Points to keep in mind before and after the birth of your baby

There are several points, which should be kept in mind before and after a baby's birth. Below you will be able to read all those points in detail.

Thyroid levels at the time of pregnancy

Thyroid hormone has widespread actions in the body and is an essential hormone in many functions in the body. It is needed for proper brain growth of the baby and that is why it is essential to maintain a normal level of thyroid hormone during pregnancy.

Hypothyroid/low thyroid levels are known to cause infertility, meaning women who are hypothyroid have a hard time getting pregnant whereas hyperthyroid/high thyroid hormone is not associated with infertility but it has its own problems.

If thyroid levels are too high during pregnancy, it can cause miscarriage, birth defects, and preterm babies. If thyroid level is too low in pregnancy, it affects baby's brain development and baby can have mental retardation and other brain impairments.

People who have normal thyroid levels, they can have changes in thyroid hormone in pregnancy and after delivery also. Whatever way you see, changes in thyroid hormone can affect the mother and baby.

If you already have a thyroid problem before pregnancy, it is a good idea to bring it to normal level and then conceive. This way you will have less complications in pregnancy.

So women who have a known thyroid disease and planning for baby should consult their doctor before conceiving. It is best for both mother and baby.

The good news is that hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism problems can be easily treated with the use of drugs, so visit your doctor, follow their advice, and stick to your medications. Everything will be okay.

Below are a few websites, which have information about hyperthyroidism and getting pregnant.

http://www.thyroid-info.com/articles/preghyper.htm

http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/188_8923.asp

If you have a thyroid problem, it is difficult to conceive, so please have your checkup done for thyroid because till you don't take the medicine for it, you won't be able to conceive but if you will take the medicine, then you will be able to do it as it helps.

Men's issues before conceiving

I think so along with women's issues some of the men's issues should also be considered while TTC (trying to conceive).

1. If your spouse drinks/smokes, it should be avoided. (sperm count decreases due to smoking and drinking).
2. Along with you, he should also do some exercise which boosts sperm count. Some yoga exercises are very beneficial in this case.
3. Get the SA (semen analysis) done.
4. Stop using hot tubs/sauna and when your spouse is using laptop, make sure that it should not having direct contact with the scrotal area because, heat kills sperms.

Vaccinations before getting pregnant

Routine vaccinations are required before getting pregnant. It is only recommended to get the MMR, Chicken pox, and hepatitis B vaccines to prevent the complications if one gets these diseases during pregnancy. All these diseases are caused by viruses, which may affect the foetus if a pregnant woman gets infected. Not all the pregnant women get these diseases. Since these vaccines are available, it is recommended to get them to avoid any possible infection. It is totally up to you to get them or not.

MMR and chickenpox virus spread by air and droplets, that is, if someone having the disease coughs or sneezes, a healthy person sitting near that person may breathe in the virus and get infected. Chances are less to get the disease if one avoids traveling in crowded areas.

Hepatitis B is a blood-borne virus disease. If one comes in contact with the infected person's blood or bodily fluids or any surface contaminated with these fluids, then he/she may get the infection.

If you decide to get these shots, you can call your primary care physician or any other family practitioner in your area and talk to them regarding the same.

Irregular cycles and trying to conceive

If you have an irregular cycle, you just cannot figure out exactly when would you ovulate. The best method would be to take your basal temperature. Every day in the morning, when you wake up, check your temperature and note it down. You will see the same temperature almost everyday. The day it drops to one or more degree that is the day you ovulate. It may stay for a day or 2 and both the days are the best fertile days until the temperature falls back to normal or raises one or more degrees. That is when you have finished ovulation and then there is not much chance to conceive.

The other option is to use the ovulation prediction kit.

Yoga and meditation before and during pregnancy

Do yoga under the instructions of a licensed instructor, especially if you are planning to conceive or you are pregnant or going for post delivery physical.

Do not go by only reading the internet details. It is always better to meet an instructor in person, discuss your health issues/current health conditions and let him/her decide what is best for you. Each body reacts different for any exercise, may it be yoga or any such exercise, which involves bending of your body in specific angles or say straining of muscles.

Meditation is the safest thing that is good for all and even if done wrongly, you would not lose anything and will be safe still.

Role of Clomid for conceiving in case of PCOD

Clomiphene citrate commonly known as Clomid is used for ladies who have been trying to conceive and are not able to do so due to PCOD/PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome or disease). It helps in ovulation, it also leads to multiple gestations (twins, triplets).because it induces ovulation and makes the ovaries hyperactive and this medicine can only be taken for 6 months.

Please do not take Clomid in the initial phases, as it the last resort for ladies with severe PCOD and who are unable to ovulate naturally. Be sure of your condition before taking it

Symptoms of miscarriage and normal cycles

1. Bleeding which progresses from light to heavy.
2. Muscular cramps.
3. Abdominal pain.
4. Fever.
5. Weakness.
6. Vomiting.
7. Back pain.

If you have all these together, please consult your doctor. There is a high chance of miscarriage with these symptoms altogether.

It is true that we cannot make out whether it is a miscarriage or normal cycles because I have read somewhere that 60% of miscarriages happened without being noticed by females who were carrying babies inside them. Since we are living in high tech society and so aware that if we miss our periods for 2-3 days, we try to find out the reason but back home in India, in villages, many females experience miscarriages with no knowledge of being pregnant. That is why girls are asked to be cautious for the first three months of their pregnancy (if they are aware of their pregnancy). Also , I have read that if someone is trying to get pregnant, then she should not be involved in hyperactivity during those important days, when your are ovulating and actually conceived and when egg is trying to implant itself on the uterus, which is really very important. If implantation is not proper, then there is a big chance of miscarriage so be cautious when you are ovulating and simultaneously planning your baby.

Early miscarriage bleeding is not heavy but prolonged. Of course miscarriage and periods bleeding can be differentiated. Miscarriage bleeding is more towards brownish reddish in color. For retaining pregnancy, membranes are made and they are more thickened. Miscarriage bleeding would be dark and containing more membranes and tissues.

Role of prenatals in pregnancy

Prenatals would not harm you in any way and definitely has nothing to do with the tissue formation. Please listen to your gynecologist, as he/she would be the best person to guide you with what foods should be avoided.