While most expectant mothers focus mainly on the adequate consumption of essential vitamins and avoidance of the likes of alcohol and caffeine, many are unaware of the body’s increasing need for water.

What is dehydration?

“Dehydration occurs when the body’s need for fluids are not met. Dehydration during pregnancy can be troubling because it has the potential to harm both mom and baby. Many pregnant women suffering from dehydration have to be hospitalised and treated with intra-venous replacement fluids.”

“Dehydration during the first trimester, can lead to an insufficient amount of amniotic fluid (fluid surrounding the developing foetus). In the second and third trimesters dehydration due to heat exhaustion increases the risk of muscle-cramping, fatigue and even premature labour,” explains independent midwifery consultant, Dr Diana du Plessis.

What are the signs of dehydration in pregnancy?

According to Dr du Plessis symptoms of dehydration in pregnancy include the following:

• Dark yellow urine
• Infrequent or lack of urination
• Dry mouth •
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Light-headedness
• Excessive thirst
• Headaches
• Chapped lips
• Nausea and vomiting
• Lack of skin elasticity

Although the signs of dehydration in pregnancy may seem obvious, sometimes there may be very little warning before the mother has to be hospitalised.

About the Author: Visit the Philips AVENT website at www.philips.com/avent to learn more about its product portfolio, and for valuable information and tips on feeding, or check out the Philips AVENT Facebook page at www.facebook.com/philipsavent.

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But when discomfort progresses to aches and pains, what medications can expectant mothers use for relief?

Moms-to-be can use selected painkiller options available, but as with everything else during pregnancy, diligence is necessary and medication should be used with caution and guidance from a doctor or gynaecologist.

Acetaminophen or paracetamol, is considered safe to use during pregnancy primarily for headaches, fever, aches, pains and sore throat. It can be used during all three trimesters of pregnancy.

Aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication should not be taken during pregnancy as it can cause problems for both the mother and the fetus. It can also be linked to complications during labour.

According to Rodale’s Balancing Pregnancy & Work, the good news is that migraines and other severe headaches may in fact be less frequent or disappear completely during pregnancy, due to the hormonal changes involved.

(Self-Medication Manufacturers Association of South Africa)

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From sore boobs, to morning sickness and a sensitive snout, here are the five most common first trimester pregnancy symptoms.

Achy chest

For some moms-to-be, tender boobs is the first pregnancy symptom that they experience (even before a missed period). You can blame this discomfort on pregnancy related hormonal changes as well as increased blood flow to your chest.

This pregnancy symptom shouldn’t bother you for too long. And while it does, be sure to invest in a supportive bra that has enough room for your growing ladies.

Morning sickness. All day sickness. Just sickness.

This pregnancy symptom hits 50 to 90 percent of women at the six week mark. Dubbed “morning sickness”, the nausea and overall “icky” feeling can occur anytime throughout the day and not just in the morning.

What’s to blame? Hormones of course.

You can minimise the nausea by following these tips;

• Eat frequent small meals
• Nibble on dry crackers before getting out of bed in the morning
• Drink ginger ale
• Be sure to take in Vitamin B6 and B12

If you are struggling to keep anything down and as a result, losing weight, then it is best to consult your doctor  as you could be suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum.

A heightened sense of smell

Hormones are to blame for this pregnancy symptom as well.

Overnight, your sense of smell will increase to superpower level. But, before you pull out the cape and get excited,this also means that your favourite dish will probably smell like rotten fish.

If it really bothers you, try to stay away from strong smelling odors.

Needing to go to the loo. All the time.

Frequent urination starts approximately two to three weeks after conception. After the embryo implants itself into the uterus, it produces the hCG hormone – which means another hormone is to blame for this pregnancy symptom (thanks, hormones).

Unfortunately, this symptom will probably be with you until the end. As baby gets bigger, he or she will put more pressure on your bladder which will also result in frequent urination. So, best you get used to this one.

Sheer exhaustion

Your body is working overtime to nourish your baby. No wonder you feel like you have been hit by a truck. Unfortunately, there’s no good news with this symptom. Your fatigue will only get worse as your pregnancy progresses, and then your baby will keep you out of sleep.

Don’t hesitate to hit the snooze button or take the afternoon nap that your body demands.

The post Your first trimester pregnancy symptoms explained! appeared first on All4Baby.

And seriously, I wouldn’t want to be a man. Not just because your bodies look uncomfortable to me (which they do), or because I would be missing out on some fabulous girls’ nights or because being tackled looks painful and masochistic. But mainly because I think being a woman is awesome. All PMS and feminine hygiene products aside, this is a good club to be in.

Except for right now.

Other than 12 blissful, semi-normal weeks squished right there in the middle for our sanity, being pregnant is kind of tough. I’m going to attempt to paint a picture for you, even though I know I don’t have the artistic skills to paint one well enough for you to ever be able to vicariously experience, empathise or understand these life-creating, uterus-expanding, back-breaking 40 weeks that we call pregnancy.

All I know is that we were chosen, exclusively, to carry, labour and deliver your children that you implant within us. There is no “your turn”.

Here are some things you might consider, though, the next time you stop feeling sorry for me or any other pregnant woman…

Let’s talk bladder control

It’s as if, every 15 minutes, this tiny mite atop my bladder gains 10 kgs and starts using it as a trampoline. Well, apparently, bladder trampolines have a weight limit. And running to the toilet is not a solution. In fact, running will only speed up the inevitable. You will wet your pants when you’re pregnant. You might even think your water broke, start crying, call your doctor, your mom and your husband thinking you’re going into preterm labour, only to be told you wet your pants.

You think you are hungry?

I realise that you think you are often hungry. No. You don’t know hunger. We are hungry. All the time. This hunger is the type of hunger that makes you feel like you are going to throw up if you don’t eat something right this second.

Ever had a Charlie Horse?

You know, when your toes start curling and your calf starts cramping like you just ran a marathon? We could eat five bananas a day and still wake up at two a.m. writhing in pain. It eventually passes. For about 24 hours.

One word: backache

Every time we sit down, lie down, bend down, look down, our entire back becomes one giant nerve bundle of anger. Standing up is impossible without assistance. But I have halfway mastered the roll to the side, prop up on one arm, push up to the knees, and find something sturdy to pull up on. I am a 78-year-old arthritic woman.

No, we’re not lazy

There are no words to describe the exhaustion. Your wife is not joking when she says she literally can’t keep her eyes open. This is the tired that extends beyond drowsy, way past fatigued, right into dead-man-walking territory.

Don’t ask why we cry

I’m sorry we cry all the time. We are embarrassed by our instability. Don’t ask us why we’re crying. We don’t know. Don’t say, “well, there must be some reason”, because then we will have to think really hard and we might come up with a reason that is, in fact, not the reason at all (because, seriously, there’s not one). This fake reason will sound ridiculous (because it is), turn into a huge fight and then we will just cry some more.

Gone is the body and the mind

We not only lose our bodies – we lose our minds. For example, I will walk into a room fully intending to grab something before we leave, stand there, look around, walk out of the room and walk back in trying to jog my memory, and then just leave. It’s only once we get wherever we’re going that I realise that I have no diapers or wet-wipes and that’s what I probably went back inside for

So, dads, we’re not asking that you carry the next one. We’re not asking that you rub our feet every night or bring us breakfast in bed (but we won’t turn it down). We’re not even asking that you feel sorry for us.

We just ask that you add a dollop of patience to your personality for a few months. We ask that you give us hugs when we’re being crazy, tell us we look beautiful when our faces are as round as our bums, and let us take a few naps on occasion. Because it’s not just our bellies that are changing, it’s our entire world. And we all know that we don’t have the emotional stability to handle that kind of thing on our own.

The post Dear dads-to-be, pregnancy is tough appeared first on All4Baby.

Pregnancy symptoms differ between person to person and in fact pregnancy to pregnancy. It is not uncommon for a mom to have a completely smooth first pregnancy with no morning sickness, heartburn or any other discomfort; yet the second pregnancy will be riddled with painful and uncomfortable symptoms.

The good news is that your diet can help relieve the symptoms and side effects of pregnancy.

Snack throughout the day to reduce nausea

It is not certain why so many women experience nausea during their pregnancy but it is thought to be a combination of the rapidly increasing hormone levels, general body changes and an enhanced sense of taste and smell. Batteling nausea? Try these tips…

• Have a dry carbohydrate snack when waking up, for example dry toast or crackers
• Be sure to drink enough fluids
• Have small regular snacks throughout the day to stabilise sugar levels
• Have a snack that is high in protein before bed, for example yoghurt or nuts
• Avoid cooking foods that make you feel ill especially very oily or greasy foods

Combat heartburn by cutting your portions

During pregnancy the hormone progesterone relaxes the lower oesophageal sphincter which connects the oesophagus to the stomach. This allows stomach acids to seep back up into the oesophagus and cause that burning sensation. It can be extremely painful but your diet can help to reduce the frequency of the pain:

• Cut down on the quantity at one sitting. Instead eat smaller, more frequent meals
• Chew properly and eat slowly
• Avoid lying down after eating, rather remain seated
• Cut down on spicy foods, fatty meals, caffeine and peppermint
• Have liquid between meals rather than with meals

Fiber fights constipation

The muscles within the intestine tend to become more relaxed during pregnancy which results in reduced motility of food through the digestive tract. In addition to this, there is also increased pressure from the uterus which slows the movement of food. Aim to do the following:

• Increase fiber intake to ±25g per day (more brown and whole wheat products)
• Increase water intake
• Eat a minimum of 5 vegetables and fruit a day (eat the skin when permissible)
• Eat regular meals and avoid skipping meals

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