September, 2012

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Prepare for Pregnancy After-Pains

Thursday, September 27th, 2012

You already know about the pains associated with pregnancy.  The discomfort you feel in the months leading up to your due date don’t end once you give birth though.  This is where many women are caught off guard when they learn that a week or two of healing after their delivery doesn’t leave them completely pain free.

When you consider the dramatic shift your body has experienced throughout your pregnancy, it shouldn’t be too surprising that it will take it awhile to get back to normal.  Your weight isn’t the only thing that will take a while to reset though.  After all that tightness, stretching, and pulling, your muscles, ligaments, and skin have been through a lot, and that will make them sore for some time.  As these areas adjust, so too will your uterus, as it contracts back up into its original size and location.  This process can take up to six weeks, and during that time (especially during breast feeding), you may feel after-pains from this movement.  Urinating regularly can help relieve some of this discomfort.  If you received any stitches, these will obviously be a bother and will take time to heal.  Your swollen breasts will also be sore, and the nipples will probably get even more painful as they adjust to your child’s frequent feeding schedule.  Your entire body will need to rebalance, and the if you had back pain from carrying the baby the last few months of pregnancy, it may take a couple more to ease the discomfort .  Getting in shape will help speed this along, but don’t push yourself too much.  You’re allowed some time to recuperate.

If you’ve already discovered these lasting pains and are trying to find ways to endure, there are a few pain relieving strategies you can try.  Sitz baths, ice packs, wash bottles, and massages are supportive measures for postpartum pain.  However, a new mom should not deprive herself of effective pain medication, such as extra-strength Tylenol, ibuprofen or prescription pain medications given by her doctor, even if she is breastfeeding.  If you’re in very intense pain though, speak with your physician to make sure there isn’t a more serious issue.  They may have advice for other safe pain relieving methods too.  Otherwise, welcome to the joy and pain of parenthood!

 – Yvonne S. Thornton, M. D., M. P. H.

Romney’s Forgotten Military

Monday, September 24th, 2012

When Mitt Romney was asked whether or not he regretted not mentioning the military in his acceptance speech, he laughed and suggested that he only regretted the reporter bringing it up again.  As a former lieutenant commander of the United States Navy, being forgotten by a presidential hopeful who has never himself served in the military is particularly enraging.

Mitt Romney attempted to excuse his omission of the military by stating that he simply couldn’t cover the “laundry list” of topics people want to hear in every speech.  I had no idea my commitment to this country was considered merely an item on a laundry list.  His comments on the matter were especially shocking, since he is so adamant about sending troops overseas.  It appears he would freely use the services of our brave young men and women in fighting wars, but does not feel it important to mention them in his attempt to become our next President.  Approximately 2.3 million Americans have served in Iraq and Afghanistan to fight for freedom there.  While Romney and Ryan are certainly in support of the war, they don’t seem to care about the individuals who make up our troops.  Neither Paul Ryan nor any of Mitt Romney’s five strapping sons have volunteered for the military (or even government service), yet they thrive and have become wealthy until the blanket of freedom provided by our armed forces.   Governor Mitt Romney is more than willing to send other people’s children to war and possible death, while his sons remain safe and secure at home.  Paul Ryan stated that he had sent men and women to war, as if he really cared about them.  However, it takes more then sending our young men and women to war; they also need to be brought home alive and well.  Ironically, Paul Ryan voted against protecting veteran’s benefits and supported cutting veteran’s programs.

As a veteran and physician, it worries me greatly that men who want to lead our country would so easily send our young men and women to war, yet not care about them nor take care of those veterans upon their return.  From this war, there are currently 50,000 wounded veterans, 80,000 still fighting over seas, and 6,512 dead.  How many more have to die before Romney and Ryan remember the cost of an American life?

 

So You Want to Write a Book

Friday, September 21st, 2012

When I decided that my story might help other women striving to overcome their own circumstances, I worried that my expertise as a physician wouldn’t exactly translate to the process of writing a great book.  Instead of giving up right there though, I decided to look into hiring a writer to help me out.  Luckily, I found talented freelance writer and editor, Anita Bartholomew who truly is a book doctor.

After reading my first best-selling memoir, The Ditchdigger’s Daughters, Anita saw potential in the next chapter of my life as a professional woman trying to balance career and family.  Her writing skill and knowledge of the changing publishing industry allowed me to get exposure to a much bigger audience than I would have been able to do on my own.  With her collaboration, my newest memoir, “SOMETHING TO PROVE” won the Grand Prize in the New York Book Festival.  On my radio show, Inside Information for Women, Anita and discussed this process and how the publishing industry is shifting in a way that actually benefits small publishers and unknown authors.

As the cost of print media slowly begins to outweigh its profits, many publishers are scaling down and moving to digital publishing.  You’ve no doubt noticed the increase in e-books and e-readers, but many are unaware how this is changing the popularity of what it is we’re reading as well.  Before, you needed a book with surefire potential for big profits or a name that already had clout in the genre in order to get the attention of publishers.  Now though, many people are partnering with smaller publishing companies or even publishing and promoting their own work through digital formats.  This has allowed new authors to sell a lot more of their work, and this time, without losing the percentage a publishing company would have taken.  It has also, surprisingly, shifted what people are reading altogether; as steamy romance titles are easily concealed on e-readers and nobody knows whether someone is reading about politics or pop stars.  These digital authors and publishers have also increased competition in the publishing world in general, driving prices down to much more easily consumed costs for their audience, which translates into more sales for more writers.

Even though it is easier to get e-published these days, you’ll still need great writing in order to sell a lot of books.  I’m thankful I found Anita so that my book could have that chance.  If you too are dying to get your story told, whether fact or fiction, you don’t have to be the next great author, you just need a great idea and a partnership with a talented freelance writer like Anita Bartholomew.

 

– Yvonne S. Thornton, M. D., M. P. H.

 

What Does Your Baby Bump Tell You about Gender?

Monday, September 17th, 2012

We’ve all heard a few old wives’ tales concerning the prediction of gender in a developing fetus.  Some say that the position of your belly is an indicator of the gender.  If your belly is protruding on the lower side, then it’s a boy, and if it has settled fairly high, then it’s probably a girl.  If only it were this easy to tell.  Unfortunately, it is not this easy, and now there is proof.  When I was pregnant with my two children, I was carrying “high” both times and yet, I have a son and a daughter.   If looking at a pregnant woman’s belly forecasts the gender, then we could do away with prenatal studies.

Some people rely on the lunar calendar and still others have come up with the curious baking soda test.  While these supposed gender predictors might be fun and grandma might claim to be absolutely sure of their accuracy, these and the location of your belly simply have no correlation with the gender of your baby.  Researchers in Australia who had been testing various methods for gender prediction decided to take on the baby bump test.  Their test would try to correlate the position of the placenta with gender prediction.  Using ultrasound to identify and record the location of the placenta, they observed 277 pregnant women.  They found that the rate of males and females born was almost 50-50 and that there seemed to be no connection between the location of the placenta, and gender.  Instead, they found that the assessment of the baby’s genital tubercle at 12-14 weeks as a prediction technique was much more useful, with an accuracy rate of more than 85%.  This is the tiny little nub that starts to protrude as your baby develops.  Doctors have found that the angle of this nub can tell them a great deal about the resulting genitalia.

Although it may be tempting to quote this study to grandma, it is a sad commentary on our culture when we seem to have an insatiable need to identify gender.  There really shouldn’t be any need to identify the gender if we are going to treat little girls the same as little boys.  But, we don’t.  This obsession with trying to identify gender (often leading to feticide in many countries) only underscores the lingering sex discrimination that still exists in the 21st century.  What difference does it make whether the growing fetus is a boy or a girl——unless they are going to be treated differently?   When someone asks, “Is it a boy or a girl?” They are  knowingly or unknowingly perpetuating the idea that one gender is better or worse than the other.  We should be asking, “Is the baby healthy?”

The next time people try to tell you that your belly looks like it’s holding a boy or girl, you can simply smile and nod and let them have their fun.  Instead, rely on your doctor and hope you have a healthy baby.  Even better, leave it up to fate and wait for the surprise.

 

– Yvonne S. Thornton, M. D., M. P. H.

Prepare for Pregnancy After-Pains

Thursday, September 13th, 2012

You already know about the pains associated with pregnancy.  The discomfort you feel in the months leading up to your due date don’t end once you give birth though.  This is where many women are caught off guard when they learn that a week or two of healing after their delivery doesn’t leave them completely pain free.

When you consider the dramatic shift your body has experienced throughout your pregnancy, it shouldn’t be too surprising that it will take it awhile to get back to normal.  Your weight isn’t the only thing that will take a while to reset though.  After all that tightness, stretching, and pulling, your muscles, ligaments, and skin have been through a lot, and that will make them sore for some time.  As these areas adjust, so too will your uterus, as it contracts back up into its original size and location.  This process can take up to six weeks, and during that time (especially during breast feeding), you may feel after-pains from this movement.  Urinating regularly can help relieve some of this discomfort.  If you received any stitches, these will obviously be a bother and will take time to heal.  Your swollen breasts will also be sore, and the nipples will probably get even more painful as they adjust to your child’s frequent feeding schedule.  Your entire body will need to rebalance, and the if you had back pain from carrying the baby the last few months of pregnancy, it may take a couple more to ease the discomfort .  Getting in shape will help speed this along, but don’t push yourself too much.  You’re allowed some time to recuperate.

If you’ve already discovered these lasting pains and are trying to find ways to endure, there are a few pain relieving strategies you can try.  Sitz baths, ice packs, wash bottles, and massages [http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/news/20041103/pain-after-childbirth-common-often-untreated]  are supportive measures for postpartum pain.  However, a new mom should not deprive herself of effective pain medication, such as extra-strength Tylenol, ibuprofen or prescription pain medications given by her doctor, even if she is breastfeeding.  If you’re in very intense pain though, speak with your physician to make sure there isn’t a more serious issue.  They may have advice for other safe pain relieving methods too.  Otherwise, welcome to the joy and pain of parenthood!

 – Yvonne S. Thornton, M. D., M. P. H.

How Safe is Your Acne Medication?

Monday, September 10th, 2012

It seems that every teen goes through skin issues because of all those hormones.  However, many women suffer from acne far into adulthood.  This has them using a variety of treatments to keep their skin looking nice.  Unfortunately, one acne medication has dangerous side effects, including birth defects.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant in the next year, you will need to avoid medications, including acne treatments, that could be unsafe for your baby.  One brand in particular, commonly known as Accutane, can cause birth defects like cleft palate, heart defects, hydrocephaly, and microcephaly.  There have been warnings issued, but many women are unclear as to whether or not their medication is dangerous or not.  Take the time to check the ingredients and warning label on your acne medication boxes and bottles.  You’ve likely been using it for years, so you might not have thought to check these areas once you became pregnant.  Don’t just look for Accutane when weeding out your products though.  The drug is also found under the name Isotretinoin.  If you see either of those words on the label, you’ll need to replace it with a safer brand.  These particular ingredients are normally found in pills for treating nodular acne, so there are many other safe alternatives.

Getting a handle on skin care can be frustrating, but clear skin is not worth the price your child and your family will pay if you have a baby born with defects, some of which are life threatening.  As soon as you think you might want to become pregnant, take a look through all of the products you put on and in your body, because very soon, you’ll be sharing it with a very delicate new life.

– Yvonne S. Thornton, M. D., M. P. H.

Legitimate Rape or Legitimate Ignorance?

Thursday, September 6th, 2012

In February, there was a hearing chaired by Daryl Issa for the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Hearing on the Contraceptive Coverage Rule.  Unfortunately, the panel was entirely male.  Talk about oversight!  This prompted many female members of congress to walk out of the hearing in protest, much to the confusion of the chair.  When asked about the walkout, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “If our republican colleagues want to continue to take this issue head on, we will stand here as long as necessary.”  In August, women received a fresh reminder of the Republican male’s perspective on rape when Representative Tod Akin proclaimed, “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

Women around the world are wondering what constitutes the difference between rape and legitimate rape.  John C. Wilke, who is not an obstetrician, but a general practitioner of almost 90 years old, and who is the former President of the National Right to Life Committee is the only doctor who supports Akin’s remarks regarding whether or not the reproductive system of a woman shuts down during rape.  With such credentials, it goes without saying that he may have a bias and outdated view of rape and the female body, and experts disagree with his supposedly medical explanation for his belief.  In fact, one in 15 raped women become pregnant, no matter what definition of rape you choose.  Are Akin and Wilke suggesting that those rapes were not legitimate?  I doubt it seemed that way to the women when it was happening.

The most disconcerting part of all of this is that representative Akin has the power to influence laws in our country.  In this day and age, we hope that men have at least the decency and empathy to listen to the voices of women in our country, and, heaven forbid, include us in panels and decision-making regarding our own reproductive rights.  Hopefully, there are a lot of women and understanding men out there willing to make their vote count in order to make a positive change for all of us.  I wonder, is it pure prejudice keeping men like Akin in the dark when it comes to women’s health issues and reproductive rights, or is it legitimate ignorance?

 

– Yvonne S. Thornton, M. D., M. P. H.

Pelvic Mesh Lawsuits are on the Rise

Monday, September 3rd, 2012

If you’re considering options for pelvic organ repair or stress urinary incontinence, there are a few to choose from.  Each comes with its own set of benefits and risks.  Not knowing these risks, could put your body unnecessarily in danger though, which is exactly what has been happening lately with women who chose pelvic mesh as their treatment method.

As a whole, pelvic mesh has been tested and studied and is considered a common option for treatment.  However, that does not mean there aren’t risks involved.  Those risks could include permanent physical harm.  Some women have reported injury as a result of their pelvic mesh implants and are filing suit against the companies who made the product.  These suits accuse companies of underreporting the risks of using pelvic mesh implants and seek damages for the pain and suffering and medical costs associated with the injuries.  These women reported injuries such as physical deformity, mesh erosion, damage to the bladder and other pelvic organs, physical deformity, pain during intercourse and other actions associated with pelvic use, and related permanent injuries.  The damage they are seeking will pay for surgeries, medication, treatments, and both physical and mental pain and suffering. While the companies themselves may not have made the risks clear, the FDA did put out a statement last year warning the public of risks, including those mentioned in the suit as well as bleeding, organ perforation, neuro-muscular issues, vaginal scarring, and vaginal wall shrinkage.  Though transvaginal mesh devices are common treatments for pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence, they are more risky than other treatment methods.

If you’re suffering from one of these conditions, you should consider an alternative treatment option before settling on a pelvic mesh device.  If you already have one of these implants, pay careful attention to your body.  If you feel prolonged pain or discomfort, speak with a physician immediately and don’t wait for any damage to become permanent.

 

– Yvonne S. Thornton, M. D., M. P. H.