Pregnancy “Safety Bundles” Can Protect You and Your Baby – What You Need to Know

There is a lot that you can do to increase the probability that you will have a healthy pregnancy and birth while reducing the risk of complications for you and your newborn.

Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy is Rare, But it Brings Attention to Racial Disparities Within Black Maternal Healthcare

In general, fatty liver disease is an accumulation of excess fat in the liver. An excessively fat liver is an unhealthy and possibly damaged liver. So what exactly is acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP), and how is this condition caused?

Why I Wish I Had Known This About Nutrition & Lactating Mothers

Before getting pregnant, I heard so much about how I should eat healthily before conception. What I didn’t hear much about was the importance of nutrition in postpartum and lactating mothers. In fact, during my postpartum check-ins with my doctor, he never asked me what I was eating or how my appetite was.

Trying to Conceive? Test Your Iron First For Your Baby’s Brain

Fetal brain development starts just three and a half weeks after conception. By week five, the brain really starts to develop. At this time, some women are pregnant and don’t even know it. They are also deficient in iron, and this may result in giving birth to a baby with cognitive issues.

Be Proactive About Nutrition Before Pregnancy. Your Child’s Heart May Depend On It

March is National Nutrition Month, and I think many of us would agree that the nutrition of our children is of the utmost importance. What people may not realize, however, is that women need to consume a healthy diet even before getting pregnant. Our diet before pregnancy may affect the health of our future child.

Pregnant Women Should Not Eat For Two, But Perhaps They Should Be Drinking Water For Two

I recall gaining nearly 60 pounds when I was pregnant. I just could not seem to gain enough weight to satisfy my doctor. And I was not underweight when I got pregnant. At 5'10" I weighed about 145 pounds. By my ninth month, I was almost 200 pounds. It used to be quite common for doctors and other to tell pregnant patients that they were eating for two. "Eat as much as you want and whatever you want. Now is the time to do it,” they said.

Why Iodine Needs To Be On Your Radar If You Are Pregnant or Planning to Be

One piece of advice I can give to aspiring mothers and mothers-to-be is to really focus on prenatal nutrition. Even before your baby is conceived, it is important to make sure you are getting an adequate and balanced amount of all the essential nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.

Exercising While Pregnant May Help Secure A Healthier Future For Your Child

When it comes to your child, the benefits of prenatal exercise may be invaluable. For example, new research found evidence suggesting that exercising during pregnancy may help the unborn baby have a lower risk of developing serious health issues, such as diabetes and other metabolic issues, later in life.

How To Be Proactive About Preeclampsia and Your Baby’s Health With Vitamin D

Having a baby is a magical journey, but pregnancy comes with risk and sometimes complications. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that every year, between two to 10 percent of pregnancies in the United States are affected by gestational diabetes. Some pregnant women may also get a condition called preeclampsia.

Some Things to “Weigh” If You Wish To Be Pregnant

Gaining excessive amounts of weight during pregnancy can increase the risk of complications and issues such as gestational diabetes. Some studies have even provided evidence showing that there is a connection between gaining a lot of weight during pregnancy and having an overweight child.

Drinking During Pregnancy May Cause A Depressed Child In Late Adolescence

A recent study found evidence which suggests that pregnant women who drink are at an increased risk of having children who will suffer from depression in late adolescence.

Breast Milk May Provide Protection From Viruses

There is some evidence that breast milk provides protective effects by suppressing the accumulation of potentially pathogenic viruses. And these protective effects were apparent even when the baby was given formula mixed with breast milk.