OCR Text |
Show Pdge G10 - THE HERALD, Provo, Utah, 7, 1989 Sunday, May March of Dimes Focus on birth defects MOD: In 1958, with the conquest of infantile paralysis all but assured, the uniquely successful network of volunteers and professionals known as the March of Dimes turned its attention to a far broader problem of child health, which it termed birth defects. Much in the way preventive polio vaccines have spared future generations from that infectious scourge, so too has the March of Dimes sought to save babies yf i v from health care, saves millions of dollars by improving the chances for healthy births and healthy, productive lifetimes. Low birth weight babies end up in intensive care units. Low birthweight most common problem baby a tow birthweight is now considered the most common problem at birth. It affects one in 12 babies born each year in the United States. It helps account for 70 percent of our infant deaths. ZA low birthweight baby weighs less than 5 pounds 8 otinces. Low birthweight is divided into two categories: preterm births and babies. Preterm births - are babies born before 37 full weeks of pregnancy. They make up the majority of low birthweight cases. babies, also called growth-retarde- d or small for gestational age, but are too may be small. There are several reasons why babies are born too oon, too small or both. Ear- ier pregnancies that ended ;fi miscarriage or a low bir-nweight baby may be the euslt of conditions that could Qad again to a low bir- hweight baby. lhe medical background of mother influences birth- 1$feight. If she has high blood small-for-da- Small-for-da- the pregnancy may affect birthweight. Among these are: 1) Poor nutrition. An unborn baby is nourished by what the mother eats. 2) Lack of early and regular prenatal care. 3) Smoking, alcohol and drugs. Smokers tend to have smaller babies. Drug or alcohol use may te te full-ter- prematurity. The mother's habits during m stunt an unborn baby's growth. 4) Social factors, such as low income or little schooling, may place mothers at risk of having a low birthweight baby. Through public and professional health education, parents and health care workers can learn how to avoid or treat many factors that may contribute to low birthweight. The first step is early and regular prenatal care. Health care professionals can often tell in advance which pregnant women or unborn babies may be at risk. Good nutru-tio- n can be taught and made available where Traditionally pregnancies past the age of considered 35 have been cases. high-ris- k Knowledge and attitudes about pregnancy past age 35 have changed in recent years. Healthy pregnant women over 35, who follow basic health recommendations for pregnancy, do not differ significantly from younger women their in chances for a healthy baby. Among all of the risks that affect any pregnancy, some are of The March of Dimes leadership has been central in the evolving and expanding fields of birth defects diagnosis, treatment, and prevention: beginning in the 1960s with evaluation and treatment centers, to explore and define the problem ... through the 1970s, with expansion of genetic counseling centers and regionalized health care for pregnant women and the critically ill newborn ... and into the 1980s, with expanded programs of education for preventive health care, continuing advances in prenatal medicine, and programs to reduce premature births. The March of Dimes has also been instrumental in bringing together the specialites of pediatrics and obstetrics, to provide multidisciplinary care dur- the ing continuum Dimes-funde- d research helped explore the frontiers of knowledge. Through hundreds of grants to leading institutions and medical centers, the March of Dimes has played a major role in such areas as genetics, developmental biology, and prenatal diagnosis and treatment. Prevention of birth defects can't be measured in the total eradication of a single disease, as in the fight against polio. Rather, prevention is a matter of changing the statistics, of increasing the proportion of babies born health, and of providing the resources that will give each baby the best chance for a healthy start in life. This is the mission of the from concern to women They include decreased of special over 35. fertility, health pre-existi- problems, miscarriage, difficulties in labor and delivery, and increased risk of certain genetic birth defects. Along with the special concerns about pregnancy past age 35, one must take into account the childbearing risks that apply to all women. It is especially important to follow the basic rules for a healthy pregnancy: Obtain early and regular prenatal medical care, preferably starting before conception. Eat a variety of nutritious foods and achieve proper weight for height before conception. Abstain from all alcoholic beverages throughout pregnancy. Do not smoke during preg- nancy. Do not use any drug, even medications, over-the-count- er unless recommended by a doc tor who knows you are preg; nant. Women today benefit from advances made in recent years; in the management of pregnan-- : cy among those over age 35. Every day an average of 100 American women over 35 give birth to their first child. "A healthy woman over 35 who follows recommended practices can be confident that she .is, likely to have a healthy pregS-- , I nancy and a healthy baby. Infections should concern pregnant women Two infections have special meaning for pregnant women: chlamydia and toxoplasmosis. Chlamydia infection is a sexually transmitted disease that affects more women than toxoplasmosis and is more common than gonorrhea. Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that is widespread in cats and also found in some raw meats. Chlamydia is a bacteria-lik- e organism that was once believed to be a virus. The organism is the major cause of urethral infection in men and pelvic inflammatory disease in women. Women infected by chlamydia often go undiagnosed because they have no symptoms. Chlamydial infection endangers a healthy pregnancy and is linked with miscarriage, low birth weight and infant death. Toxoplasmosis poses a seri- ous threat to an infant's health. If a woman becomes infected during pregnancy, she risks miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death soon after birth. An infected baby may even appear normal at birth but later develop a defect such as blindness, heart disease or mental retar- After dation. animals are slaughtered for food, the parasite can live in the raw meat until it is killed by cooking, or; during prolonged freezing. Cat feces are also a source of infection because oocysts, an' infective stage of the parasite,, develop in the cat's intestines and are excreted into the litter box or onto the ground. , If you have any concerns about chlamydial infection or toxoplasmosis, be sure to consult with a physician or other ' health care professional. I LOSE UP TO needed Limited Time Only! i,'Jpl. prob-yfctn- s, :vr- instrumental in bringing together the specialites of pediatrics and obstetrics, to provide multidisciplinary care during the continuum from conception through the first months of life. Woman over 35? Pregnancy can be safe through public health education and community propressure, diabetes, heart, grams. Mothers can be motivated to take care of their ;iidney or breathing health and to avoid cigarette hepititis, viral or infections. Toxemia of smoking, alcohol use, and $regnancy also may cause taking unprescribed drugs. bac-dtefi- The March of Dimes has also been defects birth through prevention finding out causes and seeking to thwart them, whether they be genetic, behavioral, or environmental. From the past 31 years we have seen that: Preventing birth defects saves countless thousands of babies from being born sick, damaged or dead. Preventing birth defects, like all preventive conception through the first months of life. The consequent revolution in maternal and newborn health care has had much to do with the improvement in infant survival over the past three decades. Throughout this time, March Losing 60 lbs. on the NUTRISYSTEM Weight Loss Program gave Janine Olson a figure she could be proud of. al The NUTRISYSTEM comprehensive Flavor Weight Loss Program includes: - Set-Point- Commi'mtv Enrc.vrioN Calendar 7" Personalized Weight Loss Profile to identify your personal weight loss problem tt: I More Than A variety of delicious meals and snacks. Nutrition and Behavior Just The counseling. Behavior Breakthrough'" Program for long-ter- m success. Baby Blues Our client Janine Olson, lost 60 lbs. Toni Hughes, LS.S.W. Ik- r jvnriu e u i hiMhrtli ami the .mm.iU'J with uiinu lor .i new ilulj nu ph Mrov- - eontrilnite to new iiiother Jepie-io- imt.ihilit n. .nut mptonis sometime th.m the postpartum e.ir l.e.un how pntp.irtum Don't Wait, Call Today. For A Free No Obligation .il Mi M Jquv-Mi'- .iniet "to -- in l.N longer toouTiome i ,mJ uiuliiM.ind its cttects ti Consultation on otliei's TV CHARTKK acq 'XSKIixg cextkr 3507 North University Ave. Suite 300, Provo ; Charier Canyon lhsilal and its affiliates arc mind in sfmnsor the (.i immunity I'dmalian ( aleiidiir as a jmhlh sen h e lor resenations 225-28(H- '..I ) call a We Succeed Where Diets You. 3 "NuttroSifstteinn) gave mrne whole new botfly language." 313 East 1300 South In The Carillon Orem Open Monday Thru Thursday 8:00 am To 8:00 pm Friday And Saturday 7:00 am To 6:00 pm Square, 226-862- 5 As people vary, to does the individual weight loss Offer good at time ol consultation only. Special doesn t include cost ot food One discount per customer. Oltef limited wee otlef to new clients only. Introductory only Does not Include maintenance. i weight loss centers VISA' |