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

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

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

Have you heard that taking contraceptive pills can lead to infertility?This is a common myth that many women encounter. But is there any truth to it?No, contraceptive pills do not cause infertility. This is just a myth that has been around for a long time.Here’s what science says:Contraceptive pills work by regulating hormones in your body, which helps keep your menstruation regular. While you’re taking these pills, they prevent eggs from being released, so there’s no egg for sperm to fertilize, which means you won’t get pregnant.In other words, contraceptive pills prevent pregnancy but do not cause infertility. Once you stop taking the pills, your hormone levels usually return to normal within 1-2 weeks or up to 2 months, and you can conceive within 6 months to a year if you wish to.There is no study that proves that contraceptive pills lead to infertility. In fact, they help regulate hormones, reduce period cramps, and lower the risk of endometriosis, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer. If you’re experiencing infertility or delays in pregnancy, factors like age, lifestyle, or health conditions might be the reasons.So, don’t believe in these myths. Talk to your doctor and choose the best contraceptives based on your body’s needs.Source:- 1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590151623000151 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6055351/

Many people believe these myths, which creates a lot of confusion. Today, we'll bust these myths one by one so you can understand your fertility journey with the right information. So, let's get started!Myth: You should have sex everyday when trying to get pregnant.Truth: It is not necessary to have sex everyday. Having sex after every 2-4 days is enough to get pregnant. But if a man ejaculates more frequently, the sperm quality and count can be reduced, which can affect conception.Myth: It's only women’s fertility that decreases with time.Truth: Both men’s and women’s fertility gets affected by age. Women's fertility starts to decline after the age of 35, while men's fertility or sperm quality starts to decrease after the age of 40.Myth: You need to lie flat after sex to conceive.Truth: You don't need to lie flat after sexual intercourse to get pregnant. There is no study that claims lying flat after sex can increase chances of pregnancy. Instead, having sex during your ovulation period is more important to get pregnant.Myth: You can get pregnant any time during your menstrual cycle.Truth: You can only get pregnant if you have sex during ovulation or a few days before it. The chances of pregnancy are higher if you have sex just before ovulation.Myth: Sperm quality is best when you don't have sex for at least 10 days.Truth: No, the best quality sperm is produced when you ejaculate every 2-3 days. Not ejaculating for a longer time can lead to damaged or dead sperm.Source:-1.https://www.cdc.gov/reproductive-health/infertility-faq/

Birth control pills are used to prevent pregnancy, and they are also used for PCOD and irregular periods.But when women start taking birth control pills, they sometimes notice weight gain or feel like their weight is increasing. So, do birth control pills really cause weight gain?There are two types of birth control pills:Combination Pill (Estrogen and Progesterone)Progesterone Only PillEstrogen and Progesterone are female hormones that help maintain the reproductive system. When you take birth control pills, your body might hold onto more water, which can make you feel like you've gained weight. However, this weight gain is usually temporary. It means that while birth control pills might make you gain weight at first, it often returns to normal after some time.How do birth control pills affect weight?If you take only Progesterone pills, you generally won't gain weight because these pills don’t cause your body to hold onto water.However, if you take Combination Pills with Estrogen and Progesterone, you might notice some weight gain temporarily. This is because Estrogen can increase a hormone called Vasopressin, which makes you feel more thirsty and helps your body hold onto water. This temporary weight gain usually goes away after a while as your body adjusts.So, birth control pills don’t actually cause long-term weight gain, just temporary changes that usually return to normal.Source:- 1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441582/ 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3880912/

Pregnancy is a time when whatever a mother eats directly affects her baby. So, if you are eating too much junk food, what kind of problems can this cause for your baby?5 Reasons To Avoid Eating Junk Food During Pregnancy:Increased risk of Asthma and Allergies for the baby: Junk food contains a lot of saturated fat and sugar, which causes inflammation in the body, weakening the immune system. If a pregnant woman eats too much junk food, it can weaken the baby's immunity, increasing the risk of allergies or asthma for the baby.Risk of Genetic Abnormalities in the baby: Junk food has many additives, preservatives, and chemicals that mix into your blood. When a pregnant woman eats junk food, these chemicals reach the baby through the blood and can damage the baby’s DNA, increasing the risk of genetic abnormalities.Baby’s weight may increase: This condition is called "Macrosomia." Junk food is very high in calories, which can lead to weight gain for both the pregnant mother and the baby. The baby might grow larger than normal, which can cause complications during delivery.Effects on Baby’s Brain Development: Junk food is high in calories but low in essential nutrients. This means the baby does not get the necessary nutrients, which can affect brain development. Later in life, the baby may show aggressive behavior and, just like the mother, prefer high-fat and sugary junk foods.Increased risk of Diabetes for the baby in the future: The high sugar and calorie content in junk food reduces the body’s ability to metabolize glucose and fat in the baby. This increases the chances of the baby developing insulin resistance and diabetes in the future.As you can see, eating junk food during pregnancy is not only harmful to you but also to your baby. If you want to give your baby a healthy and happy life, include healthy food in your diet and stay away from junk food. Talk to your doctor about your diet and make the best choices for your baby.Source:-1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24635424/ 2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17384661/