About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Getting Tested for Group B Strep (GBS)

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Getting Tested for Group B Strep (GBS) Jul 25th 2012, 09:50 Group B Strep, also known as beta strep or GBS, is estimated to effect 10-30% of pregnant women. About 2% of these women will unknowingly pass the bacteria on to their babies. Treatment with antibiotics in labor can drastically reduce the risks of your baby getting an infection from GBS, which can possibly save his or her life. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released revised guidelines in 2011 for screening pregnant women and treating women who are positive in labor. They call for routine screening of all pregnant women between 35-37 weeks gestation and treatment for all positive women in labor. While this is not a departure from previous guidelines, it does include newer guidelines for instances of preterm labor and premature rupture of membranes (bag of water). The good news is that the Group B Strep infection rates have been falling for babies as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and ACOG have instituted routine screening between weeks 35-37 for pregnant women and then treating colonized women in labor with IV antibiotics. The CDC also recommends you be treated, regardless of your screening status, if you have a fever of 100.4 or higher, your water has been broken for more than 18 hours or if you are in labor prior to 37 weeks and 0 days. If you are having a scheduled c-section, you should still be screened. You will not need to be given the IV antibiotics for GBS prior to your surgery if you are not in labor and your bag of waters is intact. The guidelines also point out that GBS status should not effect any obstetric interventions, including labor induction, cervical ripening or other procedures. Have you talked to your practitioner yet about screening for Group B Strep? Related: Group B Strep GBS Fact Sheet Newborn Screening by State Source: "Prevention of Early Onset Group B Streptoccocal Disease in Newborns." Committee Opinion #485. Obstet Gyncecol 2011; April. Getting Tested for Group B Strep (GBS) originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Wednesday, July 25th, 2012 at 09:50:22. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Unitended Pregnancies

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Unitended Pregnancies Jul 24th 2012, 02:32 A new study shows that the rate of unintended pregnancy includes about a third of all pregnancies in 2006-2010. This number has not changed from 1982. An unintended pregnancy is one that occurs without planning, though does not necessarily mean that birth control was used, though it could also be as a result of birth control failure. Think of people you know who say, "We don't want to get pregnant, but we're not doing anything to avoid it." The interesting take away is that the more education you had, the less likely you were to have an unintended pregnancy. Why this happens can be due to many factors. It could be that there are more chances to learn about how to control pregnancy through natural means or birth control. It could also mean that these women are more likely to have access to birth control because they have insurance. The reason that intended pregnancy is so important is that planning a pregnancy gives the family a chance to prepare not only their bodies but their minds, finances and homes for a baby. Did you plan your pregnancies?  Tell me in the comments what you did to get ready for pregnancy. Related: 6 Reasons You May Need to Plan Conception Things to Think About Before Pregnancy Can we afford a baby? Preconceptional Planning Source: National Center for Health Statistics (CDC), National Survey of Family Growth . Data in this report are based on 12,279 interviews in 2006- 2010 with women aged 15 to 44. Comparisons are made with past NSFG data from 1982, 1988, 1995, and 2002. Photo © Fotolia Unitended Pregnancies originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Tuesday, July 24th, 2012 at 02:32:26. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: To Pee or Not to Pee

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

To Pee or Not to Pee Jul 24th 2012, 10:30 I heard a podcast the other day about a cartoon Christoph Niemann had drawn about how you wake up in the middle of the night and realize that you have to pee, but refuse to get up and go to the bathroom, hoping that the feeling will go away.  It really hit home for me.  I can remember being hugely pregnant with twins and feeling that I would do anything to both simultaneously move nothing and yet empty my bladder. Or perhaps you fall into the other category - the pay as you go variety.  Have you ever, obviously jokingly, offer someone else money to go to the bathroom for you?  I also remember jokingly offering my husband cash in exchange for him going to the bathroom for me.  He never took me up on the offer, much to my chagrin. Do you ever feel that way? Related: Frequent Urination in Pregnancy 10 Common Early Pregnancy Symptoms Late Pregnancy Discomforts Photo © Dreamstime To Pee or Not to Pee originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Tuesday, July 24th, 2012 at 10:30:49. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: 5 Things Pregnant Women Shouldn't Post on Facebook

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

5 Things Pregnant Women Shouldn't Post on Facebook Jul 23rd 2012, 12:15 I have to say I've been enjoying all of the lists of things you shouldn't post on Facebook.  The first one I ever saw was from CBS, just 5 Things You Shouldn't Post on Facebook.  Then I got a good laugh out of The Stir's 5 Things Moms Shouldn't Post on Facebook. So I thought I'd take a stab at a fun look at 5 things pregnant women shouldn't post on Facebook: Your due date. Don't laugh, but once you post it, everyone else writes it in their calendar as an expiration date, meaning lots of due date stalking should your baby have the audacity to be late. Your baby's name. Unless you want to have all 537 friends weigh in on what they think of your baby's name or your chosen spelling, just save it as a surprise. Your weight gain. If you post your weight gain, you invite comment about how it's too much, too little, too soon, too late, etc.  On a side note, you should also include in this category: your husband's weight and if you lost weight. Your birth plan. Statements about when or if you want drugs for your birth are probably not a good idea, same goes for scheduled c-sections, planned inductions and random breaking of the bag of water.  It just keeps people yammering on about what they wanted in your comments.  This doesn't mean you can't ask for help or suggestions if you really want it, but phrase it in a "helpful comments only please" kind of way. Pictures of your pregnancy test. Take that photo for yourself.  Think of it as private.  We all know it's a photo of your urine.  Photos of your stretch marks might also go in this category. What would you add? Related: Social Networking in Labor Would you do facebook or twitter in labor? Readers Share Pregnancy on Facebook Wi-Fi Connection Tutorial Follow me on Twitter | Connect with me on Facebook Photo © Dreamstime 5 Things Pregnant Women Shouldn't Post on Facebook originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Monday, July 23rd, 2012 at 12:15:51. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Do you expect respect when having your baby?

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Do you expect respect when having your baby? Jul 22nd 2012, 16:19 This weekend I came across a very interesting video from the White Ribbon Alliance. The issue was on respectful maternity care. Working in the field, I've certainly seen some questionable things over the years, though thankfully the vast majority of the health professionals I work with treat mothers with respect. This isn't the case everywhere or with everyone. Then I realized, not everyone knows what respectful care looks like in birth. Do you know that you have the right to ask questions? Take time to think, discuss and process decisions? Get a second opinion? Even refuse care? Being denied these rights is one form of disrespectful care. It's also important to point out that disrespectful care can happen in big hospitals, small hospitals, wealthy countries and developing countries. It can be all types of providers providing disrespectful care, either knowingly or unknowingly. But you do have rights. Many women on't know who to tell. Or if they have talked to someone, they've been told that that's just the way it is, or that they should be happy they have a healthy baby. But that doesn't make this type of care right. Watch the video. Read the website for more tools and information. Have you ever been treated disrespectfully in labor or pregnancy?  Have you ever witnessed this type of care?  Share your story in the comments. Do you expect respect when having your baby? originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Sunday, July 22nd, 2012 at 16:19:56. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Cat Pose

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Cat Pose Jul 20th 2012, 15:45 This simple yoga pose/exercise can really help ease back pain in pregnancy as well as a bunch of other issues, it's called Cat Pose.  Have you tried it?  You'll love it - try it tonight. More Fitness Friday: Staying Fit in Pregnancy Newsletter Great Pregnancy Exercises Exercise in Pregnancy 10 Reasons to Exercise in Pregnancy Pilates in Pregnancy Running Through Pregnancy Walking Through Pregnancy Weight Training for Pregnancy Introduction to Prenatal Yoga Can I do martial arts while pregnant? Swimming in Pregnancy - Is it safe? Exercise for Pregnancy Cat Pose originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Friday, July 20th, 2012 at 15:45:43. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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About Pregnancy & Childbirth: 1 in 13 Pregnant Women Drink Alcohol

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

1 in 13 Pregnant Women Drink Alcohol Jul 20th 2012, 10:30 The CDC reports that 1 in 13 pregnant women drink alcohol. This is something they consider a public health problem because there is no safe level of alcohol established for pregnancy. Drinking alcohol has been related to birth defects, disabilities and other problems for pregnancy and the baby well beyond infancy. What really surprised me was who they said was drinking in pregnancy, "Among pregnant women, the highest estimates of reported alcohol use were among those who were aged 35-44 years (14.3 percent); white (8.3 percent), college graduates (10.0 percent), or employed (9.6 percent)." Given the recent discussion of the safety of alcohol in pregnancy, it's safe to say that many pregnant women are likely confused. Getting information from friends and family as opposed to your doctor or midwife may be concerning.  These medical professionals will be able to look at your medical history and give you advice related to you, taking into account the science. I hear from pregnant women who said that their obstetrician told them it was okay to have a one time glass of wine for something specific, which can include medicinal reasons. Others point to Europe that has a more lax belief about alcohol in pregnancy when discussing alcohol safety in pregnancy. What's your take on it?  Do you abstain from alcohol in the pre-conception period and/or pregnancy? Have you talked to your healthcare provider about this specifically? Tell me in the comments what your take on this is... Related: Alcohol and Pregnancy Don't Mix Readers Share: Your Thoughts on Alcohol and Pregnancy Drinking in Early Pregnancy What is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)? Newly Non-Drinking Girl's Guide to Pregnancy Surviving a Party While Pregnant Photo © Fotolia 1 in 13 Pregnant Women Drink Alcohol originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Friday, July 20th, 2012 at 10:30:23. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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