Month: September 2022

Pre-pregnancy care

Posted on September 20, 2022   by   - Blog

Dr.Shiva Pre Pregnancy Care

Pre-pregnancy care is the first step toward having a healthy pregnancy. This is of prime importance because it is in the first 8 weeks that the organs of the foetus develop.

The doctor will want to know your medical history and if you are on any medications. This is because some of the medications may not be suitable for pregnancies, and it may be necessary to lower the dose or have alternative medicine. The doctor will also check the patient for STI(sexually transmitted diseases) and if found suggest treatment options for it.

Pre-pregnancy care will help find issues, if present, that may affect your pregnancy and help take steps accordingly that can reduce or prevent any risks associated with pregnancy.

 

What steps should I take to ensure that I have a healthy pregnancy?

1)Have a healthy diet that has a proper mix of all vitamins, nutrients, and minerals.

2)Start taking prenatal medicines at least a month to three months before getting pregnant and it is necessary to continue them during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Include vitamin tablets that have folic acid and iron in them.

3)Regular exercise – Try following a routine to exercise for at least 30 mins for five days a week.

4)Avoid alcohol, smoking and drugs. They can cause serious issues such as birth defects, stillbirth, preterm birth, or low birth weight.

5)Bring your weight under control as being under or overweight may affect your pregnancy.

  • Obesity can cause gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and preterm birth. It can increase the risks of macrosomia and birth defects.
  • Being underweight can increase the risks of having a preterm birth or having a baby with low birth weight.

6)If there were any issues in your previous pregnancy, there is an increased chance for them to occur in a future pregnancy. Inform your doctor about them.

7)If you have any chronic medical issues like high blood pressure, seizures, depression, eating disorders, etc, you will have to mention it to your doctor as these conditions can pose a risk to the fetus. It doesn’t mean that you cannot have a healthy pregnancy, but proper care before pregnancy can lead you to a path to having one. The doctor will also suggest specialized care during pregnancy.

8)Vaccinations – it is necessary to take some vaccinations before or when pregnant as certain infections can affect the foetus and vaccinations help prevent them. These include vaccines for influenza and tetanus. Some may vary based on the country you live in.

9)Doctor may suggest meeting a dentist to ensure there is no gum disease or if any treatment is necessary.

10)Finally stay mentally healthy. If you are constantly having thoughts that keep you worried, sad or stressed and they have started affecting your day-to-day life consult with your doctor and get help.

 

Partner’s role in a healthy pregnancy –

Your partner’s sperm quality is important. Diet and lifestyle have an important effect on sperm health and count. Your partner shouldn’t smoke in your presence as second-hand smoke can result in SIDS(sudden infant death syndrome). Your partner should avoid drugs, alcohol or smoking as they can affect the sperm quality.

Focus on your health at least 3 months before planning to get pregnant. Take a pre-pregnancy check-up and make sure you go for all the follow-up check-ups with the doctor. For more details on pre-pregnancy care kindly contact us.

Mental health during pregnancy and year after giving birth

Posted on September 2, 2022   by   - Blog

Mental health in pregnancy

Pregnancy is an exciting stage for many but at the same time, it can be demanding. Some have mixed feelings, few others may have difficulty coping with the uncertainties of pregnancy.

Some of the factors a pregnant lady may worry about include

  • Worry about the health of the baby
  • Fear of childbirth
  • Physical changes in their body
  • Doubts on if you will be a good parent
  • Pregnancy complications
  • Their physical health

Anxiety and depression are common mental health problems in pregnancy.

If you are pregnant and had a history of mental illness you should notify your doctor even if you have been completely cured as pregnancy can trigger these issues. Mental health issues like OCD, and BPD may surface or worsen during this time. Some experience tokophobia which is an extreme fear of giving birth. Those who were having medications for mental health issues may have to stop taking their medications. This can make their problems worse. You will need to consult with your doctor to prescribe other optional medicines or smaller dosages that will be safer for the unborn baby.

 

Mental health after the birth of the baby–

One out of five women experience mental health issues after delivery of the baby. Most do recover but it can turn out to be serious to the mother and baby if not identified and treated on time. Some of them include –

Postpartum blues – This is common and found in more than 80% of new mothers. It is not a mental disorder but frequent mood swings that occur due to high fluctuations in hormones. Other symptoms include anxiety, crying spells, feeling overwhelmed, and difficulty sleeping. It occurs in the first three to five days after delivery and lasts only for two weeks. But if the new mother continues to experience it for a longer duration the issue can be serious.

Postpartum Depression – Hormonal fluctuations and stress are two major causes of PPD. The symptoms are like that of depression. It may seem like PPB but is more intense and extends longer. For some of the mothers, this may surface later, like after a year of giving birth. Some of the symptoms include depressed mood, anger, feeling hopelessness, crying frequently, feeling detached from the baby and family, panic attacks, thoughts of death or harming the baby, and fatigue. Treatment requires a combination of medication along with counselling. Anti-depressant medication provided will not have any effects on breastfeeding babies.

Post-Partum psychosis – It is extremely rare and seen only in one-tenth of 1 percent of new moms. Symptoms include hallucinations, obsessive thoughts, disorientation, delusion, refusal to eat, paranoia, and thoughts to harm yourself and your baby. Once identified the new mother will have to be admitted to the hospital and discharged only until fully stable. Chances are it may repeat in the next pregnancy.

OCD and BPD – If you have had it in the past chances are it will surface again. Keep a check on it and once identified try to get the treatment for it as soon as possible.

Post Natal Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder related to birth – After delivery, some experience PTSD. It can be caused because of experiencing traumatic events during childbirth like long, difficult, and painful delivery, unplanned c sec, and delivery not happening as expected. This can affect the relationship with the baby and develop distrust and anger toward the team that handled the delivery. Some of the symptoms include nightmares, flashbacks, anxiety, detachment from the baby, bad memories of giving birth, and sadness.

 

How to take care of yourself after childbirth?

Though most of your attention will be on your baby keep in mind to take care of yourself and have proper rest. Allow someone to take care of your baby for some time if possible.

  • Have a healthy diet.
  • Stop drinking and smoking
  • Exercise or Walking
  • Let the family help the new mother with chores and give them time to rest.
  • Do meditation, and sleep well.
  • Have fish oils, Omega fatty acids that can help reduce anxiety in new moms.
  • Have a lot of water
  • Try to look for support and open up to your close ones or your doctor if you feel you need any assistance mentally or emotionally.

Support from family and spouse is of very high priority for the good mental health of the new mother and before pregnancy too.