SubscribeTopic: Pregnancy & Health
Just Because You’re Pregnant Doesn’t Mean You Have A ‘Get Out Of Chlamydia Free’ Card
Sexual fidelity and committed partnerships might be assumed when seeing a pregnant woman, but the numbers tell a different story — at least as far as STDs go. Without peeking too closely into the bedrooms of soon-to-be-parents, Reuters reports that 100,000 pregnant women in the United States contract chlamydia each year while over 13,000 have gonorrhea. Yet, very few pregnant women even get tested for STDs, despite regular doctors visits during their prenatal care. More »
Thanks Tanning Mom! NJ Set To Ban Underage Tanning
Say what you want about “tanning mom” Patricia Krentcil, but her frequent visits to the tanning salon — with or without her daughter — have prompted her home state of New Jersey to think more critically about underage tanning. So much so that the state is looking to ban minors from those cancer beds, just like California and Vermont. More »
Unbearable: I Refuse To See ‘What To Expect’ When I’m Not Expecting
It’s hard enough to deal with real pregnant women who are complaining about their swollen ankles. A whole movie of it would be torture. More »
Fewer Precious White Children Being Born As Babies Of Color Reach All-Time High
The privilege of white children starts in the womb. Even from birth, children of color are somehow shirked of basic health care just as they’re coming into the world, learning quite early that their lives aren’t nearly as valuable as that of white children. And yet with historic news that babies of color account for over half of infants born in 2011, that privilege stands to be reexamined. More »
Help For Moms: UK Assigns Midwife To Every Pregnant Woman
If you’re pregnant and you live in the UK, you’re in luck. That’s because the National Health Service (NHS) plans to provide expectant moms with a midwife before, during and after labor. The initiative is meant to help combat postpartum depression – and I must say it’s an amazing idea. More »
Rosie Pope’s Advice To Jessica Simpson: Lose The Baby Weight ‘Hard and Fast’
Pregnant in Heels star Rosie Pope recently offered some advice for new mom Jessica Simpson in an interview with US Weekly, encouraging her to take her time…but not too much More »
I’m Having A Baby, Not Hosting A Party – Stay Out Of My Hospital Room!
It almost feels like I’m hosting a party that I didn’t really invite anyone to, nor did I really want to have. I actually know that I’ll be the worst host in the history of hosts and though I didn’t invite anyone, they are all coming anyway. I’m talking about the day I give birth. More »
Who Knew? IUDs Work Even Better Than ‘Morning After Pill’ As Emergency Contraceptive
When it comes to birth control, many moms out there swear by the IUD. In fact, the T-shaped device is making a comeback; The New York Times reports that the number of women in American using an IUD has more than tripled since 2002, while our own poll reveals nearly half of Mommyish readers are using one (ahead of condoms and birth control pills combined). Now a new study is touting the IUD as something much more than just birth control: it can actually work as an emergency contraceptive. Meaning if the condom rips, for instance, having an IUD inserted within five days is extremely effective in preventing pregnancy (even more so than Plan B, aka “the morning-after pill”). Who knew?! More »
Holy PR Mommy: Rosie Pope Induces On Mother’s Day & Live-Tweets Delivery
In case you weren’t aware, Rosie Pope‘s Bravo reality show Pregnant In Heels will be returning for its second season tomorrow night! So it’s such a public relations masterstroke insane coincidence that the pregnancy guru gave birth to her third child on Mother’s Day. More »
Mommyish Poll: Would You Get A Contraceptive Implant Immediately Following Birth?
Childbirth and an OBGYN appointment all packed into one. Wonder if a joint deal results in a discount? More »
I May Be On Mat Leave, But I’m No Domestic Goddess
When it comes to maternity leave, I’m more frumpy housewife than domestic goddess.
“This isn’t what I signed up for,” I’d think to myself, somewhat annoyed. As I learned rather quickly, being at home meant that I was actually responsible for the home. I could no longer ignore the laundry piling up in our bedroom or the toothpaste-crusted sink in our upstairs bathroom. When I was working outside the home, I’d let those things slide for days on end. But sadly for me, that was no longer an option. More »
Sorry Lactivists, Formula Samples From The Hospital Aren’t The Problem
Focusing on removing formula samples from hospitals is misdirected energy. How about we make breastfeeding easier for new moms by fighting for paid maternity leave and broad support for public breastfeeding, instead of simply trying to remove their alternatives. More »
Unbearable: Suffering From Secondary Infertility & Stuck In The Middle Of Mother’s Day
On one hand, Mother’s Day is a time to be thankful for the child you have. But it’s also a reminder of the kids you still want. Moms struggling with secondary infertility have every right to feel torn between these conflicting emotions during Mother’s Day. More »
Ask An OB/GYN: What’s ‘Normal’ Pregnancy Weight Gain And Post-Pregnancy Weight Loss
Did Jessica Simpson gain too much weight during her pregnancy? Did Victoria’s Secret model, Alessandra Ambrosio not gain enough weight? Did Beyoncelose her post-baby weight too quickly? Plenty of people think they have the answers just by looking at them and judging their appearance pre- and post-baby. But what are the real health concerns and medical guidelines for pregnancy weight gain?
On behalf of women everywhere who may be feeling pressured to have the perfect body while pregnant and fit back into those skinny jeans a few weeks later, we set out to get answers from a qualified professional–instead of snarky media headlines. We consulted with Dr. Myra Wick, a OB/GYN from the Mayo Clinic to get the real scoop on healthy pregnancy weight gain and weight loss. Take a look at what she had to say: More »
My OB Is Pregnant And Due Two Days Before Me — Yikes!
I really, really like my OB. Too bad she won’t be delivering my baby. Every two weeks, and soon-to-be every week, I make the trek to see her. I actually look forward to these visits, not just because I get to hear my baby’s heartbeat but because I quite enjoy my conversations with my doctor. She is pretty much a really nice obstetrician who also happens to be pregnant. In fact, my OB is due two days before me so, really, my visits to her are more like hanging out and moaning with a good pregnant friend than it is with a doctor.
“My rib cages are killing me! I think the baby’s ass is pushing it up,” I told her yesterday during one of my visits. “Oh, Rebecca. You’re speaking my life,” she responded. More »
Science Tells Us How To Have A Healthy Pregnancy; Should The Law Punish Women Who Don’t?
Everyone agrees that a pregnant woman shouldn’t smoke crack or snort meth, right? And the consensus that they shouldn’t smoke cigarettes or throw back a six-back every night is fairly ironclad, as well. Beyond obviously harmful behaviors like alcohol and drug use, however, things get more complicated. And with good reason: Mothers’ own needs and health must be carefully balanced with the needs and health of potential children they’re carrying. After all, pregnant women aren’t simply baby incubating machines. But try telling that to the state of Alabama.
Of course no one wants pregnant women to be using drugs. And the advances in our knowledge about neonatal development and what affects it are a great thing. I’m glad we’re learning more and more about how what happens in the womb can have incredibly long-lasting effects. But the question now is: What do we do with that knowledge? Do we use it to try and help pregnant women make the best decisions they can? Or do we use it to punish pregnant women who don’t? More »
SNL Takes A Crack At New Jersey Tanning Mom, But Should We Really Be Laughing?
What’s so funny about a woman abusing something as dangerous as tanning? As well as a parent who may have endangered her child because of it? More »
A Mother’s Wait: Sextuplets Can Be Welcomed Home In Two Months
Lauren and David Perkins, the couple who welcomed sextuplets in Texas, have yet to be offered a reality show it seems. But the family is struggling very publicly with the health of their newborn sons and daughters. While all the babies are reportedly improving “slowly but surely,” their parents will not be able to take them home from the hospital for another two months — a long wait for any new mother.
Five of the six newborns are presently on breathing… More »
