News Moms Need

Some H1N1 flu vaccines have a preservative called thimerosal. Although some people have suggested a link between thimerosal and autism,  medical experts from the Institutes of Medicine (IOM) have thoroughly researched the issue and concluded that thimerosal-containing vaccines are NOT associated with autism. However, if you’re still concerned, a thimerosal-free version of the H1N1 vaccine is available.

The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines that FDA is licensing (approving) will be manufactured in several formulations. Some will come in multi-dose vials and will contain thimerosal as a preservative. Multi-dose vials of seasonal influenza vaccine also contain thimerosal to prevent potential contamination after the vial is opened.

Some vaccine manufacturers will be producing 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine in single-dose units, which will not require the use of thimerosal as a preservative. In addition, the live-attenuated version of the vaccine, which is administered intranasally (through the nose), is produced in single-units and will not contain thimerosal.  The nasal spray version, however, is not recommended for pregnant women.

An exploratory study has found that two types of antibiotics taken during pregnancy are linked to an increased risk of several birth defects. 

The two types of antibiotics are:

* Nitrofurantoins, including Macrobid and Furadantin 

* Sulfonamides (also known as sulfa drugs), including Bactrim 

Penicillins appear to be the safest of the drugs studied.

Antiobiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections. Bacterial infections can be dangerous to the fetus if untreated. So antibiotic treatment is sometimes appropriate for pregnant women.

If a pregnant woman needs to take an antibiotic, she should talk about the pro’s and con’s of the various choices with her health care provider.

It is too early to say if the antibiotics linked to birth defects in the study are the cause of the defects. Something else may be the cause. Researchers are continuing to study the question.

One of the authors of the study told U.S. News & World Report, “The most important message is that most commonly used antibiotics do not seem to be associated with the birth defects we studied.”

The study was published in the November issue of the medical journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Do you get a knot in your stomach when you hear about people getting sick from eating unsafe hamburger meat? Do you worry when you hear that some canned food has been recalled?

Well, now there’s one place to help you get answers. Several federal agencies are working together on a new Web site about food safety.  Everything in one place. Great idea!

And here are some March of Dimes resources:

   * Food-borne risks in pregnancy
   * Food safety dring pregnancy
   * Feeding and food safety for baby

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.

Ouch! Your tooth hurts, and you wonder if you have a cavity. I don’t know about you, but I hate going to the dentist. But sometimes we have to put on our brave faces and make the appointment.

Is it safe to have a tooth filled while you’re pregnant? Some dental fillings contain mercury. When these fillings are placed in teeth and removed from teeth, they release a small amount of mercury vapor. Mercury vapor may also be released when a person with a filling chews.

In general, pregnant women should avoid exposure to mercury because it can harm the nervous system of the developing fetus. So it’s a matter of balancing the small risk of mercury exposure against the health benefits of dental fillings.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued its latest recommendation on fillings. The FDA says that mercury fillings are safe for most people, including pregnant women. (BTW: The FDA uses the technical term “amalgam” to mean “filling,” so don’t let the language confuse you.)

If you are pregnant and need to have a tooth filled, talk to your dentist about the options available to you. Healthy teeth are part of having a healthy pregnancy.

It seems like your pregnancy has been going on forever. You’re exhausted. You’re not sleeping. Your back really hurts. Isn’t it time to induce labor?

Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn’t.

Since 1990, the rate of inductions in the United States has more than doubled. In 2006, roughly 1 out of every 5 women had their labor induced.

Medical experts are concerned that many inductions are medically unnecessary. They can pose a risk to the baby. One main worry is that the baby may be born too early. Babies born preterm are at risk of serious health problems.

In August, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued new guidelines on inductions. The organization cautions health care providers to avoid inductions before 39 weeks gestation. There must be a clear medical reason to induce labor before then.

For more information, read the March of Dimes news release.

The flu season will be here before you know it. Health experts believe the swine flu will be back along with the regular seasonal flu.

To help pregnant women and new moms learn more, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aired a Webcast last Thursday. It’s now archived on the CDC Web site.

By the way, swine flu is now also called H1N1 flu. And the vaccine is expected in October. Pregnant women are one of the top-priority groups for receiving the vaccine.  News Moms Need will let you know as soon as the vaccine is ready.

Also, pregnant women should be vaccinated against seasonal flu. That vaccine is already available. So if you’re pregnant, ask your health care provider about it now.

As many as 1 out of 5 pregnant women have symptoms of depression. This is a serious illness that the woman and her health care provider need to address.

Today the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued treatment recommendations about depression during pregnancy. 

Untreated depression has risks for both the woman and the fetus. Antidepressants also carry some risks. So treating this illness during pregnancy is a balancing act. In some mild cases, therapy may be preferred over medication.

Bottom line: Each woman needs to work with her health care provider to find the best solution for herself and her baby. Decisions must be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into acount the seriousness of the illness. If a woman has depression and is thinking about getting pregnant, she should talk to her provider beforehand.

One major concern is that depression often goes unrecognized during pregnancy. This isn’t good for anyone. A woman who is depressed feels sad or “blue” and has other symptoms that last for 2 weeks or longer. Other symptoms include the following:

• Trouble sleeping
• Sleeping too much
• Lack of interest
• Feelings of guilt
• Loss of energy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Changes in appetite
• Restlessness, agitation or slowed movement
• Thoughts or ideas about suicide

If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your health care provider. For yourself and your baby.

If you have depression, are taking medication and find out you’re pregnant, keep taking your meds for now and talk to your provider right away.

Did you know? Women who have a c-section are more likely to develop a postpartum infection than women who have a vaginal delivery.

A new study from Denmark looked at the records of over 30,000 women who had given birth. Those who had a c-section were at increased risk of having a urinary tract infection (UTI) or a wound infection within the first 30 days after delivery. (A wound infection affects the area where the incision was made.) Other studies have also found an increased risk of infection after cesarean.

So if you have a c-section, be on the alert for these signs:

* For a UTI, watch for pain or burning when you go to the bathroom, blood in your urine, fever and the urge to go often.

* For  wound infection, watch for redness, swelling or pus around the incision site. Sometimes, the wound may open, and you may run a fever.

For more information, read the March of Dimes article on cesarean birth. Or watch our video C-Section: Recovering After Surgery.

Today the U.S. government reported that the outbreak of swine flu (also known as H1N1 flu) is continuing and may get worse in the fall.  Scientists are currently working on a vaccine, which may be ready in time for the fall flu season.

For more, read the March of Dimes article on swine flu. It includes information about this illness and pregnant women, infants, children and breastfeeding women.