Sept. 15 - 2010 - All About Women Health - Pregnancy Articles

Increase in Obesity During Pregnancy - What Health Experts Say
By Emmanuel Rotimi Akinbanjo


Recommended Reading
Slim & Healthy Pregnancy.
How To Keep Excess Weight Off &
Maintain Good Health During And After Pregnancy.

A recent release from the U.K. National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) says that about half of women of childbearing age are either overweight or obese.
In new guidelines for doctors and midwives, women need reliable information on how to manage their weight because of serious health risks that face obese women and their babies.
The purpose of the new guidelines is to enable health professionals to help women have a healthy pregnancy as there are more risks associated with pregnancies in women who have a Body Mass Index of over 30 when they become pregnant says NICE director, Mike Kelly.
The guidelines also suggest that women who are obese before they become pregnant should be encouraged to lose weight even before they conceive.
Studies have revealed that there is a lot of benefits for obese pregnant women if they exercised moderately and not gain weight or even lose a few pounds during pregnancy. The popular belief in the past was that pregnancy is not a time to start an exercise program and that pregnant women should "take it easy" as women "eat for two" during pregnancy. But today, that belief has changed.
British health experts say "eating for two" is no excuse to become obese during pregnancy. The guidelines specifically advise women to stay away from fried foods and sweets and watch portion of sizes even if they crave to do otherwise.
According to the guidelines, "health professionals should encourage women to check their weight and waist measurement periodically or as an alternative, check the fit of their clothes".
Women who exercised and did not gain weight had normal weight babies, whereas obese women who gain more weight during pregnancy face the risk of hypertension, diabetes, asthma and other health risks to their babies.
Health experts therefore recommend a healthy diet along with exercise. Visit a Registered Dietitian to learn how to eat during pregnancy.
In conclusion, obese women are advised to lose weight and start exercising well before they become pregnant. But if you are obese and get pregnant, talk to your doctor before you start an exercise program. Ensure that you visit your doctor regularly to enable him monitor your progress. Your health and the health of your baby are very important. Moderate exercise is very beneficial to you and your baby; but always decide with your doctor before you start an exercise program.
Want to learn more about weight loss during pregnancy? Go to http://www.weightlossduringpregnancy.net for more information now!

Recommended Reading
Slim & Healthy Pregnancy.
How To Keep Excess Weight Off &
Maintain Good Health During And After Pregnancy.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Emmanuel_Rotimi_Akinbanjo

Sept. 06 - 2010 - All About Women Health - Pregnancy Articles

Is DHA During Pregnancy Really Important to Your Baby's Health?
By V K Rajagopalan

Recommended Reading
Slim & Healthy Pregnancy.
How To Keep Excess Weight Off &
Maintain Good Health During And After Pregnancy.

In short, yes, DHA during pregnancy is extremely essential for the baby and the mother as well. The DHA, which is an Omega 3 fatty acid helps to build the eyes, nervous system and brain of a baby.

Omega 3s are one type of fat that the body cannot make. It is extremely important and if it is not replaced, the mother's body will use what it has to provide for the growing baby.

The mother can get DHA from certain foods and then the baby will get it from the mother. However, if there is not a sufficient supply for the mother to consume, a supplement may be needed.

The Journal of Perinatal Medicine recently published a review of research indicating that a pregnant woman should have 200 mg of DHA per day. After the baby is born, breastfeeding women still need approximately this much per day to provide the DHA to the baby.

Everyone knows that certain types of fish are recommended for nutrients that are needed. However, pregnant women should be very careful about eating fish as they may contain toxins.

There are areas where fish get their DHA from algae that is consumed. Some fish can contain mercury or other toxins and the oil needs to be extracted and molecularly distilled. This will ensure it is safe for both the pregnant woman and the child she is carrying.

DHA provides for higher test scores when it comes to hand-eye coordination of babies whose mothers took this during pregnancy, especially during the second half of their pregnancy. The tests were conducted with two year olds and four year olds.

Another study conducted at the University of Oslo tested four year olds whose mothers took DHA while pregnant as well as when breastfeeding. The result showed children with high scores on IQ tests and others have shown even more promising results.

An attention span at the age of five, motor skill development at 30 months and visual alertness at only two months of age in babies whose mothers took DHA during the second and third part of their pregnancy.

Another study was conducted in the Netherlands and with participation of 782 mothers and babies, their results showed "significant positive associations" between the DHA levels of the mother and the baby's birth weight.

Studies elsewhere have shown that pregnant women who do not get enough DHA during pregnancy can have pre-term babies and this can be repetitive. Other results have shown that pregnant women who have DHA in their diets do not have post partum depression after giving birth.

Omega 3 fish based oil is of critical importance to us to minimize health risks and maximize healthy living. To learn more about DHA during pregnancy that can help with growth of the child and the mother, I invite you to visit http://www.omega3fishoilsguide.com.

From Rajagopalan, A strong advocate of natural healthy living.

Recommended Reading
Slim & Healthy Pregnancy.
How To Keep Excess Weight Off &
Maintain Good Health During And After Pregnancy.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=V_K_Rajagopalan