Category Archives: Advice/Tips
Twin Pregnancy
Life is a gift that’s why to most women; a pregnancy is always a reason for a celebration. A baby is a blessing so when God blesses a woman with two babies, it doubles the excitement and the happiness that a woman feels.
Twin pregnancy
People are often captivated with twin or multiple pregnancies. They get amazed at how twins resemble each other and how they carry the same genetic material. There are two types of twin pregnancies; the first type is called Monozygotic while the second type is called Dizygotic. Monozygotic births occur when a woman’s egg splits in two resulting to identical twins. Dizygotic births happen when a woman releases two eggs, each fertilized by a sperm. Dizygotic births produce fraternal twins.
Symptoms of twin pregnancies
Just like any other normal pregnant woman, a woman who is carrying multiple babies also experiences a lot of physical and emotional changes. She’ll experience drastic changes in her appetite; makes frequent trips to the bathroom, and easily gets nauseated. However, there are certain signs that point towards twin pregnancies. One of the early signs of twin pregnancy is weight gain. Although it is common for pregnant women to gain weight but due to the increased uterus size, women with twin pregnancies gain twice as much weight as women with single pregnancies. Another sign is severe morning sickness. Many women with multiple pregnancy noticed that the nausea they are feeling is worse than with single pregnancy.
Reasons of twin pregnancies
There are various reasons behind twin pregnancies. Multiple pregnancies are most of the time hereditary. If you have relatives who have had multiple pregnancies then there is a possibility that you too could produce twins.
Some say and believe that eating yam or other dairy products is another method to help a woman get pregnant with twins. According to some, yam excretes a chemical which helps women to hyper ovulate; this means that more than one egg cell is released during the woman’s menstrual cycle, increasing the chances of twin pregnancies.
There are also other methods available if you cannot get pregnant with twins naturally. One can seek medical help and go through in vitro fertilization. IVF is the combining of a woman’s egg and a man’s sperm in a laboratory dish. After which, the fertilized egg or embryo is then transferred to the woman’s womb to implant and grow naturally. Normally, IVF is a procedure undergone by couples who have the inability to produce babies but it can also be an option for those wanting to bear twins.
Risks and Complications
Multiple pregnancies are immediately considered high-risk. There are a number of things that you need to watch out for if you are pregnant with twins. While it is true that you would need to increase your calorie intake as you are not just eating for 2 but for 3 human beings, one must need to watch out not to gain too much weight as it might result to complications during labor. A woman with a twin pregnancy might be asked to see her obstetrician/gynecologist more frequently that a woman with single pregnancy. It is also likely that you go through a caesarean section when pregnant with twins. It is still possible, though, to give birth through vaginal delivery but it would all depend on the babies’ weight and your health.
Pregnancy and Joint ache
Many pregnant women grumble of back ache and many others complain of pubic, pelvic, hip, knee and many different joint pains especially during pregnancy. There are lots of techniques and methods to help a person with pregnancy and joint ache such as relaxation of muscles, joints and tendons occurs during pregnancy to help facilitate childbirth.
Your hips must loosen up and extend in order for labor preparation of your baby. Your body, however, does not distinguish well between creating relaxation in one area or in another. It is, unluckily a general progression any pregnant women will go through. The joints relaxation will be completely different in every person.
Hormonal changes are the main reason of this joint ache. Hormones play a part in stimulating the relaxation on your muscles everywhere in your body. Weight gain also can place extra strain on your joints.
Postural changes play an important role in the joint ache. A person’s centers of gravity will changes vastly during pregnancy. This will then causes shifting around your body which then causes join discomfort. Stress adds tension to your body and can contribute to pain anywhere.
Pain, puffiness, inflexibility, and warmth feeling in your joints are the main indication of joint pain. Pain around the joints is normally caused by infection or inflammation if there were no injuries to that part. If you suffer a persistent pain or from viral infection, it is best to consult your doctor as soon as possible.
There are some warning signs a woman can experience when she is heavy with a child. Let’s have a look at those:
- Irritation and enlargement in the joint zone is the main indication.
- There will be an ache and firmness in the hip joint.
- You will be undergoing some difficulties while walking.
- There will be severe ache while moving legs.
- There will be Powerlessness when you stand using single leg.
- You have to struggle every time to get up and to sit yourself.
- There will be continuous ache from the hip to leg joints.
We can’t avoid this joint ache when you are heavy with a infant. But there is some suggestions
- try not to move around
- Your foods/meals should be rich in minerals, proteins and vitamins.
- Try to get help with movement equipment to move from one place to another.
- Don’t eat any medicinal tablets without consulting the doctor.
- Don’t carry the things which are very heavy.
- If the ache is not tolerable then consult with your doctor.
Teen Pregnancy Education
We already know who is in “teenage” group is and they are anyone that is in between the ages of thirteen and nineteen, then they are called as teenagers and at this stage teen pregnancy education is very important. If any girl got pregnant in teenage, the term is called teenage pregnancy. Nowadays the number of teenage pregnancy has decreased. But there is another truth behind this. That is the fall in the number of pregnancy due to abortions and contraception’s. The attitude of the people didn’t change. The thing which got changed is, they are adopting newer techniques to avoid pregnancy alone. The teenage pregnancy rate is very much higher in USA, UK and then in Australia. With the yearly increase of teen pregnancy around the world in an alarming state, teen pregnancy education is viewed highly important and should be carried out formally through classes of informally by options provided by health sector through seminars or advertisement.
Many says that they got pregnant accidentally at this age. But this is not only the reason. Certain youngsters do not use the contraceptive options purposely so as to get pregnant and to carry their baby in their stomach.
Risk Factors
The teenage girls who conceived will have to undergo many risks because of their pregnancy. There may be numerous quarrels between the relatives. They may have undergone sex abuse in their younger age and so they became pregnant. These pregnant teenage girls suffer as same as a matured mother. With those sufferings they cannot perform well in their school. Also they may be absent for their schools for a long number of days. They will not be much aware about the maternity. They will not have any support from their family. They will not be having enough resources as they will lose their parents support or not aware of any teen pregnancy education provided by their health sector or government. These are not the entire situation but several of the risks undergone by the teenage girls who are pregnant.
Decisions around Pregnancy
Many teenage girls, after getting pregnant, don’t know what to do. It is not in their planning and also after that they are the one who is going to suffer. They are basically lack of teen pregnancy education. Mostly many girls will go for an abortion and less than 50 percentage girls will let the baby grow in their womb. Among these remaining girls who are letting the baby to grow in their womb, most of the girls will give their baby to others and makes the baby as an adopted child.
All teen girls should be given proper and required teen pregnancy education or information related to the pregnancy. This should be done as early as possible so as the information would be useful for them in making a resolution wether to have a baby now or not. But the true fact is that many teenagers in an ecstasy will do everything and after getting pregnant too they will not ask any advice from elder people. At least they should know that they can’t abort the pregnancy after nine weeks of pregnancy.
Health implications
Mostly teen girls after getting pregnant, because of their shyness of getting pregnant earlier, will not visit the doctors for check-up regularly. Also they will not have proper antenatal care. Without proper antenatal care there are a lot of possibilities getting the child birth, complicated. These complications may affect the teenage mother’s health too.
A teen girl has her complete maturity not on a single day. It takes years for her. Her body will not be good enough to carry a baby before 15. This is the age at which her pelvis gets developed. Getting a child birth before this age will lead to birth complications.
Moreover there is another common issue among the teenage girls which is they are not much aware about pregnancy. After having a sexual intercourse, they will carry on their work without worrying or caring for anything. In the mean time they will get pregnant and when they find that they are pregnant, they would have realized that the time for aborting the pregnancy will be crossed over. Hence there arises a situation that compulsorily they should grow the baby in their womb.
Also teenage girls doesn’t have a proper diet plan and they will not eat properly or in timely fashion. Even if they eat, the amount of food they intake will be very small. When carrying a baby in womb they should eat more nutritious food. Since they will not have this eating habit, it will affect the baby’s health too.
Teenage girls, because of their pregnancy, will lose their family’s support. Also they will try to avoid all their surroundings and then be separated from the world. The help they receive from others is very less. Hence they will be having a worry in their mind that how she is going to grow her baby. This will affect their health tremendously without the proper teen pregnancy education.
Financial Issues
One issue for teenage girls is that as they are pregnant they will lose their education. When education is lost, the life will be ruined as well. Without proper education one cannot get a good paying job. Therefore if the girl lost her education her life will be ruined as she will not be able to get a proper job. Hence she will be affected economically too.
Another cruel factor is that, according to a latest report about the relations of teenage mothers, more than sixty percent of the girls are left alone. They are left alone even by her partner who was responsible for her pregnancy. Therefore a teenage girl loses support from her parents, her relatives and even by her partner. This makes the girl to feel extremely lonely. And to make matter worse, she is affected financially. This financial stress may also make the teenage mother to go in a wrong way to earn money. These factors are responsible for the negative attitude of the teenage mothers.
Implications for the baby
Child born to the teenage mother will be neglected or ignored in the society most of the time. This may be because of their poverty and financial crisis. Also due to money constraints, the mothers may do immoral activities such as child prostitution. This may also lead to neglection of the baby to the society around them.
Support for teenage mothers and their babies
Many young mothers will not complete their education fully. This may be because of them getting isolated from the society. But there is no issue such that the teenage mothers should proceed with their study. They can continue their education anytime or after the birth of her child. Also they should undergo antenatal care. This should be done compulsorily as to maintain the health of both the mother and the baby.
There are also special events or group talks arranged for the young teenage mothers to develop their moral and attitude. These events or group talks help the teenage mothers is mainly to create an awareness and also a positive attitude. Also there are programs which are used to provide the teen pregnancy education to the teenage mothers. Many organizations also provide help for these teenage mothers and their babies.
Preventing teenage pregnancies
It is always be a better way to avoid pregnancy though having a unprotected sexual intercourse. The teenage girls should be taught about the safety measure and the use of protections during intercourse. Contraception should be used for to avoid pregnancy if the girl had a sexual intercourse. If the girl is planning to have sex, then it should be a safe sex so as to avoid the pregnancy.
By long and detailed study about the teenage pregnancies it is clear that teen pregnancy education is vital and should be given to the teen girls. They should be very clear about the contraceptive methods and protected sex. However, the best is to avoid sexual intercourse all together and besides it is illegal and they could be prosecuted by their police or parent could lodge a police report against the male partner.
Maternity Clothes
Maternity Clothes
There are a lot of women who feel unattractive during pregnancy or when imagining wearing old and baggy maternity clothes. Their self-esteem diminishes as their belly expands which is why maternity clothes play a big part in bringing back the confidence that women lose during pregnancy.
Just because you are having a baby doesn’t mean that you are no longer entitled to be fashionable. Luckily nowadays, finding trendy maternity clothes is no longer a dilemma. There are now a lot of stores specializing in designing maternity clothes. These clothes are stylish yet comfortable and easy to wear.
Comfort should be the focal point when buying maternity clothes. Make sure that you feel great wearing them as your pregnancy develops. Always choose clothes that are not too tight so it won’t obstruct the skin from breathing.
Guide on buying maternity clothes
As soon as a woman learns that she’s pregnant through those pregnancy signs or test, she gets eager to buy herself maternity clothes; however, this is impractical especially that your belly won’t start to show until your second trimester. Restrain yourself from buying maternity clothes until you reach your second trimester. For your first three months of pregnancy, use your regular clothing except, of course, the tight ones.
It is best if you purchase your maternity clothes at a maternity clothing store. These stores offer many options. In addition, their staffs are more knowledgeable and could help in addressing your needs.
You can also play around with different clothing styles. As your body changes, the clothes that look good on you also change. Try buying a few pants and skirts so you can mix and match it with different tops.
Sometimes it would help to try on a prosthetic tummy. This would help you choose what type of clothes to purchase. You can inquire if the store has one so you can check the fit of the clothes. Also, select maternity clothes that are made from a stretchable material, this way it can be used all throughout your pregnancy.
You also need to get yourself new underclothing. When you visit a lingerie store, have yourself measured to get the perfect fit especially that your bra size will increasingly change during your pregnancy.
Shopping for maternity clothes should be a fun activity for pregnant moms. With a baby coming, women should not worry about spending a lot of money on maternity clothes. Today, we have an array of maternity clothes that are inexpensive yet long-lasting. One thing to keep in mind is that a good quality maternity wear is intended to last through the entire nine months of a pregnancy. It is also alright, though, to splurge on one or two very good or pricey maternity clothes to guarantee its durability and quality.
Pregnancy Complications
Any woman who has given birth before or at least is aware of how a baby is delivered will know that there are some pregnancy complications risk and also it is certainly not like those televised drama delivery where a woman is brought to shouting and soon “here it is” is heard and hey presto the next scene shows a makeup refreshed mother holding a healthy baby in her arms. The situation is mainly between a group of doctors who rush in the delivery room shouting to call on the NICU team or shouting on the need of a C section due to quadruple nuchal. Whatever the situation may be it will be between the two but whatever the case maybe staying educated will definitely help. Here discussed within are six different situations of labor completed with every complication including doctor’s lingo and of course the happy endings.
PREGNANCY COMPLICATIONS
Nuchal Cord Complication
It refers to the umbilical cord being wrapped around the neck of the baby; in case it is wrapped twice the case is known as double nuchal. About 24% of births suffer from nuchal cord.
According to genealogist Nanci Levine, M.D., at Montefiore Medical Center in Westchester, N.Y. A nuchal cord does not always mean that the baby is in threat even if in some cases the heart rate of the baby is slowed which is referred to as “variable deceleration in heart rate tracing”. But in a situation where the contraction is starting and still the heart beat is not up that means the cord is too tight and that could mean problem for the baby.
The same can be understood by the example of Catherine Hooper who is 34 years old and a mother of now 21 month old Sophie. As her baby was coming down suddenly the heart beat of the baby went from fast to nil. The doctors assumed that this was due to nuchal cord and applied up-ward pressure due to which the heart beat returned instantly and as soon as the baby came out the doctors instantly unwrapped the cord.
According to doctors if the variable deceleration tracing of the heart beat carries on for a while the mother is required to deliver sooner. If in some case the mother is unable to push, vacuum extractor or forceps are used to bring the baby out of the canal. A vacuum extractor is a soft cup with light suction power which is placed on the head of the baby to bring it out.
If in any case the mother is not sufficiently dilated or the baby is too high up a C section is recommended.
Cephalopelvic Disproportion (CPD) Complication
This refers to failure in progress which means the head of the baby is too big to pass on from the pelvis of the mother. Although it is not clearly known on what percentage of deliveries face from this complication as doctors are not sure whether every such case is CPD or simply another failure to progress due to other reasons such as halt in baby’s movement due to unknown reasons or due to the halt in the mother’s dilating. There is no exact way to predict CPD before labor , as you can measure the mother’s pelvis but it is never certain and is an unreliable way. Though exercising and watching your diet during pregnancy can reduce chances of developing pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes and lowering chances of a heavy baby.
Meconium Aspiration Complication
Meconium is a tarry black substance that is present in the baby’s intestines. In situations where this substance mixes with the amniotic fluid which is inhaled by the baby, Meconium Aspiration occurs in form of breathing problems.
This pregnancy complications occurs in almost 10% of deliveries and is more common in cases that are overdue for a week or more, though 1% to 6% of babies get ill from it.
If the doctor spots Meconium, he or she will instantly clear it off the nose and mouth of the baby and in case the baby has inhaled it the baby will be sent to Intensive Care for treatment. According to expert doctors the baby usually requires some breathing support and recovers from the problem.
Placenta Previa Complication
This refers to the placenta covering the cervix of the mother. This complication is usually spotted early in 75% cases and as the delivery time arrives the placenta pulls away and no problem remains.
However if by the 36th week the placenta is not removed from the cervix a C section is required. If in any case the mother is vaginally bleeding a C section should be done immediately as blood loss can be great.
Breech Baby Complication
This case is also known as “malpresentation” which means the baby’s position in the mother’s uterus is otherwise than it should be. It is either head up, or sideways or feet down. This is a rare pregnancy complications with only 4% cases being reported to suffer from it.
There are some exercises recommended which are said to help in turning the baby’s position. Also doctors will try to apply pressure on the mother’s abdomen externally at the 37th to 38th week to make the baby shift position, however if the baby turns back the doctors are more likely to schedule a C section. Very few OB’s will schedule a vaginal delivery due to fear of the baby’s head getting stuck in the birth canal.
Fetal Distress Complication
Another pregnancy complications is fetal distress complication and this is an old term not quite used by doctors now. Usually it refers to fetal heart rate which means the baby’s heart rate is low and is not returning to normal even after contraction. This is a situation to worry and it does not occur very often.
If in any case the cervix of a woman is fully dilated with the baby’s head low the doctors will use vacuum extractor or forceps to pull the baby out or else it is a C section.
Your doctor would be able to tell if you’re suffering from any pregnancy complications during your normal pregnancy check.
12 Weeks Pregnancy
At this 12 weeks of pregnancy the face of your baby is turning to look more human at this point. The weight of the fetus though still remains at 14 grams and the total length is no longer than 5.5 cms at the 12th week. At the beginning of the development the eyes of the fetus are on either sides of the head which by now have moved to their exact positions and the ears too are positioned at the exact point they should be at. By now the kidneys are capable of producing urine in the bladder and the livers too are producing bile by now.
At this point if the mother’s belly is prodded or pushed the fetus squirms inside but because of the less weight and small size the movement is not felt by the mother. At the 12 week pregnancy, the nerve cells of the fetus is developing at a very high rate and also the synapses which is the neurological connection in the mother’s brain is starting to form. Also by now the fetus is capable of enjoying more reflexes such as any touch on the soles of the feet make the fetus curl its toes and any touch on the palm triggers the fetus fingers to close similarly touching the eyelids result in the fetus clenching its eye muscle.
By now the brain of the baby is also completely formed though it is not of the original size now. Also by now the fetus exercises different movement in the digestive tract of the mother.
The fundus or the grown uterus can be easily felt now by your doctor at the lower end of the abdomen on the 12 weeks of pregnancy as well. If a Doppler is being used you can at this point hear the heartbeat of the baby. Many people are of the opinion that it sounds like horses but once you are able to hear this sound the risk of miscarriage is greatly reduced. Also as you would from now on start to swell you may opt for loose and unfitted clothes.
The pregnancy signs on the 12 weeks pregnancy that will be immediately disappear include nausea and the extensive feeling of tiredness. Other symptoms may persist for a little while longer. Your abdomen will start to swell now and will extend a bit more if this is not your first pregnancy.
At the end of the 12 weeks pregnancy, your uterus grows larger than your pelvis and rises up above your pubic bone. Naturally the uterus acquires the power of stretching extensively during pregnancy and get back to its pre pregnancy stage after a week or two of delivery.
In case you are pregnant with twins, your uterus would obviously extend much more as compared to a mom with a single fetus in her womb. Now you can imagine how big your stomach will be when you’re on the 12 weeks pregnancy period.
Pregnancy and Hair Dye
Along with many other questions that women ask during pregnancy is whether or not they should dye their hair during that stage. Pregnancy is a point in life when you are not feeling the best of yourself and in such a situation dyeing your hair either at home or through visiting a hairdresser surely does boost your self importance characteristic. So are there any recommendations that should be followed during this period, yes there are.
If you are seriously concerned on the effects on the baby it is advised that you opt for highlighting instead. As highlights are not required to go deep down in the scalp it is considered a much healthy option. Other than highlights there is an option known as ‘water color hair dye’. The specialty of this type of dye is that it is completely deprived of any form of ammonia, peroxide or PPD though this service may not be available in every salon so for women who want to go for it should check on which salons provide the service.
The other hair treatments that can also be taken are coloring of hair which includes all types of hair coloring such as temporary, semi permanent and permanent hair dyes. You can also get your hair curled permanently by using waving solution which is used to firstly shape your curls and next a neutralization solution is used to permanently set the curls. Bleaching is also done on hair though this treatment requires use of hydrogen peroxide. Other treatments include hair straighteners which use different types of chemical and are also considered as a relaxant to the person having it.
As far as use of these chemicals are concerned during pregnancy as these solutions usually change chemicals frequently they are not effectively checked for use during pregnancy and so there is almost no information available as to whether there use is safe or not.
It is however assumed that since not much of the solution really absorbs in the scalp so there is no reaction of these chemicals to the body or the baby. Even if a small amount is absorbed in the scalp the chemical inserted is too minute to harm the baby. During getting your hair permanently curled the fixation solution or some other chemical used in other hair treatments may cause some reaction to the scalp but even it does not have any effect on any other part of the body let alone the baby.
Though it is taken that hair dyes have no effect on babies and this statement is supported by the ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) but still due to lack of evidence it is recommended that permanent hair dyes should be abstained from at least during the first three months of the pregnancy.
The reason to avoid permanent hair dye during pregnancy or the first trimester is because even though it does not absorb much in the scalp the fumes that are exhaled during the procedure might be harmful for the baby. Hair dyes contain ammonia which has a very strong fume to itself so opting for a dye that excludes ammonia is not restricted. This caution remains for all hair treatments that contain strongly fumed chemicals.
Other temporary or semi permanent hair treatments are considered safe. Also highlighting is safe as the hair is foiled so it doesn’t soak in the scalp. Also vegetable or natural dyes namely henna is perfectly safe to use during pregnancy.
There are some safety tips suggested for pregnant women who wish to dye their hair. Firstly never consider dyeing your eyebrows or lashes as you can get infected if the solution enters the eye. To check on any allergy you might develop consider going for a patch test first. Always follow the instructions and guidelines given on the product package. Always use gloves when using chemicals. After the treatment is over with make sure the content is completely washed of your hair and head. Also never leave the content on the hair for a longer period than required. Always choose an area that is well ventilated and wait for after the first trimester is over.
However if you are working as a cosmetologist you may be exposed to threats. However increased quality of dyes used have to a large extent lowered the risk posed to pregnant women. Also better working conditions lower the risk of exposure to harmful chemicals.
By a proper working condition it is meant that the area you work in is well ventilated, you should always use gloves and should not ever eat or drink in the working area. By following these methods exposure to chemicals involved in dyes can be reduced.
Also breast feeding women incur no harm from any such chemical as absorption is very minimal and on the scalp only. It has no effects on the milk produced. But again with all the facts mentioned above, it is still the safest not to dye your hair during pregnancy as pregnancy and hair dye might not go well alongside.
Flying while Pregnant
Flying is considered safe during pregnancy with exceptions to some special cases where the doctors will inform you not to fly. When you do get ready to fly you should take some precautions and follow some safety rules to make yourself comfortable in the flight and after it. There are more tips on flying during pregnancy available in this site.
First things first, you should wear something comfortable for your journey. It is advised that you pick comfortable and slightly lose clothing for yourself, or maternity cloths. Same goes for shoes opt for a size larger than your regular one as due to a long flight and sitting for a longer period your feet may swell and may cause discomfort during and after the flight. Also you should avoid rings and other tightly fitted accessories to avoid any pain or discomfort in case of body swelling. Also make sure that your luggage is rolled and you have someone to carry the luggage for you. Never ever take anything heavy with yourself to carry on the journey.
Before boarding the plane you should ask the attended on the flight counter for a comfortable seat or at least one with an empty seat next to it. Try acting more pregnant and weak giving the impression that this journey is tiring you out to gather the sympathies of the attendant. You do require room for stretching a bit. Walk as much as possible to improve blood circulation and blood clotting and try to board the plane after everyone else as it will prevent the hassle of rushing in the plane and also save the extra waiting time sitting in the plane.
Always place the seat belt below your belly. Drink a lot of water during the flight and don’t depend on the flight attendant to bring you water. Ask for a bottle and drink at regular intervals. Also avoid peanuts and flight snacks as they contain sodium and it will swell the body even more. Ask for fresh fruits or carry healthy items to eat for yourself. Also you should walk every half an hour or at least after an hour to keep yourself active and prevent blood clotting. This is important for you and the baby whether the other flight passengers like it or not. You have to ignore comments and stares and do what is best for the baby and your pregnant body.
After your flight has landed walk a little to ease yourself and regulate the blood flow again and do not shy away from asking someone else to pick the luggage off the ramp for you. Drink lots of water or other fluids avoiding caffeine even if you are too tired.
By taking care of these things you can certainly enjoy traveling and also not compromise on a healthy pregnancy or the baby. So enjoy your journey and keep on following the necessary steps for a safe journey. Bon Voyage.
Cordocentesis – cord blood sampling
Cordocentesis or cord blood sampling is also known as “Percutaneous umbilical blood sampling” (PUBS). It is a procedure in which the baby’s blood is taken for examination purposes while still unborn to diagnose any fetal abnormalities if present. It is performed using an advanced imaging ultrasound along with a very thin needle. The ultrasound helps in locating the placenta and umbilical cord juncture. The thin needle is then inserted into the baby’s umbilical cord through the uterine walls and abdomen of the mother and a small sample of baby’s blood are taken. This sample of blood is further checked in a lab and a report is produced in usually 72 hours. Cordocentesis should not be mistaken with amniocentesis which is the sampling of amniotic fluid as compared to blood fluid sampling in cordocentesis.
The need to perform cordocentesis arises when the information achieved from other sources such as CVS, amniocentesis and ultrasound is not conclusive enough to determine the required data. It is performed in the 17 weeks gestation, to detect any abnormality in chromosomes such as in Down syndrome or any blood disorder that may be present in the baby’s body. Also you can get help in diagnosing any infection or anemia the baby may suffer from, if there is any malformation of the baby or isoimmunization it can also be known through cordocentesis. Also the fetal platelet count present in the mother can be known. Neural tube defects cannot be tested through cordocentesis but through amniocentesis.
Although cordocentesis is a safe procedure and it helps in detecting certain blood abnormalities and disorders with accurately high results but it does not at all reflect the severity of the situation. It is considered safe but is invasive and there is a potential risk of miscarriage. Out of 100 cases 2 are reported to be miscarriage due to cordocentesis and the repercussions include infection, dropped heart beat of the baby, blood loss from the punctured area and premature membranes rupture. Other risks involve chills, fever and leakage of amniotic fluid.
There is a lot of debate on the pros and cons of cordocentesis. There are advantages of having this test as diagnosis and confirmation of any abnormality will make way for medical interventions. Suitable lifestyle changes can be adopted by the couple and resources and support groups can be known. Also a decision can be taken by the couple regarding whether or not the baby is to be taken to term.
The idea of cordocentesis is not liked by everyone though. Some couples may opt for other tests and deny having cordocentesis. In many cultures and religions it is considered unwisely and babies are accepted the way they are and having cordocentesis is considered a risk for the baby’s life. Other morals, cultures and religions believe that they are not provided with the choice of bringing the baby to term, any baby that is to be born should arrive in the world and whatever the consequences will be dealt with later on.
Whatever belief or mind set up you may belong to the important thing is to consider every important advantage and risk involved in the process of cordocentesis. You can always ask for advice from a medical expert on whether the risks are higher than the advantages or vice versa.
Pregnancy and Sleep
Pregnancy Sleep – First Trimester
Every woman who is conceiving has a problem in sleeping. It is quiet natural that pregnancy and sleep doesn’t click as one. Actually, you may sleep more than usual during the first trimester of your pregnancy. It’s normal to feel tired as your body works to protect and nurture the developing baby. The placenta which is the organ that nourishes the baby until birth is just forming, your body is making more blood, and your heart is pumping faster.
Here are some tips to overcome the sleeping problem during pregnancy. This will help you in the initial stages of pregnancy.
Sleeping is Important
On first trimester of your pregnancy, you’re likely to be very tired and very sleepy as well regardless how many hours you slept earlier. This is purely because of huge changes to your body physically and your body is surged with an increased of progesterone hormone which is thought to induce feelings of sleepiness.
The tiredness which is sometimes a bit too much experienced by pregnant women during their first trimester will likely to continue until the development of the placenta, which will produce the progesterone in which are normally done by corpus luteum. With this event starting on second trimester of pregnancy, the progesterone hormone level will start to fall.
You will not feel relaxed
The early stage of pregnancy is the best period to begin practicing the lying pose while you sleep. Sleeping during pregnancy on the left side is highly recommended during the second trimester of your pregnancy. While lying with pillow providing support on the lower back, bent the knees slightly and this will give you a slightly more comfortable sleeping posture. With added help from L shape pillow on your head will make you feel even more cozier.
Plus, left side sleeping may assist to reduce the feeling of nausea and also pressures on growing breasts. The sooner you get used to this position, the better you’ll be able to sleep when your belly is bulging.”
You need to face urinary problems
On the first trimester, the progesterone hormone which assist with sleeping will starts surging throughout the body.You may go to the toilet numerous times each night with the extra fluid surging in your body, and it will be tough to be relaxed.
There is a companion for you
Fatigue is a problem which will make you feel uneasy and tired all the time. Try to take short nap during the afternoon or maybe after work to help battle the fatigue even if you have a good night sleep the day before. Also try not to take longer nap or late nap as this might disrupt your night time sleep patterns.
One may found that she start to experience some vivid, weird dreams on the first trimester pregnancy. This is normal and is probably caused by the combination of progesterone and estrogen hormones. One may also experience waking at night as well.
Pregnancy Sleep – Second Trimester
The second trimester of pregnancy is a fun time! Feeling your baby move, starting to wear maternity clothes and of course, the end of morning sickness make this a very special time. It’s also the time of a lot of prenatal testing and growing questions about birth and parenting. This free guide will help you along the way.
The delightful feeling
A lot of pregnant women will feel much better during the second trimester. The vomiting sensation and feeling nausea all the time will wear off, mood swing will stabilize and also feel more energetic as well. This is one of the best time to deal with the many task required before the arrival of the baby.
During this stage, you will likely to gain weight faster and for the rest of the pregnancy period, which means you will need to shop for some maternity clothes.
To have normal sleep
Once you reach mid-pregnancy, many care givers recommend that you avoid sleeping on the back and sleep on your side especially on the left side, which may improve blood flow to your placenta and reduce swelling. To make side-sleeping more comfortable, you may want to place a pillow between your legs, under your hip, or behind your back.
Have good routines like exercise, healthy food and regular sleep. These will help in your child’s growth.
Work out properly
Do some mild exercise which include walking as this will greatly improve your overall health. Drink lots of water during this time. During pregnancy, your feet will swell. So try to get more rest and lift your feet up with pillow if required.
It is important to stand and move around more frequently in order to improve your circulation. Exercise is an important part of a healthy pregnancy. It will help minimize many pregnancy-related problems, such as excess weight gain, varicose veins, problems sleeping and constipation. Pregnancy exercise will also prepare you for delivery and ensure a faster post-partum recovery.
Managing sleeping problems
Many pregnant women say it’s hard to sleep because they can’t get comfortable, need to run to the bathroom constantly, suffer from leg pain, and are excited and anxious about their baby’s arrival. With so many emotional and also physical changes happening, it’s no surprise that 8 out of 10 women suffer from insomnia and also other sleeping problems on their pregnancy.
Consult your GP if you experience some sleep disorder. But bear in mind that suffering from imsomnia is normal during pregnancy although it is frustrating at times.
Pregnancy Sleep – Third Trimester
Most women have trouble sleeping at some stage of their pregnancy, and a good night’s sleep may be a distant memory as the birth gets closer. Find out what to expect sleep-wise during your third trimester, and why it’s happening. As your pregnancy moves into its final phase, it may be hard to remember what it’s like to have a good night’s sleep.
Trouble in Sleeping
Sleeping has becomes a major issue for new mother during the third trimester pregnancy as you suffer from heartburn, leg cramps, joints pain and also frequently needing to empty the bladder, while at the same time trying to adjust the tummy into the perfectly comfortable position to sleep. There are however a few other things you can try to get a better sleep at night.
Urinary Problems in the Final Stage
The growing baby inside starts to press against your bladder, which means more frequent toilet trips during this third trimester pregnancy. You can try not to consume any water hours before bedtime to reduce the urine production. You can replenish the water intake during day time and try empty your bladder just before you settle in for the night. One tips is to lean forward when urinating as this will ensure you empty the bladder completely .
How to avoid Heart Burn
Indigestion or heartburn is often a dilemma especially in your pregnancy’s final stages. Medical expert advice not to consume spicy meals during dinner time and avoide heavy meal as well. Drink milk or consume a banana just before bed time as it may assist with the settling of your stomach. Also, have a fizzy water bottle next to you or where you can access easily during the night as this will help to reduce the acidity level.
With all that said, I hope the above tips will help you get a good sleep during your pregnancy.
