NYTimes: Early Caesareans Pose Risk to Newborns

Not too much "new" news here - but I like seeing it written in the NYTimes:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/09/health/09Caesarean.html?_r=1&ref=health

Here's to wishing that healthcare providers would recognize that estimated due dates are just that - estimated!!

For more on this check out the March of Dimes website re: Why the Last Weeks of Pregnancy Count:
http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/240_48590.asp

Picture Perfect

3D Medical Animation of Childbirth...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xath6kOf0NE

Orgasms during Birth and Homebirth on 20/20 - miraculous!

Last night's episode of 20/20 was quite interesting....

First, they talked about the possibility of orgasms during birth. Not sure why this is such a shocker -- it's the same nerve endings being stimulated during birth as during sex....an orgasm is an imaginable possibility, no?
They interviewed doula and filmmaker, Debra Pascali-Bonaro about her film Orgasmic Birth (www.orgasmicbirth.com).

Birth Orgasms: Women Speak Out
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6569030

To read more about this, you can check out a follow-up article on HuffingtonPost:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lee-stranahan/orgasmic-birth-the-natura_b_154934.html

Next they interviewed women, including Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein about homebirth. I was really angry that they combined unassisted childbirth (no medical professionals at the birth) with Ricki Lake's planned homebirth (attended by certified nurse midwives who are trained medical professionals that can administer drugs, oxygen, etc):

Women Who Prefer Home Birth
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6569110

Ovulation "Caught on Tape"

This is a bit old now, but still an interesting look at how our ovaries work for anyone that hasn't seen it!!

The release of an egg took about 15 minutes and was randomly caught on tape by Dr. Jacques Donnez in Brussels while he was performing a partial hysterectomy on a 45 year old patient. The photos were published in an issue of New Scientist magazine:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg19826604.200-human-egg-makes-accidental-debut-on-camera.html