Parenting Children

United States researchers say that having children may help reduce a woman’s risk of breast cancer. The protective cells transferred from the fetus to the mother may get into a mother and recognize a pre-cancer breast cancer cell and kill it before it becomes an active cancer.

“Researchers in Seattle studied 82 women, 35 of whom had been diagnosed with breast cancer, to test a theory that fetal cells which take up residence in the mother — called fetal micro-chimerism — protect against breast cancer. ” They think that these fetal cells can stay with the mother all through her life and protect her against this type of cancer.

The results of the study were published in the October issue of Cancer Research. So according to this new study having a baby and having morning sickness may really help your changes for getting breast cancer.

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breast cancer, pregnancy, women’s healthy, preventing breast cancer, having children

Do you wish your body was back into your pre-baby shape? Many more moms these days are going in for makeovers, body makeovers after having their children.
Moms are seeking cosmetic surgery more then ever before to zap away those stretch marks, lift those sagging breasts and get rid of the skin problems. Having a baby takes a huge toll on your body, we all know that. There is only so much you can do with diet and exercise after being pregnant, like in my case where I have loose skin after being stretched so far with my BIG twins.

It is also a pricey alternative to just living with the saggy breasts you may have. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons the costs for the most common surgeries are: breast augmentation: $3,600, breast lift $4,200, liposuction: $2,750 and tummy tuck (abdominoplasty): $5,063.
I won’t even go into vaginal rejuvinations.

So tell me, if you are done having children, would you consider having plastic surgery? Would you mind some help getting back into pre-baby shape if money was not an issue?

pre-baby shape, pregnancy, women, moms, new moms, plastic surgery, mom makeovers, cosmetic surgery

Government figures now show that U.S women are dying in childbirth at the highest rate in decades. “The U.S. maternal mortality rate rose to 13 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2004, according to statistics released this week by the National Center for Health Statistics.”
In 2003 the rate was 12 per 100,000 live births, the first time that rate has risen above 10 deaths since 1977.

The deaths are a small number, but still a scary statistic to be faced with. Experts think that maternal obesity and the rise in Caesarean sections are partly to blame. Caesarean sections should not be taken lightly, it is major surgery, I know, I had major complications with my C-section and was minutes away from having a hysterectomy and could have died. Experts point to the rising C-section rate, now 29 percent of all births! Much higher than what public health experts say is appropriate and the highest C-section rate in the world.

Besides obesity and caesarean sections, other risks include:
Age, many mothers are waiting until their late 30s or 40s to give birth

Race-studies show that the maternal death rate in black women is at least three times greater than is it is for white women.

Quality of care- many deaths could be prevented with good medical care and good prenatal care.

Would you elect for a C-section even if it was not medically necessary? What do you think we can do about this rising mortality rate?

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childbirth, Caesarean section, childbirth mortality rate, c-section, c-section mortality, pregnancy, pregnant, childbirth risks

At the auditions for American Idol 7 in Dallas Texas on Tuesday, a women went into labor. She went up and sang for producers when she realized she was in labor and starting her contractions.
“I kept singing. One of the judges gave me her seat! I told her I had been there all day, and nothing was going to stop me from singing. I hadn’t been there all day for nothing!”

That baby was lucky for her because she did get a golden ticket to the next round and then rushed over to a hospital where she delivered a son. The best yet? She named him after the show, her son is named Jamil LaBarron Idol McCowan.

That should at least earn her a ticket to the next round!

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American Idol auditions, American Idol, pregnancy, labor, going into labor, strange baby names, baby names

Women who were obese before they became pregnant had a higher rate of children born with birth defects including missing limbs, malformed hearts and underdeveloped spinal cords a new study shows.

In 2003 and 2004, 51 percent of U.S. women aged 20 to 39 were overweight or obese, putting them at increased risk for chronic diseases, infertility, irregular menstruation and pregnancy complications.
Although obesity may not be the cause, it could be the diet of obese women or the way they chose to diet.

Doctors urge women who are overweight to lose weight sensibly and without compromising vitamans and minerals a women needs including folic acid before trying to conceive.

pregnancy, trying to conceive, conception, obese women, birth defects

Being pregnant with twins I have had my share of stupid questions asked of me. I have even written about it before.
Are they natural, do twins run in your family, is it hard, and my absolute favorite, are they identical?
Some of you may be new readers so I will tell you, I have boy/girl twins.
They cannot be identical.

This is not so obvious to many people out there because I have been asked that question no less then 100 times. Is everyone flunking biology in high school or have they just forgotten anything they once knew about the human anatomy?
I would love to point this out to said stupid person but instead I just say “no”. I wish I could be more snarky.

Everyone gets asked stupid or rude questions when they were pregnant, what are your favorites? Don’t you wish you could have just handed them this?
Even if it was just to beat people who asked dumb questions about the head with it!

pregnancy, pregnant, stupid pregnant questions, twins, kids, parenting, parents, moms

When you are eating for two, you need to avoid foods for two, anything that could harm you or your baby.
Here is a list of foods to avoid when you are pregnant, and as with anything, consult your doctor if you have questions.

Raw or undercooked meat or fish- Undercooked meats or fish could have bacteria in them that could make you sick. Also? No more cookie dough, raw eggs is a no-no.

Big Fish- Swordfish, shark or tuna. Larger fish carry larger amounts of mercury in them, which is known to cause impairs in a child’s brain and nervous system. Pregnant and nursing women may safely eat up to 6 ounces of albacore tuna fish. Try not to eat more then 12 ounces of seafood, that is low in mercury, a week.

Unpasteurized dairy- like soft cheeses or anything unpasteurized juices like ciders.

High risk food allergy foods- your baby could be at risk for developing food allergies. Avoiding foods including peanuts and peanut products during pregnancy (and nursing) may reduce allergy risk in susceptible children.

Herbal supplements and herbal tea- Herbs are natural, but all herbal products should be given the green light by your doctor before you take them.

pregnancy, foods to avoid while pregnant, pregnant, unsafe foods for pregnant women, nursing, breastfeeding, foods to avoid while pregnant, food allergies

Women who have morning sickness will tell you it is horrible to experience queasiness and nausea all day and night for weeks or even months. There may be a silver lining though, women who have morning sickness may have a 30 percent less chance of developing breast cancer then the women who didn’t experience any morning sickness.

The study was conducted in women 35-79 from two Western New York counties between 1996 and 2001. The hormones that make a woman sick also may protect the woman against cancer cells.

Obviously more research is needed but it can be somewhat reassuring for a woman who is dealing with morning sickness at any point in their pregnancy.

breast cancer, morning sickness, moms, pregnancy

According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) pregnant women who are on bed rest can and should be doing some low impact, approved exercises.

Each year in the US an estimated 700,000 woman are put on bed rest. This can be physically and emotionally not ready for the upcoming birth of their child and postpartum.

A physical therapist out of the University of South Alabama has designed some exercises that she thinks can and should be done from the bed and helps minimize the loss of muscle tone and strength.
It is also helping pregnant women be as comfortable as possible.

Remember to enter my photo contest and win one of five free pro memberships to greetingflix.com!

pregnancy, bed rest, high risk pregnancy, pre term labor, exercise in pregnancy, moms, new moms