Everyday Problems

Migraines During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Migraines affect up to 17% of women of childbearing age. These headaches are usually one sided and are likely to have a pulsatile or throbbing quality. Accompanying features may include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound. Stress, weather, hunger, menstrual periods, sleep disturbances, light, birth control pills, and certain types of foods can be contributing factors. Migraine headaches are thought to have a multifactorial etiology, and only familial hemiplegic migraines have an established genetic basis.1

Dental Care in Pregnancy

Dental care is extremely important during pregnancy. Pregnant women have elevated levels of estrogen and progesterone. These hormones cause the gums to be more sensitive to the bacteria that is found in plaque and can lead to a condition known as “pregnancy gingivitis”. Some of the symptoms of gingivitis include red, swollen, and bleeding gums. To avoid the buildup of plaque, it is important to brush teeth at least twice a day and floss before going to bed.

Depression

Psychiatric Conditions Surrounding Pregnancy

For most women, pregnancy is generally considered a period of emotional well-being for the woman and her family. However, many women suffer from an increased vulnerability to psychiatric conditions during pregnancy and after delivery.

Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding There has recently been a lot of discussion in the news about the potential hazards of taking antidepressants while pregnant. Some researchers are concerned that they increase the risk of birth defects.
Bright Light Therapy for Depression Some people dread the change of seasons. Shorter, darker days mean fatigue, oversleeping, too many carbs, and having a general sense of malaise: a pattern known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Fortunately, safe treatments for pregnant and breastfeeding women are available.

All Diseases and Conditions articles

  • Migraines During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

    Migraines affect up to 17% of women of childbearing age. These headaches are usually one sided and are likely to have a pulsatile or throbbing quality. Accompanying features may include nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light or sound. Stress, weather, hunger, menstrual periods, sleep disturbances, light, birth control pills, and certain types of foods can be contributing factors. Migraine headaches are thought to have a multifactorial etiology, and only familial hemiplegic migraines have an established genetic basis.1

  • MRSA and Your Baby

    Staphylococcus aureus is a bacterium that can cause severe sepsis.1 Therefore, knowing whether a patient is colonized by Staph is important. Colonization is having the bacteria in the body at a certain site.

  • Psychiatric Conditions Surrounding Pregnancy

    For most women, pregnancy is generally considered a period of emotional well-being for the woman and her family. However, many women suffer from an increased vulnerability to psychiatric conditions during pregnancy and after delivery.

  • Malaria

    Although malaria is not endemic to the US, many US travelers are affected by this illness when traveling to places such as sub-Saharan Africa and Central and South America. Malaria has been shown to cause maternal anemia, premature birth, and low birth weight in affected infants. (1, 2) Data collected from clinical trials shows that sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine is a safe drug to use in preventing malaria among pregnant women. (2) Further, HIV infected mothers need more than two doses to provide the same protective effect as that observed for non-HIV positive women. (2)

  • Hypothyroidism and Pregnancy

    Thyroid diseases are among the most common endocrine disorders encountered during pregnancy. An overall incidence including overt and subclinical hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) during pregnancy is about 2.5 percent.1 When dietary iodine supplementation is adequate (as in the United States), the most common cause of hypothyroidism during pregnancy is chronic autoimmune (Hashimoto’s) thyroiditis. In iodine deficient areas, iodine deficiency itself is associated with hypothyroidism and goiter.

  • Hyperthyroidism in Pregnancy

    Thyroid diseases are among the most common endocrine disorders encountered during pregnancy. The prevalence of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) during pregnancy ranges from 0.05 to 0.2%. The most common causes of hyperthyroidism during pregnancy are Graves’ diseaseand hCG-mediated hyperthyroidism such as gestational transient hyperthyroidism, hyperemesis gravidarum (intractable nausea and vomiting), and gestational trophoblastic disease. Other causes of hyperthyroidism include toxic adenoma, subacute thyroiditis, and induced thyroxine overdose.1, 2

  • High Blood Pressure in Pregnant Women

    Preeclampsia is a serious condition that is a leading cause of maternal death worldwide and occurs in around 7.5% of all pregnancies. Preeclampsia is defined as the new onset of hypertension and either proteinuria or end-organ dysfunction after 20 weeks of gestation in a previously normotensive woman. The blood pressure of more than 140/90 mmHg and more than 300 mg protein in 24-hour urine meet the criteria. The pathophysiology of preeclampsia involves abnormal formation or placement of the placenta and defective growth of placental blood vessels.

  • Gestational Diabetes

    Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as the state of carbohydrate (glucose) intolerance that has its onset or first recognition during late pregnancy and has many similarities to non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

  • E. coli Infections E. coli is a fairly well known bacterium. E. coli is a fairly well known bacterium. A particularly nasty strain, known as E. coli O157:H7, attacks the kidneys and can cause very severe disease. The question is, can women safely breastfeed if they have the disease?
  • Breastfeeding Reduces Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the body’s ability to metabolize sugar, specifically glucose. Several studies have suggested that breastfeeding may protect against type 2 diabetes.
  • Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding There has recently been a lot of discussion in the news about the potential hazards of taking antidepressants while pregnant. Some researchers are concerned that they increase the risk of birth defects.
  • Non-Drug Treatments for Depression Sarah has had depression on and off throughout most of her adult life. She finally found an antidepressant that worked for her. But now she’s pregnant and she’s been hearing all the awful things about antidepressants during pregnancy.
  • Bright Light Therapy for Depression Some people dread the change of seasons. Shorter, darker days mean fatigue, oversleeping, too many carbs, and having a general sense of malaise: a pattern known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Fortunately, safe treatments for pregnant and breastfeeding women are available.
  • Making Peace with Your Birth Experience Every birth is unique. And for some, a birth experience can be deeply troubling. After giving birth, many women share a sense of disappointment, anger or fear.
  • Nighttime Breastfeeding and Depression There is a movement afoot in childbirth education and perinatal health urging mothers to avoid nighttime breastfeeding to decrease their risk for postpartum depression. We know that if mothers follow this advice, it will have a negative impact on breastfeeding. But let’s put that issue aside for the moment and consider whether avoiding nighttime breastfeeding will preserve women’s mental health by allowing them to get more sleep. In short, is this good advice?