How To Eliminate Stress During Pregnancy

Stress is your body's natural response to events that make you feel threatened or upset. In small doses it can be helpful making you feel focused and alert. At some point however it stops being helpful and begins to damage your health, your emotions and your quality of life. Studies have also proved that as early as 17 weeks into a pregnancy stress hormones in the mother are passed into the amniotic fluid; this means that when you are feeling stressed your baby is too.

It's very important therefore to remain as stress free as possible during pregnancy - eliminating sources of stress, and when this is not possible learning how to cope with it. The first step is learning to recognise the symptoms of stress and this can sometimes be difficult because the signs mirror some of the normal complaints of pregnancy. Symptoms might include: being quick to anger; nail biting; being unable to concentrate; loss of appetite; skin problems; frequent coughs and colds; indigestion; tense muscles; headaches and rapid heartbeat.

If you think you are suffering from stress, talk to someone! This could be your partner, family, friends or your midwife. Sometimes just getting it out into the open can be extremely helpful.
There are many ways to combat stress, here are just a few:

Eat regularly and healthily - both you and your baby will benefit from healthy nutritious food. During times of stress it's easy to forget to eat or to reach for the junk food, but the food you eat can have a direct affect on your mood. Stress busting foods include bananas, broccoli, avocados, citrus fruits and whole grain breads, pasta and rice. Try to avoid caffeine too.

Take regular, gentle exercise -this helps to get rid of stress hormones such as adrenaline from your body whilst encouraging the production of endorphins, the "feel good" hormones. Swimming and walking are both ideal during pregnancy. Exercise benefits both your physical and mental health but remember to always consult your doctor before starting an exercise programme.

Try relaxation techniques - yoga, meditation and visualisation are all good. Practicing every day will help to calm you, and make you less susceptible to stress.

Listen to relaxation music -This is a quick, cheap and effective way to beat stress. Pick something that you enjoy listening to, preferably with a tempo of around 60 bpm. Clinical trials in Taiwan showed that mums to be who listened to relaxing music during their pregnancies showed a marked decrease in stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms.

Get enough good quality sleep -try to get into a good bedtime routine - going to bed at roughly the same time each night, having a relaxing bath before bed, and making your bedroom as calming as possible. Try to avoid eating too soon before bedtime as this can increase the chances of heartburn.

Take some time out - call a friend; go for a walk somewhere beautiful; paint your nails; watch a funny film or have a massage - any of these will help you to put your worries into perspective, and pregnancy is the perfect time to pamper yourself.

Hope this will help you to eliminate some stress during you pregnancy and remember all you need is to adopt a positive attitude and keep learning.

Week 33 of Pregnancy

You

The weight of your uterus is now 1 kg more than the beginning of your pregnancy, it contains 1 liter of amniotic fluid.

You can experience again a frequent desire to urinate because your baby is down and press again your bladder.

Your breasts are heavy and start to take volume.

The ligaments of your pelvis relax, so you can feel some small twinges.


Your baby

It measures 42 cm and weighs 2.1 kg.

His immune system and brain are mature, it could come now, but it should be put in incubators because it is still fragile.

He swallows a lot of amniotic fluid.

He accumulates meconium in his intestines that will be quickly removed at birth.


Good to know

If you work, you must leave at the end of this week for your maternity.

Remember to send your social security certificate to your work in order to receive your benefits.

Week 32 of Pregnancy

You

You may be subject to loss of balance due to the movement of your center of gravity.

Your vaginal discharge will be more abundant.

You will need a diet rich in calcium, baby needs it for the ossification of the skeleton, therefore beware of deficiencies.

Your baby

It measures 40 cm and weighs 1.9 kg and continues to grow steadily.

His brain continues its development.

He began to plump, his skin turns pink and folds disappear, nails were driven out of the fingers.

It consumes a lot of calcium and bones continue to strengthen.

Good to Know

You spend your sixth mandatory prenatal visit. Your doctor may prescribe a radio to see if your baby will be in the place to go.

This week is your last week of work.

Beware of the position of your back.

Staying Healthy During your Pregnancy

Ah, the radiance of pregnancy: With new curves, a glowing complexion, and thick, lustrous hair, there are plenty of changes to celebrate during those nine transitional months. For many women, though, the transformation becomes a double-edged sword as the scale registers a steady weight increase. While it’s perfectly normal—and healthy—to pack on some extra pounds during pregnancy, the combination of a heartier appetite and higher levels of fatigue can make it all too easy to gain too much, making it difficult to regain your pre-baby body after delivery. Fortunately, there are some smart strategies to help you stay fit, active, and healthy while expecting. Incorporating these tips into your daily routine will not only make it easier to lose your baby weight, they’ll also help to ensure an easier labor and a quicker recovery.

Get moving! Pregnancy takes a lot out of you. Especially during the first trimester, it can be tempting to come home after a long day and head straight for the couch. Although rest is important, so is maintaining a healthy level of activity. Plan a regular exercise routine—most doctors recommend at least 30 minutes a day, 4-7 days a week—and stick to it. Some examples of safe workouts include brisk walking, water aerobics, elliptical training, and stationary cycling. In addition to burning calories, moderate cardio workouts help to decrease bloating, promote digestive health, reduce aches and pains, and improve your overall sense of well-being. Be sure to check with your doctor or midwife to make sure there are no mitigating factors that may prevent you from participating in a regular fitness regimen.

Do what you did before. While pregnancy isn’t the time to embark on a radical new activity, you don’t necessarily have to curtail the ones you enjoyed prior to conception. For instance, if you were a regular runner before getting pregnant, you should be able to continue a moderate running schedule, at least during the first and second trimesters. As always, listen to your body: any pain should be construed as a sign to slow down or take a break.

Avoid high-impact activities. The previous rule does have some exceptions. There are certain high-risk activities and contact sports, such as horseback riding, skiing, tennis, soccer, and hockey, which should be avoided during your baby’s development. Scuba diving is also a no-no, as the high water pressure can impact the fetus.

Add some strength training. You’ll get more out of your cardio workout if you target core muscle groups with some light weight resistance training. If you haven’t lifted weights before, start light—get a pair of 5 or 10 lb. dumbbells and use them to work your biceps, triceps, shoulders, quads, and calves. Search the Internet for some introductory routines that are safe during pregnancy. Most doctors recommend refraining from any exercises that call for lying on your back during the third trimester, as these can inhibit the flow of blood and oxygen to the fetus.

Warm up and cool down. Especially during pregnancy, starting or stopping an exercise too abruptly can be a shock to your system. To help prevent injury, ease into a workout with a few minutes of light stretching and walking. Cooling down with more of the same afterward will help speed up recovery and prevent muscle tightness.

Drink plenty of fluids. This is an all-day rule, although it especially applies during exercise to prevent the body from overheating. Strive for drinking eight glasses of water or juice per day. Staying hydrated is more important than ever when you’re supporting a growing fetus.

Know the warning signs. When exercising during pregnancy, it’s more important than ever to heed your body’s cues to slow down or stop. Signals that should never be ignored include chest pain, vaginal bleeding or leakage, and faintness or dizziness. While pregnant, you shouldn’t exercise to the point of exhaustion of discomfort. Periodically during your workout, pause and check for fetal movement. If you ever note a marked decrease in movement, contact your doctor or midwife.

Eat right. Your appetite may be bigger than ever, with your growing baby requiring approximately 500 additional calories per day, but that doesn’t mean you should indulge in greasy fast foods, sweets, or three helpings of whatever’s for dinner. Eating unhealthy foods can make you feel sluggish, lethargic, and can cause indigestion and heartburn. Plan a nutritious, well-balanced diet consisting of proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Be sure your menu includes lean meats, leafy vegetables, and fruits. There are certain foods, such as tuna fish and raw eggs, that should be limited during pregnancy. Check with your doctor for nutritional advice.

Join other mommies-to-be. If you’re having trouble getting motivated to exercise regularly, consider joining a fitness program designed for expectant mothers. Check your local gym or YMCA for pregnancy yoga, spinning, Pilates, and other classes. Working out with other moms-to-be can help reduce any anxiety or insecurity about your changing physique, and it’s a great way to make new friends at your same stage of life.

Look for opportunities to move. At the mall, intentionally park farther than you usually would to allow for a brisk 5-minute walk. Opt for the stairs rather than the elevator. Instead of sending a co-worker an email, walk across the office for a face-to-face chat. Over the course of the day, several of these mini-exercises can add up to significant calorie burning.

Monitor your weight. Although it’s not healthy to become obsessed with the scale, it is a good idea to keep track of the amount you’ve gained over the course of your pregnancy. Your doctor or midwife can help you identify a recommended amount of total weight gain for your body type. Substantially exceeding that amount can result in a more difficult pregnancy and labor, as well as a slower recovery period and a bigger challenge to lose the weight after baby’s arrival.

Following these tips will help you stay healthy and fit during pregnancy, allowing you to revel in your changing body rather than agonize about it.

Why Every Week of Pregnancy Counts

This is a must read article that appeared at WSJ, just wanted to share it with you.

This time of year, some hospitals see a small uptick in baby deliveries thanks to families eager to fit the blessed event in around holiday plans or in time to claim a tax deduction. Conventional wisdom has long held that inducing labor or having a Caesarean section a bit early posed little risk, since after 34 weeks gestation, all the baby has to do was grow.

But new research shows that those last weeks of pregnancy are more important than once thought for brain, lung and liver development. And there may be lasting consequences for babies born at 34 to 36 weeks, now called "late preterm."

A study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology in October calculated that for each week a baby stayed in the womb between 32 and 39 weeks, there is a 23% decrease in problems such as respiratory distress, jaundice, seizures, temperature instability and brain hemorrhages.

A study of nearly 15,000 children in the Journal of Pediatrics in July found that those born between 32 and 36 weeks had lower reading and math scores in first grade than babies who went to full term. New research also suggests that late preterm infants are at higher risk for mild cognitive and behavioral problems and may have lower I.Q.s than those who go full term.

What's more, experts warn that a fetus's estimated age may be off by as much as two weeks either way, meaning that a baby thought to be 36 weeks along might be only 34.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the March of Dimes are now urging obstetricians not to deliver babies before 39 weeks unless there is a medical reason to do so.

"It's very important for people to realize that every week counts," says Lucky E. Jain, a professor of pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine.

It's unclear how many deliveries are performed early for nonmedical reasons. Preterm births (before 37 weeks) have risen 31% in the U.S. since 1981 -- to one in every eight births. The most serious problems are seen in the tiniest babies. But nearly 75% of preterm babies are born between 34 and 36 weeks, and much of the increase has come in C-sections, which now account for a third of all U.S. births. An additional one-fifth of all births are via induced labor, up 125% since 1989.
Join a Discussion

Are parents too eager to induce labor or schedule an early C-section for sheer convenience? Are doctors too willing to go along? Share your views.

Many of those elective deliveries are done for medical reasons such as fetal distress or pre-eclampsia, a sudden spike in the mother's blood pressure. Those that aren't can be hard to distinguish. "Obstetricians know the rules and they are very creative about some of their indications -- like 'impending pre-eclampsia,'" says Alan Fleischman, medical director for the March of Dimes.

Why do doctors agree to deliver a baby early when there's no medical reason? Some cite pressure from parents. "'I'm tired of being pregnant. My fingers are swollen. My mother-in-law is coming' -- we hear that all the time," says Laura E. Riley, medical director of labor and delivery at Massachusetts General Hospital. "But there are 25 other patients waiting, and saying 'no' can take 45 minutes, so sometimes we cave."

There's also a perception that delivering early by c-section is safer for the baby, even though it means major surgery for the mom. "The idea is that somehow, if you're in complete control of the delivery, then only good things will happen. But that's categorically wrong. The baby and the uterus know best," says F. Sessions Cole, director of newborn medicine at St. Louis Children's Hospital.

He explains that a complex series of events occurs in late pregnancy to prepare the baby to survive outside the womb: The fetus acquires fat needed to maintain body temperature; the liver matures enough to eliminate a toxin called bilirubin from the body; and the lungs get ready to exchange oxygen as soon as the umbilical cord is clamped. Disrupting any of those steps can result in brain damage and other problems. In addition, the squeezing of the uterus during labor stimulates the baby and the placenta to make steroid hormones that help this last phase of lung maturation -- and that's missed if the mother never goes into labor.

"We don't have a magic ball to predict which babies might have problems," says Dr. Cole. "But we can say that the more before 39 weeks a baby is delivered, the more likely that one or more complications will occur."

In cases where there are medical reasons to deliver a baby early, lung maturation can be determined with amniocentesis -- using a long needle to withdraw fluid from inside the uterus. But that can cause infection, bleeding or a leak or fetal distress, which could require an emergency c-section.

Trying to determine maturity by the size of the fetus can also be problematic. Babies of mothers with gestational diabetes are often very large for their age, but even less developed for their age than normal-size babies.

Growing beyond 42 weeks can also pose problems, since the placenta deteriorates and can't sustain the growing baby.

Making families aware of the risks of delivering early makes a big difference. In Utah, where 27% of elective deliveries in 1999 took place before the 39th week, a major awareness campaign has reduced that to less than 5%. At two St. Louis hospitals that send premature babies to Dr. Cole's neonatal intensive-care unit, obstetricians now ask couples who want to schedule a delivery before 39 weeks to sign a consent form acknowledging the risks. At that point, many wait for nature to take its course, says Dr. Cole.

Travelling During Pregnancy

You are pregnant, not sick! You should enjoy your vacation. But without forgetting the words master of your future programme: caution and restraint

Traveling by car

Note that Traveling by car is a high-risk pregnant woman.

Traveling by car is very tiring, and the position of the legs is still not recommended for pregnant women.

Adjust your belt to your stomach. Indeed, it will pass below your belly so as not to cause shock on your abdomen.

If you need to make long journeys, ask the essential advice from your doctor. You must stop every 100 km to relax your legs, walk and relax a little.

From the second quarter, do not drive. You can sit at the front, the passenger seat, allowing you to back seat and thus have the legs extended. However, this place is dangerous, it is best to install on the rear seats and wedge your back with a pillow.

Traveling by train

The train is a means of transport more reliable and less tiring than the car. Indeed, it is a means of rapid transit, you must focus on direct trains.

In addition, you can avoid tingling in the legs moving inside the train. Therefore prefer places later corridor, which will help you get up whenever you like.

Traveling by plane

The aircraft is also a means of transport more reliable than the car for pregnant women. If your pregnancy is proceeding normally, you should be able to fly without problems until the seventh month.

Some tips:

Prefer places later corridor, it will be easier to get up if you go to the toilet.

Place your belt under the belly. When the aircraft had completed its take-off phase, remember to tilt your seat. You avoid in this way the compressing of your stomach.

Note that the inactivity of the legs in the air can result in risks of phlebitis. Talk to your doctor, he probably advise you to wear tights of restraint to avoid this. Drink plenty of water.

If you have a risk of premature delivery, if you are smoking, if you have cardiovascular problems, always consult your doctor before getting on an airplane.

Note this:

In early pregnancy, you should spend your first prenatal examination before boarding the plane.

Be aware that some airlines ask for a letter from your doctor indicating the stage of your pregnancy.

Some airlines refuse to carry pregnant women from the eighth month.

Check the terms of your travel insurance. If you decide to embark on long-haul, make sure it accepts the terms of repatriation.

The destination

If you go to distant destinations, note the following:

You must remove from the list of destination countries where malaria because the pregnant woman is only allowed to take certain drugs such as quinine or chloroquine.

Avoid high-altitude destinations. Indeed, the fetus could run out of oxygen.

Check that the contribution of your diet is quite rich in calcium. In some regions, it is hard to find pasteurized milk.

Beware of the sun! It could appear on your face the famous mask of pregnancy.

If you want to go on holiday, prefer the train or plane. If you are obliged to take the car, avoid driving yourself.

Medicine Consumption During Your Pregnancy

You will need during your pregnancy to be more cautious than ever about the consumption of drugs. Indeed, certain substances in drugs can cross the placental barrier and seriously impair the health of your baby. 

Auto-Treatment

You must renounce to the auto-treatment habitude, even in the earliest weeks of pregnancy. Indeed the main organs of baby formed during the first 6 weeks of pregnancy, so taking uncontrolled drugs could have irreversible consequences on their formation. Be extremely careful, even for relatively minor things such as colds, a headache or other, always ask advice from your doctor, he's alone is able to prescribe the drug recommended in your state. No matter that drug considered inoffensive can be very dangerous during pregnancy.

If you suffer from headaches, try therefore you lengthen and put a wet washcloth on your forehead. It is often very effective!

How to treat a chronic ill during pregnancy?

If you suffer from chronic diseases such as diabetes and you must take regular medication, you should consult a doctor before your pregnancy. It will point to specific treatment.

During pregnancy, you must undergo treatment under the supervision of your doctor rigorously, which adapts to your medication schedule.

Attention to the drug just before delivery.

When you take a medication during pregnancy, the substance that contains pass through the placenta, then the placental barrier and then be destroyed by your metabolic system. But if you take a drug imminent at the time of delivery, the substance will not have time to pass through the placental barrier. The body of the newborn will therefore contain a product that will be extremely difficult to evacuate. Thus, the baby may have serious respiratory difficulties and even to find child care.

If the evacuation of each drug substance take few hours in the mother, it can take weeks in the newborn, it is for this reason that doctors, faced with imminent delivery, give the mother a drug which we know the antidote that will be injected to the baby at birth.

Homeopathic medicines

They may be the solution to the ills of pregnant women. However, a homeopathic treatment should also be prescribed by your doctor, even then, caution is in order.

The advantage of a homeopathic medicine is that they have no side effects. Moreover, it does not create addiction, unlike some conventional medicines, it may be of great help to heal small diseases during your pregnancy such as nausea, vomiting. It may also be very effective in relieving small depressed and anxieties that often accompany pregnancy.

Always consult your doctor before taking any medication. Indeed, a drug that had no bearing at any stage of pregnancy can be very dangerous to another stage of pregnancy.

31th Week Of Pregnancy

You

Your uterus back up very high, it has now reached 30 cm and can begin to bother you especially when you are sitting and sleeping at night.


Your baby

He is now 39 cm and weighs 1.7 kg. It has much more space and does not move much. It occupies almost the entire volume of the uterus and focus its attention on what is happening outside.

The cells in his lungs secrete the surfactant liquid to prevents the lungs to withdraw entirely when taking his first inspiration once on the outside.

If he have not already done so, he will turn one last time and adopt the position until the day of delivery.


Good to Know

You can start to establish a list of cases you need to motherhood.

Eat foods high in calcium to promote bone ossification of your baby.

30th Week Of Pregnancy

You

Your uterus back up to 12 cm above the navel and your stomach has now almost reached its maximum volume.

You will probably be less momentum because your baby is down a little and less compresses your chest.

Your breasts may secrete a substance yellowish (colostrum).


Your baby

He is now 37 cm and weighs about 1.5 kg.

If you have not already done it he will soon take its position out (upside down).

His brain is developing rapidly and trains to open their eyes and breathe.

His movements are becoming more impressive, when it turns your stomach has to be distorted.

If it is a boy's testicles descended in scholarships, if a girl, the ovogonies transform into oocytes of the first order.

Good To Know

This week you will spend your last ultrasound, known as biometrics to a point before delivery. As your baby grows much more you can see it all.

Be very vigilant so as not to cause premature delivery, avoid stress and burnout and do not carry too heavy objects.

Drink plenty of water to avoid the risk of urinary tract infections (1.5 liters).

29th Week of Pregnancy

You

Your uterus is measuring 28 cm, it exceeds your navel about 5 cm, you get a little less than 10 kg since the beginning of your pregnancy.

You are always more and more momentum as the number of beats your heart has increased (10 to 12 more than normal).

You'll feel increasingly heavy and may suffer swelling caused by retention of water.

You feel more baby movements and they can sometimes get a little evil.

Your baby

He is now 36 cm and weighs about 1.3 kg. It slowly begins to feel cramped and not move as often as before.

He opened his eyes but the retina remains inactive, color is not definitive, it would be only a few months after birth.

He hear better and develops a sense of taste through the amniotic fluid that absorbs and which varies depending on what you eat. His digestive system is functioning normally.

Good to Know

You must place your 5th prenatal visit this week (weight, blood pressure, blood test, measuring the womb, listening to heart beat baby).

Next week will also come the time to take your third and final ultrasound, known as biometrics.

Yoga exercises during pregnancy

Practicing exercises during your pregnancy is good thing to do, it will keep you healthy and your baby too and if you are yoga fanatic and just recently discovered that you are pregnant, you may still be able to do your yoga exercises. Contrary to what others thinks, yoga is good for you and your unborn child. Practicing yoga will not hurt the baby! Instead you will be creating a healthy environment for the baby if you learn to do the yoga poses correctly.

A word of caution, there are some poses that you will want to avoid. You need to aware of those harmful poses and master only the poses that are suggested as prenatal yoga. Learn about these poses before you begin to do yoga. Ask your Obstetrician for recommendation. Be 100% sure that you know what you are doing, as you don’t want to hurt yourself or the baby.

Yoga is beneficial - it is a mental exercise as well as a physical one. For those who learn to utilize yoga as a meditation tool, they are able to relax and control their breathing. This will come in handy when you are in labor, particularly if you are opting to give birth naturally and without the use of any drugs. You will learn how to remain calm in your later stages of your pregnancy, as many new mothers get easily frustrated.

You must learn the rules that you will need to follow when practicing yoga during your pregnancy. First, stay hydrated by frequently stopping for water breaks. This is because if you get too overheated, your core body temperature rises, which can harm the baby. In view of this scenario, “hot” yoga is dangerous and should be avoided while you are pregnant. Eat some extra calories since you are eating for two, however, do ensure that you exercise to burn those extra calories from yourself and the baby.

Avoid certain poses that can be harmful towards the baby. Lying flat on your back, for example, can disrupt blood flow to your brain and to the uterus. You will feel dizzy and it may cause developmental problems for your baby. This is especially true when you have passed your first trimester, as it is just not safe. Also skip positions that are inverted, or those that require great amounts of balance. Remember that your uterus and abdomen is growing in size every single day, so you will never be able to fully get used to your new shape and stay balanced.

Bear in mind that you do must not fall as you can hurt yourself and also jeopardize your pregnancy.

If the positions taught include major twisting or stretching in the abdominal region, remember that they are not meant for you to try out. Finally, avoid transitions in which you must stand quickly from a laying or sitting position, since this can be uncomfortable and dangerous as it will cause you to feel dizzy and restrict blood flow to your uterus.

Fret not, there are other yoga positions that you will find to be helpful and useful during your pregnancy. Most pregnant women will practice safe yoga like stretching their body and wish I also recommend.

Work with your yoga instructor and ask for his or her recommendations. Most importantly, always consult your obstetrician to ensure that your pregnancy period is going to be smooth-sailing as well as you are able to stay healthy.

As I always say keep things simple and natural ;)