“Women in labor allowed more than ice - Kansas City Star” plus 1

Women in labor allowed more than ice - Kansas City Star

Posted: 01 Mar 2010 08:17 PM PST

James and Mary were the most popular baby names in the 1940s when hospitals began forbidding laboring mothers to eat or drink in case they needed an emergency Caesarean section.

But like trends in names, much has changed in anesthesia techniques since then, and more hospitals are loosening their restrictions.

A review of five studies of 3,130 pregnant women published recently recommended allowing low-risk patients to eat and drink as they wish. The review noted that most C-sections are no longer done with general anesthesia, and "poor nutritional balance" may be associated with longer, more painful labors.

Debbie Ward of Tustin, Calif., remembers her parched mouth, along with the pain of labor, when she delivered her first two babies. Nurses offered her nothing more than ice chips, the standard practice for 70 years because of concern of aspiration if the mother had to be put under.

"Ice chips can only do so much," Ward recalled.

Ward, a history teacher, gave birth to her third child four months ago, again at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif. This time, her nurse, Caroline Price, served her water and juices, holding the straw to her mouth when she couldn't lift her head off the pillow.

The cool liquids refreshed her, boosted her energy and settled her nausea.

"It was a source of comfort. It made the whole situation not so medical," said Ward, 36.

Price, who is studying to become a midwife, succeeded more than a year ago in reversing a long-standing ban on drinking during labor. She presented research to the hospital's anesthesia committee, which then changed the rules.

Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills, Calif., gives patients drinks, Jell-O and Italian ice. Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach offers women Popsicles and is considering allowing liquids.

"One of the things that had always bugged me is that we just relegate these women to ice chips, and some of them are in labor for 24 or 36 hours," Price said. "I still get complaints about them being hungry … but you can pacify them a lot if they can have liquids."

In the 1940s, physician Curtis Mendelson studied potentially fatal complications of anesthesia in pregnant women. He recommended withholding food and water because the contents of their stomachs could be drawn into their lungs. It wasn't until the 1970s that regional anesthesia became common practice for C-sections.

Lisa Karamardian, chairwoman of Hoag's obstetrics-gynecology department, said times have changed.

"I think we do realize with regional anesthesia and better spinals and epidurals that women are at much lower risk," she said.

In August, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists changed its recommendation that women only consume ice chips. The group advised that women with normal, uncomplicated labors be allowed to drink modest amounts of clear liquids, including juice and sports drinks.

Karamardian tells her patients to eat a light meal if they wish before arriving at the hospital. She said women stay hydrated through an IV, but the benefits of drinking might be psychological. .

David Lagrew, director of Saddleback Memorial's Women's Hospital, said change can come slowly because of malpractice lawsuits and memory of the days when aspiration was one of the top causes of maternal deaths.

In the Kansas City area, the University of Kansas Hospital and Shawnee Mission Medical Center, for example, have ice chips-only policies. However, Shawnee Mission's perinatal safety committee is reviewing research and will recommend whether to allow liquids during labor.

Did you only eat ice chips during labor? Go to mom2momkc.com to share your story and read about others' experiences.

The Star's Lajean Keene contributed to this report.

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Posted: 01 Mar 2010 04:03 PM PST

After six years at the top, Ethan has been unseated as the most popular name for baby boys in Manitoba.

Liam is the new champ.

There were 110 Liams born in Manitoba in 2009, compared with 100 Ethans, ending an impressive run that saw Ethan top the charts from 2003 to 2008.

While Manitoba souvenir stores — and those across Canada, it appears — can plan for a rush on "Liam" keychains 15 years from now, that won't be the case south of the border.

"Liam was No. 2 in Alberta last year but it was No. 75 in the U.S. in 2008," said Janet Schwegel, an Edmonton-based author who has tracked baby names in North America for years.

The latest edition of her book, The Baby Name Countdown, is based on 2006 data.

"In Manitoba the boys' names are a little different, interestingly," she said Monday, commenting on Manitoba's 2009 list, which is compiled by the province's Vital Statistics Agency.

"The girls' names seem to be standard, from the data that I have," Schwegel said.

Emma, Ava and Olivia sat in a three-way tie at the top in Manitoba this year at 68.

Emily dropped to fourth after being first in 2008 and 2006, and second in 2007.

Also dropping out of Manitoba's top 10 this year are Hannah, Taylor and Brooke, which were replaced by Isabella, Chloe and Alexis.

On the boys' side, Aiden, Jayden, Benjamin and Evan dropped out of the top 10, replaced by Carter, William, Owen and Lucas.

Overall, Schwegel said the most popular names across North America tend to be fairly similar, although there is more of a French influence in Canada and a Spanish influence in the U.S.

"Almost everybody gets a top 100 name, then you get into the unusual, one-of-a-kind names," Schwegel said.

The top 10 girls' names together accounted for about 7.5% of the 8,056 girls born in Manitoba last year, while the top 10 boys' names represented about 9% of the 8,307 male births.

Top 10 female names in 2009

1) AVA 68

1) EMMA 68

1) OLIVIA 68

4) EMILY 64

5) ISABELLA 63

6) CHLOE 61

7) ABIGAIL 57

8) MADISON 55

9) ALEXIS 54

10) HAILEY 50

Top 10 male names 2009