Health
29 Aug Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and Infertility
5-10% of U.S. women of childbearing age have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and often find out when they are trying to have a baby.²Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common causes of infertility of women in the United States. It affects all races and ethnicities. The good news is that it’s also a very treatable condition.
29 Aug Why is Folic Acid Important During Pregnancy?
Women of reproductive age need 400 mcg of folic acid every day, increased to 600 mcg daily during pregnancy.²September 12-18 is Folic Acid Awareness week with the National Birth Defects Prevention Network. This is a great time to highlight the importance of folic acid during pregnancy and specifically, before you become pregnant.
28 Jul Are COVID-19 Vaccines Safe During Pregnancy?
COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy reduces the risk of pregnancy complications if infected with the COVID virus.² The last two years have been a scary time for women who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or newly postpartum. The novel Coronavirus is new to the medical landscape. Society, including medical providers, have been navigating month by month what it means to live, prevent and be sick with COVID-19. For many women, the stakes are high as they consider the risks of contracting COVID-19 during pregnancy.28 Jul Preventing Mastitis When Breastfeeding
Effective, frequent nursing speeds the recovery of clogged milk ducts and mastitis. The antibacterial qualities of breastmilk prevent the baby from getting an infection related to an inflamed or infected breast. The first week of August is World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) week, which brings awareness to the protection, support and benefits of breastfeeding. In honor of this agenda, it’s important to dig into the challenges of breastfeeding, specifically mastitis. Mastitis is one of the most common problems related to breastfeeding. It usually begins with a clogged milk duct that leads to inflammation of the breast tissue and sometimes an infection of the breast.
31 May Scleroderma and Pregnancy Risks
Scleroderma, a connective tissue disease, most often affects women of childbearing age (30-50).¹Scleroderma is a fairly rare disease, affecting 75,000 - 100,000 people in the United States. Women are affected more than men, mostly during childbearing years from ages 30-50. For this reason, it’s thought that hormones play a role in the development of Scleroderma, but the cause is still unknown.¹
31 May COVID-19: Pandemic to Endemic – Pregnancy and COVID Prevention
As summer approaches, it’s natural to want to break out of the confines of the house and get out and about, enjoying BBQs, beach days, June weddings, and more. Warm weather and sunny days make you want to let your hair down and go mask-less! In addition, there has been a lot of talk about the transition of COVID-19 from a pandemic (disease spreading over multiple countries or continents) to an endemic (disease with constant presence in a specific location). This may give you the feeling that COVID prevention measures don’t matter anymore, but keep in mind this is a “novel” virus, meaning we are still learning a lot about it, especially when it comes to its effects on pregnancy, new mothers, and newborns.02 May Smoking While Pregnant: Tobacco Harms Babies and Children from Conception to Adulthood
Babies whose mothers smoke are three times more likely to die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).¹May 31st is World No Tobacco Day. It’s a day when the World Health Organization shines a light on the dangers of tobacco use and exposure for mothers, babies and children. Studies show that few smokers are aware of the serious risks to babies and children.²