During your pregnancy, you’ll be bombarded with tons of advice from books and magazines to relatives and neighbours about pregnancy do’s and don’ts. Can you separate fact from fiction?
For the original please go here.
Women’s Health
A quarter of pregnant women quit exercising from fear of harming their unborn baby
Dr Dawn Harper
Fear, guilt and shame go hand-in-hand with exercising – for pregnant women. Why does prenatal exercise have such a stigma attached to it when it can actually do more good than harm?
A new research released today shockingly finds that over half of mums have felt fearful about exercising in pregnancy, with 24-to-35 year olds found to be the most fearful of physical activity causing harm to their baby.
It is no surprise then that over a quarter of mums reduced or gave up exercising altogether during pregnancy, with over a fifth of the nation being fully convinced to stop less than six months into their pregnancy.
Fitness class participation levels are also see a drop from 31 per cent to 12 per cent during pregnancy, with women partaking in running reducing from 32 per cent to only nine per cent.
The research commissioned by Aptaclub for the launch of Active for 2 – a free expert led pregnancy exercise resource – reveals that nearly half of the nation’s women agree there is conflicting information about prenatal fitness and what exercises they can and can’t safely do while pregnant. While 47 per cent of women think running is risky, nearly two-fifths even classify yoga as being slightly risky during pregnancy.
Dr Dawn Harper understands the importance of ensuring women stay fit during pregnancy, with exercise supporting relief of aches and pains that come with the changes and growth of the body. Patient Talk spoke with her to fin out more!
PatientTalk.Org: What are the barriers to pregnant women and exercising?
Doctor Dawn Harper: Today we have a survey out from Apta club which shows a lot of women are giving up exercise altogether when their pregnant. So over a quarter of women have stopped altogether or significantly reduced their exercise levels. I think that’s a great shame with my GP hat on because we know that women who exercise regularly during pregnancy are going to feel healthier themselves, its doing themselves some good. Their also likely to have actually easier labours, that’s quite a good incentive. There’s also research to show that babies born to fit women that exercise regularly tend to develop better. So far from there being this kind of myth out there I think that maybe exercise might in some way damage you baby, for the vast majority of pregnant women exercising regularly it good for the both of you.
PatientTalk.Org: What are the best ways of exercising?
Doctor Dawn Harper: One of the things you may need to do is kind of adapt your normal exercise regime when you’re pregnant and what Apta club has done is they’ve launched a campaign called active for two. On the web site there are little videos the help you to look at what might be an appropriate exercise for you in each trimester of your pregnancy. For me I would say every women is different and every pregnancy is different, I had three children and I had three very different pregnancies. It’s a case of fine tuning to you and that might mean that you speak to your midwife or your GP about your exercise levels, if you’re a member of a gym speak to the staff there they will be use to looking after ladies who are pregnant. So you may well have to reduce your intensity or alter in some way your normal exercise regime but we’re really keen for those that can continue to exercise that they continue to do so.
PatientTalk.Org: So what are the risks and what might be damaging?
Doctor Dawn Harper: I think there’s been this feeling for some women out there that in some way exerting yourself might damage your baby. Now for most of us as long as we’re exercising sensibly, so I’m not advocating that women go out there and their gasping for breath. That’s not the sort of exercise levels but it is just keeping yourself active and fit. There are some sport that we would say are not a sensible idea because you don’t want to do any contact sport that could involve injuring your tummy and there for possibly to your unborn baby. Things like: Yoga, swimming, running and walking, those types of things are really good for you aerobic fitness and your posture. Yoga is particularly good for posture.
PatientTalk.Org: Why is parental fitness important?
Doctor Dawn Harper: I think parental fitness is important all round actually, it’s important for the individual. So we know that if a pregnant lady is exercising regularly she is likely to sleep better and that’s quite important. For the rest of the pregnancy she’s going to feel better in her emotions, we know it’s a good stress relief and she’s also going to feel physically better. We also know that regular exercise means that her labour is likely to be easier, women who exercise are less likely to have a C- section or an interventional delivery so that’s a good thing. But also actually it means that your baby is likely to develop better, so win win win here. I guess the other thing that if you’re exercising regularly, an awful lot of women put on a lot of weight during pregnancy but every women is different. You should only put on anywhere between 25 and 35 pounds but more is your slim to start with and less if your carrying a bit of extra weight to start with. A lot of women will put on significantly more than that and if your exercising regularly you should be able to maintain the appropriate weight gain that’s is right for you during the pregnancy which also means that you get back into you pre pregnancy jeans an awful lot sooner.
PatientTalk.Org: What about exercising with a medical condition like diabetes or MS while pregnant?
Doctor Dawn Harper: So again this is very much tailoring your exercise, so if you got something MS for example there maybe somethings you simply can’t do because the nerves have been damaged. Diabetes type 1 and 2, some women become diabetics during pregnancy just stage 1 diabetes and if we can actually manage weight gain appropriately perhaps it’s not the time to be dieting but to manage that weight gain appropriately and maintain fitness levels actually that’s a very good thing.
PatientTalk.Org: Where can people go for more information?
Doctor Dawn Harper: There’s a super web site it’s Aptaclub.co.uk, lots of information there and professional advice from nutritionists and mid wives. Really helpful tips about simple little things like what would be the most appropriately exercise for different trimesters so well worth having a look at.
Polycystic ovary syndrome – what are the signs of PCOS?
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Symptoms Of PCOS
If you experience symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), they’ll usually become apparent in your late teens or early twenties.
Not all women with PCOS will have all of the symptoms, and each symptom can vary from mild to severe. Many women only experience menstrual problems and/or are unable to conceive.
Common symptoms of PCOS include:
irregular periods or no periods at all
difficulty getting pregnant (because of irregular ovulation or failure to ovulate)
excessive hair growth (hirsutism) – usually on the face, chest, back or buttocks
weight gain
thinning hair and hair loss from the head
oily skin or acne
You should talk to your GP if you have any of these symptoms and think you may have PCOS.
Fertility problems
PCOS is one of the most common causes of female infertility. Many women discover they have PCOS when they’re trying to get pregnant and are unsuccessful.
During each menstrual cycle, the ovaries release an egg (ovum) into the uterus (womb). This process is called ovulation and usually occurs once a month.
However, women with PCOS often fail to ovulate or ovulate infrequently, which means they have irregular or absent periods and find it difficult to get pregnant.
Risks in later life
Having PCOS can increase your chances of developing other health problems in later life. For example, women with PCOS are at increased risk of developing:
type 2 diabetes – a lifelong condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high
depression and mood swings – because the symptoms of PCOS can affect your confidence and self-esteem
high blood pressure and high cholesterol – which can lead to heart disease and stroke
sleep apnoea – overweight women may also develop sleep apnoea, a condition that causes interrupted breathing during sleep
Women who have had absent or very irregular periods (fewer than three or four periods a year) for many years have a higher-than-average risk of developing cancer of the womb lining (endometrial cancer).
However, the chance of getting endometrial cancer is still small and can be minimised using treatments to regulate periods, such as the contraceptive pill or an intrauterine system (IUS).
Endometriosis – what you need to know
Endometriosis is a condition that affects more than 176 million women globally. It involves the abnormal growth of a type of tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (called “the endometrium”) in other parts of the body, such as the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, or the outer wall of the uterus.
The most common symptoms include painful periods, pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding, and difficulty with getting pregnant.
There are astounding statistics on endometriosis at a global level. Since pelvic pain or other symptoms are often belittled and blamed on normal aspects of womanhood, the average time for a woman to be correctly diagnosed is 10 years. Almost 70% of women were initially misdiagnosed with another condition.
Raising awareness around endometriosis is the first step towards making these numbers a thing of the past.
Endometriosis around the world
Women and hair loss: coping tips
Alopecia
Losing your crowning glory can be particularly difficult for women. But there are ways to cope.
Losing your hair as a woman, especially if you’re young or at a vulnerable time in your life, can badly affect your confidence.
Jackie McKillop, Alopecia UK spokesperson and junior nursing sister at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, says society considers hair to be an important part of how you look:
“For women, there is a social stigma attached to going bald,” she says. “Hair loss can affect your sensuality and how you perceive yourself. There are usually emotional trials and tribulations when it happens.
“Some women question whether their partner will still love them. I’ve known others become socially reclusive and give up enjoyable activities like swimming and going to the gym, because they can’t bear using the communal changing rooms for fear of their hair loss being discovered.”
Hair loss, known medically as alopecia, is common. It’s estimated, for instance, that around 50% of women over the age of 65 experience female-pattern baldness – the most common type of hair loss, which is thought to be inherited.
Different types of hair loss
There are lots of different types of hair loss. It can take the form of “thinning” or involve a total loss of hair. It can be gradual or sudden; it can affect the old and the young.
Hair loss can be genetic, or as a result of extreme stress, a medical condition or treatment.
Hair loss is a well-known side effect of chemotherapy, and around 50% of women lose more hair than usual after they’ve given birth.
Hair loss treatments
Jackie McKillop, who has herself lost all her hair, says it can help to address the physical aspects of hair loss. Try to find out everything you can about hair loss and the treatment options available to you.
A proven treatment for female-pattern baldness is a hair lotion containing minoxidil. After using it, most women see improvements, including a slowing or stopping altogether of balding, as well as thicker hair. Up to 25% of women experience hair regrowth while using it.
Always contact your GP or dermatologist for advice before starting or finishing any treatments or medication for alopecia.
Find out about hair loss treatments that work.
Ways to cope with hair loss
It’s also important to address the psychological impact of hair loss. If you’ve lost your hair, even temporarily, life will be easier if you can accept what’s happened and learn to live with your altered appearance.
“How well you cope with looking at yourself in the mirror depends on your coping strategies, personality, self-esteem and the support around you,” says Jackie. “It’s really important to try to promote positivity in your life.”
Here are some useful self-help tips:
Share stories: It helps to know you’re not alone. Watch this video of a woman’s personal experience of alopecia, read this real-life story of Michelle Chapman who was diagnosed with alopecia when she was five. Read the comments at the end of this article to see how others cope.
Join a support group: There are groups around the country where you can meet and socialise with other people with alopecia. Find your nearest Alopecia UK support group.
Go online: If you prefer to go online to talk to others, join Alopecia UK’s discussion forum.
Accept it: It’s not easy, but try to come to terms with your hair loss. One way to do this is to make a list of all your good qualities and focus your energy on celebrating these attributes.
Talk about it: Discuss your hair loss with your friends, family and loved ones, preferably early on. Let them know how you feel about it and what kind of support you need. If hair loss is affecting your relationship with your partner, going to therapy or couples counselling may help.
Cover up: Look into disguising and covering up your hair loss with things like wigs, hair extensions, scarves and make-up. Persevere until you find a product and style that suits you. “Equally, you may prefer not to cover up at all. Whatever works best for you,” says Jackie.
If you have hair loss that you find difficult to cover up (around 50% hair loss or more), or your hair loss is a result of cancer treatment, you could be eligible for a wig on the NHS. Find out about NHS wigs.
Be patient: many cases of hair loss in women are temporary. That said, regrowth is unpredictable and can take years. Remember that your new hair can be any texture and colour.
Avoid miracle cures: don’t be taken in by claims for wonder products. There are no cures for female hair loss.
“There are lots of snakeoil products out there. Usually the greater the claim, the greater the letdown,” says Jackie McKillop. Her advice is to stick to products recommended in the British Association of Dermatologists’ clinical guidelines (PDF, 85kb).
You can read more articles on all aspects of hair loss, including the different types, its diagnosis and treatment.