Tips for pregnant women on fasting during karwachauth

By Dr. Shobha Gupta 

Festive season has started and Karvachauth is round the corner. Many married ladies keeps fast during this day for their husband’s long life. Unlike other fasts, karvachauth fast is a bit difficult one as you cannot sip water all through the day. So, for all those expecting ladies who are in dilemma here are few tips that you need to keep in mind while fasting during pregnancy. 

1. Get connected with your doctor: The first and foremost thing you have do is to consult with your doctor before taking up the fast. There is no as such study that proves fasting during pregnancy is dangerous but it all depends upon your health and how smooth your pregnancy is. Also, Karvachauth fast is without water so; this might lead to dehydration, further causing a lot of physical discomfort and eating nothing the entire day might distress the baby too. Thus, before taking a decision to fast or not, it is always advisable to consult your gynecologist. 

2. Make moderations: Eating and drinking nothing the entire day is much difficult for pregnant ladies so it is better that you can make moderations in you fast by eating fruits once in a day and sipping water through out  so that you can continue with your fast without discomforting the baby inside. 

3. Choose your morning sargi carefully: First of all make sure you drink a big glass of milk, also eat nuts, fruits, a parantha so that you do not feel

Are you planning your baby..?

By Dr. Shobha Gupta

Thousands of babies have been born through IVF since 1978 when the first IVF was born. So here are certain tips that one has to follow if you are planning your baby through IVF as it is the most special moment in one’s life. 

1. Avoid making major life changes such as moving to a new house or starting a new job the same time you’re going through the IVF process.
2. For Men - Check your semen before beginning an IVF cycle, to determine its quality and whether there is an infection present, among other potential issues.
3. Maintain proper communication with your IVF consultant/doctor as then your IVF treatment will be much easier.
4. A few months before your IVF, begin eating a fertility diet. Getting nutritious foods is vital for producing healthy eggs and promoting implantation of the embryo.
5. Intake of CoQ10 helps to keep the eggs integrity by protecting them from free radicals. It is best taken for two to three months before having IVF.

Precautions for Pregnant women for Holi

By Dr. Shobha Gupta

Holi is the time when people forget their ill wills and come together to mark the celebration. As the

long weekend started so it is very important for pregnant women to take care of few things while playing holi.

Earlier colors was made up of herbs and flowers but as time passes chemicals, dyes have replaced this tradition and now a day’s people play holi with chemically treated colors. Some colors are even carcinogenic. So, it is very important for a pregnant or lactating mother to simply stay away from colors.

Not only colors; bhang is also the one such tradition associated with holi. In Delhi especially, rang and bhang are the two things which completes the festival. But bhang’s overdose can lead to serious health complications. Bhang is an intoxicant which makes you feel drowsy and sleepy. Consumption of bhang can result in high blood pressure, increased heart rate; it can also affect foetus, nervous system and brain.

It is very important for a pregnant woman not to play holi at all; stay indoors or even if you want to step out then go with your trusted elders around. So, lactating mothers should practice same caution as pregnant women. Use of these colors by pregnant women may result in pre mature birth, low weight birth and miscarriage or abortion. It can also affect the nervous and reproductive system, Pregnant women have reduced immunity levels and are, therefore, more prone to illnesses and infections, and their skin is more sensitive as well. Therefore, reaction to colors that one may have is very dangerous. Chemical colors have harmful health effects on the baby through breast milk. So, lactating mothers should practice same caution as pregnant women.

You can have homemade colors which can be made by using turmeric, roli (sindoor), boiled beetroot and onions. Tradition, if it must be followed, can be respected by placing a sandalwood or saffron tikaa on the baby's forehead.

Also do apply a thick petroleum jelly moisturizer on the skin and oil on the hair before started playing holi. Washing oneself properly is especially important for lactating mothers who otherwise risk their baby ingesting colors.

So, take precautions and enjoy the festival of colors. Happy Holi to all from the Team Mother’s Lap IVF.

Have you own biological child through IVF

By Dr. Shobha Gupta

Every married woman dreams of having own biological baby but due to fast paced life and sedentary lifestyles these dreams seem to have taken a back seat and people are busy in building their careers.

Many a times we don’t know that these lifestyle issues severely affects our fertility and there by reduces the chances of conceiving naturally. Infertility has spread its wings all over the world. According to ICMR bulletin it is estimated that globally between 60-80 million couples suffer from infertility every year, of which probably between 15- 20 million are in India alone.

The reason behind infertility are many few of them could be PCOS, sedentary lifestyle, eating junk food, depression, problematic womb, consumption of alcohol, smoking, stressful life, uterine problems, fallopian tube blockage, low sperm count, etc. The causes of infertility are present in both the genders. A woman cannot be blamed alone for this.

But thanks to modern technology

Winter and pregnancy care

By Dr. Shobha Gupta

Pregnancy is the hormonal, metabolic and physiological changes in your center of gravity that make you tired and sick sometimes if not well taken care. When you are pregnant you need to take some extra care during winters. Pregnant women may feel less cold as compared to non-pregnant ladies because of higher rate of metabolism. But need of being careful against winter is more as illness affects welfare of not only mother but also of baby.

Pregnant ladies must continue with their walk once or twice a day and antenatal exercises as before the winter, one can change the timings if suitable from foggy mornings to warm sunny noon hours or early evenings depending on individual convenience. Physical activity is important to be continued as before but while going out in cold, keep well covered and warm.

During journey or social and family engagements, don't overexert and take rest in between. Adequate sleep should be ensured to recover from fatigue. Cold and fatigue together make the pregnant lady fall sick easier than others. Proper rest promises good growth of baby as well, while sickness may restrict it.

Keeping these precautions in mind, would-be-mothers can enjoy good health in pregnancy and ensure healthy little ones. Here are few handful tips in this regard:

ARE YOU A COFFEE DRINKER?

By Dr. Shobha Gupta

Are you a coffee drinker? It’s time to give it up! Caffeine is thought to restrict the growth of a developing baby by constricting blood vessels and reducing blood flow to the uterus. What’s more, a few studies have indicated that excessive consumption of caffeine if it’s more than three cups per day then it may contribute to fertility problems as well.

Caffeine may impact the ability to become pregnant. Several studies have shown that caffeine increases the length of time it takes to conceive. One study showed that women who drank more than one cup of coffee a day were half as likely to become pregnant per cycle as compared to women who consumed less. Another study in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) demonstrated that women who consumed even modest amounts of caffeine (50 mg) were likely to have decreased live birth rates. While the exact mechanism by which caffeine affects fertility is unknown, the answer may be related to the ability of caffeine to influence the quality of the developing oocyte (egg). Preliminary studies in mice and monkeys suggest caffeine inhibits oocyte maturation. An immature oocyte does not fertilize and therefore is unable to produce