Hormone relaxin helps treat heart failure: study
Relaxin — a naturally occurring hormone that helps women adapt to pregnancy — is showing promise as a treatment for acute heart failure, a new study has found. The research, conducted by scientists from the United States and Italy and presented here Sunday at an annual conference of the American College of Cardiology, said the hormone helped patients to breathe more easily. Given in addition... Read more
U.S. program aims to help babies beat obesity odds
Elena Nieves hardly looks like a poster girl for an obesity program for pregnant moms. The 5-foot-8 (1.7-meter) 23-year-old recently lost more than 50 pounds (23 kg) and looks healthy. But 15 weeks into her third pregnancy, she was gaining the weight back — too fast. “I found out I was pregnant in December. I didn’t go to the doctor until mid-January and I had already gained 15 pounds... Read more
Pregnancy May Not Affect Breast Cancer Survival
Developing breast cancer during or within a year of pregnancy may not — as previously thought — affect the severity of the disease or the chance of surviving it, according to new research. Of 652 women, 35 or younger, with breast cancer participating in a University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center study, about 16 percent had the rare pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC). Rates... Read more
Smoking in pregnancy cuts blood flow to the fetus
Smoking during pregnancy reduces blood flow to the developing fetus and, in turn, retards growth, new research suggests. “We have known for 50 years that infants born to mothers who smoke during pregnancy have lower birth weights,” lead investigator Dr. Malene Rohr Andersen, from Gentoffe University Hospital in Hellerup, Denmark, said in a statement. “But this study provides a possible... Read more
Obesity can complicate teen pregnancy
Obesity has been linked to higher odds of several pregnancy complications, and a new study shows that the risks apply to teenagers as well as adults. In a study of teenage first-time mothers who gave birth at one urban hospital, researchers found that obese girls were at greater risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy or requiring a cesarean section during delivery. In the past, some of the main... Read more
Common Chemicals May Delay Pregnancy
Chemicals known as perfluorinated chemicals, which are pervasive in food packaging, pesticides, clothing, upholstery, carpets and personal care products, may delay pregnancy, a new study suggests. These chemicals are being phased out in the United States because of their toxic effects, and are expected to be completely gone by 2010. However, they remain in the environment and in the body for decades,... Read more
Mom’s infection raises risk of infant hearing loss
The risk of hearing loss due to congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is greater when the mother-to-be is infected with the virus in the first three months of pregnancy rather than later in the pregnancy, researchers have found. More than half of the population is infected with CMV, a type of herpesvirus. The virus rarely causes symptoms in adults with healthy immune symptoms. However, CMV can... Read more
Managing Headaches During Pregnancy
If you’re pregnant and you’ve got a headache, it may not be wise to turn to medication to control your pain. The American Pregnancy Association offers these suggestions for additional ways to manage a headache while you’re pregnant: Soothe sinus headaches with a warm cloth or compress across your nose and eyes. Manage tension headache pain with a cold wrap around the bottom of your... Read more
Sciatica Pain During Pregnancy
As the developing baby inside you grows, it can begin to press on a sciatic nerve. This can cause pain that can extend from your lower back to your foot. Here are suggestions to help reduce sciatica pain during pregnancy, courtesy of the American Pregnancy Association: Whenever you can, lie down on the side that is pain-free. Try not to stand for too long at a time. If you must stand, stand on one... Read more
If You Were Diabetic While Pregnant
Many women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy will go on to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. If you’ve had gestational diabetes, certain lifestyle changes may help lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association offers these suggestions: Maintain a healthy body weight. Being more than 20 percent over your ideal body weight can increase your... Read more