Tag Archive for 'delivery'

Weekly Highlights (4/3/2012) – FDA Says No to BPA Ban and GMO Labeling

Published on April 3, 2012 in News. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Welcome to this week’s highlights, our weekly post that recaps important health and safety news, research, and recalls from the previous week and other great finds we’ve come across in our internet travels.  If you see anything you think we should feature, please send it to jasmine@purebebe.com. Thanks, and we hope your week is off to a great start!   - Jasmine

In the News:

Ban on BPA? FDA Says No - In a truly disappointing but not surprising decision, the FDA will not place a ban on BPA in food packaging, citing a lack of sufficient scientific evidence to support the ban.

Despite the FDA decision, the FDA has not changed its position that it holds “some concern” over the effects of BPA in children, and the government is currently funding $30 million to conduct additional studies.

FDA Responds to GMO Label Petition - In yet another truly disappointing and, again, not surprising decision, the FDA has decided it needs more time to consider labeling of genetically-modified foods.

While no one should be surprised by the decision, much controversy has arisen over the petition as the FDA has severely discounted the number of responses it received. While the Just Label It organizers say the petition garnered over a million signatures, more than any petition submitted to the FDA in history, the FDA says it has officially received a measly 394.

Some say the FDA has deleted signatures, however I suspect that is not the case. The FDA’s official rules require signatures to be submitted individually via their regulations.gov website in order to be counted. Because the website is difficult to navigate, Just Label It organizers collected and accumulated signatures on their website before submitting them to the FDA.

While each submission may have contained over thousands of signatures, each submission counts as just 1. Ultimately, it is just semantics. The FDA has to understand that there is overwhelming support for labeling GMOs. The question is just if and when they will act.

Alicia Silverstone Premasticates Her Child’s Food - Not long after celebrity Alicia Silverstone posted the video below to her blog, intense criticism ensued for her method of feeding her child.

While I admit I was a bit puzzled when I saw the video myself, I was more intrigued when I discovered that the idea of premastication is actually used in some cultures to promote infant health as it gives baby access to nutrients from foods they cannot chew and promotes immunity through antibodies received in the mother’s saliva.

While some experts express concern over the possibility of spreading disease such as HIV and tooth decay, it depends in large part on the health of the mother and child. And other experts have expressed more concern that the practice is dwindling in some poorer societies where it may be critical to the child’s health.

Hmm, you learn something new every day.

New Research:

CDC: New High in Autism Rates
The CDC’s latest analysis reports that about 1 in 88 children in the U.S. experience autism or a related disorder, nearly double the rate 10 years ago with cases in boys outnumbering girls 5 to 1.

The report analyzed data from 2008 in 14 states, and found rates much higher in some states like Utah; however, increased awareness and access to services are cited as likely factors in those states.

In fact, increased awareness and better diagnoses are cited as major factors in general for the rise, but recent research also points to environmental factors as a possible contributor.

Pinpointing the environmental culprit, however, seems next to impossible when we’re exposed to a veritable soup of chemicals daily. Two large studies funded by the National Institutes of Health are hoping to do just that, though, by examining everything from what mother eats during pregnancy to toxins in the home.

Ultimately, earlier diagnosis is needed. The earlier a child is diagnosed and gets help, the better their chances are for reaching their full potential.

Babies Take Longer to Come Out Than They Did in Grandma’s Day
A comparison of nearly 140,000 births found that first-time mothers today labor longer than they did fifty years ago, about 2 1/2 hours on average. The reason for longer labor is not entirely clear, but today’s mothers are older, delivering larger babies,  and more likely to use epidural anesthesia. Epidurals can prolong labor anywhere from 40 to 90 minutes.

The more striking implication is that OB’s today may be rushing to C-sections based on an out-of-date expectation as to how long a “normal” labor should take. OB’s today still rely on a definition of normal labor that was defined back in the 50′s.

Good Reads:

Weekend Detox For Your Home from Houzz - Some easy steps you can take to green your home and improve your health. Now that spring is in the air, I love the idea of completely unplugging on a Friday night after a long week at work and getting outside, and then waking up Saturday to open the windows and freshen the air.

Pinterest-Worthy Finds:

I came across this image this week as I am working to rearrange and redecorate my family’s home office/playroom. I love this arrangement that creates a fantastic workspace for the entire family. These stools are a little high for young ones, but the concept still applies. As our family grows, I want us to have a place where we can all be together as we do homework, pay bills, blog, etc.

I’m sure something like this could be a reasonable DIY project - cube bookshelves could be used to form the bases. I’d probably choose to use planks of wood for the surface and sand them down as opposed to plywood or other large particle board which often uses formaldehyde-based adhesives to bind.

If you’d like to follow us on Pinterest, find us here.

Recalls, March 27 – April 3:

CPSC Child Product Recalls

Child Safety Seat Recalls

No child safety seat recall announcements this week.

USDA/FDA Recalls

 

Weekly Highlights (2/13/2012)

Published on February 14, 2012 in News. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Happy Valentine’s Day! We hope you and your families have a wonderful day filled with lots of love.

Welcome to this week’s highlights, our weekly post that recaps important child health and safety news, research, and recalls from the previous week and other great finds we’ve come across in our internet travels. Enjoy!  - Jasmine & Heather

In the News:

Are the French Really Better Parents? A Different View from Paris - Perhaps you saw the original article in the WSJ or have seen commentaries since, but the latest buzz about parenting styles since The Tiger Mom is now focused on french parenting’s superiority to American a la Pamela Druckerman and her new book, Bringing Up BéBé. I found this opinion piece to be an excellent commentary which brings Pamela’s thoughts into perspective.

Woman Fired Over Lactation, Judge Says Not Sex Discrimination -  A woman was fired for asking for to pump at work, and a recent court ruling says that lactation is not pregnancy-related and thus not protected under sex discrimination law. Although Obama’s health care law requires employers to give women breaks to pump, it apparently doesn’t specifically protect them from being fired if they ask to do so - pretty much rendering the requirement ineffective.

Mom Induced Early for Dying Husband - In a heartbreaking situation, Diane Aulger scratched her plans for a natural birth and was induced two weeks early so that her dying husband could meet his unborn child. Husband, Mark, passed away just 5 days later. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Diane and her family.

New Research:

Chemo Possible for Pregnant Women with Cancer
About 1 in 1,000 women will face cancer during pregnancy and the unbearable dilemma of how to proceed. I personally have a family member who went through this, so this news comes very close to home. A series of papers published last week suggest that women with cancer can be treated the same as other patients with minimal risk to the fetus. One study of 70 children who were exposed to chemo in the womb found that they developed just as well as other children based on tests on their hearts, IQs, and general health. Another study suggests that chemotherapy after the first trimester is possible with extra ultrasounds to monitor baby’s development and radiation is best done in the first two trimesters when the baby is small enough to be covered by a lead blanket. The same study also found that ending the pregnancy did not improve the chances for the mother.

Skip The Strained Peas, Let Babies Feed Themselves
Does this mean the end of my beloved Beaba Babycook? New research suggests skipping baby food purees and letting children go straight to finger foods through “baby-led weaning”. In a study of 155 children ages 20 months to 6 1/2 years, parents filled out questionnaires on their children’s feeding and weaning practices, food preferences, and height and weight. The results of the questionnaire indicate that babies who learn to feed themselves early on may develop healthier eating habits and be less likely to become overweight as self-feeding helps them to be more mindful of their appetites. The study also found that the finger-fed children preferred carbs while the spoon-fed children preferred sweets. It seems to me that there may be more factors at play, but ultimately helping children become mindful of their appetites and serving them fresh, whole foods when they are ready is key.

Tests Find Mold, Fecal Bacteria in Children’s Lunch Boxes
Ewwww. A NC State University scientist and her grad students paired up with a local news station to investigate germs where we eat. They found no evidence of harmful bacteria on the trays tested from fast food restaurants and mall food courts; however, children’s lunch boxes were a different matter. Of the 100 lunch boxes tested at a local middle school, about half tested positive for low levels of staph and about 15% showed fecal contamination most likely due to children not washing their hands properly after using the restroom. What was also surprising to me - the list of other surfaces with highest germ concentration according to other studies - i.e. gas pump handle.

Fantastic Finds:

Stomach vs Food

This video follows a “smart pill” into the stomach of two subjects and shows how our bodies digest (or fail to digest) processed foods - Ramen and Gatorade - as compared to their homemade counterparts. Incredibly fascinating to watch.

Best Children’s Books for February from HuffingtonPost- I’m a book lover, and there look to be some fun recommendations here.

Why Pinterest is 2012′s Hottest Website from CNN - I’m a HUGE fan. I joined Pinterest in its early stages and was hooked from the start. It’s essentially a visual online bookmarking system; however, the social aspect allows you to see and repin what others have pinned too. I can’t tell you how many fantastic ideas I’ve found using this site.

Recalls, February 7 – February 13:

CPSC Child Product Recalls

No child product recall announcements this week.

Child Safety Seat Recalls

No child safety seat recall announcements this week.

USDA/FDA Recalls

If there’s anything you see and think we should feature, please send it to jasmine@purebebe.com.

Weekly Highlights (2/6/2012)

Published on February 7, 2012 in News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

We hope you had a wonderful weekend! Welcome to this week’s highlights, our weekly post that recaps important child health and safety news, research, and recalls from the previous week and other great finds we’ve come across in our internet travels. Enjoy! - Jasmine & Heather

In the News:

Pfizer Recalls 1 Million Birth Control Pills - In case you missed our notice on Facebook earlier this week, Pfizer recalled 1 million pills due to a packaging mishap. Check the article to see if your pill was affected.

Home Birth Advocate Dies in Child Birth - A home birth advocate passed away after going into cardiac arrest during childbirth bringing into question the safety of home births as their popularity rises. I found this article a really refreshing take on home vs hospital births.

Qantas Flight Grounded by Dirty Diaper – Yes, you read that right. A plane was forced to land and passengers removed by forklift 5 at a time due to a foul odor coming from a dirty diaper stuffed in the airplane toilet.

Senator Wants More Done to Warn of Mercury Hazard in New Light Bulbs - Nebraskan Senator Hulton is concerned that most people aren’t aware of the hazards of compact fluorescent light bulbs in the home. Read the article for info on how to properly handle and dispose of these mercury-containing light bulbs.

New Research:

Why Spanking Doesn’t Work
A new analysis of two decades of research on the long-term effects of physical punishment finds that it doesn’t work and can have serious long-term effects.  While it may work in the moment, it leads to increased aggression in children in the longer term and can harm the relationship between parent and child as well as affect a child’s sense of self-worth. Later in life, it’s associated with mental health problems as neurological analysis has found that it can affect brain chemistry.

Parents Cheat on Booster Seats, Despite Safety Risks
A new survey in this week’s Pediatrics found that more than half of parents carpool children other than their own, but they don’t always use booster seats for children who should be in one. Only about half of parents who carpool require their own child to ride in a booster, even when their friends are not. And 21 percent would allow their child to ride boosterless in someone else’s car.

Breastfeeding Tied to Stronger Lungs, Less Asthma
Two new studies out this week on the effect of breastfeeding on lung function: The first followed 1500 UK children from their birth in the mid-1990s and tested for lung function and allergies between the ages of 8 and 14. Two out of the three tests showed that babies who were breastfed by asthmatic moms for at least four months may get more benefit from breastfeeding than babies of asthma-free moms, countering previous studies which suggested asthmatic moms may put their babies at risk with breastfeeding. The second study followed 1000 children in New Zealand and concluded that each month of exclusive breastfeeding was tied to a 9% drop in asthma risk.

Good Reads:

Medical Mysteries: It Wasn’t the Vaccine – So Why Did Baby Have Seizures? from The Washington Post - A fascinating read on one family’s search for an explanation after her baby developed seizures following vaccination.

After Recess: Change the World from The New York Times – An inspirational column on how change.org has changed the landscape for effecting change.

Word! from An Inch of Gray – Touching words on coping with grief and what almost was before the tragic loss of her child in the floods of VA last year. Pray for those who have loved and lost that they will be comforted through such grief and pain.

Recalls, January 31 – February 6:

CPSC Child Product Recalls

Child Safety Seat Recalls

No child safety seat recall announcements this week.

USDA/FDA Recalls

A number of recalls below are driven by the recall of hard-cooked eggs produced by Michael Foods which have been sold to retail/institutional establishments and may be contaminated with listeria. Be cautious purchasing products containing hard-cooked eggs.

If there’s anything you see and think we should feature, please send it to jasmine@purebebe.com.

Weekly Highlights (1/30/2012)

Published on January 30, 2012 in News. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

We hope you had a wonderful weekend! Welcome to this week’s highlights, our weekly post that recaps important child health and safety news, research, and recalls from the previous week and other great finds we’ve come across in our internet travels.

Enjoy!
Jasmine & Heather

In the News:

Maker Recalls 2,200 Tubes of Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort Lotion - Tubes are being recalled at the retail level in 9 southern states for a particular lot that tested above the required levels of a common staph bacteria. It’s unlikely that many consumers will have the product in their homes, but consumers who may have bought the product can still use it according to J&J. The bacteria is naturally occurring in the environment and on the skin, but if you are concerned, check for lot number 0161LK.

Mom Gives Birth in Car, Dad Films While Driving - Steering wheel in one hand, camera in the other, Dad films while his wife gives birth with a single push on the way to the hospital. The video doesn’t show the labor, but it sounds like it must have been one of the easiest births on the planet.

USDA Issues New Rules for School Lunches - Standards issued by the USDA Wednesday will require fruits and veggies every day, more whole grains, and reduced sodium and fat content. The new rules take effect July 1 and will be phased in over three years.

Horrifying Discovery in Capri Sun - A 10 year old boy began to choke, then pulled a worm out of his mouth. Ewwww! Kraft Food’s statement says it was likely mold, because “Capri Sun products are made without preservatives — a fact many moms like”… How’s that for some spin?

New Research:

Nurses’ Miscarriages Linked to Chemicals at Work
A survey of approximately 7,500 nurses who were pregnant between 1993 and 2002 found that the rate of miscarriage increased from 1 in 10 to 2 in 10 in nurses who worked with chemotherapy drugs or sterilizing agents such as formaldehyde. The survey involved nurses who had experienced a pregnancy between 1993 and 2002. There is room for inaccuracy in the study given that nurses were asked to recall back as far as 8 years, but a more precise follow up study is in the works.

Alcohol in Pregnancy: It’s Never Safe, Especially Not in the First Trimester
New research from scientists at the University of California, San Diego indicates that babies are most vulnerable to the effects of alcohol at the end of the first trimester. The scientists tracked the alcohol and other substances used by almost 1,000 women every three months during pregnancy and found that every drink consumed between the 43rd and 84th days of pregnancy increased the baby’s odds of lower birthweight and birth defects. This reinforces guidelines for avoiding alcohol during pregnancy, especially for women contemplating pregnancy since many aren’t aware they are pregnant until that critical period.

A Measure of Titanium Dioxide
In the first analytical study of titanium dioxide content in consumer products, scientists at Arizona State University found concentrations in personal care products, such as toothpaste and sunscreen ranged from 1 to 10% while foods, such as white candies and doughnuts, contained up to 340 mg per serving. Up to 36% of the titanium found in the foods was in nanoparticle form. More research is needed on the possible health effects, but you can read an informative article on nanoparticles in a prior weekly highlights here.

Common Chemicals Could Make Kids’ Vaccines Less Effective
A recent study suggests, but does not prove, that perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) used in the manufacture of non-stick coatings and stain-resistant fabrics among other household items, may affect the immune system making children more vulnerable to infectious disease. The study found that the antibody response to the tetanus and diphtheria vaccines was weaker in children whose blood contained relatively high levels of PFCs.

Fantastic Finds:

Confession: This Pediatrician is a Sleep Softie - There aren’t that many absolutes when it comes to raising kids.

Just as I Am from How the Hell Did I End Up Here? Amen! A humorous look at the illusions we chase and a reminder that we just need to be ourselves. Love this!

Fotoshop by Adobé - A perfect complement to the article above. Want in on a little secret? Fotoshop - how celebrities get their picture perfect bodies.

Recalls, January 23 – January 30:

CPSC Child Product Recalls

Child Safety Seat Recalls

USDA/FDA Recalls

If there’s anything you see and think we should feature, please send it to jasmine@purebebe.com.

 

Weekly Highlights (11/30/2011)

Published on November 30, 2011 in News. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Welcome to “Weekly Highlights”, our weekly post that recaps important child health and safety news, research, and recalls from the previous week and other great reads we’ve come across in our internet travels.

In the News:

Serious Head Injuries to Infants Continue Due to Falls from Bumbo Baby Seats Used on Elevated Surfaces - Infants aged 3-10 months old have fallen out of the Bumbo seat and suffered skull fractures and other injuries. At least 45 incidents from elevated surfaces have occurred since the recall of the seat in October 2007, when warnings were added to the seat. At least 50 other incidents have been reported in which children fell out of the chair on the floor or an unknown elevation onto hard flooring. Please use these chairs with caution.

The 8 Germiest Places in the Mall – Ewwww. Just ewwww. I must say a couple of these surprised me. While highlighting germy hot spots, the article does also provide some practical tips.

Consumer Interest Group Releases Annual Hazardous Toys Report - The U.S. Public Interest Group has released its 26th annual “Trouble in Toyland” report, in which it highlights toys on store shelves that contain potentially toxic chemicals or contain choking, strangulation, or noise hazards. The group has created an interactive site, www.toysafety.mobi, where you can find information about the toys you are shopping for. The site can be accessed by smartphones, so you can have this information at your fingertips!

New Research:

C-section Delivery Linked to Higher Risk of Childhood Asthma
In the largest study yet on the topic, Norwegian researchers examined asthma risk in more than 37,000 children. The researchers found that, even after accounting for other risk factors and protective factors such as duration of breastfeeding, children born via C-section were more likely to have asthma during their first three years. While the results are consistent with earlier studies, the reasoning is still not clear. Researchers believe that children born via C-section may miss exposure to important immune challenges compared to children born via the birth canal.

Canned Soup Raises BPA Levels Significantly
While we all know that soup cans are lined with BPA, a new study published this week was the first to measure the amount of BPA ingested from canned food. The participants in the study consumed a single serving of canned soup daily for a week, and their blood levels at the end of the week showed a 1221% increase in BPA levels, from approx 2 micrograms per liter to over 20. While the increase is likely temporary and will go down after a few days, we don’t know the health effects of transient increases in BPA such as this.

Delay in Clamping the Umbilical Cord has Benefits Months Later
A study published this month found that waiting three minutes or more to clamp a newborn’s umbilical cord can reduce the prevalence of iron deficiency later on. Swedish researchers studied 334 infants, statistically identical, assigning half to be clamped at 10 seconds and the other half after 3 minutes. There was no significant difference at 2 days after birth, but at 4 months iron concentrations of infants in the delayed clamping group were 45 percent higher. The study is one of the largest randomized trials on delayed cord clamping and the first to assess iron status beyond the newborn stage.

Good Reads:

Letting the Green Guilt Go from Canada.com - It’s so easy to get overwhelmed with so much information at our fingertips and still so many more questions about what truly is safe. I agree with the author that it helps to be flexible. Do what you can, little by little. Be happy with the healthy choices you’ve made so far, and continue to drive change with your pocketbooks. Little by little, you are doing the best that you can.

Recalls, November 22 – November 30:

CPSC Child Product Recalls

No child product recall announcements this week.

Child Safety Seat Recalls

No child safety seat recall announcements this week.

USDA/FDA Recalls

If there’s anything you see and think we should feature, please send it our way to jasmine@purebebe.com. We hope your week is off to a great start!

XOXO,
Jasmine & Heather

Weekly Highlights (9/5/2011)

Published on September 5, 2011 in News. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Welcome to “Weekly Highlights”, our weekly post that recaps important child health and safety news, research, and recalls from the previous week but also give us an avenue to share some of the other great reads we’ve come across in our internet travels.

In the News:

5 Toxic Chemicals You Should Banish From Your Home -From synthetic pesticides and fragrances to coal tar sealant on your driveway, 5 chemicals you should avoid.

Babysitting Bill in California Legislature - A bill making its way through California’s legislature is likely to kill the babysitting industry for sitters over the age of 18.

Life’s Sweeter with Fewer Sugary Drinks - Major health organizations unite in a campaign to reduce the consumption of soda and other sugary drinks in an effort to reduce rates of obesity and other diet-related diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. Sugary drinks are the single largest source of calories in the American diet and account for half of all added sugars consumed.

Women Getting C-Sections Need Protection From Blood Clots - New advice for pregnant women getting a C-section included in new guidelines from the nation’s obstetricians suggest wearing compression devices on your legs during surgery to reduce the risk of blood clots. Similar devices are already used in other major operations, such as hip replacements.

MRSA: Protect Your Kid From a Superbug – 5 things parents should know about MRSA as infections among children have been on the rise in recent years.

New Research:

Toxic Chemical Remains in Dry-Cleaned Clothes
Researchers, led by a 15 year old high school student from Arlington, VA, found that perchloroethylene, a dry cleaning solvent that has been linked to cancer and neurological damage, stays in fabrics and that levels increased with repeat cleanings, particularly in wool. Squares of wool, silk, cotton, and polyester were sewn into the lining of seven identical men’s jackets and then cleaned from one to six times at various cleaners after which the samples were tested. The study raises important questions about how much perc is retained in clothing and then breathed in or absorbed through the skin.

Mom’s Stress is Linked to Baby’s Health
In one of the largest studies to date on the link between prenatal environment and health after birth, a recent study in Denmark concluded that life stress during pregnancy (versus emotional stress) was associated with an increased risk of serious infections in childhood. The study interviewed 60,000 mothers pre- and post-partum and followed their children for at least seven years.

Phthalate DEHP Found to Alter Important Memory System in Male Rats
Exposure to the phthalate DEHP changed brain development in young male rats when exposed during a critical development phase. The male rats formed fewer cells and nerve connections in a memory-related region of their brains. The same exposure did not affect females. This is the first research to connect phthalate exposure at a critical time of development with these effects and highlights the need for further study, particularly for the potential for human impacts.

Good Reads:

I Don’t Love Your Kid from HuffPost Parents -A mother shares her thoughts on misbehaving children.

Dear Whys Guy: “My Husband Needs Child Care Advice!” from Redbook - 4 tips for Dads on caring for a horse…er, young child. A good laugh.

Recalls, August 29 – September 4:

CPSC Child Product Recalls

Child Safety Seat Recalls
No child safety seat recall announcements this week.

USDA/FDA Recalls

We’d love your feedback! If there is anything you’d like us to add or change, we’d love to hear it! If there’s anything you see and think we should feature, please send it our way to purebebeblog@gmail.com. We hope your week is off to a great start!

XOXO,

Jasmine & Heather

Birth Story: A Little Miracle

Published on July 5, 2011 in Birth Stories. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , , , , .

By Sadia Shariff

I was 33 weeks into carrying my first baby, and all was going swimmingly. It was a very easy pregnancy for the most part, and we were very excited.

I had been reading about natural birth, and I had scheduled a birth class for the following week that focused on breathing techniques and hypnosis methods to deal with pain during childbirth. Even though the baby was breech and I was at risk for premature labor due to a fibroid, I was confident he would arrive on time and change position. My mom had a completely natural, at-home delivery when I was born, and my sister had given birth to two beautiful babies without any pain medications. I simply assumed it would be the same for me.

It was 6:45 a.m. and my husband and I were up planning the weekend when I got out of bed and realized that I had water running down my legs. I thought my bladder had simply given up on me, but when I rushed to the bathroom, I discovered my water had broken. We looked at each other in disbelief.

I took a quick shower while my husband got dressed and asked me what he should pack on the way to the hospital. I said no need to pack anything yet. I don’t quite know why. Somehow I still thought that the doctor would take one look at me, say it was nothing, and send me back home. I guess I wasn’t quite ready for the baby to be born yet, so my mind couldn’t get around the fact that he was coming.

The ride to the hospital was a quiet one. We held hands, our lips moving as we both prayed silently.

It was a warm, sunny Friday morning, and we walked hand in hand from the parking lot to the hospital. We still didn’t say much to each other. We were both so overwhelmed with feelings. Even if we had talked, I don’t think there are words on this earth that could have encompassed all we felt.

We walked to the maternity ward. The doctor did a check-up and determined that our son was on his way. The doctor decided that since I was two days shy of 34 weeks, we would wait for two days before delivering while monitoring the baby closely to see if anything changed. Since he was still breech, the delivery would have to be a C-section, and I would get steroids to ensure his lungs were mature enough to breathe.

Eight months of careful planning how I wanted the birth to be didn’t matter. All that we wanted was for our son to be okay.

The two days spent in the hospital were tough. I stayed in bed and worked on keeping the baby snug in my belly. I passed the time between praying for his safe arrival, reading up on C-sections and about babies who arrive before their due date, and watching the World Cup games that were going on at that time to distract me a little.

The morning of the surgery, I took a nice long shower and was ready 2 hours before the scheduled 10 o’clock surgery. We were excited, nervous, and scared at the same time.

When I was in the operating room, I felt cold and apprehensive; it just seemed like it was happening so fast, and I wasn’t sure if I was ready for my son yet. Once they gave me the anesthesia and I felt numb, I felt more calm. Then my husband came in and sat down next to me, and I did not feel nervous anymore.

We held hands tightly, and we both kept praying the whole time. I prayed for my son’s health and his safe arrival into this world. I prayed for him to be a righteous person. I prayed for forgiveness. I prayed to be a good mother. I prayed for my family and their well-being. And I prayed for the end of suffering of the needy in this world and softening of the hearts of all the people in the world: I wanted this world to be a beautiful, kind place for my son.

I turned over and looked at my husband and I saw him praying too, and I knew we were both praying for the same things.

Then there was a moment when the room went quiet and there was the sound of shuffled feet and quick hands, and then we heard a wail. The sound filled the room, yet it still was dainty and small. Tears sprung to my eyes, and I squeezed my husband’s hand, and we smiled while we cried.

A few minutes later my husband, who was holding our son, brought him close to me, and I got to see his face, his eyes closed and his skin pink. I couldn’t believe he belonged to me. It was a brief minute before they whisked him away to the special care nursery. But it was enough to know that he would be okay.

I have heard a lot of bad stories about C-sections, but I was very blessed that everything went so well, both during the surgery and during my recovery. I was on such a euphoric high after the delivery; either because of my own body releasing endorphins, or the stuff they had put in my IV. I was so glad that he had come into this world. I felt fantastic. If I could, I would have hopped off the operating table and jumped for joy.

While I was wheeled in to the recovery room, I called my parents, who were oceans away, and told them all had gone well. My husband went into the nursery to check on him and came back to tell me everything was fine.

A bit later I was wheeled into the nursery, and I got to hold him for the first time. He was absolutely perfect, and there are few moments when I have felt as happy as I did then.

I kept reminding myself of that euphoria and just how lucky we were to have a healthy baby during the trying two weeks after his birth that he spent in the Special Care Nursery. He was in an incubator the first week since he wasn’t able to maintain his temperature. I learned to change his first diaper through the little openings in his incubator.

I could only hold and nurse the little one for less than an hour at a time. And even when I did hold him, it was a challenge to make sure the leads monitoring his heart and lungs didn’t slip because then it made an awful beep that would send the nurses rushing. However, despite the difficulties, I could see my son growing stronger and bigger with each passing day. The encouraging responses by the doctors and the nurses had me heartened that he would be home soon. And I felt truly blessed because I met some amazing mothers who had been sitting in the nursery for over a month with their babies, waiting to take them home.

I grew fond of the routine of coming to the hospital in the morning, scrubbing my hands raw before entering the room, feeding him and then pumping milk behind a small screen while he slept. And the smell of newborns and sounds of monitor beeps became familiar and comforting.

Two long weeks later, he was home, and we fell head-on into the responsibilities of new parents. Those two weeks seemed but a distant memory in a few short days.

The birth of my son was not how I had imagined it to be. I had expected an on time, a natural delivery, and to be able to hold and nurse him in my arms as soon as he was born. I had expected to have him in my room and feed him instead of spending the night pumping breast milk. I had expected to take him home with me when we left the hospital instead of visiting him in the Special Care Nursery for two weeks. But none of that mattered.

Things don’t always happen the way you plan, but everything happens for a reason. And now, one year later, I don’t think I would have wanted it to happen any other way. It was all perfect.

Sadia Shariff is a working mom in New Jersey with a beautiful 1 year old boy who has just recently started to crawl and walk but doesn’t understand the meaning of the word ‘No’ yet, and an amazing husband who does not take it personally that she trusts WebMD more than him, even though he’s the doctor and she is merely a financial analyst.  They are working hard in making their lifestyle 100% organic and raising a healthy baby who grows up to be, above all things, kind. Sadia shares her journey on her blog, LilZBear.

If you would like to share your birth story with PureBebe’s readers, please email it to purebebeblog@gmail.com. We will be creating an entire section of our site dedicated to our baby’s birth stories and would love to highlight yours!

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