Dr. Ramandeep Kaur

When you are pregnant, the need to watch your health is significantly higher. It is not just a question of your health, but of the developing baby also. This makes it extremely significant as different bacteria and viruses could affect the baby’s development and even lead to complications with pregnancy and childbirth.

The flu, short for influenza, is a mild viral infection that affects the upper airways, including the nose, throat, and sinuses. The usual symptoms include nose blockage, runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, cough, heavy headed feeling. It is caused by a virus and therefore there is no remedy for it. It has to run its course which usually takes about 7 days, and the body will fight off the infection on its own.

Symptomatic treatment including paracetamol and adequate hydration can help live through the flu. Though it is common in any weather, the winters increase the risk.

Another increased risk factor is the reduced immune levels in a pregnant woman, making them more prone to catching the flu. This could lead to complications like pneumonia which might require hospitalisation and prolonged treatment with antibiotics. The baby could also be at risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, and premature birth.

Symptoms: If you do catch the flu during your pregnancy, you will notice the following symptoms a headache, runny nose, fatigue, sore throat, shortness of breath, coughing, sudden chills or fever, diarrhoea or vomiting, and body aches, and loss of appetite.

Management: If you suspect that you could have the flu, contact the doctor immediately. Taking safe antiviral medications can help reduce the duration of the illness and reduce pain and suffering. In addition, getting plenty of rest and drinking lots of fluids can help recovery. Acetaminophen can help manage the fever, while Robitussin and guaifenesin can help manage the cough.

Prevention: If you are planning for pregnancy or are already pregnant, it makes great sense to get vaccinated for the flu. This can help prevent a flu attack and sail through pregnancy smoothly. In addition to protecting the mother, the flu vaccine also transmits the virus to the newborn, which gets immunity for up to 6 months of life. The vaccine also has a beneficial effect on the newborn.

It is safe to get the flu vaccine during pregnancy, though taking it in the early months is advisable. It is also safe during breastfeeding with no harmful effects documented. In addition, some healthy habits like regularly washing hands, eating healthy, getting adequate sleep, and keeping a safe distance from people with flu can help prevent flu attack.

While prevention is the best solution, if contracted, the flu can be managed well by seeking immediate medical attention.

Menstrual cycles often bring about a variety of uncomfortable symptoms leading up to your period. Menstruation that is too heavy or too light, or the complete absence of a cycle, may suggest that there are other issues that are contributing to an abnormal menstrual cycle.

The woman’s reproductive system is an extremely complex one. The uterus which is the main organ with its appendages helps in conception, pregnancy, and childbirth by undergoing marvellous changes. The uterus measures just about 7.5 x 4.5 in a normal woman and expands to accommodate a full-term baby within her during gestation.

The uterus is lined with smooth muscles, and due to unknown reasons, this lining material could be found in other parts of the pelvic organs. This condition is known as endometriosis and is one of the main causes of pelvic pain. Most women suffer through it, and it mostly gets diagnosed when some other issue is being investigated.

For women with endometriosis, there are mainly two issues to deal with i.e. pain and depression.

Pain: While the pain per se is one issue, the way it affects daily normal life is another thing to be considered. For the pain to minimally affect routine life, the following are effective ways.

1. Exercise: Anything that you prefer like swimming, jogging, dancing, aerobics, cycling. This will help in stress management and pain relief.
2. Rest: Get adequate rest of 8 to 9 hours per night. On severely painful days, go ahead and sleep for a couple of hours extra.
3. Stress management: Whether through yoga or meditation or music, learn to manage stress better. Nobody is without stress but managing it is the key.
4. Eat healthy and fresh: Whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, increased fibres are definitely useful. Reduce whites including sugar, salt, and dairy products if possible.
5. Social life: Stay connected with people whose company you enjoy – be it family or friends, or even counsellor if required.
6. Speak up: Let your close circle of friends at work know your problem, so they can help when you need it the most.

Depression and mood swings can be managed in the following ways.

1. Do what makes you happy: There are some activities which will definitely make you feel better. A quiet walk to get some fresh air. Watching a dance video. Listening to your favourite soundtrack. Changing body language to one without stopped shoulders and frowning foreheads can make a big difference.
2. Focus on the good: Writing down or thinking about what went well for the day can cheer you up and overcome the blues that is so common in women with endometriosis.
3. Positive thinking: Instead of saying, I can not try saying I will try. It makes a BIG difference, and you will be amazed at the results.
4. Keep happy company near you: Surround yourself with happy, positive people and see your happiness quotient go up!!!

Endometriosis is definitely an enigma that is not well known, understood, or identified. However, the above are definitely useful way to cope with it.
 

It is likely for you to know about the importance of your menstrual date. A regular menstrual cycle without disruption ensures that your reproductive system is in good health. Your menstrual date determines whether your periods are regular or not. In case of irregular menstruation, menstrual abnormalities are indicated. Irregular periods means when cycle length varies more than 35 and less than 21 days. Tracking the menstruation date allows you to know about the time of ovulation. It also enables you to notice prominent changes like excessive bleeding and missed periods. Apart from your menstrual date, you should know the other following things associated with your monthly periods:

Regular periods do not mean that you are fertile: A regular, monthly period does not guarantee or indicate your fertility. Periods can occur even without releasing an egg. This is known as an ovulatory cycle. It is basically a cycle where ovulation has not occurred. It is thought that normal periods indicate fertility, which is not true. Instead of only relying upon the dates of your menstrual periods, you should also track your basal body temperature and peek at your cervical fluid on a regular basis. There are certain applications, which can help you with this.

Regular periods do not always mean a fixed 28-day cycle: A menstrual cycle can last for a period of 21 to 35 days. If your cycle falls under this time period, your periods are normal. If your periods do not match with the given time period, abnormalities are indicated. Even if you experience your period within the given time frame, it cannot be termed regular if the days passing in between your periods stay unsteady. In case your cycle lasts for 24 days for one month, 30 for the next, and 26 for the third, irregular periods are indicated. This can also mean that your ovulation is not taking place periodically.

You can become pregnant during your period: Sperm is capable of living in your body for almost five days. This signifies that in case of shorter menstrual cycle, when ovulation starts quickly after your periods, you may get pregnant if you have sex on the last day. It is important for you to be aware of the primary difference between ovulatory bleeding and menstrual bleeding.

In case you mistake ovulatory bleeding for menstrual bleeding, your chances of getting pregnant are higher. It is important for you to talk to your doctor regarding any queries about these patterns of periods so that you know when you are fertile the most. Consult your doctor on experiencing any irregularities or abnormalities in your cycles.
 

Uterine fibroids are frequently found incidentally during a routine pelvic exam. There's no single best approach to uterine fibroid treatment — many treatment options exist. If you have symptoms, talk with your doctor about options for symptom relief.

Expecting a baby is the best feeling for any woman but this may or may not be the case in teenage pregnancy. Getting pregnant at the early age can cause serious damage to her not only to her health but also her future. Any pregnancy that occurs in women under the age of 20 is termed as teenage pregnancy. It is classified as high-risk pregnancy which can cause grave danger to the mother as well as her unborn child.

Technically, a girl can become pregnant after sexual intercourse anytime after beginning ovulation. In common- speak, a girl can become pregnant after she begins menstruating.

Risks of Teenage Pregnancy
Usually what happens is that a teenager gets pregnant against her wish… She doesn’t plan to but gets pregnant maybe due to unprotected sex. This increases the risk to both her and her baby.
It usually leads to a lag in her accessing and getting prenatal care. This can lead to problems later on like-

1. High blood pressure
2. Premature births
3. Low birth weight

Controlling high blood pressure during pregnancy and getting regular prenatal care is the single most important thing that a pregnant teen can do for her own and her baby’s health.

High BP
Teenage mothers are at high risk for suffering from high BP which means they are at high risk for developing pre-eclampsia. This is a sudden increase in blood pressure after the 20th week of pregnancy and can be life-threatening for both the mother and the unborn baby. There are no proven ways to prevent it and most women who have signs of pre-eclampsia are monitored to lessen the harm and to avoid complications. The only way to cure pre-eclampsia is to deliver the baby. Usually, doctors manage high blood pressure in pregnancy by closely monitoring the baby, lifestyle changes by the mother and use of medicines. Compliance among teenagers for making lifestyle changes is usually low according to experts.

• Breathing problems
• Cerebral palsy
• Developmental problems
• Problem with vision
• Hearing problems
• Feeding problems

Low-birth weight
Low birth weight babies are another risk of teenage pregnancies. These babies who weigh less than 5 pounds are at higher risk for health problems like delayed motor and social development or learning disabilities. They also become sick more often in the first days of life or develop infections.

Risks of low birth weight, premature labour, anemia, and pre-clampsia are linked to the low age of the mother and all of these are observed in teen births even after controlling for other risk factors such as prenatal care.

What can be done?
A pregnant teen, therefore, should do the following-

• Get regular prenatal check-ups
• Take vitamins and iron to prevent birth defects
• Staying away from smoking, alcohol, and drugs to prevent birth defects
• Use a condom during sex to prevent sexually transmitted diseases that could hurt the foetus

The only way to prevent teenage pregnancies is educational interventions and promotion of birth control. And both of these should be used to prevent these high-risk pregnancies.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Vaginal fungal infection, otherwise called candidiasis, is a typical female condition. Fungal infections are brought on by the growth Candida. This growth is connected with extreme itching, swelling, and irritation. Every fungal infection is distinctive. Therefore, your doctor will recommend a treatment that is best for you. Medicines are by and large decided depending upon the seriousness of the infection.

A particular type of yeast called Candida albicans brings about most of the fungal infections. These fungal infections are effectively treatable. In case you are having repeating infections or issues disposing of an infection with ordinary treatment, then an alternate form of Candida may be the cause. A lab test can tell your doctor which sort of Candida you have. Here are a few ways with which you can deal with vaginal fungal infections:

Simple infections
For simple fungal infections, your specialist will mostly recommend the following treatment(s):

1. A one to three-day application of an antifungal cream, balm or tablet Normal antifungal medicines is butoconazole (Gynazole), miconazole (Lotrimin), Monistat, and terconazole (Terazol). These medicines can be either prescribed or available over-the-counter.
2. A solitary intake of oral medicine, for example, fluconazole (Diflucan).
3. Women with simple fungal infections need to follow up with their specialist to make sure whether the medicine worked. A follow-up will likewise be important if your symptoms return within two months.

Complicated infections
Certain types of Candida will not react to simple treatment and will require a more forceful strategy. In case you meet one of the following criteria, your specialist will more likely tell you that your fungal infection is an extreme one.

Conceivable medications for extreme or complicated vaginal fungal infections include:

1. 14-day cream, balm, tablet, or suppository vaginal treatment
2. A few measures of fluconazole (Diflucan)
3. Long-term medicine of fluconazole (Diflucan) that is taken once a week for six weeks.
4. Treatment of your sexual partner or use of condoms while having intercourse.

You can treat vaginal fungal infections with regular cures in case that you might want to abstain from taking physician-recommended medicine. These are some mainstream normal cures:

1. Tea tree oil cream
2. Garlic or boric acid vaginal balms
3. Plain yoghurt taken orally or applied into the vagina

Here are some normal strategies for counteractive action:

1. Abstain from wearing tight jeans, underwear, tights, or stockings
2. Abstain from utilising female antiperspirant or antiperspirant tampons or cushions
3. Try not to roam around in wet clothes, particularly swimsuits
4. Eat an all around adjusted diet
5. Eat yoghurt or eat foods with lactobacillus
6. Wear soft clothing, for example, cotton, cloth, or silk
7. Abstain from sitting in hot tubs
8. Wash clothes in warm water
9. Abstain from using hot water bags
10. Throw away old underwear as often as possible

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

First-trimester screening is a prenatal test. It is conducted to get early information about a baby's risk of certain chromosomal conditions. It can detect conditions like Down syndrome (trisomy 21) and extra sequences of chromosome 18 (Trisomy 18).

It is usually conducted in two steps:

1. Blood test
2. Followed by USG

Initially, a blood test is conducted to ascertain the levels of two pregnancy specific substances in the mother's blood. The blood is tested for pregnancy associated plasma protein and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). Thereafter, a USG is done to find out the size of the clear space in the tissue that is present at the back of the foetus’s neck.

The screening is done between weeks 11 and 14 of pregnancy. The doctor is able to gauge the risk of your baby having Down syndrome or Trisomy 18 by using your age and results of the test. This screening is quite helpful and can guard you against deadly consequences in the future. Down syndrome is known to cause impairments in the mental and social development of the child. Trisomy 18 gets often fatal by age 1. However, first screening doesn’t find out the risk of neural tube defects.

It is the first screening done in pregnancy. It can be done before any other screening. Thus, the results are known at an early stage. You will get time to think about the future consequences can help you in deciding your course of action and the decision to either continue or terminate the pregnancy. You will be ready to know and decide whether you will be able to live and take care of a baby with special needs. You can conduct other screenings later in pregnancy. You must know that first-trimester screening is treated as being optional. It can detect the risk and cannot tell you whether your baby has the problems in real or not.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Travelling during pregnancy - Is it safe?
Pregnancy places some restrictions on the expectant mother, and one of them is limiting travel so much so that most women do only the required and essential commutes and skip any other travel, including vacations and business travel, completely until delivery. However, with the lifestyle changing for the woman so radically, this is being revisited. The doctor’s current advice is that unless there are potential complications expected or significant concerns, it is completely safe to travel.

The first trimester especially is a little tricky for travel, with the morning sickness. The second trimester is considered more ideal for travel, as the morning sickness and the feeling of being pregnant is sunk in, so the mother is comfortable. The third trimester is fine too, but the chances of fatigue are higher, and so travel is better avoided.

Read on to know some significant things to remember whether you are on a plane, train, or road during your pregnancy.
Car:

1. Always buckle yourself up as soon as you enter the car. Use both the seat belt and the lap belt.
2. Keep the air bags turned on.
3. Try to avoid travel time of four hours at a stretch.
4. When stopping for breaks, try to walk around a bit and stretch so that you do not feel the strain of sitting for long hours.

Plane:

1. Most airlines allow women to travel during the first eight months of pregnancy.
2. Some airlines do allow for travel during the ninth month, if the doctor approves it, or if there is an attendant with the expectant woman.
3. It is okay to walk through airport screening during pregnancy. There are some women who are apprehensive about this aspect.
4. Similarly, the cabin pressure in the commercial planes reduces but does not bear any significant impact for a pregnant woman.
5. Select an aisle seat, as it allows for easy seating and getting up.
6. Walking to the restroom and back should be carefully managed. The aisle is quite narrow and care must be taken to avoid hurting yourself.
7. Use the seats for providing support when walking through the aisle.
8. Especially, in turbulent stretches, try remaining seated, bearing in mind the safety aspects for yourself and the baby.

Other modes:

1. Traveling by bus is safe, but trips to the restroom would be difficult.
2. Trains are generally considered safer, as there is a lot of room for movement. Restrooms are available anytime, which is another major advantage.
3. Sea travel is also considered safe, but seasickness could add to nausea.
4. For long-term sailing, check with the cruise provider or the boat facility about the availability of a healthcare provider on the ship.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!