Pregnancy Health

 

8 Reasons to Wait It Out Until Your Due Date


Full Term Pregnancy Definition:  Full Term Pregnancy is considered 39 weeks – 40 weeks

 

  • It’s Risky for Babies
    More than 25% of infants born electively between 37 and 39 weeks required admission to the neonatal intensive care unit for an average of 4.5 days. {American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology}
  • Size Matters
    Early babies may end up in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for a host of reasons. They may have a tough time maintaining a normal body temperature, low blood sugar is often a problem, feeding can be tricky because early-term babies tend to be smaller and weaker, causing struggles at the breast. 
  • Brain Issues
    At 35 weeks of gestation, the brain weighs only about two thirds of what it will at 40 weeks. Babies born between 34 and 36 weeks are more than three times as likely as those born at term to be diagnosed with cerebral palsy. 
  • Breathing Blues
    The healthy set of lungs is one of the last organs to mature. That’s why respiratory problems are especially common in babies who arrive too early. 
  • A More Laborious Labor
    When they have to induce labor sometimes the cervix is not ready and then a C-Section may need to be performed.
  • Cutting Complications
    A C-section is surgery and thus carries with it increased risk for complications, infections and a considerable recovery period (typically two to four days in the hospital, plus another four to six weeks of healing time at home).
  • Delayed Bonding
    When you are recovering from surgery or your baby is in the hospital, you may not be able to cuddle him/her right away.  We know that early skin-to-skin contact can have positive effects on breastfeeding duration, bonding between mother and child, infant crying, and the baby’s cardio-respiratory stability. 
  • Special Delivery
    There are plenty of valid reasons to be induced early or schedule a C-section. Talk to your doctor about your condition and make sure your provider thinks it’s essential to go early. 

 

 

Click here to see "8 Reasons to Wait ot Out Until Your Due Date", a quick informational slideshow.

 

 

 

Urinary Incontinence: Kegel Excercises for Your Pelvic Muscles

 

How do pelvic muscles get weak?

Pelvic muscles help stop the flow of urine. For women, pregnancy, childbirth and being overweight can weaken the pelvic muscles. For men, prostate surgery can weaken pelvic muscles. Weak pelvic muscles can cause you to leak urine. Fortunately, pelvic muscles are just like other muscles—exercises can make them stronger. People who leak urine may have better control of these muscles by doing pelvic muscle exercises called Kegel exercises.

This handout focuses on Kegel exercises for women because it is much more common for women to leak urine than for men. If you are a man who leaks urine, talk to your doctor about whether Kegel exercises can help you.

 
Which muscles control my bladder?

At the bottom of the pelvis, several layers of muscle stretch between your legs. The muscles attach to the front, back and sides of the pelvic bones. Two pelvic muscles do most of the work. The biggest one stretches like a hammock. The other is shaped like a triangle (see picture below).

 

Female Pelvic Muscles

 

 
How do I exercise my pelvic muscles?

You can exercise almost anywhere and any time--while driving in a car, at your desk or watching TV. To exercise these muscles, just pull in or "squeeze" your pelvic muscles (as if you are trying to stop urine flow). Hold this squeeze for about 10 seconds, then rest for 10 seconds. Do sets of 10 to 20 contractions per day.

 

Be patient and continue to exercise. It takes time to strengthen the pelvic muscles, just like it takes time to improve the muscles in your arms, legs or abdomen. You may not notice any change in bladder control until after 6 to 12 weeks of daily exercises.

 

A few points to remember
  • Weak pelvic muscles often lead to urine leakage.
  • Daily exercises can strengthen pelvic muscles.
  • These exercises often improve bladder control.
  • Ask your doctor or nurse if you are squeezing the right muscles.
  • Tighten your pelvic muscle before sneezing, lifting a heavy object or jumping. This can prevent pelvic muscle damage and urine leakage.
  • Continue to exercise. If the excercises work, continue to do them, just like any other excercises.

 

 

 

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