What are the essential dietary restrictions, hormonal markers, and physical recovery strategies for a healthy pregnancy and postpartum transition?
Watching your belly grow as your baby develops is one of the many joys of being pregnant. However, the state of your belly also can be a source of concern, particularly if your belly starts showing much faster than a pregnant friend’s belly or you aren’t showing at all into your fifth month.
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As your body prepares to host another life for a few months, several changes take place. A rapid increase in hormones prepares your womb and body for many of the demands required to support another human being.
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During your first trimester of pregnancy, your body mostly undergoes invisible, chemical changes. By the second and third trimester, your growing belly causes aches and pains, but your first 12 weeks can pose challenges because of hormonal shifts, nutritional needs and low blood pressure.
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Being pregnant with twins often carries with it twice the worry and more discomfort than a single pregnancy, particularly toward the end of the experience.
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Optimal fetal positioning during labor -- where your baby is head down and facing your back -- positively influences your labor. Babies in this ideal position have an easier time moving through your pelvis and down the birth canal.
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Pregnancy causes your body to go through many changes. Tissue upholding your uterus stretches, which has the ability to cause sharp, shooting pains on either side of your stomach that venture down your thigh, into your leg, according to Cleveland Clinic.
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If you notice a swimming sensation in your stomach, you might be wondering about the cause. There are plenty of things that can initiate this kind of feeling, with one of the most well-known being pregnancy.
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People have used fasting for many centuries as a therapeutic treatment, and some also practice it for religious and spiritual reasons. There are many degrees of fasting, from the meatless days of Catholicism to ascetic, water-only fasts that run for several days.
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Numbness in the mouth and tongue during the 39th week of pregnancy can be due to a variety of things. Bell's Palsy is a facial muscle condition that can have an effect on women during pregnancy.
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Pregnancy comes with a host of symptoms -- one of which can be cramping. While uncomfortable, mild cramping is typically normal during pregnancy. If you are ever concerned, speak with your obstetrician. Otherwise, don’t underestimate the importance of drinking plenty of water throughout your pregnancy.
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Metformin is usually prescribed for Type 2 diabetes patients who have trouble maintaining consistent blood sugar levels. As a general rule, it is unsafe to take any herbs, supplements or vitamins while taking metformin unless you have the express approval of your doctor.
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Proponents of reflexology believe that pressing on special reflex points help to induce labor. You should never try to induce your labor without consulting your doctor first. Generally, a doctor will recommend inducing labor when you’re up to two weeks past your due date and labor has failed to start naturally.
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Protein is essential during pregnancy, and without sufficient amounts, your baby won't grow normally. Regularly consuming more protein than you need, however, can also impede your baby's development. Avoid either of these problems by learning how much is enough and how to go about getting exactly what you need.
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For the 40 weeks you carry a child, you're constantly concerned about whether the nutrients you're putting into your body are giving your baby what he needs. After you deliver your baby, you shouldn't stop thinking about it -- your body needs the right vitamins to help heal itself.
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Glipizide is a diabetes drug designed to help your body process sugar. In a normal person, the pancreas helps the body store excess sugar by releasing insulin in the proper amounts to give you energy. Diabetics do not store sugar properly, however, and instead, sugar remains in the bloodstream.
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During pregnancy, the average woman should consume about 2,500 calories a day instead of the approximately 2,100 calories necessary before pregnancy. Consumption of any health or supplement product during pregnancy should contribute to these caloric needs, rather than restrict them.
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The rupture of your amniotic membranes -- commonly referred to as your "water breaking" -- is a normal part of labor and birth. The "water" is actually amniotic fluid, a straw-colored liquid with a faint odor that may be confused with urine.
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While cheeseburgers and juicy steaks aren’t the most common recommendation for a healthy pregnancy diet, red meat actually provides a big benefit to mom’s growing blood supply.
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Mothers-to-be expect a growing belly as their pregnancy progresses, but their new chubby cheeks might be an unwelcome surprise. As women enter their third trimester, edema, or swelling, is common, and it can affect every area from the cheeks down to the ankles.
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Trying to lose weight after you give birth can be a challenging process, but you can lose your pregnancy weight without resorting to herbs and supplements.
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