How To Alleviate The Pain Of Swollen Ankles And Feet During Pregnancy
November 8th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Contending With Swollen Ankles And Feet During Pregnancy
There are a lot of exciting things to consider when you are pregnant.There are too, unfortunately, many aspects of pregnancy which we hope we do not acquire, and if we do we try to forget about as soon as possible. Swollen ankles and feet are not the image that most of us have when we first discover we are pregnant.We think of ourselves appearing good and feeling positive.
When To Be Concerned About Swollen Ankles And Feet
There's a condition, during pregnancy, called pre-eclampsia.This occurs during the last trimester and symptoms are monitored and looked for at every checkup during the risk period.One of the conspicuous symptoms is swollen ankles and feet, yet, it is quite possible to have swollen ankles and feet without developing pre-eclampsia. If you have any concerns you should immediately book an appointment with your doctor or midwife, but do not panic.
Getting by With Swollen Ankles And Feet
During pregnancy, the circulation system of the mother is unified with her unborn baby.This puts immense pressure on the whole of a woman’s body.This increases circulation and the added weight being carried can cause feet to become uncomfortable and to puff up.It's a good idea to go shoe shopping during the first trimester of pregnancy and to look for some wide, comfortable flat shoes.Endeavour to find shoes which are a bit fun as you may be wearing them throughout the pregnancy and as you observe other items of clothing getting too small, or uncomfortable it is nice to be able to put on comfortable shoes which will get you to feel better.Remember that if you choose shoes with a strap that the strap needs to be adjustable and should not be too close to the ankle as this may get uncomfortable during the advanced stages of pregnancy.
What To Do With Swollen Ankles And Feet
There is one great bit of advice – rest. If you touch your feet they may feel hot. This is where the pain pads come into their own.It would be nice to think that you may have a foot massage every time you sat and put your feet up, but that is unfortunately not always achievable.Equally rubbing your own feet during pregnancy gets truly difficult when your bump gets bigger.Heat and water massagers are not great for hot feet – they just seem to make you feel additional discomfit. So the solution is these little pain pads which you pop in the fridge.They are great, you'll be able to either put your feet on top of them or cool your soles or you can place them under, or on top, of your ankles. This creates a lovely cooling effect which will quickly become a nightly ritual.If you are in a hot climate, or planning to visit hot climes during pregnancy, then these are crucial packing as they will help to keep you soothed. They can also be used to relieve the itch of mosquito bites, which is useful as antihistamines are not recommended for pregnant or breast feeding women any more.
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Acid Reflux And Pregnancy
November 8th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Keeping Pregnant Women Away From Acid Reflux Dilemma
It is a known common experience that most pregnant women will have heartburn and this can happen for various reasons.
One of these is the increase of hormones in a woman’s body while they are pregnant. The occurrence of this will result in softening the ligaments which function is to keep the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) firmly closed. As LES relaxes, the tendency is for the gastric acids and ingested foods to reflux back up into the esophagus area and throat.
Another reason they experience heartburn during pregnancy is from the changes occurring within her body as the baby begins to develop and grow, increasing pressure on her stomach. This will cause the stomach to force it’s contents up into the LES and the esophagus.
Fortunately, there are several ways pregnant women can help to elevate some of the painful discomforts from acid reflux. You can use some of the following tips, however, keep in mind they may not completely remove all heartburn.
1. Refrain from foods already known to be causes of heartburn. Examples of this are chocolates, spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, mustard, tomatoes and tomato based products, fatty foods, fried foods, and highly seasoned dishes. You may also want to consult your physician on what food and beverage items you should or should not be ingesting.
2. Avoid beverages with caffeine in them, such as; coffee, tea and soda. Too much of these will cause the LES to relax and let the acid to return into the esophagus.
3. Stay away from alcohol beverages. This, like caffeine tends to relax the LES thus, creating the same effect of triggering heartburn.
4. Avoid eating large meals. You will find that by eating smaller meals more often through out the day will be a big help.
5. Avoid rush when eating your meals. Make sure to chew your food well and take your time when eating, as this will also help cut back on the amount of heartburn you experience.
6. Get plenty of rest a after you eat each meal and do not get involved in any activity that will interfere with your body digestive system.
7. A pregnant woman is advised to take more glasses of water a day, at least 8 to 10 glasses, though this must be taken not just during meals. Because if this is the stomach will expand and the LES will be under more pressure causing it to open when it shouldn’t. Therefore, you should keep in mind to only drink water and other fluids between meals.
8. When sleeping elevate the head of the bed to be at least six to eight inches high. You should try to elevate both your head and shoulder areas when sleeping. Through this, the gravity will work to keep the acids in your stomach in their place; in the stomach, not in the esophagus. Try to consult physicians to gain additional knowledge on how to relieve night time heartburn.
9. Make sure the clothes you wear are not too tight. If you wear clothes that are too tight around the stomach area, than that can trigger heartburn as well.
10. Be careful how you bend down to pick up things, always use your knees. You do not want to put too much pressure on your stomach.
11. Don’t slouch; rather sit erect in a relaxing chair.
12. Keep an eye on your weight too, because too much fat around your stomach will put undue stress on it. When that happens, it will force the contents within the stomach to go up toward the esophagus much easier. You should always follow your doctors advice on the recommended eating guidelines.
13. Avoid smoking. Doctors stated that smoking could cause several effects to a pregnant woman, and one is that it can add to the possibility of experiencing heartburn. By following all these tips, you will have a much healthier and happier pregnancy.
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Fertility Problems
September 16th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Fertility Problems Do Not Need to Break Up Your Marriage!
It’s a common fear among many couples that fertility problems are going to wreak havoc on their marriage and even lead to divorce. Women in particular seem to harbor the fear that their husbands feel as if they are failing them, and will trade them in for a “working model.” However, it has been proven that many couples are able to address and even overcome their fertility problems to not only keep their marriage together, but to make it even stronger as well. So how can a couple do this? How can they be sure that their marriage one of those that not only survives, but that thrives, even through the terribly difficult issue of fertility problems? Let’s discuss a few pointers here.
Communication is Key
One of the worse mistakes any couple can make when dealing with fertility problems is to keep their thoughts and feelings bottled up inside. This can only cause tension and further stress, not only for themselves, but on their marriage as well. It’s important to keep up with regular communication between the two of you. And remember, communication means listening as well as talking, so it’s important to listen as much as it is to talk. Are you really hearing what your spouse is telling you about his or her feelings and expectations? Are you willing to step up and be there for him or her in the way they really need?
Avoid Blame and Anger
Remember, your fertility problems are probably not your partner’s fault, and even if it is, there is no reason for blame or anger. Remember that things happen that are often out of one’s control, and there’s no reason to allow resentment to build. Additionally, avoiding blame for fertility problems means not putting unnecessary blame on yourself either. Even if you are the one who has physical limitations that are causing issues with conception, again, there is no need for unnecessary anger or resentment. Many people are born with physical issues they need to have addressed and that perhaps interfere with their marriage; this is part of the world we live in today.
Appreciate the Good
Your fertility problems do not need to define you or your marriage. Chances are there are many, many positive things in your life and your relationship overall that you can still appreciate and enjoy individually and as a couple. Make time for activities that you can do together, and be sure that you don’t talk about your fertility issues during this time. Remember that there are probably many things in your life that you can still enjoy while working on addressing your fertility problems.
Help for Causes of Infertility
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