Has it been a few months that you have pulled yourself up from the grief of miscarrying your first unborn? We know that, now there’s a feeling of numbness and shock in you. After all, you didn’t want to lose your baby.

Well! We sincerely empathise with your grief. But, talking about miscarriage, let us tell you that, you are not alone in this phase. Studies have claimed that, around 15% of pregnancies end in miscarriage. And, maternal age, uterine abnormalities, hormonal irregularities, body weight and medical conditions like diabetes, thyroid, and hypertension are some of the leading causes of miscarriage. 

However earlier, pregnancy loss used to be a “hush-hush” thing in the society. But these days and ages, pregnancy loss gets discussed out in the open and the conversations mostly revolves around the emotional and physical response that your body undergoes after the miscarriage –

So, What Happens to Your Body After Miscarriage?

Every woman’s body reacts differently to pregnancy loss. Therefore, there no one symptom that she will experience after her miscarriage. 

Abdominal Cramps and Vaginal Bleeding

Since the uterus contracts to release blood and tissue, it had been holding on to, experiencing mild to severe lower abdominal cramping, spotting for up to 4 weeks and vaginal bleeding, (almost similar to heavier menstrual bleeding) is not uncommon. Since the foetus gets detached from the uterine lining, during a miscarriage, this bleeding lasts for a week, or sometimes even more than that. However, the duration of bleeding mostly depends upon the type of miscarriage you underwent. Plus, lower abdomen pain may last up to 2 days after your miscarriage. This pain is almost similar to your cramps during periods and might even extend up to your lower back. In such cases medical or surgical intervention might be necessitated.  

Breast Change

Oestrogen and progesterone hormones during early pregnancy rise not just to prepare the uterine lining for implantation and help the foetus to develop but also supports the production of milk. However, these hormones which once rose rapidly, begins to drop after a pregnancy loss. It in fact, signals your body to subside the production of milk. That means, with no breast stimulation, the milk making process is going to stop on its own after a week or two.

Nauseous and Puckish Feeling

Usually, during early pregnancy, doctors take the Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test looking the pregnancy symptoms in the uterine. The hCG hormones, (responsible for producing the placenta and the hormone-producing cells that form ovaries), are high during early pregnancy, and contribute to the symptoms like nausea and vomiting. After a miscarriage, however, these hormones tend to remain in the bloodstream for about a month or two and might continue to make you feel nauseous and puckish.

Other Side Effects

This dramatic shift in hormones can greatly impact your emotions. So, shame, guilt, anxiety, disappointment, failure, insomnia and fatigue are not uncommon.

But Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

Although a miscarriage is not in your hands, but by talking to some people close in your life like your partner, friends or family members and sharing grievances will give you some relief. You can even discuss your issues with a mental health professional, who will recommend you to support groups, where you will listen to others and share your own experience with them.

That’s not all. Keep consulting your gynaecologist and set an activity routine for yourself. Who knows you might expect a rainbow baby?

The post How Does Your Body Change After A Miscarriage? appeared first on Stem Cell Banking Guide and Pregnancy Tips For New Parents.

Untimely contractions are natural during pregnancy. The problem starts when the frequency of the contraction increases. Sometimes, you may feel an unnatural tightening of the uterus. This could be the handiwork of an irritable uterus. In this condition, you’ll notice that your contractions are stronger and more frequent than Braxton-Hicks contractions as well. However, they don’t cause any changes in the cervix.

Want to know more? Then keep reading as we detail out the causes and the cure.

What Is An Irritable Uterus?

Normally, contractions calm down after getting proper rest and hydration. In the case of an irritable uterus, the contractions show no signs of calming down. That said, this condition is relatively common and usually goes away on its own. However, in some rare cases, an irritable uterus can cause preterm labour, leading to an early delivery. Therefore, you should seek medical intervention.

This condition is caused by stress and severe dehydration. So, remember to drink a lot of fluids and learn to prioritize your emotional wellbeing.

Irritable Uterus Symptoms

If you think you are suffering from an irritable uterus, keep an eye out for these symptoms:

Back and Stomach Pain

As your muscles contract, you will experience back pain. Even your stomach will tighten up, causing pain and discomfort.

High-stress Level

It’s normal to feel a little stressed during pregnancy. After all, your body is undergoing a massive transformation. However, if your stress level is higher than usual, you might suffer from an irritable uterus.

Dehydration

If you have an irritable uterus, then you will always feel dehydrated. Even drinking a lot of fluids will not alleviate the condition.

Tight Belly

You will feel a sharp pain in your belly while walking or standing up. The pain may last up to an hour.

How To Treat Uterine Irritability

In most cases, it’s hard to find the exact cause behind uterine irritability. However, after studying the symptoms, there are a few steps you can take to make things better. Mostly, you must be ready to make some dietary and lifestyle changes.

Get Some Rest

An irregular sleeping habit can distress your uterus. Not only will you feel cranky and exhausted, but your stress levels will fly off the charts. So, make sure you get eight hours of sleep at night.

Have Frequent But Small Meals

Eat small meals throughout the day. Always put nutritious food on the plate and avoid processed food.

Avoid Stress

Don’t get into heated arguments or unpleasant conversations. If possible, stay away from your phone as well. Prioritize your mental health and take a break from stress-inducing activities.

Don’t Lift Heavy Objects

Lifting heavy objects can worsen your contractions. Therefore, you should not pick things that require a lot of strength.

Empty Your Bladder

Remember to empty your bladder before going to bed. Going to sleep with a full bladder can put pressure on your uterus.

Suffering from an irritable uterus is pretty common during pregnancy. You can counter this problem by following a healthy pregnancy routine. However, if you notice anything unusual, then consult your doctor.

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You are about to be a mother, and your excitement is through the roof. While symptoms like the dreaded morning sickness are too obvious to ignore, you might have some other questions. Most expectant mothers want to know when their pregnancy will be visible to others. 

If you’re not ready to announce your pregnancy to the world, then don’t worry. It’s going to be a while before people start noticing. However, according to experts, every pregnancy is different. That means the baby bump will be visible early in some cases and slightly later in others.

Let’s dive deep into the factors that influence your bump timeline.

When Do You Start Showing During Your First Pregnancy?

The number of pregnancies you’ve had determines when your baby bump will show.

In most cases, your baby bump will not show in the first trimester of your first pregnancy. It’s only when you reach the second trimester will your baby bump start showing. This will most likely happen between weeks 12 and 16.

If you are a person of lower weight, chances are your baby bump will start showing closer to the 12th week. If you weigh more than the average person, then you will start showing around 16 weeks.

When Will You Start Showing During Your Second Pregnancy?

If you are not a first-time mom, don’t be surprised if your bump starts showing early. It is perfectly normal to develop a baby bump in the first trimester.

The muscles in your stomach get stretched during your first pregnancy. Sometimes, even after delivery, the muscles don’t return to their original size. This may be the reason why you may get a baby bump earlier than usual.

When Do You Start to Show When Carrying Twins?

If you are expecting twins, people might notice your baby bump in the first trimester. To accommodate more than one baby, the uterus will grow more, which in turn will affect the timeline of your bump. Compared to someone expecting a singleton, who may not show until the fourth month, you may notice a bump in the 6^th week.

Why Do Some People Show Earlier?

Abominable bloating could be a reason why your baby bump shows earlier than expected. It’s nothing to worry about as the body retains more fluids when hormones increase. So, you may confuse your bloated belly with a baby bump.

To stop this from happening, drink plenty of water, eat more fiber, and eat smaller meals. Another important factor affecting the timeline of your baby bump is the uterus. If your uterus tilts towards your back, you will take longer to show. If your uterus tilts towards the front, you may show earlier.

Any confusion regarding your due date could also be a deciding factor.

Baby Bump Progression

Usually, your baby bump starts to show after 12 weeks of pregnancy. By week 20, you will start noticing some real change.  As your due date approaches, then is when your belly really starts to show. It’s because your belly will grow to accommodate your growing baby. Remember, your body retains fat to nourish the baby.

Watching your stomach grow can be super exciting. However, it can also be awkward at times. When someone starts to show varies from body to body, so don’t think about it too much. Learn to love the way you look and accept your changing body.

By choosing the proper maternity fashion, you can still look your best. If you feel like it, exercise and release those much-needed endorphins. Self-care is essential and shouldn’t be ignored at any cost. If needed, consult a doctor.

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Eating healthy and in the right quantum, makes living healthy too. Similar is the theory and practice for the pregnant mothers as well.

Due to the fluctuating pregnancy hormones; her cravings are at all-time high. With the convenience of getting processed or junk food at the doorstep, through the food-ordering apps, she also gets the privilege to quench her cravings, whether it is in the day or night.

Although we know that, nurturing a life inside for nine-months is quite a challenge, but giving in to processed food can add to pregnancy complications…. Read on to know why…

Has Zero Nutrients

During pregnancy, the expecting mother will pass on the all-essential nutrients, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals to the baby, for its healthy growth. However, since junk or processed food is rich with unhealthy fat, salt and sugar contents, consuming them will during pregnancy will not just leave the baby’s nutrient requirements incomplete, it will also negatively impact the baby’s brain, heart, lungs and bones.  

Increases The Risk of Allergy and Asthma

Studies from the European Respiratory Journal have indicated that, babies born to women who had junk food, (consumed added sugar in the form of sucrose or honey) during their pregnancy, had high risk of allergy and asthma in-between the age of 7 and 9.

Ups The Risk of Heart Diseases and Type 2 Diabetes

Can Cause Peripheral Insulin Dysfunction

Intervenes With The Regular Bowel Movements

Since junk or processed food doesn’t have enough fibre content it can increase the bloating and gaseous tendency in the pregnant mother, thus interfering with the cycles of bowel movements.

Makes The Baby Junk Food Addicted

Studies have claimed that, addiction to junk food during pregnancy may adversely impact the babies’ brain, thus leaving them addicted to unhealthy food habits, once they are born. After their birth, these children, do not feel, “the-feel-good” hormones even through healthy eating and there is a possibility that they develop a bad physical and mental shape.

Leads to Other Pregnancy Complications

Regardless of the weight of the pregnant mother, her overall everyday calorie-intake should be between 340 to 450 calories, especially during the second and third trimester. And, high consumption of junk food during pregnancy, may result in gaining weight, thus giving rise to:

• Health conditions such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes, 
• Giving birth to a large baby,
• Giving birth to babies with birth defects,
• Miscarriage, Pre-term labour, even stillbirth

If a pregnant woman can’t avoid junk food, she can surely enjoy switching to something better. And switching to healthy snacking like reaching out to fruity yoghurts or kale chips (a source of folate) or “granula” oats bar might not just satisfy the cravings, but make her pregnancy easy-going too, thus giving a healthy start to the new-born babies.

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The first three months of pregnancy is the most critical period for the mother. If you are planning on moving to a new residence during this phase, then there is a high chance it might affect the birth of the child and even add more risks of premature birth. According to the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, another significant risk factor is that the size of the baby can be smaller than usual due to the unnecessary stress of shifting.

Julia bond, the lead author who took part in the research program at UW school of public health, claims that there are no practical records to state the risks of moving to a new residence during the first three months of pregnancy. She also claims that their report with an in-depth investigation will bring more focused attention to the families to consider moving as a risk factor.

Some More Studies & Research

The potential health impacts of moving during the first three months of pregnancy are still under investigation. To add more relevant data, the researchers took a look at the birth certificate of the newborn between 2007 & 2014 in the state of Washington for the mothers aged 18 or higher.

The researchers planned a survey and selected over 30,000 women who shifted their residence during the first three months of their pregnancy. These 30,000 women were compared with the lot of 1, 20,000 women who gave birth to babies in the same year and did not move during the first trimester of the pregnancy, i.e., three months.

The survey was done to confront the results of the adverse health impacts imposed on the baby due to the mother moving to a new residence during the first trimester of pregnancy. This survey resulted in the figures of about 37% increased risk of lower birth-weight and 42% risk of premature birth for the mothers who moved to a new place during the first three months of pregnancy.

It states that there is a probable risk to the baby due to shifting during early pregnancy, so consulting a medical expert or physician is a must if you are pregnant and willing to shift your residence, as mentioned in the report.

What to Do?

Here are the few things that you could do to reduce stress while shifting to a new house during pregnancy:

1. Consult your doctors before you pick a reasonable date to move from your residence to avoid adverse impacts on the health of the baby and yourself.
2. Do the packing beforehand to avoid stressing the mother and the baby. Keep it slow, but keep enough time for it. This will not only help you to remember the essentials but will also reduce the strain on the baby.
3. Do not rush with the unpacking process and keep it slow just similar to your packing process. Only unpack the essentials and rest all can go slowly.

This way you can enjoy the experience of moving to a brand new place and meeting new people without putting yourself or your baby at risk.

The post Can Moving to a New Home During Pregnancy Raise the Risk of Preterm Birth? appeared first on Stem Cell Banking Guide and Pregnancy Tips For New Parents.

Since you are fully aware of your pregnancy, be ready to take important tips to select the correct pregnancy shoes so that you will not invest in the wrong one:

1. Search for a pair that can inhale your feet-make sure you can take your toes in your chosen shoes. You can go for a fun mix of sandals or shoes with level soles in this situation. The lucky thing about this option is that you can combine it with shorts or other lovely outfits to make it look chic and cool. Keep in mind that you can still go for breathable heels, but make sure they are wide and low.

Shoes also have an essential ability to breathe to prevent the shoes from having moisture, which may make the feet sweat more. The canvas or cowhide can be used as the most breathable shoes.

2. Another important tip is to search for a few shoes, which you can wear or slip on easily. You should not take too much time to dress or feel uncomfortable.

Therefore, evading laces with shoes as such obliges you to twist them in order to tie them. Besides this, you can also slip on the spires at the risk that when you run they will be broken. Go for footwear without laces so that you won’t experience serious difficulties to put it on and take it off.

3. Find a good shoe-the best shoe for pregnancy offers a good coating and support. Please note that your feet may also change unbelievably, because they are pregnant. Additional weight is also given. In this respect, you need to support your legs and feet in additional curves.

The right support for the curve can limit your feet’s agony and also prevent damage from excess stress. A useful tip is to wear a few pairs and evaluate them on the basis of their support. Choose one of your favorites.

4. Take your comfort capabilities into account-look for a shoe that can give you the maximum comfort. Note that you are going to carry your child for nine months, so you need the most pleasant combination, particularly at the last stage of pregnancy.

And you won’t have to take your regular walks a troubled time. Everything should be pleasant from the cushioning, chic and shoe material. When you intend to invest in a closed sports or running shoe then decide if your language and neckline are adequately pleasing.

5. Look for a big shoe-As already stated, your feet can swell and widen when you are pregnant. You must all have half or one full size larger than the average shoe size. This will give you enough room to stay pleasant no matter how much you may swell your feet.

Conclusion

You can find the best match for your neighborhood trip with the right pregnancy shoes mentioned in this article. Settle on sure that your decision is breathable, agreeable and large to make everything easier for you as well as for your unborn child.

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The Pregnancy Line is the dark line that develops across your belly during pregnancy, which is more officially called Linea Nigra. It is possible that the line may have been there before, but it went unnoticed because it was so light in color. Light or pale line is called Linea Alba (white line) before lining before pregnancy. It runs to the pubic bone from your navel. It darkens with the name Linea Nigra (black line) during pregnancy.

Typically, the Linea Nigra runs from your pubic bone to the top of your umbilicus (belly button), but it can extend to your sternum all the way. Usually, it is about 1/4 “to 1/2” wide. You may see that as it goes up it becomes lighter. It may also be darker or lighter than you see on other women who are pregnant. It seems that these variations are normal and not an issue.

The line frequently appears around the fifth month of pregnancy. It appears suddenly during the time of pregnancy. One mother noted that one day when she got out of the shower, it seemed to appear and she didn’t know what to do with it. The line of pregnancy is often darkened by your pregnancy.

Probably this line is caused by hormones that change during pregnancy in your body, although the exact cause is unknown. The placenta may release a melanocyte-stimulating hormone, the cells that make melanin to pigment your skin or give you a sun tan. You may notice that during pregnancy your nipples are darkening, which may be due to this factor.

There is nothing to get worked up about as the line will progressively disappear on its own. However, there are a few quick tips to make the line less prominent in the interim:

• Try and keep your tummy under wraps to prevent skin discoloration during pregnancy. When you go out, always use a sunblock which is at least SPF15.
• A deficiency in folic acid in the body is sometimes an indication of skin discolorations. Eat healthy during pregnancy ensuring that your diet contains plenty of folic acid from leafy vegetables, oranges, and whole-wheat breads and cereals.

Some women are disturbed by the appearance of the line of pregnancy. There’s nothing you can or should do to make it go away, however, short of giving birth. Doctors warn against the use of drugs or lotions. It’s harmful to bleach the skin and won’t remove the line. Please talk to your doctor or midwife if you are really concerned. No irritation of your skin is best.

You can do nothing to prevent the line of pregnancy. It’s a natural pregnancy part. The good news is that the dark line on belly usually decreases shortly after your baby’s birth and fades away. In most of the women, the pregnancy line fades away in the first month after delivery. The reason behind is that the hormonal level return to the pre-pregnancy state but the time of fading varies from one woman to another.

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Dental hygiene is essential to people of all ages and throughout their life.  However, at the time of pregnancy, it becomes more essential to look after your gums and teeth. This is because your gums can be affected by pregnancy hormones and become more vulnerable to bleeding.

During pregnancy the gums become swollen and painful and when this happens gums become susceptible to infection that may lead to decay of the tooth. At this stage, you are also more prone to have a plaque (bacteria) build-up on your teeth.

Women should make an attempt to clean their teeth more carefully and regularly in the first trimester as well as in the second trimester of pregnancy. Your dentist must have given you advice on how to clean your teeth and which is the brush, paste and also mouthwash best suitable for you.

If you have not yet visited a dentist then immediately sign up at a dental clinic in the first trimester of pregnancy and go for frequent check-ups in the months of pregnancy.

You cannot give any excuse for not doing a dental check-up. The reason behind is in some clinics or hospitals dental care is free from the moment of confirmation of your pregnancy straight to the first birth of your child. All you need is your physician, midwife or health visitor’s maternity certificate.

A severe infection of the gum such as gingivitis or periodontal disease mainly occurs in the first or second trimester may not affect the health of your baby. However, it shows a warning that your pregnancy health is not proper and your diet is not proper. This can further lead to improper development of the child and may affect the health of your baby.

Tips to care for your gums:

• Even there is bleeding in your gums, the teeth must be brushed. If your gums are sore, use a smooth brush.
• Plaque may lead your gums more susceptible to bleeding. Brush your teeth for two minutes, morning and night, to remove plaque as much as possible.
• Electrical brushes are better than manual brushes to remove plaque and stuck food particles. For that, you have to follow the instructions and use them correctly.
• Use floss or mini brushes to clean your teeth at least three times a week to remove accumulated plaque and food.
• Visit your dentist regularly for removal of stains and plaque in the first trimester as well as in the second trimester.
• Drink plenty of water that will help you to remove debris and acid from the mouth. Tap water contains fluoride that enables to create stronger enamel.
• Eat calcium-rich food such as cheese and other milk products. These foods will help to avert demineralization (enamel breakdown). When we consume cheese and it is broken down in our mouth then it generates its alkalinity. This alkaline in our mouth helps to fight the acid that causes the decay of the tooth.
• Reduce the consumption of sugar. This sugar and other carbohydrate are the growing field of bacteria that cause decaying of tooth.

Hence it can be said that to proper care of your teeth during pregnancy as this is a part of your body and you must take care of the health of your body.

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They can use essential oils for reducing their pregnancy symptoms. Here are five common problems where essential oils can be used:

• Morning sickness
• Pain
• Sleep and energy
• Hypertension, gestational diabetes, water retention
• Cold & flu

Morning Sickness

This is a challenging phase of pregnancy as women had to deal with nausea and vomiting. Essential oils can assist to calm the stomach from nausea that prevents the occurrence of vomiting.

Indigestion and heartburn can also be helped through the use of essential oils. It will also reduce stomach pain or feeling of full stomach. Some oils can be used safely on the abdomen, at the bottom of the feet, can be applied on the tongue or can be sip with water.

Pain

Many women have headaches because during pregnancy they don’t want to take pain medication. Fortunately, there are options rather than medicines which can be used. Temples, neck, forehead and swollen area can be massaged with oil. Oils may also be useful to inhale.

Oils may be applied on the muscle, shoulder and hemorrhoid pain in similarly as it is applied to headaches.

Sleep & Energy

Most of the common problem that a pregnant woman suffers during pregnancy is sleeplessness. They have various options such as applying essential oils at feet before going to bed, diffuse oils in the bedroom, and apply oils below the nose or back of neck. This will help to get better sleep and fulfill the lack of energy by completing our sleep.

It can also be used in drinking water, applied on back of neck or can be inhaled to receive instant energy by reducing fatigue.

Hypertension, Gestational Diabetes, Water Retention

Certain essential oils can assist as a therapeutic use of high blood pressure because they are hypotensive (an ingredient that reduces and stabilizes level of blood pressure). Other oils have calming and soothing properties that can be used as sedative that can assist in the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure by topical application, massage or inhalation.

Gestational diabetes is mainly found in the pregnant women whose blood sugar level increases during pregnancy. In order to prevent severe problems for both mother and the baby, the healthcare provider needs observation and so that the women can be treated with essential oils.

Water retention occurs due to water build-up in the tissues of the body that causes swelling and puffiness. Essential oils can be useful for normalizing the equilibrium of the body by gently massaging the areas affected by fluid accumulation.

Cold and Flu

During pregnancy it is very important to maintain a good immunity. So at this time if you get cold and flu then there are certain essential oils that can be used to treat cold, cough, bacterial and viral infections.

Using 100% pure and natural therapeutic essential oils can be used to address common problems associated with pregnancy. These oils help to prevent medicines and to get a good as well as he

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Pelvic floor muscles are the layer of muscles that stretches from the front of the pubic bone to the back of the spine. They provide support to the urinary bladder, uterus, controls the bowel movements and also helps during the time of delivery. If these pelvic floor muscles become weak then it may become difficult for a woman to control both the urinary system as well as the bowel movements.

By doing pelvic floor exercises a woman can strengthen her muscles. Pelvic floor muscle exercise will help the body to cope up with the developing baby. Fit and healthy muscles will help in easy birth and reduces stress after pregnancy.

It is very important that you must keep your pelvic floor muscles strong because the hormonal changes after menopause may cause problems to the pelvic floor muscles. If it happens then the uterus, bladder or bowel may sag down and is pushed towards the walls of the vagina.

Causes Of Weakening Of Pelvic Muscles

Pregnancy and giving birth of a baby creates stretch in the pelvic floor muscles. Due to this stretch the muscles gets weak and unable to provide support to the pelvic organs.

How To Find Pelvic Floor Muscles?

Imagine and try yourself to stop the flow of your urine. You may feel like closing and lifting up both the front and the back passages. It seems to easy but while finding those muscles you have to keep in mind that:

• You must not pull your tummy in.
• Should not squeeze both the legs together
• Do not hold your breath

How the Pelvic Floor Exercise Will Help?

If you perform the pelvic floor exercises, then it will help you to protect from leaking your pee. When the pelvic muscles become strong it will help to support the weight of pregnancy and quickly heal the area of childbirth from anus to vagina.

How To Do Pelvic Floor Exercise?

When you are learning your pelvic floor exercises, you might end up holding your breath unintentionally. However, it may cause reverse effects as when you hold your breath while exercising, these muscles get relaxed whenever you cough or sneeze and may not help you in tightening of the muscles.

There Are 4 Easy Steps Of Doing Pelvic Floor Exercises

• Sit or lay down in a comfortable position.
• Squeeze and try to lift the pelvic floor muscles.
• Tightly hold your muscles for a time period of 10 seconds. Then relax and breathe normally.
• Repeat this exercise daily.

Finally, it can be said that you must aim to make these exercises as a part of your life. Once you get familiar with the exercise, it will become easy for you to do 3 times per day.

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Congratulations for the arrival of week 16. You must be very excited and a bit nervous about your prenatal visit for this month. This time your baby starts kicking and during visit to your doctor you will hear the heartbeat of the baby.

Development of Your Baby

Your baby is now about the size of a lemon. Your baby is now on a surge towards growth in the next few days. Its head became erect, eyes & ears are grown and the body had got a proper shape. It had already started functioning its systems such as urinary and circulatory. American pregnancy association stated that towards the end of this week the length of the baby from head to toe is 13.5 cm in length and weight 0.7 kg.

Your baby’s nervous system continues to develop, and the muscles in their tiny limbs can flex. They can make a fist and might even grab and pull their umbilical cord. If you could see their face, you might be able to see them making facial expressions, like a frown or squint. They can’t control these facial muscles yet though.

Your Body’s Development

• At this time, your belly starts to grow with the growing baby and this is the time when your baby bump starts showing up.
• The womb will grow and move upwards to the torso that reduces frequent urination.
• At this week, you will start to show the pregnancy glow, causes due to the increase in the blood flow and high secretion of oil from the skin glands.
• Due the increase in the hormones it may cause lead to varicose veins in which the veins become visible beneath the skin.
• The pressure in the uterus causes slow movement in the digestive tract. Also, the growth of the uterus exerts pressure which leads to the constipation.
• The vaginal discharge increases and it is beneficial for you as it reduces the chances of infection. So, despite of feeling uncomfortable do not douche or use feminine wipes as it may worsen the infection.
• Due to the increase in blood flow your gums become inflamed and when your brush your gums starts bleeding. This is normal and you must keep your teeth and gums clean.

Plan For This Week

During your visit to the doctor you will be recommended to do some tests such as Ultrasonography, Amniocentesis, etc. Your doctor will discuss about prenatal classes, premature labour pain, round ligament symptoms and things.

During this time, you will feel the baby’s movement for the first time. It becomes very important that you must avoid sleeping on your back. Sleep on your side with pillows to support your belly.

You must make sure that your doctor knows all about your medications so that if any of the medications cause any interference then the doctor will change the medicine or the dose.

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Dear mommies, you had already completed your 10 weeks of pregnancy. So, is the time that you have reached the end of the first trimester of pregnancy which is the 11^th week. You must be thinking about your baby, its shape, size, appearance and other things.

Here We Are To Help You With Some Of Your Thoughts

First coming to your baby, at the 11^th week your baby is just two inches long and is the size of a caterpillar. The head is larger than the body as the facial bones had developed completely. The ears are carved into seashell shape. Hair starts forming all over the body. Toenail and fingernail beds are in the growth phase which is webbed as similar to a tadpole. The skin has just started to become thick. And your baby had started to move its new facial palate and tongue.

As The Baby is Developing Inside You, Your Body is Also Having Some Changes

Your body is going through various changes, you may find some difficulty in coping with the changes in the body. You may be feeling hungrier than before and your morning sickness will ease away slowly. You might be getting pain in the stomach which is normal during pregnancy. You might be feeling hotter as the metabolic rate of your body increases for supporting the new life inside you. Your baby bump starts growing. It might not be visible but you can feel your clothes tighter than before. There is an increase in bloating, constipation or acidity along with breast tenderness.

Now Below Are Some Tips To Manage This Situation

• Once-a-week yoga for eight weeks is enough to reduce the risk of anxiety and depression, which in turn lowers her chance of premature birth and postpartum blues. It will also help in reducing acidity and helps in digestion.
• Bra of good support will help you to get relief from breast tenderness.
• Love nuts? Keep eating. Enjoying this high-protein snack while pregnant doesn’t put your unborn child at risk of nut allergies — it may actually lower her risk. Also, will reduce your hunger.

Along with all these tips, there are some important points that must be kept in mind. During this time of pregnancy, you must give more attention to yourself and your baby. You must stay away from toxic substances such as cigarette, alcohol, carbonated drinks, and drugs. You must take proper medications as instructed by your doctor. You must be sure about taking all the medications as well as supplements prescribed by the doctor. This will help to nourish the health of you and your baby. Now that you have come to know about the 11^th week, stay with us and we will help you know about some other facts about pregnancy.

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Your baby at this stage is just as a peanut. The measurement of the baby is 1.67 inches that means 4.24 centimeters as stated by American pregnancy association. Your baby now looks like a tiny little person. Head became straight, round and face start its formation. Eyes are closed but there is a complete development of retinal pigmentation. Taste buds of tongue are formed and external ears are developed. Limbs are formed which consist of distinct fingers and toes. Finally, the liver, gallbladder and the intestines start forming.

At this time, the hCG hormone is circulating in you at highest level. This may lead to severity of pregnancy symptoms. But do not worry this is normal and happens to almost all of the pregnant women. This increase in the hormonal level causes following symptoms.

• As the hormones are releasing more these days it is increasing nausea and fatigue day by day and at this point you might become impatient in controlling your emotions. However, you need not to worry because these symptoms will slowly go away as your pregnancy progresses. You can read books or watch movie to reduce these stressful conditions.
  
• Due to the expansion of the uterus and blood flow to the pelvic area can create pressure and you might urge to pee frequently. That does not mean that you will cut off the amount of your drinking water. Remember that you must stay hydrated and for that you have to drink lots of water.
  
• These days you might be feeling more fatigues than earlier. This is because your hormone secretion is increasing day by day and it is causing a hike in your fatigue. You must sleep more as much as you can to reduce fatigue. You must also eat at small to maintain your blood sugar level stays normal.
  
• Due to high mucus production in the body you might feel the nasal congestion.
  
• You might also have to face headache due to the increase in the level of the hormones. In addition, some other symptoms are there that you must have to cope with such as dehydration, lack of sleep, cravings for certain food, tiredness and stress.

For reducing these pregnancy symptoms, you must eat at small intervals, get enough sleep, and drink lots of water. Take hot or cold compress as it makes you comfortable for reducing headache. However, do not take any medication of your own and consult with your doctor before doing so. At this time your doctor will advise you to test any kind of family history for genetic diseases and to do various prenatal tests to reduce the risks of any severity.

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Congratulations to all the mothers those who had completed their seventh week of pregnancy. Now that you have entered into week eight, it is the time to complete your second month of pregnancy. You may not start showing your baby bump but like other women you will feel your pregnancy. At time you will have your first prenatal appointment. During this visit your doctor will perform the confirmatory test of your baby. Then the medications will be provided by the doctor.

Stay excited as your baby is growing for approximately a millimeter every single day. During this time of eight week the baby is as big as a raspberry. American Pregnancy association states that the baby weighs approximately more than one inch when measured ^[1]. Your baby will starts growing its webbed hands as well as feet. The heart starts growing and it will beat at an unbelievable rate of more than 150times/min. Amniotic fluid starts increasing its volume and womb starts to expand for the growing baby.

With the passing of each week some of the symptom of your pregnancy may change and others intensify.

Fatigue

When you are at 8 weeks of pregnancy, most of the time you may feel tired. The reason behind is the hormonal changes occurring in the body. It also increases the production of blood needed for the growth of the baby. This causes decrease in the blood sugar levels as well as blood pressure which leads to tiredness and fatigue. For reducing this tiredness, you must sleep as much as you can. Going for an early sleep or having tiny naps during the day in between your regular activities will prevent fatigue during pregnancy.

Nausea

You might experience nausea throughout the day. This nausea might bother you a little but don’t worry its completely normal. The ginger can provide you rid of nausea. So, you may eat ginger products such as ginger sweets, ginger ale or ginger cakes. You can also consume peppermint to reduce nausea.

Increased Sense of Smell

Another pleasant symptom occurs along with morning sickness is an unusual feeling of odor. Catching a smell of an unpleasant odor (maybe something that’s completely harmless or never troubled you before) could cause sickness, so it’s better to attempt to prevent the odors that you’ve become susceptible to.

Constipation

Constipation occurs to most of the women during childbirth. For reducing this, drink plenty of water, consume fiber-rich vegetables and fruits. In addition, you might opt for long walks. If you are still facing the problem of constipation, discuss with your doctor and know about the remedies to get relief.

When you will visit to your gynecologist, the doctor will examine you and will provide you with the tips that will help in reducing the symptoms of this time. During this time, you may develop oily skin and may suffer from pimples. You may be using ointment for treating the pimple but you must know about the ingredients of the medication. At this point it is better to contact with the doctor to know about the  safety of the use of medicine during pregnancy.

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You must be very happy that your pregnancy is progressing and now it’s the seventh week. The growth inside your belly is going on at a rapid speed. Within these seven weeks your embryo has grown up to 10,000 times bigger from the size of a zygote.

You must be eager to know about your baby. So, let me tell you that your baby is as big as a grape. The size of the embryo had doubled from the size of zygote and is approximately of 1 inch i.e. 2.54 cm. This is stated by the American pregnancy association. By this time the tail has vanished and the little one starts developing its organs.

• It will develop two dark spots that will become eyes.
• Two holes to be turned out into nostrils.
• Division of lips and beginning of the tooth buds.

During this week of pregnancy, you will be getting the whole range of symptoms. Here the symptoms are explained.

Nausea – During week 7, the morning sickness gets strong. At this time, you have to remain patient and try to cope up with the symptoms of morning sickness. Some of the women get relief from nausea by eating ginger. This feeling of nausea will get ease by the end of first trimester.

Cravings for food – You might want to eat the same food each and every time or do not want to eat a particular kind of food. Food aversions are a natural way which keeps you away from some harmful foods. It is good to have cravings but you must also keep eating the healthy foods that you will need for your pregnancy.

Feeling thirsty – As the volume of blood in the body increases it makes you feel more thirsty than normal. During this time, you must try to drink eight glasses of water in a day.

Frequent urination – Increase in the water intake and increase in the hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) hormone leads to the increase in blood flow towards the pelvis. This causes upsurge in urinating more frequently.  Despite of urge to pee you must not cut your liquid intake, but you must try to avoid carbonated drinks and caffeine.

Breast tenderness – As the breast starts prepping for the production of milk so it develops and the changes in the breasts occurs. It causes tender feeling in the breasts.

Heartburn and indigestion – If you feel that your stomach is burning after eating then it is a sign that you have got heartburn induced due to pregnancy. Avoid eating junk and spicy foods to reduce the trigger of heartburn. Do not drink water together with food to avoid burning of stomach.

By this time when you visit to your gynecologist, she will examine your condition of pregnancy and will suggest you with the guidelines about safe consumption of foods. On the other hand, if you experience any kind of symptoms such as vaginal bleeding, low blood pressure, rectal pain, pelvic pain or any cramps then immediately consult with the doctor as these may lead to loss of pregnancy.

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“Feeling your baby’s kicks is the best part of pregnancy.”

After missing the period, the first thing an expected mother does is the pregnancy test. And it is the happiest time for her when she gets a positive result. Immediately that pregnant lady visits a gynaecologist for further assistance. Doctor tells her about the details of the pregnancy, condition of her baby, asks her to do some test for examining her body and tells her about the common symptoms of pregnancy.

But there are some facts which are unknown to most of the pregnant women and no one will tell you about those facts.

Here in this blog some of the bizarre facts about pregnancy are mentioned which will make you feel astonished:

1. The uterus of a normal woman is of lemon size but when she becomes pregnant the uterus grows up to a size of a watermelon which is 500 times bigger than normal.
2. Due to the extra fluid and retention of water, the feet of a pregnant woman grow up to the size of a full shoe.
3. When a pregnant woman eats, all of the nutrients are first passed to the baby and leftover nutrients are then passed to the rest of the body. So it is necessary that a pregnant lady must eat more than her normal diet.
4. During this time the relaxin hormone softens the joints of the bones so that it becomes easy for the hip and pelvic bone to open up for the baby’s birth. But due to the secretion of relaxin, the bones of the body becomes weak and is more prone to breakage.
5. The baby inside the womb can hear, smell, see and feel all the things in the outside environment. So when you talk, your baby can listen to it and respond.
6. A pregnant woman starts lactating automatically whenever her baby cries out.
7. The size of heart of a pregnant mother increases because the body needs more oxygenated blood and the heart has to pump out the blood.
8. In uterus, a baby girl develops all of her ovum which she will produce throughout her entire life whereas the baby boy develops their sperm only after their puberty.
9. The dark line on the belly known as linea nigra appears during the pregnancy. However, anyone did not notice that the dark line on the belly is also present in a non-pregnant lady. Only it is noticeable during pregnancy just because of pigmentation caused due to the changes in hormone.
10. Morning sickness does not happen only in the morning rather it may occur at any time of the day.
11. A few days after the conception the breasts start preparing itself for feeding the baby. The areola starts enlarging and the nipples get sensitive during this time.
12. During the first trimester, your body starts storing fat. Then it is stopped during the half of the pregnancy which is then used by the foetus to grow.
13. Digestion of the woman slows down during pregnancy so that there is a better absorption of nutrients.
14. During the pregnancy there is a shortness of breath caused due to the pressure in the uterus. As the foetus is growing the diaphragm did not get enough space to inflate and the woman cannot breathe deeply.
15. However towards the end of the pregnancy the women can breathe deeply as the baby moves towards the pelvis.

Pregnancy is a quite mysterious time for a woman who is becoming mother for the first time. But being a modern lady, the pregnant mother must know all the facts of pregnancy and get details before getting scared of anything weird.

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Pregnancy does not mean that you have to stay at home. So it is very important that you plan the daily commute and method of travel. As long as the mother and the foetus are healthy, the pregnant lady can safely travel till 36 weeks of pregnancy. The most ideal time to travel is the second trimester that is between weeks 14-28.

Most of the problem in pregnancy occurs during the first and the third trimesters. The morning sickness goes after the end of the first trimester and the fatigue occurs at the time of the third trimester. As the baby is still growing during the second trimester, it is comfortable for the pregnant woman to move. During this time a woman is lesser prone towards miscarriage or preterm labour.

If the pregnant woman has any kind of health condition, for example, heart disease. In addition, if the woman has any complications in pregnancy like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm labour or premature rupture of membrane, then your obstetrician will limit your days.

A few points must be kept in mind so that you can travel safely.

• Visit your doctor for a scheduled check-up before leaving for the trip.
• You must know your due date because while travelling if you have any problem then your caregiver will have the knowledge about your pregnancy.
• You must not forget to take over-the-counter medicines with yourself along with the prescribed medicine to get quick relief from any medical issues.
• Before leaving for the trip you must check the date of vaccines.
• Take the fastest and the easiest way to reach your destination.

Some Tips For Your Journey

If you are travelling by car make your drive as short as you can. Wear the seat belt while riding, buckle the belt below your belly. During your ride make regular stops for the movement of your body.

It is very important to remember your due date while travelling by flight. The time to travel by flight must be done before 36 weeks of pregnancy. Some of the airlines restrict travel without a medical certificate. You must book an aisle seat so that while going to the restroom you do not have to pass your co-passenger sitting beside you.

If you are going by ship then you must be sure that your stop must at a place which is facilitated with medical equipment. Before leaving to travel by ship you must consult with your obstetrician about medication that will help you get relief from sea-sickness.

Finally, during travel if you get any of these following symptoms then immediately ask for the medical help:

• Cramps in belly
• Contractions in the uterine muscles
• Excessive pain in head
• Swelling in legs along with pain
• Problem in vision
• Severe contraction or water break

Even if your health is perfect, an emergency might be caused during the trip. So, you must remain careful about travelling during pregnancy. You and your caregiver must be aware of your time of foetus’ growth. In case if there are any complications then immediate action must be taken. You must also have the knowledge of medical center near to your travel destination.

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Your immune system will naturally be weaker than usual during pregnancy. This means that you are more susceptible to certain infections and diseases that can harm you and your baby.

Immunization is a simple and effective way to prevent certain infections from protecting yourself and your child. Check that you have protection from diseases that can cause illness in you or your unborn baby before you become pregnant. In addition to routine immunizations such as tetanus and polio, pregnant women should be immune to hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicose veins, whooping cough, and influenza. Before pregnancy, all women are supposed to get immunized as not all these vaccinations are suggested during pregnancy.

Vaccinations before pregnancy

During pregnancy, rubella infection can cause severe birth defects. If you were born after 1966, you might need a full protection booster vaccination. In consultation with your doctor, this should be done. It is recommended that you wait four weeks before trying to get pregnant after receiving this vaccine. Chickenpox infection can cause severe disease in you and your unborn baby during pregnancy. If you have immunity to this infection, a simple blood test can determine. Talk to your doctor about two doses of the vaccine for full immunity if you are not protected. It is recommended that you wait four weeks before trying to get pregnant after receiving this vaccine. For smokers and people with chronic heart, lung or kidney disease, or diabetes, it is recommended to protect against serious disease caused by pneumococcal disease. Vaccines not always recommended during pregnancy that are required to travel to other countries.

Safe vaccinations during pregnancy

Whooping cough can cause severe illness and even death in children under the age of six months. It is now recommended that all pregnant women be vaccinated during their third trimester with pertussis (whooping cough). A combination of antibodies passed through the bloodstream of the mother and the reduced risk of the disease contracting mother makes this an ideal time for administering the vaccine. Most places now offer free pertussis vaccination. Influenza can cause severe illness and pregnancy increases the risk of complications of flu, with the risk of serious complications up to five times higher than normal for pregnant women. Therefore, for all pregnant women, the flu vaccine is recommended and funded. The vaccine for influenza is safe and can be given before, during or after pregnancy.

If you are planning about pregnancy, discuss with your health care provider and you will be advised to take the vaccine in advance if required. You must know that while you are pregnant your partner and other family members must take the vaccine of flu. It will help in reducing the risk of your exposure and also your baby towards the flu. So, if all of the vaccines of you and your family are up-to-date, then there is no need for additional pertussis immunization.

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Pregnant women are especially susceptible to yeast infections. With so much heading on when you’re expecting, the last thing you need is a relief from an itchy yeast infection. Unfortunately, rising levels of estrogen that come with a bun in the oven increase your risk of one, making yeast infections the most common vaginal infection during pregnancy. Indeed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 75 percent of all adult women have had at least one yeast infection in their lifetime. The best thing is yeast infections do not affect your pregnancy or your baby-to-be while uncomfortable for the mother-to-be.

Yeast infections are caused by an overgrowth of a vaginal fungus called Candida albicans, which is otherwise normal. When bacteria and yeast balance in the vagina are changed, this yeast can overgrow and cause symptoms when estrogen levels rise due to pregnancy, oral contraceptive use, or estrogen therapy. Excess moisture can also exasperate an imbalance, creating a more welcoming environment for fungal growth for your nether regions.

A significant increase in vaginal discharge during pregnancy is normal: thin, milky, mild-smelling, voluminous matter is so common that it has a name: leukorrhea. However, a yeast infection makes your discharge white, lumpy and odorless. You will also probably experience itching and burning out of the area called the vulva outside the vagina, which may look red and swollen. Other symptoms of yeast infection during intercourse may include painful urination and discomfort.

Luckily, infections with yeast are not dangerous and rarely are more than an irritating inconvenience. But when you get into work, if you have a yeast infection, it can be passed on to your baby during delivery, like the fungus that causes vaginal yeast infections can also cause a yeast imbalance in the mouth. In this case, when you breastfeed, your newborn may develop white patches in the mouth that can be passed back to you. Fortunately, you can easily treat thrush with a mild baby antifungal medication and an antifungal cream.

Even if you have previously had yeast infections and are a self-diagnosing professional, it is best to call your healthcare provider before using over-the-counter medication. You may be able to take an antifungal cream or vaginal suppository over-the-counter or prescribed. Keep in mind that these treatments may take several days before they bring relief and that even if you start feeling better, you should continue to use the medication as long as your practitioner has suggested — which may be one week or more. Unfortunately, medication can only temporarily ban a yeast infection; the infection often returns during the time of pregnancy and might require frequent treatment.

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High pressure is the stage where the blood pressure of a person is more or equal to 130/80 mm Hg and is a serious condition for a pregnant woman. There are various causes for the increase in the blood pressure in a pregnant woman. These are overweight or obese, first-time pregnancy, smoking, not doing proper physical work and a history of hypertension in the family.

During pregnancy high blood pressure can be divided into three varying conditions.

Chronic Hypertension

Sometimes, before becoming pregnant, a woman has pre-existing high blood pressure, or hypertension. This can be called chronic hypertension and is usually treated with medication for blood pressure. Doctors also consider chronic hypertension to be hypertension that occurs during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Gestational Hypertension

After the 20th week of pregnancy, gestational hypertension develops. Usually, after delivery, it resolves. There is a higher chance that preeclampsia will progress if diagnosed before 30 weeks.

Chronic Hypertension Along With Preeclampsia

Women with chronic hypertension can develop preeclampsia before becoming pregnant. This happens when, as pregnancy progresses, they experience protein in their urine or additional complications.

Throughout the pregnancy your blood pressure will be closely monitored. Blood pressure must be monitored at home. Ultrasound tests can be performed during pregnancy to track your fetus ‘ growth. If you suspect growth problems, you may have additional tests to monitor the health of the fetus. Usually, this test starts in the third trimester of pregnancy. If your hypertension is mild, your blood pressure may stay this way or even return to normal during pregnancy, and your medication may be stopped or your dosage decreased. If you have severe hypertension or hypertension-related health problems, you may need to start or continue taking medication in pregnancy for blood pressure.

Prevention involves identifying if you have preeclampsia risk factors and taking steps to address these factors. Common high blood pressure risk factors, such as obesity, can be minimized by diet and exercise. Gaining some weight during pregnancy is normal. If you’re concerned, discuss a target weight gain with your doctor and ways to stay within a healthy range for you.

Dietary guidelines vary from person to person for pregnant women. A nutritionist can help create a meal plan for your particular height and weight. Do not smoke or drink alcohol. Both are known to increase blood pressure during pregnancy and cause other complications. Pregnancy causes psychological and physical changes as well as hormone shifts. This can cause stress, which can make it harder to manage high blood pressure. Try techniques such as yoga and meditation to reduce stress.

It can become life-threatening for both mother and baby if high blood pressure goes untreated during pregnancy. So, stay careful about monitoring, and some changes in lifestyle may reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure complications.

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Pregnancy for a woman sometimes become more difficult than our imagination. During pregnancy the changes both physical as well as emotional becomes challenging. During this whole time along with the hormonal changes and cravings for food, the skin also experiences some changes. This change is known as pregnancy glow and it may start at different times for different women. However, the changes of skin are mainly noticed during the second trimester due to the increase in level of hormones.

Here are some ways by which you can maintain the glow of pregnancy:

• Get plenty of water to drink. Staying hydrated keeps your skin moisturized and makes it feel radiant throughout the day. It also helps to reduce the retention of water in the body during pregnancy, as well as to promote healthy pregnancy.
• Maintain clean skin. While oil secretion may keep your skin moisturized, excess oil may result in breakouts of acne. It is therefore important that you regularly wash your face.
• Use low pH soaps to protect your skin against dryness.
• Get plenty of sleep. The key to keeping your pregnancy glow can be adequate sleep as it leaves keeps you fresh all the day.
• Try to remain away from sun as excessive exposure to sun can make hyperpigmentation more likely. If you need to go out, use hats or take other protective measures.
• Try to do yoga as it will help to improve the health and brightness of the skin. So, a class of pregnancy yoga can help you keep that glow.
• Avoid or reduce small soy consumption, as the chances of hyperpigmentation are known to increase.
• Talk to your doctor about simple exercises. You can always put your feet up and relax if your doctor recommends that you do not strain yourself.

In addition to these you must pay attention towards your diet and that will help you to keep your skin healthy. Your diet must contain protein rich foods such as eggs, fish, foods rich in antioxidants, nuts containing folic acids and fruits such as pomegranate and watermelon for minerals. An organic diet will help to provide clean and unclogged skin. Cut the refined sugars and grains (as opposed to eating whole grains), saturated fats (found in fried foods), and too much milk. Instead, add foods like organic greens, avocado, salmon, walnuts, fresh fruits and vegetables to the skin that nourish.

At the times when your bump becomes a baby, the skin disorders you experience during pregnancy will be gone. Even though these symptoms naturally fade, nine months is a long time for your skin not to feel great. We hope these tips will help you to maintain pregnancy glow and take proper skin care during pregnancy. Of course, after your little one arrives, the deepest rewards of motherhood will keep you glowing.

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Are you getting confused about your due date? Do not worry when you know the date of conception of your baby. By knowing the conceiving date, you will be able to calculate your estimated due date. Your physician will start asking questions at your first your prenatal examination for predicting your due date as accurately as possible.

Your due date for pregnancy is usually 280 days (40 weeks) from the first day of your last period. The day you deliver your baby is probably not your estimated due date, but a time frame can be helpful. Knowing the due date of your baby will help your provider more accurately monitor your baby’s growth. Since certain laboratory tests change during your pregnancy, knowing a precise due date will also enable your provider to better track these tests and manage preterm labor if they occur.

A full-term pregnancy varies between 37 weeks and 40 weeks and 6 days. It can be difficult at first to work out how to count your pregnancy in weeks and months, because when we measure your pregnancy from the beginning of your last period, your baby is actually two weeks younger than the start date of pregnancy, otherwise known as the “gestational age.” So, when your doctor says you’re pregnant for four weeks, the gestational age of your baby is actually two weeks. Your actual delivery date may differ from your estimated delivery date, which is sometimes referred to as the estimated delivery date or EDC. There are actually a very small number of babies born on their due dates. Normally 5% of women is able to deliver on their due date.

Your doctor can provide you with an exact knowledge of your due date during your ultrasound scan, which is done at 12 weeks. A dating scan will normally take place between 10-14 weeks pregnant. During the scan, the radiologist will examine how well your baby is developed and measure the length of your baby from the head to the bottom, which helps to give you an EDD (estimated due date) based on how far you are during pregnancy. They will also check that you only expect one baby and not two and your baby develops in the right place.

You also need to know about Trimester, which means “three months,” so that your pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. Your first quarter will be thirteen weeks and six days from conception. Your second quarter is between 14 weeks and 27 weeks and six days. Your third quarter is from 28 weeks to birth.

In pregnant women, anxiety about the due date is a very normal feeling. The due date provided by the doctor usually provides an approximate time frame for all baby delivery preparations. The weeks, months or trimesters are used to quantify the pregnancy stage and you can choose any method you find convenient.

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Pregnancy period is the most difficult time as it is exciting as well as confusing. There are friend, family and relatives who will introduce you to various type of myths of pregnancy. All of these myths can make you confuse what to believe and what not to believe. Most of the myths cannot be matched up with the real facts. Here are some myths as well as facts about pregnancy.

Myth: A Glass of Wine Occasionally Will Not Harm

Some think that drinking a glass of wine occasionally during pregnancy won’t cause any harm to the baby. However, the fact is alcohol should be avoided at any cost during pregnancy. This is because there has been no study of the amount of alcohol considered safe when you are pregnant. A mother who used alcohol during pregnancy may be at risk for her baby’s FASD (Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder). Congenital disabilities, brain and cell damage are also more likely to occur in babies of mothers who had consumed alcohol.

Myth: A Pregnant Mother Must Eat for Two

There is a notion in society that a pregnant woman must eat for two people. Although the fact says that a pregnant lady only needs to add to some additional calories for supporting the baby and not have meals for two people. The exact calories needed is depending upon the women’s weight, height, activity level, as well as the pregnancy trimester. Women need to consume approximately 300 extra calories during pregnancy on average.

Myth: During Pregnancy a Woman Must Not Bath Often

It is being told that a pregnant woman is asked not to bath regularly but this myth is not having any base. Bathing regularly will help you to keep clean from germs which can harm the baby. Do not take very hot showers, as it may raise your body temperature and cause baby developmental issues. Avoid bathing in the water that is hot enough for example above 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit that may cause a rise in your body temperature. 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit water temperature is considered safe for pregnant women.

Myth: Papaya and Pineapples Causes Miscarriages

Eating of pineapple and papaya may cause miscarriage, so a pregnant woman must avoid eating these fruits. This is true because papaya which is not ripen contains a latex substance called chymopapain which is linked to uterine contractions, and pineapple has an enzyme called bromelain which, when consumed in large quantities, can lead to uterine contractions. However, the negative effects appear only if you consume a large amount.

Myth: Sex During Pregnancy is a Big no-no

It is commonly believed that during pregnancy sex can lead to miscarriage or might induces labour. Having sex do not induces labour but it is completely safe when intercourse during pregnancy is done in the suggested position. It won’t put any kind of pressure on the tummy. However, if you have any type of complications such as placenta praevia, dilated cervix or abnormal discharge then your doctor may advise you against it.

It is very usual that you will be messed up with various types of pregnancy myths and you may be thinking that what will be best for you during your pregnancy. Here is a suggestion that, do not listen to any kind of myths and always follow the advice of your doctor.

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During and after pregnancy, the body of the pregnant woman provides the baby with all the elements necessary for its proper growth: proteins, fats, sugar, vitamins, and minerals. Therefore, it is important to eat well during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The energy and nutrient requirements are more significant during this time. Women who eat well during and after pregnancy contribute to the health of their unborn baby.

Diet during pregnancy and lactation

For a pregnant woman, it is essential to eat a diet rich in nutrients. Women who eat well generally feel less tired and energetic. In general, they enjoy better health, which facilitates their pregnancy. They suffer less from gestational diabetes. It is also easier for them to lose more weight after the pregnancy ends. Eating well during pregnancy is essential. Besides, most women do not have to alter their diet. However, some changes need to be followed.

Eat well during and after pregnancy – some basic tips

These are the key tips to meet you and your baby’s nutritional needs:

1. Eat 3 meals a day.
2. Take 2 to 3 snacks a day: for example, a snack consists of fruit, a cup of yoghurt or a glass of milk or 2 tablespoons of almonds.
3. Eat a variety of foods in the 4 food groups: vegetables and fruits, cereal products, milk and alternatives, and meat and alternatives.
4. Regular food intake helps prevent the loss of energy during the day since your blood sugar (also called glucose) is more stable. Also, it is better to avoid long periods (more than 12 hours) without eating.
5. Follow precautions to prevent foodborne infections (for example, listeriosis and toxoplasmosis).

Eat for two

Should you eat twice as a pregnant woman? Although the calorie requirement increases during pregnancy, the difference is not very large. Pregnant women should pay particular attention to the quality of the food they eat. A variety of foodstuffs should be on the menu. On average, a pregnancy requires 80,000 extra calories or approximately 285 more calories per day. The needs are bigger in the end than at the beginning. Know that the metabolism of the mother adapts and reduces calorie consumption to give preference to the baby.

The increase in the nutritional needs of the pregnant woman is equivalent to 2 or 3 servings of additional food per day compared to an adult woman who is not pregnant. For example, a serving is a fruit or a glass of milk or an egg. Depending on when you feel hungry, these extra portions can be taken at mealtime or as snacks. These figures are an average for the whole pregnancy. The calorie requirement increases only slightly in the last trimester. As a result, you may not have to eat too much for several weeks in the beginning. In that case, do not force yourself. During pregnancy, it is important to eat different foods as fresh as possible.

Unless it is necessary to avoid any excessive weight gain during pregnancy, it is not recommended to follow any restrictive diet during this period. A balanced and sufficient diet that favours high-quality food, possibly without salt in case of severe hypertension, associated with regular physical activity such as walking, is the key to limiting weight gain during pregnancy and losing it afterwards.

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You are all excited to finally find out that you are going to have a baby and can’t wait to break this news to your family. But how did you realize you are pregnant? Apart from the obvious symptoms, morning sickness is one sign that your baby is on its way. Ever wondered what is morning sickness and why does it occur? And is it really only morning sickness? Let’s find out.

When you are pregnant, your body undergoes a lot of changes, and some of these changes are due to certain hormones working full shifts, like hCG – human chorionic gonadotrophin and oestrogen. Your body produces these hormones in significant quantities as the placenta has achieved the appropriate growth and has the capability to transfer the nourishment of the baby in the womb.

Morning sickness usually begins during the 5th or 6th week of the pregnancy but this is not necessary in all cases. Some women start feeling morning sickness as early as the 5th week in their pregnancy.

Although it happens in the mornings, hence the name morning sickness, but in some cases the vomiting can occur any time during the day or even throughout the day. At the onset, anything that made you feel nauseated before pregnancy can easily tick you off to vomiting. A smell that didn’t go well with you, sight of something you don’t usually like, etc.

The extreme form of morning sickness is called hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). If you are queasiness lasts all day, ending you in you being sick a number of times during the day, unable to eat or drink, then you may well have HG.

HG can cause dehydration and weight loss. Seek help from your doctor as soon as possible.

In most cases, HG will end by the time you’re about 20 weeks pregnant. Unfortunately, for some women, it does not go away completely until the end of pregnancy.

So, what causes hyperemesis gravidarum? And are there any risks involved? Should you be worried?

Although the exact cause of HG is unknown, a few factors are likely to be involved, including hormonal changes. Some women are more likely to get HG than others. Most likely if,

• You are expecting your first child
• You are expecting a girl or twins/triplets
• Women in your family had HG during their pregnancies
• You suffered HG in your past pregnancy
• You are prone to motion sickness or migraines
• You had weight issues during pregnancy

Although morning sickness or HG can make you feel miserable, it is a good sign. It means that the levels of hormones in your body are high, protecting your pregnancy. Rest assured that you should be through the worst by week 16. it’s very unlikely that your baby will be harmed. Without effective treatment, there is a risk that your baby may be smaller than average at birth. But it’s unlikely that your baby will be affected in this way.

Try not to worry about eating a balanced diet, especially if you can’t hold anything down at this stage. Your baby can catch up on his nutrients later on in your pregnancy when you’re feeling better.

There are steps you can take to help lessen, and cope with, the symptoms of HG:

• Consult your doctor early on and explain how bad you are feeling, and that you’d like treatment.
• Seek your partner’s assistance with basic household chores like grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning. Get you family and friends to come over and babysit your first-born whenever possible.
• If you have history of nausea from certain foods and smells, it is best to avoid them as much as possible during the pregnancy as the slightest sight or smell can trigger the queasiness syndrome in you. If cooking smells make you feel sick, try eating only cold foods.
• Drink water regularly in small sips that will keep your body hydrated at all times. You can also try sucking on ice-cubes as that can may also help in such situations.
• It is important to keep eating regularly, even in little quantities, whenever you can. You can catch up on good nutrition later, as your baby will get her nourishment from your body’s reserves.
• Get as much rest as you can. Tiredness can make nausea and vomiting worse.

Don’t feel guilty about how you feel. You are ill and it is absolutely not your fault.

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Stem cells have been the reason for so many successful clinical trials for decades. It has not only been proven effective for more than 80 diseases and disorders, but it has also been responsible for various miraculous stories. Lucy Hinchion has such an inspiring story. She is the youngest child in medical history, who has received her own umbilical cord blood to stop or delay the occurrence of Type 1 diabetes. And she was just 20 months old, when the procedure was conducted on her.

How Does Type 1 Diabetes Occur in Children?

The occurrence of Type 1 diabetes begins with autoantibodies. These are proteins that are made by the immune system of our body. If the protein is present in anyone blood, it suggests that the beta cells in the pancreas that help produce insulin, are affected. The entire process might lead to an autoimmune attack. Some of these autoantibodies can be traced during the blood months while some are found years before the diabetes occurs.

Umbilical cord blood is a rich source of stem cells but at the same time it’s the most difficult to collect. It can only be collected after child birth from the umbilical cord of the new born. For this reason, parents need to contact a private cord blood bank to store the umbilical cord blood immediately after birth. Even a one day’s delay cannot be considered.

The procedure is entire safe both for the mother and the child. Once the cord blood is collected, it needs to go through a clinical process to isolate the stem cells from the immune cells. These stem cells are unique in nature. They have the potential to repair and replace damaged tissues and organs. And once stored, these stem cells can be utilized in any transplant of any family member.

Lucy’s mother, Sonya Hinchion also hoped that once they store Lucy’s umbilical cord blood, they would be able to safe Lucy’s elder sister, Ava’s life, who was suffering from Type 1 diabetes since four years of age. However, little did she know that Lucy would require those stem cells more than anyone else. After testing, Sonya found out that Lucy was positive for two antibodies and that posed her at high risk of developing the condition more than anyone. Sonya recalled, “After testing positive for two antibodies herself, Lucy became at high risk of developing the condition.”

Regarding the transplant, Sonya confirmed that it was a pretty simple and straightforward procedure. She said, “You’re putting all your eggs in one basket but without doing this trial and without putting yourself out there, we’re never going to learn. The other risk is, she develops diabetes and you’ll kick yourself for not trying.” Professor Maria Craig, the head of the CORD study, follows Lucy every 3 to 6 months and would keep up the follow up session for the next 3 years.

Over 100 Australian children, who have a history of Type 1 diabetes in their family, are being screened by the Cord Reinfusion in Diabetes (CORD) study currently. According to a report, “More than 100 Australian children with a family history of Type 1 diabetes are currently being screened in the Cord Reinfusion in Diabetes (CORD) study, conducted through the hospital’s Kids Research Institute and funded by cord blood bank Cell Care Australia.”

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I have seen many women celebrities from the fashion world who were reigning divas till their forties trying to maintain the same physique even in their fifties and sixties. They cannot even accept gray hair as part of their ageing process and want to be remembered by their adorers in the same frame as they used to be in their twenties. Although they maintain a slim stature, their fingers with more obvious knuckles and nails tell us the real story. We should rather accept what we are and emphasize on looking beautiful at every age with the additions that childbirth and ageing does to your body. I cannot take my eyes off when I look at petite teens below twenties, beautiful pregnant women below forties or women reaching their menopause with half gray hair on their foreheads and the older women with pleasant grays and a shook body.

Body naturally goes on adding weight after childbirth and women start to gradually feel this change. As it is apparent that childbirth transforms a woman, we need to understand the fact that women and men to that matter have to undergo the nature’s ordeal and accept every role. We need not stick ourselves to when we were in ours 20’s and 30’s as if it is the golden age of beauty. Many other women delay pregnancies to look younger for a longer duration of time but their children may be affected with Down’s syndrome and many congenital diseases due to delayed child bearing. Nature has perfection in it and has set every ordeal with extreme perfection. Let us start appreciating nature’s build and flaunt ourselves in every phase.

Many presume pregnancy to be a weight gaining task. It is also a myth that pregnant women need ample rest and should consume loads of food. Women in pregnancy need only an extra 300 to 500 calories towards the third trimester. The tiny soul in your fetus needs very little food but nutritious one. Exercise is recommended throughout the pregnancy. Apart from some heavy tasks not recommended by your caregiver, women are expected to be active as a normal woman does even in pregnancy. Nature has equipped our bodies and birth canal with an amazing elastic property where they go back to normalcy within months post childbirth. Abdominal binders help your belly to get tightened again providing you indulge in sufficient physical activity.

Do not get afraid of gaining in weight in pregnancy as it is very necessary for you and your baby to be safe. Feel that you are entering into another phase of beauty where you look different from what you are now. However, both of the looks are equally adorable as you are with extreme grace mentally. Flaunt every new pound that adds to your body and every new curve that joins your stature to promote you to the life’s crucial role of being a mother. Remember, you may need to continue eating extra calories even after the child birth to accommodate your baby’s feeding needs. Every inch growing on your body would be sure to add that motherly bliss and grace to your personality and you will be loved even more for what you are irrespective of your shape. However, staying healthy and mentally elevated is very essential which is the real beauty to every woman.

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More than what we read about morning sickness, we’ve heard a lot about it from many pregnant women. Morning sickness is an unpleasant accessory to one’s pregnancy. Probably this is nature’s way of preparing a woman for the eventual hardships that she will face shortly. Studies reveal that 80% of pregnant women suffer from morning sickness during pregnancy. Although it is an irritable health condition, it does not cause any harm to the mother and child in the majority of cases unless the symptoms are extremely severe.

What is Morning Sickness?

Despite the word indicating “morning”, it is not necessary that this condition turns up only in the mornings. It may affect pregnant women at any time of the day. Surprisingly, it can even be in the middle of a night. This may include nausea and vomiting or just the vomiting sensation without the actual vomiting. Though I’ve heard many women complaining of this discomfort till their 5th month, it is more common in the first trimester of the gestation period. But few women may have this even in their third trimester. Call a doctor if there are persistently extreme symptoms if you pass dark coloured urine or very less amount of it, if you feel faint or dizzy, and if the blood in vomiting and high heartbeat is seen.

Here are some ways by which you may get some relief from your morning sickness:

Divide Your Meal in Multiple Small Portions

Nausea worsens if the stomach is empty. Frequently eating small portions of your meal helps the sugar levels on an even tone. Keep nutrition-rich snacks aside for munching throughout the day. If vomited, big meals are a waste without serving the purpose and hence go for the smaller ones.

Go For a Protein Rich Diet

Consume foods that are easily digestible and are rich in protein and vitamin B. Keep oily, acidic, and spicy foods away as such contents can erupt nausea.

Pick Cold Meal Not to Get Cooking Smells

I was on my toes during my pregnancy days when garlic was being used in cooking and boiling. It used to drive me nuts. Cold foods do not emit the food aroma as hot food does. This subsides your nausea to some extent. Continue having cold foods till your nausea becomes a passé cloud.

Increase Drinks in Between Meals

If you have a tough time keeping down the volume of fluids, avoid taking them during meals. However, add fluids in between the meals as it is essential to be hydrated during your pregnancy.

Sniff the Aroma of Citrus Fruits or Ginger

Citrus fruits such as lemon, orange, and sweet lime may help you ease your vomiting sensation. Ginger also works similarly if sniffed. Add lemon and ginger to your green tea or black tea to get rid of nausea.

Keep Perfumes and Scents Away

Surprisingly perfumes and aromatic scents trigger nausea. Body odours are quite irritating as I disliked my husband’s body odour which I earlier liked very much. The poor creature had to always be away from me. Avoiding these can help you get better.

Take Anti-nausea Tic Pills On Prescription

Take a suggestion from your doctor in using the anti-nauseatic pills if you have too many issues with it or if the nausea is persistent even after the first trimester.

Get a Fresh Breath

Get out and take a fresh breath in a garden or greenery. Avoid areas with heavy blooms as pollen may erupt the nausea tic elements in you. A fresh breeze can take away nausea.

Try and figure out these tips to conquer morning sickness. Understand that this is a temporary element and you will see days with the perfectly rising sun. Enduring this discomfort would prepare you for the required toughness when you become a mother.

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If we had to choose between the natural and the artificial, undisputed, we lean towards the natural product unless the artificial one has undeniable properties. Nature has equipped womankind with ready made milk when they give birth to their child. Probably, this was nothing but the only option early humans. Since there was no rearing of cattle or no scope to feed the infant with formula milk, the breast milk was nothing but necessary and so was it rewarded to women. But with the generations passing by, humans became more civilized and discovered and invented many things to make their lives comfortable. Alternative sources of milk thus became extensively popular and a source of debate while attracting criticism.

There had been extensive distribution of literature on the benefits of breastfeeding for ages and it is an apparent fact that all the women want to feed their child with this exclusive food source meant only for their offspring. However, due to work commitments, health reasons or time clashes, many of them are unable to feed their younger ones.
It has been considered for years that mothers and babies enter into a special bond while the baby is being fed. However, mothers who feed their infants with formula milk can build a stronger bond too with their care giving and affection. Keeping the debate aside, many pediatric academics globally suggest feeding the baby for at least 6 months with breast milk exclusively and for one year with top foods.

Let us understand the benefits of both breast milk and bottle milk to let women choose the option that they are comfortable with.

Benefits for the baby:

• As we all know that breast milk provides the necessary nutrients to the baby as it is customized according to the baby’s age and requirement.
• The natural milk protects the baby from infections and they are less likely to be hospitalized. The mother’s milk builds immunity system for the lifetime by strengthening the immune system.
• Mothers pass antibodies to the baby while feeding which help building up a protective wall against many diseases.
• It is easy to digest and lessens the chance for the baby to fall sick due to indigestion issues. Colic, constipation and diarrhea are less likely when compared to formula fed babies.

Benefits for mothers:

• Nursing is much easier when compared to feeding with formula milk. Sterilizing bottles is a pain. Preparation time is saved as mother’s milk is ready made.
• Women who breastfeed have lesser chances of getting breast cancer and ovarian cancers.
• The women who breastfeed have faster recovery post delivery and their uterus goes back to normalcy within six weeks thereby helping the mother to lose the baby weight as they lose many calories while feeding.
• Breastfeeding can be used as a natural contraception method under some stipulated guidelines which is popularly known as Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM).

Adverse elements of breastfeeding:

• Sore nipples initially trouble many women who start off breastfeeding.
• While breastfeeding, it is hard to understand whether the baby had enough milk or not as it cannot be measured unlike the formula feed.
• Breastfed babies require more frequent nursing episodes than the formula fed babies and hence this can be considered as a time consuming task and may be a hindrance to working mothers.
• Bottle feeding is more convenient when you are in public places.
• Nursing mothers need to take care of their diet as good nutrition helps them in producing healthier milk. They should avoid smoking drinking and substance intake.

With the established factors, it is upto the mothers to decide on the effective method of feeding that is in the best interest of their child after considering the entire circumstances surrounding them. Since both the methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, any method chosen should be trusted as the best source for the child.

Sources:
https://www.livescience.com/51260-breast-vs-bottle.html
http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/tc/breast-feeding-as-birth-control-topic-overview

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Nature has provided every organism with extreme defense mechanisms towards their off-spring and human beings are not an exception. In turn, humans do not leave any stone unturn to safeguard their younger ones with the help of their unique property called intelligence. Mother Nature has deployed the maternal and paternal instincts in humans. These instincts motivate them to take very special care when it comes to nurturing their off-spring. A care-free young lady with a lesser sense of responsibility turns explicitly defensive while taking care of the child and this infact starts even before the child is born.

Thanks to technology which is making us plan the pregnancy and its ability to be able to analyze it for any defects the neonate may have soon after birth. There are even established facts which can suggest us about the measures to be taken in order to prevent birth defects. However, there are 4% of disorders which affect an unborn child irrespective of the care taken. Rest of them can be avoided with few habit changes. They may be a little tough to handle but when you’ve planned for a baby, your preferences automatically change and the priorities will be shifted from you to your baby. Let us find some measures to be taken during pregnancy to keep your baby free from congenital disorders.

Start on Folic Acid Supplements

Folic acid is the most essential element for a pregnant woman in shaping up her baby’s brain and spine. Folic acid is a vitamin B available from fortified foods and supplements.

Alcohol Consumption Can Be Disastrous

A developing baby in the fetus may get alcohol in the mother’s blood stream through the umbilical cord and it can be fatal for the baby. Miscarriages may be vulnerable with alcohol abuse in pregnancy. Still birth and a series of long lasting intellectual, physical and behavioral disorders are susceptible. No particular time and no specific variety of alcohol are ever suggested to pregnant women. Termed as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs), they are imminent with alcohol abuse.

Stop Smoking When You Are Planning For Pregnancy

Pre-mature birth, cleft lip, cleft palette and infant death are the possible ailments smoking may cause to a pregnant woman and her neonate. Being around tobacco smoke itself is harmful for the mother and the fetus. Hence, it is good to avoid being in the vicinity where someone is smoking.

Drugs are a Threat for Pregnant Women and Their Fetuses

It is nothing but putting your baby in jeopardy with the consumption of drugs. These can lead to premature labour with low birth weight, placental abruption, intra-uterine death (IUD) and maternal death. Any kind of drugs are not safe at any particular level.

Leading a healthy lifestyle by consuming nutritious diet within the norms of the pregnancy diet is very important. If you are planning your pregnancy, it is recommended that your BMI should be brought down if you are considered as ‘obese’. The risk of serious birth defects escalates with every extra pound the mother gathers. Diabetes and blood pressure to be kept under control as it has a negative impact on the fetus. Keep visiting the doctor in regular intervals to get your health condition monitored. An ideal healthcare provider would suggest you the necessary medications during pregnancy and the vaccinations which are required during pregnancy. Pregnant women with infections are at greater risk of having babies with birth defects. Your doctor should be aware of your condition if there are any infections on you. These measures and little care can get you a healthy baby in your hands as it is time to prioritize on the baby.

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It was almost one and a half month that we found that we were pregnant. Both of us are equally excited about our first-born. But along with the joyride that pregnancy brings in, there are a number of perennial hazards too that an expectant couple face. While the mom actually goes through the pain and all body changes, the dad is the one who deals with all the mood swings and at the same time ensures enough treatment and care for the mom.

Here, I am talking about morning sickness, which is the most common phenomenon during pregnancy.

As we woke up one morning, my wife started complaining about certain restlessness that she was going through. During our last visit to the clinic, our doctor warned us about morning sickness during the initial phase of pregnancy. So, I was a little prepared for the situation. So, I asked her what was wrong. When she ensured me that it was just a little nausea and nothing else, I started planning my day. As soon as I was about the leave the home for work, she told me that she was staying home, as she was really not feeling well.

I tried to understand how she was actually feeling. She said that initially it was only nausea but later she threw up twice during and after bath. As suggested by our doctor, we both agreed that she should stay home and take rest, because morning sickness also occurs due to lack of sleep.  Second thing I did was, I opened all the windows of the home to allow some fresh air to come in. But my wife was still feeling unwell. So, I tried to make her feel better by spraying some of her favorite perfume onto her palm. Well, thank God, I tried that! She started feeling much better.

I made sure to keep enough drinking water close to her, because she needs to be well-hydrated during the stage. My wife does not want to eat a full plate of food since she has gotten pregnant. So I kept sufficient portion of her favorite food items into the refrigerator. And I left for work. When I came back later that day, my wife was completely okay. I thought it was over, but little did I know what were there in store for me in the next couple of mornings.

Next morning, after I came out of the washroom after having a bath, my wife started feeling unwell, just like the previous day. I repeated what I did last day. She again felt sick in the next morning, same time. At that moment, something occurred to me! Our doctor once mentioned that morning sickness is mainly smell-associated and is often random. It’s difficult to draw a pattern. But if you can find a pattern, maybe you can treat it too. Yes, I found out that the main reason for my wife’s morning sickness was the fragrance of my shaving cream, which I used to apply every morning.

As I found out the reason, I immediately got rid of it. Now my wife’s morning sickness is very random, as expected.

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Blood sugar is a relatively serious condition wherein your body is unable to regulate the required sugar levels in your blood as it does not possess the essential amounts of insulin. More or less a common disease that grasps pregnant women, diabetes or more specifically gestational diabetes represents almost 3.3% of all live births. Regardless of the type of diabetes that you may have, one must ensure that the necessary measures are taken in order to have a safe and healthy pregnancy.

So you must be wondering about the connection between diabetes and pregnancy?

The baby in the womb receives a constant supply of nutrients and water through the placenta which also manufactures a number of hormones in order to maintain the pregnancy.  Dr. Devon says, “Hormones in early pregnancy can possibly affect the insulin secretion to increase resulting in a drop in the glucose manufactured by the liver. This may lead to hypoglycaemia, i.e., low blood glucose levels. Some of these hormones like estrogen, cortisol, and human placental lactogen at the advanced pregnancy stage can actually create a blocking effect on insulin thus creating a condition known as insulin resistance.”

The growing placenta produces more of these hormones and thus increases the insulin resistance. To overcome this resistance, the pancreas has the capability to produce additional insulin. However, if there isn’t sufficient production that can overcome the effect of the placental hormones, the results of gestational diabetes may actually worsen.

Babies may encounter greater risks and complications like birth defects, stillbirth, Macrosomia, Birth injury, Hypoglycemia, Respiratory distress, if the mother is diagnosed with blood sugar. The doctor will design the treatment depending on the severity of your condition and also taking into consideration your age, overall health, and medical history. Additional parameters include measuring your tolerance levels to medication, procedures and therapies along with expectations for the course of the disease is also studied.

Eating a healthy diet is important to keep gestational diabetes in check during pregnancy. Include a lot of fruits and green vegetables in your diet and also a good portion of healthy protein and complex carbs. Also, aim to limit your fat intake to 30 percent of your total daily calories and the best way to do it. is by avoiding sugary, processed food.

Try maintaining a normal weight and BMI. This ideally means that you aim to gain the right amount during pregnancy and lose the extra pounds post-delivery. Staying active in consultation with your doctor also helps.

Fortunately, all the potential risks associated with gestational diabetes can be eliminated if one can carefully control their blood sugar levels.  For this, you need to monitor your blood sugar level several times a day. Check the fasting sugar rate after waking up in the morning and then again an hour after each meal to ensure that your blood sugar levels are between a healthy range.

In the case of gestational diabetes, the blood sugar tends to return to normal post-delivery. However, keep in mind, that one is more likely to face gestational diabetes for subsequent pregnancies. In future, one may even develop diabetes. As Dr. Devon says, “Women with gestational diabetes have a 50% chance of developing diabetes within 10 to 20 years of delivery.”

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When you get pregnant, it is essential to ensure that you get all the essential nutrients for healthy fetal development. Folic acid, vitamin d, calcium, iron, thiamine, riboflavin, zinc, vitamin b12, are some essential nutrients for mother and baby.  Folic acid is essential in preventing neural tube defects in the fetus while iron is required to create red blood cells and calcium for bone and teeth.

Eating a balanced meal is a good way to start but it might not always be possible to get the recommended daily amount of all vitamins and nutrients through diet alone. Hence, it is common practice for doctors to prescribe additional supplements to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

However, there is something called RDA or Recommended Daily Allowance for each vitamin, and intake of higher amounts can lead to vitamin toxicity or overdose. Vitamin A is essential for healthy vision and vital for fetal development. But when consumed in excess, can cause major malformation in fetuses. Similarly, Vitamin D is essential for bone growth and without it babies can be born with brittle bones. However, Vitamin D toxicity can occur if taken in larger amounts and cause malformation of heart valves in fetuses.

So if you are tempted to take that multivitamin in addition to your prescribed supplements, it is not such a good idea. Only the prescribed amounts should be taken. Please consult your doctor before changing the dosage.

Recommended Daily Intake for Vitamins** (please use the image vitamin-overdose-&-pregnancy.jpg here instead of following table)

An overdose can cause symptoms in any part of the body. Cloudy urine, nausea, stomach pain, appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation are common symptoms.  It can manifest itself in the form of Muscle weakness, joint or bone pain also. Sometimes one may observe sensitivity to sun, yellowing of skin, itching, and cracked lips. High doses of vitamin B can present neurological symptoms like mood changes, muscle twitching, burning and tingling sensations.**Adapted from babycenter.com.

Consult your physician if you suspect that you may have overdosed. The treatment will vary from case to case. Your doctor may prescribe medicines or pump the stomach if the overdose was recent. Administering fluids through an IV and other treatments depending on the symptoms might be required.

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Your due date come and gone, the hospital bag is all packed, and the nursery is all setup. Yet you find yourself still pregnant and anxiously waiting for your little one to make his/her debut!

If you are wondering what to do when you are past your due date, here are some things to consider:

Due date is calculated as 40weeks from the first day of your last period. But this is just an estimate as the actual delivery date depends on factors such as the length of the menstrual cycle and the exact date of conception, which may vary from woman to woman. Hence, only about one in 25 (four per cent) babies is born on their exact due date and about one in five babies are born at 41 weeks or after?

Although, it is possible to give birth to a healthy baby even when you are overdue, your gynecologist will be monitoring you closely every few days. Natasha, a 29 year old first time mother says, “In spite of having a normal pregnancy I had to be induced during my 41^st week when the level of amniotic fluid started dropping and it was no longer safe for my baby to stay inside”. Other factors like baby’s growth, fetal heartbeat, movements and breathing, will be checked as things can progress very quickly at this stage.

You may receive a of lot advice on how to speed up labour from well-meaning friends and family. Sameera, who was two week overdue says, “I went for brisk walks. I ate spicy food. I did everything!”

If you go looking for it, you will come across advice such as exercise, dancing, having sex and even nipple stimulation! It is best to stay away from old wives tales such as these and consult your doctor before trying anything.

Incase waiting is no longer an option; your doctor might induce labour. Common practices include membrane sweeping and breaking waters. Prostaglandin, a hormone like substance that stimulates contractions and Pitocin (synthetic Oxytocin) are often administered to speed up labour. In some cases your doctor might suggest a scheduled C-section too depending on what is best for you and your baby.

This is a good time to unwind. Use this time to catch up on your sleep. Put your feet up, read, and relax. Pamper yourself and spend some quality time with your partner because once the baby arrives, you will be too busy.

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When my friend Sasha was pregnant, she told me how often she felt tired. We all know that pregnancy brings its share of happiness and discomforts for the mum-to-be. And sleep problems was just one of discomforts that comes as a part of the package. Most women tend to feel exhausted in the first and third trimesters. But Sasha was completely taken aback by how wiped out she felt right in the initial months of the pregnancy.

Sasha’s gynaecologist said, “A lot of women are totally surprised by how fatigued they feel during the first trimester. Many women know about morning sickness during pregnancy but a lot of women were unaware of the fatigue that you feel during these months”.

So Are You Meant To Sleep For Two Now?

Just like women are meant to eat for two when pregnant, health experts are now emphasizing on the fact – that women should also sleep for two -during this pregnancy period. The reason being that pregnancy can affect both the quantity and quality of sleep.

As the body undergoes changes and pregnancy discomforts bothers more often, it becomes difficult for the mothers-to-be to fall and stay asleep. However, eight hours of sleep is what every pregnant woman should aim to get.

Researchers have presented their analysis that due to the fact of not sleep well during pregnancy; women tend to be more irritable, exhausted and have poor concentration levels.

According to an article published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (AJOG), first time mothers-to-be who get less than 6 hours of sleep each day are most likely to have a C-section delivery in compare to those who get more than 7 hours of sleep.

So What Can You Do About It?

Sasha’s doctor suggests the following:

1)    During pregnancy, one should make a habit of hitting the bed early rather than late.

2)   Sasha’s doctor says, “Because of the many possible disruptions like nightly bathroom visits, morning sickness, snoring, to sleep during pregnancy, napping is a good idea as long as the woman can fall asleep that night.”

3)    The last recommendation was trying to position yourself on the left side with the knees bent whilst sleeping especially if you are prone to suffering from heartburn. This position improves the blood and nutrients flow to the foetus and uterus and help the body to get rid of any waste and additional fluids.

And exciting factors can also play a part. The exhilaration and looking forward to of having a baby as well as the uncertainties of the fast approaching parenthood and the nervousness about the actual experience of labour and delivery can all be taxing and make a woman feel more tired than usual. It is best to follow what suits you best during this time. You and your baby come first.

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You might be thinking why Zika virus is a big deal for you, if you are an expectant mother?

Well, before that let’s just talk about what it is and how it spreads. Zika virus is mainly spread by mosquito bites and sexual transmission. The virus does not cause major harm to adults. But it greatly affects babies, if the mother contracts the virus during pregnancy.

So, coming back to the question, yes, Zika virus causes severe birth defects in newborn babies, born of Zika infected mothers. These babies develop microcephaly, a condition in which they are born with a significantly smaller brain, compared to other babies.

If all these have made you a bit worried and uncomfortable, here is some good news to make you feel a little safer. Cord blood banking! Yes, by securing a cord blood unit, you can be prepared for the future, no matter what.

However, here are some rules that pregnant parents should know about Zika infection and cord blood banking, if they are willing to donate their cord blood. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Cord Blood Association issued a guideline to protect cord blood units from potential Zika virus transmission on August 26, 2016. The guidelines are as mentioned below:

• The regulations are applicable to anyone who would collect and store blood components in private and public cord blood banks.
• All blood donations are recommended to be screened for the infection.
• If an expectant mother, willing to donate her baby’s cord blood unit, is found to be infected with Zika virus at any point of her pregnancy, her registration will be ineligible.
• She will be ineligible to donate her cord blood unit, if she stays in an active Zika cluster or travels to any such area during her pregnancy.
• If she had sex at any point of her pregnancy with a Zika infected male in the past six months, she will also be considered ineligible. The reason being, Zika virus can also be sexually transmitted.

Now you must be thinking, should you store your baby’s cord blood, if you are infected with Zika virus? The answer is yes. No matter if your baby is at risk of Zika virus or not, storing a cord blood unit will ensure a secure future. Moreover, all these guidelines and regulations stand for a fact that these stem cells are significantly rare. So, storing a cord blood unit and getting a bunch of life-saving stem cells is always a better option than having nothing in hand, when you need a transplant in the future. And just as mentioned earlier, Zika virus does not pose any major risk to male adults and non-pregnant women.

Cord blood banks take an extra screening process to check for Zika virus infection in order to eliminate any risk. After the screening process, if you are found to be at risk, your cord blood will still be collected and stored, so that any future illness of your family members can be treated. The processing and storing processes ensure that no cross contamination takes place.

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One is well aware of the fact that excessive weight gain or loss could possibly lead to an inability to become pregnant. The imbalance of weight is affecting the fertility of women profusely, so much so that around 12 per cent of infertility problems are due to imperfect body weight, meaning either obesity or low body weight, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Now, having pointed that out, let’s delve into the fact on why and how weight imbalance affects pregnancy. Actually, being extremely over or underweight impacts the pituitary gland, causing it to malfunction and spark problems with ovulation.

But besides that, many other problems have been examined by the experts, mainly related to overweight and infertility.

• Women who are overweight or obese are likely to take more than a year to get pregnant than average women of healthy weight.
• A woman who is obese is more prone to a miscarriage than a woman of healthy weight.
• Obese women are likely to have diabetes that develops during pregnancy and it is called gestational diabetes.
• Obese women tend to develop high blood pressure during pregnancy, resulting in damaging other organs, often the kidneys.
• Obesity also increases the risk of postpartum infection which leads to delivery related complications.
• Obesity also leads to an overdue pregnancy that is the continuation of pregnancy beyond the due date.
• Obesity also increases the risk of an emergency C-section. It also leads to a complication like a wound infection. Women who are obese are also less likely to have a vaginal delivery after a C-section.
• Infants born to obese women are likely to be large in size than it is normal, and need neonatal intensive care or have a congenital abnormality.

Obesity is associated with poly-cystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is one of the major causes of infertility. And sadly, it is found to be the most common hormonal problem, affecting at least one out five women’s reproduction.

Being underweight is also a concern when it comes to pregnancy as it is known to reduce the fertility quotient in women extensively. As this affects the hormonal balance and ovulation, there is less possibility of a successful pregnancy. In fact, compared to healthy weight women, underweight women are likely to take a year more in order to get pregnant.

So, finally, the question is, what should be the ideal body weight to have a successful pregnancy? According to the Institute of Medicine, obesity is measured by the ratio of height and weight of a man and woman.

• Normal BMI: Defined by an index of less than 25.
• Overweight: Defined by a BMI of 25 or more.
• Obesity: Define by a minimum BMI of 30 to 34.9 and maximum above 40.

And for improving the chances of having a healthy pregnancy, follow the below mentioned steps:

• Go for regular prenatal care check-up during pregnancy.
• Consult the doctor about how much weight you should lose or gain during pregnancy. But do not diet in order to lose weight as it can lead to malnutrition for your baby.
• Do regular activities like yoga and free-hand exercises as prescribed by the doctor.

The post Both Over and Underweight Can Affect Pregnancy! appeared first on Stem Cell Banking Guide and Pregnancy Tips For New Parents.

Labour experience differs from pregnancy to pregnancy. For some, it may end in a matter of hours. For others, it may not be that easy and it can absolutely test the mother’s physical and emotional strength.

Whilst it’s difficult to ascertain the sequence of events during labour and childbirth but one can still have an understanding of how things are going to be.

Stage 1: Early and Active Labour

When you start feeling regular contractions, that may be termed as the start of the first stage of labour. During this time, the cervix dilates to open up and in the process becomes thin, soft and shortened. This helps the baby to proceed towards the birth canal. The first stage of labour is actually lasts the longest and in turn can be segregated into two segments – early or the latent labour phase and active labour.

Early Labour

You will feel mild and irregular contractions when your cervix dilates and effaces during the early stage of labour. There might be a clear, pink or somewhat bloody excretion from your vagina which is most likely the mucus plug that acts as a blockade to the cervical opening. The duration of early labour is variable. For the first timers, the length of early labour may fluctuate from hours to days. However, for subsequent pregnancies, the duration is often shorter.

For pregnant women, early labour stage is one of the difficult and uncomfortable. However, you can try and make it comfortable by:

• Walk around the room
• Indulge yourself in a leisurely bath or a shower
• If you love music, that’ll help you to relax
• Try some of the breathing and relaxation technique you’ve been taught in the birthing class
• Change your position frequently

During this time, if your water breaks or there is excessive vaginal bleeding, then contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Active Labour

Now begins the actual labour. Whilst you go through active labour, the cervix dilates from 6cm to 10 cm. You may go through cramps and nausea along with stronger and regular contractions. Your water might break during this time. If not, you will feel extreme pressure on your back. If you’ve not reached the birthing centre yet, head in that direction at once.

At this stage, the pain intensifies. Consult with your healthcare provider regarding the usage of pain medication or anaesthesia. The period of active labour can last up to 8 hours or more. The cervix dilates around 1cm per hour during this time.  To tackle the pain, follow deep breathing and relaxation techniques. To make this stage slightly more bearable, do the following:

• Change positions unless you and the baby are being closely monitored
• If there’s a birthing rubber ball, then have a roll-on
• Walk around but stop and breathe through the contractions
• Indulge in a gentle massage

The transition period of the active stage of labour lasts between 15 to 60 minutes. At this time, the contractions are 60 to 90 seconds apart and you may encounter pressure on your lower back and rectum. If you are not fully dilated, your healthcare provide may ask to hold back from pushing as going for it too soon may cause tiredness and cervix to swell in turn delaying delivery.

You are almost there. In time, this preparation and pain is going to pay off, when you have your baby in your arms.

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A provocative yet powerful issue of discussion has been, the probability of the unborn child feeling pain in the mother’s womb during the termination of pregnancy. With modern and scientific methods, new research in this field suggests that the unborn FF may well be able to feel the pain by 20 weeks or even earlier in the pregnancy.

Family Research Council (FRC) recently published comprehensively documented findings on the science of foetal pain. The study consists of over 30+ scientific studies, testimonies, medical and real-life evidences that establish the intensity of foetal pain during pregnancy termination.

On Neurological Development

Pain receptors appear around the mouth 4 to 5 weeks post-fertilization, followed by the development of nerve fibers, which carry stimuli to the brain. Around 6 six weeks post-fertilization, the unborn child first responds to touch. By 18 weeks post-fertilization, pain receptors have appeared throughout the body.

On Early Foetal Response to Painful Stimuli

The earliest reactions to painful stimuli motor reflexes can be detected at 7.5 weeks of gestations [5.5 weeks post-fertilization].

On Foetal Stress Responses

Multiple studies show that ‘the human foetus from 18-20 weeks elaborates pituitary-adrenal, sympatho-adrenal, and circulatory stress responses to physical insults.

On Foetal Experience of Pain Being More Intense Than in Adults

Mechanisms that inhibit or moderate the experience of pain do not begin to develop until 32 to 34 weeks post-fertilization. Any pain the unborn child experiences before these pain inhibitors are in place is likely more intense than the pain an older infant or adult experiences when subjected to similar types of injury.

While many states in the USA have limited the maximum period of terminating pregnancies to approximately 5 months, there are still many abortion right activists who denounce the concept of foetal pain completely. Yet FRC’s published document with such extensive testimony, clinical review and reputed experts in the field like an Associate Professor in the field of Anesthesia and Pain Management at Harvard Medical School; the Residency Program Director at the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston; and the Medical Director of Procedural Sedation at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston; presents a solid refutation.

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As an expectant dad, I sometimes feel left out of the pregnancy experience. My wife, on the other hand, as the mum to be, is getting all the focus and attention. So, I was looking for a way to reconnect with the entire pregnancy journey. I was thrilled when our gynecologist prescribed the first sonogram in the pregnancy.

I’ve heard that fathers who are part of the first sonogram are able to bond with the unborn baby easily. Up until now, I had created an image of my baby in my mind. This would mean that I actually get to see my child for the very first time. Hear the heartbeat.

On the appointed day, I drove my wife to the local diagnostic clinic. We waited for our turn for about 20 odd minutes or so. My wife was made to lie down. I made double sure that she was comfortable. The technician arrived and exchanged a few pleasantries with the both of us. I don’t even know what my replies were. All I could think about was my baby and what he or she was going to look like.

The very first ultrasound image of my unborn child is a powerful moment for expectant fathers and I totally bear witness to that. I was staring at the monitor and there my baby was. Possibly not any bigger than the size of a pea. I cried like a baby when I first heard the heartbeat. I couldn’t believe this was real. I couldn’t believe my wife was carrying around another human life inside of her. I couldn’t believe I was going to be a dad.

This was one of the key moments for me as an expectant father that established the reality of the coming child. It also reassured me that everything in the pregnancy was going well.

One of my friends who’d recently had a baby, had once told me about how he had felt seeing that first ultrasound of his baby. “My heart started beating faster just to hear a life — boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. It just felt like — the feeling’s indescribable, I was just blown away, like my eyes filled up but it’s like I won’t cry, I just was so happy to hear it…. The heartbeat is like letting me know it’s on the way, get ready.”

Being a responsible parent meant that I needed to make sure that I have a steady job because my child’s eating depended on me. If I was going to be out of a job that would mean my child would go hungry and I’d rather my child ate before I did. While some may say that these are just drastic, random thoughts, but I did think of these things. Most dads have plans and dreams that extend beyond the immediate future of the baby and across the child’s lifespan.

As I drove home with my wife, I got some time to reflect on the role that I will be playing in my baby’s life. This was a key step in preparing towards serious parenthood.

After all, for dads, there’s nothing greater than “Seeing is believing!”

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Being pregnant for the first time can be a challenge when you have tons of questions to which you do not always have answers. A very common area of confusion for pregnant women is food. You probably think that expecting a baby means “eating for two”. The phrase is very misleading as health professionals these days are not recommending such a diet at all.

The Tommy’s Guide states: “An extra 200 calories – the equivalent of two small slices of bread – is all that is recommended during pregnancy and only in the last 12 weeks of pregnancy.”

Nutritionist Greer Craig says, “You want to eat what will give you the most nutritious bang for your calorie buck. You have to refocus your thoughts on where can I get the most protein and healthy fats. Quinoa is a great swap for pasta, and it also has riboflavin in it, which is really great to help curb migraines, headaches – that is a common pregnancy symptom.”

Craig re-emphasizes the importance of focussing your energy on fruits, vegetables, and foods that contain vitamins and iron.

One of the essential intakes during pregnancy is folic acid followed with a combination of vitamins that your body requires. This can be taken either through supplements or through foods that you consume.

Tommy’s Guide says: “Vitamin D is the lesser known but equally important nutrient, for the formation of healthy bones and teeth for the baby. During winter months, lack of sunshine can mean vitamin D is harder to come by, so women will be more likely to need a vitamin D supplement.”

Additionally, calcium is something you should not forget to include in your diet as it essentially focuses on the baby’s development and enhances the health of your teeth and bones. Fish with bones and dairy products are some of the common food products which are rich sources of calcium. However, while consuming dairy products, ensure that these are pasteurized.

Another key ingredient that helps your body manage stress during pregnancy through absorbing iron from fruits is Vitamin C. The most available form of natural Vitamin C can be found in oranges. However, you can also find plentiful sources of Vitamin C in tomatoes, broccoli, and even potatoes.

Pregnant women tend to get easily exhausted. To get an adequate energy boost, iron should be made a part of your daily diet. Lean meats, green vegetables, dried fruits, and nuts are high on the iron count. However, make sure you consult your doctor before eating peanuts as it may have an adverse effect on your health.

“Any vegetable is going to be a superfood powerhouse – you’re not going to go wrong. If we roast them, that gives them a little more flavor, like maybe a potato chip. You just put a little bit of sea salt and olive oil on it,” said Craig.

Still, have a sweet tooth?

“You want to think outside the box and still eat that fruit, that more nutritiously dense option. So, maybe freezing a banana and then having your own version of banana ice cream,” said Craig.

Craving for soda? Definitely not a good idea!

“Absolutely no nutrition. It’s going to wreak havoc for your metabolism, even though there’s no calories, it’s total havoc in your system. So, I say to make yourself a fun little cocktail out of fruit water. Cheers to that,” said Craig.

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Ever wondered if there is a relationship between your umbilical cord and the belly button? Of course, there is! When you have your little one inside your womb, it needs a life-support system to survive the pregnancy gestation period. This support is comprised of the placenta, the umbilical cord and the amniotic sac filled with amniotic fluid.

“The baby’s life hangs by a cord”, as said by Ian Donald, aptly tells the importance of the umbilical cord.

The umbilical cord plays the essential role of attaching your baby to the placenta and keeps feeding your baby. During delivery, the placenta is expelled from your uterus through a process known as the after-birth. The umbilical cord, once your baby is delivered is clamped and cut. The remaining section of the cord heals and later becomes the baby’s belly button.

Nevertheless, most are aware of these common facts. But there are some really fun insights that you probably never thought about:

Umbilical Cords Vary in Length

The lengths of the umbilical cords of babies are variable. However, there is no concrete evidence to ascertain why the length varies at all. Within the full gestation period of 28 weeks, the cord may reach its full length which usually is between 45-60 centimeters in length. In a small percentage of pregnancies, the cord is less than 45 centimeters in length and investigative studies have shown that placenta retention and C-section is usually higher in such instances.

Tangles, Knots, and Loops

Babies in the womb are constantly moving around. A common game that they indulge in is playing ‘loop the loop’ with the cord. If the baby is healthy and the cord remains intact, it does not really pose any risk to the baby. Approximately 35% of the babies born have the umbilical cord wrapped around their necks and 1% of them have the cord in a true knot.

It Stops Working When Needed

In the womb, the umbilical cord remains in a temperature controlled environment. Post the baby’s birth, the cord is exposed to cooler air and the ‘Wharton’s Jelly’ within it starts to harden and shrink. Natural clamping occurs that squeezes and closes the blood vessels inside the cord. Depending on the temperature outside of the mother’s body, natural clamping takes approximately between 3 and 20 minutes.

The Umbilical Cord Tissue is Full of Potential

Most of us have heard about cord blood stem cells but the new research that has everyone’s attention is on umbilical cord tissue. Many ongoing clinical trials have brought significant evidence forward that the cord blood tissue also contains stem cells that possess the potential to multiply and transform into various cell types, like cartilage, bone, fat, etc. This essentially means that the cord tissue with more stem cells can potentially be used in treating more conditions and disorders.

As Nancy Reagan rightfully said, “Now science has presented us with a hope called stem cell research, which may provide our scientists with many answers that have for so long been beyond our grasp.” 

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I have always been an avid dog lover. Probably inherited it from my parents. For as long as I can remember, there has always been a dog in the family. So I was happy to learn that my husband too was extremely fond of the four-legged creatures and six months after our wedding we added a beautiful tan Labrador retriever pup to our family.

Rocky was a very energetic and playful pup. Jumping on us whenever we returned home was always his way of asking for affection and attention after we had been away from him for a while. However, he is very independent by nature. Doesn’t follow us around the house all the time. At the age of four, he is not only lively but also a very astute and an obedient pet.

It is actually his astuteness that has surprised my husband and me both. A few months ago we found out that I was pregnant. It was the happiest day of our lives. Since we wanted to wait till the first trimester was over to inform anyone, we made no major changes to our routines or lifestyle or to Rocky’s. I still took him out for his evening walks like I used to, fed him and played with him. But a month or so after we discovered I was pregnant, I noticed a change in Rocky’s behaviour. He stopped jumping on me after I came back home from work, even though he still did it to my husband. He started following me around the house all the time. Even if I was heading to the bathroom! His attitude towards me when we played was gentler. Before when we used to play there was always a bit of roughhousing involved which is almost non-existent now.

When I pointed it out to my husband, he said he had noticed it too but had dismissed it as a phase that Rocky was probably going through. It wasn’t until my first trimester was over that Rocky’s behaviour changed even more. Right around the time I was about 16 weeks pregnant and my baby bump had just started to show, Rocky started to lay with his head against my bump and was even more protective of me.

These changes in his behaviour led us to think whether Rocky was somehow aware of my pregnancy. There have been numerous studies that have shown that a dog’s superior sense of smell allows them to be able to detect changes in the human body. I had read in an article online that had conducted a study in which a Labrador retriever correctly detected colorectal cancer with 95 percent and 98 percent accuracy in two different sets of human samples. The study stated that a specific smell is linked to cancer, and that’s what the pup picked up on.’ Since pregnancy causes a change in the hormone and pheromone secretions, it is possible that it was how Rocky picked up on my pregnancy.

There is no scientific evidence to prove if dogs are truly aware of human pregnancy, but there have been many instances when a marked change has been perceived in a dog’s behaviour towards its pregnant owner. So even though there is no empirical proof that Rocky knows I am pregnant, I still believe that he does and I truly feel that when our little one is born, he will be as loving, caring and protective towards them as he has been to me.

Sources used:

• https://www.thedodo.com/does-my-dog-know-im-pregnant-1270361783.html

• http://www.animalplanet.com/pets/do-dogs-know-when-i-am-pregnant/

• http://www.babycenter.com/404_can-pets-sense-pregnancy_1379572.bc

[1] Does my dog know I’m pregnant? – Animal Planet (http://www.animalplanet.com/pets/do-dogs-know-when-i-am-pregnant/)

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Expectations, anticipation and disenchanted reality of a prenatal visit. 

It was coming up to 8 weeks of pregnancy and we were both preparing for our first prenatal doctor’s appointment. I wanted to be there with my wife right from the very beginning of this journey and get to know everything first hand. I was more than happy to reshuffle my agenda for the day. Lifestyle changes had already begun; work schedules were also being tossed around.

During the past 8 weeks, my wife and I had already discussed the sort of medical guidance we wanted for us during this special journey in our lives. Someone who would be understanding and would have the patience to deal with the concerns of first-time parents like us. We asked around quite a fair bit. Whilst speaking to an old friend, he recommended a gynecologist who he’d consulted for his wife a couple of months ago. On digging a little more, I found out that the doc had a fine reputation and was very popular with young couples. I guess, we’d found the doctor we wanted!

We arrived at the birthing center well in time for the appointment. Giving our names to the Receptionist we waited for the doctor to arrive. There were so many couples and women at various stages of the pregnancy waiting along with us. I vividly remember the room. A light pink and blue combination wallpaper decorated with tons of baby photos. A standee on the side stood with a really graphical representation of all the pregnancy trimesters. My wife picked up few pamphlets and started leafing through them. This room really felt like a “happy place”. Lots of positive energy and glow filled the room.

As we waited, more and more couples arrived but there was still no sign of the doctor. I know this is India and doctors and trains rarely stick to their timetables. But I was nervous and couldn’t wait to get into that consultation room. I had tons of questions that I wanted to ask the doctor and I was eagerly waiting to hear my baby’s heartbeat for the first time. To me, that meant a great deal. It would actually seal the deal; reinforce the fact that I was going to be responsible for that little human being that I helped create.

We’d already been waiting for over an hour and I was determined to find out the reason for the delay. The clock turned another 15 minutes and I was just about gearing up to go to the Receptionist to find out what the problem was. The Receptionist came out into the Visitor’s room and announced that the doctor had an emergency normal delivery to deal with and wouldn’t be able to take the scheduled appointments for the day.

And I felt so let down. The thrill, the excitement that I was feeling throughout the day just evaporated. I know, the situation was such that I should understand. Labour pain and deliveries don’t always follow the timetable. I guess, I found some solace in the fact that I was nearly halfway there today. I’ve rescheduled and hope to go all the way into the consultation room with the doctor tomorrow. Finger’s crossed!

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“Congratulations! You’re having twins.” When Naren and Seema had been informed of this ecstatic news, they were over the moon. The couple had been trying to conceive for close to a year and finally knowing that they were about to be parents, of not just one but two babies were more than they could have asked for.

The expecting couple were very careful during the first trimester as they had been informed that chances for a miscarriage were highest during that time. They followed the doctor’s instructions to the‘t’.  After the first three months were over, they decided it was time to inform their friends and family of their good news.

At a party celebrating their news, Seema’s friend Aditi enquired of the couple regarding their plans for cord blood banking. However, neither Naren nor Seema seemed to have much information on what it was. Aditi told them that the process of storing a newborn baby’s umbilical cord blood from which stem cells can be extracted and may be used to treat a wide variety of critical diseases and disorders like leukaemia, thalassemia, etc is basically what cord blood banking was all about. Seema was intrigued with the idea; however, Naren believed “it’s just a fancy marketing ploy by healthcare companies to get money from worried expectant parents. My babies will be fine. We don’t need to store anything for them.”

Even though Naren wasn’t interested in cord blood banking, Seema started her research online. The more she read, the more she learned of the benefits that cord blood banking could provide to her children. And not just for her twins, but any other blood relatives including the children that she could have in the future.

Eventually, she decided to ask her friend as to what had convinced her to opt for cord blood banking. Aditi said, “There is a history of sickle cell anaemia in my family. There were high chances that my baby too would have it. I was worried sick thinking of what life would be like for her if that happened. My doctor then told me about stem cell therapy and how quite a few clinical trials have been conducted which revealed that stem cell therapy can be used to treat sickle cell anaemia. That’s when I decided to go for it.”

Seema realised that she too wanted to ensure the safety of her babies’ future. She had read that cerebral palsy is quite common among twins and she decided that she wanted to be prepared in case her children too were affected by this ailment. That night she sat Naren down and explained her concerns to him, finally convincing him to change his mind since their babies’ health and wellbeing were their utmost priority.

Today, Seema and Naren are proud parents of two healthy baby boys, whose cord blood had been stored with a private cord blood banking facility since their birth.

The post Cord Blood Banking – Why I Changed My Mind? appeared first on Stem Cell Banking Guide and Pregnancy Tips For New Parents.

As the science of stem cells took off in the 1970s when doctors realized that the stem cells found in the blood inside an umbilical cord could offer a much more secure substitute to bone marrow transplants that may find its way in the utilization of treating conditions such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and sickle cell anemia. This is so since cord blood is power packed with multipotent, self-renewing hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are the forerunners to blood cells.

The process of extracting this cord blood immediately after birth and storing it in state-of-art laboratories in India and overseas for future use is now a convenient and affordable reality for many Indians, thanks to health companies like Cordlife India. In fact, Cordlife is the only private Cord Blood Bank in India to offer automated cord blood processing with Sepax2, a versatile patented Swiss technology. This advanced technology enables easy handling and safety of processing and aids in highly efficient and consistent cell recoveries.

Once the umbilical cord has been clamped from the newborn, the cord blood is collected from the umbilical cord vein attached to the placenta. Cord Blood extraction is not only a painless process for both mother and baby unlike bone marrow extraction, but there is a 60% higher chance of matching cord blood unit in the family vis-a-vis bone marrow. Cord Blood cells are mature, flexible and have more usage advantages than stem cells extracted from the bone marrow or umbilical blood.

After cord blood is extracted, Stem Cell Banks preserve the stem cells via Cryopreservation. Under various such methods of Cryopreservation, any damage to the stem cells caused by any enzymatic or chemical activities is prevented by cooling to very low temperatures, without further damage being triggered by the formation of ice during freezing.

Stored Cord Blood can now be available between days or weeks of processing for treatment. There is a low risk of complications when cord blood is applied for stem cell transplants and therapy since they have the ability to regenerate in the desired way.

Globally, an estimated 35,000 transplants have taken place where cord blood stem have been utilized to treat over eighty life-threatening ailments, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, bone marrow failures, genetic disorders, blood disorders and immune disorders. Several medical professionals are also researching cord blood as a potential cure for conditions that cannot be remedied presently. Umbilical Cord Blood banking is no more an option, but a necessity to secure a healthy future for the entire family.

For more details about – Why Banking Umbilical Cord Blood should be on your “To Do” List? – visit https://www.cordlifeindia.com

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Pregnancy is a fragile time for the mother and the baby. Even though being stressed is a normal and expected part of pregnancy, overdoing it can have a negative impact on your body and the health of your baby. Excessive stress can lead to high levels of anxiety which can result in hampering your baby’s emotional development.

Following are Ten Simple Ways in Which You Can De-stress During Pregnancy

Rest

Not being able to sleep or rest properly can often cause stress during pregnancy. Since pregnancy brings not only hormonal but also physical changes, oftentimes women find it difficult to get a comfortable position to sleep in. Try using as many pillows as you need, to make yourself comfortable while you sleep.

Communicate With Your Partner

Many times, personal issues relating to finances or family problems are the major cause of stress that women suffer during pregnancy. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can also heighten emotional responses that can also cause stress. Talking to your partner about things that are bothering you, or are making you unhappy, can go a long way in not just bringing you closer to your partner but also relaxing your mind.

Exercising

Although pregnancy tends to take a toll on a woman’s body and exercising certainly does not seem like an appealing task, however, a little bit of exercising can actually help you de-stress. Exercises like yoga, swimming, and mediating can relieve your mind off the tiredness and exhaustion.

Talk a Walk

Though it is not very different from exercising, but taking a walk in the morning or evening and getting a chance to take in the fresh air around is not only good for the health of your baby but can also be a major de-stressing tool for you.

Listen to Music

Music has been known as an effective means of de-stressing in any situation. Listening to soothing melodies is a very potent way to calm down your nerves.

Laughing

Laugh as often as possible because it decreases the cortisol level in your body, which allows your brain to release chemicals called endorphins that can lighten your mood.

Eating Properly

It is essential to maintain a healthy and balanced diet during your pregnancy. Consuming foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids has been known to reduce depression.

Reading

Reading is known to be an essentially relaxing activity. Try reading books that pique your interest, or even re-read your favourite books to help take your mind off the stress and anxiety surrounding your pregnancy.

Get a Massage

Going to the spa or taking a massage at home are both excellent ways to de-stress. You can even ask your partner to occasionally give you foot rubs.

Be Prepared

Once your pregnancy is confirmed, it is best to start preparing yourself for the coming months. Discussing financial matters with your partner, preparing your home for your baby, making decisions regarding cord blood banking, etc., are important. The sooner you resolve these issues, the more stress-free you will be regarding your pregnancy.

If your anxiety and stress continue to persist, contact your medical practitioner as soon as possible.

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The beginning of my Dad journey…

It was just past noon and whilst my lovely wife was in the bathroom, I was furiously pacing outside the door. The bathroom door opened and there she was with the biggest smile on her face and tears rolling down her rose-blushed cheeks. She was ecstatic. She waved the test and I saw that it was positive. My first thought was of pure joy and relief. I remember telling her, “can you really believe it?”, “Are you happy?”, “Does it really say that you are pregnant?” We stood in the doorway for god knows how long, hugging and crying before finally calming down.

The “moment you find out” is quite unique and it was finally sinking in. It reminds me of that singular moment in life when you hold your breath and then heave those pleasurable gasps after a chest-achingly long time. A combination of being euphoric on finding out as well as the sweet relief of the long-endured fight of trying to, engulfed us all around.

We’d been trying to get pregnant for quite some time and our gynaecologist had told us that it wasn’t going to be an easy path for us. This challenging personal experience for us was a mirror of what was happening with many of our friends and some relatives too. The entire experience of winning the battle against childlessness seemed just imbalanced. The wrongness is amplified by the sense that the act of getting pregnant should be uncomplicated and the most enjoyable thing in the world to do.

I’ve seen the tightly-managed disappointment and setback turn out to be merely the opening act for a massive emotional ocean of antagonism, hopelessness, grief, resentment, embarrassment and remorse at being envious or not interested in others’ swift stork deliveries.

But all that is in the past.

Now that it has actually happened to us, it is such an unreal feeling; something that I’ve never lived through before and doubt I ever will again. Marriage is colossal, buying a house is massive, but making a human… is mammoth. I could not wait to scream it out of the rooftop.

I started visualising what a fantastic dad I was going to be; not that I’ve had any practice before. I would need to change a million things about myself, my lifestyle, to be able to be that great dad; but I am prepared to make all those changes. No more reckless drinking and takeout every night, no more sleeping until 8:30am on workdays.

Right now, I am just excited beyond my wildest dreams and maybe a little frightened too. But today, I only want to share this joy and pride with my beautiful wife. I have no doubt that she is feeling the same thrill. After all, we did this together!

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The most beautiful sight to behold is that of a mother lovingly breastfeeding her infant while the baby suckles on her nipple and gazes back at her. It is a moment that seems locked in time – both mother and child are in a cocoon of their own, with no need for anyone else. Indeed, a woman that breastfeeds her child need not offer the baby any other form of nourishment – the breast milk is replete with every nutrient that the baby needs at that stage of life.

Yet, breastfeeding is often saddled with opposing popular thoughts based on cultural notions and beliefs. Some women are hesitant to breastfeed during pregnancy, believing that they are diverting essential nutrients from the child growing in their womb to the child suckling at their breast. Other cultures believe that feeding a child is a collective responsibility and that the mother must not take sole charge of it.

The Benefits of Breast Milk and Breastfeeding

Doctors across he world recommend that infants be exclusively fed on breast milk at least for the first six months of their lives. This is because breast milk provides the baby with all the water and nutrient content that they need to develop immunity and grow well. Amongst the biggest benefits of breastfeeding are that necessary nutrients are provided to the baby, the baby gets a barrier against sickness, infections and allergies, the milk has no side effects and it helps the baby’s weight grow at the required rate. Research also shows that breastfed babies have higher weights and IQs than babies who are not exclusively breast fed.

There are several studies that attest to the bounties of breast milk, chief among them being that breast milk is a ready source of all the calories and fluids that your baby needs to grow into a healthy child. Babies brought up on breast milk also show good growth of organs and greater immunity to such health problems as ear infections, viral/bacterial infections that may cause meningitis or metabolic disorders, and even protects the lungs against such problems as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Breastfeeding has several positives for the mother as well, chief among which are that it helps the mother-child bond, keeps the mother energised, helps her uterus contract gradually and it is also believed to aid weight loss.

Cultural Differences Play a Big Part!

Asian countries encourage mothers to breastfeed at all times, so it is not at all surprising to see women breastfeeding in public in these countries. In many Asian and Arabic cultures, the sight of a woman breastfeeding her child is not just considered normal, but also auspicious. As such, a mother’s milk is considered pure and sacred in many cultures around the world.

However, there may be differences in the way some other cultures and communities view the breastfeeding exercise. While most women in countries like the US and UK might wean away their children from breast milk quite early, others might not breastfeed in public but choose to use a breast milk pump to draw out the milk in to a bottle for their baby’s consumption outside the home. Some cultures in the Middle East dictate that breastfeeding outside the home, where strangers’ may cast an eye over or even ogle at the woman’s breast, is impolite and not to be encouraged. Still others frown upon the idea of women breastfeeding in front of men.

Breastfeeding tips and taboos exist in other parts of the world as well. For instance, it is believed in some parts of Kenya that a woman must not breastfeed if she is upset or has had a domestic quarrel for fear of contaminating her milk with ‘bad blood’. Then there are some bush tribes in Papua New Guinea that believe that a woman must be celibate while she breastfeeds.

The Genesis of World Breastfeeding Week

The idea of a woman exclusively breastfeeding her baby for the first six months of its life was first floated in the year 1991, when the organisation World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) announced the goal to promote the idea of exclusive breastfeeding all over the world. This week is now observed every year from August 1 to 7 and is expected to touch more than 120 countries around the world this year. It is observed with awareness programmes, participant events, pledges and information dissemination by doctors, researchers, midwives and mothers.

In the year 2010, over 400,000 participants from more than 79 countries and 488 organisations were part of the World Breastfeeding Week, with the numbers nearly doubling by last year across all categories.

The theme for the year 2016 carries forward the ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ theme of 2015. It is centred on caring for each other, starting on a journey of good health and wellbeing through breastfeeding and respect for the world. The slogan for the 2016 theme is ‘Breastfeeding: A key to sustainable development’.

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You have probably heard this statement several times from many exasperated pregnant women: “I’m fine! I’m pregnant, not sick!” It can get really irritating when people treat you differently because of your pregnancy, making you feel like a fragile object that can break apart any moment. Your pregnancy is progressing well, your doctor is pleased with your health and you are continuing to live your life as normally as possible.

But you are often faced with many niggling doubts when you head to work every morning. Could all those people telling you to ‘Take it easy’ be wrong? Do you really need to take some extra precautions, apart from taking your vitamins and eating well? Should you work during your pregnancy?

Work and Pregnancy

There is a curious correlation between working and pregnancy – on the one hand, doctors advise that you should be active as your baby grows, but on the other hand, you are cautioned to be careful and not overdo it. So how much work is too much?

It must be established at the outset that women who have regular pregnancies with no health complications (either with themselves or the baby) can continue working right until the time that they must give birth.[1] However, women with high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, signs of developing preeclampsia, asthma and other health problems must get a clearance from their doctor if they wish to continue working during the pregnancy.

The intensity of your work and pregnancy are related. If you have a sedentary job at your workplace, you can probably get by with your regular routine. However, if your work involves frequent periods of travel, hard physical labour and contact with chemicals and other hazardous materials, you might consider taking a break till your baby is born. This way, you will minimise any risk to yourself and your baby.

* You might be nauseous in the early weeks of your pregnancy. If you are constantly on the verge of vomiting owing to certain smells and food at the office, you can take a break and resume work when your morning sickness is gone. If it is not possible for you to quit working at this stage, keep emergency medication and soothing foods handy to control your urge to vomit.[2]

* It is fine to climb up stairs and even lift moderately heavy things if your pregnancy is going well and you are healthy. However, avoid lifting heavy items once you are in your second trimester, and also climbing up and down stairs more than necessary. Avoid stooping to pick up heavy objects off the floor at all costs.

* If your workplace has a dress code, you must ditch it to wear comfortable clothing that does not constrict your belly.

* Your doctor might advise bed rest if the foetus is in distress. Please stop working at this point.

[1] http://sogc.org/publications/working-during-pregnancy/

[2] http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20047441

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You took a home pregnancy test and your doctor has just confirmed your pregnancy – congratulations! You are in for a rollercoaster of a time with your precious baby growing inside for the next few months.

Most new mothers-to-be are concerned about foetal development in the first trimester. They have heard stories of other women losing their babies during this time, so they decide to announce their pregnancy in the second trimester ‘just to be safe’. But they are also concerned about another thing: how soon will their pregnancy show?

Though it differs from woman to woman, normally the pregnancy begins to show after the 12^th week. For some, there is not much sign of the pregnancy apart from a slight weight gain. The very first sign of pregnancy is a fuller figure, which some might attribute to weight gain.

The reason the pregnancy first shows is that with the foetus developing, the hitherto tiny uterus begins to expand. Soon the expanding uterus rises above the pelvic cavity and becomes visible as a protruding waist. This is when people will first begin to ask you if you are expecting a baby.

The position of the baby inside the womb is also a factor in how soon the pregnancy becomes apparent. Another important factor is whether the woman is pregnant with twins or triplets, in which case the uterus expands faster than when the woman is carrying one baby. Besides, the mother’s weight and body type at the time of conceiving the baby can also determine how soon the pregnancy will show. But if the pregnancy is not too apparent even in the second trimester, there is no reason to worry. The doctor will alert you if there is any sign of foetal distress – till then, you can relax!

Normally, it is a better idea to stock up on maternity wear towards the end of the first trimester. Since foetal development is observed throughout the pregnancy period, it is better to buy flowy cotton garments that will not pinch at the waist and hips. You will experience periods of frequent urination as well, so it is better to wear comfortable clothing that does not make a trip to the bathroom difficult.

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Are you close to your delivery date? The 40 weeks of pregnancy is your opportunity to plan and prepare. When your baby arrives, you are going to be the centre of his/her universe and the nursery his/her safe haven. It is essential therefore that you spend some time preparing your child’s nursery and wardrobe in order to make the environment more comfortable and safe for him/her. Before buying a crib, keep in mind that the safety standards change frequently, which makes it essential to avoid getting a crib that is more than a few years old. The slats must be less than 23/8 inches apart, says a report published by Babble. Here are other essentials that you need to take care of while preparing your baby’s nursery and wardrobe.

For The Nursery

Once you have the perfect crib, you must consider other elements.

• The mattress of the crib must fit snugly, with less than two fingers of width between the edge of the mattress and the crib side. Get rid of any plastic covering and opt for a firm mattress that holds its shape and remains flat. This is what a post on Johnson’s Baby suggested.
  
  
• The environment of the space or room where you are planning to create the nursery must have subdued lighting, little traffic, and no hazards to your baby’s health. Remember that your child will spend most of the time lying on his back, hence bright light may be an inconvenience.
  
  
• Diaper supplies are another thing you must carefully evaluate. You can opt for disposable or non-disposable products that have a water proof feature. Rather than buying in bulk and stocking the diaper beforehand, make it part of your monthly budget, since kids can grow into the next size before you know it.
• It is a good idea to invest in a baby monitor, so you can know when your baby needs assistance instantly. Make sure to pick a product that does not interfere with cell phone frequencies.

For The Wardrobe

Rather than buying too many clothes before the baby arrives, keep a few necessities in hand and buying more after knowing the gender and size of your baby is the best way to go.

• Opt for practical and comfortable clothes. Yes, the baggy jeans and t-shirts makes your child look cute, but they are not at all comfortable for him.
• Check with your hospital and get anything specific they ask you to.
• Get close to 6 to 8 sleep suits for optimum comfort.
• 4 wrap over vests and 6 to 8 bodysuits.
• 2 soft cotton hats and a single sun hat for the outdoors.
• 2 to 3 cardigans, a jacket or pram-suit.
• 3 to 4 pair of socks, and the same number of day wear outfits.

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Pregnant women can travel smart during the festive season by keeping adequate snacks, fruits, juices and water handy at all times. Proper calorie intake is the key to striking a balance during festivities, says an article published by DNA India in November 2013. October-November is the time when the whole house seems to reverberate with preparations for celebrations and it is busier for the womenfolk of the house. If you are pregnant, it is essential to go through your routine festive preparations so that you can take proper care of yourself even when you enjoy the celebrations.

Do’s and Don’ts For Pregnant Women During Festivities

Pregnancy calls for you to take care of yourself in such a way that you are able to provide proper nutrition and care to the baby. Here are some tips that will help you enjoy the festival season even with a baby bump.

Eat Little And Often

Festivals like Diwali will give you enough opportunities to give in to your cravings but you must make sure to eat the right food and avoid the ones that can cause problems, such as indigestion. Small meals at a regular interval will help keep you energized without causing gastric problems. Also, try and replace sugar based sweets with a healthier option, such as dates or sweets made of jaggery. Keep yourself hydrated at all times.

Scale Down Your Ambitions

You may not necessarily be able to celebrate the festivals like you always had. Scale down your preparations. Do as much your body allows. Tiredness is common in pregnancy but stretching yourself too much can take a toll on you. You may want to skip the mithai making session or the baking sessions and indulge in personalization of your gifts.

Shop Online

It is likely shopping at retail outlets tires you out too much, and it is also not advisable to go to crowded places and expose yourself to unnecessary harm. The next best option is online shopping. Online retailers are gearing up to offer huge discounts during the festive season. You can also pre-order the gifts to be delivered at your near and dear ones’ homes so that even if you can’t personally go there and hand over gifts, you are still able to add a personal touch.

Relax

You need to get regular breaks if you are going through the festive madness. Put your foot down, read a book, watch a movie, relax in the bath. Also, make sure to take lots of sleep.

And don’t forget to give yourself and your to-be-born the best gift of all – that of a secure future in terms of health!

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Caesarean deliveries are skyrocketing in India. Until 2010, caesarean or C-sections were limited to 8.5% of all deliveries in the country, just under the recommended level of 10-15%, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report. However, their occurrence have escalated in many parts of the country between 2005 and 2015 with states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu registering as many as 41% and 58% C-section deliveries respectively, according to an article published in Quartz India in January 2015. Vaginal delivery refers to the natural form of childbirth but there are other types of delivery as well.

Process of Childbirth

There are largely two types of delivery: vaginal and caesarean but they can be further differentiated on the type of assistance and medicines used during childbirth. Moreover, there are many questions regarding the process of childbirth. Here are some answers that might help you.

Natural Childbirth

A natural childbirth is a vaginal delivery where no medicines or medical assistance is used. If you opt for a natural childbirth then you must prepare yourself mentally and physically to do so.

Assisted Vaginal Delivery

An assisted vaginal delivery is one in which the birth takes place directly through the birth-canal but medications and tools may be used to assist the delivery. Epidural, an anesthesia which is directly inserted into the spine may be used during a vaginal delivery to numb the pain. It is an optional process and you can consult your doctor about the same. Instruments such as forceps may be used to hold the baby’s head and help guide the baby through the birth canal. Vacuum delivery is another way to assist delivery. A suction cup is applied to the baby’s head and the baby is gently pulled out through the birth-canal. Other ways of assistance are episiotomy in which a small surgical incision is made in the perineum to enlarge the vaginal passage and amniotomy which involves artificial rupture of the amniotic sac and inducing labor by injection of a synthetic drug.

Caesarean Section

One of the other types of delivery is caesarean section (commonly known as C-section) in which a surgical incision is made in the mother’s belly and uterus and the baby is delivered. C-section may be planned as many women opt for it or if the nature of the pregnancy calls for it. It may even be unplanned if complications arise during labor and C-section is necessary for the well-being of the mother and the baby. Because a caesarean is a major surgery, it will take you longer to recover and resume daily activities. A woman who has previously delivered through C-section can deliver through the normal vaginal delivery in a subsequent pregnancy. It depends on the reason of the C-section and the nature of the incision that was made in the first place.

Whatever the type of delivery you opt or go through, make sure to store your child’s cord blood stem cells through umbilical cord blood banking. This will help to secure your child’s future health. Stem cells have the ability to replicate in just about any other type of cells and are therefore instrumental in the treatment of various diseases.

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