Introduction
Pregnancy is a stage in a women life which brings a huge and major change in her, physically as well as mentally. The symptoms of pregnancy vary from women to women and pregnancy1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 to pregnancy, however the most important and obvious symptom or indicator of pregnancy is missed periods or delayed menstrual cycle. Signs and symptoms of pregnancy can be experienced within a week of conception, or other women may experience their symptoms over a few weeks or may not develop any symptoms at all.
Some of the common pregnancy signs and symptoms are:
Parental Care
Prenatal care is simply care during pregnancy it is the most crucial period for a pregnant women, her family as well as for her health services provider as a pregnant women needs a lot of care during this period.7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 It is important to keep both mother and baby healthy. Mothers who do not receive prenatal care are more risk at getting complications and their babies are more at risk of having low birth weight and the risk of dying is five times more than those of children receiving prenatal care. If a mother is getting prenatal care on a regular basis from health care providers then any health related issue and complication can be detected on early stages of pregnancy and can be further minimized. Prenatal care not only provides bodily care but also influences women to adopt good healthy eating habits, get emotional or mental counseling or support whenever needed, to get to know about local family services and prepare mother for child birth as well as being parents. Doctor, nurse, WIC nutritionist and others make a good health care team, which will monitor a women health, well being and life style properly. Regular tests, checkups, exams will be completed to check on the health of mother and baby. Women should ask her health care provider about possible changes she needs or might needs to encourage healthy pregnancy. And the team should collect that information they need to make any possible choices or changes.
Stages of Pregnancy
Counting from the first day of the last menstrual period a typical pregnancy lasts for 280 days or 40 weeks. The estimated date of confinement (EDC) of the infant is estimated from the LMP date. A health care provider will take sonogram and other measurements to get more accurate EDC. A full term infant is the one who is born at 38 to 40 weeks of gestation period. An average pregnancy lasts for about 40 weeks and is divided into three trimesters, in which each trimester is about 13-14 weeks or about 3 months.
Changes during Pregnancy
Breast changes
As women`s body start to undergo many changes, there is an increase in number of milk glands as body starts to prepare milk.
There is a fat accumulation on breasts.
As the blood flow increases in the breast, bluish veins starts to appear on them.
The area around nipple and areola darkens. Areolas grow larger and nipple stick out more.
Montgomery’s tubercles, small glands on the surface of the areola, become raised and bumpy. These glands produce an oily substance that keeps the nipples are soft.
During first three months of pregnancy breasts may continue to grow in size and weight, and first colostrums will appear in third month. It is a yellow thick nutrient full of nutrient and immune component-rich milk which breast produces for the baby during first few days of life. In some women there may be a slight drainage of colostrums from nipples. In the last trimester the breast continues to expand from the enlargement of milk-making cells and engorgement with colostrums.
Swelling
During pregnancy some women may have edema that is swelling in hands, face, legs, ankles, and/or feet. Edema is a condition of extra fluid in the body and it may be worsen in late pregnancy.
To relief swelling
Do not stand for long time.
Raise feet. Mother should try to sleep with legs propped up on pillows. This keeps fluid from building up in the lower half of the body.
Mother should exercise often and be physically active it helps to improve circulation, which reduces edema
Avoid garters, socks or stockings that constrict the leg.
Mouth and tooth changes
Due to pregnancy hormones gums may swell and bleed. Also gums and teeth become more prone to cavities and gum diseases. And to ensure mouth remains healthy a dental check up in early pregnancy is must. Avoiding dental health can lead to further problems. It is important that during a dental check mother should aware dentist about her pregnancy.
Heartburn and indigestion
Heartburn and indigestion are not the same conditions. When stomach takes more time to digest food or to get empty then its normal time it is known as indigestion. The symptoms include:
Bloating, gas, feeling full etc. Burning feeling in throat and chest is known as heartburn. Muscle valve between the stomach and esophagus are relaxed by pregnancy hormones which mainly causes heartburn during pregnancy. When the valve does not close, stomach acids leak into the esophagus. As the baby grows it puts pressure on stomach and causes stomach acid to leak into esophagus.
To prevent indigestion and heartburn
Insisted of eating full big meals try to eat small meals frequently
Chew food properly and slowly
Limit liquids within meals
Do a proper movement for an hour after meal
Limit oily processed foods
Do not consume too much citrus fruits, juices, carbonated drink and caffeine
Do not eat or drink right before bed or have dinner till 8pmonly
Wear loose comfortable cloths.
Nausea and vomiting
Often called as morning sickness, nausea and vomiting are the most common problems during pregnancy. Although it occur at any time of the day. Most of the women face this issue only during first trimester while as some women may face this throughout there pregnancy. Morning sickness may be more severe when women is in her first pregnancy or multi-fetal pregnancies. Mild nausea and vomiting is not harmful for mother or baby and it does not mean that the baby is sick or there is any complication.
Tips to relieve morning sickness
Before getting out of bed in the morning, relax and sit on the side of the bed for few minutes and then get up slowly.
Try to get more fresh air
Insisted of eating full big meals try to eat small meals frequently
Do a proper movement for an hour at-least after meal
Avoid strong smells
Limit oily spicy processed foods instead eat low fat, easy to digest foods like :plain pasta, crackers, potatoes, rice, fruits and vegetables, lean meats, fish, poultry and eggs.
Drinking ginger ale or peppermint tea may help relieve these symptoms for some women.
Constipation and Gas
Constipation during gas has several reasons including:
Hormone changes: Digestive processes are slowed during pregnancy due to the increased level of hormone progesterone
Iron supplements: As it is prescribed to prevent anemia in pregnancy it makes constipation worse.
Changes in digestion: The colon absorbs more water during pregnancy so less water is available for stool formation.
At the end of pregnancy as baby is fully grown it puts more pressure on rectum due to which gas builds up in abdomen and cause bloating and pain.
Tips to manage constipation during pregnancy:
Hemorrhoids
Problem of constipation during pregnancy can lead to hemorrhoids, and it is a condition in which the blood vessels around anus get swollen. These vessels are already present but due to pressure they are stretched. This swelling is caused by two main reasons that is extra blood in the pelvic area and increased pressure due to the growing fetus in uterus. The straining during bowel movements caused by constipation can lead to swollen veins as more blood is being trapped in the veins. To relief this problem it is recommended to:
Have plenty of water, fruits and add a lot of fiber in every meal.
Do regular exercise and movement as standing and sitting for too long can put pressure on lower body
Excess weight can aggravate this conditions so it is recommended to keep parental weight gain with recommendations
If hemorrhoids have already developed the discomfort can be alleviated by soaking in a tub few times a day or by applying an ice pack to the problem area.
Table 2
Fiber rich food
Parental Diet
Good nutrients is essential in the course of being pregnant. A pregnant women should consume good amount of vitamins and energy for her body functions and to help her growing fetus. A women`s food plan in the course of being pregnant can substantially have an effect on the final results of the being pregnant. When a pregnant lady eats, the vitamins absorbed through her blood movement to the placenta. The vitamins cross the placenta and are taken up via way of means of the blood stream of the fetus. The parental food plan have to encompass proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and fats to fuel the body and assist the child develop. If the maternal food plan does now no longer contain proper amount of vitamins to satisfy the developing fetus needs, the mother will deliver some of the vitamins at her very own body expense. She might not produce a healthy placenta or make sufficient blood, inflicting her little one to develop extra slowly. Pregnant women should get proper fluid consumption to save from dehydration which can cause miscarriage or premature labor. Pregnant women want at the least 2 quarts (sixty four oz) of fluids each day. Water have to account for at the least 1/2 of the fluids consumed. The rest can come from milk, juice and different beverages.
Table 3
Nutrient needs during pregnancy
All of the vitamins and minerals had to help a healthful pregnancy, besides for iron and folic acid may be acquired from a healthful diet. One manner to make certain that all nutrient desires are met is to comply with all important and essential vitamins and minerals they need. During pregnancy good and proper amounts of certain important nutrients are needed to support the growth of fetus and cell differentiation.
Table 4
Calories
It is hard to specify particular energy necessities at some stage in pre-pregnancy because those range with pre-pregnancy weight, quantity and composition of weight gain, level of being pregnant and activity level. Most pregnant ladies will possibly need a general of 2200 to 2,900 kcal according to day. More studies is needed to establish calorie necessities for ladies carrying multiple fetus. Women, even overweight ladies, need t lower their calorie consumption at some stage in being pregnant. If energy desires aren't met, the protein the pregnant woman consumes may be used to satisfy her caloric necessities. If protein consumption is no longer adequate, the mother’s muscle stores can be applied to offer needed calories. This is a probably risky state of situation because the protein used to satisfy energy necessities is then now no longer to be had for building new cells and tissues within side the mother and fetus.
Protein
Protein desires at some point of being pregnant are variable, increasing as being in pregnant progresses. The best demand for protein takes place at some point of the second and third trimesters. Good protein encompass lean meats, poultry and fish. These sources additionally deliver other essential nutrients, consisting of iron, B vitamins, and some minerals. Other high-protein foods include dry beans, lentils, nuts, eggs and cheese.
Iron
The RDA for iron will increase from 18 mg in line with day to 27 mg in line with day during pregnancy. Iron is used to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that includes oxygen to all organs and tissues in addition to the baby. The fetus also gets sufficient iron to make use of within the first few months of life. Certain ingredients in food are accurate iron reassets, together with lean beef and pork, organ meats, dried fruit and beans, entire grains and darkish leafy greens. Vitamin C enhances iron absorption from plant reasserts while calcium can block iron absorption. For this motive calcium and iron must now no longer be taken together. A accurate practice is to take dietary supplements with iron within the morning and dietary supplements with calcium at night. Iron dietary supplements must be taken simplest with a fitness care provider’s recommendation.
Calcium
The calcium advice all through being pregnant is 1,000 mg/day for women 19 to 50 years of age, and 1300 mg/day for teens. Calcium is very important during the course of being pregnant. It is an vital structural part of fetal bones and enamel and is essential for the bone fitness of the mom all through and after being pregnant. When a women does not get sufficient calcium from her diet, the body takes it from her bones. Over time, this loss may also weaken bone and cause osteoporosis, a disease characterized with the aid of using odd bone mineral density. In general, non-pregnant women eat best approximately seventy five percentage of the endorsed quantity of calcium consequently maximum pregnant women want to add calcium-wealthy meals to their diet. Calcium-fortified orange juice and meals, sardines, salmon with bones and collard, mustard, spinach, and turnip vegetables are correct reasserts of calcium from outside the dairy group.
Table 5
Important nutrients during pregnancy
Conclusion
Certain meals include chemical substances that could have an effect on the baby’s development. The table underneath lists of food to be averted all through pregnancy. Some kinds of fish ought to be totally avoided absolutely all through pregnancy (swordfish, shark, king mackerel and tilefish), but twelve oz or much less in keeping with week of fish and shellfish decided to be low in mercury (shrimp, canned mild tuna, salmon, sardines and catfish) is safe. Albacore or “white” tuna ought to be limited to six ounces. or much less in keeping with week as it has greater mercury than canned mild tuna.
Raw fish, especially shellfish.
Undercooked meat, poultry and seafood. Cook thoroughly to kill bacteria.
Refrigerated fresh pates or meat spreads. Canned versions are safe.
Refrigerated fresh smoked seafood unless it has been cooked (as in a casserole).Canned versions are safe.
Soft-scrambled eggs and all foods made with raw or lightly cooked eggs.
Soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk, including Brie, Camembert,
Unpasteurized milk and any foods made from it.
Unpasteurized juices.
Raw vegetable sprouts, including alfalfa, clover and radish.
Herbal supplements and teas.
