follow

SUBMIT QUESTIONNAIRE NOW :)

Click Here:
http://babygirlorboytolove.blogspot.com.au/p/free-questionnaire.html

♥♥   ♥♥

 

All I want is a little PRINCESS..

www.facebook.com/JessiIrvingPhotography

Have all Boys?

Want a beautiful DAUGHTER to complete your family?

‘Timing of intercourse’

  is a

scientifically

proven method

 in baby Gender Selection

FILL in our Questionnaire and Discover how you can Conceive a baby Girl Naturally 

CLICK HERE

A little about Ovulation

Image source: www.google.com

Ovulation is a phase of the female menstrual cycle that involves the release of an egg (ovum) from one of the ovaries and generally occurs about two weeks before the onset of the menstrual period.

Typical ovulation symptoms and signs include changes in cervical mucus, abdominal pain and a small rise in basal temperature.

For most women, ovulation occurs about once every month apart from when pregnant or breastfeeding.  However, some women experience irregular ovulation or no ovulation at all which makes it difficult to use 'timing' for baby gender selection.

The Cervical Mucus is one of the signs your body sends out to let you know ovulation is approaching and can assist with the timing of baby gender selection. The more you know of how your body works, the easier it is to achieve it!!

Fertile mucus helps the sperm find its way into the cervix.  After ovulation the hormone progesterone causes the mucus to change to an infertile type within a day or two. The mucus diminishes in quantity, becoming thick, sticky, preventing sperm  from entering the uterus.

A typical example below based on a regular 28 day cycle:

Image: www.plannedparenthood.org

Baby Gender Reveal Ideas

BOY  or  GIRL ???

You just found out the Gender of your Baby and about to send a text / call / tweet or even pin it on pinterest!!!  Why not make it a little fun and get family and friends involved too. It is exiting news and there are so many Gender Reveal Food or Game Ideas.

Love the idea of A Cake or Cupcakes with the sponge inside secretly being Pink or Blue                                                           

Source: google.com

Image: www.biddybearcupcakes.com

 Fill in a big Box with Pink or Blue Helium Balloons and let then fly out during the party

Image: www.kellyandersonphotography.com

  

Games are always fun, asking everyone to pick Team Pink or Team Blue....would be nice to include a small prize for those who guessed the correct baby gender

And who doesn't LOVE a scratchie  (lol).  Order your Baby Gender Scratch Off Cards online from abcfavors.com

Source: www.abcfavors.com

Fill in a Pinata with Pink or Blue Lollies

Thanks to Pinterest and www.whattoexpect.com

  HAVE FUN!!!!!