It’s safe to have baby after breast cancer

Most women can have a baby after being diagnosed with breast cancer, according to researchers who claim it’s “safe” and increases lifespan.

There were concerns earlier that pregnancy could boost levels of female sex hormone oestrogen in the body and cause breast cancer, the most common form of the disease to return.

But, now a new study claims that it is safe for most women to get pregnant even within the first two years after diagnosis. Furthermore, the study revealed that patients who become pregnant appear to survive longer than those who don’t, although independent experts claimed that further research is needed in this area, the ‘Daily Mail’ newspaper reported.

In their study, the researchers, led by Dr Hatem Azim, a medical oncologist at Jules Bordet Institute in Brussels, and colleagues, enrolled 333 women, with an average age of 34, but ranging from 21 to 48 years old, whose oestrogen receptor status (positive or negative) and disease outcome were known.

Pregnant women should avoid using antidepres

Pregnant women taking selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants may have increased risk of pregnancy induced high blood pressure (“hypertension”), a new study has warned.

But a causal link has not been established and researchers behind the study said that pregnant women should not stop taking their prescribed medication; instead they should seek a consultation with their doctor if they are concerned.

Pregnancy hypertension is sometimes linked with pre-eclampsia, a serious condition that can harm pregnant women and their unborn babies.

Out of 1,216 women, the overall incidence of hypertension in women taking SSRIs appeared to increase from about 2 per cent to about 3.2 per cent (a relative risk increase of 60 per cent. One specific SSRI, paroxetine, was associated with an increase in incidence of hypertension to about 3.6 per cent (an 81 per cent increase).

“These results are an early indicator of risk attributable to antidepressant drug treatment above that which may be attributed to depression or anxiety disorders in the absence of drug treatment,” said senior researcher, Dr Anick Berard who is Director of the research unit of medications and pregnancy at CHU Ste-Justine’s Research Center, and professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

The issue is particularly important given that antidepressants are one of the most commonly used medications during pregnancy. Up to 20 per cent of pregnant women are affected by depression and anywhere between 4 per cent and 14 per cent of pregnant women frequently use anti-depressants.

The study drew data from the Quebec Pregnancy Registry and compared 1,216 women who had been diagnosed with pregnancy-induced hypertension with or without pre-eclampsia and with no history of hypertension before pregnancy, with 12,160 matched controls.

“Pregnancy induced hypertension is a serious condition that can directly affect the mother and her unborn baby. Although a few other studies on the same topic have been performed before, our study is the only one that looks at the class and type of antidepressant and the risk of pregnancy induced hypertension,” stated Berard.

The message, however, is not as simple as telling pregnant women to stop taking antidepressants, because once a woman is using them, discontinuation during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of depressive relapses and post-partum depression.

“Individual decisions have to be made one woman at a time, and risks and benefits have to be evaluated carefully in consultation with a doctor; there is no ‘risk zero,’” Dr Berard said.

“This research adds another piece of evidence and shows the importance of fully assessing the risks and the benefits of antidepressant use during pregnancy for the mother and child,” the researcher added.

The research has just been published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.

HIV+ but positive on having a child

With the basics against HIV/AIDS – early diagnosis and continued treatment – seemingly in place, Indian doctors are looking at sociological nuances associated with the condition. An ongoing study at JJ Hospital’s gynaecology department, for instance, is looking at fertility and reproductive desires of HIV-positive people.

“We are studying if men and women who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS understand the emotional, social and financial implications of having a child,” said Dr Rekha Daver, who heads the gynaecology department. The fiveyear-long study, which is being done jointly with the Indian Council for Medical Research, started last year. The idea is to develop a better counselling mechanism for HIV-positive people. Incidentally, the National AIDS Control Organisation has recognised JJ Hospital’s gynaecology department as a Centre of Excellence in the Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS programme.

“We have delivered 1,073 HIVpositive women in the last 11 years. We have also managed to control mother-to-child transmission of HIV to a great deal. In fact, of the last 100 deliveries, 95 children are free of the virus,” said Dr Daver.

Considering the number of HIVpositive people who come to JJ Hospital, it’s not surprising that the fertility desire study is being done here. “The study involves hours of intense counselling, taking down notes and a check-up . We have finished interviewing around 20 people so far,” said Dr Daver.

She added patients usually say having a child is their ultimate dream. “Social pressure as well as the woman’s own mental makeup contributes to this decision,” said Dr Daver. Every pregnant woman who comes to JJ Hospital’s gynaecology department is counselled and voluntarily tested for HIV. They are informed of the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and possibility of the children becoming AIDS orphans. “But many still want their biological babies,” she said.

A Harvard University study a few years back noted that “spousal, family, community and cultural influences greatly shape HIV-positive women’s desire to become pregnant. Studies in India , South Africa, Taiwan and Vietnam have demonstrated the weight of culture-specific spousal and family wishes that a woman will need to consider besides her own desires and HIV status.”

Dr Daver added many HIV-positive women opt for pregnancy as they are worried about discrimination in society if they are childless.

“HIV-positive women have as much social problems as medical issues,” she said.

Allow Yourself to Grieve
It is important to let yourself feel your loss, even when others are pressuring you to focus on your baby rather than your loss. "I thought bottling up my grief was probably the best," said Sue Schuster, president and founder of Stage 2 Marketing, whose mother died when she was four months pregnant. "I remember going into the bath room to cry because others would respond in a way that I was harming my child."
"Negative emotions are most harmful to the unborn baby if they are neglected," says psychologist Ann Dunnewold, co-author of Life Will Never be the Same: The Real Mom’s Post-Partum Survival Guide. She suggests allowing structured grieving time, an hour a day, perhaps, to express your emotions without interfering with the exciting aspects of your pregnancy.
Schuster found a way to honor her loss that moved beyond crying in the bathroom. "My mother was an avid bird watcher," she said. "I emailed all of my friends across the country to help feed the birds in memory of my mother. The pictures and emails that poured in … helped me grieve in a way that made me feel closer to my mother."

Congratulations! You made it to the second trimester. Finally, morning sickness is a thing of the past. You’ve discovered a new found energy. And your baby bump is adorable. The second trimester is a time to be cherished. So enjoy it! Here’s how:
BE SPONTANEOUS:
Catch a matinee movie. Take a road trip. Do something on a whim. The second trimester is the time of your pregnancy when you can still embrace your independence, (ahem, you don’t need your partner to tie your shoes… yet). So when your co-worker asks if you want to go out for happy hour – say yes! And order a mocktail.
TAKE A BABYMOON:
Now is the perfect time to travel and connect with your spouse when you aren’t talking nursery themes or baby names. Traveling gets more difficult in the unpredictable third trimester. Book a trip for some R & R. Even if it’s just a quick weekend jaunt, you’ll be glad you took the time to get away.
GET IN GIRL TIME:
Girl’s nights may become less frequent in the future. And let’s face it – we need our girlfriends like we need water. Call up your girls and make plans for dinner or to meet up for a walk. It’ll pay dividends later.
TREAT YOURSELF:
New clothes. A pedicure. A pregnancy massage. A little pampering is just what you need to maintain your beautiful pregnancy glow.
GET MOVING:
Whether it’s that prenatal yoga class you’ve been dying to check out or your standing Saturday morning jog, now’s the time to exercise. You may not be feeling up to it once the swollen feet and back pain arrive.
FLY SOLO:
Before you know it you’ll have your baby attached to your hip – or other parts of your body as the case may be. Relish in some quality time alone – doing something you love. It could be something as simple as curling up with a good book or taking a bubble bath.
SAY CHEESE:
Schedule a photo shoot and capture your growing belly now. Not only is your baby bump adorable during the second trimester, but you may be too exhausted (or simply forget!) in the third trimester.

pregnancymagazine.com

Weight is a sensitive subject for many women, and the weight gained during a pregnancy is no different. Some ladies balk at the idea of putting on more pounds, but the reality is that it’s necessary for the healthy growth of your baby. Here are a few guidelines to help you figure out how high the scales should be tipping.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, how much you gain while you’re pregnant depends on your body mass index (BMI) and weight before pregnancy. If you maintained a healthy frame before conceiving, aim to put on 25 to 35 pounds while carrying. Underweight women should aim for 28 to 40 pounds, overweight women should target 15 to 25 pounds and obese women should limit their weight gain to 11 to 20 pounds.
You might be thinking, "where does all that weight go?" You’ve probably heard that your breasts will get bigger during pregnancy, and obviously the weight of the baby will be accounted for – but what about the rest? The Mayo Clinic reports that extra pounds accumulate in the uterus, placenta, amniotic fluid, blood volume, fluid volume and fat stores for energy.
Of course, most women don’t gain much weight during the first trimester, as morning sickness often makes it difficult. Weight gain is more important in the second and third trimesters, when one or two extra pounds a week is considered healthy.
While you might think that eating for two means doubling your caloric intake, you won’t actually need to consume that much. The Mayo Clinic recommends about 150 to 200 extra calories each day during the first trimester and 300 extra calories each day over the last two. An extra snack could be all you need to meet these goals.

sourceregnancymagazine.com

You are truly ecstatic about the impending birth of your baby. But, deep down, you are also grappling with fears regarding your new status as a father. Understandably, you are not quite comfortable discussing these issues with anyone—not even your partner. Actually, this is quite normal. It might help you to identify and evaluate your fears, and take steps to overcome or deal with them.

greatdad.com

Now that you’re pregnant, you may be wondering if routine dental procedures such as X-rays and a cleaning are safe. You can set your anxieties aside because you should continue to visit your dentist every six months for a regular exam – maintaining your oral health is good for both you and your baby!
Some experts believe that a trip to the dentist is most ideal between the 14th and the 20th week of pregnancy – after you reach the third trimester, it may be uncomfortable to lean back in the exam chair for a long time.
Your changing hormone levels can cause your gums to swell, bleed and become sore, which usually starts to happen during the second trimester (another reason for the suggested range of weeks to visit the dentist). This can increase the frequency that food gets trapped between your gums, which can lead to infection without proper care. Gum disease is among the risk factors for preterm birth, so you’ll want to stick to your regular dental exam schedule so a professional hygienist can help keep your mouth healthy.
You generally will only need an X-ray if you’re experiencing a dental emergency, otherwise, you can postpone this step until after you give birth. Although they may not cause any harm to your baby, you may want to wait until after birth for cosmetic procedures simply to reduce any potential risks.
Eating a balanced diet will improve your dental health and help your baby to develop strong teeth as well. Make sure you are getting the recommended amounts of phosphorous, vitamins A, C and D, calcium and protein.

Pregnancymagazine.com

The large number of expectant moms who regularly forget things like where they parked their car or what they ate for breakfast has led to a host of terms (such as pregnancybrain and momnesia) categorizing the forgetfulness experienced during gestation. Have you had a hard time remembering lately? Here is the science behind this phenomenon and what you can do to stop it from affecting your day-to-day life.
The science behind pregnancy brain
In 2010, the Australian National University in Canberra published a study in The British Journal of Psychiatry that found no structural changes in the brain of expectant moms. However, in an interview with WebMD, lead researcher Helen Christensen acknowledged that pregnant women do experience high rates of forgetfulness.
While their brains are still capable of remembering, the emotional anxiety and sleeplessness that often occurs throughout pregnancy can affect memory. Furthermore, pregnant women have high levels of estrogen and progesterone, which are known to affect the nervous system.
"These hormones [estrogen and progesterone] affect all kinds of neurons in the brain," Louann Brizendine, director of the Women’s Mood and Hormone Clinic at the University of California, San Francisco told the source. "You only have so many shelves in your brain so the top three are filled with baby stuff."
Tips to boost your memory
You can use your forgetfulness as an indicator that you need to simplify your life before your baby arrives. Once a newborn joins your family, your schedule is going to become much more complicated and hectic. You can develop organization habits now that will help you later on.
Start writing things down. Keep a notebook nearby where you can list all of your responsibilities for the day and check them off after you complete them. Also, try to get as much sleep as you can, which is admittedly difficult for parents. Nonetheless, adequate rest is a large component of minimizing forgetfulness.

pregnancymagazine.com

Is that nauseous feeling creeping up at all hours of the day? As a working expectant mom, you’ll need a few go-to tips for preventing and eliminating morning sickness while you’re in the office. After all, no one wants to get sick in front of their coworkers!
1. Snack frequently. Keeping your stomach coated with a layer of food can keep nausea at bay. Crackers are a well-known option for relieving discomfort and peppermint candies can also help.
2. Stay hydrated. In addition to plenty of water, ginger ale, lemonade and ginger tea are known to reduce queasiness.
3. Go for a walk. To get some relief, you may want to leave your office and take a short stroll around the neighboring area. The fresh air can be calming and the steady motion may settle your stomach.
4. Talk to your doctor about medication, if any.
5. Smell the right scents. Microwaved food or a latte can trigger nausea in some women. Believe it or not, avoiding these fragrances as much as possible can do wonders for your tummy. On the flip side, some expectant moms have found relief from the scent of lemons – you may want to keep a couple freshly-cut slices on your desk.
6. Chew gum. Some women swear that regularly chewing on a spearmint flavored stick of gum can help settle an upset stomach. Keep a multi-pack on hand and see what it can do for you.

Source:Pregnancy magazine.com