Archive for May, 2009
Delivery, What to Expect
Posted by: | CommentsOnce the first stage of labor is passed, the placental sac has broken, the cervix has dilated and contractions are regular and frequent, the second stage of labor – actual delivery – begins. Of course, there’s no bright line dividing the first from the second. Where one leaves off and the other begins will vary from woman to woman and birth to birth.
There’s a wide variation among women in many aspects of the process. The length of time is different for everyone and from child to child. The amount of pain differs. And the post-birth consequences will vary for each individual person and baby. In 75% of women who carry to term, delivery is within 12 hours. Only 2% will be in labor for more than 24 hours.
During the active delivery phase contractions are frequent, though there are breaks in between. Here that training you spent so many hours to practice kicks in. Proper breathing technique differs between the resting phase and the contraction and pushing phase. Use both.
Drugs are an option but both mothers and physicians try to keep them to a minimum. Anything the mother receives still makes its way into the child. Pain medication crosses the placenta and can slow the baby’s heart rate and make breathing sluggish.
Analgesics are enough for most women, but they can produce side effects such as rapid heartbeat or nausea. A regional block may be appropriate for some women. This can offer pain relief without interfering with the ability to push, but it’s not for everyone. Hot pads, ice packs and a hand to hold can often substitute for the time needed to get through the toughest phases.
Develop a plan with your physician well in advance to cover all the possibilities.
Transition is the interval during which the cervix dilates the final two centimeters (about an inch). It produces the most intense and frequent contractions, but may last only a few minutes. Rarely is it longer than an hour. Here again, breathing techniques and a good partner are great aids to staying focused and minimizing pain.
Deep breaths are best for those resting periods, short and sharp ones for the period of active pushing. Shallow chest breathing is best for the most intense contractions. This helps keep the blood well oxygenated and the mother focused as well as possible on something other than the pain.
When the widest part of the baby’s head has moved into the birth canal, the second stage has begun in earnest. Contractions slow to four or five minutes apart. When the head is even with the lower pelvic bones, it’s said to be at ’0′ station. It will progress through 1, 2, 3, and so on, measured by the baby’s exit.
The excitement rises as the baby becomes clearly visible. Tiring by this time is normal, but adrenaline helps keep most mothers at it during this final stage. Then, success!
Danger Signs in Pregnancy
Posted by: | CommentsPregnancy can be uncomfortable in many ways throughout the nine months period. But some aspects are within normal range, others can signal serious issues. Only your physician can provide you with definitive answers, but knowing some of the common risk signals can help mothers decide whether to seek professional advice. Always err on the side of caution.
About two weeks after the first missed period, about half of pregnant women experience nausea. It can occur once per day or almost all day and persists (for some) throughout the first trimester. That can make it difficult to decide when a stomach condition is a serious problem, such as hypertension. Here again, err on the side of caution. Better to appear weak in the eyes of some than to risk the health of your baby.
Severe pelvic or abdominal pain goes beyond what might accompany gastrointestinal upset. In the early months of pregnancy, it may be a sign of a tubal pregnancy. A ‘tubal’ is a condition in which the fertilized ovum attaches to the fallopian tube rather than further down, in the uterus. Later on, it may signal that the placenta has separated from the uterus.
If you experience this kind of pain, seek attention right away. Only a medical professional can provide the diagnostic experience and tools to get an objective answer. They won’t always know with certainty, but your odds are better with them. Don’t rely on ‘old wives tales’.
Mild fever can occur in pregnancy as it can at any other time. But if the fever rises above 100F (37.8C) it’s time to seek attention. Infection or viral illness can cause premature labor and a high fever can put your baby at risk. Don’t panic, just get yourself on the phone and discuss the situation with your physician.
Severe headache, swollen eyes or face or blurred vision can be an indicator of toxemia. This occurs when toxic substances are present in the blood stream. Apart from the discomfort, they may well be relatively harmless. The condition may be due to eclampsia, the result of hypertension. The only way to tell is to be tested. Other symptoms include flashing lights in front of the eyes and sharp pains under the rib cage.
After about four to five months, movement from the developing fetus should be common, occurring a few times every hour. Mothers are readily aware of these movements. Any substantial reduction in frequency or persistent lack of movement should be discussed with your doctor. Fetal distress is one possibility, but a correct diagnosis can only be supplied by a professional.
Any kind of vaginal discharge or bleeding should be checked right away, especially if it occurs more than two weeks prior to the due date. After that time, fluid leak may be a sign that your ‘water has broken’, but have it checked anyway. Any sign of bleeding suggests the possibility that the sac has separated from the uterus. This should be dealt with immediately.
Don’t worry about being overly cautious where your and your growing baby’s health is concerned. Most issues can be addressed with no long lasting effects if dealt with early.
Common Gastrointestinal Complaints During Pregnancy
Posted by: | CommentsEveryone is familiar with the nausea and other conditions that sometimes accompany pregnancy. How common are they, and is there anything an expectant mom can do to relieve them?
Early pregnancy nausea and vomiting occurs in about half of pregnant women, beginning about two weeks after the first missed period. This lasts usually no longer than the first trimester, but that can feel like a very long time under these circumstances.
Mild nausea is common, but any extreme condition may be a sign of hyperemesis gravidarum. That can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance. Discuss the possibility with your physician so you can be tested, if needed. Late pregnancy nausea can occur as well, from twisted or obstructed bowels.
Eating small, frequent meals is preferable to larger ones three times per day. Certain fruits can help, such as berries, peaches and cantaloupe. Taking needed liquids between, rather than with, meals is helpful. That will produce less stomach expansion. Avoid carbonated drinks.
Heartburn is another common condition. As a result of hormonal and other changes, the odds of experiencing it are higher during pregnancy. Increased levels of progesterone are thought to be a prime culprit, since it causes loosening of the sphincter, driving acid up into the esophagus. It also slows the emptying of stomach contents, which can be a contributing factor.
Changes in nutrition can help alleviate the problem. Avoid high fat foods, chocolate (yes, that’s a tough one to give up) and fried foods. Foods high in raffinose, such as cabbage, broccoli and lettuce should be reduced as they tend to produce gas. Cutting down on caffeine and alcohol and quiting smoking are essential lifestyle changes, at least for the duration.
Common antacids, such as TUMS (also a good source of calcium) are a good idea. Not only is the material helpful, but sucking on them contracts the esophagus, which helps reduce the problem.
Constipation is a common problem, both during and immediately after pregnancy. Medically, constipation is defined as an inability to move the bowels more than three times per week. But most women will regard themselves as constipated if they can’t eliminate at least once per day.
The condition can occur from many causes, including psychological ones. If rectal tearing occurred during delivery as a result of straining, the rectum takes a while to heal. Women, many unconsciously, try to hold stool to avoid the pain of defecation. After a C-section the bowel can be temporarily paralyzed, a condition called an ‘ileus’.
Walking can help relieve symptoms, since it often eases tension and loosens the bowels. Drinking the right kinds and amounts of fluid will also help. Some vitamin and mineral supplements can be beneficial, such as extra, easily digested calcium. Commercial laxatives should be avoided, but there are special types that physicians sometimes prescribe, such as Docusate.
Eat right, engage in a regular, appropriate exercise program and your difficulties can be minimized.
Pregnancy – Choosing a Physician
Posted by: | CommentsMaking the right choice of doctor to deliver your baby is one of the most worrisome things for any newly pregnant woman. But you can reduce that anxiety by dividing your questions into two sets. One list will involve objective factors, the other will cover issues that are not so easy to quantify.
You’ll want to investigate some immediate practical matters, such as whether a physician you are considering is part of your insurance company’s list. You’ll want to find out whether the doctor has a good relationship with the hospital you intend to use and whether that hospital accepts the same insurance coverage. As part of that research, you’ll want to find out whether billing, co-pay and other issues can be handled simply.
You’ll want a doctor that is likely to be available when and as you need him or her. The best physician is of no use to you if they can’t see you on short notice. Most pregnancies go from start to finish without a hitch, but when a doctor is needed, he or she is generally needed right away. If that person isn’t available, they should have a backup you trust in emergency situations.
You should ask any physician you’re considering how long they’ve been in practice, and what their C-section percentage is. Most are between 15-20%. This gives you some idea of their views on risk. You should ask also about their views on the use of anesthesia and other factors surrounding pain control.
Talking to nurses they’ve worked with (those at the hospital, not the ones employed by the doctor) is a good way to get some opinions. Be sure to ask more than one. Even the best physician won’t necessarily be the favorite of every nurse.
You’ll want to ensure that the physician you see regularly is the one who will deliver your baby. Avoiding surprises is near the top of any prospective mother’s list and a doctor who knows your history personally is essential. And, you’ll want to ensure that they will be present during the entire process. Doctors who flit in and out during labor don’t inspire confidence during stressful times.
But there are other, less cut and dried topics that you’ll want to explore, too.
It’s not necessary that the physician be Mister Rogers and a friend to all womankind. But they should treat you with respect and show genuine concern for your welfare. They should be willing to answer questions without being patronizing. You should feel at ease talking to them. That helps build confidence in their medical judgment.
They should be honest with you, without being unfeeling. Given a choice, most mothers would naturally want someone with excellent medical skills. That’s absolutely basic. But those skills can be exercised in many ways. Finding a physician that treats you as a complete person, not just a laboratory experiment to be properly completed, will put you more at ease.
Exploring a little bit about their general philosophy is not a bad idea. They don’t have to share your religion, your political views or your beliefs in general. But knowing they are someone you can ‘work with’ on a nearly year-long effort with such a hugely important outcome will make things go much smoother for all concerned.
How to Induce Labor Naturally Now!
Posted by: | CommentsBoth men and women know how difficult it is to bear a child. Although men have not experienced the act of childbirth themselves, the strong feeling of pain can easily be read while accompanying their wives to the delivery room. For women who have low tolerance for pain, they make use of various drugs and medications in order to help the sore feeling go away.
However, with the economy getting tougher and tougher, these medical inductions are also getting more and more expensive. In order to help those women who cannot afford a medical induction for labor, researchers have introduced the concept on how to induce labor naturally. There are number of effective ways to induce labor naturally. This process includes aromatherapy, belly massages, and even the dreaded exercise routines.
Aromatherapy oils are naturally appealing ingredients to use when encouraging natural childbirth. Paired with a unique approach to belly massage, aromatherapy can help the woman relax her nerve cells and prepare her entire body for the process of labor. Same with meditation, aromatherapy relaxes the tensed muscles in the woman’s body so as to make contractions easier and have the body respond naturally to other important mechanisms of childbirth. Stress can be relieved on the part of the woman, and can be soothed by wonderful flavors of nature such as that of the red raspberry or primrose oil. Primrose oil, in specific, is already a popular ingredient in helping the cervix to ripen as the woman gets ready for childbirth.
Once the baby goes through the cervix, this does not require the mother to endure extreme pain as the oil serves as the cervix provides an internal lubricant to push the baby out. Although this process is highly effective, mothers are still highly encouraged to consult their gynecologists for the best natural process of inducing labor. Physical workout routines also help tone the muscles of the woman’s body in preparation for childbirth. With the muscles ready for contraction during labor, it makes the process faster and also less painful on the part of the mother. There are specific classes that the woman can go through in order to train herself through breathing exercises that will help during the period of childbearing up to the time the child is born.
A Niley Pregnancy Story : InLove [not trailer!] READ the box :D
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Young – Pregnant – Need Help? For families who need hope and help.
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After Abortion Help found
Posted by: | CommentsKevin realized that decision to be sexually active in high school caused him to be faced with a hard life reality abortion of his baby.
