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Frequently Asked Question
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Can
pregnancy be confirmed only based on symptoms?
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How
early can one confirm pregnancy with a urine test?
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Can
the urine test be wrong?
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Is
there any blood test to confirm pregnancy?
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How
can one calculate the due date?
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Why
does one vomit during the early stages of pregnancy?
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Are
mood disturbances common?
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Is
there a tendency for constipation during pregnancy?
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What
are the causes for fainting and dizziness?
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Why
do leg cramps occur?
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Can
I confirm pregnancy by a home test? When should I see doctor?
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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?
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Why
does one feel uncomfortable in the chest for most parts of the day?
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How
to avoid fainting and dizziness?
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What
are stretch marks?
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What
causes backache?
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What
causes itching?
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What
causes swollen hands and feet?
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Can
I have sex during pregnancy?
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What
are the effects of alcohol, smoking during pregnancy?
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What
is the recommended diet during pregnancy?
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What
are the exercises that one can do?
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Should one travel during pregnancy?
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What
is a Problem Pregnancy or an Ectopic pregnancy?
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Can
I know more about Abortion (Miscarriage)?
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What
is Preterm labour?
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Why
is there a raised BP during pregnancy?
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1 |
Can
pregnancy be confirmed only based on symptoms?
It can be suspected but needs a confirmation by a urine test or an
ultrasonography. |
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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. |
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3 |
Can
the urine test be wrong?
Most of the times it would be correct. |
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4 |
Is there any
blood test to confirm pregnancy?
Yes, by doing serum B-HCG estimation. |
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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. |
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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. |
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7 |
Are mood disturbances common?
Yes, they are common during pregnancy, and are due to hormonal
changes. |
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8 |
Is there a tendency for constipation
during pregnancy?
It is due to hormones, can be avoided by iron tablets. |
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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. |
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10 |
Why do leg cramps occur?
It occurs due to sluggish blood circulation, lack of calcium and
vitamin B and E. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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14 |
How to avoid fainting and dizziness?
Answer: Take plenty of liquids, sweets or sugar and rest adequately. |
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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. |
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16 |
What causes backache?
Answer: Bad posture causes backache. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 till 12 weeks are
completed and completely avoid it after the 36th week. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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Symptoms
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Colicky crampy pain with tenderness, starting on one side and often
spreading throughout the abdomen
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The
pain may worsen by coughing or straining
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Often brown vaginal spotting which may precede pain by several days
or weeks
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Sometimes nausea & vomiting, dizziness & weakness, shoulder pain
Treatment
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Getting to the hospital immediately is important
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New
techniques for early diagnosis & treatment of tubal pregnancy have
removed the risk for mother and help her in preserving her future
fertility
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Diagnosis is usually made through a
series of highly sensitive pregnancy tests that track level of
hormone hCG in mothers blood
high resolution ultrasound to visualize
the uterus & fallopian tub |
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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 |
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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. |
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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. |
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Symptoms
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Regular cramping or intermittent backaches
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Increase in discharge
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Bloody discharge
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Increased pelvic pressure
Risk for preterm labour include
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Multiple pregnancy
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Prior preterm delivery
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Placenta previa and abruption
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Structural defects in uterus
Urinary tract infection
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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 |
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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 babys health
condition. |
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Some tips for mothers
to be
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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. |
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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 ones 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 babys head against an unopened cervix.
Eating papayas will cause abortion
FALSE
There is no scientific evidence for the abortificient action of fruits
like papaya.
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