The Use of Early Pregnancy Sonograms

Today we have a fascinating guest post by Susan White.

Pregnancy is a time of great joy and anticipation; while you’re bursting with happiness most of the time, there are apprehensive moments too as you wonder about the health of your unborn child and pray that there are no unforeseen complications. To this end, the ultrasound scan is a boon in the field of obstetrics. It is safe for both mother and child, and from the fourth week of pregnancy, can be used to determine information and eliminate undesirable conditions.

In the early stages of pregnancy, between the fourth and seventh weeks, ultrasounds confirm the pregnancy through the presence of the gestational sac, the yolk sac and the fetal pole (the heartbeat of the fetus). They also rule out ectopic pregnancies (when the fetus is in the fallopian tube) and molar pregnancies, and in the presence of vaginal bleeding, can tell if there is a risk of miscarriage using the rate of the fetal heartbeat.

As the pregnancy progresses, ultrasound scans are used to determine the size and weight of the fetus, and based on these, calculate the date of conception. They’re also very useful in determining if there are any anomalies or abnormalities in the fetus. Some conditions are preventable by intervention at the right time while others raise the question of whether to terminate the pregnancy or continue with it and raise a child who may have health problems all their life. It’s a decision that only the parents can make, but ultrasound scans help them prepare for what they can expect in the future.

When it comes to determining the sex of the baby, an ultrasound helps only after the 17th week, and even then, the position of the fetus plays a large role in being able to accurately determine if it is a boy or a girl. Some people are anxious to know the sex beforehand because it gives them an opportunity to choose names and prepare for the arrival of the baby. Others are not concerned one way or the other. But there are some countries where determination of the sex of the baby through an ultrasound scan is illegal because female fetuses are aborted immediately.

China and India are notorious for this practice – in the former, the strict one-child policy enforced by the government forces couples to wait for a boy because they want to continue their family lineage; and in the latter, the girl child is seen as a burden in middle and lower class families because they have to shell out large sums of money as “dowry”, a kind of fee paid to the groom’s family, during her marriage.

Isn’t it ironic how something that was invented to make pregnancies easier and safer is also being used as a reason to kill?

By-line:

This article is contributed by Susan White, who regularly writes on the subject of rad tech schools. She invites your questions, comments at her email address: susan.white33@gmail.com.

Guided Imagery Reduces Prenatal Stress

Here's the latest from http://www.belleruthnaparstek.com/!

Monday, 24 May 2010

Researchers from University Hospital Basel in Switzerland compared the immediate effects of brief guided imagery and relaxation exercises - two active and one passive 10-min relaxation technique - on prenatal stress in a randomized, controlled trial with 39 healthy pregnant women.

Subjects were assigned to one of two active relaxation techniques, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) or guided imagery (GI), or a passive relaxation control condition.

Measures were self-reported relaxation on a visual analogue scale (VAS); the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S); scores on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis (cortisol and ACTH); and sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system activity (norepinephrine and epinephrine). Additionally, measures were taken of cardiovascular responses, such as heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Scores were measured at four points before and after the relaxation exercise.

New Moms Get Lonely Too!

This article was found on (http://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/week-17/new-mom-on-the-block.aspx)
Feeling isolated with a new baby? Here's how to seek out other new mommies near you.

Sure, you adore your little one (Who wouldn't? Those eyes! Those cheeks!), but sometimes you might find yourself craving a grown-up friend who speaks actual words rather than sputtering raspberries at you (as adorable as that can be!). It's pretty common for new moms to feel isolated since they have little time for licking a stamp, let alone chitchatting with their (perhaps single and baby-free) gal pals. So how can you find a real-life connection? Let your baby be your guide!
One way to satisfy your craving for adult conversation and spend quality time with your roly-poly baby is to find other new moms. Mommy-and-me type groups can be found in just about every city and town these days; you just have to know where to look. Whether it's a designated time in a park, or a baby-friendly coffeehouse, or even someone else's living room, your outing can be gratifying for both mommies and babies.
So where to start? Well, the playground and your pediatrician's office are like singles bars for moms seeking moms. You can also check out the bulletin boards at your house of worship, local library, or maybe chat someone up at the supermarket (Hey, babies make great conversation starters!). At the very least, or in addition to finding actual friends-in-the-flesh, you can establish some pretty rewarding relationships with other new moms online.

If you haven't already discovered them, the What To Expect First Year Message Boards are full of amazingly supportive and welcoming women who know exactly what you're going through and share your interests precisely (who else is happy to comment on the color of your baby's poop?). Who knows? You may meet a mommy who's just two towns over! So reach out and touch someone, either in person or virtually. You just might make a friend for life.

"Lullaphones" to the Rescue!

Someone very near and dear to me gave birth last Friday!  We had talked about her using the headphones and she wasn't sure she wanted to, but when she found out that women who have C-sections don't have their own private room, she changed her mind.  It seems that there was at least one very loud woman just a few feet away on the phone with her husband and this woman was not a bit happy with him.  My patients wasn't feeling that great and decided to put on the headphones to block out all the hostile vibes around her and said it absolutely did the trick! 

These pre-programmed headphones are absolutely sonic medicine with no side-effects!  Let's get the word out!

Preemies and Mozart: What the research says

Listening to the music of the master seems to help the babies grow. Exposing the infants to 30 minutes of Mozart's music daily appears to calm them, report researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel. This is good news, because the less agitated the preemies are, the less energy they'll expend and the faster they’ll gain weight - that boosts their immunity to infections and other illnesses and enables them to go home from the hospital. The researchers measured the physiological effects of the music on the babies and compared the "after Mozart" results with earlier measurements. Why Mozart? The Israeli researchers suggest that unlike the compositions of Beethoven or Bach, Mozart's music has a melody that is highly repetitive, perhaps similar to the rhythm of the heartbeat they would hear in the womb, which the investigators speculated may affect the organizational centers in the babies' brains. The Israeli study is part of an international effort to determine what environmental effects promote the health and survival of susceptible infants. Next, the Israeli team plans to expose premature infants to other types of music to see what evokes a similar response. One of them suggested "rap" as a type of music that is also highly repetitive. What would Mozart think of that?

source:  http://www.drweilblog.com/

The Bradley Method of Childbirth: I did it and it works!

I have given birth three times.  Each time I had a healthy baby girl that weighed between 7.5 and 8.1 lbs, but the labors were all different!  The first two time I used the "Lamaze Method" of breathing and childbirth where the breathing is different depending on what phase of labor the woman is in.  With my third daughter I used the Bradley Method, which I had learned about at La Leche League meetings in Louisville, KY.  I could not believe how easy and effective it was.  Simply beginning the slow, steady, rhythmic breathing at the beginning of each contraction got me through each contraction without feeling that I was losing control or being swept away with pain.  I was hooked up to a monitor for the last 6-8 hours so once the contractions were coming regularly, my husband would wake me up and start breathing with me and I just did what he did!  Things were going so well that at one point my OB asked if I would be willing to allow some residents to come in and observe me.  I was happy to do that, but strangely, when I begin talking with them, my labor came to a complete stop for a brief period so I had to bid them good-bye. 

I highly recommend the technique though and feel that it is the easiest and the most effective!



What is the Bradley Method?

Dr. Robert Bradley developed this method in the late 1940s. This Bradley method emphasizes an extremely natural approach, with few or no drugs and little medical help during labor and delivery. Almost 90 percent of women who use this method are able to deliver their babies without medication. Stressing good diet and exercise during pregnancy, it teaches deep relaxation techniques to manage pain, and educates a woman's husband or partner so they can be an effective coach.



Some parents find the method empowering. For other parents, the method may not be right.(See Even though the courses aim to teach you how to avoid unnecessary pain, some women prefer to have pain medication as an option. But many are attracted by the idea of giving birth to a baby who is unexposed to drugs, and consider the Bradley method for that reason.



What to expect in a Bradley course?

Typically eight to twelve weeks long, it is taught by certified teachers. To make sure the classes are comprehensive and also personal, no more than eight couples as a rule make up a session. You will spend alot of time practicing coaching techniques (often included are videos you and your partner can take home). You will also learn during these courses:


• Natural childbirth


• Active participation by the husband as coach


• Excellent nutrition (the foundation of a healthy pregnancy and baby)

• Avoidance of drugs during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding, unless absolutely necessary

• Training: "Early Bird" classes followed by weekly classes starting in the 5th month and continuing until the birth

• Relaxation and NATURAL breathing


• "Tuning-in" to your own body and trusting the natural process

• Immediate and continuous contact with your new baby


• Breastfeeding, beginning at birth provides immunities and nutrition


• Consumerism and positive communications

• Parents taking responsibility for the safety of the birth place, procedures, attendants, and emergency back-up

• Parents being prepared for unexpected situations such as emergency childbirth and cesarean section

Copyright © Angelia Fenton. Permission to republish granted to Pregnancy.org, LLC.

Causes of Spotting in Late Pregnancy

•Preterm labor- Spotting during late pregnancy can be a symptom of preterm labor. Preterm labor can happen quickly so it is important to spot the symptoms early. Symptoms of preterm labor include bleeding, menstrual like cramping, backache, changes in vaginal discharge, leaking fluids, or an increase in pelvic pressure. If you have had spotting later in your pregnancy or have symptoms of preterm labor call your doctor right away.

•Placental abruption - Bleeding after the twentieth week of pregnancy can be due to a problem with your placenta. The placenta is attached to the uterine wall. If the placenta begins to separate from the uterus, you may have bleeding. This is called a placental abruption. It can cause the baby to be deprived of oxygen and nutrients that it receives from the placenta.

•Placenta previa is one of the most common causes of bleeding during the third trimester. During a normal pregnancy the placenta attaches to the upper portion of the uterus. With placenta previa, the placenta attaches to the lower section of the uterus. The lower section is weaker and full of tiny blood vessels. As your uterus stretches some of these tiny vessels may burst and cause bleeding. Placenta previa can be dangerous to baby and mom. Complications include hemorrhaging, placental abruption, preterm labor, or anemia.
Other causes of spotting during pregnancy

•Spotting after sex- Sometimes sex can cause spotting during pregnancy. If your cervix has been irritated from having sex, you might notice a little spotting afterwards. You should let your doctor know if you have had intercourse before you noticed spotting.

•Start of labor- Normal labor may start with light spotting. This is sometimes known as having a bloody show. If you are at the end of your pregnancy, and notice a pink, red or brown discharge you may be starting labor.

•Hemorrhoids- This might sound silly but many women have mistaken a small bleed from a hemorrhoid with vaginal bleeding. If you are not sure you are better off calling your doctor or midwife just to be safe.

•Internal exams- You may have some spotting after having an internal exam. During pregnancy you have an increased blood supply to the cervix. Any irritation of the cervix might cause a little spotting.
 
article cited on http://www.justmommies.com/

Breastfeeding a Preemie in the NICU

Premature babies may find their way home earlier when they are fed on demand, not on schedule, the Cochrane Neonatal Review Group suggests. The Cochrane Neonatal Review Group based their findings on data retrieved from eight related studies, according to the Center for the Advancement of Health.
The study suggests that by responding to a premature baby's hunger cues rather than a strict schedule, the premature baby could go home earlier than those kept on strict feeding schedules. Going home earlier translates to huge health care savings for families and their health insurers. With healthier babies making their way home sooner, there would me more room in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units for premature babies with serious health problems or that require surgery.



Realities of Feeding Babies in the NICU



As a parent of a premature baby, I am going to agree with the co-author of the study, William McGuire who states, "it might make be time to ease away from rigid schedules" found in hospitals.



My premature baby was fed on a strict schedule, and when that schedule was modified by my baby or by me, some of the nurses were not too happy. In one such instance, during my son's last week of his six-week hospitalization, it took a long time to breastfeed. He was still hungry after I left to go eat, and the nurse was not happy that "her" schedule was changed.



In the NICU, premature babies are checked on for temperature, weighing, regular diaper changes and visits by the doctor and nurses on staff. Because the babies are not visible to the NICU staff at all times, it would be impossible for them to respond to a baby's hunger cues. If there was one nurse for every premature baby, a camera monitoring system, or an available parent on site, on-demand feeding would be more reasonable.



Parents and the NICU Schedule

While in the NICU, I was one of the few parents that was able to spend eight to 10 hours a day with my son. Some parents came once a day, others only a couple of times a week. If the on-demand system of formatting is going to be considered as a way to expedite a premature's homecoming, more parental involvement would be required.

Should you Bank Your Baby's Cord Blood?

The pros and cons, costs, and reasons behind saving your newborn's umbilical cord blood.

Current Cord Blood Use vs. Future Hopes

The current uses of cord blood are limited. But many experts hope that stem cells will be a crucial part of future treatments for diabetes, Alzheimer's, spinal cord injuries, heart failure, stroke, and many other conditions. If it really were possible to make stem cells develop into any kind of cell, the possibilities would be almost endless.

But this is only theoretical. It's important to distinguish between what doctors can do now with cord blood stem cells versus what they might be able to do in the future. Some people don't realize the distinction. They have exaggerated ideas of what is possible today.

"People talk about stem cell therapy like its alchemy," says Caplan, "as if we can turn a stem cell into anything, just like alchemists hoped to turn base metals into gold. But it's not like that."

Even if researchers do have future successes with stem cells, they may not come from cord blood.


"The science is moving fast right now," Caplan tells WebMD. "I personally am not so sure that using stem cells from cord blood will be the approach we take in the future." Instead, Caplan is more optimistic about techniques using embryonic stem cells or stem cells derived from adult tissue.

Public Cord Blood Banking

There is an alternative to private banking. Some parents decide to donate their child's cord blood to a public cord blood bank for free, which makes it available to anyone who needs it. Most doctors and medical organizations favor public donation. The Institute of Medicine has proposed that Congress create a National Cord Blood Stem Cell Bank Program along the lines of the national bone marrow donation system.
In the unlikely event that your child ever needs the cord blood you donated to a public bank, odds are good that you will be able to get it back.
"The chances that anyone will ever use a particular unit of cord blood that you donate is small," says Feig. "So if your child needs it 10 years down the pike, there's an overwhelming chance that the cells will still be available."
Obviously, there's no guarantee, but it's something to keep in mind. If you are interested in public cord blood donation, get in touch with the National Marrow Donor Program at www.marrow.org. You can also ask your health care provider about medical centers in your area that might accept donations.
But Ecker points out that we're still a ways off from organized public cord blood banking. In most of the country, a public donation isn't even possible. There's no system in place. So for many people, the choice isn't between public and private banking. It's between private banking and letting the cord blood go to waste.

post excerpted from http://www.webmd.com/

Shingles During Pregnancy

Shingles is related to chicken pox, and is a nuisance to anyone who contracts the virus. The situation is especially stressful for a pregnant woman, as shingles can harm the baby before and during birth. Such side effects can include illness, deformation or even death. However, serious side effects are rare, and may be prevented.
.The Facts

Shingles, formally known as herpes-zoster, is the second stage of chicken pox. Not everyone will develop shingles, but it is exclusive to those who have had chicken pox already earlier in their lifetime. In fact, chicken pox and shingles are both derived from the same virus, called varicella-zoster. The chance of contracting shingles becomes greater with age.

Identification

Shingles is an itchy, painful rash that spreads exclusively on one side of the body. The virus is contagious to those who have had the chicken pox and to those who have not. Individuals who have not had the chicken pox yet and come into contact with exposed shingles sores will develop chicken pox.

Early Pregnancy

According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, if a pregnant woman catches the varicella virus anytime before the fetus is 20 weeks old, the baby has a one in 100 risk of developing birth defects. These defects may include cataracts, an abnormal development of the head and brain, mental retardation and short limbs. Contracting chicken pox before 30 weeks of gestation may also lead to birth malformations, according to the National Institutes of Health. Another risk during early pregnancy is the development of varicella pneumonia as a result of shingles. Not only is it a life-threatening condition for the mother, but if she has the illness before 24 weeks of gestation, it is fatal to the fetus.

Late Pregnancy

Mothers who catch shingles in the last stages of pregnancy (five to 21 days before birth) give their baby a high risk of developing shingles before the age of five. In some cases, the mother is able to provide enough antibodies to the baby during birth to prevent this. The biggest danger is when a mother contracts the virus at the time of birth. The mother's immune system doesn't have time to develop a defense and pass it to her baby. A newborn's immune system is still relatively weak at this point. If a newborn develops chicken pox as a result, it is likely fatal. In order to help prevent death, the newborn is given a shot made of antibodies from the blood of individuals who recently had shingles or chicken pox, and recovered, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Prevention/Solution

Vaccines for chicken pox and shingles should not be taken by pregnant women. However, if a non-pregnant woman is in childbearing age, it is recommended that she get a chicken pox vaccine if she has not yet contracted the virus. Shingles vaccines are exclusive to individuals who are over the age of 60.

.By Kristeen Mandak














eHow Contributing Writer

Jaundice in the Newborn

All three of my babies had jaundice beginning on the 2nd or 3rd day of life.  I was not prepared for this and did not understand what was going on and so would like to offer this great information for expectant mothers.
Definition

Newborn jaundice is a condition marked by high levels of bilirubin in the blood. The increased bilirubin cause the infant's skin and whites of the eyes (sclera) to look yellow.



Alternative Names

Jaundice of the newborn; Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia



Causes

Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that's created in the body during the normal recycling of old red blood cells. The liver processes bilirubin in the blood so that it can be removed from the body in the stool.



Before birth, the placenta -- the organ that nourishes the developing baby -- removes the bilirubin from the infant so that it can be processed by the mother's liver. Immediately after birth, the baby's own liver begins to take over the job, but this can take time. Therefore, bilirubin levels in an infant are normally a little higher after birth.



High levels of bilirubin in the body can cause the skin to look yellow. This is called jaundice. Jaundice is present to some degree in most newborns. Such "physiological jaundice" usually appears between day 2 and 3, peaks between days 2 and 4, and clears by 2 weeks. Physiological jaundice usually causes no problems.



Breast milk jaundice is another common, usually non-harmful form of newborn jaundice. Breast milk may contain a substance that increases reuse of bilirubin in the intestines. Such jaundice appears in some healthy, breastfed babies after day 7 of life, and usually peaks during weeks 2 and 3. It may last at low levels for a month or more.



Breastfeeding jaundice is a type of exaggerated physiological jaundice seen in breastfed babies in the first week, especially in those that are not nursing often enough. It is different than breast milk jaundice in that it occurs later and is caused by the milk itself.



Sometimes jaundice can be a sign of a serious underlying problem. Higher levels of bilirubin can be due to:



•An event or condition that increases the number of red blood cells that needs to be processed

•Anything that interferes with the bodys ability to process and remove bilirubin

The following increase the number of red blood cells that need to be processed:



•Abnormal blood cell shapes

•Congenital spherocytic anemia

•Elliptocytosis

•Blood type incompatibilities

•ABO incompatibility (Mother has type O blood, baby does not)

•Rh incompatibility (Mother is Rh negative, baby is not)

•Cephalohematoma or other birth injury

•Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency

•High levels of red blood cells (polycythemia)

•More common in small for gestational age babies

•More common in some twins

•Infection

•Prematurity

•Pyruvate kinase deficiency

•Transfusions

The following interfere with the body's ability to process and remove bilirubin:



•Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency

•Biliary atresia

•Certain medications

•Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection

•Congenital herpes

•Congenital hypothyroidism

•Congenital rubella

•Congenital syphilis

•Congenital toxoplasmosis

•Crigler-Najjar syndrome

•Cystic fibrosis

•Gaucher's disease

•Gilbert syndrome

•Hypoxia

•Infections (such as sepsis)

•Lucey-Driscol syndrome

•Neonatal hepatitis

•Niemann-Pick disease

•Prematurity

In otherwise healthy babies born at 35 weeks gestation or greater, those most likely to eventually develop signs of newborn jaundice are those who have:



•A brother or sister who needed phototherapy for jaundice

•A high bilirubin level for their age, even if they are not yet jaundiced

•Been exclusively breastfeed, especially if weight is excessive

•Blood group incompatibility or other known red blood cell disease

•Cephalohematoma or significant bruising

•East Asian ancestry

•Jaundice in the first 24 hours of life

Symptoms

The main symptom is a yellow color of the skin. The yellow color is best seen right after gently pressing a finger onto the skin. The color sometimes begins on the face and then moves down to the chest, belly area, legs, and soles of the feet.



Sometimes, infants with significant jaundice have extreme tiredness and poor feeding.



Exams and Tests

All newborns should be examined for jaundice at least every 8 to 12 hours for the first day of life.



Any infant who appears jaundiced in the first 24 hours should have bilirubin levels measured immediately. This can be done with a skin or blood test.



Babies should be assigned a risk for later developing jaundice before they leave the hospital. Babies are classified as low risk, low intermediate risk, high intermediate risk, or high risk. Many hospitals do this by routinely checking total bilirubin levels on all babies at about 24 hours of age.



Further testing varies on the infant's specific situation and test results. For example, the possible cause of the jaundice should be sought for babies who require treatment or whose total bilirubin levels are rising more rapidly than expected.



Tests that will likely be done include:



•Complete blood count

•Coomb's test

•Measurement of levels of specific types of bilirubin

•Reticulocyte count

The level of albumin in the baby's blood may also be checked. Low albumin levels may increase the risk of damage from excessive jaundice.



Treatment

Treatment is usually not necessary. Keep the baby well-hydrated with breast milk or formula. Frequent feedings encourage frequent bowel movements, which helps remove bilirubin through the stools. (Bilirubin is what gives stool a brown color).



Sometimes special blue lights are used on infants whose levels are very high. This is called phototherapy. These lights work by helping to break down bilirubin in the skin. The infant is placed naked under artificial light in a protected isolette to maintain constant temperature. The eyes are protected from the light. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that breastfeeding be continued through phototherapy, if possible.



In the most severe cases of jaundice, an exchange transfusion is required. In this procedure, the baby's blood is replaced with fresh blood. Treating severely jaundiced babies with intravenous immunoglobulin may also be very effective at reducing bilirubin levels.



Outlook (Prognosis)

Usually newborn jaundice is not harmful. For most babies, jaundice usually resolves without treatment within 1 to 2 weeks. However, if significant jaundice is untreated, very high levels of bilirubin can damage the brain. For babies who require treatment, the treatment is usually quite effective.



Possible Complications

Rare, but serious, complications from high bilirubin levels include:



•Cerebral palsy

•Deafness

•Kernicterus -- brain damage from very high bilirubin levels

When to Contact a Medical Professional

All babies should be seen by a health care provider in the first 5 days of life to check for jaundice.



•Those who spend less than 24 hours in a hospital should be seen by age 72 hours.

•Infants sent home between 24 and 48 hours should be seen again by age 96 hours.

•Infants sent home between 48 and 72 hours should be seen again by age 120 hours.

Jaundice is an emergency if the baby has a fever, has become listless, or is not feeding well. Jaundice may be dangerous in high-risk newborns.



Jaundice is generally NOT dangerous in term, otherwise healthy newborns. Call the infant's health care provider if jaundice is severe (the skin is bright yellow), if jaundice continues to increase after the newborn visit, lasts longer than 2 weeks, or if other symptoms develop. Also call the doctor if the feet, particularly the soles, are yellow.



Prevention

In newborns, some degree of jaundice is normal and probably not preventable. The risk of significant jaundice can often be reduced by feeding babies at least 8 to 12 times a day for the first several days and by carefully identifying infants at highest risk.



All pregnant women should be tested for blood type and unusual antibodies. If the mother is Rh negative, follow-up testing on the infant's cord is recommended. This may also be done if the mother blood type is O+, but it not necessarily required if careful monitoring takes place.



Careful monitoring of all babies during the first 5 days of life can prevent most complications of jaundice. Ideally, this includes:



•Considering a baby's risk for jaundice

•Checking bilirubin level in the first day or so

•Scheduling at least one follow-up visit the first week of life for babies sent home from the hospital in 72 hours

References

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Management of hyperbilirubinemia in the newborn infant 35 or more weeks of gestation. Pediatrics. 2004 Jul;114(1):297-316.



Mercier CE, Barry SE, Paul K, et al. Improving Newborn Preventive Services at the Birth Hospitalization: A Collaborative, Hospital-Based Quality-Improvement Project. Pediatrics. 2007 Sep;120(3):481-488.



Moerschel SK, Cianciaruso LB, Tracy LR. A practical approach to neonatal jaundice. American Family Physician. 2008 May;77(9).

Preparing for Labor and Delivery

What an exciting time this is! Preparing for labor and delivery is a time to cherish and savor the excitement of preparing to meet your new baby! In addition to practicing your childbirth techniques, you want to be sure you've got your suitcase packed with all the vital necessities! Of course different people recommend different things, but here of some of these most popular items to pack:

Checklists Contents

BabyPartner checklists: packing for labor

The moment you go into labor is not the time to start making last minute plans!

Try to prepare for the moment you enter labor early. The ride to the hospital will be stressful enough, without the anxiety of trying to remember if you brought everything you might need.

Prepare for labor by packing a suitcase well in advance. Leave it by your front door or in the trunk of your car, so that when the big moment arrives you can simply drive to the hospital. If you can, you and your partner should drive to the hospital so that you know the route, and during the last few weeks of your pregnancy, make sure that your car has a full tank of gas! Buy and install a car seat so that you can bring your baby home when you leave the hospital.


Labor bag basics
Your birthplan
Health insurance card
Pediatrician's name and phone number
Books, magazines, board games, cards, music, etc
Glasses (if you need them)
Hairband, grips or haircomb
To prevent hair falling into your eyes.
Nightgown and robe
Slippers
Thick socks or legwarmers
Sanitary pads
Nursing bra
Breast pads
Maternity panties
Nursing pillow
Lip salve or chapstick
Scented wipes or tissues and cologne
For Natural Pain Relief
Massage oil or talcum powder
Tennis ball or spinal roll
To Keep You Warm
A hot water bottle
To Keep You Cool
Face cloth or sponge
Small handheld fan
Box of tissues
To Give You Energy
Glucose sweets or isotonic drink
Most hospitals won't let you eat in case you need to be anesthetized
Postpartum bag basics
Clothes and comfortable shoes for the trip home
Choose something that fit comfortably during month six of pregnancy.
Toiletries
Cosmetics
Hair dryer
Camera or video
Make sure you have spare batteries and spare film, so that you can take pictures of the newborn
Birth announcement cards
Don't forget to bring envelopes, stamps and a pen!
Address book or PDA
So that you can call the relatives
Mobile phone or prepaid phone card
Pillow from home
A favorite pillow can make you more comfortable. (Choose patterned design that won't get mixed up with the hospital laundry)

Many labor rooms have a television installed, but the local provider may air your favorite shows at different times!
Baby bag basics
Infant car seat
The hospital will not let you take your baby home without one!
Baby clothes for the trip home
Booties, mittens; hat
Receiving blanket
Birthpartner bag basics
Handwipes
Food & drink for yourself
Food &; drink for mom
She won't be allowed to eat during labor, so after delivery she will be hungry
A change of clothes
Books or music to pass the time (I would suggest your iPod or pre-programmed "Childbirth Serenity Headphones."


Items marked with a pink asterisk are optional
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Music and Preemies: Research Documents Music's Power

Babies born prematurely are at increased risk for a host of health problems. But now research by Israeli scientists has uncovered a non-drug way to help preemies gain weight and grow stronger quickly. A new study by Dr. Dror Mandel and Dr. Ronit Lubetzky of the Tel Aviv Medical Center, which is affiliated with Tel Aviv University's Sackler School of Medicine, found premature infants exposed to thirty minutes of Mozart's music daily grew far more rapidly than premature babies not exposed to the classical music.

"It's not exactly clear how the music is affecting them, but it makes them calmer and less likely to be agitated," Dr. Mandel said in a statement to the media. "The repetitive melodies in Mozart's music may be affecting the organizational centers of the brain's cortex. Unlike Beethoven, Bach or Bartok, Mozart's music is composed with a melody that is highly repetitive. This might be the musical explanation. For the scientific one, more investigation is needed."

By measuring the physiological effects of music by Mozart played to pre-term newborns for 30 minutes, Dr. Mandel and Dr. Lubetzky and colleagues documented that when the babies were exposed to the music, they expended less energy -- a process that can lead to faster weight gain and growth. That's important because the sooner preemies attain an acceptable body weight, the sooner they can go home. The longer they have to stay in the hospital, the more they are exposed to possible infections. What's more, a healthy body weight is believed to strengthen their immune systems so the babies are more likely to avoid illness in the future.

The researchers pointed out that several other environmental effects, such as tactile stimulation (whether the baby is held and stroked adequately) and room lighting, are already known to affect the survival and benefit the health of fragile premature infants. The new study, however, is the first to directly study the effect of music on these newborns.

"Medical practitioners are aware that by changing the environment, we can create a whole new treatment paradigm for babies in neonatal care," Dr. Mandel stated. "The point of our research is to quantify these effects so that standards and care-guides can be developed. We still don't know the long-term effects of the music, or if other kinds of music will work just as well."

For more information:

http://www.aftau.org/site/News2?pag...

http://www.naturalnews.com/026668_t...

Music During a Ceasarean Birth

This is a very interesting study looking at the use of music during a Ceasarean birth.  Sometimes C-sections are scheduled in advance because of known problems and sometimes they become suddenly necessary because mother or baby is endangered.  Having your programmed iPod or headphones with you is a really good idea no matter you plan to deliver your baby!

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the benefits of music during caesarean section under regional anaesthesia to improve clinical and psychological outcomes for mothers and infants has not been established.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of music during caesarean section under regional anaesthesia for improving clinical and psychological outcomes for mothers and infants.

SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30 September 2008).

SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials comparing music added to standard care during caesarean section under regional anaesthesia to standard care alone.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors, Malinee Laopaiboon and Ruth Martis, independently assessed eligibility, risk of bias in included trials and extracted data. We analysed continuous outcomes using a mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). MAIN RESULTS: One trial involving 76 women who planned to have their babies delivered by caesarean section met the inclusion criteria, but data were available for only 64 women. This trial was of low quality with unclear allocation concealment and only a few main clinical outcomes reported for the women. The trial did not report any infant outcomes. It appears that music added to standard care during caesarean section under regional anaesthesia had some impact on pulse rate at the end of maternal contact with the neonate in the intra-operative period (MD -7.50 fewer beats per minute, 95% CI -14.08 to -0.92) and after completion of skin suture for the caesarean section (MD -7.37 fewer beats per minute, 95% CI -13.37 to -1.37). There was also an improvement in the birth satisfaction score (maximum possible score of 35) (MD of 3.38, 95%CI 1.59 to 5.17). Effects on other outcomes were either not significant or not reported in the one included trial.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that music during planned caesarean section under regional anaesthesia may improve pulse rate and birth satisfaction score. However, the magnitude of these benefits is small and the methodological quality of the one included trial is questionable. Therefore, the clinical significance of music is unclear. More research is needed to investigate the effects of music during caesarean section under regional anaesthesia on both maternal and infant outcomes, in various ethnic pregnant women, and with adequate sample sizes.

Premature babies gain weight faster with Mozart!

Playing Mozart music to premature babies seems to help them gain weight faster and become stronger, new research found.



Once a day for two consecutive days, doctors played either 30 minutes of music by the 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, or no music, to 20 pre-term babies at the Tel Aviv Medical Center in Israel. After listening to the music, the babies were calmer and so expended less energy than the no-music group. When babies' energy expenditure is decreased, they don't need as many calories to grow, so can gain weight and thrive more quickly – exactly what preemies need.



"It's not exactly clear how the music is affecting them, but it makes them calmer and less likely to be agitated," said researcher Dror Mandel, a lecturer at Tel Aviv University.



Though the sample size was small, the scientists said their findings were statistically significant.



Previous research has shown that music can reduce stress, decrease heart rate, and increase oxygen saturation in preterm infants. Oxygen saturation is a measure of the amount of oxygen carried in the blood relative to the maximum amount the blood could carry. When this number gets low it can be a sign of heart or lung problems.



The researchers didn't try playing any music other than Mozart's, so they don't know whether the effect would hold true for other tunes.



"We want to know if what we found is a Mozart effect, or just music," Mandel told LiveScience. "I think that other composers will also have effects, however it might be that the Mozart music has particular effects compared to other composers."



The researchers decided to try Mozart music because of a 1993 study that found that college students could temporarily improve their performance on spatial–temporal tasks by listening to a Mozart sonata for 10 minutes a day.



"The repetitive melodies in Mozart's music may be affecting the organizational centers of the brain's cortex," Mandel said. "Unlike Beethoven, Bach or Bartok, Mozart's music is composed with a melody that is highly repetitive."



However, the so-called Mozart effect has sometimes been taken too far. A company called Baby Einstein (now owned by Disney) that publishes a series of Baby Mozart videos and music disks offered a refund last year for all Baby Einstein videos, after receiving complaints that the company had falsely claimed the videos were educational.



The Israeli researchers plan to test out different kinds of music soon. One team member suggested that rap music might evoke the same response as Mozart, since it has a similar pulsating and repetitive frequency.



Mandel and his colleague Ronit Lubetzky published their findings in the January issue of the journal Pediatrics.

Lullabies for Mothers and Others

Pregnant women are concerned about lots of thing; some they can do something about and some they can't.  Often, the more psychologically aware women are worried about bonding with their baby, especially if it's their first child.  One of easiest and most enjoyable things you can do is to begin listening to some lullabies yourself.  Mothers have lulled their babies to sleep since the beginning to time.  It's the most natural thing in the world for a mother to hold her baby close and hum, croon, or sing to that precious child.

New mothers worry if they'll be able to soothe and comfort their infants when they begin to cry.  Knowing 5 or 6 different lullabies is a good way to feel a little more prepared and even reading the words can be very calming for the mother-to-be or new mother. 

There are literally hundreds if not thousands of lullabies from around the world and from ancient times until the present.  Many of my adult clients and patients who suffer from insomnia and they listen to lullabies themselves to get to sleep each night.  Sometimes they listen to music on a CD player or perhaps an MP3 player.  Whatever is most convenient and comfortable for mother and child is best.

Once the baby is born, singing to your child is the very best way to calm him or her.  If your baby heard these same lullabies in utero they will calm down even quicker because they sound familiar to baby and bring back memories of security, warmth and comfort.

Below is a quaint poem called “My Mother”. It was written by Ann Taylor (1783 –1866). She’s the sister of Jane Taylor, the author of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. Ann and Jane published books of rhymes and poems together.



The illustrations below were done by Walter Crane. Here’s what Crane wrote about it in 1910:

“My Mother” is mid-Victorian-just after crinolines had gone out-but mothers are always in fashion, bless them…


My Mother


Who fed me from her gentle breast,

And hush’d me in her arms to rest,

And on my cheek sweet kisses prest?

My Mother.


When sleep forsook my open eye,

Who was it sung sweet hushaby,

And rock’d me that I should not cry?

My Mother.

Who sat and watched my infant head,

When sleeping in my cradle bed,

And tears of sweet affection shed?

My Mother.

 
If you are pregnant now, or the mother of a newborn, do begin listening to and singing lullabies!  Your child will thank you and will benefit greatly!

What is the Mucous Plug and what does it do?

What is the mucous plug (or mucus plug)?
The mucous plug is a collection of cervical mucus that seals the opening of the cervix. It keeps bacteria and infection from entering into the cervix, providing a protective barrier for the developing baby.

What does the mucous plug look like?
Some women describe the mucous plug as looking more like the mucous in your nose. It may look like a thick glob of stringy mucous, thicker than what you would see with normal vaginal secretions. If you are close to going into labor you may see pink, brown, or red blood around the edges of the mucous plug. This is called the “bloody show”.

When do you lose your mucous plug?
Some women will lose their mucous plug or part of their mucous plug weeks before they go into labor. Losing your mucous plug does not always mean labor will begin shortly. Keep in mind that even if a woman has begun to dilate, it may be weeks before she actually goes into labor.

However, if you notice blood tinged mucous before your thirty-sixth week of pregnancy, notify your doctor right away.
As your body prepares for labor your cervix will begin to dilate and thin. As your cervix opens up, your mucous plug may fall out. Losing your mucous plug is a good sign that labor is on its way. Though, it could be days or even weeks after you lose your mucous plug before labor actually starts. Many women do not lose their mucous plug at one time; instead, they lose it more gradually. They may notice an increase in vaginal secretions weeks before they go into labor.

Should I call my doctor if I lose my mucous plug?
If you are full term and have lost your mucous plug, there is usually no need to call your doctor. You may lose your mucous plug weeks before labor starts. If you notice regular, timeable contractions after losing your mucous plug, follow your doctor’s protocol for proceeding to Labor and Delivery. If you have a history of preterm labor and you suspect you have lost your mucous plug, call your doctor right away. If you notice blood tinged mucous and are earlier than thirty-six weeks call your doctor immediately. Moreover, you should also call your doctor if you have sudden bright red bleeding. Bleeding can be a sign of placenta previa or placental abruption.