Good blog about when epidurals ARE a blessing to a laboring mom…(click to read)

What is the best evidence about the benefits of continuous support during labor?

The review found that, in comparison with women who had continuous support, women who labored without continuous supporthad longer labors and were less likely to have a “spontaneous” birth (with neither cesarean section nor vacuum extraction, nor forceps). Women without support were more likely to:

• have an epidural or other “regional” analgesia to manage pain
• use any type of pain medication (including narcotics)
• give birth by cesarean section
• give birth with vacuum extraction or forceps
• give birth to a baby with a low Apgar score rating of well being 5 minutes after birth
• be dissatisfied with or negatively rate their childbirth experience (Hodnett and colleagues 2011).

(click to read article)

The United Nations Population Fund and numerous aid organizations are distributing so-called safe birth kits in the developing world. The kits usually contain soap, a plastic sheet, a razor blade to cut the umbilical cord, tape, gloves, a towel to wrap the baby in and a pictorial instruction sheet. With these tools, almost anyone can deliver a baby safely…(click to read on NYTimes.com)

http://www.yogatuneup.com/blog/2011/08/31/is-pregnancy-making-you-too-hip/

Scientists have identified an unexpected factor that may play a significant role in the development of autism: prenatal vitamins. (click to read on NYTimes.com)

Congratulations, you’re pregnant! Now what? Well, there’s an app for that. In addition to friends, family, and your doctor, your iPhone can be a great source of information. With everything from weekly updates on how your baby is developing to fun apps that pimp your ultrasound (yes, seriously!), here are the best pregnancy apps I found on the market. (click to read on Babble)