Congratulations - you're going to be a mother! The nine-month rollercoaster commonly known as pregnancy is about to begin. Welcome to the first trimester.
If you’re like most pregnant women, you’ll probably experience a whole assortment of conflicting emotions during your first trimester of pregnancy including joy, confusion, and fear of the unknown – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As you move forward, you should know that fear and confusion are perfectly natural emotions for expectant mothers. You will be facing many unknowns, particularly if this is your first pregnancy.
You might wonder about the changes happening in your body, and whether or not they are safe and "normal." You might, like countless other pregnant women, be concerned about the pain of labor and delivery. If you find that you have lingering doubts, don’t beat yourself up – it’s part of the process. In fact, a little fear can be a healthy motivator if you learn to channel the energy it brings you into positive action.
On the other hand, too much fear can be dangerous for you and your unborn baby. Physically, stress-related hormones and chemicals can decrease blood flow, thus decreasing the oxygen your growing baby needs to thrive. Psychologically, fear can lead to emotional paralysis. It’s an unfortunate paradox your fear comes from a desire to care for and protect your unborn baby, but if left unchecked, it could put you in an emotional state that actually prevents you from and protecting and caring for your baby.
You can move beyond this – don’t let fear get the upper hand, and don’t let it make you passive. You shouldn’t feel powerless to make a difference or resigned to let others take control. Conquering your fear is imperative, not only to having a healthy pregnancy and childbirth, but to being a responsible and attentive parent. There are resources that can help you with this process. Having a confidant, whether it be a spouse, parent, friend, or therapist, can make all the difference during your first trimester of pregnancy.
In addition, gathering knowledge is the best way to assuage fear of the unknown. Be willing to ask your doctor or midwife tough questions, and seek information from other sources as well. One of the healthiest and most empowering things you can do for yourself and your baby during pregnancy is to face your fears, know what to expect, and learn what actions to take.
The more you learn about pregnancy from your doctor or midwife, from other women who have been through it, and from the wealth of literature now available on the topic, the more confident and prepared you will feel to relax and enjoy the most wondrous of gifts, the birth of your baby.
I'm looking forward to helping you to have a safe, healthy pregnancy and childbirth!
Mark Zakowski, M.D.
Over 105,000 Deliveries
Author, The Safe Baby System
Want to have revealing information come directly to your Inbox to help you during pregnancy and ensure a healthy delivery giving birth? Subscribe now at SafeBabySystem.
PS. Please feel free to leave your comments so we can address them in future blog postings.Disclaimer: The Safe Baby System and the information on this blog is for educational purposes only and is not a replacement for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a doctor or other qualified health provider regarding any medical condition.
Preeclampsia, or high blood pressure during pregnancy, remains one of the top diseases of pregnant women. Preeclampsia today causes premature delivery, major complications, and even death of mom and baby. A whopping 7-10% of all pregnant women develop signs of preeclampsia. What can you do about it? New evidence shows that vitamin supplementation can reduce the risk of preeclampsia and the terrible problems that it can cause!
Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs only during pregnancy and the postpartum period and affects both the mother and the unborn baby. Affecting at least 5-8%, and as high as 10% of all pregnancies, it is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in the urine. Swelling, sudden weight gain, headaches and changes in vision are important symptoms; however, some pregnant women with rapidly advancing disease report few symptoms.
Pregnant women with mild preeclampsia often have no obvious symptoms. So if you have it, you may not suspect that anything is wrong.
Preeclampsia is usually detected during a routine prenatal visit. That’s one reason why it’s important to keep all your appointments during pregnancy. During prenatal visits, the health care provider measures the woman’s blood pressure and checks her urine for protein. If preeclampsia is diagnosed, it can usually be managed before it becomes serious.
SOLVING THE PROBLEM... NATURALLY
Evidence shows you CAN decrease your chance of getting preeclampsia during pregnancy.
The oral intake of Vitamin C 1000 mg and Vitamin E 400 IU each day significantly reduces the chance of getting preeclampsia.
You should take 1000mg of vitamin C and 400IU of Vitamin E every day, starting as soon as you know you’re pregnant! These doses have been shown to decrease the risk of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is one of the biggest causes of premature birth, low birth weight babies, can lead to liver and bleeding problems in mom, and even death! Remember, up to 15% of preterm births are a result of preeclampsia.
However, starting antioxidant therapy once preeclampsia becomes a factor is not effective – it is too late! Even starting vitamins therapy at 24 weeks or later may be too late, as many of the changes that cause preeclampsia will already have occurred.
Taking care of your health will help ensure the health of your baby during pregnancy and a safe delivery when giving birth.
Mark Zakowski, M.D.
Over 105,000 Deliveries
Author, The Safe Baby System
Want to have revealing information come directly to your Inbox to help you during pregnancy and ensure a healthy delivery giving birth? Subscribe now at SafeBabySystem.
PS. Please feel free to leave your comments so we can address them in future blog postings.Disclaimer: The Safe Baby System and the information on this blog is for educational purposes only and is not a replacement for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a doctor or other qualified health provider regarding any medical condition.
Pregnant women are naturally concerned about giving birth to a health and safe baby. To help ensure a healthy childbirth, you want to take Probiotics during pregnancy. These are dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacteria or yeast, and have been used in the food industry for many years because they are able to convert sugars (including lactose) and other carbohydrates into lactic acid. This not only provides the characteristic sour taste of fermented dairy foods such as yogurt, but acts as a preservative, by lowering the pH and creating fewer opportunities for spoilage organisms to grow.
Including a significant proportion of probiotic foods (soybeans, Jerusalem artichokes, raw oats, unrefined wheat and unrefined barley) in the diet has been demonstrated to support a healthy probiotic flora and may be a more effective and sustainable means of achieving the desirable health benefits promised by probiotics.
If you’re going to take a probiotic to help during pregnancy, make sure it’s high quality. The best supplements come in powdered or capsule form and should be kept refrigerated. Look for supplements that contain Lactobacillus, Acidophilus and bifidobacteria in the billions. Probiotics lose potency with age, so buy smaller quantities more often to ensure you are getting the most active cultures.
You should begin to feel a difference within a week or two if your probiotic supplements are effective. If not, try a different variety, combination or brand the next month. These supplements are remarkably safe, so it’s okay to experiment. If you buy a smaller quantity, you won’t waste your money — but be sure to give it a couple of weeks to show benefits.
Having the proper nutrition will help ensure the health of your baby during pregnancy and a safe delivery when giving birth.
Mark Zakowski, M.D.
Over 105,000 Deliveries
Author, The Safe Baby System Want to have revealing information come directly to your Inbox to help you during pregnancy and ensure a healthy delivery giving birth? Subscribe now at SafeBabySystem.
PS. Please feel free to leave your comments so we can address them in future blog postings.
Disclaimer: The Safe Baby System and the information on this blog is for educational purposes only and is not a replacement for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a doctor or other qualified health provider regarding any medical condition.
