November 18 is Prematurity Awareness Day.

I am one of those moms who had firsthand experience with prematurity. My twin boys were born 5 weeks early 6 years ago. Even though they’ve grown to be healthy boys, we had to struggle with low birth weight and health problems during the first year of their lives.

This is the reason why I tend to follow closely the latest new updates on prematurity. This is why I am sharing with you today some facts and figures on prematurity.

What is Preterm Birth?

Preterm birth is defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation is completed. In recent years, preemies have been loosely classified into 3 categories:

• Very preterm infants are those born before the 32^th week of gestation.
• Moderately preterm infants are those born between the 32nd and 34^th week of pregnancy
• Late preterm births are those which occur between the 34^th and the 36^th week of gestation.

Children born prematurely have a higher rate of health problems such as cerebral palsy, sensory deficits, and respiratory conditions, and learning disabilities compared to children born full term.

Statistics on Prematurity

Let’s look at some statistics on prematurity:

• Almost 13 million babies from all over the world are born prematurely each year.

• More than 1 million of these preemies die as a result of preterm delivery.

• More than 85% of preterm births occur in low- and middle-income countries of Africa and Asia

• One in 8 American babies is premature.

• The rate on preterm deliveries in the US has increased by 36% during the last 25 years, higher than most developed countries.

These figures are cited in the white paper of March of Dimes on Preterm Birth. The numbers are based on data collected by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Global distribution of preterm births

The white paper also reports the following preterm birth rates per region:

• Africa – 11.9%

• Asia – 9.1%

• Europe – 6.2%

• Latin America and the Caribbean – 8.1%

• North America – 10.6%

• Oceania – 6.4%

According to income or resources, the preterm birth rates are as follows:

• High income countries – 7.5%

• Middle income countries -8.8%

• Low income countries -12.5%

The figures clearly indicate that preterm birth rates are related to income or resources. What is surprising, even troubling is the fact the preterm birth rate in North America is quite high, higher that the rate in middle income regions.

Preterm birth rate in the US is high – and rising

Breaking down the North American rates among individual countries, the rate is 12.7% in the US according to U.S. National Center for Health Statistics and 8.2% in Canada according to a Canadian government report. The rate of preterm births seems to be increasing in some countries including the US, Denmark and Norway. There are several factors that contribute to the increasing rate of preterm births in the US and other countries, and include

• Increased births due to assisted reproduction which lead to multiple pregnancies that necessitate early delivery.

• Increased number of pregnancies in women older than 35

• Increased use of elective Cesarean sections close to term, thus increasing the number of late premature births.

In contrast, not much is known about the causes of premature births in low income countries but they are presumably related to poor health care system and economic problems.

Prematurity is a global problem and seems to be increasing due to many different reasons. But it all boils down to the fact that preterm births, unless medically necessary, do not benefit baby or mom.

What is it like to spend nine-plus months carrying someone else’s baby? How can you not get attached to the baby growing inside you? How can you talk yourself through morning sickness, swollen ankles and back pain when you don’t get the ultimate payoff of holding your own precious baby when all is said and done?

I was very fortunate to speak to Alison Adams, an amazing woman who speaks very openly and honestly about her experiences as a surrogate.

1. What made you decide to be a surrogate?

Helping others has always been a deep seeded interest of mine. When I was in my later teen years, I became aware of egg donation.  When I met my boyfriend (now husband), I told him of my desires pretty early on. He thought the idea of it was great, being I waited until after we were done having our own children (I agreed).

2. How do you choose the family?

With my first surrogacy, I met the couple I chose through an agency. With my second surrogacy, I met the couple through Facebook, of all places!

3. What is it like to carry someone else’s baby?

I do the same things – watch what I eat, take my prenatal vitamins, go to my appointments as necessary, rub my belly, talk to the baby, etc. But of course, there’s no preparing for a baby, so that was a bit odd the first time around. It just seemed so strange to be so very pregnant, and not be setting up a nursery or installing a car seat. But how I felt towards my surrogate son was very different – I loved him and cared for him, yes. But I did not love him as I love my own children.

4. Who handles the financial obligation associated with the surrogate pregnancy?

In most all surrogacy journeys, the IPs (intended parents) cover the finances. This could/should include attorneys (for both the surrogate and parents!), insurance copays, etc.

5. Are you financially compensated for being a surrogate?

Most first time surrogates in the US receive around 20k for a first time surrogacy. Some surrogates receive a higher compensation for a second time journey, and some, like myself, opt to receive the same compensation that they received the first time. If you figure it out, it calculates out to under $3 per hour. But as is true for most surrogates, compensation isn’t close to one of the top reasons we choose to do this. It is a nice bonus, though.

6. Do you keep in contact with the family after the baby is born?

Yes, this is actually a requirement of mine. I ask that the family opt to keep up with me and keep me updated on them (not just the baby).

7. How important is the emotional support of your family while you are a surrogate?

Very important. My husband is my rock. He not only has to submit himself to STD testing and sign the contract, he is there with me as I go through the cycling, the pregnancy and the postpartum time. It is not easy on him, but he chooses to support me and hold me up through the hard times. I think I fell in love with him even more after the birth of my surrogate son, just knowing how awesome he was during the pregnancy – a pregnancy that wasn’t even for us, if that makes sense.

Read more about Alison’s surrogacy journeys in her blog.

It used to be said that a mom is always sure it’s her child but a man’s paternity can always be questioned. Not anymore.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of embryos are implanted into women’s wombs during in vitro fertilization (IVF). What are the chances that an embryo is implanted in a womb where it isn’t supposed to be? No, this is not something out of Private Practice. It happened before and it has happened again.

According to this CNN report, when the couple Carolyn and Sean Savage got a phone call informing them of the mistake after implantation, shock is a poor word to describe their feelings. It is not only about the “strange” embryo that is growing in Caroline’s uterus that concerns them. In fact, there are many things one has to consider when one is involved in embryo mix up situation.

Health and Future Pregnancy

If you were the one who is carrying the embryo, how would this pregnancy affect your health? Does it put you at risk for pregnancy complications? Does it jeopardize your chances of getting pregnant again? And as the DNA mom, are you willing to wait out this pregnancy until you try for the next one? Is your age a determining factor?

After going through miscarriages, several failed IVF cycles, health problems and difficult pregnancies, this could be Carolyn’s last chance to have another child. In fact, the doctor has advised Carolyn from getting pregnant again.

Religious Beliefs and Convictions

In cases of mix ups, a termination of the pregnancy is a very likely outcome. How would you feel about an abortion if you were the DNA-mother? If you were the accidental surrogate mother?

Carolyn and Sean, due to their religious beliefs, strongly believe in human life in the embryos. Carolyn is not willing to terminate this pregnancy. To complicate things, the couple still had 5 frozen embryos left over from IVF which they are not willing to destroy or leave frozen forever. They are now looking at surrogacy options for these embryos.

Unintended Surrogacy

What is your attitude towards surrogacy? How would you feel if you became a surrogate mother unintentionally? Would you treat this pregnancy the same way as any other normal pregnancy? A clinic in Wales accidentally implanted the last of a couple’s embryo in another woman. The unwilling surrogate mom decided to terminate the pregnancy and the couple was left with nothing.

Isn’t it ironic that Carolyn and Sean are looking for a surrogate mother for their embryos when Carolyn herself has become an unintentional surrogate mother to somebody else’s embryo?

Custody

Whose child is it? In 1993, a white couple in Australia gave birth to black twin babies after going through IVF. At that time, according to the Australian Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, a woman delivered the child, even if it is not through genetically hers, is the “legal mother”. Paternity, however, is “open to legal interpretation.” In another mix up case in 2004, an American woman who got implanted with the wrong embryo was sued by the DNA parents for custody after delivery. Laws change but still vary from country to country or even from state to state in the US.

Carolyn is the biological or womb mother but she is not the DNA mother of the child. It is not clear how the law will decide when it comes to a custody battle. Fortunately for the DNA, Carolyn, again due to her strong religious principles, will never put a claim to a child that is not hers despite the ordeal she has to go through. Both sets of parents are talking to each other to find a solution. After all, this was none of their fault. Nor it was that of the unborn child.

Bonding

Mother-child bonding starts at the womb. Will you be able to give up a baby after carrying it for 9 months in your womb? Surrogate moms can do this but Carolyn is not just any surrogate mom. She really wanted, fought for, and risked a lot for this pregnancy.

In the current case, will the DNA mom bond with her baby? She, too, wanted to be pregnant and now she has been denied of the privilege (at least this time around) of carrying her baby in her womb.

Nowadays, mix ups are discovered before delivery. In case of the Australian couple, and another reported case in the Netherlands, they only found out about the mistake at birth. The blow in these cases is much harder since mom and baby have already strongly bonded for 9 months without any doubts about their relationship.

This is not the first case of embryo mix ups. According to American Fertility Association experts, the odds of this happening are 1 in a million, mainly due to human error.

So what would you do if you were involved in an embryo mix-up?

Lead levels in lipstick are much higher than previously thought

Pregnant women, take note: A study by the Food and Drug Administration has discovered that lead levels in lipstick are much higher than those detected by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (CSC) in a 2007 study that received international attention.

The FDA found lead in all 20 lipsticks tested, at 0.09 to 3.06 parts per million – four times higher than the highest level reported by CSC. A new device was used by the FDA to analyze lipstick; thus, the organization said earlier test methods likely underestimated lead levels.

There were three manufacturers whose lipsticks had the highest lead levels; however, the FDA is not releasing the brand names.

Current Lead Levels Allowed in Lipstick

The FDA has no standard for lead in lipstick, although any level could be unsafe. “Pregnant women using lipstick are unknowingly exposing their fetuses to unknown and unregulated levels of lead,” said Lisa Archer, national coordinator for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics at the Breast Cancer Fund. “FDA should immediately set standards to require manufacturers to make lipstick as safe as possible.” Sounds like  great time to switch to organic make-up.

As with anything, pregnant women should check with their doctor if they are concerned about using a product during pregnancy. In addition, if you are concerned or wonder if something is safe to use – don’t use it.

The most news hitting the web is that singer Celine Dion is pregnant. The 41-year is expecting her second child with husband, 67-year old Rene Angelil. Their first child Rene-Charles is eight years old. A spokesperson for the couple confirmed the news is true. The couple is understandably “very happy” the rep said.

Dion has never been shy about revealing her desire for another child. Her plan was to hopefully to try to conceive after wrapping up her tour in Las Vegas. This was thrown into jeopardy after Angelil was diagnosed with throat cancer. Dion took a break from her work to support him, and thankfully he recovered.

In talking about her baby plans, Dion was quoted as saying, “We’ll give it a try after my tour. Hopefully we will be parents again. If not, that’s fine. We have our miracle baby.” The ‘miracle baby’ in question Rene-Charles was conceived through in vitro fertilization. The couple had tried for six years to conceive before being blessed with their son. Last December, according to reports, she revealed when asked about her baby plans that they had a frozen embryo waiting to be implanted.

This process, called frozen embryo transfer (FET) involves the freezing of embryos not implanted during an in vitro fertilization cycle. A viable pregnancy can result after the embryo is thawed and placed into the uterus. The uterus of course would have to be properly prepared beforehand. This is usually done through the use of hormones. If any abnormalities are discovered in the uterus, these are corrected surgically before the embryo is implanted.

Researchers determined in 2006 that even embryos frozen for over ten years could still lead to a viable pregnancy. Wonderful news to couples experiencing infertility issues. There is no evidence that FET has a negative impact on the fetus or child. Dion is likely to draw more attention to this method as often happens with celebrities.

Celine Dion’s Las Vegas Show

Her Las Vegas tour ran from 2003 to 2007. During its run, she performed five nights a week in a 4000 seat arena. The show was constantly sold out, despite audiences complaining about ticket prices, which reportedly ran as high as $320. The success of the show resulted in it being extended for an undisclosed amount of time and Celine has not discussed her career plans after the birth.

Now that she is getting ready for the birth of her second child career considerations are likely not at the forefront of her thoughts. Her fans however are probably eagerly awaiting her eventual return to the stage. I wish her the best of luck with her pregnancy, and hope she continues to enjoy good health throughout.

We are still learning much about the cognitive abilities of infants. We have known for some time that children are capable of learning at a much earlier age than previously thought. In fact there are companies taking advantage of this by pushing products that help children to recognize words before they can even speak.

A new study reported in the Washington Times has revealed something that will probably come as a surprise:  The unborn fetus actually has memories beginning at roughly 30 weeks. This would be about two months before the baby’s birth. In the study, the researchers used sound and vibration along with sonography to arrive at their findings.

Scientist at the Maastricht University Medical Center observed 100 women experiencing a healthy pregnancy concluded that “results indicated that a 34-week-old fetus is able to store information and retrieve it four weeks later.”

How The Pregnancy Study Was Conducted

During the final eight weeks of the pregnancy, each woman received a series of buzzes on their bellies lasting for one second. The buzzes were produced using a fetal vibroacoustic stimulator which is used to measure a baby’s heart rate and to assess general health. The baby is monitored to determine its response to the sounds. The researchers noted the baby’s eyes and mouth, as well as its body language over a period of three weeks. This was done with ultrasound imaging to determine how the unborn baby learned during the period. Over time, the researchers claim, the babies became so used to the sound that they stopped responding to it. This is known as “habituation.” It is the baby’s way of deciding that it won’t be harmed by the stimulus.

This would suggest that expectant parents who talk or read to their unborn babies may be on the right track. It is said that when a baby is born, he or she is already used to the sound of mom’s voice. Even those who are not totally convinced by the study should try to communicate with their unborn babies. Apart from bonding with baby, it is a nice way to start off development.

I won’t pretend to know what it feels like to be in labor. I was one of those C-section moms due to valid medical reasons. But I’ve witnessed deliveries of a friend and a sister and I can imagine that distractions during labor could come in handy.

Maternal belly dancing

What about belly dancing in the delivery room? Check out this novel pregnancy work out –maternal dancing. Dance instructor Suzanne Cesar combines yoga with dance movements, fun and function that helps expecting mommies to keep fit. Her routines are meant to exercise muscles of the lower back and abdomen, muscles which are burdened during pregnancy and labor. Women can even do the movements in the delivery room during labor, not only giving them a distraction, but it supposedly helps them with the delivery as the movements help ease the baby into the birth canal. I mean, most delivery rooms allow women to bring their music CD for relaxation. So why not bring your own dancing music and move for two?

Snacking

Are food and drinks allowed in the delivery room? Can you still take this last chance of snacking for two before the baby is delivered? Health experts can’t agree whether eating and drinking during labor should be allowed or forbidden. Here are the pros and the cons:

• The American Society of Anesthesiologists thinks it’s best to stick to clear liquids and eat no food to avoid maternal complications.
• In many European countries, snacking during labor is allowed to help women get through the strenuous physical activity.

So what approach is best? This group of UK researchers decided to find out by recruiting 2426 moms who were

• delivering for the first time
• delivering singletons only
• have no major medical risks

Half of the laboring moms were invited to nosh on fruits, biscuits, sandwiches, burgers, chicken, chocolate and other treats. Half were asked to stick to water only. Now, here’s the interesting results:

• 29% of those invited to eat decided to fast.
• 20% of those forbidden to eat decided to eat anyhow.

And oh, the birth outcomes? No significant differences between the eaters and the non-eaters.

The conclusion: leave the snacking to the laboring woman’s discretion.

Any other delivery room distraction tips?

A playgroup that I hang out with had a gathering this morning, and one mom I hadn’t seen in a few months was there. So we said hello, how nice it was to see her again, and asked after each other’s kids. She looked rounder in the belly than I remember, and her son is about the age where many moms start planning baby #2.

It could also be a little extra weight.  Bolder people than me might just ask outright but I don’t want to cause offense if she isn’t pregnant. But, I don’t want to not ask, it would be rude not to ask after her new baby, and besides, if she’s pregnant I want to know!

I asked her how she’d been, and she replied that she was feeling a lot better this week because her morning sickness had eased off.  Congratulations, my friend, and thank you for saving me from asking the awkward question.

I just read an article about riders on the subway in Chicago, and whether they give up seats to pregnant women or not. Only half of bus and train users in Chicago give up their seats for a pregnant woman. Some commuters said that they don’t want to offer their seats to pregnant women just in case the woman in question isn’t actually pregnant.

I think moms have a pretty good radar for spotting other pregnant women. Have you ever noticed one of your friends or colleagues acting a little differently, holding herself differently, or has that subtle expression that she knows a really exciting secret? And then a few weeks later, she made the announcement?

I guess since we’ve been there, done that and got the maternity t-shirt, we can pick up the subtle signs that differentiate early pregnancy from a recent jelly donut binge.

But, my policy is still going to be to wait until I’m told to start talking about someone’s pregnancy. if you get it wrong, your friend is probably going to be offended and feel fat. I’ve had a messy relationship with weight most of my life, and the last thing I want to do is make anyone else feel bad about their weight. Most pregnant women like to make the announcement themselves, not have someone else guess first. It takes the excitement of the news away if someone else already knows .

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned early on that pregnant women and young children may be especially susceptible to the H1N1 swine flu. This has been proven by the latest reports and moralities due to this flu epidemic.

The first confirmed death due to swine flu in Europe happened in Scotland last weekend and involved a 38-year old mother who just gave birth two weeks ago. The mother had some “underlying conditions” aside from the flu and delivered her baby prematurely. The baby was not infected with the H1N1 flu but also died shortly after, probably because it was very premature – eleven weeks early. The first case of swine flu fatality involving a pregnant woman was reported in Texas in May.

In the meantime:

• Argentina also reported its first H1N1 flu fatality – a 3-month old baby.

• Hong Kong closed all its kindergartens and primary schools due to increasing numbers of infected pupils.

• A Swiss daycare was also shutdown temporarily this week due to a positive H1N1 infection. It seems that the virus is getting closure to home.

Why pregnant women are at risk

According to MSNBC, the New Zealand Herald, and other sources:

1. Pregnancy weakens the immune system. The immune system is naturally suppressed during pregnancy to accommodate a foreign body – the baby – in the womb. The likelihood of flu leading to pneumonia during pregnancy is high.
2. A flu infection increases the risk for premature delivery which itself also can lead to other complications.
3. Pregnant women suffering from asthma and other underlying conditions have even higher risk for complications.
4. Young people (this includes children and women of reproductive age!) are more vulnerable to the H1N1 flu compared to older people because the H1N1 virus seems to be susceptible to flu antibodies that were probably produced during previous seasonal flu infections. In other words, older people have had more flu exposure and have had therefore built up more immune defenses against the current flu.

What the health authorities recommend

Pregnant women are therefore advised to especially take care and see their doctors immediately as soon as the flu symptoms start. Health authorities believe that the danger the virus poses to the fetus is much more than what anti-viral drugs do. The National Health Services (NHS) of the UK recommends the use of the inhalable antiviral drug Relenza, which can treat flu symptoms without reaching fetus.

Morning sickness, also called pregnancy sickness, usually affects women in their first trimester of pregnancy. Some women however, are plagued with nausea and vomiting throughout their entire pregnancy. The symptoms can become severe enough to warrant medical intervention. According to information found online, there may be relief in sight for pregnant women trying to keep their morning sickness under control.

Reports indicate that a new study says that a drug called metoclopramide poses no risk to the baby if taken by the mother. Mention the words ‘morning sickness’ and ‘drugs’ in the same sentence and you are likely to invoke memories of what is referred to by some as the ‘Thalidomide tragedy.’ This drug had a number of uses, one of them being a remedy for morning sickness. Over 10,000 babies were born in 46 countries with deformities as a result of Thalidomide use.

This new study’s data incorporated almost 82,000 births in Israel. It looked at 3,458 babies born to women who used the drug. These children were compared to 78,245 babies whose mothers had not used it. According to the findings, there were no differences in problems experienced by newborns in either group. It is important to note that the study did not cover the effectiveness of the drug at alleviating morning sickness.

One doctor in the US, Dr. Keith Eddleman, director of obstetrics at Mount Sinai Medical Center, has already offered a view on this new study. He is quoted as saying, “I think that women will be comforted by this. Most women are reluctant just because of the stories they’ve heard and the perception that taking something in the first trimester can cause harm.”

Like me, many of you are probably not familiar with the drug metoclopramide. I am skeptical of this new study despite its seemingly promising results. I do hope however that this means that morning sickness will eventually be a thing of the past. If your morning sickness is not too severe, drinking tea, especially those with some ginger added, and eating plain crackers have been known to help. Eating small meals can also offer relief.

The way metoclopramide works is by causing the stomach to become empty quicker. It also relieves heartburn which seem to plague pregnant women. It does however have some side effects. These include insomnia, depression and sedation. This makes it even more important to be cautious if one is considering taking metoclopramide. Currently there are no drugs approved for dealing with morning sickness in the US. The study, which was headed by investigators at Ben-Gurion University, recently had its findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

I can not believe that I am already 28 weeks pregnant! It won’t be too much longer until our little one arrives.

For today’s visit, I had to have testing to see if I have gestational diabetes.  For this test, you will be asked to drink an incredibly sweet drink.  You’ll have to wait an hour, and then blood will be drawn to see how well your body is processing the sugar.

This is my 6th test as this is my 6th child.  I have discovered that the fruit punch flavor actually tastes the best.  My least favorite flavor was the orange flavor.  I’ve also discovered that the liquid tastes better if it is chilled.

It’s important to follow all of your doctor’s instructions to the letter when preparing for this test.  My doctor had told me to only drink water this morning and to eat only protein for breakfast.  I did as I was told to do, but another woman didn’t follow the instructions.  They actually refused to do the test on her and told her she had to re-schedule.

While I was waiting for time to pass, the nurse handed me a hospital pre-admission paper which he was going to have the hospital process.  That way, he explained, I wouldn’t have to worry about paperwork when I was in labor.  As I was filling out the paperwork, I got a little bit scared when I realized that I am REALLY having a baby.Â

I had to call my husband and cry.  My husband is very practical and was clearly dumbfounded: hadn’t I known for 6 months that I was having a kid?  Why was I so frantic at this moment?  Maybe it was all the sugar in that drink I said.

After taking several vials of blood to run the diabetes test, the midwife measured my stomach and listened for our son’s heartbeat. She asked about any complications I might be experiencing and weighed me.  My next appointment is in 3 weeks.

I’m curious to find out what other moms to be think about the diabetes test.  What was your favorite drink flavor?  Did you like your drink chilled or room temperature?

Many people in the US think that the minimum legal drinking age of 21 (MLDA 21) is just too old – one of the highest in the world, in fact. After all, most 18-year old Americans can drive, vote, be legally employed, get married without parental consent, and enlist in the military. In the other words, 18-year olds are adults – except when it comes to alcohol. Last year, the Amethyst Initiative, a group which consisted of several university and college heads actually put forward the proposal to lower the MLDA to 18. Their argument is that the current MLDA 21 in place is actually resulting in irresponsible and secret binge drinking among college students. But what would be the consequences of lowering the MLDA?

A University of Georgia researcher looked at data from 1978 to 1988, a decade when the MLD in that state was still 18. And here are the results she found are

• Prenatal alcohol consumption among 18- to 20-year-old women was higher by 21%.

• Pregnancy among 18- to 20-year-olds was higher by 4.6% and 3.9% in white and African-American women, respectively.

• The likelihood of premature delivery in women under 18 increased by 5% and 7% in white women and in African-American women, respectively.

• The likelihood of women under age 21 delivering a low-birth weight baby was higher by 4% (white women) and 8% African-American women).

• Unplanned pregnancies are more pronounced among African-American women under 21, with a 25% increase.

The cause of the poor birth outcomes is not due to alcohol consumption itself and its effect on the unborn child (e.g. alcohol fetal syndrome) but rather due to the increase in risky sexual behavior as a consequence of increased alcohol consumption.

This behavior resulted in unwanted pregnancies that in turn led to poor prenatal care. Women, especially very young women with unplanned pregnancies are less likely to take care of themselves or seek prenatal care. With these results, the researcher argues that lowering the MLDA will have a counterproductive effective on the rates of teen pregnancies and birth outcomes.

What do you think? Should the MLDA in the US be kept at 21 or lowered to 18?

While a first-time labor and delivery usually lasts around many hours, sometimes, babies just decide that they are coming out. Now.

Babies are occasionally born on airplanes, on the subway, on the front lawn, and more often than you would think in a car on the way to hospital.

A mom in Cambridge, in the UK, delivered her baby in her local post office this week. She went in to top up her cell phone, and delivered a healthy baby girl before paramedics could arrive. The little girl weighed 5lbs 15oz. How do we know? Because the post master weighed her on the mail scale.

And then another new arrival made her debut on New York’s Fifth Avenue. The mom was being driven to hospital, and dang that midtown traffic, didn’t make it in time. She was expecting twin babies, and the first was born in the car outside Central Park. Paramedics made it to the scene in time to assist with the birth, and get the mother to the hospital where the second baby was delivered. The twin were born seven weeks prematurely and are expected to stay in hospital for a couple of weeks, common for preemies. One of the paramedics described the birth as “fun”. I can’t help but wonder if the mom felt the same way?

A lot of moms worry about going into labor and delivering their baby right there on the floor in the laundry detergent section at Target or in Jiffy Lube. But actually, births like these are very rare and being rare is what makes them newsworthy. The average first time labor lasts for hours, 8 to 24 hours is a normal range, with 16 hours being the average time from first contraction, to holding your baby. So almost all moms have plenty of time to get to the hospital or birthing center once labor starts.

Keeping “kick counts” is recommended by most doctors late in the second trimester.  To do a kick count, you count the number of movements or kicks.  After you get to 10 squiggles, rolls, kicks or flutters, you note how long it took from the beginning to the end of the session.

Research done in th 1970’s and 1980’s determined that kick counts were a pretty accurate indicator of a baby’s health.  Therefore, if your kick count session become longer as your pregnancy advances, or your baby just isn’t moving, you should call your health care provider.

With my last pregnancy, I felt that something wasn’t right.  My child wasn’t moving as he had previously, and I mentioned that to my doctor who wasn’t very concerned.  I continued to monitor my child’s movements and they continued to decrease over the following few days which prompted me to again contact the doctor.  After that, I had to go for bi-weekly tests to more thoroughly monitor my son.  While the child was becoming more lethargic, no one seemed to know why.  Some of the staff told me to not even bother worrying.

When my son was born, we found that he had 2 knots in his umbilical cord.   That was the reason for the kick count decline: if he moved or laid in a certain position, it most certainly would have reduced the amount of oxygen and nutrients he was getting.

The thing that frustrated me was that I felt that the health care providers were more or less complacent about the whole thing.  It took some advocating on my part to even get additional monitoring for my child.  Several doctors tried to tell me that my records were inaccurate or that I was worrying about nothing.

I saw a new product called the KickTrak which electronically monitors your baby’s kicks and movements.  I am seriously considering buying the product, which costs about $30, mostly because I’ve had issues with all of my children towards the end of my pregnancies.  Several of my deliveries were induced and my children were delivered early.

Would you purchase an electronic kick count monitor?  Do you prefer to keep track of your baby’s movements in a journal?

Have you heard of this new trend?  It’s possible to deliver your child in a beautifully designed hospital style gown or outfit!

The company I checked out had gowns with a print or a checked pattern.  Gowns made from organic cotton were also available.  You can even have your gown monogrammed if you desire!  These gowns would be perfect for the delivery room or even if you have an extended hospital stay pre-birth. I remember having an extended hospital stay with my first child pre-birth due to complications.  It was so depressing to be there in the first place, especially since I had to stay on the maternity ward.  I think something as simple as a cute hospital gown could have certainly helped my mood.

I have mixed emotions about using a purchased gown for the birthing experience.  I suppose it’s because during one labor, the hospital actually misplaced all of my belongings on the way from the labor room to the birthing room.  While they found my baby items and toiletries, all of my clothing was gone.  I never did get my “coming home” outfit back.  Because of this, I feel you should not bring anything to a hospital that you aren’t willing to “lose”.

Another reason why I preferred using hospital gowns at least for those few days postpartum was because those gowns got very messy!  It was easy to just get a fresh gown when the one I was wearing got stained.  It was also nice to not have to worry about laundering those stains either!

I’m undecided I guess you could say!  I love the idea, but being a practical kind of gal, I’m not sure that I could justify purchasing a special gown which would probably get stained or ruined during or shortly after labor.

What do you think? Would you buy a special gown for your baby’s delivery?

Pregnant in prison

A 20-year old British woman is sitting in a Laos prison waiting for her trial. If convicted of drug smuggling, she will be sentenced to die by firing squad, according to BCC. However, the story doesn’t end there. Four months after imprisonment in August last year, she became pregnant. How this happened is not clear but British authorities were quoted as saying “Nothing that happens in that prison is voluntary.” Whether she is guilty or not is not for me to comment on. What I find so sad is the circumstances under which she has to carry her baby – in prison where she probably doesn’t have any access to prenatal care and the nutrition she needed. The trial is schedule this month and if convicted, it isn’t clear whether she will be executed before or after the baby is born.

Fined for losing her baby

This 27-year old Lebanese woman was nine months pregnant when she had a vehicular accident in Dubai that resulted in a spontaneous abortion and death of the baby. Sad for the mom, sad for the parents. Sadder still was the fact that a Dubai court decided to fine her more than US$ 5000 dollars for causing the accident that led to the loss of her baby – a verdict of “unintentional homicide”.

The fine is supposedly “blood money” to be paid to the unborn baby’s next of kin. (I really wonder who the “next of kin” is?) According to BBC, the pregnant woman braked suddenly on the highway to avoid hitting the car in front of her but her car got hit from behind instead. The court decided that she failed to keep a safe distance from the car ahead of her. Besides, pregnant women should supposedly avoid driving during the 3^rd trimester to protect the unborn child.

This reminds us that different countries have different laws that may have consequences on pregnancy, miscarriage, and motherhood.  Something that we should take into consideration if we live outside our home country. It reminds us that the rights of women and mothers are not always respected and that not all women in this world are as lucky are we are.

Today, I went for my 6th month check up at the baby doctor.  The visit is pretty much similar to the last one: they weight you, check your urine for protein and sugar, listen to the baby’s heartbeat, measure your growth, and listen to you complain!

At each visit, your doctor should ask you if you have symptoms like bleeding, spotting, swelling, contractions or pain.  The list is usually longer, but those are the major players they seem to be looking at because these symptoms can denote that something serious is going on.  Today, the doctor asked if I am eating well, and if I’m able to sleep.

I’ve never had a doctor ask me about my eating, and so I asked why they were asking.  Apparently, I haven’t gained any weight since my last visit!  That’s a first for me.  They claim that my growth is still good, and so they aren’t concerned.

Up until this point, I have to admit I was feeling pretty good with this pregnancy.  I am now starting to feel uncomfortable.  I’m having contractions quite a bit–mostly because it’s been so hot and humid in our area and I guess I am not drinking enough fluids.  The doctor told me to cut out anything with caffeine because this can make dehydration worse.  I shall miss my tea!  The doctor also claims that “practice contractions” are stronger in women who have had multiple pregnancies.  Since this is my 8th pregnancy, I guess I qualify.

My next appointment is on June 1st.   August is quickly approaching and soon we’ll get to meet our baby.  Part of me is still in disbelief that I am actually having a baby!  I guess I’ll begin to accept that we are having a baby when that first REAL contraction hits.  Maybe…..

Finally, here is a research study which has something positive to say about advanced maternal age. Women who have babies the natural way (e.g. without the aid of assisted reproduction) late in life tend to live longer than other women. In fact, women who become pregnant at age 45 or older have a lower likelihood of dying soon after their 50^th birthday than women who deliver babies at the age of 40 or younger. Much more, it is not only the late fertile women who live longer, but their blood relatives as well.

Women are always warned, advised against having babies late in life. Advanced maternal age has been linked to a lot of pregnancy complications that present health risks to both mother and child. But it seems that once these hurdles are overcome, late-bearing women are actually rewarded with a longer lifespan. So what is it that makes them live longer.

The reason for the link between “late fertility” and longevity lie in the genes, accoridng to researchers at the University of Utah. In a study of health and family records of about 18,000 Utah and Quebec residents from the 1600s to the 1800s, late fertility in a female member of the family has been linked to longer lifespan to other family members. Brothers of women with late babies, for example, tend to live longer that those who didn’t have late-bearing sisters. However, while the brothers live longer, their wives didn’t (sisters-in-lwas aren’t blood relatives), indicating that environmental factors (good nutrition, healthy lifestyle) don’t play an important role in this aspect of longevity but genetic factors do.

We live in a large city near the beach in the southern US.  Crime isn’t rampant, but it does happen.  I have to admit that as my pregnancy progresses, I worry a little bit about my personal safety, especially since my husband is away with business a lot.

I am very aware of the fact that I move a little bit slower than usual, and that I waddle.  My large midsection screams to the world that I am with child. I feel very vulnerable I have to admit.

Today, I was coming out of Walmart and a lady approached me and told me she didn’t want to hurt me.  I immediately put my toddler in the van, got in and shut the door.  She came to the window and told me she was a recovering drug addict and wanted a ride to the clinic where she could get some methadone.  It was just a few blocks away she said.

On the chance that her story was really for real, and also so she knew I could call for help,  I got out my cell phone.  I told her that I’d call someone to take her or I’d pay for her to get a cab.  She said no, she wanted me to give her a ride.  With that, I drove off, leaving her standing there.  I also called the manager at the Walmart too.  Better safe than sorry.

I don’t really like to fixate on the negative, but today’s experience jolted me a little bit.  Do you worry about personal safety more when you are pregnant, or when you are out with your infant? What steps do you take to make sure that you and your family are safe during outings?

My husband retired from the military after 22 years recently. I was thrilled for many reasons, but mostly because I thought he’d be home! No more lengthy separations due to work responsibilities. I never thought he’d land a civilian job which required him to travel extensively!

I am almost 24 weeks pregnant at this point and I feel myself slowing down. I suppose it’s because of a variety of things–my advanced maternal age, and the fact that I am a mother to 5 other children. It seems that my energy runs out faster than the daylight does. There are days when I really wish I could go sleep for a little bit and ask my husband to handle the parenting duties for a while, but I can’t. If you are in a similar situation, here are some things I’ve found that are helpful.

Pace Yourself
If I know that I have to be somewhere during the evening hours with the older children, this means that I have to somehow minimize morning activities and meetings. Otherwise, I just won’t be able to do it all.

Learn To Say No
This past weekend, I had to drive 1600 miles so my older children could see their father as per our court order. I couldn’t say no to that, but on Monday, when I was brutally tired, I had to re-schedule several meetings and other commitments. I had to say no.

Ask For Help
If you need help, ask! Of course, you may not have a support network to go to when you need help. I am thinking about my experiences as a military wife where you’ve just moved into a new community and your husband goes away. You may not know anyone to ask for help!

Expect The Children To Help
Even younger children are able to handle some tasks. The older children can handle other tasks. Even so, it may be necessary to lower your standards or to let some things go.

When I become discouraged as of late, I remind myself that pregnancy lasts for only 40 weeks. Until then, I keep doing the best I can do.