Stop criminalizing prenatal substance abuse
In today’s health and political discussions, opioid abuse dominates the conversation despite being only part of our country’s substance use epidemic. Prenatal substance use remains an uncontrolled public health problem with high costs to women, children, and society. Part of the problem is the difficulty in measuring the extent of the problem nationwide.
Most prenatal substance use prevalence data comes from substance treatment programs and national self-report surveys, likely leading to an underestimation of the total number of prenatal substance users. The 2012 and 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found th...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - December 26, 2017 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/jolene-kokroko" rel="tag" > Jolene Kokroko < /a > Tags: Policy OB/GYN Public Health & Source Type: blogs
Does Pregnancy Alter the Brain ’ s Immune Function?
Recent research published in the November 2017 issue of Brain, Behavior, and Immunity suggests that a woman’s immune response in the brain may decrease during pregnancy and the postpartum period. These findings, discussed by the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, might help to establish a connection between the brain’s immune function and the anxiety and mood disorders that are common throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Previous research has shown that during pregnancy, the response of the body’s peripheral immune system (the part of our protective system that does not protect the brain) is suppress...
Source: World of Psychology - December 19, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Janet Singer Tags: Brain and Behavior General Grief and Loss Health-related Mental Health and Wellness Research Women's Issues Bipolar Depression fetal development immune changes Immune Function Immunity immunosuppression Mania miscarriage Moth Source Type: blogs
Prenatal Blood Tests – What to Expect
Navigating through the many different pre-natal blood tests can be confusing. Names like Sequential Screening, NIPT, and Carrier Screening meant nothing to me before being pregnant. As my doctor explained the different blood tests, I found myself being even more confused. I just wanted to know which blood test was the best option for my baby and me.
As you enter your second trimester and prepare to take multiple blood tests, it’s best to do your research beforehand. This way you’ll know what to expect and won’t be overwhelmed by the different options.
Here is a breakdown of the different blood tests:
Sequential Scree...
Source: Cord Blood News - December 18, 2017 Category: Perinatology & Neonatology Authors: Maze Cord Blood Tags: pregnancy Source Type: blogs
In Honor of National Caregiver Appreciation Month: An eBook Sale Just for You
As The Author of Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories, I'm honored to be chosen to be part AlzAuthors. This post is courtesy of AlzAuthors. Read through for some incredible deals on ebooks written by authors who've been where you are. MOE is among the books on sale. All are $2.99 or less.
November is National Caregiver Appreciation Month, a time to recognize the long hours, sacrifice, and love all caregivers bring to the task of caring for a loved one with dementia or any long-term illness. In honor of their efforts, AlzAuthors is hosting an eBook sale and giveaway! This is a terrific way...
Source: Minding Our Elders - November 15, 2017 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
How to Help a Partner Struggling With Clinical Depression
You're reading How to Help a Partner Struggling With Clinical Depression, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you're enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.
When I first met my wife, I had no idea that she had a history of clinical depression. Of course, she had told me about it before we were married, but I did not really know what that meant. I had not had any previous exposure to serious depression in people. By the time we were dating, she was already on a mix of anti-depressants. At the time, the effects of depression were not immediately obvi...
Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement - November 4, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: José Tags: featured happiness health and fitness motivation psychology relationships anxiety clinical depression how to help pickthebrain self improvement Source Type: blogs
A patient called me callous. She was right.
Many years ago, on a busy day in my obstetrics and gynecology office, one of my partner’s patients came in for “bleeding, early pregnancy.” Since my partner wasn’t in that day, I saw the woman, whose name was Sarah. After we’d talked a bit, I examined her and did an ultrasound. As I’d expected, she was having a miscarriage. Feeling sorry that Sarah had to hear it from me, rather than from her own doctor, I broke the sad news.
We discussed the options: Did she want to have a D&C, or let nature take its course?
“I’m not sure,” she said. “I need some time to deci...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - November 1, 2017 Category: General Medicine Authors: < a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/andrea-eisenberg" rel="tag" > Andrea Eisenberg, MD < /a > Tags: Physician OB/GYN Practice Management Primary Care Source Type: blogs
BioethicsTV (October 16-27, 2017): Maternal-Fetal Conflict, Trolley Car Dilemma & Lying
by Craig Klugman, Ph.D.
The Good Doctor (Season 1; Episode 4): Maternal-Fetal Conflict
Although the focus of this show is supposedly the neuro-different resident, what it does very well is pose and debate ethical issues. In this week’s episode, a fetus has a tumor that is 50% of his size. His mother desperately wants extra-uterine surgery to remove the tumor as this pregnancy follows 3 miscarriages. However, she has a clotting disorder and the surgery poses a very real risk of causing a heart attack or stroke.… (Source: blog.bioethics.net)
Source: blog.bioethics.net - October 27, 2017 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Craig Klugman Tags: BioethicsTV Featured Posts Informed Consent Pediatrics Privacy professional ethics #thegooddoctor #TheGoodPlace Source Type: blogs
Flu shots during pregnancy
Is your head already spinning from all of the confusing information about the safety of routine vaccinations? Well, news of the latest findings regarding the flu vaccine during pregnancy certainly won’t help things.
A group of researchers recently reported an association between a pregnant woman getting the flu vaccine and having a miscarriage.
The authors were clear that the study could not establish that flu shots cause miscarriage. It could only report the observation that, in this small group of women, miscarriage was slightly more common within 28 days of getting the flu shot. But only in women who had also gotten a...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - September 27, 2017 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Andrea Chisholm, MD Tags: Cold and Flu Family Planning and Pregnancy Health Infectious diseases Prevention Vaccines Women's Health Source Type: blogs
Does the flu vaccine cause miscarriages?
A recent study claims to have found a link between influenza vaccination and miscarriage, and antivaxers are rejoicing. The study itself suffers mightily from post hoc subgroup analyses and small numbers in the subgroup, so much so that even its authors don't really believe its results.
The post Does the flu vaccine cause miscarriages? appeared first on RESPECTFUL INSOLENCE. (Source: Respectful Insolence)
Source: Respectful Insolence - September 14, 2017 Category: Surgery Authors: Orac Tags: Antivaccine nonsense Clinical trials Medicine case control study Frank DeStefano H1N1 influenza J.B. Handley miscarriage Source Type: blogs
Does the flu vaccine cause miscarriages?
A recent study claims to have found a link between influenza vaccination and miscarriage, and antivaxers are rejoicing. The study itself suffers mightily from post hoc subgroup analyses and small numbers in the subgroup, so much so that even its authors don't really believe its results. (Source: Respectful Insolence)
Source: Respectful Insolence - September 14, 2017 Category: Surgery Authors: Orac Tags: Antivaccine nonsense Clinical trials Medicine case control study Frank DeStefano H1N1 influenza J.B. Handley miscarriage Source Type: blogs
Could Low Progesterone Contribute to Addiction?
When I had six years sober, my husband and I decided to get pregnant. I quit the birth control pill and entered the darkest depression of my life.
I wasn’t surprised when the test results came back. After three chemical pregnancies and one miscarriage, it was clear that I was having trouble getting pregnant. But what I didn’t expect was that my fertility troubles might be related to my past struggles with addiction. And what was that common ground? A lack of progesterone.
For years, I had struggled with depression. Though I never charted the highs and lows of my mental health to determine whether it was hormonal, afte...
Source: World of Psychology - July 5, 2017 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Psych Central Staff Tags: Addiction Alcoholism Anxiety and Panic Depression Disorders Health-related Personal Publishers Recovery Substance Abuse The Fix Women's Issues Birth Control Pills Dopamine Drug Use Estrogen Hormones Kristen McGuiness Pr Source Type: blogs
What Makes Covering Maternity Care Different?
The United States has a higher maternal mortality rate than any other developed country, but federal policy makers are considering reducing access to insurance coverage for pregnancy care. Last week, the US Senate released the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, following the passage of the American Health Care Act in the US House of Representatives. Both pieces of legislation would allow states to waive out of the requirement that insurance plans in the individual market cover maternity and newborn care, as part of efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The ACA requires that all individual market...
Source: Health Affairs Blog - June 29, 2017 Category: Health Management Authors: Dania Palanker, Kevin Lucia and Dimitra Panteli Tags: Following the ACA Insurance and Coverage Population Health ACA repeal and replace Amerian Health Care Act Essential Health Benefits Health Reform maternity care pregnancy Source Type: blogs
Mothers and Substance Use
By Christopher Welsh, MD
Women have some unique challenges when it comes to alcohol, tobacco and drug use and misuse. These differences are based on both biology and culturally defined expectations of women. Hormonal changes, the menstrual cycle, fertility issues, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause can all impact a woman’s use of substances. Women often use smaller amounts of a substance for shorter amounts of time before developing a problem. They also may have greater physical problems from their substance misuse.
Alcohol, tobacco and drug use during pregnancy can present significant problems for both the mother a...
Source: Life in a Medical Center - May 19, 2017 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: UMMC Tags: Health Tips Source Type: blogs
Reducing IVF anxiety
Lots of patients are very scared of doing IVF. This is partly because they've heard lots of horror stories about how IVF babies are abnormal, or that the hormones will make them fat, or that if they grow too many eggs, they will either get menopausal sooner, or start getting ovarian cancer as they grow older. And, they've heard lots of horror stories from some of their friends, who've done IVF, about how painful the injections can be, or how many mood swings it causes, or the fact that you need bed rest or that there are lots of complications, or that the risk of miscarriage is higher after IVF.There are lots of myths and ...
Source: Dr.Malpani's Blog - May 17, 2017 Category: Reproduction Medicine Source Type: blogs
Maternal Mental Health Matters
MAY 3, 2017 IS WORLD MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY
#maternalMHmatters
Today is World Maternal Mental Health Awareness Day, and we’re helping to bring attention to an important health issue and available treatment options.
Worldwide, as many as one in five women experience some type of perinatal mood and anxiety disorder (PMAD). PMADs include postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, postpartum obsessive compulsive disorder and others.
“There is still this myth that pregnancy is blissful and if you don’t enjoy pregnancy and having your baby, there’s something wrong with you,” says Patricia Widra, MD, assis...
Source: Life in a Medical Center - May 3, 2017 Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: UMMC Tags: Women's Health anxiety disorder maternal mental health mood disorder patricia widra PMAD Source Type: blogs
