Waiting For Baby I was a wreck as my due date came and went with no sign of labor. I was convinced that I’d never have this baby and would be the size of a Thanksgiving Day parade float forever. My biggest fear was confirmed by my obstetrician — the baby hadn’t even started to [...]
You are usually pretty careful, but lately you and your partner have been throwing caution to the wind. All you keep hearing about is how much trouble your friends have trying to conceive, so really what are the odds? Still, you have been so tired lately, get up from your desk 20 times a day [...]
Associate Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Pediatrics (OHSU, Portland, Oregon) is seeking roughly 50-100 volunteer families to participate in a vitamin D study. The goal of the study is to find out whether giving Vitamin D to the pregnant mother, who already has had at least one previous child with autism, can prevent the recurrence [...]
When you’re expecting, what you eat and drink influences your child’s health, possibly forever. Everyday foods and beverages take on new meaning, as some may present a danger to your developing baby. Whole and lightly processed foods, such as whole grains, lean meats, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and low-fat dairy should form the basis of [...]
In general, a pregnancy may be considered high risk if the pregnant woman: is 35 years old or older is 15 years old or younger is underweight or overweight prior to becoming pregnant is pregnant with more than one fetus has gestational diabetes has gone into premature labor has had a premature baby has had [...]
Maternal Blood Screening/Triple Screen/ Quadruple Screen Why Is This Test Performed? Doctors use this to test to screen for Down syndrome and neural tube defects. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein produced by the fetus, and it appears in varying amounts in the mother’s blood and the amniotic fluid at different times during pregnancy. A certain [...]
Every parent-to-be hopes for a healthy baby, but it can be hard not to worry: What if the baby has a serious or untreatable health problem? What would I do? Is there anything I can do to prevent problems? Concerns like these are completely natural. Fortunately, though, a wide array of tests for pregnant women can [...]
Help! I’m 6 months’ pregnant and I have hemorrhoids that are driving me crazy! And, on top of it, I’m always constipated. What do I do?! – Cyndy Hemorrhoids — which are actually varicose veins in the anus or rectum — are a common pregnancy complaint. They may bleed, itch, or sting, especially during or [...]
I’m 7 months’ pregnant and my back is killing me! How can I get some relief? – Fiona Many pregnant women have achy backs as their bellies grow larger and their muscles and spine strain to carry the extra weight. During pregnancy, the body also produces the hormone relaxin, which helps prepare the body for [...]
Chicken salad with apples Note: This recipe is especially for pregnant and breastfeeding women, but it can be a nutritious part of almost anyone’s diet. Pregnant and breastfeeding women need to consume extra calories and eat a variety of nutritious foods to contribute to their baby’s growth and development. Prep time: 10 minutes Ingredients: 12 [...]
