We all know that the swine flu has been hitting the people in the United States pretty hard, but it has been hitting women who are pregnant unusually hard. This is why they are most likely to be among the first in line to be advised to get a new swine flu shot this fall.

Pregnant women account for approximately 6 percent of the U.S. flu death since this pandemic began in April, even though they only make up 1 percent of the population in the U.S.

Most of the health officials call that advice unwarranted, but they have agreed that the health risks are very significant. In a recent report, experts from the World Health Organization found that pregnant women appear to be “at increased risk for severe disease, potentially resulting in spontaneous abortion and/or death, especially during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.” However, the WHO has not yet recommended that pregnant women should get priority vaccinations.

The data from the CDC indicates that the swine flu is at least as dangerous. Of the 302 deaths in the U.S. that were attributed to the swine flue to date, the CDC has detailed information on 266 of the cases. The agency found that 15 of the 266 cases were pregnant women, or approximately 6 percent.

The first American to get the swine flu that lead to death was a pregnant woman from Texas named Judy Trunnell. She was 33 when she died May 5th after she slipping into a coma and giving birth to a health baby girl, delivered by Cesarean section.

Some of the pregnant women that get infected also have other health problems. Trunnell, for example, also suffered from asthma and the skin condition known as psoriasis. However, many of the pregnant women who died were considered to be relatively healthy, which suggests the pregnancy itself is a significant risk, stated Jamieson. “I think the whole concept that this flu only affects pregnant women with underlying medical conditions is incorrect.”

An estimated 30,000 women undergo in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments each year. The possibility of a continuing pregnancy being achieved by IVF has improved dramatically from a nearly 0 percent chance to 1 chance in 4 to 6 at IVF centers worldwide.  success rates continue to vary in predicting the probability of an IVF pregnancy. IVF treatments yield unpredictable results due to their success being dependent upon such variables as the age and reproductive health of both the hopeful mother and father.

IVF is a process by which egg cells are fertilized by sperm outside the womb in a controlled environment. A fertilized egg is then transferred to the woman’s uterus in hopes of establishing a successful pregnancy. IVF is an infertility treatment that couples turn to when other methods of assisted reproductive technology have failed. Now, new research may have identified genetic predictors for the potential outcome for IVF patients.

Researchers from the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, Ireland presented their findings at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology . They said that the newly discovered genetic markers showed activity patterns in over 200 genes and that those in women whose IVF treatment had succeeded were different from those in women for which the treatment had failed.

You would think that a comfortable retirement away from the working world would be every American’s dream, but with people living longer, healthier lives, many are adopting a different view. A survey last spring of almost 4,000 adults from four generations revealed that an astounding 71 percent of respondents who weren’t already retired indicated they wanted to continue working when they reach retirement age. More than half saw retirement as “an opportunity for a new, exciting chapter in life,” saying they might like to work less but not stop working, while many saw retirement as an opportunity for a second career. From a financial standpoint, this makes perfect sense; your retirement nest egg will continue to grow and you could receive a higher Social Security benefit when you do retire. But researchers say there may be another good reason to continue working beyond retirement—it could help ward off Alzheimer’s disease.

But other experts aren’t readily embracing the findings. “There could be a number of reasons why later retirement in men is linked with later onset of dementia,” said Dr. Susanne Sorensen, head of research at the Alzheimer’s Society. “Men who retire early often do so because of health conditions, such as hypertension or diabetes, which increase your risk of dementia.” She added: “The best way to reduce your risk of dementia is to combine keeping physically active, with eating a balanced diet and getting your blood pressure and cholesterol checked regularly.”

The researchers acknowledge that more research is needed in order to understand ways to effectively delay or prevent dementia, but adds that “the possibility that the nature of retirement is changing must also be considered. It is at least plausible that retirement has become more stimulating over time. Our data suggests a continuing positive effect of cognitive activities into later life. This may give some encouragement to the increasing investigations into cognitive training in later life and adds weight to the notion of an active retirement.”

New data shows that breastfeeding isn’t only good for the baby, but can also benefit the mother. Mothers who breastfeed may benefit from lower risks of heart attacks, heart disease, and stroke because of reduced fat stored in the body.

Though breastfeeding had been losing steam for many decades with the migration of more women in the workplace, it seems over the past several years the trend is actually gaining in popularity. Research has shown many positive effects of breastfeeding for a baby, such as lowering risks for infections in the gastrointestinal, urinary, and respiratory tracts, reducing instances of ear infections, diarrhea and the risk of SIDS (sudden-infant death syndrome). Breastfeeding has also shown to potentially ward off allergies, diabetes, and even obesity later in life for breastfed babies. According to Audrey Naylor, “Even if a mother breastfeeds for just a few weeks after giving birth, she is giving her baby an enormous health boost with positive effects that can be seen almost immediately, as well as long- term benefits that may help her child remain healthier clear into adulthood.” Now there is research emerging showing the benefits of breastfeeding on mothers who nurse.

This means that breastfeeding has some pretty significant benefits for the long-term health of mothers. According to Dr. Adam Aponte, chairman of pediatrics and ambulatory care at North General Hospital in New York City, “In the short term, breastfeeding increases the production of oxytocin, a hormone that not only encourages milk production, but also helps a mother feel more relaxed and calm.” Previous research has shown that breastfeeding for as little as a month may reduce a mother’s risks of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer, and can potentially lead to stronger bones. Breastfeeding helps a mother’s uterus to contract even after birth and return to its pre-pregnancy state and preventing postpartum hemorrhaging.

Based on research, breastfeeding seems to be a win-win situation, benefiting both mother and baby. The longer a mother nurses her baby the better for both of them. It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics that mothers breastfeed their babies with no supplementation of other liquids, only mother’s milk, for six months, but to continue breastfeeding along with liquid supplementation if desired, throughout a baby’s first year of life and beyond.