This story updated Monday, April 2, to correct the foundation’s web address.

BARSTOW • making their way down Main Street on a breezy Saturday morning, a group of locals held signs and marched for a cause most had never heard of: Hyperemesis Gravidarum.

The Ayden Rae Foundation, made up of Barstow and former Barstow locals, walked the long stretch of Main Street to bring awareness to HG, which causes severe vomiting during pregnancy, causing dehydration and malnutrition, and in severe cases can lead to death of the mother or the unborn baby.

Barstow Mayor Joe Gomez participated in the walk, saying “I just wanted to help them with their cause.” Gomez also issued a proclamation on behalf of the city, recognizing March 31 as Hyperemesis Gravidarum Awareness Day.

For Vanessa Pack, Ayden Rae Foundation’s founder, HG caused her to lose nine of her 11 pregnancies. with each pregnancy she suffered severe weight loss, constant vomiting, fainting and dehydration to the point where she couldn’t swallow her saliva. she was prescribed many medication, IV treatments, and even a feeding tube to keep her nourished, though she was denied some prescriptions by her insurance carrier.

“Many people don’t realize the hell we go through to have a child,” Pack said.

According to medterms.com, HG affects one in 300 women and is usually associated with women who lose more than 5 percent of their pre-pregnancy weight.

Pack said since the foundation has been active in raising awareness, there have been many women, five in Barstow so far, who have sought help as they struggle with HG.

She said one of the greatest difficulties HG affected women face is when family, friends, and even medical professionals don’t take their illness seriously.

“most people who are in the medical profession, they see it as the women are making it up and the signs and symptoms are not real,” Pack said.

She said though there are treatments that can help the ease the symptoms of HG, insurance companies will sometimes not approve treatments.

This was the case with Pack’s seventh pregnancy with Ayden Rae, a baby girl who only lived to 23 weeks. During the weeks of that pregnancy, Pack said she was denied treatment after treatment from her insurance company. After grappling with extreme dehydration, constant vomiting, weakness, hunger, infections and denied IV treatment, she noticed at 23 weeks her baby wasn’t moving anymore.

“you hear it over and over again, ‘when you get pregnant, morning sickness is normal,’” Pack said. “there was a point I was thinking this was normal. But when you have HG, you can’t eat, can’t drink, you can’t even stop vomiting. when you have blood flying out of your throat, at a certain point you realize this is not normal.”

Pack has told her story on the medical show, “The Doctors,” and to anyone who will listen. she believes if more people were aware of HG, perhaps they would be more supportive of women who struggle with it.

To raise awareness and funds for HG research, the Ayden Rae Foundation has planned several events, including the motorcycle “Ride for Ayden” April 14, and the Route 66 run and Relay Sept.1-16.

To find out more information or to get involved visit aydenraefoundation.org.

Contact the writer:(760) 256-4123 or

We know them and occasionally overtake the old aged drivers in our roads.it is important to know that they need patience and yelling or hooting does not help but confuses them in the [process– these are after all our Gogos and Mkhulus who still like driving. It’s a fact older drivers have a greater risk of death or serious injury in crashes for a number of reasons. As some people age, they experience vision and hearing impairments that can affect their ability to drive safely.Increased frailty can lead to a much higher risk of being killed or seriously injured if a crash does occur and some illnesses that are more common with age, and the medicines taken to treat them, can affect a person’s ability to drive safely. If you’re over 65 years of age, it’s time for you to think about how you drive, and the sorts of things that might make driving more difficult for you. Assessing your driving skills, and being aware of early warning signs is the best way to make sure you’re not putting yourself, and those you love, at risk on the road.

MoT hints for safer driving n plan your travel route to your destination and avoid very busy or confusing intersections n If you know you have a slow reaction time, avoid dangerous road and traffic conditions such as driving in:  8 rain or poor light  8 heavy traffic and poor road conditions   8 higher speed roadsn If your joints ache after an hour or more of driving, keep trips short whenever possible or take frequent stops to rest and recover n If you find it hard to turn your head to see over your shoulder, take steps to improve the flexibility of your neck by consulting your doctor or a physiotherapist n Take lots of rest breaks and if you have a long way to drive, share the driving if possible n Consult your doctor if you are having trouble sleeping as tiredness can lead to poor concentration or falling asleep at the wheel. n If making right turns at busy intersections makes you stressed or agitated, choose routes and times of travel that are easier. you may be able to find a route that has yield sign left turns at intersections.n Consult your doctor or optometrist to deal with possible vision problems. n Warning signs include – finding it harder to see at twilight, trouble seeing pedestrians, difficulty in seeing objects in the distance, strong reactions to glare n do not wear tinted glasses when driving at night without the approval of your eye specialist n Take note of your doctor or pharmacist’s advice about the possible side effects of new medicines including drowsiness and/or poor concentration. If you experience such symptoms, it is strongly advised that you not drive n a refresher course in driving and road laws may be a good way to check your capabilities as a driver and update your knowledge and skills.

Different stages of pregnancy and driving

No two pregnancies are alike so it is best to discuss your health and ability to drive during pregnancy this with your doctor.  However MoT would suggest the following:8 Travel during pregnancy can be very tiring, but if your pregnancy is normal, you should be able to travel during the first and second trimesters without too many adjustments – however each pregnancy is different.8 do take into account that morning sickness plays a vital role to your ability to drive, so monitor it and keep that in mind when adjusting your normal driving around to work or just on errands.8 be aware of problems with swelling (particularly of feet and ankles) which can adversely affect your driving experience and endanger both yourself, unborn child and other road users.8 Remember that your body undergoes major adjustments during pregnancy some of which you may not feel, so consider avoiding driving during stressful situations and weather conditions such as bad weather conditions (rain, fog, etc).8 Driving at night can also be stressful to mothers-to-be as eyesight could be diminished during pregnancy which requires the body to use extra energy, thus causing stress and fatigue.8 If you have not had any problems with your pregnancy and there are no medical reasons highlighted by your doctor or obstetrician against driving, then it is up to you and how you feel.However, during the third trimester, labour could begin at any time, your water could break or other problems could occur, so don’t plan a trip during your last month of pregnancy or drive as you normally would.  it is advisable to consult your doctor before driving during your third trimester.by the time you reach the final stages of your pregnancy, your baby bump may have gotten so large that it is very close to the steering wheel.  this is neither comfortable nor safe and it will be time for you to consider getting someone else to drive you around.

Wearing seatbelts when pregnantMany expectant women complain that safety belts create additional discomfort and are not keen to wear restraints during pregnancy.it is illegal not to wear a seat belt and no matter what stage of your pregnancy you are at, it is vital that you always wear a seat belt.Pregnancy does not automatically provide exemption from the law.Restraints are just as necessary during pregnancy, as they are when you’re not pregnant and although there is no evidence that the use of safety restraints increases the chance of fetal or uterine injury during a crash, there is still a risk of losing your baby, even if you sustain minor injuries during an accident.Wearing a safety belt will not harm your baby, which is cocooned in protective amniotic fluid.Research shows that unbelted pregnant women are more than three times likely to lose their baby in a crash, and two times as likely to have excessive maternal bleeding.Even in a minor accident, where injuries are not as severe, you still have a 5 % chance of losing your baby if unrestrained.there are medical complications that can occur to the mother as well as the baby.such as abdominal pain, complications from blood clots, fractures, and internal injuries if involved in a crash while unrestrained.How to wear a seatbelt during pregnancyIt is a common concern during pregnancy that if you wear a seatbelt it may put too much pressure on your stomach and your baby, especially in the event of an accident.However it is safer for both mum and baby if you do wear a seatbelt and is much more dangerous not to wear one at all.Whilst wearing a seat belt during pregnancy may not be comfortable, it will improve safety for both mother and baby.Moms -to-be must learn to place the seat belt in the correct position – yes, there is a correct way to wear a seat belt during pregnancy.Here’s how:place the lap-belt part of the restraint under your abdomen and across your upper thighs so it is snug and fits comfortablyDo not place the lap belt on or above your belly.As the belt will have been pulled lower than normal, adjust your sitting position so the belt crosses your shoulder without cutting into your neck.the shoulder belt should cross over your collar bone and lie between your breasts. be sure to position it so that it does not cut across your neck.Never put the shoulder belt behind your back or under your arm as this renders the restraint ineffective.when travelling in cars fitted with air bags, the front seat (whether it be the driving seat or the passenger seat) should be pushed as far back as practical.the safety belt should be worn as tight as possible (but not be uncomfortable) so that in the event of an accident, the forces applied in a sudden impact can be absorbed by the body’s frame.

Common injuries for unborn babies and their mothersInjuries unique to pregnant occupants of cars involved in collisions include:Placental abruptionUterine rupture or lacerationDirect fetal injuryThe most common type of injury is a separated placenta.  the placenta then becomes partially or completely detached, meaning that the baby cannot get enough oxygen and nutrients, which can be fatal for the baby.Potential injury risks for unborn babies in car crashes:1. Non-fatal but possible long-term consequencesSeparated placenta (most documented) Fetal distressEarly delivery Breathing and nervous system disordersDirect fetal injury Arm and leg injuries2. FatalDeath of motherSeparated placentaRuptured uterusBaby skull fracture

The air bag and pregnant driversAir bags are meant to work with seat belts to protect both driver and passengers.An inflated air bag creates a protective cushion between the driver or passenger and the steering wheel, dashboard, and windscreen.when travelling or driving, just remember to move the seat as far back as possible and tilt it slightly backwards, as this will maximise the distance between your chest and tummy and the rest of the car (dashboard, steering wheel, windscreen).As an added precaution, mums-to-be should not sit in the front seat of vehicles, but rather in the back seat (with seat belts on), which is the safest place to travel in any car.Avoid leaning or reaching forward, but rather sit back in the seat and keep the seat belt as taut as possible as this will reduce your forward movement in a crash and allow the airbag to inflate correctly.

Should you accessorise your car?

We all like being different when it comes to cars from personalised registration numbers, to mag wheels, cars that have the perfect loud system and your neighbour cannot afford to a well pimped car. well pimping your ride always sounds like a good idea at the time, but as many have found out – that joy often turns to cries of poverty when it  is time to sell that pride and joy. this warning may have come to late for other drivers but at the right time for me and some readers of MoT.South Africa’s giant auctioneer Burchmores, has cautioned that: “Car buyers are often tempted into buying alluring or sexy accessories – anything and everything from spoilers to fancy sound systems. there is a common misconception that, when the time to sell comes, this will improve the resale value of the car. but that’s simply not true!” the company’s Managing Director Darryl Jacobson warns that motorists should never expect to recoup their “investment” in accessories. “Aftermarket accessories are not investments; you should enjoy them for what they are, and never expect them to boost the value of your car,” he advises. according to Jacobson, sellers are often disappointed when – after investing E30 000 in a fancy sound system – they are only offered book value for their car. “they believe that their car should be sold for E30 000 above book, but this just doesn’t happen in the real world; a buyer will never pay a huge premium for a car with expensive accessories – we are trading in an extremely price-sensitive market,” he reveals. where accessories do assist, however, is in securing a deal. “they may well make the car easier to sell,” comments Jacobson. “After all, if the buyer can choose between two identical cars in similar condition – one with and one without a CD, it’s obvious which one he or she will select.” the one exception to this rule is a navigation system. “they are extremely popular and buyers are prepared to pay a premium. “However, it is rare to find a used car with an aftermarket navigation system; the sellers normally remove these systems and transfer them to their new cars.”  Mag wheels are also popular amongst used car buyers. “but once again, they will generally only swing a deal – a buyer won’t pay substantially more for a used car with mags,” Jacobson warns. the message therefore is clear: “If you want to spend a small fortune on aftermarket accessories, then do so – by all means. Take, for instance, the example of the sound system: invest the E30 000 and enjoy the spectacular sound that it delivers. but understand fully that, when the time comes to sell, you won’t get that E30 000 back,” the Burchmore’s MD concludes.

MoT Drivers Quiz

Driving on rainy weather, do you…?

A. Drive fast and ignore speed limit B. Overload because there are less roadblocksC. Follow road speed limitD. Drive slowly and keep a safe following distance

SEND ANSWERS TO: or sms to 7603 6934

COLUMBIA, S.C. –  The mother of a South Carolina toddler missing since Thanksgiving is pregnant and should be released from jail because she needs prenatal care, the woman’s attorney argued in court papers filed this week.

Hemphill Pride II also said in the motions filed Tuesday in Columbia that Zinah Jennings is mentally ill, has been ordered to have treatment for a year and has been told to take Risperdal, which is used to treat symptoms of schizophrenia.

On Thursday afternoon, federal, state and local police were searching a county in the central part of the state for the toddler. Columbia police spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons said officers were scouring an 8-mile area near a small rural church in Richland County.

Jennings, 22, has been in jail since late December, when Columbia police say they arrested her for lying about the whereabouts of her son, Amir.

Her mother had reported Jennings missing several weeks earlier, telling police she thought her daughter and grandson were in Atlanta but that she was receiving evasive answers when she asked about Amir.

Speaking to police after a Christmas Eve car wreck, Jennings first said she didn’t have children and then said her son was with relatives and friends in cities from Atlanta to Charlotte, N.C.

Investigators say they chased down Jennings’ stories but met with several dead ends before arresting her. Authorities said they hope a tip line and $10,000 reward will yield information, and state police are analyzing stains on blankets and clothes removed from Jennings’ car to see if they are blood.

Jennings was arrested on prostitution and drug charges in Georgia shortly before her son disappeared, accused of offering sex to an undercover officer. Jennings had been staying with a half-sister in the Atlanta area for three weeks before her Nov. 9 arrest.

On the day Zinah Jennings was arrested, her half-sister reported her missing, telling police that she had left her home and suffered from “schizophrenic tendencies” that had not been diagnosed. The grandmother has said her headstrong daughter frequently traveled to visit relatives and friends in the Carolinas and Georgia but had been depressed since the birth of her son.

In his motion, Pride cites a doctor who has examined Jennings and says she “lacks sufficient insight or capacity to make responsible decisions” about her treatment.

In a separate motion, Pride asks a judge to allow his client to wear street clothes during hearings because of intense media attention on her case. In a previous appearance, Jennings wore an orange jail jumpsuit and handcuffs.

A hearing in the case is scheduled for Monday.

Even people without celiac disease have taken to eating only gluten-free foods, but the options are still limited, which means you might wind up in worse shape — physically — than ever before.

Is gluten the latest dietary villain? It would seem so. Restaurant menus hype their gluten-free items. Food packages proclaim their gluten-free contents. Weight loss programs flaunt the purported benefits of avoiding gluten. And then there is the list of conditions apart from celiac disease that supposedly are helped by eliminating gluten from the diet. Such marketing tactics could lead a person to believe that the gluten-free diet is the greatest discovery since sliced bread.

So, let’s examine the facts. does going gluten-free help a person lose weight? does it improve overall health? is it the cure-all for what ails you? is gluten the new nutritional enemy? the answer is … well, it depends.

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley products. It gives an elastic consistency to flours made from these grains. most breads, cereals, crackers, pasta, and baked goods contain gluten, and it is found in many processed and packaged foods disguised in ingredients like thickening agents and fillers made from these grains.

GLUTEN-FREE WEIGHT LOSS?

Many personal trainers, celebrities, and alternative health practitioners have joined the growing gluten-free trend and are recommending the diet for all sorts of inappropriate conditions. Weight loss is one example. there is no evidence that gluten-free foods promote weight loss, and no evidence that replacing a food that contains gluten with a gluten-free food can help a person lose weight. the gluten-free version has the same number of calories.

However, when a person avoids gluten, many foods must be avoided. Dee Sandquist, American Dietetic Association spokesperson and registered dietitian, says: ” When people choose to follow a gluten-free diet for weight loss, most likely they have changed their eating habits to include fewer gluten-containing products overall such as cakes, cookies, rolls, etc.” Cutting out those foods reduces calorie intake which will result in weight loss. Nothing magical there though. Reducing calories from any source results in weight loss.

The number of gluten-free products is limited, and trying to design a weight-loss plan around such few foods would be quite challenging to accomplish and difficult to stick to. in fact, a gluten-free diet may be high in calories and actually contribute to weight gain because food manufacturers often replace gluten with fat and sugar to impersonate the desirable qualities that gluten provides in baked goods.

Although a gluten-free diet may often be suggested for managing conditions like autism, irritable bowel syndrome, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the research shows mixed results and further research is needed in these areas. there is also a lack of evidence that avoiding gluten boosts energy levels, improves digestion, or enhances attention span.

CELIAC DISEASE

The only condition that necessitates a gluten-free diet is celiac disease, an extreme manifestation of gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity. Gluten really is the bad boy for people with this disease.

Celiac disease is a common genetic disorder affecting about 1 in 133 people in the United States. an autoimmune disorder characterized by an abnormal response to gluten, it causes severe damage to the mucosa that lines the small intestine. While the disease usually develops in early childhood, it is sometimes triggered by events such as surgery, pregnancy, childbirth, viral infection, or severe emotional stress.

When a person with celiac disease ingests gluten, the villi in the small intestine are damaged or destroyed. the result is a significant reduction in the surface area of the intestinal mucosa where the absorption of nutrients occurs. in addition, the secretion of intestinal enzymes that aid in digestion becomes impaired. Without healthy villi and adequate digestive enzymes, a person becomes malnourished regardless of how much they eat.

Symptoms of celiac disease vary between individuals. in childhood, celiac disease manifests itself primarily with digestive symptoms such as chronic diarrhea; vomiting; constipation; abdominal bloating and pain; pale, foul-smelling stools; and weight loss. due to nutrient malabsorption, an infant or child may have other problems such as failure to thrive, delayed growth, short stature, delayed puberty, and defects in the enamel of the permanent teeth. Irritability is also a common symptom in children.

Celiac Symptoms

If celiac disease develops in adulthood, it is less likely to cause digestive symptoms. more commonly, adults will develop symptoms such as fatigue, unexplained iron-deficiency anemia, bone and joint problems, depression or anxiety, canker sores in the mouth, infertility, or a skin rash known as dermatitis herpetiformis. It is entirely possible for someone with celiac disease to have no symptoms at all, but still develop complications of the disease such as malnutrition, anemia, osteoporosis, liver disease, and intestinal cancer.

Celiac disease has long been under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed. as noted in a 2009 study, the prevalence of undiagnosed celiac disease seems to have increased dramatically in the United States during the past 50 years. as more is learned about the variety of symptoms that people experience and as better blood tests are developed, more people are being diagnosed. If blood tests and a person’s symptoms are consistent with celiac disease, an intestinal biopsy is performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Celiac Treatment

“A gluten-free diet is the ‘prescription’ for someone with celiac disease,” Sandquist said. the diet will stop the symptoms, help to heal damaged areas of the intestine, and prevent further damage. a person with celiac disease must stay on the diet for the rest of their lives.

Eating gluten-free means excluding wheat, rye, barley, and all foods made with these grains. this includes most breads, pasta, cereals, and many processed foods. Instead of using wheat flour, potato, rice, soy, amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, or bean flour must be substituted.

The inclusion of oats in a gluten-free diet has been an area of question in recent years, but according to Sandquist they can be included. “The source of oats needs to be gluten-free. It’s recommended to wait a year (after diagnosis of celiac disease) to introduce oats because there may be a subset of people with celiac disease who still may not be able to tolerate oats. in most cases, the gut is healed after a year on the gluten-free diet,” Sandquist said.

CELIAC AND GLUTEN SENSITIVITY

Recent research has acknowledged the possibility that celiac disease and gluten sensitivity or intolerance are two separate gluten-associated disorders. some experts believe that gluten sensitivity may result from any of a variety of causes: human genetics, plant genetic modifications, the use of gluten as a food additive, environmental toxins, hormonal influences, intestinal infections, or autoimmune diseases. there currently is no clear definition or diagnosis for gluten sensitivity so diagnosing it may be delayed in people who exhibit symptoms. a gluten-free diet or an elimination diet may help people to determine if they are gluten sensitive.

The symptoms of gluten sensitivity are less severe than celiac disease and may include symptoms similar to those of irritable bowel syndrome, as well as fatigue, headache, a “foggy mind,” or tingling in the extremities. there is no clear definition of gluten sensitivity and no firm tests available for diagnosing it. in addition, dietary recommendations for gluten sensitivity aren’t clear-cut.

The only people who absolutely have to follow a strict gluten-free diet are those with celiac disease. If you think you may have a problem with gluten, see a medical professional before putting yourself on a gluten-free diet. one of the problems with self-diagnosis of celiac disease or gluten intolerance and putting oneself on a gluten-free diet is that it results in an inability to diagnose the disease. a person with celiac disease has increased levels of certain autoantibiodies circulating in their blood due to their intake of gluten. If someone stops eating a diet that includes gluten before being tested, the results may be negative for the disease even if the person has it.

Gluten-free foods are increasingly available in grocery stores and restaurants, making it easier for anyone with celiac disease to eat a more varied diet. Gluten-free foods may not be fortified with vitamins, may be low in fiber, and high in calories and fat. they are considered specialty foods so they are typically expensive.

Even though celebrities have reportedly eliminated gluten from their diet to “detox” their bodies, there is nothing inherently healthier about going gluten-free. People who cut gluten out of their diet often lose weight and begin to feel better, but it likely has nothing to do with avoiding gluten. they are probably eating a better diet by consuming less fast food and processed food, and eating more fruits and vegetables. the change toward a better diet makes the difference, not the gluten.

Following a gluten-free diet is very difficult and may put a person at risk for deficiencies of calcium, vitamin D, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, fiber, and zinc, according to Sandquist. she advises those who follow the diet by choice and not medical necessity to choose foods wisely to avoid nutrient deficiencies. she added: ” I have observed that people who do not have to follow the diet for celiac disease usually won’t stay on it very long.”

Image: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters.

This article originally appeared on TheDoctorWillSeeYouNow.com, an Atlantic partner site.

Bridgeport, CT — (SBWIRE) — 01/05/2012 — Website owner, Neville Pettersson, has created a website, pcos-treatment.net/, in which women can get the help with PCOS treatment: pcos-treatment.net/ options, or Polycystic Overy Syndrome. The website aims to showcase the most updated PCOS treatment options. According to statistics, up to 10% of women between the ages of 18 and 40 suffer from this condition. PCOS can significantly decrease the chances of getting pregnant: howdoyougetpregnant.us/chances-of-getting-pregnant.html and, up until now, fertility treatments were a common, albeit expensive, solution. According to Pettersson, this site was created because, “my wife and I have BOTH gone through the gamut of infertility and know the industry inside-out.” he wanted to give women and couples more choices and let them know that there are other options out there. The site lists the three most popular programs and PCOS treatment options that are available today. Each PCOS treatment program is reviewed in depth, and lets the reader know how long the program has been in business, exactly what the program involves, the cost of the PCOS treatment and customer reviews. The website also lists various symptoms and PCOS treatment options. for instance, one of the biggest PCOS treatments is to lose weight. Studies have shown that more than 40% of women with PCOS are overweight and have a BMI of 25 or more. Losing weight will reduce the fat cells around the ovaries and make getting pregnant easier. PCOS treatment options are an invaluable resource for those wanting to become pregnant. this is due to the fact that PCOS can interfere with ovulation, causing irregular or missed periods. if diet alone doesn’t help, then the site recommends the drug, Chlomid, as a possible PCOS treatment. The #1 program for PCOS treatment, according to the website, is the, “Ovarian Cyst Cure” program. this program suggests scientifically proven ways to reverse and eliminate the cysts naturally, by following specific diet and lifestyle changes. It can be purchased for $39. Says one happy customer, “This warm wonderful ebook told me everything I needed to know about ovarian cysts and the changes that were going on inside my body. now I understand what was happening and how easy it was to eliminate my cyst without drugs or surgery. a must read for anyone suffering from ovarian cysts.” The second program review listed on the site is entitled, “Ovarian Cyst Miracle,” and focuses on natural PCOS treatment that will reduce and eliminate cysts within 2 months. this comprehensive guide can be purchased for $39. The third program is entitled, “PCOS Solution” and lists 3 steps to overcome PCOS naturally. It can be purchased for $17. Each of the above PCOS treatment programs promise to help women reduce and eliminate PCOS forever, by following natural, holistic methods. There are no expensive drugs needed and no surgery to go through. Pettersson’s goal is to keep the site updated with the latest developments and PCOS treatment options, while helping keep people informed about natural ways to get pregnant. The site also has extensive information on IVF treatments and options. for more information or to contact the site owner, visit pcos-treatment.net/

Copyright © Mindful Mum 2009 – 2011. All rights reserved. Web design by dreilly.co.uk. Web development by RSGWD.

This site is published by the Mum Dad Baby Group (Mum Dad Baby Ltd), which is responsible for its contents as outlined in the terms & conditions. It is intended for visitors from The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The information presented on this website is not intended as specific medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical treatment or diagnosis. if you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult a doctor or other healthcare professional.

Please review the terms & conditions before using this site. your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by these terms & conditions.

Copyright © Mindful Mum 2009 – 2011. All rights reserved. Web design by dreilly.co.uk. Web development by RSGWD.

This site is published by the Mum Dad Baby Group (Mum Dad Baby Ltd), which is responsible for its contents as outlined in the terms & conditions. it is intended for visitors from The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The information presented on this website is not intended as specific medical advice and is not a substitute for professional medical treatment or diagnosis. if you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult a doctor or other healthcare professional.

Please review the terms & conditions before using this site. your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by these terms & conditions.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Expectations loom for Wood River, Thompson signs with Aggies

By JOHN MENTZER

Signing day at Wood River High School. Senior Haylee (seated)Thompson signs her letter-of-intent to play at Utah State University. from left, head coach Mendy Benson, Hannah Belloli, Haillie Taylor, Kaitana Martinez, Cheyenne Swanson were all present to support Thompson. Express photo by Willy Cook

Last season’s impeccable run was capped off this week when senior forward Haylee Thompson signed a letter-of-intent to play at Utah State University as a freshman next year.

But for the 2011-12 Wood River girls basketball squad, a new year brings higher expectations and even bigger question marks to start the season.

Wood River is coming off a 21-3 season, a great Basin Conference Championship, second-place finish in the 4A Idaho State Basketball Championship and the Sportsmanship Award.

the good thing about the upcoming season is the familiarity that encompasses the team—a family of sorts, bonded by the commonality of the sport of basketball.

With news of Thompson’s scholarship to Utah State, it would be easy to ignore the fact that there’s still a season to be played.

However, this season won’t be easy.

Head coach and returning 2011 great Basin Conference Coach of the Year Mendy Benson won’t be able to watch her team’s early growing pains. That’s because she’ll be dealing with her own.

Benson is seven months pregnant and was expected to be on maternity leave come December. the team and assistant coach (husband and Wood River football coach Kevin Stilling) were prepared to take on the necessary challenge of not having Benson roam the sidelines because of her pregnancy.

However, back on June 21 her pregnancy took a scary twist of fate.

the symptoms began as a simple headache. However, within 48 hours it felt like someone taking a baseball bat to Benson’s head, or as she described it, as "painful as giving birth, but in my head."

Anxiety and fear obviously amounted. Benson was experiencing a brain bleed, which was later diagnosed as a cavernous malformation—a vascular abnormality of the central nervous system. it consists of a cluster of abnormal dilated vessels, which are a red to purple, almost a raspberry color. Benson also began experiencing blood clots in her legs.

due to the bleed, Benson’s activity and stress levels have been monitored closely, thus committing her to an early-induced pregnancy over Thanksgiving in Portland, Ore. She’ll be giving birth three weeks earlier than expected.

Thankfully, a fill-in coach isn’t too far away.

Stilling, coming off a playoff year in football, will take the role of head coach for the time being.

Watching his wife struggle, it was hard on Stilling.

"Initially, it was easier to be me because I didn’t realize how bad it was," said Benson. "I didn’t realize how close I was to death. it was pretty hard on [Kevin]."

She’ll receive better on-hand treatment in Portland due to the fact that a bigger hospital most likely has dealt with an issue like hers.

There’s a small chance that her brain will bleed again so she needs to be at a hospital where she can receive the proper treatment if that should happen.

For the time being, basketball takes a back seat.

"It’s made me a little more worried about the baby," Benson added. "I’m a little more worried about not being around for the baby. I just think that what’s going to happen is going to happen."

the couple don’t know the sex of the baby and thus don’t know the name of it either.

Because of the stress of coaching, Benson hasn’t been able to watch her team practice.

However, she said, it turned out to be a good thing that she married a fellow coach.

"the nice thing of being married to another coach is that [he] just gets it," she said.

the mutual understanding is everything.

"You do for your husband or wife what you normally wouldn’t do," said Stilling. "I normally wouldn’t dive into two sports if it weren’t for her."

Benson is in her 12th year of coaching basketball (her fourth with Wood River). However, she claims basketball season is a special time for her and Stilling.

"We love doing it together. It’s almost like our second family."

Benson’s influence on the team can be echoed through Thompson’s scholarship to Utah State. Benson pushed Thompson hard as a tenderfoot when Thompson was just learning to play basketball as a freshman.

"I don’t know any other coaches," said Thompson. "she preached fundamentals and I focused on that. she knew I had the physical ability, but she also knew I need the mental toughness."

Benson saw great potential in Thompson. over four years of coaching, she continually held Thompson accountable for her own potential, making her realize how good she could be.

Thompson grew up playing soccer while basketball wasn’t even on her radar. But thanks to Benson and her fundamental coaching, there will be a Wood River alumna playing Division 1 basketball next season.

Utah State was one of the first colleges to contact Thompson by phone. Calls from the school became more frequent and soon campus visits were in order.

Thompson said what attracted her to Utah State was the similarities between the way Benson coached and the way she’ll be coached in college.

"They’re losing all their posts this year," said Thompson. "they had similar practices and similar styles of play."

Utah State coveted Thompson’s style. Utah State loves how she can move so well down the floor for a tall girl. it also doesn’t hurt that Thompson loves to rebound, something that is music to any basketball coach’s ears.

Thompson, however, will have to go in her senior year without her mentor.

the head coaching duties won’t fall solely on Stilling’s shoulders. Assistant coach Fred Trenkle has been there to help in a very dire time.

"Fred has been instrumental in helping us prepare for this year, and I really couldn’t do what I’m doing without him," said Stilling. "I couldn’t have asked for someone more knowledgeable and helpful to fill in during Mendy’s absence. Fred has sacrificed a lot to help out this program and his assistance is not something that the girls or I take for granted."

Along with Benson’s absence, Wood River will be without reigning 2011 great Basin Conference Player of the Year senior point guard Kaitana Martinez. Martinez will be out until January with an MCL injury.

Losing Martinez and her 17 points per game will reshape the team. Martinez is also Wood River’s all-time single-season scoring leader with 408 points.

"This year’s team must be a ball-controlling team," said Benson. "KT was the best point guard in the state last year. she created so much on her own. So much of the offense came from what she did on the fly."

without the floor general, Wood River must trust not only in themselves to create plays, but coach Stilling and Trenkle to ensure a balance.

"We have to work the ball around and get the ball to our bigs," said Benson.

the loss of Martinez to start the season will keep other teams guessing.

According to Benson, there will be three separate teams Wood River will put on the floor this year—the team without Martinez, the team learning to play with Martinez and the team with Martinez.

With the heart of the team out, it will consequently force others to step up to the role of leader.

With Benson out, it will force the team to grow into mature young women, grasping a challenge set by fate.

This season’s expectations go further than repeating a 21-3 record. they go beyond basketball and beyond wins and losses. This season will test the will of a possible champions.

the new season will kick off on Monday, Nov. 14, when Wood River travels to Kimberly.

Last season, Kaitana Martinez led the Lady Wolverines with 17 points per game. she also led the team with a 32 3-point buckets (Wood River had 58 as a team).

Haylee Thompson will roam down low as she returns for her senior season. Thompson had 11.9 points per game; however, it’s her 6.8 rebounds per game that will be most valuable.

also returning will be seniors Cheyenne Swanson (5.4 ppg), Haille Taylor (2.1 ppg). To fill out the roster it will look like this: seniors Cookie Benson, Emmalie Dion and Lucy Paisley, juniors Hannah Belloli and Lily Richards, no sophomores and two incoming freshman, Rory Cole and Ciceley Peavey.

Last season, Wood River was 12-0 at home and 9-3 on the road. the team averaged 48 points per game and allowed 38.1 points.

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Natural childbirth advocates are apparently desperate to demonstrate that “good mothers” don’t get epidurals for pain relief in labor. Unfortunately for them, the scientific literature, including the Torvaldsen study, fail to demonstrate that epidurals interfere with breastfeeding.

The Torvaldsen study looked at breastfeeding rates at 8, 16, and 24 weeks postpartum. At one week postpartum 93% of women were breastfeeding or partially breastfeeding. the investigators divided women into those who did any breastfeeding at all, regardless of how little, and those who had completely stopped breastfeeding. Strangely, the investigators never asked women about their breastfeeding plans. in other words, they ASSUMED (wrongly, no doubt) that all women planned to breastfeed for 6 months regardless of personal beliefs and regardless of employment status.

The data showed that the rate of breastfeeding dropped in each progressive week in ALL groups. At 24 weeks 52% of women who had received epidurals were still breastfeeding, compared to 72% who had received no pharmacological pain relief. but what percentage of women who stopped breastfeeding had never intended to continue until 24 weeks? we don’t know, because the authors never asked. They simply ASSUMED that anyone who stopped breastfeeding before 24 weeks did so involuntarily.

The investigators looked at many factors that were associated with duration of breastfeeding and of those, three had strong associations with duration of breast feeding. of those three, pain relief had the WEAKEST association with breastfeeding rates. A stronger association was found with maternal education level, and the strongest association was found with maternal age. Women over 30 reported a longer duration of breastfeeding and women with a university degree had the best rate of extended breastfeeding in the entire study.

It is interesting therefore, that lactivists claim that this study indicates that women risk harming the breastfeeding relationship by choosing an epidural. by their “reasoning,” lack of a university degree has an even higher risk of harming the breastfeeding relationship, yet, curiously, they do not recommend that women shouldn’t have children until they have a university degree.

It is obvious that young age does not “cause” a decrease in extended breastfeeding and failure to obtain a college degree does not “cause” a decrease in breastfeeding. They are maternal characteristics associated with a decrease in extended breastfeeding rates. in other words, rates of extended breastfeeding are dependent on personal characteristics of the mothers themselves. Older mothers and more educated mothers have a greater commitment to extended breastfeeding.

Similarly, epidural anesthesia does not “cause” a decreased in extended breastfeeding rates; the willingness to refuse epidural anesthesia is a maternal characteristic associated with extended breastfeeding, and only a minority of women (25%) refused some sort of pharmacologic pain relief.

This study does not show that epidurals interfere with breastfeeding. It shows that maternal personal characteristics determine extended breastfeeding rates. the women who were committed to unmedicated childbirth were also committed to extended breastfeeding, and as a variety of other studies have demonstrated, it is maternal commitment that is most closely associated with extended breastfeeding.

Sorry to disappoint those who insist they merit praise for refusing an epidural, but there is NO need to decline an epidural for fear that it will harm the breastfeeding relationship.

Amy Tuteur, MD commented on Feb 10 11 at 11:53 am

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