2014 Myrtle Beach Baby Expo

Hynes Childbirth Services is excited to participate in our first Baby Expo!

Saturday, January 18th is the Star 92.1 Baby Expo of 2014.

Admission is free for Moms, Dads, and Grandparents to learn about the many local resources available to support pregnancy, birth, and parenting. From 10am to 3pm, we will have a booth at the Springmaid Beach Resort & Conference Center located at 3200 South Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, SC 29577.

The dates of our next Lamaze Childbirth Preparation Series will be scheduled according to the due dates of families we meet! Come introduce yourself and lets start the conversation about empowering your family to have the safest, most satisfying birth experience.

http://www.star921.net/common/page.php?id=301

Don't forget to *Like* us on Facebook!

www.faceboook.com/hyneschildbirthservices

www.HynesChildbirthServices.com

Gestational Diabetes Screening and Informed Decisions

In honor of a strong first time mama I met this year, who endured a confrontation from her care provider when she dared to decline the routine glucose screening test for gestational diabetes, I wanted to provide some information about the actual risk factors, signs of gestational diabetes, and screening alternatives.

Lamaze International states,
"You have the right to ask about and understand why each test is being recommended, the particulars of how a test will be done, all the risks associated with a test and if there are less risky approaches to diagnosing a problem or concern."

Doctors can easily rattle off a list of common and not so common risks to any procedure. Usually we just smile and nod and accept. But if you have questions about necessity of this, or any test, a key question is, "What other options are available for assessing this potential issue?" Another great question. "What happens if we do nothing?"

Remember your BRAIN

B = benefits

R = risks

A = alternatives

I = intuition

N = do nothing

When deciding if you will accept or decline the gestational diabetes screening, ask yourself these questions:

• Am I overweight?
• Am I related to anyone that has diabetes now, or had it anytime in their lifetime?
• Am I Hispanic/Latina, African American, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Asian American, or Pacific Islander?
• Am I older than 25?
• Have I had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy?
• Have I had a stillbirth or miscarriage?
• Have I had a baby greater than 9 pounds?
• Have I had polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) or another health condition linked to problems with insulin?
• Have I every had problems with insulin or blood sugar, such as insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, or "prediabetes" ?
• Do I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and/or heart disease?

The greater the number of "Yes" answers, the greater your risk for developing gestational diabetes.

Lamaze International continues...

"Your healthcare provider should let you know that you have the right to refuse a test, and he/she should welcome your questions and respect your decisions."

((Sooo...that might mean NOT YELLING at PATIENTS. I would think.))

After her confrontation, the care provider finally conceded that a simple blood test without drinking the sugar mixture would be an acceptable alternative. Sometimes it is not easy to have these discussions with your doctor or midwife, but exploring your options and becoming confident in your pregnancy decisions will go a long way towards increasing your lifelong birth satisfaction.



References
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). National Diabetes Fact Sheet: 
National estimates and general information on diabetes and prediabetes in the United 
States, 2011. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention.

2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Obstetric Practice. 
(2009). Committee Opinion No. 435: Postpartum screening for abnormal glucose 
tolerance in women who had gestational diabetes mellitus. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 
113, 1419-1421.

Other Sources
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Obstetric Practice. 
(2011). ACOG Committee Opinion No. 504: Screening and diagnosis of gestational diabetes 
mellitus. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 118, 751-753. 

American Diabetes Association. (2011). Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus. 
Diabetes Care, 34 (Supplement 1), S62-S69.

American Diabetes Association. (2011). Standards of medical care in 
diabetes. Diabetes Care, 34 (Supplement 1), S11-S61.

"It was Truly a Magical Experience"

Really listen to these women. Really see their faces. Birth is important. The birth experience for mother and baby is important. It is not an easy journey. That's why it's called "motherhood".

Postpartum/Breastfeeding Resource for our Area

It was July 2013 when I first posted about meeting the founder of one of the newest (and desperately needed) breastfeeding resources in our community last week.

Ms. Julee Krechel recently held the grand opening of Southeast Maternal Medical Supply in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Julee together with Ms. Katherine Hunt (who together, have *been there, done that* when it comes to all of the challenges of breastfeeding and pumping) are helping new moms obtain breast pumps and supplies through purchase or rental, in addition to working with insurance providers to comply with the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare). If you have a breastfeeding question, they have the answer.

Julee is not ONLY certified as an "Advanced Lactation Consultant" AND a "Certified Lactation Counselor", but has also obtained her credentials as an "International Board Certified Lactation Consultant", which involved a rigorous evaluation by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. The IBLCE is the only international certifying body, and the gold standard in lactation and breastfeeding professional specialization.

In the Hynes Childbirth Preparation classes, we allow an entire three hour class to discuss the challenges and importance of the postpartum period including newborn care and breastfeeding. Based on my informal research, the postpartum period is one of the most overlooked aspects of childbirth preparation. It is essential to establish your postpartum plan for the first week home, the first month, and the first six months. Breastfeeding is usually a brand new adventure for moms. It can be challenging and it can be exhausting. It is so important to have access to a breastfeeding professional that can help with the latch, reassure you that baby is getting enough, and you are doing well. Feeling isolated in the breastfeeding and postpartum experience is one of the leading causes of postpartum depression. A few positioning tweaks from a professional can do a world of good for a mommy/baby bond and nutrition.

Call Julee  at (843) 235-2305 or visit at 263 Commerce Drive, Unit 101 in Pawleys Island, South Carolina 29585 behind the Sonic and The Fresh Market.

It is OFFICIAL

I am now a certified birth doula!

Amanda Hynes CD(DONA)

www.dona.org

~ * ~ !!!! ~ * ~

I am super over the moon

proud

and 

psyched.

Guess it is time to re-vamp the sidebar of the blog showing my certification status.

:):):)

Delay that Clamp Please

Delayed Cord Clamping.
IMPORTANT!

http://gaia-health.com/gaia-blog/2012-12-01/the-most-harmful-medical-intervention-is-done-to-all-of-us/

Also, a little Penny Simkin for good measure. She shares a dramatic visual of the volume of blood a baby gains by waiting 2 minutes for the cord to stop pulsating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3RywNup2CM

NoseFrida (aka booger sucker)

Oooo...so weird. I want to try it.

The website says this:

It's smart.

It's Swedish.

It's maybe a little strange.

But, man, if it works well, I'd love to be able to clear out a child's stuffy nose non-medically.
Check out the video:

http://www.fridababy.com/shop/nosefrida/