Changes during Pregnancy: More than Just your Body

Pregnancy, besides being a new and exciting phase in a woman's life, also tends to be a very complicated stage in her life. When a woman plans to be pregnant, she first needs to prepare for the changes that are expected during the entire 40 weeks of pregnancy. Pregnancy period brings with it a lot of changes in a woman's life. A pregnant woman shall be prepared to expect lifestyle changes right from her eating habits to her dressing style. 

The changes which pregnant woman needs to expect are:

• Lifestyle Changes: The initial stage (the first 3 months) of pregnancy is very unpleasant for a pregnant woman. During this stage, she suffers from vomiting, nausea/ morning sickness, and fatigue. Some women also tend to be depressed or mood swings during this phase of pregnancy. All these symptoms reduce as the pregnancy progresses to further stages. A woman shall be ready to accept this change with patience. Besides this a woman is also required to give with some of her habits like drinking alcohol and smoking, as these activities are harmful for the embryo developing in her womb.

A woman needs to make changes to her daily routine like exercise schedule or frequent travelling as this can affect her health as well as that of the growing fetus.

• Changes in Diet Habits: Pregnancy in almost all cases is associated with food cravings and food aversions. The food you like before getting pregnant may not taste so good during the pregnancy. A pregnant woman shall also be very cautious about what she is consuming: Restaurant foods or Fast foods may cause health effects which in turn may affect the baby. A pregnant woman avoid should packed food has far as possible. The consumption of alcohol and smoking shall be avoided well before planning to get pregnant.

• Changes that may occur in relationship with your partner: pregnancy not only demands change in the woman’s lifestyle but it may also require for few changes in her partner's lifestyle as well. Pregnancy may also, at times, affect the relationship between you and your partner. Many women feel that their life has become less romantic due to the arrival of a new guest. Sometimes there is medical restriction as well on the sexual life of the couple. In order to avoid this, the couple should have understanding towards each other and the future responsibility of the child which needs to be managed equally by both.

• In Career: Pregnancy may be most difficult decision for a career-oriented woman. Nowadays, women are strong and independent, and a child will disrupt your career. However, your job will give you up to a year maternity leave so it’s really not that big a deal. You can also opt for “paternity” leave in which your partner stays home instead so you can go back to work right away.

• Physical Outlook: There are many physical changes that occur during pregnancy. A woman tends to put on extra weight during pregnancy which changes her physical outlook. Though this is a reversible change, many women tend to be very cautious about their appearance.

A woman needs to accept all these changes happily and consciously to maintain her health as well as the baby's health during pregnancy.

40 Weeks of Pregnancy: What to Expect

Getting pregnant is one of the most beautiful experiences in every woman’s life. Many women consider these 40 weeks of pregnancy as an exciting phase, while others are more nervous than excited. What a woman experiences during pregnancy differs from woman to woman and from one pregnancy to other. Long story short, no pregnancy is ever alike.

What can you expect? This is the common question women have in their mind when they get to know that they are pregnant. The following signs and symptoms of early pregnancy can be of some help for such women.

• Missed or delayed periods: this first sign indicating that a woman is pregnant.  But, missing a period is not sufficient alone to assume you are pregnant. There may be various reasons like hormonal imbalances, anaemia, etc. which can also delay your periods.

• Spotting or Light Bleeding: This symptom is observed at round 6th to 12th day of the conception, wherein the embryo gets implanted into the uterine wall.

• Swollen/Tender Breasts: A woman notices this symptom when she is about 1-2 weeks pregnant. This symptom again indicates that your body is making changes for lactation.

*TIP* Most women deal with tender breasts for the majority of their pregnancy. Placing ice cold cabbage leaves on them (as funny as it sounds) actually helps soothe the pain.

• Tiredness: This is also an early sign of pregnancy and can be noticed as early as the first week of conception. This tiredness in pregnant woman is due to the fact that the body requires additional nutrition to cope with the embryonal growth and other that occur during pregnancy.

• Nausea or Morning Sickness: This is the most unpleasant feeling women have between 2nd to 8th weeks of pregnancy. Some women experience this nauseous feeling throughout their pregnancy whereas there are few lucky women who do not experience this feeling at all.

*TIP* Saltine Crackers are the best defense against an upset tummy, since while pregnant Gravol and other medicines alike are a big NO-NO for your baby.

• Headaches: Because you are carrying another little body within your own, more blood gets pumped through your system. The rush of blood in your body is stretching the size of your veins which along with varicose veins, will also cause a headache.

*WARNING* If you suffer from severe or frequent headaches, see spots or have dizzy spells, this is a sign of higher blood pressure that is unsafe for your baby. Seek immediate medical attention.

• Backaches: this symptom, experienced during the entire third term of pregnancy, is due to the excessive pressure, growing fetus the uterus carries.

• Frequent Urination: As the fetal growth progresses, the additional pressure of the uterus is put on the bladder resulting in frequent urination in pregnant women. This symptom is experienced from about 6th week of pregnancy.

• A pregnant woman may also notice a darkening of the skin around the nipples.

• Food Cravings or Aversions: Some women tend to have cravings towards certain foods at the same time they will have aversion towards other food items. This symptom can be noticed for the entire term in some pregnant women.

Hormonal changes are the main causal factors which bring about all these changes in a pregnant woman. Most of these symptoms disappear when the baby is born.

No pregnancy is alike and not all symptoms will relate to you. Pregnancy is not a cause of worry or changes but is all about having new and excited experiences in your life and planning the arrival of this new little person in your life.

Allergies in Infants: Knowledge is Prevention

Allergies are the most common infection which every individual, including infants, suffer from in their life time. Infants are at a higher risk of developing allergies as they have an immune system which is still at the developmental stage.

*TIP* What you don’t know, however, is that infants are immune to the flu and common colds for the first two months because they still carry anti-bodies from their mother.

How do Allergies Occur?

Allergies normally occur when a person or child comes into contact with the allergen, thereby triggering the body's defence mechanism to release histamines and other chemicals which help the body to fight against it.

These released chemicals irritate the body and produce symptoms like running nose, skin rashes, sneezing, fever, etc. Most of these symptoms produced due allergies are mild in nature and subside on their own while some are life -threatening and may require immediate medical attention. For example, anaphylactic shock. This is diagnosed by difficulty breathing and swelling of extremities or the area around infection.

Some allergic reactions do not occur immediately after the first exposure to the allergen. For an allergen to cause any reaction, the infant needs to reach a specific threshold. Once the threshold is reached, the infant may develop allergies to certain allergens. There are the few that will show an instant breakout within the first few minutes of contact.

*TIP* Many infants have allergies to certain formulas; therefore it is best that if your child is throwing up their milk, try a new one. Many also have an intolerance to iron at this age, and since it can also bind them up, try a formula that does not have iron in it.

Protecting Infants from Allergens:

Dust mites, Pollen, Molds and Pet Dander are the common culprits causing allergies. These allergens are common present in our surrounding and the only way to prevent them is by maintaining your surroundings and keeping them clean.

Dust mites usually thrive in fabrics and carpets. Infants are exposed to dust mites in the bedroom when they come in contact with the fabrics used in mattresses and pillows.

Pet dander can be kept away by giving your pet frequent wash and keeping the pet away from the infant and the furniture in her room.

Pollens are almost unavoidable allergens. This can be kept at bay either keeping your child indoors (which is close to impossible) and if you happen to take your infant outdoors ensure that you bathe her and wash her hair to remove any airborne allergens.

Mold thrives best in wet places like bathrooms or any other places where there is tendency of water getting accumulated. Use of a dehumidifier and mold-inhibiting disinfectants are ways through which one can keep the molds away.

Detecting allergies in Infants:

As there several factors causing allergies, it is always not possible to detect the exact cause of allergies. Medical tests can be of help in some cases of allergic reactions.

Medical treatment for Allergies:

Unfortunately, unless otherwise prescribed by a doctor, there are no prescription medications safe for your infant. For more information, consult your doctor.

Welcome Parents and Parents-to-Be!

"The decision to have a child is momentous. It is the decision to forever have your heart walking around outside of your body." - Anonymous

The above statement is true. The decision to have a child is one that will forever affect your life. It's a joyous occasion, and also a very nerve wrecking one. Questions flow through your head... will I be a good parent? Will I raise my child right? Lots of things other than joy will flood in your mind.

Every parent will tell you that there is no fulfillment like having a child, but what they all feel and won't tell you is how absolutely stressful it is. Not really anyway. Sure your parents will tell you how hard it is, but to be honest, who really listens to their parents? Most of the time, however, they are right.

This blog is to help all of you parents and new parents (even if you don't have children yet) through your experience in parenthood. I hope you enjoy! Feel free to comment!