Problems and Hazards of Induction of Labor

Check out this great article on the problems and hazards of induction of labor.

Great Quote

"By medicalizing birth, that is separating the woman from her own environment and surrounding her with strange people using strange machines to do strange things to her, the woman's state of mind and body are so altered that her way of carrying through this intimate act must also be altered."
~Marsden Wagner~

Community Service Project

Bring your kids for a free child identification kit including: fingerprints, height and weight, photo and DNA samples tomorrow, Saturday, November 21, 10 am - 2 pm in front of the Bloomington Walmart.

I will be bringing my bunch!

Birth Defects Associated with Use of Antibiotics During Pregnancy

Sulfonamides and nitrofurantoins were associated with birth defects.

Antibacterial drugs are among the most commonly used medications during pregnancy. Investigators analyzed data from a national birth defects study to compare antibiotic use in 13,155 mothers of infants with at least one major birth defect and 4941 randomly selected mothers of infants without birth defects from the same geographic region and born during the same period (1997–2003). Antibiotic use was determined by telephone interview 6 weeks to 2 years after the pregnancy. Exposure to antibiotics was defined as reported use during the month before the estimated date of conception through the end of the first trimester; 14% of cases and 13% of controls used antibiotics during this interval.

Sulfonamides were associated with six major birth defects, including anencephaly (odds ratio, 3.4) and hypoplastic left heart syndrome (OR, 3.2). Nitrofurantoins were associated with four birth defects (including hypoplastic left heart syndrome; OR, 4.2), and erythromycins were associated with two defects. Penicillins, cephalosporins, and quinolones each were associated with one defect.

Comment: The authors note the limitations of this retrospective study, including the major limitation that causality cannot be determined. However, the results are reassuring. Penicillins, erythromycins, and cephalosporins appear to be safe. Sulfonamides and nitrofurantoins appear to be associated with several birth defects and should be avoided if possible. Quinolones, used infrequently by women in this study, are not recommended for use during pregnancy.

— Howard Bauchner, MD

Published in Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine November 18, 2009

Citation(s):

Crider KS et al. Antibacterial medication use during pregnancy and risk of birth defects: National Birth Defects Prevention Study. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2009 Nov; 163:978.

• Original article (Subscription may be required)
• Medline abstract (Free)

Common antibiotics tied to birth defects

Study: Drugs to treat urinary infections could cause heart, brain problems

Another Beautiful Montage

Almost a month ago (wow, where has time gone?), my apprentice and good friend, Dy gave birth to her fourth baby. I was honored to be present at this amazing event. She has graciously allowed me to share it here. Enjoy - and maybe get some tissues ready!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

New Website

After more than 2 years of trying to get my website up and running, it is finally done (well, for know). I have struggled with it and then I would let it go because of the frustration, but I am proud to say I figured it out. Without further ado...

Alternative Birth Services

Check it out - I would love input. Suggestions on things that need to be changed, etc...

Beautiful Birth Montage

I had the honor of attending the birth of a client and good friend last week. Labor was harder and longer than anticipated, but mom was so committed and her husband was a rock for her. It was a beautiful event. She has granted me permission to share her birth montage here. Enjoy!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Should pregnant women get H1N1 vaccine?

By LANDON HALL

Dr. Bob Sears has tried to avoid controversy during the swine flu outbreak. But his recommendation that pregnant women not get the H1N1 vaccine departs from the rest of the medical community.

The federal government and most physicians have spoken in unison on the issue, and they advise pregnant women to receive the injected form of the vaccine because of the virulence of the H1N1 strain and the vulnerability of a pregnant woman's immune system. Two Orange County pregnant women are among 28 who have died nationally since the pandemic began in April. But Sears says the vaccine has never been sufficiently tested for safety on this demographic.

"As a doctor, we swear an oath to 'First, do no harm.' So I have a hard time recommending a treatment that doesn't show it causes no harm," he said. "It's not just the H1N1 vaccine that's not been tested. The regular flu vaccine has not been tested in pregnant women, either, to show that it's safe in babies. That kind of boggles my mind, because the regular flu vaccine has been around for years, and there have been plenty of opportunities for the companies to do some safety testing on them so pregnant women can feel more comfortable about them."

Dr. Felice L. Gersh, an OB/GYN at Women's Medical Group of Irvine who has been practicing for 28 years, echoes the assessment of governmental health agencies, who say the vaccine is safe and are mounting a campaign to urge pregnant women to get the H1N1 and seasonal-flu vaccines. Gersh said Sears and other doctors skeptical of the H1N1 vaccine are "going against the weight of scientific evidence."

"Sometimes in medicine, as in life, you have to go with your best guess using available data," she said. "Everything can't be signed, sealed and guaranteed. This is a judgment call. And all the data is in favor of getting the vaccine."

Christina Chambers, an epidemiologist and associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UC San Diego, said Sears' views "don't hold water." She added that history has shown that pregnant women are at greater risk of hospitalization and death during flu pandemics.

"One day you could be feeling fatigued and achy, the next day you could be in a coma," she said.

Because he's part of a nationally trusted brand, Sears' opinions carry great influence. His pediatrician father, Bill, and registered-nurse mother, Ruth, wrote a series of books ("The Birth Book," "The Baby Book") that have become indispensible references for expectant and new parents. Sears, his parents and his brother Jim operate out of their seaside practice in Capistrano Beach.

"Dr. Bob," as patients and staffers call him, published his first solo book, "The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child," in 2007. His inclusion of an "alternate vaccination schedule" brought him criticism from some fellow doctors who see his views as anti-vaccine, an accusation he hotly denies. But in recent postings about H1N1 on the family Web site, AskDrSears.com, his neutrality might have brought more questions than reassurance.

On July 30, he was undecided about the upcoming mass-vaccination effort. But he told readers that "what you can fret about is whether or not the government will make the vaccine mandatory." The first commenter wrote: "Way to fan the hysteria fire there Dr. Bob."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that the H1N1 vaccine is made the same way as the seasonal-flu vaccine, which "millions of Americans have received" over the years. Sears says that's a "completely unscientific statement." He points out, correctly, that no widespread clinical trial of either vaccine has been conducted on pregnant women. The 19-page product insert issued by Sanofi Pasteur, the largest of the five companies that supply the U.S. with H1N1 vaccines, acknowledges that it's "not known whether these vaccines can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity." It adds that the vaccine "should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed."

Chambers, who runs a support center out of UCSD to answer questions about H1N1 (in California, 1-800-532-3749), is gathering information for a future vaccine study. She said symptoms of H1N1 include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, runny nose, cough and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. She urges women to get vaccinated, and if they feel symptoms to seek medical attention. Antiviral medications like Tamiflu can be prescribed within 48 hours of the symptoms arising.

"We don't know of any risk from the vaccine, but we do know the risks from getting the virus," Chambers said.

Contact the writer: lhall@ocregister.com

Lengthy pacifier use can lead to speech problems

Another great reason to breastfeed!
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Questions on whether a baby should be given a pacifier or allowed to thumb-suck have existed for generations. The concerns center on whether sucking habits will impact tooth alignment and speech development. The latest evidence, published today, suggests that long-term pacifier use, thumb-sucking and even early bottle use increases the risk of speech disorders in children.

The study looked at the association between sucking behaviors and speech disorders in 128 children, ages three to five, in Chile. Delaying bottle use until at least 9 months old reduced the risk of developing a speech disorder, researchers found. But children who sucked their thumb, fingers or used a pacifier for more than three years were three times as likely to develop speech impediments. Breastfeeding did not have a detrimental effect on speech development.

The authors of the study noted that other research suggests that use of a pacifier or thumb-sucking for less than three years also increases the risk of a speech problem. The sucking motion may change the normal shape of the dental arch and bite. Breastfeeding, however, seems to promote positive oral development.

"The development of coordinated breathing, chewing, swallowing and speech articulation has been shown to be associated with breastfeeding. It is believed that breastfeeding promotes mobility, strength and posture of the speech organs," the authors wrote.

The study is published in the open access journal BMC Pediatrics.

- Shari Roan