Pregnancy and Health Care

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According to a study by the University of California Berkeley, consumption of fruits, vegetables and foods rich in protein before pregnancy reduces the risk of developing leukemia in children.

Fruit and vegetable during the investigation research, we studied the case of 138 women with children who had lymphoblastic leukemia and compared with a control group of women with children who were born healthy. After comparing the diets of women during the twelve months prior to pregnancy, there was a relationship between decreased risk of childhood leukemia and consumption of certain foods such as fruits, vegetables and foods rich in protein.

A study by the University Hospital Arrixaca (Murcia, Spain) linked the risk of childhood leukemia with prolonged exposure to air pollution from traffic.

One of the main findings of this investigation determined that the fact of living during pregnancy to less than 100 meters of a road with heavy traffic in children doubled the risk of developing leukemia.

Specifically, this research studied the health of 187 children who were exposed to air pollution during pregnancy, with the result that 45.5% of them (85 children) had hematologic malignancies, whether leukemia or lymphoma.

Snuff In 2005, a team of researchers from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) concluded that smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of childhood leukemia. The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The investigation showed that carcinogens in snuff products can cross the placenta and directly affect fetal genetic material, causing injury associated with various types of childhood leukemia. The results were obtained from follow-up of 50 women undergoing prenatal diagnosis and conducting 800 interviews.

After analysis, we found that the fetuses of smoking mothers showed a significant increase in chromosome abnormalities compared to those of nonsmokers.

A woman is diagnosed with leukemia when she was pregnant. In this case, it would be advisable to delay chemotherapy until after birth. If a woman needs to undergo prior to treatment, it seems useful to begin chemotherapy after the 12th week of pregnancy when the fetus has passed the stage of risk. In some cases it will be necessary to consider the option of abortion.

If the leukemia is diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy is not recommended as it continues forward. Chemotherapy, in those early months, could harm the fetus by preventing normal development. Also this usually triggers a spontaneous abortion.

If the leukemia is diagnosed later, the risks to the fetus are much lower. It is usual to treat the patient with chemotherapy and, when the fetus is mature (at around 8 months) is necessary to induce labor, thus reducing risks.

Iron
Iron is a mineral that produces oxygen combined hemoglobin, a protein that is responsible for transporting the oxygen reaching our lungs to all body cells. It is also an essential component of collagen, a protein found in bones, cartilage and connective tissues. Besides being present in many enzymes in our body, iron is an important component of myoglobin, another protein that plays a key role in transporting oxygen to the muscles.

Iron intake during pregnancy is very important because a large portion of that amount is used by the mother to increase the amount of blood in 50% and the rest of iron is used by the fetus and placenta to develop. To meet this requirement the mother has two mechanisms. On the one hand can increase the volume of iron in the diet and on the other side can use their own reserves.
Generally a mother who comes to pregnancy in ideal conditions, ie with adequate iron stores without eating and supplements during pregnancy, pregnancy ends having consumed all their reserves. But in most cases the situation is not ideal, that is deficient in iron and anemia in these cases will likely be a common denominator during pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimesters.
The nutritional anemias are most common during pregnancy. The iron deficiency anemia (iron deficiency anemia) represents 75% of all diagnosed and its cause is primarily due to the need to increase iron intake.

The source of higher content of iron include red meat, chicken and fish, and the liver which has the highest concentration. Also found in egg yolks, legumes, vegetables and grains such as lentils, nuts, kale, spinach and tomato, but a kind of iron that is not very good absorption and a lesser amount. It is therefore essential for all supplement vegan diet drug.
For the iron in these foods are absorbed by the body properly requires the presence of vitamin C, so we recommend that accompany these meals with fresh orange juice freshly squeezed.
Unlike vitamin C, caffeine-containing products interfere and decrease iron absorption, and in this case it is recommended not to eat tea, coffee or chocolate with main meals.

Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a mineral found in 85% in the skeleton and teeth in combination with calcium. The remaining 15% are found in the serum and is distributed by all cells. This mineral is essential in bone development, muscle contraction, blood clotting and is also responsible for maintaining a normal heart rhythm.

With a healthy, balanced diet you get the amount of phosphorus required by the body, so you do not need any supplements. Also keep in mind that the intake of phosphorus should be similar to that associated with calcium and vitamin D, so your body can assimilate properly. Dairy products are an ideal food because they contain a natural balance between phosphorus and calcium.

There are several foods that contain a good amount of phosphorus. Dairy products are a good example along with fish such as salmon, tuna and sardines, beef and liver. Also found in rice, lentils, nuts, hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, garlic, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, onion, carrot, celery, tomato, cucumber, sweet potato, artichoke, leek, strawberries, apples and plums.

Hair Care
The hair during pregnancy undergoes a change due to the presence of placental hormones. The effect of this change occur in your own hair depends on the type of hair you have before pregnancy, whether oily, normal or dry. According to this you should look after it. Then explain that you care required for different hair types.

In all cases it is important to increase irrigation massage the scalp and also enhance hair vitality. There are also creams, masks or special bathrooms for each type of hair, if you have the possibility to use them, you’ll notice that greatly enhance the state of your hair.

Dyes, Coloring and Permanent
With respect to the dyes, the ideal is that during pregnancy are used which are made from plant extracts like henna, which disappear after several washings. What is not convenient to use dyes containing ammonia or oxidants.
Currently, most of the dyes produced by the best-known companies, have minimal doses of ammonia have shown virtually no absorption of it through the skin of the scalp and therefore do not harm the baby.
There are desirable and permanent discoloration during pregnancy because they can often cause allergic reactions in the scalp. There are no scientific studies showing that there are risks in the health of your baby with chemicals used for bleaching and permanent. Just as a precaution we recommend avoiding their use.

Postpartum Hair Loss
It’s good to already know that in the weeks after childbirth is common an increase in the fall of your hair. Do not worry, is produced by a normal turnover rate of new hair to be regularized in the first two or three months after delivery. In cases that the problem continues, sometimes you need a vitamin supplement (iron and cysteine), which stimulates the hair follicles and also during lactation can smoothly for your baby.

Rest, Exercise and Healthy Diet
Remember that your skin reflects your health. The best thing for skin is rest, exercise and healthy eating. However during pregnancy need some special care. In general, your skin looks better because of the hormonal influence of pregnancy itself. Estrogen give your skin more irrigation and hydration but in areas like the thighs may show “cellulite (orange peel), which usually disappears after delivery, provided that the deposit of fat in your body is not has increased excessively.

Creams
It is important to promote skin elasticity, keeping well hydrated, controlling sudden weight gain because in this way can avoid the appearance of stretch marks. Stretch marks are the result of the rupture of elastic fibers in the skin. Are irreversible so it is very important to prevent them. Use a good facial cleansing cream (remember that the secretions of the glands of the skin are increased) and moisturizers for the body preferably without chemicals in its composition.

Tips for Bath Time
It’s a good idea to take a bath every night relaxing, use oil instead of soap, a few drops of coconut oil, almond or olive oil or essential oils such as cedar, camphor, pine or lanolin in the bath water are revitalize and improve your skin. Also a good idea to massage your entire body after bath oils or moisturizers especially in abdomen and breasts.

The Right Clothes
The fact that you “look good” certainly will make you “feel good”. Look after your appearance during pregnancy will boost your confidence and give you pleasure to you and those around you. It is the ideal time for the challenge. Have fun with your clothes and to both, it is comfortable. Experience new ideas and adds a humorous touch to your new ways pregnant. Clothes for pregnant women is usually expensive and not always tasteful, the physical changes during pregnancy make it is sometimes difficult to find clothing that you’re going well. It’s more fun to look for more unusual combinations to mark your individuality.

The Ideal Fabric
As is often increased sweating around your body, clothing made of natural fibers (cotton, wool, linen, silk) are the most desirable because it will make your skin can breathe easier, more comfortable. The same applies to your underwear.

Appropriate Shoes
Should avoid shoes with high heels. Ideally, use a stick no larger than 5 cm. and if the shoe is well ventilated.

The Analgesics reduce pain, but not always completely removed. Painkillers are not usually extend labor or interfere with contractions, but can cause side effects in the mother, including drowsiness and nausea. The effect of analgesics on the baby depends on the amount of medication and as near the source is given. There are different methods of analgesia for labor pain:

• Inhalation Analgesia: rare in Spain, this medicine is widely accepted in other countries such as Canada, England, Finland and Australia, where it is used by over 40% of births.
• Regional analgesics: a shot in the lower back of the mother numbs the lower body. It is the most effective means of relieving labor pain but can cause some side effects such as epidural block, the spinal or a combination of both. One of the best known regional analgesia is the epidural.
• Analgesics Systemic: affecting the entire nervous system. These drugs are given by injection into a muscle or vein. Systemic analgesics reduce pain without causing unconsciousness.