Clik here to view.
The younger the mother, the worse her health at midlife
Is there an association between early childbirth and worse health at 40? (For Spectrum Health Beat) Women who have their first child in their mid-20s to mid-30s have better health at age 40 than those...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Labor is no laughing matter—or is it?
Women giving birth may now have another option for pain relief. Nitrous oxide, commonly found in dentists’ offices, is now becoming available in birthing units. (For Spectrum Health Beat) If you live...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Seeding my baby? What’s that about?
A mother passes on more than just love at birth—she’s also the key source of important microbiomes for baby. (For Spectrum Health Beat) I recently watched a short video and read an article talking...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What’s my heart have to do with it?
Pregnancy impacts your heart, too. Learn more from a nurse who knows. (For Spectrum Health Beat) My husband shared an interesting article with me recently. I found this article fascinating because,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Dad in the delivery room
Whatever his comfort level, dad can find a role in the delivery room. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Dads have played various roles in the labor process over the years. While talking with my dad recently,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
10 ‘not-so-fun’ things about pregnancy
Fatigue is one of the many symptoms some women battle throughout their pregnancy. (For Spectrum Health Beat) For some, pregnancy is a fantastic and wonderful time. As my mother-in-law put it, “It’s a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Tandem what?
Tandem nursing mom Stacy Wolf’s children, from left: Gage, 4, Jada, 5 months, and Lucy, 2. (For Spectrum Health Beat) When a mother nurses more than one child at a time, and the children are siblings...
View ArticleExpecting and have diabetes?
Though she was born three weeks early, baby Isabelle weighed over 10 pounds at birth. Her mom, Becky Norris, called her a Buddha baby. “I have a picture of them holding her up next to the scale right...
View ArticleClik here to view.
It’s the holidays—and you’re pregnant!
Pregnant? Be sure to pencil in some rest and relaxation this holiday season. (For Spectrum Health Beat) I truly do love this time of year—the lights, the decorations, the music and the Christmas story....
View ArticleClik here to view.
The joys of parenting (later)
Pregnancy after age 25—the secret to a long life? (For Spectrum Health Beat) In what’s believed to be the first study of its kind, research suggests that women who give birth for the first time at age...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Moms, dads and doulas
Support from partners, doulas and other expectant moms can be helpful during particularly challenging moments. (For Spectrum Health Beat) The process of having a baby now is about the same as it was...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bun in the oven?
Mom and baby can face additional health risks when the delivery date is extended too far. (For Spectrum Health Beat) At first, it’s the excitement. You get to decide how you want to share the news with...
View ArticleClik here to view.
New baby, new traditions
A new baby adds a whole new dimension to the holidays. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Life gets busier than ever at this time of year. Family, friends, food, parties, get togethers and plenty of other...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Pregnant? Keep a belly-minded brain
If your diet is healthy in the first trimester, you shouldn’t need any extra calories. In the second and third trimesters, however, you’ll need an extra 300 calories per day. (For Spectrum Health Beat)...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Protein: Power for pregnancy
Make milk one of your main protein sources during pregnancy—it also serves up a dose of calcium. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Maybe you’ve heard a few of these old wives’ tales about food and pregnancy:...
View ArticleClik here to view.
More than just an itch
If you’re experiencing an abnormal amount of itching during pregnancy, you should mention it to your OB/GYN. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Every so often, we’ll hear something like this from a pregnant...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Ready, set … action!
Movies are a go-to favorite for entertainment—but don’t look to Hollywood for answers about delivery and childbirth. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Can you think of any better way to spend a Saturday...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Ready, set … action! The sequel
Movies sometimes make childbirth look clean and easy—or scary and difficult. The truth is someplace in between. (For Spectrum Health Beat) I recently wrote about how Hollywood sometimes has a tendency...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Pregnancy’s itchy palms, itchy feet
When Spectrum Health physician assistant Shana Strantz experienced itching on her palms and feet toward the end of her pregnancy, she quickly suspected cholestasis. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Ever hear...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Postpartum ponderings
The postpartum period can be a special bonding time for mom and baby, but new guidelines recommend moms make time for a series of follow-up visits. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Pregnancy is such an...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Preeclampsia? Be proactive
Your obstetrician will check your blood pressure all throughout your pregnancy to watch for preeclampsia and hypertensive disorders. (For Spectrum Health Beat) High blood pressure is a concern for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Rise of the techie toddler
Anything beyond an hour of screen time for young children could harm their development in speech and other areas. (For Spectrum Health Beat) How are you reading this? On your phone? A computer? An...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The curative chorus
Research continues to hint at an array of psychological and physical benefits to music, even at the earliest ages. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Music has always played a significant role in my life. I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Probiotics for babies?
Food manufacturers are enhancing yogurts, baby foods and formula with prebiotics and probiotics. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Strolling through the baby aisle at a local store recently, I couldn’t help...
View ArticleClik here to view.
U.S. birth rate drops
More women are planning their families in terms of when they have children and how many they want to have. (For Spectrum Health Beat) American women are having fewer children, and they’re having them...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Baby blues—or something worse?
Postpartum depression can affect up to 20 percent of new moms, making it difficult for them to care for their baby. (For Spectrum Health Beat) If you’ve experienced depression, it may help to know you...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Top tips for labor prep
Prenatal yoga is an ideal approach to exercise during pregnancy, offering relaxation and muscle toning. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Labor is something most women don’t look forward to. In fact, most men...
View ArticleClik here to view.
6 positions for labor
Variations of a hands-and-feet or kneeling position during labor could help advance the process. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Should you remain in bed during labor? Should you move around? Does it really...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Eating for two this holiday season?
The key is to prioritize water, lean protein and complex carbs. (For Spectrum Health Beat) The holiday season is always a busy time of the year, with decorating, shopping, baking, parties and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Don’t let King Louis dictate your delivery
A supine position may be well-suited for many deliveries, but other options are often possible as long as there are no underlying medical concerns. (For Spectrum Health Beat) If you’re pregnant, you’re...
View ArticleClik here to view.
That feel-good ingredient
Love at the molecular level is all about oxytocin—the key ingredient in a mother’s intimate connection with her baby. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Male and female alike, we all have hormones. It’s part...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Pregnant? Plan it like a duchess
While planning that baby shower, don’t forget to pencil in dates for hypnotherapy and a doula. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Did you know that four babies are born every single second on earth? That’s 250...
View ArticleClik here to view.
When rest is best
Sleeping on your side during pregnancy—also known as SOS—is one of the best positions for the health of you and your growing baby. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Newborns, teens, retirees, middle-aged—no...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Relaxin—how much is too much?
An excess of relaxin can lead to some issues, which may be remedied partly by stretching and physical therapy. (For Spectrum Health Beat) It’s quite amazing to watch the pregnancy and childbirth...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Spotlight on maternal depression
Having a ready list of friends and family to help out can make all the difference for new moms on those overwhelming days. (For Spectrum Health Beat) There’s no shortage of official and unofficial...
View ArticleClik here to view.
New option for postpartum depression
A more challenging aspect of a new treatment for postpartum depression is that it must be administered intravenously over a 60-hour period. (For Spectrum Health Beat) One of the handy things about...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The postpartum doula
The period immediately after childbirth, sometimes called the fourth trimester, is critical for new moms and their babies. A postpartum doula can play an essential role early in this period. (For...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bath time for new babies
Waiting at least 12 hours to bathe your newborn could lead to improvements in breastfeeding and temperature regulation, among other benefits. (For Spectrum Health Beat) You’ve waited for the big day...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Gallstones—the post-pregnancy affliction
Treatment for gallstones may come in the form of antibiotics or surgery. (For Spectrum Health Beat) I recently heard about two patients who ended up in the hospital with gallstones just a short while...
View Article‘It is the hardest day’
Five and a half years later, Rachel Neubert still gets emotional when talking about leaving her son Blake in the neonatal intensive care unit after his premature birth. “It was the hardest part of the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Tracking your Flo?
Trying to avoid pregnancy the natural way? Or get pregnant? Many are turning to apps for insights. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Apps are getting up close and personal these days. They’ve moved far beyond...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Epidurals—the upsides and downsides
Epidurals are often effective in combating labor pain, but they do have their downsides. Consequently, moms would be wise to have a backup plan for pain management. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Most...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Expecting? 10 tips to manage the merrymaking
Yoga offers twice the benefit for pregnant moms—it’s the perfect chance to unwind, but it also helps prepare the body for the approaching delivery. (For Spectrum Health Beat) We’re now in the thick of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Don’t settle for pregnancy pains
Exercise can play a leading role in fighting the rigors of pregnancy. A specially designed regimen can help bolster pelvic health. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Once your baby is born, it seems like...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Another option for pregnancy pain?
Acupressure may help some women combat pregnancy troubles such as nausea. (For Spectrum Health Beat) You may have heard of acupuncture, the alternative form of medicine where an acupuncturist inserts...
View ArticleClik here to view.
New baby, new roles
Your newest family member will demand lots of attention—and there’ll be plenty of opportunities for dad to help out. (For Spectrum Health Beat) Your beautiful baby has been born and you’re all back at...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What’s a dad-to-be to do?
Want to be especially helpful to an expectant mom leading up to labor and delivery? Familiarize yourself with her birth plan so you can help see it through. (For Spectrum Health Beat) We focus quite a...
View Article
