Pudding Pie looking all grown up at a birthday party.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Know Your Health Options
I consider myself somewhat courageous but, when it comes to spending time on an operating table, I am a complete coward. When I went into labor with my daughter I ended up having an unscheduled C-Section and it ranks up there with other 'Most Traumatic Events In My Life'.
After that experience, I prayed it would be a long, long time before I next had to go 'under the knife'. But the fact is, many of us women may find ourselves in a position where we face major surgery for a gynecologic procedure. For example, when our doctor recommends a hysterectomy to solve issues around heavy periods.
Imagine how thrilled I was to learn that less invasive approaches are now available for many of these gynecologic procedures that once needed major surgery. These minimally invasive treatments can be used to treat common conditions, such as heavy bleeding and other common pelvic health conditions like fibroids, stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
When we're faced with surgery, we need to gather all the information we can in order to make informed choices. The doctors who advise us may not necessarily recommend minimally invasive options. They may suggest more traditional, outdated approaches because they lack the skill to perform the newer, less invasive ones or even because new endoscopic procedures bring less income to the doctor or hospital.
The US News & World reported that, out of the one in four women who receive hysterectomies, approximately 85% are still treated with traditional open abdominal surgical methods, despite the perfection of a decades old laparoscopic procedure that leaves the ovaries and cervix in place.
Minimally invasive gynecology is enjoying a growing following of surgeons and patients alike and advances in minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment are expanding the boundaries of gynecologic care. If your doctor is unwilling or unable to perform minimally invasive procedures, you owe it yourself to get a second opinion from a gynecologist who offers less invasive options. Some of the strong advantages to minimally invasive procedures include:
After that experience, I prayed it would be a long, long time before I next had to go 'under the knife'. But the fact is, many of us women may find ourselves in a position where we face major surgery for a gynecologic procedure. For example, when our doctor recommends a hysterectomy to solve issues around heavy periods.
Imagine how thrilled I was to learn that less invasive approaches are now available for many of these gynecologic procedures that once needed major surgery. These minimally invasive treatments can be used to treat common conditions, such as heavy bleeding and other common pelvic health conditions like fibroids, stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
When we're faced with surgery, we need to gather all the information we can in order to make informed choices. The doctors who advise us may not necessarily recommend minimally invasive options. They may suggest more traditional, outdated approaches because they lack the skill to perform the newer, less invasive ones or even because new endoscopic procedures bring less income to the doctor or hospital.
The US News & World reported that, out of the one in four women who receive hysterectomies, approximately 85% are still treated with traditional open abdominal surgical methods, despite the perfection of a decades old laparoscopic procedure that leaves the ovaries and cervix in place.
Minimally invasive gynecology is enjoying a growing following of surgeons and patients alike and advances in minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment are expanding the boundaries of gynecologic care. If your doctor is unwilling or unable to perform minimally invasive procedures, you owe it yourself to get a second opinion from a gynecologist who offers less invasive options. Some of the strong advantages to minimally invasive procedures include:
- Reduced risk of infection
- Minimized scarring
- Less blood loss
- Decreased post-operative pain
- Generally quicker recovery time.
Do yourself a favor and examine the minimally invasive surgery option before you commit to any gynecologic procedure. Visit http://www.aagl.org/healthcare-consumer to learn about your options, and to make an informed decision.
This review courtesy of MOMCentral
A Language Explosion
After a long period with just a smattering of words in her vocabulary, Pudding Pie has recently decided that the time has come to embrace language. She's now coming out with armfuls of new words every day and it's an exciting time for both of us. She loves to throw out her new words around me because my reaction is always extreme. I shriek with excitement and ask her to repeat the word. Sometimes she smugly obliges, other times she acts coy and no amount of cajoling will get her to say her new word again - until she wants to. Either way, she knows she's just impressed the heck out of mom and she loves it.
I used to write down her new words in her baby book, but these days the words are tumbling out so thick and fast, I can't keep up. I am so proud of my clever girl, and this confirms what we have both always known: Pudding Pie is not only gorgeous, witty and adorable, she is also quite obviously a genius.
I used to write down her new words in her baby book, but these days the words are tumbling out so thick and fast, I can't keep up. I am so proud of my clever girl, and this confirms what we have both always known: Pudding Pie is not only gorgeous, witty and adorable, she is also quite obviously a genius.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
A break in the clouds
The clouds have lifted a little and there's a rainbow in our lives. My darling mom has touched down on our side of the world for a visit and she brings with her lots of love, care and all the stuff only a mom can provide. Pudding Pie hasn't seen her since she was a little over two months old, but she's taken to her without reservation, and has devoted herself to faithfully following Granny's every move.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Absent for a while, but we're still around
I've been absent from the blogosphere for a while. Pudding Pie and I have had some unexpected challenges thrown our way and we are coping the best we can. Otherwise, Pudding Pie is experiencing a language explosion and is communicating marvellously. She has very firm (and unyielding) likes and dislikes and she relays them to me all too clearly. Yup, she really is embracing toddlerhood and leaving babyhood in the dust (sniff).
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