Tag: Pregnancy

Pregnancy week 15 wellness guide

Your Body

changes in the body
What to expect - week 15
As your baby is growing fast, you might have a sensation of tightness around your waist. You are likely to have lots of vaginal discharge or leucorrhoea. This is to keep your vagina clean and free from infection. Normal discharge is clear, white or creamy. You may also notice you have red, swollen gums that are prone to bleeding when you brush. It’s because of pregnancy hormones.

Baby size

Week 15 size guide
What to expect
Your baby is the size of a Guava (about 10cm and 65 – 70 gms).

Your Baby

Pregnancy weekly guide - baby size
What to expect
Baby's eyebrows and eyelashes are starting to appear. His/her eyes are firmly shut but are sensitive to light. Your baby has also started hearing. Talk to your baby!

Taking care

Pregnancy week 15 wellness guide
Tips
  • Start doing pelvic floor exercises. It will help prevent leakage (urine) when you laugh, sneeze or cough.
  • Eat healthily, with plenty of fresh fruit and veg, and avoid processed, fatty and salty foods. However, don’t overeat! You don’t need extra calories until the third semester. 
  • Eat several small meals throughout the day instead of three large meals to prevent heartburn.
  • If you feel light headed/faint find a place to sit or lie down. If you can’t find such place kneel and bend your head forward (as in putting the straps of your sandals).
  • To reduce headache place a cool compress on your forehead. Look for a cool, dark place to rest.

Ask your doctor

Pregnancy weekly guide - ask your doctor
Questions
  1. I am having a lot of discharge. Is that normal?
  2. How can I prevent gum disease?
  3. Am I gaining the right amount of weight?
  4. I am getting pain sin the lower sides of my belly. Is that normal?
  5. Is my blood pressure okay? Am I at risk of pre-eclampsia and do I need to take any medication to prevent it?

Your to do list

Pregnancy week 15 wellness guide
Action points
  1. Attend antenatal visit and ask doctor about how well you and your baby are doing. 
  2. Do pelvic exercises.
  3. Attend prenatal yoga classes.

Questions you may have

Pregnancy week 27 wellness guide

Your Body

changes in the body
What to expect
You are feeling tired and need naps during the day. You could also be feeling quite short-tempered and outspoken. Worrying a lot more about what’s best for you and your baby. Your feet are swelling up and you will find putting on your shoes difficult. Your skin around your belly feels stretched, dry and itchy.For more tips on what to expect in the second trimester click here.

Baby size

Baby size_week 27
What to expect
Your baby is the size of a Cabbage (roughly 36 cms long and 840 gms in weight).

Your Baby

Pregnancy weekly guide - baby size
What to expect
Many developments have taken place. Baby’s lungs are capable of breathing. Baby’s organs are maturing and his or her skin is not as wrinkly. Baby is nearly a foot long and two pounds in weight – double of what it was four weeks ago. Baby can now recognise your husband’s voice. Ask him to speak to baby. Baby responds to your eating too spicy food by hiccupping!

Taking care

Pregnancy week 27 wellness guide
Tips
  • Sleep on your sides and not on your back. Some recommend sleeping on your left side. Sleeping on the back can double the risk of stillbirth.
  • Sleep with your feet elevated.
  • Avoid sitting or standing for a long time. If your feet are swelling excessively consult your doctor.
  • Use a cool damp compress to relieve heat rash.
  • Place cool cucumber slices under your eyes for puffiness under the eyes, especially when you wake up in the morning.
  • Look on the bright side of things – most of the discomfort you are experiencing will pass off after delivery!

Ask your doctor

Pregnancy weekly guide - ask your doctor
Questions
  1. During any activity I feel quite breathless and can’t talk at the same time. I feel my heart pounding too. Is that normal?
  2. My feet are swollen to the point that I can’t squeeze my feet into my shoes. Is that normal?
  3. Have I gained enough weight? Should I be doing anything more for a healthy pregnancy?
  4. Should I be attending special classes in preparation for delivery?

Your to do list

Pregnancy week 27 wellness guide
Action points
  1. Make sure you sleep on your sides.
  2. Support your bump with a pillow and another pillow between your knees when you go to sleep.
  3. Record your weight and blood pressure.
  4. Learn some soothing yoga based relaxation techniques.
  5. Ask your husband to put his ears against my belly to hear baby’s heartbeat.

Questions you may have

Disclaimer

Kushal website and services offers health, fitness and nutrition related suggestions for informational purposes only. The information provided does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you have concerns about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other health-care professional.

COVID – 19 and pregnancy related anxiety

20 July 2020

Pregnancy related anxiety has shot up because of COVID and needs to be recognised and addressed.

The number of people with COVID – 19 continues to spike in India. The Hindu (www.thehindu.com) reports that the number of people who have tested positive for the coronavirus has been nearly 2000 a day for three days straight. The Health Department has confirmed 408 COVID – 19 related deaths so far in the state. Krishna district where Kushal is present has been hit hardest with a 3.17% death rate. Not surprisingly, COVID - 19 anxiety in pregnancy has sky rocketed in Andhra Pradesh.

Communities in Andhra Pradesh are concerned. In ordinary circumstances, perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are among the most common complications that occur in pregnancy or in the first 12 months after delivery (The American College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians). And these are unprecedented times.

Our beneficiaries are worried, and there is little recourse to advise and comfort because of strict lockdown being enforced.  Antenatal services have been stripped resulting in limited access to information and education. Kushal India is proactively filling the gap by responding to requests with urgency and using digital technologies to surpass these barriers.

Poorer communities are affected the most. All Anganwadi Centres in the state where women from disadvantaged communities generally access government antenatal services have been shut down. We are supporting the local health department to reach out to 700 pregnant women who are linked to urban health centres on their mobile phones with counselling and befriending sessions.

A difficult question colleagues working in the front line are increasingly facing these days is -

“Amma, if I get infected, can I pass the coronavirus to my unborn baby? Will that lead to my child having problems or deformities in the future? My mother-in-law has suggested that I should terminate my pregnancy.”

Difficulty in accessing reliable information and having to take recourse on attention grabbing headlines in the media has spread misinformation and consequently led to fear and panic in communities. Most of our beneficiaries are first time pregnant and young. To have to be under pressure to resort to termination because of myths and misinformation is unfortunate.

We make sure to advise women –

  • The COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly evolving situation and each day scientists and researchers are learning more on how to prevent and mitigate the impact of the virus. New information comes out nearly each day and at times can contradict previous knowledge. So, it is important to remain updated on information.
  • However, it is crucial that you seek information from reliable and reputable sources, for e.g. WHO, UNICEF and the National Health Mission.
  • If you come across a piece of information in the media and especially social media such as YouTube that makes you curious or worries you, please verify that information from reliable and authentic sources. Do not act on a single source of information.
  • Do not be hasty in taking actions or decisions. Verify your doubts. Consult your doctor first.

To read more about our activities, please click here.

Pregnancy health and wellbeing guide – week by week

Pregnancy wellness programme

Thank you for visiting the Kushal website and showing interest. You can get weekly health and wellbeing information here to help you or your loved one have an experience that is positive and fulfilling. The pregnancy information we provide guides you for wellness,

By enabling you to achieve your full potential towards wellbeing and positive health.

By taking a multidimensional and holistic approach that includes lifestyle, mental and spiritual well-being, and the environment, and

By adopting a tone, which we hope is positive and affirming.

You can also know more about the context of maternal health in India and our activities specific to COVID-19 and pregnancy in our website.

You may also look up NHS England resources for more detailed information on how to look after yourself and your baby while you're pregnant.

Your guide to health and wellbeing during pregnancy

pregnancy week by week wellbeing information

Week 4 - 12

Week 13

Week 14

Mental health support for pregnant women

We believe that every woman deserves to have choices no matter what her social or educational status.

Mental health support for pregnant women

our mission to provide pregnancy wellbeing services
We support women so that they can experience a sense of agency, joy and wellness during their pregnancy ...
Read More

Our mission

Image showing project locations in West bengal, India
Our wellbeing workshops are facilitated in remote villages… ...
Read More

Project locations

Pregnancy week by week guidance and support interventions.
Our week by week guidance holistically supports women with emotional and psychological wellbeing during pregnancy and addresses issues of maternal ...
Read More

What we do

Maternal health services in India has its limitations.
Maternity is joy. However, pregnancy can come with risks ...
Read More

Maternal health in India

our pregnancy wellbeing services address covid-19
Our sessions integrate COVID-19 awareness with pregnancy wellness ...
Read More

Our COVID – 19 response

Kushal inspirers either live in the communities or are close to the communities in heart and spirit.
Kushal inspirers ...
Read More

Meet the team

"Help pregnant women in India have a say"

Donate button

Aparna and her husband attended our COVID and pregnancy awareness session at a local hospital in Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh. Our pregnancy health and wellbeing services guide women on how to stay healthy and well.

COVID-19 and pregnancy in India : our response

COVID-19 and pregnancy in India raised many issues of concern for pregnant women from the very start of the epidemic in March 2019, to which we paid attention. It was obvious that pregnant women were having concerns and quite anxious. We decided to respond to the concerns of pregnant women with urgency and the limited extent of information that was available.

The pandemic is having a tremendous impact on pregnant women in Indian society. These are unprecedented times and like others we are responding in India to address issues, concerns and anxiety as a consequence. In Vijaywada, most public and private sector service health providers have either re-focussed to COVID -19 or have cut back their services by more than half. This has inadvertently affected antenatal care services for pregnant women. There is total lockdown and pregnant women are either being turned back or can not attend antenatal clinics. In response and to ensure pregnant women continue to be supported , we have realigned our interventions to be driven remotely and be based on mobile technology. We contact women who participate in Kushal wellbeing workshops, through our network of government and private sector hospitals, clinics and ASHA workers by telephone and provide information and education through our website and mobile app.

Read more about how we respond to COVID-19 related misinformation that is affecting pregnant women.

COVID-19 and pregnancy in India - General information

Pregnant women may have slightly higher risk compared to others who are not pregnant.

Pregnant women should protect themselves from COVID – 19. Hand hygiene by frequently washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, social distancing and avoiding touching of face, especially eyes, mouth and nose. Follow your government’s advice to the public.

Pregnant people are at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant people. Additionally, pregnant people with COVID-19 might be at increased risk for other adverse outcomes, such as preterm birth.(updated, US Centres for Disease Control, Nov 2020)

As of date it is not confirmed if a pregnant woman with the novel coronavirus can pass the virus to her foetus or baby during pregnancy or delivery. Some newborns have tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 shortly after birth. It is unknown if these newborns got the virus before, during, or after birth from close contact with an infected person.Infections causing COVID-19 in newborns born to mothers with COVID-19 are uncommon.

Prenatal visits are important to ensure maternal and fetal health. However, your health care provider might advise increasing the interval between visits or encouraging telehealth visits. If you have any concerns about your health or your baby’s health, please call your doctor.

There are still many unknowns about how the novel coronavirus affects pregnant women, so please stay home as much as possible right now.

For reliable India specific COVID information updates, please visit the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India website.

COVID – 19 and pregnancy awareness sessions

COVID-19 symptoms awareness raising
COVID-19 and pregnancy in India
coronavirus

Scientific terms

Corona Virus refers to a family of viruses. Novel coronavirus is a specific coronavirus that is responsible for the COVID -19 pandemic. It is scientifically and officially called SARS-COV-2. The name for the cluster of diseases that SARS-COV-2 causes is called COVID – 19. For more information on COVID-19, please visit the WHO website.

COVID symptoms - training for ASHA and Anganwadi workers

COVID-19 symptoms and prevention training for community health workers

Requests from ASHA and Anganwadi Workers who are in the frontline of combating the COVID - 19 pandemic in Andhra Pradesh have been pouring in. They would like to have some basic awareness training on how to support pregnant women in their communities in relation to COVID - 19 and the coronavirus. In response we have produced a training deck, which has been adapted for the local context and translated in Telugu.

Please visit our YouTube channel

Coronavirus: pregnant women urged to take extra caution by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)

A comprehensive, well researched and objective article in The Hindu today outlines the advice given by ICMR to pregnant women.

The main points are –

Emerging evidence suggests that transmission of the novel coronavirus from mother to baby can take place antenataly or intrapartum. There is no evidence as yet of breast milk carrying the virus.

Pregnant women with heart disease are at greater risk of COVID-19 related complications.

Mental health issues in relation to the coronavirus is a concern. Increased anxiety and depression has been reported. Also, the incidence of domestic violence has risen.

For more information on our work in relation to COVID – 19 and pregnancy, please click here.

#coronavirus #pregnancy