Why do birth defects occur?

Birth defects continue to occur despite good prenatal care. It is estimated that one in every 33 infants born in North America has some type of birth defect. Birth defects can affect almost any part of the body. Birth defects also vary in severity. Some infants may have a simple cleft lip but others may have serious heart defects. Birth defects of the heart can often be life threatening but most of these can be corrected with surgery within the first year of life. 

Unfortunately, in other parts of the world the majority of babies born with even the most simplest of heart defects die because of lack of surgeons. 

Birth defects can also affect the spinal cord. Also known as neural tube defects or spinal bifida, these birth defects affect about 1 in every 1,000 pregnancies. The mildest form of spinal cord defects are only of cosmetic concern, but other spinal cord defects can be life threatening. Even though spinal cord defects are rare, they account for a high number of newborn deaths. One of the ways to prevent spinal cord birth defects is to make sure that you take folic acid supplements during pregnancy.

Some of the most dramatic birth defects include the face. Both cleft lip and cleft palate can be visually unpleasing. These defects of the face occur in every 1,000 births and can be very deforming. Today, surgeons have made significant advances in plastic surgery and can correct even the most complex facial defects without leaving any traces of scar tissue.

Birth defects may also affect the intestine. The infant may have problems either swallowing or defecating. The bowels can be twisted, enlarged or there may be a large defect in the abdominal wall. Today, all these defects can be repaired.

While some birth defects are associated with genetic or chromosomal defects, the majority occur at random due to spontaneous mutations. Babies born with Down syndrome are quite prone to a number of birth defects. Down syndrome tends to be more common in women who conceive at an older age. Women who miscarry often do so because the fetus has severe birth defects and is unlikely to survive. 

While good prenatal care is essential in having a healthy baby, many birth defects occur by chance. Some birth defects are induced by medications or excess alcohol consumptions. Most birth defects occur during the early phase of pregnancy when the fetus is rapidly developing. Today, prenatal ultrasound can help make the diagnosis of birth defect early in pregnancy. In some cases, even surgery can be performed on the fetus. If the birth defect is very severe, then women do have an option of undergoing an abortion.

What is ovulation and when does it occur?

Ovulation cycle is essential for a female who wants to get pregnant. Ovulation is basically the process by which an egg is released from the ovary. Ovulation generally tends to occur on day 14 of the menstrual cycle. However, the exact timing of ovulation is slightly variable among women of different ages and ethnicities; and also may vary from woman to woman.

Even though many signs and symptoms of ovulation prediction have been described, most women never notice them because these features are very subtle. Some of the classic ovulation symptoms include a sudden increase in clear vaginal secretions. The secretions may feel like a viscous liquid and often has the texture of honey. These secretions persist for 1-3 days and then disappear. In some women, these secretions may appear cloudy or sticky but in all cases, the secretions are gone within 24-48 hours.

It is a known fact that the basal body temperature is a useful sign of ovulation predictor. There are specially designed sensitive thermometers to measure temperature during the ovulation cycle. The temperature must be taken at the same time every morning before getting out of bed. When you make an ovulation chart and plot these readings, you will note an emerging pattern. The majority of women will be fertile just 48-72 hours prior to the spike in temperature. Measurement of basal body temperature is frequently used by infertile women as an ovulation calculator when they should have sexual intercourse.

Some women may also develop ovulation pain that may present as mild abdominal cramps and/or bloating. The cramps are usually well-tolerated and last 24-48 hours. For women who are trying to get pregnant, other ways of knowing if ovulation has occurred is to measure the surge of hormones in urine during day’s 12-15. One can record the levels of these hormones on an ovulation chart.

A woman who desires to get pregnant should make sure that she has sexual intercourse at least once day starting from days 12-14. The more frequent the intercourse during this time period, the greater the chance of conceiving. Some women also use an ovulation calendar as a means of birth control- while this is an easy method; it is not one hundred percent effective.

I have just had a baby and have a dark line on my lower abdomen

What you have is called the linea nigra and it is a completely harmless skin condition. Linea nigra is a dark vertical skin line that appears in most pregnancies. The line usually runs below the belly button and ends just above the pubis.

The line is colored due to pigmentation caused by the increased estrogens in the body. This is also the same reason why your nipples are darkened during pregnancy. Why this line develops is not known but is most common in women with dark complexion. The linea nigra appears around the 2^nd trimester and fades away after birth. In some cases, a faint line may persist for a long time. Sun exposure usually causes it to reappear.

As far as treatment is concerned, you do not need any. Even though cosmetic surgeons recommend all sorts of lasers and bleaches, the safest and most effective treatment is to leave it alone. The line is harmless and spontaneously fades in most women. 

If you want to get rid of the linea nigra and have money, the best advice is go and spend it on a vacation rather than a plastic surgeon. If you do not have money and would like to get rid of the linea nigra, do not wear a bikini.

Treatment of heartburn during pregnancy

Heartburn during pregnancy can often be very distressing and does require treatment. All pregnant women should understand that before they take any medications or health supplements for treatment of heartburn, they should first check with their doctor. The reason for this is that there are many medications that can affect the fetus and cause permanent damage. However, some medications can be taken during the third trimester because the fetus has already grown and has a lesser risk of adverse reactions.

All women should first use home remedies or over the counter medications to treat symptoms of heartburn during pregnancy. There are several options for treating heartburn including the following:

Antacids can quickly neutralize stomach acidity and relieve pain. Common antacids include Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids and Tums. These medications usually work within a few minutes. All antacids are available over the counter but unfortunately do not work in all pregnant women.

There are several medications that can be used to decrease acid production. 

The anti histamine blockers like tagamet, zantac and pepcid do not work as quickly as the antacids but they do provide much longer last relief. A single tablet can provide relief for the whole day.

The third group of medications is the proton pump inhibitors, which not only decrease acid production but also can help heal any ulcers. Proton pump inhibitors are also available over the counter and are very effective for heartburn relief. In general proton pump inhibitors are slightly more expensive than both the anti histamines and antacids.

All pregnant women should read the label on the packages before taking these medications. Moreover, these medications should only be taken as needed and not on a regular basis. All these medications provide good relief in the majority of patients with heartburn. However, if you do not find relief, you should speak to your doctor.

Heartburn during pregnancy is usually worse in the 3^rd trimester and thus medications are only required during this period. It is best not to combine the above medications but first start with the antacids and progress to the others if the heartburn continues. Most pregnant women with heartburn do find great relief from anti histamines and proton pump inhibitors. All these medications can be taken with a glass of water or food. For maximal benefit, take the medication at the same time every day.

Alternative health care for heartburn during pregnancy

Because of the risk of medications to the developing fetus during pregnancy, many women who do develop heartburn are reluctant to take any type of drugs. This is understandable because the majority of medications can cause irreversible harm to the fetus. Moreover, most medications have not even been evaluated for their safety during pregnancy. For this reason many women have been turning to alternative health care for treatment of their heartburn symptoms. There are several alternative and complimentary treatments heartburn. The aim of these treatments is to decrease acidity by relieving your stress and anxiety levels. If you are pregnant and under a lot of stress, you may want to consider the following treatments:

Aromatherapy is an exotic treatment that combines  use of naturally occurring oils from a variety of plants, herbs, barks, stems and fruits to enhance your physical and psychological well-being. The sweet smelling fragrant oils can be inhaled or massaged and are said to relax the brain. There are many anecdotal reports that use of aromatherapy can help relieve pain, enhance mood and improve mental function.

Gentle exercise during pregnancy cannot only help one maintain decent weight, but boost self esteem. Pregnant women should not perform strenuous exercise for fear of injuring themselves and the baby. Activities recommended to help stimulate the stomach and diminish acidity include walking, cycling or swimming. One should avoid intense exercise as it can worsen heartburn.

Hypnosis is said to decrease anxiety and relieve stress. However, one requires multiple sessions over a period of few months. Unfortunately, hypnosis is also expensive and its benefits are short lived.

One of the cheapest ways to relieve stress and get relief from heartburn is listening to soothing soft music. Others may benefit from total body massage with a variety of oils and creams. Like hypnosis, massage is a great stress reliever but it is also costly and the effects are not sustained.

Acupuncture has also been widely touted to relieve stress and anxiety. Like massage and hypnosis, many sessions of acupuncture are required to obtain stress relief. Moreover, acupuncture is not cheap.

All pregnant who suffer from heartburn should understand that these methods are not a substitute for medical treatment of heartburn but complementary methods. The only definitive way to decrease stomach acidity is to take medications. However, when these alternative treatments are used, the dose of medications required to decrease acidity is significantly less.

Life style Remedies to Treat Heartburn during Pregnancy

Heartburn during pregnancy is not difficult to treat but the fact is that doctors generally do not like to recommend medications as first choice treatment. The reason for this is that some medications can affect the fetus. Even though most anti ulcer medications are safe, the majority have never been tested in pregnant women and great caution should be exercised before one takes any medication during pregnancy. To find effective relief from heartburn during pregnancy, most physicians recommend making changes in life style to help decrease the symptoms. One can obtain relief from heartburn during pregnancy by making the following life style changes:

Try to maintain a healthy weight. The more weight you put on during pregnancy, the greater is the pressure on the stomach. This causes more acid to push up into the esophagus and cause heartburn. However, before you start to lose weight during pregnancy, speak to your doctor. In some cases, weight loss may not be a practical idea as the mother may be too thin or the baby may be too large. Weight loss during pregnancy is also difficult but you should speak to your obstetrician to help you with a diet that prevents excess weight gain.

Another way to avoid heartburn is to avoid wearing tight fitting clothes. Anything that is tight or restrictive near the waist can lead to heartburn. Pregnancy was never meant to make anyone look slim, so wear something comfortable rather than tight.

It is important to avoid foods that trigger heartburn. Each individual has a specific food that triggers heartburn. Some of the common foods that initiate heartburn include alcohol, citrus foods, tomato sauce, spices or meat products. Avoiding foods will ease the symptoms of heartburn significantly. Moreover, avoid eating large meals in one setting. Rather, eat several small meals that generally tend to initiate less acid release in the stomach.

After you have eaten, do not immediately lie down. Stay upright for at least the next 1-2 hours so that the food has passed the stomach and the acidity has reduced. Moreover, avoid eating late at night. The last meal should preferably be eaten at least a few hours before bedtime.

If the heartburn is severe during the night, sleep with the head of bed elevated. One does not need to buy a brand new bed, because there are many wedges available that can be inserted below the mattress to elevate the head of the bed.

Finally, it is vital that you stop smoking and drinking caffeinated beverages. These two social habits are among the most common causes of heartburn.