Cover story:
Women
& Pregnancy
Between 1990 and 2003, the
birth rate for women aged 40 to 44 jumped 58 percent, while the number of
births to women aged 45 to 49 grew fourfold. That's just one change in the
pregnancy/birth picture over the past decade. From newer, less invasive
prenatal screening tests and genetic counseling, to cutting edge technology
designed for surgery in utero, women have more to think about than ever
before when planning a pregnancy. And, they have more choices. As with anything,
our increasing reliance on technology has pros and cons, says Heather Reynolds,
CNM, MSN, FACNM, a certified nurse midwife and associate professor at Yale
Medical Center in New Haven, CT. "You always have to weigh the risks
and benefits of any technology we use," she notes. Full
story
Women
& Breastfeeding
American women are getting better at breastfeeding. A 2001 survey found
that nearly 70 percent of babies are breastfed in the hospital; about 46
percent exclusively breastfed. Six months later, 33 percent of babies were
still breastfed. But, it's taken a lot of work to get there. What so many
women don't realize is that breastfeeding must be learned, but both mother
and child -- this fact is one reason so many women give up just weeks after
starting to breastfeed. There's a lot of preparation involved and a support
system is critical. Full
story
Gestational
Diabetes
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that
all preganant women be screened for gestational diabetes. Left untreated,
gestational diabetes can lead to problems for both baby and mother. Reducing
your risk for gestational diabetes is pretty basic. "Diet and exercise
are key," says Steven Allen, MD, an associate professor at Scott and
White Hospital and Clinic at Texas A&M University in Temple, TX. Full
story
The
Male Side of Infertility
Too often, infertility is considered only a woman's health issue. In fact,
half of all infertility results from male reproductive problems. Male infertility
affects about one in 20 men. It can result from numerous causes ranging
from the mechanical--undescended testicles, dilated veins and blocked tubes--to
the hormonal--problems with sperm production. Full
story
Departments:
Lifestyle
Corner: Make Your Pregnancy A Healthy One by
Pamela Peeke, MD, MPH
Everything you do in the
next nine months--from what you eat to what you drink to how physically
active you are and what you weigh--has the potential to affect your child's
current and future growth. Full
story
© 2006 NWHRC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of material published in the National Women's Health Report is encouraged with written permission from NWHRC. Write to NWHRC, 157 Broad Street, Suite 315, Red Bank, NJ 07701, call 1-877-986-9472 (toll-free) or email info@healthywomen.org.
