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Role of Estrogen in Pregnancy
One of the most common problems in pregnancy is an extreme imbalance in hormones and this imbalance can lead to numerous problems. One of the most important hormones in pregnancy is estrogen. It plays a huge role in the health and well-being of the mother as well as the development of the baby.
What is Estrogen?
The human body has numerous hormones that help with the development and maintenance of the human body. Two of these hormones are gender dominant – testosterone and estrogen. All humans have both hormones but women have estrogen as their dominant hormone (while men have testosterone as their dominant hormone).
Estrogen is usually produced in the placenta and ovaries for women. One of the most significant forms of estrogen produced by the human female body is estradiol. It is, in fact, the most important hormone for the welfare of your baby’s development. This hormone allows women to get pregnant and thereafter plays a critical role in preventing miscarriages.
What Role Does Estrogen Play During Pregnancy?
Here are some of the roles estrogen plays during pregnancy:
1. Helps Carry a Baby to Term
Estrogen is a major hormone that involves a lot of minor hormones like estradiol which was mentioned above. The estrogen hormones in women are critical as they are produced by the placenta and ovaries and play a pivotal role in seeing the pregnancy to term. They do so by maintaining the uterine lining which provides a safe space for the growth of the baby. They also help regulate other hormones like progesterone which are essential for foetal growth.
2. Impacts the Fertility Prospects of the Offspring
Studies by the University Of Maryland Medical Center show that women who are pregnant and have low estrogen levels can in turn damage the chances of their children being fertile enough to carry a child of their own, the same study shows that having too much estrogen can lead to other fertility issues and increase the chances of your child miscarrying. A balanced and healthy estrogen level will drastically improve not just the health of your child but also their chances of having children of their own.
3. Reduces Foetal Malnutrition
Estrogen is an extremely important hormone due to the fact that it plays a critical role in nourishing the developing foetus into a healthy baby that is ready to come out into the world, having a healthy level of estrogen ensures the foetus is nourished well. Having low or high estrogen during pregnancy can increase the risk of foetal malnutrition.
How is Estrogen Testing Done?
Estrogen tests are done as a part of your pregnancy quad tests, it can also be tested independently regardless of if you are pregnant or not. To test estrogen levels, doctors will draw a little blood and test the blood for components of estrogen called estriol and a protein called alpha-fetoprotein or AFP. They will also test for human chorionic gonadotropin or hCG. By measuring these three aspects through your blood, doctors can accurately gauge your estrogen levels.
Impact of Low Estrogen Level during Pregnancy
Low estrogen during pregnancy can be detrimental to the overall pregnancy and to the kids born, especially females. Low estrogen during pregnancy can lead to:
Miscarriages
Fewer eggs in the female babies born of the pregnancy
Fertility issues in the female babies born of the pregnancy
The outcome is very specific to individuals, so if you have low estrogen levels, it is recommended you talk to a doctor to understand what your specific risks and challenges.
Change in Estrogen Levels and Normal Value Range in Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your hormones will spike and fall, estrogen is no different. Doctors often recommend women don’t check their estrogen too often due to fears that they may panic without a cause. Usually, during pregnancies, doctors will access your estrogen levels regularly and provide a range that is considered healthy due to the fluctuations in the levels of hormones. Here are the normal ranges for each trimester during pregnancy.
First Trimester – 187-2498 pg/ml
Second Trimester – 1276-7193 pg/ml
Third Trimester – 6138-3461 pg/ml
It is crucial to remember that estrogen levels do fluctuate. The ranges provided above are considered safe and you can expect your estrogen levels during pregnancy week by week to radically fluctuate. Do not panic if it is within the range provided above or slightly higher or lower.
If you are concerned about your levels or estrogen and pregnancy risks due to this, we recommend you consult a doctor and ease your fears. Remember, hormonal imbalances are normal during pregnancy and hormonal imbalances can be treated with medication.
Also Read: Role of Progesterone during Pregnancy Read more
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How Fathers-to-be can Prepare for the Delivery Day?
The most important thing a dad-to-be can do in the delivery room is keeping his partner company, holding her hand, and being an emotional support to her. To be able to do this, the dad-to-be should familiarize himself with the delivery process and be prepared to be a father.
Childbirth can be overwhelming for expectant parents. While mothers-to-be spend the nine months, familiarizing themselves with pregnancy and childbirth, dads-to-be may not quite feel like they are in the scene until they hold the baby in their arms. As a father-to-be, whether you have observed every single moment of pregnancy or just started to put together a birth plan, you have to know exactly what to expect in terms of labour and delivery. Gather as much information as you can about the birthing process. Read books and magazines, take classes with your partner and talk to friends and family members about the delivery room experiences. The more you learn about childbirth, the better it will serve you as well as her.
Tips on Delivery-day Preparation for Dads-to-be:
You are the coach for your partner, hence; you need to learn about the breathing techniques and labour positions beforehand, to provide her better support.
Childbirth can be unpredictable and you should not hesitate from asking your doctor questions. You should also be prepared to manage any unexpected complication.
Stay calm and focused no matter what, as this will comfort her and give a boost to her confidence.
Prepare yourself to wait through the painful contractions and keep her mind off them.
Words of praise and encouragement go a long way. Say things like “you are doing great” and “just a few more minutes” or “I know you can do it” to your partner during labour.
You should also get information about different types of possible complications like a breech baby, episiotomy, tearing during delivery and C-section. Learning beforehand will keep you prepared, and make you able to comfort your partner if there is a complexity.
Packing Hospital Bags for Dads-to-be
Dads-to-be should also have a hospital bag ready by the front door. Instead of making your partner pack it for you, do it for yourself. Make a checklist of all the items you will need in the hospital and ask your partner to review it. If you are wondering what to pack in your hospital bag, here are the must-includes:
Comfortable shoes as you may have to help her walk between contractions for comfort.
Pajamas for night stay and change of clothes.
Toiletries that include soaps, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste
Some energy drinks and snacks, so that you don’t have to leave your partner alone whenever you feel hungry. Since contractions can take too much time, this will also save you from those multiple trips to the cafeteria.
A camera with a capacious memory card, spare battery or charger to capture precious moments.
A phone, battery charger and an address book as you will be in charge of giving the good news to friends and family members.
Magazines, a deck of cards, music player or whatever you think will distract her from the discomfort.
Massage oils to give your partner a soothing back rub.
So, get ready with these tips for dads-to-be, and be the constant support that your partner needs during the tough yet magical time of labour and delivery. Read more
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Preparing Healthy Breakfast for Toddlers
Giving a healthy breakfast to your toddler is important for his overall development. Feed him breakfast loaded primarily with protein, calcium, iron, and other nutrients like vitamins and essential fatty acids.
A growing child’s developmental and nutritional needs can be met by providing him with an ideal breakfast. Commonly considered as the most important meal of the day, breakfast ensures that your toddler gets an energy boost to keep him going through the day. A few quick and healthy breakfast recipes will help you stir up a nutritious and tasty meal in a no time and provide essential minerals and vitamins to your growing child.
Breakfast Recipes for Toddlers
1. Orange-Banana Smoothie
A blend of orange, banana and some low-fat or non-fat yoghurt is all what you need to prepare a delicious smoothie. It is abundant in carbohydrates, calcium, vitamins and minerals. Keep a note of the amount given to the toddler as doctors recommend not to give more than ½ to ¾ cup of smoothie per day.
2. Berry-Mango Shake
Add ½ cup of low-fat milk and crushed ice, 1 tablespoon honey, a pinch of ground nutmeg, 1 cup yoghurt and 1 cup ripened mango cubes and a handful of mixed berries in a blender. Blend the ingredients well for at least 2 minutes to make a smoothie. This protein-rich smoothie is surely going to be enjoyed by your toddler.
3. Power Granola
Mix some oats, flaxseed, almonds, ground cinnamon and walnuts in a bowl. In a heated saucepan, add honey, orange juice and brown sugar. Cook until the sugar dissolves. Turn off the heat and add 2 teaspoon canola oil and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and stir well. Pour this mixture over the oats mixture and bake at 300 degrees for 10 minutes until it is golden brown. After baking, cool it down and add cranberries. Let your toddler munch on the mixture or add milk to it, this nutrient-packed breakfast is healthy for kids.
4. Fruit Salad
Mix your toddler’s favourite fruits in a bowl to prepare an amazing salad, loaded with nutrients. Apples and bananas are enriched with fiber and potassium respectively. A fruit salad in the morning helps maintain blood sugar levels in your toddler. You can also add a scoop of yoghurt to each serving to provide extra protein and calcium.
5. Chicken and Cheese Sandwich with Mango Chutney
Cook chicken slices on a nonstick skillet over medium-high flame till the time it turns light brown. Remove them and cook eggs in a pan for 1 minute on both sides. Put muffin halves on a baking sheet and spread mango chutney over bottom half of both the muffins, place 2 chicken slices on it with the prepared egg and 1 cheese slice. You can also spread some cheese over top half of each muffin. Microwave the sandwich for 1 & ½ minutes and place two halves of muffins over each other. This healthy and tasty sandwich will provide your toddler with protein, soy, calcium and vitamin B.
These easy to make healthy breakfast dishes will be enjoyed by your toddler and would also provide him with sufficient nutrients and minerals for his growth. Read more
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Breastfeeding :The magical bridge that connects mother and her loving child
Even if you are a first time mother or a mother who had breastfed multiple times there is always more to learn about breastfeeding. Yes, its correctly quoted it as an art that is learned together day by day.
First of all we will see the difficult side of breastfeeding from which we will move on to how to overcome the same.
Breastfeeding does hurt in the beginning, this is due to poorlatch and this will get resolved once you figure it out together as of how to get the perfect latch. This will obviously take time which may extended upto few weeks. But dear mamma's dont worry you are not alone every mom goes through similar phase,keep trying,time and patience will get things right.
Breastfeeding will be the best gift you can give to you child as nothing can substitute breastmilk.It provides natural immunuty to your baby, protects against SIDS,gets digested easily, strengthens muscles etc. Also its beneficial for mother as it lowers risk of diabetes, breast cancer, heart disease etc
Another aspect to which we need to give importance is regarding the feeding position. Both mother and baby should be comfortable while breastfeeding. Some positions to try are cross cradle hold, cradle hold, football hold, side lying position and reclyining hold. You may look up for the following signs to ensure baby is having a good latch
Tongue is seen when bottom lips is pulled down
Ears wiggle
There is a circular movement of jaw rather than rapid chin movements
Cheeks are rounded
You do not hear clicking or smacking noise
You can hear swallowing
When your baby comes off the breast the nipple is not flattened or misshapped
Baby seems satisfied after feeding
Now to conclude lets have a look on those food items and activities which will increase breastmilk.
Food items include
Oatmilk
Salmon
Spinach and beetleaves
Fenu greek seeds
Fennel seeds
Carrot
Garlic
Basil leaves
Barley
Unripe papaya
Chickpea
Asparagus
Cumin seeds
Seasame seed
Water and juice
Bottleguard
Nuts
Ginger
Cow milk
Lactation cookies
Activities increasing breastmilk naturally are
Nurse regularly
Eat adequately
Feed only breastmilk to baby
Stay fit while breastfeeding
HAPPY BREASTFEEDING ☺ Read more
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
14 hours ago
Q. my last period was on 29 February 2024 according to which I am 8 weeks 4 days pregnant but my usg scan shows 7 weeks 3 days
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
13 hours ago
A. For this purpose I’d like to tell you plus -1 or two weeks is completely normal to be seen during ultrasound till the time doctor does not say anything in order of you need to worry about the don’t worry like I said this can be commonly seen in one plus or 2+ weeks or minus weeks is fine
Sarika gupta has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 5 months
13 hours ago
Q. Am craving to have a burger at McDonald’s. Am 15 week pregnant.
Is it safe to have
Sarika gupta
Mom of 2 children
1 hour ago
A. Hello there ma’am please do not worry about it too much and it is better to avoid this at this time and also if you want to eat burger then it is better to make it a home . Thanks and take care
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 6 months
12 hours ago
Q. It's my 12th week of pregnancy but last night I noticed some bleeding. So, my doctor prescribed Duphaston for 2 weeks. Is there anything to worry about? Please guide me.
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
12 hours ago
A. at present take rest and use medicines as advised by the doctor. 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
Expecting Mom due in 3 months
6 hours ago
Q. I am 7 month pregnant with second baby I have severe abscess pain in armpit and buttocks pls tell me remedy for this ...Dr recommend antibiotics and ultracet pain tablet I have taken some doses of it but worried about the foetal development..does it hurt my baby
Read moreDr Laxmi Chavan-Sawant
Ayurvedic Gynaecologist
4 hours ago
A. You should have proper consultation with your treating doctor , as some examination or investigations may be needful, so that proper medications can be given And the treatment can be done very properly.
continue antibiotics regularly
Sai Prasanthi R L has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
38 mins ago
Q. Hello dr meri beti 6 days ki hai or use feed karwane ke bad nose or muh se milk bhar aa raha hai to aesa kyu kr rahi hai….me kya Dr ko dikhau kya???
Sai Prasanthi R L
Mom of a 10 yr 2 m old boy
36 mins ago
A. Hello dear parent! Keep your baby’s heart in a little elevated position while you’re breastfeeding. Burp your baby after every feed. Keep Babyhug tummy roll on handy. Consult your doctor for further assistance
Rashmi has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
25 mins ago
Q. #asktheexperts how to reduce belly fat after pregnancy and skin was loose .two year passes but problem is persist.How can reduce it
Rashmi
Mom of a 9 yr 7 m old girl
24 mins ago
A. For weight loss diet is good in intermittent fasting a good and but if your body is loose or you feel you really do tighten up your body then gymming or yoga both the things are going to be very good both the things are going to be helpful in tightening up your body and muscles at the same time but it is time consuming we just have to have patience
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