You can keep a vegan diet and have a healthy pregnancy. However, a vegan diet does put you at risk for some nutrient deficiencies, which may harm your baby if left unchecked, and could impact your fertility when trying to conceive. Overview About 5% of people in the United States identify themselves as vegetarians. A smaller (but still significant) 2% of people consider themselves vegans. That’s an estimated 6 million vegans....
Even though many things have begun to reopen and return to normal, things still aren’t the same—especially for kids. With the vaccine still out of reach for younger children, masks, distancing, and limited interactions are a “new normal” that kids continue to contend with. As parents, we are doing everything we can to make their lives as comfortable and full as we can as the pandemic continues. Doing so means weighing the risks of every activity we allow them to participate in....
“Beginning fertility treatment can bring on a variety of emotions, including apprehension about what can and cannot be done during the process,” says Priyanka Ghosh, MD, an OB/GYN with Columbia University Fertility Center in New York. “For many, exercise is a large part of life, whether it be for health reasons or as a means of managing stress during a process that is inherently stressful.” The high-level overview is that you may be able to exercise when undergoing fertility treatments, but it depends on a multitude of factors including what treatment you’re getting, the type and intensity of the movement, and your physical health state....
Taking time early in your pregnancy to discuss your birth can help put you and your provider on the same page. It will also alert you if you need to change doctors or midwives. Making a decision early means that you are not locked into decisions with your due date around the corner. Talk to Your Practitioner About VBAC First things first: Ask your practitioner how they feel about VBAC....
If you’re the parent, caregiver or teacher of a child with a learning disability in reading, consider whether the KWL strategy would meet the child’s needs. What Does KWL Stand For? The letters KWL stand for “Know,” “Want to Know,” and “Learned.” In the KWL technique, readers are first asked to consider what they already know about the subject before they read the material. For example, say they’re reading a book in class about Italian food....
Projects That Build Creative and Large Motor Skills Try one of these crafty projects that stretch both creative and large motor skills. Make a Mural Use a roll of paper, an oversized cardboard box, or an old bedsheet as the canvas for a large mural. Spread it out on the floor or hang it on a wall (with newspapers or dropcloth underneath to protect your flooring), or an outdoor fence. Give kids some washable paint and let them go wild (this is fun either as a group project or as a solo activity)....
Studies published in 2012 have shown that mental and emotional well-being during pregnancy can have an impact on birth outcomes as well as mental states during the postpartum period. Even if you have a difficult pregnancy or if your experience is not quite what you expected, there are steps that you can take to keep yourself mentally healthy. Let’s take a closer look at some of the different ways you might mentally prepare yourself to have a baby....
During a typical pregnancy, the head of the fetus grows as the brain grows. In microcephaly, often times the brain has not grown and developed properly, so the head has not grown accordingly, either. Symptoms Although symptoms of microcephaly can vary, there are symptoms that are more common than others, including: Very small-looking head High-pitched cry Feeding issues Seizures Developmental delays Intellectual disabilities Spasticity of the arms and legs Vision problems Movement and balance issues Hearing loss...
One study, published in a briefing from the Institute for Social & Economic Research at the University of Essex, shows that the closures also had an impact on mothers and their mental health. Moms experienced depression and unhappiness at higher levels when schools were closed. Those mental health challenges, however, were short-lived. School Closures and Mental Health The school closures in the U.K. allowed researchers at the Universities of Birmingham, Essex, and Surrey to have a ready-made study environment....
A card is a simple, thoughtful way to say you’re thinking of your loved one. If you’re not comfortable with any of the pre-printed options available at the drugstore, you can always choose a blank card, or even make one of your own. Before making the decision, it’s a good idea to consult someone closest to the bereaved, if it’s appropriate to do so, such as a sibling or partner....
The Pressure to Breastfeed There’s no denying that breast milk offers optimal nutrition for babies. The evidence is clear and the arguments are many. Mothers of multiples are all too aware of the benefits; they’re elaborated in every book, website, and magazine article. Well-meaning friends, relatives, and medical personnel reiterate the positive power of breastfeeding as they encourage mothers to pursue nursing. Many mothers of multiples are staunch supporters of breastfeeding; they certainly would if they could....
Whether you are choosing a hospital at which to deliver, or you have a baby that requires special care, it helps to know your options. Learn more about the differences between a well-baby nursery, a special care nursery, and a level 3 or level 4 nursery. Special care nurseries can treat babies with some health problems of prematurity, such as jaundice and trouble eating or staying warm. Since feeding is one of the tasks which often determines when a baby can be sent home from a special care nursery, you may wish to learn more about feeding premature babies....
With the CDC’s recommendation of the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, immunizations are top of mind once again for caregivers. Find out how doctors from across the country approach the topic with parents, and what they want families to know about vaccines. Monica Asnani, MD What Do You Want Your Patients’ Parents to Know About Vaccines? Being a parent means making important choices about your child’s health on a daily basis....
Symptoms Common signs and symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome include: Abnormal hair growth, also known as hirsutism, found on the upper lip, chin, around the nipples, or on the abdomen Acne Amenorrhea (absence of monthly menstrual cycles) or oligomenorrhea (irregular monthly menstrual cycles) Elevated levels of the hormone LH (making at-home ovulation tests difficult to use) High levels of androgens, also known as hyperandrogenism Infertility Insulin resistance Irregular or absent ovulation (anovulation) Male pattern balding Oily skin and hair Obesity (though women with PCOS can be underweight or at a normal weight) Presence of polycystic ovaries during ultrasound examination Recurrent miscarriage...
The same goes for your skin, and you may want to reevaluate your regular makeup routine as soon as you get that positive pregnancy test. “Anything you apply topically could potentially be transferred to the fetus during a critical window of human development,” says Nathaniel DeNicola, MD, FACOG, an OB/GYN based in Washington DC.While there’s not a ton of evidence to suggest that exposure to ingredients in makeup can cause harm to a baby, cosmetics can contain certain toxins that may impact fetal health and are associated with a range of potential complications like preterm birth, low birth weight, neuro-developmental delays, and cancer that can crop up during childhood or later in life....
It’s not uncommon to experience pregnancy symptoms in the absence of a positive test. Spend any time on fertility forums or social media sites and you’re bound to hear members refer to “imaginary pregnancy symptoms.” Are these feelings all in your head? Maybe not. Why Do I Get Symptoms After Ovulation If I’m Not Pregnant? Many people experience what seem to be pregnancy symptoms shortly before their period arrives. This happens because the hormone progesterone rises both during early pregnancy and in the premenstrual period....
