Archive for the ‘Parenting & Families’ Category

By the time the developing being is 2 weeks old, the placenta, or afterbirth, may begin to develop. The villi, embedded in the lining of the uterus, are joining primitive blood vessels, which tap into the woman’s blood supply. The function of the placenta is to supply the growing being with the oxygen gnat nutrients it needs from the woman’s blood system and to pass to the scan the waste products it does not need.

The fetal blood is always separate from the maternal blood. Substances are issued back and forth through a semipermeable membrane. At one time, the placenta was thought to act as a barrier to materials that might hurt the fetus, however, it is now known that almost everything that enters the woman’s ricer—including viruses, drugs, nicotine, and alcohol—is passed to the fetus. The placenta continues to grow until about 2 months before delivery, when r 7raches its maximum size. At that time, it is about the size and shape of a firmer plate, approximately 8 to 9 inches in diameter, but thicker and heavier, weighing 1 to 2 pounds at birth. The side that is attached to the uterine wall M dark red and has sections like circular puzzle pieces in it. These are areas of tissue may be apparent. These are areas of calcification, and hey denote places that have degenerated. Women who smoke during pregnancy have more of these than do women who do not smoke. The side of the Macenta that is next to the fetus is white and smooth, being covered by a membrane, the amniotic sac.

Nutrients coming from the woman pass to the blood vessels in the placenta. From the placenta, they move through the umbilical cord into the blood circulating within the fetus.

Inside the umbilical cord are three blood vessels—one large vein and two smaller arteries. Nutrients travel from the placenta to the s through the vein. Waste products return to the placenta through the arteries to be passed into the woman’s system. A jellylike substance surrounds the blood vessels and helps to protect them.

The umbilical cord begins to develop during the second week and usually grows to about 18 inches in length, although it is possible for it to grow to anywhere from 12 inches to 40 inches. After the birth of the baby, the cord is clamped and cut. A stump remains, but dries up and falls off in 7 to 10 days.

Ultrasound was developed during World War I when high frequency sound waves were used to detect enemy submarines. The form of ultrasound used in pregnancy testing uses intermittent sound waves. The sound waves are directed into the woman’s abdomen, with an outline of the placenta, and other structures involved in the pregnancy transmitted to a video screen. A sonogram is often used to determine fetal position, to estimate the maturity of the baby, is to confirm a multiple pregnancy. In addition, the location of the placenta can be pinpointed when placenta previa (low implanted placenta) is suspected. Ultrasound is also used to visualize the baby and placenta when amniocentesis or CVS is being performed. Since X-rays are now considered dangerous in developing babies, ultrasound is used instead.

Many doctors use ultrasound routinely to determine the due time. When the test is performed between the fourteenth and twentieth weeks, it is accurate to within 1 week before or after the estimated date. Later in pregnancy, and especially after the thirty-second week, it is not as accurate at determining due date of variations in fetal growth. In a higher-risk pregnancy, accurate due date is important for making sure that the infant is delivered at the best time. Routine ultrasound is usually done during the sixteenth and nineteenth weeks of pregnancy.

Ultrasound can also be directed in a continuous wave to the baby’s heart rate. This is done during routine examinations using a doptone. Most often, it is done during labor using an electronic fetal monitor.

This type of profile includes fetal movements, muscle tone, amount of amniotic fluid, and fetal breathing movements. The test is usually done in higher risk pregnancies to assure fetal well-being and to determine the best time for delivery.

Diagnostically, ultrasound is preferred over X-rays. However, many doctors now use ultrasound routinely during labor, as well as recommending one or more sonograms during pregnancy. The same as other procedures, ultrasound should not be used indiscriminately, and you have the legal right to refuse it. A 6-year study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, a division of NIH, concluded that no benefit is derived from the routine use of ultrasound in low-risk pregnancies. This study, the largest ever conducted, found that prenatal outcome was not improved by routine screening when compared with the selective use of ultrasonography based on the caregiver’s judgment. The investigators estimated that $1 billion a year could be saved if sonograms are limited to higher-risk pregnancies and other cases in which it is medically indicated.

If your caregiver requests a sonogram and you do not have insurance to cover the cost, ask if the procedure is medically necessary and what information your caregiver hopes to receive. Also, ask if the information will change your care. In addition, if you are going to have a sonogram, you may want to ask about the credentials of the person performing and interpreting the test. Does that person have training or certification in ultrasonography? The FDA has guidelines regarding the intensity of the machines and the amount of time a fetus should be exposed.

Because so much information can be gained about the fetus through diagnostic ultrasound, and because studies have not shown any long-term effects on babies, many doctors feel strongly that the benefits of ultrasound outweigh the risks. Others, however, oppose its use without a medical indication, since routine screening of all women is still not recommended by the NIH or the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

• If you are like most women, traveling during pregnancy is no problem, as long as you follow a few guidelines. These guidelines are:
• Check with your caregiver to make sure there are no special healthcare contacts that would prevent you from traveling.
• Try to plan any trips for your second trimester, when comfort is the greatest.
• While traveling, walk around often to improve circulation.
• Wear comfortable shoes and clothing.
• Take along light snacks and juice to prevent hunger and decrease nausea.
• Do not take motion sickness pills or any other medications before checking walk your caregiver.
• Take time to eat regular, nutritious meals.
• Eat plenty of high fiber foods to ease constipation.
• Get your usual amount of sleep and rest often. Elevate your feet.
• If you are traveling far from home, take a copy of your medical record and get the name of a doctor or facility where you could go for treatment if nectarine.
• If traveling by car, do not ride for more than 6 hours a day. Stop every 1 to 2 hours to walk around. Always wear a seat belt.
• If traveling by air, sit in an aisle seat for the greatest comfort. Wear layers of clothing so that you can adjust as the cabin temperature changes. Drink plenty of fluids.
• If traveling overseas, drink only bottled beverages. Do not use ice in your drinks and do not eat raw, unpeeled fruits or vegetables. Also, avoid raw meat, and make sure that any milk you drink has been pasteurized.

The best guideline you can follow is to keep your plans flexible and to change them according to your body’s signals. If you use common sense, traveling during pregnancy can be a pleasure, not an inconvenience.

The major physical changes that women experience during the third trimester include the following:

• Uterus. Toward the end of pregnancy, the uterus reaches the breastbone, or sternum, and measures about 11 by 14 inches. Lightening occurs from 1 to 6 weeks before delivery. This means that the baby’s head settles downward into the pelvis and may engage in the pelvic inlet. Braxton-Hicks contractions become stronger and more apparent as the time for delivery approaches. The cervix becomes softer during the last few weeks and may begin to thin out and open up a little in pregnancy for labor. The woman may feel a sharp pain in the groin if she moves suddenly. This pain is caused by a spasm in or stretching of the round ligaments. These ligaments support the uterus and extend into the groin area on both sides.
• Vagina. As the pregnancy nears its end, more mucus is passed vaginally in titration for the baby’s passage. The vaginal swelling also increases and may result in discomfort during sexual intercourse.
• Digestion. The growing uterus puts pressure on the stomach and intestines, pushing them up and back. Heartburn, a burning sensation felt in the chest, may occur. This is caused by the escape of gastric contents into the esophagus as a result of the relaxation of the sphincter at the top of the stomach. Problems with constipation may continue.
• Breathing. Shortness of breath is common because the uterus is pushing up to the diaphragm. This improves after lightening. Many women also experience nasal congestion and may even have nosebleeds.
• Vision. Some women experience a change in vision, possibly requiring new glasses or preventing them from wearing their contacts. Report any change in vow to your caregiver, since it may be the result of gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, or another serious problem.
• Calculation. Varicose veins may develop in the legs, vulva, or rectum (hemorrhoids). Varicose veins are caused by the increased pelvic pressure exerted to the uterus and growing fetus, as well as by the decrease in blood returned than the lower body and limbs. They usually diminish after delivery.
• Urination. The need to urinate usually increases, especially after lightening occurs. This is caused by the pressure of the baby on the bladder.
• Fatigue. Carrying around the extra weight causes fatigue to return during the last trimester.

The major physical changes that women experience during the second trimester include the following:

• The Uterus. The uterus begins to expand out of the pelvis and into the abdominal cavity by the fourteenth week. By the twentieth week, which is midway through the second trimester, the uterus is usually at the level of the navel. A woman pregnant for the first time usually begins to feel the movements of the uterus at about 16 to 18 weeks. Women who have already borne at least one tad often feel these movements earlier. When the movements are first perceived, seizes are about 7 inches long and weighs less than 1 pound. The woman may feel mild uterine contractions, called Braxton-Hicks contractions.
• Vagina. The tissues of the vagina continue to soften and become more elastic, preparing for the baby’s passage at birth.
• Pelvis. Hormones cause the cartilage to soften and widen to provide additional mobility and relaxation in the pelvic joints. This allows a large baby to pass through more easily.
• Breasts. Colostrum, a clear yellow fluid that precedes mature breast milk is often present by 16 weeks.
• Circulation. By the end of the second trimester, the blood volume has increased by 40 to 60 percent and the heart has begun pumping more blood per beat. Edema (swelling) is common because of the pressure from the enlarging uterus, and the increase in estrogen. The fluid will tend to pool in your feet and hands. Resting on your side will improve your circulation and will help to relieve the edema. Increasing your protein intake will help to decrease the swelling.
• The Linea Nigra. The linea nigra is a dark line that appears on the abdomen during pregnancy. It is common and is attributed to the hormonal activity of pregnancy. It occurs after delivery, although it may continue to be visible.
• Stretch Marks. Many women develop at least some stretch marks during pregnancy. Stretch marks appear when the connective tissue is stretched to the point of rupture. They are red or pink lines and may appear on the abdomen, thighs, or breasts. After delivery, they fade to white. By massaging oil or lotion into the vulnerable areas prevents stretch marks although heredity seems to be a more important factor.

Blood type is identified by two major components—a letter (A, B, AB, or 0) and the Rh factor. If your blood contains the Rh factor, you are Rh positive; if it lacks this factor, you are Rh negative. Therefore, if your blood type is AB and you are Rh-negative, you are said to have AB-negative blood.

If an Rh-negative person receives Rh-positive blood, she will become sensitized and her body will produce antibodies to attack the foreign red blood cells. This is significant in pregnancy for an Rh-negative woman because if her mate is Rh positive, the child can be Rh positive. During amniocentesis or the delivery of the placenta, it is possible for the baby’s blood to come in contact with the mother’s blood. If this happens, the mother’s body will produce antibodies against the Rh positive cells. These antibodies will attack the Rh-positive blood cells and cause them to die. This disease is called hemolytic disease of the newborn. Since the sensitization does not occur until after the birth, the first baby is not affected, unless the woman was previously sensitized and not treated. If a woman is not treated and becomes pregnant again with an Rh-positive baby, the antibodies will cross the placenta and kill the fetus’s red blood cells.

To prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn, RhoGAM, an Rh-immune globulin, is administered after the birth of an Rh-positive infant, as well as after a miscarriage, an abortion, or amniocentesis. It is also given at 28 weeks of pregnancy. RhoGAM acts by suppressing the specific immune response of Rh-negative individuals to Rh-positive red blood cells. Since the woman does not produce antibodies, subsequent pregnancies will not be affected, and the woman can give birth to healthy newborns in the future. Hemolytic disease of the newborn is rare since the development of RhoGAM.

If a baby is born before the thirty-seventh week of pregnancy – more than weeks early – the birth is called preterm and the baby premature. Premature birth represents the greatest health risk to newborns. Preterm babies have increased risk of neonatal problems. Their lungs and other organs may not ready to function yet. Respiratory distress is the greatest concern, and babies often have difficulty maintaining their body temperature. In addition their sucking may be weak, and they are more susceptible to infection.

Women who are more likely to go into preterm labor include those w had a previous miscarriage or preterm birth; who have an over distend uterus from a multiple pregnancy or from an excess of amniotic fluid; smoke, take drugs, or are malnourished; who are under the age of 18 or over 35; who are experiencing a high degree of emotional distress; who have jobs that involve standing for long periods or enduring other stressful working conditions; and who have a vaginal or urinary tract infection or an infection of the membranes of the amniotic sac.

Preterm labor can often be stopped if it is caught in time. The treatment f preterm labor includes bed rest; antibiotics, if indicated, for infection; possibly medications to relax the uterus and stop the contractions. While so studies question the efficacy of bed rest, it is the current treatment of choice The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a test that can predict whether a pregnant woman is about to experience a preterm birth. The test detects a substance called fetal fibronectin in the cervical/vaginal secretions. Fetal fibronectin is an adhesive protein that serves as “natural glue” on the placenta. The substance changes into a lubricant just before labor begins. It should not be present in the cervical/vaginal secretions after twenty-second week of pregnancy unless there is a problem, such as an infection. Its presence indicates a high risk of delivering within the next 2 weeks.

In cases of impending preterm birth between 24 and 34 weeks gestation, a treatment is available that accelerates fetal lung maturity. Synthetic steroids wit been shown to reduce the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome and brain hemorrhage in newborns by 50 percent and to reduce death rates by 40 percent. According to a recommendation of the National Institutes of Health this medication should be used when delivery prior to 34 weeks gestation is likely, unless the medication will have an adverse effect on the woman or delivery is imminent. If you experience any signs of labor more than 3 weeks before your due date, contact your caregiver right away.

You should begin receiving prenatal care the moment you suspect you are pregnant. All of your baby’s vital organs will have already begun forming by time. The person you choose as your caregiver will be the one providing you prenatal care. He or she will chart your progress during your pregnancy and will watch for any signs that indicate a potential problem.

When you visit your caregiver’s office for your first prenatal examination you will have a complete medical history taken and a physical examination done. If applicable, you will be told to stop smoking, to stop the use of alcohol and drugs, and to improve your nutritional habits. You may be advised the benefits of exercise and counseled about sex, hygiene, and any other relevant topics. Expect this first exam to take about an hour, and feel free to break up any areas of concern that do not come up in the normal course of the examination. The physical examination you receive will include:

• A breast examination.
• A pelvic, or vaginal, examination to:
  • confirm the pregnancy.
  • take a pap smear.
  • take a smear for gonorrhea and chlamydia.
  • take a vaginal culture.
  • estimate the size and shape of your pelvis.

  A pelvic exam usually will not be done again until the last month of pregnancy.

• Blood tests for:
  • blood type and Rh factor.
  • complete blood count.
  • rubella titer to determine if you arc immune to German measles.
  • syphilis and hepatitis B.

  Some clinics and offices also provide other blood chemistry checks for a more complete analysis of the woman’s health. Additional blood tests that may be carry out after counseling include those for human immunodeficiency virus NW), toxoplasmosis, and alpha-fetoprotein. If your racial background dictates, you may be tested for sickle cell anemia, Taylieu disease, or thalassemia.

• Urine tests for:
  • a complete urinalysis.
  • a culture to check for infection, if indicated.

  After the first examination, you will probably be given checkups on a monthly basis. Starting in the seventh calendar month, the checkups will be biweekly. In the ninth calendar month, they will become weekly. All these checkups will probably include:

• Checking your weight.
• Checking your blood pressure.
• Checking your urine for:
  • protein, high levels of which may indicate pregnancy-induced hypertension.
  • sugar, high levels of which may indicate diabetes.
  • infection.
• Checking your abdomen for:
  • Growth of the uterus to estimate the progress of the pregnancy.
  • size and position of the fetus. Some caregivers encourage women to participate in their prenatal care by checking their own weight and urine during their office visits. Other screening tests that may be performed, beginning at 28 weeks, are: Blood tests, including:
  • 1-hour glucose tolerance test (GTT). About 1 hour after drinking a liquid high in sugar, blood is drawn for a glucose level to check for development of motional diabetes. This test may be performed earlier, at around 16 weeks if there is a family history of diabetes or previous large babies. If the test result is high, a 3-hour glucose tolerance test is performed to confirm the diagnosis.
  • Antibody screening. In Rh-negative women, blood is drawn to check for antibodies, and within the next week, a shot of an Rh-immune Conlin is given intramuscularly.
  • Culture of the vaginal and rectal area to check for the presence of group B streptococcal infection. In some practices, this test is not done until 36 weeks and may also be done when the woman is admitted in labor.

Vaginal exam to check the status of the cervix and the position of the baby may be done weekly, starting at 36 weeks.

Your caregiver will probably discuss with you the symptoms he will want you to report. These symptoms, or warning signs, may or may not indicate serious complication. If you experience any of the warning signs, notify your caregiver immediately. Do not worry about bothering him. It is his job to answer you questions about your physical well-being.

A warning sign should be taken as an indication of possible illness, infection, or threatened miscarriage. However, it is just as important that you remain calm as it is that you recognize the sign and act on it, since nothing may be wrong. Just speaking with your caregiver can be reassuring. Genital sores, vaginal discharge, and other genital discomforts are warnings of venereal or sexually transmitted diseases. Your baby will be at risk if you contract a venereal disease while pregnant. Not only gonorrhea and syphilis are serious, but the herpes virus and chlamydia can also cause serious problems if the baby becomes infected. Inform your caregiver of any current or previous problems or venereal diseases so that he can test you and treat you if necessary during your pregnancy. In addition, recent studies indicate that pregnant women who have be exposed to HIV, the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), are at risk for passing the virus on to their unborn children. It is important that you be tested for HIV early in your pregnancy because early treatment may decrease the risk of transmission to the fetus.

Another condition that you should be aware of is toxoplasmosis, a disease that is contracted by eating raw or rare meat or by coming in contact with infected cat, particularly the feces of such a cat. Toxoplasmosis can cause brain damage, malformation, blindness, or death in an unborn child. Therefore, while you are pregnant, you should avoid changing a cat’s shoebox and eating meat that is not well cooked.

A food item that could cause serious problems for pregnant women is cheese. Any soft cheese including feta, mozzarella could contain bacteria called listeria that causes miscarriages and stillbirths. These lethal bacteria may also be found in raw meat, poultry, and seafood, as well as on raw vegetables. The other foods in which listeria has been found are hummus dip and tabouli. Listeria can be killed only by heating to the boiling point. Cold or freezing temperatures do not destroy it.
The symptoms of listeria infection include fever, chills, and other flu-like symptoms, plus headache, nausea, and vomiting.

Although information on these bacteria is not widely available, listeria is dangerous, so products that could be contaminated with it should be carefully avoided during pregnancy. Dr. Boris Petrikovsky, chief of maternity medicine at North Shore University Hospital on Long Island stated that listeria is the number one food-borne infection that kills fetuses. Listeria is not harmful to healthy adults, but it is very dangerous to the elderly and to people with weakened immune systems, as well as to pregnant women and their fetuses. The precautions used to avoid listeria infection will also help prevent food poisoning from E. coli and salmonella bacteria. Always cook meat, especially hamburger, until there is no pink and the thermometer registers 17 Poultry should be cooked to an internal temperature of 185°F. Several other situations have been cited as possibly being hazardous during early pregnancy. For example, one investigation showed that the workers in a semiconductor plant who worked in a room where computers were etched with acids and gases had a miscarriage rate of 39 percent, which is nearly twice the national average.

Some concern also exists about a possible correlation between exposure to electromagnetic radiation and miscarriage. Sources of this radiation in computer monitors and video display terminals, electric blankets, water heaters, electric cable ceiling heat, and power lines and substations. There is no conclusive evidence to support this concern.

Other possible risks are to women who handle the chemicals used in cleaning and in hair dyes and permanents. In addition, the use of hot tubs saunas by pregnant women has been associated with birth defects and death. Further studies are needed to determine whether any danger act exists in these cases. Until then, you may want to avoid these situations.

As your pregnancy progresses the nutritional demands of your body increases. A look at these increasing needs by trimester can provide a good first insight.

Pregnancy First Trimester Nutrition

During the early weeks of pregnancy, you may not be aware of the baby with your body. Therefore, you should consume an adequate diet even before you become pregnant. Once you realize that you are pregnant, you may experience morning sickness, which tends to minimize thoughts of food. But even in pregnancy, you need to make sure that you eat a good diet. This can be difficult, since your nutritional requirements at this point are already the same as those for a non-pregnant woman, with the exception of the additional folic acid requirement.

Lack of certain nutrients in the diet, primarily vitamin B6, is thought to cause morning sickness. Morning sickness may also occur because of dime sugar after not eating all night. Some women experience nausea the day, however, especially if they go for long periods without. Many women find that natural remedies can bring relief from morning sickness. However, if natural remedies do not help you, and nausea and vomiting is a severe problem, your doctor can prescribe medication. Gratefully sickness usually disappears by the fourth month.

Pregnancy Second Trimester Nutrition

During the second trimester, nutritional needs increase, and you should begin additional calories, vitamins, and minerals by following a pregnancy diet. The baby puts on very little weight during the second However, the maternal tissues greatly increase. The woman begins putting down a store of fat for her body to utilize during lactation. Her uterus and breasts enlarge, the volume of amniotic fluid increases, the placenta in size, and the blood volume expands. Therefore, increased protein intakes are essential.

Pregnancy Third Trimester Nutrition

During the last trimester, the baby gains weight rapidly. His brain grows the last 2 months, and his liver stores up iron. Continue with your pregnancy diet during this time—and beyond, if you wish. You must take in sufficient calories and protein to ensure optimum nutrition of the baby’s brain and body. Dieting at this point is not beneficial for either of you, and fasting before doctor’s appointments to minimize Lam is foolish. Make certain that you eat well, and your weight gain will guarantee the health of both you and your baby.

If you experience increased swelling as your due date approaches, try adding more protein to your diet. In rare cases, swelling puts pressure on the nerves in the wrist, resulting in tingling, numbness, and pain in the hands. This is called carpal tunnel syndrome. Additional vitamin B6 may help relieve this condition or prevent its further development. The symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome will gradually subside following delivery.

When a woman is pregnant, she is growing not only a baby, but also a placenta. This placenta, like the baby, needs to be adequately nourished to ensure proper implantation and development for efficient functioning, the placenta carries out many essential life functions for the baby. Along with umbilical cord, amniotic sac, and uterus, the placenta is a life support system for this tiny person.

The placenta, in providing nourishment for the baby, works very much a fuel pump. If the fuel is of poor quality or the wrong octane for the part large engine, the pump will work ineffectively or may even stop completely. Also, if the pressure or the volume of the fuel coming through the pump affected, the pump’s efficiency will be altered. If you think of the nutrients the bloodstream as fuel, you can see that a poor diet results in a poor quality of nutrients moving through the “placenta-pump.” If the volume of fluid in bloodstream is inadequate, then the pressure of the blood coming through “placenta-pump” will be low and the nutrients will not be able to get through in sufficient quantity to adequately nourish the fetus.

The body’s blood volume needs to increase by more than 50 percent during the last half of pregnancy to enable the placenta to be efficient. This increase requires an adequate intake of sodium (salt), along with a sufficient intake of fluids. Many women experience an increased desire for during pregnancy. This is the body’s way of ensuring the supply that is needed to help increase its blood volume. Thus, restricting salt may hinder body’s performance of this vital function and can result in intrauterine growth retardation.

Sufficient fluid intake is also needed for the production of amniotic fluid. By the last weeks of pregnancy, the amniotic sac contains about 1 quart amniotic fluid to cushion and protect the baby. This fluid is replaced every hour. In addition, tissue fluid increases by an estimated 2 to 3 quarts during pregnancy. You need to drink at least 2 quarts of liquid a day to maintain the levels and to ensure a healthy pregnancy. The best fluids to drink are water, milk, and fruit juices. Stay away from alcohol and drinks that contain caffeine.

Many women and doctors are overly concerned about edema (swelling during pregnancy). Some degree of swelling is normal. The enlarging uterus pressing on the veins of the legs causes dependent edema in women who stand or sit for long periods. In addition, estrogen, which is manufactured by the placenta during pregnancy, causes the tissues to retain extra fluid. Before you were pregnant, you may have noticed water retention just before your menstrual period. Women who took birth control pills may also have experienced it. This was caused by the increased estrogen in the body.

In years past, doctors often treated this normal swelling with diuretics (water pills), as well as with a diet restricted in salt. Fortunately, they no longer follow these practices because of the potential side effects. In addition almost all obstetrical authors now warn that diuretics can actually increase the symptoms and may even cause more serious side effects, including a rise it the blood pH (the relative acidity or alkalinity of substances), exchange of nutrients and waste products, decreased tolerance of carmines, generalized edema, severe loss of calcium through the urine, and amino depletion. If the swelling is a result of hypovolemia (low blood volume diuretics may drive salt and water from the circulation and lower the time volume even further). This could actually cause or accentuate the PIH that a low-dose diuretic was supposed to prevent. Sometimes, however, diuretics are used in pregnancy, such as when the woman has abnormal swelling due heart disease or kidney disease.

Rather than resort to diuretics or salt restriction, the normal pregnant lady should make certain that her protein consumption is ample and that her salt intake is adequate. Salt is contained naturally in many foods. During pregnancy, “salt to taste” is a good rule to follow.

Your liver also helps to maintain an increased blood volume during pregnancy. It does this by providing albumin, a protein that keeps water in circulation. An inadequate intake of protein prevents the liver from producing enough albumins to hold water in the bloodstream. The water therefore leaks in around the woman’s tissues, creating abnormal puffiness.

The liver also filters the pregnancy-induced hormones in amounts equal to what is supplied by 100 birth control pills taken and get rids the body of toxins normally produced in the lower bowel. Altogether, the liver performs approximately 500 functions. Since the liver is rather increasing stress as the baby grows, you need to increase your intake of calories, protein, vitamins, and sodium during the last half of your pregnancy counteract this stress.

The baby’s brain grows the most during the last 2 months, and an adequate amount of protein is essential at this time for building brain cells. So even if your diet has been unstructured up to your seventh month, a change now can directly benefit your baby. Conversely, if your diet has been adequate up to the seventh month, but you now begin restricting calories in an effort to control your weight gain, your baby may suffer.

Weight gain is often the focus of too much concern during pregnancy. Gaining weight is expected and necessary for the well-being of the mother-to-be baby. The amount of weight gain varies from woman to woman, as does concern of weight gain. Total weight gain is determined by pre-pregnant weights, eating habits, daily activities, and metabolism. Since every woman is unique, there is no specific weight gain that is correct for all pregnant women. However, if a woman was underweight before becoming pregnant, she will tend to gain more weight than what is expected in the average woman.

Even for overweight women, dieting during pregnancy is risky for both mother-to-be and child. Change the woman’s diet to eliminate high-calories. A diet that provides less than 2,300 calories provides the nutrients necessary for the baby to grow or for the woman to gain an adequate amount of weight.

During the last weeks of pregnancy, the baby lays down stores of vital and insulating body fat essential for his survival. He builds his stores his diet for the first 6 months of extra uterine life will be low tie iron supplement in infant formula is poorly absorbed by babies. Nevertheless, during the last months of pregnancy, you must eat foods that will provide you and your baby with a sufficient supply of iron. After birth, breast feeding will help. Breast milk contains just a small amount of iron, but iron is efficiently absorbed and utilized by the baby, which allows the infant iron supply to last longer.

If you are experiencing a multiple pregnancy, your increased nutrition needs are greater than those of a woman carrying a single baby. Each day, need to consume an additional 20 to 25 grams of protein per baby and take at least 300 more calories per baby. Physiologic swelling is even more regenerated, as you may have additional placentas or one larger placenta providing a greater quantity of estrogen. The larger and heavier uterus restricts blood flow from the veins of your legs more than normal, increasing the dent from edema. The weight gain in a woman carrying twins can be as much as to 50 pounds if she is eating correctly. Women who eat a healthy diet and not restrict their salt intake often give birth to babies who are of no weight (not less than 5 1/2 pounds) and who arrive at term, not premature as is usually expected.