News Moms Need

Nope.  Sometimes genetics plays a part (for example, you and your mom both have a uniquely shaped uterus, a liver disease, diabetes or high blood pressure), but usually your mom’s birthing history will not impact yours. 

C-section, or cesarean delivery, can be a lifesaving operation when either you or your baby face certain problems before or during labor and delivery. Read more about reasons for cesarean section and watch our videos at this link.   Many women who deliver surgically never planned to do so, but an emergency made it necessary.  Some health care experts, however, believe that other, non-emergent c-sections are not medically necessary. A cesarean section is major surgery and should be done only when the health of the mother or baby is at risk.  Even if you had your first baby via cesarean delivery, you may or may not need to deliver a second baby that way. It all depends on the reasons for performing the first cesarean and how the incisions were placed in your body.  It’s important to discuss this with your health care provider before your next birth experience.

You’ve got slightly swollen ankles, your rings are tight… should you cut out your salt intake?  Not necessarily, no.  Salt needs actually increase during pregnancy, but this doesn’t give you license to scarf down bags of salty chips and pretzels.

During pregnancy, the amount of blood plasma (the water portion of the blood) increases.  This affects the sodium balance in your body.  It is thought that one of the causes of morning sickness may be a low sodium level in the blood.  Many women find that eating a few bland, salty crackers before getting out of bed can help with nausea – but this doesn’t work for everyone.

If you experience signs of high blood pressure during pregnancy (excessive weight gain with swollen feet and a puffy face, severe headaches, vision problems, etc.),  let your health care provider know right away.  She/he may want to take several steps to control this, including regulating your salt intake.  Under normal circumstances though, don’t make any big changes to your salt intake unless your doc recommends it.

It’s Halloween and the kids will be bringing home LOADS of goodies. It’s okay for mommies to treat themselves every once in a while during pregnancy. But don’t overload on the fun-size candy bars and the candy corn.

A recent study in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology shows that moms who gained more than 40 pounds during their pregnancy were twice as likely to have babies who were too large, compared to other moms. In fact, out of 40,000 moms in the study, 1 in 5 of them had gained too much weight during their pregnancy.

So what’s the harm in having a large baby, you ask? Well, let’s start with what that means for moms. Moms who gain too much weight during pregnancy are at increased risk of facing serious health complications such as gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension and preeclamspia.  Also, a pregnant mom who gains too much weight is more likely to encounter difficulties during labor and childbirth, such as a baby stuck in the birth canal, vaginal tearing, c-section, a longer hospital stay and other recovery complications.

Babies born to overweight or obese moms face their own special health risks, too. These newborns are at increased risk of being born prematurely, having certain birth defects and needing special care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Some studies even suggest that babies born too big are more likely to face obesity in their childhood, which is a growing problem in the U.S.

While you don’t want to go on any “fad diet” during pregnancy, it’s important that you make healthy food choices.  Watch our video on healthy food choices during pregnancy.  Talk to your health provider for more nutrition tips.

Image: Juushika Redgrave, Flickr

A woman’s own immune system may play a role in preeclampsia. This serious type of high blood pressure affects about 1 out of 20 pregnant women. Medical researchers, funded by the March of Dimes, injected mice with “autoantibodies” that have been found in women with preeclampsia. The mice developed the condition. 

When the researchers gave mice a substance that blocks the action of the autoantibodies, preeclampsia did not develop. This research could eventually lead to new diagnostic tests and treatments. 

Preeclampsia usually develops after the 20th week of pregnancy. High blood pressure checks at routine prenatal visits can be used to diagnose it. If untreated, severe preeclampsia can damage a pregnant woman’s kidneys, liver and brain. Sometimes babies must be delivered prematurely because their mothers have preeclampsia.

To read more about this new research, read the March of Dimes press release. For more information, see the March of Dimes Fact Sheet “High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy.”

Researchers have found that eating chocolate during pregnancy may help prevent a serious complication called preeclampsia, a dangerous type of high blood pressure. But don’t go raid the candy counter just yet. This is a very early research finding. We need more studies before we know for sure.

The study found a link between eating chocolate and a lower risk of preeclampsia. But researchers don’t know for sure if chocolate was the reason why women were protected. Something else altogether may have been responsible. This type of study is usually the first step in a long research journey.

Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, contains a chemical called theobromine, which has been used to treat heart disease. Preeclampsia is a disease of the blood and vessels. It is similar in some ways to heart disease.

Meanwhile, keep eating a healthy diet and going to your prenatal visits. Seeing your health care provider regularly can help protect you from the dangers of high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Reminder: Chocolate contains caffeine. Limit the amount of caffeine you consume during pregnancy to less than 12 ounces of caffeinated coffee a day. If you eat chocolate, you’ll need to have less coffee. To learn more about which foods contain caffeine, read the article on the March of Dimes Web site.

I recently attended a presentation where an endocrinologist spoke about the importance of the hormonal function of the thyroid and its relation to pregnancy. Sounds like a snoozer, I know, but it was pretty interesting. One of the most important things I learned was that the test for thyroid function is not universally offered, even though there is a large percentage of women that have a thyroid problem and do not know it. My doctor included it as part of the blood work at my recent visit.

A untreated thyroid disorder during pregnancy is a danger to both mom and baby. For mothers, the risks include a pregnancy-related form of high blood pressure (called preeclampsia) and other pregnancy complications. For babies, the risks include preterm birth, decreased mental abilities, thyroid disorder and even death. But with proper treatment, most women with thyroid disorders can have a healthy baby.

As I part of your prenatal checkup, or initial pregnancy visit, ask your doctor about whether or not you should be tested. This is even more important if you have a family history of thyroid problems or preterm birth.