Pregnancy Yoga

Pregnancy Yoga

Pregnancy yoga is one of the best exercises Yoga can help you do more than just prepare your body for the strenuous labor and delivery process it can help you prepare your mind Yoga is a terrific way to get to know your body and to improve your posture which is particularly important as your pregnant body begins to feel like it belongs to someone else Yoga opens the chest and pelvis improves circulation and reduces the body tension that may be leading to that run down tired feeling so many pregnant women suffer from More importantly yoga can help you with your breathing Proper breathing reenergizes the body relieves tension and helps ensure your baby gets the nutrients and oxygen he needs for proper development Some women have even reported that pregnancy yoga has helped them better manage the symptoms of Morning Sickness Doing yoga is all about comfort and the release All you need for a good pregnancy yoga workout is comfortable clothes and a mat The mat acts as padding between you and the floor and it prevents your hands and feet from slipping Other optional items you may want are a blanket blocks or a strap The blanket can be used as additional padding and to help you get into certain poses while still remaining comfortable It is best to use a black that is not slippery such as a wool or thermal blanket The blocks and strap are used to deepen stretches and bridge gaps that may occur because your pregnancy has limited your flexibility

1. Avoid overexertion
2. Avoid over stretching the abdomen
3. During the second and third semester avoid doing exercises that require you lay flat on your back as this can cut off circulation to the uterus
4. Use a nonskid mat Pregnant women tend to experience balance problems and should take extra precaution not to get off balance while doing the poses
5. Avoid poses that put pressure on the abdomen
6. Avoid pushing yourself to get into difficult poses

Exercise during pregnancy is very important For the most part you should be able to continue your exercise regimen Walking swimming and biking are considered extremely safe to continue until your birth If you havent been exercising ask your care provider for exercise tips

Pregnant women should avoid high impact exercises especially later in their pregnancy You will also want to make sure you drink plenty of water wear layers of clothing to prevent overheating and never exercise to the point of exhaustion If you get lightheaded or short of breath you should stop exercising immediately If you notice contractions chest pain vaginal bleeding nauseua or vomiting you should contact your care provider

You may want to consider taking a pregnancy yoga class Pregnancy yoga helps keep you healthy during your pregnancy while preparing your body for childbirth

Pregnancy Weight Gain

Pregnancy Weight Gain

PregnancyEvery woman knows about pregnancy weight gain But it may surprise you to learn how much weight you should gain what the best diet is how to go about gaining weight and when you should gain the majority of your pregnancy weight You should gain 3035 pounds during your entire pregnancy If you are overweight experts want you to gain 2530 pounds If you underweight you will want to gain 3540 pounds If you are carrying multiples you will want to gain about 510 extra pounds for each baby youre carrying if you carry them to term The majority of pregnancy weight gain will be gained during the second and third trimester

Do not eat as if you were eating for two If you really want to eat for two pretend that one of the two is tiny creature that doesnt actually need much sustenance from you
You should be eating about 2 3002 400 calories a day in the second and third trimesters This is not a huge increase over what you should be eating prepregnancy
You should be getting gaining your pregnancy weight slowly

1. 6 to 11 servings of grain products
2. 4 to 6 servings of milk and milk products
3. 3 to 5 servings of vegetables
4. 3 to 4 servings of lean meat and proteins
5. 2 to 4 servings of fruits

You should also be taking a prenatal vitamin to assist with your iron calcium and folic acid needs
Drink at least eight glasses of healthy fluids a day primarily water Healthy fluids include decaffeinated tea milk and some juices If you drink juice watch the sugar content
You need to be eating plenty of fruits and vegetables Make fruits and vegetables easier to eat Nibble on carrots at your desk with a lowfat veggie dip Cut up fruits and vegetables and keep them in a bowl in your refrigerator for a quick snack Munch on dried fruit when you are shopping or stuck in traffic
If youre not eating whole wheat switch your bread from white to whole wheat You can also eat brown rice rather than white and wheat pasta
There are some things you shouldnt eat or ingest during pregnancy primarily alcohol caffeine tobacco products and recreational drugs There are also some food items you should avoid for the health of you and your baby
However if you are worried about pregnancy weight gain consider the following tips
Decrease your sweets intake If you have to have ice cream consider mixing it with fruit or eating a sweeter cereal with milk
Decrease your fast food intake If fast foods are a necessary evil try to choose items like grilled chicken sandwiches salads or fruit
Decrease your junk food intake Try to eat fewer chips crackers cookies and other items Replace them with fruits and vegetables
Pregnancy Exercise
PregnancyDuring pregnancy exercise is very important Labor is enhanced if you are physiclly fit It is important you prepare for labor during your pregnancy by setting up a regular exercise routine Some research studies have shown women who exercise regularly spend less time in labor Pregnancy exercise improves circulation stamina and balance

Premature Birth

Premature Birth

Premature births are those babies that are born less than 37 weeks along According to the March of Dimes about 12 percent of babies in the United States are born preterm Approximately 84 percent are born between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation Roughly 10 percent are born between 28 and 31 weeks and about 6 percent are born at less than 28 weeks of gestation Prematurity is the leading cause of death in newborns during the first month of lifeThere are many risk factors that may help explain why women go into labor early However nearly half of all premature births occur for unknown reasons

Here are some factors that can put you at risk

1. Delivering a previous premature baby
2. Having an infection such as a urinary tract infection beta strep STD or bladder infection
3. Having uterine or cervical complications
4. Being younger than 17 or older than 35
5. Being AfricanAmerican and or economically poor
6. Receiving late or no prenatal care
7. Smoking drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs
8. Being a victim of domestic violence or having little or no social support
9. Being stressed
10. Working long hours or performing a job that requires long periods of standing or walking
11. Being obese or underweight before your pregnancy
12. Carrying multiple babies or carrying a baby with a certain type of birth defect
13. Being diagnosed with high blood pressure or clotting disorders
14. Undergoing in vitro fertilization
15. Waiting a short amount of time between pregnancies less than 69 months

You also may also be induced before your baby is at fullterm if your health or your babys health is in jeopardy Health complications that may require an early induction include

1. Preeclampsia
2. Pregnancyinduced hypertension
3. Maternal diabetes
4. Heart disease
5. Placental abruption when the placenta detaches early from the uterine wall

Your care provider will try very hard to stop preterm labor However if your membranes rupture he she may have no choice but to deliver your baby It is vital if you are going into preterm labor that it is caught quickly If you experience any labor symptoms before 37 weeks you need to contact your care provider immediately If your cervix is dilating or you are having real contractions and not Braxton Hick contractions your care provider may put you on bed rest This can mean anything from not being allowed to get out of bed to being able to move around your house and sit up in bed or on the couch Your care provider may also use certain medicines to halt labor Terbutaline is used to relax the uterus Terbutaline may be given to you as a shot when if you come into the hospital You can also take in pill form every couple of hours in your home If labor does not stop your doctor may give you magnesium sulfate through an IV Magnesium sulfate will relax all of your muscles You will be required to stay in bed be on a fetal monitor and have your blood pressure monitored There is a great deal of debate about the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate If labor cannot be halted your doctor may give you corticosteroids to help mature your babys lungs You can find more information about the complications of prematurity at March of Dimes Respiratory Distress Syndrome RDS is a breathing difficultly many babies born before 34 weeks have Babies with RDS may need additional oxygen and mechanical breathing assistance to help them breathe The sickest or most premature babies may need a respirator
Jaundice happens when preemies livers are too immature to process a waste called bilrubin Though fullterm babies may become slightly jaundiced premature babies are more sensitive to the effects of excess bilrubin Too much bilirubin can cause brain damage though with medical technology this is usually prevented
Apnea occurs when babies stop breathing for 20 seconds or more It may be accompanied by a slow heart rate Preemies are constantly monitored for apnea If your baby stops breathing in the NICU the nurse will stimulate your baby to help him her start breathing again One of the monitors your baby may be attached to in the NICU checks for apnea Intraventricular hemorrhage IVH is bleeding in the brain and occurs in the most premature babies While IVH can cause brain damage many brain bleeds resolve themselves with no or few long term complications
Patent ductus arteriosus PDA is a heart problem fairly common in premature babies A large artery in the heart called the ductus arteriosus may not develop properly It can lead to heart failure and lack of oxygen to the organs
Retinopathy of prematurity ROP is an abnormal growth of blood vessels in the eye It can cause damage to the retina of the eye vision loss or blindness
Preemies are often are anemic which means they do not have enough red blood cells Anemic babies may develop feeding problems and can have exacerbated heart or breathing difficulties
Premature babies are more prone to infections and viruses Preemies are more likely to contract pneumonia sepsis and meningitis

High Risk Pregnancy

High Risk Pregnancy

PregnancyUp to ten percent of all pregnancies are considered high risk pregnancies In other words the health of the mother or child may be at risked due to any number of factors Among the factors that may qualify a pregnancy as high risk are

1. Blood disorders
2. Diabetes
3. Kidney Disease
4. Preelcampsia and eclampsia
5. Clotting disorders
6. Placenta problems
7. Preterm labor
8. Multiple fetuses
9. Mother is over 35yearsold
10. High blood pressure
11. Fetus abnormalities
12. Mother who smokes

The most common among these qualifying factors are hypertension and pregnancy induced hypertension also called in preeclampsia eclampsia gestational diabetes infections preterm labor and birth and blood clots Preeclampsia and eclampsia are conditions in which the mother develops high blood pressure excessive swelling and high amounts of protein in the urine Hyptertension can exist before pregnancy and women are usually on medications to keep their blood pressure in a normal range PIH develops later in the pregnancy and did not exist before the pregnancy developed Your OB provider will watch your blood pressure and excessive weight gain during pregnancy You can help avoid these problems through a healhty high protein and high fiber diet drinking lots of water and decreasing stress during your pregnacy If these conditions develop and get serious your OB provider might will encourage you to have your baby early Once you have your baby these conditions usually go away If PIH diagnosed many women are put on bed rest until their expected birthing dates In more severe cases a early birth might be recommended to assure the safety of both the mother and child

Gestational diabetes GDM is another condition that can develop during pregnancy Increased sugar levels in the blood and excessive insulin can result in very large babies and higher blood sugar levels Women who are at higher risk of developing GDM include At risk would be Women who develop gestational diabetes during previous pregnancies or Women who weigh over 200 Women who have had 9 babies Women with PCOS Women with a family history of diabetes

Over 50 percent of women who have GDM can develop diabetes later in their pregnancy and need to be tested after their babies birth for Type II Diabetes Careful attention to diet and exercise can help prevent the development of Type II Diabetes

Common infections such as a cold may not present any significant risk to a pregnant woman or her fetus but other infections such as Parvo B19 CMV and toxoplasmosis can affect the development of the fetus and give you a high risk pregnancy This is why it is important for pregnant women to avoid the following

1. Eating raw meat or fish
2. Drinking unpasteurized drinks
3. Eating soft unpasteurized cheeses
4. Changing cat litter
5. Gardening without gloves
6. Respiratory infections
7. Blood Clots

Blood clots during pregnancy can create lifethreatening conditions for both the mother and fetus Blood clots move through blood vessels and can end up in the lungs If this happens the life of both mother and the fetus can be endangered Family or personal history can be indicators of a womans chance of a highrisk pregnancy due to blood clotting issues Symptoms of blood clotting problems include pain or swelling in the legs shortness of breath or chest pains

Preterm labor is when your baby is trying to be born before it has completed its development A baby born before 37 weeks is considered preterm Lung maturity is a major concern with a preterm birth but feeding problems and neurological problems can develop if a baby is born too early There are many things you can do to prevent preterm birth Cutting back on your activities decreasing stress eating a healthy diet avoding smoking infections and other risky behaviors There are screening tools that can detect possible preterm birth that your OB provider might suggest There are also medications and treatments that can help prevent preterm birth

The best way to determine if your pregnancy is high risk is to schedule an appointment with your OB provider Your medical provider will ask questions about your personal and family history and run a series of tests over the course of your pregnancy to ensure you and your baby have the best possible chance at a healthy birth Remember conditions creating a high risk pregnancy can develop any time over the course of your pregnancy Follow up visits with your health care provider are essential to making sure you and your child remain healthy If you receive a high risk diagnosis this does not necessarily mean you will lose your baby or the baby will be born with health problems More than ninety percent of all high risk pregnancies result in the birth of healthy children What a high risk pregnancy diagnosis does means it is even more important that you adhere to the advice of your OB provider and adhere to a schedule of regular obstetric exams throughout your entire pregnancy The precautions you take today may mean a world of difference

Miscarriage

Miscarriage

No one likes to think about something going wrong during a pregnancy but a miscarriage can occur A miscarriage is defined as a pregnancy that ends spontaneously prior to 20 weeks After 20 weeks a baby that dies is referred to as a stillbirth As many as 50 percent of all pregnancies may end in miscarriage It is hard to determine this statistic and many pregnancy losses occur before a woman realizes she is pregnant Most of these pregnancies end in a fetal death within the first 13 weeks for pregnancy A miscarriage can happen for a number of reasons The most common cause is chromosomal problems or genetic abnormalities In these cases during or soon after conception the fetus fails to develop properly Up to 50% of all early fetal deaths can be linked back to this cause
Other common causes include
1. Diabetes
2. Uterus abnormalities
3. A blow to the stomach
4. Caffeine exceeding 300 mg per day
5. Ectopic or tubal pregnancy meaning a pregnancy in which the fertilized egg is implanted someplace other than the uterus
6. Poor nourishment at conception or during pregnancy
7. Fibroids
8. Placenta problems
9. Poor maternal immune system or elevated hormone levels during pregnancy
10. Environmental pollution
11. Alcohol cigarette or recreational drug use

The symptoms of a miscarriage might include spotting which can lead to heavy vaginal bleeding cramps similar to those experienced during a menstrual period and severe abdominal pain Remember Early Pregnancy Symptoms include light spotting during the first few weeks of pregnancy This type of spotting is no reason for concern but if bleeding increases to the point of soaking a sanitary napkin there may be reason for concern Often they start out as small amounts of bleeding or vague abdominal pains that might then become more intense
Most women who experience an early miscarriage require no treatment You will experience what appears to be a heavy period as the uterus expels its contents However if heavy bleeding continues or an infection is indicated a physician may recommend a D C to remove any tissue from the uterus that it does not naturally expel Once it is determined that a pregnancy isnt growing your health care provider will discuss options with you If this is the first miscarriage a woman has experienced chances are your OB provider will not require any follow up treatments however if this is not the first more tests might be suggested such as an ultrasound of the uterus hysteroscopy or an endometrial biopsy.Physically it takes up to a month for a womans body to recover after a fetal loss OB providers typically recommend waiting until after she has experienced one normal menstrual cycle before attempting to get pregnant again Mentally it may take much longer before a woman feels ready to try again Mourning the loss and concerns over subsequent problems can be overwhelming Losing an unborn baby can wreak havoc on your emotional state You may need to go through a grieving process which is natural Some parents choose to plant a tree or bush in memory of their loss You should take your time as you try to heal emotionally It may help if you seek counseling