MD
Dr Sachchidananda Maiti is a practicing Consultant Gynaecologist & Obstetrician in Manchester, UK both in the National Health Service (NHS) and in private care at Pall Mall Medical. He has more than three decades of clinical experience in the UK and abroad. He specializes in managing high risk early pregnancy complications and a variety of gynecological conditions using ultrasound scan, colposcopy, laparoscopy and hysteroscopy. His basic principle in clinical practice is simple, empowering personal care.
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The increase in hormone levels makes women prone to gallbladder pain during pregnancy. Although gallstones do not affect the baby directly, they may cause intense pain and abdominal discomfort. Thus, it is important to seek proper medical care and treatment immediately after diagnosis to avoid any future complications (1). In this post, we tell you about gallstones in expectant mothers, their causes, signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention techniques. [mj-toc] What Is A Gallbladder? The gallbladder is a small organ located beneath the liver. It stores the extra bile produced by the liver to digest the fats. As the food moves from your stomach, the gallbladder releases the bile juice into the small intestine to digest the fats. Sometimes, bile stays in the gallbladder, hardens with time, and turns into gallstones. These stones could get into the duct and cause infection and pain (2). Pregnancy is a time when the gallbladder is vulnerable to gallstones. What Causes Gallstones Or Other Gallbladder...
Irrespective of whether it is your first pregnancy or second pregnancy, pregnancy symptoms are generally common across each pregnancy. But sometimes, there may be some second pregnancy symptoms that could appear before the missed period and cause you to feel nervous and anxious. Therefore, understanding the reason behind their occurrence is important. Read this post as we help you understand everything about the symptoms you experience in your second pregnancy, including ways to cope with them. [mj-toc] How Are Second Pregnancy Symptoms Different From First? According to the books ‘Your Second Pregnancy,’ by Katie Tamony and ‘Obstetrics by Ten Teachers, 19th Edition’ by Philip N. Baker and Louise Kenny, here are some of the ways a second pregnancy can probably differ from the first. However, it may or may not be true in individual cases. Bump gets bigger sooner: The stomach muscles are weaker than the first time. As they have already been stretched once before, the abdominal muscles are...
A safe period is a time when your chances of getting pregnant after having sex are the lowest as compared to other times. Knowing the safe period of the month is necessary if you are not trying for a baby. However, it should be noted that there is not a 100 percent guarantee that having sex during this period will lead to pregnancy prevention. This is a kind of natural contraceptive method that can be fully effective only when you know and understand your ovarian cycle and menstrual cycle accurately. However, a change in the cycle might affect your calculation which may cause discrepancies, in turn, leading to an accidental pregnancy. Read on to know more about the safe period of the month and ways to calculate it. [mj-toc] What Is The Safe Period For Having Sex? A menstrual cycle is calculated from the first day of your period to the first day of the next period. Therefore, in a...
[mj-toc] Homemade pregnancy tests are simple, non-medical methods to detect a pregnancy. Since not many pregnancy kits were available in the olden days, these tests were widely used to confirm a pregnancy. Some still rely on these pregnancy tests; however, they are not as precise as blood tests or modern home pregnancy tests. Nevertheless, many women are curious to try these tests. If you are among them, you could try some safe and easy homemade tests that do not affect your health. Want to know more about DIY pregnancy tests that are simple and easily doable at the comfort of your home? We have got you covered. But, first, let us begin by addressing the most common concern: how accurate are these tests? Read on to find out. How Accurate Are Homemade Pregnancy Tests? Home DIY tests are not accurate. Though these tests work similar to pregnancy kits, there is no scientific evidence to prove their accuracy. The evidence available...
It takes some time for the menstrual cycles to kick back after pregnancy and childbirth. And, it may take further more time to get your first period while breastfeeding due to the hormonal changes of lactation. However, the menstrual cycle gradually commences and gets back to normal once the hormones settle in a few months after delivery. Read this post as we talk about the correlation between breastfeeding and menstruation. [mj-toc] Why Are Periods Delayed When Breastfeeding? The periods are usually delayed if you are exclusively breastfeeding the baby, due to the hormonal changes. The suckling stimulus on the breast leads to the reduction of the luteinizing hormone (LH) and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) produced by the hypothalamus and the pituitary glands, respectively. These hormones play a vital role in the release of the egg by the ovaries. There is also an increase in the levels of the prolactin hormone, which affects the ovaries (1). A combination of these hormonal changes...
According to some studies, between 11 and 38% of pregnant women experience gastrointestinal issues, including constipation during pregnancy at some point (1). When you are pregnant, constipation becomes more than simply a nuisance. The heaviness and bloating, paired with the expanding belly, can be excruciating. Read this post to know how you can get rid of your bowel discomfort without resorting to medicine and a few home remedies for treating constipation when pregnant. However, before attempting these cures, you should consult your doctor. [mj-toc] What Causes Pregnancy Constipation? Hormonal changes such as the increasing level of progesterone hormone in pregnancy slows down the functioning of the gastrointestinal system, resulting in pregnancy discomforts such as constipation. Constipation and discomfort are higher in early pregnancy due to the backward tilting of the womb (retroversion) until about 12 weeks and a sudden change of [simple_tooltip text="progesterone" tooltip="A female hormone responsible for menstruation and pregnancy." ] level in the blood. During the second and...
Medical tests or home-pregnancy test kits can help you confirm a pregnancy. However, if you are curious and keep asking yourself how to know if you're pregnant without a test, this post is for you. The first thing that comes to mind is missed periods. This is the most common sign of pregnancy in most women. But there are other signs and symptoms as well that may or may not be that common. For instance, sore breasts and dryness of skin may indicate conception in some women. In this post, we have compiled a list of all such unique as well as common symptoms that might let you know if you are pregnant. However, it is advisable that these should not be taken as the only indicators of pregnancy, and a doctor's consultation is a must for confirmation. [mj-toc] 15 Signs That You Could Be Pregnant Below are some of the indications your body could give when you are pregnant....
Dealing with sleeplessness during pregnancy can make you exhausted. You may want to take medications such as Ambien to feel better, but can you take Ambien while pregnant? Well, to find out the answers to your concerns, reading this post may be a good idea. Studies show that around 78% of women may have sleep disturbances in pregnancy (1). However, The American Pregnancy Association states that insomnia in the pregnant mother may not be harmful to the unborn (2). Nonetheless, a small study on 131 pregnant women in their ninth month of gestation demonstrated that inadequate sleep could result in problems in the labor and birth process (3). Hence, if you have insomnia during pregnancy, you consider popping pills to feel better sooner. But, how safe is it to take sleep medications while pregnant? This post will help you understand some natural ways to combat insomnia during pregnancy, safety aspects, and more on taking Ambien during pregnancy. [mj-toc] What Is...
Childbirth can be exhaustive, and you may wish to take a relaxing bath after the process. However, you need to seek your doctor’s permission before taking a bath after a C-section. If the incision from the surgery or vaginal area is submerged in water for a long time, you may catch an infection. Therefore, it is generally recommended not to scrub yourself vigorously while bathing. It is also advisable to keep your incision dry. Most doctors may advise a sponge bath until you recover completely. Read in detail why you should practice caution while bathing after a C-section, the benefits of bathing, and some useful tips to follow. [mj-toc] Can You Take A Bath After A C-Section? [caption id="attachment_891041" align="alignnone" width="720"] Image: Shutterstock[/caption] Your doctor may suggest not to take a fully submerged bath until three weeks after the surgery (1). It is to keep the incision area dry and prevent bath water from entering the vagina. You may also...
Postpartum Constipation is a common occurrence. You may experience constipation after a C-section or even after vaginal childbirth. Even women who did not experience it during pregnancy may go through it after childbirth. It can be due to different factors such as surgical incisions, hemorrhoids, hormones, or the administration of iron supplements. Some women may also experience injured [simple_tooltip text="anal sphincter" tooltip="A group of muscles that surrounds the anus and regulates its opening and closing." ] or pelvic floor muscles during labor, increasing the probability of constipation (1). Read on to know about constipation after delivery, including its causes and treatment. [mj-toc] What Are The Causes Of Postpartum Constipation? [caption id="attachment_894301" align="alignnone" width="720"] Image: Shutterstock[/caption] As said above, this discomfort could be due to any of the factors taking place before, during, or after pregnancy (1). If you had long labor without food, or had bowel movements during labor, or had an enema, you may suffer from constipation for a...
It is not uncommon for you to experience sore throat or throat irritation during the nine months of pregnancy. You may consider cough drops in such cases. However, some pregnant women may be apprehensive of using cough drops during pregnancy due to their effects on the pregnancy. Read this post to learn about cough drops\' safety and side effects during pregnancy. We also suggest precautions and alternatives to cough drops during pregnancy. [mj-toc]What Are Cough Drops? [caption id="attachment_886775" align="alignnone" width="720"] Image: Shutterstock[/caption] Cough drops are medicated candies that dissolve slowly on oral consumption. They offer relief from cough and sore throat caused by common cold and allergies. The medicine lubricates and soothes the throat tissues that are irritated due to cough and cold. They are also referred to as throat lozenges and available as over-the-counter medications (1). Are Cough Drops Safe During Pregnancy? Cough drops are usually considered safe when used temporarily for short-term ailments such as a short-lived cold...
You will need to be extra careful about your body after delivering a child through a C-section. Reconsidering the sleeping positions after a C-section is one such change to help the surgery incision heal better. Adequate sleep in the right sleeping positions after childbirth is essential for the body to return to its pre-pregnancy state. Read this post to understand the importance of sleep after a C-section and some comfortable sleeping positions. [mj-toc]The Importance Of Sleeping Right After A C-Section The right sleeping position keeps you comfortable and reduces any pressure or stress at the site of surgery. It also helps you get off the bed comfortably, with reduced discomfort, enables better breathing and sound sleep. It lowers the strain on the abdominal muscles, and in turn, reduces any risk to the incision. [MJ_RELATED_LINKS href="https://www.momjunction.com/articles/c-section-cesarean-types-procedure-purpose-risks_00775119/" title="When Is C Section (Cesarean Section) Done? Its Types & Risks"] Why Is It Difficult To Sleep Well After A C-Section? [caption id="attachment_875089" align="alignnone" width="720"]...