An Art of Parenting

Posts Tagged ‘women’

Nausea really brings discomfort to those who are pregnant. When a pregnant woman did not eat any food, she will experience nausea. In early mornings, most of the pregnant women will face nausea because her stomach will be empty for the whole night. Hence, it is necessary for women to eat food at all times in order to avoid nausea. It is not necessary that food should be eaten; the pregnant woman can also drink a glass of juice. Fruits are really good for health and for avoiding nausea.

In the afternoon, vegetable soup or tea is perfect for the lunch and it can be consumed in order to prevent nausea from occurring. It is the responsible to take note that which type of food suits their body and health. If a woman does not like some foods, she can prevent it because it may result in vomiting. For the first three months, mostly all the women who are pregnant will undergo nausea but they should have the tendency to bear it. Vaginal discharge will also be undergone by the women and its color will be yellowish. It is normal in pregnancy but women should not get irritated because of it. Consulting a doctor regularly is good for the health condition of the mother and her baby in her womb.

Dark green stool, basically, called as meconium is undergone by the baby which happens regularly for couple of days from the day of birth. It will have a sweetish smell and the milk which is consumed by the baby is the reason for the stool. Many people call it as diarrhea but it is very common in the life of the new born. Gaining in weight of the baby depends upon the feeding of the mother and the stool is not the reason for the illness or wellness of the baby. Even if the third or fourth day, the baby passes stool, the mother should not get worried instead she can consult a doctor and find out the reason for it.

The mother should keep in mind that the stool will not bring discomfort to the baby at the time of passing the stool. Mothers need not wash the napkins of their children. It may take three or four months to lessen the stool so that the baby passes stool once a day. Depending upon the breast feed and bottle feed, the stool may differ in smell and color. If a mother feeds her child using bottle, the stool will be harder and it will be whitish in color. Stool may also separately curdle with the water and it indicates that the baby have been fed by bottle milk. Hence, breast milk is always good for the health of the baby!

The uterus increases to about 40 times its original size over the period of pregnancy. This is because it has to accommodate a child weighing approximately 6-7 pounds. The lower abdominal muscles and the overlying skin are also stretched. Ordinarily, the uterus goes back to the original size, about 2-3 months after delivery. In order that the muscles of the stomach return to the pre-conception state, exercise is essential.

The exercise recommended is very simple. Lie flat on the back. Breathe deeply. Repeat this 15 times. Remain flat on your back. Raise each leg in turn without bending at the knee joint. This exercise should be done within 10 times. Do not be lethargic and inactive. Movement within the house is better than lying down all the time. Exercises restore the stretched muscles to their original condition. The abdomen contracts in size.

Extra fat accumulates due to the intake of oil-rich food. Much doting on the new mother by relatives and friends specially in the form of heavy food and fancy, calorific preparations is responsible for extra weight. Sweets with plenty of ghee, pannier, butter and “special” treats for the post-natal period should not be consumed in large quantities.

A lazy, passive lift style provides no opportunity for the calories to burn or the fat to work itself off. On the contrary, the heavier the body, the greater the laziness. Breast feeding is one way to reduce weight.

Strengthening the abdominal muscles will help to restore goof posture and the exercise of lightening the pelvic floor will restore the good bladder control. With the doctor’s permission, these exercises may be started on the second or third day after delivery, and should be continued daily for six weeks.

First Day:

• Lie flat on the back, with feet together and legs straight and arms at the sides. Breathe deeply with abdomen five times.
• In the same position curl the toes down and then stretch them up. Repeat four times. Bend the ankles up and down. Repeat it four times.

Second Day:

• Repeat exercises as above. In addition sleep on the abdomen as much as possible. A small pillow under the breasts may make this more comfortable.
• While lying flat on the back with arms and legs straight, raise head only and attempt to put chin on chest. Repeat five times.

Third & Forth Day:

• Add this exercise to those given above. Lying on the back or stomach with legs crossed at the ankles, tighten the buttocks and press the thighs together. At the same time pull in the abdominal muscles.

Fifth Day:

• Lie flat on the back with arms crossed or the chest and both feet braced against a wall. Raise head and shoulders slowly to a half-sitting position, then lower again to the floor. Repeat five times. As strength improves, raises to a full sitting position, and lower, five times.

As a general rule every woman passes blood from her vagina after a gap of 28 days and the bleeding lasts for about 4 days. Regular onset of menses and cessation are indicators to fine health of a woman. In some cases menses may start even a bit earlier or lather than a gap of 28 days and may last for less or more than 4 days, but, once the cycle gets established there should be no disturbance as to the start and duration of monthly periods. Any deviation, except the marginal one, points to ill-health or some diseases which should be quickly investigated, if menses are irregular, there are more than one bleedings or excessive or scanty bleedings, much pain, weakness, malaise, rundown condition, anemia etc. Back pain and pain in public region are almost common symptoms to all the ladies.

It should be borne in mind that all intercourses do not and cannot result in conception. Ideal time for conception is believed to be within 3-4 days of end of menses and the eggs, after fertilization, remain active and eager to meet the sperms. Life of eggs is said to be 3-4 days at the most or 24 hours on the lower side. There are countless eggs which fertilize and travel, via fallopian tubes to the uterus, but only one of such eggs is able to establish contact with the male sperm and rest of which get destroyed. If however, the sperm fails to meet the ovum, no conception can take place. In short, conception is most likely to take place within 3-4 days of end of the monthly menstrual period. If husband and wife conjugate during this period, there are brighter chances for the woman to conceive.

Pregnant women will be restless and have sleep problems so how can they overcome it? Here are some practical tips to get rid of such problems.

Exercise: A woman’s mental and physical health should be in good condition, so she should sleep well and make sure that her body will have the tendency to unwind even after doing exercise. In fact, studies have proved that doing exercise before going to bed may also affect the deep sleep. It will be fine is exercise is done before four hours from sleeping time.

Eat Healthy: Constipation, vomiting and heartburn will affect the health of the pregnant women. Maintaining a nutritious diet is the most possible way to avoid such problems. Heavy meals should be avoided for dinner because it will result in indigestion. Before sleeping, you can drink warm milk because it will increase deep sleep. It has been believed that amino acid I-Tryptophan raises brain’s chemical level which is known as serotonin. In order to have a peaceful and deep sleep, pregnant women can avoid consuming tea and coffee which contains caffeinated substances.

Take Naps: Symptoms of fatigue can be avoided by means of nap and it can also sharpen their memory. Try your level best to sleep in the morning as it may affect your night sleep.

Left Side Sleep: Pregnant women should sleep by turning towards their left side as it is the correct position which can improves blood to flow to the foetus and kidneys. Hence, all the waste can be eliminated because of this position and they can sleep peacefully.

Pregnant ladies who are easy going, sloth and inactive, have rigid joints with painful swelling, digestion related problems, swelling offset, pendulous abdomen, extra weight, suffer from acidity, belching, eructations flatulence, colic, constipation, head-ache, general malaise etc. are advised not to lead a sedentary life nor overwork their bodies. Rest is needed to calm down your tired limbs & agitated nerves but rest does not mean you should remain inactive and abstain from your normal domestic chores (routine work). A woman who leads a sedentary and inactive life is most likely to give birth to a mentally and physically inactive/retarded children who mental faculties and physical movements would be found wanting.

After lunch you should rest for a while but never sleep-if you wish, you can have a short nap. Never asleep or lie down immediately after taking your meals. After dinner, you can have a stroll (but no fast walking). Even normal movement and mobility in the house, while doing normal domestic jobs, will suffice to ensure your and your baby’s proper development but you must take proper and requisite diet in proportion to the calories expended during activity – whether it is light, moderate or medium or heavy. In any case, you must avoid rigorous activity and avoid (rather rule out) all situations where you feel to get tired, exhausted and weak.

Reasonable activity, requisite diet and rest are the three parameters of a regulated and healthy life and you have a strike a proper balance with and amongst all the three facets.

Neonatal infection is one do the dreaded conditions of the neonatal period. Early diagnosis can often be made if the physician is aware of the possibility. Localizing signs are frequently absent. Low birth weight babies are especially prone to develop infection. The first indications are sudden reluctance of feed, vomiting, drowsiness or irritability, loss of weight or static weight. Later on baby develops a grayish pallor and looks anxious. He may develop diarrhea, abdominal distension, oedema, purpura, jaundice and convulsion. Fever may or may not be present.

A preterm infant may develop hypothermia and scleraema. As soon as there is suspicion of infection, the neonate should be sent to a hospital for management. Important investigations can be done are the white cell count, urine examination, for white cells, urine culture and sensitivity, blood culture, lumber puncture and X-ray of the chest. The baby should be treated with appropriate antibiotics. Neonatal infections are commonly cause by gram negative cilli and staphylococcal organisms. Ampicillin and gentamycin combination should cover the majority of cases.

In suspected staphylocaoccal infection, cloxacillin and gentamycin combination should be parenterally. The baby would require supportive treatment such as intravenous fluid, gestria suction and general measures to control hypothermia. To sum up, the cause of vomiting might be trivial in most neonates while other conditions might prove fatal. A general practitioner should be aware of these problems to handle each case according to its merits. An ill neonate with vomiting is a pediatric emergency.

This method is resorted to when all other efforts to affect a normal delivery get exhausted. Moreover, it is necessary to facilitate delivery, save the child from suffocation and the mother from labor pain and other complications.

Pregnancy Process & Progress: Suspension of monthly period is an initial sign of conception when a lady does not menstruate. The situation should be watched for some days; and if no bleeding occurs, it is sure sign of conception. It may be pointed out the glandular secretions play a major role in fertilization of eggs, regulation of menstrual periods, and quantity of blood passed and general health of the lady. Pregnancy period is a trying period for the lady who has conceived. During pregnancy response does not remain intense and frequent-rather she starts to take care of the child. Her attention is focused on her offspring and not her husband.

Development of foetus in the uterus is a gradual development process which occurs in a phased manner as is explained below. During the first 8 weeks of pregnancy a child is called Embryo, after which it is called a child.

Due to malnutrition and neglect of the mother, the child may be born earlier or even later but if the child-birth does not take place even upto 41^st week, doctor’s advice and help must be availed of. Normally a new born child’s average body length should be 50 cms and weight 3.2 kgs but either of the parameters, there is a cause for concern and medical help must be sought. Ladies, whose children weight more than pounds and who are diabetic also, their children may be exposed to danger of diabetes due to genetic risk factor involved.

Nursing or lactation is the period after childbirth, being a time of bonding between mother and baby, nursing serves certain biological and physiological needs of both of them. While the mother’s eating pattern need not necessarily changer, her nutritional requirements will increase – both in quantity and in some cases, in frequency.

A nursing mother needs good nutrition: The diet during the nursing stage is very important both for the mother and the infant. Good nutrition improves the quality and quantity of breast milk and should ensure that the nursing mother has her full nutritional intake, to avoid depleting natural body stores leading to deficiencies like osteoporosis, which can occur due to an insufficient intake of calcium. Certain aspects of the mother’s diet have a direct impact on the infant. For example, iodine intake in the mother’s diet ensures proper mental development in the infant and vitamin A is required to improve the infant’s immunity system, thereby protecting the baby against infections.

Guard against An Inadequate Diet: The inadequate diet of a nursing mother can cause a deterioration in her health and could also lead to malnourishment in the infant. The quantity of the breast milk produced will be reduced and will have fewer nutrients. The amount of protective nutrients such as anti-microbial proteins in the breast milk will also be reduced, thereby exposing the infant to infections. Due to insufficient intake of calories and nutrients, the baby’s growth and development will be affected.