Pregnancy and Health Care

Archive for the ‘Diseases During Pregnancy’ Category

Many parents know how hard it is to sleep well during the months following the birth of their baby, but no one imagines that it is difficult to sleep during pregnancy.

In fact, chances are you sleep more than usual during the first trimester of pregnancy. It is normal to feel tired as your body is working to protect and nurture the development of your child. The placenta (the organ that nourishes the fetus until birth) is just beginning to form, your body is producing more blood and your heart is beating faster.

However, often during the last months of pregnancy when most women have trouble sleeping deep without disruption.

Why can it be difficult to sleep during pregnancy?
Increasing the size of the fetus is perhaps the main reason for sleep problems, since it becomes difficult to find a comfortable position. If you used to sleep face down or face up, it’s hard to get used to sleeping on your side (as doctors recommend). In addition, change position in bed may be more difficult as pregnancy progresses and your body increases in size. Read the rest of this entry »

One of the first signs of pregnancy is generalized fatigue and desire to sleep all the time. There are even women who suspect they are pregnant before confirming they feel fatigue and excessive sleep. This fatigue is most evident during the first quarter, when the body begins to run at full speed to give rise to a new life.

The body produces more blood to send nutrients to the baby, causing the heart to the organs involved and work harder than usual. Early in pregnancy, the placenta and the baby experiences the initial stage of development in which major organs are formed and this requires energy.

Hormones, of course, also play a role. It is believed that sleepiness is caused by the increased level of progesterone, which is active during the first weeks preparing the uterus for implantation of the egg has been fertilized.

If we add nausea, vomiting and possibly emotional stress experienced during the first months, it is normal to ask the body more rest to recover. Never mind if we play in summer when added downward pressure caused by heat.

It’s understandable to feel tired and sleepy during much of the day, so you must put aside the guilt and serve the claim giving your body extra rest it needs. The best remedy for this disorder is rest.

Of course, when work is not easy. There is also a big difference when it comes to the first child of the following, since in the latter case we have a child (two, three or four) to care for, so the rest is relative.

How to cope with fatigue?

• Rest whenever you can : find holes throughout the day to relax a while, or if possible, better yet, napping. After lunch, afternoon or before dinner. Any time is good but naps are short.

• Sleeping more hours at night : go to bed earlier than usual and if you can get up a little later. If you can not do during the week, enjoy the weekend to recover.

• If it is your first child, ask for help to your partner, family and friends who can care for him / children while you rest a while.

• Healthy eating is important for energy recovery. The extra energy input is needed drink while pregnant is only 250-300 calories, so it is important to eat foods rich in nutrients and vitamins like folic acid, iron, calcium and iodine, but not fat. That is, foods that feed, not to fill. A diet that brings vitality must be based on vegetables, fruits, cereals, dairy and legumes. Also, drink fluids throughout the day to keep constantly hydrated.

• Exercise is also critical. Although one may think that physical activity might cause more fatigue, on the contrary. Moderate exercise helps to raise the energy level. A half-hour daily walk or any activity which does not overexert yourself, it is advisable for the benefit both physically and mentally.

• No need to stop doing everyday activities, for some women being active helps them cope with fatigue, but it is time to do the superwoman. If you wear a frantic work pace, you will reduce hours and intensity. The important thing is that you start to connect with your body and listen to your needs, because it’s not just your health but also that of your unborn child.

Fatigue may reappear during the last trimester of pregnancy when the body makes an effort to meet the needs of the baby and carry the extra weight. It is also a time when no longer sleep well and may be something moviditas night, especially if you have young children.

Early in pregnancy, doctors often prescribe a multivitamin to meet the requirements of vitamins and minerals the body needs to adapt to changes that occur. The B vitamins are those that primarily help regain the tone and energy. If you feel very tired and do not take a vitamin supplement, check with your doctor.

The specialist in prenatal psychology Ojeda says Dalia experience stress during pregnancy makes it difficult for women to connect with your child in the womb. If this emotional state progresses, reaching cause negative feelings continuously, can affect the baby Stress is a state of anxiety that arises when an individual feels that their skills are insufficient to achieve their goals in a limited time. Usually experienced when the person performs multiple tasks simultaneously and for that reason feels that time is not enough. notes Dalia Ojeda, clinical psychologist who specializes in problems of fertility and prenatal psychology, there is minimal stress the need to feel motivated.

This is called “stress healthy.” However, when the stress increases and becomes a negative state, resulting in the person being overwhelmed, fatigue, anxiety, depression and mood swings, help should be sought. In the case of a pregnant, should avoid negative stress, but how? Dalia recommends Ojeda’s first awareness of this special condition is pregnancy, “The woman must fall in mind that your body is changing because it is harboring a life , who is not sick, “says the specialist. For this reason, he continues, “to procure a good emotional health, as well as physical, which includes healthy eating, for example.

Emotional health includes avoiding stress. ” Aim psychologist consulted stressed that a pregnant woman does not connect well with his son, “a long time of physical and mental work prevents the normal development of this relationship and can affect the baby, causing it to to feel isolated or rejected. Adversely affect the baby too much negative emotions such as anger or sadness. ” A baby affected by this situation is often restless and irritable at birth, and may even present some difficulties in growth. These effects have been studied scientifically by researchers such as Dr. Thomas Verny, who records results of his observations in the book The future baby. Ojeda advises pregnant women to be satisfied with stressful jobs that provide 15-minute breaks mid-morning and mid in the afternoon. They must be to rise from his chair to walk around and stretch muscles while performing slow deep breaths, “thus the rate will fall. Breathing is an invaluable tool for balance and connect with the baby. Even the thoughts are directed toward the baby, without speaking aloud. Just by feeling love for the small, causes the release of hormones that help the child, giving a sense of security. “Exercises like this are simple, and do not interfere with the work routine.

At this point it added that a recurring situation is that the mother does not put limits on the work, which is part of a psychological state of insecurity and lack of confidence in itself. It is recommended that women provide emotional resources that encourage, encouraging them to do their job, but also encouraging her to find time for it. In the attitude of the pregnant depends on your physical and emotional, because the emotional condition has impact on the body. In conclusion Ojeda Dalia indicates that each person puts their limits, because power is in itself, therefore, pregnant women should take the necessary precautions to avoid stress during pregnancy.

When a pregnant woman has a pregnancy complicated emotionally, this may adversely affect the fetus, causing the baby to suffer from stress.

For many years, everyone is aware that stress is not good for health of any person. But studies in recent decades show that if a woman suffers from emotional problems or are under pressure during pregnancy, the result may be that the baby will suffer stress in utero, which can bring different consequences both before and after delivery.

Long-term consequences
Studies show that the most common seen in children or adolescents whose mothers suffered from stress during pregnancy, emotional inability to deal with it as they grow. It is therefore important to understand and learn to reduce external pressure during pregnancy, to avoid the baby suffering from stress and, subsequently, their quality of life is not diminished.

First of all, let’s see what other effects that the stress of the pregnant woman can have on the fetus; Among them are low neurological development (especially in the early weeks of pregnancy, which can cause intellectual and language problems future child), a significant decrease in weight of the baby (especially in the first quarter, with the result problems of malnutrition in children), and may even produce a spontaneous abortion, if not taken precautions to avoid the baby suffering from stress in the womb.

Therefore, taking into account the dangerous consequences that stress can cause the mother to the fetus, it is important that pregnant women learn to cope with daily problems, emotional and even serious problems that may arise during the course of pregnancy. Ideally, to prevent the baby suffering from stress due to maternal stress is that the woman is in a harmonious and calm as possible. Even in difficult times that may occur along the 9 months of gestation, it is important that the father, close family and friends do their best to make you feel more comfortable and at ease, avoiding stressful situations, whether at work, personal or emotional.

Avoid stress while pregnant
Having a support system, whether familial or therapeutic assistance is the key to making the mother feel emotionally stable and to prevent the baby will suffer stress during pregnancy. Therefore, every effort should be devoted to creating a calm environment and, if necessary, resort to a therapist to learn to deal with the inevitable problems that will arise eventually, and that is not in anyone’s hands to avoid. In addition, certain activities that can be done at home, as the use of aromatherapy, chromotherapy and music therapy (among others) can help greatly to create healthy and harmonious necessary for both mother and baby in the womb.

Pregnancy is a topic that generates a lot of written material. Bookstores and libraries devote not just shelves of pregnancy, but entire aisles. When you go to your first prenatal visit, your doctor probably will supply you with lots of brochures that cover all types of tests required and typical aspects of each quarter. But even if you have this information, pregnancy can take any future father by surprise.

What the doctor may have to include
If your doctor has not mentioned the following topics during your first consultation, not because he or she is purposely omitted this information. Chances are you do not already mentioned because pregnancy affects each woman differently. For example, some women experience nausea in the morning, others feel nausea throughout the day, and some never feel nauseous. Your doctor may forget to mention something that has a medical focus – your doctor may not have more knowledge than your neighbor on your increasing shoe size! In addition, some women think they mention the increase in breast size or hemorrhoids are having problems too personal or embarrassing to ask their doctors. Read the rest of this entry »

The hormonal changes that occur primarily in the first trimester of pregnancy may cause changes in skin texture.

Approximately 80% of women develop so-called pregnancy spots (melasma). The most vulnerable areas are those that are exposed to direct sunlight as the forehead, nose, cheekbones and chin.

Result of these hormonal changes can also notice that your moles are obscured and you should consult a dermatologist.

How to prevent skin spots

Using sunscreen with UV protection . In many cases not be prevented completely, but the sunscreen will help prevent the spots are so dark. In many cases, the spots disappear after delivery.

In the event that the spots do not disappear after delivery, you can perform treatments lightening creams or gels that give good results.

For more information on this consultation with a dermatologist and check vitazo these tips to prevent staining in pregnancy.

Is it normal to experience changes in skin during pregnancy?
During pregnancy the body undergoes many changes at the immune, endocrine, vascular and metabolic and skin is particularly susceptible to these alterations. For this reason it is normal to experience changes and disturbances in the skin during the entire period of gestation. Then you found the explanation for the frequent changes that occur in the skin of the pregnant woman.

Itching of the body
It is common the occurrence of itching during pregnancy . This can be due to many causes but often relates to a functional disturbance of the liver, induced by the hormones of pregnancy.
usually occurs during the second or third trimester of pregnancy is very important that your doctor know during your routine office.

To relieve itching natural lotions can be used based on oats, as it has soothing effect, calming the skin and antipruritic. Also useful for bathing soap substitutes, called syndets, not contain detergents, dyes or perfumes. If you also have oatmeal, add the properties of it.

Skin spots
90% of pregnant women experience the appearance of dark spots on the skin as a result of a hormone that is increased by pregnancy. This hormone induces increased production of skin pigment (melanin), causing darkening of the areolas, in the genital region and in the midline of the abdomen. You can even notice that your moles and to have obscured this fact is advisable to consult a dermatologist. Read the rest of this entry »

It is a disease which, though often referred to as blood cancer, actually affects the tissue responsible for manufacturing, ie the bone marrow, spleen and lymph nodes. It is the most common cancer in children, but treatments are carried out have a healing effect by 50 and 70% of cases.

Features
is a malignant disease (sometimes called blood cancer) and is characterized by an arrest in the maturation of the cells responsible for the formation of blood constituents with proliferation and uncontrolled growth of immature blood cells. This proliferation originates from the bone marrow level, from which it spreads to the blood and responsible for manufacturing different tissues, ie spleen and lymph nodes. A genetic mutation produces an alteration in these tissues and leads to start producing an abnormal number of white blood cells and can become so numerous that the blood will have a whitish appearance.

These white blood cells that fail to mature, called blasts, produce two major effects: do not perform properly its function of defending the body, and live much longer, so in a shorter or longer period of time so that proliferate difficult to create in the heart of red blood cells (which carry oxygen inside the body) and platelets (which deal with blood clotting). Read the rest of this entry »

Considering that all body organs are composed of tissues, the tissues are composed of sets of cells, which are cells responsible for growth, evolution, and the renewal of the organs and tissues, it is necessary to know that when there is an alteration in a cell, or that this has served its purpose and responded to the demand for organs and tissues, it dies. If the cell survives, it will cause the same cells, other than normal and, escaping the normal mechanisms of control, proliferate causing a set of “sick” cells and abnormal to be located in a tissue or organ, can travel by blood to other organs or tissues, causing tumors of many types and in different locations.

Growing out of control, the cell becomes abnormal sizes and shapes, destroy neighboring cells, organs and bones, consuming part of the nutrients and energy from the patient, and weakening the body’s defenses. In medicine these diseased cells called cancer, a disease that can occur at any stage of life, from birth and throughout the development of human beings. Cancer is not a communicable disease. Cancer is an uncontrolled spread of cells in any organ or tissue, which occurs when a group of cells escapes the normal control mechanisms in their replication and differentiation.

Childhood Cancer
On the occasion of World Day against cancer, February 4, the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC), devotes its celebration this year to the fight against childhood cancer because of that today, this disease is the second most common cause Infant mortality in children aged between 1 and 14. Statistics teach that each year more than 160 000 children are diagnosed with cancer in the world. 80% of pediatric patients live in developing countries. According to the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) in developed countries, three out of four children with cancer survive at least five years after diagnosis, thanks to advances in diagnosis and treatment of this disease. In developing countries, more than half of children diagnosed with cancer is likely to die. In Spain, after accidents, cancer is the second leading cause of infant mortality. Today, both the incidence and prevalence of childhood cancer are on the rise. Because of that, it becomes increasingly necessary in a better and early diagnosis and effective treatments.

The most common cancers in children
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the most common cancers in children are leukemia (cancer of white blood cells), followed by lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes), brain tumors (cancer that can be placed in many parts the brain), and osteosarcoma (bone cancer). Tumors account for 80% of all cases. Leukemia is the leading cancer occurs in childhood. There are several types. The most common in children is acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and often have children aged between 2 and 8. After leukemia, brain tumors are the second most common cancer in childhood. May occur between 5 and 10 years. And followed by tumors are lymphomas, which are cancers that develop from the lymphatic system. Less frequently, there are usually small intestine cancer, liver, spleen, nervous system and bone marrow.

While in Mexico, leukemia remains the most common cancer in children, with early diagnosis to 70% of patients can achieve a total cure. According to Dr. Hugo Rivera Marquez, Chief of Pediatric Oncology Hospital National Medical Center Siglo XXI IMSS, are diagnosed each year, nationwide, 7 000 200 cases of cancer in children, most of them are developed by multifactorial factors and less by genetic or hereditary causes.

The specialist recommended that parents, be alert to changes and symptoms they observe in their children such as prolonged fever, swelling in the abdomen, pallor, loss of energy and weight quickly and headaches persist. Bleeding may also occur, loss of balance, sudden change in behavior of the child or the child and decrease or loss of vision. As in all cases, it is essential to see a doctor and rule out self-medication. If you make a diagnosis and prescribe appropriate treatment, the prognosis for children with leukemia is very good.

Types of leukemia in children
Approximately 98% of leukemias in children are acute and are divided into acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). About 60% of children with leukemia suffer first and about 38% of AML. Lymphocytic how the disease occurs more often in small 2 to 8 years , with a marked incidence at the age of 4 years. If a child has a twin who was diagnosed with the disease before age 6, has a chance of developing ALL or AML of 20% to 25%. In general, twins and other siblings of children with leukemia have an increased risk of developing the disease two to four times higher than average. Read the rest of this entry »