News Moms Need

OK, I confess; sometimes, if I’m not feeling well or some part of my body is bothering me, I turn to the Web first to try and find the culprit. I don’t intend to diagnose myself, but sometimes the convenience of having all that information at my fingertips makes it too easy. And I don’t think I’m alone. The Washington Post published an article earlier this month on the increasing use of the Internet to search for health topics. The article also mentions a new term, “cyberchondriac,” which is similar to a hypochondriac except that the person uses the Web to further her fears and anxiety about her health. Thankfully, that’s not me!

But even though I’m turning to the Web for more information, I try not to let my amateur medical research get in the way of me seeing my health provider regularly or when there’s a problem. While the Internet can be a useful tool, there’s also a lot of junk out there, so I try to make sure that the information I’m getting is from a good source.

Here are some tips that can help you know if a Web site is a good source for health information:

• Find out who sponsors the Web site. Knowing what organization or company pays for the site can help you determine if the site’s information is credible.

• Look at the Web address to know what kind of organization it is. Government sites end in .gov; educational institutions end in .edu; professional organizations (scientific or research) end in .org; and business or commercial sites end in .com. Some health Web sites that end in .com can offer credible information (for example, hospitals or health organizations). Be sure that the .com site discloses any sponsorship for its health information or if it endorses any products or services.

• Science and medical recommendations change over time. Make sure the Web site and information is updated frequently and lists when the information was last revised.

• Information on the site should be based on facts and able to be verified. Any opinions should be clearly identified as such.

Some good Web sources for health information include:
• www.CDC.gov
• www.WomensHealth.gov
• www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/
• www.MarchofDimes.com
• www.MayoClinic.com

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.

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.

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!

You may not be thinking about having another baby right now, but that might change in the future.  So it’s important to stay healthy for yourself, your family and in case you decide to get pregnant again.  Here are some things you can do:

- Leave time between pregnancies.  For most women, it’s best to wait at least 18 months before getting pregnant again.  This gives your body enough time to get ready for another pregnancy.  it also helps you adjust to life as a mom.  Babies are born healthier when there is plenty of time between pregnancies.  But not all women can wait that long because of their age or other factors.  Talk with your doc or midwife about what’s the best interval for you.  Use birth control  (your provider will help you choose the best one for you) until you’re ready to get pregnant again.

- Take a multivitamin with folic acid  in it every day before you get pregnant.

- Get a preconception checkup before you conceive to make sure you’re as healthy as you can be.

Make a reproductive life plan with your partner.  Ask yourselves:  How many children do we want? How far apart do we want them to be? How can I stay healthy before my next pregnancy? How will I keep from getting pregnant until we’re ready for another child?

At a checkup before pregnancy, your provider can do a blood test to find out if you’re immune to certain illnesses such as rubella (German measles) and chickenpox. If you’re not, you can safely be vaccinated before pregnancy. After you’re vaccinated, you should wait for one month before trying to conceive. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not recommend these vaccines during pregnancy.

A while back I wrote a post about my “before-baby” check up. I discovered that my immunity to chickenpox was borderline so I received a booster. I always assumed I was immune because I had the chicken pox as a kid. I’m so glad I got that shot! A few months later I was exposed to a friend’s daughter who had the illness and I was newly pregnant.

Here are some questions that women who have had a premature baby often ask.

• I’ve already had a premature birth. What can I do to help get my full nine months of pregnancy?
• Why was my baby born too early?
• Do I need to go to a special doctor for care?
• Why are some women more likely than other women to have a premature baby?
• What can I do about my risk factors?

Key Things to Remember

• Learn about your risk factors for having another premature baby and what you can do about them.
• Ask your provider before you get pregnant again what you can do to have a longer pregnancy next time.
• Ask about treatments to help you get your full nine months.
• Learn the signs of preterm labor and what to do if you have them.

Click here to watch the video, Take Action: Learn the Signs of Preterm Labor

Today is the first day of National Folic Acid Awareness Week. Folic acid is a B vitamin that can help prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord called neural tube defects (NTDs). Folic acid works to prevent these birth defects only if taken before conception and during early pregnancy.

Because NTDs originate in the first month of pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant, it is important for a woman to have enough folic acid in her system before conception. Folic acid is recommended for all women of childbearing age because about half of all pregnancies in the United States are unplanned.

We have a helpful video on folic acid that is apart of our Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Baby video series. Click here to watch.

January is Birth Defects Prevention Month. The National Birth Defects Prevention Network’s Education and Outreach Committee developed a 2009 Birth Defects Prevention Month Packet focusing on “Obesity Prevention and Weight Management – Before, During, and After Pregnancy”. The packet materials are available by clicking here.  These resources can be shared with colleagues, policy makers, families, and others during Birth Defects Prevention Month and throughout the year.

If your periods are irregular and you want to figure out the best time to try to conceive, try a fertility tracking method. They can help you determine when you’re ovulating. Talk to your health care provider about the most effective ways to use them.

The temperature method – use a basal body thermometer to take your temperature every day before you get out of bed. Your temperature will rise one degree as you ovulate. Having intercourse as close as possible to this temperature rise improves your chances of getting pregnant.

The cervical mucus method – pay attention to the mucus in your vagina. It gets thinner, slippery, clearer and increases just before ovulation

Ovulation prediction kit – Ovulation prediction kits test urine for a substance called luteinizing hormone (LH). This hormone increases each month during ovulation and causes the ovaries to release eggs. The kit will tell you of your LH is increasing. You can purchase ovulation prediction kits at pharmacies.

If you use the temperature or cervical mucus method, begin tracking changes a few months before you want to conceive. If you’re using an ovulation predictor kit, begin using it about ten days after the start of your last period.

I attended an all-day conference yesterday and its focus was on obesity. As you know, obesity is an epidemic in our country. One of the speakers, a physician, said, “if you don’t think obesity is a problem, just got to the beach!” While this comment was meant to make the audience chuckle, this is a serious public health issue that many become seriously ill or die from. Just off the top of my head, I can think of a few people in my own family that struggle with their weight.

The problems associated with being overweight and obese are too numerous to list, but I do want to mention the impact that it has on preconception health. Preconception health has become a popular phrase and according to many experts, is the key to improving pregnancy outcomes. It’s believed that the health of the mom before pregnancy is just as important as her health during pregnancy.

For example, if a woman is obese and trying to become pregnant it may be difficult because it can affect ovulation and her menstrual cycle. During pregnancy, obesity can cause diabetes and high blood pressure. Being overweight or obese can also increase the chance of certain birth defects, delivering prematurely and the likelihood that the baby will be overweight as a child.

For all women preconception health is important and for the overweight woman even more so. No matter how much you weigh, please talk to your doctor if you’re thinking about having a baby.