An Independent supplement by medIAplAnet to usA todAy Dress for two Banking on the future the do’s and don’ts of A different kind of maternity fashion insurance expecting parentsMarch 2012 FOllOw us OnOn FacebOOk and twitter tO win the baby brezza One step baby FOOd Maker and cOOkbOOk a new era of Ey parenthood nn E actress kaitlin Olson shares her story of pregnancy, parenthood, Photo: Patrick McElh Patrick Photo: and expecting for the second time around 2 · mArch 2012 An Independent supplement by medIAplAnet to usA todAy cHaLLenges every minute in the us 130 babies are born; 190,000 are born each day; and just over 4 million are born each year. Pregnancy—and parenthood—is an industry and event that makes the world go round. WE rEcoMMEMMEnDnD March for babies healthy babies are worth the wait planning for parenthood pAGe 10 s doctors special- ob-gyn about preconception care. lar prenatal visits thereafter. Your izing in women’s Planning for pregnancy before it doctor will monitor you and your ExPEcting ParEnts, sEconD EDition, March 2012 health, ob-gyns becomes reality provides you with baby, track your progress through- see our patients the opportunity to prepare your out your pregnancy, and treat any publisher: Becky Weinstein [email protected] through numer- body and minimize risk factors problems that may arise. He or business developer: Paul herron ous life stages, that could stand in the way of your she can counsel you on nutrition, [email protected] designer: ariela anelli from adolescence becoming pregnant. Your doc- healthy weight gain, and recom- [email protected] through menopause. Pregnancy is tor may suggest that you lose (or mended prenatal screenings. Managing director: luciana colapinto a [email protected] a significant milestone for many gain) weight to achieve a healthy Scheduled visits also provide editorial Manager: sara Quigley women and is often accompanied body mass index, and can help you with the opportunity to ask [email protected] by the most questions: Will I have you get existing health problems questions, address concerns, contributors: James n. martin, Jr., a healthy pregnancy? What will and unhealthy habits, such as and plan for your baby’s arrival. Mary ann georgantopoulos, Dr. JE Ellington, Frances Verter, amy tara labor be like? How will a baby affect diabetes, high blood pressure, and James n. Martin, Jr, Md At each prenatal visit, be sure to koch, Michael gunch, kenneth lyons my work, lifestyle, and finances? smoking, under control. You may president, the Amer ican congress of discuss any special concerns you Jones, March of Dimes, Juvenile obstetricians and Gynecologists (AcoG) Products Manufacturers association, When (exactly) can I eat sushi, also be advised to start an exer- might have, such as the available Joseph shamie hot dogs, and unpasteurized cise program, eat a healthier diet, types of pain relief during labor, tiP! distributed within: cheese again? and take a prenatal vitamin that the medical reasons for a cesarean Usa today, March 2012 contains folic acid—an essential prepare for your delivery or labor induction, or how this section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve Usa know the facts vitamin necessary for fetal brain pregnancy to recognize when you’re in labor. today or its Editorial Departments. Being informed is the best way to development. As partners in women’s get ready for your baby, ease your If you are planning to health, ob-gyns want all mind, and know what to expect stay connected become pregnant, it is women to have a healthy and from your body. Having a reliable Regardless of whether your a good idea to have a positive pregnancy experience. source to turn to for questions pregnancy was planned—or pre-conception care Schedule an appointment FolloW Us on FacEBook & tWittEr! and advice is of the utmost impor- unplanned, as nearly half of all checkup. today. Our door is open. facebook.com/Mediaplanetusa tance. Enter your trusted ob-gyn. pregnancies in the US are—early The first 8 weeks twitter.com/Mediaplanetusa The American College of Obste- prenatal care is key. You should of pregnancy are key mediaplanet’s business is to create new tricians and Gynecologists rec- see your doctor as soon as pos- for the baby growing customers for our advertisers by providing ommends that all women con- sible after discovering that you are inside you. James n. martin, Jr., acog readers with high quality editorial content that motivates them to act. sidering pregnancy talk to their pregnant and continue with regu- [email protected] 4 · mArch 2012 An Independent supplement by medIAplAnet to usA todAy news preventative advancements in prenatal care For the past generation, “MTHFR can reduce your abil- shown superiority to folic acid in can minimize complications. The folic acid has been the ity to break down folic acid any- reducing the risk of several preg- new folate has been helpful in the gold standard for prenatal where from 30-70 percent of the nancy complications. Several new synthesis of red blood cells in my care—thanks in large part intended amount,” explains Dr. prenatal products with L-meth- OB patients which can reduce the to the evidence surround- Kimberly Fillmore, MD, OB/GYN. ylfolate are now available with a risk of anemia.” ing the prevention of neural “Many scientific publications are prescription throughout the U.S. For general health and preg- tube defects in newborns. beginning to highlight MTHFR “Prenatals with the new nancy, many patients still ben- and connect it to many pregnancy L-methylfolate have a tremen- efit from using traditional folic “I see many patients with recur- complications including: neural Photo: IStoCKPhoto.CoM dous advantage over the type with acid. However, for many doctors rent pregnancy loss and infertil- tube defects, miscarriage, ane- just folic acid,” says Dr. Kristin and selective OB patients, the ity,” says Dr. Christopher Sipe, MD, mia, preterm birth, and low birth success without switching to the Kroeker, MD, OB/GYN. “I strongly advancements in better folate OB/GYN. “I’ve begun prescribing weight. Most prescription prena- more active form of folate.” encourage OB patients with a his- could mean all the difference. a vitamin with L-methylfolate to tal vitamins contain 1 milligram There are now some prenatal tory of pregnancy problems to reduce concerns around homo- of folic acid. Historically, doctors vitamins that contain a more switch to this new approach. For cysteine and MTHFR polymor- have tried adding extra folic acid “active” form of folic acid, known moms starting a family at an older michael gunch phism issues. but not all patients are achieving as L-methylfolate, which have age, using active L-methylfolate [email protected] An Independent supplement by medIAplAnet to usA todAy mArch 2012 · 5 insigHtt Medications, pregnancy and you ■ why is it important for an It’s important to know which choices for her own health they might be eligible for, or expecting mom to consult an medications are okay to take and that of her baby. Being “being an informed women can look at registries expert about medications and and which should be avoided. an informed mother-to-be is mother-to-be is listed on the FDA “Pregnancy other exposures during If a woman and her doc - the best route to a healthy the best route to a Registries” page at fda.gov. pregnancy? tor know the most up-to-date baby. information on the medica- healthy baby.” Kenneth Lyons Jones, MD, When approached by moms of tions for her condition and ■ why should a pregnant tion can be used safely in preg- is a pediatrician and professor children with birth defects, I their effects on her developing woman consider participat- nancy. One of the only ways of at the University of California, often get the question, “What baby, they can make the best ing in a pregnancy registry? conducting research on these San Diego. could I have done differently choice for both mother and All new medications are tested medications is through vol - to possibly avoid this?” Some baby. in volunteers (clinical trials) unteer–based studies usually things that might affect the It’s best to talk to your doc - before they are approved by the called pregnancy registries. health of her baby, like fam - tor immediately or seek out FDA; however, we cannot test Pregnancy registries rely on ily history, a mother cannot information from specialists these medications in pregnant pregnant women to enroll, change. However, there are in the field who can go over women. This means that for answer questions about their other things a mother does all the things that a woman most new drugs (and for many pregnancy, and to report on the have some control over, like the is taking, doing, or exposed older ones), we simply do not health of their baby after birth. medications she might need to, and help guide her and have any research data to tell Women can ask their doctor Kenneth lyons Jones to take during her pregnancy. her doctor to make the best us whether or not a medica - about any pregnancy registries [email protected] PREGNANT? BREASTFEEDING? YOU HAVE QUESTIONS... WE HAVE ANSWERS. Should I be worried about taking my inhaler during pregnancy? I recently got the HPV vaccine and didn’t realize I was pregnant. Will this affect my pregnancy? How might my asthma be Call toll-free today affecting my baby in the (877) 311-8972 womb? 6 · mArch 2012 An Independent supplement by medIAplAnet to usA todAyAy inspiratiOn “you owe it to your baby to make sure MUst rEaD tiPs! his mom and baby Making 101 dad are strong On any given day, about 11 mil- and happy.” lion American couples are try- ing to conceive a child.