Posts Tagged ‘pregnancy problem’
Tips For Getting Pregnant
Posted on: April 6, 2010
Tips on Getting Pregnant
Ditch the pill
The first thing is to forget about contraception. You may notice certain irregularities in your cycle and may take a few months for your cycle to return to normal. But many women are fertile the first month after they stop taking the Pill. The same holds true for the contraceptive patch and ring.
Fuel up on folic acid
Folic acid is a synthetic form of foliate, a B vitamin that can help reduce the risk of serious birth defects that affect the brain and spinal cord. For this reason, the FDA recommends that all women attempting pregnancy take folic acid supplements for decreasing chances of birth defects.
Quit smoking, drinking and drugs now
Smoking or taking drugs greatly diminishes your chances of getting pregnant and can lead to miscarriages, premature birth, and low-birth weight babies. Plus, research suggests that smoking can affect your fertility and lower your partner’s sperm count. In fact, studies have shown that even secondhand smoke may affect your chances of getting pregnant. It is also recommend that women avoid alcohol when trying for pregnancy.
Cut down on Caffeine
Research shows that too much caffeine can reduce your ability to absorb iron and increase your risk for stillbirth. Avoid coffee, tea, and colas or switch to decaf to increase your chances of getting pregnant. If you are a complete caffeine junkie, then the safe limit would be a cup a day. Try switching to a milkshakes which will boost your calcium as well and assist in conception.
Get your weight in check
Healthy weight women have an easier time getting pregnant than overweight or underweight women. Studies show that women whose body mass index (BMI) is below 20 or above 30 have a harder time getting pregnant, so it’s a good idea to try to get yourself into the 20 to 30 range before you start trying.
Timing is Everything
You will have little chance of getting pregnant if you had sex on the wrong days and missed the most fertile ones. Figure out your ovulation days.
Mind Control
Women who suffer from depression are twice as likely to have problems with fertility as women who don’t. Get a mental health check if you notice signs of depression. Also, try stress management techniques, such as yoga and meditation, which research suggests can also help in getting pregnant.
Buy something sexy
Some experts say that if a woman is highly aroused while she’s having sex, the sperm has a better chance of fertilizing her egg. Others say it makes absolutely no difference. It definitely wont hurt and may even help in boosting your libido and killing that awkward feeling of having sex for pregnancy.
Positioning yourself
Many experts suspect that the missionary position (man on top) provides the best opportunity for getting pregnant, though no definitive studies have been done on this question. This position allows for the deepest penetration which deposits sperm closer to the cervix. For additional effectiveness, the woman can try elevating her hips with a pillow so her cervix is exposed to the maximum amount of semen. Other positions could be Rear entry and lying side-by-side. Avoid woman on top, standing, or leaning positions, which discourage the flow of semen to the uterus.
Increase the Odds
Make your vaginal environment as sperm-friendly as possible. Avoid vaginal sprays and scented tampons, artificial lubricants, and douching. Not only can they cause infections, they may wash away cervical mucus or create a hostile environment for the sperm.
If you find that your cervical mucus is not as conducive of getting pregnant as it should be, you may want to try a specific type of lubricant. Pre-Seed lubricant is the sperm friendly choice of many people trying to get pregnant. After intercourse, elevate your hips on a pillow for about fifteen minutes.
For your man
Ask your partner to chuck all briefs and opt for boxers instead for a healthy sperm count. Also, having sex in the morning would help since the semen has the highest number of sperm then.
Finally Getting pregnant isn’t always easy. Very few couples conceive on the first try. In fact, even if everything is absolutely in perfect working order, you only have a 20-25% chance of conception each month. If you are under 30, and haven’t conceived in 12 months, you should make an appointment to see your doctor as there could be some issues at play with are preventing you from getting pregnant. If you are over 35, and haven’t succeeded in getting pregnant in six months, make an appointment to see your doctor, as infertility issues become more prevalent the older you get. If you are over 40, then do not delay in getting medical help.
I hope above tips will make you pregnant successfully. Thank you for visiting this blog.
Heartburn in pregnancy
Posted on: April 4, 2010
Heartburn in pregnancy is actually quite common. Follow these simple tips to help alleviate your symptoms…
During pregnancy, common everyday ailments tend to feel worse, especially during the first and third trimesters. Heartburn is no different. Heartburn is a common ailment, and during pregnancy it tends to surface even more. Most women experience heartburn in pregnancy at some point during their nine-month journey. However, some can be affected worse than others. Fret not — there are things you can do to limit the severity of heartburn during your pregnancy. During the third trimester the baby grows big enough to put pressure on your stomach. This causes the acid in the stomach to reflux. This can be easily avoided, however by avoiding binging and by eating small meals. This will keep acid reflux at bay. Instead of eating three large meals, try to eat five to six smaller meals spread throughout the day.
Your sleeping position can also cause acid to reflux. Sleep with your head and torso elevated to keep the food down in your stomach. Keep yourself comfortable by putting a pillow under your head and your back. Also, try to avoid going to bed within two hours of eating. Wait at least two hours before lying down to give your body some time to digest the food. As a general rule, go to bed two to three hours after you eat to mitigate heartburn in pregnancy. Watching your posture can help prevent heartburn from occurring. Putting pressure on your stomach can cause heartburn in pregnancy. When you sit, do so in an upright position to keep the pressure off your stomach. When you stand or walk, keep your posture erect for the same reason.
A less common way to alleviate heartburn is to wear loose clothing. (Though you probably do this already.) This will also ease the pressure in your stomach. Wearing tight clothing puts unnecessary strain on your stomach and can encourage acid to come up into your esophagus, causing heartburn in pregnancy.
Perhaps the best way to avoid heartburn all together is to stay away from foods that are known to cause heartburn. For obvious reasons, alcohol should be avoided at all costs during pregnancy. Also on the restricted list are chocolate, citrus fruits, tomato-based foods, soft drinks, coffee and acidic juices.
Sipping water throughout your daily activities as opposed to chugging it occasionally can also help. Avoid fried food, food richen fat and vinegar as well. Large quantities of water can actually increase heartburn in pregnancy. By eliminating these foods from your daily diet, you can alleviate the symptoms of heartburn in pregnancy.
A word of warning: This is not going to be a happy-go-lucky type of article. Unfortunately, there is no way to package the reality of pregnancy complications without being a little grim. That said, don’t panic and don’t turn into a hypochondriac. This is just a list of possible, not probable, complications that can happen during the course of a pregnancy. From a medical perspective, most pregnancies proceed fairly uneventfully.
You will likely find that your partner’s OB-GYN is rather ho-hum and relaxed about your pregnancy. That said, you and/or your partner may think otherwise… stretch marks, mood swings and morning sickness can seem pretty eventful to the individuals experiencing them. However, major medical conditions are not the norm. Although you may be inclined to skip this article, the Funky Stork suggests that you at least skim it so that you have some idea of what constitutes a pregnancy complication. Take a deep breath and begin.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes (or high blood sugar during pregnancy) usually develops in the last few months of pregnancy and usually goes away after your baby is born. This is actually a common pregnancy complication, which is why all pregnant women (who are receiving prenatal care) are tested for it around the 28th week of pregnancy. Many women develop it because their bodies cannot produce enough insulin, thereby preventing their bodies from using food properly. Untreated gestational diabetes often results in a very large baby and very difficult birth.
Signs and Symptoms:
– Excessive hunger and/or thirst
– Recurrent vaginal infections
– Increase in blood pressure
– Sugar in the urine (when tested in your practitioner’s office)
By adhering to a good diet, controlling weight gain and getting regular exercise, your partner will be able to reduce the risk of getting gestational diabetes.
Low birth weight
Most low-birth weight cases are preventable. A baby is considered to have a low-birth weight if it weighs less than 5 pounds 8 ounces when it is born. Most cases are caused by poor nutrition, excessive anxiety, inadequate prenatal care and substance use (cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs). It can also be cause by an untreated STD or other contagious disease.
Babies who are born with a low birth weight are more likely to develop respiratory infections, blindness, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy and heart infections.
EARLY MISCARRIAGE
The unfortunate truth is that early miscarriages are very common. It is estimated that 40-65% of pregnancies end in miscarriage in the first trimester, with more than half of these occurring before the woman even knows she is pregnant. Fortunately, most women who have a miscarriage will go on to have a normal pregnancy in the future.
Signs and Symptoms:
– Bleeding
– Cramps or pain in the center of the lower abdomen or back
– Clots or grayish matter may be passed
Most miscarriages are a result of a defect in the embryo or fetus and cannot be prevented. However, medical experts have found that women can reduce their risk of early miscarriage if they avoid alcohol, cigarettes and drugs, and also take a good prenatal vitamin that includes folic acid and other B vitamins.
LATE MISCARRIAGE
Late miscarriages refer to any spontaneous expulsion of the fetus between the 13th and 20th week of pregnancy. After the 20th week, the fetus can live outside the uterus (albeit with intensive medical care) and thus, is called a preterm birth.
Signs and symptoms:
– Pink discharge indicates a threatened miscarriage
– Bleeding and cramping may mean a miscarriage is inevitable
Preterm labor
Labor is considered preterm if it occurs between the 20th and 37th week of pregnancy. There are a number of conditions that may increase the risk of preterm labor, including a weak or incompetent cervix, previous second-trimester abortions or miscarriages and severe kidney or bladder infections.
Signs and Symptoms:
– Low, dull backache
– Menstrual-like and intestinal cramping
– Pressure in the lower abdomen, back or thighs
– Change in vaginal discharge
If your partner is at risk of having preterm labor, her doctor will ask to see her more often and her cervix will be checked at each visit.
Ectopic pregnancy
An ectopic pregnancy is when the fertilized egg implants in an area other than the womb, such as the ovary, abdomen or cervix. However, ectopic pregnancies are more likely to occur in the fallopian tube. And in very rare situations, pregnancy can even occur in both
Signs and Symptoms:
– Sharp pain in abdomen or pelvis
– Vaginal bleeding (occurs in 75% of ectopic pregnancies)
– Dizziness or fainting
Preeclampsia(aka pregnancy-induced hypertension)
This is a fatal condition (for both the mother and baby) that occurs in some women during pregnancy. There is no known cause, but it is suspected that poor nutrition plays an important role. This problem usually develops after the 20th week of pregnancy.
Signs and Symptoms:
– Severe headache
– Stomach pain
– Excessive swelling of the feet and hands
– High blood pressure
– Blurry vision or seeing spots the womb and the tube at the same time (referred to as a heterotopic pregnancy).
Don’t worry, most women with preeclampsia deliver healthy babies. The concern is that, if untreated, the preeclampsia will develop intoeclampsia. Eclampsia results in seizures and is very dangerous for both the mother and baby. However, preeclampsia is often detected early enough to prevent any major problems. Yet another reason to ensure that your partner is getting regular prenatal care.
If your partner is concerned with sudden swelling and the possibility of preeclampsia, she should definitely speak with her prenatal care practitioner.
PlacentaPREVIA
You should know this is not a common pregnancy problem, with only 1 in 250 pregnancies having placenta previa. Without getting too technical, placenta previa occurs when the placenta, which is the organ that nourishes the baby during pregnancy, moves and covers the opening to the uterus (aka cervix). This is problematic because it makes vaginal delivery impossible and a caesarean delivery inevitable.
Signs and Symptoms:
– Painless bleeding during the second and third trimester
– Prematurecontractions
– Uterus measuring larger than it should
The risk of placenta previa increases with the mother’s age and the number of pregnancies she has had in the past.
CHORIOAMNIONITIS
This is an infection of the amniotic fluid and fetal membranes, and is diagnosed in 1-2% of pregnancies. The infection is believed to be a major cause of preterm labor.
Signs and Symptoms:
– Fever
– Increased heart rate in mother and fetus
– Tender or painful uterus
– A foul odor of the amniotic fluid
Since the symptoms of chorioamnionitis may resemble other conditions or medical problems, it is always important to consult a physician for a diagnosis.
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