Antidepressants during pregnancy increase risk of sponaneous abortion.

Canadian researchers report that taking antidepressants during pregnancy increases the risk of spontaneous abortions by about two-thirds, . The increased risk was greatest with the family of drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), especially paroxetine and venlafaxine, and when more than one family of drugs were used.

Depression in women is most common during the child-bearing years, and estimates suggest that as many as 15% of pregnant women suffer from it. Because of fears about the effects of drugs, particularly psychiatric drugs, during pregnancy, only about 3.7% of women use them during the first trimester. Most studies looking at the use of antidepressants during pregnancy have focused on their effects on the fetus. Small studies of their effects on abortion have produced inconsistent results. Expecting mothers cannot routinely stop using the drugs, however, because that also presents risks to both the mother and the fetus.

Experts say that producing a controlled clinical trial examining the effects of the drugs is virtually impossible because few women would be willing to participate, The only way to get at the data is to examine it retrospectively.

In the new study, Dr. Anick Berard, director of the University of Montreal's Research Unit on Medications and Pregnancy at University Hospital Center Sainte-Justine used information from the Quebec Pregnancy Registry to identify 5,124 women who had a spontaneous abortions between 1998 and 2003 -- before warnings about the risks of the drugs became more common -- and compared them with about 10 times that many carefully matched women who did not have abortions. A separate database provided information about prescriptions the women had filled.

The researchers reported in the Canadian Medical Assn. Journal that 5.5% of the women who had spontaneous abortions had taken anti depressants, compared with 2.7% of those who did not have a spontaneous abortion. Controlling for other factors, that amounted to a 68% increase in risk. The biggest effects were found with paroxetine (brand names Paxil and Seroxat) and venlafaxine (Effexor) or when combinations of drugs from different families were used.

In a commentary in the same journal, Adrienne Einarson, a registered nurse who is assistant director of the Motherisk Program at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, noted that the study had many deficiencies:
many spontaneous abortions are not reported to doctors,
the researchers did not know if the women actually took the drugs and
they did not monitor the extent of the depression.

Nonetheless, the increased risk in the study was about the same as that found by Motherisk (a teratology information service) in an earlier study, she said.

Source:
Los Angeles Times
May 31st 2010
Thomas H. Maugh II

Best Foods for Pregnant Women to Eat

- Concentrate on eating foods that provide optimal nutrition to you and your baby. Those foods would include fish, eggs, beef, poultry and combining legumes (bean family foods) and brown rice.

- Complex carbohydrates that provide Vitamin A, C and B complex are also very important. Those nutrients are found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Whole grains are in cereals and breads.

- Low-fat dairy products provide protein, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and Vitamins B-12 and D. You will find these nutrients in milk, yogurt and cheese. Our body makes Vitamin D when we are exposed to sunshine.

- Long chain omega-3 essential fatty acids should also be on your list of fabulous foods for growing a baby. These essential fatty acids are found mainly in fish.

A few years ago the government released a statement warning that too much fish could lead to mercury poisoning. This has lead to a sharp decline in consumption of fish. That was not the intent of the people that wrote that paper.

The National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition recently released a paper titled “Brainy Kids, Healthy Kids.” In this paper they address the concerns so many people have about mercury in ocean fish.

In order to meet the needs of the growing baby, the mother needs to include in her diet fish that are rich in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docoshexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is very important for the development of the baby’s nervous system. Studies have shown that adequate intake of DHA is important for visual, cognitive (thinking), motor and behavioral skills.

New research is supporting the benefits of eating fish. It is also supporting the fact that the possibility of mercury toxicity from eating ocean fish is very rare. In fact, there is evidence another nutrient found in fish, selenium, may actually counteract potential negative influence of mercury.

The new recommendations for fish consumption during pregnancy are that you eat a minimum of 12 ounces of seafood per week.

Oily ocean fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel are natural sources of DHA and EPA. They are also a great source of protein as well as vitamins B, D, zinc, iodine and selenium. Tuna provides DHA and EPA and is a great source of protein.

Crohns & Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a trying time for all women. According to Sharon Dobson the added the complicated health issues and the additional weight can be overwhelming for many. But when you add in severe health problems like Crohn’s Disease, the stress levels can reach unhealthy levels. So, what effects does Crohn’s Disease have on pregnancy and what does this mean for the health of the baby?

Dobson mentions that studies have shown that most women or couples who have an active case of Crohn’s Disease (they regularly get flare-ups) may have trouble even conceiving. A common drug used to treat Crohn’s Disease called sulfasalzine may render men temporarily infertile. There are less common medications available for men who are looking to conceive so she suggests that you consult your doctor to get switched to a treatment that won’t damage your sperm count.

She goes on to say, "Most women who have Crohn’s Disease are able to carry their baby to a full-term pregnancy and have a healthy boy or girl, but there are some direct links between Crohn’s Disease and problems which could potentially crop up. Since Crohn’s is responsible for causing ulcers and abscesses in the body, women who may have these in the birth canal or in the vagina may need to have a caesarean section birth."

Sharon Dobson also mentions that crohns disease has been linked to a higher rate of miscarriage, stillbirth or premature birth at a rate of two to three times. There are also links between a worsening of symptoms directly after becoming pregnant and during the first trimester. Some women also experience a severe flare-up immediately after giving birth. The one thing to keep in mind is that every case of Crohn’s is different and every pregnancy is different, as well. There is no link at this time that says if you have severe Crohn’s related symptoms during one pregnancy that you’ll have them during your next one, too.

One of the most important aspects to having a healthy baby is eating a proper diet. As everyone knows, a woman’s diet changes dramatically during pregnancy, but diet can be a main trigger to Crohn’s flair-ups.

So how to rectify the two? The best thing to do is to consult your doctors and remember, if you are treating your Crohn’s with sulfasalazine,folic acid to help prevent birth defects. Most likely, your doctor and obstetrician will recommend a few special foods and an increased
vitamin and mineral supplement plan.

Dobson ends by saying, "There is a debated genetic link associated with Crohn’s. Some studies have shown no real link, while others have shown that if someone in your family has Crohn’s, there is a 10 times greater chance of developing it, and if that person is a brother or a sister, the risk jumps to 30 times. Targeting the actual genes that cause it has been extremely challenging since it appears that more than one gene affects Crohn’s disease."

"The main consensus on this controversial area is that there may be some genetic link, but it’s all about the environmental risk factors associated with it. Don’t smoke, try to eat right and keep the stress down and you don’t have to worry about passing Crohn’s Disease on to your newborn baby".

Reference
Source: www.natural-crohns-disease-relief.com/crohnsdisease.html, blog oct 2006.
Author: Sharon Dobson

Glucose Challenge in Pregnancy Could Predict Heart Disease

Researchers published in the current issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
say that abnormal test results in those without gestational diabetes signals future heart risk,
A glucose challenge test given to pregnant women may also show if they have an increased risk of heart disease in the future. This finding is very important because doctors might be able to begin using current screening procedures for gestational diabetes to identify women who are at risk for developing heart disease later in life. Heart disease is the number-one killer of women in the United States and Canada.

While women with gestational diabetes -- a condition leading to temporarily high blood sugars during pregnancy -- have a higher risk of suffering with cardiovascular disease than those without, no one really knew if mild glucose intolerance in pregnancy is associated with heart disease.

Gestational diabetes is an important risk factor for future type 2 diabetes. Pregnant women are generally screened for gestational diabetes with a glucose challenge test during the second trimester. If the result is abnormal, it is followed by an oral glucose tolerance test to confirm the diagnosis.

In this study researchers examined data on 435,696 women in Ontario who gave birth between April 1994 and March 1998. All of the women were followed until March 31, 2008. The study excluded women who had preexisting diabetes.

"Women who had an abnormal glucose challenge test but then did not have gestational diabetes had an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease compared to the general population, but a lower risk than women who actually did have gestational diabetes," says co-author Dr. Baiju Shah, of the Institute for Clinical and Evaluative Sciences in Toronto.

Source:
HealthDay News
Aug. 24

Healthy Pregnancy - 5 Tips

Do you know someone who is pregnant or plans on becoming pregnant?

The March of Dimes recommends that all pregnant women follow these 5 key steps:

1. Get early and regular pre-natal care. This reduces your risk of complications, including pre-term delivery and having a low birth weight baby.

2. Eat nutritious foods and take a daily multi-vitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid. Eating a varied, healthy diet ensures that you and baby are getting all the protein and nutrients you need. Folic acid prevents brain and neurological birth defects, so supplemental folic acid is recommended for all women of childbearing age. It is advised that women start to take supplemental folic acid at least 2 months prior to conception to offer maximum benefits.

3. Don't smoke. Women who smoke increase their chances of having a miscarriage, low birthweight baby, and the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago provides a smoking cessation program than is appropriate for pregnant women.

4. Don't take drugs. Taking drugs, besides those approved by a doctor who knows you are pregnant, can cause severe disabilities or death of your baby. The Illinois Teteragon Society offers a free hotline service for the community at 1-800-252-4847. They can tell you about the safety of drugs, chemicals, and other environmental toxins.

5. Don't drink. Hard liquor, wine and beer can all cause birth defects. Because no one knows the "minimal" safe amount, it is best to abstain all together.

Healthy Pregnancy nutrition requires Whole Foods

Whole foods like avocados and cucumbers are healthy pregnancy nutrition
Expectant mothers do a great service to their babies when they learn more about whole foods for healthy pregnancy nutrition. Whether expecting or not, the need for a balanced diet that includes vitamins and minerals from whole foods is a basic nutrition fact. This is even more significant when planning pregnancy nutrition. A healthy diet filled with whole foods is essential for helping the baby develop to its full potential.

Weight gain is always important when considering pregnancy nutrition. A doctor will know how much weight gain can be anticipated for individual situations. One way to avoid a lack of proper pregnancy nutrition is to eat enough whole foods that will not cause excess weight gain.

The mother-to-be will need to balance more calories with the proper sources for those calories. Just because the recommended caloric intake goes up does not mean that these should be empty calories.

Gaining weight while following some basic nutrition facts can ultimately benefit both the mother and the baby. This means that instead of simply consuming more calories, the proper pregnancy nutrition plan involves mostly whole foods.

Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is the surest way to obtain excellent pregnancy nutrition from whole foods. However, many expectant mothers also benefit from natural whole food concentrates and supplements. For example, a pregnant woman may need additional calcium for the baby’s teeth and bones.

Well-documented nutrition facts show that whole food supplements are absorbed by the body more efficiently than those formulated from isolated vitamins and minerals.

Proper pregnancy nutrition calls for folate and folic acid in the diet. These essential nutrients may best be obtained from whole food supplements.

Folate is absolutely necessary for fetal development. Expectant mothers need about 800 mcg of folic acid daily while nursing mothers may only need 500 mcg. Whole food sources of folate are beans, leafy, green vegetables, nuts and some fruits.

Enriched breads, cereals, and other products with whole grains may also be good sources of folic acid for pregnancy nutrition. Better yet, look for whole food vitamins with folate or folic acid.

While supplements can play an important role in pregnancy nutrition, whole foods such as fruits and vegetables are the perfect source for the nutrients that both mother and baby require.

Keep in mind that fresh, organic produce offers more benefits than canned fruits and vegetables. By including whole foods in a pregnancy nutrition plan, mother and baby have the best chances for a healthy life.

Source:
September 2
Phoenix Healthy Food Examiner
Cliff Smith

New Male Infertility Treatment

There is now a new male infertility treatment available to men to increase healthy sperm counts. PRlog.org tells us that nearly 2 million men per year in the US, deal with issues related to infertility. Now a leading San Diego fertility doctor has created a male infertility treatment, based on research from over 60 fertility studies, to help men increase healthy sperm counts.

When it comes to having children and starting a family a man not only needs a high sperm count but also a healthy sperm count. That is the basis of a new male fertility product called Proceptin, which not only increases sperm counts but more importantly increases "health" sperm counts.

Image Courtesy: Steven Brody

Developed by Dr Steven A Brody MD, the use of nutritional supplements and treatments such as Proceptin®, with the proper antioxidants may reduce the adverse effects of oxidative stress on reproductive tissue and organs, and potentially improve sperm function.

Steven A. Brody, M.D., Ph.D. received his Bachelor's degree and Master's degree from Brown University in Providence, RI. He received his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He completed his internship at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. In 1986 he completed his OB/GYN Residency at Stanford University Medical Center. After finishing his Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at Baylor College of Medicine, he joined the full-time medical faculty as Associate Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology until 1992.

Dr. Brody is Board Certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Internal Medicine, Endocrinology & Medicine, and the subspecialty of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. He has received special Certification in Operative Laparoscopy and Operative Hysteroscopy. As an internationally-recognized specialist and lecturer in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, his main interests include: in vitro fertilization (IVF), assisted conception, endometriosis and pelvic pain, tubal microsurgery and advanced laser laparoscopy.

At UCSD School of Medicine, Dr. Brody is a member of the clinical faculty in the Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism. He is a Staff Physician at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, Sharp Memorial Hospital and Grossmont Hospital. At Alvarado Hospital Medical Center, he is the Medical Director of Reproductive Endocrinology.

As a distinguished clinician, Dr. Brody has been designated Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Fellow of the American College of Physicians, Fellow of the International College of Surgeons, and Fellow of the American College of Clinical Endocrinologists. He served in the uniformed services as a Lieutenant Commander (surgeon) in the U.S. Public Health Service, and was stationed at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland from 1980 to 1983.

Proceptin is the first physician-formulated preparation. It has been formulated to provide many of the nutrients which have been shown to support successful male reproductive function. It has been developed as a result of over 60 research studies addressing the role of antioxidants, and amino acid precursors in male reproductive function.

Proceptin is the only product of its kind containing the potent antioxidant Pycnogenol. Pycnogenol as well has been proven to improve parameters on semen analysis. Additionally it contains high doses of carnitine, CoQ-10, selenium & zinc, vitamins C, E, and B complex. Proceptin is recommend for men, when couples are trying to have a baby.

Proceptin is a nutritional supplement and treatment that does not contain any herbs or preservatives. Each component in Proceptin has been verfiied in clinical studies published in leading medical journals.

In the past it was considered necessary to address the reproductive function of a man only if his sperm count was found to be low. However, It is now known that count is not the only factor in impaired fertility cases, motility and morphology also play a major role in a man’s ability to fertilize.

A man with fewer than 5 million sperm per milliliter of semen is often infertile. A sperm count below 20 million is considered low. In these cases the men might be sub-fertile or infertile. However, it should be understood that a man can be sub-fertile even if he has a normal sperm count of between 20 and 250 million sperm per milliliter of semen.

The sperm’s ability to move is referred to as motility. The most successful sperm are those that are able to move forwards rapidly. Rapid motion forward is defined as a sperm that is able to travel at least half its length in one second. Often times, sperm are found to lack this essential aspect of motility and they end up swimming slowly or in the wrong direction, some even swim in circles. The sperm’s ability to move correctly is directly linked to its shape.

The morphology of sperm is the third key factor in evaluating the role of abnormal sperm cells. A normal sperm is made up of a head, a mid piece and a tail. A normal head is oval in shape and can be easily distinguished from the mid piece. The mid piece should have approximately half to three quarters the area of the head. And the tail should be around four or five times the combined length of the head and mid piece. When variation in just one of these areas occurs, a sperm’s chance for success is greatly reduced as a miss-shapen head or a deformed tail can cause the sperm to be a weak swimmer or to be incapable of maintaining a straight path.

Source:
PRlog.org
Jul 05, 2009

Pregnancy & Anti-Depressants

Jennifer Bunn RN, tells us it is estimated that 1 in 10 women take antidepressants. The American Psychiatric Association (APA), along with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has issued a joint report to attempt to clarify the use of antidepressants during pregnancy.

The report makes clear that women who have made suicide attempts in the past or who are presently suicidal, those who have bipolar disorder and those who have had psychotic episodes should be left well enough alone, and should not stop their treatment with antidepressants during pregnancy.

Use of certain antidepressants known as SSRIs during pregnancy has been linked to birth problems such as low birth weight and premature delivery of infants. Drugs in this category include
-- Paxil,
-- Zoloft and
-- Prozac.

There is no definitive proof that these drugs cause these outcomes due to the fact that mental health issues, such as depression, can account for these outcomes under certain conditions.

The bottom line? For those women with mild depression or no symptoms at all in the past six months, gradually reducing and stopping antidepressants before becoming pregnant may be the best option.

For women with more moderate or severe symptoms, coming off of antidepressants may not be an option. In these cases, careful medical monitoring may be the best that can be done.

Because so little is known about the risks of antidepressants to the developing fetus, and there are few studies supporting either the continuation or discontinuation of antidepressants during pregnancy, physicians and mothers-to-be must all weigh the options carefully, considering the health of the mother as well.

Pregnancy & Diabetes

Dr. Gerald F. Joseph, MD tells us that an increasing number of women in the US have diabetes. Women with diabetes face some additional health risks during pregnancy such as having a very large baby, cesarean birth, or pregnancy-induced high blood pressure.

He says that extra prenatal care is needed to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Glucose, a sugar, is derived from digested food and is important to the nourishment of the cells in the body.

Image Courtesy: ACOG

Diabetes occurs when insulin—a hormone that helps the cells use glucose—is in short supply or does not function properly, allowing glucose to build up in the blood stream. Diabetes is diagnosed when screening tests show blood glucose to be higher than normal.

Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the most common forms, affecting roughly one out of every 100 nonpregnant US women. Additionally, between 2% and 10% of women who do not have diabetes will develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Though it usually goes away after delivery, gestational diabetes raises a woman’s risk of related conditions, such as glucose intolerance or type 2 diabetes, in the future. ACOG recommends that all pregnant women be screened for gestational diabetes.

Factors that can increase a woman’s chances of developing type 2 or gesta-tional diabetes include"
- being overweight,
- physical inactivity,
- high blood pressure,
- low HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels,
- previous abnormal glucose screening results,
- a family history of diabetes,
- gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy, or
- giving birth to a baby weighing more than nine pounds.

Dr Joseph says that gestational diabetes risk is also increased in pregnant women who are older than 25. If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy, your doctor will set up a treatment plan to ensure a healthy pregnancy. You will need to visit the doctor more frequently.

Diabetes can be controlled with:
- careful monitoring of blood glucose levels,
- changes in diet,
- regular exercise, and
- medications.

He says that a registered dietician can help devise a diet that will keep blood sugar in check, reduce the risk of having a large baby, and ensure proper nutrition and calorie intake. If diet and exercise don’t work, some pregnant women will need to take insulin to control their blood glucose levels.

American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommends that women with gestational diabetes be rescreened for diabetes 6–12 weeks after delivery. Women with normal results should be rescreened at least every three years, and those who are found to have diabetes can be put on a management plan. For more information, the ACOG Patient Education Pamphlet “Diabetes and Pregnancy” is available in English and Spanish at www.acog.org/publications/ patient_education.

Source:
Daily News
July 30 2009

D

Pregnancy and Acidity Level

It is important to factor in the alkaline/acidity level balance when trying to conceive. Proper pH balance in women is vital to overall health and not just for conception and pregnancy.

A simple at home urine test can determine whether or not a woman’s pH balance is acceptable. Using Medical pH-Test Strips one can determine levels quickly and easily. These strips determine the urinary pH, which is generally a good indicator of how acidic the total body pH is. An acceptable urinary pH range should be between 6.5 in the a.m. and 7.5 by evening.

Studies indicate that hostile cervical mucus environments can hinder sperm and reduce the viable number considerably. This is often caused by high acidity levels in women. To combat this, there are a number of food choices that can reverse high acidic levels and raise alkaline level to an acceptable or neutral one, so allowing sperm to travel through the cervical mucus more easily.

The following vegetables help reduce acidity levels and raise alkaline levels naturally.

Image Courtesy: Dynamic Organics

Asparagus, Artichokes, Radishes, Leeks, Spinach, Garlic, Broccoli, Tomato,
Cabbage, Onions, Peas, Watercress, Carrots, Cucumber, Chives, Avocado,
Lettuce, Cauliflower, Red Cabbage, Turnip, Green Beans, Celery, Beetroot

Image Courtesy:Dynamic Organics

The following fruits help reduce acidity levels and raise alkaline levels naturally.

Image Courtesy:Dynamic Organics

Lemon*, Watermelon (neutral), Apricot, Cantaloupe, Grapefruit*, Pears, Figs, Muskmelons,
Lime*, Rhubarb, Bananas, Grapes, Oranges*, Pineapples, Dates, Nectarines*,
Grapefruit, Apple, Berries, Honeydew Melon, Peaches, Strawberries, Raisins, Tangerines*

(*These fruits mistakenly thought by many to have an acidic effect on the body actually offer an alkalizing effect once metabolized.)

The following proteins are suggested to help reduce acidity levels and raise alkaline levels naturally. Although any meat raises acidic levels, if one is a meat eater, it is advisable to go organic.

Tofu (fermented),
Millet,
Organic Meats (generally less acid-forming than non-organic),
Almonds,
Hemp Protein,
Tempeh (fermented)

These spices and herbs are suggested as spices and herbs that help reduce acidity levels and raise alkaline levels naturally.

Cinnamon, Sea Salt, Curry, Miso, Ginger, Tamari Mustard, Chili Pepper, all Herbs

Other helpful neutralizing choices include apple cider vinegar, bee pollen, probiotics, green juices, vegetable juices, mineral water, alkaline antioxidant water, lecithin granules and soured dairy products. See other healthy foods for pregnancy.

Source:
Cindy Ferda
Pregnancy Examiner

Pregnancy and Exercise Go Together

A new study by two doctors at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth shows exercise during pregnancy can be healthy for mom and baby.

Capt. Marlene DeMaio, MD, and Capt. Everett Magann, MD, .

Image Courtesy:Everett Magann

“ say their study found exercise is beneficial to almost all pregnant women, regardless of age or whether they’d previously exercised.

Most pregnant women do walking through their first and second trimesters because it’s easy to fit into their schedule and doesn’t require a lot of extra effort.

Margaret Grebb, who is 32 weeks pregnant, says exercising really helps her.
“It helped my mood, not just physically but my husband was on deployment when I found out I was pregnant, so it was just health all around for me,” she said.

Physicians should recommend low to moderate levels of exercise to their pregnant patients, even if they have not exercised prior to pregnancy, states a report published in the August 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS). According to this review article, exercise can strengthen and improve overall musculoskeletal and physiologic health as well as pregnancy related symptoms. Exercise such as aerobics, impact and nonimpact activities, resistance training and swimming:

- eases back and other musculoskeletal pain;
- lowers maternal blood pressure;
- reduces swelling; and
- improves post-partum mood, including sadness.

According to study author Capt. Marlene DeMaio, M.D., M.C., U.S.N., Research Director, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia, data shows that the pregnant woman's body can compensate for the changes with no harm to the fetus during low to moderate intensity exercise.

"It is important to remember that pregnancy is a temporary condition, not a disease, and that the musculoskeletal and physiologic changes that happen are normal in the majority of patients," she said.

Capt. DeMaio's findings contradict what some physicians recommended in the past. As recently as the 1990s, there was concern that exercise could be detrimental to a pregnant woman and her fetus. These past concerns included a focus on normal changes related to musculoskeletal health that occur during pregnancy, such as increased ligament laxity, weight gain and change in the center of gravity. Today, some physicians continue to advise their pregnant patients to ease back on exercise or refrain from it altogether if they have not already made it a part of their lifestyle.

DeMaio, who collaborated with Capt. Everett Magann, M.D., M.C. U.S.N., Chairman in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, also at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, not only reports that exercise is important during pregnancy, but also believes that starting an exercise program when pregnant, is a perfect way to begin - and stick with - a fitness program.

"When a woman becomes pregnant, she often re-evaluates her lifestyle," said Dr. DeMaio. "She is motivated in a new way to deliver a healthy baby, and be healthy herself."

Physicians may recommend exercise for pregnant patients in the following categories:

Prenatal: Patients should begin or continue low to moderate exercise. The goal is to maintain fitness and adapt exercise as needed as pregnancy progresses. (For example, runners might switch to running in a swimming pool later in their pregnancy.)
Postnatal: Continue exercising at low to moderate levels. Lactation is not negatively affected by exercise. There are fewer reports of mothers having post-partum depression or mood changes when they are exercising.
Older: Exercise is even more important if the patient is older, according to Dr. DeMaio. The risk for high blood pressure and increased glucose goes up the older a patient is, but exercise can help reduce these levels.
Obese: Physicians should discuss pregnancy as an opportunity to improve overall health and suggest the patient start exercise for life-long health and as an example to the child when the child is older.
Infertile: Even if a woman is under treatment for infertility, she can exercise under the supervision of her obstetrician.
Athlete: For a pregnant woman wanting more strenuous exercise, or who wants to increase training from moderate to high intensity, a qualified doctor should direct her exercise program.

Source:
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Monday, August 31, 2009

Pregnancy and Prenatal Vitamins

What are prenatal vitamins?
For a mother's health, and the health of her baby, she is advised to take so-called ‘prenatal vitamins’ during pregnancy. These are specially formulated multivitamins that make up for any nutritional deficiencies in the mother's diet. While the supplements contain numerous vitamins and minerals, their folic acid, iron, and calcium content are especially important.

Image Courtesy:topnews.in

Why do pregnant women need folic acid, iron and calcium?
Folic acid can reduce your risk of having a baby with a serious birth defect of the brain and spinal cord, called the ‘neural tube.’ A baby with spina bifida, the most common neural tube defect, is born with a spine that is not closed. The exposed nerves are damaged, leaving the child with varying degrees of paralysis, incontinence, and sometimes mental retardation.

Neural tube defects develop in the first 28 days after conception, before many women realise they are pregnant. Because about half of all pregnancies are unplanned, the Department of Health recommends that you take 400 micrograms of folic acid each day while you are trying to conceive, and should continue taking this dose for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. . A woman who has had a prior child with a neural tube defect should discuss the appropriate dose of folic acid with her doctor before her next pregnancy. Studies have shown that taking a larger dose (up to 4,000 micrograms) at least one month before and during the first trimester may be beneficial.

There are natural sources of folic acid: green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, and citrus fruits. It is also found in many fortified breakfast cereals and some vitamin supplements.

Calcium during pregnancy can prevent a new mother from losing her own bone density, as the foetus uses the mineral for bone growth.

Iron helps both the mother and baby's blood carry oxygen.

While a daily vitamin supplement is no substitute for a healthy diet, most women need supplements to make sure they get adequate levels of these minerals.

Source:
WebMD

Garden of Life has recently come out with a RAW href="http://www.crohns.net/page/C/PROD/GAN1467">Prenatal Vitamin which is readily absorbed.
As a pregnant woman, you want only the best for your unborn baby. Specifically designed to meet the unique needs of women during pre-conception, pregnancy and lactation, Vitamin Code RAW Prenatal is raw, gluten free, dairy free and has no soy allergens.

Smoking during pregnancy linked to behavioral problems in children

Smoking during pregnancy may significantly increase the risk of behavioral problems in a mother’s child later in life. New research set to be published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health suggests that mothers who smoke while pregnant are essentially toying with the brain chemistry of their future children.

Image Courtesy:www.nosmokingday.org.uk

“There are 4000 toxic substances in cigarette smoke, and many of these will pass into the brain of the fetus, and it is possible that they could have an effect on how the brain chemistry works,” said Professor Alan Maryon-Davis of Kings College, president of the Faculty of Public Health, to the BBC.

The research involved more than 14,000 pairs of mothers and their children, all participants in the Millennium Cohort Study, a study that focused on children born in the U.K. between 2000 and 2001.

First, mothers were put into categories based upon the amount of cigarettes they smoked during pregnancy. Then, using a validated questionnaire called Strengths and Difficulties, mothers were asked to grade their children’s level of hyperactivity, type of temperament, frequency of fights, and ease of distraction. Taking into account factors that might influence the results, including socioeconomic status, mother’s age, and level of education, the researchers began analyzing the data.

It was found that nearly one in ten women smoked heavily during pregnancy, 12.5 percent smoked lightly during pregnancy, and 12.4 percent said they stopped smoking while pregnant.

Boys of mothers who smoked heavily while pregnant were almost twice as likely to have behavioral problems, while boys of mothers who smoked lightly while pregnant had an 80 percent increased likelihood of having an attention deficit disorder.

Researchers found a significant increase in likelihood that those girls of mothers who smoked lightly or heavily had conduct issues.

“Smoking during pregnancy may damage the developing structure and function of the fetal brain, which has already been shown to be the case in animals”, said the authors.

“The fetal development of boys may also be more sensitive to this kind of chemical assault, which might explain why boys are more likely to have behavioral problems than girls.”

Prenatal vitamins can be considered.

November 3, 2009
Source: BabyChums.com

Vital Role of Essential Fatty Acids For Pregnant & Nursing Women

Recently it has been discovered that the Omega-3 fats are necessary for the complete development of the human brain during pregnancy and the first two years of life. The Omega-3 fat and its derivative, DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), is so essential to a child's development that if a mother and infant are deficient in it, the child's nervous system and immune system may never fully develop, and it can cause a lifetime of unexplained emotional, learning, and immune system disorders.

Image Courtesy:topnews.in

Considering the enormous increase in emotional, learning, and immune system disorders in our population today, one cannot help but wonder what effect this widespread nutritional deficiency is having on the breakdown in people's health.

One also wonders whether the prevalence of infant and childhood illnesses like Epstein Barr; Candida albicans overgrowth; sinus allergies; chronic ear, nose, and throat infections; as well as so-called emotional disorders like hyperactivity and autistic behavior, also have their basis in nutritional deficiencies, particularly in the lack of Omega 3 fatty acids.

Further compounding the problem, an estimated 60-70% of all two-month-old babies are bottle-fed, and 75-80% of all four-month-old babies are bottle-fed; none of the powdered baby formulas such as Isomil, Similac, Gerber, and Carnation contain Omega-3 fatty acids.1 To my knowledge, all baby formulas are made with commercially processed oils which contain high levels of poisonous trans fatty acids and other harmful compounds.2

Dr. Donald Rudin, in his excellent book The Omega-3 Phenomenon states the issue succinctly: "There is no comparable substitute for the remarkable mix of nutrients and immunity-boosting factors provided by mother's milk, as long as the mother is eating properly. A well-nourished nursing mother provides her infant with a perfect blend of essential fatty acids and their long-chained derivatives, assuring the fast-growing brain and body tissues a rich supply. Mother's milk also supplies important antibodies not present in cow's milk or in artificial formula."

Here is a nutritive comparison:

--Breast milk may have five times more arachidonic acid and two and a half times more EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) than formula.
--Breast milk may have 30 times more DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) than formula.
--Compared with mother's milk, formulas are also low in selenium and biotin.

Sadly, the breast milk of many mothers in our country reflects the high trans fatty acid and low Omega-3 content in the average diet. American mothers produce milk that often has only one-fifth to one-tenth of the Omega-3 content of the milk that well-nourished, nut-eating Nigerian mothers provide their infants.

This discovery has far-reaching implications. A study in March, 1991 at the Mayo Clinic of 19 'normal' pregnant women consuming normal diets indicated all were deficient in the Omega-3 fats and to a lesser degree, Omega-6 fats.3 Another study of Inuit (Eskimo) women, compared to Canadian women, revealed the same deficiencies in the milk of Canadian nursing mothers.4

Compounding the problem is our nation's pervasive obsession with weight loss programs, which induce women to avoid all fats. The frightening news is that for the past three generations (since the advent of refined oils), the vast majority of the population in North America has not been given adequate nourishment for complete brain development.

The part of the brain that Omega-3 affects is the learning ability, anxiety/depression, and auditory and visual perception. The Omega-3 fats also aid in balancing the autoimmune system, and there seem to be a growing number of children with allergies, colic, and skin problems.

There are also indications that Omega-3 fats play an ongoing role in brain function, healthy immune system function, and general growth throughout childhood and adolescence. One study revealed that Omega-3 supplementation induced catch-up growth in a deficient, underdeveloped seven-year-old.5

Since our mental apparatus is developed in the mother's womb and during the first two years of life, one would be wise to heed the advice of the researchers from the Mayo Clinic study.6 They suggest that this important fat be supplemented in every pregnancy, and that refined and hydrogenated fats be avoided during this critical period.

For these conservative researchers to include a message like this in their research paper should make us concerned for our future. I have personal experience with families who have had 'flax' babies. These children (now 3 and 6 years old) are very bright and healthy and have been free from many health problems most young children now experience.

A deficiency of the Omega 3 and Omega-6 fats causes insufficient milk production and breast engorgement. Flax seed oil has been found to substantially increase milk production in women who are not producing enough milk to nurse their infants. It also often clears up breast engorgement. One woman I know was having great difficulty producing enough milk to nurse her newborn child. Within twenty-four hours of taking flax seed oil, her milk production doubled, and one breast that was engorged opened up, allowing the milk to flow freely.

Many authorities recommend that pregnant and nursing women consume fatty fish two to three times weekly and/or add a minimal amount of flax seed oil to their diets to insure adequate intake of Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Another paper worth reading is the report given by Artemis Simopoulos, M.D., a pediatrician and endocrinologist from the International Life Sciences Institute.7 She takes a comprehensive look at how the Omega-3 deficiency affects many areas, from fetal growth to arthritis and cancer.

A healthy mother's milk is high in essential fatty acids, GLA, and other precursors to prostaglandins. Cow's milk is low in essential fatty acids, and other prostaglandin precursors, and is high in saturated fats.

For this reason, cow's milk is not an adequate substitute for mother's milk. Neither is baby formula. At a recent international symposium on Dietary Omega-3 and -6 Fatty acids Dr. Neuringer, an authority on infant milk, stated that the low Omega-3, high Omega-6 content in infant formulas is of great concern because of the imbalance it causes among the resultant prostaglandins. These imbalances could impair the immune system and predispose the infant to cancer and heart trouble later in life. Feeding a nonnursing baby a few drops of flax seed oil will provide the Omega-3 and Omega-6 essential fatty acids.

The Health Protection Branch of the Canadian government, which is the equivalent of the American FDA, is considering requiring that all infant formulas contain adequate amounts of the Omega-3 fatty acids.

Note: Since most adults today are deficient in the Omega-3 fatty acids, nursing mothers may not have sufficient amounts to pass along to their infants.

Source:
by John Finnegan
mercola.com

Weight Gain in Pregnancy

The American Institute for Cancer Research in Washington, D.C. provides valuable information about weight gain during pregnancy. They tell us that the far more common problem is gaining too much weight during pregnancy, which can lead to short- and long-term risks for both mother and baby.

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They say that there’s no single perfect weight-gain figure for all women but there are general guidelines.

There is risk associated with too little and too much gain.
Gaining more than 35 pounds puts normal-weight women at increased risk for:
--- cesarean delivery,
--- high birth weight babies and possibly
--- preeclampsia.

One report found that baby girls of higher birth weight are probably more likely than those born at normal weight to develop premenopausal breast cancer as adults.

Mothers are also likely to retain extra weight after pregnancy, raising their risk of a variety of health problems.

There is also concern about gaining too little weight. There is an immediate and long-term concern. Distorted body image views and books and websites promoting overly restrictive food choices may lead some women to gain too little. This is not healthy. Low birth weight babies are more vulnerable to infections and face increased risk of death and disease and also increased risk in adulthood of heart disease and diabetes.

There are new recommendations:
-- Underweight women (body mass index less than 18.5) should gain 28 to 40 pounds during pregnancy; --- Normal-weight women (whose BMI falls between 18.5 and 24.9) should gain 25 to 35 pounds;
-- Overweight women (with BMI 25 to 29.9) should gain 15 to 25 pounds.

Women carrying twins have higher weight-gain targets.

New recommendations for obese women
The major change in recommended weight gain is for the estimated 28 percent of women of childbearing age who are now obese. Defined by a body mass index of 30 or more, at 5 feet 5 inches, this includes women 180 pounds and over.

Obese women were once urged to gain at least 15 pounds during pregnancy. Experts now recommend obese women gain 11 to 20 pounds by eating a balanced diet of 2,000 to 3,500 calories a day. These women:
-- have fewer cesarean deliveries,
-- develop diabetes or hypertension during pregnancy less often,
-- retain less weight after birth, and
-- are less likely to have a high birth weight baby
compared to those who gain more.

Recommendation for more attention to weight Before and During pregnancy
The report also emphasizes that women should aim to conceive while at a normal BMI and gain within the guidelines during pregnancy. More than half of American women ages 20 to 39 are overweight or obese. Obese women are more likely than normal-weight women to face gestational diabetes and hypertension, preeclampsia, birth defects, cesarean delivery and excessively large babies.

Source:
American Institute for Cancer Research in Washington, D.C.
Aug 2009

Child Obesity is a great concern in the USA.