Complex CHD’s – does environment play a role?
Some complex congenital heart defects in newborns are significantly more common during the summer, leading researchers to believe that the environment, and not just genes that affect the heart, may [...]
Insight on Cardiac Assessment in Newborns
Congenital heart defects are not uncommon among neonatal patients. The prompt identification of a life-threatening anomaly is essential for rapid intervention and a positive treatment outcome. Cardiac defects may be [...]
Newborn Screening in the United States
If you notice below, under "common considerations in determining whether to screen for disorders", congenital heart defects and pulse oximetry screening would apply to all 5 considerations. Also, further down, [...]
Tobacco Smoke Exposure Linked to CHD’s
Women who smoke or are exposed to tobacco smoke early in their pregnancies are more likely to have children with certain types of congenital heart defects.“The heart’s basic structures develop [...]
Failure to Thrive (FTT)
In the first few years of life most kids gain weight and grow much more quickly than they will later on. Sometimes, however, kids don't meet expected standards of growth. [...]
HELLP Syndrome
What is HELLP syndrome?HELLP syndrome is a serious complication of severe pregnancy-induced hypertension (high blood pressure problems of pregnancy). It occurs in about 2 percent to 12 percent of women [...]
5 Heart Conditions That May Be Affected by Pregnancy
The heart is the hardest working muscle in your whole body. So in pregnancy, because of the increased blood volume and extra strain, it is working extremely hard.Heart disease occurs [...]
Babies Born to Diabetic Mothers Have Increased Risk for CHD
Background Diabetes has long been associated with maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Before the discovery of insulin in 1921, women with diabetes rarely reached reproductive age or survived pregnancy. [...]
Hydrops Fetalis
What is hydrops fetalis?Hydrops fetalis is a severe, life-threatening problem of severe edema (swelling) in the fetus and newborn. It occurs in 1 of every 3,ooo pregnancies. It is also [...]
Trying to conceive? If YES, then keep reading…
Whether a pregnancy is planned or unplanned, it's important for every woman of childbearing age to take folic acid, even if they aren't trying to conceive. Birth defects occur within [...]