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Archive for the ‘Pregnant Health’ Category

Not a few women who have been confronted with the reality of unwanted pregnancy have chosen to resolve their problem through abortion. Abortion is a procedure that makes use of medicine or surgery to remove the embryo or fetus and placenta from the uterus to end a pregnancy. The procedure is usually done by a licensed physician or someone acting under the supervision of a licensed physician.
Research shows that women are just as likely to get an abortion whether it is outlawed or legal. Statistics show that one out of five pregnancies ends in abortion. In a study examining abortion trends from 1995 to 2003, experts also found that abortion rates are virtually equal in rich and poor countries, and that half of all abortions worldwide are done in an unsafe manner.
In spite of the legal status of abortion, it has never dissuaded women who seek to end unwanted pregnancy. Abortion accounts for 13 percent of maternal mortality worldwide. While 70,000 women die every year from unsafe abortions, an additional five million women suffer permanent or temporary injury as a result of this procedure.
Although worldwide, abortion rates have dipped from about 46 million in 1995 to just under 42 million in 2003, the rate of unsafe abortion didn’t change at all. In developing countries, the incidence of unsafe abortion continue to rise with nearly half the procedures still performed illegally in potentially dangerous conditions, making it a public health crisis and an assault to human rights.
The increase in contraceptive medication is seen by some sectors as a way to minimize, if not totally eliminate, unsafe abortion. However, while more countries are allowing women to have abortions in a legal way, many women are still receiving medical attention only after a procedure has gone wrong. Women shouldn’t have to hurt themselves before they get the necessary medical attention. Unsafe abortion may be defined as a procedure performed by people lacking the required skills or done in an environment that does not conform to the proper medical standards.
The developing world comprised the biggest share of the abortion pie with a figure of about 35 million abortion cases. And nearly 97 percent of all unsafe abortions were in poor countries. In eastern Europe, there are more abortions than live births, or 105 abortions for every 100 live births. In Western Europe, there are 23 abortions for every 100 live births. In North America, there are 33 abortions for every 100 live births, while in Africa, where abortion is illegal in most African states, there are 17 abortions for every 100 live births.
Providing safe abortions depends on a working health-care system. Experts believe that improving access to safe abortion requires improvement on women’s health. In the last two decades, there has been little improvement to help women survive pregnancy and childbirth, especially in third world countries due to poverty. While improvement in child health can be done with government support, such as immunization against various diseases, the same cannot be said with improving women’s health as funds are restricted from any health services associated with abortion.
Abortion is about making a decision about ending the life of a baby. The debate is still on whether the fetus can be medically considered a human being — a factor that defines the morality or lack of morality of the choice to undergo an abortion. Indeed, given the very sensitive nature of this procedure , abortion should be considered a very personal decision that requires counseling.

Years ago, perhaps when you were a child, breastfeeding was not very popular. Breastfeeding was not encouraged as it is in todays society. Doctors didn’t fully grasp how important and beneficial it is for a newborn baby. Because of this, and a few other reasons, there were many new mothers that went directly to feeding with the bottle, most often new mothers didn’t even try to breastfeed their new baby.

Breastfeeding helps protect and nurture your baby in innumerable ways. There have been many studies in regard to breastfeeding babies and the results have shown increases in brainpower within as little as six weeks of breastfeeding. The study has also shown a reduced risk of obesity due to the fact that breastfed babies are much less likely to overeat than formula-fed babies. Overall, babies that have been breastfed for roughly six months are also less likely to have breathing problems.

We now know how nourishing breast milk is for your baby. Breastfeeding is highly recommended by doctors as well as health care professionals. Further, it’s been shown that breast milk supports brain function as stated above and also provides valuable nutrients that would not otherwise be available. Breast milk is very special, every mother’s milk is slightly different, tailored to her own baby’s needs. A baby’s immune system is directly affected by the breast milk of his/her mother.

Every feeding time is an extremely important time of the day, it allows the mother and baby time to bond to each other without any distractions. A new mother will really get to know her baby by breastfeeding and will feel much more at ease with him or her during breastfeeding.

Milk induced sleep is one of the most wonderful things a mother will experience. Newborns love to be cuddled and they also love to eat. When you combine the two you get an extremely sleepy baby who will snuggle up in their mother’s arms long after the feeding is over. Breastfeeding will instill a naptime but you’ll find yourself continuing to rock your precious little one, it’s calming to mother as well.

Babies have a built-in latching instinct, although some babies will not latch properly, causing pain to the mother. You’ll detect these problems early on and you’ll find that most hospitals have a nursing specialist that will help to determine if your baby is latching on wrong. If you continue to have problems in this area in the first week, you should consult with your doctor. With a little practice you’ll be a pro in no time! Hang in there, It’s worth it!

Breast milk is not only good for your baby, but it’s also good for the mother as well. It has been stated that Mother’s who breast-feed their babies for at least six months have shown a dramatical reduction in the risk of various types of cancer including breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Another happy note… through breast-feeding, new mother’s will also lose the additional weight she gained while pregnant, and another benefit is that it will also help her uterus contract to its pre-baby size.

All new parents want to give their babies the very best and when it comes to nutrition, the very best “first food” for baby is breast milk.

Although you may experience a few challenges at first while breastfeeding; it will be the best experience a new mother will have. There may even come a time later in life when you look back on this wonderful experience and wish that you had breast fed your baby longer.

Pregnancy is a gift almost every family is waiting for. For the expectant parents, it is the time when they feel that they are truly accomplished. For new mothers, excitement and ecstacy overwhelm them as this event will fulfill their power as a bringer of life. However, with this gift comes a multitude of symptoms that aren’t exactly a walk through the park.

Pregnancy is usually signaled by a missed menstrual period. During this time, the woman’s body I already changing – hormone levels spike up and down, causing a multitude of conditions that may burden the expectant mother during the duration of her pregnancy.

During the first trimester, the new mother experiences more signs that she is already pregnant. These symptoms include:
l Extreme fatigue. This is due to the increase in progesterone production in the woman’s body.
l Food cravings. This is body’s means of dictating the mother what the baby needs.
l Increased urination. As the woman’s womb is continually increasing to accommodate the growing child, it exerts more pressure on the urine bladder.
l Breast tenderness. The breasts start to change in preparation for feeding the coming baby.
l Abdominal cramps. This follows implantation of the embryo on the uterus.
l Nausea or “Morning sickness”. This is because an increase in the hormone progesterone relaxes the uterine muscles, which prevents early labor. But it may also relax the stomach and intestines, leading to excess stomach acids.
l Mood swings. Most people confuse this with postpartum depression. This differs from the latter in the sense that this passes in a matter of days or weeks.

During the second trimester, which comes three and a half months after conceiving the baby, the baby extensively develops. This is also the stage where pregnancy becomes physically obvious. Below are a list of symptoms manifested by women on their second trimester:
l Swelling. This is because during pregnancy, body fluids are increased.
l Varicose veins. During pregnancy, increased pressure is experienced by veins, causing blood to pool.
l Fetal kick. Sometime during the second trimester, the mother can feel the baby start kicking.
l Confusion and clumsiness. Due to the woman’s ever changing hormonal level, it makes concertrating a bit more difficult.
l Backache. The added weight of the baby plus the increased body fluid increases pressure on the spine.

At the third trimester, the stomach now protrudes more prominently, causing the following symptoms:
l Increased back pain.
l Increased moodiness.

Among all the symptoms mentioned above, coping with lower back ache seem to be the most persistent. It starts from the second trimester and ends after giving birth. How does a pregnant woman get through this hurdle? Here are some tips for pain relief during pregnancy:
l Always practice good posture. This is to ensure that muscle strain due to the increasing weight and the shifted center of gravity while standing up is lessened.
l Always sit and stand with care. Sit with feet slightly elevated. Choose a ergonomically correct chair that provides support to your back. Shift positions often, and avoid standing for a long time.
l Always sleep on your side. Sleep on one side, not your back, keeping one of both knees bent.
l Always perform proper lifting techniques. Squat down when lifting a small object, instead of bending over. Avoid sudden reaching movements.
l Exercise. Regular exercise may help strengthen the back muscles.
l Medications. Certain pain relief medications may cause complications to a pregnant woman and her unborn child. For these cases where medication is clearly required, doctors look for safe drug alternatives that have the same effect of pain relief during pregnancy.

Back pain during pregnancy may just be a passing discomfort, however it should never be taken from granted. Back pain may already be a signal that your pregnancy is experiencing some sort of complication. Be in tuned with your body and what it is feelings. Immediately consult your doctor for any discomfort your experience, however normal everybody says it is.

Trying to conceive is a difficult process for many people. The reason is that there are many factors involved in conception. You cannot tell if you or your partner is infertile unless you visit a doctor. There are a number of medical tests that your doctor can perform to detect infertility. There are also methods and products that the doctor can prescribe to help in conceiving a child.

One procedure a doctor can perform is to test the cervical mucus. Cervical mucus plays an essential role in conception, as it enables the sperm to make it all the way to the egg. The sperm are unable to do this if there is little or no cervical mucus present. Another factor involving cervical mucus is that it could be too acidic. It is necessary for the mucus to be alkaline. If it is acidic, it will kill the sperm before they reach the egg.

When a doctor checks the cervical mucus, he/she will look at the whether it is clear or curdled. If it is curdled, there is little to no chance of conception. If the mucus is clear and somewhat sticky, chances of conception are good.

Before you start to think about the possibility that you or your partner might be infertile, make sure that you have been having unprotected (natural method) sex over a number of months, or up to a year. Conception can take a long time, even for couples who have no troubles with infertility. Often, a couple may have unprotected sex for 8 or 10 months before conception takes place.

Once you have given yourselves this waiting period, if conception still has not occurred, visit your doctor for what steps you should take next. Try not to worry – focus on the many tests and procedures available to help you and your partner become parents of a beautiful baby.

I did not become familiar with gestational diabetes until recently when my sister-in-law and my best friend were both diagnosed with it within a week. Many women I know, myself included, have made it through pregnancies without having any serious problems like gestational diabetes.

Basically, gestational diabetes is a disease that can come on during pregnancy but that usually disappears once the baby has been born. In some women, pregnancy results in their blood sugar levels getting out of balance. A pregnant woman might realize that she is having blood sugar problems on her own or it might take a doctor to determine that her levels are not normal. Regardless of how it is discovered, gestational diabetes is a serious issue that needs to be handled with caution and care throughout a woman’s pregnancy and after.

When my sister-in-law and my closest friend were struggling with feeling abnormally up and down during their pregnancies, their doctor took blood tests and determined that their blood sugar levels were being affected by their pregnancies and their food choices. They were both diagnosed simply by having this blood work done. At first they were hesitant and scared because gestational diabetes sounded huge and they didn’t know how relatively simple the treatment process could be.

Gestational diabetes, because it is primarily an imbalance of blood sugar, can often be regulated by changes in diet and levels of exercise. The amount of changes that are necessary are dependant upon how poor of habits the women have to begin with. My sister-in-law and my friend had to make different levels of changes to their diets, but neither had to make such significant changes that their lifestyle was radically altered. Mostly their changes consisted of going on a low-sugar and low-carb eating plan. Gestational diabetes brings a risk of the baby getting to large during its gestational period and needing to be delivered early or by c-section. The more the pregnant mother cuts down on sugar intake, the less likely it is that the baby will get too large to be delivered vaginally.

If you are pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant in the near future, take some time and learn about ways to prevent gestational diabetes. It is the best for you and your baby. Prevention is always a better option than having to find a solution to high blood sugar levels. Be wise with your food and exercise choices from the start and you should be able to avoid dealing with gestational diabetes in your pregnancies. Talk with your doctor and take every possible precaution.