Diseases During Pregnancy
Genetically Selected Infants
In a hospital near Paris was born the first genetically selected baby in France to avoid an incurable disease. This baby, whose gender has not been clarified, was born one month premature and ahead of schedule, so physicians should wait several days before a final decision on the success of the process.
In any case, his birth is a novelty in France because it represents the first application of preimplantation diagnosis system (DPI), based on genetic analysis and selection of embryos to circumvent any incurable diseases of genetic origin.
This procedure, approved in France for just over a year, allows parents carry the gene for a genetic disease “particularly grave and incurable” having a child completely free of this disease.
Detected Abnormalities Early in Pregnancy
Human embryos possess genetic defects in the early days of development, which according to experts explain why many pregnancies fail shortly after conception.
Researchers at the University of London, led by Dr Dagan Wells, studied 46 chromosomes in embryos 3 days of development and consider that a new test can improve success rates in infertile patients by allowing doctors to choose embryos with sets of normal chromosomes for implantation in the womb.
The technology could also decrease the number of multiple pregnancies in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization because fewer embryos would be implanted in the uterus for a successful birth. The results indicate that uniform cell development did not occur frequently in the first days after conception.
Wells noted that, by contrast, the cells divided unequally chromosomes together in destructive drives, or did not divide at all. Most human cells have 46 chromosomes, 23 from each parent. Wells and colleague Joy Delhanty studied twelve embryos with three days of development. Only one of the three had complete sets of chromosomes.
While the study reveals that many embryos are not viable, the results should not be inferred that all embryos are defective, as previous researchers have speculated, using less sophisticated tests.
“There are cases where early tests have shown chromosomal abnormality in an embryo, but when the baby is born, has no abnormality,” said Wells. “So the theories suggest that it is possible that embryos are composed by themselves in some cases”
Don’t Eat Sushi While Pregnant
The sushi and sashimi that are traditionally eaten in Japanese cuisine must be eliminated from the diet of the pregnant woman, just like raw meat. These are dishes of fish or raw seafood. The prohibition of the consumption of raw fish during pregnancy is to avoid the risk of poisoning or infections due to parasites that can have raw fish, as is the case of Anisakis.
The Anisakis is a parasite that can be hosted in a variety of fish like cod, sardines, anchovies, herring, salmon, pollock, hake, whiting, mackerel, bonito or mackerel.
The danger of passing to humans is not only raw fish, but also in smoked, salted, pickled or marinated foods, which have not been cooking processes. Same for the squid, octopus, oysters or raw clams. The fish or undercooked seafood may also be bad.
One possibility to eliminate the parasite is to freeze raw fish to a temperature below -20 º C for 24 or 72 hours prior to consumption. Another way to kill the parasite is subjected to heat: cook the fish to be consumed at a temperature range between 55 and 70 ° C for 10 minutes at least. It is therefore safe to eat hot smoked products and pasteurized, and produce inactivation of the parasite.
This prohibition does not mean we should abandon the Japanese food, for among the varied menu sure to find other goodies that are well cooked, whether fish, meat or vegetables.
In Spanish law since 2006 are required to establishments that serve to implement all previous measures to ensure they do not contain Anisakis. However, as we can never be sure who actually have met them all, better to leave these raw fish dishes after pregnancy.
Avoid Radiation While Pregnant
Waves and broadcasts made by teams such as television, microwave and computer screen are called non-ionizing radiation.
A household usually have different equipment that produce these refractions as radio, cordless phones and video games, to name a few.
Unlike ionizing radiation from X-ray equipment and nuclear weapons, the non-ionizing radiation do not produce enough energy to create genetic mutations.
We know that pregnant women are forbidden to expose the impact of the rays “x” because it can trigger structural changes in the fetus, ranging from spontaneous abortion to microcephaly (reduced head circumference) with the resulting mental retardation. The X-ray can harm the baby only when applied repeatedly and for long. However, in some cases are of great help to improve the health of the mother (such as accidents, difficulty in bladder or gall bladder, fractures, etc.). And must be made. It is always wise to protect the abdomen.
The best time to take the X-ray is when you have finished menstruating.
After four months, the child has formed almost the entire body. If possible, the X-ray should be delayed until the last stage of gestation. But preferably, the radiation should be suspended until after delivery.
Ectopic Pregnancy
One of the main complications that can occur during the early stages of pregnancy are called ectopic pregnancies. These develop when a fertilized egg implants anywhere outside the uterine lining. Most of the time, the egg will implant in the fallopian tubes, which is why this type of pregnancy is known as ectopic pregnancy or tubal pregnancy. However, the ovum and might also be implemented in any of the ovaries, cervix or abdomen. Ectopic pregnancies never reach fruition.
When the fertilized egg begins to grow in the wrong place, it can cause the body where it has implanted damage. This is why ectopic pregnancies are potentially hazardous to the health of women who are experiencing. However, it should be. Recognizing the symptoms of ectopic pregnancy early, not only help save his life but will also decrease your risk of scarring and future fertility problems.
The pain is spasmodic, crampy, usually begins on one side and then spreads throughout the abdomen. They also often sore shoulders. Bleeding spots appear brown or slight vaginal bleeding a few days before the onset of pain. Experts say there is more risk of having an ectopic pregnancy if: – the mother has pelvic inflammatory disease – a history of endometriosis The most recent studies do not relate to the use of intrauterine devices and other with alterations in the embryo itself predisposing ectopic nidation.
The latest technologies have to stop this type of pregnancy without the mother can have serious consequences. Laparoscopic surgery is the preferred method. Is made from two very small incisions, one in the navel to insert the laparoscope to see at all times the status of the embryo and the other in the lower abdomen, to intervene. You can also use drugs that help remove the embryo from the fallopian tube. Unless the tube has been badly damaged, these procedures can maintain the chances of a successful subsequent pregnancy. Then he continues to study the hCG levels to ensure that not all debris left in the pregnancy.
Urinary Infections During Pregnancy and How to Prevent It
Urinary tract infections are more common in women than in men, which is due among other things, that the urethra is shorter in females making it more prone to the transmission of bacteria.
Furthermore, in the case of pregnant women, these infections are compounded by the changes in the body, increase in hormones that make the kidney work harder or slow the weight exerted by the uterus on the bladder that makes you urinate more frequently usual.
To check for infections or if they persist too long, analysis of urine is included in all gynecological examinations throughout pregnancy to rank the importance and treatment as these infections can cause premature delivery reach.
The worst infection that you catch is that affecting the kidney
Given the possibility of it spreading to other body organs and the risk that entails for both mother and baby, hospitalization is necessary to deliver the drug intravenously.
Once the results are stable, will continue with oral antibiotic therapy.
Although there is a radical way to prevent infection, may be prevented by following certain points like
- Maximize the health of those areas of the bladder, vagina and anus, making it harder for bacteria
- Take extreme care with sex that often are mode of transmission of bacteria
- Drink plenty of fluids and eating vegetables to kill bacteria in the urine
- Do not hold the urge
- Dry the area very well and does not hold moisture (changed the bathing suit in the summer months after baths)
- Wear cotton underwear to allow perspiration
Anemia in Pregnancy
Anemia is one of the most frequent complications during pregnancy. Many women suffer particularly from the second quarter. Anemia is a common condition during pregnancy. Red blood cells carry oxygen through the body and baby. It is important to prevent anemia before, during and after pregnancy. If a woman is anemic, it means that the quantity and / or size of red blood cells of women is lower than normal.
The baby’s development depends largely on the supplier to the mother’s blood, so that untreated anemia can cause poor fetal growth, premature birth and low infant birth weight.
You are likely to perform tests to assess their level of anemia at least twice during pregnancy: during their first prenatal visit and again between weeks 24 and 28. If you have anemia, your health professional may prescribe an iron supplement.You can help reduce your risk of anemia by eating foods that contain iron throughout your pregnancy. These include :
* Red Meat
* Seafood
* Poultry (dark meat)
* Breakfast cereals,
* Whole grains
* Blackstrap molasses
* Spinach and other leafy greens
* Baked potato with skin
* Beans or kidney beans
* Raisins, dates, prunes, figs, apricots
Foods containing vitamin C can increase the amount of iron your body absorbs. For this reason, you should eat foods like orange juice, tomatoes, strawberries and grapefruit. Coffee and tea, egg yolks, milk, fiber and soy protein prevent the absorption of iron.