Messages

1786

A Place for Dads / Men: What advice do you have for other men with wives/girlfriends on bed rest?

« on: March 31, 2009 at 10:57 AM »

What is the most important thing a man can do for his partner if she is on pregnancy bed rest?
How are you handling the housework?
What help do you have? Family? Nanny?

1787

Preterm Labor: Anything and Everything / Paging Taryn: info on steroid shots (corticosteroid injections)

« on: March 28, 2009 at 01:26 AM »

Hi, Taryn.
I always feel strange saying welcome to the board, when it is often such difficult circumstances that bring people here. But you are welcomed, and I hope you'll reach out to us as much as you'd like. I wanted to direct you to some info on the steroid shots. Here's an overview: http://www.keepemcookin.com/prevention.aspx (about three-fourths the way down the page).

And here's an article, from 2/2/09, on the most current study about doing a second round of steroids if/when labor appears to be imminent:
http://www.keepemcookin.com/news.aspx

Hope those help! This is such a stressful time, so I hope our group can provide you with reassurance whenever we can!

1788

News: Follow KeepEmCookin on Twitter. Get updates on new posts, new articles, and more. / Tweet! Follow KeepEmCookin on Twitter

« on: March 28, 2009 at 12:15 AM »

Here's the link to follow KeepEmCookin on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/KeepEmCookin

On Twitter, we post links to news, new forum posts, pregnancy resources, books, "time-waster" websites and more. 

1789

Preterm Labor: Anything and Everything / Paging Rheam1984

« on: March 27, 2009 at 11:18 PM »

How are you doing? I know the losses you've faced have been so hard. Do you feel you are coping OK? Do you have good support? Have you seen your OB recently, and have you thought about when you might try again?

1790

What's Your Story? Tell us. / Re: 22 weeks, cervix only 1.6cm, very scared, will bedrest save baby?

« on: March 27, 2009 at 05:20 PM »

Flowerpot,
How did your scan go? Any change?

1791

What's Your Story? Tell us. / Re: DD Shortening Cervix 26 Weeks - Need input please

« on: March 26, 2009 at 10:39 PM »

Laura,
Thanks for taking the time to be her advocate. I think you are right to be concerned. Here's a short answer to your question:
"The length of the cervix is expected to shorten as a pregnancy progresses, but a length of 3.0 cm to 3.5 cm isn't expected until 32 to 36 weeks." You can find more info from two major studies on cervical length and preterm labor here: http://www.keepemcookin.com/prevention.aspx

Statistically, your DD may be just fine, but I'd like to recommend two things, based on my personal experiences with an early-shortening/softening cervix. First, please print out this list of preterm labor symptoms (http://www.keepemcookin.com/symptoms.aspx) for her to keep at home on the fridge and also somewhere at work.  Please have her call her doctor if she has any of the symptoms, OR she can go straight to L&D to have her cervix checked.

I'm also concerned about her symptoms being overlooked, because the symptoms of preterm labor can be so similar to the normal discomforts of pregnancy. You can also print out this guide for how to describe her symptoms to her doctor: http://www.keepemcookin.com/talk.aspx  You mentioned that she's been having pains. Can you describe them?

I do hope her doc will do another u/s on the 9th, even if just to give her peace of mind. Please let us know how the appointment goes. And don't hesitate to get in touch!
Keep 'em cookin'!

1792

Preterm Labor: Anything and Everything / CDC Reports Slight Decline in Perterm Birth Rate

« on: March 23, 2009 at 12:53 PM »

CDC Reports Slight Decline in Perterm Birth Rate

The annual percentage of preterm births in the United States dropped to 12.66 percent in 2007, compared to 12.8 percent in 2006, according to preliminary data released by the CDC last week.

"It is a small victory, but still significant," says Angela Davids, founder of
KeepEmCookin.com, an organization that educates women about the risk of preterm birth and
the warning signs of preterm labor. "If the percentage of preterm births in 2006 had been the
same as it was in 2007, there would have been 6,528 fewer babies born prematurely in 2006," Davids
says.

Read more at http://www.keepemcookin.com/news.aspx

1793

News: Follow KeepEmCookin on Twitter. Get updates on new posts, new articles, and more. / New Octumom Confessions on Video

« on: March 23, 2009 at 11:40 AM »

From CNN:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2009/03/21/sbt.octumom.confessions.cnn

1794

What's Your Story? Tell us. / Re: Survivor of 11 weeks hospital Bedrest

« on: March 22, 2009 at 12:00 AM »

Thanks for sharing your story! You've given other women a lot to learn from -- especially knowing to listen to their bodies and to be aware of preterm labor symptoms (http://www.keepemcookin.com/symptoms.aspx). You went through SO much, it is just unreal. I hope you'll check back and offer support to some of our hospital bed-resters. We've just started an outreach campaign to about 10 MD/VA/DC hospitals, so we will likely see more of the hospital "prisoners" on the forum (in addition to those on "house arrest").

My little guy turned 8 months old this week. I did 3+ months of bed rest before he was born, and then almost 2 months of very limited activity afterward due to pre-e and kidney failure. I wish someone had warned me how HARD the recovery/rehabilitation would be! Every day I figured it had to get better soon, but I probably should have done physical therapy. I'm sorry you still aren't feeling 100 percent, but you've got a great attitude and that will really help. Some days I just felt so beat down, but I found if I pushed myself a bit more a few times each day, my strength seemed to grow.

Thank you for being an advocate for yourself, your daughter, and other moms everywhere!!!

1795

News: Follow KeepEmCookin on Twitter. Get updates on new posts, new articles, and more. / The Case Against Breast Feeding

« on: March 20, 2009 at 10:20 PM »

From The Atlantic: A look at the history of formula-feeding, feminism, shared parental responsibility, and more...

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200904/case-against-breastfeeding

What have your experiences been? Any challenges because you DID or DIDN'T decide to breast-feed? Any changes in your decision to breast-feed with your second or third children?

1796

News: Follow KeepEmCookin on Twitter. Get updates on new posts, new articles, and more. / Medical Costs for Preemies. True for you?

« on: March 18, 2009 at 11:24 PM »

 (CNN) -- The average cost of medical care for a premature or low birth-weight baby for its first year of life is about $49,000, according to a new report from the March of Dimes Foundation.
Babies born after the 37th week of pregnancy are less costly to the health care system than premature babies.

By contrast, a newborn without complications costs $4,551 for care in its first year of life, the report said. Newborns with other kinds of complications, such as congenital defects, have medical expenses of $10,273 on average in the first year.


http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/17/premature.babies/index.html

1797

Preterm Labor: Anything and Everything / Article: Being born too early can do lasting damage.

« on: March 17, 2009 at 11:44 PM »

What do you all think about this article? Too negative? Or realistic?

(Reuters Health) – Being born too early can do lasting damage. A team reports that many 12-year-olds who were born prematurely with a very low birth weight have lower IQs and more developmental problems than similarly aged children who were born at term.

Dr. Betty R. Vohr of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and colleagues compared outcomes of 375 children with birth weights between 600 and 1250 grams born between 1989 and 1992 with 111 age-matched full-term "control" children.

MORE: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090316/hl_nm/us_preterm_birth_can_have_persistent_effect_1

1798

News: Follow KeepEmCookin on Twitter. Get updates on new posts, new articles, and more. / Can babies be potty trained?

« on: March 15, 2009 at 12:32 PM »

Okay, I thought I had heard it all. Is it really possible to potty train a baby, or are we potty training the parents? Does it matter WHO gets trained? Interesting stuff...What do you ladies think?

Elimination Communication
Can Infants Really Be Potty Trained?

http://www.babiestoday.com/articles/guiding-babys-development/elimination-communication-6095

See also http://www.diaperfreebaby.org
DiaperFreeBaby is a network of free support groups promoting a natural approach to responding to babies' elimination needs. This practice is followed worldwide and is known as Elimination Communication, Natural Infant Hygiene, and Infant Potty Training. The process involves observing one's baby's signs and signals, providing cue sounds and elimination-place associations, and can be done with or without any diaper use.

1799

News: Follow KeepEmCookin on Twitter. Get updates on new posts, new articles, and more. / We're Looking for Your Feedback, Ladies!

« on: March 02, 2009 at 11:40 PM »

What does everyone think of KeepEmCookin's "Idea of the Day"?
(The "Idea of the Day" is something fun to do online, updated each day.)

Do you enjoy the ideas that get posted there? Do you check it regularly? Do you have any suggestions for what else you'd like to see?

Would you want a book club here on the Forum? Or a "What's Everyone Reading?" category?

Let me know... Thanks!

Click here for the Idea of the Day: http://www.keepemcookin.com/bedrest.aspx

1800

Preterm Labor: Anything and Everything / Poll: What is your doctor's goal? 34 weeks? 36 weeks?

« on: March 01, 2009 at 01:45 AM »

I've talked to quite a few women lately who have said that their doctors won't stop labor once they have reached 34 weeks. One of the doctors at my OB/GYN's office said the same thing  (because their "NICU outcomes were so favorable," he said), but my usual doctor said to continue with bed rest and nifeipine until 37 weeks. Developmentally speaking, there is a world of difference between 34 weeks and 36 weeks, and even a big jump between 36 and 37.

Had anyone's doctor said that they won't stop labor after 34 weeks? And why would this be the standard protocol?

We have a right to medical intervention when it is in the best interest of our babies, and if it is not a risk to ourselves (as with preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, etc.). Shouldn't our goal be 40 weeks? With my first pregnancy I didn't know what the treatment options were. With my second pregnancy, I did, and I was able to ask the right questions and keep my little guy cookin'. I want that for EVERY pregnant women. If you haven't had a chance already, please take a look at the most current treatment options here: www.keepemcookin.com/prevention.aspx

I look forward to hearing what you ladies think...