Dr. Jen Gunter
prematurity
In praise of Kangaroo Care for premature babies
Today is Kangaroo Care awareness day. Kangaroo care (KC) is the practice of skin-to-skin contact with a premature baby and parent. In low and middle-income countries, where there are fewer medical resources, Kangaroo Care has been shown to reduce mortality among premature babies and shorten the length of hospital stay. Kangaroo Care is also very … Continue reading
Expert in Savita inquiry confirms Irish women get lower standard of care with chorioamnionitis
As the inquest into Savita Halappanavar’s death continues we have heard about delays and errors, all of which most likely contributed to her terrible outcome. However, along the way those who have tried to pass off her death as medical negligence and nothing to do with Irish law or Catholic ethos have rested on the … Continue reading
Irish Catholic Bishops reveal ignorance in statement on death of Savita Halappanavar
The Irish Catholic Bishops have seen fit to clarify the church’s view on gynecology given Savita Halappanavar’s death from sepsis at 17 weeks in her pregnancy and the concern that evacuating her uterus was delayed because the fetus still had a heart beat. The full statement is here, but this is the excerpt I find … Continue reading
The physical dangers for mothers who deliver prematurely
Mothers who deliver prematurely face serious health risks that are often neglected when we talk about prematurity. Today, in honor of Savita Halappanavar’s death from sepsis that was a direct result of her previable premature delivery, I would like to let the world in on the physical perils faced by mothers who deliver prematurely. Many … Continue reading
Did Irish Catholic law or malpractice kill Savita Halappanavar?
This is what is known. Savita Halappanavar was 31 years old and happy to be pregnant with her first child. Then, at 17 weeks, tragedy struck and she was “found to be miscarrying.” Her husband reports that she was in “severe pain” for three days at the hospital and a termination was requested. He says … Continue reading
7 reasons Romney and Ryan are not pro-life
Romney and Ryan have confirmed their “pro-life” platform as have Akin, Mourdock et. al. (the list of GOP candidates who are over eager to be the “best most pro-life politician ever” is really too long). However, I am having a hard time accepting their “pro-life” commitment. I mean, if they were really “pro-life” wouldn’t they … Continue reading
When your oxygen benefits run out
My boys were 8 months old when their oxygen benefits ran out. It’s a bit dystopian in that Total Recall kind of way (the first film where they turn the oxygen off, not the second one). I mean run out of oxygen benefits? What kind of demon dreams this shit up? It’s one thing to … Continue reading
Vaginal delivery is safe for premature babies who aren’t breech
Finding out your baby is going to be premature is one of the most stressful things for parents-to-be. In addition to all the fears about the effects of prematurity, many parents also worry about the method of delivery. How can a tiny, fragile premature baby manage to make it through the birth canal without injury? … Continue reading
The medical caste system of America
I am the mother of three boys, but the parent of two. My three children were born extremely prematurely, but it was just too much for my first son. My surviving boys, Oliver and Victor, weighed 1 lb 11 oz and 1 lb 13 oz respectively. Because being born at 26 weeks (14 weeks early) … Continue reading
Georgia passes an abortion bill filled with bad medicine and a 1st year med student mistake
The Georgia legislature passed a new abortion bill (HB 954). Yet another law (it’s only a matter of time before it’s signed) governing the practice of medicine based on nothing resembling science. The issues: Fetal pain. The law will make Georgia the seventh state to enact a gestational age limit based on the false belief … Continue reading
