Archive for November, 2008
Pregnancy is probably the most wonderful thing that could ever happen to any woman. This is why proper nutrition and nourishment—despite having a chronic illness such as diabetes—should be paid attention in order to ensure the health and well being not only of the mother but of the baby as well.
One of the most important aspects of pregnancy that should be paid attention to is proper nutrition. This cannot only be achieved by eating a variety of foods from different food groups but also by taking in prescribed supplementation. Since not all pregnant women are very tuned into eating a broad range of foods that are good sources of crucial nutrients during pregnancy, taking in supplements such as calcium, multivitamins and iron is necessary to support the growing baby inside the womb.
Ideal nourishment
Generally, pregnant women are advised to eat well-balanced meals that comprise of foods coming from all food groups so she can provide the proper nourishment for the baby and herself. Good nutrition by eating healthy foods and a well-balanced diet does not only ensure that the baby gets the nutrients he or she needs but this also help in minimizing some of the pains and discomfort caused by the symptoms of pregnancy.
To achieve optimum nutrition, pregnant women are advised to consume foods that are rich in folate, calcium, iron, vitamins, and minerals that can be found in whole grain breads, pastas, brown rice, fruits, vegetables, fish, lean meats and dairy products. The following are just some of the nutrients pregnant women need during the gestation period.
- calories. Pregnant women are advised to take in about 300 extra calories coming from a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, protein, and whole grains are needed everyday to maintain a healthy pregnancy.
- protein. Protein nourishment is very important during pregnancy because it provides the building blocks for the baby’s growth especially in proper brain development. Pregnant women with diabetes are advised to aim for 30 grams of protein or more daily that should come from various animal and dairy products such as cheese, eggs, fish, chicken, beef, lamb, yogurt, cereals, grains, pasta, legumes, beans, peanuts, broccoli, peas, and leafy green vegetables.
- Vitamin C. Enough supply of Vitamin C is quiet significant for a pregnant woman because it strengthens her immunity and helps in building strong collagen, bone and teeth for the growing baby. Since Vitamin C cannot be restored in the body, a fresh supply is needed daily to ensure that the mother gets enough of this nutrient. Excellent Vitamin C sources include green leafy and yellow vegetable as well as yellow fruits.
- calcium. For bone and tooth formation, calcium intake is another significant nutrient pregnant woman should increase. Experts say that about 1,200 mg of calcium daily is recommended for lactation and pregnancy. Calcium sources include dairy products and green leafy vegetables.
- iron. Iron is a very important mineral needed to avoid the possibility of iron-deficiency anemia during pregnancy. The recommended iron intake for pregnant women is 30 to 50 mg that should come from lean meats, dark green leafy vegetables, eggs, and whole grain cereals. But since it is difficult to get enough iron in diet intake alone, the doctor usually prescribes iron supplement.
Pregnant women with diabetes should be more particular about their eating patterns now more than before because maintaining proper levels of glucose can highly contribute to the overall of both mother and child.
Carrying a life inside the womb for nine months is probably the most wonderful experience any woman could ever have. In this stage called “pregnancy,” it is very important for an expectant mother to pay attention to good nutrition because this is very vital for her and her baby’s health. Pregnancy for regular women is complicated as it is, how much more for women who are suffering from a chronic illness such as diabetes?
During the course of the pregnancy, the mother and the baby need all the energy and nutrients they can get. Pregnancy is indeed not the time to lose weight or go on a diet because having a nutritionally sound diet can increase the chances for the baby to have a normal birth weight, proper brain development, and reduce the risk of certain birth defects. All these and more should be of topmost consideration for pregnant women who have diabetes.
What you need to know
Diabetes has three types, the “type 1 diabetes” which is the least common type but predominantly diagnosed among kids and teens, the “type diabetes” which is the most common to all ages and the “gestational diabetes” which are common for women once they get pregnant. It can be said that among these three types of diabetes, “gestational diabetes” is the easiest to deal with because it usually ends once the woman gives birth. However, this is not always the case because there are also those that continue to suffer from the disease that can lead to “type 2 diabetes” if not monitored and given proper medical attention immediately.
Although almost pregnant women are expected to suffer from gestational diabetes at one point during their pregnancy, there are also those who suffer from it even before they conceive. In this scenario, dealing with diabetes can be harder and much more complicated. But now, with the help of modern technology and advances in the field of medical research, pregnancy for women who are diabetics is fairly easier and lesser risk when it comes to the overall health of the baby and the mother as well.
First things first
For women who are diagnosed with diabetes, getting pregnant should be an utmost decision to make. This is because it will greatly determine not just the baby’s health but the woman’s overall health condition as well. For women who are planning to get pregnant despite suffering from diabetes, the major consideration to ponder on is the readiness of the woman’s body. This is very important to ensure that the woman can meet all the challenges and difficulties that goes with pregnancy.
To know if the woman’s body is ready for pregnancy despite diabetes, she should undergo a thorough physical examination administered by a licensed physician. This is very important because the physician can tell if the body is ready for the demands of pregnancy and labor and the possible complications that might occur along the way.
Experts say that pregnant women who have diabetes will most likely develop related complications such as diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, kidney disease, autonomic neuropathy or nerve damage to the internal organs, and cardiovascular diseases.
What you can do
With proper daily management, many women were able to have successful deliveries. The following are just some of the things that helped them along the way:
- frequent self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG);
- administering insulin injections and identifying how to adjust the doses depending on results of their SMBG;
- controlling and treatment of hypoglycemia;
- maintaining an appropriate level of regular exercise or physical activities; and an
- appropriate meal plan specially designed for women who have diabetes.
Among diabetic pregnant women, the most common problem when it comes to their baby’s health is the condition called “macrosomia” or having a baby with large body. This is because the blood of the mother with diabetes is interchanged with that of the baby inside the womb. As a result, the baby will produce insulin to be able to glucose and this will lead to fat deposits, which causes the baby to grown larger compared to the regular ones.
What you can do
For a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy, it is ideal to maintain an appropriate weight gain, average consumption of various foods from different food groups, timely and prescribed vitamin and mineral supplementation, and lots of fluid intake. Sweets and fats should also be kept to a minimum level of consumption. The following are just some of the guidelines that pregnant women with diabetes can use to achieve healthy pregnancy despite the chronic disease:
1. Follow the appropriate meal plan religiously. More than ever, pregnant women should pay attention to what they eat and their eating patterns in general. This is very important because this stage—pregnancy itself—requires strict control of blood glucose levels in order to ensure that both the mother and baby are getting the right amount of key nutrients needed. In coming up with the right diet plan, it is best to seek the help of diabetes educator or a licensed dietitian to create the necessary adjustments needed to accommodate the needs not only of the fetus inside the womb but of the mother as well. In your meal plan, take note of calorie, carbohydrates and protein requirements every day because these will help you maintain normal blood glucose levels.
2. Regular Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose or SMBG. Experts say that the only way to tell if the woman is successful in controlling her blood glucose is by monitor their levels by themselves regularly. Since being pregnant is a sensitive condition, soon to be mothers should monitor their blood glucose levels more frequently. Ideally, SMBG should be monitored four to 10 times a day.
3. Knowledge in administering insulin injections and adjusting the doses based on the results of SMBG. Sufficient supply of insulin is very crucial for pregnant women so they must know how to administer insulin injections by themselves in case no one is around when they need it. They should also ask from their physician how to adjust the doses of insulin after they are through with the SBMG. Knowing how to adjust the doses of insulin needed is very important to ensure that the body’s supply of insulin is stable.
4. Treating or controlling hypoglycemia. Pregnant women who are diabetics are more prone to hypoglycemia because of the hormonal changes in their body. Although studies show that there are no know effects of hypoglycemia in the baby, it is best to control or treat it as soon as possible so the soon to be mom won’t be having troubles during the course of conception.
5. Maintaining regular set of exercise or physical activities. This is also very important for pregnant women with diabetes because through this they can reduce the risk of hypoglycemia as well as being overweight. Since it is hard for pregnant women to do strenuous workouts, it is best to maintain the hobby of having light exercises that will keep the body moving.
Although parents are generally happy with whatever sex their baby is, they may also have a preference to conceive a boy naturally. Some couples may have genetic or medical reasons for wanting to conceive a boy, in which case contacting an IVF clinic is advised, whilst others may already have girls and want to try to conceive a boy naturally rather than engage in the ethical risks and dilemmas involved in IVF(in vitro fertilisation).
In the past there have been a variety of beliefs concerning how to conceive a boy naturally. For example, Leviticus 12:2 states that if the woman has an orgasm before the man this will produce male offspring, and in some cultures it was believed that if the couples’ heads were facing North whilst having intercourse, then they would have a boy. As time has passed we have been able to dispel the old myths and a variety of new theories have come forward, with the Shettles method being the most highly regarded for how to conceive a boy naturally.
The Shettles method was developed by Landrum Shettles who believed that knowledge of the differences between the X and Y sperm could be exploited to improve the odds of conceiving a boy naturally. Although there is little scientific investigation to back up Landrum Shettles’ assertions, the arguments used have influenced the variety of book and gender selection kits in the market.
The Shettles method is, in essence, that if the couple have sex closer to ovulation (between one day before and half a day after ovulation) then the probability that they will conceive a boy naturally increases, as a result of the high mobility and decreased life span of the sperm. Shettles also argues that sexual position may be influential, and in order to conceive a boy naturally, deep penetration will be beneficial as ejaculation deposit’s the sperm closer to the cervix and allows the ‘boy sperm’, which are more aggressive and quicker, a greater chance of fertilising the egg.
Diet is also viewed as an important factor in the ability to conceive a boy naturally, and consuming sodium and potassium rich foods whilst reducing the mother’s intake of calcium and magnesium are believed to increase chances of a boy. Therefore eating salty snacks, meats, pasta, and fruits high in potassium such as bananas is advised.
Interestingly, contemporary sources have re-examined the statement from Leviticus and there may be some truth to the assertion, as the alkaline fluid released is thought to be more beneficial to male sperm than the vagina’s natural acidity, therefore improving chances of conceiving a boy naturally.
Regardless of these theories, it is worth noting that within a single ejaculation millions of sperm are released and as a result there may not be a great deal of impact from implementing any of the above strategies. Although helpful, none of the above is able to guarantee that you will conceive a boy naturally.
For further information it may be worth contacting your general health practitioner, as the conceive a baby boy naturally article provided above is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat or replace any medical advice from your health practitioner.
Suggested Reading:
+ Conceive a Girl
+ Free Baby Gender Predictor
+ Baby Gender Predictor
+ Best Time to get Pregnant
The first question that most couples who are trying to conceive will ask is ‘what is the best time to get pregnant?’ Obviously the best time to get pregnant is when the woman is most fertile, and most women are fertile around ovulation, which tends to occur in the middle of the menstrual cycle. During ovulation, an ovum or egg is released into the uterus and waits for around 12 hours to be fertilized.
It is possible to work out ovulation, which is the best time to get pregnant, through the calendar method, with the rule of thumb being that ovulation occurs 14 days before the end of the menstrual cycle. However, a more accurate way to determine the best time to get pregnant is by purchasing and using an ovulation predictor kit (OPK). Once your kit shows ‘positive’ then you have between 12 and 24 hours in which to fertilise the egg, before it dies.
Basal Body Temperature Charting is also used to determine when is the best time to get pregnant, and is based upon the notion that Estrogen and Progesterone, two important hormones, affect the woman’s body temperature with higher levels of Estrogen lowering body temperature and higher levels of Progesterone raising the woman’s body temperature. After ovulation, the Progesterone hormone raises and body temperature increases which means that by keeping a body temperature diary, you can determine when ovulation has started and therefore when the best time to get pregnant is.
Cervical Mucous Tracking is yet another method of determining the best time to get pregnant. As you approach your most fertile period, the cervical mucous in your vagina changes in its texture and consistency generally becoming more clear and stretchy. This provides a better and more hospitable environment for sperm, capable of supporting them for several days and, consequently, improves chances of conception.
It is important not to be too concerned if after the first month you have not conceived, as only 25% of couples do. However, after the first several months of trying to get pregnant, 80% of couples will be successful, in which case consulting with your health practitioner may be worthwhile and listening to their advice on the best time to get pregnant.
For further information on the best time to get pregnant it may be worth contacting your general health practitioner, as the article provided above is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat or replace any medical advice from your health practitioner.
Suggested Reading:
+ First pregnancy Signs