plus 4, Teen: Flint doctor forcibly terminated pregnancy - Port Huron Times-Herald

Teen: Flint doctor forcibly terminated pregnancy - Port Huron Times-Herald
Doctor's advice: Sex and ectopic pregnancy - Jamaica Gleaner
Pregnancy Discrimination Act - Business Management Daily
Vaccines during pregnancy and breastfeeding - KIVI-TV
New director excited about pregnancy center - Leaf Chronicle

Teen: Flint doctor forcibly terminated pregnancy - Port Huron Times-Herald

Posted: 21 Nov 2009 06:17 PM PST

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A teenager claims in a lawsuit that an abortion provider in Flint and his assistant forcibly terminated her pregnancy after she screamed for them to stop.

The Flint Journal reports that the teen was six weeks pregnant when she went April 9 to the doctor's clinic. The lawsuit claims she changed her mind before the doctor started and yelled to stop.

In a court filing, the doctor says the procedure was under way when she asked to stop and he had to complete the abortion.

The lawsuit also claims the teen was mistreated because she is black, a claim the doctor denies.

The lawsuit was filed June 12 in Genesee County Circuit Court. The seen seeks damages "far exceeding" $25,000 due to severe emotional stress, mental anguish and additional medical treatment.

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Doctor's advice: Sex and ectopic pregnancy - Jamaica Gleaner

Posted: 21 Nov 2009 01:10 PM PST

Q Doctor, my girlfriend and I have a fabulous sex life and we hope eventually to get married and have children.

However, she recently had an ectopic pregnancy. Neither of us has any idea of what that is.

She had to take an operation, and the docs told us not to have sex for the next two months. They said they had had to take the tube away.

What exactly is an ectopic pregnancy, Doc? Is it my fault? Did I do something wrong during sex?

Also, why have they said we must not have sex? And will we be able to have babies one day?

A Sorry to hear about all this. Ectopic pregnancies are common. It is important that all young women be aware that this is a very frequent cause of stomach pain.

Well, now, let me explain it to you. She must have become pregnant without either of you realising it. Now, what normally happens in a pregnancy is that the sperm fertilises the egg in the fallopian tube.

The fallopian tube is one of a pair of narrow tubes which connect the upper part of the womb to the two ovaries. One tube is on the right of the belly, and the other on the left.

You can get a good idea of the layout by holding your arms up above your ears, with a cricket ball in each hand! The cricket balls then represent the two ovaries. Your two arms represent the two fallopian tubes and your body represents the womb.

The fertilised egg should than gradually move into the womb, where it will spend the next nine months.

However, quite often this arrangement goes terribly wrong! Often, the fertilised egg gets 'stuck' in the fallopian tube, or maybe just outside it. That is an ectopic (meaning 'out of place') pregnancy.

Sadly, there is almost no way that a pregnancy can progress when it is outside the womb. Very occasionally, a child does survive ectopic pregnancy.

In practice, what often happens is that the pregnancy tries to develop in the narrow fallopian tube, but cannot do so, because there is no space. The woman may feel terrible pain.

The typical storyline of a patient undergoing an ectopic pregnancy goes like this: The woman is around three weeks overdue when she bleeds a little through the vagina. And she gets intense pain in the belly, low down and on one side. Sometimes the pain may travel to the shoulder.

At this stage, hospital admission is vital, and may be life-saving. What frequently happens is what seems to have occurred in your partner's case. The surgeon has to operate in order to remove the ectopic pregnancy. Usually, that means that the fallopian tube on that side has to be removed too.

Happily, there is sometimes a less dramatic chain of events. If the ectopic pregnancy occurs in the fallopian tube, but at the end which is nearer to the womb, the tube may actually push it right out into the womb, usually with some blood. If that happens, the patient may just think she has had a miscarriage, and might not realise she had an ectopic pregnancy. In some cases, giving a drug called methotrexate may encourage this to happen.

This phenomenon where an ectopic pregnancy is pushed out into the womb is called a tubal abortion.

It is clear that in your girlfriend's case, the gynaecological surgeon had to operate to save her life - and they had to take one of her tubes away.

However, she has another fallopian tube, so it is very likely she can become pregnant in the future.

You ask if YOU 'did anything wrong'. No, you didn't, and you didn't cause the pregnancy to be ectopic. However, I do feel that you should take care to use a good contraceptive method, such as the condom, until you both are ready to try for babies.

The reasojn the gynaecologists have advised no sex for a couple of months is because your girlfriend's body needs time to recover from what has been quite an ordeal.

QDoc, a girl performed oral sex on me at a party recently.

Could that give me VD?

A Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), often termed venereal disease, are occasionally passed on this way. I don't think it's very likely that you have caught anything.

But if you get any discharge or pain, please consult a doc.

Q I am a 29-year-old woman and my doc has put me on hormones.

Can I safely assume that they would prevent me from getting pregnant?

A No, you can't. Unless she has put you on some form of the Pill, you must assume that you are liable to get pregnant.

QI am getting attacks of numbness in both hands. Why?

A You may have the famous carpal tunnel syndrome, which you can look up on the Net or check your doc. But numbness in both arms is often caused from a problem in the neck, where something is pressing on the nerves.

Please get a good medical check-up.

QMy wife, aged 28, has just astounded me by telling me that she sometimes gets what she calls 'warm sexual feelings' about other females.

Does this indicate that she is really a lesbian?

A No, it does not. Studies have indicated that a lot of women sometimes feel a certain amount of attraction towards their own sex. This doesn't mean they have any intention of doing anything about it, or of leaping into bed with ladies.

However, what interests me is why your wife told you this. Was she perhaps just trying to turn you on? Or is there some problem with your marriage?

If in doubt, you should see a marriage counsellor together.

QI am an 18-year-old man and have only just started to get interested in sex.

What concerns me, Doc, is that it now appears that my organ is splitting apart when I get erect!

Help me, please.

A I am not sure what you mean by 'splitting apart'. However, it often happens that when a young man first starts to masturbate, or indeed to fool around with girls, little bands of protective tissue called adhesions break up.

These adhesions attached the skin to the head of the penis during childhood. They are no longer required, so it does not matter that they split away.

Maybe that's what's happening to you. Nevertheless, I would like you to have a doc examine you to make sure all is well. Please do not fret.

Email questions to Doc at saturdaylife@gleanerjm.com.

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Pregnancy Discrimination Act - Business Management Daily

Posted: 21 Nov 2009 05:53 AM PST

Maternity Leave Laws: Guideline #3

FMLA maternity leave

When an employee becomes pregnant, her employer must also consider her right to take FMLA leave.

To qualify for FMLA leave, an employee must have worked for the same employer for at least 12 months (not necessarily continuously) and clocked at least 1,250 hours of service (slightly more than 24 hours per week) during the 12 months leading up to FMLA leave.

Any organization with 50 or more employees working within a 75-mile radius of the work site must comply with the FMLA.

Maternity Leave Laws: Guideline #4

Reasonable accommodation under the ADA

A normal pregnancy is not considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

But if a woman experiences pregnancy complications that substantially limit a major life activity, she may be considered disabled under the ADA and, therefore, entitled to reasonable accommodation to perform her job.

Example: If a new mother is still unable to return to work after exhausting her 12 weeks of FMLA maternity leave, you should evaluate her condition under the ADA to determine whether additional pregnancy disability leave is a reasonable accommodation for her. (Also, be sure to check state maternity leave laws because some states provide more than 12 weeks of parental leave.)

All employers that have 15 or more employees must comply with the ADA.

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Vaccines during pregnancy and breastfeeding - KIVI-TV

Posted: 21 Nov 2009 08:30 AM PST

From the Flu and Cold Health Center

Congratulations on your pregnancy! You're eating right, getting extra rest and taking your prenatal vitamins. After all, you want to do everything you can to ensure a healthy baby! But have you given any thought to protecting yourself and your baby against infectious diseases—like seasonal influenza and the H1N1 flu virus, an additional flu risk this year?

It's important to consider vaccination part of your prenatal care. That's why the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has specific recommendations for pregnant and breastfeeding women. The committee notes that there is no evidence of risk to your developing baby if you are vaccinated with an inactivated viral or bacterial vaccine while pregnant. In either case, the committee notes, the "benefits of vaccinating pregnant women usually outweigh the potential risks when the likelihood of disease exposure is high, when infection would pose a risk to the mother or fetus, and when the vaccine is unlikely to cause harm."

The CDC's ACIP recommends both the seasonal flu vaccination and the H1N1 vaccine for pregnant and breastfeeding women and for people 6 months to 24 years.

The CDC also identifies four safe and effective optional vaccines for pregnant women, if you have been or could be exposed to any of the following bacterial and viral diseases: Hepatitis B, tetanus-diphtheria, meningococcal and rabies.

So what makes the flu vaccines so important? Well, you're much more likely to be exposed to influenza in any given year than meningitis or rabies. Plus, pregnancy-related changes in your immune and respiratory systems mean that you are at higher risk for flu-related complications. In fact, if you get the flu while you're pregnant, you're more likely to be hospitalized with complications. Another good reason to get vaccinated against the flu is that a recent study found that your vaccine could protect your baby during his or her first six months—when infants can't receive a flu vaccine, yet when they are very vulnerable to flu-related complications.

This year, the novel H1N1 flu ("swine flu") poses an additional risk. At this point, scientists expect illnesses from H1N1 flu to continue for some time, so it's important for people—especially pregnant women or parents of infants and young children—to be as informed about the virus as possible.

Make Flu Vaccines a Family Affair

You're not the only one who needs a vaccine. The people around you should also get flu vaccines this season. That reduces the risk that they'll catch the flu and bring it home to you or your newborn.

Not one but two vaccines are recommended this year: One for seasonal flu and one for H1N1 flu.

There are also two forms of seasonal flu vaccine: the inactivated virus vaccine, delivered as an injection; and the attenuated virus vaccine, delivered as a nasal spray. Pregnant women should only receive the inactivated, injection form. The nasal spray vaccine is approved only for use in healthy people 2 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.

One other thing: If you're severely allergic to eggs (the vaccine is grown in eggs), had a severe reaction to a flu vaccine in the past or are under six months of age, you should not be immunized. Also, if you have a fever, wait until you're better before getting the vaccine.

You have another consideration when it comes to the vaccine: thimerosal or thimerosal free? Thimerosal is a mercury compound that has been used for more than 80 years to preserve vaccines. Numerous studies find no harmful effects from the preservative in children or adults. Still, some people worry about it, which is why manufacturers have now made a thimerosal-free vaccine available. Ask your healthcare provider about your options.

Here's something else you should be aware of: Flu vaccines are not foolproof. It will not provide 100 percent protection against the flu. When the seasonal flu vaccine and the circulating viruses are similar, the vaccine can prevent the flu among 70 to 90 percent of healthy adults under 65.

Even if you do get the flu, the vaccine can still protect you against flu-related complications by minimizing the severity of the illness.

And, contrary to flu myths, you cannot get the flu from a flu shot or the nasal vaccine. If you get sick after a vaccine, it's just coincidence. In fact, the most common side effect of the shot is a little soreness at the injection site, and the most common side effect of the spray is a runny nose or nasal congestion.

Now's the Time

The best time for a flu shot is between September and December, before flu season really peaks in January, February or later. It usually only takes about two weeks for your body to make antibodies (immune system proteins that help your system recognize the flu virus) to the virus. So even if you get vaccinated after December, you still get some protection.

While a single vaccine lasts the entire season, it won't protect you next winter because your immunity fades. Plus, flu viruses change from year to year. That's why it's important to get vaccinated every year.

Guidelines for High-Risk Groups

Pregnant women and children are considered high risk for both seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu virus and potential related complications. That's why vaccinations for these groups are such an important consideration and are highly recommended by federal government and health professional groups, such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

For information on other high-risk populations, visit the CDC's flu information Web site: http://www.flu.gov/

Remember, if you are a new mom breastfeeding your baby, you should get vaccinated against both seasonal and H1N1 influenza. If you have already delivered your baby, you're eligible for the nasal, or "attenuated," version of the vaccines. In fact, you can have any type of vaccine—except the smallpox vaccine—while breastfeeding with no worries about it negatively affecting your baby in any way.

So what are you waiting for? Pick up the phone and make an appointment for your seasonal flu and H1N1 flu vaccines. Your health and your baby's health depend on you!

For more on protecting yourself from the flu during pregnancy, visit: www.healthywomen.org/flufree

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New director excited about pregnancy center - Leaf Chronicle

Posted: 21 Nov 2009 03:01 AM PST

Martha Evans has a new mission and a new home.

Evans has been appointed executive director of the Hope Pregnancy Center and moved to town three weeks ago.

"Clarksville rocks," Evans said.

She comes from Cleveland, Ohio, where she worked with a pregnancy center for 16 years, the last five as executive director.

"When I first started working with the pregnancy center in Cleveland, I thought I would do that for a couple of years and then get a real job," she said with a chuckle.

"But as I became involved, it really grabbed my heart," she said.

Now Evans views her work as both a job and a ministry.

She said the demographics of the community attracted her to Clarksville's Hope Pregnancy Center.

"I was impressed by the military component, the college town aspect and the fact the center is reaching so many different kinds of people," Evans said.

Hope Pregnancy Center is a Christ-centered ministry committed to upholding the sanctity of human life by providing Biblical counseling, education and assistance in the areas of crisis pregnancy, post-abortion trauma and purity, according to center's mission statement.

"The reputation that this center has earned in town has really impressed me. As I've been settling in and taking care of basics and meeting people, I continue to hear good things about the center and its work," Evans said.

Dedicated helpers

She was quick to emphasize that credibility stems from the dedication of volunteers and the commitment of donors.

"There is a whole-hearted commitment here to the sanctity of human life that goes beyond those of babies," Evans said.

"A successful ministry is about what happens in the people who serve as they serve. That's my goal — that people who are giving and receiving be blessed inside," Evans said.

She praised the efforts of the volunteers who have embraced the mission of the Hope Pregnancy Center through the years.

"There are such caring people here who want to help. The volunteer counselors and mentors pour out their hearts because they want to extend a message of hope," Evans said.

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