Growing Your Baby - Parenthood from Pregnancy to Pre-school » Pregnancy and Birth

Pregnant Women Should Beware of Taking Harmful Medications

Beth Shea — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 06:57:22 +0000

A recent study conducted by Dr. Anick Berard at the Université de Montréal found that many pregnant women are still taking drugs that have been long known to cause birth defects. According to Berard, medications, including those used to treat severe acne, antibiotics, anxiety and psychiatric drugs, and many drugs prescribed for medical conditions and heart disease, “can and should be avoided.”

Further, Dr. Berard suggests that “women should understand the side effects of any drug they are taking — especially drugs treating a chronic condition — and plan pregnancies to avoid or minimize risks such drugs pose to babies.”

The report on this study, published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology relays the statistic that out of 109,344 pregnant women being evaluated, 6.3% (6,871 women) filled a prescription for at least one medication known to be hazardous to their fetus. Researchers noted that, “These pregnancies were associated with an elevated number of (pregnancy terminations) and babies born with major (birth defects) in comparison with the expected numbers in the population.”

The bottom line is, pregnant women, or women planning to become pregnant should do an inventory of their medications to be aware of any harm the drugs they are taking may inflict on their unborn child.

As an added note, beyond prescription medications, pregnant women should also check with their doctor with regard to any and all supplements, vitamins, herbs and over the counter medicines they take, to ascertain that nothing they are ingesting will interfere with the healthy development of their baby.

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25 Weeker Fitted With An External Pacemaker

Lisa — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:05:01 +0000

In a world first, tiny Taylor Gardner has been fitted with a pacemaker bigger than her fragile body.

Born after just 25 weeks and weighing an unbelievable 540g, Taylor’s heart began to fail in the hours after her birth, forcing Melbourne’s Monash Medical Centre surgeons to try the untried.

The cardiac team wired an external pacemaker to her tiny heart, allowing her to stay alive so she can be fitted with a more conventional pacemaker in coming months.

A 19 week ultrasound revealed Taylor had a complete heart block found in 1 in 200,000 babies.

At that time her mother Rebecca Gardner was put on bedrest so that her pregnancy could be monitored.

“It was heart-wrenching, but I wanted her to survive because she is my 11th pregnancy and I only had one child,” Ms Gardner said.

“I just wanted her to be alive. Everything else you push to the back of your mind and then pray and hope.

“You just have to put on a brave face, lots of prayers and hope the surgeons can perform a miracle.

“She’s a fighter and she is feisty. Even though she has such tiny hands, I reckon all the nurses are wrapped around her little finger.”

Nine hours after her birth on May 25, Taylor’s heart rate was getting worse instead of better and she had to be rushed in for a pacemaker. As a result of her condition, her heart beat at between 40-50 beats a minute, rather than 150.

Although only a handful of premature babies in the world had ever been fitted with an external pacemaker – and none less than 750g – Dr Alex Veldman said surgeons had no other choice but to rewrite history.

“It is a bit like flying to the moon – you have to try something that was never attempted before,” he said.

“In a hospital like this we can have all the expertise and all the knowledge to make it as safe as possible, but, in the end, you still have to try to fly this thing.

“It is quite an amazing thing, because the size of the baby’s heart is half the size of a cherry, and to suture these wires on to that heart without injuring it is astounding.”

Five days after the miracle operation, Taylor’s bowel perforated and she needed another major operation.

Dr Veldman said that now she’s made it through the first week of her life, her biggest dangers were behind her.

For even the smallest internal pacemaker, Taylor will have to grow between 1.5kg and 2kg in three months before she is big enough to get one and able to leave the neonatal intensive care unit.

Other Amazing Babies:

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And The Winners Are… Your Best Birth Giveaway

Lisa — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:57:32 +0000

If you are pregnant or preparing to have a baby in the near future, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein.

Written much like a conversation between friends, Your Best Birth is all about your options during your pregnancy. From doctors and hospitals to homebirths and midwives, these ladies open up about their personal experiences and discuss the pros and cons of many modern birth procedures.

Every chapter will build your knowledge and confidence to make the right choices, whether you choose to deliver at a hospital, at home or at a birth center.

GIVEAWAY: We had 10 copies of this book to giveaway to our readers.

Congratulations to our winners Elita, Laura, Tanya, Kim, Kim, Kamille, Carey, Joanne, Leah and Billie.

Thank you to our readers who blogged about the giveaway:

Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein (GIVEAWAY)

Lisa — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:00:41 +0000

If you are pregnant or preparing to have a baby in the near future, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein.

Every chapter will build your knowledge and confidence to make the right choices, whether you choose to deliver at a hospital, at home or at a birth center.

Even though I have had 2 kids, there is unbelievable amount of insight included that I could have used during both of my pregnancies. One that comes to mind immediately is the duo’s extensive reasons not to induce… (woops!)

Throughout the book there are also helpful sections that offer information on all delivery options, including what to look for when choosing a birth center, putting your ‘team’ together and finding Dr. Right.

I personally love the ‘birth goddess’ features that are scattered through the book. Ricki and Abbey have included real birth stories told by fellow moms and amazing women who have made significant contributions to the birthing community.

GIVEAWAY: We have 10 copies of this book to giveaway to our readers.

To enter please comment here

Extra Entrants:

Blog about our giveaway! Tell your readers about our giveaway and then send us the link in a separate comment for an additional entrant to the giveaway.
Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/growingyourbaby or ‘Tweet’ about our giveaway
Regardless of outcome – ALL bloggers who blog about our giveaway will be linked back in our winners post.

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Giveaway Rules

Giveaway ends Sunday June 13th, 2009

Pregnancy and Hair Loss

Lisa — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:43:47 +0000

During my pregnancy I had nice hair and great skin. This was a result of my rising hormones, which kept my hair thick and shiny. Now that those hormones are gone, my hair is going with them – at an alarming rate – causing me to wonder if everything is okay.

According to the American Pregnancy Association, loosing copious amount of hair 3 or 4 months after delivering is normal.

They say:

During pregnancy, an increased number of hairs go into the resting phase, which is part of the normal hair loss cycle.

The rise in hormones during pregnancy keeps you from losing your hair. After delivery, the hormones return to normal levels, which allows the hair to fall out and return to the normal cycle. The normal hair loss that was delayed during pregnancy may fall out all at once.

Up to 60% of your hair that is in the growth state may enter into the telogen resting state. The hair loss usually peaks 3-4 months after delivery as your hair follicles rejuvenate themselves.

*This hair loss is temporary and it should returns to normal within six to twelve months.* There are a number of things that you might do to have healthier hair and/or reduce hair loss during pregnancy and after delivery:

Consult with your health care provider to ensure a proper balance of hormones
Avoid pigtails, cornrows, hair weaves, braids and tight hair rollers which can pull and stress your hair
Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables, which contain flavonoids and antioxidants that may provide protection for the hair follicles and encourage hair growth
Use shampoos and conditioners that contain biotin and silica
Hair is fragile when it is wet, so be gentle; avoid fine tooth combs
If you need to use blow dryers and other heated hair instruments, try to use the cool setting
Supplement your diet with the following nutrients:
- Vitamin B complex (Catergory A)
- Vitamin C (Catergory A)
- Vitamin E ( Likely safe if amount does not exceed the RDA; possibly safe if it does)
- Zinc (Likely safe when used orally and appropriately; likely unsafe when used orally in high doses

12-Ounce Baby Beats Odds at Pittsburgh Hospital

Lisa — Sat, 30 May 2009 20:40:38 +0000

Against all odds Taylor Maree arrived by C-section on March 12 weighing just 350 grams, which is almost 12 ounces.

The doctors could hardly believe their eyes.

“When she popped out they were really astounded at how tiny she was,” according to the NICU’s director, Dr. Jennifer Kloezs.

At birth she was whisked away the second she was born. Her parents only got to see her for maybe two or three seconds before they said they had to get her into intensive care.

Taylor Maree’s 23-year-old mom, Brittany Rideout, of Penn Hills, had a host of serious health issues during her pregnancy, including two strokes, a heart attack, lupus and preeclampsia.

It was the lupus attacking the placenta that forced the birth at 26 weeks.

“If you look at one of her parent’s wedding rings and put that on her it would fit easily over her entire arm and probably would have fit easily over her entire leg,” Kloezs said.

Now, weighing in at a hair over two pounds 14 ounces the amazing baby is just weeks away from going home. She is not on any oxygen and is currently bottle feeding – 2 important hurdles that need to be conquered before a discharge plan is put in place.

She is the tiniest preemie ever to survive at Magee-Women’s Hospital. They call her a real life fairy tale “Thumbelina.”

Doctors expect her growth to lag behind, maybe for the first couple of years of life – but from everything they can tell developmentally she looks like she’s right on track.

We wish this family well. Getting to this point was undoubtedly stressful. Soon they will be able to enjoy her without all of the wires and machines.

SOURCE

Belfast Mom Welcomes Ireland’s First Set Of Sextuplets

Lisa — Fri, 22 May 2009 21:37:56 +0000

A mom in Belfast Northern Ireland has given birth to the country’s first set of sextuplets at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital.

The four girls and two boys, who weighed between 1lb 7oz and 2lb 2oz, are believed to be conceived naturally, without the aid of IVF.

The babies were delivered by caesarian section and were 14 weeks premature.

The amazing 5 minute birth was attended by 30 medical staff.

Neonatal consultant Clifford Mayes said the six babies were in intensive care and doing as well as could be expected for arriving so early.

The babies’ parents have requested that the family’s privacy is respected and they will not be available for photographs.

SOURCE

The New Natural Caesarean

Lisa — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 04:59:10 +0000

In an attempt to turn one of the world’s most common operations into an experience closer to vaginal birth, a UK doctor has made some changes to the how Caesarean sections are done, which has made the procedure more intimate for expectant families.

“It struck me that all the effort was going into changing normal childbirth but that Caesarean section was still steeped in old surgical rituals,” says Professor Nicholas Fisk, a former obstetrician at Queen Charlotte’s Hospital in London, “In some cases I was horrified; the baby would be dragged out like a tumour and passed to several medical staff before the mother. It was ripe for reform.”

His team focused on three areas.

First, parental involvement: this meant dropping the drape that “divorced” the mother from her abdomen, to allow her to see her baby’s head emerge; the baby itself blocks the mother’s view of the operation.

The second point was physiological: Fisk showed that when a Caesarean is performed slowly the baby is able to “autoresuscitate” – start breathing unaided – while still attached to the placenta, as in normal birth. The baby is “half-delivered” and a combination of the naturally contracting uterus and the baby’s vigorous wriggles allow the lungs to expel fluid in a similar way to a vaginal birth. This reduces the risk of the baby needing help to breathe; a common occurrence after a Caesarean.

Finally, Fisk wanted to see newborns handed immediately to their mother for skin-to-skin bonding.

“There are now official standards for skin-to-skin bonding in childbirth, but these are almost never met with Caesareans,” he says. One obstruction is that the monitoring equipment needed for patients in surgery is routinely attached to the mother’s chest. “In a natural Caesarean we attach the ECG wires to the back of the chest so that the baby can be placed on the mother after birth,” Dr Felicity Plaat, consultant anaesthetist explains. The anaesthetic dose is lowered so that there is no “heaviness in the arms” to prevent holding the baby, and a clip that measures oxygen in the blood is attached to the toe.

Plaat knows from experience how important it is for a mother to be given her child as quickly as possible:

“My son was passed around, measured, weighed, dressed and even had his hair washed before being given to me. A crucial player, therefore, is the midwife . She has to be enthusiastic and involved. It’s not just ‘dumping baby on mum’ and writing up notes; it’s making sure that the baby is safe, is not going to slip off, and is warm. We put towels over the baby and even bubble-wrap – the kind you buy in big rolls in Ryman.”

Camilla Fisher had one last summer, after an emergency Caesarean two years before.

“It was the most relaxing environment: calm and reassuring,” she recalls. “The staff and my husband were all in green surgical gowns, but it didn’t feel like an operation. When you’ve had a natural Caesarean you wonder why it was ever different. I’ve never felt that I was deprived of a ‘natural birth’.”

It would be interesting to see if doctors in other countries adopt this procedure. It makes sense.

SOURCE

Woman Thrown Out Of Bar For Drinking While Pregnant

Lisa — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:43:46 +0000

A pregnant woman was refused a drink at a pub and then asked to leave by staff who said they were protecting her unborn child.

Caroline Williams, 26, who is five months pregnant, says she felt humiliated by the treatment.

She insists she is a responsible mother and would never endanger her baby even though she drank a pint of beer and was going to have another half.

She said: ‘I was on a rare night out with some friends. I had a pint of lager and a friend offered to get me another half – that was going to be my limit.

‘He was refused service because it was for me and when I later took a sip from another friend’s glass the assistant manageress asked me and my friends to leave.’

Even though I agree with this manager, a spokesman for the Mitchells and Butler chain which owns the pub, apologised and said an investigation had been launched.

He said: ‘We would like to apologise unreservedly to all of the guests involved for any offence that may have been caused. While the team member may have believed she was acting with her own good intentions, she did not handle the situation in an appropriate manner.’

Advice from the Chief Medical Officer says that women trying to conceive or who are pregnant should avoid drinking alcohol.

Excess alcohol consumption can be the cause of a condition known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome which causes mental retardation and birth defects. But other experts say an occasional glass of wine will not harm a child.

Some people just don’t get it…

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