Blood Pressure During Pregnancy

Your Blood pressure during pregnancy needs to be well controlled to ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Blood pressure is the pressure made by the blood circulating around the body.

It needs to be within a healthy range of 90-119 over 60-79, especially during pregnancy.

Below that, you could suffer from hypotension which causes dizziness, fainting and makes you go into shock.

Above that it could lead to hypertension which puts you at risk from stroke, heart attacks and kidney failure.

In pregnancy it can be a sign of pre-eclampsia which is a potentially dangerous condition.

Symptoms are headache, spots before your eyes and a pain in your side under the ribcage.

It is important as a diabetic to keep an eye on your blood pressure and attend all your antinatal appointments as they look for protein in your urine as well.

Ways to keep your blood pressure down.

Take regular exercise.
Reduce your salt intake. (don't add salt to your food.)
Relax. Try yoga or meditation to relax and calm yourself.
Eat a healthy diet and cut out all the junk food.

It is important to look after yourself as a pregnant diabetic.

Always do your best to relax and avoid stressful situations.

Don't be afraid to say no to doing extra things that are inconvenient to you.

Your health and baby comes first.

At work speak to your boss about your workload. If you can handle it, fine, but if it is too much for you, don't be afraid to speak up.

Hopefully he/she will be understanding. If not go higher until the problem is resolved.

Ask friends and family members for help as well if need be.

If they are unsupportive cut down on the amount of time you spend with them as it will only increase your stress.

Have regular checks with your doctor as well and make sure you get a say in everything.

Make sure that you get plenty of rest.

High blood sugar in pregnancy can lead to pre-eclamsia.

Pre-eclampsia is a complication in pregnancy which could be deadly serious and even fatal for both mother and baby if not treated.

Symptoms are:
High blood pressure 120 over 80 or higher.
Spots in your line of vision.
Pain under your ribs.
Severe headache.
Any swelling and when you press your finger on and it leaves an imprint on the skin.
Nausea or vomiting.
Protein in the urine.
shoulder pain.
Lower back pain.
Sense that something is not right.
Feeling dizzy.
Numbness in the arms.

If you are suffering from just one of the symptoms on this list. Call your doctor instantly.

You can never be too careful and it could save your life. Make sure that your symptoms are properly investigated and that you have been tested.

The only cure for it is delivery of the baby.

Quite often, before delivery you may end up in hospital so they can keep an eye on you. They will give you blood pressure tablets and you will be expected to rest.

It can be a pain being in hospital when you are feeling that there is nothing wrong, but it is for the best.

If you do start to feel bad, you are in the right place.

The reason for that is pre-eclampsia is a condition that can go bad very quickly.

After delivery you will continue to be monitored and your blood pressure will have to go down and stay down for you to be in the clear.

You will still have to keep an eye on yourself as pre eclampsia can develop up to 6 weeks after delivery.

Pregnancy can be wonderful, but always make sure that you look after yourself.

If you sense that something is wrong always contact your doctor or midwife. It may turn out to be ok, but it is better to be safe than sorry.

Knowing what is going to happen later on may well help with any fears you may have.

This should make sure that your blood pressure during pregnancy is under control.

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Can Black Cohosh Result In A Miscarriage?

Remedies for many ailments are available from extracts of plants and their roots. Many people like to take herbal remedies for quick relief and also because most of them do not have any side effects. However, if a woman is pregnant, she should be careful about using herbal remedies. There are some herbs that can result in miscarriage. Before a pregnant woman begins kind of herbal remedy, she should first consult her doctor.

One herbal remedy that a pregnant woman should be careful about is black cohosh. The root of the plant actaea racemosa, also called black cohosh, has been used for many years as a cure for the cramps during menstrual cycles and relief from symptoms during menopause. Administering this root extract during pregnancy can cause miscarriage or premature labor.

This plant is a member of the family of buttercup. Symptoms during menopause, such as mood swing, dryness of vagina or hot flashes and pain during normal menstruation, are alleviated with the help of black cohosh. It encourages contractions of the uterine walls. Hence, it is unsuitable during pregnancy.

Consumption of herbal products like tea containing black cohosh, should be done after checking the ingredient label. Other names of this herb are bugwort, squawort, snakeroot or bugbane. One should watch out for these names as well. If symptoms of miscarriage, such as vaginal bleeding, pain in the lower back or abdomen, passage of clots or tissue through vagina occur, the woman should immediately consult her doctor.

Abortion of unwanted pregnancy is sometimes attempted using black and blue cohosh along with dong quai. These have the ability to cause contractions of the uterus and dilate the cervix. But complete expulsion of the conceived fetus will not be guaranteed. These remains can cause an infection called sepsis. Symptoms of incomplete miscarriages are vaginal bleeding, discharge with foul smell, fever and cramps. This can result in death if not treated in time.
If natural labor does not occur on completion of full-term, some mid-wives use this herb to induce labor. This is dangerous since the lives of the mother and the infant will be at risk. Usage of black cohosh can cause neurological problems in the developing fetus.

Many supplements have an effect on the cervix and uterus, thus increasing the risks of miscarriages in pregnant women. Pregnant women should be extra cautious while taking herbal supplements. Some herbal medicines also contain traces of metals that are toxic which are harmful during pregnancy.

About Author:
Kum Martin is an online leading expert in pregnancy and parenting. He also offers top quality articles like:
Work After Miscarriage, Miscarriage First Aid.

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14 Easy Ways to Have a Healthy Pregnancy

1-Drink Your Milk. Your body absorbs more calcium from food during the last two trimesters of pregnancy to help your baby develop healthy bones and teeth.If you don't get enough calcium to meet your little one's needs.it will be zapped from your own bones, potentially leading to weak bones and osteoporosis later in life.

2-Take prenatal vitamins.These made-for-mama multivitamins are specially formulated to make up for any nutritional deficiences in a mother's diet,providing you with the best balance of what your body and your baby's truly needs.

3-Visit the dentist.Peridontal disease during pregnancy can increase your risk of delivering a premature or low birth weight baby, so keep those pearly whites in healthy shape and plan for at least one cleaning during your pregnancy.

4-Make an omelet. All those eggs are loaded with choline,a nutrient that plays a major role in building your baby's learning and memory centers in the brain.

5-Get some exercise. Busting a move regularly even if it's just a daily walk around the block help keep weight gain under control,boosts overall prenatal health, and aids warding off depression.

6-Slow down. As busy women,we pretty much rush through life.But during pregnancy,it's beneficial to slow down a bit and allow for some free time.If your day is filled with meetings and appointments,keep your evenings open for a little rest and relaxation.

7-Watch your weight.The average recommended gain is between 25 and 35 pounds,but depending on your pre-pregnancy weight and other health factors,your doctor might tell you to gain more or less.Find out your recommended number and try to avoid putting on too many extra pounds,which can have adverse health effects for both mom and baby.

8-Do your Kegels.Keeping up with these vaginal tightening exercises can make labor less painful and your post-labor recovery a little quicker.They also help to prevent a weak bladder.

9-Get a flu shot. If you get the flu while expecting,you're more likely to experience serious complications, such as pneumonia, that could put the lives of both you and your baby at risk.The CDC,American Academy of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the World Health Organization all recommend that women who are pregnant during flu season(October to mid-May)go under the needle.

10-Don't skip appointments. As soon as you discover you're expecting,schedule a visit with an OB or midwife,and be sure to follow the recommended appointment schedule.Seeing your healthcare provider regularly allows him to monitor you and your growing babe and ensure that everyone is developing appropriately.

11-Sleep tight. Getting enough sleep is essential to your mental and physical health.Exhaustion wears down your mind,body and soul,so do your best to get 6 to 8 hours of sleep at night and rest or nap during the day as your body demands.

12-Listen to your body.Paying attention to what your body needs-whether it's sleep,a snack or a relaxing soak-is the most effective way to provide your baby with what he needs.

13-Stay hydrated. Downing 64 fluid ounces of water per day can help prevent bladder infections and reduce constipation,two common mom-to-be ailments.

14-Have some fun.There's an awful lot of stress as an expecting mom there's also a lot of joy.Enjoy your pregnancy and don't worry about every little thing.Women give birth to happy, healthy babies every single day,and there's a good chance that you're on your way to doing the same

http://www.withyourbaby.com

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