Your diet guide to help fight Gestational Diabetes

Diabetes often casts its ugly spell on pregnant women. This particular form of diabetes that troubles many women during pregnancy is known as Gestational diabetes. The solution is simple, yet hard to follow – Eat Healthy.

The prenatal stage during any pregnancy is extremely critical for there are several factors that can drastically affect the babies neurological as well as physical development. Amongst one of these factors is – pregnancy nutrition.

Diabetes generally gets triggered when the body either does not make enough insulin or the insulin it makes does not work right. This in turn causes the blood sugar levels to sky rocket. Overall, pregnant women need to control these sugar levels in order to protect the health and development of the growing fetus.

Carbohydrates when digested become glucose. Carbohydrates are present in pastas, potatoes, vegetables, sugars, fruits, sweets and much much more. Pregnant women often find the task of controlling their carbohydrate intake very difficult. Its just that women, at this very stage in their lives, are plagued with a thousand different cravings.

The diet to be followed is simple, yet precise:

• One serving of a carbohydrate food must contain only 12 to 15 grams of carbohydrate.
• Eat 3 meals and 1 to 3 snacks each day.
• Snack at bedtime to prevent your blood sugar levels dropping.
• Avoid beverages and foods that contain added sugar, corn syrup, honey, molasses,or jams and jellies.

Healthy pregnancy nutrition is your best and only answer to gestational diabetes. Fighting diabetes is just a matter of will power and determination. You can fight the temptation and hence, curb diabetes.

What To Expect When You Are In The First Trimester Of Pregnancy

To have a healthy pregnancy, prenatal care is considered as a very important part of it. Whether you chose an obstetrician, a physician or a nurse, prenatal care is the key to check your health as well as your baby’s health during your pregnancy. Here are certain things that you should expect at the first prenatal appointment.

As soon as you feel you are pregnant, schedule your first appointment with the doctor. Keep ample of your time aside for the visit because you and your health provider will have lots of things to talk and discuss about. You should also consider taking your partner along with you.

Followings are the basic:

• Your Medical History- While on your visit to health provider you will be asked many questions which will include the details about your past pregnancy, menstrual cycle, use of contraceptives, other medical conditions and allergies. It is advisable to share if there is any family history of congenital abnormality or genetic disease.

Always be sure to mention all the sensitive issues, such as past drug use or abortion. Do not forget that the information you share will help your health care provider in taking best care of your health and your baby.

• Physical Examination- Your health care provider will check your height, weight and blood pressure. He will listen to your heart and assess your health overall.

• Pelvic examination- Your health care provider will examine your vagina and uterus for any abnormality or infection. You may also need a Pap test to screen for cervical cancer. Changes in the size of your uterus can help to confirm the stage of your pregnancy.

• Urine test- Examination of your urine can show kidney or bladder infection. The presence of too much protein or sugar in your urine may suggest kidney disease or diabetes.

• Blood tests- Your health care provider will ask you to do the blood tests to determine the blood type, including Rh factor-a specific protein on the surface of the red blood cells. Blood tests can reveal whether you have been exposed to measles, syphilis, mumps, hepatitis B or rubella. You may also be asked to do the test of HIV.

• Other lifestyle issues- Your health care provider will discuss the importance of exercise, nutrition,prenatal vitamins and other lifestyle issues. He will also discuss about your working environment and if you smoke then you will be suggested to quit smoking.

Remember, your health care provider is there to take care of throughout your pregnancy. The
prenatal appointments are the best time to clear all your doubts and concern regarding your health and also the health of your baby.

Hormonal Changes during Pregnancy

When a woman gets pregnant, there are many changes going on inside her body. If you are feeling like you are a roller coaster of emotions during pregnancy then this is because of the hormonal changes, which takes place during pregnancy. Along with the physical changes, there are emotional changes as well in your body. But you need not worry because it is a natural process of change, which is very common. It can be solved by giving the mother the best prenatal care and attention. Here are two major changes, which occur during the time of pregnancy:

Mood Swings:

Mood swings are the result of increased hormone levels , which are now present in your body. These hormones are the sole reason for making you feel that you just need to cry at the drop of a hat or sometimes you feel like you are happiest in your life. There will be times when little things get you very irritated.

Most women during pregnancy suffer from mood swings. For some women it is for a short while and others this can last for the entire pregnancy. One good way to get through the situation would be to talk to another woman who has gone through this phase. Their experiences will help you to understand your feelings.

It is also important for you to keep your partner updated with the feelings you get during pregnancy. Your sudden change of mood will be hard for him to understand because of the changes of the hormone level are happening to you and not to him. By talking to him about the way, you are feeling will let him help you solve some of your problems.

Morning Sickness:

This is another common problem, which can occur, in a pregnant woman. Because of the hormonal changes, morning sickness occurs but it improves by the 13th or 14th week of pregnancy but in some of the cases, it can last for a longer period. In some women, it can last for a couple of hours at a certain time of the day, it does not always happen in the morning as the name suggests. Here there are few tips , which will help you in managing the feeling of nausea.

• Always have the food in your stomach which means you should keep a box of oyster crackers near your bed, so that you can have some before you come out of the bed in morning.

• When feeling uneasy, sucking sour candy, which will put the queasy feeling at bay for a short period.

• Keep away from strong smells, they can set it off.

• You should eat bland food.

• Drink water more.

It is also advisable to take proper pregnancy nutrition, which will help you combat the hormonal changes, which occur in your body during pregnancy. And if you feel your condition is bad enough then contact your doctor who will guide you the possible remedies. To learn more about prenatal care during pregnancy visit: http://www.promiseprenatal.com

Pregnancy Diet

A balanced diet is the foundation of good prenatal care. During this pregnancy, forget about weight lose or restricting your diet. Now that you are eating for two, you need to make sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals to keep you and your baby healthy. Good nutrition will give a solid foundation for a healthy pregnancy. Pregnancy nutrition should include all the vital nutrients that are necessary for the baby’s development. You need to have a diet, which is well balanced. A proper prenatal nutrition also prevents many pregnancy complications. What you eat during your pregnancy it is extremely important to eat correctly to support your baby’s optimal development. Taking precautions now will prevent any risk that could happen in the future.

A whole selection of food is there for a good nutritional diet. Try to avoid junk foods and follow a good pregnancy nutrition diet. You should include fresh fruit, vegetables, carbohydrates and whole grains. Foods that are rich in protein, fats, and fiber are highly recommended. These nutritional foods will provide you with the best vitamins and minerals needed during pregnancy. Some food, however, should be avoided during pregnancy. Caffeine, high-mercury fish, deli meats, raw food, soft cheese, liver, unpasteurized milk and juices are extremely unsafe to take during pregnancy. These foods are harmful for you and your baby.

Some key vitamins and minerals like folic acid, calcium, iron, zinc, thiamin and vitamin D to name a few must be included in your diet. However, it is quite natural that these key nutrients cannot be obtained from the diet alone. To get enough nutrition during pregnancy, prenatal vitamins are often recommended by doctors. Prenatal vitamins along with a well balanced diet to support your baby’s optimal development. Prenatal multivitamin only provide extra nutrients and is not a substitute for healthy well balanced diet. Along with your diet, prenatal vitamins ensure that you get enough vitamins and minerals every day.