Aurora: Why And When All Pregnant Women Should Be Tested For Gestational Diabetes

Aurora,

Are you pregnant and sailing along doing fine? Let me ask you. Have you been checked for diabetes during your pregnancy? When diabetes occurs during pregnancy for the first time, it is called gestational diabetes. Pregnancy stresses the mother’s cells and chemistry in such a way that insulin resistance may develop and be manifest in the blood chemistry.

Women who develop gestational diabetes are at much higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes even if the blood chemistry return to normal after delivery. Therefore the window of opportunity for discovering if there is a problem with sugar metabolism is during the pregnancy and not afterward.

Why is this important? Not only are we in an epidemic of type 2 diabetes around the world, but the baby is at a higher risk for problems during labor and delivery if the blood sugar levels of the mother are high. One consequence of gestational diabetes is a big baby by size and weight. A large heavy baby puts increased stress on the mother at the time of delivery. The incidence of surgical delivery of the baby goes up as the size and weight of the baby increase above the norm. The same can be said for fetal distress during delivery.

If not treated, diabetes during pregnancy doubles the risk for the baby developing diabetes later in life.

Although gestational diabetes is not a secret, many pregnant women are not tested during the pregnancy. Studies show that about one-third of pregnant women were never tested for diabetes during their pregnancies. The incidence of gestational diabetes is currently 4% in the U.S. However, most researchers believe the incidence will climb higher and may even be higher now.

If a pregnant woman is pregnant for the first time and is otherwise healthy with no family history of diabetes, it is thought that a blood sugar test for diabetes should be performed after the 24th week of pregnancy. If the mother has other risk factors for diabetes, the blood test could be conducted earlier. These management details are best left to the one who is making the medical decisions during the pregnancy.

What kind of blood test? It is likely to be a fasting blood sugar test which tells the physician how the baby, mom and blood sugar are doing? Normal levels are well-established. The point that needs to be made is that an appropriate blood sugar test should be done during the pregnancy. Whether a test needs to be done after the delivery depends on the first test and risk factors. There is a new blood sugar test called the A1c hemoglobin test that is growing in popularity and may come into play in the diagnosis of gestational diabetes.

Source by Robert Urban M.D.

Why And When All Pregnant Women Should Be Tested For Gestational Diabetes

Aurora: How to Use a Basal Body Temperature Chart to Check If You Are Pregnant

Aurora,

The basal body temperature chart (BBT Chart) can be effectively used to plan a pregnancy. Often conception takes time and in order to see a better rate of success, it is essential to chart out your fertility. BBT charting combined with cervical mucous charting and monitoring the cervical position can help achieve this. Let us understand what the basal body temperature chart is all about.

The Average Reproductive Cycle

As you know, the basal body temperature is the temperature of the body at the resting phase. For an average 28 day cycle, normally, the pattern will show about 12 to 14 days of lower temperature readings. The highest among these low temperatures would be the baseline temperature. Around the 14th day, the temperature will rise over this baseline temperature. This happens because you have ovulated. The rise in temperature remains above the baseline for the next 10 to 16 days, that is, till your next period. When you get your period, the body temperature will drop.

Prior to ovulation, a woman’s basal body temperature ranges between 97 to 97.5 degree F. Estrogen in the body keeps the temperature down, i.e. below the baseline. Once ovulation takes place, the temperature begins to rise, going from 97.6 up to 98.9 degree F. The temperature increase is due to the release of progesterone after ovulation. After a few days, you will notice that the temperature remains in the higher range, above the baseline.

How to maintain the BBT chart

Begin taking your temperature on the first day of your period. Continue till you get the next period; commence a new basal body temperature chart on the first day of the next period. You must record your reproductive cycle in this manner for several months so that you can discern a pattern and you can judge accurately when ovulation is expected.

Note your temperature on the chart by marking a dot at the appropriate place. Mark the day when you had sex. Also, note down other events that affect the temperature reading like an illness, stress, alcohol consumption, medication, etc. Connect the dots with straight lines so as to plot the temperature variations during the cycle.

Reading the basal body temperature chart

Your BBT chart will show two different temperature levels. If you are not pregnant, then between the 10th and 16th day you will get your period when the progesterone level drops. The body temperature will also come down at this time.

If you notice your basal body temperature remaining on the higher side for more than 18 days following ovulation, it is advisable to go for a pregnancy test and maybe you will see the good news.

Source by Alice Jane Johnson

How to Use a Basal Body Temperature Chart to Check If You Are Pregnant

Aurora: The Meaning of Abnormal EKG Results

Aurora,

Many physicians recommend EKGs as a preventive-screening tool for those with a family history of heart disease. While a healthy person does not need an EKG as a part of an annual exam, many physicians will recommend an EKG if they have concerns. If a patient complains of chest pain, palpitations or other indicators of heart problems, the physician will likely recommend an immediate EKG test. Depending on the severity of the situation, your doctor may refer you to a local testing center immediately or ask you to schedule the next available appointment.

An abnormal EKG is determined by comparing the results of your EKG graph with a standard or normal heart graph. Spikes and dips within the graph are referred to as P, QR and PR and other similar acronyms. Normal EKG readings show a slight flat-dip in between contractions and relaxations. If these flat-dips are not present, it may be an indication of a more serious problem. Normal EKG readings will have spikes and dips too.

Myocardial defects, heart valve disease, enlargement of the heart, inflammation of the heart, coronary artery disease, and past, pending or impending heart attacks are only a few of the problems that EKG’s can help to detect. The conditions in which the EKG is performed can also have an impact on the accuracy of the results. Some heart problems are not present all of the time and therefore may not appear in EKG results. In cases where heart problems are suspected but not detected on the EKG, a Holter monitor may be recommended. This monitor is worn, usually for a period of 24 to 48 hours and serves as a type of mini-EKG test. The patient wears the monitor at home and it continuously records heart activity. Doctors also recommend that the patient be relaxed during the exam because any muscle trembling or contractions can alter the results and produce an inaccurate reading.

Many people are surprised to learn that they have had an abnormal EKG reading. What is even more surprising is that when presented with abnormal EKG results, some doctors do not seem concerned. It doe not necessarily mean they are inadequate or uncaring physicians, it is more likely they believe something else has caused the abnormal reading. Most will want to pursue further testing or another EKG. Sometimes an event as simple as low blood sugar can have an altering affect and produce false EKG readings. Other times, abnormal EKGs require further testing to determine what, if any, problems actually exist.

Source by Damian Sofsian

The Meaning of Abnormal EKG Results

Aurora: Trouble Conceiving - Tips For Getting Pregnant

Aurora,

If you feel like you’re having trouble conceiving, you’re not alone. Many couples are surprised when they discover that it can often takes months to get the “Big Fat Positive”. You make want to talk to your doctor when you have serious concerns, but if you have only been at it for a few months, here are some thoughts that might help.

Knowing the length of your menstrual cycle is necessary for getting pregnant. It is the best way to begin predicting ovulation. It is normal for the length of your cycle to change from month to month, but it is still best to keep track each month.

Your most fertile days are the few leading up to, and the day of, ovulation. This gives you about five days to work with. Lots of women decide to have sex consistently through those days, but this can be a difficult approach. The general public assumes that ovulation begins right in the middle of the cycle, but this is not true for everyone. You can begin ovulating on just about any day of your cycle. If you don’t want to use ovulation testers, the best way to get pregnant is to have sex two or three times every week. Using this method, you are more likely to chance upon the right time.

If you feel like you need to take action, you could begin mapping your Basal Body Temperature. There are kits that you can buy, complete with instructions, or you can find what you need online. You will need a thermometer that reads to the tenth decimal point and a BBT chart. Then you take your temperature every morning and keep track of your findings. A temperature spike of .4 is what you’re looking for.

Find out your definite ovulation days by purchasing an ovulation prediction kit. You pee on a stick, just like a pregnancy test, but you continue to do it everyday until you get a positive test. You should have sex that day and the next.

Your cervical mucus is an excellent predictor of ovulation. When you are most fertile, it changes to accommodate the survival and speed of sperm. Ideally, you are looking for mucus that is thick and stretchy, kind of like a raw egg white. This means that your body is ready.

The last thing you need to do is stress. Just take your time and figure out what works for your body. Don’t allow sex to become something you feel forced to do, and try not to do it too frequently. Sperm are healthiest when you wait a day or two between sex. Ask your doctor if you have trouble conceiving for longer than a year.

Source by Carrie Balli

Trouble Conceiving - Tips For Getting Pregnant

Aurora: Ovulation Tests

Aurora,

Instinct tells a woman that she is ready to conceive, but to be doubly sure take personal or laboratory tests. For starters, estimate the approximate time of ovulation by calculating the length of the average menstrual cycle. Begin from day one, that is the first day of the menstrual period, and the last day is the day before the next period begins. If the menstrual cycle is 28 days, then subtract 17 days, which equals day 11. Use the predictor kit on day 11 and continue testing until positive. This means that you will ovulate within 24 to 36 hours.

This sounds intimidating, but in non-medical terms ovulation is interplay of glands and their hormones. Presence of progesterone is confirmed through blood tests and if the level is higher than 20nmol/L it is indicative of ovulation having taken place. The blood test is done around 3 to 10 days before the first day of menses. Another method to test ovulation is through pregnancy ultrasound whereby the presence of a fetus is verified. For women trying to conceive it is not advisable, as pelvic ultrasound has a similar success rate as pregnancy ultrasound. Other methods of testing are checking on cervical mucous changes, basal body temperature or salivary ferning three to four days prior to ovulation.

Ovulation Tests are gaining popularity through the use of ovulation calendars or predictor kits to pin down fertile periods or avoid unwanted pregnancies. Normally women ovulate in the middle of the monthly menstrual cycle, depending on the length of the cycle. Sometimes ovulation happens twice in a month or, in an unhealthy body, plays truant. Avoid drinking too much water or frequent urination when taking an Ovulation Test, as it limits accuracy.

For urine Ovulation Testing an early morning urine sample is ideal, as it contains the maximum concentrated hCG presence. If testing during the day, do not urinate 3 to 4 hours before test. The response time for a home Ovulation Test is about five minutes. Since the LH surge at time of ovulation is brief, one should test at right time of month and day.

Another method of Ovulation Test is through test strips with control color bands and intensity baselines for reference. Certain medicines have an adverse effect on test results, especially fertility drugs or pills. Consult your doctor or wait for two menstrual cycles before monitoring LH levels. For maximum effect, store test kits at room temperature and read instructions carefully before doing a test. Other tracking devices are Basal Body temperature thermometer and mini microscopes for testing saliva or cervical mucus. An understanding of your ovulation cycle will help identify the testing methods.

Source by Elizabeth Morgan

Ovulation Tests

Aurora: How To Read And Interpret A Blood Sugar Levels Chart

Aurora,

You may be getting diabetes type 2 – and not even know it. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should have your blood sugar tested if:

-You urinate too frequently

-You feel consistently thirsty

-You lose weight for no reason

-You have fatigue or blurry vision

Any of these symptoms could mean diabetes or pre diabetes, and you should ask your doctor to check your blood sugar levels. Here are some of the tests that your doctor may run:

-Hemoglobin A1-C (abbreviated as HbA1c) – sometimes called glycated hemoglobin, a common screening test that evaluates how your blood sugar has been over time.

-Fasting Blood Glucose or FPG- a blood sugar test taken at least eight hours after a meal, sometimes called a fasting glucose level.

-Oral Glucose Tolerance – you drink a bottle of measured glucose and then your blood is taken in hourly intervals to check the blood sugar levels over time.

All of the tests above will have to be ordered by your doctor; you can’t do these with any home testing. The first test that is normally run is the fasting glucose, and then the other tests like the HbA1c and tolerance tests are run if the first test is abnormal.

If you are pre-diabetic, you may have an abnormal result for the fasting glucose, but the follow-up tests may be normal, as your blood sugar levels have not raised up enough to show up on every test.

The Sugar Levels Chart

Here are the normal ranges for the three lab tests above:

Normal Values

-Hemoglobin A1C(%): Around 5

-Fasting Plasma Glucose (mg/dl): below 99

-Glucose Tolerance Test (mg/dl): below 139

Pre-diabetic Values

-Hemoglobin A1C(%) – 5.7-6.4

-Fasting Plasma Glucose (mg/dl): 100-125

-Glucose Tolerance Test (mg/dl): 140-199

Diabetic Values

-Hemoglobin A1C(%) – 6.5 or more

-Fasting Plasma Glucose (mg/dl): 126 or more

-Glucose Tolerance Test (mg/dl): 200 or more

Source: American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes-2012.

Your health provider will take other factors in consideration when making a diagnosis – not just the lab results. All of your clinical signs and symptoms, your family history and past diagnoses will affect your provider’s final determination.

Here are some other important points to consider:

-Anyone over the age of 45 should be tested for pre-diabetes.

-If you are obese and have any of the symptoms listed above, you should be tested even if you are younger than 45 years old.

-If you have pre diabetes, you are at risk of developing full-blown type 2 diabetes within 10 years.

-Pre-diabetes patients can avoid full Type 2 diabetes easily with subtle changes in diet and exercise.

Disclaimer: This information in this article was derived from information found in medical journals and the mainstream media that provide reports on health. None of the contents of this article should be relied on as medical advice. For treatment information specific to your condition, consult your medical doctor.

Source by Carl Ringwall

How To Read And Interpret A Blood Sugar Levels Chart

Aurora: Necessary Tests in the First Quarter of Pregnancy

Aurora,

Pregnancy is a major change in a woman’s life, on the one hand the physical and mental changes characteristic of this period. First trimester of pregnancy and the first 12 weeks, is the most important and decisive stage in the future child’s harmonious development.

Unfortunately, over 60% of all pregnancies do not survive more than 2-3 months, or stop evolution or progress to miscarriage, without taking into account the multitude of voluntary abortions “on demand”. Misconduct are the main causes that induce changes in chromosomal abnormalities incompatible with survival.

The first eight weeks are crucial for embryonic development. Drug administration or action of various external factors on embryo or zygote stage (before day 20), have the effect of “all or nothing”, that kills the embryo.

Organogenesis occurs between 3-8 weeks, extremely important period in which various external agents (drugs, parasitic and bacterial agents, physical agents, etc..) Acting on products of conception may have an effect malformation. The consequences of this process are the abortion, lethal malformations, metabolic or functional defects that will manifest later in life.

Of these, blood counts, transaminases (SGPT, SGOT), glucose, uric acid, urea, creatinine (blood measurements) allow shaping haematological and biochemical status of pregnant women. Pointing out any pathologies, previously known or not, should be taken to enable treatment decisions and monitoring throughout the pregnancy.

Routine HIV antibody detection is performed (Ac HIV) and Treponema pallidum (VDRL) for the diagnosis of HIV, syphilis, respectively. Active infection with Treponema (syphilis) in the first three months of pregnancy can result in miscarriage, but not actually a rule. Regardless of when the contamination occurred, treatment is mandatory.

Detection of hepatitis C virus infection is by detection of specific antibodies (anti HCV Ac). In this case their decision to continue the pregnancy is difficult and depends very much on the woman, and the results of investigations. In any case, pregnancy can seriously aggravate the disease.

Determination of hepatitis B virus antigen (HBsAg) is done only in situations where this analysis was performed by more than three months ago from when they make these determinations. As with C virus infection, pregnancy can hasten the evolution of viral hepatitis B, resulting in death. Vaccination in pregnancy is not recommended.

Chlamydia trachomatis infection can sometimes result in miscarriage, but when this does not occur – can cause serious infections to the mother and fetus. Ideally, detection and treatment of infection to be made in preload.

Another important investigation is represented by vaginal secretion. The vagina can confine a number of bacterial agents, most frequently coming from the large intestine, inducing a series of symptoms (leukorrhea, pain with intercourse, local itching, etc..) And abortion complications that may culminate in the first quarter. These infections once detected, is easily treated with specific antibiotics.

Source by Yoan Vivian

Necessary Tests in the First Quarter of Pregnancy