Congratulations.
You’re growing a new life inside you.
But during the next nine months,
everything will not be
sunshine and rainbows.
Your body will go through
the biggest challenge,
and the very thing that creates
a new life
could take yours away.
Dying from pregnancy complications
sounds like something
from the Middle Ages.
Although medical advances
and hygiene practices
have improved a lot since then,
women still die from pregnancy.
The World Health Organization estimated
that in 2017,
over 800 women died from
pregnancy-related causes every day.
And most of those deaths
could have been prevented.
So if you or someone you love
is pregnant,
you might want to know.
Morning sickness is one of the most
common symptoms when
you’re expecting a baby.
Don’t get tricked by the name,
this awful nausea doesn’t just
occur in the morning.
Making a few changes in your habits
can help you reduce it.
Try eating several small meals
throughout the day,
and don’t lie down
immediately after eating.
If the sickness continues
you might have hyperemesis gravidarum,
extreme nausea that causes
significant weight loss.
You might get admitted to a hospital
since you’ll stop absorbing
essential nutrients.
Intravenous fluids could provide
the nutrients you and your baby need.
We all slouch over the computer
from time to time.
During pregnancy,
good posture can help avoid
pain in your back.
Your body releases hormones
that relax the pelvic ligaments
and gets them ready for giving birth.
But the hormones also relax the ligaments
around your spine.
That, plus carrying the extra weight
of your baby,
would be like torturing your back.
To minimize the pain,
avoid over-tilting your pelvis
and maintain good posture.
Don’t lift heavy objects or
stand for too long.
Also, leave the high heels in the closet
and reach for
for that comfy pair of flats.
You won’t have to wait for the baby
to be born to lose sleep.
Insomnia can creep in when
you're reaching the last weeks
of pregnancy.
Don't just brush it off.
Instead,
understand what’s causing the insomnia
so you can treat it.
Trust me,
you’ll need every second of sleep
before your crying baby wakes you up
each night.
Expert reflexologists
recommend a massage on your toe
to help you sleep,
as it can stimulate the release
of melatonin,
the hormone that regulates
the sleep cycles.
When you’re pregnant,
you’ll have extra blood
circulating in your body,
which causes fluids to build up
and stay in your body.
To ease the swelling it causes,
take walks or sit with your feet up
to increase circulation
around your ankles.
Do not restrict your fluids
as they help your circulation,
and your kidneys need water and fluids
to work effectively.
See your doctor regularly for checkups.
It can be the difference between
life and death.
You may not know or notice
some complications.
If you miss your prenatal appointments,
you might not know something is wrong.
That can increase the risks you
and your baby face.
One of these complications
is gestational diabetes,
which prevents your body from effectively
breaking down sugar.
Your baby could develop macrosomia
and grow much larger than normal,
so its shoulders could get stuck
during birth.
There are no obvious signs or symptoms,
so doctors screen for it in
the 24th-28th weeks.
You survived the most challenging
nine months of your life.
Now, the big day has finally come.
But you're stuck in traffic on your way
to the hospital,
and your baby won't wait.
Could you safely give birth in your car?
Find out here.