Do your feet grow during pregnancy?

Are you stocking new shoes because you can't fit in the old pairs? You may notice your feet get swollen as your pregnancy progresses.Feet grow during pregnancy\👣Swollen feet during pregnancySwollen feet👣 and ankles are common symptoms during pregnancy because of the heavy weight of the uterus. There is also a chance that your feet will actually grow during pregnancy.🤰 👣Causes of feet growthWhen you're pregnant, the pregnancy weight gain puts pressure on your ankles and arches of your feet. Your feet then flatten and lengthen. The surges of relaxin hormones relax ligaments in your feet, allowing the bones to get longer and wider.👠 The bones are not actually growing, but the compactness of ligaments gets unleashed, increasing your shoe size.👟Ways to ease the foot swelling👣Take break and sit downStanding all day long makes blood flow concentrate more in your feet and swollen them up. Take breaks and sit down when you can.🪑👣Comfortable shoesA pair of good shoes👟 will definitely make you feel comfortable and at ease when walking. Avoid shoes that pinch or have tight straps. Look for the ones that have a low heel and provide good support for your arches.👢👣Elevate your feetYour sitting position also affects blood circulation. Elevating your feet🦵 while you sit helps refrain fluid from accumulating in your lower limbs and improve blood circulation.🩸 👣Drink plenty of waterDrinking lots of water helps you visit the bathroom faster.🚽 Excess fluids that cause swelling will be discarded making your feet less inflamed.🥛 

Essential nutrients in your pregnancy diet

A healthy diet is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, but especially more vital when you're pregnant. A few nutrients in your pregnancy diet deserves special attention.Top nutrients💊Folate and folic acidFolate helps prevent birth defects and serious abnormalities of the brain🧠 and spinal cord. Folate is often consumed in forms of folic acid supplementation and fortified foods such as cereals, leafy greens🥬, dried beans and peas.🥜💊CalciumCalcium is vital for strong bones🦵 and teeth🦷 development. It also helps your circulatory, muscular and nervous system run normally.🧠  Dairy products🥛 are the best sources of calcium that you can incorporate into your diet daily. Nondairy sources include broccoli🥦 and kale🥬. Fruit juices and fortified cereals also provide lots of calcium for you.  💊Vitamin DVitamin D builds your baby's bones🦵 and teeths🦷. Fatty fish🐟 such as salmon, fortified milk and orange juice🍊 are vitamin D rich sources that you can include in your meals.💊ProteinProtein is very crucial for your baby's growth during pregnancy. Lean meat🥩, poultry and eggs🥚 are great sources of protein. More 'vegan' options include beans, peas, nuts, seeds and soy products. 💊IronIron plays an important role in hemoglobin formation🩸 that carries oxygen to your tissues and allows your body to function normally. You need double the amount of iron because you're also supplying your baby.👶Iron deficiency anemia can make you become fatigued and lead to dangerous complications during pregnancy.⚠️ Lean meat, poultry, fish, fortified cereals and beans are good sources of iron. Pair them with foods rich in vitamin C such as orange juice🍊, strawberries🍓 to increase iron absorption.Other supplementsA healthy diet😋 high in all sources of nourishment might not be enough to supply nutrients for both you and your baby. Have regular health checkups👩‍⚕️ and consult with your healthcare provider if you have a strict diet that is mandatory to follow, a chronic health condition and need any special supplements.💊

Late miscarriage

Late miscarriage is even more devastasting both physically and emotionally to anyone. I'm sorry.Late miscarriage🤰What is a late miscarriage?Miscarriage means losing a baby👶. Miscarriage in the first trimester is fairly common as you almost don't feel symptoms of miscarriage.😟 However, a late miscarriage after week 13 but before week 20 is more noticeable and devastasting.🤰Causes of a late miscarriageAbnormality of the fetus's development is usually the cause of a miscarriage. Trauma and stress can also lead to miscarriage.😟 Some other medical conditions such as the cervix's inability to hold the baby inside when it gets bigger, hypertension, preeclampsia, or infections.😔Symptoms of a late miscarriage🤰SymptomsYou might not be able to feel movement of the fetus. Notice any vaginal bleeding or spotting.🩸 You may also experience cramping or pain in your back or abdomen. Fluid coming out from the vagina is also a serious sign of miscarriage.🌊🤰Risk factors for a miscarriageIf you already experience two prior miscarriages in a row or have babies at the age over 35 years old, the possibility of a miscarriage is much higher.⚠️ Being overweight or underweight, having chronic medications or a weak cervix, low folate level, abnormal uterus shape can also lead to miscarriage.😟  It doesn't mean that you can't have a healthy pregnancy if you have these risk factors. Have regular checkups with your doctors, have a healthy diet plan with rich nutrients🍲, cutting out harmful substances will increase your baby's survival.👩‍⚕️    

Skin darkening during pregnancy

When you're pregnant, it's normal for you to have some dark spots and skin pigmentations. Don't worry, they will disappear on their own after delivery.Skin darkening during pregnancy👩🏽What is skin darkening?Skin discoloration, also called melasma or chloasma, includes dark patches👩🏽 on your cheeks, your forearms or any part of the body that is exposed to the sun. Skin that's already looked pigmented such as your areolas, freckles, scars, your underarms and inner thigh will also look more darkened.😃 👩🏽Causes of skin darkeningPregnancy hormones are the culprit to blame. They temporarily increase the amount of melanin in your body, giving your skin more pigmentations and colors.🤰 Sun☀️ exposure also causes the skin to produce more melanin and darken. If you already have dark skin complexion, you are more likely to have melasma than other moms having lighter skin. Skin darkening prevention👩🏽Use sun protectionSince the sun's ultraviolet☀️ triggers melasma and makes skin pigmentation more noticeable, you should use sunscreen. Wear a hat👒 that shades your face as well as a long sleeved shirt to cover your arms.👩🏽Don't waxUsing wax to remove hair can intensify skin inflammation and worsen melasma.☹️ Consult with your doctor to figure out the best hair removal technique for you while you're pregnant.👩‍⚕️👩🏽Use hypoallergenic skincare productsCleansers and creams that irritate your skin may make melasma worse.🧴 Choose products that are pregnancy friendly and recommended by dermatologists.👩‍⚕️

Lower back pain during pregnancy

Are you having lower back pain these days that makes walking difficult? The pain might get more serious as the uterus is growing. You can't cure it right away but definitely we will help you relieve your discomfort.😃 Lower back pain during pregnancy😩Posterior pelvic painThis is one of the most common types of lower back pain.😩 You will feel pain in the back of your pelvis either on one side or both sides of your buttocks or at the back of your thighs. Simple daily tasks such as climbing stairs, standing can cause discomfort.☹️😩Lumbar back painLumbar pain happens in the lumbar vertebrae in your lower back which is higher than the posterior pelvic.☹️ You will feel it over and around your spine approximately at waist level. Sitting💺 or standing🚶 for a long period of time deteriorates your pain and it tends to get more severe at the end of the day.😩SciaticaSciatica is not a common type of back pain that occurs during pregnancy. True sciatica appears when a herniated disc puts pressure on the sciatic nerve. If you have sciatica, your leg pain🦵 is more severe than your back pain. It even radiates to your foot🦶 and toes, creating a tingling sensation or numbness in your legs. Causes of lower back pain😩Your uterusAs the uterus👶 is getting bigger and bigger everyday, it shifts your center of gravity and also stretches out your abdominal muscles to accommodate its weight. Since it presses on surrounding nerves and increases stress on your joints, your back keeps being in pain throughout the day.☹️ 😩Hormonal changesWhen you're pregnant🤰, a surge of progesterone and relaxin hormones relax your joints and ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. Since muscles in your back are not stable, their mobility causes pain when you walk🚶, stand, sit💺 for long periods, lift things, or get out of bed🛏️. Ways to relieve your lower back pain😩ExerciseWhen your back hurts, exercise may actually be just what you need. Some stretching exercises, walking, prenatal yoga🧘 are helpful in gaining muscle strength and staying healthy. Swimming🏊‍♀️ is another great exercise because the buoyancy of the water relieves pressure off your joints and ligaments while you become a pregnant mermaid. 😩Pay attention to your postureAlways stand up straight and sit up straight.😃 As your center of gravity changes, it's hard to do at the beginning but you have to try to keep your posture correct. It's equally important to avoid standing for too long or lifting heavy things.🙅‍♀️ Take breaks, wear comfortable shoes to make sure your shoes have good arch support.👟

Insomnia during pregnancy

Are you not being able to sleep at night because you're worried about the baby inside your belly? Don't worry, your baby is sleeping safe and sound. Why don't you sleep too?Insomnia during pregnancy💤What is insomnia?Insomnia is a sleep disorder💤 that makes it difficult for you to doze off at night. The common sleep problem can make you wake up early in the morning and not be able to sleep again. Even the sleep you have at night is not refreshing and you feel more tired in the morning.😴💤When insomnia starts?As other pregnancy symptoms are more prevalent, insomnia often strikes you in the second to third trimester.🤰 Your burgeoning baby👶 also makes it hard for you to sleep comfortably at night. 💤What causes insomnia?Your frequent visits to the bathroom🚽, aches and back pains, leg cramps can all explain why you can't sleep well these days. Or you may be too anxious and worried about your baby that you can't fall asleep at night.😟How to overcome insomnia?💤Clear the emotional decksIf you have persistent worries about your baby, talk to your partner👪 and solve all problems during the day so you don't have to think about them at night.🌙 You can also try meditation or writing diaries to make you feel more relieved.💤No caffeine and chocolate at nightCaffeine☕ and chocolate🍫 can keep you awake at night. Try to avoid eating those before going to bed.💤Eat small and earlyA big meal eaten late at night will be traffic jammed in your digestive tract.🍲 A leisurely pace will keep heartburn and constipation at bay.💤Work out Exercises🏃 in the morning prepare your body to have strength for labor in the future. Getting some gentle exercises in the morning can make you sleep more easily at night. Avoid rigorous activities at all costs.🙅‍♀️💤Get comfyTry white noise and black out shades to keep the room dark. Turn on some soothing music🎵 to help you at ease and fall asleep faster. The more comfortable you are, the easier it is for you to go to your dreamland.🎶 

Alpha - fetoprotein (AFP) test

Why should I take the test?💡An alpha - fetoprotein (AFP) test is administered to mainly measure the level of alpha - fetoprotein in the blood of a pregnant mom. AFP is a protein made in the liver of a developing baby. Normally, some AFP passes from the baby into the mom's blood and is used as a marker to determine the baby's risk of birth defects and genetic disorders. How is the test done?💉AFP test is administered in a hospital, clinic, doctor's office or lab. The test is routinely offered between the 15th and 20th week of pregnancy. A healthcare provider will take a blood sample from a vein in your arm using a needle. Your blood is collected into a test tube or vial and sent to a laboratory for analysis. TMI from Baby Billy👩‍⚕️:Who should have the AFP test?If you are over 35 years of age, or have a family history of birth defects or genetic disorders, you are highly recommended to take the test. If you have diabetes or have used any medications that could harm the baby, the test is for you to estimate any potential risks for your little one. Risks of the procedureThere is very little risk to you and your baby with an AFP blood test. You may experience slight pain or bruising at the site of injection, but most symptoms will go away quickly.Results of the testYour abnormal level of AFP can be a sign that the baby has a high risk of having a genetic disorder, such as a neural tube defect or Down's syndrome. The most common reason for abnormal AFP levels is that your estimated due date is wrong, meaning your baby is due earlier or later than estimated. If your AFP is lower than normal, your baby may have a genetic disorder. Your elevated AFP signifies either you have more than one baby or your little one has an increased risk of having a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida or anencephaly. The result of the test is not definitive and infallible. Your provider may also recommend a test called prenatal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening after reading your result. 

Pregnant belly button

Your pregnant belly's growth keeps pushing your belly button out. It looks weird and makes you feel a bit uncomfortable but it will return to its normal shape after delivery. During pregnancy🔘Belly button changesYour belly button🔘 doesn't connect to the uterus. It's just the remnant of your attachment to your mother in the womb from years ago.👩 As your belly grows, it puts pressure on your belly button and causes some inconvenience. The belly button is out in the open making you feel weird😕 when it rubs against your clothes.👚 🔘Belly button painsUmbilical hernia happens when a piece of your intestines protrudes through the small hole in abdominal tissue into your belly button and gets stranded.🙁 Umbilical hernia is usually harmless, but you'll experience intense pain😣 when this piece of intestines gets stuck and squeezed in a small space of your belly button.After pregnancyThe belly button is likely to return to its normal size and shape after delivery.😃 However, sometimes your belly button may stay permanently outside, making you uncomfortable and diffident.You can choose umbilicoplasty, a surgery that makes the stretched belly button more vertical and less wide.👩‍⚕️🏥 The surgery is only recommended for moms who have no intention of getting pregnant again because another pregnancy will give you the same result.🤰 

How can you hear your baby’s heartbeat?

Aren't you excited about your first time hearing your baby's heartbeat? It is indeed a milestone in all parents-to-be journeys.Baby's heartbeat💓When can you detect baby's heartbeat?A fetal heartbeat is first detected by a vaginal ultrasound in 5 ½ to 6 weeks after gestation.👶 When the baby is 6 ½ to 7 weeks old, you can hear your baby's heartbeat💓 more clearly.💓What to expect in the first ultrasound appointment?During your first ultrasound appointment, the doctor👩‍⚕️ will confirm viable pregnancy and check for non-viable molar or ectopic pregnancy. Any abnormal gestation must be detected at this point. Baby's heartbeat💓 and crown-rump length are then confirmed. Baby's heart rate💓Baby's heart rateYour baby's heart rate💓 should be between 90-110 beats per minute at 6 to 7 weeks. When the baby is 9 weeks old, the heart rate should increase by 140-170 beats per minute.💓Why you can't hear baby's heartbeat?It's too early in the pregnancy so you might not be able to hear your baby's heartbeat💓 at your first appointment. Otherwise, you may have a tipped uterus or a large abdomen that impedes heartbeat hearing ability.🩺 If no heartbeat is detected, further fetal measurements like blood test will further be conducted.👩‍⚕️

Pregnancy hunger pains

Stock your refrigerator with all healthy choices of foods that you crave. You will be surprised how often you open it at night because you are hungry.Causes waking up hungry at night😋HormonesHormone changes are partially responsible for your late night pregnancy hunger.🍲 The increasing levels of hormones may give you mixed signals whether you're full or you're starving. Hence, you end up waking up at night and find yourself opening the refrigerator looking for food.🥡😋MetabolismYou're eating not just to fill your belly but also supply nutrients to your little baby. Your metabolic rate increases to meet the demands of your growing baby.👶 You need about 340 extra calories per day in the second trimester. If you carry twins or triplets, you might need more calories so you should consult this with your doctor.👩‍⚕️ It's okay to eat more than before and stick to healthy options to have a balanced pregnancy weight gain. How to deal with late night pregnancy hunger pains😋Don't go to bed hungryFill your empty stomach with some extra fiber. Because your body digests more slowly, fiber rich food will keep you full for longer.😃😋Snack smartlyMidnight snacking is probably everyone's habit even before pregnancy.🤰 As long as you choose healthy snacks for both you and your baby, go for it! Hard boiled eggs🥚, cottage cheese🧀, fresh fruits are healthy, delicious and fill you up at night.😋Limit processed foodsHighly processed foods make a rapid rise and fall in blood sugar🧂🩸 after consumption. You will eventually feel more hungry even though you already eat.🙁😋Stay hydratedYou need to drink lots of water🥛 to support your blood volume and replenish the amniotic fluid covering your baby. Staying hydrated will also help you process food more efficiently.😃😋Avoid foods that cause indigestion or heartburnFried, fatty foods🍔, citrus, peppermint and soda are big no-nos at dinner. They are high in fat, making them more difficult to digest. The high level of sugar also upset the balance of bacteria in your gut, causing indigestion and stomach upset.🥪