Jan's Haven

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IN MEMORY OF

Daijon Krishna Bradshaw-Clarke

August 6 - August 31, 2005

I am not a lost child, I'm an angel found

Look in your souls I'm still around

I know that you prayed for me I felt it in my heart

Life has been such a struggle god listen and did his part

Daddy please don't look so sad

Mommy please don't cry

I'm in the hands of Jesus

And he sings me lullabies

Don't try to question God he is not unkind

He did not send me to you and then changed his mind

I'm a special child and he needs my help above

I delivered my message, my purpose I brought my family love

God sent you the best that he had

It's a pleasure to have met you, so don't be mad

I brought so much strength for such a little feller

A path, a blueprint for you to follow

I am grateful for the time and shall always speak your name

Please know there is a lesson why I came

I now have all of heavens glory

Suffered none of earths pain

Mom, thank you for the life you gave me

It was brief but don't complain

Thank you for the name

I'd have loved to have brought it fame

Daiquan and Danique you have a personal angel

That's not something everyone can say

Your guardian angel fill with love

Protecting you from above

Mom Jan, I felt your passion and your power

The unconditional love you showered

No need need to linger

25 days with my family I knew my worth

Don't say goodbye, I'll see you later

Where I am there's no place greater

Don't search for answers that's too much clutter

You will feel me near when you love each other

Daijon's Voice

DAIJON'S VOICE

Is a program implemented to focus on educating parents on the signs and causes of preterm labor to reduce the number of babies born early and/or too small. Preterm and underweight births are on the rise and because of their size and stage of development the first few weeks and sometimes months of life becomes a battle for survival. Statistics demonstrates that these babies are more likely to have developmental delays, chronic respiratory problems and vision or hearing impairment.

PREGNANCY

Nine months of a healthy pregnancy is the best gift you can give your future baby. There are things you can do, before you get pregnant, to help give your baby a better chance of a healthy and full-term birth.

Signs and Symptoms of Preterm Labor and What to Do

What Is Preterm Labor?

Preterm or premature labor happens when you go into labor before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. This is too early for your baby to be born. Babies born too soon can have lifelong or life-threatening health problems.

Can Preterm Labor Be Stopped?

Many women are given drugs to try to delay or stop preterm labor.

Warning Signs:

Contractions (your abdomen tightens like a fist) every 10 minutes or more often

Change in vaginal discharge (leaking fluid or bleeding from your vagina)

Pelvic pressure—the feeling that your baby is pushing down

Low, dull backache

Cramps that feel like your period

Abdominal cramps with or without diarrhea

What Should I Do If I Think I'm Having Preterm Labor?

Call your health care provider (nurse, doctor or midwife) or go to the hospital right away if you think you're having preterm labor, or if you have any of the warning signs. Call even if you have only one sign.

Your health care provider may tell you to:

Come into the office or go to the hospital for a checkup.

Stop what you're doing. Rest on your left side for one hour.

Drink 2-3 glasses of water or juice (not coffee or soda).

If the symptoms get worse or do not go away after one hour, call your provider again or go to the hospital. If the symptoms get better, relax for the rest of the day.

Are You at Risk?

Preterm labor and delivery can happen to any pregnant woman. But they happen more often to some women than to others. Researchers continue to study preterm labor and birth. They have identified some risk factors, but still cannot predict which women will give birth too early. Having a risk factor does not mean a woman will have preterm labor or preterm birth. It means she is more likely to have preterm labor or birth than other women.

Three groups of women are at greatest risk of preterm labor and birth:

* Women who have had a previous preterm birth

* Women who are pregnant with twins, triplets or more

* Women with certain uterine or cervical abnormalities

Lifestyle and Environmental Risks

Some studies have found that certain lifestyle factors may put a woman at greater risk of preterm labor. These factors include:

* Late or no prenatal care

* Smoking

* Drinking alcohol

* Using illegal drugs

* Exposure to the medication DES

* Domestic violence, including physical, sexual or emotional abuse

* Lack of social support

* Stress

* Long working hours with long periods of standing

Medical Risks

Certain medical conditions during pregnancy may increase the likelihood that a woman will have preterm labor. These conditions include:

* Urinary tract infections, vaginal infections, sexually transmitted infections and possibly other infections

* Diabetes

* High blood pressure

* Clotting disorders (thrombophilia)

* Bleeding from the vagina

* Certain birth defects in the baby

* Being pregnant with a single fetus after in vitro fertilization (IVF)

* Being underweight before pregnancy

* Obesity

* Short time period between pregnancies (less than 6-9 months between birth and the beginning of the next pregnancy)

Researchers also have identified other risk factors. For instance, African-American women, women younger than 17 or older than 35, and poor women are at greater risk than other women. Experts do not fully understand why and how these factors increase the risk that a woman will have preterm labor or birth.

What Can Women Do?

Remember, though, even if you have one of these risk factors, it does not mean you will have preterm labor. It just means that you are at greater risk than a woman who does not have a risk factor. Still, knowing you're at risk is scary. That's why it's so important that you:

* Know the signs

* Know what to do if you have any of them

* Take very good care of yourself and your baby while you're pregnant

* This is the best way to protect yourself and your baby against preterm labor and delivery.

Plan your pregnancy and see a doctor or nurse before and during pregnancy to talk about the following topics.

1. How can diabetes, high blood pressure, infections or other conditions affect my pregnancy?

2. How can certain medications (prescription, over-the-counter, or home remedies) affect my pregnancy?

3. How does taking a multivitamin with folic acid daily, especially before pregnancy, help me have a healthy baby?

4. What is my ideal weight?

5. How can I stay away from cigarettes, alcohol and illegal drugs?

6. How can I manage the stress in my life?

7. How long should I wait between my pregnancies? (Wait at least 6 months between delivery and the beginning of the next pregnancy.)

8. What if premature birth runs in my family?

9. What are the signs of of premature labor and what should I do?

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