Children from urban areas whose mothers suffer from depression during pregnancy are more likely than others to show antisocial behavior, including violent behavior, later in life.

Furthermore, women who are aggressive and disruptive in their own teen years are more likely to become depressed in pregnancy, so that the moms’ history predicts their own children’s antisocial behavior.

That’s the conclusion of a new longitudinal study conducted by researchers at Cardiff University, King’s College London, and the University of Bristol. The research appears in the January/February 2010 issue of the journal Child Development.

The study considered the role of mothers ‘ depression during pregnancy by looking at 120 British youth from inner-city areas. “Much attention has been given to the effects of postnatal depression on young infants,” notes Dale F. Hay, professor of psychology at Cardiff University in Wales, who worked on the study, “but depression during pregnancy may also affect the unborn child.” The youths’ mothers were interviewed while they were pregnant, after they gave birth, and when their children were 4, 11, and 16 years old.

The study found that mothers who became depressed when pregnant were four times as likely to have children who were violent at 16. This was true for both boys and girls. The mothers’ depression, in turn, was predicted by their own aggressive and disruptive behavior as teens.

The link between depression in pregnancy and the children’s violence couldn’t be explained by other factors in the families’ environments, such as social class, ethnicity, or family structure; the mothers’ age, education, marital status, or IQ; or depression at other times in the children’s lives.

“Although it’s not yet clear exactly how depression in pregnancy might set infants on a pathway toward increased antisocial behavior, our findings suggest that women with a history of conduct problems who become depressed in pregnancy may be in special need of support,” according to Hay.

Proper nutrition is always important, but eating right is absolutely vital for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or even just trying to get pregnant.

Eating right prior to a planned pregnancy is essential, since most women will not know their pregnancy status until many weeks after conception.  Proper levels of certain vitamins like folic acid can prevent many common birth defects, so the best pregnancy diet is one that starts even before conception.

Eating right during pregnancy means eating more, but it is important to make each of those extra calories count. Women who are currently pregnant should plan on consuming approximately 300 extra calories per day, but it is important that those extra calories come with extra nutrition and not just empty calories.

It is also important for pregnant women to take the prenatal vitamins prescribed by their doctors – these vitamins will provide important extra nutrients for the growing baby.

Pregnant women should be sure to eat a wide variety of foods in order to ensure proper nutrition.  Both mother and child will need to consume a variety of carbohydrates, fats and proteins in order to ensure proper nutrition.  And since that growing fetus is dependent on mom for nutrition, it is essential for her to eat plenty of nutritionally dense foods.

A good rule of thumb for pregnant women is to consume from 7 to 11 servings of grains and breads, four to five servings of fruits, another four to five servings of vegetables, three or four servings of dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt and three servings of protein, including meats, fish, eggs and poultry.  Fats and sweets should both be consumed sparingly, since they can add many additional calories with little nutritional value.

When selecting foods it is a good idea to choose foods that are high in fiber.  Not only will this help to improve overall health but it will also help women deal with the constipation that often accompanies pregnancy.

The healthy diet established at the start of a pregnancy should of course continue throughout the entire nine months.  It is important for mom to eat right for the entire pregnancy, as this will help the baby grow and develop properly.  Many common birth defects can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, and that is why proper nutrition is so important for all stages of pregnancy.  By eating a healthy diet and taking the prescribed prenatal vitamins mothers to be can get their babies off to a great start and avoid many problems down the road.

Raw green vegetables like spinach and lettuces become particularly valuable because they contain folic acid and iron, but remember to wash them well.

Essentials:

There are a few critical nutrients that play particularly important roles in foetal development. Those important nutrients are:

• Calories: Proper weight gain on your part is needed to make sure your newborn is delivered at a healthy weight. Add 200 to 300 calories per day for the last two thirds of pregnancy.
• Protein: Protein provides materials for the growing tissues, including the placenta, the mother’s blood and the baby. Get three good servings a day from beans, chicken, fish, or eggs.
• Calcium: This mineral is needed for proper bone formation in the baby and to help preserve the mother’s bone strength. Drink a glass of milk a day to keep levels topped up.
• Iron: An iron supplement is recommended during pregnancy since it is so difficult to get enough in your diet. You will need this extra iron to replenish red blood supply.
• Folic Acid: This is a B vitamin needed for proper cell division. Folic acid taken while trying to conceive and in early pregnancy can help prevent certain birth defects of the brain and spine. Studies show a reduced risk of spina bifida by about 50 percent. This is important from the very beginning of your pregnancy, try to include foods like orange juice and spinach in your diet.
• Fluids: You need extra fluid to feed your increased blood volume and for amniotic fluid. Drink at least six to eight glasses of liquid a day.

Things to avoid:

• Alcohol: As no one really knows how much vino is safe to drink when pregnant it is best to avoid it. Alcohol can cause birth defects in the baby. It can also, in larger quantities, cause miscarriage.
• Unsupervised use of vitamins: If you are thinking of taking any food supplements it’s best to read-up or ask a professional about which ones can benefit you in your pregnancy. Large doses of vitamin A are particularly harmful to a developing foetus, which is why you should also avoid liver.
• Food you are allergic to: If you are sensitive or allergic to certain foods it is best to avoid them in pregnancy because your baby may also be sensitive or affected by your reaction to those foods. Also avoid unpasteurised soft cheeses and pates, they may be carrying the listeria bacterium which is a danger to the baby.
• Smoking: Babies born to smokers may be smaller than other babies, premature or more prone to infections. Cigarette smoke has been recognised as one of the causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (also called Cot Death). Asthma, throat and ear infections are common amongst children whose parents smoke. If you would like help to stop smoking you can contact Quitline on 0800 00 22 00.
• Medicine: Avoid all medicines that are not essential. Consult your doctor to check the drugs you may be taking are safe during pregnancy.
• X-rays: Avoid X-rays including dental X-rays.
• Important checks: Are you immune to German Measles (Rubella)? See your doctor about this.
• Some STIs can affect your fertility or be passed on to your baby.
  If you or your partner think that you might be at risk from an STI (including HIV) go to your local sexual health clinic.

Go green

Eating healthily may seem like the obvious thing to do when you’re eating for two, but looking out for hidden dangers in certain foods is also important. Why not try eating organic food? On average, organic food contains higher levels of vitamin C and essential minerals, such as calcium and iron, as well as cancer-fighting antioxidants. You can also be sure of avoiding any potentially harmful pesticide residues.

Although some organic food is a bit more expensive, it can often be much tastier and the added nutrients will have benefits for both you and your baby. Research has shown that children and foetuses are in a higher risk group if they are exposed to chemicals found in pesticides. These chemicals are now thought to be linked to cancer, so eating organic can reduce these risks and give you peace of mind.

Now, in the latest bit of research, mothers who were pregnant with babies who were born between June and October had children who, when studied at the age of 9 years, were taller and had wider bones than those born in the darker months.

The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) –  which is also known as Children of the 90’s – is a long-term health research project based at the University of Bristol, England. All of the more than 14,000 Children of the 90’s were born during 1991 and 1992, and their health and development have been followed in great detail ever since.

Originally, all of the ALSPAC families lived in England around Bristol and Bath. Now, some live as far away as Kenya, Brazil and Australia, but they remain in the study.

The families have provided answers about a wide range of health issues such as the benefits of eating fish during pregnancy, peanut allergy, eczema, and childhood ear infections. You can find a list of research findings here.

Based on this latest study, and consistent with my previous posts, pregnant women and children would do well to go outside in the sun, without sunscreens for 15 minutes a day.

Jon Tobias of Bristol University, and a lead researcher on the ALSPAC project, said “Wider bones are thought to be stronger and less prone to breaking as a result of osteoporosis inlater life, so anything that affects early bone development is significant. Pregnant women might consider talking to their doctor about taking Vitamin D supplement, particularly if their babies are due between November and May, when sunlight levels are low.”

Most of us slather on oceans of lotions every day, but we don’t think about what might be passing the skin barrier and being absorbed into our bodies. With a developing baby in your belly, this is a vital concern.

If you plan to breastfeed, adds Johnson, continue following the guidelines noted below until you stop nursing.

Retinoids are one of the skin-care ingredients that experts, including Baumann, recommend that expectant moms stay away from.

Salicylic acid is another no-no for pregnant women. High doses of the acid in its oral form have been shown in studies to cause birth defects and various pregnancy complications.

While soy-based lotions and facial products are generally safe to use, “Soy can make the ‘mask of pregnancy’ (dark splotches on facial skin) worse, as can oil of bergamot, which is in many organic products,” she says.

Soy has estrogenic effects, which can make those dark patches, also known as melasma or chloasma, worse, Baumann explains. “The ‘active soy’ found in some product lines is okay, however, because the estrogenic components have been taken out.”

Lotions that remove your hair chemically (depilatories) or that minimize hair between shaves sound like a dream come true when you can barely reach — not to mention see — your legs. The good news is that these products are considered risk-free.

“As long as you use [chemical hair removers] as directed, they shouldn’t be a problem. It’s a topical solution that isn’t absorbed into your bloodstream, so it can’t have any effect on the baby.”

Sunscreens, including those with ingredients that penetrate the skin, are perfectly safe when you’ve got your own bun in the oven, says Baumann.

“[Ingredients] that do go deep into the skin do so in such small concentrations” that they’re not worth worrying about, says Johnson. “I personally prefer titanium dioxide and zinc oxide — they are powerful physical sunscreens and do not penetrate the skin.” “Most over-the-counter products by reputable brands are safe,” she says. “And if you are applying these products to less than 10 percent of your total skin surface, the risks of systemic effects are very low.”

The essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 are needed in the body to a ratio of 1 to 3. Natural sources of omega-3s are salmon, herring, sardines, and anchovies. Additional fatty acids are found in the plants evening primrose and borage.

But the average American diet, with its over consumption of processed foods, transfats and vegetable oils, has created an imbalance more typical of a 1 to 15 ratio. Other causes of EFA dietary deficiencies are alcohol consumption, medications and aging. For this reason, many people take supplemental omega-3 fatty acids, either by capsules or as a liquid, such as cod liver oil.

Omega-3 fatty acids are vital for the health of the mother and infant. In utero, omega-3s help the development of the brain, eyes, nervous system and help build a strong immune system. Adding omega-3s to the diet helps prevent postpartum depression. A recent study showed that consumption of DHA during pregnancy reduced the rate of postpartum depression by half.

The two components of EFA necessary for health are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (doxosahexaenoic acid), both found in fish oils. DHA is a long-chain fatty acid that helps build nerves and neurotransmitters. GLA (gamma-linolenic acid) is another EFA contained in plants, such as evening primrose and borage. GLA helps reduce premenstrual symptoms and also arthritis.

Infants and children who consume omega-3s have less risk of allergies and an increased aptitude for mental focus.  This was demonstrated by research on women who consumed cod liver oil while they were pregnant. At the age of four, these children displayed a higher IQ than their counterparts. Children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) have been shown to have lower levels of blood omega-3s. Supplementation has improved their behavior. EPA and DHA supplements have also been used to aid children with autism and Asperger’s syndrome. DHA from the mother’s blood is sent to the fetus in the last trimester at a time when the fetus is going through a growth spurt in its nervous system.

Concern about mercury in fish has caused many doctors, as well as the FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency, to suggest limiting fish intake during pregnancy. Because the need for the essential fatty acids is at its highest during pregnancy, and fish consumption can be at its lowest, supplemental omega-3s are suggested. Commercially prepared fish oil and EFA supplements will undergo stringent testing to ensure that the product is mercury-free. Make sure to look for products that have been independently tested and meet international pharmaceutical standards. Fresh fish oil has a mild taste and should not taste fish-like.

The recommended dose of DHA during pregnancy is 300 mg per day. This is equivalent to one teaspoon of cod liver oil. Supplementation is suggested for nine to twelve months after delivery, for optimum health. Be certain to consume adequate amounts of these important fatty acids during the critical time of fetal development to ensure health for both mother and child.

First — visit your health care provider if you haven’t already. Every pregnant woman needs to visit a health care provider regularly. He or she can make

sure both you and your baby are healthy. Your provider can also prescribe a safe vitamin and mineral supplement, and anything else you may need.

Next — get your own MyPyramid Plan for Moms. Your Plan will show you the foods and amounts that are right for you. Enter your information for a quick estimate of what and how much you need to eat. Or, go to the MyPyramid Menu Planner For Moms to see how your food choices compare to what you need.

Then — learn more by choosing a topic from their article menu. The “Sources of Information” will take you straight to the government’s best advice on pregnancy and breastfeeding. To get your own MyPyramid Plan for Moms, the site offers an auto-information quiz. If you are expecting twins, triplets or more than one baby, you should discuss what and how much to eat with your health care provider.  Your nutrient and calorie needs are higher than the needs of women carrying one baby.

Nutritional needs during pregnancy

When you are pregnant, you have a higher need for some vitamins and minerals. Follow your new food plans for moms to meet most of these increased needs. In each food group, choose foods that have the vitamins and minerals you need. Research the best sources of these vitamins and minerals.

Choose these foods often to make sure you meet your nutrient needs while you are pregnant. Some examples are:

Also make choices that are low in “extras.” Extras are added sugars and solid fats in foods like soft drinks, desserts, fried foods, cheese, whole milk, and fatty meats. Look for choices that are low-fat, fat-free, unsweetened, or with no-added-sugars. They have fewer “extras.”

Vitamin and mineral supplements cannot replace a healthy diet. Most doctors recommend that pregnant women take a prenatal vitamin and mineral supplement every day in addition to eating a healthy diet.Taking a supplement ensures that you and your baby get enough important nutrients like folic acid and iron. But don’t overdo it. Taking extra can be harmful for you and your baby. Click here for more information about taking supplements while you are pregnant.

Pregnant women and women who may become pregnant should not drink alcohol. Drinks containing alcohol include beer, wine, liquor, mixed drinks, malt beverages, etc. Even moderate drinking during pregnancy can cause behavioral or developmental problems for a baby. Heavy drinking during pregnancy can result in serious problems for the baby, including malformation and mental retardation.

There are a few companies that have taken the reins and decided to make skincare their priority for pregnant women.

Due to the number of chemicals and contaminants involved in a lot of skincare products, companies like Belli and Basq have made it their goal to make fetus-friendly products that are safe for the mom and the growing baby inside of her in order to make sure those nine months, and the years following are filled with great memories and nice, healthy skin.

Belli Skincare is touted as the “world’s safest skincare line” and is marketed to pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and toddlers. Belli is recommended by some of the leading obstetricians in the United States because of its screening process. In 2002, Drs. Jason and Annette Rubin founded Belli Skincare choosing the best products to fit their high standards of quality: nontoxic ingredients, organic or holistic, dye and paraben free, with health benefits or aromatherapy. The doctors rely on a scientific approach to help them choose their products: Teratology.

Teratology is from the Greek for téras or tératos meaning genitive/monster and logos meaning the study of. Teratology is the study of genetic abnormalities as well as problems with physiological development. Birth defects occur in about 5 percent of all newborns, and is a leading cause of mortality.

If statistics are meant to spark awareness, with about 65 percent of infants with birth defects having no known cause, it seems like a great reason to take every precaution necessary. Belli Skincare consults professionals from around the country to find and promote the safest products for expectant families. Belli takes care to address every need for the various beginning stages of life from emerging embryo to cooing infant. Belli products are sold at a variety of retailers including spas, maternity stores, doctor’s offices, Pottery Barn Kids and can also be found online.

Another emerging skincare company in the fight for healthy babies and mothers is Basq. The experts at Basq strive to keep pregnant women looking their best by helping to take care of or by trying to prevent rashes, breakouts, blemishes, pregnancy swelling, stretch marks, and sensitive skin, among the rest of the uncomfortable skin concerns a pregnant woman may experience.

Basq was recently written up in the October 2009 issue of Yoga magazine touting the benefits of of their Energizing Body Lotion in their “What’s Hot” section. The professionals who started Basq—the name resembles the idea of “basking” in your pregnancy glow—polled hundreds of expectant and new mothers over a period of one year in order to find out their skincare issues and figure out a way to help them.

Out of this poll, Basq creators came up with what they call the company’s four guiding principles: Offer pregnancy skin care products pregnant women truly need; create high-quality, results-oriented pregnancy skin care; deliver an experience that women will really enjoy during and after pregnancy; and take a serious stance on safety. Basq is proud to carry completely safe products and never to stock any lotion, cream, oil, or essential aromatherapy ingredient that has ever had its safety or ingredients in question.

Skincare is nothing to take lightly and safety is a big concern among everyone especially soon-to-be mothers, new mamas, and healthy cherubic babies. Though not every woman is a mother, every woman understands the importance of feeling and looking your best in your skin.

Research presented by Dr. David Greening of Sydney IVF, an Australian center for infertility and in vitro fertilization, indicates that increasing sexual activity may be the right approach. Dr. Greening studied 118 men with above-average sperm DNA damage.

The participants were told to ejaculate every day for seven days, and the damage to their sperm count fell to 26 percent down from 34 percent. Other studies have indicated that better sperm quality results in higher pregnancy rates.

Frequent sex does decrease semen volume and it did so in the 118 participants but Dr. Greening said in a statement, “It seems safe to conclude that couples with relatively normal semen parameters should have sex daily for up to a week before the ovulation date. In the context of assisted reproduction, this simple treatment may assist in improving sperm quality and ultimately achieve pregnancy.” Sperm quality is also better in men who do not smoke, drink little, exercise and ingest more antioxidants.

Some experts believe that if sperm is in the body too long there is a higher risk of it being damaged and regular ejaculation reduces the problem by getting it out of the body quickly with less chance of DNA damage. Experts said that the research is promising, but it doesn’t prove that daily sex will actually produce more babies. Greening said that he and his colleagues are still analyzing data to determine how many pregnancies occurred in couples who had sex on a daily basis.

Not all medical professionals agreed with Dr. Greenings assumptions. Bill Ledger, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Sheffield, and was not involved in the study, said that sperm DNA is just one part of the puzzle. This could improve pregnancy rates, but more studies need to be done. Ledger thought that the stipulation to have more sex could do more harm than good, and put pressure on couples, already under stress, to adjust their sex lives for the sake of pregnancy.

Dr. Alan Pacey, a fertility expert, also from the University of Sheffield said that the theory was interesting, but it would be wrong to apply the results to all men. Dr. Pacey said that if men suffer from low sperm counts to begin with daily ejaculations could reduce the numbers enough to impede natural conception.

One of natural effects of aging, beginning around 25 in most males, is the reduction in sperm count. Women also begin to be less fertile as they age. Whether sperm count, or sperm health holds the answer to infertility is not truly answered with this study. Doctors who chose to have their patients try this method of improving conception will probably find that their patients will take the doctor’s advice.

http://www.healthnews.com/family-health/mens-health

Medical tests such as a pregnancy ultrasound can help your health care provider monitor your baby’s development, while more specialized pregnancy tests such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS) can help detect conditions such as Down syndrome and cystic fibrosis.

The woman’s body is wonderfully complex and delicate. However, multiple roles as the mother, daughter, wife, homemaker, wage earner can be physically and mentally quite taxing. As a woman, you might share some common health risks with men, such as heart disease, but because of your special reproductive role, you are at risk of some distinctly female disorders.

This section deals with answers to some common problems like, menstrual disorders, pregnancy, breast feeding etc. Information on Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Contraceptives too have been included.

Symptoms of Pregnancy

For a woman having a regular monthly cycle, the earliest and most reliable sign of pregnancy is a missed period, or sometimes women who are pregnant have a very light period, losing only a little blood. Other signs are:

• Feeling sick, not necessarily in the morning, but at any time.
• The breasts may become larger and tender. Veins may become prominent and nipples may darken and stand out.
• Increased frequency in passing urine.
• Tendency for constipation.
• Tiredness.
• An increased vaginal discharge without any associated complaint.
• A metallic taste in the mouth.
• Dislike for certain things like tea or coffee or fatty foods.
• Increased liking for certain things like spicy foods.

Pregnancy test can be carried out on urine samples, as early as from the first day of a missed period-that is, about fourteen days after the conception.
A positive test result is almost definitive of pregnancy. If the test is negative, it is less reliable. It can be repeated after a week, or a doctor can be consulted.

What you should eat?
Pregnancy puts additional nutritional demands on your body. You require to eat judiciously to meet the demands of the body. Make sure that you eat a mixture of different foods each day in order to get all the various nutrients that you and your baby need.
Your diet should have plenty of fruit and vegetables which provide vitamins, minerals and fibre. Eat them lightly cooked or raw. Let starchy foods like bread, potatoes, rice and breakfast cereals with vegetables form the main part of any meal.

Eat some good sources of nutrients like fish, eggs, cheese, beans, and lentils every day. Dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt are important as they contain calcium and other nutrients needed for your baby’s development.
Avoid sugar and sugary foods like sweets, biscuits and cakes and sugary drinks like cola. Cut down on fat and fatty foods as well.

Mineral and vitamin supplements
A large number of pregnant women suffer from varying degrees of anemia so additional iron supplementation is provided by pills. Also tablets of Folic acid (a vitamin necessary to prevent certain spinal disorders in the growing baby) along with Calcium are generally prescribed by the health care providers.

Pregnancy and weight
Most women gain between 10 -12.5kgs (22 – 28lbs). Weight gain varies a great deal and depends on your weight before pregnancy. Weight gain significantly more or less than the average could be an indicator of a problem, so you must monitor your weight gain carefully. Also if you weigh more than 100kg or under 50kg your health care provider may have special advise for you.

Smoking during pregnancy
Try to stop. When you smoke, carbon monoxide and nicotine passes into your lungs and blood stream. This means that: a) your baby gets less oxygen and cannot grow as well as it should, and b) the nicotine makes your baby’s heart beat faster. Constantly breathing in other people’s smoke may also have a harmful effect.

Babies of mothers who smoke are, on average, 200g (about 8 oz) lighter than other babies. These babies may have problems during and after labour and are more prone to infection; it will be better for your baby later too if you stop smoking. Children whose parents smoke are more likely to suffer from illnesses such as asthma; and there is an increased risk of cot death.

Alcohol
It has now been shown that even small amounts of alcohol can be harmful to your baby. Alcohol has adverse effects on the baby’s development and can produce a lot of anomalies generally termed as ‘Fetal Alcohol Syndrome’. So to be safe avoid alcohol totally during your pregnancy.

Pills medicines and other drugs
You should be very careful while taking any kind of medication, specially in the earlier part of the pregnancy. Majority of drugs have some effects on the growing fetus and the first three months are crucial. You would be better off asking your doctor about any medications you want to take. Make sure your doctor or dentist knows you’re pregnant before prescribing anything or giving you treatment.

At the same time it is important to remember that if you on treatment for some chronic conditions like epilepsy or diabetes you consult your doctor and continue your medications because control of such conditions is vitally important for you as well as the pregnancy.

Suggested Reading –
Pregnancy and your Feet – “Oh, my aching, swollen feet!” Most pregnant women, already handling so many changes in their bodies, find themselves echoing this complaint.

Ultrasound Images of Pregnancy – Every would be parent is curious to see how the baby is growing inside the mother. Here are some very good Ultrasound images of a growing fetus.