The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of your neck.Thyroid hormones are crucial for the proper development of your baby’s brain and nervous system. Because, for the first 3 months of pregnancy, the thyroid hormones produced by your body are supplied to your baby through the placenta. When your pregnancy reaches the second trimester, your baby’s thyroid glands start producing thyroid hormones, but in insufficient quantities. Therefore, the thyroid hormones produced in your body remain essential until your pregnancy reaches 18-20 weeks.This is why, if a woman experiences hyperthyroidism during pregnancy, it can be hard to diagnose.Generally, the primary cause of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy is Graves' Disease. Graves' Disease is an autoimmune disorder in which your body produces Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin (TSI). TSI is a type of antibody that increases the production of thyroid hormones.In some cases, severe nausea and vomiting leading to weight loss and dehydration, known as hyperemesis gravidarum, can also cause hyperthyroidism during pregnancy.During hyperemesis gravidarum, the level of HCG hormones increases, which in turn raises thyroid hormone levels.This problem usually resolves within 6 months of pregnancy.Some common symptoms of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy include:Increased heart rateFeeling excessively hotExtreme fatigueTrembling handsWeight lossOr lack of weight gain during pregnancy.If you notice any of these symptoms, you should consult your doctor.Source:- 1.https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/endocrine-diseases/pregnancy-thyroid-disease 2. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/staying-healthy-during-pregnancy/hypothyroidism-and-pregnancy

Gestational diabetes, which is diabetes that occurs during pregnancy, can be quite challenging. Especially when it comes to food, it becomes even more tricky. During pregnancy, you have to be very careful about what you eat because your diet directly affects your baby.Foods you should avoid during pregnancy to keep your diabetes under control.High-sugar items like chocolates, candies, cakes, cookies, pastries, and ice cream should be completely avoided because when you consume these foods, your blood sugar levels spike rapidly. Your body then needs to produce more insulin, which makes it difficult to keep your blood sugar stable, and this can affect your baby's development.High-sugar drinks like soda, fruit juices, tea, coffee, and energy drinks should also be avoided.These drinks get absorbed into your blood much faster than normal or solid foods, leading to a rapid rise in blood sugar levels.Foods made from refined flour like white bread, white pasta, and refined carbs like white rice and potatoes should be avoided as well.These foods are low in fiber, so they digest quickly, causing your blood sugar levels to rise just as fast.Processed foods like fast food, packaged chips, snacks, and frozen food items should be kept at a distance.These foods not only raise your blood sugar levels but can also lead to rapid weight gain.Alcohol should be strictly avoided during pregnancy as it is very harmful, and it can also cause fluctuations in your blood sugar levels.So, make sure to eat with your health in mind, and if necessary, get a diet plan tailored to your needs.source: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/437036/sdcn-healthyeating.pdf https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/dietary-recommendations-for-gestational-diabetes

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2-10% of women in the United States develop gestational diabetes, which is diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Managing diabetes during pregnancy can be quite challenging compared to a normal pregnancy. However, if you can control your diet, your blood sugar levels will stay in check, leading to a healthier pregnancy.Today, we’ll talk about the foods you should eat during pregnancy to keep your diabetes under control. Let’s get started!1. Lean Proteins: Lean proteins like chicken, salmon, tuna fish, eggs, beans, lentils, and tofu are excellent choices. Lean proteins don’t affect your blood sugar levels. Instead, they slow down the absorption of carbohydrates in your body, preventing sudden spikes in blood sugar and keeping you fuller for longer.2. Fiber-Rich Foods: Foods rich in fiber, such as brown rice, quinoa, oats, broccoli, spinach, black beans, chickpeas, apples, and berries, are essential. The fibers in these foods slow down the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates in your body, helping to keep your blood sugar levels under control.3. Healthy Fats or Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Healthy fats, like those found in avocados, nuts, chia seeds, olive oil, salmon, tuna, and mackerel, are vital. These fats increase insulin sensitivity in your body, preventing sugar level spikes. Omega-3 fatty acids are also crucial for your baby’s brain development.4. Low Glycemic Index Carbs: Carbs with a low glycemic index, like sweet potatoes, whole grain bread and pasta, and bulgur wheat, are great options. These foods digest slowly, keeping your blood sugar levels stable.5. Calcium-Rich Foods: Calcium-rich foods like Greek yogurt, milk, and cheese are important. They fulfill your body’s calcium needs, and the proteins in these foods help prevent spikes in your sugar levels. Additionally, they are essential for your baby’s bone development.Read also about : Pregnancy and diabetes: What foods should you avoid with gestational diabetes?source: https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/437036/sdcn-healthyeating.pdf

When you are pregnant, everything you do affects the baby growing inside you. Especially what you eat is very important because the nutrients in your food impact your baby's physical and mental development.As we all know, there are many foods during pregnancy that can negatively affect the baby, but there are also some foods that can make the baby healthy and intelligent.So, which foods can help develop your baby’s brain effectively? Here are 5 foods that will make your baby healthy and intelligent, and they are easily available:Green vegetables, especially spinach, should be eaten because they are rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron, folic acid, and fiber. Iron helps maintain blood levels in you and your baby, while folic acid aids in the development of the baby’s brain and nerves.Eggs contain Omega-3 fatty acids, which help in the growth and health of the brain, and they also have choline, which helps improve your baby’s memory.Salt is rich in iodine, which supports the development of your baby’s brain and spinal cord and helps prevent mental problems and premature delivery. However, too much salt is bad for health, so make sure to consume no more than 3 milligrams of salt.Bananas have potassium, magnesium, and vitamins, which help prevent fatigue during pregnancy, keep your blood pressure normal, and prevent premature delivery.Protein-rich foods like lentils, beans, soybeans, chickpeas, and mung beans help create brain neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that help brain cells communicate and support overall brain development.source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3046737/ https://www.unicef.org/rosa/stories/what-eat-during-and-after-pregnancy

Tea and coffee are generally safe during pregnancy if consumed in the right amounts. Both tea and coffee contain caffeine, as do cold drinks, dark chocolate, and white chocolate. The caffeine in tea can pass through the placenta to the baby and affect its development. Excessive caffeine intake can increase the risk of miscarriage and low birth weight.So, how much tea or coffee should you drink during pregnancy? The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends not exceeding 200mg of caffeine per day during pregnancy. Tea typically has less caffeine compared to coffee, about 25-80mg per cup, depending on the cup size. A cup of brewed coffee has 70-140mg of caffeine. Cola and energy drinks have 40-100mg of caffeine, while dark chocolate contains 5-35mg and milk chocolate has up to 15mg.So, when drinking tea or coffee, be sure to keep your total caffeine intake below 200mgsource: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7035149/ https://www.bmj.com/content/337/bmj.a2332

Planning to conceive? An unhealthy weight can get in the way. Therefore, it will be best to focus on 2 things:Healthy dietAn active lifestyle.Consume wholesome home-cooked meals. Take 3 meals in a day with a light snack in between and 3 to 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.Fertility Diet: 6 things you should include in your Fertility diet chart.Whole grain foods like whole wheat flour chapati, whole wheat bread, brown rice and oats.Foods that are rich in protein like eggs, fish, chicken, lentils and soya.Foods rich in folate like green leafy vegetables.Use double fortified salt (with added iodine and iron) when cooking.Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are very essential when trying to get pregnant. So include sunflower seeds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds and chia seeds in your daily diet.Lastly, iron is very essential, to prevent Iron deficiency Anemia during pregnancy.It is recommended that women who are trying to get pregnant should start taking Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) tablets.So, it is important to eat well to prepare your body for pregnancy.source: https://www.unicef.org/rosa/stories/what-eat-during-and-after-pregnancy

Whenever you have more than one baby in your womb, that type of pregnancy is called a multiple pregnancy.And when there are two babies, it is called twins. Twins are of two types: identical twins and non-identical twins. Now let's understand how twins are born. In reality, the chances of having twins are the same for all females, meaning 1 out of every 250 females has a chance of having twins.Yes, if your age is over 35 years, the chances of having twins are higher. Or if there is a history of multiple pregnancies in your family, you might also have twins. Additionally, African women have higher chances of twin pregnancies. Whenever more than one egg in your uterus is fertilized by sperm, a multiple pregnancy occurs.And sometimes, a single fertilized egg splits into 2 embryos, resulting in twins. If one egg splits into more than 2 embryos, it results in 3, 4, or more babies. Let's understand how identical twins are born. Identical twins occur when a single fertilized egg, also known as a zygote, separates into 2 embryos.Due to the splitting of the same egg, both parts have the same genes and thus become identical twins. Identical twins are always of the same sex, meaning both will be males or both will be females. Now let's talk about how non-identical twins are born. Non-identical twins occur when 2 different eggs are fertilized in your womb.Because they do not share the same genes, these twins do not look alike. Non-identical twins can be of the same sex or different sexes, such as one male and one female.Source:- 1. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/finding-out/pregnant-with-twins/ 2. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=overview-of-multiple-pregnancy-85-P08019

Every woman is unique and experiences different symptoms during pregnancy, which can vary greatly from one woman to another.Second Pregnancy: Even if a woman becomes pregnant again, she might not experience the same symptoms as she did in her first pregnancy.Timing of Symptoms: The first signs and symptoms of pregnancy can appear at different stages. They may show up early or at any point during the pregnancy.Recognizing Pregnancy: The easiest way to know if you’re pregnant is to look out for the first symptoms, which will be discussed in the video.Top 8 Early Signs of Pregnancy:1. Missed or Delayed Periods:If you’re sexually active and your period is delayed, pregnancy is a common thought. Menstruation typically stops during pregnancy, making this a primary sign.2. Spotting or Cramps:Light spotting or cramping can occur when the fertilized egg implants in the uterus. This doesn’t mean menstruation but could indicate pregnancy.3. Thick Vaginal Discharge:Early pregnancy might cause thick, white vaginal discharge with a different smell. If it’s accompanied by burning or itchiness, it could be a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).4. Changes in Breasts:Heaviness, pain, and tenderness in the breasts are common. The nipples and areola (the area around the nipples) may also get darker.5. Tiredness or Fatigue:Increased fatigue or feeling tired frequently is another sign of early pregnancy.6. Sensitivity to Smell or Morning Sickness:Nausea or vomiting, often triggered by various smells (like moisturizer, perfume, soap, or lipstick), can occur at any time of the day.7. Fainting or Dizziness:Hormonal fluctuations during early pregnancy can cause changes in glucose levels or blood pressure, leading to fainting or dizziness.8. Food Cravings or Aversions:Craving certain foods or developing a sudden dislike for some tastes is also common in early pregnancy.Source:-1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6995862/2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3599678/