Top Health Tips on Having a Healthy Pregnancy

There is hardly any person who does not want to enjoy a healthy and satisfying sex life. As per Ayurveda, a healthy sex life is very much a reality provided one diligently follows the golden sex rules as mentioned in various Ayurvedic books and journals:

Ayurveda believes that a couple should refrain from having sex when the female partner is having her periods. Some health experts are of the belief that sex during periods may give rise to a condition termed as Endometriosis (the endometrial cells grow outside the uterus, often in the ovary or the fallopian tubes).
According to Ayurveda, an ideal sex position is one where the woman is lying with her face directed in an upward position.
Ayurveda also believes very overweight or obese people should avoid having sex.
Have sex only when your private parts are clean and healthy (as this helps to prevent infections and associated complications).
According to Ayurveda, loyalty and faithfulness are what gets a relationship going. Infidelity, adultery, or cheating on your wife is a crime that will only spell doom.
Ayurveda is against a couple having sex during pregnancy or immediately after delivery. One should have control over their urges. It further states that a 5-months time in the case of a C-section and 2-3 months interval in the case of a normal delivery will go a long way in ensuring a healthy sex life (will help the woman to recover well).
Ayurveda is vehemently opposes violent sex. Making love is suppose to soothe your soul rather than scar it. Violence during sex is not healthy at all.
Ayurveda believes in having sex using sexual organs. Thus, oral sex and other similar pleasures are a big No as per Ayurveda.
Ayurveda does not advocate the practice of having sex on days of prime significance such as festivals, various eclipses, on a full moon or new moon nights, to name a few.
Sex on empty stomach or after a heavy meal can trigger a plethora of health problems by causing a Vata and Pitta imbalance. The imbalance may give rise to digestive problems, headache, gastritis.
Ayurveda is strictly against the idea of having sex with aged women or with children.
Always have sex when both the partners are in a comfortable position. This is to ensure that you enjoy the intercourse sans any injury.
Never have sex if you are sick or physically and mentally not fit.
Having sex with animals (bestiality) is considered unhealthy as per Ayurveda.
Sex is not a wise idea when you have to lighten yourself (defecate or urinate).
According to Ayurveda, your sex life is governed by the four seasons during which your body strength changes.
The body strength is the lowest during the monsoon and summer, hence have less sex during that time (once in fifteen days).
With moderate body strength, sex once in three days is advisable during spring and summer.
During winter the body strength is at its peak, hence one can have sex daily.

During pregnancy, your body is subjected to several physiological changes including increased hair fall, continuous indigestion, headaches, development of varicose veins, skin pigmentations and so on. The growing baby bump hinders free movement as well. Quality time with your husband or partner is helpful but is not the best way to relax you. During pregnancy many partners stop having sex due to body issues. Intercourse is extremely important to comfort an expecting mother. Going by a few sex positions cited below, partners can enjoy pregnancy without a speck of stress.

1. Spooning- In spooning a woman lies on one of her sides while the male partner lies behind her on his left or right side. Both partners should lie on the same side or if not they will end up turning their backs at each other. Penetration happens from behind. This position enables shallow penetration which is good for the baby.

2. Do it like a clip- In this case two bodies should align like a clip. The man lies on his back while the woman is on the top facing him. Her knees are folded next to him and she is in the shape of an arch. Her hands serve as support as they are firmly placed on the bed behind her arching back. There is ample space for the bump.

3. Perch on him- It is healthier to avoid pressure on the abdominal region when pregnant. Make your man sit on a stable surface; say a stool or a chair. Sit on his lap with your back against his chest. This way the woman can regulate the depth of penetration by moving backward and forward. She is on her toes and her abdomen faces no weight.

4. Do it the Amazon way- The Amazon style of intercourse needs to be carried out on a chair or a stool. The male partner remains seated while the woman sits on his lap facing him with her legs across his sides. The baby bump is comfortably positioned between the partners and the lady takes charge by moving up and down.

5. Doggy style- The doggy style keeps the expecting mother away from exertion. She crouches on her hands and legs while the male partner enters her body from behind.

6. Living Room style- Let your rounded belly rest against the softness of the living room couch. Kneel on the couch to suit your feasibility while your partner penetrates you from behind. The pregnant woman balances her body by holding on to the couch with her hands.

Making love during pregnancy is a safe bet and can be carried on till one s water breaks. Studies in the past have shown that a normal pregnancy is not related to infections and miscarriages. It has also been established that sex during pregnancy is not related to premature birth. On the contrary, a good sex life during pregnancy helps to reduce mood swings and keeps a woman healthy and cheerful. Here are five facts that you should know about sex during pregnancy:

Does sex harm the baby? The womb is protected by the thick muscles of the uterus and the amniotic sac. Furthermore, the cervix is safeguarded by the mucus plug. These ensure that the baby doesn t get hurt while making love. In the midst of an orgasm, if you get a feeling that the baby is moving, it happens primarily because of the heart pounding faster. This being said, you might have to skip sex in the following cases:
You have placenta praevia
You start bleeding
Your water breaks
You suffer from cramps and pain in the abdomen
Your partner is suffering from genital herpes
How does sex feel during pregnancy? While an increased flow of blood in the pelvic region heightens the lovemaking experience for many, some complain that it leaves them with a bad feeling. There is yet another segment of women who complaints of a less powerful orgasm during pregnancy. At times pregnant women might feel pain if the penetration is deep. Even abdominal cramps are not uncommon during this condition. To sum up, the feeling of sex greatly varies from individual to individual.
Is a complete lack of sex normal during pregnancy? Yes, it is absolutely normal. Many women suffer from nausea and tiredness during the first three months of pregnancy, limiting their urge for sex. At times pregnancy hormones become responsible for the libido. But, mostly it is the state of mind of an individual that becomes a barrier. Women suffering from relationship issues are the ones who suffer from a lack of sex.
Does your husband s libido suffer too? It is not uncommon, to say the least. Some of the common apprehension that a male partner suffers from include the following:
Fear of hurting the wife
Apprehension about the baby s health
The consciousness of making love in the child s presence
Apprehensions about upcoming parenthood
Is there any risk involved in oral sex? Absolutely none, oral sex is considered to be one of the safest of sex options during pregnancy. If the fear of hurting the wife looms large, it is the best way to express one s love. However, it should be ensured that your husband does not blow air in the vagina. This might lead to blood vessel blockage.

It is important for you to have a healthy and balanced body in order to perform your daily activities well. People often think health supplements are efficient alternatives to a healthy diet and regular physical exercise while most of the doctors and nutritionists believe that there is no need for any health supplement if you take in right quantity and quality of food and engage in regular exercise. While health supplements are not alternatives to a healthy lifestyle, they are somewhat necessary for everyday health in the hectic lifestyles of today.

Nowadays, stress (learn more about for Controlling Everyday STRESS) is a constant companion and the foods that we consume are often not of proper quality. You may think that you are taking foods full of nutrients but pesticides and chemicals used farming diminish the nutrient content from the crops. This creates a necessity for taking health supplements for the proper nourishment of body.People with certain medical conditions also need supplements. Supplements fill the gap in your diet.

Beneficial health supplements:

Pregnant women and breastfeeding (leanr more about the Benefits of Breastfeeding) women need iron supplements. Folic acid can be supplemented in your diet in order to reduce the chances of birth defects.
You can take in vitamin D supplements if they don't get enough sunlight every day. Adults, especially after the age of 40 need vitamin D and calcium supplements to maintain bone health.
Adults above the age of 40 are also advised to take vitamin B-12 supplements.
Supplements have some side effects depending upon your health condition. If you take some supplements along with some other medicines or before surgeries, they can lead to serious complications. Research has concluded that some vitamin and minerals supplements particularly iron supplements, increase the risk of death. So it is necessary to have a proper examination of the body before you take health supplements. The risk factors include:

Taking vitamin B6 regularly in excess of 100 mg may lead to damage of your nerves
Taking 400 international units of vitamin E on a regular basis increases the health risk and may even lead to premature death
Taking multivitamins does not supplement poor eating habits. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a dietitian-nutritionist.

One of the first things that attract a male to a female is the smell. It is not without any strong reason that perfumes for men are advertised so aggressively, and if you keenly observe, it is never done with a lesser known model. It is always the superstars who advertise for scents. So, while you cannot get the superstars to lure your woman for you, you can do the trick also by using some of the popular products available in the market.

Ask girls what are things that turn them on and one of the top 3 things would be how a man smells. This is further validated by multiple researches, where people are asked about what attracts them to the opposite sex. Genetic studies have been conducted and results suggest that women inherit special genes from their fathers which allow them to identify various odours. Just imagine someone smelling bad, sweaty, or pungent. Turned on?? It would be a big NO! It is as simple as that.

Some of the pleasant scents that could turn a girl on include the naturally occurring scents of pheromones. These natural scents are widely used by perfume companies to turn people on. Across the animal kingdom, the pheromones have a powerful effect on inviting the partner for sex. Most major cologne and perfume brands use the pheromones to replicate this effect.

We ve have often heard that in the animal kingdom pheromones are scents that act as signals used to sexually attract mates by the males. But, do pheromones work in humans too? Humans may not have pheromones in the strictly scientific sense, but they do have their own scent. Sexy, musky, dirty, or sweet each one of us has a unique odour and this scent does work as a sexual indicator. In other words, the scent is a communication system and it plays an important role in human sexuality.

Let s find out how
Sexual arousal and scents
Scents and sexuality has been a much-studied topic for scientists and they have proved conclusively that-

Men s odours that smell better to women belong to men who have immune genes that differ from their own. The idea here is that women can literally sniff out the scientifically dense complex in men called major histocompatibility complex or MHC. This is a group of genes that affect the immune system. This way, women get to reproduce with stronger mates who can protect their children.
Relation between testosterone and male body odour is male smell, which also communicate or signal other information like body and facial symmetry, testosterone levels, and behavioural dominance.
Testosterone does play a very important role in attracting women. What happens is that women partner preferences change over their ovulatory cycle. This means when a woman is very likely to get pregnant or when she is highly fertile mid ovulation, she prefers the scent of men with high levels of testosterone.

A 2013 study published in Evolution and Human Behavior has nailed this association. Other studies have found that women in the fertile phase of their ovulation cycle preferred the scent of men who scored high on a questionnaire used to check their dominance. And we know that higher testosterone levels have been associated with dominant behaviours, such as status seeking and male aggression and possibly body symmetry.

Trials using two groups of men were: One with pheromone scent and another with a neutral one have indicated that the response from girls was very different to the former group. Pheromones in all animals are linked to increased testosterone production, which in turn improves male sexual arousal and performance.

Signs to assess that a girl is attracted towards your scent and how to approach her?
Now that testosterone has been proven to be a magic bullet to attract women, all you guys have to do is spray on a musky odour which is sexy and alluring. A point to note here is never to mask your natural scent completely. Why? Because women react positively to a little male body odour.

Signs which signal female sexual interest include
An increase in non-verbal communication from women i.e. any communication that doesn t involve words. Hence, sexual interest is usually shown by increased eye contact, smiling, looking away, dilation of pupils in the eye and the body tilt. If a woman has her torso turned towards you while you are talking, it usually means that she likes you and may be ready to explore the attraction further.

Once you get this confirmation of interest, you can approach a woman by giving non-verbal cues like smiling and eye contact. Depending on the vibes, the next step would be to touch her in a non - sexual part of her body. You can touch her hands or hair initially and go on to explore the language of touch more completely.

So, for guys who are looking to lure a girl, move away from regular cologne and deodorant to something more powerful. It is not without reason that these ads show men s shirts being torn off by women. This does not, however, take away other aspects of it.

While there is definitely a strong correlation between how a man smells and how strongly a woman is attracted to her, there are multiple other binding factors. Talk to her and understand that sex is just a part of the relationship, not the only reason to be in a relationship. The above researches point definitely to a strong correlation. To boost your testosterone level refer here - https://www.lybrate.com/health-package/136660206/low-testosterone-natural-recovery-possible-in-30-days-by-dr-rahul-gupta-sexologist-a7

Mood swings bother you and everyone around you!

Everyone experiences disappointment or sadness in life. When the down times last a long time or interfere with your ability to function, you may be suffering from a common medical illness called depression. According to research, women experience twice the rate of depression as men, regardless of race or ethnic background. An estimated 1 in 8 women will face major depression in their lifetimes. Despite high prevalence rates people are reluctant to acknowledge clinical depression as a disorder that should be evaluated and treated.

Researchers suspect that, rather than a single cause, many factors unique to women's lives play a role in developing depression. These factors include - genetic and biological, reproductive, hormonal, abuse and oppression, interpersonal and certain psychological and personality characteristics. However the stages in a woman's life can also subject her to depression- menstruation, pregnancy, child birth and menopause. Given below are some of the signs and symptoms that you may be experiencing related to your life stage.

Premenstrual Dysphonic Disorder - This affects around 3-8% of the women. In this behavioral changes are observed in women 5 days prior to the commencement of their menstrual cycle. The common symptoms are:

Lack of interest in common activities, such as hobbies

Moderate to severe feelings of tension or anxiety with low energy

Mood Swings , such as feeling overly sensitive

Moderate to severe feelings of hopelessness or depression, feeling overwhelmed

Physical symptoms, such as weight gain, joint or muscle pain, or a headache

Changes in sleeping patterns, such as sleeping too much or too little

Changes in eating habits or food cravings

Problems focusing or concentrating

Unusual irritability or anger

Management: Be calm and relaxed. Keep a check and monitor your cycle and emotional outbursts. If you notice some continuity it's important that you consult a specialist. Ignoring the issues can have an effect on your relationships. Be open and talk to your family and your partner about the same.

Pregnancy and Post Partum Mood Disorders- Pregnancy is a stage in which a woman's body is going through a number of hormonal changes. These changes can have a major effect on the mood and can increase the risk of developing depression. Even post pregnancy the risk doesn't end. The following are a list of symptoms. Be informed if you are pregnant or have just delivered a child.

Lifestyle or work changes resulting in relationship problems

Episodes of depression and irritability

Feeling of lack of social support and lost feeling

Mixed feelings about being pregnant

Feeling that pregnancy has pulled you down

Please note that a woman can feel depressed during pregnancy and the feeling can become worse post child birth. It affects 10-25% of women in India. It's important to understand that it's not just you but your body that is going through change. Hormonal fluctuations, psychological pressures and social support all attribute to the same. Be open and consult specialists. Also talk to your family and your spouse.

Peri Menopause and Menopause Depression- Risk of depression may increase during the transition to menopause, a stage called Peri menopause, when hormone levels may fluctuate erratically. Depression risk also may rise during early menopause or after menopause - both times when estrogen levels are significantly reduced.

Women need to aware that they are vulnerable to develop depression and need professional help to avoid it from causing personal and functional impairment.

Be informed and consult a Psychiatrist if you are experiencing any of the above.

One of the most important aspects of staying healthy is to keep your body hydrated by drinking enough water. When it comes to drinking water, we stress on purifying it but do you ever stop to think about how you are storing your water? The vessel in which water is stored in not only contains it but also interacts with it and influences the chemical elements in it. In the old days, water was stored in earthen matkas but today, water bottles have become more popular. These bottles are commonly made of glass or plastic both of which can be harmful in the long run. Instead, Ayurveda suggests the use of copper vessels to store water. Here are a few reasons for this.

Plastic vs Glass vs Copper

One of the chemical elements present in all plastic bottles is Bisphenol A or BPA. This chemical has been linked to a number of diseases including cancer. They also contain a number of other toxins that are gradually absorbed by the water inside the bottle. Exposure to BPA when pregnant can lead to a woman giving birth to an underweight baby. This chemical can also affect the development of the brain and behaviour. Disposable mineral water bottles should never be reused for this reason. Plastic bottles also absorb odors and tend to leak after repeated use.

The glass is an inert material and hence when used to store water, does not influence it in any way. The two things you should look for, if you choose to buy glass bottles is that they are lead and cadmium free. However, glass bottles are not cheap and have a tendency to crack or break. Once broken, these bottles cannot be reused.

Copper also influences the chemical balance in the water. However, this does not harm the body in any way, but in fact, has a number of benefits. Copper acts as a natural sterilizer and has an oligodynamic effect on water stored in it. It has the ability to destroy a number of harmful pathogens that are commonly found in water. Copper is an element needed by the body and drinking water stored in a copper vessel supplies our body s daily copper requirement.

Copper can also help regulate cholesterol, heart rate and blood pressure levels. Copper has also been associated with an ability to regulate thyroid functioning, ease joint pains, improve fertility, heal internal wounds, help in hemoglobin synthesis and in maintaining the proper acid-alkaline balance in our bodies. A copper bottle may seem a little expensive when you buy it but there is no chance of breakage. Hence, if handled properly, a copper bottle can last a lifetime.

From the given arguments it is clear that using a copper vessel is the best way to store water.

Hypertension during pregnancy can be a problem for both the baby and the mother. Thus it is of utmost importance that during pregnancy good health should be maintained along with controlled blood pressure and cholesterol levels. With an increase in multiple births and women of older age, the risk of hypertension during pregnancy has increased. But if proper care is taken it can be avoided.

Types of Pregnancy Hypertension:

There are three prominent forms of hypertension that can be seen during pregnancy. Pregnant ladies should be aware of the same. These are:

- Preeclampsia - This is the most common and serious hypertension during pregnancy. This hypertension can only be controlled by delivering the fetus which usually involves complications like the death of the mother or child. This occurs 20 weeks after pregnancy.

- Gestational Hypertension - This form is only prevalent during pregnancy and is not a problem for the mother or baby after delivery. This usually occurs in the last leg of the pregnancy

- Chronic Hypertension - This form forms either prior to the pregnancy or before 20 weeks of the pregnancy.

Management of Pregnancy Hypertension:

Hypertension during pregnancy can be handled by the following:

- In case of severe hypertension, blood pressure medication should be continued during pregnancy

- If you are on ACE inhibitor-type medication, then the medication is changed to one that is even safe for the baby

- Your doctor might like to monitor you daily and can advise hospitalization for a few days

- If medication is missed, it might lead to uncontrolled life-threatening hypertension. Thus the medication should not be missed at any time

- In the case of mild hypertension and absence of other diseases like diabetes and kidney disorders, the doctor might stop the medication or reduce the dose. Also, being off medicine does not cause any problem in mild hypertension.

- Irrespective of the hypertension is mild or severe, the prenatal appointments should not be missed so that the doctor can monitor you and the baby. If any problems, like rising blood pressure, poor fetal growth, and signs of preeclampsia can be spotted and steps can be taken for the same.

- In case there is some form of hypertension present the prenatal visits and lab tests will be more

- Apart from the usual second-trimester ultrasound, there will be periodic ultrasounds in the third trimester to monitor the baby's growth and the amniotic fluid.

- Also, regular fetal tests and Doppler ultrasounds will be done to track the baby's growth.

- Lifestyle changes should be made. Salt intake should be limited, fresh food instead of processed food should be consumed.

- If blood pressure is high then the doctor might ask you to avoid exercise especially if you never did before pregnancy.

According to Ayurveda, pregnancy and delivery can be the most rejuvenating experience of a women s life, during which every cell of the mother s body can be transformed. Unfortunately, in the west we did not get that memo and mothers often pay dearly with health concerns after a pregnancy. During pregnancy, a downward-moving energy called apana vata supports the development of the fetus. When the mother-to-be is balanced, there is enough apana vata to go around. In cases of stress and tiredness, however, the upward-moving vata called prana vata has to step in and is redirected downward to support the needs of the baby. Without the prana needed to feel the joy of pregnancy, this can leave the mom exhausted, depleted, tired and even depressed postpartum. There are classic strategies to be used during pregnancy that can support the health and well-being of mom and baby, and keep the prana and apana vata in balance. Favor Your Cravings. The most important advice is to eat what you naturally desire. Follow a well-balanced diet, with meals including adequate amounts of protein, healthy starch and veggies. Balance Vata. The major theme during pregnancy is to balance vata, the energy of the nervous system. This is best done with a diet of fresh, plant-based, whole or sprouted grains and non-processed foods. Warm, freshly cooked foods with healthy oils of olive, ghee and coconut are good. Avoid eating leftovers as much as possible. Foods to Avoid:
Hot spicy foods
Undercooked beans and lentils which can also cause gas.
Uncooked leafy greens as they can cause gas.
Artificial flavors, preservatives and chemical additives
Enjoy These Three Tastes. The three tastes that balance vata are sweet, sour and salty. During pregnancy, the sweet taste should be most emphasized, because it is the most sattvic or wholesome for the baby. This includes sprouted breads or those cooked without oils, whole grains, rice, fruits and healthy starches like sweet potatoes, quinoa, cooked beets and carrots.
The Right Milk. Drink warm, vat-pasteurized (heated under 135 degrees F), non-homogenized milk with ghee made from grass-fed cows. One cup of warm milk with a teaspoon of ghee twice a day is said to boost immunity and the complexion, or ojas, of the baby.
Daily Massage with an Ayurvedic Herbalized Massage Oil. These oils feed the microbiology on the skin, as well as calm the skin-based sensory nervous system of the mom. The calmer the mom, the calmer the baby.
Tips to Conquer Morning Sickness:
Roast cardamom seeds, powder them and eat a small pinch through the day.\
Snack on dry crackers or toast. It helps to always keep a little food in the stomach.
Temporarily eat from the Spring Grocery List or Kapha-Reducing Diet.
Sip tea made of 1/4 tsp. ginger powder and/or fennel seeds and hot water.
Try sleeping in a semi-reclined position by putting a pillow between the box spring and the mattress.
Do basic exercise daily. A great way to get this is to walk for 30 minutes each day.
Take Rest. In the 8th month, you should get as much rest as possible. This is a delicate time when the subtle nutrient fluid called ojas that supports vitality, complexion and immunity is passed between the mother and baby.
Be Happy. The most important pregnancy principle is to remember to be happy. The partner s job during this time is to keep the mama-to-be happy. Of course, the mom must practice daily acts of happiness as well.

Your ovulation cycle is largely ignored until you decide to have a baby. Suddenly, the ovulation cycle becomes more than just a countdown to your next period. When you're trying to get pregnant, you need to identify when you're ovulating to calculate the time available to you to conceive a child. Ovulation occurs mid-cycle, every month for most women. It is usually accompanied by a number of symptoms. Some of these are:

Ovulation pain

Some women may experience abdominal pain when they ovulate. This can range from a mild sensation to constant pain. The latter is not normal and may be caused by ovarian cysts or scarring by previous surgery.

Higher Basal body temperature

Basal body temperature is the lowest temperature recorded in the body when it is at rest. At the time of ovulation, this temperature normally increases as a result of the release of progesterone. To use this method to determine ovulation, you will need a basal thermometer. Take your temperature every morning as soon as you wake up and record it in a chart to spot temperature changes. Basal body temperature can also be used to determine if recent intercourse has resulted in a pregnancy or not. If the basal temperature remains elevated for 18 days after intercourse, it is safe to say that you are pregnant.

Cervical mucus

The mucus released by the vagina changes according to the stage of the ovulation cycle. This is caused by the fluctuations of hormone levels. At the time of ovulation, cervical mucus is clear, slippery and highly elastic. This can be compared to a raw egg white in colour and consistency. After ovulation, this mucus will turn stickier and denser.

Cervical position

Your cervix itself will shift at the time of ovulation. Some women can easily feel this change while it may take a little time for others to identify it. The cervix is usually positioned low and feels hard and closed. However, just before ovulation, it will usually open up and soften a little as well as pull back. Cervical position also needs to be regularly charted to determine when the position changes.

Spotting

Spotting mid-cycle is not always a sign of an early period. It may also signal ovulation. This is usually a result of the sudden drop in estrogen that precedes ovulation. Since the progesterone levels are not high at this time, the lining of the uterus may leak a little blood.

Other signs of ovulation include:

* Breast tenderness
* Heightened sense of smell, taste etc
* Increased libido
* Increased energy levels and
* Water retention