HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A young mother charged with murder has told police she hid her pregnancy, gave birth to twin sons at her family’s home and killed the infants by smothering their cries so her parents wouldn’t hear them.

Police in the Nashville suburb of Hendersonville arrested Lindsey Lowe, 25, on Wednesday after her father discovered one baby’s body in a laundry basket.

According to a police affidavit, the young mother said she didn’t tell her family she was pregnant, but believes she got pregnant in January and never visited a doctor. Police said on Thursday they were trying to identify the father of the twins.

Police said they interviewed Lowe who said she went into labor Monday evening while on the toilet at her parent’s home. She said the first baby fell into the toilet and began to cry.

“Lowe stated that the baby was crying and Lowe did not want her parents to hear and find out about the child,” police wrote in the affidavit. “Lowe stated that she put her hand over the child’s mouth and she stated that she kept it there until the child was dead, which was a couple of minutes.” Lowe said she never checked the sex of the child.

A few minutes later, the affidavit says, she gave birth to the second child, who also fell in the toilet. She again put her hand over the baby’s mouth and held it there until the baby died, which she said took less time than the first child. She put both babies in the laundry basket and covered them up with blankets.

Police said both boys appeared to be full term and weighing about 5 or 6 pounds.

Lowe, who works at a pediatric dentist’s office, was charged with first-degree murder and remained in jail Thursday with no bond. Police said she is undergoing a medical evaluation.

Police Lt. Scott Ryan said Thursday that he didn’t know how she hid the pregnancy, just saying that she didn’t tell anyone. He would not say whether Lowe was helping them to identify the father.

Ryan said women with unwanted pregnancies have several options, including a safe haven law that allows newborns to be dropped off at places like hospitals and police stations.

“No matter how bleak the outlook may be for you, let someone help you out,” Ryan said.

Someone answered a call by The Associated Press to Lowe’s father but hung up when asked for comment.

Senior Pastor at City Road Chapel United Methodist Church Ron Lowery said he got a call from Lowe’s parents on Wednesday to come to the house for support during the police investigation. He said Lindsey and her sister grew up in the church and were regularly involved in youth activities.

On Thursday, he said the family was stable and was figuring out what to do next.

“It’s amazing how we somehow have the ability to cope even in life’s worst disasters,” Lowery said.

As to why Lindsey was so desperate to hide the pregnancy, Lowery said, “It’s a mystery to everybody.”

According to a report done by the CDC, cases of ADHD have increased in the years between 2003-2007 That means that in every diagnosis, there’s like 1 in 10 child who is said to be developing ADHD. This is a condition where children have a hard time coping and developing proper emotional and social behavior.

There have been a number of studies conducted for ADHD and one of it points to the fact that this condition is hereditary and there is no other way to prevent it from developing, except at the time of conception and pregnancy. Although there have been some medicines recommended to at least lessen the effects of someone afflicted with ADHD, this is apparently a condition that is already there for life.

Studies have shown ADHD can be attributed to poor health during pregnancy and other factors such as use of illegal drugs, smoking and just basically bad genes combination between the father and mother are also said to be the reasons why this may occur.

The behavior may also be exasperated because of the kind of environment the baby grows into. Exposure to television, as opposed to proper social interaction with the parents or other kids, may also contribute to ADHD. Parents are advised to limit a toddler’s time watching television or playing with computers and make sure that other activities for learning are instead cultivated.

Interaction and family connection is also very important in seeing to it that the child grows up stimulated and very aware of his surroundings.

Image by Ed Yourdon via Flickr

Exercise, especially while pregnant, can help you feel a lot better.  Doctors even say that keeping up a reasonable exercise routine while pregnant can even help with things like pain relief, and maybe even help make labor easier.

You will want to talk to your OBGYN before starting, or keeping up any exercise routine to assure it’s safe for you and your baby. 

Don’t expect to be able to do a lot:  Everything from fatigue to aches and pains while pregnant are the norm.  There is a lot going on with your body during a pregnancy, so you will have to take it a bit easier.  Over-exercising while pregnant is also a bit dangerous, so pay attention to your body’s signals.

Walk, A lot: Walking is good for you (I know that’s no huge breakthrough) and while you are pregnant it can help make labor and delivery easier. 

Focus On Health: While many people exercise to lose some weight your focus while pregnant is solely your health.

Take it easy: The best exercises are the low impact aerobic types.  You don’t want to over-exert yourself so taking it easier and not pushing yourself too hard is the key.

While it may be harder to start with exercising properly while pregnant can help out a lot.  It can pay off with a lot of health benefits, and pay off with an easier labor and delivery.

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Bulgari & Bally Hire New Designers

Image via Wikipedia

While it’s rather well know that advertisers really want to corner the mommy market at times the approach fails in a fiery inferno of false understanding, and a few other misguided attempts.

Johnson & Johnson however may have joined the ranks of the very few who seem to have actually ‘gotten’ what they are trying to accomplish.  For the most part.

The company is following suit for the many moms who are turning off the television and turning to online entertainment and news.

From an article on the campaign:

At one point, Steve spends a day wearing a “pregnancy simulator” so he can better appreciate what his wife is going through. Another segment follows Steve and Suzie as they sign up for a “labor class.” The series also includes candid moments where Suzie admits to hormonal changes (“I do find myself snapping at him more.”) and Steve laughingly notes: “It’s nuts!”

(Source: Brandweek)

As for where you can find the series:

The Webisodes will run on Pampers.com, YouTube and DirecTV On Demand, and TLC will also promote the show. MommyCast, a weekly radio/podcast series, will interview the Barstons on what life is like after son Leo was born.

While the overall idea isn’t actually unique, the idea branches off due to the very small cameo by the product itself.  Pampers are only shown in one diaper changing scene, which while surprising was a redeeming quality.

What do you think of this approach?

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Stem cell research takes a lot of heat, due to the methods from which doctors receive the cells. Now however, there are more kinder and gentler options for the procurement of the cells, which in the long run may help humanity overcome many kinds of illness and disease.

A story from the Niagara Gazette illustrates this new method. Doctors can take blood from a newborn’s umbilical cord posing no harm to the mother or child.  Illustrating the story of a family who had decided to donate their daughter Evelyn’s  umbilical cord blood during her mother  Marie’s pregnancy.

Marie’s obstetrician Dr. Wesolowski says:

“It’s a very simple process, with no danger to the baby or the mother,” said Dr. Wesolowski who is chief of maternity. “We only do it if the mom and the baby are stable.”

Why cord blood?

Cord blood nourishes the baby during pregnancy and is rich in stem cells, Wesolowski said. Roswell Park, one of the nation’s leading cancer research institutes, utilizes blood collected from the umbilical cords of newborns in a variety of research programs. Researchers are finding that when these cells are transplanted into patients, they can help restore the immune and blood systems to fight diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and may help in spinal cord injuries.

Photo Credits: James Neiss and the Niagara Gazette