Mommyato Blog - Embracing the Motherhood Journey
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Mommyato’s Featured Topic Of the Week

  • Recognizing Congenital Heart Defects in Infants
    Mar 2023

    I know, Mama, there is so much to think about concerning your baby’s health. Aside from his basic needs, you might be wondering how to know if something is seriously wrong and when to seek help. Here are some strategies for coping with the unexpected....

  • Endometriosis and Your Fertility
    Mar 2023

    Hey Mama! Are you having painful menstrual cramps, pain in your lower back or pelvis, digestive problems, painful bowel movements, or bleeding between periods? Are you struggling to get pregnant? If you answered yes to some of these symptoms, you’ll want to get checked out...

  • Create Positive Sleep Habits in Your Baby
    Mar 2023

    One of the most challenging aspects of motherhood is sleep deprivation. Every baby is different. Some babies are great sleepers, and without much effort, they “sleep through the night” a few weeks after birth. Other babies need a more deliberate approach to shape their sleep...

  • How Smoking Affects Your Baby
    Mar 2023

    Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects, and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).¹   Mama, I know smoking tobacco is one of the hardest habits to quit. Many smokers who successfully kick the habit lament that quitting smoking is like saying...

  • Eating Disorders and Your Fertility
    Feb 2023

    Can You Get Pregnant With an Eating Disorder? There’s never been a time in history when women experience more pressure to achieve a physical ideal. Societal pressure to achieve a physical ideal exists before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and postpartum. There is hardly a phase in...

  • What Not To Eat or Drink During Pregnancy
    Feb 2023

    What Foods and Beverages Should You Avoid During Pregnancy? It might be a little unnerving to know that your unborn baby can be affected by a food borne illness when you don’t become sick or show symptoms of infection. Tragically, some food borne illnesses can...

  • Questions to Ask at Your Postpartum Checkup
    Feb 2023

    What happens at Postpartum Checkups? Hey Mama! After you give birth to your baby, you might be wondering how many postpartum checkups you’ll have. All mothers will have an initial checkup 1-3 days after giving birth. You will have a bedside visit from your provider...

  • Reducing the Maternal Mortality of Black Mothers
    Jan 2023

    Black mothers are 3 times more likely to die from maternal related causes than white mothers.² What is Maternal Mortality? In the United States, the month of February honors black history; the contributions and sacrifices African Americans have made for our country. It’s also a...

  • Relieving Nipple Pain From Breastfeeding
    Jan 2023

    25% of American women stop breastfeeding by 6 months because of nipple pain.² You might be wondering what to expect the first few weeks of breastfeeding your newborn. For mothers who’ve already breastfed a baby, you may not experience much nipple tenderness. But, for first...

  • Reducing Risk of the Top 5 Birth Defects
    Jan 2023

    3% of infants in the U.S. are born with birth defects.¹ If you’re thinking about becoming pregnant or just found out that you’re pregnant, you may also be thinking about birth defects. January is Birth Defects Awareness Month so it’s a good time to discuss...

  • The Benefits of Colostrum: Liquid Gold
    Jan 2023

    Feeding your baby colostrum in the first hour of life gives your baby the best start in life.² If you’re a first time Mama or never breastfed your baby before, you may be wondering what colostrum is. And, why is it so amazing that it’s...

  • cervical cancer and fertility
    Jan 2023

    95% of Cervical Cancers are caused by HPV (Human Papillomavirus) mainly contracted through sex.³ What is Cervical Cancer? Talking about cervical cancer can be scary. It’s a disease that affects women in childbearing age, which means very young to middle aged women. 95% of cervical...

  • Nov 2022

    Hey Mama!  December 3rd is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. While pregnancy is not often associated with disability, there is one condition that affects some pregnant women and presents similar acute and enduring challenges: Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP). Pelvic Girdle Pain is usually related...

  • safe toy giving
    Nov 2022

    Happy Holidays to both new and seasoned Mamas! ‘Tis the season for gift giving and no doubt you’ll be both gifting and receiving a plethora of presents this year. When it comes to the little ones though, it’s a good idea to refresh on the...

  • postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction
    Nov 2022

    Chronic pelvic pain and incontinence (leaking urine or feces) are not acceptable, long term conditions after childbirth. What is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction After Childbirth? As women, we’ve all heard it many times, that leaking pee (urinary incontinence) is the way it is – forever –...

  • hiv and pregnancy
    Nov 2022

    Mother-to-baby HIV transmission disproportionally affects black/African American people. In 2019, 61% of new mother-to-baby HIV diagnoses were black/African American.² What is Mother-to-Baby HIV Transmission? Hey Mama! December 1 is World Aids Day and a time to bring awareness to HIV transmission from mother to baby....

  • infant reflux
    Nov 2022

    40-65% of healthy infants regurgitate after feeding (reflux) and this usually goes away around 6-12 months.¹ Is Reflux Normal in Babies? Hey Mama! Did you know that when babies regurgitate or “spit up” that it’s normal? This is called reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux (GER), which...

  • kangaroo care for premature infants
    Nov 2022

    Skin-to-skin Kangaroo Care helps regulate your baby’s body temperature, breathing, heart rate, and blood sugar.² What is Kangaroo Care and How Will It Benefit My Baby? November 17 is World Prematurity Day with the March of Dimes, an organization that educates families about premature infants...

  • caring for a premature baby
    Nov 2022

    What is a Premature Baby? The normal length of a pregnancy is between 37- 42 weeks. Some pregnancies take longer to develop and others are shorter. When a baby is born before 37 weeks, however, she is considered “preterm”, “preemie” or “premature”.  A baby born...

  • Nov 2022

    High blood sugar around the time of conception and throughout pregnancy increases risks of:  birth defects, still birth, preterm birth, c-sections, and the baby developing obesity and diabetes later in life.¹ What is Gestational Diabetes? November is American Diabetes Month and a great time to...

  • postpartum health plan
    Oct 2022

    The postpartum period can be challenging for new moms.  Between the shifts in hormone levels, vaginal bleeding, and the newness  of caring for your newborn, it can be overwhelming.  Don’t neglect your own health and wellbeing. It’s so important that you prioritize your health as...

  • postpartum depression
    Oct 2022

    Depression during pregnancy and postpartum is the most common mental health condition  Being pregnant and becoming a parent is often a time of joy and excitement. It can also be a time of worry and doubt, especially if this is your first time becoming a...

  • intimate partner violence
    Oct 2022

    1 in 4 women have experienced intimate partner physical violence in their lifetime.1 Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is the willful use of abuse or aggression that occurs in a current or past romantic relationship.  IPV can range from one episode of violence that could have...

  • foods to avoid while breastfeeding
    Sep 2022

    If you’re planning on breastfeeding, it’s important to understand the direct link between your baby’s health and your diet.  Just like during pregnancy, what you consume will be passed on to your baby.  Many new moms are aware of this, but aren’t sure what foods...

  • PCOS and infertility
    Aug 2022

    5-10% of U.S. women of childbearing age have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and often find out when they are trying to have a baby.² Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common causes of infertility of women in the United States. It affects...

  • folic acid during pregnancy
    Aug 2022

    Women of reproductive age need 400 mcg of folic acid every day, increased to 600 mcg daily during pregnancy.² September 12-18 is Folic Acid Awareness week with the National Birth Defects Prevention Network. This is a great time to highlight the importance of folic acid...

  • covid vaccine pregnancy
    Jul 2022

    COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy reduces the risk of pregnancy complications if infected with the COVID virus.² The last two years have been a scary time for women who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or newly postpartum. The novel Coronavirus is new to the medical...

  • preventing mastitis
    Jul 2022

    Effective, frequent nursing speeds the recovery of clogged milk ducts and mastitis. The antibacterial qualities of breastmilk prevent the baby from getting an infection related to an inflamed or infected breast. The first week of August is World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) week, which...

  • babies born with cleft lip and palate
    Jun 2022

    Around the world, 1 out of 700 babies are born with cleft lip and/or cleft palate.² July is National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month, a time to bring focus on the special challenges and treatment of babies born with orofacial malformations like cleft...

  • what is cord blood banking?
    Jun 2022

    Since 1988, greater than 35,000 people have received umbilical cord blood for the correction of metabolic, malignant and genetic disorders.¹ As you approach your baby’s due date, it is your medical provider’s role to discuss the option of banking your baby’s cord blood after birth....

  • May 2022

    Scleroderma, a connective tissue disease, most often affects women of childbearing age (30-50).¹ Scleroderma is a fairly rare disease, affecting 75,000 – 100,000 people in the United States. Women are affected more than men, mostly during childbearing years from ages 30-50. For this reason, it’s...

  • pregnancy and covid prevention
    May 2022

    As summer approaches, it’s natural to want to break out of the confines of the house and get out and about, enjoying BBQs, beach days, June weddings, and more. Warm weather and sunny days make you want to let your hair down and go mask-less!...

  • smoking while pregnant
    May 2022

    Babies whose mothers smoke are three times more likely to die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).¹ May 31st is World No Tobacco Day. It’s a day when the World Health Organization shines a light on the dangers of tobacco use and exposure for mothers,...

  • women's health
    May 2022

    Big changes are made one degree at a time, through small choices every day. Over time, these small changes lead to a 180 degree turn-around. This year, Mother’s Day kicks off a spotlight week on Women’s Health issues. For many women, stress management is a...

  • breastfeeding workplace rights
    Mar 2022

    Hey Mamas! Did you know that April 28th is a designated day to heighten awareness about workplace safety and health? For breastfeeding mothers who are returning to their workplace, this is an important issue. Long separations from your baby during work hours can affect breast...

  • black maternal mortality
    Mar 2022

    Black women are three times more likely to die of pregnancy related causes than white women.¹ What Factors Affect Black Maternal Mortality Rates? April 11-17 is black maternal health week. It’s an inadequate window of time where there is an acute lens focused on the...

  • rape related pregnancy
    Mar 2022

    In the United States, approximately 32,000 pregnancies result from rape each year.² How Does Sexual Violence Against Women Happen? Long ago, it was thought that a woman couldn’t get pregnant unless she had consented to sex. This myth was perpetuated for centuries and used to...

  • endometriosis and pregnancy
    Feb 2022

    Endometriosis is a chronic immune and hormone disease affecting 11% of girls and women in the United States and a leading cause of infertility.¹ What is Endometriosis? Endometriosis or Endo is when endometriosis tissue (tissue similar to the lining of the uterus) grows outside the...

  • eating disorders and pregnancy
    Feb 2022

    For many women, pregnancy and postpartum can trigger concerns with food, body weight and/or body image. For women with a history of eating disorders, the risk is greater and concerns can lead to obsessions.

  • cytomegalovirus prevention
    Jan 2022

    Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading viral cause of intellectual disabilities and non-genetic hearing loss in newborns and is highly preventable. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is an infectious disease related to the viruses that cause herpes simplex, chicken pox, and mononucleosis (“Mono”). Once you have the virus, it...

  • Infant Congenital Heart Defects
    Jan 2022

    Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common type of birth defect. 1 out of 4 babies born with CHD will need surgery due to critical defects.  What are Infant Congenital Heart Defects? Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common type of birth defect....

  • Knowledge is Prevention When It Comes to Some Birth Defects
    Dec 2021

    Birth defects affect babies all over the world.   A birth defect is a structural change to a baby’s body part, inside or outside the body.  What Causes Birth Defects? Birth defects happen as a result of: genetics, infection, exposure to an environmental toxin like...

  • Dec 2021

    January is Thyroid Awareness month. When it comes to women’s health, understanding what your thyroid is and how it should be serving – not stagnating – your health and wellness is crucial. This knowledge is especially important during pregnancy and the postpartum period, when hormone...

  • Dec 2021

    The month of December recognizes people living with disabilities all over the world. We honor and acknowledge the struggle people with disabilities face in their daily living and consider how communities can reduce stigma and develop adaptations to support quality of life.   Disability as...

  • National Safe Toys and Gifts Month with Child & Family Services
    Dec 2021

    When selecting a toy, consider choking, drowning and suffocation hazards. These are significant causes of toy-related injury. Riding toys are the top culprit of injury or death in children under the age of 14.2 Make sure age and skill level of the child matches the...

  • World Prematurity Day
    Nov 2021

    Did you know that there are specific risk factors for preterm labor and birth? Read on to find out what you can do to lower your risk!  Preterm labor is labor that begins before the 37th week of pregnancy. Labor is the process your body...

  • Nov 2021

      Hey Mama! Did you know that 10% of pregnant women develop diabetes during pregnancy?1 This is called gestational diabetes. It usually develops in the 2nd trimester, which is when your provider will test for it. If you test positive, you can still have a healthy...

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