Trusted Information for Healthy Pregnancies
Archive for April, 2010
Lance Armstrong To Be A Dad For The Fifth Time!
Apr 30th
Cyclist Lance Armstrong is getting set to expand his brood yet again! The soon-to-be dad-of-five took to Twitter to share the news, writing, "Getting ?'s today about someone I'm following, a certain @Cincoarmstrong. What to say? Yet another blessing in our lives. I cannot wait!"
Yes, much like big brother Max, 10 months, baby Armstrong already has a Twitter account and this morning posted a couple of clues about his or her identity:
"I got 2 arms, 2 legs, a nickname, and i'm 2 inches long. See y'all in October."
"I'm now the size of a lemon, 3.5 inches long, and weigh 1.5 ounces. And oh yeah, I'm on Twitter."
Along with Max, Lance's son with his girlfriend Anna Hansen, the baby on the way will join older siblings Isabelle and Grace, 8 1/2, and Luke, 11, his kids from his previous marriage.
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Why Prenatal Care Matters during Your Pregnancy
Apr 30th
It is important that pregnant women see a physician more often than just to confirm their pregnancies and to have their babies delivered. Quality prenatal care by an established OB/GYN or nurse practitioner throughout the entirety of the pregnancy is the best way to monitor a baby's growth and to identify any problems or complications early on, before they become a health threat to the future mother or her unborn child. During these prenatal visits, a mother-to-be is also educated on how to care for herself during a healthy pregnancy, and also how to manage unique circumstances-such as gestational diabetes-that can emerge during pregnancy. Statistics show that women who make regular visits to health care providers during their pregnancy have healthier babies, are less likely to give birth prematurely, and are less likely to have other serious pregnancy-related issues. A pregnant woman's OB/GYN will often refer her and her partner to helpful support groups or Lamaze classes. These health care practitioners also connect low-income pregnant women with referrals to much-needed government services, such as WIC.
During a normal, low-risk pregnancy, it is recommended that a woman make prenatal visits about once a month during her first 28 weeks; twice a month from week 28 to week 36; and up to once a week after week 36, according to helpful information compiled by the March of Dimes. Those with higher-risk pregnancies may need to make more frequent visits with their doctor.
Knowing the approximate due date is another reason prenatal visits are useful because this helps women determine how much time they will have to prepare for a new baby. Prenatal visits also provide an opportunity to receive an ultrasound to determine the sex of the baby after it has reached the appropriate point of development.
The education a woman receives about pregnancy and childbirth during prenatal visits is invaluable. Women will learn the important role prenatal vitamins play in the healthy development of the baby, how to manage their weight during pregnancy, and answer any tricky questions they may have about their pregnancy. Topics a pregnant woman may want to discuss with a health care practitioner during a prenatal visit might include: sexual activity during pregnancy, exercise during pregnancy, the risk factors associated with being pregnant as a teen or older adult, what changes to expect in your body during pregnancy, and how to manage discomfort during pregnancy.
This guest post is contributed by Jennifer Johnson, who writes on the topics of NP Schools. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: j.johnson19june@gmail.com.
New diapers causing chemical burns on babies?
Apr 30th
Thousands of mothers say a new diaper is causing chemical burns on their babies.
The new Pampers Swaddlers and Cruisers diapers are made with something Pampers calls "Dry Max Technology," and Pampers says diapers made with it are the thinnest and driest on the market.
They've been out for about four weeks, but now many mothers are saying they cause severe diaper rashes, burns, blisters and even bleeding.
Parents are using the Pampers Facebook page to talk about what they say the diapers are doing to their babies.
There are so many complaints, a spokesperson for Pampers posted this note on the Facebook site to refute the claims:
Hi everyone, my name is Jodi Allen. I lead the Pampers business in North America. I know many of you have questions regarding our new Pampers with Dry Max and I want to take this opportunity to answer them.
First, if anyone is experiencing problems that you feel are not being well addressed, we have set up a special 800 number (1-877-256-3265) to field these inquiries. I plan to check and review calls into this number daily. I cannot promise that we'll be able to meet all your needs, but we are interested in hearing from you.
I wanted to take a moment to review what we have done so far. Before our March 2010 Dry Max launch, some parents received the new Dry Max diaper in our original packaging without an explanation as to why. This triggered many questions and concerns for good reason. Nothing is more important to me than your satisfaction and the health and well being of babies. I'm a mom myself and can understand your concerns. These were early shippings of the new product that occurred during the transition in our manufacturing process. And I am very sorry for the confusion that this caused.
Since then, there have also been concerns posted here on our page about whether the Dry Max diaper may be causing or contributing to instances of diaper rash. Some parents have reported that their children experienced severe rashes.
The minute we hear about anything like that, we jump. We may not always handle every call correctly, and we've heard you on that. We're not perfect, but believe me, it is my job to be sure that we are paying close attention whenever issues like that are reported. We are working hard to respond in a comprehensive way to each and every call. As you know, Dry Max is one of the most tested diapers in our history developing Dry Max involved 20,000 babies and 300,000 diaper changes. Still, we didn't rely just on that background testing. When we started getting these calls, we gathered together our entire product safety, research, and consumer relations teams and began researching specific cases. In some instances, we requested that diapers be returned. We tested these products and examined again the materials that go into our diapers. (I just want to emphasize that the Dry Max diaper uses the same type of materials as the older Cruisers and Swaddlers.) We double-checked everything again to be sure there weren't unknown issues. Then we consulted with a team of respected outside pediatricians and dermatologists, who reviewed our safety data.
This comprehensive evaluation did not find any evidence whatsoever that Dry Max is behind the diaper rashes that some moms have reported. Diaper rashes, as you all know, can be a mystery. On average babies get them three to four times a year, and sometimes they are severe. Pampers has the responsibility to regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, to alert consumers to any such problems if they exist. More importantly, we also feel deep responsibility to you as parents ourselves. Believe me, if we found anything wrong, we would tell you. But that simply has not been the case. We even surveyed parents nationwide over the past few weeks, to gauge their opinions, and more than 70 percent said they preferred Dry Max to their current diaper because it is thin, flexible, and one step better for the environment than the product replaced.
I realize this information may contradict what you've experienced personally or seen reported by others. I just want to assure you that we cannot find any evidence that Dry Max is causing of diaper rash, or for that matter causing other safety issues that some parents say have happened to their children. I would only suggest that, in addition to contacting us, you consult your pediatrician, who also is welcome to call our special 800 number (1-877-256-3265) to review whatever they find.
On another note, I'd like to add that we do want to hear your comments regarding our products whether it's good or bad, however we have certain Facebook guidelines in place that do not allow advertising or promoting outside links or pages. Some comments have been previously deleted because they breached these guidelines. We hope you understand.
We'd like to continue to hear from you, so please post any questions you have. I'll do my very best to answer as many as I can...
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Mother-daughter pregnancy sickness link found
Apr 30th
Pregnant women are three times more likely to suffer from severe morning sickness if their mothers did, say Norwegian researchers,
Around 2% of women suffer excessive nausea and vomiting in pregnancy - known as hyperemesis gravidarum - which can require hospital treatment.
But a study of 2.3 million births showed a threefold higher rate in those whose mothers had the condition.
Experts said the results could help women better understand their risk.
Hyperemesis is defined as excessive sickness which starts before the 22nd week of pregnancy and in its most serious form it can lead to dehydration and weight loss because women cannot keep food or water down.
It can be extremely debilitating, women can't work, can't look after their families and they need to be admitted to hospital.
It is the most common cause of admission to hospital in early pregnancy and can be a cause of low birth weight and premature birth.
The researchers said that previous studies have attributed the condition to "psychological causes".
They analyzed birth records, which included information on pregnancy complications, from 1967 to 2006.
It found the daughters of women who had the condition during their pregnancy had a 3% risk compared with 1% in those whose mothers did not have it.
But there was no increased risk to the female partners of sons whose mothers had suffered from the illness.
The researchers said although the results suggest a genetic link between mothers and daughters, it is also possible that there are lifestyle or environmental factors shared between mother and daughter that increase the risk.
Dr Catherine Nelson-Piercy, a consultant obstetric physician at Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation Trust in London, said that better understanding of the genetic risks of hyperemesis may help clinicians when counseling women about the risk of recurrence in future pregnancies.
She said many women were undertreated because of the legacy of thalidomide - a drug given for morning sickness in the 1960s which caused birth defects - despite the availability of safe drugs.
"It is safe to take anti-sickness drugs and it's better for the baby and the pregnancy to treat this condition than let the woman get very severely ill and risk complications."
Patrick O'Brien, spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, said the study added to growing evidence that many conditions in pregnancy, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, were linked to a "genetic predisposition".
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Less sunlight in first trimester of pregnancy linked to MS
Apr 30th
Region of birth and lower levels of exposure to ultraviolet radiation during the first trimester of pregnancy were both independently associated with an increased risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) in adult life, shows research published in the BMJ.
The study was conducted across five states and one territory in Australia, among people born between 1920 and 1950 who were still alive at the time of the 1981 population census. A prevalence survey of MS had also been carried out in 1981.
There were 1524 patients with multiple sclerosis born in Australia 1920-50 from a total population of 2 468 779. Researchers analyzed their data by sex, month and year of birth and region of birth.
As expected, MS was more than twice as common among women as among men.
Overall, people born in November-December (first trimester in the Australian winter) had a third higher risk of subsequently developing MS than those born in May-June (first trimester in the summer).
When researchers analyzed their data by region of birth, they found that people born in regions with the lowest average levels of ambient ultraviolet radiation had a more than four times greater risk of subsequently developing MS than those born in the sunniest regions.
The association with month of birth was accounted for by the month- and region-specific ambient ultraviolet radiation during the first trimester – the effect of month of birth did not persist after adjustment for first trimester ultraviolet radiation.
The authors discuss the implications for prenatal care, and conclude: “Vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of multiple sclerosis might also need to be considered during in utero development.”
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New Health Activist Blog Carnival: Mental Health Month and Your Community
Apr 30th
Mental health issues touch nearly every condition area and are a frequent topic for Health Activists and patients alike. In honor of 2010 Mental Health Month, brought to us by Mental Health America, this month's Blog Carnival will focus on the importance of mental health within your communities.
This Month's Topic: Mental Health Month and Your Community
Tell us - and your fellow Health Activists - how mental health has touched your community and what role it plays in the conversations there. Do members of your communities talk about depression and mental health issues in conjunction with their other health conditions or is this a topic that doesn't get discussed? If you're already focused on Mental Health Month, let us know how you (and your communities!) are chooding to honor and engage this month - and add your ideas to our ongoing discussion - Get Involved: Gearing Up for Mental Health Month.
Whatever you choose to write about, there are two things we ask that you do:
At the end of the month, we'll feature a few of our favorite submissions here on our blog. We can't wait to hear what your communities think about the important of mental health!
This Month's Topic: Mental Health Month and Your Community
Tell us - and your fellow Health Activists - how mental health has touched your community and what role it plays in the conversations there. Do members of your communities talk about depression and mental health issues in conjunction with their other health conditions or is this a topic that doesn't get discussed? If you're already focused on Mental Health Month, let us know how you (and your communities!) are chooding to honor and engage this month - and add your ideas to our ongoing discussion - Get Involved: Gearing Up for Mental Health Month.
Whatever you choose to write about, there are two things we ask that you do:
- Let others know that your post is for the Health Activist Blog Carnival by including the following text at the end of your post: "This post is my May entry in the Health Activist Blog Carnival. If you're interested in participating too, you can read all about it here: http://blog.wegohealth.com/2010/04/new-health-activist-blog-carnival.html
- Leave a comment with a link to your entry on this Health Bloggers Discussion - be sure to come back often to check out the latest entries and read your fellow Health Activists' stories!
Health Activist Blog Carnival – April Wrap Up!
Apr 30th
April was quite a busy month for Health Activists - so thanks to everyone who took the time to share their Health Activist Story!
Here are a few of our favorite Blog Carnival entries from this month:
Janeen describes herself as an "Accidental Health Activist" - she didn't set out to blog about food allergies, but in doing so, she found a community of others online looking for information and support.
In "Here I am, a Health Activist!", Amy shares her inspiring story of Health Activism. After reading a blog post in the WEGO Health community, Amy took action - she signed up for an ASFP walk in her area and began using social media tools to spread the word about suicide prevention, mental health, and living with chronic illness.
We were pretty flattered to hear that Karen's "I'm a Health Activist" moment came when she received an invitation to our Health Activist Meetup earlier this month. Be sure to check out her blog post about the event to read more about how she realized she'd been a Health Activist all along. We had a hunch, Karen!
Have a great post that didn't get in by the deadline? You can still share it with our community by leaving a comment with a link on this discussion thread.
Thanks again to all the Health Activists who submitted entries this month!
Check back here later today to find out what May's Blog Carnival topic will be!
Mark McGrath and Fiancée Welcome Twins
Apr 29th
Thursday morning Mark McGrath's fiancée, Carin Kingsland, gave birth to twins - a boy and a girl - in Los Angeles.
Son Lydon Edward weighed in at 5 lbs., 7 oz. upon his arrival at 9:54 a.m., daughter Hartley Grace came one minute later, weighing 4 lbs., 8 oz., McGrath's rep told PEOPLE exclusively.
"We are so lucky," McGrath told PEOPLE. "I don’t think you can prepare for the love we are feeling."
After 16 years of on-and-off dating, the Sugar Ray frontman, 42, and Kingsland, 37, an aesthetician, became engaged last New Year’s Eve and confirmed in April that they were expecting twins thanks to IVF.
"These two kids will be the luckiest kids in the world in terms of their mom, that’s for sure," says McGrath, who will host Fox’s Don’t Forget the Lyrics! this fall and tour with Sugar Ray in the summer. "They’ll get a lot of love. "
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Sex of baby drives response to pregnancy stress
Apr 29th
University of Adelaide research is showing that the sex of the baby determines the way it responds to stressors during pregnancy and its ability to survive pregnancy complications.
Male and female babies during pregnancy show different growth and development patterns following stressors during pregnancy such as disease, cigarette use or psychological stress.
The research is being carried out by the Robinson Institute's Pregnancy and Development Group, based at the Lyell McEwin Hospital and led by Associate Professor Vicki Clifton.
"What we have found is that male and female babies will respond to a stress during pregnancy by adjusting their growth patterns differently," said Associate Professor Clifton.
"The male, when mum is stressed, pretends it's not happening and keeps growing, so he can be as big as he possibly can be. The female, in response to mum's stress, will reduce her growth rate a little bit; not too much so she becomes growth restricted, but just dropping a bit below average.
"When there is another complication in the pregnancy - either a different stress or the same one again - the female will continue to grow on that same pathway and do okay but the male baby doesn't do so well and is at greater risk of pre-term delivery, stopping growing or dying in the uterus."
Associate Professor Clifton said this sex-specific growth response had been observed in pregnancies complicated by asthma, preeclampsia and cigarette use but was also likely to occur in other stressful events during pregnancy such as psychological stress.
She said this sex-specific growth pattern was a result of changes in placental function caused by the stress hormone cortisol.
In female babies, increased cortisol produces changes to the placental function which lead to the reduction in growth, but the increased cortisol levels in a mother carrying a male baby doesn't produce the same changes in placental function.
Associate Professor Clifton said this research could lead to sex-specific therapies in pre-term pregnancies and premature newborns. It was also important in helping obstetricians more accurately interpret growth and development of the fetus in at-risk pregnancies.
"We are looking at what events during pregnancy cause changes in how the baby grows, what's behind this and ways in which we can improve the outcomes for pregnant women and their babies," she said.
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This Week’s Celebrity Baby Bumps
Apr 28th
Isla Fisher looks great in a blue scarf and skinny jeans, Dannii Minogue goes gorgeous in a sparkling evening gown, Claudia Schiffer is spotted out in a mint green floral frock, Amy Adams starts working with black as she nears the end of her pregnancy, and Mario Lopez's girlfriend looks cute in purple.
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