After birth pains in the abdominal muscles of a new mother occur with contraction of the uterus. The pain is generally maximum in intensity when the mother breastfeeds. However, within 3 to 4 days of childbirth, the pain starts subsiding gradually. However, as abdominal muscles of a woman get significantly weak and stretched due to the tension caused during the 40-weeks of pregnancy, the soreness in the muscles might take several months to go away. Intense muscular pain in the abdomen is more common in mother giving birth to the baby through C-section.

How will you know that you postpartum abdominal pain is indicating something abnormal? If it’s a normal pain, it will consistently improve with time; this stands true for both normal and cesarean birth. If you find that your pain is worsening with time, you have probably developed an infection. In such cases, the woman must consult her gynecologist or midwife immediately.

One way of bringing back the abdominal muscles to its normal condition after delivery is, belly binding. This procedure is practiced for centuries. The name used for the procedure may vary from one part of the world to the other, but the technique applied is more or less the same everywhere. Belly binding is a procedure that involves tightly wrapping the abdomen of a woman using a cloth immediately after she delivers a baby. This helps in keeping muscles of her stomach tight and she regains core strength faster.

Postpartum abdominal muscle pain can also be controlled using OTC pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen. The cesarean pains are generally managed with a combination of the above mentioned OTC medications and narcotics like oxycodone and hydrocodone. There are also certain herbs that helps in easing the pain; examples include black haw, chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, cottonwood bark, cramp bark and motherwort. Each of these herbs can be used both as tincture and tea; however, you must consult your doctor before using any of these herbs.

A fever causing body temperate more than 100 degrees just after experiencing the miscarriage can be an indicator of infection. This fever can come with our without chills and shivers. Pain is a common sign of miscarriage; but pain occurring due to miscarriage is mostly not severe. So, if you are experiencing severe pain in the lower abdomen or back after the miscarriage you should report it to the doctor immediately as such pains can indicate occurrence of an infection. Infection can also cause production of a vaginal discharge with fish like smell.

How is infections caused by miscarriage treated? Once you report the above mentioned signs to your doctor he will perform a thorough physical checkup and may also suggest you to get some tests done. If the diagnosis reveals that you are suffering from an infection, you will most likely be treated with antibiotics. Getting the right treatment is extremely important for women experiencing post-miscarriage infections. If not treated, these infections might lead to fatal consequences.

Is it possible to prevent occurrence of infections after a miscarriage? Following the instructions of the doctor can help in preventing such situations. For a few weeks following the miscarriage it is advisable not to insert IUDs in the vagina. Women are also suggested not to take part in sexual relationships during this time. For a week following the miscarriage, bathing should also be avoided.

Flabby belly:

The uterus of a woman becomes more than double its original size during pregnancy. For accommodating this expansion, the abdominal skin and muscles of the pregnant woman also experience significant stretch. As a result, after delivery the deflated abdomen of the new mother lacks the muscle tones she used to have before pregnancy. There are certain exercises, which when performed during and after pregnancy helps in minimizing this problem. According to medical experts, a pregnant woman without any medical problem should exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes every day.

Varicose veins:

The baby growing in a woman’s uterus requires nutrients and oxygen from the bloodstream for its development. This increases the blood supply in a pregnant woman’s body by almost 60%. For accommodating this excess blood, the veins of a woman expand during pregnancy. This expansion of veins might eventually lead to varicose veins. Often, these achy, bulging veins shrink after the woman delivers the baby; however, there are also several instances when the varicose veins do not subside even after childbirth. Varicose veins in pregnant women can also be caused due to the extra pressure imposed on large veins by the oversized uterus. Varicose veins can be controlled up to a great extent by using compression stocking and exercising regularly during and after pregnancy. The patient might need to undergo surgery, if the varicose veins turn extremely severe.

Bladder control difficulties:

Women can lose their bladder control after childbirth. This happens due to the overstretching of their pelvic floor muscles. Injuries occurring in those muscles in time of delivery can also cause bladder control issues in a woman.

The volume of blood in a pregnant woman’s body is almost 50% more than the volume of blood present in a woman who is not pregnant. The vascular system of pregnant women thus needs to undergo certain natural transformation for accommodating this excess blood. If no such transformation would have taken place, the expecting woman would become a victim of severe hypertension. The blood vessels in the body of a pregnant woman get stretched and become larger; besides that formation of new networks also occurs in her body. Due to stretching of the blood vessels, their walls become thinner and softer which makes leaking of blood into the surrounding tissues common among pregnant women.

Why pregnant women experience increase blood volume? The main reason behind the increase in volume of blood in the body of a pregnant woman is for allowing the fetus in her womb to grow. However, the vascular changes occurring in a pregnant woman’s body due to increased blood volume can result in several unpleasant effects. The expecting woman can develop varicose veins in body parts like rectum, vulva and lower legs. Occurrence of varicose vein in rectum is most common; medically the condition is termed as hemorrhoids. Augmented vascularity of the gums on the other hand can cause bleeding while brushing the teeth. Blood leakage into surrounding tissues might lead to local swelling, a condition medically known as edema. Majority of the pregnant women develop edema of eyelids, face, hands and ankles. Enlarging of the blood vessels might cause drop in blood pressure levels in some; excessive decrease in blood pressure can even lead to dizziness and fainting.

A number of fish oil supplements available in the market contain both EPA and DHA. However, physicians might not want to prescribe supplements containing EPA to the expecting women; this is because taking additional amount of EPA might spoil the balance between EPA and DHA in the baby. Most gynecologist recommend use of fish oil supplements containing only DHA to pregnant women.

The per day requirement of DHA for a pregnant woman is 300 mg. Women suffering from a condition called antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (women with this condition has higher risk of experiencing miscarriage) during pregnancy are treated with a daily dosage of 5.1 g DHA, where the ratio between EPA and DHA stays 1.5. A study have shown that having 4g DHA supplement per day during pregnancy reduces the chances of occurrence of childhood asthma in the baby to be born.

You will come across fish oil supplements in the market that are prepared either from oil extracted from liver of the fish or the body of the fish. Pregnant woman are advised not to take the supplements prepared from oils extracted from fish livers, for instance cod liver oil. Fish oil extracted from the liver of fishes are rich in vitamin A; consuming too much of vitamin A (more than 3,300 mcg in a day) might result in birth defects in the baby.

One of the most widely used fish oil supplement alternative is flaxseed supplement; the flaxseed supplements are rich in another omega-3 fatty acid type, ALA or alpha-linolenic acids. The ALA breaks down into EPA and DHA upon entering human body; however, this supplement is not as potent as the fish oil based DHA supplements.

What are the factors that might cause loose stools during the 1st trimester of pregnancy? One of possible causes of this disorder can be fluctuating hormonal levels. The other common causes include: intake of prenatal vitamins, increased water consumption, dietary modifications, taking part in prenatal fitness programs etc. Some women might also get loose stools during pregnancy due to presence of intestinal parasites. Stomach flu and food poisoning can also lead to stomach upset in pregnant women. The doctor might ask the pregnant woman to get some medical tests done for identifying the exact cause of loose stools.

According to dieticians, a pregnant women having bowel disorders like loose stools should stop eating dry fruits, milk, spicy and oily food items as these foods can make the condition even worse. They should consume foods like yogurt, lean meats, rice, bananas, potatoes and toasts for reducing the frequency of loose stool.

The body of the pregnant woman might become dehydrated if she suffers from diarrhea or loose stools for over 1 or 2 days. Dehydration at an early stage of pregnancy might leave pregnant women at risk of encountering miscarriage. To avoid any such situation, pregnant women must contact the physician if they have more than 2 episodes of loose stool in a day.

Increases rate of miscarriage:

Women above 35 years of age are more likely to have miscarriage during early pregnancy as remaining eggs often possess abnormal chromosomes. Close to 50% of all 1st trimester miscarriages occur due to chromosomal abnormalities. Women have all their eggs right from the time of their birth; with age they start losing their eggs. The rate of miscarriage among women around the age of 25 years is 10%; however, for women above 35 years the rate increases to 20%.

Chromosomal abnormality:

The chances of giving birth to child with chromosomal abnormalities such as Down Syndrome, genetic defects in which the baby has 3 copies of one gene instead of 2 and other trisomy types becomes higher if the expecting woman in above the age of 35 years. According to statistics, every 2,500 births from women aged around 25 years has 1 child having Down syndrome; however, for women over 35 years the odds become 1 out of every 400 births. The rate of any form of chromosomal abnormality in mothers around 25 years of age is 1 in every 385 births; the odds grow to 1 in every 178 births for mothers above 35 years.

Gestational diabetes:

Pregnancy after crossing 35 is twice more likely to come in conjunction with gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a condition marked by increase in blood sugar levels of the expecting mother during pregnancy; this problem subsides after giving birth. Gestational diabetes is a risk factor for macrosomia (large babies). The macrosomic infants stay at high risk of incurring traumatic injuries during birth; these babies often suffer from breathing difficulties and do not feed well.

Unlike, the popular beliefs, certain old insulin medications are regarded safe for consumption during pregnancy. The newer genre of insulin medications are tagged under category C for pregnancy which clearly means that these medicines may or may not be safe for the health of the growing fetus in the womb. However, along the administration of this drug, sugar levels can be well monitored and brought to control by the right diet. Pregnant women suffering from this condition are strictly dissuaded from taking food items rich in sugar and complex carbohydrates. Such a diet would have a restricted intake of food items like candies, fruit juices, soft drinks, sweets and more. Further, it is strongly encouraged to consume smaller portions of food at regular intervals rather than large meals for two or three times a day.

Contrary to the popular myth, it is also absolutely safe to breast feed the child during the outbreak of any form of diabetes, insulin dependent or non-insulin dependent. The fact is that nursing the babies born to diabetic mothers, on the other hand, lowers the risk for diabetes among the babies. In addition, regular feeding may also help the mother to reduce weight and cut down the chances of obesity. In addition, breastfeeding considerably reduces the need for insulin by the body and also uses the present content of this agent in a constructive manner. However, it is ideal for the mother to take to a proper course of prenatal treatment for the correction of sugar level before the arrival of the baby.

You could consider Ayurvedic care, as Ayurvedic antenatal care is said be one of the best in the world. There is an elaborate regimen to be followed that makes you physically, mentally and emotionally fit. Ayurveda promises a strong, healthy and well-nourished child to a mother who adheres to the Ayurvedic regimen.

A mother should never get anxious or agitated. You should relax and get sufficient sleep during the night.

As the fetus grows in your womb and your body changes, Ayurveda advises different treatments. Each month of pregnancy is treated differently.

In the first stage, milk products like cream, butter and cold milk are advocated. In the next stage ghee is recommended. Ghee is to be taken every day during certain months of pregnancy. It helps in complete fetal development, prevents congenital complications and aids normal full-term growth. Ghee is also said to prevent anemia in the mother.

Nutrition is of utmost importance. You will be advised to eat green vegetables. Nuts, linseed oil, mustard oil etc., are very beneficial during pregnancy. You are not allowed to starve or fast if you are undergoing Ayurvedic treatment. Spices, artificial food, smoking and drinking have to be given up. Homemade food is advocated.

From the seventh month onwards you will be given certain oils like Dhanvantri thailam for massage. It takes care of the back pain and other discomfort related to later pregnancy. It also relaxes the expectant mother. This is also the time when you will be given some herbal pastes to be applied to prevent stretch marks.

Recently the doctors have come to the conclusion that subchorionic hemorrhage occurs more frequently during the initial weeks of pregnancy than what they actually thought. Earlier a large share of the cases of subchorionic hemorrhage went unidentified; however, routine ultrasound imaging during the first trimester nowadays allows the doctor to locate such blood clots. A recent survey has revealed that around 48% pregnant women develop blood clots during the initial weeks of pregnancy.

What are the causes of subchorionic hemorrhage? Majority of the cases of subchorionic hemorrhage occurs due to breaking of blood vessels present in the uterus’s wall. A woman might experience breakage of these blood vessels due to any normal activity like implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus. Usually, majority of the uterine blood clots occurring during the 1st trimester dissolve blood clots, almost all through the period of pregnancy. It’s true that such bleeding episodes can turn out to be extremely scary and stressful; however, mostly they do not have any ill effect on the health of the expecting mother and the growing fetus.

In rare cases, the blood clots indicate occurrence of partial abruption of the placenta. Placenta is the organ responsible for providing the growing fetus with fluids, nutrients and oxygen; placental abruption results in peeling away of the placenta from the uterus’s wall. In such situation pooling of blood might take place behind the woman’s placenta resulting in clot formation.