Archive | July 2012

Blood Tests Highlight Potential Problems in Pregnancy

Blood tests are part of antenatal care and they need to be administered in order to monitor the health of baby and mother. The blood tests will check the Rh status, your blood type and the antibody screening. Blood type is checked in order to know the potential risk of bloods mix up.

One of the tests that are conducted primarily is of CBC which means complete blood count. This test helps in knowing the level of hemoglobin and platelet count. This helps in measuring the risk of anemia. It must be identified so that the condition of anemia can be improved by eating diet rich in iron or by taking supplements. Why the count of platelet is important to know? The reason is that women lose half a liter of her blood at the time of delivery. The count of platelet helps in knowing the ability of the blood to clot. Urine screening is also part of routine blood tests during pregnancy and is performed in order to know about the urinary tract infections which are more commonly known as UTIs. Sometimes, urine tests also help in noticing other abnormalities like excess of sugar and protein. Why they are important? This is because UTIs may lead to kidney infections.

Spotting during pregnancy is often noticed by many of the pregnant women and especially in their early trimesters. It is normal in the first trimester and is usually light and goes away at the start of the second trimester. Spotting during pregnancy first trimester could be dangerous if it is not light or normal but heavy and active. This may lead to miscarriage. Ectopic pregnancies are one of the causes of bleeding during pregnancy. In such pregnancies, baby starts growing outside of uterus and most likely in the fallopian tubes. If blood tests are done regularly then the complication indicated by spotting like, miscarriage can be prevented.

Pregnancy diet is the key factor in handling all of the pregnancy risks or complications. Why this is so? The reason is that pregnancy diet is counted as a cause of many complications in most of the cases. Along with routine blood tests, diet during pregnancy must also be improved so that health pregnancy can be ensured. When a woman conceives, she certainly needs more proteins, calories, folic acid and many more nutrients and minerals. Transition to nutritious meals is a healthy step and you can seek the advice of your midwife regarding diet plan of pregnancy.

Hence, blood tests during pregnancy help in averting many of the health risks which are often associated with pregnancy. They highlight potential problems of pregnancy on time so that timely measures can be adopted.

Role of Prenatal Supplement in Pregnancy Diet

Prenatal supplement includes all of the essential vitamins and minerals that are required to be taken during pregnancy. Ideally, expecting mother is required to fulfill all her nutritional needs but it could not be possible by just relying on eating healthy foods but you need to take supplements.

In the pregnancy diet, make sure that the vitamins you are taking in contain folic acid as well. For about 600micrograms of is required during pregnancy. If it is being ignored than neural tube defects would be the ultimate outcome. Another vital nutrient that medical researchers suggest for having in diet during pregnancy is choline. The required dosage must be 450 mg in daily consumption. Most of the prenatal vitamins do not contain choline so make sure it is being present inside. In the later stages of pregnancy, your requirement of iron and calcium may arise. They must be continued throughout pregnancy. If you are suffering from any of the medical condition like diabetes, anemia, high blood pressure then do consult your midwife regarding.  Dietitian who is registered can help you out in making the right diet plan that suits to your body requirements.

Low birth weight babies could be the possible outcome if compromise is being made on the pregnancy diet. What are the other causes of low birth weight baby? Premature birth which means baby growth is incomplete at the time of delivery. Multiple pregnancies or mother expecting twins or triplets is another cause. The reason is that they often born earlier as they do not find much space in uterus to grow further. Low birth weight babies could be inherited as well like some illness and disabilities. What to do in order to improve the health of the baby? Keep baby’s growth and developmental checks. Breast feeding is one of the best ways in order to keep baby away from any of the chronic diseases. Nutritious diet can also help baby to grow properly.

A part from diet and low birth weight baby, nausea during pregnancy is common. It is not harmful and will go off as the second trimester of the pregnancy starts. Is nausea dangerous? No it is not as it is a good sign that the hormonal level is high and supporting the growth of the baby. How to stop nausea during pregnancy? Ginger tea is effective against morning sickness. Try to have drinks of peppermint as it helps in reducing nausea feel. Herbal remedies could also work for you like having lemon tea, and chamomile tea.

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