If you are under the age of 40 and have frequent intercourse without using contraception, you have an 8 in 10 chance of becoming pregnant within a year.

Also, you may be pregnant if you have missed a period and recently had unprotected intercourse. Pregnancy tests are most accurate beginning on the first day of your missing menstruation.

Early pregnancy symptoms

A missing period is the first and most accurate symptom of pregnancy if you have a normal monthly menstrual cycle.

During the first few weeks of gestation, you may experience a bleed comparable to a light period, with minor spotting or simply losing a small amount of blood. This is known as implantation haemorrhage.

Each gestation is unique, and not everyone will experience all of these symptoms.

Sickness during pregnancy

You might be unwell or feel sick. This is generally referred to as morning sickness, however, it can occur at any time of day or night. Morning sickness symptoms commonly appear during 4-6 weeks of pregnancy.

Consult a doctor if you’re always unwell and can’t keep anything down.

You might have hyperemesis gravidarum, a hazardous gestation disorder that produces intense vomiting and needs treatment.

Tiredness is prevalent throughout pregnancy

It’s normal to feel fatigued, if not exhausted, throughout gestation, especially during the first 12 weeks. Hormonal changes in your body might make you feel fatigued, nauseated, emotional, and unhappy at this time.

Early pregnancy breast pain

Your breasts may swell and feel sensitive, exactly like they did before your period. They may also feel tingly.

The veins may become more prominent, and the nipples may darken and become more noticeable.

Peeing more frequently indicates pregnancy

You may feel the urge to pee more frequently than normal, even at night.

Other pregnant symptoms you may observe include:

• constipation
• increased vaginal discharge (without any soreness or irritation)

Strange tastes, odours, and desires

Some meals and drinks you used to like may no longer appeal to you during your early gestation.

You may have noticed:

• A peculiar taste in your tongue that some describe as metallic
• you are hungry for new meals
• You lose interest in foods or beverages that you used to love, such as tea, coffee, or fatty meals.
• You have lost interest in smoking.
• You have a more acute sense of smell than normal, such as the smell of food or cooking.

If you’re concerned about any of your symptoms, consult your doctor or a midwife.

When you are able to perform a pregnancy test

Most pregnancy tests may be performed as early as the first day of missing menstruation. If you are unsure when your next period will be, take the test at least 21 days after your last unprotected intercourse.

Some pregnancy tests are so sensitive that they may be used even before you miss a period.

A pregnancy test may be performed on a urine sample taken at any time of day. It doesn’t have to be first thing in the morning.

If your pregnancy test comes back negative

As long as you followed the directions, a positive test result is almost probably correct. A bad finding is less trustworthy. If you get a negative test but still believe you’re pregnant, wait a week before trying again.

If you’re expecting, use the pregnancy due date calculator to figure out correctly when your baby will arrive.

Tadasana

Stand with your legs and hips spread wide. Feet should be completely pressed together and parallel to one another. Inhale deeply and raise your arms overhead, interlacing your fingers. Completely exhale and relax. Raise your kneecaps. Raise your heels and arms at the same time. Face the skyline with your palms up. Maintain the pose for a while (at least for 5 breathes) Return to your starting point. Repeat.

Importance: Tadasana is the best asana for correcting posture, releasing pregnancy stiffness, and increasing body flexibility.

Trikonasana

Step your feet three feet apart. Your right toe should be pointed toward the right wall. Inhale and bring your arms in line with your sideways shoulders. Exhale. Go down after reaching for the right corner. Maintain an open chest. Your arms should be parallel to each other. Deeply inhale. Exhale as you return to your starting position. Rep the procedure on the left side.

Importance: Trikonasana is useful for strengthening the knees, legs, and ankles. It gives you the ability to balance and strengthens your muscles.

Marjaryasana

Come on all fours. Knees should be wide apart and directly beneath your hipline. Hands should be parallel to your shoulders. Inhale while your spinal cord is in a neutral position. And exhale while inhaling and raising your pelvis and spinal cord. Tuck your chin into your chest. Tuck your tummy in. Extend your pelvis and lower your spinal cord. Open your chest to the front and lift your chin to the sky. Repeat as many times as you can.

Importance: It promotes healthy spinal cord movement. It stimulates the flow of air and glandular secretions, assisting the body in regulating its functions. It does, however, relieve stress and calm the mind.

Gomukhasana

Sit down and bring your knees up to your chest. Bring your left heel to the outside of your right hipline and your right heel to the outside of your left hipline. Stack your knees on top of each other. Inhale and raise your right arm. Exhale while bending your elbow behind your back. Take your left arm and place it behind your back. Fingers should be interlaced. Rep the process on the opposite side.

Importance: Gomukhasana is a wonderful posture for breastfeeding mothers because they sometimes suffer from a lot of pain in the upper back, slouch, or shoulders, and this asana can help to alleviate such pains.

“Some conceptions become a high risk as they advance, while some women are at a greater risk for complications even before they get pregnant for an array of reasons,” said Dr Sujata Gandhare-Rajput, Senior Consultant – Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals on Pune’s SB Road.

Early and consistent prenatal care enables many women to have safe pregnancies and births free of problems. It frequently needs specialised treatment from carefully trained personnel.”

Risk factors for a high-risk pregnancy, according to her, might include:

• Existing medical issues, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or HIV infection.
• Obesity and being overweight.
• Obesity raises the risk of hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, stillbirth, neural tube abnormalities, and caesarean section.

Tips for avoiding a high-risk pregnancy – Dr Sujata Gandhare-Rajput recommended the following six precautions to avoid a high-risk pregnancy:

1. Maintain or attain a healthy weight prior to pregnancy –

Being overweight or obese while pregnant raises the risk of issues such as high blood pressure, hypertension, gestational diabetes, and stillbirth. If you intend to become pregnant, losing weight before to conception lowers your chance of difficulties. To reduce weight and maintain a healthy weight, eat a nutritious diet and undertake frequent exercise. To ensure safe labour and delivery, follow the doctor’s weight growth suggestions while pregnant.

2. Pre-existing medical problems should be managed –

Uncontrolled pre-existing medical issues can make pregnancy dangerous. High blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, sexually transmitted infections (STDs) including HIV, and autoimmune disorders such as lupus or multiple sclerosis are all common problems that might interfere with conception. Pregnancy is hard on your body. Managing health issues with medication and lifestyle modifications before to pregnancy allows your body to function optimally while pregnant.

3. Take prenatal vitamins –

Your body needs more of certain nutrients when pregnant to support your developing kid. Taking a prenatal vitamin or supplement can provide you with folic acid, iron, protein, and calcium that you would not normally get through your diet.

4. Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and illegal substances –

While pregnant, drinking alcohol, smoking or using tobacco products, and using drugs can all have a negative influence on your baby’s health. If you use alcohol while pregnant, you increase your chances of developing Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, which causes catastrophic birth abnormalities. Cigarette smoking can result in low birth weight newborns and possibly intrauterine foetal death. Using illicit drugs or abusing prescription pharmaceuticals can result in birth abnormalities, and newborns can be born addicted to a substance used during pregnancy. During pregnancy, only take the drugs advised by your doctor.

5. Understand the dangers of advanced maternal age –

Beginning at the age of 35, your chance of pregnancy problems rises. Complications include the inability to become pregnant, miscarriage, and genetic problems in the infant. Fertility begins to drop gradually around the age of 30 and accelerates for women 35 and beyond. Common difficulties for moms over the age of 35 include:

• Premature delivery
• Birth weight is too light
• Pregnancy diabetes
• Preeclampsia
• A c-section (caesarean) birth is required.
• Women in their twenties have the lowest chance of pregnancy problems.

6. Visit the doctor on a frequent basis during your pregnancy –

Prenatal checkups are essential for monitoring both your health and the health of your growing baby. The doctor monitors your vital signs and the baby’s progress at each consultation. If any potential problems are discovered, such as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia, we will devise a treatment plan to ensure that you have the healthiest pregnancy and birth possible.

The interval between two pregnancies

“While having a second child is a personal choice,” Dr Sujata Gandhare-Rajput remarked, “it’s considered best to wait for some time before conceiving again.” Most women nowadays begin their pregnancies late, in their thirties, leaving them with little choice but to have a large gap between two pregnancies due to declining fertility.”

Having intercourse around the time your spouse ovulates (releases an egg from the ovary) increases your chances of conceiving.

You can also boost your chances of becoming a father by making a few lifestyle modifications.

Temperature of sperm

Your testicles are outside your body because they need to be kept colder than the rest of you in order to generate the greatest quality sperm (slightly below body temperature).

If you’re contemplating pregnancy, a few basic precautions to keep your testicles cold may be beneficial. Take regular pauses outside, for example, if your profession requires you to work in a hot setting. If you sit for lengthy periods of time, stand up and walk about frequently.

Tight underwear is also estimated to raise the testicular temperature by up to 1 degree Celsius. Although a study has shown that tight underwear has no effect on sperm quality, you should wear loose-fitting underwear, such as boxer shorts, when trying for a baby.

Smoking 

Smoking might lower fertility, thus if you want to be a father, you should quit smoking. The possibility of respiratory illness and cot death (sudden infant death syndrome).

A doctor can provide you with guidance and therapy to help you quit smoking.

Alcohol

Excessive alcohol consumption might have an impact on sperm quality. The UK Chief Medical Officers suggest no more than 14 units of alcohol each week, divided equally over three days or more.

A unit of alcohol is half a pint of beer or lager or a single pub measure (25ml) of spirits. 1.5 units of alcohol are included in a modest glass of wine (125ml).

Drugs used for recreation

Some recreational drugs have been linked to decreased male fertility and sperm quality- 

• Cannabis 
• Cocaine
• Anabolic steroids

If you’re attempting to conceive, you should avoid using these medicines.

Medicines 

Some prescription and over-the-counter medications can have an impact on male fertility.

Some chemotherapy drugs, for example, might have a temporary or permanent effect on fertility.

Long-term usage of certain antibiotics can potentially have an impact on sperm quality and quantity. However, these effects are normally restored three months after taking the medication.

If you’re taking a medication and are unclear whether it may affect your fertility, see your doctor, pharmacist, or another healthcare expert.

Diet, weight, and exercise

Eating a healthy, balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight are critical for keeping your sperm in excellent shape.

According to the Eatwell Guide, in order to maintain a healthy diet, you should:

• Every day, consume at least 5 servings of a variety of fruits and vegetables (see 5 A Day)
• Meals should be based on high-fibre starchy foods such as potatoes, bread, rice, or pasta.
• Incorporate some dairy or dairy substitutes (such as soya drinks and yoghurts)
• Consume beans, lentils, fish, eggs, meat, and other protein-rich foods.

Being overweight (having a BMI more than 25) may have an impact on the quality and quantity of your sperm.

If you’re obese and attempting to conceive, you should strive to shed weight by combining healthy food with frequent exercise.

Stress

Stress may have an impact on your relationship. It may also lessen your or your partner’s sex desire (libido), which may reduce the frequency with which you have sex.

Stress might also reduce sperm production. So, when trying to conceive, learning to relax and taking efforts to lessen stress in your life would be beneficial.

If you are under the age of 40 and have frequent intercourse without using contraception, you have an 8 in 10 chance of becoming pregnant within a year.

Also, you may be pregnant if you have missed a period and recently had unprotected intercourse. Pregnancy tests are most accurate beginning on the first day of your missing menstruation.

Early pregnancy symptoms

A missing period is the first and most accurate symptom of pregnancy if you have a normal monthly menstrual cycle.

During the first few weeks of gestation, you may experience a bleed comparable to a light period, with minor spotting or simply losing a small amount of blood. This is known as implantation haemorrhage.

Each gestation is unique, and not everyone will experience all of these symptoms.

Sickness during pregnancy

You might be unwell or feel sick. This is generally referred to as morning sickness, however, it can occur at any time of day or night. Morning sickness symptoms commonly appear during 4-6 weeks of pregnancy.

Consult a doctor if you’re always unwell and can’t keep anything down.

You might have hyperemesis gravidarum, a hazardous gestation disorder that produces intense vomiting and needs treatment.

Tiredness is prevalent throughout pregnancy

It’s normal to feel fatigued, if not exhausted, throughout gestation, especially during the first 12 weeks. Hormonal changes in your body might make you feel fatigued, nauseated, emotional, and unhappy at this time.

Early pregnancy breast pain

Your breasts may swell and feel sensitive, exactly like they did before your period. They may also feel tingly.

The veins may become more prominent, and the nipples may darken and become more noticeable.

Peeing more frequently indicates pregnancy

You may feel the urge to pee more frequently than normal, even at night.

Other pregnant symptoms you may observe include:

• constipation
• increased vaginal discharge (without any soreness or irritation)

Strange tastes, odours, and desires

Some meals and drinks you used to like may no longer appeal to you during your early gestation.

You may have noticed:

• A peculiar taste in your tongue that some describe as metallic
• you are hungry for new meals
• You lose interest in foods or beverages that you used to love, such as tea, coffee, or fatty meals.
• You have lost interest in smoking.
• You have a more acute sense of smell than normal, such as the smell of food or cooking.

If you’re concerned about any of your symptoms, consult your doctor or a midwife.

When you are able to perform a pregnancy test

Most pregnancy tests may be performed as early as the first day of missing menstruation. If you are unsure when your next period will be, take the test at least 21 days after your last unprotected intercourse.

Some pregnancy tests are so sensitive that they may be used even before you miss a period.

A pregnancy test may be performed on a urine sample taken at any time of day. It doesn’t have to be first thing in the morning.

If your pregnancy test comes back negative

As long as you followed the directions, a positive test result is almost probably correct. A bad finding is less trustworthy. If you get a negative test but still believe you’re pregnant, wait a week before trying again.

If you’re expecting, use the pregnancy due date calculator to figure out correctly when your baby will arrive.

In the movie, this rule is ignored to make it entertaining and Sanon, shown as a 25 year old dancer who wishes to go to Mumbai and become an actress, is chosen by the American Couple thinking that her dancing skills prove that she can carry a healthy baby. 6 months into the pregnancy when the couple finds out that the child could be suffering from Down’s Syndrome, the couple asks Sanon to abort the child. (Which didn’t happen and the couple decide to fly back leaving Kriti with a foreign child who might have down’s syndrome and the decision to terminate the pregnancy or keep the child)

Here are some facts about Surrogacy in India that could be controversial to what Mimi highlighted:

• In India, only married and previously pregnant women can act as surrogates. A previous history of pregnancy helps the surrogate maintain herself better and also helps with post-partum reactions.
• Commercial Surrogacy became legal in India in 2002. Despite its increasing importance, Commercial Surrogacy has largely been an unregulated industry in India for the past 2 decades. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill of 2019 aims to regulate this industry. It places a Ban on Commercial Surrogacy and allows altruistic surrogacy for infertile Indian couples.
• The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019, however, allows Altruistic Surrogacy which involves no monetary compensation to the surrogate mother other than the medical expenses and insurance coverage during the pregnancy.
• It is permitted to couples only due to the following reasons: A) for intending couples who suffer from proven infertility B) not for producing children for sale, prostitution or other forms of exploitation C) for any condition or disease specified through regulations D) not for commercial purposes

Facts about Surrogate Mother in India:

To obtain a certificate of eligibility from the appropriate authority, the surrogate mother has to be:
(i) a close relative of the intending couple;
(ii) a married woman having a child of her own;
(iii) 25 to 35 years old;
(iv) a surrogate only once in her lifetime; and
(v) possess a certificate of medical and psychological fitness for surrogacy.
Further, the surrogate mother cannot provide her own gametes for surrogacy.

Surprising, but there are rules for Surrogacy Clinics as well. Such clinics cannot undertake surrogacy related procedures unless they are registered by the appropriate authority. Clinics must apply for registration within a period of 60 days from the date of appointment of the appropriate authority.

In the movie, Mimi, it’s highlighted how the American Couple request the abortion of the child when they discover he has down’s syndrome. In the new bill, it’s stated, “An abortion of the surrogate child requires the written consent of the surrogate mother and the authorization of the appropriate authority. This authorization must be compliant with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971.  Further, the surrogate mother will have an option to withdraw from surrogacy before the embryo is implanted in her womb.”

It also states that if a couple abandons, exploits or disowns a surrogate child, they get a penalty for such offences as imprisonment up to 10 years and a fine up to 10 lakh rupees.

In all, we can say that Mimi touches the Indian hearts when the child becomes the responsibly of the surrogate mother who raised him and not the woman who left her child on the basis of “might have down’s syndrome”. No wonder what would have happened if the child actually had down’s syndrome.

We really wish the concept was explained to the Indian audience in a more compelling and authentic way. Let us know how you found the movie!