Archives for April 2009

Selecting a Doctor and OBGYN

April 23, 2009 By Baby Editor Leave a Comment

Selecting the right obstetrician can help ensure that you have a healthy, successful pregnancy. Each doctor brings their own unique approach and set of skills, so make sure that you are a good fit with your doctor. There are a variety of ways to find a doctor, such as asking friends for recommendations, especially those who were happy with their pregnancy, as well as working with a certified midwife nurse (CNM) and looking at all of your options.

Schedule an initial appointment with the doctors that you are considering, and ensure that your views are aligned on a variety of issues. Some of the major issues that you’ll want to cover are the use of electronic fetal monitoring, the possibility of C (cesarean) sections, as well as the overall fit in terms of personality compatibility. Your OBGYN will provide important counseling and guidance, in addition to medical advice, from the beginning to the end of the process.

Importantly, the doctor should be covered on your insurance policy, and should help to provide you with guidance related to all aspects of your pregnancy, from nutrition and medical advice to what you need to do during the labor process. Ideally, the OBGYN should be associated with a maternity center at a local hospital or birthing center, so that you have continuity in treatment from beginning to end. Always cover your medical history with your doctor, so that she or he can provide you with crucial guidance as to what steps you need to take to ensure a health pregnancy.

Insurance Coverage During Pregnancy

April 23, 2009 By Baby Editor 1 Comment

Today, there are over 40 million Americans who have no health insurance, and many expectant mothers go into labor without adequate health coverage for themselves or their baby. It’s estimated that more than one in ten expectant mothers lacks the necessary insurance coverage for their pregnancy, creating a potential conflict between hospitals and expectant mothers that is best alleviated by mothers ensuring proper health coverage in advance to the process. Estimates suggest that a modern pregnancy at a major hospital can cost above $5,000, not including the postpartum costs such as baby health care and infant needs.

Many mothers turn to less-expensive birthing centers, which offer reduced cost care by focusing on natural births, rather than technology and medicine-aided birthing procedures. Birthing centers can cost up to 50% less than a standard maternity hospital, depending on the needs of an individual patient.

As a result, many expectant mothers turn to government assistance programs to help with this coverage. Medicaid is available to low income mothers, while the Women and Infant Care Program (WIC) can help ensure that mothers have access to the necessary resources to raise their child, including access to professional medical, nutrition and education advice.

Additionally, specialized insurance programs such as Maternity Advantage can offer coverage that is specific to the needs of expectant mothers, providing savings on doctor’s visits, labor costs, as well as infant care before and after the birth.

Top Baby Hospitals

April 23, 2009 By Baby Editor Leave a Comment

Selecting a world-class hospital for your OBGYN medical professional, as well as your overall health care needs during pregnancy, can help to ensure your physical and emotional comfort throughout the pregnancy process. Our editors reviewed some of the top pregnancy hospitals in the country, with stellar reputations for delivering top maternal care from the very beginning of the process, all the way to labor:

Johns Hopkins Hospital
A world-class institution, located in Baltimore, Maryland, Johns Hopkins has a dedicated Women’s Health Center, where some of the top women’s doctors in the country practice and research. State of the art laboratories combine with top medical resources to provide an ideal location for maternal health. The hospital’s dedicated Birth Center provides individual prenatal, birthing and postpartum treatment for mothers and children.

Magee Women’s Hospital
This top medical facility located in Pittsburgh, Magee offers a complete set of treatments, including birthing, genetic analysis, fertility treatment as well as broader treatment for women’s health conditions. Delivering over 10,000 births each year, the Hospital is one of the top rated birthing centers in the world.

Duke University Medical Center
Linked to the top Duke University medical school, the Duke Medical Center in North Carolina has one of the top maternity practices in the country. The Center offers comprehensive pre-natal care, as well as broader treatment for women’s issues, including counseling.

Popular Baby Names

April 23, 2009 By Baby Editor Leave a Comment

During pregnancy, you may want to think about potential names for your new baby. Each year a number of popular names emerge as trends, providing interesting ideal on what to name your new child. The editors of Birthing Centers reviewed some of the hot baby names, along with providing some background into their meanings:

Aiden
From the Irish, meaning “Little Fire”, the name is also spelled as “Aidan” as well as “Aaden” in its original form. A popular boys’ name, Aiden is a strong name for a baby boy.

Liam
This name comes from the Irish, meaning “strong willed warrior” and is an emerging name for young boys. A variant on the name “William” a number of popular Scottish celebrities, including Liam Neeson, have this name.

Ava
Coming from the Latin, it means “bird-like”, suggesting the grace and beauty that comes with your baby girl. Easy to pronounce “a VA”, the name is one of the most popular girl name today.

Layla
Originating from the Arabic term for “night”, Layla signifies an understated beauty and is an increasingly popular girl’s name.

The Stages of Pregnancy

April 23, 2009 By Baby Editor Leave a Comment

The progression of pregnancy from conception to birth is a complex, fascinating process that involves a variety of physical and hormonal changes. By better understanding fetal development and working closely with your medical care professional on the variety of options to best manage your health at each stage, you’ll be able to ensure that you and your baby are in ideal health throughout the process.

To start, at conception the baby begins as an embryo which will form the core of the baby-to-be. At two months, the baby begins to develop its shape, although its size is quite small. By three months old, the baby begins to resemble its primary form, and begins to enter into a later development stage. At this point, your physician will be able to help you understand the complete implications and what is necessary in order to raise the child.

By four months, the baby begins to develop hardened bone, developing the skeleton which will support its further growth. By six months old, the baby has developed smooth skins, as well as the “baby fat” necessary to provide nutrition. Another month later, most babies have full eye functions and soon thereafter develops complete lung capacity.

At birth, your baby will be a fully developed person, ready for nurturing and complete development. The stages are more broadly divided into trimesters, and your medical care professional can help guide you through the process from beginning to end.

Selecting a Birth Center

April 23, 2009 By Baby Editor 6 Comments

A growing number of expectant mothers are turning to Birthing Centers as an alternative to traditional hospitals. These specialized medical facilities are designed to maximize the comfort of the mother, employing medical professionals and certified nurses to help make your pregnancy as ideal as possible.

Many birthing centers have important options that you won’t find in hospitals, such as complete natural labor experiences, helping to ensure your comfort without the use of drugs or C-section operations. Birthing centers don’t have automated procedures like hospitals do, although they have completed access to IV and oxygen machines, along with the medical tools needed in case complications arise. Importantly, you’ll have more freedom in terms of your own personal condition, as well as your ability to organize the labor process as you see fit. A hybrid between home-based midwife delivery and regulated hospital centers, birthing centers are a good option for certain mothers to be.

You’ll also want to explore local maternity options at hospitals – many hospitals offer world-class treatment for mother and babies, including after the delivery. Always review all of your options before making a final decision. Discuss the options with your medical care professional, who can outline the pros and cons of the various health delivery options in advance of your due date.

Visiting Your Doctor

April 23, 2009 By Baby Editor 2 Comments

Regular visits to your regular physician and your OBGYN (Obstetrician, Gynecologist) will provide you with the information and tools that are needed to ensure that both you (and your child) remain in ideal health throughout your pregnancy. Prenatal care will be an important source of direct medical care, as well as providing your with important support during the process, helping you to understand the best decisions to make.

During your first visit, you’ll want to establish a baseline of what to expect. Assuming you have already had a positive pregnancy test (else, you’ll want to confirm your pregnancy), you should aim to establish a target due date, review your medical history and go over the potential complications and risk that may arise. Depending on your personal health history, you may have to tailor a special nutrition and health plan to ensure that you have a healthy pregnancy.

By understanding the implications of the nutritional needs, as well as the body changes you will undergo, your doctor can help you to determine which types of foods and activities are ideal for your pregnancy. A series of regular exams will help to ensure the health of both you and your baby – including regular checkups of your reproductive system. Your doctor will likely perform an analysis of your overall health, as well as genetic screens for issues that you should especially be aware of.

Exercises During Pregnancy

April 23, 2009 By Baby Editor Leave a Comment

While pregnancy can be a challenge, as it can be exhausting both physically and emotionally, a regular exercise routine can help alleviate much of your stress and discomfort. More importantly, an exercise routine can give you the necessary strength in advance of going into labor.

It’s important to recognize that you shouldn’t try to push yourself to your maximize fitness level – rather, you should aim for a half hour of moderate exercise, according to a routine approved by your physician. Walking and working out with a certified trainer are good options, and you should always make sure you are in the right condition before beginning your exercise routine. There are a variety of low impact exercises, such as light aerobics, laps in a pool or stationary cycling which can be ideally suited for pregnancy.

Impact sports and intensive contact exercise should generally be avoided, and you should keep your heart rate at a moderate level, ideally staying in moderate temperature environments. Look for exercise maternity clothing, so that you can comfortably enjoy your exercise as a release point. Check in regularly with your physician and trainer as to how your program is progressing as you approach your due-date – often times, your doctor may recommend important adjustments in your routine, and you should communicate these suggestions with your doctor.

Pregnancy Nutrition

April 23, 2009 By Baby Editor Leave a Comment

During pregnancy, it’s important to keep in mind that you need to consume nutrients, vitamins and nutrition for two – you will have to pay attention to the components of your diet, as this provides nutrition for your baby as well. While there is no single diet that is ideal during pregnancy, it’s important to focus on getting the following vitamins and minerals in your diet on a daily basis:

Iron is an important protein that helps red blood cells transport oxygen, and pregnancy requires that you need more Iron than you normally would. Some guidelines suggest you need about 30 milligrams a day, which is nearly twice what you would normally require. Common foots with iron include lean proteins, such as beans, chicken and fish, as well as beans and spinach. These sources will also help you get the protein you need during pregnancy, which helps foster the growth of your baby – focus on lean sources of protein such as salmon, chicken breast and egg whites for optimal nutrition.

As your baby grows, it will require calcium intake to fully develop bones and teeth. You can get healthy calcium intake through consumption of low fat dairy products, such as yogurt, milk and cheese. You may need up to a gram of calcium each day, so you can also look for calcium-fortified products, such as orange juice. Another often overlooked vitamin is folate, which is a B vitamin that is necessary for fetal growth, and can be found in green vegetables, citrus fruits and beans.

Mayo Complete Book of Pregnancy

April 22, 2009 By Baby Editor Leave a Comment

As one of the premier sources of medical information in the country, the Mayo Clinic has a stellar reputation for skilled communication of scientific information. The Mayo Clinic’s Complete Book of Pregnancy does an excellent job of walking through the birthing process from the symptoms you may encounter during pregnancy to the developmental stages of the baby to the hospital process itself.

Additionally, the book has several stellar chapters covering infant care after the pregnancy. The pregnancy chapters themselves are quite thorough, providing details on how to select a hospital doctor, what to expect during the labor process and how to ensure proper safety throughout the process.

An imposing 750 pages, the book is comprehensive enough to serve as a reference guide, while being clear enough to provide a guide to questions you may have between doctors visits. While it’s not a brisk read, it makes up for its narrative in terms of the quality of the information.

A step above traditional “cute” pregnancy books, the Mayo Clinic guide aims to provide accurate information, diagrams, photos and illustrations that help you get accurate information about nearly every aspect of pregnancy in a single source.