Mood swings are a normal side effect of pregnancy. 

You may find yourself excited about being a parent one moment, and in tears and overwhelmed the next. 

But what really puts you on an emotional rollercoaster during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a wild ride full of happy highs and gloomy downs. 

Just like some women experience irritability just before their period arrives every month, these same women may struggle with feelings of frustration and anger during pregnancy.

Mood swings during pregnancy are caused by a variety of factors, including your rapidly changing hormones, the physical discomforts of pregnancy, and the very-normal worries and anxiety of what is coming up. 

Changes in Hormones Levels

Significant changes in your hormone levels can cause emotional distress, which can really hit you at any time of the day.

Estrogen and progesterone rapidly increase during pregnancy, especially during the first 3 months. 

They are basically the recipe’s ingredients for your meltdown. 

Estrogen affects your level of neurotransmitters, which are brain chemicals that regulate your mood. 

That’s why it’s no surprise that you might experience mood imbalances, anxiety, and irritability. 

On the other hand, progesterone tells your muscles to relax, partially to prevent premature contractions of the uterus. 

As a result, it can cause fatigue, constipation, sluggishness, and even sadness. 

 Mood swings are mostly experienced during the first trimester between 6 to 10 weeks and then again in the third trimester as your body prepares for birth.

Physical Changes and Discomfort

It’s completely normal for a pregnant woman to feel fatigued, especially during the first and third trimesters because:

• Your body is producing more blood to carry nutrients to your growing baby. 

• Your blood sugar levels and blood pressure become lower. 

• The hormone progesterone makes you too relaxed.   

In fact, no matter how much sleep you get, you will continue to feel depleted.

Morning sickness is another common early pregnancy symptom, which can contribute to mood swings. 

The stress of wondering if and when your next nausea spell will hit can disrupt your peaceful mindset and take a toll on your mood over time. 

While some women feel excited about watching their bellies expand, others can feel anxious and sad. 

This is especially true for women who have a history of body image struggles.

Stress and Anxiety

It is natural to feel anxious and worried about everything that can possibly go wrong during pregnancy and childbirth. 

Prenatal testing and anxiety about the results can also cause emotional distress. 

Stress about life adjustments and finances might make you feel bitter, worried, or edgy too.

It’s no wonder your mood may vary, your life is about to change in a very big way.

Furthermore, if you’ve experienced complications or  a miscarriage in the past, your anxiety is completely understandable. 

Read our article about how to deal with the grief of a miscarriage.

How to Manage Your Mood Swings?

Keeping your temper under control when you feel constantly cranky is challenging. 

Know that you are not alone and that what you are experiencing is normal. 

However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to make it a little easier.

The following tips will help manage your stress level and make your pregnancy a little easier:

Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself

The only thing worse than feeling bad is feeling bad about the fact that you’re feeling bad. 

If you overreact to a situation, remind yourself that your hormones are to blame. 

Make sure your friends and family members understand how you are feeling and what you are going through.

Explain to them that you might occasionally snap or react in a surprising way.

Remember, you are not alone in this experience and it will all pass with time.  

Get Plenty of Sleep

During the first and third trimester, you may struggle a lot to get quality sleep.

However, try to stick to a bedtime routine and engage in some breathing exercises before bed.

Furthermore, if you can take a nap during the day, take one even if it means napping at your desk at work. 

Take every opportunity to rest, so you’ll have the stamina to go on with your daily tasks. 

Try Meditation

Meditation can help reduce negative emotions and increase feelings of well-being.

Don’t worry if you’re not sure where to start – there are many free meditation apps online to try. 

You can also learn to stretch, move, or just breathe through moments of intensity.

Eat Well

If you’ve ever gotten “hangry,” you know that a lack of food can lead to an undesirable outburst.

Make sure you eat healthy, nutritious meals and snacks to fuel your body and energize your brain. 

Sustained energy will help you stay calm, cool, and collected. 

Go For a Walk

Walking is one of the best forms of exercise, whether you are pregnant or not.

It actually help in:

• Boosting your mood and energy levels

• sleeping better 

• Reducing backaches, constipation, and bloating

• Keeping your weight in check

Communicate with Your Partner

Let your partner and kids know that it’s not their fault if you lose your temper or burst into tears unexpectedly. 

Try to communicate your emotions and apologize in advance for those momentary periods of irritability. 

And make sure you tell your partner you need space and time to yourself whenever you feel so awful.   

Connect with Other Mums

Talking to others about your mood swings and worries can help you feel normal.

There are forums and social media groups where you can connect with other expecting moms who can relate to your current status.

Take Prenatal and Childbirth Courses

Taking childbirth education classes or hiring a doula can help reduce anxiety.

In fact, feeling more prepared for pregnancy challenges and having support can improve mood swings. 

Because the more you learn, and the more supported you feel, the less anxious you’ll be.  

If you’re too worried you might actually be depressed or have an anxiety disorder, talk to your obstetrician or a psychologist to help you cope.

You can also reach out to me in my email to talk about your emotional struggles during pregnancy. 

You don’t need to suffer silently!

Many new mums worry that their milk supply is low and that their babies are not getting enough breast milk. 

So how to boost your body into producing enough breast milk for your baby?

Breastfeeding is a supply and demand process. 

In other words, the more you breastfeed, the more milk your body produces. 

So, if you seem to be producing less milk than usual, try to feed your baby more often.

Some factors that affect milk production and breastfeeding management include:

• Health conditions, sucking problems, or anatomical problems with the baby, which can prevent the baby from removing milk adequately from the breast. 

• Health problems or anatomical problems with the mother such as diabetes, ovarian cysts, hormonal problems, previous breast injury, previous breast enhancement where the implant is inserted at the edge of the areola.

• Sore nipples and painful breastfeeding 

• Smoking

• Taking any form of hormonal birth control (the pill, patch or injections) 

• Having small milk storage capacity. A mother with a smaller storage capacity will need to nurse the baby more often to maintain milk supply since her breasts will become full more quickly, slowing down milk production. 

To speed milk production and increase overall milk supply, the key is to remove more milk from the breast and to do this frequently: 

Nurse your baby regularly whenever he needs to

Feed your baby on demand rather than by the clock. When babies are breastfed in response to their appetite, they tend to remove plenty of milk from your breasts. As a rule of thumb, the more milk your baby removes from your breasts, the more milk your body will produce. When you put your baby on scheduled feedings, you are stretching out the time between feedings, making the rate at which milk is made slower, which can result in less milk. If your baby is difficult to wake or doesn’t feed well, wake him up and feed him at least every 2-3 hours.

Check to see if your baby is latching on to your breast properly

If milk is not effectively removed from the breast, then mom’s milk supply decreases. Certain health conditions or anatomical problems with the baby, such as  jaundice or tongue-tie can prevent the baby from removing milk adequately from the breast, thus decreasing milk supply. Your baby may feel sleepier than usual, and doesn’t wake up to nurse frequently. In this case, you may need to pump your milk to build up a good supply.

Avoid bottles when possible

In the first couple of weeks, avoid giving a bottle of milk to your baby. The bottle can cause the baby to have problems sucking properly at the breast because he/she may prefer the constant faster flow of the bottle, which will trick your breasts into producing less milk.   

Avoid pacifiers when possible

Pacifiers can affect a baby’s latch. They can also significantly reduce the amount of time your baby spends at the breast, which may cause your milk supply to drop.

Avoid nipple shields

Nipple shields can reduce the stimulation to your nipple, which can interfere with the supply-demand cycle. Your baby may not get enough milk and your body will not get the signal to make enough milk.

Pump your breasts regularly

If the baby is not transferring milk well, then it is important for mom to pump milk after and/or between nursings to maintain milk supply. Removing leftover milk in your breasts will help you to produce more milk.

Offer both sides at each feeding

Let the baby finish the first side, then offer the second side. Wait until your baby comes off the first breast before offering him the second. Keep your baby close to you and hold him skin-to-skin to promote hormones that boost your milk supply such as oxytocin.

Stay Hydrated

Water is an important component of breastmilk. Have at least one glass of water every time you feed your baby as well as in between when you feel thirsty. Aim to have between 8 to 12 glasses of water daily. 

You should continue to breastfeed as often as you can even when your milk supply is low. Frequent and effective feeding is the key to boosting your milk supply!

Giving your baby his or her first taste of solid food is a major milestone. 

But how to know when the time is right?

Breast milk or formula is the only food your newborn needs for the first six months after birth.

But by ages 4 months to 6 months, most babies are ready for their first taste of solid food. 

If you try to feed your baby solids before this age, you may notice that he/she pushes food out of his mouth as quickly as you put it in.

Besides, babies who start solid foods before 4 months are at a higher risk for obesity and other problems later on. 

They also aren’t coordinated enough to safely swallow solid foods and may choke on the food or inhale it into their lungs.

Signs that babies are ready to eat solid foods include:

• They lose their natural tongue-thrusting reflex, which makes it easier for them to move food to the throat and swallow it.

• They weigh approximately twice their birth weight

• They can hold their neck and head in a steady upright position

• They can sit with support

• They are mouthing their hands and toys

• They show a desire for food by leaning forward and opening their mouths when food approaches. 

How To Start Introducing Solid Foods To Your Baby?

Always start by feeding the baby breast milk or formula because this should be your baby’s main source of nutrition until the age of one. 

After nursing the baby, use a small baby spoon to offer single-ingredient foods, which contain no salt or sugar. 

Good first options for babies are single-grain cereals such as rice, oatmeal or barley or an iron-rich puréed meat.  

Wait three to five days between each new food to see if your baby has an allergic reaction, such as diarrhea, a rash or vomiting.

You can start with 1 or 2 tablespoons of cereal mixed with breast milk, formula, or water.

Babies often reject their first servings of pureed foods because the taste and texture is new.

If your baby refuses the feeding, try again in a week.

Once your baby realizes how to swallow runny cereal, mix it with less liquid and gradually increase the serving sizes.

Gradually introduce other foods such as puréed fruits, vegetables, beans, lentils, yogurt, or soft scrambled eggs. 

Give your baby allergenic foods when they’re 4–6 months old, such as eggs, peanuts, and fish.

This will help make your baby less likely to develop food allergies. 

By ages 8 months to 10 months, most babies can handle small portions of finely chopped finger foods, such as soft fruits, vegetables, pasta, cheese, well-cooked meat, baby crackers and dry cereal.

Foods and Drinks to Avoid

Don’t give juice to your baby until after the age of one, as it can contribute to weight problems, diarrhea, and can lead to tooth decay when teeth start coming in.

Foods that aren’t appropriate for babies include:

• Cow’s milk
• Honey
• Hot dogs
• Chunks of meat or cheese
• Hard foods 
• Peanut butter
• Marshmallows
• Raw vegetables

During feedings, talk to your baby and help him or her through the process.

When your baby has had enough to eat, he or she might cry or turn away.

Don’t force extra bites as long as your baby’s growth is on target. 

Botox is generally considered safe for cosmetic and medical purposes. However, a positive pregnancy test might make you reconsider. 

Unfortunately, studies done on the use of botox during pregnancy have not been enough. 

It is understandable since most pregnant women will not risk harming their baby for a study trial.

Additionally, most dermatologists refuse to give pregnant women Botox because they do not know if it can affect the baby.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) claims that pregnant women should only get Botox when the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk to the fetus [1]. 

As a fertility expert, I would personally recommend putting your Botox injections on hold while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

However, look at the bright side! 

During pregnancy, there is a combination of factors that create soft tissue swelling and a pregnancy glow.

The hormonal changes make it look like you’ve just had injections:

• Your skin will look flushed due to greater blood volume in the vessels.
• The skin glands on your face will secrete more oil, which results in your skin looking slightly shinier.

However, if you want to use Botox for medical purposes, you should talk to your doctor about the risks versus the benefits of treatment.

Botox injections for medical reasons include migraines, abnormal sweating, and uncontrolled muscle contractions. 

How Soon After Childbirth Can You Get Botox?

So far, we have not heard any bad reports about the use of Botox on the outcomes of pregnancies. 

However, we do not know whether Botox passes into breast milk or harms the newborn during breastfeeding.

Therefore, I suggest that you pump the milk and dump it down for 24 hours following the injections.

Unfortunately, this could be hard to align with your newborn feeding schedule.

So better put your Botox injections on hold until you stop breastfeeding your baby. 

On a side note, if you have concerns regarding the covid-19 vaccine and breastfeeding, read this article. 

To become pregnant, the fertilized egg should travel down the fallopian tubes and burrows into the uterus. 

This process might seem simple but it’s not always the case. 

This article explains some problems associated with implantation, which don’t result in successful pregnancies.  

What Is Implantation?

After conception, the fertilized egg divides over several days while traveling  down the fallopian tube and reaching the lining of the uterus. 

On days 6-8, right at the beginning of week 3 after your last period, the fertilized egg is called a blastocyst.

The blastocyst divides into an inner layer that will eventually become the fetus, and an outer layer that becomes the placenta. 

Once the blastocyst reaches the uterine lining, it begins the process of implantation in the uterus. 

Most women don’t feel any specific symptoms to indicate that implantation has occurred. 

Only a small number of women may experience light bleeding or spotting, which can often be confused for a menstrual period. 

When the blastocyst implants into the endometrium, the placenta starts producing human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). 

HCG is the substance detected by pregnancy tests.

It is also responsible for nausea and other pregnancy symptoms you may be experiencing. 

The levels of hCG in the body will vary depending on how long after implantation you take a pregnancy test.

If you take a pregnancy test in the very early stages of pregnancy, the test may not pick up enough hCG to turn positive. 

Therefore, I recommend you wait until a missed period to test for a pregnancy to avoid disappointment. 

Read our article on How To Deal With Disappointment After a Negative Pregnancy Test.

What Are the Problems Associated with Implantation?

Implantation can often happen without difficulties, but sometimes problems may occur, resulting in you not becoming pregnant. 

Failure Of The Embryo To Implant

The causes of failure to implant are not always known.

However, it is thought that the embryo can fail to burrow into the uterus because of uterine abnormalities, embryonic abnormalities, or a combination of both. 

Uterine abnormalities include anatomical problems with the uterus that women are born with or a medical condition such as endometriosis, polyps, fibroids, or infections. 

In case of embryonic abnormalities, the issue is chromosomal.

The embryo may implant but not grow, or it may grow but stops developing before the 2 weeks time at which a pregnancy can be detected. 

Other risk factors related to you or your partner include smoking, maternal age, and stress. 

Late Implantation  

Late implantation occurs between day 8 and 10 after ovulation – meaning at the latter end of the 6 to 10-day implantation window.

Although implantation can successfully happen at this stage, there’s an increase in the likelihood of miscarriage the later the implantation occurs. 

If late implantation happens during a typical cycle of trying to get pregnant, you will likely have no way of knowing. 

However, if you experience a miscarriage, make sure you read my article on how to deal with the grief of a miscarriage. 

Ectopic Pregnancy 

Sometimes, implantation occurs outside of the uterus, which is known as ectopic pregnancy. 

Many of these pregnancies occur in the fallopian tube. 

This happens when a fertilized egg gets stuck on its way to the uterus, often because the fallopian tube is damaged by inflammation, scarring, or a medical condition. 

Hormonal imbalances or abnormal development of the fertilized egg also might play a role.

The only way to treat an ectopic pregnancy is to terminate it with medication or surgery.

Otherwise, the tube can rupture, and the pregnant person can hemorrhage and die. 

If you face any of the problems mentioned above, do not feel discouraged and keep trying, your miracle will come!

Do you have irregular or skipped periods? Heavy bleeding? hair growth in unwanted areas? Acne? Headaches? Pelvic pain? Weight gain? difficulty becoming pregnant? 

Well, if you have two or more of these signs, you may have Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) –  a condition that affects a woman’s hormone levels. 

So how does PCOS affect conception and pregnancy and how to treat the condition? 

Many women have PCOS but don’t know it yet. 

Doctors diagnose PCOS if you have at least 2 of 3 main symptoms – high levels of male hormones (androgen), irregular periods, and cysts in the ovaries. 

A pelvic exam, blood tests, and ultrasound can confirm the diagnosis. 

A pelvic exam can look for any problems with your ovaries, uterus, or other parts of your reproductive tract.

Blood tests check for higher-than-normal levels of male hormones, cholesterol, insulin, and triglyceride levels. 

An ultrasound can look for abnormal follicles and other problems with your ovaries and uterus.

How Does PCOS Affect Conception?

During each monthly menstrual cycle several follicles, each of which contains an egg, begin the process of maturing.

However, usually only one of these follicles reaches maturity and releases a mature egg. 

In PCOS, there are many small follicles in the ovary, each one containing an immature egg, and the eggs never mature enough to trigger ovulation. 

The lack of ovulation causes an increase in the levels of androgen and estrogen and a decrease in the levels of progesterone. 

Too much (or too little) of these hormones can make it tricky to get pregnant. 

Your doctor might recommend prescription medications to help balance your hormones.

Hormonal imbalance can therefore affect your periods, fertility, and other aspects of your health, including metabolic issues, sleep apnea, endometrial cancer, and mood swings. 

Women with PCOS also produce too much insulin, or the insulin they produce does not work as it should.

Insulin helps keep the glucose in your blood within a normal range. It does this by taking glucose out of your bloodstream and moving it into cells throughout your body.  

The inability of insulin to function normally is one reason why women with PCOS tend to gain weight or have a hard time losing weight.

Being significantly Overweight can affect fertility by preventing ovulation due to higher-than-normal estrogen levels produced by fat cells.  

How Does PCOS Affect Pregnancy?

Despite the increased risk factors, many women with PCOS can become pregnant. 

However, PCOS increases the risk of pregnancy complications including:

• Miscarriage: PCOS can cause recurrent miscarriages in the first trimester due to factors such as low levels of progesterone, elevated androgen levels, insulin resistance, higher levels of fat tissue (adipose), and endometrial dysfunction, which could affect the lining of your uterus and impair embryo implantation.  

• High blood pressure: PCOS can suddenly cause hypertension after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Severe hypertension can harm your heart, kidneys, and placenta causing your baby to be born prematurely. 

• Preeclampsia: Can occur after the 20th week of pregnancy as a result of hypertension. The only way to cure preeclampsia is to deliver the baby, so you’ll usually be monitored regularly until it’s possible for your baby to be delivered.  

• Premature delivery: PCOS is associated with a greater odds of having preterm birth – before week 37 of pregnancy. Common reasons for PCOS preterm births include premature rupture of the amniotic sac, hypertensive conditions (preeclampsia and gestational diabetes), and unknown causes. 

• Gestational diabetes: When you’re pregnant, your body becomes slightly resistant to insulin, so that more glucose is available in your bloodstream and is passed to your baby. PCOS makes your body much more resistant to insulin, making your blood sugar levels rise abnormally. As a result, your baby can have low blood sugar, trouble breathing, and be very large – resulting in the need for cesarean, or C-section delivery. 

• C-section delivery: Pregnant women with PCOS are more likely to have C-sections because of the pregnancy complications associated with PCOS – mentioned above. 

How to Treat PCOS?

If you have been attempting to become pregnant for a while with no success, you need to change your lifestyle and seek medical help. 

Lose Weight

If you are carrying extra weight, you may improve your fertility and PCOS symptoms by losing 5-10% of your weight. 

Any diet that helps you lose weight can help your condition.

Regular exercises also help bring down PCOS symptoms and improve your health.

Foods to avoid if you have PCOS:

• processed foods that are generally high in sodium and unhealthy fats because they can often get deposited on the ovaries, worsening your condition. 

• milk , cheese, and butter because dairy products can lead to higher levels of insulin. If you have to consume dairy, stick to skimmed milk but limit your intake. 

• Refined flour (found in pasta, cakes, and white breads) because it is high in carbohydrates and low in fibre, which increases your blood sugar level and makes you develop insulin resistance, worsening your condition. 

Foods to eat if you have PCOS:

• Fruits and vegetables because they are high in fibre and healthy fats, which help reduce the amount of insulin produced. 
• Nuts and seeds like pine nuts, almonds, hazelnuts because they are high in healthy fats and proteins. 

• Fish because it is high in protein and fatty acids (such as omega 3), which can help in balancing hormones. 

Take Medical Boosters

In some cases, your doctor might recommend medications to regulate your menstrual cycle, trigger ovulation, improve your insulin levels, and alleviate your symptoms.  

Medications to help you get pregnant with PCOS include:

• Metformin (a diabetes drug) to balance insulin levels
• Clomid (or clomiphene citrate) to help balance estrogen levels and trigger ovulation
• Birth control pills to regulate ovulation before the start of a fertility treatment 

Surgery can be an option to improve fertility if other treatments don’t work.

Ovarian drilling is a procedure that makes tiny holes in the ovary with a laser or thin heated needle to restore normal ovulation.

Sometimes medications alone are not effective for women with PCOS and do not result in ovulation or pregnancy. 

In this case, the patient may receive fertility injections which will help the body release an egg.

If none of the above works for you, don’t lose hope!

Medical research shows that women with PCOS have a high success rate of getting pregnant with IVF treatment because they can produce more eggs!

If you poured yourself a glass of wine, would you pour one for your baby as well? 

It may sound unreasonable, but in effect, that is what you do when you drink during your pregnancy.   

Drinking wine while pregnant might not seem that bad considering the fact that plenty of women have had an occasional glass of wine at some point during their pregnancy, and their kids have turned out just fine.  

But is it really okay to enjoy an occasional glass, or should you stay away from it altogether?

Heavy drinking is more dangerous to your baby than is light drinking.

However, even an occasional glass of any type or amount of alcohol can have harmful effects on a baby’s growth and development.

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of premature delivery, low birth weight, miscarriage, and stillbirth.

The fetus is most vulnerable during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

During this period of time, all of the major organs and body systems are forming and can be damaged if the fetus is exposed to alcohol.

Regardless of whether it is liquor, beer, or wine, alcohol quickly travels through your bloodstream, crosses the placenta, and enters your baby’s circulatory system. 

How Much Alcohol Is Too Much During Pregnancy?

Even a small glass of wine exposes the baby to alcohol and to negative effects.

The baby breaks down alcohol more slowly than adults, and may actually end up with a higher level of blood alcohol than the mother. 

Drinking as early as 3-4 weeks into pregnancy (before you may even realize you are pregnant) may alter gene functioning in the developing brain of the baby, particularly in the hippocampus.

The hippocampus is the brain region that plays a crucial role in memory and learning.

Consequently, your baby can have problems after they’re born including:

• Attention deficit disorder
• Hyperactivity
• Learning disorders
• Poor memory
• Mood disorders
• Small head size
• Shorter than average height
• Low body weight
• Poor coordination
• Vision or hearing problems
• Heart problems
• kidneys or bones problems

Better Be Safe than Sorry

On another hand, some health professionals might encourage the use of red wine to relieve stress, reduce the incidence of heart disease, and improve the physical health of the developing baby.

However, no research to date has found that alcohol consumption improves the physical health of a developing baby.

Therefore, I highly recommended that pregnant women abstain from all types of alcoholic beverages. 

So next time you pour yourself a glass of wine, remember that the risk is different for each individual woman. 

If you are pregnant, suspect you might be pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, you should stop drinking immediately!

Even a small amount of wine can cause harm to your baby during the earliest stages of development. 

Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry! 

Is it a boy or a girl? 

You have probably heard many old wives’ tales to predict whether you’re having a boy or a girl.  Things like “you’re carrying a boy because you’re carrying high in your belly” or “ Can’t get enough sweets or fruits? It’s a girl!” 

Learning the sex of your baby can be exciting and can help you prepare for your baby‘s arrival. 

But how accurate are all of those stories about sex prediction? 

This article will reveal how to really determine whether you have a baby girl or a baby boy on the way.

Old Wives’ Tales

Let’s have a look at the most fun and common old wives’ tales:

The Height And Shape Of Your Bump:

If your belly is low and round (ball-like baby bump), you are having a boy.

If your belly is high and wider, you are having a girl. 

However, how you are carrying the baby in the womb has nothing to do with the baby’s sex. 

It is your body type, stomach muscles, and how much weight you gain during the pregnancy that play a role in shaping your belly. 

Your Cravings:

If you have cravings for sour, salty or protein-rich foods (french fries and steak), you are having a boy.

If you have cravings for sugar, sweets, and fruits, you are having a girl. 

However, there is no connection between cravings and baby’s sex. 

The cravings can be related to deficiencies in specific minerals. 

Your Facial Skin:

If your skin is glowing and looks clear, you are having a boy. 

If your skin is oily with lots of spots and acne, you are having a girl. 

The belief is that your baby girl is stealing your beauty. How adorable and depressing at the same time huh? 

In reality, you can only blame the state of your skin on hormones and not on the sex of your baby. 

Your Pee Color:

If your urine has a darker neon-like color, you are having a boy.

If your urine has a lighter yellow and is cloudy, you are having a girl. 

However, the color of your pee at this point can only tell you whether or not you need to drink to hydrate. 

Your Mood:

If your mood is stable, you are having a boy.

If you are having intense mood swings, you are having a girl. 

Who are we kidding? Pregnancy mood swings are pretty normal no matter your baby’s sex.

Your Wedding Ring Test:

Take your wedding ring and attach it to a thread and have someone hold the dangling ring over your belly. 

If the ring moves back and forth like a pendulum, you are having a boy.

If the ring swings in a circular motion, you are having a girl. 

The key test:

Have someone place a single key on a table in front of you. 

If you grab for the key at its narrow part, you are having a boy.

If you grab for the key at its top round part, you are having a girl. 

What if you grab the key in the middle? (haha)

The Chinese Calendar:

Use the chinese gender chart to predict the baby’s gender based on your age and the month your baby was conceived. 

However, there’s not much information out there about whether the chart actually works, or how accurate it is. 

If it was accurate, then wouldn’t we all baby dance every time in a specific month to conceive a specific gender according to the chart?  

The Heart Rate Of Your Baby: 

If the baby’s heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute, you are having a boy.

if the baby’s heart rate is more than 140 beats per minute, you are having a girl. 

The heart rate of a baby girl is usually faster than that of a baby boy. 

However, this is only true after labor begins. 

Before that, it’s the age of a fetus that really affects heart rate speed.

Medical Methods

Only a doctor can reliably determine the sex of a baby. Here’s what you need to know about methods used to determine a baby’s sex:

Ultrasound:

An ultrasound creates an image of your baby to check your baby’s development and health. 

Since an ultrasound creates an image of your baby, it can also reveal the sex of your baby as early as 14 weeks of pregnancy. 

If you see a penis (a turtle), you are having a boy.

If you can’t find a penis (three lines), you are having a girl.

However, your baby might be in an awkward position, which makes it difficult to clearly see the genitals and can lead to mistakes.

Genetic Blood Test:

The lab checks your blood sample for fetal DNA linked to chromosome disorders at 10 weeks of pregnancy. It can also determine the presence of the male Y chromosome.

If you have the Y chromosome in your blood, you are having a boy.

If you don’t have the Y chromosome in your blood, you are having a girl. 

At-Home screening kits: 

At-home screening kits like the Pink or blue early DNA Pregnancy Test claim to identify the sex of your baby at 7 weeks of pregnancy. The test looks for the presence of male DNA (the Y chromosome) in your blood. 

If you have the Y chromosome in your blood, you are having a boy.

If you don’t have the Y chromosome in your blood, you are having a girl. 

Take a sample of your blood through a finger prick, then send the sample to a lab. 

Make sure no man is near you when taking the test because a simple cough from a man could get male DNA in the air and contaminate the sample.

Amniocentesis

If your ultrasound detects an abnormality in the baby’s development, your doctor may recommend amniocentesis to test for specific genetic conditions like Down syndrome. 

It involves inserting a needle through your abdomen to collect a small amount of amniotic fluid (the fluid surrounding the baby) to reveal chromosomal anomalies and gender.

In-Vitro Fertilization With Sex Selection 

When undergoing IVF, sperm is injected into the retrieved eggs to form embryos. 

Then there’s an option to choose the sex of your baby through a procedure called preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).

PGD is normally used to detect genetic abnormalities in an embryo before transferring it to the mother’s uterus. It can also detect which embryos are XX or XY.

Embryos that are XX are girls.

Embryos that are XY are boys. 

Therefore, you can choose to only transfer the embryos of your desired sex. 

Read our article on The Pros and Cons Of Telling People You Are Doing IVF.

While old wives’ tales are a fun way to predict the sex of a baby, there isn’t any science or research to back up these myths. The only way to know for sure what you’re expecting is to schedule an appointment with your doctor.

If you or your partner comes from a family that has a set of twins, you may be wondering what the odds are of you giving birth to twins.

We may not fully understand why twin pregnancies sometimes occur, but certain factors can increase your chances of having twins. 

This article explains the difference between identical and fraternal twins and reveals some factors contributing to twinning. 

Two Types Of twins:

Identical twins

Identical twins come from a single egg fertilized by a single sperm. It then divides into two separate embryos very early in the pregnancy. 

Embryo splitting seems to happen randomly by chance, so genes do not have anything to do with it. 

As a result, identical twins do not run in the family as genes are not involved in the process [1].  

Both embryos share the same DNA, meaning they have identical genes and look very much alike. 

They will always be the same sex, either both boys or both girls. 

Fraternal Twins (non-identical)

Fraternal twins happen when two different eggs are released and fertilized, each by a single sperm. 

Specific genes predispose some women to hyper to ovulate more than one egg simultaneously, which increases the chance of having twins. 

As a result, fraternal twins run in the family because genes are involved in the process. 

Both embryos do not share the same DNA and may or may not look alike. They will look like regular siblings born years apart. 

Fraternal twins will not necessarily be of the same sex. They can be two boys, two girls, or a boy and a girl.  

Factors Contributing to Twinning

Twins on the father’s side of the family will not influence your chances of having twins. 

After all, mom releases two eggs due to hyperovulation.

Men, of course, do not ovulate. So their DNA will not influence how many eggs the mom releases!

The tendency to have twins is influenced by several factors related to women, as explained below: 

Hyperovulation

Some inherited genes predispose women to hyperovulation.

However, those genes are unknown and require further research to uncover them.

Women with these genes seem to have higher levels of certain hormones related to ovulation.

For example, the hormone FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) may be higher in mothers of twins.

So if you are a woman who carries the hyperovulation gene, you may be more likely to have twins.

Men do not ovulate, so even if they have inherited that hyperovulation gene from their parents, it does not increase their odds of conceiving twins even if they have multiples in their family.

However, they may pass this gene on to their daughter, who is more likely to release two or more eggs during ovulation and therefore could conceive fraternal twins.

From here comes the theory that twins can skip a generation.

Fertility Treatments

Fertility treatments such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF), intrauterine insemination (IUI), and ovulation induction (OI), can increase your chances of having twins.

Some fertility drugs that are part of the whole treatment work by stimulating your ovaries, causing them to release more than one egg to increase the odds of conception.

During IVF, we extract and fertilize multiple eggs, and we transfer more than one embryo to increase the likelihood of success.

Twins can therefore develop if both embryos implant successfully.

Read this article to check if IUI is right for you.

Age

Older women generally have a higher chance of conceiving twins.

A 35-year-old woman is about four times more likely to have fraternal twins than a woman under 20.

The rising FSH hormone concentrations (as they near menopause) cause more ovarian follicles to mature and release extra eggs during ovulation.

After age 35, however, the chance of having twins naturally decreases.

Height

Taller women are slightly more likely to have twins.

If you are taller than average (at least 5’5” or 165 cm height), you are about two times more likely to have twins than shorter women.

The reasons for this are not clear, but researchers think it may be due to having a higher quantity of a specific protein.

The protein makes the ovaries more sensitive to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).

Weight

Women who are overweight also seem to have a higher chance of conceiving twins.

If you have a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or more, you are more likely to have twins.

Probably due to better nutrition, more resources available for a developing fetus, and higher levels of FSH.

Nutrition

Diet can also have an impact on your chance of having twins.

Animal products, particularly dairy, enhance the odds of conceiving twins.

Probably due to more growth hormone, which may stimulate multiple ovulations.

The use of oral contraceptives and increased intake of folic acid may also contribute to twinning.

However, at this point, the results of these studies are inconclusive.

More research is needed to determine the role of these factors in twinning.

Recap:

There is still a lot that is unknown about what causes a couple to have twins.

It is the genes of the mother that control the likelihood of having fraternal twins.

Identical twins do not run in families – they are random.

So if you are a fraternal twin, you are more likely to have twins.

However, if you are an identical twin, your chances to have twins are the same as the general population.

Nowadays, an increasing number of women are freezing their eggs worldwide.

But before you get all excited about this new technology, know that it is not a decision that you should take lightly. 

Egg freezing is a method used to preserve a woman’s ability to get pregnant at a later stage in her life – whether for medical reasons such as cancer treatment or for social reasons such as career, studies, or no partner.

The procedure involves:

• Stimulating the ovaries with hormones to produce multiple eggs
• Collecting the eggs from the ovaries
• Freezing the retrieved eggs in liquid nitrogen
• Storing them in tanks (at subzero temperatures)
• Thaw them and fertilize them in the future. 

Some Keys to Consider Before the Procedure

Here are some key things to consider if you are thinking about freezing your eggs: 

1. Eggs Should Be Frozen Ideally Before Mid 30s

As you get older, your eggs decrease not only in quantity, but also in quality.

The average age at which women freeze their eggs is around 37.

However, the highest Live birth rate from previously frozen eggs has been shown to come from women who undergo the procedure before they are 30. 

Freezing your eggs in your early 20s may result in a good number of high quality eggs.

However, you are unlikely to know at this age if you will ever need to use them, as you may be able to conceive naturally. 

In your early 30s, egg number and quality remain relatively high.

However, around the age of 35, women need to freeze more eggs than younger women for the same chance of future pregnancy because 20% of the eggs are lost during the process. 

So for a better chance of pregnancy success in the future, it is best to freeze your eggs before you reach the age of 36. 

2. You Might Require Several Treatment Cycles

Ideally, women should freeze around 8 to 15 eggs to have a reasonable chance of future pregnancy. 

However, the number of eggs collected during one cycle of treatment depends on:

• how your body reacts to the fertility drugs
• your age at the time of undergoing the procedure
• your ovarian reserve. 

So keep in mind that you may be among those who need to go through multiple cycles to get a good amount of eggs to freeze. 

Besides, the process of egg freezing is not only expensive, but can also be physically and emotionally draining.  

3. Success Rates Aren’t High

Once your eggs are retrieved, it is important to be aware that not all your eggs will be mature enough for freezing. 

Furthermore, you cannot know about the quality of your frozen eggs until they are thawed and used. 

There’s a lot of room for failure when you’re freezing eggs.

In order to lead to a successful pregnancy:

• The egg must be mature
• It should survive the freezing process/thawing process
• The egg should successfully get fertilized
• The fertilized egg must divide and become an embryo
• The embryo must get transferred into the uterus
• The embryo must implant successfully in the uterus   

So a successful pregnancy is not always guaranteed with frozen eggs.

While younger women lose approximately 10% of the eggs they freeze to the process, older women can expect to lose 20%.

This is because eggs are less metabolically robust when frozen later in life.

4. Not All Clinics Are Credible

Make sure you pick a clinic that has plenty of experience with the procedure and high success rates in achieving fertilization and pregnancy with frozen eggs.  

Ask the clinic to provide you with success rates from their own data and not only based on published articles and data from other clinics. 

Make sure the clinic adopts the new method of egg freezing known as vitrification, and has all the material and media needed for the procedure.  

Earlier egg freezing methods were less successful, as they used a “slow-freeze” process that sometimes formed ice crystals in the eggs and damaged them. 

Vitrification is a super-quick freezing process that doesn’t allow ice crystals to form.

It allows the eggs to successfully get through the freezing, thawing, and fertilization process. 

Personally and professionally, I definitely think that egg freezing is a great idea for anyone who is considering having children in the future.

However, take your time to fully research your options.

Also, keep in mind that if you don’t freeze your eggs, you do have other possible roads towards parenthood.

Read our article on How to Ensure You Have the Right Gynecologist.

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact me.