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!!!

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!