Thursday, September 10, 2009

Health Tips for September 10

Health Tip: If You Smoke While Pregnant

If you smoke while pregnant, you're exposing the baby to a host of dangerous chemicals, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says. And the nicotine in tobacco causes less oxygen and nutrients to reach the baby.

The ACOG says these problems are more likely to affect pregnant women who smoke:

  • Ectopic pregnancy, where the fertilized egg begins to develop outside the uterus.
  • Vaginal bleeding.
  • Abnormalities in how the placenta attaches to the uterus.
  • A stillbirth.
  • A low-birthweight infant, born weighing less than 5.5 pounds.

Health Tip: Taking a Childbirth Class

With all of necessary tasks to prepare for a new baby, you might wonder about the merits of going back to school.

The Nemours Foundation offers these potential benefits from taking a childbirth class:

  • Learn about baby's development and a healthy pregnancy.
  • Learn about warning signs of a potential problem.
  • Learn how to help make pregnancy, labor and delivery as healthy and comfortable as possible.
  • Learn techniques to help you breathe and relax.
  • Learn how to create a birth plan.
  • Learn signs that you're in labor.
  • Learn your pain relief options during labor and birth.
  • Learn how your partner or birth coach can help.

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