Pregnancy

Cross-posted from health.gov

An increasing number of pregnant women in the United States have chronic health conditions — such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease — that may put them at higher risk of pregnancy complications. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is working across its agencies to decrease these risks and improve the health of women across the country during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

“How could this happen to me?”

This is what one of my colleagues says her mother kept saying after she found out she had heart disease.

Content warning: Suicide

Suicide is a serious problem, and the rate of suicide among women is on the rise. People who consider suicide often feel like there is no hope, and they may often feel trapped or alone. We spoke with Dr. Danielle Johnson, Chief of Adult Psychiatry and Director of the Women’s Mental Health Program at Lindner Center of HOPE, to discuss suicide and what women should do if they’re having suicidal thoughts. She also talks about risk factors, warning signs, and how to support loved ones.

As an obstetrician-gynecologist, I have seen many women who struggle with mood changes after having a baby. There is a common belief that childbirth is a magical time for all mothers and that as soon as the baby is born, maternal feelings and knowledge magically appear. For many women, this may not be the case. Some women struggle with feeling anxious, sad, or like they are unable to care for their baby. They might even feel powerless to take care of themselves. Ella’s story is an example of the struggle some women experience.

We've all seen those pictures of the famous moms looking flawless while their babies are perfectly latched on, feeding away, neither one with a care in the world. They make it look so natural and easy. Well, here's the truth about breastfeeding: It's natural, but it's not always easy.

One of the first decisions all moms have to make is how they're going to feed their babies. For National Breastfeeding Month, we interviewed a mom who decided to breastfeed. Lauren Sogor is the proud mom of a 10-month-old girl. From the joys to the challenges, she shares her experiences breastfeeding and offers her tips for pumping at work.

Lauren Sogor works in health policy communications and lives in Virginia with her husband, their 10-month-old daughter, two rambunctious dogs, and a cat.

Our miracle baby Nia was once the tear streaming down her daddy's face as he sat alone in his car waiting for my D&C (dilation and curettage), a procedure that removed the remains of the sibling Nia will never know. She was once the words my pain-consumed heart uttered as I rocked on my knees asking for a miracle.

Our beautiful baby boy was born at 24 weeks. When my doctor said that he was out, I held my breath, waiting and praying to hear him cry. When he took his breath, I released mine. He was immediately rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Shortly after I returned to my room, one of the nurses came in and asked me for my cell phone. She took it and returned with pictures and a video. That video was the first time that I saw my son.

As a woman, a mother, and a doctor, I recognize that the ability to plan if and when to have children is essential to the well-being of all women. In the United States alone, more than 40% of pregnancies — 2.8 million each year — are unplanned. More alarmingly, the women with the fewest financial resources have the highest likelihood of having an unplanned pregnancy, and those women are the most likely to remain uninsured today.

Ed. note: This blog is cross-posted from the Huffingtonpost.com. The original post date was August 16, 2016. Read the original post.