News

Vaginal birth after Caesarean possible

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Vaginal birth after Caesarean possible
April 29, 2011
UPI.com

Many women meet the criteria for a vaginal birth after Caesarean section but many don't receive enough information to make the choice, a U.S. obstetrician says.

Dr. F. Gary Cunningham, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, says statistical reports show the rate of Caesarian section deliveries has increased in the United States from 5 perc...

Oklahoma initiative targets optional early births

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Oklahoma initiative targets optional early births
By Vallery Brown
April 29, 2011
NewsOK.com

An increase in the number of early Cesarean deliveries and induced labor without a medical cause is a factor in Oklahoma’s high infant death rate, medical experts said at a news conference Thursday.

Health Commissioner Terry Cline said inducing labor or scheduling Cesarean births before 39 weeks of gestation when there are no medical reasons to do so can have health and e...

Induced labor, C-sections may not benefit newborns

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Induced labor, C-sections may not benefit newborns
April 28, 2011
St. Petersburg Times

Some hospitals induce labor and perform caesarean sections far more frequently than others, but a new study finds these differences may not affect how newborns fare. Dr. J. Christopher Glantz, a professor of obstetrics at the University of Rochester, reviewed records of almost 30,000 births from 10 upstate New York community hospitals without specialized neonatal intensive care units. ...

...

Prenatal Yoga Keeps Expectant Mothers Fit, Balanced

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Prenatal Yoga Keeps Expectant Mothers Fit, Balanced
By Laura Tree
April 28, 2011
Gazettes.com

For most women during pregnancy, awareness of the body and the changes that are taking place within are magnified. The desire to incorporate a healthier lifestyle comes naturally at this time as mother and child begin to grow together in countless ways.

Prenatal yoga classes are an exceptional way to stay fit mentally and physically, enhance a healthy way of...

C-sections linked to increase in pregnancy-related deaths

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 05:00:00 +0100

C-sections linked to increase in pregnancy-related deaths
By Shari Roan
April 27, 2011
St. Louis Today

Deaths from pregnancy-related causes, which usually occur around the time of childbirth, have risen dramatically in the United States in the last decade. In a report released Tuesday, a committee investigating such deaths in California cited an increase in cesarean-section births as a major contributor to the disturbing trend. ...

...

A disturbing trend: More mothers dying in pregnancy, childbirth

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 05:00:00 +0100

A disturbing trend: More mothers dying in pregnancy, childbirth
By Wendy Rigby
April 27, 2011
KENS 5

Women dying from pregnancy-related causes is still a rare occurrence. But in a disturbing trend, the numbers are rising.

Maternal mortality has risen in Texas and across the country. In 2010, the U.S. was ranked 50th out of a group of 59 developed countries. It’s a growing public health problem that’s killing some women in the prime of their lives. ...

...

Placenta Accreta: Multiple C-Sections Can Kill Mother

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Placenta Accreta: Multiple C-Sections Can Kill Mother
By Susan Donaldson James
April 18, 2011
ABC News

Barbara George nearly hemorrhaged to death while doctors delivered her fifth child at Hackensack Medical Center in New Jersey -- and that was in 2010, not 1910.

The stay-at-home mother from South Orange was diagnosed with placenta accreta, a life-threatening condition where the placenta grows into the uterine wall and sometimes beyond. ...

...

Exercising during pregnancy may benefit your baby's heart

Sat, 16 Apr 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Exercising during pregnancy may benefit your baby's heart
April 16, 2011
The Independent

New research reveals that prenatal yoga classes and other low-impact aerobic activities can not only benefit the health of mothers-to-be but also their babies' heart health after birth.

In new research presented at the annual meeting Experimental Biology 2011 in Washington DC this week, US researchers from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences revealed that exerc...

Home delivery

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Home delivery
Mothers look to midwife for home birth experience
By Betsy Lee
April 7, 2011
Lee's Summit Journal

“The last few days, my belly has been a bowl of Jell-O. Always moving,” said Elaina Michalski. “It’s crazy.”

She was positioned comfortably on her tan sofa, her head supported by a floral pillow. Above her, Lisa Matthes pulled on a long measuring tape, placing one end at the bottom of Michalski’s abdomen. The other si...

Filmmaker makes documentary series about home births in Maine

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Filmmaker makes documentary series about home births in Maine
By Abigail Curtis
April 7, 2011
Bangor Daily News

When mom and filmmaker Nicolle Littrell was pregnant with her first child, a friend asked if she and her partner were considering having the baby at home.

Their reply was instantaneous — and negative, Littrell said Thursday.

“We said, ‘No!” she recalled, adding that part of the reason was their insurance did not cover home births.

...

Study: Progesterone gel lowers risk of preterm birth in women with short cervix

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Study: Progesterone gel lowers risk of preterm birth in women with short cervix
By David Brown
April 7, 2011
The Washington Post

Daily use of a vaginal gel containing the hormone progesterone in the second half of pregnancy substantially reduces the risk of premature delivery in a specific group of women, according to a new study.

Women with a short cervix — the necklike structure connecting the base of the womb to the vagina — have nearly a 50 percent chan...

Midwives ban to be lifted at Camarillo hospital; question is when

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Midwives ban to be lifted at Camarillo hospital; question is when
By Tom Kisken
March 31, 2011
Ventura County Star

After a 13-month ban that spawned protest rallies, claims of inequity and a 700-plus signature petition, midwives will be allowed to deliver babies again at a Camarillo hospital, possibly by the end of the month, hospital officials said.

A new policy approved by the medical staff allows certified nurse midwives again to deliver babies at St. John's Ple...

Idaho Approves Midwife Medicaid Bill

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Idaho Approves Midwife Medicaid Bill
By Tania Dall
March 31, 2011
KXLY Spokane

Moms now have more options when it comes to delivering their babies in Idaho as lawmakers approved a bill making it easier for expectant moms to decide where they'd like to give birth.

"We felt like we were at a restaurant trying to flip a table for the next customer," Dave Trout, who is expecting his second child in April, said.

After delivering their son at the hospital, ...

New guidelines give C-section moms a choice of vaginal delivery

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0100

New guidelines give C-section moms a choice of vaginal delivery
By Michele Munz
March 31, 2011
STLtoday.com

Recent changes in national guidelines are prompting more women with C-section scars to choose to try to birth subsequent children vaginally, and more providers willing to offer the choice, according to head of the obstetrics department at Washington University School of Medicine.

"I think we've seen the bottom of the pendulum with the VBAC rate, and it w...

NC proposal allows midwives to perform home births

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0100

NC proposal allows midwives to perform home births
By Maggie Alexander
March 30, 2011
NBC17.com

Legislation being introduced Wednesday could allow midwives to deliver babies at homes in North Carolina.

Despite the law, NBC-17 found out many midwives are still performing home births. Kim Moore said she knew it was illegal, but still had a midwife deliver her second child from home. Moore is part of a large group of supporters fighting to make it legal.

...

'Kangaroo care' enhances mother-baby bond

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0100

'Kangaroo care' enhances mother-baby bond
March 30, 2011
The Sydney Morning Herald

When Melissa Bungar gave birth to her third child, she sometimes instinctively nestled infant Chloe against her bare chest, skin to skin.

"My husband thought I was crazy. It just felt like the right thing to do," said Bungar, who lives in Perry Township, Pennsylvania.

Four years later, when she checked into the University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre's Magee-Women...

HypnoBirthing method helps moms-to-be

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0100

HypnoBirthing method helps moms-to-be
Light hypnosis can reduce stress on mother, child during pregnancy and birth
By Chris Michlewicz
March 29, 2011
Highlands Ranch Herald

A new childbirth method that utilizes the power of the mind to ease fears and eliminate pain could soon have expecting Highlands Ranch mothers thoroughly enjoying life’s most precious miracle.

HypnoBirthing, which is a registered trademark, has been found to significantly reduce stress and i...

Breast still best, says new study

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Breast still best, says new study
Research claims brain growth is better in babies who suckle for longer
By Lisa Smyth
March 28, 2011
Belfast Telegraph

The benefits of breastfeeding are under the spotlight again as research out today shows brain growth in babies is linked to the length of time mums breastfeed.

Scientists at Queen’s University Belfast and Durham University have concluded that the longer the pregnancy and breastfeeding period in mammals, the bigg...

Western Pennsylvania doctors join outcry against inducing labor early

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 06:00:00 +0100

Western Pennsylvania doctors join outcry against inducing labor early
By Chris Ramirez
March 13, 2011
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Western Pennsylvania physicians are joining national experts in discouraging mothers-to-be from inducing labor too early for nonmedical reasons.

Research by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development says the 39th week of pregnancy is the safest for delivery. It's at this time that the infant is mature enough to be born h...

Naturally, best for baby

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Naturally, best for baby
By Charity Vogel
March 7, 2011
The Buffalo News

After she delivered her first baby girl, Ava, a couple of years ago, East Amherst mom Nicole Schmidt breast-fed her infant for four months. This time around, with her second daughter, she's determined to do it for longer -- ideally, for a full year.

"They tell you it's the best way to feed your baby," said Schmidt, who works as a physician's assistant at an orthopedic surgeon...

Midwives, birthing coaches gaining in popularity

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Midwives, birthing coaches gaining in popularity
By Courtney Potts
March 6, 2011
The Observer - Dispatch

When Christy Gasstrom gave birth to her son five years ago, the first-time mom from Ilion received care from an obstetrician.

But when a Utica doctor told her during her second pregnancy that she no longer was a candidate for natural birth because of her previous Caesarean section, she decided to go a different way.

“I didn’t like that answer so I di...

Iron in early pregnancy linked to birthweight

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Iron in early pregnancy linked to birthweight
By Leigh Krietsch Boerner
March 3, 2011
Reuters

Expectant moms who get a lot of iron in their first trimester tend to have heavier, although still healthy-weight, babies, English researchers say. They did not find the opposite trend - that insufficient iron intake in early pregnancy led to lower birthweights, however.

Specifically, the more daily iron women got from food or supplements, the bigger their babies, according to...

Smoking During Early Pregnancy May Put Baby's Heart at Risk

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Smoking During Early Pregnancy May Put Baby's Heart at Risk
CDC director calls quitting the most important thing a mom can do to protect her child
March 2, 2011
US News & World Report

Babies born to women who smoke in the first trimester of pregnancy are more likely to have a congenital heart defect than are the offspring of mothers who don't smoke, a new study shows.

The increased risk ranged from 20 percent to 70 percent, varying by the type of defect. De...

CDC Links Prescription Painkillers in Pregnancy to Birth Defects

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0100

CDC Links Prescription Painkillers in Pregnancy to Birth Defects
Modest rise in risk noted, but danger to any one woman remains small, researchers say
March 2, 2011
US News & World Report

Moms-to-be who take prescription opioid painkillers such as codeine, hydrocodone or oxycodone (Oxycontin) may increase the risk of birth defects in their newborns, according to a new U.S. government report.

Taking these types of analgesics just prior to pregnancy or in the early s...

Local women find alternative to hospitals with help of midwives

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Local women find alternative to hospitals with help of midwives
By Teresa A. Franco
March 1, 2011
Wicked Local Randolph

Shirley Robert had a history of high-risk pregnancies.

She lost her first child the 21st week of her pregnancy due to an incompetent cervix. Her son, Aiden, 5, was premature and needed medical attention immediately after his birth. She also has gestational diabetes during pregnancy. But when the 27-year-old Randolph resident passed the 36-week mark in...

A Push for More Pregnancies to Last 39 Weeks

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:00:00 +0100

A Push for More Pregnancies to Last 39 Weeks
By Laura Landro
March 1, 2011
The Wall Street Journal

For an unborn baby to develop fully, obstetrics groups firmly recommend 39 weeks in the womb—and not a day less, if labor will be induced without a medical reason.

Doctors and mothers, though, have been less rigid, often pre-scheduling induced deliveries a week or even two weeks ahead of the 39-week mark. The assumption is there's no harm if modern medicine acco...

Study Raises Questions About Childbirth Drug

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Study Raises Questions About Childbirth Drug
Duke Study Links Pitocin To Postpartum Hemorrhage
February 24, 2011
WRTV

A study published this month in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology is raising questions about a drug commonly used in childbirth.

Pitocin is a synthetic form of oxytocin, which a mother's body produces to start labor and cause contractions.

A study from Duke University found a strong link between high amounts of the drug during la...

Vaginal delivery connected to lower morbidity in twins

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Vaginal delivery connected to lower morbidity in twins
February 16, 2011
Health24

Twins tend to do better if born vaginally, rather than by caesarean section, researchers report in the online paper BJOG. But regardless of delivery mode, the first-born twin is less likely to suffer complications than the second.

As Dr A. Cristina Rossi said, "My review shows that the first twin is less likely to experience adverse outcomes compared with the second co-twin. Vaginal de...

Doulas offer support with pregnancy, birth

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Doulas offer support with pregnancy, birth
By Amy Fuhrman
February 15, 2011
Statesville Record & Landmark

When Jan Estes went into labor at 2 a.m., she knew just who to call.
The first-time mom and her husband Jamie called her doula, Erin Moore, who helped her decide when it was time to go to the hospital.
Thirty minutes after the couple arrived at Iredell Memorial Hospital, Moore was at their side -- where she would remain until the birth of their son, Nicholas.
...

What Women Should Know About Breastfeeding at Work

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 05:00:00 +0100

What Women Should Know About Breastfeeding at Work
Basics of the Break Time For Nursing law, plus tips for broaching the topic with your boss
By Alexis Grant
February 15, 2011
US News & World Report

When Amanda Glenn returned to work after having her first baby, she knew she wanted to continue to breastfeed. But she was nervous about having the pump-at-work conversation with her male boss.

"I was honestly pretty apprehensive," says Glenn, who works in m...

Wales delivers on home birth rates

Sat, 05 Feb 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Wales delivers on home birth rates
By Abbie Wightwick
February 5, 2011
WalesOnline

When Lindsey Gage decided to have her baby at home, husband Andrew was anxious.

He worried about the risk, the mess and how long it would take to get to hospital in an emergency.

In the event, mortgage broker Andrew, 34, held Lindsey while she gave birth at their home in St Mellons, Cardiff, cut the umbilical cord and took care of baby Finlay for the first two nights.

This type o...

Hypnosis Makes Childbirth Comfortable, Proponents Say

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Hypnosis Makes Childbirth Comfortable, Proponents Say
February 3, 2011
KIVI Today's 6 News

When most people think of childbirth, the words "calm" and "centered" don't necessarily come to mind.

But a Saint Alphonsus class for expecting couples teaches that childbirth can be just that.

It happens, the instructor says, through hypnotism. ...

...

Breastfeeding and the working mother

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Breastfeeding and the working mother
By Katie Ryan-Anderson
February 1, 2011
The Jamestown Sun

When maternity leave ends and the return to work begins, new moms muster up the courage to ask:

“So... where can I pump?”

“Pump,” short for “expressing milk,” is the customary new-mother dance, waltzing her to a private room every three to four hours to sit alone as an inanimate object gets, well, up close and personal. ...

...

Too Many Babies Are Delivered Too Early: Hospitals Should Just Say No

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Too Many Babies Are Delivered Too Early: Hospitals Should Just Say No
By Bonnie Rochman
January 31, 2011
Time

Pregnancy lasts 40 weeks for a reason. At 35 weeks, a baby's brain tips the scales at just two-thirds of what it will weigh by weeks 39 to 40. Going full-term gives a baby's lungs time to mature and improves a baby's ability to suck and swallow. But too many doctors — and moms — are disregarding advice from the American College of Obste...

Value of bed rest for pregnant women questioned

Sat, 29 Jan 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Value of bed rest for pregnant women questioned
Data don't back up prescriptions of bed rest
By Julie Deardorff
January 29, 2011
Los Angeles Times

Margaret Simon spent the last four months of her pregnancy lying in bed on a doctor's orders, hoping to prevent a miscarriage and a preterm birth. As a result, Simon lost her job, struggled to care for her two older children and grew so unfit that she got winded taking showers.

"Everything that made me who I a...

Midwives, doctors work side by side in High River

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 19:30:00 +0100

Midwives, doctors work side by side in High River
By Sarah McGinnis
January 28, 2011
Calgary Herald

First-time mother Alisha Bassett never liked hospitals and feared her anxiety would make delivering her daughter even more challenging.

But when little Drea made her appearance at the High River Hospital on Oct. 9, her mother was calm.

After 15 hours of labour, Bassett gave birth in the rural hospital with the help of a local midwife.

"It was fantastic. It w...

High Rates of Early Elective Delivery at Some U.S. Hospitals: Report

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 05:00:00 +0100

High Rates of Early Elective Delivery at Some U.S. Hospitals: Report
Induction without good medical reason puts babies at risk, watchdog group warns
By Amanda Gardner
January 26, 2011
US News & World Report

Five to 40 percent or more of births in the United States are induced early without any good medical reason, according to a new hospital-by-hospital report.

And there is tremendous variation in the rates documented by hospitals voluntarily reporting these &quo...

More than just the baby blues

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:09:43 +0100

More than just the baby blues
Postpartum depression can be treated once properly recognized
By Chris Zdeb
January 23, 2011
Edmonton Journal

Julie Isaac waited months to be diagnosed with postpartum depression because she thought new moms who had it wanted to hurt themselves or their babies.

She was just an anxious “terrible mother” because she couldn’t get her newborn son to nap.

“My husband would say, ‘Yeah, he’s hard to nap, ...

A doula might do ya good

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 15:49:09 +0100

A doula might do ya good
Ancient tradition improving birthing experiences for area women
By Alicia Notarianni
January 22, 2011
herald-mail.com

Giving birth to babies.

It is undeniably painful. A raw and gritty exploit.

It is a rite of passage for pregnant first-time moms to endure birthing tales of humiliation, blood and agony from women who have gone before them.

Birthing mothers have been portrayed in film as women gone berserk — screaming, out-of-...

WCA Hospital Adds Midwife To Maternity Staff

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:46:21 +0100

WCA Hospital Adds Midwife To Maternity Staff
January 21, 2011
The Post-Journal

In response to a growing interest in delivery options among expectant mothers, Debra Arndt, certified nurse midwife, recently joined the Maternity Care Center staff at WCA Hospital, giving women a midwife approach to care through each stage of a mother's pregnancy.

...

Surgeon General calls for more breastfeeding

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:33:45 +0100

Surgeon General calls for more breastfeeding
January 20, 2011
Reuters

America's chief doctor called on Americans to support breast-feeding on Thursday and outlined guidelines for mothers and communities to support that most natural nutrition system.

Studies have shown numerous benefits for babies, mothers and overall healthcare when newborns are breast-fed for the recommended minimum of six months.

Surgeon General Regina Benjamin issued a report on Thursday advoc...

Study: Don't cut back on food during pregnancy

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:03:06 +0100

Study: Don't cut back on food during pregnancy
January 19, 2011
WTOL

Early pregnancy is prime time for brain development, and if a mother-to-be is on a diet or can't afford good nutritious food, it could have a real negative impact on the fetus.

A new study shows that restricting nutrients in early pregnancy can lead to brain deficiencies in the fetus. This is a development problem that could have lifelong implications.

...

C-sections more common, less healthy for baby

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:58:56 +0100

C-sections more common, less healthy for baby
By Wendy Leonard
Jan. 18, 2011
Deseret News

Cesarean sections have become the most common surgery in U.S. hospitals, increasing more than 50 percent since the 1990s, many of them "unnecessary," according to Intermountain Healthcare physicians.

The births translate into higher maternal care costs and potential trauma for the baby — all of which can be largely avoided if future parents and their health care pr...

Women who elect induced labor face more complications

Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:42:44 +0100

Women who elect induced labor face more complications
January 18, 2011
ABC4.com

It’s the most common surgery in America and costs billions every year. C-sections are at an all time high nationally. One in three babies is born caesarean section. Dr. Ware Branch, Medical Director of Intermountain’s Women and Newborns Clinical Program explains why. "The pressure has built over the years. I think, on the part of busy clinicians and busy patients with families to...

Edward to ban elective deliveries before 39 weeks

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 22:00:00 +0100

Edward to ban elective deliveries before 39 weeks
By Kathy Millen and Denise Crosby
January 15, 2011
The Beacon-News

When it comes to deciding the right time to deliver a baby, local hospitals are beginning to realize Mother Nature really does know best.

Edward Hospital in Naperville is one of six Illinois medical centers chosen to be part of a March of Dimes pilot program calling for a halt to elective deliveries before 39 weeks of pregnancy.

Likewise, other hospitals, includi...

Midwives to get Medicare pay equity, thanks to new law

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:00:00 +0100

Midwives to get Medicare pay equity, thanks to new law
By Steve Twedt
January 11, 2011
The Seattle Times

One little-noticed health care change going into effect this month appears in Section 3114 of the Patient Safety and Affordable Care Act.

In short, it says certified nurse midwives will now receive the same Medicare reimbursement as physicians when they provide the same services, from prenatal care to routine deliveries. They had been getting only 65 percent of the physician's...

Doulas aim to help women have positive birthing experience

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 22:00:00 +0100

Doulas aim to help women have positive birthing experience
By Kathleen Thurber
January 9, 2011
MyWestTexas.com

When Jennifer Watson went to the hospital in September to have her baby, she had an ideal picture of how she wanted things to go.

The first-time mom was determined to complete the process as naturally as possible and had asked not to be induced, not to receive an epidural and to avoid having a cesarean section at all costs.

When her blood pressure spiked and doctors weren'...

Ariz. health officials encouraging moms to nurse

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 22:00:00 +0100

Ariz. health officials encouraging moms to nurse
January 9, 2011
CNBC

More than three out of four new Arizona moms start breastfeeding after they give birth.

About three months later, 20 percent are still nursing. But by the time infants reach 12 months of age, just 15 percent continue to breastfeed.

Arizona health officials hope to change that.

The state launched the "AZ Baby Steps to Breastfeeding Success" effort last year, but the first training of hospitals begins ...

Baby Love Birth Center offers alternative

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:00:00 +0100

Baby Love Birth Center offers alternative
About 80 babies are born each year at Baby Love
By Lindsay Downey
January 7, 2011
The News-Press

At six months pregnant, Janet DeMarco is preparing to give birth to her second son.

But she won't check into the hospital, hook up to an IV or receive an epidural when she goes into labor.

Instead, DeMarco will head to a dimly lit suite and a warm bathtub at Cape Coral's Baby Love Birth Center.

DeMarco, 41, of Fort Myers, is among a small but...

Withdrawals from mothers milk bank help newborns

Tue, 28 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Withdrawals from mothers’ milk bank help newborns
By Sunny Dhillon
December 29, 2010
The Globe and Mail

When Katie Loftus gave birth to son Milo nearly two months earlier than expected, her doctor said it would be several days before she was physically capable of breastfeeding her premature newborn.

Milo, who was delivered by emergency cesarean section at BC Children’s Hospital in October, spent the first hours of his life being fed through a tube. Because Ms. Loftu...

Doulas offer birthing option to local moms

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Doulas offer birthing option to local moms
Two Webster City residents working on becoming certified doulas
By Carrie Olson
December 28, 2010
The Daily Freeman-Journal

Mothers have had more birthing options available to them in the past few years. And in small-town Iowa, another one is now available for parents who are in the process of deciding what kind of birthing experience they want.

Kelly Sprague and Brandi Martin, both of Webster City, are working on becoming certified dou...

Staying active while pregnant improves health and mood

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Staying active while pregnant improves health and mood
By Alison McCook
December 28, 2010
The Vancouver Sun

Being physically active while pregnant may help women gain a little less weight, according to a new review of recent research.

Pooling the results of 12 studies, researchers in Munich, Germany, found that women who exercised while pregnant gained an average of 1.3 fewer pounds than women who didn't.

That alone is probably not much of an incentive for women who are cons...

Early births pose new health risks for newborns

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Early births pose new health risks for newborns
By Nathanael Johnson
December 27, 2010
San Francisco Chronicle

The number of women giving birth early - often for no medical reason - has increased dramatically during the past two decades, altering the way we bear children and posing new health risks, experts say.

The average time a fetus spends in the womb has decreased by seven days in the United States since 1992, according to researchers and data from the Centers for Disease Co...

Some moms-to-be opt for group checkups

Sun, 26 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Some moms-to-be opt for group checkups
CenteringPregnancy program helps build knowledge, friendships
By Dorene Weinstein
December 27, 2010
Argus Leader

Monica Visscher had been pregnant two times before. She knew a thing or two about having a baby and was familiar with the prenatal care drill.

Her third pregnancy was a little different.

Her midwife suggested a novel approach to prenatal care: group appointments called CenteringPregnancy. At these, moms with similar due dates ar...

Birthing babies better: Area's first nurse-midwife delivers something different

Sat, 25 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Birthing babies better: Area's first nurse-midwife delivers something different
By John Sherwood
December 26, 2010
The Times Herald

JoJean Hamilton of St. Clair has been a registered nurse for 24 years, but she just recently established herself as the only state-licensed nurse-midwife in St. Clair County.

Since her certification in August, she has brought three babies into the world, naturally and safely.

Two of the children arrived during the frigid snowstorm that swept through ...

As early elective births increase so do health risks for mother, child

Sat, 25 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

As early elective births increase so do health risks for mother, child
By Nathanael Johnson
December 26, 2010
Contra Costa Times

A dramatic increase in the number of U.S. women and physicians choosing an early childbirth comes with new health risks for mothers and newborns, experts say.

The average time a fetus spends in the womb has fallen seven days in the United States since 1992, according to researchers and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Re...

Childbirth deaths from spinal anesthesia rising

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Childbirth deaths from spinal anesthesia rising
By Amy Norton
December 24, 2010
Reuters

he number of U.S. women who die from anesthesia complications during childbirth has fallen sharply in recent decades. But deaths specifically related to so-called regional anesthesia, which includes epidurals and spinal blocks, have crept upward since the mid-1990s, a new study finds.

Researchers stress that such deaths remain rare. But they also say the results point to an area where anesth...

C-Sections on the Rise, Especially for Black Moms

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

C-Sections on the Rise, Especially for Black Moms
By Bonnie Rochman
December 20, 2010
Time

Get that scalpel ready: Nearly one of every three births in 2008 — 32% — was a C-section, according to an annual report that tallies trends in births and deaths. Black mothers were most likely to deliver their babies that way.

Since 1996, the cesarean rate has soared a whopping 56%, according to the Annual Summary of Vital Statistics: 2008, a report from the National Center for...

Text4Baby May Help Bridge Prenatal Care Gap

Thu, 16 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Text4Baby May Help Bridge Prenatal Care Gap
Prenatal care has gone high-tech and local health professionals are hoping it will reach groups that otherwise might not have access to the important information.
By Janelle Lilley
December 17, 2010
WHSV.com

Prenatal care has gone high-tech and local health professionals are hoping it will reach groups that otherwise might not have access to the important information.

It's a nationwide service called Text4Baby.

"I'm supp...

Millard Suburban ranks high in NY ranking

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Millard Suburban ranks high in NY ranking
By Tracey Drury
December 13, 2010
Buffalo Business First

Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital was cited among the state’s top 10 hospitals for in-hospital breastfeeding rates.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Richard Daines recognized the hospital among New York’s top performing hospitals with the highest percentage of newborn infants exclusively breastfed during their hospital stay.

The listing was included a...

Expecting a Baby, But Not the Pain

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Expecting a Baby, But Not the Pain
By Anne Marie Chaker
December 9, 2010
The Wall Street Journal

When she gave birth to her daughter last July, Cassie Friesen, of Broomfield, Colo., imagined she was inside a bubble and repeated the word "peace" with each contraction.

The 25-year-old former nanny learned these relaxation and visualization techniques in a hypnotherapy course she took in hopes of minimizing the pain of childbirth. "It's so corny-sounding," she sa...

Hospitals discourage elective early deliveries of babies

Sun, 05 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Hospitals discourage elective early deliveries of babies
By Richard Martin
December 6, 2010
St. Petersburg Times

In the final weeks of pregnancy, doctors say, a lot of women are eager to give birth. Maybe their husbands are in the military, about to be deployed. Maybe they're feeling huge, hot and exhausted.

Sympathetic doctors sometimes oblige, inducing labor or scheduling a C-section a little early if they think the pregnancy is advanced enough. Besides, many doctors would rat...

Central Texas group offers natural births for expectant mothers

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Central Texas group offers natural births for expectant mothers
By Colleen Flaherty
December 4, 2010
Killeen Daily Herald

At once a throwback to times past and a possible glimpse of the future of childbirth, the Central Texas Birth Circle brings together expectant mothers who want to discuss options outside of traditional "medical" births.

"We've lost something that was taken away from us in taking birth out of homes," said circle founder Olivia Sporinsky, 34....

O.C. doctors push to lower C-section rates

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

O.C. doctors push to lower C-section rates
By Courtney Perkes
December 2, 2010
The Orange County Register

Marci Armsby never second-guessed the emergency Cesarean section that gave her a healthy baby boy. Still, she wept tears of fear and disappointment during the surgery, which was necessary because of fetal distress.

During her second pregnancy, she balked when her doctor told her to schedule another C-section.

Armsby, 32, decided to bypass her community hospital in Corona an...

Too Many Women Give Birth Lying Down

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Too Many Women Give Birth Lying Down
December 2, 2010
MyFoxTwinCities.com

Too many UK women are giving birth lying down rather than in more active positions, while one in five new mothers is left alone and worried after delivery, according to research out Friday.

The largest survey of maternity services, involving more than 25,000 women in England, shows that most are happy with the care they receive. But the research, compiled by the Care Quality Commission, the health regulato...

Fear, conflicting advice can affect women's birth plans

Sat, 27 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Fear, conflicting advice can affect women's birth plans
Many woman can safely deliver babies vaginally after a previous C-section birth.
By Donya Currie
November 28, 2010
Fredericksburg.com

Kerry Gonzalez planned to give birth at home, far from the harsh lights and beeping machines of a hospital operating room.

But several hours into labor with an overdue baby, Gonzalez's midwife discovered the baby was in a breech position--bottom first instead of headfirst. An ambulance whisked ...

Pediatricians Should Start Screening for Postpartum Depression

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Pediatricians Should Start Screening for Postpartum Depression
By Bonnie Rochman
November 26, 2010
Time

We've all heard about the importance of mother-baby bonding. When that doesn't happen because a mother is battling postpartum depression, it's not only mom who suffers; baby does too. Research has shown that babies who are neglected or cared for by depressed mothers may experience developmental delays.

That's why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is now recommending that...

Still Too Many Preterm Births in U.S.: Report

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Still Too Many Preterm Births in U.S.: Report
March of Dimes hands out a 'D' in its annual state-by-state report card
By Jenifer Goodwin and Alan Mozes
November 17, 2010
US News & World Report

Forty states and the District of Columbia made progress in reducing their rate of premature births, but the improvements were too small to raise the overall U.S. score from a near-failing 'D' grade, a new report shows.

Each year, the March of Dimes ranks each state according to its ra...

Minn. tells the stork: Take your time

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Minn. tells the stork: Take your time
Minnesota hopes to discourage the practice of inducing labor before 39 weeks by adding extensive paperwork for every state-funded delivery.
By Jeremy Olson
November 15, 2010
Star Tribune

Minnesota might become the first state in the nation to create a policy against a common practice in obstetrics: inducing childbirth early just for the convenience of doctors or mothers.

Mindful of research showing health problems with babies delivered ear...

Doulas support area moms through all stages of pregnancy

Tue, 09 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Doulas support area moms through all stages of pregnancy
By Elizabeth Davies
November 10, 2010
Rockford Register Star

When Elizabeth Tarara became pregnant with her first child, the Rockford woman knew she wanted to keep her birth as natural as possible.

No pain medication, if she could help it. Encouragement from women who had been there before. A time for nature to do its work, as it has done for millions of mothers through the centuries.

“I wanted an alternative to p...

Delivery rooms opening doors to midwives

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Delivery rooms opening doors to midwives
November 9, 2010
The Island Packet

Once barred from maternity wards, midwives are birthing more babies in hospitals today than ever before. Brought on board by busy obstetricians looking for help with routine deliveries, these specially trained registered nurses are fast becoming a regular part of the OB/GYN practice.

At Beaufort Memorial Hospital, there are now three midwives delivering babies in the birthing center. Beaufort-Jasper-Hamp...

Nurse-midwives provide a different birth experience

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Nurse-midwives provide a different birth experience
Nurse-midwives give more personal care than doctors, advocates say.
By Sarah Okeson
November 8, 2010
Springfield News-Leader

Crystal Keith saw an obstetrician when she was pregnant with her first child, but she said the doctor didn't seem interested in her questions. Then, a different doctor delivered the baby.

Keith, 25, who manages a hair style salon, is pregnant again, and this time she wants a different experience. She's s...

More Moms choosing hypnobirthing for delivery

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100

More Moms choosing hypnobirthing for delivery
November 8, 2010
WKYC.com

Fear of pain is a common worry shared by many first-time moms, and even a few childbirth veterans too. That's one reason more couples are turning to a practice called Hypnobirthing.

Fear of pain is a common worry shared by many first-time Moms, and even a few childbirth veterans too. That's one reason more couples are turning to a practice called Hypnobirthing.

Women who have practiced and used it say they've...

Study: Breast-Feeding Moms Get Just as Much (or Little) Rest as Formula-Feeders

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Study: Breast-Feeding Moms Get Just as Much (or Little) Rest as Formula-Feeders
By Bonnie Rochman
November 8, 2010
Time

Having a baby is the equivalent of deciding that an uninterrupted night's sleep is overrated. But mothers hoping to get a little more shut-eye by formula-feeding should put that notion to bed. It's just not true, according to a new study in the December issue of Pediatrics published online Monday. ...

...

Auburn Birthing Center designed with comforts of home

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Auburn Birthing Center designed with comforts of home
Midwifery model provides care that responds to individual's needs
By Jane Janovyak
November 6, 2010
The News-Sentinel

Baby on the way?

Then you've got decisions to make. From choosing a name to planning for child care, you have a million and one issues to settle. Not least among them is the question of birth support.

Who will help you have your baby? And who will help you have the birth you want?

Families in the F...

Help for every new mother

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Help for every new mother
By Cathleen F. Crowley
November 6, 2010
Times Union

Doula is an ancient Greek word that means "mother's slave." Today, doulas help pregnant women with emotional support and education, and they stand at a mother's side during the birth of the baby -- for a modest cost.

Typically, doulas serve women in the suburbs, where a woman can afford to spend $1,000 for the extra attention during an exciting but nerve-racking time in her life.

Last week, ...

Home water births a `wonderful' time

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Home water births a `wonderful' time
By Judith Lacy
November 3, 2010
Manawatu Standard

The eldest of four girls, Leith Pugmire saw her youngest two sisters born at home.

She also witnessed sister number two giving birth to her two children.

So it was natural she chose home births for Juna, 3, and Bren, eight months, having seen four "marvellous" experiences.

Ms Pugmire is a member of Manawatu Home Birth Association, which marked Home Birth Awareness Week with a morning...

Helping make the birth experience a positive one

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Helping make the birth experience a positive one
By Erin Dwyer
November 2, 2010
Telegraph-Journal

Krista Watson-Hare remembers watching her nephew being born nine years ago.

She was in the birthing room helping and supporting her sister through the delivery.

"I remember thinking if I could do this the rest of my life, how great would that be," she said in an interview. "It was the catalyst in my becoming a doula."

After undergoing doula training last y...

Traditional delivery safer

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Traditional delivery safer
November 2, 2010
The Times of India

Researchers at Tel Aviv University have said that in certain circumstances, traditional vaginal delivery for breech babies is not only safe for baby, but for mothers too.

For breech babies – those born with buttocks or feet first rather than head first – doctors usually use caesarean but Prof. Marek Glezerman and colleagues believe that babies born using old-school methods are a lot safer, and so are th...

Safe At Home

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Safe At Home
Local couple chooses home birth for delivery of their son
By Carie Canterbury
October 30, 2010
Canon City Daily Record

Carrie Klungseth was in the arms of her husband Zach and in the comfort of her own bedroom Sunday when she welcomed their son, Quentin Robert, into the world just before noon.

Twelve days past his due date, and after 33 hours of labor, the doting parents said Quentin was worth the wait and the homebirth they had prepared for went as planned. ...

...

Breastfeeding benefits even sickest baby

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Breastfeeding benefits even sickest baby
October 29, 2010
UPI.com

New mothers need to know breast milk is important for babies -- even critically sick newborns, U.S. nurses say.

Diane Spatz of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia says the project was driven by bedside nurses to educate mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding babies -- even babies in critical condition with urgent medical problems. ...

...

Moms find alternatives to hospitals that say no to natural births following C-sections

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Moms find alternatives to hospitals that say no to natural births following C-sections
By Ryan Sabalow
October 16, 2010
Redding Record

Nine months ago, Jennifer Saavedra was pregnant with her second child. After her first daughter was born by cesarean section 2½ years earlier, the Redding woman decided that she wanted to experience a natural birth at least once in her life.

But having her child at a local hospital is almost out of the question.

Redding’s only birthin...

Bathing eases labour

Sat, 09 Oct 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Bathing eases labour
By Jen Kelly
October 10, 2010
Herald Sun

A Bath or shower relieves pain in childbirth more effectively than gas or pethidine, a landmark survey of mums reveals.

Breathing techniques, massage, hot packs and hypnotherapy were also more effective than pethidine, a strong analgesic given by injection, and nitrous oxide, known as "laughing gas".

The revelations have revived concerns drugs are overused in childbirth, potentially harming babies. ...

...

A personal approach to pregnancy- more U.S. women seeking midwives

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 22:00:00 +0100

A personal approach to pregnancy- more U.S. women seeking midwives
By Kelly Asmuth
October 9, 2010
nbc11news.com

Midwives date back as far as Biblical times, and their role is still as important to thousands of mothers today.

It's been reported a growing number of pregnant women are choosing midwives instead of doctors to deliver their babies. National Midwifery Week, in early October, is recognized by the more than 11,000 midwives across the country. ...

...

You're getting very relaxed

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 22:00:00 +0100

You're getting very relaxed …
Alternative approaches to labor pains, such as self-hypnosis and Reiki, help some women deliver without medication
By Deirdre Lockwood
September 29, 2010
Chicago Tribune

When Angel McNall arrived at the hospital in labor with her second son in February, she was in excruciating pain. The baby was facing her front instead of her back, in a posterior position, which can make labor more painful because the baby's skull pushes against the mother's p...

Breastfeeding 'prevents baby infections,' research suggests

Sun, 26 Sep 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Breastfeeding 'prevents baby infections,' research suggests
Exclusive breastfeeding for six months wards off baby infections, further evidence suggests.
September 27, 2010
BBC

Regardless of other factors, such as good healthcare and vaccination programmes, breastfeeding still gives babies a boost, say Greek researchers.

They say it is the composition of breast milk that helps babies fight infections.

The findings, from a study of 1,000 vaccinated infants, are published in Archives...

Birthing Center gives expectant mothers a new option

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Birthing Center gives expectant mothers a new option
By Jonathan Cannon
September 26, 2010
Herald Democrat

When Rachel Bjerstedt and her husband Wayne left their Allen home after Rachel went into labor, they drove away from the large, metroplex hospitals, past Texas Health Presbyterian-WNJ and pulled into the parking lot next to a two-story house. Hours later at 3:29 a.m. on Sept. 13, she gave birth to a 7.4-pound girl, Eleanor.

Rachel never went through an emergency room door or...

Yoga can benefit expectant moms

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Yoga can benefit expectant moms
By P.J. Wren
September 25, 2010
The Delta Optimist

During pregnancy, you will want to stay in shape and do what's best for the baby-to-be. Prenatal yoga is a wonderful way to do both.

Tanya Armstrong, owner of Buggy Babies in Ladner, explains that you do not need any yoga experience to practice prenatal yoga. In fact, she believes everyone can benefit from a prenatal yoga practice. ...

...

Combating postpartum depression

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Combating postpartum depression
By Ashley Hall
September 24, 2010
KDRV

One out of four mothers report symptoms of depression either during or after pregnancy.

Though there's effective screening and treatment easily available for postpartum depression, many women go undiagnosed. Part of that is due to the stigma associated with the term 'postpartum depression', making it hard for even the most educated new mother to admit feelings of loneliness or sadness in a time that is...

Midwife: New East Lancs birth centres recall old maternity homes

Thu, 23 Sep 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Midwife: New East Lancs birth centres recall old ‘maternity homes’
September 24, 2010
Lancashire Telegraph

During a 40-year career as a midwife Margaret Wilson was responsible for countless East Lancashire people arriving safely in the world.

Now she has backed the area’s new birthing centres as a return to the successful practices of earlier times.

When Margaret, now 81, was a resident community midwife in Oswaldtwistle and Darwen in the 1950s and 60s, most women...

Use of Midwives Rises, Challenging the State to Respond

Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Use of Midwives Rises, Challenging the State to Respond
By Jessica Reaves
September 23, 2010
Chicago News Cooperative

After three “really traumatic” hospital births, Alyssa Ruben was determined to have her fourth child at home. She hired a midwife, and eight months later, Ms. Ruben delivered a healthy baby girl at her home in Geneva.

“It was amazing,” she said.

It also was illegal. Under state law, the only legal home births are those attended by a physic...

Study: Breastfeeding mothers need help

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Study: Breastfeeding mothers need help
September 17, 2010
UPI.com

An Australian researcher says mothers need real help breastfeeding, not to be made to feel guilty for not breastfeeding.

Joy Parkinson of the Queensland University of Technology in Australia says a more supportive approach might be helpful in promoting the practice. ...

...

Hospitals offer less-common birth method

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Hospitals offer less-common birth method
By Ellyn Couvillion
September 14, 2010
2TheAdvocate.com

Kaitlyn and Shawn Wilson welcomed their second son, Graham, into the world this past May.

Like big brother Truett before him, Graham was born into a pool of warm water, before he was cradled up in his mom’s arms, in a natural delivery water birth.

Graham was born in a birthing tub in one of the two suites designed for the option of water births, at the new Family Birthing...

U.S. Meets Initial Breast-feeding Goal, Falls Short on Others

Mon, 13 Sep 2010 22:00:00 +0100

U.S. Meets Initial Breast-feeding Goal, Falls Short on Others
Women need more support to make it to 6- and 12- month marks, report says
September 14, 2010
US News & World Report

Seventy-five percent of U.S. newborns delivered in 2007 started life breast-feeding -- a figure that meets federal goals -- but that rate plummeted to 43 percent at six months and 22 percent at one year, a federal government study released Monday shows. ...

...

Profit linked to hospital C-section rates

Sat, 11 Sep 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Profit linked to hospital C-section rates
By Nathanael Johnson
September 12, 2010
fresnobee.com

For-profit hospitals across the state are performing Ceasarean sections at higher rates than nonprofit hospitals, a California Watch analysis has found.

A database compiled from state birth records revealed that, all factors considered, women are at least 17% more likely to have a Ceasarean at a for-profit hospital than at one that operates as a nonprofit. A surgical birth can bring ...

Hypnobirthing: relax and have a baby

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Hypnobirthing: relax and have a baby
September 10, 2010
ABC4.com

Pain free childbirth without medication. Is it really possible? A growing number of moms swear by a practice called hypnobirthing. It’s the use of self-hypnosis to give birth in a relaxed state and pain free.

When Jennifer McIntyre gave birth to her fourth son it was under different circumstances than the first three. This time, she passed on the epidural and opted for self hypnosis. “This was an optio...

This was a better experience: pregnant women turn to doulas for help

Sun, 05 Sep 2010 22:00:00 +0100

‘This was a better experience’: pregnant women turn to doulas for help
By Mariam Ibrahim
September 6, 2010
Edmonton Journal

The lights were dimmed, candles glowed, and soft, soothing music drifted in the background. As Monique Waters settled into her room at an Edmonton hospital last week, ready to deliver her third child, she felt more comfortable and informed than she had for the births of her first two children.

After spending the majority of her four-hou...

High C-section rate may have something to do with impatience

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:00:00 +0100

High C-section rate may have something to do with impatience
By Shari Roan
August 30, 2010
Los Angeles Times

Cesarean deliveries have doubled since 1996 and now account for one-third of all births in the United States. A new study suggests that a big dose of patience on the part of women and their healthcare providers during delivery might help to lower the rate substantially. ...

...

More than one way to give birth

Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:00:00 +0100

More than one way to give birth
By Sarah McKenzie
August 30, 2010
The Journal

Hennepin County Medical Center is home to the state’s first Nurse-Midwife Service.

Since 1971, midwives at the hospital have been helping women have natural birth experiences.

Rita O’Reilly, director of the hospital’s Nurse Midwife Service, said HCMC practices the “true midwifery philosophy.”

“We believe in the normal birth process; keeping birth as natural as ...

Writing a script for childbirth

Sat, 28 Aug 2010 22:00:00 +0100

Writing a script for childbirth
A growing number of parents are mapping out birth plans
By Misti Crane
August 29, 2010
The Columbus Dispatch

From the use of painkillers to the presence of in-laws, many women know what they want out of their childbirth experience and are speaking up.

Written birth plans have become commonplace as moms and their husbands or partners research their options and decide what is best for them.

Most of the time - and as long as a woman remains flexible, sh...

News

Vaginal birth after Caesarean possible

Oklahoma initiative targets optional early births

Induced labor, C-sections may not benefit newborns

Prenatal Yoga Keeps Expectant Mothers Fit, Balanced

C-sections linked to increase in pregnancy-related deaths

A disturbing trend: More mothers dying in pregnancy, childbirth

Placenta Accreta: Multiple C-Sections Can Kill Mother

Exercising during pregnancy may benefit your baby's heart

Home delivery

Filmmaker makes documentary series about home births in Maine

Study: Progesterone gel lowers risk of preterm birth in women with short cervix

Midwives ban to be lifted at Camarillo hospital; question is when

Idaho Approves Midwife Medicaid Bill

New guidelines give C-section moms a choice of vaginal delivery

NC proposal allows midwives to perform home births

'Kangaroo care' enhances mother-baby bond

HypnoBirthing method helps moms-to-be

Breast still best, says new study

Western Pennsylvania doctors join outcry against inducing labor early

Naturally, best for baby

Midwives, birthing coaches gaining in popularity

Iron in early pregnancy linked to birthweight

Smoking During Early Pregnancy May Put Baby's Heart at Risk

CDC Links Prescription Painkillers in Pregnancy to Birth Defects

Local women find alternative to hospitals with help of midwives

A Push for More Pregnancies to Last 39 Weeks

Study Raises Questions About Childbirth Drug

Vaginal delivery connected to lower morbidity in twins

Doulas offer support with pregnancy, birth

What Women Should Know About Breastfeeding at Work

Wales delivers on home birth rates

Hypnosis Makes Childbirth Comfortable, Proponents Say

Breastfeeding and the working mother

Too Many Babies Are Delivered Too Early: Hospitals Should Just Say No

Value of bed rest for pregnant women questioned

Midwives, doctors work side by side in High River

High Rates of Early Elective Delivery at Some U.S. Hospitals: Report

More than just the baby blues

A doula might do ya good

WCA Hospital Adds Midwife To Maternity Staff

Surgeon General calls for more breastfeeding

Study: Don't cut back on food during pregnancy

C-sections more common, less healthy for baby

Women who elect induced labor face more complications

Edward to ban elective deliveries before 39 weeks

Midwives to get Medicare pay equity, thanks to new law

Doulas aim to help women have positive birthing experience

Ariz. health officials encouraging moms to nurse

Baby Love Birth Center offers alternative

Withdrawals from mothers milk bank help newborns

Doulas offer birthing option to local moms

Staying active while pregnant improves health and mood

Early births pose new health risks for newborns

Some moms-to-be opt for group checkups

Birthing babies better: Area's first nurse-midwife delivers something different

As early elective births increase so do health risks for mother, child

Childbirth deaths from spinal anesthesia rising

C-Sections on the Rise, Especially for Black Moms

Text4Baby May Help Bridge Prenatal Care Gap

Millard Suburban ranks high in NY ranking

Expecting a Baby, But Not the Pain

Hospitals discourage elective early deliveries of babies

Central Texas group offers natural births for expectant mothers

O.C. doctors push to lower C-section rates

Too Many Women Give Birth Lying Down

Fear, conflicting advice can affect women's birth plans

Pediatricians Should Start Screening for Postpartum Depression

Still Too Many Preterm Births in U.S.: Report

Minn. tells the stork: Take your time

Doulas support area moms through all stages of pregnancy

Delivery rooms opening doors to midwives

Nurse-midwives provide a different birth experience

More Moms choosing hypnobirthing for delivery

Study: Breast-Feeding Moms Get Just as Much (or Little) Rest as Formula-Feeders

Auburn Birthing Center designed with comforts of home

Help for every new mother

Home water births a `wonderful' time

Helping make the birth experience a positive one

Traditional delivery safer

Withdrawals from mothers milk bank help newborns

Midwife: New East Lancs birth centres recall old maternity homes

This was a better experience: pregnant women turn to doulas for help