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During pregnancy, you might expect to experience heartburn and swollen ankles. But “pregnancy drip” is one uncomfortable symptom you might not be prepared for.
Rhinitis is the official name for the runny, drippy nose many pregnant women experience. Here’s a look at the causes and treatment options. What’s rhinitis of pregnancy? Pregnancy rhinitis is nasal congestion that lasts for six or more weeks during pregnancy. Rhinitis affects between 18 and 42 percent of pregnant women. It frequently affects women early on in the first trimester, and again in late pregnancy. Rhinitis can begin almost anytime during pregnancy. It disappears after you have your baby, usually within two weeks after delivery. The symptoms of rhinitis include:
Is rhinitis dangerous during pregnancy? Rhinitis can cause potentially harmful side effects for both mother and baby. It can lead to sleep disorders that may interfere with the baby’s ability to get all the oxygen they need to develop. Speak to your doctor if you’re suffering from pregnancy rhinitis, snoring, or waking up frequently in the night. Show more: Causes of rhinitis of pregnancy Some cases of rhinitis during pregnancy are completely benign. This means they don’t really have a cause other than the pregnancy itself. Pregnancy causes a lot of changes in the body that can lead to rhinitis. During pregnancy, blood flow increases to areas of the body called mucous membranes. Your nose is one of them. The swelling in the nose from this change can cause stuffiness and watery drainage. Some rhinitis cases are caused by allergies. Allergic rhinitis affects about one-third of women who are of childbearing age. The symptoms are usually more severe than the average case of pregnancy rhinitis. They include:
The best natural treatments to use for rhinitis during pregnancy are:
You can perform nasal irrigation at home with a spray or squirt bottle, or use a neti pot with saline irrigation. This is a solution containing salt (salt water) that can be used to cleanse the nasal passages. It’s important to use sterile (distilled or boiled) water to make the saline solution. You can also try the Breathe Right strips you’ll find in drugstores. They help to manually hold open the nasal passages. Studies show that they are effective, especially at night. They are pregnancy-safe and there are no known harmful side effects. What to avoid Avoid nasal decongestants. They aren’t pregnancy-safe. If your rhinitis is caused by allergies, it will be treated differently. There are several medications that can be used during pregnancy. Your doctor can recommend a treatment that’s pregnancy-safe. Next steps While pregnancy rhinitis is usually harmless, you should talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing symptoms that are interfering with your ability to perform daily activities. This includes your ability to sleep. Also see your doctor before starting any medication at home to treat rhinitis. They’ll need to ensure that the medication or treatment is pregnancy-safe. 💬 Further inforamtion: #rhinitis_of_pregnancy #Healthline https://www.pinterest.com/healthline/ Cre: https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/rhinitis#Whats-rhinitis-of-pregnancy?
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Overview
From glowing skin to a newfound appreciation for your body, there are many things to love about pregnancy. Another is that you’ll have at least nine months of freedom from your period. But after you deliver, you’re probably curious what will happen with your menstrual cycle. When your period returns often depends on whether or not you breastfeed. And just like your life after baby, you might find your first periods after pregnancy are somewhat different. When will my period return? Your period will typically return about six to eight weeks after you give birth, if you aren’t breastfeeding. If you do breastfeed, the timing for a period to return can vary. Those who practice exclusive breastfeeding might not have a period the entire time they breastfeed. “Exclusive breastfeeding” means that your baby is receiving only your breast milk. But for others, it might return after a couple of months, whether they’re breastfeeding or not. If your period does return quickly after giving birth and you had a vaginal delivery, your doctor might recommend that you avoid using tampons during your first menstruation post-baby. This is because your body is still healing, and tampons could potentially cause trauma. Ask your doctor if you can return to using tampons at your six-week postpartum checkup. Why don’t breastfeeding women get their periods as quickly? Typically, women who are breastfeeding don’t get their periods as quickly because of the body’s hormones. Prolactin, the hormone needed to produce breast milk, can suppress reproductive hormones. As a result, you don’t ovulate or release an egg for fertilization. Without this process, you most likely won’t menstruate. Will my period affect my breast milk? When your period does return, you may notice some changes in your milk supply or your baby’s reaction to breast milk. The hormonal changes that cause your body to have your period may also influence your breast milk. For instance, you might notice a decrease in your milk supply or a change in how often your baby wants to nurse. The hormone changes might also affect your breast milk’s composition and how it tastes to your baby. These changes are usually very minor, however, and shouldn’t affect your ability to breastfeed your baby. What about birth control? Some use breastfeeding as a natural birth control method. According to the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals, fewer than 1 out of 100 women will get pregnant annually if they’re engaging in exclusive breastfeeding. Even though breastfeeding reduces your fertility, it’s not an absolute guarantee you won’t get pregnant again. The key here is exclusive breastfeeding. Other than breast milk, no fluids or solids are given to the baby with exclusive breastfeeding. Even water. Supplements or vitamins don’t interfere and can be given to the baby. Breastfeeding that doesn’t fit this description might not protect against another pregnancy. If you’re breastfeeding and your period does return, you’re no longer protected against getting pregnant. It’s also important to note that it can be difficult to predict the return of fertility. You will ovulate before your period starts, so it’s entirely possible to get pregnant again before your period returns. Safe and effective birth control methods are available for those who are breastfeeding. Nonhormonal options such as the copper intrauterine device (IUD), condoms, and diaphragms are always safe for breastfeeding. There are also some hormonal birth control options that are considered safe during breastfeeding. Your doctor can provide the latest updates on specific types of birth control. In general, low-dose combination pills that contain estrogen and progestin are considered safe after you’ve healed from birth. Progestin-only pills are also safe to use while breastfeeding. Show more: How might my period be different postpartum? When you do start your period again, chances are the first period after delivery won’t be like your periods before you got pregnant. Your body is once again adjusting to menstruation. You may experience some of the following differences:
Women who had endometriosis before pregnancy might actually have lighter periods after giving birth. Light periods can also be caused by two rare conditions, Asherman syndrome and Sheehan syndrome. Asherman syndrome leads to scar tissue in the uterus. Sheehan syndrome is caused by damage to your pituitary gland, which may be the result of severe blood loss. What causes mildly painful postpartum periods? Mildly painful postpartum periods can be caused by a combination of several factors. They include:
Whether you delivered your baby vaginally or by cesarean delivery, you can expect some bleeding and vaginal discharge after giving birth. Your body continues to shed the blood and tissue that lined your uterus while you were pregnant. In the first few weeks, blood might be heavier and appear in clots. As the weeks go by, this blood gives way to vaginal discharge known as lochia. Lochia is bodily fluid that can appear clear to creamy white to red in color. This discharge can continue for about six weeks, which is about the time your period may return if you aren’t breastfeeding. If your discharge had the appearance of lochia, stopped for some time, and then you experienced a return of bleeding, this is likely your period. If you aren’t sure if the bleeding you’re experiencing is pregnancy-related or your period, there are a few ways to tell:
During your first postpartum year, it can be normal for your periods to fluctuate in length, time between cycles, and intensity of bleeding. This is especially true if you’re breastfeeding. According to the Cleveland Clinic, most postpartum women will have a “normal” menstrual cycle of 21 to 35 days with bleeding that lasts 2 to 7 days. Period cycles can change from what you experienced before pregnancy. What postpartum symptoms should I watch out for? It’s important that you call a doctor if you experience any of the following symptoms:
The takeaway A return to your menstrual cycle is just one of the parts of recovery and returning to your prepregnancy body. In some, menstruation may be delayed due to the hormone increases associated with breastfeeding. Breastfeeding as a form of contraception isn’t foolproof. Having a backup method, such as oral contraception or a condom, can help provide further protection. You can find a great selection of condoms here. If anything seems out of the ordinary about your first period after pregnancy, contact your doctor. Excess bleeding or indications of infection are especially concerning for a new parent. Listen to your body and play it safe. 💬 Further inforamtion: #first_period_postpartum #Healthline https://twitter.com/healthline Cre: https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/first-period-postpartum
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Phentermine While Pregnant: Is It Safe?7/11/2021 What is phentermine?
Phentermine is in a class of drugs called anorectics. These drugs help to suppress appetite and promote weight loss. Phentermine (Adipex-P, Lomaira) is a prescription oral medication. It’s also available as a combination with another drug called topiramate, marketed as Qsymia. Phentermine is used temporarily in people who are overweight or obese and are actively trying to lose weight through diet and exercise. It’s temporary because its effectiveness decreases after three to six weeks. Phentermine acts much like a stimulant and has many of the same side effects:
Phentermine alone, however, has been used for decades and appears to be a safe and effective weight loss medication when used in the short-term in healthy individuals. One study found that phentermine significantly reduced weight without raising blood pressure or causing other heart problems. Some patients lost more than 10 percent of their body weight and were able to keep the pounds off for eight years. However, very little is known about the effects of phentermine on pregnant women or unborn babies during pregnancy. As such, it’s not approved for use during pregnancy. Phentermine and other appetite suppressants are typically not recommended during pregnancy because most women shouldn’t lose weight while they’re pregnant. If you took phentermine before pregnancy or before you knew you were pregnant, you may have concerns about its effects on your developing baby. Let’s take a closer look at what you should know. Risks if taken before pregnant If you took phentermine before pregnancy, it should have no effect on your ability to carry a healthy baby to term. All traces of phentermine should pass through your body. Even if you took your last dose a week before conception, it shouldn’t have any effect on your pregnancy. Research on birth defect risk Very few human or animal studies have been done on phentermine during pregnancy. But the very few that do exist don’t seem to connect the drug to birth defects. One very small study compared pregnant women in the Czech Republic who took phentermine or sibutramine, another appetite suppressant, to pregnant women who didn’t take the drugs. No differences in pregnancy outcomes were found. While research about pregnancy and phentermine on its own is lacking, another study looked at the use of phentermine/fenfluramine, which is no longer available, in the first trimester of pregnancy. It showed that, when compared with women who didn’t use the drug, women who used it had no greater risk of:
Show more: Research on risks to the mother Again, little is known about phentermine use and its effect on a developing baby or pregnant women. One study from 2002 does point to a higher risk of gestational diabetes among pregnant women who took phentermine/fenfluramine during the first trimester. But this increased risk of gestational diabetes was probably related to being overweight to begin with, rather than a side effect of the drug. Gestational diabetes can increase the risk for a number of health complications for pregnant women, including:
Although weight loss during pregnancy isn’t generally recommended, research found that 8 percent of pregnant women attempt it. While phentermine wasn’t part of this study, phentermine is connected to weight loss. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests a weight gain during pregnancy of:
It’s possible for phentermine to be excreted in breast milk. For that reason, it’s not recommended for women who are breastfeeding. Like a lot of things with phentermine, how it affects a breastfed baby hasn’t been well studied. However, because it acts as a stimulant, it may cause side effects like agitation and sleeping and feeding problems. The takeaway Studies surrounding phentermine use in pregnant and breastfeeding women are sparse at best. If you’re using phentermine and are pregnant or nursing, the safest course is to stop immediately. Your doctor can help you assess any potential risks and give you advice on weight gain and management before, during, and after pregnancy. 💬 Further inforamtion: #phentermine_and_pregnancys #Healthline https://www.facebook.com/healthline/ Cre: https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/phentermine-and-pregnancy |