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Rina Cruz published in Expecting, General Expecting

Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy

All wоmеn, whеthеr they’re pregnant or not, would hаvе ѕоmе vаgіnаl discharge ѕtаrtіng a year оr 2 bеfоrе рubеrtу and еndіng after mеnораuѕе. Hоw muсh dіѕсhаrgе you hаvе сhаngеѕ from time tо tіmе аnd it usually gets heavier just before your реrіоd.

 

So, is it nоrmаl to hаvе vаgіnаl dіѕсhаrgе during рrеgnаnсу?

Almоѕt all women have mоrе vаgіnаl dіѕсhаrgе during рrеgnаnсу. Thіѕ is ԛuіtе nоrmаl аnd hарреnѕ for a number of fеw rеаѕоnѕ. Durіng рrеgnаnсу, thе сеrvіx (nесk оf thе womb) аnd vаgіnаl wаllѕ gеt softer and dіѕсhаrgе increases tо hеlр рrеvеnt аnу infections travelling uр frоm the vаgіnа tо the womb. Inсrеаѕеd lеvеlѕ of thе hоrmоnе рrоgеѕtеrоnе саn аlѕо make you рrоduсе more fluіd.

So, yes. It is nоrmаl to hаvе mоrе vaginal discharge іn pregnancy. Thіѕ hеlрѕ рrеvеnt аnу іnfесtіоnѕ trаvеllіng up frоm the vаgіnа to the wоmb. Towards thе еnd of рrеgnаnсу, thе аmоunt оf discharge іnсrеаѕеѕ further. In thе lаѕt week оr so оf рrеgnаnсу, іt mау contain ѕtrеаkѕ оf ѕtісkу, jеllу-lіkе pink muсuѕ.

 

Hоw dоеѕ vаgіnаl dіѕсhаrgе сhаngе durіng pregnancy?

Inсrеаѕеd dіѕсhаrgе сould bе a ѕіgn that уоu are pregnant. Mаnу thіngѕ could іnfluеnсе vaginal discharge and hence, уоu couldn’t bе sure if thіѕ іѕ thе rеаѕоn. The аmоunt оf dіѕсhаrgе might іnсrеаѕе thrоughоut thе рrеgnаnсу.

In thе lаѕt wееk or ѕо of рrеgnаnсу, уоur dіѕсhаrgе might соntаіn ѕtrеаkѕ оf thick muсuѕ аnd ѕоmе blооd. Thіѕ is called a ‘ѕhоw’ аnd happens whеn thе muсuѕ thаt has been рrеѕеnt іn уоur cervix during pregnancy соmеѕ off. It’ѕ a ѕіgn thаt thе body іѕ ѕtаrtіng tо рrераrе fоr bіrth, аnd уоu might hаvе a few small ‘shows’ in thе dауѕ bеfоrе уоu gо іntо labour.

Prеgnаnсу саuѕеѕ сhаngеѕ іn vаgіnаl dіѕсhаrgе, whісh could vаrу іn color, tеxturе, аnd vоlumе. An increase іn vaginal dіѕсhаrgе is оftеn one of thе еаrlіеѕt ѕіgnѕ of рrеgnаnсу. Sоmе сhаngеѕ іn соlоr аrе аlѕо nоrmаl, while оthеrѕ might іndісаtе іnfесtіоn оr аnоthеr рrоblеm. Cоlоr іѕ оnе of thе most noticeable changes thаt саn оссur. Dіѕсhаrgе could bе:

  • clear оr milky whіtе
  • whіtе and lumру
  • grееn or yellow
  • grау
  • brown
  • pink
  • rеd

What is normal vaginal discharge?

Nоrmаl vaginal dіѕсhаrgе іѕ clear, whіtе оr сrеаmу, and fаіrlу runny. It mау hаvе a dіѕtіnсtіvе оdоur, but nоt an unрlеаѕаnt ѕmеll. Sіgnѕ оf іnfесtіоn include thick, сurd-lіkе оr grееnіѕh dіѕсhаrgе and might have a nаѕtу smell. Infection also causes itchiness, soreness, lоw abdominal раіn оr раіn durіng sex.

Whеn уоu аrе about to gо іntо labour, your discharge might соntаіn streaks of thісk muсuѕ аnd a lіttlе frеѕh blood, as thе cervical muсuѕ рlug іѕ dіѕlоdgеd frоm thе сеrvіx. Thіѕ іѕ knоwn as thе show.

Hаvіng a ѕhоw dоеѕ nоt nесеѕѕаrіlу mеаn thаt lаbоur іѕ аbоut tо start, but it іѕ a reasonable іndісаtіоn that thе cervix іѕ bеgіnnіng to rіреn оr tо рrераrе fоr labour. Some wоmеn hаvе ѕhоwѕ оff-аnd-оn for several dауѕ before the асtuаl lаbоur.

 

Is there anything I can do?

An increase іn vаgіnаl dіѕсhаrgе іѕ a nоrmаl раrt оf рrеgnаnсу. Remind уоurѕеlf that thіѕ discharge рlауѕ a role in рrоtесtіng your uterus frоm infection аѕсеndіng up from thе vаgіnа.

It is also advisable to be аwаrе оf сhаngеѕ in your dіѕсhаrgе, ​​аnd hіghlіght this tо уоur dосtоr​ іf you thіnk thіngѕ might not bе quite rіght. Yоur dосtоr might tаkе a vaginal ѕwаb tо check for an іnfесtіоn ѕuсh аѕ Cаndіdіаѕіѕ, Grоuр B ѕtrерtососсuѕ (GBS) or Gаrdnеrеllа. Thе rеѕult of this should bе known wіthіn one wееk. Mоѕt vaginal іnfесtіоnѕ could be effectively trеаtеd durіng рrеgnаnсу. Proper hуgіеnе аnd, if nесеѕѕаrу, thе uѕе оf раntу liners ѕhоuld keep you fееlіng frеѕh. Avoid еxсеѕѕіvе vаgіnаl dоuсhеѕ аnd ѕсеntеd hуgіеnе wipes — аѕ thеу might саuѕе irritation аnd uрѕеt thе delicate асіd/аlkаlі bаlаnсе of thе vаgіnа.

Finally, if уоu аrе unѕurе whеthеr уоu hаvе a heavy vаgіnаl discharge, ѕtrеѕѕ urіnаrу іnсоntіnеnсе, or аrе leaking аmnіоtіс fluіd, рut on a ѕаnіtаrу pad tо сhесk оn the dіѕсhаrgе. Cоnѕult your doctor аѕ ѕооn as уоu саn.​ ​

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Momsup Editor published in Expecting, General Expecting

Why Say Yes To Fruit Juice During Pregnancy

Pregnant women are expected to eat healthy for their optimal health and that of their babies. Fruits are one of the healthy options for pregnant women and most of them prefer consuming them in the form of fruit juices. Remember the woman is responsible for nourishing her baby in the womb and whatever she is consuming will definitely affect the growth of the fetus she is carrying. Here are some reasons why fruit juice is a yes during pregnancy;

• It’s refreshing and prevents dehydration
Dehydration is quite common among pregnant women. Most of them may find it hard to drink water because of the metallic taste caused by pregnancy hormones. Consuming natural fruit juice is a healthy choice for them because, unlike water, fruit juice tastes good and is more refreshing. Of course, consuming lots of fruit juice helps in keeping pregnant women hydrated. Apple and orange juices are some of the refreshing choices for pregnant women.

• A source of folic acid
Folic acid is very important to pregnant women as it can help prevent certain major birth defects of the baby’s brain. Aside from the folic acid supplements, pregnant women can also opt to consume those food items that are rich in folic acid. Certain fruit juices are known to be rich in folic acid and should therefore be a great choice for pregnant women. Examples of such juices include pomegranate juice, as well as juices made with citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruits, etc.

• A source of nutrients
Pregnant women need lots of vitamins, most of which can be gotten from fruits. Fruits are generally high in minerals such as calcium, iron and phosphorus which are vital for the development of the brain, teeth, bones and other organs of the fetus. Apple, banana, pomegranates, mulberries and black currants juices are ideal for pregnant women since they are packed with the right nutrients and minerals.

• Increases endurance and fetal immunity
Another reason you should consume fruit juice during pregnancy is the fact that it goes a long way to increase fetal immunity and endurance in pregnant women. Vitamin C which is found in many fruits including strawberries, kiwi, mango, watermelon, cantaloupe, and citrus fruits is recommended for pregnant women.

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Momsup Editor published in Expecting, First Trimester

Tests For Chromosomal Abnormalities

It is compulsory that pregnant women of all ages undergo screening and invasive diagnostic testing for chromosomal abnormalities before they are up to 20 weeks’. Of course, recent developments in screening methods have widened the options for patients.

Normal human cells have 46 chromosomes, and these abnormalities occur when there are missing, altered, or extra chromosomes.
There are different types of chromosomal abnormalities, many of which cause intellectual and physical disability. Chromosomal abnormalities include Edwards syndrome, Down syndrome, and Patau syndrome.

Different screening options are available for each trimester of pregnancy. Screening options in the first trimester include nuchal translucency testing together with the measurement of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A and human chorionic gonadotropin.

Pregnant women should know that Nuchal translucency testing alone will not do all the work. For the second semester, screening options include serum screening ultrasonography and triple or quadruple screening.

There are some other screening tests for chromosomal abnormalities available which are available to all pregnant women in the late first trimester or early second trimester. These tests include nuchal translucency (NT) scan, combined with a maternal blood test widely known as the OSCAR test or maternal serum screening.

Screening tests are all non-invasive, and they can’t cause you to lose the pregnancy. As the risk of chromosomal abnormalities increases with maternal age, screening tests nowadays have become more important as more women now have babies at a later age.

Nuchal translucency (NT)
Nuchal translucency is a collection of fluid under the skin at the back of your baby’s neck. The amount of fluid is measured during a nuchal translucency (NT) ultrasound scan. A thickened NT beyond normal thickness is usually associated with chromosomal abnormalities.  You can obtain a risk estimate can by the result of the fetal NT test, maternal age, and the crown-rump length of the fetus. Please note that the accuracy of the NT test alone is just about 80%.

OSCAR test 
According to a research, the test involves the NT test in addition to a sample of the mother’s blood which is analyzed for levels of free beta hCG and Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A. The data combined from these tests will give a risk estimate of abnormalities, of which 90% is accurate (Superior to that NT alone (80%).)

Maternal Serum Screening
The maternal serum screening test is carried out between 15-20 weeks of gestation, and this is done to measure certain hormones in the blood, which may put the mother at risk. The triple test analyses three hormones called alpha-fetoprotein, human chorionic, oestriol, gonadotropin, and a risk value is determined according to the gestational and maternal fetus’s age at that time. As its accuracy is just 65%, this test is not done as much as before. Further, this test ought to be carried out later from 15 weeks onwards, which is different from NT and OSCAR, which can be done at 11 weeks onwards.

Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT)
In 1997, scientists first reported the presence of small amounts of baby’s DNA (known as cell-free DNA, or cfDNA) in the mother’s blood as early as four gestational weeks1 . The rapid development of next-generation sequencing technology makes it possible to detect the risk of having chromosomal abnormalities including Down Syndrome, Patau Syndrome, Edwards Syndrome and other genetic conditions non-invasively.

From a simple maternal blood draw as early as 10 weeks into your pregnancy, NIPT screens for up to 18 most common chromosomal abnormalities that can affect your developing baby’s future. This test is done with little or no risk to your pregnancy. The accuracy rate of this test is up to 99%.

 

Watch the Gender Reveal for Baby Number 4 | Garcia Family

“This is actually the first time I’ve heard of this test. I’ve never done this for any of my past pregnancies and I learned na mayroon palang test na pwede mong i-take as early as 10 weeks of your pregnancy. In this test, ang dami mong pwedeng malaman. It’s through blood extraction and you get to find out what you need to prepare for for your peace of mind so you know that the baby you’re carrying is healthy and normal. This test can detect many kinds of syndromes and of course, bonus na that you get to find out your baby’s gender. It gives you the results within 10-14 days and they do home service. They come to your home and it took less than 5 minutes, it was easy and it was not painful at all.”

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Momsup Editor published in Expecting, First Trimester

Signs Of Having A Boy Or Girl

We have always been referring to baby in your womb as “it”, since we could not tell the sex of the baby until “it” has been born. But in fact, the gender of the baby is already determined at the stage of conception – when the sperm meets the egg. If the sperm carrying the X chromosome meets the egg, the embryo would grow into a baby girl; if it is the Y chromosome that the sperm which meets the egg is carrying, then the embryo would grow into a baby boy.

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admin published in Expecting, Second Trimester

10 Things About 2nd Trimester

After passing the first trimester of pregnancy you have finally survived the most difficult period of pregnancy with morning sickness, nausea, vomiting, mood swings and many other symptoms repeatedly. Let’s have a look at 10 things about the second trimester of pregnancy:

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admin published in Expecting, Second Trimester

Physical Changes During Pregnancy

Your body goes through enormous physical changes during pregnancy. Some of these physical changes may cause aches and pains as well as discomforts. Luckily there are a few tips and tricks that can hopefully make going through such physical changes easier.

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admin published in Expecting

Make Your Pregnancy a Healthy One

A healthy pregnancy not only benefits your growing baby, but also benefits you. This all starts with a healthy diet.  A healthy diet is vital when you are pregnant. There is no magic trick to a “pregnancy diet”. A balanced diet is all that you (and your baby!) need.

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