News Moms Need

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

Have you seen the ads? Send a sample of your saliva into a company, and they can test to see if you are at risk of certain genetic diseases. 

In recent years, companies have begun advertising and offering genetic tests directly to consumers, usually on Web sites. This is called at-home or direct-to-consumer genetic testing.

At-home genetic tests can cost a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. Health insurance companies don’t pay for genetic tests unless a health professional asks for the tests. 

The at-home tests may provide some information about the health risks a person may face over her lifetime. They may also tell her if her children might be at risk of certain birth defects.

But health professionals worry about the stress that these tests may cause, especially when people may misunderstand or misinterpret the results.

It’s probably best to have a genetic test only if your health care provider recommends it. Most such tests take place in a medical lab or office, not at home. You and your provider can decide what’s best for you, and your provider can help you fully understand what the test results mean. (Companies that offer at-home tests often charge extra for counseling services.)  

For more information, read the March of Dimes article At-Home Genetic Tests.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), some pills that can help people stop smoking may increase a person’s risk of serious psychiatic problems. The names of these products include Chantix, Zyban, Wellbutrin, varenicline and buproprion.

People who take the drugs may be at increased risk of suicide. They may also show behavior changes such as hostility, agitation and depression.

If you are taking any of these medications, contact your health care provider. Quitting smoking is important and can have major health benefits. So you and your provider need to carefully weigh the risks and benefits of using these drugs. For more information, read the FDA news release.

For so many women, pregnancy is a wonderful time: full of hope and excitement about a new baby. But for teens, pregnancy brings some  challenges.

Teen mothers and their babies face special health risks. Compared to other pregnant women, the teen mom is more likely to face complications. Examples:  premature labor, anemia and high blood pressure.

Babies born to teen moms are at increased risk of premature birth, low weight at birth, breathing problems, bleeding in the brain,  and vision problems.

Teen pregnancy also affects a young woman’s educational and job opportunities. Teen moms are less likely to graduate from high school than other teenagers. They are also more likely to live in poverty than women who wait to have a baby.

Today is the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy. Teen birth rates in the United States are on the rise again after a steady decline between 1991 and 2005.

If you are a teen, please think carefully about getting pregnant. If you know a teen, help her understand why it’s usually best to delay pregnancy.

For more information, read the March of Dimes fact sheet.

If you’re pregnant, you may have been wondering, “What happens if I get the swine flu? Will it hurt my baby? How dangerous would it be for me?”

If you do get swine flu, the illness may be mild. But for some women, swine flu will progress rapidly, and symptoms will be severe.

Complications of any flu, such as pneumonia and dehydration, can be serious and even fatal. So be on the watch for any symptoms. Treatment can help.

Symptoms of swine flu include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills, fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting.

If you are pregnant and have flu-like symptoms, contact your health care provider. If your symptoms are severe, talk with your provider about the benefits and risks of taking an antiviral drug, such as Tamiflu. Consider the seriousness of your illness as you decide about medication. 

High fever may be especially dangerous to the fetus. Acetaminophen appears to be the best way to treat fever during pregnancy.

For more info on swine flu, visit the Web site of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Today is Earth Day. Take a few moments to notice our beautiful planet and be inspired by it. 

    * If you have a baby, the March of Dimes has some articles about how to protect your child’s environment.

   * If you’re pregnant, learn more about environmental risks that could harm your baby and yourself.

   * Spend some time outside today. Really look at a tree or a flower. Watch a squirrel scamper across a lawn. Be thankful for Mother Earth and her gifts.

Doing anything special on Earth Day?

Photo: NASA