Archive for January, 2010
Ladies Listen Up: There is a Birth Defect that is 100% Preventable
I have said it before, but I can’t say enough; there is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant. Not planning to be pregnant any time soon? Half of all pregnant women did not plan to be pregnant last year either. Are you wondering what the big deal is? Well, the big deal is that if you drink any amount of alcohol during your pregnancy, you are putting your baby at risk for a variety of problems including the following:
- Abnormal facial features
- Small head size
- Shorter-than-average height
- Low body weight
- Poor coordination
- Hyperactive behavior
- Difficulty paying attention
- Poor memory
- Difficulty in school (especially with math)
- Learning disabilities
- Speech and language delays
- Intellectual disability or low IQ
- Poor reasoning and judgment skills
- Sleep and sucking problems as a baby
- Vision or hearing problems
- Problems with the heart, kidneys, or bones
Some of these effects happen before a woman even knows she is pregnant. Remember FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders) are the only birth defects that are 100% preventable.
Have a plan to prevent.
If drinking alcohol is a part of your social life, what do you plan to do during your pregnancy so you’re not tempted to drink? What will you do to prevent boredom? Who will support you?
I’d love to hear your plan. Maybe your advice will help make it easier for other women.
Source: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/facts.html
Haiti’s Babies Need You
Being pregnant or having a new baby can be stressful at times. Now imagine that your entire world has collapsed around you. I know none of us can truly understand what it is like to live in Haiti right now, but we are all concerned for the health and wellbeing of the earthquake victims. There are many ways you can help the people of Haiti. The March of Dimes has joined efforts with UNICEF to help the Haitian women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and babies who are in dire need of proper nutrition, safe water, and safe ways to prepare infant formula, as well as supplies such as diapers and clothing.
Moms and babies in Haiti need your help urgently. If you want to act immediately, text the word BABY to 20222 to make your $5 donation. Donations made with your cell phone between now and February 15 will be applied to this effort.
Source for this entry:
“March of Dimes Supports Urgent Needs Of Mothers and Babies in Haiti Earthquake” (March of Dimes)
