Pregnancy

-- Breast-feeding can be painful or uncomfortable, but there are things moms can do to make it a more pleasant experience. The Nemours Foundation mentions these suggestions to help make breast-feeding more comfortable:Ensure baby is ...

When Unneeded, Induced Labor May Increase Complications

FRIDAY, March 9 -- Inducing labor when it's not necessary increases the risk of cesarean section delivery and other childbirth complications, a new study says.The Australian researchers noted that induced labor is common and increasi...

Ban on Public Smoking Linked to Fewer Preterm Deliveries

TUESDAY, March 6 -- A smoking ban in Scotland is associated with decreases in preterm deliveries and underweight babies, a new study finds.The nationwide ban on smoking in public places took effect in March 2006. The researchers ana...

Fetal Cocaine Exposure May Not Affect Kids' Academics: Study

WEDNESDAY, March 7 -- Exposure to cocaine, tobacco or marijuana before birth does not cause children to score lower on academic tests, according to a new study.Prenatal alcohol exposure, however, even in children with no signs of fet...

Parents' Wishes Sway Docs' Choices on Preterm Deliveries

FRIDAY, March 2 -- When making decisions or counseling families on how to manage very premature deliveries, obstetricians are strongly influenced by parents' wishes, especially when the parents want everything done to save their bab...

Health Tip: Appreciate Your Body Image While Pregnant

-- Some women have a difficult time accepting their changing, growing bodies while they are pregnant.The womenshealth.gov website suggests how to help women better appreciate their bodies during pregnancy:Understand that your body is...

Nicotine Patches Fail Most Pregnant Smokers

Poor Adherence Seen in Nicotine Replacement Study; Safety Issue Still Not Settled By Salynn BoylesWebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 29, 2012 -- Nicotine replacement therapy is widely used to help smokers kick the habit, but ne...

Health Tip: Preventing Back Pain Among New Moms

-- Back pain is common among new moms, who always seem to be lifting and carrying their newborns.The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions to help new mothers thwart back pain:Start exercising in short bur...

Condom Knowledge Not Common Knowledge

Condom Misuse Is Common, Leading to Condoms Breaking, Slipping By Jennifer WarnerWebMD Health News Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD Feb. 24, 2012 -- Knowing how to use a condom correctly -- and actually using it -- may mean the difference between ...

Contraceptives Work Well in Obese Women, But Hormone Levels Lower

THURSDAY, Feb. 23 -- Hormonal contraceptives appear to thwart pregnancy just as well in overweight and obese women as those of normal weight despite markedly lower pregnancy-prevention hormone levels among heavier females, a group of...

Illicit Drug Use May Be Driving Rise in Ectopic Pregnancies in Florida

THURSDAY, Feb. 16 -- An alarming increase in ectopic pregnancy-related deaths among Florida women is likely caused by illicit drug use and delays in seeking medical care, a U.S. report released Thursday says.The finding that deaths f...

Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis Affect Birth Rates

Women With the Autoimmune Diseases Often Have Fewer Children Than Desired, Study Finds By Salynn BoylesWebMD Health News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD Feb. 16, 2012 -- More than half of women diagnosed with lupus or rheumatoid arthritis prior to ...

Weekend Delivery Doesn't Hurt Babies With Birth Defects: Study

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 15 -- Infants with birth defects who are born on weekends or at night do just as well as those delivered on a weekday, a new study says.Both groups of infants stayed at the hospital for the same amount of time, had th...

Health Tip: Is Your Baby Breast-Feeding Enough?

-- Nursing moms may be worried that their newborn isn't getting enough to eat, and it can be difficult to tell when you can't see how much baby is eating. The womenshealth.gov website mentions these indicators that your breast-feedin...

Lead, Cadmium Levels in Blood Linked to Reduced Fertility

TUESDAY, Feb. 14 -- High blood levels of cadmium in women and high levels of lead in males can make it difficult for couples to conceive, new research suggests. Cadmium is a metal that is used in batteries, metal coatings and plasti...

Repeat C-Section Best Scheduled at 39 Weeks, Study Says

FRIDAY, Feb. 10 -- A new childbirth study says 39 weeks' gestation is the best time for elective Cesarean delivery for women who have previously delivered via C-section.The research was slated for presentation Friday at a meeting of ...

Low Vitamin D in Pregnancy Linked to Language Problems in Children

Mothers With Low Levels of Vitamin D in the Second Trimester May Be More Likely to Have Children With Language Difficulties By Cari NierenbergWebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 13, 2012 -- Women who have low levels of vitamin D...

Experts Warn of Antibiotic-Resistant Gonorrhea

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea is an increasingly worrisome reality, and steps need to be taken to limit the risk that an untreatable strain of the sexually transmitted disease will spread, U.S. researchers warn....

Screening Moms-to-Be for Thyroid Trouble May Not Help Offspring

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 8 -- Screening and treating expectant moms for thyroid problems at the end of the first trimester doesn't improve children's IQs at age 3, a new study finds.Thyroid hormones are crucial for the development of a baby's...

Risk of Preterm Birth Rises for Hispanic Women the Longer They're in U.S.

THURSDAY, Feb. 9 -- The longer Hispanic women live in the United States, the more likely they are to have a preterm birth, a new study says.Researchers analyzed data from 2,141 Hispanic women with a prior live birth who took part in ...

Epidural Plus Fever in Mom May Raise Risks for Baby

FRIDAY. Feb. 3 -- The babies of women who develop an epidural-related fever while in labor are at greater risk of having problems right at birth, including poor muscle tone, breathing difficulties, low Apgar scores and seizures, a ne...

Breastfeeding OK for Moms With Asthma

Study: Breastfed Babies Have Better Childhood Lung Function By Salynn BoylesWebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 3, 2012 -- New moms with asthma can safely breastfeed without worrying that the practice will increase their child's...

1 Million Birth Control Pill Packs Recalled

Pregnancy Risk With Lo/Ovral-28, Generic Norgestrel/Ethinyl Estradiol By Daniel J. DeNoonWebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Feb. 1, 2012 -- Pfizer has recalled 1 million packs of Lo/Ovral-28 and generic norgestrel/ethi...

Health Tip: Manage Pain During Childbirth

-- Pain is a virtual certainty during childbirth, but there are ways to ease the discomfort without medication.The womenshealth.gov website mentions these no-medication possibilities:Practicing relaxation and breathing techniques.Rel...

Home Births in the U.S. on the Rise

CDC Reports 29% Increase in Home Births From 2004 to 2009 By Denise MannWebMD Health News Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD Jan. 26, 2012 -- Are home births in again?Home births declined from 1990 to 2004, but jumped by 29% from 2004 to 2009. Even w...

Testosterone Exposure May Explain Boys' Language Delay

THURSDAY, Jan. 26 -- Infant boys exposed to high levels of the male hormone testosterone before birth have double the risk for language delay as females, according to a new study."An estimated 12 percent of toddlers experience signif...

Patient Story: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pregnancy

Manage Your Rheumatoid Arthritis Before, During, and After Pregnancy By Karina Lichtenstein MedicineNet.com Reviewed by William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR Susan is 34 years old, married, and has a young son. She and her husband, Paul, would l...

More Americans Practicing Safe Sex, CDC Reports

THURSDAY, Jan. 19 -- The number of Americans who practice behaviors that put them at risk for HIV infection has declined significantly, federal health officials reported Thursday.The ranks of those engaging in a risky sexual or drug-...

Urinary Incontinence: More Common Than You Think

Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR Urinary incontinence is the involuntary and unintentional leaking of urine. Urinary incontinence can also be an embarrassing problem. As with many...

Asthma Drugs During Pregnancy Linked to Slight Risk of Rare Birth Defects

Researchers Unclear Whether Medications or the Severity of the Asthma Led to Rare Defects By Denise MannWebMD Health News Reviewed by Hansa D. Bhargava, MD, FAAP Jan. 17, 2012 -- New research provides some reassuring news for many pregnant women w...