If you’re planning to start or expand your family, don’t underestimate the importance of regular prenatal visits with your physician. These visits provide valuable information that can prepare you and your child for a healthy birth.

What is prenatal care?
“Prenatal care allows a woman to get an assessment of her overall health,” said Henry Galan, MD, Chief of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at Children’s Hospital Colorado and University of Colorado Hospital. “Through these consultations, we can determine if a patient has any underlying conditions that might potentially impact the pregnancy and look for ways to reduce the risk for complications.”

What should I discuss with my doctor?
Prenatal visits should cover the following topics:

·         Diet.Most of the extra vitamins and nutrients needed during pregnancy can be obtained through a well-balanced diet. Certain vitamins — such as iron and folic acid — should be provided through supplements.

·         Exercise.While many pregnant women can participate in moderate-intensity activities for 30 minutes most days of the week, Dr. Galan advises physical activity levels may be required to change during pregnancy.

·         Genetic testing. These tests can determine the risks for chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome and cystic fibrosis.

·         Smoking. Activities such as smoking and alcohol consumption should be stopped immediately.

·         Travel. Expectant mothers should walk around for about 10 minutes every one to two hours during long road trips or flights to avoid problems with poor circulation and clot formation.

·         Viability and health of the pregnancy. An ultrasound can ensure the pregnancy is progressing properly.

·         Weight gain. A healthy woman should gain 25 – 30 pounds during pregnancy. Overweight women should gain less, while underweight women should gain more. Your physician can make an individualized recommendation based on your health.

“A woman’s needs change during pregnancy, and she can take a number of steps to help promote the health of herself and her baby,” Dr. Galan said. “Regular prenatal visits give mothers an opportunity to have any questions and concerns addressed so they can feel confident throughout their pregnancy.”

10 surprising things about pregnancy

Advanced Care for High-Risk Pregnancies

Prenatal care is especially important for high-risk pregnant women and their babies because of the increased risk of birth defects or complications due to a mother or baby’s specific history. Medical advances allow for diagnosis and treatment of certain medical conditions before a baby is born, as well as identification of babies in need of immediate intervention after birth.

Children’s Hospital Colorado and University of Colorado Hospital recently established the Colorado Institute for Maternal and Fetal Health, which will bring unsurpassed care to our region’s moms and babies. A newly constructed Maternal Fetal Care Unit at Children’s Colorado provides a special delivery space for babies needing highly specialized surgical care in the first 72 hours of life. This means that some mothers carrying high-risk babies may receive their outpatient care and ultimately deliver at Children’s Colorado. University of Colorado Hospital will continue treating other serious neonatal conditions and high-risk mothers while also offering its routine labor and delivery services to more than 3,000 families each year.

For more information about the Colorado Institute for Maternal and Fetal Health, please call (720) 848-1060.

…at the end of November,

but the end of June and first part of July is when the Linden tree blooms right outside my home office. (photo credit: me)

Wait. What?

You see, when I was pregnant with Claire, one of my super powers was Smell-Detection-And-Identification. I could tell you what the people in the neighborhood across the lake had in their garbage by standing in front of my open bedroom window, a mile away. If the wind was blowing, it was even easier, but not necessary.

“Watermelon rinds, approximately 3 days old. Coffee grinds, from this morning. Ohhh, chocolate candy-bar wrappers, the Twix variety.”

Coffee smelled like skunks, so there was some translation needed before giving my response to the people outside my head, but my abilities were mind-blowing.

This super power was challenging when grocery shopping. There were whole aisles I had to avoid or hold my breath while walking down. Meanwhile, I could lose track of time smelling the mangoes.

My husband does most of the cooking around here, and he never knew what would happen when a meal was ready to eat. There are foods that have never tasted so savory before or since. I had to refrain from making audible noises of joy while eating. Other foods would make me gag before even making it out of the pan.

Pregnancy was quite the ride…for all of us.

Then, there was the Linden tree outside my office.

To fully describe the aroma of the blossoms on this tree, I’d have to sing a song while tossing colored glitter around the room, all the while doing some interpretive dancing with scarves.

It was magical. It was intoxicating. It was so powerful that I wanted to bestow upon our baby girl the name Linden. My husband, always the voice of reason, wouldn’t allow his daughter to be named after a tree. Not even one that smelled so incredibly awesome. Even if his wife had super powers.

Party Pooper.

(He wasn’t a complete fuddy-duddy. When asked, we told people we were naming her “Nebulona Roku.” When they asked why, we’d explain that “Nebulona” is the female version of Nebulon and “Roku” is Japanese for 6. “Of course,” we’d add with a completely straight face. We have a friend who still calls her that.)

But…when it came to the real name, I knew he was right. There would be no naming of children after trees. We went the practical route: We ended up naming our daughter the only name we both liked that we could both spell. Claire is Claire, and I can’t see her as anything else.  

Still…even without the pregnancy hormones soaking in my veins, the Linden tree smells so good. When the breeze wafts through my window and I smell that glorious smell, I smile.  I remember when I had super powers.

Have you ever had super powers? Could your child also be known by a genus and species name in Latin?

The scariest words ever are, “Mom, Dad, I’m pregnant,” as spoken by a teenaged girl.

At least those are the scariest words for me.

My wife and I saw the movie Juno over the weekend and I was forced to look at parenthood from an extremely uncomfortable position. As the father of two girls, ages 2 and 4, parenthood is still about providing and developing. Real parenting apparently takes place when real life enters the picture.

Watching this movie really bummed me out because it made me realize that before long my girls—angels that adore their daddy—will get to the point that they want nothing to do with me. How depressing is that? And being that I’m 41, the generation cavern will certainly not help matters, no matter how cool I think I still am.

Watching this movie also made me assume the role of the father receiving the news that the movie father received. It’s certainly a scenario I prefer never to experience, but you never know what life has in store. God knows most of us have dodged bullets as we matriculated through our sexual development. Personally, I had to sweat out a couple of EPT’s back in the day. Fortunately I had favorable results.

So, what will I be like if I’m faced with what Juno’s father was faced with? It makes me cringe to think about it. It makes me want to go around and smack all your little boys, with their little peckers, and say “keep it in your pants buddy.” It makes me want to bang my head against the wall. It makes me want to enter a self-induced coma during the teen years so I don’t have to bear witness to the insanity. But deep down, I hope that if I’m ever faced with that scenario I’ll always keep my daughter’s best interests in the forefront. I hope I’ll find some level of coolness from a youth long since dead. I hope I’ll be the rock my daughter can lean on during a difficult time.

Maybe I’ll just force them to be nuns. That might be the best course of action for me to survive those horrific nights when they blow past their curfews.

For now, I’ll deal with temper tantrums, princesses, pretend balls, and two little girls that adore their daddy—most of the time. I’ll live in blissful denial that puberty will skip our house and my little girls will always be little girls.

La la la la la la.

I’m not going to share with the world if they are circumcised. The only thing I will say about the condition of their bodies is they are not all the same, nor do they need to be.

Foreskins are not Christmas sweaters. Matching is not an issue to us.

We made our decisions based on research, consultation with their pediatrician, and our personal feelings. We do not have any religious beliefs that compel us to circumcise our boys, so faith and tradition were never part of the decision-making process.

I am grateful we live in a time and place where we have the right to decide how to care for our children’s bodies. From the food we feed them to choosing the doctor who peers into their ears, how we care for the health and well-being of our brood is our decision. That’s how it should be.

There is a ballot measure in San Francisco which seeks to ban the circumcision of males under the age of 18. To me, this smacks of over-reaching concern. I understand there are individuals and groups committed to decreasing and eliminating circumcision. They have the right to hold these beliefs and pursue them passionately. They do not have the right, however, to take away the parental right to make a valid medical choice for a child—and there are medically compelling reasons for circumcision.

One of our boys falls into this category. He was born with a birth defect which required surgery at the age of 10 months. Part of the surgery entailed circumcision. It enabled him to be able to function normally at the time and in his future adult life.

Proponents of the measure argue that circumcision is purely cosmetic at best, brutally cruel at worst. Parents shouldn’t be able to alter a perfectly normal, functioning body part. Does their crusade extend to minor alterations like ear piercing? Many baby girls have their ears pierced during infancy, before they can consent to the procedure. Their earlobes are permanently altered. It’s not a giant leap to disallow parents from making other decisions regarding their children’s bodies.

Additionally, the ballot measure would take away the right for religions to practice according to their doctrines. Both Judaism and Islam teach the importance of circumcision. There is no religious exemption in the proposed law. This can’t be constitutional. Of course, religions can’t perform rites or rituals that harm or kill. Circumcision certainly doesn’t fit under this umbrella. It’s been performed billions of times safely.

If anti-circumcision activists want to stop the practice, perhaps they should focus on parental education. They should seek to change societal norms so that parents of baby boys will be aware of all their options. Some parents may not know it isn’t mandatory or may feel that every other boy is circumcised so they’ll go along with the perceived norm.

The failure of these activists to spread their message should not be reason for them to criminalize loving parents who only want the best for their sons. When all else fails, impose hefty fines and jail time? Yeah, that’ll teach ‘em!

I’m sure anti-circ activists would be horrified if the government decided to require every baby boy to be circumcised. They’d be the first in line to decry this overreach of government control into the lives of citizens.

Parents make choices for their children every moment of every day. Circumcision is one of these choices that should remain firmly in our hands.

You don’t have to like a choice to understand the importance of maintaining the right to choose.

Image: Idea go / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Bosom Blanket

Breastfeeding in public can be uncomfortable. From evil glares to awkward boob exposure, put your girlfriends at ease with Bosom Blanket. Owner and creator Shannon Kiebler knows about protecting the goods. Her cover for mommy is also a blanket for baby. The apron-style, adjustable garment is made of

Bosom Blanket, get them while you can!

100 percent cotton and is machine washable. There is a hidden double Velcro pocket, great for storing pacifiers and other odds and ends and there are a variety of patterns from which to choose. The best part, each Bosom Blanket comes with a matching burp cloth. Don’t laugh; I think I might be more excited about the burp cloth. I don’t need to go into detail that at times it seems as more comes up than goes down, but those tiny burp cloths I stocked up on the first round of baby were worthless. I love this style burp cloth because it actually holds liquid and I don’t end up with stains all over my shoulders. The nursing cover with matching burp cloth retails for $45. Get them while they are out, come end of summer, this line is becoming discontinued! Visit the company at www.bosomblanket.com

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Chelsea Avenue

Chelsea Incorvaia is the mastermind and seamstress behind Chelsea Avenue “for the stylish infant and

Beige Hat by Chelsea Avenue

child.” Her line is beyond darling! Chelsea always had a passion for design and creating unique clothing and accessory pieces. It just made sense when Chelsea Avenue finally came to fruition. She has a multitude of shower gifts that will make any mom-to-be smile. If it’s a girl, her hats are perfect, no matter what season. Those little baby heads can easily get quite cold and most babies are born without hair, so this is perfect to keep the

Tie Shirt by Chelsea Avenue

wee ones warm. At $15 a piece, they are affordable and darling. My favorites, the beige hat with black crystal peony (super warm and cozy) and the pink kufi hat with removable flower clip. And, for the super trendy moms, the tutu line is so fun, no doubt the preggers gal will be wearing the tutu as a tiara before baby comes. I like the pink and turquoise, just in case Hankers wants to give it a whirl. For boys, Chelsea has a onsie with a tie hand sewn on the front. What little man doesn’t look handsome dressed to the 9s, yet still comfy for summer in a onesie. Chelsea will customize anything upon request. Visit her at

Original Tutu by Chelsea Avenue

www.shopchelseaavenue.com or at www.facebook.com/chelseaavenue.

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Loopy Gear

Functional gifts are always helpful. Loopy Gear has one thought in mind, to avoid the five-second rule situation and help keep baby rattlers close. This safe product attaches one end to baby’s wrist and the other end to their toy of choice. Or you can attach Loopy Gear from toys to strollers, high chairs, car seats, and shopping carts too. Moms do not have to worry about dropped toys or dirty floors; the problem will be avoided with this magic wonder. There are 15 colors and patterns to choose from, perfect for either

Loopy Gear

sex or neutral if the wee one’s gender has not been disclosed. Mom and creator, Nicole, does recommend that Loppy Gear be worn in the presence of an adult, she would never promote leaving a child alone with this toy tool. Visit her on the web at www.loopygear.com. And use Coupon Code APRMHM to get 30% off your entire purchase.

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ShadyBaby

This product has Colorado baby written all over it! The sun at a mile high elevation is intense, too intense for baby’s skin. New moms are hesitant to put sunscreen on their precious bundles of joy, but want to get outside for walks. We all know that those strollers, no matter how much money you spend, can’t cover every angle of the blistering sun. That’s why ShadyBaby is perfect for our Colorado climate. The UV-protected parasol has a SPF of 50 plus, adjusts in three different places and is easy to clip on. Talk about April showers, could this gift be more appropriate? It could also be used on the rare occasion when it actually rains in the Colorado summer for more than 10 minutes. Retailing at $29.99, this is a brilliant gift for any mom. Visit the company at www.shadybaby.com

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Snug Organics

Sherpa Sleeper by Snug Organics

I’m totally crazy for this brand! I keep walking around the house with the sample that owner and creator Erin sent me in the mail. The Sherpa Sleeper is the cutest thing I’ve laid eyes on in a long time. The sample I received is perfect for newborns 0 – 3 months, but they also have 3 m – 6 m sizes as well. It’s super soft, constructed with certified 100 percent organic cotton sherpa that is fleecy, warm, antimicrobial, breathable and sustainable. This line of pajamas is made here in America and is free of pesticides, synthetics and flame retardant chemicals. Honestly, why don’t they make these in big people sizes? It reminds me of a little lamb and I just keep placing it over my huge belly dreaming of a little one wearing the darling jammies. There can be some cool Colorado summer nights, and this outfit is perfect for a newborn. I don’t know what mom wouldn’t melt upon opening this gift. Snug Organics also has a darling summer line for bigger babies that can be gifted as well. The Sherpa Sleeper retails a $36 and is yet another awesome Colorado product. Visit Snug Organics at www.snugorganics.com.

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Sweet Pea Cakes

When I first came across this website, all I could think of was the Sex in the City episode when the ladies travel to the “burbs” for a baby shower with the trendiest diaper cake in tow. Ever since, I have been highly amused with the idea, but never seen one in real life. Thankfully, I came across Dawn and Sweet Pea Cakes. These are too cute for words. I could not believe how many styles are available—bath time towel cakes, girl and boy towel cakes, organic diaper cakes, nursing diaper cakes, the list goes on! My personal favorite is the Lil’ Lamb Diaper Cake. It comes with 54 size 1 Pampers, a

Lil' Lamb Diaper Cake by Sweet Pea Cakes

handmade swaddle blanket, a handmade reversible bib, a pink onesie size 0-3 months, Johnson & Johnson Travel shampoo, wash, lotion and powder, trial desitin, teething ring and bath toy. The presentation is simply spectacular and you can tell true heart and joy are put into each cake; they are so personal! The cakes retail for $85 and up, a perfect option for guests who might want to go in on a gift together. Dawn turned her career into making these creative goodies and she’s got one heck of a niche in the market. These are truly one-of-a-kind and she is able to personalize any cake for your needs. Visit Dawn and her amazing products at http://sweetpeacakesetc.com.

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Toofeze

Denver-based Oh, That Baby! Ltd makes a useful gift for baby chompers. No one ever knows how old a baby will be when he or she cuts that first tooth, so be prepared. My friend Melissa was even born with a tooth! Toofeze is all-natural, therapeutic, pediatrician approved and convenient. They are made of all-natural non-toxic stainless steel and silicone, clinically proven to reduce painful teething symptoms, easily cleaned and able to sanitize and dishwasher safe . . . and the best part, they can be engraved! The package comes with a storage bag for the teether and a teething chart, pretty stinking cute. They retail at $20 a piece, and trust-me, they are worth every penny. Nothing is worse than a baby who finally sleeps through the night only to break the routine when those pesky incisors or milk teeth come start coming in. They are available in stores or online at www.toofeze.com.

March for Babies is the nation’s oldest and biggest event for mom/baby health. It’s also the largest annual March of Dimes fundraiser. Money raised funds a range of March of Dimes programs that work to improve the health of moms and babies. Thousands of Coloradans get involved in the event in their communities each year.

“Join March for Babies and feel good about helping a cause that’s dear to many hearts,” said Abby Wolcott, the Colorado March for Babies director. “There are many ways to participate and everyone is welcome.”

Wolcott explained the many ways people can participate: as an individual walker, a family team, a company team, a corporate sponsor and in-kind donor. “Also, don’t forget to make a donation to walkers you know,“ she added. “With each step you take, you’re helping Colorado moms and babies be healthy.”

This year, March for Babies will take place the morning of Saturday, April 30 in Denver (at Civic Center Park), Boulder and five other Colorado communities. Walkers need to sign up in advance and raise at least $200 to win prizes (such as store gift cards). Learn more by calling 303-692-0011 or visiting marchforbabies.org.

This fictional work, containing several actual stories from the University of Colorado Health Sciences, set out as a nonfiction but resulted in a novel. J.D.’s motivation in writing it was similar to that of his former works but is original in its personal expression of the extreme and difficult situations in health care. This book moves deeply into the sources of great conflict, drama and dysfunction within the maternity care system.

I asked J.D. about some of the specific issues raised in the book:

Unnecessary Intervention
I asked J.D. about the changing statistics involving maternal and infant health and mortality rates. He explained it this way: The numbers are getting worse, but much of that is due to measures of our own success, an example being the delivery of super premature babies. Heroism in this line of work is creating a problem with statistics, but there are other issues to look at. There has become a trend of over intervening with drugs, c-sections and a rush to delivery. Many of these efforts are contributing to the problem – more so as the path to natural childbirth is hindered. There is a lot of overcorrecting, overreacting and over intervening – women need to take back some control.

The Uninsured
J.D. explained that there should be no uninsured residents in a wealthy country such as ours. The insured spend billions on marginal and unnecessary care while many go without any coverage. His opinion is that our system is horrendously broken and the impact of the uninsured is destructive for all of us, having profound impacts in various ways, particularly for unborn children.

His suggestions: do whatever it takes to receive proper care. There are several programs, particularly at the state level to assist expectant mothers and their unborn children. Figure out a way to get insured, even if it’s just the most basic, catastrophic only insurance – something is better than nothing. It’s irresponsible to go uninsured and can mean life or death for a baby. Insurance is the best option for society as a whole, so make some sacrifices and let insurance be a top priority.

Post Partum Depression
J.D. explained to me two reasons that post partum depression is on the rise. Reason #1 revolves around the concept that as control is taken away from the woman, there is less opportunity for the natural release of oxytocin during delivery. There is a critical hour in an all-natural vaginal delivery when a mother and baby form a special bond. While not supported by data, many professionals believe that the bonding is assisted by the release of the oxytocin hormone. The more control the mother has over her delivery, the more equipped she is to bond with her child and avoid post partum depression.

Reason #2 – We are becoming more aware of post partum depression and better at diagnosing it. Emotional and psychological awareness has been better diagnosed as a whole, resulting in increased cases of these types of conditions.

OB/GYN Residency Programs
Catching Babies gives some insight into the trying world of residency for OB/GYN doctors. When asked what the most challenging aspect of residency is for these doctors, J.D. pointed to the difficult lesson of navigating heartbreak. Residency is designed to toughen doctors and prepare them for the cruelty of nature – they witness utter devastation. He compares residency to the military in that it’s traumatic and results in a similar life-changing phenomenon leaving people more compassionate, detached, increasingly spiritual or cruel. Each person handles it a little differently. It makes people their best and their worst.

J.D. infuses his values into his writing gives voice to the majority view. He admits that we don’t know the answers and the questions are complicated. It’s just not a simple subject matter. He holds personal feelings and religious choice in high regards, giving diversity much honor and respect.

J.D.’s advice to expectant mothers:

Know your self. Know what you really want and value out of your childbirth experience and then go get it. You have a tremendous range of choices ranging from high tech intervention to completely natural, home based…and everything in-between. Nobody can tell you what is best for you and your family. Know what you value and don’t let anyone tell you what is right or wrong. There is a lot of shaming in both directions. If you want to have a certain experience, let it be known.

Keep a sense of self and God. Childbirth is a demanding time, a moment of truth – for who we are. Plan in that profound way.

From the website:

We believe in the love and caring of families who adopt children, and we believe in the generous hearts and enormous love of parents who decide it is best to place their baby for adoption. It is our goal to make sure that the experience for both families is sensitive and caring, combining expert medical care with the utmost compassion and sensitivity.

I am. Or I was a decade ago. I went through the shame and pain of infertility in isolation. Little did I know that there were millions of women in the same boat who could have helped guide my way.

Enter author Melissa Ford, who has written  Navigating the Land of IF: Understanding Infertility and Exploring Your Options, a guidebook for a place just off the mainland, a place where I was once marooned. Melissa Ford has explored every nook and cranny of this formerly insular jungle-of-a-place, and she indulged me in a few questions about her journey to parenthood.