Babies And Parents To Be

Masculine Analysis

It is advisable that a man and woman attend together, as a couple, to the doctor´s visit. Usually, when there are fertility problems in a couple, the woman is the first one to proceed to submit herself to analysis. However, a semen analysis must be a priority.

The way we eat nowadays, in addition to the environmental conditions, have provoked a reduction in the sperm count of men. The exposition to estrogen in food and the chemical products in the composition of the plastics used in the food chain, seem to be the main factors.

We use to have more knowledge in the past over feminine fertifility than masculine fertility, however, today hospitals treat the problem in the same manner with respect to men and women. Moreover, the possibilities that the treatment in men to be effective has increased and the possibility of being a father in a natural manner offers good expectations.

It must be clarified that masculine infertility is not related with virility. The impossibility of inseminating the ovule is not a reason to believe that your partner is not an excellent lover. But on the contrary, sometimes when a man is not able to make love, does not mean it lacks a fertile and viable sperm.

Semen under observation

In order for a sperm to successfully inseminate a feminine ovule, it must be adequately formed. It will have a tail to be able to swim and reach the ovule, and a head with a hat where the enzymes are stored, which role is very important in the process.

The semen analysis is one of the first tests a man carries out with fertility problems. Generally, two samples are analyzed since the sperm encounter varies according to certain circumstances. The number of sperms is counted, how they move and their form.

Many specialists believe that a counting of sperm relatively low may not affect the fertility in men.  But a sperm count under a combination with many malformed sperms, with seldom movement, or with a high level of leukocytes, increases the possibility of affecting fertility.

The analysis: taking of samples

  • Refrain from having sexual relationships during three days.
  • Masturbate to obtain a sample and keep it in a sterile container.
  • The container with the sample must bear the name, date and time.
  • Protect the sample at extreme  temperatures.
  • Deliver the sample as soon as possible to the lab.

The analysis:  considered healthy

  • Amount: 2-5 ml (one half to one spoonfull).
  • Number: More than 20 million of sperms per ml.
  • Motility: More than half have mobility.
  • Normality:  More than one third of the sperms are normal.
  • Leukocytes: Less than one million per ml of sperms.

Types of recounts

There are several types of recounts. A semen analysis determines which one of the following concepts apply to a specific sperm sample.

  • Teratospermia. A high number of abnormal sperms. If men have more than 70% in such condition, it is considered serious, probably due to a chromosome problem or an environmental cause.
  • Azoospermia. The semen does not contain sperms due to the lack of production, because of an obstruction affecting its transportation, or ibecause it is not able to ejaculate.
  • Estenospermia. The recount is correct and normal, but the sperms fail to move.
  • Oligospermia. Less than 20 million of sperms are found per ml of semen. From 10 to 20 million, it is considered a minor case; from 5 to 10 million is a moderate case; when there are less than 5 million, it is a serious case.

Secondary analysis of the sperm function

In a second stage, microscopic analysis are made of the sperm function in a couple. Such analysis examine the sperm capacity to penetrate in the mucus, pass through the uterine collar and reach the Fallopian tubes and, of course, the ovule.

Other study is focused to verify the recognition of the ovule by the sperm and its adherence to the latter, as the first step for the insemination (achromosomic analysis). Finally, its capacity to penetrate the ovule (hamster test) merge with it and inseminate it.

Test of the sperm achromosome

One sperm has a head tied up with a cover called achromosome. Enzymes are deposited therein that help the sperm to penetrate the external membrane of the ovule. If the sperm lacks this achromosome cover, insemination cannot take place.

The tests analyze the sperms with chemical products, that shine when they react with the achromosome.

Observing the ovule penetration

There are other analysis that observe the capacity the sperm has to penetrate the ovule. The test consists in introducing sperms into ovules taken from hamsters, and measure how they penetrate and merge into them.

The purpose of using these small animals in the lab tests is to refrain any woman to submit her to an unnecessary stress, and she should not go through a hormonal treatment to provide ovules for the test.

It must be mentioned that there is no risk an embryo may result from the merger of the sperm and these ovules in the lab.

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Healthy Eating

Sometimes women prefer not paying too much attention to calorie contribution in each food. However, far from being specialists in this topic, what we can do is having a guide to eat healthy without extreme sacrifice. A healthy guide for you, that you are passing the marvellous pregnancy process, is to use natural food, as it nutrition contribution will be higher. Fresh and healthy food can also be delicious. Food in can may be considered the last option, but this is more of common sense that specialized guides on the topic.

Feeding for two

Your pregnancy may increase your apetite in an important way, you must consider that now you have to eat for two, and nature has given you the adequate sensors so you are willing to eat more food than bafore.

In general, women require from 200 to 300 calories a day, far from what you would eat, for you will double such normal amount of food. However, you mustn´t forget that quality matters more than quantity, and all you eat must be good for you and your baby that is to be born.

Some mothers may have special food and nutrition requirements, as they likely did not follow and adequate alimentation program, and now a pregnancy will make them to chenge their habits. But we must also consider that a scarce alimentation may also affect the natural development of pregnancy.

During pregnancy it´s not necessary to eat a little o be under a diet. Some studies confirm a higher rate of spontaneous abortions, neonatal death and low weight of the baby when she is born, in cases where the mother has eaten a small amount of calories.

The best diet when must be sufficient to feed two persons, it must be as natural as possible and nurture including all what is necessary to create a healthy baby. It´s possible that you balance the amount of food you eat in a period of 24 to 48 hours, instead of in each meal. Try not to skip meals, the baby grows continuously and may suffer if you don´t eat as you should. Junk food such as chocolate, hamburgers, tacos or french fires, among others, has a low nutrition value and will not benefit the baby in any way, as such additional calories become body fat.

Fat by itself is not bad, but as always, its excess in the body causes a lot of problems. In fact, your body will store some of it to use it in creating milk when you breast feed. It must be noted that, even if breast feeding makes you lose weight, during pregnancy you must be careful not to gain too much weight. In general, fat is deposited in the higher part of the arms and thighs, and is difficult to be eliminated.

The baby and her needs

While your baby grows inside of you, you are the sole food resource. The latter needs calories, vitamins or proteins, and your alimentation will nurture her also, therefore we insist to be careful with what you eat and give your baby the best.

Eat fruit, vegetables, beans, wheat cereal, fish, chicken and skim milk products. Several investigations have demonstrated the benefits of fish oils, such as herring, saumon and sardines, that reduce the risk of a premature labor.

Don´t forget about yourself

In all this beautiful pregnancy process, you mustn’t forget yourself. Eating healthy guarantees a happy labor, with a healthy baby ready for the world. Moreover, healthy alimentation gives you reserves during pregnancy to support and recover your own physical wear during labor.

A poor diet provokes in many women anemia and preeclampsia, besides other problems such as nausea and cramps, same that may get worse when manifesting, depending on the food taken. Therefore, it´s important you eat natural salt necessary (not the one added) present in fresh vegetables (tomate contains a lot of salt) and fruits such as banana, rich in potasium.

Your probable change of moods may intensify according to your diet. Therefore you must control your alimentation, since in addition, it may affect the level of fatigue and many other pains. Moreover, if you stop or reduce eating unuseful calories, you will have less fat to lose after giving birth to your child.

CHART

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Calories that are not necessary
We suggest you try not to eat any of the following food. These products are saturated with sugar and refined flour, in such way that they are not recommended at this time, neither for you or your beautiful baby in gestation.

  • Candy and chocolates
  • Fruit in can
  • Ice Cream
  • Artificial milk
  • Sodas and sugared juices
  • Bread, pastry, cakes, pastas, jam or confitures
  • Cereal with sugar
  • Products such as conservated food, pickles, sauces for salad, among others.
  • Recent studies seem to challenge the idea broadly spread that eating peanuts or peanut butter during pregnancy are not recommended. Such studies set forth that there is no relationship between a mother that eats peanuts and the allergies developed by the baby. However, if there is any doubt in respect eating certain food, you better disregard them.

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Treatments with medicine

There are currently some medicines that stimulate the fertility of the ovules. In past years, these treatments used to produce multiple pregnancies, a situation that has been corrected thanks to the fact that nowadays we know more over the dosage, in addition to the fact that the treatment is controlled and supervised.

The use of Clomifene

Depending on what your doctor determines, Clomifene is used as a medicine for fertility. It is taken during five days at the beginning of each menstrual cycle. This medicine incentivates the Folicule Stimulation Hormone (HEF) through the folicular gland. Its acts over the ovaries and usually stimulates the maturity of the folicule after ovulation (between five to ten days after the last pill). Its advantage relies on the fact that it has low leves of secondary affectation and a reduced percentage of multiple pregnancies. Among the secondary effects a possible link has been found among ovaric cancer after twelve cycles, for which it is suggested to be abandoned on the sixth cycle to give the opportunity of a TRA (treatments for infertility).

Policyst Ovary Syndrome (SOP)

If you suffer from SOP and after six months of treatment with Clomifene you have not been able to ovulate or conceive, your doctor may suggest a surgery called Perforation of the ovary, which consists in practicing holes in the surface of the ovary with diatermia and laser to stimulate ovulation. Moreover, it is possible to administer an injection of HEF. The treatment has a high degree of success, after three cycles.

The weight loss is a solution to the SOP, although ovulation still needs to be stimulated. Upon reducing body weight, may women recover their capacity to ovulate. It must be clarified that a woman with overweight cannot be submitted to treatment, as it increases the level of problems during pregnancy.

Medicines: Clomifene to induce ovulation, or HEF injection in women with resistence to Clomifene.

The deficiency of GnRH

The “hypothalamus” infertility with amenorrea is caused due to the absense of the GnRH hormone (releasing factor of the gonadotropina), produced in the hypothalamus, with role is to force the pituitary gland to release HEF and HL, same that stimulate ovulation. Substitute hormones tend to be used in case of absence of the GnRH, that are usually administered through intravein transfers that imitate hormonal secretion.

Fimbrioplastia

Is a microsurgical technique applied to an obstructed Fallopian tube. When it is released, an ovule may enter in the tube and find a sperm after advancing a third of the way, in order to achieve insemination.

Bromocriptina

If you have high levels of prolactine in the blood, this may impair hormonal discharges of GnRH, preventing ovulation and, therefore, conception. Bromocriptina may be used to solve this problem, a treatment that impairs the production of prolactine so the ovaries can work better. Its administration is distributed three times a day, due to its easy elimination. Some new medicines are taken once a day, inclusively, once a week.

There are no cases of abortion, premature labor, anomalies or multiple pregnancies with this treatment.

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Your baby of 18 months

Now your baby feels more secure, she hops on the furniture and likes to play with her parents; her memory is quite precise, she clearly remembers things after preparing or looking at them. This capacity allows your baby to play with you, to hide things or toys, for her to look for them.

You must invent games to keep your baby active, but that they are not so much of hard work, as you will notice that at this point you are tired, and the baby still has too much energy; be patient, the games with music may help, your baby will probably try to follow your rythmn, so you may both practice some dancing steps.

It´s not necessary for the baby to use shoes yet, she can wait but until she walks, and the best you will for a specialist to recommend the best shoes for your baby, as her feet may get tight due to a bad shoe.

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Exercising the body

The practice of exercises for all the body, will improve the tension caused by the additional weight of your baby, for which the strenthening of the muscles is important. Also, consider that with exercise you may develop ways to control your pelvix, something that will be useful for labor.

We hereinafter suggest some postures taken from studies related to yoga, we hope they are useful. Remember: keep a straight posture, unless the exercise demands other things.

  1. With the back straight, separate your feet 30 cms, put them in parallel; place your hands together behind your back and slowly lean straightwards from the waist, in a straight angle (90). Breathe and expire thoroughly several times and then reincorporate yourself.
  2. The same prior posture (folded in a straight angle and with the back straight) slowly lift your hands until you achieve it (without folding them and to the extent possible) put them above your head.

Exercises A) and B) are recommended only if you have felt comfortable with them.

  1. Tight in repeated times the pelvix area in “four feet” position with the knees separated like 30 cm. In this exercise, “tighten” the your but and the pelvix inside, in such way for the back to make an arch upwards. Stay in this position some seconds and then relax yourself, pulling your back downwards. You will experience in this position a smooth balance of the pelvix upwards and downwards.
  2. Lay down with your arms on the sides and the palms of your hands looking down. From this position, pressure the floor with your feet and lift the pelvix, in such way for your vertebrate column to raise. Go down and return to the original position, from the vertebrates, one by one. When you lift over your arms, breathe and take your breath out when going down. This exercise allows your muscles and lower part of your back to strengthen.
  3. With your back on the floor, hug your knees and keep this position while you breathe thoroughly. The lower part of the column must always be kept over the floor.
  4. Now, a variation to the foregoing. In the same position, with your back straight over the floor, only take one knee and hug it, while the other knee remains straight. Change your leg and carry out several cycles smoothly, without ceasing to breathe each time.
  5. We continue to be in the floor, with the lower part of the back touching the floor. Fold both knees and cross your feet in the part of the ankles. Turn your waist to the right, like the watch hands. Try to draw circles with the lower part of the back over the floor; then change the sense.

Turn your vertebrate column. With your arms and shoulders in the floor, take your breathe out and smoothly fold your legs with your knees together, and roll to one side of your body without losing the straight position of your back, with your face looking to the other side. Then fold your column slowly. Stay there for some seconds. Return to the center without keeping your knees folded. Repeat the exercise, now to the other side.

 

 

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¿Baby Boy or Baby Girl, X or Y?

Certain letters shed us light: our baby´s sex will depend if the inseminated sperm is a chromosome X (feminine) or a chromosome Y (masculine). Every women among its ovules, will always have the chromosome X.
It seems that chromosome X is stronger than Y. Chromosome X is bigger, slower and has a longest life span than Y. The sperm containing chromosome X seems to enjoy the vagina acidity.

¿Your baby´s sex depends on how many times you make love?

There is no evidence yet but, if you want to, you may try to find the response by yourself. It is commonly heard that having a baby boy or girl depends on how many times you make love. There is in fact no scientific evidence on this belief, but trying to prove it sounds fine.

We suggest then as follows, from more clear studies:

If you want a baby girl, you should make love some days before ovulation, remember that the sperm with chromosome X is slower and survives for more time than Y. If you want a baby boy, you should make love on the ovulation day and afterwards, since sperm Y (masculine) is faster and reaches the ovule before the feminine one.

In a nutshell, if what you wish is a beautiful baby girl, than you must make love several times, since the proportion of masculine sperms is reduced. And if you are looking for a boy, you should make love less frequently, since in such way the proportion of sperms with chromosome Y increases.

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