Medical Problems Specific To Teen Pregnancies, Part 2

Premature babies (aka “Preemies”) have not had enough time and nutrition for their organs to fully develop and reach a healthy weight, so they are more likely to die within the first year. Even if they live, “preemies” and low birth-weight babies (also very common among teens) are at a much higher risk of serious health problems than other babies. When I say “low birth-weight”, I'm talking about babies between 3.3 and 5.5 pounds; such babies often need intensive neonatal care to help with basic functions like breathing and heartbeat because the organs that perform these functions are not fully developed. Low birth-weight babies also have an increased risk of digestive problems, mental retardation and other cognitive difficulties. Granted, “risk” does not mean “certainty”, but the chances are high enough to warrant careful consideration. Low birth-weight is usually caused by the mother not getting proper nutrition or gaining enough weight with the pregnancy, although habits such as smoking and drinking can do this too.

Anemia-a deficiency of iron-can be harmful anyway, but is especially problematic in a pregnant teenager. Teenagers are less likely to have good eating habits or gain enough weight during their pregnancies to give the baby adequate nutrition. Plus, since they're still growing themselves, even fewer resources go to the baby of a teenager than an adult. Iron is what helps the blood deliver oxygen to the rest of the body, so not having enough can cause a lot of problems to a developing fetus. This can be avoided by taking iron supplements and eating an iron-rich diet but, if a mother isn't getting the prenatal care I mentioned above, she won't know to do this.

I think one reason teenage mothers don't gain enough weight is because they don't want to “show”; they don't want everyone to know they're pregnant early on or to “look fat”. I don't say this to crack on teenagers in general so much as to say that some of the younger (say, 14-15) girls might not be mature enough to realize that this is a real person inside her who is dependent on her and whose needs she'll have to put before her own for the rest of her life, or at least the next 18 years. Even if she does understand that, “showing” at school can open a girl up to a lot of gossip and scorn from other classmates that certainly doesn't help matters. Like I said above, I'll go over the emotional issues in another post.

Hopefully I've given you some food for thought. I don't say these things to scare you so much as to state what can happen. The details of what to do if your daughter becomes pregnant are things that should be discussed within the family and/or with a doctor. Hopefully you'll never have to have that conversation but, if you do, at least you have a jumping-off point.

Medical Problems Specific to Teen Pregnancies, Part 1

I went to school in an area where teen pregnancy is fairly common. Several people I knew-my sister included-had their first child when they were 17 or younger. Judging from the things they said, being pregnant as a teenager is difficult enough without having to add complications to the equation. Any pregnancy can have complications, but are there any that are specific to teenage pregnancies? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. It's not so much that these things only happen to teens so much as that they are more likely to happen to teens; as much as we wanted to believe otherwise at that age, teens are not yet fully grown and are thus more at risk for certain problems than they would be if they were older. So, what are some of these problems? Here is a very basic overview. When I say “complications”, I'm only talking about the medical ones; I'll go over the social and emotional ones in another post.

One problem comes from the lack of prenatal care. Think about it; how many girls did you know in school had a pregnancy scare? I didn't, but some of my friends did. The first thing they'll probably say is that they're afraid of what their parents will think. If they're afraid to tell their parents they're in a position to need prenatal care or don't have parental support during the pregnancy, they're not likely to get it. Prenatal care is important all through the pregnancy, but especially in the first few weeks. If they don't get prenatal care, they won't know the right foods to eat, right vitamins to take or any of the other things mothers are told to do to ensure a healthy baby. They also won't know if there are any medical issues that could adversely affect their or the baby's health, which can cause other problems. In fact, the death rate from pregnancy complications is a lot higher in younger teenagers than it is in older, part of that being from problems that could have been addressed and dealt with early had prenatal care been given. Difficult as it is for a teenager to tell her parents she's pregnant, this is essential to getting her the care she needs. Most parents I know would rather have their child tell them she's pregnant than to risk harm to herself and/or her baby.

A teenager's body may literally be too small to carry a baby. We often see skinny people and joke about how it's a wonder they can “fit a baby in there”, but this can actually happen. Pelvic bones don't reach their “adult” size until age 18, which makes her more likely to need a c-section because she does not yet have the capacity for a vaginal birth. Smaller size also makes premature birth more likely because the baby has simply gotten too big for her body. This sounds weird, but it happened with my sister and another girl I knew.

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Pregnant With Medical Issues? Questions To Ask Part 2

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-What effect with the pregnancy have on me? This is different from the first one because some disorders can be exacerbated by pregnancy, medicine or no. For instance, a good friend of mine from high school has MS. She told me that, while she wanted kids before, she didn't think it would be a good idea to get pregnant because it might make her disease progress even faster than it already had. She'd seen this happen with her cousin and, while no two cases are exactly alike, she didn't want to take the risk. Also, people with severe injuries like I mention below might decide against having children because they fear their bodies cannot handle the stress a pregnancy would cause. What we have to remember here is that it is not only the baby's life to consider, but our own and the rest of our family's. Some might find this selfish, but consider this: There are religions (i.e. Judaism) that will require that a mother terminate a pregnancy if carrying it to term will endanger her life. The reason for this is that life-which is to be preserved above all else-is thought to begin at birth, not conception. There's definitely some disagreement as to exactly when the fetus would be considered a life-at birth, when it is capable of living outside of the womb, etc-but, until then, it is considered a potential life while the mother is a full life. A woman who believes this way might decide not to get pregnant (or to have the baby delivered early) so she will not have to deal with the physical and mental effects terminating a pregnancy may cause.

-What sorts of special precautions do I need to take, if any? Eight years ago, I was in a massive car wreck and broke my pelvis. To literally put me back together, doctors had to put two metal pins in the left side to stabilize the bones while I recovered. One of my doctors told me that, as long as I had those pins in, my pelvis may not be able to expand enough to permit me to carry a child to term and have it naturally. He said that, since this wasn't something they'd be able to predict ahead of time, he would probably schedule a C-section as close to the end of 9 months as possible just to be safe. I didn't get pregnant and had the pins removed last year during my hip replacement, but the point is that you might have to take special precautions to ensure your own health rather than the baby's.

And now, for what is probably the most difficult question of all-
-Is it worth the risk? For some people, the answer might be no. However, it's something only they and their doctor can decide. If a couple can't have a child naturally but still feels called to parenthood, there are tons of children out there in need of a home. There's more than one kind of family.

Am I Pregnant? A Few Possible Signs

Multiple choice-Which of these are signs of pregnancy?

a. Your period is late.

b. You've just eaten an entire box of those chalk-like 'Conversation Hearts' you normally hate.

c. Your breasts feel bigger and you don't know why.

d. You threw something wet and squishy at your neighbor when she let her dog poop in your yard.

Answer-All of them.

A lot of people know all about the first one-the missed or irregular period. While there are other possibilities, this is a major indicator of pregnancy. Ditto breast enlargement. But what about the others? Not all pregnancies are created equal, but a lot of pregnant women do experience some of the more subtle changes in their bodies at some point during pregnancy. For example:

-heightened sense of smell. Scents that didn't bother you before (or didn't notice at all) are suddenly overwhelming. My friend couldn't stand the smell of pizza when she was pregnant with her son. This presented a major problem because she and her husband liked to join the rest of us for team trivia at a local pizza parlor. She stayed home and was fine at first but, as her pregnancy went on, her sense of smell was strong enough to where she would get nauseated if her husband came home with the smell on his clothes! That's amazingly strong by 'normal' standards, but not unusual for a pregnant woman.

-Nausea. The excess nausea pregnant women may experience is called 'morning sickness', but it can happen at any time of the day.

-fatigue. More than usual, that is. It's natural that you'd be tired and short of breath (another sign) after doing 30 minutes of cardio or making a Thanksgiving dinner. However, if the trip to the mailbox has you wiped out, it's time to see the doctor. Even if you turn out not to be pregnant, there could be something else going on.

-mood swings. This is where the 'throwing things at your neighbor' can come in. Things that wouldn't bother you suddenly seem insurmountable, and things that are mildly amusing have you rolling on the floor. If your moods change more often than normal and/or are as marked a change as these, you might be pregnant.

-weird cravings. You start having cravings for things you either wouldn't eat before or were 'neutral' on. Cravings often come when your body needs a greater supply of particular nutrients. Most cravings aren't serious but, if you find yourself craving non-food items such as dirt or clay, see your doctor.

-spotting. Bleeding outside of your normal cycle can be a signal of pregnancy.

-swollen breasts. As your breasts prepare to provide nutrition to your baby, it's not uncommon for them to feel tender and swollen. They're definitely going to get bigger, although by how much varies from woman to woman. Your husband will like it, that's for sure.

-You're in the bathroom so much that you're thinking of having it wired for cable. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but the point is that hormone levels can cause an increase in urination. Ironically, they can also cause constipation because the hormone progesterone slows down your digestive system. Whichever happens, its a change that should be noted.

If you have these 'symptoms' and/or they start to bother you, check with your doctor. You could also take a home pregnancy test, but it's only your doctor who can tell you for sure and where to go from there. Good luck!

Eating Healthy While You Are Pregnant:

Have you ever heard the phrase, "eating for two"? It sounds funny but it is true-what you eat during your pregnancy can make a big difference when it comes to your baby's healthy development. So it’s critical that you make good choices to provide your body with the proper nutrients.

Think about it this way-eating well doesn't just help your baby; it helps you as well. Making smart choices about what you put into your body goes a long way toward helping you maintain your own health and giving you the physical endurance you’ll need for your 40-week voyage.

It’s a myth that you need to double your portions and “eat for two.” By adding only 300 extra calories per day and maximizing the nutritional value of each calorie, you’ll be well on your way to having a healthy pregnancy and birth experience. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the occasional dessert or other treats; but it’s important that you don’t make a habit of eating a whole bag of chips as a meal!

Prenatal Nutrition Tips

While it may be difficult to make every calorie count when you are dealing with morning sickness, just do your best to eat what you can keep down. Once the morning sickness abates, you can add more foods to your pregnancy diet.

Be sure to eat a variety of foods. Fruit and vegetables will give you a lot of nutrients and fiber, both of which are important to stay healthy during pregnancy. The recommended amounts are two to four servings of fruit per day and for or more servings of vegetables per day.

Getting adequate amounts of folic acid is very important for your baby to develop properly. You can find folic acid, or folates, in dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, veal and fortified cereals. Lack of folic acid has been associated with spina bifida, which is a developmental problem of the spine. If you are planning to become pregnant, start eating folic acid foods early so there is no lack of this nutrient in your system.

Those dark leafy greens are also a good source of other nutrients like iron, fiber and other vitamins. Your medical care provider may also suggest a vitamin supplement. Some women have problems keeping prenatal vitamins down, however, so choosing healthy foods is still very important.

If you tend to suffer from low iron levels, try to eat at least three foods that contain iron every day, or look for an herbal iron supplement.

Dairy products and many green vegetables are a great source of calcium. Be sure and eat enough calcium during pregnancy as it will help your baby to grow strong bones and teeth, keep yours in shape, and help your blood clot normally. Calcium is also useful in your muscles and nerves, as well as extremely important in maintaining a normal heart beat.

What Is Toxoplasmosis, And Can Your Baby Be Affected?

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As I may have mentioned before, I am the slave owner of five cats. I tend to be the one who does most of the 'work' for them-feeding, litter, etc. Once upon a time, I thought that I might be pregnant. When I was in the process of cleaning the litter box, I saw a warning on the side of the litter pail saying that pregnant women should not handle used litter because of a risk of 'toxoplasmosis'. Honestly, I'd never even heard of this before, but the warning said that it could cause my (turned out, nonexistent) baby to have birth defects and brain damage! That alarmed me, and it would probably alarm you too. I did some research about toxoplasmosis and thought I would share it with my fellow cat lovers out there...well, and, everyone else too.

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. It's usually not harmful in people with healthy immune systems and, even if it were, it doesn't always exhibit symptoms. Any symptoms it does show (swollen lymph nodes, fever, fatigue) are usually also seen in other illnesses, so you probably won't know you have it. It might not bother you but it can, however, cause problems for your unborn baby. In fact, it can cause stillbirth and miscarriage. The risk of a fetus getting the illness from an infected mother gets higher as the pregnancy progresses. The earlier a fetus gets it in the pregnancy, however, the more severe the effects will be. Some of them include:

• an unusually large liver or spleen
• jaundice
• swollen lymph nodes
• an unusually large or small head
• seizures
• mental retardation
• fever
• bruising or bleeding under the skin.
• damage to retinas, which leads to vision problems
• hearing loss
• low, limp muscle tone

It can take anywhere between hours to years for the full effects of toxoplasmosis on a child to show. The good news is that, if a mother finds out she has it, it can be treated with antibiotics. The doctor will take a blood sample and, if it comes back positive, treat you with a series of antibiotics to reduce your chances of passing it on to your unborn child. You can also have an amniocentesis done to look for it in your fetus, and ultrasounds to look for abnormalities. If your child does have it, your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics and treat any other symptoms as they appear.

The possibility of getting this illness doesn't mean you have to give up your precious kitty, however. There are several things you can to to reduce your risk. In addition to not handling used litter, you can:

• Keep your cat indoors at all times, lest she hunt and eat something that has the parasite.
• Either stay away from your children's sandbox or cover it when it isn't in use. Outdoor cats like to use them as litter boxes.
• Stay away from strays, and don't get a new cat during pregnancy.
• Don't feed your cat raw meat. In other words, make sure the hamburger is fully cooked before you 'accidentally-on-purpose' drop it on the floor during cooking. :)

I know I've probably given you a lot of information, but I think it's important for people who have cats to have it in case a pregnant woman or child shows any symptoms. If you want more information, check out http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/parasitic/toxoplasmosis.html#.

How To Get Your Pet Ready For A Baby:

Wondering how your pet will do when the new baby arrives? Chances are your beloved canine or feline already knows something is up. Mom’s belly is getting bigger, the house is getting rearranged, there are all kinds of new smells… diapers and Desitin… baby blankets and bottles… and what’s the deal with all these stuffed animals? Pets pick up on hormonal changes as well, so there’s a good chance your dog or cat knew you were pregnant even before you did. Still, you are going to want to make preparations in order to ensure a happy homecoming for your baby.

Don’t wait until the third trimester to get things ready with your pet. Once you know you’re expecting, there are a number of things you can start with right away.

Obedience Training

No, not your husband. If you haven’t already done this kind of work, you’ve got the next nine months to break your pet of any bad habits. Focus on problem behaviors such as mouthing, jumping, possessiveness, fear, or anxiety. If you’re not sure how to work with your pet on your own, seek help from an animal behaviorist. Consider enrolling in a training class with your dog - this will help with obedience and enhance the bond between the two of you. Remember, your dog’s behavior is controllable while your baby’s is not for the first few years (though there are reports that this can extend well into the teenage and even adult years).

Baby Practice

Invite friends with babies over to your home so that your pet can get used to the sounds, smells, and sights of children. You can use a rocking chair, turn on the mechanical swing, play tapes of 'baby noises' such as crying and even practice holding a baby doll in order to accustom your pet to the upcoming routine.

Sleeping Arrangements

If you allow your dog or cat to sleep on your bed, think about whether or not this will continue once the baby comes. Your pet looks to you for stability and consistency. If you suddenly decide that the bed is off limits because the baby is there sometimes, you will create anxiety and possible resentment in your pet. A gradual transition to a pet bed is a better way to go.

Health

Take your dog or cat for an annual wellness exam before the baby comes. This way you will be able to address any particular health problems while your life is still relatively controlled. Spay or neuter if you haven’t already done so - fixed pets tend to have fewer health problems and are generally less aggressive.

Help! How Will I Know I'm Dilating?

The age old question...how will I know I'm dilating? Well ladies, the ugly truth of the matter is, you won't. You may lay in bed having some contractions for hours and assume that certainly you must be opening that cervix away by now right? It's not a reality many like to discuss but it does happen more often than not. No two cervixes are the same and that means no doctor can candidly tell you why your cervix contracts, but doesn't dilate itself. Let me give you an example, myself for instance. I'm pretty healthy, in my thirties pregnant with my 4th yes my 4th son...yes I am done ha! My first son, he had to be induced at 35 weeks due to being duress, had his cord wrapped around him so pitocin was used. Second son was a preemie, my water broke but no dilation at a scary 32 weeks (he's a healthy 9 year old now!) they administered pitocin yet again to get him out as he had no fluid in there to survive. Third baby, now he stayed in there until 38 weeks yeah! Get to the hospital after about an hour of decent pains, and I was 4 cm at that time. Once again, they let me try to dilate on my own, and my cervix was sleeping on the job as usual...pitocin all over again. Currently, I've been 3 cm for weeks now and I'm 37 weeks along. So there you have it, by the time I can deliver (which hopefully it will be sooner than later since I've had so many complications this pregnancy) I will probably need pitocin yet again to dilate! As you can see, some ladies can dilate all on their own with very little if any complications or medications needed from the hospital. Others less fortunate like myself cannot. It becomes all too frustrating when you know you have been contracting and cannot get dilated. If you are not at least 35 weeks along, you should contact you doctor as something serious such as preterm labor may be onset. After the 35 weeks women seem to experience these contractions more frequently and it isn’t as severe with the baby so close to being term. The baby is considered term at 37-38 weeks. Even though you stay pregnant for 40 weeks, he or she can be born during this time usually with very little complications. If you were in true labor, you could certainly be induced in most cases once that 37 week marker has hit. Is your doctor going to induce you simply because you are uncomfortable, not a chance. If you do have valid concerns such as the baby is measuring too big, you have high blood pressure, or any other ailment during your pregnancy they can induce you if they feel it is deemed medically necessary.

When Is The Best Time To Have A Baby?

That’s easy to answer, when your ducks are all in a row! This would, of course, be the perfect time to have a baby. Most people never have a baby at the perfect time because things don’t usually happen that way.

But, if you are actually strategically planning to have a baby then having your ducks in a row would include: having good health insurance, a savings account with six months of salary in it, and you would need to be healthy enough to carry the baby for nine months and a supportive spouse, too. It’s a great perk if you are planning on purchasing a home or condo to already have done this ahead of the babies arrival. Traveling without children is also a wonderful way to go so be sure to get some of those types of places off of your list and enjoy your quiet time before the baby is here keeping you up all night.

By doing the above ahead of time, your stress will automatically be lower. Having good health insurance is very important for both you and your newborn. Enjoying the security of knowing you have money in the bank will ease pressure as well. As far as traveling, ask any senior citizen where they would have loved to have visited prior to the birth of their first child and chances are a few locations will come to mind for them. There are just some places that traveling with newborns and small children can become complicated and lots of extra work for you and your spouse. So, if you can get those out of the way ahead of time, you will really get to enjoy them at a great time in your life. There are tons of places you will no doubt be traveling to with your children in the future and they will most probably be just a little different than where a couple might want to go.

Having a complete physical including blood work is a great idea before you even try to become pregnant. It puts you on a good path to move forward into pregnancy by making sure all is well in the beginning. No surprises is always a good way to go. If you happen to be a few pounds overweight, it is also a good time to try to lose that since you will be gaining weight for nine months. Or you can simply start taking walks a few days a week which will also be healthy for you and relieve stress, too.

To put your mind at ease, very few people have a child at the absolute perfect time. Mostly because life doesn’t usually work that way for anyone. It takes some women longer to get pregnant than others, only adding to the planning mix. Turns out that the best time to have a baby will be when you are fortunate and lucky enough to become pregnant.

Successful Tips For Maternal Health

Maternal health is imperative to ensure the health of your baby is taken seriously and the your own health alike. When carrying a baby there are several steps to follow to stay healthy and make sure your baby is healthy. It is the sole responsibility of the mother to eat the proper foods, get enough rest and stay active even while pregnant.

During pregnancy the baby will need to receive all the valuable nutrients and vitamins they need to develop by receiving them through what the mother eats. The mother will need to eat lots of fruits and vegetables and drink a good bit of water. Staying properly hydrated while pregnant is key, and to figure out exactly how much water you will need during your pregnancy stages you can use a simple equation to figure it out. Take the amount of pounds you weigh and divide that number in half. That number is the amount of ounces in water your body needs to stay hydrated each day, not just the allotted eight glasses each day as many pregnant women will need much more water. Raw vegetables will have the most nutritional value for a pregnant mother and she should consume as many of them during each meal as she can.

Staying active while pregnant is also very important. Not too active as running in a marathon will be way too much activity for the baby to have to endure. Instead the mother should engage in walking a few times a week or yoga or Pilates movements or classes. These are great for stretching and staying trim while pregnant. They are also good for relieving stress while pregnant and that is a huge part of maternal health. All mothers whether they are pregnant and ready to give birth to their first child or mothers of five children, endure amounts of stress each day. Being pregnant can bring on many stressful emotions as many mothers to be are very anxious before giving birth for the first time to be worried about how the process will go. Other moms that already have one or more children endure stress from the many challenges life brings while parenting a child. Stay calm and the key to living stress free for any mother is to relax, try not to sweat the small stuff and to get plenty of rest. All mothers need to make time for themselves as that is another very important element to successful maternal health. This is a common issue for all mothers and it becomes a balancing act that must be taken control of.

Everyone knows when the mother is upset, sad, angry or depressed the children can see that and in turn the result is a very unhappy environment. Mental health is the most important part of maternal health and being successful with it. If you take very good care of yourself inside and out and always make you a priority, your maternal health will be the best thing in your life that you invested your time in.

What NOT To Eat While You're Pregnant

  

I just heard that you're pregnant. Congratulations!

I'm not sure if you've been here before, but you're about to get a big rush of advice from everyone. Your mother-in-law, your boss, your neighbor's ex-boyfriend's former roommate-everyone is going to try to tell you what you should and should not do. It's not that they think you don't know anything; they just want to help. They want to share any wisdom they've acquired over the course of their lives with you so that you won't have any of the problems they may have had.

Well, I'm about to add to the list.

When you're pregnant, you truly are 'eating for two'. What you take in to your body goes straight to your baby. Because of this, there are several things you should avoid eating while you are pregnant for the good of your baby. You might hate to go without them for nine months but, trust me, it will be worth it. Here is a brief list.

• Raw or undercooked meat and seafood. Sorry, sushi and rare-steak lovers. In addition to the mercury many shellfish have, uncooked meat and seafood may still have parasites and bacteria that can cause illnesses like salmonella. This is especially true of clams and oysters. If you are eating seafood from local fishermen (which is done in many coastal towns), be mindful of any pollution in the water.
• Anything with raw or undercooked eggs. This includes egg nog, batters for baking, hollandaise sauce and restaurant-made Caesar dressing. Things like raw cookie dough aren't good to eat anyway, but you should especially avoid them if you are or may be pregnant.
• Unpasteurized milk, juice or cider. Ciders or juices sold at farmers' markets or local fruit stands aren't always pasteurized properly before they are sold. Ask someone on staff if these things have been pasteurized before you buy them. Most juices and milk sold at grocery stores are fine, but you should still read the labels to be safe.
• Meat spreads such as potted meat and pâté. If you eat processed meats like hot dogs, bacon or deli meats, make sure they are fully cooked.
• Caffeine or herbal tea, to excess.
• Soft cheeses such as brie, bleu cheese, feta or Camembert unless they have been pasteurized or melted.
• Unwashed fruits or vegetables, because of possible pesticides. Also, thoroughly wash any sprouts or herbs you might use in cooking (i.e. alfalfa or cilantro), if you use them at all.

This is a basic idea of the foods you should avoid during pregnancy. Of course, you will want to ask your obstetrician about any specific foods you shouldn't eat, but it's good to have a basis to work from. I figured you'd probably rather hear them from someone you chose to read than the random person you see in the grocery store.

Now all you have to do is learn how to deal with people coming up and touching your belly. Good luck with that!

How Safe Is Vegan Nutrition While Pregnant?

Being pregnant has its very own set of complications and cautions to be aware of during the nine month time frame. You must be cautious of what you eat, drink and which activities you can longer participate in until the birth of your baby is complete. It takes a good bit of will power to be a healthy pregnant woman and a lot of sacrifice to ensure your infant will be born of good health. Many women are beginning to develop a plan for their eating habits while pregnant that involves a vegetarian way of meal plans.

Some are trying it just as a form to jump the organic food fence that is so extremely popular currently, while others have simply been vegans for years and plan to continue eating this way throughout their pregnancy as well. Some outsiders that may not be well versed in the practice of vegan lifestyles are curious if this type of dieting can be safe to provided all of the nutrients that both mother and baby will need. It has been tested that in fact yes, this is a healthy method to practice and with careful planning it can be very effective. Vegans generally have many health advantages that others do not by choosing to eat this way. They have a much lower chance of developing cancer, heart disease and obesity to name just a few. It is the method of eating foods that are naturally more pure than processed ones that can easily add excess weight to the body and also clog arteries and make a person more constipated. The vegan selections for processing proteins are much gentler on the stomach and kidneys to break down than the traditional meats and dairy options. A vegan diet contains less calories and it is better for gaining increased energy levels as well.

While all of those reasons are certainly fantastic enough to encourage others to get aboard the vegan lifestyle, there is one downside to it. Becoming a vegan requires more planning and effort on the person living this way. There are less choices when dining out and you must be more particular when buying your groceries, as in reading more labels and ensuring you are getting in enough proteins and nutrients. That hard work certainly does pay off in the long run though, with millions of women having successful pregnancies with fewer complications than others.

There is an immense amount of information regarding the vegan plans, you can get started first by consulting with your physician and ensuring you are a great candidate for a vegan pregnancy. Once you have gotten their blessing, get to work by taking out any books at the library regarding vegan pregnancies and make a list of supplies you may need to get all of your groceries for meals and snacks. Always make certain you have plenty of options as being a pregnant woman means cravings of all sorts and do not leave out your drink options for the weeks ahead either!