20 Common Pregnancy Questions & AnswersWritten by Nisha Bunke, M.D.
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11. Is air travel safe during pregnancy? Air travel is thought to be safe until about 8 months of gestation. Pregnancy is a hypercoaguable state, which means that women who are pregnant are at a greater risk of developing blood clots. For this reason, pregnant women should take stretch breaks each hour when driving on long trips or flights. 12. Are over counter cold medications safe to take in pregnancy? Many over counter medications are not safe to use in pregnancy. Pregnant women should consult their health care provider before trying any over counter medication. 13. Can I use hair dye? It is generally recommended to avoid hair dye during first trimester. 14. Can I work during pregnancy? Work limitations are unique to individual and her job. Many healthy women choose to work throughout their entire pregnancy, until moment they go into labor. A woman should discuss her specific work limitations and special medical needs with her health care provider. General work restrictions include avoidance of heavy lifting, exposure to chemicals, prolonged standing and extremes of temperatures. 15. What birth defects are screened for in prenatal care? An ultrasound can assess abnormalities of spinal cord and organs like heart and kidneys. There are blood tests available to screen for neural tube defects and chromosomal disorders (like Down Syndrome). Women who are at an increased risk for chromosomal disorders may be offered amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling. Remember, that no test can guarantee that a baby will be born in perfect health. It is important that women who have a family history of congenital diseases disclose this information to their physician so that special care can be given to this matter. 16. Can I continue to have sex while I'm pregnant? Yes. However, if a woman has had vaginal bleeding, history of miscarriages, or other special situations, she may be advised to abstain from sex by her health care provider. A woman must take special care to protect her self from sexually transmitted diseases. Some sexually transmitted disease can cause birth defects in developing fetus. 17. Can I have an occasional glass of wine during pregnancy? It is recommended to avoid all alcoholic containing beverages, tobacco use and drug use throughout pregnancy. 18. What if I get chicken pox during pregnancy? A woman who has not developed immunity to chicken pox infection (caused by varicella virus) should consider becoming vaccinated before pregnancy. It is generally advised that she then wait one month before becoming pregnant after receiving vaccine. If a woman develops chicken pox during first trimester or early second trimester of her pregnancy, her fetus is at risk of developing congenital varicella syndrome. The risk of developing this syndrome is estimated to be 0.4% for infection during first 12 weeks of pregnancy and 2.0% for infection occurring 13-20 weeks of pregnancy. 19. How can I figure out my due date by using my last menstrual period? Go to www.askmd.org and click on box on left hand side named 'health calculators.' Browse pregnancy calculators. 20. Can I exercise during pregnancy? Yes, pregnant women should strive for 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day. Many women may need to modify their exercise routines to avoid uncomfortable positions and overheating. It is necessary to drink sufficient amounts of water to avoid dehydration
Dr. Bunke is a Resident Physician in Family Medicine. She is also the Health Content Editor at www.askmd.org, a comprehensive medical web site that offers free medical resources including health calculators, daily health news, medical term and abbreviation search, health information and more. AskMD.org is popular for its free 'ask a doctor' feature.
| | 5 Tips for Wearing WhiteWritten by Diana Pemberton-Sikes
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4.Think Twice About Wearing White Shoes White shoes scream "summer!" and are a popular choice for warm weather months. But since white shoes make your feet look bigger and can also visually "chop up" your leg and make you look shorter, they may not be best choice for your image goals. Look for shoe styles that elongate, or steer clear of white shoes entirely and opt for flesh-colored shoes instead. 5.Don't Wear White to a Wedding Unless you're bride or in bridal party, don't wear all-white to a wedding. While a white blouse worn under a different-colored garment is okay (like a pastel suit, for example) tradition still holds firm: white is reserved for bridal party. Don't try to compete with bride on her big day. Finally, if you don't like way white looks on you or if white just "isn't your color," try an off-white shade instead like ivory, eggshell, or oyster. Pure white looks good on only a fraction of population, so don't despair; try another shade instead. Wearing white is a great way to look chic, stay cool, and enjoy warm weather months. If you employ these tips when you dress, you can look calm, cool, and collected - even on hottest days.
Diana Pemberton-Sikes is a wardrobe and image consultant and author of "Wardrobe Magic," an ebook that shows women how to transform their unruly closets into workable, wearable wardrobes. Visit her online at www.fashionsavvy.com
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