Pregnancy and Childbirth

Estimating Gestational Age with 4d Scan

2011-10-08T02:54:00.000+08:00

Bumps provides gestational age determination by their highly specialized and outstanding 4d scan services.

Bumps brings together cutting- edge technology together with a specialized and expert team of medical authorities from selected baby scan facilities strategically placed all over United kingdom.

The Hilltop Healthcare Center in Birmingham is Bump’s home office where gestational age determination is just one of the varied solutions they feature. You'll be able to reach Bumps in other centers which are placed in Liverpool, Oxford, St. Albans, and Surrey.

When is gestational age determination (through 4d scan) advised? A few expecting mothers don't have knowledge of their correct date of conception. Understanding the age of the baby is crucial to good health when pregnant and the expected date of delivery is based on this key information. Typically, the due date was based on the following routine obstetrical care:

a.    date of the first day of the last menstrual period

b.    findings on the early pelvic examination

c.    measurement of the size of the uterus

d.    quickening, or feeling the baby's first movements

The size of the woman's uterus as a basis for calculating gestational age is based on the level of the fundic height- or the level at which the highest portion of the uterus is felt. Nevertheless, when there is more than one fetus or there is macrosomia in gestational diabetes, this calculation does not apply.

The inaccuracy of the results in a few groups of women makes them candidate for a pregnancy 4d scan to observe the real date of conception and due date. Women in this category include those who find themselves obese or overweight as a result of presence of excessive fat in the abdominal cavity which obscures the uterine size evaluation, those who have irregular menstrual cycles or are unsure of their last menstrual period (LMP), or those who have current history of oral contraceptive use.

There are several means of determining gestational age. A pregnancy 4d scan is one way. In this modality, sound waves are used to examine and measure the fetus. The earlier the 4d scan is done, the more accurate is the calculation. Later, 4d scans tell more about the growth of the fetus and the placenta.

4d scan for the purpose of fetal aging makes use of certain measurement as follows:

A.    Crown-rump length

This measurement includes the distance from the top of the fetus' head to its buttocks. It is currently the most accurate 4d scan pregnancy-dating method. When it is used as early as the first trimester, babies are born within 5 to 6 days of the predicted due date more than 90% of the time.

B.    Biparietal diameter (BPD)

BPD measures the distance between two skull bones. This measurement may be taken anytime after the 12th week of pregnancy.

C.    Abdominal circumference.

This is a measurement of front-to-back and side-to-side lengths of the baby's abdomen. It is calculated by a computer and may be used after the 14th week of pregnancy along with the distance between the skull bones.

D.    Head circumference

This measures the distance around the baby's head.

E.    Fetal limb measurement

Checking the length of the baby's femur, which is the long leg bone, correctly predicts the due date within 7 days.

F.    Transcerebellar diameter

This is the measurement of the distance around one part of a baby's brain.

G.    Mean 4d scan age

This measurement averages all the above measurements to get to a reasonably accurate due date.

Other less frequent measurements are also used like the measurements of the chest diameter, inner and outer orbital eye distance, length of jaw bone, length of collar bone, liver size, thigh diameter, and foot length

So for any reason as mentioned above, subscribe to Bumps Services to be able to know the real score.

Bimingham 4D Baby Scan

2011-09-26T19:03:00.001+08:00

Bumps brings together cutting- edge technologies obtaining a specialised and expert team of medical authorities from selected kid scan centers strategically put about United kingdom. The Hilltop Healthcare Facility in Birmingham is Bump’s home workplace exclusively during which 4D baby Scan examination is barely 1 inside the varied providers they current. It in fact is possible to reach Bumps in other centers which might be positioned in Liverpool, Oxford, St. Albans, and Surrey.

4D or four- dimensional ultrasound examination could be the most up-to-date in ultrasound examination technologies. It really is three-dimensional in movement! Relatively than taking a lookup at a nonetheless image within the unborn infant in 3D, it enables mother and father to view reside video with the moving fetus-in true time detail.

Ultrasound has become safely utilized and broadly identified inside the subject of Obstetrics for a lot more than 35 years now and escalating use still continues to astonish all of us.

In 4D scans, the examination period of time is shorter since the baby’s anatomy may be analyzed in any degree through the stored laptop computer or computer picture. Elements of the baby’s physique construction could potentially be seen drastically significantly more clearly than with 2D ultrasound--especially the encounter, arms, legs, fingers and toes. The baby’s steps within the womb is visible, that are challenging as well as unattainable to establish with two dimensional scanning. With 4D scanning, you are going to possess the ability to see the fetus yawn, cry, swallow, blink, and perform intricate finger movements.

4D baby Scan gives mom and father the capability to watch their infants like in no way before-- producing a remarkably intimate bonding experience. It had been established in scientific analysis that seeing a couple’s unborn youngster may well potentially assistance decrease maternal nervousness also as depression within the identical time as stimulate the father to really experience drastically much more linked to the being pregnant, strengthening the bond with his child. Moms are advised to get the examination completed quickly following twenty-five weeks gestation. The infant is normally enormous enough by this age wherein dad and mom can at present enjoy its comparatively clear photo.

But they are only a couple of with the diagnostic utilizes of 4D scan. Among its other different will help make usage of are the following:

Determination from the baby’s gender,
Analyzing the growth from the little one,
To evaluate for possible many pregnancies,
To detect structural problems using the uterus,
To detect abnormalities in the placenta,
To detect abnormal bleeding,
To establish ectopic being pregnant,
To detect ovarian tumor/fibroids,
and to Find out the placenta.

Each of the above mentioned makes use of of 4D baby Scan are vital foundation for planning and proper nicely at the moment getting supervision for the two the mother and the child.

An expectant mom confronted with abovementioned troubles needs a professional services for info, advisory and in addition help options as well-all of that happen to be offered in Bumps. You will be certain a extremely specialist support from a team of really devoted specialists having a bundled prosperity of competence and come across in their respective spots of purpose, be this 4d scans or another. They're a team of obstetricians, gynaecologists, midwives, sonographers to name but a few.

What is 4D Scans?

2011-09-10T04:54:00.001+08:00

Each time a certain method is totally new, you are normally unwilling to look into only if our doubts have been answered satisfactorily. This is true especially to health. If you are a expectant mommy, it is actually undeniable that you question a few of the screening that are suggested to you like 4d baby scans. To help you on this, listed below are a few key points so that you can figure this out type of pregnancy scans.

Would it be safe for the little one?

4D scans, as well as other ultrasound tests for that matter, are typically harmless. If you are usually wary of your state of health along with the baby’s well being when you're getting in contact with sonography machines, you'll find nothing to think about. In point of fact, since launch of ultrasound in the area of obstetrics some years past, we have seen no solid evidence that it may bring about any damages as well as cause any kind of threat to the mom and the baby. Ultrasound scans have been applied to numerous pregnancies and no warning signs of threats and dangers have ever been reported. All 2D, 3 dimensional, as well as 4D baby scans utilize the similar type and concentration of ultrasound exam. The sound waves are targeted onto the tummy to produce shots to get shown on the computer monitor.

Could a 4D baby scans show in case the baby has any problems?

The 4D scan is designed for the only reason for enhancing the relationship between the mommy and the unborn child along with entire household. It is therefore not created to analyze any kind of irregularities. However, in the event any kind of abnormality is found by your sonographer, the results is going to be discussed to you as clearly as possible. The sonographer will then help you to get in touch with your general practitioner therefore you may be guided to have whatever lab tests are needed.

When is the best time to obtain a 4D scan

The perfect time to get a 4D baby scans is between 24 and 32 weeks to get ideal outcomes. As a result, at this stage, you can obtain excellent as well as sharp images. The beauty with 4D is that you not just get still pictures but you also get to experience your baby move live! See your unborn child swim, kick, stretch, yawn, thumb suck, squirm, blink, smile, and many types of other things your little one can perform inside the womb!

On the other hand, when your little one isn't lying within the right placement, you may not be capable of getting good photos. The baby’s legs can be covering the face or he/she could be facing in the direction of your spine. This is the reason why you can be required to maneuver around first or perhaps drink some liquids in the hope that your little one may move inside womb so you can eventually get far better pictures of your child. If your infant nevertheless won’t cooperate on that day, you may be instructed to get scanned at a later day or even phase.

Generally there is actually much more to getting images of the child because researchers have established that 4D baby scans might actually boost the bonding between the mother and the little one, providing them with psychological and other benefits.

So if you are anticipating twins, having excellent images can be hard since one of the babies will definitely be lying in a difficult position. It is then proposed that 4D baby scans be taken earlier than the best time for single pregnancies. You may have your 4D baby scans as early as twenty five weeks.

4D Baby Scan: View Your Expected Baby

2011-01-27T16:13:00.000+08:00

4d baby scan is what a very excited mother would go and have. When someone waits for a baby to come into his or her life, he or she will do everything to savor the moment with the most- awaited child. As the tummy grows bigger, so does the parents' patience to wait decreases. Good for modern moms and dads, viewing the things that happen in the mother's womb is feasible and 'affordable'. Knowing how your baby is positioned in the womb is very important for most mothers.

Several individuals might think this is not feasible, but together with the convenience of current technology, it is now possible for the father and mother (even the cousins) to watch the anticipated baby and look at what she exhibits in the mum's womb. Naturally, pops and moms find 4D baby scan pleasurable. Because each pregnancy is different, several mommies get worried or ask themselves the reason their baby is "dancing" considerably when in their first pregnancy, the baby didn't seem to be shifting at all. It's a good thing that with this 4d scan, babies' actions or 'habits' may be observed live and will ease up the worries of most parents.

4D Baby Scan will record the motions of the baby in the womb. You can see some (if not all) of the following:
"    Babies shut and open up their palms from time to time.
"    Babies blink
"    Babies can showcase signals of "crying"even if no sound comes out.
"    Some babies grin or become startled when they listen to a sound they just like or dislike.
"    In the late trimester, you can observe babies yawn in the womb.
"    From time to time, few babies 'play' with their umbilical cord.
"    Mature babies hiccup and will cause the regular movement of the mums belly.
"    Babies also suck their thumbs, that's why pregnant women should be very careful not to trip or tumble throughout their pregnancy because it might create injuries.

4d scan will also present the placement of your baby in the womb. The two positions are the normal and the breech. The breech position is classified into frank, complete and incomplete breech. Understanding your baby's position is very significant and very helpful when thinking of options for delivery (specially if he or she is breech).

It is also good to know which way your baby is facing. If the baby's vertebrae is along your tummy and she is facing your back, it is called anterior position. We call it posterior if your baby's face is to your front and his or her back is to your back. Posterior placements cause back pains during labor, so knowing this is helpful in preparing choices for pain management.

Now that you have read this article, congratulate yourself for being a good mother and for being concerned of the well being of your baby by considering (or having) 4d baby scan.

4d baby scan and your pregnancy

2010-11-11T03:09:00.002+08:00

You might be trying to figure out what these new 4d baby scan are all about. You must have you've heard a bit about it from someone, or you've run into the term on the net. In this article, I hope to lay bare what the scan is all about. The truth of the matter is, that all this pregnancy jargon can be pretty daunting, to say the least! From the day you discover that you're bearing a child, there is a throng of new words thrown at you that seem to be indiscernible and important in equal parts. Keep reading, and through this article, I hope to go through a few of them here.

What is this 4D scan all about and how is it different from the 2D scan?

While you may have possibly seen some other pregnant couple showing off some indiscernible ultrasound results in black and white with very rough shapes, these 4d baby scanare a far cry from the Older two dimensional scans that produced those older scan results. While their output is arguably worlds apart from each other, the fact is that the technology behind these two pregnancy scans is fairly much comparable. The difference lies in that the 4D scan technology is just far more state-of-the-art in terms of its imaging technology.

What happens during the scan?

The first thing you will notice if you go to a reputable clinic is that you will have a private room or suite where you can comfortably and privately enjoy the moment with a companion or two. You will probably also notice that there is a world of difference between the atmosphere of the clinic and a hospital. These clinic are mostly made to suit the purpose and help young mothers feel relaxed while getting this scan done. A lot of gravity is placed on keeping it homey, cozy and inviting.

The technician or the assistant will then apply a cold conductor gel on your tummy. This can be quite awkward but nothing unmanageable. There is no pain involved, and whatever discomfort is completely worth it.

Bonding with your child while in the womb is essential throughout the pregnancy. Studies reveal that this bonding while the baby is in the womb is a crucial piece of the development puzzle. For this reason, this scan is particularly beneficial. Having an experience where you actually see your baby Before delivery makes relating to your child while in the womb much more natural and easy.

Thanks to these 4D baby scan, these marvelous advances in medical science, you needn't wait the whole nine months (yards) before getting a glimpse of your little angel. Discuss your options with your healthcare professional to get more information and understand the choices ready to you.

Nuchal Scans - Is it For Me?

2010-10-06T00:42:00.002+08:00

There is no questioning the fact that pregnancy is such an exciting, wonderful time. The notion of being able to carry a tiny new life inside of you is almost too exciting to bear! What a breathtaking thought! This same amazement,however, is the same reason why this is such a daunting thing to go through-- the burden of bearing another life, beyond your own. The probability of birth defects is something that most parents would rather not talk about. Definitely not something women like to consider during their pregnancy, nuchal scan is such a big help in finding problems early on.

PREGNANCY QUESTION: Why would I want to go for a nuchal screening test? The answer is because knowing what you could struggle with or ruling it out can help you manage your pregnancy better. You will breathe better knowing nothing is wrong with your baby, and in the unfortunate circumstance that something was detected, it is always better to know earlier rather than later. Not only medically, but also in terms of preparing yourself for what is to come.

PREGNANCY QUESTION: Who can go for Down's Syndrome screening or nuchal scans? The answer is, anyone. But your doctor may recommend it particularly if you have a predisposition to having a baby with Down's Syndrome due to how late you've had your pregnancy, or if the baby has tested positively on another anomaly screening

Remember that with nuchal scans, timing is everything. The accuracy and efficacy of the test depends almost entirely on that window. If you are off even just a tad bit, the results are compromised. Make sure that you work closely with your health care provider to ensure that your dating is right, hence, making sure that you hit that window spot on. Timing is of utmost importance in nuchal scans. There is a window wherein this tests is effective. If you miss the incredibly important window, the fluid measured by the scan may have drained, making it almost impossible to point out this prior to birth again.

What the doctor or the sonographer looks out for during the scan is what is known as translucency. This measures the fluid in the area behind the baby's neck. The presence of this fluid is actually not what is indicative of Down's Syndrome. The presence is normal, but an anomaly is detected in having high amounts of it. A Nuchal Scan is pretty accurate. However, your doctor may recommend that you have other screening tests done in order to confirm the tests results. The odds of you having a baby with Down's Syndrome gets higher as you age. At age 40 and above, the chances are remarkably high.

If you have a predisposition to having a baby with Down's if you got pregnant late, or if you've had a suggestive result on another anomaly testing, you should definitely go for nuchal scans. You become at higher risk for Down's as you get older.

Learn how to bond with your baby inside the womb with 4d baby scan.

4d baby scan : A Guide for Everyone

2010-10-01T01:22:00.000+08:00

You might be guessing what these new 4d baby scans are all about. Chances are you've heard a bit about it from someone, or you've bumped into the term on the net. In this article, I hope to explain what the scan is all about.

Somewhat uncomfortable and intimidating, specifically the first time,these 4d baby scan offer a wonderful experience-- seeing your baby inside of your womb, seeing what's under that bump.

It is the anticipation that makes this specifically unnerving. It would be good to note that there is no pain involved. Just a bit of discomfort, but completely manageable.

You will note that with the older 2D ultrasound scans before, you may have been asked to have a lot of water and fill your bladder. also, these offered pitiful imagery that hardly gave the parents a clue to what the baby looks like. Usually made up of blobs that are difficult to discern and interpret, these scans made would-be parents look like they had a screw too many loose.

For these newer scans, you can hold your head up high, vindicated! Show the images and you'd be blind if you can't decipher the images. Also, you will simply be asked to keep yourself hydrated in the few weeks before your scan. This is because the fluid around your baby is what makes it easy to see the details and gives the ultrasound technician a clearer picture.

The detail on these things may astonish you. It is quite an awesome experience.

You will be brought into a room with a few companions. It would be good to take note that majority of the best clinics do in fact provide relaxed amenities for the expectant mom during this remarkable occasion.

While you will not need to have a lot of water to fill your bladder, the weeks before it you will be required to keep yourself hydrated to ensure great detail on the images. This will help your 4d baby scans ultrasound technician a whole lot in terms of getting obvious images of your baby.

This is definitely a wonderful experience. The most fascinating, astonishing,remarkable medical breakthrough in pregnancy scans that allows parents to bond with their baby in the womb.

There is no doubt about the fact that pregnancy is quite a intimidating experience for all expecting moms, but thanks to these fascinating 4d baby scan, there is that element of wonderful anticipation, making it a unique, thrilling experience that you won't soon forget

What is Miscarriage?

2010-08-20T22:21:00.000+08:00

Miscarriage is an ill-fated occurrence that can happen to any woman. This is a condition of any pregnancy that spontaneously ends before the fetus can survive. It can happen for no reason but by understanding what miscarriage is, one can learn how to treat such situation and can understand why pregnancy examinations such as pregnancy scans is necessary.

The World Health Organization or the WHO distinguishes miscarriage as the sudden termination of pregnancy prior to the ability of the fetus to have a feasible extra uterine existence. During this time, the fetus can weigh less than 500 grams. Miscarriage is also termed as spontaneous abortion.

Spontaneous abortion should be treated as medical emergencies. It is important that immediate action is taken when miscarriage is suspected.
Pain is usually felt along with miscarriage. In fact, it is the major symptom. Pains experienced develop in the lower abdomen, pubic area and also in most case over the lower back and sacrum. This pain can be felt alternately and worsen through time.

The most significant sign of spontaneous abortion is bleeding through the vagina. This may appear as slight spotting and can go severe. Other symptoms are fast pulse, weakness and exhaustion, pallor of the face, and anxiety.

It is easier for mothers to recognize miscarriage confirmed after pregnancy rather than a woman who is not aware that she is pregnant. For instance when pregnancy is just 2 or 3 weeks old, the pregnancy ends suddenly in a spontaneous abortion and the woman may not be aware of it. A more critical condition is when the mother did not seek advice from a physician in time. This then falls as missed abortion or incomplete abortion.

Incomplete or missed abortion can pose fertility issues in the future when not properly attended to. It can lead to sterility or if severe to septicemia. D&C or dilatation and cutterage procedure should be conducted so as to clean the uterus and other waste matters.

To confirm a miscarriage, the doctor will check fetal viability. This will check if the fetus is alive or not. Performing pregnancy scans will also check the internal condition of the fetus in the uterus. It is recommended that an expectant mom avoids tedious activities during the pregnancy period. Being religious into taking medical examinations like pregnancy scans is equally important.

Lose weight: Post pregnancy workouts

2010-07-30T22:27:00.003+08:00

Motherhood is the fulfillment of being a woman. This is for the reason that it brings inexplicable bliss as moms get the first glimpse of their babies. Nevertheless, this joy is partnered with a few sacrifices like gaining pregnancy weight not to mention those muscles turn flaccid. Therefore, to be able to get back into shape and shed off those fats, mothers need to do some post pregnancy workouts. So let's start!

Find way for a walking or jogging regimen. To lose weight is not easy but you should not be too hard on yourself. Start losing weight with simple and light exercises like walking or jogging so you do not force your body which is still recovering from childbirth. Fresh air would be helpful to you and your baby. Bring your baby with you. A snuggly will come handy or a jog stroller would be fit if you decide to run along with your baby.

Get the aid of fitness DVD/CD for your post natal exercises. Sort out post pregnancy workouts DVD/ CD from the mall and bring them home. Get the luxury of being at home while you lose weight. These DVD's would help you do the exercises properly. Much more, it helps you manage your time as you can do the workout while the baby is asleep.

Hit the gym. Being a mother is not an excuse that you can't join the gym. Once you are able to establish your routine, you will have more freedom to manage your time and you can schedule your gym activities. If you can't leave the baby at home, you can choose a gym that provides baby caring facilities. There are also fitness classes with dedicated coaches that can help you out. As an added bonus, hitting the gym gives way for you to meet new friends and share your experiences as a mother.

The above-mentioned activities are just a few of the post pregnancy workouts that you can try. Establish a routine, manage you time and make a goal to lose weight. By being consistent and dedicated, you are close into losing weight and getting back to shape.

Your Mid Pregnancy Scanning (Anomaly Scans)

2010-07-26T16:02:00.000+08:00

During the course of your pregnancy, along the 18 and 22 weeks, you will be given the option to have a mid pregnancy scanning to check that your baby is developing normally. But how helpful mid-trimester scanning is?

Number of Fetus and Physical Abnormalities

Mid pregnancy ultrasound is also called anomaly scans. It will allow the physician to determine if there are anomalies present inside the womb or to the development of the baby. When an anomaly is determined, the doctor may recommend medical intervention so as to help with the medical condition.

There are some cases however where the doctor may suggest for termination of pregnancy. This happens when the fetus cannot survive long outside the womb or the pregnancy may endanger both the life of the mother and the baby. Some situations that will call for termination of pregnancy are the absence of a brain or kidneys and Edward's syndrome, a disorder of the chromosome which leads babies to survive only for a few weeks. If this happens, it is important that the physician is able to give support to the mother especially if the expectant mom decides to pursue with the pregnancy.

Aside from knowing possible fetal anomalies, the number of fetuses can also be determined and whether it is alive. Although rare, there are times where a twin may be missed. This occurs when the second fetus is already dead and may have been pressed against the womb, hiding it from the midtrimester scan pregnancy scans.

The Characteristic of the Fetus and Surrounding Areas

In addition to determining abnormalities and the number of fetus inside the womb, the mid pregnancy scanning can also verify the gender of the baby. The surrounding areas can also be observed like the adequacy of the volume of fluid inside the womb, the location of the placenta, and any targeted scans the doctor may recommend.

Some women may hesitate taking the pregnancy scans, although this is not mandatory, it is advised especially to pregnant women who belong to high risk group such as those with known genetic defects in either parents, the mother has a history of taking certain medications like anticonvulsants, a history of diabetes or epilepsy, or a mother in late 30s onwards. A targeted scan will be very helpful in trying to avoid complications in pregnancy.

It is important to remember that as a tool, a mid pregnancy scanning is very helpful, not only in helping give the mother her first look at her baby, but more importantly, in giving the parents a chance to help their baby should an abnormality be detected at this stage. Immediate and timely medical intervention can help the baby grow normally and well.

Pregnancy scans : 20-24th week

2010-07-10T14:46:00.001+08:00

During pregnancy, most often pregnancy scans is being offered to expectant moms during their mid-trimester or during the 20-24th week of pregnancy in most medical establishments in UK like hospitals and clinics, even in the developing countries. This is commonly called as "detailed anatomy scan" as the main goal of the examination is to check for probable fetal abnormalities or developmental problems.

Concerns about the Mid-Trimester Scans at 20 to 24th week of Pregnancy

There are concerns however to pregnant women if this ultrasound scan benefits the patient and if pregnant women really want to have the ultrasound. Although these questions may be difficult to answer, studies imply that majority of expectant mothers would want it and even expected undergoing this examination during pregnancy as part of the routine examination to ensure fetal well-being.

The major point of distress is on the term used "anatomy scan". This means that the examination will filter results that would determine if the baby will come out physically healthy. Otherwise, if it turns out that there is a problem, it can cause serious anxiety and sorrow to the mother. In some instances, couples may even turn against their doctors with the thought that their physicians withheld this crucial information from them.

It is necessary then that before performing pregnancy scans ultrasound, the expectant mom is informed with all the details that are necessary to further understand ultrasound scans during the counseling session. Expectations should be cleared and questions about the examination should be answered. By doing this, the outlook will be more realistic.

Advantages of the Detailed Fetal Anatomy Scanning

During the counseling session, both the advantages and limitations of the detailed anatomy scanning should be fully discussed with the mother. This is to clear out expectations and misunderstanding regarding the said examination. Counseling session should be done by highly qualified medical authorities so as to ensure that the questions of couple are satisfactorily addressed prior to pregnancy scans.

Here are some of the advantages of the having pregnancy ultrasound

The pregnancy scanning will allow the medical practitioner to find how many fetuses are in the womb. With the help of ultrasound scan, a number of multiple pregnancies have been discovered.
When the accurate age of gestation is determined, it could mean the life or death of a premature baby.
This pregnancy ultrasound will also verify if the pregnancy is high-risk or not. With the help of this procedure, it will identify possible medical problems and will allow the doctor and the mother to do intervention to resolve the health issues.
The pregnancy scanning can also show any malformities in the development of the baby that could pose risk to life. by knowing this earlier, actions can be taken and if the abnormality is treatable, this will help prepare the parents- to-be in advance.
The examination can determine the structure and the location of the placenta. In instances where the location can pose a danger to the mother such as bleeding during pregnancy, or showing that it is abnormally low. The latter condition is called placenta praevia and by knowing it earlier, prompt actions can be taken.
Strengthen bonding with 4d baby scans. Also, pregnancy scans at the mid-trimester in 3d scan or 4d baby scans mode can show the mother how the baby inside the womb looks like. It is during this stage where the body parts have been formed and the fetus will probably become very active. This experience can strengthen the bond between the mother and the baby.

If the expectant mother does not wish to know the baby's gender during pregnancy ultrasound, she should inform the medical practitioner beforehand. Although pregnancy scans in the mid-trimester is being done routinely, it is still optional.

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X-ray and its risks to pregnancy

2010-04-19T16:05:00.001+08:00

There are several breakthroughs in technology that made human life easier and when it comes to medical technology, it saves a great deal of life too! One of the outstanding inventions that helped a lot of people especially in the field of medicine is the x-ray. But this amazing technology has its limitations too particularly to women expecting pregnancy.

When you are about to take an x-ray examination, the radiologist will ask you if you are pregnant or expecting to be pregnant. This is part of the precautionary measures being undertaken so as to ensure the safety of the expectant mom and the baby in the womb.

The process of an x-ray examination involves radiation that is why pregnant women should be careful about this. This is being performed to diagnose potential health problems that are not seen by the naked eye and involves the internal structure of the body. This technology uses light waves a form of radiant energy and penetrates the body to create images of the internal structure concerned.

Since it emits radiation it can modify cells, a process that is dangerous to pregnant women as it can cause malformations during pregnancy. One of the options that could be tried is the use of pregnancy scans or the latest technology to ultrasound called 4d scans.

Instead of using light waves, 4d baby scans uses sound waves to capture images of the internal organ or structure. It is already being used in some countries and strengthens the bond between the mother and the child.

X-ray is a beneficial technology to man. It should be used with care. To women expecting pregnancy, it is better to shun away from this examination if possible avoiding pregnancy complications. There are other alternatives that could be taken such as pregnancy scans or 4d scans.

Pregnancy and mercury contamination

2010-03-10T15:09:00.000+08:00

During pregnancy, being pregnant might have already put you into pressure to eat more nutrient-dense foods that you used to be as there is already a life inside your womb that you need to sustain. Keeping up with fruits and vegetables, protein-rich foods and foods rich in iron, calcium should be your priority when pregnant. But how do you know that you are eating the right foods to sustain the needed nutrition by the body? Eating fish is one of the most-looked into meals by expectant moms. It is rich in protein and low in saturated fat, factors that are essential for a good diet. However, there are some issues about eating fish during pregnancy and one is mercury contamination.

Metal contaminants can be present in low levels at the sea however, because of the environmental pollution, high levels of metal contaminants have already reached the sea affecting fishes and other creatures consumed by humans. One of the harmful metal contaminants is mercury that is harmful to pregnancy.

Mercury when ingested by human present a clear danger to its health especially during pregnancy. It can cause behavioral problems such as poor concentration, and emotional instabilities. When pregnant, it can affect the cognitive development of the baby as well as may slow the talking and walking progress.
Predator fishes are the type of fish that have the high probability of mercury exposure. Some fishes that belong to this category are king mackerel, marlin, swordfish and tilefish.

The best thing to do as a precautionary measure when pregnant or trying to be pregnant is to be aware what types of fish you need to avoid minimizing the risk of mercury exposure. Also there are some types of fish that should be eaten in moderation. Consulting your doctor can be a great help in recognizing these matters.

Mercury exposure presents a clear danger to pregnancy and to the health of the baby in the womb. With this information on hand, you should be able to handle prenatal care at its best!

Riza C. Belgira is health enthusiast and an advocate of strengthening women's health and well-being through informative health resources and articles. Visit her web site and explore informative and useful tips on 4d scans, pregnancy, dieting and weight loss at http://www.4d-ultrasoundscan.co.uk/.

Pregnancy protein requirement

2010-03-04T12:40:00.000+08:00

As an expectant mom, it is important that you are able to sustain what your child needs during pregnancy. Your child's nutrition is dependent on you. Lacking of the needed nutrition during pregnancy could bring developmental problems on the baby and health concerns to the mother in the long run. Some of the nutrients that play a major role during pregnancy are folic acid, calcium, iron and protein. In this article we will discuss protein as an important part of pregnancy.

Amino acids which can be found on protein form the building block for the development of the muscles and the tissues. During pregnancy, it is important to the growth of the baby particularly on the second and the third trimester of pregnancy where growth is in its highest. Lacking of this nutrient can lead to low birth weight and early childbirth. Also some manifestations of this to the mother are weight loss, muscle fatigue and frequent infection.

How much protein you should consume per day? An average woman would need 40 to 45 grams of protein per day as his protein requirement. During pregnancy, there is an increase to the protein requirement by 25 grams to be able to sustain the development of the baby.

Getting the extra 25 grams should not pose a problem for expectant moms. There are several types of foods where you can get the protein that you need. Some of the protein-rich foods are beans and legumes, lean meats such as beef, chicken and pork, seafood like crab, lobster and shrimp and dairy products such as milk and cheese. Fish are also excellent source of protein. Expectant moms should however be careful in eating fish as not all types of fish are safe for consumption during pregnancy. Predator fish like tuna and king mackerel should be avoided as they may contain metals such as mercury that can be harmful to pregnancy. Mercury can affect the brain development of the baby inside the womb. Aside from mercury, you also run the risk of lead exposure that does the same effect.

Consulting your medical practitioner would help you learn if you have sufficient protein to sustain your health and the development of your child. By doing so, your doctor can help you plan your meals to help you meet your protein requirement.

Meeting your protein needs during pregnancy should never be a problem. There are a lot of choices to include in your meal to meet your protein requirement. Eat nutrition-dense food to ensure that you stay healthy as well as the baby in the womb.

Riza C. Belgira is health enthusiast and an advocate of strengthening women's health and well-being through informative health resources and articles.

Visit her web site and explore informative and useful tips on 4d scans, pregnancy, dieting and weight loss at http://www.4d-ultrasoundscan.co.uk/.

Calcium supplements lessens pregnancy risks

2010-02-22T15:33:00.001+08:00

A pregnant mom faces several risks during pregnancy that can endanger her health and the safety of the baby inside the womb. In order to minimize the possibility of these risks to occur, precautionary measures are undertaken such as laboratory examinations, ultrasounds and 4d scans and so on. But more than these clinical measures, it is important to always stick to what is basic- that is to have a balance meal and proper nutrition. Prenatal vitamins might be recommended by your physician such as calcium supplements.

Recommended daily intake of calcium for expectant mom is 1,200 milligrams of calcium. This is the maximum amount of calcium that could be digested by the body each day. Calcium can be derived from dairy products like milk and cheese and green vegetables such as broccoli. If you think that you have insufficient calcium intake per day, you might need to visit your doctor and ask for calcium supplements prescription.

Calcium plays a major role in the development of bones and teeth. Much of the calcium stored in the body is deposited in the bones. When the calcium is lacking, the calcium needed by the baby is derived from the bones of the mother. This can create bone health risks to the expectant mom later in life.

In several separate studies that has been conducted, it validated that calcium supplementation during pregnancy can lessen health risks such as hypertension or pre-eclampsia and lead exposure, therefore, minimizing the possibilities of pre-term labor. High levels of lead in the blood can be harmful and in fact fatal for the baby. It can cause miscarriage, low birth weight and several placental abnormalities. Calcium supplementation can lower the level of lead in the blood by 31% in reference to a study conducted by the University of Michigan.

Proper nutrition is very important during the pregnancy years and much more important when you are pregnant. Take calcium supplements daily along with balance diet and exercise and ensure the safety and good health of your baby while inside the womb.

How yoga can ease pregnancy?

2010-02-17T15:08:00.001+08:00

Do you want to keep fit even if you are pregnant? Many health experts recommend expectant moms to do yoga during their pregnancy to keep fit. Not only yoga helps pregnant women become fit during pregnancy but also it helps women to bear pregnancy better.

Yoga is an Indian exercise composed of poses and breathing techniques. The poses which is also called asanas do differently to each part of the body. The poses promote flexibility as stretching exercises of yoga makes tendons and ligaments more flexible. This is especially helpful during childbirth and labor as expectant moms would find it easier to adapt to labor positions. Another advantage that yoga poses can do is that it helps ease up muscle tension and tone the body at the same time.

Another technique involved in yoga exercises is the breathing techniques. Breathing techniques help improve circulation and provide adequate supply of oxygen in the body.

The practice of yoga has been popular as a form of meditation. During pregnancy, it is not only the body that feels the stress but also the mind. Worries, fears and other negative emotions can do harm to pregnancy when left unattended and continued to be ignored. Yoga gives expectant moms the time to reflect on and keep these negative emotions away. When the mind relaxes, the body releases lactic acid that can contribute to the tension of the body. In this way, the unity between the mind and the body is achieved, thereby improving the whole well-being of the person.

Aside from the above mentioned advantages that yoga can bring to pregnancy, yoga also improves posture, tones the muscle and helps the person to be more aware of the body. Being more aware of the body, this strengthen the bonding between the baby and the expectant mom.

There are several ways to keep fit during pregnancy and one is to do yoga. However, you should make sure that doing yoga would not be harmful to your health condition. An expectant mom doing yoga should not feel pain when doing yoga or after performing it. If pain is felt, your physician should be consulted. Have a healthy and fit pregnancy!

Anemia and its complications to pregnancy

2010-02-16T12:35:00.001+08:00

Anemia is one of the most common health conditions that people experience. Frequently, women are most at risk of developing anemia due to monthly blood loss during menstruation and during pregnancy. In fact, most women do not know they are anemic unless they manifest symptoms of dizziness and paleness and consulted their doctors. Anemia can complicate pregnancy. Let us further understand what is anemia and its complications to pregnancy.

Anemia is a health condition that arises due to lack of iron in the blood. Lack of iron in the blood causes less hemoglobin to be produced. The hemoglobin is responsible in distributing oxygen to tissues of the body and when this fails, symptoms of dizziness, extreme fatigue, paleness, labored breathing and rapid heartbeat manifest.

During pregnancy, the blood supply requirement increases by 50% for the development of the baby while inside the womb. Anemia during pregnancy can cause complications to the growth and development of the baby as there is less supply of iron in the blood. The most common type of anemia that an expectant mom may experience is iron deficiency anemia.

Iron deficiency anemia happens when there is less hemoglobin produced in the blood. This may be as an effect of improper nutrition or when there is less iron stored in the bone marrow of the expectant mom that it is not able to meet the requirement for fetal development. As a result, low birth weight, preterm birth and poor fetal growth may happen to the baby.

Anemia due to iron deficiency is treatable by proper iron supplementation and proper nutrition. Some sources of iron are leafy green vegetables (broccoli, spinach), eggs, red meat, liver, dried beans or tofu, and iron-fortified bread, pasta, and cereal.

Most doctors would recommend iron supplements when anemia is diagnosed. If you suspect anemia and you are pregnant, consulting your doctor is a must and taking iron supplements is insufficient or may even worsen your condition without a prescription from your physician. Iron supplements can cause LBM and constipation to some.

In diagnosing anemia, your medical history is taken along with your family medical history to ensure that the type of anemia that you have is not hereditary. Blood smear and other laboratory tests may also be required by your doctor to properly diagnose your condition especially when you have a sensitive pregnancy.

Anemia can be treated with proper nutrition. Make sure that you have healthy body prior to pregnancy to ensure a healthy baby and a blissful pregnancy experience.

Chemical exposure during pregnancy

2010-02-08T11:27:00.001+08:00

Whether you're a first time mom - or an experienced pro - it never hurts to make changes to your lifestyle during your pregnancy. There are simple and effective ways to ensure that you stay as healthy as possible while you are pregnant. Here are some ideas that can help you to get started right away.

When you come to think with it, we are exposed to several chemicals each day, from food and beverages, cleaning products and even wellness and beauty items. This may not normally be a concern for most people but when you are pregnant, you will start to ponder if these chemicals will not cause complications on your pregnancy.

Fortunately, exposure to chemicals that may pose risk to pregnancy can be avoided. Only a minimal of our household items could be avoided without affecting our daily lives and some of these are cosmetics and makeup items, cleaning products, pesticides and herbicides and mercury-positive items.

Cosmetics and makeup items. Pregnancy makes most women feel that they are less pretty than they use to be with bulges everywhere in the body, not to mention having stretch marks, darkening of the underarm and the neck and some women may also suffer from oily faces. All of this sufferings will only end after the 9-month period of pregnancy. In order to make women feel better, some would resort into indulging themselves with cosmetics and makeup items. However, some may not be aware that while these items may save the day to make you look good and feel good, these can pose danger to pregnancy. Some cosmetic items contain Parabens, Phthalates, and other Parfum identities that can cause premature birth, miscarriages and sperm damage. In addition, allergies may also manifest while using these.

Cleaning items. Whether a pregnant woman is in the house or not, maintaining cleanliness is important in the household. This is why cleaning items should never be missed when you went to the grocery and replenish your stocks for the house. However, it is crucial that when you are expecting, you should avoid as much as possible any contact with cleaning items. While you may not be aware, some cleaning products may contain Triclosan, alkylphenol ethoxylates, volatile organic compounds (VOC).

Xylenes and Tuolene are examples of VOC that can result to retarded growth, birth defects, developmental and neurological problems to the baby while inside the womb. Meanwhile, alkylphenol ethoxylates are known as endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with, mimic or block human hormones. This chemical can be found on hair colors, spot removers and other hair care products.

Paints. Most paints that have been manufactured before 1970s contains lead. Pregnant women must refrain from peeling off paints that may contain lead. Also there are paints that may have presence of mercury.

Mercury exposure. Mercury is a type of metal that can exist in various forms. It exists in thermometer, in dental fillings, latex paints and batteries. Pregnant women should avoid being exposed to this. Moreover, there are foods that have high risk of mercury exposure and some are mackerel and tuna. Eating this foods should be done to minimal so as to avoid possible pregnancy complications.

There's nothing more important to your baby than a healthy mom! So be sure to make it a priority to concentrate on making the best choices to benefit both your baby and yourself especially during pregnancy. There is no substitute for the advice of a medical doctor, but the information above can give you some good ideas for keeping you and baby healthy.

Why smoking is harmful to the health of a pregnant woman?

2010-02-08T11:24:00.001+08:00

When we read the title of this article, unconsciously, you may think that smoking is in fact harmful without even considering the health status of a person, whether she is pregnant, sick or has a healthy body. Smoking kills a person's body gradually until it is destroyed. But in this particular topic, let us discuss why smoking is especially harmful to pregnant moms.

Pregnancy is an exciting experience to a woman. Whether it is the first, second or third, the excitement that you feel is always like the first time. It is an overwhelming experience to carry a life within you and during the pregnancy period you have to take good care two lives, yours and that of the baby.

But there are instances you may have some habits that you need to eliminate totally for the sake of the baby in the womb and one particular vice that you should give up is smoking. Smoking kills and yet although most people knew these fact smokers may unconsciously not fully aware of it. If you are one of those who pick a piece of cigarette to light, you should think twice before lighting the cigarette that you hold.

Smoking can have different effects to persons. It can pose high risks such as having respiratory problems and failure of organs to properly function such as the lungs. Among the ailments that you may acquire are emphysema, allergies, lung cancer and so forth.

Since the nicotine that you take through a stick of cigarette travels through the bloodstream, this substance directly affects the baby in the womb when you are pregnant.

A piece of cigarette has 2500 substances and among these are those that causes developmental problems in a baby. Also in a study conducted, babies whose mom smokes has high possibility of developing congenital heart disease. Meanwhile, the mother faces higher risks of miscarriage.

Aside from developmental problems, the baby in the womb also runs the risks of having low birth weight as an effect of low pace of development of the baby while inside the womb. There is no safe level of smoking so when you are pregnant, you should quit it if you want to have a healthy pregnancy.

Given some of these hard facts, you should have thought of quitting smoking by now. However, to quit smoking might be an easy idea but hard to do. Here are some ways you can try to help you quit smoking.

Find ways to relieve stress. Most people would smoke to get relief from stress. But this idea should never be an excuse to smoking as there are other wholesome activities you could try if you are trying to get relief from stress.

Stay away from caffeinated drinks and alcohol. They say that the best partner for smoking is drinking alcohol especially during occasions. Yet both of these tandem in making you less healthy. Moreover, although caffeinated drinks may not have the same effect as that with the alcohol, drinking caffeinated beverages may urge you to smoke.

Have a smoke-free home. If you are trying to quit smoking, you should throw away the lighter, stack of cigarette and the ash tray at home. This same goes when you are not smoking but your partner does. If you have visitors coming and you know that they smoke, you can request them politely not to smoke at your home.

Get motivated with a support. Most quit-smoke efforts fail because of lack or diminishing motivation. Having someone to support you to get going will keep you motivated.

With this information on hand, you should rationally understand why smoking is not good especially for pregnant women. Understand your health and live a happy pregnancy experience.

On getting pregnant

2009-11-18T15:28:00.009+08:00

A few days or months after marriage may leave couples wanting to have a child already. While many couples succeed in bearing a child easily, there are also those who may find difficulty in having a child. A year of trying to get pregnant and still having this failure maybe needing a medical attention already so as to know the reason why there might be problems on getting pregnant and bearing a child.

Most instances would lead to the thought that only woman may cause the problem of not bearing a child. However the man should also need to undergo medical examinations together with his wife. Frequently, a problem on bearing a child is caused by hormonal changes or imbalance, physical problems, or might be an effect of a health problem like obesity. Below are some of the most known reasons of problems on getting pregnant and yet, the most neglected one.

Stress. Although there is still no scientific explanation how stress directly affects the fertility of a man and a woman, most doctors claim that patient who are in less stressful conditions are likely to get pregnant that those who lives in more stressful environment.

Obesity. Obese people often have hormonal changes that can affect the reproductive system. In women, obesity causes disruption in ovulation cycle as caused by higher estrogen production. Likewise, high levels of estrogen in women also shows pre-cancerous changes in the uterus that is proven to give irreversible damage that can lead to infertility or failure to get pregnant. Aside from the direct effect to the childbearing process in a woman's body, obesity also affects the baby in the womb in case the woman successfully conceived. Spina bifida and cleft plates often results on babies with obese mothers.

Smoking. The nicotine found on cigarette has damaging effect on the capacity of a woman to produce a baby or on getting pregnant. Based on studies made, the nicotine can cause chromosomal abnormalities while the baby is in the womb. Moreover, it can cause changes on the ovulation cycle and fertility rates. This study is applicable to both active and passive smokers.

Stress, smoking and obesity are only a few causes of infertility in a woman or delays on getting pregnant. If you are trying to conceived and failed to expect pregnancy within a year of trying, seeking medical advice is highly recommended to trace the real cause of the problem and immediately provide solution to it.

Treating colds and cough during pregnancy

2009-06-23T15:35:00.004+08:00

Rainy season is here and so as colds, cough and flu! It is important that we attend to any flu-like symptoms, get rest and take medicines needed to recover easily. This is easy for normal individuals to do however certain conditions like being pregnant can cause hesitations to expectant mothers in taking colds or cough medicine. How do we treat colds and cough during pregnancy?

Colds medicines have two kinds of preparations: the expectorant and the suppressant.

Cough suppressant are based on opioids, especially codeine and sedatives such as diphenhydramine. They help a person recover easily by inducing the individual to sleep better. This is not recommended for working moms as it may cause drowsiness while at work.

Cough expectorants meanwhile are advertise on the market to expel sputum and secretions produced at the respiratory tract.

To know how to treat colds and cough better during pregnancy, you should be able to consult your obstetrician so as he can prescribe the right medicine for you.

continue next : Treating colds and cough..

Why do I have to take a fetal anomaly scan?

2009-06-19T16:13:00.001+08:00

Fetal anomaly scan is a pregnancy ultrasound being performed at 20 weeks of pregnancy. At this stage of pregnancy, the sonographer is able to distinguish malformations of the baby since the body parts are more vivid and clear.

The fetal anomaly scan usually lasts about 15 minutes in most hospitals. During the procedure, the sonographer should be able to recognize the number of babies inside the womb, point out the parts of the body and know your due date.

During the analysis, the baby’s internal organs are looked ino a cross-section. The head circumference (HC), head diameter (biparietal diameter or BPD), abdominal circumference (AC) and , emur or thigh bone (FL) are measured to make sure that the baby is growing.

Some of the anomalies that can be seen during the fetal anomaly scans are:

• Anencephaly (absence of the top of the head): 99 per cent

• Exomphalos/gastroscisis (defects of the abdominal wall): 90 per cent

• Major limb abnormalities (missing or very short limbs): 90 per cent

• Spina bifida (open spinal cord): 90 per cent

• Major kidney problems (missing or abnormal kidneys): 85 per cent

• Diaphragmatic hernia (hole in the muscle separating chest and abdomen): 60 per cent

• Hydrocephalus (excess fluid within the brain): 60 per cent

• Down's syndrome (babies with Down's may have visible heart or bowel problems): 40 per cent

• Major heart problems (defects of chambers, valves or vessels): 25 per cent

• Autism: never seen

• Cerebral palsy: never seen

With the intensive information that fetal anomaly scan can provide, it is worth-note taking that an expectant mother should undergo this type of ultrasound.

4d scans : When to know your baby's gender

2009-06-18T13:59:00.002+08:00

Pregnant moms will usually resort to pregnancy ultrasound to know if their baby is a boy or a girl. This screening is called fetal gender ultrasound. The question however is when you can know if your baby is a boy or girl. All ultrasound scans from the 2d scans to 4d scans should be taken within the suggested period. In case of fetal gender scans, there is a risk of inaccuracy especially when the test is taken at 18 weeks or earlier. The best time to take this type of ultrasound is between 18-22 weeks of pregnancy.

There are factors that could help you with the accuracy of the gender scan. These are the proficiency of the technician, the technology and the period the ultrasound is made.

Time of ultrasound. As we have discussed earlier, fetal gender scan is best taken between 18 to 22 weeks of pregnancy. This is for the reason that the anatomy of the baby during this period is much clearly defined. It is also helpful if you will take 4d scans for the gender scans.

The technician. The proficiency of the technician will save you from wrong analysis on the gender of your baby. There is a theory that the absence of penis meant that the baby is a girl. On the contrary, what the technician actually look at is the presence of the clitoris and the labia. This is usually indicated as the hamburger sign seen during the ultrasound. If this sign is observed, it means that the baby is a girl. If a turtle sign, penis peeking out from the testicles is rather seen, it means that the baby is a boy.

The technology of ultrasound. The most common type of pregnancy ultrasound is the 2d scans. As technology continues to develop, 3d scans and 4d ultrasound scans are introduced. The use of 3d scans or 4d ultrasound scans will clearly define the gender of the baby because the technician can actually see the parts of the baby rather than guessing through the shadows.

Pregnancy is one of the blissful experiences in a woman's life. To maximize the happiness of knowing the gender of the baby, it is best to take between 18- 20 weeks of pregnancy and use an advance technology like the 4d scans.

How safe is 4D Scans?

2009-06-15T15:46:00.004+08:00

4D Scans has been recognized as one of the most fantastic technologies that we have right now. Amazingly, there are several mums who testifies that 4D ultrasound scans indeed help strengthen the bond between her and the baby. While there are women who claim the benefits of this technology, there are also those who hesitates on the safeness of 4D Scanning technology. In this blog post, we will clarify how safe is 4D Scans.

4D Scans is as safe as the standard ultrasound that we usually have or the 2d scans. The ultrasound technology is deemed safe as ultrasound does not emit radiation like CT scans or Xrays.

There is an issue however on the heat that ultrasound produces during the procedure. It is studied that sound waves do cause a rise of temperature in the tissues where they pass through. During an ultrasound, there is an increase of temperature by 1.5°C above normal (37°C). However, it is considered safe and normal as the temperature elevation does not last long.

To know more about 4D Scans, you can visit and learn more at http://www.4d-ultrasoundscan.co.uk/ .

4D Scans Experience the bliss of Pregnancy

2009-06-11T13:57:00.003+08:00

While browsing Youtube and looking for amazing pregnancy videos, I came upon this video and it is very overwhelming. I never imagine that a baby could smile while it is still at the womb.

Terms used in Pregnancy

2009-06-10T17:13:00.002+08:00

As we discuss pregnancy in this blog, I have listed some common pregnancy terms that may be useful for better understanding of pregnancy. Here are some terms used in Pregnancy.

Pregnancy

- is the carrying of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, inside the uterus of a female. (wikipedia)

Childbirth

- the period where labor is expected or the baby is about to be delivered out from the mother's womb.

Fetus

- the unborn child at the womb also known as the embryo.

Miscarriage

- spontaneous abortion is the spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the embryo or fetus is incapable of surviving, generally defined in humans at prior to 20 weeks of gestation.

More about pregnancy

Which is normal and which is not during the first trimester of pregnancy?

2009-06-08T17:15:00.007+08:00

Being pregnant gives us the joy and as pregnancy progresses our excitement also increases. However, this may also bring us worries on which pregnancy experiences is normal and which is not. Here are a few examples on pregnancy experiences and we will identify which is normal and which are not.

Bleeding. Bleeding may alarm you on what is happening to your body. However, this may become false alarms. To determine the difference, any bleeding heavier than a heavy period will require you to go to the nearest hospital.

Cramps. You often experience cramps when your bladder is full or after a sexual activity. You should take notice if cramp is accompanied with bleeding especially when its heavier than a heavy period.

Abdominal pain. There are several reasons for abdominal pain. Most often it is a result of diet change during pregnancy. However, if you feel that it is more than that of a diet change, you should have yourself checked by a doctor. It could be a sign of ectopic pregnancy or a serious medical condition.

Armed with these information, you should be able to be more effective in taking care of your body during pregnancy. Have a blissful pregnancy!

Calculating Pregnancy Due Date

2009-06-04T11:10:00.010+08:00

Couples, both the man and the woman most often knew what pregnancy due date is. However, most often, both are hesitant on its exact meaning or on how it is accurately determined. Pregnancy due date is the date the baby is expected to be delivered. It is also known as the "estimated date of confinement" (or EDC). In this post, we will learn how pregnancy due date can be accurately determined.

Calculating Pregnancy due date

Pregnancy due date can be determined by calculating with the first day of your menstrual last period, minus three months and adding up seven days into it. This procedure is almost accurate if you are sure with the date of your first day of last menstrual period and have a regular 28-day cycle.

For example, you have the first day of your last menstrual period on June 3, minus three months, that is March 3, plus 7 days. So estimatedly, your pregnancy due date is on March 10.

Calculating weeks you are pregnant

Most medical references will count 40 weeks to complete a pregnancy period. To compute more correctly, you can use your pregnancy due date as the reference and count backwards. The concept of the duration of pregnancy period should be clarified however with the issue of 38 weeks or 40 weeks. To clarify this, we say an average pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, it means that it lasts 38 weeks from the date of conception, and 40 weeks from the last menstrual period.

Converting pregnancy period from weeks to months

Medical specialist and doctors often use weeks as reference when counting pregnancy period. This is because counting by months can be quite confusing as there are different number of days for each month. If you prefer to count by month backwards for 9 months, based on the due date. For example, if your due date is March 10, then count, February 10, January 10 and so forth until you reach the 9th month.

Knowing your pregnancy due date can help you prepare a lot for the coming of the baby. However if you are caught up with the due date and still pregnant, there is no need to panic especially when your 4d scans ultrasound indicates you have a healthy pregnancy. Most women will have pregnancy delivery on the week within the pregnancy due date. It is advised then to keep patience when pregnancy passes the awaited date. Most babies even arrived two weeks after the pregnancy due date. Have a blissful pregnancy!

How to get Pregnant? What is true and what is not

2009-06-03T10:48:00.008+08:00

Before you experience the excitement of bearing a child in you and deciding to have 4d scans to see your baby, you might, in one moment of your married life thought of how to get pregnant easily. Part of having a partner to spend your life with is the desire to have kids to complete the family. Most women, in the desire to get pregnant easily would sometimes believe to pregnancy myths while taking for granted the actual facts on getting pregnant. Here, we aim to distinguish which are myths and which are the facts on getting pregnant.

Sex position. In trying to conceive there are thoughts on the more effective sex position. This however is not true. There is no actual evidence that a certain position while having sex is proven to make a woman conceive better.

Best time to conceive. Ovulation starts on the 14th day before menstruation comes. This means that when a woman has a regular menstrual cycle, or a 28-day cycle, ovulation happens on day 14. If you want to be a little accurate on determining ovulation, you can use ovulation detection kit.

Frequency of intercourse. A couple with normal fertility level need not to worry on the frequency of intercourse. In fact there is no need to take note of this in order to conceive. However, emphasis should be taken when to do the intercourse as it should be done near the ovulation period.

There are still other conceiving myths that you might encounter in the desire to get pregnant. Learn how to determine which is true and which is purely myth so as not to add to your worries. Have a blissful pregnancy!

Third trimester pregnancy experiences

2009-06-01T15:52:00.004+08:00

Now, you are used to the feeling of tightness as your skin stretch in preparation to the development of the baby inside you. You then reached the 27th week of gestation or the third trimester of pregnancy. During this time, it is normal to have mixed emotions as you prepare for the new part of your life. Here are some of the third trimester pregnancy experiences that you may encounter and should be prepared for.

The third trimester of pregnancy will make you feel being a mother a reality. At the onset of this stage, you may already feel fetal movements in your womb as pregnancy progresses.

Also, on the third trimester of pregnancy, you might notice that your breasts starts to leak colostrum. Colustrum is yellowish in color and is the first milk that you will produce.

In this stage, you may continue to feel constipated, have experiences of insomnia, may have the feeling to urinate often, heartburn experiences, backache and cramps. These experiences vary from one woman to another at a certain degree since pregnancy conditions are definitely different from one another.

At the end of the third trimester or at the end of pregnancy, you might have the burst of energy to prepare for the child. This is called nesting. Moreover, you will have more vaginal pressure as the cervix begins to thin out.

By learning these third trimester pregnancy experiences, you can prepare for yourself easier for the coming of your child. Have a blissful pregnancy!

Preparing for the Second Trimester of Pregnancy

2009-05-29T13:34:00.007+08:00

As we have learned on our previous post Symptoms of Pregnancy, these body changes often occur on the first trimester of pregnancy. When you reach the second trimester, you will have lesser of the burden as most women agree. The second trimester is one of the best stages of pregnancy. You feel wonderful at this stage and have the most time to attend to your nursery room. But what are the pregnancy experiences that you will have for the second trimester of pregnancy?

The second trimester of pregnancy is defined commonly as weeks 14 to 26. This is the period where body changes will make your shape change. Here are some of the body changes that often occurs:

You will feel that your skin becomes tighter and you may notice that stretch marks begin to appear especially in your abdomen. Most often you will feel itchy when your skin stretch and tightens.

Your abdomen begins to grow. Also you will notice that as pregnancy progresses, the top of your uterus becomes near the rib cage.

You will start to experience back aches. Back aches are hard to endure at times. There are several ways to get relief on back aches during pregnancy. You should also be wary on the medicines that you take.

Constipation, heartburns, cramps in your feet or legs are also some of the probable things that you might experience on the second trimester of pregnancy.

You may continue to have emotional instability, such as mood swings and irritability, or find that you have difficulty concentrating.

There are still a lot of pregnancy experiences that you will have on the second trimester of pregnancy. Yet despite of these, the thought of carrying a new life within you will help you endure all of this. Have a blissful pregnancy!

Pregnancy ultrasound scans

2009-05-28T10:58:00.006+08:00

Being pregnant is one of the happiest days in a woman's life and it is therefore necessary that precaution and care are undertaken so as to ensure the good health of both the mother and the baby inside the womb. One of the precautions being undertaken is pregnancy ultrasound scans. In this topic, we will discuss pregnancy ultrasound scans and what purpose does it serve.

Wikipedia defines ultrasound as:

"Ultrasound is cyclic sound pressure with a frequency greater than the upper limit of human hearing. Although this limit varies from person to person, it is approximately 20 kilohertz (20,000 hertz) in healthy, young adults and thus, 20 kHz serves as a useful lower limit in describing ultrasound. "

Pregnancy scans has many uses but in the medical world, this technology is regarded as one of the breakthrough in science, saving lives and making medical diagnostics easier.

Medical sonography is another term for pregnancy scans. This is used to visualized muscles, tendons and other parts of the human body. Among the uses of pregnancy scans especially in obstetric are the following:

* Date the pregnancy (gestational age)
* Confirm fetal viability
* Determine location of fetus, intrauterine vs ectopic
* Check the location of the placenta in relation to the cervix
* Check for the number of fetuses (multiple pregnancy)
* Check for major physical abnormalities.
* Assess fetal growth (for evidence of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR))
* Check for fetal movement and heartbeat.
* Determine the sex of the baby

Although medical specialist emphasized that ultrasound serves only as an aid to diagnostics and not to be used for diagnosing itself, pregnancy ultrasound scans is indeed a great help in the medical world.

NEXT pregnancy ultrasound scans

Pregnancy complications: Fetal distress

2009-05-27T14:29:00.009+08:00

Being pregnant can give us bliss and excitement as we wait for the childbirth. However there are also challenges that expectant mothers have to surpass and one of these is fetal distress. Fetal distress can range from mild to significant and to life-threatening.

Most medical practitioners do not have the same idea or definition of fetal distress. Yet, in general,

" Fetal distress refers to a state where insufficient oxygen is reaching the fetus. If oxygen deficiency is severe and prolonged, permanent damage to the baby could result. It is, therefore, the norm, to err on the side of caution.-- pregnancybliss.com "

In the lay man's term, it is mostly recognized when the baby or the fetus is not feeling well in the mother's womb or becoming excessively fatigue.

There are many reasons for fetal distress. This can be known when there are changes in fetal movements at the womb. However, most of the times, the fetus exhibit less signal that it is under distress. It is therefore highly important that an expectant mother undergoes laboratory tests like cardiotocography (CTG).

Electronic fetal monitoring in the form of cardiotocography (CTG) is now the standard form of fetal surveillance in labor in most countries.

Causes of Fetal distress before labor

Placental abruption
Vasa previa

Causes of Fetal distress during labor

Over-stimulation of the uterus
When the cord (umbilical) is compressed
Any activity that reduces the blood supply to the fetus
Placental detaching in labor before delivery
Rupture of the uterus

NEXT More information of Fetal distress

Cystic Fibrosis and Breast Feeding

2009-05-26T13:38:00.006+08:00

Being pregnant can open several questions especially when the expectant mother has some medical challenges like cystic fibrosis. Through this blogpost, we hope to clear out long-known myths and what can you do if you are cystic fibrosis carrier.

Before we dig deep into the topic, let us first define cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a hereditary condition characterized salty tasting skin, appetite but poor growth and poor weight gain, excess mucus production and coughing/shortness of breath. The condition causes progressive disability because of multisystem failure. Organs affected are exocrine (mucous) glands of the lungs, liver, pancreas, and intestines.

During pregnancy, anaesthesia applied on childbirth is epidural analgesia to avoid the use of general anaesthesia.

Breast feeding and Cystic Fibrosis

There is a myth that mothers with Cystic Fibrosis should not be allowed to do breast feeding for the fear of excessive sodium and salt content of the breast milk. This however has been disproved by doctors as the breast milk has been discovered to have normal composition and same with mothers who are non-CF carrier.

It should be taken into consideration however that breast feeding should be done only when the mother is healthy and when otherwise, attempts to breastfeed may be counterproductive for both the mother and the child. Bottle feeding is then suggested.

Carriers of cystic fibrosis gene nonetheless are healthy individuals unless they are CF sufferers. The gene mutation is quite common among those of white European ancestry with roughly 1 in 20 being carriers.

3d and 4d ultrasounds: History

2009-05-25T11:56:00.000+08:00

We are amazed on how modern technological advancement especially in medicine created a big leap in history and in the way of life and one of these is the ultrasound. Pregnancy ultrasound was developed as a two-dimensional image scanning which further evolved into 3d and the 4d ultrasound scans.

3D ultrasound was first developed by Olaf von Ramm and Stephen Smith at Duke University in 1987. The technology was used clinically on intense research activity especially in fetal anomaly scanning. However, 3d ultrasound has also been adapted by expectant mother as a way to bond with her unborn child.

4D baby scans are similar to 3D scans except that they show fetal movement as shown in the video clip. This is made possible by successive imaging that produces a moving object.

At present, pregnancy ultrasound is used not only as a way to bond with the baby but also to discover fetal anomalies that may develop during pregnancy.

Pregnancy questions: Heartburn and stomach ulcers in Pregnancy

2009-05-21T12:44:00.002+08:00

Most women would worry about their existing health conditions and its effect on their pregnancy and one of the most common is heartburn and stomach ulcers.

The common approach to this condition is to have the most conservative approach, that is to take smaller meals, particularly those rich in carbohydrates. In other instances, where the condition may require, medication should be applied.

Generally, heartburn and stomach ulcers tend to improve during pregnancy except in some cases where the condition was discovered during pregnancy. The most common medication taken for heartburn and stomach ulcers not necessarily during pregnancy are antacids include Gaviscon®, Tums®, Peptac®, Rennie®, Maalox®, and Mucogel®.

The growing concern lies on the issue that antacids may contribute or add risk to the fetus to develop congenital defects. This issue has not been fully disproved and so it is advice to take only medication when deemed necessary.

Continue to heartburn and stomach ulcers...

How many number of cesarean sections are allowed?

2009-05-20T15:40:00.002+08:00

When you have a c-section delivery also known as cesarean section, you are then alerted that you will be limited only to three pregnancies or you will have pregnancy risks. This is a common misconception. Let me explain further.

Having a cesarean section delivery can pose several issues to a woman and these include some the ff:

1. Scar tissue and distortion of the normal anatomy that chances of injury to other structures, especially the bladder, ureters and bowel, are increased substantially.

2. Increased risk of the placenta abnormally adhering to the old scar or placenta accreta,

3. Severe uncontrollable hemorrhage sometimes requiring an emergency hysterectomy.

Each individual woman has different circumstances and each condition varies from one another. For this reason, it will only be the medical specialist who will be credible enough to dictate your pregnancy limitations after a cesarean section delivery.

Pregnancy Instruments : Forceps delivery and Ventouse delivery

2009-05-18T15:03:00.006+08:00

The stage of delivery starts when the mother felt the delivery of the child through series of contractions. There are many things to consider and the delivery could be done normally without external assistance. However, when it is the otherwise, there are several pregnancy instruments that can be used to assist the delivery of the baby. Two of the commonly used are forcep and ventouse instruments and when such instruments were used, the delivery is rather called Forceps delivery and Ventouse delivery.

Forcep delivery. When the mother is in the state of maternal distress, the doctor could initiate an external assistance called forcep delivery. The delivery is being done by using forceps to help pull out the baby from the womb.

<< Forcep delivery.
Photo courtesy to pregnancybliss.com

Another method is the use of ventouse delivery or vacuum delivery. The procedure uses ventouse or a vacuum type instrument to assist the delivery.

Ventouse or vacuum delivery are the principal forms of assisted vaginal delivery.

Both assisted methods, the forceps delivery and the vacuum delivery are proven safe in the right hands and there are only rare cases when there are complications observe.

Cancer and pregnancy

2009-05-15T13:04:00.000+08:00

While a woman feel blissful and blessed as being an expectant mother, there are situations where you cannot avoid worries about pregnancy complications and other health challenges during pregnancy. And one of these is cancer during pregnancy.

An expectant mother especially in the late middle ages are likely to develop cancer than that those of the young age, as most observations predict. Some of the most common are cervical cancer, breast, blood or the lymph system. However this seems rare in occurrence.

Serious questions are raised on this situation and some are:

Is the cancer treatable?
Is the treatment compatible with continuing pregnancy?
Will the cancer affect the baby?
Will the treatment affect the baby?
Should a termination be performed and is this an acceptable proposition? These and many more.

Also many fears that cancer will likely to spread to the fetus. Nonetheless, this does not happen and the assumption is that this is not possible.

More information are available at pregnancybliss.com

FAQs on Cesarean section

2009-05-11T16:19:00.004+08:00

My cousin's wife will be giving birth through a cesarean section delivery. So it will help the readers to further understand cesarean section through this post.

Cesarean section or the c-section is, as Wikipedia defines:

"is a surgical procedure in which incisions are made through a mother's abdomen (laparotomy) and uterus (hysterotomy) to deliver one or more babies. It is usually performed when a vaginal delivery would put the baby's or mother's life or health at risk, although in recent times it has been also performed upon request for childbirths that could otherwise have been natural."

In the most fundamental understanding, it is cutting open the abdomen and then the uterus to deliver the baby. It is therefore an abdominal delivery as opposed to the usual vaginal delivery.

Here are useful information about C-section delivery and how should you prepare for this.

Armed with these data you should not fear about having Cesarean delivery as it is a way to ensure the safety of the child and the mother.

What happens after birth

2009-05-08T13:42:00.004+08:00

You have gone through the hardships of labor and delivery, heard the baby cried and expects her/him to be placed near you if there are no complications. But aside from these, what usually happens after you gave birth? Here are some of the things to expect right after birth.

Aside from waiting your child to be placed near you, doctors and nurses, or the midwife will perform the procedures to help you recover easily and to determine if there are complications that might have result from the delivery.

Check vitals. After the delivery, your blood pressure, heart beat and other vitals will be checked most often.

Uterus repair. You might feel your uterus crushed after the delivery. The midwife or the doctor will perform the repair like if you have episiotomy repair. The repair is done with the perineum.

Massage and nursing. Your doctor or midwife will perform a "uterus massage" to help it contract and stop bleeding. This can be done every after 15 minutes.

There are a lot more to expect, however, the sight of your baby will make up for the hassles of these after-birth check-ups!

Pregnancy Scans: Fetal Anomaly Scans 20+ weeks

2009-05-08T09:05:00.008+08:00

Being an expectant mother would lead you to several medical check ups to enable you to secure the health of the child and yours. While in the course of pregnancy, you are done with the gender scan to let you know the gender of your baby, at the mid-pregnancy stage, you will be offered to take the fetal anomaly scans. But what is fetal anomaly scan and how you are examined?

The fetal anomaly scans is being done to determine if there are structural malformations to the development of the baby inside the womb.

The organs of the baby are examined in this scan such as the head, the spine, heart and the hands and the feet. Also,placenta, umbilical cord and amniotic fluid are examined.

Here are some of the anomalies that can be seen during the fetal anomaly scans:

• Anencephaly (absence of the top of the head) - 99 per cent
• Exomphalos/gastroscisis (defects of the abdominal wall) - 90 per cent
• Major limb abnormalities (missing or very short limbs) - 90 per cent
• Spina bifida (open spinal cord) - 90 per cent
• Major kidney problems (missing or abnormal kidneys) - 85 per cent
• Diaphragmatic hernia (hole in the muscle separating chest and abdomen) - 60 per cent
• Hydrocephalus (excess fluid within the brain) - 60 per cent
• Down's syndrome (some babies with Down's may have heart or bowel problems that may be seen on the scan) - 40 per cent
• Major heart problems (defects of chambers, valves or vessels) - 25 per cent
• Autism - never seen
• Cerebral palsy - never seen.

If a heart problem is recognized, you will be referred to a specialist to conduct an examination called fetal echo.

Having to understand the value of fetal anomaly scans, the knowledge will equip you to care for the well-being of the baby and yours.

Pregnancy Ultrasound: Nuchal Scans

2009-05-06T14:43:00.004+08:00

Pregnancy ultrasound is being recognized as one of the great breakthrough in the medical society. Originally, pregnancy ultrasound is used to determine the gender of a baby while inside the womb. Today, aside from gender scan, pregnancy scans has been proven useful in different conditions relating to pregnancy such as fetal abnormality assessment, cervical cancer assessment and even in identifying cases of Down's syndrome while at fetal state through Nuchal scans.

Nuchal scans is a sonographic prenatal screening being done to help identify and evaluate the risks of developing Down's Syndrome at fetal state. Down's syyndrome patients tend to have a lower than average cognitive ability, often ranging from mild to moderate developmental disabilities. A small number have severe to profound mental disability.

Nuchal scans is being done between the 11th and 13th week of gestation. This is preferred because the accuracy is best in this period. The procedure is being made by examining the thickness of the skin at the back of the baby's neck. The thickness of the skin is usually associated with Down's syndrome.

Pregnancy ultrasound helps maintain the good health of the baby and wellness of the mother like through the Nuchal Scans. The best thing with it is that it also enhances the bonding between the mother and the baby.

Seeing the baby while it is at the womb

2009-05-05T17:14:00.003+08:00

We have too many discussions about pregnancy. I want to share with you this time the excitement and the joy that you can feel when you see a baby in the womb with the 4d scans ultrasound movie! Enjoy!!!

Pregnancy conditions: Epilepsy on Pregnancy

2009-05-04T17:57:00.003+08:00

Epilepsy is defined as a chronic condition of the nervous system where there are conditions of unprovoked and recurrent seizures. This abnormality is a manifestation of excessive neurological activity in the brain. Incidents of epilepsy are often controlled and yet the cure for this condition is not yet resolved in the medical society although there are some surgery introduced. It should be clarified however that epilepsy is a collective syndromes and not a single disorder. Epilepsy is one of the conditions that should be focused into especially during pregnancy.

An expectant mother with epilepsy can face a great challenge in her life. Since it is impossible to predict seizures during pregnancy, 50% of the pregnant women with epilepsy shows no change in the frequency of seizures. The other half is believe to experience otherwise with either more or less frequent occurrence of seizures.

Pregnancy complications of epilepsy

Epilepsy can have medical complications on pregnancy as this seizures may result to miscarriage and potential bleeding. It is therefore necessary to manage epilepsy during pregnancy.

Medications

It is the patient's jurisdiction whether to take epilepsy medication during pregnancy. Since there are several treatments available, the patient should consult a physician to determine which is best for her condition. There are several treatments that could posed danger on the fetus in the womb.

Cough and colds medicine during pregnancy

2009-04-27T17:17:00.005+08:00

COUGH MEDICINES

Cough medicines are available in two variants and these are the expectorants and the cough suppressants. Most of the time, we take the variety suited for us based on the doctor's prescription. However, there are some individuals who take the medicine based on the recommendation of a friend or a companion. In this aspect, taking of cough medicine should be taken a careful observation especially when expecting a baby or during pregnancy.

Cough medicines that are called expectorants are those that claim to lessen the frequency of cough and reduce its intensity. This helps a person to sleep better. Expectorants contain codeine and sedatives such as diphenhydramine.

Based on studies, those that contain codeine causes constipation. A pregnant woman may incur problems on this and should be wary on its effect before taking expectorants that are based on codeine.

On the other hand, there are the cough suppressants. Cough suppresssants are those medicines that are released on the market that are said to help in expulsion of the sputum and secretions produced in the respiratory tract. They are supposed to relieve the symptoms by making one cough less and breathe easier.However, these claims can be easily remedied with orange juice or any juice that have high citric acid solution.

COLD MEDICINES

Taking cold medicines during pregnancy should be taken with care. Based on studies, cold medicine preparations that has pseudoephedrine and similar drugs need to be used with caution if the mother is hypertensive or has a heart disease. They may also interfere with diabetes control. However, there is no direct effect on the pregnancy itself.

In addition, those that contains antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine (Piriton®) will tend to make the mother drowsy.

Even colds and cough are considered to be simple sickness, a doctor's advise should still be sought to ensure that the medicine you take during pregnancy can relieve your condition and not worsen it.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

2009-04-20T17:53:00.002+08:00

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is one of the pregnancy problems that a woman may experience in her life. However, this problem is genetically acquired and will show the symptoms by the late teens. We will discuss Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) to enlighten those who are confused about the condition and how it can affect an expectant mother.

The typical problems that a woman will have in this condition are the ff:

Obesity: There is a tendency to be overweight or obese but this is by no means universal. Some women with polycystic ovaries will be of normal weight.

Irregular menstruation: This is very common in polycystic ovaries. Periods tend to be erratic, typically going for several weeks, even months without one. This is caused by the derangement of the hormone profile in the body.

Hirsutism: There is a tendency to increased body hair, including the very distressing facial hair. Skin changes: Acne and greasy skin can be quite prominent; again, that is an effect of high androgen activity.

Sub-fertility: Because of erratic ovulation, a woman with polycystic ovaries may have a great deal of difficulty conceiving. There is also a slightly higher tendency to miscarry.

Because the woman's reproductive system unexplainably produces more male sexual hormones called androgen than it should be, the hormone production tends to produce imbalance in the system.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by having a necklace of small cyst around the ovary. However, removing these are infeasible and would do less benefit to the woman. Genetically acquired, this is rooted from the reproductive hormone.

Treatment to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

As of writing, there is no cure for PCOS. However, the syndrome and its effects could be managed well with proper advise from doctors.

More info about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Controlling diabetes in pregnancy

2009-04-16T16:01:00.002+08:00

Diabetes in pregnancy can be in two forms: the classical and the gestational diabetes. If you already have diabetes before pregnancy, it is the classical. The difference is that gestational diabetes, begins and ends with pregnancy. But how to do you control diabetes in pregnancy?

Diabetes Screening

Diabetes can be confirmed with diabetes screening usually done through a blood test. Urine test could also be done but it is not as reliable means of screening and diagnostic. Another test is Glucose Tolerance Test or, more often, GTT.

GTT simply involves the person fasting for several hours overnight and taking a measured sugary drink in the morning. A series of blood samples are taken, normally every thirty minutes for the next two hours. Levels of sugar in each sample are analyzed.

Controlling diabetes in pregnancy

1. Exercise

2. Using insulin

3. Oral medication

Controlling diabetes in pregnancy varies from one person to another as the condition of pregnancy also varies. It is best to consult your obstetrician on how to make your pregnancy safe.

Diabetes in pregnancy

2009-04-16T15:40:00.005+08:00

Diabetes is a condition resulting from the failure of the body, the pancreas in particular to produce enough insulin, which is needed for the body to absorb sugar (glucose) into cells and process it.This may cause serious metabolic problems as there is an increase in blood sugar levels associated with long term damage and failure or organ functions. This affects the eyes, kidney, the heart and other vital organ of the body. Diabetes should be maintained regularly especially during pregnancy. The treatment do not only involve the obstetrician but also the diabetes expert, and the midwife. The condition however should not create havoc or anxiety but rather the pregnant woman should have close coordinated health maintenance to achieve better result.

Since a person with diabetes have problems with insulin production, the pregnant woman will be in insulin. There are also some instances when diabetes occur during pregnancy and ends when pregnancy ends too. This is called gestational diabetes

How can a woman have gestational diabetes?

Have symptoms of increased water intake (feeling abnormally thirsty), urinary frequency and feeling hungry and peckish more often than normal
Woman is overweight or obese.
Have close relatives with diabetes
Have a history of delivering large babies in the past
Gain an excessive amount of weight during pregnancy
Have a previous history of gestational diabetes
Are aged thirty or over.

In the next posts, we will discuss what to do when you are diagnose with gestational diabetes and how to minimized the effects.

Pregnancy after cancer treatment

2009-04-15T16:47:00.002+08:00

As a person ages, he will have medical challenges that have to be overcome and one of these is cancer. Cancer is one of diseases that is hard to bear however, when determined at an early stage, it can be cured and remedied. One of its most common type is Hodgkin’s Disease. This is often seen in women ages 15-24 and in men ages 15-35. This has excellent survival rate of 90%. Other issues are not only on the cancer stage but after the cancer treatment. Fertility is the most in question and pregnancy after cancer treatment.

Cancer treatment takes the form of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. Sometimes it is a combination of all three. However, all these three have significant effect on the fertility of the cancer survivor. Although the affected region is far from the reproductive organs, the medication itself can give difficulty for a person to retain fertility.

There are available options however that can be done to make pregnancy possible after cancer treatment. These are the ff:

With this options, pregnancy could be possible after cancer treatment and establish a new life for the cancer survivor.

Abnormal fetal CTG

2009-04-14T17:16:00.003+08:00

Obstetrics defines cardiotocography (CTG) as a technical means of recording the fetal heartbeat and the uterine contractions during pregnancy, typically in the third trimester. The machine used to perform the monitoring is called a cardiotocograph, more commonly known as an electronic fetal monitor or external fetal monitor (EFM). CTG can be used to identify signs of fetal distress.

This technology has become very helpful to determine possible fetal problems even the baby is still in the womb. However, CTG is not used in diagnosing but only to determine fetal distress.

Abnormal CTG happens when there are differences in fetal heartbeat that may increase the possibility of having Cesarean section delivery. However, to be more definitive, a sample of small blood from the baby is obtained and analyzed for possible oxygen saturation.

If the blood analysis confirms fetal distress, actions taken depend on the degree of abnormality. If the reflected distress is only mild, action such as changing the position of the mother, stopping or reducing the rate of oxytocin infusion and giving oxygen to the mother may be all that is required.

If however, a significant distress is determined, then delivery by the quickest means possible will be carried out. This may be a cesarean section but it may also be by forceps or ventouse vaginal delivery, if this is feasible.

more about abnormal CTG...

Obesity and child defects

2009-04-13T17:07:00.003+08:00

Recent studies in 1997 shows that pregnant women who are obese have a large percentage of developing babies with birth defects. Obesity in a person can cause several complication to the person itself and when a woman is conceiving, the baby in the womb likely to have complications too. Some of the pregnancy complications are: spina bifida, heart defects, genital and bowel abnormalities and small or missing digits, arms or legs.

Spina bifida. Spina bifida as wikipedia defines is a developmental birth defect involving the neural tube: incomplete closure of the embryonic neural tube results in an incompletely formed spinal cord. In addition, the vertebrae overlying the open portion of the spinal cord may not fully form and remain unfused and open. This allows the abnormal portion of the spinal cord to stick out through the opening in the bones. There may or may not be a fluid filled sac surrounding the open spinal cord.

Heart defects. One of the heart defects that can manifest with the obesity problems of the mother that can result in pregnancy complications is congenital heart disease.

Other pregnancy complications are seen physically are stunted limbs, cleft lip and palate and bowel problems like a congenital malformation of the anal opening.

It is suggested that obese mothers should regularly consult their physicians to minimize and address these pregnancy complications due to obesity.

Heartburn and stomach ulcers in pregnancy

2009-04-07T18:17:00.002+08:00

Experiencing heartburn during pregnancy is quite normal and can be taken in ease. However, there are certain circumstances where the pregnant woman should take it seriously.

Taking of antacids in the early pregnancy is said to have an impact on the congenital diseases that may result from the medication. However, this claim is not approved yet.

The best way is to have the conservative approach. This should take the form of small frequent meals, preferably rich in carbohydrates. The expectant mother should also avoid lying flat or prolonged stooping. She may also try to lie in a propped-up position at night. If all these do not work, then medication may have to be tried.

However, medical experts say that taking antacids on the second or third trimester of the pregnancy and, when required, is safe or has no effect on the baby and can be taken with ease.

Stomach ulcers

The general rule is that peptic ulcers tend to improve in pregnancy. It is exceptionally unusual for peptic ulcers to start or be diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy. There are some medicines that can be taken to address this condition and you may consult your doctor as to the safety of the medicines.

Chlamydia infection and fertility

2009-04-06T17:10:00.003+08:00

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI, STD) caused by bacteria called Chlamydia trachomatis. It is one of the most common sexually acquired bacterial infections.

Chlamydia is tagged to be a silent sexual health problem. This is for the reason that only half of the infected men of 25% of the infected women show the symptoms. Moreover, symptoms show most often long after the infection timed at 4 weeks or more.

Chlamydia as being a silent sexual problem can manifest complications including fertility.

SCREENING

Screening is recommended to women ages 25 and below against possible infections. Laboratory detection is made with Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), transcription mediated amplification (TMA), and the DNA strand displacement amplification (SDA).

NAAT for chlamydia can be done on swab specimens collected from the cervix (women) or urethra (men), on self-collected vaginal swabs, or on voided urine.

SYMPTOMS

v Vaginal discharge

v Light bleeding after sexual intercourse

v A burning sensation when passing urine

v Pain during sexual intercourse

v Light vaginal bleeding between periods

v Lower abdominal pain or discomfort

HOW DOES CHLAMYDIA AFFECTS FERTILITY?

The inflammation inside the fallopian tubes is known to cause such damage that the functional capability of the tubes is seriously compromised. This might result in permanent scarring of the tubes leading to an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy and even complete inability to conceive naturally.

HOW TO CURE CHLAMYDIA?

Chlamydia is a bacterial (not viral) infection. It is easily and successfully treated using antibiotics. It is crucial that the full course of the antibiotics is completed to ensure that the infection has been cleared from the system.

You may consult your ob-gyne to learn more about this issue or read more at pregnancy and chilldbirth answers.

Signs of pregnancy labor

2009-03-31T17:13:00.001+08:00

Realizing that the baby is about to come out or having a labor can be an exciting and yet frightening experience for women. Not only you are confused about the feelings you have but also you have tons of worries to cope up with. This is especially true when you do not know how to identify true labor from false labor. What are the signs of pregnancy labor?

Before the onset of childbirth, your body will show some signs of labor but these signs differ from one woman to another. However, generally, these are some of the signs of labor that most women felt.

1. Mucous plug. During the onset of labor and when the cervix begins to dilate, it discharges mucous. However, when it turns pinkish or red, you should be alarmed as this may be a symptom of bleeding which is a potential hazard to the baby and yourself.

2. Feeling of lightening or a movement of the baby inside the womb.

3. Sudden urge or having a burst of energy.

4. Gush of fluid coming from the vagina. Gush of fluid coming from the vagina is a serious sign that you are in labor. This may happens when water breaks or the membranes ruptured. Medical attention is immediately needed in this situation.

These signs of pregnancy labor may happen within the day that you are in labor or days before. If pregnancy is scheduled in the coming weeks or days, it is better to be seen and examined by your doctor to predict when is your childbirth.

Should I stop smoking when pregnant?

2009-03-26T17:50:00.001+08:00

Smoking is basically not good for the health. It causes a lot of health problems like cancer,heart attacks, strokes, emphysema and other respiratory problems. In addition, it is degrades physical appearance specifically at the mouth and the teeth, effects on the skin and so forth. Smoking while pregnant is definitely not recommendable and here are a few reasons why you should stop smoking when pregnant or during pregnancy.

Pre-term labor. Preterm labor is labor that occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
In this case fetus is not fully grown and may not be able to survive outside the womb. Moreover
the baby low birth weight and underdeveloped organs or organs system.

Placenta Previa. Placenta Previa is an obstetric complication in which the placenta is attached to the uterine wall close to or covering the cervix. It can some times occur in the latter part of the first trimester, but usually during the second or third. It is a leading cause of vaginal bleeding in pregnant women.

Placenta Abruption. Placental abruption (also known as abruptio placentae) is a complication of pregnancy, wherein the placental lining has separated from the uterus of the mother. It is the most common cause of late pregnancy bleeding. In humans, it refers to the abnormal separation after 20 weeks of gestation and prior to birth

Stillbirth. A stillbirth occurs when a fetus died in the uterus or during labor or delivery, while exiting a woman's body. The term is often used in distinction to live birth or miscarriage. Most stillbirths occur in full term pregnancies.

Respiratory Infections. As smoking affects the respiratory system of the mother, there are also certain diseases that can cause complications to the baby while in the womb.

There are other reasons why you should stop smoking when pregnant. This is only a few. Think of the health of your baby and have a good and happy family.

Can exercise impair fertility?

2009-03-25T11:21:00.000+08:00

Exercise is part of having a health lifestyle. It is through exercising that the body circulates the blood regularly and also, exercise helps develop the muscles of the body. However, there are claims that exercising can impair fertility. Can exercising really impair fertility?

Exercise should never impair fertility. In women, as long as the body ovulates, the fertility is not at risk. However, there are instances were underweight women can have fertility problems due to lack of production of reproductive hormone, but is not directly related to exercise.

As note, as long as a woman have monthly period, there is no problem when it comes to fertility as menstruation is a sign that a woman ovulates.

In men, there is also no risk as long as men do not take anabolic steroids. Anabolic steriods increase muscle mass dramatically, but it can also shrink the testicles, lower the sperm count.

Stages of Pregnancy Labor

2009-03-23T23:04:00.000+08:00

Young pregnant mothers may have worries on how they would recognize that they are about to have labor. Therefore, it is necessary that pregnant women are knowledgeable on how to recognize possible labor. Pregnancy labor is characterized by abdominal discomfort, low backache and irregular tightening. The tightenings get progressively stronger and more painful. However, the experience varies from one woman to another.

When labor is established, there will be the dilatation of the cervix and the descent of the baby's leading part, usually the head, into the pelvis.

The first stage concludes once the cervix dilates to its maximum (10 cm). Here, the second stage commences. This stage, which should be much shorter than the first, includes maternal efforts for the first time, in the form of pushing and actual delivery. There is, of course, the third stage of labor, which is concluded by delivery of the placenta (afterbirth). (src.pregnancybliss.com)

Basically, the labor progresses this way, however, in the majority of instances, the difficulties are neither predicted nor anticipated. About 10 and 30 per cent of all pregnancies are delivered by cesarean section so it is better to be prepared of all the possibilities.

Post-natal Pain: Which is normal and which can be alarming

2009-03-16T17:30:00.000+08:00

Most women who have not undergone pregnancy or those who are first-time mothers thought that the pain and labor of pregnancy ends after the birth of the child. However, this is not always the case. Post-natal pain can be normal as part of childbirth but there are also some cases which a woman should be alarmed.

It is normal to feel pain after the delivery because of the tear made to ease the delivery of the child. This is however repaired immediately after delivery. The procedure may bruise the vaginal and vulval areas resulting into soreness that can make walking or body movements uncomfortable. the wound nonetheless heals within three to four days after childbirth.

Despite the pain being normal, there are also some reasons why a woman may feel pain after childbirth. Hematoma (blood-clot) formation within the vaginal wall is another significant source of perineal or vaginal pain occurring shortly after delivery. Another is pelvic hematoma.

Down's Syndrome : Knowing it early

2009-03-11T16:47:00.000+08:00

Down's syndrome, or trisomy 21 is a chromosomal disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. This can be recognized early using prenatal screening. Individuals with Down syndrome may have some or all of the following physical characteristics:

1. oblique eye fissures with epicanthic skin folds on the inner corner of the eyes
2. muscle hypotonia (poor muscle tone)
3. congenital heart defects
4. single palmar fold
5. flat nasal bridge
6. white spots on the iris known as Brushfield spots
7. short neck
8. excessive joint laxity including atlanto-axial instability
9. a protruding tongue (due to small oral cavity, and an enlarged tongue near the tonsils),
10. excessive space between large toe and second toe, a single flexion furrow of the fifth finger, and a higher number of ulnar loop dermatoglyphs.

Prenatal screening

Nuchal scans. The scan is carried out at 11-13 weeks pregnancy and assesses the amount of fluid behind the neck of the fetus - also known as 'the nuchal translucency'. Fetuses at risk of Down tend to have a higher amount of fluid around the neck. The nuchal test is a Baby Ultrasound scan focusing on the thickness of skin at the back of the baby's neck. Thickened skin is commonly associated with Downs syndrome and other chromosome abnormalities.

Each pregnant woman's risk is estimated by a complex mathematical formula combining the results of the woman's hormone tests, her age, and the ultrasound measurement of the skin thickness on the back of the baby's neck (nuchal thickness). Other ultrasound features taken into account include nasal bone measurements. The accuracy of this non-invasive test is estimated at about 97%. The results, usually available within 24 hours, will then be given to the parents following full counselling. Further tests may be recommended.

If you have regular medical consultations, your doctor may require you to take the nuchal scans to check the possibility of the Down's syndrome.

Pregnancy: Waterbirth

2009-03-11T16:11:00.000+08:00

Waterbirth has becoming a popular alternative to childbirth in the modern times. This is due to the claimed relaxation and less stressful labor and delivery of the child. Waterbirth as pregnancy birth alternative method is done literally in water. There are specialized pools used for waterbirth allowing two people inside.

Water birth is meant to offer an alternative to the drug-based pain relief methods. It is also supposed to offer a possibility of a less stressful labor, in allowing more freedom of movement and changing position, because of the buoyancy of the body in water. (src: pregnancybliss.com)

Preparing for waterbirth:

Here are some of the things that needs to be done prior to planned waterbirth.

1. Thorough discussion on the method of labor and delivery with the parents-to-be.
2. Obstetric assessment will be made to ensure there are no factors or pregnancy problems which will contraindicate labor in water.
3. Before entering the pool, a shower is taken and the midwife ensures the rectum is empty. This is done by administering a gentle enema if necessary.
4. Electronic fetal monitoring (CTG) will be done for at least thirty minutes prior to entering the pool, to ensure that the baby is fine.

Waterbirth is indeed another breakthrough in childbirth and pregnancy. However, as any other method will do, pregnancy factors should be considered prior to the procedure to ensure the health of the baby and the mother and safe delivery.

4d scans ultrasound: when life begins at the womb

2009-03-09T16:05:00.000+08:00

Pregnancy is one of the blissful moments in a woman's life. Not only it becomes a realization of a successful relationship between couples but also it is a new life born out of commitment and love. When life begins at the womb, all care and extra precautions are undertaken to ensure the health and the life of the child. Obstetrics is the medical application of using 3D ultrasound technologies. However with the more advanced technology that we have, four-dimensional scanning has also been available which is popularly known as the 4d scans.

4d scans is similar to the 3d scanning method of pregnancy scans. 3d scanning captures the image of the fetus three-dimensional. When these images are captured rapidly and animated it produces the 4d scans.

The 4d scans ultrasound is performed by a fully trained ultrasonographer or consultant. It is done on the abdomen similar to earlier pregnancy scans. The images are collected by the ultrasound machine, processed in its computer memory to give a three-dimensional image. Therefore, no known risk to safety of mother or baby.

4d scans or the 3d scans is usually not intended as diagnostic tools for fetal problems, however during the process, when a problem has been discovered, you can be referred to the hospital to have a more comprehensive idea of your pregnancy condition.

For additional readings on 4d scans FAQs, you can refer to 4D Baby Scans FAQs.

Kinds of Pregnancy Scans ultrasound at different intervals during pregnancy

2009-02-26T16:09:00.000+08:00

We have discussed earlier in the blogposts the importance of pregnancy ultrasound and why it is much needed. However, pregnancy scans should be performed depending on purpose at which the pregnancy intervals is highly considered. There are kinds of pregnancy scans and we will discuss them for you to learn the difference of each other.

Fetal Gender (20+ weeks)

Fetal gender scan is a pregnancy scans made for 20 weeks and above to determine the gender of the fetus. This is meticulously performed ultrasound scan examining each system to identify any problems present. The examination includes brain, spine, face, chest including heart and lungs, the liver, stomach and bowel, kidneys and limbs.

Nuchal Scan (11-13 weeks)

The nuchal test is a Baby Ultrasound scan focusing on the thickness of skin at the back of the baby's neck. Thickened skin is commonly associated with Downs syndrome and other chromosome abnormalities.

Cervical Assessment (20-24 weeks)

Ultrasound may help identify women who are likely to miscarry or have a premature labour due to a weak cervix. The weakness is reflected by the shortening of the cervix as measured by ultrasound every 2 or 3 weeks. This examination is usually valuable in women with a history of premature labour or repeated miscarriages after the first trimester, that is, from 13 weeks onwards.

Fetal Wellbeing & Reassurance Scan (22-42 weeks)

Involves assessing the baby's growth by measuring the tummy and head size, the water around the baby, the baby's activity and adequacy of blood flowing around the baby using Doppler.

3D and 4D baby Scans (24-32 Weeks)

This is made to get a three or four dimensional image of the baby in the womb which may help see the gender or recognize fetal problems like malformation of the hand or the limbs.

src: www.pregnancy-and-baby-ultrasoundscan.co.uk

Why is pregnancy ultrasound needed?

2009-02-25T17:38:00.000+08:00

With the onset of new technology, pregnancy can never be as simple as it used to be. Today, you can see the baby inside the womb with pregnancy ultrasound. But is that all the importance of ultrasound? Why is ultrasound needed? What is 4d scans ultrasound? We will further answer these questions as we go along in the topic.

Pregnancy ultrasound is a procedure where a moderated frequency is introduce to the external skin of the abdomen. This frequency then generates images resulting into the figure of the baby. In the prior years, ultrasound is recognized as either two-dimensional or 3D. Now you can also have the 4d scans ultrasound.

4d scans ultrasound or 4d scans is like the 3d scan only that the fetal movements could be monitored. Because the procedure rapidly capture the image, it produces the 4d baby ultrasound scans.

Why is pregnancy ultrasound needed?

Some of the reasons why pregnancy ultrasound is performed are :

1. For Diagnosis and confirmation of early pregnancy or expected pregnancy.

2. To confirm the confirm the site of the pregnancy is within the cavity of the uterus.

3. For diagnosis of fetal malformation in the early stage of pregnancy.

4. To determine the presence of more than one fetus.

For you to be sure if you will need a pregnancy ultrasound during your pregnancy period, your doctor will be the best authority who can give you the advise.

Breast Feeding Guide (part 2) : Breasts structural changes

2009-02-20T01:08:00.000+08:00

Earlier in the blog posts, we have discussed some topics about breast feeding that concerns young moms. These include simple questions like how to breast feed the baby and when should it be done. I am writing the second part of the topic on Breast feeding guide and we will discuss topics which may have caused some hesitations to women to breast feed like the questions on body structure, the urgency of breast feeding while in public places and related topics.

Breasts structural changes

Breast Firmness

Many women hesitate on breast feeding their babies especially when they are greatly concerned on the breast structure. This may have been a result of their fear that breast feeding can make the breasts sag and less firm. On the contrary, firmness of the breast is affected by the changes that happened during pregnancy as effect of the hormones that are in high concentrations during pregnancy. This means that the factors that cause the change are rather internal than the skin outside.

Inverted Nipples

Women who have inverted nipples can have problems on breast feeding their youngs. While this may be a great dilemma of the past, there are various solutions that can be applied to solve the problem.

A breast pump can be used to relieve nipple inversion and is often successful. Alternatively, dedicated devices like the ‘Nipple enhancer’ can be used to achieve that.

Breast feeding in urgency

You would not know when the baby is hungry until he complains. This can be a problem especially when you are in public places. While bottle feeding can be an alternative, this is not advisable. In some department stores, there are some locations allotted to serve this need.

These are some topics on breast feeding that concerns the body structure. If you aim for the good health of the child, you should be able to breast feed the baby exclusively for 6 months whenever possible.

Read more about pregnancy and childbirth and let us aim for the better health of the child and the mother.

Still birth and miscarriage : keeping you and your baby safe

2009-02-19T15:43:00.000+08:00

Knowing that you are pregnant can bring bliss and joy not only to you but to your family. For this reason, pregnancy is taken in the utmost care through preventive measures and regular consultation with a doctor. Any failure to provide the care and result to pregnancy complications can be disheartening and tragic especially to moms whose bonding with her baby in the womb has been strongly established. One of these failures is stillbirth which can cause emotional troubles and deep anguish to couple. Let us understand what is still birth and if there are some things that mothers could do to keep away from its causes.

Most often stillbirth and miscarriage are often interchanged one from the other. However, while some people may think that there is a thin line that distinguishes both, differences can be clearly outlined with the right knowledge.

Stillbirth happens when a fetus which has died in the uterus or during labor or delivery exits a woman's body. The term is often used in distinction to live birth or miscarriage. Most stillbirths occur in full term pregnancies.

Miscarriage on the other hand, is death of a baby before birth after 24 complleted weeks, or after weight of 500 gms or more.

Prevalence of stillbirth

"In developed countries of Western Europe, stillbirth occurs in three to four in 1000 live births. This merely means that for every 1000 babies born alive, there will be three or four stillborn babies. In the USA, where the gestational cut-off point is lower, the rate is seven in 1000. In developing countries of Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia, the rate is estimated to be significantly higher at 32 per 1000." (src: pregnancybliss.com)

When the gestation is not known, the weight of the fetus will determine whether it is to be classified as a late miscarriage or a stillbirth. If the fetus weight is more than 500 grams (1.1 lb), this will be a stillbirth and be registered as such. If it is below this weight, it will be classified as a miscarriage (500 grams is the average weight at 24 weeks of gestation).(src: pregnancybliss.com)

In the next blog post, we will continue what causes stillbirth and how can it be recognized in early stages.

Breast feeding guide

2009-02-18T22:59:00.000+08:00

Breast feeding can be one of the most challenging experiences for new mothers. Aside from the fact that this can be the first-time experience, this can also be awkward for some, while others may worry changes in breast shapes, or may doubt if they can supply the milk needed by their baby. In this topic, we will discuss some taboos, and FAQs that will clear all doubts and questions of the start of motherhood.

When should breast feeding be introduced?

The body does not produce milk while pregnant. When the baby is delivered, the breasts can already be sucked to feed the baby. It is suggested that suckling should be introduced to the child in the soonest time possible. Shortly after delivery, the breasts produce a protein-rich fluid called colostrum. The baby can be put on the breast within minutes or hours of delivery and can feed on this.

When will you know that you need to breast feed the baby?

Like adults, the baby has the natural instinct to complain when he is hungry. the doubt of overfeeding should never be thought of as babies will not suck milk when they are not hungry.

Which breast should the baby feed on?

Suggestedly, breast feeding should be done alternately. However, the mother should ensure that the breast is emptied before she switches the child to another breasts. This is because there are differences on the fore-milk and the hind-milk. The fore-milk is rich in protein and water, while the hind-milk is rich in fat. Moving the baby from one breast to the other before one is empty means he or she is likely to miss out on the fat-rich hind-milk which is so crucial at this stage of life. Complete emptying is also important in maintaining lactation. Incomplete emptying has a long-term effect of reducing the amount of milk produced.

to be continued...

Breast feeding is the best for babies

2009-02-10T17:49:00.000+08:00

The health of a child is considered to the utmost importance especially by the mothers. This is for the very reason that the feeding of the child has a great effect on the development of the child. This lead to the birth of many baby foods and milk supplements however, breast feeding has been recognized as the best for the growth and health of the baby.

Here are some of the benefits of breast feeding:

Human milk is natural and tailor-made for the human baby, so it has all the necessary ingredients in the right proportions.
The act of suckling promotes contraction of the uterus and promotes its rapid reduction of size.
In addition, and most importantly, this milk is safe and virtually free. It is also convenient because it is readily available, clean and at the ideal temperature, thus avoiding the hassles of preparing a feed which characterize bottle feeding.
There is increasing evidence that, on average, breast-fed babies attain higher Iqs and therefore perform better academically than their bottle-fed counterparts.

Another factor to consider is the capability of the breast milk to give protection to the child. Colostrum and breast-milk are rich in antibodies which give the baby with passive immunity, thus protecting him or her against a variety of infections. There is evidence also that breast-fed babies are less prone to develop allergies.

In the next discussions we will discuss how can busy moms can do breast feeding despite of hectic schedule of their work.

Ovulation and determining Pregnancy

2009-01-30T13:44:00.000+08:00

Before we discuss how ovulation determines pregnancy, let us first define ovulation. Ovulation is part of the menstrual cycle at which mature ovarian follicle ruptures and discharges an ovum (also known as an oocyte, female gamete, or casually, an egg) that participates in reproduction. Every month, an ovum matures inside the ovary.

Ovulation takes part in pregnancy. In order to get pregnant, the ovum should meet with the sperm through sexual intercourse which should occur in one to two days before ovulation to about 24 hours afterward.

It is best that you are familiar with your menstrual cycle and know when exactly you ovulate. Figures show that 85% of women who have sex without birth control has the likelihood to get pregnant within the year.

Pregnancy Ultrasound: Bond with the baby inside your womb

2009-01-20T12:34:00.000+08:00

Getting pregnant can be overwhelming to some especially when mothers are not prepared. However, the fears diminish when the woman realizes that she is carrying a life within her womb. This can create a bond between the mother and the child especially if the mother has an actual experience of seeing the baby in her womb. While this may be impossible in the past, this has been already available now through pregnancy ultrasound. With pregnancy ultrasound, the mother can have a bonding experience with the baby while it is inside the womb.

Baby ultrasound is a frequency diagnostic procedure used to pass high frequency waves to the body of the woman. This in turn, reflects back echo which is then analyzed to create the image of what is inside the womb- the baby .

Types of pregnancy ultrasound

2d scans is the most common obstetric diagnostic mode. This is generated with a two-dimensional area for the scanned body area. However, this is unable to determine the gender of the child assound waves being sent straight down and reflected back.

In the 3d scanning, the sound waves are sent at different angles compared to that of the 2d scan. The process enables the procedure to generate a three-dimensional image to create the image of the fetus.

4d scans is an ultrasound used in medical technology to know the gender of the gender of a child while it is still at the womb. During pregnancy, it is expected how excited couples can be with the baby.

When and how to use pregnancy tests (home pregnancy test)

2009-01-14T14:43:00.000+08:00

You have missed period and it is the first time that you have such delayed. If you didn't have sexual intercourse, there is nothing to worry about. Delayed menstruation can be a result of stress. However, if it is otherwise and you are not yet sure to visit the doctor, your immediate alternative can be the home pregnancy test. Pregnancy test are often done 7 days after you missed your menstruation.

Most often home pregnancy test are accurate when done properly. Here are some tips how to get the accurate results.

Follow instructions carefully. Most often you will be required 3 to 4 drops of urine specimen. It is recommended that home pregnancy is done during the early morning on the first urine so as to have high concentration of HCG. Wait until 5-10 minutes before reading the results. This is to ensure that the specimen is absorb thoroughly and the HCG and avoid the development of evaporation lines.

If you are still unsure of the result, it is best to consult your doctor or obstetrician to satisfy your doubts.

Preparing for pregnancy

2009-01-09T12:48:00.000+08:00

There are many things that will keep you busy when preparing for pregnancy.
It is best that you are aware of these so as to keep your body healthy and that of the child that you bear.

Cesarean Section: The Operation

2009-01-08T16:49:00.000+08:00

It is easy for doctors and midwives, who live with this common operation in their daily working lives, to assume that everybody knows what happens. In fact, many women confront it with no idea as to what it actually entails save for delivery of the baby.

Basically, a cesarean delivery will involve cutting open the abdomen and then the uterus to deliver the baby. It is therefore an abdominal delivery as opposed to the usual vaginal delivery.

Indications for cesarean section

Cesarean section can and is performed for a whole variety of reasons. Some indications are the mother’s (maternal) and others are baby’s (fetal). Very occasionally, it is because of issues to bo with both. Listed below are some of the more common maternal indications.

Ø Maternal pelvis: if the birth canal is deemed too narrow to allow safe passage of the baby, a cesarean section will be the only option. This state of affairs may be recognized following previous experience such as labour that was very difficult or that never progressed beyond a certain point. In such a case the cesarean section will be planned electively. It may otherwise be discovered in the course of labour and cesarean section is resorted to.

Ø Previous cesarean section: In the United States, less than 10% of women with previous cesarean section have a vaginal delivery. Figures in Europe and other parts of the world are a lot higher. Previous cesarean delivery is not always an indication for repeat cesarean section, except in a situation where the reasons for the previous cesarean section are still there, such as a narrow pelvis.

Ø Medical conditions: Presence of serious medical conditions such as heart failure or serious respiratory conditions is sometimes deemed an indication for cesarean delivery in order to circumvent the stresses and strains of labor. More often, instrumental (vaginal) delivery in the form of forceps or ventouse is opted for.

Ø Abnormal placental position: A low-lying placenta (a condition known as "placenta previa") is an indication for cesarean delivery.

Ø Placental abruption: If the placenta detaches partially or wholly during pregnancy or labour, emergency cesarean section may be performed, especially if there is hope of saving the baby.

Ø Previous plastic or corrective surgery to the vagina: If childbirth risks undoing the previous surgery, then the only way of getting around this problem is to perform a cesarean section.

Ø Failure to progress in labour: if labour appears to be getting nowhere in spite of everything, abdominal delivery may be the only option.

(src: pregnancybliss.com)

If you are unsure whether you will be needing the cesarean operation, it is best to ask your doctor if cesarean operation would be the last option.

Pregnancy Bliss: Pregnancy Exercises

2009-01-06T10:53:00.000+08:00

Pregnancy can be frustrating to physically active women as it may limit one's body movement. However, if you do not have special pregnancy, you can try light exercises so as you can prepare your body during childbirth. A regular walk, a swim and taking the stairs instead of an elevator might just serve the purpose. We will discuss the benefits of exercising during pregnancy in the later discussions.

Benefits of exercising during pregnancy

Exercising during pregnancy will lead to reduction in things such as bloatedness, backache, fatigue and headache - all common problems during pregnancy.

Women who exercise have also reported significant reduction in shortness of breath and constipation.

Impact of exercise on weight gain during pregnancy

One has to be careful here. Weight gain in pregnancy is no bad thing and one should never set out to try to prevent this. However, a number of things account for the weight gained. These include the growing uterus and its contents; increase in the blood volume; retained water and deposited fat - usually on the abdominal wall and thighs.

Most of this weight requires little or no effort to get rid of after delivery. The exception is the deposited fat.

Exercise in pregnancy, even in moderation, limits the amount of fat deposited under the skin. This, in turn, reduces the effort required after delivery to shift this weight.

(src: www.pregnancybliss.com)

Checklists on Pre-conception

2008-12-22T16:31:00.000+08:00

After being able to confirm that you are pregnant with several pregnancy tests, you might be decided to see your doctor for official confirmation on your pregnancy. Nonetheless, your doctor may see it necessary to do several laboratory test before you can take home your confirmed pregnancy results. Pre-conception can be defined with a checklist that may be helpful in preparing you to conceive.

There are several things to do and tests to be made to confirm your pregnancy status. Here are some of the things that your doctor may request from you, however we will not tackle them all as the list may go on and on.

Medical History
Urinalysis
Pelvic Examination
Blood test
Blood Pressure test
Pap smear

We will discuss each of the stated terms above mentioned as part of the checklist on pre-conception, in the next discussions here at Pregnancy and Childbirth Answers for you to know the importance of each in preparing for your baby and in being a mother.

Ensuring good health during pregnancy

2008-12-19T10:37:00.000+08:00

After being able to know that you are pregnant through pregnancy symptoms or through pregnancy tests, or maybe by directly consulting your doctor, your doctor might be able to prescribe you vitamins and supplements to support your pregnancy. It is therefore necessary that we are informed of the roles and functions of these vitamins and supplements to ensure good health during pregnancy not only of yourself as a mother but also of the baby inside the womb.

Doctors may not be able to prescribe the same brand of vitamins, but there are preferences. Nonetheless, they have the same functions and these can be recognized with the generic name. There are some vitamins which are very necessary to ensure good health during pregnancy and these will be discussed later in the topic.

There are two groups of vitamins, the fat soluble and the water soluble. Water soluble vitamins are not stored in the body therefore it is necessary that these are maintained and replenished. Vitamins that belongs to this category are the B group and C. Meanwhile the Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble. You have to remember the logic so as this will guide you to ensure good health during pregnancy.

Water soluble vitamins that belongs to the B group are the following:

Thiamine (B1)

Riboflavin (B2)

Niacin (B3)

Pantothenic Acid (B5)

Pyridoxine (B6)

Biotin (B7)

Folic Acid (B9)

Cyanocobalamin (B12)

You may research the functions of these but it is advise that you asked your doctor if you need a particular vitamins or a multivitamins to ensure good health during pregnancy.

Pregnancy Tests: Knowing your pregnant without the assumptions

2008-12-18T16:19:00.000+08:00

Having a baby is one of the blessings that one can have. While some may be quite sure to know that they are pregnant based on pregnancy symptoms and also on their own previous pregnancy experience(s), it would be wiser however, to know your exact condition clinically through pregnancy tests.

There are a number of pregnancy test kits that are sold out in the market and can be bought over-the-counter even without doctor's prescription. Many women resort to this method as this can be a cheaper means to know if you are pregnant. Nonetheless, there are some who question the reliability of the results, due to a few inconsistencies. But what are the other types of pregnancy tests and how it is being done?

There are two kinds of pregnancy tests, the urine at the blood tests.

Urine pregnancy test is the most common test being used by women because of its affordability and accessibility. This is the common application used by over-the-counter pregnancy test kits.

The pregnancy hormone detected in the urine tests is known as hCG. This stands for human chorionic gonadotrophin (www. pregnancybliss.com). Most common in home pregnancy test, a piece of rectangular object(see above image) is dropped with urine and the number of lines that appear becomes the indicator for the results (e.g. one line= negative; two lines= positive).

The blood pregnancy test on the otherhand, is being done by getting a few samples of blood and analyzing the hCG content. Blood tests are considered more accurate than urine tests as blood tests can can detect hCG levels as low as 1 mIU/mL, while urine tests have published detection thresholds of 20 mIU/mL to 100 mIU/mL, which also vary depending on the brand of the urine pregnancy kit.

You may miss one period, and if you are regular, it is advise that you consult your doctor for the accuracy of the results of pregnancy test.

How do you know you are pregnant?

2008-12-17T15:32:00.000+08:00

While you may have some occasions of nausea and vomiting, especially when you are sexually active, this however does not mean that you are already pregnant. There are situations that this becomes a false alarm. But what are exactly the symptoms that you may experience when you are pregnant or during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is one of the blissful moments that a couple may have been waiting for. This may signify the ultimate union of the partners and also a sign for the building of a family. However, there are situations like what we call, "false alarm" which may rather cause disappointment rather than blissful moments. It is therefore necessary that you are informed of the probable symptoms that you may experience.

Being pregnant involves a collective symptoms and conditions which may justify that you are pregnant. These may include, nausea and vomiting, morning sickness, gets tired easily, series of headaches and so forth. Aside from these, there can also be emotional and of course, physical changes that a woman my experience.

It is notable that women who are pregnant will inevitably notice her abdomen becomes larger as the baby grows. Moreover, the breasts change during pregnancy in preparation for the lactation of the mother to the new born.

If you are doubtful of the symptoms, it will be necessary that you consult an obstetrician or your family doctor to include laboratory and other pregnancy tests.

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2008-12-16T17:05:00.000+08:00

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