Pregnancy

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Each day in the U.S., between two and three women die of pregnancy-related causes.  The risk of death due to pregnancy varies greatly in different groups. African American women are almost four times as likely as white women to die of pregnancy-related complications. For African American women, the risk of pregnancy-related death goes up greatly with age.  African American babies are more than twice as likely as White babies to die in infancy.

African American women are more likely to die from ectopic pregnancies, when the fetus develops outside of the uterus (womb), and preeclampsia, which is a combination of high blood pressure, fluid retention, and protein loss in the urine. African American women are also more likely to leak amniotic fluids during pregnancy, which can lead to infection.

It is not known for sure why African American women have such high rates of pregnancy-related death. One study from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggests that limited access to health care may be one reason, noting that pregnant African American women were more than twice as likely as white women to get late or no prenatal care. Most of the women in the study said they wanted earlier prenatal care, but they could not get it because of a lack of money or insurance. 
 
Also, new Saint Louis University research found that although white women are more likely to drink or binge drink prior to pregnancy, African-American women are less likely to reduce drinking during pregnancy, which may be linked to a higher rate of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) among the population.

Exercise and healthy eating during your pregnancy can help you have a healthy child. There are also some substances you will want to avoid while you’re pregnant. 

These substances include alcohol, smoking, drugs, herbal remedies, and caffeine



Post-Pregnancy: Weight Loss Solutions

  • Be Practical
  • Eat Healthy, But Don't Starve
  • Indulge in Exercise
  • Continue Breastfeeding
  • Start Walking



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