Pregnancy and Health Care

Posts Tagged ‘During Pregnancy’

Sleep during pregnancy vary depending on the quarters, and divide and explain the three quarters and symptoms that can disrupt sleep and process the different changes of pregnancy.

First Quarter: You will experience a state of drowsiness and increased need for sleep, due to increased progesterone, which is tripled during pregnancy and has a direct soothing effect on the brain, it acts also an inhibitory effect of muscle causing the need to go to the bathroom more frequently.

Second Quarter: The frequency of urination can also be a hindrance in that sleep will be interrupted.

Third Quarter: In the final stage of pregnancy the reasons that can disrupt sleep are many, will continue the frequent urination, discomfort in the stomach already well advanced in the last quarter. Fetal movements may also be somewhat uncomfortable at halftime and anxiety about the proximity of the birth, fear of change and the relationship. Contractions will be another experience difficulties in sleep.

During pregnancy dreams can become more real and have frequent nightmares, stress due to concerns about the health of the baby, we’ll have the ability to be mothers, fear of childbirth and the concern of the changes that may occur in the couple may be the result of insomnia during pregnancy.

It is advisable to get used to maintain a schedule to go to sleep and wake. Make something that is soothing to the hours before sleep, like a relaxing bath, drinking a glass of milk and honey, a cup of decaffeinated tea and most importantly none of the drinks contain caffeine.

If insomnia is causing fear or anxiety, sign up for pre-natal classes or parenting can help, knowledge on the subject and the company of women in the same situation, help you overcome fears and concerns and so both will help you sleep better.

A key issue during pregnancy is the food. It should be noted that pregnancy is the time when the fetus is formed, and now the mother is responsible not only food but also of being that is brewing inside.

This is why taking a special diet for this period is fundamental to have a perfect pregnancy to ensure both feed the baby and mother, without either suffering or nutritional disorders or problems related to food disproportionately. Then mention some points that the diet of a pregnant woman should have, all provided by Dr. Ignacio Ferrando, director of Sanitas Medical Programs.

First, it is important to consider the consumption of bread, cereals and potatoes. These foods have to represent seventy percent of dietary intake.

Also the vegetables and fruits are essential. This is presumably because these are basic and essential food either with or without a pregnancy and also at any stage of life. At least five servings a day are to be eaten during pregnancy.

Meat, fish, eggs, nuts and legumes are an essential source of protein, vitamins and minerals, so they should not be absent from the diet of the pregnant woman. It is important to try to consume two to three servings daily. The dairy products should also be eaten in this amount.

The pregnant woman should remember that the ideal is not to exceed 13 kilos of weight gain in pregnancy, and now we should not lose weight, not being on the advice of a doctor. Pay careful attention to the figure, but above all must be the correct development of the baby.

Maternal nutritional status and dietary habits of the mother before and during pregnancy, are a determining factor for your health as well as for fetal growth and birth weight. Eating a balanced and appropriate at this stage of life is the best option to prevent premature birth and even problems related to the development of the newborn and low birth weight, decreased litter size, fetal malformations, lowered resistance to infections, etc.. That’s why it is essential to have adequate nutritional status before pregnancy (maternal stores) and proper weight gain, to ensure normal during the course of pregnancy, and thus avoid nutritional deficiencies such as anemia, desertification, loss of hair, skin discoloration, fatigue, Precambrian (increased blood pressure), constipation.

The general dietary recommendations during pregnancy aim to achieve the following objectives:

Own food needs of the mother.
Meeting the nutritional requirements due to fetal growth.
Prepare the maternal organism to better cope with childbirth.
Ensure fat reserves for milk production during the coming stage of lactation.
The total weight gain during pregnancy depends on the previous status of women. As a guide we can say that the recommendation of weight gain during pregnancy is:

Women with adequate weight: gain between 9 and 12 kg.
Women with low weight gain between 14 and 16 kg.
Overweight women: gain between 7 and 8 kg.
These values ??are approximate and it is important to note that each particular case must have the right professional track.

If we talk in terms of energy cost, a number of calculations that indicate the approximate so “total cost of pregnancy”, which takes into account the fat reserves that are deposited in the mother, the new tissue as a fetus, placenta, uterus, breast, amniotic fluid, etc., and maintenance of throwing them a value of 84,000 Kcal approximately, with a daily cost of 300 kcal, ie ? 84,000 kcal / 40 (weeks) / 7 (days) = 300 kcal.

While it is true that pregnant women should consume more calories (energy) than previously ingested to feed properly and to nourish your baby, we must clarify that during the first months (1 quarter) the requirements are relatively small and usually able to cover with ordinary food of the mother, is in the 2nd and 3rd quarter where you have to ensure compliance with requirements, adding about 300 kcal per day approximately. It should be noted that there are several tables and calorie recommendations for specific nutrients (RDI U.S. and Canada, IR Spain, FAO / WHO, etc..) That differ in some respects, but in general they all have in common and increased caloric protein during the 2nd half of pregnancy.

We can not fail to mention the various pregnancy complications associated with overweight or obese, not just the mother but also for your baby. Women with a high body mass index (> 26.1) have higher risk for problems during and after delivery, and which often have gestational diabetes, leg pain, edema, preeclampsia, problems during childbirth, the more likely that you perform a cesarean section, etc.. Infants of obese mothers are at greater risk of being born prematurely, having birth defects and to develop early childhood obesity.

To avoid these problems is desirable for women to control their weight on a regular basis through adequate nutritional follow before getting pregnant, where you will be informed of healthy eating patterns and adequate physical activity plan.

In the case of women and pregnancy is pursuing a state of overweight or obese, it is very important to follow up training, and should not be subject to strict diets which will mean a reduction in nutrient inputs to her and for the baby.

There is no rule that prohibits a mom can make up, nay, can help you apply the same products you used before, and still feel beautiful. But we must bear in mind that the skin needs to breathe during pregnancy, for what you should avoid applying foundation on her face.

A woman pregnant can opt for cosmetic plants, such as those that can be purchased at Yves Rocher.

What changes occur in the skin of a mother? First, dark circles appear, probably due to problems sleeping, and in this case should apply a concealer and corrector on it, the foundation that in turn should be similar to the natural tone of the woman. On this basis, apply translucent powder.

In the case of skin appearing in some veins, with a brush you can apply green corrective cream, which hide the red hue of the veins.

The pregnant women can apply moisturizers. If you have oily skin, moisturizing lotion can choose water-based, and a base that has no fat, and then applying transparent powder in bright areas.

If the mother wishes to apply a base on the face, you can choose a makeup matte beige, without the color pink, because the increased blood volume will increase the flushing of the face.

Remember that during pregnancy, the skin needs to breathe more freely and oxygen. Keep in mind some tips of what should and should not do during pregnancy when you go to makeup.

• Use moisturizing cream to moisturize your skin color.
• Put a little blush on the cheekbones to remove your face.
• To hide the wrinkles and crow’s feet, fine-textured base used powders and transparent.
• To reduce the continuous flushing effect that is generated during pregnancy because of the increased blood volume, we recommend applying a base matte pink beige without your fingers and apply a few dots on your cheeks and transparent powders applied over.
• To remove oily skin , use a lotion based on water and fat-free basis, then apply transparent powders which are the brightest areas.
• hypoallergenic cosmetics. Before aplicártelo, you should test them on the inside of your arm, so as to rule out allergic reactions.

Products not recommended during pregnancy. During pregnancy it is very natural to worry about small change, and your health directly affects the developing baby is in your belly.

You must be careful when using cosmetics and beauty products that contain chemicals that could harm your baby in different ways: While the cosmetics may be safe in a normal woman, but the chemicals can have dangerous side effects in pregnant women.

Creams with retinol

Retinoids are powerful agents in creams and anti-aging moisturizers. Retinoids are also found in the creams for acne and are not safe during pregnancy, and that retinol is a precursor of vitamin A, which aids in cell growth and regeneration.

The products of skin care that contain retinoids affect the health of an unborn child. The effects are quite serious if expectant mothers are exposed to oral retinoids such as isotretinoin, as they may cause birth defects in an infant. Read the rest of this entry »

Chemical compounds that can be found in homes and businesses in the United States total more than 83,000. In most cases, little is known about the effects they can have during pregnancy (1). However, it was found that a small number of them are harmful to the fetus. These are mainly in the workplace, but certain environmental pollutants in the air and water, and some household chemicals can also pose a risk during pregnancy.

The pregnant woman can inhale these chemicals, ingest them in food or drink, or in some cases, absorbed through the skin. But in general, would be exposed to a lot and for a long time to arrive to harm your baby.

Most companies have appropriate preventive measures to ensure this does not happen. However, because little is known about the effects of most chemicals on reproduction, it is recommended that women consult their physician if exposed to any of them in their work, preferably before pregnancy . Along with your doctor can determine if you need some additional protection at work or if you should switch tasks. This is particularly important for women working in certain industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, dry cleaning, printing, manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and health care.

Pregnant women also can take steps to protect themselves and their babies from pollutants and potentially harmful chemicals used in your home.

There are many myths about the use of cosmetics during pregnancy we often scared and confused.

But we know that not all cosmetics are safe and that any drug or applied to the skin and mucous membranes are absorbed into the blood-feeding and therefore may also affect the fetus.

For example, it recommends the use of creams indicated for skin aging from the sun in its composition containing retinol or derivatives, as has been shown that retinoids administered orally, are associated with the appearance of numerous malformations in the fetus. sunscreens pose no risk because they are kept in the surface layer of the skin and its absorption is minimal. By contrast, pregnant women should use a high protective factor to prevent the emergence of so-called chloasma gravidarum (dark spots that appear on the skin).

The deodorants can be used, except those containing aluminum salts are used for large surfaces such as hands or feet. Perfumes not do any harm to the fetus.

The make-up and masks are also harmless to the developing fetus. Read the rest of this entry »

In pregnancy, hormonal changes determine different skin manifestations as in other parts of her body. Since it is a topic of some concern, let’s see what those changes, and what we can do to mitigate the aesthetic effects not so flattering – beyond the important thing in pregnancy is the baby, women do not stop being concerned about our appearance – So, 90% of pregnant women have changes in skin pigmentation, especially darkening around the navel, genitals, breast areola, armpits and inner thighs, from the first quarter.

All this is because at this stage increases estrogen, progesterone and the melanocyte-stimulating hormone and glucocorticoids, that affect skin color. About half of mothers also suffer from melasma / chloasma, dark patches on the face, especially on the cheeks, upper lip or forehead. As worsens with sun exposure, you have to watch much of the sun at this stage. In 13% of pregnant women and new moles may appear in 15% change their size or color. It’s nothing to worry about, clarify dermatologists.

In a future post, we will discuss what happens to stretch marks and varicose veins.

Use of drugs during pregnancy
Gestation is a specific condition of women and therefore, the states of health and illness in the mother may be determinants of good prenatal development.

The woman pregnant may suffer any kind of disease is that sometimes it is necessary that the physician has to prescribe drug treatment. According to some studies, it is estimated that about 35% of pregnant women have to take medication, excluding supplements.

In the early sixties it was discovered that a drug, thalidomide, was responsible for the birth of children with severe congenital malformations (absence of limbs, eye abnormalities, heart, etc.).. From then began to study the effect teratogénicode drugs in experimental animals prior to marketing, and developed an epidemiological investigation of the effect of drugs on human fetuses.

It is called teratogens to drugs (or any environmental agent) capable of producing congenital defects, ie, physical deformities, mental or functional. Read the rest of this entry »