If you’re pregnant, getting the flu shot might be a good move on two counts: Aside from the obvious benefit (protecting yourself from the flu!) you might also be protecting your baby!

A clinical trial has revealed that a pregnant woman who receives a flu shot can potentially protect her baby from the flu virus up to 6 months after the birth.  This is importnat becuase flu shots are not recommended for babies under six months old, and antiviral drug treatments for the flu are not approved for children under a year old. The study determined that with the flu shot, an infant’s risk of contracting the virus was reduced by at least 63 percent. The risk of respitory infections was also reduced by 29 percent.

“Infants under six months have the highest rates of hospitalization from influenza among children in the U.S.” according to Dr. Steinhoff.  The good news, based on the new study, is that when mothers are vaccinated the odds of infants contracting the flu could be cut in more than half. Dr. Steinhoff stated, “Our study shows that a newborn’s risk of infection can be greatly reduced by vaccinating Mom during pregnancy. It’s a two-for-one benefit.”

It is now being recommended that expectant mothers get their flu shot a few weeks before flu season starts.

Visit www.healthnews.com for more information!

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

Scientists now know that what a woman eats during pregnancy has long-lasting effects on her baby. The American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care recently studied mothers’ consumption of a variety of foods such as vegetables, fish, eggs, milk products and nuts. Nearly 3,000 mothers participated in the study, with children from birth to 8 years of age. Researchers concluded that mothers who ate nuts daily increased their baby’s chance of developing asthma symptoms by 47%. (Not so with any of the other foods on the list.)

Based on the results of this study, there appears to be a pathway for allergy antibodies to pass from mother to baby. Researchers do not recommend that mothers completely eliminate nuts from their diet, but limiting your intake of highly allergenic foods, such as nuts, may be a good idea. Additionally, if you have a strong family history of allergies, experts recommend reducing the amount of nuts you eat during pregnancy.

Pediatrician recommended that children under the age of three not be given nut or nut products. And since the proteins from peanuts can be carried through breast milk, nursing mothers should try to reduce or eliminate nuts from their diet.

For more information, see Suite 101.

The American Psychological Association (APA) has announced that women who have one abortion do not experience any more mental problems than women who decide to give birth. But women who have had abortions, as well as other scientists and pro-life advocates are joining forces to refute these findings.

Alveda King, niece of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., has had two abortions and a miscarriage related to those abortions. She echoes her famous uncle’s call for civil rights for all people, saying that abortion “violates the civil rights and human rights of the baby in the womb and then it hurts the mother,” In her experience, most post-abortion women claim to have suffered irrevocable damage.

“The (APA) wants to say we are the exception to the rule … but for every one woman they can find that says they weren’t harmed by abortion … they could find 10 women who were,” said King.

King works on pro-life causes with Priests for Life, and was one of 2,000 women who signed sworn affidavits of the harm caused them by having an abortion. The affidavits were a project of the Justice Foundation, a non-profit public interest litigation firm, which responded to the APA report by posting a press release on its Web site naming 100 medical and mental health professionals who spoke out against the report.

According to these experts, choosing abortion can lead to “severe depression and loss of self-esteem,” and caution medical professionals not to ignore the “significant numbers of women who suffer serious physical, mental or psychological trauma as a result of abortion.”

“I think the study is flawed,” says Peggy Hartshorn, president of Heartbeat International. In addition to ignoring many credible studies that show a distinct link between abortion and mental health problems, she points out that the lead author is a recognized pro-abortion advocate.

“The study has to be politically motivated to perpetuate the myth that abortion is a helpful and positive choice for women,” Hartshorn said. “(The study) ignores the testimonies of women who have had several psychological and emotional issues after having an abortion.”

Also outraged by the APA’s announcement is Leslee Unruh, whose decision to have an abortion inspired her to found the Alpha Center pregnancy resource in her home state of South Dakota. She now dedicates her life to helping other women who have lived to regret their decision to have an abortion, and have suffered both emotional and physical damage as a result.

Then there is Theresa Burke, the founder of Rachel’s Vineyard, a Christian recovery program for post-abortive women. She also speaks out, saying, “The APA should advocate a closer examination of the grief and warn women of the well-documented dangers (of abortion)…  Instead, the APA continues to censor information, de-legitimize research, prohibit opposing points of view, obstruct discussions, avoid scholarly debates and promote intolerance of those who are negatively impacted by abortion.”

“It’s one thing to take our money and do what they did to harm us,” says Unruh. “It’s another to dismiss our grieving. That is the ultimate slap.”

Source: CNS News Read more here!!

Hypothyroidism doesn’t have to mean you can’t have a fabulous, healthy pregnancy! Although it may slightly complicate your pregnancy, in the end, your pregnancy could be as uneventful as that of a woman with a normal functioning thyroid.
Thyroid problems affect an estimated 59 million Americans, the vast majority of them women. Few women, however, are aware of the critical relationship between the thyroid gland - our master gland of metabolism - and nearly every aspect of child-bearing. As a woman, your thyroid can affect your fertility, your ability to become pregnant and maintain a healthy pregnancy, postpartum health, successful breastfeeding, and even the health of your baby.
Answers to many of your questions related to hypothyroidism and pregnancy are available online at Pregnancy and Hypothyroidism/Frequently Asked Questions, including the following:

• How do I know if I’m hypothyroid?
• What can I do to ensure my health - or my baby’s health - doesn’t suffer due to my hypothyroidism?
• Why is early medical attention during pregnancy so important?
• Am I taking a big a risk in becoming pregnant with a dysfunctional thyroid?
• How do I deal with my special needs for medical advice about medications and managing my thyroid during pregnancy?
• I really want to have a drug-free pregnancy. Should I stop taking my thyroid medication?
  
• Will my thyroid medications interfere with breastfeeding?
• What is the risk that my baby will inherit my Hashimoto’s disesase?

“It’s heartening to note,”says Mary Shomon, the author of this article, “That most women with thyroid disease are able to have an uneventful pregnancy and healthy baby. I did myself, back in 1997!”

Mary Shomon’s Thyroid Guide to Fertility, Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Success, the popular 40-page mini-guide, is now incorporated into her new 406-page book: The Thyroid Hormone Breakthrough: Overcoming Sexual and Hormonal Problems at Every Age.

Among other topics relating to hypothyroidism, it contains information on:

“The demands on a woman’s body during pregnancy often leave her feeling depleted, physically and emotionally,” says NaturalNews.com, and “depression is common among pregnant women.” However, care-takers have expressed concern about the possible harmful effects of anti-depressants on both mother and child, and so the search is on for an alternative to pharmaceuticals.

A possible lead appeared when researchers at China Medical University Hospital in Taiwan noted that depression is often associated with lower levels of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). So Dr. Kuan-Pin Su and colleagues performed a study to test this out, and found that two thirds of the women consuming PUFAs showed significant improvement, compared with 27 per cent of the control group.  “The best news came when researchers noted the absence of negative effects on either mothers or their newborn babies. A few mothers experienced minor stomach upset the first few days while their systems got used to the new substances.”

NaturalNews goes on to say that,  “In an effort to provide for the baby’s needs, a woman may lose 3 percent of her brain mass during the last trimester.” (Side point: I knew it! I always said that, in addition to making me forgetful, each pregnancy makes me a tad less intelligent than I used to be. No, seriously! I wasn’t always like this…) This loss is also thought to be responsible for postpartum depression.

The American Chronicle claims that Omega-3s consumed during pregnancy are also beneficial for the baby, assisting with the development of baby’s brain, nervous system, and the retinal tissue of the eyes.  If you want to go back further, the benefits of PUFAs begin even before conception. Omega-3 oils are required to produce healthy and vigorous eggs and sperm.

It is worth noting that the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obsterticians and Gynocologists cautions women in regards to certain nutritional suppliments. “There is a deficiency of high quality evidence that would support the use of other nutritional suppliments in pregnancy eg. omega 3-fatty acids. In the absence of such evidence, the best advice would be to avoid such suppliments, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy, where any unanticipated adverse effects would be most likely to occur.” The safest thing to do is to consume your omega 3’s as part of a nutritious diet, including things such as whole flax seed, certain types of fish, spices, nuts, and soy products.

For more information on Omega-3’s and what foods you can eat to incorporate them into you diet, visit NaturalNews.com.

What’s a girl to do? Thanks to Modern Moms I discovered a product that I wish I’d known about two pregnancies ago!! (But it’s never too late!  Hopefully I’ll be in a position to need one in the near future…) It’s one item that can help solve all of the above-mentioned problems! Sounds too good to be true…?

Introducing Ingrid & Isabel Women’s Maternity Lace BellaBand!

In addition to having to take off time from work in middle of the day, she has to commute for an hour to get to the doctor’s office, “hauling my pregnant self through public transit,” and coordinate schedules with her “incredibly supportive husband” who accompanies her to all her appointments. She realizes that soon she’ll be leaving work for an extended period of time and just wants to be able to “focus on my job” while she still can.

What I found interesting, though, were all the comments (47 so far). I tend to agree with those who’s sympathy levels are low for this unfortunate mom to be. I mean really, if the “excitement and anticipation of welcoming a new person into the world is building,” as she claims, then what is she kvetching about? Doctors visits are part of the program and she should try to be grateful for the care she’s receiving. She should also be glad that her husband can and does keep her company at her doctor visits. She should be happy that she’s experiencing a healthy normal pregnancy.

Here’s a sampling of what other women have to say:

…life does not revolve around work. When you got pregnant, your life already changed and you already lost the right to focus on your job first. This is what life is all about so relish these moments of anticipation that you have!

…This is when it really helps to have the doctor’s office near work… Annoying though the appointments are, it is a good thing for the health team to be able to catch any issues early.

…I go to a mixed midwife-OBGyn practice and am seen by the midwife group… the midwives don’t take call (don’t deliver babies, don’t assist on procedures, don’t do anything outside the practice) on the days they have scheduled appointments. So far, that has meant no waiting, an office that runs efficiently and professionally.

…the theme I see is essentially denial that Everything Is Going to Change. It’s understandable to feel a little desperation to preserve your professional identity. But bending over backwards is a disservice to everyone in the workplace. We need to stop apologizing for having lives… By choosing the pregnancy, you have already made the decision to alter your work availability. Own the decision, and be grateful that you’re a) fertile and b) not on bedrest.

And the most compelling reason for a woman with a natural, normal pregnancy to stop whining and get on with life:

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.