I’m 18 weeks pregnant this week and, if I’m being totally honest with myself, I didn’t think this day would come. My last baby was born at 18 weeks and passed away in my arms 10 minutes after birth. With my previous pregnancies, despite the complications I’ve had, I was never really a nervous mom. I knew this time things would be a bit different but I wasn’t prepared for how emotionally draining this pregnancy would be and how much each tiny milestone would mean to me.

Weekly appointments with the Maternal Fetal Medicine doctor have kept most of my panic at bay, although my visits seem to alternate between being reassuring and discovering new potential complications. I’ve realized that the best I can do is take things one day at a time and celebrate each day I’m still pregnant.

I’m fighting the tendency to avoid getting attached to this pregnancy and celebrating each milestone as a small victory. These are the milestones that have meant the most:

A Positive Pregnancy Test

After a loss, the possibility of another pregnancy often seems so far off in the distant future that it’s a bit of a shock when you realize you have come full circle. For me, denial hit big time. I took 2 home pregnancies tests and requested 3 blood tests. Even after all of those came back positive, I wasn’t convinced until I’d seen the baby on several ultrasounds. Early pregnancy is when many miscarriages happen so it’s normal to feel cautious after a loss. If you’ve announced your previous pregnancies right away, you may be more hesitant to do so now. I decided that I felt okay about spreading the news only to friends and family members that I would tell if I did experience a loss.

Doubling HCG Levels

After a loss, your OBGYN will likely order a 48 hour HCG test. This is a simple blood test but it can give you a good initial idea of how strong the pregnancy is. Your HCG levels should double every 48 hours. If they do, it’s a good indication that the pregnancy is progressing the way it should. My HCG levels quadrupled at the beginning of this pregnancy and it was a huge relief to know that we were at least starting off smoothly.

Finding a Heartbeat

Once you see a heartbeat on an ultrasound (or hear it on a doppler if you are further along in your pregnancy) the risk of miscarriage goes down drastically. This can be very reassuring, as is seeing real proof of your little bean. For me, this milestone was less reassuring than it could have been since I experienced a loss later on in my previous pregnancy, but it was still comforting. I’ve never had a desire to rent or buy a doppler in any of my previous pregnancies, but I have to admit, I was very tempted this time. If my perinatologist hadn’t started bringing me in for weekly appointments, I probably would have caved.

If you do buy a doppler, be sure you avoid anything that says “listening device”. A listening device is much cheaper than a doppler but it’s is only useful in the second and third trimesters when the baby is larger.

Hitting Double Digits

This pregnancy milestone has absolutely no medical significance but for some reason I felt better when I moved into the double digits. Making the transition from 9 weeks to 10 just felt huge to me because those early weeks of pregnancy seemed to be dragging by so slowly that I just felt stuck. There was also the added perk that 10 weeks was just a bit closer to that magic 2nd trimester point when miscarriage rates go down and supposedly morning sickness goes away. I would have been very discouraged at that point if you had told me I’d still be dealing with morning sickness at 18 weeks. Some things are definitely better if we’re kept in the dark.

Moving into the Second Trimester

Depending on who you talk to, the second trimester of pregnancy starts sometime between the 12th-14th weeks of pregnancy. Once you hit that point your risk of early miscarriage goes down and in theory you start to feel a bit better. I’m still waiting for all that extra energy that the pregnancy books promise but it does feel better to see those weeks adding up.

Passing the Point of your Previous Loss

The most comforting milestone many expectant moms hit in a pregnancy after a loss is passing the point where you lost your last baby. This obviously varies depending on your last experience (and if you went full term before experiencing a loss you’ll likely be nervous until that baby is in your arms). For me, 18 weeks was that key week and until I got this far, I was absolutely convinced that I was waiting to repeat history.

20 Weeks

20 weeks is not much different than 19 weeks except that anything before 20 weeks is technically considered a miscarriage. I delivered an 18 week baby who was born alive and fought for 10 minutes to try and breath and I can tell you that nothing about that felt like a miscarriage. My son died in my arms with his tiny hand wrapped around one of my fingers. If you have a loss at 20 weeks or beyond, you don’t have to deal with insensitive family members trying to convince you that you only had a miscarriage.

Hospital policy varies but at many hospitals, 20 weeks is also the point where you can go straight to labor and delivery verses stopping by in the ER if you have any problems. I’ve found most ER staff to be clueless when it comes to pregnancy so I’m anxiously counting down the days until I hit 20 weeks this time.

Anatomy Ultrasound

Typically you’ll have an anatomy ultrasound between 18-20 weeks of pregnancy. This ultrasound can give you a good idea if your baby is developing properly and has any markers for chromosomal problems. If you want to know the gender, you should be able to determine that at this point too. I’ve found that knowing the gender helps you bond a bit more with the baby before birth.

Until I found out this baby was a girl, I had trouble separating her in my mind from the previous baby that I lost. I know that doesn’t make much logical sense but it was a trick that my brain played on me. Apparently I wasn’t the only one. My 6 year old son asked me several times if this baby was his lost brother coming back to our family.

The Point of Viability

A baby is viable between 23 and 24 weeks. Before that point, no measures will be taken to save the baby’s life if she is born prematurely. Survival rates go up drastically at 24 weeks and even though it’s best to keep babies cooking much longer than that, it is a huge comfort once you hit the point where you know your baby has a shot. I may have a party when I hit 24 weeks. Seriously.

Every Week Counts

Once the baby is viable, each week is something to celebrate. Survival rates go up each week and the chance of serious complications and lifelong health issue go down. The good news is, the days go by slowly but the weeks often go by quickly. . . or at least that’s what we tell ourselves after the fact.

37 Weeks

37 weeks is considered full term and the likelihood of the baby needing to spend time in the NICU is much lower. This is also my official pregnancy deadline because I’m not allowed to get further than 37 weeks since I have a history of abruptions and growth restriction.

Due Date

I may be a total dork, but I get really excited when I buy food with an expiration date past my due date. In previous pregnancies I would get all excited when yogurt expired after my due date and then when milk expired after my due date. I’m a long way off from that still but I’m already smiling at the dates on my milk carton.

What milestones meant something to you in a pregnancy after a loss?

I’ve been keeping a secret from all of you. I’m not particularly good at keeping secrets, but in this case, I’ve been too afraid to make our news public, knowing what I do about how many things can go wrong. I found out about a month ago that we are expecting our 5th baby. This is good news. It is.

Except it terrifies me.

You see, our last baby was born at only 18 weeks. He passed away after 10 minutes. Before that, I have a long history of severe preeclampsia, placental abruption, and preterm labor. That makes this road we are on a scary one.

The odds I’ve been given aren’t good. After losing our baby last time, I would have been terrified anyway. Hearing that it isn’t likely I’ll go to term doesn’t help things.

I had high hopes for this pregnancy. I was originally told that a cerclage and the p17 shots would give me a good shot at a normal pregnancy. Once a subchorionic hematoma (essentially an early abruption) was found on my first ultrasound the plan changed. I’m not a good candidate for a cerclage because the risk of infection is too high and l went into labor last time at least partially because the subchorionic bleed caused a uterine infection.

It’s a balancing act and the only treatment option my doctor is really giving me is “take it easy” and we’ll “wait and see”, which is not overly comforting when you are pregnant after an infant loss.

The trick is, overcoming the fear is essential. If I let fear get the best of me, my blood pressure rises and the risk of an abruption goes up.

For now, I’m taking things day by day. I’m taking lots of breaks and walking away from things that cause me stress. Beyond that though, I’m flying blind.

I know that we’re generally the ones providing the tips around here but this time, I need some tips from you. How do you stay calm when you are feeling fearful?

There are several different types of Anemia but the most common kind is Iron Deficiency. Small children and women of a child bearing age are the most common sufferers of a decreased Iron level. Iron is a mineral that can be found in EVERY SINGLE cell of our body. It supports numerous tasks but the most important of these is to carry oxygen from our blood to our lungs are part of hemoglobin. If our body is deficient in iron levels, other minor processes of our daily function will be ignored so that all that is available will be used to transfer the oxygen to our organs and muscles. This can result in a whole plethora of signs and symptoms that often go unnoticed.

Signs of Iron Deficiency

1. Bruising Easily. As moms we all get bumps and bruises, its in the job description, but if you are noticing that you are getting more and more frequent bruises and – worse – don’t recall being injured hard enough to leave that much of a mark, you are likely iron deficient. This is sort of a vicious cycle because the loss of the red blood cells – which cause the bruise – actually further decreases your iron levels. In most people it’s hard to say if the bruising or the deficiency came first but if it persists, it will become damaging to your health.
2. Constantly tired and feeling “weak”. If you have a few days were you just feel out of it, nothing big to worry about – especially if it’s the few days following your period, as blood loss decreases your iron levels. However, if you cannot bounce back in a few days, you really need to use some sort of supplementation – dietary pills, increased red meat and vegetables high in iron.
3. Hair loss. This is the one that often goes unreported. Women will start to loss something more than the average daily hair loss but less than real “clumps” and worry that they are just thinning with age. If it is a sudden onset and enough for you to really take note, you should talk to your doctor. A full blood work-up will be able to determine your problem.

Treating Iron Deficiency

The most common treatment of Iron Deficiency is through dietary supplementation. However, this has a fair amount of unpleasant side effects, namely bouts of constipation followed by diarrhea. In minor cases the addition of red meat to your diet can help as well as consuming vegetables that are high in iron like dark leafy greens. Another great source, though not very tasty, is to take a tablespoon of black strap molasses each day. For more severe cases, your doctor may opt for iron infusions – a weekly or biweekly injection of a fluid rich in iron pushed directly to your veins. This is done for people who struggle with absorption of vitamins and minerals within their digestive system.

Whatever method you choose for treatment, the most important thing is to get treatment. While this is a minor issue that many women go through – especially before, during and after pregnancy – the lasting effects can become irreparable.

Have you ever had a doctor off-handedly mention to you that you have “dense breast tissue”? It was previously believed that having dense tissue – as apposed to fatty tissue – was simply an inconvenience when detecting tumors on a mammogram. Fatty tissue shows up as very dark on the image produced and tumors show up as very light in contrast– unfortunately dense tissue also shows up as light on the image, sometimes masking the tumors. However, a new study has found that not only does having dense breast tissue make it more difficult to see tumors, it is actually a risk factor for breast cancer. This study, which took place in Canadian Cancer centers in 2007, found that women with dense breast tissue were FIVE times more likely to have breast cancer.

What is Dense Breast Tissue?

For most women, the breast tissue is very soft – almost squishy – and fatty. However some women have more solid breasts. While dense breast tissue is not something that can be identified via a physical examine, a mammogram, ultrasound and/or MRI can see it. The main reason that a breast may be dense is a larger amount of mammary glands (milk producing glands), as well as connective tissue – when compared to the fatty tissue. It has nothing to do with cup size at all, just a ratio between fatty and non-fatty tissue within the breast.

Why is it ignored?

As mentioned above, it’s a widely held belief that dense tissue is merely an inconvenience and not a red flag when it comes to breast tissue and mammograms. Some might infer that the rate of “false positives” is what causes doctors to not investigate further. However, since breast cancer is one of those things that can be treated very effectively if detected early – wouldn’t you want to go for that second screening rather than ignore the issue?

Don’t wait till you can “feel” it

Many women think that their breasts are just fine if they can’t “feel” a lump. And while regular breast examination is important – you should try to do it once a week if you can remember – you still are not catching it as early as a mammogram can. You have to imagine that the cells of a tumor grow much like a fetus does – it starts out microscopic and takes months – even years – to grow to a size that you can actually detect with your hands on the outside of your skin. Getting a regular mammogram starting at age 40, 35 if you have certain risk factors – like heredity.

What does this mean for you?

If you are told – in passing – that “you have dense breast tissue” after getting your mammogram with no directions to get an ultrasound and/or MRI as follow-up – ask for one! It’s your health and it’s important to be proactive. If it’s an issue of insurance coverage – some companies will not cover an “elective screening”, which is one not requested by your doctor – check in with your local American Cancer Society office to see what they offer in terms of screenings. You may have to wait a few days or weeks for their next event, but usually they have some sort of option available.

Having all the right equipment when you breastfeeding is very important for success. This becomes especially true when you are pumping your milk for storage. If you have to pump milk so that you can return to work, you will have to pump at regular intervals throughout the day to insure that you keep you milk supply up. This can be a time consuming process, so you really want to be sure that you have a streamlined method to make the most of it. One of the best ways to do that is to utilize a hands-free bustier so that you can multitask while you pump.  Medela has the complete line of breastfeeding needs – from pumps to nursing bras. Check out their Easy Expression Bustier.

Easy Expression™ Bustier
Model: EE Bustier

Features and Benefits

• Gives you the freedom to do other things while pumping.
• Easy to wear, use and wash.
• Cotton/Spandex blend is comfortable on its own or over a nursing bra or camisole.
• Machine wash, tumble dry.
• Available in white or black.
• Halter style also available.

Here’s What I Think

I was very happy to find that the sizing was spot on. Often times you can run into sizing issues when you are nursing because you have no way of knowing just how much you will grow. You can use the Medela Bra Size Calculator and the Bustier Size Chart to find your best size. I wore the bustier on its own and found it to be very comfortable soft fabric that did not bind or dig into my skin. I really liked being about to relieve my engorgement and still comfortably hold my baby, or read my book or do a number of other tasks. It is great to not feel tied down to one spot while pumping. I was also pleased with how well it washed. It did not shrink or distort in shape at all with a normal washing.

Enter to Win

One Busy Mommy Media reader will receive a Medela Easy Expression™ Bustier.

To enter, comment on this post and give us your best breastfeeding advice.

This giveaway is open to the U.S. only and will end on  July 20, 2011

In compliance with the FTC Guidelines, please note that this is a sponsored post, however all opinions are my own. Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions for a complete list of our contest and giveaway rules.

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Study after study shows that there is not a single product made in a lab that comes close to incredible value of nursing your baby. One really important aspect of breastmilk that you will never find in a can of formula is the presence of antibodies. When a woman is around a virus or germ, she develops the antibodies that stay in her system. If that same virus later affects the baby, your milk will provide the baby with the antibodies to fight the infection and help them to fight the bug right from the start.

As with everything pregnancy and newborn related, there are some mild drawbacks – mostly centered on discomfort and embarrassment. One of those drawbacks is leakage. For many nursing moms, leakage is something that happens while they are actively nursing their child. This is how it works: You start nursing baby on the left side and get the “let down” of milk, but lo and behold both breasts let down and now you have a wet circle on the right breast. Not only is this inconvenient, uncomfortable and embarrassing, it’s also a waste when you really think about it. That’s where the Milkies Milk Saver comes into play!

About the Milkies Milk Saver:

“Our patented design allows you to breastfeed anywhere without worrying about embarrassing leaks or uncomfortable nursing pads. Slim and portable, no one will even know you are wearing it. Best of all — it collects your leaking breast milk when you nurse, allowing you to store extra breast milk effortlessly.

The milk-saver is easy to use; simply slip into your bra-cup on the non-nursing side before you breastfeed. The milk-saver collects the breast milk that is leaked out when your milk lets down. You can store this milk and save it for any time its needed.

Breastfeeding is something to be proud of. The milk-saver makes it easy. The patented slim design makes the milk-saver nearly imperceptible when worn. A stylish and durable case keeps your milk-saver safe and clean when you’re on the go.
At Milkies, we care about the safety of the materials that make up our products. The Milk-Saver has been rigorously tested to ensure zero chemical leaching and contains no BPA or phthalates.

As an environmentally conscious company, we give breastfeeding moms an alternative to disposable products. The Milk-Saver has exceeded all expectations for functionality and simplicity. It has received accolades from lactation specialists, pediatricians, and breastfeeding moms the world over.

The Milk-Saver makes the perfect baby shower/new mom gift. Or get one for yourself.

Also the Milkies Milk Saver is a USDA allowable cost at WIC clinic. Email helen@mymilkies.com for more information.

Here’s What I think about it:

My very first thought about this product was whether or not it would be noticeable to those around me and would it be comfortable. I was very pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to slip into my nursing bra and how I didn’t even notice it once it was in place.

Early on in the process of breastfeeding, you experience this stage of leakage that is uncontrollable. While your body is trying to figure out just how much milk is needed, it tends to overproduce, which results in what is called engorgement. The Milkies allow you save that leakage or at least collect it, so that it doesn’t run down the front of your shirt. This product really comes in handy when you get to the “rice cereal stage” because one feeding can produce enough milk to mix in with the rice cereal – which is just perfect!

Enter to Win

One Busy Mommy Media reader will win a Milkies Milk Saver.

To enter, comment on this post and tells us your best advice for a new mother.

This giveaway is open to the U.S. only and will end on  June 21, 2011

In compliance with the FTC Guidelines, please note that this is a sponsored post. Glide Bikes sent me a Go Glider for review purposes and is providing the giveaway prize, however all opinions are my own. Please see our site’s Terms and Conditions for a complete list of our contest and giveaway rules.

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Earn additional giveaway entries for each of the following. Comment on this post to let us know each time you earn an additional entry.

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• Tweet this giveaway by clicking on the box in the upper right hand side of this post or copying and pasting the following into twitter:

I entered to #win a @MyMilkies Milk Saver  from @BusyMommyMedia! http://bit.ly/klCLHp

• Get updates from Busy Mommy Media by signing up for the  Busy Mommy Media Newsletter, subscribing to the Busy Mommy Media RSS feed, or  Signing up to receive updates from Busy Mommy Media.
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Many women think they suffer from Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), but in fact only a fraction of women really and truly could be diagnosed with PMS. More than 85% of women will have at least one PMS symptom but they would not be diagnosed with PMS. There are very specific symptoms and circumstances to be diagnosed with PMS. And there are also very specific treatment regimens. There are also other more severe disorders that have similar symptoms, but may have more significant implications.

Understanding Your Cycle

It’s important to understand your Menstrual Cycle in order to understand PMS. Your cycle starts on the first day of your period and in general lasts 28 days, but it’s normal for your cycle to last between 21-35 days. In general, you should have your period between 3-10 days with peak flow at day 5. On the 5^th day of your cycle an increase in estrogen tells the uterine lining to prepare for implantation of a fertilized egg. On the 14^th day the unfertilized egg is released by the ovary (ovulation). If the egg is not fertilized, progesterone level decrease telling the uterine lining to shed, thus triggers the start of your next cycle.

Premenstrual Syndrome

The most important part of PMS is that it following a fairly definite pattern. Symptoms can be both physical and Emotional/Behavior in nature but most commonly include irritability, depression, appetite changes and bloating. To be considered PMS the symptoms should start approximately 5 days prior to the first day of the period and subside by 4 days after the first day of the period and this pattern should be consistent for at least three months. Additionally, the symptoms must be seen to interfere with the woman’s ability to perform her normal daily routine. More recently many medical and psychological doctor’s have found that many woman who say they have PMS in fact do not , but rather use it as a reason have a bad attitude. As a woman, I was at first appalled by this statement, but then once I thought about it more, I realized that it is in fact a truth. There are plenty of women that experience their menstrual cycle with little to no outward behavioral symptoms.

Treating PMS

Once positively diagnosed with PMS, there are lots of lifestyle as well as prescription based methods to minimize the effects and most of them are centered on a healthy lifestyle in general. Getting enough aerobic exercise can lessen the severity of one’s period and in turn lessen the severity of PMS symptoms. Relaxing and stress reducing is also a great way to minimize the emotional symptoms of PMS. A healthy diet – one high in whole foods and low in processed foods – combined with low alcohol and caffeine intake, can also help. If your symptoms are more severe, your doctor may prescribe dietary supplements such as Vitamin B6, Vitamin E and/or Calcium. It the symptoms persist, you will move on to prescription medications such as Diuretics or NSAIDs.

Something More than PMS

There are a number of other conditions that share the same symptoms as PMS and are commonly confused. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a much more severe form of PMS, and only affects a small group of women. PMDD tends to have a lot more emotional/behavioral effects with a greater impact on daily life, which may result in the need for both prescription and psychological treatment to combat. Additionally, if a woman suffers from depression or anxiety disorders, it might “flare up” around the menstrual cycle and be misinterpreted as PMS. Some doctors say that if other people “know” when your period will come, you should speak to a doctor about the severity of your symptoms.

Health Care Insurance is a touchy issue in today’s economy. Did you know that a majority of people that are lucky enough to have coverage, are not using that coverage to it’s fullest extent? Most plans offer a number of free services as well as specifics for lower fees. It is important to look into exactly what your benefits include and make the most of the plan you are already paying for.

What Can You Get for Free?

Many plans offer free services for programs that will increase your overall level of health. For example, there might be a free smoking cessation program which includes printed materials, support groups, and even medication. The reason your health care plan offers these sorts of programs is because it cost them less in the long run. If you are healthier in general, you spend less time in doctor’s offices. Other common programs include prenatal care, weight loss programs, and diabetic care. You might also have access to a nurse call-in program to have your simple questions answered for free without a doctor’s visit. Also many plans include a “co-pay free” annual exam/physical. Take advantage of this, as annual are a great way to catch major issues when they are first presenting. Your plan may also reimburse you for diffenent treatment related costs. If you have to travel more than 60 miles to see a specialist, you might be able to get some gas money. Or if you have to pay extra shipping to recieve a prescribed item, you might be able to get that money back.

Where Are You Going for Care?

When you or a family member are sick, you may think you need the most state-of-the-art facility to get testing done. But really an ultrasound is an ultrasound whether done in your doctor’s clinic or at the hospital. However the fee can be drastically different. In general, having testing and procedures done in your doctor’s office is almost always less expensive, which means less out of pocket for you. You also want to look into what sorts of routine testing are covered. Your plan may cover up to 2 MRIs a year but no CScans, so if possible you want to ask your doctor if the other will produce a valuable test result. This also applies for referrals. Some plans require a referral from your Primary Care Physician (PCP) before they will cover a visit to a specialist. A specialist can be anyone from a OB/GYN to a dermatologist to an endocrinologist. If you need to see any of these specialist, call your insurance and see if a referral is needed, and if so ask your PCP for a formal referral. This can save you a lot of money in the long run because specialist’s fees tend to be higher to begin with, you don’t want to be stuck with the entire bill.

Is Your Plan Customizable?

While most items covered by your plan are determined by your employer (if you are covered by an employer) or the state (if you get state benefits), there might be some wiggle room. For example, if you are a single mother, you really don’t need to be paying for male related items just as a single dad really doesn’t need to be covered for maternity care. Also if your children are out of the house and no longer on your plan, you could drop the pediatric services. Medical Insurance is much like auto or home owner’s insurance in that specifics might be included in a package, but not necessary. Think of it like this – if you live in Montana – do you really need Tsunami insurance? So contact your medical insurance and see if you can do any customizing to lower your premiums.

Are You Reading Your Bills?

Almost all medical billing is done by hand. A billing specialist looks at the doctor’s notes, enters codes (numbers assigned to various procedures) into the system, which produces fees and bills your insurance accordingly. Then your insurance responds with how much they are willing to pay for that service and your provider then decides whether to charge you the difference or to accept the payment as is. You want to keep a close eye on what you are being charged because it only takes one slip of the finger to turn a 1 into a 4 when coding and in turn balloon a $100 procedure into a $1500 procedure. From personal experience, I know this to be true. In my current pregnancy I was originally charged for a total body MRI when I only had a pregnancy verification ultrasound done. It was a mere typo that could have cost me a ton. So when you get that bill of patient responsibility, read it over and if anything looks strange call and ask for verification. You could really save yourself in the long run. This also goes for the type of visit you are having. Many Urgent Care facilities or after hours clinics will make you an appointment (even if its for 10 minutes from the time you called) but this can be the difference between a $50 co-pay and a $20 co-pay just in the way it’s billed because a scheduled appointment doesn’t cost as much as a walk-in visit.

In contrast with all of this, your Health Insurance coverage may have changed due to cutbacks by your employer. If they have increased the amount you are responsible for or they have switched providers, you really need to check to see what else has changed. Some people are shocked to find out that their new insurance is not accepted by their current PCP, and only find out when they get a bill!

Anemia is on the rise among American Women. It is important to know the difference between the types of anemia as well as some effective prevention methods and treatment plans. Anemia, in general, is a a result of one of two things – that you don’t have enough red blood cells in your system or the red blood cells do not have enough hemoglobin (protein) in them. Hemoglobin is extremely important because it is a key factor in transporting oxygen to the organs and tissues of your body, so without enough things just don’t work correctly. There are four main types of Anemia – Iron Deficiency (the most common), Vitamin (B12/folate) Deficiency, Anemia related to genetic blood disorder and Anemia related to some other illness/disorder/disease. There is also a major blood disorder known as Sickle Cell Anemia – a disorder that causes your blood cells to be produced in irregular shapes resulting in flow issues of the blood through your vessels.

Some Fast Facts

1. You can teeter on the borderline of Anemia for time to time. This can be the result of an exceptionally heavy menstrual period, or other injury that results in a large loss of blood volume.
2. Iron Deficiency Anemia is usually direct result of an “iron-poor diet”. Iron is mineral found in many foods and is required by your body to produce Hemoglobin. It is very common for a Woman to be slightly anemic just after her period or childbirth, and usually can correct itself with healthy diet – eating plenty of iron rich foods like fish, poultry, eggs and dairy. However in severe cases, an Iron Supplement maybe required to maintain healthy levels. Iron deficiency can also be sign of greater issues such as Colon Cancer, Crohn’s Disease and Celiac Disease.
3. Vitamin Deficiency Anemia is caused by a lack of B12 or Folate in your system. Vitamin B12 and Folate are both needed by your body to create new red blood cells. Again, most cases can be rectified by healthy diet (both of these vitamins are found in green leafy vegetables).
4. Most of the symptoms of Anemia are directly related by the increased work load put on your heart to pump more blood. Since anemic blood has a lower level of oxygen, your body must pump your blood more quickly through the cycle in order to reach the tissues’ and organs’ quotas. These symptoms can include fatigue, dizziness, a sense of weakness, a tendency to bruise easily, headaches, inability to focus, and crabbiness. You will notice that these are all commonly associated with menstruation as well, so diagnosis can be difficult at times.
5. Blood tests are needed to properly diagnosis any of these forms of Anemia. It is also important to address this issue swiftly, as in most cases it is completely treatable, but left unattended can lead to other serious issues.

Pregnancy can be a very difficult road, even when everything is “normal”. The many changes your body undergoes are both amazing and exhausting. At around 28 weeks, most pregnant women are given a one hour glucose tolerance test. This is done because, even if a woman has no previous history or risk of diabetes, approximately 10% of pregnant woman will develop gestational diabetes (GD).  The test specifically detects higher than normal levels of glucose in the blood following a large dose of dextrose (that icky drink you have to gulp down and then wait an hour to have your blood drawn).

Depending on the results of this test, a mom-to-be maybe sent to do the three, five or seven hour testing procedure, to further diagnosis the symptoms. If the tests show that you have gestational diabetes, your life will undergo a drastic change. Depending on how severe your condition is, your doctor will like try to manage your GD with diet but may have to resort to medication. Either way it is going to take a lot of monitoring and focus from you.

Glucose Monitoring

You will no doubt be given a home glucose monitor. Pay very close attention to the person that explains how to use it, every monitor is different and you need to know how the one you are given works. You also want to be very clear as to when, and how often you are supposed to test, as well as what your numbers should look like. Depending on the doctor, you will be asked to test first thing in the morning, before or after each meal, and at night. You want to be very clear, as timing and eating are huge factors as to what your numbers should look like. And your expected numbers may be different than another mom-to-be’s, so be sure you understand what is right for you.

As a side note, you were likely tested for Iron deficiency at the same time as your glucose tolerance test. If you were borderline and you will now be poking your finger 4-6 times a day, you may want to discuss and iron supplement with your doctor, which will also likely mean a increased need for fiber to balance it out.

Portion Control

When it comes to managing your diet, portion control is going to play a huge role. The only true way to know how many carbohydrates you are ingesting is to know how much food you are ingesting. One thing to be clear on is that you cannot just cut carbs out of your diet; you are still growing a baby, and need that energy. You just want to make sure that you are not just eating sugar carbs. One of the best ways to be sure that you are getting the right type of carbs is to look for whole wheat and whole grain products. Also eating lots of beans and legumes will give you the right types of carbs. Though, it may slow you down a little bit, you need to measure out your portions so that you can accurately count your carbs. Your dietician will give you specific ranges for each meal and you need to do your best to stay close to them. You will also be told to snack a few times a day. You want more of an ebb and flow pattern to your food consumption, as opposed to a peak and valley pattern. This will help your body to better regulate your glucose levels. Another important time is to eat a small snack – a piece of fruit, a handful of carrot sticks, a graham cracker – about 30 minutes before you go to bed. This will work to prevent the raging hunger you might wake up with, which is also often accompanied by a headache.

Managing your gestational diabetes is mostly going to rely on your commitment to management and your education. There are tons of resources available both in your town and online. Your doctor will be able to direct you to local programs (many hospitals have classes, often free) that will help you to understand and live with this diagnosis. Though this issue will likely pass with the delivery of your baby, you will be at a slightly higher risk later on in life for developing Type 2 diabetes, so learning the healthy habits now will benefit you for the rest of your life.