The first signs of pregnancy can be confused with a number of different things because they are so similar to ailments like colds, and some of the signs can be pretty scary if you don’t know what to look for. This is why it’s important to have a good understanding of the first signs of pregnancy as they will help ease you mind of an ailment and help to guide you in having a check up and starting prenatal care. Some of the most common signs of pregnancy in the early stages include:

1. Nausea

When nausea is present in the morning especially after drinking liquids or eating, but then subside after a couple of hours, there is a chance of pregnancy. Nausea that occurs for a day or two are not necessarily the first signs of pregnancy but if it continues to occur on a daily basis and subside by each afternoon, a pregnancy test should be taken.

2. Spotting

While a menstrual period should not be expected during pregnancy, it is very normal for some light spotting to occur. In fact, spotting as one of the first signs of pregnancy is very common. This happens when the embryo is implanted into the uterus wall anywhere from six to eight days after conception.

3. Tender Breasts

With pregnancy accompanies swollen, tender breasts in most women. This symptom typically occurs between one and two weeks after conception and can last for months as your hormones work to balance out.

4. Fatigue

After conception, another one of the first signs of pregnancy is the feeling or tiredness and fatigue throughout the day. This symptom is emphasized if stress or depression is also being experienced. Fatigue can set in as early as the first week of pregnancy.

5. Problems with Backaches

Lower back pain is a common sign of pregnancy, starting with the lower back. The first weeks of pregnancy can come with nagging pain in the lower back, which may turn into a general yet dull pain throughout the entire time of pregnancy.

These first signs of pregnancy can help you to better assess whether taking a home pregnancy test or seeing your doctor for a test are necessary. However, you may be pregnant without experiencing any of the signs and the symptoms are not fool proof signs of pregnancy.

About the Author

Benjamin Stockton is a dedicated father to three children and forex tracker. To learn more about Simulated Forex Trading and the latest and most effective forex strategies, tools and mindset that will allow you to make lots of money from trading forex please visit http://learnforexstrategies.org now

A definitive guide for expectant mothers, organized in month-by-month chapters covers topics ranging from the emotional effects of pregnancy and bodily changes to fetal development and what to expect during delivery. Simultaneous. 200,000 first printing.”The Pregnancy Book is an excellent all-in-one guide to pregnancy from William and Martha Sears, creators of the concept of “attachment parenting.” Each of the book’s chapters represents a month, and deals with physical and emotional cha

List Price: $ 16.99

Price:

How soon after a miscarriage can you get pregnant? This would depend on how far down the pregnancy you were. The recovery period is somewhere within some weeks to some months.

During pregnancy, your body secretes Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone that eliminates the creation of ovulation-stimulating hormones. Levels of hCG are only going to start to fall after the fetal tissue is removed by means of childbirth labor or losing the unborn baby. Levels of hCG should fall to 0 % before you can begin ovulating. The span of time needed for hCG to disappear in a lady’s body relies on the hCG levels she’s got present in her system. The farther down the pregnancy that you are, the higher are your hCG levels the longer it takes that you could ovulate once again after a loss of an unborn child.

If you experienced a miscarriage you might get vaginal hemorrhaging like your monthly period. It might persist to 7 days. Regular menstrual cycle may possibly resume three to six weeks after the loss of an unborn child. You could also experience light bleeding or spotting. Cramps in the lower abdominal area could continue up to a couple of days. Breast milk may flow out of the breast and they can be still inflamed. Cold compress on the breast or a supportive bra can give relief. The pain typically vanishes entirely within 1 week. Other pregnancy-related hormones could stay in your body up to 2 months just after the miscarriage.

The risk of a miscarriage may be decreased with the right pre-conception care. Eighty-five percent of females who miscarried were able to have a successful pregnancy on the following try. 75 % of females who miscarried two or three times managed to get a successful pregnancy on the following try.

There is certainly no particular time period as to when you could possibly try to get pregnant once more. Yet, numerous physicians agree you need to wait a couple of months (usually 3 months) before you try to conceive once more. The longer you wait the bigger are your probability of an excellent pregnancy. By trying to have a baby earlier when your body is not set, your risk of another miscarriage is greater.

How could you lower your possibility of a miscarriage?

]]> http://www.prenataldepression.org/how-soon-after-a-miscarriage-can-you-get-pregnant-facts-you-need-to-know.html/feed 0 http://www.prenataldepression.org/what-you-need-to-know-about-hair-loss-and-pregnancy.html http://www.prenataldepression.org/what-you-need-to-know-about-hair-loss-and-pregnancy.html#comments Sat, 09 Jul 2011 13:50:48 +0000 admin http://www.prenataldepression.org/what-you-need-to-know-about-hair-loss-and-pregnancy.html Article by Lisa Tanady

Women who are either pregnant or who had just given birth should not be alarmed if they see notice that they are losing hair more than they normally would. This is quite a common occurrence, happening to about 50% of pregnant women, often during the last trimester of their pregnancy, onto about until five months after the baby is born.

Naturally, women do not want this happening, and this may add up to some depression that they may feel after giving birth. Postnatal depression often results after childbirth because of several reasons – fatigue, inability to adjust to the demands of a newborn baby, and a lowered self-esteem perhaps because of the sudden weight gain, and the rapid hair loss.

Factors Causing Hair Loss

During pregnancy, there are hormonal changes happening in a woman’s body which can affect hair growth. Some women may suddenly experience thickening of hair, while most would suffer from losing hair. These changes are dictated by the level of estrogen, the female hormone in the woman’s body during this stage. An increase in estrogen levels can assure you that you will not experience hair loss, however after childbirth, a woman’s estrogen level starts to subside, thus, the rapid hair loss.

Estrogen is predominantly found among women, although they are also present in smaller quantities among men. While the male hormones, testosterone and DHT are responsible for developing male qualities, they are also found to be responsible for male pattern baldness. Women also have the male hormone, testosterone, but its effects are countered by estrogen. If however, the estrogen levels in a woman’s body decreases, as it does after pregnancy, this may trigger the effects of testosterone on hair growth.

After pregnancy and childbirth, estrogen levels would usually normalize, making this type of hair loss during this period only temporary. If, however, the rapid hair loss continues, there maybe other factors causing this, such as a thyroid problem, stress and improper diet. Before getting too alarmed about your hair loss after pregnancy, consult your doctor who may be able to identify the exact causes of your thinning hair. Do not self-medicate, especially during or after pregnancy, as this may adversely affect your health.

About the Author

Lisa Tanady has been writing articles professionally, both online and offline, for more than 4 years. She is not only writing in the subject of health, but also in dieting, weight loss, acne and many other more. Check out her latest website in pond water pump which discusses and explains about fish pond filters.

If you are pregnant, or planning on becoming pregnant, a healthy pregnancy diet is essential for the health of your baby. A healthy pregnancy diet that is full of all the nutrients required, ensures normal fetal growth and development, as well as maintaining hormonal balances and energy levels in the mother’s body.

The general rule of thumb is that the mother’s diet needs to increase by approximately 300 calories per day while pregnant to account for the extra demands on her body. During pregnancy the mother’s body will increase in size by 40 – 60% but this is natural! It is evidence of a healthy growing fetus. However too much weight gain can be detrimental to both mother and baby, as can minimal weight gain, so it’s important to eat healthily and be monitored regularly by a physician.

A healthy pregnancy diet will generally consist of a balance of minerals, vitamins, proteins, fats, carbohydrates and fatty acids, all sourced from natural wholesome foods and complimented by prenatal vitamins that will be prescribed by the mother’s physician. This diet, along with plenty of fluids and exercise, will ensure that the usual physical symptoms like constipation, heartburn and nausea associated with being pregnant, will be significantly reduced or even avoided altogether. Other symptoms associated with being pregnant such as mood swings and depression may also be reduced, and the mother will have more energy to go about her daily routine and will have more strength for the pending birth.

So if a healthy pregnancy diet recommends wholesome natural foods, then it stands to reason that foods such as fast foods, processed foods, sweets, junk food, soft drinks and food out of boxes are all to be avoided!. These foods are high in artificial preservatives, trans fats, sugars and chemicals, all which have the potential to slow down or harm the natural development of your baby. Also remember that when you are eating these “bad” foods, that they are of very little nutritional value, so even if there is no harmful chemicals or fats in what you are eating, your baby is still starving for proper nutrients. For the baby, mortality and increased risk of pregnancy disorders are the main risks of poor pregnancy nutrition, as the baby is more susceptible to degenerative diseases and cognitive and neural disorders.

The importance of all the necessary elements cannot be over emphasised. Calcium is necessary for the healthy development of the bones and teeth. Proteins are the essential building blocks of life and are necessary for cell wall development and ultimately the healthy growth of tissues and organs. Vitamin C is necessary for the development of the baby’s immune system, as well as the healthy development of his teeth and bones. Vitamin D is required for proper tooth formation, insulin production, increased mineral absorption and fetal brain and organ development, while iron is necessary for haemoglobin production, as the mother needs to produce more blood as the fetus grows.

A healthy pregnancy diet has to be every mother’s first priority once she decides that she wants to become pregnant, or realises that she is pregnant. A healthy pregnancy diet only takes none months, but can have life-lasting implications, for both mother and child.

About the Author

As an expectant mum you need to know the facts of a healthy pregnancy diet. <= = Click this link NOW! Also make sure you take a look at this “must see” article on foods to eat when pregnant.

Therapeutic massage has been commonly-used for centuries to improve overall health condition, relieve stress, and reduce muscle tension. More often than not, women receive indefinite responses from the community health groups regarding the safety and efficiency of massage during the course of pregnancy. Studies and investigation show that massage during pregnancy is a vital contributory factor to the improvement of women’s prenatal health care and it should be given careful considerations.

The Advantages

Research studies point out that restorative massage during a woman’s pregnancy can relieve muscle aches and pains. Moreover, it lessens the symptoms of depression, thus, reducing anxiety. One of the fashionable massage techniques is the Swedish massage which provides the greatest benefits to pregnant women. This type of massage decreases muscle tension, it helps the blood to circulate well and is considered as the most recommended massage for pregnant women as it focuses on the skeletal and circulatory system.

Therapeutic massage studies has proved that pregnant women who received massages at least twice a week for a five-week period had lengthily decrease the levels of stress hormones like the epinephrines and cortisol. They also showed to have high levels of serotonin and dopamine which are known as the body’s “feel good” hormones. This evidence clearly suggests that therapeutic massage when incorporated in an average prenatal care can give mothers several health benefits.

Common conditions during pregnancy may include swelling and edema of the joints. These conditions are caused by increased pressure on a woman’s major blood vessels from the heavy uterus. The massage can help soft tissues to discharge these trapped fluids, and encourage in the eradication of waste products from the body.

Also, most women encounter sciatic nerve pain in the late stages of their pregnancy. The weight of the uterus can give pressure on the muscles of their lower and upper leg, which causes swelling and pressure on the nerves. Therapeutic massage has been confirmed to help reduce this pressure and extensively relieve sciatic nerve pain.

Precautions

Firstly, pregnant women should discuss the health benefits and risks of this type of massage with their individual prenatal caregivers. You need to further appreciate the benefits and risks of therapeutic massage prior to having it done. Hence, ensure that you consult a knowledgeable professional prior to incorporating massage to your routine pregnancy care.

If your obstetrician allowed you to get massage then you can schedule an appointment from a certified prenatal care massage therapist. These people are very well trained in the field of massage and they are proficient in addressing the sensitive areas of the pregnant body.

Incontestably, there are pregnant women who are considered to be high risk like for example women who are diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, hypertension, gestational diabetes and more. If you have any of these conditions, you should consult your health care provider prior to receiving a massage. In addition, most massage therapists will decline treatment to a woman during her first trimester of pregnancy, as there are figures that prove a higher rate of miscarriage during the first twelve weeks.

One great benefit of this massage is it can improve overall prenatal health for numerous pregnant women. Alongside the supervision of a health care provider, this therapy can therapeutically help relieve pregnant mothers of unfortunate medical symptoms. It is proven to produce better pregnancy outcome.

Therapeutic massage is a marvelous way to help reduce some of the discomforts connected with pregnancy, which include back and joint pain, anxiety and swelling. Yet again, it’s consequential to work closely with your prenatal care specialist before you sign up for the massage to be sure that this type of therapy is right for you.

About the Author

Hate those headaches and migraines? Chiropractic Orlando has provided efficient relief to thousands of individuals agonized from back and neck ailments. To find solutions to your displeasing health problems, pay a quick visit to the link now.

Best answer:

Answer by natalia
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/ppd/general/379.html

Add your own answer in the comments!

While quality oils can deliver many benefits to mother and baby safely, the majority do not.

A prenatal fish oil blend should be as pure as possible and the process of molecular distillation will ensure this. This separates out the toxins like mercury and arsenic from the oil and concentrates it many times over in omega 3.

With over 90% of pregnant women thought to be lacking in omega 3 fats as the body does not make them and the fact that over 70% of an unborn baby’s central nervous system and brain is made up of DHA fats, the right oil can make a significant difference.

With benefits as big as helping foetal development, higher IQ, improved eyesight and less risk of any behavioural problems later in life, a prenatal DHA fish oil supplement is simply a necessity.

For the mother they have shown to reduce the risk of post natal depression and premature birth while also helping to ensure a healthier pregnancy.

To get the maximum benefits, check the label to see if the oil is distilled and to see how much DHA you will be getting.

It is recommended to get at least 250mg of DHA in each capsule, with two a day being the standard dose.

Many on the market today contain more of the other fatty acid called EPA which although important is far less beneficial for mother and baby.

The best fish to use are Hoki and Tuna as they are rich in DHA fats and when blended together provide even greater health benefits. The Hoki is unique in that it has no detectable contamination as it lives in the pristine Southern Ocean of New Zealand, one of the purest on earth.

You should also check the oil is fresh and has no strong odour about it if you cut one open. You do not need an enteric coating or any flavouring as these are often used to disguise poor quality or stale oil.

Make no mistake about it, only the highest quality oils will provide the essential benefits without any risks and if you follow these tips you will be able to select a prenatal fish oil blend that does just that.

If you would like to learn more about high quality DHA omega 3 supplements, visit my website below.

Price:

If left unmanaged, stress may cause different health problems. And, one of these problems is depression. Women may either develop prenatal depression or post partum depression.

Prenatal depression is a type of depression that women develop during their pregnancy, while post partum depression is a type of depression that happens after giving birth to a child. Post and prenatal depression have similar symptoms. These symptoms are classified into two groups that include emotional symptoms and physical symptoms.

Among the emotional symptoms of postnatal and prenatal depression include anxiety, irritation, sadness and hopelessness. A woman suffering from depression may also tend to isolate herself from other people including her newborn baby or husband.

Post partum and prenatal depression also have physical symptoms, which include lack of focus and chronic fatigue. A woman who develops depression during pregnancy and after giving birth may also develop sleeping and eating disorder. When depressed, a woman may either lose her appetite or eat more than she used to. She may also have trouble going to sleep or she may tend to oversleep.

Now, there are a lot of things that you can do to avoid depression during and after pregnancy. First of all, you need to have an ideal diet. This means that you need to have a balanced meal, which also means that you need to eat vegetables, seafood and meat. You must also stay away from coffee while you’re pregnant and after giving birth. During your pregnancy, you may drink tea as an alternative to coffee.

Another way to avoid or deal with depression is by exercising. Many studies proved that by exercising, a person’s body produces dopamine and serotonin, which can help you feel good. It can also help regulate the flow of blood and oxygen that helps in absorbing and distributing nutrition to the whole body.

Now, there are still other ways to deal with depression and one such way is by learning how to meditate. This activity is very ideal because not only can it regulate your sleeping and eating habits, it can also help you bring harmony and balance to your mind, body and soul. To learn more about meditation, you can visit www.meditate.com.au/members or www.meditate.com.au/blog.

Me, on the other hand…..

I have secretly started to feel worse and worse about the pregnancy. I haven’t really told anyone, except mention a little to a close friend. I am filled to the brim with fear and paranoia that because of my past and health issues I will have damaged my child and be a horrible parent… I just feel like everything is a mistake. I feel like I am confused to have my baby. I have thought of abortion, I am pro-choice, but I don’t believe in it for myself. I don’t know how I could live with myself. I have thought of adoption too, but my boyfriend would never agree, and I don’t know how I could live knowing I gave away my kid. I can only imagine how upset my family would be. My family is so happy I am pregnant!

I have done everything right, take my prenatals, go to my visits, eat right, keep informed, stopped cold turkey smoking, drinking and smoking weed, even though it was medical. I changed all my skin care and hair products and house cleaning products to safe organic stuff. I was obsessed with doing everything so perfect and healthy. I felt so happy to ‘be a mom’

I have suffered from depression all my life, on and off and have been on various medications on and off. I also suffer from seasonal depression as well, and some years I took anti-depressants through the fall and winter months . (I had wanted to try the light therapy, but all the side effects are things I already suffer from and to risk having more migraines, nausea, sleeping problems wasn’t worth it to me! + they can be costly)

I have not been taking medication for a while now, and was doing well. I’ve been reading different self help books & I had been going to a therapist & I thought it helped, but it has not I guess. I know some medications are supposedly ‘safe’ for pregnancy, but I don’t want to go that route, I don’t buy it, and do not even like taking the medication for myself in the first place.

Each day is harder. I don’t have any fun when I do anything, I can’t get out of bed. Sometimes I can’t bring myself to even work. Sometimes I sleep 18 hours a day.Sometimes I can’t sleep. I think about dieing, but I know I would never do it, because I really want to Iive, enjoy life and be a Mom! I feel ashamed to feel this way when so many others would be happy to in my shoes. I don’t know what to do….if therapy, reading, and medication isn’t working or not good for me, what am I supposed to do? Is this semi-normal/hormonal thing? Will it just pass?

I just want to be feel happy and bring my baby into the world wanted- with a happy mom.

For any woman who has had a child, pregnancy can be a great experience excluding of course the nauseating pain that comes with child birth, but then that is an aside considering they have just brought a brand new life into the world. The problem is the pain is not the only side effect of a pregnancy, there is some degree of hair loss involved which is more of a postnatal effect as is well known by many mothers. Somewhere around 50% of women will experience this hair loss at some point in time after child birth. This usually happens within a one to five months period after child birth whereby in or around the third month is where in most cases the effect is really felt. This of course is a very distasteful situation and extremely unnerving especially since this affects their looks and their mood. What is even worst is when the person is a new or even worst yet a young mother which increases their rate for postnatal depression and lowering their self esteem.

What is the cause?

Hormones! Just that, hormones, the increase and/or loss of hair when it comes to pregnant women and new mothers is usually due to the flux in the level of female hormones, which basically is known as estrogen. Within the term of pregnancy most women would experience an increase in their scalp hair, which is because at this time there is a surplus of estrogen being pumped around the body. This causes their metabolisms to be sped up and nutrients spread to everywhere in the body including the scalp causing the increase in scalp hair.

After child birth however is the complete opposite whereby there is a decrease in estrogen in the body to return the body to its normal levels that it was before the pregnancy therefore resulting in what we deem, hair loss. Basically since the extra nutrients in the scalp can not be provided by the hormones anymore there is nothing to support the increase in hair therefore the hair gained falls out. There are also other causes that add to pack when it relates to this type of hair loss like discontinuing the use of contraceptives, miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion and hormonal imbalance resulting from various reasons.

Most women fortunately do not have to worry considering this effect is only temporary and most come out of this problem without even taking any treatment for it since the body does the work for itself. There is however some cases whereby the hair loss continues after the predetermined period and becomes something to worry about especially if the person was already afflicted with very thin hair in the first place. No real need to worry though since there are treatment options available to help out in form of hair care and hair nutrition which are the major factors in promoting healthy hair after child birth.

Hair Care

Proper hair care has been found to be in this case a major helper in the restoration of the hair to a thicker and lusher growth. Some of these methods however should be avoided during this time though because they put too much stress on the scalp such as pigtails, cornrows, hair weaves and braids. Using tight hair rollers is also not recommended. The application of essential oils is also helpful as they promote healthy hair growth which may include lavender, neroli, patchouli and sandalwood. Shampoos and conditioners containing biotin and silica are also advisable options available. What should also be noted is that wet hair should not be rubbed hard since the hair is usually brittle at this time.

Nutrition

As with all others symptoms the body may experience a healthy diet is always the way to go and especially so for hair loss after pregnancy. Foods like fruit and vegetables are usually the most ideal for the promotion of healthy hair and growth. Also along with you doctor advice which he/she can advise you to a prescription of nutritional supplements which can include Vitamin B, Vitamin, C, Vitamin E and zinc which an excellent source of nutrients for the hair.

Product Description
“What makes this book important is its comprehensiveness, its general readability, and the fact that it has been written by a practicing obstetrician rather than a health services researcher or an academic obstetrician” —The New England Journal of Medicine Offers a careful regimen for change and ready-to-use advice for pregnant women and their doctors.” —Publishers Weekly In this controversial volume, Dr. Strong dispels widespread misconceptions about th… More >>

Expecting Trouble: What Expectant Parents Should Know About Prenatal Care in America

Healthy parents raise emotionally healthy babies and a mother’s influence towards the same is great. No body can deny it. Hence it is imperative that females should have good mental health. The reality is, about 20 to 25 percent of women suffers with depression in their life time against 7 to 12 percent of men. This shows that women are very much prone to depressed than men. Depression strikes older women more often than men

In addition to environmental stressors and psychosocial factors, women are also influenced by biological factors to get depressed. That is why women are much prone to getting depressed than men

Reproductive systems like menstrual cycle, pregnancy, post pregnancy, hormonal genetic systems, infertility, decision of not having children, menopause are the leading factors for getting depression for women as far as biological factors are concerned.

Also other factors like Psychological which are clusters of certain personality traits, physical or sexual abuse and inadequate ways of coping problems leads to depression in women. They also have difficulties, coping with the demands of adjustment in newly married lives. In any family women’s initiative in taking care of old parents and upbringing the children are crucial. In addition to that if a mom goes for work, then she has a great responsibility of managing both the work and family. This keeps her running all the time. If women is housewife or becomes old, then she gets a lonely feeling after the children goes for school or job and husband to work. She will start thinking that the busy husband and children are not hearing and understanding her feelings. And if there is no intimate relationship with the husband the problem will be still worse. It will be so severe in case of divorce.

Women face depression due to hormonal changes after giving birth to child. These hormones have an effect on the brain chemistry that controls emotions and mood.

1) Baby blues – It happens in the day’s right after childbirth. The mother’s mood will swing. One time she will be very happy and immediately she will become sad. They feel irritable, impatient, anxious and restless. This will be only for one to two weeks after delivery and do not require any medication .During this period the new mother should socialize with other new mothers. This will help them to become normal.

2) Postpartum depression (PPD) – It can happen immediately after giving birth or even months after child birth. This is strong and effective than baby blue and persists as long as one year. On seriousness it requires medication. This type of depression can happen after the birth of any child and not confined only to the first child.

3) Postpartum psychosis-It happens to new mother within three months after giving birth. This is serious and severe. The mother will go out of reality. The symptoms are insomnia and angry and they need treatment

Researchers indicate that 74.4% women are not depressed either antenatally or postnatally and 4.8% women are depressed on at least one of two occasions’ .But 1.4% women persistently depressed on both occasions.

During menstrual cycle, in some women there will be recurrent brief depression which will be very brief. Some women experience behavioral and physical changes during the phases of their menstrual cycle. In some women the changes begin after ovulation till menstruation starts. It is called Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) – If the same thing is very severe and occurs regularly with other emotional physical changes including irritability and depression then it is called premenstrual dysphonic disorder (PMDD) which requires medication.

In old age during the transition into menopause, some women experience an increased risk for depression. These problems are not for men. Hence women have double the chance of getting depressed than men.

Depression in women is very serious and as a chain reaction it affects the family. Even stress during pregnancy can increase the chance of child getting depressed when becoming an adult. Hence women should be careful and should be aware of depression on how to avoid it. During pregnancy men should take care of their partner and ensure their partner is happy.

The first thing is, all men should understand the biological factors of women which also lead to depression in them. Having understood about that, men should handle the feelings of women in women’s perspective. They should understand the responsibilities of women at workplace and in family. They should be supportive to women. Seventy five percent of the problem will get solved by this.

A woman cannot avoid the biological factors and family responsibility. But what is in her control is her approach towards the issues and how she manages it. Usually women who are very much pessimistic thinkers and having low self esteem are prone to depression.

Education which brings financial freedom for women plays an important role in improving self esteem. They should have good reasoning power and logical approach in dealing with the issues.

Women should be social, they should not be isolated. Having a good network of friends will help them to share the issues and get genuine inputs and solutions to solve problems; this certainly helps in the event of not able to solve the problems of their own. They should not be shy of sharing their problem with others. Women do not assume that others will think that they are worthless if they seek others help. In fact so many people will be glad to help.

For women–Avoid stress, have good eating habits. Think great of you. Always try to be happy. SMILE. Have good sleep. Importantly, plan your finances. Done, you won’t be affected by depression.

Pregnancy risks are one of the many things; a woman should be concerned about, once she knows that her baby is on the way. The quality of medical care and awareness of behavioral risk factors has drastically reduced pregnancy related complications today. Yet, it is important that that every woman going through a period of pregnancy is aware of certain things related to her pregnancy week by week.

Pregnancy Risk Factors

Undesirable lifestyles, genetic background, and existing medical conditions are some of the main factors that contribute toward high-risk pregnancy.

How Is Your Lifestyle?

Unhealthful lifestyles before or during pregnancy adds to pregnancy risks. This can negatively affect the long-term health of the mother and newborn child. A would be mother should keep the following points in mind.

1. Quit substance use-Alcohol, drugs and cigarettes harm the developing fetus. Consume coffee and tea in moderation.

2. Learn the importance of nutrition-Avoid certain foods that may harm the unborn baby. Some of these are certain kinds of fish that contain mercury, raw meats and unpasteurized milk that can contain harmful bacteria called Listeria. Eat a balanced diet that contains proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and minerals.

3. Avoid stress and anxiety-Statistical studies have shown that expectant mothers who are distraught by anxiety, fear, and emotional turmoil are more prone to conditions like pregnancy-induced hypertension. This condition is also called Toxemia or Preeclampsia.

4. Exercise in moderation-Vigorous and strenuous physical activity can contribute to pregnancy risks. Consult your doctor for prenatal exercise tips. Moderate walking and light housework are helpful pregnancy exercises.

5. Avoid sex during pregnancy, if your doctor or pregnancy health care provider detects certain significant complications with your pregnancy.

Other Pregnancy Risks

Certain aspects of genetic background and existing medical conditions may add to pregnancy risks. These are:

1. Family history of genetic diseases or birth defects

2. Previous history of pregnancy loss

3. Pre-existing medical conditions, like high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease etc.

4. Age factor such as, getting pregnant before the age of 18 or after 35

5. Chronic anemia

If any of these or other factors hold true for you, it is important to consult your doctor at once.

Seek Support

It is good to keep in mind that pregnancy risks are an unpleasant fact. However have a positive approach towards life. Seek guidance from your doctor and persons close to you. Your husband, for instance can provide great emotional support. All these will go a long way in dispelling fear of pregnancy or labor. Keep in mind that you as a woman is endowed with God greatest gift -that of giving birth to another human being.

Many couples are struggling with infertility and miscarriage issues. However, they are not alone. Medical institutions, concerned professionals and religious communities aside from family and friends are ready to extend a helping hand. Most of these professionals or concerned individuals and pastoral communities join their hands together to form Infertility Support Groups.

The prospect of starting all over again and picking up the pieces are not dim but rather, there are silver linings on every dark clouded situation and the options are within one’s reach with these infertility support groups available at one’s disposal and of your own choosing. The following groups are classified as Institutional, offered by the medical facility after fully qualifying one to undergo treatment and medical procedures during prenatal and postnatal evaluations. Such services are offered and manned by their own professional staff. There is also the Sectoral support group that offers the coping skills, management of infertility stress, education and spiritual enhancement. Lastly, the Personal Support groups that prepare you to deal with one’s self guilt, depression and rebuilding family ties and personal relationships.

All these Infertility Support Groups are available at your own disposal and some of these groups give their services for free though donations from time to time are highly appreciated and put into good use. One recognizes and accepts the need for these groups when the following conditions set in:

1. When the feeling of sadness, despair and depression haunt you for a long period of time

2. The sudden change of appetite from the usual

3. The change in sleeping habits

4. The feeling of anxious worrying and agitations

5. Panic attacks regarding issues of infertility, miscarriages or child loss

6. The persistent feeling of guilt

7. Lethargic change of attitude towards usual activities

8. Irritability, feelings of frustration and anger

9. Thoughts of death or dying

10. Loss of rewarding relationships and feeling you’d rather be alone

These conditions are not permanent but are mere stepping stones that will open doors to a brighter future and meaningfull life that these infertility support groups aim to instill the hope, encouragement and healing process from within.