Home births riskier for first-time mothers

To-be-moms please take note: Women who opt for a home birth for their first baby are almost three times more likely to suffer complications than if they go to hospital, a landmark study has found.

The largest ever study, conducted by Oxford University involving more than 65,500 births in the UK, also found that up to half of first-time mothers were transferred to hospital while in labour from home and third from a midwifery unit.

However, it found that women having their second or third babies, who were classed as low risk, were just as safe at home or in a midwife-only unit as they were in a hospital unit with specialist obstetricians.

The research, published in the British Medical Journal, also found that rates of complications affecting the baby including stillbirth after the start of labour, the baby dying within the first week of birth, brain injury, fractures to the upper arm or shoulder during birth, and faeces in the lungs, were higher for first time mothers.

There were 9.5 such complications per 1,000 births for first time mothers having their baby at home, compared with 3.5 per 1,000 births to first time mothers in hospital.

There was no increased risk for babies whose birth was planned at units led by midwives, either ones that stand alone in the community or which are attached to a clinic, it found.

Prof Peter Brocklehurst, who led the study, said: "For every 1,000 women, 995 babies would have a completely normal outcome.

"These results should reassure pregnant women planning their birth that they can make informed decisions about where they'd most like the birth to happen, knowing that giving birth in England is generally very safe.

"There is an increase in risk for first-time mums planning home births, but poor outcomes for the baby are still uncommon."

How to enjoy delayed motherhood

What it is: Having a baby before the 37th week of pregnancy.
Risk factors: Uterine or cervical abnormalities, recurring bladder or kidney infections, clotting disorder.
Call your doc: If you have increased vaginal discharge, vaginal bleeding or spotting, increased pressure in the pelvic area, abdominal cramping.
Rx: Medication including calcium channel blockers, terbutaline drugs, steroids and synthetic progesterone help delay the delivery.
The old saying 'better late than never' is not entirely applicable while planning a baby. Doctors at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London, advise that women should ideally have babies within ages 20 to 35.

The good news is that you can easily outsmart agerelated pregnancy complications if you are running a bit late. Identify the risks, report them to your doc and be safe. Be a happy, healthy post-30s mommy!

Intra-Uterine Growth Retardation (IUGR)
What it is: Retardation of the baby's growth in the uterus.
Risk factors: Hypertension, anaemia, kidney disease.
Call your doc: If you are not gaining adequate weight, your abdomen looks abnormally small.
Rx: Your doc will probably suggest bed rest. Sleep in the left lateral position. Follow a high-carb, high-protein diet. Available treatment options include low-dose aspirin therapy, zinc supplementation, fi sh oil and oxygen therapy.

Pregnancy Tests

Pregnancy tests work by testing a woman’s urine to find out if they have a hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin. This hormone is also called the pregnancy hormone and it builds up in the woman’s body every day that she is pregnant. There are two different types of pregnancy tests. One tests the blood, and the other tests the urine. Women who want to check their blood to find out if they are pregnant will need to see a doctor. A Home Pregnancy Test, can be bought at most Pharmacies.

Women who think they may be pregnant may wonder when is the best time to take a pregnancy test. Blood tests can usually indicate a pregnancy quicker than a home pregnancy test. If a woman wants to find out if she is pregnant by buying a home pregnancy test, the best time to take the test is first thing in the morning with the first urine of the day. The first urine in the morning will give the most accurate reading. A woman should also make sure that the pregnancy test is not expired, otherwise they could get a faulty reading. The digital home pregnancy tests are the best tests to purchase because they give a reading of either pregnant, or not pregnant. Other tests just give an indicator of a minus sign or a plus sign. The minus sign meaning they are not pregnant, and the plus sign meaning they are pregnant. When taking a home pregnancy test, a woman should wait for one week after their first missed period. The longer a woman waits, the more time the pregnancy hormone has time to show up. If a woman takes a pregnancy test too soon, it could give them a false negative, when they are actually pregnant.

When a woman takes a home pregnancy test, she will need to urinate on the home pregnancy indicator stick, and then wait for ten minutes after taking the test. The pregnancy test will usually indicate a pregnancy ten minutes after the urine is placed on the stick. Pregnancy tests can give a false negative if they are not used in the right way. If a pregnancy test has expired, it will give a false reading. If the woman takes the test later on during the day, she may get a false negative because the urine is not as potent. Most urine builds up over night while a person is sleeping, so they will get a lot of urine during the early morning hours, but it decreases in potency as the day goes by.

When you are trying to get pregnant or first find out that you are pregnant, there are so many people telling you what you should or should not do that it can become quite confusing. If in doubt, talk to your doctor because they can give you the best, and correct, information. As most new mothers, or mothers-to-be, the first few weeks of growth are the most important part of the baby’s life so you should be careful what you eat. This also pertains to the couple, both mom and dad, who are trying to conceive.

To help prevent unintended health related issues, birth defects, and to help with the mobility and health of the sperm, produce and vegetables that have been sprayed with pesticides need to be avoided. Some of the most contaminated produce that you should avoid are apples, peaches, bell peppers, strawberries, lettuce, celery, cherries, carrots, pears, and imported grapes. If you just have to have them, eat organic.

Eat a lot of vegetables and fruit with folic acid while you are pregnant and when you are trying to conceive. These could include dried beans, citrus fruit, spinach, peas, and broccoli. In the early stages of a baby’s development, if you have enough folic acid you can help prevent neurological defects, but do not go overboard and have too much. Talk to your physician to see how much you should have.

In addition, you should slow down on the amount of animal fat you are eating because these types of products can contain antibiotics, synthetic hormones, and chemicals like DDT, or other pesticides. These all can accumulate in animal fat, and then transfer to our own fat. When you are buying any type of meat, dairy, or poultry, look for low fat options. Make sure that you trim all the fats and skin away before you cook them. Broil all meat if possible so the fat will drain away, but do not fry the meat because that locks in the contaminants.

Be careful of the plastic dishes you use and avoid the ones that are numbered PC 1, 3, 6, or 7 as they may contain chemicals that are suspected of causing harm to the fetus. They also suggest that you only eat food that is fresh, frozen, or packed in glass jars because cans have a plastic resin that has a hormone-disrupting chemical. This also goes for canned beverages.

These are just some steps you can take to help your baby before it is conceived and afterwards during the first few weeks of development. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions.