Tag Archives: Pregnancy
Study Finds Gum Disease Treatment is Safe for Babies
According to Reuters, pregnant women are safe to be treated for gum infections and do not need to worry about their baby’s health, says a new study. The concern among dentists had been that treating the problem could cause bacteria to get into a mother’s bloodstream, where it could reach the fetus. A new study published in the journal of Pediatrics found that women can be confident about receiving dental treatment without causing meaningful effects on their baby’s development. Dr. Bryan Michalowicz, a dentists at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in Minneapolis and his colleagues tested more than 400 two-year olds who had been born to mothers with gum disease. Half the mothers had been treated with aggressive cleaning including scaling and planing during pregnancy, while the rest had not. The researchers found that kids did just as well on language, motor and mental tests regardless of whether…
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Posted in Pregnancy Tagged baby, brain, development, fetus, gum disease, planing, Pregnancy, scaling, tooth, tooth disease, treatment Comments Off on Study Finds Gum Disease Treatment is Safe for Babies
Study Examines Effects of Epilepsy Medications on Pregnant Women
According to MSNBC, women with epilepsy face a difficult decision when they decide to have children, as they either must their medicine to prevent a seizure or they risk hurting the fetus. A new study from researches at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden found that children of mothers receiving polytherapy – a combination of epilepsy drugs – had 3 times greater odds of not finishing school. The study examined 1,235 children born to mothers with epilepsy between 1973 and 1986. Children of mothers who were only taking a single medication did not seem to be as effected and were able to complete school just like their peers, although they were less likely to pass classes with excellence. Doctors not involved with the study claim it is important for mothers to know that they are able to have normal kids. Childbearing is an important consideration for women with epilepsy, as drugs…
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Posted in Pregnancy, Uncategorized Tagged anticonvulsant, drugs, epilepsy, fetus, medication, Pregnancy, seizure, study Comments Off on Study Examines Effects of Epilepsy Medications on Pregnant Women
Pregnancy Related Deaths On the Rise in the U.S.
According to MSNBC, the national rate of pregnancy-related deaths is on the rise. A new government study found that between 1998 and 2005, the rate of pregnancy-related deaths was 14.5 per 100,000 live births. While it may appear low, those figures are higher than the past few decades. In 1979 where were just under 11 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the extent which the rise reflects a true elevation in women is unclear. Chronic medical conditions are exacerbated by pregnancy, including heart disease. Deaths from actual birth such as hemorrhaging are declining. Even high blood pressure that may occur during pregnancy appears to be declining in rates. Another factor is reporting of deaths, as a new cause coding system was implemented in 1999 and a system before it did not have a pregnancy or maternal checkbox. For…
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