Staying fit and healthy before, during and after your pregnancy will aid you through a happy and enjoyable pregnancy, and can help you through a stress free labour, leading to a happy, healthy and content new-born. Yoga is a safe and enjoyable exercise for pregnant women, you may even be lucky enough to find a class especially for expectant moms.

Before embarking on any new exercise regime during pregnancy it is advisable to consult your health care provider, and even if you are used to practising yoga, be sure to tell your instructor that you are now expecting as some yoga poses are not comfortable or suitable for pregnant women to attempt. Your instructor will be able to adapt your yoga routine to suit your changing body as your pregnancy progresses.

Yoga During Pregnancy

Yoga makes your whole mind and body overall stronger, this new strength will be needed to carry around the extra strain a growing baby puts on your body.

Regular yoga classes during pregnancy will help to boost circulation and also aid with fluid retention. The stretching exercises relieve aches and pains associated with pregnancy.

Back ache is common during pregnancy, and as yoga helps with posture the back ache can be greatly eased. Many pregnant women experience pain from the sciatic nerve, and yoga can also be great for relieving this discomfort.

As baby grows and you near the end of your pregnancy, the breathing exercises you have learnt will help with the diminished lung capacity you now have thanks to baby pushing all of your organs upwards!

In late pregnancy, balance can become a real problem due to your centre of gravity changing, balancing and strengthening poses will help to counteract this uncomfortable stage of your pregnancy.

 Once you are familiar with the various yoga poses and you know the limits of your own body, there are several books and videos available to help you progress further, prepare your body for birth and enhance your yoga routine at home. ‘Preparing for birth with yoga’ by Janet Balaskas is a good book to start with.

A stress free labour

Towards the end of your pregnancy, yoga can help you to prepare for birth by practising squats and positions that will enable your pelvic area to open up and help baby progress smoothly through the birth canal.

Yoga helps women to prepare for labour and birth; it encourages breath and body awareness, reduces stress and worry and teaches women to embrace this new situation.

Post Pregnancy Yoga

Although no exercise should be attempted before six weeks after birth, you can still practise breathing exercise and the relaxation techniques learnt during your yoga classes.

After six weeks it is usually ok to resume yoga classes, and some classes encourage you to bring baby with you. In these classes you can enjoy bonding with your baby while getting back into shape.

Post pregnancy yoga (under supervision) will help to strengthen your weakened back and abdominal muscles and also help to restore the pelvic floor muscle tone.

Practising yoga on a regular basis during and after pregnancy will also allow you the inner peace required to love, nurture and care for a new-born with the calmness and serenity they need to stay contented (this is a real bonus at 4am when you haven’t slept for days!).

Featured images:

•  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/images/

Geoff McCabe is the co-owner of the Anamaya Mind, Body and Spirit Resort in the stunning surroundings of Costa Rica.

trendytummy

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:

We all know that after having a baby one of the key elements of a successful maternity leave is getting your confidence back. Not that every new mum needs such a boost but there are numerous ladies out there who, for whatever reason, take a slight dip in form and struggle to regain the personality or the figure that they once took for granted.

It’s easy to say that maternity leave is a time to relax and bond with your baby and, of course, it is but it’s often forgotten that the previous nine months have been a total roller coaster ride and coming back down to earth is often easier said than done.

If you’re feeling like your whole world has been turned upside down, and you’re not as confident as perhaps you once were, there are some fairly straight forward guidelines to follow that will put you on the road to recovery.

Exercise

You don’t have to go on all-out attack mode to get back into pre-baby shape and sometimes less is more because of the inconvenience that your body has been put through. Check with your GP first however, if you get back into a regular light exercise routine then this will be of great benefit for future success. Easy stretches, light yoga, core strengthening and mid-range walks all will help you feel happier about yourself and give your confidence a well-earned boost. Remember: getting fit and healthy is a marathon not a sprint so take your time and don’t beat yourself up if at first you don’t succeed.

Dress

It’s very easy to get into the habit of slopping about and barely getting out of your pajamas however, if you want to feel confident, try to at least get dressed even if you’re not going outside. Although you may think that your body is still huge you’re probably exaggerating so don’t be scared of wearing clothes that you haven’t thought about for the last nine months. Better yet get some new outfits or if you are carrying a bit of extra baby weight, why not try some plus size lingerie? No one will know but you and from figure hugging underwear to silky and sexy styles, there are no limits to what you can wear.

Home

It’s easy to think that just because you’re at home all day that you’ll have lots of time for housework and tidying up but this simply isn’t always the case. Babies take up a lot of time, 24/7 in fact, and so don’t feel bad if you’re unable to keep a house as you once used to. Once you feel the need to tidy it will be the right time and if you can make the bed, do the washing up and clear your clothes away then you’ll probably be feeling more confident about life in general. Tidying up isn’t important but it can be a great indicator that you’re feeling more confident and it may also encourage you to invite friends over which is always a good thing.

Diet

Body cravings are a law unto themselves but if you can manage to fill your larder and fridge space with healthy options then you’ll be giving yourself a fighting chance. Fresh fruit, seasonal vegetables and a vegetarian diet are all perfect for keeping healthy and boosting confidence levels and if you’ve got generous friends and relations then say yes when they offer to cook for you. Batch cooking is a great idea prior to giving birth and from vegetarian lentil bakes to fish pies, frozen meals are perfect when you can’t be bothered to cook after you’ve just given birth.

Social

Sometimes going outside is the last thing we’d consider after having a baby and from feeling insecure about ourselves to wanting to protect our little one, often, locking the door and throwing away the key seems like the only option. Just remember, your friends and family want to help you and, once you’re ready, inviting them over to see you and the baby can be a really lovely experience. You don’t have to worry about how you look or how the house looks but often just the presence of someone else that you like and trust will put everything into perspective and get you back on the road to being happy, healthy and confident.

Biog: Christine is the mother of two children and can remember thinking she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders when really it was just a new-born baby in her arms.

trendytummy

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:

It’s more common than ever to put family building on hold in favor of getting yourself financially stable.  People are having babies much later in life, and as such, encounter problems with conceiving.  If you happen to want a baby later than usual, making sure you’re healthy enough for pregnant should be your first concern.  If pregnancy the old fashion way seems impossible, there are options, like adoption, surrogates, or in vitro fertilization.  But each has their own risk, like the chance of having a failed IVF.  

Make Sure You Are Healthy Enough

Past a certain age, the prospect of carrying a pregnancy to full term without complication tends to decrease.  Your chances are even worse if you have pre-existing health conditions.  If you plan on having a child at a later age, it’s important to consult your doctor beforehand in order to determine whether or not a pregnancy is a healthy option at this juncture in your life.  Things like diabetes, heart condition, and any other chronic ailment can put both you and your baby at great risk, so it is vitally important to get a clean bill of health before you attempt to have a baby.

Is Adoption a Better Option?

If your doctor advises against actually going through with child birth, you have a few options at your disposal; one of which is adoption.  Adoption is a great way to help a child in need, while getting exactly what you’re looking for in return: a child of your very own to raise.  Whether you choose to adopt internationally or locally, there are children all over the world in the adoption system waiting for a loving family to treat them with the tender loving care that should be provided for all of the world’s children.

Using a Surrogate

Another option if you’re not able to carry out your own pregnancy is to consider using a surrogate.  Surrogates are women that are healthy enough to carry a child, but they use your egg and your partner’s sperm in order to make the embryo.  A surrogate approach is the best of both worlds solution in cases which you cannot carry the child yourself.  You get the opportunity to actually parent your biological child without risking your life trying to carry the pregnancy to term.  Surrogates are paid well for their service, but terms would be worked out with them personally.

In Vitro Fertilization

If you get the go-ahead from your doctor to attempt to conceive, but are still having trouble, an in vitro fertilization procedure may be in order.  IVF is a great advance in medical treatment in order to encourage conception, but it can be very pricey.  There is no guarantee that it will work either, so a failed IVF can be a devastating blow both financially and emotionally.  Talk to your doctor about the prospects of IVF and see if it is right for you. 

Just because you are older than expected to be having children doesn’t make it impossible; it just means you may have to work a little bit harder to get what you want.

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source 

Brielle is always looking for information to do research on. When she finds a significant type of information she enjoys sharing the information with others.

trendytummy

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:

Especially when you have been wishing and trying to get pregnant for some time, the concept of feeling depressed or extremely anxious once you fall pregnant seems alien. However for between 10% to 20% of women this is a harsh and sad reality. The time of their life that they had been so looking forward to turns out to be an assault course of emotions that are very unwelcome.
While pregnancy is naturally exciting, the condition can also be stressful.  Some who have not ever suffered noticeable depression may be hit by it and those already coping with the condition may find the symptoms to be made much worse.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Depression

The symptoms of depression often masquerade as other complications suffered by women while pregnant, such as fatigue.  It is important that one suffering from several of these conditions or any one that seems excessively severe (or chronic) seek advice from a medical care provider as to types of therapy that may be beneficial.
Insomnia
Changes in one’s sleeping pattern is often one of the first symptoms noted from depression.  This can include unusual wakefulness during the night or sleeping for excessively long times.  One should keep in mind the a kicking baby, dyspepsia and many other conditions can also result in changes in sleeping patterns and in modulating the amount of sleep the woman is able to achieve every 24 hour period.  This means the reason for any changes in routine concerning sleep may need to be examined.  In addition, changes in appetite, whether under-eating or binging can be indicators of depression; however, these changes can be due to other reasons as well.
Lack of Excitement or Interest
This can be an indicator of one’s depression.  While this condition is normally exciting depression and pregnancy can lead one to feel numbness and the inability to envision the condition ever coming to an end.  However, excessive emotion and anxiety are also indicative of depressive illness.  Women who find they suffer from mood swings going from one extreme to another can be suffering from bipolar disorder, a condition once know as manic depression.
Should one be diagnosed with a depressive illness while pregnant or already suffer from this condition, it may be possible to use certain antidepressant medicines.  However, it is essential to consult with a doctor to determine those which are safe for use when pregnant and , should they be needed aft the baby’s birth, are also suitable for breastfeeding moms should you choose to use this option for feeding the child.  In addition, counseling may be offered, but waiting lists can also be long and women may find it advisable to seek a private counselor, support group or help from SANE or other charitable organizations.

Those at Top Risk for Mental Health Conditions When Pregnant and Reducing Risks

Mental health conditions do not affect most women during this time, but those who have had mental illness problems in the past and those suffering from complications during pregnancy may suffer these conditions.  The tie between the two is so close that experts often argue which causes the other.  

In order to reduce the risk of symptoms of mental illness becoming worse, it is essential that one is frank and open with health care providers when asked about current mental state, health history and family history of mental conditions.  Such histories are useful in forming an appropriate plan.
If a person suffers from a health condition, she may need to alter medication used for the safety of the unborn child and manage any changing or new symptoms.  You should keep in close contact with the doctor as suddenly stopping medication can cause recurrence of symptoms or worsening of them during pregnancy.
Women can minimize symptoms by eating healthily and keeping active.  Maintaining weight within healthy limits can reduce the chance of immobility or joint problems later in pregnancy.  Exercise is helpful in staying off depression, but one must also find time for relaxing and taking part in enjoyed activities.  Make the effort to spend some time outside the house every day and keep in contact with friends.  Do not fear asking for help if wanted, it can help to eliminate the overburdened feelings some women feel.  Of course, one should avoid caffeine and alcohol for a healthy pregnancy.
Taking Control Is The First Step To Helping Yourself
Although society is far more open these days to those who suffer from depression or forms of extreme anxiety, if you are the person going through this, it is one of the last things you want in your life. Each person is different and the success of managing these unwelcome symptoms will vary according to a huge range of criteria. What works for you may not be helpful for someone else. At least if you recognize that you are experiencing some or all of the symptoms mentioned in this article, you can start taking the appropriate steps that you feel may help you.
Acceptance is necessary, even though you may not wish to admit to your feelings. However some acceptance means you can start to take control by seeking help and making any useful lifestyle changes. Work out a plan that you resonate with and start to ask for the help you need.

Featured images:

•  Photo provided by: smartphotostock.com

The author, Jackie de Burca, has helped a close friend who suffered from depression during pregnancy. Whilst her friend didn’t have as pleasant a pregnancy as some other women, she did feel supported by close friends, a counselor and medical team. It also helped her to go for regular pregnancy scans at Merrion Fetal Health, as this was reassuring and comforting, as her  baby’s development was normal and healthy.

trendytummy

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:

What does being pretty really mean? Is it defined by race, color, ethnicity, body type, clothes, hair, or shoes? What truly qualifies someone as gorgeous? While today many people might argue that the body makes the person, this is not the case. Some people’s main focus, especially women, is on fitness and looking as sexy as possible to the other gender. They want to have the tightest abs, the nicest butt, and the best hair in town. So what’s a girl to do when she finds herself pregnant and all of those body parts start changing and morphing into something much less than the tight little figure she had before? Good news: the body does not define beauty. In fact, there are many other ways for women to feel and look gorgeous without the sleek six-pack.

Be Confident

One thing that men and women will almost always agree on is that confidence is one of the sexiest things a person can possess. Before a nice chest and a great set of biceps, a person will notice how another individual carries him or her self. When someone walks into a room, their “aura,” so to speak, enters with them. If they are positive, energetic, and spunky, others will just naturally gravitate towards them, as opposed to someone who is withdrawn and self-conscious. Pregnant women, though they may not always feel radiant and peppy, should work hard to promote an air of confidence and beauty. With that, others will begin to see that beauty as well.

Enjoy the Journey

Something that many women forget to do when they are pregnant is to enjoy their journey. It is not every day a lady gets to live with another life growing inside her. This is a miracle and something that should be celebrated and enjoyed while she has the chance. Women often get caught up in all the negatives of pregnancy—weight gain, acne breakouts, lethargy, and other depressing symptoms. However, what they forget to look at are all the positive things about being a mommy. They ignore all the little kicks and flutters of their baby to focus on their newest stretch mark or blemish. This is no way to go through nine months of life. Women who enjoy their time being pregnant are more apt to feel pretty and happy than those who sit back and “suffer through it.”

Eat Well

Another very important part to feeling and looking great when pregnant is to eat well and stay healthy. Lots of ladies take pregnancy as an excuse to sit around and get fat for nine months. They think they can east as much junk as they want because they are going to gain weight anyway, so what’s the difference. However, if anything, women should focus on being healthy more now than ever before. They are supporting a little life inside of them, and that growing baby needs as much nutrients and nourishment as possible. Plus, when people eat well and exercise regularly, they are just naturally going to feel better about themselves.

Dress the Body Right

Sometimes it can be hard for a pregnant woman to find something she feels confident and sexy wearing. Fortunately, there are so many options for maternity clothes nowadays that these ladies need not worry. There are all sorts of cute jeans, fun tops, and even pretty maternity dresses that can be found at any regular clothing store. Dressing the pregnant body appropriately and tastefully can make a pregnant woman look just as good, if not even better, than that lady with the six-pack and great butt. Sometimes, beauty isn’t all about the body, but rather how a woman presents herself, dresses, and takes care of herself.

trendytummy

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:

Finding out that you are pregnant is one of the most exhilarating, amazing, and terrifying pieces of news that you will ever receive.  The knowledge that millions of others have gone through what you are experiencing   won’t soften the impact for most.  What will help is time spent with your loved ones and close friends.  If you’re lucky, your friends and family will be good enough to throw you a baby shower.

Once the initial adrenaline and jitters have worn off, it’s time to start planning for your child’s entry into this world.   Though it’s likely your friends and family will take on the bulk of planning for your baby shower, there are a few areas where a little input from the mother, or parents, to be, will be a tremendous help to the planners.

Guess Who’s Coming

Determining the guest list is something only you can truly do.  Even the best of friends or siblings aren’t mind readers.   Start by writing out a list of some of your good friends, and a list of family members.  Decide whether this will be a ladies-only event or a co-ed affair.  Talk to your significant other.  Write out a general list, but be prepared to make cuts if necessary.  Since the expectant parents don’t normally host the event – it’s up to whoever does to determine how many guests they are comfortable accommodating/paying for.  Once this is established, write out a list of the invitees with their addresses included.

Determine Your Needs

Once you’ve had one child, you’ll have a much better idea of what you need for supplies.  If this is your first baby however, you should talk to someone with kids.  Things to consider when you put together a gift registry are: how much space do you have where you currently live?  Are you expecting any hand-me-downs or heirlooms from your parents?  Do you know the gender or are you waiting to be surprised?  Once you have a general idea of things, you can go to the stores.

Stick to popular chains or well-known local shops for gift ideas.  Your friends and family are generous enough to throw you this party and shower you with presents; the least you can do is make it easy on them.  Babies R Us and Target are very convenient, with supportive staffs and easy-to-use web sites.  While you’re bound to fall in love with some of the baby clothing, don’t forget basic staples like baby diapers, pacifiers, and baby food when putting together your list.

Once you’ve handed over your wish list and guest list, leave it to your friends to plan the rest.  You can take the time to focus on staying healthy.

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source

By Lauren Wainwright, a blogger covering a variety of topics. Follow her on Twitter!

trendytummy

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:

Whether you have an unexpected or a planned cesarean section, it will be necessary to allow your body the proper amount of time to heal. However, there are some steps that you can take to make this process go more smoothly. For example, your doctor is likely to recommend that you stay in the hospital for two to five days after the surgery. Even though you will undoubtedly be in a rush to get home, it is important to follow your doctor’s advice.

After Your Hospital Discharge

Once your doctor releases you from the hospital, you will probably feel like you should rush into action. Although you will need to care for your newborn, it is also vital to take care of yourself. Therefore, you should ask your partner or family for support throughout the first couple of weeks. By focusing on certain key recovery tips, it will be much easier for you to bounce back quickly.

1. Support the Abdomen - You will learn a new appreciation for pillows during your first couple of weeks at home. Placing a pillow behind your back while you are sitting will provide your abdomen with much-needed support. Your pain and chance of reopening the incision are reduced with the proper support.  If you are breastfeeding your newborn, you should use a supportive nursing pillow, like the Mombo nursing pillow, to nurse your baby on to help protect the abdomen.  

2. Follow the Doctor’s Orders- The doctor will send you home with instructions about what activities are permitted and what’s not. By following these instructions you will be promoting a faster healing. Included in these instructions will also be how to care for your incision, what kinds of lotions and topical medications may be applied. It will label what to look for and when it would be necessary to call a doctor, if needed. It is recommended to use lotions that contain cocoa butter, vitamin E oil, linoleic acid and emu oil.  

3. Diet, Exercise & Loose Clothing- It is recommended that light exercise, like slow walking, be done. Also, that loose clothing is worn during the healing process. Eating a well-balanced diet is important too. By doing these three things, your circulatory system will be increased and your immune system will be boosted, thus promoting better health.

4. Discuss Your Feelings - Many women who have a C-section, especially if it was unexpected, will battle with emotional issues during the first few months after their baby is born. Knowing that this is common can provide you with some relief, but the best thing that you can do is discuss your feelings with either a professional or someone who you trust implicitly. It will be difficult to take care of a newborn if you are not feeling emotionally balanced, so do not hesitate to talk to someone if you are experiencing any symptoms of depression.

5. Rest & Help from Others- It is especially important to get some rest. When baby is napping, so should Mom. Ask others to help, as needed. Let family and friends step up during this time of healing and support you while your body is healing. Let your partner handle the household chores and all the cooking. Focus on recovery and slowly stepping back into responsibility over the next few weeks.

Trying to overdo or push your body too hard after such a serious medical procedure can result in delayed healing, reopening of the incision, infection, or a deeper depression. If you try to rush back to full capacity, you could end up putting yourself out of commission for much longer. By following these above steps you will be on the road to recovery in a week or two. Therefore, you should sit back, relax and allow other people to help you.

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source 

Having had two ceasareans herself, Lisa Coleman offers the above advice in an effort to help others to get back on the road to recovery much faster after surgery. By following the above steps, from using a Mombo nursing pillow for support to diet and exercise, this can be achieved. The faster and healthier the recovery, the sooner one can get back into the swing of daily life.

trendytummy

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:

For women, fertility starts to drop at about the age of 30, dipping down more abruptly when they get to mid-thirty’s. As women grow older the chances of conceiving fall while the possibility of infertility increases.

The majority of women will be able to give birth naturally to a healthy baby if they fall pregnant at the age of 35.  Passed that age, the percentage of women who cannot produce babies nor have problems conceiving a baby rises even more. At the age of 40 only 40 percent of those who wish to have a baby will be able to conceive.

The average age at which women have in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment in the Cape Town is rising. The leading and recommended fertility clinic in Cape Town has about 5 infertility specialists and support staff.  The clinic does over 800 IVF cycles per year and over 250 egg donor cycles.

From a purely biological viewpoint, before 35 is the best time to start a family for women and comparing men to women, men can remain fertile for much longer. Even though male fertility also drops when men grow older, it has a tendency to happen progressively.

Many men can continue to be fertile into their 50s and beyond, the amount of men with sperm illnesses surges with age. The weakening in male fecundity is more gradual than women. This decline will affect the health of the children they may go on to have if the male counterpart is beyond 50.

Another significant point to mention is the chance of having multiple pregnancies. When a woman is over 35, she her chances increase. In fact, the older a woman get, the more likely she will be to conceive non-identical twins. A woman’s body has the will to produce more of the hormone that makes ovulation as she get older. This hormone: follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) found in humans and other animals. It is synthesized and secreted by gonadotrophs of the anterior pituitary gland. [1] FSH regulates the development, growth, pubertal maturation, and reproductive processes of the body. Your body produces more FSH because there are fewer viable eggs left in your ovaries.

This over-production of FSH can affect the body in different ways and more than one follicle maturing and releasing an egg. As a result more than one egg can be fertilized and more than one baby conceived.

You may be pleased at the prospect of conceiving twins. For some women having a multiple pregnancy will bring their dream family in a single pregnancy. But it is also important to keep in mind that caring twins is very demanding and will affect time, emotions and finances than caring for one baby. Extra care might also be needed during a multiple pregnancy…

Smith wrote this article after doing research for fertility Clinic Cape Town

trendytummy

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:

According to the Mayo Clinic, a surprising 15 percent of couples are infertile, a condition defined as an inability to achieve pregnancy after engaging in frequent unprotected sex over a year or longer. Humankind has focused on fertility in culture for millennia. Think of eggs: a symbol of fertility used at Easter, a celebration that takes place in the spring, at time of nature’s fertility. But modern society has added a slew of stressors to consider, but also ways to mitigate them.

The Most Common Causes

The list affecting fertility in men seems endless, but it’s easy to guess if something will help or hurt your fertility; just ask yourself if what you are doing is healthy. Here’s a list adapted from several sources:

• Drugs and alcohol
• Obesity
• Tobacco smoking
• Emotional stress
• Industrial chemicals
• A number of common domestic toxins
• Exposure to heavy metal (not the music)
• Some occupations (especially those with excessive computer use or high levels of stress)
• Prolonged bicycle or horseback riding (due to overheating of the testicles)

To be sure, this list is only dealing with adjustable environmental factors. There of course many contributing factors that take much greater measures of intervention to deal with, such as biological or hereditary conditions, certain diseases, and others. With the exception of the last one, in the list above it’s pretty clear what’s going on in these cases. Unhealthy behaviors and conditions have a tendency to reduce fertility in men.

Prolonged bicycle riding is a bit of a surprise, except for the consideration that the testicles are shaped the way they are to keep them cooler than the rest of the body, and activities that prevent that have an adverse effect on their purpose. Such activities don’t just end at bicycle riding, however. Consider if you often sit with your laptop’s overheating battery covering your entire lap – this will also cause overheating of the testicles.

Steps to Mitigate These Problems

After recognizing some of these causes, it is clear what can be done to rule out environmental factors as a cause of infertility. Committing to a healthy lifestyle without smoking, drugs, and only recommended amounts of alcohol is a start. A strong exercise routine and healthy eating habits and reducing the number of chemicals in the household products you use are a good next step. A bit harder would be ensuring your job is not excessively stressful, since you can’t just quit and get a new one in today’s economy – but be mindful of how you approach work and try to reduce or eliminate the factors that cause stress in your occupation.

Fortunately, and perhaps not coincidentally, all of these behavior changes and adjustments needed to conceive a child are also be beneficial in raising the children you are trying to conceive. If you are serious about starting a new family and these factors might be causing infertility, changing them is not only good for your chances of conceiving, but good for your entire family life as well.

About the author: This is a post by UK freelance writer Claire Wilson for Fertile Future. Claire usually covers health, lifestyle and self-improvement and when not working, she loves to travel and practice yoga.

trendytummy

More Posts - Website

Follow Me:

Prenatal exposure to environmental factors is an emerging area of study. Scientists are discovering how mental or physical issues can develop from stress that the mother experienced while pregnant.

Enzyme 11ß-HSD2

Neuroendocinologist Megan Holmes, Ph.D. believes that research she is conducting using mice provides information about stress in utero causing issues for the baby as they grow. They have identified enzyme 11ß-HSD2 as they believe this enzyme plays a large role in the development of the fetus. Scientists believe that adverse environments in the womb, like bereavement, abuse or stress, increases the glucocorticoid hormone levels in the mother’s body, which may harm the baby.

They believe that cortisol, the stress hormone, may be an important factor in the programming of the baby and high levels may increase their risk of disease as they grow older. The enzyme 11ß-HSD2 is said to break down cortisol and render it inactive before it can harm the developing baby. This enzyme is known to be present in both the fetal brain and the placenta. Scientists believe it acts as a shield to protect the baby against the harmful affects of cortisol.

The removal of the 11ß-HSD2 Enzyme

Holmes and other researchers have developed mice that are genetically modified to lack the enzyme so they can determine the role this enzyme plays in the development of the fetal brain. The modified mice were exposed to high levels of cortisol. They exhibited a reduction in fetal growth and also exhibited mood disorders later in life. The scientists also found that the placentas from the modified mice were smaller and less effective at transporting nutrients to the developing baby. This may contribute to the harmful affects on the fetus and that the presence of the 11ß-HSD2 enzyme in the placenta is a very important barrier. Preliminary data shows that the fetus is programmed even when the enzyme is not present.

Holmes says that she hopes her research will educate health professionals about the dangers of an adverse environment during pregnancy, whether it is abuse, bereavement or malnutrition. She believes that children should be monitored carefully to minimize the affect of prenatal stress on their lives.

The Use of Glucocorticoids Before Birth

The majority of pregnant women at risk of premature delivery in the past twenty years have been given doses of synthetic glucocorticoids to speed up lung development in the fetus and help them breathe better after birth. The glucocorticoid treatment is essential to helping premature babies survive outside the womb, but the dosage should be monitored carefully so that the baby is treated with the smallest effective dose. This should minimize the affects of prenatal stress on the baby’s life as they grow.

Research has also shown that stress during puberty adds to the incidence of mood disorders as an adult. Homes and other scientists have found that the early teenage years can affect emotional behavior and mood by changing the neural networks that control emotional processing in the brain.

Featured images:

•  License: Creative Commons image source

Janice has been a mommy blogger for the past 5 years. Whether she is blogging about cute infant tutu dresses or children’s health, she loves to write about children and tell stories about her own.

trendytummy

More Posts - Website

Follow Me: