Measuring levels of a hormone midway through pregnancy may predict a woman's risk of postnatal depression, according to a new study.In the study of 100 women, levels of the pCRH hormone at 25 weeks helped predict three-quarters of those who developed the "baby blues". … [Read more...]
Getting Fit for Pregnancy
January 20, 2009 By
January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month and the theme is “Getting Fit for Pregnancy.”Birth defects affect approximately one in 33 newborns and are a leading cause of infant mortality in the United States.Good health habits include knowing your family history, keeping regular check-ups with a doctor and maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity and a healthy diet. For every woman of childbearing age, these habits should also include taking a multivitamin with 400 mcg of folic acid daily, starting before she gets pregnant, to improve the likelihood of … [Read more...]
Calculating the Odds of a Baby Through IVF
January 16, 2009 By
For any woman undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) to overcome infertility, the big question is: What are my chances of having a baby? Pretty good, according to a new study, which finds that women's chances of live birth via IVF may be similar to those of other women their age in the general population — better for younger women, not as good for older ones.In an analysis of the overall live-birth rate for 6,164 patients at a Massachusetts fertility clinic, researchers from Boston IVF and Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center found that in women ages 39 and younger who were treated with up … [Read more...]
Pregnant Man…is Pregnant Again
November 14, 2008 By
Thomas Beatie, the former Hawaiian beauty queen who became a man, caused a worldwide clamor when the transgendered male gave birth to his own daughter in June. Now, he's announced he's pregnant with his second child, due on June 12.In an upcoming interview with Barbara Walters in a special on ABC, Beatie says that after the birth of his daughter on June 24, he didn't resume male hormone treatment so he could get pregnant again. His wife is unable to conceive a child because she had a hysterectomy. Beatie's story will air Friday. Walters highlighted the interview on her daytime chat show, "The … [Read more...]
Pregnancy Weight Gain, Big Babies Linked
November 3, 2008 By
Gaining 40 pounds or more during pregnancy nearly doubles the risk of having a baby who weighs nine pounds or more, in turn increasing the health risks to mother and baby, according to a new study. … [Read more...]
A Must-Watch for Clueless All Parents-to-Be
September 30, 2008 By
My husband and I were pretty clueless about pregnancy and parenting when I found out I was pregnant. I knew we needed to learn as much as we could before the baby arrived, so we wouldn't be more overwhelmed than we needed to be facing parenthood. We read books, took classes at the hospital (childbirth, newborn care and breastfeeding) and checked out some videos from the library. This all helped, but was very time consuming. I was recently introduced to the Laugh and Learn DVD Series (Childbirth, Breastfeeding & Newborn Baby Care). Wow! I watched the DVDs and all I can think is that I wish … [Read more...]
Baby Etiquette Week: Day 5 Baby Showers continued…
July 4, 2008 By
It's the final day of Baby Etiquette Week. So far, we've covered "Your Friend Is Pregnant," "How Much & When To Give Baby Gifts," "A Gift For The New Parents," and "Throwing a Baby Shower". Here's a little more to make Throwing a Baby Shower a smooth process.Are baby showers for both parents or just for the new mom?While most baby showers are traditionally "for women only", coed showers are definitely becoming more popular. Check with the soon-to-be parents for their preference.Where, When and What do you do at a baby shower?Baby showers can be given anywhere from a home to a restaurant. … [Read more...]
