Pregnancy and Nutrition

You are besides yourself with joy as you see that your pregnancy test is postive. You find yourself already caressing your stomach in hopes that your little one can feel you. The next nine months are going to be an exciting time for you and your baby. You are going to have a human life grow inside of you and feel them move as they get bigger. Your baby is going to go from a single sperm and egg into pounds of adorable flesh that you can’t help but kiss over and over again. It truly is a miracle.

In order to help this miracle along, it is essential for you to eat as good as you can through out most of your pregnancy. The first three months might be a little difficult to eat balanced meals when you are dealing with food aversions and morning sickness. If you are one of the rare lucky ones whose stomach doesn’t so much as move during your first trimester, then you can take full advantage of eating healthy right out of the gate.

Making sure you eat balanced nutritious meals is laying down the foundation for your baby. A diet of junk food is not going to help your baby with bone development and organ formation. Potato chips will not help with brain development. Your baby and your body need calcium and vitamins to achieve all of this.

Eating well during pregnancy is going to help your baby eat well after it is born and on solid foods. As your pregnancy progresses, some of what you eat will cross the placenta and the taste will be in your baby’s amniotic fluid. Babies swallow this fluid and their taste buds are so develop that even in the womb they are able to taste the flavors. Doctors believe that babies who are exposed to a wide variety of fruit and vegetables while in utero have less of a chance of being a fussy eater later in life. They believe that these are the babies who will eat their fruit and vegetables without putting up any fight.

Doctors also believe that moms who drink their milk through out their pregnancy have an easier time weaning their babies from formula or breast milk to regular milk. This however is only one benefit, the other benefit of drinking milk throughout your pregnancy is all the calcium you will be giving your baby’s bones. Many doctors recommend that you drink at least one eight oz glass of milk, usually fat free a day. Calcium is a must have your baby’s bones and his teeth, even though you won’t see his teeth for at least a few months.

This isn’t to say that you have to stay away from all sweets all the time. You can indulge every now and then and thanks to cravings you may find yourself wanting sweets more often than not. You do have to keep it in moderation. Being pregnant should not be looked at as an excuse to eat whatever you want for nine months. Both you and your baby could pay a dear price.

New Prenatal Down Syndrome Test Less Risky Than Amniocentesis, Say Stanford/Packard Scientists
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Couples in which one of the partners is Asian and the other is white have distinct pregnancy-related outcomes when compared with white couples, according to a study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reuters Health reports. The study, by researchers from Stanford University’s

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Individuals with bipolar disorder are usually treated with ‘mood stabilizing’ drugs, one of which is lithium - an inhibitor of GSK-3 proteins. As new drugs that are more powerful inhibitors of GSK-3 are under development despite controversial studies suggesting a link between lithium therapy and congenital heart defects, Thomas Force and colleagues, at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, set out to determine whether GSK-3 proteins are important for heart development in mice.

Plus Size and Pregnant

A majority of plus sized women who are pregnant will experience a healthy pregnancy, but they are at a risk of having a more bumpy ride than someone who is not overweight.

Women who are overweight, or have a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or more are at a greater risk of certain pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. No knows for sure why weight matters so much, as far as most doctors are concerned it is just one piece of the puzzle. The truth is most plus size women go on to have completely uneventful pregnancies and deliver perfect healthy babies as long as they eat well, exercise and watch their weight throughout pregnancy. The biggest problem with being plus sized and pregnant is that you are at a greater for some of the following.

Studies have shown that overweight women have a higher rate of neural tube defects which are problems with how your baby’s brain and spinal cord develop. These studies are unable to pin point exactly why overweight women are at a higher risk and have a higher rate. Some studies have shown that overweight women have lower blood folate levels than a woman who is of normal weight. Folate is needed especially in the early stages of pregnancy to help avoid neaural tube defects. Because of this, if you are overweight your doctor may prescribe you a prenatal vitamin with 1000 micrograms of folic acid. In fact, if you are overweight and planning on becoming pregnant, you may want to start taking folic acid before you even conceive.

Gestational diabetes is another complication that overweight women are at a greater risk of developing. Gestational diabetes is elevated blood-sugar level during pregnancy. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development estimate that women with normal BMI which is between 19 and 24 have a 2% chance of developing gestational diabetes. Overweight women have a 6% chance of developing this condition and obese women or women who have a BMI of 30 or more have a 9% chance of being diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Remember though that if you are diagnosed with this, you can still go on and have a healthy pregnancy with a modified eating plan.

Almost 10% of obese and overweight women develop a condition called gestational hypertension. This is when your blood pressure becomes high with a reading of 140 over 90 or higher after your 20th week of pregnancy but you do not have any protein in your urine.

Gestational hypertension is usually a small concern but can put you at a higher risk for preeclampsia (which is indicated by high blood pressure AND protein in your urine), intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth, placental abruption and still birth. If you do go on to develop preeclampsia, your weight is probably not that big of a factor. In fact if you are under 35 and overweight you have LESS of a chance of developing preeclampsia that a woman over 35 and a healthy weight.

Perhaps the most common complication for overweight women is longer labors and the possible risk of a cesarean section. Nearly 26-35% of deliveries are cesarean delivery. You are at a bigger risk if you have been diagnosed with preeclampsia or gestational hypertension or have a large baby.
Eating healthy throughout your pregnancy and working with your doctor to manage your weight will help reduce these risks and increase your already high chances of having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

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Couples in which one of the partners is Asian and the other is white have distinct pregnancy-related outcomes when compared with white couples, according to a study published in the October issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reuters Health reports. The study, by researchers from Stanford University’s

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Pregnant women who are part of an Asian-white couple face an increased risk of gestational diabetes as compared with couples in which both partners are white, according to a new study from Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Keeping Pregnant Women Away From Acid Reflux Dilemma

Many women tend to experience heartburn symptoms when they are still carrying their babies, and this happens for several reasons.

One of these is the increase of hormones in a woman’s body while they are pregnant. This increases the ability of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to be closed, because it softens the ligaments function. As LES relaxes, the tendency is for the gastric acids and ingested foods to reflux back up into the esophagus area and throat.

Another reason they experience heartburn during pregnancy is from the changes occurring within her body as the baby begins to develop and grow, increasing pressure on her stomach. Therefore, the stomach contents are forced right into the LES, and then to the esophagus.

However, there are several methods that a pregnant woman can observe to lessen the discomfort brought from heartburn. You can use some of the following tips, however, keep in mind they may not completely remove all heartburn.

1. Avoid the food that triggers heartburn. Examples of this are chocolates, spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, mustard, tomatoes and tomato based products, fatty foods, fried foods, and highly seasoned dishes. You may also want to consult your physician on what food and beverage items you should or should not be ingesting.

2. Avoid beverages with caffeine in them, such as; coffee, tea and soda. By drinking too many of them your LES will relax and that will cause acid to go up into the esophagus.

3. Always avoid alcoholic beverages. This, like caffeine tends to relax the LES thus, creating the same effect of triggering heartburn.

4. Do not eat large meals. It is suggested that taking numerous small meals throughout the day will be better.

5. Avoid rush when eating your meals. Chewing food thoroughly will really help in avoidance of heartburn, so it is better take your time while eating.

6. Make sure to rest after eating and avoid doing too much activity on a full stomach.

7. Drink plenty of water through out the day and in fact, women that are pregnant need to not only drink at least eight to ten glasses a day, they should drink them throughout the day. Through this, the stomach will expand, and then the LES will be given more pressure, obliging it to open inappropriately. Hence, it is really recommended to drink more water and other fluids in between meals.

8. How you sleep is important too, you should arrange your pillows so you sleep around 6 - 10 inches high. You should try to elevate both your head and shoulder areas when sleeping. Through this, the gravity will work to keep the acids in your stomach in their place; in the stomach, not in the esophagus. Try to consult physicians to gain additional knowledge on how to relieve night time heartburn.

9. Make sure the clothes you wear are not too tight. Tightness around the waist and stomach will trigger heartburn as it causes uneasiness.

10. When bending, do it at the knees, not at the waist. You do not want to put too much pressure on your stomach.

11. Keep a good posture when your walking and when sitting.

12. Maintain a sensible amount of weight, too much weight and fatness will give more stress in your stomach. When that happens, it will force the contents within the stomach to go up toward the esophagus much easier. It is always best to stay with your doctors guidelines.

13. Avoid smoking. Doctors stated that smoking could cause several effects to a pregnant woman, and one is that it can add to the possibility of experiencing heartburn. By following all these tips, you will have a much healthier and happier pregnancy.

Planning Ahead While Pregnant

Planning ahead when it comes to food could mean the difference between making wise choices and making irrational choices. It helps us learn how to undo our bad habits and being pregnant is a great time to try and change any bad habits you may have. The best way to break bad habits and to form new ones is to constantly plan ahead.

You want to plan for snack attacks especially if you are not going to be home. You want to make sure you take some healthy food with you, so that you can resist the temptation of going to the vending machine and taking out that candy bar. Throw some nuts into your pocketbook or some cheese sticks in case of any hunger that might hit you through out the day.

Plan your food shopping list. Some people find that when they go to the supermarket with just a rough idea of what they need they usually wind up forgetting something important or they wind up buying half of the food store. Take a few minutes to plan your meals for the week and buy what you need to go with it.

Speaking of planning meals, that is a excellent idea. Plan for meals you can realistically prepare. Do not plan for meals that you do not have the time to prepare. You are only going to stress yourself out. Look for recipes that are easy and quick to make. Do not try to make something where you can’t pronounce half of the ingredients and need to shop at a gourmet cooking store. Chances are you are still working and the last thing you want to do is come home after a long day and then slave over a complicated recipe.

Also, planning your meals out for the week tends to help you be a little more organized for the week. It is no secret that pregnant women tend to forget things and this is due to their changing hormone level. By taking out the time to sit and plan your meals for the week will help you stay a little organized and save you a lot of time. If you already know what you are making for dinner, you do not have to worry about coming home after a long day and standing in front of the fridge trying to decide what to make.

You also want to make sure that get yourself in the habit of using vegetables are your main dish. Instead of doing chicken breast with a side salad, make your salad your main dish and the chicken breast a side one. You also want to buy your vegetables as fresh as possible, even if that means making two trips to the grocery store through out the week. The fresher the vegetable, the better they are for you and your baby. The same holds true for fruit also. Keep plenty of fruit on hand, especially if you tend to crave sweet stuff through out your pregnancy. Instead of reaching for a candy bar, you can reach for a piece of fruit dipped in cool whip

By planning ahead for the week or even month to come will help you stay on track with your eating and decrease the risk of you making the wrong choice if a craving should hit you.

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Planning Ahead While Pregnant

Planning ahead when it comes to food could mean the difference between making wise choices and making irrational choices. It helps us learn how to undo our bad habits and being pregnant is a great time to try and change any bad habits you may have. The best way to break bad habits and to form new ones is to constantly plan ahead.

You want to plan for snack attacks especially if you are not going to be home. You want to make sure you take some healthy food with you, so that you can resist the temptation of going to the vending machine and taking out that candy bar. Throw some nuts into your pocketbook or some cheese sticks in case of any hunger that might hit you through out the day.

Plan your food shopping list. Some people find that when they go to the supermarket with just a rough idea of what they need they usually wind up forgetting something important or they wind up buying half of the food store. Take a few minutes to plan your meals for the week and buy what you need to go with it.

Speaking of planning meals, that is a excellent idea. Plan for meals you can realistically prepare. Do not plan for meals that you do not have the time to prepare. You are only going to stress yourself out. Look for recipes that are easy and quick to make. Do not try to make something where you can’t pronounce half of the ingredients and need to shop at a gourmet cooking store. Chances are you are still working and the last thing you want to do is come home after a long day and then slave over a complicated recipe.

Also, planning your meals out for the week tends to help you be a little more organized for the week. It is no secret that pregnant women tend to forget things and this is due to their changing hormone level. By taking out the time to sit and plan your meals for the week will help you stay a little organized and save you a lot of time. If you already know what you are making for dinner, you do not have to worry about coming home after a long day and standing in front of the fridge trying to decide what to make.

You also want to make sure that get yourself in the habit of using vegetables are your main dish. Instead of doing chicken breast with a side salad, make your salad your main dish and the chicken breast a side one. You also want to buy your vegetables as fresh as possible, even if that means making two trips to the grocery store through out the week. The fresher the vegetable, the better they are for you and your baby. The same holds true for fruit also. Keep plenty of fruit on hand, especially if you tend to crave sweet stuff through out your pregnancy. Instead of reaching for a candy bar, you can reach for a piece of fruit dipped in cool whip

By planning ahead for the week or even month to come will help you stay on track with your eating and decrease the risk of you making the wrong choice if a craving should hit you.

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Individuals with bipolar disorder are usually treated with ‘mood stabilizing’ drugs, one of which is lithium - an inhibitor of GSK-3 proteins. As new drugs that are more powerful inhibitors of GSK-3 are under development despite controversial studies suggesting a link between lithium therapy and congenital heart defects, Thomas Force and colleagues, at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, set out to determine whether GSK-3 proteins are important for heart development in mice.

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Pregnant women who are part of an Asian-white couple face an increased risk of gestational diabetes as compared with couples in which both partners are white, according to a new study from Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Peanuts and Pregnancy

Ask any parent who has a child who is allegeric to peanuts how difficult their live has become. Food shopping can take hours because every food label must be read it and studied to make sure it contains no traces of peanuts. Arrangements for peanut free foods must be made with the child’s school ahead of time and other children’s birthdays parties can be a parent’s worse nightmare. Peanut allergies although common can be one of the most fatal allergies a child could suffer from. Some children are so sensitive to their peanut allergy that if they come into contact with peanuts just from someone else’s skin, their life can be at risk. Peanut allergies can lead to anaphylactic shock which is a sever allergic reaction that can be fatal.

Peanut allergies are usually not diagnosed until a child reaches the age of 2 or even three years old. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that parents who have a peanut allergy in the family should wait until their child is at least three years old before giving them peanuts or anything containing peanuts. There are even some conservative obgyns who advise their pregnant patients not to eat peanuts especially if when they are in their third trimester regardless of if there is a history of peanut allergy in the family or not.

The reason for this is because in order for a peanut allergy to develop, the child has to come into contact with small traces of a peanut. This contact sensitizes the child so that they later have a severe allergic reaction. Some experts believe that this first sensitization can occur during pregnancy. It is believed that a tiny amount of peanut protein can cross the placenta. In fact a recent study showed that if a women ate peanuts or peanut butter while pregnant their baby could be four times more likely to develop a peanut allergy than a child whose mother didn’t eat any peanuts during her pregnancy.

This isn’t to say though that if you have a no history of nut allergies you should avoid peanuts at all costs. In fact, peanuts and peanut butter are very beneficial to you and your baby. Peanuts are a useful source of folic acid and protein, both which are very important to your and your growing baby. Peanuts and peanut butter has been said to help some women get through the first trimester morning sickness. Keep in mind however that there have been some instances when women who had no history of peanut allegeries in their family and ate a over whelming amount of peanuts or even peanut butter through out their pregnancies wound up with children who had a peanut allergy.

Before you decide to throw out all your peanuts and say good bye to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, talk to your doctor. Give your doctor a detailed family history and let him know if there are any peanut allergies in your family. With your doctors help you will be able to create a healthy peanut eating plan for your pregnancy. If you do not feel comfortable at all eating peanuts due to the risk do not let anyone change your mind. It is your body and your child and you have the right to make that decision.

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Conference: Perinatal Days And International Stillbirth Nov.5-7
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Joint Statement On Maternal And Newborn Health
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When dealing with the issues of reproductive challenges, most couples are appreciative of the fact that medical science offers them a wealth of options when it comes to fertility treatments, including drugs that help a woman ovulate, Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART) such as in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, sperm donation and the like.  However, some couples are still looking for natural methods that work as fertility treatments for themselves and their partners.  How can you go about assisting your own reproduction with such methods?  Are there any that actually work?  Let?s examine some of these issues here.

 

Be Careful of Your Medications

 

Sometimes an actual fertility treatment is not necessary, as you realize that conception is being hindered by the medications you?re taking, either for the man or the woman.  Some drugs, such as those to treat high cholesterol or diabetes, interfere with a woman?s ovulation abilities and a man?s sperm production.  Before investigating medical alternatives as a fertility treatment, speak with your doctor about your prescription medications.  There are some that of course you cannot stop taking as it will cause you serious health problems, but there may be adjustments that can be made, or other medications to take that will help to offset these issues with reproduction.

 

It?s also noteworthy that over the counter and homeopathic medicines can have the same effect, so don?t forget to mention these to your doctor as well.

 

Good Sex as a Fertility Treatment

 

Because a man?s sperm needs to travel a long distance (or at least to the microscopic sperm, it seems like a long distance!) in order to reach an egg to fertilize, it?s best to be mindful of your sex practices and whether they?re helping or hindering this journey.  The missionary? position, or man on top, is always recommended when a couple is trying to get pregnant.  Other positions such as the woman on top, sitting, standing, and anything else that interrupts the natural flow of sperm and causes it to work against gravity is only going to make the sperm need to work that much harder.

 

When considering a fertility treatment for yourself, you should definitely give some attention to your sexual practices first, as a simple change in your habits can go a long way (no pun intended) toward helping that sperm reach its goal.

 

Other Natural Fertility Treatments

 

Reducing stress, smoking cessation, and a good diet along with regular physical exercise are always recommended before trying a medical fertility treatment, as these things can help the body address and even repair any issues it may have with the reproductive system.  Soaking in hot water can kill sperm, so the man should avoid hot tubs and the like.  An ovulation predictor can also help a woman to know when she is ovulating.

 

So, there are no guarantees that any of these tips and reminders will work for you, but again, it?s always best to try the most natural fertility treatments first before opting for invasive surgeries or expensive drugs.

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The 21st Norsk Perinataldager (Norwegian Perinatal Days) will be arranged as a joint conference with the 2008 International Stillbirth Conference from the 5th - 7th November. This is in collaboration with the International Stillbirth Allliance (ISA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

When talking about reproductive issues, a couple does well to consider some male infertility treatments that they can easily try at home.  This is because in most cases of reproductive issues, infertility can equally be caused by the man?s reproductive system as it can be the woman?s.  It is a common misconception (no pun intended) that all reproductive issues are strictly the woman?s problem.  In reality, most couples being treated for this by medical doctors are finding this it?s a 50/50 chance that the man may need treatment, or it?s a combination of problems with both the man and the woman.  In any case, someone may immediately wonder about male infertility treatments that you can try at home, first, before looking into medical intervention, expensive drugs, invasive surgeries, and the like.  The good news is that there are some such treatments that men can try that may very well increase his abilities to impregnate.

 

Diet May be the Best Male Infertility Treatment

 

In a new study cited in OBGYN News, a group of Harvard researchers found that 79% of infertile couples had a lower-than-average intake of foods high in antioxidants - like fruits and vegetables.  In one study published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Medicine, doctors found that after one week of daily doses of 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C, sperm counts rose by some 140%.  So, a multivitamin or a vitamin C supplement may be the first male infertility treatment that you would want to try.

 

More recently, a study published in the Archives of Andrology showed the antioxidants vitamin E and selenium improved the ability of sperm to swim - a skill necessary to reach the egg.

 

Exercise also improves muscle tone and good muscle tone helps every aspect of your system as well.  Excessive body weight also puts undue pressure on the reproductive organs and doesn?t allow them to function optimally; obese persons often suffer from reproductive issues.  Any male infertility treatment that you try at home should include regular physical activity and exercise.

 

Drugs and Smoking ? A Barrier to Any Effective Male Infertility Treatment

 

Some medications can interfere with a woman?s and a man?s reproductive systems.  If you are taking any prescription drugs, be mindful of the side effects.  Ask your doctor if you?re not sure.  And this includes illegal drugs as well.  Many narcotics interfere with the body?s fertility, as does tobacco.  Excessive drinking (more than three alcoholic beverages per day) can too.

 

If you or your partner smoke, it?s time to quit.  Smokers have been shown to have 17% less sperm count on average, not to mention that it disrupts the health of remaining sperm.  If you?re taking illicit drugs, it?s time to quit those as well.  And if necessary, make note of your drinking levels and cut back if needed.

 

So there you have it ? some natural, healthy male infertility treatments that any man or couple can try at home, before undergoing invasive surgery or doling out thousands on tests and medicines.

Key Role In Largest US Children’s Study To Be Played By UT Health Science Center At Houston
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Fact Sheets About Thyroid Disorders Published By NIDDK
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Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Doesn’t Work In Prenatal Care
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With so many more persons being overweight and out-and-out obese these days, many are wondering if there really is any truth to the rumor that obesity and infertility go hand-in-hand.  How is it that being overweight can interfere with your reproductive abilities?  How can a few extra pounds mean that much damage to your body?  What about those that are obese that have been able to conceive?  In order to examine these issues fully, let?s take a look at some of the suspected reasons that obesity and infertility seem to be related.

 

Reasons for Obesity

 

Regardless of what some people may assume, it?s generally accepted among the medical community that obesity does not just happen.  Some would like to think that it?s all genetic, but many scientists know that when a person changes their eating habits and physical activity levels, they lose weight.  So saying that obesity and infertility are two things that you can do nothing about is rather shortsighted ? which also should be thought of as good news.  If obesity and infertility were all a matter of genetics, then you would be trapped, with no choices or things you can do to fix the situation.

 

So, when studying the reasons for one?s obesity, we see the connection to infertility.  High-fat diets add to elevated cholesterol levels in the body, and as we see cholesterol clinging to the arteries and areas around the heart, it does the same to the reproductive system.  Cholesterol chokes out a man?s ability to produce healthy sperm and a woman?s ability to ovulate a healthy egg.

 

Additionally, another connection between obesity and infertility may have much to do with exercise and physical activity.  Exercise gets the blood circulating properly and in a healthy way, and this oxygen-rich blood is necessary for all functions of the body, including the reproductive system.  Without the antioxidants provided by blood that?s been freshly filtered through the lungs, any malformation or problems the body has is not going to be fixed or repaired the way it should be.

 

Extra Body Weight

 

Another connection between obesity and infertility seems to be the extra body weight itself.  This extra weight on a man may block his sperm ducts, and blocked sperm ducts are one of the most common reasons for infertility in men.  Additionally, a woman who has extra weight around her midsection may also have problems with ovulation, as this puts undue pressure on the fallopian tubes.  It also puts this pressure on the uterus, causing it to contract unnaturally.  When a woman?s uterus is compromised, a fertilized egg cannot attach itself, and she will miscarry it before she even knows she is pregnant.

 

So it seems as if there are some reasons to be concerned about the connection between obesity and infertility.  Again, no one wants to be told that they need to lose weight, or to think that their own body weight may be interfering with their plans to have a baby, but at least they know that there is something they can do about the situation!

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Late on Tuesday, the Senate by voice vote passed a bill (S 1810) that would require physicians to provide information and support services to patients receiving a positive test diagnosis for Down syndrome or other prenatally and postnatally diagnosed conditions, the

Couples who are dealing with the problem of infertility can often think that they are very alone in their concerns.  Most believe that pregnancy is easy, and may look around at the other couples with their bouncing bundles of joy as proof positive of this fact.  They may also have many friends and family members who announce one day that they are planning on starting a family, and who are seemingly pregnant immediately after.

 

But believe it or not, infertility is much more common than you might think.  It?s estimated that about 1 in every 10 couples that are attempting to have a baby, have some type of problem with infertility.  Imagine ten other couples that you know who have children, and you can make a safe bet that at least one of them faced some difficulty when it came to conceiving.  And when you think about this on a national scale, 1 in 10 couples means 5 to 6 million couples in the U.S. every year have some difficulty getting pregnant.

 

But what exactly defines the concept of infertility?  Simply put, this is when a couple is having regular (twice per week on average) unprotected sex and are still not pregnant after a year of trying.

 

This may be surprising news to some couples, who often assume that a month or so of trying is all that?s needed to signal a problem with infertility.  Not so, say doctors.  Because of the many details that need to align perfectly for a woman to conceive, it can actually take that many times trying before there is any need for concern.

 

Obviously it?s true that there are some who have a much more difficult time with conception than others; and of course there are many factors that will contribute to this problem.  Some couples seem to be much more fertile than others, and this may very well be the case.  Some men simply have a higher sperm count than average, and of course the more sperm he had, the greater his chance of having one reach a woman?s egg to fertilize it.  Additionally, some women have problems with ovulation and do not release a healthy, viable egg every month, so there may need to be a few months worth of attempts in order for her to conceive.

 

But while infertility is something that is more common than you might think, it is also a very personal issue.  You should never make the mistake of comparing your abilities to conceive to anyone else?s, even those in your own family.  Again, you may know of a couple who seem to be able to get pregnant just by talking about it, while you and your partner have been trying for weeks and months, but this isn?t necessarily a cause for concern.  Everyone?s body is different, everyone?s reproductive abilities are different as well.  If you are really concerned about whether or not you will need medical intervention or another way of helping you with your supposed infertility, then be sure to speak to your doctor, as only he or she will be able to know for sure.

Normal Mouse Embryonic Heart Development Disrupted By Loss Of The Protein Target Of Lithium
Individuals with bipolar disorder are usually treated with ‘mood stabilizing’ drugs, one of which is lithium - an inhibitor of GSK-3 proteins. As new drugs that are more powerful inhibitors of GSK-3 are under development despite controversial studies suggesting a link between lithium therapy and congenital heart defects, Thomas Force and colleagues, at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, set out to determine whether GSK-3 proteins are important for heart development in mice.

South Carolina Agency Forced To Cut Teenage Pregnancy Program Because Of Budget
Despite recent increases in South Carolina’s teen pregnancy rate, the state Department of Health and Human Resources on Friday announced that budget cuts have forced it to eliminate funding to the Medicaid Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Services program, or MAPPS, the Charleston Post and Courier reports (Coley, Charleston Post and Courier, 9/26).

Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Doesn’t Work In Prenatal Care
While obstetrical care providers are doing a good job working with their patients on smoking cessation, they are not doing as well on abuse of other substances that can harm a woman’s unborn baby. A new study appearing in the September 2008 issue of the journal Patient Education and Counseling reports that patients don’t volunteer information about substance abuse unless specifically queried.