http://www.seasonsindia.com/pregnancy/nine_sea.

htm#1stmonth
http://www.seasonsindia.com/pregnancy/calculator_sea.htm
Foods a Pregnant Women should Eat
Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, beans, lentils, and legumes. They provide vi
tamins, minerals and fibre.
Eat wholemeal bread and whole grain cereals.
Iron is essential for adequate blood supply to the growing baby and the placenta
. For your iron requirement, eat iron rich foods for pregnant woman such as gree
n leafy vegetables, dried fruit, and nuts.
You may need to take iron and folic acid supplements regularly. Consult your Doc
tor before starting any iron supplement.
For your requirement of Vitamin C, include citrus fruits, tomatoes, broccoli, an
d potatoes in your diet. They help absorb iron.
You are responsible for the supply of calcium to your baby inside that is necess
ary for baby's healthy bones. Depending on your age, you may include 1000 mg - 1
00 mg of calcium and 200IU of Vitamin D in your diet.
Dairy products, bread, nuts, fish, and green vegetables are rich in calcium. Mil
k, cheese and yogurt (all low-fat or skim varieties) contain calcium and other n
utrients needed for your baby's growth. calcium rich foods
The diet should contain proteins like paneer, cereals, lentils, dals, fresh frui
ts, vegetables, fish, chicken, etc. See other high protein foods.
Eat cumin as it is believed to increase lactation and reduce nausea in pregnancy
.
Food Cravings during Pregnancy
Pregnancy diet & recipes
Iron foods for pregnant woman
Foods for lactation
Nutrition need of pregnant woman
Foods to avoid during pregnanacy
Complexion of unborn child

Conceive a boy or a girl

Diet for lactating mothers
Foods for lactating mothers
Post pregnancy weight loss exercise
Prevent pregnancy stretch marks
More >>
Many women have cravings for certain foods or feel changes to certain food taste
and smell during their pregnancy. These are very normal, lasting for a short pe
riod. These may be due to the hormonal changes of pregnancy.
Some of the items of craving are sweets, pickles, tamarind (imli), clay, ice, to
othpaste, etc. The cravings for a food may not be due to your lack of certain vi
tamin or mineral in your body.

A combination of woman's diet and the timing of sex are the key to conceiving a
boy or a girl, says researchers from Maastricht University in Holland and the Un
iversity of Exeter in Britain. The father's diet, however, has no effect on the
sex of the baby.
Based on the findings of the studies, the following may be concluded:

To conceive a girl
haveregular sex, but not on days immediately prior or after ovulation.
A low energy (calorie) diet with less minerals and nutrients is more likely to y
ield a female.
Do not eat sodium and potassium rich foods, such as anchovies, banana, olives, r
ice, blue cheese, potatoes, bread, processed meats, bacon, salami, smoked salmon
, prawns, etc.
Eat foods rich in calcium such as milk, hard cheese, yoghurt, broccoli, rhubarb,
spinach, tofu, oranges, almonds, oatmeal, etc.
Eat foods rich in magnesium such as Brazil nuts, cashew nuts, whole-wheat cereal
s, figs and beans.
To conceive a boy
Research in vitro fertilization shows that higher levels of glucose or sugar inh
ibit female embryos and encourage the growth and development of male embryos.
Eat foods high in sodium and potassium rich foods. Eat breakfast with high energ
y (calories) and a wider range of nutrients, including potassium, calcium and vi
tamins C, E and B12. Consume at least one bowl of breakfast cereal daily.
SEX DURING PREGNANCY
For most women and their partners, pregnancy brings changes in the sexual relati
onship. You may find that pregnancy complements your sense of sexuality, making
you feel more feminine and desirable or, on the other hand, you may feel awkward
and unattractive. Many women have less sexual desire during the first three and
last three months of pregnancy. Early in the pregnancy you may be plagued by na
usea and vomiting, fatigue and tender breasts while later in the pregnancy your
protruding abdomen may make intercourse uncomfortable. During the second three m
onths of pregnancy, however, you may feel full of energy and have a renewed inte
rest in lovemaking.
Many women think that they should abstain from sex during pregnancy, but that is
not the case at all. That's because neither intercourse nor orgasm pose a threa
t to a healthy pregnant woman or her baby. The thick mucus plug that seals the c
ervix helps guard the baby against infection while the baby is well protected by
the fluid-filled amniotic sac and strong uterine muscles. In fact, many couples
continue their sex life right up to their baby's delivery. With a normal pregna
ncy, you can keep doing it right up until your water breaks. However you should
check with your doctor first if you're having any problems with your pregnancy o
r you notice any unusual symptoms during or following intercourse, such as pain
or discharge or there is abnormal vaginal bleeding or you have a history of misc
arriages. Most doctors will advise against intercourse if you have: Threat of mi
scarriage; an incompetent cervix or a dilated cervix; cramping;
unexplained vaginal bleeding or discharge; presence of any sexually transmitted
disease. In this case, abstain from sex until you and your mate have been treate
d and you are both free of the disease.
Sex during pregnancy feels great for some women while for some it is not so good
. This is because they are just too tired or nauseated to make love, especially
in the first trimester. Some women experience cramping during intercourse becaus
e the cervix descends lower into the vagina during pregnancy. Due to the increas
ed vascularity of the cervix, some women may also have a small amount of spottin
g after sex. Some women feel unattractive and because of this their desire for s
ex wanes while some women feel sexier than ever and for them sex becomes more en
joyable. There is a positive side to sex during pregnancy. The hormones of pregn
ancy, especially progesterone, cause increased vascularity in the vagina and ext
ernal genitalia. For some, this is a pleasurable sensation and may actually make
it easier to achieve orgasm.
Comfortable positions while you are pregnant:
Following are a few time-tested positions for making love during pregnancy.
Get on top of your partner. This way you will put no pressure on your uterus and
will also be able to control penetration.
Have sex in a sitting position by sitting on your husband's lap on his study cha
ir.
Lie sideways.
Try spoon position i.e., lie side by side in a spoon position, which will allow
only shallow penetration.
Also try out new positions that will make you comfortable.
Even if you and your partner do not have strong sexual needs throughout the preg
nancy, you may have an increased need for physical affection, for gentle touchin
g, cuddling, holding and hugs. You will want to nurture feelings of emotional cl
oseness as well by spending time talking together, sharing feelings, and experie
ncing the p

GOOD FOOD FOR HEALTHY PREGNANCY

 A mother's nourishment during pregnancy is vitally important for her and for he
r baby at all stages of foetal development. Research has shown that diet and hea
lthy lifestyle is directly related to the baby's weight at birth, his health in
childhood and even after he has grown up. Therefore eating well and being aware
of any deficiencies in your diet can have long-term effects. You don't have to g
o on a special diet. All you have to do is to make sure that you eat a variety o
f different foods in order to get the right balance of nutrients that you and yo
ur baby require. You should also avoid certain foods to be on the safer side.
Your diet should include the following four basic food groups:
A] Starchy Foods
Starchy foods like bread, potatoes, rice, chapatis, pasta, oatmeal, and breakfas
t cereals are an important part of any diet and should, with vegetables, form th
e main part of your meal. They are satisfying without containing too many calori
es and are an important source of vitamins, protein, minerals and fibre. Try eat
ing wholemeal bread and wholegrain cereals when you can.
B] Dairy Product
Dairy foods like milk, cheese, yoghurt are important as they contain calcium and
other nutrients essential for your baby's development. Choose low-fat varieties
whenever possible. They also provide other minerals such as zinc, iodine and ma
gnesium (essential for growth), as well as protein and fat-soluble vitamins A an
d D.
C] Meat, fish and alternatives
Meat, fish, eggs, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, pulses and other vegetarian produc
ts are all good source of nutrients. These protein rich food combined with prote
in from starchy foods and dairy products provide the building blocks for baby's
growth and tissue repair. They also contain iron, zinc, vitamin A and B. Vitamin
B12 which is essential for healthy blood, occurs naturally in meat products but
can also be found in fortified vegetarian foods.
D] Fruits and vegetables
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables as these provide the vitamins and a mineral,
as well as fibre which helps digestion and prevents constipation. Eat them ligh
tly cooked in a little water or raw to get the most out of them. Frozen, tinned
and dried food and vegetables are good too. These provide vitamin A in vegetable
form, vitamin C and D including folic acid, minerals such as iron and potassium
and fibre.
Following foods you should avoid during pregnancy:
Try to avoid as far as possible on sugar and sugary foods like sweets, biscuits
and cakes and sugary drinks like cola. Sugar contains calories without providing
any other nutrients the body needs. It also adds to the risk of tooth decay.
Avoid fat and fatty foods as well. Fat is very high in calories and too much can
cause excess weight gain and increase the risk of heart disease. Avoid fatty fo
ods, trim the fat off meat, use spreads sparingly and go easy on foods like past
ry, chocolate and chips.
Don't eat liver or liver products as they contain a lot of vitamin A. Too much v
itamin A can harm your baby.
Avoid eating peanuts and foods containing peanut products (e.g., peanut butter,
unrefined groundnut oil etc) if you and your baby's father have a previous histo
ry of asthma, eczema or other allergies.
Foods that need special care while eating:
Besides eating a wide variety of foods, there are certain precautions you should
take in order to safeguard your baby's well-being as well as your own.
Cook all meat and poultry thoroughly so that there is no trace of pink or blood
and wash all surfaces and utensils after preparing raw meat. This will help to a
void infection with Toxoplasma, which may cause toxoplasmosis and can harm your
baby.
Wash fruit and vegetables and salads to remove all traces of soil which may cont
ain Toxoplasma.
Make sure eggs are throurouhly cooked untill the whites and yolks are solid to p
revent the risk of food poisoning and avoid foods containing raw and undercooked
eggs like home-made mayonnaise, ice-cream, cheesecake etc.
Pregnancy and Weight Control
Food Cravings: What they mean
Good Food For Good Health
Essential Vitamins and Minerals
Benefits of Folic Acid
Food Poisoning
Alcohol and Pregnancy
Sex during Pregnancy
regnancy together.

PRECIOUS NINE MONTHS OF PREGNANCY

Here is a month by month guide has to how Your Baby Grows in those nine months.

1st month 4th month 7th month

2nd month 5th month 8th month
3rd month 6th month 9th month

A monthly diary of your baby's development

(MONTH ONE)
Your Baby
For the first 8 weeks, your developing baby is called an "embryo." Tiny limb bud
s, which will grow into arms and legs, appear. Embryo looks like a tadpole. Hear
t and lungs beginning to form. By the 25th day, heart starts to beat. Neural tub
e, which becomes the brain and spinal cord, begins to form. At end of first mont
h, embryo is about 1/2 inch long and weighs less than 1 ounce.
Your Body
You become pregnant and miss your period. Your body is making hormones needed to
"grow" a baby. Your breasts are slightly bigger and sore. If you have morning s
ickness, try eating crackers. You may have cravings, or hate foods you usually l
ike. You will urinate more often because your growing uterus is pressing on your
bladder.
Prenatal Care Guide
Before you get pregnant, supplement your diet with B vitamin folic acid (found i
n most multivitamins) to reduce the risk of birth defects of the brain and spine
. Visit your health care provider for your first prenatal care checkup as soon a
s you think you are pregnant. During the first 8 weeks of pregnancy, all of your
baby's organs are forming and can be damaged if you smoke, drink alcohol or tak
e drugs. Ask your health care provider before taking any prescription drugs or o
ver-the-counter products. Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.

(MONTH TWO)
Your Baby
All major body organs and systems are formed but not completely developed. Early
stages of placenta, which exchanges nutrients from your body for waste products
produced by the baby, are visible and working. Ears, ankles and wrists are form
ed. Eyelids form and grow but are sealed shut. Fingers and toes are developed. B
y end of second month, fetus looks more like a person than a tadpole, is about 1
 inch long and still weighs less than 1 ounce.
Your Body
Your breasts are still sore; your nipples and the area around them begin to dark
en. Morning sickness may continue. You may feel tired and need to rest more as y
our body adjusts to being pregnant. The total amount of blood in your body incre
ases.
Prenatal Care Guide
Visit your health care provider for one prenatal care checkup. Eat a variety of
healthy foods from the five major food groups: cereals and grains; fruits; veget
ables; dairy products; and meats and beans. Continue to supplement your diet wit
h folic acid during your second and third months of pregnancy to reduce the risk
of certain birth defects. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water, juice and/or
milk every day. Don't cut down on salt unless your doctor says so.

(MONTH THREE)
Your Baby
After 8 weeks as embryo, baby now is called a "fetus." Fingers and toes have sof
t nails. Mouth has 20 buds that will become "baby teeth." You can hear your baby
's heartbeat for the first time (10 to 12 weeks) using a special instrument call
ed a "doptone." For the rest of pregnancy, all body organs will mature and fetus
will gain weight. By the end of this month, the fetus is 4 inches long and weig
hs a little over 1 ounce.
Your Body
You may still feel tired and have morning sickness. You may have headaches. You
may get lightheaded or dizzy. Your clothes may begin to feel tight around your w
aist and breasts. Try pullover tops and skirts/pants with elastic waists.
Prenatal Care Guide
Visit your doctor or health care provider for one prenatal care checkup. You hav
e a slightly increased need for almost all vitamins and minerals to nourish Your
Baby. A healthy diet meets most of these needs. You may have gained 3 or 4 poun
ds by now. A woman who starts pregnancy at a normal weight should gain 25 to 35
pounds. Ask your health care provider how much weight you should gain. Exercise
can be fun and good for both of you. Walking is a good choice. If your health ca
re provider recommends prenatal testing using chorionic villus sampling (CVS), i
t will be done now. By the end of the 3rd month, the fetus is 4 inches long and
weighs a little over 1 ounce.

(MONTH FOUR)
Your Baby
The fetus moves, kicks, swallows, and can hear your voice. The skin is pink and
transparent. Umbilical cord continues to grow and thicken to carry enough nouris
hment from mother to fetus -- but it also can pass along hazards like tobacco, a
lcohol and other drugs. Placenta is fully formed. By end of 4th month, fetus is
6 to 7 inches long and weighs about 5 ounces.
Your Body
Appetite increases as morning sickness goes away and you should begin to feel mo
re energetic. Toward the end of the 4th month (16-20 weeks), you might feel the
faint movement of Your Baby for the first time; tell your doctor. Your belly beg
ins to show -- you probably will need maternity clothes and bigger bras this mon
th.
Prenatal Care Guide
Visit your health care provider for one prenatal care checkup. Pregnant women ne
ed extra iron -- more than even a good diet can supply. Your doctor may recommen
d iron supplements. You'll probably gain about 1 pound a week, or 12 to 14 pound
s, during the second trimester (months 4-6). If your health care provider recomm
ends prenatal testing using amniocentesis, or alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) testing fo
r neural tube defects, they will be done at 16 to 18 weeks. By the end of the 4t
h month, the fetus is 6 to 7 inches long and weighs about 5 ounces.

(MONTH FIVE)
Your Baby
Fetus becomes more active, turning from side to side and sometimes head over hee
ls. Fingernails have grown to tips of fingers. Fetus sleeps and wakes at regular
intervals. Fetus has a month of rapid growth. At the end of the 5th month, fetu
s is 8-12 inches long and weighs 1/2 to 1 pound.
Your Body
If you haven't already, you will begin to feel Your Baby moving inside you. Be s
ure to tell your doctor. Your uterus has grown to the height of your belly butto
n. Your heart beats faster. You may need 8 hours of sleep each night. During the
day, take rest breaks if tired. Don't push yourself. You may get leg cramps, es
pecially at night, if you're not getting enough calcium.
Prenatal Care Guide
Visit your doctor or health care provider for one prenatal care checkup. Your Ba
by's growth and weight gain are most likely to be affected if you're still smoki
ng, drinking or taking drugs. It's never too late to quit or cut down as much as
you can. Continue eating a healthy, nutritious diet and drink lots of juice, wa
ter and milk every day. By the end of the 5th month, the fetus is 8 to 12 inches
long and weighs 1/2 to 1 pound.

(MONTH SIX)
Your Baby
Skin is red and wrinkled and covered with fine, soft hair. Fetus at this stage u
sually is too small and its lungs not ready for life outside its mother. If born
now, fetus might survive with intensive care. Eyelids begin to part and the eye
s open. Finger and toe prints can be seen. Fetus continues its rapid growth. At
the end of the 6th month, the fetus is 11 to 14 inches long and weighs 1 to 1-1/
2 pounds.
Your Body
You may feel the fetus kicking strongly now. The skin on your growing belly may
start to itch. Your back may hurt. Wear low-heel shoes or flats. Exercise can he
lp prevent backaches. Don't stand for long periods of time. You may feel pain do
wn the side of your belly as your uterus stretches.
Prenatal Care Guide
Visit your health care provider for one prenatal care checkup. You may be consti
pated. Drink more water or fruit juice, eat more foods with fiber (like fruits a
nd vegetables) and get some exercise. To help with heartburn, try eating 4 or 5
smaller meals during the day. Do not take laxatives or antacids without asking y
our health care provider. By the end of the 6th month, the fetus is 11 to 14 inc
hes long and weighs 1 to 1 1/2 pounds.

(MONTH SEVEN)
Your Baby
Fetus can open and close its eyes, suck its thumb and cry. Exercises by kicking
and stretching. Fetus responds to light and sound. If born now, fetus has a good
chance for survival. Fetus is now about 15 inches long and weighs about 3 pound
s.
Your Body
If your ankles and feet swell from standing, lie down with your feet raised. If
swelling lasts longer than 24 hours, or if hands and face swell suddenly, call y
our health care provider. Stretch marks may appear on the abdomen and breasts as
 they get bigger. You may feel false labor contractions, also called Braxton Hic
ks. This is normal but call your health care provider if you have more than 5 co
ntractions in one hour. As your belly gets bigger, you may lose your sense of ba
lance. This makes it easier to fall. Be careful!
Prenatal Care Guide
Visit your doctor or health care provider for one prenatal care checkup. Continu
e to eat a variety of foods that are good for you. You should gain 1 pound a wee
k this month. Get plenty of rest -- your body is working hard. Start childbirth
education classes soon. Most health care providers do a blood test for maternal
diabetes at 28 to 30 weeks. By the end of the 7th month, the fetus is about 15 i
nches long and weighs about 3 pounds.

(MONTH EIGHT)
Your Baby
Rapid brain growth continues. Fetus is too big to move around much but can kick
strongly and roll around. You may notice the shape of an elbow or heel through y
our abdomen. Bones of the head are soft and flexible to make it easier for baby
to fit through the birth canal. Lungs may still be immature. If born around 37 w
eeks, fetus is premature but has an excellent chance for survival. Fetus is now
about 18 inches long and weighs about 5 pounds.
Your Body
Stronger contractions may be felt this month. You may have some leakage of colos
trum (the fluid that will feed Your Baby until your milk comes in) from your bre
asts as they begin to produce milk. May have trouble sleeping because it is hard
to get comfortable. Try putting several pillows under your head. May develop sh
ortness of breath as baby crowds your lungs. Baby may crowd your stomach. Try ea
ting 5 or 6 smaller meals during the day. Top of your uterus lies just under you
r rib cage.
Prenatal Care Guide
After the 32nd week, visit your health care provider every 2 weeks for prenatal
care checkups. You should gain 1 pound a week this month. Call your health care
provider right away if you have:
Bleeding or a gush of fluid from your vagina. Cramps, stomach pains or a dull ba
ckache. Blurry vision, or spots before your eyes. A feeling that the baby is pus
hing down. A noticeable decrease in the baby's movements. More than 5 contractio
ns in one hour.
By the end of the 8th month, the fetus is about 18 inches long and weighs about
5 pounds.

(MONTH NINE)
Your Baby
At 38-40 weeks, Your Baby is "full term." Baby's lungs are mature and ready to f
unction on their own. During this month, baby gains about 1/2 pound a week. Baby
usually "drops" into a head-down position and rests lower in the mother's abdom
en. By end of 9th month, baby weighs 6-9 pounds and is 19-21 inches long.
Your Body
Your bellybutton may stick out. Your breathing should be easier once the baby "d
rops" but you'll have to urinate more often because baby is pressing on your bla
dder Swelling of ankles and feet may increase. Your cervix will open up (dilate)
and thin out (efface) as it prepares for birth. You may be very uncomfortable b
ecause of the pressure and weight of the fetus. Be sure to rest often.
Prenatal Care Guide
After the 36th week, visit your health care provider once a week for prenatal ca
re checkups. You may not gain any weight at all this month, or even lose 1 or 2
pounds. You may have gained 8-10 pounds during the last three months. Decide whe
ther you are going to breastfeed or bottle feed your baby. Time your contraction
s. You are in labor if your contractions:
Are regular or evenly spaced apart (every 10 minutes, for example). Happen more
than 5 times an hour. Last for 30 to 70 seconds. Get worse as you move around.
Call your health care provider if you think you are in labor. By the end of the
9th month, the baby weighs 6 to 9 pounds and is 19 to 21 inches long.