Uterine Rupture.   

• Unscarred Uterus: 0.0033% (primigravidas) to 0.0051% (multigravidas)
• VBAC: .5% - .7% 
• VBA2C: 1.7%  (vaginal birth after 2 cesareans) 
• VBAMC: 1.2%  (vaginal birth after multiple cesareans) 
• Previous VBAC: .4% - .5%  (if you had a previous successful VBAC) 
• VBAC + Augmented labor:  .9%  (stats for first attempt) 
• VBAC + Induced labor: 1%  (stats for first attempt) 

“The incidence of postdates ranges from 3 - 12% of all pregnancies. If the pregnancy is dated using ultrasound criteria, the incidence of post-dates is lower and ranges from 3 - 6%. Only 1 - 4% of all pregnancies continue to 43 weeks.”

Frank breech (50 – 70% of all breeches): In a frank breech, the baby's buttocks lead the way into the pelvis; the hips are flexed, the knee extended (pike position).

Complete breech (5 – 10% of all breech): In a complete breech, both knees and hips are flexed, and the baby's buttocks or feet may enter the birth canal first (cannonball position).

Footling breech (10 – 30% of all breech): one or both feet lead the way.

Stat SOURCE for frank, complete, and footling breech birth

Transverse lie. A few babies lie horizontally in the uterus, called a transverse lie, which usually means the baby's shoulder will lead the way into the birth canal rather than the head.  1/500 –  .0020 – 0.20%

Stat SOURCE

“The frequency of abruptio placentae in the United States is approximately 1%, and a severe abruption leading to fetal death occurs in 0.12% of pregnancies (1:830).”

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/275854-overview

Understanding Labor and Delivery Complications – The Basics from WebMD
http://www.webmd.com/baby/understanding-labor-delivery-complications-basics

It has been a long winter break...finally getting back into reading and collecting the latest news around the web for you!  Some really interesting finds this week about new fertility options, the role of Vitamin D in pregnancy, and always, breastfeeding.  SO excited to learn that another state in the USA is making another push to protect breastfeeding MotherBabies with a breastfeeding protection code. In addition, Missouri is also adding to their breastfeeding laws to protect breastfeeding mothers from contempt of court if they can't serve jury duty.

FERTILITY
Vancouver's Olive Fertility Centre Introduces New Embryo Screening Shown to Increase IVF Success

"This technology allows us to improve the chances of a healthy pregnancy for our patients as well as being an invaluable research tool that enables us to collect new data on human embryo development," says Dr Jason Hitkari, a reproductive endocrinologist, UBC clinical professor, and medical director at Olive Fertility Centre. A major challenge with IVF is identifying the best embryo to transfer back to the mother’s womb.

Women who are deficient in vitamin D in the first 26 weeks of their pregnancy may be at risk of developing severe pre-eclampsia, a potentially life-threatening disorder diagnosed by an increase in blood pressure and protein in the urine, according to research by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

“For decades, vitamin D was known as a nutrient that was important only for bone health,” said lead author Lisa Bodnar, PhD, MPH, RD, associate professor in Pitt Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology. “Over the past 10 to 15 years, scientists have learned that vitamin D has diverse functions in the body beyond maintaining the skeleton, including actions that may be important for maintaining a healthy pregnancy.”

The existing standard of prenatal monitoring involves bulky belts and wires that have to be hooked up to machines to detect and read out data. This means the technology is available only in hospital settings and requires expertise to use.

With the epidermal electronic patch, anyone with access to a smartphone, which Coleman noted outnumbers those with access to water in many developing countries, could monitor fetal heart rate and uterine contractions, among other metrics.

The Embrace infant warmer is small and light and looks like a miniature sleeping bag and is easily transported to rural villages. It uses a phase change material, a proprietary wax-like substance with the ability to maintain a constant temperature while still supplying heat to the baby. This allows the infant warmer to stay at a constant temperature (98.6 F/ 37 C) for up to six hours to maintain the babies’ body temperature. The infant warmer (miniature sleeping bag) absorbs heat from heater (phase change material) and slowly releases the heat over a period of time.  After four hours, the infant warmer can be re-warmed by submerging it in boiling water for a few minutes and the entire sleeping bag can be sanitized in boiling water.

Price difference? $300 USD compared to the $20,000 price tag of a traditional incubator.

“Given the risks associated with the initial cesarean and its implications in subsequent pregnancies, the most effective approach to reducing overall morbidities related to cesarean delivery is to avoid the first cesarean,” explained Saade. “The implications of a cesarean rate of 30 percent or more—since approximately one in three pregnancies are delivered by cesarean—have significant effects on the medical system as well as on the health of women and children. It is essential to embrace this concern and provide guidance on strategies to lower the primary cesarean rate.”

Although a history of depression among expectant mothers remains the greatest single risk factor for postpartum depression, a new study finds that fear of childbirth may also predispose some women to the condition.

In a paper published Friday in the journal BMJ Open, researchers concluded that fear of childbirth increases the risk of postpartum depression about threefold in women without a history of depression, and fivefold in women with known depressive disease.

Most of the drugs that we routinely use in neonatology do not have a specific license for neonatal use. This is true I think in every jurisdiction around the world, the USA, Canada, Australia, and Europe, but I don’t know enough about other parts of the world. In fact for most of the drugs that we use there is very little neonatal data that would allow licensing.

"This new methodology has recently been used to investigate cortical processing of touch and speech sounds in a large group of full-term and preterm neonates," said Dr. Nathalie Maitre, one of the two researchers behind the experiment, "It has also been used to characterize the effect of neuro-rehabilitation in the brains of young children with cerebral palsy." Dr. Maitre also said that its application could lead to wider adaptations in treating infants and adolescents with brain injuries, for example, or in addressing abnormal sensory experiences in the neonatal period during intensive care hospitalization.

The case stems from the Kansas City area where a young mom now sits in contempt of court for trying to be excused from jury duty because she wanted to stay home and breast feed her child.

Senate Bill 502 aims to excuse breastfeeding moms.  But there are catches - they must get a doctor’s note, and they have to be discreet.

"I wish it was better, I wish it didn't have the word discretion.  Why is that?  Because discretion is up to a person's discretion and it's not a good word for a law,” said Erin O’Reilly of La Leche League.

O’Reilly said judges in the city already give nursing mothers a break on jury duty but the rest of the state is a different story, even outside the courtroom.

The House of Delegates Health Committee has passed a bill (H.B. 4335) legally establishing a woman’s right to breastfeed in public.  West Virginia is one of the only states that does not provide for that protection in code.

The legislation  has been introduced a number of times in recent years, but has failed to clear both houses.  During Wednesday’s committee meeting, Del. Barbara Fleischauer (D-Monongalia) urged lawmakers to approve it.

"Nurse Purse was born out of necessity," said Adrienne Frohlich, founder of Nurse Purse.  "When I returned to work as a busy Speech Language Pathologist commuting around New York City, I was frustrated with the lack of options to transport my breast pump.   As any Mom knows, carrying around multiple bags for multiple purposes is impractical and difficult – especially when navigatingNew York City public transportation.  I searched and searched for a single bag that would hold my coolers, pump accessories, work materials and personal items - and also look great.  When I couldn't find any viable alternatives, I knew there was need I could fill." 

Cheng and colleagues conclude that while women planning home births are less likely to experience obstetric intervention, their babies are more likely to be born in poor condition. Do their data warrant that conclusion?

To begin with, the relevant question isn’t the tradeoffs between planned home birth per se and hospital birth. It is: “What are the excess risks for healthy women at low risk of urgent complications who plan home birth with qualified home birth attendants compared with similar women planning hospital birth?” This study can’t answer that question. Here’s why:

At medica - the world's largest medical trade fair, held in Dusseldorf - a new device has been unveiled that could help the smallest of babies make it through their first weeks.

Waiting only one minute to cut the umbilical cord for a pre-term baby greatly reduces complications, says Alberta Health Services.

“Now, in that minute before we clamp the cord, a baby takes his first breaths and pulls in some blood from the placenta. This extra blood stabilizes the baby’s blood pressure and it is thought that the stem cells help fight infection and repair damaged cells.”

European studies show that the delayed cord clamping also significantly reduces the risk of brain injury and hospital-acquired infection. And it cuts the need for blood pressure support in babies born between 22 and 36 weeks of gestational age.”

"Canadian PKU and Allied Disorders (CanPKU) is delighted with the B.C. government's decision to provide funding for special low-protein medical foods for patients affected by Phenylketonuria (PKU) and similar inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs). Medical foods play a critical role in preventing devastating neurocognitive, psychiatric and physical symptoms, and in some cases even death, caused by PKU and 24 other rare, inborn metabolic disorders. The foods are one of three medical components of CanPKU'sComprehensive Brain Protection Strategy for People with PKU submitted to the B.C. government in February 2013."

"Iodine is essential for the human body. This trace element is especially crucial for infants in order to ensure healthy development. Iodine deficiency can disrupt growth and damage the nervous system. In iodine-poor regions, such as Switzerland with its iodine-deficient soils, iodised salt is recommended for use in cooking and the food industry. So newborns generally receive enough of the trace element through breast milk and baby food containing added iodine. However, iodised salt or supplemented baby food are not available everywhere, particularly in remote areas of developing countries, and do not always reach vulnerable segments of the population."

"A new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reveals that infants who are breastfed may also have a better diet in preschool. This study combined four different groups from Britain, France, Portugal and Greece, totaling nearly 10,000 children. The goal was to try to understand how early breastfeeding practices affected fruit and vegetable intake in children 2- to 4-years-old."

"It is only in recent history that Western society has drifted away from carrying their babies to a caring method where the baby is left lying on his or her own with scheduled feedings. This trend disrupts the bonding an infant has with his or her mother, and sends the infant into stressful situation."

Disclaimer: 
The material included on this site is for informational purposes only.
It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation.  Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided.  This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®.

1. Convince you to try to at least try to eat eggs during pregnancy.  Two eggs a day sounds like a lot to some people, especially when you do not like the flavor, texture or smell.  By looking at some of the 20 nutritional components and the benefits they provide to you and baby, I hope you will be inspired to at least try working them into your diet.
2. For the mamas with egg allergies.  Although you won’t be able to simply eat two eggs like some of us can, I have listed alternative foods after each nutritional component so that your body is getting the benefit from a different source.

• Eggs are a good source of the highest quality protein, which helps to support fetal growth. 
• Eggs also have B vitamins that are important for normal development of nerve tissue and can help reduce the risk of serious birth defects that affect the baby's brain and spinal cord development. 
• The type of iron in eggs (a healthy mixture of heme and non-heme iron) is particularly well-absorbed, making eggs a good choice for pregnant and breastfeeding women who are at higher risk for anemia. 
• Eggs are an excellent source of choline, a little-known but essential nutrient that contributes to fetal brain development and helps prevent birth defects. The National Academy of Sciences recommends that pregnant women consume 450 milligrams of choline per day and that breastfeeding women consume 550 milligrams per day.  Eating two eggs a day gets you halfway there! 
• Eggs are a source of antioxidants.  Antioxidants reduce harmful free radicals in various parts of the body. Free radicals (bad guys!) play a role in a variety of diseases: macular degeneration, cancer and heart disease 
• The yolk includes healthy monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats and almost half of the high-quality protein found in eggs    

Thiamin (B1): aids in the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose, required for breakdown of fats and protein, maintain the muscle tone along the wall of the digestive tract and promote the health of the nervous system, skin, hair, eyes, mouth, and liver, improves the body to withstand stress 

Alternatives: Whole grain, fortified cereals, wheat germ, organ meats, eggs, rice, pasta, berries, nuts, beans, pork

Riboflavin (B2): bone, muscle & nerve development.  It is an essential vitamin that helps your body produce energy. B2 promotes growth, good vision, and healthy skin, and it's important for your baby's bone, muscle, and nerve development. Riboflavin is a water-soluble vitamin, which means your body doesn't store it – you'll need to get enough each day.  There's some evidence that women who don't get enough riboflavin may be at greater risk for preeclampsia.

Alternatives: dairy products, meats, poultry, fish, fortified cereals

Niacin (B3): brain development.  Niacin - too much in first tri-mester may lead to birth defects, cannot overdose by eating it - the danger is in supplements

Alternatives: meats, fish, milk, poultry, peanuts

Pantothenic Acid (B5): “...helps to form red blood cells, nuerotransmitters, fats, proteins, carbohydrates, antibodies, lipids and more,” benefits HERE  Alternatives: Eggs, liver, salmon, yeast

Pyridoxine (B6): helps carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism.  Aids antibody formation.  Helps maintain balance of sodium and phosphorus. 

Alternatives: chicken, liver, pork, whole grains, vegetables, nuts

Biotin (B7): metabolic function: processes nearly every type of food that you ingest, including carbohydrates, protein and fat

Alternatives: Liver, mushrooms, peanuts, egg yolk 

Cobalamin (B12): “plays a vital role in normal brain and nervous system functioning, as well as the formation of red blood cells.” More HERE 

Alternatives: Liver, milk, eggs, fish, cheese, meat

• Omelet: you can add any of the alternative vegetables listed above and boost your intake of essential vitamins and minerals.  Skip, or skimp on the cheese, especially if you are going to add in leafy greens – dairy inhibits iron absorption. 
• Hide: Eggs can be used to make French toast, or use them in your pancakes.  You can up your potassium by making a banana pancake recipe – yum! 
• Bake: Our students with a sweet tooth add an extra egg or two to the recipes they are making.  While it makes the end result a little denser, it doesn’t change the flavor – bake away!! 
• Quiches: they are surprisingly easy to make, and again, you can add in just about any ingredient to make a yummy meal that yields leftovers for another meal or two. 
• Salad: Easy to crumble boiled eggs on top of any salad, or even make an egg salad to eat with lettuce wraps or as a sandwich filling.    

The material included on this site is for informational purposes only.

What - chocolate doesn't have to be a guilty secret during your pregnancy!

Probably not IF you find a high quality,additive free dark chocolate!  (P.S. I have a source for you to try...pictured to the left is Lisa Reinhardt from Wei of Chocolate - heaven in your mouth)

• They can be empty calories - lots of empty calories not good long term for a healthy weight gain.
• Chocolate is a hidden source of caffeine - not good in high quantity during pregnancy (more than 200 mg/day*).
• Conventional chocolate processing takes out the good cacao butter (candymakers can sell it for profit) and replaces it with soy lecithin (concerns about GMO, estrogen content).

• More caffeine may be connected to a higher rate of miscarriage. There is not enough evidence to know for sure.
• Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it makes you urinate more often. This can cause you to lose important minerals, including calcium.
• Caffeine can interfere with sleep for both you and your fetus.