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Risk of Autism Increases When Mom is Obese

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A study that was recently published in the journal “Pediatrics” suggest that mothers who are obese are more likely to have a child with autism, or with another type of developmental problem. Moms who have diabetes have the same risk. The implication is that obesity and diabetes are affecting early brain development. There has been a lot of research done in an attempt to discover the causes of autism. I’ve lost track of the wide variety of things that are said to be the cause of autism, or that are found to increase the risk of it. Perhaps, one day, … Continue reading →

What is Preeclampsia?

With pregnancy, it is important to remember that things may not turn out the way that you had intended. I learned this during my first pregnancy, and I experienced it again during my most recent pregnancy. When I was pregnant with my first son, I developed preeclampsia towards the end of the pregnancy. I began to show signs of it before I was to term, but fortunately the symptoms did not present fully until about ten days before my due date. Preeclampsia is a medical condition where a pregnant woman’s blood pressure rises suddenly and other symptoms including protein in … Continue reading →

Men Can Inherit Heart Disease From Their Father

You may have heard that heart disease is something that can run in families. A new study shows that there is a form of heart disease that a father can give to his son via the Y chromosome. Genealogists who are putting together a medical family tree might want to make a note of this discovery. Heart disease can run in families. Does it run in yours? Your parents might know the answer to that question. Genealogists can ask family members if any relatives have been diagnosed with heart disease. Ask if anyone was diabetic, or had high blood pressure, … Continue reading →

The Importance of Taking a Little Time For Yourself

Sometimes, you can be overextending yourself without even realizing it until someone else brings it to your attention. I had no idea that I was doing it until I had an appointment with my midwife today. We are actively working on preventing my blood pressure from going up during this pregnancy because that was an issue with my first pregnancy, and we are approaching the issue from a few different angles. I’m exercising regularly, I have made some dietary changes, and I have incorporated some vitamins and supplements into my daily routine. Anyways, today she asked me to describe a … Continue reading →

Your Mother Caused Your Obesity

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Mothers have a huge influence on the lives of their children, starting from the moment that a child is conceived. There is a lot of advice to be found regarding exactly what a woman should eat, or should not eat, while she is pregnant. It turns out that an unhealthy diet can cause a genetic change in the woman’s baby that predisposes that child to have an increased risk of obesity. Obesity has been described as an epidemic in America. We have all heard about the increased health risks that an obese person faces. This translates into more visits to … Continue reading →

Preparing Your Health History

One of the major components of your first prenatal check up is the health history interview. It should feel somewhat familiar, since many doctors do this on your first visit, but the prenatal version is a little more detailed. To prepare, it may help to look over some of these questions beforehand in case you need to make a few phone calls to your mom or relatives. What is your history with pregnancy? Have you been pregnant before? Have you ever had a miscarriage? Have you ever had an abortion? If you have had a baby before, how did you … Continue reading →

Early Detection of Preeclampsia May Become a Reality

Researchers are developing a blood test that might identify a woman’s risk for preeclampsia early on during her pregnancy, according to an article featured in Businessweek. This is great news for moms who have a family history or a personal history with the disease and are especially concerned over whether they can expect to develop preeclampsia near the end of their pregnancy. The test uses metabolic profiling to identify certain biomarkers in the blood that give away a woman’s level of risk for developing preeclampsia later on. Researchers identified fourteen metabolic targets to watch for signs of preeclampsia risk. Researchers … Continue reading →

Bad Licorice and Smart Shopping

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A pregnant woman’s diet is under such scrutiny. Doctors and scientists are always studying how different foods affect the health of a pregnant woman and her child. Often times, the focus is on what we cannot eat rather than what we should eat. We are constantly bombarded with warnings and new lists of foods to avoid. Unfortunately, you can add licorice to the list of things you can’t have (or should avoid) during pregnancy. Black licorice contains glycyrrhizin, which affects how hormones are regulated in the body. When a pregnant woman eats too much licorice, it can lead to higher … Continue reading →

Dealing With Swollen Feet and Ankles

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Swollen feet can strike at any time during pregnancy, but edema is most common in the third trimester. The swelling can make squeezing into your favorite shoes next to impossible. Here are some tips for staying comfortable when your ankles are less than visible. “It’s not goodbye forever, it’s just so long for now.” It’s time to put away the shoes that are cutting into the tops of your feet and either break out the flip flops or visit the shoe store for a bigger pair of digs. The last thing your feet need is to be pinched; it definitely … Continue reading →

Hyperemesis Gravidarum: Like Mother, Like Daughter?

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Some things about pregnancy have nothing to do with genetics. For example, if your mother had a son first, that doesn’t mean you will have a son first. Or if your mother had a ten pound baby, that doesn’t necessarily mean you will have a ten pound baby. Just because your mother had to have a c-section doesn’t mean you will, too. The list goes on! But, some things are linked to genetics. It turns out that if your mother suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, your risk of developing the same debilitating morning sickness is three times the normal rate. A … Continue reading →