Maternal Risks of Prematurity Update
Last week two stories in the news broke my heart. The first, from the June issue of Pediatrics, mentions a study which found C-Sections may increase the risk of celiac disease, as opposed to those infants born vaginally. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder which leads to inflammation of the gut when the person consumes any foods containing gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley and rye). In terms of the western diet, that’s a toughie. The researchers have no certain understanding of the process at this point, but hypothesize that perhaps the phenomenon is linked to the fact...
Read MoreLate Preterm Infants—out of the woods?
I am pleased to see, albeit sad to hear, the news media bring attention to the recent study results about developmental problems among Late Preterm Infants. I represent a national community of NICU nurses, who has been conscientiously lobbying to change the increase in late preterm births, for over a decade. It is true that these elective cesarean sections are often brought on by real medical problems. However, the cavalier attitude of some obstetricians seems to be rooted in the fact that in the US, NICUs “produce miracles all the time,” as one OB argued. This has led to a measurable...
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