I'm a generally fit and healthy person but I'm never as conscious about my health as I am when I'm pregnant or planning a future pregnancy. For example, I was on prenatal vitamins 6 months before I even went off my birth control pills. Every time I went to my pharmacy to get both prescriptions filled my pharmacist felt the need to explain that the prenatal vitamin was for a healthy pregnancy and the birth control pill was to avoid pregnancy. He would then ask if I was certain I wanted both. He just didn't get it. Sigh.
Anyway, this morning I learned about a study from which it was determined that taking vitamins before and during early pregnancy is associated with reduced risk for miscarriage, researchers have determined. However, it may be that the connection is related to generally healthy practices among vitamin takers. Read more... "These results need to be replicated before formal conclusions are drawn," emphasized Dr. Reem Hasan, at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
Supplemental vitamin recommendations for women who are pregnant, or are planning to become pregnant, are aimed mainly at reducing the risk of birth defects, Hasan and colleagues note in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Their study provides evidence "that vitamins may reduce the risk of miscarriage as well," Hasan told Reuters Health.
Between 2000 and 2008, Hasan's team interviewed 4752 women during their first trimester of pregnancy to determine their use of prenatal vitamins and multi-vitamins.
Overall, 95 percent of the women reported using prenatal vitamins or multivitamins at some point during the first three months of pregnancy. About half the women reported taking vitamins prior to conception.
There were 524 miscarriages among the subjects. The researchers found that the risk for miscarriage was 57 percent lower among women who took vitamins, compared to those who did not.
This reduced risk was not altered by other factors including age, hormone use, the number of prior pregnancies, smoking status, race/ethnicity, educational level, and marital status, note Hasan and colleagues.
"Because miscarriage occurs very early in pregnancy, it is important for women of reproductive age, who may become pregnant, to eat a balanced diet and use vitamins." Hasan advised.
However, the study was unable to account for dietary factors or healthy lifestyle behaviors, and did not differentiate between prenatal vitamin and multivitamin use. Therefore, Hasan's group calls for further investigations into how these factors might alter miscarriage risk. By Joene Hendry, NEW YORK (Reuters Health) SOURCE: American Journal of Epidemiology, June 2009.
Pregnant or not, which vitamins should every woman know about? Our Top 10 Vitamins Cheat Sheet will help you sort them all out.
Sunday, June 21st, will be my husband's first Father's Day. He's a wonderful partner. He loves our little munchkin more than anything in the world, he reads bedtime stories, changes dirty diapers and so much more which is why I want to do something special for him. Read more...
I already bought a super-cute Father's Day card from Snapily.com (I uploaded two photos of Gideon and created a fun flip effect that makes it look as though Gideon is smiling at him) but could really use your help in deciding what else to do to celebrate the day.
Help a new mom out :) How can I show how much I appreciate him and his help this past year? Any ideas?
Alicia P. recently wrote me confused about how much weight she should gain during her pregnancy. Specifically she asked,
"I'm 5'4" and weigh over 210lbs which technically puts me in the "obese" category. I'm 13 weeks pregnant and have already gained 10lbs. Is that OK? I've heard pregnant women should gain only 20 during their entire pregnancy so I'm a little worried. What's the deal?"
According to updated guidelines from the Institute of Medicine, obese women should only gain between 11 and 20 pounds when they become pregnant. Read more... The recommendation builds on the agency's earlier advice that overweight women gain 15 to 25 pounds, normal-weight women add 25 to 35 pounds, and underweight women pack on 28 to 40 pounds during pregnancy. While the adjustments for the three existing weight categories were relatively subtle, the decision to add a separate category for obese women was necessary because both obesity and weight gain during pregnancy have both surged among women across the country, the authors of the report say.
Central to the guidelines are body mass index ranges. BMI, a ratio of weight to height, is a common formula used to measure obesity.
The new guidelines use BMI ranges set by the World Health Organization and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute; the 1990 guidelines instead used recommendations from Metropolitan Life Insurance tables. The new ranges are more conservative, with the underweight category starting at a BMI of 18.5 instead of 19.8. Read the entire article on ABCNews.com
Guest post in honor of Food Allergy Awareness Week and Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month from Kerri A.
Day to day vigilance has become a bit more routine since last autumn when my son was diagnosed with a peanut allergy and, shortly after that, an egg white allergy. Now while the peanut allergy scares me more due to the potential harm it can cause, it's the egg allergy that's a bit tricky and more difficult to control. Difficult because there are so many foods that either contain egg or are manufactured on machinery that process eggs. Needless to say, I have never baked so much 'from scratch' in my life. From pancakes to cakes mixes, I want to make sure he gets to enjoy the same foods the rest of family eats and that those foods are safe and allergen free. Read more... Until I needed to take notice of what I was feeding my son, I never realized how many products actually contain eggs. Most commercially processed cooked pastas either contain egg or are processed with the same equipment used to make egg-containing pastas. Other foods include baked goods, mixes, batters, mayonnaise, cookies, candies, meatballs and salad dressings just to name a few. Label-reading has become a real challenge because eggs are not always listed as "egg." Instead, some labels merely imply an egg protein is present.
Although my son is not allergic to egg yolks we have to avoid all egg products because there is virtually no way to separate the yolk from the egg white without cross contamination. While the result of him eating an egg may not be as devastating as if he ate a peanut (prior to his diagnosis, he ate eggs or egg products on several occasions without any visible reactions), the chances of ridding this allergy improve if we completely remove eggs from his diet. In other words, he wont be having scrambled eggs for breakfast any time soon. Thankfully, my son is a very picky eater (never thought I'd be happy about that), so it's still relatively easy to limit the foods he eats.
For now, we take each day as they come (most are easier than others) and do what we can. Holidays can be tough but, with a little creativity, we get through them. For example, this Easter, although egg-free, was still fun for everyone because we decorated plastic eggs instead of real ones and had a candy-free egg hunt for the kids that included trinkets like keychain bubbles, stickers and coins.
As a mom, it's easy to put everyone else's needs before your own. In fact, now that I'm mom, I see how (almost) impossible it is to think of anything else! It's true what they say though, to be a good mom you have to take care of yourself. In that spirit, this Mother's Day, let's all give ourselves the gift of good health. We need it and we deserve it.
Here are 10 terrific gifts to give your body and spirit a healthy boost. I challenge each of us to reward ourselves with at least one of these before Father's Day :) Read more for the 10 gift ideas... 1. Foam rollers: No, we're not talking about those little pink things that women used to stick in their hair. Foam rollers—made from dense foam and available in 1-foot and 3-foot lengths—massage sore muscles and help you stretch as well as increase balance and flexibility. "These are easy things you can have at home," says Tonya Gutch, senior personal trainer, Cooper Aerobics Center, Dallas. "They're great for stress relief, tight muscles and posture." You lie, sit or kneel on the foam rollers to perform movements. Some come with instruction sheets; gym trainers also can advise you on best techniques. Rollers sell for about $8 to $20, depending upon size and density.
2. 100 more a day: Forget deprivation. Choose to give yourself 100 more calories of expended energy every day. All you have to do is add a little more movement to your day: walk around the room while you're on the phone at work or home, take a 15-minute walk at lunchtime, even just jiggling your legs or sitting on a fitness ball while you sit in front of the computer increases your energy output. So does standing instead of sitting, so stand when you can. The American Dietetic Association says burning 100 extra calories a day (without compensating by eating more, of course!) can help you lose 10 pounds in one year. And you don't have to think of it as "exercise" or a "diet."
3. Deep rhythmic breathing: No time for healthful activities? This one takes only 3 minutes a day (do it while you're making a hot drink in the microwave). Breathe in deeply for 5 seconds, expanding your abdomen, not your chest; then exhale for 5 seconds and repeat. "The part of your brain that kicks off stress cannot be stressed if you are breathing deep, slow and rhythmically," says Ann M. Pardo, MA, director of behavioral health at the Canyon Ranch spa in Tucson. Deep breathing causes your brain waves and heart rate to slow down, she adds, and decreases blood pressure. Brief daily sessions are all you need. Pardo suggests doing it while showering or driving.
4. Pedometer: You've thought about getting one of these simple step-counters and now's the time. Just last month, a review of research studies showed that participants (mostly women) who wore pedometers regularly significantly increased their physical activity. What's more, they also significantly decreased body mass and blood pressure. Pedometer wearers who set specific goals for step counts added more than 2,000 steps per day (equivalent of one mile). You can find good pedometers for about $20. Clip one to your waistband and watch your step count grow!
5. Quit for good: Whether you smoke a few cigarettes a week or many more, there's nothing better you can do for your health and your future than to finally stop smoking. It's the best gift you'll ever give yourself. If you're a light smoker, now's the perfect time to quit—before your use increases and withdrawal symptoms become more difficult, says Cynthia S. Pomerleau, PhD, an expert on women and smoking and director of the Nicotine Research Laboratory at the University of Michigan. Heavier smokers (10 cigarettes a day or more) should consider using the nicotine patch, nicotine gum or prescription quitting aids.
What about the weight gain that many women dread will happen if they quit? "I think the real deep-down fear is that weight will spin out of control," says Pomerleau. She suggests accepting a small weight gain while quitting, but taking moderate steps (no diets!) to balance eating and physical activity. These include eating lower calorie foods and drinks and being active at times when you would have had a cigarette (waking up, coffee breaks or when craving hits). "It's important for women to know that smoking affects many aspects of appearance, not just weight," she adds. "Smokers age faster. Smoking causes skin wrinkling, crows' feet, premature graying, tooth loss, halitosis, stained teeth and fingers, cracked nails" and more.
Schedule a quit date within the next few weeks and stick to it. Get rid of all cigarettes, lighters and ashtrays. Hang with your non-smoking friends and get support. It's time.
6. Knit: Knitting's not just trendy, it's good for you! For under $10, you can outfit yourself with a take-almost-anywhere hobby that helps you chill out as well as warm up. Relaxation response expert Herbert Benson, MD, of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Boston's Massachusetts General Hospital, found that the repetitive movements of knitting help you set aside intrusive thoughts, relax and lower stress. Sitting and knitting with other women is also a "tend-and-befriend" behavior that reduces distress.
7. Muscle massage stick: You may have seen athletes being worked on with these sticks by experts, but they're also good for self-administered comfort. The plastic sticks (about $30 to $50, depending upon size) have rotating pegs on their surface that relieve muscle tension and soreness. "It's like you were rolling dough," says trainer Gutch. "Roll it up and down your back and hamstrings. Sit in a chair and slide it up and down the back of the calf." Sounds like heaven, especially after a long workday or if you've overdone your regular exercise routine.
8. Sneakers: When was the last time you replaced the athletic shoes you wear for exercise? If you can't remember, it's probably been too long. And if you wear those shoes for everyday living as well, it's likely they've lost much of their shock-absorbing strength. The American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine says that running shoes should be replaced after 350 to 500 miles of running (about 60 hours of wear, calculated on a pace of 8 minutes per mile)
9. Teaball: This inexpensive (under $5) metal infuser ball on a chain holds loose tea leaves while they brew in your cup or pot, but keeps them out of the finished product. Many tea lovers think loose tea has more flavor, which can increase your enjoyment of a beverage whose beneficial antioxidants may help prevent cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and cancer. In tea shops, you're likely to find a wider selection of teas as loose leaves rather than in individual tea bags.
10. Resistance bands and tubing: Hate the weight machines at the gym? Don't have space (or the budget) to bring those strength-training behemoths home? You can get the resistance training your body needs—at far less cost—with lightweight, easy-to-store rubber bands and tubing. Available in both latex and non-latex products, these bands can travel with you to keep your workout on schedule. They're so light they can be incorporated into aerobic or walking routines. Some come with handles or belts to add to their effect. Prices start at around $5, so you might want to get extras as stocking stuffers for your friends.
Congratulations, you're going to be a new mom! By now you've probably prepared the nursery, washed your baby's clothes and done everything else to ensure that your newest family member has what they'll need once they get home. Good job. But, what about everyone else?
Your nutritional needs - and those of the rest of your family - are as important as ever. Think about it: Everyone will be so busy caring for baby, there might not be time to cook a decent meal or even go grocery shopping. The solution? Don't leave your nutrition to chance.
I recently met up with Lori Sawyer, the owner of Mommy Moves, at her local Whole Foods where she shared her tips on healthy eating, new mom style. Read more... Watch the video below for quick ideas to keep you and your family healthy after baby has come home plus Lori's 4 yummy, healthy post-partum snack ideas.
A little birdie has told us (actually we read about it on People.com) that Notes from the Nursery friend and seven-time Olympic medal winner, Shannon Miller, is going to be a mom!
Shannon gave People the whole scoop: "My husband and I are so excited to begin the wonderful adventures of parenthood. We couldn't be happier!"
Read more about Shannon's pregnancy and watch our interview with her... "I already feel that incredible 'mama bear' protectiveness toward our baby," she says. "Each day I wake up wondering what our baby looks like today, how much he or she has grown, and anticipating the fun and surprises that lie ahead."
Read the full article on People.com. Congratulation, Shannon!
As you may recall, Shannon has focused in recent years on raising awareness to such health issues as cervical cancer - her mother was diagnosed with the disease last year - and childhood obesity. "That passion has become even more critical and more personal now that I am considering the health of my child."
It didn't make any sense to me. Were children dying after their loving mother suctioned snot out of their nose and gave them the correct dose of cough or cold medicine? Was the risk of death in children from cough or cold medicine higher than the risk that someone would toss them out of the window in total-viral-syndrome-exasperation? I dutifully told the parents of congested and coughing children in my clinical practice of Emergency Medicine to avoid using cough and cold medicine unless prescribed by a doctor, and then stockpiled the stuff for my own kids in case it was taken off of the market. My pediatrician brother and sister-in-law were aghast (not the first time), when they saw me dosing the stuff for snotball number three, who was, at the time, only 1 1/2 years old.
Yes, I live in an apartment in New York City and no, I don't have a backyard. But, what I do have is Read more...a Micro Terrarium (that's mine in the photo above) that promises to sprout on almost any windowsill, as it locks humidity and moisture in and, best of all for us non-green thumbers (what's the opposite of a green thumb? black?), it only has to be watered once a week.
Gideon is too young, of course, but if you have older kids, I can't think of a better way to share Earth Day with your children than planting, nurturing and watching a plant thrive together - especially if it's Curious George- or Dora-themed! While they're having fun getting their hands dirty, take the opportunity to explain what Earth Day is all about, how important trees are (they clean the air, hold up mountains and hillsides, and even clean our water supply) and how what we do -- and don't do -- impacts the environment in very real ways. After all, it's not coincidental that what's good for the earth is good for your body.
You know a scientist has done something big when he wins the Nobel Prize. Usually, however, that discovery is a breakthrough that, while important, probably didn't affect your life that much.
Not this time. Read more...The work for which German professor Harald zur Hausen, MD, received the 2008 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine may save the lives of millions of women around the world, including some in your own family. Dr. zur Hausen discovered that the human papillomavirus (HPV) caused cervical cancer, the second most common cancer in women worldwide. His discovery made it possible to test for the virus that causes cervical cancer and to vaccinate against this same virus.
Yes, thanks to a man most women never heard of, our daughters and granddaughters may come of age in a world in which their risk of getting cervical cancer is as low as our risk of getting polio. Read more about preventing cervical cancer and share what you've learned with the women in your life.
Another way to spread awareness about cervical cancer prevention is by wearing a Pearl of Wisdom pin. In honor of Mother's Day, the Pearl of Wisdom campaign is giving away 500 free Pearl of Wisdom pins to randomly selected visitors who register at its website before April 27. The pins are also available for purchase and all proceeds go to the U.S. Pearl of Wisdom Campaign Fund, which supports U.S.-based cervical cancer prevention activities.
