About the authors

Men want to be GREAT dads and birth partners. They just don't know how! We decided that men who had had kids knew what to do and say and what not to do and say but they just don't talk about it. Getting that information out of dads and into a format that dads-to-be would learn from was the hard part. Everyone loves a film and most guys hate instruction guides and manuals so the Being Dad DVD was born. Who are these guys trying to help men be great dads and help women understand their men?

Troy Jones: Troy's company produced the Being Dad series and he has traveled the globe interviewing hundreds of new dads and experts. As a result we like to think of him as a "well renowned global guru in all things Being Dad;" sounds impressive anyway. Troy has a beautiful daughter Matilda, who appears in the Being Dad series.

Sam Holt: Best known for coming up with a new idea every five minutes it's little wonder that Being Dad was, in fact, his idea. Fortunately, Being Dad was one of Sam's better ideas and with the help of Troy and Tom it has grown way beyond all of their expectations. Sam has a son, Hugo, who is too cute to be his.

Tom Hastwell: Lured out of the corporate world by Sam and Troy, Tom has been bitten by the business bug. Troy and Sam are eagerly awaiting news that Toms wife is pregnant so that they can attach a camera crew to him for nine months and actually put him to work. Tom is currently practicing for kids.

Read it

1. Scared of tapping the baby on the head. It is amazing that some guys still believe it's possible but I'm reliably informed it's not.

2. They feel like someone else is in the room. Sure if it was Jessica Simpson he probably wouldn't be complaining but when he feels like his child is in the room it's understandable that he might have some issues.

3. It's a girl. Many guys that knew they were having a girl said that it made them feel very awkward to be getting intimate with their daughter so close by...

4. Logistics. It can seem like a logistical nightmare to find the right position so you may need to suggest how to best tackle the problem and the right angle of attack.

5. He's scared of hurting you. Communication is the key here and talking him through what's ok and what's not; for example, not to put his weight on your stomach or having cushions at the ready is required. Assure him that it's not uncomfortable for you and that he's not going to hurt you if you're in the right position and are using the right amount of force.

6. He thinks that his semen may induce birth. Well he's not so stupid after all as semen does contain prostaglandins which can kick start the whole shebang. It's unlikely it's going to have an effect much before the due date so once again assure him he's not going to have to perform a home birth as soon minutes after you've got down and dirty.

7. He doesn't know that your orgasms are potentially going to be earth shattering. It's possible that female orgasms can be intensified in late stage pregnancy due to the general swelling and increased blood flow to the nether regions. He might just be interested to check that out for himself with some gentle persuasion.

8. He's forgotten that being intimate need not be just about intercourse. There are plenty of ways that you can play around without having intercourse...maybe he needs a refresher course.

It would seem that there is a roughly even divide between men who have issues with sex during late stage pregnancy and those that don't. Remember, if your man is struggling, it's most likely due to one of the reasons above and not because he doesn't think you are beautiful.

What's His Problem?

by Sam Holt

Today I'm taking a quick look at common problems men experience with pregnancysex. The big questions about sex and pregnancy -- is your man a can or a can not?

We've interviewed hundreds of men around the world for our Being Dad films and it doesn't matter what color, religion or nationality you are, some men can have sex during pregnancy and some can't.

Many women have told us that when their man tells them they aren't interested or can't do it that they perceived it was because he didn't find them attractive in their later stages of pregnancy. On the contrary most guys think their partner is divine while pregnant. So what are the real and legitimate reasons that some men struggle with sex during pregnancy, particularly late stage pregnancy?

If I have an elevated AFP, what other tests can I expect?

If I have an elevated AFP, what other tests can I expect?

• A second AFP test
• An ultrasound
• Amniocentesis

What are other reasons for an elevated AFP?

An elevated AFP could mean the mother is carrying twins or that there is a problem with the placenta. Women with diabetes or liver disease may also have an elevated AFP. However, an elevated AFP could also mean there are birth defects in the fetus such as severe kidney disease, liver disease, esophageal or intestinal blockage, Down Syndrome, urinary obstruction, or osteogenesis imperfecta (fragility of the baby's bones)

How are neural tube defects diagnosed?

Neural tube defects are detected through an AFP (Alpha-fetoprotein test) a blood test administered at 16-18 weeks gestation. The test measures alpha-fetoprotein, a substance produced by the fetus and secreted into the amniotic fluid, eventually entering the mother's blood. The level of AFP in mother's blood peaks at about 30-32 weeks. Abnormally high amounts of AFP may indicate a baby has a neural tube defect.

How do I know if I am at risk for having a baby with neural defects and how can I prevent this from happening?

Women who are at the greatest risk are those that have had a previous pregnancy that involved a neural defect. Women who are not eating a balanced diet that includes folic acid are also at risk.

The best way to prevent neural defects is to take the recommended 0.4 mg of folic acid daily, for one month before conception and during the first three months. Multivitamins that include folic acid should only be used as a supplement. You cannot take too much folic acid, but you can over-dose on the other vitamins contained in multivitamin formulas.

What foods contain folic acid?

Since more than half of pregnancies are unplanned, the Food and Drug Administration has taken steps to fortify food so that all women of childbearing age get a daily dose of folic acid. The following foods can help you obtain your recommended amount of folic acid:

• Leafy green vegetables such as a large spinach salad
• Citrus fruits, such as a tall glass of orange juice
• Beans
• Breads
• Cereals
• Rice
• Pastas

A daily vitamin with folic acid is also suggested since the food listed above may not contain enough of the supplement to meet the requirement.

What are the risks of not taking folic acid?

The absence of folic acid increases the possibility of a neural tube defect which are defects in the development of the spinal cord.

• Spina bifida is a condition in which the spinal cord is exposed. If the vertebrae (bones of the spinal column) surrounding the spinal cord do not close properly during the first 28 days after fertilization, the cord or spinal fluid bulge through, usually in the lower back.
• Anencephaly is a condition in which infants die shortly after birth because most of the brain is absent.

When should I start taking folic acid?

You should start taking folic acid prior to getting pregnant, even if you are not trying to conceive. Neural tube defects usually develop very early in pregnancy (18-30 days after conception) often before a women even knows that she is pregnant. If you find you are pregnant and have not been taking folic acid, you may start now to help prevent any neural defects that would develop in the first three months of pregnancy.

Folic Acid

Folic acid is used to make the extra blood your body needs during pregnancy. All women should consume 0.4 mg of folic acid a day.

Pregnancy

Congratulations and welcome to Pregnancy.org's Pregnancy section! There's an exciting journey ahead for you and your little one-to-be. As you continue on your journey towards parenthood, you'll discover how much there's to learn and how valuable those who are just like you can be! We're not only committed to providing you with a team of professional experts, informative articles, helpful tools, supportive communities, but the ability to customize your own profile as well! If you're pregnant, you can go into your profile and choose this path! Your onsite resources for your pregnancy journey are just a click away. May you have a safe and "uneventful" pregnancy! Searching for a 4D-Ultrasound? We have the resource for you!

Mother Nature Never had Morning Sickness

Although it had long been considered the stuff of old wives tales and legend, using ginger as a remedy to treat morning sickness is rapidly earning a new respect. In new studies published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, doctors from the University of Adelaide in Australia proved once again this natural remedy is an extremely effective treatment for the nausea and vomiting that affects up to 90% of all pregnant women, usually in the first trimester.

But while many doctors still remain "on the fence" about natural treatments, according to pregnancy researcher and author Colette Bouchez, the wisdom of "Mom" has long been on the side of Mother Nature -- particularly in the treatment of morning sickness.

"When it comes to pregnancy, most women have incredibly sharp intuition and great natural instincts -- they know when something is wrong, and they sure know when something is right, and ginger has been one of those right remedies for generations," says Bouchez, the author of the brand new book Your Perfectly Pampered Pregnancy: Beauty, Health and Lifestyle Advice for the Modern Mother-to-Be.

In the new research, Dr. Caroline Smith reports ginger was compared to clinical doses of vitamin B6 (a common prescription for morning sickness) and was found to be as effective. although previous animal studies have revealed a potential link between very high levels of ginger and an increased risk of pregnancy complications including miscarriage, Smith reports that her studies found no such connection. She writes: "for women looking for a reduction in their nausea and vomiting... the use of ginger in early pregnancy will reduce the severity of their symptoms."

Bouchez, who notes that 3 previous studies on ginger found similar good results says ginger works thanks to two active constituents known as "gingerols" and "shogaols" both of which give this plant its pungent taste. Not coincidentally, she says, these same compounds also work directly on the gastrointestinal system to reduce the activity linked to nausea and vomiting.

If, however; you've tried ginger and it doesn't seem to help you, Bouchez advises skipping the gingerale and gingersnaps, and go for the "real stuff" instead.

"There is some research to show that it is the properties found in natural, fresh ginger that makes this a truly effective treatment -- so when possible, buy some fresh ginger root and use to make a tea, or sprinkle it on your cereal or bowl of fresh fruit," says Bouchez.

What to Expect: Early Labor

After hours or even weeks of non-productive pre-labor contractions, your body may begin to have rhythmic contractions that seem "different" to you. These contractions may be longer and stronger, and they are probably closer together. These are all signs that you may have begun early labor.

In early labor, you may feel excited. You may be wondering if "this" is really it! You also may feel a little restless, hungry and chatty. You may be tempted to elbow your partner to wakefulness just because you aren't ready to go back to sleep!

At this point contractions are generally less than 10 minutes apart and may last 45-60 seconds. Contractions will get stronger, closer together and longer with time. These contractions might feel like pressure in the pelvis, menstrual cramping or a dull backache. At this point, most women are comfortable moving through their contractions.

Once I had stopped mentally bouncing and mentally shouting, "I bet this is it!," I became aware of a few confirming symptoms. I noticed an increase in bloody show and mucous during early labor. I'd have several bowel movements that seem like a mild diarrhea. Some women also also experience a runny nose and an increased need to run to the bathroom (even more often).

What are the danger signs?

-Red, dripping blood: Some bleeding is normal, but if it runs down your leg you will want to go in and be checked.

-Meconium stained amniotic fluid: if membranes have released. (This can be normal, but needs to be checked.)

-Temperature over 100

-Any sharp, stabbing pain in the abdomen.

-Signs of high blood pressure or toxemia such as: sudden or severe swelling of your face, hands and feet, dizziness, headaches, changes in your vision (such as blurring or seeing spots)

-Sudden and severe vomiting

-Any change in fetal movements

-Foul-smelling vaginal discharge

So what should you do once you think you're really in labor? Tempting as it is to rush off to the hospital to have your guess confirmed you may want to consider staying home for most of your labor.

Most women are more comfortable in familiar surroundings and more able to employ birthing techniques in quiet surroundings. As long as there are no danger signs (see sidebar) or prior high risk factors, laboring at home is most conducive to a natural birth, as fewer unnecessary interventions will take place.

So drag out the scrabble game, finish knitting that bootie, wash a few dishes, write in your pregnancy journal, have a snack, keep hydrated. And if you are a real procrastinator, this is your last chance to pack your birth bag.

Finding a Doula

ALACE - Association of Labor Assistants & Childbirth Educators: ALACE is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting women's choices in childbirth. Our goal is to help women reclaim trust in their ability to safely and dependably give birth.
CAPPA - Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association: CAPPA's mission is to offer comprehensive, evidence-based education, certification, professional membership and training to childbirth educators, lactation educators, labor doulas, antepartum doulas and postpartum doulas. CAPPA certified professionals aim to empower, connect and advocate for families in the childbearing year.
DONA - Doulas of North America: We would like every woman who wants a doula to have one. We also want doulas to be well prepared for their important role. Our mission is to provide training and certification opportunities for doulas of varied cultures, educational backgrounds, ethnic backgrounds and socio-economic levels. Also, we aim to educate health care providers, the public and third-party payers of the benefits of a doula’s presence during childbirth and postpartum.
ICTC - International Center for Traditional Childbearing: ICTC is a non-profit, culturally diverse, pregnancy support, health promotion and training organization. We offer prenatal and parenting classes, doula services/training's and complete pregnancy support. As a whole, we strive to positively impact the lives of the unborn, newborn, mothers, fathers and their families; through education, breastfeeding promotion, and overall self-care. We are fully committed to the empowerment of women, increasing positive birth outcomes and decreasing infant mortality in African American Communities. Impart: We strive to follow the moral and ethical guidance of our learned Midwives and Healers of past.
Operation Special Delivery - provides trained volunteer doulas for pregnant women whose husbands or partners have been severely injured or who have lost their lives due to the current war on terror, or who will be deployed at the time that they are due to give birth.

Impacts on Society

Women who experience abuse are 3 times more likely to take time off from their everyday activites. The estimates of the costs of healthcare range from $ 4-6 billion. Beyond the monetary costs, their is a psycological and social dis-ease when violence prevails in women and children's lives to the extent that it does. The silence and violence not only harms the victims and survivors, but also the perpetrators as they are unable to experience healthy and meaningful relationships with the women and children in their lives. By every segment of society acknowledging that they are perpetrators, victims, survivors and witnesses of violence in some form, the cycle can begin to be dismantled. We can ask the question of ourselves, "What is community? What do we want in our communities? What changes do we need to implement in order to make this a reality?"
The Facts on Health Care and Domestic Violence

Impacts on Embryo/Fetus

Fetuses have a memory of their time in the womb. In our recent past, many believed that memory and cognitive development didn't really begin until birth but researchers are disproving this as they show that behavioral patterns are well established before this time.

Incarcerated Women

It is well documented that women who were sexually victimized in childhood are twice as likely to be revictimized in adulthood. A large number of incarcerated women have experienced multiple forms of lifetime violence. Physical and sexual violence within correctional facilities is widespread and poorly addressed despite the growing awareness around the issue. Women of childbearing age are the fastest growing population in the system. This is a result of drug policies and again, racism. Two-thirds of women of color with similar drug charges as white women are in prison while their counterparts enjoy being surveilled via probation. These women face ultra-dehumanizing conditions when they give birth in prisons, often alone with a male prison guard with a gun watching them. They, like other women who experience a greater degree of systematic oppression, are often treated like guinea pigs for students and others.

Undocumented Immigrant Women

Immigrant women are often in a vulnerable position as they can be exploited by those who bring them into this country, partners, employers, landlords and others who exercise power over them. If a language barrier exists, they are even more vulnerable. Many undocumented immigrant women are not aware of special protections afforded them when they are crime victims or witnesses of crime and they report these crimes. Even with these safeguards in place, the current political climate may not always ensure that they are protected under the laws and may face deportation as the legal system is cryptic with many law enforcement and ICE (immigration and customs enforcement) officers don't usually take the time to inform undocumented immigrants and detainees of their rights. It is common for those of them who are abused to suffer in silence under threats by their abuser of reporting them. The Facts on Immigrant Women and Domestic Violence

Adolescents

Adolescents face special challenges in a culture that labels them as naive. They have much of their autonomy taken from them in the system. They are also the age group experiencing the highest rate of sexual victimization. Lawmakers and adults seem to have a belief that they can protect adolescents by keeping vital information from them about their sexuality and reproductive health versus arming them with accurate and accessible information and services related to their sexuality. The ultimate outcome is a devalued youth whose health and lives are endangered by policies that strip them of respect, dignity and a capacity for independent decision making. The Facts on Teenagers and Intimate Partner Violence

Bi, Lesbian, Trans and Queer Gender

Women are often discounted as abusers and this can make it difficult for individuals abused by women to get the services that they need. Someone who is abused by a woman, trans or queer gendered partner may be seen as less of a priority than women who are battered by men.

Women of Color

Women of color experience the greatest amount of all forms of violence from that in an intimate partner relationship to that perpetrated through systematic oppression that pervades our institutions and society. Experiencing racism at a constant level has now formally been attributed to preterm births and low birth weight babies. Because of economic oppression, women of color are most likely to live in communities and work at jobs that maximize exposure of environmental toxins in their lives. This type of environmental racism is a further contributor to what may cause the maternal and infant well-being disparities experienced by such communities. Women of color experience regular violence perpetrated by the criminal justice system. The long history of rape, murder and torture of women of color through the colonizers conquest and later slavery are evident today. The continued trafficking of women is one of the more obvious forms that continue today. Of the more subtle forms include the reproductive health policies that target these women for sterilization without their consent and other atrocities that have been experienced in the not so distant past. Even if these practices are being curbed (they usually are not public until after the fact and even then, they are not widely spread), women of color are still targeted for forms of birth control with the greatest risks attached such as Depo, Norplant and Quinicrine that have sterilizing effects of their own. All of these forms of violence significantly impact a woman's childbearing experience. Since the origins of violence have a long history that today's dominant belief systems are rooted in, no matter how subtly, these beliefs are often held by many of the individuals who come into contact in a "helping" capacity during the childbearing year. The parallels of the violations experienced against these woman are not acknowledged because they are systematic, normalized, minimized and otherwise, under the surface. This fact, that the perpetrators are often the ones who make the rules and deny blame for their consequences, applies to the other specific categories of mothers below.

Impacts on Mothers

Pregnancy carries with it many biological, psychological and social stresses for most women. Her whole life may be changing. The added stress of being abused has numerous ramifications for her and her child's lifelong well-being. Just as nutrition in pregnancy impacts a child for a lifetime, maternal stress can impact a child's physiological, psychological and physical development.

Statistics

• Somewhere in the U.S. a woman is raped every two minutes
• 66% of rape victims know their assailant
• 93% of sexual assault victims under the age of18 know the perpetrator
• of these, 34.2% were family members and 58.7% acquaintances - Only seven percent of the perpetrators were strangers to the victim

• While about 80% of all victims are white, people of color are more likely to be attacked:
• In 2002, seven out of every eight rape victims were female
• Homicides of women while they are pregnant is a leading cause (in some studies, homicide is the leading cause) of death during pregnancy
• 20% of women who die from pregnancy-associated deaths are murdered
• 30% of all homicides of women are committed by intimate partners - usually after they have separated - making leaving dangerous
• More than 8% of pregnant women report physical violence in pregnancy by intimate partners or family members
  
• 30% of lesbians report having experienced sexual assault or rape by another woman
• Females accounted for 39% of the hospital emergency department visits for violence-related injuries in 1994 but were 84% of the persons treated for injuries inflicted by intimates

Definitions

• Woman Abuse: any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm, or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life. Woman abuse can be physical: punching, kicking, choking, stabbing, mutilation, disabling, murder; sexual: rape, any unwanted touching or act of a sexual nature, forced prostitution; verbal/psychological: threats to harm the children, destruction of favourite clothes or photographs, repeated insults meant to demean and erode self-esteem, forced isolation from friends and relatives, threats of further violence or deportation if the woman attemts to leave; stalking: persistent and unwanted attention, following and spying, monitoring of mail or conversations; financial: taking away a womans wages or other income, limiting or forbidding access tot he family income, and other forms of control and abuse of power.
  
• Childhood Sexual Abuse: "A child (anyone under 16 years) is sexually abused when another person, hwo is sexually more mature, involves the child in any activity which the other person expects to lead to their sexual arousal. This might involve intercourse, touching, exposure of the genital organs, showing pornographic material, or talking about sexual things in an erotic way." Child sexual abuse is the sexual use of a child by someone with more power. The vast majority of child sexual abuse happens in situations where the child trusts or is dependent upon the offender.
• Rape: Forced or coerced penetration or contact between the mouth, genitals or anus with any object, no matter how slight
• Consent: Someone who is drunk, drugged, incapacitated or under the age of consent cannot legally give consent

Violence in Pregnancy

Experiences of violence are common for women and affect pregnancy and childbearing in a myriad number of ways. How a woman may be affected is as individual as she is and depends on the type of violence she experienced, for what duration, what type of support she received at the time and continues to receive and numerous other factors. It is important that women know that they are not alone as it is essential that caregivers, nurses, doulas, therapists, social workers, policy makers, police and others become actively involved in educating themselves on how to best support women who are victims or survivors of violence in their lives. The silence that surrounds childhood sexual assault, incest, intimate partner violence, woman abuse and systematic oppression needs to be broken in order for healing to take place. This wiki is an avenue for speaking up and out as it is a tool for those who wish to educate themselves and contribute to the growing body of information on how to optimally ensure the health and well-being for mother and child when violence and abuse are or have been present in their lives.

Not only can violence escalate during pregnancy, it can begin during a pregnancy or even in the postpartum period. Some women experience traumatic births that include interventions such as episiotomies they didn't want or felt weren't needed. Past traumatic experiences with childhood sexual abuse or rape may resurface during the childbearing year and be triggered by multiple sources. It may not be easy for the survivor to understand where her feelings are coming from, especially if she blocked out the memory of the event.

In considering these dynamics, what can be done by women and those who support her to ensure the best possible outcomes?

A woman can find a caregiver that she is comfortable with and feels respected by. This may mean speaking to a few or changing an established physician/midwife if they are not willing to be flexible and work with her. Ideally, if she found a caregiver that she was able to have a mutually respectful relationship with and she was comfortable with disclosure, she could tell them and ask them to support her in her wishes to whatever degree necessary. Some caregivers are very flexible with this and others are more rigid. Each individual woman will have to define her own comfort level. This pregnancy and birth can be a healing and empowering experience if she feels supported, is a partner in making informed decisions about her care, and is respected as knowing what is best for her.

She may enlist the support of loved ones, trusted friends or a doula to honor her birth plan and nurture her during this powerful time. A wonderful book by Penny Simkin is called The Birth Partner: Everything You Need to Know to Help a Woman Through Childbirth. This book is packed with information that will help a support person know what to expect and how to provide comfort measures in labor. Doulas can be found through local organizations or national organizations. Word of mouth is often a great way to find a doula or another woman who has experience attending women during their birth. Caregivers such as midwives and physicians, childbirth educators or prenatal yoga instructors may know of doulas in your area.

In our culture, media and belief systems, blame has been heavily shifted onto the victim. It is important that we work to deconstruct this and place blame where it belongs, on the perpetrator and the social belief systems that are at the core. We need to consider as well that those who make the rules and laws are those with the most power, and these statutes benefit them, not those who are powerless. This system makes it very difficult for victims to experience justice. Perpetrators of sexual assault and violence do not fit a certain profile and neither do their victims. The belief that victims "should have known better" than to be doing whatever they were doing, wearing whatever they were wearing or being wherever they were is erroneous. There is no right way to exist in order to prevent rape or sexual assault because the control is not in the victim's court. The blame is not theirs, it is the perpetrator's. It would be severely mentally disturbing and unhealthy for any individual to attempt to live in such manner as to not attract an assault because, as the statistics demonstrate, this would be impossible.

Responding to Abuse During Pregnancy from the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence. This is Canadian though it souces American journals. It is a comprehensive resource and applicable beyond the border. Canada is more progressive in addressing this issue and it could be questioned whether American statistics might be even worse than theirs given the weaker social support system in place, the deeper silence, the continuing violence, wars, occupations, the high poverty and crime rates here and on and on ...

While tuberculosis isn't terribly common, it is still around. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of tuberculosis infection in the United States is about 5.3 per 100,000 for women of child bearing age. It stands to reason that some diagnosed will be pregnant women.

The rate of TB is much higher within certain populations. For example, the rate of TB in foreign born people in the year 2007 was 20.7 per 100,000, compared with 2.1 per 100,000 in American born people. Women born in Africa, Asia or Latin America are at higher risk of TB infection. Women who are at higher risk for TB and their doctors should be aware of the added risk.

mptoms and Treatment of TB in Pregnancy

• Recent Activity
  • Recent Activity Links
  • What's Happening Now
  • Today's Forums Posts
  • New Forums Posts
  • Today's Deals Posts
  • New Deals Posts
  • Active MySites
  • Recent Journals
  • Recent Photos
• Blogs
  • Blog Links
  • Recent Blogs
  • Blog for Us
  • Blog Categories
  • AdoptionBabyBe PreparedChristianComputingDealsDisney (Unofficial)EducationFathersFitnessFoodFrugalFunHealthHomeHome BizHomeschoolInsuranceJewishJobsLDSMarriageMedia ReviewsMental HealthMilitaryMoneyMovie ReviewsMuslimParentsPetsPhotographyPoliticsPopular CulturePregnancyReal EstateScrapbookingSingle ParentsSpecial NeedsTravelWeight Loss
• Forums
  • Forums Links
  • 250+ Family Forums
  • Today's Posts
  • New Posts
  • Be a Moderator
• Deals
  • Deals Links
  • Deals Forums
  • Today's Posts
  • New Posts
  • Trader Ratings
  • Deals Blog
  • Frugal Living Blog
  • Be a Moderator
• Tickers & Counters
  • Tickers & Counters Links
  • Tickers
  • Counter Boxes
  • Edit Ticker & Counter
• Recipes
• Baby Names
  • Baby Names Links
  • Girl Baby Names
  • Boy Baby Names
• Members
  • Members Links
  • Members Directory
  • Scoreboard
  • Settings
  • User Control Panel
  • Chat
  • Arcade
  • Invite a Friend
• Private Messages

27 Feb 2009 03:58 PM

Symptoms and Treatment of TB in Pregnancy

by Pattie Hughes | More from this Blogger

While tuberculosis isn't terribly common, it is still around. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of tuberculosis infection in the United States is about 5.3 per 100,000 for women of child bearing age. It stands to reason that some diagnosed will be pregnant women.

The rate of TB is much higher within certain populations. For example, the rate of TB in foreign born people in the year 2007 was 20.7 per 100,000, compared with 2.1 per 100,000 in American born people. Women born in Africa, Asia or Latin America are at higher risk of TB infection. Women who are at higher risk for TB and their doctors should be aware of the added risk.

Sponsors (article continues below)

The symptoms and affects on the mother and baby depend on whether the case is active or latent. Latent TB is asymptomatic and the person is not contagious. Most people infected with TB have the latent form. However, with an active TB infection, the bacterium is quite contagious. It is spread through the air by being near someone with TB and breathing in the bacteria.

The symptoms of TB include a severe cough that lasts longer than three weeks, coughing up blood, pain in the chest, lack of appetite, fatigue and weakness. If you have symptoms and believe you have been exposed to TB, talk to your health care provider about testing. Even if you don't think you've been exposed, talk to your doctor, as these symptoms are serious and require attention.

Testing is safe and includes a skin test to check for exposure to TB. If the skin test comes back positive, a chest x-ray will likely be done. While x-ray is often avoided during pregnancy, most doctors believe it is safe in this case and definitely warranted. Untreated TB is deadly.

If a woman is found to have active TB infection, getting proper treatment is essential. There are some drugs that are known to be unsafe and others that are considered safe for pregnancy. A few of the medicines approved by the FDA for use in treating TB in pregnant women are ethambutol, rifampin, and isoniazid. Your doctor will determine the best course of treatment in an individual situation.

Preparing for Embryo Transfer

In vitro fertilization involves implanting fertilized embryos in the uterus in order to achieve pregnancy. When the eggs are ripened, an egg retrieval procedure is done to remove them. After the eggs are fertilized and begin to grow into embryos, the embryo transfer procedure is done.

If donor eggs or frozen embryos are used, the woman's cycle must be prepared for implantation, just as would naturally happen during a menstrual cycle. Depending on the health and infertility history of the woman, either the natural cycle will be followed or estrogen and progesterone will be given.

This is a relatively simple procedure and is generally done two or three days after the egg retrieval. The embryos are placed in a catheter, which will be used to transfer them into the uterus. The doctor uses ultrasound to guide the procedure. The embryos are placed near the top of the uterus.

Most women don't experience any pain during the embryo transfer procedure. Some may feel a small amount of cramping as the catheter is moved through the cervix, but this is generally very mild. After the procedure, you will need to remain in the clinic, lying on your back. In about two hours, you will be able to go home.

The next step will depend on several factors and varies from woman to woman. Some women are advised to take progesterone suppositories for a certain amount of time after the transfer. In other cases, an injection of HCG may be given to encourage implantation. This is done to increase the production of progesterone, which is essential during implantation.

When you are sent home, you may be advised to restrict activity. The advice varies. Some doctors believe resting for 24 hours is beneficial, while others believe this is not necessary. The research is mixed and it isn't clear whether resting has any influence on the outcome of the procedure.

Although the research isn't clear and there may not be any benefit, resting won't hurt. Many women choose to err on the side of caution and restrict activity for the first twenty four hours after the embryo transfer.