Women’s health

Pregnancy is a wonderful time of change. As the embryo grows and develops into a baby, your body also undergoes many changes.  Adjusting to the growing baby, you may probably have mood swings, nausea, stress, fatigue and backaches. In any case, don’t despair – all these things are normal and will go away as your pregnancy progresses. Especially as all women are absolutely different, you may not feel the same that another woman suffers.

Trimesters

Each pregnancy is divided into three periods – trimesters. Each of thirds has its own features. The first trimester covers week one to the end of week 12, the second trimester covers week 13 to the end of week 26, and the third trimester covers week 27 to the end of the pregnancy. Let’s see what changes take place on each phase.

First trimester  (0-12 weeks)

First trimester doesn’t give women a chance to prepare psychologically for pregnancy as the uterus is low in the pelvis and there is no visible bump. In most cases woman feels tiredness, the breasts may feel tingly, uncomfortable or full. Morning sickness also called nausea may appear at any time of the day. It is caused by increasing levels of pregnancy hormones in the circulation. However it doesn’t mean that you’ll have nausea while being pregnant. It depends mainly on individual organism. To exclude or at least reduce morning sickness, try to eat small, regular meals. Your taste may also change and you’ll notice stop enjoying certain things such as coffee or spicy foods.
First trimester is the time when the baby’s brain and nervous system are developing. So during this period you’ll be probably recommended folic acid supplements as they have been shown to reduce the chance of a baby being born with problems known as neural tube defects, such as spina bifida.
The main you should remember is that first trimester turns out to be the most important pregnancy period when your child starts developing. That’s why you should try avoiding taking any medications that could interfere with the baby’s development. Heavy consumption of alcohol should be avoided too.
While the mother undergoes changes, first trimester for her fetus it is a period of rapid growth and development. By the fifth week baby’s heart starts to beet.  This is followed by the formation of the gut, the buds of arms and legs and the beginnings of eyes and ears. By six weeks child’s length is approximately 20mm.  By 12 weeks the baby is approximately 100mm long, most of his organs have already formed.

Second trimester (13-28 weeks)

Good mood and energetic feeling return to woman as her nausea lessens. As the abdomen and breasts grow, stretch marks may appear. It is quite common to develop a vertical, pigmented line on the skin of the abdomen below the belly button, which fades later. Most women feel heartburn. As the baby increases in size and strength, mother may feel its movements.  The first sensation of child’s movements shows up by 20 weeks. In the second trimester mother can find out who is she waiting for as the baby’s sex organs develop. As baby’s kidneys start working, he passes small amounts of urine that is added to the amniotic fluid which is continually cleaned and replaced. About 20 weeks the baby can hear sounds, so it is time for parents to contact with their child more closely.

Third trimester (29-40 weeks)

Third trimester is the most physically tiring for the mother because of increasing size of the baby and uterus. It is sometimes very difficult to fall asleep as it’s hard to find comfortable position. From around 36 weeks, the baby’s head starts to drop down into the pelvis. Dropping down of the baby may lead to pressure on the bladder what increases the feeling to pass urine.
The baby is still growing during the third trimester. Hair, fingernails and teeth are growing, the eyes open and close. The baby’s lungs mature throughout the third trimester. Your baby makes breathing movements. Fat stores are laid down in preparation for birth.

Are you pregnant? Congratulations! Becoming a mother is one of the most exciting times in a woman’s life

Pregnancy – what is this?
Pregnancy is a term used in medicine to describe when a woman has a growing fetus inside of her. Pregnancy lasts for 40 weeks, sometimes it can be just more than 9 months. It begins from the start of your last menstruation and continues with childbirth. During that period you must take care of yourself, as it has never been more important.
You’ll probably get advice from your doctor, friends and family, even from complete strangers what should you do and what not. But your and your child’s health depends only on you, so try to learn as much useful information as you can to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible.

What are pregnancy signs and symptoms?
There are a lot of signs which may indicate you’re pregnant. They are fatigue headaches, nausea or vomiting, morning sickness, mood swings, frequent urination. But primary sign of pregnancy is missing one or more consecutive menstrual periods. Menstrual irregularities in women may cause missed periods. So women who experienced such problems must visit a doctor to determine whether they are waiting for a child or simple have some health disorder.

How to know if you’re pregnant?
The best way to determine if you are pregnant is using a pregnancy test. In the 1970s the  National Institute of Child Health researches found that high levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadatropin (HCG) in the urine were associated with pregnancy. Since then home pregnancy test is commercially available over-the-counter and considered highly accurate. 
In any case, whether you suspect being pregnant or your pregnancy test shows positive results you should see your health care specialist.

Why is prenatal care important?
Woman should get preconception care both before pregnancy and before her baby is born. Prenatal care while pregnancy is very important for the mother and her developing child as it includes health care, along with education and consulting about how to handle different aspects of pregnancy. With your doctor you may discuss various issues, for example what your nutrition must consist of, what should be avoided, whether to act physically and what to expect during the birth process in whole.

High-risk pregnancy and how to promote a healthy pregnancy?
Unfortunately, almost all pregnancies involve a certain degree of risk to both mother and baby. That’s why it’s of vital importance to have good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle before pregnancy. To prevent any complications during pregnancy good prenatal care and medical treatment must be got. 
But many factors causing high-risk pregnancy can be present before a woman becomes pregnant. They are being overweight or underweight, pre-existing health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, having had problems in previous pregnancies. Remember, the problem can occur even if you were previously completely healthy.
See the following rules that may help reducing the risk of certain problems during pregnancy:
- While being pregnant you can help yourself and your baby by getting regular physical activity. Avoid drinking alcohol, smoking or drug use as these are factors that can seriously damage your fetus. Before taking any medications consult with your prenatal care doctor as certain medications can be harmful too.
- It is recommended for women of childbearing age to get at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day whether through food or dietary or supplements. It should be taken at least for 3 months before getting pregnant and at least the first 3 months of pregnancy.
- Before becoming pregnant it is important to get all the necessary vaccinations. So, thinking about getting pregnant you should make sure you have been properly vaccinated for certain diseases that could harm your developing fetus.

It seems like everybody around you have become experts. Each one from your best friends to absolute strangers gives advice what is best for you and your baby. Women are just bombarded with Do’s and Don’ts – do this, don’t do that. To be sure how to behave while being pregnant, read the following.

Pregnancy Do’s. First off all, every day you should get all essential vitamins and minerals. Increase your iron intake. Consult with your care specialist whether to take some prenatal multivitamins.
Folic acid is one of the most important elements to take during pregnancy. Getting 0,4 mg of folic acid daily will prevent baby birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. To get enough folate during pregnancy some women take multivitamins. If you prefer eating foods containing this vitamin, you can find it in lentils, asparagus, spinach, black beans, peanuts, enriched breads and pasta, broccoli and fortified breakfast cereals.
Concentrate on a healthy diet. Eat whole-grains, vegetables and fruits. Non-fat or low-fat yogurt, milk, and broccoli are foods reach in calcium that is so important for your baby’s strong bones and teeth. Avoid eating fatty foods to gain a healthy, not excessive amount of weight.
Your sleep time must be seven – nine hours every night. Many women feel uncomfortable during sleeping. Aches, pains, anxiety and bathroom runs keep pregnant women awake at night. To reduce such symptoms, don’t eat before going to bed but at least three hours before. Left side is the most comfortable for pregnant woman to sleep. If your belly is big enough, put a pillow under it.
Keep on walking and easy exercises during the day, as regular, low-impact exercise is good for you and your baby. Don’t take any medicines until your doctor prescribes you as they can harm the baby.

Pregnancy Dont’s. There are a lot of things that should be avoided. First of all, give up smoking and drinking alcohol if you do. Smoking during pregnancy passes nicotine and cancer-causing drugs to your baby. Smoke also keeps your baby from getting needed nourishment and raises the risk of stillbirth and premature birth (a small baby born too early). Drinking alcohol is not less harmful for your baby as smoking.
Illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, barbiturates, and LSD are very dangerous. That’s why tell your doctor if you are using these drugs and stop taking them as quick as possible.
It is forbidden to have optional x-rays during pregnancy as this form of radiation may cause cancer for your unborn baby. In most cases x-rays can wait until after the baby is born.
High temperature can be very harmful for your baby, so try to avoid going to sauna and taking hot baths. Don’t use any scented sprays and bubble bath as these scented feminine hygiene products can easily irritate your vaginal area increasing the risk of a urinary tract infection.
Toxoplasmosis is a disease carried by cats. This disorder can easily harm the fetus. If the mum during pregnancy gets that infection, the organism can cross the placenta and actually cause developmental problems with the baby, and infection of the baby. Don’t feed raw meat to your cat, because if the cat has eaten uncooked meat and has got the parasites that way, the life cycle of the parasite continues and if you get contact with the faces, and inadvertently just brush your hand across your mouth, you may ingest a parasite that way. As you see, it’s too dangerous to contact with cats during pregnancy. If you have a cat it’s better to give the animal your friends or relatives on your pregnancy period to avoid toxoplasmosis.
Following the abovementioned tips will help to prevent many troubles and make your pregnancy pleasant for you.