the9months

How to baby yourself (and your baby) when you’re bugged by a cold, flu, or other everyday illness

Sure, you probably knew you were signing on for morning sickness, indigestion, constipation, and even gas when you signed up for pregnancy. But what you might not have realized (that’s what you get for skipping the fine print!) is that pregnant women aren’t just susceptible to pregnancy symptoms. They’re also susceptible to every bug in the book, from colds to stomach viruses to flu. In fact, it may not seem fair (but c’mon — since when is anything about pregnancy fair), but as an expectant mom you can expect to succumb more easily to these nonpregnancy related illnesses than members of the nonpregnant population. That’s because, during pregnant, your immune system is suppressed during pregnancy in order to protect your fetus (an outsider) from being rejected by your body. (more…)

When will your baby be born?

While it is still early in your pregnancy, you are probably already wondering when your baby’s birthday will be. A healthy full-term pregnancy lasts 38 to 42 weeks from conception. Your “due date” is simply 40 weeks from the date of your last period. Just 1 in 20 babies is actually born on the due date, although most arrive within two weeks before or after.

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