#screening of pregnant women and infants

[neosciencehub]

GNDU gets a project to screen Infants for Genetic Disorders

GNDU gets a project to screen Infants for Genetic Disorders @neosciencehub #GuruNanakDevUniversity #GeneticDisorders #Infants #Sciencenews #Healthcare #latest news #Trending #neosciencehub

A significant project worth Rs 3.59 million has been awarded to Guru Nanak Dev University’s Department of Human Genetics by the Union Ministry of Science and Technology’s Department of Biotechnology for “screening of pregnant women and infants.” The university’s scientists will strive to make this research a success and report the findings to the government so that it can take the necessary…

[phantomrose96]

The alt-right's foothold into Gen-Z is frustrating and I can see from over here how they're doing it.

You've got a generation of young-adults who are learning to be adults for the first time and for so many of them it sucks. It sucks to be in your first shitty apartment where things break, and to have your first shitty car that needs maintenance, and to be working a low-paying service or retail job where you get berated all day and barely scrape by. And you go home and you have taxes to figure out and electric bills to figure out and a screen on your phone to rot into to destress.

And this is men and women, equally, in this spot. But the alt-right messaging gets to tailor their approach to gender.

And hey women, yes you working a shitty job for shitty pay, overwhelmed by financial responsibilities and car repairs, what if you actually didn't need to do ANY of that? You don't need to. And you don't need to feel guilty about it. (You're not quitting, you're not being lazy), you actually are just embracing the chance to be exactly who an ideal woman should be. You should actually be beautiful, and demure, and barefoot in a sunny kitchen, glowing, pregnant, hearing the joyful sounds of your children while you bake a roast for your wonderful husband (strong, protective, loves you, handles the finances, handles the jobs, handles all the things you hate). OUR ancestors (don't mind the dogwhistle) did this for GENERATIONS, and modern society has failed you instead!

It's offering to break women out of all the parts of their real life that suck, and do it in a way that promises they're actually being better, being more admirable, more moral, more respectable, more correct, can feel good about, can feel proud about, as a Woman as Feminine as Mother as Goddess.

And the thing being promised does not need to actually reflect reality. It's a fantasy. It is not real. For every "beautiful demure barefoot" day, you'd be having another one covered in shit changing diapers of screaming infants with screaming children while your husband ignores you because it's Women's Work (take pride!) But that doesn't matter. It just needs to sound better than the reality they're living.

Then the men are targeted too. And it's the same in that it's getting to them by appealing to pride in their gender, but the messaging is different. It's "those finances are hard but ACTUALLY you're leveling up, you're grinding, you're finance maxing." It's hard but it's the kind of hard that is a challenge you can WIN at, boast about, post about, prove your manliness. Knowing cars, knowing home repairs, knowing taxes, that's your MAN pride, and you are so elite, you are so sigma, you are the envy of everyone, you are a masculine man. Women love you. Women will defer to you. Strong, respected, moral, loyal, unshakeable. Unlike those pansy men (mind the homophobic dogwhistling) who will whimper and cry like girls. You are better.

The shitty retail job is actually humble beginnings because you're minmaxing your way to financial success (bitcoin, crypto, investments). You can sleep with any woman you want as long as you're confident, and then you'll find one who understands how smart and confident and strong and protective you are and she will defer to you as her man. She will birth your children and teach them good morals and you will make it. Our ancestors lived this way for generations (dogwhistle) and modern society took it from you.

And with that messaging it makes it clear who the enemy in all this is - modern society that has convinced women to torture themselves with high education and terrible jobs, turned them Ugly with Ugly opinions and bad hair and nasty attitudes, yelping about "rights" and "equality" (pitting them against men! TAKING things from men!) All the while, society has been trying to emasculate men--replace them with women, make them soft and emotional, make them gay, make them WEAK. We've been made WEAK.

The naive women hearing this go "I'm not ugly! I don't hate men! I DO hate my job and my finances. I've been tricked. I'm actually rebelling by declaring my goal is to get a Perfect (White) (Christian) moral husband who will make all our decisions and protect me and our children." (And when she's financially trapped in an abusive marriage...? When she's suicidal with PPD but her husband won't touch that because it's Woman Hysteria...? And when her husband leaves her for someone who was as hot as she was 20 years ago and now she's figuring out finances, health care, taxes, bank accounts for the first time in her life...?)

And the men go "They've been TAKING things from us for too long! It's time to be men again! It's time to take pride! I am strong and confident. I am in charge! I never show weakness!" (And when he's got a gun to his head due to the depression he's never been allowed to talk about as Women Feelings...? And when he's financially ruined from a crypto scheme that stroked his ego and robbed him blind...? And when he's dead from alcohol poisoning and none of his adult children notice because no one's spoken to 'Dad' in 15 years...?)

And it's so hard to fight because you're arguing against a fantasy. How do you disprove their fantasy? It's so hard to explain to them, hey you're working a shitty job where you have no future because the rich bastards took it all from you. And now you're doing their work for them. You hate society because of what they've done to it and now you're doing their work. Now you're targeting groups who've never done anything to harm you and the guys responsible are laughing to the bank. How do you explain? How do you disprove fantasy?

[bejeweledblondie]

Captain John Price Headcannons

A/N: these are as realistic as I can make ‘em about to be, all of the headcannons I have are inspired by my personal experiences living on a military base & the experiences I’ve had with foreign military (even the Brits, playing cards against humanity with them was interesting)

Captain John Price x F! Reader

• You & Price met through Laswell, you were her intern turned assistant you had gone to college for international relations

• Your intelligence sparked his interest, Laswell had to do a whole presentation on their Task Force should interact with the women in some of the countries they completed missions in

• He was fully attentive & took notes the entire time

• When Price had asked you to dinner it took you by surprise initially, you were oblivious to his small gestures

• He’d bring you coffee, always visit you at least once a day, & would offer to carry your bag into the office

• He took you to a nice little Italian restaurant

• He opened the car door, made you walk on the inside of the street, pulled you chair out etc.

• His parents & grandparents raised him to be a proper gentleman

• He ordered the nicest wine for the both of you

• Afterwards, you guys walked around & just chatted, the conversation flowed beautifully

• When he drove you home he walked you to your door & you kissed him goodnight, once you closed the door he had a shit eating grin

• That following Monday a giant bouquet of roses sitting on your desk with a sweet note from him

• He’s so sweet on you, a true gentleman

•He found out how much you loved dogs & gifted you a golden retriever puppy

• You cried when he gifted the puppy to you

• After a year & a half of being together he proposed to you

• He used the Diamond from his grandmothers ring as your center stone, & he spent months with a jeweler custom making

• Laswell knew the entire time while he was planning the proposal & the ring

• Your wedding was a winter one the week after Christmas so everyone was able to take leave

• Soap, Simon, & other men he had served with were all part of the Saber exit you had at the end of your ceremony

• Soap was the one who cheekily tapped your behind with his saber to “properly” welcome you into the military

• “Mrs. Captain Jonathan Price, welcome to His Majesty’s Army”

• You guys opted for a nice cottage near post because on post housing absolutely sucks

• Shortly after you two had moved in, you had found out you were pregnant

• It terrified you initially & you came up with a creative way to tell John

• You picked up some Army themed baby onesies at the on post NAAFI (the British equivalent of the U.S. Militaries Post Exchange)

• You told him once he got home he had a gift waiting for him & he initially looked confused at the baby onesies, then it clicked

• The both of you decided to hold off on telling everyone until you were far enough long & starting to show

• You both decided to wait to find out the gender

• He treats you like a China doll while you’re pregnant (along with everyone else)

• You’d wake up to him talking to your stomach, he’d tell your baby all about his day

• In office surprise baby shower happened & everyone went ham with the gift buying

• An emergency hostage rescue operation came across Laswell’s desk the week you were due

• You sobbed into him when he told you, he absolutely hated seeing you this sad

• Like clockwork the night he was already mid-mission, once he got back Laswell informed him you were in full blown labor

• John was crushed, one of the nurses held your phone up so he could at least watch his baby being born on screen

• He broke down once he heard the cries of their infant coming into world

• It was a boy, you decided to name him John as well both after his father & grandfather

• He met you in the hospital 12 hours later still in his gear

• As soon as he possibly could this man brought y’all’s son to work

• Laswell was all over him, constantly wanting to hold him

• You do own Tactical Baby Gear with “Price” plastered all over it

• I don’t think you’d return to work after having your first kid tbh… it would’ve been too stressful with Price’s job

• You two definitely have more children, two boys & one girl

• Price 100% coaches your sons soccer (or if you’re not American; football) team

• Your little girl has him wrapped around her finger (along with her “uncles)

• He would sport a tiara & boa for her tea parties (any “uncle” that came over would too)

• He brought his daughter & her little friends to the Eras Tour (he had a blast btw)

• I think your two sons would join the army to follow in their father’s footsteps

• He was so proud when they graduated from Basic Training

• Price on the battlefield is a hardened man but as soon as he walked into your home his hard exterior dropped & he’d go full on domestic he truly loves you & the life you two had built

✨NSFW✨

• Price was the one who had been your first, due to the fact you focused more on school & your studies you hadn’t been with anyone else

• He wears that like a badge of honor, knowing he was the first & only one to show you how you should be treated in bed

• somewhat discreet office sex

• you’d like out a whimper or a moan & he’d whisper “mmmm you gotta be quiet sweetheart, you don’t want anyone to walk in hmmm”

• you have sucked him off while he’d been on calls in his own office

• he smokes cigars while you ride him in your backyard’s hot tub

• you’re a moaning mess on his cock & he’s just taking in the view of you bouncing up & down on him

• he’s 100% an ass man

• has a HUGE corruption kink, & loves being called “daddy” or “captain”

• he has a collection of nude Polaroids of you hidden in his bucket hat, Soap accidentally found one that had fallen out & Price immediately ripped it from his hands

• He definitely bought you sex toys before he leaves for deployment

• you two go at it like rabbits when he comes home (makes sense how y’all have three kids)

• you gave him a blow job after he was honored at a military ball in the bathroom, as a thank you for his service 😏

• People assume you two are vanilla & bland in the bedroom as oatmeal but boy looks can be deceiving

[unhonestlymirror]

I am horrified by how often I see people writing, "Well, we shouldn't take Holocaust into account when talking about Israel-Palestine war." Of course we SHOULD, and that's why:

"October 7 is getting rewritten and certain social media users are an active of the campaign to erase the atrocities.

I was barely awake on October 7th when news of the atrocities that were committed by Hamas began to trinkle in, horror by horror. With sleep still in my eyes, I had hoped it was a nightmare I could erase by burying my face in pillows and returning to slumber, but alas, reality was insistent. Hamas had butchered over 1,200 people, amongst them infants, pregnant women, the handicapped, and the elderly. Even dogs were not spared.

But Hamas didn’t just murder them in cold blood, they had tortured, raped, desecrated their bodies, and took hostages. Their depravity was limitless. And they were so proud of their crimes that they used GoPro cameras to record them, later releasing the sickening spectacles to the public as a form of psychological terror. Add to that the live streams, cell phone recordings, and CCTV camera footage, and you’ll probably have the most documented massacre in history—with a reported 60,000 video clips collected.

I’ve seen some of these videos, including those not circulating quite so widely in public. They will haunt me for the rest of my life—and that falls far short than the 47 minute “film” shown to select journalists and diplomats worldwide, a number of whom broke down and/or fell ill during the screening.

But as shocking as all of this deranged butchery was — which was entirely the intention — what stunned me in the aftermath is the world’s reaction.

Putting aside disputes of land and politics, it was jarring to hear such a blatant reframing of narrative. It started with calling Hamas the “resistance” and justifying the unjustifiable. A number of BLM chapters had put out “heroic” images of Hamas terrorists descending on parachutes. I half-expected them to release action figures of Hamas fighters too. Maybe they did?

And then came the "BUTs." Sure, some folks condemned Hamas, but it was always followed by a "BUT," justifying the unjustifiable. I've been asked, ad nauseam, "What would you do in their situation?" Well, my response remains steadfast: not commit random acts of murder, torture, and kidnapping. Call me old-fashioned. (For the record I’ve called many colorful words for my stance, but oddly that was never one of them).

It was a wake-up call for many, especially those of us in the global Jewish community. Overnight, the illusion of safety shattered, much like the dreams of anyone who's binge-watched a horror series alone at night. But now we were all collectively trapped in that nightmare, and couldn’t wake up no matter how hard with pitched.

The history of the Holocaust is taught in many schools around the world. “Never forget” and “never again” are sentiments that are echoed within that curriculum. Yet, while some might scoff at the persistent advocacy for Holocaust education, insisting that it’s hitting them over the head, a nationwide survey in 2020 reveals that the under-40 crowd seems to have missed the memo. Shockingly, one in ten respondents haven’t even heard of the word “Holocaust,” let alone being aware that as many as 6 million Jews perished in it.

Further, nearly a quarter of those questioned said they believed the Holocaust was a myth, had been exaggerated or that they weren’t sure. Meanwhile in Canada, one in five young people (under 34) either hasn't heard of the Holocaust or isn't sure what it is. And in Britain, one in twenty adults flat-out deny that it ever took place. Ah, the privilege of blissful ignorance.

Most who underestimate the number of Jews killed in Holocaust have neutral or warm feelings toward Jews.

But it's not just ignorance; there's an entire industry that has been propped up and dedicated to Holocaust denial, complete with books, “movies,” and groups. To make matters worse, alarmingly, fewer Holocaust survivors are around to share their firsthand accounts and counteract the flames of denialism.

Nearly half of the 1000 people surveyed had stated that they’ve seen Holocaust denial or distortion posts on social media or elsewhere online.

I’ve always thought that denials of genocide—such as the Holocaust —were something that happened over time, with history slipping away and being re-written.

However, I never expected to be observing this in real time.

While initially the so-called “resistance” was celebrated by a subset of society, this soon turned into full-fledged denials of Hamas’ actions on Oct 7. Despite overwhelming evidence in the form of videos captured and shared by Hamas themselves and shared on Telegram channels and elsewhere, I would read and hear people claiming that they had only targeted Israeli military. Absurd claims emerged using supposedly ‘leaked’ footage where an Israeli helicopter shoots at Nova music festival goers. That video was viewed over 30 million times on X alone. The video, which was actually originally shared by the IDF on Oct 9, was showing their attacks on specific Gazan targets—certainly NOT indiscriminate bombings of music festival attendees in Israel. (Here’s a great thread that details how this piece of disinformation spread and geolocation information that further confirms that the claim is fake).

I’ve heard countless denials of the rapes of women (and men), despite overwhelming evidence in the form of physical evidence, forensics, and a number of witness testimonies. Women’s rights groups, meanwhile, remained silent—thus offering a vacuum for denialists to fill. Proponents of “me too” also stayed silent. Worse, the University of Alberta Sexual Assault Centre’s director signed an open letter calling Hamas perpetrating “sexual violence” an “unverified accusation.” It took UN Women nearly two months to issue a lukewarm condemnation of the brutal attacks. “We are alarmed by the numerous accounts of gender-based atrocities and sexual violence during those attacks,” they wrote, following a letter writing campaign urging them to speak up. Better late than never though, right?

The roughly 40 dead babies claim was debunked as a lie. At least that’s what people on social media now declare as fact, citing a Haaretz investigation.

“Haaretz investigation EXPOSES all the ISRAELI LIES from October 7th just like I predicated (sic),” reads the post of one particularly large disinformation account.

These claims persisted despite Haaretz directly addressing that post and calling it “blatant lies” and insisting that it “absolutely no basis in Haaretz’s reporting.”

The denials continued regardless of the fact that a group of 200 forensic pathologists from all over the world had confirmed that babies were indeed murdered and that some babies were found decapitated, though it was unclear whether this was done before or after death. First responders also corroborated that they witnessed beheaded infants. Regardless of decapitation, these were babies, murdered.

The forensic pathologists also confirmed that humans were executed, bound and burned alive. Israeli police have over 1,000 statements related to the attack.

When some of the hostages were released, Hamas supporters claimed that the hostages enjoyed being held by them, that they hardly wanted to leave. That this was like a pleasant vacation for them, that’s all. Like sipping piña coladas by the beach. In fact, they would state that they were more concerned about their safety in Israeli hands. They even concocted stories of love affairs between a hostage who was shot in the leg and a Hamas captor. A sick and twisted take on reality where up is down, cats are dogs, and denial is truth. They dismissed the reality that many of these hostages watched their loved ones get murdered in front of them, and still had relatives being held in captivity. The hostages were also administered Clonazepam by Hamas, a mood-enhancing tranquilizing drug, before handing them over to the Red Cross, so that they would appear “happy.”

Meanwhile, the Yale Daily News published a correction of an opinion column stating that the “allegations had not been substantiated.”

The denials go on and on, and I can’t help but feel like I’m watching a version of Holocaust denial, except this time it’s happening in real time—not years after the fact. And this time, it has a Wi-Fi connection and a social media account.

The conditions for this were ripe. Moral relativism is why just several weeks ago, Gen Z embraced Bin Laden's 'Letter to America.' It has been building up for years across college campuses, a breeding ground for ideologies that support violent means to achieve political gains.

The perceived power dynamics play a role here too. In the eyes of many, the Israelis are seen as a superpower whereas the Palestinians, and by extension Hamas, are seen as underdogs. In their view, the underdog is always right because it is the victim, and the “power” is the oppressor. So how can the oppressor be a victim?

Israelis, despite the majority of the population being Mizrahi Jews, as well as 20% Arabs (who were also victims on Oct 7), have been framed as “white colonizers,” vs the Palestinians who are seen as “POC” in the context of this conflict. Never mind that Jews, including Ashkenazi Jews, can be traced back to the land through DNA, archaeological evidence, and historical documents.

An overall distrust for media is another factor, which has resulted in individuals taking the word of random influencer accounts as gospel over traditional media outlets. According to Gallup polls, Americans’ trust in media is near a record low. Only 34% of US adults have a “great deal” or “fair amount” of confidence as of 2022. This is a major hindrance to our sensemaking abilities.

And then, of course, there’s cognitive dissonance. When a group identifies so closely with the perpetrator and they commit heinous acts, confronting that fact happens to be uncomfortable. So, in an attempt to reduce that discomfort, they rationalize or deny the evidence. This means that they accept only evidence that supports their existing beliefs, while placing unreasonable demands on the other side.

But none of these factors would have gained as much traction if it weren’t for something that didn’t exist during the Holocaust: social media. This is the engine that helps drives this real-time historical revisionism and denialism. According to 2021 data from Pew Research, over 70% of Americans get their news via social platforms. A Reuters Institute report from 2023 found that 30% of respondents use social media as the main way to get their news.

We have a society that consumes sound-bites of information, both truth and lies (as well as lies based on grains of truth).

Social media algorithms—combined with human nature—tend to amplify outrageous untruths, which spread widely. Corrections, never make it as far as the original lie. They are just a faint hum.

Throughout the Israeli-Gaza war, we’ve seen AI generated images and bots used to paint a specific narrative—for evocative, emotional effect. But technologically sophisticatication isn’t a prerequisite for painting false narratives. Many “influencers” have taken to using existing images or videos and attaching misleading headlines to them—including sharing content that captures events in Syria while presenting it as taking place in Gaza. These networks of influencers have large reach, and can turn even the most blatant lie into a revisionist truth.

Researchers for Freedom House, a non-profit human right advocacy group, found that generally at least 47 governments have used commentators to manipulate online discussions in their favor, either via humans or bots. They’ve also recruited influencers to help spread false and misleading content, and have created fake websites that mimic actual media publications. Then there’s always Russia’s propaganda arm RT, and various other publications like Al Jazeera and Quds who have direct ties to Hamas and/or other Islamic regimes.

All of this has contributed to narrative confusion, and the erasure of unspeakable acts of brutality, and the denial of the facts of October 7, right before our very eyes.

If we cannot even share a common reality, how can have any hope of resolving anything?

“Never again” is happening now."

[witchyintention]

Deity Studies: Lilith

Lilith, a figure of immense complexity and enduring fascination, has intrigued scholars, mystics, and artists for centuries. Her narrative spans ancient Mesopotamian mythology, Jewish folklore, Christian tradition, and modern reinterpretations. This comprehensive study of Lilith sheds light on her multifaceted nature and the diverse ways she has been perceived and venerated throughout history.

Origins of Lilith

Before she was a feminist icon and a Pinterest board muse, Lilith had some humble beginnings. In ancient Mesopotamian texts, Lilith is depicted as a demon or spirit associated with the wind and storms. In Sumerian mythology, she is referred to as "Lilitu," a dangerous, winged demon who preyed on pregnant women and infants. Talk about a dramatic entrance into history!

Her first gig was a cameo in the "Gilgamesh" epic, one of the oldest known literary works, where she’s hanging out in the Huluppu Tree, likely causing some trouble. Clearly, Lilith was destined for bigger things than just being a wind spirit with a bad rep.

Lilith’s character gets a serious makeover as she moves into Jewish mythology, proving that even ancient beings can rebrand. Enter the "Alphabet of Ben Sira," a medieval text that gives Lilith a juicy backstory: She was the first wife of Adam, made from the same earth. But unlike Eve, Lilith wasn’t about that subservient life. She wanted equality and independence, which led to her dramatic exit to the Red Sea. It’s like the first season finale of a supernatural drama!

In later Jewish folklore, particularly in the Kabbalah, Lilith evolves again, this time into a demoness associated with the dangers of childbirth and the seduction of men. Think of her as the original femme fatale, with protective amulets and incantations used to ward off her malevolent influence, especially around newborns and mothers.

Lilith didn’t stop there; she made her way into Christian tradition too. While she doesn't get as much screen time here, early Christian writings often drew on Jewish traditions, portraying her as a symbol of evil and temptation. By the Medieval and Renaissance periods, Lilith was all over art and literature, often depicted as a dangerous temptress. She was sometimes conflated with Eve or the Whore of Babylon, representing the archetypal fallen woman. Medieval artists and writers sure knew how to milk a scandal.

Lilith in Modern Culture

Fast forward to the present day, and Lilith is everywhere – from feminist manifestos to your favorite TV shows. Modern views often celebrate Lilith as a symbol of female empowerment and independence.

Feminist scholars and writers have reclaimed Lilith as the ultimate rebel with a cause. Her story is a powerful narrative of a woman who chose autonomy and self-determination over subjugation. This reinterpretation has inspired various works of literature, art, and activism. It’s like Lilith went from the misunderstood villain to the anti-heroine we all secretly root for.

Lilith’s presence in popular culture is extensive, spanning literature, film, television, and music. She’s a bit of a cultural chameleon, appearing in all sorts of contexts.

Literature: Lilith shows up in works by authors like George MacDonald and Neil Gaiman, often as a complex and powerful figure.

Television and Film: Shows like "Supernatural" and "True Blood" have featured Lilith as a character, usually emphasizing her demonic and seductive traits.

Music: The Lilith Fair, a music festival founded by Sarah McLachlan, celebrates female musicians and draws inspiration from Lilith's mythological legacy. You know you've made it when you have a festival named after you!

Lilith in Modern Paganism and Occultism

Lilith holds a significant place in modern pagan and occult practices. She is revered by some as a goddess, a symbol of liberation, and a guide for personal transformation.

In modern pagan traditions, Lilith is often honored as a goddess of independence, sexuality, and feminine power. Rituals and invocations dedicated to Lilith emphasize her role as a protector of women and a source of strength. It's like she’s the spiritual equivalent of Wonder Woman, but with more edge.

Lilith's association with dark and forbidden knowledge makes her a potent figure in various occult traditions. Practitioners of witchcraft, ceremonial magic, and other esoteric disciplines often invoke Lilith for empowerment and transformation. She’s the go-to gal for those looking to add a bit of dark feminine energy to their practice.

Lilith's journey from ancient demon to modern icon reflects the evolving nature of mythology and the power of reinterpretation. Whether seen as a malevolent spirit, a symbol of feminist resistance, or a goddess of empowerment, Lilith continues to captivate and inspire. Her story is a testament to the enduring human need to explore, challenge, and redefine the archetypes that shape our understanding of the world.

Further Reading and Sources

For those interested in delving deeper into the study of Lilith, the following sources provide extensive information and diverse perspectives:

Black, Jeremy A., and Anthony Green. Gods, Demons and Symbols of Ancient Mesopotamia: An Illustrated Dictionary. University of Texas Press, 1992.

Leick, Gwendolyn. A Dictionary of Ancient Near Eastern Mythology. Routledge, 1991.

Patai, Raphael. The Hebrew Goddess. Wayne State University Press, 1990.

Schwartz, Howard. Lilith's Cave: Jewish Tales of the Supernatural. Oxford University Press, 1988.

Baskin, Judith R. Midrashic Women: Formations of the Feminine in Rabbinic Literature. University Press of New England, 2002.

Pagels, Elaine. Adam, Eve, and the Serpent. Vintage Books, 1989.

Ostriker, Alicia. Feminist Revision and the Bible. Blackwell Publishers, 1993.

Hurwitz, Siegmund. Lilith: The First Eve: Historical and Psychological Aspects of the Dark Feminine. Daimon Verlag, 1999.

Gaiman, Neil. The Sandman: Season of Mists. Vertigo, 1992.

MacDonald, George. Lilith. Chatto & Windus, 1895.

Hutton, Ronald. The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft. Oxford University Press, 1999.

Farrar, Stewart, and Janet Farrar. A Witches' Bible: The Complete Witches' Handbook. Phoenix Publishing, 1996.

Lilith's multifaceted story continues to unfold, inviting new interpretations and understandings. As we explore her myth and legacy, we uncover not just the tale of a single figure, but a reflection of our own evolving values and beliefs.

[mariacallous]

When the writer Amanda Hess was twenty-nine weeks pregnant with her first child, her doctor, looking at an ultrasound, “saw something he did not like.” He suspected a rare genetic condition; Hess underwent an amniocentesis and then an MRI. She sought out a second opinion—which augured catastrophe and, it turned out, was completely wrong—and a third, steadying one. Her son was eventually given a diagnosis of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, which puts babies at higher risk for hypoglycemia and certain cancers and makes their little bodies grow fast; often, their tongues become too large for their mouths, requiring corrective surgery.

Extensive testing showed no genetic or environmental cause for her son’s condition, yet Hess felt somehow culpable. “I worried over what I had done to trigger it, over the dark secret of my body that had determined his suffering,” she writes in her memoir, “Second Life: Having a Child in the Digital Age” (Doubleday). Her apprehensions were reinforced by her medical chart, which logged ominous-seeming F.Y.I.s that included “Advanced maternal age” (she was thirty-five), “Teratogen exposure” (owing to a tablet of the anti-anxiety medication Ativan, taken at the six-week mark), and “Anxiety during pregnancy.” These facts revealed nothing about her baby’s prospects, yet they followed Hess around like a misdemeanor rap sheet. Immediately after her son’s birth, by C-section, a labor-and-delivery nurse turned to her—“the paralyzed, split-open, twenty-second-old mother”—and asked, “When did you stop taking the Ativan in pregnancy?”

“Second Life” is not mainly a medical odyssey but, rather, a mordant contemplation of the many screens—from ultrasounds and pregnancy-tracking apps to baby monitors and children’s TV—that reflected and mediated Hess’s experience of pregnancy and early motherhood. Through the porthole of her phone, she encountered the “freebirth” movement, made up of mothers who are skeptical of prenatal screenings and tests, hospital births, and pediatric vaccines, referring to conventional pregnancy care as “birth in captivity.” Hess developed a queasy fascination with these women. “If I had had a wild pregnancy, dismissed prenatal care as a scam, I never would have received that terrifying ultrasound,” she writes. “But I also would have denied myself the information that I needed to protect my child after he was born.” The diagnosis fortunately led Hess and her husband to a physician who specialized in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, and to a hospital with a suitable NICU.

Hess’s book arrives at a historical moment—post-Dobbs, pro-natalist, techno-dystopian—in which both pregnant bodies and the stuff of reproduction itself have come under an extraordinary degree of scrutiny, judgment, and control. Some states routinely charge women with child neglect or endangerment for drug use during pregnancy (and even prescription medications have raised alarms). In Nebraska, a teen-ager and her mother both served time in prison after the girl took abortion drugs and delivered a stillborn infant. And many patients, including those who receive tragic prenatal diagnoses, cannot access abortion care unless they travel long distances out of state, often at great expense and even at legal risk.

Meanwhile, on the other side of what Hess calls the “reproductive technology gap,” a number of startups are touting their powers to select for maximally optimized offspring. Sam Altman, the C.E.O. of OpenAI, is an investor in the biotech company Genomic Prediction, which offers the LifeView Embryo Health Score® Test. It claims to evaluate I.V.F. embryos for a host of polygenic conditions, including propensity for developing diabetes, certain cancers, or schizophrenia; Stephen Hsu, a co-founder of Genomic Prediction, has said that the company’s technology can also predict I.Q., but that “society is not ready for it.” A similar company, Orchid, has backing from Anne Wojcicki, the co-founder of the genetic-testing company 23andMe. “Sex is for fun, and embryo screening is for babies,” Orchid’s founder, Noor Siddiqui, has said. (Creating true designer babies using gene-editing tools such as CRISPR is still largely forbidden.)

In recent years, the term “snowplow parenting” has come into vogue to describe a certain strain of affluent, vigilant child-rearing, one that works to smooth an offspring’s life path at every turn. Polygenic embryo screening may represent the snowplow driven to its logical extreme: the kind of parent who can drop six figures on Ivy-feeder preschools or comprehensive college-admissions counselling might happily intervene at the embryonic stage if she can boost her future kid’s I.Q. The ascendance of such technology, and its prohibitive expense, is a boon to the Nietzschean wing of the Silicon Valley overclass, which has long suspected that all its money makes it special. Perhaps now its genetically advantaged progeny can remove all doubt.

But most parents-to-be don’t breathe that rarefied air, which swirls with false expectations and, for some, carries a whiff of eugenics. Hess, who is a critic-at-large at the Times, takes an ambivalent view even of the more ordinary, in-utero technology that offered such widely diverging predictions about her baby’s health. Her prenatal diagnosis let her create a safe harbor for her newborn, yet the question of when or whether to receive such information remains an unsettling one. When a scientist tells her that, someday soon, a test that screens for Beckwith-Wiedemann and related disorders may be available much earlier in pregnancy, Hess writes, “I wasn’t sure that I wanted it to exist. I thought about the expectant parents who might jump, scared, at an early chance to prevent kids like my son.”

The “dark secret” that Hess ruminates on, one that can haunt the pregnant body and its progeny, hearkens back to a pre-Darwinian concept known as “maternal impression”—broadly speaking, the belief that a woman’s ideas, fears, and experiences during pregnancy leave an adverse physical mark on her infant. “Early modern medical manuals understood the mother basically as a psychic inscription machine,” the historian Hannah Zeavin writes in “Mother Media: Hot and Cool Parenting in the Twentieth Century.” “If she ate, thought, or did the wrong thing, it would be recorded in and on her developing child.” The maternal mind and body, Zeavin argues, was, historically, the ultimate transmission device, “the literal medium through whom the ‘message’ of the child had to pass into life.”

This idea, Hess writes in “Second Life,” “pitched forward through the centuries until it made its way to me.” She sees vestiges of maternal impression in how that single tab of Ativan—along with the anxiety it was meant to treat—was enshrined in her pregnancy records. “Teratogen exposure” refers to a substance that may cause malformation of an embryo; Hess notes, with dry horror, that the root “terato” means “monster,” and the suffix “-gen” is “thing that produces or causes.” “The online medical chart was supposed to be modern and scientific,” she writes. “But when I decoded its medical terminology, it said that I had created a monster.”

A largely unscientific hypervigilance about the blameworthy habits and behaviors of pregnant women is, as Hess discovers, a place of convergence for the medical establishment and the fringe-medicine crowd. At an outdoor retreat for freebirthers, she comes across a chiropractor-influencer who professes that most illnesses are created by “conflict shock”—some distressing life event that the patient has not resolved. When Hess later asks for “clues to why and how to treat” her son’s enlarged tongue, the influencer responds, in part, “The tongue is needed for speaking, sucking, and swallowing. During pregnancy did you experience a self devaluation related to one of these things? Did you need to ‘bite your tongue’?”

Although the reproductive-technology enthusiasts of Silicon Valley and beyond are not necessarily immune to such junk science, they are relatively sanguine about maternal impression. Elon Musk, who has fourteen-ish kids and has called declining birth rates “one of the biggest risks to civilization,” has fathered several of his children using surrogates and seems generally unfussed about where his sperm may roam. One of Orchid’s investor-clients told The Information that Siddiqui suggested she use a surrogate for her children, just because: “She was, like, ‘Well, this is nine months of your life, and it’s not that expensive.’ ” There is also the looming possibility of artificial wombs—which could eliminate the need for human labor altogether, bringing DOGE-like efficiency to the business of breeding.

It might come as a surprise that this tribe of biohacking control freaks is so blasé about outsourcing the work of gestating a human being to other, presumably less optimized vessels. And in fact the venture capitalists Malcolm and Simone Collins, who are the unofficial First Couple of American pro-natalism, have not used gestational surrogates for their children. Otherwise, though, they exemplify a hyper-rationalized faith in genetic determinism: that the message, in the form of DNA, trumps the medium. The Collinses have enlisted Genomic Prediction to run background checks on their embryos and another DNA-testing company to assess the data and then rank ideal candidates for onboarding according to criteria such as potential I.Q. and risk of developing anxiety or “brain fog.”

Within this paradigm of preselection, the work of raising children is, to some extent, completed upon implantation, and allows for what Malcolm calls “intrinsically low-effort parenting.” As depicted in a viral profile of the family in the Guardian last year, this parenting style accommodates unlimited iPad time at age two and the occasional smack across the face.

The Collinses demonstrate how advances in reproductive technology are resulting in unexpected political, social, and even aesthetic realignments. In many respects, they resemble the neo-Quiverfull, self-isolating, homeschooling families who populate so much of the Christian-MAHA sector of social media, and who overlap with the freebirthers who command Hess’s attention in “Second Life.” But the couple’s embrace of avant-garde science and medicine, Simone’s C-section births, and their autistic identities—Simone and two of their children have autism diagnoses—put them at odds with the same group, which rejects the medical establishment and fetishizes maternal impression and “natural” birth, and whose antipathy to vaccines is rooted in an irrational fear of autism.

The collision of these stridently individualistic ideologies is manifest in an online homeschooling platform that the Collinses developed, Parrhesia.io, which sounds like a disease in a Pynchon novel, and is, per an introductory video, “Using AI to Create a Free Alternative to the Education System.” The online marketing includes a few photographs of what we can take to be young homeschoolers using the platform, and, aptly, they all appear to be alone at their screen, as if they’d been programmed from conception for self-sufficiency.

As techno-oligarchs increasingly supplant the democratic state, its functions, and its elected representatives through undue influence and brute force, a Silicon Valley brand of carefully curated pro-natalism can begin to look like top-down social-genetic engineering, in which the children themselves are abstractions. In an illuminating suite of reporting on the frontiers of fertility for the Times, the journalist Anna Louie Sussman summed up the tech world’s view of family as one “in which children are often spoken of as a means to something else—staving off population collapse, an optimization project, a data-driven experiment—rather than an end in themselves.” But what should that end be, ideally? And what means, technological or otherwise, are allowed in reaching it? When you close your eyes and imagine your future children, what is it morally permissible to see? What should a person want when a person wants kids?

The vast majority of expectant parents in the United States don’t have access to the extreme-screening services provided by the likes of Orchid and Genomic Prediction, and thus don’t have to personally confront the ethical questions that the technology raises. But, in the last decade, first-trimester blood tests that screen for a host of chromosomal anomalies have become increasingly routine. These tests, when they detect lethal anomalies, can be a mercy for pregnant people. But Hess observes that, among the sunny promotional materials for the biomedical company Natera and its prenatal genetic-screening blood test, Panorama, “there were no pictures of babies or adults who appeared to have any condition screened by the test.” The unspoken assumption is that a patient who receives a positive test result will not want to become the parent of a child with a genetic disorder, however mild or compatible with a happy life it may be.

In “Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World,” the disability activist Jessica Slice posits that embryonic testing is a eugenic practice, and that the decision to end a pregnancy owing to an in-utero diagnosis is often “strongly influenced by medical and social ableism and misconceptions.” Like Hess, Slice supports abortion rights, but she emphasizes the intertwined histories of the reproductive-rights movement and the early-twentieth-century eugenics campaign. Eugenics, Slice writes, is essentially capitalistic in its aim to eliminate those who are perceived as a drain on the collective; as she puts it, people with disabilities “are the weakest links of capitalism.” This framework applies to how companies such as Genomic Prediction and Orchid create futures markets for babies, helping prospective parents to manage risk and calculate return on investment.

From Slice’s line of reasoning, one might infer that fewer fetuses with serious anomalies are aborted in countries where the ruthless logic of markets holds less sway over everyday life than it does in the U.S. But that does not seem to be the case in Denmark, for example, which has one of the most comprehensive and generous welfare states in the world. It also provides universal prenatal screening for Down syndrome, and more than ninety-five per cent of patients who receive a diagnosis decide to end their pregnancies (in the U.S., it’s between sixty-seven and eighty-five per cent).

This silent consensus on Down syndrome, at least in some cultures and communities, might be seen as a consequence of “velvet eugenics,” a term used by the bioethicist Rosemarie Garland-Thomson to describe “the enterprise of genetic technology and other medical interventions aimed at bringing all humans to a standard, ‘normal’ form and function.” The coinage is vivid, useful, and flawed; deluxe I.V.F. for rich people and non-invasive prenatal testing for everyone else is a matter of choice, and not comparable to the legal violence of, say, Buck v. Bell, the Supreme Court case that, in 1927, upheld the state of Virginia’s right to forcibly sterilize people who were deemed intellectually disabled.

Perhaps inevitably, some critiques of velvet eugenics enfold a soft, muffled doubt about abortion rights. In 2022, a couple of months after the Supreme Court delivered its decision in Dobbs, Garland-Thomson published a paper with the philosopher Joel Michael Reynolds that seemed to endorse at least some aspects of “fetal personhood,” or the legal concept that would give a fetus constitutional rights under the Fourteenth Amendment. The co-authors’ nomenclature aligned with that of Clarence Thomas, who has written that abortions based on prenatal diagnoses “constitutionalize the views of the 20th-century eugenics movement.” By this logic, ending a pregnancy because of a prenatal test result might violate the Americans with Disabilities Act.

One can reject the supposition that establishing fetal personhood could be a boon to people with disabilities and still feel that there is something eerie and terribly sad about the near-unanimous verdict on Down syndrome in some countries, especially given the isolating and demoralizing effect it has on people with Down syndrome and their families. At the same time, the overwhelming result at least bespeaks equality of access to reproductive-health technology in those countries. The state of affairs in the U.S. is different. A rich mother-to-be may get to have exacting input on whether an embryo meets her standards for becoming a person; if a pregnant woman is poor or in the wrong state, she may have none at all.

Both the ancient dogma of maternal impression and the emerging ethos of Silicon Valley baby-coders offer the promise of control. But parenting is not a programming language, and a child is not an engineering problem or a structure to be built to exact specifications. If that’s what you want, you should design a night club or clone your dog. Becoming a parent, Hess writes in “Second Life,” does not comport with the desire “to control and optimize every aspect of life. Babies don’t work like that, and that’s part of what makes parenting meaningful: you do not get to choose.” What’s more, the higher and more narrowly prescribed their expectations for their children, the more unmoored parents will be once their children inevitably outgrow and defy those expectations.

The moral and emotional wreckage of these thwarted conjectures can be witnessed in Musk, who has repeatedly made the appalling quip that his daughter Vivian Wilson, who is trans, was “killed by the woke mind virus.” Most of Musk’s children are boys, which has prompted speculation that Musk is engaging in sex selection; Wilson was assigned male at birth, a designation that she likened to “a commodity that was bought and paid for” in a recent Threads post. “So when I was feminine as a child and then turned out to be transgender,” she went on, “I was going against the product that was sold.” The commodity was found to be defective, perhaps falsely advertised, but not eligible for return. The only option, it seems, was to discard it. Unfortunately for Musk, there is no genetic test to predict whether a fetus will become a trans person, or if she is at pronounced risk of contracting the woke mind virus.

Reproductive technology may assume the chrome-and-glass form of an existential time machine, zipping frictionlessly into the future to retrieve high-definition images of a premium-grade child. But we can only presume so much about a child who is not here. “Second Life” is foremost a mash note to Hess’s firstborn son, who is a complete and ongoing joy, and much of the book’s charisma is rooted in its mood of droll astonishment. “The act of photographing him was a compulsive expression of my wonder at his existence,” Hess writes. “It’s him: tap. He is here: tap. He remains: tap.” The wild fact of her son installs an epistemological brick wall between the before and after of his being, and hers: “Past-me saw a prenatal diagnosis as a tragedy; present-me knew that no tragedy had occurred.” Despite the oracular hubris of the genetic-screening vanguard, the story a parent wants has only one primary source, one reliable narrator. You have to wait for him.

[canonmisogynyvictimstournament]

PROPAGANDA

STEPHANIE (EVERYMANHYBRID)

1.) Aw jeez. Starts out as a really interesting peripheral character with a lot of knowledge the main (male) characters don’t have and a unique voice and perspective, but almost as soon as she meets the main guys her role is reduced to Girlfriend, she gets vanishingly little screen time, and almost no attention is paid to her role in the larger plot. The story instead favors the male characters and their relationships. This is despite the fact that she’s metaphysically tied to the guys in the same way they are to each other (past life multiple reincarnations deal) - much attention is paid to the fact that the dude characters have this relationship to each other but this gets almost completely ignored for Steph! And then her boyfriend gets her pregnant (we hear nothing about it or her feelings on the situation until after her death) and THEN her boyfriend gets possessed by an evil murder entity who kills her. Also cannibalizes her infant daughter (yeah, for a misogyny bonus round, we know that the dead baby is a girl). After this, Steph disappears from the story completely - the next time she gets mentioned again is her boyfriend monologuing about how bad he feels about getting possessed and killing her. It’s a horror story, and during that point in the plot a lot of characters get killed off in grotesque and cruel ways - but it’s especially bad to the point of misogyny for Steph because 1. she’s the only woman at that point, every other female character has also been killed and 2. she gets so little focus and is not mentioned after her death except in the context of her boyfriend’s manpain. The other major character that gets murdered concurrent with this gets an eight minute video all to himself - Steph’s last appearance before she’s confirmed dead is less than a minute long and she shares the video with the death of a much more minor male character. It fucking sucks man. And we do know that her actress wanted to leave the project and had to be written out, but doing it in such a shitty, perfunctory way, having it be at the hands of her boyfriend, focusing on her baby and her boyfriend’s pain as if all that matters about women is their reproductive capacity and the fact that men have feelings about them sometimes - it’s bad! They put her in the fucking fridge dude!!! As an addendum - this one can’t be entirely blamed on the series itself because the fans came up with the nickname and the character approved it in the fiction, but still - before we knew her actual name, Steph was known as DAMSEL. christ alive.

2.) Completely Fridged. she was a promising standalone character and then the actress left the project and she went from Cool Artist with A Bone-Deep Lifelong Struggle with the paranormal to She Gave Birth And Then Died ¯_(ツ)_/¯ free my girl she should’ve done so much more shit

3.) She was killed by a demon possessing her boyfriend right after having their child and then both she and the child were literally never mentioned again except to underscore the boyfriend's pain

MEGAERA (HADES) (CW: Abuse Mention)

1.) Zag's male lover, Thanatos, gets to be an ally on roughly equal terms with Zagreus. Their love story is romantic and beautiful, and his long term childhood crush on Zagreus is acknowledged and handled. Megaera is the first boss in the game, and once you reach a certain level of progression it is almost impossible to lose to her, she is FAR behind Zag and Than in terms of canon power level. She and Zag are ex lovers, because Zag was kind of a dick to her, but the narrative never lends her a voice to these feelings after they start dating again. It's not even clear if they DO start dating again - she just bursts into his room one night and starts domming him again. Her thoughts and feelings are never given center stage the way Than's are, despite being a DEEPLY interesting character in her own right, born into the position of head torturer where it is strongly implied she was abused or at least deeply fucked up by her sisters (or at least Alecto). However no one is ever willing to explore that trauma or how her inability to form bonds with people outside the context of hurting them (for shades' pain or for Zag's pleasure) is a character FLAW that could be explored with a lot of nuance but haha dommy mommy who cares about who she is on the inside as a person she has kinky sex with Zag and that's all that matters amirite

[theanimeawarenessproject]

RATING: DARK RED

FLASH RATING : MEDIUM to HIGH, All colours

Pupa / ピューパ - this anime is based on a manga that seems to not have been finished at the time of creation and it shows heavily. I dont know the fandom, or ANY content from the manga, so please be aware that this reveiw is anime only.

I enjoyed watching this, for the most part, but it went off the rails extremely quickly. The site I used to watch it had all of the episodes in one compilation and I wasn't aware of this until AFTER, so there won't be episode specific triggers this time. Know that the majority of the triggers go for the entire show anyways. Dont watch this unless youre prepared to be REALLY disappointed.

My cursory research showed that this anime, while beautifully animated, is widely regarded as one of the worst Anime of all time and it SHOWS. Its apparently one of the worst adaptations of a manga ever made as well. The soundtrack is incredible, though!

............

...........

GENRES: Body Horror, Psychological Horror

TYPE: Shorts, but best watched in a compilation

RAN FROM: January 9th 2014 to March 28th 2014

LENGTH: 12 episodes consisting of 4 minute long shorts, including intro and outro.

STUDIO: Studio Deen

............

Intro/Outro: Heavy themes of body horror, fast moving imagery, focus on bugs and eyes, artistic nudity, minor red white flash at the very end, outro contains artistic nudity of a child and blood, many blur effects.

Special notes: at one point there is a REAL LIFE VIDEO of a dead fish being gutted and the intestines splayed out on a billboard. It is EXTREMELY Graphic

Theres an entire plotline that is eventually dropped that implies the sexual assault of both siblings that involves a woman using her body as an incubator for a baby created from a sperm and an egg from underage and biological siblings. Her nude pregnant form is shown and its disgusting.

Trigger Catalog: Extreme Gore, Extreme Body Horror, death and dismemberment, segments that take place in a school, physical abuse scars including cigarette burns across a child's body, animal death and severe animal body horror, extreme physical and psychological abuse of children and women, focus on bugs, bug like sound effects, bug monsters, cannibalism, eating humans, erotic cannibalism between biological siblings, human experimentation, child experimentation, severe harm and distortion of stuffed animals (mainly teddybears), severe PTSD including but not limited to flashbacks, Smoking, extreme amounts of blood, heavy weaponry, a cat who is a camera, repeated killing and reviving of a teenager, loud and brutal screams of pain and fear from a child and several adults, manipulation, Kidnapping, calling a newborn/unborn baby a monster, graphic birth, favoritism between siblings, child murder and on screen corpse of an infant, Unreality, Dead Bird, Giant insects and the intentional killing of them, artistic nudity including that of children, pregnancy, pregnancy as horror, a person with no empathy posed as evil, knives very close to eyes, closeups on knives, stabbing children, murder, tazing especially to the neck, chaining and blindfolding a child, live autopsy of a child including amputation without any kind of anesthesia, creepy mascots, left on a very confusing cliffhanger.

..............

Final notes: just dont watch this. Its not funny bad, its JUST uncomfortable incest eroguro of children, and the animation and music aren't enough to save it. If the idea of a giant monster bug eating people excites you, read the manga instead! I'm honestly disappointed. It started out pretty alright. As always, I go into these things almost entirely blind, and only watch sub. If there are other issues, let me know, and I will reblog or add them!

[flyonthewallmedstudent]

Chlamydia Trachomatis

Can't blog about gonorrhoea without at least a brief mention about Chlamydia.

Risk groups: Sexually active and under 30 Concerningly, it's usually asymptomatic (90% are asymptomatic), but can have severe/significant complications if undetected and untreated (i.e. infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease etc.)

Prevention: Active screening of anyone under <30, pregnant patients in clinic etc. Related to Chlamydophila Pneumoniae (atypical 'walking' pneumonia) and Psittaci (bird infection, causes resp illness psittacosis) Is an atypical bacteria, no cell wall, so penicillins have no effect. It has a lipid rich membrane. Gram stains negative (Pink), much like gono. Clinical presentation: Source: QHealth

ANyone with a human body can also get laryngeal chlamydia (so painful throat) from oral sex, and conjunctivitis (similarly, oral sex)

IMage source:

Pregnant women are routinely screened and treated, as it can also result in neonatal conjunctivitis during vaginal delivery, usually presenting 2 weeks post partum.

by the way, koalas also get chlamydia..

Investigations: - gold standard testing is PCR swab or NAAT (Nucleic acid amplification test) Also test for: - concurrent gonorrhoea (treated with ceftriaxone)

Complications if left untreated: Pregnancy: low birth weight infants, pre term delivery, as above, neonatal conjunctivitis Pelvic inflammatory disease --> which can lead to abscess and infertility via tubal damage from inflammation

Epididymo-orchitis --> painful, swollen testicles, can feel like a testicular torsion presentation is a differential for this

Rarely, but can happen: reactive arthritis. painful, red, hot swollen joints from immune complexes, sterile on testing fluid MCS from joint. usually resolving post infection, even more rarely can lead to long term inflammatory arthritis needing long term immunosuppression as guided by rheumatology. Treatment: 1 g of azithromycin as a stat dose, PO (blissfully simple) alternative is doxycyline 100 mg BD for a week, but I rarely see this prescribed. Given it is an atypical that won't respond to pencillins or cephalosporins. For adherence it's better to just go with the stat dose unless there's contraindications to azith (prolonged QTc etc). As it often co-occurs with gono, they're often tested together and treated together. With gono it's IM cef, 500 mg

Contact tracing is always incredibly important in STIs - need to trace back partners up to 6 mos Sexual contact - none for 7 days post therapy, and not with partners from the last 6 months until they've been screened and treated if positive. there's no immunity post infection, and re-infection is common. interestingly re testing at 3 months is recommended.

REsource: JAMA

CDC guidelines/free Free - Australian STI guidelines

Summary from JAMA on X:

[nursingwriter]

Chlamydia Screening Focus Groups of Healthcare Providers My research focus is the study of Chlamydia trachomatis. I am interested in Chlamydia because it is the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted disease in the United States. Young adults have the highest rates of chlamydial infection and are at the highest risk for infection among all age groups. Yet, as a group, they do not use Chlamydia screening services. Why? Early diagnosis of Chlamydia is important, not only to minimize disease spread but also to prevent sequelae, including epididymitis, pelvic inflammatory, disease, ectopic pregnancy, infertility and chronic pelvic pain. Traditional Chlamydia testing procedures have served as another obstacle to early detection because collection of endocervical and urethral specimens is uncomfortable at best. Fortunately, the introduction of several nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) now makes it possible to detect Chlamydia noninvasively from male and female using a simple urine sample. My interest in increasing the participation of the gatekeepers, the medical profession in offering these screening programs to this age group by having focus groups address concerns and dispel misconceptions, and provide more information about Chlamydia to this population that is the highest risk. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in modern Western society. In the United States alone, there are about four million chlamydia infections annually. However, a disturbing amount of those infected with Chlamydia -- as many as fifty percent of the men infected, and three-quarters of the women infected -- are asymptomatic and do not know that they have this disease. (Dedius et al., 2005) Lack of symptoms, however, does not imply harmlessness. Complications range from infertility to blindness, and it is therefore vital that steps be taken to reduce the number of Chlamydia infections that remain undetected. Among women infected with Chlamydia, about fifty percent of them will develop pelvic inflammatory disease; Chlamydia causes between 250,000 to 500,000 cases of pelvic inflammatory disease every year in the United States alone. (Dedius et al., 2005) Pelvic inflammatory disease, or PID, is something of a catch-all phrase referring to an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries. Up to ten percent of the total cases of PID are complications of Chlamydia, and PID itself is identifies as the leading cause of infertility. Thirteen percent of women that experience pelvic inflammatory disease will become infertile, and multiple infections increase this percentage. (Icarus et al., 2005) Sometimes, PID does not show any symptoms, however some of the common symptoms are fever, tenderness of the cervix, abdominal pain, abnormal vaginal discharge, pain during intercourse, and irregular menstrual bleeding. Even without the presence of these symptoms, PID may still cause permanent damage, including scarring of the reproductive tissues, which may cause problems such as chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy, or other reproductive problems. Women face a particular danger if they are infected with Chlamydia during pregnancy, or if they become pregnant while infected. It is estimated that half of all infants born to mothers with this disease will be affected by it. Chlamydia can cause spontaneous abortion (or miscarriage), premature birth, blindness, and pneumonia in the child. Avoiding vaginal birth can significantly reduce the risk of transmission during birth, however the child may still be affected. While men do not (and cannot) suffer from PID, other diseases may be caused by Chlamydia that can also cause sterility and other long-term problems. One such disease is epididymitis, which is an inflammation of the epididymis, which is likely to occur if Chlamydia spreads to the testicles. Another condition which is particularly problematic for young men infected with Chlamydia is Reiter's Syndrome. Reiter's syndrome is identified by three symptoms: inflammatory arthritis of large joints, inflammation of the eyes, and arthritis. Chlamydia is among the most common bacterial infections that will cause Reiter's syndrome. (YurikBot et al., 2005) Fifty percent or more of men with Reiter's syndrome will develop eye problems and/or blindness, and up to forty percent of men will develop penile lesions. Additionally, the Chlamydia bacteria will cause Trachoma, an eye disease which causes ulceration and scarring of the cornea. This is the leading cause of blindness worldwide and afflicts as many as 400 million people, although it is rare in the United States. (Arcadian et al., 2005) With or without the presence of pelvic inflammatory disease or other secondary diseases, Chlamydia may be with or without noticeable symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they may include, in women, vaginal discharge of an abnormal color or with an unusual smell, pain in the abdomen and reproductive regions, painful urination, and/or the urge to urinate more often than usual. In men, if symptoms do occur, chlamydia may cause painful or burning urination, unusual discharge from the penis, swollen or tender testicles, and/or fever. (Dedius et al., 2005) The Chlamydia infection is caused by bacteria. The Chlamydia trachomatis is a species of the chlamydiae, a group of obligately intracellular bacteria. This bacteria replicates within cells, then bursts out of the cell membrane to spread the infection to other cells. This is one of the smallest bacteria, as tiny as 500nm wide. (Grosse et al., 2005) Additionally, they cannot be cultured outside of host cells because of the intracellular nature. Due to these factors regarding the Chlamydia trachomatis bacteria, research has faced many challenges. Fortunately, this very common sexually transmitted disease can be effectively treated and cured with simple antibiotics, which is not the case with some common STDs. Unfortunately, large numbers of infected patients do not realize they have Chlamydia, and screening for this disease is lacking in many ways. People do not realize how important it is to get tested for Chlamydia, and there are a vast array of misconceptions and misunderstandings about this infection. Doctors are limited by patient concerns, financial issues, lack of education, and many other unfortunate factors. Education, screening, and proper treatment are vital in curbing the occurrences of Chlamydia. According to the U.S. Preventitive Services Task Force (USPSTF), sexually active women up to twenty-five years of age should be routinely screened for Chlamydia trachomatis. The American Family Physician article "Recommendations on screening for Chlamydia" (Morantz, 2003), rates of infection vary greatly among different communities and populations. Infection is the most common among females under twenty-one years of age, however it is also extremely prevalent among women up to twenty-five years of age. Women over the age of twenty-five are also at risk, however some sources such as this one recommend screening only if particular risk factors occur, such as not using condoms all of the time, having new or many sexual partners, or a history of sexually transmitted diseases. Screening pregnant women is also necessary, because of the danger posed to the unborn child. This article reveals that the optimal timing for screening pregnant women is not known, and that early screening may help improve outcomes such as low birth weight and premature delivery, while screening in the third trimester may be more effective in preventing the transmission of the infection to the child during childbirth. Additionally, this article reveals that the ideal time between screenings (which have negative results) is not known, and that risk factors such as age and sexual behavior should be taken into consideration. This article is clear that screening is recommended and that Chlamydia is a threat, however in this source several of the problematic attitudes which may be interfering with proper screening practices. Automatic screening for Chlamydia is not recommended by the USPSTF, but rather many risk factors are recommended for consideration before deciding to screen for the infection. Additionally, if there are benefits to both early and late screening during pregnancy, it would be logical to recommend screening twice during pregnancy as an automatic part of prenatal care. According to the British Medical Journal article "Screening for genital chlamydial infection - Evidence-Based Health Policy Report" (Pimenta, 2000), there are serious consequences for an inadequate sexual and reproductive health care system. The United Kingdom developed an integrated strategy on sexual health in response to these concerns. This report found that in the 1990's, there was a significant rise in the occurrence of Chlamydia infections among females between sixteen and nineteen years of age, and among males between twenty and twenty-four years of age. Women attending clinics to have an abortion were also found to have higher rates of infection than samples from the general public. Professional awareness of the disease is rising, however it is not sufficient to curb the danger, and vast quantities of infected individuals remain untreated. This article additionally addresses the questions of whether screening itself is effective, and how to determine the costs and benefits of different screening procedures. A study conducted in Wisconsin from 1986 to 1990 confirmed that screening for Chlamydia lowered the incidents of pelvic inflammatory disease. (Pimenta, 2000) The proposal discussed in this article suggested a focus on opportunistic screening, such as screening females only when they are attending certain types of clinics. Again, the concern of keeping cost low is suggesting severe limitations on screening of women, and even stricter limitations on screening men. This proposed program does suggest the use of less invasive tests, as well as providing continued education and support for patients. Some doctors involved in this pilot study expressed concerns that STD testing may affect insurance premiums, and while most health insurance companies will omit specific questions about STDs, this concern is relevant; various insurance-related complications are a significant obstacle to screening and treating Chlamydia. (Pimenta, 2000) According to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report article "Chlamydia screening among sexually active young female enrollees of health plans -- United States, 1999-2001" (Shih, 2004), there is further evidence that screening is beneficial, but that screening methods currently in use are not effective enough. Up to fourteen percent of young women who are routinely screened for Chlamydia are found to be infected, which proves the need for further screening to be done. Many groups, including the CDC and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, as well as many clinical organizations, have recommended routine screening for Chlamydia for young sexually active women, as well as all pregnant women. Studies found that despite these recommendations, as well as an increase in coverage by commercial and Medicaid health insurance plans, data from this two-year period found Chlamydia screening rates remained very low. "Increased screening by healthcare providers and coverage of screening by health plans will be necessary to reduce substantially the burden of chlamydial infection in the United States." (Shih, 2004) Health care alone is not enough to prevent Chlamydia infection if screening specifically for the disease is not done. According to the Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health article "Gonorrhea and chlamydia infection among women visiting family planning clinics: racial variation in prevalence and predictors" (Einwalter, 2005), the prevalence of Chlamydia infection in different populations must be taken into consideration in order to ensure that the most at-risk patients consistently receive screening. Considering patient populations that attend STD clinics alone is not sufficient; at-risk populations in all clinical settings must be screened. Previous studies did not provide information regarding ethnicity as a determining factor of risk, however this study revealed that rates of Chlamydia infection are higher among African-American populations and other minorities. This study, however, did not provide evidence from a broad enough sampling, and the reasons for higher rates among the Black population were not clear. White women seemed most at-risk when having contact with a new sexual partner, while among Black women, being under twenty-one years of age appeared to be the cause of the most risk. (Einwalter, 2005) This data is not conclusive, and race certainly should not be used to exclude patients from screening because of an assumption that they are not "at-risk." However, using this preliminary data to ensure that groups which may be at the most risk are screened thoroughly and provided with information. Screening is not a simple subject to broach with at-risk groups. "Improving Chlamydia Screening Programs" from the American Family Physician (Miller, 2004) identifies some of the obstacles that prevent the most at-risk group -- teenagers and young adults -- from getting screened. "These obstacles include lack of health insurance and a regular health care source, fear of the traditional chlamydia testing methods and results of tests for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and concern that others might discover that they were tested." (Miller, 2004) This study interviewed people from fifteen to twenty-four years of age, which revealed a lot of misinformation. Participants recommended that educational material be more easily accessible, make testing simple and less invasive, and to make the entire process more confidential. "Limitations of screening tests for asymptomatic Chlamydia" (Miller, 2005) identifies the importance of finding the least invasive testing methods. Nucleic acid amplification tests can detect the bacteria on secretions and urine samples, however there were different levels of effectiveness found among nine different tests available for screening. Combining testing methods improved accuracy, and the accuracy levels of different tests must be taken into consideration. There are many psychosocial implications to keep in mind when implementing screening for Chlamydia. In the British Medical Journal article "Qualitative analysis of psychosocial impact of diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis: implications for screening" (Duncan, 2001) Interviews with women recently diagnosed with chlamydia revealed many of the same concerns that others have expressed regarding screening. "Three themes were identified: perceptions of stigma associated with sexually transmitted infection, uncertainty about reproductive health after diagnosis, and anxieties regarding partner's reaction to diagnosis." (Duncan, 2001) These women revealed that stereotypes about who is "at-risk" for Chlamydia prevented them from finding information about STDs to be personally relevant. This is one reason that only screening women who appear to be at-risk is a dangerous way to approach screening methods. Because these women believed that only "other" sorts of women got STDs, they feared a negative reaction from others. Education should focus on the prevalence of this disease among people of all classes, races, and groups of people, and help "normalize" getting STDs so that there will be less anxiety. Additionally, screening for Chlamydia in men must be combined with education that normalizes STDs for men. There is a tendency to associate certain STDs, such as Chlamydia, with women only. "Sexuality and health: the hidden costs of screening for Chlamydia trachomatis" from the British Medical Journal (Duncan, 1999) identifies that screening women for chlamydia, but not men, minimizes men's responsibility for sexual and reproductive health. "Women have feelings of "contamination" reduced attractiveness, and sexual dysfunction and that a positive test result is associated with promiscuity." (Duncan, 1999) Furthering gender inequalities, social divisions, and misconceptions about sexually transmitted diseases is an unfortunate consequence of the way in which most screening programs are approached. In fact, many physicians simply do not screen for Chlamydia because they are "worried about backlash in the community." (Many HMO Docs, 2000) Self-reporting screening criteria is simply not effective. In order to reduce many of the stressing factors of Chlamydia screening, anonymous home-testing was done with a sample of teenagers in a report found in the British Medical Journal. (Ostergaard, 1998) Responses to this way of testing were very positive, because the home tests were far less invasive than a vaginal swab or other testing method done in the office. While many health care workers are failing at providing adequate education, screening, and treatment for Chlamydia, some are already putting forth excellent effort. For example, the Kaiser Permanente medical group has worked closely with the CDC to improve screening and treatment. (PRNewswire, 2005) "When we thought about changes in how we do this screening at Kaiser Permanente, we decided to keep it straightforward. For instance, the clinical assistants in our OB/GYN department now set out a chlamydia test along with any Pap test, so it's effortless for our physicians." (PRNewswire, 2005) Kaiser Permanente also provides training for health care workers. Due to their increased standards, there was a very significant increase in the number of screenings -- forty-two percent in the OB/GYN departments -- , and there has been a ten percent increase in the number of diagnoses. Health care costs attributed to chlamydia exceeds $3.5 billion per year in the United States, however proper screening and treatment will actually reduce these costs, not increase them, because it is easy and inexpensive to treat the disease with antibiotics if it is caught early. However, many health care workers are not aware of current screening methods, treatment methods, or the benefits of proper care. RESEARCH QUESTIONS It is apparent that screening for Chlamydia is the key to preventing high rates of morbidity from this infection. However, screening is not widespread or common enough, and health care workers seem to not have access to the latest information on screening methods. The proposed study will attempt to answer the following questions: 1. Can we increase the diagnosis and treatment of chlamydia with the new urine-based tests? 2. Why don't healthcare providers use these tests or offer these tests more often? RESEARCH DESIGN AND RATIONALE This research will be conducted with a wide focus group, so as to achieve the most accurate results. Use focus groups of high medium and low testers. Include high, middle and lower income clinic healthcare professionals. WORKS CITED Arcadian, et al. (2005, September 4) Trachoma. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trachoma Decius, et al. (2005, October 2) Chlamydia. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlamydia Duncan, B. (2001, January 27) Qualitative analysis of psychosocial impact of diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis: implications for screening. British Medical Journal. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0999/is_7280_322/ai_70634425/print Duncan, B. (1999, April 3) Sexuality and health: the hidden costs of screening for Chlamydia trachomatis. British Medical Journal. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0999/is_7188_318/ai_54514754/print Einwalter, L.A. (2005, September) Gonorrhea and chlamydia infection among women visiting family planning clinics: racial variation in prevalence and predictors. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. Read the full article

[foundationsfamchiro]

Surrey Family Chiropractic: The Key to Healthy Spines for All Ages

When it comes to your family's health, spinal wellness often gets overlooked. Yet, a healthy spine is the backbone (literally!) of a pain-free, active, and vibrant life. That’s where Surrey Family Chiropractic care comes into play. At Foundations Family Chiropractic, we believe in empowering individuals of all ages—from toddlers to seniors—with proactive, drug-free spinal care designed to support their entire nervous system.

Whether you're a parent worried about your child's posture, an athlete recovering from injury, or an older adult dealing with chronic back pain, chiropractic care can offer you long-lasting solutions. In this post, we’ll explore how Surrey Family Chiropractic services help keep your whole family healthy, aligned, and thriving.

Why Chiropractic Care Matters for the Whole Family

You may think of chiropractic care as something only adults seek out for back or neck pain. But in truth, chiropractic services are just as beneficial for kids, teens, seniors, and even infants. Here’s why:

Children: Chiropractic care helps with posture correction, developmental milestones, and even issues like colic or bed-wetting.

Teenagers: With the rise in screen time, teens often suffer from "tech neck," tension headaches, and scoliosis.

Adults: From desk jobs to physically demanding work, adults are prone to back pain, stiffness, migraines, and more.

Seniors: Chiropractic adjustments can improve mobility, balance, and quality of life in older adults.

At Foundations Family Chiropractic, our philosophy is simple: when the spine is aligned, the nervous system can function at its best, allowing the body to heal naturally.

What Makes Surrey Family Chiropractic Unique?

The Surrey Family Chiropractic experience at Foundations Family Chiropractic isn’t a one-size-fits-all model. We understand that every family member is unique, with different needs and health goals. Here’s what sets us apart:

Holistic and Individualized Approach We don't just treat symptoms—we focus on the root cause. Whether you're coming in for chronic lower back pain or preventative care for your child, we tailor your chiropractic plan to fit your lifestyle.

Safe and Gentle Techniques Our chiropractic techniques are safe for all ages, including infants and pregnant women. We use gentle adjustments that are non-invasive yet highly effective, promoting natural healing without medications.

Family-Oriented Environment Our clinic is designed to feel warm, welcoming, and family-friendly. You’ll find toys for the little ones, reading material for parents, and a relaxing atmosphere that puts everyone at ease.

Education and Empowerment We believe knowledge is power. That’s why we take the time to educate you and your family on posture, movement, and spinal health, empowering you to make informed decisions.

Top Benefits of Choosing Surrey Family Chiropractic Care

Choosing Surrey Family Chiropractic services means you’re investing in long-term wellness for your entire family. Some of the top benefits include:

✅ Improved Posture

Poor posture has become a modern epidemic, especially with screen-heavy lifestyles. Chiropractic adjustments realign the spine and retrain the body to hold itself properly.

✅ Better Sleep

Sleep is critical for healing and development. Many parents report improved sleep patterns in children and better rest for adults after chiropractic adjustments.

✅ Enhanced Immune Function

A properly aligned spine supports optimal nervous system function, which in turn boosts immunity and helps the body fight off illness more efficiently.

✅ Reduced Stress and Anxiety

The spine and nervous system are closely linked to how we handle stress. Chiropractic care promotes balance, calmness, and mental clarity.

✅ Pain Relief Without Medications

From migraines to sciatic pain, many patients find relief through chiropractic care without relying on pharmaceuticals.

What to Expect at Foundations Family Chiropractic

If it’s your first time considering chiropractic care, it’s natural to have questions. Here’s what to expect when visiting Foundations Family Chiropractic, your trusted Surrey Family Chiropractic provider.

Step 1: Comprehensive Consultation

We start with an in-depth conversation about your health history, lifestyle, and goals for chiropractic care.

Step 2: Spinal Assessment & Postural Analysis

We perform a detailed examination to check for spinal misalignments, postural issues, and nervous system interference.

Step 3: Personalized Chiropractic Plan

Based on your unique needs, we create a care plan that includes chiropractic adjustments, corrective exercises, and lifestyle guidance.

Step 4: Ongoing Support

Our relationship doesn’t end after your first visit. We track your progress, update your care plan as needed, and are always available for guidance and support.

Pediatric Chiropractic Care: Starting Early for Lifelong Health

Parents are often surprised to learn that chiropractic care is safe—and highly beneficial—for infants and children. From birth trauma to toddler tumbles, kids can benefit from regular spinal checks.

At Foundations Family Chiropractic, our pediatric care is:

Gentle and non-invasive

Focused on developmental health

Effective in reducing issues like colic, reflux, and sleep disturbances

More and more Canadian parents are discovering the benefits of Surrey Family Chiropractic care for their little ones, helping set them on a path toward lifelong wellness.

Chiropractic Care for Pregnant Women

Pregnancy brings immense changes to the body—both hormonal and structural. Chiropractic care helps manage pain, support posture, and even make labour smoother.

Benefits of prenatal chiropractic care include:

Reduced back and pelvic pain

Improved sleep and energy levels

Optimal baby positioning

Shorter, more comfortable delivery

Our certified prenatal chiropractors are experienced in working with expecting mothers to ensure both mom and baby stay healthy throughout pregnancy.

Seniors and Chiropractic: Aging Gracefully with Spinal Health

For seniors, maintaining spinal health can greatly impact quality of life. Regular chiropractic adjustments help reduce pain, improve mobility, and promote independence.

At Surrey Family Chiropractic, our team understands the unique needs of aging bodies and adapts treatments to ensure comfort and safety at all times.

Benefits for older adults include:

Reduced risk of falls

Better balance and coordination

Relief from arthritis and joint pain

Improved digestion and circulation

Why Canadian Families Trust Surrey Family Chiropractic

Canadian families are increasingly turning to natural, preventative health options—and chiropractic care fits that bill perfectly. Surrey Family Chiropractic is growing in popularity because it:

Respects Canadian values of holistic and family-centered care

Is drug-free, safe, and evidence-informed

Aligns with wellness-focused lifestyles

Offers affordable options for long-term care

At Foundations Family Chiropractic, we’re proud to serve the Surrey community with integrity, compassion, and commitment to real results.

Real Stories from Surrey Families

“Our whole family sees Dr. [Insert Practitioner Name], and it’s been life-changing. My migraines are gone, my son’s posture has improved, and my husband is more active than ever.” – Sarah L., Surrey, BC

“As a senior, I was nervous to try chiropractic care. But the team at Foundations Family Chiropractic made me feel comfortable, and I haven’t felt this mobile in years.” – Peter M., White Rock, BC

Your Journey to a Healthier Spine Starts Today

Whether you’re dealing with back pain, poor sleep, stress, or simply want to stay healthy, chiropractic care offers a natural solution for the entire family.

Foundations Family Chiropractic is your trusted provider of Surrey Family Chiropractic services, proudly helping Canadian families live better, move better, and feel better every day.

Final Thoughts

Spinal health is foundational to overall well-being, and with the right care, it’s possible to enjoy a pain-free, energetic life at any age. With its family-focused, holistic approach, Surrey Family Chiropractic through Foundations Family Chiropractic is transforming lives across British Columbia.

Start your family’s wellness journey today—your spine will thank you.

Follow us through our social media pages: Facebook & Instagram.

[anbuthalapathy]

Supporting Hospitals in Chennai – Prajha Trust’s Healthcare Initiatives

Everyone has a fundamental right to healthcare; however, some disadvantaged groups continue to suffer in receiving medical aid. As one of the NGOs supporting hospitals in Chennai, Prajha Trust has made noticeable strides in aiding the underprivileged access healthcare services. Through the organization of medical camps, issuing grants, and hospital partnerships, Prajha Trust contributes to making vital healthcare accessible to those who need it the most.

The Value of NGOs Supporting Hospitals In Chennai

In Chennai, the population keeps increasing, and this creates a problem for hospitals to cater to the health needs of so many marginalized people at the same time. There are many other people who are suffering due to poverty because they are unable to pay for proper treatment. This postponement in receiving conveniently affordable medical services leads to poor health. NGOs supporting hospitals in Chennai like Prajha’s Trust have stepped in to provide essential medical assistance, treatment funding, as well as healthcare awareness.

Medical Camps and Health Check-Ups Free of Charge

One of the primary activities of the Prajha Trust is conducting free medical camps in partnership with hospitals. Prajha Trust, one of the prominent NGOs that assist hospitals in Chennai, enables the relocation of healthcare practitioners to deprived regions for life-saving medical check-ups, screenings, and treatment of many illnesses. These camps allow for the earliest possible detection of diseases, which helps avert dire health ramifications.

Financial Help for Medical Treatment

A significant number of patients in Chennai bearing the expense of medical procedures, surgeries, and medicines is a common occurrence. Prajha Trust, which is well known amongst the NGOs supporting hospitals in Chennai, is of great help to poorer people by providing them monetary assistance. The trust partners with hospitals with the aim that no patient suffers from lack of medical care due to financial issues.

Support of Maternal and Child Health

Prajha Trust, being the most active NGOs supporting hospitals in Chennai, is concerned with maternal and child health. This trust has instituted prenatal and postnatal care programs, nutritional education for pregnant women, and vaccination for infants. With help from hospitals, the organization contributes to a decrease in maternal and infant mortality in the area.

Creating Awareness for Preventive Healthcare

We all know that ‘prevention is better than cure’, and Prajha Trust uses this phrase as a slogan to promote preventive healthcare. As an NGO supporting hospitals in Chennai, it provides hygiene, nutrition, communicable diseases, lifestyle disorders, and other awareness programs. The purpose of these activities is to make available an understanding of how to preserve their health and when to seek medical assistance as per the needs of the community.

Blood Donation and Aid in Emergencies

Blood scarcity in hospitals for a good number of patients is a serious problem that causes life threatening situations, and Prajha Trust has played a very important role in organizing blood donation drives. This trust, as one of the chief NGOs for the hospitals in Chennai, motivates voluntary blood donation programmers and emergency medical assistance programs for timely intervention to the critically sick patients. 

Community Health Programs

As part of an integrated approach to practice, Prajha Trust has supported a variety of NGOs in healthcare services to hospitals in Chennai by embracing positive health practices such as mental health, elderly care, disability, and rehabilitation. These activities are intended to improve the health and welfare of people so that they can live a healthy life irrespective of their ailments.

Conclusions

Accessible healthcare is the right of every citizen, and Prajha Trust has worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. Being one of the foremost NGOs sponsoring hospitals in Chennai, it continues to provide medical assistance, financial support, and healthcare education to bridge the gap in healthcare services. Individuals and institutions willing to sponsor Prajha Trust help realize the vision of a healthier and inclusive society.

[nrkss]

A Comprehensive Guide to Prenatal Checkups

Prenatal care refers to the medical attention received during pregnancy. Your healthcare professional checks on you and your developing child at every appointment. These visits help medical professionals diagnose any issues early, administer required immunizations, and provide advice on lifestyle, diet, and general health. Meet the top obstetrician in Siliguri for prenatal checkups and expert advice.

Why Do Prenatal Exams Matter?

Track the mother's health and the growth of the fetus.

Determine and take care of any possible pregnancy issues.

Inform parents about postpartum care, labour, and delivery.

Give necessary immunizations and tests.

Provide psychological and emotional assistance.

The risk of pregnancy issues including gestational diabetes, hypertension, and birth abnormalities might rise if prenatal visits are skipped. A safe and secure pregnancy journey is ensured by routine appointments.

Prenatal Checkup Schedule

The stage of pregnancy determines how frequently prenatal appointments are scheduled:

Monthly visits during the first trimester (weeks 4–12).

Monthly visits during the second trimester (weeks 13–28).

Biweekly visits during the third trimester (weeks 29–36).

Weekly visits throughout the latter weeks (weeks 37–40).

More frequent visits may be necessary for women who have been diagnosed with high-risk pregnancies. Missing prenatal exams can raise the risk of issues including birth abnormalities, hypertension, and gestational diabetes.

Seeing an obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) on a regular basis is crucial for all pregnancies. This helps make sure your pregnancy proceeds according to plan and that no unexpected issues come up. Here is a helpful guide to prenatal care to help you make the most of the experience and manage the demands of a pregnant visit schedule.

First Trimester Prenatal Appointment

A comprehensive record of your medical, psychiatric, gynecological, and obstetrical history will be compiled by your practitioner during your first trimester prenatal visit. It falls during the second month of pregnancy.

An OB-GYN will discuss your medical history and current health, including medication. The doctors may ask about your exposure to anything that could be toxic medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, or supplements.

Your expert also talks about your lifestyle, including your use of tobacco, alcohol, caffeine, and recreational drugs, traveling to areas where malaria, tuberculosis, Zika virus, monkeypox, or other infectious diseases are common. Genetic testing, ultrasound, blood tests, and urine tests are mostly given.

Second Trimester Prenatal Appointment

During the second trimester of pregnancy, you may expect to see your OB-GYN less frequently. But they will also involve blood pressure, urine, and weight tests. To ensure your health and the health of the fetus, your pregnancy care provider will need to keep an eye on both of you during this phase.

Your doctor will measure the size of your abdomen, listen to your baby's heartbeat, check for fetal movements, including belly kicks or flutters, and evaluate your baby's growth during these visits.

At this point, you can be offered additional prenatal screenings or tests, such as an iron and blood count check, a gestational diabetes screening, Rh factor, and a genetic or chromosomal problem screening. Fetal ultrasounds are performed at this point to examine the anatomy of your body.

Third Trimester Prenatal Appointment

During the third trimester, your healthcare provider may enquire about any symptoms you may be experiencing. These include symptoms like bleeding, fluid leaks, or contractions. Doctors also measure your weight, blood pressure, and the heartbeat and movements of your infant.

Your OB-GYN will guide you to managing discomfort when to seek medical care, etc. At this phase, doctors also check the baby’s position, such as headfirst in the uterus, frank breech (bottom-first), complete breech (feet-first), and oblique (head is down but directed at one of your hips).

In weeks 35–37, doctors may order a test for group B strep test to look for germs that might harm the unborn child during birth. Week 36+ may be a cervical Exam: Determines whether labour is imminent.

Talk about the labour and delivery plan, including hospital protocols and preferences for giving birth. If necessary, the last ultrasound measures the baby's growth and the amount of amniotic fluid. Prenatal checkups are a fundamental part of a healthy pregnancy, ensuring both mother and baby receive the best possible care.

Attending regular visits, following medical advice, and staying informed about each stage of pregnancy can lead to a positive and smooth experience. Always consult your healthcare provider for any concerns and enjoy the journey to parenthood with confidence. Visit the best obstetrician in Siliguri City for thorough expert guidance and care.

Prenatal exams are essential for a successful pregnancy, looking after the health of both the mother and the unborn child. A good and easy experience might result from going to appointments regularly, listening to your doctor's recommendations, and keeping up with the latest developments about pregnancy. Consult your top obstetrician and gynaecologists in Siliguri for medical support.

[tumbrl1]

Preterm Births and PROM Testing Market Developments Driving Innovation

The preterm births and premature rupture of membranes (PROM) testing market has been witnessing significant developments due to advancements in medical technology, growing awareness about maternal and fetal health, and increased research efforts in early detection and prevention. Preterm births remain a global challenge, leading to serious neonatal complications, making PROM testing crucial in pregnancy management. This article explores the key developments shaping this market, highlighting technological innovations, increased accessibility, and improved diagnostic accuracy.

Advancements in Diagnostic Technologies

The market is experiencing rapid advancements in diagnostic technologies for PROM testing, leading to more accurate, rapid, and non-invasive detection methods. Traditional methods like the nitrazine test and ferning test are being replaced by more sensitive and specific biomarker-based tests. The introduction of point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tools has significantly improved early detection, allowing timely intervention and better patient outcomes.

Molecular diagnostics, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunoassays, have also contributed to improved accuracy in PROM detection. These technologies allow for the identification of amniotic fluid proteins with high specificity, reducing false-positive and false-negative results. The shift towards lab-on-a-chip devices and microfluidic technologies has further enhanced the speed and reliability of testing.

Growing Adoption of Non-Invasive Testing Methods

Non-invasive testing methods are gaining traction in the PROM testing market. Salivary and urinary biomarkers are being explored as alternative approaches to detect PROM without the need for invasive sampling techniques. This development is particularly beneficial for pregnant women who may experience discomfort or risks associated with traditional diagnostic procedures.

The rise of wearable biosensors and remote monitoring solutions has also expanded the scope of non-invasive diagnostics. These innovations enable continuous monitoring of maternal health parameters, providing real-time data to healthcare providers for better decision-making.

Rising Awareness and Government Initiatives

Increased awareness about maternal health and preterm birth complications has led to government and non-governmental organizations investing in PROM testing solutions. Health agencies are focusing on implementing screening programs and ensuring access to reliable diagnostic tools in both developed and developing countries. Awareness campaigns are encouraging expectant mothers to seek early detection, leading to improved prenatal care and better outcomes for preterm infants.

Expansion of Point-of-Care Testing Solutions

The demand for point-of-care (POC) testing in maternal healthcare has significantly increased, leading to the development of portable and user-friendly PROM testing kits. These kits allow for rapid detection at the bedside, in clinics, or even at home, reducing the dependency on laboratory-based tests. The portability and ease of use of these kits make them particularly beneficial in low-resource settings where access to advanced medical facilities may be limited.

The integration of smartphone-based diagnostic applications with POC testing devices has also revolutionized maternal health monitoring. These apps provide instant results, enabling healthcare providers to make timely clinical decisions, improving patient management, and reducing complications associated with preterm births.

Increased Research on Biomarkers and Genetic Testing

Biomarker research is playing a crucial role in the advancement of PROM testing. Scientists are identifying novel biomarkers that can predict PROM and preterm birth risks with greater accuracy. Research in genetic testing is also gaining momentum, aiming to identify women at higher risk of PROM and preterm delivery based on genetic predisposition.

The combination of genetic profiling with traditional biomarker-based diagnostics is expected to improve early detection and risk assessment, allowing for personalized maternal healthcare strategies. This development is particularly promising in reducing the burden of preterm birth complications and neonatal mortality rates.

Challenges in Market Expansion

Despite these advancements, challenges such as affordability, limited access to advanced diagnostic tools in rural areas, and regulatory hurdles remain. The cost of sophisticated diagnostic tests can be prohibitive for patients in developing regions, leading to disparities in healthcare accessibility. Additionally, the need for standardization in diagnostic procedures and regulatory approvals can delay the adoption of new technologies.

Conclusion

The preterm births and PROM testing market is undergoing significant transformation due to technological advancements, non-invasive testing approaches, increased awareness, and government support. The shift towards point-of-care testing, biomarker research, and digital health integration is paving the way for improved maternal and neonatal health outcomes. While challenges remain, ongoing innovations and investments in this sector are expected to drive further market growth, making PROM testing more accessible and effective worldwide.

[enthealthguru]

Best Delivery Hospital in Gurgaon – Mayom Hospital

Why Mayom Hospital is the Best Delivery Hospital in Gurgaon?

Selecting a good maternity hospital is very important to provide a safe and pleasant childbirth experience. Mayom Hospital is the Best Delivery Hospital in Gurgaon, which offers world-class maternity care with high-tech facilities, skilled doctors, and patient-centered care. Mayom Hospital, being the Top Pregnancy Hospital in Haryana, is believed by thousands of families.

Here's why it is the Top Maternity Hospital in Gurgaon:

1. First-Rate Maternity Facilities

- Fully equipped delivery and labor rooms with cutting-edge medical technology.

- Sophisticated operation theaters for safe C-sections.

- High-quality Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for premature and sick newborns.

- Clean, cozy, and well-furnished maternity wards.

2. Very Experienced Medical Team

- Highly skilled and caring obstetricians and gynecologists.

- Expert pediatricians and neonatologists for the newborn.

- Trained nursing staff expert in maternal and infant care.

- Specialized anesthetists for painless and C-section deliveries.

3. Extensive Pregnancy & Delivery Care

- Normal & Cesarean Deliveries: Individualized birthing plans according to medical requirements.

- Painless Delivery: Epidural and other contemporary pain relief methods.

- High-Risk Pregnancy Care: Enhanced monitoring and intervention for complications.

- Postpartum Recovery: Specialized advice for quicker healing and baby care.

4. Sophisticated Medical Technology

- 3D & 4D Ultrasound: Advanced imaging for accurate fetal monitoring.

- Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring: Ongoing assessment for high-risk pregnancies.

- 24/7 Emergency Care: Round-the-clock response for any maternity emergencies.

- Blood Bank & Pharmacy: In-house assistance for immediate medical needs.

5. Prenatal & Postnatal Support

- Regular Check-ups: Routine pregnancy checks and screenings.

- Diet & Nutrition Guidance: Tailored meal plans for pregnant women.

- Lactation Counseling: Guidance for smooth breastfeeding.

- Postnatal Exercises: Recovery programs to get back on track.

6. Affordable Maternity Packages & Insurance Support

- Cost-efficient delivery packages without compromising on quality.

- Partnerships with top insurance providers for cashless facilities.

- EMI and flexible payment options for easy financial assistance.

7. Homey & Family-Oriented Ambiance

- Private rooms providing customized care and comfort.

- Specialized staff for emotional and psychological care.

- Family counseling and support groups for pregnant women.

8. Positive Feedback from Patients & Trust

- High ratings by new mothers and families for outstanding care.

- Various success stories of safe deliveries and high-risk pregnancy care.

- Awarded as a trusted Pregnancy Hospital in Haryana by families from the region.

Why Opt for Mayom Hospital for Your Delivery?

- 24x7 medical help and emergency support.

- High standards of hygiene and safety for mother and child.

- Trained and experienced medical experts guaranteeing individualized care.

- Full range of services including all aspects of pregnancy and delivery.

If you are searching for the Best Delivery Hospital in Gurgaon, Mayom Hospital provides excellent maternity care with a holistic touch. With state-of-the-art facilities, specialist doctors, and caring support, it is the most reliable Pregnancy Hospital in Haryana. From normal delivery to C-section or high-risk pregnancy care, Mayom Hospital provides the best for both mother and child, making it the Top Maternity Hospital in Gurgaon.

Call Mayom Hospital Today for a Joyful & Safe Delivery!

For consultations, appointments, and enquiries, visit Mayom Hospital or call now to make your appointment.

[allaboutmedical]

Hepatitis B Vaccine in Singapore: A Crucial Step in Protecting Your Liver Health

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that targets the liver, and it can lead to severe complications like cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer if left untreated. The Hepatitis B vaccine singapore is an essential preventive measure, and Singapore has made remarkable strides in combating the disease with effective vaccination programs. This article explores the significance of the Hepatitis B vaccine in Singapore, who should get vaccinated, and where to access the vaccine.

What Is Hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV), which can be spread through contact with infected bodily fluids, such as blood, semen, or vaginal fluids. Common modes of transmission include:

Unprotected sexual contact

Sharing needles or other drug paraphernalia

From mother to child during childbirth

Blood transfusions, though rare due to stringent screening processes

While some people may experience mild symptoms, others may develop chronic Hepatitis B, which can result in long-term liver damage. Chronic infections often go unnoticed for years, earning Hepatitis B its reputation as a "silent" disease. Fortunately, the Hepatitis B vaccine offers a robust defense against this potentially deadly virus.

Why Get Vaccinated Against Hepatitis B in Singapore?

Singapore has long recognized the importance of vaccination in the prevention of infectious diseases. Here’s why the Hepatitis B vaccine is crucial:

Prevention of Chronic Disease: Hepatitis B can become a chronic infection that leads to serious liver complications, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. The vaccine significantly reduces the risk of developing these conditions by preventing the initial infection.

Protection Against Liver Cancer: Hepatitis B is one of the leading causes of liver cancer worldwide. By preventing the infection, the vaccine also helps reduce the incidence of this deadly form of cancer.

Reducing Transmission: The vaccine not only protects individuals but also helps reduce the transmission of Hepatitis B in the community. Widespread vaccination leads to herd immunity, reducing overall infection rates.

Who Should Get the Hepatitis B Vaccine?

The Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for various groups in Singapore:

Infants: Hepatitis B vaccination is included in Singapore’s National Childhood Immunisation Schedule (NCIS), with the first dose given to newborns within 24 hours of birth. Additional doses are administered at 1 and 6 months of age.

Children and Adolescents: If children and teenagers have not received the vaccine as part of their childhood immunization program, they are encouraged to get vaccinated to prevent exposure to the virus later in life.

Adults at High Risk: Adults who are at higher risk for Hepatitis B, such as healthcare workers, individuals with multiple sexual partners, intravenous drug users, or those who live with an infected person, should also get vaccinated.

Pregnant Women: Pregnant women who are at risk of Hepatitis B are advised to get vaccinated, particularly to protect their babies from being born with the infection.

How to Get the Hepatitis B Vaccine in Singapore?

The Hepatitis B vaccine is easily accessible in Singapore:

Polyclinics: The vaccine is provided as part of the National Immunisation Program for infants, and adults can receive it at subsidized rates through government programs like the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS).

Private Clinics: Many private clinics and general practitioners offer the vaccine for both children and adults. Costs may vary depending on the clinic.

Hospitals and Specialized Centers: Healthcare institutions, including hospitals and specialized clinics, also offer the Hepatitis B vaccine, particularly for high-risk groups or individuals seeking private care.

Cost of the Hepatitis B Vaccine

The cost of the Hepatitis B vaccine in Singapore varies depending on where you receive it:

Polyclinics: Vaccination for infants is free under the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule. Adults who are eligible under schemes like CHAS may receive the vaccine at a subsidized cost.

Private Clinics: In private clinics, the price for the vaccine typically ranges from $40 to $80 per dose. A complete vaccination series involves three doses.

MediSave: For adults, MediSave can be used to cover the cost of the vaccination, making it more affordable for eligible individuals.

Is the Hepatitis B Vaccine Safe?

Yes, the Hepatitis B vaccine is extremely safe and well-tolerated. It has been used globally for decades with a proven track record of safety. The vaccine is made from non-infectious components of the virus, so it cannot cause Hepatitis B. Common side effects are generally mild and include:

Pain or redness at the injection site

Mild fever

Fatigue or headache

Serious side effects are rare, and the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the minimal risks.

The Role of the Hepatitis B Vaccine in Singapore's Public Health Strategy

Singapore has a long history of addressing Hepatitis B through targeted vaccination programs. Since the inclusion of the Hepatitis B vaccine in the National Immunisation Schedule in the 1980s, the country has significantly reduced the incidence of chronic Hepatitis B infections. Public health campaigns and widespread vaccination have contributed to decreasing the prevalence of liver cancer associated with the virus.

Moreover, Singapore’s healthcare system offers comprehensive screening programs for Hepatitis B, allowing for early detection and treatment for those at risk.

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Health with the Hepatitis B Vaccine

The Hepatitis B vaccine is a crucial step in protecting your liver and overall health. Whether you're an infant receiving the vaccine as part of your childhood immunization or an adult who needs to catch up on missed doses, vaccination is essential in safeguarding against this silent and potentially deadly infection.