High blood pressure and pregnancy isn’t necessarily a dangerous combination. But having hypertension during pregnancy requires special care, irrespective of whether you are diagnosed with this problem before or after conception.
High blood pressure, medically known as hypertension, means the force of the blood that pushes against the walls of your arteries is too high. Blood pressure readings of 140/90 mm Hg is considered too high.
While hypertension can affect anyone, pregnant women are at an increased risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an increasing number of pregnant women in the United States suffer from hypertension. In fact, according to the American Pregnancy Association, high blood pressure affects about 6 to 8 percent of pregnant women.
During pregnancy, women can suffer from different types of high blood pressure, such as:
- Gestational hypertension that develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy
- Chronic hypertension that was present before pregnancy or that occurs before 20 weeks of pregnancy
- Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia that occurs in women with chronic high blood pressure before pregnancy
- Preeclampsia, a type of pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system.
There are several possible causes of high blood pressure during pregnancy, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. They include being overweight or obese, an inactive lifestyle, smoking, drinking alcohol, a first-time pregnancy, carrying more than one child, being age 40 or older, and having a family history of kidney disease, preeclampsia or chronic hypertension.
Using assistive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization, during the conception process also increases the risk of high blood pressure in a pregnant woman, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
High blood pressure during pregnancy puts extra stress on your heart and kidneys, which in turn increase the risk of heart disease, kidney disease and strokes. Along with these, other complications may include fetal growth restriction, preterm delivery, placental abruption and cesarean delivery.
When suffering from hypertension during pregnancy, it is important to monitor your blood pressure level closely throughout the pregnancy. Managing your blood pressure can help you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. At the same time, ultrasound exams should be done frequently to track the growth of the baby in the womb.
Here are the top ways to lower your high blood pressure during pregnancy.
1. Monitor Your Salt Intake
Generally, when people with high blood pressure cut back on salt, their blood pressure falls. It even prevents blood pressure from rising.
A 2014 study published in Electrolytes & Blood Pressure shows that a reduction of dietary salt intake can decrease the number of deaths from hypertension, cardiovascular disease and strokes.
A 2016 study by McMaster University found that, contrary to popular thought, low-salt diets may not be beneficial and may actually increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and death compared to average salt consumption. The research suggests that the only people who need to worry about reducing sodium in their diet are those with hypertension who have high salt consumption.
Always remember that the body needs a small amount of sodium to work properly, but excess salt will only increase your blood pressure and your risk for heart disease or a stroke.
During pregnancy, you must keep a check on your salt intake to keep your blood pressure under control.
- Do not add lots of salt to foods when cooking. Use herbs and spices instead to add flavor to your dish.
- Avoid processed foods, fast food and sports drinks, which are high in sodium even if they don’t taste salty.
- Avoid canned foods as they are often high in sodium.
2. Try Controlled Breathing
Deep breathing is a popular relaxation technique that helps lower your stress levels and stabilize your blood pressure.
A 2005 study published in Hypertension found that slow breathing improves arterial baroreflex sensitivity and reduces blood pressure.
Moreover, every time you take in a deep breath, the well-oxygenated blood gets delivered to each and every cell in the body. This in turn provides energy and makes you feel good overall.
- Lie down comfortably on your back.
- Place your hands on your chest and below the rib cage.
- Slowly inhale through your nose so that you feel your stomach move up.
- Slowly exhale through your mouth by counting to 5, while keeping the abdominal muscles tight.
- Repeat 10 times and keep your breathing regular and slow.
- Practice deep breathing for 10 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day, to manage your blood pressure and keep your heart healthy.
3. Enjoy Walking
Inactive women are at a higher risk of hypertension during pregnancy than those who exercise. Walking is one of the best cardiovascular exercises for pregnant women.
Hypertensive pregnant women can lower their blood pressure by enjoying a brisk walk of 30 to 45 minutes on a daily basis. It is a safe activity to continue throughout all nine months of the pregnancy.
Also, it is one of the best ways to start exercising if you were fairly inactive before getting pregnant. Start with a slow walk and gradually increase your pace as well as the duration, from 20 to 60 minutes.
As an added bonus, regular walking ensures you are strong and have lots of endurance when it is time for delivery.
4. Increase Your Potassium Intake
Potassium is an important mineral during pregnancy. It helps maintain your fluid and electrolyte balance. It also aids in the transmission of nerve impulses, contraction of your muscles and the release of energy from carbohydrates, fat and protein.
An adequate amount of potassium also helps keep your blood pressure under control during pregnancy. In fact, potassium-rich foods should be a part of a hypertension-management diet, whether you are pregnant or not.
A 2015 study published in the Journal of Human Hypertension reports that increased potassium intake, on top of a relatively low-sodium diet, had a beneficial effect on blood pressure.
A pregnant woman should aim for 2,000 to 4,000 mg of potassium a day.
Some of the best potassium-rich foods are sweet potatoes, tomatoes, orange juice, potatoes, bananas, kidney beans, peas, cantaloupe, honeydew melon and dried fruits like prunes and raisins.
5. Eat Magnesium-Rich Foods
A diet low in magnesium may lead to high blood pressure. A 1999 study published in Hypertension reports that magnesium deficiency is linked to an elevation of blood pressure.
Another study published in 2011 in the Journal of the Indian Medical Association found that patients with gestational hypertension had significantly low mean magnesium levels.
This is why you should include magnesium-rich foods in your diet during pregnancy. Along with lowering your blood pressure, this mineral will help prevent the uterus from contracting prematurely. It also helps build strong teeth and bones in your baby.
The best way to get your daily dose of magnesium is through a healthy diet. You can get magnesium from foods like almonds, avocados, bananas, beans, pumpkin seeds, tofu, soy milk, cashews, potatoes (with the skin), yogurt, blackstrap molasses, whole grains and green leafy vegetables.
6. Practice Prenatal Yoga
Prenatal yoga is one of the best ways to keep your stress level under control. Stress can cause elevated blood pressure, regardless of whether you are pregnant. At the same time, stress during pregnancy has been linked to premature birth, low birth weight, and increased developmental and behavioral problems in the child.
Prenatal yoga is a multifaceted approach to exercise that encourages stretching, mental centering and focused breathing. Apart from reducing stress, it can improve sleep; increase the strength, flexibility and endurance of muscles needed for childbirth; and reduce lower back pain.
A 2014 study published in Depression and Anxiety shows that yoga can help keep expectant mothers stress-free. Women who attended a yoga class each week for eight weeks had decreased anxiety scores as compared to the control group who received normal antenatal treatment.
When it comes to prenatal yoga, it is highly recommended to join a yoga class.
7. Monitor Your Weight
Some amount of weight gain during pregnancy is normal, but if your weight gain is excessive, take it as a warning sign.
A 2013 study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reports that gestational weight gain is a risk factor for hypertensive disorders during pregnancy. In fact, weight gain in early pregnancy may be a potential target for interventions aimed at reducing the risk of hypertension.
At the same time, being overweight also increases the risk of other health conditions during pregnancy, such as backaches, exhaustion, leg cramps, hemorrhoids, gestational diabetes, heartburn and aching joints.
Through a healthy diet and a proper exercise routine, you can get to a healthy weight. Talk to your doctor about the weight that’s right for you and follow the instructions given by your doctor.
8. Listen to Music
Listening to the right type of music for at least 30 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day, can lower your blood pressure.
As an added bonus, music can help you deal with stress and anxiety, which can make things more complicated during pregnancy. Stress is also not good for your unborn baby.
Slow-tempo and low-pitch music, without lyrics or loud instrumentation, can calm people down, even during highly stressful times.
Listening to soft and soothing music during pregnancy also helps create a wonderful bonding experience for you and your baby. Plus, it enhances the stimulation of your unborn baby’s growing brain, and improves sleeping patterns for a newborn baby.
Additional Tips
- Get early and your regular prenatal medical care. If your doctor says you need medicine to keep your blood pressure under control, be sure to take it every day as prescribed.
- Those who are at high risk for preeclampsia may have to take low-dose aspirin to help prevent it. This will be advised by your doctor.
- Don’t stop taking any medicine without talking to your doctor.
- Smoking and drinking put stress on your heart and cardiovascular system. It is also dangerous to your baby’s health. Say no to smoking and drinking while you are pregnant.
- Avoid caffeine during pregnancy, as it has been linked to reduced placental blood flow and a risk of miscarriage.
SOURCE: Top10homeremedies
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Reduced ear infections? Check. Lower risk for asthma? Yup. Bump in IQ? Sure. Breastfeeding your baby brings all these benefits—plus a whole lot more.
1. A healthier baby
"The incidences of pneumonia, colds and viruses are reduced among breastfed babies," says infant-nutrition expert Ruth A. Lawrence, M.D., a professor of pediatrics and OB-GYN at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, N.Y., and the author of Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession (Elsevier-Mosby). Gastrointestinal infections like diarrhea—which can be devastating, especially in developing countries—are also less common.
2. Long-term protection, too
Breastfeed your baby and you reduce his risk of developing chronic conditions, such as type I diabetes, celiac disease and Crohn's disease.
3. Stronger bones
According to Lawrence, women who breastfeed have a lower risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis. "When a woman is pregnant and lactating, her body absorbs calcium much more efficiently," she explains. "So while some bones, particularly those in the spine and hips, may be a bit less dense at weaning, six months later, they are more dense than before pregnancy."
4. Lower SIDS risk
Breastfeeding lowers your baby's risk of sudden infant death syndrome by about half.
5. Fewer problems with weight
It's more likely that neither of you will become obese if you breastfeed him.
6. A calorie incinerator
You may have heard that nursing burns up to 500 calories a day. And that's almost right. "Breast milk contains 20 calories per ounce," Lawrence explains. "If you feed your baby 20 ounces a day, that's 400 calories you've swept out of your body."
7. It's good for the earth
Dairy cows, which are raised in part to make infant formula, are a significant contributor to global warming: Their belching, manure and flatulence (really!) spew enormous amounts of methane, a harmful greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere.
8. Better healing postdelivery
The oxytocin released when your baby nurses helps your uterus contract, reducing postdelivery blood loss. Plus, breastfeeding will help your uterus return to its normal size more quickly—at about six weeks postpartum, compared with 10 weeks if you don't breastfeed.
9. Less risk of cancer
Breastfeeding can decrease your baby's risk of some childhood cancers. And you'll have a lower risk of premenopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer, an often deadly disease that's on the rise.
10. An unmatched feeling of power
"It's empowering as a new mother to see your baby grow and thrive on your breast milk alone," Lawrence says.
11. A custom-made supply
Formula isn't able to change its constitution, but your breast milk morphs to meet your baby's changing needs. Colostrum—the "premilk" that comes in after you deliver—is chock-full of antibodies to protect your newborn baby. "It's also higher in protein and lower in sugar than 'full' milk, so even a small amount can hold off your baby's hunger," says Heather Kelly, an international board-certified lactation consultant in New York City and a member of the Bravado Breastfeeding Information Council's advisory board.
When your full milk comes in (usually three to four days after delivery), it is higher in both sugar and volume than colostrum—again, just what your baby requires. "He needs a lot of calories and frequent feedings to fuel his rapid growth," Kelly explains. "Your mature milk is designed to be digested quickly so he'll eat often."
12. More effective vaccines
Research shows that breastfed babies have a better antibody response to vaccines than formula-fed babies.
13. A menstruation vacation
Breastfeeding your baby around the clock—no bottles or formula— will delay ovulation, which means delayed menstruation. "Breastfeeding causes the release of prolactin, which keeps estrogen and progesterone at bay so ovulation isn't triggered," Kelly explains.
"When your prolactin levels drop, those two hormones can kick back in, which means ovulation—and, hence, menstruation—occurs."
Even if you do breastfeed exclusively, your prolactin levels will eventually drop over the course of several months. Many moms who solely nurse will see their periods return between six and eight months after delivery, Kelly adds; others don't for a full year.
14. Less time off work
Your baby will be ill less often, so that means fewer sick days for you.
15. It's cheap!
According to La Leche League International, the cost of formula can range anywhere from $134 to $491 per month. That's $1,608 to $5,892 in one year!
16. A great way to learn about your baby
"You have to read your baby's 'satiety cues' a little better, because unlike with a bottle, you can't see how much he's eaten," Kelly says. "You have to rely on your own instincts and your baby's behavior to know when your baby is full."
17. You can stash the condoms—for now
Breastfeeding can be 98 percent to 99 percent effective as a post-baby birth control option if a few guidelines are followed: Your period must not have resumed; you must breastfeed at least every four hours around the clock; you must not give your baby any pacifiers, bottles or formula; and you must be less than six months postpartum.
According to Kelly, nighttime feedings are the most important to the "lactation amenorrhea method," so do not let your baby (or yourself ) sleep through a feeding. "Going long stretches at night without nursing seems to be directly responsible for the return of ovulation," she says. Prematurely sleep training your baby can also hasten ovulation.
18. There's nothing easier
Simply pull up your shirt and nurse. Breast milk is always available and always at the right temperature.
19. Benefits for all
According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, the United States would save about $13 billion per year in medical costs if 90 percent of U.S. families breastfed their newborns for at least six months.
20. Better friendships
"Breastfeeding helps cultivate relationships with other moms," Kelly says. Whether it's talking about parenting styles, nighttime feedings or engorgement, nursing allows women to forge positive postpartum relationships. Adds Kelly, "Women are supposed to be sitting together, nursing and taking care of babies."
Carole Anderson Lucia is a contributing editor in Fallbrook, Calif.
SOURCE: Fitpregnancy
More than 80 percent of pregnant women have friends (or strangers!) touch their bellies without asking for permission. Grievances like this are all too common, so we thought we'd lay down a list of phrases that make our pregnant users cringe (they told us so). Chances are, you've already found some of these words slipping through your teeth before you knew what hit you. Well, you can't rewind, but check out our list and try to hold back next time — your pregnant buddies will be grateful.
FAUX PAS #1: “LET ME TOUCH YOUR BELLY!”
We’re all guilty of the belly rub… it’s hard to resist. But hold back unless you ask the mom first. Not only is it scary and weird for her when someone, whether it’s a stranger or even a relative, touches her bump, but a woman’s belly is private and she may not want you reaching for it.
_ What to say or do in response: _ As the hand moves in, cover your belly and jokingly say, “The little one’s bossy already, this baby likes personal space.”
FAUX PAS #2: “I WAS IN LABOR FOR 36 HOURS AND I TORE LIKE YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE!”
Imagine hearing your own mother-in-law describing in detail how she gave birth to your husband. Are you squirming yet? It’s only natural to want to share your own personal experiences and think that it may offer some helpful advice. But just because you were in labor for 36 hours doesn’t mean she wants to hear all the gory details. You’ll only scare her (and baby) with your stories.
_ What to say or do in response: _ You may gain some bits of useful advice from these war stories, but if the conversation gets too graphic, say in a mock grave voice, “You’ve seriously got to stop – I think my morning sickness is coming back.”
FAUX PAS #3: “WOW, YOU’RE HUGE! ARE YOU HAVING TWINS?”
First of all, pregnant or not, no one ever likes to be reminded of their weight gain. Whether you genuinely are wondering if she’s having twins or it’s your way of saying she’s going to have a big healthy baby, keep any comments related to weight gain to yourself. After all, we all know this could sound like an evil way of saying “Wow, you’re one big heifer.”
_ What to say or do in response: _ Think of it this way – who wants a peewee baby? So proudly rub your tummy and say, “Nope, not twins. I’m just carrying the next linebacker for the New York Giants.”
FAUX PAS #4: “OHHH, I KNEW A (INSERT NAME). HE WAS THE BIGGEST GEEK IN HIGH SCHOOL.”
Ouch. Whether it’s a high school geek or horrid ex-boyfriend, we can’t help but connect a name to someone in our past. But it’s best to keep your opinions to yourself, or better yet, not even ask what they’re planning on naming baby.
“This is a seemingly harmless question and is one of the most hotly debated topics for parents-to-be,” says Carley Roney, our editor in chief. “Naming a child is one of the most personal things for parents and it’s hard enough to decide on a name without a committee chiming in. Plus, parents may want to keep the name a secret in case someone ‘steals’ the name.”
_ What to say or do in response: _ If only you could say who his or her name reminds you of, right? So just grin and say, “Good thing all geeks grow up to be billionaires.”
FAUX PAS #5: “COME ON, ONE DRINK WON’T HURT.”
No one likes a pusher. If your friend who normally drinks more than her share of Sauvignon switches to sparkling water, take it as a sign and don’t order a round of martinis. Your “in the baby zone” friend will become tired of saying that she’s “not feeling well” and be less apt to come out next time.
_ What to say or do in response: _ Save yourself a response by ordering a soda water with lemon in it – it’ll look just like a cocktail. Or jokingly say, “No way, I don’t want baby ending up in AA by the time he or she's a toddler!”
SOURCE: Thebump
The idea of having twins tends to polarise people. Some couples say they’d love the chance to parent two babies and others react in an entirely different way. If you are a twin or have twin siblings then your concept of the reality is likely to be very different to someone who’s never had anything to do with more than one baby at a time.
Are twins common?
Many reproductive experts believe that as humans we probably have more twin pregnancies than any of us are aware of. Technological advances have found that it is reasonably common for there to be more than one embryo conceived and implanted, but of these, only one is viable and survives.
How do twins happen?
If you are keen to increase your chances of conceiving two babies then it’s important to understand how twins are made.
There are two types of twins; identical and non-identical. Identical or monozygotic twins are formed when one egg is fertilized by one sperm which then divides into two separate embryos. Each shares exactly the same genetic components and identical genetic structures. Identical twins also share a placenta.
Non-identical or dizygotic twins form from two separate eggs being fertilised by two separate sperm. These twins are their own unique little individuals and share no more genetic composition than siblings with the same parents. Each baby in a non-identical twin pair will have its own placenta.
Another name for non-identical twins is fraternal; the other name for identical twins is non-fraternal.
What about twins in families?
Twins do run in families. But the genetic predisposition for having twins only applies to the mother. It is her family history which influences the chances of her having hyper ovulation.
Any woman can have identical twins and family history does not play a role with these.
What are the odds of having twins?
Currently in Australia 1.6% of all pregnancies result in multiple births and of these, 98% are twins. Naturally conceived twins occur once in around every eighty nine births. The majority of twins who are born are non identical and a result of two eggs being fertilised.
Some fraternal twins look very similar; others share some resemblance whilst the remainder may not even look the slightest bit related.
What will help boost my chances of having twins?
- Being older rather than younger helps. It seems to be a twist of nature that just before a woman enters peri-menopause, her ovaries start releasing more than one egg each month. This “fertility spike” is also influenced by a surge of oestrogen. Fertility research has proven that twin pregnancies are much more common in women who are over 35 years. But this only applies to non-identical twins.
- Have fertility assistance such as in vitro fertilisation or take fertility drugs. These stimulate the ovaries to support more than one ovarian follicle each month towards maturity. The result is that more than one egg is released.
- Pick your own genetics carefully! Though we all know this is impossible. But if you come from a family where non-identical twins are common then your family history and genetic endowment means that you’ve got a greater chance of having them yourself. But identical twins can occur in any family.
- Be of African/American heritage. Women from this ethnic background have a distinctly higher rate of twin pregnancies.
- Having been pregnant before. Women who have previously had a baby or two have a higher chance of conceiving with twins.
- Have a big family. This theory is based on pure maths; the more times you conceive the greater the likelihood of conceiving more than one baby.
- Get pregnant while you are on the pill. Difficult as this can be overall, there is a higher incidence of women conceiving with twins when they are on oral contraceptives.
- Try to conceive straight after you have stopped taking the pill. The theory is that for the first couple of cycles the woman’s body is going through a hormonal readjustment phase.
- Already have a set of twins. Because the likelihood of conceiving with twins again is higher in women who’ve already had them.
- Be heavier rather than lighter so that you’ve got a higher body mass index (BMI). Some researchers claim that a woman with a BMI of greater than 30 boosts her chances. But considering a healthy range during the fertile years is 20-25 and 30 would put you into the overweight/obese category then this is not a healthy recommendation.
- Taller women tend to conceive more twins. But there is nothing you can do about your height, other than blame your parents!
- Take a folic acid supplement before you conceive. The general recommendation for women who are planning to conceive is to start taking folic acid supplements one month before conception.
- Encourage your partner to eat some oysters. The urban myth about oysters being an aphrodisiac is not entirely without basis. Oysters are high in zinc and this helps with sperm production. The more healthy and mobile his sperm are, the greater the likelihood of being able to fertilise an egg or two. If he’s keen to take supplements, the recommendation for men in their fertile years is 14mg/day. Green leafy vegetables, cereals, bread, seeds and wheat germ are all excellent sources of zinc.
- Be a twin yourself. Mothers who are twins are more likely to have twin babies. There is no influence on the male partner’s side, only the mother’s. But it does seem that fathers may pass the twin gene onto their daughters for their future conception possibilities.
- Eat more yams/sweet potatoes. It is a fact that more women conceive with twins who live in areas where yams are a major component of their diet. It seems that a naturally occurring chemical component of the yams helps to support ovarian function.
- Keep breastfeeding your older baby or toddler. Women who are producing prolactin and breastfeeding are more likely to conceive with twins. Though some women do not resume regular ovulation and menstrual cycles for the entire time they are breastfeeding; this is very individual.
What’s fact and what’s fiction when having twins?
- The idea that conceiving twins skips a generation is not true. Although there can appear to be a pattern in some families of this happening, the odds of having identical twins is the same for every woman.
- Eating a diet which is high in dairy foods, milk and meat is said to help, especially at the time of ovulation. But there is no scientific evidence to support this.
- Alternative therapies do not increase the likelihood. There is no scientific evidence to support the theory that accupuncture, naturopathy, aromatherapy, chiropractic or flower essences increase the likelihood of having twins.
SOURCE: huggies
