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The step lengthens as the pregnancy progresses, due to weight gain and changes in posture. On average, a woman's foot can grow by a half size or more during pregnancy. In addition, the increased body weight of pregnancy, fluid retention, and weight gain lowers the arches of the foot, further adding to the foot's length and width.
A contraction stress test (CST) is performed near the end of pregnancy (34 weeks' gestation) to determine how well the fetus will cope with the contractions of childbirth. The aim is to induce contractions and monitor the fetus to check for heart rate abnormalities using a cardiotocograph. A CST is one type of antenatal fetal surveillance ...
It is characterized by changes in fetal movement, growth, heart rate, and presence of meconium stained fluid. [ 4 ] Risk factors for fetal distress/non-reassuring fetal status include anemia , restriction of fetal growth , maternal hypertension or cardiovascular disease, low amniotic fluid or meconium in the amniotic fluid, or a post-term ...
Leg cramps – Leg cramps (involuntary spasms of the calf muscles) can affect between 30% and 50% of pregnant women and most commonly occur in the last three months of pregnancy. [19] Leg cramps are a common pregnancy issue, especially in later trimesters, caused by factors like weight gain, changes in circulation, electrolyte imbalances ...
[63] [64] The mother has regular assessments for uterine contraction and fundal height, [65] vaginal bleeding, heart rate and blood pressure, and temperature, for the first 24 hours after birth. Some women may experience an uncontrolled episode of shivering or postpartum chills following the birth.
The breasts change during pregnancy to prepare for lactation, and more changes occur immediately after the birth. Progesterone is the hormone that influences the growth of breast tissue before the birth. Afterwards, the endocrine system shifts from producing hormones that prevent lactation to ones that trigger milk production. [3]
Symptoms usually include one or more of the following: orthopnea (difficulty breathing while lying flat), dyspnea (shortness of breath) on exertion, pitting edema (swelling), cough, frequent night-time urination, excessive weight gain during the last month of pregnancy (1-2+ kg/week; two to four or more pounds per week), palpitations (sensation of racing heart-rate, skipping beats, long pauses ...
Anemia prevalences during pregnancy differed from 18% in developed countries to 75% in South Asia; culminating to a global rate of 38% of pregnancies worldwide. [1] [5] [32] Treatment varies due to the severity of the anaemia, and can be used by increasing iron containing foods, oral iron tablets or by the use of parenteral iron. [13]