Daily Health Tip: Family History
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Curious about your and your husband’s family history — or, more specifically, how it relates to your pregnancy and baby-to-be? Then become a prenatal supersleuth. Here’s what to ask:
* Like mother, like daughter. While it may sound like an old wives’ tale — the research hasn’t been done to test the hypothesis — the prevailing wisdom is that women usually menstruate, get pregnant, and give birth similarly to their mothers. So ask your mom: How long did it take you to get pregnant? Did you have morning sickness? How long were you in labor? Answers to these questions may be indicators for what’s in store for you.
* And baby makes three…or four! It’s always good to know ahead of time whether you need to make room for two new little lives or just one. Multiples often run in families, so look for trends. (Your partner’s twin nephews may be cute, but it’s really only your side that you need to worry about.) Your mother may have neglected to tell you (or your ears didn’t perk up as they do now) about the twins crawling up your own family tree, so it’s time to start digging!
* Complications. There are complications associated with pregnancy that may also be genetic. Ask your mother and your husband’s mom if she (or her mother) ever had preeclampsia — a complication that can cause a pregnant woman’s blood pressure to skyrocket. A new study finds that sons and daughters born from preeclampsia pregnancies may carry genes related to the condition. Ask about gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, and other complications, too — and be prepared to share this information with your practitioner, so he or she can evaluate your risks.
* Red sheep of the family? Aside from gathering important clues about your future journey from pregnancy to birth, it’s just plain fun to get yourself into mommy mode by asking lots of questions. Even if you end up learning only that both of your partner’s great-grandparents had red hair, at least you won’t be shocked if the delivery room nurse hands you a carrottop!
Article courtesy of WhatToExpect.com
For more information on discovering your family history, click here.
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Comment by Kellie – Advice On Twin Pregnancy on Feb 18 2009 05:33:28:
This is really great advice for anyone newly pregnant or planning on getting pregnant. Remember, twins occur more often in women over the age of 35 too because of the increased occurrence of “hyper ovulation” (releasing 2 or more eggs) resulting in fraternal twins or multiples. So if you find that you have a family history of fraternal twins and you are well into your 30′s, your chances may be increased a bit. Either way, it’s fun to find out what your mother went through!