C-Section Rate at all Time High
According to preliminary birth data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), cesarean section rates in the United States hit an all time high of 31.1% of all births in 2006. This marks a...
View ArticleFolic Acid Awareness Low Among US Women
All the way back in 1994, the March of Dimes began a campaign encouraging women to increase their folic acid intake to prevent neural tube defects. Then, in ’96, the FDA approved the fortification of...
View ArticleCaffeine Raises Miscarriage Risk
For years, there has a been a debate about whether caffeine is dangerous for pregnant women. While some doctors felt that consuming too much caffeine increased miscarriage risk, others felt that there...
View Article2 Cups of Coffee Doubles Miscarriage Risk
If you’re pregnant, trying, or thinking about it, head over to my personal blogsite at KristieMcNealy.com for a post about caffeine and miscarriage risk. A new study from the folks at Kaiser Permanente...
View ArticlePreterm Labor Facts Every Woman Should Know
I wanted to get back to basics for today, so here’s some information on preterm labor (PTL) that I think every woman should be aware of: Nearly half a million babies are born prematurely in the United...
View ArticleWhy Smoking Increases SIDS Risk
Smoking during pregnancy is known to increase the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). When a baby is born, certain chemicals called catecholamines are released from the adrenal glands,...
View ArticleFolic Acid Supplementation Before Conception Reduces Prematurity
We’ve known for decades that folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects, but now research on taking folic acid before pregnancy has revealed a new benefit. The largest study ever on...
View Article5 Pre-Conception Tips for a Healthier Pregnancy
If you’re thinking about having a baby, or maybe you’re already trying, did you know that there are things you can do before you ever get pregnant that can help you have a healthier pregnancy? Check...
View ArticleCord Blood Banking
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) has issued a new opinion on cord blood banking in the February issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology. While ACOG does not take a position either...
View ArticleNew Fetal Monitor More Comfortable and User Friendly
After the week I spent hospitalized on bedrest during my second pregnancy, I don’t think I’ll ever forget the hard, uncomfortable fetal heart monitor and tocometer I wore most of the time. I don’t...
View ArticleTrial of Non Invasive Test for Fetal Genetic Abnormalities
Today, most pregnant women in the US undergo a series of tests to determine the risk of their baby having certain genetic abnormalities like Downs Syndrome (trisomy 21) or Edwards Syndrome (trisomy...
View ArticleWomen Choose Elective C-Sections Due to Fear
I’ve sometimes wondered what it is that makes a woman decide that she wants to deliver her baby by c-section before she ever even goes into labor. After having three very different deliveries myself...
View ArticleAutistic Trait Linked to Maternal Antibodies
Autism is a complex disease which includes children who experience developmental regression, and others who seem to have an early onset form of the disorder. Repetitive behavior, like hand flapping and...
View ArticleUS Pregnant Women Getting Heavier
Doctors generally recommend that a woman who is pregnant with one baby, and starts off her pregnancy at a normal weight, gain between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy. Gaining too little weight during...
View ArticleLink Between Herpes Virus and Highblood Pressure in Pregnancy
A new study conducted in Adelaide, Australia has demonstrated a link between two common viruses and pregnancy induced hypertensive disorders (PIHD) and preterm birth. Researchers used blood samples...
View ArticleLate Preterm Babies Face Significant Health Risks
A new study demonstrates the vulnerability of babies born between 34 and 36 weeks gestation (full term is reached at 37 weeks). Babies born during this critical period of development have reduced fat...
View ArticlePregnancy After a Preemie – Almost Pain Free Progesterone Injections
As many of you know, the care and medical treatment of pre-term babies has changed dramatically over the past decades. The one fact that remains unchanged is that the uterus remains the best place for...
View ArticleSequenom One Step Closer to Noninvasive Test for Down Syndrome
As I posted earlier this month, there are a couple of US companies working on providing noninvasive prenatal diagnosis for genetic conditions like Down syndrome (Trisomy 21). A recent press release...
View ArticleDiet in Pregnancy and Infancy May Shape Future Eating Habits
When I was pregnant with our son, my midwife had me complete a 5 day diet history during my first trimester. Between the fact that I was sooo sick I could hardly even look at a couple of the major food...
View ArticleExercise in Pregnancy Impacts Fetal Heart Health
OK, I have to admit, after spending all three of my pregnancies either feeling like hell or being on bedrest, exercise and pregnancy are hardly things that go together in my mind. After my reading...
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