PREGNANCY WITH FITHS DISEASE

Author: Natron Chango
The Human Parvo Virus B19 Infection is present in almost every place. One of the diseases it produces is called the 'Fifth disease", a common infection experienced during childhood or adolescence. Thus, the National Center for Infectious Diseases has estimated that approximately 50% of all adults have experienced the fifth disease. After recovering from the disease, a person will most likely have developed immunity against further attacks of the B19 parvovirus.

A woman who is pregnant can be attacked by the B19 parvovirus. This occurrence is usually not life-threatening since many pregnant women are already immune to the virus. This immunity will also protect the unborn child. But sometimes, the pregnant woman will be easily fatigued and have mucous discharges from her nose. Aside from this, there are no serious human parvovirus symptoms that could endanger the lives of both mother and child. The B19 was never linked to mental retardation or any birth defects.

But there are a few cases of pregnant women who, after being infected by the B19 parvovirus, suffered miscarriage in the first half of pregnancy. The cause of the miscarriage is the severe anemia that happens to the unborn baby. The National Center for Infectious Diseases estimated these few cases to be about 5% of all B19-infected pregnant women.

If a pregnant woman has been known to be exposed to the B19 parvovirus, she should immediately inform her personal doctor about it. Usually, the physician will perform blood tests in order to know the medical situation of the pregnant woman with regards to the B19 parvovirus infection. The blood test will reveal one of the following:

� The pregnant woman is already immune to the B19 parvovirus and her body is not suffering any infection - This means that she has nothing to worry about the presence of the virus. Her immune system can easily handle the B19 parvovirus.

� The pregnant woman had a recent infection, most probably within the last three months - This means that the pregnancy must be closely monitored. There are no specific steps established to monitor a pregnant woman who recently had a B19 parvovirus infection, but the doctor can perform ultrasound examinations and more blood tests to make sure that the unborn baby is developing as he/she should be.

� The pregnant woman has no B19 parvovirus infection but she has no immunity against it - This means that the woman must avoid exposure to the B19 parvovirus. There is no vaccine yet against the B19 infection.

If the blood results revealed that the pregnant woman has no immunity against the B19 parvovirus infection, and she believes that she has been exposed to this virus, the doctor cannot provide medications to stop the infection. All the doctor and the pregnant woman can do is to weather the infection, which could last for one to two weeks. The unborn baby will be frequently examined for any signs of anemia.

THE BENEFITS OF WATERBIRTHING

Author: Heather Hill
Considerng a waterbirth? Think about it this way.....Wouldn't a peacful and serene birth, with a relaxed and focused mother be a wonderful way to bring a baby into this world? Having a waterbirth is an option for Mom's who want to give birth naturally. Childbirth is such a powerful experience for a woman. But, too often, women totally give up their power and gift of childbirth over to other people to control. Having a waterbirth gives the woman a feeling of empowerment and pride in being able to choose how she delivers her child.

What about what the baby goes through? Just imagine that your little one is as cozy and warm as can be for the past 9 months. You have given that little wonder a warm and secure environment only to have him arrive in a cold, bright and noisy world. That is why waterbirthing is such a beautiful way to bring your little wonder into this world. Imagine the having your baby arrive in a warm, quite, safe and inviting environment where the first touch is your arms. I can't think of a more beautiful way to start a relationship.

The benefits of waterbirthing is so numerous... here are just a few

* ease the pain of labor where only 10% of mom's ask for pain relief

* relaxation of mom

* can faciltate a slow labor

* relaxed pelvic floor

* relieve anxiety

* empowers the mom

* can increase blood circulation

If you decide you want to use water to help you labor, you need to have a few things in mind. The water temperature should be around your body temperature. Be careful when entering the tub and try to enter between contractions. Make sure the tub is large enough so that you can move freely and be able to change positions to what makes you feel comfortable.

Women usually enter the tub when they are about 5-8 cm dilated. Check with your caregiver, but you should not need to worry about infection if your membranes have ruptured, as long as your are following proper hygenics.

The following are some interesting statistics about waterbirths

* The women had shorter labors.

* Cervical dilatation was more efficient- 2.5 centimeters per hour compared with 1.25 centimeters per hour for mothers who did not take advantage of water during their labors.

* The descent of the babies was twice as fast.

* The women reported less pain.

* The cesarean section rate was one-third that of traditional hospital births.

* Mothers labeled "high-risk" because of high blood pressure showed a dramatic reduction in their blood pressure within minutes of immersion in the pool.

(see end note #1)

Whether you decide to just labor in water, or have an actual waterbirth you can still take advantage of what water has to offer.

Waterbirthing can be not only a gentle way to bring your little one into the world, but as you can see, it is also a SAFE alternative. Also, remember that being educated is the most important thing you can do to keep yourself happy and healthy througout your pregnancy.

#1 Sears, William,Martha Sears,and Linda Hughey Holt. The Pregnancy Book. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 1997.

PREGNANCY AND HEMORRHOIDS

Author: Hannah White
Having been pregnant a few times myself, once with twins, I know exactly how uncomfortable simply being pregnant in the last few weeks can be.

To have this discomfort compounded by the irritation, itching and pain of hemorrhoids doesn't bear thinking about. Sadly, hemorrhoids are relatively common in pregnancy. The weight of your little bundle-of-joy-to-be pressing down on the bowel area is just what is needed to engorge the blood vessels - the result? Hemorrhoids...

Hemorrhoids are just that, simply engorged blood vessels. They can be very uncomfortable. Symptoms include bleeding in the stool, itchiness around the anus, lumps in or around the anus, and pain or irritation.

Hemorrhoids can be internal or external. And if they rupture, they can bleed. Bowel movements are often the cause.

Apart from pregnancy, other contributory factors to the onset of hemorrhoids include a diet low in fibre, not enough water consumption, not enough aerobic exercise, and poor bowel habits... If you need to go, GO!

While their are some prescription medications you can take for hemorrhoids while pregnant and / or breastfeeding, many ladies are reluctant to take drugs for fear of harming their baby. If this is you, it may be worth your while considering a natural hemorrhoids treatment.

For a start, find out more about hemorrhoids, their causes and symptoms and how to prevent them at NaturallyGuaranteed.com. This website also offers a natural hemorrhoids treatment (a topical application) which has been specifically developed for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

You don't need to suffer the pain of hemorrhoids on top of the discomfort of just being huge and ungainly. And you don't have to take prescription medication to relieve hemorrhoidal pain, or to effectively treat and remove hemorrhoids. Many natural alternatives are effective, easy to obtain, and will not harm your fetus or your newborn (always check instructions).

A final note: If you are bleeding from the anus, please see your doctor. If you are pregnant the cause is highly likley to be hemorrhoids, HOWEVER, any bleeding from the anus should be checked by a doctor. If you are not sure if the bleeding is from the anus or the vagina, get to your doctor as quickly as possible.

PREGNANCY - WHAT YOU SHOULD COVER UP WHILE PREGNANT

Author: Kacy Carr
Pregnancy - It has been said that a woman is at her most beautiful when pregnant. Well I am about to burst your bubble and tell you that there are women out there who beg to differ - especially for those saying goodbye to their 36 -26-36 figure for the next 9 months. Well ladies have I got news for you, this is just one of the many changes you can expect throughout your pregnancy.

Carrying a baby and all that extra weight can take its toll - proving very stressful for some women who tend to feel ugly about them selves at this time, why? When in the world of fashion you have designers who focus purely on the pregnant woman.

In the world of cosmetics we call it a make over and in the world of pregnant women it is called a cover up. This only apply`s to the woman who is still trying to come to terms with her new look similar to that of a sumo wrestler.

Pregnancy is a wonderful experience and even more special when holding your new born baby in your arms. If this is your first pregnancy then you may need a little more understanding on the baby`s development within. At first you may not even be aware of any baby movement like the odd flutter all because the whole process is new to you

It is around 18 to 20 weeks into your pregnancy when you may experience your first sensational sensation. Don`t expect your baby to constantly kick because there will be times baby needs to rest.
From as early as 20 to 24 weeks the activity inside the womb will gradually increase and from then onwards over approximately the next ten weeks, your baby will be in overtime mode with kicks and turns.

From 24 to 28 weeks baby can develop hiccups, which will explain any jolts you may feel occasionally throughout this period. It is at this time the amniotic sac will now contain up to 750ml (26floz) of fluid which permits the infant in the womb to move around freely. Into the 29th week your baby will start to make smaller but more distinct movements because of the limited space - in other words hard to manoeuvre inside a cramped uterus.

Positioning time for baby is classed as normal around the of 36th week where the infant is now in the head-down position, Expect baby`s activities at this time to feel like prodding jabs from the feet and arms followed by a couple of uncomfortable rib kicking episodes.

From 36 to 40 weeks the baby inside the womb will be of a good size therefore less action. Activity on the inside is a lot less frequent now and even more so during the last two weeks of your pregnancy. The infant now waiting to make his/her appearance will have their growth rate slowed down slightly. This is nothing to worry about as it is completely normal.

For all those pregnant women who still feel the need to cover up then go and fashion your self up from head to toe with all the latest trendy designer gear in maternity wear but what you have to remember is, that you can never cover up the end result - can you MUM

ARE YOU BREASTFEEDING YOUR BABY? - SOME TIPS FOR LACTATING MOTHERS

Author: Diepiriye S Kuku
You've just had a child...joy, excitement, worries, are all part of the process of welcoming the newborn into the family. The entire family participates in the initial chores required to make the baby comfortable and happy. The mother however, is the most preoccupied with her new offspring and the time required to take care of the infant. But, in order to ensure that your baby gets your undivided attention and grows up healthy, you need to be aware that ideally you should wait 3-5 years before your next child. But why? Many believe that lactation offers protection. This is a myth that most women believe and therefore they can get caught unawares with another pregnancy when they least expect it!

During the period of lactation when the mother is breast-feeding her baby, she needs to know some facts about contraception so that she can protect herself from another immediate pregnancy:
 If the woman has not had her first menstrual period since childbirth and if she is fully breastfeeding her baby, she is unlikely to become pregnant during this period. This is known as the LAM (Lactational Amenorrhea Method) of contraception.
 Women who are breastfeeding can start progestin-only methods of contraception as early as six weeks after childbirth. An important fact to remember is that the contraceptive should be estrogen free. Hence, progestin based injectables, condoms and IUD's are the best options. If she is not fully breastfeeding, she can use the pill as well.
 The tri-monthly injectable DMPA (Depo Provera) can be started as early as six weeks after childbirth. The biggest advantage of this method is that DMPA does not affect the quality and quantity of breast milk or have any adverse effect on the health of the baby. DMPA is long acting and does not require daily action, nor is it coital dependent. Hence, mothers are more free to dedicate time and attention to her health and that of her newborn.