Pregnancy Questions and Answers
How much weight gain is considered normal during pregnancy?
- Professionals assert that 8-9 kilograms in 9 months is a normal weight gain. Usually excess weight is gained starting from the 4th month of pregnancy. However, there is an opinion that there is no fixed standard of weight gain and it may vary depending on a certain woman. For example, a few kilos do not pose any risk to a thin woman and should not be considered a deviation. On the contrary, fat moms should control their weight and watch what they eat to allow minimal weight gain during pregnancy.
- Why it is bad for me to gain too much weight during pregnancy?
- Excess weight during pregnancy may lead to complications during pregnancy, the negative effects of which would first of all tell on mother`s health. Besides that it increases the risk of developing hypertension. And remember, that improper feeding during pregnancy would make it more difficult for you to lose weight after giving birth.
- Do I need to keep to a diet during pregnancy if I had excess weight before pregnancy as well?
- No way. Nutrition during pregnancy should be healthy and wholesome- you should never keep to some weight loss diets especially without talking to your doctor first. If you really need to lose some weight and your doctor has confirmed it, only he can determine what products and in what quantity you should eat for you and your baby to get all necessary nutrients and vitamins. But remember, no weight loss diets for aesthetic slimming.
- Who is most predisposed to gain excess weight gain during pregnancy?
- As a rule, women who have hereditary predisposition to obesity, those who lead sedentary life, do not exercise and do not keep to well-balanced diet during pregnancy.
- Should I limit salt intake during pregnancy?
- It is not necessary, if only your doctor has not told you about it. Usually women who have hypertension are recommended to reduce salt intake to minimum.
- Why iodized salt is useful during pregnancy?
- Scientific researches showed that using iodized salt during pregnancy helps avoid thyroid gland diseases.
- Should I cut out sweets from my diet during pregnancy?
- You may not stop eating sweets totally, but keep in mind that sweets contain many calories and very little nutrients. It is more reasonable to give your preference to products rich in proteins and vitamins. However, if your craving for sweets is really strong, try to satisfy it by home-made jams and dried fruit mainly to be able to control your sugar and fat intake.
-Should I restrict fluid consumption during pregnancy?
- It is determined by a doctor for each individual situation. As a rule it is recommended to drink 1,5-2 liters a day (including water contained in food). However, women who have kidney stones should consume more fluids. In every certain case it makes sense to consult a doctor.
- What dairy products and how much of them should I use during a day?
- No less than 2 glasses of milk and one yoghurt or 100 grams of sour cream and curds. As far as possible, give your preference to nonfat products.
-Should I take extra supplements containing calcium during pregnancy?
- If you eat enough dairy products, you do not need additional calcium containing supplements. However, it is better for you to consult a doctor, since there could be exceptions to every rule.
- In which cases should I use vitamin supplements?
- The supplements often prescribed for pregnant women are usually the ones containing iron and folic acid. Although, the supplements are determined individually for each woman and you may not need them at all. Anyway, do not use any supplements without consulting your doctor first, even if they are sold over the counter.
What foods should I exclude from my diet during pregnancy?
- You should not eat rare meat since it may become a cause of infection called toxoplasmosis. Also avoid eating liver, especially in the first trimester, since it contains very high levels of the retinol which can cause genetic changes in fetus. Refuse spices and products causing constipation and stomach upset.
- Can I have a cup of coffee or strong tea a day while I am pregnant?
No doubt it is necessary to limit consumption of these drinks to a minimum. However, just one cup of coffee or tea a day is not likely to cause any harm.
- Can I have an occasional glass of wine or champagne during pregnancy?
- In these case no “buts” are allowed: it is categorically prohibited to use alcohol during pregnancy. It is still unknown what the minimal dose is that may have a serious impact on baby`s development, that is why you`d better refuse these pleasant but unsafe drinks for a while.
- Is it normal that I feel nauseated and vomit in the first few months of pregnancy?
- Yes, these are manifestations of early pregnancy toxicosis. But if you lead healthy life style and keep to a balanced diet during pregnancy, these unpleasant symptoms will soon pass away. Anyway, consult a doctor about them.
- What are the myths about nutrition during pregnancy?
- There is still a wrong belief that a mother-to-be should “eat for two”, but it is erroneous. Nor you should keep to slimming diets. Your nutrition during pregnancy should be first of all baby-orientated. And of course, you should keep to a healthcare professional`s recommendations about your diet.
If you did not care much what you eat before pregnancy, now, when you are pregnant, you should pay much more attention to your nutrition. Food you eat must be balanced, diverse and rich in nutrients. It is ideal to eat 5-6 times a day, but be careful not to overeat. Include in your diet dairy products, eggs, meat, fish, fats, bread, cereals, fruit, vegetables and potato, and your baby is sure to be born healthy.
How the embryo develops?
Month by month embryo development
Magic within 270 days
The course of human embryo development is a real wonder. Imagine, just within 270 days more than 200 million cells are developed out of only one cell. And the little embryo, which is initially invisible and could be discerned only through microscope, grows half a meter in height.
Every process of its development runs in a step by step mode, following the rules of nature like everything else in the universe.
The first step: the moment of ovum fertilization till the end of the second week of fetus`s life in the mother`s womb. The second step: development of the fetus from the beginning of the third week through the eighth week. In this period some important changes happen to the fetus – the embryo starts to look like human and the formation of all vitally important organs is commenced. At the end of the second step the embryo could be called a fetus. The third step is the final one. It starts from the third month and culminates with baby birth. The most interesting thing about the human fetus is resemblance of its main development processes to those of vertebrates. There are only a few differences between human fetus and that of other representatives of earth`s fauna which allow to trace the development stages of human fetus. Thus only human fetus develops inside mother`s womb within 270 days, which equals to 10 lunar months.
The first trimester of pregnancy
The first trimester or the first 13-14 weeks is the most important period in the development of a baby, since it is the period when his all internal organs start to form.
In the first 7 days after fertilization the ovum cell starts to divide. Even if this process runs without pathologies, it does not mean successful pregnancy unless ovum implantation occurs. That is why the period from the 7th through the 9th day are considered the most crucial.
In case when the ovum did not get fastened well enough or got attached too high or low, it could be a risk pregnancy. It means that the baby would be developing normally, but the threat of miscarriage will be impending for a rather long time.
Another anomaly could be considered implantation of the ovum in any of the uterine tubes. In such a case the fertilized ovum does not get enough nutrition, since there are too few vessels there. Moreover, maintenance of such a pregnancy poses hazard to woman`s life.
The next important period of pregnancy is the 2nd -through the 9th week. Any deviation in the development of the embryo in this period usually leads to spontaneous abortion. Also pay special attention to your health in the 11th-13th week, since it is time when a new stage of fetal development starts.
Now we see how important the first trimester is and how little the successfulness of this period depends on the mother. It is time when the nature by natural selection promotes birth of healthy children. Nonetheless in most cases when the mom-to-be does not abuse alcohol, smoking or some medicines and is in good health, she has greater chances to avoid miscarriage and her pregnancy would proceed without any abnormalities. First of all normal pregnancy is associated with the correct chromosome number in the egg cell.
The second trimester of pregnancy
During the second trimester the fetus continues to develop. During this period it would grow considerably. Now your pregnancy would be noticeable to others, since your stomach grows in size quite quickly. In this period the baby makes more coordinated moves, the number of which may reach 600 during one day. The baby would be most active in the 6th month of pregnancy.
By the end of the second trimester the fetus is already viable. But if the baby is born at this period, he would be able to make the first breath and cry, but unfortunately the baby is still too weak to survive.
The third trimester of pregnancy
During the third trimester of the pregnancy quite a few changes happen in the life of the baby. Most of his organs have already formed and some of them even function. Now he needs to gain some weight and grow in height. The last period of pregnancy is the most difficult for the mother. It is a period when most of complications and ailments occur. They include leg swelling, varicose veins dilatation, backache, heavy breathing, etc.
In this period the mom gets exhausted very quickly and need to rest more frequently. She is no longer able to perform same volume of activity she used to.