Health for a Lifetime

Studies In Premature Birth, Std's, Etc.

Three Angels Broadcasting Network

Program transcript

Participants: Don Mackintosh (Host), Dr. Neil Nedley

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Series Code: HFAL

Program Code: HFAL00233A


00:50 Hello and welcome to Health for A Lifetime.
00:52 Today, we're gonna talk about something that
00:54 maybe many of our viewers have experienced
00:57 and that is looking forward to that first baby.
01:00 Being excited about that new bundle of joy
01:02 that's coming into your home.
01:04 Sometimes people say, Why wait?
01:07 Maybe something should come early.
01:09 But, we're going to learn today that having a baby too soon
01:13 is really quite damaging,
01:14 and how to avoid that, if possible.
01:17 Talking with us today about that is Dr. Neil Nedley.
01:19 Welcome, Dr. Nedley.
01:20 Thank you. Good to be here.
01:22 You're a friend to this program.
01:24 Some may have just joined us, but many times, we've talked.
01:26 You're actually an internal medicine specialist.
01:29 You practice in Ardmore, Oklahoma. - Correct.
01:31 You see people that have just had babies?
01:35 Normally, it's a pediatric type person or an OB type doctor
01:39 that sees these types of people that have had
01:41 births where there's a premature birth.
01:44 But how would you as an internal medicine relate to this?
01:48 Well, I often see many of these pregnant women in my
01:52 internal medicine office because they have
01:54 internal medicine problems. - Okay.
01:56 And, of course, that increases the risk of premature births.
02:00 And so, we're trying to do everything possible to
02:03 prevent the premature delivery.
02:05 So, we want to get that mom healthy;
02:07 all the different things we'll talk that about today.
02:09 Now this is a concern
02:10 among researchers here in America, isn't it?
02:13 It is a concern. In fact, just very recent studies have shown
02:18 that it's a growing problem in America.
02:21 In fact, we have a graphic that illustrates
02:24 that US health leaders are trying to craft a blueprint on
02:28 how to cut the US premature birth rate.
02:32 The problem with it is that so many people,
02:36 so many kids are being born premature now
02:39 In fact, it's increased by 20 percent since 1990.
02:44 Half a million babies are born premature
02:47 in this country every year.
02:50 And that means before 37 weeks.
02:52 So it's not just one week premature
02:53 or two weeks premature.
02:54 To actually get the definition of prematurity
02:57 you have to be more than four weeks early.
03:00 And, if you are more than four weeks early,
03:03 that increases your risk of a host of problems later on.
03:07 I know this isn't part of it, but what about coming late?
03:09 Is that a problem, too?
03:11 Coming late can be a problem.
03:13 Particularly if it's over two weeks late.
03:15 In some studies, it can increase the risk of some problems
03:19 However, that is not near as common a problem in America
03:23 as coming early; which is the far more common problem.
03:26 So, when they come premature, there also is the problem of...
03:31 Is it something to do with weight?
03:33 It is. Actually, if they're coming premature,
03:38 there actually is low birth weight associated with that.
03:42 And when you have low birth weight
03:44 then that also increases your risk of a number of problems.
03:46 So, let's talk, then about premature
03:50 birth, but more prenatal influences.
03:55 What kind of things are influencing this?
03:59 Identifying those would be one thing.
04:02 It may be obvious how to avoid them if we just identify them.
04:06 But, let's talk about those.
04:07 Well, some of the prenatal influences that could lead to
04:10 premature birth are going to be smoking, drinking,
04:15 more in vitro fertilization.
04:18 That's one of the reasons why it's increased.
04:20 The in vitro fertilization;
04:23 particularly when you have multiple pregnancies.
04:25 That also increases the risk
04:27 that prematurity is going to come about.
04:29 So, how does that work with the in vitro fertilization?
04:32 Is it not as closely...
04:34 Is it not as firmly grounded there in the...
04:37 Why would that be premature?
04:40 Well, often they're using more than one sperm
04:45 and more than one egg to do the in vitro fertilizations
04:49 so they get a pregnancy.
04:51 And so, to increase the chance that they'll have a pregnancy
04:56 often there can be two or three babies born; four or five.
05:01 That's where you get the seven babies born, eight babies born.
05:06 And the more babies that are inside the womb
05:09 of course, the bigger that womb gets.
05:11 And the larger it gets, the greater the risk that it's gonna
05:15 try to expel those contents before it's time.
05:19 And then smoking and alcohol?
05:20 How does that cause premature?
05:22 Do you know the mechanism of that?
05:24 There have been studies in regards to the mechanism.
05:28 It's actually more than one mechanism.
05:30 There's over 2000 chemicals in cigarette smoke.
05:33 Some of those chemicals can actually
05:37 lead to uterine contractions;
05:39 can lead to decreased circulation of certain portions
05:42 of the uterus.
05:43 One of the reasons why fibroids of the uterus
05:46 also can increase the risk of premature delivery
05:49 because of the decreased circulation in that area
05:54 and smoking does affect the circulation.
05:56 So, I'm sure second hand smoke would as well.
05:58 Second hand smoke does, to a certain extent.
06:01 So, if you're not a smoker and you're carrying a baby
06:04 you don't want your husband to smoke around you either.
06:07 Okay. And then alcohol?
06:08 Yes. Alcohol also has a significant role to play.
06:12 Alcohol increases the risk of blood pressure problems.
06:15 A lot of people are unaware of the fact
06:17 that just two ounces of alcohol a day
06:19 is all it takes to raise a woman's blood pressure.
06:22 And when she increases her blood pressure
06:26 it increases the risk of premature delivery.
06:28 Okay, so, no smoking, no drinking and
06:33 then also watching this
06:35 fertility things in terms of in vitro fertilization.
06:41 What are some other causes of premature...
06:44 Well, maternal obesity.
06:45 Maternal obesity?
06:47 That's right. And so, when the woman is overweight, she
06:50 increases her risk of actually having an underweight baby.
06:55 How does that work?
06:56 Maternal obesity also increases the risk of high blood pressure.
07:00 And there's probably some other mechanisms involved, as well,
07:03 in that process.
07:05 We recommend, actually if someone is overweight and
07:09 they're having a baby they don't need to gain as much weight
07:14 as someone who is of normal weight.
07:17 In fact, a recent obstetrics task force looked at this
07:22 and a person who is obese at the time that they conceive
07:28 they really should only gain about 15 pounds
07:30 during their pregnancy or maybe a little more.
07:33 But certainly not the 25 pounds that's recommended
07:35 for someone who is of normal weight
07:38 at the time when they get pregnant.
07:40 Maybe there's not enough room in there for the baby.
07:42 They want to get it out of there.
07:44 Well, that could be part of it as well as we'd talked about
07:47 when there is more pressure
07:49 on that it does increase the risk of delivery.
07:53 I saw a CAT scan, not of the lady of course but
07:57 looking at the obesity of someone inside
08:00 we see someone obese outside.
08:01 Inside there's also a lot of adipose tissue in there.
08:05 A lot of adipose tissue in there, and
08:07 A lot of fat cells. Right.
08:08 And if you're wearing tight jeans on top of that
08:12 you've increased the pressure even more.
08:14 Baby says, Get me out of here.
08:16 Anything else then in terms of premature...
08:20 There are a host of factors that
08:22 increase the risk of premature delivery.
08:24 Diabetes is one of them.
08:26 And if the diabetes is not controlled in the mother.
08:30 And so checking for gestational diabetes,
08:33 checking those blood sugars,
08:34 getting on the right diet so the blood sugars don't go above 140
08:38 an hour after eating is an important step
08:41 in preventing a premature delivery.
08:43 We don't know why they come out early based on that.
08:46 It's just, we need to avoid it.
08:48 That's right. We need to avoid it.
08:49 So Diabetes, making sure that...
08:52 And this happens a lot.
08:53 When someone gets pregnant, it just kind of
08:55 puts them over the edge and they
08:56 get diabetes when they never had it before.
08:58 So they need to get checked.
08:59 If they have the gene for diabetes.
09:01 In other words, if their mother was a diabetic, or father.
09:04 Or maybe their mother and father aren't old enough
09:07 to get to diabetes yet.
09:08 But if they have the gene there, even among grandparents
09:11 that really increases their risk of gestational diabetes.
09:15 When you say they have the gene,
09:16 they shouldn't get genetic testing, they just know their
09:18 family history, is what you're talking about.
09:19 Yeah. If they know their family history.
09:21 If that is there... If they do get gestational diabetes
09:26 it is a true sign that
09:29 that mother does indeed have the gene.
09:31 And so that means she is going to develop
09:34 diabetes later on in life unless she stays normal weight,
09:38 stays lean, stays exercising and eats the right food
09:41 and even if you have the gene for diabetes
09:43 you'll never develop diabetes
09:45 if you're on an ideal lifestyle program.
09:47 Some other things that increase the risk.
09:51 Caffeine increases the risk.
09:54 A study by Yale University back in 2003 showed that if you
09:58 drink a 10 ounce glass or cup of coffee per day,
10:03 it does significantly increase the risk of preterm delivery
10:07 as well as low birth weight babies.
10:09 So just one cup of Starbucks or whatever it is..
10:13 That's right.
10:14 That's not something someone who is
10:17 pregnant or thinking of getting pregnant
10:19 or trying to get pregnant should be drinking.
10:21 Exactly.
10:23 Was there any factor as to when
10:24 they drank that during the pregnancy
10:26 in terms of heightened risk or was it anytime?
10:28 Particularly in the first two trimesters
10:33 it increases the risk.
10:34 So at the time you get pregnant, that's a good time to...
10:38 Actually before you get pregnant...
10:41 If you're planning on getting pregnant
10:43 go through the caffeine withdrawal first.
10:45 You'll have headaches for a couple of days
10:47 but it'll be worth it in the long run.
10:49 So, basically everything you know to be bad,
10:52 stop doing it before you get pregnant.
10:54 Exactly. You would actually...
10:57 That way your dream can be fulfilled
10:59 of having the perfect baby.
11:01 Everyone wants to have the perfect baby
11:06 and there are ways actually of
11:08 greatly increasing your likelihood of having
11:11 that perfect baby.
11:12 Does age have anything to do with premature births?
11:15 Age of the mother? Yes.
11:17 It does.
11:18 Mothers who are over the age of 35 when they get pregnant
11:22 they have an increased risk of preterm delivery.
11:25 And even more vital than that is mothers
11:28 who are under the age of 16
11:30 have a significant risk of preterm delivery.
11:34 In other words, when you are over 35
11:40 are you saying don't try to have a baby?
11:43 No, I'm just telling you the statistics on that
11:47 that are associated with it.
11:48 I think if you're over the age of 35
11:51 you can still have babies.
11:52 In fact a recent study
11:54 showed that if you have a baby and you're aged 45
11:57 you're four times as likely to live to age 90.
12:03 People ought to be less risk of living to age 90
12:06 but there might be some sort of motivation
12:08 to see your kids and your grandkids grow up.
12:11 So having babies in 40's is okay,
12:13 but you would really need to have some close prenatal
12:16 follow-up.
12:18 You need to really do the prenatal exams.
12:20 in fact, that's one of the risks as well.
12:22 We're talking about risks of preterm delivery.
12:24 One of the risks is if that girl just doesn't see the doctor
12:27 as scheduled for her prenatal exams.
12:30 You do need to see your gynecologist
12:34 for those prenatal exams.
12:35 And then, of course, the ultrasounds need to be done
12:38 making sure that the baby
12:39 is developing normally and healthfully.
12:42 And if you do that over the age of 35,
12:44 I think your risk can be almost as low as someone who's 30.
12:48 Certainly it needs to be avoided under the age of 16.
12:52 So, I'm not gonna ask how old your wife is,
12:55 and I'm not gonna ask how old mine is.
12:56 But at some point, this might be good information for them
12:59 if they want to have another child.
13:00 Yeah, absolutely.
13:02 My wife did have a couple of babies after the age of 35.
13:08 One in her 40's.
13:11 They were very healthy,
13:13 but she also paid very close attention
13:15 to what I am talking about here today.
13:17 We're talking with Dr. Neil Nedley.
13:19 We're talking about prenatal influences.
13:21 When we come back, you may be saying well,
13:23 I see what I shouldn't do and maybe that seems...
13:26 that's interesting, but when we come back
13:29 you're gonna to see how important it really is.
13:31 What are the impacts on children.
13:35 When we come back, we'll take a closer look
13:38 not only at what the impact can be
13:40 but what we can do to avoid problems.
13:42 So join us when we come back.


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Revised 2014-12-17