Category: Pregnancy

Trimesterwise Pregnancy Meal Planning — Third Trimester

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The Third Trimester is the final stage of pregnancy during which your baby grows at a faster rate. All organs, brain, eyes, ears, lungs, bones etc. develop more rapidly and for this, the nutritional needs of your baby also increase. You have to concentrate on eating a healthy and balanced diet. A wholesome diet will help meet the extra nutritional needs of your baby.

In this last stage of pregnancy, heartburn and indigestion may occur but these issues don’t last long in most pregnant women. If you do happen to be affected, you can opt for small but frequent meals. Normally, during the last trimester, a woman needs around 350 calories more. So, now, you should include foods that contain the following:

Calcium: Is needed for bone development of the baby.

You can include the following foods in your diet.

  • Low fat Milk
  • Cheese
  • Low fat Yoghurt/ Curd
  • Green Leafy Vegetables
  • Ragi
  • Horsegram
  • Okra
  • Fortified Orange Juice
  • Fortified Soya Milk
  • Unsalted Almonds
  • Sesame Seeds
  • Tofu

Iron:

As the volume of blood increases during pregnancy, the demand of iron also increases. Moreover, the developing baby starts storing iron for further development. Some important iron-rich foods which you can include in your third trimester meal chart are:

  • Leafy Green Vegetables
  • Grains like pearl millet(bajra), finger millet(ragi) etc
  • Legumes like Bengal gram, moth beans, horse gram etc
  • Poultry and egg

Vitamin A:

Vitamin A is essential as the mother’s intake is a determinant of vitamin A status of the baby. Even after delivery, baby depends on breast milk for vitamin A so adequate intake is necessary.

  • Dairy Products
  • Eggs
  • Yellow to dark orange coloured vegetables and fruits

Selenium:

One of the minerals necessary during the third trimester, Selenium acts as an antioxidant to fight against free radicals. This mineral may be helpful in making the lungs of the baby healthy. Some of the healthy food sources of selenium are:

  • Seafood
  • Meat
  • Poultry and egg
  • Certain Cereals and millets

Some Important Things to Remember During the Third Trimester

  • Keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
  • Eat snacks that are healthy and try to avoid foods like cakes, biscuits and chocolates in which sugar content is higher.
  • Have lots of vegetables and fruits.
  • Choose dairy products that are low in fat.
  • Have different types of starchy foods like whole grain cereals, millets, potatoes, bread, rice, pasta etc.
  • Choose protein-rich foods such as beans, nuts, lentils, eggs, fish, soya, poultry etc.

Trimesterwise Pregnancy Meal Planning — 2nd Trimester

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A pregnant woman’s body goes through different phases. It is very necessary that she eats a healthy diet as the developing baby receives all the nutrients from her. A healthy diet during the gestation period refers to a perfect balance of protein, carbohydrate and fat to the body. A balanced diet should contain adequate calories and provide your baby with essential nutrients.

As the baby starts developing, the nutritional requirements also vary. So, it becomes necessary that the pregnant woman takes proper care of her diet and heeds the nutritional needs of the different phases of pregnancy. In order to keep your level of energy high and ensure your body gets the essential nutrients you can have three meals a day along with snacks. Moreover, a pregnant woman should drink lots of water throughout the day.

During the second trimester, the external body structures and all the major organs of the baby start forming. During this phase, you should ensure your diet includes foods that contain vitamins, minerals, proteins, calcium, magnesium and Omega 3 fatty acid.

Breakfast: Eating a healthy breakfast provides you enough energy to remain active throughout the day. And it becomes more necessary to have a healthy breakfast when you are pregnant. During the second trimester, you should have a balanced meal which may include:

  • Eggs
  • Whole grains like whole wheat toast, whole wheat flakes, daliya, oats
  • Fruits
  • Skimmed milk

Lunch: During pregnancy, having a proper lunch is also very important. You can include the following:

  • Whole grains and millets like brown rice, whole wheat breads, quinoa, fox tail millet, bajra, jowar
  • Fortified cereals
  • Lean meats like chicken and fish
  • Yoghurt/ curd/ paneer
  • All Vegetables
  • Beans/ Legumes like Chickpeas, kidney beans, black beans, black eyed beans, peas, soya bean etc
  • Lentils/ Pulses/Dals

Dinner: Having a healthy dinner is also necessary to keep yourself and your baby healthy. Include food such as:

  • Brown rice
  • Vegetables
  • Grilled chicken or fish
  • Grains
  • Beans
  • Lentils
  • Fortified breads
  • Whole wheat Pasta, rotis

Snacks: You can have one or two snacks between meals. You can include the following as healthy snacks:

  • Fruits
  • Low fat milk and dairy products
  • Ready to eat cereals
  • Porridges from Grains like ragi malt, oats
  • Soya milk
  • Soups
  • Vegetable juices
  • Fruits salad
  • Nuts, Seeds and dried fruits

Trimesterwise Pregnancy Meal Planning — 1st Trimester

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When a woman becomes pregnant, a little bit of extra care is needed as the body undergoes several transformations. The foetus needs different nutrients to develop into a healthy baby. And all these requirements are fulfilled by the mother through a healthy diet and vitamin/mineral supplements. Eating well becomes very important as unhealthy foods may harm your baby.  The weight gain in pregnancy is based on the pre pregnancy body mass index (BMI). If you’re starting pregnancy at a healthy weight, a weight gain of 0.5 – 2 .0 kgs is recommended in the first trimester. The focus is on having a balanced and nutrient rich diet.

The first trimester or the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is very crucial as during this stage the foetus starts growing. The brain, spinal cord, heart, arm and leg buds of the baby starts forming. So you should make sure to have healthy foods. It is even better to focus on your diet before planning your pregnancy.

You may not feel like eating due to nausea and morning sickness during the first trimester, but you should try to eat, and that too, healthy. A properly nourished mother can even lower the risk of any postpartum complications.

A healthy balanced diet during pregnancy should be rich in good quality proteins, essential fatty acids, iron, calcium, B complex vitamins and vitamin C with optimum calories. Folic acid is especially important during the first trimester.

So, plan your meal with nutrient-rich foods. You can include the following foods in your diet during the first trimester:

 Cereals: 9 servings of cereals should be consumed per day of which at least 3 to 4 servings should be whole grains. Whole grains have more vitamins and minerals than processed grains, as well as fibre. Fibre helps in maintaining proper bowel function and lowers the risk of developing constipation. You can have:

  • Brown rice
  • Whole wheat, broken wheat
  • Millets (ragi, jowar, bajra, foxtail millet, quinoa)
  • Oats
  • Whole grain bread

Protein-rich Foods:  Focus on having good quality proteins and have at least 3 to 4 servings daily. Your diet can include:

  • Lean meat like chicken and fish
  • Whole Egg
  • Beans/Legumes like kidney beans, black beans, black eyed beans, peas etc
  • Lentils/Pulses/Dals
  • Nuts
  • Paneer
  • Soya and soy products

Dairy Products: As dairy products contain calcium and protein, 2 to 3 servings (approximately 500 ml) per day are necessary during the first trimester. Calcium is needed for development of bones and teeth of the baby. You can have low fat or non-fat dairy products like:

  • Cheese
  • Yoghurt/Curd
  • Milk
  • Paneer

Vegetables: You should have around 3 to 5 servings of vegetables daily. Vegetables contain essential vitamins like folate, minerals like calcium and iron, fibre and are low in fat, as well. You can include vegetables like:

  • Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, amaranth, gogu, fenugreek
  • Tomatoes
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Carrots
  • Pumpkin
  • Gourd and squash vegetables
  • Cauliflower
  • Capsicum/ Bell peppers
  • Green beans
  • Broccoli
  • Corn
  • Peas

Fruits: 2 to 4 servings of fruits daily are necessary during the first trimester. You can choose fresh, dried or frozen fruits. Whole fruits are preferable to juices as they contain fibre. As citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, you should include at least one type of citrus fruits on your daily meal chart. In addition to vitamin C and fibre, fruits provide folate, vitamin A and potassium. You can include fruits like:

  • Apple
  • Banana
  • Orange
  • Sweet lime
  • Grapefruit
  • Melons
  • Berries
  • Ripe papaya
  • Pomegranate
  • Watermelon
  • Guava

Ultrasound During Pregnancy

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Ultrasound or sonogram is a method that uses sound waves to study the internal parts of a human body. It is widely used in all branches of medicine, especially in obstetrics and gynaecology. Undergoing an Ultrasound scan is a special part of a pregnancy, as you get to see your baby for the first time in the visual image created by an ultrasound. This imaging technique helps the doctor to evaluate various aspects of a pregnancy, including detection of birth defects and determination of the well-being of the unborn baby. Read More

Depression During Pregnancy

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You may be aware of postpartum depression. But do you know many women suffer from depression during pregnancy? The most common disorder, depression is defined as a mood disorder that causes loss of interest and a persistent feeling of sadness. It’s normal to feel low occasionally, but if it lasts for a long period, you’re suffering from depression. It affects different aspects of your life — from how you think and act to eating and sleeping. This condition occurs more in women than men and during the reproductive years, the initial onset of depression is at its peak. Read More

Polyhydramnios – Things You Need To Know

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Amniotic fluid present in the amniotic sac provides a cushion to the baby in the womb protecting it from injuries. Polyhydramnios is a medical condition in which excessive accumulation of fluid takes place in the amniotic sac.

Polyhydramnios is not a common condition and occurs in around one percent of pregnancies. The cases are mostly mild and result due to a gradual build-up of amniotic fluid during the second half of a pregnancy. This condition is diagnosed when the amniotic volume reaches two litres or more. Acute polyhydramnios is common if you’re having a multiple pregnancy i.e., a pregnancy with more than one baby. Read More

Molar pregnancy / Trophoblastic disease

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MolarPregnancyMolar pregnancy is part of the spectrum of diseases known as trophoblastic disease. A normal pregnancy consists of the fetus or developing baby and the placenta which is made of trophoblasts. A molar pregnancy (also called hydatidiform mole) is an abnormal overgrowth of the placenta caused by an imbalance in the number of chromosomes supplied from the mother and the father.

Molar pregnancies are uncommon, occurring in 1 out of every 600-1200 pregnancies. Risk factors for this condition include:

  • Asian and Mexican ethnicity
  • Teenage pregnancy
  • Maternal age > 40 years
  • History of two or more miscarriages
  • Previous molar pregnancy.

Read More

Obstetric Cholestasis – Everything You Need To Know

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Obstetric Cholestasis (OC) also known as Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP) or Cholestasis of Pregnancy is a very rare medical condition that occurs during pregnancy.

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This complication occurs in the third trimester due to the decrease in the flow of bile through bile duct in the liver. Thus bile acid gets built up in the bloodstream causing severe itching, especially on the soles of the feet and palms of the hands. Itching may occur on other parts of the body like belly, breasts, face, back etc. Sometimes, the itching is continuous and becomes unbearable and is even worse during the night.

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Causes of Obstetric Cholestasis:

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Though the exact causes of obstetric cholestasis are not clear, it is believed that the following factors are responsible for this medical complication.

  • Hormones: When a woman gets pregnant, hormones like progesterone and oestrogen increase to a great level. The increase may hinder the passing out of the bile through the bile duct and thus affects the liver causing obstetric cholestasis.
  • Genetic factors: Sometimes, genetic factors may also be responsible for the occurrence of obstetric cholestasis. Though some generations may skip this problem, it may occur in the next generation. And if you have suffered from this condition during your first pregnancy, then there is more chance of being affected again.
  • Environmental factors: Environmental factors are also thought to play a role in the occurrence of this disease.

Symptoms:

  • Unbearable itching all over the body without rashes
  • Occasionally there may be jaundice

Diagnosis of OC

If the pregnant woman has the potential symptoms of OC, doctors will recommend some tests, including a blood test through which the functioning of the liver along with the levels of bile acids in the blood could be measured.

Effect of Obstetric Cholestasis on the Expectant Mother

Though OC is not very harmful to the expectant mother, in some cases, itching becomes very severe. You may keep awake during nights because of itching, resulting in tiredness and exhaustion. Sometimes, it may take longer to stop your bleeding as the ability of blood clotting may decrease due to the occurrence of OC.

Effect of Obstetric Cholestasis on the Baby

Due to OC in the mother, the baby might pass its first faeces even before birth. This might cause breathing problem in the baby.  Rarely, premature delivery might be required.

Treatment of Obstetric Cholestasis

OC usually resolves after birth. Doctors may advise aqueous cream with menthol or calamine lotion which will give you temporary relief and recommend medications. Medications help in minimizing the build up of bile salts in the blood. Delivery may be scheduled prior to your delivery date. After delivery of the baby, the itching will diminish with the passing of time.

Images Courtesy:

http://www.kidspot.com.au/

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/

http://www.homehealth-uk.com/

 

Guide to Sleep During Pregnancy

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With an array of physical and psychological changes going on, it is quite natural that you might not have good sleep during your gestation period. Sleep problems are quite common among expectant mothers. You may experience discomforts like back pain, fatigue, difficulty in breathing, restlessness etc.

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Reasons for sleeping problems during pregnancy:

  • Anxiety
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Frequent urination
  • Body aches
  • Leg cramps
  • Movement of the foetus
  • Heartburn
  • Breathing problem

Sleeping positions during pregnancy:

Good sleeping positions are very important to ensure proper sleep during the pregnancy period. Here, are some ideal sleeping positions which you can adopt to minimize discomforts:

  • Sleep on your left side: Sleeping on your left side helps in improving the blood flow. Keeping one or both knees bent while sleeping during the early months of pregnancy is very helpful to prevent discomforts.
  • Use pillows: Use pillows between your bent knees, behind your back or under your abdomen to relieve sleeping discomforts.

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Tips for good sleep during pregnancy:

  • Avoid caffeinated beverages like tea, coffee or soda during the second half of the day.
  • Avoid drinking lots of fluids or having a heavy meal before sleeping.
  • Eat healthy foods which are rich in variety of nutrients.
  • Have small but frequent meals to avoid heartburn.
  • During pregnancy, try to maintain the same time for sleeping at night and waking up in the morning.
  • A warm bath before going to bed will make you feel relaxed and help in having a good sleep.
  • You can join yoga or birthing classes to learn some relaxation techniques for better sleep.
  • You can have a cup of herbal tea or a glass of warm milk before sleeping.

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If sleeping problems still persist, it would be better to consult your doctor regarding this.
Images Courtesy:

http://www.visualistan.com/2014/09/ultimate-guide-to-sleeping-during-pregnancy.html

http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/hip-pain-during-pregnancy/

http://organics.org/5-safe-herbs-to-make-your-pregnancy-better/

 

 

 

Effects of Smoking While Pregnant

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Smoking has adverse effects on one’s health. And, when pregnant, smoking may lead to different types of health complications not only in the mother but also in the baby.  Cigarettes contain carbon monoxide, nicotine and other poisonous elements that are carried to the foetus through the blood stream when you smoke during the gestation period.

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Complications during Pregnancy

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Complications that may occur when pregnant women indulge in smoking:

  • Ectopic pregnancy, wherein the foetus is conceived outside the uterus i.e., in the fallopian tube.
  • More chances of miscarriage.
  • Stillbirth may occur.
  • Abruption of the placenta resulting in premature delivery.
  • Rupture of Membranes.

Effects on Babies

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Health problems the baby faces when a woman smokes during pregnancy :

  • Reduction in the supply of oxygen to the baby due to nicotine and carbon monoxide travelling to the baby’s body.
  • Baby’s growth and development gets slower.
  • Smoking may increase the chance of your baby being born with cleft palate and cleft lip.
  • Increased risk of respiratory problems in the baby.
  • Babies are likely to have defects of the heart.
  • Increased risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
  • Lower birth weight of the baby.
  • Baby is more vulnerable to asthma.
  • Increased chances of premature birth and death of the baby.
  • Increased chances of obesity in the later part of the baby’s life.

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Images Courtesy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoKLTGaED1I

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/cleftlip.html