Antidepressants and Pregnancy A Lethal Combination

14 Apr

Recovery from Mommy Makeover

The question has loomed for ages: Do antidepressants taken by pregnant woman increase the risk of stillborn pregnancies or infant mortality?

Experts have battled over the results for years. Some claim woman should not take such medications for fear it harms the baby. Others have question whether antidepressants are the sole factor of causing stillborn deaths or infant mortality.

Today, the debate may have ended.

A new study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association revealed that women who take a common type of antidepressant may not be the sole reasons for any increased risks of having a stillborn child or losing an infant early in life.

Researchers looked the medical records of 1.5 million newborns and their mothers in Norway, Denmark, Sweden and other Nordic countries. Results first appeared to indicate that woman taking the meds were more likely to deliver a stillborn child or lose it before its first birthday. The researchers, however, dug deeper.

They found that when a woman’s depression, smoking habits and age were factored into the results, the risks between woman who were taking the meds and woman who were not taking the meds were roughly the same.

Furthermore, the new study suggests that when it comes to infant mortality, experts need to explore more the effects of medication on the mom and the baby.

They need to examine the health of a maternal lifestyle, the severity of depression and more, which are key factors in stillborn and child mortality.

In fact, a woman who is not taking common antidepressants may be a more harmful infant caretaker than those who are on the antidepressants.

Only time will tell if this study ends the debate. But one thing is clear: if a woman is pregnant and taking antidepressants, they need to examine the health risks closely. Be cognizant of the potential fallout of taking certain medications and consult a medical professional before beginning any treatment.

Recovery from Mommy Makeover

14 Apr

Recovery from Mommy Makeover

Congratulations! You finally decided to spoil yourself and give yourself a treat at the plastic surgeon’s office in order to help you feel like you again. As a new (or old) mom that is used to spending all of her time taking care of other people, it is wonderful of you to prioritize your own self image and self esteem to look and feel refreshed and rejuvenated.

 Or perhaps your husband or another family member decided to spoil you with this type of surprise. Either way, we are happy you have your pre-mommy body back and hope you are recovering nicely from the procedure package that you enjoyed.

One of the most important things to keep in mind when recovering from a Mommy Makeover is the essential ingredient of adequate downtime while your body is repairing itself. Many moms don’t have the luxury of slowing down for very long, so it may be prudent to arrange for a little help around the house for a few days after your surgery. We understand that it is impossible for you to slow down completely. After all, if that were the case, you wouldn’t be in need of a pampering Mommy Makeover in the first place! However, your doctor has given specific instructions regarding how to spend your post-operative recovery time and it is important that you follow them closely.

Depending on the type of procedures you had done, heavy lifting may be off-limits for a little while. This includes children over a certain weight and definitely includes hoisting bicycles or gym bags or sports equipment in and out of the minivan. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Mothers are always the cornerstone to the stability of their families, but it’s okay to admit you can’t do it alone and ask for help once in awhile. Other family members such as brothers, aunts, grandmas, cousins, and definitely husbands may make themselves available to help you during your post-operative recovery period. It may be helpful to arrange a cooking or cleaning or driving schedule between family members beforehand to keep everything straight.

One of the biggest delays for post-operative healing and recovery that we see are moms that jump right back in where they left off before the surgery. It is important to realize that your body needs rest to recover and heal those incisions from the inside out. Depending on the type of Mommy Makeover package that you have chosen, we will be able to outline a specific plan to help you recover in a short period of time with a minimal amount of pain.

For more information about a mommy makeover, interested individuals should contact a local plastic surgeon.

Tagged With: pregnancy diet

13 Apr

The question has loomed for ages: Do antidepressants taken by pregnant woman increase the risk of stillborn pregnancies or infant mortality? Experts have battled over the results for years. Some claim woman should not take such medications for fear it harms the baby. Others have question whether antidepressants are the sole factor of causing stillborn …

Dieting After Pregnancy

For new mothers or women having their second or third child, it can be difficult to lose weight. During pregnancy, you gain at least 25 to 35 pounds of additional weight in order to provide the essential nutrients to feed the growing baby. Some women have been known to gain significant weight by eating unhealthy …