Pregnancy

Swimming is a wonderful way for pregnant women to exercise, and it's generally considered very safe. But check with your doctor or midwife before you take the plunge. If you swam consistently before you got pregnant, you should be able to continue. I...

Swimming is a wonderful way for pregnant women to ...

I regularly do weight training three to four times a week. Can I continue while I'm pregnant? What precautions should I take? ANSWER Weight training is a great way to stay fit during pregnancy, and it provides benefits after childbirth as well. Keep ...

I regularly do weight training three to four times...

I don't recommend it — pregnancy is not the time to diet. Normally, you should gain about 25 to 30 pounds during pregnancy. If you're overweight, you may want to shoot for the lower end of that range. The recommendation for women who are morbidly obe...

I don't recommend it — pregnancy is not the time t...

Conditions that will prevent you from exercising Sometimes exercise during pregnancy is strictly forbidden to protect the health of the mother, the baby, or both. Check with your healthcare provider before starting, continuing, or changing an exercis...

Conditions that will prevent you from exercising S...

13:51:26The benefits of exercise during pregnancyExercise does wonders during pregnancy. It boosts mood, improves sleep, and reduces pregnancy aches and pains. It also prepares you for childbirth by strengthening muscles and building endurance, and m...

13:51:26The benefits of exercise during pregnancyE...

Exercising during your pregnancy has great benefits – it can help prepare you for labor and childbirth and lift your spirits – but you need to approach working out with extra caution. Whether you're a regular exerciser looking to continue your regime...

Exercising during your pregnancy has great benefit...

Your body's changing: Your center of gravity has shifted, you're carrying more weight, and you tire more quickly. That's why you should exercise with care and listen closely to your body when exerting yourself.Your body will let you know when you're ...

Your body's changing: Your center of gravity has s...

There's no reason not to take baths while you're pregnant, as long as the water isn't too hot. What's too hot? Any water that's hot enough to raise your body temperature to more than 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit for more than ten minutes. A temperature t...

There's no reason not to take baths while you're p...

Acetaminophen (also sold under the brand name Tylenol) has a long history of safe use during pregnancy. The drug hasn't been well studied in pregnant women (few drugs have). But it has been widely used with few, if any, adverse effects. Healthcare pr...

Acetaminophen (also sold under the brand name Tyle...

It depends. Narcotics, such as codeine (paired with Tylenol), are generally safe. But most of the other medications used are problematic. Triptans (such as Imitrex or Maxalt) are out: Though they're probably safe, we don't have sufficient data on th...

It depends. Narcotics, such as codeine (paired wit...

One dose isn't likely to do your baby any harm, but ibuprofen (also sold under brand names such as Advil and Motrin) is generally not recommended during pregnancy, and you definitely shouldn't take it during the third trimester. Here's the scoop. Li...

One dose isn't likely to do your baby any harm, bu...

Some of the ingredients in cold medications are considered safe for pregnant women, but others should be avoided. Most cold medicines are multisymptom remedies that contain two or more drugs, although you can also buy these drugs individually. The d...

Some of the ingredients in cold medications are co...

In most cases, no. While it's highly unlikely that taking a single dose of aspirin in early or mid-pregnancy will have a harmful affect, the drug can cause problems for both you and your baby if you take it regularly in normal adult doses while you'r...

In most cases, no. While it's highly unlikely that...

Recent research is casting doubts on the safety of the drugs most commonly prescribed for depression — selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and some closely related drugs. SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), citalopram (...

Recent research is casting doubts on the safety of...

It depends. Some antibiotics are safe to take throughout pregnancy, some pose known risks to a developing baby, and a host of others fall in between. When a drug falls into this last category, it's because there's not enough safety information avail...

It depends. Some antibiotics are safe to take thro...

Yes. In fact, if you're not eating fatty fish once or twice a week, taking a daily omega-3 supplement might be a good idea. Certain types of fish are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids (specifically DHA and EPA), which experts believe are important...

Yes. In fact, if you're not eating fatty fish once...

LASIK eye surgery during pregnancy is not advised. Perhaps the most important issue is that your prescription sometimes changes during pregnancy. This is thought to be due to hormonal alterations that make the body retain more fluid, causing a swelli...

LASIK eye surgery during pregnancy is not advised....

The benefits of good oral hygiene begin well before birth. Not only is it safe for expectant mothers to have their teeth cleaned, it's desirable and may protect the baby from harm. There’s a growing body of evidence suggesting that periodontal (gum) ...

The benefits of good oral hygiene begin well befor...

What is the Tdap vaccine? The Tdap vaccine offers protection from three serious diseases: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). It's the first booster designed to protect adults and adolescents from whooping cough, a very contagious di...

What is the Tdap vaccine? The Tdap vaccine offers ...

Some Things to Avoid When you're pregnant, what you don't put into your body (or expose your body to) is almost as important as what you do. Here are some things to avoid: Alcohol One of the most common known causes of mental and physical birth defe...

Some Things to Avoid When you're pregnant, what yo...

Exercise The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes (that's 2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week if you're not already highly active or doing vigorous-intensity activity. If yo...

Exercise The U.S. Department of Health and Human S...