Ayon,
a
22 years old young lady is now dreaming on her soon becoming
couple
with her would-be young handsome life partner. She also dreams to
be mother of a cute baby daughter . But she had a fear of
but is curious about pregnancy periods.
She
saw some among her relatives becoming mother silently
and some of them had to suffer a lot. Now she is observing her
elder sister who is expecting her first child. There are so many anxiousness, expectations, dreams, advise of doctors and so on -- all are
centering her which creates lots of queries in Ayon's mind about pregnancy.
Let
us try to satisfy Ayon's queries. Also see what were Ayon's previous queries ?
Most
Often Asked Questions on Pregnancy
My
sonography show that I have a multiple pregnancy. What additional
care would I need? Will it mean more risks during delivery?
In
case of of a multiple pregnancy there is a greater chance of
toxemias of pregnancy, bleeding fluid retention and premature
delivery. You need more rest and monitoring. These days the
incidence of multiple pregnancies is a little higher because ovulation
induction drugs, which can cause multiple ovulations, and assisted
reproductive techniques like IVF, are commonly used in infertility
treatment.
How
many ultrasounds should I have through my pregnancy ? Are they safe?
Ultrasounds,
the way they are done in human pregnancies --not too long , not too
often-- are very safe. In early pregnancy, They are done to see the
gestation age and may be repeated in the 13th week to see the
thickness of the skin fold behind the neck, which helps detect mongolism
. It may also be used to check for structural abnormalities. But
if the patient has developed pregnancy induced hypertension or
bleeding, then the sonography may be repeated when
necessary.
What
is a sure fire nutrition formula I can follow ? Are there any
foods I should avoid? Am I really required to eat for two ? What
if I am overweight already ? should I go on a diet ? How soon
after my delivery will I lose some of my gained weight?
You
must eat as much as your needs. And though they say pregnant
women have all these cravings, I thanks it is better to
avoid too many pickles, fried foods, 'papas' etc, which will
only aggravate indigestion, if you suffer from it. You are not
really required to eat for two, though your caloric requirement
does increase in pregnancy.
What
is the risk of my baby havening genetic disorders? What can I do ?
Under what circumstances should I consider genetic
counseling?
Genetic
disorders are usually familial and in such cases, nothing can be
done . But they can be detected in time and decisions
can be taken accordingly. These include tests like amniocentesis, chromosomal
studies, chronic villi sampling ultrasound and blood studies of
the partners. They help in certain cases of recurrent fetal
loss and abnormalities. They are definitely costly but when
indicated are worthwhile.
Should
I worry about birth defects? Is there anything I can do to prevent
or minimize their incidence? Will amniocentesis and chorionic
villi sampling help?
The
incidence of birth defects is about one in a hundred. Age history,
environmental factors, infections and intake of drugs increase
the chances of birth defects. Amniocentesis chorionic villi
sampling and ultrasound are advised if any of these are suspected.
Avoid smoking . Taking folic acid supplements before you conceive
can prevent birth defects to some measure.
