Children born to mothers exposed to microbes during pregnancy may be less likely to develop allergies, German researchers say.

They found that pregnant mice exposed to inhaled barnyard microbes gave birth to allergy-resistant offspring. The microbe exposure triggered a mild inflammatory response in the mothers. This response was characterized by increased expression of microbe-sensing Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the production of immune molecules called cytokines. Read the rest of this entry »

Pregnant women are among the most common sufferers of chronic heartburn, a condition also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Heartburn is the result of acid reflux, the term used to describe stomach acid that backs up into the esophagus (the narrow tube that connects the mouth and the stomach). Hormonal changes during pregnancy and the pressure exerted on the stomach by the growing fetus can cause acid reflux to happen more frequently. Read the rest of this entry »

Getting infected with the H1N1 virus that causes swine flu is a real possibility since the virus is continuing to spread and there’s still not enough vaccine to go around. Being informed, though, can help you reduce your risk. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself and your family.

1. Pregnant women need one shot; young kids, two. Initial results from clinical trials show that pregnant women mount a healthy immune response after just one dose of the vaccine. They do, though, need the injectable version—which contains a dead virus—rather than the nasal spray, which contains a live but weakened virus. Read the rest of this entry »

Much changes happens when a woman gets pregnant so skin care needs be adjusted. To get skin care tips for pregnant women, I checked in with Annette Rubin, a mother and founder of Belli, a skin care company that focuses on the needs of pregnant women, new moms, and babies.

Rubin says, “Due to rapid changes in hormones, throughout pregnancy, a woman’s skin is extremely vulnerable and sensitive to all external elements.” There are also concerns about what women safely can put on their skin, because some ingredients are absorbed into the bloodstream, where they can transfer to the baby. Read the rest of this entry »

Herbs And Vitamins For Healthy Breasts

There are a number of herbs and vitamins for healthy breasts that show promise in the prevention of breast cancer and fibrocystic breast disease (non-cancerous breast lumps).

Cancer of the breast is the leading cause of death for women in the US where it is estimated that 1 in 9 women will get breast cancer before she is 85.

The inclusion of herbs and vitamins for healthy breasts, accompanied by a wholesome nutritious diet and exercise are important factors in maintaining healthy breasts. Read the rest of this entry »

Old-fashioned, common-sense advice to just relax may actually work to help some women get pregnant, doctors reported on Monday.

For years women seeking to get pregnant have been advised by friends and family to stop stressing about it — an idea that not all obstetricians and gynecologists have embraced.

But research presented at a meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine in Atlanta suggests there may be something to it. Read the rest of this entry »

There are new reasons to control your weight both before and after you conceive — particularly if you’re heavy before you even try to have a baby.

Obesity promotes not only severe pregnancy complications in the mother, it also places the baby at high risk of health problems, including an increased chance of neonatal death.

That’s the sobering news from a group of Swedish researchers who say that not only is it important to control weight gain during pregnancy, but to also get your level of body fat under control before you attempt to conceive. Read the rest of this entry »