What You Need to Know About Home Births

Posted on May 13, 2013 by admin

The day your baby is born is hands-down one of the most important of your life. You’ll of course give major thought to everything that happens that day, from who’s in the room to where you deliver—in a hospital or at home. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently published a policy statement with guidelines for the care of infants in home births.

Planned home births are uncommon—they comprise less than one percent of all births in the United States—but the amount of women choosing them has grown in recent years. In 2011, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released a committee opinion saying that while they believe that the safest place for a baby to be born is in a hospital or birthing center, they respect whatever medically informed decision a woman makes about where she gives birth. And the AAP echoes that ACOG opinion in their new statement. “Based on current evidence, we think that hospitals and birthing centers are safest for baby for being born,” explains Kristi Watterberg, MD, the lead author of the statement and a neonatologist and professor of pediatrics at the University of New Mexico. “But we recognize the right of the mom to make that choice. There are lots of reasons people might want to have a home birth, and those have validity, as well.”

In the AAP statement, the authors outline planned home birth recommendations for healthcare providers. These include making sure there are at least two people at the delivery—one whose main responsibility is caring for the baby and who has the skills and training to resuscitate the baby if that becomes necessary—and making sure that the phone is working and an arrangement has been made with a nearby hospital in case there’s an emergency. Many things must also be done for the baby once he or she is born, such as a detailed physical exam, several screenings, and Vitamin K injection. The AAP also agrees with ACOG when they say that moms should choose a midwife only from those who are certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board. Find the complete list of recommendations here.

Trying to figure out what the best plan is for you and your family? Watterberg advises all first-time moms (even ones who have already decided) to schedule a prenatal visit with their anticipated maternity care providers. “I think it’s really important to talk to your obstetrician, midwife, pediatrician about what you would like, why you would like it, and what your concerns are,” says Watterberg. Ask about the risks and benefits, in their view, of their approach.

And if you are thinking about giving birth at home, discuss whether or not you’re a good candidate with your healthcare provider. That includes being at term, not having any pre-existing medical conditions that put you at higher risk (like diabetes or high blood pressure), and having a baby that’s in vertex position (not breech) and not too big or too small. “You should have all of those things that make what would look to be a normal, happy, healthy delivery for both mom and baby before you decide to try an at home delivery,” says Watterberg.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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The Health Marker You Need to Know

Posted on April 26, 2013 by admin

A high heart rate on the treadmill is a good thing. But when you’re sitting on the couch? Not so much. People with high resting heart rates may face an increased risk of mortality, according to a new study published in the journal Heart.

Researchers started tracking the health of 6,125 men in 1971, but when they followed up in 2001, only 2,798 of the men were still alive. While the specific causes of death were unknown, researchers looked at the participants’ resting heart rates and found that, for every additional 10-22 beats per minute, mortality increased by 16 percent.

Even when physical activity level was controlled for, researchers determined that a high resting heart rate is an independent mortality factor.

To measure your resting heart rate, simply take your index and middle fingers and place them between your neck and jaw or the inside of your wrist. For 15 seconds, count the beats you feel and then multiply that number by four to get your resting beats per minute.

A normal resting heart rate is anywhere between 60-100 beats per minute, but don’t panic if you’re at the high end of the range; adopting a healthier diet or an exercise routine can help you lower it, says lead study author Magnus Jensen, MD.

If your resting heart rate is greater than 100 beats per minute, visit a doctor to figure out what may be causing the issue and what you should do to lower it, stat.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More From Women’s Health:
The Truth About Your Heart Health
Heart Rate Monitors
Heart Health: The Mechanics

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Why You Need to Have More Sex

Posted on April 25, 2013 by admin

When it comes to sex, the more, the merrier—no really: People are happier when they’re having more sex, according to recent research out of the University of Colorado Boulder.

To reach that conclusion, lead researcher Tim Wadsworth, PhD, an associate professor of sociology at the University of Colorado Boulder, looked at data from the national and biennial General Social Survey. He analyzed responses from 15,386 people who were surveyed about their happiness levels and sexual frequency. The findings: As that frequency increased, so did the respondents’ happiness levels. (Sounds about right!) There is a catch, though: When Wadsworth examined respondents’ sexual frequency in comparison to that of the people in their peer groups, he found that people who were having less sex than their peers reported being less happy.

That’s consistent with previous research on social comparison and income, says Wadsworth: “If I had a lot of income but there was nobody else around me, there’s no marker for me to know whether I’m rich or poor,” he says—and the same principle applies to sex: “If other people are having more sex than you are, it makes your own sex life feel less satisfying.”

The takeaway: Regardless of how much you (or your girlfriends) are getting it on right now, you’ll be happier if you spend more time in the bedroom. These tips will help you make the most of it:

Make Time for Sex

Mind-Blowing Sex Tips

The Best Time to Have Sex

Have Better Orgasms

Better Sex Positions: Twists That Will Make You Shout

Same Guy, Better Sex

photo: Eyecandy Images/Thinkstock

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Good News: You Don’t Need to Find a Husband in College

Posted on April 3, 2013 by admin

Within hours of when her letter to the editor went live on the website of The Daily Princetonian, Princeton University’s student newspaper, Susan A. Patton knew she had hit a nerve.

blockquote

“TKquote,” says Patton, who spoke with Women’s Health yesterday. Soon afterward, the site crashed altogether, presumably from the influx of traffic generated by Patton’s letter.

For what it’s worth, Patton stands by the message expressed in her letter—in spite of the intense public ire it’s received.

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Do You Really Need Antibiotics For That?

Posted on March 29, 2013 by admin

You pop vitamin C tablets and chug orange juice when you feel a cold coming on—so what’s the big deal if your doctor prescribes antibiotics to stop a sniffle, cough, or sneeze from getting worse? Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way. In fact, most of the preventative antibiotics prescribed for colds or viruses aren’t necessary—and therefore aren’t beneficial to people who take them, according to an observational study recently published in the journal Annals of Family Medicine.

In the study, researchers reviewed the medical records of 814,283 patients who suffered from a cold, laryngitis, bronchitis, or another virus (the medical term to describe these: acute nonspecific respiratory infections, aka ARIs). Even though antibiotics are designed to treat bacterial infections and have no effect on ARIs, 65 percent of the patients in the study were prescribed antibiotics to protect the patient in the event of a misdiagnosis and/or to prevent the virus from turning into something more serious, like pneumonia.

Hardly any of the pill-poppers suffered side effects from the antibiotics, and they were slightly less likely to develop pneumonia. However, only one case of pneumonia was prevented for every 12,255 patients who took antibiotics. That’s a whole lot of unnecessary prescriptions that experts say could have scary long-term consequences.

“The more antibiotics people take, the faster the bacteria in and around us develop resistance,” says study co-author Sharon Meropol, MD, PhD, assistant professor of epidemiology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Translation: When you get sick in the future, there may not be any antibiotics available that work.

That doesn’t mean you should swear off antibiotics altogether; the meds can reduce the time it takes to recover from a serious bacterial infection, says Robert Klein, MD, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at St. Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospitals.

If your doctor recommends antibiotics, it’s generally a good idea to ask if why—and if they’re really necessary, says Klein. If they are, make sure to follow your doctor’s instructions for taking the antibiotics to the letter to maximize effectiveness. Your health—both current and future—could depend on it.

photo: BrandXPictures/Thinkstock

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Why You Really Need to Stop Ranting

Posted on March 21, 2013 by admin

Next time you’re seething, take a deep breath… and step away from the keyboard. Online venting is all the rage right now (see: forums designed specifically for complaining, like JustRage.com and NotAlwaysRight.com). Too bad that both reading rant sites and posting on them can bring on negative mood shifts, according to researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

To get a better understanding of people’s mindsets when they visit rant sites (on which people can anonymously vent about any topic they’d like) researchers conducted two studies. For the first one, they surveyed 32 users about their anger, their visitation habits, why they read other people’s rants, and how ranting made them feel. “We found that people tend to rant because it makes them feel relaxed right after they do it,” says Ryan C. Martin, PhD, the lead author of the study and chair of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Psychology department.

For the second study, 91 undergraduate students read other people’s rants and explained how they felt afterward. They then wrote their own rants and reported back again. No surprise, the participants felt sadder after reading the rants. After writing them, they also felt less happy—as well as angrier.

Here’s the thing about ranting: Despite the initial sense of relief you get afterward, separate research shows that venting causes more anger and aggression in the long-term. In fact, anything done with the intent of blowing off steam—whether it’s writing a passive-aggressive email or mentally venting during a run—is counterproductive. Why? It prolongs the amount of time you spend focusing on negative feelings, says Martin.

Here’s what you can do instead of going on a complaining bender: Brainstorm possible moves that would actually address what has you so upset, suggests Raymond Chip Tafrate, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author of Anger Management for Everyone: Seven Proven Ways to Control Anger and Live a Happier Life. For example, if you come home to find your roommate has left a pile of dishes in the sink—again—you could call up your sister to gripe. Or you could knock on your roommate’s door and ask if she’d mind washing the pots and pans so you can use them to make dinner. “Anger can be a useful thing,” says Tafrate. “It can energize you to take action.”

photo: Brand X Pictures/Thinkstock

More From Women’s Health:
Fight Right
How to Deal With Road Rage
Positive Anger

What’s the 15-Minute Fat Loss Secret? Find out here!

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Need a Brain Boost? Try This

Posted on March 18, 2013 by admin

It’s 4 p.m., and you’ve still got a ton to tackle on your to-do list—but zero motivation to do it. No need to chug a triple-jolt espresso; the solution may be as simple as pulling out a stick of gum. A recent study published in the British Journal of Psychology finds that chewing gum improves cognitive performance.

For the study, researchers divided 38 participants into a gum-chewing group and a control group. Both groups listened to a recording of numbers being read aloud in a seemingly random manner and were told to look for a pattern. The people who chewed gum had quicker reaction times and were more accurate in discovering patterns than the people who didn’t chew gum.

Why the difference? “Brain imaging suggests improved flow of oxygenated blood to the brain, which may cause the increase in concentration,” says Christopher Miles, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Cardiff and one of the authors of the study. Another reason chewing gum may help: It gives your brain something to, well, chew on. “The stimulus of chewing gum causes a spike in dopamine, which is a chemical that helps the brain focus,” says John Medina, PhD, director of the Brain Center for Applied Learning Research at Seattle Pacific University and author of Brain Rules.

And it’s not only gum that can produce that effect. The next time you need some help overcoming a mid-afternoon slump, try one of these out-of-the-box (but research-proven) tricks:

Change locations
Moving your laptop from your cubicle to the conference room could give you all the motivation you need to pound out that project: “The brain responds positively to novelty,” says Medina. “When it encounters something new, it will produce the dopamine surge that can translate into increased cognitive functioning.” If you’re not allowed to ditch your desk for a few hours, something like a quick gossip session with a coworker or even switching to pen and paper for a while should also do the trick.

Visit cuteoverload.com
Researchers in Japan found that images of baby animals significantly improved cognitive performance. Similar studies have also found that watching humorous videos can restore willpower and help you get back on track.

Pop a mint
Research has found that peppermint and cinnamon scents can increase alertness and mental performance. Applying some peppermint-scented hand cream also works, or you could just buy a small bottle of essential oil and keep it on-hand so you can take a whiff when your mind starts wandering.

Take a hike (or at least a walk around the parking lot)
Cognitive performance improves while walking, according to research. Dealing with a bang-your-head-against-the-desk problem at work? Take a break and head outside—by the time you’ve taken a few laps around the block, you may have come up with the answer that eluded you while you were sitting at your desk.

Hit the gym
The above tricks have a short-term effect, but exercise can actually enhance your concentration abilities for the long-haul (plus, recent research shows that quick bouts of physical activity can improve your self-control). “A total of 150 minutes a week of aerobic exercise is the minimum required for a sustained change,” says Medina.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

What’s the 15-Minute Fat Loss Secret? Find out here!

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If You Need an Excuse to Have Some Wine…

Posted on March 4, 2013 by admin

Whether you have a habit of blasting Beyonce through your headphones or you spent too many nights at noisy clubs in your teens, this health news will be music to your (slightly damaged) ears: Resveratrol (an extract found in red wine) can reduce noise-related hearing loss by about 50 percent, according to a new study in the journal Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery.

In an animal study, researchers gave rats either a placebo or various amounts of resveratrol (43 micrograms, 430 micrograms, or 4300 micrograms) and then exposed them to noise for 24 hours. Though the placebo group and the group with the least amount of resveratrol fared about the same, researchers saw that the other two groups had a significant reduction in noise-induced hearing loss. In fact, it lessened hearing loss by about half!

So will guzzling a few glasses of wine before heading out to a super-loud concert make your ears invincible? Not exactly. The research showed that resveratrol reduced free radicals and bioinflammation (a precursor to many health issues, including hearing loss), which creates a protective effect against the noise, says lead study author Michael Seidman, MD, director of the Division of Otologic/Neurotologic Surgery at the Henry Ford Hospital. Unfortunately, you’d need to drink a lot of wine to see immediate and major protection, says Seidman, and at that point the negative impact (like, say, getting drunk and making yourself sick) outweighs any potential benefits. That being said, a glass or two of red will add a tiny bit of protection in the short-term that a few cups of beer can’t provide. Regardless, be sure to pack a pair of earplugs if you’re heading to a loud concert, since hearing loss is permanent—no matter how much wine you drink.

Something else to consider: Even if you’re not a fan of noise, amping up your resveratrol intake will give you a ton of additional long-term health benefits. Not only will it help keep your hearing intact, but it also limits bioinflammation, which is responsible for Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart attacks, and other health issues.

In addition to drinking more merlot—guilt free—you can also boost your intake of resveratrol with foods like peanuts, grapes, and blueberries. But if you’re sold on the idea of toasting to good hearing, get more wine inspiration, here:

Wine Tips From the Experts

Best Boxed Wines

Wine Tips to Know

Wine Terms to Know

What Wine Experts Drink: The 6 Best Summer Wines

photo: iStockPhoto/Thinkstock

More from Women’s Health:
Drinking Alcohol to Shrink?
6 Steps to Avoid a Hangover
Cheap Wine Choices

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Why You Need a Rival

Posted on February 27, 2013 by admin

There’s a reason they call it healthy competition: Hearing discouraging feedback from someone you view as a competitor can fuel you to perform better, according to a new study soon to be published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

You’ve surely noticed that a harsh critique can screw with your performance, but new research shows that it doesn’t have to—just follow it up with supportive words from a friend.

To come to this conclusion, researchers blindfolded 40 participants, had them play a game of darts, and told them they had performed horribly (regardless of how they actually did). Each test subject then received feedback from someone wearing a college logo sweatshirt from either their school or a rival school. The researchers found that people who received negative feedback from a rival, followed by positive feedback from a team member (so to speak) saw boosts in both motivation and performance. Essentially, they heard a competitor tell them they blew it, then received a pep talk from someone they trusted. The researchers tested out tons of different feedback variations, but this was the only combination that helped people snap out of a downward spiral in performance.

In a second study, researchers repeated the experiment and asked participants what was going through their heads. “People were saying, ‘I was really trying to prove the outgroup [the rivals] wrong and the ingroup [the team members] right,’” says lead study author Timothy Rees, Ph.D., senior lecturer at the University of Exeter. “Those were the ones who managed to boost their performance.”

Unless you’re into intramural sports, you probably won’t be dealing with actual trash talk. But having an opponent can help you in other ways, too. Here’s why it can sometimes pay off:

They can light a fire under you
Whether you’re dealing with a coworker or a passive-aggressive friend, it’s hard not to get swept up in a competitive streak and go all Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey. But you don’t have to get down on yourself in response to their negativity toward you. Instead, look at it as an opportunity to challenge their beliefs by doing whatever’s necessary to show them up, says clinical psychologist Andrea Bonior, PhD, author of The Friendship Fix. So the next time that scene-stealer in your fitness class suggests you grab the light weights, resist the urge to fire back an insult and focus your energy on your workout instead. You’ll be motivated to work even harder, and rocking your fitness routine will feel way better than telling her off anyway.

They point out areas where you need to improve
It’s tempting to completely dismiss criticism from a rival, but experts say there may be a reason to listen—at least to some of it. “Most criticism you receive is going to have a kernel of truth in it,” Bonior says. “A lot of times we want to completely tune them out, but every now and then they have a valid point, and if we dismiss that we’re losing out on an opportunity to grow.” Her advice: Break apart negative feedback to see if there’s some truth to it. For instance, if a frenemy makes a comment about how you always flake on weekend plans, ask yourself if you might actually have a problem with reliability. You may end up with valuable feedback that your friends are too nice to bring up with you.

They can boost bonding within your group
The “us-versus-them” mentality seen in the study isn’t just found in experiments—it can crop up in everyday situations, too. Whether you’re faced with a competing company or rival fans at a football game, the presence of an outsider (and their trash talking) can boost loyalty to your own group. “Having a common ‘enemy’ often unites a group and helps with cohesiveness,” Bonior says. “People feel like they are joined in a common goal, which always helps with motivation to work together.” So the next time you and your friends need a night of bonding, try the nearest bar trivia night for a boost.

photo: Hemera/Thinkstock

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6 Things You Need to Know About the Morning-After Pill

Posted on February 20, 2013 by admin

Whether you suffered from a condom mishap or a total lapse in judgment, having a backup plan is key when it comes to preventing unwanted pregnancy. And research shows that more women are taking advantage of that backup: Emergency contraception use rose from 4.2 percent of sexually-active women in the U.S. in 2002 to 11 percent in 2006-2010, according to a recent CDC report.

Plus, that number has probably continued to rise in the last few years, says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., clinical professor at Yale University School of Medicine. “It’s wonderful for women to know that [emergency contraception] is out there and available to them, because we know accidents happen,” says Minkin. “But we also hope that people continue to use reliable contraception all the time.”

But about those accidents: Post-unprotected sex, your mind may be a total, anxious blur. So knowing a few key facts about your options before you need them will save you a ton of stress later on. Here, the six most important things to know about the morning-after pill:

There Is More Than One Option
You’ve probably heard of the most common pills on the market, Plan B and Plan B One-Step (the one-pill dose), which is available over-the-counter for women 17 and older. It’s a progestin-only pill that is effective at preventing pregnancy up to 72 hours after unprotected sex and works mainly by inhibiting ovulation. But there’s another med you should know about: Ella is a newer form of emergency contraception that can be taken up to five days after your oops moment, though it’s only available with a prescription. It also works by stopping or delaying ovulation, but it carries the same effectiveness for five days, says Minkin, rather than just 72 hours.

It Doesn’t Just Come in Pill Form
But the most foolproof method actually isn’t a pill at all—inserting a copper IUD up to five days after unprotected sex can also prevent pregnancy. “By far, the most effective emergency contraception is the insertion of a copper IUD,” says James Trussell, Ph.D., faculty associate at the Office of Population Research at Princeton University. Since this would include a doctor’s visit, a (potentially painful) insertion procedure, and a hefty upfront cost, it may not be viable option for women who weren’t already considering an IUD. This might be why the FDA doesn’t list the IUD as an approved method of emergency contraception. However, if you’re looking for a reliable birth control method anyway, this might be the time to talk to your doctor about the option.

You Have (a Little) Time
While 72 hours may sound like a long time—not to mention the five days you get with Ella—that doesn’t mean you should put off your trip to the drugstore. “You may have three days, but the sooner you take it, the better. If you can get to the pharmacy immediately, you should,” says Minkin. However, if you know you won’t make the 72-hour mark, you may want to call your doctor for a prescription for Ella to buy yourself some time.

The Pharmacist Could Shut You Down
This may sound crazy, but several states have laws that allow pharmacies or individual pharmacists to refuse to sell you emergency contraception, according to the Guttmacher Institute. “If this happens, they are supposed to direct you to someone who can get it for you,” says Minkin. Save yourself the trouble and call ahead. Dial up your nearest pharmacy (and a backup) to confirm that they have the pill in stock and that they have no qualms about dispensing it. If you’re having trouble locating a pharmacy with EC, call your local Planned Parenthood for help.

Your Period May Be Different
Don’t be shocked if your flow is a little off during the month that you take EC. Your period may be earlier, later or heavier than normal as a result of the medication, though it can also change due to stress (and who wouldn’t be anxious after a birth control failure!). However, if your cycle is more than a few days late, you may want to take a pregnancy test. “Emergency contraception isn’t 100 percent effective, but it’s better than nothing,” says Minkin.

It Shouldn’t Replace Birth Control
There’s a reason why this isn’t called Plan A—it’s not meant to be used as your regular birth control method. Instead, think of it like your emergency credit card: You’re not going to use it every day, but you might need to whip it out after a major slip-up. “It’s not dangerous to your health to take it several times, but there are a lot of great contraceptive methods out there,” says Minkin. “I do not recommend this for regular contraception, and I’m always encouraging people to use condoms no matter what.” That said, mistakes happen. And like your emergency plastic, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to keep one on hand in case of emergencies.

photo: Comstock/Thinkstock

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Tag Archives: Need

What You Need to Know About Home Births

The Health Marker You Need to Know

Why You Need to Have More Sex

Good News: You Don’t Need to Find a Husband in College

Do You Really Need Antibiotics For That?

Why You Really Need to Stop Ranting

Need a Brain Boost? Try This

If You Need an Excuse to Have Some Wine…

Why You Need a Rival

6 Things You Need to Know About the Morning-After Pill