Knowing about the risks for preterm birth is important for all moms. Some risk factors should be managed before a woman becomes pregnant or early during her pregnancy. Some moms in the study were not told that having a previous premature birth would put them at risk for it to happen again. 

If you would like to learn more about preterm labor read our past blog posts Risks for Preterm Labor and Preterm Labor Can Happen to You .

Local pregnant women or moms who recently had a baby: when did your doctor or midwife talk to you about preterm labor?  How did learning about preterm labor make you feel?

Source: New Survey Reveals Communication about Preterm Birth is Too Little, Too Late

Think you already know it all? You’d be surprised how helpful the text for baby tips can be even for a mom of 7! Watch the clip below to find out more.

Eye on New York: On Family

 For more information visit www.text4baby.org

 Have you tried this service? What did you like best about it? What did you like least about?

1. Eat regularly and nutritiously and drink lots of water.
2. Rest when you can and when your body needs it.
3. Exercise (with your health care provider’s OK).  Exercise helps keep pregnant you fit, helps prevent some common discomforts of pregnancy (such as backache, fatigue and constipation) and relieves stress.
4. Resist any urges to drink alcohol, smoke or take herbal products or drugs (except those prescribed by your health care provider).
5. Stay away from stressful people and stressful situations, when possible.
6. Consider cutting back on unnecessary activities when you are uncomfortable.
7. Ask for and accept help from people who are close to you. Having a good support network, including your partner, extended family and friends can help relieve stress.
8. Go to all your prenatal care appointments. This will give you the reassurance that everything is okay with your baby or let your health care provider know about a problem while there is still time to do something about it. You’ll feel less stressed because you know you are doing the best for your baby.
9. Relax by meditating, listening to music, writing in a journal, or taking a prenatal yoga class.
10. Take a Childbirth Education class. Some classes teach relaxation techniques and help reduce anxiety by educating parents-to-be about what to expect during labor and delivery.

For a Healthy Pregnancy Class, Childbirth Preparation or Breastfeeding Class, call one of the following locations:

Canton-Potsdam Hospital: (315) 261-5965

Carthage Area Hospital: (315) 493-1005 ext. 2445

Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center: (315) 393-5998

E.J. Noble Hospital: (315) 287-1000 ext. 273

Lewis County General Hospital: (315) 376-5602

Massena Memorial Hospital: (315) 769-4349

Samaritan Medical Center: (315) 785-4050

Do you have any healthy pregnancy tips for other moms-to- be? What worked, what didn’t, how did you make it through?

Source: “Stress,” March of Dimes, 2008  “Stress and Pregnancy,” March of Dimes, 2010

Yes, we all experience stress, but it is especially important for pregnant women to try to reduce their stress. High levels of stress can contribute to preterm birth or low- birthweight. Refer to our last post to see how you can recognize when you’re stressed.

 Sources: Mental Health America ; March of Dimes

Stress Signals

1. Feeling angry, irritable or easily frustrated
2. Feeling overwhelmed*
3. Change in eating habits
4. Problems concentrating
5. Feeling nervous or anxious
6. Trouble sleeping
7. Problems with memory
8. Feeling burned out from work
9. Feeling that you can’t overcome difficulties in your life
10. Having trouble functioning in your job or personal life*

* If you feel overwhelmed, unable to cope and feel as though your stress is affecting how you function every day, it could be something more, like depression or anxiety. Don’t let it go unchecked. Contact your health care provider.

Once you have identified that you’re stressed, the next step is to find healthy ways to cope with it. In honor of National Mental Health month, we will be sharing with you several stress management tips, signs of post-partum depression, and more. Please visit soon, learn more.

Source: Mental Health America 

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

Were you self-conscious about your body before you got pregnant? I’m sure the weight gain, enlarged breasts, food cravings, mood swings, and increased fatigue are not helping. It is natural for your body to change during pregnancy to help support the growth and development of your baby. Even though the changes may be tough, especially if you had a low body image before, it is reassuring to know that the changes are happening so you can have a healthy baby! Here are some tips from The National Women’s Health Information Center to help you love and accept your pregnant body. 

1. Concentrate on your baby. Your body is changing in order to help your baby grow and develop. It is a natural process.
2. Express your feelings. Talk with your partner, family, or friends about how you are feeling. Keeping your feelings bottled up will only make you feel worse.
3. Try to get out for some enjoyable exercise. A light swim or walk can help you clear your mind and get the focus off your body.
4. Take up prenatal yoga. Yoga focuses not on how your body looks, but on the link between your body and your mind. Make sure it is yoga that is safe during pregnancy, because some positions can be dangerous during pregnancy (check with your doctor to be safe). 
5. Learn as much as you can about pregnancy. By educating yourself, you will know what to expect and feel more in control.
6. If you are really having serious issues, seek out mental health counseling.

 Sources for entry: Women’s Health, National Eating Disorders Association,

Source for picture:

http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/sex-doctor/css/pregnant-couple-embrace.jpg

Text4baby will help you have a safe and healthy pregnancy by providing you with information you need to give your baby the best possible start in life. You can sign up for this free service by texting BABY to 511411 (or BEBE for Spanish.)

Please let me know what you think of this new service and remember it’s FREE!

For more information visit text4baby.org

• 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

 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)