Posts Tagged ‘diseases’

We here at NCPPC have already told you about the importance of taking Folic Acid before you become pregnant (please refer to our January posts for more folic acid information). Another important step to take before you become pregnant is to get in shape. Believe it or not, exercise may actually help improve your chances of getting pregnant by reducing the risk of one of the most common causes of infertility (when someone is unable to have children).

Exercising regularly, along with having low body fat and avoiding large amounts of alcoholic or caffeinated drinks can reduce you chances of having Endometriosis. Endo what? Well, if you have never heard of Endometriosis before, it is a common health problem that affects more than 5 million women in the U.S. Endometriosis causes the lining of the Uterus or womb, the Endometrium, to grow outside of the uterus. This growth can be very painful and can make it more difficult for you to get pregnant.

Common places for Endometriosis to occur include:

• Ovaries
• Fallopian Tubes
• Tissues that hold the Uterus in place
• Outer surface of the Uterus
• Lining of the Pelvic Cavity

If you have, or had Endometriosis, you may be experiencing feelings of fear, anger or uncertainty, but remember you’re not alone. 

I have a family member who had surgery last year for Endometriosis. Surgery is the one treatment that can boost your chances for getting pregnant. Now, she and her husband are on the road to recovery and hopefully the road to parenthood (I’m keeping my fingers crossed). Have you or someone close to you had Endometriosis? As par of National Endometriosis Awareness Month, would you like to share your story to serve as inspiration for others? Please post your story or opinion in our comment section. 

If you would like more information about this disease, visit one of the websites below or talk to your doctor.

Sources:

National Women’s Health Center

Endometriosos Research Center

I am a huge pet lover. I can’t imagine having to give up my dog Abby for the safety of my children. If you can’t imagine sacrificing Fido for the kids, then start preparing now. You can read or watch a very interesting report from CNN on preparing your pets for the arrival of a new baby.

The CNN report provides some good information for cat lovers too. If you’re pregnant and have a cat, you may want to have someone else clean the cat litter. I’m sure you would be heart broken to have to surrender that duty. You may be wondering what cat litter has to do with pregnancy. Not only does it stink, cat feces could actually cause a disease called Toxoplasmosis. Toxo what?? The name may be complicated, but the message is simple: A parasite in cat feces can cause birth defects. This is a common infection, so it’s up to you to take steps to protect your baby. Below is a list of recommendations from the March of Dimes.  

There are simple steps you can take to avoid toxoplasmosis infection:

• Don’t eat raw or undercooked meat, especially lamb or pork. 
• Wash your hands immediately with soap and water after handling raw meat. 
• Clean cutting boards, work surfaces and utensils with hot, soapy water after contact with raw meat or unwashed fruit or vegetables. 
• Peel or thoroughly wash all raw fruits and vegetables before eating. 
• Don’t empty or clean the cat’s litter box. Let someone else do this. 
• Don’t feed the cat raw or undercooked meat. 
• Keep the cat indoors.
• Don’t get a new cat while you’re pregnant.  
• Wear gloves while gardening.
• Avoid children’s sandboxes. Cats may use them as litter boxes.

Sources for this entry:

“Preparing Rover for Junior’s Arrival” (CNN)

 ”Toxoplasmosis” (March of Dimes)