The University of Vermont Medical Center HealthSource pregnancy blog is your leading source for pregnancy tips and information from industry experts. Read through a collection of pregnancy articles on a variety of subjects such as labor, birth, newborn health and more. The HealthSource pregnancy blog features an array of regular authors and contributors from the medical world including doctors, certified nurse midwives, nurse practitioners and other healthcare experts.
Another flu season is right around the corner. A seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to protect against it and any potentially serious complications. Immunity can take up to two weeks to develop after getting the vaccine, so getting your flu shot and helping to protect your friends, family and loved ones from seasonal […]
1. Vermont has one of the nation’s worst rates of smoking while pregnant. In a 2018 report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 15.5 percent of Vermont women smoked during pregnancy. The only states with higher rates were West Virginia (25.1 percent), Kentucky (18.4 percent) and Montana (16.5 percent). Missouri rounded out the […]
Preeclampsia is a condition in which a woman develops high blood pressure during the second half of pregnancy. It can be life-threatening for mother and baby and may necessitate early delivery. Preeclampsia: Diagnosis and treatment We diagnose preeclampsia when a woman with previously normal blood pressure develops high blood pressure. She also begins to pass protein […]
It’s National Infertility Awareness Week. How do you know when you need help getting pregnant? Couples who are trying to get pregnant but are not succeeding can be under tremendous stress. On average, 80 percent of heterosexual couples will become pregnant within a year of starting to try. So, if you’ve been trying for a […]
Last fall, my husband, stepson, and I found out that our family was growing. I was expecting a baby girl! I had a fairly easy pregnancy. I was able to keep up my normal activities, work, and stay active doing CrossFit. Despite the “new mom worries” and googling each and every little twinge or pregnancy […]
Family history gets a lot of emphasis in the medical world. The idea is that you can identify health risks and try to reduce them, either through changes in behavior or medical intervention. A lot of times, family histories are bland and don’t help much with medical care. But, there are some situations where family […]
In January of 2017, Anya Koutras, MD, packed her bags and traveled to Ddegaya, Uganda for the first time. Ddegaya is a rural town five hours south of Kampala, the capital of Uganda. In Ddegaya, Anya volunteered at Engeye, a non-profit health clinic for the surrounding rural community. First Day in Uganda On Anya Koutras’ […]
Trisomy Awareness Month takes place in March. What is trisomy? Our genes, which are coded for in DNA, contain the information that makes us who we are. In living cells, DNA is packaged into “chunks” called chromosomes. At the moment of conception, we inherit 23 chromosomes from our mother in the egg and 23 from […]
Have you heard of MTHFR testing? You probably will. Here’s the information you need to make an informed decision about it. What is MTHFR? According to the Internet, MTHFR is a gene responsible for everything from fatigue and impotence to vaccination reaction and autism. But, that’s not right. As a pediatric geneticist, I am here […]
Pregnancy and early parenthood are filled with intense changes that can bring both joy and stress. Research shows that mindfulness can boost our moods and reduce anxiety and depression. It can also improve concentration and memory, decrease heart disease and high blood pressure, and strengthen our immune systems. What is the difference between mindfulness and […]
