DID YOU KNOW THAT?

....The dizziness you feel when you lie flat in bed or when you get up suddenly, is not only due to pregnancy, but it can be a symptom of "hypotensive syndrome"? Yet, some women suffer from this syndrome during pregnancy. This happens when you lie on your back, because it induces change in your heart rate and blood pressure, which brings dizziness until you change position. You may notice even a feeling of fainting, if you stand for too long or when "jumping off" the bed very fast. So, you have to be very careful this time and not do any sudden movements. This is not the time now... to dive on the floor!

Some old friends -heartburn and constipation- may now become your best friends. The pregnancy hormone (progesterone) relaxes muscle tissues throughout your body, including the gastrointestinal tract. This relaxation, coupled with the crowding of organs in your abdomen, eventually slows down digestion. A slow digestion can cause gas and heartburn -especially after a large meal- and can significantly contribute to constipation.

All this pressure on your gastrointestinal system may also contribute to worsening the haemorrhoids. The swelling of these blood vessels in the rectal area are common during pregnancy and usually settles after it ends. If itching is painful, you can place cold compresses on the area, after of course consulting your doctor first. Avoid standing and sitting for long periods within the day. To prevent constipation, what you can do is a fibre-rich diet and plenty of water and regular exercise.

Do you happen to think about what can happen at work, while you will be gone, but mostly when you return to work? What we can tell you is that based on current data, your employer will give you the required pregnancy and postpartum leave, as the law requires. This differs in the private than in the public sector. You will decide when you need to start taking your leave, depending on how you feel in the last months of pregnancy, along with the advice of your physician. Usually pregnant women, if everything is fine, can continue to work until the 7th, but usually no longer than the 8th month of pregnancy.