Pregnant women often face unexpected problems

Pregnant women often face unexpected problems

JAKARTA (JP): In local traditional society, there is nothing a
married woman looks forward to more than being pregnant and
having a baby.

When the dream eventually comes true, it is usually
accompanied by anxiety. There may be "unexpected" changes that
the prospective mother will find disturbing and confusing at the
same time.

Among the most common physical changes are darkening
complexion -- or hyperpigmentation -- on some parts of their
bodies, loss of hair, weight gain and a weakening of the hips.

Noted gynecologist and sex consultant Boyke Dian Nugraha says
the changes are just part of the natural process for expectant
mothers.

Boyke says some women find the changes disturbing and
confusing, particularly when they become pregnant soon after
getting married and are still trying to adjust to their new life.

Without the support and understanding of their husbands,
expectant mothers can be overwhelmed by the changes.

"The husband's support and understanding is very important
during this tiring and long waiting period. By understanding the
changes that his wife is going through, he will help ease his
wife's anxiety about being beautiful during and after she has a
baby," he said when speaking during a seminar on pregnancy at
Pantai Indah Kapuk Hospital on Saturday.

The seminar featured a number of experts on pregnancy who
provided information on how to help expectant mothers understand
their physical and emotional changes and overcome their fears.

"During pregnancy, 90 percent of women will experience
hyperpigmentation, or a darkening of their complexion, mostly in
their cheeks, belly, armpits, the inside part of their thighs and
around their nipples. Changes in their skin, which is caused by
increased production of the estrogen hormone, will remain until
the postnatal period and disappear about a year later," Boyke
said.

Expectant women should not be worried by this change because
hyperpigmentation is common and can be helped by applying beauty
creams or moisturizers, he added.

"But don't scratch the belly even if it itches because
scratching will leave scars that do not easily disappear."

He also said those pregnant women who began to lose hair
should not worry either, because it is a normal process caused by
the increased production of estrogen, which slows down and even
stops hair growth.

"The process will continue for four to 20 weeks after the end
of the pregnancy," said Boyke, advising pregnant women to use
hair tonic to strengthen their hair.

Expectant mothers will also find that their breasts become
larger -- a natural process that prepares them for breast-feeding
-- and their vaginas become bluish and moister than usual.

Boyke also told those in attendance at the seminar that
pregnant women could continue to have sex if their gynecologists
declared their pregnancies normal.

"But couples should avoid having sex, or they should use a
safer technique, under certain circumstances, such as for women
who have a history of miscarriage," said Boyke.

After giving birth, a couple's sex life can return to normal
after 42 days, or six weeks.

"The husband should patiently wait for over 42 days. At that
time, his wife's reproductive organ will have recovered, and
mentally she will have recovered from the traumatic experience of
giving birth and adjusted to her baby's habits."

Gaining weight

The most common complaint during pregnancy is gaining weight.
According to Boyke, there's no need to worry about weight gains
during pregnancy since it is important to assure the proper
growth of the fetus and sufficient nourishment for both the fetus
and the mother.

"The most ideal weight increase is between 10.5 and 17
kilograms ... and during pregnancy, women should stop smoking and
dieting," Boyke said.

The physical changes experienced by pregnant women are
accompanied by emotional changes, which vary from woman to woman
depending on how emotionally prepared they are for the pregnancy.

Some expectant mothers, for example, experience the syndrome
locally known as ngidam, where they crave certain foods, while
others experience morning sickness, which makes them reluctant to
eat.

"During this period, the husband's role is important in
ensuring his wife gets the necessary nutrients for both the
unborn baby and herself," Boyke said.

Citing an example, he said if women did not like to drink
milk, their husbands should persuade them to eat ice cream. "They
have to eat, anything, as long as they don't vomit it back up."

He also advised husbands to pay greater attention to their
expectant wives. "The wife who is ngidam usually is craving for
her husband's attention. Basically, the expectant woman needs
more attention, more love and wants to share her feelings with
her husband." (ste)