Patient's question:
Two instances of withered eggs, is it due to poor constitution and inadequate nutrition? If it's a nutrition issue, how should one check to confirm it?Doctor's answer:
Hello: According to your situation, we are unable to assist you.I. Prenatal Health Care
After pregnancy, various physiological changes occur, with the reproductive system being the most significant. Regular prenatal check-ups are necessary to detect abnormalities early and take the following preventive measures.
1. Dietary Adjustment
Early pregnancy symptoms such as decreased appetite, nausea, and fatigue are normal and do not affect daily activities. Treatment is generally not required. A balanced diet should be maintained, rich in vitamins and protein, and easily digestible. Avoid spicy and stimulating foods. Medications should not be taken without consulting a doctor.
2. Balance Rest and Activity
Avoid strenuous physical labor or exercise after pregnancy. Lifting heavy objects or engaging in high-risk activities is also discouraged. Ensure adequate sleep and maintain a regular lifestyle.
3. Keep Warm and Avoid Cold
In the early stages of pregnancy, the body's defensive qi is relatively weak, making it susceptible to colds. Clothing should be warm, loose, comfortable, and soft to avoid tightness that hinders blood circulation and affects fetal development.
4. Maintain Cleanliness
Maintain cleanliness of the external genitalia and skin during pregnancy. Bathe frequently and change underwear and sanitary pads regularly. Warm water should be used to clean the nipples, and gentle pulling or palm massage can prevent inverted nipples.
5. Pay Attention to Fetal Education
During pregnancy, a woman's thoughts, vision, hearing, and actions should be proper, as this can positively influence the fetus. This is known as fetal education. Fetal education has been emphasized by many medical experts. The Ye Family Gynecology and Treatment states: "Calm rest before pregnancy is the best method. Avoid disputes, and the qi will not be damaged. Avoid competition for gain or loss, and the spirit will not be exhausted. Avoid jealousy, and the blood will naturally be abundant. Avoid lewdness, and the essence will naturally be sufficient. Tranquility and calmness are fetal education. A pregnant woman's lifestyle, thoughts, and actions can significantly impact the fetus, a fact recognized by modern medicine. Since a mother's emotions and physical condition can affect the fetus, maintaining a positive mental state and listening to pleasant music can benefit fetal development and temperament training.
6. Strictly Avoid Sexual Intercourse
Frequent sexual activity can damage kidney qi and lead to miscarriage. Especially in the first three months of pregnancy, caution is crucial to prevent miscarriage. After the third month, avoiding sexual activity can lead to premature birth or postpartum infection. Therefore, strictly avoiding sexual intercourse is very important.
7. Prenatal Check-ups
At three months of pregnancy, measure baseline blood pressure and perform pelvic examinations to assess the relationship between the uterus size and gestational age, as well as pelvic conditions. Regular prenatal check-ups should be conducted after five months of pregnancy. If abnormalities such as edema, high blood pressure, or proteinuria are detected during pregnancy, timely treatment is necessary. If vaginal bleeding, discharge, or abdominal cramps occur near the due date, seek immediate medical attention.
8. Remember the "Six Characters"
During labor, fear and tension are unnecessary. Medical staff should provide care and educate patients with the "Six Characters" (Sleep, Endure Pain, Slow Delivery) to avoid premature labor. Encourage eating and resting, and if necessary, consume tonics like ginseng or longan soup to boost energy and expedite labor. In case of difficult labor or emergencies, medical staff must remain calm and take decisive action.
9. How to Prevent Constipation and Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy
To prevent constipation, develop a habit of regular bowel movements, even without the urge. Additionally, consume fiber-rich foods and vegetables such as cornmeal, sweet potatoes, celery, and rapeseed. Fruits like bananas, pears, and apples can also aid digestion. Drinking a cup of salted or honeyed water in the morning promotes bowel movements. Moderate exercise, such as walking or gymnastics, can enhance intestinal motility and promote defecation. For excessively dry stools, 30 milliliters of liquid paraffin can be taken, or suppositories like glycerin can soften the stool. However, strong laxatives like castor oil or senna leaves should be avoided to prevent excessive uterine contractions, which could lead to miscarriage or premature birth.
To prevent hemorrhoids, first address constipation and pay attention to the pregnant woman's posture. Avoid prolonged standing or sitting and change positions frequently to reduce congestion in the hemorrhoidal veins. Sleeping on the left side at night can prevent the enlarged uterus from compressing veins. During delivery, avoid prolonged downward straining, and if hemorrhoids prolapse postpartum, return them immediately. Use a cloth soaked in a 33% magnesium sulfate solution to externally apply to the affected area for swelling and contraction. Then, apply ointment to the hemorrhoid and gently push it back into the anus. Severe pain may require external hemorrhoid cream or oral sophora japonica pills.
10. Why Prevent Colds in Early Pregnancy
It has been discovered that most viruses related to human diseases can enter the fetus through the placenta, affecting fetal development, causing deformities, or even leading to fetal death. Therefore, pregnant women should strive to avoid viral infections.
Common colds and influenza are respiratory infections caused by viruses. The main pathogen of the common cold is rhinovirus, which can affect almost everyone year-round. Symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, cough, body aches, and low fever. While the common cold generally has minimal impact on the fetus, prolonged high temperatures (around 39°C) may increase the risk of teratogenic effects.
Influenza, caused by influenza viruses, spreads through air and droplets (sneeze, saliva, sputum) and is highly contagious, often leading to widespread outbreaks. Symptoms include chills, fever, headache, fatigue, body aches, and nasal congestion, which may become more apparent after the fever subsides. Recovery is slow due to significant physical exhaustion. Influenza viruses can cause fetal deformities, and high fever and viral toxicity can stimulate uterine contractions, leading to miscarriage or premature birth. A survey of 56 malformed fetuses found that 10 mothers had experienced influenza between pregnancy and the 50th day. Due to the severity of influenza, medications like antipyretics, sedatives, and antibiotics are often required, and their use must be guided by a doctor.
During pregnancy, preventing viral infections requires good nutrition, enhanced immunity, and avoiding contact with colds. Avoid crowded public places during flu outbreaks.
11. Why Perform Vaginal Examinations in Early Pregnancy
During the first prenatal check-up, a routine vaginal examination is performed. Many pregnant women refuse due to concerns about fetal impact, which is incorrect. The growth and delivery of the fetus are closely related to the mother's reproductive organs, especially during delivery when the fetus passes through the cervix, vagina, and external genitalia. Without knowledge of the soft birth canal, unexpected complications or difficult labor during the later stages of pregnancy may lead to adverse outcomes for both mother and child.
Vaginal examinations help assess the following:
1) External genitalia: Inflammation, tissue elasticity, and scars.
2) Vagina: Inflammation, deformities (septum, longitudinal septum), scars; leukorrhea tests for trichomonas, fungi, and gonorrhea.
3) Cervix: Tightness, firmness, erosion, inflammation, or deformities.
4) Uterus size and gestational age match; myomas or deformities (e.g., double uterus, double horn uterus).
5) Ovarian tumors.
Abnormalities should be addressed promptly to prevent miscarriage or premature birth. Ovarian tumors should be removed by the fourth month of pregnancy to avoid torsion. Vaginal infections require treatment. Vaginal septa or longitudinal septa may be surgically incised or delivered via cesarean section during labor. These measures ensure safe delivery and protect the fetus.
Vaginal examinations should be conducted in early pregnancy when the uterus is not yet large, pelvic organs are easily palpable, and prompt treatment can be provided if necessary.
12. Will Vaginal Examinations in Early Pregnancy Cause Miscarriage?
Many pregnant women refuse the first vaginal examination during early pregnancy, primarily due to concerns about miscarriage.
Generally, 10-15% of pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion. Causes include unhealthy sperm or eggs affecting the zygote or embryo, leading to developmental abnormalities or fetal death. Other factors like endocrine dysfunction, uterine deformities, high fever, or infections can also cause miscarriage. Miscarriages caused by poor embryo development cannot be prevented even with bed rest or medication.
Vaginal examinations in early pregnancy are important and cannot be omitted to ensure the safety of pregnancy and delivery. However, doctors should be gentle during examinations, as they pose no harm to the uterus or normally developing fetus.
For women with a history of multiple miscarriages or early signs of miscarriage, or those with infertility, the fetus is particularly precious. B can assess the uterus and ovaries, and vaginal examinations can be delayed until the 36th week of pregnancy, combined with pelvic measurements.
13. Why Pay Attention to Leukorrhea in Early Pregnancy
Normal vaginal flora does not cause disease. However, when vaginal mucosa is damaged, chemically stimulated, or exposed to menstrual blood, the normal state is disrupted, leading to bacterial overgrowth and vaginal infections. Trichomonas and fungal-induced vaginal infections are also common. Recently, previously rare gonococcal vaginal infections have resurfaced.
Vaginal infections may be asymptomatic but often include increased leukorrhea, purulent discharge, odor, redness of the external genitalia and vaginal mucosa, and discomfort such as itching, burning, or pain.
All types of vaginal infections are harmful to both the pregnant woman and fetus. Trichomonas can cause urinary tract infections; fungi can form white plaques on the vaginal mucosa, leading to oral candidiasis (thrush) in the newborn, which can cause pain and affect breastfeeding, potentially progressing to fungal pneumonia. Gonorrhea can rapidly infect newborns, most commonly causing gonococcal conjunctivitis, which can lead to blindness if untreated.
Vaginal infections during pregnancy can also cause inflammation of the amnion and chorion, reducing their elasticity and increasing the risk of premature rupture of membranes, leading to premature birth, miscarriage, or intrauterine infection, even neonatal sepsis. Vaginal wounds are prone to suppuration, tearing, or postpartum infection.
Abnormal leukorrhea detected during tests should be treated thoroughly and promptly.
14. Common Causes of Abdominal Pain During Pregnancy
Abdominal pain during pregnancy can occur due to various abnormalities or conditions at different stages. Common causes of abdominal pain in early pregnancy include miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, characterized by intermittent mild pain, a sense of heaviness, and slight vaginal bleeding. Timely medical attention is necessary for diagnosis.
Late pregnancy signs of preterm labor may include frequent mild abdominal pain. Persistent abdominal pain, rigidity, and varying degrees of vaginal bleeding in women with high blood pressure or external bleeding should be considered for placental abruption, a condition that can endanger both mother and child and requires immediate medical treatment. If an ovarian tumor is detected during pregnancy, sudden persistent lower abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting after changing position or urination may indicate tumor torsion. Immediate hospital observation and treatment are required, with surgical tumor removal if pain persists.
Placental abruption is not uncommon during pregnancy and can cause persistent abdominal pain and low fever if the myoma's blood supply is insufficient. Hospital treatment is recommended.
Acute appendicitis is a common surgical complication during pregnancy, presenting as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and low fever. As the uterus grows, the appendix's position also rises, making pain less typical than in non-pregnant individuals. Conservative treatment is usually possible after diagnosis.
Acute cholecystitis is often recurrent and causes severe pain radiating from the right hypochondrium to the right shoulder. Intense pain, nausea, vomiting, and jaundice may occur if the bile duct is obstructed and requires immediate surgical consultation.
Acute pancreatitis is rare but life-threatening, with pain similar to cholecystitis.
In summary, the causes of abdominal pain during pregnancy are varied, and early diagnosis is crucial to avoid delayed treatment.
15. Which Diseases in Early Pregnancy Can Cause Fetal Deformities
Viral diseases during early pregnancy can lead to fetal deformities. Approximately 80% of infectious diseases are caused by viruses. After infection, viruses can enter the fetus through the placenta or reproductive tract mucosa.
Viruses are strong biological mutagens. While symptoms in adults may be mild or localized, they can cause fatal fetal abnormalities. Pregnant women with viral infections can transmit the virus to the fetus at any stage, causing congenital viral infections. Before the third month of pregnancy, the placental barrier is not fully developed, allowing viruses to enter the fetus, causing chromosomal breaks, abnormalities, swelling, shrinkage, or fragmentation, affecting organ development and differentiation. Severe cases can lead to embryonic death, miscarriage, and a high incidence of congenital deformities and immune deficiencies. Simplex herpes virus has been isolated from malformed fetal cerebrospinal fluid, and hepatitis B, rubella virus from amniotic fluid. Currently, viruses confirmed to cause fetal deformities include rubella, mumps, measles, and hepatitis, with some suspicion for the latter. Toxoplasmosis has a high rate of teratogenicity.
16. How to Prevent Constipation and Hemorrhoids During Pregnancy
To prevent constipation, develop a habit of regular bowel movements, even without the urge. Additionally, consume fiber-rich foods and vegetables such as cornmeal, sweet potatoes, celery, and rapeseed. Fruits like bananas, pears, and apples can also aid digestion. Drinking a cup of warm or honeyed water in the morning promotes bowel movements. Moderate exercise, such as walking or gymnastics, can enhance intestinal motility and promote defecation. For excessively dry stools, 30 milliliters of liquid paraffin can be taken, or suppositories like glycerin can soften the stool. However, strong laxatives like castor oil or senna leaves should be avoided to prevent excessive uterine contractions, which could lead to miscarriage or premature birth.
To prevent hemorrhoids, first address constipation and pay attention to the pregnant woman's posture. Avoid prolonged standing or sitting and change positions frequently to reduce congestion in the hemorrhoidal veins. Sleeping on the left side at night can prevent the enlarged uterus from compressing veins. During delivery, avoid prolonged downward straining, and if hemorrhoids prolapse postpartum, return them immediately. Use a cloth soaked in a 33% magnesium sulfate solution to externally apply to the affected area for swelling and contraction. Then, apply ointment to the hemorrhoid and gently push it back into the anus. Severe pain may require external hemorrhoid cream or oral sophora japonica pills.
17. Why Is It Advised to Drink Yellow Wine During Postpartum Recovery
The practice of drinking yellow wine during postpartum recovery is recorded in traditional Chinese medical texts. Yellow wine (also known as rice wine) can "promote blood circulation, thicken the intestines, dispel cold, and activate the twelve meridians," making it highly suitable for postpartum consumption. Drinking yellow wine helps prevent postpartum joint pain and other conditions while promoting milk production due to its ability to invigorate blood circulation and warm the stomach. Therefore, while it may lack scientific backing, the tradition should not be lost, though moderation is advised.
II. Postpartum Health Care
Due to blood loss and qi depletion during childbirth, in the postpartum period experience qi and blood deficiency and physical exhaustion, making postpartum care particularly important.
1. Avoid Wind and Cold
After childbirth, the body's defensive qi is weak, making it susceptible to colds. Warmth is essential. During hot summers, ensure well-ventilated and cool living spaces to prevent heatstroke.
2. Dietary Care
Newly postpartum, the body has not fully recovered, and the spleen's function is weak. Greasy foods should be avoided, and a light, easily digestible, nutritious diet with appropriate fruit intake to increase vitamin intake is recommended.
3. Hygiene Practices
Maintain skin and external genital cleanliness during the postpartum period. Clean the perineum, change underwear and sanitary pads frequently, and strictly avoid sexual activity. Keep breasts clean to prevent nipple rupture and mastitis. Also, break the old customs of not washing hair or brushing teeth during the postpartum period.
4. Postpartum Exercise
For women who deliver vaginally, light activities can be started 2-3 days postpartum, and postpartum exercises can gradually begin after two weeks to enhance physical fitness and maintain body shape. However, avoid activities that increase abdominal pressure, such as squatting, to prevent uterine prolapse.
5. Postpartum Follow-Up
Women should visit the hospital with their infants at 45 days postpartum for a postpartum health check to detect and treat any abnormalities promptly.
6. Family Planning Measures
Medical staff should educate women on the importance of family planning and implement measures such as male condoms or intrauterine devices.
7. "Three Avoidances" in Postpartum Care
1) Avoid Overheating: In hot weather, room temperature may be close to or slightly higher than body temperature, making weak mothers and infants prone to heatstroke. Therefore, avoid closing doors and windows, hanging curtains, wearing thick clothing, or covering the arms and legs tightly with thick blankets.
2) Avoid Wind Exposure: Postpartum, the body undergoes intense catabolism, leading to excessive sweating and open pores. Drafts or direct fan airflow can cause colds or even pneumonia in mothers and infants. Postpartum joint pain may also occur, sometimes with lasting effects.
3) Avoid Cold Water: Excessive sweating during the postpartum period leaves pores open, making handwashing or urine cloth cleaning with cold water prone to muscle and joint pain. Warm water is preferable.
8. What Are Lochia?
Lochia is a mixture of residual endometrium, blood from the placental detachment site, and cervical mucus discharged from the vagina after childbirth. In the first 4-5 days postpartum, lochia is rich in blood and may contain clots, known as bloody lochia. Afterward, blood content decreases, turning pink, known as serous lochia. About a week later, lochia becomes mostly white or yellowish-white, composed mainly of white blood cells and epithelial cells, known as lochia. Lochia typically clears up within three weeks postpartum, but cesarean section patients may take one month.
9. What Are the Signs of Uterine Involution Failure?
During the postpartum period, the uterus shrinks from 1,000 grams to 50-60 grams due to uterine muscle contraction and autolysis. It returns to pre-pregnancy size by six weeks.
The quality of uterine involution can be assessed by the descent of the fundus and lochia conditions. Some women experience continuous lochia with abundant bloody discharge even after a full moon, accompanied by lower back pain and abdominal pain. Alternatively, at six weeks postpartum, the uterus may not have returned to normal size, remain soft, have tenderness, an open cervix, or bleeding from the cervix tear site. These are signs of uterine involution failure.
Retained placenta or fetal membrane fragments, incomplete decidua shedding, endometritis, severe uterine retroversion affecting lochia discharge, uterine myomas, or excessive placental area causing poor contractions can all lead to uterine involution failure.
10. How to Handle Milk Leakage
Milk leakage occurs when milk flows naturally without infant suckling. Generally, during lactation, women have abundant qi and blood, leading to spontaneous milk leakage, which is normal and not pathological. If the spleen is weak and qi and blood are insufficient, milk may be thin and leak as soon as it is produced. If emotional distress, depression, and liver qi stagnation lead to heat-driven milk leakage, it is considered pathological.
For qi and blood deficiency, the "Decoction of Ten Tonics" can be modified to replenish qi and blood and reduce milk leakage, usually improving within 3-5 doses. For liver qi stagnation, the "Decoction of Gentiana and Bupleurum" can be modified to clear heat, soothe the liver, and suppress milk leakage, typically resolving within 5-7 days.
Additionally, eating jellyfish skin or lotus seed soup can reduce milk leakage.
11. Why Is It Advised to Drink Yellow Wine During Postpartum Recovery
The practice of drinking yellow wine during postpartum recovery is recorded in traditional Chinese medical texts. Yellow wine (also known as rice wine) can "promote blood circulation, thicken the intestines, dispel cold, and activate the twelve meridians," making it highly suitable for postpartum consumption. Drinking yellow wine helps prevent postpartum joint pain and other conditions while promoting milk production due to its ability to invigorate blood circulation and warm the stomach. Therefore, while it may lack scientific backing, the tradition should not be lost, though moderation is advised.
12. When Does Menstruation Return After Childbirth
The return of menstruation and ovulation after childbirth varies greatly among individuals. Non-breastfeeding women typically resume menstruation within 6-8 weeks, while breastfeeding women may experience delayed menstruation, sometimes not ovulating at all during the entire breastfeeding period. The first return of menstruation is often heavier and may be anovulatory. After several menstrual cycles, menstruation and ovulation return to normal.
During breastfeeding, infant suckling stimulates the pituitary gland to continuously release prolactin, inhibiting ovulation and delaying menstruation. The effect is strongest in the first month postpartum and gradually weakens around three months, allowing ovulation to resume before menstruation. Some studies show that the earliest ovulation occurs 31 days postpartum, but individual differences are significant. Breastfeeding as a contraceptive method is unreliable, as ovulation may occur before menstruation, so effective contraception should be used from three months postpartum.
13. When Can Sexual Intercourse Begin After Childbirth
Traditional beliefs place great importance on postpartum recovery, requiring complete abstinence from sexual activity for 100 days, which is reasonable.
After pregnancy and childbirth, women need significant time to rest and recover both mentally and physically. The reproductive system requires at least eight weeks to heal. Postpartum check-ups may reveal lingering lochia, vaginal scars with tenderness, congestion, an open cervix, or bleeding from cervical tears. Additionally, an enlarged or soft uterus with poor involution may occur. Women with complications or those breastfeeding need even more recovery time. Early sexual activity can introduce bacteria into the vagina, potentially causing infections of varying severity.
Non-breastfeeding women may resume menstruation and ovulation within 6-8 weeks, but even without menstruation, pregnancy is possible. If contraception is not used promptly after pregnancy, induced abortion can cause further trauma to the reproductive system, harming both the mother and the baby's ability to breastfeed and family life. Therefore, both partners should cooperate and wait until lochia completely stops, postpartum check-ups are normal, and contraception is in place before resuming sexual activity.