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Teenage pregnancy is not a racial issue

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Pregnancy of rare rhino being monitored

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Published Date: February 7, 2012

Tags: family, pregnancy, pro-life

PREGNANCY support services not only address the needs of women dealing with unexpected pregnancies, but save babies and build strong Christian families as well.

This was shown during the First Heartbeat-Pregnancy Support Services of Asia (PSSA) Regional Conference and Training on pregnancy crisis counseling and post-abortion healing held at St. Michael’s Retreat Center in Antipolo City last week.

The conference, dubbed “Heart to Serve” and organized by Heartbeat Pregnancy Support Services of Asia (PSSA) in partnership with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission on Health Care, brought together nearly 200 counselors, family and life ministry workers, physicians, who learned from speakers who spoke on various subjects, from post-abortion survivor syndrome to the basics of setting up pregnancy crisis centers.

The participants came from different parts of the Philippines, Asia and Oceania such as Australia, Pakistan, Seychelles, and the United Arab Emirates.

Report from CBCP for Life

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Group holds training on pregnancy support

MANILA, Feb. 6, 2012—Pregnancy support services not only address the needs of women dealing with unexpected pregnancies, but save babies and build strong Christian families as well, as shown during the regional conference and training on pregnancy crisis counseling and post-abortion healing held at St. Michael’s Retreat Center in Antipolo City last week.

Dubbed “Heart to Serve”, the First Heartbeat-Pregnancy Support Services of Asia (PSSA) Regional Conference brought together nearly 200 counselors, family and life ministry workers, physicians, who learned from speakers who spoke on various subjects, from post-abortion survivor syndrome to the basics of setting up pregnancy crisis centers.

Participants came from different parts of the Philippines as well as Australia, Pakistan, Seychelles, and the United Arab Emirates.

Giving the keynote address at the three-day conference was Jor-El Godsey, Vice President for Affiliate Services of Heartbeat International, who presented a talk titled “Pregnancy Crisis Center: The Heartbeat International Experience.”

“Before, I personally wasn’t attending Church. I didn’t pray to the Lord at all and I do things my own way on the things I find I need to do. What I learned is the Lord is a God of forgiveness, and that God has the ability to forgive me. From there I got involved in the post-abortion ministry,” Godsey said.

Rev. Fr. Joel O. Jason, STL, Dean of San Carlos Seminary’s Theology Department, delivered a talk titled “The Dignity of Human Life,” pointing out the importance of life and the threats surrounding it.

Jason, who also heads the Commission on Family and Life of Manila archdicoese and a member of the Cardinal Santos Memorial Medical Center’s Bioethics Committee, likewise went into an extensive explanation of the vital lessons contained in the encyclical Evangelium Vitae.

“The Pro-Life ministry and pro-life work is not something that we usually do. Pro-life work is something that we need to develop in us, that’s why we titled this seminar ‘Heart to serve.’ It’s very fitting also. Why? Because we cannot be pro-life workers unless we first form our hearts into the good news of life,” said Jason.

The Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) Office of Laity and Family (OLF) chairman and Infanta Bishop Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD celebrated mass for the participants.

“What is family? Family is simply ‘Father And Mother I Love You.’ That’s a family acronym, and of course within that family [with] the father and the mother there is the drama of affection, of union, of joy and of life’s struggles. And in that drama is the adventure of pregnancy,” Tirona said during his homily.

Other speakers include Mrs. Lily R. Perez, a registered nurse and founding President of Heartbeat PSSA; Dr. Nestor Lumicao, a pediatric surgeon, and his wife Therese, pediatric cardiologist, both of Serve Life Philippines; Dr. Orpah Marasigan DVM, coordinator of Hope Alive Asia; Ms. Naomi David, a registered nurse and child psychotherapist; Ms. Lucita Tagle, an industrial psychologist; and Ms. Carol A. Perez, a guidance counselor of the University of Santo Thomas.

The conference topics were “The Dignity of Life, the L.O.V.E. Approach, The Positive and Negative Tests Client, Post Abortion Syndrome, Post Abortion Survivor Syndrome, Healing the Effects of Abortion Related Trauma (HEART), and How to Set Up A Pregnancy Crisis Center.”

The talks highlighted the important role of pregnancy support services to save babies, the need to support women in pregnancy crisis and build strong Christian families, to identify the challenges and issues faced by women in pregnancy crisis and their families, and to discuss the practical steps in setting up pregnancy support service centers in the Philippines and Asia.

The three-day event was organized by Heartbeat PSSA in partnership with the Episcopal Commission on Health Care of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, and in cooperation with the Commission on Family and Life, Archdiocese of Manila, Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation Inc. and Serve Life Philippines.

Heartbeat PSSA is a non-profit association of life-affirming pregnancy resource centers under a Joint Affiliation Program with Heartbeat International Inc., based in the Philippines, initiating the establishment of centers in Asia. Hearbeat PSSA’s pregnancy resource centers offer concrete services to people who experience problem pregnancies including pregnancy testing, pregnancy crisis counseling, referral to host homes, medical care, post-abortion healing, Natural Family Planning, abstinence education (Sexual Integrity Program) and other life and family affirming programs. It also provides training to people that are or will be involved in the protection and affirmation of life from the moment of conception and for the strengthening of the families in Asia including the Philippines. (CBCP for Life)

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Diabetes during pregnancy 'quadruples birth defects risk'

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Fastest–Growing Baby Website, TheBump.com, Partners with Mamasource.com to Expand Offerings

Pregnancy is a daunting time for any soon-to-be mum, but for those who suffer from diabetes the risks of something going wrong are even higher. Type 1 diabetes sufferer and Chronicle features writer Mieka Smiles tells of her pregnancy experience.

PREGNANCY can be a worrying time. I was lucky to experience some amazing highs during those nine months – first scans, first kicks and of course showing off my much-loved bump. But, for me at least, the experience was also at times a nightmare.

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in February 2010. I can still vividly remember sitting in the nurse’s room and her taking my blood glucose reading. I’d suspected diabetes as I’d had all of the typical symptoms – extreme tiredness, thirstiness and also weight loss. But I didn’t really believe it until I received that dreaded diagnosis.

“Am I going to die?” was my first question, closely followed by: “Will I be able to have children?”

Being 28 and married we had naturally talked about babies, but didn’t think we’d be having them for a few years at the very least.

The nurse did her best to allay my fears. No, I wasn’t going to die, and yes, I could still have children. But, and this was a big but, I would have to get my blood sugars under tight control before we even considered trying. The ‘baby issue’ was now in sharp focus.

As stated in the just released research by Newcastle University, babies born to diabetic mothers are significantly more likely to be born with birth defects. We went into trying for a baby knowing the risks. It’s not all doom and gloom though.

The good news is that if you can get tight control over your blood sugars then you can dramatically minimise that risk.

It was hard work. Everything I ate for nine months had to be very carefully considered. Take too little insulin or eat too much and my blood sugars would spike, risking our baby’s health. Eat too little or take too much insulin and I’d risk my own health – the worst case scenario being coma or even death. It was like walking a tightrope, and at times a lot like doing it blindfolded.

There were also a lot of scans. I can remember one in particular at 20 weeks to check our baby for congenital heart defects. Relief flooded over us when the doctor admired our baby’s “perfect” heart.

We count ourselves as extremely lucky. Throughout my pregnancy, I was cared for by world-renowned diabetes expert Professor Rudy Bilous and his wife, diabetes nurse Mary, at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. When my husband and I were at fever pitch with worry, they would do their best to alleviate our fears giving practical – and at times emotional – support.

Everyone’s hard work paid off because on April 6, 2011, at 10.50pm our little miracle George Geoffrey Smiles was brought safely into the world. He weighed in at a chunky 9lb, every ounce absolutely perfect.

My advice to any diabetic woman planning a pregnancy would be to do exactly that: plan, plan and plan.

Involve your health professionals from the very start. We have living proof in George that there can be a truly fantastic outcome.

We had to be given the green light by my doctors to start trying for George – no, it’s not romantic. But the result was a beautiful baby boy that we’ll forever be thankful for.

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Chronicle features writer talks about diabetes and pregnancy

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Beforeplay Campaign Aimed at Reducing Unintended Pregnancy in Colorado

Published: 2/6/2012 – Updated: 9 minutes ago

BY JULIE M. MCKINNON
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Teen-pregnancy rates have dropped across northwest Ohio, but Lucas County has regained its unwanted status of having the fifth-highest rank statewide overall, according to Ohio's recently released estimates for 2010.

Still, for actual birth rates in 2010, Lucas County lost one of its dubious No. 1 teen-pregnancy distinctions among Ohio's urban counties.

The county no longer has the highest rate of 15 to 17-year-olds giving birth, although it has maintained the top spot overall among females aged 10 to 19, with the highest rate being among 18 and 19-year-olds, the latest state statistics show.

Teen pregnancy and births are dropping in Lucas County and statewide, which is a good sign, said Carol Haddix, pregnancy prevention coordinator for the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department.

Various pregnancy-prevention programs have cropped up in Lucas County in recent years in response to mounting concerns.

Among them is one started in 2007 in health classes at Toledo Public Schools called Reducing the Risk.

“I think our programming is working,” Ms. Haddix said. “I think that's a huge part of it. I don't think that that's all of it.”

Lucas County's teen-pregnancy rate was 38.2 per 1,000 females age 10 to 19 in 2010, still the highest in northwest Ohio but down from 42.5 per 1,000 in 2009, according to the latest estimates from the Ohio Department of Health.

In 2010, 1,166 Lucas County teens were pregnant. That gave Lucas County the No. 5 ranking statewide for teen-pregnancy rates, up from the state's seventh spot in 2009, state statistics show.

Among those in Lucas County age 10 to 14, the pregnancy rate was 1.9 per 1,000 females in 2010, the eighth-highest rate statewide and highest in northwest Ohio. The year before, however, the pregnancy rate among 10 to 14-year-old females in Lucas County was 2.5 per 1,000, which tied for second-highest statewide.

Lucas County's rate for teens giving birth, meanwhile, fell from 26 per 1,000 females in 2009 to 22.6 per 1,000 in 2010, the highest rate among Ohio's urban counties, the most recent state statistics show.

Among 15 to 17-year-olds in Lucas County, the birth rate fell from 24.8 per 1,000 females in 2009 to 20.1 per 1,000 in 2010, the second-highest rate among Ohio's urban counties.

It used to be that when the economy was bad, teens would not be able to afford college and started families instead, Ms. Haddix said.

Now they realize they can't afford either, she said.

“They're looking out more for the future and delaying child bearing,” Ms. Haddix said.

Ohio's teen pregnancy rate continued to decline in 2010, and rates dropped in every northwest Ohio county.

The statewide teen-pregnancy rate was 29.9 per 1,000 females, or 23,388 age 10 to 19, down from 33.3 per 1,000 in 2009, according to state statistics.

Throughout northwest Ohio in 2010, Putnam County had the lowest teen-pregnancy rate at 18.5 per 1,000 females, or 46 individuals age 10 to 19. That is down from 23.7 per 1,000 females, or 61 individuals, in 2009, state statistics show.

One factor helping to keep teen-pregnancy rates down in Putnam County is that it is a community with strong multi-generational families with expectations, Joan Kline, health educator for the Putnam County Health Department, said.

“I'm not saying that's the end-all be-all,” Ms. Kline said.

Several programs deal with teen-pregnancy prevention, including sessions held in schools by Project Respect of Northwest Ohio, she said.

At times, teen-pregnancy prevention has been among issues addressed by the Putnam County Task Force Youth Advisory Board too, she said.

Contact Julie M. McKinnon at: jmckinnon@theblade.com or 419-724-6087.

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STORY:201202060015 Teen pregnancy rates drop in region http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2012/02/06/Pregnancy-rates-among-teens-drop-in-region.html -1

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Pregnancy Test Strip – Video

The unexpected pregnancy of Jamie Lynn Spears shocked fans of the then-16-year-old Nickelodeon star in 2007.

Now almost 21, Jamie is speaking out about her struggles as a teen mom and the painful press that came along with her very public pregnancy.

PLAY IT NOW: Dish Of Salt: Bristol Palin Talks Teen Pregnancy & Guest Starring On ‘The Secret Life Of The American Teenager’

“I had to make a decision that I could sleep with every night. I did feel responsible for the young girls and the mothers who I probably confused and let down. I apologize for that,” Jamie told Glamour magazine in an interview for their latest issue, of deciding to keep her baby. “But I wasn't trying to glamorize teen pregnancy. I hated when [the tabloids] said that. Everybody is dealt a hand of cards. It was my choice to play them the way I played them. But the hateful comments hurt.”

Jamie, who split from daughter Maddie's father Casey Aldridge in 2010, said watching the tabloids having a heyday with sister Britney Spears' tribulations made her decide to move out of Los Angeles to escape stressful scrutiny.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Jamie Lynn Spears

“I just wanted to get away from it as much as I could, to just go away and be a mom and figure out what I wanted, and to earn a sense of respect back for myself,” she told the mag. “Move to a town in the middle of nowhere and just raise my child. All I could be was a good mother. If anybody had anything to say after that, there was nothing I could do.”

Jamie also opened up about the difficulties of being a teen mom.

“There were so many times — especially when Maddie would get sick — when I would cry to myself and think, 'I really don't know what to do,'” she said. “It takes bravery to be a young mom, and it does take bravery to let the world watch.”

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Former Child Stars

Now an aspiring country singer, Jamie Lynn resides in Nashville, Tenn., with Maddie, 3, and finds music a helpful outlet to express everything she's gone through in the last five years.

“I was a kid who did a kid show. Then I went away and raised my child, and the world has never met me as an adult,” she said. “This is the first time anybody is really meeting me as a grown woman and grown mother making a decision about what to do with my life… My music will speak for itself.”

VIEW THE PHOTOS: A Look Back: Britney Spears’ Early Years

For the full interview with Jamie Lynn, head over to Glamour.

Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Read more:
Jamie Lynn Spears Talks Country Music Career & Hurtful Teen Pregnancy Press: 'I Did The Best I Could'

The unexpected pregnancy of Jamie Lynn Spears shocked fans of the then-16-year-old Nickelodeon star in 2007.

Now almost 21, Jamie is speaking out about her struggles as a teen mom and the painful press that came along with her very public pregnancy.

PLAY IT NOW: Dish Of Salt: Bristol Palin Talks Teen Pregnancy & Guest Starring On ‘The Secret Life Of The American Teenager’

“I had to make a decision that I could sleep with every night. I did feel responsible for the young girls and the mothers who I probably confused and let down. I apologize for that,” Jamie told Glamour magazine in an interview for their latest issue, of deciding to keep her baby. “But I wasn't trying to glamorize teen pregnancy. I hated when [the tabloids] said that. Everybody is dealt a hand of cards. It was my choice to play them the way I played them. But the hateful comments hurt.”

Jamie, who split from daughter Maddie's father Casey Aldridge in 2010, said watching the tabloids having a heyday with sister Britney Spears' tribulations made her decide to move out of Los Angeles to escape stressful scrutiny.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Jamie Lynn Spears

“I just wanted to get away from it as much as I could, to just go away and be a mom and figure out what I wanted, and to earn a sense of respect back for myself,” she told the mag. “Move to a town in the middle of nowhere and just raise my child. All I could be was a good mother. If anybody had anything to say after that, there was nothing I could do.”

Jamie also opened up about the difficulties of being a teen mom.

“There were so many times — especially when Maddie would get sick — when I would cry to myself and think, 'I really don't know what to do,'” she said. “It takes bravery to be a young mom, and it does take bravery to let the world watch.”

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Former Child Stars

Now an aspiring country singer, Jamie Lynn resides in Nashville, Tenn., with Maddie, 3, and finds music a helpful outlet to express everything she's gone through in the last five years.

“I was a kid who did a kid show. Then I went away and raised my child, and the world has never met me as an adult,” she said. “This is the first time anybody is really meeting me as a grown woman and grown mother making a decision about what to do with my life… My music will speak for itself.”

VIEW THE PHOTOS: A Look Back: Britney Spears’ Early Years

For the full interview with Jamie Lynn, head over to Glamour.

Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Jamie Lynn Spears: 'I Wasn't Trying To Glamorize Teen Pregnancy'

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