The USA Today published an article last week on this very topic. In fact, nearly 9 out of 100 women in the United States have diabetes. But, about 3 out of those 9 don’t know it. Managing diabetes before pregnancy (often called “preexisting diabetes”) is important to the health of both mom and baby. This is also true for women who develop gestational diabetes (when diabetes develops during pregnancy). If too much glucose (sugar) is in a woman’s blood during early pregnancy, there’s a chance that this can cause birth defects. In later pregnancy, too much glucose could lead to a baby that is too large, born prematurely, born via c-section or have other life-threatening situations.

But there is good news! By learning how to manage your diabetes before and during pregnancy, you can increase the chances of having a healthy pregnancy and baby. Here’s a few things you can do right now:
• Visit your health provider regularly before and during pregnancy
• Take a multivitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid
• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet
• With your health provider’s OK, be active and exercise
• Learn more about managing pre-existing diabetes and gestational diabetes.

 
It doesn’t take much to be a hero. In fact, the title can be yours for as little as $1.99. What could you give up today to save a baby? Your morning coffee? Mmm, if not coffee, afternoon snack? Video rental? If you are feeling the squeeze and don’t normally give, think about it today. Or tomorrow.

But don’t wait too long – the Farmers’ match is only good through the 22nd. As an added bonus, after you have made a donation you can grab the Super Hero badge to show off your new status.

I am so looking forward to going to BlogHer ‘09 in Chicago next week and hope to see you there. The BlogHer conferences bring bloggers from every corner of the blogosphere together for hands-on learning, rich discussions, opportunities to meet with the brands that support them and plentiful networking opportunities. There will be over 1000 bloggers there. Can you believe it? Squeeee. I’m so excited. Leave me a comment if you are going or send me a tweet @modbev and I’ll try to find you. 

The CPSC is also recalling Jaloma Pacifers because the product’s ventilation holes are too small and may pose a choking risk to young children. These pacifiers should be removed right away from children. The products, made by Gromex, Inc., were sold in New York and New Jersey between February 2008 and March 2009. Learn more by visiting the CPSC news release.

Interestingly, a large study from the Netherlands found that dads who were depressed during their baby’s time in the womb were more likely to have babies with colic. In the past, studies have found a link between mothers with depression during pregnancy and newborns with colic. But this is one of the first studies to see if there’s a relationship between a dad’s depression and his colic baby.

The study, published in this month’s Pediatrics journal, shows that the researchers made sure to find out if dads were depressed before the baby was born. This way, the researchers would know that dad’s depression wasn’t caused by baby’s excessive crying.  But it did show that if a dad was depressed before the baby was born, he was more likely to have a baby with colic. The researchers aren’t sure exactly why this is, but it’s interesting that there’s a relationship.

How did you manage a colic baby?

For more, read the March of Dimes article on swine flu. It includes information about this illness and pregnant women, infants, children and breastfeeding women.

-  Slather on the sun block before going out, using an SPF of 30 or higher.  Reapply it regularly – goopify!
-  Wear a wide brimmed hat to protect not only your face, but ears and neck. Caps don’t protect as well.
-  Wear sunglasses that block UVA and UVB rays, even with a hat.
-  If you wear sandals to help keep your feet cool, be sure to keep suntan lotion on your feet.  And put those piggies up for a rest whenever you can.
-  Walk on the side of the street that has shade.  (The sun is hottest between 10 AM and 4 PM)
-  Drink plenty of water.  Carry a refillable water bottle with you and leave one in the car.  Drinking slightly warm water is better than drinking no water.
-  Take a big umbrella with you to the beach and sit in its shade.
-  Reduce your level of activity when heat and humidity are high.

As a result of the FDA decision, label warnings will be strengthened, and new research will be done.

If you need a painkiller, talk to your health care provider about the choices available to you, including aspirin, ibuprofen, oxycodone and codeine. For all medications, take only the recommended amount and no more. If you are pregnant, don’t take any painkillers without first talking to your health care provider.