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What is IVF? How does it assist childless couples?

What is IVF?

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a process involving the combination of male sperm and female eggs in a special laboratory to generate an embryo(s). Various factors determine the success of IVF.

The factors may include:

Usage of donor eggs/embryos
Ovulatory dysfunction
Dual infertility factors
History of previous pregnancies or recurrent miscarriage
Age factor
Type of infertility (Fertility problem)
Duration of fertility issues

is IVF treatment?

An IVF cycle typically consists of the steps given below:

Medications to facilitate the growth of multiple eggs
Retrieval of egg(s) from the ovaries
Insemination of eggs using the sperm
Culture of the resultant embryos
Transfer of single or multiple embryos in the uterus
Usage of hormones to nourish the uterine lining to facilitate healthy pregnancy

What is the IVF process? How is IVF done??

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or IVF treatment involves four main stages. IVF technology is a technology employed to help infertile women achieve fertility.?

The first stage includes the woman taking injections towards the stimulation of her ovaries. The ovaries produce follicles. These follicles are the cysts in the ovaries filled with fluid. These fluid-filled cysts contain the egg.
Subsequently, a procedure carried out under anaesthesia removes eggs from the ovaries under the guidance of an ultrasound.
The next stage involves fertilization of the egg and sperm in the laboratory under a controlled environment.
The embryos (Fertilized eggs) are subsequently transferred into the woman’s uterus to induce pregnancy.

What are the types of infertility issues IVF can treat?

A. Unexplained infertility

B. Poor or unhealthy quality of eggs

C. Low sperm count

D. Low motility of sperm

E. Problems with ovulation

F. Inability of sperm to pass through the cervical mucus or survive there

G. Issues with the uterus or fallopian tubes

H. Endometriosis

How does IVF work?

IVF shines out as one of the most popular forms of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). IVF functions by combining surgical procedures and medicines to facilitate the fertilization of an egg by the sperm. The fertilized egg subsequently implants in the uterus.?

What are the advantages of IVF?

IVF helps women with

A. Endometriosis:

Endometriosis involves the growth of some parts of the womb lining outside the womb. IVF offers relief from infertility caused by endometriosis.

B. PCOS:

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS is a condition involving irregular menstrual cycles caused by hormonal imbalance. IVF helps women with PCOS to conceive even when ovulation induction fails to address infertility.

C. Unexplained Infertility:

1 in 6 couples suffers from unexplained infertility issues nowadays. The intervention of IVF may offer promise to couples grappling with unexplained infertility.

D. Premature ovarian failure:

Menopause and premature ovarian failure may complicate the outcomes of effective pregnancy. IVF intervention using donor eggs may bring relief to the couples.

E. Damaged Fallopian tubes:

Women with blocked or damaged fallopian tubes may grapple with infertility. IVF may help increase the chances of having a baby with their eggs.?

F. Male infertility:

Male infertility problems are growing lately due to various health issues. Natural conception may become a challenge for couples with male factor infertility. With the interventions using IVF, couples with male factor infertility may get some promise of conception.??

G.?Patients with a low ovarian reserve or older patients:

IVF helps raise the chances of conception in patients with advanced age. Women with a low ovarian reserve may struggle with conception. IVF technology assesses the overall possibility and helps older women and women with low ovarian reserve.?

What are the features of IVF?

IVF technology is in use for a long time with a safe track record:

IVF processes have advanced ever since the birth of Louise Brown, the first IVF baby. IVF went ahead to emerge as the IVF technology creating safer and successful options. Most effective IVF cycles promote the usage of fewer drugs to minimize any side effects like Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS).

IVF facilitates an easy diagnosis of the fertilization problems:

Unexplained infertility may pose threat to the couple’s marital bliss. Unexplained infertility may imply miscellaneous issues. The problems as such may not become evident until someone experiments on the fertility issues.

IVF allows effective usage of unutilized embryos:

Those who have embryos left for subsequent usage may allow others to use them to treat fertility issues. They may even save lives. These are the embryos that may facilitate various research projects. It may help other childless couples to attain parenthood.

Embryos may be used to study inherited diseases:

IVF with Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) allows a conception safe from genetic disorders. They may be Huntington’s Disease, Muscular Dystrophy and Cystic Fibrosis. IVF allows proper examination of inheritable diseases and techniques to help prevent such health concerns.

What determines the number of embryos being created or transferred?

Multiple factors are affecting the number of eggs to create or transfer. It may mainly depend on how many eggs are collected and maternal age. The rate of implantation may go on to diminish with the women ageing. It may facilitate the implantation of more eggs if a lady is older. More number of eggs transferred may lead to multiple pregnancies. It’s important to discuss with your IVF expert the number of embryos to implant.

Are there any precautions before IVF?

Yes. IVF doesn’t just intend to help you achieve pregnancy but a healthy pregnancy. Your obstetrician or IVF expert may ask you to change your lifestyle.

Diet:

You may have to change your diet. A few species of fish containing Mercury may affect the foetal nervous system. Shortly before, during and even after IVF, you may have to stay away from some fish species. They may be King Mackerel, Tilefish, Canned Tuna Fish, Shark and Swordfish. You may have to avoid a few other fish species as your IVF expert guides you. Your IVF expert may study your medical history and help you round off a proper dietary regimen.

Drugs:

Drugs are just meant to be avoided as the efforts towards conception are about to start. Recreational drugs may interfere with the ability to conceive or to carry the pregnancy to term. Some drugs like Marijuana may decrease sperm concentration and hinder the production of Testosterone.

Caffeine:

The correlation between caffeine and its effects on fertility is under analysis. Caffeine may be linked to a decrease in the chances of conception. The cause-and-effect relationship between caffeine intake and conception is still to be confirmed. But studies show that women should limit the caffeine intake as they start trying for pregnancy.

Smoking:

We are precisely aware of how smoking affects our health and the environment around us. Smoke in every form may be linked to an increase in the risk of complications. Men and women who smoke may lose their reproductive health. Studies have shown the harmful effects of smoking on foetal health in multiple ways. Parental dependence on tobacco in pregnancy and after pregnancy may raise the risk of paediatric cancers in kids.

Alcohol:

We know how alcohol interferes with our overall health. It affects our physical and mental health. Alcohol intake can lead to poor reproductive health. Your obstetrician may advise you to avoid alcohol. Alcohol in pregnancy may create irreversible dangers.

Medication use:

Non-fertility medications should be avoided as you start preparing for an IVF cycle. Your General physician deserves to know about your IVF cycle. You should start avoiding medications like Aspirin and those resembling Aspirin. Certain medications interfere with ovulation.

How much does IVF treatment cost?

Motherhood has a dedicated team that oversees standard IVF protocols and helps couple achieve parenthood at reasonable rates.?

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What are the factors affecting IVF Success Rates?

IVF is a standard procedure including various stages starting from ovarian stimulation and ending with the embryo transfer and luteal phase. The main determinants of pregnancy and successful implantation are transfer efficiency, uterine receptivity and embryo quality. Embryo transfer is the final step in a standard IVF procedure.

Below are the factors affecting IVF success:

Age: (H3 Tag)

The correlation between age and IVF success rates is an important factor. Women below 35 years of age may have higher chances of live births. The percentage of live births per egg retrieval for those below 35 might be about 55%. Women between 35 years and 37 years may denote a lower percentage of live births. Women aged between 35 and 37 may have about 42% chances of live births per egg retrieval. Women between the ages of 38 to 40 may see 26.7% chances of live births. Women who cross 40 years of age but are below 42 may witness 13.8% chances of live births per egg retrieval. And women aged about 43 and above may be left with merely 4.2% chances of live births per egg retrieval.

Types of fertility issues:

IVF treatment or IVF procedure offers success rates in some medical conditions. The tubal blockage is one of those conditions effectively treated by standard IVF protocols. Persistent miscarriage or thin endometrial lining may, however, complicate the success rates of IVF. Uterine malformations, fibroids and TB are some of the conditions hampering the overall success rates of IVF. Male factor infertility is another cause why the IVF success rate may be reduced.

Duration of infertility:

Duration of infertility may warrant many consequent actions. Since the duration of infertility associates itself with advanced maternal age, it may hamper the success rate. The solution to the advanced maternal age may be egg donation.

Recurrent or persistent miscarriage:

Medical history involving previous pregnancy or persistent miscarriage may present additional challenges. The IVF experts may ask a couple to take additional precautions and specific medications based on their medical history. Live birth in such cases may be a hurdle. A persistent or recurrent miscarriage may be hard to tackle in the absence of alternative therapies.

Dual factor infertility:

These scenarios are exceptionally difficult. As the category suggests, dual-factor infertility involves both partners suffering from infertility. These conditions may diminish the overall quality and success rate of IVF procedures.

Ovulatory dysfunction:

Ovulatory dysfunction may present many obstructions to effective IVF cycles. Patients with high FSH levels and low AMH levels may end up being disadvantaged. And ovarian dysfunction disrupts the overall IVF success rate.

Use of donor eggs:

Advanced maternal age emerges as an undesirable element in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). Women above 35 or 40 years of age require donor eggs. Using eggs of young females may increase the chances of IVF success rate.

Exercise:

We all know how crucial exercise is for our day-to-day health. It allows us to stay mentally and physically fit. Taking care of one’s physical health is vital to reserve the benefits of IVF. Follow your IVF expert’s advice while you exercise when your IVF cycle is in progress. Mild or moderate exercise allows you to stay active and alert throughout the day. Make sure you aren’t indulging in any risky postures in your exercise regimen. Working in your comfort zone is important as your exercise shouldn’t interfere with your IVF cycles. It’s better to avoid cardiovascular activities. Avoid them at least till your childbirth. Work comfortably for 5-6 hours a week. Focus more on the activities that refresh you keeping you relaxed and contented. Ask your obstetrician to share her viewpoints if you find any exercise risky or strained.

Stress:

The stress during an Assisted Reproductive Technique is palpable. Couples have already grappled with a lot of stress and low spiritedness. And when it comes to IVF, they may be worried about its parameters including chances of success, complications, contraindications and fear of failure. Emotional stress during IVF may play a unique role in the overall IVF outcome as multiple factors are shaping the stress. They may be previous experiences and overall psychological predisposition while opting for the IVF cycle. Mood swings, migraines, dejections and past flashes are some of the emotional effects of IVF. Couples undergoing IVF may sustain many issues based on various factors. They may include financial, religious, socio-ethnic or sociocultural, physical and emotional factors.

How would you maximize the IVF success rates?

Stay ahead and updated:

You are preparing for a cycle that may need updated information. Collect the relevant details from your IVF expert and plan appropriately. A well-informed decision will keep you away from anxiety and misinformation. Stay informed about the body, the IVF process and treatment schedule.

Confide in your IVF expert:

Be clear and precise about how you communicate your thoughts and feelings. Be firm about the decision you have made. Your ordeal coping with the infertility diagnosis may have changed your overall emotional situation.

Find the right pillars of emotional support:

Many others have been through what you may be going through now. They overcame those barriers and are parenting a kid now. They successfully surmounted it and so will you. Get the right confidante. It may be your sibling, best friend, colleague or relative. You may consider having a spokesperson. Start chatting or sharing rapport with others grappling with infertility. They know and understand what you wish to hear today. Emotional support groups throng the internet today and are keen on knowing your expectations.

It’s time to be choosier:

Be choosy about what you wish to take control over and how you can do it. Avoid unnecessary stress and decisions interfering with your overall welfare. You may count on your favorite hobbies and exercises. You will no longer feel lonely or overridden by the sense of alienation.

Enhance your knowledge base:

IVF treatment will be better if you will stay informed. Discuss how many embryos will be transferred and what best you may incorporate to maximize the chances of a successful pregnancy. Your knowledge base will guide you on how you can reduce the possibility of multiple babies. You may even discuss how you can manage the leftover eggs or extra eggs. Extend the discussion appropriately so that the IVF procedure is more effective. Avoid improper disposal of the eggs.

Strengthen the communication with your partner:

Set a proper schedule to discuss everything about how IVF is done. Know what IVF pregnancy is and how many injections you may need for IVF treatment. Shedding light on how to make IVF successful for the first time will help you and your partner plan better. You may have already studied how IVF works step by step. Carefully consider together how many days you may rest as the IVF patients. Plan everything about what to do after IVF transfer/embryo transfer. Render the necessary emotional support to each other throughout the IVF process.

Motherhood hospital is always here to transform your expectations into a fantastic reality. Let us know how we can help you in your journey to blissful parenthood.

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Preparation for IVF treatment?

IVF: An overview

When it comes to fertility treatments, IVF tops the list of almost everyone. In vitro fertilization (IVF Process) signifies fertilization that occurs in a glass. IVF treatment involves the fertilization of an egg by sperm in a plastic dish. IVF entails a technique of assisted reproduction. In the IVF procedure, the egg and sperm are fertilized outside the body towards the formation of an embryo. The embryo gets transferred subsequently to a uterus for implantation and pregnancy. IVF was brought into existence to assist women having blocked fallopian tubes. IVF procedure still actively helps women with disadvantaged fallopian tubes. IVF assists even when a couple grapples with unexplained infertility.

Below are the other conditions wherein IVF may offer some promise to the couples willing to become parents:

Cervical issues
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Fibroids
Endometriosis
Ovulatory problems
Male factor infertility

Is IVF procedure stressful?

IVF isn’t an event or technique that completes in a day. IVF treatment involves a series of events to be completed. Some couples may feel bored with mood swings and anxiety often joining the joy and excitement. The women and their experience going through IVF may hugely depend on various factors around them. They may be their overall emotional predisposition, thoughts or ideas about IVF, their support pillars, and relationship with the partners. The way they respond to fertility medicines and their length is yet another factor.

How would you prepare your body for IVF?

You should consider giving time for relaxation and recovery after each phase of treatment. You mustn’t lead a life you did before starting IVF. The couples should develop a proper level of sensitivity to the treatment. They should accept the transformations brought to their energy levels. The couples should try to abstain from the activities harmful to the conception. They may consider prioritizing the activities mentioned by theirIVF experts or support members at the clinic.

Prepare your body for the IVF in some easy steps:

Being diagnosed with infertility itself may distress you. You should give yourself at least 3-6 months and start preparing your body for IVF. You may have lesser time than 3-6 months. It’s best to start preparing yourself physically and emotionally for an experience lasting for months.

Achieve the desired weight and prepare yourself metabolically:

Evidence suggests that body mass index (BMI) has a role to play before pregnancy. Weight gain and nutritional history are two important determinants in an effective pregnancy. A poor nutritional history before IVF may hinder IVF. Being obese may interfere with the overall IVF outcome. Therefore, it’s important to maintain an ideal weight to increase the chances of IVF’s success. Various clinics may issue various guidelines about IVF. And the experts at motherhood guide you as to how you can achieve your target.

Eat whatever boosts your reproductive health:

Enjoy fresh fruits and add some vegetables to your platter as directed by your IVF expert/staff members. Stop consuming burnt meat, red meat, sugar, refined grains or processed foods. Add spices and herbs to your routine diet. Avoid foods containing mercury including various fish species. You may even design your diet under obstetric or expert supervision. Include chickpeas, lentils and various other leguminous products. Start relying on low-fat milk and low-fat dairy food. Take Avocado, nuts and seeds in abundance. You may start taking prenatal vitamins. You must take an obstetrician’s advice before starting any prenatal vitamin. Your obstetrician will surely alert you about a category of chemicals. The category is called Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC).

Don’t drink and avoid smoke in every way possible:

One good decision to kick the butt brings hundreds of sighs of relief. Smoking is a dependence that creates many hindrances. Stop smoking preferably at least 6 months before you start planning for IVF. Studies show that Nicotine can interfere with ovaries and age them. They may render eggs resistant to fertilization. One can’t even imagine how severely it may damage foetal development and health. Alcohol is also known to hinder the success levels of IVF by more than 50%. Caffeine is another ingredient you should abstain from as you progress to your IVF treatment.

Stay committed to Yoga and other exercises:

The way you breathe has many things to convey about you. When you take healthy breaths, many issues may start resolving on their own. And nothing replaces Yoga when it comes to assuring those healthy breaths naturally. Yoga will be the first good move to help you relax and rejuvenate effectively. Light yoga and relaxation techniques will guide your healthy way through those IVF protocols. You may consider registering for online exercise classes. They are mostly conducted by experts. They will inspire you to adopt a healthy lifestyle and stay on track from the day you conceive with IVF till the day you deliver your baby.

Start preparing for healthy sleep as you do for a successful IVF:

Sleep is vital to ensure many aspects of your health. The quality of sleep influences sperm production, sex hormones, and ovulation. Make sure both you and your partner are getting ample sleep as your IVF expert directs.

You may consider adopting the following habits for healthy and undisturbed sleep:

Unwind by reading some comic or light-hearted stuff before getting off to bed.
Make sure you have made a timetable and are sticking to it every night.
Stop using alcohol or any stimulant ingredients that may interfere with your sleep.
Enjoy some good exercise routines every day.
Exercise routines come up with many perks. Aligning you with a peaceful sleep pattern every night is one of those invaluable perks.
It may create psychological burdens if you have a TV, laptop, or other electronic items in the bedroom.
Try to keep your bedroom free of any professional material like journals, books, files, or other documents.
Address and treat stress. Emotional stress may hamper many good things you enjoy every day.

These steps will allow you to stay active and refreshed as you progress to various phases of your IVF cycle. Your obstetrician will always be there to guide you on essentials or lifestyle choices based on your medical history.

Team Motherhood is always here to help you in your blissful journey to parenthood. Book an Appointment!

Book an Appointment!

Are you getting enough vitamins during pregnancy?

Pregnancy care involves a balance of nutrition and optimum personal hygiene. Enjoying a healthy and vivid diet in pregnancy allows you to make the most out of the three trimesters. Pregnancy includes physiological changes resulting in increased plasma volume. The other physiological changes in pregnancy are a rise in red blood cells and a decrease in the concentration of proteins and micronutrients that bind nutrients. Nutrition in pregnancy starts always with taking the necessary steps. The steps may include taking prenatal vitamins and designing a balanced diet. Pregnancy tips on safety and nutrition may mainly include a full-fledged dietary regimen. It may follow clinical guidelines depending upon various factors.

Many women prefer attending pregnancy exercise class or aerobics. In a few geographical regions, undernutrition or deficiency may affect the physiological changes of pregnancy. During pregnancy, a baby receives necessary nutrition from the mother. A pregnant woman needs more nutrition from the day she conceives. Make sure that the prenatal vitamins you include have folic acid, calcium and iron in them. Ask your obstetrician/gynaecologist to round off a diet supplying ample vitamin D, DHA and iodine each day.

Prenatal vitamins:

As the name suggests, prenatal vitamins are the multivitamins for pregnant women or those willing to conceive. Contrary to regular vitamins, prenatal vitamins contain major ingredients you need for a healthy pregnancy. It’s great to follow the multivitamin prescribed by an obstetrician or midwife.

Your body thrives on the nutrients, minerals and other nutritional availabilities in the food. If you are a vegetarian or prone to food allergies, your healthcare provider may prescribe a suitable supplement. Some supplements will help you get the most out of the nutritional availabilities.

How does your nutritional journey start with prenatal vitamins?

Prenatal vitamins allow you to get the right nutrition throughout the pregnancy.

The ideal prenatal vitamins are:

400 mcg of folic acid

400 IU of vitamin D

2mg of riboflavin

3mg of thiamine

6mcg of vitamin B12

10mg of vitamin E

15mg of zinc

17mg of iron

150 mcg of iodine

200-300 mg of calcium

70 mg of vitamin C

20mg of niacin

Folate:

Folate is a B vitamin aiding the process of DNA synthesis, foetal growth and development and red blood cell production. Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate available in various supplements. The body receives an active form of folate with folic acid. The active form of folate the body gets is called L-methyl folate. Expert obstetricians recommend at least 400 mcg of folate or folic acid to cut the risk of neural tube defects and congenital malformations. Folate is essential to prevent the abnormalities such as heart defects and cleft palate.

Iron:

The iron requirement of pregnant women rises drastically due to the rise in maternal blood volume by 45%. Iron is irreplaceable in pregnancy for various reasons. Iron promotes oxygen transport and the healthy development of your baby and placenta. Various health issues are linked to the lack or scarcity of iron in pregnancy. Maternal depression, infant anaemia and preterm delivery are the 3 main health issues due to lack of iron in pregnancy. 17mg of iron per day is enough to meet the nutritional requirement. Your obstetricians may recommend higher doses of iron if you are suffering or have suffered from anaemia. Don’t exceed the dosage recommended by your obstetrician. An excessive dose of iron may cause nausea, constipation and abnormally high haemoglobin.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy may increase the risk of caesarean section, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and preterm birth. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin aiding various functions such as immune responses, bone health and cell division. The recommended intake of vitamin D in pregnancy is 400 IU per day. Many experts recommend extensive doses of vitamin D in pregnancy. However, you mustn’t exceed the dose recommended without consulting your obstetrician.

Calcium

Calcium is a mineral aiding the development of a baby’s bones, heart, muscles, teeth and nerves. The requirement for calcium rises in pregnancy. You may require 200-300 mg of calcium every day when you are pregnant. You may optimise the calcium intake by following the dietary recommendations. You may consider taking more calcium by introducing certain foods to your platter. They may be Broccoli and kale, orange, milk, yoghurt and cheese.

Iodine:

Iodine is a mineral aiding the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones allow the body to reserve and utilize energy from food. Pregnant women require iodine in pregnancy to aid the growth of their baby’s nervous system. The brain, nerves and spinal cord form the nervous system. The nervous system helps the baby to move, feel and think. Pregnant women may seek their obstetrician’s guidance to determine how much iodine they need in pregnancy. Not every prenatal vitamin contains iodine. The total amount of iodine needed in pregnancy may differ from person to person. Make sure that you are regularly consuming the foods that contain iodine.

Thiamine:

Thiamine usage is recommended based on the obstetrician’s guidance. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for thiamine in pregnancy is 1.4mg/day regardless of the pregnant woman’s age. Some obstetricians may recommend 3mg of thiamine in pregnancy. Women carrying more than one foetus may require a higher dose of thiamine.

Zinc:

Women trying to conceive should try to increase the intake of zinc. Both the partners should introduce zinc to their regular diet. It’s unlikely for you to suffer from a deficiency of zinc provided your diet is healthy and balanced. The recommended intake of zinc is 8mg per day for adult women. Your obstetrician may recommend an intake of up to 12mg or 15mg of zinc per day in pregnancy and lactation.

Vitamin E:

Vitamin E helps in the production and nourishment of red blood cells, eyes and healthy skin. It promotes a healthy immune response. It’s best to include a healthy amount of vitamin E in your platter based on your obstetrician’s guidance. The recommended daily intake of vitamin E in pregnancy is 3mg. A healthy and balanced diet should suffice. If your medical history denotes higher doses of vitamin E, your obstetrician may recommend a dose of up to 10mg.

Riboflavin:

Riboflavin is vitamin B2. Riboflavin is essential in the maintenance of various tissues of the body. Riboflavin is used to treat or prevent deficiency of vitamin B2. Ask your obstetrician if it’s safe for you to administer riboflavin in your regular diet. Your obstetrician may study the medical history. If you have a history of cirrhosis or other liver disease or any gallbladder issues, riboflavin should be carefully used. Don’t use riboflavin without your obstetrician’s advice.

Niacin:

Niacin or Nicotinic acid (Vitamin B3) is a water-soluble chemical. Nicotinamide is another form of Vitamin B3 available for human consumption. Niacin plays a crucial role in the growth and development of the foetus. Niacin may help prevent birth defects and miscarriage. It may be essential in the baby’s brain development. It energizes us. It provides optimum nutrition for the skin and other organs. It helps reduce nausea and improve digestive power. Niacin is also linked to a reduction in migraines. The recommended intake of niacin is 20mg.

Vitamin B12:

Vitamin B12 is vital in the production of red blood cells. It may help nourish the nerve tissue. The deficiency of vitamin B12 may lead to anaemia, nerve damage and brain damage. 6mcg of vitamin B12 may be essential in pregnancy. If you need higher doses of vitamin B12, your obstetrician may recommend them based on your medical history and current health status.

Vitamin C:

Proper intake of vitamin C helps reduce the risk of placental abruption. Vitamin C alone helps reduce the risk of preterm labour and prelabour rupture of membranes (PROM). However, some studies suggest that vitamin C in combination with vitamin E raises the risk of PROM. Pregnant women should be careful while including vitamin C in the platter. We recommend that you seek your obstetrician’s guidance on the amount of vitamin C to include in your platter.

Daily Post and Cover story

As Hospital OPDs Shut In Coronavirus Lockdown, E-consulting Comes To Patients’ Rescue

E-consulting is especially useful for those who are in the family way, say in their third trimester who need regular monitoring. Doctors say there is a changing pattern in the queries of the patients.

Aruna Roy, an auto-immune warrior who has been suffering from lupus would visit her doctor every two months for a review. She had a severe sepsis attack a couple of years ago and has to taper and increase the dosage of her medicine every time her bones hurt or when she suffers from severe fatigue. She has a long-term medical condition and a weak immune system.

Due to the Coronavirus scare, she is unable to visit her doctor but is regularly in touch with her doctor through tele-consultation. ??Lupus is a disease where your white blood cells instead of protecting your body from invaders attack your cells, tissue and all vital organs. My body is prone to infection. Hence I have opted for tele-consultation and online OPD with my doctor during this period of coronavirus scare,” says Roy

Online consultation, which many doctors have started, is like a virtual visit to your doctor. The appointment is booked online, a link is sent to the patient through an SMS. The patient dials the doctor at the appointed time, get the check up done and doctor uploads the prescription with her electronic signature. “We are doing about 200 online consultations a day since the national lockdown began,” says Vijayarathna Venkatraman, CEO, Motherhood Hospitals, Bangalore.

E-consulting is especially useful for those who are in the family way, say in their third trimester who need regular monitoring. Doctors say there is a changing pattern in the queries of the patients. Dr Suhasini Inamdar, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist says: ??The queries of the patients are quite different now. Expecting mothers are concerned about their health and baby during this Coronavirus lockdown. They are concerned about the virus affecting their health. Since some pregnancies are complicated and immunity of some of the patients are low, they are worried that they might get COVID-19.?

Most big hospitals in the metros have started e-consulting. Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai for instance is providing a solution for any health-related problem to every family via its virtual consultation facility. Dr Parag Rindani, centre head, Wockhardt Hospitals: “It??s a video conference between a doctor and a patient at home. The motto of this service is to provide the best healthcare facilities to the patients without them having to visit the hospital in the time of lockdown.”

According to reports, AIIMS will begin a teleconsultation facility for its patients by the end of this week as it has shut down its OPD. Majority of the issues can be solved via online consultation for minor illnesses. But for anything serious, doctors say they can’t come to a conclusive diagnosis in the absence of a physical examination and inability to prescribe tests. However, a general plan of treatment can be discussed to put the patient at ease. As Dr. Ritu Garg of Fortis Memorial Research Institute, ??While we physically can??t examine our patients, we hear them out and take down the questions and symptoms they have. However, a lot of these are follow up patients of the doctors. For example, diabetes patients check their blood sugar at home and then video consult with the doctor to titrate their medications.?

In this worrying lockdown situation, there has been an increase in demand for support from mental health professionals too. Many psychiatrists are offering virtual sessions and telephonic support which is extremely important. Says Dr Sapna Bangar, psychiatrist, Mpower, Mumbai, who is offering online consultation to her patients, ??Counselling has always been about emotions and a large part of it is interpreting what may not have been said but communicated by body language, eye contact and reading the cues some of which maybe lost online. However, with advanced technology and skilled therapists a lot can be solved too.”

The Medical Council of India has also released guidelines about prescriptions and tele-medicine. Health and wellness Apps are also witnessing a huge increase in doctor consultation on their platform. For instance, vHealth, a doctor consultation service has seen a surge in its queries. Dr Sneh Khemka of vHealth says people are using their services to check their symptoms for COVID-19. In such cases vHealth doctors are screening symptomatic patients to identify COVID-19 risks. They are proactively staying in constant touch with high and medium risk patients to help them get the required guidance. Since COVID-19 is a notifiable disease, such cases are also being reported to the government authorities.

E-consulting platforms like these, and hospitals offering virtual OPD in your city can be easily found by a simple internet search.

Motherhood Hospitals introduces Fastrack teleconsultation services

In the wake of disruptions being caused due to lockdown situations in many cities across the country, Motherhood Hospitals is using telemedicine technology to provide continuity of care to women and children and has launched an integrated online Teleconsultation service. The video consultation services can be availed in Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Pediatrics. Pregnant women can go through their routine follow up consultations through this technology so they have continued access to their care. Similarly children requiring routine consultations particularly at this time to distinguish between common cold and other issues can also be provide through this service.

Patients opting for online consultation can access the Motherhood Hospitals website to book an appointment, which will be facilitated via a video call. Post completing the registration process, the patient will receive an email with a link to join the video call. All patient details, observations, etc. will be digitally recorded on a central system so these will go under the outpatient records of the patient. At the end of the consultation, the patient will receive a digitally signed copy of diagnosis, investigation advice and prescription via email.

On the introduction of the online consultation services, Vijayarathna Venkatraman, CEO, Motherhood Hospitals said, “In the current times of uncertainty and restrictions, we at Motherhood want to ensure that women & children are provided appropriate medical advice through virtual doctor consultation sessions. We believe through the launch of this service most of our patients will not have any break in their medical treatment and all our senior consultants in Gynaecology and Pediatrics will be available through this technology interface. He further added, ??Social distancing processes have created their own challenge in healthcare services and we are creating solutions to meet our patient expectations. All our services at the hospitals are continuing and our emergency department is open 24/7 to extend medical attention.?

Through the launch of the Video Teleconsultation services Motherhood Hospitals has created a new model of hospital based patient care coupled with virtual care wherever applicable. At this time the anxiety levels particularly with expectant mothers and children are high, having access to their doctors will give the patients extreme comfort and confidence. This service is extended beyond Motherhood patients to the larger community on the whole.

Indian Express Doctor Availability on call

BENGALURU: In the midst of the Covid-19 lockdown, there’s always a concern about health and how one can reach their doctors.Which is why, many hospitals have come up with online consultations, wherein patients can take part in a video conference with their doctor over Skype or Zoom. We rolled it out a few days ago, understanding the restrictions on transport, and the general apprehension of coming to a hospital at this point, says Dilip Jose, MD and CEO, Manipal Health Enterprise. On Thursday, they received about 50 consultations among various departments, including neurology and medical oncology. Doctors, who are following a rota, have access to the patients medical records, he says, adding that the fee is the same as a regular face-to-face consultation.

It being a tough time for expectant mothers, Motherhood Hospitals has rolled out a telemedicine technology for pregnant women who can go through their routine follow-up consultations. Social distancing processes have created their own challenges in health care services and we are creating solutions to meet our patients expectations, says Vijayarathna Venkatraman, CEO, Motherhood Hospitals, adding that video consultation services are available in gynaecology, obstetrics and paediatrics.
To relieve general health anxiety, Dr Kishan Rao, founder of The White Army a group of over 1,000 medical students across India that provides online medical consultation has started a helpline for minor ailments, which is mostly to reassure patients.

In the last two days, we have received almost 50-60 calls. Most of the cases we re getting right now are solved through counselling. More than a doctor, I am trying to be a responsible citizen, he says, adding that they are open to home consultations, if required. For more serious ailments, including cancer, Onco.com, an internet aggregator for cancer care, has introduced teleconsultation to help cancer patients and caregivers get advice from oncologists through a telephonic call or video conferencing. The teleconsultation will be 20 minutes long and scheduled within 24 hours. Cancer patients undergoing active treatment, or those with blood cancers have reduced immunity and are at a much higher risk of acquiring Covid-19 infection. As patients are unable to travel and consult doctors, they can speak with their oncologists regarding treatment and address their concerns, says Dr Amit Jotwani, co-founder and Chief Medical Officer, Onco.com. (With inputs from Tanya Savkoor)

Reach out
Manipal Hospitals Old Airport Road: 1800-102-5555/9606457127 Motherhood Hospitals: 1800-108-8008
Onco.com: 7996579965 The White Army Online Helpline: 8105232787

Do you know the best maternity hospital in Bangalore?

Among other metros, we are now offering our specialized maternity assistance in remote areas of Bangalore such as Hebbal and Banashankari. Find out more.

A working couple looking out for expert advice and sincere care towards their expecting toddler must consult our trained maternity doctors. With our absolute comforting maternity care unit, we strive to sustain as the best maternity hospital in Hebbal, Bangalore. Therefore, the flexible and customized packages for all tiers helps us provide extensive infrastructure.

Our team is trained to maintain a friendly environment and always-ready-to-help approach is wore on sleeves by Motherhood team. To elevate the comfort level of mothers and reduce the stress level of everyone around them, the services are designed keeping all those practical realities in mind.

The intention behind being the best maternity hospital in Banashankari is to provide an all-inclusive set of maternity care facilities, starting from conceiving to delivery. The specialized team of paediatricians ensures regular check-up and visits, there are no delays or exceptions. While you are in the most dedicated maternity health care centre, no need to worry about any complication or unusual experience during your pregnancy. The doctors are primarily concerned about the health of the mother and child. Special assistance for a nutritious diet, care at home, and handling pre-delivery anxiety is what the maternity centre guides the mother and family about.

All pregnancy conditions and situations differ; hence, all the cases are treated with a customized approach, which helps our team to empathize with the parents at best. Post-delivery the doctors stay in regular touch to share their advice for breastfeeding, child??s health and growth, diet and much more. They are always there to help you go through different stages of progression with the child. We know that a small word with your doctor is enough to comfort you in a difficult situation.

What Is Ovulation Induction And Am I A Good Candidate?

Things you should know about Ovulation Induction

The basic requirement for conceiving is the egg and sperm. Many couple are not able to conceive because of so issues related to this. Ovulation commonly known as release of egg from the ovary. Anovulation is a very common issue leading to subfertility. Anovulation could be because of many different reasons, mainly due to hormonal imbalance. Most common cause is polycystic ovarian disease. It’s quite simple to understand that if we restore ovulation the chance of fertility is restored

If you are going through ovulation issues but still you want your own child, ovulation induction is the ideal treatment option to help you out!

Understanding ovulation induction…

As now we already know that ovulation is the most basic requirement for fertility. Ovulation induction means to restore the egg development and release of egg in women having anovulation. After proper investigation to explore the cause of anovulation, treatment can be planned. Treatment of anovulation is generally very simple with basic oral medication or sometimes combing with injections depending on the cause of the condition and the response of the patient to the above treatment.

Who would require ovulation induction?

Ovulation induction is one of the options offered to women if:

PCOS which is making your menstrual cycle irregular.
Other medical issues like obesity, overweight and hormonal dysfunction.
Irregular periods due to any reasons
Unexplained subfertility

These problems affect women from conceiving. Ovulation Stimulation is a good option for women with these problems as this increases the chances of being pregnant.

How can ovulation induction benefit you?

The process stimulates the development and release of eggs from the ovary in a natural way either through fertility pills or injections. The medications that are used for stimulation of eggs, increase the quality and quantity of eggs. Thereby the chances of conceiving become much higher.

And finally, the procedure is also used in the IVF cycle since stimulation of eggs helps to mature multiple eggs in just one cycle.

Best Maternity Hospital In Electronic City

Any pregnant woman would like to be treated well, especially while she is in labour. With this in mind, most hospitals today have customized packages which are sketched out, keeping the basic needs of the newborn and the new mommy as their primary motto.

Sarjapur has a whole lot of hospitals which are well known for their infrastructure and experience. So if you are also planning to deliver your little one in the best maternity hospital in electronic city, here’s where you must head!

We all know that during pregnancy, the women is neither ill nor injured, but she needs more care which is provided by maternity hospitals. The best maternity hospital in Electronic City like Motherhood Hospitals taking care of women during pregnancy and childbirth. The couples who can’t take care of baby and mom, always look for the best hospitals. It is said by many specialist from the best maternity hospital in Sarjapur that women should go for regular check-up from the initial stage of pregnancy. By regular check-up, doctors of maternity health care centres can understand her condition and treated her according to it. These Maternity hospitals in electronic city have the best obstetricians and paediatrician for treatment. Motherhood is a one stop maternity care center for a safe pregnancy and delivery. While providing premier comprehensive services so that even women journey right from conception to delivery is pleasant, enjoyable and memorable. The friendly atmosphere, the warmth and the protection provided at the hospital gives the mother-to-be a comfortable and stress-free delivery experience. Even the team always ensures that you receive the best care and proper guidance on after birth care and parenting. Daily visits from paediatricians to check on your little one’s health, advice on breastfeeding, nutritious diet and care at home etc. are a few extra special cares you receive.