Understand how your heart works to help you get the best workout
Our heart has a pretty big job to do. Its duty is to pump blood around our entire body, constantly. It sends blood to the tips of your toes, your stomach for digestion, and to your brain to function. Whether we’re exercising or not, your heart is always at work, pumping blood around the entire body to transport vital nutrients to every single cell.
For explanation’s sake, we’ll say the process starts in the heart, where blood is deoxygenated (has no oxygen attached to it). It is then sent to the lungs to receive oxygen, and returns to the heart to be pumped throughout the entire body, including your muscles.
Heart rate can be a key indicator of an individual’s level of fitness. Have you ever exercised so hard that you felt as if your heart was going to beat out of your chest? This is potentially because you are at your maximum heart rate level. As the level of energy required to perform an activity, such as exercise, increases, so does your heart rate.
This is because the muscles being used during exercise require more oxygen and energy to perform than they do at rest. In order to deliver those nutrients as quickly as possible, the brain will send a signal to the heart to increase its rate. The blood will flow quicker, and oxygen will be delivered faster to the muscles that require it. A conditioned heart will usually have a lower heart rate due to cardiovascular fitness and efficiency.
During exercise, the working muscles get their fix of blood and oxygen, but it’s not like your body completely stops sending blood to all other areas. If that were the case, our bodies would pretty much shut down as soon as we started exercising! Instead, your nervous system sends signals to decrease blood flow to non-essential areas like the digestive system — hence why some people experience stomach issues when they eat a big meal before a workout. It also decreases blood flow to muscles that might not be doing a lot of work. For example, when running, how much work are your arms really doing? They may be pumping as you move, but you’re not using them as much as your legs. The blood flow to the arms decreases slightly, and blood flow to the legs increases, sending nutrients to fuel the harder work.
Heart rate is a reflection of fitness relative to an individual’s activity level, cardiovascular efficiency, and muscular efficiency. The more efficient an individual’s heart is (or, how well it sends nutrients to those hard working muscles), the more fit that person typically is. However, this can be conditioned to the individual and their specific activity. For example, the muscles of a runner and a swimmer are each conditioned for the specific movements of their sports, and are therefore more efficient at those motions. This means they don’t need as much energy to perform their trained activities. However, have them switch sports and their heart rate will be much higher, simply because their muscles are not as efficient at those movements, and will require more oxygen to perform.
Studies have shown that regular cardiovascular exercise (for example, running, swimming, jump rope etc.) may decrease your overall heart rate. So, if you want to test it out, start by measuring your heart rate immediately after a cardio session. Train regularly, two or three times a week at the same or slightly higher intensity.
After four to six weeks, repeat the exercise and intensity of the initial test day and immediately measure your heart rate following the session to compare.
A reduction in heart rate has shown to improve quality of life, reduce the risk of heart disease, and increase longevity. When your heart is conditioned and able to function at a lower rate, it does less work, which means less wear and tear over the course of your life. If your heart rate is high for your age, it’s going to be doing more work while you’re resting — therefore, more wear and tear. For obvious reasons, of all of our muscles, the heart is the one we need to last the longest. What we do with our body and what we put into our body can determine what happens to our heart.
At what point in your pregnancy will you get to hear the swoosh-swoosh of your baby’s heartbeat? And if your practitioner wants to check your baby’s tiny ticker at every prenatal visit, is that normal?Is there an easier way to hear the fetal’s heartbeat at any time?
Learn more about when you’ll hear baby’s heartbeat and how and why fetal heart monitors are used during pregnancy and labor.
Care For New Life
Your practitioner will use a fetal heart monitor during your pregnancy.
Hear Your Baby Before You Meet
Review and Share the Joy of Life
Fetal heart monitors that let you and your health care team hear your baby’s heartbeat are an important — and completely routine — part of prenatal care. And you might get the chance to listen in sooner than you think.
Here’s a look at what fetal heart monitors are, when and why your practitioner might use one, the benefits and risks, and whether it’s worth using a fetal heart monitor at home.
What is a fetal heart monitor?
A fetal heart monitor is a handheld Doppler device that uses ultrasound technology to listen to a baby’s heart during pregnancy.
There are two main ways to monitor the baby’s heartbeat, the first one is a professional fetal doppler check in the hospital, the second one is at-home fetal heart monitor.
When will my doctor use a fetal Doppler baby heart monitor?
A baby’s heartbeat can usually be heard on a Doppler monitor between 9 and 12 weeks of pregnancy. Your doctor might start listening to your baby’s heart at your three-month checkup.
After the first time, you can expect her to check your baby’s heartbeat at every visit. By the fifth month, she might simply use a regular stethoscope instead of a Doppler monitor.
Benefits of using a Fetal Doppler
There are a few important reasons why your practitioner will use a fetal heart rate monitor throughout most of your pregnancy:
Fetal heart monitors allow your practitioner to hear your baby’s heartbeat and check heart rate and rhythm to see how she’s growing and developing in utero.
If your pregnancy is high-risk, monitoring your baby’s heartbeat is a way for your practitioner to keep tabs on her general health.
For you, hearing the incredible sound of your baby’s heart can be a sweet way to feel more connected to her.
Drawbacks of a Fetal Doppler
A fetal doppler has pros and cons. On one hand, a fetal doppler can give you reassurance and peace of mind. Hearing your baby’s heart beat can make you happy and excited to be a parent. Hearing that heartbeat can give you reassurance that everything is going to be fine.
However, the opposite can happen. Should something seem off, you may get stressed, which could be worse on the baby. On the other hand, a baby’s heartbeat isn’t the end all of their health, and you may end up getting false reassurance.
In the end of the day, there are many factors that can affect the baby’s health, and heartbeat is one of them. Always stay up to date with your appointments and ask your doctor if there’s anything you can do to improve your baby’s health.
You can find at-home heart monitors that allow you to listen to your baby’s heart anytime at drugstores or online.These devices can be tempting — hearing your baby’s heart rate might reassure you that she’s doing well in there. But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does recommend you to be on the cautious side.
At-home monitors aren’t as sophisticated as the one your practitioner uses, so you might have a hard time finding your baby’s heartbeat or it could sound fainter than usual.
For those expectant parents who would want to hear their unborn baby’s heart rate all the time, you need a good monitor which is more safe and accurate as well as regular visits from the doctor. Luckily, heart rate monitors have evolved quite a bit in the past few years.
Fetal Heart Monitor
Fetal heart monitors are a routine part of prenatal care. They’re a valuable tool that allow your practitioner to listen to your baby’s heart and assess her health. Hearing that sweet thump-thump of your baby’s heart can be exciting for you too.
As expectant parents, you must have high expectations for the upcoming life, and this is the original intention of the invention of thefetal heart monitor-to help expectant parents allay fears during the exciting pregnancy.
If you’re looking to purchase a good heart rate monitor and track the heartbeat of your baby at home，you must remember the following
The monitor should be easy to use. You’re pregnant and you don’t want to do anything that’s too much of a hassle.
The monitor should have stats that are easy to read and understand.
The monitor should be accurate, but affordable as well.
The monitor cannot replace the profesional checkup, if you have any concern about your new life, you have to let your practitioner to check it with a Doppler device at your prenatal checkups.
Fetal heart monitors are a routine part of prenatal care. They’re a valuable tool that allow your practitioner to listen to your baby’s heart and assess her health. Hearing that sweet thump-thump of your baby’s heart can be exciting for you too. And if you have any questions or concerns, talk to your doctor.
Can I have sex during pregnancy? The physiological safety knowledge you have to know
When you’re pregnant, your desire for sex could diminish, given the myths and misconceptions that permeate. Openly talking about sex with your spouse/partner can help you to enjoy intimacy safely during pregnancy. So, do understand that sex during pregnancy, if done correctly, is not harmful. If you take the right precautions, there’s absolutely no reason why you cannot have sex during pregnancy.
Is Sex During Pregnancy Safe?
Sex during pregnancy does not harm the fetus or the unborn baby. Remember that pregnant women have strong uterus muscles, cervical mucus, and the amniotic fluid which protects babies. Some people believe orgasms or sex during pregnancy could injure your unborn child, increasing the chances of a premature infant or even a miscarriage.
Sexual intercourse at the time of pregnancy does not harm women or fetus .
But do check with your doctor, because if your medical practitioner believes it can risk your pregnancy, he will recommend you avoid sex during this period.
Also, note that Braxton Hicks is a mild contraction felt at the close of pregnancy. However, as such contractions do not indicate or initiate labor, one need not worry about them.
Tips for Safe Sex
When a pregnant woman is lying on the back, the baby’s additional weight puts pressure on her arteries and inner organs. For comfortable positions, it is recommended by doctors for women to take a sexual position on top of the partner or lie down side by side. Below listed are a few healthy practices for sex during:
1. Opt for Safe Sex
Sex is a healthy and critical part of a loving and trusting relationship with your spouse/partner. For women, safe sex during pregnancy can be ensured if you take the right precautions. Consult and talk to your healthcare practitioner about this.
2. Take All the Precautions If you Have Complications
Sex is not safe at the time of pregnancy if you have had or are having complications. Check with your doctor about sex during pregnancy if you have complications such as multiple pregnancies, you had a past miscarriage or a risk of miscarriage, (this is when the baby dies in the womb before pregnancy of fewer than 20 weeks) or preterm labor/premature baby.
In situations like these, you have to be extra careful and avoid any complications.
3. Protect Your Unborn Baby
Sex does not hurt the growing fetus. The muscles of the amniotic fluid, and the uterus surrounding the baby offer protection.
Another essential fact to know is about the mucous plug. The plug is a mass of mucus(2) that blocks the cervical opening.
While sex is safe for women, you do want to protect your baby from infections during pregnancy intercourse.
The first and most crucial step you need to take is to protect yourself from STIs (sexually transmitted infections/diseases). STIs are infections from intimate physical contact or unprotected sex with infected partners. It can be a problem for the fetus during pregnancy and the infant during childbirth. STI from the vaginal, oral, or anal sex can harm your child. So make sure to check for any STIs before having sex during pregnancy. Also, make sure to use protection as a precautionary measure.
If you have oral sex, do not let air bubbles into the vagina through any action that triggers an air embolism. It can harm your unborn child.
Ask your doctor about anal sex, if you are unsure about this form of sexual contact. Anal sex could be unsafe during pregnancy because the anus has bacteria. Besides, it can also increase the risk of STI, which may harm the baby during delivery and rarely through the placenta.
If you have pain, heavy bleeding, amniotic sac leakage, or painful cramps during sex, contact your doctor immediately.
4. Be Aware of Your Sex Drive
Your interest in sex or sex drives transitions during pregnancy. Falling and rising hormonal levels and other bodily changes can affect the sex drive.
During the first trimester, fluctuating hormone levels and changes in the body’s shape could put you in the mood for sex. But changes during pregnancy that cause discomfort can dampen the sex drive. This ranges from morning sickness to sore breasts, frequent urges to urinate, or tiredness.
At the time of the second trimester, the discomfort experienced during the first three months may be over. Or you may get better at managing it. Yet do remember to be comfortable physically, while having sex.
Women gain a total of three pounds of blood at the time of pregnancy — most of the blood flow below the waist. Extra blood flow helps the orgasm more easily. Orgasm can, however, cause vaginal contractions.
Towards the third trimester or the end of pregnancy, you may feel a waning interest in sex. As the belly increases in size, some sexual positions may be uncomfortable. You may even lack interest in sex. It’s okay to have such feelings. Always be alert about psychological factors while engaging in sex during pregnancy.
5. Check Which Sex Position Works Best for You
Positions that work before pregnancy and early on could be uncomfortable or unsafe during later pregnancy stages. For example, the missionary position or lying flat on the back after the fourth month can place pressure on blood vessels and harm your fetus. So, try other postures like a woman on top, spooning, or on knees.
Remember that you need not have sex to feel intimacy. You can also express affection through kissing, cuddling, massage, mutual orgasms, or even oral sex.
6. Be Open About Communication
Stay connected with your partner and talk about your needs in an open, loving manner. Let comfort and ease of being private remain firm. If something does not feel right, talk to your partner, or opt for couples counseling.
When to Avoid Sex During Pregnancy?
The doctor may recommend avoidance of sexual intercourse for women who are giving birth to twins, triplets, or multiple births. They can also advise against sex during pregnancy if the woman suffers from cervical problems, probable miscarriage, and premature birth/preterm labor.
Other conditions that trigger complications include placenta previa, preterm or miscarriage history or risk, cervical dysfunction, excessive bleeding/blood loss from the vagina.
Also, amniotic fluid leak or breaking water increase the risk of infection and so, sex should be avoided in such cases. Women should also have partners use condoms or dental dams during pregnancy to protect the developing fetus from infection.
Bottom Line:
There may be many physical or psychological issues that can affect sex drive during pregnancy. Reduced energy levels, hormonal fluctuations, and flagging energy levels can also lower sex drive. Sexual desire during pregnancy can be impacted by changing bodily shape, too.
Sex is a big question mark for women with pregnancy complications. It is always advised to check with the doctor before having sex during pregnancy.
FAQs:
1. Should I use a condom during pregnancy?
Pregnant women can’t get pregnant after having sexual intercourse. However, you may use a condom to prevent any sexually transmitted infections or diseases.
2. Can I have sex after delivery?
A woman needs time to recover after vaginal or a cesarean section delivery. Although there is no waiting period, it is generally advised to wait for four to six weeks after delivery.
We can often see depiction in mainstream media about pregnant women who have a strong appetite during pregnancy or like certain special tastes. The images of these pregnant women have been enlarged to form a certain stereotype in people’s minds, thinking that voracious appetite of pregnant women are much larger than that of an average human being. In contrast, there has been little attention to the issue of loss of appetite during pregnancy.
After seeing these comical characterizations of hungry mothers who gorge on everything from raw pickles to pizzas, expectant mothers may be shell-shocked from the feelings they experience in the actual world.
Several people may be thinking that they have a free license to indulge all they want, considering that pregnancy is the only time in an adult woman’s life where eating is encouraged and does not impart any remorse.
However, it is then that appetite loss generally strikes- the woman may then find herself getting nauseous at the smell and sight of their favorite food items [1].
Time Frame
Appetite loss can occur at any time during pregnancy; for many women, it’s one of the earliest symptoms. In their book “What To Expect When You’re Expecting,” Sharon Mazel and Heidi Murkoff explain that vomiting and nausea can start quite early in pregnancy; some women experience these symptoms as early as the 4th week of gestation.
Many women feel put off by foods that were once their favorites during the initial trimester. Many have difficulty keeping anything down at all, combined with a lack of desire to eat anything that might trigger nausea [2].
Duration
Few women find that their appetite improves during the 2nd trimester. Many symptoms common to the 1st-trimester resolve during the 2nd, only to return during the 3rd.
Women in their 3rd trimesters of pregnancy may not have much of an appetite because their increasingly large baby pushes against their stomach, lessening its capacity and making it tough to eat anything more than a few bites at a time [3].
Considerations
Baby size and hormones aren’t the only reasons for a woman to feel like she doesn’t have much appetite during pregnancy. Several women have intestinal gas due to the digestive tract’s slowing, which can make the stomach feel distended and full.
Further, the upper stomach sphincter relaxes during pregnancy, meaning that stomach acid is a general complaint of the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Since eating often aggravates acid stomach discomfort, women may feel like they don’t want to eat to avoid symptoms [4].
Expert Insight
Several women fear that having little appetite during pregnancy will adversely affect their developing babies. In general, limited appetite during the 1st trimester isn’t an issue. Some women eat so little as to shed weight during their initial 3 months.
Later in pregnancy, many women recover enough to make up for the lost weight and gain properly throughout the rest of the pregnancy.
For women with severe appetite loss, physicians may prescribe vitamins to prevent severe deficits. Regardless of hunger, pregnant women do need to ensure that they’re drinking plenty of water, so they’re maintaining adequate hydration.
How to Manage Appetite Loss During Pregnancy
If you’re experiencing appetite loss, you may speculate how to get your eating back on track.
1. Foods to prioritize
You can prioritize a few foods, even if you feel you can’t eat whole meals. These will help ensure sufficient nutrient intake for your baby and you. Most of the following foods are small in portion size, simple to make, filling and easy on your stomach.
2. Protein-rich snacks
Greek yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, roasted chickpeas, crackers and cheese, and turkey, sliced chicken, or ham served cold.
3. Bland, fiber-packed veggies
Green beans, sweet potatoes, baby carrots (raw or steamed), and raw spinach salad Sweet, simple bites: oatmeal, fresh berries, cold dairy products like plain cottage cheese and dried fruit.
4. Starches/bland grains
brown rice, quinoa, macaroni, pasta, and cheese, and mashed or baked potato
Soup: chicken rice soup and chicken noodle soup
Liquids: healthy smoothies and simple broths
Other strategies
If your appetite loss is related to vomiting or nausea, try eating small, more frequent meals, avoiding fatty and spicy foods, and supplementing with thiamine and ginger. If acupuncture is a choice for you, it can also help. Severe vomiting and nausea may require different treatment methods, including medications and intravenous (IV) fluids.
If you have nutrient deficiencies related to appetite loss, you may need high-dose supplements to bring back normal levels. Any supplements should be monitored and prescribed by a medical professional.
You may also consult your medical practitioner for individualized treatment.
When to be concerned
Suppose you’re experiencing occasional appetite loss or a loss of appetite for specific foods. In that case, there’s usually no need to worry as long as you’re consuming adequate nutrients daily.
For instance, if you’re eating nutrient-dense meals consistently and your weight gain is appropriate to promote fetal growth, occasional appetite loss should not be a worry.
Moreover, some pregnant women may lose their appetite for specific foods, including highly fragrant meat and foods. Yet, this is not typically a cause for concern and a relatively common occurrence.
However, if you lose your appetite for more than a day, you’re regularly skipping meals or, you should contact your medical practitioner for advice.
This is because it’s crucial to get adequate nutrients to support your growing baby’s health and your health. Potential complications related to inadequate intake during pregnancy
Undernutrition can lead to several pregnancy-related complications, including low birth weight, poor fetal growth, and maternal weight loss. It’s also linked with behavioral problems and lower mental function in children.
Both micronutrients and macronutrients are essential to sustain a healthy pregnancy. Pregnant women with chronically poor appetites run a risk of fetal growth abnormalities, anemia, and preterm birth.
Bottom Line
Appetite loss during early pregnancy is more prevalent than it is made out to be. The feeling may arise at any time of pregnancy and generally happens within 4 weeks of gestation. Food items that previously were favorites are now discarded.
This is due to the several hormonal changes that occur within the female body during the time of pregnancy. Listen to the body and respond to the hunger cues, and you are sure to get all the nutrition you need at every stage of pregnancy.
Congratulations, you are about to welcome your baby! Are you ready to be a parent? Let’s start by choosing a strong and powerful name for your baby!
A good name is the best wishes for a newborn ！Which names can best represent strong babies? You will love these strong names for baby boys!
There are plenty of different ways to select a baby boy name, such as choosing a name inspired by a place or the season of your child’s birth. But perhaps you prefer a name that denotes an idea or meaning that’s important to you and packs a powerful punch. We’re talking a strong boy name that has weight, and will hopefully inspire your little guy to dream big.
But before you start your search, first, think about what you want strength to mean — a ruler? Power? Wise? Do you want the name to have biblical origins, mythological ties or to be associated with powerful leaders? Do you want a strong boy name that’s a literal translation for “strength,” or are you drawn to similar meanings like “brave”?
This list of strong baby boy names has something for everyone and every little one. Time to get inspired.
Strong boy names
Alexander: You can’t think of leaders and not think of the name Alexander. This strong boy name, which means “defender of mankind,” has continued been a popular for centuries and has plenty of nickname options, including Alex and Xander.
Andrew: The name Andrew (meaning “manly”) is super popular, and for good reason — it’s a strong, solid name with a ton of interesting namesakes throughout history. Like Alexander, Andrew comes with a slew of nickname options (Andy, Drew) so you can shorten it if you want.
Angus: Meaning “one strength,” the name Angus — which many parents shorten to Gus — has Celtic and Gaelic roots with “one” and “strength” being the main translations.
Arnold: This name, which means “powerful as an eagle,” was introduced to England by the Normans, and comes from the Germanic name Arnwald, a blended name composed of the elements arn (eagle) and wald (power, strength).
Austin: Austin, surprisingly enough, is a shortened form of Augustine, which means “great” or “magnificent.” Austin feels a bit more modern, no?
Barrett: This name has German and English roots, though the meaning has been debated. From the Germanic translation, it means “bear strength.”
Charles: The name Charles (which also means “manly”) comes from the Germanic karl (full-grown, a man), and has many ties to royalty. Ten kings of France, as well as kings of Hungary, Naples, Sardinia and Wüttemberg all bore the name, and of course, English royalty have also used it.
Ethan: Ethan is a strong baby boy name — it literally means “strength.”
Everett: The name Everett, meaning “brave as a wild boar,” has come a long way from Evered, a name derived from the Old English Eoforheard. Everett can also be a unisex name, so you could use it if you’re keeping your little one’s gender a surprise.
Gabriel: If you’re looking for a biblical-inspired name that also feels modern and strong, look no further than Gabriel, which means “God is my strength.” In the Bible, the angel Gabriel gives Mary the news that she will be bearing a child.
Grant: Originally a name for a “tall” or “great” person, Grant comes from the French graund or graunt, which means “great.” It’s a positive, strong name for any boy.
Griffin: The name Griffin comes from the Welsh name Gruffudd, which means “prince.” It’s also the name of the mythological creature that’s half eagle, half lion. If that’s not a powerful image…
Guy: Derived from the Old French guie, which means “leader” or (literally) a guide, this name is definitely made for a strong guy. (Get it?)
Hunter: Back in the day when English surnames were associated with a person’s occupation, Hunter was a name for those who hunted. Now, it’s become a popular first name with a strong, masculine quality.
Kendrick: The origin of the name Kendrick is debated, but it’s said to come from Welsh and Scottish names meaning “chief” and “hero,” along with names meaning “royal” and “power” in English.
Kenzo: The name Kenzo has Japanese origins, and means “strong” and “healthy.”
Liam: A shortened version of William, the name Liam, which has more Irish origins, has become its own entity in recent years. Meaning “resolute protector,” Liam is a strong, slightly edgier take on William.
Owen: This Welsh name means “young warrior.” It’s a noble name, perfect for a little gentleman.
Ryder: Meaning “knight” or “mounted warrior,” this name has surged in popularity in recent years.
Ulric: This uncommon name has English origins and means “wealthy, powerful ruler.”If you’re looking for a slightly different version, you can also go with Frederic or Eric.
