3 Tropical Fruits that Can Cause miscarriage

Tropical fruits are a delicious component of a healthy, balanced diet. These sweet, tangy treats are loaded with fiber, micronutrients, digestion-supporting enzymes, anti-inflammatory agents, and powerful antioxidants. Although it's safe to eat almost all fruits and vegetables in moderate quantities during pregnancy, some tropical fruits can cause complications-- including miscarriage-- if eaten in excessive quantities.

Avoid eating the following tropical fruits in large amounts, particularly during the earliest stages of pregnancy. If you have experienced pregnancy complications, such as threatened miscarriage, your health care provider may recommend avoiding these tropical fruits entirely.

Papaya

Throughout Asia-- particularly including Sri Lank, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan-- women have historically used papaya as an emergency contraceptive and abortifacient. Unripe papaya is particularly dangerous to developing embryos, since its compounds trigger powerful uterine contractions. Animal tests involving ratshave confirmed that large amounts of papaya can increase the risk of miscarriage, but have not found any adverse effects from moderate amounts of ripe papaya

Pineapple

Pineapple contains the protease enzyme bromelain-- which is chemically similar to papain in papaya. Because of this, it's likely that pineapple could exert an abortifacient effect similar to that associated with papaya. If you are pregnant, do not eat pineapple in excessive quantities, especially during the earliest stages. Also consider minimizing your use of meat tenderizer, which is made from the protein-digesting enzymes found in pineapple and papya. The National Institutes of Health explicitly urges pregnant women to avoid supplements containing isolated pineapple enzyme.

Pomegranate

An occasional pomegranate or glass of juice won't harm a developing embryo. However, large amounts of pomegranate can trigger contractions in the uterus, potentially leading to miscarriage. The contraction-stimulating compounds occur in the highest concentration in pomegranate seeds, so eating a whole pomegranate and swallowing the seeds may be the most hazardous to a pregnancy. If you are pregnant, do not swallow pomegranate seeds and consume the fruit only in moderate quantities. 

How Dangerous is Electric Shock in Pregnancy?

During pregnancy, problems that are usually minor can become catastrophic. Eating the wrong foods, catching the flu, or even cleaning a litter box can result in serious complications or even death for the mother or baby. That's why I was scared when, 22 weeks into pregnancy, I got a strong zap from a 220-volt power outlet while I was installing a washing machine. My first thought (after "OUCH!") was, "How dangerous is electric shock in pregnancy?" If you're expecting and you've recently been hit with a jolt, you're probably wondering the exact same thing.

The first thing I did was to call my midwife. Calling your prenatal health care provider as soon as possible after an accident or injury (no matter how mild it may seem) is always the safest bet during pregnancy. Your midwife or obstetrician can reassure you that everything's okay, or she may ask you to come to the office for a check-up or pay a visit to your nearest E.R. or labor and delivery unit. In my case, because it was a fairly strong shock and the office was about to close, my midwife told me to go to the emergency room.

Unfortunately, electric shock does seem to be very dangerous during pregnancy, so following your health care provider's guidance is extremely important. There isn't a lot of medical information about electric shock during pregnancy, but one review published in The Journal of Emergency Medicine had some pretty grim findings. It states, "There were 15 victims of electric shock in pregnancy. Fetal mortality (N = 11) was 73 percent, and there was only one normal pregnancy following electric shock. The fetus is much less resistant to electric shock than the mother. Any woman who suffers from an electric shock in pregnancy, however minor, requires prompt fetal monitoring and careful obstetric supervision."

A 73 percent death rate for the unborn babies of shocked moms-to-be is pretty scary, which is why you need to get help immediately if you've been zapped and you're expecting. Remember that the human body is made mostly of water, with a good amount of metal mixed in. It conducts electricity easily, which means that an electric shock can pretty easily find its way from your fingertips to your womb. If the baby survives-which only one out of four did in the study-there's still a risk that the jolt could cause preterm labor.

Still, we need to step back for a second before believing the study's findings at face value. With only 15 pregnant women studied, there's no way to draw conclusions with any certainty. To give reliable results, we would need a study investigating hundreds of times as many moms-to-be after an electric shock. Another factor to consider is that all women who were discussed in the review had tried to get medical care after the jolt. It's likely that many, many more pregnant women had experienced an electric shock, but that most moms didn't seek help unless something seemed "wrong" after the accident. We definitely don't need to assume that pregnant women who have been shocked by electricity really do have a 73 percent chance of losing their babies, but at the same time, it's important to get help to err on the side of caution.

My run-in with electric shock during pregnancy had a good outcome. The health care providers at the E.R. monitored my heart and my unborn son's heart for a little while and asked me a few questions to rule out the possibility of preterm labor. Ultimately, they found that everything seemed just fine and that the shock probably hadn't reached the baby, but I'm still glad that I was seen for an evaluation, because it put my fears at ease. If you're expecting and you've gotten a zap of electricity, go ahead and make a phone call to your health care provider to make sure everything's okay. The only way to be sure that it didn't hurt your baby is to get a careful look-over as soon as possible.

What Causes Melasma?

I've always known that the women in my family have a tendency to get darkened patches of skin on certain areas of the body. My sister first developed them during puberty, and I experienced them during pregnancy. One of my more distant relative has had persistent dark patches for nearly a decade. This common condition, known as melasma, almost exclusively affects women. Those of us who have dealt with the condition and its effects are often left wondering: what, exactly, causes melasma?

Here are some of the potential causes and contributing factors.

Melanocyte Activity

With the exception of people with albinism, all individuals have specialized skin cells known as melanocytes. These produce pigment known as melanin, which is responsible for naturally dark skin tones and for tanning. The core cause of melasma is an overactivity of melanocytes, causing them to produce too much pigment and to distribute it unevenly.

Genetics and Ethnicity

A tendency to develop melasma often runs in families. It is most common among people with medium to dark skin tones, since they tend to have more melanocytes to begin with. People of African, Central American, South American, Native American, Southeast Asian, Middle-Eastern, and Mediterranean descent are the most likely to develop melasma.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, hormonal changes stimulate an increase in the production and activity of melanocytes. This is why most women develop darkening of the areola and a dark line on the abdomen during pregnancy. In expectant mothers, melasma is known as "chloasma." It tends to resolve a no later than a few months after childbirth.

Contraceptives

The same hormones that cause melasma during pregnancy-- estrogen and progesterone-- are also used in hormonal contraceptives, including the Pill, the patch, the Depo Shot, and Nuvaring. Because of this, contraceptives can mimic some of the effects of pregnancy, including the development of melasma. If your melasma is severe, you may need to switch to a non-hormonal or low-hormone form of birth control.

Sun Exposure
Exposure to ultraviolet rays, whether through sunlight or tanning lamps, causes reactions from melanocytes. This puts women at much greater risk of developing melasma. When melasma has temporarily faded or vanished, it is likely to return after extended exposure to sunlight. The consistent and correct use of sunscreen can help to minimize the effects of melasma, while also protecting against skin cancer and sunburn-- so use it often.

If you are experiencing persistent melasma that isn't associated with any of the more common causes of the condition, get in touch with your primary health care provider. She can evaluate for signs of hormonal imbalances that might be contributing to the problem. If necessary, a referral to a dermatologist may help you find options for treatment and prevention.

What Causes Linea Nigra?

Many moms-to-be are startled by the appearance of the linea nigra, a dark line running across a pregnant woman's abdomen, and might wonder what's behind the phenomenon. The appearance of the linea nigra is a completely normal effect of pregnancy and affects roughly three quarters of expectant mothers. It is not a sign of any kind of pregnancy complication or health problem. It typically arises some time during the second trimester and then vanishes a few weeks or months after delivery.

During pregnancy, an influx of hormones stimulate melanocytes, which are specialized skin cells responsible for the production of melanin. Melanin occurs in all human beings (with the exception of those with albinism) and is responsible for the pigmentation of skin. Tanning from UV exposure is the most common reason for an increase in melanin production, but pregnancy-related hormonal changes can also cause these changes.

A pregnant woman's body increases melanocyte production and activity in order to darken her areola to make it an easier, more visible target for the baby. As a side effect of this phenomenon, some women also develop pigmented patches of skin, or a darkening of the face known as chloasma. One of the clearest and most common effects of the phenomenon is the linea nigra.

The appearance of the linea nigra varies between individuals. Very light-skinned women are somewhat less likely to develop the line. In women with skin of medium tone, the line will generally appear chocolate brown. Olive-skinned women like me might develop a coffee-colored linea nigra, while women with darker skin may have a black line. The line may start as a linea alba -- a light-colored or white line -- before it develops deeper pigmentation.

Some experts, including the staff behind "What to Expect" and BabyZone, hypothesize that folic acid supplements may help to reduce the appearance of the linea nigra. This claim appears to be nothing more than a modern-day old wives' tale. No peer-reviewed studies published on PubMed reveal any evidence to this effect. However, folic acid supplements are widely recommended during pregnancy and included in most prenatal multivitamins, so it can't hurt to use them in hopes that they might reduce the appearance of the linea nigra.

Ultimately, though, there is no reason to be concerned or self-conscious about the appearance of the linea nigra. I believe that it is one of the most beautiful features of an expectant mother's body, and it is not a sign of any kind of health problem, deficiency, or complication. If you have any concerns about your linea nigra or its appearance during pregnancy, talk to your prenatal health care provider for more information about the phenomenon and its causes. 

Causes of Itchy Rashes During Pregnancy

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I developed horribly itchy spots all over my body. I had patches of rough, unbearably itchy skin that persisted for weeks. I'd had mild eczema my whole life, but these symptoms were so intense that I thought they must have been related to some other condition. After talking to my doctor, I found out that pregnancy tends to exacerbate preexisting conditions that can cause skin rashes, and that hormonal fluctuations and stress had simply caused a severe outbreak of eczema.

Although my rash during pregnancy was caused by eczema, are many other potential causes of similar symptoms. Here are some of the possible causes of rashes during pregnancy.

Allergies

Some pregnant women become more susceptible to allergies than before, according to my doctor. This can make expectant moms especially prone to hives and dermatitis. These conditions are caused by allergic reactions and tend to be very itchy. Especially during allergy season, you might notice more allergy symptoms manifesting on your skin.

Fungal Infections

Hormonal changes and stress can make expectant moms more prone to fungal infections like ringworm and skin yeast. You might notice flaking, itchy skin on your scalp (dandruff) or under your toes (athlete's foot). These conditions are caused by fungi that overgrow on the skin and cause itchy, uncomfortable rashes. Although fungal infections are rarely serious, it's important to get them examined and treated, especially during pregnancy.

Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy

Try saying that ten times fast! This condition affects roughly 1 in 150 women and causes intensely itchy rashes. They generally begin in the stretch marks surrounding the belly button and then spread elsewhere on the body, including the thighs and legs. Although no one knows what causes PUPPP, some scientists believe that fetal cells invading the mother's skin tissue are to blame.

Shingles

During pregnancy, a woman's immune system may become compromised, making her body more susceptible to viral infections. Shingles occurs when the chicken pox virus, which most women acquire long before pregnancy, returns by taking advantage of her weakened immunity. This causes an often painful or itchy rash, usually accompanied by other symptoms such as nerve pain and severe fatigue.

Acne

Acne is extremely common during pregnancy because of hormonal changes associated with gestation. Because it can be so severe and painful compared to "ordinary" acne, it might be virtually unrecognizable. I remember developing acne on my face and back during pregnancy that I initially didn't recognize as acne. Consider this one possibility if you are experiencing itchy rashes during pregnancy.

Several other, less common conditions might also cause rashes during pregnancy. Some are related directly to the pregnancy, while others occur just as frequently in pregnant women. Although most causes of rashes during pregnancy are ultimately benign and easily managed, others warrant medical insight and support. If you are experiencing an unexplained rash during pregnancy that does not resolve quickly, talk to your prenatal health care provider for diagnosis and treatment. 

Pregnancy Dreams About Giving Birth to Animals

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I had recurrent dreams that she was actually an animal. In one dream, an ultrasound revealed a litter of dachshund pups. In another, I gave birth to a rabbit. The most memorable dream involved giving birth to a fluffy orange kitten and then yelling at my obstetrician, "Why didn't you tell me it was just a kitten? I know how to take care of a kitten! I thought I was going to have to learn how to raise a child!"

The more I talk to other moms, the more I hear about how common, if not universal, these dreams are. My friend had repeated dreams about giving birth to amphibians. My sister dreamed about having rabbits and gerbils. My neighbor dreamed about wolf cubs. I believe that all of these dreams have different meanings, depending on a woman's own subconscious mind, but they share a common thread: linking our own bodies and lives to those of animals.

One reason for this dream might be a sense of reassurance -- a message from our subconscious minds telling us that we can handle having a baby. I believe that my own dreams were largely a way of showing me that I could handle the task of caring for a child by comparing her to a kitten, something that is far easier to manage than a newborn baby. Dreams about giving birth to cats, rabbits, gerbils, dogs, or other pets may be a sign of subconscious reassurance.

Another possibility is that your mind is processing your unborn baby's development. For a pregnant mother, it can be difficult to conceptualize what a nine-week-old embryo looks like. We know that it lives in fluid, has only a primitive brain, and doesn't yet look quite human. Our brains might interpret this information to make the baby a fish, frog, or salamander. These dreams might be a way of processing what the developing baby looks like while still tying it to a relatable image of something cute and living.

During pregnancy, dreams about giving birth to animals might represent anxiety and fear. A dream about giving birth to a wolf, bear, or jaguar, for example, might be a sign that you view your pregnancy as frightening and intimidating. You might feel like a child is something you want and love, but are afraid you can't handle. These dreams may be a sign of intense stress or worry about your role as a mother or about the process of giving birth.

The dreams may also represent another kind of anxiety. An animal may be a subconscious symbol of a baby with a disfiguring birth defect or other worrisome problem. You, for example, might dream about getting a lizard or crab instead of a baby because you're afraid you might get something you don't want or didn't expect. It could represent a baby with a physical or mental disability, or even a baby who isn't the sex or appearance you'd hoped for. These dreams might be your mind's way of processing that possibility.

Skyrocketing hormones during pregnancy can cause bizarre dreams of all kinds. And, while it may be interesting to analyze them, it's important to remember that they are, essentially, just dreams. Your mind and body are both processing a lot of information during this time, and dreams about giving birth to animals are a fairly normal part of pregnancy. If the dreams are particularly stressful or upsetting to you, it can't hurt to mention them to a counselor or to your primary care provider for help with stress management and healthier sleep habits. Otherwise, take them with a grain of salt and keep an open mind about what your dreams might teach you. 

Is It Okay to Lift Heavy Objects During Pregnancy?

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I was working full-time in a high-stress retail environment. As much as I would have loved to take off time from my career or switch to a sit-down job, there was no way I could avoid the inevitable responsibilities of my job-- including, at times, lifting boxes weighing up to 50 pounds.

I heard warnings from many well-meaning advisers, who insisted that the strain of lifting weight would cause me to have a miscarriage. Of course, I didn't have a miscarriage-- my daughter was born full-term and perfectly healthy. But is there any major risk associated with lifting heavy objects during pregnancy? Here are some points to consider.

1. Lifting heavy objects will not cause a miscarriage. There is no compelling evidence suggesting a link between lifting weight and miscarriage. This common misconception is ultimately no more than an old wives' tale, based in a traditional belief that pregnant women should avoid any form of physical exertion. Dr. Raul Artal, an obstetrician, notes that there are no professional guidelines stipulating weight-lifting limits for expectant mothers.

2. Many pregnant women lift large amounts of weight safely. I'm not the only mother who has safely lifted heavy objects during pregnancy. My sister teaches kindergarten and regularly picks up her students, most of whom weigh over forty pounds. She continued to do this throughout both of her pregnancies, and has had completely healthy babies both times. Her own obstetrician completely supports her doing this, so long as it does not cause discomfort. We are among the thousands, or millions, of women who have done this throughout pregnancy with full approval from our health care providers.

3. Back strain is a more significant problem. You don't need to limit the amount of weight you lift in order to protect your baby-- the baby will most likely not suffer any ill effects from lifting weight. However, you are more susceptible to back injury during pregnancy, so it is a good idea to use caution to protect your own health and wellbeing. While lifting a heavy object won't cause you to miscarry, it's important to consider your own health.

4. Check with your obstetrician or midwife. Women with high-risk pregnancies or medical conditions may be at a greater risk of complications caused by physical activity in general. For example, if you have pre-eclampsia or are expecting multiples, any form of strong physical exertion may be discouraged by your health care provider. Get in touch with your obstetrician or midwife if you are concerned about the risks of lifting heavy objects during pregnancy-- especially if oyu have any reason to suspect that it could endanger your health or your baby's.

5. Take extra precautions to keep yourself safe and healthy. While you probably don't have to avoid lifting heavy objects altogether, you should take extra precautions to prevent injuries or complications. Do not do the Valsalva maneuver-- in which you exhale without actually releasing air. Breathe deeply and steadily while lifting on object to maintain good bloodflow to the unborn baby. If you must lift heavy objects or children frequently, consider getting a back belt for extra support. And, as always, lift with your knees-- not your back-- and stop as soon as you feel any sign of impending pain or injury.

Always defer to the judgment of a professional health care provider if you are concerned about the safety of a specific activity or occupation during pregnancy.