WHAT TO EXPECT:Fetal Movement During Pregnancy

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Your baby's activity level — the kicks, rolls, and wiggles you can feel — will vary throughout your pregnancy. Here's what to expect when it comes to fetal movement.

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Feeling your baby twist, wriggle, punch, kick, and hiccup is simply one of pregnancy's biggest thrills (and it sure beatsheartburn, puffy feet, an aching back, and some of the other hallmarks of these nine months). There may be no better proof that a brand-new — and impressively energetic — life is developing within you.

But fetal movement during pregnancy can also drive a mom-to-be batty with questions and doubts: Is my baby kicking enough? Too much? Does my baby have four legs (because it sure feels that way when the kicking starts)?

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Although every baby is different when it comes to fetal movement, and there's a wide range of what's normal, it helps to take a peek into your baby's world during pregnancy to understand what's going on in there, and what to expect when.

FETAL MOVEMENT IN THE FIRST TRIMESTER

From the first few days and weeks of pregnancy (when that rapidly expanding cluster of cells is just a cluster of cells) through the end of the third month (when your practitioner's Doppler just might pick up the lovely lub-dub of a heartbeat), the first trimester is a time of astoundingly fast development. But don't expect to feel any fetal movement yet (except the queasiness, the fatigue, the headaches…); your baby is far too tiny, and buried far too deeply within the protective cushioning of your womb, to make a blip on your belly radar. He or she could dance a jig and you'd feel neither a stamp nor a hop.

FETAL MOVEMENT IN THE SECOND TRIMESTER

Ah, now we're talking — or at least thumb-sucking, kicking, and thrashing. When will you actually feel those twitterings of life known as quickening? Some pregnant women (the very thin, or those who have had previous children) first feel their baby's movement as early as the fourth month. Most women won't be aware of, or recognize, the flits and twitches (which can feel a lot like gas or muscle spasms) for at least another few weeks.

By the fifth month, most women are feeling the fidgets and squirms of their active little tenant. The baby's routines will grow increasingly acrobatic (and the punches more powerful) as those little muscles get stronger and those fledgling motor skills develop. Your little gymnast is still small enough to be able to turn somersaults with abandon within your uterus. Once you start feeling your karate kid's kicks and chops, don't panic if you go several hours — or even a day or two — without noticing any movement. At this stage and with your baby still quite tiny, it's normal not to feel regular movement. (If you haven't felt any movement by the middle of the fifth month, your practitioner may order an ultrasound to take a look at how your baby is doing — it might just be that your due date is off.)

Your baby picks up the pace in the sixth month. Leg movements will seem more choreographed, and you may start noticing patterns in the pitter-patter of those little feet (although it's just as likely that the behavior won't be predictable). Because the motion of your own body during your daily routine can lull the baby to sleep — and because you're often focused on so many other things when you're up and about — you may find that the baby is most active after you've settled down for the night (or after you have a snack; the surge in your blood sugar may give your baby a rush of energy — or when you're nervous, since adrenalin can have the same effect). When you're relaxed and more attuned to your body, you're also more likely to be aware of what the baby is up to.

FETAL MOVEMENT IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER

It starts to get a little cramped in the womb by the seventh month, but your baby still has enough room to toss and turn for a little while longer. Your pint-sized pugilist is getting stronger, and those punches, while comforting, can now be downright jolting.  Babies are individuals, just like the rest of us, and the rhythms and patterns of their activity will vary. Try not to compare your baby's movements with those of others (your best friend's pregnancy is different from yours), or of your own previous children. And don't stress if your baby seems unusually active; it doesn't mean you'll have a hyper child later on.

Those kicks and punches are not the only movement you're probably feeling these days. Have you sensed an occasional flutter of faint but rhythmic tics? The baby probably has a harmless — and perfectly normal — case of the hiccups. (Not having them is just as normal).

To Do in Month 7: After week 28, you can expect to feel fetal activity every day. Set aside some quiet time twice a day to "count kicks," or any fetal movement. Ten movements of any kind in an hour or less is normal. If you haven't felt ten movements within an hour, have a snack or some fruit juice, lie down, and continue counting; if it takes more than two hours to reach ten, contact your practitioner. 

As your baby packs on the pounds in the eighth month, that formerly spacious apartment called your womb is becoming more like a cramped closet. Acrobatic tumbles are less likely now, but you'll continue to feel wriggling and turning, with a few jabs of elbows and knees thrown in for good measure. If your little drummer's bongo-playing on your belly starts to be more than you can take, try changing positions: Sit down if you're standing, or lie down on your side; the baby will likely change positions too and find something else to do. At this point, you may even be able to interact with your baby: Next time you see a protruding something — a knee, perhaps, or a foot? — give it a gentle press. If the baby is game, you might see the limb get pulled back, then pushed out at you again.

To Do in Month 8: Continue counting kicks, but be aware that your baby now has a fairly regular cycle of sleep and wakefulness. Sometimes a lull in activity just means deep slumber (and soon you'll be very grateful for that ability to sleep soundly). You should be able to perk things up with a snack, which usually rouses the baby. (If you don't feel movement — ten within two hours, contact your practitioner right away.)

As showtime approaches, your baby is definitely center stage. In the ninth month, at nearly full length and weight, your little one is not so little anymore, at least not relative to those cramped quarters. You won't feel those rapid-fire pummeling kicks (there's just no room for that), but larger lurches and bigger boots (as baby turns over, for example) will definitely get your attention (as will the pounding that some babies like to inflict on the cervix — maybe they sense where the exit is?). Something else that will definitely get your attention: baby's foot (or feet) lodging into your ribs. Ouch — that can hurt. A gentle nudge, a shift in your position, or doing the pelvic tilt might bring some relief. 

To Do in Month 9: It's crucial to note changes in activity; count fetal movements a few times a day, and report any sudden decreases to your practitioner.

When baby engages — or drops headfirst down into the pelvis — some time before delivery (two to three weeks before in first-time moms, closer to the due date in later pregnancies), those activity patterns could change again. You'll feel — quite strongly — every turn of your baby's head (it might feel like little sharp electric twinges close to your cervix), but those little feet can no longer dig into your ribs, which is (finally) a relief. The last few weeks before delivery are highly individual — some babies move a bit less, but don't be surprised if yours keeps up an energetic pace until it's time for your face-to-face introduction.

FUNGA KAZI YA MGOMBEA URAIS KUPITIA CCM DKT. POMBE MAGUFULI GEITA

Sehemu ya Wananchi waliohudhuria Mkutano wa Dkt- John Pombe Magufuli katika uwanja wa Kalangalala Geita, Jioni hii. ‪

LOWASSA AKIWA JIMBO LA MTAMA, AZOA WANACHAMA WA CCM KIBAO

AZIMA UTATA WA MAKAIDI

Mgombea urais wa Chadema anayeungwa mkono na Umoja wa Katiba ya Wananchi (Ukawa), Edward Lowassa jana alimwomba mwenyekiti mwenza wa umoja huo, Dk Emmanuel Makaidi kujitoa kugombea ubunge katika Jimbo la Masasi na kumwachia mgombea wa CUF, Ismail Makombe baada ya kukataliwa na wananchi.

Uamuzi huo ulifikiwa katika Uwanja wa Bomani mjini Masasi, baada ya Lowassa kuwasimamisha wagombea hao jukwaani kuwanadi, lakini akapata upinzani mkali kutoka kwa wananchi alipompa nafasi Dk Makaidi.

Lakini kabla Makaidi hajasema chochote aliondoka katika mkutano huo na meza kuu ilijadiliana, ndipo mke wa Makaidi, Modesta aliposhauri waachwe wote wawili wachuane hoja ambayo ilikubaliwa na Lowassa ambaye alitangaza tena kuwa wagombea hao kila mmoja atapambana kivyake.

Awali, Lowassa alipotoa uamuzi wa kumuomba Dk Makaidi amwachie kijana huyo, uwanja mzima ulilipuka kwa nderemo na vifijo huku wananchi wakinyoosha mikono juu kuonyesha kukubaliana na uamuzi huo.

Hata hivyo, alivyobadilisha uamuzi huo, umati huo ulionekana kutomuunga mkono.

Lowassa alifika katika mkutano huo saa 7.28 mchana akitokea Mtwara baada ya kushindwa kufanya mkutano Tunduru kutokana na helikopta kukosa mafuta yaliyokuwa yameagizwa Dar es Salaam na yalipopatikana aliamua kwenda moja kwa moja Masasi.

Ilivyokuwa

Dk Makaidi alipopewa nafasi ya kuzungumza, wananchi walipiga kelele huku wakionyesha mikono juu kumkataa na kukatisha hotuba aliyokuwa ameanza kuitoa.

Lakini aliposimamishwa mgombea wa CUF, Makombe maarufu kama Kundambanda, alishangiliwa huku akimweleza Lowassa kuwa kura zake za urais anazo mfukoni kwa kuwa ndiye wananchi wanayemkubali.

Mgombea wa Chadema katika jimbo hilo, Mussa Sakaredi alijitoa ili kumuunga mkono mgombea aliyepitishwa na Ukawa.

Ndanda yaleyale

Kama ilivyokuwa Masasi, katika Jimbo la Ndanda, pia mgombea mmoja kati ya wawili wa Ukawa waliojitokeza kuwania ubunge alikataliwa na wananchi mbele ya Lowassa na kumfanya alikimbie jukwaa.

Hali hiyo ilijitokeza pale Meneja Kampeni wa Chadema, John Mrema aliposema anafahamu kuna mgogoro wa nani atakayegombea ubunge chini ya mwamvuli wa Ukawa kati ya NLD na Chadema, hivyo akatoa nafasi kwa kila mgombea kueleza matatizo ya jimbo hilo jipya.

Mgombea wa NLD, Angelous Gabriel alipopewa nafasi aliishia kumsifia Lowassa, jambo lililowafanya wananchi kupiga kelele wakisema anapoteza muda.

“Toka unapoteza muda, tokaaaaa,” walisikia wakipaza sauti.

Ilipofika zamu ya mgombea wa Chadema, Cecil Mwambe uwanja mzima ulilipuka huku akieleza kuwa katika jimbo hilo kuna tatizo la bei ya mazao, hivyo kama Lowassa akiingia madarakani, serikali yake iwatatulie matatizo yao.

Baada ya Mwambe kusema hayo wananchi walimshangilia na Lowassa alipopanda jukwaani aliwaita wagombea wote wawili na kuwahoji wananchi wanamtaka nani kati yao ambapo kwa sauti ya pamoja walijibu “Mwambeeeeeeeee”

Jambo hilo lilimfanya Gabriel wa NLD kushuka jukwaani na kuondoka. Alipoulizwa sababu ya kukataliwa alisema: “Kuna watu wameandaliwa na kununuliwa ili nisigombee Ndanda.”

Hata hivyo, wakazi wa Ndanda waliohojiwa walisema hawamjui mgombea huyo na wanashangaa kwa nini anang’ang’ania kugombea huku wakisema hajajiandikisha kupiga kura katika jimbo hilo, jambo ambalo Gabriel alikiri.

Mmoja wa wakazi hao, Charles Mtutu alisema: “Hatumjui hata jina na NLD haina kiongozi katika jimbo hili na hawajawahi kufanya mikutano.”

Mkazi mwingine, Athuman Hassan alisema: “Kwanza hatumjui, pili hajawahi kufanya kampeni zozote tangu Jimbo la Ndanda lilipopatikana.” (FULL HABARI BLOG)

WAKULIMA WANAWAKE WAPIGWA MSASA UONGOZI WA MWANAMKE KATIKA KILIMO

Mkurugenzi wa Halmashauri ya wilaya ya Mufindi (DED) Saada Malunde akifungua semina ya uongozi wa mwanamke katika kilimo, upatikanaji wa huduma za ugani na pembejeo za kilimo kwa wanawake wakulima jana mjini Mafinga. Mafunzo hayo yaliandaliwa na Shirika la Land O' Lakes chini ya ufadhili wa Shirika la Misaada la watu wa Marekani (USAID) (Picha na Friday Simbaya)

MALENGO YA SEMINA

Washiriki kufahamu hali ya upatikanaji wa huduma za ugani na pembejeo za kilimo kwa wakulima hasa wanawake. 

Kuchambua changamoto zinazokabili utoaji wa huduma za ugani kwa wakulima wanawake. 

Mapendekezo ya nini kifanyike ili kuboresha upatikanaji wa huduma za ugani kwa wakulima.

Mkurugenzi wa Halmashauri ya wilaya ya Mufindi (DED) Saada Malunde akifungua semina ya uongozi wa mwanamke katika kilimo, upatikanaji wa huduma za ugani na pembejeo za kilimo kwa wanawake wakulima jana mjini Mafinga.

Washiriki wakiwa katika vikundi mbalimbali vya majadiliano wakati wa semina ya uongozi wa mwanamke katika kilimo, upatikanaji wa hudumaza ugani na pembejeo za kilimo kwa wanawake wakulima jana mjini Mafinga.

Mkurugenzi wa Miradi wa Ubunifu katika Masuala ya Kijinsia na kuimarisha Uhakika wa Chakula katika ngazi ya kaya, Dkt. Rose Rita Kingamkono (mwenye braizi jekundu) akifuatilia hotuba kutokakwa mgeni rasmi ambaye ni Mkurugenzi Halmashauri ya wilaya ya Mufindi (DED) Saada Malunde akifungua semina ya uongozi wa mwanamke katika kilimo, upatikanaji wa huduma za ugani na pembejeo za kilimo kwa wanawake wakulima jana mjini Mafinga.

Wanawake na kilimo nchini Tanzania 

Wanawake ni mali muhimu katika maendeleo ya kilimo duniani kote. 

Kwa wasitani nguvu kazi yao ni takribani asilimia 43 ya nguvukazi inayohitajika katika kilimo.

katika nchi nyingi za Afrika hadi 80% ya kazi za shamba hufanywa na wanawake. 

Pia kaya nyingi zinazojihusisha na kilimo katika nchi zinazoendelea zinaongozwa na wanawake.

Wanawake wangeweza kuongeza uzalishaji kwenye mashamba yao kwa asilimia 20–30 kama wangekuwa na upatikanaji sawa wa zana za kilimo, pembejeo, na huduma za ugani kama wanaume. 

Hii ingeweza kuongeza uzalishaji katika kilimo katika nci zinazoendelea kwa asilimia 2.5–4 na 

Hivyo kupunguza idadi ya watu wenye lishe duni duniani kote kwa asilimia 12–17%. 

Wanawake wanakabiliwa na upatikanaji mdogo wa; 

Ardhi ya kutosha,  Zana za kilimo na pembejeo,  Mikopo, Huduma za ugani na ushauri wa kitaalamu na Miundombinu bora na teknolojia mpya. 

LOWASSA ATOA KAULI YAKE JUU YA UTAFITI WA TWAWEZA...!

Kuelekea uchaguzi mkuu October 25 2015 matokeo ya utafiti wa taasisi ya TWAWEZA yametolewa September 22 2015 Tanzania na kuonyesha Watanzania mbalimbali wanamkubali nani zaidi ambapo CCM imepata 66%, CHADEMA ikipata 22%, CUF 1%, ACT 0%, NCCR 0%, UKAWA 3%.

Baada ya utafiti huu kutoka chumba cha habari kilipitia page za Twitter za Wagombea Urais na vyama vyao kutazama kama kuna walichoandika baada ya kupata haya matokeo.

Mgombea Urais Edward Lowassa ambaye yuko kwenye tiketi ya CHADEMA ameyaandika haya kwenye page yake halali ya Twitter >>> ‘Watanzania tusipumbazwe na tafiti ambazo hatujashiriki, tushiriki kwa mafuriko Oktoba 25, majibu ya kweli tutayapata‘ (POSTED BY EDWARD MICHAEL ON 9:22 PM -TANZANIA CLASSIC)

DKT. MAGUFULI APIGA PUSH UP JUKWAANI, NI WAKATI AKINADI SERA NGARA

MGOMBEA kiti cha Rais wa Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania kupitia CCM, Dkt. John Pombe Magufuli, akipiga pus up jukwaani wakati akinadi sera kwenye mfululizo wa kampeni mkoani Kagera jana.

CCM NAO WAPINGA UTAFITI WA TWAWEZA

Siku moja baada ya taasisi ya Twaweza kutangaza ushindi mnono kwa mgombea Urais wa CCM, Dk John Pombe Magufuli dhidi ya Mgombea Urais wa Ukawa Edward Lowassa, Kada wa chama cha Mapinduzi Januari Makamba amepinga matokeo hayo akidai wamepunguziwa ushindi.

Makamba amesema kwamba utafiti huo umewapunguzia ushindi chama cha Mapinduzi kwa kuwa katika utafiti wao ulionesha Magufuli angeshinda kwa asilimia 69 dhidi ya asilimia 65 ya Twaweza.

Akizungumza na moja ya gazeti hapa nchini Makamba amesema CCM haistushwi na utafiti huo kwa mgombea wao amefika maeneo mengi nchini Tanzania kufanya mikutano.

Akitangaza matokeo hayo mkurugenzi wa TWAWEZA Aidan Eyakuze, amesema utafiti huo ulifanyika mwishoni mwa mwezi Agosti mwaka huu, na ulifanyika kwa njia ya simu kukusanya maoni ya wananchi katika mikoa yote ya Tanzania.

Eyakuze amesema kuwa wananchi waliulizwa swali kuwa watamchagua nani bila kutajiwa majina na walipoombwa kutaja moja kwa moja jina la mgombea Urais ambaye wangemchagua, asilimia 65 ya wananchi walimtaja mgombea wa CCM Dkt. John Magufuli.

Amesema asilimia 25 walimtaja mgombea wa Chadema kupitia Ukawa, Edward Lowassa, asilimia 10 iliyosalia iligawanyika kati ya wale waliomtaja mmoja miongoni mwa wagombea urais wengine, waliokataa kujibu na waliokuwa bado hawana mgombea waliyempendelea.

Katika hatua nyingine wasomi mbalimbali wamepinga utafiti huo akiwemo Mkurugenzi wa tasisi ya SIKIKA Inei Kiria akidai kuwa idadi ya wapiga kura katika utafiti huo haitoshi kuwakilisha idadi ya wapiga kura milioni 24 nchi nzima.

TASAF WATAKIWA KUFANYA KAZI KWA UWAZI NA UWAJIBIKAJI

Picha na Maktaba

Wasimamiaji wa mpango wa kunusuru kaya masikini mkoani Iringa wametakiwa kuimarisha uwazi, uwajibikaji na kuruhusu makundi tofauti kushiriki kwa kutumia mfumo madhubuti wa wanufaika.

Kauli hiyo imetolewa na Mkuu wa mkoa wa Iringa, Amina Masenza katika hotuba yake ya ufunguzi wa warsha ya kujenga uelewa wa wadau kuhusu mpango wa kunusuru kaya masikini TASAF awamu ya III iliyofanyika ukumbi wa mikutano wa Valentine mjini Iringa na kusomwa na Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Kilolo, Seleman Mzee.

Masenza alisema “ni mategemeo yangu kuwa utekelezaji wa mpango huu wa kunusuru kaya masikini utaimarisha uwazi, uwajibikaji na kutoa fursa kwa makundi mbalimbali kushiriki kwa kutumia mfumo madhubuti wa kubaini walengwa katika vijiji na mitaa yetu”. 

Alisema muundo wa awamu ya tatu, umezingatia vema changamoto ambazo zilijitokeza katika utekelezaji wa awamu ya pili. 

Alisema kwa maana hiyo usimamizi na ufuatiliaji umeimarishwa katika ngazi ya mkoa, halmashauri na kata kwa kuhusisha watumishi zaidi kufuatilia shughuli za mfumo wa maendeleo ya jamii. 

“Napenda kusisitiza azma ya serikali ya kuhakikisha kuwa wananchi wanapata maendeleo na ndiyo lengo la kuanzisha mpango huu ambao utatekelezwa katika vijiji na mitaa yetu ili kuondoa umasikini kwa manufaa ya jamii yetu” alisisitiza Masenza.

Akiongelea utekelezaji wa mpango huo, mkuu wa mkoa alisema kuwa utekelezaji wa mpango huo unatarajiwa kuwafikia wastani wa walengwa 6,500,000 katika kaya masikini na zilizo katika mazingira hatarishi 1,000,000 za Tanzania. 

Alisema viongozi wanao wajibu wa kusimamia vizuri mpango huo ili kuhakikisha kaya zilizotambuliwa na kuandikishwa kwenye orodha ya kaya masikini, zinafaidika kwa kushiriki katika program ya uhawilishaji fedha, program ya mradi ya ujenzi ambayo itatoa fursa za ajira za muda katika kipindi cha hari, program ya kujenga uwezo wa kujikinu na kuongeza kipato na kujengewa uwezo.

Mwakilishi wa mkurugenzi mkuu wa TASAF, Richard Njalika alisema kuwa mpango wa kunusuru kaya masikini umepangwa kutekelezwa kwa awamu ili kufikia jumla ya halmashauri 169 za Tanzania. 

Awamu za utekelezaji mpango huu zimelengwa kujenga uwezo kwa wawezeshaji wa kutosha na kujenga mifumo pamoja na kuboresha utekelezaji katika kila awamu. Alisema kuwa awamu hii imepangwa kutekelezwa kwa kipindi cha miaka 10 katika awamu mbili za miaka mitano mitano. 

Alisema kuwa utekelezaji wa mpango unahitaji uwekezaji mkubwa kwenye mifumo na kujenga uwezo katika ngazi zote za utekelezaji.

Akiongelea sehemu za mpango huo, mwakilishi wa mkurugenzi mkuu wa TASAF alizitaja sehemu hizo kuwa ni kujenga uwezo katika ngazi zote za utekelezaji na kujenga na kuboresha miundombinu inayolenga sekta za elimu, afya na maji. 

Seheumu nyingine ni uhawilishaji fedha, ambapo unatoa ruzuku kwa kaya masikini sana zinazotambuliwa kwa mchakato unaoshirikisha jamii. 

Kuongeza kipato kwa kaya masikini kupitia uwekaji akiba na shughuli za kiuchumi ili kuboresha maisha. Eneo lingine ni kutoa ajira kwa kaya masikini zenye watu wenye uwezo wa kufanya kazi wakati wa hari.

UZINDUZI WA MSIMU MPYA WA TAMASHA LA MTIKISIKO IRINGA

RADIO Ebony Fm yenye makao yake makuu mkoani Iringa kupitia kipindi chake cha mchana "THE SPLASH" imezindua rasmi hewani (on air launching) msimu mwingine wa kila mwaka wa tamasha maarufu kwa mikoa ya Nyanda za Juu Kusini linalokwenda kwa jina la "MTIKISIKO" ambalo linatarajiwa kuanza katikati ya mwezi huu na kupita karibu sehemu zote inaposikika redio hiyo baadhi ya picha za watangazaji wakiwa katika shangwe za uzinduzi huo.(PICHA zote na Denis Mlowe)