Every day, our nurses and attorneys receive calls from expectant mothers with concerns about symptoms they’re experiencing during their pregnancy. They’re curious if their symptoms are normal, and they wonder what their next steps should be. Patients should always visit a medical professional with concerns and receive appropriate care for maternal-fetal conditions and illnesses that…
Magnesium sulfate is an inorganic salt that may have a variety of health benefits during pregnancy. It can be prescribed to mothers in order to treat preeclampsia or eclampsia (1). Additionally, when premature birth is expected, it can be used to protect a baby’s brain. There is evidence that antenatal magnesium sulfate reduces the risk…
Each year, the March of Dimes issues “report cards,” which summarize the effectiveness of individual states’ efforts to prevent premature birth and its associated complications. These report cards include both written commentary and a letter grade. For the year of 2018 (these reports were released only recently), Georgia got an “F.” It was among six…
According to a recent Vox article, a South Carolina physician named Amy Crockett changed the way her women’s health clinic was operated in 2008 (1). South Carolina’s horrific infant mortality rates in those years (49th in the nation, second to Mississippi) drove her to try a new approach to prenatal care. Crockett got a grant…
Proper nutrition is vital for the development of the baby. Because the mother is supporting the needs of her baby and herself, she will need more of certain nutrients during pregnancy and lactation. If you are pregnant or hoping to get pregnant, prenatal vitamins are recommended to complement a healthy diet (1). They are similar…
According to a recent NPR article, the amount of prenatal genetic testing available to expectant parents has increased enormously over the last decade (1). Furthermore, the genetic testing industry is expected to continue growing by nearly 30% over the five years ahead (1). What are genetic tests used for? Prenatal genetic testing is used to…
New Study Finds Benefits of Repeat Prenatal Corticosteroid Treatments Infants born prematurely (before 37 weeks gestation) face numerous risks that those born at term do not. They may experience breathing problems, brain problems, heart problems, temperature control problems, immune system problems, and other short-term issues that usually require a stay in the NICU (1). Furthermore,…
The placenta, or “afterbirth,” was previously considered a simple, relatively unimportant organ. However, over time, researchers have realized that it plays a critical role not only in fetal development and maternal health during pregnancy, but also in the long-term well being of both mothers and their children. Although its importance is now generally recognized throughout…
A recent Detroit Free Press article spoke of the horrifyingly high infant mortality rate among babies born in Detroit. According to the piece, 13 out of every 1,000 babies born in Detroit die before their first birthday. Fortunately, this rate has dropped since the founding of one Detroit organization called SisterFriends Detroit. SisterFriends Detroit is…
With the multitude of websites, forums, apps, and books containing information about pregnancy that are out today, mothers may be wondering, “What should I expect to learn at my prenatal appointments? What information can be found at those prenatal appointments that wouldn’t, say, come up on a common Google search?” Well, unlike the many resources…
