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19-Pound Baby Sets Birth Weight Record . . . OUCH!

babysugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:36:01 -0700

How would you like to give birth to a 1-year-old child? Sounds pretty painful, right? Frightening as it may be,
that's essentially what an Indonesian woman did when she delivered a 19.2-pound infant measuring 24.4 inches. These stats are more normal for a kid celebrating his first birthday, and doctors attribute the massive body weight to the mother's diabetic condition. Thankfully, the newborn is healthy and showing a strong appetite. It is a good reminder to all expectant ladies to follow through with the glucose test, and especially for diabetic mamas to monitor their diets closely as it can clearly affect their growing child.

What's the heaviest birth weight you've ever heard?

Woman Implanted With Wrong Embryo to Give Birth

TresSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Carolyn Savage was elated when she was told her implanted embryo had taken, and she was pregnant with her fourth, and last, child. After her first pregnancy, Carolyn faced a host of life-threatening problems, and two of her children had been born prematurely. Determined to have a fourth child, she and her husband Sean resorted to in vitro fertilization.

And then they received the unthinkable news from the fertility clinic: another couple's embryo had been implanted. After consulting lawyers and the biological parents, the Savages decided Carolyn would carry the baby to term and then give it up to its parents. Although the legal option was theirs, because of their beliefs, they chose not to terminate the pregnancy. Carolyn has decided to have her remaining embryos implanted in a surrogate who will carry and deliver her fourth child.

As advanced as reproductive technology is, we have yet to catch up with ways of handling the ethical dilemmas that arise when things go wrong. What if Carolyn didn't want to carry another person's baby and decided to terminate it? Legally, the biological parents would not have had recourse, but imagine how tragic her decision would have been for all involved. What do you think about fertility advancements? Are they necessary, or should people just adopt or be content with the number of children they have?

Nicole Kidman's Candid About Sexual Fetish and Tom Cruise

PopSugarUK — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:50:10 -0800

Nicole Kidman has given a frank interview to British GQ for their December issue, and posed in lingerie for the accompanying photo shoot. While yesterday's rumours about her teaming up with Robert Pattinson for Bel Ami have been quickly denied, Nicole did tell the magazine about her relationships with other men. She reveals her penchant for sexual fetish, opens up about Tom Cruise, and speaks about the challenges of marriage. Here are the highlights:

On Tom Cruise: "I became famous very young. I became very famous because I was the wife of somebody. I did a lot of good, worthwhile work in Australia between the ages of 14 and 19 and then I married someone famous... I know my agents at the time were like, 'Do not get married! It will ruin your career!' And I was like, 'But I’m in love!' All I know is that I wasn’t someone interested in fame. And that’s not why I got married."
On her explorations in love and sex: "My life has been about exploring types of love. I’ve explored obsession, I’ve explored loss and love in terms of being in a grief-stricken place, I’ve explored strange sexual fetish stuff, I’ve explored the mundane aspect of marriage, and monogamy. But I’m still on that journey."
On Keith Urban's problems with drugs and alcohol: "I don’t talk about that. That’s the sanctity of our marriage. Our relationship is pretty much off bounds and we really don’t discuss it except to say we’re very together. And you know, you work on it. It’s a very adventurous, extraordinary place to be: incredibly raw, incredibly dangerous and you’re very much out at sea. You’re exposed. You could drown. When you commit to someone like that you live and die together by that decision."

To find out what Nicole had to say about where her marriage to Tom went wrong, being a working mum, what she wants out of her career and not choosing the safe option, read more.

On the state of her relationship with Tom during Eyes Wide Shut: "[W]e were pretty happily married throughout that period. People will always watch the movie in hindsight and go, ‘Oh no, that must be where it all went wrong.’ I don’t want to say whether anything is or isn’t true any more. Listen, people can mythologise and think what they want, and that’s where it begins and ends for me. The rest of it is information. Some of it is isinformation. And some of it isn’t. I don’t care now at this stage in my life to refute rumours, or confirm them... We’ll see where it takes me and where it ends up but, right now, I quite like that abandoned feeling."
On refusing to talk about Tom and Scientology: "I want to honour that marriage for what it was, and there is nothing I would go into about that. I have never discussed the intricacies of it and I never will."
On filming Nine after giving birth to Sunday: "I'd just given birth, so i was like, 'OK, I'm [still] a woman – I want to do this film! And I do have a life other than simply feeding this baby.' I think when you give birth you get itchy to get back to work and you want to feel life still goes on."
On what she wants from her career: "I make films that aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, I realise that. I get it. But that’s where i am. if I were a painter I certainly wouldn’t be painting for the masses. And I’m unwavering on this. I want to take risks. I want excitement, danger and uncertainty."
On not choosing the safe option: "I have a career where I have had to weather the storms. It’s become second nature to me. I’m used to my roles and the movies I’m in being criticised. I seek it out. In my life i do not seek out a safe place. I like existing in an uncomfortable place artistically. People can believe this or not, but in the end I hope my life will be a mix of extreme love and bold artistic choices. I’ve never wanted to be safe. I’ve never chosen safe relationships. And I’ve never chosen safe films. I would have had a much easier life if I did."

Let PopUS know if you think Nicole is being refreshingly honest or over-the-top with her revelations. You can read the full interview in GQ, on sale today.

Are Occasional Breaks From the Pill Necessary?

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:50:05 -0700

Almost every woman I know has been on the pill at some point in her life, and many of us started when we were under 20 years old. It has many health benefits, such as preventing unwanted pregnancies, decreasing the risk of ovarian cancer, and alleviating PMS symptoms. The one big negative about the pill is that statistics show being on it for longer than 10 years puts you at a higher risk for breast cancer. Women may also be worried that taking hormones for so long may affect their chances of having a baby in the future. So does it make sense to take regular vacations from the pill to give your body some hormone-free time?

To find out if this is a good idea, read more.

While it's common to think that taking occasional breaks from the pill is beneficial for your body, it's actually not necessary. It's a myth that may have started a while back, since the very first birth control pills contained high doses of hormones. Today's pills contain a much lower amount so they're completely safe to take for years at a time. Doctors actually think it's healthier for your body to remain on the pill. The fluctuations in hormones can have a negative effect on your body, both physically and emotionally. Plus, all the symptoms you experienced when you first started the pill such as moodiness, sore breasts, or yeast infections may show up again.

What about your fertility? You may be worried that staying on the pill continuously for many years will make it harder to get pregnant when you decide to start a family. There's no evidence that being on the pill has any effect on a woman's future ability to conceive - it merely prevents pregnancy while a woman is on it. In fact, regularly going on and off the pill may increase your chances of having an unplanned pregnancy since your protection isn't consistent.

Most importantly, if you've been on the pill forever, you'll be happy to know that as soon as you go off it your risk for developing breast cancer begins to go back to normal over time. If you're worried about your risk, or the whole idea of putting hormones in your body doesn't sit well with you, talk to your doctor about hormone-free alternatives such as the ParaGard IUC. A permanent vacation from the pill might be the better option, as opposed to a break.

Some Doctors Object to the Pill on Moral Grounds

TresSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0700

In the very first episode of Mad Men, Peggy Olson goes to the gynecologist seeking a prescription for the pill. Watching the scene, I cringed as the doctor grills Peggy about why she would want the contraceptive pills if she were not married. He says: "As a doctor we'd like to think that putting a woman in this situation isn't going to turn her into some sort of strumpet." Although he gave her the prescription, he tells Peggy he will take her off the medicine if she "abuses" it.

If you're thinking: thank goodness I don't live in the 1960s when doctors were allowed to pass judgment on our sex lives, think again! A recent USA Today story explains how doctors are using conscience clauses to object to the pill as well as to abortion. One doctor in San Antonio told the paper that the pill would not protect her patient from the "emotional trauma from multiple partners" or sexually transmitted diseases. She said: "I could not ethically give that type of medication to a single woman." Wow. This modern doctor goes even further than the one featured on Mad Men!

The Bush administration enacted an ambitious conscience clause that says that hospitals receiving federal money cannot refuse to hire nurses or doctors who morally object to abortion or even certain forms of birth control. These regulations, which could limit access to contraception for women who rely on public clinics or those who live in rural areas, have yet to be rolled back by President Obama as promised. What do you think about doctors who withhold contraception from women because of moral objections?

Motherhood: A Harried-Mom Tale That Often Feels Tired

BuzzSugar — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:30:20 -0700

When you have a parenting movie set in New York, you should know better than to expect a warm-'n'-fuzzy story about the joys of having kids. In fact, Motherhood is out to prove that mothers have it rough.

The film follows Eliza Welsh (Uma Thurman), a Manhattan writer dealing with a cramped apartment, busy husband, and side-street parking while raising her two kids. A day in her life feels like a really, really long 24 hours. Eliza runs around frantically trying to prepare for her 6-year-old's birthday while composing an essay for a parenting magazine contest and squeezing in a sample sale with her mommy friend Sheila (Minnie Driver). We know that Eliza was once a great writer, but when she had kids, she decided to give up her job to raise her family. Now, she's a shell of her former self in frumpy clothes and messy hair. Simply put, Eliza is dealing with the classic parent conundrum: how do you care for your kids and still retain something for yourself? The answer? It ain't easy.

For more about what I mean, read more.

Eliza doesn't try to feign martyrdom. In fact, she often whines about her plight in a way that screams, "I'm angry, dammit!" And at first, you're angry for her too. (No woman deserves to put up with all that she does.) But as the film goes on, Eliza's bitterness knocks you over the head, and you have to you wonder - is she like this every day? Yeesh.

Luckily we have Eliza's friend Sheila for some needed comic relief. Sheila is the cool single mom to the more neurotic Eliza - she mouths off cheeky one-liners and uses her son's motorized bath toy for her "alone time." Jodie Foster also delivers a hilarious cameo as a celebrity mom swearing at the paparazzi on the playground - aka, herself. Both women keep Eliza's "what-can-go-wrong-will-go-wrong" storyline from wearing too thin.

Mothers will probably identify with either Eliza or Sheila but what about the rest of us? While the actors perform well and the movie provides laughs for those who can relate (read: parents), most of the jokes don't feel fresh, and you've probably seen similar setups on shows like The Middle or In the Motherhood or any of the other dozens of family comedies in recent years. Props to the filmmakers for giving mothers their due, but if you're not one yourself, an hour and a half with Eliza may be enough to make you rush out of the theater and buy birth control.

Desperate Housewives Rundown, "Never Judge a Lady by Her Lover"

BuzzSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:30:08 -0700

Is it just me, or do the housewives seem even more desperate than usual this week? Susan takes some drastic measures to scare Danny away, which in turns sets Angie off with a few crazy antics of her own. Meanwhile, Bree's jealousy sends an innocent woman to the hospital and Lynette makes Tom look like a fool to cover up her pregnancy at a company dinner.

Jesse Metcalfe also makes his (triumphant?) return and Katherine is pretty much nowhere to be found. Ready to hash it all out? Just read more.

Gaby - Just when you thought it was safe to go back to Wisteria Lane, Jesse Metcalfe is back. Again. Both Gaby and Carlos are taken by surprise to see John at one of their restaurants of choice, especially when they learn that he's the owner. Naturally John is immediately making eyes at both Gaby and Ana, and I think we all know where this one is heading. Gaby later convinces Carlos that she doesn't have feelings for her former gardener anymore, but then she gets all nostalgic looking at photos of him. (I love that they had time to head to a photo booth during their affair - isn't the mall a little high profile for that?) One thing that really bothers me about Gaby this week is that suddenly she's all frumpy again, when she's been pretty much flawless since she and Carlos were back to being rich.

Susan - We don't get any updates on Julie's progress this week, but it's clear that her condition is taking a serious toll on Susan. Susan wastes no time spreading the word about Danny to all her neighbors, even when Mike gently reminds her that Danny hasn't been convicted yet. This leads Susan to start her own investigation for proof - which seems like a perfect opportunity for one of Susan's klutzy, over-the-top schemes, but instead takes a very dark turn when she basically tries to kill Danny herself by squishing him under a car. I give Susan a free pass for her antics this week since in the end she reaches out to Angie and starts to make amends when Danny's alibi comes through.

Angie - Angie's mama bear side really comes to the light this week. She's pretty scary trying to scare off prank calls, and even more threatening when she comes at Susan wielding a baseball bat. There are a few allusions to the Bolens' previous life (like that they change their name constantly and had to raise Danny "on the run"), but in the end Angie seems more like a protective mom with a secret than an evil person. Her husband on the other hand. . .

Bree - Despite her requests for pain au chocolat in lieu of a burrito, Bree begins to realize just how much she actually likes slummin' it with Carl. When she tells him that she's not looking for anything serious, Carl totally plays her by bringing a date to a function Bree is attending with Orson. In a matter of minutes Bree's all green-eyed about the idea of Carl taking someone else to their beloved motor lodge, and eliminates the other woman - literally. Meanwhile, Orson thinks he's making major strides and that Bree was jealous of the other woman for dancing with Orson. Though Katherine isn't around this week, I still think the whole thing will be smoothed over once she and Orson get together.

Lynette - The Scavos get to be the comic relief this week, which is refreshing after all the doom and gloom that was previously surrounding Lynette's pregnancy. The reactions she gets from her kids are priceless, particularly Porter's little speech about how she and Tom were irresponsible about birth control and are "destroying their futures." (I kinda agree about the birth control thing - may I suggest something permanent, like a vasectomy?). Right on cue, Lynette's career path is tested when Carlos admits he wants to give her a promotion after passing on another co-worker who is pregnant. Tom helps cover for her, but we all know she won't be able to hide twins for very long.

So what did you think of the episode? Are you happy to see Jesse Metcalfe again? How long until Gaby and Ana are vying for his attention?

Want more of the latest on Desperate Housewives? Check out the Entertainment Group in the Buzz community!

Woman's Birth Plan Had Wings

LilSugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:00:19 -0700

Baby on board! A New Jersey couple flying from the Philippines to New York welcomed an unexpected delivery during their Korean Air flight - a baby boy! Born at 37,000 feet in the air and a lil more than two months early, Jadan Brown earned his wings. Weighing in at less than three pounds, the premature infant arrived above Northern Canada about half way into his parent's flight home.

Proud parents Larry and Jacel Brown didn't have time to panic. Their bundle of joy was delivered in the kitchen area by his daddy, a trained emergency medical worker and another passenger, a surgeon. A CBS report said:

"At the time we didn't know that the baby was actually coming out - she had to walk from business class into the kitchen area and kneel down to allow us to remove her clothes. At that time, when I was able to remove her clothes, the baby was actually on his way out," Larry Brown told The Early Show.

The newborn was taken to a hospital in New York when the plane landed and is said to be doing well. Jacel had been cleared to fly by her doctor.

Would you have flown this late in pregnancy?

Mother Gives Birth to Two Sets of Twins

babysugar — Tue, 27 May 2008 05:00:56 -0700

Women undergoing fertility treatments usually aren't surprised when the result is multiple fetuses. In some cases, it is a welcome gift as the dream of a large family is instantly fulfilled.

For a 40–year–old Nigerian woman, her hopes of becoming a mother came true times four. Teacher Nelly Itula gave birth to an extraordinary set of quadruplets - identical twin girls and fraternal twin boys. Fertility drug-induced multiple pregnancies often result in fraternal twins as numerous embryos are implanted as treatment. Rarely do women have identical twins AND fraternal twins.

Best wishes to the new family of six!
Source

Can Motherhood Make Us Better Athletes?

LilSugar — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:00:42 -0700

Forget Couch to 5K, maybe it should be Delivery Room to Marathon. While many postpartum mamas complain of the toll their pregnancies took on their bodies, doctors claim that the experience may make them more powerful than they were before conceiving a child. Researchers from Michigan State University and John Moores University in Liverpool have found that increases in blood volume and hormones that occur during pregnancy can improve the body's muscle strength, allowing women to excel at athletic activities.

The recent successes of mother-athletes like tennis ace Kim Clijsters, swimmer Dara Torres, distance runner Paula Radcliffe and golfer Catriona Matthew have the researchers looking at the psychological side of birth and athletics. Professor Greg Whyte, from John Moores University, speculates that the birthing process increases women's pain threshold, making female athletes even stronger than before:

"Women re-evaluate where they can anchor pain and many psychologists believe that woman’s pain threshold is effectively reset so that when she resumes or takes up training again, nothing ever seems as uncomfortable."

Did you find yourself stronger after giving birth?