by Sara Chana Silverstein

Take Your Medicine?
Medications save lives and help people tremendously, but consumers need to be more educated about the drugs they are taking. Many medicines do have side effects. When considering medication, the patient must ask: Will the benefit of the medication outweigh its potential risk? Also, will the side effects of the medication create other complications?

Here is a common scenario: A woman is treated for a bladder infection with an antibiotic. The medicine causes a rash, so she is put on a different antibiotic for the bladder infection and a separate one for the rash, along with a steroid cream for the rash. Within a week she has a yeast infection, and treatment is needed for that.

How could she have avoided this chain reaction? If the practitioner had taken a proper history, the patient might have remembered that ten years earlier an antibiotic had caused a rash. Additionally, whereas yeast infection is a well-documented side effect of antibiotics, she should have been told to consume large quantities of yogurt daily, or to supplement with acidophilus (which supplies the benefits of yogurt in a non-dairy version).

Every year, people die or become ill from medications, both prescription and over the counter. Consumers should therefore recognize the importance of educating themselves about the medications they take. And patients must alert doctors upon experiencing side effects from medicine.

Ask your doctor if your condition can be treated without medication. For instance, if you are diagnosed with high cholesterol and medication is suggested, ask the doctor if you can try lifestyle changes, such as exercising more, limiting high-fat foods, and eating more fruits and vegetables. The doctor may say that you should take the medication now while simultaneously making lifestyle changes. Or she may tell you that your cholesterol levels are borderline, and that you can try lifestyle changes without medication. Education and asking questions are your keys to safety.

Doula Primer
According to Doulas of North America (DONA), “Doula refers to a supportive companion (other than a friend or loved one) who is professionally trained to provide labor support.” A doula does not perform clinical tasks. Rather, she provides “physical, emotional, and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth.” A doula offers help with breathing, relaxation, massage, and positioning. The goal, according to DONA, is to “help so that the woman has a safe and satisfying childbirth as the woman defines it.”

Often doctors or midwives are busy with the protocol of hospital procedures, and the birthing woman may feel her needs are overlooked. The soon-to-be-mother has a totally attentive advocate and friend in a doula. Whether the doula is getting the patient something to drink, massaging her back, or communicating her needs to the doctor, the doula ensures that the birthing environment is healthy and safe.

A postpartum doula works in the mother’s home after the baby is born. Doulas help with food preparation for the mother; changing, burping, and bathing of the baby; light housekeeping; and general support.

Where can you locate a doula? You can begin by asking friends and family members, or ask a local midwife. You can also contact DONA at www.dona.org/faq.html.