Thyroid Disorders and Pregnancy Outcome: Serum Testing and Risks
Researchers at the University of Crete report a possible link between thyroid dysfunction, autoantibodies, and pregnancy complications/outcomes.
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Lifestyle Changes Can Reduce Risk of Pregnancy Complications
Healthy lifestyle choices can increase the likelihood a woman will have a normal pregnancy outcome, according to a new study by a collaboration of scientists from the UK, Ireland and New Zealand.
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Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing: Focus of Large Research Companies
Research and development companies are working to make invasive prenatal testing a thing of the past.
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Preeclampsia Biomarker Discovery Could Make Detection Easier
Preeclampsia is a rare but dangerous complication of pregnancy. Early detection usually brings the most positive outcomes and a Norwegian study may lead to diagnosis before symptoms arise.
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Finding Poor Pregnancy Outcomes Through Glucose Levels
According to researchers from the University of Copenhagen, doctors can predict potentially poor pregnancy outcomes using HbA1c and glucose testing. The results of the study were published in the Journal of Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Medicine.
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Pregnancy and Preeclampsia: Double the Stroke Risk
Being pregnant and having preeclampsia both increase a woman's risk of stroke; the preeclampsia-related risk of stroke lingers on as long as 40 years after the pregnancy.
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Pregnancy Increases Risk for Bacterial Infection
A recent British study indicates that a particular strain of bacteria, the Haemophilus influenzae, is especially dangerous if infection occurs during pregnancy.
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Procedure to Reduce Postpartum Bleeding is a Step Closer to Reality
A procedure that promises to prevent the fatal loss of blood after childbirth (postpartum bleeding) in women residing in developing countries moves closer to becoming a reality.
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Scotland Bans Smoking, Reduces Premature Births
In March of 2006, Scotland passed legislation that banned smoking in public settings. The legislation did not focus on pregnant women, but the ban has proven to be quite helpful in terms of reducing the number of preterm deliveries in the country.
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Caffeine Linked to Low Birth Weight
A recent study published in BMC Medicine claims caffeine passes through the placenta to the fetus, but the fetus is not prepared to handle the caffeine so it remains active. This can cause health concerns, including low birth weight.
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Chronic Hypertension: Risk of Pregnancy Complications
Women who have chronic hypertension (high blood pressure) before pregnancy are at greater risk of pregnancy complications than women who are not hypertensive before or during pregnancy.
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Can Overweight Women Have Healthy Pregnancies?
There are tons of studies and articles about the negative impact of excess weight on pregnancy, but with a large portion of the population living overweight or obese, there are bound to be tons of women out there who
have successful, healthy pregnancies.
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Study: How Weight Affects First Pregnancy Outcomes
Increased weight is associated with increased incidence of pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, macrosomia, induction of labor and cesarean delivery.
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Diabetes and Birth Weight Affects Coronary Artery Disease
Scientists have long been debating the link between birth weight and coronary artery disease. Some studies have linked the two events clearly while others negate the original link altogether.
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Pregnancy Deaths on the Decline but Numbers are Still High
Trends in Maternal Mortality has reported a 34% reduction in pregnancy deaths between 1990 and 2008.
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How Pre-Pregnancy Weight Affects Stillbirth Risk
Maternal obesity more than doubles the risk of stillbirth and neonatal death.
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How Does An Unicornuate Uterus Affect Fertility?
Pregnancy can occur in a woman with a unicornuate uterus, but women with a unicornuate uterus who do become pregnant encounter certain risks.
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Does Bed Rest Work as a Medical Intervention During Pregnancy
The standard of care for premature labor has typically been to place the
pregnant woman on bed rest; limiting activity for the remaining weeks
of pregnancy.
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Progesterone No Help in Preventing Preterm Twin Births
This Lancet study shows that progesterone does not prevent preterm births in twins.
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Ask an Honest Midwife: Is a Homebirth in a Big City Safe?
Although I am now retired from the practice of midwifery, I am here to answer your questions about home birth, birth centers, natural birth, and anything else you ever wanted to ask a "crunchy" midwife. Feel free to send in your questions.
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Is Breastfeeding While Pregnant Safe?
Breastfeeding is considered healthiest option for baby and can be
continued for more than one year. Back to back pregnancies can mean mom is still breastfeeding one child while pregnant with another.
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Preeclampsia and Reduced Thyroid Function
Preeclampsia can develop by itself, but it can also develop from other
fairly common pregnancy complications. It can also cause other types of
medical complications as well, like a reduced thyroid function.
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New Guidelines for Periconception Care
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a select panel of external partners issued guidelines for preconception care of women, emphasizing the importance of providing this type of care in the primary care setting.
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Lack of Sleep During Pregnancy May Cause Birth Complications
Insomnia might be widespread and generally accepted as something that’s bound to happen to everyone once in a while. However, insomnia can have more adverse effects on the body than you might imagine.
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5 Simple Diet Changes to Control Nausea at Work
Making simple changes to the diet is often enough to curb nausea while ensuring you keep enough food down to keep energy levels high and prevent dehydration.
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Gallstones during Pregnancy
Gallstones, much like kidney stones, are crystalline formations caused by the build-up of bile compounds. They are formed in the gallbladder, which is small organ mainly responsible for the digestion of fat.
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Obesity in Early Pregnancy and Premature Deliveries
Obesity is associated with many pregnancy complications and obese women are at increased risk of premature deliveries.
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How to Find Out if You Are a High Risk Pregnancy in 12 Steps
Finding out if you have a high risk pregnancy is important. Having a high risk pregnancy means you have an increased risk of complications during pregnancy.
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Amniocentesis: Signs of Problems
What are some of the signs?
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Are Thermogenics Safe During Pregnancy?
Can I thermogenic supplements during pregnancy? The best selling thermogenic formulas are combinations of two drugs: caffeine and ephedrine...
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Neurology Conditions and Pregnancy
Being pregnant affects many neurologic diseases and their diagnostic approach and treatment can be severely affected because of the pregnancy. Some neurologic conditions are first diagnosed in pregnancy, others are known prior to pregnancy and can stay the same, get worse or get better.
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Standing Too Long Can Hurt Baby
More and more women are choosing to work during pregnancy; some out of need and others out of desire. Basic pregnancy rules state that standing or sitting for extended periods can be harmful to the pregnant woman and fetus.
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"I wish I'd Known": 7 Tips for New Moms
Now having been through it, there are 7 things I wish I’d known before I went into my first birth.
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My Feelings on Homebirth
I very much believe in a woman’s right to choose where she gives birth. However, to me, it’s just not worth the small risk of a catastrophic complication occurring that could have been managed in the hospital setting but that is deadly at home without an operating room and full medical team.
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What Happens To Children Born To Mothers With Preeclampsia?
Preeclampsia, is a deadly disease both for mothers and their fetuses. Recently, preeclampsia has not only been considered a disease during pregnancy but also a risk factor for developing diseases later in life.
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Diesel Fuel May Increase Risk of Obesity
Research has revealed a clear link between pollution and the possibility
of increased pregnancy complications. However, a new study published in
the FASEB Journal is the first I’ve read that connects a particular
common pollutant to a specific outcome.
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Women Still Using Cocaine During Pregnancy
A study was recently published in the journal Clinical Obstetrics and
Gynecology explaining the potential side effects of cocaine use on the
pregnant woman and her offspring.
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Smoking and Ectopic Pregnancy
I used to smoke, but during my three pregnancies I chose
to stop smoking from the time I found out I was pregnant. That choice
eventually lead to quitting the habit all together, something women
trying to conceive may want to try before getting pregnant.
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Fetal Size Impacts Stillbirth Risk
Researchers from St. Michaels Hospital have found a new possible risk
factor for stillbirths that could lead to lifestyle changes and
pregnancy screenings to reduce the risk.
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The Still of a Beating Heart
There is nothing worse than delivering the news to a pregnant woman that
her fetus has no heartbeat. Stillbirth is one of the complications of
pregnancy that receives very little attention, but that may soon change.
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What is the Worst Part of Being Pregnant With Twins?
My twin pregnancy is a vibrant memory that I reflect on often. Everything seems like it happened just yesterday; but one thing has faded over time – the pain of being pregnant with twins.
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Should I Consider a Water Birth?
I remember toying with the idea of a water birth with my first two
children. I can’t say I thought of the idea on my own. I watched a water
birth on television and was amazed by the fact that an infant can be
born into the water and swim to the surface.
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Your Vitamins Might be Too Much of a Good Thing
I love my chewy vitamins. Every day after lunch, I make sure I take a
One-a-Day supplement to achieve my daily doses of nutrients. As a
vegetarian, I feel that a supplement is especially important to make up
for specific dietary deficits.
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Your Weight Gain is Your Baby’s Weight Gain Later
Managing your weight during your pregnancy can be extremely difficult.
As if weight management wasn’t hard enough on its own, it can be even
more challenging to know how much food and how many calories your baby
might need inside of you.
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Which Women Are Most Likely to Have Twins?
In the last 30 years, the birthrate for twins rose about 70%, which is
about 1 in every 30 births. That’s a big increase, and it isn’t a
coincidence either.
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What is an Ectopic Pregnancy?
If you’re thinking about becoming pregnant in the near future, it is
important that you first understand all the risks and complications that
can occur with any pregnancy.
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Skip the Coffee, but Don’t Turn to Tea
Many women struggle to give up coffee during their pregnancy. After
years of drinking a cup of coffee every single morning, the habit alone
can be difficult to break. Beyond that, the caffeine withdrawals can
cause headaches and irritability.
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C-Sections More Common When Women Snore
New research suggests that women who snore during pregnancy are more
likely to have C-sections and babies with lower birth weight.
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Maternal Obesity and the Risk of Premature Birth
Women can struggle with pregnancy and fertility for all types of reasons. They may
have pre-existing conditions and disorders that prevent them from
conceiving easily, or they may have issues with being able to carry a
healthy baby.
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Do Probiotics Prevent Preterm Delivery?
If you deliver your child preterm, there could be pregnancy
complications that interfere with the birth, and there will most
definitely be higher costs associated with the post-delivery care of
your child.
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