The Benefits of Strength Training During Pregnancy

FRIDAY, Aug. 30, 2019 -- For most healthy women, exercise during pregnancy is as important as it is at all times of life. It brings benefits such as better overall health, preventing back pain and keeping you regular, which can be a challenge for some women.

While low-impact aerobic activities like walking are often emphasized, research has found a surprising benefit to working out in the weight room. It turns out that, beyond keeping muscles toned, strength training can ease the fatigue and low energy that affects so many women when they're expecting.

Why You Should Ask to Be Screened for Postpartum Depression

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 25, 2019 -- It's not uncommon for new moms to feel an emotional letdown shortly after baby is born. Though symptoms of these so-called "baby blues" can be wide-ranging, they last no more than two weeks and go away on their own.

Some Signs of the Baby Blues:

Acetaminophen in Pregnancy Might Raise Children's Odds of ADHD, Autism

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 30, 2019 -- Two-thirds of American women take acetaminophen for the aches and pains of pregnancy, but the medication might not be as benign as thought.

New research shows that women who took acetaminophen, best known as Tylenol, at the end of their pregnancies were much more likely to have child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism.

Only a Third of Pregnant Women Getting Vaccinations They Need

TUESDAY, Oct. 8, 2019 -- About two-thirds of pregnant women in the United States don't get vaccinated against both flu and whooping cough, putting them and their newborns at risk, a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

"Influenza and pertussis (or whooping cough) are serious infections that can be deadly for babies, especially those who are too young to be vaccinated directly," Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC, said in a news briefing on Tuesday.

AHA News: First-Time Pregnancy Complications Could Mean High Blood Pressure Later

MONDAY, Sept. 30, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Women who have complications during their first pregnancy are more likely to develop high blood pressure within seven years, according to new research.

The study, published Monday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, looked into whether problems during first pregnancies such as early deliveries, smaller-than-average babies, stillbirths and preeclampsia might lead to future cardiovascular issues such as high blood pressure.

Antidepressants Might Raise Odds for Serious Pregnancy Complication

TUESDAY, Oct. 1, 2019 -- Treating depression during pregnancy can be vital to the health of both mother and child, but new research suggests that taking antidepressants may make a woman more vulnerable to gestational diabetes.

Specifically, the drugs venlafaxine (Effexor) and amitriptyline (Endep) were associated with the highest risk, especially when taken for a long time.