United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I was reading last weekends "Parade" magazine (March 6) and in the "Better Fitness" column by Michael O'Shea, there was a question about gestational diabetes. One of the sentences about the problems with GD read, "The baby is liable to be on the large side, increasing the likelihood of a cesarean delivery - and of the child becoming overweight and diabetic later in life".

I feel the author missed some other risks, as we are all well aware...And I think it would be wonderful if a Board member or representative of UPBN could write a response to this. Something to the effect that "Dr. O'Shea missed another large risk associated with big babies and that is the babies can get stuck in the birth canal, which 2-3 times out of 1,000 births can lead to partial or full paralysis of the arm and/or shoulder."

I think taking the technical talk out and relating it to what the average person knows (and fears) is important if a response were ever to get published. Words like shoulder dystocia, and brachial plexus would make the average reader's eyes gloss over, IMO.

Just an opportunity I thought I'd pass along,
Lisa D.

The address is:
Fitness, Box 4943
Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163-4943

I think this a great idea and is very important. I hope a board member will respond.