Pregnancy is a wonderful time where every expecting mother goes through a number of changes in her body. Most women generally find out their pregnant status a month or so into the pregnancy once a menstrual cycle has been missed, which may prompt them to take a test and find out whether or not they are pregnant. This is especially true for those mothers who have had an unplanned pregnancy. Yet, there are a number of signs and symptoms that can help you detect pregnancy as early as a few weeks into the same. Read on to know more!
Food
How you react to certain kinds of food will be one of the greatest indicators of early pregnancy. The start of your pregnancy will bring some amount of nausea and even food aversions. These aversions may happen due to protein or other requirements that the body may be going through, as well as hormonal changes which can trigger a number of such changes in the taste and preference. Women tend to get repulsed merely by the smell of certain items like dairy, meat and even certain types of vegetables. In this phase, it is best to drink lots of water and eat a lot of fruit.
Bloating and Tender
Bloating in the abdomen as well as pain and tenderness in the breasts and nipples is one of the first early signs of pregnancy. This usually happens because the uterus is still small, but adjusting to the changes that are about to come over the body. Also, the clothes may feel too snug and even hurt the skin. So it would be best to avoid tight fittings clothing so that you do not chaff and feel discomfort throughout the day. This kind of bloating will usually affect the waistline and make a woman feel like she is about to get her menstrual period.
Frequent Trips to the Bathroom
Frequent urination is another major problem that you will also feel because there will be some changes in the uterus and one will feel some amount of pressure in this part of the body. This is because the pregnancy will usually increase the rate at which blood flows into the kidneys, which can create pressure on the same and the urination will become a little more frequent in the bargain. This blood volume will continue to be on a rise throughout one’s pregnancy, which will only make the frequent urination more.
Mood Swings
The hormonal changes that one goes through during pregnancy can cause a variety mood swings because these hormones affect the way the neurotransmitters in the brain behave. These neurotransmitters are the chemical messages that are sent to the brain thanks to the play of hormones. So when the hormones are in an imbalance, the person may get conflicting chemical messages that can give rise to extreme emotions like happiness, dullness, sadness and even depression.
So if you have these signs for a prolonged period, you should take a pregnancy test and visit your doctor at the earliest.
Getting an au pair for your baby is a major step. Unlike nannies, au pairs are like temporary family members who will be providing live-in childcare assistance. The most unnerving part of welcoming an au pair in your home is that you don’t know them well. Moreover, the biggest challenge is to make them comfortable to develop a harmonious relationship. Therefore, while seeking the services of an au pair childcare agency, ensure that you avoid the following mistakes:
Here are some popular au pair childcare agencies you can check.
Cost of the au pair exchange program
if you want to host an au pair, be mindful of the financial add-ons. These include non-refundable application and processing fees, program fees, a weekly stipend, language course fees and, an overall increase in your household expenses for a year. Usually, the program fees charged by the au pair childcare services come down to a minimum of $7,000 approximately. Furthermore, the minimum weekly stipend for an au pair is around $200 per week. Likewise, an English language course can cost $500 or above approximately.
An au pair is an adult or a young adult aged between 18 and 30 years, who belongs to a different country and provides live-in domestic childcare for approximately 10 to 12 months. An au pair can play a role of an elder sibling for your children. You can find these individuals via au pair childcare agencies that ensure protecting the rights and interests of the involved parties. By the means of this exchange program, parents get a lending hand and reliable companion for their kids. Moreover, the au pair gets an opportunity to experience the country’s culture and learn its language.
Au pairs are often compared to nannies. However, there are some major differences between the both such as:
The costs of au pair childcare services will vary across agencies. Typically, au pair childcare agencies charge a program fee, which can be between $7,000 and $9,000. These exclude the non-refundable application fees and minimum weekly stipend expenses.