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Pregnancy comes with a long list of weird symptoms. From morning sickness to food cravings, the list is almost endless. Sometimes, pregnancy even comes with a symptom as unusual as dry mouth.

Although it is not one of the popular pregnancy symptoms, dry mouth is not a strange occurrence for women in this period.

In this article, you’d find all you need to know about dry mouth in pregnancy; the causes, symptoms, and treatment options.

What is Dry Mouth in Pregnancy?

Here’s the fact: Saliva is a really important feature in your mouth. It helps you digest food, moistens your mouth, and protects it by controlling its bacteria and fungi population.

During pregnancy, the hormone fluctuations that come with your growing baby can affect salivary secretion in your mouth. In addition, reduced salivary secretion during pregnancy may also be a sign of gestational diabetes.

Dry mouth pregnancy is a really important condition because it increases your risk of mouth infections (like thrush), tooth decay, and gum disease.

What Causes Dry Mouth During Pregnancy?

Like every other weird pregnancy symptom, many factors contribute to the development of dry mouth during pregnancy.

Some of them include:

1. Dehydration

This is what happens when your body loses more water than it gets. During pregnancy, vomiting ( during morning sickness) and diarrhea can cause dehydration. Therefore, it is advisable to drink lots of water during the entire period of your pregnancy.

In fact, we recommend an average of 8 cups daily.

In addition to causing dry mouth, dehydration during pregnancy can also lead to persistent headaches, dark yellow urine, dizziness, and extreme fatigue.

2. Side Effect of Certain Medications

Sometimes, certain prescribed medications during pregnancy can alter the amount of saliva in your mouth.  For example, drugs used to treat hypertension and anti-emetics (for nausea treatment) can cause dry mouth.

In addition, dry mouth may also be a side effect of sedatives and muscle relaxants.

3. Gestational Diabetes

As we mentioned earlier, gestational diabetes is a leading cause of dry mouth during pregnancy. This condition, which raises your blood sugar level, only occurs during pregnancy. In this post, we talked about the signs, symptoms, and management of gestational diabetes.

4. Lifestyle Choices

Certain lifestyle choices can also affect the amount of saliva in your mouth during pregnancy. These include:

• Smoking
• Caffeine Intake
• Tobacco Consumption
• Irregular sleep patterns

All of the factors listed above also contribute to the development of dry mouth during pregnancy.

Symptoms of Dry Mouth during Pregnancy

In addition to the obvious dryness and absence of saliva in your mouth, other common symptoms of dry mouth pregnancy include:

• Difficulty in chewing, tasting, and swallowing
• Sore throat
• Burning sensation in the mouth
• Oral sores
• Bad breath
• Red, raw tongue
• Frequent Thirst

What to Do When Your Mouth Is Dry During Pregnancy

The first step is to identify the cause.

You can do this by speaking to your doctor to identify and eliminate the cause. If your dry mouth is a side effect of medication, he/she may adjust the dose or stop the drug entirely.

Furthermore, causes like dehydration can be sorted by drinking 8 glasses of water daily. In addition, lifestyle modifications like limiting caffeine intake, quitting smoking, and tobacco use are recommended.

You can also manage dry mouth during pregnancy by:

• Using fluoride toothpaste
• Chewing sugar-free gum
• Moisturizing the air in your living area with a humidifier
• Reducing salt intake
• Taking more liquid-based food
• Drinking more water
• Using a mouthwash
• Sucking on ice chips
• Breathing through your nose
• Avoiding alcohol
• Using a lip moisturizer
• Reducing caffeine consumption
• Rinsing your mouth before and after meals

Oral Hygiene In Pregnancy

While expecting, your oral health is more important than ever.

In addition to dry mouth, there are other important oral health conditions to consider. These include:

• Gingivitis
• Bad breath
• Thrush
• Tooth Decay

You can avoid these conditions by brushing twice daily, rinsing your mouth before and after meals, as well as using dental floss to clean the spaces between your teeth every day.

In addition to this, your diet is also super important. A healthy pregnancy diet that includes the right quantity and quality of veggies, vitamins, and milk will go a long way in improving and maintaining your oral health.

You can also take fruits like Oranges and Bananas which contain the right amount of calcium, vitamin C, and Vitamin A.

Although dry mouth during pregnancy increases the risk of the oral conditions mentioned above, you can easily avoid them by staying hydrated and following the tips listed in this article.

 Conclusion

Finally, it is important to remember that dry mouth pregnancy is not strange. In fact, many other moms and moms-to-be have experienced this.

It is usually just a function of the hormone changes that come with a growing baby.

You can relieve the symptoms of dry mouth in pregnancy by drinking more water and making the necessary lifestyle modifications. If the home remedies listed in this article don’t help, please contact your doctor for more assistance.

We are always here to help you, Mama.

Frequent urination is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Sometimes, you may even observe different colors and consistencies of urine that were not present before you became pregnant. A typical example of this is the occurrence of cloudy urine in pregnancy.

In this article, we’d talk about the features of normal urine, different colors of urine, causes of cloudy urine during pregnancy, and how to reduce the symptoms.

What Are The Features of Normal Urine?

Normal urine is a clear, sterile, and pale-yellow fluid. It has a characteristic chemical-like smell that may be slightly offensive. Sometimes, your urine can appear to be colorless, especially if you’ve just taken large amounts of water.

How Common Is Cloudy Urine During Pregnancy?

Cloudy urine is one of the many changes that come with pregnancy. In fact, it is even more common than you may think. While expecting your little one, there’d be changes to your hormones, medication, and diet. These changes, as well as other important factors, can make your urine look cloudy.

As a result, cloudy urine is a common occurrence in pregnancy

What Causes Cloudy Urine In pregnancy?

The common causes of cloudy urine in pregnancy are:

1. Hormonal changes.

This is the primary cause of cloudy urine during pregnancy.

While expecting, your body undergoes diverse hormonal changes to support your growing baby. For example, there is an increase in the level of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the first trimester, which is passed out through urine. Sometimes, the increased presence of hCG can make your urine cloudy.

2. Dehydration.

Most times, pregnancy comes with nausea and vomiting. When this happens, the consistent fluid loss via vomitting can cause dehydration.

Dehydration during pregnancy will lead to dark and concentrated urine, that also appears cloudy.

3. Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Sadly, UTIs are common during pregnancy. When this happens, it can also result in cloudy urine.

During pregnancy, if you notice a marked increase in the frequency of urination, as well as a foul-smell, please consult your doctor immediately.

4. Excess Protein In Urine.

This condition is called proteinuria. Excess protein content in your urine can also make it look cloudy or foamy. This usually occurs in the second or third trimester.

If this excessive amount of protein in urine is accompanied by high blood pressure, it may be a sign of preeclampsia.

5. Dietary modifications.

No doubt, your diet and food cravings would change during pregnancy. You may even begin to crave meals you didn’t like before pregnancy. In some instances, these sudden and abrupt changes may cause your urine to appear cloudy.

This usually occurs if your new diet contains high amounts of phosphorous or Vitamin D. When this happens, you can just remove the foods you weren’t eating before pregnancy and watch out to see if that’s the actual cause.

6. Vaginal discharge.

Vaginal discharge is not strange during pregnancy. However, excess discharge can also cause cloudy urine.

If you experience this symptom, please consult your doctor.

7. Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus causes an abnormal increase in blood sugar level. When this sugar moves into the urine, it can also cause it (your urine) to appear cloudy. In addition, diabetes mellitus may also cause urine to have a sweet or fruity smell.

Different Colors of Urine

As we mentioned earlier, normal urine should be clear, sterile, and pale-yellow. However, several factors can alter the color of your urine.

In this section, we’ve compiled some common urine colors and the possible causes:

• Red or pink colored urine: This is usually due to the presence of blood in the urine and can be a symptom for a serious health condition. In other instances, red-colored urine may result from dietary modifications, like increased consumption of beets or blackberries.
• Brown or dark orange urine. This is not a good sign at all. Brown or dark orange urine indicates that there is excessive secretion of bile, which could be a symptom of a serious liver problem.
• Blue or green urine: Using certain drugs can make your urine appear bluish-green. However, if you are not on any medication and your urine looks this way, you should see a doctor.

How To Manage Cloudy Urine In Pregnancy

Treatment options for cloudy urine during pregnancy depend on the underlying cause. Some home therapies may help you alleviate some symptoms. In other cases, you may need to see your doctor.

Here are some simple home therapies to relieve cloudy urine in pregnancy:

1. Drink Water

Water is really important in pregnancy. In addition to keeping you refreshed always, water also flushes out toxins and makes your urine look less cloudy.

Furthermore, studies show that pregnant women need to drink about 10 cups of water daily to prevent dehydration.

2. Take Some Cranberry Juice

This juice contains a lot of phytonutrients which are helpful in relieving the symptoms of UTI, kidney stones, and other underlying conditions that may cause cloudy urine.

3. Don’t self-medicate

Self-medication may be the cause of cloudy urine during pregnancy.

Here’s the fact: It is wrong to self-medicate during pregnancy. In fact, it is advisable to receive prescriptions from only your attending physician in this period.

4. Use hot/warm compresses.

Sometimes, cloudy urine comes with abdominal pain. When this happens, you can relieve the pain by applying hot or warm compresses.

5. Reduce your salt and sugar intake

Meals with high sugar content may increase your risk for developing diabetes and, by extension, cloudy urine. Also, salty meals predispose you to kidney problems. Therefore, reducing your salt and sugar intake would reduce the symptoms of cloudy urine.

Conclusion

It is always good to consult your doctor if you notice any change in your body function during pregnancy. Although cloudy urine is not strange, you should keep an eye out for any drastic changes and report it to your doctor immediately.

Sadly, pain is one of the major problems for most women during pregnancy. Recent studies show that 6 in 10 women will experience some sort of pain at one point or another during pregnancy. Sometimes, this pain occurs in the lower back at a point called the tailbone.

Tailbone pain is a sharp ache or pain at the lower part of the back. During pregnancy, this pain is usually felt when you stand up, have sex, or take bathroom breaks. Thankfully, the pain usually goes away on its own after a while.

In this article, you’d find all the needed info on tailbone pain during pregnancy; the causes, and how to relieve it.

Read on to find out!

What’s The Tailbone?

The tailbone or coccyx is a small bone at the lower part of your back which joins the pelvis at the bottom of the spine. Due to its unique connection to the pelvic floor, the position of the coccyx varies in men and women. In a woman’s body, it points downwards. For men, this bone faces the forward direction.

Although it’s a small bone, it is really important for muscle attachment in the gluteal (or butt) region. Furthermore, it supports and distributes your body weight whenever you sit. This weight distribution is important in the maintenance of body balance and the stability of your entire pelvic region.

Due to its connection to the muscles of your pelvic floor, the tailbone helps to stabilize and strengthen it as you prepare for childbirth. In addition, your coccyx ensures proper bowel movement, adequate vaginal support, and premium body mobility.

Causes of Tailbone Pain in Pregnancy

As we mentioned earlier, pain is quite common during pregnancy.

In fact, about 3 in 10 women experience pain at the lower part of their backs at least once while pregnant. Although about 70% of pregnant women experience tailbone pain at some point, it is only a serious concern in approximately 10% of them.

Generally, relaxin and other pregnancy hormones are to blame. During pregnancy, these hormones cause the pelvic floor to relax and stretch, thereby moving the coccyx from its natural position. When this occurs, it is usually accompanied by pain or discomfort. 

Although the hormones seem to be the major culprit, tailbone pain may result from other factors. Some of the leading causes of tailbone pain include:

1. Your Baby’s Position

During pregnancy, your baby may assume one of the various pre-birth positions. Interestingly, this fact is really important because it determines the method of delivery as well as other pre-birth decisions. To find out more about your baby’s position, click here.

If your child is in the posterior position, the hard part of his/her head may push on your tailbone, leading to some pain or discomfort during pregnancy.

2. Pregnancy Changes

As you know and agree, pregnancy comes with a lot of changes which support your growing baby and prepare your body for child birth. Sometimes, you may even notice a change in your lower back curve.

For most women, this change comes with a shift to the body’s center of gravity and a loss of core strength. This is usually a result of the stretching of the abdominal muscles that occurs as the uterus enlarges to accommodate the growing baby.

Sadly, this change alters the position of the coccyx, leading to tailbone pain in most pregnant women.

3. Pelvic Floor Problems

Pelvic floor dysfunction is a common condition that prevents a person from relaxing properly and coordinating the pelvic floor muscles for their usual function. In women, this is often accompanied by pain during sex and urinal discomfort.

Sadly, pregnancy is one of the leading causes of pelvic floor dysfunction.

Usually, the muscle strain that comes with a growing baby affects the pelvic floor and causes tailbone pain during pregnancy.

4. Bad Posture

During pregnancy, it is very important to maintain a good posture always.

Moms-to-be often have coccyx pain after sitting for long periods of time because they tend to sit on their tailbones rather than sitting upright. This is usually a result of the growing baby bump which makes it more difficult to maintain a neutral spine while pregnant.

5. Referred Pain

Sometimes, the site of pain is not actually the cause of the pain. Whenever this happens, doctors describe it as ‘referred pain’. In some cases, tailbone pain may be referred, or transmitted, from the hips or other parts of the body.

Tips On How to Relieve Tailbone Pain In Pregnancy

Unfortunately, there is no cure for tailbone pain during pregnancy.

Do not fret!

There’s a way to manage the pain

There are a few things you can do to help ease the pain or even prevent it entirely, and we’ve compiled all the info for you in this section.

1. Stretches

As we’ve always said, exercise is really important during pregnancy. As you expect your little one, here are some safe exercises that would keep you strong and healthy for the journey ahead.

In addition to these exercises, the following stretches would help ease tailbone pain during pregnancy:

• Cat-Cow: With this pose, you can reduce the pressure on your tailbone while strengthening your lower back and pelvis.
• Standing Cat-Cow: This is simply a replica of the cat-cow stretch, except it is done standing.
• Downward-Facing Dog: This pose would support your lower back and legs while lengthening your spine.
• Bridge: With this gentle stretch, you can strengthen your back, abdominal muscles, and butt muscles.
• Child pose: This one would ease the pain in all parts of your spine, especially your lower back and pelvis

2. Lifestyle Modifications

As you expect your baby, it is always helpful to remember how crucial the little choices are.

For pregnant women, keeping a neutral spine (gentle, natural curve in the lower back) is key to relieving tailbone pain at any time. As you sit, stand, or walk, always remember to keep your back straight and shoulders back.

Doing this would ease the pressure on your coccyx and prevent tailbone pain during pregnancy.

3. Pelvic Floor Training

Since your coccyx is closely associated with your pelvic floor, keeping all the pelvic muscles in top shape can prevent the occurrence of tailbone pain during pregnancy.

This is because the position of the tailbone can shorten or lengthen the pelvic floor muscles on both sides. Furthermore, overstretching any of these muscles may cause a strain or pain in the lower back. Therefore, keeping the pelvic floor mobile, stable and well-coordinated may be the first step a pregnancy journey without tailbone pain

A simple routine that can strengthen your pelvic floor is the kegel exercise. To understand and conduct pelvic training routines, please consult your physiotherapist.

A Final Word from Edie & Amy

In conclusion, it is important to remember that there’s no cure for tail bone pain during pregnancy. Nonetheless, there are many ways to relieve it. Following the guidelines mentioned in this article would provide a great deal of relief.

However, if the pain is severe or consistent, please consult your doctor.

Stay strong, Mama.

For most women, one of the major complaints during pregnancy is about an aching back. In fact, studies show that 6 in 10 pregnant women will experience back pain at one point or another during pregnancy. Sometimes, this pain presents as upper back (or thoracic spine) pain.

Although it can occur at any time during pregnancy, medical practitioners agree that it is more common in the third trimester as a result of certain factors which would be mentioned later in this article.

Furthermore, this article contains valid info on the symptoms, treatments, and prevention of upper back pain in pregnancy.

First, What Is Upper Back Pain?

Upper back pain is the pain experienced in the middle and upper part of the back called the thoracic region which joins the neck to the lower back. Generally, the thoracic region provides stability to your back.

Most times, people experience thoracic pain due to injury or forceful trauma to the spine, muscle irritation, tissue problems, autoimmune, and degenerative conditions which may be a symptom of other bone conditions. However, certain physiological changes during pregnancy may also result in upper back pain.

Causes of Upper Back Pain during Pregnancy

As we mentioned earlier, upper back pain can occur at any point during pregnancy due to several reasons. Some of the major causes include:

• Hormonal Fluctuations

Pregnancy comes with a lot of hormonal changes which support the growing baby and prepare the body for child birth. For example, a hormone called Relaxin softens and loosens the pelvic joints in preparation for delivery. However, this hormone doesn’t just work in the pelvis. It moves through the blood to every part of your body, relaxing all your joints.

During pregnancy, this softening and loosening can affect the upper back, causing aches and pains.

• The Growing Baby

As pregnancy progresses, the increasing size of your baby may cause the uterus to adjust your body’s center of gravity. This shift places more pressure on the back muscles, resulting in upper back pain for most women.

• Weight Gain

Here’s the fact: Weight gain is inevitable in pregnancy.

In some cases, a woman can gain almost 30% of her body weight in this period. In addition to the growing weight of your baby, the weight gain that comes with pregnancy may also strain the back muscles, causing back pain.

• Bigger Breasts

As you expect your little one(s), your breast tissue may enlarge to prepare for the process of breastfeeding. When this occurs, it may affect your posture and increase the strain on the neck, shoulders, and upper back.

• Stress

Now, this is not absolutely dependent on pregnancy.

Studies have shown that stress increases muscle pain and tightness, especially in areas of general body weakness. For most pregnant women, stress is not a stranger. Sadly, the combination of the demands of pregnancy and the resulting stress may cause upper back pain.

Although upper back pain is common during pregnancy, there are certain steps that you can take to prevent this uncomfortable occurrence and relieve the pain if it eventually comes up.

Read on to find out!

How to Prevent Upper Back Pain During Pregnancy

1. Maintain a Good Posture Always

A good posture is the first step to preventing upper back pain while pregnant. While standing, it is important to stand straight and tall, with your chest high and shoulders back. To make this easier, you can even use the wide stance which distributes your body weight equally between both feet.

Furthermore, it is advisable to keep your feet flat on the floor while sitting. As a pregnant mom, we recommend using a chair with a good back support while sitting for long periods of time. Finally, while sleeping, use the side position and place a pillow between your knees. This would keep your spine in a neutral position that reduces the possibility of back ache

2.     Wear a Supportive Bra

During pregnancy, your clothes matter.

As you expect your precious one(s), it is helpful to wear a good, comfortable, and supportive bra that is able to bear the weight of your growing breasts without straining your back muscles.

In addition, it is better to avoid wearing shoes with high heels for long periods of time. Flat-heel shoes may relieve some of the back pain by keeping your spine in a neutral position and providing a good base to support your body weight.

3.Exercise Often

As we mentioned here, exercise is important during pregnancy.

Daily exercises like yoga, walking or swimming would help relieve back pain and keep your upper back muscles strong enough to support the weight gain that comes with pregnancy. However, it is important to consult your doctor before starting any exercise routine during pregnancy.

4. Avoid Lifting Heavy Stuff

If you can, it is better to avoid lifting or carrying heavy objects as a mom-to-be. In fact, if you have to carry something heavy, make sure to keep the object close to your body at all times. This way, the strain on your upper back muscles would be less.

However, it is advisable to call for help if you need to move weighty objects during pregnancy.

5. Squat! Don’t Bend

As you know and agree, pregnancy comes with a lot of changes.

While expecting, it is important to squat and not bend at the waist if you have to pick something up from a lower surface. Bending may upset your body’s center of gravity, causing back pain.

However, squatting to pick things up would keep your spine straight and reduce any strain on your upper back muscles.

6. Don’t Stand For Long

During pregnancy, it is advisable to avoid standing for long periods of time. However, if you need to be on your feet for long, try to maintain a good posture throughout.

Furthermore, it helps to distribute your body weight as often as you can. You can achieve this by resting one foot on an elevated surface while standing.

7. Get a Lot of Rest

As we mentioned earlier in this article, upper back pain is linked to elevated stress levels during pregnancy. As you wait for your little one, it is advisable to get as much rest as you can.

You can even try things like power naps, meditation, and yoga to manage your stress levels during pregnancy.

Although upper back pain is relatively normal during pregnancy, if your back pain is excessive, it is important to consider other treatment options.

Treatment of Upper Back Pain in Pregnancy

If the preventive tips mentioned above to not relieve the feeling of back pain during pregnancy, it is important to consult your doctor immediately. Although it is quite frequent, back pain should not be ignored during pregnancy as it can be a sign of preterm labor, urinary tract infection or other medical conditions.

Furthermore, upper back pain that comes with fever, burning sensation while urinating, or vaginal bleeding should be treated immediately. If you experience any of these symptoms, please consult your doctor immediately.

In some cases, upper back pain can be treated by:

• Using ice packs
• Prenatal Massage
• Pain relief drugs
• Lifestyle changes
• Physiotherapy techniques (e.g. Dry Needling)
• Stretching Exercises

Finally, it is crucial to consult your doctor before taking any medication during pregnancy.

A Final Word from Edie & Amy

In conclusion, it is helpful to remember that back pain is a normal (but uncomfortable) part of pregnancy for most women. As we mentioned earlier, it is often associated with hormonal, physical and physiological changes. However, it is important to note that women who have experienced back pain before pregnancy face a higher risk of upper back pain during pregnancy.

Thankfully, you can avoid upper back pain by following the preventive tips mentioned in this article. However, if the pain is excessive, consult your doctor immediately.

Always remember that you don’t have to suffer and help is always available.

Are you pregnant? Do you wonder why you still observe all the symptoms of menstruation during pregnancy?

You are seeing all the signs, from breast tenderness to spotting to cramping. What do these symptoms mean? Is your baby fine? What should you do?

Read on to find out!

Pregnancy Symptoms vs Menstruation Symptoms

It is not strange for many women to say it took a while to find out that they were pregnant. This is because many symptoms of pregnancy are similar to menstruation symptoms, and it may be a little hard to tell the difference.

However, which signs should you watch out for and what’s normal?

Here are the most common period-like symptoms in pregnancy and what you should do about them;

1. Cramps

Cramping before and during periods is something most women experience. This may either be a dull or throbbing pain in the lower abdomen and pelvic area.

Similarly, it is also normal to have some mild cramping during pregnancy, but more lower down in your stomach. It may last for weeks or even months, during the period when your baby attaches to your womb and it stretches.

However, severe cramping is a bad sign as it could indicate:

• Miscarriage
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Preterm labour

If you develop severe cramps during your pregnancy, seek medical attention immediately.

2. Spotting

Unlike a full-blown period, spotting is very light bleeding that some women experience just before their period. This also happens during pregnancy, and is at times confused for a period.

Spotting during pregnancy usually happens as the embryo (developing baby) attaches to the womb. This is called “implantation bleeding”. It is lighter than a normal period and usually occurs about 10-14days after conception.

However, many women do not experience this bleeding. If you do, consult your doctor immediately, whether or not the bleeding stops. This is because spotting during pregnancy could also be a sign of serious complications like:

• Miscarriage
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Vagina infections
• Preterm labour

3. Swollen and Tender Breasts

Swollen and tender breasts are one of the most common symptoms of periods. They are also one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy. Thus, it is nothing to concern yourself too much about.

Some changes you should expect include

• pain/stinging
• tenderness/soreness
• swelling
• heaviness
• Sensitivity
• blue veins

The degree of these symptoms however varies from woman to woman.

4. Mood Swings

Uncontrollable mood swings are common during pregnancy and periods. This is because of the hormonal changes happening in both instances. It is thus normal to feel irritated, anxious, or sad.

Some women even have crying spells, especially the pregnant ones.

However, a persistent low mood could indicate depression or some other mental condition. Thus, if you constantly feel sad for 2weeks or more, please consult your doctor.

5. Constipation and Bloating

This is also another common symptom of pregnancy and periods, and it can be blamed on one thing-hormones. The hormonal changes during pregnancy and periods can significantly slow down bowel movements, thus causing constipation. This may last for the first two semesters during pregnancy.

However, if your constipation lasts longer than that or gets too severe, please see your doctor. It could be an indication of some other form of bowel problem.

6. Fatigue

Some women experience fatigue before and during their periods. Most pregnant women also experience fatigue during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Some women however feel exhausted for the whole nine months. This is because frequent nighttime urination may make it difficult to get any decent sleep. Some women also have to deal with headaches and back pain which also make sleeping difficult.

Try to get as much sleep as you can. Go to bed early and use enough pillows. If you still find sleeping difficult or persistently feel tired and drained, speak to your doctor.

7. Cravings

It is common knowledge that women crave weird things during their menstrual periods. The same goes for pregnant women too, but the cravings may be a little bit weirder and stronger. Many pregnant women crave for sweet, fatty or carbohydrate-rich foods.

Others may have a specific food that they crave for. Still, others may develop an unexplained aversion for a particular food, and get irritated by their sight or smell.

It is important to note some pregnant women develop cravings for non-food items like ice and dirt. This is an eating disorder called “Pica”. Anyone who develops this medical condition should consult a doctor as it may cause complications,

Final Words

Despite many claims, it is not possible to get a period while pregnant.

You may experience some spotting, but this is way lighter than period blood. If you are pregnant, and you are bleeding enough to fill a pad or tampon, you need to see your doctor immediately. It could be a warning sign of some serious complication.

Many menstruation symptoms are similar to pregnancy symptoms.

Regardless of whether you are on your period or pregnant, these symptoms may be discomforting. However, consult your doctor if these symptoms get severe and prevent you from performing your daily tasks.

Are you pregnant? Yes? Then you may be at risk for diabetes!

How does this happen?

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that appears only during pregnancy. As strange as it may sound, studies show that 6-7% of pregnant women will develop this form of diabetes during the course of their pregnancy.

What causes gestational diabetes? Are the symptoms obvious? Is it possible to keep you and your baby healthy after a diagnosis?

Read on to find out!

What Causes Gestational Diabetes?

Our body releases a hormone called Insulin every time we have a meal.

This hormone helps to break down fats and carbohydrates, turning the sugar from our food into energy. At times, hormones from the placenta can prevent the production of insulin and sugar cannot be broken down properly.

Therefore, excess sugar remains in the blood and causes gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes usually starts around the 24^th to 28^th week of pregnancy.

If not managed properly, this sustained rise in blood sugar can cause damage to the nerves, blood vessels and organs in your body.

Risk Factors For Gestational Diabetes

Although it is not certain why some women get gestational diabetes while others do not, there are some factors that places anyone at risk of this condition:

• Obesity
• High levels of tummy fat
• Age (Women older than 35 years)
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Family history of diabetes
• Personal history of Gestational Diabetes
• History of delivering large babies (more than 9pounds/4.1kilograms)
• Sendentry Lifestyle
• Race: Sadly, being black places you at a higher risk of this condition.

Symptoms Of Gestational Diabetes

Many women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy may not notice any symptoms. Most women find out after they have been tested for the condition.

However, some signs you should watch out for are:

• Incessant thirst.
• Frequent urination and in large amounts
• Persistent Fatigue
• Sugar in the urine during a dipstick test
• Nausea
• Blurred vision
• Recurrent vaginal, bladder and skin infections

Your doctor will test you for gestational diabetes during your routine antenatal check ups. This is done between 24-28 weeks if you have never had it before or at your first visit if you had it in your previous pregnancy. This test is called an OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test).

How Does Gestational Diabetes Affect You and Your Baby?

If left unchecked, gestational diabetes could put you at risk for:

• Preeclampsia
• Miscarriages and pregnancy loss
• Increased risk of having a baby by caesarean section.
• Stillbirth

On the other hand, it puts your baby at risk for:

.Jaundice ( yellowing of the eyes and skin)

• Breathing difficulties
• Macrosomia; a condition where a baby is too large and the head too big for a vaginal delivery.
• Low blood sugar levels
• Low calcium levels
• Issues with the formation of organs such as the heart
• Obesity
• Type 2 diabetes later in life

However, mothers who follow their obstetrician’s advice and recommendations for either medication or dietary changes do not have to worry about these risks.

Gestational diabetes can be adequately managed with proper diet and exercise. In some cases, supplementary insulin as injections may be recommended. Other times oral tablets are given to help control your blood sugar through other mechanisms .

A diagnosis of gestational diabetes can be overwhelming. However, there is no need to despair as it can be easily controlled so that you have a safe and healthy delivery.

Your pregnancy will need to be monitored more closely eg. more frequent antenatal visits. Follow your doctors advice at all times. Maintain a healthy diet, and remain physically active. Be consistent with your medications if you have any.

As long as you follow the guidelines above, you and your baby will be fine.

Do you remember a few years ago when a obviously pregnant athlete got in the news because she ran a race with while being pregnant ? Opinions were divided as to whether what she was doing was safe.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Exercising in pregnancy has benefits such as helping to prepare your body for labour and preventing excessive weight gain which in turn helps to manage chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Exercise is an absolute no no in the following situations:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

• With ruptured membranes (ie. when your water breaks) or if your womb begins to contract before 37 weeks (ie. falling into premature labour)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• Vaginal bleeding ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• If you develop a condition called Pre-eclampsia where you develop high blood pressure with evidence of organ damage. (Such as liver and kidney mal-function)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• If there are issues with the neck of your womb which is called the cervix (issue such as an incompetent cervix)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• If you’ve been told your baby isn’t growing well ( Intrauterine growth restriction)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• If you are expecting twins or more especially after about the 7th month into your pregnancy ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• If you have uncontrolled diabetes (high blood sugar) , hypertension ( high blood pressure) or thyroid disease⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• If you have other serious medical conditions ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

All these are medical diagnoses indicating you more or less need to get the information from your doctor to know that whether you have them or not.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Other situations where you COULD exercise but will need to get the go ahead from your physician before starting include:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

• If you’ve had recurrent pregnancy loss ( 3 consecutive ones). ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• Have had previous preterm delivery ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• You have hypertension in pregnancy ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• You are anaemic ( the capacity for your blood cells to carry oxygen around your body is reduced) and you are showing symptoms ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• You are malnourished ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
• So if you are having an uneventful pregnancy, your doctor may most likely clear you for exercise.

Did you exercise throughout pregnancy? What was it like for you? Learn how much exercise is safe for pregnancy women .

Pregnancy comes with a lot of demands. For Cynthia, these demands met her unprepared. In the 7th month of her pregnancy, she started experiencing lightheadedness and severe fatigue. At the next hospital visit, the doctor calmly encouraged her to increase the calcium in her diet.

How important is this mineral in pregnancy?

In addition to promoting your baby’s growth, it also maintains your own bones and keeps you in good shape all through this journey.

In this post, we’d walk you through five exciting reasons why you should take enough of this essential mineral as a mum-to-be.

1. Calcium Strengthens Your Baby’s Developing Bones & Teeth.

This essential nutrient helps your baby grow strong bones before birth. Strong bones are crucial for survival outside the womb and we all know that a cute baby smile is incomplete without some of those white teeth.

If you don’t take enough calcium during pregnancy, you’d deprive your baby of what he/she really needs.

2. Calcium Protects You From Bone Related Problems

Inadequate intake of this nutrient during pregnancy exposes a woman to the risk of certain bone related diseases later in life

A classic example is Osteoporosis, which is the reduction in bone size and presence of soft bones as a result of calcium deficiency. This condition arises because inadequate calcium consumption during pregnancy will result in a further depletion of the mother’s reserves (in her bones) to meet the baby’s requirements.

Low levels of calcium in the bones will result in brittle bones.

3. Calcium Reduces The Risk Of Preeclampsia.

In plain terms, preeclampsia is the increase in blood pressure that occurs during pregnancy.

Reduced calcium intake during pregnancy may stimulate certain hormonal systems which alter blood pressure and lead to preeclampsia.

Studies show that pregnant women can reduce the risk of preeclampsia by consuming extra 1000mg of calcium per day. This is a safe and relatively cheap way of reducing the risk of preeclampsia in pregnancy.

4. It Also Helps Prevent Preterm Delivery.

Calcium supplements have been shown to reduce the risk of preterm delivery to a large extent.

How does this work?

Increased levels impair the release of a certain hormone, thereby reducing smooth muscle contraction (including the womb muscles). As a result, the possibility of preterm labour and delivery is greatly reduced.

5. It Reduces The Risk Of Postpartum Haemorrhage.

Postpartum haemorrhage is one of the leading causes of maternal death in the world at large.  

It is defined as the loss of blood more than 500mls during a Caesarean section and 1000mls during vaginal delivery. The first line of treatment for postpartum haemorrhage is oxytocin, and calcium is really important for this treatment to function properly.

When there is not enough calcium in the body during delivery, oxytocin may not get enough calcium to bind to, and postpartum haemorrhage occurs.

However, adequate levels in the body allow for smooth movements and effective functioning of hormones.

Finally,

Get enough calcium during pregnancy, it is really important for your baby’s development and your own well-being too.

The good news is, you can get it easily through your diet or certain drug supplements prescribed by your doctor.