Summer do’s and don’ts for to-be-mothers

Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful phases of a woman’s life. The feeling of nurturing a new life is priceless. But pregnancy comes with its own set of issues. And a harsh summer season just adds to your woes.
During pregnancy, your body temperature is slightly higher than normal due to the increased blood volume. The heat and the humidity further add to your discomfort. Here are a few guidelines to sail comfortably through the summer season during your pregnancy.

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Do’s:

  • Stay hydrated: This is the most crucial thing to do in summers. During pregnancy, you are unable to eat or drink much due to the pressure on your stomach. Hence, keep sipping water continuously to stay hydrated. You can also go for homemade flavoured water. Other beverages like nimbu paani (fresh lime water), chaas (buttermilk) and aam panna also help you with hydration.
  • Eat fresh fruits and vegetables: Fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables provide you with the necessary nutrients required during each season. Fruits and vegetables like watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, tomatoes, plums etc. are full of moisture and nutrients. Have them regularly.
  • Slather on the sunscreen: The high level of estrogen in your body during pregnancy makes you more susceptible to dark patches of skin called melasma. So, slather on the sunscreen to prevent such patches from appearing on your skin.
  • Choose safer sandals: I know that flip-flops seem like the ultimate footwear for hot summers. But they are the worst footwear to wear during pregnancy because they don’t offer any arch support. During pregnancy, you are carrying extra weight which puts pressure on your feet. So opt for comfortable footwear which offers good arch support.
  • Wear breathable fabrics: Wear light weight and breathable fabrics like cotton and mulmul. These help you to keep cool.
  • Stay cool: It is imperative to stay cool during this time. If you are a swimmer, go ahead and indulge in a cooling swim. Carry facial mists with you to spray on. This will instantly refresh and cool you. You can carry a spritzer filled with rose water for a refreshing feeling. You can carry wet tissues with you too.
  • Summer proof your office space: Stock things like extra water bottle, some healthy snacks and a hand fan maybe. Also keep a pair of your most comfortable shoes handy in office. Have a good cushion to support your back. Whenever you get time, try and elevate your feet for some time.
  • Exercise at cooler times during the day: Exercising during the hot time of the day can increase your discomfort.
  • Pamper yourself: Look your best during pregnancy. Go for your regular facials, manicure, pedicure or head massage. Avoid any kind of chemical treatments though.
  • Relax and rest: It is very important to lie down and rest during the day.
  • Stay happy: Happy mom equals to happy baby. The heat and the humidity along with your hormones tend to make you irritable. Try and indulge in relaxing and calming activities that make you happy.

Don’ts:

  • Don’t wear constrictive clothing: Too tight clothes will make you very uncomfortable and sweaty.
  • Avoid sodium: Avoid packaged and salty food. The excess sodium in these will lead to water retention and swelling in the body.
  • Stay away from too much sugar: Avoid too much sugar in any form. Stay away from sweets, bakery products and packaged juices.
  • Don’t eat for two: This myth of eating for two has long been busted. Yes, you do need extra calories, but you don’t have to double your intake. Have nutrient dense food and focus on nutrition more than calories.
  • Don’t go out in the sun during the mid day: The sun during the mid day is quite harsh and hence it is better to be avoided.
  • Don’t take any diuretic: Diuretics lead to a loss of many important electrolytes from the body. Hence, don’t take them unless suggested by your doctor.
  • Don’t stress: Stress is bad for you and your baby. So stay away from it.
  • Don’t take any medication on your own: Consult your doctor before consuming any medicine or even before using any topical creams.
  • Don’t compare: Each pregnancy is different, hence don’t compare your pregnancy with anybody else’s. This will give you undue stress.

Hope these pointers will help you sail through the summer like a song!

Stay healthy, Stay happy 

About Sarika:

sarika

Sarika is a diet and lifestyle consultant. She is very passionate about health and loves to help people be healthy the right way! She consults both online and offline. She is an avid blogger who writes informative articles about diet, nutrition and healthy recipes.

Summer Care for Pregnancy

Summer season is a difficult time of the year. It’s hot, it’s humid, and you’re pregnant. … “Heat and humidity are unpleasant for most people, but they take a greater toll on pregnant women. With the rise in temperatures, dealing with pregnancy issues can be daunting. This article provides useful tips that will ease your life while you make the most of and enjoy this beautiful phase of your life.

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Pregnancy during summer can be difficult, especially for first-time mothers. To-be-moms are constantly  looking for summer care tips that will make pregnancy comfortable. There are a number of reasons that make summers an amazing time to sit back and relax and try your best to beat the heat. Read on about pregnancy summer problems and learn a few tricks that will ease your way through summer.

Fight Dehydration:

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As the temperature rises, you are required to drink more water to keep yourself and the baby hydrated and cool.

Make it a habit to keep a bottle of filtered water with you wherever you go. It also helps in boosting your metabolism and thereby helps you fight the frequent head-aches and hot body rushes you face during pregnancy.

You could also consider going ahead and making this activity tasty by sipping on coconut water, juice, or even electrolytes. This will not only keep you hydrated but also ensure that your electrolyte levels are optimum.

Swelling:

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Swelling during pregnancy can be painful as it can cause your ankles, calves and feet to bloat. Women who face such conditions should be active on their feet. Keep time for walks in gaps for proper blood flow early in the morning when the weather is pleasant . You could also go ahead and try comfortable shoes with ortho- heel soles that are soft and padded with a firm grip. It will definitely help reduce swelling. Avoid resting your body in one position for too long as it may cause cramps.

Beat the sweat:

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Summers are always going to be hot, especially humid in most cities of India, and one easy way to beat the heat is to wear lightweight and comfortable maternity clothes. Light-cotton wear and bright colours are preferable and will make your summers more comfortable and relaxing. Such clothes will help you keep cool and prevent any kind of skin rash.

Have more fruits and vegetables:

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We all know how important nutrients are to a mom and her baby. Consuming fruits and vegetables can provide your body with vitamins and other vital nutrients that are the major building blocks for a healthy baby. These fruits also help you maintain the fluid level in your body which helps you fight the heat in your body and safeguard your baby from it.

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About Mummy ki Paathshaala

‘Mummy ki Paathshaala’ has been initiated by Babycell for all the to-be parents. The experts can enlighten you with valuable information related to pregnancy diet, pregnancy yoga and exercises, labour and delivery tips. They also hold interesting discussions on Do’s and Don’ts that cover all the pregnancy related questions you may be asking yourselves.

If you have any issues related to pregnancy, make sure to ask the experts and get your doubts cleared. On the overall, ‘Mummy ki Paathshaala’ not only enlightens you with issues related to pregnancy, but will also teach you to be an awesome parent.

What better way to enjoy your pregnancy and have some fun with it? Register today and see for yourself how it helps you make good choices for you, your baby and your family!

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Important Prenatal Tests for all Trimesters

We are sure that the good news of the new baby has already brought in some zeal into your relationship. Now it’s time to take the onus of keeping you and your body healthy. For that, you and your partner might have started taking doctor’s appointments and doing your research on what is to be done before the baby gets here.

If this is first time, the primary concern is that you are new to this challenge and you might not be aware about the kind of tests to be taken during your pregnancy. We are here to guide you through all the vital tests and check-ups to keep in mind during this period.

First Trimester

ROUTINE TESTS

1. Initial Blood Tests

A blood sample screening is conducted at your first pre-natal visit to the gynaecologist.

  • A complete blood count (CBC) to determine if you are suffering from Anaemia.
  • Hepatitis B – It can put your baby at risk of future liver disease, if it’s not treated.
  • Rubella (German measles) and Chicken Pox – If you aren’t immune, exposure during pregnancy can cause birth defects.

2. Thalassaemia

Thalassaemia is an inherited blood disorder. The disorder results in excessive destruction of red blood cells, which leads to anaemia.

It’s a must to undergo this test in order to know about your type, whether it’s Alpha or Beta or if you are a carrier or not. In case you are then your partner also needs to be tested. If both partners are carrier there is 75% chance of child being Thalassaemic.

  1. Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Tests
  • HIV – the virus that causes AIDS can cross the placenta before or during delivery and infect the fetus.
  • Syphilis – If unchecked, it can cause miscarriage or stillbirth.
  • Gonorrhea and Chlamydia – If untreated, both can cause preterm delivery and eye infections in the baby.
  • Herpes – It can cause complications during delivery.

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4. Pap smear – It is a screening procedure to determine cervical cancer.

5.  Blood Pressure – During pregnancy, you might have more chances of high blood pressure. In case high blood pressure continues after 20 weeks of pregnancy, there can be complications.

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  1. Urine Tests
  • Glucose Screening – Gestational diabetes – It can increase the potential need for a caesarean section (because it can lead to the baby growing to be very large).
  • Blood and bacteria – It indicates urinary-tract infection and can lead to a kidney infection or preterm labour.
  1. Ultrasound

An ultrasound is a simple, painless procedure. A wand that uses sound waves will be placed on your belly. It is used to determine the age, rate of growth, position, and heart rate of your baby, and whether you’re carrying multiples or not.

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ADDITIONAL TESTS

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) – A genetic test showing that a person inherited one or two defective cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) genes. This testing can be done using blood or a sample from the mother’s womb before birth (chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis). Two positive sweat tests on different dates.

Second Trimester

Besides the basic urine and blood pressure tests, there are a few additional tests to pay heed to in your second trimester.

  1. Amniocentesis – The test is offered to women who are at the age of 35 or above. Amniotic fluid analysis detects some birth defects and genetic diseases, including some chromosome abnormalities (such as Down Syndrome) and neural tube defects.

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2. Cordocentesis – Percutaneous Umbilical Blood Sampling (PUBS) is a procedure that is used to obtain a small sample of the fetus’ blood. It is used to detect chromosome abnormalities indicating Down syndrome and blood disorders such as Anaemia and certain infections.

Third Trimester

1. Group B Streptococcus Screening – This helps to detect bacteria in your bowel, rectum, bladder, vagina, or throat since these can cause serious and potentially fatal infections in new-borns.

2. The Non-stress Test – The non-stress test (NST) measures your baby’s heart rate as it moves around. This test measures foetal heart rate patterns in women who have high-risk pregnancies, including those who have preeclampsia or diabetes.

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3. Biophysical Profile – The biophysical profile combines the non-stress test with an ultrasound. The ultrasound component measures four foetal characteristics: breathing movements, muscle tone, body movements, and the amount of amniotic fluid.

This list sums up all the tests you should undergo in each stage of your pregnancy to ensure the health of your baby and yourself.

It’s important to undergo these tests with a prenatal expert/doctor who has experience and who you are comfortable sharing your personal information with.

It’s important to know what kind of tests are performed and what the benefits/threats

We hope this helps you with all the information on what prenatal tests are needed before the baby is born. Make sure you consult your OB/GYNEC before taking any tests.

 

Pregnancy exercises and its benefits

Doctors recommend regular exercise during pregnancy for an overall health of the mother and the baby.

The need and importance of exercises during pregnancy

Maintaining a regular exercise regime throughout your pregnancy can help you stay healthy and feel confident. It also improves posture and decreases common physical discomforts. Pregnancy exercise also helps prevent gestational diabetes, improves blood circulation, relieves stress, and builds stamina, which is much needed for labor and delivery. Exercise also helps in a smoother weight loss transition post pregnancy. It is also known to boost the mood and help expecting mothers sleep better.

It is recommended that pregnant woman must exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. A perfect workout is the one that gets your heartbeat going, makes you supple, manages the weight gain as well as prepares your muscles without putting any additional stress on you or the baby.

Even if you have never exercised regularly before, you can safely begin the exercise program during pregnancy after consulting with your gynaecologist. But do not try a new, strenuous activity.

Pregnancy exercises can be broadly classified into two categories:

  • Cardiovascular development exercise
  • Exercises to increase strength and flexibility

Cardiovascular development exercises                       

Walking:

Walking is an ideal exercise for pregnant women. It not only keeps you energized but also provides the necessary fitness without causing too much pressure on the knees or ankles.

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Swimming

Swimming is one of the best pregnancy exercises as it works out both major muscle groups – arms and legs. It also provides the much-needed relief by making expectant mothers feel light and weight-less for some time.

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Dancing

Dancing is a fantastic and fun exercise during pregnancy! Not only do you get the thrill of moving your body to music you love, but it will keep you flexible while toning your muscles.

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Exercises to increase strength and flexibility

Yoga

Yoga helps in maintaining muscle tone as well as increases flexibility. It relieves the tension of lower and upper back, neck and shoulders. Yoga also fine tunes our emotional balance.

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Stretching

Stretching during pregnancy keeps you relaxed and improves flexibility. If rightly combined with deep breathing, also brings more oxygen to your baby to help him grow.

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Squats

Squatting is a perfect exercise to open your pelvic outlet and allow more room for your baby to descend. Practicing squats now will make it easier to squat during labor.

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Babycell is one of the best on stem cell preservation banks in India. Babycell understands needs of expecting mothers; you can consider attending the Mummy ki Paathshaala and Mother Care Forum sessions offered by Babycell. These sessions guide pregnant women on areas like exercise, nutrition tips, parenting tips, and more. Go ahead and register today for a complimentary antenatal care session by Babycell.

Weird cravings during pregnancy

As a mom-to-be, you must have experienced the crazy pregnancy cravings! You are feeling emotional and some food/beverage items just feel right! But if you are having an extreme craving that does not seem right as it could mean there is some kind of nutritional deficiency. Here is a list of all food items that one usually craves and the science behind it.

  • Dirt, wall paint, ice

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If you are craving for non-food items like chalk, wall paint, dirt and detergent, you might be suffering from ‘pica’. This means you are a little anemic and need to include iron rich foods in your diet.

  • Chocolate

If you are craving for chocolate then it could mean your body has magnesium deficiency. If you are good at self-control, you could eat sweets in moderation, have just a square or two of dark chocolate at a time. But if you aren’t, you could probably snack on almonds instead.

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  • Pickles

It is very common for all pregnant ladies to crave for pickles at some point or the other. The craving for sour and tarty flavors might mean you want more variety in your daily diet. So go ahead and try out different things to see what makes you happy!

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  • Spicy Food

Yet another common craving among pregnant ladies is spicy food, especially hot curries and red peppers. One of the advantages of spicy foods is makes you sweat, which in turn makes your body to cool-off. You can try adding spices to your meal to combat your craving.

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  • Ice cream

If you are craving it for its creamy, sweet and icy feel then it might just be the weather. But if you are craving it too much, then your body might be in need of calcium. You can eat frozen yogurt instead and ensure there is enough calcium in your daily diet.

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  • Green leafy vegetables

This might be the weirdest craving! But some time you can end up craving for leafy veggies. You would want to eat a giant pile of lettuce, palak, methi, etc. But this is a good craving to have! These are packed with nutrients and are good for your body and your baby!

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All these crazy cravings are just a small part of the great journey that is pregnancy. Just remember to have a well-balanced diet and drink a lot of fluids between your meals.

A special message for all you fathers out there! Make her feel loved and never let the cravings take charge of her.

Pregnancy Nutrient Needs

Here’s a simple illustration of what your body needs during pregnancy.

Make the most of these ingredients in your diet for you to enjoy pregnancy with a power back up!
Here’s all the information on why to include these in your daily diet and how it will benefit your baby during pregnancy.
Share your comments if you find this information helpful! 

Pregnancy Nutrient Needs

5 things To-Be-Dads need to know!

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We are pretty sure that all you dads-to-be are super excited to step into the new role termed – Fatherhood! But are you ready to take life one notch higher?

A lot may happen that no one will have prepared you for. There’s no way to anticipate every possible scenario, but you need not be completely in the dark, here are a few tips that can help you out a little:

1. Learning the basics

Change is the only thing that will be constant. Starting from the changes in your partner?s body to the changes in the house, everything is going to change, your everyday life can go for a toss but the first step is acceptance! Accepting things will make life easy!

2. Is it all about your wife and the baby?

Yes, you read it correctly, stepping anywhere close to fatherhood is a completely different ball game, and the only concentration of your life now is your wife and her growing belly.

3. Never question her cravings!

The next nine months your wife is going to extremely fussy about things she wishes to eat. So, if she wakes you up at 3 in the morning demanding for an ice-cream or a chocolate, don’t argue, just go and get one!

4. Go easy with those hormones – 

Don’t worry it’s a temporary phase, but yes it persists. Don’t be surprised if she expresses 10 different emotions in just 1 minute, those are her hormones acting on her.

5. Talking helps -

Your wife is going through a roller coaster ride and is extremely vulnerable, the best way to sooth her down is by talking to her and by stating obvious things like you will be by her side throughout the journey of parenthood.

We know with these tips you can’t crack the entrance examination, but this will help you at least sync into the new role. We wish you all a very happy Father’s (to-be) Day!

Nutrition During Pregnancy

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The first question that most mothers have is ?when should I think about nutrition?? Change in food habits should start long before conceiving your baby- in the planning stage when you decide that you are ready to carry the baby. And you have to ensure that you take care of your diet not only before and during the pregnancy but also after the pregnancy when you breastfeed the baby.

However it is important to remember that even though you are growing a baby inside you it does not mean that you have to eat double. For a single pregnancy you need just 300-500 extra calories per day. This means a simple vegetable sandwich, a fruit and a glass of milk extra per day.

Mother?s nutrition is important right from the planning stage of baby. The right amount of nutrients help in the physical and mental development of the baby. Ideal birth weight is directly proportional to the right amount of nutrients intake by the mother.

Here are few reasons how a healthy diet benefits the mother

  • Healthy and Safe Pregnancy
  • Timely Labor and Delivery
  • Positive Birth Experience
  • Management of Hormones
  • Optimum weight gain

In the planning stage, doctors prescribe Nutraceuticals which help in the development of a healthy baby.

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Now that we have gone through the list of food items once must include in their diet, let us move on to the food items once must avoid.

  1. Raw Meat: Might invite infections due to toxoplasma parasite.
  2. Soft cheese and milk- unpasteurized- Unpasteurized milk carry various disease causing bacteria.
  3. Raw eggs: Raw eggs too can carry salmonella that causes various diseases like mentioned before.
  4. Fish (in excess)- Some types of seafood ? particularly large, predatory fish such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish ? can contain high levels of mercury. Although the mercury in seafood isn’t a concern for most adults, special precautions apply if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
  5. Caffeine- Since caffeine is a stimulant that increases heart rate, it can cause various discomforts like feeling jittery and insomnia. It can also contribute to heart burn by stimulating the secretion of stomach acids.
  6. Alcohol and other forms of drugs: Alcohol and other forms of drugs, in general are harmful to the human body. So imagine the effect these would have on your baby. These can cause life threatening problems for your baby. Hence stay far away from them.