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Posts Tagged ‘pain during pregnancy’

Pregnancy Pain

February 26th, 2009

Managing Early Pregnancy Back Pain

pain during pregnancy

Executive Summary By Sky Joe

Although pregnancy is generally a wonderful experience, there are several associated discomforts including: morning sickness, indigestion, varicose veins, leg cramps as well as the early pregnancy back pain. The severity of the pregnancy back pain ranges from mild discomfort after standing for long periods, to debilitating pain that limits a woman’s ability to function.

Early pregnancy back pain can be mainly attributed to the imbalance in muscle strength and flexibility, coupled with poor postural habits. Muscles need to be strong to support the joints. If the abdominals are weak, the lower back is vulnerable to injury because it is not well supported for strenuous activities.

Besides, poor posture such as slouching or repetitive bending can also cause back pain during early pregnancy stage. Pregnant women experience significant changes in their posture due to the increased weight distribution at the abdomen. If coupled with poor postural habits, they are at even greater risk of injury. You must take time to prepare both mentally and physically for the challenge of pregnancy and childbirth. Hence, it is important that you learn and perform the back pain exercises during the various stages of your pregnancy.

By performing the back pain exercises, it can help you prevent and manage the back pain and achieve a balance between stability and flexibility. This will also assist in your labor, delivery and post-partum recovery.

Back Pain And Pregnancy

Executive Summary By Abid Hussain

The Aches and Pains of Pregnancy

Women with pre-existing back pain prior to pregnancy have an easier time adjusting to the discomfort as the pregnancy develops. Proper medical advice and treatment can prevent back pain from becoming a complication when labor occurs.

Causes of Pregnancy Back Pain

Two categories of back pain during pregnancy are caused by:

1.) Strained ligaments, muscles, discs and joints – caused by poor posture, incorrect lifting methods, weak or taut muscles, or injury, this type of back pain can occur with people even before pregnancy. A minority of pregnant women may experience symptoms of sciatica during the course of their pregnancy. Other symptoms include tingling, weakness, backaches, and pain traveling down one leg.

2.) Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) – this back pain is pregnancy-related and may need to be treated differently from standard back pain. A majority of pregnant women who experience back pain during pregnancy suffer from this ailment.

Preventing Back Pain

Even if pregnancy has already occurred, keeping fit is still possible through exercise specially tailored for pregnant women (refer to antenatal fitness portion). These exercises can lower the risks of developing pregnancy-related back pain. Women unaccustomed to exercise are advised to take it slow.

Ways to Alleviate Back Pain

1.) Taking care of the back (refer to “Protecting Your Back and Pelvis During Pregnancy” for more information).

2.) Massage – particularly when performed on the lower back, massage can result in considerable relief for tired and aching muscles. One relaxing method is to lean over the back of a chair or lie on one side while the muscles on both sides of the lower spine are massaged. Massage performed by a massage therapist, a midwife, or a physiotherapist may further relieve back pain.

3.) Heat and water – taking a warm and soothing bath, using a hot pack, or even a warm water shower can alleviate symptoms of back pain.

4.) Wearing a support belt – a maternity or support belt can help hold up the baby’s weight, easing the strain on the stomach and back muscles.

5.) Using a support pillow – sleeping on one side with a wedged-shaped pillow beneath the tummy can lessen back pain.

6.) Strength and stability exercises – exercises involving the pelvis and lower abdominals can strengthen back and stomach muscles to help support the baby’s weight. The stomach muscles are then allowed to relax after each contraction.

7.) Having a good posture – this helps particularly if pain symptoms are centred on the tailbone, or coccyx. 8.) Aqua-natal classes – according to research, these water exercises can significantly decrease pregnancy-related back pain.

8.) Aqua-natal classes – according to research, these water exercises can significantly decrease pregnancy-related back pain.

You may want to check out another article about baby care or getting pregnant.

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Early Pregnancy

February 9th, 2009

Early Pregnancy Symptom – How to Detect Pregnancy by Yourself

Executive Summary By Anupriya Jain

early pregnancy signs

Pregnancy calls for one of the most beautiful phase in a woman’s life being accompanied by each early pregnancy symptom. These pregnancy symptoms have always been a source of joy as well as often anxieties. Many women are unaware of early pregnancy symptoms and what development each symptom indicates. The period, intensity and the sequence of arrival of pregnancy symptoms largely vary from one woman to another. During pregnancy, women undergo many changes. Drastic hormonal changes in body are because of the physical and psychological changes a woman undergoes during pregnancy. All women tend to experience some common symptoms in the early trimester of the pregnancy period. Each early pregnancy symptom appears in the same manner, but slight differences can be expected. Now let us discuss about pregnancy symptoms and how to identify them -

If you happen to experience similar symptoms within a week of conceiving, consider a home pregnancy test to confirm your pregnancy.

Increased frequency in urination is a significant early pregnancy symptom.

Pregnancy brings enormous feeling of exhaustion. As per medical experts, fainting is a common early pregnancy symptom. Before you consult your gynecologist, you need to prepare a proper and detailed pregnancy journal mentioning each early pregnancy symptom to help him or her detect pregnancy accurately.

Very Early Pregnancy Symptom Before Period – Symptoms That Precede A Missed Period

Executive Summary By Asheesh Mani

Almost all women wait for overdue periods as a strong sign of pregnancy, however, medical practitioners suggest to look for any very early pregnancy symptom before period to confirm pregnancy. Moreover, many of the pregnancy symptoms even start appearing within few days after fertilization, whereas missed period takes place after a few weeks of pregnancy. As the symptoms of pregnancy are likely to resemble symptoms of other disorders, hence, confusions related to those pregnancy signs is prevalent among most of the pregnant women.

Symptoms To Appear Before An Overdue Period

Watch out for the onset of each following very early pregnancy symptom.

This very early pregnancy symptom before period is noticeable within few days of conceiving in the form of a very light bleeding. Unlike menstruation bleeding, this implantation bleeding is usually of pinkish in color. Heavy bleeding during pregnancy may signal various pregnancy complications including ectopic pregnancy, miscarriages.

Abdominal Cramping - An abdominal cramping a very common very early pregnancy symptom before period and appears along with vaginal spotting.

Craving for Foods - At the very early stage of pregnancy, your body may crave for some particular types of weird foods. This early pregnancy symptom is a strong indication of pregnancy.

You may want to check out another article about baby furniture or baby clothes.

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During Pregnancy

January 30th, 2009

Maintain a Healthy Weight During Pregnancy

Executive Summary By Wilma Jones

weight gain during pregnancy

It is a general feeling out there among pregnant women that there is nothing that you can do to maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy and avoid too much weight gain. What we are concerned with is avoiding excessive weight gain or more specifically keeping your weight gain to a healthy and attractive minimum.

There are so many aggravating issues associated with weight gain and pregnancy. Not only can it be a particularly stressful and emotional time, but problems such as sagging breasts, stretch marks, cellulite and acne are common side effects. Furthermore an exercise and diet program will ensure that you gain the weight slowly and lose it quickly and be free of those common aches and pains.

Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplements During Pregnancy

By Moss Greene

Omega 3 fish oil supplements during pregnancy are necessary for a healthy baby.

Studies show fish oil with EPA and DHA during pregnancy contributes significantly to the baby’s nervous system and brain development and to better health for both mother and child.

The EPA and DHA in cold water fatty fish plays such a vital role in fetus development that many experts recommend pregnant women get at least 900mgs a day.

The Reality of Fish Oil Supplements During Pregnancy

Scientists believe the EPA and DHA found in fish and fish oil supplements can help even before conception. Women need omega 3 oils to produce healthy eggs and men need them for the production, energy, strength and mobility of their sperm.

EPA and DHA make up nearly 70% of a newborn baby’s brain, retina and nervous system. A deficiency is also linked to the risk of premature births and abnormally low birth weights.

Among pregnant women, only 2% had diets that met their needs. This deficiency is blamed on the depletion of omega 3 oils in our food, the concern over mercury in some fish and the trend against eating oil rich fish, such as salmon.

A Lack of Fish Oil EPA and DHA During Pregnancy

Not getting enough of these essential oils can also put the mother at risk for both pre-eclampsia (pregnancy-related high blood pressure) and post-partum depression.

A pregnant woman, for example, may lose as much as 3% of her own brain mass when she’s transferring EPA and DHA to her baby over the last three months of pregnancy. Women with post-partum depression have been found to have very low levels of omega 3 fatty acids in their mother’s milk and red blood cells.

To be healthy and to have healthy children, women need to eat more fatty fish and supplement their diets daily with high quality fish oil capsules containing balanced EPA and DHA.

As you can see, omega 3 fish oil supplements during pregnancy offer many benefits.

They helps to prevent pre-eclampsia and post-partum depression, while at the same time insuring that your baby gets the nutrition necessary to go full term, maintain a good body weight and to have a well developed brain and nervous system.

May you want to check out another article about birth or maternity.

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