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Pneumonia in Pregnancy - Causes, Signs and Treatment
Sometimes a small cold or a cough can lead to a very serious illness such as pneumonia if not treated immediately. Pregnant women can occasionally contract pneumonia due to a variety of factors. If you are pregnant, the best thing to do is to take proper rest, get exercise and avoid contact with those who have a cold or a cough.
What is Pneumonia?
It is a type of lung infection that is often a severe result of a cough or cold which gradually spreads to the lungs. If you are pregnant and you develop pneumonia, it is called ‘maternal pneumonia’.
Causes of Pneumonia during Pregnancy
Maternal pneumonia can occur due to a number of reasons. Here are a few for your easy reference
A viral or bacterial infection such as cold or a cough
Chickenpox or varicella
Influenza
Respiratory distress syndrome
Suppressed immune system leading to susceptibility to pneumonia
Symptoms of Pneumonia during Pregnancy
Pneumonia primarily starts off with flu-like symptoms and hence sometimes it is difficult to identify it, to begin with. If conditions like a headache, cold and chest pain worsen, it could potentially be pneumonia.
Here are a few symptoms which can indicate pneumonia
A severe cough with a phlegm
Difficulty in breathing
Chest congestion and severe pain
Shivers
Tiredness or listlessness
Fever
Vomiting or severe nausea
Loss of appetite
How does Pneumonia Get Transmitted during Pregnancy?
Pneumonia can spread in many ways. The bacteria and viruses that cause pneumonia primarily are air-borne which are transmitted by sneezing or coughing without covering your mouth. Blood can also be a carrier of the infection, and this is fairly common to contract after birth.
Common Types of Pneumonia during Pregnancy
There are several types of pneumonia that one can get, and they are classified on the basis of their origin.
1. Bacterial Pneumonia
This one originates from a bacteria carried by someone and is the most common one. The bacteria that cause this include Haemophilus influenza, Streptococcus pneumonia, mycoplasma pneumonia
2. Viral Pneumonia
The viral one can be due to respiratory infections like influenza, varicella or acute respiratory syndrome which can be threatening to pregnant women
3. Fungal Pneumonia
This type of pneumonia is very uncommon, and it is primarily due to a fungal called ‘coccidioidomycosis’, and it can happen in the third trimester. It can affect immunity and stimulate effect on progesterone in the affected women.
Who are at Risk of Developing Pneumonia during Pregnancy?
If you are pregnant, your body is already undergoing a lot of changes and a lot of energy is spent on nourishing the baby. Hence the immune system of a pregnant woman is a bit weak increasing the changes of pregnancy.
Apart from this, here are a few other risk factors
Smoking
If you are anaemic
If you are chronically ill
If you have asthma
If you work with young children who are also likely carriers.
Complications of Maternal Pneumonia
If you are carrying, you may be wondering ‘can pneumonia affect pregnancy?’. There are several dangers both to the mother and baby if the woman gets pneumonia.
A few of them for the mother is
Dropping levels of oxygen due to congestion can lead to a condition called ‘empyema’ where fluids can amass around the lungs.
The infection can spread from the lungs to the other organs.
It can be fatal if not treated immediately.
Some complications for the baby may be:-
Low birth weight
Lung or respiratory failure
Miscarriage
Premature delivery/ birth
How is Pneumonia Diagnosed?
If your cough or cold persists and you experience severe chest pain, the first step is to call the doctor. A doctor will then diagnose maternal pneumonia by using chest x-rays, listening to your breathing and also collecting a sputum sample (spit or phlegm). The doctor may reference your medical history before making the prognosis.
Treatment of Pneumonia for Pregnant Women
There are several techniques of infection management of pneumonia during pregnancy.
If it is bacterial pneumonia is diagnosed a doctor can prescribe antibiotics which need to be taken over a course.
Painkillers or over the counter pain relievers may be prescribed by the doc to relieve congestion and fever. This is usually acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Proper rest and good nutrition is also recommended.
Finally, since the body will be dehydrated, it is advisable to have lots of liquids in the form of water, juice or milk.
How can you Prevent Pneumonia during Pregnancy?
The most effective way to avoid risks of pneumonia during pregnancy is by avoiding anyone who has the flu or any other infection in addition to maintaining good hygiene. Pregnant women especially need to get a full night sleep, good nutrition and wash their hands regularly to avoid contracting pneumonia.
Effective Natural Remedies for Maternal Pnuemonia
Honey
A fusion of honey and warm water can be consumed daily to help symptoms subside. Honey is full of antibacterial, antifungal medicinal properties and is used for various treatments.
Camphor
2-3 drops of camphor oil can be added either to jojoba or olive oil and rub gently on the chest and back. It is a decongestant which will do wonders to get rid of the phlegm.
Dandelion Tea
The roots are used to treat ailments & have a variety of health benefits. It is anti-inflammatory in nature. It can be made into a hot tea with turmeric and honey and consumed daily.
Turmeric
The greatest remedy in Indian household for a variety of ailments is turmeric. It has antiseptic, anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties and can be consumed with warm milk at night to reduce congestion.
Garlic
This is the best antibiotic readily available in your kitchen for a cough and cold. It can reduce chest pain as it has anti-irritant properties and a small quantity of it can be applied on the chest daily (in paste form).
Liquorice
Anyone suffering from pneumonia knows the terrible coughs that accompany it. The best way to relieve this is by using liquorice which helps build a protective mucus in addition to being anti-viral and antibacterial.
Sesame Seeds
If you have a huge build-up of phlegm, sesame seeds can be boiled in water and consumed after straining to get relief from phlegm.
Ginger
This one is an age-old remedy which every grandmother recommends when one is suffering from cold and cough. Ginger tea or soup is a good option to relieve congestion and pain.
Steam Bath
The best thing to do when you have severe pneumonia is to take a hot shower and use a few drops of essential oil such as lavender, camphor or eucalyptus.
Parsnip Juice
The vegetable contains many vitamins and potassium that is great for treating pneumonia.
Now that you are aware of the signs, causes and symptoms take necessary precautions to avoid pneumonia during pregnancy and keep yourself and your baby healthy.
Also Read
Bronchitis during Pregnancy
Tuberculosis during Pregnancy Read more
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12 Effective Ways for Parenting Without Yelling
You decide that you will not react angrily no matter how mad you get the next time your kids provoke you. But seriously, when you are really mad, can you even think straight let alone control your reaction?
You’ve just put away all that clay dough for the third time and you tell your child no more dough before bedtime. A little later, you find she’s taken out all the stuff again and is happily molding a bug! It’s natural for your blood to boil.
But before raising your voice remember that all that yelling and screaming doesn’t curb frustrating behavior in your child. On the flip side it’ll only make everybody including you upset and guilty. Here's a list of 12 ways you can rely upon for getting your kids to listen without yelling.
How To Stop Yelling At Your Kids
1. Baby Proofing
Ensure basic baby proofing the house. Keep child inappropriate things out of reach of the little ones. This is especially beneficial when your child reaches out, gets that box of cereals and dumps the entire content on the floor! It's best to keep such things out of reach.
2. Get Out of the Situation
If your spouse is around, take his help to deal with your unruly child. Chances are he won’t yell (as he is not yet as mad as you are!) and even your child might mellow down with the change in parent.
3. Realistic Expectations
If you find yourself constantly yelling at your children, chances are your expectation levels from them are too high. You shouldn’t forget that you are dealing with a child who’s physically and mentally not as developed as you. Hence it might be difficult for him to spend hours doing what you enjoy or in turn enjoy doing something for hours which you disapprove of.
4. Be Assertive- Not Mean
Be calm and address your child firmly. A soft yet firm tone will make your child strain and actually listen to you.
5. Strategize
Try to time out your stressful activities without your children tagging after you. If you lose it regularly at the grocery store then you can either shop online after your kids' sleep time, or visit your favourite store at night or weekdays to avoid crowds and get your shopping and billing done fast.
6. Cook Up a Fictional Story
This is an effective way on how to discipline your child without yelling. Try stories like this: what happened to the little girl when she did (or didn’t) listen to her mother? The result can be glorious or bad depending upon the imaginary child’s actions. This is a win-win situation for both mother and child when the former is busy telling the story and the little one is imagining.
7. Let her Know You Are Angry
Instead of just snapping let her know that you are getting mad. If she doesn’t care, give her a time limit and a harmless threat. For instance, her toys might go to the trash can if she doesn’t pick them up once you finish counting 10. This works very well for small children and helps your kids to listen without yelling.
8. Keep Squeezy Toys Handy
Squeezable stress toys such as smiley balls and dolls can work wonders in squeezing the stress out of you. So keep them handy and squeeze that ball whenever you have the urge to blow your top.
9. On the Spot Physical Exercise
Release all that stress by jogging in one place or doing some deep breathing exercise. You'll feel relaxed. Also, if your kid is watching you she might get surprised and distracted by her mother’s behaviour and calm down.
10. Take a Break
Being a mother isn’t cakewalk and if you find yourself losing your cool often on your children, then it can be sign of stress and fatigue. Rejuvenate yourself by taking a break and asking your husband, close family or friends to take care of your baby for a while.
11. Putting Things in Perspective
Try putting yourself in the shoes of your little one. A child is a child who will obviously opt for playing than getting ready for school. So curb your urge to scream and think of some alternative plan. Sometimes a change in perspective helps diffuse situations.
12. Visualize the Aftermath
What does yelling do to a child? All that screaming and those melancholy, tearful eyes of your darling make you feel guilty and your child upset! Just visualizing these not so proud mom moments can help you hold your tongue, prevent shouting at children, and let you handle the situation in gentler ways.
Is yelling abuse? Definitely so if it becomes chronic! The next time your child tries to try your nerves just tune on to these tips of parenting without screaming. Read more
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Apply For Maternity Leave Like a Pro
A request for maternity leave isn't the same as applying for annual or privilege leaves. It entails a longer period of absence from work. How you apply for it makes all the difference, as you would also want to get all the benefits due to you during this phase.
Stepping out of your job for three months can be stressful for you and your colleagues no matter how happy the impending occasion is. You want to make sure that everyone around you at work is prepared for your absence. Moreover, you need to know when to take maternity leave so that it doesn’t cause anyone inconvenience. So, if you find out you’re pregnant here are some guidelines to help you apply for maternity leave like a pro.
The Professional Way of Applying for Maternity Leave
1. Follow the hierarchy
You may be brimming with excitement and can’t wait to tell your colleagues. But you should hold on to your feelings and tell your boss first. You don’t want the news getting to your boss before you can tell him or her. So act like a professional and be the first to tell him.
2. Don’t be clueless
Writing a maternity leave application letter is an important aspect of a well-arranged pregnancy. Before you pen down your application, you should be aware of the full maternity benefits offered by your company and its maternity leave policy. If you're in doubt about anything, find out from your boss or the person who'll be sanctioning your leave.
3. Communicate correctly
When applying for maternity leave be sure to communicate your requirements correctly, so that there’s no confusion in the weeks surrounding your due date. Be specific about the start date and the desired length of your leave. Don’t forget to mention your due date and attach a copy of your doctor’s certificate in support of it. Include your planned return date too. If you feel you would need extended leave, mention it in your letter and specify the duration of the time required.
4. Give adequate notice
Be sure to check your company’s policy to find out the adequate notice period of handing in your leave application. Better still to hand over the maternity leave notice well in advance, so that you and your colleagues or superiors can plan ahead. Even make necessary arrangements to cover your period of absence.
5. Plan your absence
A long absence from work is always going to be inconvenient for you, your colleagues and your boss too. If your maternity leave is going to coincide with important work then you need to decide upon a few things. Can you rely on anyone else to step in for you? How much of it can you put on hold? Do you need a replacement? You need to be able to set things up in your absence to ensure work is not hampered and that you don’t return to a complete mess.
If you’re in an organization where there are people to fill your shoes in your absence, consider yourself lucky. If you can follow these guidelines in applying for maternity leave correctly it will help you enforce your rights in the event of a disagreement and ensure a smooth transition in the weeks preceding your due date. Read more
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Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
5 hours ago
Q. My son is 5 months old is suffering from cough..what to do?
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
4 hours ago
A. give nasal saline drops every few hourly to the child in the nasal cavity.
try to prevent temperature variations around the child
you can go for indirect steam inhalation which will again help in decreasing both cough and cold
continue the regular diet of the child
if there is no improvement in few days then meet your doctoru
for fever and pain give paracetamol.u
anti-cold medicines at this age have got side effects so can be given only after medical consultation.
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 6 months
5 hours ago
Q. hi. in Feb my period was last and I did pregnancy test in March its positive results but my belly is not being bigger
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
18 mins ago
A. the belly size during pregnancy is not necessary every time to grow fast
it depends individually
so don't worry about that and just have proper consultation with your doctor for examination and sonography
Humara has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. I am 7 weeks pregnant. Before pregnancy I used to take medicine named Cyra 20 mg for acidity. Now since the day when I got to know that I am pregnant I am not taking any medicine for acidity but daily I am suffering from it. After having breakfast it starts. I am not eating any spicy food , oily food etc. Please help on this
Read moreHumara
Mom of a 2 m old girl
45 mins ago
A. dear mom u can take digene syrup or ulgel they as safe my doctor recommended me during pregnancy u can also take biorab dsr in the morning and syrup before meal at least 30 min i was faciny the same issue
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Mom of a 1 yr 9 m old child
1 hour ago
Q. hi mam , my baby 1 year and 9 month old just now onwards stop breast feeding .pls suggest formula milk to my baby
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
1 hour ago
A. your baby is more than 1 year 9 months of age any milk including buffalo milk cows milk 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 Ghouse has added a new answer
Trying To Conceive
1 hour ago
Q. #AskTheExpert hello dr.
baby planning kar rhi kuch tips btayiye conceive ho jaye
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
1 hour 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
17 mins ago
Q. when baby is kick? I'm 13 weeks pregnant
Dr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
15 mins 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
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