Patty’s Blog: “” posts

What is the value of midwifery?

Check these short videos from the Midwives Alliance of North America on topics including: What is the value of midwifery care for women, families and communities?
Are planned home and birth center births safe? What are the key elements of midwifery care? How does it differ from other kinds of maternity care?

Posted by Patty Brennan on November 25, 2014 • Filed under
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Encouraging normal progress of labor with an epidural

If you have an epidural, it is important that you keep your body moving as much as possible during labor. Staying mobile during your labor encourages your body and baby to work with gravity and movement, helping your baby to descend and progressing your labor. How can this be achieved? Check out the latest Giving Birth With Confidence blog from Lamaze International.

 

 

 

Posted by Patty Brennan on November 20, 2014 • Filed under
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Stem cells in breastmilk capable of forming tissues in infants …

Stem cells in mother’s breastmilk may be able to develop into a range of different tissues in the offspring, including the brain, liver and kidneys, scientists have found. Previous research has found that human breast milk contains a kind of stem cell but it was not known whether these cells do anything useful for the baby. Read more.

Posted by Patty Brennan on November 18, 2014 • Filed under
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The amazing umbilical cord

Check out this short video on how Wharton’s Jelly in the umbilical cord protects the baby’s oxygen supply.

Posted by Patty Brennan on November 13, 2014 • Filed under
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Epidural Analgesia: To Delay or Not to Delay, That Is the Question

Check out this detailed analysis from Henci Goer, from the Lamaze Science and Sensibility blog, on the recent flurry of articles citing a new Cochrane systematic review of nine studies on early versus late initiation of epidural analgesia for labor. The Cochrane review concluded that epidural analgesia for labor needn’t be delayed because early initiation doesn’t increase the likelihood of cesarean delivery or instrumental vaginal delivery. Henci takes us through the flaws in the review and points out the “potent and confounding factor” of variations among care providers-in particular, between “judicious” care providers who strive for spontaneous vaginal birth whenever possible and “injudicious” care providers. She also points out that there are other reasons, in addition to those measured by the various researchers, to delay or avoid use of epidurals. Read the blog.

Posted by Patty Brennan on November 11, 2014 • Filed under
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Speaking Out on Safe Sleep: Evidence-Based Infant Sleep Recommendations

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued recommendations in 2005 and 2011 to reduce sleep-related infant death, which advise against all bedsharing for sleep. According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), these recommendations overemphasize the risks of bedsharing and this overemphasis has serious unintended consequences. It may result in increased deaths on sofas as tired parents try to avoid feeding their infants in bed. Current evidence shows that other risks are far more potent, such as smoking, shared sleep on sofas, sleeping next to impaired caregivers, and formula feeding. The emphasis on separate sleep is diverting resources away from addressing these critical risk factors. Recommendations to avoid bedsharing may also interfere with breastfeeding. NIH researchers examine both the evidence behind the AAP recommendations and the evidence omitted from those recommendations. Read the abstract.

Posted by Patty Brennan on November 11, 2014 • Filed under
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Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative-Success in Michigan

Three hospitals in Michigan have achieved the Baby-Friendly designation this year! St. John Hospital & Medical Center in Detroit, Spectrum Health United Hospital in Greenville, and Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids have all attained the Baby-Friendly designation. The Baby-Friendly initiative moves us closer to meeting the important public health goals of increasing the proportion of live births that occur in facilities that provide recommended care for lactating mothers and their babies. Learn more about the 10 Steps of the Baby-Friendly Initiative.

Posted by Patty Brennan on November 6, 2014 • Filed under
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