In September 2012, Irish medical doctors came together to present cutting-edge research and diverse opinions on maternal healthcare. One of the conclusions from the Dublin Declaration on Maternal Healthcare was this – “As experienced practitioners and researchers in Obstetrics and Gynecology, we affirm that direct abortion is not medically necessary to save the life of a woman.” On October 28, 2012, Savita Halappanavar, an Indian woman living in Galway, Ireland, died of septicemia after having been denied a potentially life-saving abortion for three excruciatingly agonizing days at the University Hospital in Galway.

On October 21, when Savita, who was 17-weeks pregnant, was admitted to the hospital, she was in agony. She had suffered a miscarriage and accepted that she was going to lose her precious baby – a baby that her family back home had yearned for. But fighting through her pain and her grief, Savita requested for an induced abortion, which was refused outright.

“This is a Catholic country. As long as there is a fetal heartbeat, we can’t do anything,” the Irish doctors told her and her husband, Praveen Halappanavar. For three days, Praveen was caught in a desperately futile struggle to convince the doctors to proceed with terminating the pregnancy, as his wife’s health deteriorated with every passing minute. “I am neither Irish nor Catholic,” was Savita’s last plea. The fetus died two days later and a couple of days later, Savita’s heart, liver, and kidneys stopped working. She died because of blood poisoning that may have been reversed had she been allowed to undergo the abortion. Savita’s death sparked global debate over legalizing abortion in Ireland and outrage among thousands of men and women across the world.

Despite a 1992 ruling by the Supreme Court that permitted abortion in the case of a “real and substantive risk” to the mother’s life, Irish governments since then have been reluctant to legalize abortion in a country where 80% of the population is Catholic. Even though the European Court of Human Rights had ruled that the inadequate access to abortions in Ireland – resulting in most Irish women seeking medical termination of their pregnancies, travelling to Britain – for life-threatening pregnancies violated the European Union Law, there is still a lack of legislative detail in Irish law, making abortions a controversial issue. Medical practitioners are unclear on the guidelines and therefore refuse to carry out medical termination.

Carrying out an abortion, however, is not an easy choice even for the mother. Savita Halappanavar wanted to keep her baby but she knew that her body would not permit her to. Savita, like most women, faced the dilemma of her baby’s life and her own conscience. In her case, she had made the right decision by choosing to end her pregnancy.

But Nima Purohit, a lawyer in India, probably still wonders whether she made the right decision. 19-weeks into her pregnancy and Nima’s doctors informed her that her little one had Dandy-Walker Syndrome, a congenital disease that would have serious implications. Since 20-week limit for an abortion was fast approaching, Nima underwent an amniocentesis test, but had her pregnancy terminated. After the abortion, she was still waiting for the amniocentesis test results hoping that she had made the right decision.

Nima made a choice between her child’s quality of life and her own conscience as a mother. One cannot say that she made a wrong decision. Abortions are legal in India, a religious and secular country. Yet, the choice for an abortion is in the hands of a woman. Legalizing abortions can put an end to unsafe abortions but many Indians are still unaware of the risks involved in unsafe abortions. Anti-abortion groups are calling for liberalization of the abortion laws in Ireland. Losing one life, that of the fetus, is better than losing two lives.

The choice of life and conscience may remain a debatable topic; however, religion cannot triumph over a woman’s right to live. Religion will not be able to explain to a child why he lives each day with a genetic abnormality or mental retardation. In some situations, abortions are a desperate need for survival. Law makers and governments have to accept this hard truth. Savita lost out on her abortion rights. She lost a painful battle to religious fanaticism. But, for the other Savitas in the world, radical change and constitutional reform is needed.

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New York, U.S.A. – Every Mother Counts, an advocacy and mobilization campaign founded by Christy Turlington Burns to increase education and support for the global reduction of maternal mortality, and CHI&Partners, an international advertising agency based in New York, have launched No Mothers Day, a groundbreaking social issue campaign designed to raise awareness about the hundreds of thousands of girls and women around the world who die each year from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth.

The cornerstone of the campaign is a social issue film that features moms encouraging other moms to join in solidarity by disappearing on May 13, 2012 Mother’s Day. No phone calls. No emails. No social media. No gifts. This unified action is meant to demonstrate the hole that a woman leaves in the world when she dies in pregnancy and childbirth.

In leading a movement to forego Mother’s Day this year, the two organizations hope to bring more attention to the global issue of maternal mortality so that more mothers are here to celebrate in years to come. The film was directed by filmmaker, Ed Burns.

“Being able to do good work for a good cause so you can truly make a difference is a fantastic opportunity,” said Victoria Davies, Managing Partner at CHI&Partners. “No Mothers Day is an idea that could only be championed by Christy and Every Mother Counts – and forces us to think about a world without mothers on the one day when people should be thinking about mothers the most”.

The film features mothers between the ages of 24-80 expressing the belief that together, “our silence will speak the loudest, for all mothers.” Some of the high profile mothers featured in the film includes, Christy Turlington Burns, Jennifer Connelly, Kelly Rutherford, Ann Curry, Blythe Danner, Debra Messing, Dayle Haddon, Tonya Lewis-Lee and Heather Armstrong (Dooce).

“We hope this film becomes a pivotal moment in getting people to stop and think about maternal health on a much larger scale,” said Christy Turlington Burns, founder, Every Mother Counts. “Nearly 360,000 women die every year from largely preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, and 90 percent of those deaths are preventable. Once people know the facts, they will want to do what they can and come to us to find ways to engage.”

Turlington Burns founded Every Mother Counts as a campaign to support her first documentary, No Woman, No Cry, about the global state of maternal health, and to increase awareness about the hundreds of thousands of girls and women who die each year from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth.

The campaign was so well received and the demand for continued engagement so strong that EMC has evolved into an organization to help individuals, companies and organizations find their own voice on maternal health and join a growing community of advocates.

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Nearly one in five African-American babies in Newark is born too soon, and a new community-based program announced today aims to help more of these babies be born healthy and full-term.

The March of Dimes has launched Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait, a program to reduce preterm births in Newark.  Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait is a partnership of the March of Dimes, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, the City of Newark Department of Child and Family Well Being, Newark Beth Israel, UMDNJ – The University Hospital and Newark Community Health Centers, conducted in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson.

The primary goal of this partnership in Newark is to reduce the rate of singleton (one baby) preterm birth with particular concern for reducing preterm birth within the African-American community. The March of Dimes has been working with prenatal care providers and community-based organizations to select interventions and develop materials specifically for African-American women.

African-American women are more than one and a half times as likely to have a preterm baby compared to white women; and disparities persist even when age, education and other demographics are considered. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2009, the preterm birth rate in Newark for African-American women was 18.6 percent, while the overall rate for the city was 16.5 percent — both substantially higher than the statewide preterm birth rate of 12 percent.

In Newark the preterm birth rate is more than 66 percent higher among African-Americans babies when compared to non-Hispanic whites. ”Preventing preterm birth saves babies’ lives and opens up a healthy future for them and their families,” said LaVerne Council, chair of the March of Dimes Board of Trustees.

“Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait will offer more New Jersey moms, especially African-American moms who are at greater risk, the best information and services geared especially for them.”

Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait provides education for perinatal providers, pregnant women, and the greater Newark community on the problem of preterm birth, its risk factors and strategies for reducing risk.  Additionally, it provides a supportive structure for implementing bundled evidence-based clinical and public health interventions to reduce preterm birth.

HBWW-Newark works to increase early entry into prenatal care by building strong collaborations among the health department, healthcare providers and community organizations as only 55% of African-American women receive prenatal care within the first trimester.

“Preparing for a new baby should be a time of great excitement,” said Mary O’Dowd, New Jersey Health and Senior Services Commissioner. “Premature birth is the number one obstetrical problem in the U.S. and African-American women in particular, across all socioeconomic groups, are at a much greater risk of delivering their babies too soon.

Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait aims to help prevent preterm births with a model that combines clinical, educational and community efforts to improve overall systems of care.” ”I am proud to be working with the March of Dimes to implement Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait in Newark,” said Newark City Councilwoman Mildred Crump. “Culturally competent prenatal care and education messages are vital to improving birth outcomes in our city.”

“Johnson & Johnson is committed to improving the health of mothers and babies worldwide.  Healthy Babies are Worth the Wait has proven that community-based programs can reduce pre-term birth rates. We are excited to be a partner in this project which focuses on a particularly vulnerable group of mothers and babies right here in New Jersey,” said Joy Marini, Director, Corporate Contributions, Johnson & Johnson.

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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have issued the following statement: The Catholic bishops have long supported access to life-affirming healthcare for all, and the conscience rights of everyone involved in the complex process of providing that healthcare.

That is why we raised two serious objections to the “preventive services” regulation issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in August 2011.

First, we objected to the rule forcing private health plans—nationwide, by the stroke of a bureaucrat’s pen—to cover sterilization and contraception, including drugs that may cause abortion. All the other mandated “preventive services” prevent disease, and pregnancy is not a disease.Moreover, forcing plans to cover abortifacients violates existing federal conscience laws. Therefore, we called for the rescission of the mandate altogether.

Second, we explained that the mandate would impose a burden of unprecedented reach and severity on the consciences of those who consider such “services” immoral: insurers forced to write policies including this coverage; employers and schools forced to sponsor and subsidize the coverage; and individual employees and students forced to pay premiums for the coverage.

We therefore urged HHS, if it insisted on keeping the mandate, to provide a conscience exemption for all of these stakeholders—not just the extremely small subset of “religious employers” that HHS proposed to exempt initially.

The President has done two things.

First, he has decided to retain HHS’s nationwide mandate of insurance coverage of sterilization and contraception, including some abortifacients. This is both unsupported in the law and remains a grave moral concern. We cannot fail to reiterate this, even as so many would focus exclusively on the question of religious liberty.

Second, the President has announced some changes in how that mandate will be administered, which is still unclear in its details. As far as we can tell at this point, the change appears to have the following basic contours:

• It would still mandate that all insurers must include coverage for the objectionable services in all the policies they would write. At this point, it would appear that self-insuring religious employers, and religious insurance companies, are not exempt from this mandate.
• It would allow non-profit, religious employers to declare that they do not offer such coverage. But the employee and insurer may separately agree to add that coverage. The employee would not have to pay any additional amount to obtain this coverage, and the coverage would be provided as a part of the employer’s policy, not as a separate rider.
• Finally, we are told that the one-year extension on the effective date (from August 1, 2012 to August 1, 2013) is available to any non-profit religious employer who desires it, without any government application or approval process.

These changes require careful moral analysis, and moreover, appear subject to some measure of change. But we note at the outset that the lack of clear protection for key stakeholders—for self-insured religious employers; for religious and secular for-profit employers; for secular non-profit employers; for religious insurers; and for individuals—is unacceptable and must be corrected.

And in the case where the employee and insurer agree to add the objectionable coverage, that coverage is still provided as a part of the objecting employer’s plan, financed in the same way as the rest of the coverage offered by the objecting employer. This, too, raises serious moral concerns.

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Columbia Laboratories and Watson Pharmaceuticals has confirmed that the Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not recommend approval of progesterone vaginal gel 8% for the reduction of risk of preterm birth in women with short uterine cervical length at the mid-trimester of pregnancy.

While panel members generally agreed that progesterone vaginal gel 8% is safe, the panel stated that more information is needed to support approval. While the FDA will consider recommendations of the Committee, the final decision regarding the approval of the product rests solely with the FDA.  The FDA’s Division of Reproductive and Urologic Products is expected to take action on Columbia’s New Drug Application (NDA) by February 26, 2012.

“We will work with the FDA to address the Advisory Committee’s comments as the Agency finalizes its review of our NDA. We remain confident in the PREGNANT study results that showed the administration of progesterone vaginal gel 8% is a safe and effective treatment for patients at risk for preterm birth due to short uterine cervical length in the mid-trimester of pregnancy. We hope the agency’s final decision will acknowledge the clear unmet medical need in this patient population,” said Frank Condella, President and CEO of Columbia Laboratories.

“As was highlighted today, there are currently no products approved to reduce the risk of preterm birth in women with premature cervical shortening – an established strong predictor of preterm birth risk,” saidFred Wilkinson, Watson’s Executive Vice President, Global Brands.

“The availability of a safe and effective product, with a demonstrated ability to reduce the risk of preterm birth in women with short uterine cervical length in the mid-trimester of pregnancy, would represent a significant advance in the prevention of early preterm birth and its associated complications.”

The Committee evaluated data submitted by Columbia to the FDA in its New Drug Application (NDA 22-139), which includes data from two Phase III clinical trials.  One of these trials, the PREGNANT study, showed that women with a short uterine cervical length as measured by transvaginal ultrasound between 19 and <24 weeks of gestation who were treated with progesterone vaginal gel 8% had a significantly lower risk of preterm birth before 33 weeks gestation compared to those who were treated with placebo (p=0.022).

This study included women with and without a prior history of preterm birth.  Progesterone vaginal gel 8% was also associated with a significant reduction in the risk of preterm birth before 35 weeks gestation (p=0.012).

In the pregnant study, the frequency of maternal treatment-emergent adverse events both overall and by individual event was comparable between the placebo and progesterone vaginal gel treatment groups.

The most frequent events in the progesterone vaginal gel group were expected complications of a high-risk pregnancy and included “premature baby” (19%), “uterine contractions abnormal” (14%), “premature labor” (7%). “Cervical disorder” (10%), “nausea” (10%), “headache” (7%), and “vulvo vaginal mycotic infection” (7%) were also reported.

The Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs is an independent panel of experts that evaluates data concerning the efficacy and safety of marketed and investigational products for use in the treatment of reproductive conditions and makes non-binding recommendations to the FDA.

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Pregnancy is an exciting time filled with hopeful anticipation, and most pregnancies are uneventful and result in healthy babies. Pregnancy, however, is not entirely without risk, leading some expectant parents to worry about birth defects and whether they’ll give birth to a healthy baby.

Many birth defects are minor and easily treated. But about one in every 33 babies is born with a major birth defect, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Major birth defects may have a serious impact on development, functional ability and overall health.

Throughout January, which is Birth Defects Prevention Month, BeSmartBeWell.com highlights pregnancy risks and preventable birth defects. At BeSmartBeWell.com medical experts, and expectant moms, such as Sharon, share information to help lower the risk for birth defects.

“There are some risks [associated with pregnancy],” says Sharon in a video on the site. “But there’s a lot that I can do to make sure that I’m minimizing any chances of problems. And that’s exactly what I’m committed to doing.” Some birth defects are caused by genetic factors. In addition, women over 35 and those with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes and/or obesity, are more likely to have a baby with a birth defect.

But no matter what your age or current health, there are steps you can take to increase the chances of a healthy baby.

• Even before you’re pregnant, start taking 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid each day.
• Don’t drink alcohol or smoke.
• Eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight.
• Talk to your healthcare provider about your medications (prescription and over-the-counter) and learn which are safe to take during pregnancy.

And if you have a health condition, work with your healthcare team to make sure it’s under control before you become pregnant and throughout your pregnancy.

“My first pregnancy was challenging,” says expectant mom Melissa in a video on the site. “I learned a lot about my diabetes through that experience. It’s so important [to become educated] because it’s not just affecting me, it’s affecting my child.”

BeSmartBeWell.com provides practical information to help expectant moms and women who are thinking about becoming pregnant. Produced by the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer, in collaboration with medical experts and national health organizations, BeSmartBeWell.com features:

• Life stories of moms and moms-to-be
• Practical videos featuring leading health experts
• Reputable resources and links for more information
• Pregnancy news and updates
• Health quizzes

At the site, visitors can also register for the monthly Spotlight Newsletter and News Alerts for in-depth articles and breaking news on pregnancy risk and other important health topics.

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January 8-14 is considered Folic Acid Awareness Week and is a good time for people to be reminded of the importance of getting some of that vitamin each day. Folic acid is an essential B vitamin, and a lack of it can lead to birth defects. It also serves a variety of functions within the body, and a shortage or absence of it can lead to health problems.

“Folic acid is important to our health, yet many people are not even familiar with what it is or why we need it,” explains Dwayne Adams, registered nurse and creator of the RNHealthCoach.com, an online health and wellness coach directory. “The more people know about it, and where to get it, the more they are able to make a point of including it in their diet. And the health benefits that result speak for themselves.”

Folic acid is considered a fundamental building block in our body. It is used for cell growth and reproduction, and it also helps in the building of DNA. Other health benefits of getting an adequate supply include it helping to protect against heart disease, stroke, and some mental conditions, such as Alzheimer’s Disease.

To help avoid birth defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, it is important that women get enough folic acid, not only during pregnancy, but for at least a month before becoming pregnant, as well. Those not pregnant can still suffer serious health consequences from not getting enough folic acid, including anemia and irritability.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women need 400 micrograms each day. Getting the recommended daily amount of folic acid can be achieved as easily as taking a multivitamin that contains it, but a full daily supply can also be found in a variety of breakfast cereals, such as Kellogg’s Special K, Kashi Heart to Heart, and General Mills Total Raisin Bran.

A quick scan of the nutritional label will show how much folic acid is found in the cereal per serving. Additionally, some folic acid can be obtained through foods such as spinach, broccoli, black beans, pinto beans, and chickpeas. ”Getting enough folic acid is crucial,” adds Adams. “The good news is that it is surprisingly easy to accomplish that each day.”

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A son who is exposed to his mother’s heavy coffee drinking – five cups or more a day – while she is pregnant with him is more likely to have poorer semen quality later in life, a new Public Health Institute study reports.

The study, which appears in the December issue of the Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, found clear evidence for the first time that three key semen measures used to determine fertility declined for sons currently in their 40s whose mothers drank five or more cups of coffee daily while the sons were in utero. The measures were for semen concentration, motility (movement) and normal morphology (characteristics, such as sperm size and shape).

“There have been hints of this effect in human and animal studies, but our prospective study presents strong evidence that maternal prenatal coffee consumption can impair the reproductive tract of the developing male fetus,” said Piera Cirillo, lead author of the article and a senior research scientist at the Child Health and Development Studies (CHDS) in Berkeley, Calif. ”Although these results are based on a small sample, which warrants cautious interpretation, finding consistent reductions in all three semen measures suggests that drinking coffee during pregnancy may very well impact adult male reproduction.”

The study’s data is drawn from the CHDS, a landmark and ongoing prospective study, which collected information and biological specimens from 1959 to 1967 from pregnant Kaiser Permanente Health Plan members in the Oakland vicinity. The new work follows up with 196 of the women’s sons, mostly in their 40s, who provided semen samples.

“The CHDS has been invaluable for follow-up studies on the women and the health and development of their children,” said Mary A. Pittman, DrPH, president and CEO of PHI.

A prospective study follows participants over time. The data here are particularly reliable because the women were interviewed about their coffee drinking while they were pregnant, eliminating recall problems, according to the CHDS researchers.  Also, because women weren’t yet being warned at the time to reduce their coffee consumption, they had no fear of stigma for admitting to high coffee consumption levels.

Most studies of coffee drinking during pregnancy have examined its effects on the fetus have focusing on outcomes such as miscarriage and spontaneous abortion. One other prospective study by Danish researchers found that younger men between the ages of 18 and 21 whose mothers drank four to seven cups of coffee a day while pregnant had lower levels of testosterone and the reproductive hormone inhibin B.

Although the CHDS study looked only at men in their 40s, its findings could reflect that coffee exposure in the womb causes a decline of sperm quality with age, but it is also possible that the decline begins earlier. It would thus be “of great interest” to examine changes in these semen measures over time to clarify when the decline begins for men with high coffee exposure in utero, the authors said.

The researchers found no association between a man’s current coffee drinking and his semen quality. The study also found no association between a pregnant woman’s alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking and her son’s semen quality.

The study supports the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ guideline that pregnant women should drink no more than two cups of coffee each day, Cirillo said. “Based on this study, we can say that it is a good idea to limit your coffee consumption during pregnancy,” she said.

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There are a number of symptoms related to pregnancy that are common knowledge for most people, such as morning sickness, heartburn, fatigue, frequent urination, weight gain, food cravings, stretch marks, and back pain. But there are a number of normal pregnancy symptoms that are not usually associated with pregnancy.

1. Excessive Salivation

This symptom, while not especially inconvenient, is one that is rarely talked about. Its exact cause is unknown, there are two possible causes. One theory is that this may be caused by the increase in hormones, but no conclusive evidence has been found yet.

What is more likely is that it is a contributing factor with morning sickness, due to the fact that excessive salivation is usually correlated with severe morning sickness. It is believed that women who try to combat this nausea by trying to swallow less are most likely to experience this symptom.

2. Metallic Taste in the mouth

Starting very early on in pregnancy, many women will have a persistent taste of metal in their mouths called dysgeusia. This is one of the earliest pregnancy symptoms, and it can even occur before a positive pregnancy test. While this symptom is not usually a sign of a more serious health problem, it can be quite uncomfortable for the woman who experiences it.

Dysgeusia is caused by the rise in hormones, especially estrogen, but there are a number of ways to combat the sensation that you have been chewing on metal. Eating or drinking things with a lot of acid or vinegar, such as fruit juices or pickles will often help, as will brushing both your teeth and your tongue often. Luckily, this symptom will often go away by the second trimester when hormones begin to level out.

3. Strange Dreams

There are many factors for why someone has weird, unusual dreams, and pregnancy is one of them. Dreams during pregnancy are often vivid and frightening. Disturbing events filled with violent detail are common, even for expectant mothers who are generally non-violent and do not normally have these types of dreams.

The reason for this sudden insurgence of nightmarish dreams is generally thought to be the mother’s way of safely expressing any fears she may have about the upcoming birth and the raising of her child.

4. Gum swelling and bleeding

This pregnancy symptom is quite common, and is probably the most well-known item that has been described so far. What most people don’t realize is that while calcium intake is important for maintaining dental health during pregnancy, it is not the only reason why pregnant women often have dental problems.

This is actually caused by two things: the increase in hormones and the natural increase in bacteria in your mouth. This results in sensitive gums that get red, swollen, and even bleed. The best way to prevent these symptoms from developing into more serious periodontal disease is by maintaining a rigorous dental hygiene routine, and visiting the dentist at least once during pregnancy.

5. Chloasma: “mask of pregnancy”

Despite the fact that 50-75 percent of women will get chloasma, a hyper pigmentation of the skin, it is so rarely discussed that few people even know what it is unless it has happened to them. As yet another factor in the increase in hormones, chloasma is characterized by dark splotches of skin on the face, usually around the forehead, nose, and cheeks.

This condition is worsened by spending more time in the sun, so women who begin to develop this condition are highly encouraged to limit their time outdoors, and to apply sunscreen often. This condition usually goes away once the baby is born, but for a small percentage of women, they will keep their “mask.” If this happens, the only ways of treating this condition are to cover it up with makeup, or by bleaching the skin.

6. Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

As pregnancy progresses, a numb or tingling sensation is often felt in the arms or legs. This is caused by the swelling of body tissues, which compresses the nerves. Sometimes this can get so bad that women will develop Carpel Tunnel Syndrome.

This condition is very uncomfortable and quite painful, and in the later stages of pregnancy it can make the difficult task of finding a comfortable position for sleeping even harder to achieve since the pain and tingling is often worse at night.

Avoiding repetitive hand movements, such as typing, filing, or piano playing has been shown to help to some degree, as does propping your hands up and shaking them out when the tingling gets especially bad. Acupuncture has also been shown to have some benefits, especially if these other methods do not help. Unfortunately, not much else can be done, except to wait until the baby is born and the swelling goes down.

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According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health conducted by doctors at the University of Michigan, one in two women of childbearing age in the United States is considered overweight or obese.

Weight-related complications during pregnancy are commonplace and healthcare providers are trying to dismiss the idea that pregnant women need to “eat for two” by doubling their caloric intake. Working with a healthcare provider, overweight women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant can find a strategy to a healthy weight gain that works for them.

Increased risk of developing gestational diabetes is a crucial reason for overweight women to closely monitor how much weight they gain during pregnancy. Gestation diabetes causes the hormones released from the placenta, the baby’s support system, to be blocked by the woman’s body.

The result is that her body is unable to process insulin. High blood glucose levels build in the mother’s system and stream to the baby through the placenta causing the baby to grow rapidly and gain unnecessary weight.

Overweight pregnant women are also at risk of developing high blood pressure. This condition tightens the blood vessels in the uterus that supplies the baby with oxygen and nutrients. It also puts the mother at risk for having a heart attack or stroke resulting in a greater likelihood that she will deliver her baby early.

Having regular checkups before becoming pregnant may help prevent obesity related complication during pregnancy. The March of Dimes recommends, “If you’re overweight or obese, your health care provider or a registered dietitian can help you lose pounds so that you reach a healthier weight before trying to get pregnant. They will talk with you about exercise and eating healthy.”

What is the correct amount of weight gain? The amount a woman’s health care provider recommends will depend on her pre-pregnancy weight. If she has a normal weight and a body mass index (BMI) in the normal range (between 18.5 and 25) then she should gain between 25 and 35 pounds.

Underweight women, with a BMI less than 18.5, should try to gain between 28 to 40 pounds. Overweight women, with a BMI between 25 and 29.9, should gain between 15 to 25 pounds and obese women, those with a BMI greater than 30, should limit their weight gain to between 11 and 20 pounds.

Women who are overweight or obese should not intentionally try to lose weight while they are pregnant however it is not uncommon for plus-sized women to lose weight while pregnant without dieting. Morning sickness can contribute to weight loss because its diminished affect on appetite and associated vomiting can cause a loss of calories.

Even so, a developing baby will still get nourishment if a mother is not dieting because overweight women have an extra reserve of calories stored in fat.

Healthy eating should be a goal of every pregnant woman, regardless of her pre-pregnancy weight. Setting a goal for how much weigh to gain with a health care provider is the key to ensuring a successful, healthy pregnancy.

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The astonishing pop star gave an incredible performance last night at the 2011 VMAs.

After finishing the song ‘Love On Top’, The 29 year old singer dropped the microphone intentionally, looked at the audience and began to unbutton her jacket, and rub her belly. Revealing to the world her pregnancy.

The camera spotted Jay-Z and Kanye West in the audience, showing their euphoric reaction.

The couple expects their first child, after being married for three years, back then in 2008 when they exchanged vows, and celebrated with a private party at Jay Z’s apartment in New York.

Beyonce had already said a couple of times that she planned on having a baby by the age of 30. Turning 30’s next month, the star did manage to achieve what she said!

The lovely revelation was kind of expected.  In June, on an interview with Piers Morgan, the star revealed her desired to get pregnant.

“I feel like a woman. I feel like I’m very aware of who I am. I feel great and I feel like 30 is the ideal age [to start a family], because you’re mature enough to know who you are and to have your boundaries and your standards, and not be afraid, too polite — but you’re young enough to be a young woman,” she said. “I’m so looking forward to it.”

Beyonce added, “I always said I’d have a baby at 30. But I also said I’m going to retire at 30. … Only God knows.”

In the interview Beyonce also commented about Jay-Z.

“Jay and I have kind of made a decision that we want to be known for our music and not our relationships or scandals. But he is amazing,” she said. “I definitely had a very natural friendship and connection with him. We’ve been together for a very long time and I’m very happy. Love is the foundation of everything, everything I do. My music is inspired by love — from my family, my husband, my sister.”

The night ended with a fabulous closure with many awards. Lady Gaga provided one of the biggest talking points of the evening, with her performance ‘You And I’. On the other hand, Adele and Katy Perry won four and three Moonmen gongs correspondingly.

Watch Beyonce’s performance and pregnancy revelation!

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Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that the stroke rate among pregnant women and new mothers is dramatically rising. According to hospital-discharge data between 1994 and 1995 and 2006 and 2007, the rate of stroke hospitalizations rose 47 percent for expectant mothers and 83 percent for women who had recently given birth.

Despite the fact that other important factors for suffering a stroke still remain, such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes, this increase is worrisome according to the study authors. As Olajide Williams, a neurologist at Columbia University and an American Stroke Association spokesman, told USA Today, “that is a very, very alarm-raising statistic that we need to take extremely seriously.  We need to be more aggressive in screening these women for these risk factors.”

The researchers suggested that high blood pressure and heart disease explained almost all of the increase in stroke after birth.  Dr. Elena Kuklina, lead researcher from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, “it is so important for woman wanting to start a family to understand the risks associated with pregnancy and to take steps to make sure they are as healthy as possible before they become pregnant.”

Every pregnancy has some risk of complications. The causes can be conditions women had previously, or conditions developed during the pregnancy. Causes also also include being pregnant with more than one baby, previous problematic pregnancie, or being over the age of 35. Concerning this issue Kuklina also said, “since pregnancy by itself is a risk factor, if you have one of these other stroke risk factors, it doubles the risk.”

Stroke can present itself with different symptoms, but the consistent factor is that it comes on unexpectedly. The American Stroke Association reminds people to call 9-11 immediately if someone experiences any weakness on one side of the body, face, arm or leg. They also suggest asking the person that could be suffering the stroke to smile, lift both arms, or move both legs. “If one side of the body doesn’t respond, it may be a sign of stroke”, they said.

Don´t go for the “diet”

Diet soda fans that drink the beverage every day also might be boosting their risk of stroke. According to a study made by the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, there is a 61 percent risk of stroke among those who drank diet soda daily and not regular soda.

While the study found a possible correlation between diet soda and stroke risk, it did not demonstrate a cause and effect.  As Hannah Gardener, an epidemiologist that participated in this study said, “the link is unknown at this point.”

Stroke is the third leading cause of death, behind heart disease and cancer, in the United States. More than 137,000 people a year die from stroke, according to the American Stroke Association.

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