Pregnancy Over 40-Over 40 Motherhood

Pregnancy and Altitude

2012-02-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've lived at a high altitude my entire life. I tend to forget that it's hard for some people to go from sea level to a high altitude without feeling the lack of oxygen. I remember going to a concert when I was in college, and the lead singer had to keep stopping to put on an oxygen mask! Here is an article about high altitudes, exercise and pregnancy:

www.bodyresults.com

From the article:

The ACOG (American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology) suggests that pregnant women new to exercise keep their exercising heart rate under 140 bpm (beats per minute); those who were avid exercisers prior to becoming pregnant should stay below 160 bpm (1). A woman who is pregnant is also advised to modify the duration of exercise, pay very close attention to how she feels and how the baby is responding to exertion, stay well hydrated, and avoid hyperthermia.

Due to the body’s natural tendency to work harder at higher altitude (including higher heart rates), the factors that most affect whether a woman will feel comfortable at altitude include rate of ascent, exercise pace, terrain, and how far along the woman is. In general, past the first trimester (when risk of ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage is highest) and before the 3rd trimester (when risk of early pregnancy and complications could occur) (2) if the pregnant woman is feeling good, short stays at altitude should not have significant impact on the fetus or on the woman’s health. When in doubt, however, consult your physician. Also consider where you will be staying at altitude; a woman planning to stay near Boulder, Colorado will have a different response to potential risks than one visiting family in the Swiss Alps or another who had originally planned to trek in Nepal, far away from her medical advisors, should anything go wrong mid-pregnancy.

According to both the Center for Disease Control and David Shlim (1997) at http://www.ciwec-clinic.com/altitude/alti4.html , “there are no reported cases of high altitude exerting a negative outcome on pregnancy in a trekker or climber. Oxygen saturation is fairly well maintained up to an altitude of 10,000-12,000 feet…Because of the rapid drop-off in oxygenation above 12,000 feet (3,658 m) or so, we generally recommend that pregnant women avoid exposures above that height. However, there are numerous anecdotal stories of women who have traveled higher while pregnant and who gave birth to normal children.

Benefits of Water Aerobics In Pregnancy

2012-02-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Probably the last thing you want to do when pregnant is to get into a swimsuit. However, there may be real benefits to doing water aerobics. It can help with everything from stress to having pain relief during labor. Read more:

www.ayushveda.com

From the article:

Some benefits of water aerobics during pregnancy:

• Studies have proved that women who do water aerobics throughout their pregnancy need less pain killing medication during childbirth.
• You will feel very light in water. It will ease the weight of the baby on your body, and ease backaches and pain.
• Your bones and joints don’t get strained like other exercises.
• It keeps your stomach muscles strong.
• It prevents spider veins on your legs.
• Water aerobics also helps you to relax, relieve anxiety, remain calm during pregnancy and also helps you to get good sleep.
• Women who did water aerobics are found to have easier delivery, and recover much faster after delivery

Proper Hydration Critical In Pregnancy

2012-02-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've written before about how critical it is to stay hydrated in pregnancy. This article gives a good detailed explanation of how water is critical for cell development and amniotic fluid.

theepochtimes.com

From the article:

The developing fetus places enormous demands for water onto the newly pregnant mom. The late F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., (Dr. B), was an internationally renowned researcher, author, and advocate of the natural healing power of water. In his books, "Your Body’s Many Cries for Water" and "Water for Health, for Healing, for Life," Dr. B tells pregnant moms to increase their intake of water when conceiving, if not sooner. He explains, “Every time a cell gives rise to a daughter cell, 75 percent or more of its volume has to be filled with water. In short, growth depends on the availability of water.

Taking Baby Away From Mom Creates Stress After Birth

2012-02-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

Most of us assume that everything the hospital does is good for our baby. But what about whisking the baby off immediately after birth? I'm not saying that certain things shouldn't be done, but, according to this article, it may create some unnecessary stress in our babies. Read more:

www.sciencedaily.com

From the article:

It is standard practice in a hospital setting, particularly among Western cultures, to separate mothers and their newborns. Separation is also common for babies under medical distress or premature babies, who may be placed in an incubator. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics specifically recommends against co-sleeping with an infant, due to its association with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS.

Humans are the only mammals who practice such maternal-neonate separation, but its physiological impact on the baby has been unknown until now. Researchers measured heart rate variability in 2-day-old sleeping babies for one hour each during skin-to-skin contact with mother and alone in a cot next to mother's bed. Neonatal autonomic activity was 176% higher and quiet sleep 86% lower during maternal separation compared to skin-to-skin contact.

Dr. John Krystal, Editor of Biological Psychiatry, commented on the study's findings: "This paper highlights the profound impact of maternal separation on the infant. We knew that this was stressful, but the current study suggests that this is major physiologic stressor for the infant."

Weight Gain During Pregnancy

2012-02-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

Weight Gain During Pregnancy

Tags: pregnancy weight gain weight gain during pregnancy pregnancy weight gain calculator

Vaginal Exams In Pregnancy

2012-02-03T05:00:00.000-08:00

I was always worried about having any kind of exam when I was pregnant, especially vaginal exams. I didn't want anything coming close to my baby - even a doctor with gloves on. My doctor would usually do an exam to check my cervix, and it actually was somewhat painful. Of course, I worried that it would throw me into labor! Well... it didn't (as it turned out I was induced). Here is an article about what information vaginal exams can give you and your doctor late in pregnancy:

Vaginal Exams in Late Pregnancy (www.childbirth.org)

From the article:

Remember vaginal exams measure several things:

Dilation & thinning of the cervix
Position of the baby
Station of the baby
Position of the cervix

Vaginal exams do not measure:

When the baby is coming
Whether the baby will fit (in most cases)
All the progress being made in labor

C-Sections, When Are They Really Necessary?

2012-02-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

Because of my age, I was told to be prepared for a C-Section. I never really understood that, but apparently older women who have never had a baby have a harder time getting their cervix to dilate. As it turned out, I had a normal delivery without any complications. However, as this article reports, it seems the medical community may be a little to quick to intervene. Read more:

www.newsweek.com

Amid the controversy over what constitutes an ideal birth experience, doctors, researchers and natural-birth advocates agree: Caesareans save lives when medically necessary. But defining medical necessity is complicated. Natural-birth advocates cite a "cascade of interventions" caused by hospitals' practice of using the drug Pitocin to stimulate labor. The drug can cause painful contractions, which doctors treat with an epidural painkiller. The epidural can then retard contractions and lead to more drugs, fetal stress and the doctor's recommendation of a Caesarean. Natural-birth advocates say that hospitals, driven by profits and worried about malpractice, are too quick to intervene. "I compare it to a restaurant. If you have customers who sit at a table and don't order anything, you're not making any money," says Jennifer Block, author of "Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care." Normal labor, Block says, isn't profitable (according to "The Business of Being Born," a Caesarean can cost three times as much as a normal birth). If something does go wrong, in the eyes of the courts "a normal birth is a risk. The courts reward action," Block says.

Pregnancy and Peanuts

2012-02-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

I'll admit, I ate lots of peanut butter when I was pregnant. It was a nice snack when I got hungry between meals. However, according to the article below, you may want to avoid peanuts under certain circumstances. Read more:

Is it safe to eat peanuts during pregnancy? (babycentre.co.uk)

From the site:

The UK government recommends that certain women avoid eating peanuts while they are pregnant. You are advised to avoid peanuts if you, your baby's father, or one of your previous children has had an allergic reaction to something. Allergic conditions include:

• eczema

• asthma

• hayfever

• any allergic response (rashes, itches, bumps) if you've eaten food such as strawberries, shellfish, or peanuts.

It is only peanuts that should be avoided by some women - other nuts, such as brazil, hazelnuts, walnuts or cashew nuts are perfectly safe.

Childhood Asthma Link To Rapid Growth In First Months

2012-01-31T05:00:00.000-08:00

A quickly growing baby is a good thing, right? Well, growth that exceeds the norm, could set the child up for asthma. Read more from the BBC:

bbc.co.uk

From the article:

The study of 5,125 children by the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam suggested no connection with earlier impaired growth in the womb.

Asthma UK said parents should keep following official baby-feeding advice.

The origins of asthma are still not fully understood, although many researchers believe there is some connection with the way the foetus develops and grows through pregnancy.

The study in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine compared pregnancy and baby records measuring foetal and postnatal weight gain.
'Critical period'

The babies were then followed up at yearly intervals and their parents questioned about breathing symptoms, as the presence of these can be a reasonable indicator of whether or not a child will go on to develop full blown asthma.

They found that, compared with babies whose growth followed the normal pattern in the months after birth, babies who gained weight rapidly were 44% more likely to suffer wheezing, 22% more likely to have shortness of breath and 30% more likely to have persistent phlegm.

If You Pump Your Breastmilk, Read This First

2012-01-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, I did pump my breastmilk due to the extreme pain I felt when nursing. Pumping was a good way to control the pain and still give my daughter breastmilk. However, this article brings up something I never thought about. Your milk may have natually occurring chemicals called nucleotides which may help your baby sleep. Depending on the time of day you pump or feed, these chemicals are in higher concentration. Read more:

www.newscientist.com

Outcomes of Micropremies

2012-01-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

With more women in the high risk pregnancy category, and with the ability to help very premature babies survive, many wonder what happens to these babies/kids as they grow up. This article talks about some of the success stories:

www.webmd.com

From the article:

Both girls, who were born at the same Illinois hospital, showed normal language skills and hit normal milestones for walking and toilet training. Rumaisa's movement skills -- writing, grasping for toys, and getting dressed -- are mildly delayed, while Madeline's are described as normal.

Both girls remain small for their age for weight and height. Rumaisa is in first grade with an individualized education plan.

At 20, Madeline stood 4 feet, 7 inches and weighed about 65 pounds. Her growth has been consistently far below other girls her age.

"We tell parents of babies born this small not to expect their children to be super tall," says researcher Jonathan Muraskas, MD.

Even so, he credits three main reasons for the girls’ relatively normal development. The first, says Muraskas, is that number of weeks of the pregnancy is much more important than birth weight for a child's growth and brain development.

No Safe Level of Alcohol For Pregnant Women

2012-01-26T05:00:00.000-08:00

Most women know that drinking in pregnancy is a bad idea, but many wonder how much is really a problem. According to this article, there is no "safe" amount to drink in pregnancy. Read more:
www.medicalnewstoday.com

From the article:

The results showed that:

Higher prenatal alcohol exposure in every alcohol consumption pattern was significantly linked to an increased risk of the baby being born with reduced birth weight or length, having a smooth philtrum, thin vermillion border or microcephaly.

The most significant links were during the second half of the first trimester.

During this period of gestation, for every increase of one alcoholic drink in the average daily consumption, there was a 25% increase in risk for smooth philtrum, 22% increase in risk for thin vermillion border, 12% for microcephaly, 16% for reduced birth weight, and 18% for reduced birth length.

The authors note that the links "were linear, and there was no evidence of a threshold."

"Women should continue to be advised to abstain from alcohol consumption from conception throughout pregnancy," they add.

Casting Call, A&E Series

2012-01-25T08:13:00.000-08:00

A&E Contacted Me to ask if my blog readers might be interested in being on a television show. I told them I would post the notice, so if anyone is interested here is the information:

Powerful New A&E Series Is Now Casting Couples Who Need Help With An In-Law!

In-laws: most people have them. ..and sometimes, they can be a whole lot more than a couple bargained for. A&E Network shines a light on married couples dealing with in-laws as they try to make peace with the help of an unconventional, no-nonsense relationship expert in the new original real-life series "Monster In-Laws".

“A ground-breaking new series that explores the complex relationships between married couples and their in-laws.”

Are you struggling to maintain a relationship with an out-of-control in-law?

Is a cultural or background divide challenging your relationship?

Does the statement, “When mom/dad says no, ask grandma/grandpa” ring true in your family?

Does your mother or father-in-law still baby your husband/wife, challenge your parenting style or openly disrespect you?

If you’re desperate to repair your relationship with an in-law before it’s too late, we want to hear from you! Families who appear on the show will have the opportunity to work with a professional relationship expert who will help them to identify their issues and repair their relationships. Families who appear on the show will receive a generous financial honorarium as a “thank you” for their time and commitment to the show. There is also a finder's fee for anyone who nominates a family who makes the show.

To apply, please email us with your name, contact information, a brief description of your current in-law situation and a family photo to:

inlawcasting@gmail.com

(212) 564-2607, ext 2399

Woman, 70, Gives Birth

2012-01-25T05:00:00.000-08:00

You may have already heard this story, it was in the news a while ago. Yes, this Indian woman did go through fertility treatments, but it just goes to show you that having a baby over 40 is no big deal. The female body is capable of amazing things. Read more:

Indian Woman Gives Birth at Age 70 (telegraph.co.uk)

From the article:

We longed for a child all these years and now we are very happy to have one in the twilight years of our life," she said, according to the Telegraph.
The newspaper quoted Dr. Anurag Bishnoi of the Hisar fertility center in Haryana state as saying that Devi and her 72-year-old husband, Bala Ram, came to the facility for treatment.
"Both the mother and child are in good health," Bishnoi said.
The doctor did not disclose whose egg or sperm was used in the procedure.
The Telegraph said Devi and her husband had been married 50 years. After 10 years of childless marriage, he wed his wife's sister, but there were no children from that union, it said.
The new father said he wasn't worried about what would happen to the baby if he and his wife died before she grows up.
"The upbringing of the child is not a problem. We have a joint family as is common in rural Haryana," he said.
Previously, the world's oldest mother was believed to be a Spanish woman. Maria del Carmen Bousada de Lara gave birth to twins in December 2006, days before her 67th birthday.

Why There Are More and More Mothers Over 40

2012-01-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

I remember thinking on my 40th birthday...I don't know how I got here...it seems like just yesterday I was graduating from college, getting my first job...etc..." I got so wrapped up in life that the time just flew by. In retrospect, I'm glad I didn't have children when I was younger, because it would have been disasterous. However, many women find themselves in their 40's and finally ready to have a baby. I'm so glad I waited...I see some other couples in my age group and they're acting like "old people". My daughter is going to keep us young! Here is an article from BBC News about what they call, the "New Late Boomers":

The new, late baby boomers
By Clare Babbidge
BBC News

From the article:

"Penny Wall, 31, of Leicester, is expecting her first child in the New Year, but says pregnancy is not currently on the agenda for many of her friends.

"They are just not really think of it, they are having a nice time and developing their careers and doing other things," she said.

"It is the right time for me, because I have strong feelings towards doing it."

She added that although a lot of her friends had partners, they were "taking advantage of different opportunities and spending their money in different ways, not being committed... because life will change so dramatically once you have a baby."

Ms Wall believes a change in attitude towards age is one of the main reasons for the increase in older women becoming pregnant.

"I don't think it really makes any difference what age people are, it all comes down to personal choice now," she said."

Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy Caused By A Number of Factors

2012-01-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've always wondered why some women (like me) get terribly sick with pregnancy and other women sail through feeling great the whole time. Here is an article that explains some possible causes of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (scroll down to see article):

Nausea & Vomiting During Pregnancy
by D. Ashley Hill, MD, OBGYN.net

From the article:

"While the exact cause of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is not understood, there may be a link between relaxation of the muscle fibers within the walls of the stomach muscle. Other researchers have noticed changes in bacteria counts in women who have morning sickness. They have found higher than normal levels of a bacteria called helicobacter pylori, which also seems to cause ulcers. Research is ongoing to see if certain antibiotics will treat hyperemesis. Others have found a link to the chemical serotonin, and to elevated levels of the pregnancy hormone HCG. For example, patients with twins or triplets have higher levels of HCG, and are more likely to have vomiting during pregnancy. There is also a higher chance of having severe nausea and vomiting, called "hyperemesis gravidarum," in patients with uncontrolled thyroid problems (hyperthyroidism). "

Babies Born At Night At Higher Risk

2012-01-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

I was always worried about when I was going to have my daughter...was I going to go into labor in the middle of the night? We've all seen the sensational stories about how women deliver their babies in taxi cabs or on the way to the hospital. But in reality those stories are quite rare. This article, however, talks about the association between having a baby at night and a higher rate of infant death. Apparently nobody has been able to say why, but it's been studied a number of times with the same results. Read more:

www.pregnancy.org

From the article:

There is strong evidence that babies born at night have a greater risk of dying in their first month of life than babies born earlier in the day, according to a study published in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

"We're not surprised at this finding because it is supported by previous studies in the medical literature that were carried out in Europe," said Diane M. Ashton, M.D., M.P.H., associate medical director of the March of Dimes. "More research needs to be done to identify the causal factors that underlie this greater risk. This would be an important next step in developing effective strategies to prevent these excess neonatal deaths from occurring. If even one or two of the key elements could be identified, that could make a big difference in saving babies' lives."

Having A Baby Over 40: How Your Past May Affect Motherhood

2012-01-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

I write much in my book about how my less than perfect upbringing not only affected my desire and ability to get pregnant, but it was something I needed to address before I could be a good mother. I think having a baby at the age of 44 was directly and indirectly related to the lack of parenting I had as a child. When you don't have good role models, it's hard to want to jump into motherhood. In my case, it wasn't until I was older that I finally realized that I had the ability to break the cycle of poor parenting. Here is an article that talks more about the psychological aspects of pregnancy and motherhood:

The Psychological Side of Pregnancy (wwwtroubledwith.com)

From the article:

A woman's past matters as she faces impending motherhood. It matters greatly whether she had a positive or negative nurturing history, for this is part of the well she will draw from to nurture her baby. This doesn't mean the die is cast if beginnings were painful. It's always possible for a determined, thoughtful mother to find healing for her wounds and pass on more love and security to her children than she experienced during a childhood of privation or suffering.

Nine months of pregnancy can be a rich time as a woman reflects on becoming a mother and addresses any past wounds. If you are overwhelmed by the feelings that going home surfaces, then pregnancy is a good time to get your internal house in order. Seek counseling if necessary. I urge my clients to view this period of time as a gift — a time of preparation for the road ahead. A time to begin dealing with the past in earnest. A time to stretch and grow. The fact that a baby is coming is powerful motivation for any prospective mother.

Organic Food More Important For Kids

2012-01-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

There is a good reason to feed your kids organically grown food even if you don't eat it yourself. Kids are at greater risk from toxins. Read more:

www.foodmarketexchange.com

From the article:

But babies and children are at greater risk than healthy adults for several reasons:

• A child's immature kidneys are less able to break down toxins that can disrupt their growing nervous or endocrine systems. Exposure to pesticides during central nervous system development may lead to long-lasting effects on brain function and behavior.

• Until the age of six, a child's body has more water and less fat than adult's. In an adult, fats trap and store pesticide residues, but in a child they are less able to do so, leaving more toxins circulating in the blood.

• Children have greater exposure to pesticides because they eat and drink far more per kilogram of body weight than adults. They also eat more high-risk foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, which tend to have more pesticides applied during cultivation. A typical one-year-old child consumes 21 times more apple juice, 11 times more grape juice and 2-7 times more grapes, bananas, pears, carrots and broccoli than the average adult, according to the Consumers Union.

In January 1998, the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a Washington, DC-based nonprofit organization, released a controversial report entitled Overexposed: Organophosphate Insecticides in Children's Food, in which they concluded that 1 million children a day are being exposed to "unsafe levels of toxic pesticides in fruit, vegetables and baby food." Of the 1 million children described in the EWG's report, as many as 40,000-50,000 may ingest pesticides at levels 10 times higher than Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reference doses.

Nitrate Dangers In Pregnancy

2012-01-17T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've heard that processed lunch meats can be a problem in pregnancy for a number of reasons. This article addresses the use of nitrites as a preservative in meats and how they could be a problem in pregnancy:

parenting.ivillage.com

From the article:

In recent years, the level of nitrates contained in processed foods has decreased, and is considered safe for pregnant women. In fact, nitrates are used as a preservative in meats, often making the meat safer than it would be otherwise, from a bacterial safety standpoint. However, I would suggest that you avoid them whenever possible, as foods containing nitrates, such as preserved meats like hot dogs and bacon, are not good nutritional choices for pregnant women because of their high sodium and fat content.

On the other hand, nitrates in food are a danger in that they can be converted to nitrites, which can react in your stomach to form nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are potent cancer-causing chemicals. Generally nitrates are most dangerous when they are converted to nitrites prior to ingestion, which happens during the cooking process. Nitrites form under conditions of extreme heat, such as frying. Therefore, if you choose to eat nitrate-containing foods, do so in a manner that minimizes the conversion. For example, you will want to avoid using bacon dripping for cooking, or frying processed ham. It just makes sense to avoid exposure to any potentially cancer-causing compounds whenever possible, but most certainly when you are pregnant.

2012-01-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

I have removed almost all artificial sweeteners except for stevia from my diet. Long before I became pregnant, I had heard that aspartame could be problematic for fertility and pregnancy. This article explains why:

www.healthy-holistic-living.com

From the article:

Another problem associated with aspartame use is infertility. Dr. Madelon Price writes, “I showed (in rodents) that both amino acids [in aspartame] freely enter the arcuate nucleus and (at low dose) cause inappropriate release of hormones, and at high dose actually destroy these regulatory neurons. That is why sexual dysfunction is associated with aspartame & MSG” (2)

According to this statement, the first issue in pregnancy resulting from aspartame is in getting pregnant in the first place. I also asked Dr. Blaylock about fertility and pregnancy. His response was “a number of studies have shown reduced fertility in both males and females - shrunken testes and ovaries were seen in the original studies by the makers of aspartame... we see reduction in the gonadotrophins-ICSH, FSH, LH and prolactin. In addition there are direct effects on the sperm and ova".

Here is another site which discusses aspartame:

www.soundandfury.tv

Feng Shui For Your Baby

2012-01-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about using the principles of feng shui in your home? Here is an article about feng shui for the nursery:

fengshui.about.com

From the article:

How do you know if a room has a good flow of energy? You can use the following feng shui tips to check the flow of chi, and you can also always use your senses! How does the room feel, look, smell? All your senses come into play when understanding the world of energy.

Nourishing all senses in the baby's room is especially important in order to create a good and healthy foundation for your little one.

Your baby will soon be exploring the world by awakening all her senses, so as a parent you can use feng shui nursery tips to create a safe, healthy and nourishing environment.

Along with the basic feng shui guidelines for a healthy baby's room, also be aware of lowering the EMF levels that are potentially very harmful.

Bombarding the energy of your baby's room with all the latest electrical gadgets available on the market (often not really needed!), is contributing to challenging feng shui in the baby's room.

Topical Steroids and Pregnancy Complications

2012-01-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

I think we sometimes forget that medications that are applied to the skin still enter our bloodstream and can negatively affect a pregnancy. If you've been prescribed topical steroids, you should check with your doctor and pharmacist about its safety for use in pregnancy. Read more:

findarticles.com

From the article:

Investigators at Chang Gung University in Taoyuan, Taiwan, and the University of Oxford (England) used the U.K. General Practice Research Database to identify 35,503 women who had been prescribed topical corticosteroids during or shortly before pregnancy, and a control group comprising 48,630 unexposed pregnant women.

Maternal exposure to potent or very potent topical steroids was associated with an adjusted 2.1-fold increased relative risk of fetal growth restriction.

Moreover, a significant dose-response relationship was found, such that for every 30 g of prescribed potent or very potent topical steroids, the risk of fetal growth retardation climbed by about 3%.

The risk rose with the increasing potency of the topical medication, Dr. Stein said at the meeting.

The investigators estimated that 168 pregnant women would have to receive potent or very potent topical steroids in order to result in one additional case of fetal growth restriction ( J. Invest. Dermatol. 2010 [doi:10.1038/jid.2010. 392]).

Forced To Push In Labor May Not Have Better Results

2012-01-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

I pushed for four hour when I had my daughter. This left me incredibly sore for weeks and led to probably more physical discomfort than if I had taken it a little slower. After reading this article, I'm beginning to wonder if all of that pushing was necessary. Read more:

2 important pregnancy updates: if you're expecting or trying to conceive, you'll want to hear about these new surprising studies (findarticles.com)

From the article:

A study of 320 women in labor questions the long-standing advice to push during contractions. Compared to those who were coached to push, women left alone to do what came naturally did not have significantly longer labors. Other outcomes, such as C-sections and episiotomy rates, were comparable. Electing not to push can allow weary moms to have a respite.--K.A.

Some Antibiotics Associated With Birth Defects

2012-01-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

Some antibiotics are necessary for pregnant women, however, their are certain categories which should be avoided to prevent birth defects. Read more:
sciencedaily.com

From the article:

Antibacterial use among all women increased during pregnancy, peaking during the third month. A total of 3,863 mothers of children with birth defects (29.4 percent) and 1,467 control mothers (29.7 percent) used antibacterials sometime between three months before pregnancy and the end of pregnancy.

"Reassuringly, penicillins, erythromycins and cephalosporins, although used commonly by pregnant women, were not associated with many birth defects," the authors write. Two defects were associated with erythromycins (used by 1.5 percent of the mothers whose children had birth defects and 1.6 percent of controls), one with penicillins (used by 5.5 percent of case mothers and 5.9 percent of controls), one with cephalosporins (used by 1 percent of both cases and controls) and one with quinolones (used by 0.3 percent of both cases and controls).

Two medications -- sulfonamides and nitrofurantoins (each used by 1.1 percent of cases and 0.9 percent of controls) -- were associated with several birth defects, suggesting that additional study is needed before they can be safely prescribed to pregnant women.

Light Exercise Good To Keep Baby's Weight In Check

2012-01-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

I'm not a fan of running marathons when pregnant, but some light exercise is healthy. Some movement in pregnancy can help keep your baby from gaining too much weight. Read more:

news.bbc.co.uk

From the article:

On average, the exercising women had babies who were no shorter than their non-exercising counterparts, but who were 0.32 lb (143 grams) lighter on average.

This suggested that the regime did not stunt growth in the womb, but reduced the amount of extra fat laid down by the babies.

In addition, the exercise did not appear to interfere with the natural changes in the mother's response to the hormone insulin, a necessary mechanism in pregnancy to make sure the foetus is properly nourished.

More On Stress In Pregnancy

2012-01-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

Stress in pregnancy can lead to conditions in the baby like fibromyalgia when they grow up.
Here is another article about PTSD and how it may affect babies born to women who have suffered trauma:

Stressed Babies

From the article:

She is now the mother of two. She says her older son seems like a normal little boy, but notes that he "has fears" and is "definitely more risk-averse" than his younger brother. Though she's no doctor, and can't tell if her son's behavior is just what she would call "first child syndrome" or actually associated with her own trauma, her observation is not unfounded.

A recent study based on a group of anonymous women (not including Tung) who were all pregnant and near the Twin Towers on the day of the attacks, suggests that women who developed PTSD, may have passed on a chemical marker for the disorder to their unborn children.

"What this means for children whose mothers have PTSD, is that they may also be at risk for having PTSD in response to a traumatic event that would occur in their own lifetime," says the study's lead researcher, Bronx Veterans Affairs Medical Center psychiatrist Rachel Yehuda.

Antibiotics In Pregnancy

2012-01-05T05:00:00.000-08:00

Of course you know to check with your doctor about taking anything in pregnancy. With the widespread use of antibiotics in general, no doubt pregnant women may be prescribed when needed. Before you take anything, do your own research as some classes of antibiotics can cause problems for your baby. Read more:

www.mayoclinic.com

From the article:

Certain other antibiotics should be avoided during pregnancy. For example, tetracyclines — such as doxycycline, tetracycline and minocycline — can damage a pregnant woman's liver, discolor a developing baby's teeth and cause various birth defects.

In addition, it's important to note that a recent study found an association between two classes of antibiotics commonly used to treat urinary tract infections — nitrofuran derivatives and sulfonamides — and rare birth defects. Although there's no direct proof that these antibiotics cause birth defects, additional research is needed. In the meantime, health care providers are likely to be more cautious in the use of these medications during pregnancy.

Attachment Parenting

2012-01-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

I think most moms (and dads) practice some sort of "attachment parenting", but as this article explains, the term refers to a practice of creating a strong bond and closeness with the child which can make them more secure throughout their life. Read more:

pregnancymagazine.com

From the article:

What Is Attachment Parenting?
Attachment Parenting—known by the shorthand AP—is not easily defined. Generally speaking, it’s a parenting philosophy “that nurtures the bonds between parents and their babies,” says Lysa Parker, co-founder of Attachment Parenting International and author of Attached at the Heart: 8 Proven Parenting Principles for Raising Connected and Compassionate Children. According to scientific “attachment theory,” babies have an innate drive to form a close attachment to a primary caregiver. Applying this theory to parenting, “attached” babies are secure babies. Says Parker, “Securely attached children are happier, healthier, better behaved, and more successful in school.”...

...Like Precourt, these parents often “wear” their babies. They opt for breastfeeding over formula and nurse on demand long after the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation of one year; some allow children to decide when to wean. Many AP parents vaccinate their children as recommended, but some do so only selectively—and a few don’t vaccinate at all. To facilitate night nursing and strengthening the family bond, AP parents practice bed-sharing, with one or more children sleeping in the same bed with their parents. AP parents say they practice “gentle discipline,” opting to redirect rather than scold or punish their children. Sons of AP parents often aren’t circumcised; later on, older children are frequently homeschool

Happy New Year!! Be Back 1-4-12

2011-12-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

For some interesting history on New Year's celebrations, click here:

www.wilstar.com

Wishing you a safe holiday.

Daddy's Bond Too, But In A Different Way

2011-12-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, fathers are important too. Many moms forget that kids want a relationhip with both their parents. Fathers have their own way of relating to kids and even though it's different from women, its valuable to kids. Read more:
From the article:

Fathers Gain Respect From Experts (and Mothers)(www.nytimes.com)

“Daddy’s bonding time with his girls is working on cars,” said Ms. Calapini, of Olivehurst, Calif. “He has his own way of communicating with them, and that’s O.K.”

As much as mothers want their partners to be involved with their children, experts say they often unintentionally discourage men from doing so. Because mothering is their realm, some women micromanage fathers and expect them to do things their way, said Marsha Kline Pruett, a professor at the Smith College School for Social Work at Smith College and a co-author of the new book “Partnership Parenting,” with her husband, the child psychiatrist Dr. Kyle Pruett (Da Capo Press).

Newborn Screening: False Positives Increase Stress

2011-12-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

We all want a perfect baby right? But what happens when one of your screening tests shows there might be a problem? It's a sinking scary feeling...and what's worse, sometimes these tests have false positive results. Here is an article that talks about how screening can reduce stress but false results can cause unnecessary hospitalizations and wreak havoc on the parents. Read more:

www.bio-medicine.org

From the article:

New research shows screening newborns for biochemical genetic disorders may improve a child’s outcome and reduce stress in parents. However, researchers say false-positive screening results may increase stress levels in parents...

...Results also show mothers in the screened group reported lower overall stress than those in the clinically identified group. Children with false-positive results were twice as likely to be hospitalized than those with normal results. Mothers of children in the false-positive group also reported higher stress levels.

Researchers thus conclude, “This study highlights some of the challenges to current newborn screening practices. It demonstrates a need for education about newborn screening for parents prior to the birth of their child.”

Holiday Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy

2011-12-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

If you're like most people, you are put into the position of eating some new and perhaps strange foods at holiday parties and get togethers. Some holidays are behind us, but there's plenty of leftovers and new year's parties are still coming up. Here is an article that discussed what you should avoid if you're pregnant:

www.babycenter.com

From the article:

Winter holidays

* Unpasteurized soft cheeses: Fruit and cheese platters are a party staple, and a relatively healthy way to fill up, but stay away from soft cheeses made with unpasteurized milk. Unpasteurized or "raw milk" cheeses may contain listeria, which is killed during the pasteurization process.
* The FDA recommends checking the label of any soft cheese before eating, to make sure it says "made with pasteurized milk." If you can't check the label — for example, if you're at a party — avoid blue cheese and soft cheeses (including Brie, Camembert, goat cheese, feta, and Roquefort) and Mexican-style cheeses like queso fresco, queso blanco, and Panela. If you're not sure which cheeses are safe, stick with hard cheeses like cheddar and Swiss, and semi-soft cheeses like Monterey jack and mozzarella. Cream cheese and pasteurized processed cheeses like American are also safe.
* Sushi: Avoid sushi trays with raw fish, because it may contain parasites and bacteria. If you’re a sushi fan, opt instead for a California roll, made with avocado and cooked crab. Although raw fish poses little direct risk to your baby, if you get ill from sushi you'll likely suffer from vomiting and dehydration, which can affect your unborn baby.
* Carving stations: If your party features a carving station with roast beef or turkey, make sure the meat is cooked well-done and is still steaming hot. Unless you're sure they're well cooked, avoid sauces like bearnaise, hollandaise, and aioli, which can contain uncooked eggs.
* Eggnog: Homemade eggnog is generally off-limits, because it's usually made with raw, unpasteurized eggs — and alcohol. But you can make a virgin, pregnancy-safe version at home with a pasteurized egg product or an egg alternative like Egg Beaters. Or try store-bought eggnog — just check the label to make sure the eggs are pasteurized.
* You might also consider "soy nog," which doesn't contain eggs or any other dairy products. You can find it during the winter holidays in most large grocery stores and in natural food stores.
* You'll also want to avoid desserts that may contain raw or undercooked eggs, like some custards and mousse, and homemade ice cream.

Happy Holidays! Be Back 12/27/11

2011-12-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

Have A Wonderful Safe Holiday!

CLICK HERE FOR SOME HOLIDAY FUN:

www.JACQUIELAWSON.COM

Pregnancy Symptoms Which Could Signal Trouble

2011-12-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

At the risk of creating more stress for pregnant women, there are some things you should get checked out if you experience them while pregnant.
Here is a list from Baby Center about syptoms you should not ignore:

www.babycenter.com

From the article:

• Severe or persistent abdominal pain or tenderness.

• Vaginal bleeding or spotting.

• An increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge — that is, if it becomes watery, mucousy, or bloody (even if it's only pink or blood-tinged). Note: After 37 weeks, an increase in mucus discharge is normal and may indicate that you'll be going into labor soon.

• Pelvic pressure (a feeling that your baby is pushing down), lower back pain (especially if it's a new problem for you), menstrual-like cramping or abdominal pain, or more than four contractions in an hour (even if they don't hurt) before 37 weeks.

• Painful or burning urination, or little or no urination.

• Severe or persistent vomiting, or any vomiting accompanied by pain or fever.

• Chills or fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

• Visual disturbances such as double vision, blurring, dimming, flashing lights, or "floaters" (spots in your field of vision).

• Persistent or severe headache, or any headache accompanied by blurred vision, slurred speech, or numbness.

• Any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, anything more than a little swelling in your hands, severe and sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, or a rapid weight gain (more than 4 pounds in a week).

• A persistent or severe leg cramp or calf pain that doesn't ease up when you flex your ankle and point your toes toward your nose or when you walk around, or one leg being significantly more swollen than the other.

• Trauma to the abdomen.

• Fainting, frequent dizziness, a rapid heartbeat, or heart palpitations.

• Difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, or chest pain.

• Severe constipation accompanied by abdominal pain or severe diarrhea that lasts more than 24 hours.

• Persistent intense itching of your torso, arms, legs, palms, or soles, or a feeling of itchiness all over your body.

Having Babies May Be Good For Your Brain

2011-12-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

I have often thought I'm mentally quicker now than I was when I was younger. Well, there may be a good reason. According to the article below, having babies may sharpen your mind. Read more:

Giving birth to a better brain: Do babies sharpen parents' minds?
By Erica Noonan

From the article:

"Women with small children have long been saddled with an unflattering stereotype -- incompetent, dull-witted, frazzled, and preoccupied with domestic affairs. The derogatory cliches vary, from ''maternal amnesia" in medical circles, to the colloquial ''placenta brain" in the United States and ''porridge brain" in Great Britain. But a new body of research -- so far still mostly in animals -- is fueling the idea that motherhood may actually rewire the brain, making mothers (and involved fathers) more perceptive, competitive, efficient, and even socially aware. And sociological studies suggest that most of the symptoms of ''mommy brain" may be due as much to exhaustion and stress as biology.

Sign up for: Globe Headlines e-mail | Breaking News Alerts Comparing the brain of a non-mother to that of a mother is ''like comparing a tree in the winter to one in full bloom in the spring, when it is much fuller and richer," said University of Richmond neuroscientist Craig Kinsley, a leading researcher in the field.

The transforming experiences of pregnancy, labor, and caring for small children ''enables the brain to process information much differently than it did before," he said.

Kinsley and other researchers have found that beginning a few weeks after giving birth, a female rat's cognitive abilities -- particularly smell and visual perception -- start to expand. Rats nursing a litter of pups discover and catch prey three times as quickly as virgin rats, he said.

Kinsley's analysis of brain tissue from rats in late pregnancy showed that neural pathways in the hippocampus, the center of learning and memory, were essentially ''remapped."

The changes, Kinsley and others said, probably come partly from the experience of pregnancy and labor, when elevated levels of estrogen, cortisol, and other hormones literally bathe the brain. The presence of pups and the demands of caring for them also contributes to brain changes in mother rats -- even caretaker rats who have never been pregnant. In repeated studies, mother rats with pups have proven to be bolder and quicker at finding hidden food.

''We believe the pups are having an effect on the mother, enhancing her efficiency," Kinsley said. ''The pups have a paw in their own survival. The mom isn't a passive caregiver. Rather, absorbing sensory information from the pups has an influence on her brain."

The phenomenon hasn't yet been studied in women, but the rodent studies have important implications for humans, said Kelly Lambert, chair of the psychology department at Randolph Macon College in Virginia.

''Rodents have all the same brain parts we have," she said. ''Human brains are thicker and more complex, but as a model it's a very reasonable place to start."

Not Invited? How Could It Be?

2011-12-20T05:00:00.000-08:00

With the holidays among us and with a constant stream of birthdays throughout the year, there are going to be those inevitable hurt feelings on the part of parents and kids when someone is left out of holiday parties or birthday parties.

Here is an article I wrote about one of my daughter's first experiences being the odd one out. Maybe you'll get some good ideas on how to handle not only your kid's hurt feelings, but yours too. Read more:

When The Invitation Never comes: My Kid's Not Invited

Study Shows Breastfeeding May Improve Sight

2011-12-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've heard about the many benefits of breastfeeding, but here's a new one: breastfed babies may have better sight. Read More:

Breast-fed babies 'grow up to have better sight'

From the article:

" The researchers, from the Institute of Child Health in London, studied 262 children aged between four and six. Of these, 78 had previously been breast-fed and 184 had been given formula milk.

Some of the babies drinking bottled milk were given a type fortified with two types of fatty acids, DHA and AA.

Some scientists believe DHA, a type of omega 3 fatty acid, is behind breast milk's ability to improve children's sight.

When they were tested, the breast-fed children were significantly more likely to have better vision. Lead researcher Dr Atul Singhal said: "Our study adds to the growing evidence that breast-feeding has long-term benefits for visual development."

Uterine Cells Produce Estrogen In Pregnancy

2011-12-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

Ovaries produce estrogen right? Well yes, but according to this article, the uterus may be the newest endocrine gland. Surprisingly, the uterus has been found to produce it's own estrogen which helps to support a pregnancy. Read more:

news.illinois.edu

From the article:

CHAMPAIGN, lll. – For decades, scientists assumed that the ovary alone produced steroid hormones during pregnancy. In a new study in mice, however, researchers demonstrate that once an embryo attaches to the uterine wall, the uterus itself actually synthesizes the estrogen needed to sustain the pregnancy.

This is the first time that the uterus has been identified as an endocrine organ, said University of Illinois veterinary biosciences professor Indrani Bagchi, who led the study with doctoral student Amrita Das. Their findings appear this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.

Funny Article On Parenting

2011-12-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

I found this article very funny, very honest, and it says many things most of us think but are afraid to say. If you've had a hard time getting pregnant, you don't feel entitled to complain, so this article does it for you! Read more:

10 Things I Hate About Motherhood (and One Thing I Absolutely Love)shine.yahoo.com

From the article:

Look at them! SO. FRAGILE. Loving a child means spending countless hours, days, weeks, years fearing for that child. You fear that they will be hurt, that they will become sick, that they will die, you fear that you will die and they will be orphaned, you fear that they will ask you about death and you won't have an answer; you fear that they will be the one kid in their kindergarten class that isn't invited to that one girl's birthday party; you fear that they will never love books as much as you do; you fear that they will worry about their looks; you fear that their heart will someday be broken. You lay awake at night worrying about the fact that their heart will someday be broken. You lay awake at night, worrying. Which is why, on those rare nights when the children sleep right through? You're still not sleeping.

But then, also, there is THIS...
My family. My children. Who are amazing, inspiring creatures and who fill my life with such light and love as to nearly, at times, overwhelm me. Who make me laugh and who make me cry and who make me laugh until I cry, every single day. Who make me grateful for my soft belly and squishy boobs and for my messy hair and my undereye circles and my scars, because these are the markers of this work that I do - this tiring, often frustrating work - and of the miracles that I have produced and that I am, every day, producing, through this work; these miracles, my children, without whom I would not know love as completely as I do. My children, for whom I do this work, if not gladly, then without regret. My children, who make it possible for me to bitch tirelessly about motherhood while still feeling, deeply, to the very tips of my toes and possibly even further, that this motherhood thing is the most beautiful - the most hazily, gauzily, barefoot-in-a-field-of-daisies romantic - thing in the world. And if I happen to be clutching a bottle of tequila and an Ativan prescription while I dance in those daisies, well, so be it.

Having A Baby Over 40 Rewards and Tips

2011-12-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

Having a baby over the age of 40 has been a great experience for me. But, like having children at any age, there are rough spots as well. This article gives some tips and advice:

Older Moms: Having a Baby When You're Over 40 (www.montekids.org)

From the article:

Tips:

The maturity that goes with being an older mom brings many advantages, often including less stress on a marriage, more certainty about one’s identity, and more ease about childrearing. However, many moms are surprised to find that there are also some concerns and issues that they may face:

Some Issues That Older Moms Are Likely to Face:

Struggle with her identity – going from having a full-time career to being a mom
Isolation – Her same-age peers are at different stage of life, so she sometimes feels left out, and there’s a sense of different priorities than fellow (younger) mothers
Stress – High expectations of what being a mom is going to be like. Her baby is incredibly important to her, a major investment because she’s waited so long, so there can sometimes be stress associated with the need for everything to be perfect, and for everything to be done right.
Fatigue – sometimes, though not always, fatigue can be greater with older moms
What can an older mom do?

Make sure you ask for help from your partner and your friends and family – and from professionals if you can afford to get help.
Talk with other older moms. Find a network of friends who are going through motherhood at the same stage of life, so you don’t always feel left out or disconnected. (See web site below)
Exercise to stay in shape and make it easier to keep up with your kids; eat right, and get enough sleep!

Jury Still Out on Haircoloring in Pregnancy

2011-12-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

Anyone who colors or highlights their hair will probably have this question because it's hard to go a full nine months without doing it. According to this article, highlighting is probably the safest since it doesn't usually come in contact with the scalp, but you should always check with a doctor first. Read more:

www.thelaboroflove.com

From the article:

has long been an issue for mothers-to-be, who fear that anything they do to their bodies inside or outside can harm their baby. To a certain extent this can be true and where hair coloring is concerned, there is one main reason why the jury is still out on deciding how safe or unsafe it is: which pregnant lady is going to put her hand up to be a part of a clinical trial of hair coloring agents?

Highlighting is the best way of giving your personal color scheme a bit of a lift. Because the chemicals don’t go onto the roots of your hair, nothing is absorbed into the bloodstream and therefore, there is minimal chance of your baby coming to any harm. Also, the fumes are enclosed in the foil that is wrapped around the processing hair.

Before you get too precious about the word â€˜chemicals’, remember that some natural products can also be toxic. Consider the case of aromatherapy and how some essential oils, such as rosemary, should not be used in pregnancy.

Basically, if you follow the simple rule of checking with your pharmacist or physician before using anything about which you have doubts, you should have no reason to be concerned. There are a gazillion things to avoid when you’re carrying a little bundle in your belly, from drinking tap water to enjoying a spell in a Jacuzzi. Erring on the side of caution is always best during pregnancy, and also, asking around about other people’s experiences is wise.

One important consideration is to avoid anything even remotely risky during the first trimester when your baby’s development is at its most crucial stage.

As for highlighting your hair, go ahead and check with your doctor â€¦ a quick call may be all that’s required and then you can take off to the hairdressing salon and make that makeover happen.

Vitamin E and Preventing Asthma In Your Baby

2011-12-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

If you have a history of asthma in your family and you are planning to get pregnant or you are already pregnant, this article talks about the importance of good nutrition and vitamin E to prevent asthma:

Vitamin E During Pregnancy Critical To Prevent Asthma

I've heard vitamin E called "vitamin everything" because it is good for so many conditions. I've taken vitamin E supplements for many years and I try to eat the "healthy fats" which may also be a good source of vitamin E. This was especially important when I was pregnant with my daughter since my husband has had asthma for many years. Hopefully she won't develop the condition.

Modern Pregnancy Myths

2011-12-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Gender selection, what causes miscarriage and what's safe in pregnancy... there's much folklore and sometimes little fact about what's true and what isn't. Here's an article that addresses common pregnancy myths. Read more:

Fueling Modern Pregnancy Myths
One Study Shows How New Research Can Create Modern Day Pregnancy Myths
By LAUREN COX
ABC News Medical Unit

From the article:

Explaining What We Don't Understand
Young feels the same sentiment fueled the study about cereal and the baby's gender.

"There's sort of a bias that comes into this," said Young. "Human beings like a rational explanation; they don't like a random cause."

However, that same search for an explanation may fuel myths about miscarriages, too. Moore said many women, and doctors, have trouble explaining what happened in a miscarriage.

"At this point, science can't give us a clear explanation for why one in nine pregnancies end in miscarriages," said Moore. "In most cases the cause is just unknown, and doctors assume that most likely it was some sort of genetic abnormality."

Just like pregnancy and gender, misconceptions abound about what causes a miscarriage or an early labor.

Spicy food, exercise, any sex at all and sleeping on your back are all popular misconceptions about troublesome labor, or danger to the baby.

Moore once had a patient who preemptively ended a pregnancy because she was convinced she had damaged the baby.

"She had chest X-rays and later found out she was pregnant and then had an abortion because she thought she had caused damage to the baby," said Moore. "Then, tragically, she had complications with the abortion."

While it's not a great idea to get X-rays during pregnancy, Moore said the fetus was likely OK.

"If a fetus is exposed to enough radiation to cause damage, it probably would be major damage like the Hiroshima bomb or Chernobyl," she said.

Moore thinks the myths about miscarriage and damage might be the most damaging.

"It's the opposite of the miracle explanation," said Moore. "As a result of many of these myths, many women suffer from tremendous guilt that they may have done something wrong."

More On Peanut Allergies

2011-12-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

I wrote last week about eating peanuts in pregnancy. Here is another article about why so many kids are suffering from dangerous peanut allergies. Read more;

www.popsci.com

From the article:

Theories abound, though, and most involve an overactive immune system. "We have done such a good job of eliminating the threats that the immune system is supposed to manage, that it's looking for something to do," says Anne Muñoz-Furlong, CEO of the nonprofit Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network. Parents feed their kids more handy snacks these days, she says, and many of those contain peanuts or their derivatives. "We're bombarding the immune system with these [food-based] allergens, so it's attacking those instead." Indeed, food allergies in general are on the rise.

But peanuts seem to trigger especially violent immune reactions. This might be because they contain several proteins not found in most other foods, posits Robert Wood, an allergy specialist at Johns Hopkins University, and the structure of these proteins stimulates a strong immune response. Research suggests that roasting peanuts, as American companies do, might alter the proteins' shape, making them an even bigger target. Allergy rates are lower in China, where it's customary to boil peanuts, which damages the proteins less. (It's worth noting, though, that China is also more polluted, so people's immune system might be concentrating on traditional threats.)

Typically, the immune system treats peanuts as safe, but some scientists believe that early and heavy exposure to peanut products might cause it to misidentify them as dangerous. This theory is strengthened by the fact that 8 out of 10 allergic kids have a reaction the first time they eat a peanut, indicating a previous indirect exposure, possibly even in the womb or through breast milk.

Smoke Exposure Damages Prenatal DNA

2011-12-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

We all know you shouldn't smoke when pregnant. However, this article talks about more than just the usual complications of smoking. It can actually change your unborn baby's DNA. Read more:

www.healthscout.com

From the article:

The new study found that fetal exposure to maternal smoking was linked to differences in DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism.

Epigenetics is the study of how chemicals that attach to DNA can switch genes on and off, which leads to differences in gene expression without changing basic genetic information, according to background information in a USC news release about the study.

While epigenetics plays a role in cancer research, little is known about how epigenetic changes may be caused by environmental exposures.

In the new study, the researchers used data from the USC Children's Health Study, which examined respiratory health among children in 13 Southern California communities, as well as information from a questionnaire on maternal smoking exposure. The findings are reported in the September issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

"This study provides some of the first evidence that in-utero environmental exposures such as tobacco smoke may be associated with epigenetic changes," said one of the lead authors, Carrie Breton, assistant professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. "This could open up a new way for researchers to investigate biological mechanisms that might explain known health effects associated with maternal smoking," she stated in the news release.

Pregnancy Over 40: Just Think How Hip We'll Be In Our 60's!

2011-12-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

Mitch Miller, Lawrence Welk, Ed Sullivan, Sherrie Lewis (Lambchop,)...if you know who I'm talking about you must be somewhere in my age range. I often feel privileged to have had a baby later in life. Not only do I know all of the above entertainers, but I know I'm going to know everything about the new hip entertainers as my daughter grows up. She's not only going to teach me what's "cool", but she's going to keep me active.

You know the old saying..."kids keep you young". I do believe that's true. I frequently run into people I went to school with with since I live very close to where I grew up. I must say many of them have let their age get the best of them. Not only have they slid into "frumpyhood", but they're acting like "old people!" Most are empty nesters with their kids off to college or even married. Some have become grandparents (with grandkids older than my daughter). I guess they feel entitled to kick back and observe life rather than getting out there and living it. It's almost like I have redefined my peer group. I now hang out with other (younger) moms and I never bring up my age (afterall, it is just a number).

Yes, there are times I would like to sit in my recliner and watch TV without the constant noise and interruption. I've learned to record the few things I care to see and watch it after my daughter goes to bed. What's so great about watching TV anyway???
Us older parents are more motivated to stay in shape and take care of ourselves...so we are around to see our grandchildren. Statistically speaking, women who have their first child over the age of 40 are four times more likely to live to be 100!

Hair Spray, Hair Salons and Birth Defects

2011-12-05T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've often thought about the toxic smell of beauty parlors. There's one in the local indoor mall which you can smell long before you even approach it. I frequently worry about the people who work in salons because they must breathe in the fumes all day. Apparently there's good reason to worry. This recent article in newscientist.com talks about a link between hairspray and birth defects:

Hairspray link to genital birth defects (www.newscientist.com)

Here is another post I did on my other blog about the dangers of hair salons:

How Safe Is It To Work in A Salon if You're TTC or Pregnant?

Snoring Is Dangerous--Even For Children

2011-12-02T05:00:00.000-08:00

We usually hear about the health dangers of snoring in adults who may actually stop breathing for short intervals while they sleep. However, children can snore too and there could be long-term consequences. Here is an article that associates snoring in children with their intelligence:

Childhood Snoring Can Impact Intelligence(www.aphroditewomenshealth.com)

From the article:

"Researchers at the University of Virginia (UV) Health System say that children with sleep disorders face risks of intellectual impairment. Working with children with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, the researchers discovered that youngsters who snore nightly scored significantly lower on vocabulary tests than those who snore less often. "Vocabulary scores are known to be the best single predictor of a child's IQ and the strongest predictor of academic success," said UV's Paul M. Suratt.

Worryingly, Suratt says that the vocabulary differences associated with nightly snoring are equivalent to the IQ dissimilarities attributed to lead exposure. "Studies show that, even at nontoxic levels, lead exposure can reduce a child's IQ by more than seven points. We've also found that obstructive sleep disordered breathing occurs more often in African American children and, therefore, places them at greater risk of cognitive impairment," he noted.

Sleep disorders can be intellectually and behaviorally detrimental to children because they interrupt the deep sleep patterns needed for healthy development. At night, children with sleep disorders can be observed snoring, snorting, gasping, tossing and turning. During the day, these children can be irritable, hyperactive and unable to concentrate."

Older Mothers Don't Have Higher Risk Of Post Partum Depression

2011-12-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

A number of articles claim older mothers have more problems than younger ones, but I find there are plenty of publications that say just the opposite. This article for instance says that older mothers don't have a higher rise of post partum depression. Read more:

www.canada.com

From the article:

Women who have their first baby at an older age aren't at any greater risk of postpartum depression than their younger counterparts, according to an Australian study of more than 500 first-time mothers.

Researchers led by Catherine McMahon at Macquarie University in Australia found that women aged 37 or older were no more likely to get postpartum depression than younger women, regardless of whether they conceived naturally or had infertility treatment.

"Older mothers are frequently discussed in the media. There are a lot of myths, and limited empirical data," McMahon, a psychology professor, said in an email.

There has been speculation, for instance, that older mothers might have a tougher time adjusting to motherhood after being in the workforce for a long time, or have more trouble dealing with the lifestyle changes that a baby brings.

"There is no research evidence to support these speculations,"

Could Lack Of Sleep Be Making Kids Gain Too Much Weight?

2011-11-30T05:00:00.000-08:00

My daughter is a good sleeper, the only problem is that she never seems to fall asleep until later in the evening. Although many mornings she sleeps late, now that she's in preschool a couple days per week, she can't make up that sleep on those mornings. I've heard that sleep deprivation can lead to a number of problems and it's scary that we live in such a sleep deprived society. Here is an article about how it may lead to weight gain in children:

Sleep Keeps Kids Slim
By Betsy Lievense, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent (www.ivanhoe.com)

From the article:

"Researchers at Northwestern University found that children who get more sleep tend to have a lower body mass index (BMI, a ratio of weight to height) and are less likely to be overweight five years later, than kids who get less sleep.

Sleeping an extra hour a night reduced the chance of being overweight from 36 percent to 30 percent in young children, and from 34 percent to 30 percent in older children.

The study is published in the January/February issue of the journal Child Development."

Dealing With Pregnancy Acne

2011-11-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've known quite a few women who have had a pretty bad bout of acne during pregnancy. Many cases of acne are hormonally triggered, so it makes sense that pregnancy can create an acne breeding ground. This article explains some natural ways to deal with the condition and, as a last resort, some medications that may help:

www.mayoclinic.com

From the article:

To treat pregnancy acne, start with self-care:

Wash your face twice a day. Be gentle and use a mild cleanser with lukewarm water.
If you have oily hair, shampoo daily. Be careful to keep hair off your face.
Avoid picking, scratching, popping or squeezing acne sores. These habits can spread infection and potentially cause scarring.
If you use cosmetics, stick to oil-free products. Look for descriptions such as water-based, noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic.
Avoid resting your face in your hands. This can trap skin oils and sweat, which can irritate acne.

Medication is a second line of treatment for pregnancy acne. Any medication that's applied to your skin or swallowed can enter your bloodstream, so it's important to exercise caution during pregnancy — even with over-the-counter products.

Erythromycin (Erygel) is often the drug of choice for pregnancy acne. Azelaic acid (Azelex, Finacea) may be another option. Both medications are typically applied to the skin as a lotion or gel and are available by prescription.

Estimate Your Pregnancy Weight Gain

2011-11-28T05:00:00.000-08:00

After one of the biggest "eating days" of the year, you may feel that you've eaten for more than two. Have you ever wondered how much weight you should gain during pregnancy? Here's a tool from babycenter.com to help figure it out:

Pregnancy weight gain estimator

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T05:00:00.000-08:00

Wishing you a safe and healthy holiday weekend.

Click Here:

Thanksgiving Animation By Jacquie Lawson

How Fast Should You Try To Lose Your Pregnancy Weight - Especially While Breastfeeding?

2011-11-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

After I delivered my daughter, and after gaining 37 pounds with my pregnancy, I was really anxious to get back to my normal weight. However, I had read that you shouldn't lose your pregnancy weight too quickly because it could affect breastfeeding. According to the La Leche League, losing weight too fast could release toxins stored in your body fat into your breastmilk. Read more:

exercise.about.com

From the article:

Though you may be eager to jump into a workout program or diet, easing into light exercise is crucial for keeping your body safe and injury-free. Even the fittest moms may have trouble getting back to exercise. After all, having a baby is a major ordeal and something you'll need time to recover from. You'll need clearance from your doctor and, depending on what kind of birth you had, it may be 4 to 8 weeks before you can engage in serious exercise.

Breastfeeding can help you lose weight, requiring an extra 500 calories from you a day and helping reduce some of the fat you gained during pregnancy. If you do breastfeed, make sure you're giving your body the fuel it needs for that extra energy demand. Now isn't the time to go on a diet; restricting your calories too much can reduce your milk supply, and losing too much weight (more than two pounds a week) can actually release toxins that wind up in your milk.

The good news is, you can still exercise if you're breastfeeding. Studies show that moderate exercise won't affect milk production as long as you're giving your body enough calories.

Newborn Babies and Vitamin D

2011-11-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

I recall when my daughter was receiving mostly breastmilk, my pediatrician recommended giving her a vitamin D supplement (formula is already fortified with vitamin D). It seems with all of the talk about skin cancer, people are afraid to get a little sun every now and then which could help our bodies get the Vitamin D we need. Here is an article about how newborns may be deficient in vitamin D.

Majority Of Newborns Vitamin D Deficient(aphroditewomenshealth.com)

From the article:

Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh say that even regular use of prenatal multivitamin supplements is not adequate to prevent vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy. Writing in the Journal of Nutrition, they warn that vitamin D deficiency in newborns is associated with rickets as well as increased risk for diabetes, asthma and schizophrenia.

Worryingly, the researchers found that vitamin D insufficiency was widespread among women during pregnancy, particularly in the northern latitudes. "More than 80 percent of African-American women and nearly half of white women tested at delivery had levels of vitamin D that were too low, even though more than 90 percent of them used prenatal vitamins during pregnancy," said Lisa Bodnar, lead author of the study. "The numbers also were striking for their newborns - 92 percent of African-American babies and 66 percent of white infants were found to have insufficient vitamin D at birth."

Bodnar explained that a newborn's vitamin D levels were completely reliant on vitamin D from the mother. "Not surprisingly, poor maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy is a major risk factor for infant rickets, which again is becoming a major health problem," she noted.

Prenatal Stress May Affect Baby's IQ

2011-11-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've always believed that the prenatal environment is incredibly important for the development of your baby. Here is an article that gives more evidence that women under stress (especially as it relates to their relationship with their partner) may unknowingly be negatively affecting their baby's IQ. Read more:

Mother's rows in pregnancy 'affects IQ of baby' (telegraph.co.uk)

From the article:

They believe high levels of the stress hormone cortisol can affect unborn babies by crossing the placenta.

Lead researcher Prof Vivette Glover, a foetal development expert at Imperial College London, said: "We have known for a long time that both genetics and upbringing have an important effect on how a child turns out.

"Our study shows that what happens while the baby is in the womb is also important.

"When we looked at what kind of stress was most significant, we found that if the woman had a partner who was being emotionally cruel to them while they were pregnant it had a really significant effect on their baby's future development.

Pregnancy and Group B Strep

2011-11-17T05:00:00.000-08:00

Although Group B strep sounds scary, it is a common bacteria. However, if this bacteria is passed on to a pregnant woman's baby, it could lead to potentially severe complications. Read more:

hubpages.com

From the article:

Group B strep, as stated above, is a bacterium that normally lives in the genitourinary or gastrointestinal tracts, areas like the vagina and rectum. In adults, GBS infection is relatively easy to treat. Unfortunately, in babies, it can be potentially deadly and could cause conditions such as meningitis (inflammation of membranes of the brain/spinal cord), sepsis (infection of blood), etc. These conditions could lead to serious disabilities or even death of the newborn.

About a third of healthy adult women have GBS present, although not all of them would pass the bacteria along to their babies. However, some instances can make the passage of the bacterium to the baby more likely. These include:

•If you've had a fever during labor.
•If your water broke prior to 37 weeks.
•If you've had a urinary tract infection caused by GBS.
•Have had a prior baby with GBS.

Pregnant? Eat Your Apples!

2011-11-16T05:00:00.000-08:00

Wow, I wish I would have known this when I was pregnant. My husband has terrible allergies which trigger his asthma. I've always worried that my daughter might inherit this problem. My big craving when I was pregnant was oranges - I ate at least two per day. I occasionally had apples, but probably not enough to benefit in the way described in the article below. Read more:

Apple Consumption During Pregnancy Reduces Risk For Childhood Wheezing And Asthma - Other Healthy Foods Not Linked With Same Protection (medicalnewstoday.com)

What Does Your Baby Hear Before Birth?

2011-11-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

A very common question pregnant women have is how much their unborn baby can hear. Here is a site which talks about things to do or avoid:

healingmusicenterprises.com

From the site:

Most embryologists will tell you that around the beginning of the 2nd month, many unborn babies ears begin to be functional and will be able to hear mother’s heartbeat, circulation, and digestive sounds! Some women have known that all along…those that are tuned in to their bodies and aware that often the baby will “wake up” or move vigorously when Mom talks loudly or is around a sudden noise.

That’s one reason that keeping the expectant Mom in a healthy sonic environment is so important. Try to avoid:

•arguing and loud, disagreeable conversations

•fireworks and explosions

•loud music of any kind whether rap, rock and roll or even classical

•sudden or persistant drilling, hammering or other such noises

What’s the best kind of sonic environment?

•calming soothing conversations or music

•singing and talking to baby, beginning in the second trimester

•happy and positive interactions in Mom’s day

•keep any conflict to a minimum

Massage In Pregnancy

2011-11-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

I recall being a little stiff when I was pregnant. Part of it was because I was afraid to move around too much. this article talks about some of the possible benefits of massage in pregnancy:

Pregnancy and Massage (www.webmed.com)

From the article:

Pregnancy Massage: Possible Benefits
There have only been a handful of small studies that focus on massage in pregnancy. And so no definite benefits have been established. But one study at the University of Miami School of Medicine suggests that massage therapy during pregnancy might have multiple positive effects, including:

Lowered anxiety
Decreased back and leg pain
Improved sleep
Decreased levels of the stress hormone norepinephrine
In another study of pregnancy massage in depressed women, researchers found:

increased levels of the "feel-good" hormones serotonin and dopamine
decreased levels of cortisol, an indicator of stress
an overall improvement in mood
Research has shown that, for the general population, massage has other potential benefits. For instance, it may relieve pain, or it may boost the immune system to fight off viruses and tumors.

Pregnancy Massage: Safe Techniques
There are more than 80 types of massage taught in roughly 1,300 massage therapy programs in the U.S. Examples of common types of massage include:

Deep-tissue massage, with firm strokes pressing deep into muscles
Swedish massage, with long strokes to muscles and attention to joint mobility
Shiatsu, with pressure and tapping on acupressure points to stimulate the body's natural energy (called qi)
From a scientific standpoint, the mechanisms that make massage therapy work are still largely unknown. More research is needed to understand how applying different types of manual pressure to the body can:

Relieve pain
Stimulate the release of certain hormones like serotonin
Improve sleep
Promote the physiological response of relaxation

The Need For Zinc In Pregnancy

2011-11-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

If you're TTC or pregnant, make sure you're getting your zinc. Read more:

Zinc: Preventing pregnancy complications and more (babycenter.com)

Why do I need zinc?
Your body needs zinc for the production, repair, and functioning of DNA, our genetic map and a basic building block of cells, so getting enough is particularly important for the rapid cell growth that occurs during pregnancy.

Zinc is an essential mineral that helps support your immune system, maintain your sense of taste and smell, and heal wounds. It's also important for forming healthy sperm and eggs.

How much do I need?
During pregnancy, you should be getting 11 milligrams (mg) of zinc a day, up from 9 mg when you're not pregnant or nursing. While breastfeeding, you'll need 12 mg. Women age 18 and younger need 13 mg a day during pregnancy and 14 mg while breastfeeding

Inside Pregnancy Videos - What Happens The First 14 Weeks

2011-11-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

Protein in Urine When Pregnant

2011-11-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

I had all of the usual labwork done while I was pregnant. I'm sure I was check for "proteinuria" which could be a signe of pre-eclampsia. Fortunately, I didn't have it, but this article discusses what it is and other symptoms which may go with it:

www.babycentre.co.uk

Increased proteinuria, as it's known, may be an indication that you are developing pre-eclampsia, a potentially serious condition of pregnancy that can affect both you and and your baby.

Your midwife will be looking out for a combination of raised blood pressure, worsening proteinuria and sudden swelling of the hands, feet and face, all of which suggest pre-eclampsia. Sometimes only one of the symptoms is present. If your urine sample has high levels of protein, your midwife may then take a blood sample to check on your liver function.

You can keep a look out yourself for other common symptoms of pre-eclampsia including headache, problems with your vision, such as blurring or flashing before the eyes, bad pain just below your ribs and vomiting. These symptoms can come on very quickly. Don't hesitate to call your doctor or midwife if you notice any of them in the second half of your pregnancy or in the first few weeks after birth.

Interesting Perspective On Older Parenthood

2011-11-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

I think older parents who previously struggled with infertility sometimes are accused of over-sheltering and under-disciplining. This article may give you a different perspective. Read more:

huggingtonpost.com

From the article:

As for the other challenges of being an older parent, well, frankly, I'm just not aware of them. Experience has made me a better time manager, and I take no shame in my liberal use of those little yellow stick-em notes as reminders. My energy level -- and keep in mind, I'm not chasing toddlers here -- has always been high. I'm no Energizer Bunny after 9 p.m., but I do manage to juggle full-time work with my family's needs and I have never missed either a deadline or a soccer game. I give myself permission to serve peanut butter sandwiches for dinner when I run out of steam and -- again a nod to my lack of patience and unwillingness to have my kids bug me for every little thing -- I taught my children to be self-sufficient wherever I could. They are perfectly capable of making their own lunches for school and know better than to leave their breakfast dishes in the sink unwashed waiting for Mommy.

And yes, it really is simple as that: I knew what I couldn't tolerate and don't think my kids suffer from my unwillingness to let them annoy me. We set boundaries and enforced them. Period. I never let my kids run wild or run over me. I've never hit them, but I have been known to yell and apparently I have a cold Mommy stare that is icy enough to freeze bad behavior in its tracks.

Mom Etiquette - 10 Things Every Mother Should Know

2011-11-07T05:00:00.000-08:00

Mom Etiquette - 10 Things Every Mother Should Know

Mom Etiquette - 10 Things Every Mother Should Know

By Sandy Robertson

I frequently find myself thinking, "they (i.e. other moms) should know better than that", or "isn't that a bit rude?", or "I can't believe they think that's okay". Maybe since I'm older, I was brought up when there were certain social graces that everyone knew to follow. But now, many moms behave in ways that I can't always condone. Here are ten ways to tactfully dealing with your child's social interactions:

1. Party etiquette: If your child is invited to a child's birthday party, some reciprocation is expected (especially if your child attends the party). If they invite you, you should invite them. Yes, I know that some parents need to keep parties small for financial reasons, but if that's the case, have a party in your back yard or basement. Kids just want to run around and have some fun.

RSVP to party invitations as soon as possible. Don't show up without an RSVP - if you don't know if you can make it, let them know that as soon as you can. Parents throwing the party don't know how many party bags to make, etc. If you RSVP to say you are coming, then come! If some emergency arises, call the other parent to let them know as soon as you can. Additionally, if your child is invited to a party, that doesn't mean all of their siblings may attend as well. The invitation is to the child whose name is on the envelope. If it is an electronic invitation which is sent to the parent's email, clarify which child or children should attend.

If your child attends a birthday party, don't show up empty handed. A gift is expected (unless donations to a charitable organization are requested instead). There are plenty of gifts under $5 that children are happy with. Browse around the dollar store as a last resort.

2. Play date etiquette: Play dates should also be reciprocated. If you can't host a play date at your house, go to the park.

If another mom asks if you want a play date, get back to them right away. Don't leave them hanging wondering if it's a yes or no. If you don't know your schedule, tell them that.

If you have a young child, always offer to stay for the play date, especially if your child has separation anxiety or if you know they can be a "handful".

3. Playground etiquette: Younger children should have a parent or sitter present while at the playground. If your child needs help on the equipment, the parent or sitter should be the one helping, not the other moms or dads. I've seen some parents and nannies who let the kids run wild on the playground while they sit and talk on their cell phone completely ignoring what's going on. Once while at an indoor mall playground, a little boy sat with us for 15 minutes (I gave him a snack because he asked for one) and the nanny was no where to be found. I had no idea who the boy belonged to, but finally a young girl looking embarrassed came to claim the boy. This was a small enough playground that if she were there, she would have seen him with us (I guess she had some shopping to do - ahem!)

4. Don't gossip about other children to other moms. Gossip is downright wrong no matter who its about. If you have a real issue with a certain child, call their mom directly and discuss it. Nobody else needs to know or hear about the problem.

5. Don't tell other moms how to raise their kids. If you have a problem with another child and it must be brought to the attention of their mother, do so tactfully. What works for one child doesn't necessarily work for another so leave out the part of how you would handle it or what you do with your kid. Refrain from lecturing other mothers on how you enforce rules, how you require they eat their meals and so on. The vast majority of mothers out there do a completely adequate job of raising their kids. Unless you are truly concerned about a child's welfare, don't get involved.

6. Don't comment on another child's physical appearance. This is common sense, right? Apparently, not to some people. Refrain from commenting on how tall another child is, how short another child is, how heavy or thin a child is, etc. Chances are, if a child is very large or very small, it could be something the mother and/or child is sensitive about. Your comments only state the obvious and lead to embarrassment or hurt feelings. Keep it to yourself!

7. Don't discipline other children. If you are at the park or an area where a lot of kids are playing, and a child does something that is clearly not okay, do your best to find their mom and discuss it. If you can't find the other mother, nicely approach the child and say "Honey, my son/daughter doesn't like it when you push, can you be a little more gentle with them?" or "My child just got that bike for Christmas and she's not ready to have anyone else ride it yet". I was actually at a park when one child started riding another child's bike and the mother of the bike owner screamed, "THAT'S NOT YOUR BIKE, GET OFF!" On another occasion, I heard one mother say to a child (not hers) "you need to learn how to share", the child's mother was sitting right there and raised her eyebrows at the comment. I know there are times when you wish a child's mother would take certain actions, but that doesn't give you the right to take those actions for them.

8. Don't discipline your own child in front of other kids (or parents). Yes, I know there are times you need to tell your child to stop doing something, but whenever possible, pull them aside and tell them by whispering. Constantly yelling or reprimanding your child publicly may give other kids "license" to do the same. This can lead to other kids ganging up on yours or other parents labeling your kid as a troublemaker. Another option for less urgent matters is to bring it up and discuss it once you are home alone. Likewise, don't announce to others that your child is grounded or "in trouble". If grounding is part of your discipline, simply tell others that your child can't make it that day.

9. Don't Brag. Period. If someone asks you about one of your child's accomplishments, answer honestly and don't embellish. I realize parents (and grandparents) feel like they've earned bragging rights, but its annoying and it makes other parents and kids feel inferior. That's actually one reason other kids may not want to hang out with yours. Your child's accomplishments will stand on their own. Teach your child not to brag...they will be more respected if they don't constantly sing their own praise.

On the same note, don't brag to other parents about all the parties, play dates, or fun things your child is doing or going to do. Teach your child not to talk about play dates or parties with other children. If the child they're talking to isn't invited, it leads to hurt feelings - nobody likes to be left out. This not only hurts the child, it hurts the mother too.

10. If your child goes to the movies, pool, or any other place where there is a charge for admission (even if they are invited by another child) - send them with enough money to cover admission and perhaps a snack. Unless it's a party, don't assume the other parent is going to cover the cost. They may refuse the money, but you should always offer.

Sandy Robertson is a stay-at-home mom and a part-time college professor. She is also the author of "You Can Get Pregnant Over 40, Naturally". Her website is: http://www.getpregnantover40.com where you may access her blogs on fertility, pregnancy, miscarriage and motherhood.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandy_Robertson

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Encouraging Story: Three Children Conceived Naturally Over 40

2011-11-04T05:00:00.001-07:00

Dorothy Handelman and Family

I heard from a woman who suffered from "infertility" when she tried to conceive in her 30's, then proceeds to have three children naturally over the age of 40 (her last when she was 45!) I asked if I could share her story to give my blog readers proof that some women are more fertile in their 40's than their younger years. She also has a long-term perspective of parenting over 40 since her oldest child is now 18. Read more from Dorothy Handelman:

Prior to turning 40, my future as a mother was uncertain. I had had a failed pregnancy that was accomplished with the assistance of a noted fertility expert in New York. So, I was not optimistic that I had the time or the ability to have the children that I desired. When my marriage of 2 ½ years came to an abrupt end, I remember telling my mother that I felt like “my life was over”. Trying to console me, she thought that “a few more things were going to happen to me.”

Returning to the dating pool as a divorcee I didn’t realize that possibilities even existed. I met a great a guy and found myself pregnant at 40, 43 and 45 without any fertlity assistance. Motherhood over 40 has many blessings and many challenges. Along the way I have mostly had the patience required for my children but not always the energy to ride bikes all day or climb mountains. Our three kids (now 18, 15, and 13) are fine, happy and able bodied and their dad and I are very grateful that we have created this family.

Turning 40, I was very hopeless that I would have any children as the experts painted a very pessimistic image of an older woman’s chances of conception. But, sometimes the experts have it all wrong.

To read Dorothy's blog, click here:

curb appeal in sleepy hollow

Labor Induction Shown To Lower C-Sections

2011-11-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a lot of controversy about labor inductions and whether or not all C-Sections are necessary. This article shows that labor induction may actually lower the need for C-Sections. Read more:

www.healthscout.com

From the article:

The review results suggest that, compared with waiting, elective induction of labor at or after 41 weeks' gestation lowered Cesarean delivery risk by 22 percent. In addition, women whose labor was electively induced were half as likely to have meconium-stained amniotic fluid, which is a sign of fetal intrauterine stress.

The findings suggest that elective induction of labor may be safer than continuing pregnancy past 41 weeks, according to the researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine and University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Their study appears in the Aug. 18 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Are Organic Foods Better For Your Baby?

2011-11-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

After my daughter was on solid foods, there were certain things I insisted on buying organic, namely, anything diary. After that, I pretty much shopped at my regular store. Here is an article that addresses organic foods for babies and kids:

www.marchofdimes.com

From the article:

What’s a Parent to Do?
First and foremost, it’s important for your child to eat a well-balanced diet. If organic foods are available and you can afford them, great; give them a try. But don’t sacrifice good nutrition for the organic label.

Regardless of whether food is organic or not, handle all food carefully and safely.

Shopping and Safety Tips

Buy vegetables and fruits when they’re in season. This will help ensure the best quality. For example, buy apples in the fall and berries and tomatoes in the summer. This also saves on fuel to transport produce from far away.
Read labels carefully. Organic may not mean healthy. Some organic foods are high in fat, sugar or salt.
If you worry about pesticides, peel all fruits and vegetables. Trim the outer leaves of leafy vegetables like lettuce and cabbage. But remember, peeling may also reduce nutritional value. Pesticides are sometimes found in the fatty parts of food. So remove fat from meat and the skin from fish and poultry.
Handle all food carefully and safely.

Pregnant? Go Easy On Licorice

2011-10-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

With Halloween upon us and the abundance of candy everywhere, this may be an article you should read if you're pregnant or think you might become pregnant. Licorice may negatively affect fetal brain development. Read more:

www.sciencedaily.com

From the article:

It is thought that a component in licorice called glycyrrhizin may impair the placenta, allowing stress hormones to cross from the mother to the baby.

High levels of such hormones, known as glucocorticoids, are thought to affect fetal brain development and have been linked to behavioral disorders in children.

The results of the study are published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Eight-year-olds whose mothers had been monitored for licorice consumption during pregnancy were tested on a range of cognitive functions including vocabulary, memory and spatial awareness.

Before Birth Bonding

2011-10-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

I recall when I was pregnant, I read about massaging your belling in a particular pattern because it could build your child's intelligence. I tried this and even now, my daughter seems to recognize the pattern (massage in three circles then three pats on the belly). Here is another article about how to bond with you baby before birth:

www.webmd.com

From the article:

According to Carista Luminare-Rosen, PhD, author of Parenting Begins Before Conception: A Guide to Preparing Body, Mind, and Spirit for You and Your Future Child, research shows that babies in the womb have the emotional and intuitive capabilities to sense their parents' love. "Prenates can see, hear, feel, remember, taste, and think before birth," says Luminare-Rosen, founder and co-director of The Center for Creative Parenting in Marin and Sonoma counties, Calif.

Bonding (also known as attachment), says Marilee Hartling, RN, prenatal program manager at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, is how babies -- before and after birth -- learn what the world is all about. "It's also part of their personality development.

"When there's a healthy attachment between baby and parent," Hartling says, "the baby comes to believe that the world is a safe place. This is the beginning of the establishment of trust."

Some parents talk about feeling connected to their baby from the moment it's conceived, says Hartling. For others, that feeling grows as the baby develops. Fathers tend to begin bonding later than mothers, for obvious reasons, Hartling says, but they can help the process along by going to doctors' visits with the mother, looking at ultrasound pictures, and feeling the baby's kicks.

The Worry Associated With Pregnancy

2011-10-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Maybe we're overeducated...maybe we're overly cautious...all I can say is that ignorance may be bliss. Well...to a point. When it comes to being pregnant, anything you can do to have a healthy happy baby, you should do. However, with the information age upon us, it seems that we're bombarded with all of the "what if's" that statistically will probably never happen.

I spent six years reading everything I could find about fertility, pregnancy, miscarriage, etc. In retrospect, I'm glad I did because I developed my "pregnancy protocol" which, I believe, was a key piece of my successful pregnancy. The only problem was that I read too many horror stories along the way. When I finally did get pregnant with my daughter, I not only had a plan on how to have a healthy pregnancy, but I had a plan on how I was going to deal with every complication from pre-eclampsia, placenta previa, premature birth, incompetent cervix, Down Syndrome and the list goes on. I finally realized about nine months into my pregnancy that everything was normal. Imagine that, I could have been one of those carefree women whose biggest problem was how to plan her maternity wardrobe! Oh what I put myself through those nine months. Funny thing is, there's still a piece of me that thinks if I was "overconfident" about being pregnant, something would have gone wrong. Once a worrywart, always a worrywart.

Here's a great article about the worry associated with pregnancy:

The pregnancy panic attack
What don't moms-to-be have to worry about these days?
Victoria Clayton / MSNBC.com

Some Realities and Complications of Pregnancy

2011-10-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

We usually hear about all the wonderful parts of pregnancy. This video talks about real women and some of the realities and complications of pregnancy. Watch here:

All about Rh, Rhogam, and Rh Sensitization

2011-10-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

If you are Rh negative, and you are pregnant or had a miscarriage, you may need to worry about getting an Rhogam shot. Rh sensitization can be harmful to your baby, but does not occur until a second pregnancy (if your blood and the baby's blood with different Rh factors have mixed). This article explains more:

www.revolutionhealth.com

From the article:

What causes Rh sensitization during pregnancy?

Rh sensitization can occur during pregnancy if you are Rh-negative and pregnant with an unborn baby (fetus) who has Rh-positive blood. In most cases, your blood will not mix with your baby’s blood until delivery. It takes a while to make antibodies that can affect the baby, so during your first pregnancy, the baby probably would not be affected.

But if you get pregnant again with an Rh-positive baby, the antibodies already in your blood could attack the baby’s red blood cells. This can cause the baby to have anemia, jaundice, or more serious problems. This is called Rh disease. The problems will tend to get worse with each Rh-positive pregnancy you have.

During your first pregnancy, your baby could be at risk for Rh disease if you were sensitized before or during pregnancy. This can happen if:

You had a previous miscarriage, abortion, or ectopic pregnancy and you did not receive Rh immune globulin to prevent sensitization.
You had a serious injury to your belly during pregnancy.
You had a medical test such as an amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling while you were pregnant, and you did not receive Rh immune globulin. These tests could let your blood and your baby’s blood mix.

Strengthing The Pelvic Floor

2011-10-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

The pelvic floor can be weakened during pregnancy and childbirth. Pilates can strengthen this area which can help with a number of physical problems. This site explains what the pelvic floor is and how to target the area:

www.pilatesdigest.com

From the article:

The muscles of the pelvic floor also function as part of our “core” muscles. The pelvic diaphragm, the floor of the pelvis, is the lower support of the abdominal cavity and assists in respiration as well as spine support. These muscles connect to the pubic bone in front and attach to the tailbone in back so they are extremely important for low back health. Contraction of the deep pelvic floor muscles will also help to fire the transversus abdominis, which is an extremely important stabilizer for the low back and spine.

Neutral pelvis, as emphasized in Pilates, is where you want to be to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles optimally and evenly. Neutral pelvis refers to the natural curves of your spine. To find neutral, your anterior superior iliac spines (ASIS) and your pubic symphysis are in the same horizontal plane. When lying on your back with your knees bent, the heel of your hands should feel your ASIS and your fingers should feel your pubic symphysis. Rock the pelvis slightly back in forth until you feel that they are in the same horizontal plane. Imagine trying to balance a cup of tea on your lower abdomen.

In order to feel the muscles of the pelvic floor, inhale and as you exhale try to lift and tighten the muscles that would normally stop the flow of urine. Try not to use your abdominals and don’t squeeze your buttocks, legs or hold your breath. Try to hold for 5-10 seconds. As you inhale, relax the muscles and lift them again on the exhale. Do 10 contractions, trying to hold each for 5-10 seconds, with a 4 second rest in between.

What Is A Normal Fetal Heart Rate?

2011-10-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

Just before one of my miscarriages, I had an ultrasound. The first thing the doctor said when he came into the room after the PA had the ultrasound positioned on my baby was "the heartbeat is slow". I started to get this sinking feeling like he was giving my baby a death sentence. Well...I know it wasn't his fault, he was just the messenger--I did lose the pregnancy.

Many women wonder what a normal fetal heartrate should be. Here is a site that explains more:

fetaldopplerFACTS.org

Here is an excerpt from the site above:

"What should my baby's fetal heart-rate be?
The normal fetal heart rate is between 110 to 180 beats per minutes (BPM), but can vary. Fluctuations of the fetal heart rate (usually associated with fetal movement) during different periods of the day are common and often rise above 160, going as high as 180 to 190 and are considered normal. If you have questions or concerns about your baby's fetal heart rate always direct them to your healthcare professional.

What hearing a healthy heartbeat signifies
Listening to a normally beating heart using a fetal ultrasound doppler as early as 8 weeks can offer reassurance and cut down on a lot of stress and help assure that the developing fetus is healthy. While miscarriage occurs in only about 15 percent of apparently normal pregnancies, it only occurs in about 1 percent of pregnancies where a normal heartbeat has been seen or heard."

Small Steps To Take Care Of Yourself

2011-10-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

I think most women know that they have to take care of themselves if they want to take good care of everyone else. Here is an article that shows some small steps you can take now to take better care of yourself:

Women Strive To Take Care Of Everyone Except Themselves

"With today's busy schedules, women are the ringmasters in a never-ending family circus," stated Ms. Battaglino Cahill. "We hope that our new campaign can give women the simple lifestyle tips they need to tame their chaotic days in a healthy, holistic and positive way."

The online Wellness Center includes tips and advice in the following areas:
-- Diet & Nutrition ?

?- Small Step:? Don't pass the salt Did you know that too much sodium can raise your blood pressure and contribute to developing or worsening hypertension, the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease?

-- Fitness

?- Small Step: Get moving: The beauty of physical activity is that little bits add up to big benefits. Try adding activity into each day little by little. Unsure where to start? Keep it simple. For instance, carry your groceries into the house one bag at a time.

-- Emotional Wellbeing

?- Small Step: Laugh away stress: Laughter is a great stress reliever, but the benefits don't end there. Laughter can also strengthen the immune system, lessen food cravings and help you heal more quickly.

-- Beauty and Anti-Aging

?- Skip the sunscreen...sometimes: It may sound sacrilegious but skipping sunscreen for brief periods of time can be good for you. How? Sunshine stimulates your skin to synthesize vitamin D, which may help ward off osteoporosis and other diseases, including certain common cancers.

-- Alternative Medicine

?- Small Step: Throw your own tea party: Instead of drinking your morning caffe latte or other coffee concoction, indulge in an aromatic cup of tea. Tea, particularly green tea, is an excellent source of antioxidants called polyphenol, which may be why one Arizona study found that the more hot tea people drank (particularly tea with lemon) the less likely they were to develop squamous cell skin cancer

Giving Birth After Running a Marathon

2011-10-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

I usually focus my blog on pregnancy over 40, but I was shocked when I heard about the 27 year old woman who ran a marathon, then gave birth to her full term baby. Of course, some exercise in pregnancy is good, but you would never find me running a marathon when pregnant. Read more:

medicalnewstoday.com

From the article:

There is little if any research on running during pregnancy, perhaps because, as Dr Rod Jaques, who advised British Triathlon Team at the British Olympic Medical Centre for 17 years until he stepped down in 2007, said in an article published in Runner's World in 2002, scientists would be hard pressed to find women willing to subject themselves to such experiments while pregnant.

Jaques, advises pregnant women to keep their heart rate at or below 140 bpm while running and to take plenty of fluids.

Other experts suggest avoid running in the heat, and never run to the point of exhaustion.

Another point to bear in mind is that pregnant women are at higher risk of injury because they have higher levels of relaxin, a hormone that relaxes joints and ligaments, so they should ease gently into a run and stretch properly afterwards.

APGAR scores for newborns

2011-10-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

There are so many tests your infant will undergo after delivery that it can be hard for a new mom to keep up. For starters, the first test is called the APGAR. Here is an article that explains this assessment:

Your Child's First Test: The APGAR (www.pregnancy.org)

From the above article, here are the breakdown of the scores:

Heart rate:
0 - No heart rate
1 - Fewer than 100 beats per minute - the baby is not very responsive
2 - More than 100 beats per minute - the baby is obviously vigorous

Respiration:
0 - Not breathing
1 - Weak cry; may sound like whimpering or grunting
2 - Good, strong cry

Muscle tone:
0 - Limp
1 - Some flexing (bending) of arms and legs
2 - Active motion

Reflex response:
0 - No response to airways being suctioned
1 - Grimace during suctioning
2 - Grimace and cough or sneeze during suctioning

Color:
0 - The baby's whole body is completely blue or pale
1 - Good color in body with blue hands or feet
2 - Completely pink or good color

Uterine Rupture With VBAC

2011-10-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

Ever heard of a VBAC? No, that doesn't have anything to do with heating, ventilating and air conditioning your home (that's HVAC!) All kidding aside, VBAC stands for vaginal birth after C-Section. Some women successfully deliver subsequent pregnancies vaginally after previously having a C-Section, however, not all women are so lucky. VBAC's could possibly lead to uterine rupture which can be life threatening mother and baby. Here is a site devoted to educating women about the risks of VBAC.

VBAC Attempt and Uterine Rupture
Make an Informed Decision about VBAC

Planned Home Births Just As Safe As Hospital

2011-10-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

I wouldn't have dreamed of having a home birth just because I was too afraid something would go wrong. However I do know another woman who had her first baby at the age of 44 who did have a home birth. According to this article, as long as the home birth is planned, it can be a safe experience with good outcomes. Read more:

www.sciencedaily.com

The study looked at 2889 home births attended by regulated midwives in British Columbia, Canada, and 4752 planned hospital births attended by the same cohort of midwives compared with 5331 physician-attended births in hospital. Women who planned a home birth had a significantly lower risk of obstetric interventions and adverse outcomes, including augmentation of labour, electronic fetal monitoring, epidural analgesia, assisted vaginal delivery, cesarean section, hemorrhage, and infection.

The safety of home births is under debate. American, Australian and New Zealand Colleges of Obstetricians and Gynecologists oppose home births while the United Kingdom's Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Royal College of Midwives are supportive, as are midwife organizations in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Canada's Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has encouraged further research into the safety of home birth, and this study addresses that directive.

"Women planning birth at home experienced reduced risk for all obstetric interventions measured, and similar or reduced risk for adverse maternal outcomes," writes Dr. Patricia Janssen from the University of British Columbia and coauthors. Newborns born after planned home births were at similar or reduced risk of death, although the likelihood of admission to hospital was higher.

Noise and Infant Development

2011-10-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

I've always thought white noise was a good thing. However, for infants, it may not be. Apparently this noise might contribute to language delay because it has no distinguishable pattern. Read more:

www.webmd.com

From the article:

A new study suggests that exposing infants to continuous white noise -- commonly done to soothe infants or drown out other noises -- may delay hearing and possibly language development.

Investigators found that exposure to continuous, unpatterned sounds such as white noise delayed development of the brain's hearing center in young rats.

Unlike speech or music, white noise, such as radio static or an air conditioner's hum, is random sound with no distinguishable auditory pattern.

In their study, published April 18 in the journal Science, Edward Chang and colleague Michael Merzenich, PhD, exposed rat pups to continuous background white noise loud enough to mask normal environmental sounds, but not loud enough to damage their hearing. Development of the hearing region of the brain was compared with animals reared with normal environmental sounds.

The researchers found the rats exposed to the white noise showed a significant delay in development of the hearing center of the brain. And development in these rats did not catch up to the unexposed rats until they were three to four times older. Though hearing development was delayed, it did mature to normal adult levels once they were no longer exposed to the continuous background noise.

Great "Fast Foods" in Pregnancy

2011-10-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

When you're pregnant, the word "hungry" has new meaning. Not only are you hungry, but sometimes you feel like if you don't get something to eat, you're going to faint. I can't recall a time when I was so absolutely famished. For this reason, you need to have many quick, easy, and healthy foods to eat - especially between meals. Read more:

11 "fast" foods a pregnant woman could love (and five to avoid)

Pineapple Brings On Labor?

2011-10-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

I had never heard about pineapple bringing on labor in pregnant women. Apparently, this old wives tale may actually have some truth. Read more:

pregnancyglee.com

From the article:

Eating pineapple or drinking pineapple juice is said to be an old wive’s tale to bring on labour for woman past their due date. Large amounts of pineapple juice can, in fact, cause uterine contractions. It’s for this reason that in early pregnancy, it’s often suggested that you don’t drink pineapple juice in excess amounts.
Why pineapple can cause contractions

Fresh pineapple contains Bromelain which can also soften the cervix . Butm it is said that it takes large quantities to have any effect which can also result in diarrhea. Some women say that they’ve had zero problems having plenty of pineapple and pineapple juice during pregnancy and others claim it brought on labour. The verdict on pineapple during pregnancy? Some would say that you should eat it in moderation and watch for any signs of problems before your due date.

Eyesight May Change For The Better In Pregnancy

2011-10-10T05:00:00.000-07:00

Many women complain about all of physical stress their body goes through in pregnancy. However, there are also benefits and your eyesight may be one of them. Read more:

www.express.co.uk

From the article:

“There is a lot of research about the curvature of the cornea and the swelling of the lens in pregnancy, when the eye can change because of hormones and fluid retention,” he says. “That’s why women who are pregnant are never considered for laser surgery.

“Once the pregnancy and lactation period have ended and the hormones go back to normal your eyesight may go back to what it was. But as long as your vision is fine then there is nothing you have to do because your eyesight has changed for the better.”

Premature Babies May Be Harmed By Bright Hospital Lights

2011-10-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

Most babies born in maternity wards nowadays "room in" with their moms. I know when I had my daughter, she was with me almost from the moment she was born until I went home from the hospital (except for testing, etc.) However, premature babies must usually stay where they are monitored 24 hours a day. The article below discusses how the bright hospital lights may not be such a good thing for a baby that already has so many challenges:

Bright Lights Causing Problems For Premature Babies? (aphroditewomenshealth.com)

From the article:

A study in the journal Pediatric Research suggests that bright lights might play havoc with the internal body clocks of premature babies. Douglas McMahon, a researcher from Vanderbilt University, said that exposing baby mice to constant light keeps the master biological clock in their brains from developing properly and this can have a lasting effect on their behavior. While his study only worked with mice, McMahon believes the results might be applicable to premature babies being cared for in bright neonatal wards.

About 14 million premature babies are born worldwide every year, and in developed nations, this means exposure to bright hospital lighting, usually around the clock. "We are interested in the effects of light on biological clocks because they regulate our physiology extensively, and also have an important effect on our mood," McMahon said. "This study suggests that cycling the lights in neonatal intensive care units may be better than constant lighting for premature babies' from the perspective of developing their internal clocks."

Chiropractic Treatment For Pregnant Women

2011-10-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

Chiropractic Treatment for Pregnant Women
Guest Post By James Schofield
Many women who experience lower back pain while they are pregnant or just after pregnancy wonder if chiropractic treatment can help them. More importantly, they have concerns as to the safety of chiropractic care during and immediately after pregnancy. This article will give you information and an introduction about chiropractic care and pregnancy.

Almost any woman can attest that pregnancy changes the body a lot. As the child develops in the womb her body must adapt and change. The abdomen enlarges and the lower back carries more weight and stress and the pelvic bones and joints loosen and widen to prepare for the birth.

Many pregnancies, while not completely comfortable, proceed with no significant problems. However, sometimes as the soon-to-be mother's abdomen increases in size the back starts to sway more, the posture changes, and stress can occur on the joints of the spine and pelvis. This can cause the joints to misalign or move improperly causing joint and/or nerve irritation. Many times women who present this complaint to their obstetrician are told they have "pinched nerves." Regardless of the term used to describe the pain, chiropractic treatment for lower back pain has been shown to be effective in handling the discomfort.

A chiropractor is well-educated in studying the anatomy and physiology of the pregnant female. They are trained while in chiropractic school and take additional on-going continuing education to address the lower back pain of pregnancy.

When the patient initially visits a chiropractor he will first discuss the important factors of the condition with the pregnant woman or new mother. Next he will check for any tender areas of the lower back and gently feel for muscle spasms and swelling. Evaluating posture can also reveal a lot of information. If the woman is experiencing sciatica and leg pain, checking the status of the sciatic nerve will include testing muscular strength, reflexes and if sensation to touch is normal or shows abnormal numbness or extreme sensitivity. Of course a pregnant woman would not be x-rayed but x-rays for a woman who has already delivered her baby can be very helpful in providing important information.

Once the woman has been evaluated many, if not most women, can receive gentle, safe chiropractic adjustments to correct misalignments or improperly moving joints of the spine and pelvis to help take pressure away from the area. Because the chiropractor's methods are gentle, the safety of the developing fetus is addressed and many women find their pain, even during the delivery of the baby, to be reduced due to their chiropractic treatments. Many times chiropractors provide advice about exercises and lifestyle the woman can utilize in her everyday handling of the pregnancy or post-pregnancy.

Of course should the chiropractor find that treatment is not suitable for a particular patient he will let that patient know and suggest a suitable alternative.

To learn more about chiropractic care in Pittsburgh please visit Dr. James Schofield's website here: Pittsburgh Chiropractor.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Schofield

http://EzineArticles.com/?Chiropractic-Treatment-for-Pregnant-Women&id=6393963

Time Between Pregnancies -18 Months to 5 Years Optimal

2011-10-05T05:00:00.000-07:00

Most women and couples who struggle to get pregnant will try for a baby whenever the opportunity arises. However, this article talks about the optimal way to space pregnancies:

Experts suggest spacing pregnancies (USA Today)

From the article:

CHICAGO (AP) — Women can maximize their chances of having healthy babies by spacing their pregnancies at least 18 months but no more than five years apart, researchers say.
The researchers reached that conclusion after an analysis of 67 international studies involving more than 11 million pregnancies.

The analysis found that spacing babies too close together or too far apart raises the risk of complications such as premature births and low birth weight.

The findings suggest that millions of infant deaths could be avoided worldwide with better family planning, said co-author Agustin Conde-Agudelo of Santa Fe de Bogota Foundation in Colombia.

"The financial cost of birth spacing programs is lower than the financial cost of infant deaths, of course," Conde-Agudelo said in an e-mail.

Pregnancy and nursing use up nutrients in a woman's body, he said, and for a woman to get pregnant again before she has a chance to recover nutritionally may mean higher risks for the baby.

As for why long intervals between births cause problems too, he speculated that time could diminish a woman's reproductive capacity and that factors that decrease fertility also could lead to poor fetal development.

The analysis found that for each month under 18 months between pregnancies, the risk of premature birth increased 1.9%. For each month longer than 59 months between pregnancies, the chances of premature birth climbed 0.6%.

The Multitude of Benefits of Antioxidants in Pregnancy

2011-10-04T05:00:00.000-07:00

Eating and supplementing your diet with antioxidants my be especially important during pregnancy. This study talks about how it could prevent diabetes and obesity in your baby. Read more:

www.naturalnews.com

From the article:

NaturalNews) Antioxidants play a crucial role in preventing the onset of disease, and they can make all the difference in determining whether or not children develop glucose intolerance or become obese. According to a new study out of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHP), women who consume high amounts of antioxidants before and during their pregnancies may be protecting their children against diabetes and obesity.

Noting that diets high in bad fats and carbohydrates cause harmful oxidative stress that leads to obesity and diabetes, researchers decided to study the effect that antioxidants have in mitigating their onset. The team fed four groups of test rats either a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet, or a healthier and more balanced diet. The first two groups received such diets with no additional antioxidants, while the other two received extra antioxidants with their diets.

At the conclusion of the study, the group eating the unhealthy "Western" diet with no added antioxidants had significantly higher rates of inflammation and oxidative stress than the other groups, and their offspring were larger and had highers rates of glucose intolerance. The Western diet group that consumed added antioxidants, however, produced offspring with markedly lower rates of glucose intolerance and no obesity whatsoever -- and these conditions persisted even after two months.

Big Babies and Breast Cancer Risk

2011-10-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

I found this interesting article about how babies who are larger at birth may have a higher risk of breast cancer. It sounds like the risk is small and more study may be needed but it's interesting how much of our health may be determined even before birth. Read more:

Big Babies At Higher Risk Of Breast Cancer (www.newscientist.com)

From the article:

Big baby girls are likelier to develop breast cancer as adults than average-sized infants, according to a study of more than 22,000 women with the disease.

A 500-gram increase in birthweight increases a child's risk of developing breast cancer by 7%, while a 2-centimetre increase in height boosts the odds by 10%, says Isabel dos Santos Silva, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine who headed the international study.

She and colleagues reanalysed data from dozens of clinical studies performed over the last 20 years.

Many of these hinted at a connection between birth size and breast tumours, but few of the studies included enough patients to determine whether the link was real or a statistical fluke, as well as the magnitude of the connection..

Forceps in Childbirth and Pelvic Prolapse

2011-09-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

I consider myself lucky that I was able to deliver my daughter without the use of forceps or without a C-Section. I did, however have to push for a good four hours. Here is an article that shows a possible association between forcep deliveries and pelvic prolapse:

Childbirth Muscle Damage Linked To Pelvic Prolapse, Incontinence (aphroditewomenshealth.com)

From the article:

The study used magnetic resonance imaging to determine the extent of damage to the levator ani muscles. The women's vaginal closure force at rest and while contracting her pelvic muscle were also measured. Interestingly, half of the women in the study with prolapse recalled having forceps used during childbirth, nearly twice the amount (about 27 percent) of women in the study who do not have prolapse who remembered that forceps were used.

But even with the newly established link, the researchers caution women against using the findings as support for elective caesarean procedures. Rather, they say, the study results should be used to help determine how to prevent these injuries in the first place. "The next step is for researchers to look at ways of preventing and treating these injuries of the levator ani muscle in order to reduce the rate of pelvic organ prolapse later in life," said DeLancey.

What Would I Do Without My Doula?

2011-09-29T05:00:00.000-07:00

Guest Post By: Suzanne Doyle-Ingram

By the time my husband and I finally got pregnant the first time, I had done a lot of reading about birth options and we had already decided to have a midwife instead of a doctor. We believe that pregnancy is a healthy state of being, and unless something came up, a midwife was the best way to go for us. Besides, where we live, a midwife can deliver babies at hospitals, so I felt that was the safest way to go. (Although, now, I feel I could have had my babies at home... but that is a whole other article!).

When I was a few weeks pregnant I came across an article on doulas, but I had never heard of a doula so I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. A doula is a woman who supports women through childbirth. "Doula" is an ancient Greek word meaning "servant to women". A doula provides a woman with continuous emotional support, aides in her physical comfort, and encourages the laboring woman. She also provides praise, reassurance, and explains what is going on during the labor. While some husbands and partners may feel that it's their job to offer support to the laboring woman, and therefore initially feel that they would not want a doula, after the birth they are very pleased and relieved that they had one.

A doula can help husbands and partners by suggesting ways they can help the laboring woman, and doulas actually assist the husband to feel like he is contributing. Studies have shown that women supported by a doula during labor have:

50% reduction of cesarean rate

25% shorter labor

60% reduction in epidural requests

30% reduction in analgesia use

40% reduction in forceps delivery

*From Mothering the Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth
by Marshall H. Klaus (Perseus Press, 1993)

When I was about halfway through my pregnancy, we decided to interview some doulas and see if it would be right for us. We met with three doulas. The first one was Jan, who we ultimately picked. We liked her right away and I wanted to hire her on the spot, but my husband insisted that we meet the other doulas too because we might find someone we like even more. (How could that be possible?, I wondered.) Well, it turned out that the other two doulas were wonderful too, but our instincts told us to go with Jan. So we hired her. We had to give her a deposit of $100 to confirm our commitment, and sign an agreement as well.

How do I describe this fabulous woman? She is very tall and has a great presence. She is quiet, knowledgeable and thoughtful; she doesn't speak a lot, but when she does it is carefully thought out. In other words, she is not "chatty" but not shy either. She has an engaging smile, she is discrete, and she is strong. I felt like she could sweep me up in her arms and take care of me!

Jan came over several weeks before my due date to do some one-on-one prenatal training with both James and I. She is a lactation consultant as well so she helped by answering my questions about breastfeeding in addition to my questions about what to expect during labor. I went into labor three days before my due date, on August 13, 2001. It was about midnight and I was just getting into bed when I felt (or heard?) a loud POP! And then another one. And warm liquid dribbling down my legs. My water had broken. Yay! This was finally happening.

The contractions started immediately and James rubbed my thigh while I rested on the bed. The contractions got closer and closer together and James called Jan at about 5:00am when they were about 5 minutes apart. They got really intense after that and by the time Jan arrived, I was vomiting in a bucket on my bed. Jan threw down the birth ball she was carrying, flew across the bed, grabbed my hand, looked me straight in the eye with her face close to mine and said, "I want you to breathe like this."

In an instant, she had me calmed down and breathing effectively. She was amazing. I went from being in a total panic to feeling like everything was going to be ok. When my midwife arrived at 7:00am, she told me I was about 3 centimetres dilated. I was so disappointed! But Jan was my cheerleader, telling me that I was working so hard, and managing so well, and that my body was only going to give me what I could handle. She helped James help me by suggesting things he could do for me, and he felt taken care of by Jan as well.

It was only about an hour later that Jan noticed my breathing had changed and she called out to our midwife who was in another room doing paperwork. Our midwife didn't think that I could have progressed that quickly but Jan stood her ground and said, "It really sounds like she is trying to
push." So the midwife checked me again (doulas do not perform medical tasks) and I was about 7 cm dilated! This was going fast. Suddenly everybody sprung into action and started gathering up all the bags and things we needed for the hospital. If it wasn't for Jan, I really don't think we would have made it on time.

While James drove, Jan sat with me in the backseat holding my hand, talking to me, encouraging me and calming me. She was so amazing! After we got to the hospital, she never left my side. James had to go fill out the paperwork and park the car, but Jan was there beside me constantly. I felt such complete trust in Jan that I had to hold her right hand a particular way through each contraction. It was quite funny! A contraction would start and I'd yell, "Hand! Hand!" and Jan would come running and grab my hand. I don't know why, but it was only Jan's hand that comforted me. It had to be Jan's hand.

She also helped by taking me to the bathroom and getting me water to drink, a cold cloth for my forehead (without being asked), and waving tissues with aromatherapy oil on them around the room. I found that I couldn't communicate what I wanted or needed, but Jan always seemed to know, thank goodness. She suggested different laboring positions and she helped during the delivery by suggesting positions for pushing, too. I only pushed one hour and then our beautiful Hana was born. (Hana means "flower" in Japanese).

Jan stayed with me while I delivered the placenta (James was on the other side of the room with Hana) and helped me attempt to breastfeed right away. She stayed for about 4 hours after Hana was born and helped me take a shower and gave me lots of help with breastfeeding.

What more can I say about having a doula? She made my birth experience fantastic. I am one of those people who can honestly say that I enjoyed labor (twice!) and I want to do it again! When we found out we were pregnant for the second time, I could not imagine doing it without Jan. It was a much easier labor and birth, but I am still so grateful that Jan was there - she made it a great experience again. It is true that continuous support during labor has many, many benefits, and I am one of the "lucky" (or is it "well prepared" because I hired a doula?) women who was able to fully experience birth without drugs, or intervention. I had a healthy birth and a healthy baby. And a doula to help us through it all.

For more information, or to find a doula in your city, visit www.dona.org, the Doulas of North America website. I wish you all the best during your labor and birth!

Author Bio

Suzanne Doyle-Ingram is mother of two girls, Hana and Alexa, and married to her best friend James, who is a stay-at-home dad. Suzanne is also the creator of the Pregnancy Leads to New Babies.com website (http://www.pregnancy-leads-to-new-babies.com), an informative site for pregnant women and new Moms, which provides information on pregnancy, labor, and how to take care of your new baby. As a family, Suzanne, James, and the girls enjoy kite flying, swimming at the beach, and visiting new restaurants.

Visit her website at www.pregnancy-leads-to-new-babies.com for more of Suzanne's articles.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleGeek.com - Free Website Content

DHA Taken During Pregnancy Has Protective Effect On Babies

2011-09-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant I ate DHA enriched eggs. But there are a number of other natural source and supplemental sources of DHA. This article talks about the benefits for developing babies. Read more:

DHA Taken During Pregnancy Has Protective Effect On Babies

from the article:

"This is a large scale, robust study that underscores the importance of good nutrition during pregnancy," says Usha Ramakrishnan, PhD, associate professor, Hubert Department of Global Health at Emory's Rollins School of Public Health. "Our findings indicate that pregnant women taking 400 mg of DHA are more likely to deliver healthier infants."

At one month of age, the infants in the DHA group experienced a reduced occurrence of cold symptoms by 25 percent, including a shorter duration of cough, phlegm and wheezing.

At age three months, the infants in the DHA group spent 14 percent less time ill.

At six months of age, infants in the DHA group experienced shorter duration of fever, nasal secretion, difficulty breathing and rash, though longer duration of vomiting. Ramakrishnan and her colleagues have previously reported findings that show offspring of women pregnant with their first child who received 400 mg DHA during pregnancy delivered babies who were 100 grams heavier at birth and 3/4 cm longer at 18 months of age.

Sleep for Kids: More Important Than You Thought

2011-09-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

This is one of the best articles I've seen about kids and sleep. It talks about actual research which shows how detrimental lack of sleep can be on a developing brain. Read more:

nymag.com

From the article:

The surprise is how much sleep affects academic performance and emotional stability, as well as phenomena that we assumed to be entirely unrelated, such as the international obesity epidemic and the rise of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. A few scientists theorize that sleep problems during formative years can cause permanent changes in a child’s brain structure: damage that one can’t sleep off like a hangover. It’s even possible that many of the hallmark characteristics of being a tweener and teen—moodiness, depression, and even binge eating—are actually symptoms of chronic sleep deprivation.

Excema In Babies and Children

2011-09-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

One problem I never thought I would have is caring for my daughter's skin. She's had very sensitive skin since I brought her home from the hospital. As a matter of fact, she had already developed a spot on her bottom that was actually broken open. Fortunately, I found some zinc diaper cream and it healed right up, but now she has some patches of excema on her arms and legs. I've read a number of reasons why kids might develop this problem. We live in a very dry climate which can contribute to excema. Also, I noticed anytime I take her swimming, the chlorinated pool seems to make the problem worse. Even bathing her in a tub of warm water seems to irritate her skin.

Here is an article about how food allergies may contribute to excema and how probiotics can help:

Probiotics for Baby Eczema?

Babies May Need To "Cry It Out"...Sometimes

2011-09-23T05:00:00.000-07:00

Although my daughter was an easy baby overall, she did go through a phase where she didn't want to go to bed and finally, because of my own need for sleep, I had to put her to bed and let her cry it out. I had heard of a system where you first let them cry for 10 min. then go in and check on them, then you increase it to 15 min. go in and check, then 20 min. and so on. I found that my daughter would finally go to sleep usually after the 15 min. check. Then about a week later, she would go to sleep right away. It was very hard to hear her cry, but eventually we both got some sleep! Read more:

What Does It Mean To Let Your Baby Cry It Out? (babyslumber.com)

From the article:

"What is ‘crying it out’?
This is a process recommended not only by some pediatricians and family doctors, but also by grandmothers the world over. “It worked in our day, it’ll work for you too,” they’ll cluck. Basically, it means to let your baby cry until she falls asleep. Sounds simple enough, but instinctively, no parent likes to hear their child cry, and especially when it becomes inconsolable, or reaches the point of actually vomiting.

Why do it?
Some parents are lucky enough to have The Dream Baby, the child who sleeps through the night from about three weeks of age. Others are frantic on a nightly basis, constantly up and tending to their excessively demanding little one who seems to need nothing but her parents’ constant attention. Diaper checked; hunger ruled out; thirst quenched; diaper checked again. The night-time routine wears everyone out … including the baby. Crying it out is often considered a last resort, but often, parents will wish they’d done it a whole lot sooner!

How to do it
Discuss the process with your medical professional for greater reassurance, but in essence, it’s a matter of putting baby to bed with all the usual cuddles and kisses, turn down the lights and tuck her in. Chances are, she’ll be up and crying in minutes. Let … her … cry. It’s agonizing and heartbreaking hearing your child cry, yes, but if you persist and avoid going in to attend to her, eventually she will get the message that this is sleep time and that no more (unnecessary) attention will be forthcoming. You may have to endure this agony for hours on end the first night, and may have to repeat it for a second, third and even fourth night.

Music and Fetal Development

2011-09-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

I listened to some of my favorite music while I was pregnant since I didn't do a lot of physical activity. It's interesting that my daughter still listens and loves that same music now. This article talks about prenatal music and the continued debate about whether or not it really helps brain development:

early-pregnancy-tests.com

From the article:

Can music affect fetal brain development? If so, what musical composers, genre, or style will make my baby smarter, more creative, more sociable, or more...better?

These questions are certainly interesting ones for expectant couples. However, despite a rather suspect study suggesting that Mozart will help your baby's brain grow, the jury is out. The study in question was associated with a Baby-Mozart brain-enhancing product that putatively noted that the particular structure of, say, a Mozart string quartet offered more "formative" stimulation than other genres or even other classical composers like Bach or Beethoven. Such claims have been soundly debunked. But that does not mean that prenatal music or concert-going does not have benefits - its simply difficult to prove the case!

In theory, prenatal sonic stimulation may yield some positive results, including many of the same benefits that have been more scientifically-established by the prenatal consumption of Omega-3 fatty acids. Such purported benefits include enhanced attention spans, improved sleep patterns, increased cognitive development, and sharper language skills. Unfortunately, various products that make affirmative claims about the impact of music on fetal development during pregnancy have scant evidence (mostly anecdotal) upon which to base such claims. The fact is, there may be too many variables to sort out the impact of song and sound, including diet, general health, the consumption of various foods containing Omega-3s or other vital nutrients, or even ambient sound - the pitch and tenor of voices, dialogue, and daily life. And what of reading to your unborn baby? In effect, fetal development many be too complex, too multi-faceted to ever determine if music - let alone a specific style or genre - can affect your baby in a certain way. A few more cautious doctors suggest that an unborn baby's physical reactions (heart rates, movements) to music may stem from discomfort rather than comfort.

How You Change After Motherhood

2011-09-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

I've often wondered if my life is different just because I'm a little older or if my life is different becuase I have a young child. Well...I believe it's the latter (I think I just appreciate how my life has changed more because I'm older). Here's a fun article which kept me smiling and nodding when as I read it:

Forty two things that change when you have a baby

Here's a few things from the site:

4. "You'd rather buy a plastic tricycle than those shoes that you've been dying to have." — Sophie's mom

5. "You realize that although sticky, lollipops have magical powers." — Roxanne

6. "You don't mind going to bed at 9 p.m. on Friday night." — Kellye

7. "Silence? What's that?" — Anonymous

Study Shows Older Mothers Are Just As Capable

2011-09-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

I know there are those who feel that women in their 40's and 50's should not be having children. The reasons usually revolve around whether or not they are capable or whether or not they will be around to see their children grow up. Here is an article about a study that was done on older women - they were found to be just as "capable" as their younger counterparts (but we already knew that!):

Older mothers 'just as capable'

Women who give birth over the age of 50 are both physically and mentally as "capable" as younger women of being good mothers, a US study has concluded.

"The scientists said: "The subjects were given surveys to determine their physical and mental functioning and parental stress.

"Overall the researchers found that the women in their 50s did not have reduced parental capacity or higher stress levels than the younger women."

Dr Anne Steiner, who carried out the research, said the study suggested opposition to older mothers may be based on prejudice rather than evidence they were poor parents.

She said: "The conclusion from this study, though it is limited and of small size, is that if we look from the perspective of stress and physical and mental functioning, it doesn't seem like we can restrict parenting based on these reasons."

Infant Massage

2011-09-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry I never knew or learned about infant massage. Although my daughter was an easy baby who was quite content most of the time, she probably could have benefited from a massage when she was fussy.

Here is an article from mothersintuitionmassage.com which gives some pointers on infant massage:

"The best time to massage your baby is at bath time or bedtime – massaged babies fall asleep right away, so it’s better not to massage immediately after a feeding or when a baby is hungry.

Choose a room that is warm and draft-free where you can sit on the floor or a bed with the baby in front of you on a padded pillow or blanket.

Take a few deep breaths to relax before you begin. Stretch and shake the tension from your body.

Make sure your hands are clean and warm, remove jewelry and be sure to rub in a way that your nails don’t scratch the baby’s skin.

Use some cold-pressed, natural oil – such as coconut or canola oil – [Rick: I prefer Jojoba Oil] to prevent friction and to allow for deeper stroking. Refrain from using mineral oil, which clogs the pores, and nut oils, in case of allergies. Choosing something unscented lets your baby bond with your scent first. Keep your hands well-oiled throughout.

Begin with the legs and feet using slow, gentle strokes. Babies are delicate, but too light a touch can be ticklish and aggravating, advises Karen Wright, a certified infant massage instructor. If your baby splays her fingers or toes, or avoids your gaze and looks away, she’s telling you that she’s stressed or that you’re using too much pressure, Wright says. If your baby clenches her fists in front of her chest, don’t try to pull her arms apart. This is a stance that the baby isn’t ready to be touched there. Some infants are extremely sensitive and can’t deal with a lot of touching at first. Maintain eye contact and observe your baby’s body language.

Massage your baby for about 15 minutes, stroking both sides of his body symmetrically. Think of the massage as a gentle, warm communication. Go slowly at the beginning so your baby can get used to the new sensations gradually.

Stop if your baby cries. You cannot force a baby to relax. Try again when the baby is more receptive.
“There are no mistakes in terms of technique,” says Wright. “Follow your baby’s cues. Massage is supposed to be enjoyable for both of you.”