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Page 1B • The Leader • January 11, 2014 • www.theleadernews.com

Magical 39 weeks important for babies by Cynthia Lescalleet For The Leader The average pregnancy lasts 40 weeks. Some babies arrive right on time, others show up early and a few more wait a while longer to make their ﬁrst appearance. You can’t always control when you give birth. But if you do have a choice, waiting until 39 weeks gives your baby the best chance at a healthy start, said Edward Nuila-Crouse, M.D., a physician afﬁliated with Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital.

The New Rules for Term Births

For years, babies who arrived anytime from three weeks before to two weeks after their due dates were considered “term.” But increasingly, doctors recognize that ba-

bies continue to grow throug hout p r e g n a n c y. For instance, their lungs, brains and livers fully develop between 37 and 39 weeks. The American College of Obstetricians and Gy- Edward Nuila-Crouse, M.D n e co l o g i s t s has updated their deﬁnitions. Now you may hear your doctor refer to births during:

• 37 to 38 weeks as “early term” • 39 to 40 weeks as “full term” • Week 41 as “late term” • Week 42 or later as “post-term”

Follow Your Baby’s Schedule

“If you’ve had a healthy pregnancy, health experts advise waiting until labor occurs naturally instead of scheduling a cesarean section ahead of time, said Dr. Nuila-Crouse. “Having a C-section when you don’t need one may increase the health risks to you and your baby.” For instance, you may: • Stay in the hospital longer • Increase your risk for a ruptured uterus • Have a baby with more breathing problems If you still aim to schedule your child’s birth, talk with your doctor about your reasoning and all the beneﬁts and risks, Dr.

Nuila-Crouse advises. He or she may be able to help in other ways – for instance, by decreasing your discomfort during the later stages of pregnancy. If you do have the C-section, your doctor can help make sure your baby has reached term. Babies born after 37 weeks may need more special care than those born after 39 weeks. They face an increased risk for: • Trouble breathing or staying warm • Difﬁculty eating • Jaundice • Learning and behavior problems • Hearing and vision impairment Of course, you may have no choice but to deliver early. Sometimes you or your baby may develop a medical problem. Your doctor may decide that the beneﬁts of an early delivery by either inducing labor or having a C-section outweigh the risks.

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The Physicians Specialty Center is currently undergoing construction (Photo by Michael Sudhalter)

North Loop medical building to open by summer by Michael Sudhalter michael@theleadernews.com

The Physicians Speciality Center, a six story building at 1900 North Loop West between Ella and T.C. Jester, is set to open this summer, according to real estate broker Karen Kizer. Under previous ownership, the six story

building had been shut down after Hurricane Ike in 2008. J. Stone Development Ventures purchased it and is renovating the building into a Class A medical ofﬁce building, which will be anchored by Integranet Health, a large network of independent physicians in Houston. The project had experienced some construction delays in past months due to eco-

nomic and weather conditions but appears to be on track now. Kizer said patients will be able to have many of their health needs met at one location. There will be an urgent care facility and lab testing in the building as well. “The building will serve as a ‘Center of Excellence’ to the network of physicians, enhancing their provision of quality, efﬁcient,

and patient-centered care,” Kizer said. “For patients, the building will offer a complete array of services including imaging, dialysis, pharmacy, lab, outpatient surgery, endoscopy, optometry, physical therapy, and a variety of specialty physicians.” The medical building will also feature a Murphy’s Deli and a Kwik Meds Pharmacy.

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OF Elementary student raises money for The Rose Though 10-year-old Viana Rodrigues never met her maternal grandmother with whom she shares a middle name, she wanted to memorialize her “Abuela Edith.” And at the close of 2013, the Oak Forest Elementary ﬁfth grader did just that as she presented her earnings from her lemonade stand to The Rose. Accompanied by her sister Siena, 7, and parents Gaby and Fernando Rodrigues, the young Rice Military resident and budding philanthropist gave Bernice Joseph, COO of The Rose, a check for $172, money she earned selling lemonade and cookies to her fellow students and their parents for several days in October. A news broadcast on students across Texas who were donating lemonade stand earnings to charitable causes prompted her to check

with her Magnet Coordinator Ms. Patricia Shepherd to determine what she would need to do to organize the stand. “Ms. Shepherd was very helpful. I also got friends involved and lot of people came and helped – more than I needed,” Viana acknowledged, particularly mentioning her friend Dominic who not only baked chocolate chip cookies but decorated the bags with pink ribbons. Viana chose days to set up her stand based on working around her rehearsals for her dance role as a clown in the Houston Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker. With such a busy schedule, the check presentation had to wait until December but the delay afforded

see The Rose • Page 2B

SUPERIOR

Expanded, comprehensive emergency care. And still the only trauma center in The Heights. The best choice for trauma care in The Heights is now even better. Memorial Hermann Northwest Hospital proudly announces the expansion of our emergency services. By adding nearly 10,000 square feet with the latest medical technologies, we continue to provide the highest quality trauma care right here in our community. So in case of emergency, you know where to turn — Memorial Hermann Northwest.

To learn more, visit memorialhermann.org

Fernando, Siena, Viana and Gaby Rodrigues closed out 2013 with a check presentation to Bernice Joseph, COO of The Rose. Viana earned the monies given by setting up a lemonade stand at Oak Forest Elementary.

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