Do you suffer from restless legs syndrome? Researchers have puzzled over the cause of this curious condition for decades with little explanation for why some people simply can’t keep still at night. Continue reading
Treatment of mild sleep-disordered breathing in women with preeclampsia reverses low fetal activity levels and may improve fetal outcomes
A new study suggests that treatment of mild sleep-disordered breathing with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy in pregnant women Continue reading
vitamin C supplements are important during pregnancy.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons af Tom & Katrien.
Healthy pregnancy
Maternal vitamin C deficiency during pregnancy can have serious consequences for Continue reading
Story at-a-glance
Big Pharma wants pregnant women to take prescription drugs, vaccine shots and even chemotherapy. It’s the latest insanity from an industry that kills more Americans ever year than died in the entire Vietnam War. And the latest science reveals that antidepressant use during pregnancy is causing Continue reading
This is a Fact.
Before any naysayers chime in with, “pheromones are load of nonsense,” consider the amount of time we spend making sure we smell nice.
We shower, shampoo, deodorize and spritz in an effort Continue reading
Smoking during pregnancy has widely documented health repercussions both for mother and baby. A study at the University of Zaragoza on 1216 newly born babies confirms that those born to mothers who smoke weigh and measure less.
A new study lead by the University of Zaragoza evaluates the differences Continue reading
Women, keep those toothbrushes and dental floss handy. A comprehensive review of women’s health studies by Charlene Krejci, associate clinical professor at the Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, has shown a link between women’s health issues and gum disease.
Across the ages, Continue reading
Pregnancy is a profound time in a woman’s life. As a rite of passage, it can be a magical time or a miserable time (sometimes both), in large part based on your state of health. Either way it is emotionally and physically challenging. Knowing how to keep your health in balance can make sure that glow is from happiness and health. Continue reading
iv
Findings support need for fewer embryos to be transferred back to womb during IVF
Scientists at University College Dublin have discovered a new way of measuring the potential success rate of an embryo before it is transferred back into the womb during in vitro fertilization (IVF).
According to the findings published online in the journal Fertility and Sterility, the fluid within a woman’s ovaries that surrounds the egg or oocyte holds metabolic information that can improve predictions on which embryo is more likely to lead to pregnancy.
“We analyzed samples of the follicular fluid Continue reading
A newly available DNA-based prenatal blood test that can identify a pregnancy with Down syndrome can also identify two additional chromosome abnormalities: trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) and trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome).The test for all three defects can be offered as early as 10 weeks of pregnancy to women who have been identified as being at high risk for these abnormalities.
These are the results of an international, multicenter study published on-line today in the journal Genetics in Medicine. The study, the largest and most comprehensive done to date, adds to the documented capability (study published in Genetics in Medicine in October 2011) of the tests by examining results in 62 pregnancies with trisomy 18 and 12 pregnancies with trisomy 13. Continue reading
A study conducted by researchers at Columbia University’s Center for Women’s Reproductive Care reveals that celiac disease may be behind unexplained infertility in some women, and that a gluten-free diet can help.
Authors of the study examined 188 women and found that 2.1 percent had undiagnosed celiac disease. A total of four volunteers were found to have the condition, as well as trouble conceiving.
Following a dietary intervention and counseling to help them switch to a diet free of gluten, all four of the participants conceived within one year of their diagnosis.
“Diagnosing celiac disease in an infertile woman would be particularly beneficial if the low-cost — and low-risk — therapy of pursuing a gluten-free diet could improve chances for conception,” says lead author Janet Choi, M.D.
The researchers noted that the prevalence of celiac disease was more than double among women with unexplained infertility. About 6 percent of that population has problems getting pregnant. Continue reading
Previous research has suggested that regular intake of omega-3 fatty acids during pregnancy helps boost the child’s immune system, thereby preventing allergies. Researchers now have an idea of how the healthy fats benefit fetal well-being.
Authors of the study, which was published in a recent issue of The Journal of Physiology, explained that the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in foods like walnuts, fish and flaxseeds may have an effect on the development of the fetal gut.
In a trial, they observed that PUFA intake by the mother helped to make her child’s gut more permeable, allowing substances to pass through into the bloodstream. Researchers explained that this stimulated the production of antibodies in the fetus. Continue reading
Some pregnant women may begin skipping trips to the gym once their bellies begin to show, either out of self-consciousness or fear that exercise will somehow harm their unborn baby.
However, researchers at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences conducted a study which reinforces beliefs that physical activity is not just good to help keep mother in shape during pregnancy, but also helps improve baby’s heart health.
“The system that controls heart function is known to improve with regular aerobic exercise, and improved heart control function is evidence of a healthy cardiovascular system and overall health,” said lead researcher Linda May. Continue reading
Essential oils have been used for centuries in ceremonies and for general health. Today, the use of essential oils for massage and in baths is both pleasurable and soothing. The oils are also widely used to improve health. However, essential oils are highly potent and can cause side effects if used incorrectly. Precautions should be followed to ensure safe handling and use of essential oils.
Safe use of essential oils
Keep essential oils out of reach of children and use them with great care. Use a weaker dilution on children as their bodies are smaller and their skin is more sensitive.
Essential oils are volatile Continue reading