is there such a thing as a too-large family?

Over at Womb Within, I posted about a Canadian family that just added their 18th biological child (Duggar family move over - meet the Ionces; 18 kids, no twins) and earlier this year, I posted about the more famous Duggars, who also have 18 (How many did you say you have?).

The first post led to a rather strong opinion from a reader, which I decided to use as a post itself, asking what people thought. So, what do you think? Is there such a thing as a too-large family? If you'd like to weigh in, please visit Give the whole baby-making thing a rest already and leave your thoughts.

Today at Help My Hurt:

We have the iPod, the iPhone… now the… iShoe!
Treatment Options: A Guide for People Living with Pain
Tooting the Health & Wellness channel horn
ABCs of pain: round up


Today at Womb Within

Vertical birthing - may be saving lives in Peru
Celebrity pregnancy update
ABCs of pregnancy: R is for…

News for Today:

Efforts Against AIDS Among Black Americans Criticized
Processing at fault with flawed cancer tests, MD tells inquiry
55 minutes of daily activity the ticket to weight loss: study
LA blocks new fast-food outlets from poor areas
Warning to teens on wrist damage from excessive phone texting

Accidental overdoses at home becoming more common

When you take medications (over-the-counter or prescription), do you follow the instructions properly, sort of, or not at all? It's surprising how many people fall into the "sort of" or "not at all" categories.

Accidental overdoses have been occurring at home more often, ranging from liver damage due to taking too much Tylenol (for example) to death from mixing alcohol and prescription medications.

This is a good article that discusses the issue: Accidental Overdoses in the Home Soaring.


Today on Help My Hurt:

Need a smile? Sometimes, it helps.
Study subjects needed for tennis elbow at University of Pittsburgh
Pain “may” be undertreated in cancer?
Great new yoga and fitness blog: Grounded Fitness
Natural remedies for women - online book (free)


Today on Womb Within:

ABCs of pregnancy: R is for…
Half of pregnant women who quit smoking, start again after birth
Sharing some blogs I found
Couple in Australia sues for twins from IVF, rather than just one baby
Amish groups rally against state closure of midwife’s practice
Duggar family move over - meet the Ionces; 18 kids, no twins


News for Today:

Gestational diabetes linked to increased risk of Type 2 diabetes
Bone density level may act as predictor of breast cancer
Health Canada recalls prescription eye drops
Bariatric patients have 65% lower chance of complications at top hospitals: HealthGrades study
Ritalin may help elderly avoid falls: study (AFP)
Blood Pressure Drugs May Protect Against Alzheimer's
"Pre-Dementia" On The Rise, Doctors Say

Would this encourage more mammograms?

There was a story recently about how applying an anesthetic gel to the breast would numb the breast against pain from a mammogram.

I've had a couple of mammograms and while I can't say they're at the top of my list of fun things to do, they aren't all the comfortable either. I know of some women who say that they're quite painful, yet others breeze right through it without a problem. Unfortunately, the ones that do have pain will hold off having another one if possible, and many women don't get a mammogram because of what they think may be painful - or is that really the case?

I think that if we have a method of helping reduce pain, we should use it. Interestingly, the study found that taking Tylenol or Advil before the mammogram did not reduce pain - only the gel did. But I wonder if the fear of pain really does keep women from having mammograms - especially the first one. Could it be that there is a lot more to it? I think so.

I think the reasons are too numerous to list but here are the ones I think are the most common:

- the "I'm fine, I don't need it" syndrome
- the "it's just another way to get women in to pay for tests" thinking
- the "I'm too busy" mindset
- the "I can't afford it" reason (a very real one in the US)
- the "I'm not sticking my boob to be squished in between two metal plates, whether it's good for me or not" camp.
and finally:
- the "I don't want to and you can't make me" group.

All joking aside, it is true that women have any number of excuses not to get a mammogram. Too bad they don't spend less time defending their stance than going to get it done.




Today at Help My Hurt:

Pain associated with pregnancy
Advocacy companies springing up to help patients get care
ABCs of pain: Z is for…
Migraines and sleep problems
Living with and managing cancer pain
Treating first and second degree burns


Today at Womb Within

ABCs of pain: Q is for…
An unusual wedding gift: the use of her womb
Online research helped woman have a baby
ABCs of pregnancy: P is for…
Celebrity pregnancy: Jennifer Garner pregnant with number two
Video: Medications for pregnant women who have asthma
ABCs of pregnancy: O is for…
Lullabies - they help puppies go to sleep too
Negative attitudes reduce African-American breastfeeding rate


News for Today:

Hip bone density helps predict breast cancer risk
Search for HIV vaccine needs an overhaul, officials say
Exercise helps Alzheimer's patients study says
A less messy way to test for colorectal cancer
Gummy Bears Join Cavity Fight