The Stillbirth Summit Introduces the New Pregnancy Buzz Phrase ~ EPV!!!

Bear with me ~ to write about all the researchers and their findings present at the Stillbirth Summit in one sitting would require lots of time and several glasses of wine!!! So, I have decided to introduce you to one researcher per blog and write about what I took away from their lectures in my notes. If you are confused by my interpretation ~ you can Google it, research it & digest it. Take it or leave it; pass it on or delete it. Just know, these men and women will change the face of stillbirth with their passion and fire. They will pull stillbirth from the shadows and place it brightly in the light of day. They will find answers for us; prevention is their intention.

The Stillbirth Summit opened the eyes of all who attended. Dr. Alexander Heazell, MBChB, PhD, MRCOG, Maternal & Fetal Health Research Centre, University of Manchester, UK, delivered the simple yet poignant statement during the first presentation of a colleague, “We understand stillbirth very badly.” There was no pretentiousness. There were no scholarly noses looking down at us. The cards were on the table for everyone to see. Over the next 3 days the researchers would share their passion, frustrations and greatly needed research with us all.

When you listen to Dr. Harvey Kliman, MD, PhD, Director of Reproductive and Placental Unit, Yale University School of Medicine, you come away with one word embedded deeply in your brain: PLACENTA!!! The man is amazing and quick to state, “It is the simple things, tissue etc. which ends up in the pathology lab to be looked at. The information in it tells us why this loss happened.” Kliman is emphatic ~ the placenta is the key to what’s going on in a “loss” investigation and the placenta "must go to pathology."

While all eyes are on the fetus, Kliman explains a small fetus means a small abnormal placenta and “Doctors should know about abnormal placentas. Not knowing anything about the placenta is like driving a car without any gas!!!”

The “small” placenta is one major placental issue. The small placenta does not happen “all of the sudden.” The normal ratio of the fetus to placenta is 6:1. Once it goes beyond 7:1 or 8:1 it crashes. The placentas falling in the 10th to 90th percentiles are optimal. It is the ones which are in the < 10% or > 90% which will pose the problem. The baby and placenta tend to grow at the same rate and ratio up to 36 weeks. But what happens when the placenta is small and cannot supply the growing fetus? Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) develops. This concern plays a large part in delivering small and low birth weight babies, decreasing amniotic fluid (the amniotic fluid index) within the uterus, and putting your baby at risk for intrauterine death ~ if not detected. The extremes of a lesser ratio or a greater ratio between the baby and placenta indicate the need for diligent monitoring, care and concern.

One sign of a small and insufficient placenta is the onset of decreased fetal movements:

Can your heath care provider know about this beforehand? Yes.

Can something be done about it? Yes.

This can be detected by using standard ultrasound equipment. The measurement is called Estimated Placental Volume (EPV). Or, now there is even an EPV app, http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/epv-calculator/id406708196?mt=8, for your phone. According to Dr. Kliman, EPV should be incorporated in prenatal care and would take all of 15 seconds to do!!! The app costs a mere $29.99!!! So ~ why is Estimated Placental Volume not being calculated by every doctor, midwife and health care member who sees a pregnant woman for her OB appointment? The overriding reason for using this simple and inexpensive device can mean the difference between life and death for your baby. If a small placenta is detected, mom and baby will be monitored closely and a happy healthy outcome is easily achievable as baby can be delivered early if necessary.

According to Kliman, the placenta is part of the fetus and should be checked at a 10 week ultrasound. It should then be checked by ultrasound around 18 weeks. If the placenta is small at this time, there is nothing to do but keep an eye on it. When the placenta is small or large, the need  for closer monitoring is needed. 

Sounds to me ~ Estimated Placental Volume deserves to be the new pregnancy buzz phrase of 2012. If you are pregnant, why not ask to have your baby’s EPV checked the next time you visit your doctor, midwife or health care team? You may ask, “Why?” Quite simply, your baby’s life might just be depending on it…

To Tell All Moms Or Not ~ That Is The Question???

It's that time of the year for some women ~ a positive pregnancy test!!! WHOO HOO!!!


So, being the great friend you are, do you share the informational website, See Me, Feel Me or not? You certainly don't want to jinx this new pregnancy. Do you mention to your friend that becoming her baby's "in utero" advocate will alert her and her health care team to the possibility of a compromised baby by noting a decrease or increase in fetal movements? Should you also mention to this mom that she schedule an additional ultrasound around 28 weeks because this is the time baby will show a tendency to develop an umbilical cord problem?

What should you do? It's simple. Make a decision now to educate and empower all moms to be!!! Stillbirth is not an uncommon or rare event, and should be watched for in the last trimester of pregnancy especially. This needless tragedy happens 30,000 times a year in the USA alone ~ that is 82 times a day ~ each and every day.

Maybe you don't think you can make a difference in stopping stillbirth. Maybe you have never known anyone who has had a stillbirth or maybe it doesn't run in your family ~ yet!!! I know I was oblivious at one time. My husband and I are part of the medical community and we were uneducated.

But ~ now we know. We are now committed advocates for the stillborn. We will do whatever it takes to enlighten the medical community and parents to be, as well as, to find a cause as to "WHY" when there are or are not any answers. Let's all link arms and begin to fight the fight for those born still. Together is the only way we can begin to stop these tragedies.

The Starfish Story

Original Story by: Loren Eisley

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed

a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.

Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.

The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish?

You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,

and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…”

I made a difference for that one.”

See Me, Feel Me ~ The New Pregnancy "BUZZ" Phrase For 2011!!!

WOW ~ this year is going to be a brilliant one! A new website full of vital information has been launched for parents to be, as well as, health care providers. Learning the philosophy of See Me, Feel Me is an absolute must for all pregnant women.


All moms will love learning how to become their baby's "in utero" advocate. A change in baby's movements such as speeding up or slowing down could be the sign of a compromised baby. Becoming empowered through the educational and proactive measures of My Kicks Count, the possibility of the need for more advanced fetal heart rate monitoring and the knowledgeable guidance of your doctor and health care team allows you to become your baby’s “in utero” advocate.

A “Mom” with knowledge, who works proactively on her own, with her doctor and with her health care team, quietly evolves into her baby’s "in utero" advocate. Just as mammograms and colonoscopies are prevention for the masses, getting to know your baby's movements can help ensure a happy, healthy and hearty delivery day.

Feel the "BUZZ" ~ and ~ check out See Me, Feel Me ASAP!!!

U.S. News and World Report ~ Read It, Digest It, Fight It...

Finally, this week we are seeing in this U. S. News and World Report link , in national print, the tragic global journey of stillbirth which 3 million families embark on each and every year ~ 30,000 in the USA alone.

Read it. Digest it. Fight it. Join us as we strive to educate parents and the medical community to the proactive measures available to stop these needless tragedies...  

OCTOBER 15TH ~ Let's All Sparkle Together Tonight...

At 7 PM tomorrow ~ where ever you are in the world ~ please light a candle for one hour. The WAVE OF LIGHT - for 24 hours - will be lit across the world to remember babies we have lost, those we carried and held but could not take home and those who stayed for just a short time.


Become a part of Pregnancy and Infant Loss and Remembrance Day on October 15. Please visit http://www.october15th.com/. Let's all sparkle together!!!

QUIET No More ~ JUST Break The Silence..

In October, Pregnant and Infant Loss Awareness Month, we need to remember all babies born sleeping or whom we have carried but never met, or those we have held but could not take home or the ones that came home but didn't stay. If you or someone you know has suffered the loss of a baby, break the silence. Please join us and be the voice for those who will never speak for themselves.

The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 314, has designated the month of October, as "Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month" and authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this month.


NOW, THEREFORE, I RONALD REAGAN, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim the month of October as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of October in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-eight and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirteenth.

Ronald Reagan

Former President

United States of America
 
October 15th is the National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. The resolution to declare October 15 a remembrance day passed the United States House of Representatives on September 28, 2006. In honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, many grieving parents light a candle at 7 p.m. in their respective time zones to create a wave of light around the world in memory of babies lost to pregnancy and infant loss.


"Seeking to forget makes exile all the longer; the secret of redemption lies in remembrance."
                                                 Richard von Weizaecker

"IT'S BIZARRE ~ That The Produce Manager Is More Important To My Children's Health Than The Pediatrician." ~ Meryl Streep

COME TO BEAUTIFUL COLORADO FOR A WEEKEND OF HOPE, LOVE,  FOOD &"GOLF"!!! Please join The Star Legacy Foundation for  ~ The Celebration of Hope Dinner and Educational Event on Friday, July 30, 2010 at 6:30pm. The highlight of the evening will be a presentation by Dr. Jason Collins, MD, of The Pregnancy Institute who specializes in Umbilical Cord and Placenta Issues focusing on Stillbirth Prevention.

Saturday's Golf Benefit, Golfing for Garrett, will begin with a shot gun start at the crack of dawn! Please visit The Star Legacy Foundation for more information, to register, or learn how you can help.

YIKES!!! What Exactly Is Home Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring?

So ~ you and your doctor decide baby should be monitored on a daily basis for the duration of your pregnancy following your 28 week ultrasound. What now? The first thing is, "Don't panic!" The main reason for monitoring baby is to make sure baby is comfortable "en utero" with the heart rate staying normal and consistent. That means, no decelerations (decels) and no signs of premature labor ~ and ~ less stress for you knowing baby is being watched on a daily basis.

How do you monitor? You first learn to how apply the monitoring belt and how to run the monitor for 30 minutes every day. Next, you monitor baby and send the monitored reading to your doctor for a professional interpretation. Baby is followed closely and if a potential problem is noted ~ further steps may be taken if deemed necessary by your medical professional. For further information on how Home Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring works, go to The Pregnancy Institute and click on Home Fetal Monitoring. It's all part of being your baby's "en utero" advocate... 

My Grandson, Jacks, Our "Rainbow" Baby...

All new moms have the most amazing look of total love and total bliss on their faces as you glimpse a photo of them and their newborns for the first time. It is a little bit of heaven on earth to say the least. On June 14th I was introduced to a different look ~ the look of a new mom seeing her "rainbow" baby for the first time.  

Besides capturing the look of total love and total bliss, there was a little something different on Danielle's face. I'm not sure if I would call it total peace and total calm ~ or ~ maybe just seeing a snippet of the angelic realm here on earth. 

Welcome, Mason Jackson "Jacks" Hosker! You are loved more than you will ever know...

Spice It Up With "Food For Thought"...

I received my cookbook today, "Food For Thought." This culinary endeavor boasts the recipes of those touched by the life of a child born still. All the recipes are those special kind of ones ~ the ones you don't usually share ~ but decided to just this once as the cause is so dear. 

So, why not decide to boost your kitchen bookshelf or a friend's? Be creative and give a copy with a pie dish or set of pans for a wedding gift? Like I say to all my pregnant moms, "just go with your gut" and cook up a storm. I promise you, you will not be disappointed one little bit. 

A Previous Stillbirth But a Normal 28 Week Ultrasound!!!

It is important to know your baby's patterns of movements from 20 weeks onwards. If you have had a previous stillbirth and your ultrasound around 28 weeks is normal ~ meaning no problems are seen with the umbilical cord and placenta ~ what's next?

Following Dr. Jason Collins protocol of The Pregnancy Institute, http://www.preginst.com/, discuss with your OB the possibility of daily home fetal heart rate monitoring. Monitoring baby for 30 minutes every night and sending the results to Dr. Collins or your own OB will let you and your doctor keep a close check on baby. If any variations are noted in the monitoring, your doctor will be aware of the changes and can investigate further.

Springing Ahead...

Hello to All,

I have a new page up on Facebook for the Family Advisory Council of The Star Legacy Foundation (SLF), same title as this, Families Need to Know! One of the greatest things about being pregnant these days is the information available for all the parents to be. Back in the day when I was pregnant, who knew about keeping track of your baby's movements ~ who knew about kick counting??? Today, it is a whole new day and age. The information is available for you, and there are lots of people there to help you if you don't quite understand what is presented to you.

At the SLF, we believe when you have your 20 week ultrasound, it is a good thing to have the doctor and ultrasound tech visualize the baby's placenta and umbilical cord for normalcy along with the baby's anatomy. This is the scan you will be able to see if you are having a little girl or little boy! After this scan it is time to begin to keep track of what your baby is doing. Keep a log and write down when baby is awake and moving around and when baby is sleeping. It is easy to do and fun at the same time.

My daughter in law was telling me her little son was always up from 10 pm - 11 pm. Then one night he was quiet at 10 pm - not up to his usual tricks! So, she monitored for 30 minutes (per Dr. Collin's protocol of The Pregnancy Institute) -- and after another 30 minutes - there he was - moving around. What had happened? Danielle forgot to take into account daylight savings time. It was spring so we "spring ahead." So, baby was on his own 24 hour clock and no one told him he had to "spring ahead" as well!!!

For further information and to be added to the SLF newsletter, please go visit, www.starlegacyfoundation.org.