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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All About Amniocentesis
Amniocentesis is a procedure performed during pregnancy to examine a baby's chromosomes. Most often, an amniocentesis is done between 16-20 weeks of pregnancy (gestation).
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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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Avoid These Hormone-Disrupting Household Chemicals
Some chemicals commonly used in the home, workplace, and just about everywhere else are known as endocrine disrupters because once ingested, they mimic the activity of the body's natural hormones.
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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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Pregnancy Complications with Multiple Births
Pregnancy complications in twins are many-fold higher than with a singleton baby and include a higher rate of premature deliveries and fetal anomalies.
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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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Is it Safe to Have My Labia Pierced?
If you are considering piercing your labia, it is recommended to wait until after delivery.
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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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How to Fly Safely During Pregnancy in 12 Steps
Flying during pregnancy in and by itself is not dangerous and does not increase pregnancy complications. Read on to find out how to make flying during pregnancy safer in 12 steps.
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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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Impact Of Obesity On Fertility And Pregnancy
Obesity increases pregnancy complications. The prevalence of obesity is currently rising in developed countries,
making pregravid overweight one of the most common high-risk obstetric
situations.
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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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Bed Rest During Pregnancy
There is no solid scientific evidence that bed rest during pregnancy works in most cases, and in some cases it may even hurt.
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Flying is OK for Most Pregnant Women
According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), most women are fully capable of flying during their pregnancies without any harm to baby or mom.
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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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Is It Safe To Be At A High Altitude During Pregnancy?
Is it safe to be at a high altitude during pregnancy? There is limited data on the actual impact of high altitude during pregnancy ...
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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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Does Race Play a Part in Preconception Care?
Preconception tips are promoted across all races, such as increasing intake of folic acid during reproductive years to reduce the risk of neural tube defects during the first weeks of pregnancy -but not all preconception messages are the same.
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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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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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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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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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The Importance of Your Rh Factor
Many of the complications that could arise during your pregnancy are unpredictable. Sometimes, your body acts in unexpected ways and the health of you and your baby could be compromised during gestation.
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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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What You Need to Know about Olestra
You’d think with all of the books and websites dedicated to keeping you
healthy during your pregnancy, you’d be clear on what to do and what to
avoid. Unfortunately, there is an endless supply of conflicting
opinions.
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Brush Up on your Oral Health Education during Pregnancy
If you’re pregnant, you are constantly thinking about a thousand things
at once. Your baby’s health is always your main concern, and many
decisions you make are centered solely on that.
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