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.

The study was published online Dec. 7 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.

The researchers said the mothers’ TLRs are essential for transmitting allergy protection to their offspring, but it’s not known how the TLR signals translate into allergy resistance in the mice pups.

In addition, further investigation is needed to determine whether this mother-to-offspring protection applies to a wide range of allergens, including those found in food, said the team at the Phillips-University of Marburg.

Previous research has shown that children raised on farms — which teem with environmental microbes — develop fewer allergies than those raised in cities or in non-farming rural areas. One theory is that early-life exposure to microbes conditions a young child’s developing immune system to tolerate microbes and allergens later in life.

But it may not be a child’s exposure to microbes that protects against allergies. Studies have found that children of farming mothers are also less susceptible to allergies, regardless of the child’s own exposure to microbes. This new study reveals a biological mechanism that helps explain this phenomenon.

The good news is that heartburn usually goes away once the baby is born. In the meantime, there are several diet and lifestyle changes—as well as certain medications—that can make expecting moms feel better.

Most pregnant women have symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), especially heartburn, at some point during pregnancy. These symptoms may begin at any time during a pregnancy and often may become worse as the pregnancy progresses. Heartburn is common during pregnancy because hormones cause the digestive system to slow down. The muscles that push food down the esophagus also move more slowly during pregnancy. In addition, as the uterus grows, it pushes on the stomach and sometimes forces stomach acid up into the esophagus.

Although these symptoms are common during pregnancy, they rarely cause complications, such as inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis). Most of the time, symptoms of heartburn improve after the baby is born.

Treatment for pregnant women with GERD is similar to treatment for other people who have GERD, focusing first on lifestyle changes and nonprescription medicines. You can make changes to your lifestyle to help relieve your symptoms of GERD. Here are some things to try:

• Change your eating habits.
  • It’s best to eat several small meals instead of two or three large meals.
  • After you eat, wait 2 to 3 hours before you lie down. Late-night snacks aren’t a good idea.
  • Chocolate and mint can make GERD worse. They relax the valve between the esophagus and the stomach.
  • Spicy foods, foods that have a lot of acid (like tomatoes and oranges), and coffee can make GERD symptoms worse in some people. If your symptoms are worse after you eat a certain food, you may want to stop eating that food to see if your symptoms get better.
• Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
• If you have GERD symptoms at night, raise the head of your bed 6 in (15 cm) to 8 in (20 cm) by putting the frame on blocks or placing a foam wedge under the head of your mattress. (Adding extra pillows does not work.)
• Use nonprescription antacids such as Rolaids or Maalox for relief of heartburn symptoms. Antacids that contain sodium bicarbonate should not be taken by pregnant women because they can lead to fluid retention. Antacids that contain calcium carbonate (such as Tums) are okay to take.

Along with making lifestyle changes and taking nonprescription medicines, some doctors may recommend the prescription drug sucralfate for treating GERD symptoms during pregnancy. Although they are generally safe during pregnancy, don’t use the following prescription and nonprescription medicines without first discussing them with your doctor:

• Acid reducers, such as cimetidine (for example, Tagamet) or ranitidine (for example, Zantac)
• Proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole (for example, Prilosec) or lansoprazole (for example, Prevacid)

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.

Other adults and children ages 10 and over also need only one dose for full immunity. (They can have either the shot or nasal spray.) Children 6 months through 9 years, however, need two doses—spaced about a month apart—in order to mount a strong enough immune response if exposed to the virus. And kids under age 2, like pregnant women, should have only the injectable vaccine.

2. Hand sanitizer works better than soap when it comes to the flu virus. While you should still wash your hands to get the grime off or after using the bathroom, hand sanitizer is the cleanser of choice when trying to keep your hands germ free for hours. The Food and Drug Administration recommends products that consist of at least 60 percent alcohol. Look past the “Kills 99.9 percent of germs” on the front of the package and instead check the “drug facts” label on the back. It should list the active ingredient as some form of alcohol and the percent.

(The drugstore brand on my desk says “ethyl alcohol 62%”.) And use the sanitizer correctly: Make sure your hands are clean and then apply a palmful of the product, rubbing vigorously for 20 to 30 seconds under your nails and jewelry, up to your wrists and on the backs of your hands. Interestingly, hand sanitizer leaves skin less dry than soap because most products contain emollients.

3. Many swine flu remedies are too good to be true. The FDA recently warned against buying non-FDA-approved swine flu products on the Internet and in health food stores. These include bogus versions of the antiviral drug Tamiflu. Real Tamiflu is available only by prescription

. The FDA analyzed one “Tamiflu” product ordered online and found that it contained not the antiviral drug but talc and acetaminophen. Other bogus products include shampoos or dietary supplements purporting to protect against the flu virus. Here’s a complete listing and other bogus swine flu remedies to avoid.

4. Certain warning signs warrant an emergency room visit. The American College of Emergency Physicians says that most folks with flulike symptoms (fever, sore throat, chills, cough, and fatigue) don’t need to head to the emergency room—or even to the doctor. But people should seek out emergency care immediately if they experience the following symptoms: difficulty breathing or chest pain; rapid breathing (over 24 breaths per minute); purple or blue discoloration of the lips; inability to keep liquids down; signs of dehydration (headache, extreme thirst, dizziness, or decreased urination); confusion; or convulsions or seizures. Pregnant women, those over 65, and those with certain health conditions (such as obesity, organ transplant, diabetes

, and lung problems) also should seek medical attention from their doctor or a walk-in clinic, even if they have mild symptoms.

[More on dealing with the swine flu threat during pregnancy]

5. The vaccine is as safe as the seasonal flu vaccine. Anthony Fauci, who’s heading the H1N1 vaccine clinical trials for the National Institutes of Health, said Tuesday that people have no reason to fear the vaccine. All evidence collected so far in the trials suggests that it poses no health risks—not in children, pregnant women, or older folks. There have been some reports of adverse reactions, but they’ve been mild, like swelling or pain at the injection site.

6. High-risk individuals—like pregnant women and babies—should possibly avoid travel. Since the flu epidemic has yet to reach its peak, those at higher risk of developing severe complications from an H1N1 infection should consider putting off air travel if they haven’t been vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. That’s because many folks can pick up the infection from a crowded airport or airplane. If you’re in a high-risk category and must travel, talk to your doctor about whether to take along antiviral medications just in case you get sick and can’t get quick medical care.

7. If you’ve already got a fever, definitely stay home. Traveling with a fever is a no-no, since that’s when you’re most contagious. You also don’t want to put extra stress on your body when it’s calling for you to crawl into bed. While U.S. airports don’t have temperature sensors, foreign airports often do. If you set off the sensor while abroad, you could be forced into quarantine until your illness runs its course.

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

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.

Recommendations
Rubin offers these skin care recommendations.

• Safety first. Women need to be very careful about the ingredients in their skin care, making sure that ingredients aren’t potentially harmful to the baby. For example, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, certain sunscreens, and even aloe vera and vitamin A have been linked to harmful effects with repeated or high exposures, as found in clinical studies. Rubin says Belli is the only skin care collection that does teratology screening, meaning they screen out ingredients shown to have adverse affects on babies.

Beating blemishes. During pregnancy, women are more likely to develop acne, especially during warm weather. But “most acne treatments are contra-indicated during pregnancy because of potential adverse effects to baby,” she says. Pregnant women should look for something gentle that exfoliates, and treats and prevents acne safely without overdrying. She recommends Belli Acne Clearing Facial Wash ($22), because it uses lactic acid, an ingredient naturally found in the body. It also has a wonderful, natural fragrance that’s calming.

• Avoiding splotchy skin. “The pregnancy hormones estrogen and progesterone are thought to make the pigment-producing skin cells react more strongly to sunlight,” Rubin says. This causes dark brown splotchy areas on the chin, cheeks, nose and forehead known as chloasma, melasma or “the mask of pregnancy.” This affects up to 70% of all pregnant women and can show up with any skin type; but olive and darker complexions are more at risk.

Fortunately, chloasma is preventable. She recommends avoiding sun exposure, and choosing a sunscreen, like Belli Pregnancy Anti-Chloasma Facial Sunscreen SPF 25 ($24), that has SPF 25 or higher, protects from both UVA and UVB rays, and is made with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, because they provide higher SPF, need to be applied less often, and have no effects linked to birth defects as shown in medical studies. The Anti-Chloasma Facial Sunscreen is a lovely lightweight, oil-free, tinted sunscreen that also naturally moisturizes with glycerin and easily blends into skin without any chalky look or feel.

• Preventing stretchmarks. For generations, women have used cocoa butter to try to prevent strechmarks. “But while it’s a good moisturizer, there is no research showing a benefit from this ingredients,” Rubin says. “The only published research on stretchmark prevention showed that a combination of gotu kola extract, vitamin E, and collagen hydrolysates decreased the risk of getting stretchmarks by about 39%, and decreased the severity of any stretchmarks that did form.” That’s why they chose to use all these ingredients in the highly effective, much-loved Belli Pregnancy Elasticity Belly Oil ($42), which incorporates the relaxing aromatherapy of lavender.

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.

One of the main contributing factors to breast cancer seems to be hormonal imbalance in particular the hormone estrogen, which can promote abnormal tissue growth in breasts. However, there are a number of herbs that women can include in their diets which work to gently balance women’s hormones and help in the promotion of healthy breasts.

Red Clover – This herb has been used by many different cultures in the treatment of cancer. Red clover contains isoflavones, a class of phytoestrogens that are structurally similar to estrogen.

In premenopausal women with normal estrogen levels, isoflavones have an anti-estrogen effect. In postmenopausal women with low estrogens, isoflavones act as weak estrogens.

Red Clover is also helpful in the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women which is related to declining estrogen levels.

Furthermore, Red Clover is useful for relieving menopausal symptoms including hot flashes, night sweats, reduced libido, and vaginal dryness. It should be noted, however, that women who are pregnant and breastfeeding should avoid taking Red Clover.

Green Tea – Several studies have proven that Green Tea is beneficial in the reduction of solid tumor formation and the risk of breast cancers in women. In fact, preliminary research suggests that flavonoids found in green tea reduce the risk of several different kinds of cancers including prostate cancer, colon cancer, and gastric cancer.

A recent Japanese study explored the green tea’s protection against breast cancer. It was found that women who consumed more green tea had a lower number of tumor growth. And, in a seven-year study it was found that women with stage I or II cancer who consumed five or more cups of green tea a day had approximately half the recurrence rate of those women who consumed four cups or less.

Turmeric – Because of its anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties, Turmeric may be a useful herb for healthy breasts. The medicinal properties of Turmeric have for millennia been known to the ancient Indians and its medical properties have been expounded in the Ayurvedic texts.

A recent study involving mice has shown that Turmeric slows the spread of breast cancer into lungs and other body parts. Other studies have shown that turmeric can be effective in fighting a number of STDs including Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.

In addition to herbs, there are a number of vitamins for healthy breasts that should be included in the diet as well. Vitamin A (Beta Carotene) for example, has been cited in a number of studies as important to healthy breasts and breast cancer prevention. Additionally, it is useful for the reduction of fibrocystic breast disease.

Iodine, a mineral which is commonly found in sea vegetables such as kelp is another nutrient that has been shown to retard the growth of fibrocystic breast disease.

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.

Alice Domar, who runs a fertility center in Boston and also works at Harvard Medical School, found that women who took part in a stress management program while having a second round of assisted fertility treatment had a 160 percent greater pregnancy rate than women getting IVF alone.

“Reproductive health experts have long wondered about the impact that stress may have on fertility, thus impeding a woman’s ability to conceive,” Domar said in a statement.

“This study shows that stress management may improve pregnancy rates, minimizing the stress of fertility management itself, improving the success rates of IVF procedures, and ultimately, helping to alleviate the emotional burden for women who are facing challenges trying to conceive.”

She and colleagues randomly assigned 97 patients at the clinic to take part in a 10-session mind/body program while undergoing in-vitro fertilization treatments.

The program had no effect on how many women conceived during the first try, Domar told the meeting, with 43 percent of the women getting pregnant.

But for women who failed the first time and were having a second try, 52 percent who took part in the mind/body program became pregnant, compared to only 20 percent of those who did not.

“It’s clear based on this carefully designed study, that a holistic approach to infertility care leads to better outcomes for patients,” said Dr. R. Dale McClure, president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

But a second study found that while complementary and alternative medical therapy was popular among couples getting infertility treatments, it did not make women any more likely to get pregnant.

A team at the University of California, San Francisco questioned 431 couples undergoing infertility therapy and found that 28 percent had tried some kind of alternative medicine, mostly acupuncture or herbs, but they were not any more likely to achieve pregnancy.

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.

“[We are hopeful] that knowing the problems concerning pregnancy and delivery associated with obesity could possibly motivate young women to prevent excessive weight gain,” says study author Dr. Marie Cendergren. She is an obstetrician in the division of obstetrics and gynecology at Linkoping University, where the research was conducted.

The findings appear in the February issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Although Cendergren believes that reaching as close to a “normal” weight as possible before conception is the best way to avoid problems, she acknowledges this would be difficult for most women suffering from obesity.

However she adds that “a BMI below 30 significantly reduces risks,” and she encourages women to aim for that goal. A BMI, or body mass index, is an indication of the level of body fat. A “normal” BMI ranges from 19 to 26, depending on height, Cendergren says.

Among the pregnancy problems cited by the study was an increased risk of preeclampsia, a potentially fatal form of maternal high blood pressure. Other problems include increased likelihood of Caesarean-section delivery; greater risk of shoulder dystocia (damage to the baby’s arm and shoulder during delivery); fetal distress; stillbirth; and death of the child shortly after birth.

Although losing weight before pregnancy would help reduce the risk of all these problems, Cendergren suggests that for even greater insurance, all obese women should be under the care of a high-risk pregnancy expert.

“We must look upon these pregnancies and deliveries as high-risk pregnancies — particularly the doctors dealing with them,” Cendergren says.

New York University obstetrician Dr. Michael Silverstein says the study underscores the importance of watching your weight both before and after pregnancy. But, he adds, this is information most physicians have known for a long time.

“Whether the weight gain occurs before pregnancy or after conception takes place, if you are very overweight it is going to cause a litany of problems affecting both the mother and the baby,” Silverstein says. Even something as routine as a pregnancy ultrasound — to check for fetal growth and development — can be difficult or impossible to accurately read when the mother is very overweight.

“I’m not certain if the excess weight is causing these birthing complications, or if the weight is keeping us from properly diagnosing certain conditions that we might otherwise normally see — particularly those involving fetal distress,” Silverstein says.

While he agrees that some obese women do require the care of a high-risk pregnancy expert, he also believes every pregnancy should be viewed in an individual light.

“A lot depends on the overall health of the mother. A very overweight woman who is in good physical condition may be of less concern than a woman who is moderately overweight but is in poor physical condition or is carrying more than one baby,” he says.

The Swedish study looked at nearly 3,500 pregnancies in morbidly obese women — defined as a body mass index over 40. An additional 12,698 women with a BMI between 35.1 and 40 were also part of the study. All were compared to pregnant women with a normal BMI, falling between 19.8 and 26.

The result: Women with a BMI greater than 40 were at significantly heightened risk for preeclampsia; stillbirth; Caesarean delivery; instrument delivery, (such as forceps); shoulder dystocia; meconium aspiration (a newborn breathing-related procedure), fetal distress; early neonatal death; and large-for-gestational-age — a problem that can lead to other birth complications.

Although women with a BMI between 35.1 and 40 also were subjected to the same risks, the incidence was notably lower. Indeed, researchers say the lower a woman’s BMI, even by just a few points, the lower her risk of problems.

According to Cendergren, the risk of gaining excessive amounts of weight during pregnancy is as detrimental as being very overweight going into the pregnancy.

• Improve your diet
  You need a balanced diet of at least three meals a day, with foods from all four food groups to provide the vitamins and minerals essential to good health. Two of the most important nutrients for a healthy pregnancy are calcium and folic acid. A good prenatal/multiple vitamin will ensure that you get enough of both. Cut back on caffeine consumption.
• Researchers say caffeine delays conception or relates to infertility, but it does appear to lower a woman’s chances of conceiving. (Note: Caffeine may help (in some men) by stimulating sperm motility.)
• Healthy weight
  Get down to your ideal weight for your height before attempting to conceive. Studies have shown that underweight mothers tend to have low birth weight babies. So make sure not to go below.
• Exercise
  Getting in shape at least three months before you conceive (ideally 3 to 12 months) makes it easier to maintain an active lifestyle during pregnancy, and helps during labour. Aerobic exercise can improve your mood and energy level and helps you achieve a healthy pre-pregnancy weight. You’ll also be less vulnerable to the hormonal swings.Pre-pregnancy exercises for getting in shape include walking, jogging, running, swimming, and aerobics. (Note: Start slowly and don’t overwork your body. You should always consult your doctor before starting any new exercise program).
• No alcohol, recreational drugs, smoking
  Study after study has shown that smoking, drinking, and taking drugs are connected to low birth weight babies, miscarriage, SIDS, and behavioural problems later in life. Stopping before trying to get pregnant is best.

Read more about weight, pregnancy and alcohol, pregnancy and drugs, pregnancy and smoking.

Anai Rhoads is a medical and political researcher/writer with a particular interest in the sanctions on Iraq and the wider effect of racism’s influence in the Middle East. A vegan since 2000, she is a dedicated supporter of activities which promote animal and human rights. Originally from Greece, she now resides in Virginia, USA with her husband and their two dogs, Bijou and Eva.

How exciting that specific foods can actually increase fertility! For all those women out there who are having a challenging time getting pregnant, I pray this information helps.

According to research at the Harvard School of Public Health’s department of nutrition, women who followed five or more lifestyle or dietary recommendations reduced their risk of ovulatory infertility by as much as 80%, compared with women who did not follow any recommendations.

The bottom line 10 key recommendations to increase your fertility include:

1. Avoid trans fats
2. Use more unsaturated vegetable oils, extra-virgin olive or canola oil
3. Eat more vegetarian protein, such as beans and nuts and less animal protein
4. Choose whole grain sources of carbohydrates instead of highly refined carbohydrates
5. Drink a glass of whole milk or have a full fat yogurt each day
6. Take a multivitamin that contains folic acid and other B vitamins – Livitician’s recommendations: Try Twinlab Prenatal Vitamin (excellent, easy to tolerate in a capsule) and take Juice Plus, 17 servings of fruits, vegetables and grains in a capsule — gluten free (order at Juice Plus+) Make sure and have foods high in folic acid (folate) too: Beans, artichokes, peanuts, romaine lettuce, fresh oranges, tofu, almonds, pasta, rice, kiwi, bread, corn, eggs, raspberries.
7. Get plenty of iron, but not from red meat — Livitician’s recommendations: egg yolks, legumes, raisins
8. Avoid sugared sodas — Livitician’s recommendations: Have Tea, sparkling waters with natural essence of flavor that do not contain artificial sweeteners (Arrowhead, Perrier, Pellegrino, Gerolsteiner, or Crystal Geyser)
9. If overweight, lose 5% to 10% of your weight
10. Start an exercise program. If you already exercise, keep it up but not too excessive if you are already quite lean.

Enjoy and keep positive self-talk/faith that you will have your baby soon.

Deborah A. Klein, MS, RD is the world’s first Livitician®, a term she coined as an alternative to dietician. Her mission is to educate others on achieving optimal wellness through balanced eating, intrinsic coaching and exercise. Deborah holds Master’s of Science degree in Foods and Nutrition with an emphasis in sports nutrition. Deborah has a private practice where she educates and offers her clients “A Plan to LIVE for!” She is also the “Ask the Nutrition Expert” at Pregnancy.org.