 Pregnancy Associated Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis associated with pregnancy is a rare condition when bones break/fracture suddenly or severe pain occurs during or soon after pregnancy in otherwise apparently healthy women. These fractures can occur in the spine or occasionally the hip and result in pain and disability. Coping with fractures alongside the demands of a new baby can be particularly difficult for those affected.
Top
Seven Pregnant Celebrities and their Present Life Style
It is now May 2013, host of celebrities are expecting good news in coming days.
We at Women Fitness wish them all the best in health and fitness for themselves
and the coming child. For our visitors continuous quench to know about these
expectant mothers we have their latest update.
 Gastroenteritis in Infant: Prevention & Management
Gastroenteritis
or Stomach Flu
is a term covering a host of symptoms like diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain,
chills and aches, loss of appetite and
fever ininfants(0-2
yrs of age).
Yoga to enhance Fertility
In yoga the body is seen as an energy system, with a number of different
areas or chakras. The second
Charka, is know as the seat of creation or reproduction. Enhancing blood flow
into this region will help you seek significant results.
A
growing body of research links chocolates to improved blood vessel function,
which is important for cardiovascular health. Several studies have linked
regular chocolate consumption in the first and/or third trimester to reduced
risk of pre-eclampsia.
Eating chocolate only in the first trimester seems to decrease the risk of
hypertension during pregnancy.
"I feel like a psycho, it takes so much of my part to control it. I've never felt this angry in my life. I feel like punching/hurting someone ( I haven't, like I said I control myself ) but it physically hurts to keep it in" These are the words of Dalinajimenez, pregnant and calling out for help. Another named Jeenee says "All my crazy pregnant anger somehow gets directed at my poor husband! We were driving to his work's Christmas party and he kept interrupting me when I was telling him something. I just flipped out on him. I felt really bad after I did it and I apologized for getting soooo mad"
It can take 6-12 weeks to return to a pre-pregnancy state - sometimes longer
- so don't give up! With proper training, and beginning as early as 24-48 hours
after birth, you can avoid many problems and work toward rebuilding and toning
your body the right way.
In
his book, Sleep Thieves, author Stanley Coren states that parents lose between
400-750 hours of sleep during baby’s first year of life, which is the equivalent
of losing 50-94 full 8-hour nights of sleep. As recent research suggests, the
toll it takes on the child and the parents is no laughing matter.
Maternity Dressing
Up
The rule of thumb for expecting moms is wear
whatever makes you feel good and comfortable.
Postpartum Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): Are You at Risk?
Researchers believe OCD occurs after a woman gives birth because of a change in brain chemicals that regulate social behaviors. "It can paralyze the person with anxiety and various types of rituals that can take up most of their way of everyday life."
Defining Postpartum
Fitness Regime
Moms-to-be can benefit from regular physical activity. The type of
exercise one should opt for along with the duration and intensity of exercise
will depend on the background. It is important to choose activities that utilize
large muscle groups in rhythmic contractions that can be performed continuously.
A
recent Swedish survey suggested that dyspareunia occurs in 9.3 per cent of
females, with the incidence being higher among the young and inexperienced and
relatively low among the over-50s.
Before you rush out to buy lots of baby clothes, a roomful of toys,
and several packs of diapers, ask friends and family if they have
any baby clothes or toys they can pass on to you, and which diapers
they recommend.
Pregnancy is one of the physiological conditions that places a considerable burden on the heart, forcing it to work harder for a significantly long period - nine months. While a normal heart is quite capable of taking this extra workload right in its stride, a diseased one may not be able to cope. Different kinds of heart disease may cause different problems during pregnancy.
Get
Ready for Lower Body Workout
Working the lower body requires a lot of energy, but that effort is
repaid with many benefits. Energetic exercise which uses the big muscles
of the legs and hips speeds up your metabolic rate long after the
exercise is over. Thus a combination of strength training to accentuate
and define muscles, and frequent aerobic exercise to help you lose any
excess fat, can dramatically improve your shape.
Prenatal Birth Defects on Rise: Am I a Candidate?
Birth defects are the leading cause of death for infants during the first year of life. Every year, about 7.9 million infants (6% of worldwide births) are born with serious birth defects. With the causes of over 50% of birth defects unknown, it remains a challenge how to diagnose and prevent them? Although some congenital defects can be controlled and treated, an estimated 3.2 million of these children are disabled for life. The most common birth defects are heart defects, cleft lip and cleft palate, Down syndrome and spina bifida.
Micronutrients During Pregnancy And Lactation
Overdose
of certain vitamins, particularly the fat-soluble vitamins, can be
deleterious in pregnancy.
After pregnancy, it is necessary to realign your spine. Standing in
the water allows you the maximum stretch between your hip bones and your ribs as
you lift your arms above your head. Aqua yoga makes use of deep breathing in
relaxed stretches that are easier and safer in water than on land. Read on....
Bleeding During Pregnancy
Bleeding affects 20% to 30% of all pregnancies. Up to 50% of those who bleed may go on to have a miscarriage (lose the baby). Of even more concern, however, is that about 3% of all pregnancies are ectopic in location (the fetus is not inside the uterus), and vaginal bleeding can be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy.
Cervical Cancer and Pregnancy
Cervical cancer occurring coincident with
pregnancy is, fortunately, quite rare, probably less than 1 in 10,000
pregnancies.
Pregnancy and cervical cancer can be categorized under two categories for a
better understanding.
Menopause and weight gain
Menopause is a medical term used to describe the time one year AFTER you stop
having periods, which occurs around age 51. But the ten or more years before
your ovaries go “two claws up” can put you on a hormonal roller-coaster ride
every month.
Read
on...
Pregnant women who have low levels of vitamin D face a five-fold risk of preeclampsia, a serious complication during pregnancy which can lead to death of the fetus.
Fertility and diet go hand-in-hand. There are certain foods that can
help boost a woman's chance of becoming pregnant, while other foods can harm her
chance of conceiving.
Postnatal Yoga Asanas for Time-Pressed Mothers
Yoga for postnatal mothers should focus on the back, the core muscles and the pelvic floor – areas that tend to weaken after pregnancy and labor. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on relaxation and deep breathing exercises, especially - while feeding the baby or dealing with sleepless nights.
Recovering after Caesarean births
If
you have had caesarean section, you will be very aware of the
discomfort of the incision, not to mention the difficulties of
getting in and out of bed, moving around and finding a
comfortable position for breastfeeding.
Choline & its Role During Pregnancy
Choline is important for people of all ages, particularly moms and moms-to-be," says Neva Cochran, M.S., R.D., nutrition communications consultant and nutrition writer and researcher for Woman's World magazine.
Gestational Diabetes: Causes, Symptoms and Management
Gestational diabetes is a carbohydrate intolerance of variable severity that starts or is first recognized during pregnancy or the inability of the tissues to absorb glucose from the bloodstream during pregnancy due to a lack of the hormone insulin.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) has issued new recommendations regarding vaccinations for women of reproductive ages, updating previous guidelines issued in 2008.
With all the advances in medical care and technology, it is safer
today than ever before for most women in later age to become
pregnant. There are still some increased risks associated with
later-age pregnancy that you should know if you fit into this
category.
Breast-Feeding Helps Mom's Weight Loss
"Breast feeding - that's my number one secret," for post pregnancy weight loss said Nicelle Herrington after losing 25 of the 29 pounds she gained during pregnancy.Heidi Klum who lost 30lbs in 6 months after her pregnancy also credits breastfeeding for her rapid post-natal weight loss.
Working the Transverse Abdominus After Childbirth
During pregnancy, the three different layers of abdominal muscles
get stretched to accommodate the growing baby. The belly stretches during
pregnancy and so do the muscles that cover it. These muscles are then held in a
stretched position until the baby is born, and because of this might lose some
strength and elasticity.
Guidelines to Manage Thyroid During Pregnancy
The guidelines for the management of thyroid disease during pregnancy and after birth has been recently updated from its 2007 version. The clinical practice guideline, published in the August issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, recommend approaches to diagnosing and treating patients with thyroid-related medical issues before, during, and immediately after pregnancy.
Pregnancy and Exercise
Pregnancy is a highly complex
physiologic state, and precautions are needed during pregnancy to
ensure that your exercise program does not contribute to
complications.
The pelvic floor is a large hammock of muscles
stretching from side to side across the floor of the pelvis. It is attached to
your pubic bone in front, and to the the tail end of your spine behind. The
openings from your bladder, your bowels and your womb all pass through your
pelvic floor. Your muscles near your pelvis are very important to
stretch.
After delivery, all mothers need continued nutrition so that they can be healthy and active and able to care for their baby. Nutrient needs of the mother during breastfeeding include increased need for energy, vitamins and minerals, and water.
Pregnancy is a time
of intense change within the female body. The hormones of
pregnancy have steroidal type effects and which can dampen down
allergies.
Most of the changes your body undergoes during pregnancy are normal, healthy, and expected. Some effects of pregnancy may cause you temporary discomfort, but many of these common discomforts can be prevented or relived by simple measures. Make sure your doctor knows about any health condition you have, such as high blood pressure or diabetes that can pose a risk to you or the fetus.
Yoga is a centuries’ old practice that promotes balance, energy,
deep breathing and relaxation. The therapeutic and buoyant effect of
water is combined with energizing and harmonizing effects of yoga
provide the optimum workout for you and your baby.
Nutrition during pregnancy is serious business. Research has shown that when
mothers-to-be eat poor diets, there is an increase in risk of low-birth-weight
infants, particularly in women with poor health and nutrition status before
pregnancy. The risk is compounded by lifestyle choices, such as smoking, that
may affect pregnancy outcome.
Smoking: a Must to Kick Off before Pregnancy
Cigarette smoking among drug dependent pregnant women is alarmingly high, estimated at 77 to 99%. Smoking during pregnancy can cause complications during delivery such as premature rupture of membranes, abruptio placentae, placenta previa, premature birth, low-birth-weight, stillbirth and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Headaches may occur at any time during pregnancy, but they tend to be most
common during the first and third trimesters. In the first trimester, headaches
occur because of hormone changes you experience while in the third trimester,
headaches are felt because of your having to carry additional weight and changes
in your usual posture.
Weight gain and water retention during pregnancy cause significant
physical changes that often lead to foot discomfort. Alteration in
center of gravity due to weight gain can add pressure to the knees
and feet. Posture and alignment can shift, and everyday movements
like lifting, sitting, standing, and walking can be affected.
Nearly 4 million babies are born every year with the aid of
fertility treatments. Babies conceived with infertility treatment
methods are more likely to have certain birth defects than babies
who are conceived naturally, according to a study published today in
the New England Journal of Medicine.
During the first
three months of pregnancy, when foetal cells are beginning to develop into
rudimentary organs, the quality rather than the quantity of the mother's
food is particularly important.
Start
thinking about your options for childcare now, before you start finalizing your
own career plans. There are few rights and wrongs when it comes to
childcare - but there is a right way for your baby, you, and the other members
of your family.
Preeclampsia: a Common Pregnancy Complication
Preeclampsia, also known as toxemia is a disease
characterized by the gradual development of high blood pressure (over 140/90)
that is often accompanied by protein excretion in the urine and excessive
swelling of legs, hands, and face.
Moderate Walking, Cycling, & Gardening Associated with Enhanced Fertility
According
to Lauren Wise, a reproductive epidemiologist at Boston University and lead
author of the
study(4/5/2012) "Effect of physical activity on fertility varied by body
mass index", it was found that moderate exercise, such as walking, cycling, or
gardening, was associated with getting pregnant more quickly for all women,
regardless of weight. Over the course of the study, nearly 70 percent of all
women became pregnant.
Increased
Chances of Birth Complications with Elective Induction
In a study, published in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica
Scandinavica, Dr. Rosalie Grivell from the University of Adelaide’s
Robinson Institute and School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health studied the
data of more than 28,000 births from across South Australia, from 2006 to 2007.
She compared cases in which women had undergone spontaneous onset of labor,
induction of labor for recognized medical reasons, and induction of labor for
“non-recognized” reasons.
After
the baby arrives
After delivery the first question naturally is how is my baby? The
second question asked by workout - alcoholics often is "When can I begin
exercising now that I’ve given birth?"
Secrets Uncovered: How do Models Shed Baby Weight?
"No matter how busy you are, Always find time to squeeze in a
workout." says Hollywood singer actress Jennifer Lopez a mother of twin kids. "I
have to work very hard in the gym to keep her tummy in shape" she adds further.
Work hard and watch what you eat. Her training comprises of cardio & weight,
with a feminine approach. Jennifer trains two or three times a week and also
does circuits. Jennifer Lopez does not use exercise as a reason to pig out. She
indicated, however, that sometimes she does not work out for months. To remedy
this situation, J Lo does pull-ups to boost the balance of her hourglass figure.
Pregnancy and
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis is more prevalent in women of childbearing
age than in any other group. When young women receive a diagnosis of MS, they
frequently have questions about the effects of the disease on childbearing and
vice versa.
Choosing To Have Babies At Home
As the desire for home birth grows, the number of studies and statistical data continue to grow and give us a greater understanding of the risks and benefits. As long your pregnancy is going well and you are healthy, you should be able to have a home birth (DH 2007: 12, Welsh Assembly Government 2005: 26, Scottish Executive 2001 Maternity Matters 2008).
Pregnancy induces profound alterations in maternal haemodynamics. Such changes include an increase in blood volume, heart rate, and stroke volume as well as cardiac output, and a decrease in systemic vascular resistance.
Women on even very low calorie diets
usually make enough milk, at least until the mother's calorie intake
becomes critically low for a prolonged period of time. Generally,
the baby will get what he needs. Some women worry that if they eat
poorly for a few days this also will affect their milk.
Myth and Truth About Obesity and Pregnancy
Despite excessive caloric intake, many obese women are deficient in vitamins vital to a healthy pregnancy. This and other startling statistics abound when obesity and pregnancy collide.
In the December(2011) issue of the journal Seminars in Perinatology, maternal fetal medicine expert Loralei L. Thornburg, M.D., reviews many of the pregnancy-related changes and obstacles obese women may face before giving birth. The following myths and truths highlight some expected and some surprising issues to take into account before, during and after pregnancy.
Pertussis Vaccine (Tdap) Recommended for Pregnant Women
Since 2005, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis (Tdap) booster vaccines to unvaccinated postpartum mothers and other family members of newborn infants to protect infants from pertussis, a strategy referred to as cocooning. On June 22, 2011, ACIP made recommendations for use of Tdap in unvaccinated pregnant women and updated recommendations on cocooning and special situations.
Easing
into Postpartum Sex
Congratulation for completing the marathon of pregnancy and delivery.
What lies ahead is a tough task of parenting, which no doubt is
stressful enough and when you both work its even harder. You have to
make time for your marriage/sex life.
Pregorexia:
the pregnant woman's eating disorder
According to some experts, images of svelte celebrity mums-to-be such as
Nicoles Kidman and Richie with their “barely-there” bumps are inspiring
expectant mothers to diet and exercise to excess to stay slim during
pregnancy and speed the departure of those post-baby pounds.
Identifying FSH Role in Conception
FSH, or follicle-stimulating hormone, is a naturally occurring hormone that is made by the pituitary gland in the body. If the FSH levels or either low or high, it is a clear indicator that something is out of balance within the reproductive system and may be causing issues with the couple being able to conceive.
Running while Pregnant
As long as you get the green light from your OB, you should continue to exercise (with modifications) right up until your delivery date. Not only will it keep you in shape, but it can also make for an easier labor and recovery.
Coping with Unplanned Pregnancy
Despite the availability of various contraceptive options, in some Western countries most pregnancies are unplanned.
There can be a time when a woman is caught off guard about the growth of a life within her. When the reality can leave her in a confused state of mind. Besides an unplanned pregnancy can cause a number of feelings such as anxiety and stress.
Questions to Ponder Before Choosing an Infertility Clinic
Going for an infertility treatment is an emotional and financial commitment and finding the right fertility clinic is one of the main decisions which needs to be made. There is no doubt that the treatment is a tiresome and expensive journey, so the couple need to be cleared with doubts before heading forward.
New Thyroid Guidelines Released for Pregnancy
The new clinical guidelines focus on several key areas in the diagnosis and management of thyroid disease during pregnancy and postpartum: thyroid function tests, hypothyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, iodine, thyroid antibodies and miscarriage/preterm delivery, thyroid nodules and cancer, postpartum thyroiditis, recommendations on screening for thyroid disease during pregnancy, and areas for future research.
When you're pregnant, it's important to make
healthy choices as much as possible and to avoid things that have the potential
to harm you or your baby. But then there's a large category of things that fall
into a gray area, that are neither beneficial nor particularly harmful. In the
gray area, falls the Diet Coke.
Getting Back in shape: Rebuilding the Foundation
After delivery of a baby, your abdominal muscles will be sore for a while. They will work and function normally; however, they will get sore more easily. This is expected. These are growth pains as your muscles build back up to their normal size and strength. So you need to slowly return to your normal exercise routine.
Practicing
Yoga during pregnancy
The practice of yoga gives you the opportunity to create a world
(your body) for your baby that is healthy and peaceful. "What a child
learns in the womb cannot be learned on earth".
Breathing For Labor and for
Life
Learning to breathe differently may sound difficult, but in fact, certain
breathing techniques can become second nature, given time and practice. In order
to learn therapeutic ways of breathing, however, we have to become aware of what
we are doing. Read on....
Body building during pregnancy: do and don'ts
Bodybuilding is good for women of all categories. It is very
important for pregnant women to keep fit since their bodies require high levels
of stability in maintaining normal metabolism.
Read on....
Toxic Shock Syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a serious but uncommon infection caused by either Staphylococcus aureus bacteria or by streptococcus bacteria.
Read on....
Muscle Strengthening during Pregnancy
Many women would like to continue strength training during pregnancy, but are hesitant due to the seemingly inconsistent and diverse opinions on the subject. In recent years, however, a growing number of professionals from the medical and exercise science communities have tendered specific advice for pregnant women interested in strength training.
Read on....
Asthma and Pregnancy
Pregnant women with asthma are not
necessarily ‘high risk’ patients. In fact, asthma can follow a curious pattern
in pregnant patients. One third of women experience no change in their asthma
during pregnancy, one third actually notice an improvement when they are
pregnant, and one third may experience a flare-up of their asthma during this
time. Since there is no index to predict which way a patient will react, it is
necessary to closely follow every pregnant asthma patient.
Read on....
After implantation the embryo develops very quickly. By the time a woman has missed her first period the embryo’s nervous system is already beginning to form. Its circulation also develops early and a simple blood-pumping system is in place by the third week of the embryo’s life. This rapidly develops into the more sophisticated heart and blood vessels that circulate blood between the fetus and the placenta for the exchange of nutrients, waste products, oxygen, and carbon dioxide.
Stretching the groin
The adductor muscles of the leg are often referred to as the "groin muscles" and include the adductor magnus, adductor longus, adductor brevis, pectineus, and gracilis. They are fan-like muscles in the upper thigh that pull the legs together when they contract. They help stabilize the hip joint. The adductors attach from the pelvis to the femur (thigh bone).
While you are looking around for a workout partner in order to get fit, just a hand shake away is one in form of mother and/or a daughter. Age doesn't matter if you have a daughter who is a pre-schooler, grade schooler, teenager and so on. This will not help in building your physical fitness but what you stand to gain is a emotional bonding which will only get stronger with time and age.
Comprehensive Chromosome Screening (CCS): a promising procedure
CCS involves the analysis of the total chromosome complement of a single cell or group of cells from each embryo. These tests that look into the essence of humanity, allowing scientist and physicians the opportunity and ability to alter the human genotype for better or worse. The common thread of life is DNA and DNA is the only major requirement for genetic screening. With knowledge of structure and function of DNA scientists can unlock the mysteries of life.
Epidural anesthesia: option for painless child birth
Epidural anesthesia is the most common method applied for combating pain during delivery. The pregnant lady remain conscious and aware of the activities going on, but there is a numbness at the pelvic region.
Sex in pregnancy is generally safe, with few complications, states a new
primer for physicians to counsel patients wondering about sex in pregnancy.
Paying attention to the patterns of your menstrual cycle offers a window
into your overall health. Abnormal periods aren't just wacky; they may be clues
to your health — signaling that you're at higher risk for osteoporosis, heart
disease, infertility, or certain cancers.
Thyroid disease is present in 2-5 percent of all women and 1-2 percent of
women in the reproductive age group. Thyroid problems are common in women who
are pregnant. Several of the thyroid disorders which tend to occur during
pregnancy are autoimmune in nature.
Heartburn during Pregnancy
One possible cause of heartburn in pregnancy; is the extra
pressure on the stomach (during the third trimester) exerted by the growing
baby. Also, during pregnancy, the placenta produces the hormone progesterone,
which relaxes the smooth muscles of the uterus.
Read on....
Very few pregnant women are diagnosed with breast cancer. But because more
women are choosing to have children later in life, and because the risk of
breast cancer increases as women age, there may be more cases in the future.
Today about 1 out of 3,000 pregnant women is diagnosed with breast cancer.
All women who will be pregnant through the influenza season (October - May
in the United States) should be vaccinated against influenza, according to
recommendations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice (ACIP) and supported by the COP.
Immunization by vaccination is a
way of provoking the body into producing antibodies to an
infection without being submitted to the full-blown
infection itself.
Many women have experienced food cravings during the course of their
pregnancy. Many of these cravings consist of chocolate, ice cream, meat,
cheese and salty snack food. Most doctors believe that cravings can be
nutritionally based. It could be a message from your body on what it needs to
eat.
A new study found that more choline during pregnancy and nursing could
provide lasting cognitive and emotional benefits to people with Down syndrome.
The work indicated greater maternal levels of the essential nutrient could
protect against neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
Breathing is something which is an involuntary action. You do not need to
pay attention to your breathing as it will happen anyway. When you are pregnant,
however it will be more important to pay attention to your breathing.
Birth control Pills are basically oral contraceptives, used by women to
avoid unwanted pregnancy. These contraceptive pills mainly contain two hormones
estrogen and progesterone, which are synthetic versions of the natural female
hormones.
It is a well known fact that infections usually happen to a lady when she is
pregnant. The most prone areas for infection are the reproductive or the urinary
tracts. Infection in these sensitive areas can even harm the baby and that is
the reason why they should be cured. Mostly women use antibiotics in order to
treat these as well as other infections at the time of pregnancy.
A screening test aims to detect a disease or condition in the early
stages before it causes significant problems, and where treatment
can be offered. The potential benefits of a screening test should
outweigh any possible risks from the test.
UFE offers another route for treatment against uterine fibroids while
preserving the uterus. Uterine fibroids are also called fibromyomas, leiomyomas
or myomas and usually appear during an adult woman's childbearing years. Uterine
fibroids are noncancerous growths inside the uterus. They affect as many as
three out of four women sometime during their lives.
Pregnancy and Heart Disease
Pregnancy
is one of the physiological conditions that places a considerable burden on the
heart, forcing it to work harder for a significantly long period - nine months.
While a normal heart is quite capable of taking this extra workload right in its
stride, a diseased one may not be able to cope.
Read on....
Mastitis is inflammation of tissue in one or both mammary glands
inside the breast. Mastitis usually affects lactating women - women
who are breastfeeding, producing milk. Hence, it is often referred
to as lactation mastitis. The patient feels a hard, sore spot inside
the breast. Mastitis can occur as a result of an infection or a
blocked milk duct.
Health & Fitness Needs During Lactation
Weight
reduction can be difficult for anyone at anytime, but a mother who
is trying to return to her pre-pregnancy weight is also challenged
with additional stresses of increased child care commitments, less
rest and sleep, household responsibilities, and, possibly, returning
to work outside the home. Read on....
Treating High Cholesterol During Pregnancy
Recently, studies have shown that pregnant women who have high
blood cholesterol are at risk of developing pre-eclampsia, a life-threatening
condition where the pregnant woman’s blood pressure becomes dangerously high
that is directly correlated to pregnancy and high cholesterol.
New Recommendations for Treating Depression During Pregnancy
Depression is common during pregnancy-between 14 percent and 23
percent of pregnant women will experience depressive symptoms while pregnant. In
2003, approximately 13 percent of women took an antidepressant at some time
during their pregnancy.
Nutrition
Recommendations for Breastfeeding Women
During this unique phase in the childbearing cycle, a
breastfeeding mother will need to take some extra care to assure that she
produces and provides to her infant abundant, high-quality milk.
Cord
Blood Stem Cell: an upcoming life saver
Although a wide assortment of methods are used to treat and cure these serious
diseases, since the late 1980s, cord blood stem cells have increasingly been
used to effectively treat a number of life threatening diseases.
Pregnancy is a time of change, from stretch marks to acne, your skin reflects
the big transformation that’s occurring in your body. While not every woman will
experience all of these skin changes during pregnancy, here are a few things you
might notice.
Water Aerobics during Pregnancy If you're looking for a fitness regimen that will help you keep fit
throughout your pregnancy, consider doing some water aerobics. Being in water
will take the weight off your legs and back and you will feel more comfortable
working out. Aside from that, aquarobics has been shown to help during labor.
Shoulder dystocia takes place when a baby gets stuck by the shoulders
behind the mother's pelvic bone during delivery. This happens when a
baby is already in the birth canal, so to ease the baby out, a doctor
has to do immediate maneuvers.
Remaining active during pregnancy offers several benefits to the mother
and baby. The key to reaping such benefits is to adjust your exercise
program in order to make it safe for you and your baby during this
period. Keep in mind that the goal of exercising during pregnancy is to
maintain your present level of fitness, not to improve it.
Sleep is essential. It is the time when our bodies replenish, repairing the
mental and physical wear-and-tear we suffer during the day. However, our
"always-on" culture has created a sleep-deprived generation. Cell phones,
computers, PDAs and 24-hour cable television keep our brains stimulated.
New research suggests mothers who deliver vaginally may have a heightened
bond with their babies compared to mothers who deliver via caesarean section
(c-section). Researchers found mothers who delivered their babies vaginally were
significantly more responsive to the cry of their own baby than mothers who had
c-section delivery.
Because certain food can cause health problems that may affect a developing
embryo - particularly during those vital early weeks of pregnancy - you should
always take care to avoid food-borne infections in your preconception period as
you prepare for pregnancy.
Stretching exercises may be more effective at reducing the risk of preeclampsia
than walking for pregnant women who have already experienced the condition and
who do not follow a workout routine, according to researchers at the University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Nursing.
Also called thrush, this common infection affects many women whether they are
sexually active or not. Candida is a yeast or fungus that is commonly present in
the bowel and vagina, and less commonly inside the mouth.
The need for leading a healthy, active lifestyle is indeed serious, but
exercise can be play as well as work. Keep in mind that most sports and games
require movement. You can think of the benefits of participating in or training
for a sport as the three Fs, because you’ll often get faster and fitter-and
you’ll have fun, too.
This is a very common infection or irritation of the bladder that results in
an urgent desire to urinate frequently, regardless of whether your bladder is
full. Passing urine is usually painful and the urine may be cloudy or even
contain blood. You may feel discomfort after passing urine or have abdominal
pain.
Health experts are calling for women to avoid alcohol completely during
pregnancy in the light of a new study has found a little evidence that binge
drinking while pregnant seriously harms the developing foetus.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued a
practice bulletin for management of asthma during pregnancy. The new
recommendations appear in the February (2008) issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Obese women can gain little or no
weight during pregnancy and even lose a few pounds without harming
their babies, new research suggests.
Obese women are known to have more
difficulty becoming pregnant and also are more likely to miscarry.
Excess weight could exert its effects either by acting on the
ovaries, which produce eggs, or on the endometrium, where the
fertilized egg implants.
Women who are obese when they
conceive are more likely to have babies with birth defects than
are mothers of normal weight, a US study suggests. For many
types of birth defects, including spina bifida, heart, limb and
genital defects, mothers were between 1.3 and 2.1-fold more
likely to have been obese.
Today women are gaining full
status as women in our society, they are getting educated and
having careers. With the only disadvantage that their biology is
working against them. At the age of 16, a woman had 400,000 eggs
- but by the age of 46 there are virtually none left. Women
loose around two eggs an hour.
The American Heart Association
estimates that out of 1,000 births, nine babies will have some
form of congenital heart disorder. Congenital cardiovascular
defects are the most common birth defects.
Approaches
to Childbirth
As modern society increasingly comes to accept childbirth as a natural
process, you will find a growing number of options available for giving birth.
The Omega 3 fatty acids
are a type of polyunsaturated fatty acids. They are found in various foods,
including fish, game, seeds, and plants. Studies have shown that the omega-3
fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in particular may lower a woman's risk for
depression, aid a fetus's vision development, and even regulate a newborn's
sleep patterns.
In general, regular exercise does
not seem to decrease or increase the chances of having a baby through
IVF However, with four or more hours of exercise per week for 1 to 9
years, the odds of a live birth fell by 40 percent relative to
engaging in no exercise.
A large study of mothers and children
carried out in Zimbabwe lends further support to the view that it is
probably better for mothers with HIV infection to breastfeed
exclusively rather than engage in mixed feeding, as children exposed
to a mixture of breastfeeding and other forms of feeding are more
than four times as likely to have become infected with HIV at the
age of six months when compared to infants exclusively breastfed.
Pregnancy is a time when one gets to
hear a number of myths; you must heard them all. Relax. A lot of the
things you hear might not have a scientific basis. Here we deal with
some of your worst pregnancy concerns, which could prove to be mere
myths.
Like adults, children have varying appetites, depending on mood,
health and general inclination. Nevertheless, there are certain
problems which are characteristic of many newborn babies and
others which affect children at different ages and which can be
readily addressed by the parents.
The menstrual cycle is not the same for every
woman. A normal menstrual period lasts from 2 to 7 days. The normal cycle
patterns can range from 21 to 35 days. When bleeding occurs that is not part of
the regular cycle; periods are longer or heavier than normal; occurs between
periods; time between periods is longer than normal; or there is an absence of
periods, this is called abnormal or irregular uterine bleeding.
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a type
of bacterium that causes illness in newborn babies, pregnant women,
the elderly, and adults with other illnesses, such as diabetes or
liver disease. GBS is the most common cause of life-threatening
infections in newborns.
Throughout pregnancy, your growing and
changing shape makes it important to alter the way you perform a
number of everyday tasks and movements.
Read on....
An ectopic pregnancy (also called a tubal
pregnancy) occurs when a fertilized egg is implanted
outside the uterus, typically in one of the Fallopian tubes. Sometimes the
embryo can also occur in the cervical canal, one of the ovaries or the pelvic or
abdominal cavity (abdominal pregnancy).
Anemia during Pregnancy
Adequate iron is essential for the formation of healthy red blood cells, and
for both fetal demands and the large increase in maternal blood volume. Pregnant
women should eat a range of iron-rich foods in order to prevent an iron
deficiency.
Read on....
Pain Relief During Labor
Despite the arguments in favor of natural childbirth,
there is no intrinsic virtue in avoiding pharmacological pain
relief if you feel you need it.
Read on....
We
now know that unborn babies are aware of much of their
surroundings and are able to respond physically to a variety
of stimuli. We also understand a great deal about the way a
baby's body function in the uterus and what she can hear and
see.
Read on....
Basal body temperature (BBT)
The normal human body oral temperature averages
at about 98.6°F (37°c) but varies during the day, especially in response to
exercise. A woman's body temperature not only fluctuates throughout the day, it
also responds to hormonal changes throughout the month, thereby giving a
valuable information about individual fertility cycle.
Read on....
Exercise Routine for Second Trimester
While
the first trimester is crucial for laying down the groundwork
for the developing organs and concerns over the possibility of
miscarriage, and the third trimester centers on the baby
attaining maturity and the delivery process itself, the second
trimester is a sort of reprieve during which the pregnancy can
almost be enjoyed.
Read on....
Toxoplasmosis during Pregnancy
Toxoplasmosis is caused by a tiny parasite
[protozoan] that spends part of its lifecycle in animals and the rest in humans.
It is a common infection caused by the one-celled organism Toxoplasma gondii.
Read on....
When it comes to health benefits fish
continues to line up high on the positive side. There’s the omega -3
fatty acids found in all fish and especially the fatty fish. Omega – 3’s
help promote heart health and aid in prevention of heart disease making
them a positive choice. Recent FDA advisory, however, indicate that
pregnant women and women considering pregnancy should not eat shark,
swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish because they could contain enough
mercury to harm an unborn infant's nervous system.
Read on....
Sleeping During
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, inadequate sleep is a common complain made by women,
mostly, due to the result of anxiety and
stress, hormonal fluctuations, and
physical discomfort.
Read on....
Obesity: A
Health Risk during Pregnancy
Overweight is defined as being 10% to 15% heavier than
recommended for a woman's height, or having a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 30.
Obese was having a BMI of 30 or more.
Read on....
High-Risk Pregnancy: Hydramnios
Hydramnios is a condition in which there
is too much amniotic fluid around the fetus. It occurs in about
3 to 4 percent of all pregnancies. It is also called
polyhydramnios.
Read on....
High-Risk Pregnancy: Oligohydramnios
Oligohydramnios is a condition in which there is too little amniotic fluid
around the fetus. The condition is often the result of a tear or rupture in the
amniotic membrane, causing it to leak amniotic fluid and thus lower the level of
fluid still surrounding the baby It occurs in about 4 percent of all
pregnancies.
Read on....
The first stage of labor consists
of an early phase that begins with the onset of contractions and the
gradual effacement (thinning out) and dilation (opening) of the
cervix, followed by an active phase in which the cervix begins to
dilate more rapidly and contractions are longer, stronger, and
closer together
The active phase ends with a "transition period"
as the cervix fully dilates to 10 centimeters.
Read on....
A hydrosalpinx is a fallopian tube that is filled with fluid. Injury to the
end of the fallopian tube, the ampulla, and its delicate fingers, the fimbria,
causes the end of the tube to close. Glands within the tube produce a watery
fluid that collects within the tube, producing a sausage shaped swelling that is
characteristic of hydrosalpinx.
Read on....
Chorioamnionitis is an infection of two membranes of the placenta (the chorion and the amnion) and the amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby. Chorioamnionitis can cause bacteremia (blood infection) in the mother and may
lead to preterm birth and serious infection in the newborn baby.
Read on....
Most babies are born headfirst, but at the end of pregnancy, around 3-4% are
found to be breech. Before term, which is defined as 37 weeks, it doesn't
matter if the baby is breech, as there is always a good chance that she will
turn spontaneously.
Read on....
It seems pregnancy brings more than a
"healthy glow." It might also help clear psoriasis for those who have the skin
disease. A study showed that psoriatic women who have high estrogen levels
during pregnancy experience significant improvements of their psoriasis.
Read on....
Choosing Contraception
The most common reason for failure of a contraception method is not using the
method properly and consistently. Because of this, it's recommended that you
choose a method you feel comfortable using on a regular basis. The most
popular and effective contraceptive methods available around the
world. Read
on....
Chlamydia- The Silent
Epidemic
A
bacterium called chlamydia trachomatis causes chlamydia. This infection has
become the most common cause of pelvic inflammatory disease
(PID) in the Western world.
Chlamydia infection may be symptom less in women the whole time that it is
causing damage, but there may be some tell-tale signs. Women with
chlamydia may be some increased or altered vaginal discharge and get a cervical
infection that can spread up into the rest of the pelvic organs.
Read
on....
While good physical health -including healthy diet and avoiding hazards like
smoking, drugs, and irradiation - is vital to successful conception and
pregnancy, so too, is the emotional state.
Read on....
With all the advances in medicine,
doctors and their patients can learn a lot about the development
of a fetus, and one of the tools that's commonly used is
amniocentesis.
Read on....
During pregnancy, the developing
baby is protected by a fluid-filled sac called the bag of
waters, or the "membranes." This bag usually stays intact until
several hours before labor starts-or even for a while after
labor has begun-but it can burst or start leaking any time
during the pregnancy.
Read on....
A Complete Body Workout for Pregnant
Women (Part-Ii)
This is the
concluding part of complete body workout for pregnant women
comprising of Lower Body workout aiming to workout the pelvic floor,
stomach , legs, hips and thighs. Read on....
A Complete Body Workout for Pregnant Women
(Part-I)
At no point in a woman's life is general fitness more important than
during pregnancy. The advantages of having a regular exercise
routine during pregnancy are almost endless. Exercising will give
you more energy, help you remain flexible and carry your baby with
ease. Read on....
Folic: The Great Protector
Folic acid
is critical to the overall synthesis, repair and protection of DNA,
the body's genetic blueprint molecules. Everyone's diet should
contain foods rich in folic acid. Read on....
Planning a Fit Pregnancy
Pregnancy
places great physical demands on the body, but the fitter you are,
the better you will be able to cope. Supple joints & groin and
buttock muscles make it easier to adopt useful position such as
squatting during labor and birth...Read on.
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