Preggatinis: Non-Alcoholic Drinks for Mom-to-be!

Well here's some good news! On these hot summer evenings there IS something beautiful and refreshing that pregnant Moms can sip with no guilty conscience! These lovely concoctions are call "Pregga-tinis" and they are yummy! You're not going to be left out of cocktail hour. A woman named Natalie Bovis-Nelse, also known as "The Liquid Music" shares some of her favorite recipes for the mom-to-be.

The first drink is called "The Inside Spa" and its purpose is to hydrate your baby-making organs from the inside-out! This refreshing cucumber concoction also contains some cayenne pepper, believed to stimulate internal cleansing! Here's the recipe:

1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced

1/2 ounce lemon juice

1 teaspoon sugar

1 ounce sparkling water

Pour diced cucumber into a food processor. Add lemon joice and sugar and blend on low for 1 minute. Pour mixture into a large, ice-filled coctail glass. Top with sparling water and sprinkle with a pinch of ground cayenne peper.

The second drink is called "The Cosmom." If you 'd like this recipe, just contact me! Safe pregnancy!

Does Music help during a Caesarian delivery?

Music during caesarean section
In this Cochrane review, the authors attempt to gain insight into the effects of music on mothers and infants during cesarean section.
First, the details.
1 study involving 76 women (64 women evaluated) who planned to have their babies delivered by caesarean section was identified.
The study was of poor quality.
And, the results.
Music was provided from the beginning of anesthesia to the end of surgery.
The women’s heart rates were reduced by about 7 beats/minute.
Birth satisfaction scores increased by 3.4 points on a 35-point scale when women listened to music.
Respiration rates and anxiety were not affected.
The study didn’t report infant outcomes.
The bottom line?The authors concluded, “The findings indicate that music during planned caesarean section under regional anesthesia may improve pulse rate and birth satisfaction score. However, the magnitude of these benefits is small.”
6/25/09 18:10 JR

Circumcision pain may be eased with music

The decision to circumcise is a painful one in and of itself. Many studies report that the experience is traumatic and stressful for the baby. Parents struggle with the religious, social and cultural implications of their decision, as well as issues like hygiene and potential health concerns.

If parents ultimately give the green light on circumcision, the next decision involves how, when and who. Will anesthesia be used? Should the procedure be performed soon after birth? Would it be better to use a man or woman doctor? How much will it cost?

While circumcision rates in the U.S. have dropped by approximately 10 percent over the last 15 years, the WHO estimates that approximately 75 percent of U.S. boys are circumcised. But when the procedures are done, only 14 percent of physicians use anesthesia, even though the American Academy of Pediatricians indicates that the need for pain control is clear.

Perhaps that’s why neonatal units increasingly use music as a way to soothe babies. New research suggests that playing music helps to calm babies and lower heart rates during stressful practices like circumcision and heel pricks—done to all newborns to test blood for metabolic disorders. Manoj Kumar, M.D., and his team at the University of Alberta reviewed data from nine trials, including six that looked at music played while infants underwent painful procedures. They looked at oxygen saturation, heart rates, and respiratory rates to see if music made any difference. While some benefits were observed, the jury is out on any hard conclusions.

The way I view it, any measure taken to help the comfort of the baby is worthwhile. We’ve seen how music can positively impact the well-being of ill patients and help us regulate our stress levels, why not provide that potential benefit to our little boys?

Posted by Jeri_at_Health on Friday, May 29, 2009 8:36 AM