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You know your pregnant when... When you get pregnant everyone wants to know right away I know I did. So what are some of the first signs of pregnancy that can be spotted "right off" - at least for most people? Elevated Body Temperature Many women do not know about charting their Basal Body Temperature, also known as BBT, which is a wonderful method of not only finding out when your Ovulating - a slight increase in temperature is one very good sign of Ovulation this same temperature rise (and "hold") can also be a sure sign that your pregnant as well. More Frequent Urination - Is often one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Many women experience an increase in urination even before they miss a period! This increase usually takes place around about 7 to 12 days after the temperature rise at ovulation. The reason? Changes in hormone levels produced by implantation of the embryo, especially the hormone "human chorionic gonadotropin" (hCG). Light Implantation Spotting After conception, spotting often happens when the placenta implants into your uterus. This implantation bleeding is pinkish or brownish in color and tends not to be heavy. Implantation spotting will stay light, or diminish after several days. Tender Nipples and Breasts Most woman find that tender nipples and breasts is the very first sign of being pregnant, I know it was for me. One a "good" note, this feeling does go away, as soon as your body adjusts to the added hormones in your body. Usually after the first trimester for most women. Though it can return, toward the end of pregnancy, usually around the 8th month as your breasts start producing colostrum.
Missing a Menstrual Period A missed period is a "duh" of knowing your pregnant. Just about every pregnant mom can look forward to 9 (or actually 10) months of not having a period it's one of the perks to being pregnant right? Not always! Not all moms "miss" there period, I know I did not, with my daughter I had a period every month the whole time I was pregnant. So you can be pregnant and have a period! Fatigue A lack of energy can often be a sign of early pregnancy as well, however if your like myself determining what's pregnancy fatigue and what's just normal "tired" is hard. Most moms miss this sign all together, until after they know they are pregnant then can look back and say "Now I know why I needed that 6 hour nap during the middle of the afternoon a week ago!" Cramping In early pregnancy the uterus is gearing up to grow and as such, it's stretching, and contracting regularly. Exercising, orgasm, and general moving about can all trigger more cramping which can often be mistaken for menstrual cramping.
Constipation And finally my favorite In early pregnancy your intestines will often relax and function less due to those darn hormones. So you may notice a change in bowel movements during early pregnancy. Often (and thankfully) it will go back to normal after the first few months. After you experience any of the "tell tail signs" of pregnancy it's always a good idea to test, either by an over the counter pregnancy test or with a blood test with the reliability of the over the counter tests - its pretty much the same accuracy no matter what your choice. (Please see a doctor once you know your pregnant, there are MANY things that need to be followed during pregnancy to insure you have a healthy, happy baby AND mommy!)
In my talks with moms all over the world, they believe that it's these "moments" that make you HATE to be pregnant and WANT to be pregnant all at the same time...These mom's have shared with me some great information that none of the "books" have! You know your pregnant when -
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In case no one has told you lately...
You are doing a great job at being a Mom. I know you have your doubts, especially on the days when your child will not nap, or pops up after 15 minutes. I know you have your doubts when you can barely get to the next hour, let alone think about what to eat for dinner. It's really hard when others step over the Tupperware that the kids pulled out as if to say "That's not my job". It's hard when people make you feel crazy for wanting to nurse, sleep with your baby, or do any other thing that you know works for you and will benefit your child. You know what you need to do, so keep doing it. But you are a human being. So ask for help if you need it. Ask without excuses, or whining, or pleading. Just ask. And if you don't get the help you need all the time, keep doing what you need to do, all the while looking for God to send you the help you need. Do what you need to do to maintain your peace and your joy, so that you can be the best you can be - for your children, for your family, and most of all for yourself. Let some of the dumb things that people say and do, go. Let go of the little jab from your family or friends. You don't have to do it all of the time, but decide if you need to argue or retort at this moment, and if you do, will it rob you or drain you of peace? Again, you are doing a great job. You change diapers, bathe, cuddle, feed, strap in, take out, carry, play games, sing, read books. You put away dozens of little socks and clothing items, and put back zillions of little toys. (By the way, where did all those hundreds of little toys come from? They multiply like rabbits, don't they?) You are a taxi, a cook, a maid, all while being a wonderful mother! But I digress. As I was sitting here on the brink of insanity today when Zachary would not listen, when he was whining at the top of his lungs because "candy" was not on the menu for dinner, or when he was throwing the cereal all over the floor and refusing to help me pick it up - I wanted so desperately to take a nap, to deny that I could have even "created" this little monster I was seeing. At that moment I thought of all of us moms - how hard we work, most of the time without recognition. Do you realize that my mom (no one in my family or group of friends) has yet to tell me that I am doing a good job? It would be so nice, but I have to keep going anyway, because it may never happen. So, for all of you with mothers like mine, or families like mine - I wanted to take a moment to THANK YOU - I thank you for the job your doing, the job you did yesterday and the job you will do tomorrow. I thank you for being you, for being the best you can possibly be, I thank you for your taxi service - I thank you your doing a stellar job! Remember it, live it, and never forget it! CONTESTS Over on the Parenting Advice Blog we are having some fun! Right now we are running 2 different contests!
It's that easy, come join the fun now!  Do you know someone who's about to have a baby? Will they be nursing? Our nursing blankets are perfect for ever new nursing mom. Help her nurse discreetly while being "in style!" Our nursing blankets are also super soft with soft velour or minkee lining them, nothing but the best to touch your baby!
2 lbs. Cubed Stew beef | 2 carrots (thinly sliced) | 2 celery ribs (thinly sliced) | 1 onion (diced) | 1 (14oz) can diced tomatoes | 3/4 cup barley | 1 teaspoon dried basil or oregano | 5 cups beef broth | Olive oil Place cubed beef in frying pan with a little olive oil and brown over high heat on all sides. Place carrots, celery and onion in crock pot. Place beef on top. Combine untrained tomatoes, barley, basil, beef broth and pour over beef and vegetables. Add a little salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for approximately 8 hours or until tender. Creamy Crock Pot Beef Stew Recipe 1 1/2 lbs. Cubed stew beef | 1 cans cream of mushroom soup | 1 can cream of celery soup | 1 medium onion (diced) | 4 potatoes (cubed) | 3 carrots | 1 small can of corn, drained | 1 tablespoon olive oil | Garlic powder | Salt and pepper Season cubed stew beef with a little garlic powder and place in frying pan with olive oil. Brown on all sides over high heat. Place vegetables in crock pot. Place beef over vegetables. Pour soups over both beef and vegetables. Add a little salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for approximately 8 hours or until beef is tender. |
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Pregnancy tests (over the counter) take at least 10 to 14 days to be accurate and even then it's not 100% unless you wait 3 to 4 full weeks. There's always blood tests, but again you should wait 8 to 10 days to do that. 
Nausea or Morning Sickness Only around 30 50% of woman actually experience morning sickness. However, those that do, don't easily forget. Morning Sickness even though it is called "morning" can happen during any part of the day or night. It's when you feel nauseated, and does not seem to 'go away' easily. On a good note, if your suffering from Morning Sickness it often dissapears after the first trimester. 
Darker Areolas If you really know your body, you can probably tell as soon as you conceive that your Areolas are darker, the little bumps around your nipple may also become more prominent. The reason once again has to do with the new surge of hormones in your body. The color may return to normal but most woman find they don't return to exactly the color they were before.
Now that we have talked about some of the "sure signs" that your pregnant from the missed period, to the tender breasts, not to mention the morning sickness that tends to last all day long there are 'other signs" that no one really talks about those "things" that while they are happening to you, you almost wish you were NOT pregnant but after you've have the baby, you often look back at and "laugh" wishing you could somehow get those moments back.
Crock Pot Beef Barley Stew 
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