Archive for the ‘Baby's Health’ Category
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?
Earlier this year, a judge ordered a pregnant Florida woman to stay in bed after her doctor advised she go on bed rest. The woman, Samantha Burton, questioned her doctor’s recommendation. Although she was at risk for a miscarriage at week 25 of her pregnancy, she wondered if bed rest for up to 15 weeks was necessary. And as a working mother of two toddlers, she didn’t think it was feasible.
Before Burton could seek a second medical opinion, a circuit court judge ordered that Burton stay confined to her hospital bed and to undergo “any and all medical treatments” her doctor deemed necessary for the fetus. Unfortunately, after three days in the hospital, Burton underwent an emergency C-section and the baby was found dead.
The case continues in district court to determine if the lower court overstepped its boundaries. Can a court intervene in a pregnant woman’s care of her fetus?
Burton’s predicament isn’t so unusual. According to a Wiser Pregnancy survey, just over 11% of pregnant women have been put on bed rest. Although medical professionals debate the effectiveness of bed rest at preventing preterm delivery or miscarriage, women with certain conditions – high blood pressure, cervical insufficiency, pregnancy with multiples – may very well end up spending several weeks on bed rest.
Doctors may recommend bed rest even for conditions that aren’t severe. Of women put on bed rest:
- 21.8% report that their condition was not severe
- 37.6% report that their condition was somewhat severe
- 20.0% report that their condition was severe
- 20.6% report that their condition was very severe
Obviously, bed rest can take a substantial toll on career, parenting and other responsibilities. Yet regardless of the severity of the condition, many women will go on bed rest if their doctor advises it.
Do you think Burton was justified in her objection, or was the judge right to step in to protect the fetus’s best interest? And if your doctor orders bed rest, how will you respond?
For many moms-to-be, taking medication is up there with smoking, alcohol and caffeine – completely out of the question. If there’s a risk – even a very slight one – that that baby could be harmed, these substances are usually considered off-limits until after delivery.
But what if your health – and your baby’s well-being – depends on you controlling symptoms that could develop into a life-threatening situation? Would you take prescription medication?
As it turns out, approximately two-thirds of women take prescription medication during pregnancy. WiserPregnancy data shows prescription medication is often used for these conditions:
There are a few widespread, reliable studies that fully investigate the effects of medication and mothers and babies. However, the effects of many drugs have yet to be studied, in part due to ethical concerns or the lack of large sample sizes tracked over time.
This has not gone unnoticed by the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA has proposed to study the safety of medications taken during pregnancy. The results will help physicians and patients make better decisions. They could also pave the way for future regulations and medical procedure guidelines.
Did you take prescription medication during pregnancy? Why or why not?
Ever get a craving for red meat? Sometimes that’s your body telling you it needs more iron – and that need becomes a requirement for pregnant women.
Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, a condition that can cause dizziness, fatigue and pregnancy complications. Think that seems unlikely? It’s not: About 10% of pregnant women develop anemia, according to a WiserPregnancy survey.
That’s because when you’re pregnant, your body can deplete its normal iron supply. Your body makes more blood during pregnancy; it uses iron to make the red blood cells that carry oxygen to your cells and to the placenta. Your baby needs iron to build healthy red blood cells, blood vessels and muscles.
When anemia is severe, your baby may not get enough oxygen or could have complications such as preterm birth or low birth weight.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet during pregnancy builds a good foundation for keeping you and your baby healthy, but food alone doesn’t give you – or your baby – the nutrients you both need. Many women – including 85% of women diagnosed with anemia – take iron supplements to boost their iron levels.
Read the rest of this entry »
Crowds, long lines and the same holiday songs blaring over store loudspeakers can bring on a pounding headache even for the heartiest of holiday shoppers. When you’re pregnant and feel a headache coming on, do you take over-the-counter (OTC) medication to fend off the inevitable pain, or do you decide to do without any medication and suffer the consequences?
According to a WiserPregnancy survey, moms-to-be are split down the middle on this issue. About half of pregnant women take OTC painkillers to treat common ailments, including headaches (55%), colds (51%) and back pain (50%).
If you’re in the no-medication-during-pregnancy camp, you’re not alone. Taking medication during pregnancy is somewhat taboo in U.S. culture, and with good reason. Studies have linked some medications to an increased risk of birth defects or other pregnancy complications, and many moms do not want to take any chances.
However, some drugs have been thoroughly studied and are considered safe for you and your baby. They can make you more comfortable, and your doctor may recommend OTC treatment, especially if your symptoms prevent you from functioning normally and focusing on sustaining a healthy pregnancy.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is one OTC medication on the okay list and a medication of choice for many expectant moms.
New study findings in the January 2010 publication of Obstetrics & Gynecology magazine report that there is no evidence that acetaminophen use during pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects. In fact, the study suggests that when women used Tylenol or other acetaminophen-based drugs to lower fever in the first trimester, they had a lower risk of having a baby with certain birth defects in comparison to women who did not use fever-reducing medication.
Remember to check with your doctor if you are considering taking OTC medication during pregnancy to be on the safe side.
How do you feel about medication during pregnancy? Have you treated any pregnancy ailments with OTC medication?
We may be in a recession, but our national production of babies is booming.
A new report by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics finds that babies were born in the U.S. in 2007 than in any previous year. There were more than 4.3 million births in 2007, an uptick of 1% from 2006.
Unfortunately, the report also shows that the U.S. has not made much progress in one critical area: infant mortality. Infant mortality in the U.S. was 6.77 deaths per 1,000 live births, similar to 2006 rates but still high when compared to other developed countries such as France and Japan.
Why? Higher rates of preterm births may be to blame.
Premature delivery increases the risk for newborn health complications. Preemies are also at higher risk for long-term health problems, including respiratory, learning and behavioral problems. Most experts recommend that women try to carry the baby at least 39 weeks before delivering to prevent newborn health complications.
What can you do to prevent premature delivery? Getting good prenatal care and working closely with your doctor to manage maternal complications is a start. Anemia and gestational hypertension are among the many conditions that can cause premature delivery.
The good news is that a recent WiserPregnancy survey has found that most women already seek help for conditions like these: 87% of women with anemia were treated for the condition and 100% of women diagnosed with gestational hypertension saw their doctors monthly or more often.
However, certain symptoms such as vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain may also indicate a problem, so it’s a good idea to call your doctor if you experience them.
Has premature delivery been a concern for you? What advice has your doctor given you?
What do women worry about most while pregnant? Concerns about the baby’s health top the list.
A new March of Dimes survey found that the leading cause of worry for moms-to-be is birth defects (78%), followed by concern that stress in their lives might harm the baby’s health (74%) and wondering whether their baby will be born too soon (71%).
If these or other issues worry you, learning the odds may provide some peace of mind. For example, couples have a very low chance (3%–4%) of having a baby with a birth defect. Just 2% of couples have a family history of birth defects, according to a WiserPregnancy survey.
If you are concerned that your baby might be born with a birth defect, you can do certain tests to learn if you are at increased risk of having a baby with a problem. A genetic counselor can help you decide if testing is right for you and make decisions based on your personal values and beliefs.
What else can you do? Research and talk about your concerns with others. Learning the facts, hearing a reassuring voice or outlining an action plan can put your mind at ease. Your health care provider, spouse or partner, family, birthing class instructor or nutritionist can help answer questions and ease your worries. Read the rest of this entry »
Don’t have diabetes? Your blood sugar levels can still cause you problems during and after pregnancy.
A new study conducted by doctors at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital shows that women with gestational glucose intolerance (also known as “pre-diabetes”) are at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later on.
A recent WiserPregnancy survey has found that although only 6% of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes, others suffer from blood sugar intolerance.
Read the rest of this entry »
If you’re expecting, you may have already had one or more prenatal tests such as amniocentesis or a triple screen.
But sometimes it can be hard to know which test to get and what the results mean. Here’s a brief guide.
Pregnancy tests can give health care providers and parents information about the baby’s well-being and the pregnancy’s progress. They can show whether you are carrying twins or if your baby has a birth defect.
There are two types of prenatal tests: screening tests and diagnostic tests.
Read the rest of this entry »
Ultrasound exams are now standard procedure for prenatal care. According to a WiserPregnancy survey, about 80% of women have at least one ultrasound during pregnancy, and nearly all women have very positive views about ultrasound.
The non-invasive test uses high-frequency sound waves to generate an image of the developing baby. Ultrasound is used to see how your baby is developing, determine its age and gender, identify potential fetal or maternal complications and prep for a different diagnostic test, such as an amniocentesis or CVS. It also gives a woman her first glimpse of her baby.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cautions parents to avoid nonmedical ultrasounds, stating that they are unapproved, inappropriate and possibly risky. Ultrasound does not involve radiation and studies across the last 40 years have shown that ultrasound exams are safe when a trained medical professional does them. Enjoy seeing your baby on the screen in your doctor’s office, ladies, but avoid keepsake ultrasounds just to be on the safe side.
We know why doctors do the exams, but why do moms-to-be respond so favorably to ultrasound exams when other diagnostic tests such as amniocentesis cause quite a bit of anxiety?
Read the rest of this entry »
The material on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider.
