Dr.Amos's blog

Boys are different than girls. Even their placentas are different.

This is a great review from the British Medical Journal of tocolytic therapy, treatment to stop preterm labor. It reviews  what works and what does not. There are two tocolytics that seem to have the highest success rate: prostaglandin inhibitors (eg indomethacin, ketorolac)  performed best closely followed by calcium channel blockers (nifedipine, nitrates).

A cesarean scar defect (CSD), is also known as a "deficient uterine scar" or "scar

Many 40+ first-time Hollywood moms have a dark secret that can leave women frustrated.

Recently, there have been new definitions for infertility published in Fertility & Sterility:

What is Naegele's rule?

Vaccines are given to pregnant women to protect the mother and the baby against serious infectious diseases. When you get vaccinated, you are protecting yourself. And you are also sharing some early protection with the baby too.

Preeclampsia is one of the most deadly medical problems affecting pregnant women. Preeclampsia complicates up to 10% of pregnancies worldwide and contributes to both maternal and infant morbidity and mortality as well as accounting for about 1 in 7 preterm births in the United States.

Question:

I have a perfect 6-month-old daughter and we will start TTC next month. I will be 37 in August and would LOVE to have twins. I have been eating a diet to increase chances for twins (as well as male)

My questions are:

The best (and only) correct website to calculate your fertile days is babymed.com. Scientifically proven. 

Do not use Accutane when trying to get pregnant and during pregnancy!

A recent study from Canada finds an elevated risk for diabetes when a person has both depression and metabolic syndrome; the diabetes risk is higher when the two disorders are combined than when only one or the other disorder is present.

One of my pregnant patients recently asked me if she should keep her heart rate no higher than 140 beats per minute when exercising? 

Answer:
There is presently no scientific basis and no official recommendation to keep the heart rate during pregnancy below certain levels.

The US Preventive Services Task Force issued an updated recommendation for screening all adults for depression. The last update, in 2009, did not recommend screening all adults over 18 but the 2016 update does. Depression in anyone 15 and older is one of the leading causes of disability in the US.

Screening Recommended for Expectant and New Mothers

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has published guidelines and a travel advisory for pregnant women as well as travel health notices concerning the Zika virus.

This Swedish study suggests that children of mothers with PCOS polycystic ovary syndrome have an increased risk of developing ASD autism spectrum disorder, regardless of sex. 

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There are always many opportunities to gather and share food, if it's during the holidays or in between. Whether you eat in someone's home, at work, or at a restaurant, it's important to get educated and be careful about what you eat.

Question: I am 37-years-old and have not had a period for 2 years. What could it be?

Dr.Amos answers: There are several reasons why a woman does not get her period (amenorrhea). The first reason is pregnancy, in which case the pregnancy test would be positive. Or breastfeeding. If there is no pregnancy, then other reasons include:

This study published online in May in the Obstetrics & Gynecology journal called "A National Survey on Public Perceptions of Miscarriage" asked about perceptions about miscarriage. Not surprisingly, most who answered the questionnaire have many misconceptions about miscarriage.

CNN reported on a baby that was born 8 weeks early in Hong Kong.  The mother apparently cannot pay the hospital expenses and the hospital withheld the baby's birth certificate. Her insurance won't pay for the baby either, likely because the hospital is outside the United States, so she is responsible to pay expenses herself.