H1N1 vaccine linked to 700 percent increase in miscarriages

(NaturalNews) Recent data presented to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Children's Vaccines has revealed some shocking information about the effects of the H1N1 / swine flu vaccine on pregnant women. According to the report, the rate of miscarriage among pregnant women during the 2009 H1N1 / swine flu pandemic soared by over 700 percent compared to previous years, pointing directly to the vaccine as the culprit -- but the CDC denies the truth and continues to insist nobody has been harmed.According to the CDC, nearly 50 percent of all pregnant women were vaccinated with the H1N1 vaccine during the 2009 / 2010 influenza season.

Those whose physicians instructed them to get a seasonal flu shot were three times more likely to get it, while those instructed specifically to get the H1N1 shot were ten times more likely to get it. And the numbers clearly show that along with the rise in vaccinations due to the H1N1 scare came the sharp increase in miscarriages, including a slew of actual reported adverse events.But the CDC does not seem to care about the facts, as numerous reports indicate the agency has failed to report any of this vital information to vaccine suppliers. In fact, when presented with the data for the third time, Dr. Marie McCormick, chair of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Vaccine Risk and Assessment Working Group, actually had the audacity to claim that there were no vaccine-related adverse events in pregnant women caused by the vaccine."

This baseless and fallacious assessment by the CDC assessment group has given the green light to the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to continue their recommendation to give the 2010/11 flu shot to all people, including pregnant women," explained Eileen Dannemann, director of the National Coalition of Organized Women, presenter of the information."This upcoming 2010/11 flu vaccine contains the same elements that are implicated in the killing of these fetuses, the H1N1 viral component and the neurotoxin mercury (Thimerosal). Additionally, it contains two other viral strains -- a three-in-one shot for all people."Overall, the number of vaccine-related "fetal demise" reports increased by 2,440 percent in 2009 compared to previous years, which is even more shocking than the miscarriage statistic. Meanwhile, the CDC continues to lie to the public about the vaccine, urging everyone, including pregnant women, to get it.
　

About postpartum depression

Depression during or after pregnancy is perfectly normal. In fact, researchers believe it's one of the most common complications associated with pregnancy. It's thought to be caused by a combination of the fluctuating hormone levels associated with giving birth, the major transition to parenthood (or to having more than one child), and other life stresses that accompany pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. If you have other major stressors affecting your life at the same time, or if you've been prone to depression in the past, you may be particularly vulnerable to postpartum depression.

Symptoms can include feeling sad and hopeless; crying often; withdrawing from friends and family; eating or sleeping too little or too much; feeling worthless or guilty; and even being afraid of hurting yourself or the baby.Many new mothers -- as many as 80%, states the National Mental Health Association -- experience the "baby blues" right after delivery, and these relatively mild symptoms (mood swings, crying spells, irritability) can go away within a few days to a few weeks. Treatment isn't necessarily needed, but support can be invaluable. Try seeking out new-mom support groups through the hospital or birthing center where you delivered.If the feelings linger, become severe, or if you have a family history of depression, it's important to get treatment for postpartum depression.

obesity during pregnancy is a risk to the health of child

Children of obese mothers are born as pre-diabetics or with serious birth defects that can lead to kidney disease or heart disease, among other problems.The fact that obesity in expectant mothers leads to health problems in their unborn children is not in dispute. What is in question, though, is how this should be handled. Given that obesity is a condition caused by lifestyle choices made by the mother, doesn't the mother have a responsibility to protect the health of her unborn child by altering her lifestyle?To answer this question, take a closer look at the impact of alcohol and cigarette smoking on unborn children.
Both habits cause horrifying birth defects and impair the unborn child's long-term health. It has long been argued that expectant mothers who engage in drinking alcohol or smoking cigarettes are, in effect, abusing their unborn children by exposing them to these toxic chemicals at precisely the time when such chemicals can have devastating effects.I agree with this assessment: pregnant women who drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes are, in my view, not just acting irresponsibly, they are guilty of crimes by consciously and willingly endangering the health of their children. In doing so, they forfeit their right to have children in the first place.
 Because, after all, if a woman can't stop smoking and drinking during pregnancy, she has no right to bring another human being into this world -- a human being that will be crippled from the start.Does the same argument apply to obesity? Is an obese expectant mother also committing a crime against her unborn child? I don't think society is ready for that sort of designation, but it's time to get serious about the nutritional responsibility women have to their unborn children. There's also a responsiblity in society, I believe, to help assist pregnant women in achieving optimum nutritional goals. Nutritional supplements, for example, should be made available to all pregnant women at no cost (funded by taxpayers).
I believe that pregnant women who are obese should, at the very least, be required to undergo counseling that helps them understand why their current lifestyle habits and choices are so dangerous to the health of their unborn child. But whether society can be called upon to actually enforce health requirements on would-be mothers is another matter altogether. In a police state society, perhaps, women would not be allowed to reproduce until they demonstrated an acceptable degree of self health. But that's not the society we live in, nor one that I desire.What do you think should be done here? Should expectant mothers be responsible for the health of their unborn children? Should they be somehow penalized for remaining obese during pregnancy? Is obesity during pregnancy the same as child abuse?

ways to protect pregnant from toxic chemicals

    #1) Don't put anything on your skin you wouldn't eat! Avoid all mainstream consumer skin care, cosmetics and personal care products, period! Need soap? Try natural, organic brands like Dr Bronner's, AnnMarie Gianni or Pangea Organics.
　　#2) Don't eat foods made with chemicals you can't pronounce. Read the ingredients labels. If the list of ingredients is too long and complex to figure out, it's probably made more with chemicals than actual food.

　　#3) Don't poison your body with over-the-counter drugs or prescription pharmaceuticals. If you do need to use medication for short-term emergency use, be sure to detoxify your liver afterwards.
　　#4) Detox your liver, kidneys and colon at least once a year. You can do this with a juice fast combined with detox supplements such as those offered by www.GlobalHealingCenter.com or www.BaselineNutritionals.com (get professional guidance from a naturopath before fasting).
　　#5) Drink more water. Most people simply don't consume enough water to effectively remove toxins from their bodies. If you don't like water by itself, drink fresh vegetable juices such as celery or cucumber juice (which are actually structured water).
　　#6) Cleanse your body with parsley, alfalfa, red clover, chlorella or chlorophyll. All these substances can help cleanse your body and eliminate toxic substances that may be detrimental to your health.
　　#7) Don't fill your home or apartment with products that off-gas toxic chemicals: Air fresheners, perfumed candles, particle board furniture, carpets, glues, etc.
　　#8) Don't cook on non-stick cookware. These are the worst! Invest in quality copper-clad stainless steel pans and use those. They'll last a lifetime and they don't contaminate your body with chemicals. Don't eat at restaurants that use non-stick cookware. (That's just about every restaurant in the world, it seems...)
　　#9) Buy certified organic products. In the USA, the USDA Organic Seal is a trusted seal that genuinely indicates organic quality (both in foods and personal care products). Don't be fooled by brand names that use the word "organics" in their name but aren't really organic. For example, "Bob's Organics" may or may not actually be organic. The Organic Consumers Association (www.OrganicConsumers.org) can keep you posted on what's what.
　　#10) Get the cancer out of your laundry! Stop washing your clothes in toxic brand-name laundry detergents, and stop using brand-name fabric softeners or dryer sheets. Do you have any idea what chemicals are used in those products? The truth would astonish you.
　　And, of course, keep reading NaturalNews.com to stay up to speed on what's really good for you versus things that actually threaten your health. There is absolutely no question that the average chemical contamination of NaturalNews readers is far below that of typical American consumers.
　　　

Prepare for breastfeeding baby after childbirth

Breastfeeding helps protect your child against a host of diseases in infancy, childhood, and even later on in life -- everything from ear infections, diarrhea, and respiratory illnesses, and possibly even diabetes, obesity, asthma, and leukemia. Plus, it also protects you: breastfeeding moms have a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers.But breastfeeding doesn't always come easy for every woman.
 It's easy to get discouraged early on, especially if you expect your baby to just latch on and start suckling, only to find he has a "difficult latch" or you've developed mastitis (an infection in the breast). Here's where you need preparation before you start to breastfeed, and support while you're doing it. Some options:Call the National Women's Health Center's Breastfeeding Helpline at 1-800-994-9662.
 Staffed with trained La Leche League counselors, the helpline is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Eastern Time, and can take questions in English and Spanish. Their counselors can answer common breastfeeding questions on issues ranging from nursing positions to pumping and storage, and provide you with support to make breastfeeding a success.Find a lactation consultant near you. International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (ILBCLCs) can provide you with everything from prenatal breastfeeding education to postnatal home and hospital visits, educational literature, and support groups.

make a birth plan for labor and delivery

A birth plan for labor and delivery is a clear, one-page statement about how you want the birth of your baby to go.Ask your obstetrician, midwife, hospital, or birthing center what the policies are for deliveries. Then, think about the areas that you'd like to mention in your birth plan.

Some questions to ask yourself:Who do you want present at the birth?What do you want for pain relief? (Epidural or other medications, hypnobirthing /self-hypnosis , massage, guided imagery, and breathing exercises are options you can consider.What position or positions do you want to be in to give birth? Would you like to have the option to stand, walk around, squat, or get on your hands and knees?Do you want an episiotomy? If not, what would you like done to help avoid one?

What do you want for the baby's care after the birth? Will your baby be in the room with you? What are your preferences about feeding and sleeping?Keep in mind that this is a birth plan, not a birth mandate. Be positive about stating what you want, but understand that things can change during the course of labor, and be prepared for the unexpected. Include in your birth plan notes about what you would like if complications arise, such as if a caesarean becomes necessary.

Natural progesterone helps reduce premature births

A new study published in the journalUltrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecologyhas found that natural progesterone cream given to certain groups of pregnant women effectively reduced premature birth rates by 50 percent. Pregnant women with a condition known as short cervix are believed to be lacking in progesterone, an essential hormone necessary for the development of healthy babies. So by supplementing with progesterone gel, such women can help ensure a healthy pregnancy.Many readers will recall the recent US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcement that the agency was giving exclusive,monopolyapproval to KV Pharmaceutical to produce progesterone cream -- and that the price of the treatment forwomenwas set to jump roughly 15,000 percent as a result .

Thanks to new research, though,pregnant womenwill hopefully now have more progesterone options available to them, particularlynaturaland customized formulas designed specifically for them.For the study, Dr. Sonia S. Hassan and her team from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) assigned 458 pregnant women to either receive a once-daily dose of vaginal progesterone, or a once-daily dose of aplacebogel, during their second and third trimesters. While 16 percent of those in the placebo group gavebirthbefore the 33rd week ofpregnancy, only 8.9 percent in the progesterone group gave birth early.Besides reducing the overall rate of preterm births, the progesterone gel also demonstrably reduced the rate of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), a breathing disorder linked to early births.

 Not only did the women themselves experience less cases of RDS as a result of taking progesterone, but so did theirchildren. Infants whose mothers did not receive progesterone during their pregnancies were nearly three times more likely to develop RDS than children frommotherswho took the hormone"The study ... offers hope to women, families and children," said Dr. Roberto Romero, chief of the Perinatology Research Branch of NIH. "Worldwide, more than 12 million prematurebabies-- 500,000 of them in this country -- are born each year, and the results are often tragic. Our clinical study clearly shows that it is possible to identify women at risk and reduce the rate of preterm delivery by nearly half, simply by treating women who have a short cervix with a natural hormone -- progesterone."

When should you call doctor between regular prenatal visits

You'll be seeing your obstetrician, midwife, or other prenatal care specialist very regularly over the next nine months. But how do you know when to call the doctor between prenatal checkups? What's normal and what's not? If you're pregnant and experience any of the following symptoms, call your health care provider immediately:
1 Unusual or severe cramping or abdominal pain
2 Significant reduction in the baby's movements after 28 weeks (less than 10 movements in a 2-hour period)
3 Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
4 Any bleeding in the second or third trimester
5 Signs of premature labor, such as regular pains or tightening in the lower back or abdomen or significant fluid discharge
 6 Pain or cramping in the arms, legs, or chest
7 Fever over 100 Fahrenheit (37.5 Centigrade)
8 Severe or persistent diarrhea or vomiting
9 Fainting spells or dizziness
10 Blurred vision or spots in front of your eyes
11 Swelling in your hands, fingers, or face

How much weight should I gain during pregnancy

　　Pregnancy doesn't equal a get-out-of-jail-free card for a caloric spending spree. Weight gain during pregnancy is a lot like Goldilocks and the Three Bears: you don't want too much, you don't want too little -- you want "just right." If you gain too much weight, you're at risk for conditions like gestational diabetes; too little, and your baby may be born at a low birth weight. What's "just right" for you?
　　If you're at a normal weight before pregnancy, gain between 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy.
　　If you are overweight before pregnancy, gain 15 to 25 pounds.
　　If you are underweight prior to pregnancy, gain 28 to 40 pounds.
　　For multiple births, consult your doctor (usually, you should gain about 35 to 45 pounds for twins).
　　The average woman should gain about 2 to 4 pounds during her first three months of pregnancy, and 1 pound a week for the remainder of her pregnancy.

How to relieve or stave off pregnancy symptoms

Pregnancy may come with a host of uncomfortable symptoms, but you don't have to suffer in silence. Here are some tips for preventing some of the most common symptoms of pregnancy -- or at least easing some of the discomfort.Nausea and vomiting: Get up slowly in the morning; movement can make nausea worse. Don't let your stomach completely empty: eat five or six small meals throughout the day. Drink plenty of fluids, get lots of fresh air, and avoid fatty foods that are hard to digest. And trust your instincts.

 If something smells good to you and the thought of it doesn't make you nauseous, you can probably eat it.Leg cramps: Exercise regularly, get plenty of fluids, and avoid sitting in the same position for a prolonged period of time. Stretch your legs before going to bed by straightening your leg heel first and wiggling your toes. Massage your legs and apply heat to relieve a cramp.Heartburn : Avoid greasy or fatty foods, garlic, spicy foods, and drinks containing caffeine. Eat smaller meals, and avoid bending or lying down right after a meal.Hemorrhoids : Drink plenty of liquids, eat a high-fiber diet, exercise regularly, and avoid long periods of standing or sitting.

To relieve hemorrhoid pain, take periodic sitz baths, apply cold compresses, and ask your doctor which OTC creams are safe to use.Backache: Wear low-heeled shoes with good arch support to avoid straining your lower back muscles. Avoid lifting heavy objects or standing for long periods of time. Make sure your mattress is firm, and that chairs you sit in have good back support (a small pillow placed in the small of your back can help). Don't take medications for back pain unless OK'd by your doctor. Try a heating pad, warm water bottle, or cold pack instead.

How can I safely exercise while pregnant?

Exercise during pregnancy is generally considered safe for most healthy women and can even relieve some of the discomforts of pregnancy. Some forms of exercise that are particularly good for pregnant women are walking, swimming, stationary cycling, and yoga.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that you focus on non-weight-bearing activities and those that don't require an enormous amount of balance (so some of those extremely challenging yoga postures may be out until postpartum). Wear loose-fitting, lightweight clothing while exercising, get plenty of fluids, and don't work to the point of exhaustion. When you reach your second and third trimesters, don't do exercises that require lying on your back, and never do workouts that pose a risk of trauma to your abdomen while pregnant. And always be sure to check with your doctor about any exercise program before getting started. Some women -- such as those with preeclampsia, preterm labor, and hypertension or heart disease -- may be advised not to exercise or to pursue very limited physical activities while pregnant.

Are there other activities should steer clear of while pregnant?

　　DO:
　　Exercise . Light to moderate exercise during pregnancy is good for you, strengthening your back and abdominal muscles, improving your balance and helping to speed your recovery after delivery. (See more about this in question 4 below.)
　　Have sex. Unless you have a high-risk pregnancy and your doctor has advised you against it, sex during pregnancy is safe. The baby is cushioned by your amniotic fluid. Especially in later pregnancy, though, avoid lying flat on your back during sex; the uterus can compress the veins in the back of your abdomen and leave you lightheaded or nauseous.
　　Wash your hands before preparing food, before meals, after handling raw meats, and after using the bathroom.
　　Clean house. Sorry, most household cleaning products, including bleach, are safe for use during pregnancy. Just be sure the room is well ventilated, read warning labels, and avoid mixing chemicals (like ammonia and bleach) -- good advice for cleaning safety whether you're pregnant or not.
　　Travel by airplane -- sometimes. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says that the second trimester is the safest time for air travel, when you're at the lowest risk of miscarriage or premature labor. Generally, if you have a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy, there's no special risk posed by commercial air travel. (ACOG recommends that pregnant women stop flying at 36 weeks' gestation.) Be sure to stay hydrated during the flight by drinking plenty of fluids, and keep your seat belt on! And no matter whether you're traveling by car, train, bus or plane, get up and move around every so often, and be sure to stretch your legs and back.
　　See your dentist. Preventive cleanings and annual exams are a very good idea during pregnancy, as your rising hormone levels can cause bleeding gums and irritation. Since gum infections have been associated with preterm births, keeping your mouth healthy is important.
　　
　　DON'T:
　　Change the cat's litter box. No, this isn't just an excuse to get out of an icky task; cat feces can transmit an infection called toxoplasmosis, which can lead to severe problems in newborns, including low birth weight, jaundice, mental retardation, and convulsions.
　　Use saunas, hot tubs, and tanning booths. Excessive heat can be harmful to the baby, and has been linked to spinal malformations.
　　Paint. Let somebody else paint the baby's room; pregnant women shouldn't be exposed to toxic substances and chemicals, which include paint and cleaning solvents.
　　Get an X-ray. Unless you absolutely have to, avoid tests like X-rays and mammograms while pregnant, which can be dangerous to your growing baby. If you absolutely must have an X-ray, make sure that your doctor or dentist knows you are pregnant so they can take extra precautions.
　　Ride the Great American Scream Machine or the Tower of Terror. Though no studies have been done to document this, there is concern that the rapid stops and jarring forces of rides like this could cause placental abruption (premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall). Play it safe and stick to the Ferris wheel until the baby's born.

What should and shouldn't I eat while I'm pregnant?

While pregnant, you're eating for two, as the old saying goes -- but just what are you two supposed to be eating?
Get all essential vitamins and minerals daily. That means sticking with the prenatal vitamins you started prior to becoming pregnant, as well as eating a healthy diet.
Fill your plate with leafy greens, fruits, veggies, and whole grains (like wheat breads and cereals). Get plenty of calcium-rich foods like broccoli and low-fat milk and yogurt, to help build your baby's bones and teeth. Stick to lean meats like chicken and turkey.
Foods to avoid during pregnancy include:
Fish with lots of mercury. High levels of mercury can damage a baby's developing brain. But don't cut out fish completely -- they give you important omega-3 fatty acids. Cut out fish like swordfish, tilefish, and shark. If you love your tuna and snapper, you can still eat it -- just cut back to no more than one serving a week. You can eat up to two servings of fish like salmon, catfish, mahi mahi, and cod, along with shellfish like shrimp, crab, and scallops. For a more detailed list of fish and their mercury levels, go to
Raw fish. Sorry, sushi and sashimi lovers.

　　Unpasteurized soft cheeses like brie, Camembert, feta, gorgonzola, and Roquefort. They may contain bacteria called listeria that can cross the placenta, potentially causing miscarriage or leading to a life-threatening infection.
Unpasteurized milk, which can also contain listeria.
Cold ready-to-eat meats, like hot dogs and luncheon meats; these can also contain listeria. Reheat these foods until they are steaming.
Uncooked or cured eggs and meats, like prosciutto, runny eggs, and sauces made with raw eggs (like some hollandaises).
Alcohol. There is no known safe level of exposure to alcohol for a fetus. Prenatal exposure to alcohol can interfere with healthy development and lead to fetal alcohol syndrome, one of the most common causes of mental retardation and the only one that is completely preventable.
Caffeine . While some studies show that moderate caffeine intake during pregnancy is OK, others have found a link to miscarriage, so it's particularly important to steer clear of caffeine during the first trimester. Large amounts of caffeine have been linked to premature birth and low birth weight, so do your best to switch to decaf. If you can't cut it out entirely, limit intake to 300 milligrams per day or less (1-2 cups of coffee).

What should I do before I get pregnant to ensure a healthy pregnancy for me and my baby?

A typical pregnancy is nine months long, but to give your baby a healthy start, think of it as twelve months -- including the three months before you get pregnant. This means that when you start thinking about trying to conceive, you should:
See your doctor for a prepregnancy checkup. Don't forget to ask about things like family medical history, risk of birth defects, genetic conditions, and chronic illnesses. Discuss all the medications you take and make sure they're safe during pregnancy.
In addition to eating a healthy diet (lots of leafy greens, lean proteins, and fiber), boost your nutrients with a multivitamin specially formulated for pregnancy -- usually called a prenatal vitamin. It's particularly important to get sufficient folic acidbefore getting pregnant. This nutrient helps prevent birth defects like spina bifida; since many of these conditions arise very early in pregnancy, you need healthy levels of folic acid right from the start. Look for a multivitamin that contains 400 micrograms of calcium. Ask your doctor or midwife to recommend a vitamin for you.

　　If you smoke, quit. Smoking poses a host of risks to a developing baby, including birth defects and low birth weight. It also doubles your risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. You may also find it more difficult to become pregnant in the first place if you smoke, as smoking is strongly linked with infertility in both women and men.
Get checked for hepatitis B and C, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV.
Get any health problems -- like diabetes and high blood pressure -- under control. If you are seriously overweight, talk to your doctor about how to maintain a healthy weight.

Is It Safe to Get Vaccinations?

Why Should Pregnant Women Be Vaccinated?
Many women may not realize that they are not up-to-date on their immunizations and are susceptible to diseases that can harm them or their unborn child. Pregnant women should talk to their doctors to figure out which vaccines they may need and whether they should get them during pregnancy or wait until after their child is born.
Are Vaccines Safe?
All vaccines are tested for safety under the supervision of the FDA. The vaccines are checked for purity, potency and safety, and the FDA and CDC monitor the safety of each vaccine for as long as it is in use.
Some people may be allergic to an ingredient in a vaccine, such as eggs in the influenza vaccine, and should not receive the vaccine until they have talked to their doctor.
Can a Vaccine Harm My Unborn Baby?

　　A number of vaccines, especially live-virus vaccines, should not be given to pregnant women because they may be harmful to the baby. (A live-virus vaccine is made using the live strains of a virus.) Some vaccines can be given to the mother in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, while others should only be administered either at least three months before or immediately after the baby is born.
Which Vaccines Can I Receive While I am Pregnant?
The following vaccines are considered safe to give to women who may be at risk of infection:
Hepatitis B: Pregnant women who are at high risk for this disease and have tested negative for the virus can receive this vaccine. It is used to protect the mother and baby against infection both before and after delivery. A series of three doses is required to have immunity. The 2nd and 3rd doses are given 1 and 6 months after the first dose.
Influenza: This vaccine can prevent serious illness in the mother during pregnancy. All women who will be in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy during the flu season should be offered this vaccine. If you have a serious medical condition increases the risk of having flu-related complications, you can receive the vaccine at any stage of your pregnancy. Talk to your doctor to see if this applies to you.
Tetanus/Diphtheria: This combination of vaccines are routinely recommended for pregnant women, both those who have never been immunized and those who have not received a booster in 10 years.
Which Vaccines Should Pregnant Women Avoid?
The following vaccines can potentially be transmitted to the unborn child and may result in miscarriage, premature birth or birth defects.
Hepatitis A: The safety of this vaccine hasn't been determined and it should be avoided during pregnancy. Women at high risk for exposure to this virus should discuss the risks and benefits with their doctors.
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR): Women should wait at least one month to become pregnant after receiving these live-virus vaccines. If the initial rubella test shows that you are not immune to rubella, then you will be given the vaccine after delivery.
Varicella: This vaccine, used to prevent chicken pox, should be given at least one month before pregnancy.
Pneumococcal: Because the safety of this vaccine is unknown, it should be avoided in pregnancy except for women who are at high risk or have a chronic illness.
Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) and Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV): Neither the live-virus (OPV) nor the inactivated-virus (IPV) version of this vaccine is recommended for pregnant women.

Snuff Use During Pregnancy Is Harmful to Newborns

　
Study Shows Smokeless Tobacco Increases Risk That Newborns Will Have Breathing Pauses in Sleep

　　Aug. 29, 2011 -- Most moms-to-be are aware that you shouldn't smoke during pregnancy, but some have a hard time kicking the habit. Some turn to smokeless tobacco like snuff or other nicotine-replacement products.
But these products -- and the nicotine they release - are harmful for newborns, a study suggests.
The study is published in Pediatrics.

　　Snuff is a fine-grain tobacco that users "dip" between their lower lip and gum. The new study took place in Sweden where many people use snuff.
Using snuff during pregnancy may increase a newborn's risk for brief pauses in breathing during sleep (called sleep apnea) even more so than smoking cigarettes.
Michael Siegel, MD, the associate chairman of community health sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health, says we are not just talking about snuff. "The new study has broader implications."
It's the nicotine, not the way it is delivered, that may increase health risks in newborns, says Siegel. Siegel reviewed the study for WebMD.
These same risks may hold for other smokeless tobacco products and nicotine replacement therapy, he says. "Some doctors do tell pregnant women to quit smoking with nicotine replacement products."
"A cold turkey approach is what is called for among pregnant women," he says.