Archive for 2008
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Bristol Palin Gives Birth
Monday, December 29th, 2008There was a very small piece in People magazine this week announcing that Bristol Palin, the 18-year-old daughter of Sarah Palin had given birth to a boy. The Palin’s have expressed that the birth is a private family matter and rightly so. I wouldn’t even talk about it except that peripherally, I became a bit involved.
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Childbirth Preparation Classes
Sunday, November 16th, 2008Of all the classes, the most important for first-time parents is a class on preparing for labor and birth. Although it can be helpful to read books and watch a video or two on birth, books and videos don’t provide enough information to help you fully understand labor or learn effective coping skills. Taking a class will help you learn as much as you can about your new adventure (never forget that this is a wonderful adventure!).
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Prenatal Classes
Thursday, November 13th, 2008As school is about to begin for kids all across the country I thought we would spend this week talking about all the possible classes that can prepare you for the new adventure of bringing home a new baby (or two). During your sixth month is a good time to sign up for classes.
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Take A Tour!
Monday, November 10th, 2008If you are taking your prenatal class at the hospital where you will be giving birth, the class may include a tour. Some hospitals offer separate tours. In either case, a tour is an important part of your preparation for birth. It is comforting and helpful to see where you will be having your baby, and to ask questions of the staff.
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Choose the Childbirth Class That’s Right for You
Friday, November 7th, 2008I hear from families all the time asking how they can find a class that is right for them. Here are some questions you might ask before choosing a Childbirth Preparation class.
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Health, Sex and Politics
Thursday, October 30th, 2008Once again, teen pregnancy has consumed our national conversation. In discussing Bristol Palin, the pregnant and unmarried 17-year-old daughter of presumptive Republican Vice Presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin, we are afforded an opportunity to examine hot-button issues of sex and public health. The Palin story illustrates the discrepancy in how teen pregnancy prevention is handled in our schools, and how it works in reality. Our schools promote “safe sex”, though that was obviously not practiced in the case of Bristol Palin. The contradiction is that Bristol’s mother, who is now suddenly a high profile political figure who may soon have a strong influence on public health policy, actively campaigns against sex education and promotes only abstinence as birth control. That clearly did not work to prevent teen pregnancy in the case of her own family.
