Pregnancy and Birthing

Apurva Shree asked:


One of the essential prerequisites for a healthy baby is an adequate pregnancy weight gain for the mother during her pregnancy. You should get insights into the need for weight gain during pregnancy and explore the link between obesity and pregnancy, if you are planning a baby or have just got the good news.

Need For Weight Gain During Pregnancy

The one time where weight gain among women is actually applauded and encouraged is during pregnancy. Various studies have indicated that babies, which do not receive adequate nourishment while in the womb, tend to be smaller and are prone to cardiac problems later in life. Starvation while in the womb leads to stunted development of various organs including kidneys, pancreas, and liver of the baby. A higher rate of infantile death is also noticed among such babies.

Doctors recommend a pregnancy weight gain of at least 20 pounds for all pregnant women, irrespective of their weight prior to pregnancy. The food eaten by women during pregnancy needs to be chosen with care with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans, and other seeds, forming the majority of the diet. Consumption of added fats, sugars, white flour, and refined carbohydrates should be minimal even during the progress of pregnancy week by week.

Pregnancy And Obesity

However there is another problem. If unchecked, pregnancy weight gain in some women may even reach the level of obesity. Many women do not bother about their figure after pregnancy, believing firmly that having a baby leads to losing your once perfect figure, forever. Although, this may be partly true, new moms also need to recognize the link between pregnancy weight gain and pregnancy obesity.

A new mother may have several emotional issues to deal with regarding her newfound status of being a mother. For many women, the incessant pressures and responsibilities that go along with her new role may also lead to overeating, which in turn might cause weight gain, change in her body rhythms and ultimately obesity.

Some women also hold firm the conviction that the weight gained while pregnant is permanent and all attempts to get rid of it would be futile. However, they do not seem to realize that it would only take about a year to overcome the effects of pregnancy weight gain and regain their earlier figure.

Determining of the link between obesity and pregnancy could disclose other health issues apart from obesity. A sudden excessive pregnancy weight gain could be indicative of other factors, such as depression or physical factors such as difficulties faced in the course of pregnancy, ailments of the reproductive system or incontinence.

Conversely, a new mom faces another risk due to her pregnancy weight gain. As her body changes to adapt to her weight gain, the effect may be a further increase in weight gain.

To conclude, although a new mom may consider her body on a lower priority scale when weighed against all her duties and concerns regarding her baby, her responsibility towards herself and a healthy body should not be neglected, as her well being is ultimately her baby well-being too.



Jorge

LOVINit asked:


I’m about 2 weeks late & I’ve taken several home pregnancy tests, but all negatives. How early can a blood test detect pregnancy as opposed to an HPT?

Ramon

ksteelers124 asked:


I’m turning 16 this year and I want to get a tattoo for my birthday. I want to get it on my hip bone and I also want to have children in the future. I wanted to know how a pregnancy would affect my tattoo.

Terry

Christie S asked:


I am 30 wks. And I have had pelvic and back pain again(I had it in my first trimester it was stretching.) but not where I can’t really sleep cause I am never comfortable no more. This has been going on for about 1 wk now and I am in a pregnancy club and they say that dropping can mean (if first pregnancy)that you will deliver in about 2 to 4 wks.Could I be having this baby really soon. I feel him in my pelvic area.
the pregnancy club didn’t describe symptoms.
The pregnancy club is on the internet babyzone.com they don’t have details but What ARE the main symptoms of dropping? where can I find info?Im not that worried and I am going to the doc its just I want to know what to expect.

Calvin

Apurva Shree asked:


If you are expecting pregnancy then look for a symptom of pregnancy to appear. Take a closer look and do not ignore a single bodily change. It can be a feeling of nausea, exhaustion, short term, light vaginal bleeding or vaginal discharge etc. Most of the expecting mothers assume an overdue period is the first sign to watch out for and this symptom summons rest of the pregnancy symptoms. However, as per medical experts a missed period is not likely to be the first sign of pregnancy. Rather, as per their understanding a woman might be already few weeks pregnant until she observes her period is overdue. Therefore, start keeping note of all signs of pregnancy and create a pregnancy calendar.

Possible Signs Of Pregnancy

Making a weekly pregnancy calendar is a good way to check progress of pregnancy. It is as well a good idea for detecting pregnancy as you tend to observe Every symptom of pregnancy arrive gradually. In this regard, a pregnant woman should be aware of the fact that sequence of pregnancy symptoms extensively vary from one woman to another. So if you have not come across a particular symptom, do not start panicking as it may appear later. For example, many women experience swollen and tender breasts as the first sign of pregnancy whereas some feel nausea or dizziness throughout the day before as the primary sign of pregnancy. Hence, chart each sign sent by your body in detail and the symptoms with which it appears to consult your gynecologist and confirm pregnancy. Symptom of pregnancy that you are likely to expect if you are expecting pregnancy after conceiving can be the following –

1. Nausea Or Morning Sickness – Most of the expecting mothers undergo a feeling of sickness after leaving their beds in the morning as well as at the different hours of the day as well. Nausea may linger throughout the entire day. This symptom of pregnancy gives a clear indication of pregnancy. On the other hand, to reduce discomforts of nausea, physicians recommend to divide larger meals into smaller frequent meals and to curb consumption of spicy foods.

2. Increased Exhaustion– Are you are feeling like taking a nap at the afternoon or in the evening and feel tremendously tired to wake up and go to work? Should you let it pass without noting it, you might be skipping a significant symptom of pregnancy. Sudden arrival of tiredness and fatigue without any reason after conceiving is a way in which your body alerts you pregnancy. However, this symptom may disappear after the first trimester of pregnancy and may revive on the third trimester.

3. Fainting – Fainting or dizziness is caused by lowered blood pressure during pregnancy. If you feel your head is spinning as you try to rise after sitting a while or even fainting, contact your doctor or take a home pregnancy test. Expecting mothers should alleviate loads of works and be cautious while putting your feet up.

After conceiving, you may experience other changes like cramping, frequent urination, vaginal spotting etc., which may have appeared before, but you should not ignore as each sign is considered significant symptom of pregnancy.



Alexandra

Michelle C asked:


I know they have sites for people getting married to fill in information about the couples, where they are registered, etc for their families and friends. I cannot find any good sites for personal pregnancy pages. Any recommendations?

James

AshaLynn asked:


I’m going tomorrow to get a pregnancy test and I was wondering how they do it. Is it a blood test? And also, how long does it take for them to get the results? Thanks!
If all they do is a urine test how are they any more effective than me taking a test at home?

Derrick

patty0317 asked:


I’m in the first trimester of my 3rd pregnancy (my children are 9 and 3). I didn’t really exercise through those pregnancies, but would like to keep active during this one. Anything you have to share is appreciated!
Well, thanks for the advice everyone! There are so many good answers, that I think I’m going to have to let it go to a vote.
A couple of notes after reading all of the answers:
1) There are a lot of sex-crazed individuals on Yahoo Answers…while that won’t be something I restrict, I don’t know that I’ll count it as my “exercise”, but thanks anyway.
2) Also, someone commented that I was wanting to exercise so I wouldn’t lose my figure— no actually, this being my 3rd I know what happens and I’m not going for rock hard abs (ha, that’s a joke, really). I just want to stay HEALTHY and give myself the best shot at a good pregnancy and labor and delivery.

Thanks again for all of the advice!!

Shirley

Apurva Shree asked:


Pregnancy brings with it a lot of anxiety for an expectant mother especially pregnancy facts. This anxiety is mostly the result of curiosity over pregnancy related problems. Curiosity kills goes the saying. This stands true, especially in the context of pregnancy.

Pregnancy Counsel

There is no dearth of counsel during the pregnancy period of a woman life. A woman is flooded with a barrage of pregnancy advice with the first symptoms of pregnancy. These bits of advice are helpful, no doubt, but at times they also add to the confusion of a pregnant woman. Since one cannot make a distinction in a professional and amateur pregnancy advice, it is not advisable to act upon any of them without consulting your doctor.

Courtesy demands that one has to lend an ear to friendly counsel. But following pregnancy advice or not is left to ones discretion. However, at times, one may have to turn them down bluntly as well, if the counsel becomes too overbearing. One tried and tested formula to rein such counsel is to tell your well wishers that you are following the advice of your doctor, whom you trust the most.

Know The Facts Of Pregnancy

A few questions about pregnancy that are uppermost in the mind of an average woman are given below. Read the answers to know pregnancy facts and realities.

Pregnancy is always painful: Yes, pain is inherent to childbirth. However, as far as its intensity is concerned, it is relative. It can be more painful for some and less for others. There are certain factors that determine labor pain like, the health and capacity in a woman to resist pain.

Healthy pregnancy women give birth to healthy babies: While in most cases this is a fact, at times a healthy mother might not be able to deliver a healthy baby too, like if it is born prematurely due to sudden high blood pressure.

Pregnant women should eat for two: Pregnant women are often told that they must eat for two. However this is not true. A pregnant woman has to increase her calorie intake by just another 100 calories every month. That is more than enough to provide nutrition to the growing fetus in the womb.

Pregnant women should not do any exercise: Doctors today ensure that pregnant women know the benefits of pregnancy exercises. Often, the fear of gaining excess weight keeps haunting pregnant women. To avoid gaining excess weight, pregnant women do strenuous exercises too. However here, it is important to note that while pregnancy exercises like swimming and yoga are good during the pregnancy period, strenuous exercises like weight lifting a total no-no.

Motherhood is a cherished dream, every woman longs to experience all her life. Emotional stress and mood swings during pregnancy are part of a natural process. Rather than getting unduly worried about trivial issues, a pregnant women should learn more about pregnancy facts and enjoy the experience of transformation from a woman to mother.



Francisco

marsh asked:


Just curious:)

My first pregnancy wasn’t too bad. My biggest complaint is that I was tired all day, every day. I gained a total of 35 lbs. I didn’t have any complications.. I had the epidural & I had a vaginal delivery.

I am now 6 months pregnant.. I look like I did when I was 8 months pregnant w/ my son.. I am gaining weight much quicker. I am waddling like a duck already. I have cramps, aches & back pains. I have 3 months to go.. hopefully the delivery goes smoothly.

Mayra