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Volume 46 ~*~ 15 November 2007


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In The News

In The Research

In concluding this study, it is hypothesized that failure to close the parietal and visceral peritoneum with sutures at the time of cesarean section may markedly increase the postoperative occurrence of an endometrioma in the skin incision scar.

From the Women of ICAN

Misinformation Surrounding Fetal Weight Estimation and Due-Dates -- Enough to Make Anyone Grumpy

Linda Johnson explains why...

I am just feeling cranky tonight with all the misinformation that I am seeing on this list. It isn't what the list members are saying. It is the "BS" that they are being told.

I wonder what the docs and US techs think about Hadlock. He was the physician who figured out the measurements for fetal parts such as the biparietal diameter, femur length, etc. should be for the various gestational ages. His premise was that for an average size baby (7-7.5 lbs), these are the average measurements. There are actually 26 or more algorithms for determining fetal weight/size. A good link with really technical/statistical stuff is www.emedicine.com/med/topic3281.htm or google fetal biometrics.

All of these measurements are based on averages of babies from the 10th-90th percentile for that gestational age, but whether it is ethnically and racially representative may be questionable. (Think the average Vietnamese vs. Swedes). If you have a baby that will have long legs and probably be tall as an adult, then the femur length will probably be in the 90th percentile and your baby will be predicted to be macrosomic. If you have babies with smaller heads (10th percentile) then the baby will probably be predicted to be IUGR.

Now if those measurements are used as the basis for determining the due date because the docs just don't believe the mom, a baby that is smaller will be assumed to not be as far along in the pregnancy because all babies will be 7-7.5# at birth (please note the sarcasm there). The opposite is true with a baby that will be long. It appears to be due sooner. None of that changes when conception occurred or when term occurs (37-42 weeks).

Changing the due date based on the US measurements shows a very basic misunderstanding of the limits of US, the statistical significance of the algorithms, and the expertise of the US tech.

Get Active

Southeast Regional Coordinator Needed.  Will it be You?

Do you live in the Southeast (KY, TN, WV, VA, MD, DC, NC, SC, MS, GA, AL, FL) region of the US?  Want to join ICAN's team and help build new chapters and support existing ones?  ICAN International seeks applicants for the Southeast Regional Coordinator.  A volunteer suited to the job would have time in their week for supporting ICAN's mission through recruiting new chapter leaders, supporting existing ones through phone and email and participating in our private Leaders-only email list.  This is a great way to assist in ICAN's mission and get more experience working within the organization.  Applicants can request the application packet by emailing our Chapter Director at chapters@ican-online.org

Get Active

Yahoo Answers as a Medium for Advocacy

Please consider using Yahoo Answers as a medium for advocacy! Here's a tip: when asking about natural birth, epidurals, inductions, VBACs or cesarean, most people "take sides" rather than answering the specific question. Those don't tend to get chosen as the "best answer." Instead, answer the question directly and give resources and links to ICAN non-judgmentally.

Example:

Q. I don't want a vaginal birth. Can I force my doctor to deliver my baby by c-section?

Bad Answer. "I would NEVER have a c-section! It's horrible!!"

Good Answer. "No, legally you cannot force your doctor to perform a cesarean .... Here is some additional information on the topic: http://www.ican-online.org. Source: International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN)."

Let's answer some Questions!!

Talk It Up

Come together the second Monday of every month to chat with fellow ICANers.  In a "chat room" set up on MommyChats, talk with fellow ICANers about birth, VBAC, cesarean healing, and whatever other topics that come up.  Ask questions, share stories...it's all there on ICAN's MommyChat.  The next chat will be Monday, December 10th.  "See" you there! 

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ICAN's mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a qualified birth professional.

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