Pregnant mums turn to the internet for support

Pregnant mums turn to the internet for support
by Elisha Burberry

Times have certainly changed since our grandmothers gave birth to our mothers, who in turn gave birth to us. So quickly has the time passed that we now find both ourselves and our friends around us baby bound. Unlike in times past however, not everyone has babies at the same time, or even at all! In the past girls would grow up together and most likely stay in the same towns and cities they were born in, before getting married and starting a family. New mothers relied on their parents, family and friends for support and advice. Nowadays, however, it is unlikely that women stay in their hometowns and live close to their families. As a result, new mothers are less likely to rely on their parents and family as they might have done previously, due to the distance involved. However, pregnant and new mothers still yearn for support, and many have turned to the internet to find it. Expectant mothers, especially those pregnant for the first time, often have lots of questions. In the past these would have been easily fielded by mothers, grand-mothers or female friends. Now many women find themselves living in a new place without their close friends and family, but still burdened with unanswered questions and little personal support. Luckily some turn to the internet to find literally thousands of women in similar situations posting onto forums designed specifically for pregnant women and new parents. Quickly they have seen that they are not alone and have an entire online community to seek advice, guidance and get the support they need. There is little doubt that these forums could never replace close family support, but many expectant mothers do find others in close proximity to where they live, often making friends as a result and these relationships which began on the internet continue well after their children are born. Nowhere is this more evident than when it comes to forums designed to match up women at the same stage of pregnancy. These women can find and share similar experiences, with other expectant mothers who will give birth around the same time. After the babies are born they have instant playmates, and will often meet in groups - establishing similar closely knit communities as was seen in small villages and towns in the past. New mothers who previously worked full time, can connect with others in the same situation during a period which can be difficult for some. New fathers can also benefit: they also can connect with other proud dads in parenting forums, as well as seeing added benefit of the mothers getting the support they so desire. Online pregnancy forums are designed to give expectant mothers mutual support by bringing women together and creating many long term friendships, all the while preventing new mothers from feeling alone which can be devastating for families. Participating in parenting forums online also gives other added benefits such as hand-me-downs, baby product tips and other advice. But although forums will never take the place of familial support, they have proven vital for many women in creating a new kind of community.

About the Author
Elisha Burberry is an online, freelance journalist and keen movie-goer from Scotland. Her interests include travelling, cooking and photography.

Using A Pregnancy Calendar

Using A Pregnancy Calendar
By Kevin Boylan

Many people believe that their pregnancy calendar starts on their date of conception. They are wrong! The first week of your pregnancy is actually 1-2 weeks before conception. This is due to the way that pregnancy dates are calculated.
The first day of week one of your pregnancy is actually calculated as the first day of your period prior to conception. The conception date is estimated to be two weeks after this date, therefore, you could are pregnant for two weeks before you actually conceive. This is how the pregnancy duration is estimated at 40 weeks instead of 38 weeks.
Pregnancy progresses are a fast rate, with the embryo and fetus developing faster than at any other stage of life. Each week there are new developments and milestones in your baby's' development. Your fertilized egg will quickly split into 2 cells, then 4, then 8 and so on. Soon it becomes a mass of billions of cells which eventually make your baby.
As your pregnancy progresses there are week by week advancements in development, the heart starts beating, the baby grows in size, the cerebellum starts forming during week 8 and by week 9 you can determine whether you are having a boy or girl. The baby becomes more active after week 9. The muscle structure varies in each baby and the baby starts to show eccentricity by week 11. This is a very important and interesting stage of growth in a child when you analyze pregnancy week by week development.
Of course, one of the most important aspects of a pregnancy calendar is that it helps define your estimated due date and that is something you can really look forward to.
From the author of Baby Parenting which includes features and information of pregnancy related matters like Pregnancy Calendars.