Search Results for: blog anemia in pregnancy

The Truth About Your Diet During Pregnancy

One of the assumptions I made about pregnancy prior to becoming pregnant is I’d have a diet-related Get out of Jail Free card.  I knew that there are certain foods it’s best to avoid, but I thought at least I’d have a free pass to eat, well, not quite as much as I wanted, but to feel a bit more guilt-free about evening ice cream binges. That turned out not to be the case at all.  First off, the whole “eating for two” thing isn’t true.  At most, you should eat for one and a quarter.  In addition to that, … Continue reading →

Do Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pregnancy Mix?

Posted on by

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease which causes inflammation in the joints and surrounding tissues. It can lead to deformities in the hands and feet, anemia, decreased range of motion, numbness and tingling, pleurisy, and other mild to severe symptoms. It is a long term disease that can be managed (but not cured) by drugs that are incompatible with a healthy pregnancy. Does that mean women who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis can’t carry a pregnancy? Fortunately, that is not the case! Conception The pain and discomfort associated with RA may affect a couple’s sex life and account for the fact … Continue reading →

Post Partum Anemia

Post partum anemia is a relatively common problem. According to research by the Guttmacher Institute, approximately 27 percent of women experience post partum anemia. The condition may be diagnosed shortly after your baby’s birth or later at the post partum visit. Fatigue is the most common symptom of post partum anemia. All new mothers are tired, but most are feeling better by the post partum checkup. Women with post partum anemia are still exhausted at the six week mark. If you are still experiencing extreme tiredness and it is affecting your ability to go about your daily routine, mention it … Continue reading →

Epilepsy in Pregnancy

In past generations, women with epilepsy were often warned against having babies. This is no longer the case. The way in which women react to pregnancy varies widely and this is difficult to predict prior to pregnancy. A small number will have fewer seizures during pregnancy. Others will have more. For the rest, the condition remains about the same. While the vast majority of pregnant women with epilepsy will go on to have perfectly healthy babies, there are some risks. The best way to ensure the best possible scenario for your baby is to get comprehensive medical care before and … Continue reading →

Fifth Disease and Pregnancy

Fifth disease is cased by parvovirus B19. People often confuse this with the parvovirus that infects dogs and cats. It is not the same parvovirus as your pet can catch. You have nothing to fear even if you have a pet that has been infected with parvovirus. The form found in animals can’t be transmitted to people. Children are most often affected by fifth disease. The symptoms include a rash on the face, trunk and limbs. The rash has the look of lace. The rash on the cheeks gives the disease the nickname “slapped cheek” virus. The rash may itch, … Continue reading →

The Let’s Talk Pregnancy Blog Top Ten: Prenatal Eating Tips

This quick list will help you to make sure you get optimum nutrition during your pregnancy with ease. As long as you remember these ten simple things, you should have no trouble maintaining a healthy pregnancy, barring any unforeseen complications such as preeclampsia, etc. Along with your prenatal supplements, there are certain things that your baby will need to get from you while in utero. You could even print out this list and tape it to your refrigerator for a quick reference before snacking. Without further ado, here are the top ten tips to prenatal eating: TEN: If you don’t … Continue reading →

Anemia in Pregnancy

Anemia is more common during pregnancy than when you are not pregnant. The reason is the increased volume of blood in your body. Iron is needed to make hemoglobin to carry oxygen in the red blood cells. Your growing baby and the placenta also need iron to grow properly. A deficiency in iron is the main cause of anemia. Anemia can have several affects on your baby and your body. If you are anemic, you are at a higher risk of having preterm labor or a low birth weight baby. The baby’s iron level may also be low at birth … Continue reading →

Inherited Diseases – Thalassemia

When you get pregnant, especially for the first time, it is easy to get confused by the vast amount of information that comes your way. From your doctors to your friends and family, everyone has something to tell you. The early discussions that many OBGYNs and midwives have with their newly pregnant patients often contain information regarding genetic testing. There are different types of tests and the reasons for suggesting each test are different. Some specific tests many be suggested based upon your family history and ethnic heritage. Today, I learned from my mother that a fairly distant relative of … Continue reading →

Couples Uniting … in Sickness?

Have you ever noticed how the longer husbands and wives are together, the more they start to look like each other? I have, and it seems to hold true with every couple. I don’t know if it’s so much their facial characteristics as maybe the clothes they wear, or hairstyles, or the fact that they pick up each other’s mannerisms and turns of phrase. Whatever the cause, it seems to happen to everyone. But have you ever stopped to think how sometimes, married couples get the same illnesses? Of course we share the cold and flu with our spouses, but … Continue reading →

An App to Help Prevent Spina Bifida

Posted on by

Technology has come an extremely long way in a very short amount of time. Just think of where we were even 20 years ago – Commodore 64, anyone? What about Zack Morris’ giant cell phone? Today we can access the world with our fingertips on devices that fit in our pockets. And those devices, more specifically the iPhone and all of its apps, can help us lead healthier lives and give our children a healthier start. We’ve all heard about how important folic acid is in a woman’s diet, especially a woman who is planning to become pregnant, or is … Continue reading →