Is there any way to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy?

Will my vagina always be different after delivery?

These questions and more are being discussed at our show on @Smooth981FM right now. You can also follow the gist via this thread.

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Many pregnant women have a lot of questions for their obstetrician-gynaecologists, especially if it’s their first. A significant change is happening in a woman's body during this special period in her life.

It's no wonder they have so many questions.
Women want to know what's safe for their future baby, and themselves. They strive to understand in what ways their lives can continue as normal, and what aspects need to be changed for the time being.

Here are some of the most common questions we get.
1. How will I know if I’m pregnant? Is it only through missed periods & morning sickness?

The most common sign of pregnancy is a missing period, but you might also experience nausea, heartburn, constipation, tiredness or breast tenderness.

These can occur within 6 to 8 weeks.
2. What are the odds of a false positive or false negative on a pregnancy test?

At-home pregnancy test kits work by detecting the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) in your urine. That hormone is only released when you're pregnant.
In very uncommon cases, a miscarriage or certain medications may create a false-positive result but most of the time, a positive result means you're pregnant.

It's very unlikely to have a false positive but all positive tests should be confirmed at a doctor's office.
False negatives are far more common because many women test too early. All pregnancy tests are most accurate when you take them after a missed period. If you take one before a missed period, you'll get less reliable results.

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3. What if I have spotting during early pregnancy?

Many women who spot during early pregnancy assume they've had a miscarriage, but that isn’t always the case. A good percentage of women will spot in the first trimester & go on to have a healthy pregnancy.

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If you do notice spotting, notify your doctor just in case.

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4. Is it possible to be pregnant and not know?

For most people, pregnancy's physical changes are obvious but it is possible to miss a pregnancy. The simplest & most common explanation is "denial," though there could be physical reasons a growing baby is hard to detect.
Also, a bump could be less noticeable in a person who is heavier or in a person whose uterus sits deep inside the pelvis.

The position of the placenta — the organ that develops in the uterus to deliver oxygen and nutrients to a foetus — could also make a difference.
When the placenta sits in the front part of the uterus — what we call an anterior placenta — it does blunt some of the [foetal] activity.

This is another reason to take pregnancy tests after a missed period when they're more accurate.

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5. Is it really that dangerous to get pregnant after 35?

Women are born with a fixed amount of eggs & as they get older, they're left with fewer eggs that are more likely to have genetic abnormalities. This is why a woman's fertility decreases with age.

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When women get pregnant in their late 30s or 40s, there's a higher risk for certain complications, including birth defects, miscarriage, stillbirth, multiple pregnancies (like twins/triplets). Also, older women have a higher risk of diabetes and high blood pressure in pregnancy.
This doesn't mean that every person who gets pregnant after 35 will experience these problems. There are plenty of women around 35 or slightly older who have uncomplicated pregnancies.

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Statistically speaking though, you are less likely to get pregnant and more likely to have certain issues if you get pregnant past 35.

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http://6.Is  it safe to exercise during pregnancy?

For regular healthy women who are having a low-risk pregnancy, exercise is actually recommended.

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It is recommended that pregnant women get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (like brisk walking) every week. That breaks down to 30 minutes, five times a week.

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Staying active during pregnancy has some benefits, too: It can reduce back pain, ease constipation, and may lower risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and caesarean delivery.

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But there are some exceptions. People with certain health conditions or pregnancy complications should not work out while pregnant. It's best to ask your obstetrician about exercise at an early prenatal visit.

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7. Do I really get to eat for two during pregnancy?

The phrase "eating for two" implies that you get to take in double the calories you normally ingest. It's true that a normal-weight person should gain 15 - 25 kilos during a healthy pregnancy, but you don't need a lot.
In fact, during the first trimester, you don't need any extra calories. During the second trimester, you need about an additional 340 calories a day, and in the third trimester, you need roughly 450 additional calories a day. See, it’s not exactly ‘eating for two’.
8. What foods should I avoid when pregnant?

There are plenty of foods a pregnant woman should avoid. This includes any undercooked meats and seafood because they contain harmful bacteria. These bacteria won't hurt other people but can be dangerous for a pregnant woman & baby.
It's also better to avoid eating sushi that contains raw fish and undercooked eggs. Remember that eggs are okay during pregnancy, but only if they're well-cooked.

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9. When will I feel my baby move?

Your baby’s first movements (called “foetal quickening”) will usually occur between 18 and 22 weeks, though some women feel movement prior. Most women describe these movements as “flutters” or “bubbles.”

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http://10.Is  it dangerous for me to sleep on my back while pregnant?

In the third trimester, when the uterus is its largest, major blood vessels on the back of the uterus can get compressed when a mom-to-be lies on her back.

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However, plenty of pregnant women end up sleeping on their backs at some point during the night and are still fine. So clearly, women who lie on their backs do not all wake up with dead babies.

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Still, if you can sleep comfortably on your side do so as it's considered the best. Doing so can also alleviate pregnancy-related back pain.

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11.Why does pregnancy cause gas and digestive issues?

It all comes down to hormones. Pregnancy causes elevated levels of the hormone progesterone, which relaxes tissues all over your body, including your GI tract.

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This GI tract relaxation slows down the movement of your bowels, potentially causing gas, heartburn, and constipation. It's all because of the relaxation of the tissue due to the progesterone effect.

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12.Will I really poop when I give birth?

Maybe, but it's totally normal.

The muscles you use to push a baby out are the same ones you use to have a bowel movement. In other words, if it happens, it means you're pushing correctly.

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http://13.Is  there any way to prevent stretch marks?

Stretch marks may show up on your growing belly during pregnancy. Some pregnant women get them on their butts, breasts, or thighs, too. But there's not a whole lot you can do to prevent them.

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In 2015, a group of researchers looked at the existing evidence on topical treatments for pregnancy stretch marks. They concluded that reliable prevention methods are scarce.

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Avoiding excessive weight gain during pregnancy may help prevent stretch marks, but sometimes they're just inevitable. Most stretch marks do fade after pregnancy too.

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15.Will my vagina always be different after delivery?

The way your vagina recovers after delivery depends on how it was before you gave birth. People at a healthy weight with strong pelvic floor muscles are more likely to "bounce back".

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However, difficult deliveries such as assisted deliveries (when doctors use a vacuum or forceps to help pull out a baby), and an episiotomy (an incision made just below the vaginal opening) can cause more vaginal trauma and longer recovery.

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The vagina is a highly elastic organ that's made to expand and contract. Although doctors will be able to tell that you've had a vaginal delivery and your vagina may never be exactly the same, with time, it may look and feel very close to the way it was before you gave birth.
Pelvic floor exercises (also known as Kegels) can help the vagina and all your pelvic floor muscles rebound after birth.

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http://16.Is  it safe to be intimate with my husband during pregnancy?

It's an important question because most women don't want their intimate life to stop while they're pregnant. And, in fact, they don't have to stop it at all.

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Despite common assumptions that intimate relations during pregnancy can cause miscarriage or hurt the baby in some way, specialists say that, in most cases, it's perfectly safe to do it right until the last weeks of pregnancy.

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There are very few (and particular) instances where a doctor may advise a woman from engaging in intimate contact with her partner until the pregnancy is over.

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17.When can I get intimate with my partner after giving birth?

Doctors recommend that women wait until after six weeks before resuming sex regardless of the delivery method, but really, you can start whenever you feel ready.

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Women can usually tell when they are ready to resume sexual activity, so it’s up to them.

On the part of their partners, we recommend a great deal of patience and unwavering support. You just might get that action you desire sooner if you do.

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That's all we've got on the show this week and we hope you've learned something.

Do have a lovely evening and keep staying safe.

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