Air travel during pregnancy: Is it safe?

Air travel during pregnancy poses no special risks to a healthy pregnant woman and her fetus. Hence, commercial air travel during pregnancy is considered safe for women who have healthy pregnancies. Flying is not harmful to you or your baby. Still, if you’re pregnant, it’s best to check with your health care provider before you fly. Women with any health issue or pregnancy complication need to discuss with their doctor before they fly.

Avoid excessive flying. There are no hard and fast numbers. The rate of miscarriage was high in flight attendants who flew on average 74 hours per month.

The best time to fly during pregnancy

Pregnant women who are healthy and pregnant with single baby can fly safely up to 36 weeks of pregnancy. However, the safest time for a pregnant woman to travel by air is during her second trimester, provided she isn’t experiencing any complications. Try to do the majority of your traveling in the second trimester. Not only will you be more comfortable, the risk of first trimester – miscarriage and risk of third trimester – preterm labor can be avoided. Air travel in the last six weeks of pregnancy could trigger premature labour. The likelihood of going into labour is naturally high after 37 weeks (around 34 weeks if you’re carrying twins).

Hence, the best time to fly is from about weeks 14 to 28, in the middle of your pregnancy. This is when you’re likely to feel your best, and the risks of miscarriage and premature labor are the lowest.

Who should avoid air travel: Women with high-risk pregnancies

Pregnant women experiencing complications with their pregnancy are advised not to travel. Air travel during pregnancy might increase the risk of complications for such women. Some of these complications include:

•  Cervical problems, such as ‘incompetent cervix’

•  Vaginal bleeding

•  Multiple foetuses

•  If you are aged 35 years or over and pregnant for the first time

•  Gestational diabetes, past or present

•  High blood pressure, past or present

•  Pre-eclampsia, past or present

•  Abnormalities of the placenta, past or present

•  Prior miscarriage

•  Prior ectopic pregnancy

•  Prior premature labour.

•  Sickle cell disease

•  Clotting disorders

•  Placental insufficiency

•  Severe anemia

•  History of thrombophlebitis

All these are contraindications to flying. If you are experiencing any of the above complications and considering air travel, you must consult with your doctor, as you are having a high-risk pregnancy.

Pregnant women with placental abnormalities or risks for premature labor should avoid air travel. Pregnant women should avoid travel of any type after 36 weeks of pregnancy and if they are at risk of preterm delivery.

You should also take into consideration the standard of medical care at your chosen destination, just in case you need help.

Airlines and their policies

Each airline has policies regarding pregnancy and flying. Check with the airlines for their policy on flying during pregnancy when booking reservations, because some will require medical forms to be completed.

Most airlines allow domestic travel until the pregnant traveler is in week 36 of pregnancy, and international travel may be permitted until weeks 32–35, depending on the airline. Expectant mothers may be permitted to fly flights, till the end of 35 weeks of pregnancy provided there are no prior complications. However, after week 28 of pregnancy, the airline may ask for a letter from your doctor or midwife confirming your due date, and that you aren’t at risk of complications. A confirmation that you are fit to travel by air. A pregnant woman should be advised to carry documentation stating the expected day of delivery, contact information for her obstetric provider, and her blood type.

Some airlines won’t allow a pregnant woman over 35 weeks of pregnancy to fly. Expectant mothers between the 36th week till 38th week of pregnancy may be permitted to fly provided the expectant mother has a ‘Fitness to Fly’ certificate from her treating obstetrician or is accompanied by a doctor. For pregnant flight attendants and pilots, work-related air travel is restricted by most airlines by 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Things to do before you fly:

•  Talk to your practitioner before flying.

If you are pregnant and considering travel, you must consult with your doctor, especially if your pregnancy is high-risk. Before planning your trip, consult with your doctor to discuss any potential risks particular to your pregnancy. For example, a woman with gestational diabetes or multiple fetuses is generally advised not to fly.

•  Check the airline’s policy about air travel during pregnancy.

If you are into 36 weeks of pregnancy, many airlines will not let you fly for fear that you’ll deliver on board. Guidelines for pregnant women may vary according to airlines and destination.

•  Choose your seat carefully.

Make comfort arrangements. Try to get seats with more leg room. An aisle seat at the bulkhead or a seat near an exit will provide the most space and comfort, but a seat over the wing in the midplane region will give the smoothest ride. It is better to arrange with the airline a bulkhead seat for extra leg room.

•  Arrange for supplemental oxygen if required

If supplemental oxygen is required during flight because of preexisting medical conditions, arrangements for oxygen need to be made in advance.

•  Avoid travel to countries that would require immunization.

Precautions to take while you fly:

Flying is perfectly safe, especially if you take a couple of precautions. There are some precautions that a pregnant traveler should consider while flying:

•  Promote circulation.

Prolonged periods of sitting can cause blood to pool in your legs. During a smooth flight if possible take occasional walks up and down the aisle. During longer flights it is important that you get up from your seat occasionally and walk around the plane. Walking around keeps your circulation going. If you must remain seated, flex and extend your ankles often to prevent phlebitis.

•  How to buckle up.

Wear your seat belt under your belly and across your lap.

•  Drink plenty of fluids.

Airplane air is always very dry. Planes can’t carry enough water to keep the humidity up, because the extra water would add too much cargo weight. The relative humidity in airplanes is typically lower than in the Sahara desert. Because airplane air is so dry, you can easily become dehydrated during long flights. Drink plenty of water to reduce the risk of dehydration. Carry a water bottle with you and drink water frequently.

Dehydration can lead to decreased placental blood flow and hemoconcentration, increasing risk of thrombosis. Thus, pregnant women should drink plenty of fluids during flights.

•  Prevent DVT while flying

Keeping up your fluid intake will also reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Long-distance travel carries a small risk of blood clots (DVT) in pregnant women especially if you travel longer than five hours.

To prevent DVT while flying:

• Drink plenty of water
• Move about regularly every 30 minutes or so.
• Buy a pair of support stockings which will reduce leg swelling.

Drinking extra water also ensures that you get up frequently to go to the restroom, which keeps the blood from pooling in your legs.

There are no complications that can arise in a healthy pregnant lady due to air travel

Decreased air pressure during flight

Decreased air pressure during flight may slightly reduce the amount of oxygen in your blood, but this isn’t likely to cause problems if you’re otherwise healthy. The lowered cabin pressure (kept at the equivalent of 5,000–8,000 ft [about 1,500–2,400 m]) has minimal effect on fetal oxygenation because of the favorable fetal hemoglobin-oxygen dynamics.

Airport security radiation exposure

Airport security radiation exposure is minimal for pregnant women and has not been linked to an increase in adverse outcomes for unborn children. However, because of early reports of a possible association of radiation exposure during pregnancy with subsequent increased risk of childhood leukemia and cancer, a pregnant passenger may request a hand or wand search rather than being exposed to the radiation of the airport
security machines.

In-flight radiation have shown to have a slight increase in potential problems. The radiation exposure associated with air travel at high altitudes is thought to be problematic for frequent fliers. Pilots, flight attendants and others who fly often might be exposed to more radiation than is considered safe during pregnancy. If you must fly frequently during your pregnancy, discuss it with your health care provider. He or she might limit your total flight time during pregnancy.

However, studies have shown that problems were more related to the length of time in the air, the route flown, and other flight phenomena.

Airport Metal Detectors

You don’t need to worry about airport metal detectors or any other metal detectors because they don’t use ionizing radiation. (The conveyor belt that carries your luggage after you check in does use ionizing radiation, however, you won’t be climbing onto the counter and sending yourself through that machine.)

Prolonged air travel like in flight attendants have proven a slight increase in first trimester miscarriage, but this was for the flight attendants who worked a greater number of hours. From the medical literature, it has been concluded that flying is fairly safe while pregnant, even for the flight attendants, with some minor adjustments. Considering that the average passengers don’t fly for extended periods.

Vaccinations

If you plan to visit tropical countries, where some diseases are particularly prevalent, you may want to be vaccinated before you go. You are generally advised to avoid travelling to countries where immunization is required.

If you have to travel then check with your doctor to see whether any vaccines you’re considering are safe to have during pregnancy. Vaccines are not recommended because of concerns that the virus or bacteria in the vaccine could harm the baby in the womb. Most vaccines are either dangerous to unborn babies or haven’t been adequately tested for safety on pregnant women. Generally, all live virus vaccines (such as mumps and measles) should be avoided during pregnancy. Some vaccines, such as yellow fever, may cautiously be given after the first trimester. Be advised by your doctor.

The risk of malaria

It is recommended that pregnant women avoid travelling to areas where malaria is present. Malaria is an infection carried by particular species of mosquito. A pregnant woman who catches malaria risks miscarriage, premature labour and stillbirth. Some antimalarial drugs (such as chloroquine) are considered safe to take during pregnancy, but others (such as doxycycline) are potentially harmful to the unborn baby.

Your medical kit for air travel

Discuss with your doctor the things you may need to carry to access during the flight. Your medical kit should contain:

•  Preparations to help you treat common pregnancy complaints, such as heartburn, constipation and haemorrhoids.

•  Tablets to deal with air sickness

If you’re prone to air sickness and have found dramamine helpful in the past, using it in normal doses while you’re pregnant is okay.

•  Oral rehydration preparations in case of travellers’ diarrhoea. Pregnant women should be careful about taking drugs commonly used to treat travellers’ diarrhoea.

•  Multivitamin tablets formulated for pregnancy.

•  Urine dipsticks to check glucose levels if you are having gestational diabetes.

Before, during and after pregnancy, regular physical activity plays a key role in every woman’s wellness plan. Your doctor will suggest that you exercise regularly at a level that is safe for you and the baby. Ask your doctor to recommend some activities that would be safe for you.

Walking, cycling and swimming are often good choices during pregnancy. Walking is usually the easiest type of exercise when you are pregnant, but swimming or other exercises you enjoy are also beneficial. Everyday activities such as housework and gardening also count.

Why is exercise important?

Exercising during pregnancy is important as it has a lot of benefits. Exercising during pregnancy helps your body in many ways:

•  It relieves the basic discomforts of pregnancy, from morning sickness to constipation to achy legs and backs, muscle cramps, swelling and sleeping trouble.

•  The earlier in pregnancy a woman gets regular exercise, the more comfortable she is likely to feel throughout the 40 weeks.

•  Regular exercise may even make for shorter labor.

•  Exercise can also help get you in shape for the hard work of labor and delivery.

•  Keeps your muscles in shape.

•  It keeps your heart strong.

So you should exercise if you’re in good health and not at risk for obstetrical or medical complications. However, you should avoid superstrenuous activity.

When pregnant women should not exercise

If you have any of the following conditions you better not work out, at least until you discuss the situation with your doctor:

•  Bleeding
•  Incompetent cervix
•  Intrauterine growth restriction
•  Low volume of amniotic fluid
•  Placenta previa (late in pregnancy)
•  Pregnancy-induced hypertension
•  Premature labor or preterm rupture of the membranes
•  Triplets or more

Exercising without overdoing it

Keep in mind the basic rules for working out during pregnancy:

•  You do need to be careful about how you exercise. Aim for moderately vigorous exercise on most days of the week. If you have a moderate exercise routine, carry on with it.

•  If you’re not used to exercising or haven’t been active for a while, don’t suddenly plunge into a strenuous program, start slowly and build up gradually. Begin by exercising for 5 or 10 minutes every day so that you don’t put too much strain on your body. As you get stronger, you can increase your exercise time to 30 minutes or more per session.

•  Your changing body is going to demand a change in exercise routine. Don’t beat yourself up if you find that pregnancy makes it harder to continue the workouts you’re accustomed to.

•  Modify your program according to what you can reasonably tolerate.

•  Remember that keeping up a regular schedule of moderate activity is better than engaging in infrequent spurts of intense exercise, which are more likely to cause injury.

•  Listen to your body. If weightlifting suddenly hurts your back, lighten up.

•  You may find it easier to perform non weight-bearing exercises like swimming or stationary bicycling.

•  Avoid exercising flat on your back for long periods of time; doing so may reduce blood flow to your heart.

•  Don’t exercise too hard or get too hot while exercising.

•  Try not to overheat or become dehydrated, avoid overheating especially during the first six weeks of pregnancy.

•  If you feel fatigued, dizzy, faint, or nauseous, by all means stop. On very hot or humid days, don’t exercise outdoors.

•  Avoid anything that puts you at risk of being hurt in the abdomen, like road/mountain biking.

•  Steer clear of high-impact, bouncy exercises that can tax your loosening joints.

•  Throughout the nine months, low- or moderate-impact workouts make more sense than high-impact ones.

•  Carry a bottle of water to every exercise session and stay well hydrated.

•  Eat a well-balanced diet that includes an adequate supply of carbohydrates.

•  Talk to your practitioner about what your peak exercise heart rate should be. Many practitioners suggest 140 beats per minute as the upper limit.

•  Then regularly measure your heart rate at the peak of your workout to make sure that it’s at a safe level.

Know when to stop exercising

Stop exercising and talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms:

•  Shortness of breath that is persistent or out of proportion to the exercise you’re doing.

•  Vaginal bleeding

•  Rapid heartbeat, that is more than 140 beats per minute.

•  Dizziness or feeling faint

•  If your water breaks

•  If you experience uterine contractions (labor pains)

•  Any significant pain

Forms of exercise

When your pregnant it isn’t the time to shoot for that Ms. Fitness title, but that certainly doesn’t mean you can’t exercise.

Because your pregnant body demands you to take new precautions, choose your style of exercise carefully.

Working your heart: Aerobic exercise

Weight-bearing exercises like running, walking, aerobics and using a stair climbing machine or an elliptical trainer are great, as long as you don’t do too much. These exercises require you to support all your weight, which is ever-increasing. Because your joints are loosening and your center of gravity is shifting at the same time, you run a slightly higher risk of injuring yourself. Remember to do only what you know you can rather than setting off on a new exercise routine that is too demanding for your current state of fitness, not to mention your pregnancy.

You may find it easier, particularly later in pregnancy, to perform non weight bearing exercises. Because your weight is supported, you have less chance of injuring yourself and your joints aren’t stressed. If you’re new to exercise, a low-intensity workout in the pool or on a stationary bike is ideal.

Pilates

Pilates is a popular mind-body conditioning program focused on strengthening the core postural muscles important in maintaining your balance and supporting your spine. For the most part, continuing pilates classes while you are pregnant is safe, as long as you avoid lying flat on your back for long periods of time.

If you choose to take aerobics or pilates classes, look for those designed specifically for pregnant women. If no classes are available, talk to the instructor to find modifications for exercises that are inappropriate.

Strengthening your muscles

You won’t get a great cardiac benefit from weightlifting, yoga or body sculpting, but you can improve your muscle tone and flexibility, which comes in handy during labor and delivery.

Weightlifting machines may be preferable to using free weights because you know you won’t drop the weights onto your abdomen.

Use free weights only with caution, preferably with the help of a trainer or a skilled friend.

A trainer can also show you the proper way to exhale and inhale during lifting. Breathing well is important because it lessens the chance that you might bear down, otherwise known as the valsava maneuver, a method of increasing abdominal pressure. This can reduce blood flow, raise your blood pressure, and stress your heart. Avoid using very heavy weights, which can cause injury to your joints and ligaments.

Yoga

Yoga is a great choice for pregnant women. It is not only an excellent form of exercise, but may also be helpful in mastering breathing and relaxation techniques. Yoga is particularly useful in strengthening lower back and abdominal muscles and increasing stamina and physical endurance, all of which make you better equipped to handle the rigors of pregnancy. Across the world, yoga studios are gaining popularity, and many are offering specific classes for pregnant women.

Practicing safe yoga

Yoga is a wonderful and relaxing way to work out while you’re pregnant, but you got to be very careful. Follow these tips when doing yoga during pregnancy:

•  If you’re new to yoga, take a beginner class to ease yourself into a new exercise regime.

•  Be careful about positions that stretch your muscles too much. Due to elevated levels of progesterone and relaxin (hormones produced during pregnancy), you can easily overstretch your muscles and ligaments.

•  When bending forward, try to bend from the hips, not from the back. Also, try to lift your chest high to avoid putting extra pressure on your abdomen.

•  After the mid second trimester, try to avoid performing poses that require you to lie flat on your back for extensive periods of time, because pressure from a pregnant uterus may decrease blood return both to your heart and to the baby.

As a general rule for any exercise, if you feel any pain or discomfort, stop and rest.

Bikram yoga is a special type of yoga that is rapidly gaining popularity in the United States. It involves performing yoga in a room heated to 105 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 60 to 70 percent. Although some doctors feel that this type of yoga is safe for pregnant women during the first trimester, prolonged exposure to high temperatures during the first trimester is inadvisable, given the possible risks of causing a neural tube defect.

Pregnancy and sports

Downhill skiing, water-skiing, and horseback riding put you at risk of falling with significant impact, which could injure you or your baby. Although these kind of activities may be fine early in pregnancy, talk to your doctor before doing them especially in your second or third trimester.

Pregnancy And Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are a form of scarring on the skin. Stretch marks often form in the later half of pregnancy when the belly is rapidly expanding to accommodate a growing baby. Stretch marks can appear anywhere on the body, but are most likely to appear in places where larger amounts of fat are stored. Most common places are the abdomen (especially near the navel), breasts, upper arms, underarms, back, thighs (both inner and outer), hips, and buttocks. They pose no health risk. Stretch marks are not painful but the stretching of the skin may cause a tingling or itchy sensation.

Between 75% and 90% of women develop stretch marks to some degree during pregnancy. Stretch marks are most commonly seen as small depressions in the skin and are caused by changes in the elastic supportive tissue that lies just beneath the skin. They start out pink, reddish brown, purple, or dark brown, depending on your skin color. They tend to be pinkish in light skinned women, and in dark skinned women they will be lighter than the surrounding skin.

They fade with time, although they never totally disappear. This makes pregnancy stretch marks one of the main concerns for women who are planning their pregnancy. Pregnancy stretch marks may look very embarrassing.

How are stretch marks caused?

Stretch marks are formed as a result of rapid stretching of the skin associated with rapid weight gain during pregnancy. Rapid gain of fat overcomes the dermis’s elasticity causing tearing of the dermis, the middle layer that helps the skin retain its shape. When the skin is stretched continually past the breakdown point, the body will try to compensate by sending more collagen to the over stretched site. The excess collagen is what causes scar like tissue and stretch marks develop. They reflect the separation of collagen of the skin.

At least half of pregnant women get stretch marks. However, there are some factors that increase your chances of getting stretch marks.

•  Weight gain, weight loss and stretch marks

Slow and steady weight gain is ideal. The faster you gain weight during pregnancy, the more likely it is you will get stretch marks.Gaining weight at a steady rate within recommended weight gain range can lower your chance of having stretch marks during pregnancy. Rapid weight gain is unhealthy for you and your baby and is also a common cause of stretch marks. The more your skin has to expand during pregnancy and the more quickly it happens the more likely you are to develop stretch marks. Gaining excess weight more than what’s recommended also leads to stretch marks formation.

• Hormonal changes

Stretch marks may also be influenced by hormonal changes associated with pregnancy.

•  Mechanical changes

Stretch marks usually appear during the sixth or seventh month, primarily during the 3rd trimester, as that is when skin tends to be subjected to higher levels of stretching forces.

•  Genetics

Genetics plays a role. If your mother or sister got stretch marks during their pregnancy, you’re more likely to get them, too.

There are some more factors that contribute to stretch marks:

•  Nutritional Status: Well hydrated and healthy skin stretches better.
•  Ethnicity: African, American women get less stretch marks.
•  If you’re carrying multiples your more likely to get stretch marks.
•  If you’re carrying a big baby your sure to get stretch marks.
•  If you have excess amniotic fluid it increases your chance of getting stretch marks .

Do stretch marks ever go away?

No, you can only minimize the appearance of stretch marks. The good news is that stretch marks usually become considerably less noticeable about six to 12 months after childbirth. The pigmentation fades and they generally become lighter than the surrounding skin, the color will vary depending on your skin color, but their texture will remain the same.

How to prevent stretch marks?

There are things that you can do to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. After you are through with your pregnancy you’ll get busy with your new born baby so it’s better and advisable to take care and prevent stretch marks from the very beginning of your pregnancy. It’s always better to take preventive measures to prevent stretch marks than to feel embarrassed and self-conscious latter.

Even if you are prone to getting stretch marks or you already have them or women in your family have them, don’t get discouraged. You may still be able to avoid getting them to some degree by taking care of your body and skin.

Tips To Prevent Pregnancy Stretch Marks

Diet and stretch marks

Eat a healthy well balanced diet. Eating right during pregnancy can help you keep your weight gain under control. Maintain a healthy diet to nourish your skin and your baby. Diet during pregnancy has a lot to do not only for the health of mother and child but what you eat during pregnancy also helps to prevent stretch marks. A balanced diet which includes adequate amount of Vitamin A, C, and E found in fish liver oils, vegetables, fruits, eggs and beans keeps the skin healthy and supple and heals and prevents stretch marks. Eat the right amount of calories from healthy foods which provide plenty of calcium, protein, whole grains, and vitamin rich fruits and vegetables.

Take your prenatal vitamins. Your body needs extra vitamins and minerals at the time of pregnancy so taking your vitamins will supplement those needs. It will also help you develop beautiful skin and hair during your pregnancy.

Water and its magic on stretch marks

Drink plenty of water to keep your skin well hydrated and pliable. Proper hydration will maintain the elasticity of skin which will in turn help keep the collagen production at normal levels and prevent the stretch marks. Drink eight or more glasses of water and/or other fluids daily to hydrate your skin and maintain elasticity.

Weight gain, weight loss and stretch marks

Follow guidelines for gradual weight gain, in the recommended amount. Talk with your doctor about how much weight you should gain during your pregnancy. Watch your diet and try not to put on excessive weight during pregnancy. Follow a fitness regime during pregnancy in consultation with your physician. Moderate exercises during pregnancy keeps your muscle toned up and this will prevent stretch marks.

Continue regimen after you deliver until you’re back to your target weight, rapid weight loss can also result in stretch marks.

Well hydrated and healthy skin

Don’t allow your skin to dry out. Cold weather and hot showers or baths will dry out your skin. You may need to moisturize your skin two or three times as often as possible like you normally would during winter or if you take hot showers.

Home remedies for stretch marks

You can minimize the appearance of stretch marks with constant and regular use of creams and other applications.

•  During pregnancy, massage cocoa butter twice a day on your stomach, hips and breasts. Cocoa butter is known to be an effective remedy to prevent pregnancy stretch marks. The cocoa butter will be hard and solid, so grate some with a microplane or cheese grater, then heat it in a double boiler or a glass measuring cup in the microwave. Once the melted cocoa butter has cooled to just warm, gently smooth it over your belly. This is very soothing, smells wonderful, and also helps your belly feel better.

•  Aloe Vera gel is also useful to prevent stretch marks. Apply Aloe Vera gel on your stomach during pregnancy which will ensure that you don’t get stretch marks after child birth.

•  Mix equal amounts of calendula oil, almond oil and wheat germ oil and apply the mixture on your stomach, breasts and hips. If you can find pure Lanolin, it works very well. This will protect you from getting stretch marks after your baby is born.

•  Massage lightly with olive oil on your stretch marks until you start seeing the difference. Castor oil, avocado oil, and
vitamin E oil can also be used in place of olive oil. You will definitely feel the difference within a short period of time. Wheat germ oil, almond oil and shea butter also help.

•  Use sandalwood paste on your stomach during pregnancy. Sandalwood paste is known to prevent skin from stretching a lot during pregnancy.

Moisturizers, creams and lotions

•  Moisturize your breasts, belly, sides, lower back, thighs and anywhere else you think you might get stretch marks, twice in the morning and night. Your moisturizer should be safe and all natural.

•  Another way to avoid stretch marks is to use creams that contain vitamin E or cocoa butter. You can make your own pregnancy stretch mark cream with cocoa butter, olive oil, and vitamin E cream. Just mix the ingredients and apply. Massage these creams onto your skin where stretch marks are forming. The massaging action itself can increase blood flow to that area and diminish visible stretch marks.

•  Creams and lotions have not been medically proven to prevent stretch marks as they cannot penetrate to the deep skin layer where stretch marks occur, but they can help your skin to feel less dry and itchy. If you notice itching where your skin is being stretched, that is a sign to add more moisturizer in that area.

•  A good cream for treatment of stretch marks is Zenmed’s Stretta. It contains high grade glycolic acid and medicinal botanical extracts that help to erase the marks quickly without causing any irritation or itching.

•  Avoid using certain stretch mark products while pregnant, brands that say “not for use by pregnant or nursing women.”

•  If you are using lotions or creams to prevent or minimize breast stretch marks, be careful when you’re nursing. You don’t want your baby to ingest the chemicals.

•  Topical medications such as tretinoin (Retin-A) and glycolic acid may help. (Note: Retin-A is not safe to use during pregnancy and there’s no reliable information on the amount excreted in breast milk or its effect on a nursing infant, so it’s best avoided while breastfeeding.)

All those expensive creams, oils and ointments can do is improve the tone and appearance of your skin and make the stretch marks less noticeable. You won’t be able to banish them altogether, but if your stretch marks still bother you after your pregnancy, talk to a skin specialist, dermatologist about ways to minimize them. There are a variety of treatment options.

Removal of stretch marks

Several cosmetic surgical procedures are performed for removing stretch marks. One such procedure is called tummy tuck for removing lower abdominal stretch marks. Stretch marks occur frequently below the navel and in this treatment the skin below the navel is removed.

Another novel approach to treating stretch marks is fractional laser resurfacing. Using scattered pulses of light only a fraction of the scar is zapped by the laser over the course of several treatments. This creates microscopic wounds. The body responds to each treatment by producing new collagen and epithelium.

There’s some evidence that laser treatments can help restore the skin’s elasticity and also change the pigmentation so the stretch marks better match the rest of your skin. For some women there is no way to prevent stretch marks. However, the good news is that they do fade over time. They will take on a much lighter color depending on your skin tone. Having a healthy baby should be the most important thing. A few stretch marks are a small price to pay for a beautiful, healthy baby. But if you follow the above tips, you may be able to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. If the stretch marks still bother you, talk to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon about the best treatment option. There are new techniques and surgeries being explored all the time.

Be aware that the appearance of stretch marks is considered a cosmetic issue, so insurance probably won’t cover the cost of dermatology appointments, medications, and procedures.

Breast Changes During Pregnancy

Breast Changes in Pregnancy

Your baby isn’t the only one growing and changing during your pregnancy. Your own body is also undergoing changes. One of the earliest and most significant changes in your body, happens to your breasts. For many women the first pregnancy symptom they experience is changes in their breast tissue. Your breasts will respond to you being pregnant by changing in preparation for breastfeeding.

Once fertilisation occurs the pregnancy hormones increase in a pregnant woman’s body. Increase in these pregnancy hormones – hCG, progesterone and estrogen are responsible for all the changes that are brought about to your breasts. The adjustments that your body is making aren’t always the most pleasant and comfortable for you.

Here are some of the common changes in your breasts during pregnancy:

• Breast tenderness
• Soreness of breasts
• Changes in nipple
• Swelling of breasts
• Montgomery’s Tubercules
• Enlargement of breasts
• Leaking of breasts

Tender, sore breasts

Often the first symptom of pregnancy is tender breasts. Your breasts may feel very tender very early in pregnancy. Early in the first trimester you may notice that your breasts are sore or tender to touch and ache as they begin growing. This is caused from the hormonal changes.

Increasing levels of estrogen and progesterone cause immediate changes in your breasts. These hormones begin to prepare your breasts for breastfeeding.

You may have a slight tenderness when you touch your breasts or in early pregnancy your breasts may feel sore which can be really painful. Or you may have severe pain whenever you wear a bra. All these variants are normal and are usually most intense in the first trimester. You may just want to avoid touching or having anyone to touch your nipples.

Ways to Deal with Sore Breasts in Pregnancy

Here are some tips for dealing with sore breasts in pregnancy:

• Wear a sports bra.

Movement may make you feel the pain, a sports bra helps minimize movement of your breasts.

• Sleep in a bra.

Restricting movement can help reduce pain due to sore breasts. Sleeping in a bra will help minimize movement and help with tenderness.

• Wear breast pads.

If there is a seam that runs through the inside of the cup of your bra it can be hurt and be painful. Look for seamless bras or wear breast pads. Breast pads can help shield your nipple from the lining of your bra.

• Avoid contact.

If touch aches then communicate this to your partner too in a loving way, rather than snapping and hurting their feelings.

• Shower Spray

A warm shower can comfort some as the warm stream of water hits your breasts. Some mothers find it comforting, while others find it painful. If it’s painful, avoid it.

Heavy breasts: swelling of breasts

Once fertilisation occurs the increase in pregnancy hormones – hCG, progesterone and estrogen within a pregnant woman’s body, incre ases blood volume in breasts which makes breast swell and heavy.

Changes in nipple: Darkening of areolea, Montgomery’s Tubercules

Darkening of areolea

The nipples and areolea that is the circular areas around the nipples grow bigger and  darken as your pregnancy progresses.

Montgomery’s Tubercules

You may notice small, goose bump or pimple like white raised areas on the areola of your breast. They are called Montgomery’s tubercules. These are normal. They usually begin within first six weeks after conception and goes away during the second trimester.

Larger Breasts

Your breasts grow large early in pregnancy. This is in preparation for breastfeeding. The pregnancy hormones cause the glands inside your breasts to grow and branch out, in preparation for milk production and breastfeeding after the baby is born.

Even during the first month of pregnancy, most women notice that their breasts grow considerably larger. For some women breasts begin to grow towards the end of the first trimester or the beginning of the second trimester.

Blood supply to the breasts also increases markedly. You may notice large, bluish blood vessels coursing along your breasts.

Pregnancy weight gain around your breasts

Gain in weight is a normal and healthy part of pregnancy. The extra weight you gain during pregnancy provides nourishment to your developing baby and is also stored for breastfeeding your baby after delivery. There is 2-3 pounds increase in weight of your breast tissue. Fat stores for delivery and breastfeeding comes to 5-9 pounds. This makes your breasts large and heavy.

Towards the end of pregnancy you will feel the need for nursing bra to help support the larger breasts. As your breats grow large through your pregnancy wear appropriate size bra. You’ll have to grow through several bra sizes throughout pregnancy. Good support helps reduce stretching and sagging of breasts later on.

Some women like the way they look with larger breasts, others feel more self-conscious. Don’t feel embarrassed about it as other pregnant women feel the same way too.

Leaking of breasts: Leaking Colostrum

Leaking of breasts is a sign of pregnancy. It is your breasts preparing to breastfeed. The substance leaking from your breasts is colostrum. Colostrum is the first milk your body makes. It will provide your baby with everything he or she needs to start life, including a dose of immunities and protection from jaundice.

Your breast may give out colostrum even before you may know you are pregnant, it can start at around any time during pregnancy for some it starts around 3rd week and for some during second or third trimester. You may notice one breast leaks or both breasts leak. Towards the end of pregnancy some women may find that their breasts leak a golden color fluid. Or you may notice that your nipples have a film or caked substance, this is all colostrum. Some women experience a lot of discharge while other barely notice anything. The amount has nothing to do with your ability to breastfeed. You can use a breast pad if it becomes noticeable or if it makes you feel more comfortable.

No Breast Changes

You may be one of the women who have only slight symptoms or no symptoms of breast changes in pregnancy. Don’t panic. It has nothing to do with your ability to have a successful pregnancy or breastfeed.