Tag Archives: healthy pregnancy

Exercises and Pregnancy – How to Look and Feel Wonderful During …

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If you're one of those who believe that exercises and pregnancy don't go together, be warned that getting exercise while pregnant is not only advisable, but essential. Read on if you need some help on the types of exercises you can do and why.

Importance of Exercise during Pregnancy

Exercising while pregnant can mean the difference between a healthy versus difficult and dangerous pregnancy. Without exercise, both the health of mother and baby are threatened. Exercise can prevent complications. Exercises and pregnancy is an equation for a healthy nine months and delivery.

Possible medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes are foolish to allow simply from lack of exercising or not staying under your doctor's supervision. Be proactive. Find out what exercises are recommended so you don't overdo and possibly injure yourself or baby.

Suggestions on Types of Exercises

Moderate or light exercise is imperative. To find out what the best and suitable exercises are it's highly recommended that you join a sound diet and exercise pregnancy program or obtain a guide to give you a comprehensive description of all that's involved in keeping in peak physical pregnancy form, including pregnancy exercises like:

  • strolling or walking at brisk pace (slow and fast combination)
  • easy short-distance and level hiking (no bouncing)
  • light swimming
  • water aerobics
  • yoga
  • bicycling
  • lifting light weights for cardio
  • Pilates fitness (moderate)
  • Lamaze exercises
  • Kegel exercises

What you Need to Know

Refer to your guide for key info like the safe level, pace and frequency of cardio/aerobic/strength and fitness exercise; modifying exercise routines and get warm up/cool down guidelines. Always use common sense along with a handy guide full of practical warnings, safety issues and tips on a healthy pregnancy diet, dressing comfortably, staying hydrated by avoiding walking on hot/humid days, emphasis on sound sleep/rest, and staying hydrated.

Invest in one to alert you to pregnancy red flags e.g. negative side effects while exercising like dizziness and shortness of breath or unusual fatigue or overheating.

Bottom Line: Join a Pregnancy Diet & Exercise Program

The best advice for you to avoid worry or confusion as to whether you're combining the right exercises and pregnancy, is to go online and find the right pregnancy, diet and exercise guide or program to suit your individual needs.

Exercises and Pregnancy - How to Look and Feel Wonderful During ...


Three Things That Women Should Do in Handling Pregnancy Nausea …

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Being pregnant is probably the most physically and psychologically challenging experience that a woman can have during her lifetime. Immediately after a child is conceived inside her womb, there is rapid release of female hormones such as estrogen to enable life sustenance of the unborn child up to the time of its birth. However, the downside is that these bodily changes can cause much discomfort for expectant mothers. Determining pregnancy nausea when it occurs may be relatively easy because it usually happens during the early hours of the day. Thus, it is commonly known as morning sickness.

There are a lot of symptoms ranging from emotional depression to physical exhaustion brought by this condition. One is the increased appetite for certain kinds of food and another is the repugnance for certain odors. However, the most prevalent evidence of pregnancy is the nauseating tendency that can trigger vomiting. Albeit its name, it can occur at any time. Hence, childbearing women should always be prepared in handling pregnancy nausea when it strikes especially during the late gestation period to avoid health complications.

Most of us have insufficient knowledge about this phenomenon. While it is not a serious malady, it can be aggravated when neglected and this may result in health risks on both the mother and child. Therefore, it is important to observe several measures that are described below to ensure a healthy pregnancy and to lessen the effects of nausea tendencies.

The first thing to do is to consult a doctor. In addition, it is advisable not only to see an obstetrician but also a nutritionist. The latter can prepare an appropriate dietary plan based on individual body needs.

The second is the observance of a proper diet. Since pregnant women are prone to vomit due to nausea, vital nutrients can be expelled out of their bodies. As a result, they can lose substantial amounts of vitamins and minerals. This makes them vulnerable to diseases. Nutritionists advise mothers to eat well-balanced and nutritious food regularly. Skipping meals should be avoided due to the dangers of developing ulcer and other gastric disorders. Consuming foods that contain spices and oils is discouraged because it has a tendency to cause diarrhea. Pregnant women should never drink alcoholic beverages and also avoid smoking due to adverse health risks to their child as well as themselves. In order to prevent dehydration, regular intake of water should be observed. It is also a good thing to drink fluids that contain antioxidants such as green tea and ginger extracts to ensure elimination of toxins that may accumulate inside the body during pregnancy. Doses of Vitamin B-6 capsule are also beneficial. Nevertheless, it is a must to consult a doctor before taking any of these food supplements.

The third thing to consider is maintaining healthy activities during the gestation period. With the advice from an obstetrician, one can engage in pre-natal exercises. These will not only keep childbearing women fit but these are also known to facilitate healthy delivery of babies. Furthermore, brisk movements should be avoided because these can trigger nausea and vomiting. As far as clothing is concerned, expectant mothers should avoid tight apparel to eliminate discomfort. Loose-fit clothes are recommended since they are comfortable and can facilitate ease of movement.

Three Things That Women Should Do in Handling Pregnancy Nausea ...


Is a Healthy Pregnancy Possible After Gastric Bypass Surgery?

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When a woman in the child bearing years undergoes gastric bypass surgery to lose weight one of the first things she will hear from the nay-sayers is that after surgery she cannot have a healthy pregnancy because of presumed nutritional deficiencies. The contrary is true. Morbid obesity results in a high rate of complicated pregnancies and a high rate of miscarriage. Women who become pregnant after achieving weight loss with gastric bypass generally have lower risk pregnancies than morbidly obese women.

The United States Surgeon General lists several reproductive complications associated with pregnancy in women who are obese. Complications include an increased risk of death in both the baby and the mother and increases the risk of maternal high blood pressure by 10 times. In addition to many other complications, women who are obese during pregnancy are more likely to have gestational diabetes and problems with labor and delivery.

The Surgeon General concludes that Infants born to women who are obese during pregnancy are more likely to be high birth weight and, therefore, may face a higher rate of Cesarean section delivery and low blood sugar (which can be associated with brain damage and seizures). Obesity during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of birth defects, particularly neural tube defects, such as spina bifida.

In a study by Dr. Alan C. Wittgrove, past president of the American Society of Bariatric Surgery and pioneer of the laparoscopic technique, post-gastric bypass pregnancy indicates fewer risks than commonly reported by women who are obese during pregnancy. His study was conducted with nurse-practitioner Leslie Jester who had a low-risk pregnancy and delivered a healthy baby after gastric bypass surgery.

The Wittgrove Center has an active patient list of over 2000 people. The patients are informed to contact the Center when they become pregnant. In the study 41 women in the patient population became pregnant. Using personal interview, questionnaire, and review of perinatal records, pregnancy-related risks and complications were studied.

The study found less risk of gestational diabetes, macrosomia, and cesarean section than associated with obesity. There were no patients with clinically significant anemia.

Dr. Wittgrove concluded, "Since the patients had an operation that restricts their food intake, some basic precautions should be taken when they become pregnant. With this in mind, our patients have done well with their pregnancies. The post-surgical group had fewer pregnancy-related complications than did an internally controlled group that were morbidly obese during their previous pregnancies."

Is a Healthy Pregnancy Possible After Gastric Bypass Surgery?


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