How to Save a Life
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Life

I feel very blessed and lucky to live in the USA. No, I'm not going all jingoistic on you, I swear, but I am grateful for modern medicine. Healthcare here in the States is a sticky issue, and one I won't rant and rant about today, because I'm gonna talk about women who don't have access, even via the emergency room, to obstetric care. This one's near to me, because when I had my son, I hemorrhaged pretty severely. It's not fun, even if you don't die from it.

May 09, 2008
Simple Innovation Saves Women's Lives

Around the globe, 500,000 women die every year from complications related to giving birth. The most common cause is obstetrical hemorrhage, or heavy bleeding, which can cause death in two hours or less.

Consider that in many rural areas a hospital can be hours or even days away, and the urgency of medical attention becomes clear. Given this dire situation, some health researchers are working on promoting the adoption of less-invasive, evidenced-based medical practices to prevent excess bleeding from occurring during childbirth and simple innovations that can help stem the blood flow when there is a problem.

One low-tech device that can be used to help women who are hemorrhaging and who don't have immediate access to maternity care interventions is the LifeWrap. Also known as a non-pneumatic anti shock garment (NASG), the LifeWrap — which resembles a partial wet suit — is made of neoprene and Velcro, and it literally wraps around the lower body, using pressure to treat shock, resuscitate, stabilize and prevent further bleeding in women with obstetric hemorrhage.

Check out a video here to see how it works.

Dr. Suellen Miller, director of Safe Motherhood Programs at the UCSF BIxby Programs for Global Reproductive Health, is currently conducting foundation-funded studies of the LifeWrap to treat maternal hemorrhage in Nigeria, Mexico, Egypt, Zambia and Zimbabwe. She is also working with Pathfinder International on a postpartum hemorrhage project in India.

What has the research shown so far?

In 2004, Suellen Miller, Dr. Paul Hensleigh, and their Egyptian colleagues, conducted a pilot study at four large hospitals in Egypt. Study participants who suffered severe obstetrical hemorrhage and shock were treated according to standard management or standard management AND the LifeWrap.

There was a 50% decrease in bleeding for the women treated with standard care AND the LifeWrap. 75% fewer women in the LifeWrap died or had severe maternal morbidity.

That's super impressive, but as the LifeWrap website points out, larger studies are needed, especially for funding.

These studies would provide the scientific, clinical and statistical evidence required by donor and advisory agencies (World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNFPA, USAID) before they will contribute the funds necessary to distribute the LifeWrap globally.

With Mother's Day around the corner, now's a great time to make a donation to LifeWrap to help speed up distribution — $160 buys one LifeWrap, which can be used up to 50 times.

In other news this week, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health study that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that relatively inexpensive interventions helped health care providers in Latin America improve the way they treat mothers during labor and delivery, especially when it came to reducing blood loss.

The teaching techniques focused on behavioral change strategies aimed at modifying practices. According to the study, researchers were able to reduce the number and severity of episiotomies at public hospitals in Argentina and Uruguay and increase the use of the hormone oxytocin – which is given to mothers to make their uterus shrink and bleed less during the third stage of labor.

"Both of these changes greatly reduced the amount of blood mothers lost during childbirth, with mothers in the intervention hospitals losing 44 percent less blood," said Marci Campbell, a professor in the UNC School of Public Health whose research focuses on health interventions.

"This randomized trial showed that knowledge alone does not change behavior," Campbell said. "It takes the combination of opinion leaders, personal visits, reminders, and support to change behavior. This change is especially important for developing countries where maternal hemorrhage is a major health threat. However, the intervention also could be beneficial in developed countries, including many parts of the United States, where rates of routine episiotomy are still above optimal."

Source: http://ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/05/simple_innovation_saves_womens_lives.php

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Speed Racer: The Movie - what you need to know
Current mood: cooky/wacky

John Goodman kicks a ninja's ass.

Speed Racer: The Movie - WYNTK (Ladies' Edition)
Matthew Fox (aka Jack from Lost) kicks a ninja's ass, SHIRTLESS.

Film viewing is enhanced by drinking a large margarita beforehand.

8:09 AM - 2 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment

Happy Mother’s Day
Current mood: bouncy
Category: Life

For my mom, who is awesome:


and my Grandma, from whom I get my curly locks and stubborn temperament:



I can hear you laughing at my hair. You just wish you'd had hair that fierce back in the 80s.

While we're discussing fab moms and flashbacks, here's my baby godmother, who scanned a pic of us back in the 90s: cut for unrepentant substance use frizz:



ETA: Baby godmother is the woman with the big grin and middle finger waving freely. *G*

12:21 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

good reads!
Current mood: cheerful
Category: Writing and Poetry

Hey Gloria!

I'm reading Son of the Morning right now and it's AWESOME! I hope the Naked Gentleman worked out as well for you!

Incidentally, gentle readers, I must mention just how fabulous Sally MacKensie's Naked series is - Kayleigh Jamison got me started on them and now we're going through the whole series! They are Regency through and through, and while more risque than a traditional Cartland, but it's appropriate for a Regency, if that makes sense. It's got the playful banter and underlying sexual tension and it's…like chocolate mousse - decadent and light as air.

I'll post more about Son of the Morning later, but for now I'm totally sucked into it. The hero's a hunky Scot, and there's time travel, and Grace, the heroine is awesome - intelligent and attractive, but not too much - not Mary Sue perfect.

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The simple things
Current mood: cheerful
Category: Life

As you all know, I just celebrated my birthday. Today my son's godmother (and one of my beffies since high school) came over, and brought me a couple gifts.

She got me a Diva Cup - not of interest to you gentlemen, I know, but I've been thinking about getting one cause it's more ecologically friendly.

She also bought me one of my most fave goodies - a Terra Nostra Rice Milk Choco bar. I know, a chocolate bar? But when you're vegan you eat a LOT of dark chocolate, and milk chocolate is verboten - and even if it weren't, it bothers my tummy. So the Terra Nostra bar is rice milk, and easy on my tum. And the kind she bought, they don't sell at my local health food stores. I can get the plain bar and then fight the Sithling for it. You know it's good cause Mr Picky loves it, LOL.

The final thing she got me, which I thought was very thoughtful and very her, was a National Geographic magazine, from April 1975. *G* I am reading it now. I'm gonna have to take some pics of the ads, omg. I wish my scanner wasn't dead, or I'd scan samples for you.

11:45 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

33
Category: Life

Well, I'm almost 33. LOL. We're going to Epcot for my b-day this week, so I'll be out for most of the week. I used to work at Epcot, but I've never taken the Sithling, so it'll be his first time. Epcot, if you've never been, is HUGE, TONS of walking. It's nicknamed Every Person Comes Out Tired, cause there's a lake in the middle and you have to traverse it to see all the countries. The Flower and Garden Festival is going on right now, so expect much picspam when I return.

Speaking of b-day stuff, I was out loading up on books, and I came upon a fellow reader in the romance aisle. I gave her a couple rec's, she gave me a couple, and eventually asked to see my site and book. Of course, I have fuckall in print, cause I haven't subbed anywhere, and haven't edited. Ironic, considering the whole time I ran AA I never had anyone ask me, probably because I didn't get out enough. However, it was a nice experience, just for the fact that it reminded me "oh yeah, THIS is why I write, cause I'm not just talking to myself." *G*

Ta for now, my lovelies. I gotta get ready for the trip.

-H

6:22 AM - 4 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Donuts!
Current mood: enlightened
Category: Food and Restaurants

Okay, this recipe is not mine, but I have to share it!

skyline3way sent me the link to this book, Hot Damn and Hell Yeah! Recipies for Hungry Banditos and the Dirty South Vegan Cookbook (and if that title doesn't make you LOL, nothing will!)

I found this recipe in the look inside the book:


I tried it. I know it says "fry bread" and I was actually shooting for fry bread, cause I'm southern but I have a yankee momma and I haven't had it since my Aunt Virginia passed away. She used to make it, but I never got the recipe for it. So yay, I tried and I made my fry bread small. It poofed magnificently and was downright...donut-y. Mr K tried it and pronounced it as such as well, and I rolled some in cinnamon sugar and the Sithling ate it and loved it too. I am so buying this...like now. LOL. There aren't enough veganized southern foods, mostly because most southerners consider it HERESY! Heresy! I tell you! to put tofu or whatever plant components in instead of meat. *G*

8:07 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Kickin’ it old skool
Current mood: content
Category: Blogging

Good morning, gentle readers. I feel a little better today. Thank you again for all the well-wishes. I have an assortment of blog-o-sphere goodness to share with you all.  May none of you get this icky flu bug.

1. Kayleigh Jamison and some other fab ladies have a book signing party!

2. Preditors and Editors is being sued. Louise Bohmer has a fairly serious take on it, and PN Elrod...well, see for yourself. I took this more seriously until I saw that she named "Miss Snark" as a defendant. Miss Snark? For Reals?  Has Fandom_Wank got hold of this yet?

3. Alan Wilder, formerly of Depeche Mode, now of Recoil, blogs - Music for the Masses - I think not. I must confess that the title totally hooked me, as Music for the Masses was my first Depeche album. I've been a fan of Recoil for a year or so, and hearing a perspective from someone who's escaped the corporate machine fascinates me.

"And can the musician act as entrepreneur? Is it fair to expect our scatterbrained creative songwriters and virtuosos to also hold a degree in business management? Formulating their own strategies and marketing models as they go? I mean wasn't this the whole reason record companies and managers came into existence in the first place? From my own experience, simply trying to 'stage manage' what has been a very small-level experiment has taken up most of the first 3 months of the year - valuable time which I intended to spend composing new music."

Currently listening : Liquid By Recoil Release date: 21 March, 2000

7:34 AM - 2 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Arcana Barbie?
Current mood: cooky/wacky
Category: Blogging

Here's a random factoid about me: I like to collect dolls that look like my characters. Since my characters are adults, who do you think I end up buying?

Yes, Barbie, the biggest little woman in American dolls. Scary, isn't it? They even have a Deidre of Ulster Barbie.

Ahem. Anyway, I happened on the Barbie Tarot online and had to share with you all.

Put your beverages down and scroll to the second grouping of Major Arcana.

Yes, that's really a set of Barbies based on a Jude Deveraux book. Slide your eyes to the right, to 7, the Chariot - "Secret Hearts and Earring Magic Ken". With all due respect to Dave Barry, I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP. When you can tear your eyes from the pic, read the card interpretation.

You're welcome.

Currently playing : The Sims 2 Deluxe (Sims 2 and Sims Nightlife Expansion) Release date: 08 May, 2007

7:21 AM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

16 Random Facts About Me
Current mood: cooky/wacky
Category: Life

Kayleigh tagged me, so here we go.

1. I'm tall - 5'9" in my bare feet.

2. I love Latin/Caribbean cuisine.

3. I rarely watch TV.  My TV is for videogames and DVDs.

4. I am addicted to the Sims.

5. I'm allergic to dairy products.

6. I bake my own bread.

7. My two best friends in the world have been my friends since high school.

8. I'm equally devout about the AA crew and my crit group, who are all awesome women and awesome writers.

9. The first story I ever wrote and finished was a vampire title, and I was 13 when I wrote it.

10. I was gonna sekritly marry Kevin Smith one day.

11. I am the techie-est person in my family.

12. I was born on Shakespeare's birthday.

13. My mom and I have the same initials, just in different order.

14. I own Shoes.  Lots and lots of Shoes.  You can never have too many shoes or handbags, preferably that match the shoes.

15. My desk area is covered in Star Wars figures, pictures of friends and family and, um...stuff.  I am a pack rat.

16. I was in a goth band in college.  

I am supposed to tag people now, but I'm not big on it.  I'd be curious to read this about:

Sabrina Luna
Rhiannon Rhodes
Candice Gilmer
Helgaleena
Louise Bohmer

Currently listening : Cyndi Lauper - 12 Deadly Cyns... And Then Some Release date: 21 November, 2000

3:16 PM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment