Baby's First Weeks - Postpartum Baby Care

Pregnancy After Miscarriage

admin — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 22:55:08 +0000

Right After Miscarriage, Study Shows

Expert says this suggests it’s safe to ‘try again’ immediately afterwards

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Aug. 5 (HealthDay News) — Women who get pregnant within six months after having a miscarriage stand the best chance of having a healthy pregnancy with the fewest complications, Scottish researchers report.

The time that couples should wait after a miscarriage before trying to get pregnant is a matter of debate among medical experts. Some doctors say there is no reason for asking women to hold off trying to conceive, but according to the study authors, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends waiting at least six months.

The Scottish researchers said their findings suggests the WHO guidelines need to be revisited.

“Our data showed, that at least in Scottish women, there is no justification in delaying a pregnancy following an uncomplicated miscarriage,” said lead researcher Dr. Sohinee Bhattacharya, a lecturer in obstetric epidemiology at the University of Aberdeen, Dugald Baird Centre for Research on Women’s Health at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital in Aberdeen.

“This research will help health-care providers to counsel women regarding timing of future pregnancies and will allow couples to make informed choices based on hard evidence,” Bhattacharya said.

WHO guidelines may still be applicable to women in developing countries, she added.

The report is published in the Aug. 5 online edition of the British Medical Journal.

For the study, Bhattacharya’s team collected data on 30,937 women who had had miscarriages in their first pregnancy and then became pregnant again. These women were seen in Scottish hospitals between 1981 and 2000.

The researchers found that women who got pregnant again within six months were less likely to miscarry again, to have to terminate the pregnancy or to have an ectopic pregnancy compared with women who got pregnant six to 12 months after their miscarriage. (They were, however, at a higher risk of induced labor.)

These women were also less likely to have a cesarean delivery, have a premature delivery or have a low birth weight baby, the researchers noted. This association was not due to social and personal factors or by other problems in pregnancy including smoking, they added.

And delaying getting pregnant after a miscarriage carries some risks, they said.

Putting off pregnancy, particularly in developed countries, can be problematic, researchers noted. “Women over 35 are more likely to experience difficulties in conceiving, and women aged 40 years have a 30 percent chance of miscarriage, which rises to 50 percent in those aged 45 years or more. Any delay in attempting conception could further decrease their chance of a healthy baby,” they wrote.

Julia Shelley, an associate professor from the School of Health and Social Development at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, and author of an accompanying journal editorial, said the study did not conclusively answer the question of when the best time was to get pregnant after a miscarriage.

“In research such as this study, it is not possible to tell whether the intervals between pregnancies were deliberately chosen, or were accidental or involuntary,” Shelley said. “Consequently, we cannot really tell whether pregnancies conceived very soon after a miscarriage really do have better outcomes, or whether women [and couples] who conceive quickly following a miscarriage have better outcomes in a subsequent pregnancy than couples who take longer to conceive.”

“I think we can say that the study suggests that there is no harm in conceiving again immediately following a miscarriage,” Shelley said.

But, she added, “I don’t think the study provides good evidence that pregnancies conceived six to 12 months following a miscarriage will have poorer outcomes than those conceived more quickly. For example, the higher rate of pregnancy terminations in pregnancies conceived between 6 and 12 months may mean that more of these pregnancies are unintended.”

Another expert, however, suggested the study presents new evidence for trying again sooner following a miscarriage.

“I agree women should wait a couple of months after a miscarriage then try again, but we really never had the hard evidence why we do that,” said Dr. George Attia, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

“It’s good to find a study that supports our way of thinking,” he said.

I Would Love To Hear From You!

admin — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 03:04:58 +0000

I would love any suggestions for stories, teachings, Q & A, newletter topics and webinar topics that I will be holding very soon. I am hoping that you will all sign up and participate in the series of webinars that I am putting together in the next few months. Some of the topics will cover pregnancy and what to expect, Bringing baby home and getting started with your new family. Nutrition and a cooking class from my daughter who graduated last year from Cordon Bleu Culinary School. Suggestions for what type of foods you would be interested in learning about is appreciated. Parent tips on sleeping habits and getting a good night’s sleep.

I will also be having webinars in my baby classes and breastfeeding classes. I will be talking about sleep training and much much more.

Be sure to send me your email address so that I can add you to the list. I look forward to seeing you soon

Babies Learn To Swim

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 17:57:05 +0000

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/howaboutthat/7826576/Swimming-babies-underwater-photographs-of-babies-learning-how-to-swim.html

These babies are so cute!

Babies the Movie

admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:16:26 +0000

Please copy and paste link below to be taken to the trailer of the movie Babies

In Theatres Now!

http://www.focusfeatures.com/video/babies_the_trailer

Thinking About Breastfeeding?

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 20:55:35 +0000

Please click on the link below to get some information about breastfeeding.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cuu8UEXzVQ0&feature=player_embedded

Moses Basket

admin — Thu, 27 May 2010 06:59:15 +0000

How Moms Around The World Carry Around Their Babies on HubPages

Click on the link above to learn about the Moses Basket

Scroll down the page to watch the UTube video

Baby Massage

admin — Mon, 24 May 2010 22:26:57 +0000

Baby massage can be a good thing for both parent and child because:

It’s a good bonding experience – a good way for you and your baby to get to know each other and to spend a bit of quality time together.
Studies have suggested that physical contact is good for babies, improving their breathing, circulation, digestion and growth.
It provides a good source of sensory and muscle stimulation, which is beneficial to all babies, but may be particularly good for babies with special needs, such as developmental disabilities and Down’s syndrome.
Baby massage is even claimed to combat postpartum depression in mothers.
It relaxes both parent and child.
It’s fun for both of you.

Some health professionals feel that you should not carry out massage on newborn babies, or should wait until they have had their first full course of immunizations (at around 3-4 months). Conversely, others feel you should start as soon as possible, as massage can help to provide a smooth transition from the womb to the outside world and that massage is particularly beneficial to premature babies. Massage is also a popular option for coping with colic, a problem normally only encountered in babies under 3-4 months. If you have any concerns about massaging your baby – and especially if your baby is sick – you should consult an appropriate health professional first. In any case: never massage a baby if the baby seems uncomfortable.

Your Developing Baby during Pregnancy

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 19:01:55 +0000

How a baby develops during pregnancy

Animation to show how a baby develops during pregnancy.

Pregnancy and Giving Birth

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 18:56:18 +0000

inside pregnancy labour & birth

Click on the link above to watch an animated version of a woman approaching the birth of her baby.

Postpartum Depression and Dads

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 18:38:00 +0000

May 18, 2010

Postpartum Depression Can Strike New Dads

TUESDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) — Although many people know that new moms are at increased risk of depression following the birth of a child, new research suggests that about 10 percent of new dads experience the “baby blues,” too.

What’s more, the researchers found that if the mother experiences postpartum depression, the father is more apt to be depressed also, which puts the baby at a significantly greater risk of developing emotional, behavioral and developmental problems later on, according to the study.

“Pre- and postnatal depression in men is real. The overall rate of depression in fathers was 10.4 percent in our analysis, about twice what we would expect in the general population of men,” said the study’s lead author, James Paulson, an associate professor and clinical psychologist at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk.

Results of the study are published in the May 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Postpartum depression affects between 10 percent and 30 percent of new mothers, according to background information in the study. What’s been less well-studied, according to the authors, is the risk of male depression before and after the birth of a child, as well as the potential consequences to the child.

To get a better handle on the incidence of paternal postnatal depression, Paulson and his co-author, Sharnail Bazemore, reviewed data from 43 studies including more than 28,000 men.

Overall, 10.4 percent of men experienced depression either in the pre- or postnatal period. The normal rate of depression for men in the general population is just under 5 percent, according to Paulson.

Rates of depression in men were highest when the baby was between 3 to 6 months old, reaching about 25 percent during this time period, according to the study.

The researchers also found an association between the risk of maternal and paternal depression. If one parent was depressed, the other was more likely to experience depression.

“This study brings attention to a very important issue that is sometimes overlooked,” said Shona Vas, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Chicago Medical Center. “As joyous an occasion as the birth of a new baby is, it’s a tremendous transition, and transitions are stressful. And, it’s a change that comes with significant impact on your day-to-day functioning, affecting sleep, taking care of yourself, exercising and more.”

According to Paulson and Vas, signs of paternal depression include a sad or depressed mood, a loss of interest in activities that you once enjoyed, fatigue, sleep problems, a loss of appetite, feelings of hopelessness and irritability. The problem is, many of these symptoms may be dismissed because people assume that they’re due to the new baby, such as sleep problems or changing activities.

Both Paulson and Vas said that education prior to the birth of the child could be very helpful. Just letting parents know that they’re at higher risk of depression, what they need to look for and what they can do about it, could help.

“Provide education ahead of time, giving the couple time to talk about options and solutions,” said Vas. “Figure out how you’ll be able to take time for yourself, while still being supportive. Negotiate as a couple ahead of time how you’ll each take time for yourself,” she suggested.

If you recognize any of the signs of depression in yourself or a loved one, a primary care doctor is a good place to start seeking treatment, according to the experts.

However, “men are extraordinarily less likely to seek mental health services [than women],” Paulson noted. “If we can get a man in to see his family doctor or even a mental health provider, that’s a really major step.”

In the meantime, men should know that paternal depression is “something that can and should be treated,” he said.

“Even if you don’t want to seek services for depression for yourself, seek services because your depression is likely to affect your kids,” Paulson explained. “Depression occurs in families; it’s not just affecting dad. Depression can’t be looked at in isolation. When parents are depressed, children may have a higher risk of behavioral issues, and with things such as learning language or learning to read.”