Care during pregnancy!
- Consult your doctor if you have ...
- Care during pregnancy
- Rise in temperature
- Feeling tired
- Alcohol
- Cramp
- Anaemia
- Backache
- Breasts
- Exercise
- Frequent urination, sweating
- Heartburn
- Nausea and sickness
- Piles
- Safety belts
- Sex
- Skin blemishes
- Smoking
- Stretch marks
- Swelling
- Vaginal bleeding
- Vaginal discharge
- Varicose veins
Consult your doctor if you have any of the following:
- constant irritation. It may be a sign of a liver disorder
- morning sickness that persists beyond the first 16 weeks.
- a sudden weight increase, more than 500 grams in a week. It may be a sign of excess fluid
- swollen ankles or hands
- iron deficiency, anaemia
- a stinging sensation on passing water. It may be a sign of cystitis and need medical treatment
- a bad headache
Go to hospital immediately if:
- you have any vaginal bleeding
- the waters break
- you feel a sudden sharp pain in the upper or lower abdomen
In such cases there is a danger of miscarriage.
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Care during pregnancy
Although pregnancy is a natural state, it is nevertheless a
strain on the mother. Her entire system has to adapt to the new situation.
Her metabolism is enhanced, her breathing and circulation become more
efficient, and her womb grows. During pregnancy the placenta emits numerous
enzymes and hormones which, together with the corpus luteum (a temporary
organ secreting the hormone progesterone) and pituitary glands, regulate the
changes taking place in the body.
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Rise in temperature
During the early stages of pregnancy the temperature of the
mother's body usually rises a little. This is quite normal and does not need
any attention.
Do not take any medicine, even for a common cold, during pregnancy without
consulting a doctor or nurse. Some medicines can harm the fetus. If you
visit a doctor or dentist, be sure to tell him you are pregnant so that he
can adjust the treatment accordingly.
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Feeling tired
Pregnancy is tiring in various ways. Some mothers feel in
the pink of condition, while others feel very tired both during the first
three months and during the last two or three months. A lot depends on your
physique. A large woman does not suffer so much strain as a small one, for
whom "growing" a baby weighing 3-4 kilos is no mean task.
Don't make light of being tired. Have a rest if you can in the middle of the
day, or at least put your feet up. If the miscarriage tiredness persists for
a couple of weeks even, consult your doctor.
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Alcohol
Alcohol can harm the fetus and it is also a strain on the
mother during pregnancy. Even small amounts can be harmful if taken every
day. It is not known what is a safe amount to drink during pregnancy .It is
therefore recommended to avoid alcohol while you are pregnant.
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Cramp
If you suffer from cramp, exercise your feet by stretching
and screwing your toes up and by flexing and relaxing your legs from the
knees down. During a fit of cramp, straighten your knee, take hold of your
big toe and pull your leg up. Night stockings may also help.
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Anaemia
Your tiredness may be caused by anaemia. The haemoglobin
(the respiratory pigment in the (red) blood cells) often decreases during
pregnancy because the amount of blood increases and the blood is in a way
diluted. If necessary the doctor will prescribe iron tablets. Exercise and
vitamin C (fruit and vegetables) help your body to absorb the iron.
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Backache
As your tummy grows, your back muscles take a lot of strain
that results in backache. Good posture, and holding your tummy in (insofar
as that is possible during pregnancy!) ease the ache. So do a good maternity
girdle and loose, low-heeled shoes. Find a mattress that gives your back the
support it needs. Tight back muscles can be relaxed by gentle massaging and
by gentle massaging and rest. Light exercises to strengthen the tummy
muscles are also recommended. The clinic will be able to advise you here.
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Breasts
Your breasts will get bigger as time goes on, and will feel
tender and taught. You may have a slight milk discharge from the second
month onwards. At this stage your breasts will be sensitive to cold, so keep
them warm. Protect them with a large woollen scarf, for example, in winter.
Swimming in cold water is not recommended.
It's a good idea to massage the nipples with a basic cream obtainable from
the chemist's So that the skin will grow stronger and stand up to
breast-feeding. If the nipples are small or turned inwards, stretch them
daily for a few months before the birth, then the baby will be able to get a
better grip.
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Exercise
Get as much exercise and fresh air as possible during
pregnancy. A good physical condition will help to make your baby healthy. If
you already do some particular sport, you can usually continue right up
until the last few weeks. You should, however, avoid sports and dancing
involving leaps, stretching and other sudden movements. Use your common
sense about swimming in cold water, too, due to the danger of infection and
contractions. A gentle walk every day is an excellent form of exercise.
Light housework also provides the exercise you need, but heavy housework,
such as washing rugs, adds to the risk of miscarriage. Nor are long car
journeys and motorcycling to be recommended. Flying in planes that are not
air pressurised may cause the fetus to suffer from oxygen deficiency.
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Frequent urination, sweating
In the early stages of pregnancy, and especially before the
time you would normally be expecting your period, you may have a vague
feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen. This is because the blood veins
are expanding and the circulation is becoming brisker. There is a growing
need to pass water. Particularly towards the end of pregnancy, when the womb
is pressing on the bladder, a kick from the baby may well cause an
"accident". You will sweat more in the course of pregnancy, just as all the
activities of the body will increase, so take frequent showers.
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Heartburn
Heartburn is a common complaint towards the end of
pregnancy. Avoid highly spiced food, coffee and strong tea. Fried food can
also cause indigestion.
Soda and salts cause increased swelling, but the clinic can advise you on
safe things to take for indigestion. The heartburn will vanish of its own
accord once the baby is born.
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Nausea and sickness
About one in two expectant mothers suffer from nausea in
the early stages of pregnancy, especially in the mornings when the stomach
is empty. It may also be accompanied by dizziness and fainting on getting
up. The nausea usually stops after the first three months. It helps to eat a
dry biscuit, a slice of bread, or drink a glass of milk or juice in bed
before you get up, so put something ready beside your bed the night before.
Get up slowly and without any fuss, and give yourself time to take life easy
in the mornings.
You may also be overcome by nausea in the middle of the day as your stomach
becomes empty. You can prevent this by having small snacks throughout the
day, so long as they are not sweets.
Serious vomiting is not normal during pregnancy and should be treated by a
doctor.
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Piles
As the uterus grows, it presses against the back passage
and thus increases the tendency towards piles. Piles are aggravated by
constipation, so pay special attention to what you eat. You can prevent
constipation by choosing a diet rich in fibre: plenty of wholemeal bread and
porridge, vegetables, fruit and berries, and sufficient liquid. If necessary
add bran or wheat germ to your food, or eat dried fruit. Exercise also keeps
you regular.
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Safety belts
Safety belts are now compulsory both on the back seats and
the front seats of cars. The modern 3-point belts are safe for baby, too.
Sometimes, however, belting up may be a problem in the final stages of
pregnancy .In the case of an illness a doctor may issue a certificate
relieving you of the obligation to wear a safety belt.
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Sex
There is no reason why you should not have sexual
intercourse throughout pregnancy, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
However, avoid intercourse during the first days of the second and third
months (when you would normally be expecting your period), because at this
time there is always the risk of a miscarriage. As your tummy grows, try
making love in different positions. Some women are so tired in the early
stages of pregnancy that they have no desire for sexual intercourse, but as
a rule making love is an even pleasanter experience during pregnancy because
there is no need for contraception. You can still be tender to one another
even if you don't both feel like intercourse. Anything that brings the other
pleasure is a part of love.
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Skin blemishes
Most women's skin gets darker during pregnancy, especially
the tips of the breasts and around the genitals. A brown line often appears
from the lower abdomen to the navel. Brown spots may also appear on the
face. These fade after the birth but there is no real cure for them.
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Smoking
Tobacco smoke often causes nausea in expectant mothers.
Both mother and father should give up smoking both for their own good and
for the baby's sake. The nicotine and carbon monoxide in the smoke are
absorbed into the mother's blood and pass via the placenta to the fetus, at
the same time impairing the work of the placenta. The babies of smoking
mothers are usually smaller at birth than those of non-smokers.
When you are feeding your baby, the nicotine is absorbed into the milk. This
can cause restlessness, indigestion and crying in your baby. Your baby may
also be more prone to coughs and catarrh during the first year of life as a
result of smoking. In other words smoking is harmful to your baby in many
ways.
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Stretch marks
Mothers with weight problems tend to develop stretch marks
on their breasts, tummy and thighs. These red lines, which look as if the
skin has split, fade away almost entirely after the birth. You can try using
a mild cream on them in the early stages.
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Swelling
A small amount of swelling is normal, unless your blood
pressure rises and there is protein in your urine. A sudden weight gain
(more than 500 grams in a week in a normal-sized woman) is a sign that
something is wrong, so consult the clinic or doctor immediately.
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Vaginal bleeding
You will stop having your period during pregnancy because
the lining of the womb that comes away during menstruation is vital to the
development of your pregnancy; this is what the fertilised ovum attaches
itself to. You may, however, have slight vaginal bleeding at the times when
your period would normally be starting during the first two months of
pregnancy. All other vaginal bleeding is a sign that something may be wrong
and you should consult your hospital or doctor immediately.
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Vaginal discharge
The normal amount of vaginal discharge tends to increase in
pregnancy .If you have itching or a smelly discharge, you should consult
your doctor as it may be a sign of inflammation. Have a good wash morning
and night but with water only, because soap and impregnated tissues may
cause inflammation. Do not use douches as they increase the risk of
miscarriage.
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Varicose veins
Varicose veins and cramp get worse during pregnancy and the
tendency to suffer from them increases as the uterus presses on the
arteries. They can be alleviated by getting yourself a good maternity girdle
half way through your pregnancy and by wearing stretch stockings. Pull the
stockings on before getting out of bed. It also helps to put your feet up
sometime during the day, and to place a pillow under your feet at night. Do
not wear tight shoes or very high heels, and change your shoes during the
day.
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