Posts Tagged umbilical cord
How Dangerous is Early Pregnancy Smoking to Your Unborn Baby?
Posted by in Pregnancy on February 20th, 2010
How can early pregnancy smoking be dangerous to your unborn baby? If you continue to smoke when you become pregnant, the harmful combination of nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarettes will make it harder for your unborn baby to get the nourishment and oxygen it needs to develop properly. Smoking can give stress to the baby’s heart and also affects the development of their lungs. In the worst of cases it can even be fatal.
You should be aware of the harmful effects that cigarettes can cause you and your baby. If you can quit smoking before getting pregnant or even in the first few months of pregnancy, your baby’s weight at birth will be just the same as those babies from mothers who are not smoking. Furthermore, you can reduce other complications and also premature birth.
So, what can happen to your baby if you can quit on smoking? Your baby’s lifeline is the umbilical cord. The blood flows through this and provides oxygen and nutrients to your baby. When you smoke, some of the oxygen in your blood will be replaced by carbon monoxide, thus, your baby will receive only a little amount of oxygen. While the carbon monoxide does this, nicotine increases the heart rate of you and your baby as well as causing narrowing of blood vessels. This will reduce the blood flow through your umbilical cord.
Smoking while pregnant is the major cause of SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It also increases the risk of miscarriages, complications during birth, having low birth weight that makes babies susceptible to infection and diseases, and worst, baby’s death shortly after birth.
This is why Neuro Linguistic Programming is such a great method for pregnant women to quit smoking. Neuro Linguistic Programming or NLP for short is a natural and effective way to quit smoking. It helps prevent all the dangers of smoking while you are pregnant. It is a form of hypnotherapy that is very convenient and has a very high chance of success. Pregnant women are best off quitting smoking using natural techniques that work fast and do not have dangerous side effects so NLP definitely the best method for them. May it be early pregnancy smoking or the later on in pregnancy; you can still stop smoking to keep your baby safe and give it the best chance at a healthy life.
Avoid the dangers of early pregnancy smoking by quitting smoking with safe and powerful NLP techniques. Start your journey to a smoke free pregnancy at www.QuitSmokingPregnancy.info.
Article Source: How Dangerous is Early Pregnancy Smoking to Your Unborn Baby?
Pregnant? Still Smoking?-Here is How to Safely Quit Smoking When Pregnant
Posted by in Pregnancy on February 19th, 2010
The baby in your womb gets everything from you. Oxygen and nutrients come via the umbilical cord and placenta. And should you smoke you’re also exposing the fetus with the chemicals that cigarettes contain. When you smoke, some of the oxygen in your blood is replaced by another gas – carbon monoxide. Therefore, if you are pregnant, still smoking, will cause your blood to contain less oxygen for your baby.
It is never too late to quit smoking during pregnancy. Every cigarette that you avoid will definitely assist you and your unborn baby’s health. The damages which are caused by cigarettes may be healed, thus enabling you to have a wholesome body and baby. Pregnant women who quit smoking during their pregnancy are proven to give birth to babies who have the same weight as the babies born with mothers who are not smoking. According to some studies, even smoking moderately can be truly damaging towards the fetus so quitting is key to giving birth to a healthy baby.
So, how can you stop smoking? Even during pregnancy, you are able to quit smoking as long as your method of quitting is all natural. This means that it does not involve taking pills. You are able to go to counseling but this technique can be tiring and time consuming for pregnant ladies. So, the greatest way for pregnant ladies to stop smoking is via Neuro Linguistic Programming or NLP.
NLP is really effective to help individuals to quit smoking, especially pregnant ladies. It prevents the dangers of smoking while pregnant simply because NLP is a really efficient all natural technique in quitting smoking. It is a form of hypnotherapy and doesn’t involve medications or pills. NLP is also very convenient because you may be successful in quitting smoking in the comfort of your home by just listening to an NLP based audio recording. You do not need to go out and pay expensive professionals to quit smoking. This technique is proven to have a very high success rate in helping people quit smoking.
So, if you are pregnant still smoking poses dangerous risks to your unborn child. You are able to use this NLP method to be safe and successful in quitting smoking. In this way, both you and your child will have a wholesome life.
If you are pregnant still smoking is the last thing you want to do. Use NLP to safely quit smoking. Start your journey to smoke free pregnancy at www.QuitSmokingPregnancy.info
Article Source: Pregnant? Still Smoking?-Here is How to Safely Quit Smoking When Pregnant
The Importance Of Cord Blood
Posted by in Pregnancy on January 14th, 2010
The blood that stays in the baby’s placenta and remains attached to the umbilical cord even after cutting is what we can call cord blood. It is generally loaded with stem cells and can be used later in life to cure several fatal diseases. Earlier, this blood was not given importance in medicine and no one would store the blood for future medical use. However, the importance of this blood was discovered after thorough research and it is now possible to save this blood. Several banks specialize in the storage of this kind of blood. The reason cord blood is so important is because it has stem cells. These stem cells can regenerate themselves and form other organs, tissues etc. They have natural properties to develop immunity since they are not exposed to virus or any other diseases. The blood is pure and immature, thus it is even better than bone marrow. Research states that almost 80 diseases can be treated with stem cells and it can be used any time in the future. However, these cells have a life span; they cannot be stored for more than 15 years. Nevertheless, technological advancement may increase the storage life of these cells. In this article, we shall discuss the advantages of cord blood.
Advantages
No need for perfect match – Unlike bone marrow this blood does not require a perfect match. It can be used even if there is slight match between the donor and receiver. This is one of the most crucial factors and can prove to be very helpful during emergencies.
No complications – Cord blood transplant or use for medicinal purposes does not involve any risks. Thus, there are fewer complications when this blood is used for treatment. It does not attack the patient’s own tissues, nor does it interfere with treatment.
It is ready to use – The process of collection of this blood is done with extreme care and precaution. It does not require any testing since it is collected and frozen only after proper testing. The blood is readily available and a match can be obtained quickly.
Rich source – Cord blood is a rich source of stem cells. It has ten times more cells as compared to bone marrow. Hence, a lesser quantity can be used for treatment. Moreover, it doesn’t require a perfect match and can save a life. It is a social cause and imagine how good you will feel if you can save someone else’s child. Indeed, a beautiful experience, since you are giving a new life to someone through the act of donating. The procedure for storing is not at all complicated and it can be collected without any disturbance to the mother or baby. The collection process is effortless and risk free.
Think about it, save the cord blood for your own future and for saving many more lives. Take this conscious decision.
Know how umbilical cord blood can be used for medical treatment purposes. Visit the specified link to know about the process of stem cell cord blood banking.
Article Source: The Importance Of Cord Blood
Cheapest Cord Blood Banking
Posted by in Pregnancy on December 26th, 2009
Cord Blood Banking is a term that has been doing the rounds and gaining popularity for almost over a decade now. It is important that we understand what the term “Cord Blood” means. It refers to the blood that comes from the umbilical Cord and the placenta during childbirth. For a long time, it was discarded as waste material. However, as medical science progressed, professionals came to realize the wealth of life-saving content that this “waste” blood contained and hence, have started to save or “bank” it for future use. Have you ever wondered what exactly is it that makes cord blood so valuable? It is because it contains something called Stem Cells. Cord Blood Banking facilities are places where you can bank your child’s cord blood and use it later on in life to cure life-threatening diseases. From being hardly aware of what this term means to looking for the cheapest banking facilities, man and medical science has come a long way!
We should also know that Stems Cells are. These are “raw” cells which have the remarkable capacity to develop into any type of cell that is found in the human body. Because of this amazing capacity of blood cells, they have been, still are and will continue to be used more and more to save lives and cure a number of diseases. To give you an understanding of how these stem cells can be used, imagine a situation when a parent suddenly finds that his child is suffering from a rare type of liver disease and there is no way you can save the child unless the diseased liver is “repaired” or “replaced” with a new one! In such a situation, if the parent had been careful enough to bank the child’s blood at the time of his birth, the stems cells can be extracted from this blood and used to “repair” the damaged organ. It is done by introducing the stems cells into the damaged liver where they grow into healthy liver cells.
That was just an example to illustrate the value of Cord Blood. Stem Cells extracted from it are also used to treat Leukemia. A number of organizations have emerged today and all of them claim to have the cheapest cord blood banking facility available. There are a couple of things you might need to know about this – there are two types of facilities – Public and Private. You can donate your child’s cord blood to any of these facilities and you can be sure that some day it can be used to save somebody’s life. But the only difference is that, when you donate to a Public facility, you cannot be assured that the same blood can someday be used to treat your child. However, if you use a Private facility, you can be sure to get access to it whenever you might need it, later on in life to save your child.
The term, cord blood banking, refers preserving the cord blood of a baby for future use in the treatment of several diseases. Visit the provided link to know more about stem cell characteristics and types.
Article Source: Cheapest Cord Blood Banking
Your Perfect Pregnancy Diet
Posted by in Pregnancy on October 25th, 2009
Eating the right food during pregnancy is very important. When you are pregnant, you have to take care of two people – you and your baby. You have to eat for two. It doesn’t mean that you just have to eat double the quantity you actually eat. It actually means that you have to be more careful about your eating habits because your baby is involved here. Your pregnancy diet will determine how healthy your baby is going to be. If you eat nutritional diet, it will result in healthier babies. On the other hand, unhealthy eating habits may result in babies with various mental and physical issues – you definitely don’t like that. So, educate yourself now about the right eating habit during pregnancy.
Nutritional Diet
You have to practice a nutritional diet. It is very important for you to understand that your baby is going to take nutrients from the food you are eating. The baby does it through the umbilical cord. Some of the nutrients that are essential for you at this stage include calcium, zink, iron, and folic acid. However, it does not mean that other nutrients are not necessary – it’s just that the mentioned ones are more important. When you are in the first trimester, your pregnancy diet must include vitamin B9 and folic acid. Folic acid plays a very important role in development of the baby, especially its nervous system. So, you must have at least 400 microgram supplement of folic acid everyday. Besides that, you should also focus on foods that are rich in folic acid, such as fruit juices, beans, and green vegetables. Eat a lot of these foods on a daily basis. Such nutritional diet will ensure that no congenital malfunction occur during the baby’s development.
Foods Rich In Iron
When it comes to pregnancy diet, foods rich in iron are also important. It makes the process of blood production in the baby’s body easier. This way, when you eat foods rich in iron, you actually help in making your baby healthier. However, in order to absorb iron quickly in your body, you may also need to take a vitamin C supplement or the help of an ascorbic acid. Some iron-rich foods include strawberries, green vegetables, and whole meal bread.
Zinc And Calcium
The perfect pregnancy diet should also include a steady intake of calcium and zinc. These nutrients make the development procedure of the fetus much smoother. Milk can be a great source for zinc and calcium. In fact, milk is also a great source for iron. So, you are strongly recommended to drink milk regularly while you are pregnant.
You will have to make sure that you are eating any one thing too much. The basic idea is to practice a well-balanced diet. You have to eat balanced portions from different food groups, including dairy products, fats, carbohydrates, meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, and fruits. Most importantly, when it comes to following a perfect pregnancy diet, you must follow your doctor’s advice strictly.
Eating balanced food is very important to ensure healthy and safe pregnancy. Learn more about pregnancy nutrition at Pregnancy Diet
Article Source: Your Perfect Pregnancy Diet
What Indicates A Cesarean Birth?
Posted by in Pregnancy on October 4th, 2009
Most soon-to-be parents hope to give birth to their baby through a normal delivery. Nevertheless, there are some cases when the best option for delivering a baby is cesarean birth. Cesarean births mean delivering your baby through incisions in your abdominal wall and uterus rather than delivering through the vagina. A number of cesarean births are planned ahead especially of it is known prior to the woman’s due date that a vaginal delivery may not ensure safety of the baby and of the mother. On the other hand, most cesarean cases are unplanned and is determined only during labor upon indications that vaginal delivery may be difficult and may jeopardize the safety of the mother. Given this, it is very important that you discuss your situation with your doctor. More than just that, it would also be helpful if you keep yourself knowledgeable about the procedures that take place in cesarean birth. In this article, we will share with you some indications of cesarean births. How do you know its best to go for a surgery instead of normal delivery?
Cephalopelvic Disproportion (CPD) – This happens when the baby;s head does not fit through the mother’s pelvis. The diagnosis can also be an indication that a labor fails to progress – ineffective contractions, extended period of time since rupture of membranes and prolonged labor.
Fetal Distress -In this case, the baby does not receive enough oxygen. An abnormal fetal tracing or a drop in the fetal heart may be enough indication of fetal distress.
Abnormal Baby Position – Ideally, the baby’s head should be presented first in the pelvis with his/her chin tucked inward. In cases where in the presenting part of the baby are other parts like the shoulder, the bottom or the legs, the next best option is a cesarean birth.
Prolapsed Cord – This happens when the umbilical cord is inside the vagina and is ahead of the baby. When the membranes rupture and the baby is in a breech position, his head may not be well engaged in the pelvis. In most cases, such situation needs an emergency cesarean operation. Otherwise, the oxygen supply of the baby may not be enough.
Abruptio Placentae – In this case, the placenta either fully or partially separates from the uterine wall before giving birth. This situation calls for an urgent cesarean birth to keep the mother from suffering hemorrhage or the baby to lose his or her oxygen supply.
Placenta Previa – This situation happens when the placenta completely or partially covers the cervix. The level of severity will determine if a cesarean operation is deemed necessary. Cesarean births are mandatory if the cervix is completely covered since the placenta would deliver first in vaginal birth and therefore, making the baby lose his or her oxygen supply.
Months before your due date, take time to browse on the everything that you need to know. You can even attend a class exclusively for pregnant women. You may also ask your health care provider to share with you tips which may be useful when the moment of delivery finally arrives.
You can find helpful information about cesarean and everything you need to know about cesarean births at Aha! Baby.
Article Source: What Indicates A Cesarean Birth?
Smoking during Pregnancy
Posted by in Pregnancy on September 29th, 2009
It is a proven fact that cigarette smoking can increase the risk of a wide variety of pregnancy complications including premature rupture of membranes, vaginal bleeding and premature placental detachment just as a few examples. One of the effects of smoking during pregnancy is smoking interferes with your absorption of vitamins B and C and folic acid. Neural tube defects results because of lack of folic acid which is caused by smoking.
The greatest threat that smoking during pregnancy can bring to the baby is the deprivation of oxygen. Carbon Monoxide and Nicotine from cigarettes join forces to interfere with the umbilical cord and your blood vessels. The probable results are miscarriage, premature birth, stillbirth, birth defects, or stunted growth. The risk continues even after the baby is born. The risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is increased when you smoke during pregnancy.
As if these potential risks to your unborne child weren’t enough, cigarettes don’t stop there. You also face problems in your own body. Any mother who thinks a smaller child may be better for birth will be suprised to learn their smoking habit can greatly disrupt normal birthing. It does this through Placenta Previa and Placental Abruption. In the former, your placenta changes position to cover most or all of the opening in your uterus. In Placental Abruption, the placenta pulls away from the uterine wall almost entirely.
Much more, by smoking, the nicotine and carbon monoxide reach not only to the mother’s body but also the baby through the placenta. This nocive substances prevent the fetus from getting the nutrients and oxygen needed to grow. Much more, the baby can take the nicotine from the breast milk and in some cases, smoke can lead to severe complications.
Seems untrue! But a baby inside a woman’s womb extracts the nutrients essential for its survival as well as oxygen from the mother via the umbilical cord and placenta and then when the mother smokes, the baby becomes vulnerable to the toxic material present in the mothers blood. And due to this reason, in some cases the infant in the womb is deprived of oxygen and it leads to disastrous heart rate increase in the baby. And the final consequence! Well, you can possible visualize the end result.
Maternal smoking in pregnancy has been associated with behaviour and attention deficit disorders. Mothers who smoked more than ½ a pack of cigarettes were significantly more likely to have an offspring with conduct disorder. Smoking in pregnancy may also have implications for the long-term physical growth and intellectual development of the child. It has been associated with a reduced height in children of smoking mothers as compared with non-smoking mothers, with lower attainments in reading and mathematics up to age 16 and even with the highest qualification achieved by the age of 23.
While your spouse may realize the danger of smoking during her pregnancy, it may not be easy for her to give up smoking. Most smokers who try to give up their addiction suffer a strong craving for cigarettes. You can help her by reminding her that the cravings are only temporary, and by offering your moral support to her.
Read About Tips Also About Style Tips and Remedy for Vomiting
Article Source: Smoking during Pregnancy
Constipation during Pregnancy
Posted by in Pregnancy on August 29th, 2009
When you first find out you are pregnant, you are probably pretty excited about the whole experience. While much of pregnancy can be a lot of fun, and an incredibly enlightening experience, it also comes with some drawbacks. Some women seem to have more problems than others, but almost all of them experience digestive complaints of one kind or another. Probably the most common digestive problem is constipation during pregnancy.
Pregnancy constipation occurs when the hormone progesterone starts being produced in greater quantities, preparing your body to nurture a fetus for nine months. One thing that happens almost right away is a general slowdown of your digestive system. This happens because your body will need extra time to get all of the nutrients it can from the food you eat. These nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to the womb, where the fetus receives them via the umbilical cord.
Constipation during pregnancy is caused by the slowdown of food moving through the digestive tract, but also because additional moisture is drawn out of the food and into the bloodstream. This means that whatever remains in the digestive tract is not only moving more slowly, it is drier as well. These two factors are the main ones in contributing to pregnancy constipation.
While constipation during pregnancy can be unpleasant and uncomfortable, it is also rather easily remedied. If you follow these steps, you will find your constipation greatly diminished or eliminated altogether. Constipation usually occurs because there is not enough fiber to keep the food moving easily through your system. If you increase your fiber consumption, you may well banish constipation for good.
Fiber can be found in whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal, and in whole-grain breads. It is also present in many fresh fruits and vegetables, so simply adding those to your diet can increase your fiber intake. Prunes, or prune juice are also particularly good at fighting pregnancy constipation.
Because lack of moisture can also be a factor, be sure to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily. If you like, drink some peppermint tea as well, as that has been proven to aid in constipation prevention.
Exercise is another way to keep all of the juices flowing, and your body’s systems working efficiently. It is also a great stress reducer, and since stress is a major cause of constipation during pregnancy you are getting a dual benefit.
Also keep in mind that iron can contribute to constipation. Prenatal vitamins are usually high in iron, so take a look at the one you are taking. If it is very high, you might want to consider switching to another brand that contains somewhat less.
While pregnancy constipation is unpleasant and uncomfortable, it is very common among pregnant women and no cause for alarm. If you follow the steps above, you will find instances of constipation greatly reduced, and you will realize the additional benefits of better health, overall. If you are still worried, check with your doctor for additional advice.
You can find helpful information about constipation during pregnancy and everything you need to know about pregnancy during constipation at Aha! Baby.
Article Source: Constipation during Pregnancy
Pregnancy Week 4 and Week 5
Posted by in Pregnancy on August 12th, 2009
Although there are 40 weeks of pregnancy an expectant woman’s first trimester includes weeks 1 – 12. Women, who are 4 weeks pregnant and 5 weeks pregnant, can expect some of the most documented internal changes in their babies. These weeks also show a lot of change in the mother as well. It is important to understand all that takes place during weeks four and five. If you are 4 weeks pregnant, it is interesting to note that this is one of the quickest weeks of development for your embryo. A faint heart beat has begun while the umbilical cord has also started to develop. This will be an important connection between mother and baby, providing nutrition for growth and health. But these are not the only occurrences in the embryo.
At 4 weeks pregnant the embryo is experiencing the growth of its mouth, ears and eyes. Tiny buds of the arms and legs also begin to grow. A little person is developing right inside of you. And, at this point the baby’s heart has pumped its first amount of blood through an infinitesimal blood stream.
Mom will see some drastic differences in herself as well. Generally, this is the time that morning sickness begins. Women experience various symptoms, which are normally triggered by nausea. Morning sickness is the period between weeks four and nine. Although not all pregnant women go through this process, over half of them do.
Women experience not only nausea, but sometimes vomiting, which may continue for about a few weeks. For this and other reasons, it is the perfect time to schedule your first obstetrician visit. He or she, will be able to pinpoint your due date and give you other valuable information. You will also receive prenatal vitamins to supplement for you and your baby.
Women who are 5 weeks pregnant, typically aren’t showing. This is especially true in first pregnancies. At 5 weeks pregnant, it is not abnormal to either gain or lose weight. For those who have begun the morning sickness process, symptoms may strengthen at this point to include fatigue and increased bowel activity.
There are also fantastic developmental changes taking place in the embryo right now. The arms and legs have continued to grow, as well as, the eyes and nostrils. The differences between week one and five are enormous. Not only has the embryo’s brain functioning started, but the growth of the pancreas and intestines is taking place.
Pregnant women at this stage will see not only physical changes on the outside, but inside as well. All of these are perfectly normal, and for those prepared with research and consultations with their doctor, know what to expect. It should be stated that regular appointments with one’s physician can be paramount to having a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
Every woman needs this assistance. Obstetricians are able to find problems as it relates to health or nutrition, both of which can be easily addressed when done promptly. Therefore, rely on this resource to gain knowledge about your pregnancy.
You can find more tips about being 4 weeks pregnant at Aha Baby. You can learn about various ways to address various discomforts and other changes to your body during 5 weeks pregnant until your due date at Aha! Baby.
Article Source: Pregnancy Week 4 and Week 5
