Participants: Patti Barnes
Series Code: DIV
Program Code: DIV000007A
|
00:01 The contents of the following program are not intended
00:04 to substitute for the advice of your healthcare provider, 00:07 and the producers of this series 00:09 assume no liability 00:10 for the use or misuse of the material presented. 00:20 Creation or evolution, design or random chance, 00:27 they say it all began with a big bang, 00:31 but when we look at the amazing human body, 00:33 the answer is obvious. 00:36 The complexity of the design exceeds anything 00:38 man has ever made. 00:41 The body, it only have been designed 00:43 by the Master Designer we read about in the Bible. 00:47 Join us, 00:49 as we explore the miraculous development 00:51 of the human baby. 01:07 Divine Design. 01:26 Hello, I'm Patti Barnes, 01:28 the director of the Midwifery Program 01:30 at Hartland College. 01:32 I like to share with you a few of the common complaints 01:35 expected mothers have during pregnancy. 01:38 By the way, 01:39 when we use the word complaints here, 01:41 we should understand that 01:43 we are talking about murmuring and complaining. 01:45 We're just using the medical sense of the word. 01:48 In other words, physical discomforts. 01:51 In the devotional book Reflecting Christ, 01:53 page 165 we read, 01:56 "Man is God's workmanship, His masterpiece, 01:59 created for a high and holy purpose 02:01 and on every part of the human tabernacle 02:04 God desires to write his law." 02:06 What a wonderful thought, 02:08 the human tabernacle is the body of the flesh 02:11 we inhabit and Jesus wants to inhabit it with us. 02:16 And write his law on every part 02:19 as the great Apostle Paul said, 02:22 "Christ in you, the hope of glory." 02:26 Pain can be a tool in the hand of God 02:29 to bring us closer to Christ and make us stronger. 02:33 In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul wrote, 02:38 "And he said unto me, 02:39 My grace is sufficient for thee: 02:41 for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 02:44 Most gladly therefore 02:45 will I rather glory in my infirmities, 02:47 that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 02:51 As you know God's original plan for bearing children 02:54 didn't include the pain and sorrow 02:56 that resulted from the fall. 02:58 But be of the courage, 03:00 our creator is all wise 03:02 and knows that even though we might not recognize it, 03:05 our pains and discomforts have a divine purpose. 03:09 You know, designed to work for us, 03:11 not against us. 03:13 In our weakness, 03:14 we are directed to look up to Him 03:17 who is able to help us. 03:19 Let us look at a few other complaints of pregnant women. 03:24 Nausea at the beginning of pregnancy 03:26 is often referred to as morning sickness. 03:30 This is one of the first signs of pregnancy. 03:34 And usually occurs during the first trimester. 03:37 Usually occurring right round the seventh week, 03:40 the good news is that in the vast majority of cases 03:45 there is no threat or danger 03:47 to either the mother or the baby. 03:50 There are some rare cases however, 03:52 when continuous vomiting may require hospitalization. 03:56 This extreme condition is called Hyperemesis Gravidarum. 04:01 In such cases, 04:03 it is essential to have the electrolytes restored 04:06 and the vomiting brought under control. 04:08 Morning sickness is really a misnomer. 04:11 For it's neither a sickness 04:13 nor is it restricted to the morning. 04:15 Although it maybe experienced more in the morning. 04:19 It's brought on by rapid hormonal changes 04:21 that take place in the mother 04:23 during the early stages of pregnancy. 04:25 It's normal and the silver lining around this 04:29 is it generally speaking miscarriages are less likely 04:33 if the mother is experiencing nausea. 04:37 By the way, if you're carrying twins, 04:39 the nausea probably would be a little worse. 04:42 But take heart, 04:43 nausea usually subsides around the 13th week, 04:47 which is the end of the first trimester. 04:50 There is some comfort measures that can be taken 04:52 to alleviate the symptoms of nausea. 04:55 A good well round of diet of wholesome foods will help. 04:59 Avoid fatty foods, and especially fried foods. 05:02 Foods that are easily digested should be the diet of choice. 05:06 It's also important to stay well hydrated, 05:09 drink copious amounts of water. 05:11 You're going to need extra while you're pregnant 05:14 and if you're vomiting, 05:15 you'll need to replace those lost fluids. 05:19 Ginger is often helpful in alleviating nausea. 05:23 But don't over do it, 05:24 ginger can have a tendency to thin your blood. 05:27 Peppermint tea may also be effective in reducing nausea. 05:30 Open the windows to fresh air and finally avoid fumes 05:35 and disagreeable odors, 05:37 because during pregnancy you'll find, 05:40 you're more sensitive to smells. 05:42 But look at the bright side, this heightened sense of smell 05:46 will cause you to avoid smoke and fumes 05:48 that could be harmful to both you and your baby. 05:52 Now next, 05:53 let's talk about heartburn or indigestion. 05:56 There is an old wise tale that says that 05:59 heartburn is the indication 06:01 that the baby will have a lot of hair. 06:04 Of course, this isn't true. 06:06 There is actually a burning sensation in esophagus 06:10 that may be cause 06:11 by the relaxing effect of progesterone 06:13 in the cardiac's being through the stomach, 06:16 which allows for stomach acid to back up into the esophagus. 06:20 As the uterus grows, 06:22 it pushes up against the stomach 06:24 which may also contribute to this acid backup. 06:28 So what are some things you can do 06:31 to help relieve the situation? 06:33 Not drinking with your meals will help, 06:35 so that you can more easily digest your food 06:37 and prevent some of that acid reflux. 06:40 Avoid fried and spicy foods 06:42 and stick with those easily digested and nutritious items. 06:47 It is also recommended 06:49 that you not lie down right after eating. 06:51 But take a walk instead. 06:53 While in bed, lie on your left side 06:56 because laying on the right side 06:58 places the esophagus below the stomach. 07:01 You may find it helpful to pop yourself up a little 07:04 when you go to bed. 07:06 Don't eat late in the evening, 07:07 allow time for digestion before retiring. 07:11 Now, let's talk about frequent urination. 07:14 The need to urinate often occurs 07:16 during the first trimester 07:18 due to pressure on the bladder because the uterus is below. 07:22 As a uterus grows, 07:24 it also rises taking pressure off the bladder. 07:27 Near the end of pregnancy, 07:29 as the baby descends into the pelvis, 07:31 direct pressure is once again exerted on the bladder 07:35 and frequent urination occurs again. 07:39 The problem is that 07:40 you need to drink lots of water, 07:41 so please don't dehydrate yourself 07:44 in attempt to ward off the surge to urinate. 07:47 But what you can do is stop drinking a couple of hours 07:50 before bedtime to help prevent nocturia. 07:53 You should also avoid beverages 07:55 that have a diuretic effect like coffee and tea, 07:58 and of course alcohol. 08:00 All right, let's talk about back pain in pregnancy. 08:05 Now back pain is common and understandably so. 08:10 You're gaining weight 08:11 and your posture is naturally changing, 08:13 putting a little more strain on your back muscles. 08:16 Try to keep your posture straight 08:18 and avoid standing for prolong periods. 08:21 It will also be helpful 08:23 if you remember to bend at the knees 08:25 when you need to bend over 08:27 rather than bending at the waist. 08:29 Comfortable low heeled shoes rather than high heels 08:32 will also help take the strain of the back. 08:36 When in bed, tacking a pillow under your abdomen, 08:39 behind your back and between your knees, 08:41 they offer some support and comfort. 08:45 Hydrotherapy is also an excellent way to bring relief. 08:49 This can be done with warm towels applied to the back 08:52 or a more convenient way 08:54 is simply using a hot water bottle. 08:57 The heat will relax the back muscles 08:59 but just remember, 09:00 do not get it too hot which might burn the skin. 09:05 Another common discomfort 09:07 that shows up mainly in a second trimester 09:09 as the uterus is growing 09:11 is what is called round ligament pain. 09:14 These are the ligaments that hold up the uterus in place. 09:19 And say you're being stretched, 09:20 you may feel a sharp pain in the lower abdomen 09:24 on either side and down the legs. 09:27 Some things you might try to alleviate 09:29 these pains are rising from a sitting position slowly, 09:33 bending toward the pain 09:35 which will ease the strain on the ligaments, 09:38 avoid twisting motions, try walking. 09:43 And if the ligaments feel like they are in a spasm, 09:46 massaging may bring relief by relaxing that area. 09:51 If the pain is intense, 09:52 you may want to check with your healthcare provider 09:55 to rule out appendicitis or any other serious condition. 10:00 Next, let's talk about varicose veins. 10:03 These are swollen knotted veins mostly appearing in the legs, 10:08 but may occur elsewhere. 10:10 This is caused by increased pressure in the veins 10:13 due to the growing weight of the abdomen. 10:15 In addition, hormones are softening the vein walls. 10:19 As the vein swell, 10:21 they can lead to aching and throbbing. 10:23 Here are a few recommendations to relief their causatives. 10:28 Avoid standing for long periods. 10:31 Pop your legs up when sitting. 10:33 Avoid crossing your legs 10:35 which will only hinder circulation. 10:38 Walking regular will encourage 10:40 better blood flow and relieve pressure. 10:43 Avoid constriction caused by tight bands. 10:47 Some doctors recommend support hose 10:50 as long as they're not too tight. 10:52 Wear comfortable shoes and avoid excess weight gain. 10:58 The last one we have time to discuss is that of fatigue. 11:01 Fatigue is caused by several factors. 11:04 First of all, 11:05 much of your body's energy is being invested 11:08 in the development of the baby support system. 11:12 The placenta is under construction 11:14 and will attacks your nutrient supply. 11:17 You have hormonal fluctuations taking place 11:20 that will affect your motions and cause mood swings 11:23 which also contribute to the fatigue. 11:26 You also having to bear more and more weight 11:29 as the baby grows. 11:31 Discomforts may be to some irregular sleep 11:34 and we all knew that pain can be tiring. 11:37 One thing you want to be 11:39 should have checked is your iron level. 11:42 Low iron can lead to fatigue 11:44 and your body is naturally going to require more iron 11:47 as your baby grows. 11:49 Other things you can do include 11:51 maintaining a regular schedule, 11:54 taking a nap during the day if necessary, exercising, 11:59 although you might think 12:00 that leads to more fatigue will actually build you up, 12:04 so to have more stamina. 12:07 We are talking about simple exercise 12:09 like walking outdoors in the sunshine. 12:12 Again, drink plenty of water 12:15 as Dr. Trash used to say, 12:17 it can perk you up like a wilting flower. 12:21 Avoid stimulants like coffee and tea. 12:23 They will only pick you up to let you down even more. 12:27 And the same goes for sugary snacks. 12:30 Give yourself daily to Jesus and claim the promise. 12:34 "He giveth power to the faint, 12:37 and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 12:41 But they that wait upon the Lord 12:42 shall renew their strength, 12:44 they shall mount up with wings as eagles, 12:47 they shall run, and not be weary, 12:49 and they shall walk and not faint." 12:52 Walk with God 12:55 A calm 12:58 And heavenly frame 13:06 A light to shine 13:11 Upon the road 13:17 That leads me to the Lamb! 13:27 Return, O holy Dove 13:35 Return 13:38 Sweet messenger of rest! 13:48 I hate the sins that made 13:55 Thee mourn 13:57 And drove Thee from my breast 14:05 Join me next time for more of Divine Design. 14:07 What peaceful hours 14:12 I once enjoyed! 14:17 How sweet their memory still! 14:26 But they have... |
Revised 2016-10-10