There many dangers that face children, but summer months bring their own added dangers. One common occurrence during this time of the year is leaving children locked inside a hot car. Over the last ten years between 300 and 340 children have died after being left in hot cars. As a matter of fact, some sources place this figure closer to 400. In the hot summer months it takes relatively little time for temperatures to creep up, even with a partially open window. Not many persons realize that temperatures inside a locked car can reach upwards of 130 degrees in less than six minutes. According to information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, temperatures can move from 78 degrees to 125 in six to eight minutes.

The reasons given for children being left in hot cars range from parents forgetting that the babies were there to children playing around and getting accidentally locked in. Statistics from the Department of Geosciences at the San Francisco State University Web site indicate that from 1998-2007, 51 percent of deaths resulting from being locked inside a hot car occurred because the caregiver forgot the child; 30 percent resulted from children playing in a car unsupervised; 18 percent were due to adults knowingly leaving the child in the vehicle. Many adults tend to leave a child in a vehicle to run an errand which they figure shouldn’t take long.

How to Improve Car Safety

Although accidents do happen, as parents there is a lot we can do to try and minimize them. These pointers can go a long way in avoiding having to deal with the death of a child due to suffocation in a hot vehicle:

• Don’t leave car keys where small children and reach them and get into the car
• Do not leave your car doors open when at you are at home
• Place a reminder on your dashboard that you have a child in the backseat, especially if you are not normally the one taking children to daycare etc. Make sure that it is big enough to be easily seen.
• If you fear you may forget that you have a baby or toddler in the car, set an alarm on your phone or PDA to remind you
• Ask someone to call you and remind you to drop the child off if necessary
• Get cars with or install a trunk release latch on car trunks; this will prevent children accidentally locking themselves into the trunk and being unable to get out
• Make getting children out of the car the first priority when you reach your destination
• Tell children not to get into a car while playing without an adult being aware

While some of these tips may seem trite now, they can save a life and help you avoid prison and the loss of a beloved child.

During pregnancy, your body creates a temporary organ called the placenta. The placenta is necessary during pregnancy in order for your baby to grow and be healthy. After the birth of your baby, your doctor or midwife will also have you deliver the placenta, as it is no longer needed.

The placenta is created during the first trimester but is not fully functional until the second trimester when it takes over all the nutrient production and waste management for the baby. The placenta is both genetically and biologically composed of two equal parts from the fetus and the mother. It is connected to the uterine wall and connected to the baby through the umbilical cord. It receives nutrients and oxygen and filters out any waste from the mother’s blood before delivering the blood to the baby via the umbilical cord.

Until the placenta takes over, a woman naturally produces progesterone to keep the baby viable. As soon as the placenta takes over it starts creating its own progesterone to sustain the pregnancy. After delivery of the placenta the cord is clamped near the baby and cut off permanently disconnecting the baby from the placenta. The entrance of the umbilical cord into the baby’s body later becomes the baby’s belly button.

Some cultures practice placentophagy which is the eating of the placenta. Those who do this believe that eating the placenta helps prevent postpartum depression and other complications. However, modern doctors and midwives do not believe that eating the placenta will actually help reduce the occurrence of postpartum depression.

In some pregnancies, placenta previa can occur. Placenta previa is a condition where the placenta covers at least part of the cervix, which is the opening that the baby will come through when born vaginally. This happens in about one of every 200 pregnancies. There are 3 types of placenta previa.

• Complete
  Complete placenta previa is the placenta covering the entire cervix. This can cause bleeding throughout the pregnancy, growth retardation and congenital defects in baby. It will also mean that a woman will need a c-section when it comes time to deliver her baby.
   
• Partial
  Partial placenta previa is a partial covering of cervix is covered. This can be anywhere from 1/4 to 3/4 of the cervix. This can also cause bleeding and may lead to a c-section.
   
• Marginal
  Marginal placenta previa occurs when just a small portion, or just the edge of the cervix, is covered. In this case, as the pregnancy progresses, the placenta will generally move up and out of the way, allowing a clear passage for the baby to be born vaginally.

If you experience bleeding during your pregnancy, you should talk to your doctor and rule out the possibility of any bleeding being caused by placenta previa.

By Carol Rados

One minute you hear that eating fish is good for your heart. The next, you find out that eating certain types of fish can be harmful.

Actually, there are benefits and risks to eating fish. Fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy diet. They contain high-quality protein, other essential nutrients, and omega-3 fatty acids, and fish are low in saturated fat. A well-balanced diet that includes a variety of fish and shellfish can contribute to a healthy heart and to healthy, well-developed children.

However, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of methylmercury, a type of mercury found in water that can be harmful, especially to unborn babies and young children whose nervous systems are still developing. Some types of fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury. The risks depend on the amount of fish and shellfish eaten and the levels of mercury in the seafood.

The Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through a joint consumer advisory, warn that women who may become pregnant, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and young children should avoid the types of fish and shellfish with higher levels of mercury and eat only those that have lower levels.

Here’s more information about the mercury in fish and shellfish, and what you should know.

Q. What is mercury and methylmercury?

A. Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and also can be released into the air through industrial pollution. Mercury falls from the air and can accumulate in streams and oceans. Bacteria in the water cause chemical changes that transform the mercury into methylmercury. It is this type of mercury that can be harmful to unborn babies and young children. Fish absorb the methylmercury as they feed in these waters. Methylmercury builds up in the tissue of some types of fish and shellfish more than others depending on what the fish eat. That’s why levels vary among species and locations.

Q. Should a woman who is not pregnant, but could become pregnant, be concerned about methylmercury?

A. Yes. If you regularly eat types of fish high in methylmercury, the substance can accumulate in your blood over time. Methylmercury is removed from the body naturally, but it may take more than a year for the levels to drop significantly. Therefore, it may be present in a woman even before she becomes pregnant. That is why women who are trying to become pregnant also should avoid eating certain types of fish.

Q. Do all fish and shellfish contain methylmercury?

A. Nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of methylmercury. However, larger fish that have lived longer have the highest levels of methylmercury because it has accumulated over time. Large fish such as swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tilefish pose the greatest risk. Other types of fish and shellfish may be eaten in the amounts recommended by the FDA and EPA.

Q. Where can I get information about the types of fish I eat?

A. Information about the levels of methylmercury in the various types of fish you eat can be found at the FDA food safety Web site: www.cfsan.fda.gov/~frf/sea-mehg.html or the EPA Web site at www.epa.gov/ost/fish.

Q. Should I be concerned about fish sticks and fast food sandwiches that are made with fish?

A. Fish sticks and fast food sandwiches are commonly made from fish low in mercury.

Q. Although advice is provided about canned tuna, what is the advice about tuna steaks?

A. Because tuna steak generally contains higher levels of mercury than canned light tuna, when choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces of tuna steak per week.

Q. What will happen if I eat more than the recommended amount of fish and shellfish in a week?

A. One week’s consumption of fish does not change the level of mercury in the body much. If you eat a lot of fish one week, you can cut back for the next week or two. Just make sure to average the recommended amount per week.

Q. Where can I get information about the safety of fish caught recreationally in lakes, streams, and rivers?

A. Before you go fishing, check the appropriate fishing regulations booklet for information about recreationally caught fish. You can also contact your local health department for information about advisories in your area. Check local advisories because some kinds of fish and shellfish caught in local waters may have widely varying levels of mercury, depending on the levels of mercury in the water. Fish with much lower levels may be eaten more frequently and in larger amounts.

Recommendations for Selecting and Eating Fish or Shellfish

Women and young children will receive the benefits of eating fish and shellfish and be confident that they have reduced their exposure to the harmful effects of mercury by following these recommendations:

Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury. Eat up to 12 ounces, two average meals, a week of a variety of fish and shellfish that are lower in mercury. Five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, and catfish. Albacore (white) tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna. When choosing your two meals of fish and shellfish, you may eat up to 6 ounces, one average meal, of albacore tuna per week. Check to see if advisories exist concerning the safety of fish caught in local lakes, rivers, and coastal areas. If no advice is available, eat up to 6 ounces per week of fish you catch from local waters, but don’t consume any other fish during that week. Follow these same recommendations when feeding fish and shellfish to your young child, but serve smaller portions.

During pregnancy a woman experiences many aches and pains. During the first trimester she often has fatigue and nausea. There is normally also some cramping as the uterus starts to expand and grow. There is also the constant urge to go to the bathroom as the uterus puts extra pressure on the bladder that the bladder.

During the second trimester, most of the first trimester pregnancy symptoms go away, although a new one tends to pop up. It is generally referred to as round ligament pain. But what is round ligament pain exactly?

The round ligaments are the ligaments at the bottom of your belly, which are positioned under the uterus, and expand and grow to help support your uterus as it gets bigger. As these ligaments stretch some women find it painful and are concerned. Most doctors and midwives will reassure you that these pains are a normal part of pregnancy.

During the third trimester this pain can increase as your uterus grows even bigger and the ligaments have to stretch more to support the weight of the baby, amniotic fluid, placenta and extra blood that your body is carrying in your belly. If the pain becomes unbearable, ask your provider what pain medication is safe to take while pregnant.

Some women are concerned because they don’t have round ligament pain, or they don’t seem to suffer from it as much as other women. Not every woman will experience a large amount of pain. Generally, in a first pregnancy, the pain won’t start as early or be as severe as it is in a woman’s second, third and subsequent pregnancies. This is normal and to be expected.

After you deliver the baby, remember that your body has “memory” so after your pregnancy is over, and as your belly shrinks and your body returns to normal, these round ligaments will return to their former, pre-pregnancy shape and size. This shrinking may also cause some pain, but it shouldn’t be as severe as when the ligaments originally stretched to make room for your baby.

Among the early blood tests a pregnant woman must endure is the Rh, or Rhesus, factor test which is a test to see if the woman is Rh Negative or Rh Positive, which can be an indicator of hemolytic disease.

When the mother has a negative Rhesus factor and the father has a positive Rhesus factor, it can result in a fetus that is positive Rh factor. Even though the blood systems of the mother and baby are separate while the baby is in the womb, there are times when the baby’s blood can enter the mother’s body. When this happens it can cause the mother’s negative Rh factor blood to naturally create antibodies against the baby’s positive Rh factor blood. This results in the body to treating the baby as it would an infection in the mother’s body, instead of the body recognizing that the baby is supposed to be there.

When the mother and baby have opposite RH factor blood, the mother will become sensitized and her body will begin making antibodies which will attack the baby’s positive Rh positive factor blood, causing the breakdown of red blood cells in the baby which can lead to anemia. In severe cases where this happens while the baby is growing in the womb, it can lead to illness, brain damage and even death of the fetus.

The good news is that, through early blood tests, the dangers of the Rh negative factor in women can be prevented. If a woman is found to have RH negative and the father to be RH positive, the woman can be given a shot of Rh immunoglobulin which is a blood product given through an injection, normally in the buttocks of a woman. The injection suppresses the ability of the woman’s blood to react to the Rh positive red blood cells coming from the baby.

Each shot of immunoglobulin, also known as Rhogam, lasts about 12 weeks. Some doctors will choose to give two shots, one at the beginning of the second trimester and one at the beginning of the third, at about 28 weeks. When the baby is born, if it is indeed has the Rh positive, the mother will be given another shot of Rhogam to help avoid the possibility of her body becoming sensitized to the Rh positive factor in later pregnancies.

Most women will test as Rh Positive, at which point there is no threat to the pregnancy. However, some women will test as Rh negative. If your blood work comes back showing that you are Rh negative, your doctor or midwife will mention it to you. However, if you have questions or are unsure if you fall into this group of women, make sure you ask your provider for the results of your blood work at your next appointment.

During pregnancy there are so many changes in your body it can be hard to keep up with them. You feel bloated, your breasts are changing, and you may also have a constant vaginal discharge. Generally, while discharge is normally not dangerous, it can be inconvenient.

So what causes the discharge? As your waistline expands, and your hormones change new blood circulation in the vaginal area causes the increase in discharge known as leukorrhea. It shouldn’t smell, and it is normal. It is your body’s way of flushing out bacteria that could harm you or your baby.

There is something you can do though about the discomfort that this vaginal discharge may cause you. Changing your clothes often and wearing panty liners or maxi pads will help keep the wetness down. Douching will not help get rid of the discharge, and it could also introduce bacteria to your uterus, so you shouldn’t douche at all while pregnant.

During the third trimester, towards the end of your pregnancy, you may notice an increase in the amount and consistency of the discharge. Where it once was thin, it might be getting thicker and may be tinted with blood. This discharge is known as your mucus plug and your body expelling the plug signifies that labor is a few weeks away.

Anytime you have discharge during pregnancy that is colored, heavier or thicker than normal you should see your doctor. In some rare cases it could be a sign of vaginal infection or a problem with your pregnancy. Problems could include a yeast infection, bacterial vaginosis, or a STD. In most of these cases there are preventative measures that your doctor or midwife can do to solve any problems you may be having.

As always, if you have any fear that your discharge is not normal, or if you have any questions, ask your provider. It is their job to answer your questions and to reassure you that everything is going normally with your pregnancy.

by Sheila Wolf, RDH

A glazed doughnut or a wedge of apple pie might be what we choose for a mid-morning munch. Unfortunately, these snacks contain refined sugar that is not only bad for your teeth and gums, but also for your pregnancy. Sugar, sometimes disguised as sucrose, dextrose, or glucose, provides empty calories, adds weight, and can lead to diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis.

We Americans eat entirely too much sugar — almost 7 tablespoons per person per day. Depending on who’s doing the research, that could be anywhere from 64 to 150 pounds per year. These “empty” spoonfuls contribute no nutrition or fiber and crowd out nutritious fare from your diet. In the presence of certain bacteria in the mouth, sugar leads to the production of toxic bacterial byproducts that are very acidic. These toxins, if allowed to sit on the enamel of your teeth, cause caries (cavities). If not removed properly from along the gum line and in between the teeth, they irritate the gums and will ultimately erode the supporting bone that anchors the teeth in the mouth. A mother-to-be is more susceptible to dental problems due to the excessive hormones circulating in her system. According to the Surgeon General’s report in 2000, “toxins or other products generated by periodontal (around the teeth) bacteria in the mother may reach the general circulation, cross the placenta, and harm the fetus.” Pregnant women with severe gum infections are seven times more prone to having a baby that is premature. Prevention and early diagnosis of dental decay and gingivitis (swollen, tender gums) are important for your health as well as your baby’s. So, what can you do about assuring good nutrition and oral health during pregnancy? Here are three tips from my book, Pregnancy and Oral Health that will make a difference right away:

Healthy Snack Alternatives

Here is a list of healthy snack ideas to replace those quick, convenient, sugary ones that contribute to dental decay:

• Yogurt with fresh fruit
• Unprocessed cheese
• Brown Rice, whole grain bagels, whole wheat toast, or bran muffins with cream cheese, peanut butter, or fruit spread
• Homemade frozen popsicles, using one 6oz. can frozen concentrated juice mixed with a small container (6-8 oz) of plain yogurt. I used to give these to my son when he was teething. They were yummy for both of us!
• Baked apples or other baked or stewed fruit
• Fresh fruit (Choose from a range of colors to ensure variety of nutrients and vitamins)
• Fruit smoothies, homemade, using yogurt and banana as your base. Add other fruit and flavorings with ice to make a delicious drink
• Unsweetened whole grain cereals with yogurt and fresh fruit.
• Nuts and seeds.
• Celery with peanut butter (my personal favorite).
• Raw carrot sticks, cucumber slices, green pepper wedges — or any fresh vegetables, for that matter. Serve with a dip made from ground garbanzo beans (hummus), yogurt, sour cream, or cottage cheese with herbs.

When you indulge:

When you do indulge in a sugary treat, it is better to do it all in one sitting rather than to sip on a soda or take tiny bites of sweet things all day long. (One soda has on the average of 12 teaspoons of sugar). Eating tiny bursts of sweets throughout your day is more injurious to your oral health since every time you introduce sugar into your mouth, the bacteria are nourished for about 20 minutes.

Brushing or swishing:

Brush as quickly as possible after eating or drinking anything with a high content of sugar. If that is not possible, I recommend taking a swig of water, swishing it around your mouth and swallowing. By keeping these residues at a very low level, you reduce the nutrients that many plaque-forming bacteria depend on for their growth and survival.

About the Author
Sheila Wolf, affectionately known to her patients and colleagues as Mama Gums, has been a dental hygienist for 32 years, educating and motivating people on both coasts to take control of their oral health. You can read more about the critical link between a healthy mouth and a healthy baby at her website, www.mamagums.com and in her book, Pregnancy and Oral Health: The Critical Connection Between Your Mouth and Your Baby, available through bookstores in June 2004 and on www.Amazon.com. Sheila invites questions and can be reached at 866 MAMA-GUMs or through her website.

What is amniotic fluid and what is it’s purpose? Also referred to as the “bag of waters”, the most pregnant women generally know about it is that about the time labor begins their amniotic sac will break, or be broken by their midwife or doctor, causing the start of the delivery process. They don’t however know what its purpose is during a pregnancy.

The amniotic fluid is the clear, slightly yellowish fluid within the amniotic sac that surrounds the baby in the uterus. The baby grows in this amniotic sac, surrounded by the amniotic fluid, as he learns to move his limbs, open his eyes and breathe. Amniotic fluid levels generally sit at approximately 800ml through most of the pregnancy, dropping slightly in most cases to about 600ml by the time a woman reaches the 40 week mark.

The amniotic fluid has many purposes. It helps to cushion hard blows and jolts to your belly to protect the baby and it allows your baby the freedom to move while permitting symmetrical musculoskeletal development. It also maintains an even temperature so that your baby does not get too hot or too cold, even if you are extremely hot or cold.

Amniotic fluid also helps your baby develop his lungs. While in the womb your baby practices breathing by breathing in and out the water in the amniotic sac. The baby swallows and inhales the amniotic fluid and replaces the volume in the amniotic sac by urinating and exhaling the liquid.

In some cases, a woman may have too much or too little amniotic fluid. Having too much is called polyhydramnios and having too little is called oligohydramnios. In either case, a woman might be watched more closely by her physician throughout her pregnancy.

By Beverley Brooke

One of the most important things you can do if you are thinking about becoming pregnant is start taking a prenatal vitamin with at least 400mcg of folic acid. Folic acid is an essential nutrient that can help prevent birth defects in newborns. If you start taking a prenatal supplement before you even try to become pregnant, you will have the best chance of ensuring a happy and healthy journey once you become pregnant.

Prenatal vitamins are packed full of nutrients that will help support and nourish your growing child and your body during pregnancy. Most women assume that they need a prescription to acquire prenatal vitamins. There are actually however many high quality prenatal vitamin supplements you can purchase over the counter. If you are not certain what your best choice is, be sure to consult with your healthcare provider who can point you in the right direction.

If you aren’t engaging in regular exercise prior to pregnancy, you’ll find it is more difficult though not impossible to start exercising during pregnancy when you are already feeling bulky and tired. Therefore one of the best things you can do to prepare for pregnancy is start exercising regularly. You don’t have to join the Boston Marathon, but even walking around the block a few times per week will help tone and condition your body and help you prepare for the journey ahead.

Women who regularly engage in some form of exercise before and during pregnancy are more likely to experience quicker and less problematic labors. That is a good enough reason in and of itself to start exercising as soon as you can.

About the Author
Article by Beverley Brooke, author of How To Ensure A Safe, Healthy Pregnancy And Lose Weight After Pregnancy. Visit her site for more on www.pregnancy-weight-loss.com.

Pregnant women often hear from their family and friends, “Don’t eat fish!” Many women don’t have all the facts relating to the possible dangers of eating fish during pregnancy or that it is safe to eat amounts of certain fish causing harm to their babies.

The danger in eating fish comes from ingesting too much mercury during pregnancy. Some studies, including a recent one done in Korea, conclude that high levels of mercury in a woman’s blood stream during pregnancy can be transferred to her unborn baby through the umbilical cord, causing birth defects, and in some cases, premature birth. In fact, women with high levels of mercury found in the cord blood are 3-5 times more likely to deliver a baby prematurely, i.e. before the 37th week of pregnancy, than women without mercury in their cord blood.

However, many experts disagree if the warning about eating fish includes ALL fish, or if certain types of fish are okay to eat occasionally during pregnancy. Some believe that salmon and other small fish are okay to eat during pregnancy while all bigger fish like tuna, swordfish, mackerel and shark should be avoided. The study in Korea concluded that “woman who never had fish during pregnancy had 4.6 micrograms of mercury per 1 liter of blood, while the mercury level of women who consumed fish more than four times per week had an average mercury level of 8.3 micrograms” although it never stated what type of fish the women ate, or commented on what kinds were considered safe during pregnancy.

Mercury risk to pregnant women and their unborn babies can also be found in other places too. There are also dental procedures that involve the use of amalgams that can put an unborn baby at risk. A dental amalgam is a mixture of mercury, and an alloy of silver, tin and copper. Mercury makes up about 45-50 percent of the compound. Mercury is used to bind the metals together and to provide a strong, hard, and durable filling that is used to fill cavities in your teeth. Because of the high amount of mercury, it is suggested that you not get fillings during pregnancy unless absolutely necessary, and that if you have to get fillings, that you try to avoid getting more than three until after your baby is born.

Many people don’t realize it, but there is actually a large percentage of mercury in the air that we breathe in daily in many parts of the world. Air pollution makes it very hard to steer clear of mercury and more effort may be needed in staying away from all fish and avoiding the dentist’s office during pregnancy, Take as many precautions as you can when it comes to mercury, in order to have the healthiest pregnancy possible, and to help avoid a premature delivery of your baby.