Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/prenatal-care/art-20045660?pg=2

Sources:

~http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20159393

~http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20159393

• Cervical Dilation
•  Cervical Ripeness
• Cervical Effacement
•  Station of baby (position in relation to pelvis -5 to +5)
• Position of the baby (anterior vs. posterior)
• Position of the cervix
• May find cervical anomalies, like early dilation and effacement, so that appropriate changes can be made to the woman's care, including bedrest, hospitalization, tocolytics, etc.
• May stimulate the cervix so that a medical induction does not become "necessary"

Source: http://www.drmomma.org/2010/04/myth-of-vaginal-exam-in-pregnancy.html

• Increased risks of infection, even when done carefully and with sterile gloves
• Increased risk of rupturing the membranes
• May stimulate the cervix prematurely
• Information collected does not accurately predict when labor will begin and may excite or disappoint women unnecessarily 

Sources:

~http://www.pregnancy.org/article/are-vaginal-exams-pregnancy-necessary

~http://www.scienceandsensibility.org/?p=5673

Pelvic Exams Near Term: Benefit or Risk? Talking to Mothers About Informed Consent and Refusal

http://www.scienceandsensibility.org/?p=5673

Premature rupture of membranes at term. Retrospective study of 88 cases

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7569588

Chorioamnionitis in the delivery room

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21090085

Bacterial vaginosis and intraamniotic infection

http://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(97)70568-4/abstract

Premature rupture of the membranes and ascending infection

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1471-0528.1982.tb05028.x/abstract

Artificial rupture of the amniotic membranes during labour, sometimes called amniotomy or ’breaking of the waters’ was introduced in the mid-eighteenth century, first being described in 1756 by an English obstetrician, Thomas Denman (Calder 1999). Whilst he emphasized reliance on the natural process of labour, he acknowledged that rupture of the membranes might be necessary in order to induce or accelerate labour (Dunn 1992). Since then, the popularity of amniotomy as a procedure has varied over time (Busowski1995), more recently becoming common practice in many maternity units throughout the UK and Ireland (Downe 2001; Enkin 2000a ; O’Driscoll 1993) and in parts of the developing world (Camey 1996; Chanrachakul 2001; Rana 2003). The primary aim of amniotomy is to speed up contractions and, therefore, shorten the length of labour.

 

The first recorded use of amniotomy in the United States was in 1810; it was used to induce premature labor. Amniotomy and other mechanical methods remained the methods of labor induction most commonly employed until the 20th century. Amniotomy, or artificial rupture of the amniotic membranes, causes local synthesis and release of prostaglandins, leading to labor within 6 hours in nearly 90% of term patients. Turnbull and Anderson found that amniotomy without additional drug therapy successfully induced labor in approximately 75% of cases within 24 hours.

• http://www.glowm.com/section_view/heading/Induction%20of%20Labor/item/130#r5
• http://apps.who.int/rhl/reviews/CD006167.pdf

• Amniotomy was associated with a reduction in labour duration of between 60 and 120 minutes in various trials
• There was a statistically significant association of amniotomy with a decrease in the use of oxytocin: OR = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.67-0.92 in several randomized trials
• AROM does not involve any type of medication to mom or baby and is considered by some to be the most “natural” means of induction in a hospital setting.

• In several randomized trials there was a marked trend toward an increase in the risk of Cesarean delivery: OR = 1.26; 95% Confidence Interval (CI)=0.96-1. 66.
• Trial reviewers suggest that amniotomy should be reserved for women with abnormal labour progress.
• In 15 studies containing 5583 women there was no clear statistically significant difference between women in the amniotomy and control groups in length of the first stage of labour
• Evidence does not support routinely breaking the waters for women in normally progressing spontaneous labour or where labours have become prolonged.
• [Once membranes are broken} most obstetricians want the baby birthed as soon as 6 hours post-onset to reduce the risk of infection from the introduction of bacteria into the vagina due to repeated vaginal exams. Some obstetricians will wait as long as 24 hours but that is less common. In contrast, midwives, who do not routinely perform cervical checks unless specifically indicated or requested, thus limiting the chance of infection, will often allow up to 36-48 hours as long as no indications of an active infection are present.
• A large study of 3000 women’s opinions of the intervention was conducted by the National Childbirth Trust (1989). Two thirds of the women in this study reported an increase in rate, strength and pain of contractions following membrane rupture; they found these contractions more difficult to cope with, needed more analgesia and felt that the physiology of labour was disturbed.
• When there is concern that labour is slowing down, benign measures to intensify contractions such as positional changes and movement may prevent the need for more invasive interventions (Simkin 2010). The Cochrane review of maternal positions and mobility during first stage labour supports the positive impact mobility has in shortening labour (Lawrence et al. 2009).
• Smyth et al. 2007 studies showed that amniotomy is not an effective method of shortening spontaneous labour and increases the risk of caesarean section and more fetal heart abnormalities

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10796086
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23780653
• http://summaries.cochrane.org/CD006167/PREG_amniotomy-for-shortening-spontaneous-labour#sthash.mSDKXAcC.dpuf
• http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/ways-to-induce-labor.html
• https://www.rcm.org.uk/sites/default/files/Rupturing%20Membranes.pdf

• http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.0001-6349.2005.00700.x/abstract;jsessionid=1DAA1BECADB5A8556C9A3920E3726843.d02t01
• http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CDsQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchgate.net%2Fpublication%2F236275554_The_less_studied_effects_of_Amniotomy%2Ffile%2Fe0b4951b37ec067930.pdf&ei=avz7U96DLM6BygTO8oK4Aw&usg=AFQjCNFnuAFkfDAlqvd6mUyFysoAMs94cQ&bvm=bv.73612305,d.aWw
• http://www.scienceandsensibility.org/?p=556
• http://navelgazingmidwife.squarespace.com/navelgazing-midwife-blog/2010/1/1/baby-born-in-the-caul-amniotic-sac.html

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®.

• Courtney was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes via blood glucose test (usually administered between 24 – 28 weeks of pregnancy)
• High Blood Pressure was measured at office visits from 36 weeks on; whenever she checked her blood pressure at home, it was normal
• Midwife recommended induction at 38 weeks due to risks of having gestational diabetes (large baby, possible stillbirth) – Courtney negotiated for more office visits, more monitoring, and extra ultrasounds to “buy” two extra weeks of pregnancy

• Courtney and Jake agreed to induction on her due date with prostaglandin gels
• After about 12 hours at the hospital, the couple was told that labor had not progressed enough so they agreed to an amniotomy (artificial rupture of membranes)
• Baby was born vaginally with no other interventions at 11:56 pm

• Changing positions and moving around: we the used birth tub, knees on bed and arms draped over back of the bed, side lying position
• Being surrounded by people who support your choices is probably the most important thing: husband spoke up and asked people who were in the room to leave; midwife was amazing; everyone on staff who walked in the room acknowledged reading and supporting their birth plan
• Peppermint oil for nausea – helped control the pace of her breathing
• Unspoken communication with a loving coach – even though it felt silly at the time, the practice in classes and at home paid off because he knew what she wanted with the wave of a hand.

• Be prepared for everything
• Expect everything to not go the way you want it
• Try to predict what she needs so she does not have to say it

Courtney & Jake's Birth Journey Early labor after induction with prostaglandin gels. They are using the labor position we call "The Prom Dance".

Courtney & Jake's Birth Journey Using the deep tubs available for laboring at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center

Courtney & Jake's Birth Journey The awe that hits many couples after Sweet Pea arrives...we hope that you are supported in your birth choices so you can feel awed by your birth journey, too.

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®.

Stripping membranes, sometimes called "sweeping of the membranes" or "membrane sweeping", is a method used to try to start labor. The health care provider puts her or his finger into the cervix – the mouth of the uterus – and uses the finger to separate the bag of waters from the side of the uterus near the cervix. This releases local prostaglandins/hormones that can trigger contractions. It can be done in your doctor or midwife's office.

 

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) notes that for the purpose of it's guideline, membrane sweeping is regarded as an adjunct to induction of labor rather than an actual method of induction.

1. http://www.midwife.org/ACNM/files/ccLibraryFiles/Filename/000000000669/Stripping%20Membranes.pdf
2. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/703499
3. http://www.webmd.com/baby/guide/inducing-labor?page=2
4. http://www.guideline.gov/syntheses/synthesis.aspx?id=24079

Sweeping (or stripping) the membranes (sometimes referred to as a 'strip and stretch') is an old method of induction that was first documented in the year 1810.

The available evidence suggests that sweeping the membranes promotes the onset of labor. For women thought to require induction of labor, a reduction in the use of more formal methods of induction could be expected. For women near term (37 to 40 weeks of gestation) in an uncomplicated pregnancy there seems to be little justification for performing routine sweeping of membranes. Sweeping of the membranes is probably safe, provided that the intervention is avoided in pregnancies complicated by placenta praevia or when contraindications for labor and/or vaginal delivery are present. There is no evidence that sweeping the membranes increases the risk of maternal and neonatal infection, or of premature rupture of the membranes. However, women’s discomfort during the procedure and other side-effects must be balanced with the expected benefits before submitting women to sweeping of the membranes.

 

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), stripping membranes increases the likelihood of spontaneous labor within 48 hours and reduces the incidence of induction with other methods.

1. http://www.birth.com.au/induced-labour/sweeping-the-membranes-for-induction-about#.UydpR_0q6DE
2. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CC4QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.update-software.com%2Fpdf%2Fcd000451.pdf&ei=42knU-W_B8vwoASYlIDYAw&usg=AFQjCNG1TDfgdKgCsUPnWdnaq63XUBCU6w&bvm=bv.62922401,d.cGU

• It is a drug free…method of stimulating labor
• It may mean you avoid further intervention
• You can have it performed at home or in your health care providers office
• Spontaneous delivery is more likely
• Has been found to reduce the risk of post term gestation, or pregnancy continuing past 41 weeks.

1. http://www.birth.com.au/induced-labour/sweeping-the-membranes-for-induction-about#.UydpR_0q6DE
2. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CC4QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.update-software.com%2Fpdf%2Fcd000451.pdf&ei=42knU-W_B8vwoASYlIDYAw&usg=AFQjCNG1TDfgdKgCsUPnWdnaq63XUBCU6w&bvm=bv.62922401,d.cGU

• Higher spontaneous vaginal delivery rate (69% vs 56%, P=.041)
• Shorter induction-to-delivery interval (mean 14 vs 19 hours, P=.003)
• Fewer requirements for oxytocin (46% vs 59%, P=.037)
• Shorter duration of oxytocin infuson (mean 2.6 vs 4.3 hours, P=.001)
• Greater satisfaction with the birth process

• Possible discomfort during procedure
• Possible discomfort after procedure
• Possible abdominal cramping after procedure
• Possible spotting after procedure
• The cramping that may occur in the 24 hours after your membranes are stripped can make it hard to rest or sleep; this means that you might lose some sleep before actually going into labor. 


• Some people worry that membrane stripping may cause the bag of water to break or cause mothers or babies to become sick. Studies have found that membrane stripping does not make them more likely.
• Possible risk of spreading infection for mothers that are GBS positive

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11405964
• http://www.nhs.uk/video/Pages/what-is-a-sweep.aspx
• http://www.guideline.gov/syntheses/synthesis.aspx?id=24079
• http://www.rcm.org.uk/midwives/features/how-to-perform-a-stretch-and-sweep/

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®.

I didn't include it in the roundup listing, because I hope that by now, everyone has seen this:

“Oliver Lush-Camps is more than just a miracle to his parents, Katy and Jonathon; he’s a miracle to science. Born with the help of the Wessex Fertility Clinic, little Oliver is the first baby to be born using the ground-breaking time-lapse photo technology, Eeva (Early Embryo Viability Assessment).”

Researchers have  for the first time determined the genome sequence of human egg cells without destroying them.  The feat, reported today in Cell, could help couples who undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) by allowing them to choose a genetically healthy embryo to implant into the mother without disturbing the embryo's growth.

"We are trying to understand what is causing the increased risk of problems for pregnancies achieved by in vitro fertilization," said Pisarska. "It is the first study of its kind in humans and it is unique because we will be able to look at the earliest point in human pregnancy, when the fertilized egg implants, to determine if the adverse outcomes are the result of the genetic make-up of the parents that led to problems conceiving in the first place, or whether it is the result of the infertility treatments themselves."

Investigators found that an imbalance of angiogenic factors, proteins required for the development of the placenta and the health of blood vessels, is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes. Increased levels of an anti-angiogenic protein called sFlt1 in pregnant lupus patients placed them at increased risk of placental insufficiency and preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening complication. Scientists determined that higher levels of sFlt1 reduce the activity of other angiogenic proteins (placental growth factor, PIGF; vascular endothelial growth factor, VEGF) that are necessary for growth of the placenta and the mother’s blood vessels.

“Pregnant women with lupus or antiphospholipid syndrome are at increased risk for adverse outcomes, particularly preeclampsia, yet identification of those destined for complications has been elusive,” said Jane Salmon, MD, director of the Lupus and APS Center of Excellence at Hospital for Special Surgery and lead author of the study. “We prospectively studied patients to see if we could find a biomarker early in pregnancy that would predict a poor outcome.”

Almost two-thirds of women who attempt a natural delivery after having a cesarean section for their first birth are successful, according to a study recently published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

The study, conducted by the Office for Research and Clinical Audit (ORCA) at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, aimed to investigate the factors that determine the uptake and success rate of vaginal birth after cesarean.

The data from 143,970 women, who had their first baby by cesarean section between 2004 and 2011, showed that just over half (52%) attempted a vaginal birth after cesarean section (VBAC) for their second baby.

Labor-induced births for no medical reason increased at a relative rate of 77.7% at rural US hospitals from 2002 through 2010 compared with a relative rate increase of 17.3% for urban hospitals, according to an

article published in the January 2014 issue of Medical Care.

With as many births that take place in the United States every year, the trends have major health, policy and financial implications as current health reform measures go into effect, and rural–urban differences should be considered when implementing payment policies, the researchers write.

Historically, a full-term pregnancy is calculated as 40 weeks after the last menstrual period. A term pregnancy occurs at 37 weeks or beyond, and an early-term pregnancy is considered to be 37 weeks to 38 weeks and six days. According to the researchers, approximately 10 to 15 percent of all deliveries in the United States are performed before 39 completed weeks of gestation without a true medical indication for early delivery.

"Morbidity and mortality rates have increased in mothers and their babies that are born in the early-term period compared to babies born at 39 weeks or later," says Jani Jensen, M.D., obstetrician and lead author of the study. "There is a need to improve awareness about the risks associated with this."

The increased risks for newborns include morbidity, such as respiratory (breathing) difficulties, feeding difficulties and problems such as cerebral palsy although the overall risk is low. These morbidities can also lead to higher rates of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

An elective early-term delivery requires a pregnant woman to be induced, which involves medication or procedures to help start labor. This can lead to a prolonged labor requiring deliveries with instruments such as forceps or a vacuum and may cause infection or hemorrhaging. There is also an increased risk of needing to have a cesarean delivery, and long term there could be more surgical complications for the mother. "It's not an entirely benign procedure that we are talking about," says Dr. Jensen.

There is nothing more relaxing than a hot bath - especially for a mama who has given birth. An easily prepared combination of herbs can add to the natural healing qualities of warm water; a Sitz bath following birth can help ease bruising, tears and abrasions that often accompany many vaginal (and Cesarean Section) births. The ingredients needed for this simple Sitz bath can be found in local health or bulk food shops, equally, one can acquire these herbs from any accredited online herbal shop.

Why won’t your baby let you put him on a 4-hour breastfeeding schedule that other moms talk about?

Why does it seem that your baby wants to nurse all the time?

Because the 4-hour schedule isn’t normal. 

Research has shown that frequent nursing may be more biologically normal than the three-or four-hour schedule new parents are expecting!

Think about it. How often would you eat if you were trying to double your weight in less than six months? 

Plus it is simply not as healthy.

They even tell us adults that 6 smaller meals are better than 3 regular meals for our bodies. Why should babies need less?

Children with Autism often struggle with emotional bonding, which is facilitated by the oxytocin system. However, it has been found that breastfed children have higher oxytocin levels, boosting their chances of evading Autism. Medical researchers have further confirmed that breastfeeding significantly strengthens the nervous system of both the child and its mother.

For five months, the family bonded in the NICU after scrubbing clean from the outside world, around tubes and machines, and between visits from nurses and doctors. Jane fought with necrotizing enterocolitis – a gastrointestinal disease that can result in death for premature babies. As babies her same age were leaving the unit for their homes, Jane was kept under watch as she grew strong enough to breathe on her own. Even as a tiny being in an isolette, the baby was filled with love.

A bigger selection of topics today...check out the news if you are "trying" to get pregnant, and more motivation to keep your pregnancy healthy, low-risk and as stress-free as possible.  Also, new study from ACOG that shows that there may be risks with the use of Pitocin.

“Previous research has shown that what mothers eat during pregnancy affects the health of their offspring. But now, a new study suggests that a father's diet prior to conception could also play an important role in their child's health, particularly when it comes to consumption of folate.”

"The early childhood diet and that of the mother during pregnancy determines the health of a child later life. This is the claim that the EU-funded research project Early Nutrition is trying to substantiate by the time it is due to be completed in 2017." 

“As a newborn passes through the birth canal, the microbiome of a mother’s vagina ends up in the offspring’s gut. In the first study, the team, led by Tracy L. Bale, PhD, Professor of Neuroscience in the Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and the School of Veterinary Medicine Department of Animal Biology at Penn, found that changes in the microbiome produced by stress in pregnant mice altered the microbe population in the newborn’s gut and correlated to changes in the developing brain.”

…

“In a parallel animal study, Bale and colleagues were looking for predictive biomarkers of maternal stress and found that a specific protein in the placenta, OGT, may have implications for brain development in offspring. The single enzyme is known as O-linked-N-acetylglucosamine transferase or “OGT,” which is important in a wide variety of regulatory functions, including development.

The researchers found that placentas associated with male mouse pups had lower levels of OGT than the placentas associated with female pups, and levels of OGT in the placenta were even lower when their moms were stressed.”

"A Swedish study of children admitted to hospital within the first year of life for lung infection has found that the increased risk this poses for later development of asthma is exacerbated by low gestational age.

Early respiratory infection and preterm birth are both known to be markers of increased subsequent asthma risk, but the relationship between these two factors has been unclear."

"These results suggest that Pitocin use is associated with adverse effects on neonatal outcomes. It underscores the importance of using valid medical indications when Pitocin is used.”

"Maternity care may play a role in determining a mother’s overall level of satisfaction during birth and months after labor. A mother’s decision on the mode of baby delivery and whether they opt for pain relief during labor will affect her overall happiness. A recent study finds a vaginal birth without epidural anesthesia increases the odds of happiness for new moms."

"For the third straight year the United States has fallen in rank in the World Health Organization’s international ranking for maternal mortality. The U.S. currently ranks 58, meaning in 57 nations women have a better chance of surviving childbirth than they do here. The U.S. fares a little better in infant mortality, ranking 34 in the world at keeping infants alive through the birth process. If this sounds outrageous, consider also that the U.S. spends more money on maternity health care than any other developed nation. Licensed midwife Sondra Londino, who recently opened Birthroot Midwifery, a private practice in the Fall Creek area, explains why out-of-hospital births have increased by 41 percent from 2004-2010 and how a midwifed home birth provides a safe and satisfying birth experience." 

“Our report suggests that progestin prophylaxis can reduce the rate of recurrent spontaneous preterm birth when barriers to care and treatment are aggressively removed and that the gestational age at initiation may affect the success of progestin prophylaxis," the authors write.”

“When people find out that I'm an at-home Dad, there's often an image that comes to mind that is not quite accurate, and is largely fueled by the "TV depiction" of stay-at-home and work-at-home Dads: A group of four or five guys standing around a park with outward-facing babies dangling from their chests. If this happens anywhere, I have not witnessed it, nor been a part of such a gathering in the past 4+ years of my career as a parent. When I have seen babies worn by other parents (and sometimes myself), the big question has always been "which way is the right way - inward or outward." It's been the subject of vigorous debate among parents, but the folks at Boba Family just might have the answer, and that answer is inward.”

“Professor Christophe Lacroix at the Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH-Zurich, led a study which found  the important good bacteria that babies receive from breast milk comes from their mothers gut. This is part of the innate support that assists babies with acquiring strong immune systems. It is also part of building colonic health and the babies gut.”

Therapy Dogs Help Students De-Stress During Finals

"Whether it's taking a break from the books, the workplace, or even the crowds at some of the country's busiest airports, four-legged friends are being used to help people feel good.

Scientifically, that's exactly what they're doing. Dr. Katherine Zupancic is a professor at SCC and says when people play with animals during stressful times, a hormone called Oxytocin is released that makes people happy."

From 1011HD http://bit.ly/1h3m6cs

Memorial service for those lost through miscarriage, still birth or neonatal complications.

The Bereavement Support Teams at Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert medical centers, invite you to a service in memory of those little ones lost through miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal complications. Join us in love, support and comfort, as we mourn and remember these babies.

The memorial service will occur on Friday Oct. 18 at 5:00 PM.  Mercy Gilbert Medical Center’s Healing Garden, 3555 S. Val Vista Drive.

To learn more, visit MercyGilbert.org 

“Doctors have unveiled a new test for determining which embryos have the best chance of survival.

The amount of mitochondria found in the cells of an embryo appeared to be a marker of its health, doctors reported Monday at the International Federation of Fertility Societies and American Society for Reproductive Medicine annual meeting in Boston. Research presented at meetings is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

Higher levels of mitochondria -- the "powerhouses" of cells -- seemed to indicate an embryo was under stress and less likely to successfully implant in a woman's uterus, said study co-author Dr. Dagan Wells, a scientific leadership fellow at Oxford University in England.”

“Between 2000 and 2010 in the United States the number of donor eggs used for in vitro fertilization increased, and outcomes for births from those donor eggs improved, according to a study published by JAMA. The study is being released early online to coincide with its presentation at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the International Federation of Fertility Societies joint annual meeting.”

“A new study presented Oct. 14 at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's (ASRM) annual meeting in Boston found women with the highest levels of BPA, or bisphenol A, in their blood were significantly more likely to miscarry than women with the lowest levels of the ubiquitous chemical.

"Many studies on environmental contaminants' impact on reproductive capacity have been focused on infertility patients and it is clear that high levels of exposure affect them negatively," Dr. Linda Giudice, president of ASRM, said in a statement. "These studies extend our observations to the general population and show that these chemicals are a cause for concern to all of us."

“Pregnant women who live in neighbourhoods with lots of air pollution may be slightly more likely to develop high blood pressure, a new study says.”

Caveat:

“Abbott, who was not involved in the research, said it had some key limitations. For example, some factors that affect a woman's risk of getting high blood pressure, such as her weight, were not taken into account. In addition, the study did not look at whether any women moved to a different neighbourhood while pregnant or spent most of their time away from home, where pollution was measured.

For those reasons, Abbott told Reuters Health, more research is needed to determine whether there are any blood pressure-related benefits to moving to an area with less pollution, or to staying indoors on high-pollution days while pregnant. "I would not make any recommendations to my patients based on this research," she said. The author is a student at the Boston University School of Medicine, and Abbott is a former professor of hers.”

"Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome is a medical condition that occurs when a baby has been exposed during pregnancy to opiates," Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Carla Saunders explained.

In Jason's case, his mother took a specific prescription medicine for chronic migraine headaches, one she was told was safe for her unborn child.”

“Women at high risk of early preeclampsia who show signs of abnormal hemodynamic function earlier in pregnancy may be more likely to have adverse pregnancy outcomes, new data suggest.”

“Even though the majority of pregnancies result in healthy live births, pregnant women still have to take some measures to prevent complications from arising. For some women, taking prenatal corticosteroids is necessary to curb preterm births, which increase the infant's and mother's risks of having potentially life threatening problems during and post birth. Women who are at high risk of giving birth prematurely are usually recommended to receive one dosage of this type of therapy. According to a new study, receiving multiple courses of prenatal corticosteroids does not appear to increase or decrease the risk of death or disability for children.”

"Our results clearly demonstrate that birth has active roles in brain formation and maturation," says senior study author Hiroshi Kawasaki of Kanazawa University in Japan. "We found that birth regulates neuronal circuit formation not only in the somatosensory system but also in the visual system. Therefore, it seems reasonable to speculate that birth actually plays a wider role in various brain regions."

“A lot of things happen during birth. Chemical processes change in the brain as children travel through the birth canal. Now, scientists have discovered that the actual act of birth in mice causes a reduction in a brain chemical called serotonin. This triggers sensory maps to form, which prepares the mice to sense the world and prepares mice for survival outside the womb.”

"Surprisingly, even though we use these drugs in easily 250 million patients every year across the world, and have been using them since about 1850, we don't know how they work," said Roderic Eckenhoff, a professor of anesthesiology at the University of Pennsylvania.

"There is concern right now, for example, that these drugs could have a durable cognitive effect, in other words, they might not leave the brain entirely unchanged," he explained."

"A dysfunctional oxytocin system may underpin the long-term harmful effects of maternal depression on child development, suggesting a potential for oxytocin-based interventions, researchers say.

"Infants of depressed mothers have long-lasting difficulties both in general and specifically in social and emotional outcomes, such as social engagement with others, the capacity for empathy, which underpin the capacity for intimacy," Ruth Feldman, PhD, psychology professor at Ban-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel, who worked on the study, told Medscape Medical News." 

“A physician and researcher at Seattle Children’s Hospital made another breakthrough in his research into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), a mysterious disease that leaves grieving parents looking for answers that science has yet to provide.

The latest finding supports his earlier work, which indicates that SIDS babies don’t necessarily have a problem with their brain. Instead, Dr. Daniel Rubens’ research has indicated that problems with hearing and the inner ear may be linked to SIDS.”

“Today every state tests babies at birth for PKU — but not just that. There are now more than 50 disorders that can be picked up through screening, 31 of which comprise the "core conditions" of the government's Recommended Uniform Screening Panel. Other conditions are likely to be added to the panel. All but two of them — hearing loss and critical congenital heart disease — can be detected by automated analysis of a few drops of dried blood from a heel stick done within a few days of birth." 

“Turner started taking pictures of nursing moms around five years ago. Her shots were posed and “idealized,” she told HuffPost Parents over e-mail. But she wasn't interested in the improbable scenes of women on mountaintops in flowy clothing with happy and cooperative babies one sometimes sees: she wanted to represent real moms’ experiences. Gradually, she started to take her camera out into the world, where babies actually eat. “Most women I know are breastfeeding one child while sitting on a bench in the park or the mall and trying to fish crackers out of a diaper bag for another kid all while wearing an old t-shirt with a spit up stain on it,” Turner said.”

Source: HuffPost OnLine http://huff.to/GX1ZQA

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