Monthly Archives: April 2011
Breast Changes in Pregnancy
The early signs of pregnancy include a change in breast tissues in women. This is a natural process where the breast of a woman responds to the pregnancy by getting itself prepared for breast feeding. This change is among the early changes that the body develops when a woman conceives. To further elaborate the changes in a woman’s breast, here discussed are some common changes occurring during pregnancy
SORE BREASTS IN PREGNANCY
At the very beginning of the pregnancy, that is during the first three months, your breast tend to turn soar, but in some cases women with impending period also suffer from this symptom and so this sign is generally not noticed much. Your breasts turn tender or sensitive when they are touched and in many cases a serious kind of pain is experienced when a bra is worn. Though these symptoms are quite normal and experienced by almost everyone, however they are prominent only during the first trimester and lose intensity after that period. It is due to this reason that many women abstain from sex during this period, though having sex during pregnancy is safe but normally to avoid their breasts being touched, many women avoid sex.
NIPPLE CHANGES IN PREGNANCY
The obvious changes evident in the nipples of a pregnant woman are the darkening of the nipples as the pregnancy grows and the increase in their size. Also small goose bump or pimple like white areas start appearing on the aureola which is normal and termed as Montgomery’s Tubercules.
LARGER BREASTS DURING PREGNANCY
Your breasts start to grow and increase size either from the first trimester or in some cases women experience this symptom starting from the second trimester. This is all because of the expanding of tissues in the breast in preparation of getting itself ready for breastfeeding. As the pregnancy proceeds, the size of the bra also increases and you may have to opt for a nursing bra so adjust the increased size of the breast.
LEAKING COLOSTRUM
The first milk that is produced in the mother’s body is the colostrum. This milk contains all the necessary vital nutrients that the baby requires to start his healthy life. This milk also contains components that act as immunity for the baby against many diseases including Jaundice. This milk is a golden color fluid and many mothers normally experience its leaking by the end of pregnancy or even if it does not leak a light filmed cover or caked greasy substance is present on the tips of the nipples which is also due to colostrum. To avoid it from being evident you can use breast pads to feel normal and comfortable.
NO BREAST CHANGES
Also some women experience no breast changes or other pregnancy signs at all or only minor changes are seen during pregnancy. It is however normal and it has nothing to do with your capability to become pregnant, go through it safely or your breast feeding the baby.
Pregnancy and Alcohol
Alcohol addiction can prove to be fatal especially if you are pregnant. Risking your baby to the negative effects of alcohol is no wise decision as many babies nowadays suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome. According to studies about 40,000 babies yearly are born with some kind of deformity which is due to alcohol in the United States. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or FAS refer to the conditions that are present when a fetus is exposed to large quantities of alcohol. It travels in some concentrations in the blood of the mother and reaches the baby through the placenta. Once exposed to this the fetus in no way can prevent itself from the outcomes of this excessive consumption disorder that the mother has developed within and this in result damages the baby’s organs and tissues. It is also sometimes very damaging for the baby’s brain and his spinal cord and since in every 1,000 babies, 2 are exposed to this threat, consuming alcohol during pregnancy is strictly discouraged by doctors.
Also it not wise to think that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome has a single effect on the baby, sometimes there are multiple defects experienced in babies suffering from this syndrome. This condition is referred as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders or FASD and it can range from a mild type to a severe one. A characteristic facial deformity is experienced by infants with this syndrome such as, an upturned nose, small eyes and also a slim upper lip disorder. Also some babies suffer growth disorders, problems in sight and hearing and in some cases heart related problems are also experienced. In some severely accelerated alcohol levels babies suffer from defects pertaining to different parts of the body such as the urinary tract and bones, cognitive development is also impaired and mental retardation and other abnormal behaviors, including delayed development, hyperactivity, anxiety complications, short attention durations and poor impulse control occurs in many babies.
There has been no measurement verified for safe alcohol consumption as different individuals have varying metabolism rates, so it is suggested to females to stay away from alcohol if they are pregnant or if they are trying to be pregnant. It should not be taken carelessly as consuming alcohol pose serious risk to the baby. Out of the few preventable causes that result in mental retardation, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is one and still remains to be the common cause.
If you have been taking alcohol because you did know you were pregnant or it is simply not possible for you to give up it is better to visit your doctor and have yourself checked to evaluate the stage of risk you are at due to alcoholism. Long term problems can be decreased by early evaluation of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. The best option to avoid any defect caused by alcoholism is to prevent consuming it at all. In fact it is recommended to abstain from it during your child bearing age, or if you frequently involve in sex or have unprotected sex, as your child may suffer serious consequences as many pregnancies are mostly unplanned.
Bringing up and taking care of a child who is suffering from FAS is a challenging job. You should talk to your medical assistance on how to take care of the child, but it is always good to prevent alcohol so that you can protect yourself and your child against the negative consequences of alcoholism. You have to choose between the pleasures of a shot now and the sufferings and pain your child will have to go through later on.
Pregnant women are now been advised to stay away from alcohol, since new research showed that drinking 2 glasses of wine a day may harm the unborn child and even for those in late pregnancy. The impact of the alcohol is very high which will affect in brain development based on moderate drinking, which are 3 – 4 standard drinks a day. With the modern and bigger glassware used in restaurant or back at home, this in turn means that each consumption is equal to 2 to 2.5 glasses of wine.
Women who drank during the early pregnancy could increase the unborn baby’s risk of developing anxiety and also depression in their childhood. While binge drinking at late pregnancy may increase the risk of language delay in the child.
Risk from Moderate Drinking considering 3-4 standard drinks, or equivalent to 2 to 2.5 average glasses of wine are listed below.
First trimester: Organ development process during this stage and drinking alcohol at this period could result in anxiety and depression.
Late Pregnancy: The baby is undergoing a big growth rate and more brain development, drinking alcohol at this period could result in aggressive behaviour.
The ideal is to take note of any early pregnancy signs and confirm the pregnancy and learn what food to avoid during pregnancy.
Strange Pregnancy Signs
Pregnancy is a big turnover of life and living through it is no ordinary job. Many new moms who are experiencing this change for the first time may rely on the known information and pregnancy signs like Nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite due to some conditions and also backaches in some cases. However there are many uncommon signs of pregnancy that are never heard of. Here are five such seldom experienced pregnancy signs that mothers could experience:
Nose Bleeds and Nasal Stuffiness
Many people are of the opinion that only the uterus and surrounding areas respond to pregnancy, however this is not true. Your whole body responds to this major change and reflecting this theory is this symptom of a bleeding nose or nasal stuffiness. You should try home remedies like snorting with salt water or using a humidifier or if the symptom still persists try talking to your doctor for advice on other solutions.
Vaginal Discharge
Vaginal discharge is normal during pregnancies. As everyone knows and expect that the menstrual periods stop when you are pregnant but increase in vaginal discharge is not expected. If this bothers you, panty liners can be used as this can continue to the end of the pregnancy period until the child is born. Though if at any point you feel that the color of the discretion is changing or you feel odor you should immediately consult a doctor.
Insomnia
Feeling fatigued and tired are signs of pregnancy too and women in many cases try to sleep it off, however this does not happen in all cases. Many times mothers suffer from insomnia with or without feeling tired at all. This is a symptom that is experienced during pregnancy and is considered to be normal. This is apparent by staying up most of the time or having problems going to sleep at all or after you wake up at night. This can be avoided through relaxing, exercising and decreasing intake of caffeine. These are the main remedies that can be taken other than medical relief.
Gastrointestinal Distress
Burping, belching and gas are also symptoms of pregnancy. These are common symptoms and if a woman suffers from these unwomanly effects she should avoid foods that tend to increase the effects of these symptoms. A very important thing is to let it go as if you try to hold it in it will cause you a lot of pain.
Constipation
This symptom occurs due to the hormones of pregnancy which make the intestines slow and sluggish. Again home remedies include drinking lots of water, exercising and eating food that are rich in fiber. However if it does not help you should consult your doctor about it as it can be painful too.
The above strange and weird pregnancy signs doesn’t normally happen and are very rare and strange.
Dangerous Bacteria During Pregnancy
The below are 3 of the most dangerous bacteria that a pregnant woman should avoid during pregnancy.
Dangerous Bacteria during Pregnancy
- Listeria
Listeria is a very serious infection which causes listeriosis. The signs and symptoms would start appearing around the 6th week. Listeria infection can lead to miscarriage or stillbirth, it is advisable to practice a hygienic living environment and especially when handling food.
- Salmonella
Salmonella can cause complication such as headache, abdominal cramps, fever, feeling nausea, some diarrhea and also vomiting at the same time. In rare occasions, it is known to cause miscarriage as well.
- Toxoplamosis
Toxoplamosis is an infection caused by parasitic which is normally carried in by feline or cats. These can also be found in uncooked raw food or any undercook meats. Toxoplamosis infection could result in brain damage or possibly blindness to the unborn child.
