Early Intake of Prenatal Vitamins and Autism Risk
June 16, 2011 by admin
Filed under Pregnancy News
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Early Intake of Prenatal Vitamins and Autism Risk
Summary The actual causes and factors that are associated with autism are not clearly known. The current study explored the fact that women who did not take vitamins three months before pregnancy were at a higher risk of giving birth … Read More
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Do you have a health pregnancy?
October 15, 2010 by admin
Filed under Pregnancy Articles
Timelines
A pregnancy is divided into three phases, or trimesters. The first trimester is from conception to the end of week 13. The second trimester is from week 14 to the end of week 26. The third trimester is from week 27 to the end of the pregnancy.
The doctor will examine you and perform a pelvic exam. He or she may also perform blood tests, a urine test, and tests for sexually transmitted disease, including a test for HIV, which is on the rise in teens. (Some STDs can cause serious medical problems in newborns, so it’s important to get treatment to protect the baby.)
The doctor will explain the types of physical and emotional changes you can expect during pregnancy. He or she will also teach you to how to recognize the signs of possible problems during pregnancy (called complications). This is especially important because teens are more at risk for certain complications, such as anemia, high blood pressure, and delivering a baby earlier than usual (called premature delivery).
Your doctor will want you to start taking prenatal vitamins that contain folic acid, calcium, and iron as soon as possible. The doctor may prescribe the vitamins or recommend a brand that you can buy over the counter. These vitamins and minerals help ensure the baby’s and mother’s health as well as prevent some types of birth defects.
Ideally, you should see your doctor once each month for the first 28 weeks of your pregnancy, then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, then once a week until you deliver the baby. If you have a medical condition such as diabetes that needs careful monitoring during your pregnancy, your doctor will probably want to see you more often.
During visits, your doctor will check your weight, blood pressure, and urine, and will measure your abdomen to keep track of the baby’s growth. Once the baby’s heartbeat can be heard with a special device, the doctor will listen for it at each visit. Your doctor will probably also send you for some other tests during the pregnancy, such as an ultrasound, to make sure that everything is OK with your baby.
One part of prenatal care is attending classes where expectant mothers can learn about having a healthy pregnancy and delivery and the basics of caring for a new baby. These classes may be offered at hospitals, medical centers, schools, and colleges in your area.
It can be difficult for adults to talk to their doctors about their bodies and even more difficult for teens to do so. Your doctor is there to help you stay healthy during pregnancy and have a healthy baby — and there’s probably not much he or she hasn’t heard from expectant mothers! So don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Be upfront when your doctor asks questions, even if they seem embarrassing. A lot of the issues the doctor brings up could affect your baby’s health. Think of your doctor both as a resource and a friend who you can confide in about what’s happening to you.
Changes to Expect in Your Body
Pregnancy causes lots of physical changes in the body. Here are some common ones:
Breast Growth
An increase in breast size is one of the first signs of pregnancy, and the breasts may continue to grow throughout the pregnancy. You may go up several bra sizes during the course of your pregnancy.
Skin Changes
Don’t be surprised if people tell you your skin is “glowing” when you are pregnant — pregnancy causes an increase in blood volume, which can make your cheeks a little pinker than usual. And hormonal changes increase oil gland secretion, which can give your skin a shinier appearance. Acne is also common during pregnancy for the same reason.
Other skin changes caused by pregnancy hormones may include brownish or yellowish patches on the face called chloasma and a dark line on the midline of the lower abdomen, known as thelinea nigra.
Also, moles or freckles that you had prior to pregnancy may become bigger and darker. Even the areola, the area around the nipples, becomes darker. Stretch marks are thin pink or purplish lines that can appear on your abdomen, breasts, or thighs.
Except for the darkening of the areola, which can last, these skin changes will usually disappear after you give birth.
Mood Swings
It’s very common to have mood swings during pregnancy. Some girls may also experience depression during pregnancy or after delivery. If you have symptoms of depression such as sadness, changes in sleep patterns, thoughts of hurting yourself, or bad feelings about yourself or your life, tell your doctor so he or she can help you to get treatment.
Pregnancy Discomforts
Pregnancy can cause some uncomfortable side effects. These include:
nausea and vomiting (especially early in the pregnancy)
leg swelling
varicose veins in the legs and the area around the vaginal opening
hemorrhoids
heartburn and constipation
backache
fatigue
sleep loss
If you have one or more of these side effects, keep in mind that you’re not alone! Ask your doctor for advice on how to deal with these common problems.
If you are pregnant and have bleeding or pain, call the doctor immediately, even if you are not planning to continue the pregnancy.
Things to Avoid in pregnancy
Smoking, drinking alcohol, and taking drugs when you are pregnant put you and your baby at risk for a number of serious problems.
Alcohol
Doctors now believe that it’s not safe to drink any amount of alcohol when you are pregnant. Drinking can harm a developing fetus, putting a baby at risk for birth defects and mental problems.
Smoking
The risks of smoking during pregnancy include stillbirths (when a baby dies while inside the mother), low birth weight (which increases a baby’s risk for health problems), prematurity (when babies are born earlier than 37 weeks), and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the sudden, unexplained death of an infant who is younger than 1 year old.
Drugs
Using illegal drugs such as cocaine or marijuana during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, prematurity, and other medical problems. Babies can also be born addicted to certain drugs.
Ask your doctor for help if you are having trouble quitting smoking, drinking, or drugs. Check with your doctor before taking any medication while you are pregnant, including over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies and supplements, and vitamins.
Unsafe Sex
Talk to your doctor about sex during pregnancy. If your doctor says it’s OK to have sex while you’re pregnant, you must use a condom to help prevent getting an STD. Some STDs can cause blindness, pneumonia, or meningitis in newborns, so it’s important to protect yourself and your baby.
Taking Care of Yourself During Pregnancy
Eating
Many girls worry about how their bodies look and are afraid to gain weight during pregnancy. But now that you are eating for two, this is not a good time to cut calories or go on a diet. Both you and your baby need certain nutrients so the baby can grow properly. Eating a variety of healthy foods, drinking plenty of water, and cutting back on high-fat junk foods will help you and your developing baby to be healthy.
Doctors generally recommend adding about 300 calories a day to your diet to provide adequate nourishment for the developing fetus. You should gain about 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy, most of this during the last 6 months — although how much a girl should gain depends on how much she weighed before the pregnancy. Your doctor will advise you based on your individual situation.
Eating additional fiber — 25 to 30 grams a day — and drinking plenty of water can help to prevent common problems such as constipation. Good sources of fiber are fresh fruits and vegetables and breads, cereals, or muffins that have lots of whole grain in them.
You’ll need to avoid eating or drinking certain things during pregnancy, such as:
certain types of fish, such as swordfish, canned tuna, and other fish that may be high in mercury (your doctor can help you decide which fish you can eat)
foods that contain raw eggs, such as mousse or Caesar salad
raw or undercooked meat and fish
processed meats, such as hot dogs and deli meats
soft, unpasteurized cheeses, such as feta, brie, blue, and goat cheese
unpasteurized milk, juice, or cider
It’s also a good idea to limit artificial sweeteners, and drinks that contain caffeine and artificial sweeteners.
Exercise
Exercising during pregnancy is good for you as long as you are having an uncomplicated pregnancy and choose appropriate activities. Doctors generally recommend low-impact activities such as walking, swimming, and yoga. Contact sports and high-impact aerobic activities that pose a greater risk of injury should generally be avoided. Also, working at a job that involves heavy lifting is not recommended for women during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about whether particular types of exercise are safe for you and your baby.
Sleep
It’s important to get plenty of rest while you are pregnant. Early in your pregnancy, try to get into the habit of sleeping on your side. Lying on your side with your knees bent is likely to be the most comfortable position as your pregnancy progresses. Also, it makes your heart’s job easier because it keeps the baby’s weight from applying pressure to the large vein that carries blood back to the heart from your feet and legs.
Some doctors recommend that girls who are pregnant sleep on the left side. Because of where some of your major blood vessels are, lying on your left side helps keep the uterus from pressing on them. Ask what your doctor recommends — in most cases, lying on either side should do the trick and help take some pressure off your back.
Throughout your pregnancy, but especially toward the end, you may wake up often at night to go to the bathroom. While it’s important to drink enough water while you’re pregnant, try to drink most of it during the day rather than at night. Use the bathroom right before going to bed. As you get further along in your pregnancy, you might have a difficult time getting comfortable in bed. Try positioning pillows around and under your belly, back, or legs to get more comfortable.
Stress can also interfere with sleep. Maybe you’re worried about your baby’s health, about delivery, or about what your new role as a parent will be like. All of these feelings are normal, but they may keep you up at night. Talk to your doctor if you are having problems sleeping during your pregnancy.
Emotional Health
It’s common for pregnant teens to feel a range of emotions, such as fear, anger, guilt, confusion, and sadness. It may take a while to adjust to the fact that you’re going to have a baby. It’s a huge change, and it’s natural for pregnant teens to wonder whether they’re ready to handle the responsibilities that come with being a parent.
How a girl feels often depends on how much support she has from the baby’s father, from her family (and the baby’s father’s family), and from friends. Each girl’s situation is different. Depending on your situation, you may need to seek more support from people outside your family. It’s important to talk to the people who can support and guide you and help you share and sort through your feelings. Your school counselor or nurse can refer you to resources in your community that can help.
School and the Future
Some girls plan to raise their babies themselves. Sometimes grandparents or other family members help. Some girls decide to give their babies up for adoption. It takes a great deal of courage and concern for the baby to make these difficult decisions.
Girls who complete high school are more likely to have good jobs and enjoy more success in their lives. If possible, finish high school now rather than trying to return later. Ask your school counselor or an adult you trust for information about programs and classes in your community for pregnant teens.
Some communities have support groups especially for teen parents. Some high schools have child-care centers on campus. Perhaps a family member or friend can care for your baby while you’re in school.
drizharnium@gmail.com, Bangalore India
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Constipation in Pregnancy & Constipation Relief During Pregnancy
March 28, 2010 by admin
Filed under Pregnancy Articles
Constipation in pregnancy can cause bloating, pain and even pre term labor. Read on to see what options pregnant women have for constipation relief during pregnancy.
Constipation relief during pregnancy is a question many pregnant women ask. Approximately half of all women experience constipation in pregnancy.
Why do women get constipation in pregnancy?
The pregnancy hormone progesterone has a relaxing effect on the intestines and this slows the movement of the bowel causing pregnancy constipation.
The growing fetus needs as much vitamins, minerals and nutrients as possible. Therefore the increasing hormone levels of a pregnant woman cause food to move slower through the bowels. This results in constipation but also gives the body more time to absorb extra nutrients.
Pregnant women need extra water for the extra blood volume required for pregnancy. Therefore the mother will absorb more water from the bowel than normal which will result in a harder, dryer bowel movement resulting in constipation.
The longer food stays in the intestines, the more water is reabsorbed from the bowel into the body to accommodate for the extra blood volume required during pregnancy.
All prenatal vitamins contain iron which is known to cause constipation in pregnancy.
Constipation relief during pregnancy:
Drink at least 8-10 glasses of oxygen rich purified water a day.
Increase fiber in your diet such as whole grains and brown rice.
Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly prunes (which can be taken via prune juice).
Peppermint tea or peppermint water can help with gas or bloating pains.
Try to reduce stress in your life as stress can cause constipation.
You may have to switch you prenatal vitamins over to a different brand. Even though they all have iron, some brands may be less pregnancy constipating to you than others.
Add a little more exercise to your daily routine. If you do not normally exercise then start with 10-15 minutes walking every day. If you routinely exercise change your exercise routine slightly to see if you can stimulate bowel activity.
Mangosteen juice Mangosteen juice has been shown to have a positive effect on all systems of the body including bowel mobility. Mangosteen is a fruit and is very effective in preventing pregnancy complications.
Consult with a homeopath for a pregnancy safe homeopathy remedy for constipation.Avoid over-the-counter laxatives as they can stimulate uterine contractions resulting in miscarriage or pre-term labor.
Prevention of constipation is the best place to start. Many of my pregnant clients have experienced a constipation free pregnancy by taking mangosteen and minerals on a daily basis prior and during pregnancy. Mangosteen is present in different quantities in different products. Wondering where to get more information about a high quality mangosteen and mineral product? Mangosteen is present in different quantities in different products, so do your research.
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Advice on How to Ensure a Healthy Pregnancy
January 30, 2010 by admin
Filed under Healthy Pregnancy
Just as expected, your home test yielded a pink result. Congratulations! It is now up to you to make sure that you and your baby remain in the best possible health for the nine months of your pregnancy to come. If this seems like a daunting task, rest assured, it is not that challenging. From the day of getting your big news, there are some easy to follow steps that you can take to maintain the health of both you and your baby until the day when you hold your baby in your arms.
You are What You Eat
You may have been told this your entire life, but it is an even bigger reality during pregnancy. Pregnancy places extra stress on the digestive system, as a result, numerous pregnant women choose to eat five or six smaller meals a day, as opposed to three large ones. Ensuring the proper nutritional value of your meals, by consuming plenty of fresh produce and whole grains, is very important during this time. The nutrients found in your prescribed prenatal vitamins are essential to a healthy pregnancy and should be part of your daily routine. Be sure to consult your physician before adding any other supplements, medications, or herbal remedies.
The List of Don’ts
For the optimal health and safety of you and the baby, there are several things that should be avoided during the course of your pregnancy. Your baby is at much greater risk of birth defects or other health issues with overuse of tobacco, alcohol, or street drugs used during pregnancy, so it is critical to avoid these dangers. Auto accidents can happen at any time, so be sure to always fasten your seat belt when riding in or driving a car. Your body will give you a signal when it needs to rest, listen to your body, and avoid overexerting during your pregnancy. Your body’s main job right now is nourishing your baby, this may mean that you won’t have as much energy as you may be used to.
Take Care
It is perfectly acceptable to partake in some extra pampering during this time. Guaranteeing that your body has enough sleep is another way to provide the best environment for your baby. A daily walk, or other light exercise, should be a part of your daily routine. Staying in shape, and getting your body ready for the task of labor and birth, are very beneficial.
Enjoy this exciting time, but remember to take the steps necessary so that it is a healthy time. With attention to this helpful advice, you and your baby will be as healthy as possible until you meet face to face.
Pregnancy Eating and Nutrition
January 5, 2010 by admin
Filed under Pregnancy Eating
When you find that you are pregnant, you need to start thinking about yourself as eating and feeding for two. You no longer have only yourself and your own health to be concerned about, but also for your baby. To make sure that you are doing everything that you can to have a healthy pregnancy, you want to make sure that you are following a proper diet, getting plenty of rest and taking care of yourself.
Being pregnant can be a wonderful time in your life, though some women suffer from sickness and other health conditions that can make it difficult to get the proper nutrition that they need, and to be active during the pregnancy. If you have health concerns, or are concerned that you are not able to get the healthy foods that you need, you can talk to your doctor about what you should be doing to make sure you are giving your body and your baby what you both need.
Staying active during pregnancy is another important thing that you should do. Some women are not able to be as active as they would like during their pregnancy, and before you begin any kind of fitness or workout plan, you should always talk to your doctor. But following a light and healthy plan for activity is usually a good way to help keep your body active and stay healthy for your pregnancy. Even if you are not able to do all of the exercises that you usually do, you can still find ways to do light activity and stay healthy.
You may want to talk to your doctor about taking supplements or prenatal vitamins while you are pregnant. Most of the time, your doctor may suggest a good prenatal vitamin for you to take, but before you take anything, you should be sure that you talk to your doctor first. There can be some minerals that you want to limit or avoid while you are pregnant, so it is always a good plan to talk to your doctor before you take any kind of supplement while you are pregnant. There are a lot of things that you can do to help make sure you and your baby are healthy while you are pregnant, and eating healthy and getting the proper nutritious supplements into your diet are important to have a happy and healthy pregnancy.
Important Prenatal Vitamins to Take: Folic Acid, Iron and Vitamin A
December 14, 2009 by Natasha Marryat
Filed under pregnancy symptoms
“Is it always recommended to take prenatal vitamins?” “Is taking medicine dangerous for pregnant women?” “Does it have any side effects?” These are some of the questions that bother pregnant women today. To note, pregnancy is one of the most significant events that a woman has to experience in her life. Not to mention of course, the thrill and excitement it brings.
Many experts found out that women who are taking prenatal vitamins are healthier. It also was found to have the same effect on the unborn child. And if you are thinking that eating the right kinds of foods will suffice, think twice.
Aside from eating the right kind of foods, fertility experts suggest that pregnant women should take prenatal vitamins. This does not replace the nutrients but instead, supplements them.
One very important prenatal vitamin necessary for pregnant women to take is folic acid. Folic acid, which is part of the vitamin B family is critical for a strong pregnancy and healthy fetal development. This vitamin is not only intended for pregnant women who are less healthy during pregnancy but it also holds true even for healthy pregnant women. Folic acid is known to reduce the risk of birth defects like spina bifida, neural tube defects and other birth defects like congenital heart conditions. Spina bifida is the most common neural tube defect. These congenital abnormalities can be a major problem for the family and is also a threat to a child’s life. Women therefore,should take an abundant quantity of folic acid not only when one becomes pregnant, but also during the time when you are already preparing yourself for pregnancy. To note, some doctors advise pregnant women to take 200 micrograms (mcg)of folic acid or also known as folate everyday.
Two separate studies in 1991 and 1996 found out that folic acid can help prevent neural tube defects, urinary tract and cardiovascular defects. Deficiency folic acid will lead to low birth weight and increased incidence of neural tube defects.
Another necessary prenatal vitamin is iron. Iron is the main component of hemoglobin which is the part of the blood that carries oxygen. Thus, iron is important in the transportation of oxygen in the body of the pregnant woman and that of the unborn child. Iron enhances the baby’s healthy growth and helps the mother maintain a healthy body as she gives birth to a baby.
There are many things Vitamin A can do. First, it can help in developing the embryo,cells and tissues. Second, it fights infections and repair damaged tissues. Third, it can also help in lactation which is done during breastfeeding. Lastly, it develops other parts of the body such as the eyes, heart, skin and mucous membranes. These are the reasons why Vitamin A is essential for pregnant women.
Indeed, the intake of prenatal vitamins helps a woman not only during the stage of pregnancy but also after giving birth. And the best thing about it is that you have also provided a healthy life to your child.
Natasha Marryat runs the Why Can’t I Get Pregnant blog where she blogs about pregnancy issues. Hop over to her blog to learn more about trying to get pregnant.