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Special Needs Blog Week in Review – April 8-14, 2012

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The Special Needs Blog Week in Review is a great way to keep up with everything that has been posted on the blog in the past week. It gives you a brief description of each one, so you can quickly find something that you are interested in reading. What did you miss last week? The Special Needs Podcast Roundup went up on April 9, 2012. This week, I’d like to point out an episode of “Hold the Gluten” podcast, which is called “Help With Celiac Research”. The episode featured Dr. Daniel Leffler of Beth Israel Medical Center, who discusses a … Continue reading →

Treating Headaches During Pregnancy

Reacting to whatever life throws you is so much more simple when you are not pregnant. But when you’re expecting, suddenly you have to consider every decision in a whole new light. This never more true than when you’re deciding whether to take a medication. When your head is pounding, is it okay to just take a pain reliever like aspirin or ibuprofen? Should you consult your doctor? Are there safer ways to cope with a headache? Between the surge of hormones and the extra blood flow associated with pregnancy, headaches are not that all uncommon. They are especially prevalent … Continue reading →

Untreated Asthma During Pregnancy May Put Infant at Risk for Future Asthma

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Once again, research indicates that treating health issues during pregnancy, such as diabetes, for example, decreases the health risks for the child. This time the topic is asthma, and it has been found that women who don’t properly treat their asthma during pregnancy raise the risk that their child will suffer from the same disease. Over 32 percent of children born to mothers who neglect to treat their asthma during pregnancy develop the respiratory illness themselves. This new evidence comes from a study conducted at the Université de Montréal, the Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal and Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research … Continue reading →

Pregnancy After 40

There are definitely benefits to postponing motherhood. You will be more financially secure than 20 year old parents. There is research to suggest the child will do well also. Studies have shown that children of older parents tend to do well in school and are more likely to go on to graduate college. There are risks to pregnancy after 40. At this age, you are in the category that obstetricians call “advanced maternal age.” Not flattering in the least, but there are risks associated with pregnancy after age 40 that your doctor will be concerned with. One of the most … Continue reading →

The Pregnancy Blog Week in Review Sept 10-16

The Pregnancy Blog is a good resource for information on every stage from trying to conceive to after the baby is born. The Week in Review is a good place to get caught up on the weekly blogs all in one place. Read the descriptions and click on the link to read more on the topic. As always, I welcome any suggestions for future topics. When you are pregnant, it can be difficult to know which drugs are safe to take. For this reason, it’s best to always get your doctor’s advice before taking any medication, prescription or over the … Continue reading →

High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy

High blood pressure prior to pregnancy can put the pregnant mother at risk for complications. This doesn’t mean that complications are certain, but that there is a higher likelihood of complications during pregnancy. If you have high blood pressure, it’s best to have it treated and try to bring it down prior to getting pregnant. The amount of risk is relative to the degree of high blood pressure, which can range from slightly high to severe. The biggest risk is to the mother because very high blood pressure may damage the kidneys. In the baby, there is a risk of … Continue reading →

High Blood Pressure and Women

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Approximately seventy-two million Americans have some form of high blood pressure — and nearly half of them are women. Women may be particularly at risk for developing high blood pressure. Risk factors include: Taking birth control pills. For some women, taking the Pill can affect your blood pressure. Things can get even more complicated if you have other risk factors like obesity, a family history of high blood pressure, or a smoking habit. Ask your doctor about your risk for high blood pressure before you start taking birth control pills, and get your blood pressure checked at least every six … Continue reading →

Understanding the Language of Pregnancy

When you become pregnant, you will soon learn that pregnancy has a vocabulary all its own. When you visit your doctor or midwife, you will hear new words and may be nervous to ask. Learning some of the commonly used terms can help you feel more confident about your pregnancy and in communicating with your health care provider. Alpha Fetoprotein Test is a blood test done early in the second trimester to detect the level of alpha fetoprotein in the pregnant woman’s blood. High levels can indicate a brain or spinal cord defect. Low levels can indicate an increased risk … Continue reading →

Let’s Talk About Safe Herb Usage in Pregnancy

Many women use herbs during pregnancy in a supplemental way, as well as to prevent mild complications such as edema (swelling due to fluid retention). It is important to understand that the quality of your herbs depends on two things: Freshness and Source. The source of your herbs should be reliable, which involves doing research not only on the herb itself, but the manufacturer as well. Freshness is obvious: the fresher the herb, the better the quality. Which is why growing your own herbs is always the freshest option (and then you will also know the source). Here I would … Continue reading →

Let’s Talk About Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy

There are two types of herbs when it comes to pregnancy: Those you can use, and those you can’t. Within the can-use category, herbs can be broken down by trimester. Some herbs are very safe for your entire pregnancy, and others shouldn’t be used until the third trimester. For a full comprehensive list you can visit your library or do an internet search, but I will touch on some of the more popular herbs here. Let’s start with the herbs you should AVOID, especially in early pregnancy. Many herbs should never be used during pregnancy. Those containing high quantities of … Continue reading →