Normally the acidic contents of the stomach remain within the stomach and pass out into the neighboring duodenum (first part of the small intestine) in small quantities. The stomach has mechanisms to withstand the highly corrosive acid and the small intestine has its own mechanisms to neutralize the acids. It is abnormal for stomach acid to enter the esophagus and backward flow of stomach contents into the esophagus is prevented by the action of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Food that enters the mouth passes down the throat and into the esophagus where the LES opens in a controlled manner to allow it to pass into the stomach.
Sometimes the acidic stomach contents flows backwards into the esophagus where it cause severe irritation of the delicate inner lining of the esophagus. This acid reflux is felt as a burning chest pain known as heartburn. It is usually acute and can be easily treated and may then never occur again. However, sometimes there is ongoing reflux irrespective of the usual trigger factors. Acid reflux is more correctly known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), although the latter term is usually used to refer to the more chronic state.
Miscarriage is the lay term for what is medically referred to as a spontaneous abortion. It refers to the loss of a pregnancy in the early stages, usually prior to 20 weeks or before the the fetus reaches 500 grams, where it is not viable for the fetus to exist outside of the uterus. It is also known as early pregnancy loss before 12 weeks although this term may also include an induced abortion where a woman purposefully undergoes any medical or surgical treatment to end the pregnancy. Late miscarriages occur after the first 12 weeks and before the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Up to 20% of pregnancies (2 out of 10) end in miscarriage and in the majority of cases this occurs in the first trimester (12 weeks). However, miscarriage is mainly a once off occurrence and a woman may go on to have a health full term pregnancy afterwards. Less than 1 out of 100 women will experience 2 to 3 consecutive miscarriages.
A miscarriage is not an unusual event in pregnancy but should always be investigated further to ascertain the cause. This is important to identify underlying disorders that could be life threatening for the mother or jeopardize future pregnancies. Miscarriage is the common term for spontaneous abortion. It means the the pregnancy is terminated spontaneously without purposeful intervention to end the pregnancy as is the case in induced abortion. It occurs before 20 weeks of pregnancy. A spontaneous abortion can be further classified as an early abortion if it occurs before 12 weeks of pregnancy (first trimester) or between 12 and 20 weeks.
There are many skin conditions that either start during pregnancy or is exacerbated in the pregnant state. The more common conditions include acne, hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin) and eczema. Facial hyperpigmentation that is not associated with itching or other changes of the skin and arises more often with pregnancy is known as melasma (previously referred to as chloasma). This condition has afflicted women for ages and used to be known as the veil or mask of pregnancy. It is more likely to be prominent on the sun-exposed areas of the skin.
Planning to have a baby extends well beyond the medical aspect but without proper advice, conception can take longer than expected and pregnancy may be difficult. Understanding when is the best time to conceive and preparing both mother and father for the implications of pregnancy and the measures that need to be taken can expedite conception and minimize pregnancy complications. It may even extend well into the future and minimize long term health effects for the child even into adulthood. Clearing up misconceptions and being well informed prior to pregnancy can make for a happier and healthier pregnancy, both for mother and child.
Pregnant women, especially first time mothers, have many concerns relating to pregnancy and rightfully so. Pregnancy is a delicate period in a women’s life and utmost care should be taken. Education about the facts of pregnancy from diet to lifestyle and signs of impending danger are important in maintaining a healthy pregnancy and giving birth to a healthy baby. One of the many concerns is whether carrying the baby low is a indicative of any problem in pregnancy or not. Another common query is whether a low pregnant belly is an indication of the baby’s gender.
High blood pressure (hypertension) can occur at anytime in life and may lead to serious and even life-threatening complications. It can be of greater concern in pregnant women as it can jeopardize the pregnancy. It therefore needs to be constantly monitored in pregnant women and treated if necessary to limit the complications. Sometimes the hypertension is present before pregnancy and persists through or even exacerbates with pregnancy. At other times, hypertension arises during pregnancy in women without a history of high blood pressure. Irrespective of the time of onset, hypertension carries the a definite risk in maintaining a health pregnancy. Hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure exceeding 140 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or more.
Constipation is a fairly common bowel irregularity that is more often seen in women. It may be exacerbated or even start up in pregnancy for a number of reasons that are not applicable in women who are not pregnant. However, treating constipation during pregnancy needs to be done with caution – the safety of the fetus and the mother is paramount and the mother’s body may react differently to otherwise innocuous remedies. The complications of severe constipation and treatment of it can even adversely affect pregnancy. It is therefore imperative that pregnant women seek medical advice if constipated rather than waiting for it to pass or attempting to self medicate.
Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, or simply known as morning sickness, is a very common ailment which occurs most often during the first trimester (first three months) of pregnancy. It can leave a woman feeling sick and miserable. The only consolation, if any, is that nearly 80% of pregnant women suffer from nausea, of whom about 50% also suffer from vomiting during early pregnancy.
Fortunately, most women get over this condition by the fourth month, and can then go on to enjoy a non-eventful pregnancy and childbirth, with delivery of a normal healthy baby. For the unlucky few, morning sickness can continue unabated for a longer period or even throughout pregnancy. Most women cope sufficiently well with frequent small meals, reassurance from the doctor, and emotional support from the partner.
Gaining weight during pregnancy is inevitable, as it is also necessary. However, it is important to know what amount of weight gain is acceptable during pregnancy so that you do not put on any extra pounds, which will not only be difficult to shed after childbirth but may also pose problems during pregnancy and delivery. Not gaining enough weight is not good either, so what would be the ideal weight gain to strive for during pregnancy?
