Missed Periods

Once the fertilized egg is implanted in the uterine wall, a woman will stop menstruating until after the pregnancy.  For many women, a missed period or two is the first clue to an impending pregnancy.  However, for many others, it isn’t that simple.  For example, many women’s cycles do not conform to a standard month – they may be anywhere from two to eight weeks apart, making it difficult to know if they’re actually missed or not.  In addition, stress can also cause a woman to skip her cycle, so a missed period isn’t conclusive proof of a pregnancy for all women.

Fatigue

Having trouble staying awake or feeling unable to complete your regular responsibilities can be another early sign of pregnancy.  During the first few weeks of pregnancy, your body is undergoing some tremendous changes to prepare to nurture a human life for the next nine months.  Consequently, some of your normal energy reserves are being redirected from your normal activities, causing you to feel more fatigued than usual.

Increased Appetite

An increased appetite goes hand-in-hand with fatigue as an early warning sign of pregnancy.  As your body undergoes its first-trimester transformations, it requires extra energy, which you may experience as an added demand for food.  After all, as the saying goes, you’re eating for two now.  You may find that you need to eat more frequent snacks or larger meals to keep up with your body’s new energy demands.

Swelling of the Breasts

Upon conception, one of the many changes that occurs in your body is the activation of the milk glands in your breasts.  Normally dormant, these glands now engage to begin preparing milk for your child’s birth.  Therefore, you might notice that your breasts feel larger or more swollen than normal as an early sign of pregnancy.

Morning Sickness

Although morning sickness is most common between the sixth and twelfth weeks of your pregnancy, it’s not uncommon for women to begin experiencing these symptoms immediately upon conception, due to the fluctuating levels of hormones that accompanies it.  You can distinguish morning sickness from more common flu bugs if you tend to feel fine most of the time but experience sudden, inexplicable bouts of nausea and queasiness.

Change in Tastes

Finally, many women describe strange new cravings during their pregnancies, so pay attention to any changes in tastes you experience – they could be early signs of a pregnancy.  For example, many women find themselves seeking out spicier foods than normal, while others find that foods they formerly loved now repulse them.  If you’re tastes in food have changed at all, it may be time to visit your doctor for a professional pregnancy test.

Don’t be too hard on yourself

Many women are disheartened to find out that losing weight after giving birth is even more challenging than ever before.  And it makes sense – you’re so wrapped up in caring for your new baby that you hardly have the time to exercise or prepare meals.  In addition, nature’s working against you – new moms are biologically programmed to hold on to a little extra weight since some of that fat will be passed on to the newborn through breast milk.

But don’t think that this means you’re doomed to weight loss failure.  Far from it!  You just need to be mindful of your body’s needs when planning a post-pregnancy weight loss plan.  Don’t expect that you’ll bounce back like the Hollywood starlets you see in the magazines – many of them have a little extra help in the hospital with shedding the excess pounds gained during pregnancy.

Eat a minimum of 1,600 calories per day

No matter what you do, don’t drop below 1,600 calories each day.  Your body needs the energy from the foods you eat to care for your baby – even more so if you’re breastfeeding.  Severely restricting your calorie intake puts your health in jeopardy and can lead to dizziness, fainting or more serious physical effects.

Instead, focus on improving the foods you do take in.  If, during your pregnancy, you loaded up the cupboards with all your favorite cravings foods, it’s time to clean them out.  Get rid of the sweet or salty snacks that taste good, but don’t offer much in the way of vitamins and nutrients, and replace them with fresh fruits and veggies.  Keep pre-cut fruits and veggies on hand, along with plenty of low-calorie dips and toppings, so that you won’t be tempted to reach for an unhealthy snack out of convenience.

Get regular exercise

Exercising may be the last thing on your mind when you’re sleeping two to three hours a night with your newborn, but it’s extremely important for your health and for regaining your pre-pregnancy figure.  Don’t worry – no one’s expecting you to get out and run a marathon a week after you’ve given birth.  Even simple exercises, like walking around the block or doing some gentle Tai Chi will help keep you on the right track.

Many women get caught up worrying about what the best post-pregnancy exercise is, and here’s the answer.  The best exercise for you is one that you’ll be able to stick with!  Don’t think that running is the only way to lose your baby weight – if you hate it with all your heart and soul, you’ll never be able to stick with it.  If you aren’t sure which type of exercise is right for you, check with local fitness centers to see if they offer mother/child exercise classes.  You’ll have the chance to experience different types of exercise while meeting with other moms like you.

In the past, many people did not know where to start looking for nursery jobs. Now, a simple Google search can help you find jobs available in this industry, as well as what to expect working in the industry. Whether it’s Wikipedia or a specialty site about childcare jobs, the Internet can help you find the information you need to start this emotionally rewarding career.