Physiology of Pregnancy

Posted on November 24, 2011 by admin

It’s difficult to define the physiology of pregnancy, but it is important to note that pregnancy is not a disease but a state of wellness and a physiological event.

It’s important that the pregnancy is wanted and accepted by both members of the couple and that there is adequate information on changes that will occur within 40 weeks of gestation.

In the human species (assuming an average duration of the menstrual cycle of 28 days) the normal duration of pregnancy measured from the first day of last menstrual period is 40 weeks, equal to 280 days.

When in the course of pregnancy there were no notable events (diseases or complications), but everything went smoothly and now is the end of the 40 th week, this is called physiological.

For clarity we describe the main changes that occur during pregnancy, changes in anatomical and physiological.

During gestation, the external and internal genitalia undergoes significant changes. The vagina and perineum are subject to imbibition processes that make fabrics softer and softer, the vagina is hyperemic in cyanotic color has a feature, not rarely notice varicose dilatation of the superficial veins. Even in the perineal area is frequent observation of ectasia, sometimes very voluminous hemorrhoidal plexus.

The most obvious changes occur in pregnancy due to the loading of the uterus: the organ is initially 6-7 cm long, at the end of pregnancy is over 30 cm long and 25 meters wide, which corresponds to an increase in volume of its cavity of 500-1000 times. Even the weight is changed in proportion, rising from 50-60 grams 1000-1500 grams pregravidici the term of pregnancy: this increase is due to water retention in the uterine tissue, hypertrophy of muscle fibers and the formation of new bundles of fiber.

The interior of the uterus, in addition to the product of conception, the placenta also houses and outbuildings ovulari, which are the structures of the egg that are not part of the fetal body.

The annexes are ovulari placenta membranes (amnion and chorion), amniotic fluid and umbilical cord.

Of these, the most important for its functional complexity is certainly the placenta, a highly differentiated organ that serves for respiration and nutrition of the fetus and endocrine activity presents complex.

At the end of pregnancy the placenta is discoid shape with a thickness of about ½ cm at the periphery and in the middle, 2-4 cm in diameter is 16-20 cm, its weight is between 500 and 600 grams , about a sixth of fetal weight. In the placenta are distinguished:

  1. Fetal face turned to the fetus;
  2. Face that adheres to the maternal uterine wall.
Posted in Pregnancy | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Exercise In Pregnancy

Posted on November 10, 2011 by admin

It ‘important for every woman, even if it is not the first pregnancy, attend a specific course of preparation for motherhood because it has a chance to meet other pregnant women who share the same experience, including anxiety, and therefore speak a language in which we can recognize.

The exchange of experiences between women, knowledge and critical analysis of techniques and places of birth, are intended to promote awareness and active management of the event birth.

In addition, field work, the breathing techniques and massage will help to dissolve the body grows accustomed to the discomfort that comes from taking a position, teaching does not oppose the forces acting from the inside during labor and childbirth but rather, learning to know and feel your body and cooperating actively in the birth of your baby.

Specific exercises to practice every day if possible, help the muscles and joints to melt and will benefit the internal organs, spine and breath. While the body will be dissolved, the mind will relax and be able to feel more deeply the harmony with your inner being and your child.

In addition, courses are held regularly in briefings on the mother – father – child care on the newborn, nutrition, breastfeeding, labor, delivery etc.. which are of great help to prepare you for this great event is the arrival of a baby in the house.

It may be interesting and productive involvement in these activities also partners, both during the course both in the exercises is good, as I said before, repeat daily at home.

The morning before breakfast or the evening before dinner is the ideal time. The space is easily detectable in any home, an area of ​​2 m x 2 m. is more than enough, this space must be free of obstacles and well ventilated, a gymnastic mat (also available in department stores) or a rug complete the equipment needed.

And ‘good practice to wear a suit handy in natural fabrics, metals without him, relaxing music, the answering machine switched on and we can start.

Some Recommendations
The exercises should be performed with the rhythm of breathing. Do not hold your breath during the movement but, rather, used to prepare the inspiration for the movement and exhale during muscle work.

The breath is always abdominal breathing fills the abdomen and the diaphragm descends, massaging the internal organs.

Exhale, gently contract your abdominal muscles and the movement should not affect the chest if not later.

If your back bothers you and making you feel sore, you can back use a pillow under your lower back or bend your knees placing his feet on the ground, but if you feel dizzy, compression of the abdominal great vessels (more common in the last month of pregnancy, then place yourself on the left side, and then rise up on all fours to take positions to avoid lying.

Get checked regularly midwife during pregnancy, so you know exactly what your condition. Do the exercises that you can easily do not force the board and in doubt, ask your midwife.

Posted in Pregnancy | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Symptoms And Complications Of Venereal Diseases

Posted on November 7, 2011 by admin

Symptoms
A sexually transmitted infection produces disease when it becomes noticeable signs or symptoms. In some cases, the immune system is able to confine the pathogen and to prevent excessive development, so the disease is asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. Although in this case one can not speak of genuine illness, the individual can still transmit the infection during sexual contact of various kinds; infected subjects, in turn, can become carriers or suffer the symptoms and complications of the disease.

After infection, venereal diseases take a long time to produce the first symptoms, it is the case, for example, infection with certain strains of human papilloma virus or HIV. Other diseases, however, have shorter incubation times that facilitate timely recognition, it is the case, for example, gonorrhea and syphilis.

In general, the first manifestations of venereal diseases occur shortly after infection (from a few days up to three months); speaking, in this case, primary infection or acute infection. Although this stage can go completely unnoticed, its typical manifestations include symptoms such as loss or unusual vaginal bleeding outside of menstruation (even minor), pain or burning during urination, pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse, itching , irritation, redness and burning in the genitals, blisters, ulcers or blisters in the genital area more or less painful, oral or rectal, inguinal lymph node enlargement, fever and other flulike symptoms.

Sometimes the symptoms are so mild and nonspecific to push the patient to interpret it as a sick passenger, such as a rash or a cold. In any case, however, the primary symptoms of infection resolve within a few weeks, sometimes even without treatment. Unfortunately, despite this, many times the disease continues to progress, especially in the absence of an effective treatment. So, months or even years after primary infection, venereal disease can produce signs and symptoms are much more serious, such as recurrent episodes of genital pain, infertility, certain cancers, pelvic pain, scrotal redness and swelling, rash generalized, abscesses and genital appearance of vesicles in different body locations.

The fact that the signs and symptoms of primary venereal diseases are often modest and likely to not be recognized, it complicates the diagnosis and treatment, facilitating the transmission and evolution unfavourably.

As said the apparently healthy partner and her genital area, does not protect in any way from the risk of acquiring a venereal disease during sexual intercourse.

Complications
If not treated in time, venereal disease can have serious repercussions on general health and fertility of infected people. Unfortunately, we have seen that in many cases the primary infection is asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, so the first obvious sign is given by a late complication. What would be easily eradicated by a short antibiotic treatment of venereal disease becomes a particularly serious and sometimes fatal consequences.

Consider the example of chlamydia, which can cause narrowing of the fallopian tubes causing scar ectopic pregnancy or permanent sterility. Other possible complications of venereal diseases include arthritis, conjunctivitis, infertility, cervical cancer, heart disease, memory loss, preterm delivery, urethral stricture, infertility in humans, abortion and pre-and perinatal death. Recurrence, as in the case of genital herpes, are not always related to sexual activity.

Finally, it deserves special attention the role of STDs as a cofactor in the sexual transmission of HIV has been calculated to be a significantly increased risk of transmission of HIV acquisition in the presence of another venereal disease.

Posted in Venereal Disease | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Pregnant And Lunch Meat

Posted on November 4, 2011 by admin

What is the danger for pregnant woman to eat lunch meat? Lunch with the meat when you’re pregnant can lead to the risk of listeria. Listeria is a bacteria that can be found in meat and processed food.

Listeria bacteria can cause disease listeriosis, which can lead to some problems during pregnancy, such as:

  1. Miscarriage
  2. Premature Delivery
  3. Infections of the newborn
  4. The death of the newborn (about 1 / 4 of cases of perinatal Listeriosis result in stillbirth or neonatal death)

To avoid the problems above, you should avoid or reduce consumption of meat at lunch time during pregnancy.

Posted in Pregnancy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Gastroesophageal Reflux

Posted on November 1, 2011 by admin

The gastric and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a syndrome caused by the rise along the esophagus, stomach acid content, ie, gastric juices and bile, in which the esophagus is usually an environment with pH rather base balance. If the ascent is very intense and often you can talk to all the effects of gastroesophageal reflux disease. This is due to a bladder of the “valve” post separation between the esophagus and stomach, the cardia.

This valve normally prevents reflux of gastric contents in the opposite direction to normal food intake, but if not its function is damaged and may cause the malfunction of the digestive system and more or less serious disorders. It is a rather frequent in both sexes and can range from mere annoyance that all may have sometimes experienced after a meal, especially abundant, the esophagus (ie inflammation of the esophagus) to get to more serious conditions such as stenosis (narrowing of the diameter of the esophagus) and Barrett’s esophagus, in which some parts of the esophageal mucosa are transformed (metaplasia) in gastric mucosal type.

The main symptoms are heartburn, that burning sensation in the chest just behind the breastbone, but also towards the throat and further down towards the stomach, regurgitation of gastric juices or content; difficult and painful swallowing, excessive salivation increase, decrease and hoarseness of voice, difficulty in breathing until you get to bronchial asthma, dental problems and other symptoms.

Before establishing a syndrome of gastric reflux need to be able to exclude other diseases that have similar symptoms, such as cardiac diseases that cause pain rib, gastritis etc.

Posted in Heartburn | Tagged , | Leave a comment