Pregnancy
week by week -
Week 20,
Must-ask
Questions this Week
(Week 20)
What are
the key advantages
to signing up for
childbirth classes?
Here are six reasons
why you should make
the effort to join
these classes:
• Childbirth
classes can help
reduce your anxiety
about giving birth
by giving you an
idea of what to
expect - whether
you end up having
a vaginal or C-section
delivery
• They educate
you about various
birthing options
• They give
you the opportunity
to make friends
with other expectant
couples
• They can
help you master
breathing, relaxation
and coping techniques
designed to reduce
labor pain as you
perceive it.
• They give
your partner the
chance to play an
active role in your
pregnancy
• They give
you an opportunity
to raise your queries
about pregnancy,
labor, childbirth,
breastfeeding and
life after baby
as well as drawing
your attention to
issues such as the
pros and cons of
episiotomy, circumcision
etc.
What topics
should childbirth
classes cover?
Make sure the classes
you sign up for
covers as many of
the following topics
as possible:
• The physiology
of pregnancy (how
your body changes
and why, and how
you can cope with
some of the common
discomforts of pregnancy
• The basic
elements of prenatal
care (your doctors
role in caring for
you and your baby
as well as the tests
technology during
pregnancy and labor)
• The psychological
and emotional experience
of giving birth
• What is
involved in delivering
vaginally and through
a C-section
• Relaxation
and or breathing
techniques
• Laboring
positions that can
reduce pain or help
your labor to progress
• The role
of pain relief during
labor
• Tips on
getting breastfeeding
off to a good start
• Advice on
caring for your
newborn
• Advice on
choosing a pediatrician
• The lowdown
on what postpartum
period is really
like
• Breastfeeding
techniques
• Films and
videos on actual
vaginal and C-section
births so that you
are better prepared
on what is to come
• The chance
to tour the hospital
or birth center
at which you will
be delivering
• The opportunity
to ask questions
or express concerns
you may have
Childbirth classes
should provide as
much information
and as little propaganda
as possible. The
bottom-line to a
woman in labor are
the vitals such
as an understanding
of relaxation techniques,
the support of a
caring partner and
an overall feeling
of confidence in
her ability to give
birth.
Some
Basic Pointers
(Week 20)
Ultrasound
pictures
An ultrasound
makes more sense
or is easily understood
when it is actually
being done. The
pictures you see
are more like
motion pictures;
the pictures are
two dimensional.
An ultrasound
done at this point
(week 20) in pregnancy
is helpful for
confirming or
helping to establish
due dates. If
the ultrasound
is done very early
or very late in
pregnancy (first
or last two months)
the accuracy of
dating the pregnancy
is not very accurate.
If two or more
fetuses are present,
they can be seen.
Some fetal problems
can also be detected.
Read
Full Article
Stretching
abdominal muscles
Your abdominal
muscles are being
stretched and
pushed apart as
your baby grows.
Muscles are attached
to the lower part
of your ribs and
run vertically
down to your pelvis;
they may separate
in the middle.
These muscles
are called rectus
muscles. The separation
will be more obvious
when you are lying
down and you raise
your head, tightening
your abdominal
muscles. You might
even feel the
edge of the muscle
on either side
of the bulge.
It is not painful
and doesn't harm
you or your baby.
The uterus lies
in the space between
the muscles; you
may feel the baby's
movements more
easily here. If
this is your first
baby, the separation
may not be obvious
at all. With subsequent
pregnancies, the
separation becomes
more noticeable.
Exercising can
strengthen these
muscles, but you
may still have
the bulge or gap.
Following pregnancy
these muscles
tighten and the
gap closes. The
separation may
not be as noticeable
but it may still
be present. A
girdle probably
won't help you
get rid of the
bulge or gap;
it will probably
help conceal it.
Correct postnatal
exercises will
help you lessen
the bulge or even
get rid of it.
Sexual
relations
As you grow larger,
intercourse may
become difficult
because of the
discomfort to
you. With some
imagination and
different positions
(avoid missionary),
you can continue
to enjoy sexual
relations during
this part of your
pregnancy. If
there is emotional
pressure from
your partner either
his concern about
safety issues
or requests for
frequent sexual
relations, discuss
openly with him.
Invite your partner
to prenatal visits
to discuss these
things with your
doctor. If you
are having problems
with contractions,
bleeding or complications,
you and your partner
should talk with
your doctor.
Your
Nutrition (Week
20)
Many women use
artificial sweeteners
to help cut calories.
Aspartame and
saccharin are
the two most common
artificial sweeteners
used in foods
and beverages.
Aspartame (sold
under brand names
NutraSweet and
Equal) are the
most common ones
in the market.
Saccharin, not
so popular today,
is also added
to many foods
and beverages.
• Aspartame
is a combination
of phenylalanine
and aspartic acid,
two amino acids.
There has been
controversy as
to its safety
during pregnancy.
It is advisable
that you substitute
foods that do
not contain the
sweetener. If
you suffer from
phenylketonuria,
you must follow
a low-phenylalanine
diet or your baby
will suffer adverse
effects. In all
other situations,
limit your use
of artificial
sweeteners if
you cannot help
it.
• Saccharine
is not as widely
used as it was
before. However
some foods and
beverages still
contain saccharine.
Its use in pregnancy
is not safe so
it is best to
avoid foods and
beverages with
saccharine content
during pregnancy.
If you can avoid
them, do not resort
to artificial
sweeteners. It
is probably best
to totally eliminate
any substances
you can do without
from the foods
you eat and beverages
you drink.
Do it
for the good of
your baby.
Splenda is a trade
name for a low-calorie
sweetener called
sucralose, and
it is derived
from sugar. Sugar
passes through
the body without
being metabolized
- your body does
not recognize
it as either sugar
or carbohydrate
which is what
makes sucralose
low calorie. Sucralose
is used in salad
dressings, baked
goods, desserts,
dairy products
beverages, jams
and jellies, coffee,
tea, syrups. The
good news is Splenda
or sucralose is
safe for pregnant
and nursing women
to use.
| Pregnancy
Articles
by Category |
|
|
|
#
