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• The (Technical) Making of a Live Birth

  I've never been on the business end of a birth, having only witnessed my own babies being born and, well, I'm guessing things look different from the top. But I would love -- LOVE -- to watch somebody give birth (yes, going to Ricki Lake's movie is on the list). Even the close substitutes are just fascinating.   via videosift.com Read More... Posted Jan 16 2008, 06:28 PM by Madeline Holler with | with no comments Filed under: film, childbirth, movie, fiction, hollywood, high-risk pregnancy, hollywood mothers, U.K. moms, childbirth in movies

• 1-Year-Old Coping With Artificial Heart

  They still use artificial hearts? Something about it sounds so early 80s to me. But I'm glad they're still around and, most likely, have vastly improved since the first one was implanted (and eventually rejected) by a guy in the U.S. now decades ago. Here's why I'm glad: an 14-month-old in the U.K. is surviving on one as he waits for a heart transplant. Little Ollie the only person in Britian to be kept alive on one. He's been attached to it for more than 67 days.   Read More... Posted Jan 10 2008, 01:02 PM by Madeline Holler with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: medicine, what this country needs, medical ethics, organ donor, medical, medical breakthrough, medical issues, childhood illness, U.K., heart disease, U.K. moms, virus, heart transplant, artificial heart

• 20-Ounce Baby Saved By a Snuggle

  When Carolyn Isbister developed a uterine infection at 24 weeks pregnant, doctors' fears of premature birth came true. She went into labor and gave birth to a very underdeveloped 20-oz girl. Baby Rachael’s heart was beating only once every 10 seconds and she wasn’t breathing, so doctors had the baby wrapped up in a blanket and set her in a bassinet, waiting for her to die. The mother decided she didn’t want the baby to die cold and alone. So she lifted her up and place baby Rachael on her chest where they could say their good-byes. What nobody expected to happen did:   Read More... Posted Dec 09 2007, 04:02 PM by Madeline Holler with | with 9 comment(s) Filed under: childbirth, premature babies, high-risk pregnancy, U.K. moms, hugging

• Big Babies and Even Bigger Babies

  After giving birth to my second daughter, a whopper at nearly 11 pounds, I’m always interested in the details of big babies, especially the extra super-sized newborns that make mine look like a peanut. Like this one – a 14-and-a-half pounder born six months ago to a fairly wee mama (5 feet tall and slim). She looked full term at five months pregnant, and by the time she was 37 weeks along (that's her in the picture), her doctors in the U.K. insisted she head down to surgery for a c-section. The surgical staff gasped when they pulled little, er, big Jack out and held him and his linebacker shoulders and roly-poly legs, arms and bloated torso up to show his parents. Jack was suffering ...         Read More... Posted Nov 26 2007, 10:06 AM by Madeline Holler with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: newborn, large babies, sick kids, health and kids, U.K. moms

• Mom: Laws Turn Mary Poppins Into Marxist Robot

  It’s just fun, fun, fun reading about bad nannies, and this little piece from the U.K. certainly delights! A mother illustrates how rules imposed by the EU have changed the quality of service one gets from nannies these days. Back when she was a kid, it was all hard work and dedication, warm kisses and fun. Now, it’s about accommodating wretched French girls with nary an interest in the host- country’s culture.   Read More... Posted Nov 03 2007, 11:49 AM by Madeline Holler with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: European Union, Madeline Holler, nannies, housecleaning, U.K. moms

• U.K. Gives Laboring Moms More Options for Pain

  I assume most adults, parents or not, know there is more than one way to give birth. There’s vaginal delivery, with or without the epidural, there’s c-section, planned or emergency. There’s birth at a hospital, birthing center, convenience store or at home. We make our choices, we have our babies. Problem is, this list is hardly exhaustive ... Read More... Posted Oct 18 2007, 07:25 AM by Madeline Holler with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: homebirth, childbirth, pain medication, c-section, midwifery, Madeline Holler, epidural, U.K. moms

• Most SIDS in U.K. Due to Smoking During Pregnancy

  Is there anything cigarettes can’t do? Cancer. Emphysema. Low birth weight babies. Brown teeth. Such multi-taskers, these tobacco-packed sticks of heaven/hell. Score another point for the downside of tobacco. A new study has determined that smoking during pregnancy causes 90 percent of the SIDS cases in the U.K. of newborns to four-month-olds. Read More... Posted Oct 15 2007, 04:32 PM by Madeline Holler with | with 6 comment(s) Filed under: pregnancy, smoking, Smoking prevention, SIDS, U.K. moms

• UK Preggos Can Drink, But Aussies Can't? WTF?

  All right, people, I have one request. Will you (and by "you" I mean those who make dire pronouncements about what is good and not good for pregnant women and then change their minds) PLEASE MAKE UP YOUR MINDS? Please. Because first you tell us to stay away from alcohol. And then you say, well, a little is okay. And then you've got to break it down by country (OK in the U.K.!), so now we're left wondering who to believe.   Read More... Posted Oct 14 2007, 08:53 AM by Karen Murphy with | with no comments Filed under: pregnancy, alcohol, babies, australia, drinking while pregnant, U.K. moms