Health
Pregnant Gisele Bündchen faces this big risk of giving birth at home
Gisele Bündchen is expecting a baby with boyfriend Joaquim Valente, a source confirmed to Fox News Digital.
The supermodel, 44, is pregnant for the third time. She already has two kids with her ex-husband, retired NFL quarterback Tom Brady.
Bündchen is reportedly several months along and will not find out the baby’s gender – but she is planning a home birth, a source told People Magazine, as she did with her son.
GISELE BUNDCHEN IS PREGNANT, EXPECTING BABY WITH BOYFRIEND JOAQUIM VALENTE AFTER TOM BRADY DIVORCE
Although Bündchen is no stranger to giving birth at home, some experts have called out the risks.
Gisele Bündchen is expecting a baby with boyfriend Joaquim Valente, a source confirmed to Fox News Digital. (Getty Images)
The biggest concern about giving birth at home is what happens if something goes wrong, according to Talitha Phillips, a labor and postpartum doula and CEO of health nonprofit Claris Health.
“If there is a serious medical complication, sometimes there is less access to necessary medical interventions,” the Los Angeles-based expert told Fox News Digital.
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Kristin Revere, an elite certified birth, postpartum and infant care doula and owner of Gold Coast Doulas in Michigan, also warned about medical access, noting that home births are “not covered by general insurance.”
“If a transfer needs to happen during labor and the hospital is a distance away, and mother or baby is in distress, they may not be able to get the medical attention they need in time,” she told Fox News Digital.
“If an epidural is desired or needed, the mother will need to transfer to the hospital.”
Mothers in distress may not be able to get the “medical attention they need in time,” a doula warned. (iStock)
There are some benefits to birthing at home, the experts noted, including the fact that the mother can be in a “very comfortable” and familiar environment that “feels less clinical,” according to Phillips.
There are also fewer medical interventions to deal with throughout the process, like IVs, shift changes and the ability to eat and change positions whenever the woman wants, she added.
“If an epidural is desired or needed, the mother will need to transfer to the hospital.”
“You also get to choose the people who you want to be a part of your birth, and you build a relationship with the team that you’re welcoming into this special process,” Phillips said.
“If you have other children, they can also be there if you want them to be.”
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Revere said her clients appreciate not having to “scramble to get someone to watch their children when they go into labor.”
Home births can also be more affordable than a hospital, even with insurance co-pays, she noted.
A mother can choose whether she wants her other children present during a home birth. (iStock)
“Some of my clients fear hospitals and prefer to deliver in their environment, while others prefer the longer prenatal visits that many home birth midwives provide,” she said.
“Some mothers have a history of quick labors and feel more comfortable delivering at home.”
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Pregnancy tends to be higher-risk for people older than 35, according to Mayo Clinic and other sources.
As Bündchen is 44, Phillips mentioned that age should be discussed with the home birth professional when making the decision, as it may be considered as part of the medical intake and pregnancy history.
Tom Brady of the New England Patriots celebrates with then-wife Gisele Bundchen and children Vivian and Benjamin after Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Feb. 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
But Revere added that age is not as much of a factor in home births as it is in overall health.
“Home births are for low-risk clients,” she said. “There may be restrictions on delivery dates based on the age of the mother and state laws regarding home births.”
For women considering a home birth, Phillips encouraged considering a provider’s qualifications, education, history and past patient reviews before making a decision.
“You want to make sure to hire someone you feel comfortable with, who adds peace and knowledge to the experience and is a good fit for you,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“Make sure the medical provider is backed up by a provider with hospital privileges should you need a hospital transfer,” Phillips added. “That allows for open communication between the teams and a smooth transfer in cases where one occurs.”
Home births are for “low-risk clients,” an expert said. She recommends that the woman takes a comprehensive childbirth class to be fully prepared. (iStock)
Revere also suggests that any home birthers take a comprehensive childbirth class that covers breathing and pain relief techniques for an un-medicated birth.
Some of her favorite childbirth classes include HypnoBirthing, The Bradley Method, Lamaze and Gentle Birth.
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There are different laws regarding home births depending on the state where the mother lives, according to Revere, so there could be varying restrictions on things like vaginal birth after cesarean and twin births.
Fox News Digital reached out to Bündchen’s rep for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Tracy Wright contributed to this report.
Health
Katie Couric couldn’t remember the year or the president during frightening brain episode
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Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27.
In a post on Substack titled “The Day I’ll Never Remember,” she detailed a sudden episode that left her unable to recall the current month, year and president.
“I thought it was 2024. And I believed Joe Biden was president,” she wrote.
ONE WALKING HABIT COULD SIGNAL A HEALTHIER BRAIN AFTER 80, SCIENTISTS SAY
The event occurred while Couric was attending the Aspen Ideas Festival in Colorado, during which she participated in two public panels — one on AI and one on journalism — both of which she cannot remember at all.
“I have no idea what we talked about, or of what occurred when the panels ended,” she said.
Journalist Katie Couric is sharing a scary medical episode that she experienced on June 27. (Getty Images)
John Molner — Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels — also shared his account.
After the event, someone told Molner that Katie wasn’t feeling well. When he reached her, an EMT and a doctor were tending to her. “I could tell something was off,” he wrote. “It could have been altitude sickness, but Katie was definitely not all there.”
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At the hospital, when Couric struggled to recall the year, the president and her grandchildren’s names, doctors began checking for a stroke.
An MRI revealed no signs of stroke, which was a relief, but “Katie’s ‘fog’ became a lot more apparent,” Molner wrote.
John Molner, Couric’s husband, who was in attendance at the festival and the two panels, also shared his account. (Getty Images)
“She repeatedly asked me the same questions: ‘What was I doing before we got to the hospital?’ ‘Why am I at the hospital?’”
Couric was ultimately diagnosed with transient global amnesia, a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that prevents a person from forming new memories and may also erase some recent memories, according to Mayo Clinic.
“The cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself.”
It is not caused by a stroke, seizure or head injury, and it usually resolves completely within 24 hours.
“[It’s] just a very weird neural episode that’s pretty uncommon and, at least in most cases, is a ‘one and done’ experience,” Molner said.
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Couric said she finally began feeling “like herself” again around 9 p.m. and went to sleep at 2 a.m.
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.”
As TGA leaves a “permanent gap in memory” for the duration of the episode and for hours beforehand, Couric said that from around noon on that day until at least 7 p.m. will remain a “big, black hole.” (Getty Images)
Data shows that approximately three to eight people per 100,000 will have an episode of transient global amnesia, with people 50 years of age and older at higher risk.
The specific cause of TGA is not known, but some experts believe it stems from a “temporary dysfunction in the brain’s hippocampus — the area responsible for creating new memories,” Couric shared.
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“Doctors believe this is driven by brief interruptions in blood or oxygen flow, or microscopic spasm in the blood vessels.”
Episodes could potentially be triggered by intense physical exertion, emotional distress, extreme temperature changes or migraines, experts say.
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Approximately 15% of patients will have a recurrence 10 years later.
“Why did this happen to me? Was the altitude an issue? Was I dehydrated? Tired? Stressed? The literature doesn’t seem to indicate that these are contributing factors, but the cause seems to be as mysterious as the brain itself,” Couric wrote.
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise. (iStock)
“All I know is that those hours will be forever lost. Someone described it as my brain failing to hit the ‘record button.’”
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“While this was a freaky occurrence, it could have been much more serious. So ultimately, I’m relieved — even though several hours of a Saturday in June will always be missing for me.”
Anyone who experiences sudden memory loss, confusion, difficulty speaking, weakness, numbness, vision changes, severe headache or other stroke-like symptoms should seek immediate medical attention or call 911, doctors advise.
Health
One walking habit could signal a healthier brain after 80, scientists say
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Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers.
That’s according to a recent study led by Stony Brook Medicine in New York, which evaluated the cognitive function of 4,000 adults 80 and over who participated in multiple aging and longevity studies over several years.
Among this group, 6% to 10% were classified as super movers, which means they walk at a much faster pace than others of the same age and gender — at speeds comparable to people three decades younger.
COMMON VITAMIN MAY INFLUENCE BRAIN AGING IN WAYS SCIENTISTS DIDN’T EXPECT
The super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed.
The findings were published in the journal Neurology on June 16.
Older adults identified as “super movers” are about half as likely to develop cognitive impairment than their peers. (iStock)
“The study reinforces that mobility and brain health are closely connected,” lead study author Dr. Joe Verghese, MD, neurologist at Stony Brook Medicine, told Fox News Digital. “This suggests that preserving mobility may be an important marker of healthy brain aging and resilience.”
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The most intriguing finding, according to Verghese, was that super movers maintained cognitive function despite having similar dementia-related brain changes as their peers.
In postmortem brain analysis, there was no difference in dementia-related pathologies between the super movers and the slower walkers, the study stated.
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“This suggests they may possess resilience mechanisms that help preserve brain function even in the presence of age-related changes,” he said. “Understanding these resilience factors could lead to new strategies for promoting healthy brain aging.”
As the study was observational, there were some limitations, and it does not prove that walking faster prevents dementia, the researchers noted.
Super movers were found to have about half the risk of cognitive decline compared to seniors with typical gait speed. (iStock)
“Other factors, such as cardiovascular health, physical fitness or genetics, may also contribute to both faster walking and better cognitive outcomes,” Verghese said.
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This study adds to growing evidence that what’s good for the heart and muscles also benefits the brain, he noted, adding that “staying physically active remains one of the most effective, evidence-based ways to support healthy aging.”
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment.”
“The broader message is that physical activity is important at any age,” Verghese said. “Walking is an easy step-up point because you don’t need any special equipment. You can do it inside or outdoors, and you can do it on a regular basis. You can walk with a dog, you can walk with a friend.”
Any activity is beneficial if it’s done regularly and with the right intensity, he added.
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Rather than just trying to walk faster, the neurologist recommends that seniors focus on maintaining mobility through regular physical activity, strength training, balance exercises and good cardiovascular health.
“Walking speed is best viewed as a marker of overall health, not a treatment,” Verghese noted.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking.
Major public health guidelines from the CDC and U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week, such as brisk walking. (iStock)
This can be achieved by walking 30 minutes a day, five days a week, or about 20 to 25 minutes most days. Another option is to engage in shorter sessions that add up over the day.
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“You have to do it within your health limitations and medical conditions,” Verghese advised. “So if there are any medical concerns, I would get your physician to clear you before starting exercise.” The good thing about walking, he added, is that you can start at a slow pace and then gradually build up to a brisker pace.
“And then adding on strength and balance training, whatever age you are, I think is also important.”
Health
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