Lori Jazarevic, whose baby was conceived through the miracle of in vitro fertilization after her husband Danny left for Iraq last November, is celebrating this Independence Day by being proud of her military husband and looking forward to his safe return on Oct. 1 — just in time for the birth of their baby girl due Oct. 17.
“It’s very hard being here alone and pregnant,” said Lori. “But I know Danny is doing this for his country and I am very, very proud of him.”
Lori, rehabilitation director at the Brian Center, and Danny, a vascular and trauma surgeon, tried to have a baby for 10 years. After three miscarriages, they opted to try in vitro fertilization.
The Jazarevics went to the Center for Applied Reproduction Sciences in Asheville for a special type of in vitro fertilization called intracytoplasmic sperm injection in which the sperm is directly injected into the egg.
“Part of my agreeing for Danny to volunteer to go to Iraq was that we could still work on the fertility while he was gone,” said Lori. “Before Danny left, the center was able to freeze his sperm sample.”
Ten of Lori’s eggs were used in the treatment process. Out of those 10, two fertilized and were implanted into her uterus Feb. 4.
“It was hard — the hardest part was Danny not being there with me, but if you want a baby bad enough, you do it,” said Lori.
Unfortunately, one baby was lost at seven weeks, but Baby Girl Jazarevic is doing great five months into the pregnancy.
When Lori talks with Danny during their almost-daily phone calls, he tells her he would give anything to be sitting on the front porch of their log cabin watching the chipmunks. That’s probably because it is currently a scalding 120 degrees in Iraq.
Danny is the deputy commander of clinical services for the 44th Medical Brigade out of Fort Bragg and is currently in charge of all medical operations in Iraq.
Danny serves as a surgeon to Americans and Iraqis alike.
“He performed a femoral artery repair on a 4-year-old Iraqi girl caught in crossfire – it saved her life,” said Lori. “He also did a limb reattachment on an American soldier - the first in history in the theater of war, rather than evacuating him.”
Lori had a scare recently when Danny told her that a trailer, only 10 feet away from him, was blown up.
“We were ten feet away from our baby being fatherless,” said Lori. “I do cry at times, and every time the dogs bark, I look out the window and pray that it’s not a policeman coming to tell me that Danny is gone.”
Lori says the worst two days of her week are Saturday and Sunday when work is not demanding her attention.
“I don’t have any family around – my family is in Palm Beach, Fla. But everyone I have met here has been amazing — neighbors, co-workers and friends,” said Lori.
Sally Schaffer, a midwife at Haywood Women’s Medical Center, has been great and has adopted me as a friend.”
When Danny returns home in October, he plans to retire from the military and practice as a vascular surgeon at Haywood Regional Medical Center.
“Danny had the opportunity to take several high command positions including serving as the Assistant Secretary of Health in Washington, D.C., but he wanted to stay in Haywood County,” said Lori.
“We think Haywood County is the very best place to raise our baby and I feel that the county will benefit from having someone of Danny’s caliber working for the people here.”
Until Danny’s return, Lori continues to occupy her mind by working, caring for her unborn baby, waiting — and waiting some more.
“The only time I will rest easy is when I see him get off that plane,” she said. “After that, I’ll fight Uncle Sam for him.”
If you know of someone with an interesting story, contact Vicki at 452-0661, ext. 128 or e-mail news@themountaineer.com.
Source: themountaineer Date :2005-07-08
Pregnancy asthma link ONE-quarter of all adult asthma cases could be prevented by not smoking during pregnancy, new research has revealed.
In the happy haze of early pregnancy, you're probably already thinking of baby names and planning to shop for baby clothes. During this time, the reality of labor and birth may seem extremely far off - which makes this the perfect time to start planning for the arrival of your baby by creating a birth plan that details your wishes.
The term "birth plan" can actually be misleading - it's less an exact plan than a list of preferences. In fact, the best thing about a birth plan isn't that it allows you and your partner to determine exactly how the birth of your child will occur - because labor involves so many variables, you cannot predict exactly what will happen. A birth plan does, however, help you to realize what is most important to you in the birth of your baby.
While completing a birth plan, you will be learning about, exploring, and understanding your labor and birthing options well before the birth of your child. Not only will this improve your communication with the people who'll be helping during your delivery, it also means you won't have to explain your preferences right at the moment when you're least in the mood for conversation - during labor itself.
A birth plan isn't a binding agreement. But a well thought-out birth plan is your best guarantee that the delivery of your child will go according to your wishes. "Birth plans are a good idea," says Nancy Fan, MD, an obstetrician/gynecologist in Wilmington, Delaware. "But they're only a guideline. If you've got good communication with your doctor, you know he or she's not going to do anything you really don't want."
What Questions Does a Birth Plan Answer? A birth plan typically covers three major areas:
What are your wishes during a normal labor and delivery? These range from how you'll handle pain relief to enemas and fetal monitoring. Think about the environment in which you want to have your baby, who you want to have there, and what birthing positions you plan to use.
How do you want your baby to be treated immediately after and for the first few days after birth? Do you want the baby's cord to be cut by your partner? Should your baby be placed on your stomach immediately after birth? Do you want to feed the baby immediately? Will you breast or bottle feed? Where will the baby sleep? Hospitals have widely varying policies for the care of newborns - if you choose to have your baby in a hospital, you'll want to know what these are and whether they match your wishes.
What do you want to happen in the case of unexpected events? No one wants to think about something going wrong, but if it does, it's better to be prepared than to have to make snap decisions when you're upset. Given the number of women who have cesarean sections, your birth plan should probably cover your wishes in the event that your labor takes an unexpected turn. You might also want to think about other possible complications, such as premature birth.
Factors to Consider Before you make decisions about each of your birthing options, you'll want to talk with your health care provider and tour the hospital or birthing center where you plan to have your baby. You may find that your obstetrician, nurse- midwife, or the facility where they admit patients already has birth-plan forms that you can fill out. If this is the case, you can use them as a guideline for asking questions about how women in their care are routinely treated. If their responses don't meet your expectations of how you'd like to be treated, you may want to switch health care providers, if at all possible. Also, finding out what normally happens allows you to leave information out of your birth plan, if you know your wishes are going to be met as part of routine care.
It's important to be flexible - if you know one aspect of your birthing plan won't be met, be sure to weigh that aspect against your other wishes. If your options are limited because of insurance, cost, or geography, focus on one or two areas that are really important to you. In the areas where your thinking doesn't agree with that of your doctor or nurse-midwife, ask why he or she usually does things a certain way and listen to his or her answers before you make up your mind.
Finally, you should find out if there are things about your pregnancy that might preclude certain choices. For example, if your pregnancy is considered high risk because of your age, health, or problems during previous pregnancies, your health care provider may advise against some of your birthing wishes. You'll want to discuss, and consider, this information when thinking about your options.
What Are Your Birthing Options? In creating your plan, you are likely to have choices in the following areas:
Where to have the baby. Most women still give birth in the hospital. However, most women are no longer confined to a cold, sterile maternity ward. Find out if your hospital practices family-centered care. This usually means the patient rooms will have a door, comfortable furnishings, a private bathroom, and enough space to accommodate a family, including the baby's crib and supplies. Additionally, many hospitals now offer birthing rooms that allow a woman to stay in the same bed for labor, delivery, and sometimes, postpartum care. These rooms are fully equipped for uncomplicated deliveries. They are attractive and have gentle lighting
The Agape Pregnancy Center of Okmulgee opened its doors for the first time on January 3, 2005. The Center is located at 114 N. Grand, Suite 100, in the McCulloch building.
The Center is a non-profit, non denominational agency provided as a free service to the community. The Center is staffed by volunteers who are trained to offer direction and support for women and men of all ages who are facing an unplanned pregnancy. Positive alternatives for individual situations and needs are offered. Every case is handled with strict confidentiality.
Free services include: Free pregnancy test Educational information regarding pregnancy, abortion, parenting, adoption, parenting, abstinence and sexually transmitted diseases. Also referrals to women's shelters, maternity homes, adoption agencies, churches. Classes are available in prenatal development, parenting and post-abortion syndrome, also maternity and infant clothing, infant care items, baby equipment and furniture as donated. Speakers are available for churches, clubs or organizations.
The Center will hold an Open House on January 16, 2005 from 2:00 p.m., to 4:00 p.m. and the public is cordially invited.
1-5-05
Source: Okmulgee Daily Times News Date :2005-07-08
Psoriasis Often Improves During Pregnancy For women with psoriasis, high levels of estrogen during pregnancy seem to improve their skin condition, a study suggests. Dr. Gerald D. Weinstein, of the University of California, Irvine, and colleagues studied fluctuations in psoriasis during pregnancy and the post-partum period. The researchers assessed the body surface area affected by psoriasis in 47 pregnant women and 27 non-pregnant, menstruating women. In addition, levels of progesterone and estrogens were measured. Overall, 55 percent of the pregnant women patients reported improvements in psoriasis, 21 percent reported no change, and 23 percent reported worsening, according to the researchers' article in the Archives of Dermatology. In the post-partum period, 9 percent of patients reported improvement, 26 percent no change, and 65 percent reported worsening. Significant decreases in the body surface area affected by psoriasis were observed from 10 to 20 weeks into pregnancy compared with the non-pregnant group, but the situation reversed by 6 weeks post-partum, Weinstein's team found. The improvement in body surface area correlated with levels of estrogens and the estrogen-progesterone ratio. The investigators say it would be worthwhile to look into how estrogen improves psoriasis, and whether the hormone might prevent worsening of psoriasis after menopause. Source: Reuters Date :2005-05-27
Pregnancy's strength loss not permanent We've heard stories of superwomen who ran marathons in their third trimester of pregnancy or lifted weight until the due date. While these cases do happen, the rest of us pregnant mortals end up modifying our regimen on physical activity to accommodate the growing belly. It's reasonable to expect that somewhere along the way, our fitness decreases. A new study brings a mix of good and bad news: Indeed, we lose strength, but we can regain some of it. Most studies on post-partum fitness have focused on cardiovascular fitness, but there aren't many on strength, said Margarita Treuth, associate professor at Johns Hopkins University. Treuth is lead author for the study, published this month in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Source: The Orange County Register Date :2005-05-27
Antipsychotic Drugs Okay During Pregnancy Pregnant women who take atypical antipsychotics such as clozapine, olanzapine, or risperidone, do not appear to be at increased risk of giving birth to a child with a birth defect, Canadian investigators report. Many women of childbearing age suffer from schizophrenia and other mental illnesses that require them to take antipsychotic medications while pregnant, Dr. Adrienne Einarson, from the Hospital for Sick Children, in Toronto, and colleagues point out. Atypical antipsychotics have been on the market since the mid-1990s, but data are lacking on there use during pregnancy. Source: Reuters Date :2005-05-27
Managing maternal depression during pregnancy presents significant challenge to clinicians Women who take antidepressants during the final trimester of pregnancy through delivery increase the risk of "neonatal behavioral syndrome," a constellation of symptoms and behaviors largely related to drug withdrawal or side effects, University of Pittsburgh researchers conclude in a review of medical literature. Such findings reveal an additional challenge for clinical management of depression during pregnancy, Eydie Moses-Kolko, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and her colleagues write in the May 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Source: Eurek Alert Date :2005-05-18
Women who take Prozac or certain other antidepressants late in pregnancy raise the risk that their babies will suffer jitteriness, irritability and serious respiratory problems during their first couple of weeks, researchers say. Babies born to women taking antidepressants in the last three months of pregnancy were three times more likely to develop drug-related symptoms than those born to women who did not use the drugs or took them only in early pregnancy, according to a University of Pittsburgh study that pooled previous research.
Source: MSNBC News Date :2005-05-18
Psoriasis May Improve During Pregnancy A new study suggests psoriasis tends to improve during pregnancy and the relief is linked to an increase in estrogen levels. The researchers say hormonal changes during pregnancy may play a role in improving psoriasis. The researchers compared changes in psoriasis in a group of 47 pregnant women and 27 nonpregnant women of childbearing age. After receiving instructions, the women measured the area of their psoriasis, marked areas of psoriasis on a diagram, and rated the severity of their psoriasis five times over the course of a year. Source: Web MD Health Date :2005-05-17
High Estrogen Levels During Pregnancy Associated with Improvement in Psoriasis Increased levels of estrogen that occur during pregnancy may be associated with improvement in psoriasis, according to a study in the May issue of the Archives of Dermatology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Anecdotal reports have suggested that psoriasis tends to improve during pregnancy, according to background information in the article. The current study investigated prospectively how psoriasis fluctuates in pregnancy and correlated progesterone and estrogen levels in pregnancy with psoriatic change. Source: Medical News Today Date :2005-05-17
Dental Care During Pregnancy You may have heard that you lose a tooth for every pregnancy, but that’s just an old wives’ tale. Oral health is a reflection of your overall health, however, so maintaining proper dental care during pregnancy is especially important. It’s quite common to have dental problems during pregnancy. Hormonal changes can make gum tissues more susceptible to the bacteria in plaque, leading to inflammation and bleeding gums
Source: Baby Fit Date :2005-05-17
Abortion puts the next baby at risk Having an abortion almost doubles a woman's risk of giving birth dangerously early in a later pregnancy, according to research that will provoke fresh debate over the most controversial of all medical procedures. Abortion appeared to increase the risk of most major causes of premature birth, including premature rupture of membranes, incorrect position of the foetus on the placenta and spontaneous early labour. The only common cause of premature birth not linked to abortion was high blood pressure. Source: Telegraph UK Date :2005-05-16
Benefits of Interventions Targeting Multiple Risk Factors During and After Pregnancy A new report suggests that pregnancy-related health interventions work best when multiple risk factors are dealt with simultaneously and when intervention efforts continue after a baby is born. Psycho-behavioral intervention employs behavior modification and other non-drug related measures to help counter risk factors like depression, intimate partner violence, smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke. Postpartum depression remained a risk factor apparently not affected by the intervention, probably because such depression, by definition, is not present while a woman is pregnant, the period when most of the intervention is taking place. Source: Medical News Today Date :2005-05-15
Fitness, Strength Measured Before/After Pregnancy Fitness and strength decline during pregnancy and the early postpartum period, but improve by approximately 27 weeks postpartum regardless of the mother's body mass index (BMI), according to research in the May issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise®, the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The study was designed to examine changes that occur in a woman's body with pregnancy and to determine what role physical activity may play among pregnancy-induced changes in body composition and physiology. Because pregnancy may decondition a woman's body, researchers measured fitness before pregnancy and postpartum in order to determine the overall effect of pregnancy on a woman's fitness level. Source: Medical News Today Date :2005-05-14
Benefits of Interventions Targeting Multiple Risk Factors During and After Pregnancy A new report suggests that pregnancy-related health interventions work best when multiple risk factors are dealt with simultaneously and when intervention efforts continue after a baby is born. Psycho-behavioral intervention employs behavior modification and other non-drug related measures to help counter risk factors like depression, intimate partner violence, smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke. Postpartum depression remained a risk factor apparently not affected by the intervention, probably because such depression, by definition, is not present while a woman is pregnant, the period when most of the intervention is taking place. Source: Newswise Date :2005-05-14
Do fibroids complicate pregnancy? Fibroids are benign growths on the uterus that most often occur in women age 35 or older, and occur with higher incidence in African-American women. MSNBC’s Dr. Judith Reichman has penned two columns on the subject. For non-pregnant women, Dr. Reichman says, fibroids pose little risk unless they cause heavy periods or grow abnormally large. For pregnant women, the picture is more complicated. Fibroids may cause miscarriage during early pregnancy, and may also interfere with routine pregnancy procedures such as amniocentesis. Source: Blooging Baby Date :2005-05-12
Bill targets pregnancy, depression In what was billed as a Mother's Day gift, the Pennsylvania House yesterday unanimously approved a bill designed to improve care for women suffering from depression during or after pregnancy. The Prenatal and Postpartum Counseling Act would require doctors or midwives to give pregnant women information about the symptoms of prenatal depression, postpartum depression and psychosis and tell them where counseling is available. The bill must pass the Senate and be signed by Gov. Rendell to become law. Source: American Psychological Association Date :2005-05-12
Bounce Back After Pregnancy Women lose a bit of their fitness and strength during pregnancy and immediately after giving birth. But less than seven months later, they tend to bounce back. That isn't just true for women who were super fit before pregnancy, say researchers in May's issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. The finding was seen in women with lean, average, and heavier prepregnancy bodies.
Source: CBS News Date :2005-05-12
Exercise during pregnancy has little effect on fetus Among the many benefits of writing these articles is the opportunity to investigate fitness matters I would never pursue for my own benefit – for instance, the question of exercising during pregnancy, one of the queries we receive most frequently during online chats. Source: Washington Post Date :2005-05-09
Depression Is Common During Pregnancy but Often Goes Undetected A new evidence report by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality states that depression is as common in women during pregnancy as it is after giving birth. Health care providers and patients may fail to recognize depression during pregnancy because signs of depression like tiredness, trouble sleeping, emotional changes, and weight gain may also occur with pregnancy. Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=24005 Date :2005-05-09
Mercury Dental Fillings Seem Safe for Moms-to-be Pregnant women who are given dental fillings -- even those that contain mercury -- do not increase their chances of giving birth to very small babies, according to new study findings. These results contradict long-held concerns that it's unsafe for women to get mercury-amalgam dental fillings during pregnancy, due to the potential harm mercury may pose to an unborn child. Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_24505.html Date :2005-05-09
Pregnancy cravings can still be healthy What better reason is there to make changes in your diet than when you're pregnant? A woman probably will not have to make many changes if she starts eating healthy before she's pregnant. The diet needs to include foods from the five basic food groups: protein, dairy products, fruits, vegetables and grains. Protein foods, which include lean meats, fish, beans, tofu and eggs, are very important for the growth of your baby's cells.
Source: Rutland Herald Date :2005-05-04
Influenza Vaccine Safe at Any Stage of Pregnancy Women in the second and third trimester of pregnancy can safely be immunized against influenza, according to a new study. The influenza vaccine is "widely underused in all populations and age groups, and yet, it is one of two vaccines that is routinely recommended for pregnant women in the US (tetanus is the other one). Source: Reuters News Date :2005-05-01
Mom's Flu Infection Tied to Eye Problems in Baby Having the flu during pregnancy or being infected with a microbe called Parvovirus raises the risk that the baby will be born with small eyes or even no eyes, new research shows. Still, even when the flu is present, the risk of these eye problems is very, very small. The current study adds two more organisms to the growing list of bugs that can infect the mother and cause congenital eye problems. Other microbes that have shown this association include rubella, toxoplasmosis, varicella, and cytomegalovirus. Interestingly, infection with another bug, known as Coxsackie virus, may actually reduce the risk of these eye problems. Source: Reuters News Date :2005-05-01
What Is the Triple Screen Test? During the 16th to 18th week of pregnancy, expectant mothers typically are offered a blood test called the triple screen test or triple marker. For the screening, a sample of blood is drawn from the mother to measure three basic things: the levels of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) and estriol, which are produced by the placenta, and the level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), which is produced by the fetus. The levels of these three substances in the blood can help doctors identify a fetus at risk for certain birth defects such as neural tube defects like spina bifida or chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome. Source: Kidshealth.org Date :2005-05-01
Engaging in mild to moderate exercise during pregnancy is safe and beneficial. This we know. Benefits to the mom include less weight gain, improved mood, less fatigue during the day, reduced low back pain and possibly an easier labor. After delivery, however, and despite all the known benefits, a whole host of challenges present themselves that often limit a mother's likelihood of sticking with it. Available time, infant's nap and feeding schedule, mother's recovery health and well-being, and availability of support help all represent potential barriers along the way.
Source: Detroit News Date :2005-05-01
Fertility Seen Normal in Women with Celiac Disease Women with celiac disease, a digestive disorder caused by sensitivity to gluten, have fertility and pregnancy experiences similar to women without celiac disease, according to a population-based study. Previous studies have raised concern about reduced fertility and increased adverse pregnancy-related events in women with celiac disease. Source: Reuters Health Date :2005-04-25
Pregnancy Hormone May Prevent Breast Cancer A pregnancy hormone that causes genetic changes in breast tissue may also help lower a woman's risk for breast cancer, animal studies suggest. Research has shown that a full-term pregnancy by age 20 cuts woman's breast cancer risk in half, possibly by allowing breast cells to reach full maturity so they can better resist carcinogenic changes. More information The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about breast cancer prevention Source: Health Day Date :2005-04-20
Moore Regional Pregnancy Fair Set for April 21 at Fair Barn Expectant parents always have lots of questions about prenatal care and childbirth. New parents probably have even more questions about the care of their newborn. Area residents can attend the upcoming FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital Pregnancy Fair and get those questions answered. The April 21 program will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at The Fair Barn, 395 Magnolia Drive in Pinehurst. Experts on prenatal care, pediatrics, childbirth, mother-baby care, neonatal services, breast-feeding and other topics will be available to answer questions. Source: The Pilot Newspaper Date :2005-04-10
Chronic secondary hypertension during pregnancy: impact on maternal renal function Researchers wanted to study whether inadequate maternal kidney function in pregnancy might contribute to the fetal programming of adult hypertension. To start, they determined kidney function before and after nitric oxide blockade. The found that renal function was not different between normotensive pregnant and nulliparious (never pregnant) groups. However, after pregnancy in hypertensive rabbits, renal function was reduced by 25% in a damaged kidney, but increased 25% in the non-damaged kidney. Source: Medical News Today Date :2005-04-09
Viagra May Help Treat Pregnancy Disorder The erectile dysfunction drug Viagra might one day be used to treat a dangerous disorder during pregnancy that spikes a woman's blood pressure, University of Vermont researchers suggest. Preeclampsia affects up to 8 percent of all pregnancies, according to the Preeclampsia Foundation. Symptoms include swelling, sudden weight gain, headaches and changes in vision, although some women report few, if any, signs of the progressive condition, the foundation says. Source: WOIO Date :2005-04-07
Ginger Seems Safe for Easing Nausea in Pregnancy Ginger appears to help pregnant women who suffer from morning sickness, without side effects to the unborn child, according to a review of the medical literature. In six studies that examined the effects of ginger in reducing nausea and vomiting in expecting mothers, ginger worked better than a placebo, or inactive drug, and as well as vitamin B6, which has been shown to improve nausea and vomiting in some pregnant women. Source: Reuters Health Date :2005-04-07
Emergency contraception bill approved For the second time in less than a year, lawmakers passed a bill that would allow women to buy emergency contraception over the counter. But, unlike last spring, New Hampshire has a governor who will sign it. Right now, it takes a prescription to get the so-called morning after pill, a large dose of birth control hormones that can prevent pregnancy if taken within a few days of intercourse. But yesterday, the Senate endorsed legislation that would allow trained pharmacists to offer the pills to any woman who needs them......An attempt to add a minimum age of 18 to the bill failed after some senators explained that young girls may be the ones who need easy access to the drug the most. Rape, incest or hasty choices often lead to pregnancy in young teenagers, said Sen. Maggie Hassan, a Democrat from Exeter. Source: Concord Monitor Online Date :2005-04-02
Auto Accidents Linked to Poor Pregnancy Outcomes For pregnant women, being hospitalized after a motor vehicle accident is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes "regardless of the presence or severity of injuries," according to researchers. As the physicians reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology, 84 women were classified as severely injured, 309 as non-severely injured, and 189 uninjured. These subjects were compared to 17,274 pregnant women who had not been hospitalized for a motor vehicle accident. In all, 83 percent of the women were discharged without delivering. Source: American Journal of Epidemiology, March 15, 2005 (Reuters Health) Date :2005-04-02
Seizure Drug May Be Harmful During Pregnancy Women who take the epilepsy drug valproate during pregnancy may be raising their baby's risk of severe birth defects, according to reports in the medical journal Neurology. In contrast, another drug, lamotrigine, appears to be safe. Verbal IQ score was lower in children exposed to valproate compared those exposed to carbamazepine, phenytoin, and those whose mothers were not taking any anti-epileptic drug during pregnancy. Children exposed to valproate were also more likely to score within the extremely low range of IQ. The risks for mother and child can be most effectively minimized by careful planning of anti-epileptic drug therapy before pregnancy, by supplementing with folate, and by using" only the most effective drug at the lowest dose possible. Source: Reuters Health Date :2005-03-23
Pregnancy, exercise are healthy match It wasn't all that long ago that the moment a woman learned she was pregnant, exercise was out and pampering and rest were in. Today, doctors say not only is it OK to exercise, but women should stay active as a way to ensure a smoother, healthier pregnancy and delivery, while possibly reducing the risk of gestational diabetes. What's more, exercise can help reduce some of the typical pregnancy discomforts, such as backache, constipation, fatigue, bloating and swelling. And it boosts a woman's mood, energy level and self-image, while improving her posture and sleep, according to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Source: Gannett News Service Date :2005-03-23
Finding the 'morning after' pill Planned Parenthood wants to make sure women who've had an "oops" moment know what to do-- and where to go. The morning after pill, marketed under the brand name Plan B, is approved by the FDA for prescription use as a "safe and effective way to prevent unintended pregnancies". Only six percent of women report using emergency birth control. Some say Plan B could backfire. Having easy access to the morning after pill could encourage young women to have unprotected sex. To ensure ease of access locally, Planned Parenthood is conducting a comprehensive survey of area drug stores to see who has Plan B and who doesn't. Those results will be released on March 22, along with a 50 percent off sale on Plan B at Planned Parenthood headquarters. Source: The Hook Date :2005-03-22
Acupuncture Relieves Pelvic Pain in Pregnancy Acupuncture and exercise can help relieve pelvic pain during pregnancy. About 30 percent of pregnant women suffer pelvic pain, usually in the back. Although doctors are not sure what causes it, they suspect a surge in hormones during pregnancy affects muscles and ligaments. The researchers said acupuncture and stabilising exercises are effective complements to standard treatment for pelvic pain during pregnancy. Source: Reuters Health Date :2005-03-22
