How To Have A Healthy Pregnancy During This Covid-19 Situation
COVID-19 pandemic has become a medical emergency in all over the world. It is a very difficult time for all of us. It is more difficult for women who are pregnant during this crisis. But as ILS Hospitals always says, Do not Panic and Stay Alert, following this is the only remedy during this anxious situation.
Today ILS Hospitals, one of the best hospitals in Kolkata and Agartala will suggest the would-be mothers some tips to have a healthy pregnancy during this COVID-19 situation.
Eat a diet full of nutrients
A nutritious diet is the ultimate panacea for pregnant women. You need to consume healthy foods for your baby’s growth and development. Eat fruits, vegetables, legumes, lentils, eggs, seafood, chicken, dry fruits, etc.
Drink plenty of water
Do not ignore the importance of hydration. Drink plenty of filtered water every day. Use a hydration or water reminder app on your smartphone if you constantly forget to drink water.
Take an ample of rest
Your body is responsible for carrying two individuals. Surely, your body is dealing with a lot right now. To compensate for that, take a proper amount of rest every day.
Stay hygienic
Practice good hygiene at all rates. Wash your hands properly and frequently with a good liquid handwash. Use hand sanitizer with 70-90% alcohol and tissue papers while coughing and sneezing and dispose them off at once in a closed bin. Wear a mask and disposable gloves if you have to go out for any medical emergency and live in a well-sanitized environment.
Have a good mental health
Due to this long home quarantine, you might find yourself anxious and depressed which can affect your unborn baby’s well-being as well. Do not stress, watch less news, read good books, play board games with your husband or other family members, watch informative videos and practice meditation or light doctor recomended exercise.
Stay happy and stay safe at home. Visit a good obstetrician-gynaecologist for any medical emergency. ILS Hospitals in Agartala and Kolkata is always present to help you out.
Facts About C-Section Every Expecting Mother Should Know Of
Bringing a life to the world is both amazing and challenging. A successful term of pregnancy ends up with a successful birth, which occurs either naturally or surgically. Most maternity hospitals nowadays assist in both natural and caesarean birth. Earlier the number of caesarean birth (also known as C-section) was very limited, but nowadays more and more cases are being noted. This advanced procedure helps many complicated births, but several myths surround it that makes many pregnant women avoid it on purpose.
Let’s burst 5 common myths regarding the same.
Myth 1 – It is Risky
Fact – Like any surgical procedure, it has certain risks attached to it. But so is with natural birth, where the use of forceps can cause injury to both mother and child. It is safe to conclude that a C-section from the hands of experts is possessed no long-term threats whatsoever. In fact, in many cases, it is a lot safer than natural birth.
Myth 2 – It is Always An Emergency Procedure
Fact – Many C-sections are indeed done on an emergency procedure. But, it can be elective as well. Maternity hospitals are observing that many women these days actually prefer the C-section due to its benefits.
Myth 3 – It is Only For High-Risk Pregnancies
Fact – Most high-risk pregnancies and breech babies are advised for C-section to mitigate risks associated with natural birth. But there is no thumb rule for it. Any women can choose to have her baby through this procedure if she feels it is the right one for her.
Myth 4 – It is Impossible To Deliver Naturally After A C-Section
Fact – Earlier, it was quite a changeling and considered so. These days, it is not only possible but actually is practiced by many women. It is more professional called VBAC (Vaginal Birth after Caesarean).
Myth 5 – C-Section Makes a Less of a Mother
Fact – No. Absolutely not. No matter how a baby is born, a mother is a mother. She is every bit of strong and commendable.
So, don’t let the silly myths stop you from considering the C-section for your baby if you feel it is the better option out of the 2.
Always remember the quote, by Laura Stavoe Harm: “There is a secret in our culture and it is not that birth is painful but that women are strong”.
5 Most Common Complications To Watch Out For Every Expecting Mother
Mother – the only person who nurtures you for 9 months in her womb and forever in her heart.
As rightly said, mother’s love is beyond words. We, on behalf of entire ILS Hospitals family, salutes all the mothers in the world on this International Mother’s Day, on 13th May 2018. We hereby, list out the 5 most common pregnancy-related complication most of the expecting mother faces and should seek gynecologists for.
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) onsets when the urinary tract gets a bacterial infection. It can be recognized by persistent primary symptoms such as frequent urination, cloudy urine, pain/burning sensation while urination and secondary symptoms such as fever, fatigue, back pain etc.
It usually is not something very severe and can be easily diagnosed with urine sample test. It is usually treated with oral antibiotics.
Anemia
Not having the ideal range of healthy red blood cells is very common complications of pregnancy. It can lead to extreme fatigue and weakness. It is addressed by folic acid and iron supplements and proper nutritional diet.
Gestational Diabetes
Pregnant women can develop a unique kind of diabetes, particularly during the pregnancy, without any prior occurrence. It happens when the body fails to process the carbohydrates properly. It is crucial to keep the blood sugar level in check during pregnancy as unmanaged diabetes can lead to pregnancy complications like preterm birth, preeclampsia, childbirth complication etc.
It is usually resolved through diet and medication, but it leaves the mother susceptible to diabetes in future.
Hyperemesis Gravid arum
It is more commonly known as morning sickness and is extremely common among mothers. It causes nausea and vomiting, especially during the morning hours, however, it can persist throughout the day as well. Often few expecting mothers experience severe morning sickness that requires treatment.
Hypertension
Commonly known as the high blood pressure, is yet another common problem during pregnancy. Unresolved hypertension can lead to severe complications such as preeclampsia, preterm birth, miscarriage, malnutrition baby, placental abruption etc.
At ILS Hospitals, we address every aspect of pregnancy and provide treatment, care, and support through every stage of it. Moreover, we offer other maternity-related services such as family planning, assistance during pregnancy and childbirth and for conception and NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) for critically ill babies. We urge every mother to seek medical help without wasting precious moments.
Why India is Becoming a Hub for Fertility Tourism?
Having a baby is the most important moment for every parent out there. However, not every couple is blessed with having a baby. As per gynecologists, conceiving normally, carrying it to a full term and having a safe childbirth has become a challenge lately for many couples. In such cases seeking medical help becomes inevitable.
Many places have expertise in providing such fertility assistance as compared to others. Traveling to such a place for availing these medical services is called as the fertility tourism, and it belongs to the broader concept of medical tourism. India is becoming a leading hub for fertility treatment for people from all over the world. Here are some of the reasons for the same-
1. Legal liability
Even though having trouble in conception is becoming a global threat, not every country is taking adequate measures to address it. Thereby, seeking help in one’s home country often is not possible. These legal constraints are often seen more in developing nations, where traditional beliefs are given more weight than scientific means or logic. In India, seeking and providing fertility assistance is legal, thereby making the process more safe and transparent.
2. Surrogacy/ donation assistance
Often the couple fails to have a successful conception solely on their own. Thereby it calls out for the need of either/or surrogacy and donation (sperm, eggs etc). After the Supreme Court has made these fertility assistance legal, the availability of personnel ready to provide such assistance has become very high in India.
3. Economical expense
Having a baby is surely joyous, but it is also very expensive at the same time. Having a baby with the medical help adds significant additional budget to the same. Thankfully, in India, the expense of this entire procedure is much affordable as compared to many developed countries. Simultaneously a lesser expense does not imply a poor quality treatment, instead, in India, the successful conception rate has been found much higher as compared to many other fertility tourism hubs.
To make the process even more smooth and transparent, many of the fertility assistance providers offer these services in a package, which is inclusive of the fertility treatment, transportation, charge of surrogacy or donation, and delivery of baby etc.
In a nutshell, India is an excellent place to get medical fertility assistance for the people who face difficulty in conceiving naturally. It enlightens lives of many parents and gives them a new meaning of life.
Role of Obstetrics in Pregnancy and Childbirth
Obstetrics is a specialized branch of medical science that deals exclusively with pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum period. It mainly deals with three major sections, namely,
Prenatal care, childbirth, and postnatal care. They are the primary healthcare provider staffs a maternity hospital must-have. Let’s understand them each in details
Prenatal Care
As the term suggests, it involves care and medication of an expecting mother to help her to carry a safe pregnancy towards a safe childbirth. It is further subdivided into 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester. The foetal assessment is an important part of the same. It is done by a series of ultrasonography, and if required, amniocentesis.
These routine procedures determine the gestational age of the pregnancy, number of foetus, the position of the baby and the placenta, determining the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy. It is also, a very important tool, to determine the possibility of any congenital abnormalities. It addresses the possible conditions, a patient may suffer during pregnancies such as gestational diabetes, hypercoagulability, high level of the thyroid, and so on.
Childbirth
Duration, risks, and complications associated with labour vary greatly depending upon the type of delivery, and overall health condition of the mother and baby. The obstetrician evaluates the conditions before and during the labour to determine the type (vaginal or caesarean) of delivery each patient needs.
An obstetrician can also induce labour prematurely by various means in case of foetal distress, pre-eclampsia, or any other complications. Some of the complications that need emergency care and often surgical correction are an ectopic pregnancy, placental abruption, pre-eclampsia, uterine rupture, foetal distress, obstetrical haemorrhage, shoulder dystocia, puerperal sepsis, prolapsed cord and so on.
Postnatal Care
The obstetrician also provides medical care to the new mother after labour by looking for signs of any possible injury, infection, oedema, dehydration, bleeding, bladder malfunction or bowel movements. He or she also checks the vital signs like pulse, body temperature, blood pressure etc. before discharge.
It also includes tracking the health of the newborn as well. In case the infant needs special health care, the obstetrician may refer to (or accompany too, depending upon the condition of the newborn) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as well, where, the neonatologists can carry on.
However, not every pregnancy can be carried out to a safe childbirth, as some might undergo a miscarriage or abortion due to various reasons. Obstetrics assist both these procedures as well. In a nutshell, a well-qualified obstetrics is needed in every aspect of a new life emerging.
Conditions Related to High- Risk Pregnancy
What is a high-risk Pregnancy?
A high-risk pregnancy is a fatal condition during pregnancy or by the end of the pregnancy where the mother or the fetus may face complications during or after the birth. Women with pre-pregnancy complication face many health issues and risks than the women with no pre-pregnancy complication. Although, rarely, few healthy women may also face some problems which can be fatal in nature. Only the advanced maternity hospitals are capable of handling these crisis cases.
The various complications that arise post pregnancy are listed below:
Gestational diabetes: Also known as gestational diabetes mellitus. This may be the first complication that women may face post pregnancy. After conforming pregnant many women get obsessed with their diet. They start overeating which increases the sugar level in the blood. A healthy and proper diet may help in avoiding and retarding the same. If neglected it can lead to fatal conditions such as premature labor and high blood pressure and so on.
Preeclampsia: It is a condition which appears by or after the 20th week, where the level of blood pressure increases causing the mother to fall sick. It can affect mother’s kidney, liver, and brain. If it remained untreated for long can result in fatal complication for the mother and also the fetus.
Eclampsia: It is a severe complication. Actually, it is another form or last stage of Preeclampsia that causes the mother to have a complicated seizure or worse, a coma. Regular health check-ups may avoid these complications.
Preterm Labor: As the term suggests, here the labor is held before the 37th week. The causes behind this complication could be multiple fetuses, cervix abnormality or infections or previous premature labor. Another reason behind this condition could be conceiving after the age of 35.
Placenta Previa: It is one of the rare but severe complication that a mother might face which shows symptoms in the mid-trimester. It is a condition where the placenta-cover the cervix partially or wholly. It is dangerous because when the cervix dilates and uterus expands can cause damage to the placenta resulting in painless vaginal bleeding or worse hemorrhage.
No matter what the complication is, if discovered by the initial, can be treated fearlessly. So, why to wait till it turns worse. If you are conceiving, get a regular checkup from any of the advanced maternity hospitals established in all over India.
What Is Low Birth Weight And Its Main Causes
After a full term of pregnancy, a baby is born with body weight ranging between 2500 to 4200 grams in order to live a normal functional life. However, very often some of these babies are born with exceptionally lesser weight than medically considered as ideal. These babies need critical care and are often kept at special care units of maternity hospitals.
As per World Health Organization, babies having a body weight of 2499 grams or less are considered as low birth weight. This is further subdivided into very low birth weight (having less than 1500 gram) and extremely low birth weight (having less than 1000 grams).
Having a low birth weight puts the baby subjected to developing a wide number of medical complications, both in short term and in long term.
Causes of low birth weight
The low birth weight is either caused due to preterm birth or due to being small for the gestational or environmental factor of the prenatal growth and development.
Preterm birth
The gestational period ideally consists of 37 weeks and any pregnancy than matures before this duration is considered as preterm birth. Being born before the ideal time than the baby is supposed to, results in making the baby susceptible to multiple medical issues and being born with a low birth weight is one of them.
Being small for gestational age
As already mentioned, the gestational duration does play an important role. However, some babies born with low birth weight even with a full term. This happens when the baby is doing full term but is underdeveloped with respect to his or her age. It is often a result of some or the other medical or genetic condition. As any malnourished individual would perform less and will be less immunized, the rules apply same for an infant only to a bigger proportion.
Environmental factors
Several factors such as a young age of mother, previous low birth weight babies, multiple pregnancies, poor nutrition, substance abuse and malnourished prenatal stage etc contribute towards negatively affecting the birth weight of the baby. It also includes exposure to smoke, pollutant air, water, lead and other toxic substances as well.
As already mentioned, the babies having a low birth weight is highly likely to suffer immense adverse health conditions. Thus, every family having an expectant mother is advised to take proper care of the mother and the child in every aspect to ensure a safe pregnancy and healthy child. In case of any doubt, it is always wise to approach a maternity hospital as soon as possible.
Why Prenatal Care is Crucial for the Wellbeing of a Baby?
Children are the future of any nation. But while taking care of the unborn, the health and wellbeing of the mother often skips the mind of people, especially in location with minimum exposure to maternity care. Several women suffer infection, miscarriage and even death. To address this problem Maternity Hospitals are making an effort to provide the best prenatal care along with childbirth assistance.
What must be done?
Since prenatal care is the most important aspect of maternal health, it is advised to receive atleast a minimum of four visits on antenatal care. The prenatal care centers provide basic and primary information related to pregnancy, such as any possible infection, ideal weight or anemia along with monitoring the growth of the fetus. It also includes a detailed information regarding the hygiene and nutrition to help them sustain a safe pregnancy along with the necessary guidelines to follow in case any emergency arises.
Since the baby’s nutrition is solely based on the nutrition received by the mother, nutrition and care of the mother is the most important factor. Thus, nutrition such as vitamins, minerals and proteins must be provided in adequate amount.
What must be avoided?
Over the counter medications, especially painkillers can cause more harm than relief in a long run. Smoking, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs during pregnancy can cause some serious damage to the growing embryo. The babies born with such history often have low birth weight.
By looking at the statistics of obesity in India, it might not sound like some major threat, but it can cause physical and emotional abnormalities such as defective limbs, heart, and face along with sudden infant death, neonatal death and intellectual disability.
What must be watched out for?
The most common issue related to maternity is gestational diabetes. It is advised to get constant supervision and medication for the same from a reliable Maternity Hospitals. Ignorance can cause the baby to develop diabetes Type 2 from an early age.
Another threat that a baby is exposed during pregnancy is the infection of HIV/AIDS. In case the mother is HIV positive, much care and caution is needed to avert the worst case scenario of the baby getting infected as well.
Any maternal stress experienced by the mother can cause direct and indirect damage to the baby and thus the close friends and relative should take extra caution for the same.