Women struggling to get pregnant try many things to boost their baby chances. Tracking ovulation, charting basal body temperature, reducing stress, quitting smoking, losing excess weight … the list goes on and on.

Recent research reveals another lifestyle factor that might be interfering with fertility:

via MedBroadcast: By analyzing fallopian tubes in mice, researchers found that caffeine interferes with muscle contractions that help eggs travel from the ovaries through the fallopian tubes and into the womb — a process critical for a successful pregnancy.

Most women are prepared to give up their java jolt, tea time, or daily cola caffeine - or to at least cut back - once pregnant. But what about before?

This research also provides new understanding of how the fallopian tubes work and may lead to better treatments for pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and sexually transmitted diseases.

Related: Are you addicted to caffeine?, 11 foods and substances to avoid during pregnancy, Preparing for maternity leave, Are you ready for another child?

A new mom knows to expect midnight feedings and lack of sleep. She expects to change many poopy- and pee-filled diapers. But what she may not expect is to have trouble controlling her own bladder!

Alas, bladder control issues happen to one-third of all new moms! It’s called postpartum urinary incontinence, and it’s caused by the weakening of the muscles in the bladder and the pelvis. The muscles weaken after all the stress and strain of pregnancy, labour, and post-birth body changes. A mom may experience it when exerting herself - lifting and carrying her baby or even when laughing, coughing, or sneezing.

So what can a new mom do? According to “Childbirth and incontinence”, Kegel exercises may help with bladder control. The exercises, described here, strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and help to train the bladder.

You may also choose to wear an absorbent product, just in case. You needn’t despair at the thought of having to buy “adult diapers” in addition to baby nappies - there are actually different types of absorbent products to choose from, some definitely more discreet than others!

Related: After-birth body changes, Feminine protection during pregnancy, Getting “back to normal” after giving birth

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and COX-2 inhibitors have previously been linked to boosted risk of heart attacks and stroke. And evidence connects these common painkillers to an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, a type of irregular heart rhythm that is sometimes called a “heart flutter” or a “palpitation”.

via PubMed: Use of non-aspirin NSAIDs was associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation or flutter. Compared with non-users, the association was strongest for new users, with a 40-70% increase in relative risk (lowest for non-selective NSAIDs and highest for COX 2 inhibitors). Our study thus adds evidence that atrial fibrillation or flutter needs to be added to the cardiovascular risks to be considered when prescribing NSAIDs.

Atrial fibrillation is more than just an occasional flutter or mis-beat. AFib, as it’s called for short, can have some pretty serious complications, including heightened risk of heart failure and stroke.

If you have atrial fibrillation, talk to your doctor before taking NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors.

Related: What is atrial fibrillation?, Complications of atrial fibrillation, Preventing AFib complications, What are NSAIDs?

When you find out that you have celiac disease, your dietary choices narrow. You have to avoid wheat, barley, bulgur, rye, spelt, and all sorts of products that contain the offending ingredient - gluten. It can feel like all breads, cereals, and pastas will be forever off limits.

Thankfully, the grain world is a diverse world, and there are many types you can still enjoy, including amaranth, brown rice, buckwheat, corn and cornmeal, millet, quinoa, and teff.

Learn more about these gluten-free, celiac-safe grains by clicking below…

The nutritional benefits of amaranth

The nutritional benefits of brown rice

The nutritional benefits of buckwheat

The nutritional benefits of corn

The nutritional benefits of millet

The nutritional benefits of quinoa

The nutritional benefits of teff

Related: Celiac disease - what can I eat?, Can you go gluten-free?, The connection between celiac disease and your teeth

In these harsh winter months, many of us experience chapped lips, frizzled hair, and dry skin. Perhaps it’s time to winterize our skin care routines:

> When dry, dead skin cells accumulate, it can result in dull, drab-looking skin. Over-washing your skin can add to the dryness, but exfoliation can help to accelerate your skin’s cell turnover rate and slough away those collected dead skin cells. Learn more about exfoliation …

> Caps and toques may give you hat head, but at least your hair will be shielded from the snow, wind, and dry air. Take time to give your scalp some season-specific TLC.

> Colder weather can be particularly harsh on skin affected by psoriasis. Find out how to manage and prevent flare-ups.

> Wind, sun, and cold, dry air can all cause our lips to crack and chap. Don’t leave your lips out in the cold.

Related: Scalp care by the seasons, Babies get dry skin, too, Caring for your child’s sensitive skin: 5 top parent tips

The inside surface of your colon is not smooth, but folded. Sometimes, muscle spasms within the colon cause small pouches or sacs form within these folds and end up catching material passing through your colon. These sacs are called diverticulae.

As you age, you are more likely to develop diverticulae, but they are generally harmless. The condition of having diverticulae is called diverticulosis.

However, sometimes these sacs become inflamed. This inflammation is known as diverticulitis. When this happens, you can experience sudden pain in your lower left abdomen; this pain can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or even fever.

The causes of diverticulitis (inflamed diverticulae) aren’t known, but it is thought that a diet high in processed, low-fibre foods is a contributing factor. So eating a diet high in fibre could be a good way to prevent or slow the effects of diverticulitis. Drinking lots of water is also a good idea, because that will help insoluble fibre move through and scour your colon more easily.

So what can you do if you need more fibre in your diet?

> Eat whole grain products like whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, and whole-wheat bread.

> Eat your fruits and vegetables! In particular, eat the skin if you can, since it often contains more fibre than the flesh.

> Add psyllium fibre to your diet.

> Stock up on legumes like lentils and beans.