Laura Glynn, a psychologist from Chapman University in California, has held a number of studies that prove the idea that pregnant women do suffer from short-term memory loss, and the brain as if focuses on the needs of the child, while everything else is in the background.

Especially if it is not the first pregnancy, expectant mothers know that it is this temporary happy condition which makes them extremely forgetful. They can fail to remember what they have been doing, where they have put the car keys, what day of the week it is. But it does not matter, and neither the pregnant woman, nor the people around her should be scared by it. Be sure the “brain will get back in its place” exactly at the moment when the baby is born. One will need extreme concentration, good reaction and endurance, so the body is prepared in advance by accumulating energy.

Dr. Glynn explains that these changes make a woman absent-minded, forgetful and extremely sensitive. They can be caused by hormonal changes in her body, by the moving of the fetal cells into the mother’s bloodstream (the scientists believe that these cells are attracted to certain brain areas), and the movements of the fetus. And even if the child moves almost imperceptibly, any change in the position of its body increases the heart rate of the expecting mother. In addition, pregnancy is a critical period for the development of the central nervous system of the woman, but, unfortunately, the scientists do not know practically anything about it. The only thing we can say for sure is that all these components taken together affect the pregnant woman’s brain, making it so… “absent-minded”.

The scientists from the National French Agricultural Research Institute have discovered that when expectant mothers consume a certain group of polyunsaturated fatty acids, the intestinal walls of their children become more permeable. This allows a greater number of substances and bacteria pass into the bloodstream, causing the immune system to produce antibodies.

Dr. Gael Boudry believes that due to this impact the children’s immune system can develop and mature faster. As a result, the child gets sick less often.

Source of the image: Photl.

The basic clothing is essential for building a wardrobe of maternity wear. Some women overlook undergarments when purchasing maternity wear. It is important to get comfortable fitting underwear as well as investing in nursing bras that can serve another purpose once the baby arrives. Classic tees are a good item to purchase in maternity wear. You want some variety in colour and styles. Another popular sort of top that is a basic for the maternity wardrobe is a button down oxford shirt. These can look quite becoming during pregnancy.

Also, to accompany these tops would be many different types of bottoms. A popular basic maternity clothing item is pregnancy jeans. These have come a long way over the years in their design and style. Today’s expectant mother can find pregnancy jeans that not only look stylish but are quite comfortable, just how jeans should be. Along with pregnancy jeans buy a few pairs of stretchy dark trousers in neutral colours. These can be paired with many different tops and are comfortable. Also, given the time of year, you might want some shorts to wear. If your pregnancy will take place during the cold winter months, shorts won’t be needed.

Another aspect of assembling a maternity wardrobe for some women might be office attire. This is important for working mums who need to look professional as they work during their pregnancy. Generally, this sort of clothing is rather expensive. Therefore, select classic separates in complimentary colours. This will allow you to mix and match items creating different looks. Therefore, you can generally get through the week with fewer outfits. Take a look at the great choice of maternity clothes on offer at Very.co.uk

The scientists advise prospective smoking fathers to think it over and to avoid smoking in the presence of a pregnant woman. Future mothers should also be aware of the potential danger caused by tobacco smoke which affects the body long before conception, and not only during pregnancy.

Dr. Jo Leonardi-Bee says that second hand smoking mothers subject their future children to a variety of risks, including fetal death, low birth weight, premature birth and serious birth defects. Second hand smoking involves the influence on the fetus of the same 4000 tobacco smoke toxins, though in lower concentration.

The researchers claim that the risk of complications is connected with the number of cigarettes smoked. Exposure to smoke from more than 10 cigarettes per day considerably increases the risk of the child’s birth defects. It is therefore very important for future fathers to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked in the presence of a mother to be, or abandon the bad habit completely.

Source of the image: Photl.

This is a new experimental technique of labor pain reduction with the help of traditional methods from such ancient cultures as Indian and Moroccan. It is based on the use of singing as a form of self-induced sedation. Researchers claim that singing triggers release of endorphins, substances with sedative effect, which in turn act to reduce labor pain.

The new method is being developed at the maternity ward in Italian city of Mantua. The research is lead by Elise Benassi, doctor of musicology and obstetrics. She claims that voice vibration from singing partially prevents pain signals from reaching the brain. As the result, the pregnant woman experiences much less pain during labor. More precisely, singing expands the diaphragm, enhances respiratory capacity, and reduces muscle tensions and compression. Thus, the whole body is completely relaxed

The medics also note that singing during labor is not same as yelling. A woman needs to come up with the right tune. After the childbirth, this tune will be an invisible sound cord between the woman and her baby. If the study is confirmed, future moms will need to search for the right tune in addition to the usual hunt for baby toys, clothes, furniture, and accessories.

Source of the image: Photl.

This sight, made into a video and uploaded last week to YouTube, amused not only the expectant mother herself, her partner and another kid, but also over 150,000 online viewers, many of whom were instantly reminded of coming-out scenes from Alien.

Not all of them regarded the latest online video hit as entertaining enough, though – a few pregnant women were extremely disconcerted by the unusual sight.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study that discloses the fact that the risk of premature labor can go up by 38 per cent if the expectant mother drinks one artificially sweetened soda or another soft drink per day.

The risk grows with every additional soda, coming to the impressive 80 per cent at the intake rate of four sodas a day for a woman of any kind of constitution.

It has already been found that sweetened soft drinks intake is linked with high blood pressure. But the aggravating effect the drinks produce on pregnancy is brought down to the influence of aspartame, one of the basic ingredients present in soft drinks. Finding its way to the body it breaks down into a number of toxic substances (formic acid, methanol, etc.) that add to the possibility of a premature birth.

Aspartame is also found to be linked to labor complications, seizures, and even tumors and disorders in the brain.

Lead researcher Thorhallur I. Halldorsson warned pregnant women against high consumption of sweetened soft drinks, saying that “it may be non-optional.”

Source of the image: Photl

If you know all the early symptoms and signs of pregnancy, you should also know the non-pregnancy signs as well. The symptoms of pregnancy differ from one woman to another. To clear your doubts, you should know all the symptoms of pregnancy before comparing yourself with a cousin or your sister who used to be pregnant.

Signs of Pregnancy from Your Body

There are several changes that a woman passes through during pregnancy. There are sudden psychological and hormonal changes that happen in a woman’s body during pregnancy. Almost all women are able to notice the similar symptoms of pregnancy during the first trimester; however they can be slightly different.

The following are the early symptoms of pregnancy

1. Bleeding Due to Implantation.

   Bleeding happening due to implantation is also called vaginal spotting. It is one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy which takes place when the egg attaches itself to the uterus walls. The following are the ways to distinguish vaginal spotting from regular vaginal bleeding:

   • Implantation bleeding happens after about five days of the fertilization.
   • The color of the implantation bleeding is light in color differentiating it from the menstrual bleeding.
   • Minor cramps are also experienced by some women during implantation bleeding.
   • If you are going through something which is looking like implantation bleeding, you should try running a home pregnancy test.

2. Frequent Urination.

   If you are running towards the bathroom every now and them, then this is one of the early symptoms of pregnancy. The ligaments in the uterus stretch causing hormonal changes and frequent urination. These happens due to the enlargement on the uterus which gets prepared to build room for the fetus by pushing the bladder.

3. Tender and Sore Breasts.

   You might experience severe soreness and pain in your breasts during pregnancy. This happens because the breasts get prepared for producing milk and enlarge due to hormonal changes.

4. Increase in Body Temperature.

   Increase in body temperature usually happens after possible conception. If your body temperature keeps on a high scale at a basal thermometer, then this is a symptom of pregnancy.

5. Missed Periods.

   Missing a regular period is one the most sure signs of being pregnant. However, this symptom of pregnancy varies in women.

6. Weakness and Fatigue.

   Feelings of exhaustion are normal after getting pregnant. If you are getting the feelings dizziness with some of the other symptoms, you should contact your doctor. This is one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy. This symptom is known as “Morning Sickness” which can happen in anytime of the day.

If you are going through any one of the symptoms of pregnancy mentioned above and are expecting to conceive, then you should start keeping a track of any of the symptoms and tell your gynecologist after you set up a meeting. However, if you had planned this pregnancy before, you will start noticing the symptoms of pregnancy soon after five days of conception. You should take proper guidance as soon as you suspect of being pregnant so that your baby would develop a good health and a fit mind.

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

According to Spanish version of the People Magazine, Solier posted a picture of her with Penelope and Javier on her Facebook page, captioning it:
Futuro papa… felicitaciones!!! “Future dad… Congratulations!!!
Futura mama… felicitaciones!!! “Future mom… Congratulations!!!

Are Bardem and Cruz really getting ready to take on new roles of mother and father?

Source of the image: glamourvanity.com.

A study in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reveals that well-nourished women who use multivitamin supplements all through their pregnancy increase the risk of premature labors and may give birth before the standard 37 weeks.

The reason, according to the researchers, lies in the fact that different vitamins and minerals may interact unpredictably decreasing the amount of nutrients required for the fetus’s proper development.
Nevertheless these supplements were not found to influence the weight of the new-born baby adversely even if taken during the third trimester.

Scientists are certain that so far as the pregnant woman is sticking to a well-balanced diet she stands in no need of supporting herself with any supplements, especially in the months preceding the birth.

Source of the image: photl.com.

Types of Lower Abdominal Pain during Pregnancy

Lower abdominal pain can be of two major types: obstetrical pain and non-obstetrical pain. The first type includes pains caused by ectopic pregnancy, premature placental abruption or a possible miscarriage. The second type includes pain related to digestive system, round ligament strain, tired abdominal muscles or surgical disorders such as appendicitis.

With pregnancy comes many concerns. There may be a time when you will have to take a leave from work. In this case, short term disability insurance quotes can alleviate some of the stressors involved in this process.

Lower Abdominal Pain Caused by Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy is a condition when fertilized egg attaches outside the uterus and to a fallopian tube. Ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed by ultrasound scan. But if you didn’t do your ultrasound scan and your pregnancy test is positive, sudden bouts of abdominal pain and dizziness may be alarming. These symptoms occur when the egg tears at the fallopian tube as it grows, causing pain and bleeding. It may happen between the fifth and the seventh week of pregnancy. If you have any of these symptoms, call paramedics immediately as you may need surgery on this.

Abdominal Pain Due to Pending Miscarriage

If this is the case, you will experience gnawing pain in your abdomen that may transfer to your lower back. Another symptom is bloody vaginal discharge of different intensity. The woman with symptoms of miscarriage should be admitted to hospital as soon as possible. At the hospital, she will have examinations of her hormonal profile, fetus condition and infections that can cause pregnancy complications. Then, the pregnant woman will be ordered the treatment she needs. In some cases, you will need to stay at hospital for a long time to maintain your pregnancy.

Lower Abdominal Pain Caused by Premature Placental Abruption

Lower abdominal pain can occur due to premature placental abruption (during pregnancy or labor). Premature placental abruption is the separation of placenta from the wall of uterus during pregnancy. Premature placental abruption can be triggered by abdomen injury, physical fatigue and medical conditions such as hypertensive heart disease or toxicosis of the second half of pregnancy. This results in torn blood vessels accompanied by severe lower abdominal pain and bleeding into the uterus, which may lead to complications in mother and fetus. If you have any of these symptoms, call paramedics right away because you will need an emergency delivery and the arrest of bleeding.

Abdominal Pain Caused by Digestive System

Digestive organs lie near your growing uterus that puts a pressure on them. Obviously, they will respond on the pressure. Fluctuations in hormone levels may be negative, too, because they make women change their diet. Pregnant women sometimes eat foods that can cause different digestive disorders. Spicy and sour meal can cause stomach irritation. Sweet food can lead to the fermentation in stomach and dysbacteriosis. Dysbacteriosis, in its turn, results in swelling and stomach ache. The treatment in this case includes maintaining healthy diet and taking drugs prescribed by your doctor.

Lower Abdominal Pain Due to Muscle and Ligament Strain

During pregnancy, your growing uterus stretches the ligaments that support it. This can cause occasional bouts of pain in lower abdomen that increase in intensity as you lift heavy objects, make fast moves or cough. You may also experience pains due to the overstrain of abdominal muscles.

You don’t need any special treatment here, just take a good rest. What makes these pains dangerous is they worry pregnant women, causing stress. So it is crucial to consult your doctor who can identify the causes and ease all fears as well as promptly prescribe a proper treatment to avoid complications.

Abdominal Pain Due To Surgical Disorders

As with any person, pregnant woman may have appendicitis, severe cholecystitis and other conditions. If that’s the case, only surgery can help.

If you have abdominal pain, consult your doctor immediately or call paramedics to ensure everything is going to be all right.

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

Researchers at the National Australian University, who conducted the study for twenty five years, analyzed mental function of women before and after pregnancy as well as during early motherhood.  According to the study lead, Prof Helen Christensen there was no difference between women before and after pregnancy, or before and after motherhood. There was also no difference between the non-mothers, the mothers and the pregnant women.

The women had memory and cognitive speed tests three times during the period of eight years as part of the National Mental Health Surveillance Program that involved a total of 7,500 individuals.

Prof Helen Christensen emphasized that the findings were unique because the women were not told they were tested for “baby brain” so they could not deliberately manipulate the result. By the way, a lot of prominent scientists previously assumed poorer mental abilities in pregnant women and mothers.

The only thing the Australian researchers did establish was some decline in cognitive speed at later stages of pregnancy. Helen Christensen says that lapses of memory normally happen to anyone but people have the tendency to blame it on the fact that they are pregnant.

The study appears in British Journal of Psychiatry.

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

They studied diet patterns of over 35,000 pregnant women. 199 of them subsequently had children with multiple sclerosis. Those children whose mothers had 4 glasses of milk every day were 56% less likely to get the disease compared to those whose mothers drank just 3 glasses of milk a month. Vitamin D intake was also reported to affect the risk. Those children whose mothers got enough vitamin D during the pregnancy were twice less likely to develop multiple sclerosis. Vitamin D improves calcium uptake and influence the development of multiple sclerosis.

Source of the image: photl.com.

In a recent TLC’s A Baby Story show Dr. Charles Hux, an obstetrician and expert for mother and fetus health, told what precautions pregnant women have to take so traveling don’t cause them any trouble.

Here are some tips from Dr.Hux for pregnant women who are going to travel.

• See your doctor about your plans. Since most of pregnancy complications occur during the first and the third trimesters, the best time for traveling would be the second trimester.
• Reschedule your travel dates if you have complications. You doctor would advise you to stay home if you have vaginal bleeding, previous hospitalization for premature labor, preeclampsia (pregnancy-induced high blood pressure), type 1 or type 2 diabetes or sickle cell anemia.
• Air travel is safe for most women up to 34 weeks of pregnancy. But different airlines have different policies on this issue. Some airlines permit women to fly during later periods of pregnancy if they have a letter from doctor stating how many weeks pregnant you are at the time of the flight.
• Prior to the trip, learn about the hospital nearest to your place of destination. Make sure you carry along all necessary medications and the set of documents just in case of an emergency.
• Spend some time doing low-risk physical activity. You don’t want to take a shot at some new sports such as surfing or water-skiing. Pregnancy substantially affects the coordination of body movements.
• Avoid swimming in the sea to prevent catching vaginal infections.
• Drink plenty of non-caffeine fluids while on the road. Dehydration may cause uterus contractions.
• If you suffer from nausea, have pregnancy-safe anti-nausea medications with you.
• Make sure you move during the travel. Get up and walk once every hour to prevent fluid accumulation in your arms and legs.
• Use your seat belt. Don’t forget to fasten the seat belt under your belly.

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

The 39-year-old model is married to the filmmaker Matthew Vaughn (their wedding was in 2002) and has a son Casper, 6, and daughter Clementine, 5. Yet Claudia said nothing as to whether she would put a hold on her career.

It seems the crisis spawned sort of baby boom among models. Gisele Bundchen, Heidi Klum, Camila Alves, Adriana Lima and Karolina Kurkova all surprisingly announced their pregnancies over the past year.

Heidi Klum even launched her own maternity clothing line. Schiffer is keeping up, planning on launching her clothing line for expectant moms, too. Is it that the models don’t rule out having more babies in future?

Source of the image: modelinia.com.

A study conducted in Canada by Dr. John You and his colleagues, however, showed that this limit is exceeded unreasonably. Having studied 1.4 million cases of pregnancies from 1996 to 2007, the scientists found that more than one third of the women underwent more than two ultrasound tests, and 20 percent more than four tests. It should be noted that in most cases no complications were registered.

From the social point of view it means unnecessary expenditure. Ontario, for example, put up a sum of $30 million to cover the expenses of unnecessary and potentially harmful ultrasound tests during the last decade.

Dr. You marked the decrease of babies‘ fatality during the period of increased ultrasound rate.

Ontario Health Insurance already recorded a significant increase in test rates, as much as 55 percent, the study informs.

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

“I love being pregnant. It’s a compulsion I suppose and I really miss it when I’m not pregnant,” confides Ms Hawkins in her Daily Mail interview.

Over the years she has grown accustomed to the condition but when the baby comes she gives it over without a qualm.

Ms Hawkins turned 45, yet she finds that her desire to go on bearing children has not diminished any.

Now she is in her eighth pregnancy, carrying two embryos from a professional couple ten years younger than herself, and she says that she is “absolutely ecstatic” over it.

Before that her own eggs had been used for conception, but now she is past this ability which is quite understandable considering her age. So, after 18-month attempts to conceive with donated sperm, she had scans made to ensure that her womb is capable of bearing and had embryos implanted.

There is a possibility of there being twins, and the British surrogate mother is titillated at the idea, for it would be the first time for her to have a multiple pregnancy.

Her pregnancy fees will come to something in the vicinity of $21,000.

Source of the image: dailymail.co.uk.

The survey encompassed 1,467 working women; two-thirds of them voiced their conviction that pregnancy would prove to be a serious hindrance to their career, and three-fourths of them were sure that raising a family would be hardly compatible with holding a senior position.

Those views were confirmed by Federal MP Bronwyn Bishop who participated in the CareerOne Women’s Forum. Ms Bishop (as quoted by the Daily Telegraph) stressed the fact that it’s much more difficult for working mothers to pursue a successful career.

“All the evidence I took in at that inquiry shows that once you have a child your career plateaus,” runs the conclusion she was forced to make.

The working woman’s colleagues will be regarding as an injustice in the long run that she has to get off to get the kids home at 5.30 pm, and it’s even worse if the child falls ill and she has to stay away from work while they have no such excuse.

So Bishop is ready to take a stand and make the public bear in mind the results of the inquiry until they get ingrained in the public attitude towards working mothers.

“One thing that desperately needs to be done is (to abolish) fringe benefit tax on childcare and there needs to be the ability to salary sacrifice or have tax deductibility for your childcare expenses,” she was quoted saying.

She is sure that ways must be found to enable women to combine childcare with work and the possibility to get on with their career.

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

Scientists already established the fact that women can more or less accurately identify the expressions of fear and distaste depending on the stage of the menstrual cycle; on the days when the level of the hormone progesterone goes up their perceptive ability becomes sharper.

Since pregnancy causes a significant rise of progesterone and other hormones – especially in its late stages – researchers at the University of Bristol headed by Rebecca Pearson decided to check whether the ability to recognize emotions sharpens during pregnancy as well.

New Scientist published the description of the research. 76 pregnant women were shown 60 faces on the computer to which they were to assign one of six emotions; they did it first before they were 14 weeks pregnant and once again after they were past their 34th week. The reading accuracy regarding the expressions of happiness and surprise was the same at both stages of the experiment, but late pregnancy readings showed much higher accuracy rates in cases of such emotions as anger, fear or disgust.

The researchers conclude that, when moving into the late stages of pregnancy, a woman becomes far more observant. Her vigilance increases as the necessity to be aware of potential threats to her and her fetus is growing. Mothers’ sharpened receptivity that brings about hyper-vigilance, though, can also make them fall victims to the feeling of anxiety, Pearson warns. Women who are inclined to be over-anxious may suffer from their heightened ability to identify negative emotions in the people who surround them.

Rebecca Pearson accentuates the fact that even pregnant women who have no anxiety problems ‘might interpret negative or emotional things around them in a slightly more sensitive way’. Source of the image: sxc.hu/profile/bjearwicke.

The International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology published a report that asserts that more than half of expectant mothers make free use of medications.

Some of them, medications controlling epilepsy for one, are certainly advisable, but some other drugs should be avoided as harmful for the fetus. The article says that 6.3 percent of the drugs that are taken are highly pernicious. “These pregnancies were associated with an elevated number of (pregnancy terminations) and babies born with major (birth defects) in comparison with the expected numbers in the population,” the authors conclude.

Among the harmful drugs cited as most often taken during pregnancy are antibiotics, drugs for severe acne, psychiatric drugs that are used to treat depression, and some heart disease cures that are known to interfere with the natural development of the baby in the womb.

Consequently the children of mothers who went for medications while they were carrying their babies show a noticeably higher rate of birth defects.

Scientists underscore the importance of expecting mothers being aware of all the side effects of the drugs they are taking with special consideration for cures for chronic conditions.

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

The study, written by Jonatan R. Ruiz of Sweden, the coordinator of the team, was published in the International Journal of Obesity. Ruiz concludes that “an exercise regime carried out during the second and third trimester of pregnancy does not harm the health of the fetus.”

The research involved the participation of 160 healthy women ranging from 25 to 35. They were selected from women with sedentary habits who showed no symptoms of a possibility of premature birth. These women were divided into two groups one of which maintained an exercise regime for the whole period of pregnancy. They were closely supervised by experts of two institutions, the Physical Activity and Sports Science and the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Unit of Hospital Severo Ochoa in Madrid.

The second and third trimester of pregnancy got the most attention from the researchers; the embryos were analyzed using multiple methods for the effect the ongoing workouts had on the weight and size of the babies.

It was found that mothers’ constant exercising had no negative effect on the body size and other health parameters of their fetuses which displayed a close similarity to those in the group of women who weren’t engaged in physical activity during pregnancy.

Thus disposing of the superstitious fear of a probable harm to the baby, the study accentuates the health benefits of a physically-active lifestyle even during the last stages of pregnancy.

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

Why to Wear Maternity Support Band?

Maternity support band is an orthopedic garment worn more for medical than cosmetic purposes. Maternity support band fixes your fetus into right position. It protects abdominal muscles from overstretching and relieves your lower back by reducing the pressure on the internal organs and spinal cord.

You Must Wear Maternity Support Band if You Have:

• uterus scar;
• threat of a miscarriage during the second and the third trimester;
• fetal hydrops, multiple pregnancy, oversized fetus;
• fetus changing its breech presentation into a cephalic presentation (In this situation, your fetus needs to be supported and retained in the right position);
• low-lying placenta.

You Can Wear Maternity Support Band If You Have:

• consecutive pregnancy during which abdominal muscles stretch more intensely and more rapidly;
• later stages of pregnancy (the end of the second and the beginning of the third trimester);
• weak abdominal muscles;
• curvature of the spine, degenerative disc disease (a condition characterized by severe pains in any part of the spine) or any other spinal disorders;
• physical exercises (fitness, walks, housekeeping, cooking);
• or if a pregnant woman simply feels more comfortable wearing maternity support band.

When You Must Not Wear Maternity Support Band

Never wear a maternity support band when fetal malposition is identified. If your doctor says your fetus lies in transverse or breech position instead of being in polar, head first position, wearing maternity support band may prevent the fetus from turning to the right position as one of the functions of maternity band is to fix fetus inside the womb.

Types of Maternity Support Bands

Despite a multitude of maternity companies offering maternity support bands, just three types of this orthopedic garment exist:

• Prenatal
• Postnatal
• Multi-purpose (suitable to wear both during pregnancy and after childbirth).

Maternity support bands may be also classified according to their cut into support pants and support bands (or belts). Each type has its pros and cons. One common negative of all the types is that they are made with synthetic fabric. But using other materials makes no sense as it is synthetic fabric that provides a good elasticity and fixation.

Maternity Support Pants

Support pants provide support due to their densely woven fabric. Support pants are very easy to use and worn either alone or over regular underwear. There are models that have straps at the rear so you don’t have to take your support pants down when using toilet (simply unstrap your pants instead).

Maternity Support Band

Maternity support band is worn over underwear or clothes. Support is provided by a tight and broad belt, which is actually a maternity support band.

Multi-Purpose Support Band

Multi-purpose support bands can be worn both during pregnancy and after childbirth. Such support bands have a broad part and narrow part. During the pregnancy, the support band is worn in such a way that its broad side fits your lower back while the narrow side fits under your belly. After childbirth, it should be worn with the broad side on the belly and the narrow side fitting the lower back.

Where to Buy and How to Choose Maternity Support Bands

Maternity support bands should be available at pharmacies, maternity stores or orthopedic stores where you can find maternity support band that fits you best. First, your maternity support band should be of the right size. As manufacturers identify sizes differently, all you have to do is measure the circumference of your hips right under your belly and match it with the size marked on a packaging. Don’t buy bigger sizes thinking you will grow into them because manufacturers factor in natural belly and hip growth for each size. You can also try on your maternity support belt at dedicated stores and pharmacies.

Make sure nothing itches or brings discomfort. It would be unreasonable to buy a second-hand maternity support belt you may find it newspaper ads or off your friend. As with any other product, maternity support band has its service life, which lasts over the period of one pregnancy when used daily from the fifth month on plus (for some models) postnatal use during six months. At the end of its service life, maternity support band becomes overstretched and cannot fulfill its supportive function.

How to Use Maternity Support Band

There are a few common rules of how to use maternity support band.

1. You should buy and start wearing your maternity support band no sooner than your twentieth week of pregnancy because it is the time when the fetus begins growing rapidly. If you have multiple pregnancy or such conditions as fetal hydrops, uterus scar or oversized fetus, you should start wearing your maternity support band from the sixteenth week on. If this is your first pregnancy and you have well-trained abs and don’t feel any discomfort (you move comfortably and have no back pain), you can delay buying and using maternity support band until the twenty eighth week.
2. Put on your maternity support band in lying position so you can fix the fetus. As you stand up, it helps to hold your fetus in place by allocating the pressure evenly. Putting on your maternity support belt when sitting or standing doesn’t make any sense.
3. Within the first two or three days of use you may feel discomfort in your belly as it takes time to adapt. But if this feeling of discomfort lingers on, make sure you consult with specialists. It might be either you put on your maternity support band incorrectly or you had a wrong size.
4. Never wear your maternity support band all day long. Make sure you rest for 30 minutes every three hours and put it off before bedtime. The same is true for those who work full hours! Obviously, you don’t have a chance to put on your maternity support band in lying position at your working place but you can do this by leaning back on your chair as far as possible. Never put it on when standing.
5. If you feel any pain in your belly or your baby gets too busy inside, loose your maternity support band. If this doesn’t help, take it off and see your doctor.
6. Maternity support band needs care. Hand wash it in warm water as it gets soiled.
7. From the thirty sixth week on, you should wear your maternity support band only when doing household chores or when walking because it is the period when your belly descends as the baby begins to get ready to be born, nearing the birth canal.

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

The British Medical Journal published a study that reports that pregnant women suffering from preeclampsia run a higher risk of developing thyroid malfunction. Women get tired quickly, overcome by general weakness; depression sets in. They may also have problems of cardiovascular nature.

First-time moms who contracted preeclampsia have the risk of developing underactive thyroid after pregnancy (even a number of years after pregnancy!) higher by 1.7 times in comparison to women who didn’t suffer from the disease. Whereas women who had a relapse of preeclampsia in their second pregnancy have six times higher risk.

An increase of a soluble protein known as fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 in the blood induced by preeclampsia means that the thyroid tissue gets a diminished blood supply. It can cause serious thyroid malfunctions with the passing of time.

For women in their first pregnancy preeclampsia may be fraught with subclinical hypothyroidism that may result in hypothyroid malfunction even years afterwards.

Lead researcher Richard Levine warns: “I do not know if subclinical hypothyroidism poses a risk to a woman when pregnant, but it might have health implications for her child since overt hypothyroidism during pregnancy has been linked to lower IQs in the offspring.”

Considering a possible danger for the child, it is advisable for expectant mothers showing symptoms of preeclampsia to run the tests for thyroid, heart and kidney problems.

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

The new study reports that a constant pressure on three acupuncture points in the ear sustained by pressure needles fixed with a tape for one week has been found to result in alleviation of back pain.

Some pregnant women who participated in the experiment reported a pain-free phase which lasted for one or two weeks, and all of them reported increased freedom of movement after the ear acupuncture treatment.

The only side effect to be expected is a slight soreness of some areas of the era.

Scientists are hopeful that a more successful treatment course for pregnant women suffering from back pain may arise from this discovery.

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

Gisele spending rainy Saturdays roaming about New York, the father of the girl Tom Brady is in London with the New England Patriots; they are having a weekly football game ahead.

Source of the images: justjared.com.