Showing posts with label Pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pregnancy. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Early Pregnancy Back Pain

Normal and short-term phenomenon

Early pregnancy back pain is a normal phenomenon in early pregnancy. Most of the expectant mothers witness some degree of back pain during the early phase of pregnancy and this pain generally subsides after about 20 weeks. Back pain or spasm, which is reflected by stretching of muscles or burning pain in the left or the right side of the quadrant, is normally the result of the softening of the supporting ligaments and disks due to an increase in the progesterone hormone during the early phase of pregnancy. In some cases, urinary infection during pregnancy can also result in back pain amongst pregnant women. The extra weight of a pregnant women's body and the change in her centre of gravity also result in backaches and back pain.

Remedies for Pregnancy Back Pain

The most important and safe remedy for the treatment of early pregnancy back pain is exercising. This is mainly because certain medications for back pain are contraindicated during early pregnancy. Walking, pelvic rocking, bridging (done by lying down on the floor, bending your knees and lifting your buttocks into air), mini-crunches (done by lying down on the floor), bending your knees and lifting your head on exhalation, are good exercises for relief from pack pain during early pregnancy. Pregnant women do these exercises on their own relieve back pain during their pregnancy.

The right body posture and good body mechanics also play an important role in keeping one free of early pregnancy back pain. The right posture for prevention of back pain early pregnancy is standing straight and tall. However, the importance for correct postures is as essential in early pregnancy as before that. However, in late pregnancy, as the uterus becomes big, one tends to pull back her shoulders to offset the additional weight, which results in a back strain. You can reduce back pain during later stages of pregnancy in such a position by frequently changing your sitting position and avoiding standing for long periods.

Adequate rest and sleep are also essential for avoiding or eliminating early pregnancy back pain. You should take proper rest and avoid strenuous activities to avoid back pain during your pregnancy. You can also do normal yoga exercises to eliminate minor back pain. However, if the back pain persists you should consult your doctor and take proper medication for relief from back pain during pregnancy. In some cases of back pain during pregnancy, doctors may prescribe physiotherapy for back pain relief. Massages and use of special mattresses are also effective for back pain relief during pregnancy.

Signs of pregnancy are a signal of joy for a couple. Pregnancy back pain is a most common pregnancy symptom.For more on early symptoms of pregnancy and other pregnancy problems information, visit, Pregnancy-Period.Com

First Month Pregnancy Symptoms - Will You Survive Them?

Although it's best to know that you are pregnant at the earliest possible time, particularly because you'll be able to nourish the baby better during this critical stage, not knowing that you are pregnant until after eight or so weeks could strangely be a boon as you would have gotten over the first month pregnancy symptoms without even knowing what they are.

As they say, what you don't know won't hurt you - and this applies to women who become so traumatized with first month pregnancy symptoms. Actually, they can be tolerable if you know which things to avoid and if you learn how to condition yourself to ignore them.

How to get through the first month pregnancy symptoms

Pregnancy doesn't have to be a frightening experience. Once you know what the nature of the first month pregnancy symptoms are and how long they would last, you will be able to better cope with them and welcome the newcomer in your womb more warmly.

One of the first month pregnancy symptoms is nausea or intermittent dizziness. A majority of pregnant women experience the so-called "morning sickness" which is characterized by a queasy feeling in the stomach often accompanied by vomiting. Although it most often occurs as soon as you wake up in the morning, nausea can be experienced any time of the day.

This first month pregnancy symptom can be neutralized by sucking sour candy or sniffing smelling salts or ammonia. Nausea can be triggered by various smells which are unpleasant for the pregnant woman. Mild headaches can be relieved by drinking cold water. Although there are safe paracetamol medications, you should always consult your doctor before taking any medication while you are pregnant.

Morning sickness last until around your third month of pregnancy until it disappears completely. Most first month pregnancy symptoms are brought about by the hormonal changes that simultaneously happen due to your delicate condition.

Having tender breasts, or experiencing soreness and heaviness, is another first month pregnancy symptom, as is experiencing pain in the lower part of your abdomen. These symptoms, though, are also present during PMS, so many pregnant women confuse them as signs of an upcoming menstrual period.

Mood swings are also common first month pregnancy symptoms. You easily get irritated and the little things that you used to brush off now become magnified. Again, these are brought on by the secretion of pregnancy-related hormones in your body.

In terms of weight, not all women experience an increase in girth around the midsection. A few, in fact, even lose weight - probably because another first month pregnancy symptom is loss of appetite. After a few months, however, your appetite will return and you will undoubtedly be eating much more than your regular intake in order to nourish the developing baby.
You can also find more info on pregnancy and birth and pregnancy clothes.

Pregnancyhelpblog.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about pregnancy.

How To Lose Weight After Having A Baby

If you're a new mother, then you'll know that the weight gain after pregnancy is something that all new mothers are concerned about. It's all right stacking on the weight when you're pregnant and for some, pregnancy is a great excuse to gorge however once the baby's out and breastfeeding is either established or finished, then the question of how to lose weight after having it moves to the forefront of a mother's mind.
Most women need the same amount of time to lose the weight gained as it took to gain the weight. In other words, around 9-10 months, provided their weight gain was within the 5-10kgs doctors recommend. So, the key to how to lose weight after a baby's born is to take it slowly, aiming for a gradual weight loss rather than a rapid one.
It's important to remember that during the first few months after the birth of a baby, so many changes and new things are happening that the thought of how to lose weight shouldn't be the priority. Eating nutritiously, getting enough sleep, and taking care of the new infant should be where first efforts are focused. Once these are in place, then working on how to lose weight can begin in earnest.
It's also essential to realise that you cannot choose which area on your body you want to loseweight from. Weight loss will only result once you burn the fat stores on your body, so increasing your metabolism is what you should be aiming for. That, in turn, will reduce your fat stores, resulting in an overall weight loss.
To do this, it's necessary to combine good diet/nutrition with regular aerobic exercise such as cycling or running. Eating smaller meals more often during the day will help your body too as it will increase your metabolic rate, and in turn, your weightloss.
A common mistake made amongst many, is that doing more area-specific exercises such as crunches or sit-ups for the abdominal region, will help you lose more weight in that area. These exercises are effective, but not for losing weight. They are there to tone, which is what you will need to do after you have lost the desired amount of weight.
If you want to know how to lose weight after having a baby, there is no special way or secret method. It's much more straightforward. You need a certain amount of determination to succeed, willpower to stick your routine, a well-balanced diet that is lower in fat, and a realistic exercise regime that you know you can stick to.
There is no point trying to follow an exercise programme that is way beyond your capabilities since you are more likely to abandon it and feel a failure in the process. More often than not, women following unrealistic goals tend to gain, rather than lose that extra weight.
If you normally don't do any exercise, start with walking, jogging, or cycling a small distance until you build up your stamina. If you normally eat loads of chocolate or foods high in fat, then try to reduce them gradually so that the strain on you is not so great. Let's face it: fewer calories consumed mean fewer calories required to remove.
Once you have learned how to lose weight after you have a baby, you can put the theory into practise and just one year later, can be the same, if not better, than you were prior to giving birth!
Get in touch with the industry experts at http://www.weightlossfatburnersecrets.com for more help. Steve Magill has written several articles with regard to the weightloss business. As a Fellow in the (FBAE) he is considered an expert consultant when it comes to helping people to lose weight.

Petite Maternity Clothes That Make You look Adorable

Pregnant women who are less than 5'4" look out for petite maternity clothes that seem to be so hard to find! At one point there was not much of a market for clothes in their size and they had to make do with over-sized, ill fitting clothes. Women these days still find it hard to get petite maternity clothes or stylish maternity cloths in the local stores but they can find a great selection online.
Many stores offer a huge variety in petite maternity clothes at easy affordable prices making it possible for the elfin Venuses amongst us to look their best too! Expectant petite women need not worry about shopping for maternity clothes during the first trimester. They can wear pants and skirts that have adjustable elastic bands as well as their regular clothing initially. It is usually during the second trimester that their growing body requires clothes that are soft, stretchable and comfortable to wear. Most often clothes that are designed for pregnant women are made of 90% cotton and 10% Lycra as such clothes grow with the body i.e. are stretchable.
Select Trendy, Petite Maternity Clothes
Are you also petite and pregnant? Well, you can be fashionable, petite and pregnant at the same time by wearing trendy maternity clothes in petite sizes. There are boot cut maternity jeans, twill pants, capris, smart short maternity skirts, tops, shirts, halter neck, tank and tune tops and many such attractive casual and formal wear outfits available in petite sizes too. You can make those days when you feel queasy more bearable by looking your best, dressed in bright or soft colored clothes.
If you search hard you may get cheap maternity clothes of good quality in petite sizes too. If you are shopping online be sure to get the right size and if you are still in doubt contact customer service section of the stores as most of them offer excellent customer service.
Funny maternity clothes in petite sizes are also available in some stores. There are also maternity swim and active wear available in petite sizes. Some fashionable evening and part wear in clingy, breathable fabrics to stylish and formal petite maternity clothes are available too. In case you need a petite maternity wedding gown a search online can make your shopping much easier and more cost effective. Affordable maternity clothes are a reality thanks to the sales offered by various stores as well as the variety available at the discount stores.
Petite maternity clothes are available in wide variety to suit all budgets from exclusive designer wear to affordable off the rack clothes. Make sure you stick to a planned budget as you get to wear these clothes only for a short duration. Small is beautiful especially if you are pregnant! You can also look adorable wearing attractive and stylish petite maternity clothes.
Availability of different types of maternity clothes has made the life of pregnant women very convenient. You can opt from the large range of petite maternity clothes, funky maternity cloths, trendy maternity cloths and stylish maternity cloths as well. Visit Pregnancy Clothes to know more about related topics like breastfeeding cloths, nursing pajamas, and special occasion maternity dress.

Maternity Bras

There are many certain questions to consider when you are trying to decide what kind of maternity bra will be best for you. If you are an expecting mother you may not exactly be looking forward finding a good selection of maternity clothes for you. But, believe it or not, many new lines of maternity clothes (including maternity bras) are stylish, classy, and even sexy maternity clothing items. When I went shopping with my sister before my nephew was born, I was surprised at all of the cute maternity outfits I saw for great prices. I should not have been taken back . . . the clothing industry has developed some amazing new stuff. Maternity bras are a very important piece of maternity clothing when you are choosing your new, temporary wardrobe.
When you do not have the right maternity bra it can be extremely uncomfortable for your breasts. Nonetheless, many women have certain questions about what kinds of maternity bras she should purchase. Some women wonder if it is bad to wear an underwire bra, or to wear a bra to bed while they are pregnant. Maternity bras have been designed for specific purposes. Therefore, if you have the right maternity bra, the choice is up to you. But you must also be aware of the dangers that wearing certain bras and over-restraining your breasts can cause. Despite the popularity of them, the truth is that wearing an underwire bra is not recommended while a woman is pregnant or lactating, despite the incredibly widely popular design.
You will want to get different kinds of bras to wear during your pregnancy as well as while you are breastfeeding. It is always good to follow your doctor’s advice, especially when it concerns the only source of your baby’s sustenance for the first six months of his or her life. A bra with an underwire can cut – off the circulation of fluid nutrients in the breasts. They can put pressure on certain parts of your breasts as they begin to swell and cause potential problems.
If you prefer an underwire bra, but you refrain from wearing one because you know you shouldn’t while pregnant, there is another option. These are similar to an underwire bra, but they have been developed especially for pregnant women to best suit their needs for support. When a woman wears an underwire bra during pregnancy, because of its design, an underwire bra can put extra pressure on the breasts when they become fuller. When this happens, it can result in blocked milk ducts or cause mastitis, which is basically an inflammation of the breast. The wires under the bra are not flexible enough to adjust to your bleeds.
There are now maternity and breastfeeding bras that will be perfect for you available on the market today. These bras are made with a flexible kind of plastic for extra support, they are similar to an underwire bra. Most women have found such maternity and / or breastfeeding bras to be a great solution. These bras will provide support while not impeding the growth and development of your breasts. A plastic based maternity of breastfeeding bra flexes, shrinks and changes position as your breasts reshape.
The bras you purchase to wear during your pregnancy can be either the same bras that you wear as you are breastfeeding. Because the bras that women wear during pregnancy are often still worn by them when they are breastfeeding their infants, there are bras that are suitable and comfortable for both. If you want to use the same bras for breastfeeding that you do when you are pregnant, there are, of course, specific things to look for when you do your shopping.
A bra designed for breastfeeding is almost always virtually the same as a bra designed for expecting mothers. As a matter of fact, “nursing bras” and “maternity bras” are usually sold without distinction. They are sold in the same section, under the same name (usually one or the other), and that is the “maternity bra” or “nursing bra” section of the clothing store.
Just like when a woman has to decide what kind of bra to wear, (when and if she does) a woman has a choice regarding her personal preference as to whether or not she wants to wear a bra. Sometimes, a pregnant woman may experience soreness in her breasts no matter what kind of bra she wears. There are many women who feel much more comfortable wearing no bra at all. The decision as to whether you wear a bra or not depends completely on what your personal preference is. There will be no negative impact on your breasts and / or their growth or swelling.
The same applies when you consider sleeping in a maternity bra or nursing bra. There is no damage to your breasts or to your milk. It all depends on what makes you more comfortable. If you are a “bra person,” make sure that you have more than one bra, two or three for sure. Choose the very best bra to suit your needs for comfort and support, there are certain things to look for. Most of the bras will have some way to open for feeding without removing the bra altogether.
There are almost always a wide variety of options. Virtually every maternity or nursing bra also has a way or mechanism for holding the nursing pads in place. You can choose most commonly from three different types of bras. Center clasps are common, as are front clasps and shoulder clasps.
Almost all maternity or nursing bras (and especially nursing pads) need to be hand washed. It is recommended that you do this often, that you do not wring or twist the material, and remember it takes awhile for maternity or nursing bras to dry. This is one of the reasons why you will need multiple maternity bras. And because of the inevitable, (i.e. leaking) you really should own a couple of maternity or nursing bras, even if you prefer going braless. If you take good care of your bras you can keep them and wear them throughout your pregnancy and during your baby’s infancy until you are done nursing.
Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching, gardening, and fashion. For more of her useful articles for new mothers, please visit breastisbest.com, supplier of high quality Breastfeeding pumps and Breastfeeding Bras.

Pregnancy and Foot Care

Pregnancy is one of the best feeling a woman experience in her life, however there are some changes in body leads to some symptoms like morning sickness, loss of sleep, heartburn, eructation, constipation hemorrhoids, backache, edema on leg etc. Some of these symptoms and conditions are minor and do not require any treatment they can be alleviated with appropriate dietary and lifestyle changes. Commonly ignored problem during pregnancy regarding foot care sometime become very troublesome for mother.
As woman enjoy watching the bump grow week from week, month to month, but sometimes it comes with weight gain and water retention, which leads to the discomfort on her feet. Healthy weight gain during pregnancy can alter a woman's centre of gravity. This causes a new weight-bearing stance and adds pressure on feet and knees and that needs more attention while lifting anything, walking etc.
Common foot problems experienced by pregnant woman are over-pronation or flattening of the arch, and edema. These problems can lead to pain at the heel, arch, or the ball of the foot. Many women may also experience cramps in leg, lower back pain, and varicose veins due to weight gain.
There are many easy steps pregnant woman can adopt to treat her feet complaint
• Drink a lot of water. Swelling increases when dehydrated. • Limit salt intake. Foods high in salt can cause water retention• Eat a well-balanced diet and include foods high in protein, such as beans, cheese, fish, and meat, chicken.• Keep watch on weight. Gaining more weight than recommended in pregnancy can increase swelling on feet.• Try to avoid standing for long periods of time. If you need to stand for prolonged periods, be sure to take a break whenever possible to sit and put your feet up. • Elevate your feet as often as possible if there is swelling on feet.• Sleep on your side, not your back. This relieves pressure on the vena cava, the largest vein that leads to your heart. Otherwise, the pressure slows the blood returning from the lower body.• Wear shoes and socks that are spacious and do not constrict the feet. Avoid high heel shoes
Thus by making few changes foot complaints during pregnancy are alleviated.
Dr.Tabassum Patel
(Homoeopath)
http://moinhealthcare.com

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Wives Tales and Pregnancy

It's all great to hear advice during your pregnancy, especially unwelcome advice. I'm sure you've been told by one person or another how to live. Am I right? It only gets worse the further along in your pregnancy you are. Someone will want to tell you that you shouldn't bend, or walk a certain way, not to pick up a baby in case you hurt the one in your stomach or put yourself in labor. As the pregnancy gets closer to the due date you'll be told many different home remedies of how to put yourself in labor. Got a headache? Someone can tell you exactly what to drink to get rid of it without any medication, remember it is important to ask a doctor before trying to take something you've never tried before doing it. But the most fun I have during the course of the 9-10 months stretch is hearing all the wives tales, also known as myths.

I'm pretty sure you aren't going to even care at this point what sex the baby is, all you want is for the morning sickness to stop. You may even be counting down the days until the first trimester is over. Chances are if you morning sickness someone is bound to tell you what sex of the baby is. One wives tale is if you are having severe morning sickness is a sign you are having a girl.

Here's a wives tale that is a lot of fun and you can test it on everyone in your household. Take a thin piece of string or your hair, slide your ring down it, hold it above your belly and let the ring dangle above it. If the rings spins in a circle it is a boy, but if it goes from one side to the other, it is a girl. Once you've tried it out on your tummy, get someone in your house and do it above their hand. Does the ring spin in a circle above your husband's hand? Hmm, is it really and old wives tale or is there really something to it?

Many women claim to suffer from bouts of heartburn during the pregnancy, according to the old wives tell this would mean your baby will be born with a head full of hair.

Right before the end of your first trimester your doctor will listen to your baby's heart rate, this is to make sure the baby is doing alright. The wives tale goes, if the heart rate is high it is a girl and a low one is a boy.

Ever have someone tell you that you are carrying high or low and wonder what that really means? Basically if you are carrying your baby low it is closer to your abdomen, a high baby is closer to your chest. Look at yourself in the mirror. How is your baby sitting? The old tale says that if you are carrying high it is a girl, carrying low is a boy.

Wives tales can be a lot of fun but keep in mind these aren’t fact. Don’t go preparing your child’s room just because one of these told you, you were going to have a girl.

Pregnancy’s Beautiful Stretch Marks

The minute you find out you are pregnant you know things are going to be changing, from your waist size to those little stretch marks that pop up. Stretch marks are exactly that, red or purple marks left in your skin because it has stretched. The most common areas for it to appear is the buttocks, thighs, stomach, breasts and even arms. 90 percent of all pregnant women will get them, whether they get a lot or a few depends on the body and how they are preventing them.

There are a ton of lotions out there that claim to help prevent stretch marks, such as scar serum, cocoa butter or Maderma. Make sure your skin is always moist, this helps in stretching the skin and not tearing it. There are new discoveries every day, ask your doctor what he/she recommends. Try them out yourself first and see if they work for you. This isn’t something you just put on one time during your pregnancy, you’ll have to make this a daily effort in order for it to work. That’s where most women fail, they just stop doing it.

During your pregnancy try to eat healthy and stay in shape. This can help to keep off any access weight. The recommended weight gain for the average, 25-35 healthy pregnancy is 25-35 pounds. Make sure you drink plenty of water, staying hydrated helps keep the skin healthy. The moment your skin dries out you can begin getting stretch marks.

If you’ve had one or more children your chances of getting more stretch marks will increase. Your skin has already been stretched out and you are about to do it again. Large babies and multiple babies can increase your chances of getting stretch marks too. Begin using preventing creams and lotions with vitamins A and E in them, as soon as you find out your are pregnant and try to lessen your chances of getting them.

After the pregnancy if you have any stretch marks you may still have a few stretch marks, even after all the care you took. These do fade over time, so don’t worry about the way you look. If they are unbearable to you and you’ve waited a while, you can choose to have a tummy tuck or laser removal. Make an appointment with a dermatologist to see what he/she has to tell you. You may discover that you can live with them after all.

Besides caring for your skin daily and eating right, there isn’t much you can do to prevent these beautiful pregnancy marks, however this doesn’t mean you don’t have to try. Take comfort in knowing that half the woman you know that have been pregnant probably have a mark or two, they may even have a little road map. Think about it as you’ve just been initiated into the gang of motherhood. No woman should ever feel ashamed of her stretch marks, they may not be the prettiest thing in the world but they do represent one thing…your child. Remember that the next time you are getting disgusted by them.

Preparing the kids for Pregnancy

The moment you find out your pregnant you want to tell everyone, including your kids. The way you tell your child depends on their age, an older child will understand what it means when you tell them you are pregnant or that they are going to be a brother or sister soon. However, a toddler is a little bit harder to explain this too.

Think about your child’s personality when it comes time to tell them. You know your child best. They may enjoy being sent little clues like you did with daddy, or they may just want you to tell them straight out. You could get lucky and have them walk in the room while you are announcing it. This happened to me when I was expecting child number four. I had just walked out of the bathroom waving the wand in the air to show my husband. I had no clue that my kids had walked into the room until I heard them screeching I was pregnant. Oops.

Their Reactions
Don’t be shocked if at first your child acts distant, many children will respond to the news in their own way. One of your children may even start to pretend to be pregnant right along with you, mimicking everything you do. While another child may tell you they don’t want you to bring home a new baby. These are all common reactions to the news, the way you handle it will determine the outcome.

If your child seems reluctant to want another child in the home you may want to find out why. The only way to find out what’s bugging him/her is to ask. Maybe they are just scared that you are going to stop loving them, or that everyone will forget about him/her when the baby is born.

Showing them They are Important too
A good way to do this is to make sure they get something the moment the baby is born, some have had the doctors give the sibling their own baby doll when their sibling was born. Try reading children’s books with them to show them that it’ll be a good thing. Dad can always spend some one on one time with them.

Involving Your Child in the Pregnancy
This is their baby too, have your children accompany you to a few of the doctor visits. Let them hear the heartbeat of their little sister or brother. Watch their faces light up when they see the baby for the first time on the screen. There are many ways you can involve them, you can encourage them to help you decide on a name. Try letting them feel the baby kick for the first time by placing their hand on your swollen belly.

It’s easy to prepare the siblings for your new arrival as long as you involve them in the pregnancy along the way. They’ll be happy to be part of it and feel more of a connection to the baby when he/she is born.