Birth abnormalities due to fertility treatment

I have previously answered the question if fertility treatments work.

I think that there is some more information that should make you rethink assisted reproductive techniques (ART). A study by Jennita Reefhuis shows that kids born through IUI and IVF are 2-4 times more likely to have birth defects like heart problems, cleft lip, cleft palate and abnormalities in the esophagus or rectum.

Obviously there are several caveats but the major takeaway from this is to let Nature do its magic, try not to have a baby during advanced maternal age, and there are plenty of kids waiting to be adopted.

Weight loss surgery before pregnancy

As I have written previously, pregnancy for obese women is risky if they do get pregnant in the first place. It is widely believed that obesity can result in infertility.

Now a new study by Dr. Melinda Maggard says that women should undergo weight loss surgery before they try to become pregnant. Not only are they more likely to become pregnant, the pregnancy and childbirth will be less complicated, and the baby will be healthy.

Women who get pregnant after gastric bypass surgery tend to be healthier and less likely to deliver a baby with complications compared to obese women.

How did Salma Hayek lose weight after childbirth?

Salma Hayek has some honest tips for mothers hoping to lose weight childbirth.

It has traditionally been believed that a mom can lose weight much more easily if she starts breastfeeding after childbirth. According to Salma Hayek, however, "...the myth that says you lose all this weight when you breast-feed? That is sooo not true."

I know it sure does help your body work harder if you nurse, but if you continue to overeat, the weight will not go away. Even worse, you might even gain some.

In the end losing weight is all about maintaining a balance between calories consumed and used. So I am back to repeating that workout and low calorie diets are keys to losing weight.

How much wait should I gain during pregnancy?

It is important that a pregnant woman gain weight during pregnancy but pregnancy for obese women is different. They need to work very closely with their doctor to make sure that they don't gain too much weight.

Teresa Hillier, MD, senior investigator at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research has found that if a woman gains 40 lbs or more, it doubles the risk of having a baby that is more than 9 pounds. That generally means risks to health of both mother and child.

The rule of thumb is that just because you are pregnant it does not mean that you can binge or eat without counting your calories. Plus, while your exercise routine should change, you must still engage in proper exercise. This will also allow you to lose weight easily after childbirth.