Monday, January 23, 2012
Be Ready to Birth!: Ya Gotta Floss
Be Ready to Birth!: Ya Gotta Floss: Brushing your teeth when pregnant is a no-brainer when you have that awful dry mouth. It's usually accompanied by bad breath and brushing sh...
Ya Gotta Floss
Brushing your teeth when pregnant is a no-brainer when you have that awful dry mouth. It's usually accompanied by bad breath and brushing should temporarily fix that too. When you are too nauseous to brush ( usually in the first trimester ), you at least have to floss and rinse. Flossing may cause your gums to bleed while pregnant due to the great increase in your blood supply. Brush with a soft toothbrush and floss gently. Bleeding does not excuse you from your oral hygiene routine.
We are told from the time that we have teeth that brushing keeps gums and teeth healthy. The dentist will often quiz you about how you brush and whether you floss. You've got to do it for you and now, the baby too.
When you neglect your teeth, or brush inadequately and floss not enough, bacteria builds up around the gum line. Give these "bugs" sufficient time and they will invade the tissues and enter the blood supply. They release toxins and waste that will erode the enamel on your teeth ( cavities ) and cause infections in the mouth called periodontal disease. These germs and their insidious by-products may cause inflammation anywhere in your body. And since they have taken up residence in your circulatory system, they may affect the baby too.
There is research linked to higher rates of preterm birth, preeclampsia and low birth weight babies associated with perioontal infections. So it is very important to visit the dentist at least every six months and it may be suggested that three months is optimal during pregnancy. You may opt out of x-ray, but if you have a real problem go ahead and do what's recommended and ask for a lead apron.
Now, go floss
We are told from the time that we have teeth that brushing keeps gums and teeth healthy. The dentist will often quiz you about how you brush and whether you floss. You've got to do it for you and now, the baby too.
When you neglect your teeth, or brush inadequately and floss not enough, bacteria builds up around the gum line. Give these "bugs" sufficient time and they will invade the tissues and enter the blood supply. They release toxins and waste that will erode the enamel on your teeth ( cavities ) and cause infections in the mouth called periodontal disease. These germs and their insidious by-products may cause inflammation anywhere in your body. And since they have taken up residence in your circulatory system, they may affect the baby too.
There is research linked to higher rates of preterm birth, preeclampsia and low birth weight babies associated with perioontal infections. So it is very important to visit the dentist at least every six months and it may be suggested that three months is optimal during pregnancy. You may opt out of x-ray, but if you have a real problem go ahead and do what's recommended and ask for a lead apron.
Now, go floss
Monday, January 16, 2012
Be Ready to Birth!: Pregnancy Tests
Be Ready to Birth!: Pregnancy Tests: There seems to be a misconception about whether a home pregnancy test is accurate enough to really confirm a pregnancy. There was a time whe...
Be Ready to Birth!: Pregnancy Tests
Be Ready to Birth!: Pregnancy Tests: There seems to be a misconception about whether a home pregnancy test is accurate enough to really confirm a pregnancy. There was a time whe...
Pregnancy Tests
There seems to be a misconception about whether a home pregnancy test is accurate enough to really confirm a pregnancy. There was a time when you had to go to the doctor's office for confirmation. Your grandmother may even talk about the rabbit dying. It used to be that a pregnant woman's urine was injected into a real rabbit and if it died, the doctor would call with the news of your pregnancy. Go figure!
It's all about the hormone HCG. The presence of this hormone, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is found exclusively in the urine and blood of pregnant women. It is a byproduct of the biologic mechanism that signals the ovaries that increased amounts of estrogen and progesterone are necessary to maintain the pregnancy.
Home pregnancy tests detect the presence of this hormone, HCG, in urine. Choose a reliable test at the pharmacy that should detect extremely low levels of HCG. You can usually perform the easy test with first morning's urine ( very concentrated ) about day twenty-five of your twenty-eight day cycle. Follow the directions exactly as described on the instructions. And then repeat the test one more time, for confirmation. You do not need to do it five times for five days. If the result is the same with the two tests one day, you have your answer.
When you are convinced that only your doctor can make the diagnosis of pregnancy, make an appointment for a pelvic to confirm. The doctor will have a similar test performed on your urine ( make the appointment for the morning ) and if you insist, only then will the doctor order a blood test. Insurance companies know that the urine test is accurate. So the doctor will start with a urine test and consider it accurate enough for a difinative answer.( Pelvic exams can reveal changes in the cervix that further confirm.)
So if you insist, or you have bleeding early in the pregnancy, the doctor may order a blood test that is labeled either quanitative or qualitative. Quantitative will report if and how much HCG is present in the blood sample. Qualitative will only confirm whether HCG is there, or not.
Both urine and blood tests are very accurate these days because HCG only appears in a pregnant woman. And if performed properly, and you are pregnant, either test will indicate positive before your menstrual period is even due. And if it's not there, there is no pregnancy THAT day you test. It could be present a week later, if you are pregnant then. And it will disappear if you were pregnant, but lost the pregnancy.
Remember, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin only appears in blood or urine when you are pregnant. If you are not pregnant, the day that you test, you will have a negative test.
It's all about the hormone HCG. The presence of this hormone, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin is found exclusively in the urine and blood of pregnant women. It is a byproduct of the biologic mechanism that signals the ovaries that increased amounts of estrogen and progesterone are necessary to maintain the pregnancy.
Home pregnancy tests detect the presence of this hormone, HCG, in urine. Choose a reliable test at the pharmacy that should detect extremely low levels of HCG. You can usually perform the easy test with first morning's urine ( very concentrated ) about day twenty-five of your twenty-eight day cycle. Follow the directions exactly as described on the instructions. And then repeat the test one more time, for confirmation. You do not need to do it five times for five days. If the result is the same with the two tests one day, you have your answer.
When you are convinced that only your doctor can make the diagnosis of pregnancy, make an appointment for a pelvic to confirm. The doctor will have a similar test performed on your urine ( make the appointment for the morning ) and if you insist, only then will the doctor order a blood test. Insurance companies know that the urine test is accurate. So the doctor will start with a urine test and consider it accurate enough for a difinative answer.( Pelvic exams can reveal changes in the cervix that further confirm.)
So if you insist, or you have bleeding early in the pregnancy, the doctor may order a blood test that is labeled either quanitative or qualitative. Quantitative will report if and how much HCG is present in the blood sample. Qualitative will only confirm whether HCG is there, or not.
Both urine and blood tests are very accurate these days because HCG only appears in a pregnant woman. And if performed properly, and you are pregnant, either test will indicate positive before your menstrual period is even due. And if it's not there, there is no pregnancy THAT day you test. It could be present a week later, if you are pregnant then. And it will disappear if you were pregnant, but lost the pregnancy.
Remember, Human Chorionic Gonadotropin only appears in blood or urine when you are pregnant. If you are not pregnant, the day that you test, you will have a negative test.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Be Ready to Birth!: Turn on the Music and Dance
Be Ready to Birth!: Turn on the Music and Dance: I tell pregnant women all the time, " When you know that you are in labor, turn on the music and dance!" Of course, I am then referring to t...
Turn on the Music and Dance
I tell pregnant women all the time, " When you know that you are in labor, turn on the music and dance!" Of course, I am then referring to the benefits of movement and activity in an upright position for labor. Music is great for the time between your epidural and pushing, that time when rest ( sleep) is so important for re-grouping before meeting that baby. In fact, playing music is beneficial through- out pregnany for both mothers and babies.
For decades researchers have studied the effects and benefits of music on a variety of human experiences and emotions. Music is evocative of time and place; it reminds us of our connection to people and events. Music can evoke emotion and make us smile and laugh, hum and sing. Music encourages a bonding experience even before birth for both mom and infant. Sharing time for prenatal music is part of bonding before birth. Music can improve sleep pattern in your newborn. And music can enhance brain stimulation while your baby hears music inside the womb!
Some studies have shown that there is less evidence of postpartum depression when mothers have created strong maternal bonding situations with their unborn baby by sharing music and reading to them during pregnancy. A relationship is developed by this prenatal sharing. Hearing music that becomes familiar over time is a way for babies to learn to connect ( bond )with moms and dads.
Babies are comforted and relaxed by the familiar strains of music that they have been exposed to in-utero. Playing the same music that the baby already knows may help going to sleep faster and sleeping longer. Babies must have enough sleep and those that don't may not be as healthy and strong.
Music ( and language ) becomes the foundation for important developmental tasks that begin even before birth. The brain develops according to how it is used. Music stimulates senses and encourages brain plasticity which enhances learning. We help one neuron connect to another by exposing babies to different sounds. In other words, music stimulates brain growth and connects activated areas of the brain.
Pregnancy brings inherent emotional and physical stressors into the life of a woman. As important as what we eat is the minimization of maternal stress on the unborn fetus. The tension from muscles, emotional angst over anxiety and thus the transfer of stress hormones across the placenta may contribute to a myriad of risks both for the pregnancy and the child. Listening to music helps us unwind and relax, to reduce stress that may adversely affect our baby. Listening to music reduces the production of stress hormones and replaces them with endorphins and serotonin that makes us "happy". Music relaxes muscles and leaves us with a feeling of general well-being.
When you are in the car or at your desk, play music. Eat dinner to music and go to sleep with the sound of music in your consciousness. Try a CD instead of the television and both you and your baby may benefit. Singing qualifies as music so sing to your baby in the womb and be sure to sing to your baby when she comes home.
For decades researchers have studied the effects and benefits of music on a variety of human experiences and emotions. Music is evocative of time and place; it reminds us of our connection to people and events. Music can evoke emotion and make us smile and laugh, hum and sing. Music encourages a bonding experience even before birth for both mom and infant. Sharing time for prenatal music is part of bonding before birth. Music can improve sleep pattern in your newborn. And music can enhance brain stimulation while your baby hears music inside the womb!
Some studies have shown that there is less evidence of postpartum depression when mothers have created strong maternal bonding situations with their unborn baby by sharing music and reading to them during pregnancy. A relationship is developed by this prenatal sharing. Hearing music that becomes familiar over time is a way for babies to learn to connect ( bond )with moms and dads.
Babies are comforted and relaxed by the familiar strains of music that they have been exposed to in-utero. Playing the same music that the baby already knows may help going to sleep faster and sleeping longer. Babies must have enough sleep and those that don't may not be as healthy and strong.
Music ( and language ) becomes the foundation for important developmental tasks that begin even before birth. The brain develops according to how it is used. Music stimulates senses and encourages brain plasticity which enhances learning. We help one neuron connect to another by exposing babies to different sounds. In other words, music stimulates brain growth and connects activated areas of the brain.
Pregnancy brings inherent emotional and physical stressors into the life of a woman. As important as what we eat is the minimization of maternal stress on the unborn fetus. The tension from muscles, emotional angst over anxiety and thus the transfer of stress hormones across the placenta may contribute to a myriad of risks both for the pregnancy and the child. Listening to music helps us unwind and relax, to reduce stress that may adversely affect our baby. Listening to music reduces the production of stress hormones and replaces them with endorphins and serotonin that makes us "happy". Music relaxes muscles and leaves us with a feeling of general well-being.
When you are in the car or at your desk, play music. Eat dinner to music and go to sleep with the sound of music in your consciousness. Try a CD instead of the television and both you and your baby may benefit. Singing qualifies as music so sing to your baby in the womb and be sure to sing to your baby when she comes home.
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