While pregnancy can be a beautiful time in your life, it can also bring about pains and aches you did not anticipate. You may find it is less pleasant than you imagined and more strenuous on your body than you thought. While that is all perfectly normal (especially if you are one of the first of your friends to be pregnant), it does not make it easier or helps lessen the discomforts you need to deal with.

To sooth common pregnancy pains and discomforts, start with making sure you drink plenty of water, eat healthy and sleep (or at least rest) when you can. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference these simple, yet powerful elements can make! So don’t take it lightly when your doctor tells you that your fluid intake needs to go up or that you need to rest.

What you eat can affect how you feel when you are not pregnant, so it stands to reason that when you are, it can affect how you feel that much more. Not to mention the affects your nutrition has on your baby, its health and development, and your health, which is crucial to your baby’s.

Taking your prenatal vitamins can make a difference in how you feel, and how much energy you have. Make sure your prenatal vitamins include folic acid and iron, which are important for both you and your baby. If you are feeling extra exhausted all the time, these can help you get your second wind.

Exercising can make wanders to your body, especially when pregnant. Swimming can help with your back aches, and walking can give you that extra bust of energy and so desperately need. Pregnancy yoga can help with your discomforts as well. Speak to your OBGYN about exercising during your pregnancy and to a trainer to see what you can do (as well as what you should avoid) while pregnant.

Whatever pregnancy discomfort you are suffering from, speak to your doctor about and ask for solutions, and speak to friends who have been through a pregnancy to see what they did to get over their pains and aches. While not all remedies work for every woman, remember it is temporary discomfort that will pass shortly after childbirth.

Stay strong!

Miscarriage is the loss of a fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy. A pregnancy loss after the 20th week is referred to as preterm delivery. About 10-25% of pregnancies will end up in a miscarriage, which usually happens in the first 13 weeks of the pregnancy.

There are different types and reasons for a miscarriage, and it is always helpful to have the knowledge if you experience a miscarriage, or worry about the possibility of miscarrying. It is always best to consult your healthcare provider if you have any concerns or questions.

While in most cases the cause for miscarrying cannot be pinpointed, there are different causes that can lead to a pregnancy loss. The most common cause for miscarrying is chromosomal abnormalities. Other causes include: maternal age (a pregnancy over the age of 35 is considered high risk automatically because of the mother’s age), maternal trauma, improper implantation of the egg into the uterine lining, hormonal problems, infections, maternal health problems, and lifestyle (smoking, drug use, malnutrition, excessive caffeine and exposure to radiation or toxic substances can all lead to miscarriage).

When experiencing a loss of pregnancy, symptoms can include lower back pain, dull or sharp abdominal pain, or cramping and vaginal bleeding.

If you have miscarried, the tissue passed from the vagina should be examined to determine if it was a normal placenta or a hydatidiform mole. Also, you need to be checked to determine whether any pregnancy tissue remains in the uterus. If any pregnancy tissue is still present in the uterus, you will be watched up to two weeks, and surgery or medication may be required.

Menstrual period usually resumes within a few weeks after a miscarriage. Talk to your OBGYN about pregnancy after a miscarriage, and learn the facts. Most healthcare providers will suggest waiting at least one menstrual period before trying to conceive again.

While you are growing your little bundle of joy inside you, it is normal to fear for his / her healthy development. While it may seem you have no control over it from the outside, there actually are ways you can care for your unborn child even during pregnancy.

To give your fetus the best chances of a healthy life, avoid smoking and second hand smoking, avoid alcohol consumption, make sure to take your prenatal vitamins, stay away from amusement park rides and well as riding bicycles, minimize your caffeine intake, eat healthy and get plenty of fluid and rest.

Many women are concerned about their dietary habits. Which foods are safe during pregnancy and which foods should be avoided, is caffeine consumption safe and how much is too much, which types of cheese should be avoided, how done the egg is, what really is in  salad dressing and will it harm the baby and so on. Try not to over obsess about what you eat and drink. The important things to stay away from are raw meat, seafood, unpasteurized milk or cheese and alcohol. Other things, even caffeine, are still allowed during pregnancy, but in moderation.

If you are used to sleeping on your belly, you may be concerned about whether or not it is safe to continue laying on your belly, and when you should avoid it. You’ll be relieved to know that during early stages of the pregnancy it is perfectly safe to lay on your stomach. When your belly grows it will become uncomfortable for you to lay in that position anyways. In other words, our body is certainly designed to care for the baby during pregnancy.

Miscarriage is a fear of many pregnant women, but don’t let it take over. Instead, take the time to learn the facts. About 15% of all pregnancies end is a miscarriage. Most pregnancy losses occur during the first trimester. The risk of a miscarriage is dramatically lower after the 12^th week of pregnancy.

Though about 12% of pregnancies end in Preterm labor, most of them occur to women with high risk pregnancy, who are aware of the possibility and their doctor both knows about it and is ready for it (as much as possible). Most cases of preterm labor occur when there is a pregnancy with multiple babies, there is a history of preterm labor, and other known complications. Though there are cases of women who deliver prematurely without warning. All you can do is try to stay calm, and be ready to head to the hospital when needed.

“Am I fit to be a mom?” is a very common concern during pregnancy. The up side is that if you are concerned, it also means you care, which is a fantastic start. You could be a natural or you may take a little while to get used to your new role as a mom and all that comes with it. If you are worried, sign up for parenting classes (those are usually offered

During pregnancy and while breastfeeding you have a one time opportunity to make a positive contribution to your baby’s development. The baby is completely dependent on what his mother is eating, since she is his only source of nutrition. But does she consume those important nutrients for baby’s development?

In this day and age, many people suffer significant deficiencies in key nutrients such as iron, folic acid, iodine and acid-rich omega-3 DHA. Those deficiencies are especially significant during pregnancy, because of their critical impact on the healthy development of the fetus.

It is recommended to start taking folic acid when you are trying to conceive through your pregnancy. Taking folic acid is proven to reduce the risk of developing abnormalities in the nervous system and the brain, due to the critical role of the acid in distribution and new construction of cells.

The recommended dose is a minimum of 400 mcg. Most prenatal vitamin pills contain higher doses, which are great for your body during pregnancy.

Omega-3 fatty acid. 60% of brain weight is fat. The process of brain development during fetal time and the first year of life (when the brain is built rapidly) require adequate levels of omega 3 fatty acids. Sufficient consumption of omega 3 during embryonic period and first year of life may affect the child even in later life.

The fetus doesn’t produce omega-3 fatty acids for itself, and is completely dependent on the mother’s diet. Fatty acid DHA passes through the placenta and goes directly to the brain tissue and retina of the fetus.

The best dietary source for Omega 3 DHA is fish. Consumption of two servings of fish, such as salmon, herring and mackerel, a week provides the appropriate level of Omega 3.

Iron is an essential element for proper development of the fetus in the womb. Since mother’s levels of iron are the source of iron for baby, the natural and simplest way to enable a continuous supply of iron and normal embryo is to prevent iron deficiency in the mother.

The highest amounts of iron consumed by the embryo are used to construct the fetal hemoglobin. Iron atoms have an important role in the development of the fetal central nervous system, since many enzymes active in the metabolic processes in the brain contain iron atoms. The brain is the organ with the fastest growth rate in the fetus, and the supply of iron through the blood barrier – brain is continuous and productivity is high.

A deficiency in iron intake and the developing fetus brain may cause permanent damage to the central nervous system, including a negative cognitive impact manifested in potential intellect and behavior disorders in childhood.

Pregnant women are likely to suffer iron deficiency if not carful. anemia caused by iron deficiency, affects the growing fetus and the mother and can harm the supply of oxygen, and even cause premature birth or premature baby.

Iodine is essential for the creation of hormone binding globulin produced by the thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). The thyroid hormone has a significant role during pregnancy and lack of iodine can lead to lack of activity in the hypothyroidism, which may cause miscarriage.

The fetus begins to produce this hormone only in the second half of pregnancy, until which point he is completely dependent on his mother for thyroxine. Many studies have shown that the sub – hypothyroidism and iodine deficiency can cause irreversible brain damage, attention deficit disorder, a decrease in IQ and in extreme cases, mental retardation.

Iodine-rich foods are fish, shellfish and seaweed. Another option for dealing with lack of iodine is taking supplements that contain it. The recommended dose of iodine supplements in recent years raised by the WHO from 150 mcg to -250-200 mcg. Added iodine intake can be achieved through Prenatal Nutrients (make sure the dose is in accordance with the updated recommendation).

Prenatal Nutrients is a general name for a multivitamin that contains a variety of elements that are essential during pregnancy for proper development of the fetus. The elements iron, iodine and folic acid mentioned above are Prenatal Nutrients, as well as vitamin D and calcium. These are the main components of Prenatal Nutrients vitamins, check their dose before buying.

Recent studies show that Prenatal Nutrients taken prior to and during pregnancy may help prevent complications such as low birth weight, Premature birth and birth defects.

Keep in mind that everything stated here does not diminish the importance of proper nutrition during pregnancy. Dietary supplements are important, but they are no substitute for a balanced diet, regular exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

When pregnant, you may be concerned about weight gain. On one hand, you may fear that ‘eating for two’ will lead to excessive weight gain that will be hard to get rid of after childbirth. On the other hand, you don’t want to eat too little, so that your baby’s development will suffer.

During pregnancy, proper nutrition is extremely important. It not only affects the healthy development of your baby, but also keeps you healthy. Therefore, many women wander what is considered a healthy weight gain, can they be on a diet during pregnancy, and when can they start a diet to lose weight after childbirth.

Normal weight gain during pregnancy is about 25-35 pound for a single embryo pregnancy (more for multiples). Of course only a small portion of this weight is fat.  The baby weight 7-8 pounds, the placenta is 1-2 pounds and the amniotic fluid in which the baby is surrounded weigh about 2 pound. Total 10-12 pound, which ‘disappear’ after childbirth.

In addition, the uterus grows by 2 pounds, maternal breast tissue weigh about 2 pounds and blood volume increase by about 4 pounds. Some women suffer from water retention, which may add about 3 pounds.

So far 18-20 pounds increase total, which does not include the 7 pound of fat and nutrients you are storing for breastfeeding. Total 25-27 pounds.

It is important to stress that each women will gain weight at different speed and amount, so do not worry if your weight gain is different than another women. If you have any concerns speak to your healthcare provider.

It is normal to develop different fears during pregnancy, especially if it is your first pregnancy. After all, it is the first time you are growing a tiny human in your uterus, and everything is new. Though it is normal, and somewhat expected, there are fears you can avoid with a little research, which will actually help your pregnancy go smoother. Remember, fear can lead to stress, and stress is never good for you.

Many women are afraid of having a miscarriage. Though it does happen, you should know that most pregnancies end with healthy babies, and most miscarriages occur in the first weeks of pregnancy, sometimes before you even notice your missed period (in which case you don’t even know you miscarried).  You can lower your risk of miscarrying by avoiding smoking and alcohol, as well as cutting back on caffeine. Also avoid amusement park rides and ride a bicycle.

Fearing your baby will have birth defects is normal. It may help to know that the risk of your baby having birth defects is only 4%. Even if test results are abnormal, in many cases a follow up test result will return normal. If you have any general or specific concerns, speak to your healthcare provider. It is always helpful to be informed, and may reduce the stress and minimize your concerns.

Fearing childbirth is the most common fear, especially if it is your first pregnancy or if you have a difficult childbirth experience before. Taking childbirth preparation classes and learning about your options can help reduce the fear of the unknown.

An emergency cesarean section is something that many expecting moms fear. It may help to know that most cesarean sections are known in advance, even scheduled. If you will need a cesarean section due to breech baby, gestational diabetes or other complication, you will most likely know about it enough time in advance in order to get all the information you need.

Pregnancy is a miracle, though it can hold its share of fears. Knowledge is power, and will help you overcome some of the fears you may be facing. Speak to your spouse, your OBGYN and anyone else you feel can help relieve these fears. There is no shame in fearing the unknown or for your child’s well being, it only means you are realizing you are about to be a parent.

Congratulation!

In most cases, a breech baby automatically means a cesarean section. That is largely because of the lack of experience of obstetricians in a vaginal delivery of a breech baby.

Most women in this position have little if any choice when it comes to childbirth options. The majority of women with breech babies are offered an elective cesarean section, and most of which choose to go with a scheduled one, rather than waiting for the pregnancy to mature. A very small number of women actually wait for the contractions to start or their water to break. Either way, the majority of women with a breech baby end up having a cesarean section.

A successful vaginal delivery of a breech baby is completely possible with an obstetrician experienced in these types of births. In Frankfurt, Germany, there is a lot of experience in successful breech baby vaginal deliveries in recent years. Their experience shows success in such births especially with the women laboring on all fours. There are vaginal deliveries of breech babies with little medical interference, no constant monitoring, no epidural and no need for stitches.

After you take the home pregnancy test and get a positive result, your healthcare provider will send you for a blood work to confirm your pregnancy. After your pregnancy has been confirmed, it could be a few weeks before your first prenatal appointment. In the mean time, you can get familiar with what is ahead of you in this journey.

In most cases, you will have your first ultrasound during this first prenatal appointment. Also, the doctor will look for your baby’s heart and your due date will be calculated according to the size and development of the fetus. This is a good time to start asking questions about what you should expect and symptoms you may already be experiencing.

During your pregnancy, you will see your OBGYN monthly, unless you have a high risk pregnancy, in which case you will see the doctor more often. During the 8^th month you will see your doctor every two weeks, and for the last month you will have weekly appointments. At each visit you’ll be asked for a urine sample, get your weight and blood pressure checked and have your uterus height measured.

Since you will see you OBGYN regularly, make sure you choose a doctor you are comfortable with. And don’t hesitate to ask any question you may have. If you cannot ask your doctor, who can you ask?

At the end of your first trimester (13 weeks) you can be sent to have Nuchal Translucency test which is done using both a blood test and an ultrasound measuring fetal neck thickness, to screen for Down syndrome.

During your second trimester, other than your regular monthly doctor visits, you will have the triple or quadruple screen. This is a blood test that measures your blood level of Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), Estrogen and Inhibin A (quad screen only). If your history shows genetic problems or if the screen indicates the fetus may have a problem, your doctor will suggest to test your amniotic fluid tested (amniocentesis).

Between weeks 24-48, you will be sent for a glucose screen that tests gestational diabetes.

If you have Rh-negative blood, you may have an antibody screen and will receive an injection of Rh immune globulin.

During the third trimester, you can expect more frequent regular doctor visits, as well as hepatitis B, and group B strep screening.

Closer to your delivery your doctor will check to see how far the baby’s head has descended into your pelvis. In the last weeks you may also be checked to see whether your cervix has begun to stretch and open (cervical effacement and dilatation).

While you may think of pregnancy as a magical time in a woman’s life, it is not all beautiful belly and excitement about the new life that is growing within. Like anything else in life, a pregnancy has its unpleasant sides as well.

Here are a few:

Even if you are just in the beginning of your pregnancy, you may already be familiar with the frequent trips to the restroom to empty your bladder. While you will most likely have an easier second trimester, those frequent urinations will likely return during the third trimester due to the size of your baby and his head’s (or other body part) vicinity to your bladder.

What you may not yet be familiar with is Bladder leakage, which usually occurs when you laugh, cough or sneeze. This leakage is caused by the growing uterus and the pressure it puts on your bladder. To avoid or minimize these occurrences, do your kegel exercises daily and empty your bladder regularly and frequently.

The large amounts of the progesterone hormone produced in your body during pregnancy, relax your muscles. That includes the gastrointestinal tract. Your growing uterus puts added pressure on your rectum and it all leads to, well, Gas. And it can be hard to impossible to control…

To avoid uncomfortable incidents as much as possible, eat smaller, more frequent meal. Try to eat slowly to avoid swallowing air. Relax and avoid foods that cause gas such as cabbage, beans and fried foods.

As your pregnancy progresses and your baby grows, space becomes limited in your body. Combined with the hormone progesterone that causes your muscles to relax, Burping may become inevitable. To avoid unpleasant occurrences (…), eat smaller, more frequent meal. Avoid carbonated drinks, fatty and fried foods.

Hemorrhoids are swollen rectal veins which can be painful or itchy. They are very common during pregnancy, especially during the last trimester and/or after childbirth (due to the pressure of pushing). If you suffer from hemorrhoids, take warm baths, use ice packs (covered) to reduce the swelling and/or avoid seating for long hours. Speak to your healthcare provider about topical creams that my offer relief. If you haven’t had them before, you are likely to be hemorrhoid free again sometime after childbirth.

Swelling (also called edema) is common during pregnancy. It is caused by the larger blood volume in your body, and usually affects the hands, face and legs (ankles and feet).  Swelling is usually gradual. If you experience sudden swelling, call your healthcare provider and get checked, for it may be a sign of preeclampsia.

To avoid or relieve swelling, rest with your legs elevated, don’t stand for long hours, and drink plenty of water. Also don’t wear clothes that are too tight.

While it may be uncomfortable, or just plain embarrassing, you’ll be relieved to know these symptoms will go away immediately or shortly after you give birth. So embrace them or try to avoid them with good nutrition and good health.

Pregnancy is a time in your life that is very different from any other time. Your body changes constantly, with your growing baby, and you experience different difficulties and uncomfortable symptoms (such as heartburn, hemorrhoids, sciatica, etc.) you would not otherwise be effected by. Even with these uncomfortable symptoms, most women experience a normal, low risk pregnancy.

To ensure you start your pregnancy on the best side possible, you want to make sure you live a healthy lifestyle, consume nutritional foods, exercise regularly and avoid tobacco, alcohol and the likes. You can and should start taking your prenatal vitamins before you become pregnant to help your body with its needs during the pregnancy.

Even with all the care and preparation, some women will experience high risk pregnancy or pregnancies. Risk factors for high risk pregnancy include:

• Young or old maternal age.
• Being overweight or underweight.
• Having had problems in previous pregnancies.
• Pre-existing health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or HIV.
• Pregnancy related health problems that develop during pregnancy.

If you are a healthy women, you can still develop a pregnancy related problem at any stage of your pregnancy that will make your pregnancy high risk. Some of these pregnancy related health problems include preeclampsia, gestation diabetes and preterm labor.

Preeclampsia is a condition that usually develops during the third trimester of the pregnancy and includes high blood pressure, protein in the urine and changes in the blood levels of liver enzymes. It can affect your kidneys, liver, and brain. The condition needs to be monitored and can be treated. It can be fatal for both mother and baby if it is not cared for.

Gestational diabetes is a type of pregnancy related diabetes. It is not related to diabetes, or the condition, and if treated, it will disappear after childbirth. This condition of high blood sugar usually presents no symptoms or mild ones, which include blurred vision, fatigue, frequent vaginal and bladder infections, increased thirst and urination and nausea and vomiting, and is diagnosed during the glucose tolerance test, each pregnant woman has between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.

Preterm labor is labor that starts before full term or around 37 weeks of pregnancy. The danger of preterm labor is in delivering a premature baby that has not yet fully developed and may not survive outside the womb. If possible, your healthcare provider will take measures to stop preterm labor.

Depending on your condition you may be on bed rest at home, or in the hospital, for part of the pregnancy. If you have any questions regarding your condition, consult with your doctor.