PREGNANCY FIRST TRIMESTER

PREGNANCY FIRST TRIMESTER

PREGNANCY is one of the most important phases in women’s life, “THE PHASE OF MOTHERHOOD”

It has a profound emotional significance and is considered as a major landmark in physical and Psychological development of woman, and a transition from daughter /woman to mother. It is a phase where your body undergoes changes and your mind is full of questions about health, safety, nutrition, tests and more. Every week you can discover new things about your baby, necessary lifestyle changes and how to enjoy them to fullest.

FIRST TRIMESTER

(CONCEPTION TO 12 WEEKS)

1-4 WEEKS –

·         GROWTH OF THE BABY – A new life is born. Baby is beginning to take shape inside in the form of tiny embryo.

·         Its size is about 0.08 to 0.16 inch during this time.

·         CHANGES IN MOTHER – At this stage, women may not notice any change, that’s because it’s too soon.

·         In fact few women know that they have conceived .One have not missed periods yet!!!

5-8 WEEKS-

·         GROWTH OF THE BABY – Baby begins to develop a plate, which will late become the HEART.

·         Major organs like kidneys and liver also begin to develop while the neural tube (which connects the brain and spinal cord) closes.

·         One will be able to see baby in ULTRASOUND.

·         Heart beat is quite prominent (100 beats /minute).

·         CHANGES IN MOTHER - This week may see the beginning of some of the early signs and symptoms of pregnancy such as morning sickness and breast tenderness.

·         You may see some bleeding due to implantation of the fetus into the lining of the uterus.

·         The hormone levels are rising which may cause nausea, vomiting and headaches.

·         The levels of pregnancy hormone are enough that urine tests that measure HCG will show a positive result at this point.

9-12 WEEKS –

·         GROWTH OF THE BABY – Baby now has fingers and toes, while nails too are growing.

·         Hair is appearing on the baby’s body.

·         The fetus is about 2 inches long and eights about half an ounce.

·         Baby's body systems, such as circulatory, nervous, reproductive and digestive, are fully formed during this time.

·         CHANGES IN MOTHER - Even if one still look the same on the outside, making a baby is hard work and one could find herself even more tired now than before.

·         Blood pressure tends to decline, and one may feel dizzy or lightheaded.

·         Facial appearance becomes fuller due to odema, which is due to the retention of more fluid.

·         One may also start feeling cravings for particular food.

·         The theory is that your body craves nutrients it may be lacking, most commonly vitamin C, iron, and salt.

·         By this week, your uterus can be felt in your lower abdomen, above the middle of our pubic bone.  

·         An ultrasound this week determines no. of babies, the position of placenta, and volume of amniotic fluid.

DIETARY PRECAUTIONS DURING FIRST TRIMESTER:

·         Make sure you eat a mixture of different foods each day including fruits and vegetables which provide vitamins, minerals and fiber.

·         Let starchy foods like bread, potatoes, rice and breakfast cereals with vegetables from the main part of any meal.

·         Make sure you get your calcium from milk or other food. Take 600 ml of milk or milk products every day for the calcium content. 

·         Get your dose of vitamin D through food like egg yolks, herring, sardines, tuna, salmon, fortified milk, fish liver oil, or through exposure to sunlight.

·         Increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids. They are necessary for the development of your baby’s brain, nerve and eye.

·         Take iron and folic acid supplements as prescribed by your doctor. It  is important during the pre-conception and early pregnancy phase because this is when the fetus develops spine and nerve cells.

·         Gain weight gradually. For the optimal growth of your baby you should gain around 0.5- 2 kg in the first trimester. 

·         Increase your fluid intake. Blood volume needs to increase during pregnancy to facilitate oxygen and nutrient delivery to both you and your baby. 

NUTREINT	NORMAL ADULT WOMAN	WOMEN IN FIRST TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY
ENERGY kcal
SEDENTARY	1875	1880
MODERATE	2225	2235
HEAVY	2925	2935
PROTEIN g	50	60
FAT         g	20	30
CALCIUM mg	400	410
IRON mg	30	40
RETINOL mcg	600	610
BETA CAROTENE mcg	2400	2410
THIAMINE  mg
SEDENTARY	0.9	10.9
MODERATE	1.1	11.1
HEAVY	1.2	11.2
RIBOFLAVINE mg
SEDENTARY	1.1	11.1
MODERATE	1.3	11.3
HEAVY	1.5	11.5
NIACIN mg
SEDENTARY	12	22
MODERATE	14	24
HEAVY	16	26
PYRIDOXINE mg	2	12
ASCORBIC ACID mg	40	50
FOLIC ACID mcg	100	110
VITAMIN B12 mcg	1	11

Don’ts

·         Don’t take any medication unless necessary. Medicines taken by you can cross the placenta and enter the bloodstream of your baby. Hence it’s best to know the safety of any medications you’re taking during pregnancy – especially in the first trimester. 

·         Cut down on caffeine. Large amounts of caffeine consumption and an increased risk of miscarriage have been linked in some studies.

·         Quit smoking. Passive and active smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of health and behavioral problems in the baby and is linked to infant mortality.

·         Don’t drink alcohol. Alcohol can cross the placenta and reach your baby’s bloodstream. Excessive drinking impairs the mental and physical development of your baby, in what is known as fetal alcohol syndrome.

·         Don’t get stressed, depressed. High levels of stress can affect the unborn baby’s health and increase your chances of miscarriage.

·         Don’t go on diet while you’re pregnant. You may end up with deficiency of iron, folic acid, vitamins and minerals which can potentially harm you and your baby.

SOME HOME REMEDIES:

·         Try having a cup of ginger tea to soothe your stomach. This spicy herb is also used to ease motion sickness.

·         There are also several herbal teas that are known to reduce nausea.

·         Another helpful ingredient to combat morning sickness is red raspberry-leaf tea

·         Keep some fennel seeds near your bed side and chew on them whenever you feel queasy.

·         Another simple solution is to drink a glass of water every hour.

·         Even if you wake up during the night to visit the bathroom, have a glass of water.

·         This will keep you hydrated. When your urine is clear, it means you are having enough water.

·         Sniff a slice of lemon. You could also drink water with a few drops of lemon.

Ayurvedic herbs:

Milk medicated with –

Vidari

Shtavari

Yasthimadhu

Is good for fetal growth, prevents IUGR (intra uterine growth retardation) as they are life building herbs.

Brahmi is also useful herb to be taken as it relaxes nerves. 

JOURNEY TOWARDS MOTHERHOOD

PREPARE YOURSELF TO BE A MOM

Ideally, preparation for a holistic pregnancy and childbirth begins before you become pregnant. Your own good health helps your baby's health. And when you and the baby are healthy, you have more choices in childbirth

Maternal health is a complex influenced by various genetic, social, and economic factors which may affect the fetal growth

Schedule a preconception counseling - Appointment with your current healthcare provider to discuss your pregnancy plans. This can help you identify your health strengths, as well as any family history or health problems that might affect pregnancy. Try to work with your provider to get any chronic health conditions under as much control as possible before you become pregnant.

Couple should go for blood and urine investigation to rule out :

• DIABETES
• ANEMIA
• THYROID (HYPO OR HYPER)
• DYSLIPIDEMIA
• KIDNEY FUNCTION
• HIV
• HBsAg
• STD (SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES)
• THALESSEMIA : MAJOR/ MINOR

Check to see if your vaccinations are up to date. Rubella (German measles) and chickenpox can cause birth defects and other problems if you get them during pregnancy.

Get a dental checkup. Keep up your regular dental checkups before and during pregnancy. If you have gum disease, getting treatment before pregnancy may prevent health problems in you and your baby.

Going to be mom should also go for these INVESTIGATIONS

• Pap smear test
• Pelvic examination
• Try to achieve a normal weight for your height.
• BMI (body mass index) should be in range i.e 20-26
• Eat healthy foods and get to a healthy weight. Being at a healthy weight before pregnancy may help you avoid health problems in you or your baby

NUTRIENT	NORMAL ADULT WOMAN
ENERGY kcal
SEDENTARY	1875
MODERATE	2225
HEAVY	2925
PROTEIN g	50
FAT         g	20
CALCIUM mg	400
IRON mg	30
RETINOL mcg	600
BETA CAROTENE mcg	2400
THIAMINE  mg
SEDENTARY	0.9
MODERATE	1.1
HEAVY	1.2
RIBOFLAVINE mg
SEDENTARY	1.1
MODERATE	1.3
HEAVY	1.5
NIACIN mg
SEDENTARY	12
MODERATE	14
HEAVY	16
PYRIDOXINE mg	2
ASCORBIC ACID mg	40
FOLIC ACID mcg	100
VITAMIN B12 mcg	1

• Overweight, obese and underweight women are more likely than woman of a healthy weight to have pregnancy problems.

• Overweight women are more prone to PIH (PREGNANCY INDUCED HYPERTENSION), DIABETES MELLITUS etc.

• If  women is under weight then  baby is at an increased risk of being premature with low birth weight  and development irregularities.

• Eat healthy during pregnancy and learn more about what foods to avoid during pregnancy.

• Adequate  nutrition before and during pregnancy has greater potential for a long term health impact than it does at any other time.

• Nutrition is very important while you are trying to become pregnant.

A balanced, healthy diet should include

• PROTEINS (such as meat, cheese, dried beans, milk, legumes, nuts, soya).

• CARBOHYDRATES (such as whole grains like brown bread, brown rice , oats).

• ALL VEGETABLES AND FRUITS (all green leafy vegetables, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, apple, orange, pineapple etc).

• CALCIUM (such as milk or other dairy products).

• IRON (dried beans, green leafy vegetables, dry fruits, green and red fruits etc).

• GOOD  FAT(almonds, dry fruits, peanuts, flax seeds etc).

• Getting enough FOLIC ACID  in your diet can prevent a neural tube defect (legumes, whole cereals, green leafy vegetable).

• Folic acid can be found in green vegetables and whole grains, but because the amount needed to prevent birth defects is fairly high, you should take Vitamin supplement that contains 400 micro grams of folic acid. 

• Try to improve your deficiency if any by natural available resources rather than supplements.

AYURVEDIC HERBS GOOD FOR CONCEPTION

• Shatavri (Asparagus racemosus)- Nourishes and cleanses the blood amd female reproductive organ, prevent threatened miscarriage.

• Lodhra (Curcuma longa)– Increase level of reproductive hormones FSH (FOLLICLE STIMULATING HORMONE)AND LH (LUTEINIZING HORMONE)

• Licorice (Glycirrhaza glabra) – Property to mimic estrogen. Good for hormonal support.

• Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) – Supports overall endocrine system function , supports proper immune response, aids in possible autoimmune fertility issue.

• Exercise. If you do not already have a regular exercise routine, this is the time to start. Most women recognize the physical benefits of exercise, but might not realize that exercise also helps manage stress and promotes good mental health.

• You may consider a variety of exercise programs, depending on your interest, including walking, running, swimming, or biking.

• Group classes, such as yoga, Pilates, or aerobics, are also a good choice.  There are also specific exercises for pregnancy, including pelvic muscle exercises (sometimes called Kegel exercises), pelvic rocking, and squatting.

• Don’t smoke, drink alcohol, use street drugs or take prescription drugs that aren't prescribed for you. And stay away from secondhand smoke. All of these things can harm your baby during pregnancy. Tell your physician if you need help to quit.

• These habits are hard to break, but having a baby is often very good motivation.

• Keep safe from toxoplasmosis by not eating undercooked meat or changing your cat’s litter box. Undercooked meat and cat poop may have parasite in them that causes an infection called toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis can cause birth defects. Keep safe from pets that are rodents, like hamsters, mice and guinea pigs. Rodents can carry a virus called lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV) that can harm your baby.

• Stay away from harmful chemicals, like paint thinner. Some chemicals may increase your chances of having a baby with birth defects.

• Reduce the stress in your life. Too much stress can cause problems.

World health day - 7 April 2014

The Topic for 2014 Is Vector-Borne Diseases

The world health day is celebrated by the people all across the world every year on 7^th of April under the leadership of World Health Organization.

World health assembly was held first time in the year 1948 in Geneva. Where it was decided to celebrate the world health day annually on 7^th of April.

It was first celebrated worldwide in the year 1950 as the world health day.

Varieties of events related to the particular theme are organized on the international and national level by the WHO.

It is an annual event being celebrated for years to raise the common public awareness towards the health issues and concerns.

A particular theme is chosen to run the celebration and take care of the health for whole year.

Global polio eradication was also one of the special themes of the year 1995 of world health day. From then, most of the countries have become free of this fatal disease whereas in other parts of the world its awareness level has increased.

World health day is celebrated worldwide by the government, non-government, ngos including various health organizations at many places by organizing programs relating to the public health issues and awareness.

Participated organizations highlight their activities and supports through the media reports by means of press releases, news and etc.

Health authorities from different country take part in the celebration with their pledges in order to support on the health issues worldwide.

World health day 2014 will spotlight some of the most commonly known vectors – such as mosquitoes, sand flies, bugs, ticks and snails – responsible for transmitting a wide range of parasites and pathogens that can cause many different illnesses.

Mosquitoes, for example, transmit malaria - the most deadly vector-borne disease, causing an estimated 660 000 deaths annually worldwide - as well as dengue fever, lymphatic filariasis, chikungunya, Japanese encephalitis and yellow fever.

Goal: better protection from vector-borne diseases

The campaign aims to raise awareness about the threat posed by vectors and vector-borne diseases and to stimulate families and communities to take action to protect themselves.

A core element of the campaign will be to provide communities with information

As vector-borne diseases begin to spread beyond their traditional boundaries, action needs to be expanded beyond the countries where these diseases currently thrive.

More broadly, through the campaign, we are aiming for the following:

• Families living in areas where diseases are transmitted by vectors know how to protect themselves.

• Travelers know how to protect themselves from vectors and vector-borne diseases when travelling to countries where these pose a health threat. 

• In countries where vector-borne diseases are a public health problem, ministries of health put in place measures to improve the protection of their populations.

• In countries where vector-borne diseases are an emerging threat, health authorities work with environmental and relevant authorities locally and in neighboring countries to improve integrated surveillance of vectors and to take measures to prevent their proliferation.

Vector-borne diseases can be prevented by:

• Wearing clothing that acts as a barrier to exposure to bites.

• Using mechanisms to keep vectors out of houses such as screens on doors, windows, and eaves. 

• Reducing breeding sites near houses or in communities by :

• Covering water storage containers.

• Eliminating puddles and drainage of places where water accumulates.

• Eliminating unusable containers where water pools.

• Controlling garbage in yards and gardens.