Top 7 Pregnancy Questions To Ask Your Doctor.

Pregnancy is a novel phenomenon for women which brings about many questions. There are many things about pregnancy that may be picking your mind as:

  1. What is the best diet for pregnancy?
    Food is the main source of nutrients for the body and fetus. So, one must know what to eat and avoid during pregnancy. During pregnancy, it is better to consume different types of food which include a variety of lean meats, grains, fruits, vegetables, and unsaturated fats.
  2. What are the foods that should be avoided?
    Some foods can affect your or baby’s health and should be avoided, such as:
    • Seafood high in mercury
    • Raw, undercooked or contaminated food
    • Undercooked meat, poultry and eggs
    • Unpasteurized foods
    • Unwashed fruits and vegetables
  3. What is the normal weight for pregnancy?
    Your health care professional will reflect on Body Mass Index (BMI) for weighing aspect. You will be suggested to maintain weight in healthy ways.
  4. What are prenatal vitamins?
    For the better growth and development of a baby, prenatal vitamins are important as they contain nutritious elements like vitamins and minerals. Your healthcare provider will suggest you consume any prenatal vitamin.
  5. Should a pregnant woman exercise?
    Exercise is a way to a healthy lifestyle, but a pregnant woman should avoid activities that are risky and excessive.
  6. Can a person travel during pregnancy?
    It is safe to drive or travel during pregnancy where even air travel is allowed up to 37 weeks gestation. However, a woman can talk to her doctor about following some safety measures as well during travelling.
  7. What are the safe medications during pregnancy?
    To ease some symptoms of pregnancy, you can have some non-prescription medication where the healthcare professional will recommend you safe over-the-counter meds as well.

How Not To Stress Your Fetus.

Pregnancy is accompanied by a lot of emotions, stress and anxiety as it is a way of enduring the continuity of species. Stress and pressure are common during pregnancy, but excess of everything is not beneficial. The persistent stress and pressure during pregnancy can be harmful to the baby as well as to the mother. The buildup of stress can stimulate the levels of hormones including stress hormones that fuel up the muscles and make up your heart beat faster.
Therefore, it becomes important to manage and reduce stress during pregnancy. Here are some ways that are useful in reducing the stress that one may be feeling:
• Try to stay fit and healthy by eating healthy foods. It’s important to manage your sleep where you prioritize the rest that is required for your body.
• You need to know that this situation is temporary by being mindful of the present. Mindfulness can help you to live in the present moment and avoid the problems that may be building up.
• Exercise and yoga go hand in hand and can be extremely helpful. Relaxation activities such as yoga and meditation can be helpful in managing stress along with preparing for labour.
• Talk about this to your partner or friend. Try to build a supportive network around you that can help you to come out of this period, and where you can easily share your worries and feelings to get relief.
• You can take some childbirth education classes where you will come across the knowledge of pregnancy and its related procedures. You will also learn some techniques to cope with the pressure.
• If by any means you are suffering from depression, you should consult a professional. Getting early treatment and counselling can map this problem and ensure your well-being as well.

Signs And Symptoms Of An Ectopic Pregnancy.

The truth about fertility and pregnancy after 35.
Age is perceived as a major element that can determine the chances of getting pregnant because of the ability to conceive. As put before, the conceiving ability of women decreases steadily after 30 when pregnancy is thought to be gruelling. Nonetheless, the chances of getting pregnant are still valid as fertility is gradually tending to a lower bar, not diminishing suddenly go.
The rising graph of age concurs with many changes that occur in women. The major problem for women in their 30s is related to the difficulty of getting pregnant. As a matter of fact, the number of eggs in women starts to decrease after the 30s which affects the chances of getting pregnant due to the lower odds of conception. In that case, there are complications like premature birth, birth defects, high blood pressure etc. that may arise in older women as compared to women in their 20s. It’s better to opt for some prenatal screening tests in order to look and check out for any risks pertaining to birth defects.
Older women can try to conceive in a natural way and wait for some time. By the time, there is no success in doing so, a woman can consult a doctor and look for other possibilities, like taking reproductive medicines. Doctors can recommend drugs/medicines that may enhance and stimulate the production of eggs in women. And for another case, IVF (In Vitro fertilization) or egg donors may be suggested when the former method doesn’t work.
Besides, a woman can adapt to some healthy lifestyle changes to increase the chances of getting pregnant at a certain age, like taking a healthy diet and quitting smoking. Moreover, trying to conceive during the ovulation period can also maximize the chances of conceiving.

Pregnancy & Addiction: Birth Defect Caused By Drugs.

The period of pregnancy is crucial in one’s life where there is a need to adapt and avoid. It is very important to be cognizant of the things that can prove fatal for the mother or fetus both. In the same context, some drugs, alcohol or medications can cause some significant problems if taken during pregnancy. These have been attributed with causing birth defects as well where they are known as “teratogens”. Teratogen has the ability to alter the normal growth and development of the fetus.
The risk factor adhered to such drugs is inclusive of many factors, such as the type of the drug, size of the dose, periodicity of consumption, etc. The generic drugs that are linked to birth defects are:
• Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs): The drug has the potential to cope with mental health disorders. However, recently it has been evaluated to be a risky factor in causing newborn hypertension, heart defects and other birth defects if taken during pregnancy.
• Accutane: As the name suggests, Accutane is helpful in treating acne problems. It is also enlisted in the list of drugs that cause significant problems as it has been examined as causing birth defects and stillbirth during pregnancy intake.
• Benzodiazepines: These have the potential to trigger calmness as they are psychoactive drugs. However, their intake during pregnancy can cause developmental birth defects like lacking muscle control and respiratory defects.
• Antibiotics: While antibiotics are regarded as a safe option during pregnancy, some groups have been established to generate developmental birth defects like heart defects and skull malformation.
• Non-Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: They are useful in coping with pain and fever, but also concur with the risk of the neural tube and related birth defects.
Therefore, it is always necessary to consult the doctor before opting for medication.

Fetal Developmental Stages And Baby Growth.

After the fertilization of sperm and ova, the egg develops that rapidly divides into many cells which reach the fallopian tube and remain there for three days. Then the fertilized egg is passed to the uterus and persists in dividing slowly, where it attaches to the endometrium for implantation. The further growth and development of the fetus occur in the uterus where the period is divided into three stages as:
• First Trimester: After the baby is conceived, this period begins and spans 12 weeks. It constitutes the first 3 months of pregnancy where the fertilized egg is divided into cells that will change into a fetus. The fetus begins to develop baby-like features where after three months all the organs and limbs are present. Generally, it is about 4 inches long.
• Second Trimester: This is the second stage of pregnancy which has to be the best experience and remains up to 7 months or 28 weeks. The discomfort and symptoms of early pregnancy are no longer here. Facial features along with some movement are seen in the developing fetus, where it also responds to stimuli as well. The fetus is generally 14 inches long at the end of the seventh month and weighs between 2-4 pounds.
• Third Trimester: This is the last stage of pregnancy which remains up to 40 weeks or 9-10 months (in some cases). During this stage, the fetus starts to gain weight along with body fat. Lungs are almost fully developed along with the brain, internal organs and other reflexes that begin to coordinate like the closing eyes, turning the head etc. The fetus is generally 17-19 inches long and weighs 5-6 ½ pounds. Finally, at the time of labour fetus is developed with all the organs and is prepared for birth.

Birth Defects & Exposure To Prescription Drugs In The Womb.

When there is any visible, chemical or internal abnormality in the newborn, it is referred to as a birth defect. This defect may be a result of genetic factors, radiation or exposure to some drugs. It is important to know how some drugs can pertain to birth defects if taken without acknowledgement. It is due to the fact that some substances can affect the development of a fetus along with influencing the health of the mother as pregnancy is the crucial stage in one’s life.
Prescription medicine is used to treat a health condition when recommended by a health provider. A certain exposure to some drugs proffers high chances of disabilities in the fetus, particularly congenital disabilities, which are known as teratogenic drugs. These disabilities can concur to infant mortality along with leading to premature birth, low birth weight, miscarriage etc.
The baby inside the womb goes through two important developmental stages; an embryo stage during the first 10 weeks where the systems and organs are formed, and the fetal stage where the growth of the organs and fetus happens. During the fetal stage, the developing baby is more at risk of injury or any abnormality where infections and drugs are some significant causes that can damage it. There are certain factors that are underlined for potentially harming the development of the fetus, like the type of drug, size of the dose, how frequently it is used, the stage of pregnancy, individual response etc.
Some drugs are most severe during the first three months of pregnancy, like Thalidomide which was used to treat nausea can cause birth defects known as phocomelia, and Isotretinoin (used to treat skin conditions) can cause malformations and abnormalities in the skull, CNS and heart.

Essential Steps To A Safe, Healthy Pregnancy.

Pregnant? Its more than important to take care of yourself where you have to make sure you and your baby are as healthy as possible.
Quick Fact:
Babies start to cry in the womb silently as early as 28 weeks.
Steps for healthy pregnancy
Here are some essential steps that you should undertake in order to have a safe and healthy pregnancy:
• Educate yourself: There may be some questions revolving in your mind regarding childbirth along with specific concerns. You can voice your thinking by joining a childbirth class where you can learn about the pregnancy and infant care along with preparing for delivery. Besides, you can get to a healthy start by consulting a health care provider for prenatal care.
• Eat well: While you are feeding two in your pregnancy, you need to increase your calorie intake by 300 mg a day. You need to consume a diet inclusive of calories, proteins, calcium etc. Moreover, along with having a nutritious diet you equally should stay away from food items that can pose danger to you and your baby, like undercooked meat or eggs, raw seafood, fish with mercury, etc.
• Avoid toxins: Tobacco, alcohol, drugs etc. have been related with birth defects, preterm labor and other problems during pregnancy where they should be avoided to ensure your journey is safe.
• Stay hydrated and drink well: You should drink ample amounts of water to stay hydrated along with keeping a healthy bowel movement. While water is the best liquid to drink, other liquids as caffeine should be limited for it lacks nutritional value.
• Sleep and move well: While pregnancy can relate with some exhaustion, there is a need to take naps and rest enough. You can improve your sleeping with some relaxation techniques before going to bed like yoga, stretching etc. Additionally, rest is good along with exercising quotient that will help you to stay strong while keeping your heart and lungs healthy. Regular stretching and exercising can relieve you from pregnancy discomforts like backaches, constipation, morning sickness etc.

High-Risk Pregnancy: What Expecting Mothers Need to Know

high risk pregnancy hospital near me

Author – Dr. Suhasini Inamdar MBBS, MS (OBG)

Consultant – Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Motherhood Hospital Indiranagar, Bangalore

Pregnancy is a wonderful and exciting time for expecting mothers, but for some, it can also be a high-risk experience. High risk pregnancy refers to a pregnancy that carries an increased risk of complications due to various factors such as pre-existing medical conditions, advanced maternal age, and multiple pregnancies. It’s important for expecting mothers to understand the risks associated with high-risk pregnancy and how to manage them.

Early detection of high-risk pregnancy is crucial for the best possible outcomes for mother and baby. Expecting mothers should discuss their pregnancy with their doctor as soon as possible and be aware of the signs and symptoms of high-risk pregnancy. Some of the signs and symptoms of high-risk pregnancy include high blood pressure, protein in the urine, excessive weight gain, and vaginal bleeding. Expecting mothers should also be aware of the potential risks associated with their pregnancy and discuss them with their doctor.

Types of High-Risk Pregnancy

There are several types of high risk pregnancy, each with its own set of potential complications. Some of the most common types include:

Multiple pregnancies: Expecting mothers carrying twins, triplets or more are at an increased risk of complications such as preterm labor, gestational diabetes, and hypertension.

Advanced maternal age: Women over 35 are at an increased risk of complications such as chromosomal abnormalities and pre-eclampsia.

Placental abruption: A serious condition where the placenta separates from the uterus before delivery, which can lead to heavy bleeding and can be life-threatening for both the mother and the baby.

  • Recurrent pregnancy loss.
  • Blood clotting issues .
  • Rh negative pregnant mother
  • Pre-existing medical conditions: Medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease can increase the risk of complications during pregnancy.

Regular prenatal care is essential for expecting mothers with high-risk pregnancies.

It allows doctors to monitor the health of the mother and the baby, and to detect and manage any potential complications.

Expecting mothers with high-risk pregnancies should schedule frequent prenatal visits, and undergo regular screenings and tests such as ultrasound, amniocentesis, and chorionic villus sampling (CVS), Doppler studies regular and special blood tests if necessary.

These tests can help doctors detect potential complications early and take appropriate action to manage them.

It’s important for expecting mothers to work closely with their doctor to manage their high risk pregnancy.

Motherhood India is a leading women and children’s hospital in India that specializes in high-risk pregnancies. The hospital has a dedicated team of experienced obstetricians, gynaecologists, foetal medicine experts and neonatologists who provide comprehensive care for expecting mothers with high-risk pregnancies. The hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and technology, including advanced ultrasound and fetal monitoring equipment, LDR , OT, MICU, LEVEL 3 NICU to ensure the best possible outcomes for mother and baby.

Emotional and Psychological Impact of High-Risk Pregnancy

Emotional and Psychological Impact of High-Risk Pregnancy

High-risk pregnancies can be emotionally and psychologically challenging for expecting mothers and their families. They may experience anxiety, depression, and stress, and it’s important for them to have a strong support system and access to counselling. discuss their feelings with their doctor.

High risk pregnancy can be a challenging experience, but with proper care and management, expecting mothers can have a healthy pregnancy and delivery. It’s important for expecting mothers to discuss their pregnancy with gynaecologists and to be informed about the possible risks and complications. With the right support and resources, expecting mothers can navigate a high-risk pregnancy with confidence.

At Motherhood Hospitals, we have a team of experienced super specialists backed by the latest in infrastructure and facilities. We have the best Gynaecologist specialists in Indiranagar, Bangalore. We are experts in handling complex deliveries, gynaecological, and other surgeries including a range of laparoscopic surgeries. Do take an appointment with the best Gynaecology hospital in Indiranagar, Bangalore at a centre closest to you. Meet with our doctors who will carry out the required investigations, diagnose the issue and recommend the most appropriate treatment, enabling you to lead an active life.

If you wish to get in touch with Dr. Suhasini Inamdar, please book your appointment here.

Five ways to prepare your body for a smooth delivery

Healthy diet during pregnancy

Author – Dr. Sonal Singhal MBBS, MD

Consultant – Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Motherhood Hospital, Gurgaon

A normal delivery accounts for a speedy recovery. It has been found that as the baby passes through the birth canal, it gets beneficial bacteria. However, one has to undergo robust preparation to attain a smooth delivery. Here are a few insights on the ways to prepare the body for smooth delivery.

How to prepare for normal delivery: Five tips to prepare for normal birth

Having a balanced diet

Your diet has a lot to do with childbirth. Gaining too much weight during gestation doesn’t allow normal delivery. It poses problems during labour. A balanced diet consists of a meal that comprises half a portion of fruits and vegetables, one-fourth portion of lean protein, and one-fourth portion of whole grains.

Walking

It has been found that a scheduled 30-40 minutes walk is necessary for smooth delivery. For mothers who have never exercised before, it is recommended that they begin with fifteen minutes of light walking and build it up gradually.

Prenatal yoga

Breathing exercises and squats could work wonders for labor. It has been found that prenatal stretches help in alleviating common pains associated with pregnancy like back pain, leg cramps, etc.

Kegels and perineal massage

Normal birth is the result of strong pelvic floor muscles. Kegel exercise and perineal massage work wonders for the same. The third trimester is the time when one must begin with Kegels. Perineal massage on the other hand prevents the tearing of vaginal tissues.

Drink Plenty of Water

It has been found that consuming an adequate amount of water helps to prevent urinary tract infections, dehydration, and edema and works wonders for smooth delivery.

Tips to prepare yourself throughout your pregnancy:

Benefits of Prenatal Yoga

Experts recommend that one must not wait for the baby bump to appear in order to prepare for normal delivery. Instead, the preparation must begin from the very first day itself. One must begin with mild exercises, in the beginning, to make it a habit for the later stages. Likewise, a proper diet chart must be followed from the beginning along with other supplements that are recommended by the specialist. Another aspect of preparing throughout pregnancy includes visiting the doctor regularly.

How to minimize the possibilities of complications during pregnancy?

The root cause of complications lies in an unhealthy uterus. The uterus is a muscle that must be well nourished to avoid complications. All the strength and stamina that is required to push the baby out is stored in the uterus. All the diet and exercise that one undergoes during pregnancy is a part of uterus nourishment and strengthening that is done to avoid complications. Increasing blood supply and nutrition, regular exercises, and expert guidance could therefore help with complications.

A healthy pregnancy diet:

As mentioned earlier, a healthy pregnancy diet includes a half portion of fruits and vegetables, one-fourth portion of lean protein food and one-fourth portion of whole grains. One must go for a nutrient-dense food menu. While proteins and carbohydrates form the majority of calorie intake, one must include diet supplements that account for calcium, iron, folate, and other nutrients. A total of all these forms a healthy pregnancy diet.
Normal delivery exercises:

Pregnancy exercises that help with a smooth delivery shall be enlisted as:

  • Kegel exercise can be done for pelvic strengthening.
  • Cobblers pose for increasing endurance and power
  • Squats for lower body strengthening
  • Pelvic tilt to strengthen the muscles around the midsection of the body.
  • Wall slide for spine stabilisation
  • Hip raise or bridge pose for buttock strengthening

Normal delivery exercises, especially yoga poses, are more inclined to strengthen the pelvic floor. hypnobirthing

Walking and prenatal yoga: study highlights

Prenatal yoga poses are designed especially to meet the body needs of a pregnant woman. Studies highlight that a pregnant woman’s heart rate and blood pressure lowers after doing prenatal yoga. It has been found that taking walks during active labor helps ease the intensity of labor. It can also help keep your labor progressing by moving the pelvic bones. This helps position the baby appropriately for a shorter and easier overall birth.

Natural childbirth:

Natural childbirth shall be defined as a way of giving birth that lets nature take its course, to be more specific, going through labor and delivery without the aid of medicines and pain relievers. Apart from the above-mentioned tips, natural childbirth can be aided by a few natural pain management methods that include breathing techniques, meditation, music therapy and breathing exercises that can work wonders for natural childbirth.

Conclusion:

While eliminating surgical procedures and replacing the same with natural childbirth has been on the to-do list of several hospitals. These practitioners are easily accessible in the city as they aren’t just confined to the top maternity hospitals in Gurgaon.

Painless normal delivery in Gurgaon is thus quite easy as a result of the presence of these practitioners who combine relaxation, breathing, and visualization methods to ease labor pain. Hypnobirthing has now become a trend amongst the best hospitals for normal delivery in Gurgaon. The best gynecologists in Gurgaon ensure complete safety for all expecting and aspiring mothers.

At Motherhood Hospitals, we have a team of experienced super specialists backed by the latest in infrastructure and facilities. We have the best Gynaecologist in Gurgaon. We are experts in handling complex deliveries, gynaecological, and other surgeries including a range of laparoscopic surgeries.

Do take an appointment with the best Maternity hospital in Gurgaon at a centre closest to you. Meet with our doctors who will carry out the required investigations, diagnose the issue and recommend the most appropriate treatment, enabling you to lead an active life.

If you wish to get in touch with Dr. Sonal Singhal, please book your appointment here.

First trimester pregnancy tips- Do’s and don’ts by experts

first trimester tips

Author – Dr. Surabhi Siddhartha MBBS, DGO

Consultant – Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Motherhood Hospital Kharghar, Mumbai

The whole period of pregnancy can last up to 40 weeks where it is divided into three semesters. The first trimester begins from the fertilization of the egg with sperm and lasts up to week 12 of the pregnancy. This period is accompanied with a lot of changes that occur in a woman’s body where you may begin to worry about the decisions and choices that are best for you and your baby. So, during the first trimester of pregnancy precautions along with right decisions are important.

Quick Fact: During week 6, your baby begins to develop bulging eyes on each side of its head.

Do’s during first trimester

There are some things that are important during the first trimester to help with the growing baby inside your womb, as:

  • Grab in some folate: It is recommended that about 600 micrograms of folic acid should be consumed during the first trimester of pregnancy, as it is utterly important to prevent any birth defects. If you are likely to become pregnant, start taking folic acid supplements to boost your pregnancy in a healthy way.
  • Say yes to prenatal vitamins: You must increase the week by week nutrition during pregnancy as you have to feed in two lives. Along with folate, calcium, iron, and zinc should be consumed i.e. try to eat healthy during pregnancy, that will make your body strong along with helping in the development of the baby.
  • Set up your appointment: You should consult your doctor once you become pregnant so as to clear some confusions or questions that may be in your mind regarding it. Besides, you can discuss with your healthcare provider about medications and supplements that are safe during this period.
  • Stay active: It’s always recommended to stay active during pregnancy. Doing some exercises can really benefit a woman during the first trimester as it can decrease the stress levels, balance the emotions, lower the risk of diabetes, and allow better sleep.
  • Drink more: It is very important to stay hydrated during the course of pregnancy. Hydration will prevent many 1st trimester pregnancy symptoms like dizziness, constipation, headaches, and also preterm labor.
  • Get plenty of sleep: First trimester of pregnancy symptoms include exhaustion as major changes are occurring inside your body. It is therefore important to get quality sleep of 8-9 hours.
  • Take a flu shot: Many experts recommend that pregnant women should take flu shots as infections can be harmful for the growing baby. Taking a flu shot can ensure that you protect your baby and yourself.
doctor advice for first trimester pregnancy

Don’ts during first trimester

There are some 1st trimester pregnancy precautions that you need to follow, as:

  • Don’t drink alcohol: First trimester of pregnancy is very important as the baby starts to grow where its brain also begins to develop. Drinking alcohol can correspond to the damage of the brain resulting in poor memory, abnormality in some features, poor coordination etc. where experts recommend staying away from alcohol.
  • Don’t smoke: Like alcohol, smoking can also be harmful for your baby as it increases the chances of miscarriage along with resulting in birth defects and low birth weight. Therefore, it is advised to quit smoking during pregnancy along with avoiding other drugs that can be dangerous.
  • Don’t eat some foods: Foods such as unpasteurized dairy, processed meats, seafood, raw eggs, undercooked meat, etc. should be avoided during the first trimester of pregnancy.
  • Don’t drink too much caffeine: Drinking too much caffeine can also affect a baby’s heart rate and placenta during the first trimester. Hence, one should limit caffeine intake during this period.
  • Don’t clean the litter box: Cleaning the litter box of cats can cause infection in pregnant women where it is better to avoid cleaning such things.

At Motherhood Hospitals, we have a team of experienced super specialists backed by the latest in infrastructure and facilities. We have the best Gynaecologist in Kharghar, Mumbai. We are experts in handling complex deliveries, gynaecological, and other surgeries including a range of laparoscopic surgeries.

Do take an appointment with the best Gynaecology hospital in Kharghar, Mumbai at a centre closest to you. Meet with our doctors who will carry out the required investigations, diagnose the issue and recommend the most appropriate treatment, enabling you to lead an active life.

If you wish to get in touch with Dr. Surabhi Siddhartha, please book your appointment here.