Healthy Pregnancy Centre

Archive for September 4th, 2009

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It is natural for expectant parents to get curious about their baby’s gender. Long ago, choosing baby gender was high impossible. It was so impossible that parents who wanted to influence their baby’s gender had to do crazy things such as tying the left testicle in the hope of producing sons. Parents had to settle for baby gender predictors or wait tediously until the official ultrasound results arrive and then that’s the only time they can start buying pillows or pink mittens and the like. To date; however, technology finally makes it possible for parents to choose baby gender. Choosing baby gender was made possible when the first test-tube baby was born in 1978. Below are some modern ways which you may consider in choosing baby gender.

Selective abortion – Selective abortion is said to be one of the crudest way to choose baby sex. In this case, the mother takes an amniocentesis, which is an early-pregnancy examination which screens genetic diseases. The process can also determine the gender of the fetus.  If the sex is not what the parents aspire for, the mother aborts the pregnancy. This technique is clearly not supported by Christian countries.

Method by Ericsson – Another method which is now available to moms is that which was developed in the 1970s by Ronald Ericsson, PHD – a geneticist. Like the other methods, this technique had its share of drawbacks as well as ethical considerations. The method revolves around the idea that X chromosomes (female) are larger and denser than Y chromosomes (male). The fast  swimming male sperms are separeted from the slow swimming female sperms through a human serum which serves as a filter. Given this, pregnant women are inseminated with a higher number of sperm in favor of the couple’s desired gender. This process is relatively affordable and was not proven to be medically invasive; however, it is said to fail in three out of ten cases.

Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)– This technique is said to be more successful as compared to the one proposed by Ericsson. This method was originally developed to screen for sex-linked genetic diseases. This includes muscular dystrophy and hemophilia which disproportionately affects boys. The pre-implantation method can be done through vitro fertilization – the process wherein the woman’s eggs are removed from her ovaries and fertilized with her partner’’s sperm through surgery. In the IVF procedure, the fertilized embryos are brought back to the uterus of the women but with PGD, one or two cells are taken from each embryo. The doctors analyze these cells and then they detect the sex of your baby. The process is said to be almost 100 percent accurate. The preferred embryos are then used in he IVF process and those which are not chosen are either donated to research institutions or to other couples.

MicroSort -  This is said to be one of the most promising techniques to tell baby gender. The sperm is stained using a special dye and is run through a machine which distinguishes female DNA from male DNA in the sperm and sorts out the favored gender. After, the women is inseminated with the sperm which carries the chromosomes of her choice. This technique has been in clinical trials since 1993. It was first made available to couples who have a history of sex-linked diseases. It quickly expanded and was made accessible to people who wanted to choose their baby’s gender.

Choosing baby gender is now right in your fingertips. Before finally taking any of these methods, make sure that they do not go against any religious or social beliefs and ethics.

During Pregnancy, a woman’s protein needs increase from approximately 45 to 50 grams of protein a day when not pregnant to 70 to 75 grams of protein a day and remain high until after lactation. If you are pregnant with twins or have some complications you will need even more protein.

Getting enough protein during pregnancy is a must. The protein is used up by your body to create the extra blood you need to support the baby. It also is the primary building block for the baby’s muscles and cytoskeleton. If you do not get enough protein your baby may not grow and develop completely and will probably be born with a low birth weight. Protein works as an energy source for your body. During breast-feeding, it is in the milk to further help the infant grow and develop. As you lose protein through your milk at this time, it is important to keep up on protein intake to take care of your body and your baby.

Protein is not terribly hard to get. Most women will get enough protein in without even having to worry about it. There are some times during pregnancy when you need to be careful about your protein intake such as if you are experiencing excessive vomiting, or are a vegetarian. Even if this is not the case, you should look at what you are eating to double check that you are getting in your protein.

Foods high in protein are milk, beans, nuts, cheese, eggs, and meat. There are a variety of foods that can be taken to meet protein needs. One option for high protein with low calories is whey protein. This packs the protein you need into a sweet tasting powder that can be made into shakes or added to other liquids, and is a convenient way to get in your protein.

Not only is protein essential for the health of you and your baby, it is good for you in pregnancy for other reasons as well. Adding a protein shake to your meal will cause you to be full longer. Eating more fulfilling meals can help you have less need to snack on unhealthy things in between meals. Protein also facilitates your muscle building. Building muscle during pregnancy is smart. You will be able to maintain a good level of health by combining exercise and protein. The muscles you develop will also be of use to you after pregnancy in getting you back down to your normal weight. Even when resting, muscle burns more fat than non-muscle.

During pregnancy, all nutritional needs expand to encompass both you and your baby. There are a lot of nutritional necessities at this time. Other nutrients you should be concerned about include folic acid, calcium, and iron. Discuss with your doctor and find a good multivitamin to take care of these nutrients. Also do not forget to take a variety of foods including carbohydrates, fats, fruits and vegetables, and of course protein. By taking care of these health requirements you are creating a healthy environment for your child to develop in.

Being pregnant can be awfully restrictive, especially towards the end of term when there is a realistic possibility of going into labor at any point. It is for this reason that doctors advise you not to travel while heavily pregnant, and that airlines will often refuse point blank to allow a pregnant woman to travel on their flights if there is a realistic possibility of the baby being born at short notice. If you are in the final few weeks of pregnancy, the only time you should really be getting into any vehicle is to go to the hospital for the delivery. Aside from the final few weeks, however, it is naïve to expect any pregnant woman to remain housebound and dependent on others for her every beck and call. 

This is not to say that a pregnant road trip is no different from any other. There are clear comfort issues where pregnant women are concerned, and these need attention – the longer the trip, the more attention must be paid. Among other issues, there is the question of the expectant mother’s physical health. On a long journey there is every chance of being out of reach of shops or cafes for an extended period. This being the case it is possible for the pregnant woman’s blood sugar level to drop – something that can best be amended by having something to eat. A candy bar is ideal, but a small bag of snacks with a little variety will work out the best. Getting up to move around is also a necessity, more so the longer into term the mother is – so stop the car every 90 minutes or so for a walk – this will prevent discomfort and blood clots. 

Among other issues of comfort there is the matter of body temperature. Overheating or feeling cold can be dreadfully uncomfortable, so the pregnant woman should always wear layers if they are going to be traveling for a long time. Being able to take something off or put it on at different points will give you the chance to regulate body temperature. This can also be addressed by drinking lots of water – dehydration is bad enough for non-pregnant people in more open spaces, but for a pregnant woman in a car it is much worse. 

Additionally, if the trip is a long one it will be necessary to carry a copy of your pre-natal record and your health insurance card. This will contain information of your pre-natal checkups and can be obtained from your doctor or from the midwife. Ask them also about any specific instructions you should keep in mind when traveling – if your trip is necessary they will gladly explain what you should do and what you should avoid. The pre-natal record will be essential if there should be any problems – although you may have no reason to anticipate them it is much better to have something and not need it than need it and not have it. Following these basic and simple rules will make any car journeys while pregnant easier, if not easy.