Medications and Pregnancy
You may take certain over-the-counter supplements and medications without thinking twice. But when you’re pregnant, even drugs that you can buy without a prescription can affect the developing fetus. The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these safety guidelines about medications and pregnancy: Don’t take any medicine or herbal supplement without checking with your doctor. Try... Read more
Women Smokers Lose 14.5 Years Off Life Span
During Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, female smokers should take advantage of available resources, pick a quit day, and start taking steps toward kicking the habit, urges The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Even though smoking takes an average of 14.5 years off women’s lives, almost one in five American women age 18 and older smokes. “The damaging effects... Read more
What to Eat During Morning Sickness
When you’re pregnant and battling morning sickness, the last thing you may feel like doing is swallowing food. But it’s important that you and your baby continue eating. The American Pregnancy Association says these foods may help tame morning sickness: Foods that can be eaten cold, including cold sandwiches, raw vegetables and fruits such as lemon or ginger, or cold salad. Don’t... Read more
Parent Smoking During Pregnancy Raises Kids’ Heart Risks
Damage to the arteries of children of smokers can be detected in the early decades of their lives, a new Dutch study finds. “Smoking in families is harmful for children, including their cardiovascular system, as was found in many other studies,” said research leader Dr. Cuno S.P.M. Uiterwaal, an associate professor of clinical epidemiology at the University Medical Center in Utrecht. “This... Read more
Active pregnant women tend to stay healthier
Women who exercise throughout pregnancy tend to stay healthier for decades, research shows. Continuing a vigorous weight-bearing exercise program during pregnancy appears to be a marker of women who spontaneously maintain this practice over time, resulting in a low cardiovascular risk profile when they approach menopause, Dr. James F. Clapp III from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine... Read more
High-Fat Diet While Pregnant May Produce Obese Kids
Eating a high-fat diet during pregnancy causes permanent changes in the fetal brain that can result in overeating and obesity early in life, according to a study with rats. The researchers from Rockefeller University in New York City said their finding is an important advance in understanding mechanisms of fetal programming. It also sheds light on the production of new brain cells, helping to explain... Read more
Pregnancy pounds predict kids’ weight as teens
Women who gain too much weight during pregnancy may not only have bigger babies, but bigger teenagers as well, a study suggests. Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that among nearly 12,000 children and teenagers they studied, those whose mothers gained more than the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy were 42 percent more likely to be obese. The risk was independent of other factors... Read more
Caffeine and Pregnancy
Watching what you eat and drink while you’re pregnant is important for the health of you and your baby. Caffeine is a stimulant. When you consume it, it is delivered across the placenta to your baby, whose metabolism can’t process the stimulant like an adult’s metabolism. The American Pregnancy Association says the best thing you can do is to consume as little caffeine as possible.... Read more