A pregnant woman’s health is affected a lot by the hormones produced during the pregnancy. The hormones can make you teary eye or even leave you with a bad memory. The good news is that once you deliver, you will normally return to your old self again. Below are the five major hormones that play an important role during your pregnancy.

Progesterone

This hormone relaxes the muscle in the womb and also stimulates the growth of the breast tissue. This hormone will cause you to feel tired and bloated. It also causes breast tenderness, hip pain and acid reflux. You will begin to feel the effects from the beginning of pregnancy until before birth. The good news is that your energy levels will pick up in the second trimester.

Estrogen

Estrogen helps the fetus and your milk glands to develop. It gives you that special glow but it heightens your emotions as well as your sense of smell. If you suddenly sense that you are being too emotional over something, blame it on this hormone. The placenta will continue to produce this hormone throughout the pregnancy period but it will be less severe from the second trimester.

Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin

HCG assists in maintaining the levels of the two hormones above. This hormone causes morning sickness and makes you want to visit the loo often. The levels are high in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Relaxin

Relaxin affects your joints and helps to soften your cervix and ligaments to accommodate the baby’s progressive growth. During pregnancy, this hormone is 10 times more concentrated in the body. The bad thing is that it also affects other joints in the body and may be one of the main reason for your back pain.

Oxytocin

During labor, this hormone helps with your contractions and to start the milk production. It also induces bonding with your newborn. The levels fall off right after the delivery of the baby.

Prolactin

This hormone is present throughout the duration of your pregnancy and prepares your body for breastfeeding. It will be present even two weeks after birth as your breastfeeding will ensure continuous production of this hormone. At the same time, it helps to suppress menstruation.

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As a mom, you must have heard or read about the countless benefits of breastfeeding your baby. If you still have reservations about the side-effects of breastfeeding or have false ideas about it, read on to learn the truths.

photo credit: Raphael Goetter

It is painful

Breastfeeding should not be painful. If it is, your baby may not be sucking or latching on properly. Breastfeeding can be a great bonding process with your baby.

It makes the boobs saggy

Pregnancy will affect your breast due to the physical and hormonal changes. Then there is also milk production to nourish the baby. It is actually good as it helps your breasts return to its pre-pregnancy shape faster. Women who plan to breastfeed should be happy with this news.

You need big boobs to breastfeed

The size of your breast makes no difference to your ability to breastfeed. It does not matter whether you have big boobs or small ones. The milk production is in the glandular tissue which is not affected by the breast size.

Breastfeeding prevents me from getting pregnant

In the first six months, the chance of conceiving is low if you continue to breastfeed and your menstrual cycle has not returned.

Having an inverted nipple means breastfeeding is not possible

Having a sticking-out nipple makes it easier to breastfeed but not necessary. Getting the right advice or practice will ensure breastfeeding is still possible.

Likewise having a C-section

After a C-section (Caesarian) does not mean you cannot breastfeed. It is up to you to find a comfortable position that enables you to breastfeed easily.

Choosing either breastfeeding or bottle-feeding

A mom does not have to choose one and stick to it. A lot of moms have successfully combined both in order to give their babies the benefits that go with breastfeeding and bottle-feeding.

Guilty feeling if not breastfeeding

Some women feel that they have failed as a mom if they do not breastfeed. Some women prefer not to breastfeed for various reasons. They should know that breastfeeding is only one part of the love they will be providing throughout the growing up years. There should not be any guilty feelings for not breastfeeding. There are many other ways to bond with the baby including giving lots of hugs and cuddles.

Therefore, having learned all of the above should encourage women breast feeding their babies to continue with their practice.

All parents love to have intelligent kids. There would be less worry about bad grades in school and of getting a good education. Therefore, it is not uncommon to do an IQ test on them to see how intelligent they are.

Lower IQ linked to prenatal pollution

Do you know that air pollution can lower a child’s IQ? A research done in New York City concludes that pregnant women exposed to urban air pollution in the last few months of pregnancy, had children with lower IQ scores. The women were from low income areas like South Bronx and were exposed to certain levels of air pollution. Examples of urban air pollution are exhaust smoke from cars, buses and trucks.

The kids were given an IQ test at age 5, just before starting school and those exposed to the highest pollution had an average of 4 – 5 points lower compared to kids with less exposure. This difference is big enough to have an effect on the children’s performance in school.

In another research, the results showed a possible link between prenatal exposure to air pollution and genetic abnormalities. Examples are smaller head size for newborns, reduced birth weight and the increased risks for cancer. The research focused on the types of pollutants that can cross the placenta, known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These pollutants may come from exhaust smokes of vehicles as well as factory emissions.

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More research is underway to confirm the above findings. In addition, the research will continue to monitor the kids’ school performance and other long term effect. Most women will find it hard to avoid urban air pollution as it is a part of everyday life. I know that I am exposed to it daily especially during travelling to and from work. What we can do is to minimize the exposure by not opening the car windows while driving and by staying indoors.

This article will reveal true and interesting facts about pregnancy. You will be amazed by the following facts and it just goes to show you the unbelievable things the human body is capable of.

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#1: Milk production

Upon conception, your breasts get ready for milk production. This starts as early as week 13. Your nipples will undergo some changes, i.e. become larger and darker and the veins will be more obvious as more blood is pumped to the breast.

#2: Womb size

The woman’s womb is about the size of a small pear before conception. The womb will grow bigger and reach the bottom of the rib cage by the time of the due date which is 500 – 1000 times bigger.

#3: Placenta

Your placenta does a lot of things for the baby. Something new I discovered is that it also produces heat to keep your baby warm, about one degree warmer than the mother’s body.

#4: Girl wonder

If you happen to carry a baby girl, she already has about two million eggs inside of her at only 13 weeks. The number of eggs will drop to about one million over the next two trimesters.

#5: The baby’s eyes

The eyes will develop on the side of the baby’s head in the beginning. The eyes will move closer together from week 12. The baby can move the eyes from left to right by about week 20 and open them by week 22.

#6: The baby’s heart

The baby’s heart will beat twice as fast as yours. By week five, all four chambers are fully developed. The baby’s heart is capable of pumping as much as six gallons of blood per day by week 16.

#7: Fingerprints

Your baby’s fingerprints are in place by week 13. The fingernails only start to grow from week 12 and she may even scratch herself in the womb.

#8: Hiccups

Do you know that your baby may hiccup while still in the womb? I experienced this with all of my three pregnancies and it was amazing! Your baby starts to practice breathing, inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid by week 16. If some fluid gets into the windpipe, it causes the baby to hiccup.

#9: Natural heating

Your baby will develop a special kind of “brown” fat in the nape of her neck in the last weeks of your pregnancy. The cells are special for giving heat during the first few weeks after birth.

#10: The baby’s bones

In the beginning, your baby has supple cartilage which transforms into bones by week 17. However, the bones will remain flexible to prepare for her journey through the birth canal.

You have just gone through the ups and downs of pregnancy and now you finally get to hold your baby face to face. Hence, the first few weeks may need some getting used to as you now have an additional person to take care off. Below are some of the things you may expect to encounter during the first 6 weeks with your baby.

1st week

You may still feel sore and tired and still recovering from the effects of labor. All attention is normally on the baby as everyone tries to settle down into a new routine. Do not be surprise to see that your baby is losing weight during the first week. This is normal.

2nd week

Some mothers are still feeling tired and more attention is needed to take care of their health. Good nutrition and enough sleep and rest is important but may be difficult to acquire. If you get any assistance from family members, it would be very helpful to you. Hiring a nanny or a companion is not uncommon nowadays especially for the first few weeks to assist in taking care of the newborn. Your baby will be sleeping a lot around this time, 15 – 16 hours a day.

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3rd week

You will know your baby’s routine by now and you have learned to do your own things when the baby is sleeping. Your baby will want to feed often and will also be more alert. Some babies may also start to display signs of having colic around this time. He may be crying for more than 3 hours a day, for more than 3 days a week.

4th week

This week, you may feel like going out with your baby as you should be feeling strong and fully recovered. You and your baby will have settled down to a daily routine and you may notice your baby’s sleeping pattern as well. Prepare a carryall bag to keep all the necessary baby stuffs you think that is needed for an outing. Going out will become faster and easier as you just need to grab the bag each time.

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5th week

Generally, you should be feeling happy and energetic. However, if you find that you are feeling down, tearful, unable to sleep and worry a lot, you may have Post Natal Depression (PND). Talk to your doctor about your symptoms for advice. Your baby will be making a lot of eye contact and loves to hear your voice. Learn to differentiate your baby’s cries on whether he is hungry, tired or in pain.

6th week

By this time, you should be feeling in control of your life once more. You may want to give more attention to the other areas of your life, for example your relationship with your partner. Your baby will love playing and interacting with you. Most babies will also start to sleep for 5 to 6 hours at night.

Personally, the first four weeks were normally tough for me. Feeling tired and sleepy are common and all activities centered around the baby. On top of that, the baby has not learned to sleep through the night yet and hence, sleep was only 2 – 3 hours at a stretch each night.

A miscarriage is something a women dreads when it happens. It creates a fear of another potential loss. Statistics show that one in five pregnancies may end in miscarriage.

The causes of a miscarriage are generally unknown and most happen in the first trimester. It is generally believed that a miscarriage happens due to the embryo that did not develop normally from the beginning.

Below are some of the possible causes of a miscarriage:

• Women who have irregular periods and find it difficult to conceive have higher risk of a miscarriage

• Some women have immunological problems where the immune system attacks the fetus

• The blood supply to the placenta may be restricted causing problems

• Infection such as German Measles

• Anatomical problems like an irregular-shaped uterus or a weak cervix

Women who have miscarriages still go on to become successfully pregnant. They are advice to keep the risk in perspective. Research data shows that a baby’s heartbeat detected at 6 weeks gives the pregnancy a 78% success rate and at 8 weeks, the success rate increases to 98%. This success rate means the chances of the pregnancy continuing to full term.

You are pregnant and feeling amaze that you are carrying two babies instead of one. After the excitement, you may start to have questions or concerns about your pregnancy. Generally, expectant mothers will discover their special condition at their 12-week scan.

The parents can expect identical twins when the fertilized egg splits into two. Non-identical twins will result when two separate eggs are fertilized by two sperms at the same time. Below are common questions from expectant mothers of twins.

#1: Will there be enough space for two babies?

Yes, the womb can stretch to accommodate two babies easily. Twin pregnancy is considered full term at about 38 weeks instead of 40 weeks as in a single pregnancy. During the first two trimesters, twins will grow about the same rate as a single baby. However, from weeks 26 to 28, the growth will slow down.

#2: Will the mom be bigger in size?

The expectant mother will not be twice the size but the bump will be bigger. The mom will also show earlier at about 11 weeks with twins compared to 13 weeks for a single baby.

#3: Will the mom have double the morning sickness?

Pregnant with twins may cause the mom to suffer the usual morning sickness and may be slightly worse and for longer duration.

#4: Will the mom need to eat for three?

Expectant mothers do not need to eat for three people like having three slices of cake, three servings of meat, etc. In the last trimester, the mother only needs about 600 more calories per day. It is important to eat nutritional foods like nuts and yoghurt instead of taking in empty calories only.

#5: Will the mom need a Caesarean section?

The delivery process depends on the position of the babies. If the babies are in breech or transverse position, i.e. lying across the uterus, normal vaginally delivery is difficult. Your doctor will monitor your condition and decide the best option for you.

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Nowadays, with modern medicine and technology to assist us, we can choose how and when to give labor. A woman may choose to schedule her labor due to various personal or health reasons. She can choose to go for an induction or a caesarean section.

Of course, the doctor’s consent is necessary before the labor is induced. In cases involving health risks, the doctor will be the one to advice to induce or schedule a labor. An example of a health problem is if the mother has pre-eclampsia, a blood pressure problem or she has diabetes or other medical conditions; the doctor may advice to go for a planned delivery. If a pregnancy is overdue (over 42 weeks) and the placenta is observed to be not functioning well, then this is a good reason to have one.

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A woman may also request for a scheduled delivery for practical reasons. For example, her partner may be working long distance most of the time and therefore, a fix date for delivery is practical.

Choosing an auspicious date and time

The Chinese can be very particular about when to give birth. For example, they will try to avoid giving birth during the hungry ghost month. If they are believers of feng shui, then they may also tend to choose an auspicious date and time to give birth rather than waiting for nature to take its course.

What is the procedure for an induction?

An induction means the doctor starts the process of labor using superficial methods. The methods may include sweeping the amniotic membranes, breaking the water bag, applying prostaglandin gels or suppositories or by administering an oxytocin drip. There are also natural ways to induce labor according to housewives tales such as making love or having sex, consuming castor oil, drinking coconut water or raspberry leaf tea or by nipple stimulation.

There are risks involved when a woman decides to go for a planned induction or c-section. This will be covered in Part II of the same title.

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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?

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After getting married, a lot of couples are eager to start a family immediately. To ensure a smooth and trouble-free pregnancy, below are 6 areas to pay attention to:

* Your menstrual cycle

The normal menstrual cycle is a 28-day cycle. Some women may have longer or shorter cycle or even have an irregular cycle. It is good to pay attention to your menstrual cycle, as this will influence your chance of getting pregnant.

* Your vaccination

Once your are pregnant, you want your body to be resistance against possible infections that may endanger the baby. Hence, it is good to take the necessary precautions to get the required vaccinations or booster shots against Hepatitis B, Rubella and Chickenpox.

* Your past medical condition

It is advisable to consult your personal doctor regarding your past or existing medical conditions before getting pregnant. This ensures that your doctor is well informed to enable him to manage your pregnancy better later. Certain medications may not be suitable to be taken during pregnancy and an alternative is necessary.

* Do a blood test

A blood test can detect the level of your blood sugar and whether your antibody is still protective or not. It also determines whether you have anemia, thallassemia, HIV or any sexually transmitted diseases. In short, it gives an idea of your overall health.

* Your family background

Knowing your family background or medical history of any genetic risks and conditions like diabetes, asthma, blood disorders, etc. helps you to make the proper decision and planning.

* Maintain a healthy lifestyle

Having a fit and healthy body is important to ensure a healthy pregnancy. A healthy body entails the following:
- Getting enough exercise and maintaining a proper weight.
- Eating a healthy diet and getting sufficient vitamins. Folic acid is recommended to be taken 3 months before pregnancy.
- Getting enough sleep and rest.

If you have any doubts or questions, discuss them with your doctor and share your personal information above. A well-planned pregnancy ensures you can rest easy and enjoy the whole experience.