The study, to be published in the American Journal Annals of Epidemiology shortly, reports the results of a research conducted by boffins at Yale University in the US. They looked into dietary habits of 2,500 women while they were pregnant. Almost 50% of the women with normal blood pressure turned out to be regular chocolate consumers.

According to the publication in the Telegraph, researchers came to the conclusion that regular intake of chocolate may lower the risk of developing pre-eclampsia and therefore avoid many complications that threaten a pregnant woman.

Pre-eclampsia, that is characterized by elevated blood pressure in the future mother, leads to a number of complications springing up from improper development of blood vessels in the placenta. This can impair the transfer of nutrients to the fetus and cause other complications, often resulting in premature birth.

Source of the image: Photl.

Applegate, 38, who had breast cancer diagnosed almost exactly two years ago, says she has gotten all the pregnancy problems listed in medical books, sudden cravings, emotional outbursts, all. Especially bad is the morning sickness that has been plaguing her for a long time and weighs down upon her heavily.

So that there are times, the actress confesses, when she gets “a little cuckoo”.

Making her situation public only last week, she describes himself slipping out of control and hollering out for no good reason. Then she feels as if she were an “insane monster” that is “kind of fun to watch”.

Happily it’s she and not her husband who says so!

Applegate and LeNoble are in no hurry to think up a name for the baby, they want to see the newcomer before getting down to choosing.

And should anyone wish to offset the bump visually, the actress suggests wearing high heels that make up for “growth of width”.

Source of the image: Vivagoal.

Swollen feet and ankles, pains in the arch and sensitive heels is what seven in ten expectant mothers owned up to as an addition to their other pregnancy worries.

The survey initiated by the British Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists that embraced 1,000 women-to-become-moms revealed that, having gotten pregnant, too many of them don’t want to give up on their fashionable shoes. Fashion customs die hard – half the involved women said they hated the idea of falling behind celebrity trends in terms of beautiful shoes and high heels.

Meanwhile podiatrist Lorraine Jones tells a different tale in her interview with the BBC. Stiletto-like designs are definitely out of the question during pregnancy because they put extra pressure on women’s back and knees and shorten the calf muscles, thus affecting the whole posture.

Another threat to the joints that may already be overstrained is provided by high-heeled shoes that can cause manifold foot, leg and back problems, not mentioning the possibility of crashing down to the ground, she pointed out.

Back to the women surveyed, so many of them stray out of the right path, 66% regularly wearing flip flops, 53% sliding into ballet pumps, 32% wearing high heels, and 30% keeping to their Uggs.

The American Podiatric Medical Association seconds the British specialists’ advice, recommending shoes with a strong, supportive arch instead of high heels. Additional weight that changes the body’s gravity center in pregnant women makes their walk less steady and high heels bring more strain to the knees, legs and feet, they warn.

“Supportive, wide fitting shoes” is the best bet for a pregnant woman in the opinion of the American Podiatric Medical Association, whatever their fashion value. “Comfortable footwear that provides extra support and shock absorption” is what would-be moms will have to settle for in order to avoid foot and calves problems.

Of course heeding this sound advice is not an easy thing to do. Too strong the temptation to look just like those gorgeous ladies from the magazines.

“Many of the pregnant celebrities you see wearing high heels in magazines are attending events,” reminds Jones, adding that they don’t do it for a long time. “So like them, try to keep your high-heeled, high-fashion shoes for a special occasion and stick to a more supportive shoe on a daily basis.”

Source of the image: Photl.com.

While general public hear shocking news worldwide, Swiss government and business are taking action. Regular condoms available at every pharmacists are not intended to be used by 12-year-olds – they are obviously too large – so an extra-small condom called Hotshot was introduced for those who start being sexually active too early.

Manufacturing of extra-small condoms was prompted by the Basel University research that was commissioned by the Swiss Government Committee on Children and Youth Affairs. The findings left scientists and officials shocked. Today’s teens start having sex earlier than it was in 90s. Sexually active boys tend not to protect themselves and have little sexual knowledge. They are not able to realize the consequences of their sexual activity and leave the girls to face the consequences by themselves, from STD to unwanted pregnancy.

What do you think about such extraordinary approach? Will it help to keep kids and their parents out of troubles?

Source of the image: sxc.hu/profile/red2000.

Moreover, it cannot constantly track fetal heart rate. A.K. Mittra from the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Gondia, India, and his colleagues have developed a simple two-microphone device that can assess fetal heart rate during the mother’s rest or sleep. The device can also alert of fetal heart rate problems.

The first microphone is attached to the mother’s belly to receive the sound of the fetus’s heartbeat. The second one is placed at some distance to receive ambient and bodily sounds. Computer software can then “subtract” the “ambient noise channel” from the “fetal channel” to create a wav file. This file can be further analyzed for medical anomalies. Once a problem is detected, the software can compress the wav file to the mp3 file format for quick upload via the Internet to the physician’s computer. The system can also give a gentle signal of alert to the mother, implying she should see her physician.

The research team has already tried their monitor on several women at various stages of pregnancy. Scientists point out that the devise is absolutely passive and in no way can affect pregnancy course. It is also important that this system is inexpensive. It requires, however, both the mother and her physician having a personal computer with the Internet access.

Source of the image: sxc.hu/profile/lukewalker.

What you may be recommended by your doctor is to:

• take 400-800 mg folic acid daily,
• take 200 mg vitamin E daily,
• eat protein rich foods,
• eat 5-6 times a day, little portions.

Another recommendation from my doctor is to listen to the music I enjoy and autogenic training. All pregnant women can pretty often experience fear, like “is everything ok with the baby?”. Telling yourself “everything’s going to be ok” is said to help.

Having enough sleep (my favorite recommendation ) goes without saying!

Unfortunately, no sports and fitness are allowed now and I’m usually very active. Hopefully, I will continue training soon. For now I’m only allowed to walk a lot (they say, walking is the best kind of physical activity for pregnant women), which I try to do regularly.

The sings of this condition are any kind of bleeding (from bright red to brown), spotting, clots, severe abdominal pain, spasms, lower back pain. So, if you have these symptoms (especially bleeding!), consult your health care specialist immediately!

My doctor also says, toxicosis is also not a good sign. Ideally, you shouldn’t have it at early stages of pregnancy. As for me, I do sometimes feel sick, but this feeling disappears when I eat something (what? – it depends) or drink water or kefir.

As soon as you have any spasms – just lay down and try to relax and breathe with your abs.

I was recommended to lie on the sofa most of the time at home. Fortunately, I can even work this way with my laptop. Otherwise, if your family can’t provide you such conditions, it’s better to go to hospital, if possible, because when the woman with threatening miscarriage is at home, she anyway does all the things around the house from time to time and threatens the life of her baby even more. Besides, for most families it’s not so easy to make the husband do this all.

Fortunately, I don’t have bleeding now, but when I’m standing for a long time – washing the dishes, for instance, – the spasms and even the back pain start again. I’m simply following the recommendations and try to stay calm.

What Causes Pregnancy Complications

There are various reasons which bring about pregnancy complication. Some of them are as follows:

1. chronic disease, such as hypertension and diabetes,
2. STD (Sexually Transmitted Diseases), such as Chlamydia and syphilis,
3. abnormalities of sperm or ovum, placenta, amniotic acid and infections caused by bacteria, viruses and parasites.

The following are some pregnancy complications that can cause serious problems for the mother and her developing baby.

Gestational diabetes

This is one of the most common pregnancy complications. If gestational diabetes is left untreated it can cause fetal death and thyroid problems. Gestational diabetes usually gets developed during the second trimester can be treated with insulin supplements to take care of the blood glucose levels.

Amniotic fluid complications

This complication occurs due to the increased polyhydramnios or decreased oligohydramnios amniotic fluid levels of the membranes around the fetus. If the amniotic fluid is in excessive quantity, it develops pressure on the uterus causing preterm delivery. Your diaphragm also comes under the pressure put up by the amniotic fluid causing problems for breathing. Oligohydramnios is responsible for deprived fetal growth, post-term delivery, defects in the child after birth.

Placental complications

These are the pregnancy complications related to the placenta. If the placenta gets detached prematurely, it is called as placental abruption. This disconnection can be complete or partial. The location of the placenta in the lower area of the uterus causes the problem of placenta previa. The symptom of placenta previa is heavy bleeding in the second or the third trimester.

Proper Diet during Pregnancy

To take proper care of you and your baby, you need to maintain a proper nutritious diet along with your regular meetings with your concerned gynecologist. Avoiding junk food will help you not gain excess pregnancy weight and keep your baby healthy.

See Your Doctor

Once you start noticing the symptoms of pregnancy you should consult the doctor for medications and diet tips to keep your baby healthy. If we neglect certain problems arising during pregnancy, they can be fatal for the baby growing inside your womb. It can lead to fetal death and miscarriages.

Check Your Health before Getting Pregnant

Pregnancy complications do take place with some women due to several reasons like inborn diseases, excessive bleeding due to placental shifts, infections in the vaginal tracts and infections caused to wrong foods and viruses. It’s always recommended to plan your pregnancy and start preparing your body for it at least 3 months before you plan to conceive. You may inform yourself about how to prevent pregnancy complications in the article “How to Maintain Good Health before Pregnancy”.

Source of the image: flickr.com/photos/hansandcarolyn.

Discipline Your Eating and Drinking Habits

Absolutely No Smoking and Alcohol

Nicotine and alcohol are like poison to your baby, and these are also responsible for insomnia.

Drink Less Liquid in the Evening

Of course you should drink a lot of water during pregnancy in the day overall, but if you drink less in the late afternoon and evenings, then this means less chances of having to wake up at night for a bathroom break.

Take Less Caffeine

Reduce the amount of caffeine related substances like coffee or tea; soda and chocolate too are risky. It is best if you can refrain from consuming these things totally during the afternoon and evening.

Refrain from Heavy Meals and Spicy Foods before Sleeping

While spicy food may taste delicious and exotic, too much of it can cause heartburn and indigestion. So refrain from food like chili or tomatoes before sleeping. Also, eat a small amount of food before bedtime and try to do so at least 2 to 3 hours earlier so that your body gets plenty of time to digest the food.

If You Experience Nausea, Have Snacks before Sleeping

Nausea is very common for pregnant women in the first pregnancy trimester. Thus, a good idea is to eat plain snacks, such as crackers, very often, and especially prior to going to sleep.

Relax to Get a Good Sleep

Take Naps during the Day

A daytime nap lasting for half an hour to an hour is great for honing your memory, improving your awareness, and also decrease any signs of exhaustion. But don’t take a nap for too long, as this could upset your circadian rhythm and cause sleep problems.

Develop Relaxation Methods

A pregnant woman could try to practice such techniques as deep breathing to induce sleep. These are very helpful, so try to learn other similar techniques.

No Workouts in the Evening

Exercise is highly beneficial to the physical and mental health of a pregnant woman, but all workouts should be planned around the morning or noon. This ensures that your body gets enough time to recover from the exertion. If the only time you can work out is in the evening, then arrange it at least 3 to 4 hours before bedtime.

Don’t Stress Yourself with Worries

Don’t go to bed with loads of worries in your minds. Make a list of them if you absolutely have to and then start figuring them out in the morning. Having a bedside notepad is a good idea so that you can relieve yourself at night. However, if this seems too intimidating, then leave the worry list for the evening.

Discipline your sleeping habits

Follow a Sleep Routine

Try maintaining the same time for going to sleep and waking up every day.

Develop a Daily, Peaceful Pre-sleep Routine

Try doing some reading or showering half an hour before you sleep. This relaxes your mind and ensures a good night’s sleep.

Reserve Your Bed for Relaxation and Fun

No, don’t watch TV in bed; rather use the bed for only fun and relaxing activities like sleeping or sex. Light reading won’t hurt too, as said above.

Bedroom Should Be Sleeping Haven

Pregnant women feel warmer than before, so the bedroom should be cooler. Light and noise contribute to an uncomfortable sleep, so try to shut those out.

Sleep on Your Left

Start developing this habit from tonight! Sleeping on the left side ensures that blood and nutrients smoothly course towards the baby and the kidneys remove waste products. This position is also very comfortable for pregnant women whose belly is already large.

What to Do if You Are Still Insomniac?

Leave the Bed

If you can’t fall asleep in half an hour, it’s a wise idea to get up and, for example, go to another room. Relaxing music or a magazine helps to doze off. As soon as you feel sleepy, hit the bed.

Don’t Panic

If you happen to wake up at night, don’t worry. This is actually very common in pregnant women. Even if your sleep pattern might seem out of control right now, if you practice the above suggestions, you will soon develop a comfortable routine.

Source of the image: sxc.hu/profile/tizwas01.

Someone Else’s Presence

Some men feel uncomfortable knowing that his child is in the room, which is understandable.

The Baby Might Get Hurt

A surprisingly huge number of men believe that they might be knocking the baby on the head. It’s impossible. Explain it to him.

Girl Problem

Many men who know that their pregnant wife is carrying a girl feel very uneasy being intimate with their daughter so near.

Afraid of Hurting You

Communication is of the utmost importance at this stage. You should clarify what is acceptable and what’s not. For example, tell him not to apply pressure on your stomach or that a cushion should be around just in case. It’s your job to convince him that you won’t get hurt if he uses the right position and the right amount of pressure.

Positioning

You have to accept it; it’s very difficult to find the right position and angle while having sex with a pregnant wife, but you can try to work out something.

Scared that His Semen Might Bring on Premature Birth

This is true to some extent. Semen does contain something called prostaglandins which trigger the coming of the baby. But this works only near the due date, so you should comfort him that pregnancy sex won’t be a trouble maker.

He’s Overlooking the Fact that Intimacy Is not All about Sex

There are many, many ways to have fun without engaging in intercourse. Maybe you should remind him passionately.

He Isn’t Aware that Pregnant Women Experience the Most Intense Orgasms

With some tender persuasion that females experience earth shattering orgasms in late stage pregnancy due to the increased blood flow to the related regions, he might become very interested in finding it out.

Half of all men actually have problems engaging in sex with a pregnant woman, especially women in the late stages of pregnancy. So if you find that your man is not able to perform, blame one of the above reasons and don’t worry about the fact that your man doesn’t find you beautiful.

Source of the image: sxc.hu/profile/omar_franc.

Sometimes spouses are so overwhelmed by worries that they seem to get lost. Here are three dangerous situations any expecting couple may face.

1. Broken Sexual Identity

There are persons whose self-esteem is strongly determined by their sexual identity. The sexual identity, on its turn, is associated with fertility. If something goes wrong, you partner may be thinking like “I’m a useless woman” or “I’m not a real man”.

What Can You Do about It?

Try to support your spouse by making him or her understand that your partner is great whatever the quality of sperm or fallopian tube health. That works if your really care for your partner.

2. Deciding on Who’s the Leader in the Home

Some couples see pregnancy problem as a cause for fighting over the issue who’s the leader. Who should choose sex positions? Who should take care of contraception? Who should decide on the right pregnancy diet? But for the can’t-get-pregnant-problem, they would have picked up another cause.

What Can Be Done Instead?

Do the list together. You know, set a kind of a household policy. It may stir up some discussion. Well, you have your weekend to figure it all out. Remember that you are doing this for your future baby’s sake. But do you really need to decide on who is better for the leader’s role?

3. Pregnancy Problems or Mutual Claims

Not all marriages are for love. Sometimes, love springs up later. It may happen that spouses get attached to each other after having their own baby or making an adoption. The pregnancy problems may provoke aggression or obscenities towards a person you decided to build a family with. And what was the pregnancy problem at first evolves into mutual bitter reproaches like “You don’t need me, you need a child” or “You are hysteric, no wonder you had the miscarriage!”

What Would Help in this Situation?

Imagine you are 25 years from now and you are an empty-nester. Your son, or a daughter, has a big house and doesn’t want to have children (and that’s a person’s right to decide, by the way). Do you want to be together in twenty five years? It’s up to you. Or you think it is impossible to be happy in marriage?

You Do Have a Baby

Remember, if you plan to have a baby, your baby is already here. You are thinking and dreaming about your baby. You are arranging everything. You are talking about your future child even if you say nothing. At the back of your mind, you are a family now. However, family physiologists warn both parents against being too much focused on their kids. These parents sacrifice a lot, and the sacrifice won’t do any good for your kids in the first place. Trust family physiologists. They had a great experience.