News Moms Need

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.

Fun Express, a subsidiary of Oriental Trading Company of Omaha, Nebraska, has voluntarily recalled some water-based face paints, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Some children have had skin reactions where the paint was applied. Examples: swelling, itching, rashes, burning.

The FDA has found microorganisms in paint samples that were tested.

For a list of the recalled products, go to the FDA news release.

Photo credit: Princess Shari, Flickr

Your feet could hurt for any number of reasons.  They might be swollen from fluid retention or if your weight gain is on the high side, they might be fat or they might just be expanding.  Yes, it’s true along with all of your other joints, your feet will spread. Sorta scary if you are already a size 9W like I am.  And it’s possible that your feet may stay larger—as much as full size. Yikes.   
 
Puffy feet and ankles are common during pregnancy.  As many as 75% of women develop swelling at some point.  It is especially common in warm weather, or after standing or sitting for long periods and late in the day.  Often the swelling disappears overnight. 

If your feet are swollen or (gulp) bigger, shop for new shoes at the end of the day when your feet are tired and the most swollen.  Look for shoes with low heels, a wide toebox, and made of natural material, leather or canvas so your feet can breathe.