Moms, Beware: Placenta Pills Linked to a Newborn's Infection

Placenta pills may have caused infection in this newborn

A report published on the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning new moms about the potential dangers of taking placenta pills after a baby's infection was tied to the practice. The report, which appears in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), states that a baby from Portland, Oregon got sick with a strep infection twice in September 2016. The first time it happened is believed to have been passed on by the mother to her baby during birth. The second time the child got sick had been during the time the mom started taking placenta capsules. Tests had found the same bacteria in the placenta pills.

Taking placenta pills after giving birth has been a growing practice in the U.S. (and in the Philippines), as it is believed to help prevent postpartum depression and others after-birth conditions. A new mom usually gives her placenta to a company or a person who offers to clean, dehydrate, and grind it to encase in capsules. However, placenta pills are not regulated, and there’s no guarantee of how safe or clean they are when they are manufactured. If they are not handled properly, the report cautions placenta pills can cause illnesses. 

The CDC has not taken a formal position on the pros and cons of consuming a mother’s placenta. Past research has found that moms receive no significant benefit from the practice. In a recent SmartParenting.com.ph article on the placenta, Claudette Mendiola, M.D., obstetrician-gynecologist at De Los Santos Medical Center in Quezon City, says there are limited studies to prove the benefits of eating the placenta, adding "it's generally not recommended that you do so." Like your birth plan choices, however, what you may want to do with your placenta after birth is entirely up to you. (abcnews.go.com)

LOOK: Kitchie Nadal shows off baby bump!

Just six more weeks and musician Kitchie Nadal and her husband Carlos Lopez will welcome their first little bundle of joy -- a baby boy! Kitchie had announced her pregnancy in February via a concert and flaunted her growing baby bump a month after. Now, she’s almost due to give birth!

Based on another Instagram video where Kitchie, a missionary midwife, and her mom are listening to her unborn baby’s heartbeat via a doppler device, it seems like she’s aiming for a water birth delivery as she used the hashtag#waterbirthgoal. Currently, Kitchie and Carlos are looking for suggestions for their baby name -- yes, they wlecome your suggestions! Click here to suggest. (abs-cbn.com)

Lea Salonga proposes way to stop online bullying

The Broadway artist opened the discussion about cyberbullying on her Twitter yesterday, June 30. She asked: “How do we as a collective put an end to online bullying? What prompts the bullying in the first place?” Her proposal to eradicate or at least lessen online bullying is to block the rude and disrespectful people online instantly. 

“Communicate decently. Once the bullying or otherwise targeted uncouth speech begins, block asap,” Leah tweeted. “Bastusin mo ako, o ang pamilya at mga kaibigan ko, hindi kita kakausapin. Bakit pa ba?” she added. A lot of her followers agreed. One even said, "To make patol is human; to make deadma is divine!" (pep.ph) 

House approves bill for career counseling for high school
The House of Representatives passed on third and final reading House Bill No. 5776, or the proposed Secondary School Career Guidance and Counseling Act. The measure "seeks to institutionalize career guidance and counseling" for public and private high school students so they can properly pursue a college education and make informed career decisions after graduation. The bill hopes it will pave the way to help students qualify for jobs in the government, industries, and economy. The bill will also establish a National Secondary School Career Guidance and Counseling Program (CGCP) by the Department of Education (DepEd) as a resource center. (gmanetwork.com)

Beyonce and Jay-Z twins’ names revealed
The music power couple has not publicly confirmed that they have welcomed their twins. It was only Beyonce’s dad who tweeted about it. News reports are now saying the twins are already out of the hospital after a brief stay in the intensive care unit, and they have names. The reports are based on trademark documents filed by the couple’s company on June 26 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. And on those documents, it seems like Jay-Z and Beyonce’s new loves are named Rumi Carter and Sir Carter. Now let us wait for the first public photos! (eonline.com)

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