By: ePregnancy
And now we wait...
So, it’s your second week of pregnancy. Not much has changed since last week; you aren’t even technically pregnant yet! However, by now you’ve ovulated and had yourself a little romp, leading to that all-too-familiar scene from “Look Who’s Talking.” You know what we mean: the one where the wee sperms and egg are having a fabulous time getting very familiar with each other.
Now that you’ve ovulated, had sex, and assumed all the positions Cosmo taught you, it’s time to wait: you still can’t test for pregnancy for at least another few weeks! We suggest having some fun to take your mind off things. Just make sure that fun doesn’t include a throwback to your partying days of yore. You need to take care of yourself even at this point in order to ensure the best possible future for your child.
Do I really need to worry about consuming bad things right now?
Heck yes, you do! Even though your little egg is just now being fertilized, if you are trying to conceive you should already be in the habit of avoiding potentially harmful substances. Here are a few that you need to avoid:
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Alcohol - There is quite a debate over whether it is safe to consume moderate amounts of alcohol while pregnant; the fact remains, no one is exactly sure what quantity of alcohol is necessary to cause damage. Because damage can range from stunted growth to severe mental and physical disabilies, it's in your child's best interest to abstain.
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Drugs - This should be a no-brainer, but we're going to say it anyway: You should absolutely, positively not be using any sort of illegal drugs while pregnant. We've all become familiar with the images of crack babies that permeated our media in the '90s, but crack isn't the only drug that has adverse effects. Even marijuana, which many people feel is harmless, causes problems. Much like cigarettes, it restricts oxygen to the baby and can contain incredibly harmful additives and toxins. All illegal drugs threaten the life (and livelihood) of your baby, so if you are a casual user, quit, and if you are an addict, there are many treatment options available.
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Cigarettes - Did you know that couples (yep, men too) who smoke take longer to conceive than non-smoking couples? It's true. If that's not reason enough to quit, women who smoke during pregnancy are at an increased risk for miscarriage. If miscarriage does not occur other complications might, like placental abruption, premature birth, stillbirth and an increased risk of SIDS.
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Caffeine - We love coffee as much as the next guy, but not while pregnant. Besides the increasing heartrate and bloodpressure during a time when both are already elevated, any caffeine you take in reaches your baby, and a creature that tiny simply cannot process caffeine the way you can. The stimulant can cause changes in sleep and movement patterns in both you and your baby - and believe us, you'll want all the sleep you can get.
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Aspirin - You should stop taking aspirin and aspirin-containing medicines – like some cold medicines – check those labels! While it’s not a huge risk, aspirin can thin the blood, making it perfect for 65-year-old men who have to worry about blood clots, but not so perfect for a new mom who needs to hang on to her endometrium.
Want to know which foods you should avoid while pregnant? Skip ahead to Week 3 to find out!
Due Dialect: Mittleschmertz
We aren’t trying to prepare you for Battle of the Brains (we always preferred Battle of the Bands, anyway), but this word is just too cool to pass up. If you feel a little “Fiddler on the Roof”-ish saying it, that’s okay. You’ve probably felt it but not known the name for it. Mittleschmertz refers to that pinchy feeling some women get at ovulation time (it literally feels like someone just pinched your ovary) – it’s akin to your ovary ringing the triangle to call the sperm gang to dinner.