by Jennifer Shakeel

pregnant woman laying down and eatingFifteen years ago I was told by many, "remember you are eating for two now," every time I sat down to a meal. The doctors weren't really all that concerned with the amount of weight I should gain… though towards the end they did tell me that I should be careful I would have trouble losing the weight. I was young, 21, I didn't care I would get back in shape, no problem.
Jump ahead to last year, with my last pregnancy and my fear of gaining weight took me over, the doctor's said to me, "You aren't really eating for two. Your body is going to provide the baby with the nutrients first… and they you. So make healthy food choices and you will be fine." They key was everything in moderation.

You have to make healthy food choices so that the nutrients that are going into your body are good for you and baby. You do need additional nutrients to help baby grow properly and for you to remain healthy while you are pregnant, but you are not eating for two people. A simple increase of only 300 calories a day is ideal to take care of you and baby. More on Pregnancy Weight Gain: Am I Eating for 2?

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Filed under Pregnancy by More4kids Inc.

future pregnant mammaPregnancy is a beautiful thing. I have difficulty putting into words just how amazing it is. You are creating life. It's exciting and at the same time it can be nerve wracking. So what are some of the common concerns when pregnant? Not only is your body changing, growing, and you are experiencing new aches and pains that you haven't felt before, your mind is also experiencing changes that you were not prepared for. You are not going crazy, what you are going through is normal. Whether this is your first pregnancy or your third, the aches, pains, concerns and emotionality are all unexpected and yes, they are normal.

I am going to address the most common concerns that women have when they are pregnant. The very first one that many pregnant women stress over is weight gain. I remember when I was pregnant the first time, some 16 years ago doctors watched the weight you gained, but they didn't tell you that you should only gain so much. So with my last pregnancy that ended only 5 months ago, weight gain is an issue and one that is monitored by the doctor. More on Common Pregnancy Concerns

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by Patricia Hughes
pregnant woman using a rescue inhalerPregnancy is a time when women are generally more concerned with their health and well being. Health habits and diet improve significantly for many women after hearing the news they are expecting a baby. Chronic health conditions, such as asthma, should be carefully monitored during pregnancy.
 
Each woman experiences asthma differently during pregnancy. Some women find their symptoms improve when they are pregnant, while others experience more frequent or severe asthma attacks. A third group of women find their symptoms remain about the same as prior to the pregnancy. 

Medications for Treating Asthma 

Women worry about taking medications during pregnancy and for good reason since many commonly used medications are not safe for the baby. However, as a result of this fear some women may not take their medication as directed or skip it. This is dangerous since you are depriving both your baby and yourself of oxygen. Controlling your symptoms is the best thing you can do to ensure a healthy baby.

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by Patricia Hughes
 
doctor examing pregnant womanAmniocentesis is a medical test that is sometimes done in pregnancy. The test involves extracting a sample of the amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby. In this fluid are the baby’s chromosomes. These cells are collected and sent to a laboratory to be analyzed. It can take a week or more to get the results, depending on the testing done.

More on A Guide to Amniocentesis

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by Patricia Hughes
pregnant woman drinking coffeeThe advice on caffeine in pregnancy varies depending on the source. Some books and articles will tell you that a small amount of caffeine is fine, while others recommend skipping it altogether. The same is true among health care professionals. Some say a limited amount of caffeine is not dangerous, while others say to eliminate it entirely. With advice differing, it can be difficult to know what to do.
 
The issue becomes even more confusing because studies of caffeine use in pregnancy are not consistent. An FDA study in the late 1980s showed that caffeine consumption had an impact on miscarriage rates. The study was later refuted due to the fact that rats were used in the study. Later studies on humans were criticized because they failed to control for other contributing factors such as tobacco and alcohol use.

More on Caffeine During Pregnancy

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by Patricia Hughes
pregnant mom peaceful and contentIf you are pregnant and find that things are slipping your mind, you are not alone. Most women report some degree of forgetfulness during pregnancy. While frustrating, this is completely normal. Pregnancy affects every part of your body, including the mind. Fortunately, there are ways that you can cope with this problem and still finish the tasks you need to accomplish.
 
There have actually been studies done on this phenomenon. A study published in The Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing showed that 68% of participants reported changes in memory. Fifty four percent reported difficulty in concentration and 52% reported absentmindedness during pregnancy.
 
A 1997 study published in the New Scientist looked at changes in the brains of pregnant women as a possible explanation for forgetfulness. This study looked at brain images and found an increase in the pituitary gland and a small shrinkage in the overall size of the brain in the third trimester. These researchers suggest that more study is needed in this area. Check out: http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/absentmindedness

More on Forgetfulness During Pregnancy

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