Gestational Hypertension

Gestational hypertension, also known as pregnancy induced hypertension occurs in women during pregnancy. If a pregnant woman has high blood pressure i.e., more than 140/90 and this occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy, then she is said to have gestational hypertension.  This can lead to preeclampsia or toxaemeia, which is a serious medical condition during pregnancy.

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Symptoms of gestational hypertension

Some of the symptoms you may notice if you are suffering from gestational hypertension:

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  • Rise in blood pressure level
  • Presence of protein in the urine
  • Vomiting and nausea
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Nose bleeding
  • Swelling of the body
  • Double or blurred vision
  • Pain around the stomach
  • Urinating in small quantity
  • Sudden gain in weight

Diagnosis of gestational hypertension

Based on the above symptoms, the following tests are done to diagnose if you are suffering from gestational hypertension:

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Measuring the level of blood pressure

  • Testing for body swelling or edema
  • Checking your body weight regularly
  • Urine, kidney and liver function test
  • Testing for blood clotting

How to prevent gestational hypertension?

Though there are no foolproof methods to prevent gestational hypertension, adopting the following will definitely be helpful for a healthy pregnancy.

  • Have at least seven to eight glasses of water daily
  • Lower the consumption of salt and use only required for taste
  • Do exercise regularly
  • Take rest as much as possible
  • Include foods with high protein
  • Avoid junk food
  • Avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol

Treatment for gestational hypertension

If you are suffering from gestational hypertension, your doctor may recommend the following to lower the level of gestational hypertension so that it doesn’t worsen.

  • Medications for lowering the level of gestational hypertension
  • Frequent testing of your blood and urine
  • You may be recommended bed rest
  • If needed, you may be hospitalised as you may need special attention
  • Monitoring the health of the foetus

So, it is very essential to have check-ups regularly during pregnancy to know that everything is okay with you and your baby. If your doctor finds that you are suffering from gestational hypertension, you will be recommended to do the necessary things.

Images Courtesy:

https://www.medpagetoday.com

http://nursingcrib.com

http://healthy-ojas.com

Type 1 Diabetes and Pregnancy – Symptoms, Risks and Management

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Diabetes is a medical condition in which our body is unable to control the level of sugar in the blood properly. As our body doesn’t produce the required amount of insulin to control the sugar level, we suffer from diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a severe diabetes mellitus, an autoimmune condition in which our body requires insulin daily as the lack of insulin increases the sugar level in blood and urine. Basically, this is insulin dependent diabetes.

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Type 1 Diabetes and Pregnancy

Whether you have conceived or are trying to conceive and you are suffering from Type 1 diabetes, it becomes very necessary to treat diabetes so that you have a healthy pregnancy. Treating diabetes at the right time helps to control your blood sugar level and protects your baby from any kind of adverse effects.

Symptoms

  • Increased thirst
  • Excessive urination
  • Increased hunger
  • Dry mouth
  • Weight loss
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Blurred vision

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Risks

Women suffering from Type 1 diabetes before or after conceiving may suffer from miscarriage. There are a few risks to the unborn baby, as well if the mother is suffering from Type 1 diabetes which are as follows:

  • Macrosomia: Also known as fetal obesity, macrosomia is a medical condition in which the baby grows too large making it difficult for vaginal delivery. Due to the size of the baby, it may get hurt during the delivery process.
  • Growth restriction: The baby may not grow at the normal rate if the mother is suffering from Type 1 diabetes.
  • Growth acceleration: The baby may grow at a faster rate than the normal development.
  • Birth defects: A baby born to the mother suffering from diabetes may suffer from a variety of birth defects.

Management

During pregnancy, Type 1 diabetes could be managed effectively if the mother-to-be follows some rules. Here are some tips to keep the glucose level controlled.

  • Meal planning: You should plan your meal and maintain proper timings of meals throughout the day. You should eat three meals which should be small and around one to three snacks on a daily basis.
  • Include fibre: Have balanced fibre intake in the form of vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
  • Avoid sweets: Avoid having sweets or items containing sugar.
  • Do physical activity: You should engage yourself in different types of mild physical activity like walking, swimming etc.
  • Check glucose level frequently: Monitor the glucose level frequently as it will help you to know that your blood sugar level is normal or not. In addition, keep a proper record of the test results. It will help you to compare the level on each test.
  • Take insulin: Some women may need extra insulin to keep the glucose level normal. In that case, you have to take insulin as recommended by your doctor which is not harmful to your baby.

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Images courtesy:

https://www.consumerhealthdigest.com/

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/

http://www.pid-project.eu/

 

 

 

Ways to Control Obesity During Pregnancy

Most women are overweight when pregnant. Some gain too much weight after being pregnant. When your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or greater, you are said to be obese. Gaining too much weight and reaching a stage of obesity creates a variety of complications during pregnancy.

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Problems related to pregnancy due to obesity

If you are obese, you must take care of your health and that of your would-be baby by losing weight before you plan on getting pregnant. Obesity during pregnancy may put you at risk of a variety of problems that include:

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  • Gestational Diabetes: This occurs during pregnancy and if you are obese there is a greater chance of suffering from this problem. Due to gestational diabetes, you may end up having a caesarean section. Moreover, it increases the risk of the mother and the baby suffering from diabetes in the later stages of their lives.
  • High Blood Pressure: Obesity can also lead to high blood pressure during pregnancy which is also known as preeclampsia. In some cases, it may lead to seizures, kidney or liver failure etc.
  • Miscarriage: Obese women are at a higher risk of miscarriage compared to women with normal weight.
  • Birth Defects: Obesity can lead to various type of birth defects like neural tube defects, heart defects etc.
  • Preterm Birth: Preterm birth may occur if you are suffering from obesity during pregnancy.


What to do if you are obese during pregnancy?

Losing weight during pregnancy is not good, but if you are obese, try not to gain much weight. You can keep yourself and your baby healthy by limiting weight gain. If you are obese you may adopt the following ways to keep on track with weight gain.

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  • Healthy diet: During pregnancy, it is very essential to have a healthy diet as recommended by your nutritionist. Avoid junk and unhealthy foods.
  • Drink plenty of water: During pregnancy, you should drink lots of water. Water not only helps in keeping you and your developing baby healthy but also in preventing hunger.
  • Have light meals: If you don’t want to gain much weight, eat light meals frequently instead of heavy meals. Light meals provide the required energy without increasing your weight.
  • Avoid eating for two: Pregnancy doesn’t mean that you have to eat for two. Eating for two makes you put on lots of excess weight which is not good at all for obese pregnant women.
  • Exercise: Daily exercise helps a lot in limiting excess weight gain. If you are a beginner, you can go for pregnancy exercises like swimming and low impact aerobics. But do consult your doctor before doing any one of these.
  • Walking: You can walk slowly for 20 to 30 minutes daily. Walking helps in keeping yourself fit and healthy.

Images Courtesy:

http://diseasesoflife.blogspot.in/2010/07/tips-to-prevent-obesity-during-and.html

http://www.slideshare.net/rebeccaforehayes/obesity-during-pregnancy-40119053

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/overweight-pregnant.aspx