The words 'mother' and 'pregnant woman' are used interchangeably as if their meaning is identical, although the Oxford English Dictionary defines mother as a female parent, one who has borne a child. The term therefore does not apply to a pregnant woman.

For a lot of people, the first sign of pregnancy is a missed period. Most pregnancy tests will be positive by the time you've missed your period. Other early pregnancy symptoms include feeling tired, feeling bloated, peeing more than usual, mood swings, nausea, and tender or swollen breasts. They can make you go from being happy one minute to feeling like crying the next. Mood swings are very common during pregnancy. They tend to happen more in the first trimester and toward the end of the third trimester.

You're most fertile at the time of ovulation, when an egg is released from your ovaries, which usually occurs 12 to 14 days before your next period starts. This is the time of the month when you're most likely to get pregnant. A pregnancy test is the only way to know for sure. But if it's too early to take a test, you may be on the lookout for early signs or maybe you think you're already experiencing some early pregnancy symptoms. 

Knowing that you are doing all you can to stay healthy during pregnancy and give your baby a healthy start in life will help you to have peace of mind. Your body makes extra blood and your heart pumps faster to meet the needs of pregnancy. This can cause the blue veins in your belly, breasts, and legs to become more noticeable. You may develop spider veins on your face, neck, or arms.

Eat breakfast every day. Eat foods high in fiber, and drink fluids particularly water to avoid constipation. Avoid alcohol, raw or undercooked fish, fish high in mercury, undercooked meat and poultry, and soft cheeses. Do moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least 150 minutes a week during your pregnancy. To avoid harmful bacteria or viruses in seafood, avoid raw fish and shellfish. Examples of raw or undercooked foods to avoid include sushi, sashimi, ceviche and raw oysters, scallops or clams. Avoid refrigerated, uncooked seafood.

After your baby is born, your body gets rid of the blood and tissue that was inside your uterus. This is called vaginal discharge or lochia. For the first few days, it's heavy, bright red and may contain blood clots. The postpartum period begins after the delivery of your baby and ends when your body has nearly returned to its pre-pregnant state.

Symptoms can include insomnia, anxiety, rapid heart rate, fatigue, weight loss and irritability from one to four months after birth or fatigue, weight gain, constipation, dry skin and depression which could be on four to eight months after birth. Drink mostly water, milk, and fruit juice. Eat foods that have protein such as milk, cheese, yogurt, meat, fish and beans. Protein rich foods are important to help you recover from childbirth and keep your body strong. If you are under 18, or were underweight prior to pregnancy, you need to eat more protein.

Someone's baby is something that they have a special interest in and responsibility for. Both of these mean parenthood is imminent.

Read related articles: Preparing For A Baby 101 and Top Five Baby Care Tips For Every New Parents