Weight gain during pregnancy is normal and while many pregnant women try to minimise the extent of the weight gain, it is important to remember that this can affect both mother and baby. It is usually acceptable to gain about 10 to 12.5 kg’s during pregnancy but many factors can play a part in considering what is acceptable weight and what is excessive or too little.
From the second trimester onwards, the weight gain should be gradual but steady – around 0.2 to 0.5 kg per week. Most doctors will tell a mother not to worry about the weight issue as it shows that they are eating well and the unborn baby is getting sufficient nutrition. However, excessive weight gain can complicate the pregnancy and delivery as well as aggravate certain conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure in pregnancy.
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Medical weight loss is the term used for a weight management program developed and supervised by a medical doctor in conjunction with other health professionals like a dietitian, psychologist or biokineticist. These weight loss programs are developed for the individual after appropriate tests, investigations and assessments are concluded. A medical weight loss plan will also consider your chronic conditions and medication and the impact of these factors in reaching your weight management goals.
A normal period is considered as a moderate bleed that lasts for 3 to 7 days and occurs every 21 to 35 days (menstrual cycle). If you are experiencing an abnormal period, it is important to identify how your period deviates from the norm in order for your gynaecologist to isolate the possible cause. There are different types of abnormal periods with various possible causes.
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Vaginal bleeding during pregnancy may occur, particularly in the first trimester, and should always be taken seriously. At times, the bleeding is not due to a serious cause and no intervention may be necessary. However some of the causes of vaginal bleeding during pregnancy can indicate an underlying problem and there may be a risk to you or your unborn child.
A few days after conception, you will notice a little spotting or a light bleed. This is known as the implantation bleed and is normal. However if the bleeding is profuse, persisting or accompanied by significant abdominal pain, then you should consult with your doctor immediately. Women who have missed a period, have the signs and symptoms of pregnancy but have not as yet confirmed it with a test should still be cautious about a vaginal bleed as it could be a miscarriage. Do not assume that the vaginal bleeding is your delayed period.
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The dangers of cigarette smoking is widely publicised in the media and smokers cannot claim to be ignorant about the dangers of this habit as cigarette packs now contain warnings. While cigarette smoking poses a health risk to all smokers, pregnant women should be more cautious as they are risking both their pregnancy as well as the health of their child in the future. Pregnant women who do not smoke but are exposed to cigarette smoke (secondary smoke) are also at risk of these detrimental effects associated with cigarette smoking in pregnancy.
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The signs and symptoms of pregnancy are not always specific and can be associated with other medical conditions. If you suspect that you are pregnant, then you should consider a pregnancy test to confirm your state.
When a sperm cell fertilises an egg cell (ovum), an embryo begins to develop. This will then implant on the wall of the uterus and you are now pregnant. If there is no complications or intervention, the embryo should grow and develop into a foetus.
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