Plants have been used for medicinal purposes since prehistoric times. Many prescription drugs used today are derived from plant sources or are the synthetic equivalent of the natural form of the chemicals in plants. Most of the companies which supply…
Category: Mom Health
Vitamins and Minerals
In addition to protein, fats, carbohydrates and fiber, the body needs small amounts of other nutrients, the vitamins and minerals. Vitamins are complex organic chemicals which are essential for normal functioning of our bodies’ cells. Some vitamins are involved in…
Protein, Fats and Carbohydrates
The pregnant body requires additional protein for both the mother and baby. The prepregnant RDA for adults (both women and men) is 0.75g/kg, or about 42 grams of “reference protein” per day for a 125-pound woman. The RDA for pregnant…
Eating for a Healthy Pregnancy
Standards for nutrition in the U.S. are set by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council, a branch of the National Academy of Sciences (the NAS). The NAS is a private, non-profit society chartered by the U.S.…
Nutrition and Weight Gain
The nutritional choices one makes may have more impact on health than any other single factor. It is also one of the few factors in pregnancy over which a woman has near-complete control. Good nutrition is the perfect target for…
The Postpartum Visit
The health care for your pregnancy which you began many months ago will end with a last postpartum visit to your doctor or midwife. The purpose of the visit is to assess your physical recovery, your beginning efforts at parenting,…
Health Care After Your Pregnancy
You should have the opportunity to stay in close contact with doctor or midwife in the week or two after the birth. Although most of the significant complications of labor and birth occur in the first few hours after birth,…
Your Body During the Puerperium, the Postpartum Period
The “puerperium” refers to both the period of time and the process that your body goes through after the birth of your baby. Technically, it begins with the delivery of the placenta. With the loss of that organ, so vital…
Intrauterine Growth Retardation
IUGR is a condition in which the fetus does not grow adequately. IUGR may be associated with diabetes, fetal infection, cigarette smoking, hypertension, drug abuse, toxemia, multiple gestation or may be due to reasons unknown. In any case, the fetus…
Multiple Gestation
Our society is intrigued with the idea of multiple gestation. Although twins and triplets rarely evoke much excitement in a time when quads, quints and even sextuplets seem commonplace, the world loves the thought of siblings who share the same…