Posts Tagged ‘pregnant’

A new mobile information service announced today aims to provide any mother-to-be (who has a cell phone) with free text messages that will guide her throughout pregnancy and until her child’s first birthday. The service, called Text4baby, was announced in conjunction with all major US wireless carriers and is currently operational. Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY (or BEBE for Spanish) to 511411 will receive free SMS text messages each week, timed to their due date or baby’s date of birth. The text4baby messages are not personalized, but the information in each message is relevant to the mother’s pregnancy timeline or the age of her child. The content will include a comprehensive variety of topics from the CDC and the Health Resources and Services Administration, including tips on immunizations, nutrition, prenatal care, emotional well being, drugs and alcohol, labor and delivery, breastfeeding, mental health, birth defects prevention, car seat safety, exercise and fitness, developmental milestones, family violence, and more. [via Text4baby.org]

Share your comments here.

Tweet This Share on Facebook

Historically, pregnant women have been one of the groups least likely to get the flu vaccine for a variety of reasons. Not surprisingly, their reluctance to take any medication during pregnancy is one of the reasons for the low vaccination rates. Additionally, the majority of obstetricians do not routinely vaccinate their patients due to costs involved and that it’s not part of routine obstetrician training. Therefore, the CDC and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology are urging obstetricians to partner with hospitals or drugstores to guarantee their patients a place to get the flu shot. A vaccine is a two-for-one deal during pregnancy. It can protect both mom and baby because the flu-fighting antibodies made by mom will cross the placenta to the fetus and can help protect the baby during its first few months of life. This is why health officials are working on increasing the number of vaccinated pregnant women this year, especially since pregnant women make up 6% of H1N1-confirmed deaths even though they account for only 1% of the population. [via NBC News]

Share your comments here.

Tweet This Share on Facebook

Whether you know it or not, our nation’s health care system is gearing up for a fight with the H1N1 flu this fall. Health officials estimate that as students return to school, the number of infections could increase by ten-fold every two weeks. This has led authorities to expedite vaccine research and production. Right now, the target date for vaccine distribution is mid-October. However, the vaccine is still under testing. For example, it is as yet unclear what the exact dosage should be. Some experts, including Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, believe that in order to prevent infections from skyrocketing the vaccine should get the go ahead and be used even though full testing is not completed. Just as many experts say we should not risk using the vaccine without full and proper testing. What is agreed upon are who should get the first doses of the vaccine – namely, high risk groups that include pregnant women, health care and emergency personnel, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months, people 6 months to 24 years old, and people age 25 to 64 who are at high risk due to chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems. [via ABC News]

Share your comments here.

Tweet This Share on Facebook

Flu season is here again, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is reminding pregnant women to get their annual flu vaccine because pregnant women have higher rates of illness and death from the flu. If you’ve previously had severe reactions to flu vaccines, an allergy to eggs (flu vaccines are made from chicken eggs), developed Guillan-Barre Syndrome within 6 weeks of receiving the flu vaccine, or currently have a fever, you should speak to a physician prior to receiving the vaccine. What’s your perspective on vaccinations? Share your opinion. Read more.

Tweet This Share on Facebook