Low levels of progesterone may lead to miscarriage

Progesterone, a steroid hormone, is an important female hormone says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

Progesterone is made by the ovary during ovulation. It is also produced by the adrenal glands in small amounts. It is manufactured in the body with the help of the steroid hormone pregnenolone and it in turn helps in the production of most of the other steroid hormones like cortisol, oestrogen and testosterone. In the female body, the most important role of the progesterone hormone is to counter the effects of oestrogen and help provide an environment for a successful pregnancy and a healthy pregnancy.

Progesterone and Fertility
Progesterone helps in reproduction by stimulating changes in the uterus and also supports pregnancy by increasing blood vessel and tissue development in the layer where the embryo attaches itself. The egg attaches itself to the uterus after been released from the ovary. On conception, the egg along with the sperm forms the embryo. Progesterone is the hormone that delays the shedding of the endometrium layer where the embryo implantation occurs.

If there is a significant drop in the progesterone levels during the first few weeks of pregnancy, then it may lead to a miscarriage.

Causes of Low Progesterone
There can be many factors that could cause the progesterone levels to fall, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown. Some prominent factors are:
- Dominance of oestrogen. This condition could occur if the individual is exposed to any environmental hormone that behaves like oestrogen or in cases of liver dysfunction.
- Resistance to insulin present in the body
- Chronic stress
- Diet that is rich in sugar or does not contain sufficient nutrients
- Insufficient exercise
- Certain medications

Consequently, dietary and lifestyle changes can help to address the issue of low progesterone and to help increase it to levels that support a pregnancy, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

B Vitamins Ease Painful Pregnancy Leg Cramps

Almost half of all pregnant women get painful muscle cramps in their legs, usually during the second half of their pregnancies and usually at night says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

A study carried out at Tehran University of Medical Sciences found some interesting results in a study of 84 pregnant women. Calcium supplementation at a dose of 500mg per day proved to be extremely successful in just over half of participants, whilst magnesium supplementation at 182mg twice per day was to some extent successful in all of the participants.
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Meanwhile, the group taking B vitamins had the most positive results: the symptoms of 72% of those taking vitamin B1 and B6 combination were completely resolved; another 19% reported relative improvement, and only 9% experienced no change.

The researchers concluded that supplementation with thiamine plus pyridoxine was significantly effective in improving muscle spasms during pregnancy.

With the urpregnancy nutritional and lifestyle programme we will look at your nutritional requirements and provide you with advice that can help reduce or alleviate painful muscle cramps.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

Post pregnancy weight loss: losing too much nor not enough can pose problems for future pregnancies

Women, who go on a dramatic weight-loss programme after the birth of their first child, are far more likely to have a pre-term birth the second time around, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy.

The greatest risk is among those whose body mass index (BMI) falls by five points or more between pregnancies, researchers have discovered.

By far the healthiest option – for mother and baby – is for the woman to get back to her weight before she first became pregnant, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown.

However, researchers warn mothers who keep on the pounds between pregnancies that they greatly increase their chances of complications second time around.

Even an increase of just one or two extra units on the BMI scale significantly increases the risk of pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and gestational hypertension with the second pregnancy. A weight gain of more than three on the BMI scale heightens the chances of a stillbirth.

Excess weight is also a factor in infertility and a number of mothers who try for a second baby find it much harder to fall pregnant than the first time round. Excess weight can cause hormone imbalances in the main fertility hormones (oestrogen and progesterone), says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown which may in part explain this phenomenon.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

How to avoid Post natal depression and baby blues

According to Anne Buist, Professor of Women's Mental Health, University of Melbourne, postnatal depression is better termed perinatal depression as it often begins antenatally, although it may not be recognised until the postnatal period.

It is a common disorder, with milder adjustment problems and anxiety affecting some 30% of women while about 15% of women have more significant mood disorders, often with anxiety.

Women are reluctant to seek help, but it is important you do so, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy, as support from health professionals, friends and family is essential to minimise the long-term complications. These include chronic depression (which while rare can lead to suicide) and marital difficulties, and for the child, cognitive, emotional and behavioural problems. And as Professor Anne Buist points out, postnatal depression can start before your baby is born.

It is completely natural to feel anxious about the arrival of your baby, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown. Organising support is therefore essential – it isn’t a sign of being a bad mother or that you can’t cope - but in fact the opposite and your baby will enjoy interacting with friends and family and other carers. Support includes discussing how family members can help out if this is an option for you – so that you can catch up on vital sleep during the day. Joining an NTC class or ante and postal natal NHS class are a good way of meeting other mums who are in a similar situation to you. Plus there are often many classes you can join up to in your area such as ante natal yoga and post natal yoga and massage classes for you and your baby. A good website for activities for mums and babies in the London area is http://www.londonmums.org.uk/.

Making sure you eat well prior to the birth of your baby and making sure you continue to eat well (e.g. without skipping meals) when you baby comes will also help reduce your anxiety levels. For example, a deficiency of omega-3 fats has been associated with post-natal depression and low blood sugar levels are associated with extremes in behaviour. Nutritional support can therefore be very helpful during your pregnancy to help avoid nutritional deficiencies which can compound an already stressful situation.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2.

What exercises can I do during pregnancy?

Unless you've been advised by your doctor not to exercise for a particular reason, keeping fit and healthy during pregnancy is important for your wellbeing and that of your baby, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy. Incredibly recent research has indicated that exercise during pregnancy can benefit your unborn baby’s cardiovascular system (i.e you are improving your child’s heart health in utero!). It also means that your body may be more prepared for the physical demands of labour, birth, and those early days with your newborn.

Walking can be a great way of getting exercise and fresh air during pregnancy. Swimming is often recommended by doctors and midwives, as the water supports your weight whilst helping your back and giving your heart, lungs and muscles a gentle workout. Ask your midwife about local aqua-natal classes, specifically offering exercise in water for pregnant women.

You should also take care to look after your back during pregnancy, as (particularly during the latter stages) it starts to take the strain of your growing baby. Good posture will improve the tone of your muscles and avoid hollowing of your spine, which leads to aching in your lower back.
It's a good idea to get the weight off your spine by lying down during rest periods, and also by periodically moving onto all fours and arching your back from time to time (like a cat). Learn how to get up correctly from a lying down position, without putting pressure on your stomach muscles. Roll over to one side, draw your knees upwards, and push yourself up gently with your arms whilst swinging your legs around to sit up. Use your legs, not your back, when lifting anything. Seeing an osteopath or chiropractor can also help or correct bad posture, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown.

Many women enjoy pregnancy yoga classes. These provide specific exercises during pregnancy to tone muscles, alleviate aches and pains commonly found during pregnancy, and above all to encourage a sense of relaxation and wellbeing. They also include pelvic floor exercises, which are important both during pregnancy and in the weeks following the birth. Pelvic floor muscles support everything inside the pelvic cavity (such as the uterus, the bladder and rectum) and are like a hammock slung in your pelvis. Awareness of these muscles is important during labour as the baby is travelling down the birth canal. Pelvic floor exercises help you to control these muscles, basically as if holding a stream of urine and pulling the muscles upwards before releasing them. Your midwife and/or antenatal teacher will be able to give you a full set of these exercises, if you are not taking yoga classes.

Exercise in pregnancy can be of great benefit. It not only helps your fitness but also gives you an opportunity to concentrate on yourself and your growing baby. Start gently at first, your body will tell you if you have overdone it, and enjoy looking after yourself. Consider getting a personal trainer who specialises in pre and post natal exercise – a good website is http://www.absolutefitness.co.uk/. Two other useful websites regarding exercise include: http://www.lifestylexperts.com/ and http://www.newbornfitness.co.uk/ which supply pregnancy exercise balls/birthing balls.

Eating well can also help to keep you fit and I have written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link. To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2.

What are stretch marks and how to avoid them during pregnancy

According to NHS direct, between 75% and 90% of women develop stretch marks during pregnancy, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy. As you put on weight, your abdomen (stomach) is gradually stretched further and further, usually causing stretch marks to appear in the sixth or seventh month. Stretch marks can also appear on your thighs, and on your breasts as they get bigger and heavier.

Stretch marks are lines on the skin that start off as raised red lines. They then turn purple, before slowly fading into flat silvery streaks. The medical name for this type of mark is stria. Stretch marks happen when the skin is stretched a lot over a short period of time, such as during pregnancy.

Doctors think some people get stretch marks because their bodies produce more of the hormone, coricosteroid, than normal. This hormone decreases the amount of collagen in the skin, which is a type of protein in the fibres of the skin that keeps it stretchy.

In the early stages, stretch marks can sometimes be reduced by moisturising creams – especially those containing vitamins A and E, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown. Consequently, it would stand to reason that including foods rich in these vitamins during your pregnancy would help to avoid getting stretch marks in the first place. Other important skin nutrients include Zinc, silica and water.

As corticosteroid is a stress hormone, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, taking steps to reduce stress during pregnancy may also help.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

Overweight during your pregnancy increases pregnancy risks to you and your baby.

There have been many studies which demonstrate that obesity during pregnancy is associated with serious pregnancy-related complications, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy. Problems include high blood pressure, gestational diabetes which occurs in a woman who develops diabetes during her pregnancy, and Caesarean deliveries.

Too much weight can also cause other unpleasant pregnancy health concerns, including: backache, leg pain; varicose veins and excessive fatigue.

Excessive weight gain may also cause problems for the baby. Technically, an overweight baby is one who weighs more than 4500 gm, or 9.9 lbs. Large babies make vaginal deliveries more difficult, increasing the risk for cesarean section. Overweight babies may have an increased risk for health problems later in life, such as obesity; adult rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes.

Nutritional support can therefore be very important during your pregnancy to help you lose excessive weight and to support the health of you and your baby.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

Pregnancy: how exercise is an effective as medication in treating gestational diabetes

As many as one in eight women will develop gestational diabetes sometime during their pregnancies, increasing health risks for themselves and their babies says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy. According to Dr Green (please see his excellent website www.drgreene.com) researchers at the University of Southern California School of Medicine studied a group of women who had already developed gestational diabetes and who had fasting blood glucose levels high enough to require insulin. Half of the women in the study received the recommended insulin. The other half got personal trainers instead. The trainers supervised the women while they did simple twenty-minute stints on exercise bikes.

The results, says Dr. Green, were startling: moderate aerobic exercise was equally effective to insulin! Blood glucose levels were statistically the same in both groups.

Studies have already shown that exercise can improve insulin sensitivity and help to manage Type II diabetes, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, This adds to the weight of evidence that exercise is important during pregnancy and if you undertake moderate exercise during your pregnancy, you may avoid gestational diabetes in the first place.

A number of nutrients can also help prevent and alleviate gestational diabetes says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown as they are important in blood sugar regulation. They include: Magnesium, Chromium, Vanadium, Vitamin E, Vitamin C Zinc, Selenium and other anti-oxidants.

Making the correct food choices can ensure you include foods with the above nutrients which will in turn help you alleviate gestational diabetes or help you avoid this pregnancy health issue in the first place, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown.

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.

NB. Please talk to your midwife or GP before embarking on an exercise programme during your pregnancy (especially if you did not exercise regularly beforehand). Two useful websites regarding exercise include: www.lifestylexperts.com and www.newbornfitness.co.uk which supply pregnancy exercise balls/birthing balls.

Too much stress during pregnancy can leave a lasting legacy on you and your baby

A certain amount of stress on your body is generally considered normal and even important in conditions such as when you are ill, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, who specialises in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy. But the stress suffered by today's expectant mothers, many of whom want to carry on their careers, can be extreme.

Everyone has a certain amount of the "stress hormone" cortisol naturally present in the body but levels rise under stress.

Cortisol is secreted by the adrenal glands and helps the body in stressful situations by providing a burst of energy needed for 'fight or flight'.

The base level of cortisol fluctuates throughout the day. In the morning it is higher and it reduces by evening.

The average level of cortisol is measured in nanomoles per litre and in a healthy adult would be between 150 and 500nmol/l. But under stress – such as a person on the night before an operation – this level could double to 300 and 1,000nmol/l. Sustained exposure to these levels is likely to cause serious health problems, including high blood pressure.

Usually the placenta stops most of the mother's stress hormones reaching the baby. But it is thought that if there are high levels of the hormones, or if the placenta is not working properly, significant amounts reach the unborn child. One theory is that while the developing baby is exposed to the stress hormone their own developing reproductive organs may also be damaged, which would affect the health of future generations.

Dr Lisa Thorn, a researcher from the Psychophysiology and Stress Research Group at the University of Westminster, London, said: "What goes on in your head does impact your health and it impacts on different people in different ways. To what extent depends on the person, the level of stress and how they appraise something as being stressful or not."

Importantly many first time mums-to-be carry on working until 1-2 weeks before the birth of their baby, says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, as they do not realise how exhausted they will feel in the last trimester (especially if you have a difficult commute into work or are expected to work long hours). This impacts on any ‘normal’ stress you experience while pregnant (such as back ache etc) and does not give you time to relax sufficiently before the birth of your baby. While many women need to work up to the birth for financial reasons, where you don’t, think twice about starting maternity leave at such as late stage and taking time out for yourself and your baby. Labour is an extremely exhausting event and so are the sleepless nights that are accompanied for the arrival of your bundle of joy.

Making the correct food choices can also reduce the amount of stress you and your baby will experience says UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown, as it provides you with the correct nutrients to deal with stress more effectively. For example, many people become more irritable and feel low or depressed as a result of having a blood sugar imbalance. Further, an estimated 1 in 10 mothers experience some form of post-natal depression and how you feel directly impacts on how your baby may feel. This can be helped or possibly avoided by making the best dietary choices for you. This is especially important when you are about to have a baby. I know from experience that sleep deprivation is a huge stressor!

To find out more about Nutritional support during or before your pregnancy, contact UrBod Nutritionist Melody Mackeown Dip.ION (mBANT), specialist in pre-conceptual care, fertility and pregnancy care in the city of London, EC2. I have also written a free e-book on how you can improve your diet during your pregnancy, which can be obtained by clicking on my link.