Category: General

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7 Common Diseases During A Baby’s First Year: How To Be Ready

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The first year of life is when a child is most prone to illness. This is mainly because the immune system of the baby is just starting to function and it has not been exposed to many germs and diseases, which would have led to the production of antibodies. This is why the administration of certain vaccines is mandatory. However, there are certain illnesses that do not have such vaccines and which are most easily contracted by babies.

1. Common Cold

Symptoms: Coughing, wheezing, sore throat, mucus-filled nostrils, mild fever

Treatment: The best way to treat a common cold is to help clear your baby’s nasal passage and help make breathing easier, rather than administering medicines, as these could be harmful. The best way to do this is to use saline nasal sprays, humidifiers and steaming. If the problem persists, take your baby to the doctor and administer medicines as necessary.

Prevention: Keep your baby away from people who are sick and make sure that your baby’s surroundings (including his/her toys, pacifiers, milk bottles, etc.) are clean. Also, ensure that your baby is clean and germ-free.

2. Diarrhoea

Symptoms: Frequent and watery bowel movements, which may or may not be accompanied by dehydration

Treatment: It generally goes away on its own within a couple of days. Keep monitoring and reporting to the doctor. Oral Rehydration Solution is effective in treating dehydration.

Prevention: Ensure that your baby’s surroundings are clean and hygienic. Avoid bottle-feeding for the first few months. Feed your baby only freshly prepared food that has been made in hygienic conditions.

3. Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Symptoms: In most cases, the symptoms are similar to those of a common cold – coughing, runny nose, etc. However, if it persists, these symptoms can develop into bronchitis and wheeze. If it spreads to the lungs, it may also lead to pneumonia.

Treatment: When in its initial, minor stages, the same remedies for colds should help. If it advances, or lasts for more than a week, consults a doctor.

Prevention: Ensure that your baby’s surroundings are clean and germ-free. Avoid smoking around your baby. Wash your hands frequently in order to get rid of germs before handling your baby.

4. Fever

Symptoms: Flushed appearance, high temperature.

Treatment: Sponge baths and infant pain relievers recommended by your doctor should be sufficient for cases where your baby doesn’t seem very affected. If you notice more discomfort, take your little one to the doctor.

Prevention: The best way to prevent it is to prevent your baby from being exposed to any unwanted germs (keep yourself and your baby clean and germ-free, ensure that the surroundings are clean and hygienic and ensure that the food your baby receives it well-cooked and cooked in a hygienic setting).

5. Ear Infections

Symptoms: Crying due to discomfort, frequently waking up at night and general crankiness.

Treatment: Infant pain reliever would help. Keep your baby upright to drain out excess fluid in the ear. If your baby still seems to be uncomfortable, take him/her to the doctor for antibiotics.

Prevention: Control (reduce) the presence of allergens. Breastfeed for a sufficient period. Treat colds promptly and efficiently to prevent any buildup of germs.

6. Hand Foot Mouth

Symptoms: Tiredness, fever, sore throat, blisters and sores on the hands and feet and inside the mouth. A rash may appear on the skin.

Treatment: Treat the symptoms by soothing the sore throat with cold fluids and icicles. Avoid acidic foods and drinks like spicy food and juices. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen will help in case your baby is in pain.

Prevention: Keep the germs away by washing your hands frequently and keep your baby’s environment clean.

7. Gastroenteritis

Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.

Treatment: Ensure that your baby drinks a lot of fluids to prevent dehydration. Oral Rehydration Solution is a good solution, as it also replenishes any lost salts and sugar.

Prevention: Keep the environment, yourself and your baby germ-free.

Babies tend to get sick quite often, but more often than not, it sorts itself out with the help of your tender love and care. It’s best to be prepared for these situations so that you don’t get stressed out if/when it happens.

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Vaginal Discharge During Pregnancy – What’s Okay And What Isn’t

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Pregnancy days are the worst for your anxiety. You tend to worry about everything under the sun – is my baby getting enough nutrition, is my baby comfortable, is my body supposed to be this big, is my belly okay, will I be able to get back to normal? Sigh. You’ll probably have 100 questions.

One of those burning questions that moms always have is about their vaginal discharge. What color is normal? What does this color mean? It is supposed to smell this way?

Well, don’t you worry your head about this. Obstetrician-gynecologist Dr Christopher Chong says that in women who are not pregnant, their normal discharge is usually clear, or white, without any smell or curd-like materials.

But when you’re pregnant, you need to pay attention to what comes out of your down-there. If you happen to see anything that you think is abnormal, then you might have to visit your doctor and bug them about it.

However, here are some common leaks and what problems they might signal:

1. White or curd-like

A cheesy discharge could possibly mean a yeast infection. Your hormonal changes can cause extra sugar to be produced in vaginal secretions, and yeast likes sugar. So yeast infection is definitely possible, and it may even itch and become red and sore to the point where you might feel pains when you pee.

While this might not be harmful by itself, yeast infections can cause your immunity to drop. This can cause more infections to come in, so you need to be careful about that.

You’ll have to be upfront with your doc and take any medication they give. Drinking curd or yogurt can also help – probiotics keep yeast away.

2. Bad smell

You can have a funky smell in your vaginas, which might indicate an infection or even just bleeding. If your discharge smells fishy, though, it can be caused by a bacterial infection. The smell may become more obvious to you after sex. Bacterial vaginosis happens due to an imbalance of bacteria in the vag!na, accompanied by an itch or a burning sensation.

If the infection escalates, it can induce premature labour, causing membranes to rupture. It would be best to visit your gynaecologist and get it checked.

3. Yellowish/Greenish discharge

These are colours you normally don’t see in your discharge, so you might be alarmed to see them. Yellow/green discharge can be due to an infection known as UTI or even a sexually transmitted disease (STD).

For example, gonorrhea causes people to have a yellowish discharge, while trichomoniasis can produce a frothy, yellowish green discharge. These infections are totally unsafe for your baby and can be passed to them via the amniotic fluid, so visit your gynae right away if you suspect you have picked up an infection. Most can be treated.

4. Bloody discharge

In some cases, bloody discharge or spotting can mean a miscarriage in early pregnancy, whereas it can be a sign of early labour in late pregnancy. “Any blood in the discharge is abnormal till proven otherwise, so you will need to visit the gynaecologist for an assessment,” Dr Chong says.

But it’s also normal to spot after you’ve had sex, since the cervix can be raw and bleed easily. “If the foetal heartbeat is obvious, and the bleeding doesn’t persist, most pregnancies will progress normally,” he notes.

5. Amniotic fluid

This one is a little tricky. An amniotic fluid leak doesn’t have to be a huge leak. It can just be a small trickle or a slow leak. Since your bladder becomes full faster during pregnancy, you may sometimes even confuse this with your urine leak.

It’s advisable to empty your bladder and then put on a new pad, examine the discharge in half an hour. It it is amniotic fluid, it will be colorless or a slight pinkish tinge. It is also odourless, so it’ll be easy to detect.

There are a few tests that your doctor might advise you to take to check if it really is an amniotic fluid leak.

6. Urine

This one’s pretty easy to figure out. If you feel like you’re leaking fluid every time you laugh, sneeze, cough you might be leaking urine. Many moms experience this as your urinary muscles would be weaker when you’re pregnant, and you might have lesser control over your bladder. Kegel exercises are known to help you improve your bladder control.

The most important point, though, is to keep yourself hydrated. Water is super important and is responsible for most of your bodily functions being okay.

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7 Super Foods That Can Help You Reduce Stretch Marks After Childbirth

Stretch marks are like God’s gift to women because they look like thunderbolts. They’re like a sign of motherhood which is the most powerful role of a woman in her lifetime. Every mommy must fall in love with herself and accept her body the way it is.

After giving birth, a woman’s body undergoes drastic changes. One of the most common and visible changes observed in the body is the development of stretch marks in various parts of the body like the breasts, thighs, stomach and hips.

Application of a good moisturizer during pregnancy can definitely minimise the appearance of these stretch marks. Moreover, it is an effective way of protecting the skin and keeping it hydrated. But there’s this one thing you need to understand- IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE STRETCH MARKS COMPLETELY!

There’s no way you can stop them from coming because, during pregnancy, your skin stretches a lot and it loses its elasticity which gives rise to multiple stretch marks. Although these marks are not painful at all, they can make you feel uneasy especially if they’re itchy. Don’t worry ladies, because we have got your back. We will be telling you the natural ways of reducing your stretch marks.

All you need to do is, include them in your daily diet and say bye bye to those rigid marks!

1. Orange:

This juicy citrus delight is rich in Vitamin C and it helps in maintaining the elasticity of the skin and it slows down the ageing process. It repairs the broken skin, therefore, it diminishes the visible stretch marks. Plus, an orange a day, keeps you smiling all day!

2.Milk

It is the best remedy for new moms who want to reduce their stretch marks. Milk contains vitamins, calcium, Vitamin E which together help in the production of collagen. This collagen is the one which will help in tightening your skin.

3. Dates

They are rich in iron which helps in increasing your haemoglobin levels in the body which promote the flow of blood in the skin cells. These dark delights will help in tightening your skin and lighten the stretch marks naturally.

4.Sweet potato

It is full of potassium, iron and magnesium which makes it a great remedy for dealing with stretch marks. They are also rich in beta-carotene which gets converted into Vitamin A and it is excellent for the skin.

5.Eggs

They are a good source of multiple proteins and other fatty acids which help in maintaining smoothness, moisture in the skin cells and tightening pores. You can consume it any way you wish to- scramble it, boil it or make an omelette, it’s your choice.

6.Avocado

They are rich in vitamins, fatty acids and antioxidants which help in the production of collagen and elastin which are responsible for keeping the skin firm.

7.Water

There’s nothing as marvellous as our good old water! This is probably the best and the easiest home remedy to treat stretch marks. It keeps your skin hydrated and improves the blood circulation.

Not just that, it helps you during your breastfeeding time as water helps in increasing the milk flow through the breasts.

Moisturizing will only help in protecting the skin from the outside whereas, eating thee nutri-rich foods will help your skin recover better from the inside too. If you’re a lactating mom, don’t forget to consume these as they’re beneficial for you and your baby too!

Always remember, you’re a wonderful mommy and stretch marks cannot define who you are. Just remember to moisturise your skin regularly and consume these superfoods every day.

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Co-sleeping With Your Baby Can Be Dangerous

All of us want nothing more than to be as close to our little ones as possible – physically and mentally. They are forever going to be our main love and at the top of our priorities. This is why we try so hard to provide the best of things to them.

Sleeping in the same bed as your baby poses a safety risk to your baby. 69% of baby deaths have been caused by sharing a bed with your baby. Many parents do say that co-sleeping has many benefits for the baby. But the health and safety of your baby cannot be overlooked.

Here are a couple of things you should know about co-sleeping:

1. Sharing a bed can be dangerous in many ways

When you share a bed with your baby, you are putting them at risk of suffocation. An unintentional roll over is all it takes – you could be restricting their breath without realising it. Apart from a possible suffocation, the baby may also fall or roll off the bed. This could cause an injury which might have been avoided, had the baby been kept in a well-protected baby cot. You may have been holding them while you fell asleep, but your muscles relax when you are sleeping, causing them to roll off.

2. There are other ways to co-sleep with your baby

Co-sleeping doesn’t necessarily mean sleeping in the same bed as your baby. It just means sleeping in the same room as your baby. So you could place them safely in a baby cot near your bed and this would also count as co-sleeping. This is better for both of you since you can sleep peacefully through most of the night. When they need your assistance in the middle of the night, you would only have to take a few short steps to reach them.

3. Being a light sleeper does not make bed sharing safe

One might argue that bed sharing is safe since you would wake up the moment you feel your baby rolling off or if you feel like you may be sleeping on your baby. But being a new mom is tiring and it is possible to fall deep into sleep without realising it. Parents who have lost their babies to SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) after co-sleeping with their baby have said that they never thought it would happen to them. Besides, you deserve to sleep without worrying about your baby rolling over. So, put your baby in their cot and then sleep peacefully in your own comfy bed.

4. Co-sleeping does have other benefits

Yes, it is true that co-sleeping can benefit your baby’s development. This doesn’t mean you have to put the baby on your bed. Just keeping them in a cot near your bed will do the job. They would be able to hear your breathing patterns and soft murmurs when you wake up. This will make them accustomed to human sounds. If they do face any discomfort, you would be able to help them out instantly as opposed to if they had been in a separate room.

5. You can still keep the romance brewing

You may feel that you can’t keep up the romance with your husband now that your little one is in the room. But this just makes it even more interesting. You get to be more creative about how, when and where you get intimate. Be experimental and make the most of it. This also means that you can try to find moments during the day when you be romantic or even spice things up. Things can only heat up when you need to sneak around.

6. Bed sharing is more common than you think

With all the dangers and safety hazards linked with sharing a bed with your baby, you wouldn’t expect a lot of parents to try it. But statistics have shown the exact opposite. A growing number of parents are blindly starting to share their beds with the baby. In fact, some of your friends or family members might be doing this right now. It is better to inform them about the risks involved before anything untoward happens.

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This Is Why Babies Cry Right After The Birth

Having a baby is truly a wonderful feeling and blessing altogether. Every mother wishes to do her best to keep her baby safe and healthy. When it comes to a newborn all the first things are very important like the first smile, first crawl, and also the first cry. The first cry of the baby is a sign of many things. It is the first time that baby uses sound to convey its emotions. Therefore, it is very important for the mother to know more about the first cry of the baby. Baby’s first cry is the first communication between the baby and the mother. After spending time in the mother’s womb baby enters the real world, this is the time that baby cries for the first time. 

Why the baby cries just after the birth?
When the baby enters the real world, it faces a change in environment. The womb is a warm, silent and comfortable place for the baby. Whereas the outside world is cold and strange for the baby. This is a major reason behind the newborn’s cry. Furthermore, when the baby lives in a womb, it didn’t need to use its own lungs to breathe, now in the outside world, the baby has to breathe on its own.

This process is difficult for the baby, that why it cries. Actually, crying is good for the baby as due to crying the lungs get activated. Due to crying the amniotic fluid in lungs is removed. Furthermore, when a baby is born out of C-section then it doesn’t have any experience of the birth canal, in this case, it is important to remove the amniotic fluid. That is why the first cry of the baby is actually good for the baby.

What happens if the baby doesn’t cry?
The cry of the baby is due to its attempt to breathe on its own. If the newborn doesn’t cry then it is important to ask for doctor’s opinion. In early days the doctors used to smack baby to make it cry, but today they use a warm towel to massage the newborn and it makes the baby cry. However, in case this method fails then the baby might need an artificial pipe to breathe.

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Common Baby Sleep Mistakes You Should Avoid

It must be very challenging to put your baby off to sleep at night. Especially if your parenthood has just begun. It is the biggest challenge which everyone faces in their early parenthood.

Next day morning you have to reach office by 9.00 AM and at night your baby is letting you roam around to calm down his cry. We understand your pain!

Hence, have some solutions to aware if you are making some common sleeping mistakes while trying sleeping your little one.

Having very high expectation:
First of all, you should understand that all babies are different and there are no set patterns babies follow. Waking up at night is absolutely normal. This happens with you too, then why becoming so impatience when it comes to your new born baby. Most of the babies are not be able to sleep throughout the night because of the hunger factor until the baby becomes three months or four months old. You have to feed the baby at night till it becomes 6 months old. Moreover, the baby does not realise night and day time. So, you should always set your expectations on a limited level.

Letting the baby sleep too late:
We understand that you want to spend more time with your baby because the entire time you spend in the office. So, do not get tempted to make your baby awake for a longer time. It would eventually make him flake out. Hence, for whatever reason do not make your baby awake, if he feels asleep then definitely let him sleep but if he does not even feel asleep then also try to let him sleep for reasonable hours at night. You should make a bedtime routine and maintain it. Do not wait when your baby yawns. Just try to make his regular sleeping timings.

Rely on motions every time to let him sleep:
You might have noticed that your baby falls asleep when he travels in a car or lying on a swing. It helps you to provide a break, right? Let me tell you, it is not good for you and your baby. Relying on motion everytime will make a bad habit of your baby. After few days you will realise that you have to wake up middle of the night for rolling the swing or taking him for a walk to sleep. It’s fine to use motion to soothe your baby if he is upset. But remember, don not make it part of his regular bedtime routine.

Over-stimulate your baby before bedtime:
You may want to make your baby feel comfortable by putting your mobile on above his cot. But this colourful lightning may distract him to fall asleep. Watching them continuously will keep him awake rather than understanding its night time and he has to sleep. It is better to make your sleep in a dark room so that none of the lights makes him finicky.

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Sleeping Positions For Babies: What Is Safe And What Is Not

If you have a baby at home, it is essential to know about the safe sleeping positions and tips to reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS risk, which claims nearly 2,500 lives every year in the US. Around 80% of sudden and unexpected infant deaths are caused due to SIDS and the most effective way to avoid the risk is to make a healthy baby, less than a year old, sleep on its back i.e., in the supine position.

Momjunction tells you the ideal positions in which a baby can sleep, and also gives tips on safe sleep for infants and babies.

Sleeping Practices That Could Lead To Sudden Unexpected Death In Infancy (SUDI)

SUDI includes both SIDS and fatal sleeping accidents. Here are a few practices that could lead to SUDI:

  • Making the baby sleep on the stomach or side.
    • Putting the baby to sleep on soft surfaces such as mattress, sofa, waterbed, pillow, or lamb’s wool, either with or without a parent.
  • Covering the baby’s head or face with bedding, which may cause accidental suffocation and overheating.
  • Smoking during pregnancy or after childbirth.

The Good And Bad Positions For A Baby To Sleep

It is essential to learn about the safe and unsafe sleeping positions for a baby to deal with the above risks.

1. Sleep-On-Back

Healthy babies born full-time should be placed on their backs for naps, short periods of rest, and sleep at night.

  • ‘Sleep on the back’ position was found to lessen the SIDS risk in babies as it keeps airways open.
  • The US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) labeled this as the best sleeping position for babies .
  • Since the American Academy of Pediatrics made the ‘back-to-sleep’ recommendation in 1992, the SIDS rate has dropped more than 50%. The ‘back-to-sleep’ recommendation was later campaigned as ‘safe to sleep’ .

Risks Involved In ‘Sleep On Back’ Position

If infants are placed on the back for a long time in the same position, it could lead to ‘positional plagiocephaly’, a case of flattened or misshapen head and ‘brachycephaly’, the flattening of the back of the skull. The shape will become normal by the time they turn one year and rarely requires any treatment.

Simple reposition techniques can be employed to avoid such conditions. They include:

  • Increasing ‘tummy time’ of the baby when awake
  • Making the baby rest on the other side of the head rather than the flattened side.
  • Cutting down the time spent by babies in carriers or car-seaters.
  • Getting more ‘cuddle time’.
  • Changing the direction of the baby in the crib so that he does not tend to view same things in one direction always.

2. Sleep On Stomach

Several theories discourage parents from making a baby sleep on the stomach because:

  • It could put pressure on a baby’s jaw reducing the airway and restricting breath.
  • If the baby sleeps on the stomach i.e., in the prone position, he may be lying with his face very close to the sheets and keeps breathing the same air.
  • The baby could suffocate if he sleeps on stomach on a very soft mattress.
  • He could breathe in microbes present on the mattress.

Are There Any Cases Where Babies Can Sleep On Stomach?

In rare cases, due to a medical condition, doctors may advise parents to make the baby sleep on the stomach rather than the back.

  • Few physicians believe that sleeping on stomach could be good for babies with severe gastroesophageal reflux or certain upper-airway malformations like Pierre Robin Syndrome, which lead to acute airway obstruction episodes. However, no recent study supported or refuted the benefits. Healthcare providers should consider the potential benefits and risks before recommending this position.

 

  • The danger of vomiting was the most important argument for making the baby to sleep on its stomach, as doctors used to believe that it would be dangerous if the baby vomit while made to sleep on its back. They used to think that babies may choke due to lack of sufficient strength to turn the head. However, babies sleeping on their backs have no difficulty turning their heads if they’re sick.

3. Sleep On The Side

It is unsafe for babies to sleep on the side because they may end up on the tummy, increasing the risk of SIDS.

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24 Signs & Symptoms Of Twin Pregnancy

Does your bump look bigger than most other mothers’? Well, it could be the most rudimentary sign of your twin pregnancy! This may be hearsay, but how exactly would you know if you are carrying twins?

An ultrasound is an ideal way to confirm the number of babies. But, you could also look out for signs and symptoms, which would give you a hint before the ultrasound.

MomJunction brings you a list of symptoms and signs of twin pregnancy, and ways to take care of your little munchkins in the womb! So read on!

Before we move on to knowing the signs and symptoms , let us find out how twin pregnancies occur.

What Factors Increase The Chances Of Twin Pregnancy?

Genetics happens to be one important factor for twin pregnancy. A few others are

Fertility treatment methods. In Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART)  such as IVF, ZIFT, GIFT, multiple embryos are transferred into the uterus that may lead to twins .

  • After 30 years of age, a woman’s body produces more FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), which leads to the release of more than one egg from the ovary. This increases the odds of twin pregnancy .
  • If you are over the average height with a BMI of 30 or higher, the chances of getting pregnant with twins increase.
  • If you are already a mom to twins then there are chances of success again.
  • A study by Dr. Gary Steinman, Long Island Jewish Medical Cent, New York, has revealed that non-vegan moms have higher chances of getting pregnant than vegan moms . “The continuing increase in the twinning rate into the 1990s may also be a consequence of the introduction of growth-hormone treatment of cows to enhance their milk and beef production,” says Dr. Steinman.

Interestingly, Nigerian women have more chances of twin pregnancies as they eat a lot of pro-ovulation foods such as sweet potato and yam.

Even if you do not belong to any of the above categories, you might still have a chance to carry twins. So, how would you know if you are pregnant with twins?

Early Signs Of Twin Pregnancy

These early pregnancy signs hint you about your twins.

  • Higher hCG levels result in extreme morning sickness during the first two weeks of pregnancy. In some cases, you might experience extreme morning sickness, which is also termed as hyperemesis gravidarum . And, extreme nausea may set in even before missing periods.
  • Twin pregnancy translates into fatigue, exhaustion, sleepiness, and lethargy, two to three weeks into pregnancy. As you have to nurture two babies, you need good sleep and sufficient food for your body to work properly.
  • When you are carrying two babies, you develop an increased appetite as your body demands more food for the growing babies.
  • Twin pregnant belly is obvious as the bump is bigger than normal. Your uterus might expand more than that of the single fetus mothers as it has to accommodate two babies.
  • Mood swings become common due to the higher intensity of hormones generated by the body to meet the developmental requirements of your babies. This is easily noticeable from six weeks into pregnancy.
  • Pregnancy is detected by the increased level of hCG in the blood or urine. If the level is higher than the normal range, then it is an indication of twin pregnancy. Taking a pregnancy test immediately after missing periods shows a faint line confirming pregnancy. But if you are carrying twins, you will get a dark line.

Besides these, there are more signs and symptoms, which differentiate a twin pregnancy for a normal pregnancy.

More Signs And Symptoms Of Twin Pregnancy

Depending on the early signs, you could decide whether or not you are pregnant with twins. But there are more signs which would help you reach a conclusion better.

  • When carrying twins, you may gain weight faster than when carrying a single baby.
  • Your doctor regularly checks the fundal height, which is taken from the top of the pubic bone to the top of the uterus. This indicates the development age of the fetus. The fundal height is the measure of the weeks you have progressed in pregnancy (7). If the measure is more than one centimeter a week, then it may be a sign of twin pregnancy.
  • Fetal movement is early and more frequent in the case of a twin pregnancy.
  • Towards the end of the first trimester, the doctors may carry out a test called Doppler heartbeat count to detect the fetal heartbeat. If you are carrying twins, you can hear two hearts beat. However, the Doppler result is less accurate than ultrasound as the multiple heartbeats can be mistaken for a background noise or the mother’s heartbeat (8).
  • In twin pregnancy, shortness of breath is an early sign because of the thrust against the diaphragm put by two babies. You must consult your doctor if you feel uncomfortable.
  • Cramps are an early sign of twin pregnancy as the uterus enlarges more than normal. As long as there is no bleeding during twin pregnancy cramps, you don’t have to worry, as it is an indication of implantation.
  • Preterm labor is common during twin pregnancies and requires immediate medical attention.
  • Frequent back pains are a result of excess weight gain, uterus enlargement, and excess hormonal activity. Standing straight and holding your chest high can help you relax. Make sure to wear flats and avoid locking your knees while sitting. Wearing a maternity belt can also help.
  • Frequent urination is common during pregnancy. But in case of twin pregnancy the increases because of the pressure exerted by the growing uterus, which is bigger in size, on the bladder. However, do not cut down on the fluid intake because it is necessary to keep your body hydrated.
  • Your heart beats faster and the heart rate increases. This is because your bloodstream needs more oxygen for carrying out the extra work of nurturing your twins.
  • Your body retains more water in twin pregnancies. To avoid edema, make sure that you drink a lot of water to expel the excess liquid wastes from the body. Watermelons, apples, citrus fruits, peas, and celery act as natural diuretics. Additionally, quit smoking and ensure moderate use of salt in your diet.
  • An Alpha-fetoprotein test (APF) is carried out during the second trimester to measure the amount of protein secreted by the fetus’ liver. An abnormal level of APF may indicate twin pregnancy as the amount doubles up
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22 Weird Baby Names You Have Never Heard Of

Looking for an original name for your baby boy? How original or weird  are we talking about here? If you want a name that will make your baby stand out from the sea of humanity, you can try some unusual baby names. But if you are looking to hit it out of the park, you can try the following weird boy names. We are sure you haven’t even heard most of them!

1. Anthem:

Yes, you read that right. Anthem is a genuine name and sounds pretty catchy too.

2. Castle:

The name may not sound ‘real’ to you, but Castle is a genuine Latin name. If you are a fan of the TV series by the same name, this can be an interesting choice for you.

3. Denim:

No! We are not talking about your favorite pair of jeans! Denim is a name. If it is good enough for Toni Braxton, it must be good enough for us common people!

4. Falcon:

Falcon, as in the bird! Yes, it is a popular name. It sounds masculine and is pretty fancy too.

5. Indy:

Short for Indiana or Indigo, Indy is a great name, especially if you are a Harrison Ford fan!

6. Nutella:

Don’t worry, we are still discussing baby names and not foods!

7. Matix:

Nothing to do with the movie Matrix! Matix is still a name that finds a mention in popularity charts.

8. Koy:

In 2013, a total of 13 boys had the name Koy. It means that there are 13 parents out there who are not averse to taking risks!

9. Judge:

Is this a name? Yes, it is! There are parents out there who call their sons Judge. If it is a lawyer family, it may be an indication of their love for the law and judiciary.

10. Lorde:

Made popular by a 17-year-old songwriter from New Zealand, the name Lorde is an ode to all things royal.

11. Roper:

Okay, this is not a make belief name, and it means ‘maker of rope’. Now, why parents would want to name their son Roper is anybody’s guess.

12. Zealand:

Years ago, this might have been a good idea for a name. Now? Not so much. Zealand means ‘the sea-land’.

13. Zeppelin:

If you are a rock music fan, this name may resonate with you. But for other people, it is just a weird name.

14. Rexx:

As in T-rex? Well, it does sound macho and strong.

15. Tallon:

Here’s a name that shouts ‘aggressive’!

16. Wolf:

This name should top the list of weird names for boys.Yes, you know about the word, but as a boy name? We are sure this one caught you by surprise.

17. Diezel:

Well, changing the spelling a little does not make this name any less weird! You can thank Toni Braxton for this gem of a name too.

18. Pilot Inspektor:

The less we talk about this name, the better. Jason Lee thought it was a good idea to name his son Pilot Inspektor. Maybe he knows something we don’t?

19. Jermajesty:

Maybe, just maybe, in another 1000 years Jermajesty would be a good choice for a baby boy name. But not today.

20. Banjo:

Banjo, as in the musical instrument!

21. Rocket:

The weird boys names are definitely out of the box.You want your son to grow up and reach the sky of success. So, of course, you should name him Rocket. The name makes complete sense, at least to some celebrities!

22. Bronx Mowgli:

Jungle Book meets New York City – this name is a winner!

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7 Signs That Your Unborn Baby Is Not Doing So Well In The Stomach

Your little one that is growing in your womb is delicate and has a very weak immune system which means she’s prone to more diseases If there’s a problem it becomes very hard to detect because you obviously can’t see your baby but there are certain signs that indicate a health issue and they are as follows:

1. No heartbeat

This is, of course, an obvious sign. You should be able to hear your baby’s heartbeat somewhere around the 10th week of your pregnancy because that’s the time when the heartbeat becomes audible with the doppler test even though the heart starts beating as early as the 5th week. This can happen due to many reasons such as inhabitable environment for the fetus or stress.

2. Cramps

It is common to get cramps during pregnancy, ones similar to those you get when you’re on your period. This is because of the blood flow to the uterus. But if this becomes almost too much to bear or it persists for a long time then it might lead to bleeding. Especially in the second and the third trimester, it may indicate an early labour.

3. Bleeding

Any amount of vaginal bleeding is not safe during pregnancy. Although it doesn’t indicate a miscarriage every time, it could be because of hormonal imbalance or a placenta-related problem. Sometimes the baby is delivered earlier if the bleeding is due to the latter.

4. Severe back pain

Every pregnant woman would’ve experienced back pain at one or the other point in her pregnancy. This is because of the center of gravity shifts due to the excess weight in the front. But if the back pain is uncontrollable or just won’t go away, then it might indicate a kidney or a bladder infection.

5. Unusual vaginal discharge

A normal vaginal discharge is one which is odourless and colourless or white. But if you see a discharge that has a strong odor or a little spotting of blood or even accompanied by pain then it might indicate that the baby is not doing so well. This might mean that the cervix opened up earlier than it should’ve.

6. IUGR

Intrauterine growth resistance (IUGR) is a test that is done to determine if the baby is growing appropriately with time. Babies who aren’t the right size for the gestational period can have problems related to breathing, body temperature, and even blood pressure right after they are born.

7. No movement

Your baby should be active and kicking at around 20 weeks of your pregnancy – you should experience at least 10 kicks in a period of two hours. If you feel like your baby isn’t moving enough then it may be because she is under distress.

Moms, it is important to know that this information is just to make you more aware and not to scare you off. If you notice anything unusual in your pregnancy, don’t delay getting it checked up.