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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 1, 2010)
<lfr ^ortlanh OObscrUcr Page 6 December I, 2010 H E A LTH MATTERS___________ A Safer Pregnancy Ahead by D r . R ichard No woman should die as a result of being pregnant. Yet each day in the U.S., one to two women die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. The rate of maternal mortality— deaths in women within a year of the end of a pregnancy from a cause related to or made worse by pregnancy — is too high. And the situation may be even worse than estim ates suggest because some deaths are not reported as related to gestation. For many years, medical ad vances, safer deliveries in hospi tals, higher standards of living, im proved environmental and living N. W aldman conditions, a lower national birth rate, and an increased focus on prenatal care helped steadily reduce maternal death. But recently, maternal mortality has been on the rise. The leading causes o f p re g nan cy -related deaths are h em orrhage, blood clots, high blood pressure, infection, stroke, am niotic fluid in the bloodstream , and heart disease. Some factors that may contrib ute to maternal mortality include more women getting pregnant later in life and more starting pregnancy with preexisting medical conditions such as diabetes and obesity. Black women also experience a signifi cantly higher number of pregnancy- related deaths than white or His panic women— a disparity which needs more study and has yet to be explained. M aintaining a healthy lifestyle before becom ing pregnant and finding appropriate prenatal care are integral elem ents in lowering the risk of dangerous com plica tions. In fact, as many as half of the annual m aternal deaths could be prevented if women had better access to health care, received more quality care, and improved their health and lifestyle habits. The Am erican College of O b stetricians and G ynecologists en co u rag es all rep ro d u ctiv e-ag e women to meet with their doctors before pregnancy to discuss pre conception care. This allows your doctor adequate time to review personal health information that could affect a future pregnancy and treat any preexisting m edical conditions that you may have such as high blood pressure, sei zures, heart disease and substance abuse problem s. If you are pregnant, it is impera tive that you visit your doctor on a regular basis, and the sooner you start, the better. Prenatal visits al low your doctor to closely watch y o u r h e alth and y o u r b ab y 's progress while providing you with any special care you may need dur ing your pregnancy. If you are uninsured and don't have regular access to a doctor, there are programs in every state that provide low- or no-cost medical and dental insurance coverage for children and pregnant wom en (insurekidsnow .gov). N on-preg nant women can find free or low cost health care clinics by state at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov. Dr. Richard N. Waldman is presi dent o f the American Congress o f Obstetricians and Gynecologists. H ealth W atch Families with Mental Illness - A free, 12-week course for people whose family members live with mental illness is offered at Emanuel Hospital, Mt. Hood Medical Center and Providence Medical Center. The course has been described as “life-changing” by former participants. Registration is required by calling 503-203-3326. Managing Chronic Hepatitis C - Third Wednesday of each month at 5 p.m. The informative session is led by a registered nurse to help you manage side effects of medications and dosage preparations and admin istration; doctor referral required. To register, call 503-251 -6313. Better Breathers - An asthma educational support group meets on the 1 st Tuesday of the month from 1:15 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. at Adventist Medical Center. For information, call 503-251 -6830. Cancer Resource Center - Providence St. Vincent Medical Center and the American Red Cross have joined forces to create the first in-hospital resource center providing books, printed material, computer access and more for individuals and families dealing with cancer. The center is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. At My Father's House Ministries 2511 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Portland (corner of NE MLK Blvd. and Russell) 503.488.5481 Event for Children accompanied by an adult only. Limited Quantities "Bendiciones Navideñas" i • Regalos para ñiños con adulto presente solamente Sabado, 18 de Diciembre 2010 De 9.am.-12 p.m. En la Iglesia My Father's House Ministries Preguntas: Rosy 503.473.5733 Lead Poisoning Prevention - Learn how to protect your family from lead poisoning. Ideal for folks in live in older homes with children or pregnant women. Qualified participants receive a free kit of safety and testing supplies. Call 503-284-6827. Parenting Classes — Newborns don’t come with instruction manuals but parents and parents-to-be can learn about a variety of topics from pain and childbirth to breastfeeding to infant CPR and much more. For a schedule of events, call 503-574-6595 or visit: providence.org/classes. Cardiac-Rehab Exercises — A medically supervised exercise program for people dealing with heart conditions. For information, call 503-251 -6260. Stroke Alert Screening — Check your carotid arteries with a painless ultrasound to assess your risk. Fee $40. To schedule a screening, call 503- 251-6137. Empowerment through Relaxation - Free informal meditation classes that address breathing techniques, some gentle ancient African yoga poses and mental balancing techniques - People have left these classes joyful and with a peaceful view of their lives. Call Dr. Marcelitte Failla at 503-228-6140. Powerful Tools For Caregivers - 6-week educational series designed to help family caregivers take care of themselves while caring for relatives or friends with chronic illness. Class size is limited, and registration is required. Call 503-413-8018. Leg Alert Screening - Check for peripheral arterial disease with this safe, simple screening using ankle and arm blood pressure. The fee is $40. To schedule an appointment, call 503-251-6137. Smoke-Free Support Group — Meets Mondays, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. For information, call 503-256-4000.