Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are seen often and in varying degrees during pregnancy. They appear early or in the later part of pregnancy, usually on the abdomen, breasts, hips and buttocks. After pregnancy they may fade to the same color as the rest of your skin but they won't go away. Gain weight slowly and steadily to avoid these marks. Avoid creams with steroid content in it as you can absorb some of it into your system and pass to your unborn child. Don't use steroid creams without your doctors OK.
There are some things you can do to reduce the severity of these marks:
- Drink lots of water and eat foods high in antioxidants such as fruits and vegetables that are bright red, orange or yellow as these help in tissue repair
- Maintain skin's elasticity by eating adequate protein rich foods and fats in moderation
- Stay out of the sun
- Keep up with your exercise regime
Something to read on Caffeine:
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant found in many beverages and foods including tea, coffee, cola drinks and chocolates. Caffeine is also found in headache medicines. Research shows that you may be more sensitive to caffeine during pregnancy comparatively. High caffeine intake has been associated with low birthweight babies and a smaller head size in newborns. Some researchers have gone as far as to say that caffeine use leads to miscarriages, stillbirths and premature labor. Cut down on caffeine or better still eliminate it from your diet. Too many negative associations i.e. it crosses to your placenta to the baby, it can affect yours and your baby's calcium absorption. Increased intake can lead to breathing problems in your newborn; if you are jittery your baby may suffer from the same effects. Breastfed babies can suffer from sleeplessness and irritability. Since an infant metabolizes caffeine at a slower rate than an adult, caffeine can collect in the infant. Effects of caffeine on you during pregnancy may include irritability, headaches, stomach upset, sleeplessness and jitters. Quit caffeine use or limit its consumption. Read labels on over-the-counter medications for caffeine. Up to 2 cups (not mugs) of regular coffee or its equivalent is probably permissible as that is less than 200mg a day. Still it is a good idea to stop consuming caffeine altogether to have a healthier you and a healthy baby. The list below gives you a rough idea on the amounts of caffeine from everyday sources:
Coffee 5 oz - 60 - 140 mg and higher
Tea 5 oz - 30 - 65 mg
Baking chocolate 1 oz - 25 mg
Chocolate candy 1 oz - 6 mg
Soft drinks 12 oz - 35 - 55 mg
Pain relief tabs standard dose - 40 mg
Allergy and cold remedies - 25 mg
