How to sleep during pregnancy

As your tummy starts to get bigger and into the 3rd trimester, you will find it difficult to get a restful shut eye, plus the constant awakening of having to go to the bathroom at night.

I find that these methods helps me to sleep a little better :

• Lie on your left and don't lie flat on your back. This helps blood flow to your fetus, uterus and kidney.
• Nap during day time. My naps in the afternoons helps to cover the restless nights and having raccoon eyes.
• Put pillows behind your back or under tummy. the support would allow you to relax.
• get into a routine. stretches,swimming, yoga would help you for your birth and rest well.
• Cooler room temperature. If you live in a tropical country like me, the air cond is a life saver. It really helps me sleep!if you experience winter, i suppose make sure you have the right temperature that would help you sleep.
• Sleep at the same time. Doesn't work for me. I sleep when i am really sleepy, and this helps me to sleep longer.but a lot of articles that i read says its better for you to keep a routine and sleep about the same time. i wish!
• Get your partner or anyone to massage you. Yes, the pain is coming...the lower back pain. Keep the pain at bay.
  

Danger of toksoplasma

I had lunch with a friend last week and we were talking about toksoplasma. What is toksoplasma actually? She shared her experience of not being informed about this that lead her to a miscarriage on her first pregnancy.Since I am in my second pregnancy, I only remembered reading about staying away from cats and not eating raw food...and I forgotten why I am not suppose to. So I did a little reading and this is what i found out:

Toksoplasma is caused by a virus called toksoplasma gondii which is said to be transmitted by cats, dogs, birds-pets. But it is not necessary so. She told me that it was due to her habit of eating raw food like medium rare steaks-meats which are not fully cooked, eating out a lot (being a former stewardess) - which could cause from unproper vegetables cleaning. (Also can be contracted from half boil eggs and unproper wash of fruits).

Basically we are immune to it but if you are stressed or your body immune system is not that strong this would lead you to be infected. Not all pregnancy is unsuccessful but some people do experience miscarriage, birth defects or premature labor.

How to avoid

• Try to keep a minimal distance to pets. You can also check with your vets if they have them. Once you know they are toksoplasma free, make sure that they do not go out hunting for mouse or bird, eat raw meat and try to avoid them to play with other pets if possible.
• Get someone to clean them.
• Wear gloves if you are gardening. Do not work on earth where cats have littered.Avoid your other children to play there as well.

Note: Make sure you eat your steaks at well done, keep away from raw food. Try to take pasteurized milk, eggs if possible.

Tips to relieve or keep constipation away

What could be the cause of constipation? You may be drinking water, but not enough. You might be drinking coffee or tea.You are also probably eating a lot of refine and rich food. Keep your eating hours regular. I find prune juice, fruits and salad helps me a lot:)

• Prune juice-works great on me
  

• Eating food with high fibre content

• Avoid excess consumption of red meat, oily, dry and spicy foods

• Avoid starchy food – hard to digest

• White bread

Try to eat:

• Carbohydrate-rich grains - especially whole grains - are great for weight management. In addition to their energy content, most are medium in calorie-content, rich in dietary fiber to boost satiety levels, and useful sources of dietary nutrients to help maintain an efficient metabolism. A good food option for anyone interested in weight loss or weight maintenance.
• Drink plenty of water, juices.
• Eat fruits and veges. Eat a bowl of your favourite fruit or salad a day, its so simple.
  

Bloating and water retention

I had very bad water retention the last pregnancy with my daughter Fateeha. I am so determine to make sure that I don't gain weight this time around just because of it. I did a little research and this is what I found out:

Salt. Without salt, our food would be tasteless but during your pregnancy try to avoid them.

• Excess carb.
• Bulky raw food.
• Gassy Foods

Certain foods simply create more gas in your GI tract. They include legumes, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, onions, peppers, and citrus fruits.

• High-Acid Drinks

Alcohol, coffee, tea, hot cocoa and acidic fruit juices: Each of these high-acid beverages can irritate your GI tract, causing swelling. You can have these drinks in moderation after the jumpstart if you choose.

• Fried Foods

Fatty foods, especially the fried variety, are digested more slowly, causing you to feel heavy and bloated. On the Flat Belly Diet you'll eat fats, but you'll eat the healthy kind--MUFAs (short for monounsaturated fatty acids)--that target hard-to-lose visceral belly fat. MUFAs can be found in oils (such as olive oil), olives, nuts and seeds, avocado, and dark chocolate. Yum!

• Spicy Foods

Foods seasoned with black pepper, nutmeg, cloves, chili powder, hot sauces, onions, garlic, mustard, barbecue sauce, horseradish, catsup, tomato sauce, or vinegar can all stimulate the release of stomach acid, which can cause irritation.

• Carbonated Drinks

Where do you think all those bubbles end up? They gang up in your belly!Try sassy drink –flat belly recipe

• Chewing gum!
• Sugar Alcohols

These sugar substitutes, which go by the names xylitol or maltitol, are often found in low-calorie or low-carb products like cookies, candy, and energy bars because they taste sweet.

Keeping your nausea away

Usually when i travel, (when I am not pregnant) i would pop a motion sickness pill. Although it doesn't effect me much, but i take it anyway to just keep that feeling away. Anyway, this time being pregnant and all i was more concerned because there are some days when i do get headaches etc. So,during my search with hubby for our luggage tag, i stumbled across this brand, korjo (www.korjo.com) that has an anti nausea wrist band sold at RM25 at times book store, pavilion. I wanted to buy it but then my hubby said the flu pill would probably knock me out so i didn't buy it.

But then, me being me, I went to guardian a few days later to get some solution for my lenses when i stumbled on another brand called acu life (www.healthenterprises.com), which cost RM21.50, uglier looking than the korjo(sorry!) but it was enough to make me feel a little better if i buy it...

Basically both these items use acupuncture as a method to relief nausea. It's meant for pregnant ladies, air/sea traveller as well as for those under chemo. Although i read some remarks /feedback on yahoo answer on these wrist bands - most who replied said that it gave no effect to them; I have to try it for myself. It comes in one pair and you have to wear both for it to work.

A 13hour flight would definitely sufficient enough to tell you whether it works or not...darn. Total of 15 hrs!

(We are going to Amsterdam-Brussels-London...wish me luck and hopefully a superb time!)

Pregnant and travelling

When we first bought the tickets, I was not pregnant, nor were we planning well at least till next year. Then when I got pregnant, everyone was worried about my trip…especially with H1N1, miscarriage and other complication.

After reading and consulting my doctor, she told me it was safe to travel in the second trimester and better to stay off travelling during 1^st trimester and 3^rd. Lucky for me I have entered my 2^nd trimester. 
 Health preparation before flying:   

1. Drink a lot of water. 
2. Try to stay away from crowds. If must, wear a mask unless you feel there’s no need to.
3. Watch the food that you take. – I had diarrhea throughout my first trimester. I tried to monitoring and realize I couldn’t take carbonated drinks like coke (yes, it’s not good to begin with but I have that craving-unlike my first pregnancy. I could eat anything!), spicy food, salt and vinegar chips. 
4. Rest when you feel like resting. A short nap during noon is good to boost some energy later. 

Will I be taking shots against H1N1? Apparently not. I have been having flu like symptoms so far every few days. Doctors says its just part of my pregnancy. I think the best way is just to wear a mask at the airport, eat healthily, drink loads of fluids and rest. I don’t think it’s necessary.Make sure you are fever free and flu free on that day. I am trying hard to not get any fever…which I haven’t got besides the runny nose and sneezing throughout the pregnancy. You wouldn’t want to get quarantine in a foreign country- if possible.  

Travel food reminder Stick to food that you are use to. Yes, of course you like to be adventurous, maybe a bite won’t hurt. But try hard to keep away from unfamiliar food as you don’t want to get tummy ache (+ being pregnant) during travel. Medication Since I had a bad runny nose and sneeze, I dropped by at the pharmacist and check out what are the medications I can take for it. Make sure you tell what you have and what you don’t (In my case no fever or cough).*The pharmacist gave me an otc medication which only cost RM4.40. it suppose to make the runny nose and sneezing stop-eat 3 times a day with drowsiness as side effect.(I later ate them after lunch and slept for 2 hours!). Note: Although taking medication is not recommended, but I think if you been sick too long or experiencing flu, headache for too much you should be able to help you burden off the feelings.  Please remember to consult your doctor's first!