by Dr Neelima Mantri | Sep 25, 2018 | Blog, Women Health Issues
The Changes in Early and Late Sleep Characteristics during Pregnancy
Pregnancy is one gruelling exercise for us, women. It is tiring; both physically and mentally as it primarily affects almost every part of the human body finding us at our vulnerable self. But unlike other physical and mental tasks, pregnancy can seriously dent the quality of sleep too.
Most women are presently surprised by the fatigue and sleeplessness they experience during the first trimester. So, this is an effort to help you gain a good picture of your sleep cycle you’ll go through your pregnancy.
So ladies, buckle-up and jump right in!
Your Sleep in First Trimester:
Sleep and the First Trimester are the friends who fight often. In fact, sleep is one of the first complaints that precedes the realization of pregnancy. A wide medical study has reported that there is an average 0.7 hours increase in the sleeping period among the women in their first trimester. But here comes the ‘fighting’ part: though they will be an increase in the sleeping period, the effectiveness of the sleep is considerably reduced owing to the changes pregnant women go through, in their first trimester.
The sudden surge in reproductive hormones results in drowsiness-causing an increase in the sleeping period. But they are also responsible for increasing the frequency of urination, disrupting the sleep and shrinking the efficiency of their sleep. Morning Sickness, vomiting, lack of comfortable sleeping positions also hinder the quality of your.
Sleep in the Second Trimester:
Second Trimester and sleep are like the best friends who have come to terms with each other. As changes happen slowly in the second trimester, this period levels out the things and is usually considered safe for women. Though the hormonal changes level-off, other conditions like heartburn or leg cramps may affect the sleeping period. This is the period where your deep sleep period is increased elevating your sleep efficiency by some good margin.
Sleep in the Third Trimester:
Sleep and Third trimester again go through a rough patch here.
Reason: The hormonal changes that surge during the first-trimester level-off in second and again surge in the third-trimester impacting sleep quality and causing a slew of problems, nothing that is unexpected though. But the sleeping problem finds their way through, again.
Most women in this period complain about the trouble of falling asleep and their sleep quality takes a big hit too. With the increase in the size of the foetus, it also becomes difficult to get a complete rest owing to the general discomforts, spontaneous awakenings, and frequent urination.
It is advised to use pillows behind the back, knees, and feet to make a comfortable position. Medical research advises the pregnant women to sleep on their left side so as to increase the blood flow to the baby and their body.
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Caught up in sleep problems during your pregnancy? Finding it difficult to relax?
Nothing is difficult under a proper medical guidance and consultation.
Dr Neelima Mantri
Gynecologist and Laparoscopic Surgeon in Mumbai, India.
info@drneelimamantri.com
+91 70451 15577
by Dr Neelima Mantri | Sep 5, 2018 | Blog, Women Health Issues
Whatever you put in your body directly affects the well-being of your child. And that is why the diet is deemed out to be the most important factor during pregnancy. It’s not just about what you put inside but it is also about what you put on your skin too.
Perplexed? Yes, you read that right.
Skin absorbs almost 50% of what you put on it. So are you sure they are safe? Most of them might be safe in normal conditions but pregnancy is a special condition, isn’t it?
The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy throw your body out of its balance and that’ll surely show up on the outside. This may allure you to stack-up your shelf with lot cosmetics onto your skin, but we advise you to stay put. Not all the cosmetics are your friends now, few of them do more harm than good.
But it’s not the cosmetics that you must avoid but the harmful ingredients they are made of. So, avoiding the cosmetics with certain ingredients can help you avoid any potential complications.
Here is the list of ingredients that you must be wary of before using them:
Retinoids:
Retinoid is a type of Vitamin A that is widely used to treat acne and is known for its moisturizing and anti-aging properties. When taken orally, these retinoids are found to induce Fetal Retinoid Syndrome i.e. characteristic pattern of mental and physical birth defects that results from maternal use of retinoids during pregnancy.
Pregnancy prevention programs are implemented for a woman who uses retinoids. Though the potential side effects of topical application are still being studied, the research available today is controversial and doctors suggest to stay away from the cosmetic products containing retinoids. It is an FDA Category C ingredient which means that its effect cannot be ruled out.
Listed on ingredient label as retinoic acid, retinyl palmitate, retinaldehyde, adapalene, tretinoin, tazarotene, and isotretinoin.
Hydroquinone:
Hydroquinone is the typically used as a skin lightening agent to improve complexion, treat conditions like melasma or vitiligo. It is also category C ingredient and usage of Hydroquinone is proven to cause birth defects in animals and the not conclusive in humans due to limited research. Almost 45% of this ingredient is absorbed by the skin making it a considerable risk for both pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Almost all the skin lightening agents contain Hydroquinone, so it is in best interest of you and your child to stay away from these agents.
Parabens:
Almost all of us are subjected to parabens through our daily shampoos. Though it is the general ingredient that is not harmful to the rest, it can pose a risk to the pregnant women. Journal of Epidemiology has published a research paper that proves the possibility of parabens disrupting the growth of boys during fetal development and first years of life and now a lot of ongoing research claims the same. Fortunately, you can easily get rid of parabens through control measures, there are a lot of paraben-free shampoos available in the market, for starters.
That is almost it, though there are others as well, these three ingredients pose the maximum threat as far as cosmetic ingredients are concerned. So next time you shop, do check the ingredients list before you make the decision.
by Dr Neelima Mantri | Aug 24, 2018 | Blog, Gynecologist
No matter how big or small the procedure is, it is completely normal for the patient to feel anxious and stressed before undergoing a surgery. Most of their tensions revolve around the pain factor and recovery time which largely depend on the type of procedure chosen. Although the ultimate aim of these different procedures remains the same, the process remains different.
Take Laparoscopy and open surgery for example. Though Open Surgery has been around for decades, Laparoscopy is found to be the most efficient in terms of recovery with a minimal amount of risks.
So what is Laparoscopy and how is it better than Open Surgery? Let us find out:
Open Surgery: Open surgery is a traditional method of surgery where a large incision (10 inches) is made by the surgeon using the scalpel and then the surgeon uses his instruments to perform surgery. Having a large incision may result in more pain, higher risk of complications, a lengthy recovery and hence longer hospital stays.
Laparoscopic Surgery: In contrast with Open Surgery, Laparoscopic surgery uses a very small incision in the abdomen or pelvis cavities to carry out the procedure. A Laparoscope, i.e. a thin instrument with a video camera at the end of it is inserted into the small incision to give the view of the organs inside and the image is projected onto the screen for the surgeons to carry out the procedure.
Reasons why Laparoscopic surgery is better than Open Surgery:
1. Given that the incisions are so small in Laparoscopy, the risk of bleeding is minimal to non-existent compared to the open surgery.
2. The large incision in the open surgery takes a lot of time to heal when compared to the small key-hole incision of laparoscopy. So the risk of infection is minimal, the healing process is quick and painless in laparoscopic surgeries.
3. As the exposure of internal organs to external contaminants is higher, Open surgeries are always at risk of post-operative infection making Laparoscopy the safest in this regard too.
4. As the healing is quicker and the risk of other infection is very less, the length of hospital stay for patients is significantly shorter in case of Laparoscopy. Most of the patients undergo the same day or the next-day discharge. This is not at all possible in case of Open Surgeries.
Though Laparoscopic is clearly the best surgical procedure compared to Open Surgery, it is important to remember that all patients are not ideal candidates for laparoscopic surgery.
Make sure you Consult experienced laparoscopic surgeons who can provide you with the best of available options for individual situations.
With over a decade of experience in Laparoscopy, Dr. Neelima Mantri with her team expert surgeons can help you receive the best surgical care for your medical condition.
by Dr Neelima Mantri | Jul 5, 2018 | Blog, Gynecologist
In today’s world minimal invasive surgery is available in all hospitals because it has more advantages then open surgery. These procedures are performed with tiny incisions instead of one large opening as incisions are small, patient tend to have quicker recovery time and also less discomfort as compared to conventional surgery.
During this surgery doctors make several small incisions in the skin as well as long thin tube with camera attached at the end is passed through one of the incision. Images from endoscope are projected to the monitor which helps surgeons to see proper surgical area to perform surgery easily. It is procedure which include art of reducing damage of human tissue during operation.
There are some advanced minimally invasive surgical procedures that can be performed almost exclusively through a single point of entry – meaning only one small incision. This is called Single Site Laparoscopy, and is another approach to performing traditional laparoscopic surgery using the same tools.
These kinds of procedures are not for everyone and only doctor can determine if a minimally invasive surgery is right for you. Dr. Neelima Mantri is an expert of minimal invasive gynecologic surgery Mumbai.
Benefits of minimal invasive surgery :
- Less bleeding
- Quicker return to normal activities
- Quicker return to work
- Less scaring
- Lower cost procedure
- Less complications
- Less infections
In general, it is safer than open surgery and allows you to recover faster and heal with less pain and scarring. Minimally invasive surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis or requires only a short hospital stay. Dr Neelima take the time to listen , to find the answers and to provide you best care. She provide best minimal invasive surgery in Mumbai.
For information about more gynaecological treatments by Dr Neelima click on following blogs-
Best gynaecologist in Mumbai
PCOS treatment in Mumbai
Menorrhagia Treatment Mumbai
Obstetrician Infertility Specialist in Mumbai
by Dr Neelima Mantri | Jun 24, 2018 | Blog, Women Health Issues
Vitamin B12 is a water soluble vitamin, essential for proper red cell formation, neurological function and DNA synthesis. Its deficiency is very common affecting 1.5-15% of the general population, the cause being unknown. Its deficiency results in anemia, fatigue, weakness, constipation, weight loss, neurological problems like tingling and numbness in hands and feet, neuropathy, poor memory, confusion and sore mouth.
Maternal vitamin B12 deficiency is associated with the increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes like low birth weight babies, premature delivery and neural tube defects i.e. defects affecting the brain and spinal cord of the fetus. During infancy it could result in lack of weight gain, delayed development of milestones, poor mentation and megaloblastic anemia.
The natural sources of vitamin B12 are fish, meat, poultry, eggs and milk products, fish and red meat being excellent sources. Vegetarian diet is a poor source of the vitamin.
Maternal vitamin B12 levels gradually decline throughout the normal pregnancy, thus requiring its supplementation during the pregnancy. Exclusively breastfed infants depend on maternal reserves for their nutritional needs. A women who is on a vegetarian diet is not able to meet the neonatal requirements of vitamin B 12. As a result the baby may suffer from significant neurological damage. Thus such babies often require supplementation to prevent the effects of its deficiency.
The recommended daily allowance of vitamin B 12 for healthy adult is 2.4 mcg whereas that during pregnancy and lactation is 2.6 – 2.8 mcg.
The neurological symptoms of vitamin B 12 deficiency can occur without anemia, as a result early diagnosis and treatment is essential to prevent irreversible damage. There are various formulations available for vitamin B 12 supplementation like oral , sublingual or injectable, depending upon the individual case requirement. Appropriate consultation with the physician is advised for management of the problem.
For more detail contact us– +91 70451 15577
by Dr Neelima Mantri | Jun 21, 2018 | Blog, Women Health Issues
High blood sugar levels in pregnant women can cause birth defects and can also increase the chances of miscarriage. Let us now discuss elaborately how diabetes can affect a pregnant woman.
It is important to consult a doctor as soon as you come to know that you are pregnant, as high blood glucose level during the early stages of pregnancy can have a negative bearing on the outcome on successful pregnancy. It is during the early period (2 to 4 weeks) that the baby gets affected due to high blood sugar level because it is during this period that the organs of the baby start forming, such as the head, heart and the lungs. There is always a chance of these organs being defective due to diabetes. Examples of such defects include defects in the heart, spine or the brains.
There are many health problems that a pregnant woman can develop due to diabetes. Such problems include kidney disease and problems of the eye. Other health problems that a pregnant woman can develop include toxemia, which is a problem related to high blood pressure and excess proteins in the urine as a result of high level in blood sugar. These problems generally arise during the second half of the pregnancy and may become life threatening both to the mother as well as the baby. In most cases the result is premature delivery, which becomes necessary when reaching the 37th week of pregnancy.
Gestational Diabetes can also affect pregnancy. This happens during the later stage of pregnancy, when a pregnant woman is diagnosed with high blood sugar levels, even if she had never been diagnosed with diabetes. What happens is that, the body is unable to absorb the total amount of insulin released, which may result in the glucose level building up. This is known as hyperglycemia, which can be life threatening for both the mother as well as the baby. There is also a chance of giving delivery of a deformative baby.
Pre-eclampsia is also one of the problems that pregnant women could face if they are diabetic. Such problems arise because of unplanned pregnancy for women already having high blood sugar levels. Multiple complications can arise if the blood sugar is not controlled before conceiving. Vascular complications may also arise due to pregestational diabetes, in which case, fluctuations in blood pressure may arise. Poor control of blood glucose may also lead to giving still birth or the baby is larger in size than normal, which is known as Macrosomia.
To avoid such complications, a pregnant woman having high blood glucose level should do the following.
Consult a doctor immediately after coming to know that she is pregnant
Stay away from consuming alcohol, drugs and smoking
Plan your diet so that there is no intake of food supplements that may increase the blood sugar
Get a regular check up to resolve any issue relating to thyroid, kidney, heart and the nerves.
Diabetes can be at sometimes life threatening for pregnant women, and that is why you should carefully monitor the blood glucose levels during every stage of the pregnancy.
