Archives for Pregnancy
Should Pregnant Women Get the Flu Vaccine?
The answer to this question is a resounding "Yes!" According to the CDC, "flu is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant women than in women who are not…
The Pressures of Pregnancy
Taking Blood Pressure Women are delaying parenthood until later and more women age 40 and over are having babies; chronic hypertension becomes more common as women get older. In addition,…
Will Physical Activity During Pregnancy Lower Your Risk of a Cesarean Birth?
The answer is a resounding yes! This study, which included 36 randomized controlled trials including a total of 3359 women, concluded that those who exercised during pregnancy were significantly less…
Can a Tiny Pill Help Prevent a Serious Pregnancy Complication?
Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Although there are risk factors that can predict the likelihood of developing preeclampsia during pregnancy, many women with…
Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy – A Cause of Behavioral Problems and Hyperkinetic Disorders?
A recent article posted on the online journal JAMA Pediatrics suggests that acetaminophen (Tylenol, Paracetamol), an over-the-counter pain reliever widely used during pregnancy, may have a harmful effect on fetal…
If You Exercise During Pregnancy, Will Your Baby Be Smarter? Could Be!
In an article in the New York Times (Nov 20, 2013), Gretchen Reynolds notes that"if a woman is physically active during pregnancy, she may boost the development of her unborn…
Home Birth in the Netherlands: The System and Its Safety
The Netherlands has a system of pregnancy and birth care that is unique in the Western world. The majority of Dutch midwives work independently from obstetricians, are the sole care…
Do It Yourself Labor Induction!
In an original study, researchers in Malaysia found that women who reported having sexual intercourse during the last month of pregnancy were more likely to go into labor before 41 weeks gestation…
Doulas
As many midwives have found, a doula can be an invaluable resource to a laboring woman and to a new mother. A doula is a professionally-trained supportive companion for a…
Home birth rate increases in US from 1990-2009
A 2012study from the US CDC National Center for Health Statistics found that home birth is on the rise in the US. (more…)