During the first weeks of life your newborn may seem to do little more than eat, sleep, cry, and generate dirty diapers. But in reality, all senses are functioning as your infant takes in the sights, sounds, and smells of this new world.

It's hard for us to know exactly what a newborn is feeling — but if you pay close attention to your baby's responses to light, noise, and touch, you can see complex senses coming alive.

Sight
Your newborn can see best at a distance of only 8 to 12 inches, and focus when gazing up from the arms of mom or dad. Your newborn can see things farther away, but it is harder to focus on distant objects. Newborns are very sensitive to bright light and are more likely to open their eyes in low light.

After human faces, bright colors, contrasting patterns, and movement are the things a newborn likes to look at best. Black-and-white pictures or toys will attract and keep your baby's interest far longer than objects or pictures with lots of similar colors. Even a crude line drawing of two eyes, a nose, and a mouth may keep your infant's attention if held close within range.

Your baby, when quiet and alert, should be able to follow the slow movement of your face or an interesting object.

Although your baby's sight is functioning, it still needs some fine tuning, especially when it comes to focusing far off. Your baby's eyes may even seem to cross or diverge (go "wall-eyed") briefly. This is normal, and your newborn's eye muscles will strengthen and mature during the next few months.

Give your infant lots of interesting sights to look at. Introduce new objects to keep your baby's interest, but don't overdo it. And don't forget to move your infant around a bit during the day to provide a needed change of scenery.

Hearing
Most newborns have a hearing screening before being discharged from the hospital (most states require this). If your baby didn't have it, or was born at home or a birthing center, it's important to have a hearing screening within the first month of life. Most kids born with a hearing loss can be diagnosed through a hearing screening.

Genetics, infections, trauma, and damaging noise levels may result in a hearing problem so it's important to have kids' hearing evaluated regularly as they get older. Even if your child passed the newborn hearing screen, talk to your doctor if you have concerns about your baby's hearing.

Your newborn has been hearing sounds since way back in the womb. Mother's heartbeat, the gurgles of her digestive system, and even the external sounds of her voice and the voices of other family members were part of a baby's world before birth.

Once your baby is born, the sounds of the outside world come in loud and clear. Your baby may startle at the unexpected bark of a dog nearby or seem soothed by the gentle whirring of the clothes dryer or the hum of the vacuum cleaner.

Try to pay attention to how your newborn responds to your voice. Human voices, especially Mom's and Dad's, are a baby's favorite "music." Your infant already knows that this is where food, warmth, and touch come from. If your infant is crying in the bassinet, see how quickly your approaching voice quiets him or her down. See how closely your baby listens when you are talking in loving tones.

Your infant may not yet coordinate looking and listening, but even while staring into the distance, your little one is probably paying close attention to your voice when you speak.

Taste and Smell
Taste and smell are the two most closely related of the senses. Research shows that new babies prefer sweet tastes from birth and will choose to suck on bottles of sweetened water but will turn away or cry if given something bitter or sour to taste. Likewise, newborns will turn toward smells they prefer and turn away from unpleasant odors.

Though sweetness is preferred, taste preferences will continue to develop during the first year of life. For now, breast milk or formula will satisfy your newborn completely!

To read more please click here: http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/senses/sensenewborn.html#

Women expecting multiples have many different and unique experiences than those women who are carrying a single pregnancy. Since multiples are at a greater risk of developing complications, your healthcare provider will want to see you more frequently.

How Often Should I Expect To Visit My Healthcare Provider?
Your first trimester prenatal schedule may not differ from that of a single pregnancy, however you may discover that your healthcare provider wants to see you every two to three weeks. Once you enter into your second trimester you should expect to have two prenatal visits per month. During the third trimester you should anticipate weekly prenatal appointments. Your healthcare provider may change the amount of appointments based on the health of you and your babies.

Why Do I Need To Make More Frequent Visits?
Women who are having multiples are at a greater risk of experiencing complications during their pregnancy. Frequentprenatal visits allow your healthcare provider to monitor both your health and the health of the babies. This allows for proper prevention, detection, and treatment of any complications that could occur. If complications were to occur then your visits would become even more frequent. Your healthcare provider will determine the exact prenatal schedule that will benefit both you and your babies.

To read more and find similar articles please click on the link: http://americanpregnancy.org/multiples/prenatalcareschedule.htm

Here are 7 changes that may need immediate action.

 By Denise Mann
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Nivin Todd, MD, FACOG

Discovering that you're expecting is emotional and exciting. Especially if it's your first baby, you may have a lot of questions about what's normal, what's not, and when you should call your doctor.

Most women will have healthy pregnancies. Taking care of yourself and heeding any changes in your health will probably go a long way towards easing your mind. Many of the changes your body will go through while pregnant are perfectly normal. Still, some deserve swift attention.

Here are seven symptoms, what they may mean, and what you should do about them. Of course, you should feel free to raise questions with your doctor at any point during your pregnancy, even if it's not on this list.

1. Vaginal Bleeding 

 What it may mean: "Some spotting is normal, but heavy bleeding could be a sign of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy," says Natali Aziz, MD. She is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif. "The brighter red the bleeding, the more significant it is." 

"If you have bleeding and bad cramping similar to period cramps, this can be a sign of threatened miscarriage," says Manju Monga, MD. She is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "If this is coupled with sharp, lower abdominal pain, it may be a sign of ectopic pregnancy," a serious complication that occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in the fallopian tubes.

What to do: "Call your doctor," Monga says. "Your doctor will likely do an ultrasound, an exam, and some blood work based on your symptoms." Though most spotting or light bleeding may not be a serious problem, "you don’t want to ignore it if it is associated with cramping, heavy bleeding, or abdominal pain."

2. Excessive Nausea and Vomiting 

 It's normal to have some nausea and vomiting during your first trimester. Most pregnant women go through that.

But if it's severe or makes you dehydrated, that's something to heed. If you can’t keep any water or fluids down for more than 12 hours, call your doctor.

What it may mean: “Vomiting that interferes with your day-to-day activities can lead to weight loss, dizziness, dehydration, and an imbalance of electrolytes,” Aziz says.

What to do:  Tell your doctor. “You may need hospitalization to treat the dehydration, and many medications are available to control nausea," Aziz says.

Bottom line: "Nausea and vomiting are normal occurrences during pregnancy, but the extremes can cause problems," says ob-gyn Stanley M. Berry, MD, of William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. "The majority of women who have nausea and vomiting in their first trimester will go on to have normal, healthy pregnancies."

3. High Fever 

 A fever greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius during pregnancy may be serious.

What it may mean: It could be a sign of infection, which could affect the baby.

Fevers during pregnancy that are accompanied with rash and joint pain may be a sign of infection such as cytomegalovirus (CMV), toxoplasma, and parvovirus. "CMV is the most common cause of congenital deafness, and it is not as uncommon as we think," Aziz says. 

What to do:  "Report any fever plus upper respiratory symptoms, body ache, and flu-like symptoms or rashes and joint pain to your doctor," Aziz says. And get your yearly flu vaccine.

To read more please click on the link: http://www.webmd.com/baby/features/pregnancy-first-trimester-warning-signs?page=2

Most mothers-to-be eagerly await that first reassuring flutter, just to know their baby is growing and developing. Sometime between 18-25 weeks into pregnancy, moms will begin to feel movement. For first time moms, it may occur closer to 25 weeks, and for second or third time moms, it may occur closer to 18 weeks.

Don’t panic if you’re not sure what you’re feeling. For a couple of weeks it may be difficult to distinguish between gas and the real thing, but very soon, you will notice a pattern. You will gradually learn your baby’s sleeping and waking cycles, when he or she is most active, and what seems to trigger activity.

When D (delivery) day finally rolls around, Papa's main goals are to stay calm and help Mama.

The top 5 post-pregnancy body changes that you never saw coming.

By Heather Hatfield
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Jennifer Shu, MD

When you found out you were pregnant , you knew your life was going to change forever! So much to look forward to: bringing your baby home, seeing his first smile, hearing his first coo. 

And you knew your body was in for some changes, too -- gaining weight during pregnancy, bigger breasts, maybe swollen ankles if you stayed on your feet too long. 

But there are some changes that might surprise you. Here are five of them.

1. Sex Drive Dive

If you're not in the mood, you're not alone -- many new mothers see a drop in their sex drives.

"It can take up to a year to feel like you are really back in the mood for sex," says Hope Ricciotti, MD, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Harvard Medical School and a practicing obstetrician at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston. "You are so focused on your child and your family that you have little to no time for yourself, and that includes sex."

You’re also tired and may not have any romantic moments for the first few months after baby is born to even think about the act that conceived your child, she says.

Mix these with estrogen levels that bottom back to normal post-childbirth, and sex drops to the tail end of your priority list. The good news: It will move back up.

"Estrogen levels rise during pregnancy, and fall abruptly after you give birth," says Silvana Ribaudo, MD, an obstetrician at Columbia Medical Center in New York. "The change in estrogen levels means a woman’s sex drive is probably pretty low. It rebounds, but it does take time."

2. Belly Bulge

You give birth, you lose your belly, right? Well, not that fast.

“After you give birth, lots of women expect that their belly will return to its normal size almost immediately,” Ribaudo says. “It takes about 6-8 weeks before the uterus is back to its prepregnancy size.”

Amanda Ezman of Oneida, N.Y. was among the new moms surprised by the size of her belly after she gave birth.

“I used the bathroom the day after my daughter was born, and looked in the mirror,” Ezman says. “I thought I would look a little different, but I still looked almost nine months pregnant.”

During pregnancy and after delivery, exercise and a healthy diet are key to getting your body back in shape (under the direction of your ob-gyn, of course).

“It takes time,” Ricciotti says. “Core exercises that focus on your belly do help in toning your baby bulge.”

3. Shoe Surprise

Think the changes you experience from pregnancy happen mostly in your mid-section? You forgot about your feet.

"Yes, a woman’s feet swell during pregnancy,” Ricciotti says. “But after her baby is born, she may have a permanently different shoe size.”

he American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that average-sized women gain between 25-35 pounds during pregnancy. That extraweight puts your feet under pressure.

"The additional weight you carry may flatten the arch of your foot,” Ricciotti says. “With the arch flattened you might find that you need an extra half-inch larger shoe size to be comfortable.”

Hormones play a role here, too -- in particular, one called relaxin.

"It does just what it sounds like,” Ribaudo says. “It relaxes the muscle ligaments in your body to help prepare you for childbirth, but it’s not exclusive to your pelvic area. It also affects the rest of your body, including your feet.”

With loosened ligaments in your feet and an increase in body weight pushing down on your arch, your feet are primed to flatten and lengthen. 

On the bright side? It's a great excuse to go shoe shopping.

4. Cup Size

A lot of women expect their breasts to get bigger before and after birth, especially if they continue breastfeeding. But just remember: what goes up…

"After you give birth and stop breastfeeding... that can leave your breasts looking not only saggy, as most women expect, but smaller as well," Ricciotti says.

It’s not uncommon for women to drop a cup size after pregnancy and breastfeeding, and it’s not over yet.

"The more children you have, the more your breasts tend to sag," Ricciotti says.

Don’t blame breastfeeding, though. A 2008 study of 93 women found that history of breastfeeding was not linked to their odds of having sagging breasts. Instead, the risk factors for sagging breasts were higher BMI, greater number of pregnancies, larger bra size before pregnancy, history of smoking, and older age.

5. Hair Loss

Most women have fuller, shinier locks during pregnancy. After delivery, your hair goes back to normal -- and that may mean it looks like you're losing more hair than normal. But don't worry -- it all evens out.

To read more please click on the link: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/features/post-pregnancy-body-changes?page=2

My gums bleed now when I floss and brush. Is that normal?


Having swollen, red, tender gums that bleed when you floss or brush is a common complaint during pregnancy. About half of moms-to-be have these symptoms – a condition known as pregnancy gingivitis. Your gums are more likely to become inflamed during pregnancy in part because of hormonal changes that make them more sensitive to the bacteria in plaque.

You may also develop a benign nodule on your gums that bleeds when you brush. This relatively rare nodule is called a pregnancy tumor or pyogenic granuloma – scary names for something that's harmless and usually painless. Pregnancy tumors can actually pop up anywhere on your body during pregnancy, but they show up most often in the mouth.

A pregnancy tumor can grow to up to three-quarters of an inch in size and is more likely to appear in an area where you have gingivitis. Typically, it disappears after you have your baby, but if it doesn't, you'll need to have it removed. If it causes discomfort, interferes with chewing or brushing, or starts to bleed excessively, you can have it removed while you're pregnant.

Can gum disease affect my pregnancy?

Possibly, but the evidence is inconsistent. Many studies show a link between severe gum disease and preterm birth and low birth weight. And there is some research suggesting an association with preeclampsia, too. However, other studies show no relationship between gum disease and these serious complications.

In any case, it's important to take good care of your teeth and gums during pregnancy. If you don't treat gingivitis, it can get worse and develop into periodontitis, a more serious form of gum disease in which the infection goes beyond your gums into the bone and other tissue that supports your teeth.

What can I do?

Prevention is key. Practice good oral hygiene and get regular preventive dental care.

• Brush thoroughly but gently at least twice a day (after every meal if possible), using a soft-bristled brush and toothpaste with fluoride.
• Floss daily.
• Get regular preventive dental care. Your dentist or periodontist can remove plaque and tartar that brushing can't get to. If you haven't seen your dentist recently, schedule a visit now for a thorough cleaning and checkup. Be sure to let her know that you're pregnant and how far along you are. She'll probably want to see you once more during your pregnancy, too – or even more often if you already have gum disease, since pregnancy will likely make the problem worse.
• Don't put off getting treatment for dental problems. If necessary, local anesthesia such as Novocain is safe throughout pregnancy. And if antibiotics are needed, there are pregnancy-safe drugs available.

To read more of this article and find more like it please click on the following link: http://www.babycenter.com/0_bleeding-gums-during-pregnancy_217.bc

Each year in the U.S., more than 500,000 babies are born prematurely and an estimated 28,000 children die before their first birthday. In response to this national public health crisis, the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB) created text4baby, a free mobile information service that provides pregnant women and new moms with information to help them care for their health and give their babies the best possible start in life. OWH is a partner in this educational service and offers moms additional healthy pregnancy information.

If you are pregnant or a new mom, text4baby can help keep you and your baby healthy.

Sign up for the service by texting BABY to 511411 (or BEBE in Spanish) to receive free text messages each week, timed to your due date or baby's date of birth. These messages focus on a variety of topics critical to maternal and child health, including birth defect prevention, immunization, nutrition, seasonal flu, mental health, oral health, and safe sleep. Text4baby messages also connect women to prenatal and infant care services and other resources.

To read more please click on the link: http://www.womenshealth.gov/about-us/government-in-action/text4baby.html

Like drinking too much alcohol or doing drugs, smoking is also very harmful to your health. It can cause serious health conditions including cancer, heart disease, stroke and gum disease. It can also cause eye diseases that can lead to blindness. Smoking can make it harder for a woman to get pregnant.

How does smoking harm your pregnancy?Not only is smoking harmful to you, it's also harmful to your baby during pregnancy. When you smoke during pregnancy, your baby is exposed to dangerous chemicals like nicotine, carbon monoxide and tar. These chemicals can lessen the amount of oxygen that your baby gets. Oxygen is very important for helping your baby grow healthy. Smoking can also damage your baby's lungs.

Women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to have:

• An ectopic pregnancy
• Vaginal bleeding
• Placental abruption (placenta peels away, partially or almost completely, from the uterine wall before delivery)
• Placenta previa (a low-lying placenta that covers part or all of the opening of the uterus)
• A stillbirth

Does smoking during pregnancy harm your baby?