1 Can pregnancy be confirmed only based on symptoms?
It can be suspected but needs a confirmation by a urine test or an ultrasonography.
   
2 How early can one confirm pregnancy with a urine test?
It can be confirmed as early as day one of first missed period, ie 31-32 day after menses.
   
3 Can the urine test be wrong?
Most of the times it would be correct.
   
4 Is there any blood test to confirm pregnancy?
Yes, by doing serum B-HCG estimation.
   
5 How can one calculate the due date?
With a regular cycle, due date is calculated by adding 9 months and 7 days to 1st day of the last menstrual period.
   
6 Why does one vomit during the early stages of pregnancy?
Vomiting is caused due to rapid rise in hormone levels but reduces after 3-4 months.
   
7 Are mood disturbances common?
Yes, they are common during pregnancy, and are due to hormonal changes.
   
8 Is there a tendency for constipation during pregnancy?
It is due to hormones, can be avoided by iron tablets.
   
9 What are the causes for fainting and dizziness?
Due to lowering of blood pressure, not enough oxygen is supplied to the brain which could lead to fainting and dizziness.
   
10 Why do leg cramps occur?
It occurs due to sluggish blood circulation, lack of calcium and vitamin B and E.
   
11 Can I confirm pregnancy by a home test? When should I see doctor?
Earliest the better. A doctor will conduct a preliminary assessment and certain routine blood test and give you advice on how to proceed.
   
12 A regular menstrual urine test done on the 35th day was negative but by the 45th day is confirmed positive, will it be healthy pregnancy?
This could be a delayed conception or an unhealthy pregnancy. Consult your doctor immediately.
   
13 Why does one feel uncomfortable in the chest for most parts of the day?
It could be due to heart burn called gastritis, have a few sips of milk or small frequent meals.
   
14 How to avoid fainting and dizziness?
Answer: Take plenty of liquids, sweets or sugar and rest adequately.
   
15 What are stretch marks?
Answer: The skin is made up of elastic and non elastic fiber, which when stretched beyond a limit, tends to break causing stretch marks.
   
16 What causes backache?
Answer: Bad posture causes backache.
   
17 What causes itching?
It is due to stretching and can be aggravated by perspiration / stress. An oil massage can bring you relief, but if it persists consult your doctor.
   
18 What causes swollen hands and feet?
During pregnancy the body retains extra water, and slight swelling is normal. Other causes like hot weather, tight shoes or long travel could also cause some amount of swelling. Adequate rest should give you relief, otherwise see your doctor.
   
19 Can I have sex during pregnancy?
Yes you can as long as you do not feel uncomfortable and there is no bleeding or cramps. It is advisable to reduce sex when 12 weeks are completed and completely avoid it after the 34th week.
   
20 What are the effects of alcohol, smoking during pregnancy?
Current research has shown intake of these can have harmful effects on the foetus, but it is better to discuss it with your doctor.
   
21 What is the recommended diet during pregnancy?
Milk and milk products, meat, fish, eggs, dried beans, peas and nuts, fruits and vegetables, bread and cereal and lots of water
   
22 What are the exercises that one can do?
It helps to keep ones body toned to prepare for child birth. Moderate amount of sports activities like swimming, walking are good for health. Tips on exercises: Abdominal muscle exercise, seat and tummy exercise, sit ups and pelvic contraction, working outside home.
   
23 Should one travel during pregnancy?
Avoid long car trips because of fatigue. Air travel is permissible but restrict after eight months of pregnancy and most importantly consult your doctor before travel.
   
24

What is a Problem Pregnancy or an Ectopic pregnancy?
It is pregnancy that implants outside uterus, most often in the fallopian tube.
Early diagnosis treatment is effective

Symptoms
 
  • Colicky crampy pain with tenderness, starting on one side and often spreading throughout the abdomen
  • The pain may worsen by coughing or straining
  • Often brown vaginal spotting which may precede pain by several days or weeks
  • Sometimes nausea & vomiting, dizziness & weakness, shoulder pain
  Treatment
 
  • Getting to the hospital immediately is important
  • New techniques for early diagnosis & treatment of tubal pregnancy have removed the risk for mother and help her in preserving her future fertility
  • Diagnosis is usually made through :
    • a series of highly sensitive pregnancy tests that track level of hormone hCG in mother’s blood
    • high resolution ultrasound to visualize the uterus & fallopian tub
25 Can I know more about Abortion (Miscarriage)?
Bleeding from vagina is abnormal at any stage of pregnancy and may be due to other causes and it is advisable to consult your doctor immediately

Types of abortion:
A threatened abortion — bleeding from vagina during early pregnancy which may resolve and allow pregnancy to continue.

Inevitable Abortion — bleeding continues with strong uterus contractions & it is no longer possible to salvage pregnancy.

A complete abortion — occurrs when all products of conception have been expelled from uterus.

An incomplete Abortion — when part of products of conception have been expelled but some remain within uterus.

A missed abortion — when the pregnancy has become non-viable but the uterus has failed to expel it. This diagnosis can be done by ultrasound.

Recurrent Abortion — miscarriage on 3 or more occasion.

Habitual pregnancy — term usually reserved for miscarriage on 3 or more occasion at approx. the same stage of pregnancy and assumed to be for the same reason each time.
   
26 What is Preterm labour?
Labour that begins prior to 37 weeks with evidence of painful and regular contraction and change in the cervix is called preterm labour.

Symptoms
 
 
  • Regular cramping or intermittent backaches
  • Increase in discharge
  • Bloody discharge
  • Increased pelvic pressure
  Risk for preterm labour include
 
  • Multiple pregnancy
  • Prior preterm delivery
  • Placenta previa and abruption
  • Structural defects in uterus
  • Urinary tract infection
   
27

Why is there a raised BP during pregnancy?
Pre-eclampsia is a condition of high blood pressure caused after 20 weeks. This may restrict growth in fetus and sometimes may lead to fetal loss

Symptoms
  • High BP
  • Water retention, leading to puffiness of ankles, hands & face
  • Protein in urine

Treatment
If the symptoms are severe needs to be admitted to hospital to lower BP and needs various tests to check mother and baby’s health condition.

Some tips for mothers to be….

Travel — Traveling long distance is better by train than by car or bus. Sitting for long periods of time is to be avoided. Consult your doctor for more information.

Medicine — Avoid self medication. Always consult you doctor.

Right diet — A balanced diet of fruit, vegetable, cereal, proteins etc. is necessary.

Clothes — Wear loose clothes to allow one to move freely, wear a well fitting bra, use flat comfortable footwear.

Exercises — Sit cross-legged and practice deep breathing, freehand exercises, do household chores, do not over-do your exercises.

Sleeping position — curling up and sleeping on your left side is best for both mother and fetus.


Myths & Misconceptions about Pregnancy

Stretch marks are caused due to itching — FALSE
It is due to breakage of non elastic fibers in the skin, which is stretched during pregnancy

If one sits cross-legged on the floor, the umbilical cord twists around the neck of the baby — FALSE
The baby turns around its own axis, unaffected by your movements.

If one do not feel the movements of the child by 5th month, there is something terribly wrong with pregnancy — FALSE
Generally women experience movements by 5th month but in a few, movements may not be perceived until the 6th month.

One should lie on one’s side and not on back when in labour — TRUE
When one lies down on the back, the weight of the baby and the uterus presses on a major blood vessel hence reducing the supply of blood and oxygen to the mother and baby.

One should push as soon as labour pain begins — FALSE
While in labour, never push until the doctor/nurse asks you to. If one pushes when the mouth of the womb is not fully dilated, there is the danger of hitting baby’s head against an unopened cervix.

Eating papayas will cause abortion — FALSE
There is no scientific evidence for the abortificient action of fruits like papaya.