A few nice pregnancy symptoms images I found:

Tropical Medicine Course 2010


Image by US Army Africa
Capt. Gabrielle Caldara, U.S. Army Africa Command Surgeon environmental science officer, views a leishmaniasis slide during Tropical Medicine Course (TMC) training Sept. 13, 2010, at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, Md.

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Roddy Rieger

The continent of Africa is home to many tropical diseases, which cause illness and, in some instances, death. Tropical diseases wreak havoc on the social and economic growth of the continent and affect the health and welfare of those who travel.

To combat the affects of tropical diseases, and to ensure the health and safety of all Soldiers operating in the U.S. Africa Command operational area, the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, in coordination with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, has resurrected the formerly defunct Tropical Medicine Course (TMC) for the 21st century.

The original TMC was taught in 1941 and discontinued in 1991, after 50 years. It was resurrected in 2010 in response to the operational needs of AFRICOM and the Special Operations Command.

Once a six-week long course, it was converted to a targeted short course, and tailored toward non-physician health care providers. The week-long class is now a requirement for all medical professionals deploying to provide health care on the African continent, said Capt. Gabrielle Caldara, environmental science officer with U.S. Army Africa’s Command Surgeon’s Office.

Caldara, Sgt. 1st Class Roddy Rieger, the CSO’s NCOIC, and Staff Sgt. Darren Jones, a medical NCO with USARAF Headquarters Support Company, were the first Army Africa personnel to attend the class Sept. 13-17 at WRAIR in Silver Spring, Md.

The course focused on teaching medical personnel to recognize, diagnosis and treat a range of tropical diseases and ailments that can affect Soldiers who work and travel throughout Africa, said Rieger.

“There were a lot of lectures, seminars and hands on lab practices on things such as leishmaniasis and malaria,” he said. “We learned better ways to recognize symptoms and better ways to treat the problems.”

Among them was the Rapid Diagnostic Test, used to screen patients for malaria. The test uses only a pinprick amount of blood and “is as simple as using a pregnancy test,” Rieger said.

“This particular test allows medical professionals the freedom and convenience to test for the disease without requiring them to transport the patient to a medical facility,” Caldara said.

While Army Africa personnel attending the TMC appreciated the advances in treatment of many tropical diseases, Caldara stressed prevention and education remain key factors in disease prevention.

“This was a great class to understand the intricacies of these diseases, but in the end it all goes back to basics,” she said. “Proper precautions such as uniform treatment, use of DEET/insect repellent, adherence to proper medications and use of a bed net are essential.”

To learn more about U.S. Army Africa visit our official website at www.usaraf.army.mil

Official Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/usarmyafrica

Official YouTube video channel: www.youtube.com/usarmyafrica

Tropical Medicine Course 2010


Image by US Army Africa
Sgt. 1st Class Roddy Rieger, U.S. Army Africa Command Surgeon NCOIC, volunteers to be bitten by sand flies during Tropical Medicine Course (TMC) training Sept. 13, 2010, at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Silver Spring, Md.

U.S. Army photo by Capt. Gabrielle Caldara

The continent of Africa is home to many tropical diseases, which cause illness and, in some instances, death. Tropical diseases wreak havoc on the social and economic growth of the continent and affect the health and welfare of those who travel.

To combat the affects of tropical diseases, and to ensure the health and safety of all Soldiers operating in the U.S. Africa Command operational area, the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, in coordination with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, has resurrected the formerly defunct Tropical Medicine Course (TMC) for the 21st century.

The original TMC was taught in 1941 and discontinued in 1991, after 50 years. It was resurrected in 2010 in response to the operational needs of AFRICOM and the Special Operations Command.

Once a six-week long course, it was converted to a targeted short course, and tailored toward non-physician health care providers. The week-long class is now a requirement for all medical professionals deploying to provide health care on the African continent, said Capt. Gabrielle Caldara, environmental science officer with U.S. Army Africa’s Command Surgeon’s Office.

Caldara, Sgt. 1st Class Roddy Rieger, the CSO’s NCOIC, and Staff Sgt. Darren Jones, a medical NCO with USARAF Headquarters Support Company, were the first Army Africa personnel to attend the class Sept. 13-17 at WRAIR in Silver Spring, Md.

The course focused on teaching medical personnel to recognize, diagnosis and treat a range of tropical diseases and ailments that can affect Soldiers who work and travel throughout Africa, said Rieger.

“There were a lot of lectures, seminars and hands on lab practices on things such as leishmaniasis and malaria,” he said. “We learned better ways to recognize symptoms and better ways to treat the problems.”

Among them was the Rapid Diagnostic Test, used to screen patients for malaria. The test uses only a pinprick amount of blood and “is as simple as using a pregnancy test,” Rieger said.

“This particular test allows medical professionals the freedom and convenience to test for the disease without requiring them to transport the patient to a medical facility,” Caldara said.

While Army Africa personnel attending the TMC appreciated the advances in treatment of many tropical diseases, Caldara stressed prevention and education remain key factors in disease prevention.

“This was a great class to understand the intricacies of these diseases, but in the end it all goes back to basics,” she said. “Proper precautions such as uniform treatment, use of DEET/insect repellent, adherence to proper medications and use of a bed net are essential.”

To learn more about U.S. Army Africa visit our official website at www.usaraf.army.mil

Official Twitter Feed: www.twitter.com/usarmyafrica

Official YouTube video channel: www.youtube.com/usarmyafrica

Some cool pregnancy symptoms images:

Factor V Leiden


Image by Mrs. Jenny Ryan
So I was recently diagnosed with Factor V Leiden (heterozygous). FVL is a genetic blood disorder that increases the likelihood of my developing abnormal blood clots (DVT or Deep Vein Thrombosis). This can lead to clots traveling through the bloodstream to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. It is also associated with increased risk of miscarriage and stillbirth (which is what happened to me on October 15). There’s more detailed info here.

Although approximately 5% of the Caucasian population has FVL, this mutation was only discovered in 1993 so there is a frustrating lack of information out there and most people who have the disorder don’t even know it. They may not know it until they have several pregnancy losses and are finally tested for it, since miscarriages are treated as a normal and common part of life until you have several (aren’t women lucky?). With second & third trimester losses being less common, one is usually tested sooner (like I was since I was almost 6 months pregnant). However, many folks with FVL have totally normal pregnancies. You just never know. Also frustrating is that testing positive can make it hard to get health and life insurance.

Other issues with FVL: Flying can be problematic, same with long car trips. Estrogen is a no-no and I cannot take birth control pills.

Apparently the weeks after giving birth are especially risky for folks with FVL, so doctors usually recommend injecting a blood thinner for 6 weeks or so. These (crappy phone) pix show my torso and the many bruises and blood blisters the injection marks leave. It looks worse in person. I have four more weeks of twice-daily injections to go before I can stop. I’ve never had any blood clots or symptoms until the stillbirth (which they believe is attributable to the FVL since the postmortem showed that the placenta was 30% clotted), so taking the blood thinners is mostly a precautionary measure. I really don’t like doing the injections, but when I think about diabetics and other folks who have to inject medications for their entire lives, I feel like a total whiner so I just buck up and do it.

"Buck up and do it" is my attitude 24/7 these days. Keeping my circulation good is super important with FVL (and losing weight is a must to help decrease my clotting risk) so I’ve been increasing my exercise (I’m now working out at least 35 mins every day) and eating as healthily as I can. Having my health on the line (and the health of a potential future baby, since we want to try again) has made my attempts at getting in shape much different than before. I’ve lost 8 lbs in the last 3 weeks and I can only hope my hard work will continue to pay off…

Diana MacNamara reads to children at Fort Bragg – FMWRC – US Army – 100813


Image by familymwr
PHOTO CAPTION: NPSP home visitor Diana MacNamara, who’s been visiting the Browns for 33 months, holds a book for Karinna Brown and her son, four-year-old Andrez Santos, at Fort Bragg, NC. (Photo by Robert McNamara)

Official Website

NPSP helps military parents with parenting challenges and demands

By Rob McIlvaine
FMWRC Public Affairs

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The New Parent Support Program addresses the many concerns and challenges that military Families with children, ages 0 to 3, face during early childhood with an emphasis on Family strengths.

“The program is offered to Military Families to enhance parent and infant attachment, increase knowledge of child development, and provide connections to the support services that allow parents to become nurturing and capable caregivers,” NPSP Program Manager Rich Lopez said.

By integrating prevention education services and activities, NPSP involves both parents, if possible, and supports the Family’s adaptation to military life by enhancing knowledge and skills needed to promote healthy Family interaction, form healthy relationships, provide safe and nurturing environments for children, and enhance formal and informal support networks.

“While NPSP’s primary focus is child advocacy and maltreatment prevention through parenting education and support, NPSP helps all Families with young children by providing the skills necessary to promote healthy parenting,” Lopez said.

The NPSP services are provided by experienced, licensed clinical social workers and registered nurses who have extensive experience working with Families with young children and who are sensitive to the unique challenges facing military Families.

According to Dr. Lori Worley, NPSP & Military Child/Family Issues Program Manager., one mom’s life was saved through the interaction with her home visitor who noticed something was wrong with the pregnancy of one of the mothers in a class she was teaching.

“About two months ago, I was participating in a group of classes called “Mommy and Daddy Boot Camp” with my husband, Sgt. Sean Sweeney at Fort Lee, Va. One morning before the next class was to begin, I woke up more swollen than normal. Elaine Sexton, RN, and our home visitor, took me aside after the class and told me to call my doctor to schedule an emergency appointment since I was showing signs of preeclampsia,” Cpl. Gretchen M. Sweeney said.

Preeclampsia is a condition of pregnancy marked by high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Left untreated, it can lead to serious, even fatal, complications for both mom and baby. One of the signs, although not conclusive, is swelling in the face and hands.

“My doctor diagnosed me with preeclampsia and told me if I hadn’t gotten to him my baby and I would have both been in danger. Since then, Miss Sexton has been very attentive, often calling to check up on me and has even visited on numerous occasions to make sure everything is okay,” Sweeney said.

Spc. James Clark and his wife Kristie at Fort Campbell, Ky. joined the program because they had concerns about their son’s medical issues.

“Our son Hunter has umbilicus hernia and colic and had been crying all the time, plus I had symptoms of post-partum depression,” Kristie said.

“Our home visitor, Mary Vozar from NPSP, was great. She was able to answer all our questions, and what she couldn’t answer, she was able to point us in the right direction to get those answers,” she said.

Sgt. David Brown and his wife, Karinna, stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C, have known their home visitor Diana McNamara for 33 months.

“We heard about the New Parent Support Program while attending the infant care and parenting Classes. At the time I was feeling overwhelmed and a little depressed. Diana is always bringing a lot of good information to me at my home,” Karinna said.

Diana, Karinna said, always knows what’s needed when she visits and is very “on-target” with helping.

“It’s made things easier by having her come to visit and helping me through some difficult times like when my brother died last year, and when my husband deployed,” Karinna said.

“She’s also helped us understand my older son’s developmental delays, and navigating through educational and developmental intervention services. Diana goes above and beyond to help my Family and I can’t express in words what she means to me,” Karinna said.

While all active Soldiers, National Guard and Reserve, and their Families within a 50-mile radius of an installation are eligible to receive these services, priority is given to first-time parents, single parents and dual military Families.

Families can enter the program by referral from a health professional, the command or by a civilian agency, or by simply requesting NPSP services through ACS.

Program activities include screening, play groups, support groups, deployment briefs, reunion and reintegration briefs and command briefs.

Classes offered by NPSP may include prenatal and infant care, home safety, children and the deployment cycle, stress management, and infant safety, to name a few.

For more information, contact the local Army Community Services or family center.

Cpl. Gretch Sweeney and Elaine Sexton play with baby Emily – FMWRC – US Army – 100813


Image by familymwr
PHOTO CAPTION: Cpl. Gretchen M. Sweeney (on the right) and NPSP home visitor Elaine Sexton, RN, at Fort Lee, Va., both enjoy a moment with Emily, born on June 5. Emily was born six weeks premature. (Photo by Anne Hwang, NPSP home visitor)

Official Website

NPSP helps military parents with parenting challenges and demands

By Rob McIlvaine
FMWRC Public Affairs

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The New Parent Support Program addresses the many concerns and challenges that military Families with children, ages 0 to 3, face during early childhood with an emphasis on Family strengths.

“The program is offered to Military Families to enhance parent and infant attachment, increase knowledge of child development, and provide connections to the support services that allow parents to become nurturing and capable caregivers,” NPSP Program Manager Rich Lopez said.

By integrating prevention education services and activities, NPSP involves both parents, if possible, and supports the Family’s adaptation to military life by enhancing knowledge and skills needed to promote healthy Family interaction, form healthy relationships, provide safe and nurturing environments for children, and enhance formal and informal support networks.

“While NPSP’s primary focus is child advocacy and maltreatment prevention through parenting education and support, NPSP helps all Families with young children by providing the skills necessary to promote healthy parenting,” Lopez said.

The NPSP services are provided by experienced, licensed clinical social workers and registered nurses who have extensive experience working with Families with young children and who are sensitive to the unique challenges facing military Families.

According to Dr. Lori Worley, NPSP & Military Child/Family Issues Program Manager., one mom’s life was saved through the interaction with her home visitor who noticed something was wrong with the pregnancy of one of the mothers in a class she was teaching.

“About two months ago, I was participating in a group of classes called “Mommy and Daddy Boot Camp” with my husband, Sgt. Sean Sweeney at Fort Lee, Va. One morning before the next class was to begin, I woke up more swollen than normal. Elaine Sexton, RN, and our home visitor, took me aside after the class and told me to call my doctor to schedule an emergency appointment since I was showing signs of preeclampsia,” Cpl. Gretchen M. Sweeney said.

Preeclampsia is a condition of pregnancy marked by high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Left untreated, it can lead to serious, even fatal, complications for both mom and baby. One of the signs, although not conclusive, is swelling in the face and hands.

“My doctor diagnosed me with preeclampsia and told me if I hadn’t gotten to him my baby and I would have both been in danger. Since then, Miss Sexton has been very attentive, often calling to check up on me and has even visited on numerous occasions to make sure everything is okay,” Sweeney said.

Spc. James Clark and his wife Kristie at Fort Campbell, Ky. joined the program because they had concerns about their son’s medical issues.

“Our son Hunter has umbilicus hernia and colic and had been crying all the time, plus I had symptoms of post-partum depression,” Kristie said.

“Our home visitor, Mary Vozar from NPSP, was great. She was able to answer all our questions, and what she couldn’t answer, she was able to point us in the right direction to get those answers,” she said.

Sgt. David Brown and his wife, Karinna, stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C, have known their home visitor Diana McNamara for 33 months.

“We heard about the New Parent Support Program while attending the infant care and parenting Classes. At the time I was feeling overwhelmed and a little depressed. Diana is always bringing a lot of good information to me at my home,” Karinna said.

Diana, Karinna said, always knows what’s needed when she visits and is very “on-target” with helping.

“It’s made things easier by having her come to visit and helping me through some difficult times like when my brother died last year, and when my husband deployed,” Karinna said.

“She’s also helped us understand my older son’s developmental delays, and navigating through educational and developmental intervention services. Diana goes above and beyond to help my Family and I can’t express in words what she means to me,” Karinna said.

While all active Soldiers, National Guard and Reserve, and their Families within a 50-mile radius of an installation are eligible to receive these services, priority is given to first-time parents, single parents and dual military Families.

Families can enter the program by referral from a health professional, the command or by a civilian agency, or by simply requesting NPSP services through ACS.

Program activities include screening, play groups, support groups, deployment briefs, reunion and reintegration briefs and command briefs.

Classes offered by NPSP may include prenatal and infant care, home safety, children and the deployment cycle, stress management, and infant safety, to name a few.

For more information, contact the local Army Community Services or family center.

A few nice pregnancy symptoms images I found:

then she knew.


Image by McBeth
I learned I was pregnant through a quirky turn of events.

I had just been involved in a fender bender outside the offices where I’d just finished having an extensive mental evaluation done. Rattled but needing to get away from my traveling/fill-in job as a live-in group home manager, I checked into an Arlington Heights, IL motel for the weekend.

And for absolutely no reason I bought two multi-packs of pregnancy tests at a corner drugstore. Did one. Did another. Did two more after that.

And all those symptoms for which I’d sought treatment? They ended up being a little less about crazy and a little more about being pregnant.

Danger signs


Image by DFID – UK Department for International Development
Fatsuma, who is a "mothers helper" counts either side of each knuckle to help women remember the number of symptoms, as well as learn different actions to match. Over 80% of women in Northern Nigeria are illiterate and this helps them remember the information without the use of leaflets.

Find out more about how the UK is helping mothers and babies in Nigeria and around the world at www.dfid.gov.uk/mothersday2011

Photo: Lindsay Mgbor / DFID

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