Will Your New Year’s Celebration Harm Your Baby?

Keeping in mind that I drink a glass of wine MAYBE once every month (the Cranberry Wine from Sorrenti is a seasonal favorite in our house), and I’ve got some “sparkling cider” chilling in the garage to ring in the New Year with…so its not like I’m some kind of a lush…

It’s New Year’s Eve Day and so the internet is awash in what else…an article that intends to instill fear in breastfeeding mothers who just wanted to enjoy a toast to the New Year…

“Mother Kills Son While Breastfeeding Him Drunk” reads the headline…which is of course eye catching.  But the story its self is full of holes. Continue Reading…

In the News: Prescription Pain Meds in Pregnancy May Cause Birth Defects

Today USA Today carried a report that the CDC has announced that certain prescription pain killers, when taken just prior to pregnancy, or during the first trimester, may double the risk of congenital heart defects in the infant.  These heart defects are often fatal in the first year of life, and if they aren’t fatal, they usually require many expensive surgeries to correct, and of course much pain and suffering for the infant.

However, the study authors noted that the risk from prescription painkillers in any one pregnancy is small.

“It’s important to acknowledge that although there is an increased risk for some types of major birth defects from an exposure to opioid analgesics, that absolute risk for any individual woman is relatively modest,” lead author Cheryl S. Broussard, of CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, said in the news release.

In other words… Continue Reading…

Was Joy Szabo’s birth a “victory?”

You may recall that I blogged about Joy Szabo 2 months ago.  At the time, she was pregnant, and was seeking media coverage because she had learned that the hospital closest to her, Page Hospital in Arizona, was denying her request to VBAC.  Ms. Szabo’s case was particularly troublesome because the nearest hospital to her that would “allow” VBAC was in Phoenix, a 6 hour drive from her home, and Ms. Szabo already had 2 vaginal births, so certainly would be expected to have good odds for being able to achieve her desired VBAC.  Having the cesarean would actually have put her baby and herself at a higher risk of complications than having a VBAC would.

Unfortunately, Ms. Szabo’s situation is far from unusual.  Continue Reading…

Circumcision and the American Academy of Pediatrics

As you might know, the American Academy of Pediatrics is currently re-examining its policy statement on routine infant circucision.  The last two times this statement was updated, each time it stated that routine infant circumcision was not necessary.

However, this time around, a different decision might be made.  Continue Reading…

More Children are Dying of the H1N1 Flu…So What Does This Mean?

Tent set up at a hospital to treat patients with flu-like symptoms

A friend alerted me to a recent LA Times article about the H1N1 flu, and wondered what I thought of it.

I told her “The Bible tells us not to worry about tomorrow for today has enough worries of its own…so if your family does not have H1N1 today, the Bible tells you not to worry about it, right? ;-)”

As a Christian, seriously, I think that should be the bottom line.  But I’m a number cruncher too, so of course I didn’t leave it at that. Continue Reading…

Rallies to Support Children as Visitors in Hospitals

As you may know, I’m involved on the leadership of EmPoWeReD Birth, an advocacy group for birth in Eastern PA. In that capacity, I am writing this note, and ask you to share it.

As you may have seen recently, Lehigh Valley area hospitals, along with many hospitals across the country, have made the decision to ban all children under the age of 18 from the hospital as “visitors.” This is a “temporary” ban for flu season, but as you probably know, the flu season extends until April or May, so we are looking at a ban that could easily last 6-7 months.

To be sure, we think it is a wise practice at ANY time for anyone who is exhibiting signs of the flu to avoid visiting a hospital as a visitor.

However, the EmPoWeReD Birth leadership is concerned about this ban Continue Reading…

Hospitals Ban Children from Visiting

This morning I had a prenatal appointment with a client expecting her second baby.  I already knew as I headed out the door that the hospital she was planning to birth in was restricting child visitors, but that exceptions to the rule could possibly be obtained.  I had planned to discuss this with her, because I very much believe that a new baby’s siblings should be among the first, if not THE first visitors to the baby.  I believe it is very helpful for family bonding and integration of the new baby into the family. 

During my drive to the hospital though, I heard a story on the local radio station that all of the local hospitals had decided Continue Reading…

Is ICAN Under Stating How Bad the Cesarean Epidemic is?

The work that is done by the International Cesarean Awareness Network, or “ICAN” is important and worthwhile.  My hat is off to all the women who are part of this organization.  I actually had the opportunity just this morning to be a guest at the Lehigh Valley ICAN group meeting, and am immensly pleased that someone has finally stepped forward to form a group in this area. Continue Reading…

Hospital Policy Pains Expectant Mother

The Lake Powell Chronicle, a newspaper in Arizona, carried an article recently highlighting the plight of a woman who has had 3 previous births–the first a vaginal birth, the second a cesarean, and the 3rd a VBAC.  Now, expecting her 4th child, she is being told that she must consent to a repeat cesarean because her local hospital (Page) has determined that it can not handle any possible emergencies that a VBAC might bring. Continue Reading…

Choices in Childbirth mounts a petition drive in response to the “Perils of Homebirth”

When I took childbirth classes in my first pregnancy, I’ll admit that I thought my educator was a bit “odd” to have had a homebirth. But I supported her right to do that.

Well I’ve since had 3 homebirths (Jason, Sean, Sophie).  As a low risk woman who lives within a close driving distance of several hospitals, this is a safe option for me, not to mention saves valuable health care dollars. Accurate reporting on this issue is vital to break the virtual monopoly that ACOG holds on birth in America. Given this, I was appalled by the biased journalism represented in the recent Today Show story that was originally titled “The Perils of Midwifery” (the piece was retitled to “The Perils of Homebirth” after the initial airing).

So, with that background, I was please when I saw the following announcment from Marlene Gubler, a Lehigh Valley area childbirth educator and doula:

Hi all!

Choices in Childbirth has crafted a petition in response to the Today Show segment, “The Perils of Midwifery.” Our goal is to collect 5,000 signatures from all across the country by October 9th, the final day of Midwifery Week. That morning we will hand deliver the petition to the Today Show offices (y’all are invited to join us!).

Please sign the petition and forward it to your clients, family, and friends.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/accurate-reporting-in-birth-options

Thanks so much!

So please, go sign the petition, and then spread the word!