Thursday, May 26, 2011

Studies show a heightened need for risk/benefit analysis of terbutaline to treat pre-term labor.


Terbutaline, a beta 2-adrenergic agonist bronchodilator has been used off label to treat preterm labor since 1976. In the past 35 years there has been increasing evidence that obstetrical use of terbulaline is not without risks of serious side effects. As early as 1997 the FDA published concerns of long-term use and out of hospital use of terbutaline due to cardiovascular complications. As of 2009 there have been at least 12 documented cases of severe detrimental cardiovascular side effects related to the obstetrical use of terbutaline since the FDA’s initially warning. In 2004, a study from Duke University found that the obstetrical use of terbutaline increased the likelihood and degree of damage from frequently present environmental chemicals to an exposed child’s neurologic system later in life. Then in 2009 a study published in American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology found a correlation between treatment of women with preterm labor with beta 2-adrenergic agonists and increased risk of autism in their children. It is believed that during the second and third trimester these medications can “permanently alter the balance of sympathetic and parasympathetic tone in the individual.” In Februrary of this year (2011) the U.S. Department of Health issued a press release regarding the FDA’s decision to give terbutaline a Boxed Warning and Contraindication. According to the U.S. Department of Health there is not even enough evidence “that the use of terbulatine to prevent preterm labor improves infant outcomes.” According to the FDA the risks, of using terbutaline, to the patient(s) should be weighed against any benefits and its use is actually discouraged.


Mechcatie, Elizabeth. (2011). FDA warns about CV risks of obstetric terbutaline use. Family Practice News 41.5 (44). doi: A254482862

NewsRx Health & Science. (2009). Treatments for asthma and pre-term labor may increase risk of autism in developing fetus. NewsRx Health & Science. (202). doi:A214064315

Pre-term labor drug sensitizes brain to pesticide injury. (2004). Medical Letter on the CDC & FDA (45). doi: A115414610

USA: FDA warns against certain uses of asthma drug terbutaline for preterm labor. (2011). Right Vision News. doi: A249500309

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Yogurt and Blessings!

So, I had two adventures recently that I thought I would share about.

The first is that I tried my hand at making yogurt…and was it delicious! I had heard of using a yogurt maker or of using the pilot light in your gas oven neither of which I had…so I “googled” making yogurt and found a way to make yogurt using a heating pad…yup, a HEATING PAD! Now isn’t that creative! It actually is very easy and I will post the link just in case any of you all want to try it. The first batch was a little runnier than I prefer, but it was very usable, especially mixed with granola and fresh fruit in the mornings. I think I will let the next batch sit longer than the 7 hours she recommends starting with, so that it is a little thicker. All in all it was a super EASY recipe to use and I look forward to making some more in a few days!
Heating the milk for yogurt.
The second adventure I was on was yard-saling…now, I know a lot of people get great deals at yard sales etc. but due to my crazy work and school schedule and the fact that we keep a pretty tight budget which does not include a yard sale “category” I have not really been able to go to yard sales in years. Well, I had saved $20 of my rebate money and noticed signs for some subdivision wide yard sales and decided to go on my Saturday off. I prayed for God to help us find some great bargains and  early, I mean EARLY, Saturday morning my SIL/BIL and a friend of mine from work headed off in the occasional rain sprinkles to try our hand at bargain hunting!

Now I have to mention, I had told myself 2 rules before I left only buy things I need now (because I had seen that a lot of the yard sales had baby items and we are NOT expecting!) and I would not spend more than $2/item. I figured that I only had $20 and I needed to see how far I could make that go!

Well, there certainly were a LOT of baby items out there and I hope that someone was able to get some GREAT deals! I managed to hang tough through the first few stops but then we came upon a yard sale that had a Boppy for $3…well after much thought and internal debate I decided that if she would take $2 for it, I would buy it…because, those things are $30 retail! So, I walked away with my $30 Boppy and it’s $10 cover for $2! Several yard sales later I was still going strong…not spending any more of my precious $20. Yeah for me! Then my SIL was looking through some kids stuff (for a friend) at another yard sale and I saw this beautiful gender-neutral bassinet. It looked like it was in good shape. (Now, if/when the Lord blesses us with children, I have wanted a bassinet, but I don’t usually care for the excessively “frilly” kind.) Well, I walked away because I knew that I did not NEED a bassinet. The lady at the house yelled across the yard, “the bassinet is only $5”, I smiled and said thanks and walked away, I did not NEED a bassinet! Well, after looking through more stuff we started to walk on to the next sale and I was mentioning to my SIL what a good deal the bassinet was and she said “well you need to get it!” Ha, I guess I needed that nudge…so I asked the lady if she would take $3 for the bassinet. She said YES. Then she explained that it was brand new and had never been slept in because her children wouldn’t sleep in it. Then at the same yard sale I got an Infantino carrier for $1 and a new, still in box wipes warmer for $0.50! Those people were awesome! Ha! There were lots of other yard sales that we got some great deals at, but that place was the super-duper bargain shop in my book!

$3 Bassinet

The last blessing to share is my “monkey pictures”. I have always loved monkeys and hope that some day in future years I can decorate a room with monkeys…well about a year ago I saw 2 absolutely ADORABLE canvas monkey prints at our local T.J. Maxx. They were a pretty good deal at only $8 each, but I didn’t really have the money to spend on that since we didn’t “need” them, so I didn’t get them. I knew in my heart that I would probably never find anything like them again, but I just didn’t have peace about going ahead and buying them. One of the last yard sales we stopped at had “my” exact monkey picture for sale! Yes, these were the same exact two canvases I had seen and wanted over a year ago! I was able to get “my” monkey picture for $0.50 each! Isn’t that a neat blessing?!?! I can’t help but praise God for that “extra” special blessing that He choose to give me! I think it is totally awesome!!!


"My" Monkey canvases
(Oh, I only spent $11 of my budget and got $293.50 worth!)

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Themes and House Finches

So I haven’t blogged in quite a while, but I am hoping that I can start back…I will preface (well actually it is more like a postscript at this point) this by saying, I still work full time, go to school and have a family to take care of…so I might not be extremely consistent in my blogging…but I will try to post things every now and then.

Some blogs have a theme and I have wondered if/what mine should be…of course since it is written by me, there will be personal things in here on occasion…but I have become increasingly concerned about several issues regarding women’s health and the lack of information available to women. Therefore, I will probably use this blog to address some of those issues at times. Additionally I enjoy discovering the “old” and “natural” way to do things and venturing out on those trails at times. So, having said all that…this will be a hodgepodge forum and you are welcome to join me on my journey.

At the moment my DH is on the phone with the internet company so I am sitting her typing this in a Word doc for importing later. I can see the momma House Finch sitting on her nest, occasionally standing to rearrange her eggs. Do you know much about House Finches? I did not until a nice couple decided to “rent” our back porch from us. Apparently House Finches are keen on porches or other protected areas for their nests. Both parents will carry building materials to the nest, but the momma is the one who actually builds the nest. During this time the papa will go through a courtship ritual with the mamma in which he regurgitates food into her mouth. This can continue after the momma lays her eggs and sits on the nest to keep them warm. After about 2 weeks the babies hatch. The first set of hatchlings had 5 babies. For approximately 14 days the momma and papa would go get food and regurgitate it into the babies’ mouths. After the 14 days, the little ones fly away. We happened to be outside working in the yard when one of them left…at first he flew into the back door (which is glass) but eventually he figured out how to fly to the dogwood tree. Now the parents have remodeled the nest for the second batch of hatchlings and the momma is sitting on the nest keeping them warm. Did you know that House Finches hatch 2 sets of kiddos each year?

Well, I am going to end this post here as we need to go to “A” and get my uniform embroidered and I think we will browse a few stores while there.