“Pregnancy's happy daze - Stuff” plus 4 more

Pregnancy's happy daze - Stuff
SARAH PALIN'S MARRIAGE 'ON THE ROCKS' OVER RUMOURS SHE THREW WEDDING ... - Daily Express
Hollywood Diapers - Celine Dion Pregnant, Kourtney Kardashian Dad ... - National Ledger
MADISONIAN: Maureen Durkin - Wisconsin State Journal
U. of C. expert on kidney disease - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 22 Aug 2009 02:53 PM PDT

By BARBARA DOCHERTY - Sunday News

MOST women find pregnancy is the best of times, but for a few it can be the worst of times.

The natural act of having a baby now seems to bring a confusing maze of choices for new parents. Birth in a hospital or at home; vaginal delivery or Caesarean; plenty of pain relief, epidural or no pain relief; underwater birth; and which lead maternity carer (LMC) to go with.

LMCs (usually midwives these days) are there to help but, with 64,160 births last year, they are in short supply.

Most women learn they are pregnant using a home pregnancy test kit or by blood test. Having missed a period, you may develop nausea (many women never actually get this), sore breasts, tiredness, a need to pee often and a dislike of or craving for some foods.

It's best to choose an LMC as soon as possible call 0800 Mum 2 Be (0800 686 223). Most pregnancies are normal but some mothers can have problems due to high blood pressure and swelling, pregnancy diabetes, infections, age or may have had previous problematic births or stillbirth.

If there's any bleeding or unusual pain, get it checked immediately by your GP or LMC it might be minor but it could signal miscarriage or ectopic (also called tubal) pregnancy. Tests may be offered to detect genetic or other abnormalities such as spina bifida or Down syndrome.

All women can have a mid-pregnancy ultrasound scan to show the baby's growth an exciting moment. The baby will be born at around 40 weeks, counting from the first day of the last menstruation. From that day (ideally even before) it is essential to take special care of yourself and the baby.

Nutrition is important. Eating lots of folate, iodine and vitamin-rich foods such as leafy greens, citrus fruits, wholegrain breads, beans and pulses, tofu and breakfast cereals will set you up well, plus calcium sources such as milk and yoghurt (teenage mums need extra calcium). Mums are normally expected to put on about 12-14kg during pregnancy.

A daily 0.8mg folic acid supplement four weeks before to 12 weeks after conception is recommended to reduce the risk of spina bifida.

As for drinks, it's good to get plenty of water and keep off the alcohol (tobacco and recreational drugs, too, for that matter).

Troublesome varicose veins, stretch marks, morning sickness and constipation go with the territory but your LMC can help you find remedies.

Once your baby arrives, breastfeeding is the best, safest and cheapest method. It's not always easy to start, so don't be afraid to ask for help from your LMC or contact www.lalecheleague.org.nz. Learn how to express milk as well. Sore breasts or cracked nipples need immediate attention or they'll become another obstacle to breastfeeding.

The "baby blues" can make you feel sad or lonely and it affects nearly 80% of mums temporarily. If it lasts more than two weeks, see your GP.

As a parent, trust your judgment and involve your partner in decisions. It nearly always works. There's also support available if you need it from Parents Centres, marae-based clinics and Plunket.

Barbara Docherty is a registered nurse and clinical lecturer at the University of Auckland School of Nursing.

Sponsored links

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

SARAH PALIN'S MARRIAGE 'ON THE ROCKS' OVER RUMOURS SHE THREW WEDDING ... - Daily Express

Posted: 22 Aug 2009 03:58 PM PDT

It seems to me that their marriage is just a sham for the cameras. If it ended in the next year, I wouldnt be surprised.

Since she became the running mate of Republican presidential contender John McCain in last years presidential election, Ms Palin, 45, and Todd, 44, an executive with oil giant BP, have had to face several embarrassments.

These included claims that she had an affair with Todds former business associate.

Ms Palin denied the allegations, claiming they were cruel smears by her opponents.

Then Levis mother was arrested during Bristols pregnancy. Sherry Johnston was charged with multiple drug offences, including dealing the potent and highly addictive painkiller OxyContin. She is still awaiting trial.

Ms Palin faced an investigation into whether she breached Alaskan laws by accepting private donations to pay her legal fees during the presidential race. She was partially exonerated.

Many believe the stress this caused prompted her to resign as state governor last month, more than 16 months before her term of office was due to end.

Since her surprise announcement, speculation has been rife that Ms Palin aims to secure the Republican nomination to challenge Barack Obama in the 2012 White House race and become Americas first woman president, although she has not confirmed this publicly.

She has, however, signed a multi-million dollar book deal with publisher HarperCollins.

This month, Jesse Griffin, who runs an internet site called The Immoral Minority, quoted a source allegedly close to the Palins as saying: Sarah is finished with Todd and has decided to end their marriage. Griffin and a US weekly magazine reported that Ms Palin threw her wedding ring into a lake after a row.

A source who travelled with Ms Palin on the campaign trail last year told the Sunday Express yesterday: Its very clear there are domestic issues but Sarah is no quitter and Id be very surprised if she didnt fight to keep her family intact.

I believe shes more than well equipped to face up to the kind of problems faced by millions of regular people every day.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Hollywood Diapers - Celine Dion Pregnant, Kourtney Kardashian Dad ... - National Ledger

Posted: 22 Aug 2009 02:39 PM PDT

MADISONIAN: Maureen Durkin - Wisconsin State Journal

Posted: 22 Aug 2009 03:58 PM PDT

Q: Why is the study important?

A: There is so much we don't know about the causes of common pediatric disorders, such as preterm birth, developmental disabilities, allergies, asthma, behavioral disorders and obesity. Some disorders appear to be increasing in the population, and we don't know why.

Q: What's the most fascinating part of this to you?

A: The study is still in its infancy and we've just begun data collection in Waukesha County. The first birth is expected in October. We don't know yet what we'll find, but the study has the potential to transform our understanding of children's health and our ability to prevent and manage childhood disorders. For example, there is great hope that the National Children's Study will lead to new discoveries about autism and its prevention.

Q: When will the first results come in?

A: The earliest results will be those related to pregnancy and birth outcomes, and we hope to see these within the next few years.

Q: Has anything on this scale ever been tried before?

A: The Women's Health Initiative enrolled over 100,000 women in the U.S. in the 1990s, and is already credited with having lead to a major reduction in breast cancer incidence in post-menopausal women. The National Children's Study is modeled partially after studies of 100,000 births recently started in Denmark and in Norway.

Q: What can people who want to participate do?

A: The future of the study is somewhat uncertain due to cost concerns. The most important thing may be for those in support of children's health research to communicate about this and the importance of children's health as a national priority.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

U. of C. expert on kidney disease - Chicago Sun-Times

Posted: 22 Aug 2009 10:21 AM PDT

Published classic studies on function, known for clinical skills

Dr. Adrian I. Katz was hired by the University of Chicago in 1968 to establish a kidney dialysis program and stayed on to become an international authority on the functions and diseases of that vital organ.

"Adrian published some of the classic studies of kidney function and membrane transport," said his colleague Marshall Lindheimer, a professor emeritus who's an expert on kidney disease and hypertension during pregnancy.

"But he was also renowned for his clinical skills, which engendered many loyal patients. As a physician, he was compassionate, thoughtful and a brilliant diagnostician."

Dr. Katz, 77, died of heart failure Monday at his home in Hyde Park.

A refugee from Bucharest, Romania, he emigrated in 1950 to Israel, where he graduated from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and Hadassah Medical School. He was on the U. of C. faculty from 1968 until his retirement in 2002.

"He was always our first choice for a consult or second opinion," said Dr. F. Gary Toback, professor of medicine at the university. "He was thoughtful, and he listened. Those same skills made him a good leader. When he came here, the nephrology section had lost several key faculty, yet he quickly rebuilt the section into a strong national presence with a reputation as one of the top programs in the nation."

Following an internship at Tel Aviv University's Belinson Medical Center, Dr. Katz and his wife, Miriam, came to the United States in 1965. He did a fellowship at Yale University, then worked on the dialysis program at Harvard.

"He was recruited by the University of Chicago for their dialysis program," his wife said. "They could not have any kidney transplantation without it. For him, the kidney was an intriguing thing. There was very little known about the functions of the kidney.

"He was still doing research," she said. "He published until the end."

His work led to better understandings of the kidney, including how it reabsorbs large amounts of sodium during pregnancy and also the extent of fluid maintenance needed in hot desert climates.

He published more than 300 scholarly papers and book chapters, co-edited the 1976 book Hypertension in Pregnancy and co-wrote (with Lindheimer) the book Kidney Function and Disease in Pregnancy.

Adrian Izhack Katz was born Aug. 3, 1932, in Bucharest. When he was in his teens, his family had to hide from anti-Jewish pogroms sweeping Eastern Europe.

His father spent much of World War II in a concentration camp.

At the University of Chicago, Dr. Katz become an associate professor in 1971, section chief of nephrology in 1973 and professor of medicine in 1975.

He spent a year as a visiting professor at the College de France, in Paris, in 1977-78, and a semester as a visiting professor at Yale in 1988. He also lectured around the world.

Dr. Katz received awards from Hebrew University, Yale, and the National Institutes of Health, plus a Lifetime of Service Award from the Kidney Foundation of Illinois in 2002 and the Gold Key Award from the University of Chicago Medical School Alumni.

He was "a quiet scholar, who enjoyed reading and classical music," Lindheimer said.

"He loved all the arts," Dr. Katz's wife said. "He also had a remarkable sense of humor. ... I suspect his family's troubles in Romania taught him to see the humor in life's challenges."

Beside his wife, survivors include a daughter, Iris, and a granddaughter. Services have been held.

DR. ADRIAN I. KATZ | 1932-2009: