Recipes For Pregnant Women

Pregnancy brings new joys for a mother. The experience of having a new life within her is simply overwhelming. However, pregnancy also entails many new responsibilities on her, one of which is providing proper nutrition for her yet-to-be-born baby. 

In this context, most of the women make the mistake of going for recipes that contain more calories, but not necessarily extra nutrition, while the latter is much more important for them. To help all the pregnant women out there, we have listed some nutritious, but easy recipes, in the lines below.

Healthy Recipes For Pregnancy

Porridge

Ingredients

• 2½ cups Water
• ½ cup Wheat Dalia (porridge)
• ½ cup Oats
• ½ cup Milk
• ¼ cup Raisins
• ¼ cup Almonds
• 3 tsp Sugar

Instructions

• First of all, you need to half-fill a pan with water and place it on flame.
• As soon as the water comes to a boil, reduce heat to medium and stir in oats and wheat dalia.
• Mix the oats and dalia well and let them cook for 5-7 minutes, in boiling water.
• Add raisins and almonds to the water and mix well. Cook for a few seconds.
• Add sugar to the pan, followed by milk, making sure to mix well every time.
• Your porridge is ready. Let it cool down a bit and start eating.

Yogurt Cookies

Ingredients

• ½ cup Sugar
• ½ cup Packed Brown Sugar
• ¼ cup Butter
• ¼ cup Shortening
• ½ cup Nonfat Yogurt (any flavor)
• 1½ tsp Vanilla
• 1¾ cup Flour
• ½ tsp Baking Soda
• ½ tsp Salt
• 1 cup Chocolate Chips

 Instructions

• First of all, sieve together flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
• Take a bowl and combine both the sugars in it.
• Add butter and shortening to the pan and mix well.
• Add the butter mixture to the flour and beat well.
• Now, mix in yoghurt and vanilla.
• Knead the mixture, to form dough.
• Roll out the dough to even thickness and with the help of cutters, cut out the cookies.
• Grease a baking dish with butter and place the cookies on it.
• Heat oven to 375 deg F and bake the cookies in it, for 10-15 minutes.

Cutlets

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Oil
• 1 medium-size Onion
• 1½ tsp Finely Chopped Ginger
• 1½ tsp Green Chilies
• 1 cup Carrots
• 1 cup Beans
• 3 tbsp Fresh Chopped Coriander
• 2 tsp Sesame Seeds
• ½ cup Soya Granules
• 2 Mashed Potatoes
• 1 cup Kabuli Chana, boiled and mashed
• 2 tsp Cumin Powder
• 1 tsp Pepper Powder
• ½ tsp Black Salt
• 1½ tsp Lemon Juice

 Instructions

• Place a pan over medium heat and put the oil in it.
• After the oil becomes hot, add onion, garlic and ginger to the pan and cook until they turn brown.
• Stir in chilies and carrots. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Add rest of the ingredients, except sesame seeds, to the pan and cook for a few minutes.
• Remove the pan from heat and let the mixture cool down a bit.
• Now, mash the mixture and make small, even balls from it.
• Flatten the balls and add sesame seeds on top.
• Heat oil in a pan, enough for frying, and fry the cutlets in it.
• Eat the cutlets with chutney, while they are still hot.

Stomach Ache During Pregnancy

Pregnancy and pain are ageless companions, much like aches and aspirin, or moon and night. Nevertheless, an unexpected cramp or a sudden spasm during pregnancy can throw your gumption out of the porthole. Before you hit the panic button, know that certain amount of pain and discomfort is pretty much normal during pregnancy. 

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While nagging pains and cramps can be highly annoying at times, it is important to understand that they are anything, but life threatening and are more often just gentle reminders for you to take things easy. Anything from gas pain to raging hormones to bulging uterus can trigger discomfort in your tummy. However, severe cramping or stomach pain is something that should not ignored, as they can be an emergency signal of serious complications. If you are an expecting mom, then reading the following causes of stomach pain during pregnancy will save you from losing your sleep over it. Read on to know more on causes of stomach pain during pregnancy.

Causes Of Stomach Pain During Pregnancy

Most expecting women complain of stomach cramps during the early stages of their pregnancy. While these cramps are most often a gentle reminder that you should slow down and take things easy, at times they can be a warning sign of more serious complication like ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancy or ‘tubal pregnancy’ occurs when the fertilized ovum is implanted outside the uterus, somewhere in the fallopian tube. As the egg starts to develop, it induces severe strain in the pelvic and abdominal region causing sharp, stabbing pain in the abdomen that might just get worse with physical activity, bowel movement, coughing and more.

Cramps during pregnancy are nothing unusual and count up as normal pregnancy discomforts. However, severe cramping accompanied by vaginal bleeding can indicate a more serious case of miscarriage. The pain may be light or intense, short or long lasting and generally varies from one woman to another. Some may experience low backache or complain of dull abdominal pain and pelvic pressure too.

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Of all the concerns usually tagged along with pregnancy pain, prematurity is possibly the worst dreaded fear. An early onset of labor can induce premature contractions, which may last up to four hours or even more, menstrual-like cramps, dull nagging backache, intestinal cramps, pelvic pressure and increased vaginal secretions. It is best to consult your practitioner at the soonest if you experience any of these symptoms to avert any untoward complications.

How often you have jumped out of your sleep believing that “this must be it” and then went back to sleep again realizing that this was not the real thing? Most women experience contractions or tightening of uterus, during the last trimester of pregnancy, which are nothing more than false labor or Braxton-Hicks Contraction. These contractions are irregular, infrequent and painless and spell no danger in real sense.

Pregnant women are unusually susceptible to bladder infection during pregnancy because of changing urinary tract position. As pregnancy advances, the uterus increases in size, thereby blocking the drainage of urine from the bladder and inducing an infection. Bladder infection can lead to pain or burning when urinating, cramps or pain in the lower abdomen, cloudy foul smelling urine and tenderness in the region.

Weight Loss After Pregnancy

The nine months of pregnancy swept past and you have been blessed with a bundle of joy in your arms. One look at your little angel and you know that all the pain and discomforts were worth it. However, one problem that is making you restless is the extra weight and inches that you have gained in the nine months. Trying to have weight loss after pregnancy is no easy task. However, if you are willing to be patient and indulge in regular and dedicated efforts, the results will start showing soon. Want to know more? Read on.

How To Lose Weight After Pregnancy

Be Practical

If, and when, you decide to achieve weight loss after pregnancy, make sure to keep your expectations reasonable. Looking up to the celebrity moms, who have lost inches as well as kilos within days of delivery, is surely not a good idea. Remember, it took you almost nine months to reach this size. Going back to the original figure would also take a few months. Being patient and sticking to the weight loss program is a must.

Eat Healthy, But Don't Starve

Going on a crash diet is not at all a good way to lose weight. Rather than starving yourself, by following a strict diet regime, you need to start eating healthy food. If you are breastfeeding, you will need the extra calories as well. However, you can ensure that the calories come from things like fruits and vegetables, rather than oil and full-of-fat food items. Rather than dieting, concentrate your efforts on healthy eating.

Indulge In Exercise

Indulging in a regular exercise program is one of the best ways to lose weight after pregnancy. However, do not make the mistake of starting an exercising program two days after giving birth to your baby. The pregnancy has lead to major changes in your body and you need to give it some time, to return back to normal. It is always advisable to do strenuous exercises only a few weeks after coming home, that too after consulting your doctor.

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Continue Breastfeeding

It is believed that breastfeeding can help a woman shed those extra kilos, after pregnancy. So, make sure to breastfeed your baby on a regular basis. However, this alone would not help you lose all of the pregnancy weight. You need to combine it with other types of weight-loss activities, such as a healthy diet and a proper exercise program. Not much time later, you will find yourself losing all the extra kilos.

Start Walking

This is one of the activities that you can start a few days after going through the delivery. However, the intensity of the walks will be determined by your physical health. In the initial days, it is advisable to stick to 10-15 minutes of light walk. Gradually, you can increase the time as well as intensity, taking it to no less than 45 minutes of brisk walking, on a daily basis. If you want, you can also substitute walking with jogging, but only later on.

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Healthy Diet For Kids

A well-balanced diet, comprising of all the required nutrients and having just the right amount of calories, is vital for the proper growth of children. While planning the diet for your children, never ever concentrate on one type of food items only. They should be made to consume a wide variety of food stuff, to make sure that they get all the essential nutrients and have a balanced diet. Keep a check on their fast-food intake and make sure that they never skip their meals. To get some more tips on healthy diet for kids, go through the following lines.

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Planning Healthy Diet For Children

Carbohydrates

A major portion of your kids' diet should comprise of carbohydrates, providing them the energy needed for their growth and development. Carbohydrates also boost the immune system, aid various developmental processes and are essential for storage and transport of energy. Make rice, wheat, maize, bread, pasta, and the like, a part of your children's daily food.

Fruits & Vegetables (Various Nutrients)

Include lost and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in your kids' daily diet. They will provide them with vitamins, minerals, fiber and lots of other nutrients. Since they are low on calories, you will not have to worry about you child's waistline as well. It is suggested that you give 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables to your kids, on a daily basis, in the form of salads, juices, puddings, smoothies, milk shakes, etc.

Milk & Other Dairy Products (Calcium)

Milk is one of the food items that should be necessarily made a part of your kids' diet. Apart from direct consumption, you can give it to them in the form of dairy products, like milk, cheese, butter and yogurt, as well. Milk contains a lot of nutrients, right from proteins and fats to calcium and vitamins, making it beneficial in the growth and development of children.

Proteins & Iron

For a kid, who is at the growing stage of his life, it is necessary to consume the right amount of proteins. The nutrient helps aid the proper functioning of the body, apart from being useful in building muscles and forming a part of hemoglobin. So, make sure your kid eats protein-rich foods, like fish, eggs, meat, and pulses. Iron is another nutrient necessary for the growth of a child. It can be given in the form of green leafy vegetables, liver and rice flakes.

Fatty Foods

While some amount of fats is needed by children, make sure that you do not let them consume oily and fatty foods in excess. Keep them away from fast foods, which are high in calories and low on nutrients, as well as soft drinks, as much as possible. Do not forbid them altogether. Just make sure that your kids have it in moderation and never ever replace them for other important food items.

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Menopause Symptoms

The state of absence of twelve consecutive periods leads to a stage called menopause. It is during this phase that the body undergoes several changes, the most common of them being irregular periods, a reduction in the estrogen and progesterone levels, lining of the vagina and urethra getting thinner and dryer, and sexual intercourse becoming painful and uncomfortable. This indicates that the productive years in a woman’s life are getting over and the menstrual cycle is coming to a halt. 

Though the average age of reaching menopause is 51 years, this can largely vary in different women. Most women reach this stage between 45 to 55 years, but menopause can occur as early as in the 30s or 40s, or even as late as in the 60s. As a general rule of thumb, women undergo the menopause stage at an age similar to when their mothers had reached. Learning the signs of menopause is very crucial so that you can prepare yourself well in advance and welcome this new stage happily with open arms. Take a look at the various signs and symptoms of menopause in the following lines.

Signs And Symptoms Of Menopause

Hot Flashes

Hot flashes are one of the most frequent symptoms of menopause, experienced by a vast majority of women. Hot flashes are characterized by sudden heat strokes in the upper part of the body with a noticeable redness in the face and neck. They are a result of body’s reactions to reduced supply of estrogen hormones that occur when a woman enters the menopause stage. Depending upon the reduction in the estrogen hormones, hot flashes differ variedly. When they decrease gradually, women complain of few hot flashes, but in women, where ovaries stop producing estrogen suddenly, hot flashes turn out to be a roller-coaster ride.

Night Sweats

An evening cousin of hot flashes, night sweats can be mild or severe, but usually disappear after few years of menopause. Also known as nocturnal hyperhydrosis, night sweat is a common perspiration disorder wherein women suddenly wake up in middle of the night and find it difficult to fall asleep again. As a result, they complain of un-refreshing sleep and tiredness during the day.

Irregular Periods

Women experience menstrual irregularities with their periods occurring more frequently or getting farther and farther apart. As such, the menstrual cycle can become shorter, occurring every 24 days instead of 28, or longer, after 2-3 months, with no “normal” pattern of bleeding. Also, the bleeding can last for only few days or extend up to like there’s no end. This menstrual irregularity is commonly observed in the mid-40s as women graduate towards the menopause stage.

Vaginal Dryness

Dryness in the vagina is another common symptom of menopause. The moist and soft feel of the lining of the vaginal area is lost, since the tissues start getting thin and less elastic. As a result, most women have problems with regular intercourse that leads to pain and discomfort, causing vaginal itching, irritation, or even severe infections.

Loss Of Libido

It is due to the changes in hormones that causes a change in sexual drive. With a reduction in the estrogen levels, the vagina gets dryer and takes more time to get lubricated. As such, women may experience loss of libido or trouble in getting aroused. However, in some cases, women become more sexually active since conceiving or getting pregnant is no more a worry.

Mood Swings

Complaining of mood swings is another common symptom of menopause, though it varies intensely. In some cases, women experience anxiety and clinical depression, which can be treated through medical prescription. But for most women, these signs are similar to normal mood swings occurring during menstruation. Since exhaustion is a frequent sign during menopause, it becomes difficult to get rest due to night sweats and interrupted sleep. As such, less sleep leads to more stress, thereby leading to more mood swings.

Weight Gain

Weight gain, especially around the mid section, is yet another sign of reaching the menopause stage. Numerous books and doctors state that menopause has got nothing to do with weight gain, but it is a commonly observed sign in menopausal women. This generally happens as women are aging and their metabolism is reducing. Lean muscle mass reduces, thereby making it difficult to maintain or gain lean muscle.

Breast Pain

Often, women complain of pain, soreness, or tenderness in one or both breasts before or during menstrual periods. However, these signs are possible during pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause as well. As a result, they can lead to discomfort and pain on touching or applying pressure to the breasts. Though these signs fade with time, if they persist for more than two months, seek medical advice. Also, any breast pain that is accompanied with a breast lump or nipple discharge should not be ignored and reported to the doctor on an immediate basis.

Other Menopause Signs:

• Fatigue
• Depression
• Loss or thinning of hair on head, pubic, or whole body
• Menopause sleep disorders
• Disturbing memory lapses
• Concentration, disorientation, and mental confusion problems
• Dizziness and light headedness
• Incontinence (easy passage of urine on sneezing, and laughing)
• Sudden bouts of bloat
• Change in body odor
• Increase in allergies
• Rapid heart beat
• Anxiety
• Irritability
• Sore joints and muscle aches
• Severe headaches
• Digestive problems, such as indigestion, nausea, flatulence, and gas pain
• Gum problems, like intensive bleeding
• Increased tension in muscles
• Cold or tingling hands and feet
• Ringing and buzzing in ears
• Yeast infections
• Leg cramps
• Osteoporosis (after many years)
• Sensations of electric shock under the skin and in the head
• Softening, cracking, or easy breaking of fingernails
• Increase in premenstrual syndrome 

By following a diet with low fat content, regular exercising, and relaxing techniques, like yoga and meditation, you can reduce the signs and symptoms of menopause to a great extent. All the best and take care!

Losing Weight While Breastfeeding

Getting pregnant is one of those moments that bring the most happiness in life. Thereafter, comes the time of delivery and coming of a newborn baby into this world. It is said that it is only after becoming a mother that a women feels complete. You have been through all the joys and troubles of pregnancy and delivery. Now, you have a wonderful little baby in your arms. 

Everything is so perfect, except you have not remained little any more. Your size has increased manifold and now you want to get back into shape as soon as possible. This is the time, when most of the new mothers wonder whether they can lose weight during breastfeeding. The answer is yes, only you need to take certain precautions. In the following lines, we will tell you how to lose weight while breastfeeding.

Losing Weight While Breastfeeding 

First of all, remember that you gained all that weight in the course of nine months. Losing all of it within a few weeks is not possible and not at all healthy, for you as well as for the baby.

In most of the cases, you can start doing light exercises four to six weeks after birth and by the sixth or seventh week, you can also settle into a workout routine. However, it is better to consult a physician first.

While breastfeeding, you should not aim at losing more than one to two pounds a week.

Make sure that you are taking the right amount and right type of calories. While the food has to be nutritious, it does not need to be full of things like oil and other fatty things.

Break down your meals. Rather than having three large meals in a day, have six smaller ones and even them throughout the day. It will help you avoid binges and also boost your metabolism

One of the best exercises for nursing mothers is walking. Put your baby in a stroller and go for a brisk walk. Not only will you burn calories, but your baby will also have a nice time.

You can also indulge in swimming on a regular basis. However, go slow and do not turn to rigorous sessions in the very beginning.

If you experience pain, bleeding, feeling faint, shortness of breath, heart palpitations or dizziness while exercising, stop it immediately and contact your physician.