As Soha Ali Khan inches closer to her due date she is finally opening up about the medical problems she faced during her pregnancy. From morning sickness to swollen knuckles to indigestion to insomnia, she has gone through it all.
But her biggest worry came during her final trimester when she faced an issue that made her worry for her baby's life and well being.
Yes, you read that right.
"I had about three weeks of morning sickness"
The 38-year-old mum-to-be shared her journey in a daily and wrote, "For me, the first trimester was full of wonder and excitement – I had about three weeks of morning sickness, which really should be renamed progesterone poisoning because not only does it merit a more momentous moniker, it can also strike at any time of the day and for many women be their cruel and constant companion – but apart from that and the odd eruption on my jaw, I was fine."
My second trimester was marked by mind-boggling milestones
She said that once she crossed the initial morning sickness hurdle, she reached her second trimester which turned out to be magical for her.
"My second trimester was marked by mind-boggling milestones such as feeling the baby kick for the first time, watching my bump develop and expand and buying my first set of maternity clothes," she continued.
"I told him my fingers ached"
This led her to her third trimester that turned out to be the most scary of them all for a very specific reason.
"It started out benignly enough with some stiffness in my knuckles a couple of weeks ago – my OBGYN is not one to get hot and flustered easily and so when I told him my fingers ached, his response was, “that’s just old age,” she shared adding that it soon became clear that this trimester was going to be the toughest.
"Most bothersome symptom of the ninth month torment is heartburn"
"Since then, it seems there has been a veritable assault on my system ranging from indigestion to insomnia. I now no longer fit into any of my carefully curated maternity clothes barring the largest ones that seem fashioned more from burlap sacks than boutique racks!" she added.
But it wasn't just the insomnia and the indigestion that caused her discomfort just like many mums, she also had problems breathing.
"The latest and perhaps the most bothersome symptom of the ninth month torment is heartburn which feels exactly how it sounds, like a burning sensation in your chest. I’m told it’s caused by the growing baby putting pressure on the muscle that keeps food down in the stomach leading to acids leaking up and out, causing acid reflux," wrote the Rang De Basanti adding an incident that made he worried that she might have coughed her baby out!
"Just this morning the reflux triggered a coughing bout which lasted the better part of an hour. I was so worried all that hacking was putting too much pressure on my uterus and that I would cough the baby out that I called my doctor in a panic. He was his usual unflappable self and assured me that it takes a lot more effort than a cough to push a baby out," shared Khan in her candid confession.
But let's be honest, a first-time mother does have all these unknown issues that often lead to be more worried that she needs to be.
So here are some ways that can help you sail through a successful and healthy pregnancy, especially if you've conceived after the age of 35.
- Seek regular prenatal care. “Regular prenatal visits help your health care provider monitor your health and your baby's health. Mention any signs or symptoms that concern you. Talking to your health care provider is likely to put your mind at ease,” she says
- Start to eat a healthy diet and include super foods and diet rich in iron, calcium, folate, fiber and all other essential nutrients
- Gain weight wisely and do not go on a hogging spree just because you are ‘eating for two’
- Do regular physical activity to stay fit, healthy, active and energetic
- Intake of alcohol, tobacco and drugs are off-limits during pregnancy
- Clear any medications or supplements with your health care provider ahead of time
- Learn about prenatal testing for chromosomal abnormalities
Read: Here's why Sharmila Tagore is worried about daughter Soha's first pregnancy
(All images courtesy: Instagram)
