Thomas Beatie (R) is seen with his wife Nancy before he gave birth to a baby girl. (Photo: yangtse.com)

Thomas Beatie, better known as the Pregnant Man, said he is expecting his second child, media reported Saturday.     The 34-year-old, who gave birth to a baby girl on June 29, made the announcement in a television interview with Barbara Walters of ABC News.

After the birth, he told Walters, he did not resume taking male hormones because he and his wife Nancy wanted to have another baby.

    The baby was due in early June. He felt good and everything was going well.

    "I had my checkups with my hormone level... everything is right on track," he said.

    Beatie is legally male but was born female and underwent gender reassignment surgery and hormone treatment. He kept his female reproductive organs so he could have a family.

    He has been married to his wife for five years and the couple bought sperm from a donor when they decided to start a family. >>>>

And preterm birth is leading cause of infant mortality, study notes

Women who are depressed early in their pregnancy run a higher risk of preterm delivery, the leading cause of infant mortality, a new study suggests.For the study, researchers interviewed 791 San Francisco-area women near their 10th week of pregnancy. Forty-one percent reported "significant" symptoms of depression, and 22 percent reported "severe" symptoms.

Those women with severe symptoms had almost twice the risk of an early birth, defined as before 37 weeks' gestation. Those with significant symptoms had a 60 percent risk of early birth, the study found.

Women who were likelier to report depressive symptoms tended to be younger than 25, unmarried, less educated, poorer, black, and have a history of preterm delivery.

Discovering a possible cause of preterm birth, about which little is known, makes the findings significant, said study lead author Dr. De-Kun Li, a perinatal epidemiologist and senior research scientist at Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research in Oakland, Calif.

Scientists have been researching for the causes of high rates of infant mortality in the United States, Li said, but, "we don't know what is going on. If we can find something as obvious as depression that can be treated during pregnancy, that is very, very significant."

The findings were published online Oct. 23 in the journal Human Reproduction.

Dr. Shari I. Lusskin, director of reproductive psychiatry at New York University Medical Center, said she doesn't think the study establishes a link between depression in early pregnancy and preterm delivery. She said the women in the study weren't clinically diagnosed with depression but had scored high on a screening test.

"We don't know if the depression at 10 weeks is a marker for something that happens later in pregnancy, which is the real culprit," she said.

Li hopes the study's findings will make "ante-natal depression" as widely recognized as postpartum depression has become. Until now, depression during pregnancy has been "under-estimated and under-treated," he said, "not just by women, but also by their doctors."

One reason for this lack of attention is that there hasn't been strong evidence of a connection between depression in pregnant women and harm to the fetus, Li said.

Women may not readily report depressed feelings when they are pregnant because of the societal expectation that having a baby should be a joyous occasion, said Dr. Jennifer Wu, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

"I think many patients are very stressed about pregnancy and worried about the pregnancy and not sure about its impact on their lives," Wu said.

Lusskin tries to spread the word about the dangers of depression during pregnancy.

"The more we know about postpartum depression, the more we realize that half the cases started in pregnancy," Lusskin said. Ante-natal depression also carries the risk of noncompliance with prenatal care, poor nutrition, inadequate sleep, self-medication with drugs and alcohol, and suicide, she explained.

And, Lusskin added, "Ante-natal depression interferes with bonding with the baby both during pregnancy and post-partum."

The take-home lesson from the Kaiser study, Lusskin said, "is that ante-natal depression and ante-natal depression symptoms have some effect on pregnancy, and they should be treated, even though we don't know how that mood is translated into the biochemistry of that pregnancy."

She added that she is "a proponent of maintaining a good mood throughout pregnancy and breast-feeding, and doing what you have to do to do that. If a patient requires medication, she should do that. Then, it's a matter of finding the drugs that are best studied and most effective for the patient."

Carolyn Colwell 

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Coping With Depression During Pregnancy

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An expectant mother's depression can harm her baby, including raising the odds of preterm delivery

Christine Doherty Ashley, currently six months pregnant, realizes that her first trimester was fraught with depression. Now, with the perspective of an improved mood, Ashley recalls being particularly judgmental of her doldrums, questioning, "Am I allowed to say I'm sad or that I hate how I feel?" Nausea kept her on the couch and logistics kept her isolated: She was a high school teacher on summer break, had just moved to a new town, and she and her husband were not yet sharing the news because, at 41, she was at higher risk of early miscarriage. "It was a perfect storm," she explains.

Depression in pregnancy not only causes mom to suffer; it can also pose health risks to the baby. Research published today in the journal Human Reproduction found that women with symptoms of depression were more likely to experience a preterm birth. The greater the severity of depression symptoms, the greater the likelihood of early delivery. This research adds "strong evidence that depression during pregnancy is bad for the fetus," says lead study author De-Kun Li, reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente's Division of Research in Oakland, Calif., "This should not be dismissed anymore." Preterm birth, write the study authors, is the leading cause of infant mortality and medical expenditures for newborns.

Contrary to the belief that all expectant moms are buoyed by their own joyous anticipation, the reality is that pregnancy offers no protection against depression. A woman's overall risk of depression peaks during childbearing years, and "roughly 12 to 14 percent of mothers will experience depression during pregnancy," says Cindy-Lee Dennis, researcher at the University of Toronto and associate professor of nursing with an appointment in the psychiatry department. The biggest risk factor for symptoms while pregnant, Dennis explains, is a previous history of depression.

Such depression may also be linked to a baby being born at a lower birth weight with elevated levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) and changes in attention or alterations in electroencephalography (an infant brain test), says Diana Dell, assistant professor of psychiatry and obstetrics-gynecology at Duke University Medical Center. These issues can affect health even into adulthood. "Being anxious or depressed is not [going to have] a neutral impact on a developing fetus," says Dell.

But silence often accompanies such melancholy. Fear of being judged a less-than-capable mother or labeled mentally ill can lead to quiet suffering, says Dennis. It wasn't until Ashley's depression lifted that she broached the topic with her husband. To ward off postpartum depression, she's enlisted his help, telling him, "You need to ask me [because] sometimes I can't say it; I judge myself." In fact, depression during pregnancy is the top risk factor for developing postpartum depression.

But treatment options exist. To alleviate prenatal depression, lifestyle elements are quite significant, experts agree, including stress reduction, eating well, drinking enough of water, consistently getting good sleep, and exercising. Depending on the depression's severity and cause, physicians may recruit cognitive behavioral therapy, couples therapy, bright light therapy, or antidepressant medications. While some research suggests certain antidepressants may pose risks to the baby, some have been shown to be safer than others. Dell weighs such risks against the dangers of a fetus developing inside a mother who cannot function because she's depressed and not caring for herself well. An untreated depressed or anxious pregnant woman, says Dell, "generates some pretty noxious chemicals" that are not good for a fetus.

For those who feel motivated enough to get some exercise, a known mood enhancer, doing so is plenty safe. "Anything equivalent to brisk walking is fine," James Pivarnik, kinesiology professor at Michigan State University and coauthor of the section on activity in pregnancy and after delivery in the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines released this month by the Department of Health and Human Services. The new recommendation for pregnant women and those who recently delivered is at least 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. Keeping this schedule may also reduce the risk of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Pivarnik notes that women should be careful not to overheat—like using a fan during indoor workouts—which can be problematic for the fetus.

But a woman's mood may be too low for physical activity. This is when the support of friends and family can have a significant impact, says Dennis. It is critical, she explains, that the mother, partner, and family are all aware of the risks and symptoms of depression in pregnancy, including feelings of emptiness, sadness, hopelessness, irritability, crying excessively; trouble sleeping, or sleeping all the time. Many women assume this is all part of being pregnant, but persistent symptoms are not. Both Dennis and Dell say the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, though designed for the postpartum period, can be a helpful tool for expectant mothers, too, and is widely available online and is also available here. Dennis also recommends the Motherisk program website, affiliated with the University of Toronto and intended to provide information on drug, chemical, and disease risks in pregnant women.

Mothers need not feel guilt about depression in pregnancy or about the chosen treatment—pharmacological or otherwise, experts emphasize. "This is a brain disease, it's not a character flaw, not a pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps kind of thing," says Dell, "You don't have to tough it out."

Sarah Baldauf 

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Premature Birth Risk Doubles For Depressed Pregnant Women

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A new study published in the journal Human Reproduction has found that pregnant women who suffer from depression are twice as likely to have a premature birth.

Researchers have found a direct link between depression and the risk of premature birth. The more serious the depression, the higher the risk.

The study was led by De-Kun Li at Kaiser Permanente’s Division of Research in Oakland, California and interviewed 791 women between 6 weeks and 18 weeks of pregnancy.

A premature birth occurs when a woman gives birth within the first 37 weeks of pregnancy.

This is tied to developmental problems and other issues for the kids.

Researchers have been unable to explain why the link is there though.

Out of the 791 women who were interviewed, 41.2% were “significantly” depression, while 21.7% were in “severe” depression.

Those “significantly” depressed were 1.6 times more likely to have a preterm birth.

Women suffering from severe depression were 2.2 times more likely..

The study has been published in the journal Human Reproduction. >>>> 

Dos and don'ts of increasing your chances of getting pregnant.

You are ready to get pregnant. Now. Of course, you want to attack this task with the same fervor as you did your career and everything else that has ever been on your to-do list. Now that you are ready to start a family, waiting is not an option.

"The overarching message is don't get into the 'it has to happen right now' thing," stresses Paula Hillard, MD, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, Calif. "This is the first time that many women are up against the concept that they can't control everything."

That said, there are some things you can do -- or not do -- to help increase your chances of getting pregnant ASAP. Read on for seven expert-approved tips for getting pregnant.

1. Do get a preconception checkup.

Before you officially start trying, get a preconception checkup. Ask your doctor about prenatal vitamins that contain folic acid, which will decrease your risk of having a baby with neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. "Do this the cycle before you start trying," Hillard tells WebMD. "If you have any underlying medical problems, they need to be under control before you can safely become pregnant."

2. Do get to know your cycle.

Sex education is key, says Hillard. "Women need to really understand their cycle and when they are most likely to become pregnant," she says. Ovulation is the best time to get pregnant.

"Being aware of the symptoms of ovulation [which include] changes in cervical mucus such as a thin watery, mucus-like discharge is also helpful," she says. Other signs of ovulation can include a one-sided twinge of pain. "This is the time to focus on having sex."

Ovulation prediction kits can also help predict the best time to get pregnant, says James Goldfarb, MD, director of the infertility service at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. "They assure a patient that they are ovulating, and if you are having infrequent intercourse, this tells you when to have it to increase your chances of getting pregnant "

The first day of your menstrual period is day one. "Start testing on day nine and keep going until you get a positive," advises Joanne Piscitelli, MD, an associate professor of gynecology at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. Women with a 28-day cycle tend to ovulate on day 14, but many women have longer or shorter cycles, so casting a wide net can help you be sure.

Use of birth control may muddy the playing field. Many women spend half their life trying not to get pregnant by using birth control pills or other contraception methods, but is it OK to start trying to get pregnant the minute you scrap your birth control method?

"Years ago, the conventional wisdom was to wait a certain amount of time after stopping birth control to try to get pregnant but that is no longer true. You can start trying to conceive right after you stop birth control," Goldfarb says. The only downside is that you may not ever get your period, so tracking ovulation may be difficult, and it will be hard to date the pregnancy initially. For this reason, "some people may feel better waiting until they get one period on their own," he says.

3. Don't worry about the best positions for getting pregnant.

Myths abound about the best positions for getting pregnant, but they are just that -- myths. There is really no scientific evidence saying that the missionary position is better than the woman being on top when it comes to maximizing your chances of making a baby.

"Very rarely, a women's cervix is in an unusual position where certain positions can make a difference," Goldfarb tells WebMD.

Certain gravity-defying positions, such as sitting or standing during intercourse, however, may discourage sperm from traveling upstream. "It's a matter of gravity [and] you don't want all the semen to run out -- and semen are quick little critters," Hillard says. "Having sex with the man on top [missionary position] may best allow sperm to pool in the vagina," she suggests.

4. Do lay low right after intercourse.

You have probably heard this one before -- lie in bed with your feet in the air after having sex to increase your chances of getting pregnant. The verdict? Not (totally) true. "It's good advice to lay in bed for 10 to 15 minutes after intercourse, but you don't need your feet in the air," Goldfarb says. "Your pelvis does not move when you put your legs in the air." Don't go the bathroom during this time either, he says. "If you wait 10 to 15 minutes, the sperm that is going to get into the cervix will be in the cervix."

5. Don't overdo it.

Having sex like rabbits even during ovulation will not necessarily increase your chances of getting pregnant. It may seem like a good idea, but some men's sperm count will deplete if they ejaculate too often, Goldfarb says. "In general, every other night around the time of ovulation helps increase your chance of getting pregnant," he says. Sperm can live up to 72 hours after intercourse. That said, if you and your mate enjoy having sex more frequently, he can get a semen analysis after he has ejaculated several times in a row. This test can tell if his sperm quality or quantity is depleted by frequent ejaculation. If it is not, then feel free to have sex as often as you like.

Speaking of sperm, "wearing tight-fitting clothing can negatively affect sperm count," Piscitelli says. So too can spending time in hot tub or Jacuzzi. Your man's cell phone habits may also affect your chances of becoming pregnant. A recent study in the journal Fertility and Sterility showed that men who used a hands-free device with a cell phone and kept their phone close to their testicles had impaired sperm quality. And while you are telling your partner where to keep his cell phone, you may want to tell him to pass on the edamame and other soy foods. Men who eat a lot of soy foods may have a lower sperm concentration than men who don't eat soy foods, according to a study published online in Human Reproduction.

6. Do de-stress any way you can.

Trying to get pregnant can be stressful, and stress can certainly derail ovulation, Hillard says. It can also cause sexual dysfunction and performance anxiety for men. "There is some evidence that acupuncture can help reduce stress and increase your chances of becoming pregnant," Goldfarb says. While excessive alcohol use is not wise when trying to get pregnant, "a mid-cycle glass of wine to relax and have intercourse can be helpful," he says. Bottom line: Anything that helps you de-stress and takes the pressure off trying to get pregnant will help you increase your chances of getting pregnant.

7. Do lead a healthy lifestyle.

Exercising is a good thing, but when you are trying to conceive, you can get too much of a good thing, Goldfarb says. "Too much exercise can cause you not to ovulate," he says, explaining that excessive exercise can stop the pituitary gland from telling the ovaries to ovulate. While this threshold is largely individual, he says "exercising seven days a week for 45 to 50 minutes a day will cause a problem in the majority of women."

That doesn't mean you should stop exercising the minute you start trying to get pregnant. If you are a hard-core exerciser and are still getting your period regularly, your exercise regimen is most likely not a problem, he says. But, Goldfarb adds, your menstrual period is not the first thing to go if you are exercising too heavily. "The first thing that happens is that you have a shorter second half of your cycle. You should have a period 14 days after you ovulate, but too much exercise can shorten this phase." This would be the first hint that you need to curtail your fitness regimen. He suggests tracking how long it takes you to get a period after you ovulate as the best way to know for sure.

Goldfarb says the best way to increase your chances of getting pregnant while getting the health benefits of regular exercise is to engage in moderate exercise, such as a half an hour of aerobic activity like walking three times a week. Watch what you eat, too; dieting is a double-edged sword for women trying to get pregnant. "If you are obese and you lose weight, your period may come back, but if you are too thin and not getting your period, you need to gain weight to get pregnant," Goldfarb says.

Stop smoking to increase your chances of getting pregnant," Hillard says. Aside from all the other negative health effects of smoking, this nasty habit also decreases fertility. "It affects estrogen levels and ovulation."

Eighty-five percent of women will become pregnant within one year of trying," Hillard adds." If it is taking longer than a year, consult a doctor for an infertility workup. For women older than 35, some doctors recommend consulting a specialist after six months of trying.

 Denise Mann

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6 Embarrassing Pregnancy Symptoms

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Foods to Avoid When You're Pregnant

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just found a piece of paper from over a decade ago, on which I listed the pros and cons of continuing to attempt to get pregnant. At the time, my only child (Dan) was 4 or 5. I think if we had never had children I would have tried everything, including egg donor or adoption. I really wanted to be a mom; we really wanted to be parents. But having had that experience, the decision on how far to go to have another child was a challenge, especially since my husband was happy with one child.

My first pregnancy was complicated by ten weeks of bed rest for premature labor, and separation from the baby at birth as he was transferred to the newborn ICU for a blood disorder that was very scary but turned out OK. I'd had trouble conceiving him and was not getting younger, so we had already been trying unsuccessfully to make him a sibling since he was a year old. I had a $400 a day fertility drug "habit" that wasn't getting me anywhere, and the emotional strain was making me ask myself if it was worth it.

The list is kind of blunt, so I hope it doesn't offend. But I think it says a lot about factors that might play into this sort of decision, from things that might seem silly, to real fears and potential joys. I'd be interested to hear how these concepts resonate with other women experiencing complicated pregnancies or infertility.

THE CONS

·                           Lots could go wrong: might not get pregnant despite trying, miscarriage, baby might be ill or have special needs, might have preterm labor again, fertility treatment might lead to multiple pregnancy, baby might have same blood disorder

·                           It's a lot of work: Diapers, night feeds, childproofing

·                           Disruptive to normal life: meals, work, life at home, sex

·                           Dan will hate it

·                           Decision isn't between easy fantasy pregnancy/birth/baby or doing nothing -- likely to be complicated

·                           Have to put childbearing behind me at some point in life anyway

·                           Cost

·                           Physically hard: nausea, poor sleep, labor, recovery after delivery

·                           Possible complications of having baby: bedrest again, might get urinary incontinence, might need c-section

·                           Weight gain

·                           No time for self, exercise, reading, knitting, watching sports

·                           Only doing it to master my body or to prove that I can

THE PROS

·                           More years of kids at home

·                           Sibling for Dan for later

·                           Bigger family

·                           Get to breastfeed again

·                           Already have a great nanny

·                           Undo miserable experience from last birth

·                           Bone marrow donor for Dan if needed

·                           "See what else we can make"

·                           Someone new to love

·                           Always wanted two children

·                           More grandchildren

·                           More normal life for Dan

·                           Regret later if don't try everything now

We discontinued fertility treatment shortly thereafter.

Marjorie Greenfield

I have a friend who I know is trying to get pregnant. A few days ago we were having lunch and she said she had been so exhausted ever since she got back from a conference out of town. She attributed the exhaustion to having prepared hard for her presentation, and all the anxiety that led up to the meeting. So I controlled myself and didn't ask the obvious.

Most people try to keep their pregnancies private at first. It is probably a good idea not to tell casual acquaintances that you are expecting, especially since one in eight pregnancies ends in miscarriage. It doesn't make a loss easier when time and again everyone you told asks how the pregnancy is going. So one rule of thumb is not to tell anyone with whom you wouldn't want to share bad news.

But keeping mum is motivated by more than that, because people often don't tell their parents or closest friends about an early pregnancy, even if they would disclose a complication like miscarriage. I don't know if it is just not wanting to celebrate too early (like it would be bad luck) or perhaps wanting a little bit of privacy before your news becomes public information, a moment to hold to yourself before the world changes.

My friend probably isn't even expecting. Obstetricians always think everyone is pregnant. I am always the first one at a movie to pick up on the cues--like the main character can't quite button her pants, or is gaggy in the morning. At work, all it takes is for one of our female residents to get a stomach flu, and fifteen people come running at her with pregnancy tests.

And if you are in a certain demographic, don't even consider not having a glass of wine when offered at a party. It is like a birth announcement. That is why I suggested in The Working Woman's Pregnancy Book to carry around a drink that looks like alcohol when you are still in the non-disclosure mode. You don't owe anyone your personal information. And taking my own advice, I am going to continue to try not to ask. We'll see how long I last.

Marjorie Greenfield

How does food you eat become nutrition for your baby?

1. After food enters your mouth, it gets digested in your stomach and intestine. Sugars, fatty acids (the building blocks of fats), amino acids (the building blocks of proteins), vitamins, and minerals are absorbed into your bloodstream and travel throughout your body.
2. As your blood flows across the placenta, molecules pass from your blood into the baby's circulation. In other words, if you eat pickles and ice cream, the baby doesn't get pickles and ice cream; he gets vitamins, minerals, sugars, fatty acids, and amino acids from the pickles and ice cream.

What does this mean for you? Food that isn't particularly healthful, such as a candy bar, isn't poison; it just substitutes for other fare that might provide more of what you and your baby need.

To gain the appropriate amount of weight and ensure good nutrition for you and your growing baby, most women should:

·                           Eat when you are hungry

·                           Eat small portions

·                           Choose healthful snacks like vegetables and fruits

·                           Stop eating when you are full

·                           Exercise

(This works after pregnancy too.)

Some pregnant women crave substances that aren't really food, like laundry starch, chalk or even dirt. This is called pica, and often coexists with anemia (low blood). Even if it is embarrassing, it is important to tell your doctor or midwife that you are having these urges.

Every single decision you make about what you eat isn't critical, but most of what you eat in pregnancy should be healthful for you and your baby. Vegetables and fruits, sources of protein, and whole grains provide the basis for a healthy diet for you and your baby-to-be.

Marjorie Greenfield

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• Good-Bye From Mother Birth
• You are What Your Mother Eats, Literally
• Time to Quit Baby-Making?
• "Are You Pregnant?"

Sunday night's MTV Video Music Award host Russell Brand took several digs at young stars wearing "purity rings" to pledge their virginity until marriage — and "American Idol" winner Jordin Sparks wasn't having any of it.

Brand's running theme for the evening centered on the Jonas Brothers and their rings — until Sparks stepped on stage to have her say about his constant remarks.

"Not everyone wants to be a slut," Sparks spat back, the auditorium filling with applause. Sparks, Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez are also among the young stars who have vowed to remain chaste.

Photo Essay: 2008 VMAs

Sparks told Pop Tarts later at the In Touch magazine after-party that she was more than happy to put Brand — known as Britain's ultimate playboy — in his place.

"Somebody had to do it," she said.

The "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" funnyman also encouraged Americans to vote for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in the upcoming election, referred to George W. Bush as a "retarded cowboy fella" and took a shot at Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin and her pregnant daughter.

"The safe sex message is to use a condom or become a Republican," Brand said.

For the record, Rus isn't an American citizen and can't vote anyway ...

Ne-Yo Relieved Not to See Britney's Belly Jiggling Around

The buzz leading up to the VMAs wasn't about who was going to win awards, it was all about Britney Spears and her "comeback" as the opening act of the MTV Awards show. (Spears opened the show, but did not perform.)

And despite coming across as a little nervous and awkward, at least Spears didn't look like she was sleepwalking this time around.

Brit thanked God, her family, her beautiful boys and her fans as she picked up all three of the awards she was nominated for: Best Female Music Video, Best Pop Video and Video of the Year. Spears also had the full support of a slew of fellow stars before she even took to the stage.

For one, it turns out that Ne-Yo is secretly quite love-struck by the reformed pop mess.

"I love that girl; after last year I just want her to win. I’m a Britney fan — I’ve been a Britney fan since the beginning," he told Pop Tarts before the show. "I've seen pictures and she looks amazing right now. She’s in shape now, she's got the six-pack going. I'm so pleased we won't have to worry about that belly jiggling around this year."

World-renowned spinner DJ AM also commented on how hard Spears had been working to get her body back in shape for the show, while everyone from Brooke Hogan to the Pussycat Dolls to Katy Perry told Pop Tarts how excited they were just to see the songstress and her hot new look.

"If she does well great, if not, it shouldn't matter," VMA-winner Chris Brown said. "I can't wait to see everybody perform. It's going to be incredible."

For others, Brit's sequined, one-shoulder silver mini-dress (compared to the black midriff-baring top and hot pants of 2007) caused disappointment.

"I was hoping she'd be in a sexy leopard-skin bikini," Mischa Barton's former flame Cisco Adler said.

As for Paris Hilton, the hotel heiress kept up tradition and made sure she was granted the top spot as the last to walk the red carpet. According to an MTV insider, this is something the socialite insists upon every year.

Speaking of tradition, there is always some behind-the-scenes drama going on at the VMAs. Host Russell Brand probably caused a few heart palpitations when just a few hours before the show he was still nowhere to be found, sending staff backstage into a panicked frenzy.

Ronson a Flop Down Under, Had Fight With Lindsay?

Lindsay Lohan gal pal Samantha Ronson may be a big hit across the USA, but apparently the Australians weren’t too impressed with her spinning style in Sydney last week.

The celeb DJ was flown halfway across the world for the third birthday of Sydney’s swanky Zeta Bar, but Pop Tarts has been told by multiple party peeps that her beat was a bust.

“It was terrible,” said a source. “Her vibe was out of place and the night fell flat.”

Ronson’s run of bad luck appeared to be continuing on Saturday. She and Lohan looked like the world was ending while sitting in the front row at New York Fashion Week watching Sam’s sister Charlotte’s spring collection.

According to an eyewitness, Sam sat glumly sipping her Evian and barely exchanged glances with Li-Lo, and the two were quick to run from the runway right after the show. Just the day before, the two were pap-snapped kissing passionately in Manhattan.

Lindsay returned to Los Angeles on Sunday to present two VMAs alongside Ciara while Ronson worked the In Touch after-party. And If there was any trouble going on between them, it appeared to be cleared up by Sunday night. The two canoodled in the VIP corner alongside the likes of Christina Aguilera, Audrina Patridge, Joe Francis, a shirtless Kid Rock, Matthew Perry, Katy Perry and new daddy David Spade while pop princess Leona Lewis, The Veronicas and rockers Good Charlotte performed for the packed party.

Rick and Kathy Hilton also stepped out for the soiree to support their possible future son-in-law, Benji Madden.

Hollie McKay

Famous teen moms unite!

Jamie Lynn Spears wants Bristol Palin to know she's not alone in the unwed teen mom spotlight - so she's sent  a care package of fancy embroidered burp cloths to the 17-year-old pregnant daughter of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

"Dear Bristol: Hang in there!!!!! XXOO," the supportive card from the "Zoey 101" star read, underscoring the challenges she too has faced.

The younger sister to Britney Spears, Jamie Lynn, 17, gave birth to Maddie Briann Aldridge in June and is engaged to hometown hunk Casey Aldridge, just as Bristol Palin is set to wed her babydaddy Levi Johnston.

"She wanted it in pink. I'm assuming the two have spoken, and she knows it's a girl," a spokesman for Petit Tresor, the West Hollywood shop that took the order told the Daily News.

 "We're sending it to the (Alaska) state capital," the Tresor rep said.

The spokesman said Jamie Lynn's mom Lynne Spears actually made the call for Jamie Lynn and used a Spears credit card.

Packaged in a mini pink suitcase, the $60 set of five coordinating burp cloths from Plain Mary are embroidered with "Babe," "Loved," "Yummy," "Fresh," and a skull & bones image.

NANCY DILLON

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Bristol Palin's pregnancy was an open secret back home

He's a superhunky bad-boy ice hockey player from cold country; she's a chestnut-haired beauty and popular high school senior.

The all-American teen twosome will make GOP vice presidential pick and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin a grandma at age 44 - just in time for Christmas.

Doe-eyed Bristol Palin, 17, and ruggedly handsome Levi Johnston, an 18-year-old self-described "f---in' redneck," have been dating a year, locals in Wasilla, Alaska, told the Daily News.

And the pregnancy? An open secret in the close-knit town of 9,780.

PHOTOS: MEET SARAH PALIN AND HER FAMILY

Bristol Palin, now a senior, was frequently seen cheering her young beau from the stands. Levi is also a senior.

Wasilla mom Jennie Johnston, whose son Jade played hockey with Levi, saw the young couple in January at a game.

PHOTOS: SARAH PALIN THE LATEST BEAUTY QUEEN TO HIT BIG TIME

"She was in a cute little outfit like young girls wear," said Jennie Johnston, who is not related to Levi. "She was with Levi."

She said her son told her the two were already engaged.

"They've been together quite a while, more than a year," she said. "I hope everything comes out well. These are local kids."

Johnston, broad-chested and wearing a No. 15 jersey, can be seen in photographs hitting the boards as a Warrior in action.

COMPLETE COVERAGE OF THE RNC

A closeup shot shows the handsome teen with a light dusting of whiskers on his chin - his dark brown hair curly and wet.

"Levi has got huge potential," Jennie Johnston said. "He's a smart kid."

Sarah Palin admitted yesterday her "beautiful daughter" Bristol was five months pregnant and would marry Levi. The baby is due in late December.

In a photo taken on Aug. 28, Palin holds her infant brother Trig close to her belly during a campaign rally where Sen. John McCain introduced her mom as his running mate.

The campaign released word of the teen's pregnancy to knock down claims on Internet blogs that the teen - not her mom - secretly gave birth to Trig, who has Down syndrome.

Well-liked Warrior

Wasilla Warriors' coach Bill Sturdevant said he never believed that talk.

"He was the same kid from the beginning of the season to the end. No signs of anything like that," the coach said.

"He was a good kid to be around, with lots of friends. He was well-liked."

A telephone number for Levi Johnston's parents, Sherry and Keith Johnston, was disconnected.

Bristol's pregnancy was no secret in the town that lies wedged between two mountain ranges.

The mother of one of Levi's friends, who asked not to be named, told The News that locals knew about Bristol's pregnancy for weeks.

Besides his hard play on the ice, Levi Johnston was also a bit of a hell-raiser off it - another reason Bristol may have been smitten.

State troopers popped Johnston last year for snagging some king salmon out of season in Moose Lake, records from Alaska wildlife enforcement show. He had to pay $370 bail.

On his MySpace page, Johnston proudly declares: "I'm a f---in' redneck."

"I live to play hockey. I like to go camping and hang out with the boys, do some fishing," he says on the site.

He also warns that if anyone messes with him, "I'll kick ass."

The Web site, before it was removed, appeared not to have been accessed for a year.

On it, he admits to having a girlfriend.

On the part where it asks about children, he wrote, "I don't want kids."

Mark Okeson, the assistant principal at Wasilla High School, told the Chicago Tribune that Bristol started her junior year last fall, in the town where Sarah Palin grew up.

He said Bristol inexplicably transferred to an Anchorage high school midyear, leaving Levi behind.

"I never heard the story why," he said.

NANCY DILLON, VERONIKA BELENKAYA and TINA MOORE

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Jamie Lynn Spears Sends Support to Palin's Pregnant Daughter

Teenage mom Jamie Lynn Spears has sent troubled Alaskan 17-year-old Bristol Palin a baby gift package following the scandal surrounding her pregnancy.

Spears, who revealed she was pregnant last Christmas -- when she was just 16 -- feels a kinship to Palin, the daughter of Republican Vice Presidential hopeful Sarah Palin, and decided to show her support by sending designer baby burpcloths.

The Palin family confirmed reports their eldest daughter Sarah was pregnant shortly after the Alaskan governor was picked as Senator John McCain's running mate in the upcoming presidential election.

"Access Hollywood" has revealed Jamie Lynn's mother Lynne Spears called Los Angeles baby boutique Petit Tresor on her daughter's behalf to order a small gift.

A store insider explains Lynne and Jamie Lynn wanted to send a gift worth under $100 to Bristol, and chose a collection of Plain Mary white burp cloths with pink writing.

The note attached to the gift read, "Dear Bristol, Hang in there ... xoxo, Jamie Lynn." >>>>

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Teen Mom Jamie Lynn Spears Reaches Out To Bristol Palin

Celebrity teen mom, Jamie Lynn Spears finally got someone to share the spotlight with: the 17-year-old daughter of GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, Bristol, who is five months pregnant.

No one understands better what Bristol Palin must be going through at the moment, with the news of her pregnancy making headlines for the past several days, than Britney Spears' younger sister, who was the talk of the tabloids throughout her own pregnancy.

In an act of support, Jamie Lynn reportedly sent a baby gift to Bristol Palin consisting of pink clothes, CelebTV.com reported. Apparently, the famous teen mom ordered a gift from Beverly Hills baby store Petit Tresor, to be sent to Bristol.

"It was ordered by phone, and they asked what could be done for under $100. They spent $60 on pink burpcloths," a source told CelebTV.com.

Does this mean Jamie Lynn knows that Bristol is having a girl? It would seem more prudent to send blue things if the baby’s sex is unknown since Bristol has a little five month-old brother. Still, being five months pregnant and due in December, Bristol could already know the sex of the baby, which means Jamie Lynn might know something the rest of the world doesn’t.

"She wanted it in pink. I'm assuming the two have spoken, and she knows it's a girl," a spokesman for Petit Tresor, the West Hollywood shop that took the order was quoted by the Daily News. "We're sending it to the (Alaska) state capital," the Tresor rep said.

Jamie Lynn, the former star of the TV show "Zoey 101," welcomed a baby daughter, Maddie Briann, in June. Although she is engaged to her baby daddy, Casey Aldridge, a pipe-layer from Liberty, Miss., rumors of his infidelity have been rife over the past several weeks.

On Monday, Sarah Palin and her husband announced that their daughter Bristol was pregnant and she would wed an 18-year-old young man named Levi Johnston, whom she had been dating for two years. They asked the media to respect the couple’s privacy. Johnston was raised in Wasilla, Alaska, where he was a star forward for his high school’s hockey team. He was considered a hero for playing in the final game in February despite a bad leg injury.

The news on the subject of Bristol Palin’s pregnancy quickly became one of the hottest topics to be discussed on talk shows and written about in the newspapers.

Sarah Palin, who has been chosen to be John McCain’s running mate for just a few days now, has nonetheless been in the spotlight ever since. Besides Bristol’s controversial pregnancy, it was revealed that a private legal representative has been retained for Sarah Palin in a legislative ethics inquiry for her dismissal of Alaska’s public safety commissioner. Furthermore, it was also made public that her husband had been taken into custody on a drunken-driving charge about 20 years ago.

Chris Georg

Back in the day, pregnant ladies wore giant blouses and dresses and waddled around in comfy shoes. But with so many stars returning to pre-pregnacy size 2 state before they even leave the hospital (so it seems, anyway), more and more ladies are sporting a glow that comes not so much from the impending joyous arrival as it does from the frantic exercise they do to gain as little as possible.

This phenomenon has been called "pregorexia" by the press, with Nicole Richie and Nicole Kidman cited as prime examples of women who didn't have an ounce to spare. Doctors have expressed concern, since the act of cooking up an actual human being isn't exactly a breeze physically, and weirdly, you apparently need nutrients and stuff. Who knew?

"In extreme cases of calcium and vitamin D deficiency, doctors are seeing both mothers and babies with the bone disorder rickets. 'It used to be said that women would lose a tooth for each child they had,' says Pat O'Brien. 'That is because the baby really will strip what it needs from your body unless you are getting enough in your diet.' Another problem is that during pregnancy the demand for iron (found in red meat) increases, with women needing around 50 percent more in order to make red blood cells for the fetus and the placenta as well as her own body. A lack of iron through dieting puts pregnant women at risk of anemia, which can make them light-headed, irritable and exhausted, and in extreme cases, cause heart palpitations."

Did you ever think you'd hear about people in this day and age getting rickets? That's one of my punchline diseases (along with scurvy) that I always joke about getting; I had no idea that people with completely adequate access to proper nutrition could still get these Dickensonian ailments. Note to self: Stop joking about the rickets thing.

What do you think about mothers who put their vanity above the health of their developing fetus? Is it reasonable to expect to not look pregnant from behind? Or should you just kick up your feet and put your quest for fitness on a break while you eat pie and watch a lot of Judge Judy for the last four months? The comments are suffering from swollen ankles.

Weetabix

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• 10 food you should never skimp on at the grocery store
• 20 things you should eat even though they are so-called diet foods
• 7 gym bags as cute as you are

Steer clear of foods that pose health risks for you and your baby.

When you're pregnant, eating for two means many things, and one of them is steering clear of foods that pose health risks for you and your baby.

While your favorite dishes and drinks may seem safe at first glance, a closer look reveals potential dangers. Here's what to avoid when you're pregnant, and why.

·                                 Swordfish, shark, tilefish, king mackerel, limit canned albacore tuna fish. These large fish harbor higher levels of methylymercury, a metal detrimental to a growing child's brain and nervous system. Pregnant and nursing women may safely eat up to 6 ounces of albacore ("white') tuna fish as part of their weekly total limit of 12 ounces of seafood low in mercury, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This also includes salmon, shrimp, canned light tuna, pollock, and catfish.

·                                 Fish caught in rivers, lakes, streams, or any other body of water. Recreational anglers may hook fish contaminated with bacteria or chemicals. Check the safety of fish from your favorite fishing grounds with your local health department.

·                                 Raw or undercooked meat, poultry, seafood (like raw oysters, clams, sushi), and eggs (including eggs in cookie dough and cake batter). Undercooked animal foods may contain a variety of bacteria and viruses. Use a meat thermometer to determine doneness of meat and poultry, and cook eggs until they are no longer runny.

·                                 Hot dogs and luncheon meats, including deli ham, turkey, bologna, and salami -- unless they have been reheated until steaming hot. These foods are prone to Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that causes listeriosis, which may result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or other serious health problems.

·                                 Unpasteurized dairy foods, including some milk and certain cheeses, such as Brie, feta, Camembert, Roquefort, blue-veined, "queso blanco," "queso fresco," and Panela; refrigerated pates or meat spreads; and refrigerated smoked seafood, such as salmon, trout, whitefish, cod, tuna, or mackerel (most often labeled as "nova-style," "lox," "kippered," "smoked," or "jerky"). These foods may contain harmful levels of listeria bacteria. Refrigerated smoked seafood is safe when it's part of a cooked dish, like casseroles.

·                                 Unpasteurized juices, such as cider purchased from roadside stands, at farms, or in stores. These products are prone to germs, including E. coli. Check the label to be sure juice is pasteurized.

·                                 Raw vegetable sprouts, including alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean. The FDA says sprouts are not a good idea for anyone, never mind pregnant women who are more susceptible to the health effects of the germs sprouts possess.

·                                 Herbal supplements and teas. Herbs are natural, but herbal products have not been studied enough to recommend them during pregnancy.

·                                 Alcohol. Beer, wine, and spirits rob developing cells of oxygen, making normal development impossible. The effects of alcohol on intellectual prowess are irreparable. According to the March of Dimes, there is no known safe level for alcohol consumption in pregnancy.

·                                 Tap water in undeveloped countries. Drink bottled water to avoid bacteria and viruses.

·                                 Certain foods that cause food allergy. Depending on your family history, your child may be at risk for developing food allergies. Avoiding foods including peanuts and peanut products during pregnancy (and nursing) may reduce allergy risk in susceptible children. Before you make any changes to your diet, speak with a licensed health care professional about your child's risk for allergy and consult with a registered dietitian knowledgeable about food allergy.

Elizabeth M. Ward, MS, RD