Female Care

How much weight gain is appropriate during pregnancy depends on your pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). For a pre-pregnancy BMI of 18.5 to 25, the ideal weight gain should be somewhere between 25 and 35 pounds. An initial weight gain of 2 to 5 pounds is usually followed by a weekly gain of 1 pound in a normal pregnancy. If you have twins the gain usually falls between 35 and 45 pounds. Women who were overweight at the time of conception usually gain around 15 pounds and those who were underweight gain between 30 to 40 pounds. In case of obesity, your gain should not exceed fifteen pounds.

The most obvious impact of the weight gain can be seen in the form of pains and aches that you will have as your pregnancy progresses. A back ache is the most common complaint, followed by an awkward walk (thanks to your new found tummy). Another complain is of swollen legs, but that has nothing to with weight. It is a result of increased blood flow. Continue reading »

Gastric bypass is the most commonly carried out operation for weight loss in the United States with nearly 140,000 procedures being done per year Performed for over 50 years, a lot of surgeons have grown up with gastric bypass surgery and possess a very effective understanding of both its risks and benefits.

In many cases gastric bypass is the final option when other forms of weight loss and dieting have been unsuccessful and where you are substantially overweight. This generally means that you have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 40, or greater than 35 with an accompanying condition which increases the risk of premature death or disability. Those conditions can include type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and liver disease among others. In simple terms this translates into being some 100 pounds above your ideal weight. Continue reading »

Where serious dieting and exercising fail, surgical weight loss procedures often succeed. One popular surgical weight loss procedures is laparoscopic gastric banding, better known as Lap Band. Lap Band has become an increasingly popular, less invasive alternative to Gastric Bypass surgery. Lap Band surgery can provide fast weight loss with very few risks associated with the surgery.

In order to be eligible for a surgical weight loss procedure, you must meet one of two criteria. You must have a BMI (body mass index) of 40 or have an illness attributed to your obesity. With a BMI of 40 or more a person is considered morbidly obese and the health of the patient is at serious risk. Morbidly obese candidates have more than 100 pounds of excessive weight who have seriously attempted to lose weight with diet and exercise without success.

The Lap Band procedure uses a laparoscope, inserted through small incisions in the abdomen to direct the surgeon where to place the gastric band. By putting a gastric band at the top of the stomach, surgeons are able to reduce the size of the stomach, causing the patient to take in less food than they are used to. As a result, weight loss can be achieved. Where the band is placed, and the tightness of the band both determine the amount of weight the patient will lose and how fast they will lose it. The whole procedure takes roughly forty-five minutes. In most cases patients only stay overnight one night and are released the day after the procedure. Continue reading »

In recent years, gastric bypass surgery has become a more accepted method of treating obesity. While it may seem an easy fix, this surgery can be dangerous and may have complications. How do you know if it is the right decision for you? You need to be sure that you are well-informed before jumping into a major surgery such as gastric bypass.

Gastric bypass surgery is basically designed to make the stomach much smaller and to bypass a portion of the small intestine. The actual procedure is to staple the stomach to form only a small pouch at the top. This reduced stomach is then connected to the small intestine, but in the middle of the small intestine, allowing any ingested food to bypass the majority of the stomach and half of the small intestine, where many nutrients (and calories) would normally be absorbed.

If this sounds drastic, that’s because it is. Gastric bypass surgery is not for the faint of heart. It is usually only recommended in extreme cases of obesity, although ultimately it has become more of a cure-all for those suffering from overweight. It is always best to try natural weight loss methods first, including exercise and proper diet. Continue reading »

Everybody needs good nutrition but the need for healthy food by pregnant women is more critical. This is because food nourishes both the mother and unborn child. If you are expecting and want to stay healthy for the duration of your pregnancy, you will need to be mindful of what you eat and the sufficiency of the nutrients you are taking in. On the other hand, if you are yet on the planning stage of having a baby, this will be the perfect time to learn about pregnancy nutrition. Eating healthy even before you try conceiving is the best way to prepare your body for pregnancy. It is best for you to work together with your partner in aiming for a healthy pregnancy for your sake and that of your baby. This will ensure that your child will receive the appropriate nourishment for proper growth and development. Continue reading »