0:00 Pregnancy overview: Pregnancy is a nine-month period in a woman’s life during which she prepares for motherhood. Carrying a baby in the womb is a blessing, but it’s no stroll in the park. And sometimes, it’s not so easy to conceive when the hormones in play are imbalanced. In this video, we’ll discuss pregnancy and fertility.
0:23 Menstruation and pregnancy: Let’s have a look at the female reproductive system. Menstruation helps women prepare their bodies for pregnancy. The ovulation phase follows the follicular phase in the menstrual cycle. For a more complete discussion of the menstrual cycle, see our video “Understanding the Female Monthly Cycle”. During ovulation, the ovaries release an egg cell into the fallopian tube to prepare it for fertilization by a sperm cell. This is when the fertility window opens and the chance of becoming pregnant is high. When an egg is fertilized, it then travels into the uterus and the fetus begins to develop. After ovulation comes the luteal phase, when the uterus lining puffs up with blood and prepares the womb for a baby. When pregnancy doesn’t occur, the blood in the uterus lining begins to shed and starts another cycle.
1:20 Hormones during pregnancy: Few hormones are active during pregnancy. Estrogen provides nutrients to the fetus through the placenta and stimulates the breasts for breastfeeding. Progesterone is the hormone that provides a thick uterus lining to the implanted egg cell.
Another hormone present during pregnancy is human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG), a cause of nausea during pregnancy. What this hormone does is supply essential nutrients to the fetus through the placenta. It usually peaks during early pregnancy and declines later on. Low levels of this hormone can indicate serious problems like miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or fetal death.
2:07 Early signs of pregnancy: Fatigue, missed periods, and morning sickness or nausea are among the first indicators of pregnancy. Vaginal discharge may also occur as a result of implantation bleeding, while this is normal and does not always indicate a miscarriage.
Sometimes, the indications of pregnancy don’t show in the first few weeks. Taking a pregnancy test should be done a day after your missed period so the hCG level can be detected in the urine. Pregnancy won’t always be the cause of a missed period. It could also be a sign of hormonal imbalance or stress.
2:42 Things to watch out for: When pregnant, a woman must keep her mind and body in good shape. They have to incorporate a healthy diet and avoid alcohol and smoking at all times. There are also a few things to keep an eye out for: bleeding, abnormal vaginal discharge, dehydration, contractions, and blood pressure.
Going into labor signifies that the baby is on its way! But women should be mindful of the contractions. Braxton-Hicks contractions are also known as false labor. They are unpredictable and irregular contractions compared to real labor, which gets stronger and appears at regular intervals.
Seek professional help when experiencing difficulties during pregnancy, as it could be a sign of something more serious.
3:31 Infertility: Infertility is a condition that can affect both men and women. There are a variety of reasons why a couple may be unable to conceive. The most common reason is a hormonal imbalance. Hormonal imbalances are linked to a variety of reproductive issues, including PCOS in women and erectile dysfunction in men. Another reason for infertility in women is menopause, which is when the ovaries stop releasing eggs.
4:00 Products: There are products and supplements that can help with infertility and hormonal imbalances. L-Arginine helps with erectile dysfunction while improving blood flow and libido. DIM has anti-androgenic properties that help with PCOS symptoms and also regulates estrogen levels. Multiple miscarriages may be a result of low progesterone levels during pregnancy. Organic USP progesterone creams may help with this issue.
4:35 Ending: Pregnancy is a lot of effort for a woman to go through, but after she has a child, it is a genuine blessing. We offer a number of blogs that can assist with fertility and hormone wellness. For more information on fertility and our products, visit our websites and videos.
