"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.