Nine Months : Common Concerns & Discomforts

Rash

What is it? In pregnancy, the increased blood flow makes you feel much warmer than before and also causes you to perspire more. This may result in red rashes. It is also seen to be associated with being overweight in pregnancy.

What to do?

* Try to keep the affected areas clean and dry

* Wash frequently to feel fresh * You can also try dusting some talcum powder or using calamine lotion on the rashes.

* Wear loose, cotton clothes

Reflexology

To relieve disorders in other parts of the body, reflexologists apply pressure to specific points on the foot to stimulate nerve endings. In pregnancy it can help to ease circulatory problems, backache, and general pains and is used with orthodox medicine for more serious problems like high blood pressure or pregnancy-induced diabetes. Some women use reflexology in labour as a form of pain relief.

Rhesus Disease

What is it? Each one of us has a Rhesus (Rh) factor in our blood which may be positive or negative. Rh positive is more common than Rh negative. If however, the mother is Rh negative and the partner is Rh positive, it may result in an Rh positive baby. During birth, when the maternal blood comes in contact with the baby's blood, it will start producing antibodies against the baby's blood and this condition is called the Rhesus disease.

Risk: The first baby is not affected by the antibodies produced by the mother. However, subsequent babies may become severely anaemic as the mother's antibodies will destroy their healthy red blood cells. Such a condition is however prevented by giving anti-D injections to the mother. This coats the baby's red blood cells and the mother does not produce antibodies against them. A mother with Rhesus disease will have her blood tested every few weeks to check on the antibodies.