There seems to be an increase in the number of women entering prenatal care with endocrine disorders, particularly thyroid problems. This may be due in part to constant low-level exposures to environmental toxins, many of which are endocrine disruptors.
Endocrine disruptors are substances, usually xenoestrogens, that mimic natural hormones, inhibit the action of natural hormones, and interfere with the normal regulatory function of the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems, and that affect reproduction, development, and/or behavior.
For my whole foods nutrition class I did research on chemicals leaching from plastic containers. Below is the information I collected. Share far and wide:
Chemicals Leaching from Plastic Containers
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
back in bk
i'm back in brooklyn, and have a few photos to share! i had a great two weeks in Maine with my future sister midwives. we had classes in postpartum care, prenatal complications, normal labor & birth, charting, hands-on skills practice, neonatal resuscitation, and a whole foods nutrition class where we cooked two feasts in our instructor's home kitchen.
One of the most wonderful things about traveling to Maine every 8 weeks is being able to build meaningful, professional, sisterly relationships with my classmates. I am constantly challenged by these brilliant, beautiful women to think beyond my own bounds. Hearing their perspectives on life, death, labor, pregnancy, justice, race - you name it - teaches me to always look at what I believe critically. I have learned that complacency in thought serves only to limit us, and is just as dangerous as complacency in action. I am grateful for the chance to build, as a student, with the women who will be my colleagues, and who will help shape maternity care, and women's health in the future.
in order to get a feel for cervical dilation, we practiced on silicone yonis and cervices of different sizes. the cervix is the opening at the lower segment of the uterus through which the baby's head {usually} passes as it enters the birth canal. birth attendants use cervical dilation {along with other cues} to assess a woman's progress in labor.
One of the most wonderful things about traveling to Maine every 8 weeks is being able to build meaningful, professional, sisterly relationships with my classmates. I am constantly challenged by these brilliant, beautiful women to think beyond my own bounds. Hearing their perspectives on life, death, labor, pregnancy, justice, race - you name it - teaches me to always look at what I believe critically. I have learned that complacency in thought serves only to limit us, and is just as dangerous as complacency in action. I am grateful for the chance to build, as a student, with the women who will be my colleagues, and who will help shape maternity care, and women's health in the future.
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| assessing dilation on the yoni-in-a-box |
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| becoming one with the cervix |
in order to get a feel for cervical dilation, we practiced on silicone yonis and cervices of different sizes. the cervix is the opening at the lower segment of the uterus through which the baby's head {usually} passes as it enters the birth canal. birth attendants use cervical dilation {along with other cues} to assess a woman's progress in labor.
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| me and my ride-or-die homegirl, Tracy |
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| me, snow tubing directly into a tree :-/ |
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