Category: UNC Health Talk

Pregnancy is tough for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is balancing your own medical needs with trying to provide the best environment for your baby. It’s important to be mindful about what you put in your body because your baby is exposed to everything you consume....

When you’re considering pregnancy, you know your body will change as your baby grows and again after you give birth. You anticipate your heart will expand as you welcome a new addition to the family. But it might come as a surprise that the brains of new moms change as well....

The transition to menopause is a natural and normal part of life, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. In the years before and after your menstrual period stops, you can experience hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, insomnia, and vaginal and urinary symptoms.

The transition to menopause is different for every woman. Some experience symptoms that severely affect their quality of life, such as hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings, while others don’t. There is one symptom, however, that most women experience in their 40s or 50s: weight gain. “Even people with healthy lifestyles...

When you find out you’re pregnant, your to-do list instantly becomes much longer. There are people to tell, nurseries to decorate and names to consider. You also need to establish where you’ll receive your prenatal care. Your first prenatal appointment should be scheduled seven to nine weeks after your last...

In between deciding on nursery colors, which brand of stroller to buy and whether you want to breastfeed, it can be helpful to give some thought to your labor and delivery experience. Sharing a birth plan ahead of time with your care team and loved ones can help them support you and...

When Kimberly Mays was about 20 weeks pregnant with her second child, she began to feel faint and overheated. An ultrasound revealed that Mays’ baby had a very rapid heart rate.