What To Do And What Not To Do For The Pregnant Woman

These questions always raise in the minds of the parents especially the mother about what to do and what not to do for the baby inside her to be safe. The mother is the one is to take utmost care of her which in turn will result in the good health of her baby. She has to avoid certain food stuffs to take care of the baby. But there are lots of other precautions to be taken during pregnancy.

Some of such precautions are, before taking any medication consult your doctor as some medicines or herbs with multiple ingredients are likely to harm your baby. Avoid saunas or hot tubs that maintain temperature greater than your body as it may cause over heating and may affect the development of the baby. Do not expose yourself to chemicals. Do not sit in front of the computer screen for long. Keep your blood sugar under control otherwise you may be prone to Gestational diabetes which only occurs during pregnancy. The changes in your body during pregnancy can give a rise to your blood sugar levels which can cause problems to you and your baby. Your baby can face problems like premature birth, jaundice, low blood sugar, etc. The mother can face problems like high blood pressure, chances of cesarean delivery, bladder or kidney infection, etc. Avoid smoking and the smoking areas as it can affect the growth of your child. Smoking can further give problems to the mother while feeding the baby. Eat fruits and vegetables only after washing them. Do not lift any heavy object. It is advisable to exercise regularly. Consult your doctor in order to know which exercises are to be done and at what time.

Thus these are some useful tips suggested by the medical experts and for any further issues kindly consult your doctor.

Reason For Morning Sickness at The Time of Pregnancy

Finding it tough to wake up in the morning during pregnancy? Feels like everything is moving round and round when you get out of your bed? Don’t feel like eating anything? These are the signs of morning sickness. Morning sickness can also be called Nausea or vomiting sensation in the morning or throughout the day. During the first half of the pregnancy i.e. the first three months, nausea or vomiting in the morning is very common. It can also happen throughout the day. For most women, the nausea stops after the first three months and for some it continues till five months of pregnancy.

But what are the causes of morning sickness? What are the reasons behind it? None of the doctors or any medical experts have been able to find out the actual cause of the morning nausea. They believe it occurs due to hormonal changes or due to imbalance in the blood sugar. Many doctors also believe that morning sickness is more common amongst the women who are carrying twins or triplets. Morning sickness is also one of the sign of the mother carrying a baby boy.

Is morning sickness dangerous? It is not dangerous but too much vomiting can cause loss of liquid which in turn can lead to dehydration. This kind of situation is called Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Such kind of situation requires medical attention in the hospitals where the doctors can take some action to stop the loss of liquid from the body. Thus if the mother-to-be vomits three or more times in a day she should visit the doctor immediately.

Necessary Precautions Must be taken During Pregnancy To Avoid Serious Birth Defects

When a lady conceives, she is promoted from being a lady to a mother. A new life is developing inside her body. In such cases the mother-to-be should be very careful with what she eats, whatever she does so that the baby is safe and sound. Thus these are some necessary precautions which should be taken by the mother in order to take care of the developing baby inside her body.

The most crucial stage of pregnancy is the first three to four months. During this stage all the organs of the baby’s body are developing. Thus there are some food stuffs which the mother to be needs to avoid in order to avoid any pregnancy problems. For example, fish or sea food are an important past of our healthy diet as it has low fat sources but it is advisable to avoid fish or seafood during pregnancy as some of the seafood types may contain high level of mercury. Thus is advisable not to eat more than 12 ounces of cooked fish a week. Also minimize the intake of processed food items and only drink pasteurized milk. Some scientists believe caffeine can cause premature or smaller than normal babies or possible birth defects. Thus you have to minimize the intake of caffeine.

Alcohol is also strictly denied for a pregnant lady. The reason to avoid alcohol is because it may cause Fatal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Babies born with FAS may either grow slowly; they might face learning problems or also abnormal facial features. Similarly smoking is also restricted for pregnant ladies because if a pregnant lady smokes she gives birth to a child with less weight which can lead to problems like breathing problems, or some infections to the baby in the future.

These are some of the measures which should be taken by the mother during pregnancy to avoid any serious birth defects.

Natural Remedies To Avoid Morning Sickness

Fed up of the morning sickness due to pregnancy daily when you get out of your bed? Here are some useful tips suggested by the experts to avoid morning sickness. For example, take some time to get out from your bed. Also if you are feeling really sick, eat a little as soon as you wake up like two biscuits which will not make you feel dizzy.

Here are some more tips to be used throughout the day to avoid sickness. First of all eat little and often, may be after every two to three hours even if you are not hungry. Make sure you in take a lot of liquids like 10 to 12 glasses of water or some juice. Spicy or fatty food stuffs are to be strictly avoided during pregnancy. It is advisable to take ginger tea or ginger tablets as it helps avoid nausea as well. Avoid sudden movements. Don’t brush your teeth immediately after you eat as it may cause vomiting. Avoid the intake of alcohol or caffeine and also avoid smoking. Even at night before you go to bed take a small snack and keep the windows open while you sleep for fresh air.

When should you consult the doctor? If none of the above remedies seem to work or if you lose weight, if your vomiting contains blood and you lose more liquid, it is advisable to visit the doctor in such cases. The doctor will suggest a urine test and accordingly prescribe some anti-sickness tablets.

A Pregnant Woman’s Guide to Organic Products

To be pregnant is such a thrill! You must welcome the idea with eager anticipation. A life growing inside of you is indeed a blessing, a great miracle.

You must know, however, that pregnancy can be very challenging. There are many dos and don’ts that you have to be aware of. You need to be very particular not just with the food you eat, but with the skin care products that you use. You see, quite a lot of the moisturizers, lotions, creams, shampoos, and other skin care products that you use contain carcinogens and other toxic ingredients that may affect your unborn baby. Even the FDA and other health organizations agree with this.

Don’t worry, though, because when there’s a problem, there’s always a solution. In this case, there are skin care products made of organic or all natural ingredients. Manufacturers of organic skin care products know the concerns of every pregnant woman --- stretch marks, sagging skin, and so on. Thus, they have created a line of beauty products that help to reduce stretch marks, tone the skin and make it glow. There are even organic products that are made especially for babies.

Yes, organic stretch mark creams and lotions are available and they are made of 100% botanical ingredients. For sagging skin, there are body toning oils composed of natural ingredients like avocado, pomegranate, and jojoba oils, to name a few. These ingredients are believed to aid in the production of collagen, enabling the skin to retain its elasticity.

There are also organic shampoos, soaps, and body washes for you for your baby. Since they are organic, you can be sure that they are free of harsh chemicals that dry or irritate your baby’s ultra sensitive skin.

Organic products are available in your local food store. You can also search for organic distributors in your area. It’s important to always check the labels, though; make sure it’s “certified organic”, meaning it’s 100% all natural. There are companies, you see, that manufacture products with chemical ingredients but are still rated as organic because the amount of these ingredients are only minimal. Still, it’s always best to look for something that is 100% chemical-free.

The Recommended Nutritional Supplements for Pregnant Women

Looking after your health becomes even more important when you are pregnant. You have to consider the fact that there’s another life inside of you. You can’t anymore say that you will eat just for yourself; remember you get to share what you eat with your precious little one. Thus it is essential that you eat the right foods and take in the right nutritional supplements for the good health and proper development of your baby.

Because you are pregnant, you need to take in a good amount of iron as this helps in the development of red blood plus it also aids in the growth of the placenta. Good sources of iron include meats, grains, cereals and vegetables.

The demand for calcium increases during pregnancy. This very important mineral aids in the development of the bones of the growing fetus, thus taking calcium during pregnancy should not be taken for granted. Dairy products such as cheese, milk, and yogurt, as well as tofu, spinach, and broccoli are good sources of calcium.

It’s also important for the expectant mother to take Vitamin E supplements to prevent low birth weight. Vitamin E as you must know also helps in muscle development and formation of red blood cell tissues. Be warned however that too much Vitamin E in the blood may result to stillbirth.

Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine plays a significant role in the development of your baby’s brain and nervous system. It’s also been found to reduce incidence of morning sickness. Watermelons, bananas, and chicken meat are abundant sources of Vitamin B6.

Vitamin B1 or Thiamine, which is found abundantly in whole grain foods and eggs, also helps in the development of the central nervous system. You need to take lots of Vitamin B1 to prevent beriberi which can damage the heart and lungs of your baby.

Another important B Vitamin to take during pregnancy is B9 or Folate. Folate helps in the brain development of your baby and prevents Spina Bifida, a neural tube defect wherein the spinal cord and spinal column are not completely closed. Folate can be found in large amounts in green and leafy vegetables like kale and spinach. Orange juice also contains Folate.

Don’t skimp on proteins, especially during pregnancy. Proteins are important in building the cellular structure of your baby’s body. Eat enough fish, meat, eggs, cheese and tofu to ensure that you will meet your daily requirement of proteins. Do take note that your need for protein increases during the 2nd and 3rd trimester of your pregnancy.
Last but not least of the must-take nutrients is zinc

Weight Gain During Pregnancy – Can You Control It?

It’s natural to be concerned about gaining weight when you are pregnant. Actually, this is a common occurrence since there’s a life growing inside of you, and there’s always that tendency to eat more. Indeed, you have to eat more because your baby needs to be nourished. Don’t feel bad about how you look, though, because you can control weight gain without having to starve yourself and more importantly, your baby.

If your BMI (body mass index) prior to pregnancy is normal, a healthy weight gain during pregnancy should be somewhere between 25 and 35 pounds. Don’t go beyond that, though, else you will be putting your life and your baby’s at risk. Nonetheless, if your weight gain happens to be beyond the range that’s appropriate in your case, you need to consult your doctor. Although it’s not recommended that you lose weight during pregnancy, constant monitoring and checkups are essential to ensure that you don’t gain any more weight; else you may have to deal with obesity, and you know how risky that can be.

Most likely, your doctor will advise you to avoid eating way too much. Although you may have to eat more to give your baby the necessary nutrients, don’t make the habit of overeating. Some women justify this, claiming that they have to eat for two now that there’s a growing child in their womb, but that should not be the case at all.

Also, make wise food choices and avoid eating at fast food restaurants where the foods are fattening with very little nutritional value, if ever. Avoid eating junk foods, processed foods, and sweets, like ice cream candies, and cakes.

Controlling weight during pregnancy is really all about discipline. If you want to stay healthy and look good even with the bump on your tummy, have the courage to say no to overeating and yes to all the right foods.

Some Pregnancy Aches and Pains To Expect During Pregnancy

For someone who has just been married or one who longs to have a baby, nothing can be more exciting than knowing she is pregnant. The excitement is uncontrollable, and there is that eager longing for the day when she can finally hold the baby in her arms.

In the midst of all the excitement, however, are many pregnancy aches and pains. In spite of all the wonder and beauty, pregnancy is actually a difficult time for a woman. She experiences a lot of stress, both mental and physical, during this time.

Consider, for instance, the tenderness around the belly area. This is due to the expanding uterus. Although not really a big concern during the early stage of pregnancy, the pain can be unbearable come the 20th week of the pregnancy.

There is also increased vaginal secretion during pregnancy, a condition that results to increased secretion of leucorrhea or odorless but clear/whitish discharge. As long as the color of the secretion stays clear or white, there’s nothing to be anxious about, but watch out when the discharges turn greenish-yellow and emit a foul smell. This is no longer normal and must be reported immediately to your doctor. Alert your doctor, too, when you experience soreness or pain around the vaginal area.

Hormonal changes can occur with pregnancy. The palms of your hands and the soles of your feet may turn reddish. When they do, you are said to have palmer erythyma, a normal result of hormonal changes following pregnancy. This is usually not treated because the condition normally disappears after giving birth.

Among other issues of great concern to pregnant women are skin tags. Skin tags develop when the skin rubs itself against skin or cloth.

Some women experience phylogenic granulomas --- these are tumor growths found in your gums. These are non-cancerous, so they are harmless. Just like palmer erythma, phylogenic granulomas disappear even without treatment after birth.

Carpel tunnel syndrome, a condition involving the nerves in the wrist, may also occur. To relieve yourself of this syndrome, try elevating the affected hand or put a plastic splint when going to bed at night. Generally, this disappears on its own after giving birth, but some women have to undergo surgery to correct the problem.

Hip soreness is another discomfort often felt by pregnant women. This results because hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy cause the ligaments to stretch and the cartilage to soften up. To alleviate the problem, change your sleeping position often.

Stretch Marks during Pregnancy – How to Prevent Them

Among the greatest concerns of most pregnant woman are stretch marks. These are unsightly lines that develop on the hips and abdomen during the latter part of pregnancy. You see, the abdomen has to normally stretch in order to accommodate the baby; unfortunately, the skin’s lower layers are not elastic enough, so they break easily, the reason why you have stretch marks.

Fortunately, there are things one can do to prevent the occurrence of stretch marks. Considering that the reason why stretch marks develop is because of the lack of elasticity of the skin, treatment options are targeted towards increasing the skin’s elasticity. The first thing you will have to do then is to make wise food choices. Go for foods that are rich in Vitamins E, C, B2 and B3, zinc and silica as these improve the skin’s elasticity, making it more able to withstand the growing baby without braking.

You also need to drink lots of water. As you must know, your skin becomes dry and itchy and more easily irritated because of stretch marks, so it’s only appropriate that you nourish your skin with pure water, vegetable juice and herbal teas; as much as possible, stay away from drinks that contain lots of sugar because they will only increase cellulite.

Keeping the stretch mark-prone area of your body moisturized at least twice daily also helps to prevent stretch marks. Make sure to use lotions, oils, creams, and gels that have all the essential vitamins and enzymes that promote the production off elastin and collagen.

Engaging in low-impact aerobic exercises is also highly recommended, so is sleeping the recommended number of hours each day. These activities not only prepare you well for the big day, but they also improve the health of your skin, thereby helping to prevent stretch marks.

When choosing a certain skin care product or activity to prevent stretch marks, see to it that they have the seal of approval of your attending physician. This should give you the confidence that you are not endangering the life of your baby anyhow.