Trusted Information for Healthy Pregnancies
expecting mothers
“Love” Hormone Released When Mom’s Voice is Heard
May 12th
The working mother who cannot be at home to cuddle a distraught child can relax - her voice on the phone soothes as much as a hug, a study suggests.
US researchers put more than 60 girls in a stressful situation and monitored their hormonal responses when they were either phoned or hugged afterwards.
Their mother's voice produced virtually the same amount of the stress-quelling hormone oxytocin as physical comfort.
The findings appear in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
The girls, aged between seven and 12, were asked to make an impromptu speech and then solve a series of sums in front of a panel of strangers - experiences which sent their hearts racing and levels of the stress hormone cortisol soaring.
For one group of girls their mother was on hand immediately afterwards to offer physical comfort - a hug, or an arm around the shoulder. Another group was handed a phone with mother on the line, while a third watched March of the Penguins - seen as an emotionally-neutral film.
Oxytocin - a hormone believed to be strongly associated with social bonding, and one which alleviates the effects of cortisol - rose in both groups to similar levels. Oxytocin levels in the film group did not increase.
"It was understood that oxytocin release in the context of social bonding usually required physical contact," said Dr Leslie Seltzer of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who led the research.
"But it's clear from these results that a mother's voice can have the same effect as a hug, even if they're not standing there."
Previous research suggesting physical contact was necessary to produce oxytocin in stressful circumstances was primarily carried out on rodents, therefore failing to take into account the very human impact of language, the researchers said.
Research has suggested that even in the womb a fetus - at least in the later stages of pregnancy - is capable of recognizing its mother's voice.
But whether this has any emotional impact at this young age is unclear.
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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.
How to Train a Baby-Friendly Dog
Jan 14th
At this stage of your pregnancy, you now have nine months or less to change your dog's behavior, to keep his world spinning on its axis, but to graduate him from number one spoiled brat to the loving, happy, welcoming family pet, you surely want.
Begin teaching your dog not to touch, destroy or bury baby toys. You begin by selecting toys for your dog that look and feel no different from your babies toys. This is important, because a dog would find it difficult to differentiate between his own, squeaky toys and the squishy toys you picked out for your son or daughter. Spend a few minutes playing with the dog and his favorite toy. When he is fairly excited at the toy, throw it away, but keep it directly in his view. Then, put a couple of baby toys on the floor and tosses into their midst. Encourage him to go get his toy, and then go nuts when he consistently chooses baby toys instead of the dog toy. Trade the right toy for a treat. Try training as often as you can, at least once a week for a month and slowly increase the number of baby toys each time.
If your dog had never been around a baby, it's a very good idea to teach them not to get excited or scared by the crying, screaming, or gurgling he's likely to experience. You can desensitize your dog to baby sounds by placing your dog in a room with a CD player, or a tape of baby noises. Sit down and relax before turning on the player. Then put one hand on the volume control and watch the dog closely. Slowly raise the vitamin to up and watch this recognition from him, typically a dog will turn his head from one side to the other or prick up one or both ears. Let the tape play for the longest possible. 24 hours will be ideal but if it is not possible, then the first exposure must be in excess of four hours. The more the tapes play over the first two days the better this works. This is the desensitization process in which a dog learns to accept the sounds.
A professional dog trainer should deal with dogs who are truly aggressive toward people and or dogs and other animals. Don't let him become obsessed with the ball or toy. A run in the mornings is a good idea, or the park might work, because dogs who exercise makes far more relaxed and happy companions who are likely to sleep the rest of the day.
Dogs learn that they can get considerable attention by jumping up and grabbing a hand or clothing. Even negative attention such as shouting or pushing a dog away. This can be dangerous when the baby is around because it would be considered playing too rough if the dog is jumping on the baby. To help the dog learn not to jump, keep a container of dog treats just outside your front door. When visitors come to your home they should each put a few treats in their pocket before coming in. Everyone should ignore all of your dog's attempts to gain attention. No looking, no talking, and no touching! Eventually fed up with being ignored, your dog will sit down or wander off. At this time, you or your visitors can quietly call for him and ask him to sit. Then, he can and get treats, but only when he stays calm.
Think about the impact on the baby smells are going to have on your dog. I suggest you get your doggies used to as many smells as you can, including baby powder, the lotion, diaper rash cream, and so on. Put a smell on a cloth, and leave it in your dogs resting area for a day. After substituting in different smells, your dog will come accustomed to normal baby smells.
One of the traditional ways to introduce the newborns to the resident dog is to let him sniff a blanket that your baby has slept on. Certainly there is no harm in doing this, and it will be the first real exposure to your baby. Leave the blanket with your dog overnight.
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Prenatal Learning Products Draw Expert Skepticism
Jan 12th
For those who say you're never too young to learn, try typing "smart baby" into YouTube. It may give you some doubts.
You'll find plenty of brainy babies who will dazzle you with geography and other skills, their parents pushing them every step of the way. But you might find yourself thinking there is such a thing as too young to learn.
Monique Heller, of Conn., is nine months pregnant. She's already started trying to teach her new baby before the new daughter is even born.
"I want to give her every advantage that we're able to," said Heller. "And to a certain extent, I want her to be prepared for school as early as possible." Heller uses a device called Baby Plus, marketed as a "prenatal education system." The motto: "Your womb ... the perfect classroom."
"I used it in my pregnancy with my daughter Giovanna," said Heller. "And I'm using it now with my second daughter. And the product claims to help babies self-soothe and come out of the uterus a little more calm."
Heller insists it worked for her first daughter. So why not for daughter No. 2? The device straps right onto the mother's belly, for one hour, twice a day.
Baby Plus spokeswoman Lisa Jarrett explained how the device works.
"It plays a sound that is simple and similar to the maternal placental heartbeat. And that encourages a child to discriminate. That discrimination over time strengthens learning skills for life."
Proponents of the device claim it leads to babies that nurse more readily, that soothe themselves, that are more interactive and responsive, more relaxed and more ready for school.
"Ninety-seven percent of parents who utilize this curriculum would use it again, recommend it to a friend, and feel that it has made a difference," said Jarrett.
But Janet DiPietro, a developmental psychologist at Johns Hopkins University, says there's no evidence whatsoever that products like Baby Plus actually help a developing fetus.
"Just because fetuses respond to something doesn't mean that they are learning it," said DiPietro. "Or that it's important to give that sound. So what fetuses seem to respond to most are loud sounds: the vacuum cleaner, a rock concert. And just because they might get kind of jazzed up to one of those things doesn't mean it's either good or bad for them. They just react to it."
We asked Jarrett if there were any studies to back up her product's claims.
"Yes," she said, "there's a study that was published in the Preimparnatal Psychology Journal. It was small. My experience has been with the anecdotal evidence. ... It's been studied. It's just not been studied in long-term huge clinical trials. ... There's one early study... [by] Dr. Brent Logan ... and a developmental specialist in Russia. And it was years ago."
Why didn't it get studied here?
"Well, we are trying," said Jarrett. "We are trying."
Katherine Kranenburg is a middle-class mom in Washington who, like every mom, wants to give her kids every advantage. She has a 2-year-old, Kennedy. And Kennedy's little brother -- not yet born -- already has a teddy bear that plays the sound of a mother's heartbeat.
Kranenburg said she also does prenatal yoga. And she agreed to try out another brainy baby product, made in Israel, called the Ritmo. It hooks up to your iPod, so that mom can play tunes right into her belly.
Kranenburg played Bob Marley. And sure enough, the fetus responded.
But our expert at Johns Hopkins was dubious about the Ritmo, too, because, she says, all that fluid in the mother's belly doesn't muffle the sound -- it amplifies it.
"Which is counterintuitive to most people," DiPietro said. "Because as it goes through the amniotic fluid, the sound gets more intense, not less intense. So when you take these devices and you put them on your abdomen, you're blasting sound at the ear. ... You're taping their head to the speaker. It's akin to taking your sleeping newborn -- because fetuses are mostly asleep -- and putting speakers right next to their crib and blasting Mozart while they're asleep. ... Who would do that?"
Ritmo's manufacturer says its device "works through a sophisticated controller to regulate the output of sound to a level safe for a baby in-utero."
But it may surprise expecting mothers to learn that you have to take their word for it. The government does not require them to meet any special product safety standards.
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March of Dimes Reveals Pregnant Moms Biggest Fears
Dec 9th
The March of Dimes polled about 1,200 moms to find out exactly what it is that caused them to lose sleep (other than the fact they were pregnant!) while they were pregnant. The results were presented today at the March of Dimes National Communications Advisory Council luncheon where experienced, practicing obstetricians and gynecologists discussed the survey results, as well as some of the frequently asked questions their patients ask.
The March of Dimes poll found that the number one thing moms worried about was birth defects - 78 percent said they were worried their child would be born less than perfect. Stress was moms' second fear, with 74 percent answering that they were concerned if stress in their life would harm their baby's health. Preterm birth was a close third with 71 percent saying they were worried their baby would be born too soon.
"Women should discuss all their questions with their doctors and should be concerned about their overall health - quit smoking, control their blood pressure, weight and any chronic diseases, such as diabetes - before they become pregnant so they will have a better chance at a healthy pregnancy," said Dr. Diane Ashton, March of Dimes deputy medical director, who took part in the panel discussion.
Surprisingly, only 70 percent thought about the fear of pain of childbirth and 55 percent were worried that they wouldn't get to the hospital on time!
Other things moms worried about were:
- 60 percent worried they wouldn't be able to breastfeed successfully.
- 59 percent worried about losing weight after pregnancy.
- And, 59 percent worried about getting pregnant in the first place.
- Sushi and fish was the number one food concern, with 61 percent concerned.
The poll was conducted Nov. 6 to Nov. 13, 2009 using the online software Zoomerang. There were 123 valid responses from the 1,224 women from the March of Dimes Moms e-Panel and March for Babies Family Teams who were invited by email to answer the 65 questions. Some 90 percent of the women surveyed have a child who was born preterm. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents are employed, about 60 percent are between the ages of 25 and 34, 90 percent have children under the age of five and 95 percent had attended some college. The survey was written by Betty Wolder Levin, Ph.D., professor of Public Health, Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
Source
Send Your Nursery Photos
Dec 8th
Calling all design gurus! The ladies of Maternity&Style are asking all expecting mothers who designed their baby's nursery to send photos of your designs. Each week they'll feature a photo from a different nursery.
Just send your photos to mynursery@maternityandstyle.com and please write a few sentences about your inspiration, designs and ideas. Include the state you live in and what your nursery theme is.
Baby Week on Discovery Health Starts Nov. 30th
Nov 11th
Beginning Monday, November 30th, Discovery Health's Baby Week will commence. From expectant mothers' indomitable will to survive, to unconventional families' historic births, to high-risk pregnancies that defy all the odds - this edition of Baby Week features actual events.
The special programming begins each night at 8 PM (ET/PT) from Monday, November 30, through Friday, December 4.
Featured Baby Week world premieres include:
- She Survived That...Pregnant?!
- Transgendered and Pregnant
- I'm Pregnant And...
- Dwarf Adoption Story
Baby Week kicks off with the premiere of She Survived That...Pregnant?!, an hour-long special recounting the stories of pregnant women who survived deadly accidents and encounters that could have killed them--and their unborn children. The pregnant women include a woman whose parachute failed to open, causing her to land face-first on the ground; a woman who was first chased by a bear--and then after she managed to escape, was hit by a car; a woman who fell over a balcony and was impaled by a microphone stand; and a woman who was shot in the uterus, with her unborn baby suffering a bullet wound as well.
Transgendered And Pregnant premieres Tuesday, December 1, at 8 PM (ET/PT). This hour-long special tells the story of a transgendered couple--the wife, a male-to-female and the husband, a female-to-male transgender--expecting a baby under the most unusual of circumstances. In spite of ongoing hormone treatments, the male-to-female transgender wife managed to impregnate the husband, a female-to-male transgender--and Discovery Health’s cameras capture the couple throughout the pregnancy leading up to the birth of their first child.
I'm Pregnant And... premieres Tuesday, December 1, at 9:30 PM (ET/PT). This brand-new series follows the stories of women facing serious issues--emotional, physical, mental or circumstantial--as they navigate their nine-month journey through pregnancy. Topics explored throughout the six-part series include:
- I'm Pregnant and I'm Addicted
- I'm Pregnant and I Have an Eating Disorder
- I’m Pregnant and Over 55
Expecting 15 Babies premieres Friday, December 4, at 8 PM (ET/PT).Three families experience the dangerous business of giving birth to and raising multiples, including the first Hispanic sextuplets in the United States, an expecting mother of quadruplets and a family with 22-month-old quintuplets!
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