Thursday, October 30, 2008

VIDEO Thursday

These videos speak for themselves... No introduction necessary except to say that they are AWESOME






from National Advocates for Pregnant Women

Please pass this video along to your friends and run it on your blog, website, or social networking profile!


and




(start watching about half way through...)
YES!!!!!!

Poll on Birth Links

Participate in this poll from Independent Childbirth:
"Birth experiences were traditional forms of learning about birth. Who or what is your primary source for birth prep today?"

Link initially from Talk Birth.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

What the rain brings...


Not too much to say today. I'm taking in the season.
Here is an artist who has touched and inspired me with her beautiful, simple images about motherhood: Nikki McClure.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Round up

I've been a bit negligent with this feature-- but there is so much smart thinking and passion out there it would be a shame not to share.

Maternal Mortality in Africa: What leads the women of our continent to their graves during pregnancy and childbirth? As I describe below, the reasons fall into six categories: nutrition, education, high fertility, female genital mutilation, improper care at delivery and inadequate health facilities.
-from RHreality check

Empowering Birth Blog
talks about
Cesareans and Oxytocin: What is the cumulative effect of cesarean birth followed by placing newborns in strollers and separate bedrooms coupled with short maternity leave?
Also, a lovely food list for how to build a Strong Amniotic Sac

SouleMama
introduces me to a new birth video: Birth into Being

The Business of Being Born has a post about a CNN video on Stress and Pregnancy and a post about how you can be a childbirth activist

Better Birth posts this quote from a physician-ugh!!

A C-Section Photo Essay from Fit Prenancy: If you, too, end up having a Cesarean section—and chances are you might, considering that more than 1 in 3 babies in the U.S. are now born this way—a little preparation and knowledge can go a long way toward demystifying the process and helping you feel more comfortable.

'NYC Unrated and Unfiltered talks about the NARAL campaign "How Much Time Should She DO?"


Since I'm catching up (there are LOTS and LOTS of amazing birth and advocacy related posts and news stories), I thought I'd let you digest these and I'll be back tomorrow with another long list.

Enjoy!



Thursday, October 2, 2008

Urinary tract wallpaper


A wonderful friend of mine just passed this along to me, and now I'll pass it along to you! (originally via BoingBoing)

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

--------o>

OK, now I'm on a roll. How could I not post these great sperm classics:

-Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Sex but were Afraid to Ask

-Every Sperm is Sacred

Also, check out some how strange this Wikipedia article on "semen" seems (note especially the images and the "Cultural Aspects")

Turkey basting


So, we all know I'm a bit of a nerd (yes, in general but, especially when it comes to topics of reproductive health). When a friend of mine decided to become an egg donor, I was there every step of the way with too many way questions. Being an egg donor is a pretty big commitment and is fairly involved and uncomfortable.
In a more recent conversation, I learned that two friends of mine will be on the opposite end of this "third party reproduction"- they're getting sperm! Of course, again, I was terribly curious about the whole process. They're using a lesbian-owned sperm bank called Pacific Reproductive Services.
It really does sort of work like a catalog, one may order a specimen of either fresh sperm or frozen sperm. Part of the preparation of the sperm involve "washing" them in order to remove their prostaglandin. From the research that I've encountered it is potentially dangerous to introduce prostaglandin directly into the uterus and would cause cramping. The other fact about prostaglandin is that it can ripen a cirvix durning pregnancy. I suppose in natural conception this would help to make the cirvix a bit softer as the sperm swim though.
Another interesting fact that i learned is that fresh sperm have a shelf life of 48- 72 hours while frozen sperm can be stored for as long as 50 years but are only potent for 24 hours.
Here is an article on a few different methods of artificial insemination.
Here is a great "This American Life" on relationships with sperm donors: Chapter One: better Left to the Imagination.