Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/883365
1 4 | PULSE Fa l l 2 0 1 7 H E A LT H L I N KS GOAL: AVOIDING UNNECESSARY C-SECTIONS WRITTEN BY CAROLE JAKUCS, BSN, RN, PHN F irst-time moms-to-be have a lot on their plates—a new pregnancy, concern for the health of their unborn baby and wondering how their pending childbirth will play out. At Torrance Memorial Medical Center, the goal is to do everything possible to help first- time mothers achieve a vaginal delivery rather than a cesarean section (C-section or surgical birth) if medically possible. e national goal for first-time moms with normal circumstances present, known as NTSV, is 23.9%, and Torrance Memorial is working toward that goal. What is NTVS? It means Nulliparous (a woman who has never given birth), Term (a baby born at or beyond 37 weeks gestation), Vertex (the position of the baby's head is down and not in a breech or transverse position), and Singleton (a single baby, no twins or beyond). Pulse recently spoke with Mary Wright RN, MSN, RNC-OB, CENP, vice president of nursing at Torrance Memorial and Natalie Salmon, RNC-OB, BSN, CLE, nurse manager of the Mother-Baby and Labor and Delivery departments, to get a better perspective on the important work being done to reduce C-section rates for first-time moms. "It's important to avoid unnecessary C-sections for first-time moms (and all moms). I encourage moms to partner with physicians in this discussion," says Wright. "It's a community effort. We hold a monthly meeting that includes nurses, physicians and the chief of obstetrics, to review the number of C-section births from the previous month. We want to know if there is anything we could have done better," says Salmon. Wright and Salmon highlighted some of the strategies used to help laboring moms increase their chances of having a vaginal delivery: using a fetal monitoring system called Monica, which allows moms to walk during labor rather than requiring them to stay in bed; using a "peanut ball" (a peanut-shaped exercise ball) for better positioning during labor to help expand the pelvic diameter so labor can progress; and Torrance Memorial's participation in a statewide association called CMQCC (California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative), which supports vaginal births by identifying best practices in obstetrics. B efore you know it, we'll all be counting down to another New Year. Get a jump on your health and fitness resolutions now with the following apps to guide and motivate you: 1. LOSE IT ! helps you … yep, you guessed it … shed pounds. It creates a customized weight loss plan where you log your food and exercise. To track meals, just scan bar codes, search foods in the app's library or snap a picture, and Lose It! finds calories and nutritional info for free. For $39.99 a year, you can also track things like water intake and how much (or little) sleep you're getting. LOSEIT.COM 2. MYFITNESSPAL tells you, based on age, weight and activity level, how many calories you can eat daily to lose or maintain weight. Enter what you eat and MyFitnessPal tracks nutritional info plus macros. Record your workouts and the app will figure those in when advising on how many calories you can consume. User-friendly with a library of 5 million-plus foods. A subscription (up to $49.99 a year) will give you access to more data; otherwise, it's free. MYFITNESSPAL.COM 3. STRAVA is likely familiar to any athletes who might be in your house. is multi-sport application can plan routes and log activity. It tracks distance, time, pace and elevation, plus your workouts over time to see where and when personal records (PRs) have been set. It's also nown for its social media component– athletes can connect with friends, give kudos and even compete. Free, though a membership gives you personalized coaching, training plans, etc. Price varies. STRAVA.COM 4. POCKET YOGA ensures you're never too far from a sun salutation; yoga studio and in-the-flesh teacher not required. For $2.99, the app offers three vinyasa-based sessions in varying lengths and levels. First-timers may find an in-studio class beneficial to start. But all in all, if you're using the aforementioned fitness apps, goodness knows you could use a good stretching , balance and breathing practice. POCKETYOGA.COM 5. HEADSPACE is your own personal meditation guide and offers mindfulness training , too. Sleep better, focus better, stress less. Great for those just learning the basics of meditation, for whom the app is free. Looking for more advanced meditations? Subscriptions start at $12.99 a month. HEADSPACE.COM 5 HEALTH & FITNESS APPS WITH SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE WRITTEN BY KRISTIN REYNOLDS