Professor Richard Sharpe, principal investigator at the Medical Research Council’s Human Sciences Unit, says that women who want to protect their babies should stop using body creams and perfumes.  “Although we do not have conclusive evidence that they do harm, there are components about which there are question marks… It might have no consequence, but it’s something positive women can do for their baby.”

It would seem that if you are attempting to conceive, or there is a possiblity that you could become pregnant, you should avoid using perfumes and similar cosmetics, as well!

Read more about perfume and pregnancy here.

Being pregnant (not to mention actually having a baby) can be expensive! In addition to the physical, emotional and lifestyle changes new parents have to deal with, the financial burden can put a strain on even the most excited parents-to-be.  Maternity clothes, check ups, vitamins, and labor coaches are only few of the expenses. To help expectant mothers get through this very important stage in her life, insurance companies provide assistance through maternity insurance plans.

Getting a maternity health insurance, or pregnancy health insurance, is one of the best ways one can take care of her unborn baby. With the help of a dependable maternity insurance company, the couple can  eliminate worries about how to pay for pregnancy and childbirth expenses, and focus on getting the proper care. Without these worries, mother can focus on being as physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy as possible.

Make sure to see about getting maternity benefits before you actually become pregnant. If you already have a maternity insurance plan, study it to see what kind of health insurance maternity coverage you have. Getting maternity health insurance will be difficult if you’re already pregnant.

Prior to choosing your hospital and OBGYN, go over the names of providers in your plan’s network. Make certain that you have the latest directory listings provided by your insurance company as well as any updates. It’s important that your directory of providers is up to date because doctors and hospitals are constantly being picked up and dropped from network lists. You should also find out when your medical provider’s contract expires with your insurance company.  If your provider’s contract expires before your expected date of delivery, you should look for another provider in your directory’s network.

Pregnancy and childbirth can involve some risks. That is why getting a maternity insurance is a wise decision to make.  To prevent future problems, make certain to rely on a reputable insurance provider. This will help you enjoy peace of mind during what should be an exciting and joyful period of life!

Source:Maternity Insurance Guide

Photo: Childbirth connection. org

The new study, reported on by Science Daily, appears in the first issue for June of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, a publication of the American Thoracic Society.

“Our results provide some of the most direct evidence to date suggesting that prenatal cigarette smoke exposure can contribute to the destabilizing effects of hypoxia [inadequate oxygenation of the blood] and thermal stress on neonatal breathing,” said Dr. Hasan.

That the effects of second-hand cigarette smoke are damaging is well known. But according to this study, the effects were much more pronounced when a fetus was exposed to cigarette smoked prenatally.

“Our results show that prenatal cigarette smoke exposure compounds the risk by increasing the likelihood of gasp-like respiration and prolonging the time that it takes for neonates to return to normal breathing following hypoxia,” said Dr. Hasan. “These observations provide important evidence of how prenatal cigarette smoke exposure, hypoxic episodes and hyperthermia might place infants at higher risk for SIDS and further support efforts to foster prenatal smoking cessation programs.”

To read the details of this study, please refer to Science Daily: Smoking During Pregnancy Increases Risk of SIDS.

“When women lose chromosomally normal babies and are thouroughly tested for causes of loss, at least 60 percent have a treatable disorder. Recent advances likely push this number even higher. With treatment, most of these women can have a successful pregnancy. Without it, many will relive the tragedy of miscarriage.” For more information, so Darci Klein’s book, To Full Term: A Mother’s Triumph Over Miscarriage.

You can start preparing your body for pregnancy now, even if you are not thinking about starting a family for another few months or even years.  To ensure that you and your baby have the best chance at good health, take a few extra steps to prepare for this important phase in advance. In today’s health-conscious society, you have more choices than ever when it comes to proper nutrition.

Following are five healthy habits to consider before attempting to conceive, as reported by Sally Watts at Charleston.net.

Fat can be good!  According to Dr. Craig Koniver, owner of Primary Plus Family Medicine and founder of The Center for Organic Medicine in Charleston, most with women of childbearing age do not consume enough healthy fat. Healthy omega-3 fats can be found in fatty fish, such as salmon or sardines, as well as foods that contain flax. You can control your omega-3 intake with fish oil and/or flax-seed oil.

Take your vitamins!  It is critical that you take a balanced prenatal multivitamin that contains folic acid, as well as other healthy minerals. Folic acid is vital to fetal development and guards against several congenital malformations. Dr. Koniver also suggests taking selenium, a trace mineral crucial for proper immune system and thyroid function.

Keep the fruits and veges coming!  You should try to consume as many organic fruits and vegetables as possible. Avoiding pesticides and fungicides will help maintain the delicate hormone balance during pregnancy, says Dr. Koniver.

Keep refilling that glass of water! To keep all body systems running smoothly, it’s important to stay hydrated.  A woman’s total blood volume increases by 20 percent or more during pregnancy, and hydration is critical in maintaining health.  According to the March of Dimes, lack of proper hydration can trigger preterm contractions.

Cut back on coffee!  The March of Dimes also suggests women cut back on caffeine before they become pregnant, as caffeine has been linked to miscarriage in studies. For those with a slight caffeine addiction, it’s better to kick the habit before pregnancy begins so you can avoid the struggle once you conceive.

The authors of the study cautiously describe their findings as “preliminary evidence” that  acupuncture may ”improves rates of pregnancy and live birth” among women undergoing IVF.

The idea behind this study is that acupuncture stimulates the flow of blood to the uterus, thereby making the lining of the womb more receptive to the implantation of the embryo.

One in three babies born under 28 weeks die, and others face lifelong disability.

Some issues raised here are chemo drugs and how they affect the fetus, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and breastfeeding, and more.  You can read more here.

The article then goes on to discuss when exactly pregnancy begins according to a medical view, vs. a religious view. From a medical point of view “pregnancy does not occur at the moment of conception. It occurs, instead, when an embryo (a fertilized egg that has divided over the course of a few days) attaches itself to the woman’s uterus, a stage known as implantation.” It goes on to discuss how the morning-after pill functions and how to define the term “abortion” in relation to this early stage.  Also interesting are the parallels drawn between this situation and in-vitro fertilization.

Anyway, I won’t try to summerize it any further but read the article here at FindLaw if you are interested in more details.