Pregnancy Lounge

Tag: answers

  • Pregnancy Weight Gain

    Pregnancy Weight Gain

    The appropriate weight gain during pregnancy depends on several factors, including your height, your age and how much you weighed before you conceived. Typically, if you are average or “normal” weight before becoming pregnant, it’s recommended that you gain between 25-35 pounds; about 2-5 pounds during the first trimester and approximately 1 pound per week after that.

    What is a healthy weight gain for pregnancy?

    If you are underweight before becoming pregnant, it’s recommended that you gain a bit more weight: between 28-40 pounds preferably (depending on the severity of the weight problem). If you are overweight before becoming pregnant, it’d recommended that your total weight gain be a bit less; between 15-25 pounds.

    If you are pregnant with multiples, you will need to gain more weight, depending on the number of babies you are carrying (approximately 35-50 pounds with twins). Weight gain during pregnancy should be gradual with the most weight being gained in the last trimester, although some women notice their weight gain slowing or possibly a slight weight loss just prior to delivery.

    Check with your doctor or midwife to determine how much weight gain is healthy for you. Remember, a proper diet and adequate weight gain during pregnancy is essential for your health and optimum development your baby.

    Inadequate weight gain can cause problems to your baby such as prematurity and low birth weight. Excessive weight gain can lead to a larger baby, which can complicate the birth process, cause certain health complications during pregnancy and may be difficult to lose after delivery. During pregnancy, weight gain can be broken down to: increased blood: 3-4 pounds, breast tissue: 1-2 pounds, uterine muscle: 2- 2 1/2 pounds, baby: 6- 8 1/2 pounds, placenta: 1 1/2- 2 pounds, amniotic fluid: 2 pounds, maternal fat stores: 7-8 pounds and water in maternal tissue: 4 pounds. What are these little bumps that have appeared around my nipples?

    Those little bumps that surround your nipples (on the dark area called the areola) are quite normal and are called Montgomery glands or, “Montgomery’s tubercles”. They have always been present, but during pregnancy, they tend to enlarge and become much more pronounced, typically first appearing during the first trimester. They become more prominent and swell as pregnancy progresses. They can vary greatly in number, averaging between 4 and 28 per areola. These bumps are glands that produce oils that lubricate your nipples, as well as discourage bacterial growth during breastfeeding. The lubrication they create helps to keep the skin around your nipples healthy and elastic. Using soap to wash them can remove these protective oils and even lead to cracked and sore nipples during breastfeeding.

    Is it safe to continue using tanning beds throughout pregnancy?

    The rays emitted by the bulbs in tanning beds are just as safe as the rays of the sun. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (from a tanning bed or direct sunlight) can prematurely age your skin and heighten your risk of developing skin cancer. Sun exposure can also increase your risk of developing (or intensify) Chloasma or, “the mask of pregnancy”, which is brown patches that appear on your face. It’s believed that the UV light used in tanning beds doesn’t reach far enough into the body to harm a developing baby, but anything that raises your core body temperature should be avoided. Overheating can harm your baby, particularly in the first trimester, when most major organs and structures are forming. UV rays have also been associated with folic acid deficiency, which can lead to neural tube defects. If you must tan, stay in for short periods of time, drink plenty of water and make sure the room is well ventilated. Consider using a spray bottle filled with water, during your tanning session to keep you cool. Get out of the tanning bed before you become hot.

    Menstrual Periods, Drinking and Hair Dye
    Cats, Ultrasounds and First Movements
    Fish, Exercising and Sleep
    Sex, Cesarean and Back Labor
    Tanning Beds, Weight Gain and Areola Changes
    Castor Oil, Smaller Shoes and Nesting Instincts
    First Prenatal Visit

  • Pregnancy Answers – FAQs

    Pregnancy Answers – FAQs

    There’s no conclusive evidence that indicates whether or not hair dye is a risk during pregnancy. Generally, pregnant women are advised against using hair dyes while pregnant, or at least during the first trimester when the baby’s organs are being formed and many neurological developments are taking place. Pregnant women are typically advised to stay clear of any chemicals or fumes, so if you choose to dye your hair, make sure you are in a well-ventilated room and always use gloves. Or, to be even more cautious, highlight your hair instead of fully coloring it. This way, the chemicals won’t come in contact with your scalp (because you apply the dye 1/2- 1 inch from your roots) and can’t get into your bloodstream.

    Can You Have Menstrual Periods During Pregnancy?

    Menstrual periods cannot happen during pregnancy. The cycling of your hormones stops because during pregnancy your hormone levels remain high, which is necessary for the pregnancy to continue. There are no major drops in these certain hormones (estrogen and progesterone) which would cause a period to occur. They are continuously produced, preventing the shedding of the uterine lining. Some women may appear to have light periods during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester, although the spotting or bleeding is caused by a different factor. Close to one percent of women have some abnormal bleeding early in pregnancy, often mistaken for a period. In half the cases, the bleeding stops and the pregnancy continues with no additional bleeding problems. Likely causes of bleeding in the first trimester include: threatened miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, a subchorionic hemorrhage and polyps on the cervix. Later in pregnancy, bleeding can be caused from placental problems or premature labor. If you experience any bleeding, you should notify your doctor or midwife immediately.

    Can a Few Drinks Before I Knew I Was Pregnant Affect My Baby?

    Don’t be alarmed if you had a drink or two before you found out you were pregnant, because it’s unlikely that it caused harm to your unborn baby, however, it’s very important to stop drinking as soon as you suspect you may be pregnant. No amount of alcohol is proven safe and continued drinking will cause a variety of problems for your baby including fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), prematurity, low birth weight, mental retardation and other abnormalities. Be careful for the remainder of your pregnancy and focus on staying as healthy as you can from now on.

    Menstrual Periods, Drinking and Hair Dye
    Cats, Ultrasounds and First Movements
    Fish, Exercising and Sleep
    Sex, Cesarean and Back Labor
    Tanning Beds, Weight Gain and Areola Changes
    Castor Oil, Smaller Shoes and Nesting Instincts
    First Prenatal Visit