THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 16, 1996 TAG: 9606140274
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 34 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Jack Dempsey
LENGTH: 68 lines
Expectant mothers vacationing on the Outer Banks can protect themselves and their fetus with moderate habits, self-restraint and - mostly - common sense.
For too many visitors, a racy beach vacation involves loss of sleep, robust feasting, a dramatic increase in strenuous exercise, unusual exposure to sun and heat, consumption of alcohol and, occasionally, drug abuse.
The cumulative impact of it all can be devastating. Drinking alcohol alone can permanently impair the fetus' development.
Since these risks are well-publicized and generally understood, it's unnecessary to belabor the obvious.
Not so obvious, however, are the possible effects of travel, physical trauma and dehydration, said Dr. Bernie Baker of the Eastern Carolina Women's Center.
Healthy self-care begins with travel to and from the Outer Banks. Sitting in a cramped position for hours can seriously impede the circulation of blood, especially to the legs. The expectant mother should stop and walk around at least every two hours.
With few exceptions, obstetricians recommend light exercise throughout pregnancy. Walking and swimming in pools are particularly recommended.
But motorboating, horseback riding and biking, to name a few, are beach activities capable of producing nasty spills. Although the fluid around the fetus acts as a shock absorber, its protective capacity may be easily exceeded.
Also, beware of rough surf. Even experienced swimmers are frequently dumped with considerable force by unexpected waves.
In short, common sense suggests postponing some beach recreation until next summer.
Dehydration from prolonged exposure to heat provides a common threat to healthy pregnancies. It's easy to underestimate how hot it gets on the beach.
Dehydration may cause uterine contractions and premature labor. If prolonged heat exposure cannot be avoided, drink ample quantities of sports beverages to replenish fluids and vital chemicals.
With or without dehydration, some expectant mothers do go into premature labor during their vacations. That can be scary, considering the average visitor here is one to more than two hours from the nearest hospitals.
It gets even scarier for new visitors who don't know the locations of nearby hospitals or even local medical centers. Those visitors should dial 911 for Emergency Medical Services, which connects to dispatchers all along the Outer Banks.
The dispatcher will either advise you of nearby medical centers or, more frequently, send an ambulance.
In Dare County, the EMS technicians will appraise the situation and call Medical Command at Chesapeake General Hospital for instructions. If necessary, they will transport the patient to a local medical center or take her directly to a nearby hospital.
In extreme emergencies, the Dare Med Flight helicopter will transport the patient to a hospital. From Nags Head and with a favorable tailwind, the flight takes about 15 or 20 minutes to Chowan Hospital in Edenton or Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City, or 25 to 30 minutes to Chesapeake General Hospital in Virginia. Flights to other Norfolk-area hospitals take about five minutes longer.
Harry Seymour, Dare County's public safety director, said his well-trained technicians have to deliver babies themselves about a dozen times a year.
In such circumstances, their skills contribute even more blessed events to the ever-growing lore of the Outer Banks. MEMO: Jack Dempsey has a doctorate in public health from Johns Hopkins
University and has published two books on health care. His columns are
based on interviews with area health care providers. Send mail to P.O.
Box 10, Nags Head, N.C. 27959. by CNB