Weight gain during the pregnancy is very individual and rarely steady. Mother’s initial weight is also significant; thin women may gain often up to 30 kilos additional weight during their first pregnancy and comparatively, the weight gain for an overweight mother may be as few as 5-6 kilos. At times it may feel, especially in early pregnancy, that nothing in the world can keep the weight gain in check. The hormonal factors cause swelling, constipation, breast growth and the increase of blood during the first three months of the pregnancy. As the pregnancy advances, the weight gain becomes perhaps a little more logical and watching what you eat can control it. The last stages of pregnancy are another story; weight seems to change a kilo up or down. This is most commonly just swelling that is harmless, that may be decreased by reducing the salt and sugar use and increasing rest and drinking water. The swelling is related to the size of the baby in relation to the mother, and the larger the baby, the more substantial the swelling. When the weight changes during the last stages of pregnancy, the childbirth is usually close. Unfortunately so many of the expecting mothers today seem to have a nightmarish fear of additional weight during the pregnancy. The rule of thumb is that the lower the initial weight of the mother, the more weight gain may, and should, occur. For those who are clearly overweight at the beginning of pregnancy, they should seriously consider their own diet. It is not necessary to weight oneself too often during the pregnancy. If you eat healthy—regularly and several small meals during the day, drop the use of sugar and fat use to minimum and have sufficient exercise, nothing else is needed. There is no point asking from the scales whether you have eaten well, you know it yourself. If you want to use the scales in following the pregnancy, it is best to weigh yourself always at home with the same scale and at the same time of day, for example in the morning before getting dressed and having breakfast. It is absolutely sufficient to weigh oneself only in the mornings of the clinic visits.

- Is it okay to sleep on your back during pregnancy?

For some mothers it is impossible to sleep on their back, especially during the last stages of pregnancy. They may feel sick and have a hard time breathing. The baby and the uterus may press on the blood vessels on the spine so that the mother’s blood pressure drops while lying down. If the mother’s blood pressure drops significantly, the blood circulation of the placenta is reduced and the baby’s oxygen level is endangered. This does not happen without the mother noticing, however. During the last stages of the pregnancy, the mothers sleep poorly, they toss and turn and have to go to the bathroom. The sleep is often very superficial. While the mothers are having these “catnaps”, they are subconsciously observing the baby’s well-being. If lying on your back is not causing nausea and a need to turn on the side, there is no danger in sleeping on your back.

- Is there a reason to worry, when the fingers are starting to feel numb?

Swelling is a fairly common problem during the last stages of pregnancy. Usually the swelling is in the face in the morning and toward the evening, the water is usually in the legs. For some mothers, the swelling and water retention may cause uncomfortable feeling of numbness in the hands. The feeling is usually worst at night and in the morning. The finger joints may feel “arthritic” and like they don’t function. Usually the right hand, and especially the middle fingers of the right hand, is the numbest. The situation usually improves rapidly after the childbirth. The swelling may be reduced somewhat with neck massage and salt restriction.

- Is it mandatory to eat additional iron during the pregnancy?

The hemoglobin level is usually measured at least three times at the clinic during pregnancy. Hemoglobin carries the oxygen in our system and if the hemoglobin level is very low, the mother feels herself exhausted and lacking strength. Headache can sometimes be the cause of low hemoglobin. If the HB-level is low during the early pregnancy, it is recommended that iron intake be started around the week 13. The iron supplement should be taken on an empty stomach. At least dairy, cocoa, chocolate, tea and bran hinder the iron absorption. These should not be eaten an hour before or after taking an iron supplement. Water or fresh juices are good to take iron with. The mothers who may feel nausea after taking iron have told that a banana helps the feeling. Some have made a habit of taking the iron supplements during the nightly bathroom breaks. There are some differences in the iron supplements. Others absorb immediately in the stomach and may cause nausea, diarrhea or constipation with those that have a sensitive stomach. The supplements that release the iron into the digestive track in the small intestine may cause fewer problems. Hemoglobin level is usually the lowest during the middle of the pregnancy, around week 26. Before the childbirth, HB usually rises back to the same levels as during the early pregnancy. Obviously there is some blood loss during the childbirth and the subsequent bleeding, so it is good that the HB level is relatively high.