MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'childbirth,'. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:02:08 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3772214&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F07%2Fshackled-during-labor-nothing-to-lose-but-your-humanity The image of pregnant women heading to the delivery room with handcuffs, leg shackles and belly chains is almost inconceivable. Yet as we have documented here before, it has been common practice in the United States prison system for decades and is still legal (and commonly practiced) in all but 10 states. Efforts against shackling, led by a coalition that includes the ACLU and The Rebecca Project, have gained significant ground recently. Colorado, West Virginia, Washington state and Pennsylvania passed laws in 2010 banning the practice. And the American Medical Association (AMA) voted in June to develop model legislation states can use to pass their own anti-shackling laws. The AMA resolution condemned the practice, calling it “barbaric” and “medically hazardous.”... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3772214 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 18:29:24 +0100 3772214 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3772398&cid=t_358680_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F0Wa28CBYNco%2F We’ve already told you about all the fun things you didn’t know you could do with your uterus. But if you’re bored with those, and even if you’re moving on to that next stage in life, your time for fun hasn’t run out. If you’re about to become a Mom, you can say hello to placenta fun. In the olden days, our grandmothers only had one option when it came to their placentas: Push them out and get rid of ‘em. But today’s new moms have a plethora of placenta options. You can eat them, of course, but it turns out there are a number of other ways to take advantage of their nutritional (and decorative) benefits. Check out all the things you didn’t know you could do with your placenta, below*: 1. Make a placenta pizza or a placentaccino – If y... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3772398 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:01:38 +0100 3772398 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3772208&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2F6-things-you-didnt-know-you-could-do-with-your-placenta%2F We’ve already told you about all the fun things you didn’t know you could do with your uterus. But if you’re bored with those, and even if you’re moving on to that next stage in life, your time for fun hasn’t run out. If you’re about to become a Mom, you can say hello to placenta fun. In the olden days, our grandmothers only had one option when it came to their placentas: Push them out and get rid of ‘em. But today’s new moms have a plethora of placenta options. You can eat them, of course, but it turns out there are a number of other ways to take advantage of their nutritional (and decorative) benefits. Check out all the things you didn’t know you could do with your placenta, below*: 1. Make a placenta pizza or a placentaccino – If y... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3772208 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:01:38 +0100 3772208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3761408&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F07%2Fmuch-ado-about-a-meta-analysis-on-home-vs-hospital-birth A recently published meta-analysis* by Joseph Wax and others in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology has caused quite a stir, primarily because of the authors’ conclusion that “Less medical intervention during planned home birth is associated with a tripling of the neonatal mortality rate.” As we’ll see, things aren’t quite so simple on a closer look. Upon reading the Wax paper, my first response was “Great, I’m going to have to read every one of the original studies to make heads or tails of this.” This is because, as Amy Romano points out when she notes the absence of forest plots (which would provide more detail on the findings of each included study, and are common among this type of paper), the meta-analysis itself is not te... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3761408 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:31:51 +0100 3761408 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3710540&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F06%2Fnew-moms-invited-to-participate-in-study-on-postpartum-sexual-health The Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University Bloomington is conducting an online survey on postpartum sexual health. The study is designed to gather information on women’s sexual experiences and body image in the months after giving birth. The researchers are looking for women who are at least 18 years of age,  gave birth to their first child in the past year, and are willing to respond to questions about their attitudes and behaviors related to sexuality and information about their sexual health. For more information about the study, its confidentiality policies, a gift card drawing for participants, and to decide if you’d like to participate, visit the home page for the study survey. You can email debby@indiana.edu with any questions. (Source: Our Bodies Our Blog... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3710540 Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:24:06 +0100 3710540 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706843&cid=t_358680_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FVALvynANlZY%2F The average woman in the United States will give birth to 2.06 children in her lifetime. In Uganda, the average is 6.7 children. Why? Birth control is virtually unavailable in this African nation. That’s not to say Ugandan women don’t want it, however. But even when a pregnancy would be risky to a woman’s health, she has no means of preventing it. A new short film, Empty Handed: Responding to the Demand for Contraceptives shares the plight of these women: Empty Handed from Population Action International on Vimeo. Post from: BlissTree "Empty Handed": Birth Control Struggles for Women In Uganda (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706843 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:49:20 +0100 3706843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706639&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fempty-handed-birth-control-struggles-for-women-in-uganda%2F The average woman in the United States will give birth to 2.06 children in her lifetime. In Uganda, the average is 6.7 children. Why? Birth control is virtually unavailable in this African nation. That’s not to say Ugandan women don’t want it, however. But even when a pregnancy would be risky to a woman’s health, she has no means of preventing it. A new short film, Empty Handed: Responding to the Demand for Contraceptives shares the plight of these women: Empty Handed from Population Action International on Vimeo. Post from: BlissTree "Empty Handed": Birth Control Struggles for Women In Uganda (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706639 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:49:20 +0100 3706639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706845&cid=t_358680_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FPAbRNGVUVNk%2F photo: Thinkstock A study presented today showed that a simple blood test could predict when women as young as their 20s could start menopause. Researchers say this test could help women make reproductive decisions about when to start a family. For instance, if a woman knows she’ll start menopause at 46, she might opt to start a family much earlier. And the predictions have generally been accurate within about three to four months. We’re not so sure about this development. While this info would definitely be handy for family planning, we don’t know if we’d want to know the age that menopause would hit us. We feel like it might make us dread the future entirely, and become hypersensitive to every little change in our bodies. What do you think? Would you want to know ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706845 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:51:54 +0100 3706845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706641&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fwould-you-take-a-blood-test-that-predicts-menopause%2F photo: Thinkstock A study presented today showed that a simple blood test could predict when women as young as their 20s could start menopause. Researchers say this test could help women make reproductive decisions about when to start a family. For instance, if a woman knows she’ll start menopause at 46, she might opt to start a family much earlier. And the predictions have generally been accurate within about three to four months. We’re not so sure about this development. While this info would definitely be handy for family planning, we don’t know if we’d want to know the age that menopause would hit us. We feel like it might make us dread the future entirely, and become hypersensitive to every little change in our bodies. What do you think? Would you want to know ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706641 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:51:54 +0100 3706641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3699654&cid=t_358680_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FskZjbxzPrc0%2F photo: Thinkstock Sex-Ed class was a magical time in our lives: Awkward stories about periods, terrifying videos of babies being born, and, of course, disgusting pictures of sexually transmitted diseases. We’d say that most teenagers are thoroughly freaked after taking that course, and probably try their best to avoid getting any of the dreaded STDs. But what about the 45 and over crowd? Not necessarily the group you’d think were at risk for STDs, but “swingers” in this age bracket actually are at a high risk for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Yep – middle-aged swingers. According to CNN, Researchers are saying that couples over 45 practicing group sex and partner-swapping weren’t as well-educated about STDs back in the 1960s or earlier, when they should have been... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3699654 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:46:16 +0100 3699654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3699466&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fsex-ed-middle-aged-swingers-at-risk-for-stds%2F photo: Thinkstock Sex-Ed class was a magical time in our lives: Awkward stories about periods, terrifying videos of babies being born, and, of course, disgusting pictures of sexually transmitted diseases. We’d say that most teenagers are thoroughly freaked after taking that course, and probably try their best to avoid getting any of the dreaded STDs. But what about the 45 and over crowd? Not necessarily the group you’d think were at risk for STDs, but “swingers” in this age bracket actually are at a high risk for chlamydia and gonorrhea. Yep – middle-aged swingers. According to CNN, Researchers are saying that couples over 45 practicing group sex and partner-swapping weren’t as well-educated about STDs back in the 1960s or earlier, when they should have been... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3699466 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:46:16 +0100 3699466 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3699494&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FxgkUqgfdIr4%2F By Ruth Lubic. It is my distinct honor to be an awardee of this prestigious organization along with Dr. Omega Logan Silva and Diane Rehm.  I thank Katharine Weymouth for her enlightening opening words as well. We awardees have been asked to speak briefly about “… how times have changed (or not) for women over the years.”  I would like to do this from two perspectives, first that of the management of the childbirth experience in the 1950’s when my son, Douglas, was born and also from that of the acceptance and utilization of midwives in this country in a similar time frame.  Keep in mind that my husband, Bill and I are “children of the Great Depression” and were taught to live frugally and to care about folks less fortunate than ourselves. BIRTH IN THE 1950’s wa... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3699494 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:00:07 +0100 3699494 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3671658&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F06%2Facog-on-vbac-in-their-own-words Via the blog Birthing Beautiful Ideas, we were alerted to two interesting pieces in the current issue of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the journal of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, that may indicate a shift in thinking about hospital staffing protocols for a vaginal birth after a c-section. In 1999 (and again in 2004), ACOG released guidelines [pdf] stating that “VBAC should be attempted in institutions equipped to respond to emergencies with physicians immediately available.” This standard has been widely blamed for the lack of VBAC availability in many parts of the United States, as many hospitals discouraged or stopped doing VBACs, and in some cases malpractice insurance companies refused to cover claims resulting from the procedure. As Rita Rubin e... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671658 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:23:13 +0100 3671658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3640993&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F06%2Flive-web-streaming-available-from-women-deliver-conference The Women Deliver 2010 conference is happening in Washington DC today through Wednesday, focusing on global maternal and reproductive health and featuring great speakers from numerous U.S. and international agencies. I just listened to Melinda Gates wrap up and pledge $1.5 billion in new family planning and maternal/child health grants for next 5 years; an archive of these videos is expected to be posted as well. The conference is streaming live at http://www.womendeliver.org/conferences/-2010-conference/webcast/. You can follow tweets using the hashtag #WD2010, which are also streaming on the webcast page. I’ve set up archives at Twapper Keeper and What the Hashtag? to save tweets with this hashtag for later review. (Source: Our Bodies Our Blog) Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3640993 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:58:39 +0100 3640993 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3599346&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F05%2Fcdc-releases-report-on-trends-in-out-of-hospital-birth The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a new report, Trends and Characteristics of Home and Other Out-of-Hospital Births in the United States, 1990–2006 [PDF]. It uses U.S. birth certificate data to describe trends in place of delivery. Among the findings: After declining from 1.13% in 1990 to 0.87% in 2004, the percentage of out-of-hospital births increased slightly to 0.90% in 2005 and 2006; Home births alone were 0.67% of births in 1990, declining to 0.56% by 2004, and 0.59% in 2005 and 2006; Of all out-of-hospital births (in 2006), 64.7% occurred at home, 28.0% were in a freestanding birthing center, 1.1% in a clinic or doctor’s office, and 6.2% were “elsewhere;” 61% of home births were attended by midwives, including 16% by certified nurse midwive... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3599346 Wed, 26 May 2010 14:52:01 +0100 3599346 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538066&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F05%2Fcampaign-asks-for-creation-of-office-of-maternal-health Amnesty International, which recently released a report on maternal health in the United States, is asking supporters to contact Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, to ask for the creation of an Office of Maternal Health to “ensure that the country’s maternal health care crisis is addressed in a comprehensive manner.” In the provided letter, the organization asks for such an Office to work on the following priorities: gathering comprehensive data on deaths, complications and performance measures along with an effective nationwide review process; ensuring access to timely prenatal care; issuing evidence-based protocols for health care providers to prevent, recognize and respond to the leading complications that cause pregnancy-related deaths; encou... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538066 Wed, 05 May 2010 18:02:10 +0100 3538066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3529755&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F05%2Fcurrent-issue-of-midwifery-and-womens-health-journal-tackles-normal-birth The May/June issue of the Journal of Midwifery and Women’s Health is a special issue on the topic of “normal” birth. It begins with an editorial that recognizes the problems inherent in that term, asking, “It is a word that dichotomizes—if you are not ‘normal,’ then you must be abnormal, atypical, disordered, unhealthy, or irregular—and who wants those labels?” The author of the editorial, Holly Powell Kennedy, CNM, PhD, goes on to summarize her view of the problem with our current approaches to birth: I suggest that our culture has situated childbirth fully in risk and normalized childbirth interventions. It is a paradox in which tremendous resources are poured into preventing rare events rather than supporting most women to avail themselves o... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3529755 Tue, 04 May 2010 13:13:27 +0100 3529755 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3519431&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F04%2Fthe-guiding-force-in-perinatal-education-in-canada-kathie-lindstrom View all Women’s Health Heroes nominees. Who’s your hero? Submit here. Entrant: Bailey Delves Nominee: Kathie Lindstrom, LCCE,CD,CDT Coordinator of Perinal Studies Douglas College Kathie Lindstrom (pictured in the middle) has been THE guiding force in perinatal education in Canada. She has been a doula and an educator for many years. She is a great teacher and an inspiration to anyone aspiring to make a difference in maternity care. I cannot say enough good things about her. She is humble, she is strong, and she has truly made a difference in the lives of hundreds (maybe thousands) of women, babies and their families worldwide. Ask anyone in Canada’s birth community, and they will all tell you — Kathie is fantastic. (Source: Our Bodies Our Blog) Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3519431 Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:39:45 +0100 3519431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3508157&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F04%2Fwhy-choose-a-midwife-video-is-back-share-with-massachusetts-legislators Earlier this year, we posted a midwifery advocacy video, “Why Choose a Midwife,” and while it received an enthusiastic response, we had to pull it temporarily while a permission issue was resolved. We’re happy to report it’s now available for viewing. The video, which was posted to YouTube and is embedded below, was created primarily as an advocacy tool related to the Massachusetts midwifery bill [PDF], which Christine wrote about on Tuesday. In short, the legislation would: * Regulate the practice of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), trained midwives who attend women planning to give birth at home. * Strike outdated statutory language that mandates physician supervision of Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) — a position endorsed nationally by the American C... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3508157 Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:38:17 +0100 3508157 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3494286&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F04%2Faction-alert-promote-access-to-midwives-in-massachusetts Our Bodies Ourselves is asking for your help in drawing attention to the Massachusetts midwifery bill (PDF) that must be approved by the state legislature’s Joint Committee on Health Care Financing by Wednesday, April 28, if it is to have any chance of passage this year. The legislation accomplishes two things: * It would regulate the practice of Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs), trained midwives who attend women planning to give birth at home. * It would also strike outdated statutory language that mandates physician supervision of Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs) — a position endorsed nationally by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and already adopted by 44 states. Required supervision creates excessive and unnecessary liability for physicians and i... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3494286 Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:00:13 +0100 3494286 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3487023&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F04%2Fteaching-midwives-sensitivity-and-patience-laura-zeidenstein View all Women’s Health Heroes nominees. Who’s your hero? Submit here. Entrant: Jennifer Shark Nominee: Laura Zeidenstein, Midwife and Director of Columbia University School of Nursing’s Midwifery program Laura has been the director of Columbia University School of Nursing’s Midwifery program for 10 years now. She was my mentor during my tenure as a student at Columbia, and I still consider her to be such. It is largely thanks to her that I learned to be a sensitive, patient midwife. Whenever I am taking care of women, whether in the ambulatory setting or in the hospital in labor, I can feel her hands guiding mine. When I precept midwifery students, I hear her voice explaining how or why we do things the way we do, and how that makes us different. Her love for her stude... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3487023 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:01:51 +0100 3487023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3475815&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D455 Investments in maternal health are reaping  powerful results.  It’s hard for those of us lucky enough to live in developed countries to imagine why anyone would die from complications in pregnancy or childbirth.  We know it happens and there are outlyer examples; but generally, this is not the expectation in our communities Well, globally, the number of women who die from pregnancy complications and childbirth has been hovering around 500,000 each year.  This year’s research yielded a 35% reduction in this number, down to 342,900 in 2008 (up from 529,300 in 1980!)  Bravo. The Huffington Post reports that about half the deaths each year come from countries in Asia and Africa; China and South America have seen improvement. Here’s sobering datapoint: the US, Canada and... Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3475815 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:21:30 +0100 3475815 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3475793&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F04%2Fa-midwife-for-all-women-whitney-pinger View all Women’s Health Heroes nominees. Who’s your hero? Submit here. Entrant: Abigail Golden-Vazquez Nominee: Whitney Pinger, Midwife I would like to nominate Whitney Pinger as an Our Bodies Ourselves Hero. She is one of the only midwives in Washington, D.C., working to provide midwifery services to women in a hospital setting. She has faced very hostile administrations as one hospital after the next has eliminated midwives from their practices. Georgetown University does not allow midwives to practice in its hospital. Sibley does not have a midwives practice in its hospital. And George Washington University does not have a midwives practice. This leaves those of us who want a midwife-supported birth to do it at home or find a birthing center, only one in D.C. that has to turn away a... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3475793 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 18:31:46 +0100 3475793 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3467727&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F04%2Fraising-the-volume-of-womens-voices-lorenza-holt View all Women’s Health Heroes nominees. Who’s your hero? Submit here Entrant: Randi Friedman Nominee: Lorenza Holt, Executive Director, Boston Association for Childbirth Education My women’s health hero is my next-door neighbor and dear friend, Lorenza Holt. Lorenza is passionate about empowering women during the childbirth process. She has devoted the past 15 years of her life to working primarily with multicultural inner-city women as a doula, community outreach coordinator, and childbirth educator. When Lorenza excitedly describes her work helping women discover their strength, courage, and power during this significant moment in their lives, you can literally feel the depth of her passion and the intensity of her commitment. I have attached a short video/digital story,... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3467727 Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:55:42 +0100 3467727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3460145&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F04%2Fsolar-powered-solutions-for-childbirth-dr-laura-stachel Entrant: Cynthia Demsey Nominee: Dr. Laura Stachel, Founder of We Care Solar Dr. Laura Stachel, an obstetrician, studying for her PhD in Public Health, founded We Care Solar to save the lives of mothers and infants by providing solar-powered solutions for skilled obstetric care. Each year, over half a million women die from pregnancy complications in developing countries. Maternal mortality worldwide accounts for more than half a million deaths a year; 99 percent of these occur in underdeveloped countries. For every maternal death, at least 20 women suffer severe complications from childbirth. While studying in Nigeria, Dr. Stachel observed firsthand that obstetric emergencies require prompt, appropriate, reliable medical and surgical care.  Dr. Stachel saw how unreliable power and commun... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3460145 Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:11:45 +0100 3460145 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453878&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F04%2Feducational-virtual-birthing-unit-in-second-life-and-facebook-tips-for-midwives If you’re like me, virtual world Second Life is still a relatively strange and unfamiliar place. I’ll be spending a bit more time checking out this online world, though, after learning about a virtual birthing unit set up as an educational tool for midwifery students. In it “students can work their way through simulations of birth in which they support women and make midwifery decisions.” In my brief explorations, I was able to enter the birthing center and interact with objects in the environment to read some informational text about nutrition, birthing tubs, and other topics, although I suspect I’ve just scratched the surface. The project’s WikiEducator pages provide more information on the learning activities provided and includes images of the unit. ... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453878 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 15:24:01 +0100 3453878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3471761&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F04%2Fmarginalizing-midwives-differences-in-disciplinary-action-reveals-medical-bias by Amy Romano It sounded like an April Fools joke, except the story broke two days early. Doctors in North Carolina induced and ultimately performed a cesarean on a woman who wasn’t pregnant. The case happened in 2008 but we all learned about it this week because the North Carolina Medical Board finished their investigation and issued “letters of concern” to the doctors involved. Public letters of concern appear to be the least punitive disciplinary action performed by the state Medical Board, according to their list of published board orders (PDF). To which I respond: Letters of concern? Seriously??? The consensus on Facebook and around the web was that if midwives had been involved in an incident of this magnitude, they would have had their licenses revoked post-haste. Why? Bec... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3471761 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:36:09 +0100 3471761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3443669&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F04%2Fmarginalizing-midwives-differences-in-disciplinary-action-reveals-medical-bias by Amy Romano It sounded like an April Fools joke, except the story broke two days early. Doctors in North Carolina induced and ultimately performed a cesarean on a woman who wasn’t pregnant. The case happened in 2008 but we all learned about it this week because the North Carolina Medical Board finished their investigation and issued “letters of concern” to the doctors involved. Public letters of concern appear to be the least punitive disciplinary action performed by the state Medical Board, according to their list of published board orders (PDF). To which I respond: Letters of concern? Seriously??? The consensus on Facebook and around the web was that if midwives had been involved in an incident of this magnitude, they would have had their licenses revoked post-haste. Why? Bec... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3443669 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:36:09 +0100 3443669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420429&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F03%2Fwashington-state-bans-shackling-of-incarcerated-women-in-labor-and-post-delivery Washington state Gov. Chris Gregoire last week signed into law a bill [PDF] that forbids the routine shackling of pregnant women in and after labor, making it one of a handful of states that ban the practice. The law, which takes effect June 10, states that no restraints of any kind may be used on a pregnant woman during transporation to and from medical visits or court proceedings during the third trimester of pregnancy or during postpartum recovery. It also stipulates that “no restraints of any kinds may be used” during labor or childbirth. Exceptions of “extraordinary circumstances” during transportation are permitted; these exceptions are defined as necessary to prevent the woman from escaping, or from injuring herself or others, and for hospital use of medical... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420429 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 18:30:22 +0100 3420429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3395097&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F03%2Feffects-of-health-reform-on-maternity-care Although the just-passed health reform bill has generated considerable debate about abortion (see Christine’s previous post), at least two other reproductive health components of the bill are worth mentioning — provisions related to freestanding birth centers and certified nurse midwives. We have written previously about the Medicaid Birth Center Reimbursement Act, a bill supported by the American Association of Birth Centers. We’re pleased to report it was included in the health reform bill (section 2301 for those interested in reading the text). As the AABC notes, the reform bill includes provisions for Medicaid payment to freestanding birth centers in states where those centers are licensed. Now that President Obama has signed the bill, it will go to the Centers for... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3395097 Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:51:32 +0100 3395097 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3378493&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amnestyusa.org%2Fdignity%2Fpdf%2FDeadlyDeliverySummary.pdf By Ruth Lubic. The release this week of Amnesty International’s new report, Deadly Delivery: The Maternal Health Care Crisis in the USA,  highlights the poor outcomes of African American women in particular.  When I set up The Developing Families Center in Washington DC’s Ward 5, it was with the goal of addressing this very issue, particularly from the point of view of infant mortality. At a rate of 12.22 per thousand live births, the District has the highest infant mortality of any of the states, with only Mississippi, at 10.74 also experiencing a double digit rate. The Center has been successful in reducing poor infant outcomes, especially as compared to the District’s African American population as a whole.    Our data show the success of our staff of nurs... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3378493 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:08:07 +0100 3378493 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3378442&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F03%2Fan-interview-with-childbirth-connections-carol-sakala Medscape, a website from WebMD targeted primarily to healthcare providers and professionals, has just published an interesting interview with Carol Sakala, PhD, MSPH on the need to transform maternity care in the United States. Sakala is the Director of Programs for Childbirth Connection and co-author of the report, Evidence-Based Maternity Care: What it is and What it Can Achieve [PDF]. In it, Sakala discusses maternity care in the context of healthcare reform, noting the lack of focus on maternity care quality, outcomes, and value despite its “major role in the nation’s healthcare system.” She also addresses overused and underused interventions in maternity care; the need to have evidence-based practice guidelines based upon good quality studies rather than expert opini... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3378442 Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:16:14 +0100 3378442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3370379&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F03%2Fvaginal-birth-after-cesarean-what-the-nih-has-to-say As many of our readers will already know, the National Institutes of Health held a consensus development conference last week on vaginal birth after cesarean in the U.S., featuring panelists who spoke about VBAC trends, medical evidence, risks and benefits to women and babies, non-medical factors influencing VBAC availability (such as fear of legal liability), and related topics. Materials from the conference are available at http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/vbac.htm, including the draft panel statement, archived webcasts from each day of the conference, the previously completed evidence report on VBAC, and call-in access to the archive of a telebriefing that followed the event wrap-up (a transcript will be available soon). One important topic included perceptions of the risk of trial of labo... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3370379 Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:13:11 +0100 3370379 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3366173&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F03%2Fdouble-dose-what-will-happen-to-healthcare-reform-stopping-campus-rape-granny-midwife-margaret-charles-smith-is-honored-and-more On How a Bill Becomes a Law: The bill that will likely become the reconciliation bill on healthcare has been posted (PDF). Ezra Klein explains what it means. Democratic leaders say a bill will pass this week.  House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) pledges obstruction, saying Republicans will do “everything we can to make it difficult for them, if not impossible, to pass the bill.” Jen Nedeau covers the multiple threats to women’s health and reproductive rights that must be addressed, including the House anti-abortion language. You know it as the Stupak/Pitts admendment. But Richard Doerflinger, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ point man on abortion, should have had his name in there, too. Meanwhile, Jessica Arons tries to see the world through t... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3366173 Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:54:23 +0100 3366173 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3342633&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F03%2Fnih-consenus-development-conference-on-vbac-this-week-watch-online Beginning today and continuing through March 10, the National Institutes of Health is hosting a “consensus development conference” on the topic of vaginal birth after cesarean section. A free live webcast (with captioning) of the conference is being made available for those who can’t attend the Bethesda, MD event. (You may need to download an appropriate media player to watch it.) Various experts are discussing the medical evidence on VBAC (audience discussion has been lively already!), including the following key questions: What are the rates and patterns of utilization of trial of labor after prior cesarean, vaginal birth after cesarean, and repeat cesarean delivery in the United States? Among women who attempt a trial of labor after prior cesarean, what is the vagina... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3342633 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:26:05 +0100 3342633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3338212&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guttmacher.org%2Fpubs%2FAddingItUp2009.pdf By Tamar Abrams. Ninety-nine years ago, International Women’s Day was founded to honor the accomplishments of women and to press for equality between men and women. All these years later, there is still so much to do. Rather than tackling the overwhelming global needs of women, one organization – Women Deliver – is focusing on maternal health. The statistics are startling: Every minute of every day, a woman dies needlessly of pregnancy-related causes. That means that more than 560,000 women and girls die every year. Almost all of these deaths occur in the developing world, and ten million women are lost in every generation! What a tragic loss for our planet when at the same time we in the developed world have turned our attention to new ways of obtaining and sharing infor... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3338212 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:22:59 +0100 3338212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3322334&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F03%2Fmississippi-senate-drops-bill-outlawing-cpms According to reports, the Mississippi bill that would make non-nurse midwives illegal in the state is dead after “a barrage of calls and e-mails on lawmakers, urging them to kill the bill” from advocates for midwifery and home birth. We mentioned the bill in a post last week, after it passed the House and was referred to the state Senate’s Public Health and Welfare committee. Committee chair Hob Bryan has now indicated that he will not bring the bill up for a vote, saying that “This is something there’s a good bit of concern about. Several people in the committee said they had gotten calls to oppose it.” The Big Push for Midwives, mentioned in the story, led the campaign to mobilize against this bill and issued action alerts last week encouraging midwifery s... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3322334 Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:00:46 +0100 3322334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3311644&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F02%2Fcalls-for-support-of-birth-related-legislation-at-state-and-federal-levels A bill has passed in the Mississippi House that could effectively make  midwives who are not also trained as nurses illegal in the state. The bill states that “the practice of midwifery shall only be conducted by Certified Nurse Midwives; to provide that any person who is not a Certified Nurse Midwife who engages in the practice of midwifery shall be subject to criminal penalties and injunctive relief.” The bill would make it illegal for Certified Professional Midwives — midwives who who are specially trained to deliver babies in out-of-hospital settings– to practice. Right now, the Midwives Alliance of North America (MANA) categorizes the current situation in Mississippi for non-nurse midwives as “Legal by Judicial Interpretation or Statutory Inference&#8221... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3311644 Fri, 26 Feb 2010 16:33:55 +0100 3311644 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3306813&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F02%2Facnm-issues-statement-supporting-use-of-nitrous-oxide-in-labor The American College of Nurse-Midwives has posted a new position statement on nitrous oxide for labor analgesia [PDF], stating: “It is the position of the American College of Nurse‐Midwives that women should have access to a variety of measures to assist them in coping with the challenges of labor.” The ACNM notes that a blend of inhaled nitrous oxide and oxygen is used for pain relief in labor in many other countries, but it not typically available in the United States, where epidural anesthesia and systemic opioids are more common. Potential benefits of nitrous oxide are outlined in the document, including the ability for a woman to self-administer via face mask, the ability to quickly administer or discontinue the gas, and the lack of known adverse effects on the woman, fe... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3306813 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:34:38 +0100 3306813 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3279951&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F02%2Ftwo-opportunities-for-birth-related-participation First, Dr. Mark Sloan, author of Birth Day: A Pediatrician Explores the Science, the History, and the Wonder of Childbirth, is chatting with readers online through February 21st via the LibraryThing website. If you don’t have a LibraryThing account (they’re free), you’ll need to sign up first if you want to post questions or comments (you can browse the discussion without signing up). After logging in, scroll down the right side to “Author Chats” and select the chat with Mark Sloan. You’ll be able to post questions and comments, which Sloan is responding to – the author indicates that “all questions, comments, birth stories, new parent experiences, and hard-earned pearls of grandparental wisdom are welcome.” I haven’t had a chance... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3279951 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 18:09:15 +0100 3279951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3262585&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2010%2F02%2Fmaternal-mortality-on-the-rise-in-california Last week, California Watch, a new project of the Center for Investigative Reporting, released a report describing an increase in maternal mortality in the state over the past decade. The report shows that the number of California women who died from causes directly related to pregnancy nearly tripled in the past decade.  The report’s authors confirm that this is the most significant spike in pregnancy-related deaths since the 1930s. The findings have prompted enormous concern and many questions about why this is happening. Dr. Elliott Main, the principal investigator for the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative, the public-private task force investigating the problem for the state, acknowledged that only a modest amount of this increase was related to factors such as obes... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3262585 Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:02:35 +0100 3262585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3220501&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FWomensBioethicsBlog%2F%7E3%2FDZAhBRG-To4%2Fhealth-sex-and-womens-rights-in.html Starting this Saturday, the Gardner Center for Asian Arts and Ideas will be hosting a lecture series titled "Health, Sex, and Women's Rights in Contemporary Asia." All events will be located in Volunteer Park. January 30 – Women Feed the World: Women’s Land Rights in AsiaSpeakers: Renee Giovarelli, Rural Development Institute, and Haven Ley, Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationFebruary 6 – Asia: The Frontier in the Battle for Health Equity in the WorldSpeakers: Tachi Yamada, President of Global Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Chris Elias, President and CEO of PATHFebruary 13 – In Silence: Maternal Mortality in IndiaSpeakers: Susan Meiselas, Magnum photographer; Sylvia Wolf, Director, Henry Art Gallery, University of Washington; and France Donnay, Bill & Melinda Gates Found... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3220501 Fri, 29 Jan 2010 02:52:31 +0100 3220501 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3204851&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.disruptivewomen.net%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2010%2F01%2FNPR_20100123_wesat_02.mp3 Disruptive Women blogger Tamar Abrams shared this glimmer of hope from Haiti. It’s an NPR profile of her sister-in-law, AK, who has been delivering babies in Haiti. Amid Death And Destruction: New Life In Haiti Despite the grim scene in Haiti, life, for some, goes on. NPR’s John Poole and Joanne Silberner have been embedded with the Massachusetts 1 Disaster Medical Assistance Team in a field hospital in Port-au-Prince. Obstetrician Anne Kathryn Goodman oversees births at the Health and Human Services field hospital. As of Friday morning, Jan. 22, six babies had been delivered at the field hospital. Poole and Silberner were there to document the delivery of little Sampson Brazile. Hear Silberner’s story: Download audio file (NPR_20100123_wesat_02.mp3) View photos on NPR’... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3204851 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:24:07 +0100 3204851 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3126603&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FITYnQRZXMvU%2F Think you have maternity coverage? Think again. Welcome to the first entry of the book I’ll be publishing in 2010 entitled: You gotta laugh: Life in the trenches of the health insurance business. Because I think Disruptive Women readers will find it useful, each month I’ll post an example of a health insurance problem that is so maddening and frustrating that we just gotta laugh at its absurdity. My goal, however, is to find a way to improve health insurance for beneficiaries and I have some suggestions at the end of this post.                                                                                           This month’s question: What do you do when you have it in writing from your in... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3126603 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:33:12 +0100 3126603 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3084999&cid=t_358680_165_f&fid=37959&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhealthskills.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F12%2F14%2Fi-want-my-epidural%2F I’ve had two children – now 19 and 16, and wonderful. At the time of their delivery I can remember both times thinking ‘as long as they’re healthy’ and being not at all worried about having medical intervention if it was needed. My eldest was born with epidural anaesthesia, and my youngest was born completely naturally. And I am one of those people who ended up with an exacerbation of my chronic pain after delivery, in fact quite specific chronic pain in the area where the epidural was inserted. I recall asking my GP about 12 months later how long the pain was supposed to last, and she was quite surprised I had any pain at all! But now I’ve been reviewing some of the literature around childbirth, and I realise how common having persistent pain can be in ... HealthSkills Weblog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3084999 Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:19:14 +0100 3084999 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2934673&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FX7QD6dQvc0U%2F I was stunned to learn that New York City’s Bellevue Hospital was closing its birth center, leaving low income women in the city with no access to a birth center that accepts Medicaid. Why are childbirthing centers in this country struggling to survive when they ought to be spreading? We know that they provide a wellness-model of pregnancy and birthing (as opposed to a disease model that hospitals have traditionally taken), use best practices in birthing, have excellent clinical outcomes, and save money. Staffed and usually managed by certified nurse midwives, childbirthing centers have been endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. At the end of the Bush administration, someone in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services realized that there was no mandat... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2934673 Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:10:12 +0100 2934673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2902772&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fbreastfeeding123%2Fwinner-of-the-laugh-and-learn-dvds%2F And the winner of the “Laugh and Learn” DVDs is Kathlynn with comment #17: “What an amazing set! I would love to add them to my small but growing collection!” Kathlynn, please email me your home mailing address by the end of Tuesday, October 20, 2009 to claim your prize. Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3 (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2902772 Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:56:42 +0100 2902772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2883006&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fbreastfeeding123%2Flaugh-and-learn-dvd-set-giveaway%2F Last week I reviewed the set of “Laugh and Learn” DVDs on childbirth, newborn baby care, and breastfeeding. Now is your chance to win these four helpful DVDs! The Products You can win this 4-DVD set of three classes: Laugh and Learn About Childbirth, Laugh and Learn About Newborn Baby Care, and Laugh and Learn About Breastfeeding. The whole DVD set currently sells for $79.95 on the Laugh and Learn site. I see that if you want to watch the classes online they are offered that way at a discount too! How to Enter The contest is open to entrants with a mailing address in the United States. You have three chances to win! For your first entry, simply leave a comment on this post using a valid email address before the end of the day Friday, October 16, 2009 Pacific Coast Time. For a s... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2883006 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:57:40 +0100 2883006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2605968&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fhealthbolt%2Fchildbirth-via-youtube%2F Childbirth videos are nothing new. They’ve been screened at pre-natal birthing classes since the 1970s. But they are mostly dated and often highly edited so as not to offend or upset expectant parents. Now there’s a category of childbirth videos around - real life, unedited, and made friends and families of those in labour.  And they can be found in thousands over at  You Tube. A quick google search of ‘YouTube childbirth videos’ turned up 195,000 results. Seems that more and more women are making these videos in the belief that they will help “demystify” childbirth. They are watched by expectant parents who want to get ‘all the facts.’ Some even get more than they bargained on. Back in May, one British father actually ended up delivering his own baby soon after w... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2605968 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:00:49 +0100 2605968 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2512443&cid=t_358680_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Fdisability-pregnancy-and-fear%2F As my pregnancy keeps going further along, I am getting some huge fears - fears which are related to my disability, pregnancy and christian faith. I feel like I’m being pulled in every direction by friends, family and Zach’s family on choices I have to make.  So many people are pushing me to abort, others want [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2512443 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:15:30 +0100 2512443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2469826&cid=t_358680_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aspieweb.net%2Faspergers-fas-pregnancy%2F Hi, I’m Zach’s Fiance and I have an announcement to make….. we are pregnant!! I just found out last Thursday that I am pregnant (this was the family emergency Zach was talking about).  I am quite scared to say the least, and I have been wrestling with abortion or adopting the child. I have been wrestling with abortion [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2469826 Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:01:32 +0100 2469826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2367389&cid=t_358680_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F04%2F15%2Finfracoccygeal-sacropexy-using-mesh-for-uterine-prolapse-repair%2F Title: Infracoccygeal sacropexy using mesh for uterine prolapse repair Source: NICE The Skinny: Guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on infracoccygeal sacropexy using mesh for vaginal vault prolapse repair. Uterine prolapse occurs when the womb (uterus) slips down from its normal position into the vagina. Infracoccygeal sacropexy is an operation that involves the insertion of a piece of material (mesh) with the aim of holding the womb in place. Documents: IPG280 Infracoccygeal sacropexy using mesh for uterine prolapse repair: guidance (2p, 35.03 Kb) IPG280 Infracoccygeal sacropexy using mesh for uterine prolapse repair: understanding NICE guidance (4p, 55.41 Kb) IPG280 Infracoccygeal sacropexy using mesh for uterine prolapse repair: understanding NICE guida... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2367389 Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:20:07 +0100 2367389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2609151&cid=t_358680_46_f&fid=38789&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fcholera%2F2009%2F03%2F27%2Fa-burning-stomach%2F Today Dennis is awake and sitting up. Gogo is happy to see me, while Dennis can not take his eyes off the notebook and pen I brought him together with some crayons. I do not understand until later why these are so important to him. Photo: J Stavropoulou, MSF. | Grandmother Juliette, the MSF head nurse is here as well. She is the kind of nurse you would want if you are sick. Kind eyes, beautiful face and always with a smile. Dennis is obviously feeling much better today. He had been quite a severely dehydrated case when he came in and had to be put on a drip, which he was still on today but which Juliette hoped they could stop later on. “He’s finally drinking his ORS,” says Juliette with a smile. Dennis is small for a 10-year old and now he is so thin it makes him look even smaller. ... MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2609151 Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:03:14 +0100 2609151 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2284276&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=38368&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDisruptiveWomenInHealthCare%2F%7E3%2FH9Dx7Ke-8d0%2F I am not usually one to take on the Vatican. In fact, I toured its lovely treasure-filled buildings only three months ago and marveled at the wealth and power it denoted. However, the Pope’s recent pronouncements during his travels in Africa that condoms and abortions are morally wrong have filled me with righteous indignation. I too have spent time in Africa. But I wasn’t there to make pronouncements from on high. I was there to make a documentary about the increasing number of married women with AIDS in Kenya. I walked through Kibera slum and watched large families crammed into corrugated metal sheds without plumbing or heat. Even so, I probably wouldn’t take on the Pope…except for an article in today’s Washington Post. Apparently, the Vatican’s top bioethics official said t... Disruptive Women in Health Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2284276 Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:52:07 +0100 2284276 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2609154&cid=t_358680_46_f&fid=38789&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmsf.ca%2Fblogs%2Fcholera%2F2009%2F03%2F10%2Ffinding-a-little-miracle%2F We finally get to the number we had looked for, but find out that Maria doesn’t live there; it is her brother’s house. He says where she lives there are no numbers that is why Maria uses his address. He offers to show us the way. Photo: J Stavropoulou. We drive along the dirt roads between the houses until the road can go no longer. Then we walk along a small footpath through tall bright green grass and maize crops rising up around us. It is hard to believe we are still in Harare. We come to a small settlement of houses, with various children around, some ladies, some chickens, a well. And then, there is Maria walking towards us, shyly smiling, quite obviously not pregnant anymore. I am so happy to see her, I feared the worst, yet had fervently hoped for the best. Photo: J Stavropoul... MSF Blogs blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2609154 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:18:07 +0100 2609154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2078228&cid=t_358680_112_f&fid=34971&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdoctorandpatient.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fbusting-common-myths-about-pregnancy.html Pregnancy is one of the most exciting times in a woman’s life and every pregnancy is truly a miracle. Because women having been having babies for centuries, there are still many myths and old wives tales about pregnancy, which modern obstetrics is just starting to dispel. Myth 1. Pregnancy care starts after you get pregnantMost women register with their obstetrician for medical care after they get pregnant. After all, we are all familiar with the adage: ‘Be good to your baby before it is born’. However, in reality, the best time to start taking care of your unborn baby is even before you conceive! Such care is called pre-pregnancy or pre-conception care.Why is this care so important? Remember, that the foetal organs are actively developing during first 12 weeks of pregnancy (this cru... The Patient's Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2078228 Sun, 04 Jan 2009 07:38:00 +0100 2078228 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1775746&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FBreastfeeding123%2F%7E3%2FpHSd1-Z2cmw%2F Micky of the breastfeeding blog Mocha Milk started a thriving business called 9 Months and Beyond, LLC. It offers childbirth and breastfeeding support. She wants to grow the business even more, and has entered the Ideablob $10,000 contest. Here’s what her entry says: 9 Months & Beyond, LLC offers a full doula services, lactation support and parenting education. We combine the best resources of a doula agency and pregnancy/ parenting boutique with a respectful, supportive community. From conception through the first years of parenting, we help birthing families through a range of counseling and educational services and products designed for their special circumstances. Specialties include: birth/labor doula services childbirth education birth tub rental breast-pump rental lactati... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1775746 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:49:18 +0100 1775746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1733981&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D4222 A recent study suggests that women, given an informed choice, were less likely than the professionals treating them to take a more cautious approach to birth. The study also found the women prepared to accept higher pain levels, reports the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. read more | digg story Of course the 6 million dollar question is what do you do when something goes wrong during delivery? a Moms accept natural birth risks (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1733981 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1733981 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1692173&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D4025 Doctors in the past has used Sterile Water Injections as a placebo. Yeah, for the patient who insists on that “miracle injection” sometimes that’s what the doctor may administer Recently Swedish workers looked at Acupuncture versus subcutaneous injections of sterile water as treatment for labour pain (Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2008;87(2):171-7) The main results of this study were that sterile water injections yielded greater pain relief (p (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1692173 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1692173 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1480725&cid=t_358680_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F301486131%2F This article reported within the BBC website is fascinating and incredibly rare … An Australian mother has given birth to a healthy  baby daughter who developed in her ovary! The discovery was made during a  routine cesarean operation. Durga - meaning Goddess - was born at 38 weeks weighing 6lb 3oz (2.8 kg). Most ectopic pregnancies end in miscarriage or are terminated early because of the risk to the mother.  Just 1-2% of all pregnancies are ectopic, and in 95% of those cases the egg is fertilised in the fallopian tubes on its way to the uterus.  In 0.5% of cases, including this one, the baby grows inside the ovary itself. The ovary was so paper thin the baby’s head could be seen. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7427907.stm Elaine Warburton  www.geneticsandhealth.com... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1480725 Fri, 30 May 2008 20:49:20 +0100 1480725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1434032&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36583&url=http%3A%2F%2Fourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2008%2F05%2Fsimple_innovation_saves_womens_lives.php Around the globe, 500,000 women die every year from complications related to giving birth. The most common cause is obstetrical hemorrhage, or heavy bleeding, which can cause death in two hours or less. Consider that in many rural areas a hospital can be hours or even days away, and the urgency of medical attention becomes clear. Given this dire situation, some health researchers are working on promoting the adoption of less-invasive, evidenced-based medical practices to prevent excess bleeding from occurring during childbirth and simple innovations that can help stem the blood flow when there is a problem. One low-tech device that can be used to help women who are hemorrhaging and who don't have immediate access to maternity care interventions is the LifeWrap. Also known as a non-pneum... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1434032 Fri, 09 May 2008 18:10:56 +0100 1434032 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1404385&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36583&url=http%3A%2F%2Fourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2008%2F04%2Fon_increasing_rates_of_diabetes_in_pregnancy_1.php An article set to appear in the May issue of the journal Diabetes Care is garnering widespread media attention today, as it declares that the prevalence of pre-existing diabetes in women who become pregnant has doubled over the past several years. Diabetes can cause serious complications for both women and fetuses during pregnancy. The authors looked at data for women in Southern California who gave birth to a single baby >20 weeks gestation in one hospital system. They looked at how many women had pre-existing or gestational diabetes, and how the prevalence of diabetes changed over time. The authors found that the overall prevalence of pre-existing diabetes more than doubled from 1999 to 2005, from 0.81 to 1.82 women with the condition per 100 births, with younger women and black women e... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1404385 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:27:54 +0100 1404385 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1347887&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36583&url=http%3A%2F%2Fourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2008%2F04%2Ffat_women_can_give_birth_vaginally_obesity_an.php Much has been written about the alarming increase in the percentage of births delivered via cesarean section. Our Bodies Ourselves has just posted a new article that discusses the sky-high rate of cesarean births among women of size and provides concrete advice on how women can best increase their chances of having a vaginal birth. The author, Pamela Vireday, a childbirth educator and size-acceptance activist who specializes in summarizing and analyzing the medical research on these issues, spoke with OBOB recently about the abundance of misinformation and attitudes toward women and obesity. "A cesarean can be a wonderful and life-saving thing when it is needed, but to use it routinely adds many unnecessary risks, especially in obese women," says Vireday. "Yet almost no one has been ques... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1347887 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:03:59 +0100 1347887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1327754&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36583&url=http%3A%2F%2Fourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2008%2F03%2Fbe_bold_for_a_good_cause.php BOLD is a very cool media arts/birth advocacy group that's trying to win a $10,000 grant from Ideablob.com. The organization's play, "Birth," is performed each year on, you guessed it, Labor Day. Here's more about BOLD, from founder Karen Brody: BOLD's mission is to be a global movement to make maternity care mother-friendly through education, truth and action. While it was sparked by performances of my play, Birth, to inspire change BOLD is now much more than my play. [...] At all our BOLD events we're using the arts to educate, tell the truth and take action around maternity care so that birthing options are mother-friendly. Through each event communities take a serious look at how to improve the birthing climate for pregnant mothers. What do mothers want? What do they deserve? What m... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1327754 Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:30:13 +0100 1327754 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1281237&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=36583&url=http%3A%2F%2Fourbodiesourblog.org%2Fblog%2F2008%2F03%2Fcensus_bureau_releases_40year_profile_of_work.php The Census Bureau has released a new report on women's working patterns, choices, and benefits during and after a first pregnancy, Maternity Leave and Employment Patterns of First-Time Mothers: 1961–2003 [PDF]. The report reveals trends over the recent decades, and concludes, "Overall, these findings indicate that women are staying longer at work, returning more rapidly after having their first child, and, in general, choosing to incorporate work life with childbearing and childrearing more than did women in the 1960s." I do have a small quibble with that statement, however, as the report does not address economic considerations in detail, leaving aside the question of whether women are freely "choosing" to be in the workforce or if economic factors make it more of a necessity than was... Our Bodies Our Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1281237 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:31:08 +0100 1281237 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1909219&cid=t_358680_177_f&fid=38133&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FTubalReversalBlog%2F%7E3%2F286469510%2Ftubal-ligation-informed-consent.html I received an email message today from a patient that prompted me to write about informed consent for tubal ligation. (See my previous blog about informed consent for tubal reversal.) Here is the message that was sent to me. Hello, Dr. Berger, You performed tubal reversal surgery on me on 10/29/07, and I just found out [...] (Source: Tubal Reversal Blog) Tubal Reversal Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1909219 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:37:16 +0100 1909219 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=675448&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F06%2F14%2Fdiabetes-may-damage-sperm-cell-dna%2F Filed under: Type 1, Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, Lifestyle, Research, MagazinesA recent study compared the sperm of 27 men with type 1 diabetes to the sperm of 29 men of equal age without diabetes. The researchers found that the sperm of the men with diabetes were healthy in many respects. The shape and abundance of the sperm from type 1 diabetic males were perfectly normal and apparently they were great swimmers. However, when the DNA was examined, there was more damage to the DNA of the diabetic men. Around 52% of the DNA in their sperm cells was fragmented, compared to only 32% in the men without diabetes. There was also a higher rate of deletions in the DNA inside their mitochondria, separate DNA found within each cell. The results of this study suggest type 1 diabetes may cause d... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=675448 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100 675448 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=554441&cid=t_358680_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F04%2F19%2Fbreastfeeding-blocks-breast-cancer%2F Filed under: Breast Cancer, Prevention, Research, Daily newsWhen my babies were born, those who promote breastfeeding as the only effective method for nourishing a child and preventing illness urged and pushed and prodded me to embrace their beliefs. I did believe them, never doubted them, and sometimes felt guilty I wasn't able to nurse my children -- a previous breast reduction surgery disabled my milk flow.I got over it. Bottles and formula worked well for my family, allowed my husband to share middle-of-the-night feeding duties, and grew my two little boys into sturdy, healthy beings. What I haven't completely gotten over is that breastfeeding could have done a whole lot of good for me too. It could have prevented the breast cancer I developed just after my second child stopped drinkin... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=554441 Thu, 19 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100 554441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=464809&cid=t_358680_111_f&fid=34711&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmillinersdream.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fhump-day-aka-my-day-off.html I told my Mom on the phone this week that I have been waking up at 0630 (or 0639 or 0625) on mornings I don't go to work at 1500 in a panic. I think I am late, overslept and should be on my way to work. (I leave at 0630 on Friday and Saturday for day shift.) Then I realize that I'm not late and that I only got home a few hours before...I have been home after 0100 each time since I began working (though I should be off at 2330.) She reminded me that I should be used to it, as my Dad worked swing shifts throughout my youth, as a Pharmacist!***** ***** ***** I continue to grow in my position as a new nurse. I am gaining a routine and a safe speed with the more mundane nursing "ADLs" (such as in passing medications--when to check a pulse and hold a resident's Digoxin, if necessary, for instanc... Milliner's Dream blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=464809 Wed, 07 Mar 2007 17:26:00 +0100 464809 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=464812&cid=t_358680_111_f&fid=34711&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmillinersdream.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fdear-shamhat.html In response to Shamhat's comment, on this post:Dear Shamhat,Since in this context I am teaching in a hospital, where the women have already usually chosen hospital birth--and often, with an OB--I am referring to their choice between medicated and unmedicated labor.I insist on teaching all their options--and am fortunate at this hospital that I am "allowed." Many hospitals, including another local one, teach: "This is our facility, and this is how you give birth..." If the day came when I was told I could not teach all options in that hospital setting, I would resign. And, by teaching all options, I believe in some cases I am able to present some in my classes with the options and tools to go unmedicated. It's a seemingly forgone conlclusion that most want/will have/plan epidurals now. By s... Milliner's Dream blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=464812 Thu, 15 Feb 2007 21:30:00 +0100 464812