There’s no doubt about it:  Having a child is expensive.  A 2009 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that a middle-income family will spend about $221,190 to raise their child to the age of 18.

And the expenses begin during pregnancy.

That’s why many couples start planning early. About 35% of families begin financial planning for their bundle of joy before or during pregnancy, according to a Wiser Pregnancy survey of more than 1,500 women. Approximately 18% of couples financially plan during the first month of their pregnancy; 11% plan in month 2 and another 11% plan in month 3. 
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Can money buy happiness?  For couples who successfully conceive using in vitro fertilization (IVF) and give birth to a healthy baby, it can.

According to a Wiser Pregnancy survey of more than 1,500 women in the U.S., nearly 6% of women are using fertility drugs.  About 3.5% of polled women conceived using IVF. 

Infertility can be devastating for a couple, but if you’re struggling to get pregnant, you’re not alone.  Approximately 10% of the U.S. population is affected by infertility.  However, since the late 1970s when IVF was first successfully performed in the U.S., thousands of couples with fertility problems have used the procedure – often combined with the use of fertility drugs – to have a child.

The success of IVF depends on a woman’s age and causes of the infertility.  Not every couple who uses IVF has success, and the older a woman is, the lower her chances of becoming pregnant. 

The CDC tracks data related to artificial reproductive technology (ART). In 2007, couples using IVF successfully got pregnant in more than 32% of all cycles.  Of all cycles (successful and unsuccessful), the live birth rate was 25.6% on average.  As ART methods advance and doctors become more experienced, these rates are increasing. 

However, IVF is not without its drawbacks, which can include: 

• High cost – Few states require insurance to cover IVF and there are many loopholes and limitations, such as a limit on the number of attempts that insurance will pay for.  Many couples end up paying thousands out of pocket.
• Increased risk of complications posed by the usage of fertility medication and invasive procedures used to retrieve and implant eggs
• Increased risk of conceiving multiples
• Increased risk of preterm birth or ectopic pregnancy

Have you conceived using IVF?  Would you do it over again?

It may get fewer headlines these days, but H1N1 isn’t down for the count yet.

Back in June, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the spread of H1N1 had become a pandemic. Later this month, the WHO is meeting again to discuss whether the pandemic has peaked. 

However, even if the worst is over, the threat of the flu – H1N1 or seasonal – is still around.  According to the CDC, an estimated 41 million to 84 million people in the U.S. have been infected with the H1N1 flu, and it has resulted in up to 17,000 deaths in the U.S. to date.

So do you still need to be vaccinated? Public health officials and doctors alike have recommended the vaccine for pregnant women, who are at high risk of developing life-threatening complications such as pneumonia from the flu.  Yet only 45% of women in general got the flu shot, according to a Wiser Pregnancy survey.

Interestingly, even doctors who are also moms-to-be haven’t rushed out to get the H1N1 vaccine, according to a Wiser Pregnancy survey.  The majority (70%) of doctor-moms did get a shot for the seasonal flu shot, but only 19% received the H1N1 flu shot. Read the rest of this entry »

Throbbing temples?  Building pressure in the head?  Sensitivity to light?  Most women know the signs of a bad headache coming on.

And for many women, pregnancy can lead to more headaches.  More than 25% of women experience headaches during pregnancy, according to a Wiser Pregnancy survey.  About half of these moms-to-be did not get frequent headaches before pregnancy.

If your doctor is also a mom, she may know how you feel.  Nine percent of doctor-moms report getting “significant headaches” during pregnancy.

Interestingly, if you’re like many women, your doctor’s personal headache treatment approach may be substantially different from yours.  Most doctor-moms (90%) take over-the-counter medication to treat bad headaches, and nearly one-quarter also take prescription medication.  By comparison, 35% of pregnant women in general who get headaches do not take any medication at all.

Here’s a look at how treatment approaches vary between doctor-moms and pregnant women overall:
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Group B strep isn’t just something that strikes adults – it can also be passed to babies during labor and delivery.

Group B strep is a common bacterium that naturally lives in the gastrointestinal and genital tract of about 40% of healthy adult women. It’s generally harmless in adults but can be life-threatening to newborns. 

Once upon a time, group B strep was the leading cause of infant death in the U.S. But it’s now a public success story: Nearly 85% of women get screened for group B strep, up from lessthan 50% in the late 1990’s.  Fewer babies die from group B strep disease as a result.

That’s why your doctor will likely suggest screening for group B strep in the third trimester.  The test involves swabbing the vagina and rectum for samples, which are then tested in the lab.

According to a Wiser Pregnancy survey, 7% of women tested positive for group B strep during pregnancy. 

If you test positive for group B strep at some point during pregnancy, your doctor will likely recommend antibiotics during delivery to keep your baby free from group B strep.  Most women (87%) decide to take antibiotics. 

Learn more about group B strep here.

Have you or someone you know had group B strep while pregnant? What course of action did you take?

They’ve delivered babies and they’ve cared for hundreds of pregnant patients. Yet when women doctors become pregnant themselves, many turn to birthing classes for help.   

According to a WiserPregnancy survey, 27% of doctor-moms attend a birth preparation course.  Most (82%) doctor-moms attend a general class offered by a hospital. Their next favorite options are Lamaze (28%) and BirthWorks (20%).

By comparison, just under half of women overall attend classes prior to labor and delivery. 

So why do these physicians who’ve seen it all also attend birthing classes? Turns out it’s for the same reason as other women.

Most classes cover labor, delivery, recovery and new baby care.  They also focus on different methods to help you relax, stay calm and manage pain during delivery.  Classes also help many women establish a support network of other pregnant women and their partners – something all the medical knowledge in the world can’t give you.

In addition, if you take an on-site hospital course, you can check out the facility where you’ll be giving birth and become more familiar with the surroundings and staff. 

Of course, that still means that half of all pregnant women don’t take a birthing class. Common reasons for opting out include: not seeing a point to the classes, not having time, having attended a class during a previous pregnancy, class costs being too high or lack of class availability.   

If you attended a birthing class, what part of the course was most helpful?  If you didn’t attend a class, was there a particular reason why not?

Certain pregnancy side effects – back pain, nausea – are expected. Vaginal bleeding, on the other hand, can be scary and occasionally a cause for concern.

The question is, how much bleeding is normal and when should you see your doctor?

Light vaginal bleeding during the first trimester is not uncommon. In fact, a Wiser Pregnancy survey finds that 11% of women experience vaginal bleeding during pregnancy.  Almost all women (97%) seek their doctor’s advice, and the majority receives reassuring news.

Vaginal bleeding can occur for a variety of reasons.  Here’s what might be causing the bleeding, based on responses to the Wiser Pregnancy survey: Read the rest of this entry »