Archives for July 2020

Marla Ahlgrimm says that an unfortunately small number of women are vaccinated against serious issues while they are pregnant. She explains that the flu and whooping cough vaccines may save lives when a woman is expecting.

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, the Centers for Disease Control recommends a whooping cough vaccine, also known as a TDAP, at the beginning of the third trimester. The agency also suggests that pregnant women receive a flu vaccine. She explains that these vaccinations are not only to protect the mom but also the newborn baby. Antibodies built up after the vaccine are passed to the baby, which is then born with some level of protection against these diseases.

Marla Ahlgrimm explains that antibodies are built up after approximately two weeks. They are passed through the placenta to the baby.

The flu vaccine can reduce the risk of hospitalization due to influenza by 40% for pregnant women. Marla Ahlgrimm notes that babies less than six months old are 72% less likely to enter the hospital because of the flu if their mother received the vaccine in utero.

When it comes to whooping cough, a vaccine lowers the risk of serious consequences on a baby less than two months old by nearly 80% and lessens the chance of being admitted in the hospital before eight weeks of age by more than 90%.

The bottom line is that vaccines are important for pregnant women. The flu vaccine and the whooping cough vaccine are two of the most important. Unfortunately, Marla Ahlgrimm explains that nearly 40% of pregnant women are not aware that these vaccines are available and necessary.

We all know that irregular periods and hot flashes are signs of menopause. But, according to Marla Ahlgrimm, there are other symptoms that many women inadvertently ignore. A few of these are:

• Insomnia. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, difficulty sleeping is extremely common in women going through menopause. This is because low progesterone levels – progesterone bolsters healthy sleep – are low. Women are advised to try to exercise for at least half an hour every day and to avoid drinking caffeine and alcohol in the late afternoon hours.

• Vaginal dryness. Painful intercourse is one of the more devastating side-effects of menopause. Marla Ahlgrimm explains that vaginal dryness is typically the cause, and it’s due to a decrease in vaginal secretions. Further, as the skin of the vagina thins out like the rest of a woman’s skin, the area can become more sensitive. Many health professionals recommend an active sex life or ample self-stimulation to keep things “down there” in top shape.

• Bone loss. Marla Ahlgrimm explains that osteoporosis, or bone loss, is another extremely prevalent symptom of menopause. It happens when the body’s estrogen levels begin to drop. A 1992 study found that around half of all postmenopausal women had lost around 50% of their trabeculae, which are nearly microscopic elements made of muscle and bone that support healthy bone structure.

• Mood swings. Sorry ladies, Marla Ahlgrimm says that mood swings are not exclusive to those with PMS. Estrogen is the culprit here, as well, and lower levels of this female sex hormones can also trigger stress, anxiety, and fatigue.

Night sweats. A night sweat is a hot flash that wakes you from a sound sleep. According to Marla Ahlgrimm, these include heart palpitations and skin flushing. Women who find themselves waking repeatedly because of hot flashes should sleep in cotton pajamas and keep their home between 60 and 70° at night.