Whether you're a first-time mom-to-be or an experienced veteran, you're bound to have a few blush-worthy questions about your pregnancy. Where exactly is all that weight coming from? Why is your guy suddenly craving ice cream and pickles? Will sex ever be the same again? In The Pregnancy Test (Quirk books, 2011), authors Melissa Hecksher and obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Emily Sikking present a guessing game of 150 rapid-fire – and refreshingly frank – questions and answers that help take the mystery out of maternity. how well would you score, based on these seven sample questions?
1. True or False?: Men can get morning sickness, too
Answer: True
Though they're not the ones carrying and delivering the baby, up to 65 per cent of men may experience symptoms like those of their expecting partners. Usually beginning around the third month of pregnancy, the symptoms include mood swings, cravings, fatigue, nausea, insomnia, weight gain, stomach cramps and even a bloated belly.
This phenomenon is called couvade syndrome, and theories abound to explain it. some experts believe it develops when a man, programmed to protect his family, realizes he can't do anything to alleviate his partner’s pain. Since he can't "fix" the problem, he takes some of it on himself. other scientists theorize that experiencing pregnancy symptoms is a man’s instinctive display of commitment to his partner.
Recent studies suggest that men experience significant hormonal changes during their partners’ pregnancies – specifically, higher levels of prolactin, a hormone associated with milk production in women and possibly maternal and paternal behaviour. These changes may help men bond with their children, making them more likely to stick around for child rearing.
2. My doctor says my baby weighs only one pound, so why have I gained 15?
a. Blood, breasts and baby fat are heavy baggage.
b. Pregnancy slows your metabolism.
c. The placenta weighs 14 pounds.
d. Too many Twinkies.
Answer: a.
It's not just your baby that's getting bigger. Pregnancy packs on pounds in ways you probably never imagined (all of which are temporary, provided you don't overdo it with the late-night ice cream cravings). As early as the 10th week, hormonal fluctuations will likely add a pound or two onto your boobs alone. From then on, you'll probably gain about seven pounds of fat (reserves for your baby in case you skip a few meals) and eight pounds of added blood volume and retained fluids.
All told, your body will have accumulated about 30 pounds [13.5 kilograms] by the time you give birth.
Here's the breakdown:
• Baby: 7 to 8 pounds [3 to 3.5 kilograms]
• Placenta: 1 to 2 pounds [500 grams to 1 kilogram]
• Amniotic fluid: 2 pounds [1 kilogram]
• Uterus: 2 pounds [1 kilogram]
• Maternal breast tissue: 2 pounds [1 kilogram]
• Maternal blood: 4 pounds [2 kilograms]
• Fluids in maternal tissue: 4 pounds [2 kilograms]
• Maternal fat and nutrient stores: 7 pounds [3 kilograms]
Page 1 of 3 - find the answers to 5 more of your most pressing pregnancy questions on the next pages
