Post-Partum
Madam Partum’s Post-Partum Holistic Care
Mommies need all the help they can get to recover from the rigours of childbirth.
November 16, 2019
Top 3 Conditions Faced in Pregnancy
Do you know what are the top 3 conditions faced by pregnant women?
First condition will be gestational diabetes, which happens to women during pregnancy. Just like a normal diabetic person, the mother’s glucose levels are higher than usual, which can lead to some health concerns.
During pregnancy, some people may develop high blood sugar levels. This condition is known as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes typically develops between the 24th and 28th weeks of pregnancy.
And if your gynaecologist suspects that you may have Gestational Diabetes, they may call for an OGTT test.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)
The OGTT measures blood glucose after you fast for at least 8 hours. First, a health care professional will draw your blood. Then you will drink the liquid containing glucose. You will need your blood drawn every hour for 2 to 3 hours for a doctor to diagnose gestational diabetes.
What are some of the early signs
- Being thirsty all the time.
- Frequent urination.
- Feeling tired or nauseous
Dietary Tips
A proper diet, and regular exercise are important healthy lifestyle adjustments to prevent gestational diabetes.
Food to take more of:
- Shiitake mushrooms, mulberry, pumpkins, pearl barley and green beans
- Vegetables and fruits. But take note of the hidden sugar in fruits and avoid them such as durians, longans, mango
- Eat smaller meals and at regular timing to curb cravings
Food to Avoid:
- ‘Cold’ foods, such as raw vegetables.
- Simple carbohydrates, such as potatoes, french-fries, white rice. Go for complex carbohydrates such as Oatmeal, wholemeal bread and brown rice.
- Sweets – candy, soda, cakes, donuts and chocolate
- alcoholic beverages
Preventive Care Tips
- Maintain a balanced diet rich in whole grains, complex carbohydrates, lean meats and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Cut down on sugary drinks, snacks and desserts.
- Be active and include low impact exercise daily – such as walking or swimming
- During pregnancy, target a healthy total weight gain of 11kg to 16kg over the nine months. Excessive weight gain can also increase risks.
This condition is the development of high blood pressure associated with protein in the urine from week 20 of pregnancy onwards, and may even occur up to six weeks postnatal. Some moms may experience sudden swelling of limbs, a severe headache, reduction of urine output, or even gastric pains. It can also lead to clotting issues that may affect organs, such as the liver and kidney.
To find out if you have this condition, your gynae might call for a few tests as an early diagnosis. These tests can be as basic as Blood Pressure test or Urine test to detect signs of protein.
Early Signs
What are some of the early signs
- Sudden swelling of limbs
- Severe headaches
- Reduction of urine output
Preventive Tips
There are some precautions you can take to prevent preeclampsia.
Dietary Care
- Use little or no added salt in your meals.
- Drink 6-8 glasses of water a day.
- Avoid fried foods and junk food as these food will add to the dampness constitution in your body.
- Avoid beverages containing caffeine and drinking alcohol – if you really need your dose of coffee, opt for decaf.
Physical Care
- Get enough rest.
- Exercise regularly so as to ensure that your pregnancy weight is controlled
- Elevate your feet several times during the day
- Include massage as part of your pre partum plan to relieve bodily aches and the swelling that will cause much discomfort. You can start to plan in pre partum massage from week 20th onwards.
TCM and Treatment
Swelling is common in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy due to the increase in circulating fluid in the body. From a TCM perspective, swelling may be from stagnant Qi, or deficiency in the spleen or kidney organ systems.
Placenta previa is when a pregnant woman’s placenta blocks the opening to the cervix that allows the baby to be born. This condition can cause severe bleeding before or during labor.
The main symptom of placenta previa is sudden light to heavy bleeding from the vagina.
What are the signs
- cramps or sharp pains
- bleeding that starts, stops, and begins again days or weeks later
- bleeding during the second half of pregnancy
How do you test for it?
A proper diet, and regular exercise are important healthy lifestyle adjustments to prevent gestational diabetes.
Coping with it
A placenta previa diagnosis can be alarming for people who are expecting a baby. Here are some ideas for how to cope with your condition and how to prepare yourself for delivery.
Get educated
The more you know, the more you’ll know what to expect. Get in contact with other people who have been through placenta previa births.
Be prepared for caesarean delivery
Depending on the type of your placenta previa, you might not be able to have a vaginal birth. It’s good to remember the ultimate goal — the health of you and your baby.
Rest
Pelvic rest is important while you are experiencing this condition. Additionally you should not engage in any strenuous activity or heavy lifting. You’ll also be asked to avoid sex as well.
Other topics
Post-Partum
The Use and Benefit of Body Sculpting Corset
Wearing an external binder or corset gives the muscles support while they’re healing postpartum. It assists in uterus recovery and
November 7, 2019
Home Cooking with Yen
Home Cooking With Yen | Episode 4
新年快乐, 祝大家虎年行大运，五福安康！Chinese New Year is just around the corner, and we know that coming together
January 25, 2022