Midwives at Mercy
A growing number of women are choosing to undergo childbirth without medication, and while many are having their babies at home with the assistance of midwives, some women are more comfortable giving birth near a hospital. In response, Mercy in Creve Coeur has opened the area’s first in-hospital, low-risk birthing center run by certified nurse midwives.
When completed, the Mercy Birthing Center will feature four birthing suites, each resembling a residential bedroom with a queen-size bed, shower and large tub for labor. There will be a central living room area for family members, a kitchen, space for childbirth classes and a clinical area for prenatal visits with the midwife.
The Birthing Center is scheduled to open in September, but patients already are being accepted. Throughout pregnancy, they will be cared for by certified nurse midwives certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives.
Natural childbirth classes and nutrition and fitness classes also will be offered.
“We really focus on nutrition and fitness throughout pregnancy so mom is healthy and strong for the labor and birth process,” said Diana Buckwalter, certified nurse midwife and Mercy Birthing Center program director.
In most cases, moms and babies will go home four to 12 hours after birth and return a couple of days later for follow-up care.
Pregnant women interested in giving birth at Mercy Birthing Center can get more information by calling (314) 251-7955.
Pregnancy weight linked to childhood obesity
Health surveys of thousands of women suggest that gaining either too much or not enough weight during pregnancy increases the risk of having an overweight or obese child.
A Kaiser Permanente study published in this month’s American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology was one of the largest studies to look at the relationship between pregnancy weight gain and childhood obesity. Researchers analyzed health surveys of more than 4,100 women taken from 2007-2009 who subsequently had a baby. Upon review of the medical records of the women’s children aged 2-5, researchers found that:
• Among all mothers who gained more than the recommended weight while pregnant, about one in five had children who were overweight or obese, compared to 14.5 percent of women who gained the recommended amount of weight.
• Women who had a normal body mass index (BMI) prior to pregnancy who gained less weight than recommended while pregnant were 63 percent more likely to have a child who became overweight or obese.
• Women with a normal BMI before pregnancy who gained more than recommended were 80 percent more likely to have an overweight or obese child.
“Gaining either too little or too much weight in pregnancy may permanently affect mechanisms that manage energy balance and metabolism in the offspring, such as appetite control and energy expenditure,” said Sneha Sridhar, lead author of the study. “This could potentially have long-term effects on the child’s subsequent growth and weight.”
Researchers used BMI guidelines and weight recommendations from the Institute of Medicine. For the children, overweight/obesity was defined as a BMI between ages 2 and 5 that was equal to or greater than the 85th percentile of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s child growth standards.
Early risers have lower BMI
People looking to shed some pounds may want to shed some light on their early morning hours.
A study at Northwestern University in Chicago revealed that people who had the bulk of their daily exposure to even moderately bright light in the morning had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) than those who received most of their light exposure later in the day.
The finding proved true regardless of individual activity level, calorie intake, sleep timing, age or season and accounted for about 20 percent of a person’s BMI.
“Light is the most potent agent to synchronize your internal body clock that regulates circadian rhythms, which in turn also regulate energy balance,” said Dr. Phyllis C. Zee, senior study author. “The message is that you should get more bright light between 8 a.m. and noon.”
About 20-30 minutes of morning light is enough to affect BMI, researchers said.
St. Luke’s seeks study participants
St. Luke’s Hospital’s CardioPulmonary Research Center is seeking candidates to participate in clinical trials for asthma, bronchiectasis, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pulmonary fibrosis. Study-related procedures, exams and medications will be provided by study sponsors. To learn more, call (314) 439-5864.
High-income families and youth sports overuse injuries
Young athletes who come from families that can afford private insurance are more likely to specialize in one sport and more likely to suffer serious overuse injuries than those who are on public insurance.
In a Loyola University Medical Center study involving more than 1,000 athletes aged 7-18 from socioeconomically diverse families, researchers found that 30 percent of privately insured athletes were highly specialized in one sport, compared to 18 percent of publicly insured athletes. Thirteen percent of those who were privately insured suffered serious overuse injuries, compared to 8 percent of those who were publicly insured.
“Intense specialization in one sport can cost thousands of dollars a year in equipment, fees, transportation, private lessons, etc;” said Dr. Neeru Jayanthi, who reported the study results at the International Olympic Committee World Conference on Prevention of Injury & Illness in Sport and also at the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine’s annual meeting. “Having the financial resources to afford such costs may provide increased opportunities for young athletes to participate in a single sport.”
All athletes in the study participated in organized sports about 10 hours per week, but the publicly insured athletes spent more time than privately insured athletes in free play, such as pick-up basketball.
According to Jayanthi, evidence shows that the following steps will reduce the risk of overuse injuries:
• Increase the amount of unstructured free play, and limit time spent in organized sports and specialized training. Do not spend more than twice as much time playing organized sports as in unstructured play.
• Do not spend more hours per week than your age playing sports. For example, a 10-year-old should play sports no more than 10 hours a week.
• Do not specialize in one sport before late adolescence.
• Do not play competitive sports year-round. Take a break for one to three months per year (not necessarily consecutively).
• Take at least one day a week off from sports training.
On the calendar
Missouri Baptist Medical Center presents “Pearls of Wisdom” from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Friday, May 9 at Sheraton Lakeside Chalet, 191 Westport Plaza. Attendees learn tips for improving overall health and well being. There will be educational exhibits, breakout sessions on various topics, and two keynote presentations: “Sleep Disorders in Women” and “Habits that Lead to Health and Happiness.” Lunch is provided, and attendance prizes are awarded. To register, call (314) 996-5433.
