Aurora magazine

Grease in pregnancy is normal and healthy, within certain limits. A mother's body mass index is too high in fact harmful to the woman and child. The University of Michigan study also reveals a link between weight before conception, gain in pregnancy and obesity later. The trend was particularly common among younger moms.

The researchers analyzed data from more than 1,000 women who became mothers between 15 and 24 years. They took into account in particular the body mass index before conception and the weight gained during pregnancy. They then interviewed the women about access to health care and local welfare services. They asked them if they would help in the growth of children and if they were victims of domestic violence.

According to Dr. Tammy Chang, who led the study, it is essential that young mothers understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy. Check your weight has an impact both on the woman's life than on that of the child. Pregnancy is an opportunity to hire a balanced lifestyle, characterized by healthy and exercise power. Not all, however, the future include mothers, especially the younger ones. They often face problems that adult women do not have, making them more vulnerable. In addition to adopting a healthy lifestyle and follow a balanced diet is good undergo during pregnancy to prenatal screening tests such as fetal DNA test.

Source: sciencedaily.com

Scholars of the Johns Hopkins Research Center have identified a hormone imbalance at the base of postpartum depression. The study involved a small group of women with a history of mood disorders behind. According to the analysis, hormone deficiency allopregnanolone in the second trimester of pregnancy is associated with increased risk of postpartum depression. The discovery could lead to development of specific tests to prevent the disorder.

Many previous studies had denied the correlation between postpartum depression and specific hormonal imbalances. They'd rather linked the phenomenon to a certain individual vulnerability, impossible to prevent with medical tests. The Johns Hopkins study focused on the most at-risk women, those with a diagnosis of past mood disorders.

The study involved 60 pregnant women between 18 and 45 years, backed diagnosis of major depression or bipolar disorder. Nearly 1 in 3 had been hospitalized for complications due to mood disorders. The 73% of them suffered from more than a mental illness. During the study, 76% of women was making use of psychotropic drugs, including antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Almost 75% have suffered from depression at one point of the study, both during pregnancy and shortly after.

During the second and third quarter, the participants made a mood test and provided a blood sample. The doctors have used blood samples to measure the levels of progesterone and allopregnanolone. The latter is a hormone secreted by the collapse of progesterone levels, it has a calming function. The analysis showed that there is no correlation between the levels of progesterone and postpartum depression. The researchers, however, found a connection between depression and lower levels of alloprenanolone in the second quarter.

According to the study, hormone levels early in pregnancy may indicate an increased risk of postpartum depression. In the future it could then study how to integrate the missing alloprenanolone and avoid the risk.
Source: hopkinsmedicine.org

Experts encourage mothers to do at least 20 to 30 minutes of exercise a day. Physical activity reduces the risk of gestational diabetes, preterm delivery, preeclampsia and other disorders. It also has a positive effect on brain development and reduces anxiety in women. Nevertheless, many pregnant question the practical security and encounter obstacles of a practical nature. So what you have to do to run in pregnancy safely?

In the first place, it is essential to perform periodic prenatal screening paths. It is indeed important to identify any risk of detachment of the placenta or other issues like that. In these cases, your doctor may advise against the exercise to safeguard the safety of the child. If pregnancy is safe, however, there is no contraindication. It is only important to take note of some possible difficulties.

For those who did not run before the start of pregnancy, it may have a difficult time to start. The body is changing, the center of gravity changes and you get tired first. Experts therefore recommend starting with a cardio workout more bland, so as to increase the resistance and get used to the exercise. Who ran before pregnancy, however, it may keep its wheels without fear.

The longtime runner may notice a premature fatigue and greater ease in sweat. Just that you keep hydrated, and wear breathable clothing. When it's very hot or very humid, it is also better they run on a carpet in ventilated areas. An excessive rise in body temperature in the first quarter, in fact, could create problems to the fetus.

The pregnancy makes slower. It is something that could be annoying to those who run for so long, but it is inevitable. It is important that the expectant mother will not efforts to maintain its old days. You stop to catch your breath if necessary, slow down when you do not take it anymore and go to pee every time you feel the urge. This last point requires extra moisturization, so you better bring more liquids than usual with him.
After giving birth, the new mother must not be in a hurry to resume to exercise: it could take weeks before you can start over. It is important to follow the doctor's directions, which will give the right advice based on the specific case.

Source: runnersworld.com

With the transition from summer to winter the days get longer, but you lose an hour of sleep. A study from Boston University suggests that the time change increases the risk of miscarriage. A risk much more pronounced in women who have had recourse to in vitro fertilization.

The researchers analyzed the results of in vitro fertilization throughout the year. In particular, they compared those performed close to the time change with those that occurred in other periods. Among women who have resorted to IVF during the 21 days before the time change, 23.4% suffered a miscarriage. In the rest of the year the percentage is 10.2%. This suggests that there is some correlation, but the reasons are not yet clear.

It is the first research that examines the effects of the time change on the outcome of a pregnancy. Nevertheless, there are other studies that examine the health effects of the daylight saving. For example, according to the American Academy of Neurology stroke risk increases by 2% in the days following the time change. It is assumed that the fault is the shift of the circadian rhythm, what is commonly called "biological clock."

The time change could have detrimental effects not limited to the outcome of IVF or the risk of stroke. A study at the University of Maryland, in fact, suggests a link with the onset of migraines. The cause may be in a cluster of nerves in the hypothalamus responsible for melatonin, the sleep hormone, and biological rhythms.

Source: medicaldaily.com