Hypertension during pregnancy:
The young pregnant girls and women above forty are prone to get high blood pressure. It may be due to over work of kidney. Head ache, fatigue, vomiting and oedema in leg are serious symptoms, which should be treated immediately. Otherwise, salt will mix with water and eclampsia may occur. These result fatal in both mother and infant. Hence during this period restricted diet is essential with less salt in food. Fried items, pickles etc should be avoided. Moderate amount of fish and chicken with less masala and oil and plenty of fruits and green vegetables are needed in the daily diet. After delivery blood pressure comes to normal.
Constipation:
Pregnancy is rendered more difficult is case of habitual constipation. Later on it is aggravated by the extra pressure of the enlarging uterus on the bowel makes constipation a greater problem. High soluble and insoluble fibre helps to get rid of this problem. Fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain and cereals are good sources of fibres. The expectant mother should drink eight to ten glasses of water. Avoid sifting the flour as the bran which is often eliminated after sifting is very good for health. It adds bulk to our food and prevents constipation. In addition the husk of whole pulses promotes peristalsis and prevents constipation. Pomegranate, grapes, guava,banana, brinjal, avarakai, beans, beetroot, sprouted whole gram etc are more effective to prevent constipation.
Other problems:
Women with congenital heart disease produce small babies. A good correlation was found to exist between the volume of blood circulating through the uterus and fetal or fetal growth.
Susceptibility to bacterial and viral infection is increased during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. Chronic under nutrition may still lower resistance to infection. During pregnancy, the woman may have the chance of getting diabetes, blood pressure etc, which are temporary hazards and will disappear after delivery. Smoking, intra uterine infection, chromosomal defects, anxiety, stress etc apart from nutritional status of mother have been associated with birth related disorders. Stress can be occurring in any age and even from foetus in the womb. Baby receives stress from mother, when she is in stress or tension due to problems at home or office. So the baby gets less amount of oxygen and struggles to breathe occur. It is called “Maternal stress” for mother and “Intra uterine growth retardation” (IUGR) for infant. Consequences of intra uterine infection are abortions, growth retardation, pre-maturity, still birth, early death, mental retardation and failure to thrive. Yoga is the best to relieve the stress, which can be practiced from 4th month of pregnancy. It produces strength from body itself.
