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Foot Massage during Pregnancy
Pregnancy not only causes an increase in the size of your tummy, but your legs and feet may undergo swelling as well. Every pregnant woman knows the ache that accompanies the swelling, which can get quite intense at times. Pressing down on pressure points might bring some relief, but a gentle massage will sound so relaxing that getting one might be too good to resist. But does it have any benefits? Or are there more risks? Let’s find out.
Is a Foot Massage Safe During Pregnancy?
Many women wish to opt for a pedicure foot massage while pregnant and get relief from the pain, especially after knowing that there are specific massages meant for pregnant women. However, these have not been approved by any medical authority, so their benefits cannot be fully determined. Many spas do not accept pregnant women, and many doctors avoid recommending a massage therapist as well.
But a well-experienced professional performing the right kind of pregnancy massage will be safe for the mother as well as bring the necessary benefits along with it. These professionals undertake special training and certification and have the right knowledge of where to massage and which areas to avoid.
What Are the Benefits of a Pregnancy Foot Massage?
There are many benefits of a foot massage during pregnancy. Some of those are:
The fluid retention in a pregnant woman is higher than usual. This is further accompanied by vein compression since the growth of the uterus applies pressure on them. By undergoing a foot massage, these swellings can be relieved, and the circulation can be aided to bring about a relaxing feeling.
It has been observed that a foot massage done properly on a daily basis can help reduce the swelling of the leg by a considerable amount.
The process of the massage induces a calm and peaceful feeling and helps in restoring mental balance. This is essential for first-time mothers as the stress and anxiety of the pregnancy can get in the way of having a healthy delivery.
For mothers who show signs of depression and are on medication, undertaking regular massages can help boost their mood. It may also help in the delivery of a healthy baby.
The foot massage is felt by the foetus, too, and the baby tends to respond to it by moving inside the womb. This helps in strengthening the bond between the mother and child and bring about non-verbal communication.
Proper Way to Perform a Foot Massage While Pregnant
Undergoing a foot massage during the third trimester of your pregnancy can bring the right benefits when done correctly. Using the right massage oil and massage technique is just as necessary. Here are a few steps your partner or caretaker can follow to perform a foot massage properly.
The first step is to apply a good amount of oil to the pregnant woman’s feet and the partner’s hands. This will make it easier to massage the feet.
Beginning from the feet, start massaging from the toes to the ankle while applying pressure. Make sure the partner’s grip isn’t too firm. Keep massaging the feet for about 5-8 minutes.
Once that is done, move upwards from the ankle. Focus on the section from the ankle to the knee and begin massaging it. Make sure to use both hands to cover as much area of the legs and the calves as possible. Keep the pressure steady for both hands and maintain a pace of broad strokes, right from the ankle up to the knee in a single, non-stop motion. Continue doing this for about 10 minutes or so.
Once that is done, move on to the final stage. Now, focus on the region from the knee up to the thigh. Rub a little more oil if needed to keep the area lubricated. Be a little careful in this region but maintain a firm, steady pressure. The thigh has a larger surface area, so it is best to use two hands and alternately massage the lateral sections and then the vertical ones. This ensures you cover the entire leg and bring total relief. Continue doing this for 5-8 minutes. Then take a break before moving to the other leg.
What Are the Risks of Getting a Foot Massage During Pregnancy?
The relief from a foot massage is immense, but there are certain risks associated with foot massages that include but are not limited to inducing labour during pregnancy. Some major points that need to kept in mind are:
1. Risk of Pre-eclampsia
In certain cases, your legs might suddenly swell a lot more than before and lead to a rise in blood pressure as well. This condition is termed as preeclampsia, and it can have severe repercussions. Women who face this condition generally experience it in the last stages of pregnancy, primarily when the weight gain has become tremendous. Many bouts of headache begin to occur, blood pressure shoots through the roof, oedema starts happening, and vision begins to be disturbed.
In cases of vomiting, nausea, or where there is a risk of placental abruption (leading to separation of placenta and uterus), a foot massage should be undertaken only if your doctor agrees or it should be avoided altogether.
2. DVT
Also known as deep vein thrombosis, this is generally a result of a clot formation. Mostly observed in legs, this blood clot occurs in one of the veins located deep within the leg, or even several of them. This causes the legs to swell up quite a lot, accompanied by intense pain. Many women face this only in one leg, making it easy to diagnose it.
In such a case, a foot massage can be life-threatening. This is because any pressure on the veins could cause the blood clot to loosen from the vein walls and begin to travel through the circulatory system. On reaching the lungs, this clot could block the flow of blood and lead to various complications, including an embolism.
3. Pitting Oedema
Swelling that occurs during pregnancy is also known as oedema. This swelling is not out of the ordinary since it is usually a result of an increase in the size of the uterus as well as hormonal changes. Both of these begin to affect the veins and obstruct normal blood circulation. This is why a massage brings relief since it aids the circulation by reducing the swelling.
But, if the swelling tends to disappear temporarily when pressure is applied, this is usually a sign of pitting oedema. This needs to be examined by the doctor immediately as it could signify the presence of DVT or preeclampsia.
Areas That Should Be Avoided While Performing the Massage
There are three major areas of the foot that need to be avoided while giving a foot massage to a pregnant woman.
SP6 Acupressure Point: Located on the inner ankle area above the inner ankle bone, this pressure point stimulates the lower abdomen, which may not be beneficial for a pregnant woman.
Urinary Bladder 60: Located behind the ankle bone on the outside, between the Achilles tendon and the main bone, this point is used primarily during labour to provide relief from pain. Therefore, take extra precaution to stay away from it.
Urinary Bladder 67: Located on the baby toe’s corner near the toenail, it is a popular acupressure point to stimulate contractions and get the baby in the position for delivery.
Foot massage is quite a wonderful way to get the necessary relaxation you need during pregnancy. Opting for a reflexology foot massage while pregnant can also be done, ensuring the areas of risk are avoided and light pressure is used. A regular foot massage can help maintain a good mental and physical balance and relieve the stress of pregnancy, keeping you and your baby happy.
Also Read: Perineal Massage during Pregnancy Read more
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9 Must-Have Features in a Baby Cradle to Keep Your Baby Safe & Comfortable
A baby cradle is one of the first items you purchase for your little one. If you get it toward the end of your pregnancy, just seeing it in the house fills your heart with delight! Picking the right baby cradle is essential for your baby’s safety, sleep and comfort since he will be spending considerable time of his early life in it. How can you be sure you’re making the right choice? Simple – just follow our baby cradle buying guide!
Going to the market or on the internet and ordering a baby cradle seems simple enough, right? But your little one is super delicate and needs only the gentlest care. Only when he sleeps well can he be fully rested and ready to learn new skills. So, the cradle that you buy must meet all the required safety and comfort guidelines for it to suit your little prince or princess.
Buying a Baby Cradle – What to Look For
1. Pick As Per Your Baby’s Age
Cradles and cribs are designed keeping the age of the baby in mind. Follow this rule of thumb when shopping for your baby:
Till 6-8 Months: It is generally safe for babies to use cradles till the age of 6-8 months
Till 3 Years: After the age of 8 months, it is recommended to move the baby to a crib
3 Years +: At this age, many parents transition the child to a bed, though this can vary across children Pick a cradle or crib depending on your baby’s age.
2. Check for Compliance With Safety Standards
This is the most important consideration for cradle safety. Make sure the product is in compliance with accepted cradle safety standards for design, structure, usage, etc. Confirm this with the seller. For example, RforRabbit, a company that offers a wide range of baby gear products, is fully safety standards certified. Their baby cradle is EN Certified, which is the most stringent certification defined by European standards for safety of babies.
3. Pick a Sturdy Baby Cradle Mattress
The mattress inside the cradle must be sturdy and stable. It should fit snugly into the cradle with no loose ends. Look for a cradle that comes with strong mattress support.
4. Automatic Swing Option
Baby cradles may have become modern with time, but there is one trick that all mothers know will never get old: swinging! Scientists have proved that lightly swinging babies (like in a hammock) is an effective method to help them fall asleep. You can look for a rocking cradle that lets you swing the baby safely. The RforRabbit Auto Swing Baby Cradle has both an automatic and manual swing mechanism.
The automatic swing, fashioned like an Indian style baby cradle, can be controlled and timed as desired, with a simple on/off mechanism.
5. Get a Cradle with Either Lockable or No Wheels
It can be tempting to purchase a cradle that has wheels so you can easily move it around. However, an infant cradle with wheels can become dangerous as soon as your baby learns to stand up. If you want a cradle with wheels, make sure the wheels can be locked when not in use.
6. Lullabies to Help Babies Sleep
Mothers know that a lullaby is one of the most effective ways to help babies sleep. But there may be occasions when you are unable/unavailable to sing to your baby. These days, you can get baby cradles that have stored lullabies that can soothe your babies at any time! The RforRabbit Auto Swing Baby Cradle offers 18 tunes and 6 nature sounds that can be used to help the baby fall asleep. Check for this feature when you’re buying a cradle for your baby; it can come in really handy.
Did You Know?
According to a recent report, only 5% of parents of babies up to the age of six months are getting the recommended amount of sleep each night!As many as 43% of new parents get only 1-3 hours of uninterrupted sleep which means severe sleep deprivation! In this scenario, getting up at midnight and trying to help the baby fall asleep, either by swinging or singing a lullaby, can be extremely taxing.Both experts and moms agree that opting for a cradle with lullabies and auto swing can be really helpful to combat sleep deprivation in both mothers and babies.
7. Avoid Cradles with Sleep Positioners
Some cradles come with sleep positioners intended to keep the baby sleeping on their back through the night. Sleeping on the back is recommended to avoid the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). However, sleep positioners can become suffocation hazards. It is best to avoid them and instead periodically check on the baby to ensure they are sleeping in the right position.
Note: By the time your baby is old enough to roll over, the risk of SIDS is very low.
8. Choose Cradle of a Comfortable Height
Even when your baby is merrily sleeping away in the cradle, and it seems as if the nap will easily last for some time, you can never be sure! Babies tend to wake up frequently when they are hungry, need a diaper change, miss their mother, etc. This means you will have to pick up your baby several times. Choose a cradle that is of a convenient height for you.
9. Ensure Portability & Ease of Travel
The cradle that you pick should be flexible enough to transport if needed. You might have to travel with your baby during the initial months, and this makes a portable cradle a must.
Precautions to Take When Using a Baby Cradle or Crib
Remove any decorations that came attached to the cradle in its packaging, such as bows, strings, streamers, etc. Cradle accessories are best avoided especially at sleep-time. Babies are curious by nature and might get hurt trying to tug at/swallow these decorations
Do not use any pillows, soft toys, etc., in the cradle as they can become a suffocation risk. If your baby was playing with toys in the cradle, remove them when he sleeps
Check that there aren’t any broken/loose screws, sharp edges, hardware, etc., anywhere in the cradle or mattress
Choose to place the cradle or crib away from windows, wires, blinds, etc. Babies could strangle on cords or get hurt
That’s it! Keep the above considerations in mind when buying a baby cradle for your little darling, and his safety and comfort will be assured. Good sleep and rest are essential for overall development in children, and the right cradle/crib will go a long way in ensuring this. Read more
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Will Juicing Help You Lose Weight?
Whether it’s about accentuating your curves, becoming healthy, or getting that flat tummy that you always desired, several reasons may make you want to lose weight. There are umpteen options to choose from if you want to drop those extra kilos. However, have you ever thought of trying juicing? Well, supposedly this way of losing weight has become quite popular. If this is something new to you, we suggest that you take a quick look at this article and learn about juicing and how you can make use of this technique to lose weight.
What is Juicing?
The method of consuming only the juice of fruits and vegetables and discarding the solids is known as juicing. People are switching to this option because it not only helps in losing the extra weight but also helps in detoxifying the body. However, there is not enough scientific evidence that supports the same.
Should You Follow a Juice Diet for Weight Loss?
People can opt for a juice diet either for a few days or for several days. There is no denying that being on a juice diet helps your body get some essential micronutrients. However, if you solely depend upon this diet to lose weight, you should be prepared to face certain drawbacks.
What are the Benefits of a Juice Diet for Weight Loss?
Following are a few benefits of switching to a juice diet:
One of the most prominent benefits of switching to a juice diet is providing your body with an additional dose of essential nutrients if you have not been eating a variety of fruits and vegetables regularly.
It leads to substantial weight loss because you are cutting down on the consumption of any solid foods. This may help keep you motivated and focused.
Another important feature is that when you resume, you will get used to consuming smaller food portions, and fewer calories even after your diet is over. This will help in further weight loss.
A three-day juice diet has been scientifically proven to improve gut health by altering the intestinal microbiota.
Reasons Why a Juice Diet for Weight Loss Might Not Work
Sometimes, a juice diet can show immediate changes in your weight, within a couple of a few days. However, sometimes it may not work because of the following reasons:
1. Increased Calorie Intake
When people switch on to this diet, they assume that fruit juices are not loaded with calories. But that is a myth! Fruits like mango, banana and custard apple contain a high amount of calories, and thus sometimes in ignorance, you may pile on calories without even knowing about it. Under such circumstances, a juice diet may not work for you.
2. Increased Sugar Intake
Fruits and vegetables contain natural sugar called fructose. High amounts of fructose can be easily digested by the body, leaving you craving for more food. Piling on too much natural sugar can lead to obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, an increased amount of sugar can make your juice diet less effective or ineffective.
Can Juicing Be Harmful for Your Health?
Though fresh fruits and vegetables are considered to be a boon for our health, sometimes, they can turn into a bane. This is because when you consume fruits and vegetables in the form of juice, you might face the following:
1. It Can Make You Sluggish
When you are on a juice diet, you deprive your body of other essential nutrients. This, in turn, can make your body low on energy, cause headaches and make you feel exhausted.
2. It Can Lead to Food Intolerances
Just including juice in your diet means removing other food groups such as dairy, gluten, wheat etc. from your diet. When you reintroduce these foods to your body, your body may behave all weird and show signs of food intolerance.
3. It Can Slow Down Your Metabolism
When you deprive your body of its regular calorie intake, it may impact your metabolism. Also, sometimes cutting down calories does not always lead to weight loss; it might do just the opposite because the body can go on a conservation mode.
4. It Can Make You Lose Water Weight Only
You might get all excited to see a sudden weight loss, but in reality, due to the shortage of sufficient calories, the body may start using up the glycogen, the storage glucose in the body. Once the body is back on a regular diet, these glycogen stores are replenished, leading to weight gain.
5. It Can Make You Lightheaded
The high amount of sugar can increase the production of insulin in your body, which in turn may make your blood sugar drop considerably. This can make you dizzy or lightheaded.
6. It Can Make Your Skin Wrinkly and Dry
Because your body is using up the stored glycogen for energy, it can make your skin lose the water and essential fatty acids leading to more wrinkly and dry skin.
7. It Can Hamper The Growth of Your Hair And Nails
Not consuming a diet containing all the essential nutrients can take a toll on your hair and nails too. You may find a considerable difference in the way your hair and nails grow during the period of the diet.
8. It Can Cause Mood Swings
Because your body is deprived of certain food groups such as protein, fibre and fatty acids, your serotonin levels may go down, and you may feel depressed.
9. It Can Lead to Bad Breath
In the absence of a stable diet, the body reduces its saliva production. This may lead to bacteria build up in the mouth causing bad breath.
10. It Can Lead to Diarrhea
Liquids get digested much faster than solids, which can show up temporary diarrhoea symptoms, even when you are consuming fewer calories.
Tips to Do Juicing Right To Achieve Your Weight Loss Goal
Here are some tips that can help you achieve your weight loss goal:
1. Don’t Follow It Blindly
Keep your sanity intact because juicing does not make you lose weight instantly. Instead, making lifestyle changes and including some active workouts along with juicing can work better.
2. Include A Well-Balanced Diet
Fruit juicing for weight loss or green juicing for weight loss is a great option. Combining it with a well-balanced diet may help you fetch more benefits and better results.
3. Add Some Boosters
Adding boosters like flax seeds, chia seeds, nuts etc. are a great way of adding omega-3 fatty acids and fibre content in your juice. You can also add protein powder if you are aiming for lean muscle mass.
4. Research Well For Recipes
Do not go by hearsay because this is a matter of health. Therefore, make sure you opt for tried and tested juice recipes to obtain maximum weight loss benefits.
5. Stick to Vegetables Juices
You should include vegetable juices for weight loss with carrot, kale, spinach, cabbage, celery etc. rather than opting for fruit juices.
6. Be Active
Being on a juice diet does not mean that should not do anything else. It is important that you include workouts in your schedule to have more effective weight loss.
7. Limit Your Sugar Intake
Fruits are high in sugar, make sure you exclude the fruits that have a high sugar content because they might do just the opposite.
8. Include Seasonal Vegetables And Fruits
Our body responds well to seasonal fruits and vegetables. Also, this will be easier on your budget.
9. Go Organic
Organic foods are free of chemicals and pesticides and will provide your body with unadulterated nutrition and goodness.
10. Check Your Portion Sizes
Fruit and vegetable juices are laden with calories. Therefore, do not be ignorant or negligent about what you are consuming. Be careful about what you are sipping and how much you are sipping.
FAQs
Here is the answer to a frequently asked question about juicing:
Is It Safe for Pregnant Women and Breastfeeding Moms To Go On Juice Diet?
You can consume fruit juices and vegetables when you are pregnant or breastfeeding. However, going on juice diets is not recommended. This is because at both these stages your body requires all the nutrients in the right amount. However, juices fail to provide your body with all the essential nutrients.
If you are looking for easy ways to shed extra kilos, juicing is something that you could consider. However, remember that the probable drawbacks may outweigh the benefits; therefore, choose wisely, and consult a dietician to ideate a diet based on your body type and physical needs.
Also Read:
Healthy and Tasty Drinks for Weight Loss
Ways to Figure Out the Perfect Diet Plan for Weight Loss
Best Fruit and Vegetable Juices for Glowing Skin
Indian foods for Weight Loss! Read more
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Five Tips to Having a Well-mannered Kid in a Restaurant
Anniversary, birthday, a random day out – all can be the reasons to dine out with your family. But as a parent, this is probably one of those nightmarish moments that few of us always try to steer clear of. Dining out with children, however, can be managed to make it an evening to remember – that to for the right reasons.
If there is one thing that most of the parents miss from the pre-baby days, is eating at a restaurant without the mortal fear of the deadly wail striking out at any time. Here are some tricks from the seasoned players who have lived to tell the tale of their victory.
Picking the Restaurant
Work with your little one to know what kind of food does she feel up to. It’s easier to have her co-operation when she knows she has chosen the place, cuisine or something important. Each member can take turns in choosing a place.
Once she has expressed her wish on the cuisine, look at your options and pick a place that is child-friendly, such as having some table-top puzzles, games or place to lounge in. In fact, make sure of the amenities by calling up the restaurant before paying a visit and also make a reservation beforehand. Let them know you have a child with you and hence, you would not like to wait.
Remember, fine dining restaurants are a no-no for kids. The average experience time – from arriving to getting out is at least an hour and a half – and it will be very difficult to keep a preschooler occupied for that long. So, choose wisely!
Playing Captain Explorer
Once you are at a restaurant, block your table and place your order. NEVER make the mistake of being seated at the table while waiting for the food to arrive. This gets the kids impatient and worked up. So, take that time to explore the place, the surroundings – a fish tank, the paintings, etc. Time will pass quicker.
Involve your Child
Ask the little one to go through the menu and choose what she would like to eat. But, make sure she knows that her opinion counts, and she gets what she wants. All this adds to the excitement when the dish finally arrives. As far as possible, keep it multiple dishes with smaller portion sizes or dishes that can be shared with all. That way, you keep the momentum going through the meal. Work in tandem with your table attendant to work this out.
Santa’s Bag
Do not forget to pack this – herein may lie your lifeline for the evening. Her favorite toy, a book to read, some papers to draw on, can all jointly do wonders for your daughter if all your research about picking up the right restaurant goes to naught.
Portion Sizes
Ask the attendant or the chef to keep the portion sizes right. Having large portion sizes will lead to unnecessary table discussions about completing the food on the plate, thus fraying up nerves.
Under no circumstances should you lose your cool or scream at the child in a restaurant. That will make her even more rebellious. Most online groups will have at least a few moms fretting about the fear of being ‘that’ mom whose kid wails out loud in the middle of a quiet restaurant. However, kids are not irrational beings (umm, for the most part that is!). They just want things their way – don’t we all? So, go ahead and make that much-awaited reservation. Happy dining! Read more
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
9 hours ago
Q. #AskTheExpert hello dr.
baby planning kar rhi kuch tips btayiye conceive ho jaye
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
9 hours ago
A. it's a natural process ok. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
7 hours ago
Q. when baby is kick? I'm 13 weeks pregnant
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
7 hours ago
A. during first pregnancy you may feel the baby movements after 24 to 25 weeks of pregnancy and till then only mild flatters may be felt but which you may not be feeling if you are doing some work
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
7 hours ago
Q. I’m in my 31 week 1 day of pregnancy. What will be my delivery date??
As I have low lying placenta with grade 1 maturity.
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
6 hours ago
A. you had to correlate is ultrasound examination. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
7 hours ago
Q. My hemoglobin is 6.4 from 28 weeks of pregnancy. Now I’m 31 weeks pregnant. What should I do?
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
6 hours ago
A. Haven’t when you having some kind of iron supplement because they’re very good during the time of pregnancy if you are not having one you need to start with and whatever tabs you take you should just take it with any good juice specially pomegranate juice that’s going to help in doubling the impact of the medicine that you’re taking secondly try and include more of Iron which diet like spinach broccoli beetroot pomegranate black rice sweet potato these things are exceptionally healthy for you to consume
Rashmi has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 2 months
6 hours ago
Q. This is my cbc report
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
6 hours ago
A. No there is nothing visible on my wall so I can really really cannot help you can you please repose the question once again providing all the necessary details as once I’m certain what are you talking about what’s mentioned in the report according to that I can provide you proper help on your question
Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
4 hours ago
Q. #asktheexpert
now I'm 24 weeks. Sometimes I'm feeling pain in my thigh.
Dr Sameer awadhiya
Paediatrician
4 hours ago
A. For thegh query asked needs consultation with doctor for proper guidance so it is better that the doctor will guide you the correct way .
Onlfine consultation can also be taken and the expert will give you the proper answer .
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