With a positive or healthy body image, a woman has a real perception of her size and shape. She also feels comfortable with her body. With a negative body image, a woman has a distorted perception of her shape and size, compares her body to others, and feels shame and anxiety about her body.
Being [...]
A bacterium normally found in the mouth, skin and intestines might play a role in the still-mysterious cause of colic in babies, a new study says.
Researchers found the bacterium Klebsiella along with gut inflammation in the intestines of all babies in their study who had colic, a condition characterized by uncontrollable crying.
“We believe that [...]
It’s always a challenge to go back to work after having a baby. While many new moms look forward to getting back into the routine and back into the adult world, returning to work, especially when breastfeeding, is rarely easy on mom.
Maternity leave is coming to an end and while you may be looking [...]
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a group of conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects can include physical problems and problems with behavior and learning. Often, a person with an FASD has a mix of these problems.
FASDs are caused by a woman drinking [...]
Using alcohol and illegal drugs during pregnancy threatens the health of your unborn baby. So does using legal drugs in an inappropriate way.
When you use alcohol or drugs, the chemicals you ingest or breathe into your lungs cross the placenta and enter your baby. This puts your baby at risk for such problems [...]
Before you become pregnant, it is best to have dental checkups every 6 months to keep your teeth and gums healthy. If you are pregnant and have not had regular checkups, consider the following:
* Have a complete oral exam early in your pregnancy. Because you are pregnant, you might not [...]
Fitness goes hand in hand with eating right to maintain your physical health and well-being during pregnancy. Pregnant or not, physical fitness helps keep the heart, bones, and mind healthy.
Healthy pregnant women should get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week. It’s best to spread your workouts [...]
All of your body’s systems need water. When you are pregnant, your body needs even more water to stay hydrated and support the life inside you.
Water also helps prevent constipation, hemorrhoids, excessive swelling, and urinary tract or bladder infections. Not getting enough water can lead to premature or early labor.
Your body gets the [...]
Fish and shellfish can be an important part of a healthy diet. They are a great source of protein and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.
But almost all fish and shellfish contain some mercury. Mercury is a metal that can harm the brain of your unborn baby — even before it is conceived.
Mercury mainly gets into [...]
If you are pregnant with more than one baby, you are far from alone. In the past two decades, the number of multiple births has climbed way up in the United States. In 2005, 133,122 twin babies and 6,208 triplet babies were born in the United States. In 1980 there were only 69,339 twin and [...]