Illness you can really do without

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Home > Yoga & Pregnancy > Pregnancy Due Date Calculator > Pregnancy Articles > Onset of the Second Trimester

Health And Yoga News Letters

Illness you can really do without

By Ankita Goel

A pregnant woman has to be very careful about exposing herself to diseases which may affect her baby. Although most of the common diseases do not really affect the fetus (because much is unknown) the best prevention a mother can take is to make her immune system strong.

The idea of informing about these diseases is not to scare the mother or overload her with medical information, but to make the mother aware of the potential risks. Since these diseases are becoming more common, a pregnant woman may submit herself completely to the medical fraternity and lose touch with her own intuition and natural experience. So, it is best for a mother to understand the importance and create a healthy environment within herself (a healthy body) and around. She should take care of the people she is meeting to know how close she is to illnesses.

Some of the diseases to look out for are:

	Chicken Pox - Exposure to this disease can lead to a miscarriage during the first 2 months of pregnancy and increased risk of birth defects up to 20 weeks. It incubates for up to 2 weeks unseen, and is contagious when spots are present. The prevention is to stay away from a suspected chicken pox sufferer and their family until confirmed as no longer infectious.

	Rubella (German Measles) - Exposure of the mother to rubella can lead to miscarriage, deafness, mental retardation, and defects in major organs in the baby. The risk is greatest in early pregnancy (prior to 12 weeks) but reduces in later trimesters.

	Genital Herpes (HSV-2) - Around 30% of all women carry genital herpes and are unaware of it. If you carry this virus, it is wise to inform the birthing team about it because internal examination and fetal monitoring can spread the virus from the vagina to the fetus. If your partner has this virus, be sure to use condoms during sex. If affected, the baby can have an outbreak of rashes or sores on the skin (usually hands and feet). More serious conditions like brain infection, lethargy, fits, jaundice or apnoea can develop if not diagnosed early. To prevent any bad affect, a woman may get herself tested for the virus. If you discover that you carry this virus, a combination of yoga practices, cleansing techniques and lifestyle adjustments (diet, stress) can help.

Cats & Meat During Pregnancy:

A parasite called Toxoplasmosis is usually found in some forms of meat and sometimes in the faeces of cats. So a pregnant woman can get infected if she eats raw or poorly cooked meat or if she comes in close contact with infected domestic animals and where they have soiled.

This parasite if transferred to the baby during the 1st trimester, can cause birth defects and other less serious ailments.

So the experts advise that pregnant women should take precautions by not handling cat litter at all; and if they have to, then gloves should be used. Washing hands after such activity is recommended.

As far as meat eating is concerned make sure you eat properly cooked meat and be cautious of where you purchase your meat and how you store it.

Other Children And Pregnancy:

A pregnant woman should exercise very careful hygiene habits in all situations of toileting young children and her elder children.

There are certain virus which are found in the faeces of young children like -

	Cytomegalovirus - If contracted during pregnancy, the baby can develop fetal defects - some visible at birth and others that develop in early childhood. To prevent it, it is best to maintain hygiene.

	Parvovirus B-19 or Fifths Disease or slapped-cheek virus - It is a mild airborne infection, which spreads easily through classrooms during autumn and winter. If the pregnant mother is affected, it can interfere with the production of the baby's RBCs and can cause early miscarriage and stillbirth. Avoidance of childcare centers and schools is recommended.

	Loxsackievirus - This virus thrives in the human intestine and is passed by human faeces. If infected during 1st trimester, birth defects can occur. Later infection increases the risk that the baby may develop conditions as diverse as schizophrenia and diabetes. To prevent it one should make sure that all the adults and children around use good hand washing techniques - before eating and especially after toileting and nappy changing.

With warm wishes,
Ankita Goel

This newsletter is based on my experience and understanding of "Mother as First Guru" by Swami Gurupremananda Saraswati which I consider a complete 'Biblical Guide' to natural womanhood, pregnancy and spiritual mothering. To read more about it, click here.

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