Exercising relaxation techniques can help to reduce the stress and anxiety you feel during pregnancy.
If you are looking for ways to calm down, try prenatal massage. Prenatal massage is good for relieving mild stress. It is also helpful in relieving muscle and physical pain.
Massage is generally safe at any time during pregnancy. Some facilities refrain from performing them in the first quarter because there is a higher risk of miscarriage during this period.
It is a good idea to seek your doctor’s approval before receiving a massage, especially if you have problems with your calves or other parts of your legs.
Essential oils:
The use of essential oils during pregnancy is controversial. Some health professionals say that some oils can be safe and useful for reducing pain and relaxation during pregnancy and childbirth. However, he also cautioned against using the oil in the first quarter.
According to the National Nonprofit Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, the key point of debate is whether the oil used during pregnancy can harm a growing baby if they enter the umbilical cord.
Further research on the use of essential oils during pregnancy and childbirth is needed. If you plan to use them, seek guidance from your healthcare provider.
Why Have Massage?
You already know that massage therapy is so relaxing. However, that’s not the only underlying benefit. Others include:
- Help reduce stress
Expectant women have a lot on their minds: health, finance, and daily stresses relating to pregnancy.
- Relieves Sore Muscles and Joint Pains
If you find your joints and muscles are sore, massage can help ease the pain by keeping the muscles flexible.
- Improves Sleep
Many expectant women find it hard to sleep at night. However, with massage therapy, you’re able to sleep better and comfortably at night.
Pregnancy tests
- An ultrasound will be used to confirm and date your pregnancy.
- Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG
- Complete Blood Test
- Blood Glucose Test
- Urine C/E
- Blood group
- Anti HCV
- HbsAg
- HIV
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- Pregnancy prevention.
- Pregnancy diet.
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- Pregnancy massage.
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- Prognosis.
- The takeaway.
Tests Associated with Pregnancy
| PURPOSE | TEST NAME | WHY PERFORMED | WHEN PERFORMED | WHO PERFORMED ON/SAMPLE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genetic tests for inherited diseases | Genetic testing for inherited diseases | Check carrier status for certain genetic diseases to determine risk of having a baby with such a disease | Preconception or first trimester | Mother and father (blood sample) |
| Genetic testing for hemoglobin disorders | Check carrier status for certain abnormal hemoglobin disorders to determine risk of having a baby with such a disease | Preconception or during pregnancy | Mother and father (blood sample) | |
| Cystic fibrosis carrier testing | Check carrier status for CF | Preconception or first trimester | Mother and father (blood sample) | |
| Testing to detect health conditions in the mother | Blood glucose or hemoglobin A1c | To screen women at risk of type 2 diabetes (which is different than gestational diabetes) | Preconception or first trimester | Mother (blood sample) |
| Pap test and HPV testing | Screen for cervical cancer and some STDs | Preconception or first trimester | Mother (cells from her cervix) | |
| Immunity to rubella (German measles) | Check for immunity to the virus, which can cause birth defects | Preconception or first trimester | Mother (blood sample) | |
| HIV screening test | Check for HIV infection so steps can be taken to reduce likelihood of transmission to the baby | Preconception or first trimester; may be repeated in third trimester if at high risk | Mother (blood sample) | |
| Gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis tests | Check for STD infections, which can cause miscarriage or infect the baby during delivery | Preconception or first trimester; may be repeated in third trimester if at high risk | Mother (cervical cells, urine or blood sample, depending on test) | |
| Hepatitis B and hepatitis C screening | Detect hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection | Pre-conception or first trimester; may be repeated in the third trimester if at high risk | Mother (blood sample) | |
| Varicella zoster virus testing | Check for immunity to chickenpox, which can cause birth defects | Preconception or first trimester | Mother (blood sample) | |
| TORCH panel | Check for infection with toxoplasmosis and other infections that can cause birth defects | Preconception or first trimester, if infections suspected | Mother (blood sample) | |
| Bacterial vaginosis | Detect infection, which can cause pre-term labor | Preconception or whenever symptoms experienced | Mother (vaginal secretions) | |
| Urine culture for bacteriuria | Detect bacterial infection in the urinary tract, which can lead to kidney infection or increased risk of pre-term delivery and low birth weight | First prenatal visit or between 12 and 16 weeks of pregnancy; may be repeated in third trimester | Mother (urine sample) | |
| Group B streptococcus | Detect infection, which can harm the baby during birth and infect the mother’s uterus, urinary tract, and any incision made during a cesarean section | Between weeks 35 and 37 of pregnancy | Mother (specimen from vaginal and rectal areas) | |
| Confirmation and monitoring of pregnancy and health of mother | Pregnancy test (hCG) | Confirm pregnancy | First trimester | Mother (blood sample) |
| Urine screen for glucose and/or protein | Check for signs of kidney or bladder infection, undiagnosed diabetes or gestational diabetes, or pre-eclampsia | Each prenatal visit | Mother (urine sample) | |
| Complete blood count (CBC) | Check for anemia and/or detect low platelet count | Preconception and/or early in the first trimester; repeated in third trimester | Mother (blood sample) | |
| Blood typing and antibody screen | Check for potential incompatibility in blood type between mother and fetus (such as Rh factor antibodies) | First trimester; antibody screen repeated between weeks 28 and 29 of pregnancy | Mother (blood sample) | |
| Glucose challenge test/oral glucose tolerance test | Check for gestational diabetes | Between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy | Mother (blood sample) | |
| Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) | In women with known thyroid conditions, to adjust medication if necessary | Throughout pregnancy | Mother (blood sample) | |
| Detection of fetal abnormalities or assessment of risk | First trimester Down syndrome screen | Assess risk of carrying a fetus with certain chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome | Usually between 11 and 14 weeks of pregnancy | Mother (blood sample plus ultrasound) |
| Second trimester maternal serum screen | Assess risk of carrying a fetus with certain chromosomal abnormalities or open neural tube defects | Between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy | Mother (blood sample) | |
| Cell-free fetal DNA | Assess risk of carrying a fetus with certain chromosomal abnormalities; currently recommended for women at high risk of having babies with these disorders | During or after the 10thweek of pregnancy | Mother (blood sample) | |
| Chorionic villus sampling | Detect chromosomal disorders in the fetus | Between weeks 10 and 12 of pregnancy, if recommended | Mother (cells from the placenta) | |
| Amniocentesis | Detect certain birth defects and chromosomal abnormalities | Between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, if recommended | Mother (amniotic fluid) | |
| Cordocentesis | Detect chromosomal abnormalities, blood disorders, and certain infections | Between weeks 18 and 22 of pregnancy, if recommended | Mother/fetus (fetal blood sample obtained from vein in the umbilical cord) | |
| Fetal maturity/readiness for birth | Amniocentesis | Check fetal lung development | After week 32 of pregnancy if risk of pre-term delivery | Mother (amniotic fluid) |
| Fetal fibronectin (fFN) | Detect fFN; negative result is highly predictive that pre-term delivery will NOT occur in the next 7-14 days | Between week 22 and 35 of pregnancy, if having symptoms of pre-term labor | Mother (cervical or vaginal fluid sample) |
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