Pregnancy Exercise

Morning Sickness One of the first signs to pop up during pregnancy is morning sickness. If a couple is not planning to have children at that time, this may be the first clue that a little one is on the way. The severity and timing of morning sickness varies greatly with each woman. Some have extreme bouts of it, and it begins early in pregnancy, while others barely notice it, and it doesn’t really affect them very much. If you are one of those women who has a severe case, you are probably looking for cures and advice on how to deal with it. Morning sickness usually strikes during the first trimester of pregnancy, and is thought to be caused by the wide fluctuation of hormones in a woman’s body. Many women handle it well, while others are knocked off their feet. For the very unlucky, morning sickness lasts for the entire pregnancy. If you are looking for a cure, your best source for information is your doctor. No matter what you try, talk it over with them first. You don’t want to do anything that might harm your baby or you. Some women handle morning sickness by watching what they eat. The tried and true method of eating crackers and drinking water when feeling sick works well for some women, and not so well for others. Morning sickness does not always occur in the morning. Some women have it all day, and late into the night. This can make life difficult, and a diet of only crackers and water is not the best for the baby. On occasion, prenatal vitamins can make morning sickness worse. You can help alleviate this by making sure you take your vitamin on a full stomach. Take it in the middle of or after a bigger meal. That way, the vitamins aren’t sitting in an empty stomach. Whatever you do, do not stop taking your vitamins if they are making you feel unwell. Talk to your doctor about how they are making you feel, and try anything they may suggest to you. You can find a lot of morning sickness cures online, but remember to talk to your doctor before trying any of them. Anything you put into your body is going to affect your unborn baby. Some remedies labeled as natural might not be good for you, no matter what they claim. Sometimes, the cure for morning sickness is as simple as taking it easy, remembering to get plenty of rest, and to lie down when you don’t feel well. Heavy odors and certain foods may trigger your morning sickness, so learn what to avoid.

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Exercise During Pregnancy Safe for At-Risk Black Women, Study ...

Exercise during pregnancy appears to be safe even for African-American women at high risk for pregnancy complications, a new study suggests.

The study, which focused on poor, urban African-American women, found that “exercise participation did not increase or decrease the risk of low birth weight or preterm birth," said co-author Suezanne Orr, Ph.D.

“There is not much information about exercise participation in this population. Most of the research has been on middle-aged white women," said Orr, with the Department of Health Education and Promotion at East Carolina University, in Greenville, N.C.

The study, which appears in the current issue of the journal Ethnicity and Disease, looked at 922 low-income African-American women receiving prenatal care at five Baltimore clinics between 1993 and 1995.

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Acid Reflux Disease

Commonly called 'heart burn', acid reflux disease is a condition in which the liquid content of the stomach regurgitates (backs up, or refluxes) into the esophagus. It's annoying and painful. But you want to know the truth, the reflux of the stomach's liquid contents into the esophagus occurs in most normal individuals. However, when heartburn becomes acid reflux disease or Gastro esophageal reflux disease, commonly referred to as GERD, it is s real problem. That is because with GERD, the acid is stronger and stays in the esophagus longer causing more discomfort. Most often, you will experience this during the daytime when you are upright, sitting straight, or standing. You body handles this reflux by the fluid flowing back down into your stomach. You swallow more during the daytime therefore draining the acid back to where it belongs. Your salivary glands produce saliva that also contains bicarbonate that acts to neutralize the acid your stomach has kicked up. At night though, you may have a greater problem when acid reflux disease occurs that is because while sleeping, gravity does not work as well lying down, your constant swallowing stops, and the production of saliva is reduced. Certain conditions make a person more prone to acid reflux disease, this GERD. For example, while you are pregnant, this can be a serious problem. Elevated hormone levels of pregnancy probably cause reflux by lowering the pressure in that part of your body known as the lower esophageal sphincter. Also, the growing baby puts more pressure on the abdomen. Both of these effects of pregnancy tend to increase the risk of GERD. If your acid reflux disease is a minor condition, then you should only experience minor symptoms. These would include primarily heartburn, regurgitation, and nausea. However, if the condition is complicated, then watch out for the following symptoms. The liquid that comes back into the esophagus damages the lining of the esophagus. The body tries to protect itself from the acid reflux disease by 'inflaming' the esophagus. Trying to speed the healing process through the inflammation, the wall of the esophagus may form an ulcer. The ulcer is a break in the lining of the esophagus wall. Then what happens is that there may be bleeding. If the bleeding is very severe, patients might need a blood transfusion or even surgical treatment. If your heartburn is severe or acute, happening very frequently, you need to see a doctor. What can you do for yourself to help the condition? Try sleeping a pillow a night that raises your chest up slightly so that gravity can bring the acid back down more easily. Since this condition usually occurs on a full stomach, eat earlier and eat less to keep the stomach from being too full. Ease off on the chocolate, peppermint, alcohol, and caffeinated drinks. Reduce fatty foods and of course, cut down or quit smoking. Other foods may aggravate the conditions. Avoid spicy or acid-containing foods, like citrus juices, carbonated beverages, and tomato juice.

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First Signs of Pregnancy

Planning for a pregnancy is an exciting time filled with dreams of your little one. There are things you can do to ready yourself for conception and the following months. Even if you are not experiencing the early signs of pregnancy, it is crucial that you prepare yourself for your intended conception. The first few weeks of pregnancy are very important in the baby’s development so it is a good idea to refrain from doing things that can be harmful to the fetus. It is wise to quite smoking before you conceive. Once you decide that you want to have a child, put the cigarettes out and stay away from them. Of course, this is no easy task, but it won’t be any easier after you experience the early signs of pregnancy. Drinking in excess is also detrimental to a developing baby. Before you notice the first signs of pregnancy, keep drinks to a minimum or stay away from alcoholic beverages entirely. The same goes for prescription medications. Inform your doctor that you are trying to conceive and find out if any prescription medication you may be taking can harm the baby. Many women choose to wait until they have the first signs of pregnancy to quit their bad habits. Some wait until they miss their period before talking to their doctors, but taking care of these things before you are pregnant will benefit the baby. Part of this is because you have already rid you body of toxins and you are have the information you need from your doctor. There is no bad time to start an exercise program. Consider working out before you notice the first signs of pregnancy. It is important to consult your physician before starting any exercise program and make sure to exercise in moderation. Many women make the mistake of waiting until the baby is born before starting a regular workout routine but a moderate exercise plan can be easily followed throughout your pregnancy. It is important that you always take care of yourself in general. It doesn’t matter if you are planning to have a baby or if you are having the first signs of pregnancy. Bad habits are hard to break and they are not really easier to break when you are carrying a child. Introducing you baby to a healthy body that was taken care of before the first signs of pregnancy were even apparent will increase the baby’s chances of having a healthy start.

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Infertility Treatments

Infertility Treatments Many couples find themselves seeking infertility treatments because they have not been able to get pregnant within a reasonable amount of time on their own, usually considered to be a year or more of unprotected sex. Infertility treatments have become more progressive over past years, and have resulted in successful outcomes for couples desiring to have children. It may take more than one attempt in many cases, which can run into tens of thousands of dollars for some couples, if insurance coverage is not available. Only a handful of states across the nation require health insurance carriers to cover infertility treatments, leaving couples who want to have a baby having to finance the whole expense. For such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or gamete intra-fallopian transfer (GIFT), this could be as much as $8–10,000 each attempt. Some couples even take out second mortgages on their homes to provide the funds to pay for infertility treatments. When couples first decide to consult a professional for infertility treatment, there are many questions that they want answers to right away; they want to know who has the problem. These concerns can usually be addressed quite easily with a few simple tests. Women may simply have a hormone imbalance that affects her chances of getting pregnant, which can easily checked and treated. The first thing checked from the male partner is the sperm assay, to make sure that enough are being produced. If the count is low the chance of the sperm penetrating the egg is decreased. Further evaluation of both partners will be needed if nothing is found with the initial testing, at which time the couple will probably be referred to an infertility specialist. Treatment for infertility does not have to involve complicated technical procedures, and in many cases can be resolved with hormone treatments and/or surgery. If couples do proceed with more extensive infertility treatment, they should take the time to research the infertility clinic, the reproductive endocrinologists on staff, that clinic’s success rates for various procedures and how much they cost, what insurance plans they accept, and what services are included and not included for the quoted cost. Infertility treatments usually are based on the couple completing one cycle from beginning to end, but of course can vary depending on each individual case. Many couples find success with infertility treatments, and though results are not guaranteed, it is an option that is available. Infertility treatments are the answer to many couples’ dreams, to have a child of their own, no matter the cost, whatever it takes.