Nutrition during pregnancy

Nutrition during pregnancy is really important for both the mother and the embryo. A healthy diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy because it will help your baby to develop and grow. No special diet is necessary. Rather, it’s important to consume a variety of different foods daily in order to achieve a good balance of nutrients that both you and your baby need. Some doctors might recommend taking supplements during pregnancy but it is better to get the vitamins and minerals from the foods you eat. Regardless, it’s always best to consult with your doctor.

Feeling hungry

You might feel extra hungry during pregnancy but there is no need to “eat for 2”, regardless of whether you’re expecting twins or triplets. A good solution is to have healthy breakfasts every day so that you can avoid snacking on foods high in fat and sugar later in the day. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to cut out all your favourites. It just means that you will have to reduce the amount of certain types of food that you consume, such as sugary and salty snacks.

The Eatwell Guide

The Eatwell Guide can help you balance your diet because it shows you how much of what you eat should come from each food group to achieve a healthy, balanced diet. You can extend the time when you balance your diet based on this guide over the week.

It’s very important to aim to eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables and should be over a third of the food you eat each day. You can choose from fresh, frozen, tinned, dried or juiced (no more than 150ml a day). Fruit and vegetables are a good source of vitamins, minerals and fibre.

During pregnancy, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can help with digestion and constipation.

Starchy food, like potatoes, cereal and bread, should make up just over a third of the food you eat. It’s better to choose higher fibre wholegrain varieties, such as wholewheat pasta and brown rice, or simply leave skins on potatoes. These foods are a good source of energy and the main source of a range of nutrients.

Dairy products, such as milk, cheese, yoghurt and creams, are good sources of protein and some vitamins. They’re a source of calcium, which helps keep bones strong. A recommendation is to go for lower-fat and lower-sugar products, like 1% fat milk, reduced-fat cheese or plain low-fat yoghurt. If you prefer dairy alternatives, such as soya drinks and yoghurts, choose unsweetened, calcium-fortified versions. Avoid unpasteurised cheeses.

Foods rich in protein, vitamins and minerals include beans, peas and lentils. These can be good alternatives to meat because they’re lower in fat and higher in fibre and protein. As for meat, choose lean cuts of meat and mince, and try to eat less red and processed meat like bacon, ham and sausages. Make sure that the meats are cooked very thoroughly until steaming all the way through with no pink in them. A good recommendation is 2 portions of fish every week, 1 of which should be oily, such as salmon or mackerel. Fish to avoid when pregnant are shark, swordfish and marlin. Also avoid eating raw or partially cooked eggs.

Foods to avoid

Sugary foods and drinks are high in calories and can contribute to weight gaining and tooth decay.
Fat in very high in calories can increase the levels of cholesterol in your blood and the chance of developing a heart disease

For more information,visit also https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/foods-to-avoid/

Preparing food safely

Wash fruit, vegetables and salads to avoid harmful chemicals that may be in traces of soil
Wash all surfaces and utensils, and your hands to avoid food poisoning
Make sure that raw foods are stored separately
Use a separate knife and chopping board for raw meats

Sources

NHS. Have a healthy diet in pregnancy. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/have-a-healthy-diet/

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Nutrition During Pregnancy. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/nutrition-during-pregnancy

Why is my period late?

Some women might often miss their period without being pregnant, or their periods might stop altogether. Regular menstruation cycles usually last around 28 days. However, it’s also common for cycles to last from 21 to 40 days. Periods may be early or later, may last from 3 to 7 days and might be heavier or lighter.
There are various reasons why periods might stop. The most common ones are pregnancy, stress, sudden weight loss, being overweight, doing too much exercise, taking the contraceptive pill, menopause and/or polycystic ovary syndrome. Other reasons include medical conditions, such as heart disease, uncontrolled diabetes, an overactive thyroid, or premature menopause.

Pregnancy
– If you’re sexually active and your period suddenly stops, you might be pregnant
– Wait a few days to see because your period might just be late
A pregnancy test could confirm whether you’re pregnant or not
– It’s possible to get pregnant in the days after your period is normally due
Illness and stress might delay the release of an egg leading to pregnancy

Stress
Stress can lead to:
– Longer or shorter menstrual cycles
– Periods stopping altogether
– Painful periods
How to calm stress:
– Regular exercise can help you relax
– Breathing exercises can also help
10 Simple Ways to Relieve Stress

Weight irregularities
Sudden weight loss: restricting the amount of calories you eat stops the production of hormones needed for ovulation
Being overweight: your body may produce an excess amount of oestrogen one of the hormones that regulate the reproductive system in women

Excessive exercise
– Stressing your muscles too much through excessive physical activity can affect your hormones
– Losing too much body fat through intense exercise can stop you ovulating

Contraceptive pill
It is normal to miss your period sometimes when taking the contraceptive pill.

Polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovaries contain a large number of harmless follicles, which are underdeveloped sacs in which eggs develop. If you have PCOS, these sacs are often unable to release an egg, which means ovulation does not take place.

Irregular periods
Causes of irregular periods include:
– Puberty, periods might be irregular for the first year or two
– Menopause, usually between the ages of 45 and 55
– Early pregnancy
– Some types of hormonal contraception
– Weight irregularities
– Medical conditions, such as polycystic ovaries syndrome

Heavy periods
Heavy periods (also called menorrhagia) are common and may be normal for you. If they’re affecting your daily life, you might need to see a doctor.
Symptoms:
– Need to change your pad or tampon every 1 to 2 hours, or empty your menstrual cup more often than is recommended
– Need to use 2 types of sanitary products together, such as a pad and a tampon
– Have periods lasting more than 7 days
– Have blood clots larger than about 2.5cm (the size of a 10p coin)
– Bleed through your clothes or bedding
– Avoid daily activities, like exercise, or take time off work because of your periods
– Feel tired or short of breath

Causes
For some people it can be normal to have heavy periods. They can be heavy at different times, like in puberty, after pregnancy or during menopause.
Other causes include:
– Conditions affecting your womb, ovaries or hormones, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, fibroids, endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease
– Some medicines and treatments, including anticoagulant medicines and chemotherapy medicines
– Stress and depression

When to see a doctor
– Periods are affecting your daily life
– Heavy periods occur for a long period of time
– You have severe pain during your periods
– You bleed between periods or after sex
– You have heavy periods and other symptoms such as pain when peeing, pooing or having sex
– You experience fever, nausea and vomiting

Sources:
healthline. Why Is My Period Late: 8 Possible Reasons.
NHS. Stopped or missed periods.
NHS. Heavy periods.
NHS. Irregular periods.

Ingaruka zo kugira isuku nke mu mihango

Mu bice bimwe na bimwe usanga umugore mu gihe cy’imihango atabasha kubona iby’ingenzi akeneye byamufasha kwita ku isuku neza; aha twavuga nk’amazi meza, udutambaro tw’isuku two kwibinda, isabune, ndetse n’ahantu h’ubwiherero habugenewe yakwifashisha. Ibi byose rero bikaba byatuma isuku ikenewe ititabwaho ndetse ubuzima n’iterambere ry’umugore muri rusange bikadindira.

Isuku idahagije ishobora gutera ingaruka zitandukanye mu buzima. Zimwe mu ngaruka zaterwa no kutagira isuku ihagije mu gihe cy’imihango harimo: Kwandura zimwe mu ndwara ziterwa n’udukoko duturutse mu gukoresha udutambaro tudasukuye mu kwibinda bikaba byagera no kuri nyababyeyi, kurwara indwara ku ruhu rukikije imyanya ndangagitsina, kurwara indwara z’udukoko mu myanya ndangagitsina, ndetse n’ikwirakwizwa rya zimwe mu ndwara zandurira mu matembabuzi nka hepatite ndetse na virusi itera SIDA, indwara zo mu miyobora y’inkari, kuzana uduheri ku myanya ndangagitsina, kurwara kanseri y’inkondo y’umura bishobora kuvamo no kutabyara.

Kugirango umugore agire isuku ihagije mu gihe cy’imihango hari bimwe mu byo akeneye harimo: amazi meza yo gukoresha bisukura ndetse banasukura udutambaro n’imyambaro, kubona ahantu habugenewe biherera bari mu isuku, kubona ibikoresho bikenewe bibafasha mu gihe cy’imihango, kubona aho babasha kujugunya imyanda cyangwa se udutambaro bakoresheje.

Ni byiza rero kwita ku isuku mu gihe cy’imihango kugirango twirinde ingaruka ziva mu isuku nke.

Indwara ya Gapfura cyangwa se Ikirimi

Indwara abantu bakunze kwita gapfura cyangwa se ikirimi, cyangwa se angine mu ndimi z’amahanga, ni indwara ikunze gufata abana iterwa n’udukoko dutandukanye dufata mu muhogo hakabyimba.

Bimwe mu bimenyetso iyi ndwara igira mu bana harimo nko kumira akababara, kunanirwa kurya, kugira umuriro, gucika intege, ndetse no kugira umwuma.

Iyi ndwara iyo itavuwe neza ishobora gutuma twa dukoko dukwira mu mubiri ukaba wagira ubundi burwayi nk’ubw’umutima (rheumatic heart disease), umwijima, ndetse n’izo mu bwonko.

Ubu ni uburwayi buvurwa kwa muganga bugakira; bumwe mu buryo bukoreshwa n’ababyeyi mu kuvura ubu burwayi harimo nk’ibyo bita guhara cyangwa se gukata ikirimi bishobora kugira ingaruka ku buzima bw’umwana harimo nko gukwirakwira kw’udukoko mu bindi bice by’umubiri ndetse no kugabanuka kw’ubwirinzi bw’umubiri.

Umubyeyi ubana n’agakoko gatera SIDA nawe ashobora konsa umwana we

Abagore babana n’ubwandu bw’agakoko gatera SIDA bashobora konsa abana babo nta kibazo igihe batangiye gufata imiti igabanya ubukana bw’agakoko gatera SIDA buri munsi bakimara kumenya ko batwite, cyangwa se bishobotse mu mezi 3 nyuma yo gusama, cyangwa se mu mezi 3 mbere yo kubyara. gusa babanza kubiganiraho na muganga kugirango bamenye ibisabwa byose n’ibyo bakwirinda kugirango batanduza umwana wabo.