News Moms Need

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) today announced new guidelines on Pap smears and cervical cancer screenings. The organization says that women can wait until they’re age 21 to have their first Pap tests. ACOG also says that women between the ages of 21 and 30 should have a Pap test and cervical cancer screening once every two years instead of once every year. Women aged 30 and older who’ve had no previous complications in their last three screenings can have a Pap test once every three years.

The organization revised its recommendations based on the latest research about Pap tests and cervical cancer rates, showing that most cervical cancer cases come from women who don’t regularly see health care providers. ACOG also says that data shows testing at two and three year intervals can be just as effective at preventing cervical cancer.

While these recommendations represent a shift in women’s health care, talk to your health provider about what is best for you.

I don’t know why it is, but so often I have heard women who haven’t be able to conceive say “What’s wrong with me?”  For some reason, women have a tendency to assume blame for whatever goes wrong – well, at least not according to their plan.  Often, patience is needed.  (It can take a lot longer to conceive than you think!)  But there are plenty of times when a fertility issue may have little to do with the woman and more to do with her mate.

If you’re having trouble getting pregnant, don’t automatically assume the problem is with the female side of the equation.  While there are things a woman can check into, her partner can do things, too.  Here are some suggestions to help his sperm production:
• Quit smoking
• Limit the amount of alcohol he drinks
• Give up marijuana and other drugs
• Wear boxers and loose pants instead of briefs and tight pants
• Ask his provider about his prescription medications. Some medications used to treat high blood pressure, infections and other health conditions can make a man less fertile.
• Consider paternal exposures to chemicals at work or home.

Talk with your partner and explore all options.  You can read more about fertility treatments, too.   Remember, this isn’t a time to place blame.  You both need to understand your situation and move forward together to change what you can for a positive pregnancy outcome.

My girlfriend Joyce had a pet guinea pig named Rambo.  He was a weird little dude with majorly funky hair, but we all liked him a lot.  One day we were told that Rambo had been given to a neighbor because my friend was hoping to become pregnant soon.  Apparently, pet rodents can pose a health challenge to pregnant women (who knew?) and moving Rambo out was Joyce’s way of dealing with the issue.

Rodents, such as mice, hamsters and guinea pigs, are popular pets in many homes. But women who are pregnant or who plan to become pregnant should be very careful with rodents. These animals may carry a virus called lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV).

The house mouse, a wild rodent found near and in homes, is the main source of the virus. Pet rodents like hamsters and guinea pigs can become infected with LCMV after being in contact with wild rodents at a breeding facility, pet store or home.  People can get LCMV through contact with a rodent’s urine, blood, saliva, droppings or nesting materials. The infection can also spread when a person breathes in dust or droplets that have LCMV.  (Examples: while sweeping up mouse droppings or cleaning out the hamster cage.)  Pregnant women who get LCMV can pass the infection to their unborn baby.  LCMV can cause severe birth defects or loss of pregnancy.

Pregnant moms can keep their pet and lower their chance of getting LCMV by:

• Keeping pet rodents in a separate part of the home
• Asking another family member to care for the pet and clean its cage
• Washing hands with soap and water after handling pet rodents
• Keeping rodent cages clean and free of soiled bedding
• Cleaning the cage in a well-ventilated area or outside
• Keeping pet rodents away from your face
• Avoiding contact with wild rodents
• If a house has rats or mice, taking care of the problem quickly with either mouse traps or calling a professional pest control company (talk to your health care provider before using any pest control chemicals in your home)

If you have children, especially under the age of 5, be sure an adult closely watches them when they are around pet rodents.  No one should kiss pet rodents or hold them close to the face, no matter how cute they are.  Anyone who plays with the animals or cleans their cages or bedding should wash their hands afterwards.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has more information, including how to safely handle pet rodents and clean cages.

Assuming your preconception visit with your health care provider shows you’re in good shape physically, conception may depend on the type of birth control you have been using. 

• If you have an IUD (intrauterine device), you can start trying to get pregnant as soon as you have the device removed.
• Barrier methods (such as condoms, diaphragms and spermicides) stop working as soon as you stop using them.
• If you’ve been on birth control pills, you may not have regular periods for a month or two after stopping the pills.
• If you take Depo-Provera, it can take from three months to one year to ovulate regularly after your last injection.

Check out our ovulation calculator to get an idea of your most fertile days.  If you have irregular periods, it may be more difficult to determine the best time to conceive, so talk with your doc or midwife about what’s best for you.

Small amounts of caffeine probably don’t reduce a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant. Most studies have found no effect on fertility when women consume less than 300 mg of caffeine a day. A few studies have found that women who consume more than 300 mg a day may be more likely to have trouble conceiving. But, again, this has not been proven. If you’re trying to get pregnant it’s better for your body if you drink water, milk and fruit juice. But, the occasional cappuccino is probably just fine. You might want to ask your doctor during your pre-pregnancy check-up what he/she thinks.

You wouldn’t believe how often we get this question.  For conceiving a boy/girl “the old fashioned way,” are there any special positions for sex, vitamins, foods I should eat…?  There are all kinds of wives tales about guaranteeing you a boy or a girl, but the fact of the matter is nope there isn’t a proven method, short of in vitro fertilization and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (both costly and invasive) and that’s not what this post is about.

Have you heard any of these wonderful urban myths?  They’re a whole lot more fun than reliable.
• Eat red meat for a boy, chocolate for a girl.
• If the first “word” your first child says is “Ma” your next child will be a girl.  If it is “Da,” you’ll have a boy.
• Have sex at night for a boy, during the day for a girl.
• Sleep in a bed with your pillow to the north for a boy, south for a girl.
• If the woman takes control during sex, you’ll have a girl.
• When eating from a loaf of bread, choose the heel for a boy and avoid the heel for a girl.
• Once pregnant, if the baby’s heart rate is over 140 beats per minute, it’s a girl – under 140 bpm, it’s a boy
• If you’re carrying the baby weight in the front it’s a boy - in your hips and butt, it’s a girl
• Add the mother’s age at conception plus the number of the month in which you conceive – an even number means a boy, odd means a girl
• Carrying low means a boy, high means a girl.
• Headaches mean a boy, no headaches for a girl.
• Cravings? Salty foods and cheese for a boy, sweets and fruit for a girl.

With my first pregnancy, a very nice neighbor (he was 92 years old if he was a day) gave my husband a bulb of garlic to keep in the pocket of his pants.  This, he swore, would guarantee a son.  Funny thing… we had a son!  But I wouldn’t go stuffing your shorts with garlic if you’re hoping for a boy.  What other gems have you heard?

Whether you visit this blog regularly (woo hoo!) or you’re stopping by for the first time (welcome!), I’m sure you’ve heard by now that women are encouraged to take folic acid everyday. Getting the recommended amount through diet alone can be tough though. That’s why March of Dimes has created a quick and easy way to get the information you need on this important topic. Through video and audio you can meet medical experts like Dr. Dolan and Dr. Fleischman who discuss the importance of taking folic acid before pregnancy. Click here to watch and listen. Let us know what you think!

Women with pre-existing low back problems are at higher risk for back pain, and their back pain can occur earlier in the pregnancy. Back pain is one of the most common problems for pregnant women. Nearly half of all women have it at some point during pregnancy.

Are you thinking about having a baby? Help make your experience as pleasant as possible. For all you back pain sufferers, you need to maintain an optimal level of function now in order to have the least amount of discomfort throughout your pregnancy.

Start off by having a pre-pregnancy checkup. Your doctor may recommend that you be evaluated by a physical therapist or chiropractor. To lessen some of your discomfort, be aware of your posture and exercise carefully. If you use any medication to manage your back pain ask your doctor if it’s safe to use while trying to get pregnant. 

Happy lifting and bending!

Cystic fibrosis (CF)  is a serious inherited disease that affects the lungs and makes it hard to digest food.

In the United States, about 1 out of every 3,500 babies is born with CF. It is most common among people who are white.

CF carrier screening tests identify men and women who carry an abnormal gene for CF. This means that their babies might inherit the disease.

To inherit cystic fibrosis, a child must receive two abnormal CF genes, one from each parent. A CF carrier is a healthy person who has one normal CF gene and one abnormal CF gene.

Health care providers routinely offer a carrier screening test to men and women who have a family history of CF. Many providers also offer the test to all couples who are planning pregnancy or are pregnant. Couples must decide for themselves if testing is right for them.

To take the test, men and women provide a blood or saliva sample.

An improved carrier screening test was recently announced. It can detect 39 genetic mutations that can lead to CF.

For more info about CF and carrier screening, talk to your health care provider.

In an ectopic or “out of place” pregnancy, a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube, and begins to grow. When this happens, the birth of a baby is not possible and the woman’s health is threatened.  It can be pretty scary, so familiarize yourself with symptoms.

With an ectopic pregnancy, about 1 week after a missed menstrual period a woman may experience slight, irregular vaginal bleeding that may be brownish in color. Some women mistake this bleeding for a normal menstrual period. The bleeding may be followed by pain in the lower abdomen, often felt mainly on one side.  If you experience this, call your doc right away or go to the emergency room.  Without treatment, these symptoms may be followed in several days or weeks by severe pelvic pain, shoulder pain (due to blood from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy pressing on the diaphragm), faintness, dizziness, nausea or vomiting.

An ectopic pregnancy can be difficult to diagnose, so several tests need to be performed. If the provider finds an ectopic pregnancy, the embryo (which cannot survive) must be removed so that it does not cause the fallopian tube to rupture, resulting in life-threatening internal bleeding. Most ectopic pregnancies are diagnosed in the first 8 weeks of pregnancy, usually before the tube has ruptured.

There are two treatments for ectopic pregnancy: medication (using a drug called methotrexate which stops growth of the pregnancy and saves the fallopian tube. The woman’s body gradually absorbs the pregnancy); and surgery (the provider usually makes a tiny incision in the fallopian tube and removes the embryo, trying to preserve the tube, although sometimes it must be removed). After either of these treatments, the provider monitors the woman for several weeks with blood tests for hCG until levels of the hormone return to zero.

The most significant risk factor for ectopic pregnancy is sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia. For most women, the cause of an ectopic pregnancy is unknown.

Many women who have had an ectopic pregnancy can have healthy pregnancies in the future. Studies suggest that about 50 to 80 percent of women who have had an ectopic pregnancy are able to have a normal pregnancy. Women who have had an ectopic pregnancy have about a 10 percent chance of it happening again, so they need to be monitored carefully when they next attempt to conceive.