According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women. In the United States, it’s expected that by the end of 2014, about 232,670 cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in women and about 40,000 women will pass away from the disease (it’s also important to note that [...]
Every year, we hear so much about breast cancer during the month of October - and it can never hurt to reinforce your knowledge of what’s normal and what isn’t. However, new research and misconceptions mean there’s always something more to learn about this extremely common disease. In order to debrief you on the latest, we [...]
Whether you have a family history of genetic disorders or are an older mom — or even if you're perfectly healthy — prenatal testing (from noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) to chorionic villus sampling (CVS) to amniocentesis) allows you to gain knowledge about your babies' risk factors. We talked to Dr. Kecia Gaither, Director of Maternal Fetal [...]
I have loved the term “diabetical” since the matriarch of Tyler Perry’s Madea movie franchise first coined the phrase. The term masterfully highlights the diabolical nature of the disease, which has now become a worldwide public health crisis. So what is diabetes? According to the CDC, diabetes reflects a condition where the body doesn’t process food properly. Consumed food [...]
Question of the day: This is one that Breezy Mama (not only wonders, but…) receives a lot: Why do I still look pregnant 2 years later? Is that normal? Will my stomach ever flatten again? Fortunately, Dr. Kecia Gaither, Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Brooklyn’s Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, explains why and what [...]
While essential oils can promote healing and ease anxiety, you’re right to approach ‘em with hesitation during pregnancy. "Avoid oils that say 'moving oil' on the label," says Kecia Gaither, M.D., vice chairman and director of maternal fetal medicine at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. These oils promote circulation—great for most women—but during pregnancy, they [...]
Pregnancy is a stressful time for a woman – and for an expecting father as well. Becoming a father is a time of great change for a man, with added strain pertaining to financial planning and the changing dynamic of the relationship between himself and his partner, says OB/GYN Kecia Gaither, Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine [...]
Starting your family is one of the biggest life changes you'll ever make, and it's normal to feel anxious about the prospect of getting pregnant. Start with a trip to your doctor to rule out any underlying health concerns. Once you get the green light, make a few simple changes to boost your fertility. Many of [...]
Feeling overwhelmed, exhausted or inadequate is an almost universal experience for new moms, but postpartum depression occurs when those feelings limit your ability to take care of yourself and your baby. Between 7 and 15 percent of moms experience postpartum depression within the first three months after delivery, although symptoms can occur anytime in the first [...]
With continuously improving healthcare and better access to resources for expectant mothers, global death rates during childbirth have dropped by 45 percent over the past 20 years, according to a recent report by the World Health Organization. While 99 percent of maternal deaths still happen in developing nations, there is still cause for alarm in the [...]
