Pregnancy & Childbirth

Congratulations! You’re pregnant!

One minute you’re overjoyed with your news, the next you’re brought back down to earth with a thud.

And with it,the rude awakening that soon after conception, your body begins undergoing a series of major changes to help prepare it for your baby’s growth and development.

Mother Nature loves irony. How else to explain taking the happiest time in a woman’s life and causing her to become physically ill and miserable?

And, what’s with using the term, “morning sickness”? Actually, the correct term is “nausea and vomiting of pregnancy”. Which is closer to the truth since the condition can and will occur anytime of the day.

Facts about the condition:

1. 50-95% of pregnant women suffer from it

2. dehydration can happen in extreme cases

3. occurs in first month of pregnancy

4. continues until 14th-16th week

5. 50% of women will suffer for another month

Although nobody will say for sure what the definite causes are, the theories are:

1. estrogen level increase

2. low blood sugar

3. increased sensitivity to smells where many odors instantly trigger the gag-reflex

4. rise in progesterone level . This hormone helps relax the uterus in order to prevent early labor but it also relaxes the stomach and intestines which cause excess acids in the stomach and slower waste removal.

5. eating unhealthy foods. Seems the body has a sure-fire way to make sure you don’t ingest anything not good for you or baby.

6. and this doozy. an increase in human chorionic gonadotropin! Now you know why they prefer to call it (hCG) This is a peptide hormone produced by the embryo soon after conception and later on by the placenta. It’s role is to maintain crucial levels of progesterone production vital in human pregnancies.

7. excess salivation which nauseates some women

It’s difficult to spend time on the causes when all you want is relief. As with anything to do with the human body, there’s no one-size-fits-all remedy. There will be a period of trial and error as you find what works for you. Of course it goes without saying, you will be consulting with your doctor/care-provider.

So here are some corrective measures used by many women:

1. eating small, frequent meals. An empty stomach produces an acid which aggravates the stomach lining.

2. foods should be high in proteins and complex carbohydrates. Yogurt, cheese and eggs for example.

Whole-grain breads and cereals. Don’t make the mistake of thinking of whole-wheat as being whole- grain. You want the product label to say ” 100% whole-grain”. Big difference and healthy for mother and baby.

3. drink fluids. Dehydration makes everything worse.

Extreme cases need to be hospitalized. If you can’t stomach fluids, try eating fruit which has high water content and low acid like grapes and watermellon

4. ginger (zingiber officinale) The age-old remedy for upset stomachs. Either capsules, tea or ginger- snaps, candy. Try to get ginger ale made with real ginger. Usually not supermarket brands. You may have to try the health-food section in your grocery or an actual health-food store.

5. brushing teeth after vomiting will decrease excess saliva and lessen stomach turmoil. And, prevents tooth decay and makes you feel better.

6. get proper rest. Fatigue and stress will cause morning sickness to worsen. If able to, nap often.

7. stay away from fatty, spicy, rich, acidic and fried foods

8. eat crackers before getting out of bed. Get up slowly.

9. take prenatal vitamins later on in the day

10. try vitamin B6

11. microwave cooking produces less odors. Better yet, have someone else do the cooking while you, lucky girl,stay away!

12. go smell lemons. Believe it or not, relief may be found by sprinkling essential oil of lemon on a handkerchief and holding it to your nose.

13. warm places can trigger nausea. Try to stay cool.

If not in air conditioning, install fans around you.

Even a battery-operated hand-held fan can bring relief.

14. if your stomach agrees, eat what you want when you want it. Your special cravings are trying to tell you something.

Although it can be downright annoying when well-meaning friends and family tell you, “This too shall pass”.

Especially when you feel miserable. Usually after the first trimester, you will again be concentrating on happy, future events.

Again, Congratulations!

Reference Sources: Wikipedia and Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine

Karen Cook works in her town’s Public Library. Her greatest job satisfaction comes from researching information to help improve her patron’s lives. Visit her weblog at: http://happilypregnant.blogspot.com.

I realize that many of us may wonder if taking birth control while pregnant would hurt the baby. First if you have accidentally took some birth control and found out that you are pregnant the baby should be alright especially in the beginning. I would let my doctor know at once so that he may check when I was in my next trimester to make sure there will be no birth defects. It has been found through studies that taking birth control while pregnant can lead to birth defects. Remember read the writing on the package as it tells you plainly not to take while pregnant. It would not do you any good anyway.

Please don’t be alarmed if you happen to be taking birth control while pregnant especially in the start of the pregnancy. A lot of women have made that mistake and had perfectly normal babies. Taking the pill only one time at the start of the pregnancy should not harm the baby. If you suspect that you are pregnant discontinue the pill right away. Then contact your doctor or a family client be tested right away. It is unlikely that the hormones will kill the fetus.

It is of course not healthy for the fetus for you to continue taking them for months or several weeks. Taking birth control while pregnant if kept on a continuous basis could cause birth defects and even cause a miscarriage. This is not a safe way to terminate a pregnancy. This could be very dangerous for you even life threatening. In the event that you need to terminate the baby go to a clinic and have a safe procedure if you are early on in your pregnancy it should not be hard to have the baby terminated by an abortion. Family clinics are there to help you and to advise you as well. Take advantage of their services before you make any rash decisions. Taking birth control pill may not always work in some cases unfortunately. It maybe necessary for you to be on the pill but if you find that you are taking birth control while pregnant immediately see your doctor.

No women intentionally would want to harm their baby by taking birth control while pregnant. It is not uncommon for birth defects to arise without the assistance of the wrong type of medication. Let us review a few defects that can harm the baby but can be avoided with proper care. Genital and urinary tract defects are common as one in ten babies. Show some abnormalities. Not all defects are serious and show no symptoms. Other malformations can be more serious causing urinary tract infections, pain, or kidney damage. Many of these defects can be detected at birth with the use of an ultrasound. Some of these abnormalities are inherited from the parents who have the disorder or carry the gene for it. The problem of birth defects can come from many different sources that are why a new mother-to-be needs to carefully watch her diet and especially watch any medication that she may have been prescribed to take. Taking birth control while pregnant is really not a wise decision for baby or mom.

Birth defects for your child are very serious and some can last a life time. Heart problems are the number one birth defect that we need to be made aware. In some cases heart problems are mild and hardly noticeable. In other cases heart disease can be very serious needing surgery, a pace maker, or other devices at a very early age. Heart problems as in other defects can be an inherited defect or poor health care and unfortunately it is not wise taking birth control while pregnant. It is very important that if you even suspect you maybe pregnant to discontinue taking the birth control, see your physician, be tested immediately, and follow your physician’s advice to the letter. I cannot stress enough to you that you should read the label on any medication you are taking. “Discontinue use if you become pregnant.” Normally all birth control medications have this warning on the medication. The FDA requires that the manufacturer place this label for the public to read and be made aware of dangers involved. So please it is not safe to be taking birth control while pregnant. A point that I hope all of you got while reading this article consult with your physician if you have any doubts or questions.

Kitty Barker who often writes for and with Pregnancy Information where there is far more information, news and resources. She also writes for Pregnancy Weight Gain If that link is inactive, you can paste this link into your browser - http://pregnancy-and-baby-tips.com/.

Pregnant women can and should exercise in moderation unless there are health factors or risks that prevent them from participating in a fitness program. This should consist of intervals of no more than thirty minutes at a time, several days each week if not every day of the week. Exercising has been proven to help pregnant women feel and look better, and also will help in minimizing the amount of weight gained during pregnancy.

Keep fit during pregnancy can help prevent or avoid problems such as gestational diabetes, a common form of diabetes that sometimes develops during pregnancy. It will also help increase stamina, which will be needed for labor delivery and increase your physical and emotional well being before and after delivery. Staying in shape will also help speed your recovery after the birth of your baby. Always be sure to consult with your physician before beginning any type of fitness program while you are pregnant.

Fitness programs that are appropriate for pregnant women include walking, swimming, low or no-impact aerobics (done at a mild pace), yoga, and Pilates for as long as you are able to complete the required moves. You should always avoid activities that can put you at a high risk for injury. Forms of sports or exercise that may cause you to be hit in the abdomen or are performed lying flat on your back are considered high risk. This is extremely important after the third month. Another sport you will need to avoid during pregnancy is scuba diving. While this may seem completely harmless, especially since being in the water makes you feel lighter and more agile, it can cause dangerous gas bubbles to form in an unborn child’s circulatory system.

There are numerous benefits that exercise can bring to a pregnant woman. You will burn calories, which will help prevent any excessive weight gain. If you work out on a regular basis, you will improve the condition of your joints and muscles, which will be very helpful during the birth of your baby. The long-term effects will also continue after giving birth and will also help you lower your risk of heart disease and many other serious illnesses.

Staying in shape will help to relieve any anxiety and stress you may feel. It will also help to prevent the “baby blues” that many new mothers experience after the birth of their child. This is valuable information since so many new mothers worry if postpartum depression will affect their lives and the lives of their family. Participating in fitness programs while pregnant gives many emotional as well as physical benefits.

Once your doctor give you the go ahead to begin a fitness program, decide on a program that fits both your likes and schedule. Keep in mind that it is best if you do not exceed a 30-minute period of time while exercising. If you are finding it difficult to pick a program, try several different types of exercises that are appropriate for pregnant women then decide which you enjoy the most. You may want to incorporate a variety of exercises into your routine to help prevent boredom and discouragement. Exercising while you are pregnant is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your unborn child.

Tina Titas is a columnist for http://www.FunExerciseVideos.com From pregnancy yoga videos to pregnancy pilates, you’ll find exercise videos at a great price.