plus 4, Prosecutor: Teen accused of killing baby hid pregnancy - Orange County Register

Prosecutor: Teen accused of killing baby hid pregnancy - Orange County Register
Enjoy Pregnancy without Foot Pain - YAHOO!
Vaccines during pregnancy and breastfeeding - abc40
Coping with Bed Rest During Pregnancy - Associated Content
Sienna Miller and Jude Law's Pregnancy Scare? - Limelife

Prosecutor: Teen accused of killing baby hid pregnancy - Orange County Register

Posted: 29 Dec 2009 03:16 PM PST

SANTA ANA – An Anaheim woman accused of giving birth to a healthy baby girl and then throwing her away in a trash bin did not have a mental illness and hid her pregnancy from family and friends, a prosecutor said today.

Juana Perez Valencia, 19, is charged with murdering her newborn, and if convicted, faces up to 25 years to life in prison. She was supposed to be arraigned today, but her court appearance was delayed until Wednesday. She is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

The teenager was working the night of Dec. 22 at Sombrero's, a small Mexican eatery in Stanton. Prosecutors allege Valencia gave birth to a healthy baby – who weighed 6.3 pounds and was 17 inches long – inside the restaurant.

Authorities say she then placed the baby in a plastic bag and threw the baby in a trash bin behind the restaurant. An autopsy revealed the baby was alive when she was left in the trash bin, according to authorities.

Deputy District Attorney Ebrahim Baytieh – who is prosecuting the case – said Valencia lived in Anaheim for the past four years, and was originally from Mexico.

Baytieh said evidence indicates that Valencia knew of the state's safe-haven law, which allows parents of unwanted infants no older than 3 days to hand over the babies to hospitals, or police or fire stations without any questions asked.

"I don't know why she decided to murder her baby," Baytieh said. "She kept her pregnancy secret."

Manny Esparza, a manager at Sombrero's, said no one at the restaurant knew Valencia was pregnant. She helped clean up the restaurant, and had worked there for less than a year, he said.

"She was very quiet. My niece once thought she was pregnant, but I couldn't really tell," he said. "She wore tight blouses and seemed to have gained a few pounds. I thought, well, if she's pregnant, she can leave to have the baby, and come back to work here."

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Enjoy Pregnancy without Foot Pain - YAHOO!

Posted: 29 Dec 2009 12:32 PM PST

ACFAS offers mothers-to-be remedies for aching feet

CHICAGO, Dec. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Oh my aching feet" is a phrase you hear often from pregnant women. But are sore feet a symptom they just must deal with during pregnancy? According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) the answer is "no." There are many remedies available to help alleviate foot pain.

According to Marybeth Crane, DPM, FACFAS, a Dallas-area foot and ankle surgeon, women often experience foot pain during pregnancy because of increased weight, foot instability and swelling. "In the last five years, I've seen an increase in pregnant women with foot pain because more women than ever before are active, even running marathons, during their pregnancies," Dr. Crane says. ACFAS recommends the following guidelines to help reduce foot pain during pregnancy.

Painful, Swollen Feet -- Pregnant women often experience throbbing, swollen feet due to excess fluid build up (edema) in the feet from the weight and position of the baby. To reduce swelling, put feet up whenever possible, stretch legs frequently, wear wide comfortable shoes and don't cross legs when sitting.

Arch Pain -- Pain in the arch can be due to both arch fatigue or over pronation (or the flattening of the arch). Over pronation occurs due to extreme stress to the ligament (the plantar fascia) that holds up the arch of the foot. The best way to prevent arch pain is to stretch daily in the morning and before and after any exercise, don't go barefoot and wear supportive low-heeled shoes.

Foot Cramps -- These painful cramps are caused by increased blood volume and high progesterone levels brought on by pregnancy. To prevent cramps, increase circulation by rotating ankles and elevating feet while sitting. If cramps persist, try a walk around the block and include daily stretching of the calf muscles.

Ingrown Toenails -- Excessive stress from tightly-fitting shoes causes painful ingrown toenails. Give your feet a break: wear wider shoes during the last trimester of pregnancy to avoid ingrown toenails. If you do experience an ingrown toenail, avoid attempting "bathroom surgery." Repeated cutting of the nail can cause the condition to worsen over time. It is best to seek treatment with a foot and ankle surgeon.

It is also not uncommon for women to experience a change in their foot size during pregnancy. "A permanent growth in a women's foot, up to half a size, can occur from the release of the same hormone, relaxin, that allows the pelvis to open to deliver the baby. It makes the ligaments in your feet more flexible, causing feet to spread wider and longer," Dr. Crane adds.

Pregnancy and pending motherhood should be a joy. If foot pain persists, a visit to a foot and ankle surgeon can provide relief with conservative treatments such as physical therapy, foot orthotics, supportive shoes and minor toenail procedures.

For more information on foot and ankle problems, visit FootHealthFacts.org.

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons is a professional society of 6,000 foot and ankle surgeons. Founded in 1942, the College's mission is to promote research and provide continuing education for the foot and ankle surgical specialty, and to educate the general public on foot health and conditions of the foot and ankle through its consumer Web site, FootHealthFacts.org.

Twitter: @FootHealthFacts

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.

Marybeth Crane, DPM, FACFAS

https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=51303

SOURCE American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

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Vaccines during pregnancy and breastfeeding - abc40

Posted: 29 Dec 2009 01:15 PM 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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Coping with Bed Rest During Pregnancy - Associated Content

Posted: 29 Dec 2009 09:04 AM PST

6 Tips to Help You Cope with Bed Rest During Pregnancy

You haven't been feeling well for the last few days, you chalk it up to being pregnant.Then your doctor tells you that your blood pressure is up and you can go home, but only if you remain on strict bed rest. You agree, because bed rest at home is better the bed rest in a hospital,but you still aren't sure what you are going to do for the next few weeks.

Tips for coping with bed rest at home

Relax!
Your doctor put you on bed rest for a reason. Whether it is because you are at risk of delivering early or having complications with your blood pressure, your doctor has a good reason for ordering bed rest. So relax, put your feet up and catch up on that latest book you have been wanting to read. If you have young children, you may have to call in extra help. You don't want to put your unborn baby at risk by chasing after a wayward three year old, but you also can't let JR run the house alone. If you have to be by yourself with other children, get a few movies and spend the afternoon cuddling on the couch. It isn't everyday that they will sit still for more then five minutes.

It won't last forever
Sure it seems that way now, especially if you are early on in your pregnancy, but bed rest won't last forever. Even if you are on bed rest until you deliver, the baby has to come sometime. Contrary to what some pregnant women may think, you will not remain pregnant forever.

Enjoy it!
Especially if you are a first time mom. This may be the last time for a long time that you will be able to sit for any length of time, uninterupted. Or even get a few solid hours of sleep. Take advantage of the doctor ordered bed rest to enjoy the remainder of your pregnancy. For once it won't be you having to do the dishes or the laundry.

Tips for coping with bed rest in the hospital.

For most doctors, the ideal solution is to let the mother go home on bed rest. That way they are able to relax comfortably in their own bed, in the private confines of their homes. Plus it doesn't tie up a bed in the labor and delivery unit for a laboring mother.

But in some circumstances, hospital bed rest may be the only viable solution.

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Sienna Miller and Jude Law's Pregnancy Scare? - Limelife

Posted: 29 Dec 2009 09:54 AM PST

Sienna and Jude Are Lovers

Sienna and Jude are pretty much confirmed lovers at this point: vacationing with your old flame and his children during the holidays is basically a clincher! According to Star (grain of salt, people), Sienna has already had a pregnancy scare during her "Jude + Sienna: Take II" fling.

First of all, now that Jude and Sienna are back on, what do you think? I am having a major 2005 flashback, but I feel like Sienna's reputation is basically ruined now. From Balthazar Getty to the nanny-banger, it's like she's come full-circle, not in a good way.

Star says that the two will be moving into Jude Law's $6.9 million NYC apartment, and that they are "stronger than ever." Apparently Sienna is adding her own "special touch" to the place, and they are in the nesting zone.

Now on to this pregnancy thing. Apparently the heat of the moment ended up leading to unprotected sex between Sienna and Jude, which put Sienna in freakout mode when she realized she was late.

"Sienna realized she was late [in mid-November], and she freaked!" an insider revealed to the tabs. "They're still working things out, really, and she was afraid that getting pregnant would ruin everything."

Jude is rather unpredictable, and he does have three (oh, make that four) kids already.

"Jude was really supportive. Sienna even took the home test at his place," the source continued. "It was a false alarm. She was likely just late from the stress of her Broadway show."

I really hope Jude and Sienna wait on having that baby!

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