Artificial sweeteners may contribute more to weight gain than food rich in sugar. A study published in the Behavioral Neuroscience Journal has sparked a scientific debate on the role of calorie-free saccharine in obesity. Read "Artificial Sweeteners May Make Weight Gain Easier" to learn more.

QUESTION

Dear Midwife,
I was given two doses of Diflucan 150 mg one week apart at the very beginning of the pregnancy (1st / 2nd week) to treat a yeast infection. I didn't know at that time that I was pregnant.

I read about the side effects and I'm worried about what's going to happen to the development of the fetus. What are the risks? When would I know I everything is ok with the Baby

Artificial sweeteners may contribute more to weight gain than food rich in sugar. A study published in the Behavioral Neuroscience Journal has sparked a scientific debate on the role of calorie-free saccharine in obesity. The study suggested artificial sweeteners, which have zero or very low calories, seem to have destroyed the physiological link between sweet tastes and calories, resulting in overeating.

QUESTION:

Dear Livitician,
My wife and I are trying to get pregnant and we have some concerns about an over-the-counter detox/nutritional product that we are taking. The product is called Elemis Silhouette and it contains Gotu Cola, Kelp, and Klamath Lake Algae.

My wife has been taking the product for a week now and has 3 weeks to go on it. I have done some research on the ingredients and from what I see there is little human research on the product so the generic warning of "avoid if pregnant" shows up.

QUESTION

Dear Midwife,
Is it safe to take Zantac150 during pregnancy?

This period of the second trimester of your pregnancy is a good time to begin to prepare your body for giving birth to your baby. There are specific exercises you can do at home, as well as formal classes that will help you and your partner understand the labor and delivery process and prepare for it. Read "Exercises to Prepare for Childbirth " to learn more.

QUESTION

Dear Fitness Expert,
I am 26 years old and 36 weeks pregnant with my first. I was about 25 pounds overweight prior to the pregnancy, and while I realize that I'll be losing quite a bit through delivery and the subsequent few weeks just due to natural processes, I feel absolutely enormous now!

Everyone wants to have the perfect body with limited effort. Never mind that ephedrine -- the key ingredient in most fat burning dietary pills is responsible for 81 deaths and hundreds of victims of strokes, heart attacks and/or seizures. Read ""Lose Weight Now!" "Get a Flat Tummy in 3 Days!" to learn more.