Early Stages of Pregnancy

TREATING BACK PAIN DURING EARLY STAGES OF PREGNANCY

One of the best times of a woman’s life is said to be the one when she is pregnant. However, there are many problems that plague a woman’s body making the life of a woman to be miserable during this beautiful period. One of the common problems that start from the very early stages of pregnancy is that of back pain. Though it subsides by the end of second trimester, it causes a lot of problems for the expectant mother. This pain is, most of the times, continuous and can be rectified through a variety of remedies.

Remedies

Backache, during early stages of pregnancy, can prove to be quite an uncomfortable experience, which can hamper the daily routine of the expectant mother. Some of the remedies that can be suggested for the same can be listed as follows:

·         One of the best and easiest ways to combat back ache during pregnancy is by doing regular exercise. Since expectant mothers are refrained from taking any kind of painkillers, exercise acts as the best natural remedy for back ache.  Some of the recommended simple exercises that can be done by any pregnant woman providing relief from back ache are pelvic stretching, walking, short crunches, and bending of knees along with lifting head while exhaling. Apart from acting as a back ache remedy, they also make the muscles strong and help in keeping the weight in control.

·         One of the other common reason that can be cited as the reason for back ache in most pregnant women is incorrect posture.  It is recommended that the expectant mother should stand straight with an erect back. Faulty body postures such as a slouched position can strain her spinal cord a lot. It is suggested that during pregnancy, you should avoid standing for extended periods and keep changing your posture as frequently as possible.

·         Another answer to the back pain during early stages of pregnancy is pillows. While lying down, it is for the best to use pillows generously for support and maintaining a parallel posture of thighs. Also, it is advised that you should sleep on your left side to keep the pain at its minimum.

·         Another point that can be kept in mind to keep the back ache at bay is by avoiding the lifting of any heavy weights. Also, you should avoid wearing any high heels. Instead you should wear something more comfortable such as broad and supporting heels.

·         For a more temporary relief, a gentle massage often does the work of soothing the pain and relaxing the body. However, if the cause of the back ache is sciatica, do not massage as it can worsen the condition.

Role Of Appropriate Diet Plan

Apart from the above given remedies, one of the common problems associated with that of back ache during pregnancy is that of inappropriate diet and weigh gain. Any unnecessary weight gain inappropriate according to your frame and size also proves to be a major reason behind the back pain. No pregnancy gives you the license to gain weight inappropriately. To avoid any such problems, discuss and draw a proper diet plan for yourself in accordance to your doctor’s instructions. This will keep any back related problems at bay.

Conclusion

Thus, though the problem of back ache is quite common among expectant mothers, it can be kept at its minimum by following some simple remedies for the same.  There are very few women who are lucky enough to not experience any kind of back problems during their pregnancies. Thus, it is important to follow the above given steps to ensure that your pregnancy is one of the most memorable ones with only fond experiences to remember.

 Summary

The problem of back ache during early stages of pregnancy is a common problem experienced by most expectant mothers and can be prevented by following just a few precautionary measures.

HOW TO ENSURE HEALTHY CHANGES AFTER PREGNANCY

HOW TO ENSURE HEALTHY CHANGES AFTER PREGNANCY

Most of the women fret about the same question after giving birth to a baby- how to get their old body back? Often, after the delivery of a baby, they need extra energy to breastfeed and look after their baby. Thus, cutting down of calories indiscriminately causes more harm than good to the body. Women looking to be health conscious and wanting to take care of the non-desirable changes after pregnancy caused to the body should wait at least six weeks before starting on any fitness program. It is also advisable to consult a doctor after delivery before resuming normal activity.

Tips For A Healthy Weight Loss

Once given a go-ahead by the doctor, you can follow following steps to ensure healthy changes after pregnancy to your body, while moulding them according to your own needs.  

Do Not Embark On Any Diet: The word “diet”, in this context, refers to any kind of restrictive food plan requiring you to exclude any specific category of food group or sticking to less than 1500 calories a day. In the post partum stage, the body is in the process of healing itself and thus, requires adequate nutrients to accelerate the complete process. A compromise at this stage can lead to lifelong consequences.

Do Not Overindulge in Oil-rich foods: Even though you should avoid diets and supply proper nutrients to your body, you should avoid over- indulging yourself with very rich foods. Instead of stuffing your body with unnecessary calories, you should focus more on simple diet rich in all nutrients. You can include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet apart from keeping your body fully hydrated.

Breastfeed: One of the major activities causing of the changes after pregnancy in the body is breastfeeding.  Research has shown that women who provide breast milk to their child lose their pregnancy weight much faster than those who don’t under similar conditions. This also proves to be a healthy option for the newborn baby apart from acting as a major part of your weight loss plan.

Regular moving: Engaging in moderate exercise sessions post delivery of the baby helps in supplementing your efforts to lose your pregnancy weight. Rather than relying entirely on your domestic help, doing regular chores yourself like pushing the baby pram provides dual benefits of burning calories and providing you with more time to spend with your baby.

Get Proper Rest: It is important for you to take proper rest and sleep to effectively tackle all the changes caused in your body after pregnancy. Apart from benefitting you in taking care of your baby much more attentively, it also acts as a supplement to your weight loss plan. Incomplete sleep or tiredness often results in weight gain.

 Do Not use celebrities as your role model: One of the major consideration that you need to keep in mind is to avoid using celebrities as your role model regarding the changes after pregnancy taking place in your body. Apart from having numerous personal trainers and nannies at their disposal, They are almost obsessive regarding their weight and about what to eat and avoid during pregnancy. Normal folks like us can hardly expect to match up to that level.

Final Advice

You know that your body changes considerably to accommodate the baby growing inside you and ease its passage out of it. These may include bigger waistline, wider hips, and various others.  Although these are not irreversible, you can hardly expect your body to revert back to its pre-pregnancy days immediately. However, though a healthy weight loss pan, you will be able to effectively combat the changes after pregnancy taking place in your body.

Summary

For healthy changes after pregnancy in the body, an expectant woman should follow a nutritional and balanced diet which is beneficial for both the expecting mother and the unborn child.

CAUSES OF BLEEDING DURING EARLY PREGNANCY

There is nothing more that can scare a woman than the sight of bleeding during early pregnancy. Although, bleeding in the first trimester is considered to a normal sign, a woman must be aware of the different types and causes to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy.

VAGINAL BLEEDING

Although bleeding is dangerous during all points of pregnancy, if vaginal bleeding is observed, one should immediately consult a physician. This type of bleeding refers to any type of blood coming from your vagina, at a time not associated with your regular menstrual period. Depending upon the time of your pregnancy, you should decide upon the severity and effect of this on your condition and take appropriate steps to ensure the health of your baby.

·         Any bleeding during the first 3 months or the first trimester of pregnancy is a common problem faced by almost 20-30% of expecting mothers. Many experience spotting in the first weeks of pregnancy. This may be due to the implantation of your baby in uterus.

·         Any vaginal bleeding during the second and third trimesters is considered to be abnormal. Reason behind this is completely different than the reasons behind first trimester bleeding.

·         Vaginal bleeding after the 28^th pregnancy week is considered to be a true emergency. Ranging from mild to brisk, this type in its most severe form can even cause the death of expecting mother.

CAUSES

There are various possible causes of bleeding during pregnancy that can be listed as follows:

·         Miscarriage: Considered to be one of the main causes of bleeding during pregnancy, miscarriage can occur at any stage, though it commonly occurs in the first semester itself. It is often accompanied by extreme cramping in lower abdomen, vaginal bleeding, and passing of a tissue through vagina.

·         Placenta Previa: Bleeding that occurs due to this condition basically takes place in women who are carrying twins, triplets, or multiple babies. Also, women who have previously delivered through C-section are also highly vulnerable to this type of bleeding.

·         Placental Abruption: This type of bleeding happens mainly during the last 12 weeks of pregnancy. Often accompanied by intense stomach pain, it occurs when placenta detaches from the uterine wall. Women suffering from high blood pressure, sickle cell anemia, or any other injury to abdomen are more prone to this condition.

·         Ectopic Pregnancy: Many a times, bleeding during early pregnancy also occurs in case of ectopic pregnancy when the embryo implants itself in any other place in abdominal cavity rather than in the uterus.

·         Cervical Insufficiency: Different cervical problems such as weakness of cervical dilate, infection, inflammation, and others also act as a trigger for bleeding to occur. This can also happen when the weight of the unborn baby increases leading to a preterm labor.

·         Preterm Labor: Many a times, bleeding during pregnancy is actually a sign of preterm labor. In this case, it is often accompanied by symptoms like pelvic pressure, stomach cramps, regular uterine contractions or tightening, along with a bloody or a watery vaginal discharge.

·         Others: There are some other causes that may cause the bleeding. For example, bleeding during early pregnancy may happen due to sex, after pelvic exam, or something completely different. Though harmless, an expecting mother should still consult a doctor to be sure of any wrong effect on the baby

Conclusion

Thus, an expecting mother should relax and take appropriate care of herself and consult a doctor to ensure the health of your unborn child if there is any bleeding during early pregnancy. This is important because bleeding at the wrong time of pregnancy has proven to be a major cause behind many maternal and fetal deaths.

Summary

One should consult a doctor immediately if a pregnant woman experiences any kind of bleeding during the early pregnancy, as it may be caused due to some sort of negative cause.

DIGITAL PREGNANCY TESTS: AN OVERVIEW

With the advent of new technology in every aspect of life today, pregnancy tests too have undergone a vast change. Long gone are those days when you would have to stare at the faded lines in your pregnancy kit to determine whether you are pregnant or not. With the availability and awareness of digital pregnancy tests growing day by day, it is fast becoming a popular choice among today’s women. This is because these show a clearer result through a digital display telling whether you are pregnant or not clearly, thus eliminating all doubts and confusion.

How is result predicted???

All types of pregnancy kits predict the result by finding pregnancy hormone known as HCG or Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin in the woman’s body which is produced only after an egg is fertilized. As soon as a woman conceives, HCG levels increase and can be detected in the mother’s urine.

Standard Pregnancy Tests

There are a host of standard pregnancy tests available in the market for you to try. They basically display their results as lines of dye indicating the presence of the pregnancy hormone that is HCG, in your urine. Most of the times, a positive result is indicated by a plus sign shape or presence of two lines on the test. However, there are many a users who have complained regarding the clarity of signs due to faded lines or running of the dye making it difficult to interpret the final result.

Digital Pregnancy Tests

Due to the problems associated with the standard pregnancy tests, more and more women are turning to these digital tests that show a clearer picture regarding the confirmation of pregnancy. A digital pregnancy test comes with an absorber or a wick attached to it. This soaks your urine for determining whether you are pregnant or not. However, there is a time limit for which the wick should be soaked that is specified in the instructions mentioned against every test. Take care to read them carefully to avoid any mistake on your part. After the prescribed time, the test will start analyzing the HCG presence in your urine, during which a “wait” sign will appear on the display screen. After the completion of the analysis, the display window will clearly show the result as “Pregnant” or “Not Pregnant”.

Advantages Of Digital Over Standard Tests

Though these digital pregnancy tests cost a little more, they show a lot more potential and clarity than their standard counterparts. Instead of using dyes or lines to indicate the presence of pregnancy, the digital ones have a proper screen to display the actual result in words. This helps in eliminating any doubts while checking. Also, there are many digital tests for pregnancy confirmation available in the market that also show when the unborn child was conceived. Thus, the extra cost paid for them is worth the convenience provided by these digitalized pregnancy tests.

Precautionary Measures

There are some rare times when a woman encounters a wrong result from digitalized test for pregnancy confirmation. However, there are some valid reasons that can be cites as the reasons behind this. One of these could be you being on some kind of medication at the time of taking the test. Also, many a times you fail to follow the instructions mentioned on the test that can have a considerable effect on the final result shown on the screen. Also, it is advisable to avoid drinking lots of fluids before taking the test as it may dilute the urine and change the results.

All in all, digital pregnancy tests have proved to be a technological landmark in the field of pregnancy testing for all the expecting mothers. 

Summary

Digital pregnancy tests are a much better alternative to standard tests due to their clarity of final results and ease of usage.