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Archive for the ‘pregnancy’ Category

Weight gain during pregnancy is completely normal and is inevitable. Developing baby requires increased caloric intake but that does not mean you have to eat for two. On the contrary, pregnant women should eat normally and prevent excessive pregnancy weight gain which might be a great problem after childbirth. There is virtually no time for weight loss when the baby comes and many women struggle for years before they manage to achieve a healthy body weight.

Excessive pregnancy weight gain can worsen other problems related to pregnancy (back pain, swollen feet, varicose veins, stretch marks, etc.) but it also might represent a certain risks for the pregnant woman and the child she is carrying. A healthy weight gain during pregnancy is from 20 to 28 pounds (9 to 13 kilograms) depending on your body max index. It is recommendable to achieve a healthy body weight before the pregnancy but if being overweight when pregnancy is being confirmed you should make sure you control weight gain during the pregnancy.

The best way to control weight gain during pregnancy is a healthy diet and adequate physical activity. Pregnancy is not the time for weight loss but that does not mean you cannot provide the developing child all the necessary nutrients without significantly increasing the quantity of foods. Instead of overeating yourself concentrate on nutrient-rich foods and take daily walks. It also might be very helpful to consult about weight control during pregnancy with your health care provider.

Morning sickness characterized by nausea and vomiting affects more than one half of all pregnant women. It is one of the most common signs of early pregnancy and typically starts in about 6th week most commonly in the morning hours. Fortunately, morning sickness lasts only to about 12th week which is not particularly comforting if being in 7th week.

The causes of morning sickness are not exactly known but nausea and vomiting during pregnancy are most likely caused by hormonal changes. Morning sickness is usually triggered by certain smells and tastes which normally do not cause nausea. It usually does not represent any health risks for the pregnant woman nor for the fetus but in rare cases severe vomiting can cause dehydration and prevent a healthy weight gain, while the baby can be born underweight. For that reason severer cases of morning sickness require medical treatment.

Morning sickness most commonly occurs in women who are prone to motion sickness, women who suffer from migraines and women expecting twins or other multiples. However, considering the vast majority of pregnant women cannot avoid morning sickness it is wise to know how to relieve it. It might be helpful to regularly eat breakfast, having snacks frequently and rather eat five to six smaller meals instead three large ones, drinking a lot of fluids, drinking ginger ale or lemonade with honey, avoid tastes and smells which trigger nausea and taking daily walks. If nothing helps and if you unable to retain any food or fluid you should immediately visit you health care provider.

Pregnancy is an unique experience which might not be always pleasant. You might experience different unpleasant or perhaps even painful physiological changes which can be avoided or reduced if following a healthy pregnancy guide. Lets see which are the most common pregnancy complaints.

Excessive weight gain is one of the most common pregnancy complaints and often represents a serious problem after childbirth but even before weight gain which is normal in a healthy pregnancy you might experience morning sickness, mood swings, constipation, heartburn, regurgitation, urinary frequency, headache and sore breasts. Fortunately, many of mentioned complaints which commonly occur in the first trimester such as the morning sickness fade away on their own, while the others can be avoided or reduced by a healthy diet and adequate physical activity.

With progress of pregnancy some physiological changes might worsen but you might also experience other unpleasant changes such as back pain, swollen feet, varicose veins, stretch marks, cramps, inflammation of the urinary bladder (cystitis) and hemorrhoids. Besides being very unpleasant most of the pregnancy complaints do not represent any health risk neither for the pregnant woman nor for the fetus. However, it is highly important to pay attention to any changes and to consult with your health care provider about treatment of certain pregnancy complaint but most important of all is to start with healthy prenatal care as soon as pregnancy is being confirmed.

Missing period is the most obvious sign of pregnancy and it crosses every woman’s mind when “being late”. Early pregnancy is often accompanied with other symptoms which are very unspecific and are not unique to pregnancy. Even missing period does not necessarily mean you are pregnant. However, if you are missing period and if there is a chance you might be pregnant you can find out that very easily and discretely by making a home pregnancy test.

If you have done some research over early pregnancy signs and symptoms you probably already know there is no other way to make sure whether you are pregnant or not than to make a pregnancy test. You can find one at any department store and pharmacy. There are several different home pregnancy tests from different manufacturers but they all work in a similar principle: you place the end of a dipstick in collected urine for few seconds and wait for few minutes (according to the directions of manufacturer) until you see a color change or plus or minus sign which tells you if you are pregnant or not. And yes, home pregnancy test are reliable if you have wondered. According to manufacturers home pregnancy tests are 99% accurate. If you have any doubts you might repeat the test by trying another brand.

If your home pregnancy test is positive you should make an appointment at you health care provider. He/she will do a blood test or pelvic exam to confirm your pregnancy and provide you all the necessary informations about healthy pregnancy.

Is your period late and you suspect or hope you might be pregnant? There are several symptoms (in addition to missed period) which might occur in early pregnancy although a pregnancy test is the best way to make sure whether you are pregnant or not.

The most common signs of early pregnancy are swollen and tender breasts and fatigue. Other symptoms which might indicate you are pregnant are abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches, mood swings, raised basal body temperature, constipation and craving for certain foods which are normally not your favorites. If you miss your period and having any of mentioned symptoms you should relax or not get excited to early because none of mentioned symptoms is not unique to pregnancy. Many of them can indicate you are just about to get your period. On the other hand, you can be also pregnant and not having any of mentioned symptoms.

If you think that there is a possibility you might be pregnant you are highly recommended to buy a home pregnancy test to make sure. Home pregnancy tests are very accurate (according to the manufacturers 99% accurate) and reliable if made about one week after “being late”. If your test is positive you should make an appointment at your health care provider as soon as possible. You are also highly recommended to visit your health care provider if you suspect home pregnancy test you have used might not be accurate.