Number of scans:

Ughhhh!
Yesterday i have completed successfully the anomaly scan which was performed.Dr. was able to see all details to her satisfaction! She was not able to see the cardiac part before on the last two days, hence wanted us to go for a repeat scan yesterday..i tried my best to show my heart details to her! What a big deal!
I have everything, all arteries, veins, valves, auricles, ventricles in position!
Every little detail is perfect and i am trying to pump blood with my heart only..otherwise how will you get such a hard heart beat of 150bpm? Silly you :)
The bottom of the story is that I have passed with distinction marks :)

But thees scans ..so painful they are..God.. momma feels the pain on her small bump!
I also do not like to be touched by that hard instrument and troubled that much every now and then!

I have a big question:
How many times when i am in the womb will i be disturbed by this scans?
I was searching the net for the information..and came to know about the following facts.
These are the minimum number of scans that every pregnant lady has to go through to check different data and development issues when inside the womb.
I have no chance to escape these many scans even if i want to :(

So here goes the full list:

• Viability scan
• NT scan
  
• Anomaly scan
• Cardiac scan
• Well being scan

Viability Scan:

This is an ultrasound examination that is usually carried out vaginally at 6-10 weeks of pregnancy.

The aims of this scan are to determine the number of fetuses present and whether the pregnancy is progressing normally inside the uterus.

This scan is useful for women who are experiencing pain or bleeding in the pregnancy and those who have had previous miscarriages or ectopic pregnancies.

The figure on the top right shows a normal pregnancy at 7 weeks of gestation. The figure on the bottom right shows the empty sac of an embryonic pregnancy at 7 weeks.

Nuchal Translucency scan:

This scan is carried out from 11 weeks to 13 weeks and six days. The scan is usually performed transabdominally but in a few cases it may be necessary to do the examination transvaginally.

Aims of the 11-13 weeks scan

• To date the pregnancy accurately. This is particularly relevant for women who cannot recall the date of their last period, have an irregular menstrual cycle, or who have conceived whilst breastfeeding or soon after stopping the pill. We measure the size of the fetus and from this we calculate the expected date of delivery.
• To assess the risks of Down's syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities.
  Each woman will be given an estimate of her individual risk for this pregnancy. This is calculated by taking into account the age of the mother, measurement of two hormones in the mothers blood and the scan findings of nuchal translucency thickness, nasal bone, blood flow through the fetal heart and ductus venosus and fetal abnormalities. Parents will receive full counseling concerning the significance of these risks and the various options for further testing.
• To diagnose multiple pregnancy. Approximately 2% of natural conceptions and 10% of assisted conceptions result in multiple pregnancy. Ultrasound scanning can determine if both babies are developing normally and if the babies share the same placenta which can lead to problems in the pregnancy. In such cases it would be advisable to monitor the pregnancy more closely.
• To diagnose certain major fetal abnormalities. Major abnormalities may be visible at this gestation but a 20 week anomaly scan is essential.
• To diagnose early pregnancy failure. Unfortunately, in 2% of women who attend for a nuchal scan it is found that the fetus has died, often several weeks before and without any warning. Couples will receive full counselling as to the possible causes of this problem and the options for subsequent measures that may be necessary.

Personalised risk for Down's syndrome

The vast majority of babies are normal. However all women, whatever their age, have a small risk of delivering a baby with a physical and/or mental handicap.

In some cases the handicap is due to chromosomal abnormality such as Down's syndrome.

The only way to know for sure whether or not the fetus has a chromosomal abnormality is by having an invasive test such as chorion villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis (amnio). However, these tests carry a risk of miscarriage of about 1%.

It is up to you and your partner to decide whether or not the risk of the fetus having a chromosomal abnormality is high enough to warrant having an invasive test. As a guideline, an invasive test is usually offered if the risk of Down's Syndrome is 1 in 300 or above.

The most accurate way of estimating the risk of the fetus having Down's Syndrome is carried out at 11-13 weeks and depends on the:

• Age of the mother
• Amount of fluid behind the neck of the fetus (nuchal translucency)
• Presence or absence of the fetal nasal bone
• Fetal heart rate
• Blood flow through the tricuspid valve of the fetal heart
• Blood flow through the ductus venosus in the fetal liver
• Presence or absence of any physical abnormalities
• Level of two hormones (free ß-hCG and PAPP-A) in the mother's blood

After the scan, on the basis of all the above factors, the estimated risk for Down's Syndrome will be discussed with you. Only you can then decide if you wish to have an invasive diagnostic test.

Irrespective of whether or not you decide to have an invasive test, it is recommended that you have a scan at 20 weeks to check for physical abnormalities.

Anomaly Scan:

This is a detailed scan at 20-22 weeks of pregnancy.

During the scan we examine each part of the fetal body, determine the position of the placenta, assess the amount of amniotic fluid, and measure fetal growth. Special attention is paid to the brain, face, spine, heart, stomach, bowel, kidneys and limbs.

In women at high risk for preterm delivery (multiple pregnancies, previous preterm birth, abnormalities of the uterus or previous cervical surgery) we also carry out a transvaginal scan to measure the length of the cervix.

Cardiac Scan:

A detailed examination of the fetal heart and connecting vessels is carried out usually at 20 weeks by a consultant cardiologist.

This scan is especially recommended for women with a family history of heart abnormalities, or where increased nuchal translucency had been found at the 12 week scan. It is also an important scan in assessing the risk for Down's syndrome because many of these babies have heart abnormalities.

Well being Scan:

This ultrasound scan is usually carried at about 32 weeks of pregnancy.

Some obstetricians advise that this scan is offered to all women. Others reserve such scans for those women who have had previous complications of pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia, growth restriction, diabetes, stillbirth, and for those women who develop a problem during the course of their current pregnancy.

This scan aims to determine the growth and health of the fetus by:

• Measurement of the size of the fetal head, abdomen and thigh bone and calculation of an estimate of fetal weight
• Examination of the movements of the fetus
• Evaluation of the placental position and appearance
• Measurement of the amount of amniotic fluid
• Assessment of blood flow to the placenta and fetus by colour Doppler ultrasound

taken from:http://www.fetalmedicine.com/fmc/ultrasound/wellbeing-scan/

Make baby move in Ultrasound:

Its not my fault!
I was feeling a lot tired and sleepy on both days!

My momma went for the anomaly scan on Friday and for a repeat one on Saturday to see the cardio as on first day doctor could not see the heart properly.
They tried to move me a lot..momma had something to eat and walked and walked..but i was feeling so sleepy that i didnot have the energy to turn around for a detailed view of my heart. Momma and pappa both were very eager and anxious to see the heart details. Mom was even annoyed at me ;) for not turning properly to show the front.

But think my condition.. previous day i was playing and was awake the whole night and was feeling so sleepy next day that could not resist sleeping. Also as momma due to having gestational diabetes has totally abandoned sugary items, I am even more tired and didn't have the energy to turn round. Mom have some chocolates before going for a scan! That will make me happy and hyperactive :)

Next day momma is planning to have all sweet items before she goes for an ultrasound!Good mom good! I am feeling active from now only with the idea of having a nice big chunk of chocolate, one plate of sweet dessert, one glass of orange juice, and some hot chips at the end of these..hee hee...
obviously you don't need the whole lot of sweet items to get me going..i was just kidding ;)

But momma have a look at the following facts before going to the ultrasound..these are opinions of some expert moms who had their babies get going and moving in their womb during an ultrasound..try to follow any one of their advices.

Advice 1:
I drank some of a soda and ate a piece of chocolate... and that worked for me... hopefully you can get the baby moving!

Advice 2:
i drank juice and she still slept! maybe try having some chocolate

Advice 3:
Don't worry about it, just go in with a full bladder.. and the doctor can push him/her around to get a good pic!! good luck!!

Advice 4:
I always drink a glass of tea before my appt. I think the sugar and caffeine get her moving better than anything else I've tried. lol

Advice 5:
I drank a chocolate milkshake. Between the chocolate and the cold it worked!

Advice 6:
I ate candy and drank juice before my ultrasounds and my boy was not shy at all. The tech told me to eat anything that gets your little one moving, some women it's sweets others it's pizza etc. So I would suggest eating whatever makes him/her move the most beforehand. Hopefully he/she will show you what they've got. Good luck!

Advice 7:
I drank tea and my lil one was very active and we got to see what she was finally after 4 ultrasounds. I wish i would have done it sooner

Advice 8:
I'm awful so you probably shouldn't take my advice! Haha. But I drank a cup of coffee in the morning, then I had peanut butter on my toast, drank tons of water all morning, had a coke on the way to my appointment and had a lollipop when I got to the office. Madelyn was a freakin spaz but wasn't quite cooperating at all, every position we wanted her ot be in, she would do the opposite! But it was funny, she was having a gymnastics glass in my womb!

Advice 9:
I drank a caprisun (normally don't like them) because of the sugar...he was ALL over the place! The tech even made a comment =)

Advice 10:
I drank some soda, which worked....but a little too well. LOL He ended up moving so much that they weren't able to get all the measurements and what not that they needed....so I spent like a week or so worrying that there was something wrong with my baby cause I had to have another u/s so close to my last one. (2 weeks later it was, but I didn't find out that anything could be wrong until a week before the second u/s.) It freaked me out, but everything turned out ok!! Good luck momma!

Advice 11:
Drink a soda and a candy bar- not your doctor's choice for healthy snack LOL, but it helped get my baby moving.

taken from:http://forum.baby-gaga.com

Nausea during pregnancy:

All of you must be knowing one fact that nausea is very common during pregnancy. That is what our aunties, friend, seniors and all veteran moms will comment.
But is the fact of having nausea so easy to handle?
I really feel for the mom who is suffering bouts of nausea and vomiting in her pregnant life.It makes her miserable!

My momma also is no exception to this...
Yesterday she just puked the entire dinner she had. As you know that she is having fever, cold and flu. She is not at all feeling well these days.
Yesterday night was also no good. She was not well from the evening. Was totally upset, having headaches and fever and night time the moment she had her dinner she was all down.
Oh dear god! I felt so bad..
Poor mom..When these problems happen i could do nothing but to watch from within and try to convince her that this phase will pass soon.

Momma was feeling restless and tired..I was tired even more..You can imagine why..right?
I also had to jump with the extreme thrust going inside her..

Pappa seemed indifferent and totally ignorant of this situation.
The time when momma was sooo very restless and feeling sad, pappa was all engaged in his everyday chores of conference calls with office colleagues. Not even bothered about mom's situation! He also has the same notion "Nausea and vomiting is common in pregnancy"
But pappa think about the two persons (and one of them is sooo very small till date) who are going through that ! Is that so easy? He came to know that mom is throwing up but still seemed to have no reaction to this! He continued to have his CONFERENCE CALL which might be so important to him that he could not even spare a few minutes just to come to momma one time and sympathise her for this..
I DONOT like this pappa!

I was real surprised when even after the call ended pappa engaged himself in his regualar computer works and sending office mails and stuff! It was really not acceptable to me..
My momma was so very depressed and upset at the very action of my pappa. She even started to cry and was feeling all alone in her physically and mentally stressed life.
I was even more hurt when my grandma came and instead of asking my pappa to be with my mom, she commented that there is nothing to worry and this is THE most common thing in pregnancy..hence my pappa can continue with his office works and my mom will be well pretty soon..
Just think!!

All you uncles out there..i would like to tell you that even if you know and believe that you cannot anything when aunty is sick, actually you have SO MUCH to do! You need to be besides her every time when she feels sick-donot make her feel all alone and deserted in her lonely island with loads of physical and mood swings!
Just think about our sweet mom who goes through all the pains and physical stresses, through the pain of labor and birth ..she should never be feeling lonely and isolated..

I will request all of you to be real sweet and affectionate to the person who takes all the trouble of giving birth in spite of having loads of physical discomforts and agony. She should be pampered to the maximum.
Give her all the comforts she needs and devote maximum time with her so that she feels happy and can talk about all her new feelings and mood swings she is having.

Pappa ..in fact this post is specially meant for you..

Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy

More than half of all pregnant women suffer from nausea and vomiting during their pregnancy. Since each woman is different and each pregnancy is different, the severity of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) will vary from woman to woman.

The health effects of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy

Most cases of nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy aren’t harmful to the mother and her unborn child. While short-term dietary deficiencies do not appear to have any harmful effects on pregnancy outcome, severe and persistent NVP symptoms can affect your health.

For most women, the feelings of nausea and the episodes of vomiting decrease at some point during the day so that they feel hungry again and can keep food down. However, if you are so sick that you are missing meals day after day, your baby may not be getting all the daily nutrients to grow as healthy as he or she can.

Helpful tips to control nausea and vomiting

DIET – Food

• When you first wake up, eat a few crackers and then rest for 15 minutes before getting out of bed.
• Get up slowly and do not lie down right after eating.
• Eat small meals or snacks often so your stomach does not become empty (for example, every 2 hours). Try not to skip meals.
• Do not hesitate to eat whatever you feel like eating and eat whenever you want to. However, it is best to avoid cooking or eating spicy, fatty and fried foods.
• If cooking odours bother you, open the windows and turn on the stove fan. If possible, ask someone else to cook the meals.
• Try eating cold food instead of hot (cold food may not smell as strong as hot food).
• Sniffing lemons or ginger can sometimes relieve an upset stomach.
• Eating salty potato chips can help settle the stomach enough to eat a meal.

DIET – Drinks

• Drink small amounts of fluids frequently during the day.
• Avoid drinking fluids during meals and immediately before or after a meal.

Food Ideas to Help Relieve Nausea

• Salty: Chips, pretzels
• Tart/Sweet: Pickles, lemonade
• Earthy: Brown rice, mushroom soup, peanut butter
• Crunchy: Celery sticks, apple slices, nuts
• Bland: Mashed potatoes, gelatin, broth
• Soft: Bread, noodles
• Sweet: Cake, sugary cereals
• Fruity: Fruity popsicles, watermelon
• Liquid: Juice, seltzer, sparkling water, ginger ale
• Dry: Crackers

LIFESTYLE – Rest

• Get plenty of rest since nausea tends to worsen when a woman is tired. Try napping during the day. Typically, a pregnant woman needs more sleep in the first three months of pregnancy.
• You may need to take some time off work or make other arrangements for household chores and childcare.
• Enlist the support of friends and family.

LIFESTYLE – Other

• Get plenty of fresh air and avoid warm places as feeling hot can add to nausea.
• Acupressure wrist bands or acupuncture can be beneficial for some women. If you are considering acupuncture, consult your healthcare professional and look for an experienced and licensed acupuncturist.
• Try ginger, an alternative remedy thought to settle the stomach. Dosages of up to 250 mg four times a day appear to be safe.
• Try taking your prenatal vitamins (one with a lower amount of iron if that mineral makes your nausea worse) with food or just before bed. If multivitamins make your nausea worse, take folic acid alone on a daily basis.

taken from:http://www.sogc.org/health/pregnancy-nausea

Ideas for Minimizing Nausea:

Remember, all of these are just ideas that have worked for some people. There are no guarantees! Not all of these suggestions will work for you, and sometimes nothing works. All you can do in that case is endure while trying to minimize the impact on your pregnancy, and seek help if needed.

1. Keep your blood sugar levels even by eating small, frequent meals high in protein and complex carbohydrates.

Simple carbohydrates (foods high in sugar and even unsweetened fruit juice) are turned quickly into blood sugar in your system. Complex carbohydrates take longer to turn into blood sugar, so they will keep your blood sugars from spiking quickly and then dropping, and will provide longer-term energy. High fiber foods, fats, and proteins also slow down the carbohydrate conversion, which will keep your blood sugar more even. Never eat carbohydrates without an accompanying fat or protein food. Frequent small snacks work better for nausea than big meals. Try eating 5-6 small meals or snacks a day, and be sure to eat before bedtime. Also, carry with you a portable snack such as nuts and fruit or cheese and crackers for use if you start feeling nauseous---even though it's very hard to try and eat when you feel queasy, you may be able to prevent a worse nausea episode if you do get something down).

2. Eat before you are hungry.

If you wait until your body tells you it is hungry, you may already have lowered your blood sugar too much and the acid production in your stomach may also worsen nausea. Strike first by eating frequent small snacks (a carbohydrate and a protein are best) before your blood sugar has a chance to dip. Also, eating while you are still feeling relatively good will help food go down and perhaps stay down, and may prevent a nausea attack. Try not to let more than 3-4 hours go by between eating something.

3. Eat a substantial bedtime snack, including protein.

It's a long time between your last meal of the day and your breakfast the next morning, so it's very easy for blood sugar to become too low during this time, causing nausea upon rising. Shortly before bedtime, try eating a fairly significant snack of complex carbohydrates and protein. The protein will help slow down the release of the complex carbohydrates, enabling you to have more steady blood sugar levels through the night. Sometimes, some women even need to get up in the middle of the night and get a little extra snack, like a glass of milk, in order to help their morning nausea. It's worth a try!

4. Try eating before getting out of bed in the morning, then take it slowly.

Before getting out of bed in the morning (like 20-30 minutes ahead of time), have a high-carbohydrate snack. Common suggestions are crackers, but some women find other foods work better. Experiment till you find your best choice (some like salty foods, others do not). Once you are up, ease yourself into the day as gradually as your schedule allows; rushing and quick movements at first tend to aggravate nausea. Give the morning snack a chance to take effect and raise your blood sugar.

5. Be sure to get enough fluids.

Dehydration is a danger to those with nausea, so it is important to stay hydrated. Some women find they tolerate fluids best with meals; others find it better to take them only between meals. Small sips, taken frequently, may also help. Remember, fruit juices are a simple carb and may cause a quick surge and then crash in some women, so try to use water instead (or at least take a protein with your fruit juice). If fluids give you a lot of trouble, try fruits and vegetables with a high water content. You may also want to consult your health provider if you are having trouble keeping down fluids.

6. Try ginger.

Some women reportedly have luck with small amounts of ginger added to their food. Be careful not to use too much, however. (Good excuse for a ginger ale.)

7. Be sure to take your prenatal vitamin, but try switching brands or times.

Some women note a sensitivity to certain prenatal vitamin brands, especially the prescription type. Try switching for a week to an over-the-counter brand (be sure it has enough folic acid), or try asking your doctor for a different prescription type. Sometimes changing the time of day that you take the vitamin can help---try taking it at the time of day when you have the least nausea (if there is such a time!). Bedtime may be a good choice.

8. Ask your health provider about trying extra vitamin B-6.

Some women find relief if they add extra vitamin B-6 to their diet. 50 mg. is usually the dosage tried, but remember to clear it first with your health provider (very important!).

9. Avoid trigger foods and substitute alternatives as needed; get enough protein.

Some foods seem to act as triggers to nausea. If carrots bother you, avoid them for a while. However, it IS important to substitute something else for the important vitamin A to be found in carrots. An alternative might be dried apricots, squash, cantaloupe, or even--if desperate-- pumpkin pie or muffins (in conservative amounts!). Try to keep a variety of foods as much as possible, and be creative in your choices so that the essential nutrients are covered. Don't forget the importance of significant amounts of protein in your diet as well---Brewer recommends 80-100 g of protein per day (but remember that foods like milk, yogurt, and even spinach do have protein in them and count towards this total).

10. Rinse or brush after throwing up.

Having the smell or taste of vomit in your mouth after one bout can lead to another. Try brushing your teeth afterwards, but if you are one of the people for whom brushing can induce nausea, try a gentle rinsing instead. Over time you will find your physical triggers (such as brushing, strong smells, or moving too fast) and you will learn to avoid them or adapt to them. But finding a way to refresh yourself after a bout of nausea is important--do whatever works for you.

11. Try Sea Bands.

These small bands worn on each wrist put pressure on the inner wrist and often help nausea. They have no side effects and can be found at many pharmacies or marine shops. They are also worth a shot when desperate.

Nausea is not an easy thing to deal with and no one should downplay the discomfort involved. Try as many approaches to managing nausea as you can but be realistic---no suggestion is going to 'cure' you. Sometimes, all you can do is endure. For most women, it does go away with time, and often it is worst in the first 3-4 months. You may or may not experience it again in subsequent pregnancies; each pregnancy is different and you must be prepared for the possibilities. In the meantime, hang in there and try to wait it out! It will end eventually!

taken from:http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org

Remedies for nausea:

More Sleep
Get extra sleep and relaxation, because fatigue that is so common in early pregnancy also contribute to nausea. Taking naps and getting additional sleep each night will help ease morning sickness.

Wristbands
Wristbands can often relieve morning sickness. They are 1-inch elastic bands worn on both wrists that put pressure on the inner wrist. It has been found that pregnant women wore acupressure wristbands had significantly less frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

Herbal Remedies
An increasing number of pregnant women are turning to herbal remedies to battle morning sickness. Read more on herbal remedies below:
Herbs like chamomile, peppermint, garlic, aloe, echinacea, pumpkin seed, ginseng and raspberry leaf are sometimes used to alleviate the symptoms of morning sickness. Ginger root is another natural remedy becoming increasingly popular. Red raspberry leaves have been found safe to use during pregnancy, as has chamomile, which can also help with gas, bloating and indigestion. While these herbs have been shown to reduce nausea during pregnancy in some women, they must be used with caution.

Unpleasant Smells & Foods
A pregnant woman should avoid the sight, smell and taste of displeasing foods that make you queasy. Whenever possible, try to avoid foods and smells that seem to aggravate your nausea and don't force yourself to eat foods that don't appeal to you.

Vitamin B6 (less iron)
Make sure you take a prenatal vitamin supplement containing vitamin B6. Research has shown that women who take a multivitamin containing vitamin B6 during the first six weeks of pregnancy experience significantly less nausea than women who don't take a multivitamin. Also, iron supplements (or multivitamins with iron) can contribute to nausea. Occasionally, doctors recommend temporarily discontinuing iron supplements or switching prenatal vitamins, for this reason. You should be able to resume taking iron in the second and third trimesters, as long as your morning sickness has disappeared. Remember, don't ever take any medication for morning sickness without first consulting your doctor.

Fluids
Make sure you get plenty of fluids, especially if you?re loosing them through vomiting. milk shakes, smoothies, fruit juices, soups, broths, bouillons and even an occasional popsicle in the morning may be just the ticket and may also be easier to get down (and keep down) than solids. Fresh fruit and some vegetables are high in water content and also make a good, healthy snack.

taken from:http://www.surebaby.com/pregnancysickness

What to eat in gestational diabetes:

As you all know by this time that momma is having gestational diabetes..
She is also on strict diet but if there was a proper diet plan that would have helped a lot!
Doctor aunty will probably give a diet plan but that will be next week. Before that lets do some searches about diet plans and what she should have and should not have due to having diabetes.

But i would like to tell you all that how much i love to have sweets :(
..i must be a sweet tooth as you all say for those who love sweets..but first i need to have my teeth first ;)
Hence i must be missing all the ice creams and shakes and chocolates. But still it is better to have that for whole life than having it now and develop typeII diabetes in life and not able to eat at all!
I must have that control!!

If momma is strict i am strict enough too..


What type to follow for gestational diabetes:

Here are some general guidelines:

• Eat a variety of foods, distributing calories and carbohydrates evenly throughout the day. Make sure both your meals and your snacks are balanced. The American Diabetes Association recommends that you eat three small-to-moderate-sized meals and two to four snacks every day, including an after-dinner snack. Although your meal plan may contain fewer carbs than you normally eat, complex carbohydrates should continue to provide most of your calories.

• Don't skip meals. Be consistent about when you eat them and the amount of food you eat at each one. Your blood sugar will remain more stable if your food is distributed evenly throughout the day and consistently from day to day.

• Eat a good breakfast. Your blood glucose levels are most likely to be out of whack in the morning. To keep your level in a healthy range, you may have to limit carbohydrates (breads, cereal, fruit, and milk), boost your protein intake, and possibly avoid fruit and juice altogether.

• Include high-fiber foods, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, and dried peas, beans, and legumes. These foods are broken down and absorbed more slowly than simple carbohydrates, which may help keep your blood sugar levels from going too high after meals.

• Limit your intake of foods and beverages that contain simple sugars such as soda, fruit juice, flavored teas, and most desserts — or avoid them altogether. These foods can quickly elevate your blood sugar. Ask your healthcare practitioner about using foods sweetened with an artificial sweetener if you need a sweet fix.

• Milk is high in lactose, a simple sugar, so if you drink more than two or three glasses a day, you may need to limit the amount you drink and find an alternative source of calcium. If you're looking for a new beverage of choice, try club soda with a squeeze of lemon or orange, or unsweetened decaffeinated iced tea.

Moderately increasing your activity level is also a good way to help keep your blood glucose levels at normal levels. Again, speak with your diabetes educator or practitioner about the right amount and intensity of exercise for you.

Breakfast should be 15 g of carbs with 1-2 proteins
Snack 15 g of carbs with 1-2 proteins
Lunch 45 g of carbs with 3-4 proteins
Snack 30 g of carbs with 1-2 proteins
Dinner 45 g of carbs with 3-4 proteins
Snack 30 g of carbs with 1-2 proteins Eat every 2-3 hours

taken from:http://www.babycenter.com

How will the diet change?

Here are some goals for healthy eating during pregnancy if you have gestational diabetes:

• Eat three small meals and two or three snacks at regular times every day. Do not skip meals or snacks.
• Eat less carbohydrate at breakfast than at other meals because this is when insulin resistance is the greatest.
• Try to eat a consistent amount of carbohydrate during each meal and snack.
• If you have morning sickness, eat 1-2 servings of crackers, cereal or pretzels before getting out of bed. Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day and avoid fatty, fried and greasy foods. If you take insulin and have morning sickness, make sure you know how to treat low blood sugar.
• Choose foods high in fiber such as whole-grain breads, cereals, pasta, rice, fruits, and vegetables.
• Eat foods with less sugar and fat.
• Drink at least 8 cups (or 64 ounces) of liquids per day.
• Make sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals in your daily diet. Ask your doctor about taking a prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement to meet the nutritional needs of your pregnancy.

taken from:http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders

Carbohydrate Intake Recommendations:

You'll be eating more often when you have gestational diabetes, because you need to ensure that you never get hypoglycemia attacks. The recommendation is to eat every 2 hours, and only have the following amounts of carbs during those meals/snacks:

Breakfast: 30g carbs
Snack: 30g carbs
Lunch: 45g carbs
Snack: 30g carbs
Dinner: 45g carbs
Snack: 30g carbs

If you find that your blood sugar levels are not decreasing with the above recommendations, you may need to go LOWER on the carbs, or analyze whether you're eating the right types of foods. Consult your physician and/or nutritionist on what numbers are best for you.

Of course, with all of these meals and snacks, you'll want to include protein! This helps even out (and slow down,) the processing of the carbs, as well as providing the protein your growing baby needs for various functions.

The following recipes may help. They have been divided up into specific "times" so you can get the maximum benefit from the carb/protein combinations. All carb counts are included. Counts are per serving.

taken from:http://www.e-clipse.com/gestational-diabetes-recipes

Gestational diabetes:what to eat and what not:

1) To stay away from sugar and foods high in sugar.

2) Have complex carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, grains, cereals, crackers, bread, potatoes, dried beans and peas on regular basis.

3) Eat fiber-rich foods such as whole grain cereals and breads, fruits and vegetables.

4) Saturated fats such as fatty meats, butter, bacon, cream and whole milk cheeses should be avoided.

5) Eat a snack before bedtime that is protein and carbohydrate based.

In sync with a woman's needs, doctor or dietitian will tell you to have about 1,200 to 1,600 calories a day if you are a small woman who exercises, to have about 1,600 to 2,000 calories a day if you are a large woman who wants to lose weight.

As a pregnant woman, it's important that you eat well-balanced meals. You may need to eat less at each meal, depending on how much weight you gain during your pregnancy. Your doctor or dietitian will explain all these to you.

taken from:http://www.diabitieslife.com/diabetes

Answer by an expert mom:

You can eat meats, and things with high protien. A lot of carbs will result in high blood surgar levels, as carbs are broken down directly into sugars and then digested as such.

Things like whole grains are excellent for you.

Also, gluton free things are often quite good for the diabetic, as the whole complex whole grains provide more protien and less starch, which helps balance it out.

Splenda can be your best friend, and its fun to bake with. There are also tons of sugar free sweets out there, and a lot of them dont taste half bad.

jello makes a sugar free cheese cake mix, and its excellent. Cant tell the difference between it and a regular mix. There are also sugar free brownie mixes, and sugar free chocolates. Sugar free ice cream. When it comes to sweets you really do have a wide variety.

Meats, whole grains, low sugar fruits in moderation. avoid things like noodles and potatos, or white breads and baked goods. ESPECIALLY foods that come wrapped in plastic, or in boxes. Those things like snack crackers, or hamburger helper are loaded with starch, and right now, starch is just as bad as sugar. It'll build up in your body and make you sick.

taken from:http://answers.yahoo.com

When can one feel baby move:

One..Two..Three..one more kick! Yay..
I have done it again :)
But momma has understood ..right? that i am doing all gymnastics here and trying my best to kick her with my little legs..

Sometimes i hear her telling pappa that she can feel some little little somethings inside her belly.
Must be..right?I am trying my best here to make her understand with all my efforts and she is saying that it is little something?
I am now more than 17weeks now and mom you should be feeling my presence inside you..that is what is normal.
Generally people can feel their babies inside any time between 17-22weeks. My mom must be real healthy and have lots of fat in her stomach ;) hee hee
It is said that thinner women can feel baby move earlier than healthier women.

Wait mom..i will make you tickle from inside if you still say that you cannot recognise that little something.

I have collected some data about this interesting episode(according to all first time moms) of feeling your baby move. If you want to know more read this full page ;)

Quickening:

Bubbles. Butterflies. Gas. These are all words used to describe what a baby's first movements feel like to a mother.

Quickening is defined as the first time you feel your baby move. This is a long anticipated event in every pregnancy.

If you are expecting your first baby you can expect to feel your baby for the first time between 18 and 24 weeks gestation. If this is not your first baby you can expect to feel your baby a bit sooner than you felt your first. This is usually said to happen because you know what you're feeling for and your uterus is more stretched out than it was the first time around.

taken from:http://pregnancy.about.com/cs/fetaldevelopment

When can you feel baby move:

You most likely will not feel the baby kick until sometime between 16 and 22 weeks. Even though the baby starts moving at the seven or eight-week mark and you may have already witnessed his aerobatics.

You most likely will not feel the baby kick until sometime between 16 and 22 weeks. Even though the baby starts moving at the seven or eight-week mark and you may have already witnessed his aerobatics.

If you've been a mom already you will have experience and may notice those first subtle kicks early, also known as quickening.

Being able to feel and tell that your baby is kicking also comes down to your build, some women can feel movement in and they are thinner then women, who may be carrying more weight.

So, question is, what does it feel like?

Some women have described the sensation as like popcorn popping or darting pain. You can sometimes get gentle taps, which may feel like gas or hunger pains. But as you start to get them more you recognize the difference. Most women get these very movements when they're sitting or lying quietly.

In the beginning the first kicks you notice may not even notice they will be few and far between. In fact, you may feel several kicks one day and may not even notice any for a few days.

Should you worry if you do not feel your baby move for sometime:
You may have noticed for yourself that your baby seems to move more on some days than others, and there may be certain times of day when you expect baby movements. There is great variation in the number of times women notice this: variation from woman to woman, and from pregnancy to pregnancy, as well as from week to week and day to day.

If you have a hectic lifestyle you are likely to be so involved in your work that you don't notice baby movements: it's not that there aren't any, just that you are too busy to consciously acknowledge them. If this applies to you, it may be useful to become aware of the times of day your baby is normally active, and to try to make space then to focus on the baby. The evening is often a good time, or when lying in bed or in the bath. This is perhaps because you are more relaxed at these times.

You will probably become familiar with your own baby's pattern of movements. You may feel worried if there is a sudden change in the pattern, but remember that as your baby grows, the patterns may change. As a general rule, you can expect to feel your baby moving several times a day. Some babies seem to be on the move much more often than that, and others seem to be relatively quiet.

If you are worried that you have not felt your baby move at all for a day or more, it is sensible to contact your doctor to ask if she can listen to your baby's heartbeat to reassure you. Worrying about whether or not your baby is well may cause more stress than having it checked out, and the doctor will understand your concern.


taken from:www.babycenter.in/pregnancy/

Fetal Movement :

Question:I have heard so many conflicting reports of when a pregnant woman will feel her baby move. Even the doctors seem to disagree. I am about 18 weeks pregnant and sometimes I think I feel something, but I also think I could be gassy. When do women normally first feel their baby move?

The reason that no one has the same information for you is that there is a wide range of normal. "Most" women feel fetal movement (quickening) at 18 weeks if it is their first baby (i.e. 18 weeks from your last menstrual period -- LMP). Some multiparas (those who have already carried a child to term) feel movement earlier, simply because they know what it feels like. The normal range is 16 to 20 weeks (LMP).

Fetal movement feels like "little mice tumbling around in your lower abdomen" or "little flutters that stop just as they started" or "gas bubbles" or any number of different ways women can describe it.

If your care provider has a doppler, he or she could tell you when they hear fetal movement and then you could decide if you feel something at the same time. Generally, if women think they feel something, it is usually fetal movement.

One of the difficulties with normal times to feel first movement is that we don't all have 28 day cycles, even though certain pregnancy landmarks, including due dates, are calculated as if we all did.

taken from:http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy

What is my baby doing in there?

Ultrasound scans can show us what babies do and when. Most of your baby's movements start long before you become aware of them:

• At seven to eight weeks, your baby starts general movements, such as bending sideways, and startling.


• At about nine weeks, your baby hiccups, moves an arm or leg on its own, and sucks and swallows.


• At 10 weeks, he can flex and rotate his head, bring his hands up to touch his face, open his jaw and stretch.


• At 11 weeks he can yawn.


• At 14 weeks, he can move his eyes.

Gradually, your baby's movements become strong enough for you to feel them. Before long, you'll be used to him thumping or kicking as he stretches out his limbs.

Your baby won't be on the move constantly. Like you, there will be times when he just wants rest and sleep. Towards the end of your pregnancy, he'll rest for about 45 minutes at a time (de Vries and Fong 2006). The rests might feel longer than this, because you won't feel every movement.

How will my baby's movements feel week by week?

You won't be aware of all your baby's movements. Some of them won't last long enough for you to feel them. You're likely to feel most movements that last longer than a few seconds (Hijazi and East 2009, de Vries and Fong 2006). Here's a guide to what you can expect to feel and when:

From 20 to 24 weeks

As the weeks go by, your baby's activity will gradually increase. You'll notice your baby becoming more lively during the day (Hijazi and East 2009, de Vries and Fong 2006), with lots of kicking and somersaults.

From 24 to 28 weeks

You may start to notice when your baby gets hiccups. It'll feel like a jerking movement. The amniotic sac now contains up to 750ml (26floz) of fluid. This gives your baby plenty of space to move around freely. You may notice him jumping at sudden noises.

At 29 weeks

Your baby will begin to make smaller, more definite movements, as he becomes more cramped inside your uterus (womb).

At 32 weeks

You're likely to notice a peak in movements. After this week, the number of movements you notice will tail off (Hijazi and East 2009). This is quite normal, as your baby has less space to move in.

From around 36 weeks

Your baby could take up his final, usually head-down, position. This is more likely to happen at this stage if this is your first baby. The firm muscles of your uterus and tummy will help to keep him in place. The main movements you are likely to feel now are jabs from his arms and legs, and possibly painful kicks to your ribs.

If you've had a baby before, your tummy muscles are likely to be weaker. Your baby might keep changing his position right up to your due date.

From 36 to 40 weeks

Your baby will be getting larger and roll-over movements happen less often. By now, your baby may have learned to suck his thumb. If his thumb pops out of his mouth, you may feel his head darting from side to side as he tries to find it again.

During the final two weeks of your pregnancy, the movements are likely to slow down (de Vries and Fong 2006). Instead, you may notice an insistent kicking underneath your ribs on one side or the other. This slowing down is normal, but if you're worried about your baby's movements, always see your doctor or midwife.

By now, your baby should be nestled in your pelvis, ready to make his journey into the world. His head can feel like a melon pressing on your pelvic floor. If your baby isn't head-down, find out how to get him into the best position for birth.

There will be times when your baby is sleeping and other times when he's active. He may liven up in the evenings or when you're lying in bed trying to get to sleep (Hijazi and East 2009). Your baby may keep the same pattern of activity into his first few weeks of life (de Vries and Fong 2006), until he learns to tell day from night.

How many kicks should I feel each day?

There isn't a set number of kicks you should feel. You probably won't be advised to keep a written record or chart of your baby's movements, as used to happen (NCCWCH 2008:276). These sorts of charts are not really helpful for telling whether or not a baby has a problem (Heazell and Froen 2008, Mangesi and Hofmeyr 2007). It's easy to forget to fill them in. Then the results are inaccurate and can end up worrying you unnecessarily (Mangesi and Hofmeyr 2007).

Instead, you'll be asked to get used to your baby's pattern of movements during waking hours. As your pregnancy goes on, it gets easier to learn this rhythm. Every baby has a different pattern of waking and sleeping (de Vries and Fong 2006), but you'll come to know what is normal for him (Hijazi and East 2009, Heazell and Froen 2008). If you notice a change in his pattern, always tell your midwife or doctor straight away (NCCWCH 2008:276).

I haven't felt my baby kick today, should I be worried?

If you are concentrating on something else, you may not have noticed your baby's movements. If you want some reassurance, here are ways to encourage your baby to move:

• Put your feet up and relax. Babies are sometimes rocked to sleep while you are moving around and may wake up when you stop.


• Lie down on your side (with support under your bump) and stay still. This will help you focus on your baby's movements.


• Have a really cold drink. Your baby may feel the change in temperature and try to move away from it.


• Make some noise. Play loud music or slam a door to see if he responds.

If your baby starts to move around then all is probably well, but keep an eye on his movements from now on. Never put off seeking help until tomorrow, if you haven't felt your baby move as normal today.

When should I see a midwife or doctor?

Contact your midwife or doctor:

• your baby doesn't start to move in response to noise or some other stimulus
  
• there's a big decrease in your baby's movements, or a gradual one over several days

A decrease in your baby's movements could be a sign that he's not getting enough nutrients or oxygen through the placenta (Holm Tveit et al 2009, Hijazi and East 2009, Tveit et al 2009, O'Sullivan et al 2009). If this is suspected, you're likely to be referred to a maternal or fetal assessment unit in hospital. Here, you and your baby will receive care from an expert team of midwives and doctors.

There are several ways they can check your baby to see how he's doing. They will monitor his heartbeat. You may have a scan to measure his size and the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding him.

taken from:http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/

Remedies for cold in pregnancy:

I am very sick and tired today!
My mom is suffering from common cold and flu..yesterday night she was sneezing and sneezing..
Poor mom..she could not sleep only.was tired to the extreme!
I was feeling bad from inside and was just feel her sneezing and coughing..i was counting too how many times she sneezed!! I had nothing to do but jump and swim whenever she sneezed!

As you all must be knowing taking any medicines during pregnancy is not at all desired.hence the main concern here is how to get remedy through natural ways.

I am feeling tired today to write a full story now..hope you all will be able to understand my situation and feel for me..I am trying to give you some basic remedies for common cold and flu.

Here goes the list for the same:

Coughs and Colds

Pregnancy can cause the mucous membranes to swell. This can make it more difficult to get rid of coughs, colds, etc. Prevention is key here. Eat well, and get plenty of rest and exercise. Also avoid people who are contagious if possible.

Suggestions: Well balanced diet Increase Vitamin C foods Eating garlic or onions can help with infections Zinc and Vitamin C supplements will help increase your resistance B vitamins help if you are under stress Use a humidifier Eucalyptus, lavender, lemon and tea tree: 2 drops pf each oil into a bowl of water, inhale steam for 10 minutes Do not use in conjunction with homeopathic remedies. Recipes: Herbal Decoction for colds: 4 Cloves 1 teaspoon coriander seeds a few slices of fresh ger 1 pints of water a slice of lemon honey Add the spices to the water, bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Add the lemon and simmer for a further 5 minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey. Drink a hot cup of this every 2 hours. Cold Tea: Peppermint Chickweed Echinacea Blackberry leaves Mix equal parts of the herbs in a container and take a heaping teaspoon into a tea bag. Steep in boiling water for 10 minutes. Sweeten with honey. You can drink this as often as needed for cold symptoms. Taken from:www.childbirth.org/articles

Colds During Pregnancy

Colds are quite common during pregnancy. Pregnant women tend to be more susceptible as their immune systems are lowered and their mucous membranes tend to swell during pregnancy. This can make breathing easy a challenge. Your best measure for treating colds is preventing them from happening. This means religiously washing your hands, eating a healthy diet and getting as much rest as possible.

If you do catch a cold you can increase your consumption of vitamin C rich foods including fruits and fruit juices. Many women find that eating foods high in garlic can help reduce the length of their cold. Sipping teas including lemon and honey tea can help alleviate a sore and uncomfortable throat. If you have trouble breathing at night try using a humidifier to help create more moisture in your atmosphere. This can reduce nasal irritation and help breathe more easily.

taken from:http://www.womenshealthcaretopics.com

Cold Remedies when Pregnant:

Pregnant women are as likely as anyone else to catch a cold. In fact, the slightly sluggish immune system and enlarged mucus membranes during pregnancy sometimes make it difficult to get over a cold quickly. During pregnancy cold remedies should be chosen carefully.
The one cardinal rule with cold remedies when pregnant (as with any other illness) is DO NOT self medicate - not even with over the counter medication that you're otherwise used to taking. Always, always check with your physician or gynaecologist before taking any cold remedies while pregnant at all as it may affect the foetus.

Saline nose drops, which are completely drug-free and easily available also help with blocked noses and are a suitable cold remedy during pregnancy. Steam inhalation, with plain steam or a few drops of eucalyptus or peppermint oil helps relieve a blocked nose and headache.

Pregnant women are usually advised to increase fluid intake, especially during an illness to prevent dehydration. Drink plenty of water as well as juices rich in vitamin C, which helps in fighting colds. Check with your doctor or healthcare worker about zinc and vitamin supplements which are not only essential for your growing baby, but also help you to fight and prevent colds. Drinking hot water with lemon and honey will soothe a sore throat and stuffy nose and is a safe cold remedy when pregnant. Saltwater water gargles are also extremely effective in treating the same. Consuming garlic and onions is also said to help one get over a cold faster (if the flavours don't make you sick).

Finally, remember that prevention is better than cure; particularly when pregnant cold remedies are not as effective as taking some precautionary measures. Colds spread through contact, so your best bet is to keep away from people who are infected. Women who are most at risk are school teachers and health care workers. If you belong to these professions, keep in mind simple rules of hygiene such as washing your hands frequently and especially after handling an individual with a contagious infection. However, most pregnant women do usually come down with a cold at least once, so don't worry about it. If any pregnancy cold remedies do not work for over a week, do consult your doctor to rule out allergies, sinusitis, bronchial infections etc.

taken from:www.home-remedies-for-you.com


Cold comfort:

Of all the things that can slow you down when you’re pregnant, few can be more miserable than having a cold or the flu. Most mothers are uneasy about taking any medicines when they’re
expecting and, as we all know, there’s nothing your doctor can give you to ‘cure’ a cold or flu.

Antibiotics aren’t an effective treatment because colds and flu are caused by viruses. Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections. Also, there is a question mark over using antibiotics in pregnancy since it has been associated with a higher rate of low-birth-weight babies.

Equally frustrating is the fact that most cold remedies simply don’t work all that well. That was the conclusion of one of the largest scientific reviews of over the counter cold remedies, covering more than 40 years research.

There is also the largely unanswered question of the safety of antihistamines and decongestants in pregnancy. Even if such medications do not harm your baby, they can make you feel pretty awful. No fewer than 97 side effects have been ascribed to antihistamines, including constipation, blurred vision, and the inability to urinate. And as many as 30 per cent of decongestant users experience side effects such as raised pulse rate and blood pressure, palpitations, dizziness and fatigue.

What can you do to relieve the symptoms of a cold or flu safely?

The good news is that colds and flu are self-limiting illnesses. This means that they run their course fairly quickly whether you take medications or not.

Interestingly, while the symptoms of cold or flu can be uncomfortable and unpleasant, they are also signs that your own immune system is functioning well. Fever is a good example. Viruses are sensitive to heat. A raised temperature stops the virus from spreading and causes the release of natural antiviral chemicals.

taken from:http://www.ivillage.co.uk/pregnancyandbaby

Home Remedies for colds during Pregnancy:

Most natural remedies for colds, such as Zinc lozenges and herbal drops, have not been tested extensively in pregnant women. It is best to avoid medications, both natural and not, as much as possible while pregnant. However, there are non-medical ways to alleviate cold symptoms that are safe for pregnant women.

To Do

1. Take warm, not hot, showers to alleviate stuffiness. Make sure showers do not last more than 10 minutes so that you don't get tired or dizzy.
   
   Sleep or nap in a recliner or propped up by pillows. Being at least partially upright will help mucus drain out of your nose and not down your throat. This will make breathing easier.
   
   Get extra rest. Your body is already working to grow a human life so taking good care of it by getting enough rest should be a priority anyway. Add in the fact that you have a cold and the importance of rest doubles, especially if you are avoiding medications that alleviate symptoms and give you a false sense of rest.

To Drink

2. Keep your body moisturized by drinking lots of fluids. Water is always a good choice, but orange or apple juice can provide extra Vitamin C. Chicken soup and decaffeinated tea are more filling options. Their heat may also help with nasal stuffiness.
   
   A sore throat can be soothed by a salt water gargle. The salt draws out mucus and reduces swelling. Dissolve one-quarter teaspoon of salt into eight ounces of warm water.

To Use

3. Use a humidifier to keep the air around you moist. This will prevent dry coughs and may help with stuffiness. Another way to help stuffiness is to use saline (salt water) drops or spray. Follow directions on the bottle, which will say exactly how many sprays or drops to use in each nostril and how long to wait before blowing your nose.
   
   Help sinus pressure by using a warm, wet wash cloth. Pressing the cloth to your face may help release congestion and thus relieve pressure or pain.

taken from:http://www.ehow.com