Abigail Bertelson - Zenith Health (Page 2)

Laughing gas, antidepressants and sunless tanning

Epidurals tend to get the most attention as moms prepare for labor pain relief, but they’re not the only option. Nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas,” is another pain management option that comes with its own pros and cons – so here’s what you can consider if you’re interested in trying it.

Curb walking, GBS, and acid reflux

What does “curb walking” even mean and why do you start hearing about it all of the sudden at the end of pregnancy? It does, indeed, mean walking with one foot on the curb and one foot on the road - and some say it can naturally induce labor. Is there any evidence behind this common practice?

NIPT, migraines, and preventing tears

NIPT, or noninvasive prenatal testing, is an important and effective tool in prenatal care, but can (understandably!) be the source of a lot of anxiety. What will the results be? How accurate is it really? What’s “fetal fraction”? What questions to ask and what to expect?

Vivid dreams, Botox, and trimester zero

If your dreams lately feel more intense, detailed, or unsettling than usual, you’re not imagining it. There’s actually some science as to why you’re not just dreaming up this surprising symptom - read on to learn why vivid dreams are such a common pregnancy experience!

Waterbirths, baby aspirin, and hair dye

Hearing about aspirin use during pregnancy often comes as a surprise, especially with often being told to avoid medications, or to skip the aspirin/NSAIDs. But “baby aspirin” actually has a significant body of evidence supporting its use in some cases - so we're breaking it down.

Probiotics, epidural recovery, and shoveling snow

According to Google, the search term"Shoveling snow pregnant" is up +450% this week, and (unsurprisingly!) there are no studies specifically on snow shoveling. Here's what we can learn from other relevant evidence on whether moms should be out shoveling, or cozying up indoors!

Nosebleeds, red raspberry leaf, and anatomy scans

Like eating dates, drinking red raspberry leaf tea is one of the most popular suggestions in preparing for labor. There’s a wide range of beliefs on its benefit - speeding up labor, reducing interventions, or even inducing labor. So which of these benefits does the evidence actually support?

Hypnobirthing, NA beer, and gestational diabetes trends

If you’ve heard friends, TikTok influencers, or childbirth educators rave about hypnobirthing, you’re not alone! As more women look for non-medical ways to prepare for labor, interest in hypnobirthing is growing. Is it just the latest “woo” technique, or is it science-backed?

Melatonin, SPD, and red light masks

Red light masks have been exploding in popularity – they’re everywhere! After some of the basics (like what foods, drinks or OTC meds to avoid), skincare tools and skin exposures have become a hot topic in early pregnancy. To what extent has red light actually been studied in pregnancy?

Tums, cardio, and preventing preeclampsia

With the new year comes an onslaught of new year’s resolutions, many of which include fitness-related goals. There are reasonable modifications that are often suggested while pregnant, but what about the “140 bpm rule” - does science actually support this commonly touted advice?