Baby Care

Posts Tagged ‘Pregnancy’

The placenta sounds like a planet from another solar system and looks like an alien life form. But it has a very important job to do. It is your baby’s life support system whilst in the womb and not only supplies your baby with everything she needs, but also keeps anything harmful out of her way.

For the first 12 to 13 weeks the placenta is developing rapidly inside you and attaches itself to the lining of the uterus. Some scientists think that this is the reason some women feel very drained in early pregnancy. Their bodies are not only creating a tiny baby, but it’s life support system too. First and foremost the placenta helps your baby to breathe. Each time your heart beats, blood from your arteries flows into the placenta so that oxygen and nutrients flow to your baby. It also carries waste products like carbon dioxide away from your baby. The success of the placenta functioning properly depends on a good supply of maternal blood. If the maternal blood supply is reduced, the mother smokes for example or is suffering from pre-eclampsia, the blood flow to the placenta is reduced and this can have an effect on your growing baby.

As well as linking your blood supply to your baby’s, the placenta also keeps the two blood supplies completely separate, even though only a thin membrane separates the two. This is important because the maternal and foetal systems must not mix. The placenta keeps any harmful substances away from your baby as well as protecting her against infection. The placenta can’t always distinguish between what is good and what is bad, which is why pregnant women are advised not to drink, smoke or take drugs during pregnancy. Some viruses can pass to your baby from the placenta. German Measles or Rubella can be particularly dangerous if caught by the mother and can lead to defects such as blindness, deafness and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in your baby. It is important to ask your GP before you plan to get pregnant whether you have been immunised against Rubella or not.

The placenta also secretes hormones such as chrorionic gondotrophin, progesterone and oestrogen that all help to maintain your pregnancy and also help to prepare your breasts for breastfeeding.

During the last stages of pregnancy, antibodies will pass from you to your baby via the placenta, which will help to protect her for the first three months. After that her own body will start to build up immunity from what she is exposed to on a daily basis.

Once your baby is born, the placenta’s job is done. As the cord is cut and clamped the placenta can be delivered, as it no longer supplies your baby with all she needs. The delivery of the placenta is called the ‘third stage’ of labour. Some women choose to have a managed third stage and others choose to have a natural third stage.

A managed third stage is when the mother is given an injection (usually syntometrin or syntocinon) into her thigh to speed up the delivery of the placenta. The mother won’t have to push as the midwife will usually wait for a contraction and gently pull on the cord, or press the abdomen until the placenta comes out. With this option the placenta comes out very quickly after birth, usually in about ten minutes.

Some mothers prefer a natural third stage, which is when the mother waits for the placenta to dispel by itself. This can be immediate or can sometimes take over an hour. Breastfeeding your baby can help to dispel the placenta because nipple stimulation releases oxytocin, a hormone that helps with uterine contractions.

Once the placenta is out it will be examined to see if it is complete, that all of it has come out and what state it is in. The state of the placenta can tell the medical team a lot about the condition of your baby at birth.

In rare cases the placenta can become trapped and the mother may need an operation to remove it under epidural for pain relief.

The placenta is amazing. It protects, nourishes and provides everything for your growing baby. The placanta will do all it can to protect your baby so if you get a glimpse of the alien-like organ, remember to say thank-you for looking after your little one for all those months.

It has long been proven that smoking is harmful to pregnant women, but nevertheless pregnant smokers are not uncommon. According to statistics 22% of women do not stop smoking during pregnancy.
It even turns out, that smoking before pregnancy may also cause damage.

Smoking threatens the conception
Smoking before pregnancy is also harmful and directly affects the reproductive function of not only women but also men.
In women-smokers often have irregular menstrual cycle, the ability to conceive and the duration of childbearing age is reduced.
In men, sperm production, its morphology and motility, as well as secretion of androgens are changed. Doctors say that smoking decreases the density of sperm and increases the concentration of sperm cells of abnormal shape and structure (“an increase in abnormal sperm morphology”).
Conception + smoking = congenital defects of children
During pregnancy, smoking causes birth defects of children, such as: cleft lip and palate bone, deformity of limbs, polycystic kidney disease, ventricular septal defect, deformation of the skull and so on. And even if the expectant mother stops smoking, the risk of birth of children with defects still remains, because smoking devastatingly affects the conception. So it is better to quit now!
How to quit smoking during pregnancy?
It turns out that nicotine is the chemical and physical dependence of the organism to a greater extent, rather than coffee or marijuana! But after learning about the pregnancy, to quit smoking is vital for your unborn child. During pregnancy, it is better to stop smoking without the use of pills and patches, since they also contain nicotine as in cigarettes. Recently, the most effective way is a book by Allen Kara “Easy Way to Stop Smoking”, letting to giv up smoking through self-correct mental attitude, without resorting to crutches like nicotine gum or patch. 90% read of the readers gave up smoking and did not begin within one year.

Walking

As walking does not require any special skills or special clothing, walking with fairly brisk pace is the best choice for beginners and those who simply do not like sports. Walking improves muscle tone and heart with minimal risk of injury. The main requirement is- to find good, comfortable shoes, which, you may need to change at the second or third trimester, as legs at this time are usually very swollen. Furthermore, in these terms you’ll need to add equipment supportive bra and a special bandage for pregnant women. In the third trimester, there are additional risks for walking: poorly visible road irregularities, because of great belly, besides deteriorating balance. Try to choose the straight road and walk at a slower pace. Watch your breathing (breathlessness is unacceptable) and avoid dehydration (during and after walking, drink non-carbonated mineral water).

Swimming

Swimming is one of the best forms of sports for pregnant women, as the water does not need to make special efforts. In water, body weight decreases six times, and the pressure of water reduces water retention in the body and reduces swelling of hands and feet. Swimming supports the tone of the body with minimal stress on joints, and joints suffer first with the rising weight of the fetus. The main requirement is to come and dive into the water slowly, even during the first weeks of pregnancy. Fast dive, let alone diving, has an undesirable pressure on the abdomen and groin. Try to swim in the calm flat rate, no dives and sharp turns. Aqua aerobics is also useful. But, of course, in order to avoid further infections all trainings should take place in the pool, never in natural waters.

Running
Pregnancy is not the best time for jogging, unless you’re a professional athlete. While running, the heartbeat increases too much and the take off impacts on the fetus. It is better to replace running by fast walking. However, if you occasionally or regularly had run before, during the first and second trimester continued trainings are possible with some reduction in the rate of running. By the third trimester even athletes refuse jogging.

Aerobic
Many women continue the aerobics up to the birth. Nevertheless, experts advise during pregnancy weaken the load and intensity of your workouts, or even better – attend special trainings for pregnant women, especially if you feel pain in the joints. Starting from the second trimester, to avoid injuries and damage, give up jumps and sudden jerks. If you are doing step aerobics, step height should not be above 10 cm. Higher stepped-up aerobics is excluded during pregnancy with hops, jumps, with complicated choreography, high-intensity step-aerobics.

Bicycles

A bicycle does not have a big load on the joints, so you can continue exercises during the entire period of pregnancy. However, starting from the second trimester is better to confine stationary bike instead of a bicycle to avoid injury and falls. It would also somewhat reduce the rate of trainings and avoid fatigue and dehydration.

Yoga
Yoga not only develops flexibility and supports muscle tone, but also well relieves stress. Yoga exercises are aimed for the development of proper breathing techniques and achieving harmony with your body. However, pregnant women should not “overstretch” too much, so don’t do all the exercises in the maximum force. Starting from the second trimester give up leaps and poses, in which you’ll have to lie on your belly or back. Also give up the subsidences back and leanings forward in the third trimester.

Physical exercises during pregnancy are important and useful, this is a common knowledge. But what kind of sport should expectant mothers choose? They shouldn’t go in for sharp sport. So they have to choose among swimming pool, yoga and walking.
When I got pregnant, I wanted to lead a wonderful life – have medical tests, breathe fresh air, drink fresh squeezed juices, and even, oh, finally, go in for sport.
At home I have a juicer, I have already concluded a contract of pregnancy, tests are normal and even sex is allowed. It remains to understand – which kind of sport to choose. Before being pregnant I didn’t even thought about exercises. Once bought a subscription, but after 2 months gave it back, because the sports club attendance has steadily sought to zero. And I hate walking in principle. And I drive a car. Yes, I go everywhere by car. And the shop is around the corner. And I have a mother in law, who every day says: “You have to walk more. I began to tremble and I fumbled to learn special exercises for pregnant. After all, sport is better than walking.
Well, let’s take for example yoga. During pregnancy, the essence of yoga is not limited to the beauty and health, but to the beauty and health of your child – I was explained in this way. There is something logical in this, I decided, and went to trial lesson. You can start this from the second trimester and … … well as you can. It is possible in the prenatal period, I think. In general, those who went to this sport, say that yoga perfectly prepares to childbirth, and has a very positive effect on pregnancy especially breathing exercises.
The next point was to study aqua-aerobics. First, I love swimming in sea. Secondly, I love swimming very much. Classes were somewhat similar to yoga. We breathe and move smoothly, but in water. Besides they promise prevention of swelling, it is to the point as I can not take off my engagement ring in the morning! Here it is pregnancy! Exercises in water are perfect.
To be honest, I became quite lazy and sometimes I even didn’t want to leave home. Traffic jams and wheel presses the stomach, well, you know what I mean. I myself decided to maintain their pregnancy. Breathing exercises are very plain. In general, for each month there are happily different exercises. But all these “slopes” and “circles” for me are very boring. Even at home.

We went to the countryside for the weekend. Nature, fresh air… beauty!
There I went with my husband to the bath … but returning, I wondered, can I go to the bath during pregnancy … and this is what I found out.
Visiting bath doesn’t do any harm to a pregnant woman, on the contrary, it can be very useful. Before visiting you should learn the subtleties of bath art.

Can pregnant go to bath?
Many obstetricians prohibit pregnant women attending bath or sauna. In fact, woman needs going to the bath. Why do people go to bath?
To relax, gain strength and positive emotions, cleanse the soul and body – in short, to have fun.
It seems as if we wash away everything alien, superficial and superfluous.
In the hot atmosphere of the steam room all background information is relegated to the background. Rubbing salt cleans and pores skin. Honey inflicted on the body, nourishes and regenerates the skin. But be careful not to causeallergies! A cool shower or bath after the swimming pool continues the process of revitalizing the body. Hot tea with honey and lemon also helps to remove all unnecessary things. Visiting bath excellently trains respiratory and circulatory system; improves blood supply to the placenta and prevents premature aging. All of this is prevention of intrauterine fetal hypoxia and gestosis of pregnant women, takes a higher tone of the uterus. Most actively responds to the bath circulatory system and detoxification. Under the influence of the steam, skin disease (urticaria, itching) during pregnancy may regress or even disappear. Taking the bath strengthens the immune system, retreating colds, flu, SARS. Pregnant women, who regularly visited the bath during labor, have significantly less pain likely requiring admission antispasmodics and analgesics. This is associated with an increase in the elasticity of the ligamentous device, reduction of excessive muscle tension, the positive influence of baths on the autonomic nervous system and psyche.
Bath is absolutely contraindicated in acute inflammatory diseases with high fever, epilepsy, cancer, coronary heart disease, hypertension, II and III stage. You can not go to the bath with bronchial asthma, after recent surgical interventions, with complicated pregnancies (threat interrupts, placenta previa, high blood pressure).
Before the sauna you should consult with a gynecologist!
What should be remembered when visiting a steam room
The head should always be covered with something. There are special hats.
Do not outstay in the steam room. It is better to go there a few times, than once staying for a long time.

At this period you have to replace some food. For example, milk is a substitute for cheese; instead of meat it is better to eat fish or other seafood, sugar is a substitute for honey. Good honey has healing properties, and that is why it is the best food. It contains important elements necessary for the formation of blood cells, and it can be used to strengthen the nervous system, normalize sleeping, etc. As a bonus, honey helps to prevent constipation. Full meal can be called an egg, because it includes all the necessary components for forming, like a chicken, and man.
Vegetable salads contain essential minerals, so adding them to your diet is essential. To increase the hemoglobin in the blood can help the liver, eat it once a week and get the necessary vitamins for you and your child. Eating nuts is also healthy because they increase the fat content of breast milk.
You can give up some food for the health of your child at this period. Of course, diet during pregnancy and lactation is best to plan with qualified professionals in this field. And do not forget that during this period you may have an allergy to certain foods, for example, on citrus fruits or nuts, so that consultation with the allergist will never be superfluous.Correctly made diet will never harm you and your child. So carefully study your diet at this period.

Each woman will sooner or later wonder at what age it is better to give birth. There are different opinions. Recently a trend has been noticed that women decide to become mothers after 30 years, having received a good education and a career. But, unfortunately, many of them do not know that conceiving after 30 years is much more problematic than at younger ages. This occurs because the supply of eggs from women is reduced, thereby reducing the likelihood of successful conception.
Ovum has its roots in the follicle, where a woman is given a laid still while the girls in the womb. Mortgaging follicles more than 5 million, and by the time of puberty, girls have still only 400 thousand. And just one hundredth of this number of follicles reaches full maturity and ovulates, giving life to the egg. After 35 years the number of follicles in the ovaries of women sharply decreases, and when their numbers fall to 1000, reaches a natural menopause.
Likelihood of pregnancy depends on the ability of the female body to conceive. The greatest chance of conception is for healthy women aged 20-25 years. This is the age scientists consider the best for the child’s birth. After 25 years the possibility of successful conception and reduced to forty years is only 5%. The main reasons for reducing the likelihood of conception is the age, genetic predisposition to premature depletion of ovarian disease ovaries.
Modern science has different methods of determining the reduction of the stock of follicles.
Conception can be made through IVF, but its effectiveness in such cases is about 20%. The second version of the problem – is the use of donor eggs. But such a step is very expensive, not every family is ready, to take a donor egg from a strange woman.
To avoid such problems, you should have children at a young age. A career and education will wait!

Pregnancy is one of the most serious tests in woman’s life, which she must overcome. It is divided into several main phases concerning the important changes in mother and baby.
Due to the fact that science has been noted and recorded major changes in the body of a pregnant woman, you can prepare for these phases in advance without future surprises. All this will benefit prospective parents, as well as help in planning pregnancy. You can prepare your and your child’s body to these changes in advance.
Of course, it is easier to identify and observe the changes taking place with the future mother. But it is much harder to detect any changes in the body of your baby. The calendar of pregnancy for each woman is strictly an individual process. But there are some general phases that occur in the life of every expectant mother.
The very first phase in this process is conception, which occurs during the first four weeks. Conception is the fertilization of female ova with male sperm. This is the starting point of pregnancy. Then within five to eight weeksbaby’s heart starts beating and arms and legs are already formed. Then baby begins to perform some motions. In the womb, this period begins in nine to twelve weeks. At this time the child is still quite tiny, and the mother can not immediately feel these movements. Upon reaching the thirteen-sixteen weeks mother already feels these motions performed by the child. Doctors at this stage can determine the sex of the child. Children even acquire bad habits – they can suck big finger. During the seventeenth to the twentieth week, the doctors can confidently tell you whom you will give birth – a boy or a girl, because at this stage are forming the genitals of the child and hair.
At the next phase of development the child becomes quite capable. Some fat appears which protects him/her against extreme temperatures. This process occurs within 21-24 weeks.
Then the organs of hearing are formed, he/she feels the external noise. This stage occurs at 25-28 weeks of development.
He/she feels the restriction in space and begins to move less, but starts kicking.
At the next phase begins to grow his/her head, he/she already moves eyes, and by the end of 32 weeks all organs except the lungs are formed. At the 33rd week, the child already blinks. And at the 40 th week finally the baby’s lungs are formed. Now he/she waits only for childbirth.
For women and men the calendar of pregnancy is a great opportunity to stay close to their baby throughout all phases of its development. This is an interesting, exciting occupation; the calendar of pregnancy will help them more clearly and properly to conduct themselves in each new stage of development of their baby. Do not throw it; it’s a real remarkable thing that belongs to your child. So it can become your family heirloom. When child grows up and becomes adult, probably he/she will be very interested in seeing his/her life’s path, starting from the source. Yes, and he/she himself/herself will need parent experience, when taking care about his/her children and family.

Finally long, complex process of preparing for pregnancy and carrying your baby will come to its end. Now you have no less difficult and important task – childbirth. For this you are carefully prepared. And soon your child will see the white light.

Deliveries are accompanied by profound emotional and, above all, physical stress. Therefore, future mothers should take most comfortable position, so as not to be distracted by discomfort in the most inopportune moment. Choosing the position, just think that you need to help your baby. Deliveries for him are not easy too. Lie down, sit, recline. Choose a convenient place – bed, couch, maternity chair. Calm down, take it easy. When it starts, keep your back straight. The doctor and obstetrician are always near. They will help you mentally, give the right advice. Most importantly do as they say. Between contractions breathe properly. This will help to calm down, and will also facilitate relaxation of the pelvis, rectum and anus.

At a time when the baby’s head appears in the vagina, you need to calm down. This moment is called discovery. Now it is very important to follow the advice of a doctor. He/she will tell you when you need to push and when to relax. If you do not get nervous, but quietly comply with the physician, you can avoid gaps in vagina. Once the head appears further process will go much easier.

Sometimes, at first birth, or because of incorrect disposition of the child episiotomy happens. The idea is to cut between the vagina and anus. As a result, conditions for easier passage of the head of the child are created. Before doing episiotomy, the doctor must obtain the consent of women. During this anesthesia is done. Fabrics vagina relax and the process becomes easier. After the release of the child, followed by the placenta, the incision is stitched.

The appearance of the head is the most difficult moment, as it is the widest part of the baby. Since its inception, thephysician sees that the umbilical cord is not wound around the neck. Over time he/she cleans the mouth and throat of the child from the liquid. Then the doctor will turn, with contractions, the child’s shoulders so that they open the vagina. The rest of the body slips out itself, under pressure from uterine contractions. And now you will feel an incredible relief. Now your kid screams, letting the world know about his/her appearance. But not everyone starts screaming. Some kids just whine, other just breathe.

Finally, this fairy-tale moment came. You can take your little miracle in your hands. He/she claps eyes and looks at you without understanding what happened. But now he/she feels your care. He/she knows that you can protect him/her. These moments are worth all the difficulties and hardships, through which you had to go. You are still physically inseparable. At the time of cutting umbilical cord, attach the child to your heart. Let him/her feel your breath, and the beat of your heart, your velvet skin, your endless love for him/her. Enjoy this time. You will never forget it. Now you are a mother. Life of this little creature depends on you.

Human body is a well-established system of interaction mechanisms and natural nutrients. Everyone must be considerate to all the processes taking place inside him, and be able to recognize signals that our body sends. After all, if we treat ourselves with care and love, our body responds to us in return.
Conversely, if we do not notice the signals sent by our body, then over time it just stops sending them. And we won’t be able to treat ourselves. Mostly women must think about this when planning a child or when they are already pregnant. Every mother wants a beautiful, healthy and strong baby. If a woman eats properly and fully receives the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals, she can count on a powerful little fellow. If you are planning a child, then you should think about a special pregnancy diet.
Remember that baby gets all the vitamins and minerals necessary for its growth and health from his mother. Woman’s body contains trillion different cells. In order to control their normal functioning pregnant women should constantly receive vitamins and other beneficial substances. This can be done only through well-balanced meal. Do not forget that during pregnancy a woman is experiencing tremendous overload, because her body is working for two.

Every cell in the body carries out its role, so it is important to provide nutrients to each of them. The interaction of these cells, in general, provides a healthy, strong baby.
One of the most important elements is iron. It is present in large quantities in the blood. Above we said that our body is a unique tool of interaction. Therefore, the lack or decrease of one substance in the chain entails a decrease in another. The lack of this element impacts on the overall state of health. When pregnant women have iron deficiencythey will have headache, uterine cramps, etc.
So you see how the lack of one substance leads to serious consequences. Now imagine that there are several substances. If the expectant mother does not want to be exposed to such diseases and harm your child, she should supply the body with vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. Carelessness may entail dire consequences (the loss of the fetus or the birth of weak and sick child).
Expectant mothers should carefully select vitamin supplements, because they are different on the content of the most indispensable substances. Take supplements containing magnesium and vitamin D. In the body, these two substances play a huge role. First, they provide the bones with calcium. Second, calcium and magnesium support to the optimum performance of the muscles. Do not forget that the main muscle is the heart, but it feels more pressure because it works for both. Therefore, the recommended dose of magnesium for pregnant is about 500 mg per day. It is noteworthy that the amount of magnesium is not shown in blood tests. Because it is contained in the cells themselves, and its level in the blood is consistently supported by the bones and the muscles. Woman must ensure adequate consumption of magnesium. However, magnesium can provoke diarrhea, so its use splits throughout the day.
We think these examples are enough to see how the selection of vitamins and minerals is needed for healthy expectant mother and baby.
In this issue there can be little things, so take everything with utmost seriousness and responsibility and your child will be grateful.