San Diego Hospital Addresses Rise In High Risk Pregnancies

Good Morning, I’m Annica Colbert….it’s Friday, July 16th >>>> one local hospital addressing a rise in high risk pregnancies More on that next, but first...let’s do the headlines. ###### Los Angeles county is reinstating its indoor mask mandate starting this Saturday night. It follows a steady increase in covid-19 cases there. LA county health officers say the county is not where it needs to be on vaccinations. LA has now seen seven straight days of more than 1000 new covid-19 infections. …. Meanwhile, in San Diego, health officials here have reported a seventh straight day of more than 200 infections. County health officer Dr Wilma Wooten says the county is now seeing about double the number of cases reported a month ago, increasing hospitalizations by 46%. She says they expect to see further increases in ICU admission, since they tend to lag behind hospitalizations trends. ########## A wildfire in the Tecate area just north of the US Mexico border has burned at least 30 acres and is 50% contained. That’s according to Cal Fire San Diego’s last update Thursday night. the cause was determined to be an electrical failure, like downed powerlines, in Mexico right along the border. The fire destroyed one mobile home and some vehicles, no injuries have been reported. ######### From KPBS, you’re listening to San Diego News Now. Stay with me for more of the local news you need. High-risk pregnancies are on the rise, and one San Diego hospital system is expanding its operation to address it. KPBS’ Health reporter Matt Hoffman has more. Within the first week of us dating we definitely had the kid conversation and we both really wanted kids Megan and Ricky Miller from San Marcos had been married for two years when they decided it was time to try for a baby-- And within a month we got pregnant so it was pretty quick we’re like maybe it will take five or six months but it happened very quickly. Everything was going great, but at around 19 weeks when they went in to see the baby’s gender, something was wrong-- Her head was on track but her limbs were a little bit smaller than they should be and that got the concern going that maybe it’s in line with a genetic disorder Definitely was scary it was the same day we found out the gender it was a huge happy day we were stoked we did the gender reveal and then literally half an hour later they called and said something was off Having a genetic disorder is not the worst thing but there’s a lot of complications like stillbirth so that was more my fear if the baby was going to make it or not Complications during pregnancy are scary. And while 80 percent of women have healthy pregnancies, a bluecross/blue shield study from last year found rates of complications are rising -- due in part to more mothers with pre-existing conditions. One of the ways to tackle our increasing number of premature births it’s been sturdy but we haven't’ been able to put a dent in it for years and years is to make sure again mom is taken care of, we reduce some of those comorbidities Dr. Sean Daneshmand (don-esh-mond) is the medical director for Scripps Health’s perinatology program, which was started in 2018 and has been expanding-- Complications are on the rise we’ve got more women who are gaining more weight pre pregnancy, diabetes is on the rise, hypertension is on the rise something we forget depression and anxiety is on the rise and therefore in order to address all these issues scripps decided to bring on a team. Daneshmand says the best way to address underlying conditions is to talk to a specialist before getting pregnant, because it could save the mothers or baby’s life. We talk to the patient, we educate them we refer them to our colleagues for our diabetes and pregnancy program to undergo nutritional counseling, dietary counseling, learn if they need to be on medication how to take that medication He says one of the hardest conversations is telling a mother with preexisting conditions that she maybe shouldn’t try to get pregnant right away-- “Women will do anything for their children anything for their children and if a woman wants a child it’s very difficult to --- let say she has had a recent stroke for example a year later she wants to have a child or she has had a recent heart attack or has cancer or again some comorbidities that are not conducive to a health pregnancy and it’s very difficult for women to hear they shouldn't’ have children.” For Megan and Ricky Miller news that their baby might have a genetic disorder and had a large hole in the heart caught them off guard, especially because Megan had no known pre-existing conditions. We just decided early on that we’re not going to let this steal our joy because you can just have fear and be worried the entire time or you can say no I’m not going to have fear I’m going to be joyful and believe that this is going to turn out well and we’re doing everything we can The couple were told they might have their baby delivered at 25 weeks old, which would have required months of intensive care.. But even after a small scare where Megan had to spend nearly a week in the hospital, Galilee Ryan was delivered at 36 weeks weighing in at just three pounds two ounces.. And the large hole in her heart went away. That’s healed and they saw some narrowing of the aortic arch that’s not there so it’s just really a miracle baby. The Millers now spend most of their time at Scripps La Jolla’s neonatal intensive care unit where Galilee is expected to be for at least a couple more weeks. Pretty much 10/12 hours a day we spend there So she’s eating about 50 percent by bottle right now and the rest they are putting through a tube so that’s increasing everyday she’s eating more and more everyday and having more strength she’s starting to cry and fuss Megan says overall, while stressful, she is grateful for the care of the specialists who helped deliver her baby.. Results from testing just found Galilee has no genetic disorder.. And there are plans for more kids soon. We want lots (laughs) Ricky: well the day after she was born lets do another one lets do it. Megan: I don't know five or seven we’ll see. MH KPBS News. ########## Governor Newsom’s Clean California initiative is opening thousands of jobs including some in San Diego. KPBS reporter Alexandra Rangel has more from a job fair that was held by Caltrans on thursday. Clean California is a one billion dollar initiative by the governor to revitalize and clean the state’s highways. The project is expected to open 11 thousand jobs for Californians... including people who are homeless,veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals. Gustavo Dallarda is Director for Caltrans in San Diego. He says they're looking to hire up to 50 people in the next 4-6 weeks. Gustavo Dallarda, Caltrans District 11 Director “These entry level jobs are on the frontline in the fight against litter. So some of these people you see here today, tomorrow may be wearing a hard hat and a vest keeping our highways clean.” Shawn Rizzutto, division chief for Caltrans San Diego, says these jobs can lead to greater opportunities. Shawn Rizzutto, Caltrans District 11 Division Chief “Once you're in with Caltrans in these temporary assignments and entry level jobs then you are able to apply for permanent jobs as they become available.” Wyatt Elliott, Applicant “It’s impressive, I didn't really expect this big of a line.” Wyatt Elliot is a recent political science graduate from San Diego State University. He says he was lucky to have a job through the pandemic, but he’s looking to start a career with Caltrans. Wyatt Elliott, CalTrans Applicant “I’m primarily looking for a government position, like liaison or legislature I saw on their website.” The money will be spent over the next three years on litter abatement and beautification projects. Alexandra Rangel, KPBS News. ########## San Diego police are putting together a special police team to combat a rise of Ghost Guns. KPBS’ Melissa Mae has more. California already has laws to regulate ghost guns… but those won’t go into effect until July 20-22. San Diego councilwoman Marni von Wilpert does not want to wait that long. She is introducing a city ordinance to prohibit the untraceable weapons. Marni von Wilpert // District 5 Council Member “Prevent ghost guns from getting in the hands of dangerous people who might threaten themselves, threaten others.” The San Diego Police Department reported a 169% increase in ghost gun usage since 2020 in San Diego. Now the department is starting a five-member Ghost Gun Team. San Diego Police Captain Matt Novak says this team will conduct proactive ghost gun investigations and assist other departments as well. Capt. Matt Novak // San Diego Police Department “We will work as a resource to kind of handle the ghost gun angle of it and make sure that that is taken care of efficiently and we get as many ghost guns as we can off the street.” SDPD is on track to seize up to 480 ghost guns this year. Capt. Matt Novak // San Diego Police Department “These guns are being used in violent crimes and being seized in a lot of our narcotic and gang investigations, so we know that they’re being used out there on the streets.” Capt. Matt Novak // San Diego Police Department “They’re easy to obtain, pretty easy to assemble and then they’re unserialized and untraceable.” Michael Schwartz of San Diego County Gun Owners calls it a PR move. Michael Schwartz // San Diego County Gun Owners PAC “It seems like they’re really trying to cover their failure and incompetence … firearms.” Von Wilpert is hoping to have her ordinance completed and presented to the city council by next month. Melissa Mae KPBS News. ############ California wildlife managers are asking recreational anglers to take extra precautions this summer to protect fish during the drought. Capradio’s Pauline Bartolone explains. California’s dry conditions and a surge in fishing during the pandemic has the state concerned about aquatic species. So Peter Tira with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is asking anglers not to fish after 12 noon, in eight different bodies of water in the Sierra and other parts of the state. “A lot of anglers practice catch and release fishing, and that’s a great conservation practice, except if water gets too warm, that adds additional stress. All this extra stress just adds to potential for mortality.” Tira says nearly 2 million fishing licenses were sold in California last year. A notable increase over the year before the pandemic. And the increased interest is continuing this year. SOC. ########## Coming up.... A review of the new movie Summertime, produced by a San Diego native, and a preview of this weekend’s local arts events. All that’s next, just after the break. San Diego native Kelly Marie Tran is a producer on the new film summertime. The film is described as a “spoken word poetry musical set in Los Angeles.” Tran will be in town this weekend to host screenings with two of the poets from the film. KPBS film critic Beth Accomando has this review. In Carlos López Estrada’s first film Blindspotting, he collaborated with a pair of writer-stars to let us see Oakland through new eyes. Now he has developed a new film Summertime in collaboration with youth poets who all serve as co-writers and stars. The result is spectacular. This time he sets his film in Los Angeles before the pandemic. CLIP Are you forgetting where we are and what crazy dope stuff happens in this city every day. The film gives us 27 fresh voices each offering an intimate, passionate, compelling story. Calling it a spoken word poetry musical only hints at the originality of the film’s design and the engaging energy that draws us in. It captures the hope, heartbreak, and oddly seductive vibe of Los Angeles. It allows these young poets a moment in the spotlight to get something off their chests. CLIP Do you know what I can buy for $15? Summertime reminds us that words can dazzle and hold us rapt with even more power than state of the art special effects. Beth Accomando, KPBS News. ############# And, we have KPBS Arts Editor and Producer Julia Dixon-Evans here with a preview of local arts events happening in San Diego this weekend. Here’s Julia. GUILLERMO GALINDO Studio Series with Art of Elan First, let's start at Lux Art Institute in Encinitas. The current resident artist is Guillermo Galindo who makes what he calls "sonic devices" using found objects, things he discovers at the San Diego Tijuana border. They're like sculptural musical instruments, and the components used to build them are powerful. Think: a border patrol flashlight. Bullets. A tattered child's shoe. Torn pages from a discarded bible. Tonight, Friday at 6 p.m. musicians from Art of Elan will come together to "activate" the instruments and perform pieces that Galindo has composed just for these makeshift instruments. Following that performance there'll be an artist talk with Galindo. And! there is one instrument that the public can try themselves, but it's a really incredible one. and it's a bicycle wheel theremin, you play it just be waving your hand near the spokes. NORTH PARK BOOK FAIR This weekend marks the first North Park Book Fair, with tons of independent bookstores, authors, zine makers, small presses, poets, artists and galleries coming together. It's put together by Verbatim Books, along with the North Park Thursday Market and North Park Main Street, and it'll be like a literary block party. It takes place Saturday near North Park Way and 30th St., and there'll be performances and readings all day, from 10 to 5 p.m. And of course, plenty of books to buy. PRIDE Finally, Pride is back this weekend. It's a hybrid program this year, with some events online, others in-person but outdoors or scaled down — but there is PLENTY to do. You can find some highlights on our website at KPBS dot ORG. Don't miss Diversionary Theatre's Pride production of a play called "Dear One: Love and Longing in Midcentury Queer America." It's by trans playwright Joshua Irving Gershick, and it features a series of archived letters that were sent in to ONE Magazine. ONE ran in the 50s and 60s and was the first openly gay periodical in America. These are free performances at St. Paul's Cathedral at 1 and 4 p.m on Saturday, put on by their summer intensive acting program, Teen-Versionary. That’s it for the podcast today. Be sure to catch KPBS Midday Edition At Noon on KPBS radio, or check out the Midday podcast. You can also watch KPBS Evening Edition at 5 O’clock on KPBS Television, and as always you can find more San Diego news online at KPBS dot org. I’m Annica Colbert. Thanks for listening and have a great day.