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The Pregnancy Blog Week in Review for September 3-9

This past week flew by with the holiday. If the past week has been as busy for you as it was for me, you may not have had the chance to visit the pregnancy blog. Catch up on your reading with this week in review. If you haven’t been able to conceive and can’t understand why, consider having your thyroid checked. Hypothyroidism can interfere with your ovulation cycle and prevent conception. Learn more about this condition and symptoms in Hypothyroidism and Trying to Conceive. Mood swings are a difficult part of pregnancy, both for the expectant mother and her partner. … Continue reading →

What to Expect in Preconception Counseling

It is beneficial for all women to schedule a visit with the doctor before trying to conceive. This visit will help you make positive lifestyle changes that will benefit you and help ensure a healthy baby. If you have a chronic illness or are at increased risk for a specific birth defect, preconception counseling is a must before you start trying to have a baby. Certain factors related to the health of the mother and the family history of both parents can increase the likelihood of certain birth defects. Some of these are heredity such as Tay Sachs Disease or … Continue reading →

Medicaid Coverage in New York for Pregnant Women

The Medicaid programs in each state have a portion that is designed to cover the health care needs of women who are pregnant. In New York, the main Medicaid program will provide that coverage. The state also has a prenatal care program, and a family planning program. Medicaid is a public, or government run, form of health insurance. It provides coverage for individuals and families who are low income, and who are unable to afford to buy a health plan from a private insurance company. Medicaid is funded, in part, by the federal government. It is also partially funded by … Continue reading →

Preparing Your Health History

One of the major components of your first prenatal check up is the health history interview. It should feel somewhat familiar, since many doctors do this on your first visit, but the prenatal version is a little more detailed. To prepare, it may help to look over some of these questions beforehand in case you need to make a few phone calls to your mom or relatives. What is your history with pregnancy? Have you been pregnant before? Have you ever had a miscarriage? Have you ever had an abortion? If you have had a baby before, how did you … Continue reading →

What To Expect…. in a Movie?

If you’re reading the pregnancy blog here on Families, I’ll bet you that you’ve also read the well known book, “What To Expect When You’re Expecting.” It’s a staple on every pregnant woman’s reading list. After all, the book sums up just about every symptom and milestone of pregnancy, and it comes with its own online community. I used to keep it at my bedside during my pregnancy so I could stay up late reading about what was supposed to happen to me next. I was always surprised by how accurate the book was! It just goes to show you … Continue reading →

The Three Most Common Types of Bleeding Disorder

Bleeding disorders interfere with the body’s clotting ability, and lead to prolonged bleeding after an injury. Under normal circumstances, when the body is injured, the platelets in blood gather around the wound. Proteins in the plasma (known as blood clotting factors) work with platelets and other substances to form a clot over the wound — the blood turns from liquid to solid. In a person with a bleeding disorder, those clotting factors may be missing — or may not work they way they should. The most common bleeding disorder is hemophilia A — also known as factor VIII deficiency or … Continue reading →

What are Bleeding Disorders?

Blood clotting (also known as coagulation) is how the body controls bleeding — it changes blood from a liquid to a solid. Proteins in the blood work together to stop bleeding. But if a person is missing or lacking in certain proteins, they may have a bleeding disorder. The term “bleeding disorder” covers a wide range of problems that all have one result: poor clotting and prolonged bleeding. Your doctor may refer to a bleeding disorder as coagulopathy, abnormal bleeding, or clotting disorder. Other things can cause bleeding disorders besides clotting protein deficiency: Defects in the blood vessels Abnormalities in … Continue reading →

Women Not Heeding Advice on PrePregnancy Health

Women’s health experts recommend preparing for pregnancy before you start trying to conceive. The theory is that if all women of child bearing age took certain health and lifestyle precautions, it could increase the outcome of pregnancies. In fact, many pregnancies are not planned and certain habits can contribute to problems for both mom and baby. Although experts in many countries have been making these recommendations for many years, it now appears women may not be getting the message. Research conducted in the UK shows that women aren’t hearing the warnings or making changes prior to becoming pregnant. The research … Continue reading →

Concerns about Epilepsy Drugs

Epilepsy can be serious and pose risks to the mother and fetus during pregnancy. Conventional wisdom holds that high quality prenatal care as well as medical care for epilepsy is the best way to ensure a healthy baby. In fact, this method works well, since the vast majority of women with epilepsy do have healthy babies. Another piece of conventional medical wisdom is that women with epilepsy should continue to take their medications throughout the pregnancy. While a small number of women with mild seizures may be able to wean off their medications, this is not typical. There are risks … 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 →