Natural birth no longer the norm in Canada
The Globe and Mail
A new study shows that three quarters of the nation's births involve surgical interventions, which may be overused in some regions and inaccessible in others, writes ANDRÉ PICARD
Friday, September 10, 2004 - Page A15
"When Gillian Brouse learned she was pregnant earlier this year, her obstetrician immediately suggested a scheduled cesarean section. Despite an earlier surgery to remove uterine fibroids, which placed her at higher risk of complications, she declined. When labour began last Friday, Ms. Brouse was again offered the option of a cesarean. She said no. But she was equipped with a fetal monitor and agreed to surgical induction, the breaking of her water, to speed up the birthing process. Two hours later, her daughter Cléo was born at the Ottawa Hospital. 'In the end, it was a short, uneventful labour,' Ms. Brouse said in an interview. Cléo's arrival into the world, surrounded by technology and omnipresent surgical options, was also typical. In fact, three in four births in Canada now involve some form of surgical intervention: C-sections, epidurals, forceps, vacuum extraction and episiotomies are all commonplace, according to a new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information...." [This study is receiving a lot of attention in Canada, with regional news outlets reporting local statistics. André Picard has done a good job of hilighting the overall rate of intervention and questioning the wide regional variances in rates of intervention. What's missing are statistics on whether or not outcomes also vary by region, and a discussion of the costs of interventions. - JC]
Friday, September 10, 2004
Natural birth no longer the norm in Canada
The Globe and Mail
A new study shows that three quarters of the nation's births involve surgical interventions, which may be overused in some regions and inaccessible in others, writes ANDRÉ PICARD
Friday, September 10, 2004 - Page A15
"When Gillian Brouse learned she was pregnant earlier this year, her obstetrician immediately suggested a scheduled cesarean section. Despite an earlier surgery to remove uterine fibroids, which placed her at higher risk of complications, she declined. When labour began last Friday, Ms. Brouse was again offered the option of a cesarean. She said no. But she was equipped with a fetal monitor and agreed to surgical induction, the breaking of her water, to speed up the birthing process. Two hours later, her daughter Cléo was born at the Ottawa Hospital. 'In the end, it was a short, uneventful labour,' Ms. Brouse said in an interview. Cléo's arrival into the world, surrounded by technology and omnipresent surgical options, was also typical. In fact, three in four births in Canada now involve some form of surgical intervention: C-sections, epidurals, forceps, vacuum extraction and episiotomies are all commonplace, according to a new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information...." [This study is receiving a lot of attention in Canada, with regional news outlets reporting local statistics. André Picard has done a good job of hilighting the overall rate of intervention and questioning the wide regional variances in rates of intervention. What's missing are statistics on whether or not outcomes also vary by region, and a discussion of the costs of interventions. - JC]
The Globe and Mail
A new study shows that three quarters of the nation's births involve surgical interventions, which may be overused in some regions and inaccessible in others, writes ANDRÉ PICARD
Friday, September 10, 2004 - Page A15
"When Gillian Brouse learned she was pregnant earlier this year, her obstetrician immediately suggested a scheduled cesarean section. Despite an earlier surgery to remove uterine fibroids, which placed her at higher risk of complications, she declined. When labour began last Friday, Ms. Brouse was again offered the option of a cesarean. She said no. But she was equipped with a fetal monitor and agreed to surgical induction, the breaking of her water, to speed up the birthing process. Two hours later, her daughter Cléo was born at the Ottawa Hospital. 'In the end, it was a short, uneventful labour,' Ms. Brouse said in an interview. Cléo's arrival into the world, surrounded by technology and omnipresent surgical options, was also typical. In fact, three in four births in Canada now involve some form of surgical intervention: C-sections, epidurals, forceps, vacuum extraction and episiotomies are all commonplace, according to a new report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information...." [This study is receiving a lot of attention in Canada, with regional news outlets reporting local statistics. André Picard has done a good job of hilighting the overall rate of intervention and questioning the wide regional variances in rates of intervention. What's missing are statistics on whether or not outcomes also vary by region, and a discussion of the costs of interventions. - JC]
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Martek Comments on FDA Announcement of Cardiovascular Qualified Health Claim for DHA
"Martek Comments on FDA Announcement of Cardiovascular Qualified Health Claim for DHA
Thursday September 9, 2:42 pm ET
"COLUMBIA, Md., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Martek Biosciences Corporation (Nasdaq:MATK - News) commented today on yesterday's FDA announcement allowing conventional foods and dietary supplements containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to make a qualified health claim for reduced risk of coronary heart disease on their product packaging. The claim was, in part, a result of Martek's petition to the FDA in November of 2003. A qualified health claim must be supported by credible scientific evidence. Upon review of this scientific evidence, the FDA concluded that supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease...."
"Martek Comments on FDA Announcement of Cardiovascular Qualified Health Claim for DHA
Thursday September 9, 2:42 pm ET
"COLUMBIA, Md., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Martek Biosciences Corporation (Nasdaq:MATK - News) commented today on yesterday's FDA announcement allowing conventional foods and dietary supplements containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to make a qualified health claim for reduced risk of coronary heart disease on their product packaging. The claim was, in part, a result of Martek's petition to the FDA in November of 2003. A qualified health claim must be supported by credible scientific evidence. Upon review of this scientific evidence, the FDA concluded that supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of DHA and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease...."
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Herald.com | 09/07/2004 | Toddlers often overcome allergy to milk
Posted on Tue, Sep. 07, 2004
BY HOWARD COHEN
hcohen@herald.com
"The slogan ''Milk, it does a body good'' doesn't apply to everyone. At 1 month old, Grace Fleitas' baby Amanda began exhibiting the classic signs of a milk allergy: irritability, bloody stools, diarrhea. After initially being breast fed, Amanda was being fed infant formula. ''She was really cranky, always crying,'' the Hialeah mother said. Fleitas, who never suffered from a milk allergy, tried formulas for colicky babies. When that didn't help, she took Amanda to Dr. Robert E. Kramer, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Miami's Pediatric Gastroenterology division. Kramer put Amanda on EleCare, an amino-based infant pharmaceutical formula. After about six months, Amanda, now 18 months, can tolerate milk...."
Posted on Tue, Sep. 07, 2004
BY HOWARD COHEN
hcohen@herald.com
"The slogan ''Milk, it does a body good'' doesn't apply to everyone. At 1 month old, Grace Fleitas' baby Amanda began exhibiting the classic signs of a milk allergy: irritability, bloody stools, diarrhea. After initially being breast fed, Amanda was being fed infant formula. ''She was really cranky, always crying,'' the Hialeah mother said. Fleitas, who never suffered from a milk allergy, tried formulas for colicky babies. When that didn't help, she took Amanda to Dr. Robert E. Kramer, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Miami's Pediatric Gastroenterology division. Kramer put Amanda on EleCare, an amino-based infant pharmaceutical formula. After about six months, Amanda, now 18 months, can tolerate milk...."
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