Pregnancy ~ Bacterial & Viral Infections ~ Should YOU Be Concerned???

Well, should you? As Iris affirms to Arthur in one of my favorite films, The Holiday; “Arthur, this is a big deal.” Group B Strep (GBS) & Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are something every pregnant mom should know and be concerned about. 

Who knew? I certainly didn’t. In today’s fast paced world, when you are expecting a baby, you really need to pick and choose what you read and digest. Empowerment is the key. So, you may ask, “How do I become empowered?”

Empowerment comes from becoming educated, proactive and vigilant about the safety of the baby you are carrying. It means getting all the facts and having the cards stacked in your favor. It means never hesitating to call and ask your health care team about any concerns or questions you may have. Remember, your health care team is there to educate and inform you ~ that’s their job. And always ~ you should trust your gut. 

Due to the hustle and bustle of your health care team’s office, the time is not always available for them to explain to you what exactly you should be doing and looking out for to insure the wellbeing of your baby from trimester to trimester.

Dr. James McGregor, Researcher, MDCM, Professor of OB-GYN, Division of Perinatology, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, and Marti Perhach, Group B Strep International’s Co Founder, share amazing information which may even save the life of your baby and/or let your little one lead a totally normal life if you educate yourself. You can help avoid the risk of bacterial and viral infections by taking some very simple steps.

It all begins during your first trimester with your first visit to your health care team at approximately 8 weeks gestation. Your first health care check up is extremely important. During this visit your urine will be cultured for GBS. So, you may wonder, “What is the big deal about GBS???”

Did you know approximately 10% - 30% of pregnant women are contaminated with GBS and, roughly 2% of these pregnant moms will pass these germs during delivery to their babies. You may say, “Well 2% ~ that’s not a lot.”

If infected, babies will show signs of GBS infection between 6 hours and 7 days of birth, although late onset after the first week of baby’s life may also result according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). GBS may cause infections in your baby’s spinal cord, lungs, blood (sepsis) or brain. Although fatal in 5% of the infants carrying GBS, this bacterium is the prime cause of infectious death among newborns. Moms who are under the age of 21, black or Hispanic are at an increased risk.

If your urine culture is positive for Group B Strep (GBS) or for an asymptomatic bacteriuria at this visit, antibiotics will/should be prescribed. Make sure you ask for the results of your urine culture on your next visit, and have a test of cure (TOC) done if positive, to insure the infection has resolved, once your antibiotics are finished. Discuss with your health care team how GBS will impact your birth plan and the IV medication which will be required during labor and delivery.

If your urine is negative for GBS, you will have a rectovaginal swab taken at 35 – 37 weeks gestation and cultured in accordance with The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) National Guidelines. This test is extremely important as the use of preventative antibiotics for moms who test positive for GBS must be given during labor to prevent the transmission of this underlying yet potentially lethal germ to their babies.

The CDC confirms and reminds us 1 in 4 pregnant women carry GBS, the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborns. “Women should have accurate information to know how to best protect their babies”, states Perhach. If you would like further information on GBS, please go to, www.groupbstrepinternational.org or the Facebook Group page, Group B Strep International.

According to Dr. McGregor, any infection can be “potentially” life threatening to the baby. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) poses a major risk to pregnant women who are around babies and young children. So, moms who are child care providers, daycare workers, preschool teachers, therapists, and nurses need to take extra precautions as preschoolers are the majority of carriers. CMV is present in saliva, urine, feces, tears, blood, mucus and other bodily fluids. You cannot catch CMV by simply being in the same room with someone, unless bodily fluids are exchanged. Additionally, there is no information to indicate CMV is transmitted in the air.

OB/GYNs, for the most part, do not warn women of childbearing age about this infection and how to avoid it. ACOG and the CDC recommend OB/GYNs counsel women on basic prevention measures to guard against CMV. But according to a 2007 survey, fewer than half (44%) of OB/GYNs reported counseling their patients about preventing CMV. Were you told about CMV???

CMV is very prevalent among healthy children 1 to 3 years of age who are at high risk for contracting CMV. As CMV can be transmitted to an unborn child from a pregnant mother experiencing a primary or recurrent CMV infection, how can you minimize your risk? Very easily ~ here are a few simple steps you can proactively incorporate into your daily routine as outlined at www.stopcmv.org:

-     Wash your hands often with soap and water for 15-20 seconds, especially after changing diapers, feeding a young child, wiping a young child's nose or drool, and handling children's toys.

-     Do not share food, drinks, or eating utensils used by young children.

-     Do not put a child's pacifier in your mouth.

-     Do not share a toothbrush with a young child.

-     Avoid contact with saliva when kissing a child.

-     Clean toys, countertops, and other surfaces that come into contact with children's urine or saliva.

Remember, in following the above steps, you can be proactive and help prevent your baby from being born with CMV which may lead to permanent medical conditions and disabilities such as deafness, blindness, cerebral palsy, mental and physical disabilities, seizures, and death. While congenital (before birth) CMV in baby is more common than Down’s Syndrome with only 14% of moms having ever heard of CMV, more children have disabilities due to congenital CMV than other well-known infections and syndromes including Down’s Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Spina Bifida, and Pediatric HIV/AIDS.

FitPregnancy.com’s section, Protect Your Baby From a Tot-Borne Virus, by Kim Acosta in 2008, advises moms to kiss their tots on their heads ~ and not on their mouths cheeks to avoid CMV. FitPregnancy’s December/January 2012 “Q & A” magazine segment asks the haunting question, “Should I worry about CMV? After reading the magazine’s response by Amanda Kallen, M.D., a Yale University School of Medicine clinical instructor who co-authored a 2010 review on the topic, the reply is definitely, “YES!!!” Both website and magazine sites give great information ~ and both are must reads. 

Be your baby’s guardian of the womb today by taking an active role in your personal hygiene and healthcare decisions. Consult with your health care team about the best ways to avoid  CMV if you:

-       Are concerned about CMV infection during pregnancy.

-       You develop a mononucleosis or flu-like illness during pregnancy.

-       You feel you may be a candidate for CMV screening and / or treatment.

 If you would like further information on CMV, please go to www.stopcmv.org, where I have gathered a lot of my information.

In preventing infections which may prove harmful to you and your baby, Dr. McGregor also advocates:

a.     Good dental hygiene and care

b.     Reporting any vaginal bleeding, discharge or fluid    leakage to your health care team.

c.     Avoiding membrane stripping to induce labor.

 Moms, please check out the websites above. Empowerment comes when you are educated, proactive and vigilant. Remember, a sweet little life is depending on you…xo

The Stillbirth Summit continued to gain momentum early in the morning with Uma Reddy, MD, MPH, Medical Officer, Pregnancy & Perinatology Branch, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Bethesda, MD presenting Thrombosis and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes. Dr. Reddy is a wealth of knowledge and at times I am sure the researchers understood a lot more than I certainly did!!!

Venous thromboembolism and adverse pregnancy outcomes are potential complications of pregnancy. Numerous studies have evaluated both the risk factors for and the prevention and management of these outcomes in pregnant patients. Reddy stated the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) just came out with their new recommendations for Preventing Thromboembolism in pregnant women. Please read and digest these article which breaks down the new guidelines. She also informed us aspirin and lovenox (a blood thinner) are indicated to be given for the duration of a pregnancy for women with prior thromboembolic disease ~ and ~ may be given safely.

Women who have had any thromboembolic disease should have a full coagulation profile performed. Prescribing anticoagulants to pregnant women can be difficult and stressful. Maternal and fetal concerns must be considered at all times, with a careful assessment of the risks and benefits of anticoagulant therapy in each patient. Further research should help to clarify who should receive thromboprophylaxis, how to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with various thrombophilias, and how best to treat pregnant women who have a prosthetic heart valve.

C’mon Pregnant MOMMIES ~ Enlighten All Your Health Care Team ~ NOW!!!

So, you’re pregnant ~ or not ~ and you have heard about stillbirths but you have also heard the possibility of you or anyone you know actually delivering a baby born still is one in a million or extremely unlikely - RIGHT??? Well, the correct answer to the above statement is actually - WRONG.

A stillbirth occurs once in every 200 births in the USA. There are 30,000 every year in our country according to Dr. Jason Collins, MD of The Pregnancy Institute in New Roads, LA. This equates to about 85 each and every day in our highly medically and extremely technically advanced hospitals and country. Maybe you have seen articles, posts or blogs on stillbirth and quickly flipped the page, clicked to the next entry or exited the post. Maybe you read the information in front of you thinking, "This will never happen to me" and you let the information leave your mind as fast as you let it enter. Well, the time has come for us all ~ parents to be, family & friends, as well as, the medical community - to embrace the information in front of us and demand the resources to extinguish the flame of stillbirth be available to us all.


According to The Lancet's series, STILLBIRTHS, at least 50% of our world’s almost 3 million stillbirths are completely preventable. The statistics used in The Lancet consider a stillborn baby, "the death of a baby at 28 weeks’ gestation or more." What does that mean to us? It means simple interventions may save the life of a precious baby ~ if you are told what to do and what to look out for. At The Star Legacy Foundation we call it empowering and educating parents to be and their health care team.


Dr. Ruth Fretts, OB-GYN and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston, believes the risk of stillbirth increases late in pregnancy and many could be prevented. "We don't do a very good service to women by not informing them of the risks and giving them options to be evaluating the baby's well being". In the 2010 October/ November Issue, of Fit Pregnancy Magazine, the article “the whole 9 months” section, “Baby likes to move it”, Fretts states, “Most women who notice a decrease in movement will still have a healthy outcome…The biggest concern is when it happens repeatedly.”


The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist in the United Kingdom, whose stillbirth rates are one of the most dire for a country which is not considered to be one of the 98% low or middle income countries with abysmally high stillbirth rates, just issued a statement on reduced feta movement, "Clinicians should be aware (and should advise women) that although fetal movements tend to plateau at 32 weeks of gestation, there is no reduction in the frequency of fetal movements in the late third trimester."


Dr. Craig Rubens, MD PhD, Co-Founder & Executive Director GAPP states, "Why focus on the last 1/2% of pregnancy during Labor and Deliver to understand why women have adverse outcomes during pregnancy. We need to focus on and study more the 99.5% of pregnancy that's going on currently."


So, what can we do? Although the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists support kick counting ~ it is rarely mentioned or explained to pregnant women in the office or during prenatal classes. Don’t take it for granted everyone caring for you and delivering your baby is aware of kick counting and the important role it can play in assuring a happy, healthy and hearty delivery day. Make it your passion to educate all young men and women, moms and dads to be, their doctors, midwives and health care team to the importance of baby's movements from 20 weeks onwards and the importance of daily kick counting from 28 weeks onwards. Visit See Me, Feel Me now. Educate and empower yourself not only on the importance of baby's movements but also on the importance of a 20 & 28 week ultrasound with special attention being paid to the umbilical cord and placenta. Then, pass this vital information on to all so they can become baby's "in utero" advocate as well.


Don't wait until the tragedy of stillbirth strikes ~ and you think to yourself, "Oh yeah, I heard about that somewhere.” Don’t take it for granted your doctor, midwife or health care team is educated to the frequency of stillbirth and the ways to ascertain and address a possibly compromised baby. Write down the link or print out The Lancet series, Stillbirths and your My Kicks Count chart and take them to your appointment!!!

Now you have been told. Now you have the tools. Now spread the word and empower moms, dads, friends, family and the medical community across the globe. Remember ~ a sweet little baby's life will be depending on you...

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!!!

King Tutankhamen ~ Call Him ~ “DAD”...

It is amazing to me to learn nestled with King Tut in his tomb were two fetuses. One was at least seven months gestation; I guess a 'stillbirth" by today's standards. The second fetus, a tinier more fragile female, was also tucked alongside her dad; I wonder, stillbirth vs. miscarriage?
Were these two little girls the pharaoh's daughters? DNA testing, to confirm true lineage, is the key needed to unlock this vexing scientific question. Although the data is somewhat incomplete, the study suggests one of the infants is truly Tutankhamen's daughter and, most likely, the second infant is as well. Whilst it was believed this King had no heirs to succeed him ~ I guess maybe he “almost” did.


Stillbirth has been around since the beginning of time. The pain and heartache associated with babies who never draw their first breath is as devastating today as it was back in the Golden Age of the Pharaohs. Educating and empowering parents to be, as well as, health care professionals with the tools to end this needless tragedy, is our goal.


Just how precious and irreplaceable is a stillborn baby to grieving parents and family? I guess we only need to look at King Tut ~ as this child king chose to embark on his journey into eternity with his two baby daughters snuggled closely by his side.

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

U PICK ~ Run It, Jog It or Tot Trot it...

Hello Wisconsin!!! Is anyone up for a great day at the park and getting in shape at the same time? Please come and join in the fun by joining in Abby's Run. There are two different days, dates and parks available for you in October:

Abby's Run - McCarty Park, Milwaukee, WI
Saturday, October 2, 2010 - 10:00 AM


Abby's Run - Pioneer Park, Oulu, WI
Friday, October 15, 2010 - 6:00 PM

At each event there will be a 5K run, a 1 mile walk and a Tot Trot for children. All proceeds will be used to support the stillbirth research and education efforts of the

Star Legacy Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Registration includes t-shirt (for registrations by 9/2/10) and refreshments.
GE Employees: $25 (minimum company match)

Non GE: Adults - $20 on or before 9/15/10; $25 after 9/15/10; Tot Trot - $8

For further information, details and to register go to Star Legacy Foundation, www.starlegacyfoundation.org .

Oh shoot ~ you can't attend! Be there in spirit and please consider making a tax deductible donation...

READY ~ SET ~ WRITE & ROLL!!!

PLEASE SHARE WITH ALL: From Pat Flynn @ 1st Breath, http://www.1stbreath.org/;

MI Stillbirth / Kick Count Bill passed House & going to Senate. Letters needed to get hearing & vote. Bill could be model for other states!!!

So ~ what to do??? If you or anyone you know has endured the devastating pain and heartache of a stillbirth, please write your personal story and tell why you support HB6091. Strongly advocate for a quick hearing & vote.


Send to: Tom George, Chairman, Health Policy Committee, Room 320, Farnum Bldg. Lansing, MI 48933 ~ OR ~ Email: sentgeorge@senate.michigan.gov

Copy please to: Pat@1stBreath.org

Let's all keep fighting the fight for those unable to speak for themselves...

AMAZING NEWS ~ Michigan House Passes STILLBIRTH / KICK COUNTING Legislation « First Candle

Amazing news promoting Kick Counting! Representative Kevin Green (R-MI) lost his sweet daughter, Skylar Anne, to stillbirth in 2007. Skylar's cause of death is unknown. Green states, "Stillbirth is an equal opportunity destroyer...Getting this information to expectant mothers early on in their pregnancy could help them prevent stillbirth. Kick counting is such a simple thing to do that could save your child's life."

This legislative measure is a huge step in stillbirth and kick counting awareness. We do know approximately 30% of stillbirths are caused by umbilical cord accidents (uca). In passing this very important piece of legislation according to Rep. Green, "It allows women to have ownership in their own healthcare by being informed about this potential risk." As we always stress to parents to be and healthcare professionals, it is all about becoming informed and being your baby's, "en utero" advocate.

Michigan House Passes Stillbirth/Kick Counting Legislation « First Candle

"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.

Hmmm ~ An Abnormality with Baby's 28 Week Ultrasound...

So, you have your 28 week (or thereabouts) ultrasound; there's an abnormality with the cord. What happens next? You"ll have to discuss the possiblities with your OB. Will home fetal heart rate monitoring, frequent ultrasounds or kick counting be the plan? You and your medical team will choose the best approach to keep a daily check on baby. Visit http://www.preginst.com/ to watch home fetal heart rate monitoring in action...

Why a 28 Week Ultrasound???

A 28 week - or there abouts - ultrasound checks the placenta and umbilical cord (knots, nuchal cords, torsion or length variations) for abnormailites. This new and proactive step in being your baby's "en utero" advocate lets you and your doctor begin a plan to keep a closer eye on baby if any abnormalities are found. Ultrasounds, home fetal heart rate monitoring and diligent kick counting may be options...

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.

Proactive Measures to Insure a Happy Healthy Delivery

Welcome to "Families Need to Know!" This is an exciting step for The Star Legacy Foundation which is dedicated to stillbirth education and research in forming a Family Advisory Council. We hope to educate families, parents and friends on simple proactive measures available to you to insure the happy safe delivery of your baby. Placental complications and umbilical cord accidents (UCA) are all too prevalent in the USA. UCA account for 30% of the 26,000 stillbirths a year in our country. I hope to provide information and education while guiding you how to be your baby's "en utero" advocate!

This foundation has formed an alliance with Dr. Jason Collins of The Pregnancy Institute in New Roads, LA. We support the Institutes's research and endeavors and hope you will too. We are strong advocates of visualizing the placenta and umbilical cord at your 20 week ultrasound for any abnormality. We also advocate a 28 week ultrasound be mandatory in the doctor's office for visualization of the umbilical cord.

We are also huge proponents of kick counting. We want moms to know their baby's movements well before the 28th week. Moms should know when baby's movements change it is time inform their doctor. When your baby's movements speed up or slow down ~ become involved and let your doctor know!

I look forward to hearing from you, getting to know you and having fun!