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Category Archives: PREGNANCY & NEW BORN

All articles about pregnancy or new born’s health


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Top 10 tips for healthy pregnancy and new born

girl in pink sweater and grey jeans kissing tummy of pregnant woman in blue shirt and blue denim jeans
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
  1. Maintain a healthy diet: Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein can help support a healthy pregnancy and provide essential nutrients for your baby’s growth and development.
  2. Stay active: Regular physical activity, such as walking, swimming, or prenatal yoga, can help improve overall health, reduce stress, and improve sleep during pregnancy.
  3. Get enough sleep: Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep per night to help maintain energy and reduce stress during pregnancy.
  4. Avoid harmful substances: It’s important to avoid alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful substances during pregnancy to reduce the risk of complications for both you and your baby.
  5. Attend prenatal care appointments: Regular prenatal care is essential for a healthy pregnancy. Your doctor can monitor your health, check for any potential issues, and provide advice and guidance.
  6. Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water is important during pregnancy to help keep you and your baby hydrated and support healthy growth and development.
  7. Manage stress: Find healthy ways to manage stress, such as exercise, meditation, or spending time with friends and family, to help reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy.
  8. Prepare for birth: Taking childbirth classes and preparing a birth plan can help you feel more confident and in control during labor and delivery.
  9. Get support: Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends, family, and healthcare providers to help you navigate the challenges of pregnancy and new parenthood.
  10. Bond with baby: Spend time bonding with your baby through skin-to-skin contact, baby-wearing, and other forms of close physical contact. This can help establish a strong connection and support your baby’s development.

Regular prenatal care, a healthy diet, and a supportive network of friends and family can all play a crucial role in promoting a healthy pregnancy and newborn.

The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Always make sure to seek a doctor or a professional’s advice before proceeding with the home treatment plan.


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LATEST RESEARCH: BABY GROWTH

Canadian researchers have found in animal studies that low-level exposure to either Bisphenol A (BPA) or Bisphenol S (BPS) during pregnancy altered the timetable and rate at which neurons inside the brain’s hypothalamus developed. The study calls into serious question the safety of the product most widely used in products labeled "BPA-free," and therefore marketed as a safer alternative to BPA.

TAKEAWAY:

AVOID/MINIMIZE:

· Plastics: hard plastic sports bottles, plastic food storage containers, food wrap, hard and flexible packaging, deli containers, plastic bags, baby bottle components, plastic dinnerware and plates, non-stick cookware, plastic cleaning products, thermal receipt paper, canned food and drink.

ALTERNATIVES TO CHOOSE:

· stainless steel water bottles, ceramic plates and dishes, unbleached wax paper, anything made from wool, cotton, hemp or plastic-free, biodegradable fibers, plastic-free cleaning products, such as baking soda, vinegar and essential oils, stainless steel or cast iron cookware, glass blender, wire salad spinner, stainless steel ice-cube tray, natural rubber gloves, recycled, individually-wrapped toilet paper, bar soap, handkerchief

READ FURTHER

· BPA Free Plastic bottles are safer right. No!

· TRENDS IN PUBERTY

· LATEST RESEARCH ON AUTISM, ITS CAUSES AND ALTERNATIVES

· PREGNANCY SERIES: TOXINS AND ITS EFFECT

THE POSITIVES OF BREASTFEEDING

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AVOID THIS DURING PREGNANCY & BREASTFEEDING

FOOD

Listeriosis and Toxoplasmosis are foodborne illnesses that are more likely to affect pregnant women.

Keep food safe to eat by following these general guidelines to avoid food borne illness.

CLEAN: Wash hands and surfaces often.
SEPARATE: Don’t cross-contaminate. For example, after cutting meat, wash the knife before using it to cut vegetables.
COOK: Cook to proper temperature using a food thermometer.
CHILL: Refrigerate promptly.

ALCOHOL

· Pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant should not drink Alcohol. Alcohol can cross the placenta into the baby’s bloodstream. It causes damage to an unborn baby at all stages of pregnancy. Risks involves

• miscarriage

• the way your baby develops in the womb – in particular, the way your baby’s brain develops

• the way your baby grows in the womb, by causing the placenta not to work as well as it should – this is known as foetal growth restriction

• increased risk of a stillbirth

• increased risk of premature labor

• your baby being more prone to illness in infancy, childhood and as an adult

• learning and behavioral disorders

SMOKING AND DRUGS

· These are potentially just as dangerous as Alcohol, if not more. SO avoid.

CAFFEINE

· You should limit caffeine during pregnancy – avoid having more than 200mg of caffeine a day. High levels of caffeine can cause babies to have a low birth weight. Too much caffeine can also cause a miscarriage. Caffeine is found naturally in some foods and is added to some soft drinks. So avoid Sodas.

HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS

· Virtually no medicinal herb has been established as safe in pregnancy or breast-feeding, and even herbs that might seem safe because of their wide use in cooking could cause problems when they are taken in the form of highly concentrated extracts.

· Some herbs are definitely known to be toxic in pregnancy, such as blue cohosh and pennyroyal .

· Other herbs that are traditionally regarded with caution during pregnancy include andrographis , boldo , catnip , essential oils , feverfew , juniper , licorice , nettle , red clover , rosemary , shepherd’s purse, and yarrow , along with many others.

· the herb chasteberry has shown a theoretical potential for inhibiting milk supply.

· Some supplements like conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) appears to reduce the fat content of breast milk, with potentially harmful effects on the nursing infant.

· herbs with estrogen-like properties make scientists worry about possible effects on the fetus; these include soy , isoflavones , red clover , flaxseed , lignans , and hops .

· Some un-regulated Chinese herbal medicines and Aryurvedic herbal remedies have been found on occasion to contain toxic heavy metals, poisonous herbs, or unlabelled prescription drugs.

HYGIENE:

· Wash your hands with soap and water after touching soil, sand, raw meat, or unwashed vegetables.

· Cats can spread parasite causing Toxoplasmosis. Have someone else change the litter box if possible. If you have to change it, wear disposable gloves and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water afterwards.

· Wear gloves when gardening or handling sand from a sandbox. Cats may use gardens or sandboxes as litter boxes. Wash hands afterward.

· Avoid drinking untreated water, particularly when traveling in less developed countries.

Sources: EBSCO, NHS, Choosemyplate.org


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SEPTEMBER IS BABY MONTH

Just over 4 million babies are born in the United States each year. Most births take place in September more than any other month. The most popular day for babies to make their entrance is Tuesday, followed by Monday. Sunday is the slowest day, with 35.1 fewer births than average. California, Texas, and New York (in descending order) had the greatest number of births. Utah had the highest birth rate, with 88 births per 1,000 women age 15 to 44. Vermont had the fewest births, followed by Wyoming, North Dakota, and District of Columbia.

WalletHub analyzed the best and worst states to have a baby by looking not only at budget considerations but also health care conditions and the baby-friendliness of the state.

Texas ranked number 24 ahead of California, NY and Florida but not anywhere close as North East and North.

Families in the United States pay the highest birthing costs in the world, according to a report from the International Federation of Health Plans.

The average cost of a conventional delivery at an American hospital is $9,775. For a C-Section, it’s $15,041.


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POSTNATAL DEPRESSION

Postnatal depression is a type of depression some women experience after they have had a baby.

It usually develops in the first four to six weeks after childbirth, although in some cases it may not develop for several months.

There are many symptoms of postnatal depression, such as low mood, feeling unable to cope and difficulty sleeping, but many women are not aware they have the condition.

As long as postnatal depression is recognized and treated, it is a temporary condition you can recover from.

Treatment for postnatal depression includes:

· self-help advice

· talking therapies such as cognitive behavioral therapy

· antidepressant medication


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NEWS: PREGNANCY AND AUTISM

All along parents have been eager to blame vaccines for Autism.

In further confirmation, a third study this week from California specifically links autism spectrum disorders to pesticide exposure. In the new study, about a third of mothers had living within a mile of fields treated with pesticides, most commonly organophosphates, were 60 percent more likely to have an autism spectrum disorders than children of non-exposed mothers, per Environmental Health Perspectives. For some pesticides, exposure seemed to be most important just before conception and in the third trimester, but for others it didn’t seem to matter when during pregnancy women were exposed.

Organophosphate (OP) compounds are a diverse group of chemicals used in both domestic and industrial settings. Examples of organophosphates include insecticides (malathion, parathion, diazinon, fenthion, dichlorvos, chlorpyrifos, ethion), nerve gases (soman, sarin, tabun, VX), ophthalmic agents (echothiophate, isoflurophate), and antihelmintics (trichlorfon). Herbicides (tribufos [DEF], merphos) are tricresyl phosphate–containing industrial chemicals.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

Don’t spray for cockroaches every month. Instead use integrated pest management – i.e. seal up cracks and crevices in the home, clean up food residue, try non-toxic options and use chemical pesticides the last resort. Also stop using organophosphates and pyrethroids inside the home.

Learn more at: http://www.whatsonmyfood.org/


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HOW DOES TEXAS RANK IN BIRTH RATE

Here’s the Top 10 states (plus D.C.), ordered by birth rate:

1. Utah: 17.6
2. Alaska: 15.5
3. North Dakota: 14.7
4. Texas: 14.6
5. South Dakota: 14.6
6. D.C.: 14.4
7. Nebraska: 14
8. Oklahoma: 13.9
9. Idaho: 13.9
10. Louisiana: 13.7

Source: CDC and Datawrapper