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The Pregnancy Blog Review for Feb 25 – March 14

The pregnancy blog covers all topics related to conception, pregnancy, labor, birth and the postpartum time after the baby arrives. The blog review is a good place to view the recently covered topics. You can also browse by category on the right side of the page. Gestational diabetes affects about five percent of all pregnant women. The glucose test done in the second trimester screens for this condition. If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you will have to learn to manage the condition and monitor your blood sugar levels. Learn more in Managing Gestational Diabetes. If you have not … Continue reading →

The Baby Blog in Review: September 16 to September 29

It’s that time of the week again when I review what’s happening in the baby blog. If you have reading to catch up on, go grab a cup of coffee and have a seat! Sept 16 Why Use a Baby Hammock? A baby hammock is a great way to help ease your little one back to sleep because instead of producing a motorized motion, a hammock sways and bounces with the babies own movements. Therefore, when the baby stirs, the hammock responds and gently lulls baby back to sleep. Sept 17 How to Dress Your Baby for Cold Weather Stop … Continue reading →

What is In Vitro Fertilization?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one form of assisted reproductive technology that is used to help women get pregnant. Basically, the sperm and the egg are removed from the bodies of the parents and the egg is fertilized in a lab. After fertilization, the eggs are placed in the uterus. Ovulation is usually induced through the use of injectable fertility drugs. Your partner will give you the injections at home. The staff at the fertility clinic will teach you and your partner how to do the injections correctly. Your hormone levels will be monitored with blood tests. The development of … Continue reading →

First U.S. Baby Born After a Uterus Transplant

TIME reported that, for the first time in the United States, a baby was born to a woman who had a uterus transplant. The birth took place at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. TIME protected the privacy of the woman and her husband in order to protect their identity. This was the first birth of the hospital’s ongoing uterus transplant clinical trial. The women who participated in the trial have absolute uterine factor infertility (AUI). This could mean that their uterus is nonfunctional or is nonexistent. Some of the women in the program have Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) which causes the … Continue reading →

U.S. Birthrate Increased Due to Older Moms

The overall birthrate in the United States has increased for the first time in seven years. In addition, the birthrate among teens has dropped. Where is the increase coming from? It turns out that the slight increase in births is due to older moms. The Verge reported some data from a report created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Part of the report noted the birthrate in the United States for 2013 and 2014. In 2013, there were 62.5 births per 1,000 women. In 2014, that number slightly increased to 63 births per 1,000 women. The CDC … Continue reading →

UK Approves Three-Person IVF Techniques

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Couples who are having difficulty conceiving have the option of turning to in vitro fertilization (IVF). The process allows that couple to pass their own genetic material onto an offspring that is biologically theirs. The UK recently approved a new kind of IVF that has been referred to as “three-parent babies”. The two techniques are somewhat different but each can be used to help couples produce a healthy child. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex procedure that combines an egg and sperm outside of the body. The conception happens in a laboratory. Once an embryo (or embryos as is … Continue reading →

Catholic Healthcare West Ends Ties With Catholic Church

Catholic Healthcare West is one of the biggest hospital systems in the United States. It has decided to end its affiliation with the Catholic Church, and to change its name. The change is not going to affect patients, or the medical care provided at these hospitals. When I first heard about this change, I immediately thought about the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and their battle against a particular health reform law. In short, the Bishops do not feel that Catholic hospitals, Catholic universities, or Catholic social service agencies should have to follow this particular law, because doing so … Continue reading →

Doctors Using Medical Treatments as Prizes on Facebook

Couples who are unable to conceive frequently turn to IVF. This procedure can be extremely expensive to pay for, especially if your health insurance doesn’t happen to cover it. Some doctors have started Facebook contests where the prize is free IVF treatment. This brings up many legal, and ethical questions. IVF stands for “in vitro fertilization”. This treatment can be used by couples who have not been able to conceive by natural means. Part of the treatment involves collecting the woman’s eggs, and the man’s sperm, and putting them together in a petrie dish. Conception occurs outside of the body. … Continue reading →

Babies With Three Biological Parents

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Scientists in the UK have devised a way that could remove the risk that a couple would pass on an incurable genetically heritable illness onto their child. This would involve an alteration of what is typically done for in vitro fertilization. The new technique would produce a healthy child who would actually have three biological parents, instead of two. Genealogists may wonder how to incorporate this child into a standard family tree. The technique is being called “three -parent IVF”. The technique is being reviewed by the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority in the UK. At this time, they feel … Continue reading →

Insurance Coverage Means Fewer Multiple Births

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Health insurance plays a large part in the lives of so many people. Whether or not a specific procedure, treatment, or form of health care is covered by your insurance company plays a big part in the choices a person makes in his or her life. A study shows that if insurance covers in vitro fertilization treatments, it will lead to fewer instances of multiple births. Most of the time, when people think about health insurance, they are either thinking about health care options, or about money. The difference between being able to see a doctor or a specialist, and … Continue reading →