Effective Steps in Inducing Labor
Pregnancy is something that entails a lot of prenatal and post-natal care. When a woman is pregnant, she should take care of herself and the baby inside her womb as well. She should look after such things like the food she eats, her vices, and even her emotional state during her pregnancy. She should also make it a point to consult with her physician as often as prescribed.
When a woman is already 38 weeks pregnant, one of the things she can do to ensure that her pregnancy will not cause her or her baby health problems is to induce labor. Inducing labor should be taken seriously, but it doesn’t have to be done through the use of medicines and the likes. In fact, inducing labor is best done the natural way. Here’s how:
Relax
Relax and do not allow yourself to get stressed out. Labor will not take place if the pregnant woman who is supposed to give birth is too tense. You can try the following to make it easy for you to relax if you are expecting a baby:
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do the inhale and exhale method
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massage yourself
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think of happy thoughts
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picture out what your baby will be
The power of sex
Sex is considered as one of the most effective ways of inducing labor. It is a good technique because it’s an intimate experience you can share with the father of your child, which would bring out a happier sense of well-being for you. This techniques works when the semen dilates the cervix.
Walk it
Walk your way in the park or at the mall. This is a form of exercise that will not be too tiring on your part. Make sure you drink lots of fluid and do not overdo the exercise.
Drink red tea
Raspberry red tea is a good alternative for toning the cervix. It can provide pregnant women with health benefits regardless of the stage of pregnancy that they are in.
Ride a swing
Go to the park and ride the swing. The movement of your body through riding the swing will help the baby be put in a position that is best for childbirth.
These natural ways to induce labor are safe and effective, but because pregnant women should always be cautious, they should also consult their physicians so as not to have health complications.
Monitoring Your Baby’s Development: The Third Month
At the third month of pregnancy, your baby has reached more milestones in development. Here are some of the developmental changes your baby undergoes in weeks 9-12.
Length and weight
By week 9, your baby measures .9-1.2 inches from crown to rump. By week 10, your baby is now officially a ‘fetus’. He/she now measures 1.25-1.68 inches and weigh a little less that 2/10 of an ounce. By the 11th week, your baby is about the size of a large lime - measuring about 1.75 to 2.4 inches from crown to rump, and weighing about 3/10 of an ounce. At the end of the 3rd month (week 12), your baby now measures 2.5-4 inches from crown to rump and weigh about 3/10 to an ounce.
Arms and legs
Your baby’s arms and legs are longer now. During week 9, the fingers might appear swollen where the pads are forming. After two weeks the fingernails are already showing identifying characteristics. By week 12, he/she will be fully formed, finger and toe nails included.
Movement
At the third month, your baby can now move his/her body and limbs. By his/her 10th week, he/she is already able to kick and swallow, though you won’t be able to feel it yet, but his/her movements can be visible during your ultrasound. By the end of this month, your baby can already open and close his/her fists and mouth.
Development of other body parts
Your baby’s head is now more erect and his neck is stronger and more developed. His/her bones start to harden. By your 10th week, the most critical part of you baby’s development has already passed. The eyes are still covered by skin, but this will eventually split to form eyelids. His/her external ears are also formed. The ’swooshing’ sound of your baby’s heartbeat is stronger and can already be heard using a Doppler stethoscope. His/her external genitalia is already starts to differentiate and have distinguishing characteristics. But it’s still hard to tell his/her gender without genetic testing.
At the end of the third month, your baby is fully formed. All he/she has to do is continue to grow and develop. He/she already has arms, hands, fingers, feet and toes, and the beginnings of teeth start to form. Your baby’s circulatory and urinary systems should be working fine and his/her liver is already producing bile.
Monitoring Your Baby’s Development: The Second Month
The second month of pregnancy is also very crucial to your baby’s development. In a matter of four weeks, your baby will undergo a number of developmental changes. Let us look at how your baby will be progressing in the second month of its life.
Embryo
In the second month of your baby’s life, he/she will will develop from a blastocyst into an embryo. By the 5th week of pregnancy, your baby will be around .05 inches long. The primitive circulatory system - Heart, brain, spinal cord, muscle and bones are still continuing to develop.
Faster heart beat
In his/her second month of life - around the 7th week, your baby’s heart will start to beat - slowly at first then it will beat very rapidly. The heart, along with the lungs continue to develop. Later on, at a more advance stage of pregnancy, your baby’s heart rate will slow down. By the end of this month heart activity is always present on ultrasound.
Which way is up
At this point in your pregnancy, it is quite hard to tell which way is up. As this month goes on, it will be easier to tell which end is the head and which end is the bottom.
Upper and lower limb buds
Around the 6th week of pregnancy, the upper and lower limb buds of your baby start to develop. Your baby has grown a bit during this stage. He/she now measures anywhere between .08-.16 inches. By the 7th week, the upper and lower limb buds start to look like short fins. The hands and feet now have a digital plate where the fingers and toes will develop. Your baby also goes through a bit of a growth spurt during this week - he/she will measure anywhere between .44 - .52 inches. By the 8th week, your baby’s arms have grown longer and bend at the elbows. The places where the fingers and toes will grow are becoming notched. Your baby now measures anywhere between .56 - .08 inches.
Lungs, liver, pancreas, stomach and other body parts.
The beginnings of a primitive liver, lungs, pancreas and stomach will also begin to develop. So do your baby’s eyes and nostrils. By the 8th week of pregnancy, your baby’s eyelids fold and the ears start to form. The tip of the nose is also visible now.
Baby’s gender
Though your baby already has a sex, it is not yet apparent without genetic screening.
Monitoring Your Baby’s Development: The 1st Month
Your baby’s development is just amazing. A lot can happen in matter of weeks. The first few weeks of life are the most crucial period for your baby. Let us look at your child’s development in the first 4 weeks of his or her life.
Ovulation
Ovulation is the perfect time for you to get pregnant. The egg now only needs to be fertilized.
Conception
This is when the egg is fertilized by the sperm, and voila! You’re pregnant.
Your baby’s gender
Your baby’s gender is automatically set the moment the egg was fertilized. The egg either carries either an “X” or a “Y” chromosome. Though your baby already has a gender, you won’t be able to tell yet if it’s a girl or a boy. You’re going to have to wait until somewhere around the 7th month.
Implantation
At this point, you, the mom to be may experience spotting or implantation bleeding. This can happened around 10-14 days after conception. You may mistake the spotting as the start of your period. However, you will notice the bleeding id extremely light and lasts only a day or so.
Neural tubes start to form
The neural tubes will later develop into the nervous system - the brain, the spinal cord, hair and skin. At this point, the foundation for your baby’s thought, senses, feeling, etc.
Heart and primitive circulatory system begin to form
With the first month of your baby’s life, a primitive circulatory system starts form rapidly. This primitive circulatory system is the life support that will carry your baby for his/her entire life.
Vaccination of Pregnant Women
Normally vaccines are used to prevent diseases and infections. However, there are some theoretical risk with regards to its effects on a pregnant woman and the unborn child.
Effects of vaccines on pregnant women
At present, the risk to a developing fetus from vaccinating a mother during pregnancy is still primarily theoretical. Live vaccines pose a theoretical threat to the unborn child. But there is still no evidence of risk of vaccinating pregant women, whether be it with inactivated virus, bacterial vaccines or toxoids. The benefits of getting vaccinated usually outweigh the potential risks, when there’s a high possibility of developing a disease, when infection poses a risk to both the mother and the fetus, and when the vaccine is unlikely to cause harm. Live-virus vaccines are generally contraindicated because pf the theoretical risk of transmitting the vaccine virus to the fetus.
Theoretical risk effects
When a pregnant woman is vaccinated or if a woman is vaccinated and became pregnant even a month prior to pregnancy, the theoretical risk is that the vaccines may cause birth defects like those that occur from chickenpox. These birth defects include: limb abnormalities including absence or underdevelopment; abnormal brain development; mental retardation; scarring of the skin; eye abnormalities.
In cases where a pregnant women is administered vaccines or if a woman later becomes after having been vaccinated recently, she should seek counseling to know the potential effects of the virus on the fetus.
However, vaccination is not an indication to terminate pregnancy. Regardless of the type of vaccine used, vaccination of pregnant women should be considered on the basis of risks versus benefits
(source:http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/preg-guide.htm)
Pregnancy Symptoms and Other Explanations
Different women have different different pregnancy symptoms. The most common symptom though, is a missed period.
It important to know and understand the various signs and symptoms of pregnancy because there may be an underlying condition to each symptom other than pregnancy.
Some women do not develop symptoms within the first weeks of pregnancy. Some my not even develop symptoms at all. While for other women, symptoms develop as early as week after conception.
Below are some of the most common pregnancy symptoms, and their alternative explanations (other than pregnancy). If you have any of the following symptoms, take a pregnancy test.
Implantation Bleeding
It is one of the earliest symptoms of pregnancy. Six to twelve days after conceiving, the embryo implants itself into the uterine wall. During this time, some women experience spotting and even some cramping.
Alternative explanations: actual or altered menstruation, changes in birth control pill, infection or abrasion gotten from intercourse.
Delay or Difference in Menstruation
The most common symptom leading women to test pregnancy. Your period should stop when you get pregnant. Some women experience bleeding while they are pregnant, but it should be shorter or lighter than a regular period.
Alternative explanations: excessive weight gain or loss, fatigue, hormonal imbalance ot problems, stress, stopping taking birth control pills, breast feeding.
Swollen/Tender Breasts
This common pregnancy symptom occurs one to two weeks after conception. Some women report that their breasts feel tender to touch, are sore or swollen.
Alternative explanations: hormonal imbalance, birth control pills, PMS.
Fatigue/Tiredness
Common pregnancy symptoms which can start as early as the the first week after conception.
Alternative explanations:stress, exhaustion, depression, illnesses such as the common cold, flu, etc.
Nausea or Morning Sickness
A popular pregnancy symptom that occurs 2-8 weeks after pregnancy after conception. Most women experience morning sickness throughout their pregnancy, while some women don’t experience morning sickness at all.
Alternative explanations: stress, stomach disorders or food poisoning.
Backaches
Lower backaches are common pregnancy symptom which occurs within the first few months of pregnancy, but may also be experienced throughout the entire pregnancy.
Alternative explanations: impending menstruation, stress, back problems, physical and/or mental strain
Backaches:
Lower backaches may be a symptom that occurs early in pregnancy; however, it is common to experience a dull backache throughout an entire pregnancy.
Other Explanations: Impending menstruation, stress, other back problems, and physical or mental strains.
Headaches
Another common pregnancy symptom caused by the sudden surge of hormones in the body. This surge causes headaches early in the pregnancy.
Alternative explanations: ailments that can be the source of frequent headaches, eye strain, impending menstruation, dehydration, caffeine withdrawal.
Frequent Urination
A common pregnancy symptom which occurs about 6-8 weeks after conception.
Alternative explanations:urinary tract infection, increased liquid intake, excessive diuretics, diabetes.
Darkening of Areolas
It is common in pregnant women for the skin around the nipples to get darker.
Alternative explanation: hormonal imbalance, left over from a previous pregnancy. If the change in color is a bit strange, for instance purplish, it may be a sign of more a serious condition such as cancer. However, in the absence of lumps or rashes, it may simply be just hormones and is nothing to be worried about.
However, mentioning it to your physician is a good idea.
Food Cravings
Food cravings are common in pregnant women and may be experienced throughout the entire pregnancy.
Alternative explanation: poor diet or lack of a certain nutrient, stress, depression or impending menstruation.
(source:http://www.americanpregnancy.org/gettingpregnant/earlypregnancysymptoms.html)
Pregnancy and Fevers
Having a fever is uncomfortable enough for anybody, but when you are pregnant it becomes 100 times worse simply because you have another life to worry about. A life that is dependent on you.
What is Fever
Dr. Robert Atlas, OB/GYN and chair of the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, says “Typically, there is no difference in what is considered a fever in the pregnant and non-pregnant state”. But what is fever? Dr. Randy Fink, an OB/GYN in private practice in Miami, Fla., and a Fellow in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology says a fever is “anything greater than 100.4 Fahrenheit”
Risks of Fever in pregnant women
According to Dr. Fink, “There is data in both human and animal studies that a high fever during the first 45 to 60 days of gestation the time during which organs are developing can cause birth defects”. This means that palces where there are extremely high temperatures like saunas and Jacuzzis, should be avoided by pregnant women. Though we sweat when we exercise, temperature increases during exercises for pregnant women are not associated to birth defects. Though Dr. Fink advises that pregnant women who do exercise should stay well hydrated and preferably to exercise in a controlled, air-conditioned environment.
Risks when a pregnant woman gets fever is more common mostly in the first trimester. During the final trimester, the the common risk is premature birth. Of course you have to know the cause of your fever and if can harm your baby. Dr. Fink says fever caused by viral upper-respiratory infection isn’t likely to have an effect on the baby, but but fever due to a kidney infection can cause preterm labor and serious illness to the mother. Chicken pox, on the other hand can be devastating to both the mother and the baby.
Some fevers can be caused by pregnancy, such as an intra-amniotic infection. This is caused by a bacteria that got into the he fluid that surrounds the baby and requires that the baby be delivered no matter what the gestational age. A fever from this condition is accompanied by abdominal pain and uterine tenderness, and sometimes contractions.
Treatment Options
Fevers that are not caused by any serious illness can be treated by taking medication. Some medications are safe for pregnant women, such as Tlenol. Fink says that most fevers usually go away on their own. Still, having a fever is never a good feeling and high temperatures are not good for the baby. Fink advises that all fevers should be treated.
If you are uncomfortable taking medication for your fever, you can opt for cold compresses under the arms, behind the knees and behind the neck. Other options can be feels compresses, however, Dr. Fink believes they are more effective for injuries rather than fever. Cooling measures such as cool baths, alcohol on the skin and cooling blankets, on the other hand are not always advisable since they could result in rapid loss of body heat which can lead to other problems.
It is also important that your fever do not last more than 24 to 36 hours. Otherwise, you should consult your doctor about it immediately. Dr. Fink lists other warning signs to look for:
- Abdominal pain
- Uterine tenderness
- Contractions
- Nausea/vomiting
- Rash
Fevers that are linked to rashes are usually mild, viral infections that do not need any kin dof medication or treatment, but still should be reported to your doctor. Dr. Fink stand on antibiotics is that “Just because you have a fever, you do not necessarily need antibiotics. Most prudent clinicians will avoid antibiotics in pregnant women without a confirmed bacterial infection to avoid unnecessarily exposing the fetus to medications.”
Dr. Atlas, on the other hand, recommends that you first take your temperature and contact your doctor depending on how high it is. If any of your family members got sick then got better immediately, then it is nothing to worry about, since it may just be common cold. Do not attempt to treat yourself. It could lead to more serious problems. Let your doctors recommend the proper treatment for you. Dr. Atlas says “pregnancy is an immunosuppressive state, so people can become ill quicker”.
Bottomline, Dr. Fink says, is that “you’re entitled to get sick just like someone who is not pregnant, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind.”
Proper precautions
Apart from cure, prevention is also very important. Here ares some of Dr. Fink’s recommendations:
- Be conscientious about hand washing
- Avoid people with known infectious diseases
- Make sure you’re up to date on your vaccinations
- Avoid changing cat litter
- Follow the USDA and CDC recommendations regarding a potentially serious but uncommon infectious source of fever known as Listeria. Here are a few:
- Do not drink raw (unpasteurized) milk or foods that contain unpasteurized milk
- Wash hands, knives and cutting boards after handling uncooked food
- Do not eat salads made in the store such as ham salad, chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad or seafood salad
BBT and Pregnancy
Basal body temperature can be a means to help women plan their pregnancy. It is a method wherein a woman takes her body temperature the first thing she wakes up and charts it form day to day. The temperature readings should be accurate enough to a tenth of a degree in order to get the more accurate measurements. The reason for this is because the changes in basal body temperature may provide information to help determine a woman’s ovulation time.The basal body temperature method can be an effective means of determining a woman’s ovulation in that the body undergoes some temperature changes during that time. The changes happen during the process of the egg being implanted into the uterine lining. In the first part of the woman’s cycle, the waking temperature becomes low due to the effect of the estrogen hormone. After ovulating, the body temperature rises to a new level and will remain that way for about 12 to 16 days. The temperature will then change once more when the woman starts to bleed during menstruation.
The woman’s basal body temperature can also be a means to determine if she is pregnant or not. When a woman conceives, the fertilized egg from the fallopian tube starts to travel its way into the uterus where it will ultimately settles. This can take about a week. This is usually the time that the woman’s body may be able to detect the conception. It is only during this time that the body begins releasing hCG or human chronic gonadotropin or the pregnancy hormone. The hCG is first detected in the blood and later on, in the woman’s urine.
With the release of the hormone hCG, women usually experience a change in their basal body temperature. The changes in the temperature may not be as dramatic as the previous temperature shifts, but they can be monitored from about a week to twelve days after the first rise of temperatures.
In taking one’s basal body temperature, it is important to use a thermometer that provides the smallest degree changes. There are special BBT thermometers available in order to do this. For a more accurate measurement of the basal body temperature, it is important for women to take their oral temperatures the very first thing when waking up. It is also important to take the temperature at the same time every day. Eating, drinking or smoking should be avoided before taking the temperature.
Avoiding Backaches During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a very delicate phase for a woman, especially when it comes to her health. One of the problems pregnant women encounter is that they experience back pains. This is because ligaments become softer and stretch to prepare for labor, thus putting strain on the lower back and pelvis. They can also feel backaches as the baby grows inside their belly, and as the hollow on their lower backs may increase.Here are some steps to avoid such predicament.
Avoid lifting heavy objects - Doing so puts strain on your lower back, and it becomes worse during pregnancy. However, if you do have to carry something heavy, hold it close to your body.
Be aware of your posture - When picking or lifting something up from the floor, bend your knees and keep your back straight. You don’t wanna “squish” the baby.
Don’t twist your back - When turning around, move with your feet and make a wide turn. This is to avoid twisting you spine, and eventually hurt your back.
Wear flat shoes - These allow your weight to be distributed evenly.
Avoid stooping too much - When working, whether in the office or at home, make sure that the desk or surface is high enough so you don’t have to stoop most of the time.
Balance your weight - When carrying two loads on both hands, like two baskets, try to balance your body and not be pulled in by the weight of the heavier load, which would make you lean on one side.
Sit straight - When sitting, make sure that you back is straight and well-supported.
Sleep on a firm bed - This actually prevents your back from bending too much. If your mattress is too soft, place a piece of hard cardboard underneath the sheets.
Have a massage - Having someone massage your lower back actually relieves the pain.
Try wearing a support corset - This requires prescription from your doctor.
Get enough rest - Your back would feel more painful during the latter part of pregnancy as the baby inside you becomes bigger and heavier. Make sure you get enough rest by that time.
Early Signs of Pregnancy
If you’re trying to get pregnant, then you should know the common signs and symptoms that tell you’re expecting a baby. Getting a missed period or experiencing morning sickness is not always a sure sign that you’re pregnant. It is better to examine what these symptoms mean so that you could add up the signs telling that you’re most likely to be along the family way. Then you can take a simple pregnancy test or consult your doctor to confirm your pregnancy.Here are the early signs of pregnancy and how they are likely to tell that you’re pregnant:
Missed period. Although missing your period is not always a sure positive sign, this is more probably a good indicator of pregnancy. That is why if you’re planning to get pregnant, keep in mind the day that you’re expecting your period. This is the time that you should be taking home pregnancy tests. In rare cases, there are women who still have their period through out their pregnancy. Also some women experience implantation bleeding at the time of their period, although these are usually shorter or lighter than their normal period.
Morning sickness. Usually, having nausea and vomiting are associated with pregnant women. But not all pregnant women experience morning sickness. It also may not affect you until two weeks or a month after missing your period. Other variations of the sickness may also occur. Some women get sick at night, some are sick the whole day, while others come and go with their own pattern.
Breast changes. This is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. Such breast changes may include fullness, tenderness, heightened sensitivity, changes in size, and darkening of the areola. Breast tenderness is usually experienced by many during their pregnancy and before their menstrual cycle.
Fullness and bloating. Some women immediately start to bloat, while some experience fullness prior to their periods. Sometimes the symptoms of pregnancy are just like those of PMS. But don’t always rule out that you’re pregnant once you experience PMS. Some also feel pain in the abdominal area or complain of constipation and diarrhea during pregnancy.
Increased urination. Once you’re pregnant, your blood volume and kidney size both increase. These factors make you experience more frequent urination.
Mood swings and irritability. Changes in hormones make headaches more frequent during pregnancy. Fatigue combined with hormonal changes also cause most pregnant women to have mood swings and become more irritable. But remember that these are also signs of PMS.
Vaginal discharge. A slight increase in vaginal secretions may be a sign of pregnancy. This happens because the cervix is building mucus to block its opening, protecting the baby from infections. Remember that such vaginal discharge should not smell, itch or burn. Otherwise it may indicate an infection which will require proper medication.
