Archive for 2009
-
Uh Oh… No Time For an Injury
Sunday, November 8th, 2009I hurt my arm. My shoulder, actually. I mean really hurt it. I slipped down the stairs, on a normal morning (last Friday) and bam, an entire series of repercussions have appeared. I instinctively put my arm down to brace my fall and landed on it, straight down on my hand with my elbow locked. The culprit was a rather large duck — a dog toy that was on the staircase.
-
Indelible Bonds
Monday, November 2nd, 2009I’d like to share with you what it feels like to be so much a part of a family’s birth experience that an almost immediate and indelible bond forms. One that becomes forever etched in each of us. Birth is always magical for me but as with many things, some experiences are more powerful than others. Here is my story from last Tuesday.
-
Celebrity Scientists? I Don’t Think So
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009I get fired up about things. Those closest to me definitely know this. Those I often meet for the first time, quickly learn this. I teach Alexander that his passions and his beliefs matter. And that having his own thoughts and opinions, regardless of who agrees with them, are much better than having none at all. So what am I getting to?
-
Taking A Minute
Saturday, October 24th, 2009Most of the time I find that my mind is working. Thinking. Wondering. Sometimes I share whatever is in there with others and sometimes I just keep it to myself.
-
Interesting Birth Facts
Sunday, October 18th, 2009In the last week, we have had rainfall that we aren’t ready for quite yet. My little town got 5 inches less than a week ago and yesterday roads and portions of the 101 were shut down from flooding. Our mom/baby center was bustling and, as I said out loud yesterday afternoon, “of course it is, it is raining.”
-
Lots of Book News
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009Earlier this week, I had such a great experience. A woman came into the hospital, in labor, actually carrying a copy of the book. My book. I said hello to her and she looked at me with a funny expression and as I looked back at her, it clicked. We had a really nice moment where I was able to express my gratitude for her finding the book to be something she wanted to have so close with her. It felt really, really good.
-
When Things Don’t Go As Planned: Preeclampsia
Monday, October 5th, 2009As I continue the discussion on home-birth I’d like to share with you my experience with Alexander’s birth. It is an excellent example of how unexpectedly things can change.
I was really healthy during my pregnancy. A week before my December 24th due date, my water bag broke in the Christmas card aisle of our local drugstore (that’s another story) and within a few hours I was in booming labor. However, when I arrived at the hospital, my blood pressure was extremely high, 180/120. My normal blood pressure is about 90/60. I had noticed my feet were pretty puffy but did not realize that I had gained 9 pounds (in fluid) since the previous day. Shockingly and randomly, I had preeclampsia and was developing something called HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme levels, and a low platelet count) syndrome, the most severe complication of preeclampsia.
-
H1N1/Swine Flu Has Hit Home
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009So here is the thing about writing. Or blogging. Inspiration. At least for me it has to be. I suppose if you are a sportswriter or someone who reports information it may not be so necessary. I find it challenging to write unless I have feelings about the topic. Then the words flow freely. Isn’t that what makes writers interesting to people? What it is that they write or how they interpret something going on in people’s lives?
-
H1N1(Swine) Flu and Vaccine
Thursday, September 24th, 2009It is September and that being said means that we are starting the flu season. With school only a couple of weeks along, Alexander and I are already coughing and sniffling. This flu season however, is not the same as previous ones. Swine flu (actually called “novel influenza A H1N1”) has become a household word. This is a different type of flu virus because, although it originated from pigs, it is being transmitted human to human far and wide from its original source. This is a virus that we have no natural immunity to and is especially concerning for pregnant women and young children.
-
More on Homebirth
Monday, September 21st, 2009Several days ago I posted a blog about homebirth and as frequently happens with any challenging comment on it, I was slammed by some for “being part of the medical establishment and defending it”. Interestingly enough, I wonder if those same people actually even read my post or followed the links that further outlined the points I was making.
I am going to focus on the discussion of homebirth and “natural” childbirth for the next several days. For clarity, I certainly do support well-structured homebirths and I have attended numerous homebirths. There is also significant research that shows that the safety of labor and birth in a normal, uncomplicated pregnancy and birth is the same whether the baby is born at home or in a hospital. Neither being BETTER. Yes, giving birth in a hospital involves the use of such things as electronic fetal monitoring, however, the maternal/fetal outcomes (as well as the level of maternal satisfaction) have been shown to be the same. I didn’t make this up. It is solid research, not empirical data.
