what is the triple screen test and should I get it? February 28, 2007
Posted by guinever in : genetic testing, pregnancy , add a commentThe triple screen is a blood test done around the 16th week of your pregnancy. It has become just another routine test in many OB/GYN offices. By measuring the level of alpha-fetoprotein and pregnancy hormones in your blood, the triple screen or AFP screening can indicate if you have an increased risk for carrying a baby with a genetic disorder such as Down’s syndrome or Spina bifida.
Knowing the exact gestational age is important because the protein and hormone levels increase as your pregnancy progresses. About 5 to 7% of women who are screened show an increased risk of carrying a baby with Down’s syndrome. And of those 5 to 7% , only 1 or 2 babies are born with the disorder. Therefore, the triple screen test has a high false positive rate–this means that your baby probably does not have Down’s syndrome even though the test shows your baby might have it.
These false positive results cause great anxiety for a pregnant woman. Couples worry about their baby for the rest of the pregnancy.
If you get an abnormal test result, it does not mean that there is a definite problem with your baby; it just indicates that your baby might have an increased risk of having a problem. Repeating the triple screen test usually rules out this increased risk.
If your second test yields the same abnormal results as the first test, your doctor will probably recommend having an amniocentesis. Please note that the risk of doing harm to your baby during an amnio test is usually greater than the likelihood that your baby actually has the genetic disorder you are trying to confirm. Amniocentesis could cause miscarriage.
When considering whether or not you should have the triple screen test, ask yourself what you will do with the test results, especially if you get an abnormal test result. For most pregnant women, not having the triple screen test is the smart thing to do. Read what other women have said about the triple screen test.
For a more thorough and technical explanation, please refer to the March of Dimes and WebMD.
Lexington, Kentucky needs more midwives February 18, 2007
Posted by guinever in : midwifery, pregnancy , 2commentsCurrently, Lexington, Kentucky has only one certified nurse midwife with admitting privileges. If you want more midwives in Lexington, please sign this petition. Doctors and hospitals do not think there is a need for midwives. The evidence for this lies in the fact that a midwife was fired from an area hospital and not replaced. Certified Nurse Midwives have applied for jobs in several doctor’s offices and told their patients do not want midwives.
If you live in the Lexington, Kentucky area and would like more midwifery care options, please sign the petition.
how long does it take the cervix to dilate 5 centimeters? February 13, 2007
Posted by guinever in : birth, labor, pregnancy , 234commentsIt takes a long time for the cervix to dilate 5 centimeters. It’s going to be many days or weeks of having Braxton Hicks contractions before labor begins just to get the cervix ready for labor. But if the cervix isn’t “ripe” for labor and your water breaks or your contractions start, then it’s going to take many hours of early labor just to soften and efface the cervix. When I say many hours, it could be 12-24 hours of having light, but persistent contractions just to get to 2-3 centimeters dilated. And then it will be a few more hours to dilate to 4-5 centimeters.
Before the cervix can dilate or open up, it must first soften. This thinning and softening of the cervix is called effacement, which is measured in percentages. Usually, the cervix is long, hard and closed. As a pregnant woman has Braxton Hicks contractions during pregnancy or in labor, the cervix starts this effacement process which ripens the cervix and prepares it for labor. As the cervix continues to soften, it starts to dilate as well.
You may be checked by your doctor or midwife as your due date approaches and found to be 50% effaced and a fingertip dilated. The next week you may be 60% effaced and still a fingertip dilated. The next week, your cervix may be 2 centimeters dilated. The effacing and dilating of the cervix can take many weeks before “real labor” begins. The more contractions you have before labor starts, the shorter your labor will be.
If you slowly dilate during the last weeks of pregnancy, then your cervix will be “ripe” and ready for labor. You may dilate to 5 centimeters after just a few short hours of labor. And if this isn’t your first baby, getting to 5 centimeters could happen very quickly.
However, there is another scenario. If your labor starts and your cervix hasn’t already done a lot of the effacing and dilating that I just described, it will take many hours of light contractions just to get to 2-3 centimeters dilated.
Sometimes, your water may break before contractions begin. You might stay home for about 12 hours having light contractions. During this time, you can follow your normal routine. Eat when you’re hungry, drink when you’re thirsty. You can even relax in the bath after your water breaks if you want to. After 12 hours of these light contractions, your cervix may only be dilated 1 centimeter. It may be another 12 hours or more before the cervix is dilated to 4-5 centimeters and active labor kicks in.
So be prepared for a long, slow early labor if your cervix hasn’t softened during pregnancy. So to answer the question, how long does it take the cervix to dilate to 5 centimeters? A long time.
What does being 2 centimeters dilated mean?
Cervical dilation 101: frequently asked questions
why I use Mother-ease® cloth diapers February 3, 2007
Posted by guinever in : babies, cloth diapers, pregnancy , 11comments
I’ve been cloth diapering since my oldest chid was born in 1999. For the first five months of my son’s life, I was committed to using cloth diapers, but I had bought a variety of inexpensive diapers, trying to save money. After all, that was my main reason for using them in the first place–so I wouldn’t have the high cost of using disposable diapers. But as he got older and the amount of leaks increased, my commitment wavered. It seemed I was changing his clothes almost as often as I was changing his diaper.
A leak-free system sounded too good to be true
I had visited the Mother-ease® website on several occasions and had seen their advertisements in magazines. They promised a leak-free diaper system. But I thought they were pricey, and I didn’t really believe the claims. Then my son started having blow-outs (large amounts of poop that escaped the confines of his diaper) so I tried disposables, but the name brand diapers didn’t contain his messes either. So I ordered the introductory offer from Motherease® consisting of a diaper, liner, and cover. I figured I would use this diaper for a month to see if I liked it or not.
The Mother-ease® claims proved to be true
The first time my son wore the one size diaper and air-flow cover, he had a huge “blow-out” like the one I described above, except this time it didn’t leak because the diaper was so absorbent. The cover didn’t even get messed up. I didn’t need to try this diaper for a month. I called Motherease® immediately and ordered a dozen diapers. I later added another dozen and then another. As long as the diaper is tucked all the way into the cover, and the diaper is changed before it gets too wet so it won’t hold anymore liquid, Motherease® diapers are truly leak-proof.
Mother-ease® diapers last a long time
I quickly realized that although these diapers were pricier than others, in the long run, they would save money because I wouldn’t have to replace them. My fourth baby wore the same diapers as all her siblings. Not bad for diapers to last 6 years of non-stop use. Now, with my fifth child, I have bought another dozen and have had to slowly toss the older diapers away because they have become thin after years of use. The snaps on these diapers and covers are amazing. Not one has pulled away from the fabric or broken–something I have experienced in every other brand of snap-to-fit diapers I have tried. I have never had to throw away a cover. They’re still waterproof after going through 5 babies. I do not put the covers in the drier. I have used the one-size diapers which fit 8-35 pounds from newborn until potty training.
Pocket diapers.
Since my beginnings in cloth diapering, a new kind of diaper has entered the market. I wondered what all the rage was about over this very popular style of diaper, so I bought 3 to use at night with my toddler. I have to say that after months of using them, I really do prefer Mother-ease®. One of the benefits of the pocket diapers is that the synthetic material next to baby’s skin wicks away moisture so baby strays drier, thus reducing the incidence of diaper rash. Well, Mother-ease® has introduced stay-dry diapers and liners which I love even better than their original diaper. If you order from Mother-ease® , please tell them that Guinever sent you.
What I use and highly recommend
One size dry diapers and snap-in liners
Air flow covers
newborn Sandy’s diapers for use in the first months (but not necessary)
Don’t forget the nursing pads
Read how to wash cloth diapers.
How to wash cloth diapers February 1, 2007
Posted by guinever in : babies, cloth diapers , 4commentsI’ve used cloth diapers on all my children so I’ve been washing cloth diapers continually since 1999. My method of washing diapers is below:
Use only one diaper pail, and do not put water in it. There is 
no need to rinse dirty diapers as long as baby is solely breast-fed. Once baby starts eating solids (or formula), the dirty diapers need to be rinsed in the toilet. Flushable, biodegradable diaper liners also available in a roll can minimize mess on the diaper. You just lay the liner in the center of the diaper and then dump the liner in the toilet when soiled. The liners can be washed with the diapers until you need to flush them away. Using the liners are optional. Sometimes, if the waste is solid enough, it just easily drops in the toilet with no problem without the use of liners.
Wash diapers once the pail gets full which is every 2-3 days with only one baby in diapers. First, set the washer to run a medium sized load and do a cold/cold wash on the shortest possible cycle. If the diapers seem extra dirty or stinky, or if baby is sick, add either washing soda or baking soda to disinfect the diapers.
Next, run a hot/ cold wash with the longest possible time.
The hot water is necessary to get them really clean. A good detergent to use is ALL. (I’ve tried castille soap and a variety of other detergents, but they don’t seem to work as well.) Don’t use “free and clear” detergents because they have added ingredients which leave residues.
Finish with a 2nd rinse with a big splash of white distilled vinegar. The vinegar helps get all the soap out, balances the Ph level, and softens the diapers. Using vinegar is optional.
Hang them outside on the line when it’s not raining or snowing because the sun bleaches out stains and it’s also nice to dry them naturally.
Don’t use bleach because it shortens the life of diapers. Bleach is harsh and corrosive and can make holes in your diapers, so it shouldn’t be used. Using a small amount of a product like oxy-clean when baby is sick kills the germs and bacteria. Don’t use fabric softener or dryer sheets because they leave a coating that is water resistant, thus making the diapers less absorbent. When baby wets, the wetness will bead up on the diapers, causing leaks.
Don’t wash covers with your diapers because they can’t take the hot temperature. (A few covers can tolerate higher temperatures; just follow the manufacturer’s instructions.) You can just wash them with your light colored clothes and then hang them to dry. Most wool diaper covers require hand washing. For best results, use a rinse made especially for wool. Most diaper covers should not be put in the dryer because of the high temperature. If put in the dryer, they won’t be waterproof anymore which is not what you want! The high temperature in the dryer can also destroy Velcro if you have it on your diapers or covers.
Read why I use Mother-ease diapers.
