Archive for August, 2009

PostHeaderIcon Is it Safe to Take Antibiotics during Pregnancy?

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How safe are antibiotics when taken during pregnancy? The answer you will probably get from most experts is: it depends.  Since there is such a large variety of antibiotics available, and much depends on dosage and length of use, it is very difficult to generalize as to their safety.  Using antibiotics during pregnancy is sometimes unavoidable, since pregnant women are as susceptible to illness and infection as anyone else, and sometimes even more.

Some antibiotics are perfectly safe, some are known to pose risks to a fetus, and many more fall somewhere in between.  There are a great many antibiotics where it is simply not known what risks they pose to a pregnant woman because those risks simply haven’t been studied in enough detail.  In the case of these, you will need to weigh the risks of taking the antibiotics during pregnancy versus the potential risks your illness poses to your unborn baby.  Another thing to consider is how high the dosage will be and how long you will be taking it.

Taking antibiotics during pregnancy can be quite safe if they are in the penicillin family, cephalosporins, and erythromycin. The drug metronidazole used to treat some vaginal infections used to be suspected of causing birth defects, but the research has not substantiated that claim, and it is now considered generally safe for pregnant women to use.  Many pregnant women suffer from urinary tract infections, and the drug nitrofurantoin can be taken up to the 36th week of pregnancy.  If you continue after that point, there is a small chance it could destroy some of the baby’s red blood cells if taken up to a few days before delivery.

If you must take antibiotics during pregnancy for a urinary tract infection, you may wish to avoid Bactrin and Septra, because they contain trimethoprim, and this compound blocks the production of folic acid.  Folic acid is critical to your baby’s development because it reduces the risk of certain birth defects.  If for some reason you must take antibiotics during pregnancy that do contain trimethoprim, be sure to take a daily folic acid supplement of at least 400 mgs.  Check to see if your prenatal vitamin contains this- many will have twice this amount. A few other antibiotics to avoid during pregnancy are streptomycin and tetracycline.  The first can cause hearing loss in the baby, and the latter can cause discoloration of the baby’s teeth.

If you are still wondering how safe are antibiotics when taken during pregnancy, be sure to talk to your doctor.  Those that are safe are generally well-known, as well as those that are less so.  If you must take antibiotics during pregnancy, keep in mind that even those whose safety isn’t proven will probably have very few adverse effects if taken in the minimum effective dosage for a limited period of time.  Also realize that your doctor is aware of the risks, and will only prescribe antibiotics if she feels that your illness is potentially riskier to your baby than the antibiotics themselves.

You can find helpful information about <a rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank” href=” “>http://www.ahababy.com/subject/is-it-safe”> antibiotics during pregnancy and everything you need to know about how safe are antibiotics at Aha! Baby.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/is-it-safe-to-take-antibiotics-during-pregnancy-1172527.html

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PostHeaderIcon Is it Safe to Take Sleeping Pills when Pregnant?

Unfortunately, a great many pregnant women find themselves wrestling with insomnia at some point in their pregnancy.  So, they ask, can I take sleeping pills while I’m pregnant?  Many doctors are leery of prescribing sleep aids since they can be addictive, not just to the pregnant mother, but to the unborn child. If you mix sleeping pills and pregnancy you may find yourself with a newborn with a sleeping pill addiction.

If your insomnia is severe however, it would be reasonable to ask your doctor, can I take sleeping pills? You might find that even though your doctor is unwilling to provide you with a prescription medication, she might be comfortable recommending an over-the-counter remedy like Tylenol PM.

Diphenhydramine, the sedating component, is the active ingredient in Benadryl is considered a Class B medication, which means it has been shown to be safe for pregnant women based on animal studies, although no conclusive human trials have been conducted.  Unfortunately, there are no sleeping medications that are Class A, which means that reputable human studies have shown them to be safe for pregnant women and unborn babies.

While most doctors probably feel that sleeping pills and pregnancy are not a good combination, you may find there are some other things you can do to help you sleep better while you are pregnant.  Since part of your problem with sleep may have to do with your pregnant shape, try sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees.  There are also a variety of body pillows specifically designed for pregnant women, so you may be able to find something that will make you a great deal more comfortable.

Sleeping pills and pregnancy don’t need to be the only way to go. An old, but effective home remedy to try is simply to drink a glass of warm milk before bed.  In addition, you may find that you can’t sleep well if you are hungry or feel you have low blood sugar.  This can be remedied by having a small, high-protein snack before bedtime.

You may find yourself wondering about sleeping pills and pregnancy; you might consider that you are having trouble sleeping because you are unable to relax properly.  Rather than taking a sedative, you might find it more effective and healthy to work on relaxation techniques.  Practicing yoga or getting regular massages can make a huge difference in how relaxed you feel. You can also practice some simple deep breathing techniques and work on progressive muscle relaxation to get yourself into a more positive state for sleep.

So, in answer to the question, can I take sleeping pills while pregnant, you may find your doctor saying no, or suggesting a mild over-the-counter remedy for a limited time. Since sleeping pills and pregnancy are not a good combination, you will need to look into some more natural methods to help you sleep.  However, you may find that these natural remedies are just as effective, and you don’t need to worry about harming your baby.

You can find helpful information about <a rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank” href=” “>http://www.ahababy.com/subject/is-it-safe”> sleeping pills and pregnancy and everything you need to know about can I take sleeping pills at Aha! Baby.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/is-it-safe-to-take-sleeping-pills-when-pregnant-1172530.html

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PostHeaderIcon The Dance of Life and Infertility Cures

Life is ever-changing and ever adapting. Sometimes we all get bogged down in our day – to - day activities and forget to take time out for ourselves. It’s widely known to be beneficial to take at least some time each day to work on personal growth and healing. Spending time working on personal growth in some way will make you more aware of the ups and downs of your life and give you the necessary tools for dealing with whatever comes your way throughout your life; including the stress and disappointments of finding infertility cures.

The Dance of Life, has been used in many times and in many ways. For our purposes it’s meant to reveal how we can live our lives to the fullest – despite the many set-backs and disappointments we may find in our way as we dance through life. An infertility diagnosis is devastating to many, many couples. Yet, so few of these couples are able to overcome. Why is that? We believe that in order to achieve our goals – no matter what those goals may be – that we need to heal the whole body. Not just what hurts, but what caused the hurt in the first place.

An infertility diagnosis does NOT mean that you will never conceive; never bear a child of your own. Like any illness, it means only that you will need to find alternative methods for achieving your goals; different ways of empowering yourself to heal and create your own dance of life.

Holistic medicine approaches infertility cures, by first eliminating the symptoms of infertility. By using natural methods of eliminating factors known to cause infertility, you can regain what you thought was lost. You can, once again hear the music, and dance the dance.

Holistic medicine is not mystical, and it is not mysterious. In fact, holistic medicine is much more real than many people realize. There are many forms of alternative medicine like homeopathic medications, massage therapy, aromatherapy and nutrition counseling. Each of these approaches focuses on you as an individual so that you can have your needs addressed in a way that is comfortable for you and that works to alleviate not only the symptoms, but the root cause of your problems. Realizing that infertility cures and methods of treatment are just around the corner – just within your grasp – can be the breakthrough that you need.

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Amazing natural pregnancy ebook that brings you the infertility cures you’ve been searching for, is finally here. Stop wasting money on pills, and other worthless quick fix cures… Learn the truth about getting pregnant once and for all and finally be the proud mother you deserve. Learn about your dance of life with Pregnancy Miracle.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/the-dance-of-life-and-infertility-cures-1176014.html

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