Healthy Pregnancy Centre

Archive for August 5th, 2009

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When you first find out you are pregnant, you are probably pretty excited about the whole experience.  While much of pregnancy can be a lot of fun, and an incredibly enlightening experience, it also comes with some drawbacks.  Some women seem to have more problems than others, but almost all of them experience digestive complaints of one kind or another. Probably the most common digestive problem is constipation during pregnancy.

Pregnancy constipation occurs when the hormone progesterone starts being produced in greater quantities, preparing your body to nurture a fetus for nine months.  One thing that happens almost right away is a general slowdown of your digestive system.  This happens because your body will need extra time to get all of the nutrients it can from the food you eat.  These nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the womb, where the fetus receives them via the umbilical cord.

Constipation during pregnancy is caused by the slowdown of food moving through the digestive tract, but also because additional moisture is drawn out of the food and into the bloodstream.  This means that whatever remains in the digestive tract is not only moving more slowly, it is drier as well. These two factors are the main ones in contributing to pregnancy constipation.

While constipation during pregnancy can be unpleasant and uncomfortable, it is also rather easily remedied.  If you follow these steps, you will find your constipation greatly diminished or eliminated altogether.  Constipation usually occurs because there is not enough fiber to keep the food moving easily through your system.  If you increase your fiber consumption, you may well banish constipation for good.

Fiber can be found in whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal, and in whole-grain breads. It is also present in many fresh fruits and vegetables, so simply adding those to your diet can increase your fiber intake.  Prunes, or prune juice are also particularly good at fighting pregnancy constipation.

Because lack of moisture can also be a factor, be sure to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily.  If you like, drink some peppermint tea as well, as that has been proven to aid in constipation prevention.

Exercise is another way to keep all of the juices flowing, and your body’s systems working efficiently.  It is also a great stress reducer, and since stress is a major cause of constipation during pregnancy you are getting a dual benefit.

Also keep in mind that iron can contribute to constipation.  Prenatal vitamins are usually high in iron, so take a look at the one you are taking.  If it is very high, you might want to consider switching to another brand that contains somewhat less.

While pregnancy constipation is unpleasant and uncomfortable, it is very common among pregnant women and no cause for alarm. If you follow the steps above, you will find instances of constipation greatly reduced, and you will realize the additional benefits of better health, overall. If you are still worried, check with your doctor for additional advice.

You can find helpful information about <a rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank” href=” “>http://www.ahababy.com/subject/stomach-trouble”> constipation during pregnancy and everything you need to know about pregnancy during constipation at Aha! Baby.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/constipation-during-pregnancy-1097409.html

Cramps in early pregnancy are familiar to most women who have been pregnant.  In fact, they can often be the first sign that you have actually conceived.  Cramps in pregnancy can take several different forms.  Most commonly, they can feel much like menstrual cramps, and it is these that you will most likely feel first.  As the pregnancy progresses, you might also experience stomach cramps, as your digestive system adjusts to the new situation.

Cramps in early pregnancy can range from very mild to quite severe.  In any case, if you don’t already know you are pregnant, experiencing menstrual-type cramps at the wrong time in your cycle can be one of the earliest indicators of pregnancy.  Cramps can make themselves known as early as 8-10 days after conception.  If you continue to feel these cramps as the pregnancy progresses, don’t worry; it is quite normal for cramps to occur as adjustments are made in your abdominal cavity for a growing baby.

Cramps in pregnancy can also take the form of the usual abdominal cramps.  When you become pregnant, your body starts to produce larger quantities of progesterone, and that can create some changes that might result in cramping.  One of these changes is that digestion is slowed down, so more nutrients and liquid can be passed on to the fetus.  Because your digestive system is not working like it used to, you may experience some cramping in your abdominal area as your digestive system does its work at a slower pace.

Constipation is one of the most common problems that pregnant women face. Cramps in pregnancy can often be the result of constipation.  Since your body is taking longer to digest, and is removing more fluids to add to the bloodstream, the waste will move out of your digestive tract much more slowly than is normal, and some cramping could result.  When you attempt to stop the constipation through more consumption of fiber, your body might swing into the opposite direction, causing diarrhea.  Cramps in pregnancy can often be attributed simply to the upheaval going on in your bowels, as waste is moved out a bit more quickly than you would have liked.

Cramps in early pregnancy can also be an indicator of a more serious condition, like an ectopic pregnancy.  An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg doesn’t make it to the uterus where it needs to grow, and stops in the fallopian tubes instead.  You will probably find this out in the first six weeks.  If treated early on, and ectopic pregnancy can be managed without harm to your or the baby.

Cramps in pregnancy will most likely be experienced by most women, at any given time. The key is knowing what to expect and understanding how your body works, so you can be in tune with the changes that are occurring.  While most cramps are no cause for alarm if you experience any that seem to be unusually severe, be sure to consult your doctor right away.

You can find helpful information about <a rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank” href=” “>http://www.ahababy.com/subject/stomach-trouble”> cramps in pregnancy and everything you need to know about cramps in early pregnancy at Aha! Baby.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/what-do-cramps-during-pregnancy-mean-1097412.html

While it is commonly known that most women will experience some kind of digestive problems while pregnant, the most common stereotype includes the nausea and vomiting of morning sickness.  Constipation is also experienced by a great many pregnant women.  Though it is less prevalent, diarrhea in pregnancy does occur fairly often, and can be serious if not treated correctly. The many changes your body undergoes during pregnancy can make it difficult to deal with multiple conditions and symptoms at one time, but it can be done.

While Diarrhea and pregnancy are not considered as common as other problems like heartburn and constipation usually get more attention.  While constipation can be a real problem, you need to be careful that your treatment of it doesn’t swing your digestive system too far in the opposite direction.  You might combat constipation by increasing your fiber intake, but if you consume too much, it could loosen your stool significantly, resulting in diarrhea in pregnancy.

It’s important to understand that diarrhea and pregnancy don’t have to go together.  If you watch your diet carefully, and treat your constipation properly, you might never have a problem.  If you do suffer from it, be sure to take it seriously.  Diarrhea in pregnancy can result in severe dehydration and if severe enough, could lead to pre-term labor.

So, what is the best way to avoid diarrhea in pregnancy? First, pay close attention to your diet.  If you are consuming a lot of fiber, try to balance it with foods that aren’t perhaps quite as bulky.  Eating some yogurt every day can also help keep the balance of helpful bacteria in your digestive tract, keeping your stools healthy and regular.  Diarrhea can also be brought on by stress, as are many other bothersome pregnancy conditions, so try to keep your stress level low.  You can do this by taking some time out to relax every day, get exercise and get plenty of sleep.

If in spite of your best efforts, diarrhea in pregnancy occurs anyway, be sure to avoid dehydration by drinking plenty of water.  Eat foods that are easily digested and low in fiber, like white rice and meat broths.  If at all possible, continue to take your daily vitamins and minerals, so they can replace what is leaching out with each bout of diarrhea.

Diarrhea in pregnancy can be extremely serious if left untreated, so if you experience it severely for more than a day, get in touch with your doctor.  It is important for you to become healthy again as quickly as possible, and have your body’s equilibrium restored as soon as possible.  Severe diarrhea, if it is prolonged, can be very hard on the fetus, and you don’t want to expose your baby to danger any longer than is necessary.

Even though it may seem difficult at times, just do your best to stay healthy, keep your stress level down, and don’t hesitate to call for help if you feel unable to cope with a serious condition yourself.

You can find helpful information about <a rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank” href=” “>http://www.ahababy.com/subject/stomach-trouble”> diarrhea in pregnancy and everything you need to know about diarrhea and pregnancy at Aha! Baby.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/understanding-diarrhea-and-pregnancy-1097414.html