Q: How long does it usually take to get pregant after being on birth control? I have been on birth control for 8 years, non-stop, and off it for about a month now. Also, I haven't started my period this month; it should have started on the 2nd.

My mom would always say that once she went off of birth control she would become pregnant. And my sister became pregnant while on birth control. I don't know if my family history is relevant, but wanted to add it anyway. What do you think?

A: Hi there! When it comes to birth control pills and the time it takes to get pregnant, everyone is VERY different. After 8 years without a break, your body is readjusting. Many women do not start their periods regularly for several months. If you do not start a regular period within 4-6 months, you should visit your gynecologist for a medical evaluation.

Mother Nature doesn't look at a couple of months either way as a big deal. So, even if your family had a different experience, you're not far from them right now. Don't worry - really!

Stress and worrying can help put off a period, which you don't want. Just relax, and let nature take its course. Let me know how you are doing, and if you have any more questions!

Pregnancy, C-sections and domestic abuse are all considered "pre-existing conditions" by some insurance companies. It's forcing many women to go without coverage. Dr. Nancy Snyderman discusses the health insurance double standard with Karen Ignagni of America's Health Insurance Plans. 

Q: We just found out we were expecting -- it's a surprise after 10 years. In that time I have gained about 70 lbs; I know this is because I haven't paid attention to my diet.  Ask Madelyn a question and look for her answers every week on HealthBeat  

Swine flu has struck pregnant women especially hard, raising concerns about the health of mother and child. The latest numbers show 28 pregnant women with swine flu have died, with 100 hospitalized in intensive care.

How do we stop the epidemic of childhood obesity? Get our own weight under control first. A new study found that weight-loss surgery before becoming pregnant might break the cycle of obesity in families. But do the effects of weight-loss surgery outweigh the benefits of simply teaching your kids healthy eating habits?

The new research found that undergoing weight-loss surgery prior to pregnancy can significantly lower your child's risk of obesity and improve cardio-metabolic markers (indicators of a person's risk of diabetes and heart disease).

The findings confirm previous research that a healthy weight before and during pregnancy may be more influential than genes when it comes to the connection between a mother's obesity and her child's chances of childhood obesity, according to study co-author John Kral, MD, PhD.

The 49 mothers in the study had children born both before and after they underwent weight-loss surgery. Researchers found that the children born after the surgery were three times less likely to become severely obese. They also found that those children had lower cholesterol and reduced insulin resistance.

So is surgery the only way to pass on these benefits to your child? While the study focused specifically on surgical methods, Kral said in a statement, "To our knowledge, our paper is the first to demonstrate that dramatic maternal weight loss causes metabolic improvements in their children," said Kral. "Our findings show that obese women should be encouraged to lose weight before becoming pregnant, and then, once pregnant, should limit their weight gain."

Amy Hendel, a family lifestyle therapist and author of Fat Families, Thin Families, doesn't find the results of the study too surprising, but hesitates to attribute them solely to surgical intervention. Hendel ultimately believes it's the commitment to weight loss itself that contributes to a sustained, long-term healthy weight.

"It's obvious to me that children can be born with a pre-disposition to easier weight gain due to familial inherited biomarkers and also exposure in utero to certain nutritional variables," says Hendel. "On the other hand, even with a predisposition, what happens outside the womb will ultimately help to strongly determine weight, food and palate preferences, because our parents are our role models for nutrition and fitness behaviors. From my perspective as a family lifestyle therapist, that's far more crucial to long term weight and health issues in our offspring."

Most importantly, what both the study and Hendel seem agree on is the earlier a woman makes the commitment to weight loss, the healthier her future child is likely to be.

Photo: Getty Images

The World Health Organization is on the brink of declaring the swine flu outbreak a true pandemic. That means it's on every continent (Australia tipped the balance) but it's still a fairly mild strain everywhere on Earth. For now.

Sleepaway camp concerns: One odd aspect of the H1N1 virus (the official name for what everyone still calls swine flu) is that it appears to be spreading even though the weather is balmy. No winter recluse is this. Now that kids are either out of school or eagerly counting the days, many parents are starting to worry about summer camp. Will swine flu outbreaks close summer camps just as they have closed schools? The answer is...it just happened. A Boy Scout camp in Utah closed on Tuesday, June 9. Expect more camps to close. Unlike schools, though, kids at sleepaway camp can't just take the school bus home immediately; it could be a logistical nightmare, and a big concern for parents hundreds of miles away from their kids.

It's easy to worry. Influenza experts are watching carefully for signs the virus may become more virulent now that it's in the southern hemisphere, and come back as not only a pandemic but a potentially dangerous one in the fall. For now, there are concerns for pregnant women and parents.

The best advice? Stay calm but stay informed.

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The death of a 20-year-old woman from swine flu in Chicago one day after giving birth has made pregnant women nervous--and full of questions. To answer them, we asked pediatrician Claire McCarthy, MD, who answered iVillage moms' top questions about swine flu in May. Dr. McCarthy is an assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, a senior editor for Harvard Health Publications, and a contributing editor for Parenting Magazine.

Q: I'm pregnant, and worried.  Are there any special precautions I should take?

A: We are still learning about H1N1 (formerly known as swine flu), so we don't know for sure how it might affect pregnant women and their babies.  What we do know is that pregnant women can be more likely to get sick than other people, and when they get sick it can be dangerous both for them and their baby.  So it's important to take precautions:

• Wash your hands with soap and water, or alcohol-based gel (carry it with you), every chance you get
• To the extent that it is possible, stay away from sick people.
• If you have been exposed to someone with H1N1 (or with a flu-like illness that might be H1N1), talk to your doctor about whether taking medication to prevent illness (or at least make it milder) makes sense
• if you have flu symptoms (fever, congestion, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhea) call your doctor immediately.
• For more information, here is the link to the CDC's recommendations for pregnant women
  

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