Thursday, May 8, 2008

Exercise During Pregnancy

There are very few people who realize the importance of exercise during pregnancy. People either go one way or the other. Either they do not exercise at all during pregnancy, which can lead to back problems, weight gain, and a decline in cardiovascular health, or else they exercise too much. Exercising too much is even worse than not exercising at all. Some experts think that you can strain your body, hinder the baby's development, and even induce a miscarriage with exercises during pregnancy. Exercising during pregnancy should be done, but it should be done with caution.

Of course, you can continue to exercise during early pregnancy. In most respects, you can actually keep up your normal exercise routine. If you are accustomed to pushing yourself very hard, however, you may want to slow down on your routine just a bit. You will not have as much energy, and your body will have more to do, after all. Nonetheless, for the majority of us, exercise during pregnancy can continue as normal for the first trimester. Exercise during the second trimester, however get a little bit more tricky.

Some exercise during pregnancy can be continued for the whole duration. For example, moderate walking can be continued almost until you are ready to deliver. There are some exercises designed to actually help pregnant women. For example, there are special yoga routines that can be done during pregnancy.

Most exercise during pregnancy, however, is off-limits once the second trimester begins. Serious running, martial arts, and gymnastics are all strongly cautioned against. Even weight lifting machines can be dangerous during pregnancy. The bottom line is you should ask a qualified health care practitioner about exercise during pregnancy before trying anything. Most of the time, you can trust your body, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

In my opinion, the best exercise during pregnancy is light walking and stretches. Stretching is especially important. Because your center of gravity will shift dramatically during pregnancy, it can put strain on your back and throw your muscles out of alignment. Through stretching and light strength building activities, you can prevent the back problems that are so common among pregnant women. Exercise during pregnancy is essential, because if you do not start doing an exercise routine during the early months you are likely to have serious aches and pains at the end of the pregnancy. It is always better to start early than to wait until it is too late.

Early Signs Of Pregnancy

When you are trying to conceive, you may be on the look out for the early signs of pregnancy to decide if you have been successful or not. These early signs of pregnancy often are different for each woman. Some will have signs right away, while others won’t feel a thing or miss a beat. Their only sign may be a missing period or a positive pregnancy test. What makes things even more confusing is that the early signs of pregnancy can be different for the same woman on her second or third pregnancy. This means you will just have to deal with them as they come, if they come at all.

My mother was sick the entire time she was pregnant with me. For her, the early signs of pregnancy were very obvious, and there was no question in her mind that she was expecting, even before she took a test. When my brother came along, however, she was not sick at all, and didn’t know she was pregnant for sure until she missed her second period and visited her doctor for confirmation. When it comes to early signs of pregnancy, you just don’t know what to expect, and you certainly cannot rely on past experience.

If you are curious about the early signs of pregnancy, you can pick up the book “What To Expect When You Are Expecting” or another similar publication. These books will give you the rundown of some of the most common early sings, as well as some of the rarer ones. This may help you understand what is going on with your body, and may also alleviate some of your fears if you think something is wrong. These books will guide you through your entire pregnancy, and will help you understand what is normal, and when you may need to consult with your doctor.

Perhaps the most telling of the early signs of pregnancy is knowing that something is different. If you are experiencing symptoms before your period is due that seem to be different from your normal PMS symptoms, perhaps you should consider something is up. Things like cramping can be a clue, believe it or not. Cramping is not only a sign of your period, but it can be one of the early signs of pregnancy. It can be very confusing, so don’t be afraid to grab a book to help you out.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Early signs of pregnancy

If you’re a woman wanting a baby you are probably very familiar with all the small changes a woman’s body goes through when she conceived. It is these early signs of pregnancy that often tip a couple off to the fact that they are soon to be parents. The signs differ from woman to woman though and any one of them can also be indicative of something else. However, if a woman has several there’s an increasingly good chance that she’s carrying a baby.

Probably the most obvious change that a woman is apt to notice is her missed period. Once a woman becomes pregnant, her menstrual cycle stops. She’ll find herself being late and if there are other early signs of pregnancy present, she’s bound to jump to the conclusion that she’s going to be a mom. There are other reasons for menstrual changes though, so if none of the other early signs of pregnancy are being felt it’s wise to see a doctor about what might be the root cause.

Breast changes also occur. A woman may notice that her breasts have become very tender and slightly swollen. Another of the early signs of pregnancy in many women is the veins on her chest become darker. She may look in a mirror and suddenly notice what looks like a complicated road map on her chest. This increased blood flow is one of the early signs of pregnancy that many women aren’t aware of.

Feeling very tired is common for women right before they are scheduled to get their period. It’s also one of the early signs of pregnancy. If an otherwise healthy and vibrant woman suddenly feels like turning in at 7 pm or if she needs a nap mid-day this may be a good sign that she’s conceived. This very tired feeling does pass though, but all expectant moms will agree that extra sleep is a very good thing.

We’ve all heard the stories of a friend or relative who became very nauseous each morning and realized from this that they were pregnant. Morning sickness is unfortunately one of the early signs of pregnancy no woman welcomes. The fact is that morning sickness can last well beyond the morning hours and creep into the entire day. Thankfully this is one of the early signs of pregnancy that does disappear with each passing week.

Seeing the doctor is really important for any woman who does think she’s pregnant. Although most home pregnancy tests are very accurate, a doctor can discuss with a woman her due date and also her nutritional needs. A visit to the doctor early can help a woman deliver a healthy, happy baby nine months later.

Early Pregnancy Testing

Early Pregnancy Testing

When you are trying to conceive, you are anxious to know if you are pregnant or not, and many women fall into the trap of early pregnancy testing to find out as soon as possible. I have watched otherwise sane individuals drop major money for test after test when they should otherwise know better. What makes me angry is that the pregnancy testing industry seems to be pushing early pregnancy testing and they are making big bucks off of it.

If you watch daytime television you have probably seen the commercials stating you can test as early as four or even five days before you are expecting your period. There are so many reasons why this is just not wise. For one thing, you can get a lot of false negatives this way, and it can be very disappointing when in fact you may be pregnant. Women who have been trying and trying may drop a lot of cash to test when the hormones have not built up to the point where they can be detected. False negatives in early pregnancy testing are very common.

When you consider the cost of a good pregnancy test, you can see why early pregnancy testing can be a waste of money. Women who want to be pregnant and who see a negative test will go out and buy a new one and keep testing until their period has come. If you were to just wait until you are sure your period is late to test, you are going to save a lot of money, and you are going to have results that you can rely on. As far as I am concerned, companies that push products for early pregnancy testing are taking advantage of women who are having trouble conceiving and want a baby desperately.

If you are having trouble conceiving, and are wasting a lot of money on early pregnancy testing, stop and ask yourself why you are doing it. You should look into fertility awareness to help you along in your quest for pregnancy. This involves taking your temperature each day, and this can get you information you may not have had. Not only can you tell when you ovulate, you can tell if you are pregnant without taking early pregnancy testing. If you know what you are doing, you can pinpoint the day you conceived and you can tell if your body is nurturing an egg, or if it is preparing for the next cycle. In fact, you may find you don’t need a pregnancy test at all!

Monday, March 17, 2008

Sickness And Stress Problems During Pregnancy

Morning Sickness is a combination of nausea and vomiting. This is the common problem in the early months largely due to various changes in hormone production. It may be able to control morning sickness by making a simple changes in the diet of a pregnant mothers.

Eating crackers, dried fruits, or boiled sweets potatoes should help to coat her stomach in the early morning and reduce gastric discomfort. Eating small but frequent meals can also alleviate the symptoms.

Expectants mothers may also feel bothered by an increase in saliva, known as pytalism, which will add to the feeling of nausea she may have. Chewing gum may provide some relief.

As you purely heard, many pregnant women craving for strange foods. No one really knows why such cravings develop, but these foods do not harm the unborn child, and they may supply some special nutrients.

Another problem is heartburn, which is often caused by pressure on the stomach from the uterus and by relaxation of the valve between esophagus and stomach. Mothers to be also, bothered by stomach and intestinal gas. The answer here is to avoid gas producing foods such as cabbage, cauliflower, and beans.

Constipation and Diarrhea
Also related to food problems are two further discomfort: constipation and diarrhea. Pregnant women can relieve constipation by drinking more fluids and eating more fiber, fresh fruits and vegetables. Bowel changes may also cause diarrhea in this case, eating bland foods such as rice, potatoes, scrambled eggs, and bananas.

Frequent urination
Most of the pregnant women urinate more frequently because of the pressure on her uterus on her bladder. Pregnant women are require to drink lots of water to avoid to prevent the risk of urinary infection. This happen because the hormones and the enlarge uterus can slow the passage of urine.

Urinary tract infections are common during pregnancy, probably because the enlarging uterus slows the flow of urine by pressing against the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder (ureters). When urine flow is slow, bacteria may not be flushed out of the urinary tract, increasing the risk of an infection. These infections increase the risk of preterm labor and premature rupture of the membranes containing the fetus. Sometimes an infection in the bladder or ureters spreads up the urinary tract and reaches a kidney, causing an infection too.

Extreme tiredness may experience of the pregnant women during pregnancy. Enough sleep and nap are required to cope with the extreme tiredness and fatigue.

In the second to third trimester of pregnancy woman will experience leg cramps and swollen ankles. Doctors do not know the exact cause of leg cramps but think it may be related to changes into the blood circulation. Another common problem is varicose veins, prominent knotted veins on the surface of the legs especially the calves.

Preeclampsia
It usually develops between the 20th week of pregnancy and the end of the first week after delivery. The cause of preeclampsia is unknown. But it is more common among women who are pregnant for the first time, who are carrying two or more fetuses, who have had preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy, who already have high blood pressure or a blood vessel disorder, or who have sickle cell disease. It is also more common among girls aged 15 and younger and among women aged 35 and older.

Anemia
Most pregnant women have an iron deficiency and develop it to some degree of anemia. Women should double the iron intake when she is pregnant. Iron is needed in making red blood cells in the fetus. Intake of iron pills are advisable by the physicians to prevented iron deficiency anemia. Iron is needed also in brain development of the fetus. When iron is lacking the risk of pretem labor is increased.

Problems And Disorders During Pregnancy

Women can develop disorders during pregnancy that increase the risk of problems for the pregnant woman and/or the fetus. In this article you will read about a few of those disorders which include:

• High fever
• Infections
• Disorders that require abdominal surgery

Examples of disorders more likely to occur during pregnancy because of the changes pregnancy cause in a woman's body include:

• Thromboembolic disease
• Anemia
• Urinary tract infections

Fevers in Pregnant Women

If a pregnant woman develops a temperature greater than 103 degrees F during the 1st trimester, risk of miscarriage and defects of the brain or spinal cord in the baby are increased. If a pregnant woman develops fever later in pregnancy it can increase the risk of preterm labor.

Infections in Pregnant Women

There are some infections that occur coincidentally during pregnancy that can cause birth defects. Examples are:

• German measles (rubella) that can cause birth defects especially of the heart and inner ear
• Cytomegalovirus infection can damage the fetus's liver and brain

Other viral infections that may harm the fetus or cause birth defects include:

• Herpes simplex
• Chickenpox (varicella)

Protozoal infections that may cause miscarriage, death of fetus or serious birth defects include:

• Toxoplasmosis

Bacterial infections of the vagina that may lead to preterm labor or premature rupture of the membranes containing the fetus include:

• Bacterial vaginosis

Treatment of infections with antibiotics may reduce the likelihood of these problems.

Disorders that require surgery during pregnancy are usually delayed as long as possible unless the woman's long-term health may be affected. Examples are:

• Appendicitis: Surgery to remove the appendix is performed immediately because a ruptured appendix may be fatal. An appendectomy is not likely to harm the fetus or cause a miscarriage. The problem lies with diagnosing appendicitis during pregnancy because the cramping pain of appendicitis resembles uterine contractures that are common during pregnancy.

• Ovarian cyst: If an ovarian cyst persists during pregnancy, surgery is usually postponed until after the 12th week of pregnancy. Sometimes the cyst producing hormones supports the pregnancy and will disappear without treatment. If the cyst or another mass enlarges, surgery may be necessary before the 12th week. A mass such as this may be cancer.

• Intestinal obstruction: This can be serious during pregnancy. If the obstruction leads to gangrene of the intestine and peritonitis, a woman may miscarry and her life is endangered. Exploratory surgery is usually performed promptly for pregnant women experiencing symptoms of intestinal obstruction. This is especially true if the woman has had abdominal surgery or an abdominal infection.

• Thromboembolic Disease: Is the leading cause of death in pregnant women in the United States. This disease manifests itself with blood clots forming in the blood vessels that may travel through the bloodstream and block an artery. There is risk of developing thromboembolic disease for about 6 to 8 weeks after delivery. Complications due to blood clots usually result from injuries that occur during delivery. This risk is much greater after a cesarean section than after vaginal delivery.

Blood clots usually form in the superficial veins of the legs or in the deep veins. Symptoms include:

• Swelling
• Pain in the calves
• Tenderness in the calves

Severity of symptoms does not correlate with the severity of the disease. If a clot moves from the legs to the lungs it may block one or more arteries in the lungs. The blockage is called pulmonary embolism and can be life threatening. If a clot blocks an artery supplying the brain, a stroke may result. Blood clots can also develop in the pelvis area.

Blood clots can be prevented from forming in women who have had a blood clot during a previous pregnancy. Heparin (an anticoagulant) during subsequent pregnancies helps prevent blood clots.

Women who have symptoms suggesting a blood clot are often given a Doppler ultrasonography to check for clots. Heparin can be started without delay if a blood clot is detected. Treatment continues for 6 to 8 weeks after delivery if the risk of blood clots is high. After delivery, there are other drugs that may be used.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Doctors Advice On Pregnancy Related Questions

Many women dream of the day they will meet their first child. Not all women mind you, but many of them have dreams of a family. From the first day they find out they are pregnant until the day they deliver, they are full of pregnancy questions. Some of these questions are easily answered and others are not so simple. If you have questions you should make sure you know where to look for information, and when you have stumbled upon something that you should talk to your doctor about.

You can look up pregnancy questions online, and you may find a great deal of good information. There are many great sites out there but you have to remember that not everything you read online will be true and accurate, and even if it is true, every woman is different. What is good information for one woman is not good for another. If you want to find answers for pregnancy questions online, look for the simple ones and leave the complicated ones to your doctor.

You can also take your pregnancy questions to your mother. She may be able to tell you things you can’t find online, and she can tell you about specific problems she had and what to watch out for. Though each pregnancy is different, you may find that you share some of the same issues other women in your family may have had. You can also buy books that are meant to answer pregnancy questions, but make sure you buy ones written by doctors to be sure you are getting good information and that something more serious is not going on.

Your doctor should be your main source for information when you have pregnancy questions and concerns. Some symptoms are normal and they are just something you have to live with. However, there are things that can go wrong. You don’t want to rely on the Internet or a book if something serious is happening. Sometimes, when you have pregnancy questions, nothing will settle your mind except for your doctor’s advice. Don’t be afraid to sound silly, and ask all of the questions you may have so you can have a smooth and happy pregnancy. If you have a strange pain, odd sensation that seems to overwhelm you, or if you have bleeding when you don’t think there should be any you should skip all other sources and go straight to your doctor.

Accurate Pregnancy Tests At Home

If you’re a woman wanting a baby you are probably very familiar with all the small changes a woman’s body goes through when she conceived. It is these early signs of pregnancy that often tip a couple off to the fact that they are soon to be parents. The signs differ from woman to woman though and any one of them can also be indicative of something else. However, if a woman has several there’s an increasingly good chance that she’s carrying a baby.

Probably the most obvious change that a woman is apt to notice is her missed period. Once a woman becomes pregnant, her menstrual cycle stops. She’ll find herself being late and if there are other early signs of pregnancy present, she’s bound to jump to the conclusion that she’s going to be a mom. There are other reasons for menstrual changes though, so if none of the other early signs of pregnancy are being felt it’s wise to see a doctor about what might be the root cause.

Breast changes also occur. A woman may notice that her breasts have become very tender and slightly swollen. Another of the early signs of pregnancy in many women is the veins on her chest become darker. She may look in a mirror and suddenly notice what looks like a complicated road map on her chest. This increased blood flow is one of the early signs of pregnancy that many women aren’t aware of.

Feeling very tired is common for women right before they are scheduled to get their period. It’s also one of the early signs of pregnancy. If an otherwise healthy and vibrant woman suddenly feels like turning in at 7 pm or if she needs a nap mid-day this may be a good sign that she’s conceived. This very tired feeling does pass though, but all expectant moms will agree that extra sleep is a very good thing.

We’ve all heard the stories of a friend or relative who became very nauseous each morning and realized from this that they were pregnant. Morning sickness is unfortunately one of the early signs of pregnancy no woman welcomes. The fact is that morning sickness can last well beyond the morning hours and creep into the entire day. Thankfully this is one of the early signs of pregnancy that does disappear with each passing week.

Seeing the doctor is really important for any woman who does think she’s pregnant. Although most home pregnancy tests are very accurate, a doctor can discuss with a woman her due date and also her nutritional needs. A visit to the doctor early can help a woman deliver a healthy, happy baby nine months later.