Being pregnant can take a toll on our bodies, and it can also be very tiring. But as our fertility specialist Dr. Marjorie Dixon explains, there are a few things that pregnant women can do to keep those nine months as healthy as can be. Here are a few common pregnancy questions we received from our viewers, and Marjorie’s answers:

1) I’m noticing my gums bleed during my pregnancy — is this normal?

• Maintain your gum health. Swelling and bleeding in the gums is a possibility, due to the extra blood flow needed throughout your body during pregnancy. Make sure to take extra care of your teeth and gums throughout. For example, give your mouth a good rinse after a trip to the toilet for morning sickness. Gingivitis can be avoided by carefully brushing your teeth, flossing, and using mouthwash. If your gums bleed a lot and/or you experience a foul-smelling mouth, Dr. Dixon says that’s not normal. Getting bacteria in your gums could also result in a gum disease called periodontitis, a more severe stage of gingivitis.
• Schedule those dental X-ray appointments to a later time in the pregnancy. The most important time to not have an X-ray is during the first trimester, since that’s the time that the baby’s organs are developing in a process called organogenesis.

2) Is it normal to suffer from hemorrhoids after the birth of my baby?

• Hemorrhoids are a result of pelvic congestion because it’s hard for the blood to return back the way it came. There are both internal and external hemorrhoids, and they can get very uncomfortable. If it’s 6-8 months after the pregnancy and you’re losing some of that baby weight, the hemorrhoids may (hopefully!) go away slowly. But Marjorie says there’s a chance in a few cases that they might need to be surgically removed.

3) I love my morning coffee, but my partner and I are trying to conceive — what’s a safe amount?

• It’s best to limit your caffeine. Dr. Dixon says a safe amount of caffeine is one cup of any caffeinated drink per day. This can range from coffee and soda to caffeinated tea. Caffeine’s a vessel constrictor, and when you’re trying to conceive or are pregnant, you want to have as much blood flow to your pelvis, ovaries and uterus as possible. Remember, when Marjorie says one cup, she means a small cup — not an extra large from your favourite coffee shop!

For more information on these common pregnancy questions from Dr. Dixon, see the video below:

Courtesy of Dr. Marjorie Dixon
www.firststepsfertility.ca
@drmarjoriedixon