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Does Mama Obama's Chitchat Help You Understand Better?
Though she may be a tad biased on the subject of healthcare reform, First Lady Michelle Obama is taking the opportunity to speak out to women and mothers on the hot topic. While most Americans are aware of the legislation being introduced, many still have questions when it comes to the facts behind it. In her small-screen reachout to other mothers and female Americans, first mom Obama gives real-life examples of existing health care and the possibility of what the future holds with her husband's proposed plan.
How Much of Your Childbirth Costs Were Covered?
Nobody ever said having a baby would be painless or cheap. With doctor and hospital fees increasing, and insurance costs skyrocketing, having a baby is more expensive than ever. Given the state of the economy, many women are reevaluating their decisions to add a child to their families this year.
Are Your Children Covered?
Before the economy took a nosedive, health care was one of the hot topics of the 2008 presidential election. Having taken a backseat on the news front, it is still an issue for many families.
While many people are covered through work, some parents cannot afford to add their child on their health plan.
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Has Your Child's Weight Ever Been an Issue?
Everyone knows that babies come in all different shapes and sizes. That's why it was so odd to hear of a healthy but chubby 4-month-old who was recently denied health insurance coverage. His 99th percentile ranking for height and weight for his age made him ineligible for coverage.
Should Parents-to-Be Get Paid to Attend Prenatal Visits?
Women without health insurance or those who are not familiar with the healthcare system often skip their prenatal visits, which can lead to complications for both mother and baby. According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, offering expectant moms $100 to begin their prenatal doctor visits in the first trimester and continue through delivery is enough incentive to have them comply.
By offering the financial reward, the researchers saw a 62 percent increase in the number of program participants and a 39 percent decrease in the number of low birth weight babies.
Creating Families: The Surrogacy Option
The true sisterhood of women is showcased when one woman carries a child for another. Domestic and international adoptions may be the most common ways families introduce nonbiological children into their lives, but last year's movie Baby Mama and Sarah Jessica Parker's recent addition of twins have made surrogacy a common topic. Though there are no national statistics on the practice, it is estimated that approximately 1,000 such births occur each year.
After dealing with infertility and still desiring a family, some couples turn to another woman to carry their baby. In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate is artificially inseminated, by either the child-to-be's father or an anonymous donor, while in gestational surrogacy, an egg is removed from the future child's mother and fertilized with sperm from either the father or an anonymous donor. The fertilized egg is then implanted in the carrier via IVF. Similar to the adoption process, families interested in surrogacy often work with an agency to help them find a suitable surrogate, handle the legal issues that the transaction involves, and help them through the process.
Is 23andMe For You?
Part of the fun of making a baby is the surprise of it all. Expectant parents become giddy over the suspense — will it have his eyes or hers, be a boy or girl, have curly or straight hair? Some people find out the answers to the big questions around the 18-week ultrasound reveal while others keep it a mystery.
Interview With Ricki Lake: Your Best Birth
Known for her spunky attitude as both Tracy Turnblad in the original Hairspray and her 11-year stint as a daytime talk show host, Ricki Lake has reinvented herself as a women's birthing advocate. Following the release of her documentary about the shifting of the American mindset from home and drug-free deliveries to medicated hospitalized births where Lake chronicled her own son's home birth, she and director, Abby Epstein, penned Your Best Birth ($18). The text is a guide to natural delivery and birthing options.
Vitamin Overdose: Too Much of a Good Thing
Whoever said you could never get too much of a good thing was sorely mistaken. Vitamins may be beneficial for good health and development, but they can easily be mishandled and overused.
Most children's vitamins – such as the chewable and gummy-kinds found on pharmacy shelves – contain US Food and Drug Administration recommended levels of essential vitamins.
Lil Links: How to Handle a Baby Biting While Breastfeeding
- When babe bites while breastfeeding — Boston Mamas
- Take your small-fry to a Spring festival — Cookie
- Susan Sarandon tackles empty nest syndrome — Celebrity Baby Blog
- Michael J. Fox talks about living in the moment — Celebrity Baby Scoop
- Recession guide: pregnant without insurance — CafeMom
- Seven bedtime treats under 75 calories — Health
- Beautifully designed children's books — Alpha Mom
- Sarah Jessica Parker is the morning mom — ParentDish
- Do you lie to your kids? — Momversation
- Healthy prenatal eating habits — Fit Pregnancy
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