Nursery No-no
For most expectant mothers, decorating the nursery is an exciting project to complete in anticipation of the new addition. However, when choosing the perfect shade to splash the walls, recruit dad, grandparents or friends to help with this part. Nearly all paints — even environmentally friendly versions — emit fumes and it is unknown what their effects are on the baby. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends that pregnant women avoid newly painted rooms (and their harmful odors) for at least two days after the job is done.

Bath Safety
As the “baby bump” continues to grow, the excess weight around the mid-section will shift a mother-to-be’s center of gravity, making her very unstable and increasing the risk of slips and falls. And, according to the Home Safety Council, falls are the leading cause (66 percent) of all nonfatal home injuries — with the bathroom being a main culprit due to water and slick surfaces. Luckily, there are many updates to the bath that can provide added comfort and security.

For help getting in and out of the tub or shower, the Home Safety Council recommends installing grab bars. SecureMount Grab Bars from Home Care by Moen are an ideal choice since they feature a unique anchor installation system that allows homeowners to install grab bars quickly and easily anywhere on the wall — without the need for a stud — for the ultimate in safety and peace of mind. Plus, they are available in a variety of styles and finishes to beautifully coordinate with the rest of the bathroom. In addition to grab bars, a shower chair may be an additional consideration. Products such as Home Care’s new Premium Shower Chair offer comfort, convenience and safety while performing showering tasks, such as washing hair or shaving legs.

Feline Frets
While Fluffy may be a best buddy, her litter box is a “must avoid” for pregnant woman due to the risk of toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by a microscopic parasite that often resides in cat feces. Don’t fret, however, this doesn’t mean you need to get rid of your cuddly kitten. Be sure to keep litter in rooms where moms won’t be exposed and let someone else in the household take over the chore of cleaning the litter boxes.

Call a Maid . . . or Not
Unfortunately, most cleaning products are safe during pregnancy, so expectant status isn’t necessarily a green light to hire a maid. However, there are many things to consider that will keep mom and baby-to-be safe from harm. First, always ensure there is good ventilation and avoid using any products that say “toxic” since they have solvents that could harm the baby. Sites such as www.greenhome.com list the latest lines of environmentally friendly cleaning products. Or, for added peace of mind, just use a combination of baking soda and vinegar as a cleaning solution for just about anything in your home.

Begin to Baby-proof
Once the baby arrives, he will be mobile before you know it. So, take time now to baby-proof your home. Take an inventory of sharp corners, cabinets with dangerous objects and electrical outlets; then purchase and install the necessary safety items, such as corner pads, outlet inserts and cabinet locks to keep baby safe. Next, look for any breakable items that are low enough to be reached or heavy objects up high that could topple over. Inviting friends’ babies and toddlers over is a great way to “test” the baby-proofing efforts.

Pregnancy should be a joyous time in the lives of parents-to-be, so ensure nine months of health and happiness with these few tips. For more information on bath safety products, visit www.homecare.moen.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

(ARA) – Mary Katherine Albritton had a normal childhood despite being diagnosed with epilepsy when she was 6 years old. Her parents worked to teach her about her condition, and she grew up to be a happy adult. But in 2005 she got a surprise — she was pregnant. As an adult with epilepsy, she wondered about the risks to her and her fetus.

“I had six seizures through my pregnancy, but my daughter Taylor was born a healthy, beautiful baby,” says Albritton, who worked closely with her neurologist throughout the course of her pregnancy.

Albritton is just one of a surprisingly large number of women with epilepsy who have had successful childbirths. It is estimated that about half a million women with epilepsy in the United States are of childbearing age and that three to five out of every 1,000 births are to women with epilepsy. The majority of people with epilepsy have well-controlled seizures, are otherwise healthy, and expect to participate fully in life experiences, including pregnancy.

New guidelines developed by the American Academy of Neurology and the American Epilepsy Society show it’s relatively safe for women with epilepsy to become pregnant, but caution must be taken, including avoiding valproate, an epilepsy drug that can cause birth defects.

“Good evidence shows that valproate is linked to an increased risk for fetal malformations and decreased thinking skills in children, whether used by itself or with other medications,” says lead guideline author Dr. Cynthia Harden, director of the Epilepsy Division at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine and member of the American Academy of Neurology.

The guidelines also suggest that, if possible, women with epilepsy should not take more than one epilepsy drug at a time during pregnancy since taking more than one seizure drug has also been found to increase the risk of birth defects compared to taking only one medication.

“Overall, what we found should be very reassuring to every woman with epilepsy planning to become pregnant,” says Harden. “These guidelines show that women with epilepsy are not at a substantially increased risk of having a Caesarean section, late pregnancy bleeding, or premature contractions or premature labor and delivery. Also, if a woman is seizure free nine months before she becomes pregnant, it’s likely that she will not have any seizures during the pregnancy.”

However, Harden says pregnant women with epilepsy should consider having their blood tested regularly. “Levels of seizure medications in the blood tend to drop during pregnancy, so checking these levels and adjusting the medication doses should help to keep the levels in the effective range and the pregnant woman seizure free.”

When Albritton had her second child, Thomas, she had three seizures during her pregnancy. “June 15, 2007 was my last seizure when I was pregnant with Thomas. He was born a healthy baby boy on November 5. When people say their kids are miracles, mine really are. I haven’t had a seizure since.”

Her advice for other women with epilepsy who want children: “Understand that epileptic women are capable of having healthy babies. I suggest staying in close contact with your obstetrician and urologist.”

For more information about the guidelines visit www.aan.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent