Folic Acid is Important During Pregnancy Period

It is often the case that the pregnant women out there do not realize that they tend to put their baby into jeopardy even before they conceive. Although it is true that every single pregnant woman out there wants to give the best they can give to their baby, there are quite a few things that they often miss out. One of these things is how important folic acid may turn out to be during their pregnancy period. Most pregnant women out there do not realize that they are in fact risking their baby in case they do not provide the baby with adequate supply of folic acid prior to and during their pregnancy period. A very bad thing that can happen to their baby without adequate folic acid supply is that the baby may have some physical defects.
Folic acid is in fact categorized into vitamin B at its own form. Folic acid is particularly useful in the development as well as the regeneration of the regular cells within the body. Yet, folic acid normally plays a very important role for the development of an unborn baby, especially during the first few weeks of the pregnancy period of the mother-to-be.
Folic acid makes sure that appropriate spinal cord and brain formation can be achieved. This is very important because without this, chances are a miscarriage will take place. In addition to that, the baby may suffer from NTD — which stands for Neural Tube Disorder — as well.
The neural tube disorders can usually come in a pretty wide range of forms such as anencephaly and spina bifida. The neural tube disorders can also come upon the pregnant women giving birth to their babies. The spina bifida, also known as the open spine, may very well lead to leg or bladder paralysis or even some problems in terms of bowel control. The anencephaly, in comparison, is quite fatal as well and is caused by the skull and the brain not developing properly enough.
With that being said, every single pregnant woman out there is recommended to take in folic acid with a dosage of about six hundred micrograms within each day. Even before they get pregnant, a woman is recommended to take in up to about four hundred micrograms within each day. Yet, in most cases, doctors will recommend that the pregnant women take in at least a thousand micrograms of folic acid each day. In fact, this is the amount that is usually contained in most prenatal vitamins available out there.

What are the Different Stages of Pregnancy

Being pregnant is one thing that is miraculous and often makes every couple in this world happy. Most couples will usually not be able to wait to hold their babies in their arms. They are eager to do this. Yet, it seems that couples will still have to wait as there are stages in pregnancy. This is why the couples may have often heard about people saying something about pregnancy trimester. But what actually takes place during these stages of pregnancy? How are the stages differ from one another?
Well, the first stage is the stage in which a pregnant woman will come across quite a few changes in her life. During the first pregnancy trimester, a pregnant woman will often feel that something is not the same with their breasts to start with. They will also get exhausted more often than before. When they wake up in the morning, they will often feel a morning sickness. Also, a pregnant woman tends to have the need of rushing to the bathroom quite so often. Yet, it is also during the first pregnancy trimester that the baby within the pregnant woman will start showing that it has a heartbeat as well as start moving its limbs that are so tiny and cute.
The second pregnancy trimester, in comparison, may not really have anything special for a pregnant woman. The baby will keep on growing inside her. It is as simple as that. Then, it is not before the sixteenth week that the baby will start showing a pretty strong heartbeat in addition to fine body hair.
The third pregnancy trimester is the final stage of pregnancy. During this time, it is highly recommended that the pregnant woman starts taking lessons on giving birth to their babies as well as breastfeeding them. Then, by around the 35th week of the pregnancy period, the pregnant woman along with the baby within her will be quite ready for the due pregnancy date.
At this point of time, most pregnant women will already get quite used to what is known as a pregnancy calculator. In fact, there are also quite a massive number of pregnancy calculators on the internet that they can take advantage of in order to help them keep track of their pregnancy progress.
Then, in addition to the pregnancy calculator, the pregnant women can also make use of pregnancy wheel. This is in fact a calendar that is meant to help the pregnant women get informed on when they will possibly conceive, when they need to take a test and when they are about to finally give birth to their baby.

Headache & Fever Medicine During Pregnancy

 
Even though it is true that both fever as well as headache are not necessarily dangerous, these two sicknesses are in fact, however, quite annoying. This is even more so when a woman has entered their pregnancy period. But those pregnant women out there will not have to worry too much if they happen to catch a fever or experience headaches when they are pregnant as there are ways they can try to treat the fever and headache.
To treat headache, try making sure to consume enough sugar at all times. Low blood sugar can often be one thing that causes headaches. Do this by always having meals at the proper times and prepare snacks containing high energy around. In addition to that, always drink enough, if not a lot of, water. Lacking of consuming water can often be a cause of a headache as well.
Stay at healthy environment. Also, keep away from loud noises such as loud music or noisy crowded area. Additionally, try lying down in some rooms where it is quiet and raise the feet up. Do this for approximately fifteen minutes.
Use both cold and hot compresses on the area where the headache occur to treat the headache. Do this for about some fifteen minutes and the headache should go. Also, always take enough rest when necessary. Slicing a lemon into wedges and then sucking the juice that pours out of it is also a good idea.
On the other hand, in order to treat fever during pregnancy, get informed on the body temperature in advance. It is of utmost importance to know the exact body temperature. Then, if the body temperature reaches 101 degrees Fahrenheit, it is then time to see the doctor.
Just like treating headache during pregnancy, while treating fever, it is also of utmost importance to take in adequate, if not plenty, water or liquid. Fever can often cause a pregnant woman to get dehydrated in quite no time at all. As a result, the pregnant woman may start feeling morning sickness. When this takes place, get some ice chips to suck. Put on a cool compress on the wrists as well as the forehead. A cool compress can quite easily be made by running a piece of cloth under some cool water.
Take into consideration consuming acetaminophen. However, to do this, see the doctor in advance. Although it is quite safe to consume, it is always best to anticipate everything in advance before anything bad happens.

Preventing Heartburn During Pregnancy

Many women will experience heartburn during their pregnancy. Even for women who have never experienced it before, heartburn may occur for the first time while they are pregnant. That burning sensation in the chest and throat, and sour, acidic taste in the mouth, may become an all too familiar sensation for some of them. Why?
Heartburn during pregnancy occurs for a number of reasons. Increased levels of hormones in your body while pregnant can soften the ligaments that normally keep the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) tightly closed. If the LES relaxes at inappropriate times, food and stomach acids can reflux back up into your esophagus and throat. Also more pressure is put on your stomach as your body changes and your baby grows. This, in turn, can force stomach contents through the LES and into your esophagus.
Though you may not be able to eliminate heartburn completely, you can take some steps to minimize your discomfort.

• Don't eat foods that are known heartburn triggers. These include chocolate, citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and tomato-based products, mustard, vinegar, mint products, and spicy, highly seasoned, fried, and fatty foods. For a complete list of foods to avoid, check out this chart. For foods that have a low risk of causing heartburn, check out this chart.
• Avoid drinks containing caffeine (coffee, tea, cola) because these can relax the LES and allow acid to reflux back into the esophagus.
• Avoid alcohol. Alcohol relaxes the LES. Read the article on alcohol and heartburn for more information.

• Don't eat big meals. Eat several small meals throughout the day instead.
• Don't rush through your meals. Take your time eating, and chew thoroughly.
• Wait at least three hours after your last meal before going to bed.
• It's important to drink plenty of water during pregnancy (8-10 glasses daily) along with other fluids, but don't drink these only at mealtimes. Large quantities of fluids can distend your stomach, putting more pressure on the LES and forcing it to open inappropriately. Drink some of your fluids in between meals.
• Sleep with your head and shoulders propped up with a wedge pillow or elevate the head of your bed six to eight inches. This will allow gravity to work for you and it will help keep your stomach acids where they should be--in your stomach and not in your esophagus. For some tips on easing nighttime heartburn, read this article.
• Wear loose, comfortable clothing. You need to avoid any tightness around your waist and stomach.
Bend at the knees instead of at the waist. Bending at the waist puts more pressure on your stomach.Sit upright in a comfortable chair rather than slouching.
• Gain a sensible amount of weight and stay within the guidelines your doctor suggests. Too much of a weight, and obesity, puts more pressure on your stomach, and can force stomach contents through the LES and into your esophagus.
• Don't smoke. While your doctor may urge you break the habit because you're pregnant, smoking can also increase your odds of experiencing heartburn. Read about smoking and heartburn to find out the reasons smoking increases heartburn.






• You should always check with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter remedies while pregnant, but there are a few choices you have that can help eliminate heartburn. Some heartburn relievers such as Tums, Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids, or Gaviscon may prove helpful. Again, it's important that you check with your doctor before taking any of these remedies.