Archive for the ‘Pregnancy’ Category

You must have noticed a steady swelling of ankles in pregnant women. It can make women highly self-conscious and frustrated. Firstly, know that swollen foot is nothing to worry about health wise unless you count the slight discomfort.

Apart from hormonal changes, it happens because your body generates and holds more water than normal when you’re expecting. And fluids tend to collect in ankles which results in swelling.

Though normal, swollen feet can be easily avoided or alleviated if you take certain precautions.

• Avoid standing for long periods as standing for too long can obstruct proper blood circulation.
• Avoid sitting cross-legged as much as you can.
• Always go for comfortable and strong footwear rather than those with tight straps, heels and shoes that are either loose or tight.
• While sitting, always rest your feet propped up on a stool, or cushions. Resting foot for atleast 30 minutes a day is must. Ideally feet should be kept higher than your heart level as your rest.
• It may be relaxing to apply ice packed in a plastic cover to swollen areas.

Foot exercises can make it flexible & improve blood circulation to and from leg and heart. Here are some foot exercises especially for pregnant women (and others too) that don’t cause much exertion.

• While sitting, curve and stretch your feet up and down- This can be done in office, as you watch TV, as you travel in bus etc.
• Rotate one foot clockwise 10 times and then do it anticlockwise. Do the same with the other foot.

Just as the gradual swelling of feet is normal, sudden swelling warrants expert medical help to make sure that there are no underlying causes. Your gynecologist can monitor this and confirm or rule out any cause for worry.

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Swathed in taboos and limited to closed door discussions, it is hardly surprising how many ridiculous myths about sex are considered bible by most people. This would have been amusing if it weren’t for the serious repercussions. Examples like ‘we needn’t use a condom every time. I’m sure he doesn’t have any STD’ are a bit too familiar to be true.  

Watch some of your assumptions fall to pieces as you read on.

• ‘I will not get pregnant if…

… he withdraws before ejaculation’. This is possibly the worst birth control method. Men cannot always say when ejaculatory fluid comes out. And even the pre-ejaculation fluid containing sperms is all it can take to get you knocked up. As per research, 1 in 5 couples who use this method ends up expecting.

• If I’m not pregnant immediately after intercourse…

… then I probably won’t! Actually, sperms are not as breakable as you imagine. They can remain active and living for 1 week after intercourse. They are probably biding their time to surprise (shock?) with the happy mishap. Some studies have proved that sperm can keep on sperming for as long as 8 days and yet be viable.

• Foods with aphrodisiac properties:

Aphrodite is the Greek Goddess of love. And there have been claims since time immemorial about certain foods that can put you in the mood. Oysters, chocolate, honey, broccoli, berries- the list is endless. There is no scientific evidence to these arguments. But in a way, one can argue for this in a purely psychological perspective.

• ‘I won’t get pregnant if…

… I have sex while having periods’. False! Though a long-standing belief, it is still a myth. While chances are pretty less for a woman to get pregnant during menstruation, it is not impossible. And as mentioned above, sperms can stay active inside you for many days, particularly if your mensus cycle is shorter.

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You are drained physically, emotionally as well as mentally during your pregnancy and delivery. Now, your health front needs to be in the forefront. Along with your newborn, your health also needs your special attention. It is necessary for you to keep hale and hearty as your newborn care can quickly make you drained and exhausted. So, do not miss your share of self-care.

En Route to Fitness

With the newborn, it is obviously difficult to find time for exercise, but you have to make the effort. It is not about getting back to your original shape soon after childbirth, but it is about staying fit as your body needs it. There is absolutely no need for any organized fitness classes; just a few exercises done at home can do wonders.

• Dance a little! The foot taps can tap your fitness.
• Chalk out some time for a small walk. Take your baby on a pram tram ride too in a park while you move your legs a bit.
• Swim away a little from your baby for a swim. You can leave your baby  with his/ her dad for a while and you go for a swim.
• Postnatal exercises are taught in child health clinics. Certainly, attending a class or two will give you a fair idea as to how to go about it.

Eat Right

As you would be breast-feeding your baby, so it becomes even more important for you to eat right. Never skip on the sips of water. Increase dietary calcium with lots of milk and dairy products. Even the temptations of snacking should be met with some healthy options like sliced and salted raw vegetables, vegetable soup, breadsticks, baked beans or scrambled eggs every now and then.

Come Out of Your Shell and Socialize

The more you meet your loved ones, family members, relatives and friends, the more you will feel reassured. Socializing helps! Try to interact with other new mothers who can be some of your friends or relatives, meet them frequently by visiting their houses, plan for outings together if possible. Getting to see the same pediatrician or exercising at the same dance class will further motivate you to keep fit and to stay healthy without affecting your bond with your newborn.

How has the phase of new motherhood added fun and excitement to your life?

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Pregnancy and childbirth, though one of the most precious experiences of life, leaves behind its not-so-pretty imprints on a woman’s body. Simply speaking, stretch marks are formed when the skin stretches during pregnancy as the fetus grows in size and mostly surfaces out in the 3rd trimester.

Stretching creepily around the areas of belly, breasts, hips, thighs, abdomen, arms, buttocks and even back, its hard to stop them from appearing. Initially the color may be reddish or purplish, but gradually these marks turn white. Though you cannot eliminate them from appearing, but you can certainly reduce their potency by following some simple tips.

Simple Ways to Keep Stretch Marks a Stretch Away

Are you fearful of ugly stretch marks as the byproduct of your pregnancy?

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The onset of a new life growing inside you is the time of rejoice, but are you really sure of your pregnancy? The indicators can sometimes be misleading. So, it is always necessary to go for a sure-shot pregnancy test. However, going to the doctor for a pregnancy test every time you miss a period or have vomiting and nausea is not practical. Instead, you can do the urine pregnancy test at home using the test-kits that are easily available over-the-counter.

When is the right time to go for a pregnancy test?

The infamous couple of weeks wait can be really frustrating.. The question thus arises, why wait! Check for signs, if you…

Pregnancy test at home!

If you’re wondering, ‘How to do a pregnancy test at home?’ or ‘When should I test if I am pregnant?’ and ‘What happens next?’ It’s a easy daily chemistry help in knowing if the woman is actually pregnant or not.

• When to test? At least 20 days after the previous menses or after missing a period.

• What to test? Your urine! You are actually testing for the HCG hormone, which appears in a pregnant woman’s urine after 20 days of last period.

• What time of the day is best for testing? Try to test it with the first urine in the morning to get the most accurate result.

• How to test? Pregnancy Test Kits are available at pharmacies, OTC (over-the counter) and are highly reliable. Although the pregnancy test can be done any at time, do it as soon as you get out of bed. Avoid too much water or fluids before the test for BEST results.

For example: Display of results varies in different types of pregnancy test kits.  In most of the PTK (Pregnancy Test Kit) it is displayed by colour line or bands, where in appearance of two bands show positive result and a single band display negative result.  In some of the PTKs, (+) plus means positive and (-) minus means negative signs show results while in others change in colour of urine sample is the deciding factor.

Very rarely the results can be falsely positive, but there are slight chances of its occurrence. This happens in cases where you are on certain drugs that include HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) shots. In such conditions, you must repeat the test after 72 hours. On the second thought, you should go and check with your gynecologist and ask for a blood pregnancy test to confirm a pregnancy.

What’s the good news?

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Pregnancy, a fantastic phase of womanhood, can be a tad worrisome due to fears and concerns over possible miscarriage. Statistics are not exactly comforting either, which says 1 in every 5 pregnancies ends up in miscarriage. Although miscarriages cannot be prevented, avoiding the known risks can increase chances of a safe and healthy pregnancy. The moment pregnancy is confirmed, a woman begins to get the ‘fragile’-treatment loaded with myths & restrictions, especially when it comes to the connection of certain foods with miscarriage.

For a country with as myriad a food culture as India, it is hardly surprising to have faulty but deep-ingrained myths surrounding what-to-eat & what-not-to-eat during pregnancy. Some of you must have heard nannies & ‘experienced’ moms telling the to-be-moms to stay away from fruits like pineapples, mangoes, papayas etc. Apparently these fruits can lead to miscarriage. No scientific reason, but still a widely perceived myth!

Why are the advisors eager to put plenty of distance between a pregnant woman & sesame seeds? This too is due to fear of miscarriage. They say Sesame seeds with its increased ‘heat’ can harm a baby. What they forget or rather underestimate is the power of woman’s uterus.

Pregnant ladies are often advised to take iron tablets, but they are reluctant to do so. Here’s the hilarious reason for that. Iron tablets will make baby dark! Ladies, genes and the amount of melanin decide your baby’s skin color, not the food you eat. Please don’t be anemic due to a myth.

Most untimely pregnancy losses & abortions occur as a result of genetics reasons and cannot be avoided mostly. But miscarrying once does not always mean that something is wrong with your health or that you cannot have any more kids. Nevertheless, periodic baby losses may be a sign of problems that require your immediate attention & medical help.

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First of all, hearty congratulations!

Being pregnant is a thrilling experience and having a baby born out of your own flesh is the most miraculous thing that can ever happen. But it can also become quite overwhelming. Pregnancy is a time of uncertainty with all sorts of questions arising in your mind. Plenty of info and facts are swimming around to get into your head. It might seem like all and sundry has an advice or opinion about you and your baby. The best way to keep away from confusions, contradictions, myths and information-overload is to educate yourself from reliable sources.

If you are healthy during pregnancy and afterwards too, then that will be an icing on the cake for you, your child and your spouse. After all, you can take care of your family only when you are healthy yourself. So, if your urine pregnancy test comes positive or if you are planning to be pregnant, then, certainly there are things that you must keep in the back of your mind.

Healthy Eating for To-be-moms

For a healthy pregnancy, you need to eat a balanced diet which must include foods from a variety of sources including vegetables, fruits, whole grain foods, milk & dairy products, meat, as well as fish. Have a fruit along with a fistful of dryfruits within 10 minutes of waking up & before going for your morning walk. Enjoy a nutritious breakfast after an hour. You’ll feel great!

On an average, 5-6 servings in a day are sufficient. In between your meals, grab a fruit or yogurt or even a glass of milk to supplement your diet with necessary nutrients and most importantly, calcium.

How to Relieve Nausea, Vomiting, Heartburn and Constipation Symptoms

Some More Health Tips during Pregnancy

• You must abstain completely from smoking and drinking all through your pregnancy, as there is no safe amount and also no safe time to smoke or drink alcohol.
• Try to be regular with some physical activity throughout your pregnancy period as it helps to improve your mood-swings, facilitates proper weight gain, reduces stress, promotes sound sleep, increases muscle tone, builds stamina for forthcoming labour and delivery.
• Create a healthy and pleasant atmosphere as being a happy mother guarantees for a healthy baby.

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Aching of the back-bone of the ‘back-bone of society’, the women, is a common phenomenon. But the worst hit arena is that of the working women. Imagining a daily schedule of a work-to-home mum explains how hard it is for a lady to cope with her responsibilities. Switching roles from being a mother taking care of her children, a wife looking after her spouse, a daughter attending to her parents, and being a professional leaves little time and attention for her own personal health.

Women know too well about being a bouncy tennis ball being whacked from home to office and vice versa. And it blurs away the personal front out in the ‘no-attention’ cloud, welcoming the mist of ailments into her body, which can turn chronic if remain unattended on a prolonged basis.

Most working women tend to face problems managing their daily schedules. Some common needs of working women start right from pregnancy, which will become even more demanding with the arrival of a child.

Common problems of a working woman:

However, all this does not mean that women should completely give up their career after childbirth, but this surely calls for a proper time-management.

Flexible Work Arrangements Can Be Helpful

A good way to help women cater to their needs is to make their work arrangements flexible. A flexibility brought into the working schedules can help them manage, both office and home with efficiency. A discussion with the HR about negotiation in terms of salary for reduced work effort. Is shifting your house to nearby office location possible for you?

Flexible working hours help a woman decide upon her daily priorities and to take time out for herself too. Getting a little time-off for doing yoga and meditation will be immensely helpful in rejuvenating the expected compromised health during pregnancy.

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Just as the motherhood has come natural to you, so will be the urge to breast-feed your baby. Don’t let it go! Stick on to it. Some babies might find it difficult to latch, but your patience and sweet persuasion will help your child learn to latch quickly. When breastfeeding becomes a part of your routine, your baby will also get used to it and cherish it more than anything else. Your baby’s taste buds will recognize your milk - give him/her the feast of breast-feed every few hours, but on demand!

Breastfeeding Is Easier Than You Think!

Feed it right, with a little insight – breastfeeding is easier and more convenient than you might assume. The best part about breastfeeding that it is the natural way of nourishing your child, and that too, without a cost. Feeding the baby with your milk is not just helpful in its growth, but it also boosts up your health too. Worried about your figure? Don’t want to layer up your bones with an extra layer of fat? Breastfeeding helps to shape you up in long run. When you breast-feed your baby with your milk, it helps you maintain your physical health, improve your cosmetic appearance, and strengthens the emotional bond between you and your baby giving you immense pleasure and satisfaction.

Benefits for Mother

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Summer care regime for babies can be a real challenge. Tiny tots are always on the move and get dehydrated so easily that constant fluid intake is a must. Summer woes can be more than heat; power cuts, rising mercury, mosquitoes and water shortage closely follow the list.

Summer care for your wonderful busy bee...

During summer, two or three bathes a day should be the norm rather than the exception. Attacks of heatstroke can be foiled only by regular baths, constant hydration, full sleeved clothing and umbrellas when going out. It is time to pack away your baby’s frills, synthetics and silks, and adopt cool cotton clothes. Let light-coloured, long sleeved and loose clothes with a sunhat be the summer fashion statement for tots this year.

Unlike you and me, a baby’s body does not take kindly to sudden changes. Taking a bath or having chilled fluids immediately after an outdoor trip, having overtly chilled fluids on a particularly hot day etc are a few of the common instances. This is as good as inviting fever, cold, throat or chest congestion. Summer care skin creams will ensure nourishment, hydration and health for skin and keep away rashes and blisters. Splashing around in a play pool is absolute bliss for tiny tots. But ensure that water does not enter their ears and always supervise babies in splash pools. No matter how big or small the pool is, there are always chances of accidents in unsupervised pool activities.

Outdoor activities increase during summer; hence it is best to schedule excursions before 9 am or after 5 pm, if possible. If you have to get out seek shade – carry an umbrella, get under a tree or canopy. Sunscreen application should be avoided for babies less than 6 months old. For older babies some sunscreen can be used but ask your doctor first. For prickly heat use a baby powder or emollients that will tackle rashes and in case of sunburn please consult your doctor.

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