mommy2be's blog

Trace Melamine Found in US Formula

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:47:03 -0500

Yet another reason to breastfeed: after reports of over 50,000 sick babies and 3 deaths related to formula in China, the US began to test its formula. The FDA released a statement today that some formula has trace elements of Melamine. Since a safe level has not yet been established there will be no recall. Read the rest of the story here.

March of Dimes Gives US a 'D' for Prematurity

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:52:28 -0500

This week the March of Dimes gave the US a report card on prematurity. As some would have suspected, we are not doing well. Overall the US got a 'D' but my state was given an 'F', as were the states around me. Below you will find a post where Dr. Laura Riley talks about some things to be done to decrease the number of premature births in the US. In fact, she talks about prematurity from inductions and cesareans that are on the rise. My question would be how much is caused by what the physician wants and how much is the patient's impatience? With so much focus on one day, could we lower the prematurity rate by simply giving the 38-42 week span as the possible due date?

You can go here to sign the March of Dimes petition for premies.

Anesthesia and Brain Development

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:46:25 -0400

Today I came across this article in which the author describes research being performed to determine anesthesia's effect on developing brains. The article is talking about children who undergo surgery but can easily relate to the use of epidural anesthesia in birth. Many practitioners blow off parental concerns related to effects of anesthesia in labor, despite their validity. While a lot of investigation is going on about the effects of television, vaccinations, video games, etc. on our children's brains why are we not spending more time/money/energy on the events surrounding their entrance into the world?

USA Today Highlights Issues in Maternity Care

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:35:27 -0400

I am always excited when birth-related issues are address in the mainstream media. So imagine my surprise when a friend sent me this link to a USA Today article talking about the problems with c-sections, informed consent and the benefit of doulas. Yes!

Psychological Impact on Birth

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:03:41 -0400

Women who want low-intervention, medication-free births in hospitals have to go in ready for a fight. I know I was mentally prepared for one. This week I've been thinking about it a lot - what does this do to a woman's labor? We know that there is definitely a mind/body connection and emotional issues can interfere with labor. What do you think? Do you have any experience with this?

Special Time

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:18:34 -0400

I was chatting with a friend today about how special the time right before birth is. Everyone around you seems to be tuned in to your every move as they anxiously await the arrival of your little one. One of the things that we were talking about is how fun it can be to think "is this it?" to every little twinge or possible early labor sign. I can't help but think it would be sad to miss out on that with a scheduled induction or cesarean. I've been trying to think up inventive ways to tell my husband when I'm in labor, since I didn't do anything really cool to tell him that the test was positive (in fact, the words "I told you so!" came out of my mouth.)

Lamaze- Building Confidence Weekly

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:47:56 -0400

Three weeks ago I signed up for Lamaze's new Building Confidence Week by Week e-mails. So far, I have found them to be fantastic! Each e-mail has a little something written on preparation for labor and birth, a specific stage of birth, etc. The best part is the tone that they are written in. A lot of what is available on the internet is written to scare pregnant women. Lamaze's e-mails are written the way you would expect - that pregnancy and birth are normal, natural parts of life. The other thing I have found is that when reading the e-mails I feel so much more positive. I get EXCITED about my baby's arrival instead of dreading it as some literature has made me feel. So, overall, I give them four stars. What about you? Have you enjoyed them? If you haven't signed up - you can do so here Lamaze Building Confidence Week by Week

C-Sections, Allergies and Asthma

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:30:26 -0400

I've had allergies and asthma since I was a kid. I thank my mom all the time for breastfeeding me as long as she did - who KNOWS how much worse off I would be had she not!? But I think about this baby I worry about my child inheriting this less-than-wonderful trait. A new study suggests that there is a link between babies born by cesarean and allergies and asthma. Dr. Ly said "This finding is exciting because it suggests that the mode of delivery may be an important factor influencing immune system development in the neonate." By avoiding a c-section I might help the chances of my child not having these conditions. That's awesome! You can read more about the study here

Access to Information

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:01:29 -0400

This week my baby turned from transverse to breech. I am only 33 weeks pregnant, so the baby has plenty of time to turn. The one thing that really stood out to me, though, was the lack of concern by most of the people I talked to about it. Multiple people told me "You'll be fine. Baby will turn. Don't worry." But how hard is that? As a pregnant woman I worry about my baby and my birth. Luckily, I have a really good support team who I went to. They helped me voice my concerns and lead me to some resources about turning malpositioned babies. Not all women are as lucky as I am to have such a good support system. There is plenty of poor information available about pregnancy and birth-related subjects. How do we as birth activists spread the word about accurate and non-threatening information?

ACNM Publishes Guidelines for Eating in Labor

Thu, 29 May 2008 11:08:19 -0400

One thing that my husband was smart enough to ask on our hospital tour was their standards on eating and drinking in labor. This is something that is really important to me. I am really crabby and tired when I don't eat and I just don't think that would be the best way to labor. It seems the American College of Nurse-Midwives agrees with me. They have released new guidelines that say that eating in labor "can provide women with the energy they need and should not be routinely restricted." To learn more about the guidelines, particularly related to eating and the possible need for general anesthesia, go to Clinical Guidelines for Nutrition in Labor

The following may be helpful as well:
Eating in Labor
Practice Guidelines for Obstetric Anesthesia

Choosing Tests

Mon, 19 May 2008 22:58:10 -0400

One thing that has been very difficult for me this pregnancy is choosing what tests I want. In the beginning we chose not to do any genetic testing. Later, I chose to go through with the glucose tolerance test (for example). The risk with each of these types of tests is that a label, whether it is accurate or not, can affect the kind of birth I have. Not only from my practitioner's point of view but also from mine. For instance, the more I find "wrong", the less I believe in my body's ability to have a natural pregnancy and birth. This is a hard line to walk for me. It involves LOTS of reading and polling before going through with any test. What do you think? Do you think we are hurting or helping ourselves with all of the tests available for pregnant women?

Submit a Comment, Change Some Thinking

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:24:15 -0400

I just ran across this Parent Dish article about how this mom was upset by a breastfeeding ad. Please leave her a comment and let her know that the billboard isn't trying to guilt women into breastfeeding - it's simply stating a fact of life.

TIME Article on Elective Caesareans

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:35:12 -0400

When I saw the title to this article "Choosy Mothers Choose Caesareans" I was intrigued. It didn't take long for my intrigue to turn into rage. In my opinion, the article makes it sound like the choice between a vaginal birth and a caesarean is equal to "paper or plastic?" This line really got me: "Pretty tidy way to conduct the often messy business of childbirth." Really? Having your abdomen sliced open is tidy? Hmm... What do you think?

Scared of Normal?

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:42:08 -0400

Today I was talking with another pregnant woman about her upcoming birth. She said she was scared to give birth vaginally and had chosen a scheduled c-section. I must have looked at her like she had three heads. I explained that I am petrified of a major abdominal surgery. What is it about our culture that makes women fear what is normal and natural? How can staples and sutures in your belly be a better alternative?

Luckily, this did give me a chance to discuss my views on elective cesarean sections and clear up a few of her misconceptions. Then I went on to tell her a few things that my husband and I are doing to avoid an unneccesary surgery.

Our First Pregnancy

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:32:43 -0500

Positive pregnancy test? Check. Shocking news? Not really. Even before my husband and I got our positive pregnancy test I declared I was pregnant. That was just a few days before Thanksgiving. While we had promised each other that we would wait until after Thanksgiving to tell our families, but as soon as the second line appeared I knew that I was going to tell. And I did...and then came the rash of questions. "Where are you going to have your baby?" "Was the pregnancy planned?" (I'm in my early twenties and this is our first baby.) Then came the advice. "Don't be a hero, take the epidural" "Have the doctor do as many tests as possible, early on." While I realize all of these comments were well meaning, I began to get really irked.