Pregnancy Health

The very early signs of pregnancy before missed period can be subtle, and they can also strike one or two weeks before your menstrual period is scheduled to arrive.

Though a missed period is often the first clue that you have a bun in the oven, it’s not the only pregnancy sign you may notice. From implantation bleeding and cramping to extreme exhaustion, there are a number of very early signs of pregnancy that may pop up in the weeks leading up to your period.

Most women won’t notice these early pregnancy symptoms, but if you are trying to conceive, you may notice slight differences. For example, your pregnancy fatigue can be easily mistaken for PMS fatigue by some women, but women who are in tune with their body may notice that this fatigue feels different. [continue reading…]

Itchy rashes during pregnancy can be caused by a number of conditions, but if it’s your first pregnancy and you are carrying a boy, there’s a high possibility you have a condition called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP) – also known as polymorphic eruption of pregnancy.

Roughly 1 out of every 150 pregnant women will develop the PUPPP rash. That’s roughly 1 percent, but it is the most common pregnancy rash in pregnant women. Fortunately, it does not harm your unborn baby in any way, but it is incredibly uncomfortable and annoying to you. [continue reading…]

If you’re an equestrian who loves to ride horses, you’re definitely probably wondering how safe it is to ride a while pregnant. This is a controversial question, which many doctors and healthcare providers are mixed on their answers.

Some OB/GYNs will tell you that it’s safe for you to walk up until 12 weeks of pregnancy. (No trotting, cantering, or galloping – just a walk.) Others think you should avoid riding a horse while pregnancy completely. You should talk to your specific healthcare provider about what he or she recommends.

Obviously, the biggest danger to riding during pregnancy is falling off the horse or getting kicked off. Even if you are an experienced rider and you know the horse well, you can still get thrown off. Horses can be unpredictable, and they can be easily spooked. This is a danger that you don’t want to risk, especially when you’re pregnant. [continue reading…]