Archive for the ‘pregnancy’ Category
Enjoying your pregnancy
If you are pregnant, whether it’s for the first time or not, you know that your life is going to change forever. Bringing a child into this world will change everything about you, be it physically, emotionally, mentally, morally and socially. Don’t worry, as god has given you a time period of 9 months to prepare for this event. So take a deep breath and start.
When you are pregnant, you will find that a lot of people, from amongst your friends and relatives, and even those who you don’t know, giving you a lot of advice. Of course, all the advice is well- meant, but you need to take all of that with a pinch of salt! This is because no amount of advice can prepare you for the whirlwind that is going to turn your life upside down!
During this time, not only do you need to take good care of yourself, you can also fill your leisure time with reading as much about pregnancy and taking care of a newborn baby as you can. Don’t just rely on the internet. Visit your local library and read up on the subject. But too much information is bad as you are going to be nervous if you read up all the statistics on everything negative that has ever happened to babies!
Enjoy your pregnancy while it lasts. Do things you like, don’t over- stress yourself at work and spend quality time with your partner. It will make you a happy mother when your little one arrives.
Nowadays, the medical world is developing really fast. For the pregnant mom that wants to birth her baby, she needs to pick which method she wants to born her baby. Yes, there are so many methods to born the baby. From natural way, the cesarean surgery process, until the brand new water birth process. What, water birth? Yes, there are so many people that do not know the last method mentioned earlier. Water birth process is quite controversial in the medical world.
Then, what is water birth? Like its name, the mom that wants to take water birth method will born her baby at the water. Usually, the doctor will use pool as the media. Nowadays, there are so many moms that try this method. The water birth method is believed able to reduce the mom’s suffering during the process compared to the natural or surgery method. The water birth is also believed to give the same environment of the womb. So, the baby will not get shocked when born into the world. It is believed to be easier for the baby since he or she will born slowly from wet and warm world the another dimension.
For the mom, water birth can give extra support. Yes, water birth usually done in her water pool. It is why the family will be able to give extra support to the mom. Can you tell me the mom that does not want her whole family watching her effort to born the baby? Not only her husband, but also whole of the family like her sister, her brother, and even her parents.
For the baby, water birth can be said as not dangerous at all. You have to know that baby do not breathe in a moment after the birth process. It is why the baby is safe since after he or she in the water, the doctor will remove it from water and give it to his or her mom. As long as there is a doctor or educate midwife, this water birth is really safe and you do not need to worry at all.
Actually, as long as you are the woman who able to do the normal pregnancy, allowed to takes the water birth. Then, if you have a bit problem like a high risk category, you should not take this water birth method since it can be dangerous. Ask for your doctor before decide to take this method or not.
Pregnancy is detected by various methods. Pregnancy can be detected by the individual themselves because the signs and symptoms of pregnancy are very obvious. Pregnancy can also be detected by the help of medical people or by undergoing certain medical tests.
There are a number of symptoms like HCG, darkening of the vagina and cervix, Hegar’s sign which is the softening of the uterus isthma and Good ell’s sign, which is the softening of the vaginal portion.
Other symptoms of the pregnancy may include linea Alba – linea nigra pigmentation, which is usually referred to the darkening of the skin in the center of the abdominal area. This happens due to the hormonal changes which usually occur during the middle of the pregnancy period.
Pregnancy diagnosis can usually be accomplished by undergoing various medical tests in which all of them detect the hormones that generate the newly formed placenta. Urine and blood tests can be used to diagnose pregnancy. The main advantage of the blood test is that, it can diagnose pregnancy as early as in the end of the first weeks itself. The usual beginning of the pregnancy is from the time of the last menstrual cycle.
The blood test for pregnancy is more accurate than the urine test and is usually preferred by the medical people. The main disadvantage of the urine test is that, t detects the pregnancy only after 12 to 13 days of the pregnancy only. The primary intention of this test is only to check the state of the embryo and not the age of it.
The blastocyst usually secretes hormones by the name of human choronic gonadotropin. This generally happens in the post menstrual phase. This hormone again stimulates the corpus leutum which is present in the human ovary which continues to produce the progesterone. The main use of this is to create the lining and maintain it which in turn helps in keeping the embryo nourished and healthy.
The lining of the uterus has a gland which swells in respondance to the blastocysts that is triggered to that area. This is done in order to absorb all the vital nutrients that are required for the embryo to nourish properly.
On the other hand, all the signs and symptoms of the pregnancy, some woman won’t realize that they are pregnant till they are in the pregnancy for some time. This is possible due to various reasons like irregular menstrual cycles, taking certain strong medications like painkillers and others. Some of them do not even want to believe that they are pregnant. There are also certain people who do not care if they gain weight.
During the first month of your pregnancy you are probably not even aware of the fact that you have conceived. Most exercise that you do in the first two or three months is unlikely to harm your baby. And the fitter and healthier you are at the time of conception and throughout the duration of your pregnancy, the greater your chances of a healthy baby and a shorter, easier delivery. Many women have run, jogged, cycled, swum and danced their way through pregnancy and they have had the advantages of a greater sense of fitness and physical well-being, less weight gained, a faster recovery after the birth of their babies and a shorter time regaining their figures.
The days have gone where doctors advised pregnant women to stop working and put their feet up for nine months of physical inactivity. Women now know that this led to poor muscle tone, reduced body awareness and, in fact, a body that was ill-prepared for the rigorous demands of labor. Of course, you will need regular periods of rest and relaxation when you are pregnant, but you require exercise, too. So there is no need to stop your sports or active exercise in the first few months unless your doctor advises strongly against it on medical grounds.
As the months pass, you will need to moderate your usual exercise programme as your ‘bump’ gets larger.
You can either exercise at home or attend the special classes that are now held for pregnant women at many gyms, leisure centers and exercise studios. These usually cater for women from their third month onwards. Work-outs and exercise programmers are devised to build strength and stamina for labor, to maintain muscle tone and flexibility and to teach body awareness. It is surprising how little many women know about their own bodies and how they function. During pregnancy you will want to understand more about the internal workings of your body and how they affect the baby growing inside you. An increased awareness of your body acquired through physical exercise can heighten your physical responses and help you to understand your pregnancy better and to be more conscious of your unborn child.
Regular exercise can help teach you to listen to your body, to get to know its limitations and also to realize its potential for endurance and flexibility — two qualities that will be needed in labor. The stronger and suppler your body is, the easier and faster you should be able to give birth to your baby and recover afterwards.
The best time to start exercising is before you get pregnant so that you can build up a level of fitness and strength in advance. This sort of fitness is easier to maintain throughout your pregnancy than if you have to start from scratch in the second or third month. Also, it is important to establish the fitness habit and to make exercise an integral part of your lifestyle and daily routine. If you are used to exercising regularly, it will be less difficult and tiresome to continue doing so throughout your pregnancy.
Someone who is reasonably fit and active before conception can usually continue to swim, cycle, dance, work-out or jog well into their pregnancy as long as she does not feel any discomfort or pain. Inevitably as the months pass and you get heavier, you will find yourself slowing down and you will not be able to achieve what was once possible and normal. Be sure to check with your doctor or midwife if you are worried about exercising during pregnancy.
1. You will feel fitter, happier and more energetic if you exercise throughout your pregnancy. You will get to know and like your body. This is very important as your body assumes new, unfamiliar curves, your waistline thickens, and some fat may build up on upper arms, thighs and hips. Although these may be the inevitable result of hormonal changes within you, they can be controlled with regular exercise.
2. Exercise will strengthen your muscles. This is not only important during labor but also in the months leading up to it. During pregnancy your poor muscles have to take a lot of extra strain – for example, if your abdominal muscles are slightly flabby, your lower back muscles will have to bear all the hard work of supporting your spine and this may lead to lower backache – a common enough problem in later pregnancy.
3. Regular exercise can help keep all muscles in good working order – keep them well-toned and strong. Gentle exercise repeated every day can firm up abdominal, hip and leg muscles and sagging upper arms, and strengthen shoulders, back and chest muscles.
4 As you exercise and tone up these muscles, you will control any extra weight gain in these areas. Although you are not exercising to lose weight, you are toning up the muscles underneath the rounded, fleshy pads that may appear. These trouble-spots will gradually disappear after the baby is born, especially if you breastfeed your child and practice your postnatal exercises.
5. Scientific research has shown that well-toned, strong muscles will help in delivery, too. You can increase your chances of having a shorter, easier labor. Women who are physically fit and exercise regularly throughout their pregnancies suffer fewer complications in labor and 50 per cent less Caesarean births. They have more strength and stamina, are more physically aware of their bodies and how muscle groups work. Thus they are better able to control the contractions and the pace of the birth itself.
6. Aerobic exercise such as walking, cycling, jogging, swimming and dancing promotes cardiovascular fitness – a stronger heart and circulatory system. Thus you can pump oxygen more efficiently to meet the requirements of your baby. Better circulation has beauty spin-offs, too. You are less likely to develop ugly varicose veins in your legs.
7. Cardiovascular fitness can also reduce your chances of suffering many common pregnancy aches and pains – good circulation leads to better bowel action and can prevent constipation and piles.
8. Exercise can help develop stronger back muscles and better posture. You will discover that your weight load shifts forwards as the baby grows and your balance will change as your centre of gravity is situated in your abdomen. You may develop a tendency to throw yourself forwards, or lean backwards to counteract this. Neither is right and will only lead to unnecessary backache. Exercise will strengthen your back and abdominal muscles and help you to walk tall and straight.
9. If you are unused to exercise you may fad that it brings a whole new dimension to your life – you will feel more energetic and more confident about your changing body and the whole experiment of being pregnant. You will also have the reassurance of knowing that the more you do to keep yourself in good shape, fit and healthy, the more likely it is that your baby will be healthy, too
10. Last but not least, keeping fit in pregnancy not only speeds up the process of regaining your natural body shape after birth, but it also builds strength and endurance for the task of coping with a small baby and being permanently on call for the first few weeks. This is an emotional time for many women – they feel tired or weak and yet they need to summon up all their reserves of strength to face up to the challenge of caring for a new life. Strong arm and back muscles will help you carry the growing baby in your arms and lift her up from her cot or pram.
If you have not exercised regularly in the past, pregnancy is not the time to embark on a strenuous exercise programme. However, this does not mean that you should continue to be totally inactive. Even if you are very unfit indeed, there is still a wide range of exercises that you can do to improve flexibility, suppleness and muscle tone and strengthen your heart. Do not leave it until the fourth month or even later in your pregnancy. Start now as soon as you discover that you are pregnant.
How do you start? Well, if you are overweight or anxious about your level of fitness you should seek your doctor’s advice. Whatever form of exercise you choose, it is important to start off slowly and build up your fitness gradually. The old maxim is: train don’t strain. This means not trying to run before you can walk and only increasing the number of repetitions of certain exercises, or the distance you swim, walk or cycle as you feel stronger.
Walking is one of the best ways to start exercising. It can be gentle or brisk; you can control the pace and rest whenever you feel tired or breathless. Try to walk for at least 30 minutes every day and make it part of your routine. Although it may not feel particularly demanding or strenuous, walking has cardiovascular benefits and it will help improve your general circulation and increase the oxygen flow to your developing baby. For short shopping expeditions or visiting friends who live locally, walk instead of taking the car. Be sure to wear flat, comfortable shoes with well-cushioned soles as high heels may distort your natural posture and encourage backache.
If you are tempted to join an exercise class, be sure to tell the instructor that you are pregnant and ask her if there are any exercises that you should not attempt. Concentrate only on gentle exercises with fewer repetitions if you are unfit and out of condition or, better still, join a specially devised antenatal class. Some cater only for women who are more than three months pregnant so you may have to be content with walking, swimming or cycling for a couple of months while you wait.
There is no reason why you should not continue running, walking, cycling, swimming, dancing or working-out throughout your pregnancy if you have achieved a reasonable level of fitness and are used to doing it for at least 20-30 minutes per session three or more times per week. However, if you feel any pain or discomfort you should stop immediately. If pain persists, consult a doctor.
Some fit women continue to jog right through their pregnancies, even on the day that labor starts! Invariably they enjoy easy deliveries, regain their figures quickly and resume running within weeks of the birth. If you are one of them, pay particular attention to your clothing and make sure that it is loose and not restricting in any way. Your shoes should have well-conditioned soles for extra shock absorption as you pound the ground more heavily than usual. Run only on grass. Roads and hard surfaces tend to jar your spine, joints and muscles and may lead to injury. If you have never run before and are reading this, please do not take up jogging for the first time in pregnancy. Although it is an excellent preparation for pregnancy it may be harmful rather than beneficial if you start training after conception and are unused to the strains it places on your body.
Teenage pregnancy is a care of concern these days, as people have various flings and one night stands without any protection. The culture is to blame for this lifestyle and it also depends on how a child is brought up by her parents. Young girls indulge in unprotected sex without knowing the actual burden they face when they are pregnant. Pregnancy is a boon for women but they should be physically and emotionally mature to handle it with grace.
In many developing countries teen pregnancy is faced by young girls in their wedlock and they do not have to worry any backlash by the society as there are several such cases where a teenage girl is married because of the tradition and gets pregnant early in their life, but in developed countries teen pregnancy have risen to large numbers and they are usually out of wedlock and face social stigma in the conservative societies, almost all the teenage pregnancies in the developing countries are unplanned.
It is noticed that young girls often indulge in sexual activities after intoxicating themselves by consuming alcohol or any other drinks which shed their embarrassment and inhibitions and there are a number of cases of forced sexual intercourse and one among them is the date rape where teens are intoxicated by some drinks, which result in unwanted pregnancies. The age of young girls becoming sexually active have reduced by a few years and the use of contraceptives by these teens have almost equaled the use by other older women. Incorrect use of contraceptives also is a major concern in teens where the pregnancy is taken by shock.
Usually it is observed that teenage girls have a physical relationship with older boys out of curiosity and many times due to sheer pressure from the partner. There are various risks involved in a teenage pregnancy such as miscarriage and complications during the birth of the child. Young girls in their in teens do not gain enough weight during pregnancy which results in low birth weight of the baby. Due to this the baby can be abnormal or born with organs, which are not developed fully and the mortality rate becomes low. They do not take adequate diet and prenatal multivitamins, which are recommended by the health care provider to keep themselves healthy and there are also many unhealthy habits of eating in teens which includes consumption of alcohol and cigarette smoking in some cases which can be very harmful for the baby.
It is observed that mothers who do not go for prenatal checkups regularly stand a risk of losing their baby in a year or so. They do not take adequate diet and the babies are likely to die or have health risk later on.
To avoid teenage pregnancies they should be educated about the safe sex methods and the use of contraceptives properly. It could be of great help to use the contraceptives in the right manner and the last option to avoid an unwanted pregnancy in the teenager is the morning after pill which should be prescribed by the health care provider after the monitoring the health of girls who are under the age of 18. Teenagers should follow Birth control methods to avoid pregnancy and also they should avoid getting pregnancy after the first pregnancy for at least 3 years as they can risk their lives.
During the pregnancy, there are so many myths around our life. It can be understand since pregnancy is the best moment for every mom to give all the best and to prepare her baby born into the world. The myths come from the older generation and always told to the next generation. You will hear so many myths from your parent or your grandparent. This condition usually make the mom confuses about which one is the fact and which one is only a myth. In many cases, mom thinks that the myth is a fact and a fact is a myth. I tell you what? It is not good for the pregnancy phase.
Have you ever heard that if you hold your hands above head, then your baby may get umbilical cord around the neck? It is totally wrong. It is only myth since the medical world cannot take the relation between hold hands and umbilical cord. After that, have you ever hear that you can detect the sex of your baby with simply watching you get a morning sickness or not? Once again, it is only a myth.
Maybe your mom ever tells you that you should not take a bath or submerging in pool since it could harm you and your baby. Well, it is totally myth. Do you want to make your friend smell a bad thing from you? Of course not, right? Take a bath or submerging in the cold water will affect nothing to your body as well as your baby. Then, have you ever heard that you should not have a sex with your husband? Do not hear that. Unless you have a high risk pregnancy, you can continue your sexual life. In many journals told that sexual life is the most common tool to keep a good relationship with husband. However, talk to your doctor before doing a sex will be a good way.
There are many other pregnancy myths around of our life. Let says when the mom has a heat burn, then the baby will have a lot of hair. Then, how about the myth that if the mom has acne, the baby must be a girl? After that, if you see the bird fly into your house, it means your pregnant is not real and only stillbirth. However, please do not believe all of the myths. Just do you best for your baby.
Having a pregnancy is the best moment for every mom. Only the birth process is the better than the pregnancy phase. Every mom is always giving all of her best to make sure the baby is safe. Often, the mom is giving away her soul to make sure her baby is born safely into the world. It is why, even the mom has a big problem, but she will choose to keep born her baby.
In many cases, mom cannot naturally make her baby born. The mom with a disease like a herpes disease cannot use the natural method. Her baby will develop the same herpes disease if the mom insists to use natural way. However, the main problem that causes the cesarean surgery is vertical incision and breech position. Yes, in the vertical incision, the incision can rupture when the rigors of labor happen. Then, the breech position is really dangerous for the baby. The normal baby is positioned from the head first. However, in the breech position case, the baby will be positioned the bottom first. It is really dangerous for the baby itself. With using the cesarean surgery, the mom will save the baby as well as stay away from complications that may occur in the breech position case.
The mom is also need to take the cesarean surgery if she has a large baby. The large baby can be very dangerous for the mom. Do you know that the mom can lost her life because forcing to use natural method for her large baby? Then, the cesarean surgery is also caused because of the problem on the placenta. There are problems called placenta previa and abruptio placentae that cause mom cannot take the natural method. In the placenta previa condition, the placenta covers the cervical opening. When this thing happens, the baby will not able to move outward. Then, in the abruptio placentae, the placenta will separate before the labor begins. I tell you what? It is really dangerous for both mom and the baby. Taking the natural method will take the life of the mom and her baby. In this case, the cesarean surgery is the only option can be taken to get a chance to save the lives of the mom and also her baby.
Last but not least, the cesarean method usually gives the mom a discomfort feel on the digestive function. However, after 10 weeks, mom will be all right and able to do another exercise program.
The weight gain during pregnancy is a normal process. But often these extra pounds are not only due to the growing baby. The expectant mother is eating more frequently and their appetite is so great that is pointless to try to stop it. The thick belly grows not only to be twice that, but remains even after the nine months is unpleasantly large. Thinning then reads the motto, bacon must own and the extent must quickly be found. No wonder that many women come up with the idea, do not increase. Again and again, in that context is the question of diet during pregnancy asked. Is that even possible? It harms the baby? And what about your own well-being?
That a baby grows, more difficult and thus provides for additional pounds, is clear. From the fertilized ovum develops finally a man, but all processes in the body of the mother are also geared to assist this process. The hormone production is altered, the blood volume increases in certain nutrients will be strengthened from the intestine which metabolic processes are changing. All this is a huge change for the woman and also connected with changes in eating habits. The baby uses mercilessly in his’ larder ‘, to his mother. The energy is changing and not infrequently follows a huge hunger attack on the next one. But here it is important to distinguish. The caloric needs of a woman increases during pregnancy only slightly. From the fourth straight month that more than 300 kilo-calories per day. But it is much more important at this time, adequate supply of vitamins and minerals. Fruits and vegetables are exactly the food that the mother needed. And it provides not only the baby, but at the same time it creates, healthy and calorie-conscious on their own weight into account. From a strict diet in the sense in the development of pregnancy but in any case discouraged.
Neither combining, yet calorie reduction will help the expectant mother. On the contrary, there is a risk of shortage, just for the baby with complications that can lead to. So it is not only legitimate but also necessary to eat more. It comes just on the ‘what’ to. What is eaten? Not calories but nutrient density, that is the magic word. Do not eat less, but balanced and rich in nutrients that should be the supreme principle for a pregnant woman.
So after the birth of the future financing of the education of your children not to be short, you should already during pregnancy have appropriate precautionary measures informal options.
The weight gain during pregnancy is necessary, but should gradually take place. In the first three months, it is small: In the first 5 months between 250g and 300g per week, in the 6th and 7 Month between 350g and 400g and then between 450g and 500g until the end of pregnancy. Takes on average a woman during pregnancy from 10 to 12 kilos too.
Increase your energy intake.
If you are in pregnancy does not need to eat for two, it increases the energy of a pregnant woman nonetheless: At the beginning of pregnancy by about 2000 to 2200 and in subsequent months up to 2500 calories per day.
At the beginning of pregnancy is this energy in the form of proteins and fats stored. They then used for the development of breasts, uterus and the nutrition of the fetus necessary blood and mass education of the child.
Stop before the severe restrictions.
If you pre-pregnancy were slim, then narrow your diet does not – especially not if you have little to grow: The baby could otherwise small, poor and weak. This fragility is then – studies confirm this – until adulthood continue.
They also contain the baby important nutrients (iron, calcium, vitamin A, D and E), which for his (and your!) Health is important.
The psychology of women before becoming pregnant women varies from one to another; much depends on the age of stability in the couple experiences of other pregnancies, and has children or mothers, and so on. However, in most cases, a series of feelings, attitudes and approaches are common in almost all women. The thoughts that most often erupt in the minds of women referred to several aspects: the changes in lifestyle, work, physical appearance, relations with the couple and accountability.
New illusions
The future pregnancy often lived with great enthusiasm in the couple. The idea of creating a new life and the emergence of a new being that will depend on them for everything they fill with pride and satisfaction. Both women and men will see the new baby as a part and extension of themselves, and therefore will experience something great. Fatherhood and motherhood is one of the most important changes that occur in adulthood. This in turn produces a large enrichment not only a personal level, but the couple themselves.
Changes in lifestyle
All couples know that bringing a child into the world represents a major change in their lives. This causes fear and insecurity, since in many cases will be necessary to change some habits, deprived moments of intimacy, restrict social life, etc… And for many parents this is an endeavor so great that leads them to have some doubts before making the decision. In other cases, however, this is not an obstacle, as they try to find solutions to better organize their new life in this new family and living situation as an illusion and not a resignation. Sometimes, they must also rethink the need for a new home or that the condition is, this may cause some stress and the decision to stop a future pregnancy.
Work
In some women having to stop work is an obstacle. In many cases they are afraid of losing their job or not being able to balance work with the child’s education. In other cases are left to work for a while, but the reduction of revenue involved just becoming a problem for the family. Other times it is not the reduction of income, but the fear of leaving the profession and has to depend on the husband what the woman wants to avoid.
Faced with these problems, with the help of others, including grandparents, siblings, etc.. will contribute to this no longer be a problem, since women may be better organized, decide what you really want to do this and live in peace and enjoy the harmony with some new son.
Concern about physical appearance
The women were becoming more concerned about his physical appearance is not altered much during pregnancy, is afraid of losing control over his own body fat and excess. On the other hand, is also the fear of not recovering the appearance they had before becoming pregnant, that pregnancy and lactation spoiling their appearance and feel deprived and unattractive. All this, at times, they passed some uncertainty and bewilderment, and is afraid that this will affect their own self-esteem.
Life partner and sex
Approach. Pregnancy often triggers a rapprochement between the couple. Many women face a future pregnancy is the fear of being rejected by their partner and there is an estrangement. It is normal for a change in the relationship, but this need not be negative, as pregnancy tends to produce even more of an approach that had earlier, mainly due to an illusion and common project. It’s normal that sex is somehow being influenced by this situation, although in principle there are no problems that will continue to be, it may be desirable in some cases some recommendations, because there are circumstances and complicated pregnancies, requiring some control and any doubt, it is always advisable to consult with the gynecologist. We must remember and not forget that communication is fundamental to any couple and the best thing to do is put all these feelings, and any doubt is the best questions and spoke openly.
Disclaimer
There is a concern himself too will be able to be a good mother, to care for the child properly in the future what you need. There is also the fear of commitment that represents motherhood and the responsibilities involved. While it appears inevitable that some doubts and fears about future pregnancies, it will normally prevail happiness and enthusiasm. Sometimes can not avoid imagining what could be the new son and speculate on future family. Although in the minds of future pregnant logical fears exist a situation unknown to her, can not avoid, on the other hand, also filled with the hopes and dreams to the logical connection. In any case, it should be noted that throughout all time women have had children and that the woman’s body is prepared for pregnancy, because the change that occurs in women after pregnancy is gradual nine months and also allow you to adapt to the new situation.
If you are walking a bit like John Wayne with bedroom slippers, here is a tip for your healing. Are you are sore from the episiotomy that you weren’t going to have, or from the hours of pushing that left you with aches in your legs from muscles that were never before a part of your body? You may find relief in a sitz bath. The sitz bath allows you to soak in a tub of warm water increasing the circulation, thereby promoting healing, to the vaginal area (perineum). The hospital may have sent you home with a disposable sitz bath – a plastic oval basin with holes at one end and a bag and tube similar to an IV setup. You probably took one look at it and added it to the pile of stuff in the back of the bathroom closet that might be useful once you have some free time, perhaps when your child goes off to college.
The idea behind the IV setup is that you place warm water in the bag, somehow manage to hang it up in your bathroom, and snap the end of the tube into the basin. As you sit in the basin, and unclamp the tube leading to the bag of warm water, there is a continual flow of warm water into the basin. This allows you to sit for an extended period of time surrounded by warm water.
Well, this sounds great, but was definitely not designed by a new parent. I have yet to meet the new mom who has time for such complex endeavors. If she manages to use the toilet without interruption, or without feeling guilty for having abandoned her child for five minutes, she feels a great sense of accomplishment.
Instead, keep the basin next to the toilet, along with plastic pitcher or container that will fit under the sink faucet. After each use of the toilet, place the basin in the toilet, (pull the seat up first) and use the pitcher to fill the basin with water. Sit in it for a few minutes, stand up and pat yourself dry. Empty the water into the toilet and you are done. The increased circulation generated by this process can improve the healing in this area. There is a flip side, however. Increased warmth can also increase the swelling, which may well be present. At least half an hour after doing the sitz bath, or the next time you use the toilet, place a row of witch hazel pads (Tucks, or the drugstore generic) on your sanitary napkin. Keep the Tucks in the refrigerator, or in the bathroom in a container with an ice pack. This allows you to alternate the warmth for increased circulation with the cold for decreased swelling. If you find that the sitz bath increases swelling or makes you uncomfortable, try getting into the bath tub, or using ice more often. Now may also be a good time to get out the ice packs you squirreled away as you left the hospital.
You’ve chosen the crib and stroller. The dresser is packed with clothes and receiving blankets. And you’ve tested out the rocking chair – many times. Then, suddenly, it dawns on you: How is this baby going to actually come out? It’s time for childbirth education class.
Childbirth classes are offered by hospitals, HMOs, midwives and independent childbirth educators. It pays to investigate the options in your area, since classes vary in both cost and approach. As far as cost is concerned, be prepared to foot the bill yourself; few insurance carriers cover the cost (often $100-$125) of childbirth education classes. Also, be sure to investigate classes and sign up for a program early in your pregnancy because they often fill up, and you’ll want to be sure to get a space.
Where to Find Childbirth Classes
• Hospitals – Most hospitals with birthing facilities offer childbirth classes, often taught by the hospital’s labor and delivery nurses. You’ll learn the statistics about that hospital and the practices generally followed there. Hospital classes also include a tour of the birth facility. If you’re not attending the birthing classes offered by your hospital, arrange to have a tour before you go into labor.
• HMOs – Childbirth classes offered by HMOs are usually held at the center you go to for prenatal care and are taught by the nurse practitioners you see during your appointments. HMOs are affiliated with several hospitals, so the classes probably won’t be hospital-specific.
• Midwives and independent childbirth educators – Midwives usually include childbirth education in their standard prenatal care. Independent childbirth educators generally conduct a variety of classes, including ones geared toward conventional hospital births and home births. Some may include a spiritual or holistic element not found in most hospital and HMO classes.
What You’ll Learn
Your childbirth preparation class is likely to cover:
• body changes during the third trimester
• the stages of labor
• breathing and relaxation techniques to use during labor
• tips for your partner on being a labor ‘coach’
• types of anesthesia and analgesia
• possible labor and birth interventions
• pushing techniques
You’ll probably also see videos of vaginal and cesarean births, learn about nutrition during pregnancy and get some tips on selecting a pediatrician.
There are also classes on breast-feeding, vaginal birth after a cesarean birth (VBAC), twins and multiples, and refresher courses for parents who have been through it before.
It’s important to realize that no childbirth class can fully prepare you for the act of giving birth. Every woman’s experience is different, and every woman’s threshold of pain is different. Childbirth classes can only tell you generally what to expect.
Your goals in attending a childbirth class should be to learn about the birth process, to prepare yourself (and your partner) physically and emotionally for childbirth and to get all your questions answered. Picking a childbirth educator you feel comfortable with will help you accomplish those goals.
Pregnancy can be hard on a woman’s physique: Ligaments and joints loosen, abdominal and pelvic-floor muscles stretch and posture changes to accommodate extra weight. However, moderate exercise can help you feel and look better, both during pregnancy and afterward. Women who exercise during pregnancy usually find that they have an easier time carrying the baby, have better posture and have greater endurance in labor and delivery.
Always check with a health-care professional before engaging in an exercise regimen during pregnancy. Find out what he or she suggests. If you were exercising regularly prior to becoming pregnant, you can continue most activities – like walking, jogging, swimming and floor exercises – as long as you feel comfortable. Likewise, it’s not necessary to stop sexual activity, unless your practitioner has advised you to stop.
Activities to avoid during pregnancy include skiing, roller skating, ice skating, horseback riding, weight lifting using abdominal or back muscles, marathon running and any activity that might cause you to lose your balance.
Whether or not you engage in “active” exercise, such as swimming or jogging, it is also important to keep your abdominal and pelvic-floor muscles in shape. Strong abdominal muscles help you maintain good posture and alignment, while strong pelvic floor muscles prevent incontinence, lower the risk of tearing during delivery and promote quicker healing from episiotomies and stretched perineum. Exercising these muscles doesn’t take a lot of time or effort. Ask your health-care provider which abdominal exercises he or she suggests. You can strengthen the pelvic-floor muscles by doing kegel exercises.
Finally, it is important to avoid getting too exhausted or out of breath during exercise. Don’t let your heart rate exceed 140 beats per minute. Exercise no more than three times a week, for 20 minutes or less each time. Drink plenty of water and wear loose, comfortable clothing. Above all, listen to your body; if you feel fatigued, short of breath, nauseated or dizzy, stop!
Sex is considered to be safe during all stages of pregnancy when the pregnancy is normal, when there are few risks for complications like pre-term labor or miscarriage. Mostly expectant mothers find fluctuations in their moods and desire during some stages of pregnancy. Many women feel uncomfortable during sex due to their enlarged bodies during pregnancy. It is always best to consult your doctor to suggest regarding sex during pregnancy, generally it is safe to have sex, as the baby is protected by the amniotic fluid in the womb of the mother by the abdomen and by the mucous plug which seals the cervix which helps in guarding the infections.
There can be few situations when your health care provider can indicate you to avoid sex, they can be engaging in oral sex, engaging in sex with a partner who has sexually transmitted disease such as HIV, herpes or genital warts as the mother can contract the infection which can be dangerous to be unborn baby. Some other reasons cited by the doctor to avoid sex can be vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, leakage of amniotic fluid, history of miscarriage, history of premature birth or labor, low lying placenta, incompetent cervix or carrying more than one fetus.
Some experts suggest to completely avoiding sex during late weeks of pregnancy as the semen contain a certain chemical, which may provoke contractions. There are certain times like when women carries twins or more babies it is best to avoid sex during the third trimester. It should also be avoided if a woman experiences early labor pains or have a history of premature births or labor.
Many women find a lesser desire for sex due to hormonal imbalances, tender breasts, fatigue, nausea, frequent urination and exhaustion. While some women can find an increased crave for sex during their pregnancy. Good communication between the partners could be of great help to satisfy each other during the pregnancy period.
Certain positions of sex could be changed during pregnancy as a safety measure. The traditional missionary position should be avoided after four months of pregnancy as the weight of the enlarged uterus puts a lot of pressure on the major vessels carrying blood. Other positions of sex like side by side can be a good alternative. Oral sex should be avoided during pregnancy as blowing into the vagina can be very harmful for the mother and the baby.
When the baby is born the couple has to wait until the postpartum checkup to resume their sex life, as the genital organs of a woman takes some time to heal after delivery. Doctors advise to have sexual intercourse after about 6 weeks as the vagina gets ample time to heal. If you are not enjoying sex then other options can be thought of like self-stimulation or oral sex. Sexual intercourse can be painful or discomforting for the first few times after pregnancy due to the dryness in the vagina. However this problem disappears after some days or else few lubricants can be used to over come the dryness.
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+ Lesbian Pregnancy
+ Ectopic Pregnancy Danger
+ How to Conceive a Baby Boy
+ Easy Ways to Get Pregnant
Lesbian pregnancy can be possible through the process of artificial insemination, which is done by inserting sperms in a woman’s uterus to make her pregnant. This process has become quite popular and easy for the lesbian couples, which receive sperm from a donor who is known to them or from a semen bank.
Before starting a lesbian pregnancy the mother to be is thoroughly counseled then screening for HIV, Hepatitis B, cytomegalovirus is conducted by health care providers, which is followed by immunization. Lesbians are at an increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases like HPV, Genital warts and herpes virus as these can transfer from one woman to another. Pap smears is performed on women to cut down the risk of cancer. Pap smear test can detect the abnormal changes of cells in the cervix of a woman, which can turn cancerous if left untreated. Early detection of these abnormal cells can help in curing it with ease.
After screening the woman for various diseases the next step follows is of choosing the donor. There are some ways like using fresh semen or frozen semen. It is recommended to use fresh semen, as it is more vigorous than frozen semen, which takes much time to get a woman pregnant. But using semen, which is quarantined for about 6 months is better as it is a good way to cut down the risk of infections because there are few tests conducted on the semen and it takes about 6 months to know whether it is free of infections. Women can make a choice when selecting an unknown donor like the characteristics of the donor can be known but they cannot meet the donor personally. Many women prefer to choose a known donor like a close friend or a relative, as they know the characteristics and the medical history of the person very well.
Before inseminating the quality of the semen is checked thoroughly and quarantined for about 6 months and then the proceedings follow. The semen contains serum, which is introduced into the uterus of a woman with a device known as straw, where the fusion of gametes takes place after the ovulation resulting in the offspring. Along with semen some antibiotics are also injected into a woman to avoid any infections later on lesbian pregnancy. Artificial insemination is the best alternative to natural copulation and it helps a great deal to the lesbian couples to get success on lesbian pregnancy. This was earlier done in animals to select certain traits and characteristics but now it have become very common among human beings.
When insemination is done at home women can take the sterile container, which contains fresh semen and draw it into a syringe of 3ml and inseminate themselves through vagina. But it is better to do it under the supervision of an expert or at a clinic of a doctor. Very often it is seen that there are many cases of infertility in lesbian women. Age also plays an important role as many lesbian women plan their lesbian pregnancies in their late thirties or early forties when their biological clocks stops ticking. In addition to these if there are any pregnancy complication like ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages then it can be really painful and emotionally draining for the couple. There can be certain sexual activities, which should be avoided in a lesbian pregnancy. The health care provider is the best person to suggest further more.
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Healthy Pregnancy with YOga
The third trimester of Pregnancy spread over the 28th-40th week (or till delivery) and is a most crucial period for the mother and the baby. This is time of excitement of the due arrival of the child as well the anxiety behind the process. Lot of physical & emotional developments takes place.
By now, the abdomen turns very large and prominent. Movements of the baby are clearly visible. However, towards the end of the 8th month the frequency of movements reduces as the baby now has very little space to move about inside. Most of the development of baby’s organs is complete and now it will steadily grow in size and gain weight. There will be a steady increase in the mother’s weight as well; most women gain about 4-5 kgs in the last trimester and a total of 8-10 kgs throughout the pregnancy.
At this third trimester pregnancy uterus contractions (termed Braxton Hicks contractions) continue till the end. Urinary tract is more stressed due to frequent urination. Mother may complain about loss of appetite, while in many cases it increases too. The best way is to have small meals at frequent intervals to avoid discomfort and heartburn.
Constipation also bothers most pregnant women in this third trimester of pregnancy, once again due to the pressure of the uterus on the colon. It may be associated with hemorrhoids, which usually subside following delivery. It’s a must to drink plenty of water to keep hydrated and include fruits for the fiber. If hemorrhoids are severe regular use of laxatives will help.
Breathlessness becomes more pronounced, mostly on exertion but may occur even on lying down on the back. This can be avoided by sleeping on the sides, preferably the left side as that promotes placental circulation.
A major change in posture may lead to backache as the stretching of the abdomen exerts pressure on the back. This may be associated with leg cramps as well. Mild stretching exercises, under supervision of your attending doctor, will help reduce both.
Swelling of feet, predominantly near the ankles might be noticed due to the gain in weight. Mild swelling is normal and reduces with elevation of feet at rest. However it is advised to consult your doctor if the swelling is more or does not subside by elevation. It may also be accompanied with Edema, which is swelling of the face.
The blood circulation is in full swing at this third trimester stage of pregnancy and this can cause visibility of blood vessels on face, neck, arms etc especially when the skin is fair. The varicose veins, which are the blue or red lines beneath the skin, become prominent. The vaginal discharge is heavy towards the end of the pregnancy. If it’s an amniotic discharge then the doctor should be immediately consulted.
Emotions play a huge rule during the last days of pregnancy at third trimester stage. So it’s very important for other people in the family to adjust with the mood swings of the mother. Keep her happy & you will also stay happy. Just with a thought that you will hold a small bud soon in your hands, you will just be on the cloud nine.
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