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Bloody Show During Pregnancy

Most women, especially first-timers, are likely to be concerned about seeing a bloody show during pregnancy. They may wonder if it is a pregnancy symptom, a sign of labour, or something gone wrong with the pregnancy. A bloody show towards the conclusion of pregnancy is a normal thing to happen. It is indicative of the fact that your body is preparing to go into labour. What Is a Bloody Show? A bloody show occurs when your cervix (the neck-like narrow passage constituting the uterus’s lower part) undergoes crucial changes and initiates your body into labour. The cervix may start expanding to let the baby pass through it. The cervix essentially has a lot of blood and thus may bleed easily. When the cervix begins to dilate, some of the blood vessels may burst as the cervix softens. Blood vessels usually rupture immediately after the release of the mucus plug. Eventually, you may notice a bloody show, which is simply the blood from the cervix mixed with the mucus passing out of the vagina. What Are Its Causes? Soon after the fertilised egg gets implanted in the uterus, a mucus plug is formed in the cervix, which blocks the cervix’s opening. The mucus has anti-microbial properties that protect the growing baby from possible infections. When the body goes into labour, the cervix dilates loosening the mucus plug. In due course, the mucus plug flows out of the vagina along with some blood. This accompanying blood is from the blood vessels of the cervix, which held the plug in place. The blood vessels get ruptured when the mucus plug is released, causing a bloody show. What Are the Signs of Bloody Show During Pregnancy? Some of the apparent signs of bloody show during pregnancy can be: 1. Cramps Cramps are one of the most common signs of bloody show. However, you may get cramps before you experience the bloody show. 2. Mild Contractions Contractions usually indicate the start of labour, but bloody show and contractions may also be related. Some pregnant women can feel contractions during the dilation of the cervix, which may be a sign that a bloody show is likely to follow. 3. Reddish Mucus The most vital sign of bloody show is seeing mucus coming out of the vagina, tinted with blood. You may spot a sticky, thick discharge, which may be either dark brown or bright red. How Is Bloody Show Different From Mucus Plug? A bloody show is not very different from a mucus plug. They are closely linked, although they may be two separate occurrences. Both the bloody show and the mucus plug are signs of early labour. As the body readies itself for labour, it releases hormones that stimulate the cervix to dilate. The ripening of the cervix causes the mucus plug to dislodge and slip out of the vagina. The mucus plug is jelly-like and is usually streaked with blood. The appearance of the blood-tinged mucus, which can be slightly pink, bright red, or darkish brown, is called bloody show. Is Any Kind of Bleeding a Sign of Bloody Show? Bleeding of any kind may not be a sign of bloody show. In case of an internal examination by a doctor, some bleeding may take place afterwards, because the cervix tends to bleed easily. You may also experience a little bleeding after sexual intercourse. Is Bloody Show a Sign of Impending Labour? Yes, the release of the mucus plug, which is often followed by a bloody show is the early sign of impending labour. But different women can have different experiences. Some pregnant women may experience a bloody show a few days before labour starts, while some women don’t get a bloody show up until they are truly in labour. In some cases, pregnant women may not even have a bloody show and can move right into active labour. Women who are first-time moms have higher chances of experiencing a bloody show before labour begins than women who have had kids in the past. How Long After the Bloody Show Does Labour Start? The experience of every woman can vary as there is no definitive sequence of events or a set time frame to experience a bloody show and for labour to begin. A bloody show can occur within a few minutes or several days before labour starts. Some pregnant women may already be in active labour when a bloody show occurs. All in all, you may have enough reaction time when you have a bloody show so that you don’t have to rush to the hospital immediately. How Long Does the Bloody Show Last? A bloody show usually doesn’t last very long, but it may vary from person to person. Some women may experience bloody show in bits which may last a couple of days, while some may get it all out in one go. Also, some pregnant women may not even notice or experience any bloody show and can go straight into active labour. Is It Safe to Have Sex If You Have Had a Bloody Show? If you have had a bloody show, odds are you may not be in the mood to have sexual intercourse. In case you still feel like indulging in sex, it is wise to consult a doctor first. The doctor may like to check whether your cervix has dilated or not. In case your cervix has dilated, the doctor may advise you against sex because sexual intercourse can rupture your water bag or increase the chances of an infection. When to Consult a Doctor You may like to consult a doctor in the following instances: If you experience heavy bleeding. If you notice any bleeding before 37 weeks of pregnancy. If the vaginal discharge suddenly turns bright red. You experience severe cramps or tummy aches. You feel that the water bag has ruptured. If you do not experience contractions for 48 hours after a bloody show. FAQ One of the most commonly asked questions related to bloody show is: What Should I Do If I Experience Bloody Show? In case you experience a bloody show, you should monitor the bleeding, the colour of the discharge, and the rate and duration of contractions if any. This will establish if you are going into labour. If you are still in the first or second trimester of your pregnancy and you notice a bright red discharge, contact your doctor immediately as it may imply some serious issue. If you are 39 weeks pregnant with a bloody show but still no contractions, try not to get too worked up. It won’t be long before the contractions start. A bloody show during pregnancy may be a sign that things are moving in the right direction. Even after the bloody show, you may have some time before the baby is delivered. So, try to remain calm and lets things progress naturally. Resources & References: Healthline, Medical News Today Also Read: Vomiting Blood during Pregnancy Read more

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Best Ways to Treat Hormonal Imbalance in Women

Hormones are produced by the endocrine glands, and they are the chemical messengers in the body. Any up and down in the hormone levels can cause an imbalance, which has serious consequences. Causes of Hormonal Imbalance in Females Hormones play a vital role in a woman’s body, and they affect almost everything from metabolism to fertility. Hormone levels are never stable, and they might also go out of balance. Since they are very important, small imbalances could cause many problems and determining them could help solve the problem. Here are a few reasons for hormonal imbalance in women: 1. Ageing When a woman gets older, the levels of hormones in her body naturally decline. Progesterone and estrogen are the two major hormones created during the menstrual cycle. Hormone levels fluctuate when a woman reaches menopause, and they gradually decline. They might even start decreasing many years before menopause. During menopause, even progesterone and estrogen gradually decline. Weight gain, trouble sleeping, hot flashes and several other symptoms are due to the decline in these hormones. Studies have also found that during menopause, the decrease in the hormone estrogen sometimes increases visceral fat. This is particularly dangerous since the fat surrounds many vital organs in the body. 2. Over-exercising Though exercising is good for maintaining your health, too much of it can cause a decrease in the level of estrogen. Your body consumes a large amount of energy when you regularly exercise vigorously every day. Processes such as reproduction and bodybuilding start to shut down gradually, and your body generates lesser hormones like estrogen. This reduction can cause infertility, osteoporosis, and even hot flashes. 3. Poor Diet A poor diet could also be a reason for the imbalance in the level of hormones like eating a large amount of food with high sugar and carbohydrate levels which increase the levels of cortisol in the body. When the body has high cortisol levels, it affects the amount of progesterone generated. A decline in hormones is also seen when reducing a large number of calories. A study indicates that a significant decrease in calories can cause an imbalance in the levels of hormones, disturbing the menstrual cycle. 4. Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is a drug that eliminates cancer cells, and though it is life-saving, there is a chance of it affecting many other body cells. It might sometimes cause discontinuation in the production of hormones and shut down the ovaries, leading to medical menopause. Both medical and natural menopause have the same symptoms, but symptoms of medical menopause are sudden. 5. Hysterectomy This is a procedure in which the uterus is removed. Hysterectomy is suggested for treating issues like uterine prolapsed, fibroids, and even heavy menstrual bleeding. In some cases, ovaries that produce progesterone and estrogen are also removed, causing surgical menopause. If they are not removed, there is less blood supply which affects its function. Studies show that reduction in hormone levels due to surgical or natural menopause before the age of 50 can increase the risk of coronary artery disease. 6. Xenoestrogens These are chemicals found in almost all the items we use, from insecticides to plastic products, makeup, and even certain foods. A few examples of this chemical include parabens, BHA food preservative, and benzophenone present in sunscreen. This can have an estrogen-like effect and disrupt the endocrine system. Research indicates that this chemical can sometimes mimic the role of estrogen and cause interference with the actions of natural estrogen. When the xenoestrogens are high in the body, it increases the level of estrogens, causing estrogen dominance where there is an imbalance between progesterone and estrogen. This condition is sometimes called progesterone deficiency. 7. Environmental Exposure Harmful chemicals in our surroundings can interfere with and affect the balance of hormones. These are called endocrine disrupters. The endocrine system is in charge of creating and managing the body’s hormones. These chemicals could be from anything like pesticides, pollution, household cleaners, paints, car exhaust, products, and food. Some disruptions are: Hormone imitations An increase or decrease in the generation of hormones It could turn one hormone into another completely different hormone It might interfere with hormone signalling Cause premature death to cells Compete with important nutrients link with hormones Accumulate in hormone-producing organs. 8. PCOS Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a disorder in which the woman produces higher amounts of male hormones. This can affect the levels of hormones in women which cause prevention of normal menstrual periods making it harder to get pregnant. Imbalance in hormones due to this condition can cause problems like sleep apnea, infertility, metabolic syndrome, depression, and even endometrial cancer. Signs of Hormonal Imbalances in Women Hormones can affect nearly everything in your body. There is a wide range of symptoms that can indicate a hormonal imbalance. Some symptoms of hormonal imbalance in females are: Irregular or heavy periods, sometimes missed, frequent, or stopped periods. Hirsutism, or excess growth of hair on the chin, face, or other parts. Acne on the chest, face, or upper back Hair loss or thinning of hair Gain in weight and trouble losing it Skin darkening, especially along the neck, the groin, and below the breasts Skin tags Vaginal dryness Pain during sex Vaginal atrophy Night sweats Fatigue Swelling, pain, or stiffness on the joints Increased hunger Pink or purple stretch marks How to Diagnose Hormonal Imbalance in Women Doctors use multiple tests to diagnose hormonal imbalance in a patient. You should start by taking an appointment for a physical exam with the doctor. You must also be prepared to talk about the symptoms you think you have been having and that has occurred. Also take the list of vitamins, supplements or other medication you are taking at the time. Your doctor will ask a series of questions like: How often do you experience the symptoms? Have you put on or lost weight recently? Are you very stressed these days? Depending on the symptoms and hormonal disorders in females, you might also be asked to take one or more diagnostic tests. Treatment Options for Female Hormonal Imbalance The treatments will depend on the cause. Some of the common treatments include: 1. Estrogen Therapy If you are going through a few uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, your doctor might suggest you take a lesser dosage of estrogen. Don’t forget to ask your doctor about the benefits and the risks of this therapy with the doctor. 2. Vaginal Estrogen If you have symptoms like vaginal dryness or experience pain during sex, it is recommended to try an estrogen cream, ring, or tablet. This treatment avoids a lot of risks that come with systemic estrogen, or the estrogen that travels to the organ through the bloodstream. 3. Hormonal Birth Control This can help in getting pregnant by regulating the menstrual cycles. There are several types of birth control like: Birth control patch Birth control pill Vaginal ring Birth control shot Intrauterine device (IUD) This could stabilise the hormonal imbalance in young women + facial hair, and hormonal imbalance acne female are also improved. 4. Anti-Androgen Medications This hormone is a male sex hormone which is also present in women. When this hormone is high, you can take medications to reduce the effect of androgen, like: Loss of hair Facial hair growth Acne 5. Eflornithine (Vaniqa) This is a cream that is specifically designed to remove the excessively grown facial hair in women. When you apply it over your skin, it works by reducing the time of growth of new hair, though the existing hair is unaffected. Home Remedies for Hormonal Imbalance in Female How to treat hormonal imbalance in female naturally? There are some natural remedies you could try to help with the hormonal imbalance. 1. Take Bioidentical Hormones You can replace the missing hormones in your body by taking bioidentical hormones that are safe. They are different from hormone replacement therapy which has synthetic hormones. The hormones the body makes and bioidentical hormones are molecularly identical. Moreover, they are specifically designed for each person. These will help to ease the symptoms. 2. Having a Healthy Diet You should start having a healthy diet planned to balance your hormones. It is best to avoid processed foods as it might contain chemicals that affect the hormones, like dyes and preservatives. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables that are rich in protein and healthy fats. Make sure you are well hydrated too. 3. Exercising Regularly Excessive exercise is bad as it interferes with hormonal levels, but very less exercise could also cause problems. It could cause obesity which affects the levels of estrogen. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes about four days a week. 4. Practice Good Sleeping Habits It is important to get enough sleep to balance the levels of hormones. Most adults need seven or eight hours of sleep every night. Try to sleep comfortably in a quiet and dark room. 5. Learn Stress Reduction Stress can change the production of hormones, causing major imbalances. Look for healthy ways to deal with your stress like breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga. Hormones are essential for most of the processes in the body. When they are imbalanced, you will experience a variety of symptoms. It is best to seek treatment, as hormonal imbalances can cause serious complications. Also Read: Warning Signals Periods Give About Health Read more

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Jalasuthram Sharath

Father of a 7 m old boy

33 mins ago

Motherhood attachment lot of feeling,caring & emotion

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Check out this new Memory

Jalasuthram Sharath

Father of a 7 m old boy

43 mins ago

Mango Theme

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How important is instilling Gratitude in children? What are its benefits?

Gratitude is taking some time out to appreciate the things that we usually take for granted like the roof on our heads, food, water, electricity, family, friends and in times of Pandemic, computer access. Gratitude is to be able to say "Thank you" when someone does something nice for you. Cicero once said "Gratitude is not only the greatest virtues but the parent of all others". Gratitude gives us hope that there is still goodness in this world. Gratitude has lots of benefits for the mental and the physical health of the child. It brings about higher levels of happiness and optimism. It improves sleeping habits and reduces stress in life. It leads to an increase in self esteem. They are also able to distinguish between their needs and wants. They have improved relationships and better socially connected. Some activities that can be tried with kids so that they are able to practice gratitude in daily life. The more they practice, the more they become good at it. A) Be a good role model yourself: Thank and appreciate your kids for jobs well done like cleaning their rooms, helping you in folding clothes, cheering you up in your moments of sadness, helping their sibling etc. Show your kids that you are kind, giving, helping and appreciative of your loved ones. Our children imitate us so give them something great to imitate. B) Random Acts of Kindness: Just be kind without thinking much. Involve in kindness acts together. Making a card for grandparents, delivering flowers to the sick, giving food and clothes to the ones in need, giving food and water to the birds and animals. This helps the kids to think positively and they might also develop great social connections in the process. C) Keep a gratitude journal: It is an amazing gratitude habit for older children who can write. On a daily basis, kids should jot down the things that they are grateful for. This will be really helpful during their difficult days when we focus only on bad memories and bad thoughts and forget about the good ones. It also helps them to reflect on their journey so far. D) Focus away from negative towards positive: Kids should try to find positivity in every situation. For example, rather than thinking that they are stuck at home in this pandemic, they should be thankful that they get to be with their family, they are getting to know more about themselves, they are developing new hobbies etc. They should be thankful for these opportunities. E) Volunteering: Once the Pandemic is over, try involving the older kids in volunteering activities where they can be a part of a service organisation and learn about their work of operation. Teaching gratitude will help children grow up to be empathetic, kind and caring adults. Read more

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Homeschooling or No-schooling

More and more parents today are pulling out their children from traditional schools and opting for homeschooling or no-schooling. There are various reasons behind this extreme step: they are disappointed with the educational system or fear for their kids’ safety or don’t want to overburden their sick child. But do these alternate schooling methods work out for everyone? Which one should you choose for your child? Read our article to know more about homeschooling and no-schooling. Parents, today, are disenchanted with the entire educational system. School fees are skyrocketing, kids are carrying school bags that weigh more than their body weight, kids are learning by rote and then there is a constant threat to the kids’ safety. No wonder alternate schooling movements such as homeschooling and no-schooling have caught their attention, and more and more parents are inclining towards it. So What are Homeschooling and No-Schooling? Homeschooling and no-schooling are types of alternate schooling where a child is not required to attend the traditional school. He learns at home with his parents being the teachers or on his own. Alternate Schooling Methods Let’s learn in detail about these alternate schooling methods: 1. Homeschooling As the name suggests, in homeschooling, parents make a conscious decision to pull out their child from a private or public school and continue his learning at home. This learning can be imparted by one parent or both, or a tutor could be hired to facilitate learning. The parents decide on a particular board system and teach their child under the provisions of that board and curriculum. The parents prepare a learning timetable as per their convenience and availability. The parents decide the teaching style and pace as per the comfort of their child. 2. No-Schooling or Unschooling Basically, no-schooling or unschooling falls under the umbrella of homeschooling. Here as well, a child doesn’t attend a traditional school. However, no-schooling takes it one step further by not putting stress on learning through traditional means like school text books. So there is no school, no classes, no teachers and no methodical instruction-based learning. There is no curriculum and no timetable. The child decides what to learn and how to learn. He learns from doing real things, by observing people and pursuing natural interests. We have come up with a few interesting pointers that will help you in knowing the differences of these informal schooling methods: Promoters of homeschooling believe that children learn better through a structured teaching style imparted on a daily basis. While those who push the case for no-schooling believe that if kids are given access to the proper resources and books, and plenty of opportunities for personal learning experiences and people belonging to various fields and interests, they will teach themselves. In home-based learning, parents follow a daily timetable and curriculum and try to follow it religiously. However, under no-schooling, the parents are not required to sit with their child every day at a designated hour for tutorial learning. Learning happens through textbooks, and other practise sheets in homeschooling. In no-schooling, learning is not limited to school textbooks. Believers of homeschooling see the personal interests of the child as an extra-curricular activity, while in no-schooling, these activities are promoted as a way of learning. Homeschooling usually takes place in a certain location at certain times while no-schooling can take place anywhere and anytime. Both homeschooling and no-schooling are excellent forms of alternate schooling. It really depends on the parents and the child to decide the one that works out the best for them. If the parents are willing and fully committed towards their child’s education, then they may opt for homeschooling. If they have a child who is self-motivated and can control his own learning, then parents may choose no-schooling for their child. Read more

Dr Sameer awadhiya has added a new answer

Mom of a 1 yr 4 m old child

10 hours ago

Q. #asktheexpert 1year 4month old baby boy is often constipated. Is it because of drinking formula milk? What is the recommended quantity? And how to avoid constipation?

Dr Sameer awadhiya

Paediatrician

9 hours ago

A. Constipation is usually a very common problem seen in many where the most important causative factor is decrease intake fiber rich diet along with lesser fluid intake. some food like junk food mostly containing maggida and oily food can aggravate such condition. here the diet modifhication should be tried first followed by medications like lactulose milk of magnesia and muout powder.

Dr Ghouse has added a new answer

Expecting Mom due in 2 months

8 hours ago

Q. #asktheexperts muje 6 month complete hone Wale hai pr baby ab tk koi movement ni krta..iska reason

Dr Ghouse

Paediatrician

8 hours ago

A. karna chahiye 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

Abhaya Rajput has added a new answer

Guardian of 0 children

7 hours ago

Q. #asktheexperts 1st month me baby ki heartbeat aa jati h kya

Abhaya Rajput

Mom of a 14 yr 5 m old boy

7 hours ago

A. Hello there ma’am please do not worry about it too much. But it is really very difficult to say anything without proper examination. It is advisable to get yourself evaluated by a doctor and follow doctors advise properly. You can also book online doctor’s appointment on FirstCry where the doctor can help you and guide you properly. Thanks and take care

Abhaya Rajput has added a new answer

Trying To Conceive

6 hours ago

Q. I have faint line on pregnancy test . after 10 days my periods start . I want to know the reason

Abhaya Rajput

Mom of a 14 yr 5 m old boy

6 hours ago

Rashmi has added a new answer

Guardian of 0 children

6 hours ago

Q. hii doctor i am 7 month pregnant how to now my baby weight? what exercise should I start for normal delivery

Rashmi

Mom of a 9 yr 8 m old girl

5 hours ago

A. You can do basic yoga for that you have to check with your doctor as to what basic yoga society you can do apart from that you can also do 1500 steps per day that also helps a lot and just consume healthy diet that is what is going to be beneficial if there is no complication you can pull of a normal delivery

Manisha Singh has added a new answer

Trying To Conceive

5 hours ago

Q. I am trying to conceive. but I have irregular periods. how to conceive with irregular periods. what to do. plz give me some advice