After giving birth, women have to start thinking of a suitable birth control method or contraceptive. Although the options are many, not all may be suitable for you. Below are four common questions that women have regarding birth control which can help to guide you to make the correct choice.

Q: What is a safe method to use while I am breastfeeding my baby?

Women who are breastfeeding should avoid the Patch and the Ring that deliver hormones into the blood stream as well as birth-control pills that contain estrogen and progestin. All these can affect your milk supply.

The alternative is to take the “mini-Pill” (e.g. Micronor) or to use an intrauterine contraceptive like a diaphragm, sponge, cervical cap or condom.

photo credit: Raphael Goetter

Q: I would like to have another baby quite soon and would like to choose a suitable method that does not affect my chances of conceiving. What is a suitable choice?

You can apply the normal birth control methods except Depo-Provera which can delay or affect your fertility for a longer period.

Q: I would like to have a long-term contraceptive but I do not want it to be permanent. What is the recommended method?

An intrauterine contraceptive (IUC) is suitable, for example the Mirena IUC and ParaGard. Another option is the Implanon which is a matchstick-size rod that is implanted on your arm, just under the skin.

Q: Is it safe for women over 36 years old to take hormonal birth control?

It is safe as long as you do not smoke and do not have a heart disease problem. Research shows that taking the Pill gives protection against ovarian cysts and ovarian, uterine and colorectal cancers.

photo credit: hugrakka

Pregnancy is a time of great expectations which however can be plagued with various health problems. Who has not heard of morning sickness, mood swings, dizziness and feeling tired all the time? Normally, pregnant women will get a lot of advice and tips on how to cope and get through the difficult period. What you seldom hear are the reasons or explanations for the various conditions. Below are the answers to why the conditions happen.

Morning sickness
Morning sickness can happen anytime of the day and normally during the first trimester. The culprit is your body’s rapidly changing hormones. It worsens when you also have a heightened and sensitive sense of smell and increased acid in the stomach.

Mood swings
Feeling emotional during your pregnancy is normal and again blame it on your hormones. Your emotions are affected by the level of neurotransmitters in your brain which in turn is actually affected by the hormones estrogen and progesterone. The neurotransmitter levels will be constantly fluctuating and hence your mood swings from happy to sad and vice-versa.

Dizziness
There is an explanation for having the feelings of dizziness, faintness or light-headedness. Since you are carrying a baby, there is a constant blood flow to your baby. Hence, your blood vessels relax and widen causing blood pressure to drop. This will cause you to feel dizzy. Another reason is if you have a low blood sugar level caused by changes in your metabolism. Other explanations are when you are stressed, feeling fatigue or hungry.

Unusual tiredness
A usual complaint during pregnancy is having the feeling of being unusually tired and having lack of energy. Hormonal changes can cause extreme feelings of tiredness. In addition, your body is doing extra work of nurturing a baby.

Frequent urination
I had this problem with all three of my pregnancies. Hormone changes are again to blame causing the kidneys to produce more urine. As the uterus grows bigger, it can also cause increase pressure on the bladder. In addition, there will be an increased of blood supply to the pelvis also making you want to urinate often.

What problems did you face during your pregnancy? What would you advice other pregnant women?

Most of us know that the placenta is an important organ connecting the baby to the mother while still in the womb. Its main role is to provide nutrients and oxygen from the mother to the baby. In addition, it also removes waste from the baby to the mother.

If that is not amazing enough, below are 8 more interesting facts about your body’s ‘disposable’ organ:

• The placenta produces pregnancy hormones, for example the “human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG)” in the early days of pregnancy. The hormones estrogen and progesterone assist in building up the lining of the womb to provide a cushion for the baby.

• It is important to have a good diet and a healthy lifestyle. Smoking is also strongly discouraged to ensure a good blood supply through the placenta.

• An average placenta will weigh about 0.5 Kg. The bigger the baby means a bigger placenta. The placenta is formed at conception and develops along with the baby.

• A good position for the placenta to implant and grow is at the top portion of the uterus. However, it is not unusual to find it at the low portion in the early part of the pregnancy.

• The placenta is naturally expelled from the womb after birth. The hormone oxytoxin assists contract the womb and to stop any postnatal bleeding.

• In the Chinese culture, some carry out the practice of burying the placenta in the ground honoring the new life brought into the world. It is also believed that the placenta should be buried near the birthplace for reincarnation purposes.

• The placenta can also be consumed as it contains good nutrients like minerals, iron and zinc. In addition, it is supposed to clear away any post-partum depression and helps the mother recover faster. The preparation may involve drying and baking the placenta before it is grinded into powder form.

• The placenta may also be used for cosmetic purposes just like the popular sheep placenta.

I hope you have learned something new about the placenta after reading the facts above.