Urine Incontinence In Women

Urine incontinence is a medical condition in which the urinary bladder loses control and the urine leaks from the bladder, unintentionally or accidentally. The problem is embarrassing because you are helpless in controlling your urge to urinate and sometimes the urine leaks even while coughing or sneezing. Urine incontinence is mostly caused due to aging and hence this problem is witnessed in most of the aged people. However, apart from aging there are various other factors too that contribute to this problem. Changing hormonal levels, body functions, medications and some illnesses, are also contributors to urine incontinence. In some cases, presence of any type of urinary tract infection also causes urine incontinence.

Prominent Symptoms of Urine Incontinence

One must be aware of the most prominent symptoms of urine incontinence, however, the signs and symptoms may vary from one patient to another.

●      Leaking of urine if not able to reach the washroom on time.

●      Urge to urinate in between the bathroom trips.

●      Urine leakage with coughing or sneezing

●      Leaking urine while you are laughing

●      Leaking of urine while doing any sort of physical activity

●      Feeling that the bladder is not getting completely empty

●      Constant feeling of wetness around the urethra

Urinary incontinence in itself is a medical condition that is serious and brings embarrassment to the people suffering from it. In many cases, urine incontinence can be a symptom of any other severe illness, hence it is required to immediately consult your doctor if you notice any one of the above symptoms.

Types of Urine Incontinence

It is very important to understand the type of urine incontinence that a person is suffering from, to get the right treatment.

Following are the types of urine incontinence:

1.     Stress Urinary Incontinence: This is one of the most common forms of urine incontinence. The urine is held in the urinary bladder which is controlled by the pelvic muscles. Stress incontinence is caused when the pelvic muscles have stretched and any sort of physical activity, coughing, sneezing or laughing, puts pressure on the pelvic muscles, causing the urine to leak. The severity may range from a few drops to a spoon full of leakage.

2.     Urge Incontinence or Overactive Bladder: Urge incontinence or overactive bladder condition causes a strong urge to urinate, even when your bladder isn’t full. If you are unable to reach the bathroom on time, it may also cause involuntary leakage of urine. It also causes you to urinate all throughout the night. This incontinence can hamper your daily activities, because you always fear urine leakage if you are not near to a bathroom. When you have an urge incontinence, your bladder muscles become very active and they squeeze even when your bladder is not completely full. Urge incontinence is mostly common in men who have prostate problems and women who are in their menopause stage. The major causes of this type of incontinence are identified to be some kind of infection in the body, neurological disorder.

3.     Overflow Incontinence: This medical condition is very common in men who have prostate problems or you have had prostate surgery. In overflow incontinence, the bladder cannot hold the urine that it makes or does not get completely empty. This causes constant dribbling or leakage. The major cause for this incontinence is identified to be any sort of blockage that does not allow the bladder muscles to squeeze, the way they should.

4.     Mixed Incontinence: Some people suffer from one or more types of urine incontinence. Generally, when you suffer from stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder incontinence, it is called mixed incontinence. People suffering from this type of incontinence feel a sudden strong urge to urinate while the urine also leaks constantly.

Why does urine incontinence affect women more than men?

Women are more prone to this medical condition and may develop urine incontinence during pregnancy, childbirth or after menopause. All these changes that happen to the women’s body affect the urinary tract and the pelvic muscles. Due to this, it takes extra effort for the muscles to hold the urine in the bladder, but sometimes this stress and pressure causes urine incontinence or leakage. Female urethra is also shorter as compared to the male urethra, which is why the muscles try harder to hold the urine before you are ready to urinate.

During pregnancy, as the foetus grows inside the body, the baby weight puts pressure on the pelvic muscles, urethra and urinary bladder. This causes urine leakage as the pelvic muscles become weak.

If a woman delivers a child through vaginal birth, it weakens the pelvic floor muscles and may sometimes damage the nervous system that controls the urinary bladder. This causes urine incontinence in certain women.

Women who are in their menopause stage suffer from bladder problems, mostly due to low levels of estrogen. This weakens the urethra which helps in holding the urine causing problems of urine incontinence.

Treatment for Urine Incontinence

The treatment for urine incontinence involves use of devices and products that help in holding and collecting the urine. These products are suitable for both men and women, of all ages.

1.     Catheters: A catheter is a soft and thin tube that is inserted into your urethra. Catheters help to collect the urine in a bag that lies outside the body.

2.     Urethral inserts: They are tampons like products that can be inserted inside the urethra and serve as absorbents, to prevent leaks.

3.     Vaginal Pessary: It is a ring-like device that is inserted in cases where the bladder has prolapsed. The device needs to be removed and cleaned on a regular basis.

4.     Bulking Agents: Bulking agents are fillers such as collagen or carbon beads. They are used to fill and plump the tissues around the bladder, so that it gets the capacity to hold the urine. These fillers are temporary and they become ineffective with time. They prove to be a great cure for stress urinary incontinence.

5.     Sacral nerve stimulation: This process involves implanting a stimulator at the lower back of the patient. This stimulator releases electrical impulses that blocks the messages from your bladder to the brain, that cause the urge to urinate. They also strengthen the pelvic muscles so that the bladder can hold the urine and prevents leakages.

6.     Adult diapers and pads: Adult diapers and pads are the most convenient way to get rid of the embarrassment of urine leakage. You can wear them anywhere and anytime and are one of the easiest preventive measures.

7.     Medication: Medicines like estrogen replacement therapy and pseudoephedrine are used to treat urine incontinence. These drugs relax the bladder and reduce the sudden and strong urge to urinate. They also swell the area around the urethra to protect the unintentional urine leakage.

If you are suffering from menopause, you should start taking certain preventive measures, to help decrease the risk of urine incontinence. Avoid any pelvic floor exercise, avoid caffeine, quit smoking and maintain a healthy diet regime, to decrease the risk of urine incontinence.

Diabetic Mother - Condition, Symptoms And Precautions Explained

Diabetes is a medical condition in which the body is not able to break down food into energy. Type 1 diabetes is where the body does not produce enough insulin and Type 2 diabetes is where the body does not use the insulin well enough. Apart from this two diabetes, gestational diabetes is developed in some women, during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes affects how your body is breaking down food into glucose. It generally causes high blood sugar in expectant mothers and it affects the baby’s health. Having a high blood sugar at the time of conception or during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects, premature delivery, stillbirth and also increases the chances of having a cesarean delivery. In many cases, gestational diabetes has also caused the babies to develop obesity. In most cases, gestational diabetes and blood sugar return to normal levels, after the delivery.

What Should an Expectant Mother do?

If you are suffering from Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, you must consult a doctor before planning for a baby. Your doctor will advise you on some preconception care which will help you monitor your blood sugar levels, and treat any other health problem like hypertension or high blood pressure.

During pregnancy, keep a check on your blood sugar levels to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Your doctor will advise you about the eating regime, some physical activities and insulin intake, to manage your blood sugar levels.

If a woman develops gestational diabetes during the tenure of pregnancy, they are most likely to have Type 2 diabetes, post-delivery. In order to rule out the possibility, get a sugar test done every 4-12 weeks. You can observe certain preventive measures like adopting a healthy lifestyle, making correct food choices and increasing the physical activity, to reduce the risk of getting a type 2 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes does not cause any prominent symptoms, perhaps increased urination or thirst could be possible signs. If a woman develops gestational diabetes during pregnancy, she will regularly need check-ups to monitor the blood sugar levels. It is more likely to develop during the last trimester of pregnancy. There are no certain causes as to why women develop gestational diabetes, however, if you are overweight before pregnancy, you are at a greater risk of developing this medical condition. Normally, during pregnancy, there are hormonal changes taking place inside the body of a woman, to accommodate the new life inside. This process sometimes makes it hard for the body to process glucose efficiently, which is why the blood sugar levels rise.

Risks and Complications Affecting the Baby

If a pregnant mother is suffering from gestational or pre-gestational diabetes, the baby growing inside the womb is at a greater risk of developing severe health conditions. The complications can occur to the baby even while it is inside the womb or may occur after the baby is born. The babies can suffer from the following complications:

1.     Expectant mothers who are suffering from high blood sugar levels are more likely to have babies which are larger in size and weight. Babies who weigh 9 pounds or more are more likely to be delivered through a C-section and may even sustain some shoulder injuries during delivery. This condition is also termed as macrosomia.

2.     Mothers with high blood sugar levels may pose serious risk to the unborn baby due to which the baby may have to be delivered earlier or before completion of the term.

3.     Some babies may develop respiratory distress syndrome which causes breathing difficulty.

4.     Babies are also at a risk of having low blood sugar levels, also known as hypoglycemia. This condition may cause seizures in babies. Sometimes intravenous glucose is given to bring the sugar levels to normal range.

5.     Babies may develop obesity or type 2 diabetes conditions, later in life as they grow.

6.     Complications get severe and the chances of stillbirth also increase in mothers with diabetes. Stillbirth is a condition where the babies die before or shortly after birth.

The babies inside the womb of a mother with diabetes are also prone to the following risks:

• Birth (congenital) defects and miscarriage.

• Low oxygen levels

• Low blood iron levels

• High blood pressure

• Enlarged heart

• Poor or weak nervous system development

• High levels of red blood cells and thickened blood

• Low blood calcium

If any one of the above-mentioned problems affects your baby, immediate treatment should be started. Your baby’s treatment will also depend to a greater extent upon how well the blood sugar levels were controlled during delivery.

Controlling your blood sugar levels during pregnancy is very important. Get in touch with a healthcare provider and the following few things will help you control your rising sugar levels.

• Test frequently and monitor your sugar levels.

• Take insulin doses as prescribed.

• Watch your weight and try not to become obese during pregnancy.

What To Eat During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is perhaps the most miraculous thing because a woman is producing a human being inside her womb. It is extremely important to keep a check on what you are eating during your pregnancy, so that your body gets all the requisite nutrients for the baby to develop and grow healthy. Making the right choices in eating is important to help your body deal with the major changes that are happening.

Ideally, an expectant mother’s diet should have a balanced mix of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Each nutrient has its own importance and contribution in helping build your baby.

1.     Calcium: It is extremely helpful in building strong teeth, bones, muscles and nerves of your baby. Gynaecologists usually prescribe calcium supplements to the expectant mother right from the second trimester because that is when your baby’s bones and muscles start to develop.

2.     Folic acid: It is another essential nutrient that saves the baby from any kind of neural tube defects. Doctors say that at least 600 micrograms of folic acid are essential for the expectant mother.

3.     Vitamin D: It helps to strengthen the immune system of the expectant mother.

4.     Iron: An expectant mother needs twice as much iron as the body normally does without pregnancy. This mineral helps in maintaining the haemoglobin levels in the body.

5.     DHA: It is an omega-3 fatty acid and plays a vital role in baby’s brain and eye development. Expectant mothers need at least 200 to 300 milligrams of DHA per day. 

Now that you understand which mineral and nutrient does what, it is important to have a balanced diet so that your intake is an ideal proportion of all the nutrients.

Let us list down some super-nutritious foods for you to accommodate in your meals, during pregnancy.

1.     Dairy Products: During pregnancy, your body demands some extra grams of protein and calcium, for your baby’s growing bones and even to keep your body muscles strong. Dairy products include milk, yoghurt, cheese and ghee and they should compulsorily be a part of your daily diet regime. Certain varieties of yoghurt also contain probiotic bacteria that help in digestion. 

2.     Legumes: Legumes are the most protein-rich source of food and includes peas, beans, chickpeas, soyabeans and lentils. They are also rich in folate, iron and fiber which are very essential for your body during pregnancy. Women often complain of constipation during pregnancy as legumes help to ease out that problem.

3.     Eggs: Eggs are a rich source of protein, fats and vitamins. They also have choline which is a form of vitamin B that the liver makes. It is extremely essential during pregnancy for your baby’s brain development and prevents abnormalities of the brain and spine.

4.     Leafy green vegetables: Leafy green vegetables are a rich source of almost all the nutrients that your body would need. They are loaded with iron, potassium, vitamins and calcium. They relieve constipation and are also associated with a low risk of underweight babies.

5.     Whole grains: They are a rich source of fibres and vitamins. Some whole grains like barley and wheat are also loaded with magnesium and vitamin B. You should make it a choice to include oats, quinoa, and brown rice in your daily meals.

6.     Dry fruits: Dry fruits are rich in calories, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals. Just one serving of dry fruits can suffice for the daily prescribed requirements of vitamins, minerals, iron and potassium. Expectant mothers should add a small portion of mixed nuts in their daily diet regime.

7.     Bananas: They are a rich source of potassium which helps in maintaining good levels of blood pressure. Plus, they provide immediate energy whenever you feel a strong urge to eat something.

8.     Sweet potato: They're loaded with vitamin A and can serve for more than 4 times of your daily requirement. Vitamin A is essential during the first trimester when your baby starts to develop different organs and body parts.

9.     Salmon: Salmon is rich in essential omega-3 fatty acids that are very essential for baby’s growth. If you are fond of non-vegetarian food, you should make salmon a part of your diet as they aid in the development of baby’s brain and eyes. However, be cautious as fish also contains mercury and other contaminants, so avoid too much of its intake.

10. Water: Expectant mothers should stay hydrated because your body needs more water as the blood volume increases. The foetus also floats in water inside the womb hence, hydration gets passed onto your baby so you should strictly watch your water intake. Increased water intake also reduces the chances of urinary tract infections which are very common during pregnancy.

If you do not like a certain food item, try giving it a twist and you can have a whole lot of delicious items to even the most non-delicious things. Remember, your growing baby will take down everything you give to it so stay cautious about your eating choices.

Understanding The Difference Between A Fertility Specialist And OB/Gyn

Motherhood is perhaps the most beautiful feeling that a woman can experience. When you are genuinely trying to have a baby but face fertility issues, it might lead to an emotional roller-coaster. The frustration keeps building, the sooner you see a fertility specialist, the better it is. Some medical help to tackle your fertility issues can give you a ray of hope and assist you while you try to add a new tiny one to your family.

An obstetrician or gynaecologist is generally your first go-to-place for any female reproductive health issues. However, when you are specifically seeking some medical aid to get pregnant, an obstetrician or gynaecologist may not come to your rescue. They need to have some specialised qualification to help patients with fertility issues.  It is important to understand the distinction between a fertility specialist and Obstetrician/Gynaecologist, so that you consult the right medical expert for your fertility issues. Fertility specialists are obstetrician or gynaecologists who have undergone specialised training for reproductive endocrinology. They undergo extra training to assist patients who are struggling with fertility issues.

When to see a fertility specialist?

While you have been trying to conceive a baby, but your efforts are unsuccessful, you can reach out to your obstetrician or gynaecologist. They suggested ways to improve your chances of conception, and perform some necessary check-ups to identify where the problem lies. They may also suggest you to keep a check on your ovulation cycle so that you try conception at the right time. But if you experience any of the following issues, you should consult a fertility specialist, because there is a limitation to what an obstetrician or gynaecologist can do.

1.     If you have been trying to have a baby for over a year, but the conception did not happen, a fertility specialist will run a series of tests on you to identify the problem and may put you on certain medications.

2.     If you have a history of miscarriages, there is a greater possibility that you have a reproductive issue if you have had repeated miscarriages, three or more, consecutively.

3.     If you have been diagnosed with fertility issues or inappropriate uterus environment

4.     If you are more than 35 years and you wish to conceive a baby. It is important to understand the possible health issues at an age when the natural biological clock starts to slow down.

5.     If you or your spouse have conditions which do not favour conception like PCOS, endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, undescended testicles, low sperm count or any other medical condition causing infertility.

How can a fertility specialist help?

When natural conception is taking longer, your fertility specialist will also tell you ways about artificial conception like IVF (in-vitro fertilization). For this, they may have to dig a little deeper by running some tests. When the actual problem is diagnosed, the fertility specialist will guide you towards assisted reproduction. Physical examinations such as clinical breast exams or pap smear are conducted on women. Ultrasound and other diagnostic tests are also conducted to get to the accurate results.

When you approach a fertility specialist, the first thing your specialist does is to conduct a natural diagnosis of your problem. Once your fertility issue is identified, your specialist may suggest medications or procedures that may aid in conception of a child. They help you and your partner understand the possible course of treatment. They are your guiding experts who assist you throughout the procedure and are available to clear out any doubts that may arise. They persistently monitor your health if you have undergone any assisted reproduction procedure.

Depending upon how far you can go to have a baby, you must immediately reach out to a fertility specialist. There is so much that they can do, to help you get your little bundle of joy.

Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain affects the lowest part of the abdomen, mostly between the belly and the groin. The pain is usually felt as throbbing, burning or heaviness in the lower abdomen. Pelvic pain can occur both in men and women, and the possible onset for pelvic pain can be certain types of infections, abnormal functioning of some non-reproductive internal organs or pain that is generated from the pelvic bones. In women, pelvic pain can be a symptom of any abnormalities in any one of the women’s reproductive organs, like the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, vagina or cervix. 

Women who suffer from pelvic pain describe the intensity of the pain which ranges from being mild to very intense. Pelvic pain that is caused due to any sort of infections may develop slowly over a period of time and get worse as they persist. In women, pelvic pain also occurs as cramping during menstruation. If the pain is generated due to any abnormalities in the reproductive, digestive or urinary system, the pain is felt during sexual intercourse, urination or regular bowel movements. In some severe cases, pelvic pain is also caused due to presence of cancerous tumours in the bladder or colon.

It is very important to understand the severity of pelvic pain because if the pain persists, the underlying cause can prove to be life-threatening. Thus, if you experience mild or severe pelvic pain which is persistent over a period of time, you should immediately seek medical care.

Causes of Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain can occur due to various reasons, hence, it is important to understand the underlying cause of your pelvic pain so that the right and effective treatment can be started.

1. Menstrual Cramps

One of the most common causes of pelvic pain in women are menstrual cramps. In most women, pelvic pain and menstrual cramps start a day or two before the start of menstrual cycle while in some cases, the pain continues for 1-2 days after the beginning of menstrual cycle. Menstrual cramps are usually throbbing in intensity and women might feel muscular contractions, because the uterus sheds its lining during the menstrual cycle. In cases of severe pain, use of warm heating pads and pain relievers can come to the rescue.

2. Ovulation

Some women experience painful ovulation. Ovulation is a process in which the ovaries release eggs and some fluid which travel down to the uterus. The released fluid can sometimes cause irritation and pain in the pelvic region.

3. Cystitis or Urinary Tract Infection 

Cystitis is a medical condition which causes inflammation in the bladder and is mainly caused when vaginal or rectal bacteria enter the bladder. On the other hand, urinary tract infection is caused anywhere in kidneys, urethra, bladder or ureters. One major symptom of both these infections is severe pelvic pain apart from painful urination, bleeding between menstrual cycles and vaginal discharge.

4. Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Pelvic inflammatory disease  (PID) is an infection that occurs in the female reproductive organs. The major cause of PID is found to be an untreated sexually transmitted disease, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea. If the PID bacteria enters the womb, it can permanently damage the surrounding tissues. Pelvic pain is one of the prominent symptoms of PID along with fever, painful urination or painful intercourse.

5. Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a medical condition in which the tissue that lines on the inside of the uterus begins to grow on the outside. It may cause mild to severe pelvic pain, in women. When the menstrual cycle is about to begin, the tissue that has developed on the outside causes bleeding, pains and inflammation in the pelvic region.

6. Bowel Syndrome

Bowel syndrome is an abnormality causing constipation, diarrhoea and bloating. If the problem persists for a longer time, it causes severe pelvic pain. There is no specific treatment for a bowel syndrome but it can be cured through changes in diet and medications.

7. Appendicitis:

Appendix is the smallest organ of the body which is located in the lower-right abdomen. Appendicitis is a medical condition which causes inflammation or enlargement of the appendix. This problem is known to cause severe pain in the pelvic region.

8. Urinary stones

Stones are usually found in bladder or kidneys and are mainly made up of salts, minerals and calcium. When they develop large in size, they cause the urine to change colour, painful urination and blood in the urine. Stones in the gall bladder and kidneys and known to cause severe pelvic pain and pain in the lower back.

9. Ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is one of the most life-threatening conditions that occurs to the body of a woman. It occurs when the embryo starts to grow on the outside of the uterus. This kind of pregnancy is known to cause severe pains, cramping in the pelvic region and vaginal bleeding.

10. Ovarian cysts

The major role of the ovaries is to release eggs for reproduction. When ovaries become clogged, they fail to release the egg and an unwanted cyst begins to grow in the area. These ovarian cysts are known to cause severe pelvic pain and require immediate medical assistance.

11. Uterine Myomas

Myomas or fibroids are lumps of muscle and tissues that begin to grow within the uterus. While most of the fibroids are non-cancerous in nature, they cause severe pain in the pelvis and lower back. When fibroids begin to outgrow the blood supply, they can cause chronic pelvic pain that requires immediate medical assistance.

12. Tumour:

In some cases, a benign cancerous growth is found in the reproductive organs or gastrointestinal organs, which causes pain in the pelvic region. This can happen with both men and women, and requires medical assistance for its diagnosis and treatment.

If you begin to observe sudden pains or any sharp burning sensation in the abdominal area, you should immediately seek medical attention, because ignoring any sort of pelvic pain will only prove to degrade your health condition.

Protecting Yourself Against HPV

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is by far, one of the most common and contagious sexually transmitted diseases (STD). HPV infection is caused due to a virus, which is said to have more than 100 types of strains. A few of the HPV infections cause mucous membrane growth on the skin which are also known as warts. The other types of virus strains cause different types of cancers around the genitals, anus, vagina, penis and vulva. The infection is highly contagious and the infected person may or may not develop any symptoms, but can still be a carrier and infect the others through sexual or intimate skin contact.

HPV can prove to be deadly when the infected person starts to develop cancer of the genitals and cervical cancer. Hence, it is highly important to protect yourself against HPV, either through vaccination or taking precautions while being sexually active. Preventing yourself from the HPV virus should be your first defence measure.

How to protect yourself from HPV virus

One should understand the severity of HPV and follow the below mentioned strategies to protect themselves from contacting the deadly virus.

1. HPV vaccination to avoid HPV cancers and skin warts:  The HPV vaccine is effective enough to protect against the HPV infections that cause most cervical cancers and cancer of the genitals including anal, vaginal, vulvar, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. Since most HPV infections spread through sexual contact, the HPV vaccination proves to be highly effective when given before the person becomes sexually active. If you are aged between 15-45 years, the vaccine is given is 3 separate shots in a duration of about six months. 

2. Limit the number of sex partners: Another effective way to prevent yourself against the HPV virus is limiting the number of sexual partners. Higher the number of active sexual partners, the higher is the chance for you to get infected with HPV. Being in a mutually monogamous relationship will also help, as this will ensure that your partner is sexually active with none other than you.

3. Use of condoms: If you have an active sexual life, it is highly important for you to use condoms while you are involved in any kind of sexual activity, be it oral, anal or vaginal sex. This will considerably bring down the chances for you to contact the HPV infection. Use of latex condoms is considered to be highly effective. However, HPV can also attack those areas of your skin which are not covered by condoms, but it still offers a greater probability of safeguarding yourself from the infection.

4. Timely screening for women to catch precancers: In some women, HPV infection begins to change the cells of the cervix which later on develop into cervical cancer. It is very important to conduct timely screening so that early detection and treatment can prevent the infection from becoming cancerous. There are mainly two types of tests that are used for the screening of HPV infection to check for cervical cancers. One of the tests is a Pap Test which is done by collecting cells from the cervix and checking for any abnormal cell growth. The other type of test checks for the presence of any virus rather than abnormalities.

Presently, there are no specific medical tests to find out about the HPV infection in a person. However, tests may be conducted to investigate cervical cancer or precancerous. These tests are also conducted only in women who are more than 30 years of age. There are also no specific signs and symptoms to know whether a person has HPV infection or not, which is why most people never know that they are infected and unknowingly become carriers of this infection. Even if the person is infected, it may take a few months for them to develop symptoms like warts on the skin and other health problems. It is suggested that women above 30 years of age should regular see their gynecologists for Pap tests, to diagnose any precancers or cervical cancer.

Treatment for health problems caused by HPV

There is no specific treatment for the HPV virus, however, medical experts have laid down certain treatments to bring down the effect of health problems caused due to the HPV virus.

1. Genital warts: Warts can start to develop in any part of the genitals and if left untreated they keep growing in size and number. Warts can be treated with proper medication, so it is important to consult a healthcare provider as and when you notice such developments around your genitals.

2. Cervical precancer: Prevention is the first tool of defence and women who undergo regular Pap tests are able to diagnose and significant chances of precancers. If pre cancers are treated well on time, the chances of developing cancer reduces significantly.

Returning To Work After Maternity: Tips, Tricks To Keep Organized And Decrease Anxiety

The beginning of maternity leave serves great pleasure as you feel you have ample amount of time with your little one. But soon after a few weeks, the greater transition comes when you have to return to your workplace, that too leaving behind your little child. Returning from maternity leave is perhaps the most difficult emotional roller coaster that a new mom gets through. It triggers different feelings where you would want to be with your child and on the other hand, you would also want to keep a balance with your career and job. Even the thought of returning back to work after maternity leave is very stressful, leave aside when the day of returning actually arrives. Being away from your baby and adjusting to the whole new challenge of getting back to the workplace, can be physically and mentally exhausting.

It is very important to create a balance between your motherhood and professional life, but that should not come at the cost of making you feel guilty. Never feel that if you are returning to work, it would make you less good of a mother. Rather, you are setting an example for your little one that being a mother offers you with great superpowers to balance both home and professional life.

Tips to Ticks to Keep Yourself Organized and Decrease the Anxiety

1. Never feel guilty: Guilt is an emotion that triggers inside us while doing something wrong. But, if you are a new mother, it is important for you to understand that while you decide to return to work to support your family or balance your career, you choose to do nothing wrong. You may feel a little anxiety about leaving your child, but let go of the guilt, to remain stress-free.

2. Get in touch with your employer: A little anxiety before returning to work is inevitable, so talking to your employer in advance might bring down the stress level. Having a casual conversation with your employer will give you insights on new projects that are currently going on, any other technical changes that you need to have hands on, and this will help to get comfortable at the workplace. You can also place requests with your employer, if you want flexible working hours or flexibility in meeting deadlines with projects. Also, speak to your employer about your responsibilities and workload during normal days, so that you can adjust your breastfeeding time, day-care management and new work schedule. When you are at your workplace, try speaking to some new mothers to know how they manage work after maternity leave.

3. Practice Dry run: A dry run is a kind of practice day that you should follow a day or two before the actual day of returning to office. This will give you insights about how much time you need to breastfeed your baby, how many hours will it take to reach the office and day-care and other small kinks. Spend a day with the child-care provider to know about your child’s needs and what it takes to make him feel comfortable with the new environment.

4. Get organised a night before the actual day of return: Organising all the stuff and getting prepared for the next day, makes the morning easier and hassle-free. Decide on your clothes, change your handbag, put all the important stuff, prepare the baby's bag with diapers, wipes, nappies, clothes and toys, a night before. After a tiring day you might not feel the need to keep things organised, but it is surely an effective way to save plenty of your time and keep you stress free. 

5. Find the right amount of work: While you were away on your maternity leave, the workplace must have gone through various changes and you might feel outcast or sidelined. Just make sure to fulfil all your work commitments that you are expected to do as a professional. If you are not given any challenging assignments, due to the fact that you just had a baby, go ahead and ask for it, if you think you are prepared. It will always be challenging to manage a child and your workplace responsibilities, but with the right balance, the whole schedule can be less chaotic.

6. Try and Cope up with stress and tiredness: Try and carve out special time to bond with your little one so that he or she does not feel that there is any sort of growing distance between you two. You would also have to learn to balance the most difficult part of the day, which is when you return from office and your child also returns from day-care. Both you and your child would be very much tired during that time of the day, but you need to have patience. Slowly and gradually, your baby will also be aware of your routine and he might know what to expect next.

At times, you might sit down and re-consider the idea of returning back to work. Many new mothers start to feel that returning to the workplace was a bad idea. All new mothers have to struggle in the initial days so that there is no lag with their careers. Initially, it may be very psychologically and physically challenging, but once your routine is sorted, everything will fall into place. During this time, do not forget to take good care of yourself, and remember nobody gets to perfection immediately.

Diagnosis And Management Of Anaemia Before Gynecologic Surgery

Anaemia is a medical condition in which the red blood cells become inefficient and are unable to carry oxygen to the tissues and organs of the body. It is important to understand the severity of anaemia and start your treatment accordingly. If you are anaemic, you are likely to feel fatigue and tiredness all throughout, even when you are not much involved in physical labour.

Symptoms of Anaemia

The following are some of the common and established symptoms of anaemia:

• Fatigue

• Weakness

• Pale or yellow skin

• Irregularity in heart rate

• Shortness of breath

• Dizziness 

• Chest pain or congestion

• Cold hands and feet

• Headaches

Diagnosis of Anaemia

It is important to look out for signs and symptoms, to check whether your body is anaemic. Signs and symptoms of anaemia can vary depending upon the cause of anaemia. It is important to understand the underlying cause of anaemia, only then your doctor can start your treatment. This is because treatment for one type of anaemia can prove to be dangerous and ineffective in curing the other type of anaemia. The following are some of the established causes of anaemia:

1. Anaemia caused due to iron deficiency:  

This is the most common type of anaemia and is caused when the body is unable to produce red blood cells, due to deficiency of iron. Our bone marrow produces haemoglobin for the red blood cells and when iron deficiency attacks the body, the red blood cells fall short of haemoglobin, causing tiredness and fatigue. In young women, iron deficiency generally occurs due to heavy menstrual bleeding. Other causes of this type of anaemia are use of pain relievers, history of ulcers or cancer.

2. Anaemia caused due to Vitamin deficiency: 

Our body needs vitamin B-12 to produce healthy red blood cells that can carry oxygen and haemoglobin throughout the body. 

3. Anaemia of inflammation:

Chronic diseases like cancer, HIV, AIDS, kidney diseases, colon diseases and other inflammatory diseases can obstruct the production of healthy red blood cells in the body.

4. Aplastic anaemia: 

This is a rare condition of the body which occurs due to use of certain inflammatory medicines, infections or any autoimmune diseases. If your body is under the attack of aplastic anaemia, it will not be able to produce enough of healthy red blood cells.

5. Anaemia associated with a bone marrow disease:

Certain diseases like leukemia and myelofibrosis, can cause anaemia as they hamper production of haemoglobin by affecting the bone marrow.

6. Sickle cell anaemia: 

This type of anaemia is generally a genetic disease. Under this condition, the haemoglobin of the body is defective and causes the red blood cells to form a crescent shape. These oddly shaped red blood cells die prematurely, causing a shortage of healthy red blood cells in the body.

Managing and Treating Anaemia- The Right Way

It is important for your doctor to identify the root cause of your anaemia and start treating it the right way. 

1. If anaemia is caused due to blood loss, the patient is treated with fluids, blood transfusion, oxygen and iron. This will help the body in building new red blood cells.

2. If anaemia is caused due to iron deficiency, iron supplements that contain ferrous form of iron will help the body cope with iron deficiency. During the treatment, it is important to monitor red blood cell counts, haemoglobin and ferritin levels.

3. Anaemia caused due to Vitamin B12 deficiency is treated with Vitamin B12 pills and injections. If the patient has folate deficiency, it is treated by folic acid supplements.

4. If the anaemia is caused due to any chronic ailment like a kidney disease, it is treated with recombinant human erythropoietin, which stimulates the production of red blood cells in the body.

5. If anaemia is caused due to red blood cells destruction, intravenous fluids and pain medication are given. A blood transfusion is also done in cases where medication does not come to the rescue.

6. If anaemia is caused due to production of sickle red blood cells, in most cases, will require a bone marrow transplant.

Managing Anaemia before Gynecologic Surgery

Managing anaemia before a patient is subjected to Gynecologic surgery forms an important part of Patient Blood Management and is often termed as checking the preoperative anaemia.

Even if the patient is suffering from a mild preoperative anaemia, it can increase the chances of mortality, when the patient is subjected to any kind of gynecologic surgery. It might also pose serious risks in blood transfusion and the chances of further blood loss increase ten-folds in such cases. It is thus, highly crucial to subject the patient to preoperative anaemia screening. This will allow time to conduct further workup and treatment and raise the haemoglobin levels.

If the patient is at multiple preoperative risks, a gynecologic surgery will further put the patient’s life at risk, for any transfusion, intraoperative organ or a difficult postoperative period. While we talk about managing anaemia before any major gynecologic surgery, a thorough risk assessment and patient blood management (PBM) should be conducted with specific procedures laid down for improving the haemoglobin levels.

In major gynecologic surgeries, a preoperative Hb <13 g/dL should be considered suboptimal women, and if the level is below the range then procedures will be started to improve the levels. If the patient needs to be put to immediate surgery, oral iron or intravenous iron formulations should be infused.

Menstrual Pain And Irregularity

Menstruation is a monthly process that occurs as the female body prepares itself for pregnancy. The female reproductive system forms eggs to make pregnancy possible. When the pregnancy does not happen, the egg along with tissues and blood, leaves the lining of the uterus and comes out of the vagina. The discharging process lasts for about 3-5 days. Menstruation usually starts during puberty and lasts until menopause, within a one-month interval.

The menstrual cycle completely depends upon the hormonal changes that take place inside the female body every month. Ideally, the menstrual cycle is of about 28 days, which may vary, depending upon the hormone secretion. The average age when girls start menstruating is around 12 but these bodily changes are best to be kept range bound between 8-15 years.

Menstrual Pain

Apart from heavy vaginal bleeding that most women suffer from, menstruation also causes various other discomforts. Some women face severely painful periods which are highly dominated by menstrual cramps, throbbing and pain in the lower abdomen. Such painful menstruation is also termed as Dysmenorrhea. Apart from cramping and abdominal pain, other symptoms that women suffer from during the menstrual cycle are mood swings, irritability, headache, fatigue, tenderness in breasts and lower back pain.

Dysmenorrhea is also categorized into primary and secondary, depending upon the cause of period pains. Primary dysmenorrhea is caused due to prostaglandins hormone secretion from the uterus. This hormone causes contractions in the uterus, which block the blood and oxygen supply to the uterus. This causes severe pain and cramps during thse menstrual cycle. Studies also reveal that women who suffer from severe menstrual cramps and likely to have strong uterine contractions at the time of giving birth. These pains usually start a day or two before the beginning of menstruation and may last for two to three days after the start of menstrual cycle.

Secondary dysmenorrhea is not usually found in younger women but starts later in life of a female. The prominent cause of this pain are conditions that affect reproductive organs, like uterine fibroids and endometriosis. These pains are highly discomforting and may even get worse with time. Some studies also reveal that secondary dysmenorrhea is also caused due to pelvic inflammatory diseases which cause the egg to implant outside the wall of the uterus and scare the fallopian tubes. During menstruation, the hormone secretion affects the uterus and the scar tissues, which increases the menstrual bleeding, inflammation and pain.

While you know about the basic dysmenorrhea, it is also critical for you to know the other factors that cause severe pain during menstruation. Menstrual pain is predominantly normal, but it is important to understand the other causes of menstrual pain, before such pain causes serious problems to your body.

1. Adenomyosis is a gynecological condition in which the tissue that usually lines to the inside of the uterus, implants itself outside the wall of the uterus. This causes the uterus to become bruised, causing severe cramps and painful intercourse.

2. Uterine fibroids are one of the most common gynecological problems and every one in three women suffer from this. If you are suffering from uterine fibroids, you are most likely to have severe menstrual cramps. The reason behind such painful cramps is that that uterus contracts forcefully to expel out the blood clots that are formed due to fibroids.

3. Women who have a copper IUD inserted, can also experience painful periods along with heavy menstrual bleeding.

4. When a female child is still a foetus in the mother’s womb, its own uterus starts to develop. In some cases, due to certain structural deformation, the uterus does not form correctly and causes period pain, infertility issues and painful intercourse.

Irregularity in Menstrual Cycle

Menstruation is considered to be irregular when the menstrual cycle does not fall on the due date. In most women, the usual length of the menstrual cycle is 28 days which may extend to even 35 days. A menstrual cycle is considered to be irregular when the cycle occurs more than 35 days apart. 

In medical terms, irregular periods are also called oligomenorrhea. Studies have revealed that primary causes for irregular periods in women are use of contraceptives, hormonal imbalance, indulgence in certain endurance exercises and hormonal changes during menopause. If the menstrual cycle is irregular during the early stages of puberty or during the menopause phase, the problem might not be serious, however, it might be a concern when the menstrual cycle is irregular during the reproductive years. In such cases, you should consult a doctor at the earliest, to avoid any further complications.

Irregular periods are indicative of a serious problem so it is important to investigate the cause for your irregular periods. Understand the below stated causes for irregular periods: 

1. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS): It is a medical condition in which small cysts begin to develop in the ovaries, which is why the ovaries do not release eggs every month.  

2. Thyroid: Women who are suffering from thyroid disorder also suffer from irregular periods. This is because, thyroid causes the body to release hormones that affect the metabolism. 

3. Cervical or uterine cancer: If a woman is suffering from cervical or uterus cancer, she is likely to experience bleeding between the menstrual cycles and sometimes even after intercourse.

4. Endometriosis: It is a medical condition where cells start to grow outside the lining of the uterus instead on the inside.  Endometrial cells are released every month and come out from the vagina along with menstrual blood. In certain cases when the blood gets stuck around the tissues, it damages the tissues and this causes irregularity in menstrual cycle and even causes infertility in certain cases.

If you encounter any of the above stated causes for irregular menstruation, you should immediately consult a doctor and start with the remedies. If irregular menstruation is due to contraceptives or birth control pills, the doctor might change your medication with pills that have a balance of estrogen and progestin. For PCOS and thyroid related issues, eating habits, a healthy lifestyle and lowering down the testosterone levels, will help women to ovulate timely.

Urinary Tract Infections in Adolescents and Adults

Our urinary tract is made up of kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a type of microbial attack on any one of the organs comprising the urinary tract. The main function of the urinary system is to flush unwanted waste out from the body, in the form of urine. Urine normally does not flush out bacteria from the body and when these bacteria get into the bladder or kidney, they multiply ten-folds and cause serious tract infections. 

Most commonly, UTI affects the lower urinary tract, that consists of the bladder and urethra, but they can be treated quickly and easily. UTIs that affect the upper urinary tract, consisting of kidneys and ureters, are rare and difficult to treat due to their severity. UTI causes severe discomfort and pain, hence it is important to get a prompt treatment to avoid further spread of the infection to the kidneys, which can ultimately prove to be fatal.

Common Symptoms of UTI

It is important to be aware of the basic symptoms of UTIs so that you can immediately start the treatment, as and when you encounter any one of its symptoms. When someone is infected with a lower tract UTI, the lining of the bladder and urethra starts turning red and you may also develop irritation and itching. The infected person may also feel an urge to urinate at frequent intervals. This is caused because the irritation in the bladder forces you to urinate even if you do not have much urine in your bladder. The texture of the urine also changes to a different colour which can be red or pink and also has a foul smell. The irritation in the bladder also causes pain in the lower abdomen pelvic area and lower back. 

Types of Urinary Tract Infections

UTI infections differ with their signs and symptoms depending upon the particular organ which is infected. The three different types of UTI are:

1. Infection of the bladder (Cystitis)

Symptoms

• Cramping and pain in the lower back and abdomen

• Blood in the urine

• Constant urge to urinate

• Painful urination

• Pelvic pain

2. Infection of the Urethra (Urethritis)

            Symptoms

• Burning sensation while urinating

• Discharge

3. Infection of the Kidneys (Acute Pyelonephritis)

Symptoms

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Shaking

• Chills

• Mental changes

• Upper back and side pain

• High fever

Causes of UTI in Adolescents and Adults

UTI is very commonly found in adolescents and adults. Also, girls and women are more prone to be infected with a UTI and they can develop serious UTI at more than three times the rate as compared to young boys and men. This is because girls and women have shorter urethras, so the germs and microbes can easily pass on from the bowel to the bladder. 

For adolescent girls and young women, who are menstruating, it is highly advised to change sanitary napkins and tampons frequently to avoid the risk of infection. They should also wipe from front to back with toilet paper after bowel movements. 

Another common reason for UTI in adolescents and adults, is an active sexual life. Thus, it is important to counsel adolescents about sexual activities and its consequences, to mitigate the risk of UTI. All adolescents with UTIs should be queried for sexual activity and should be checked for presence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Other factors responsible for contacting a UTI are use of spermicide and birth control medicines. 

How is UTI Diagnosed

In order to test for UTI, a urine sampling is conducted which is known as urinalysis. In some cases, the urine is also checked for the presence of bacteria through a urine culture. In young children an ultrasonography examination can also help with the detection of UTI. 

Treatment of UTI

In healthy adolescents and women, who are diagnosed with a bladder infection (Cystitis), the usual treatment includes a complete course of antibiotics. In men, the same antibiotics are used, provided there is no issue involving the prostate gland. 

If a urine culture has been performed and is negative for infection, other causes of pain, burning, and frequency should be investigated. In some cases, infection is caused by small amounts of bacteria that are not detected through a typical urine culture. Therefore, in some cases, even if the report is negative the doctor may prescribe you to take the complete course of antibiotics.

If there is severe pain and irritation in the bladder and urethra, one can also ask for numbness medication from the doctor. These medicines help to numb the bladder and urethra, to reduce the burning pain caused by UTIs. It is also recommended to drink more fluids while treating bladder infections to help flush bacteria from the bladder. 

Can UTIs prove to be fatal

While in most of the cases, it is possible to treat and cure UTI with proper treatment of antibiotics, but not if it gets “complicated”. There are several reasons for a UTI to get complicated and then it becomes difficult to cure it with regular antibiotics. 

1. Women with repeated cases of infections: Women who get UTI repeatedly over and over again might have to take a longer medication of about six months. They should also be cautious while switching birth controls and practice a habit of peeing right after having sex.

2. Permanent kidney damage: If you don't treat a UTI, it can damage your kidneys forever. An untreated UTI, could travel to the kidneys and cause sepsis. While your body is trying hard to fight sepsis, it causes respiratory issues, and other problems related to heart rate, white blood cells and body temperature. It can affect the way your kidneys function and lead to kidney scars and high blood pressure. Sometimes it can prove a fatal disease for the infected person.

3. UTI in pregnant women: UTIs are very commonly found in pregnant women. If not cured timely, they prove to be fatal for both mom and the baby. There are also chances of premature delivery, delivery with low birthweight, anemia and high blood pressure.

Can UTI be Prevented

There are several ways through which you can reduce the risk of a UTI. Natural remedies, hygienic bathroom habits, probiotics and urination before and after sex, are highly recommended to prevent yourself from contacting a UTI. Women who are in their menopause stage can also benefit from estrogen therapy in order to balance the vaginal bacteria.

Do’s and don’ts to follow during the pregnancy period

The duration of pregnancy is one of the most important periods in the life of a woman. The birth of a healthy child wholly becomes a big responsibility of a mother, so it is very important for her to create a good and healthy living environment in order to give birth to a child without any complications.

Following are all the do’s and don’ts for all the soon-to-be mothers, which they should follow for maintaining the health of both, herself as well as the baby she is carrying in her:-

Do’s:-

1. Have a balanced diet – Proper amount of nutrition is equally important for the optimum health of both mother as well as child. Have a balanced diet 3-4 times a day, with food items that are rich in folic acid, iron, vitamins, and omega-3 acids. Though, don’t eat in heavy quantities.

2. Travel safely – Apart from the later stages of pregnancy, when you should completely avoid traveling, you can travel in the early months (up to 28-30 weeks). If you are traveling by air, prefer the aisle seat for optimum movement, and if you are traveling by road, ensure to wear seat belts properly.

3. Do light exercise – There are some light exercises like yoga or walking, which will surely help you in keeping you active. This is a necessary practice that should be carried out in order to maintain the optimum flow of nutrients through blood.

4. Get enough sleep – While it is important to stay active during pregnancy, proper amount of rest and sleep is required. You should aim for sleep hours extending from seven to nine hours at least, in order to keep brain cells active and not under stress.

5. Have multivitamins – While having a balanced diet during pregnancy is a must-to-do thing, it alone might not prove sufficient for your vitamin intake. Overconsumption of a balanced diet can lead to obesity and improper weight of the fetus. Post consultation with your doctor, do take multivitamin pills that are rich in folic acid, calcium, and iron.

6. Monitor your calorie intake – This is why having a balanced diet is very essential. Eating less than required might lead to malnutrition while eating more than required can lead to obesity. Thus, maintaining a perfect balance of calorie intake is very important for giving birth to a healthy child without compromising your personal health.

Don’ts:-

1. Avoid toxic items – Things like smoking and consumption of alcohol and tobacco are not only harmful for mother, but eventually for the child inside her. This might lead to birth problems for the child.

2. Avoid exposure to items with strong odor and after-effects – Things like pesticides, solvents, and nail paint removers, which usually have a high content of lead and mercury are quite harmful. Breathing in the smell of such items can lead to improper growth of nervous system of the baby.

3. Avoid taking medicines without a prescription – All the medicines or supplements which you might have been taking in your regular cycle now need to be taken with proper consultation from a doctor. Some of the medicines which you are taking might have adverse after-effects on the baby, and that is why proper prescription and guidance are needed in that direction.

4. Avoid doing home chores that require heavy physical work – Chores like climbing ladders, bending down for mopping or cleaning, lifting heavy weights can lead to internal injuries which will eventually lead to complications for the baby as well. Avoid doing such kinds of heavy physical works.

5. Avoid eating raw and unprocessed food – Consumption of food items like fish high in mercury, uncooked meat, soft cheese, and unpasteurized milk need to be avoided during pregnancy.

6. Avoid taking bath with hot water – During pregnancy, it is advisable to bath with cold or too lukewarm water, and no hot water. Bathing with hot water or taking steam or sauna bath can causes irregular temperature variations, thus harming the fetus from within.

7. Avoid taking X-Rays – Taking X-Rays to diagnose something improper in a particular organ of your body is a good idea, but not during pregnancy. The harmful radiations caused by X-Rays can deform the fetus inside your womb, leading to birth complications.

Tips for women to ensure a healthy pregnancy

The whole duration of nine months of pregnancy is very important as there are two lives at stake – one of the mother and the other of the child. Given how many complexities and carefulness the duration of pregnancy involves, it is required to take a lot of care and precautions in this period.

Following are some of the key steps which a soon-to-be mother should follow to ensure her proper health as well as better growth of the child inside her:-

1. Proper diet intake – In the duration of pregnancy, you are eating for two – one for yourself and one for the child within you. So, it is advisable to eat proper and healthy during this duration. Having foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, like fish, and folate-rich items like cereals, lentils, fruits juices, and other fruits will enhance the development of the brain and blood cells in the baby.

2. Have plenty of water – To ensure an optimum supply of oxygen and the flow of nutrients through blood, it is advisable to increase the intake of water during pregnancy. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water in this duration not only avoids the possibilities of dehydration, but also other adversities like constipation, headaches, fatigue, and hemorrhoids.

3. Avoid consumption of toxic items – In addition, to maintain a careful intake of diet, it is also important to keep a note of what all things you need to avoid during pregnancy. The consumption of toxic items like alcohol and illicit drugs as well as smoking cigarettes, and the strong smell of items like caffeine, paint thinners, and nail polish removers decreases the flow of oxygen to the baby, thus leading to possible birth defects.

4. Practice mild exercises – In order to control stress, body weight, blood circulation, and sleep cycles, the activeness of your body is required in a controlled amount during pregnancy. Doing mild exercises like yoga and walking for 15-20 minutes a day without overdoing them will boost your mood and keep you active and alert all the times.

5. Avoid heavy chores – Some of your daily chores like lifting heavy weights, standing for long durations of time, and climbing on ladders can have adverse effects on the baby due to additional pressure required to do these tasks. Do the mild household chores which do not require heavy physical work or force, and that also only when needed too much.

6. Track your medicines and vitamins – All kinds of medicines do have one or more side effects, which can turn fatal or negative when it comes to pregnancy. Whatever medicines and supplements you do take in your regular daily cycle should be now taken only after proper consultation with your doctor. Also, the intake of prenatal vitamins can be taken in the required amount, as they help in the development of the brain and spinal cord of your baby at a suitable pace.

7. Monitor your weight gain – Gaining weight during pregnancy is a natural phenomenon that cannot be avoided, as you have to eat for yourself as well as the child growing inside you. So, it is very much required to keep track of your weight gain, which should neither fall under the category of underweight nor cross the borderline of obesity. Having a weight gain of 11.5-13.5 kg is recommended as the normal weight gain during pregnancy, depending on the body mass index range.

8. Stay clean and practice good hygiene – Given the current times of COVID-19, the human baby is susceptible to diseases and infections even more than ever before. In order to avoid adverse situations for your baby, it is advisable to practice social distancing and keep yourself clean all the time. Wash and sanitize your hands regularly, which will not only prevent you from COVID-19 infections but also birth-related diseases like chickenpox and Group B streptococcus.

9. Travel carefully – The early stages of pregnancy (till 28 weeks) is the preferred duration of traveling from one place to another, post to that will require utmost care and can lead to possibilities of miscarriage if not done carefully. Before traveling, consult with your doctor and take all the necessary precautions for the same. Prefer traveling by air, and during a flight, drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration and dizziness and prefer to be seated on the aisle seat for maximum possible movement.

10. Don’t avoid cravings every time – If you are craving for something to eat, make sure to have that, but in a limited quantity. However, make sure what you are eating isn’t unhealthy – in this duration, it is advisable to stay away from raw and uncooked food items (barring fruits).