LilSugar

Tell Mommy: Did You Try to Speed Up Labor at Home?

LilSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:00:57 -0800

After nine months of pregnancy an expectant woman is typically ready to meet her babe, but some are more ready than others (especially those, like me, who were overdue). Even though some doctors claim that all the walking, sex, and spicy food is not going expedite a baby's debut, desperate times call for desperate measures for uncomfortable mamas. Many turn to home remedies like the infamous Castor oil to speed up the process. Did you try to induce labor at home? If so, what did you do?
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Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me: Stripping the Membranes

babysugar — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 10:00:11 -0700

There are many tricks a pregnant woman may use to try to commence labor: sex, spicy foods, exercise, and castor oil are just a few popular ones. During my last two doctor's appointments when my OB/GYN checked for centimeters dilated, she literally stirred things up. And by that, I mean she stripped my membranes. Presumably the action can fire up contractions and quickly send a woman into labor. In my case, it just hurt like hell and caused me to spot a bit and have contractions without the benefit of going into full blown labor. For some lucky mamas, it works like a charm.
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Wishing For Lucky Dates and Steering Clear of Others

babysugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 15:41:36 -0700

Every day, an estimated 216,000 babies are born worldwide. Many suspect a spike in those birthed today, 9/9/09, as suspicious-minded mamas go for the trifecta date. Some will employ labor-inducing tactics while others may have picked the triple nine time for their scheduled C-section. Those who are still playing the waiting game may be more concerned with not having a babe two days from now on 9/11. A tragic moment in American history, many parents will do their best to keep their baby from making its debut on such an auspicious date. I know a few expectant ladies who are planning on keeping their feet propped up and never leaving bed this coming Friday to keep baby at bay for at least another day. Do you keep historical or superstitious dates in mind when labor is imminent?

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Induction of Preeclamptic Women Reduces C-Section Risk

LilSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:00:44 -0700

Should women with preeclampsia set a delivery date? Expectant mothers suffering from the pregnancy condition, which is often detected by high blood pressure and protein in the urine, benefit from an early delivery according to a new study. Researchers following 756 women in the Netherlands found that inducing labor in preeclamptic women at 37 weeks gestation – either via hormones and breaking of the water sac – greatly reduced the risk of severely high blood pressure and decreased the use of cesarean sections in the delivery. Doctors are now calling for inductions of such patients to be become standard practice. A very serious condition, expectant mamas should be aware of the signs of preeclampsia. To see what they are, read more.

Headaches
Swelling of the hands and face
Weight gain of more than two pounds each week, or a sudden gain over one or two days.
Abdominal pain
Agitation
Decreased urine output
Nausea and vomiting
Vision changes

Ecotot: Earth Mama Labor Ease

LilSugar — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:00:00 -0800

Lots of mamas seek out natural remedies to aid with childbirth. From herbal teas to essential oils, every woman has her own stash of products that induce comfort and calm during the craziness that surrounds labor. For those without the time to run from store to store stocking up on supplies, Earth Mama Angel Baby puts a handful of organic items at your fingertips with their Labor Ease ($40) kit. The box includes basics like lip balm, socks that can be warmed and used as heating pads and stretch oil for perineal massage to help prevent episiotomies. It also contains a CD of lullabies and tea bags featuring a blend of leaves that are said to aid the body in recovering from delivery.

For those mommas who want an all natural, organic kit for other than the postpartum times that their bodies feel out of sorts, recovery sets (including a balm to help with hemorrhoids) and a breastfeeding set complete with "Bobby Tubes" that can be frozen or heated to soothe various discomforts are available.

Bringing Sexy Back: Sex During Pregnancy

LilSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:00:51 -0800

The last thing on many expectant mamas' minds is doing the deed, but Kate Hudson recently told February's Elle her feelings on the importance of sex in a relationship - even while pregnant. She said:

People think that you can put your sexual life on hold, but you have to find time for it. Without that relationship, our family is broken. My mom really implanted that in me when I was pregnant.

Many of us used sex in hopes of inducing labor at home, but did you place an emphasis on getting physical with your partner while you were pregnant to keep the spark alive?

Tell Mommy: How Much Did Having Your Baby Cost?

LilSugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 09:00:50 -0800

Moms in the making think and even worry about the expenses offspring will bring - the price of diapers, wipes and formula adds up, but most parents-to-be focus more on the college fund, than one for the hospital. When my daughter was born, we joked that she was a bargain because my co-payment was something like $10 for her birth. A few years later when my son made his debut, our insurance had changed and he set us back a few more Benjamins - to the tune of $3,500. But, we still felt lucky when we saw the grand tally that came in the mail and was offset by our coverage.

In light of the economy and unemployment rates, a recent New York Times article reported on the realities uninsured mothers face. When a very pregnant Starla Darling, 27, found out she was going to lose her job and health insurance, she had her labor induced and ended up with an emergency c-section and a hefty $17,000 bill that the company won't cover.

Were you surprised by the amount of your baby's bill - what portion did you have to pay?
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To Doula or Not to Doula

babysugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:00:43 -0800

When I was pregnant, I did prenatal yoga. My instructor was a woman who doubled as a doula. According to DONA International,

The word, "doula," comes from the Greek word for the most important female slave or servant in an ancient Greek household, the woman who probably helped the lady of the house through her childbearing. The word has come to refer to "a woman experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to the mother before, during, and just after childbirth.

To learn more about doulas and why some hospitals ban them, read more.

A virgin to the term two years ago, I am no longer as many of my friends have chosen doulas for their birthing plans. Doulas can range in intensity - some prefer to only work with antimedicine couples while others are more open to the idea of a laboring mother accepting an epidural or c–section. And while many doula–mother relationships are fine and dandy, the doctor or nurse association with doulas is not always positive.

Yesterday, the New York Times ran a story on the subject. The article said,

The increased popularity of doulas and lactation consultants has also led to more conflict - not only with parents but doctors and nurses as well.

There are no national statistics on the phenomenon, and few women readily admit to doula discord. But according to a 2006 study of women who used doulas in Alabama, 44 percent of women described the relationship between their hospital nurses and doulas as hostile, resentful, and confrontational.

At Reston Hospital Center in northern Virginia, disputes became so common that in 2005, the hospital banned doulas. “From a nursing standpoint, too many crossed a line and interfered with my job,” said Sarah Baxter, a registered nurse and director of labor and delivery at Reston.

My yoga instructor actually recommended some San Francisco hospitals over others as the medical staff at some were more accepting of doulas and their practices. And odd enough, the women I know who hired doulas were the ones who ended up having c–sections or had to be induced into labor via drugs.

Did you or do you want a doula at your side in the delivery room?

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Lil Links

LilSugar — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:00:53 -0800

A mother's fatal mistake killed her son - Mom Logic
Inducing labor - The Nest Baby
Meg Ryan and daughter Daisy at the farmers market - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Five ways to spoil your children - Fussypants
Recycle bottle caps into memory game - ohdeedoh
When kids ask about gay parents- Parent Dish
Male and Pregnant - The Poop
Michelle Obama: mother and wife - Mommy Trackd

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Why Didn't Anybody Tell Me?: Induction

LilSugar — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 08:30:13 -0800

It's the climax of all maternity movies - that pinnacle scene when the woman's water breaks and the frenzied couple race to the hospital. It's the day that you envision the moment that your pregnancy is confirmed - when your baby finally decides it's time to meet you. Well, that scenario didn't happen for me.

There was no scramble to pack a bag or pull into the hospital's unloading zone, just me in a sterile smock two weeks overdue and exhausted from having walked my feet off, had sex, indulged in spicy foods and done everything else I read would bring on labor, listening to my doctor say he was admitting me for induction.

The news thrilled my husband, but he wasn't the one signing the papers to have our offspring evicted from my body. I was, and hadn't planned on it. I hadn't had caffeine while pregnant, and now they were going to pump me full of drugs and force my child out. So, I cried.

But before I knew it, the pill they had inserted made me dilate and the dreaded Pitocin drip was bringing on contractions. The next morning, on leap year, my fashionably late and awe-inspiring daughter made her debut.

The books talk about the physical way most women have babies, but whether you are induced, have a c-section or adopt; it doesn't make any difference when you meet your child.

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