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March 15, 2025 By Dr Manali Rao 5 Comments

Hypertension in Pregnancy: What Every Mother-to-Be Should Know

pregnant-womenPregnancy is a beautiful journey, but it also comes with its share of challenges. Among them, high blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the most common concerns for expectant mothers. Whether it’s your first pregnancy or you’ve experienced complications before, understanding hypertension during pregnancy can help you stay in control and safeguard both your health and your baby’s well-being.

Some women experience pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), which can develop after 20 weeks of pregnancy. If left unchecked, it can lead to complications such as pre-eclampsia, placental abruption, or preterm delivery. However, with early detection, lifestyle changes, and medical support, most women can manage their blood pressure effectively and have a healthy pregnancy.

What is Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH)?

PIH refers to newly developed hypertension during pregnancy, without the presence of protein in the urine or other symptoms of pre-eclampsia. Hypertension is defined as blood pressure higher than 140/90 mmHg. It can have serious effects on both mother and baby if not monitored properly.

Causes & Risk Factors of PIH

There is no single cause of PIH, but several factors can increase your risk:

  • Being overweight or obese
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Smoking or alcohol consumption
  • Family history of hypertension or PIH
  • Previous history of PIH in past pregnancies
  • Multiple pregnancy (twins or more)
  • Maternal age (below 18 or over 35 years old)
  • Pre-existing diabetes, kidney disease, or high blood pressure
  • Living with a single kidney
  • IVF pregnancies
  • Placental abnormalities

Types of Hypertension in Pregnancy

  • Gestational Hypertension:​
    Develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy, with high blood pressure but no protein in the urine or organ damage. Some women with gestational hypertension may develop pre-eclampsia later in pregnancy.
  • Chronic Hypertension:​
    High blood pressure present before pregnancy or occurring before 20 weeks of gestation. This type may go undiagnosed if regular BP checks were not done before pregnancy.
  • Chronic Hypertension with Superimposed Pre-Eclampsia:
    Women with chronic hypertension who develop worsening blood pressure, protein in the urine, or other complications during pregnancy.
  • Pre-Eclampsia:​
    A serious pregnancy complication that includes high blood pressure, proteinuria (protein in the urine), and signs of organ damage. If left untreated, it can lead to severe complications for both mother and baby.
  • Eclampsia:
    A severe form of pre-eclampsia that leads to seizures, which can be life-threatening for both mother and baby.

Symptoms of PIH & Pre-Eclampsia

Look out for the following warning signs:

  • Severe headaches
  • Blurred vision or sensitivity to light
  • Pain in the upper abdomen (under the ribs, right side)
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sudden swelling in the face, hands, or feet
  • Decreased urine output
  • Shortness of breath (fluid in the lungs)
  • Dizziness or fainting spells
  • Spots or flashes before your eyes
  • Blood in urine
  • Decreased levels of platelets in your blood (thrombocytopenia)
  • Impaired liver function

If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned, immediately report to your Gynecologist or health care provider.

Complications of PIH

If left unmanaged, hypertension in pregnancy can lead to:

  1. Preterm Labour: Premature birth due to complications.
  2. Placental Abruption: The placenta partially or completely separates from the uterus before birth, depriving the baby of oxygen and nutrients.
  3. Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR): The baby may have restricted growth due to reduced blood supply.
  4. Organ Damage: Liver, kidney, and blood clotting issues.
  5. Stillbirth (IUD – Intrauterine Death): In severe, untreated cases.
  6. Postpartum Hypertension: Some women may continue to experience high blood pressure after delivery, requiring continued medical care.

Managing PIH for a Healthy Pregnancy

  • Follow Your Doctor’s Advice – Attend all antenatal appointments and take prescribed medications as directed.
  • Rest as Advised – Your doctor may recommend bed rest depending on your blood pressure.
  • Manage Stress – Meditation, deep breathing, and engaging in relaxing activities can help.
  • Reduce Salt Intake – Cut down on processed foods, salty snacks, and added table salt.
  • Eat a Nutritious Diet – Prioritise whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
  • Stay Active – Engage in light exercises such as walking or prenatal yoga if approved by your doctor.
  • Stay Hydrated – Drink plenty of water to maintain proper circulation.
  • Monitor Your Blood Pressure – Regularly check your BP at home and report any concerns to your doctor.

Maintaining a healthy blood pressure throughout pregnancy is crucial for both maternal and foetal well-being. Early detection, lifestyle modifications, and regular medical check-ups can help prevent complications.

  1. Start healthy habits before pregnancy to reduce your risk of PIH.
  2. Listen to your body and report any unusual symptoms to your doctor.
  3. Prioritise a balanced lifestyle with a nutritious diet, regular movement, and stress management.
  4. Remember, a Healthy Mother = a Healthy Baby!

💬 Have you experienced hypertension during pregnancy? Share your experience in the comments below!

#BeTheForce 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised medical guidance or concerns related to your health.

January 10, 2025 By GOQii 221 Comments

Important Exercises & Yoga Poses To Be Done During Pregnancy

yoga during pregnancyIn one of my articles, we explored how beneficial it is to follow yoga during pregnancy. In this article, I will highlight the prenatal yoga poses that can help you stay fit during pregnancy and support a smooth post-delivery recovery. Let’s dive right in!

Exercises & Yoga Poses To Do During Pregnancy

Start With Breathing Exercises
Before beginning, practice some mindful breathing:

  1. Sit comfortably, with your knees bent and your shoulders, head, and neck relaxed.
  2. Place one hand on your upper chest and the other just below your rib cage. This will allow you to feel your diaphragm move as you breathe.
  3. Inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Continue for 3-5 minutes.

1. Cat and Camel Pose

cat and camel

  1. Begin on your hands and knees, with your knees under your hips and your hands under your shoulders.
  2. Round your back towards the ceiling, tucking in your buttocks and slightly lowering your head.
  3. Return to a neutral position.
  4. Let your belly lower towards the floor, creating an arch in your back. Keep your head slightly raised, with your eyes looking forward.
  5. Alternate between these poses.

Tip: Use a folded towel under your knees if they hurt, or place fists instead of palms on the floor for wrist support.

2. Butterfly Pose

butterfly pose yoga during pregnancy

  • Sit with your spine and neck straight.
  • Bend both knees and bring the soles of your feet together, as close to the groin as possible.
  • Hold your feet firmly with your hands and keep your heels on the ground.
  • Place your elbows on your thighs.
  • Inhale deeply and press your thighs downward using your elbows.
  • Exhale as you raise your knees without support and release the pose.

3. Kegel’s Exercises

This exercise strengthens the pelvic floor muscles.

How to Perform:

  • Sit, stand, or lie down comfortably.
  • Contract your pelvic floor muscles as if stopping the flow of urine for 5 seconds.
  • Relax the muscles for 3 seconds.
  • Perform 5-10 repetitions per session, twice a day. Ensure you breathe normally throughout.

4. Goddess Pose

goddess pose pregnancy

  • Step your right foot back to a stride length and turn your toes out at a 45-degree angle.
  • Bend your knees deeply and lower your hips until they align with your knees.
  • Extend your arms to shoulder height and bend your elbows so that your fingertips point upwards.
  • Engage your core, draw your tailbone towards the floor, and keep your spine long.
  • Hold the pose for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

5. Warrior Pose

warrior pose yoga during pregnancy

  • Stand with your feet roughly three feet apart.
  • Place your right foot in front of your left foot.
  • Extend your arms out to the sides, keeping them straight and palms facing down.
  • Turn your left foot out to the side and your right foot inward.
  • Lunge forward, bending your left knee, and keep your right leg straight.
  • Hold the pose, then return to the starting position and switch legs.

6. Walking

Walking is an excellent cardiovascular exercise for expecting mothers.

Tips:

  • Start with slow walks if you’re new to physical activity.
  • Walk for 30 minutes, three times a week.
  • Pair walking with other light exercises for better results.

If this article helped you, share your thoughts in the comments below. Explore more articles on Women’s Care here. To keep a track of your pregnancy, you can also download the GOQii App and access the Women’s Care Feature.

For more tips on how to manage your health during pregnancy, reach out to your GOQii Coach by subscribing for Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised medical guidance or concerns related to your health.

August 18, 2024 By Apurwa Agrawal 3 Comments

Antenatal Exercises for a good pregnancy

safe-pregnancy-exercises

One of the most beautiful experiences a woman can have is that of being pregnant. However, a first-time pregnancy often brings with it a lot of uncertainty and hesitancy. To ease this pressure, I decided to share my experience of pregnancy and how I overcame the uncertainties and other challenges.

Ideally, a woman should enjoy her pregnancy, indulging herself without being overly concerned with the weighing scale. I understand that the body undergoes several changes during this period, which can create mental and physical stress. Hormonal changes also occur, with one of the major hormones, RELAXIN, causing joint to become hypermobile and increasing ligament laxity, which can lead to pain and inflammation.

How Do We Balance This Situation with Recommendations for Pregnancy?

Just two words – Prenatal Exercises

Yes, you heard it right!

A sensible workout plan and willpower during pregnancy were key for me. Being open to maintaining self-control and moderation with indulging truly made all the difference.

It is recommended that women who have normal, healthy pregnancy should get 30 minutes of exercise on most days of the week (at least 5 days).

Let’s take a look at how these exercises help during pregnancy:

  • Reduces aches and pains during pregnancy
  • Improves stamina and provides more energy to cope with the growing demands of pregnancy
  • Improves posture and sleeping patterns
  • Helps in more controlled weight gain
  • Increases the chance of a normal delivery
  • Enhances psychological well-being
  • Increases circulation, thereby reducing swelling and edema
  • Reduces the risk of gestational diabetes and pregnancy-induced hypertension

Keep these tips in mind while exercising:

  • Always warm up before exercising, and cool down afterward
  • Avoid any strenuous exercise in hot weather
  • Drink plenty of water and other fluids
  • If you attend exercise classes, make sure your instructor is properly qualified and knows that you’re pregnant including how many weeks pregnant you are
  • Swimming is a good cardio exercise as the water supports your increased weight, but it should be done under the supervision of a professional trainer.

If you’ve never worked out before, start slowly. Listen to your body and proceed accordingly. There’s no point in rushing and risking injury. Additionally, there are certain situations in which you should stop exercising immediately:

  • Excessive shortness of breath
  • Chest pain or palpitations
  • Pre-syncope or dizziness
  • Painful uterine contractions or preterm labour
  • Leakage of amniotic fluid
  • Vaginal bleeding
  • Excessive fatigue
  • Abdominal pain, particularly in back or pubic area
  • Reduced fetal movement.

I hope this blog encourages you to maintain or increase your fitness level during pregnancy. I’ll be sharing my workout routine in my next blog for you to use as a reference or adopt if you feel so inclined. Until then, stay tuned, and feel free to comment if you have any questions and don’t forget to share it with someone who may need it. You can find more articles on Women’s Health here. You can also use the Women’s Care feature in the GOQii App to track your menstrual cycles, pregnancy and more. Download the app now.

#BeTheForce 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised medical guidance or concerns related to your health.

November 13, 2016 By Niti Nirvan Leave a Comment

Customized Postnatal Health Plan with GOQii

GOQii

Being a mom in today’s world, involves juggling a job, your chores, errands and ofcourse your family. Squeezing in some “me time” among the hustle and bustle seems close to impossible with all tasks already laid out on your schedule. But as the tale goes, catering to your health and throwing in some exercise goes a long way in assisting you with all that is lined up in your daily to – do list. We can help you build a customized postnatal health plan for shedding weight, which includes a diet and exercise plan. You will be able to interact with a doctor, who will be able to assist you with your postnatal health.

Making You A Part Of Your Day

Formulating a good exercise regime is vital to attain fitness goals. It is always good to get in your daily routine first thing in the morning. While a day is full with meetings, and other household tasks, there is a very good chance you may neglect a workout or find an excuse to skip it. Working out in the morning, not only gets your daily exercise out of the way, also sets up your tone for the rest of the day. It boosts metabolism and also the endorphin released helps to spike up your mood and increase energy levels.

Another important fact to keep in mind is that a nutritious diet assists in reaching your fitness goals. Finding time to prepare meals to attain a balanced nutrition is sometimes difficult. You should incorporate essential nutrients in every meal that you take. After delivery it is often paramount to lose the additional pounds you have packed on during pregnancy. In the first few months post delivery, the weight sheds off quite effectively, couple in breastfeeding, and moms note a constant reduction in their weight. However, with time a plateau is attained, and pushing forward to lose more weight is where new moms struggle the most.

A diet conducive to weight loss consists of minimally processed carbohydrates and fat, and a diet rich in fibre, protein and high energy carbohydrates. While the former provides almost zero nutrition, the latter is packed with energy boosting components. This usually includes food like fruits, fresh green vegetables, high fibre carbohydrates in the form of brown rice, pasta and bread and  protein sources include eggs, lean chicken, fish and legumes.

While all these are essential, putting plans into action is where the real conflict lies. A few tips include:

  • Setting a plan in writing: This makes you accountable and more likely to complete it. Noting it down as a task rather than a lingering thought will help you accomplish it daily.
  • Enlisting assistance: It is never a shameful thing to admit that you need help. Ask your spouse, friends and family, to help you with household chores and looking after your little one. Making time for yourself is crucial in order to look after your family.
  • Set realistic goals: While we all wish we looked a certain way, having a clear idea of what is achievable goes a long way. Start with a kilogram a week, and in no time you will find that you are able to achieve more than you set out to in the first place.
  • Choose what works for you: Be it a fitness regime or a diet, use what works for you. There are a plethora of options out there, when it comes to food as well as exercise regimes. Feel free to experiment and mix it up. Ultimately you will find something that suits you.

GOQii is teaming up with Babygogo 

We are giving 10 lucky moms a chance to win GOQii 3 Month subscription with free fitness tracker band. To become a contender, starting from the 14th of November; you will have to be the mom with the best answer of the day on the Babygogo app. Answering the queries with the most informative answer automatically puts you in the running to become the mom with the best answer for the day. So go ahead and send in your answers to the queries on the Babygogo app, and stand a chance to win this exciting opportunity towards a healthy and happy you.

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