If you are considering whether or not you need to have a Doula, this may tip the scales in favor of having one present at your birth.  According to a study performed at Case Western Reserve University by authors Susan K. McGrath, PhD, and John H. Kennell, MD,  over a 5-year period, 224 of 420 pregnant women in their third trimester were randomized to have a doula accompany them during  labor.   The outcome of the study was the following; Cesarean delivery rates were decreased by 12%, the need for an epidural dropped by 11%, and the need for a cesarean after induced labor decreased by 46%.  This study parameters were when a Doula arrived shortly after hospital admission and remained with the woman throughout her labor and delivery when compared with the group without a Doula.

Over a 5-year period, 224 of a group of 420 pregnant women in their third trimester were randomized to have a Doula accompany them during labor, and 196 women did not receive this intervention. Cesarean delivery rates decreased by 12%, the need for an epidural dropped by 11%, and the need for a cesarean after induced labor decreased by 46% when a Doula arrived shortly after hospital admission and remained with the woman throughout her labor and delivery when compared with the group without a Doula.

Support from the Doula included close physical proximity, touching, and eye contact with the laboring woman, and teaching, reassurance, and encouragement of the woman and her partner during the birth. On questionnaires administered the day after delivery, 100% of couples with Doula support rated their experience with the Doula positively.

“The assistance provided by new fathers, while extremely important for other reasons, does not have the same positive impact on perinatal outcomes as does that of experienced Doulas,” conclude study authors Susan K. McGrath, PhD, and John H. Kennell, MD, of Case Western Reserve University. “Continuous support by a Doula during labor is a risk-free, low-cost method of reducing cesarean delivery rates that should be available to all women.”  This article was published in the journal Birth, and had been posted on the Science Daily website on May 29, 2008.

Does this mat look familiar?  Have you considered purchasing one of these for your child’s room?  Thinking that the soft cushion surface might be more comfortable for your child to crawl on?  And the clean up of drool, spit-up, and anything else would be so much easier than carpet, right?  Think again!!  Today, I read an email sent out by Dr. Mercola from www.Mercola.com.  The email covered flooring in your home, particularly in your child’s room or play area.  The type of flooring that is shown in the picture to the left.

Some of the most toxic substances that have been banned from toys are found in this type of flooring.  The culprit?  Polyvinyl Chloride containing phthlalates.  Phthalates have been linked to the following issues:

Disturbed lactation

Decreased dysgenesis syndrome

Hypospadia

Oligospermia

Interference with sexual differentiation in utero

And the list goes on…

What can you do to reduce your exposure?  According to Dr. Mercola’s newsletter, you can do quite a lot!  He lists the following as ways to reduce your families exposre to phthalates.

1. Choose toys made from natural materials (or at least only buying those made from phthalate-free plastic).
2. When redoing your home, look for “green,” toxin-free alternatives in lieu of regular paint and vinyl floor coverings.
3. Replace your vinyl shower curtain with one made of fabric or better yet install glass shower doors.
4. Switch over to natural brands of toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste, and cosmetics.
5. Check your home’s tap water for contaminants and filter the water if necessary. You may also want to use an alternative to PVC pipes for your water supply.
6. Avoid using artificial air fresheners, dryer sheets, fabric softeners, scented candles or other synthetic fragrances and perfumes.
7. Store your food and beverages in glass rather than plastic, and avoid using plastic wrap.
8. Avoid processed foods (many are packaged in phthalate-containing packaging) and instead focus your diet on fresh, organic and locally grown whole foods.
9. Breastfeed your baby exclusively if possible, for at least the first six months (as you will avoid phthalates exposure from infant formula packaging and plastic bottles/nipples).
10. If you use baby bottles, use glass, not plastic.
11. Use only natural cleaning products in your home.
12. Teach your children not to drink water from the garden hose, as many are made with phthalate-containing plastics.

This topic of when to have a baby is a personal decision and yet very controversial.  The Dr. Oz show covered this topic on the August 23, 2012 show.   Today 1 in 5 women delay pregnancy until after age 35 and there has also been a 50% increase in women having children after age 40 for the past 10 years.

How old is too old??  Is there medical reasons on why we shouldn’t wait to have children?  Many women have chosen to establish themselves in their careers and in their finances before starting their families.   For some women it’s a matter of finding “The Right Partner” versus the “Right Now Partner.”   The costs of home ownership continue to increase and so many couples have delayed starting their families in order to save money to purchase their first home.  Having children is an expense, sometimes too much for young couples who are beginning their careers,  So very often starting a family is shelved until “later.”  When is “later?”  For some it means after age 30, others it means after age 40.  The following celebrities have chosen to wait until their late thirties and even forties to have children; Nicole Kidman, Julieanne Moore, Brooke Shields, and Halle Berry just to name a few.  Dr. Oz conducted a survey of women on his website as to what they thought was too old to have a baby?  He revealed the following statistics on his show; 13% stated that 35 was too old, 28% said 4o was too old, 34% stated that 45 was too old, 21% said 50 was too old, and 4% said you are never too old.

Basic biology states that as we age, our risk of infertility, miscarriage, and additional health problems associated with the later in life pregnancies increase over age 30 and dramatically increase over age 40.  What about all of the reproductive technologies available?  One woman on the show named Aribella stated that she has spent $90K on fertility treatments in order to get pregnant over the course of 2 years.  The two years consisted of 3 IUI cycles with injectibles, 3 IVF cycles, and a pregnancy loss along the way.  The cost may be prohibitive for some, and the length of time may be limiting for others,  and the emotional turmoil cannot be understated as well.    So what is it about our bodies that makes it so difficult as we age?

In our 20’s, we have a 50% chance of getting pregnant naturally.  In our 30’s we have a 20% chance of getting pregnant naturally.  In our 40’s we have a 5% chance of getting pregnant naturally.   As women, we are born with somewhere between 2 and 3 million eggs, by the time we hit puberty we are down to 300,000 eggs.   At age 40, 97% of the eggs are gone, they are not viable.  This means that we have a very small chance of getting a healthy egg to maturity to travel from the Oocyte through the fallopian tube to the uterus for implantation.  The second obstacle is the fallopian tube.  If there is any scarring from infections or issues with endometriosis, getting through the fallopian tube can be difficult.  Once the egg travels through the fallopian tube it must implant into the wall of the uterus and begin to grow vascular connections to the embryo and form the placental sac.  Uterine fibroids can be an obstacle in preventing the embryo from implanting.  Once implanted, the vascular connections must connect from the mother to the embryo.  If these connections rupture due to lack of elasticity of the vesssels due to age, the mother will miscarry.  This is the biological reality of aging on our bodies as women.  Does this mean we can’t?  No.

What does it really take to have a baby when we are older??  According to John Jain, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist, there are many ways to increase the odds.   FSH injections  for egg harvesting is a an option, but it comes with a price tag of $3,000.  Artificial insemination  costs are between $500 and $1,00 per cycle.  IVF costs approcimately $15,000 per cycle.  Egg donantion is $15,000-$20,000 per cycle.   What about the health risks?  There are risks associated with taking fertility drugs for the mother.  According to Jennifer Lahl, President of the Center for Bioethics & Culture Network, there have been recent studies that have linked the use of chlomid with cancer for the mother.

What about the baby?   According to Evelyn Minaya, MD,  the chance of having a child with a genetic defect is 1 in 1,400 in our 20’s.  The odds change over age 30 to 1 in 30 up to age 45, over age 45 it is 1 in 12.  Dr. Minaya stated that the increased risk for diabetes, hypertension, and elevated cholesterol levels are present without pregnancy as we age.  Having these additional co-morbidities increases the risk of miscarriage and preterm delivery.  With all that has been discussed in this post, it is still a decision for the couple to decide if and how to proceed.

Remember, not making a decision about having children, is a decision.  Make sure you understand what the risks are involved for your health, both mental and physical as well as the costs financially.   As Dr. Oz stated on the show, “Are you willing to sacrifice your personal and financial independence to have a child?  You must move the decision to have children to the top of the priority list by age 30.”

What you put into your body and how you care for your body relates to how your eggs age.  Optimum health must be strived for at every age.  At Trabuco Hills Chiropractic, we are able to test the health of your cells through Bioelectrical Impedence Analysis as well as blood work to determine what your overall health status is.  We work with you to help you reach and maintain your health goals naturally.  Chiropractic manipulation to the spine maintains optimal circulatory and neurological flow to the reproductive organs.  We are committed to helping you have a healthy pregnancy naturally at any age!

Researchers Recommend Pregnant Women Take 4,000 IU Vitamin D a Day

According to the “icrazy” article by Tony Dokoupil found in the July 16,2012 issue of Newsweek magazine, the new research being published regarding internet usage is astonishing and worthy of paying attention to! Research is being done around the world regarding the negative impacts of the average person’s internet usage, and this article sums up the latest research statistics to date. The article states that the average teen processes an astounding 3,700 texts a month.

How does this all pertain to you a baby momma?  As a new baby momma the need to multitask is ever present.  But what about when you are breastfeeding?  The article quotes MIT psychologist Sherry Turkle from the American Psychological Association last summer that “Mothers are now breastfeeding and bottlefeeding their babies as they text.” She further states, “A mother made tense by text messages is going to be experienced as tense by the child. And that child is vulnerable to interpreting that tension as coming from within the relationship with the mother. This is something that needs to be watched very closely.”
Breastfeeding is such a bonding experience between a mother and a child, you might want to think twice about checking emails and texting while you are breastfeeding or bottle feeding your child.  I would hate to have you or your little one miss out on that bonding experience. 

1. Reddy, Uma M.; Bettegowda, Vani R.; Dias, Todd; Yamada-Kushnir, Tomoko; Ko, Chia-Wen; Willinger, Marian. Term Pregnancy: A Period of Heterogeneous Risk for Infant Mortality. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2011; 117 (6): 1279-1287 DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e3182179e28

We saw this article on yahoo shine and thought it had some valuable information for babymomma’s.    It was first published on Monday February 7, 2011 by Shine Staff writer Piper Weiss.  We hope you find the information valuable.

Pregnant Rachel Zoe steps out in foot-skyscrapers. (Fame/Barcroft Media/via the Daily Mail)

Have you ever worn a pair of knee-high, 5-inch platform boots? It’s like operating two mechanical bulls with your feet. Reality star and celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe is a pro at it. She also happens to be pregnant. Is it a health risk to be rocking mega heels in your third trimester?

It is if you ask foot doctors. In June, the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists issued a warning for all pregnant women to avoid the extra lift. Shoes with too much height put both mom and baby in danger. ”High heels alter your posture, shorten your calf muscles and place increased pressure on your back and knees,” podiatrist Lorraine Jones told the BBC. “In pregnancy this places extra pressure on your joints when they are already under strain—which can result in a host of foot, leg and back problems.”

High heels also leave pregnant women for vulnerable to spills. Because your center of gravity changes with a baby bump, balancing on heels is a challenge after 25 weeks, even for stiletto veterans. Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and Lilly Allen all lost their footing while wearing high heels at appearances during their pregnancy.

That’s not to say pregnant women should turn strictly to flats. The SCP recommends supportive pumps with a 1.2-inch heel on average. The tilt distributes the weight of your body in a more therapeutic way so the soles of your feet aren’t bearing all the burden. Still got those Easy Spirits from the ’80s? Now’s a good time to break them out. They may not be head-turners but at least they’re vintage.

 Attention all baby momma’s,  Livingsocial.com is offering a great deal for post partum fitness.

  There is no better way to get back into pre-baby shape than working out with your baby and friends.  Stroller strides is offering 10 classes for $50 through livingsocial.com.  Sign up and take advantage of this great fitness offer exclusively for baby momma’s.

Yoga has gained popularity these days because of it’s ability to tie in breathing, flexibility, stability, posture, endurance, strength, and relaxation.  But what about when you are pregnant?  Is it safe?  Are there things I shouldn’t do in yoga? Prenatal yoga allows you to create more space for your baby as you find yourself increasingly relaxed.   Make sure that you have permission from your doctor to practice yoga during your pregnancy.  Make sure that you are working with a certified yoga instructor that can guide you through the best postures for you at whatever stage of pregnancy you are in.  Look for certified prenatal yoga instructors.  Our office recommends the yogaworks studio in Mission Viejo.  Linda Trumpfheller, the instructor,  is not only certified to teach prenatal yoga, but she is also certified in hypnobirthing as well.  We have complimentary yoga passes to yogaworks.  Be sure to pick one up at your next visit to our office.

What is a birth plan?

A birth plan is what you would like to see happen at the time of your delivery.  A birth plan includes who you want in the room (ie. babydaddy, sister, mother, or best friend) and it also states who you specifically don’t want in the room (ie. anyone that would make you feel uncomfortable and distract you from your ability to focus.

The birth plan also includes what you want to do regarding the use of pain medications during your birthing process.  Now is the time to decide what you want to do regarding anesthesia during delivery.  Research the information that is available to you so that you can make the best decision while you are clear and level-headed and not in the heat of the moment.

For additional information on how to set up your own birth plan, please visit www.birthplan.com.