From CBS News, “Some researchers suggest that may be a good idea, since a new study finds that women who eat more potatoes before conceiving may face a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes while pregnant. …”We found that a diet with a higher level of potato consumption before pregnancy was related to a greater risk of developing diabetes during … Read More
Shaken baby syndrome in WV more common than we think
From the Charleston Gazette-Mail, “After a father allegedly shook his son and caused bleeding on the 4-month-old’s brain last weekend, health experts said the way to prevent the next occurrence won’t be by pretending such a traumatic incident can only happen to other families. …Dr. Sharon Istfan, associate chief medical officer at Charleston Area Medical Center’s Women and Children’s Hospital, … Read More
Recovery Point of Charleston dedicates Stockton Street building
From the Charleston Gazette-Mail, “Rachel Thaxton, program coordinator of Recovery Point of Charleston, said the facility will start the bidding process on the project within the next month, and will likely begin construction within six weeks after the bids close. The main building will have 92 treatment beds, which will be opened about 10 beds at a time initially, and … Read More
DHHR Launches New Initiative to Address Smoking While Pregnant
From the Charleston Gazette-Mail, “A new initiative to address West Virginia’s staggering smoking rates among pregnant women launched on Wednesday, and represents the first of its kind in the nation to focus on the problem, which plagues West Virginia more than any other state. …Karen Bowling, secretary of the state’s Department of Health and Human Resources, said the purpose of … Read More
Dr. Laura P. Finnegan – WVU Palladino Lecture & Research Day
Dr. Loretta P. Finnegan will be speaking at WVU Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology’s Palladino Lecture & Research Day. Dr. Finnegan is President of Finnegan Consulting, which addresses education, research and treatment in issues relating to women’s health and perinatal addiction. She is recognized nationally and internationally as an expert in these fields and is credited with the development of … Read More
Protecting Our Infants Act of 2015 Signed Into Law
From ACOG, “The bipartisan bill, introduced by Rep. Katherine Clark (D- Mass.) and Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio), takes proactive steps to help reduce the number of newborns born exposed to drugs, such as opioids, and to improve their care. Specifically, the bill directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to identify and make available recommendations for the prevention … Read More
In TN, Giving Birth To A Drug-Dependent Baby Can Be A Crime
From NPR, “In the United States, a baby is born dependent on opiates every 30 minutes. In Tennessee, the rate is three times the national average. The drug withdrawal in newborns is called neonatal abstinence syndrome, or NAS, which can occur when women take opiates during their pregnancies. In the spring of 2014, Tennessee passed a controversial law that would … Read More
Use of Long-Acting Birth Control Surges Among U.S. Women
From The New York Times, “The share of American women on birth control who use long-acting reversible methods like intrauterine devices and implants has nearly doubled in recent years, the federal government reported Tuesday. The share of women on birth control who use the devices rose to 11.6 percent in the period from 2011 to 2013, up from 6 percent … Read More
WV Gets ‘D’ on Premature Birthrate from March of Dimes
From the Charleston Gazette, “Smoking, drug addiction and alcohol abuse, three of West Virginia’s biggest health problems, are the biggest contributor to a fourth problem — the state’s troubling rate of premature births. This year’s March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card gives West Virginia a “D” for its premature birthrate, noting that 10.8 percent of infants born in the … Read More
2015 NAPPSS Safe Infant Sleep Recommendations
From the National Action Partnership to Promote Safe Sleep: “The NAPPSS Coalition is pleased to present the National Action Plan to Increase Safe Infant Sleep: A Blueprint from the National Action Partnership to Promote Safe Sleep. The framework for the plan was developed under the guidance of an Expert Leadership Group. National Action Partners generated ideas at a national action … Read More