News Moms Need

Did you know that as many as 1 out of 5 women have symptoms of depression during pregnancy? For some women, those symptoms are severe. In pregnancy, women who have been depressed before are at higher risk of depression than other women. It’s not always the blissful, blossoming time that we’ve read about or seen in the movies.

Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood and thought. It affects the way a woman feels about herself and the way she thinks about things. Depression is a serious medical condition. It poses risks for both mom and baby. But a range of treatments is available, including therapy, support groups and medications.
 
It’s usually best for a team of health care professionals to work with a pregnant woman who is depressed or who has a history of depression. Team members include:
• The provider who is caring for her during her pregnancy
• A mental health professional
• The provider who will take care of the baby after birth
Together, the team and the pregnant woman decide what is best for her and her baby.
 
Often a pregnant woman wonders whether antidepressant drugs, such as Zoloft and Prozac, will harm her baby or herself. There are no simple answers. Each woman and her health care providers must work together to make the best decision for her and her baby. The drugs used to treat depression have both risks and benefits that must be weighed in every individual case.
 
IMPORTANT: If you are taking an antidepressant and find that you are pregnant, do not stop taking your medication without first talking to your health provider. Call him or her as soon as you discover that you’re expecting. It may be unhealthy to stop taking an antidepressant suddenly.
 
To learn more, read our article that addresses two types of depression: major depression (a serious illness that interferes with a person’s ability to work, study, sleep, eat and enjoy oneself) and milder forms of depression that are less severe.

May is Preeclampsia Awareness Month. Our guest post today is a personal story from Kelly Thomas of the Preeclampsia Foundation.

When I became pregnant I was determined to do everything right. I read all the popular books, took vitamins faithfully, and gave up diet soda.

Still, it was a difficult pregnancy. At 24 weeks, the swelling began. First it was my feet. Soon, I could no longer wear my wedding rings. Next, elevated blood pressure. My mother, a registered nurse at my OB/GYN‘s office, began to monitor me at home.

Every morning and every night she would come to my house to take my blood pressure and ask seemingly never-ending questions. I was annoyed. Not only was I sentenced to horribly boring bed rest, my mother wouldn’t get off my case.

One morning my blood pressure was extremely high. Her questions began. Yes, I had a stabbing pain in my upper right side. Yes, I had a headache that wouldn’t go away. Yes, my urine is a darkish black/brown color. Then she found I had pitting edema in my arm. She wanted me to go to work with her in order to see my doctor immediately. I, however, was not going to be the “whiney pregnant girl:” how embarrassing! I had an appointment at 1:00 pm that day; surely I would be fine until then.

But she used the, “I’m your mother tone,” so I went with her, begrudgingly.

When we arrived, the doctor immediately recognized the severity of my symptoms (thanks to mom’s couch triage), and I was sent to the hospital. I had never heard of preeclampsia and I did not understand the gravity of the situation. Thank goodness my mother did. She knew that her baby, and her baby’s baby, were in grave danger. Yet she kept her cool and made me get the help she knew I desperately needed.

By 1:00 PM, the time of my scheduled appointment, I was in an ambulance on my way to the closest hospital with a Level III NICU. Early the next morning, Carley was born at 33 weeks by emergency c-section, weighing 2 lbs. 15oz.

Weeks later I found the Preeclampsia Foundation and began to understand the severity of the disorder that had taken over my pregnancy. Most importantly, the Preeclampsia Foundation gave me the ability to become educated and the courage to try again. Though I developed preeclampsia with our son, Colt, who was born at 35 weeks, I had the knowledge to be my own advocate. With the encouragement of my Foundation friends, I wasn’t embarrassed to speak up when I felt something was wrong.

Today Carley is a feisty 5 year old. I too am healthy. However, the outcome could have been very different. Our story proves the importance of knowing the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia. I was ignorant as to what was happening to me. I didn’t want to be a complaining, overreacting, pregnant lady. I realize now how silly and dangerous my attitude was. If it hadn‘t been for my mom, the nurse, I would have waited until my appointment. By then, it may have been too late. My mom gave me life. My mom saved my life.

Tattoos are really in these days and I know lots of women who have them. But if you’re pregnant, it’s probably best for you to wait until after your baby arrives to put on that pretty ink. If you do want a tattoo, be aware of a few important issues.

The first three months of pregnancy are especially important. This is the time when the organs, bones, nerves, muscles—pretty much everything—are developing and we don’t know if tattoo dyes and inks affect a developing baby.

At the end of the first trimester, the baby is only about 3 inches long and weighs 1 ounce. (That’s about as heavy as five quarters.) Amounts of chemicals that might be small and harmless to an adult can have a much bigger impact on a tiny, developing fetus. So if you’re about to get a tattoo, consider postponing your pregnancy attempts to a month or so after you lay on the artwork.  If you’re already pregnant, wait at least until the second trimester.

Whenever you get your artwork put in place, be sure to go to a reputable artist. Hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS are two of many diseases that may be passed along by a dirty needle. If you should catch one of these infections, you could pass it on to your baby.  You want to be sure your tattoo artist is following safety precautions.  

An epidural is a shot given in the lower back to help block the pain of childbirth. Most health care providers will give an epidural to a woman with a tattoo on her lower back, but they may not if the tattoo is recent and still fresh.  There is no clear evidence for or against giving epidurals near tattoos. If you do have a back tattoo, find out the hospital’s policy on epidurals in advance so you won’t be surprised later.

Are you pregnant and feeling like a puff ball? It’s normal for your body to produce and retain more fluid during pregnancy, particularly during the last few months. This can cause slight swelling (called edema), particularly in the legs, feet and ankles, but also in the hands and face. This swelling may be worse towards the end of the day or during hot summer months.

While you may find it slightly annoying, the extra fluid in your body helps prepare you for pregnancy and delivery. It allows your tissues to handle the growth of your baby. It also prepares your pelvic area for labor and delivery. Much of the weight you gain during pregnancy is from extra fluids. The good news is that your body usually gets rid of them in the days after delivery.

During late pregnancy, your growing uterus puts pressure on the veins to your legs and feet. This slows blood circulation and causes even more fluid to build up in your feet and ankles – did somebody say cankles? Standing or sitting with your feet on the floor for long periods of time can increase the pressure on these veins. Put those tootsies up when you can!

Again, some swelling, particularly in the feet and ankles, is normal during pregnancy. But if your swelling is severe, contact your health provider. Click on this link to read some tips for relieving and managing normal swelling.

Your baby:

By the end of the ninth month, your baby is about 19 to 21 inches long and weighs 6 to 9 pounds. Your baby’s lungs are ready to work on their own. Your baby gains about ½ a pound a week. Your baby is still moving and kicking. He moves to a head-down position and rests lower in your belly.

Your body:

Your belly button may stick out. Your breathing should be easier once the baby moves down. But you may need to go to the bathroom more often because the baby is pressing on your bladder. You should feel your baby kicking and moving right up until you give birth. (Tell your provider if you notice any change in how often your baby moves.) You may be uncomfortable because of the pressure and weight of the baby, so rest often. Your feet and ankles may swell. (Put your feet up and try to stay in a cool place.) Your cervix opens up (dilates) and thins out (effaces) as it prepares for birth. You may not gain any weight this month, or you may even lose a pound or two.

Your baby:

By the end of the eighth month, your baby is about 18 to 19 inches long and weighs about 4 to 5 pounds. He can kick strongly and roll around. You may see the shape of his elbow or heel against your belly. (Tell your provider if you notice any change in how often your baby moves.) Your baby’s fingernails have grown to the tips of his fingers. Your baby’s brain and lungs are still growing.

Your body:

You may feel stronger contractions this month. Colostrum may leak from your breasts. This is the fluid that comes out of your breasts before your breastmilk comes in. (Wear breast pads in your bra to help with leaking.) You may have trouble breathing as the baby pushes on your lungs. (Slow down and try to sit and stand up straight.) Your baby may crowd your stomach. (Try eating 4 or 5 smaller meals during the day.) You gain about one pound a week this month.

Your baby:

By the end of the seventh  month, your baby is about 15 to 16 inches long and weighs about 2 ½ to 3 pounds. Your baby can open or close her eyes and suck her thumb. She kicks and stretches. Your baby responds to light and sound.

Your body:

You should feel your baby move. As he gets bigger, it may feel like he’s rolling around. (Tell your provider if you notice any change in how often your baby moves.) Your ankles and feet may swell. Try lying down and putting your feet up. (If your hands and face swell suddenly, call your provider.) You may get stretch marks on your belly or breasts as they get bigger. You may have “practice contractions.”   (This is OK, but call your provider if you have more than five contractions in 1 hour.) As your belly gets bigger, it may be harder to keep your balance. This makes it easier to fall. Be careful! You may have trouble sleeping. (Try sleeping on your left side or with extra pillows.) You also may sweat more than usual.

Your baby:

By the end of the sixth month, your baby is about 12 inches long and weighs about 1 ½ to 2 pounds. Your baby’s skin is red and wrinkled. It’s covered with fine, soft hair. Your baby can kick strongly now - thump, thump! Your baby’s eyes are almost completely formed. Soon they can start to open and close.

Your body:

The skin on your belly may itch - creams may help relieve the irritation. You may see stretch marks - creams don’t really help with these unless they itch. Your back may hurt - avoid standing for long periods of time and don’t lift heavy things. You may feel pain down the sides of your belly as your uterus gets bigger. You may have constipation - drink more water and fruit juice. (Eat foods with fiber, likes fruits and veggies and whole grains.) You can still have sex, but stop if you feel pain or cramping.

Did you know that pregnant women are more likely to be hospitalized from complications of the flu than non-pregnant women of the same age?

Pregnancy increases the risk of complications of flu, such as bacterial pneumonia and dehydration, which can be serious and even fatal. Pregnancy also can change a woman’s immune system, as well as affect her heart and lungs. Getting vaccinated at any time during pregnancy is the best way pregnant women can protect themselves and their babies from the flu.

Recent research published in PLoS Medicine earlier this year also found that getting a flu shot during pregnancy may offer some protection from having a premature or low birth weight baby. The study looked at births in Georgia from 2004 to 2006 and found that pregnant women who received the flu vaccine and who gave birth during the October through May flu season were 40 percent less likely to have a baby born too soon.

The flu vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective. As an added bonus, during pregnancy, mothers pass on their immunity, protecting babies in those early months of life. Parents of children younger than 6 months should be vaccinated against influenza because these children cannot receive the preventive vaccine. Those who live with pregnant women or young children, or are in close contact with them, should be immunized. If you have a child who is 6 months or older, she should get a seasonal flu vaccine every year. The flu vaccine is safe for most children.

Make it a family affair. There is plenty to go around, so schedule your flu shots today.

Your baby:

By the end of the fifth month, your baby is about ten inches long and weighs about ½ to 1 pound. Your baby becomes more active. He can turn from side to side and sometimes head over heels. Your baby goes to sleep and wakes up. He grows a lot during this month.

Your body: 

You should feel the baby move inside you this month. If you don’t, tell your health care provider. Your heart beats faster as it pumps extra blood through you. You may need 8 or more hours of sleep each night. Rest and take breaks during the day if you can. Don’t push yourself.