Therefore, oocyte maturation occurs much less frequently in winter than at any other time of the year. Still, there are a lot of babies conceived in winter, just as of those conceived in fall, spring or summer. Now, we shall discuss the pros and cons of getting pregnant in winter.

Why Getting Pregnant in Winter?

When it is winter outside, women’s sexual desire is inhibited. But as for men’s desire, cold weather does not influence it. In addition, the U.S. scientists believe that it is best for the couples, who do not yet have children, to try their luck in winter. It is proved that sperm production improves in the male body under the influence of frost and cold. Therefore, the chances of conceiving a healthy baby increase during this period.

If you get pregnant in winter, the second trimester of pregnancy will be in spring. To be exact, this is the period of rapid emotional recovery. The first greenery appears. Yet it does not mean that the future mom will be able to completely stop taking different multivitamin medicines. They must be taken during all three trimesters.

But the third trimester of pregnancy will fall on summer. You will be able to rest from heavy clothing, and there will be no need to look for bigger winter clothes.

Light dresses and sandals for the future mom – what could be better? The delivery itself will take place in early autumn. It means that there will be a great selection of fruits and vegetables at your disposal. Eating all these useful products, the newly formed mummy will easily improve the quality of her milk.

Contra of Winter Conception

The disadvantages of winter conception include the fact that the first trimester of pregnancy will occur during the worst period in terms of epidemiological situation. The fetus is extremely vulnerable in the first couple of months of intrauterine development. Its placental barrier has not yet formed, and the future baby is vulnerable to difficult and dangerous viral infections.

Therefore, pregnant women have to thoroughly realize it and follow all the necessary precautions, such as washing hands with soap more frequently, wearing a gauze bandage, and moisturizing their nose.

The second trimester of pregnancy, if the child is conceived in winter, falls on early spring. However, spring cannot particularly please you with vitamins. To improve the situation, you may eat sauerkraut, since this product contains the remains of vitamin C, citrus fruits, carrot-apple fresh juice, green onions, and parsley.

The expectant mother goes through the third trimester of pregnancy in mid-summer. She may be annoyed at edema. It is also important for the future mom to avoid frequent exposure to the sun, especially from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., not to drink more than 1.5 liters of liquid per day.

By the way, the scientists from England have noticed that the babies expected in fall, are in no hurry to be born: their planned birth is often delayed. Physicians do not yet know how to explain this phenomenon. This tendency might be linked with natural biorhythms, which can compel the body to slow down its livelihood.

So, planning to conceive in winter or not is up to you. In any case, the most important thing for the baby is to be wanted, and then loved!

Podiatrists are unanimous: there should be a resolute ‘no’ to the heels! From the first day of diagnosed pregnancy, one should choose “orthopedic” types of shoes, such as sneakers with comfortable shock-absorbing soles, which smooth the way the body shakes while walking. High heels have a negative impact on the joints of the legs, the spine, and the uterus! Walking on high heels certainly increases the risk of edema, varicose veins, and leg pain. Moreover, irreversible changes in the joints can appear because of the sharply increasing weight during the second half of pregnancy. The pregnancy will be over, while the back pain and osteoarthritis of the knee will remain.

You will not be able to control the change of the center of gravity, when the belly will increase greatly, and the confidence in your stability will be reduced. At the same time, the likelihood of falls will increase even in the shoes without heels. You still cannot not feel all these inconveniences, simply because you have not gained much weight, and your figure has not changed much. Soon you will feel it all, so you’d better take care of your health in advance.

Finally, the main purpose of high heels – a beautiful silhouette and gait – becomes something unattainable at the later stages of pregnancy, and this advantage becomes totally perverted. Imagine a waddling “duck” walk of a pregnant woman with her back sharply drawn backwards to keep the center of gravity… and she is wearing high heels.

Vicki could not resist wearing studded heels even during the fourth pregnancy. The result was severe pain in her back, because of which she had to reduce her activity. After the birth of her daughter, she could not even stand during the first few weeks. However, two months later the incorrigible Vicki put on her studded shoes, took the newborn in her arms and went shopping.

The main problem is in the fact that many pregnant women might find this tendency very attractive. All the stars are doing it, after all! We hope that the unhealthy trend will come to naught.

Why Should Pregnant Women Exercise?

With regular physical activity during pregnancy, the level of endorphins increases, and they operate as natural analgesics in the body. Besides, regular moderate exercise helps the body recover faster after childbirth.

How to Start Pregnancy Exercising Correctly?

Of course, it is better to startphysical exercising before rather than during pregnancy in order to keep fit with the help of simple exercises while being in a family way. But, of course, you can start a new kind of physical activity during pregnancy after consulting the doctor.

What Sports to Choose during Pregnancy?

You can practice yoga and attend aerobics classes for pregnant women, but on condition that the program activities have been developed by a qualified instructor and are approved by the obstetrician-gynecologist, who observes you during pregnancy. Thus, you will rule out the occurrence of complications or their provocation.

Swimming has a particularly positive effect on the body during pregnancy. It is known that water soothes and relaxes. Since the weight of the body in water decreases, the growing fetus and the uterus become easier, so the pain in the back decreases, as well as the pressure on the joints.

Aqua Aerobics and Other Water Exercising during Pregnancy

Moderate swimming or aqua-aerobic exercises normalize blood flow, facilitate the blood flow to the heart, which has a beneficial influence on the pregnant woman in case of an increase in blood pressure. During the exercise, there is outflow of tissue fluid into the bloodstream, and then excess liquid is removed through kidneys, which decreases swelling. In addition, resistance to movement is 12 times higher in water, so the training of muscle fibers and joints is more intense, but the necessary sparing regimen is preserved, which, by the way, does not cause the increase of the body temperature.

4 Tips for Pregnant Women Going for Water Fitness

Generally recommended exercises in water usually mean orderly swimming for half an hour. They are just as effective and safe as the classes of aqua-aerobics or aqua-yoga under the supervision of an instructor, who has much experience in fitness programs for pregnant women. Also, one should always remember the traditional advice given by coaches and doctors:

• The optimal water temperature for the classes should be about 27-29° C because warmer water temperatures are harmful to the fetus.
• One needs to drink clean water before and after these exercises, because moisture is lost during any aerobic exercises, even in the pool.
• The planned expenditure of energy needs to be compensated, so one should better plan a meal 1 hour before the class.
• You should watch yourself carefully during a workout, because cool water extinguishes the sense of being tired which can contribute to fatigue.

As for the optimal level of physical activity, you should consult an experienced obstetrician-gynecologist.

The experts have conducted a study demonstrating that the more a woman is exposed to exhaust fumes during the initial and the later stages of pregnancy, the greater the future deviation in child development might be. The study was published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

During the study, the researchers have examined the health of 336,000 babies born in New Jersey between 1999 and 2003. Ethnicity, marital status, education, and the mothers’ addiction to smoking were taken into account. Also, the experts studied the daily information about the environment in New Jersey received during this period.

Taking into account all the factors, it turned out that the proximity of the road was a strong factor in the development of the embryo. The children, whose mothers lived near the roads with heavy traffic, were often born with low birth weight, which led to the problems of child health in the future. According to the experts, the air, that a woman breathes during pregnancy, plays an important role in the development of the fetus and the child in the future.

Dear pregnant women! There is another reason not to ignore doctors’ prescriptions about taking folic acid during the periods of conceiving and carrying a baby. The scientists have already proved that folic acid reduces the risk of certain birth defects.

And now we have a new research which involved 40 000 women. They were asked what vitamin supplements they had been taking as early as 4 weeks before the conception and during 8 weeks after it. Three years later, the same women had to deal with the tests about the development of their children.

It turned out that if the mother had taken folic acid during the described period, the delay of speech had been observed only in four cases per thousand children. And the babies of those mothers, who had not been taking folic acid, had nine cases of delay in speech development per thousand.

The scientists from Columbia University claim that folic acid should be taken by all women of reproductive age. That is why in the U.S. and Canada, most grain products are enriched with folic acid so that most pregnant women could have an opportunity to receive this important ingredient.

Recent studies prove once again that folic acid plays a very important role in the development of infants, whose health begins to be formed at the earliest stages of their mother’s pregnancy.

Source of the image: Photl.

For example, a lot of women try to walk more, have sex, eat spicy food or stimulate their own nipples. These data have been obtained from interviewing 201 patients at Northwestern Hospital.

The scientists have estimated that 102 ladies, which is 50.7% of the total number of participants, used different ways to speed up the approach of delivery. In the opinion of the overwhelming majority of the girls, the list of methods which help to achieve these goals includes laxative medications, herbal supplements, acupuncture, and masturbation. However, the scholars note that these methods are increasingly resorted to by relatively young ladies who are pregnant for the first time and not earlier than on the thirty-ninth week of pregnancy.

Regarding the sources from which women discover these ways of speeding up the delivery, the majority of the interviewed participants answered that they had learned it from their friends and relatives. And just less than a half of the participants of the experiment admitted that they had discussed these actions and the degree of their effectiveness and safety with a doctor. Despite the fact that the mechanisms of this kind of techniques are not well studied, a professor at Ohio State University and one of the leading authors of the research, Jonathan Shaffira, claims that the time of child delivery depends on the level of certain hormones that women are not able to control performing any of the additional actions.

Source of the image: Photl.

According to the experts, these substances are found mainly in genetically modified crops and can substantially harm the health of pregnant women and their future children.

The study was conducted by the scientists from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Sherbrooke. The experts have taken tests of dozens of women to see what can badly affect the health of mothers and babies. The traces of toxic substances were found in more than 93% of pregnant women and 80% of yet unborn babies. The studies indicate the presence of the chemicals in a woman’s body, which get there due to such food as meat, eggs, milk and other products of farm animals which are fed with genetically modified crops.

The results of the study, according to the scientists, show the danger of producing genetically modified products, even though the manufacturers believe that no potentially harmful and dangerous chemicals can harm the health of a woman. It has been proved today that these chemicals can cause allergic reactions and lead to the most terrible consequences such as abortion or even cancer.

Source of the image: Photl.

Pregnant Women Should Eat Less and More Often

It is important to follow the regime: to eat little but often. It is recommended to reduce one’s usual size of meals and make them two or even three times smaller during pregnancy, but at the same time a pregnant woman should eat not less than 6 times a day. It is important to take care of the figure even during pregnancy. Firstly, it can make the process of childbearing and childbirth easier. Secondly, sharp increase in weight leads to an intensive appearance of stretch marks, not only in the abdominal area, but the breast and thighs as well.

Think of Postpartum Weight Loss

A lot of pregnant women allow themselves to relax and eat lots of sweet pastry. Try to restrain yourselves and think more often about how hard you will have to work to return to your previous shape after giving birth. Increase the caloric value of your diet gradually – in accordance with the growth of the fetus. Nutritionists recommend to eat virtually without changes during the first trimester of pregnancy – except for eating more healthy food, but the caloric intake at the same time should not differ from the average daily norm for women, 2800 calories.

How Many Calories Do Pregnant Women Need a Day?

During the first trimester the calories are almost unchanged, while the second trimester of pregnancy is characterized by a monthly increase by 70 calories which means that during the sixth month your calorie intake should not exceed 3000. During the last trimester the increase in calories should be in the same proportions, and during the last month of pregnancy you should eat not less than 3,200 calories per day.

Celebrity Moms’ Pregnancy Weight Gain

It is interesting to know that a lot of celebrities do not follow the advice of their own nutritionists and allow themselves to relax during pregnancy and eat a lot of superfluous food having a special fancy for the sweet. How many extra kilos of weight have celebrity moms gained during pregnancy?

• Britney Spears has gained 18 kg
• Jennifer Lopez, bearing twins, has gained 25 kg
• Katie Holmes, Tom Cruise’s wife, has put on 16 kg
• Milla Jovovich has beaten all records with her 30 kg of gained weight during pregnancy.

Source of the image: Photl.

Death rates from Group A streptococcal infection, which is usually accompanied by only a pain in the throat, have risen by almost a 1/3 since 2005. Doctors claim that fatal cases can be prevented if the virus is diagnosed early. It can be treated with antibiotics.

This virus is quite prevalent among children. Most often it occurs in winter and usually leads to mild sore throat or skin infections. However, pregnant women or those who have recently given birth to a child can be quite vulnerable to a severe form of this infection, which can be fatal.

Scientists call for doctors to be more attentive to the initial symptoms of the infection. They also recommend that women be vigilant, as many do not realize that they are in critical condition and therefore do not seek help.

Streptococcal infection can be transmitted through close contact with children. All who have died from the infection have had small children or worked with them. Some of them have lost a mother or their family members recently, had chickenpox or sore throat and respiratory tract infections.

Doctors advise pregnant women to wash their hands more frequently, especially after visiting public places (transport, a department store, etc.).

Source of the image: Photl.

Scientists from the University of California examined pregnant women for the residues of 163 chemicals that are often used in manufacturing various household products and identified 43 of those in practically every woman under examination.

The blood and urine of nearly all of the women involved carried traces of perilous chemicals such as organochlorine pesticides, cancer-inducing polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, perchlorate and phthalates, that found their way into human bodies from detergents, cosmetics, plastic bottles, toys, vinyl floors, and many other products generally found in every home.

The researchers were stunned to come across traces of a pesticide named PBDEs in spite of the fact that its use had been proscribed in the country since 1972.

The study that appeared in a recent issue of the Environmental Health Perspectives doesn’t proceed to analyze the possible effects of those compounds on the development of fetuses, but several earlier researches showed that the residues of those chemicals can infiltrate through the placenta into the fetus.

The research team accentuated that it’s a matter of concern since a high level of harmful elements can influence the brain development of the fetus adversely and interfere with the future fertility of the child. Furthermore, a combination of the studied residues may cause formation of unidentified toxic substances that will affect the development of the fetus and later deteriorate the health of the baby.

Source of the image: Photl.

Smoking pregnant women face higher risk of preterm birth – 27 per cent. Their smoking daughters have even higher risk – 29 per cent. Furthermore, if one’s grandmother was a smoker as well, then the risk increases to 60 per cent.

By the age of ten, a baby-girl of a smoking mother will experience disastrous consequences of nicotine effect on her body. The girl’s fertility will be negatively affected as well.

Professor Golding pointed out, that non-smoking pregnant women usually experience pleasant physical and psychological state midway through the pregnancy. On the other hand, smoking pregnant women rarely experience this state. So, if you want to be happy during pregnancy, you need to refrain from smoking when planning pregnancy, the pregnancy itself, and breast feeding period.

Source of the image: Photl.

Start the Day with a Healthy Breakfast

If pregnant women don’t have breakfast, or eat less food in the morning, then they may feel dizzy and will usually eat excess food afterwards. Also a good breakfast ensures that the baby gets the required calories, since you have slept for around 6 to 8 hours during the night without any food. Some people might tell you to have a meal during the night, but it’s unnecessary and can be solved by a healthy breakfast.

Have Disciplined Meals When Pregnant

Plan ahead and think what you are going to have for the rest of the day, so that you can ration your nutrients accordingly. If you go to work, carry healthy snacks like fruits, whole-grain crackers or carrot sticks. If a pregnant woman doesn’t plan, then they will probably end up eating whatever they feel like and thus gain excess weight.

Have Fibrous Foods Low in Fat and Sugar

Pregnant women could try canned fruits. You should also check the fat and sugar content in the labels. If you can’t help yourself from eating a sugar rich meal, you should also have something wholesome like milk; this inhibits an increase in blood sugar that might trigger fat storage processes. Sugar rich food usually makes pregnant women hungry in half an hour because of the production of insulin, but an intake of fiber ensures that they feel full; this also triggers excess fat removal.

Eat before attending a party or social event

If your stomach is somewhat full, you will most likely be able to avoid food that contributes to excess fat. Parties are usually filled with enticing but fatty food. You don’t want to gain excess weight by eating food you don’t need but are attractive.

Eat Before Shopping

Similar to the above strategy, this ensures that you don’t buy unnecessary food on whim. Stick to a shopping list and buy only what you need.

Pregnant women Should Eat Broiled, Baked or Steamed food

You should request your food like this in the restaurant; most often they will acknowledge the needs of a pregnant woman. Food cooked this way does not contribute to excess fat gain.

Sneak in Fruits into Theaters

Not only does this save money, but the food in theaters is fatty and sugar rich.

Drink Plenty of Water

Pregnant women often confuse dehydration with hunger. If you think you feel hungry despite eating healthy food, this is a sign that you are not drinking enough water. Water also has many other beneficial effects on the body.

Pregnant Woman Shouldn’t Eat for Two!

This is actually very common. People love to make pregnant women eat as much as they can and eat food they should not take. Avoid this and don’t eat trying to please others. A simple “thanks, but no, thanks” goes a long way and is polite.

Eat Carefully and Enjoy All Your Meals

Research has shown that on average a person will eat 750 more calories when they are eating with someone else. The reason is that when you are eating with someone else, you will usually be busy talking to that person or be engaged in something else; if you don’t mind what you are eating, you will definitely eat more. You can try the following method to both reduce the amount of food intake and increase the deliciousness of your meals: Chew your food for a long time and try to focus on exactly how the food tastes. You will realize that each bite is savory. You will eat less, but enjoy more.

Following these nutrition tips will help you avoid gaining excess weight during your pregnancy and enjoy your mother-to-be time!

Source of the image: Pitterpatter.

Exercises a Pregnant Woman Shouldn’t Do

The question is settled, then, but the choice of the training system is yet to be made. Before taking a closer look at various possibilities, you’d do well to brush aside the ones that will not do. Any program that you have never attempted before and which appears to involve a good deal of exertion should better be avoided. Running and suchlike activities of a jolting nature must be firmly excluded. Even if you are a well-trained runner, first take medical advice about it.

Among suitable workouts that may be safely recommended during pregnancy we find the following activities.

Walking

While not being a big deal from the sport viewpoint, it is still the best thing for pregnant women. It is perfectly safe from the beginning to end and it does set your heart to a livelier rhythm, making the blood circulate faster.

Jogging

Jogging is fine as long as you have some experience in it. You should be careful not to overtire yourself and cut down on the strain gradually as your pregnancy keeps on its course. If you find it hard to sustain a conversation as you are jogging along, take it as a sign that you are overstraining yourself.

Swimming

Swimming ranks among the best and safest pregnancy exercises. It bolsters up your cardiovascular system. It helps you forget – if only temporarily – about your newly-acquired weight. It leaves you with a nice feeling of lightness in your body and a brighter mood.

Pregnancy Yoga

Yoga will look after your muscles, joints and ligaments providing a good stretch without unduly swift movements. You can get enlisted in a pre-natal yoga class which would make it just perfect.

Weights

Weight training is not off the list as long as you scratch off the exercises that require the pregnant woman lying on the back and don’t overdo it generally. You can get on with building your muscles and enjoying the familiar sensations.

In any case it would be advisable for you to take the doctor’s advice before embarking on any kind of physical activity. There are not supposed to be any objections to that especially if you have always been sport-minded.

Warming up

The rule to start off easy is applicable and once you have started you’d better put it on a regular basis. The general recommendation gives half an hour of workout every day (or every other day if you feel too tired). Please remember to begin and finish off with warming exercises thus giving your heart opportunity to tune up first and rate down gradually afterwards. Besides, warming up lessens the possibility of injuries. Keep tabs on your heart rate and when it escalates over 140 go easier and get ready to wind up. As soon as you begin to experience dizzy sensations and feel lightheaded stop immediately.

Drink Enough Water

And one final hint: don’t let your hydration level go too low. Over-heating may be detrimental to yours and your baby’s health.

This advice will improve your mind as well as body, help you maintain your health and enjoy yourself.

Source of the image: Photl.

Some of these sensations may be rather unpleasant – your breasts tinge and get sore too easily. Generally these changes begin to manifest themselves after a month or so and last for about two months. With some women it resembles the sensations in their breasts that they have before their period.

Unpleasant Breast Changes during Pregnancy

While some of these sensations will probably let off after the first trimester, your breasts won’t stop growing. Your skin will be stretching – a process that may be accompanied by itching and appearance of stretch marks. Veins may become more pronounced. Normally you will have to go a couple of cup sizes up, especially if it’s your first pregnancy.

How Nipples and Areolas Change

Your nipples and areolas (the areas surrounding the nipples) will also feel the inflow of blood; they will be growing bigger and darker. Your areolas are covered with tiny bumps that you never gave a thought to before, but now they will grow in size as well. They are called Montgomery’s tubercles and are glands that produce oil.

All these changes go towards making your breasts better fitted for feeding and nursing.

Colostrum Appearance

By the end of the first trimester the time comes when milk begins to appear. At first it is a special kind of milk called colostrum – your baby will be getting it right after the birth. It is thick and yellowish in color. Some women even leak it after they’re halfway through pregnancy, although there’s no reason to be worried if it doesn’t happen with you.

How to Choose the Right Bra during Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the time when the role of bras becomes especially important for securing maximum comfort. You should get a sufficient supply of different bras. Get hold of an experienced salesperson on whose advice you can rely and choose carefully. Purchase bras designed for better support; here are some hints towards choosing the right bra.

• Buy bras larger in size both in terms of cups and chest circumference.
• Don’t forget that your breasts and your belly are going to keep growing, so it’s a good idea to pick a couple of bras that are too big now but may come in handy later.
• When trying them on, always fasten them as tight as you can so you will be able to adjust the setting as you are growing.
• Then, go for cotton ones instead of synthetic – they are more comfortable and will provide better ventilation.
• If your breasts have gotten very sensitive, hold off bras fitted with wiring. The material must be soft with as few seams as possible, especially around nipples.

Choosing a Bra for Physical Activities

You will appreciate a good supportive bra when you set about your exercising. Your breasts have grown bigger and heavier and you are going to need all the support and comfort that a bra can provide. You will certainly feel the difference during your daily workouts!

Maternity Bra for More Comfort

Go to maternity stores to look for some special kind of bras. You may want to purchase a pregnancy sleep bra which is extra soft and nonrestrictive and will help you get a good night’s sleep. If you feel like getting all the comfort you can, try maternity bras that provide better support in the daytime.

When Should You Buy a Nursing Bra?

While you’re at it, you may as well get a nursing bra. You may find it a very comfortable thing as the delivery approaches and you will certainly need it for comfortable breastfeeding.

Source of the image: Askamum.

The scientists came to this conclusion after studying 700 pregnant women in the last trimester. They analyzed the state of their psyche, and then studied the state of their newborns. Experiment with each mother and baby lasted for about a year. 132 women during pregnancy experienced depression, 186 – a feeling of anxiety. As a result, out of 583 babies born in time, one in every fifth baby weighed less than two and a half kilograms.

This led doctors to conclude that children’s health depends on the psychological state of their mothers. Experts say that depression and anxiety disorders in pregnant women can be a major factor in mortality and ill health in infants – the Health journal wrote.

Source of the image: Photl.

“The truth is there has not been a new drug to treat problems in labor for 60 years – pharmaceutically, there’s been nothing new since oxytocin,” Professor Wray pointed out. But unfortunately oxytocin, which is conducive to active contracting of the uterus, does not always produce the desired result.

Therefore the news of a new test that allows to detect whether the pregnancy is going to end up with a vaginal delivery or a Caesarean section is more than welcome.

Liverpool University and Liverpool Women’s Hospital carried out a study which revealed that the possibility of a vaginal delivery drops down noticeably in expectant mothers whose level of lactic acid in the amniotic fluid is higher than common, whereas a low level of lactic acid means that the uterus can produce the contractions of the strength necessary for delivery.

The level of lactic acid grows higher when the uterus, like other muscles, is set to work. Contraction makes it release the lactic acid, but as soon as it reaches a given level, it begins to inhibit the process, which can end up in the mother being no longer able to give birth naturally.

So, there is more lactic acid in the amniotic fluid when the uterus gets weak. An oxytocin infusion can provide only so much stimulation which may not work at all, but when it does, it will throw the uterus into lower layers of exhaustion.

The new scientific discovery may give physicians a reliable clue when it is worth everybody’s while to go for a Caesarean cutting down on a prolonged labor and playing it much safer – or, the other way round, know when the Caesarean is not necessary.

Source of the image: Photl

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.

Speaking at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference in Rome, researchers from Denmark reported that alcohol intake during pregnancy may result in the sons having trouble to father children during their whole life.

The report delivered was based on a study of nearly 350 young men who are now 18-21 years old whose mothers has been involved in a wide-range study of daily habits throughout their pregnancy. The researchers informed the fertility conference that mothers’ drinking was discovered to get down their sons’ sperm counts.

Young men whose mothers were known to drink 4-5 glasses of alcohol weekly while they were pregnant, had their sperm counts lower by one-third in comparison with their peers whose mothers kept off the bottle.

While the correlation between pregnancy alcohol intake and inferior sperm concentration and its possible ramifications haven’t been investigated completely, the fact that an extra drink or two may impair the male child’s fertility must be taken into consideration by would-be mothers.

Source of the image: Photl.com.

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.

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.

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.

The study examined data about 435696 women from Ontario, Canada, who gave birth between April 1994 and March 1998. The study followed each women up to March 1998. Women who had history of diabetes before pregnancy were excluded from the study.

Women who had abnormal blood sugar test results, but did not have gestational diabetes, have increased the risk of having heart disease later in their life. However, Dr. Baiju Shah, coauthor of the study, explains that this risk is not as high as in women who did have pregnancy diabetes. Women with increased glucose sensitivity can simultaneously develop type II diabetes and vascular disease. Therefore, conduction of screening tests for gestational diabetes during pregnancy can help identify women who are at risk of having cardiovascular disease later in their life.

Gestational diabetes is characterized by occasional increase in blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Presence of this condition is in fact an important sign of high risk of developing type II diabetes in the future. Even the mildest glucose intolerance during pregnancy can be an early warning that the woman needs to take better care of her cardiovascular system.

The results of the study were published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

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

Hair Coloring the Safe Way

True, there is no definite scientifically proven chemical influence of hair coloring on the development of your unborn baby. On the other hand nobody would wish to become a part of medical statistics. So, to play it as safe as possible, you are well advised to put off coloring your hair until you are well past the first trimester: let your baby’s organs form without the risk of chemical interference, however slight that may be.

You can play it even safer if, your first trimester gone by, you will run a careful examination of hair coloring products. Some of them contain a limited amount of chemicals, you can find even chemical free stuff. Consider temporary hair coloring.

Hair Highlighting instead of Coloring

Opting for highlighting instead of coloring will further minimize the risk. Highlighting implies dyeing strands of hair which means that the likelihood of the dye getting absorbed into your body becomes significantly less. Hair highlights will be good for about two months before they require refreshing. Take care to buy over the counter highlighting kits!

Will Safe Hair Treatments Look As Nice As Before?

Now you have decided on the kind of hair treatment, there’s another precaution to take. Since the hormone level during pregnancy is higher than normal, your body’s – and your hair’s – reactions will be different. In this case some women find that during pregnancy hair takes color faster, and you may get quite an unexpected shade in the outcome! To avoid spoiling the overall effect try dyeing one stand first. Satisfied with the result? Fine, but keep an eye on the process to ensure that you’re getting just what you want. It won’t be a bad idea to rinse hair color a little ahead of time.

Hair Perming and Straightening

The risk of unruly hormones affecting your hair beauty regimen is even greater when it comes to hair perming or straightening – so much that the majority of hairdressers advise to put off these procedures until after the birth. The chemicals contained in perms and relaxers may not produce the desired effect. Gorgeous curls – or smooth straight waves – may come out in an unshapely mess that will make you shudder. So while pregnancy you better lay off perming or straightening altogether and fall back on a change of hairstyle and coloring to make heads turn.

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

Why Going To Breast Physician?

Unfortunately, visiting a breast physician is something that a lot of expectant moms tend to skip. But breast physician’s advice is very important for every pregnant woman. Breast physician can tell you more than just how to take care of your breast during your pregnancy. The doctor would also advise you on breastfeeding, preventing plugged duct, avoiding nipple injuries when breastfeeding and many other vital things every mom should know. And what’s more important, you’ll be examined! If any malformation is found in a woman under 40, the doctor will send her to do a breast ultrasound scan. If a woman is over 40, whatever her complaints are, she is sent to undergo a mammography. Mammography examination requires precautions and should be done 2-3 months before getting pregnant.

You absolutely have to go to your breast physician, if:

• You had multiple abortions or miscarriages
• You had or have thyroid gland disorders, cystic ovary, uterine fibroid, breast fibroadenoma, or broken breast
• Your first pregnancy is after 30 years old.

Your breast is a very vulnerable and fragile body part that requires extra care during pregnancy.

Suntan during Pregnancy

Breast physicians do not recommend sunbathing with your breast naked because intense exposure to the sun is harmful for tender breast skin. Take extra care sunbathing during pregnancy and lactation period. First, exposure to the sun may be harmful and, second, it may cause pigment spots.

Hair Growing on Breast during Pregnancy

Many women get very worried about hair growing on breast during pregnancy. It’s doubtful if you should remove them. If they really annoy you, you can pluck them, carefully protecting your skin from possible inflammation.

Underwear for the Growing Breast

Wearing tight underwear is unhealthy because your breast is getting ready for the feeding process during pregnancy. Breast grows in size and weight, so you need a comfortable bra that holds your breast in place without squeezing. You should change bras as your breast grows larger. Choosing the right bra ensures your breast won’t get saggy later.

Breast Treatment

You must have heard the advice to rub nipples with rough towel. Practice shows that this kind of treatment often irritates the skin of nipples and causes cracks in advance of breastfeeding. Besides, this treatment stimulates the release of oxytocin, the hormone causing womb contractions. And while it helps the womb to recover during breastfeeding, pregnancy is not the right time for those contractions. They increase the tonus of the womb and may provoke preterm birth later on.

Breast affusion with cold water is healthy provided you do affusion for the rest of your body. Series of studies haven’t found the breast affusion with cold water improves lactation.

Breast Stretch Marks Cream

To prevent stretch marks, use special creams, this will help you avoid or minimize the formation of stretch marks as well as maintain breast elasticity. Apply the cream on your breast with gentle rubbing.

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

Apparently, there is direct relationship between eating seafood and being in a good mood. The scientists believe that this is because seafood is rich in omega-3 fatty acid, which acts on brain centers responsible for the good mood. Moreover, seafood is good for pregnant woman’s health, so make sure to eat it at least twice a week.

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