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Woman’s hilarious food delivery mix-up

<p dir="ltr">Kristi ordered one taco with avocado and no meat, assuming she’d be given a taco including avocado and plenty of salad options, veggies and sauces.</p> <p dir="ltr">To her surprise, she received a tortilla smothered in avocado and a hot sauce container on the side.</p> <p dir="ltr">"This is a tortilla with avocado. There is nothing else in it. It is full avocado, like pounds of it just in a tortilla. There's no cheese, no lettuce," Kristi explained in a TikTok. </p> <p dir="ltr">"What is happening?! They think just because I choose avocado, I don't want anything else?" she questioned.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her video received more than 280,000 views with many TikTokers seeing the funny side. </p> <p dir="ltr">"Whoever did your order is probably wondering why someone only got avocado lol," one said.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I mean, I don't see the problem," another teased.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Okay but that's probably $345 worth of avocado," added another.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kristi revealed there were no options to choose sides when she placed her order.</p> <p dir="ltr">One viewer explained, "Cheese, lettuce, tomato is a very Americanized version of a taco. I'm used to getting just meat.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Others joined in to share their own stories of mixed-up food orders.</p> <p dir="ltr">One said, ”One time I ordered a salad and selected my toppings - well I apparently had to select lettuce cos I just got a pile of toppings only.”</p> <p dir="ltr">While another wrote, "Once my sis in law ordered a cheese steak but said just the cheese and steak. She got steak in bread. That's it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Kristi said she didn’t call and complain, rather she added her own sides from what she had at home.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-82714d90-7fff-ac62-6224-7c3c55fbf8f4"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: TikTok</em></p>

Food & Wine

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Elderly pizza lady receives $390k tip after falling during delivery

<p>Barbara Gillespie was completing a typical Friday night pizza delivery when things took an unexpected turn. </p> <p>The 72 year old had just made her way up a home’s front veranda stairs, arms laden with her pizza boxes, when she stumbled and fell on to a small white chair.</p> <p>The family, whose <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@momofthe5ks/video/7195696356508372266" target="_blank" rel="noopener">security camera captured the entire tumble</a>, came outside to see what had happened as the elderly driver was picking herself up from the ground.</p> <p>On shaky legs, Barbara apologised again and again for what had become of the family’s food, telling them that she’d “ruined” it. But the family - otherwise known as the Keighrons - were only concerned about her.</p> <p>“I opened the door and there she is, just laying on the ground trying to get up,” Kevin Keighron said on <em>Good Morning America</em>. “She was more worried about the food than anything else. And I was like, ‘I don't care about the food. I care about you’.”</p> <p>Kevin and his wife, Lacey, described Barbara as being “the sweetest”, and after the incident - which occurred in early February - the pair decided to set up a GoFundMe to give Barbara a “tip” for her hard work. </p> <p>“We would like to bless her by bringing by a ‘tip’ to help her with anything she may need,” Kevin said. “She is an older woman who fell and only cared about the food she dropped. </p> <p>“Let’s show her some kindness and take off some of this burden that our economy is causing the older generations especially!”</p> <p>More than 14,000 people donated, and the fundraiser achieved a whopping $390,000. </p> <p>“We thought we would get her a bigger tip and bring it to her. We never expected to get as much as we did,” Kevin said of their successful campaign. “We were just so excited and thrilled to be able to tell her the next day.”</p> <p>And when taking the surprise to Barbara, Kevin - Lacey, and two of their children - decided to make the grand reveal at her work. They later shared footage of the reunion to their TikTok account. </p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620.262px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7195971641262755114&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40momofthe5ks%2Fvideo%2F7195971641262755114&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2F763d48ec7b5b4f728dcbe02bb60cc22f%3Fx-expires%3D1677142800%26x-signature%3DPCfbQDrxw5It6Ey%252FV9NWSJXsZ6A%253D&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p> </p> <p>They have since shared that with the extra funds, Barbara was able to put in her two-week notice and finally enjoy her well-deserved retirement. </p> <p>Barbara said that the generosity of everyone involved was overwhelming, and admitted she was close to giving up on people because some of them can be “so mean.” </p> <p>“And here we got loving, caring people. They care about someone else” she declared, seemingly delighted to have had her mind so thoroughly changed, “about an elderly woman.”</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok </em></p>

Money & Banking

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“Very questionable”: Kmart mocked after customer's "ridiculous" delivery

<p>A woman has taken to Facebook to mock Kmart over her recent delivery.</p> <p>The shopper shared on Facebook she had ordered a 20mm combination padlock from Kmart and was caught by surprise when it was delivered to her home on February 13. </p> <p>The woman had received a large cardboard box, and when she opened it, it was filled to the brim with plastic wrap to protect the item. However, once she dug out the plastic, she saw a small padlock at the bottom of the unnecessarily large box.</p> <p>“My delivery arrived today,” the woman said on Facebook.</p> <p>Other Kmart fans were shocked by the large box for such a small item, with many users deeming it “ridiculous.”</p> <p>“Omg! Seriously,” a user commented.</p> <p>"Ridiculous honestly yet a pair of jeans get scrunched up into a bag for delivery," another added.</p> <p>"It's absolutely rubbish that they waste like that," a third chimed in.</p> <p>Another comment read, ”How ironic ... how easy is it to break this lock that it needs to be so protected when shipped? Would you need it if it is so fragile? Very questionable Kmart ... What a waste,”</p> <p>Many other users joined in on the teasing, claiming they also received small items delivered in unnecessarily large boxes. </p> <p>"This happened to us recently with a car air freshener," one shopper said.</p> <p>"Yeah they keep sending me one item in a stupidly big box. I’d be much more appreciative of multiple items jammed into a big box to stop wastage or happy to wait for all items to be ready together," another claimed.</p> <p>"I thought my three bowls packed like this was bad!" another commented.</p> <p>Back in May 2021, another Kmart shopper complained that she received a small book in a “huge box.”</p> <p>Although some said it was “terrible”, other users claimed the size of the box shouldn’t matter because it’s recyclable. </p> <p>A Kmart spokesperson told Yahoo Lifestyle that the complaints have been forwarded to Kmart’s online team, and they will reassess how they manage and replenish packaging materials. </p> <p>"Regrettably, in this instance, it appears the team member who has packed this order did not have available or use the most appropriately sized packaging components," the spokesperson said.</p> <p>"While our team are trained and aim to minimise packaging use and waste, it is likely that they did not have access to appropriately sized packaging options so used what was available in an effort to pack and dispatch this order as quickly as possible."</p> <p>Image credit: Facebook</p>

Food & Wine

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Supermarket delivery by robot better for the climate

<p>Along with their <a href="https://twitter.com/historymatt/status/1525776275939418113" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">cult following on social media</a>, autonomous delivery robots travelling on footpaths could be the most climate-friendly way to do your grocery shopping.</p> <p>Around the world, <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/will-covid-19-change-our-cities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COVID-19 has seen a change</a> in the way people shop for groceries. Instead of driving to the supermarket more people are ordering online for pick-up or home delivery, and even in some places, delivery <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/robotics/drone-delivery-groceries-canberra/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">by drone</a> or robot.</p> <p>In the United States supermarket home delivery services grew 54% between 2019 and 2020. In Australia, Woolworths and Coles experienced <a href="https://theconversation.com/coles-and-woolworths-are-moving-to-robot-warehouses-and-on-demand-labour-as-home-deliveries-soar-166556" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">unprecedented demand.</a></p> <p>The rapid growth in e-commerce has seen an increased focus on the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/sustainability/to-help-the-environment-should-you-shop-in-store-or-online/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">‘last-mile’ delivery</a>.</p> <p>A study by University of Michigan researchers and the Ford Motor Co modelled the emissions associated with the journey of a 36-item grocery basket from shop to home via a number of alternative transport options. Their study is <a href="https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.est.2c02050" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in the journal <em>Environmental Science &amp; Technology</em>.</p> <p>“This research lays the groundwork for understanding the impact of e-commerce on greenhouse gas emissions produced by the grocery supply chain,” says the study’s senior author Greg Keoleian<a href="https://seas.umich.edu/research/faculty/greg-keoleian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">,</a> director of the Centre for Sustainable Systems at University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability.</p> <p>The researchers modelled 72 different ways the groceries could travel from the warehouse to the customer. Across all options, the results showed ‘last-mile’ transport emissions to be the major source of <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/food-transport-emissions-cost/">supply chain emissions</a>.</p> <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p201307-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> </div> </div> <p>They found the conventional option of driving to the supermarket in a petrol or diesel car to be the most polluting, creating six kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>). All other choices had lower emissions, with footpath delivery robots the cleanest for the climate, at one kg CO<sub>2</sub>.</p> <p>A customer who switched to an electric vehicle could halve their emissions. But they could achieve a similar impact on emissions by reducing their shopping frequency. Without buying a new car, households who halved the frequency of supermarket trips reduced emissions by 44%.</p> <p>Keoleian says the study emphasises the “important role consumers can serve in reducing emissions through the use of trip chaining and by making carefully planned grocery orders.” Trip chaining refers to combining grocery shopping with other errands.</p> <p>All home delivery options had lower emissions than in-store shopping – in part due to the efficiencies gained in store operation and transport – with the potential to cut emissions by 22 – 65%.</p> <p>Footpath robots are being trialled in cities across the United States, Europe and China. These four or six wheeled robots carry items like supermarket shopping or retail items over short distances. Most have a delivery range around three kilometres.</p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"> <div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered spai-bg-prepared" style="display: flex; max-width: 500px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" class="spai-bg-prepared" style="display: block; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 500px; height: 612px; flex-grow: 1;" title="Twitter Tweet" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=CosmosMagazine&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1525776275939418113&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fcosmosmagazine.com%2Fearth%2Fclimate%2Frobot-delivery-better-for-the-climate%2F&amp;sessionId=84ec360f0f0db6f38136f997db6585736d09d60a&amp;siteScreenName=CosmosMagazine&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=b7df0f50e1ec1%3A1659558317797&amp;width=500px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-tweet-id="1525776275939418113"></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </figure> <p><a>Starship robots</a> is one example. Since launching in 2014, their robots have completed three million autonomous home deliveries in cities across Estonia, the United Kingdom, Finland and the United States.</p> <p><img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=201307&amp;title=Supermarket+delivery+by+robot+better+for+the+climate" width="1" height="1" /></p> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/earth/climate/robot-delivery-better-for-the-climate/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/petra-stock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Petra Stock</a>. Petra Stock has a degree in environmental engineering and a Masters in Journalism from University of Melbourne. She has previously worked as a climate and energy analyst.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> </div>

Technology

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No link found between caesarean birth and food allergies

<p>While babies born through caesareans may lack some gut bacteria that would otherwise be gained through vaginal births, recent research has consistently shown that there is little evidence for caesarean births being responsible for asthma and allergies. A recent study by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne, confirmed no link between caesarean births and food allergies during the first year of life.</p> <p>This research, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice, looked at 2,045 infants who underwent skin prick testing and an oral food challenge to test for allergy status. In this group, of the 30% that were born by caesarean, 12.7 % had a food allergy, compared to 13.2% born vaginally, meaning there was no statistically significant difference between birthing methods.</p> <p>“We found no meaningful differences in food allergy for infants born by caesarean delivery compared to those born by vaginal delivery,” says Rachel Peters, who led the study. “Additionally, there was no difference in likelihood of food allergy if the caesarean was performed before or after the onset of labour, or whether it was an emergency or elective caesarean.”</p> <p>A potential link between caesarean births and allergies had long been suspected because of the difference in early microbial exposure compared to vaginal delivery.</p> <p>“The infant immune system undergoes rapid development during the neonatal period,” says Peters. “The mode of delivery may interfere with the normal development of the immune system. Babies born by caesarean have less exposure to the bacteria from the mother’s gut and vagina, which influences the composition of the baby’s microbiome and immune system development. However, this doesn’t appear to play a major role in the development of food allergy.”</p> <p>These findings will assist caregivers to better evaluate risks and benefits of caesarean birth, and provide reassurance to parents that such interventions do not lead to an increased risk of food allergy in their babies.</p> <p>One in 10 infants, and one in 20 children over the age of five years in Australia, have a food allergy, one of the highest rates in the world. This research provides further good news to parents and children: 30% of peanut allergies and 90% of egg allergies naturally resolved by six years of age. These infants should be targeted for early intervention trials, such as oral immunotherapy.</p> <p>“Prioritising research of these and future interventions for infants less likely to naturally outgrow their allergy would yield the most benefit for healthcare resources and research funding,” says Peters.</p> <p><em><strong>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/caesarean-no-food-allergy-link/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Qamariya Nasrullah.</strong></em></p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Caring

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Drones are now delivering groceries in Canberra – how does it work?

<p>Major Australian supermarket Coles yesterday announced <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7641084/supermarket-to-offer-drone-delivery-for-grocery-items-in-canberra/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7641084/supermarket-to-offer-drone-delivery-for-grocery-items-in-canberra/">the launch of its partnership</a> with drone delivery service <a href="https://wing.com/en_au/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-type="URL" data-id="https://wing.com/en_au/">Wing</a> to bring drone-delivered groceries to customers in Canberra.</p> <p>The battery-powered <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/robotics/drones-for-good/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" data-type="URL" data-id="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/robotics/drones-for-good/">drones</a> have a one-metre wingspan, weigh about 4.8 kilograms, and are equipped with both fixed wings and hover propellers, allowing them to behave as miniature versions of both aeroplanes and helicopters. They can travel at speeds of more than 110 km/h and carry packages of up to 1.2 kilograms.</p> <p>According to Simon Rossi, General Manager at Wing Australia, the drones typically require less energy to make a delivery than a kettle does to boil. </p> <p><strong>So how does drone delivery work? </strong></p> <p>Products can be ordered using the Wing app. Coles is currently offering delivery of more than 250 of its most popular grocery items, including bread, fresh produce, healthcare items, and toilet paper. </p> <p>When the order is received, the products are packed and loaded onto a drone, which ascends to its flying altitude of about 45 metres above ground and sets off for the delivery location. The drone will follow a route planned by Wing’s unmanned traffic management (UTM) software. </p> <p>“The aircraft automatically monitors its systems to make sure it is safe to fly and will prevent take-off or automatically take contingency actions if a problem is detected,” Rossi explains.  </p> <p>“Our trained remote aircraft pilots oversee everything to make sure the system is operating smoothly.” </p> <p>Once arrived, the drone descends to its delivery height of about seven metres above ground and hovers as it lowers the package to the ground on a tether. The package is automatically released, and the drone returns to the delivery facility. </p> <p>Customers can track the progress of their delivery on the Wing app. According to Wing, the company’s fastest delivery time to date is two minutes and 47 seconds from order to delivery. </p> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> <div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> <div class="entry-content-asset"> <div class="embed-wrapper"> <div class="inner"><iframe title="Wing's drone delivery service in action in Australia" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4xrCuPACmq8?feature=oembed" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> </figure> <p><strong>Is drone delivery catching on?</strong></p> <p>Wing has existing drone delivery partnerships with several businesses in both Canberra and Logan, Queensland. The service also has a presence in the US and Finland. </p> <p>According to Rossi, the company completed more than 100,000 drone deliveries in Australia in 2021, and 30,000 in the first two months of 2022. </p> <p>Early feedback from customers on the partnership with Coles in Canberra has been positive, he says. </p> <p>“Customers are ordering a range of items including pantry staples like bread, eggs, and milk, fresh produce and convenience meals, as well as health care items like over-the-counter cough medicine and bandages.”</p> <p><strong>Are there any risks to drone delivery? </strong></p> <p>Adding large numbers of unmanned flying machines to the air would seem to have the potential to be disruptive. </p> <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p183733-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> </div> </div> <p>“Perhaps Wing’s most interesting feature is its airspace integration and deconfliction,” says Pauline Pounds, an associate professor in information technology and electrical engineering at the University of Queensland. </p> <p>“Balancing the needs of CASA [the Civil Aviation Safety Authority], commercial aviation operators and other drone operators requires some care.”</p> <p>Because they fly in a zone between ‘ground clutter’ and manned aviation traffic, the drones are likely to remain comparatively safe. This also helps explain why flying drones are increasingly integrated into our everyday lives, while driverless cars languish on the sidelines. </p> <p>“It’s far easier to build a robot to fly in clear air where obstacles are rare, rather than on roads where pedestrians and human drivers may behave erratically,” says Pounds. </p> <p>However, the drones’ airspace won’t be completely risk-free. </p> <p>“A collision between a drone and a bird is unlikely to be a pleasant experience for either,” Pounds admits. </p> <p><strong>Is drone delivery the future of grocery shopping?</strong></p> <p>Unfortunately, a drone can’t yet do your entire weekly grocery shop for you, and Rossi emphasises that this isn’t the service’s intention. </p> <p>“Rather, it is to enable customers to quickly order small grocery and convenience items, coffees, and snacks which they may need in a hurry,” he says. </p> <p>But could it be done one day?</p> <p>“Scaling drones to carry heavier payloads is a fundamental challenge: the more the drone carries, the shorter its flight will be,” says Pounds. </p> <p>“Drones are optimised for specific payload-range characteristics. Improving performance requires more energy-dense batteries, more efficient propulsion systems; the same limitations that hold back flying cars. </p> <p>“However, a distributed network of mini-aerodromes allowing packages to make many short hops – like a drone ‘Pony Express’ – could allow these systems to scale without limit, much like mobile phone base station cells.” </p> <p>Coles frames the new partnership with Wing as part of its strategy to become Australia’s most sustainable supermarket, as drone delivery options could reduce the need for cars and trucks. </p> <p>Wing also emphasise their green credentials, describing drone delivery as “one of the fastest, safest and most environmentally friendly modes of delivering goods when compared to a truck or car”. </p> <p>But with the drones only able to carry a kilo or two, would environmentally-conscious supermarkets be better off investing in electric cars and trucks instead? </p> <p>“Flying is innately energy-intensive and will always be more demanding than a comparable electric vehicle rolling the same distance, but drones fly directly point to point and do not require detours or stop at traffic lights,” says Pounds. </p> <p>“However, both drones and wheeled electric vehicles also have differing manufacturing, maintenance and disposal costs; whether autonomous cars or drones turn out to be more energy efficient over their lifetimes has yet to be seen.”</p> <p><img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=183733&amp;title=Drones+are+now+delivering+groceries+in+Canberra+%E2%80%93+how+does+it+work%3F" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /></p> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/robotics/drone-delivery-groceries-canberra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/matilda-handlsey-davis" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matilda Handsley-Davis</a>. Matilda is a science writer at Cosmos. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Adelaide.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Wing (Facebook)</em></p> </div>

Technology

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Vaginal birth after caesarean increases the risk of serious perineal tear by 20%, our large-scale review shows

<p>Pregnant women who previously birthed by caesarean section are presented with a choice: whether to try for a vaginal birth, or book in for a repeat caesar.</p> <p>Those mulling over a vaginal birth are counselled at length about the risk of a rare but nasty outcome – the uterus rupturing while labour is in full flight.</p> <p>But new research looking at 130,000 births over five years has uncovered an increased risk of another outcome women deserve information about: extensive tearing around the vaginal region during birth.</p> <p>Our new study, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34913246/">published</a> in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, hones in on the risk of vaginal trauma for those who birth vaginally after a prior caesarean. This kind of birth trauma relates to significant injury to a woman’s perineum, the important region between the vagina and anus. The perineum anchors many pelvic floor muscles that help control the bladder and bowels.</p> <p>We defined serious birth injury as a tear in the perineum that <a href="https://www.thewomens.org.au/images/uploads/fact-sheets/Perineal-tears-third-and-fourth-degree.pdf">extends</a> into the anal sphincter – the delicate ring of muscle that helps us control our bowels. Damage to this muscle is called a third-degree perineal tear.</p> <h2>What we studied</h2> <p>The study looked at 130,000 births in Victoria and compared the risk of a third-degree perinatal tear among first-time mums with those who birth vaginally after a prior caesarean (sometimes referred to as a <a href="https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/vaginal-birth-after-cesarean-delivery">VBAC</a>). In our study, vaginal birth included women birthed without any medical assistance, and births by forceps or the ventouse (vacuum birth). Anything but birth by caesarean.</p> <p>The results were clear: a vaginal birth after a previous caesarean increases the chance of significant vaginal trauma (third-degree tear) by 21% (albeit from a low baseline rate).</p> <p>A potential reason for this increased risk might include a mismatch between a uterus that has birthed before and a perineum that has not. If this is the case, the labour progresses quickly, which does not allow enough time for the perineum to stretch naturally. However, the real reason for this risk is unknown and further research is needed.</p> <h2>Lifelong impacts</h2> <p>Once a vaginal birth injury occurs, the tears are immediately repaired by obstetricians. Many women heal fully – but some who sustain a third-degree tear during birth develop distressing issues that never disappear, despite expert care, including from specialist physiotherapists.</p> <p>Symptoms can include an ongoing dragging sensation in the pelvic floor, or true prolapse of the vaginal walls. Sometimes, coughing or sneezing can cause urine leakage. And for some, jogging becomes too hard due to leaking of urine and pelvic discomfort. Others might suffer from reduced faecal control and even the odd episode of faecal soiling. Sex can be painful.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442177/original/file-20220124-13-zzb927.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442177/original/file-20220124-13-zzb927.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="woman with caesar scar holds baby" /></a> <span class="caption">Women who had a caesarean birth the first time around are at greater risk of serious birth injury from a subsequent vaginal birth.</span> <span class="attribution"><a href="https://image.shutterstock.com/image-photo/closeup-woman-belly-scar-cesarean-600w-1883782888.jpg" class="source">Shutterstock</a></span></p> <h2>This doesn’t mean women shouldn’t consider VBAC</h2> <p>This increased risk of injury does not make it unsafe for women who have had a caesarean before to try for a vaginal birth. But our results should be incorporated into counselling of these women about their choices.</p> <p>Since the risk of vaginal birth injury including the anal sphincter sits at <a href="https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-04/perineal_tears_ccs_v3.pdf">around 5-7%</a> in Victoria for first-time mothers, the increase of 21% raises the overall likelihood to around 6–8.5%. It’s a modest rise that will bother some, but not others.</p> <p>Still, women deserve to be given this information so they can judge for themselves whether it worries them enough to ask for a repeat caesarean, or try for a vaginal birth.</p> <p><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442432/original/file-20220125-23-f3cuam.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/442432/original/file-20220125-23-f3cuam.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" alt="pregnant woman in waiting room" /></a> <span class="caption">Birth counselling should fully explain the risks.</span> <span class="attribution"><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/pregnant-woman-courses-expectant-mothers-1185645562" class="source">Shutterstock</a></span></p> <p>Counselling is not just about cautioning women of the risks. As midwives and obstetricians, we talk with these women about what will happen when they go into labour, when to come into hospital, and what their chance (and definition) of “successful” vaginal birth might be.</p> <p>We also mention the most enticing advantage for those whose destiny is an uncomplicated vaginal birth – they sidestep another caesar. Often, this means a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17181678/">shorter recovery time</a> and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23186385/">improved likelihood of breastfeeding</a>.</p> <p>After these discussions, some women will feel the very small risk of serious vaginal trauma (or <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001184">uterine rupture</a>) is one well worth taking and opt to try for a vaginal birth. Others will opt for the certainty of a repeat caesarean.</p> <p>Women deserve full support in their birth choices. And they deserve to be fully informed about possible risks. It’s time we broaden our discussions with women planning a vaginal birth after caesarean section to include the increased risk of vaginal birth trauma.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/173249/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/anthea-lindquist-1296574">Anthea Lindquist</a>, Obstetrician and Perinatal Epidemiologist, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stephen-tong-1310350">Stephen Tong</a>, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a></em></span></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/vaginal-birth-after-caesarean-increases-the-risk-of-serious-perineal-tear-by-20-our-large-scale-review-shows-173249">original article</a>.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Over the moon": UberEats makes first delivery into space

<p>UberEats has teamed up with a Japanese billionaire to send canned food onboard the International Space Station. </p> <p>The delivery was made by Japanese entrepreneur Yusaka <span>Maezawa</span> on December 11th, arriving at the ISS 8 hours and 34 minutes after Maeawa's departure from Earth. </p> <p><span>The dishes include boiled mackerel in miso, beef bowl cooked in sweet sauce, simmered chicken with bamboo shoots and braised pork.</span></p> <p><span>Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.uber.com/newsroom/uber-eats-in-space/" target="_blank">statement</a>, "</span>One small handoff for Yusaku Maezawa, one giant delivery for Uber Eats!"</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">"We're over the moon to have helped make our first successful delivery to space. Our goal is to help people go anywhere and get anything, so we're proud to serve the astronauts at the International Space Station."</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><span>"Yusaku Maezawa gets a thumbs up on this delivery, even though it took a bit longer than the usual 30 minutes to arrive."</span></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><span>Maezawa and his assistant will spend 12 days onboard the ISS before returning home. </span></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><span>After receiving a flood of criticism for the deciding to pay a fortune for the trip to space, Maezawa defended his decision saying it was an "amazing experience". </span></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><span>"Once you are in space, you realise how much it is worth it by having this amazing experience," he told the AP in the first TV interview since he arrived at the station. "And I believe that this amazing experience will lead to something else."</span></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><span>Maezawa and his assistant are the first self-paying tourists to </span>visit the space station since 2009.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">When asked about reports that claimed he had spent over $80 million for the 12-day mission, <span>Maezawa didn't disclose the contract sum but admitted he paid "pretty much" the rumoured amount. </span></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><span>When responding to </span>criticism from those who claims his money would be better spent helping people on Earth rather than a space mission, <span>Maezawa simply claimed </span>that "those who criticise are perhaps those who have never been to space."</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>Image credits: UberEats</em></p>

International Travel

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This customer's pizza delivery note is hilarious

<p>Ordering pizza is a relatively simple process these days, and while there might be some advantages to the click and wait system, it takes a bit of the heart and soul out of having a meal prepared for you. With these robotic exchanges becoming the norm, the hilariously precise instructions from customers in today’s story are all the funnier.</p> <p>Reddit user Rikardose shared of photo of the receipt for two pizzas, with a hilarious set of instructions that have since become a virial sensation.</p> <p><img width="268" height="498" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7815947/reddit-hero.gif" alt="Reddit -hero"/></p> <p><em>Image credit: Twitter / Rikardose</em></p> <p>“Crust a little crisper than normal. But not too crispy … if that’s not vague enough — make it like you’re taking revenge on a cheating boyfriend, BUT you still want to reconcile in the not so distant future,” the note for the order reads.</p> <p>“The gate is tricky, please don’t break it. And the spider on the porch is called Frank. Be nice to Frank, he guards the tomatoes.”</p> <p>The funny delivery has urged other pizza delivery people to share their funny stories.</p> <p>“Dude I used to love these sorts of deliveries. These are normally the guys that’ll toss you a five every time,” Reddit user Sanguinesce wrote.</p> <p>“Thirty some years ago when I delivered pizza in a small town it was even worse. Pizza delivery was in its infancy in the Southern US,” PfunkNC recalled.</p> <p>“I once delivered pizzas in a snowstorm and received only a grunt as my tip. I had taken longer than they had expected. Mind you, it’s the South where no one drives when it snows because nothing is plowed (sic) and very little preparation is taken.”</p> <p>“Deliver me a pizza, sometimes if I’m feeling generous I’ll toss a 20 to the guy because I know it’ll make his day,” user Thisguywatches said.</p> <p>What are your thoughts?</p>

Technology

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The issue no one talks about that affects up to 50% of post-menopausal women

<p>As we age, it’s only natural for our mind and body to go through changes – some welcome, some not so welcome. While we can all appreciate the wisdom and lust for life that comes with growing older, there’s one thing in particular that all women would agree we could all do without.</p> <p>Vaginal atrophy is a condition that affects <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsm.12190/full" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">up to 50 per cent</span></strong></a> of all post-menopausal women, but sadly, it’s an issue that is constantly brushed under the rug. Even worse? Only 25 per cent seek treatment.</p> <p>So, what exactly is it and how can it be treated? According to Wellington-based gynaecologist, <a href="http://www.dranjubasu.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Dr Anju Basu</span></strong></a>, vaginal atrophy is “a very common problem of menopause that results in symptoms of vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, vaginal burning, itching, abnormal discharge and urinary symptoms such as incontinence. Society tends to forget older women and doesn't give thought to their quality of life, assuming women over 50 don’t want to have sex! That’s not true, and I’m hoping to change that.”</p> <p>Previously, treatment has consisted of vaginal moisturisers or topical hormone creams to improve these symptoms. The effectiveness of these treatments, however, depends on the patient’s willingness to stick to them as they also only improve symptoms for as long as they are used. Thankfully, there is a new non-hormonal and effective therapy available to women suffering from vaginal atrophy.</p> <p>MonaLisa Touch is a pain-free, non-surgical procedure introduced in 2008, which consists of three five-minute laser treatments to help stimulate collagen production, improve hydration by restoring cells, and improve elasticity and blood supply of the vaginal wall. MonaLisa Touch relieves symptoms for 12 to 18 months, and annual booster treatments ensure long-lasting results.</p> <p>It’s an effective treatment for women who do not want to use hormonal creams, or are not suitable candidates for hormonal treatment (for example, women with breast cancer).</p> <p style="text-align: center;"> <iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yP5wpoiieuU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p>Dr Basu is one of only four professionals in New Zealand who can perform the treatment, and the only one in the Greater Wellington region. One of her patients, Carol*, sings the praises of the MonaLisa Touch treatment after it gave her a new lease on life.</p> <p>“For many years, I suffered severe discomfort caused by vaginal dryness,” Carol explains. “Both my daily and social lives were badly affected. In short, I had no quality of life. With no treatment, my condition worsened to the extent that I could not walk feely or sit on a chair comfortably. I had become house-bound.</p> <p>“My general practitioner referred me to Dr Basu in Wellington,” she adds. “She treated me using the new MonaLisa Touch laser therapy. Following a course of three months’ treatment there has been an improvement to my vaginal dryness and my quality of life is now finally improving.”</p> <p>If you would like to learn more about vaginal atrophy or this exciting new treatment, <a href="http://www.monalisatouch.com" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">click here</span></strong></a>, or email <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="mailto:Donna.May@southerncrosshospitals.co.nz">Donna.May@southerncrosshospitals.co.nz</a></strong></span>.</p> <p>*Name has been changed.</p> <p>THIS IS SPONSORED CONTENT BROUGHT TO YOU IN CONJUNCTION WITH <a href="http://www.dranjubasu.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">DR ANJU BASU</span></strong></a>.</p>

Body

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Milkman delivering old-school doorstep service

<p>A 74-year-old milkman in Canberra, Joe Cliff – who is affectionately known as “Milko” Joe, has remained committed to delivering milk the old fashioned way for over 16 years – right to his customers' doorsteps. And he makes it his mission to go above and beyond for those who have kept him going.</p> <p>"We've got some customers where we actually put the milk in the fridge or undo the cap for some of the old ladies who are a bit arthritic," Mr Clift said.</p> <p>The delivery man’s current “milk runner” is Canberra College year 11 student, Andrew Hosking, who takes the milk to the door while Joe mans the wheel of their cow-patterned truck.</p> <p><img width="500" height="334" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/27317/joe-insert_500x334.jpg" alt="Joe -insert"/></p> <p>Andrew is the third in line of his brothers to deliver milk for Mr Clift — his eldest brother Michael started running milk 16 years ago.</p> <p>"It's really good for fitness [and] it's different every time — it's not always the same like working in retail," Andrew said.</p> <p>Mr Cliff does have concerns for the future of the business. In the 1990s there were 30 milk home delivery services in Canberra, now there are only three. The cheap price of milk is also becoming a growing concern. For now, however, he has no plans to retire.</p> <p>"We don't make a lot of money out of it but it keeps me sane," he said. "I'm 74, I'm still healthy, I'll keep it going for as long as I can."</p> <p>Would you like to see the return of milk delivery to your front door? Let us know what you think in the comments below.</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/09/elderly-couple-dance-to-uptown-funk/"><em>Elderly couple capture hearts with dance at a restaurant</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/09/grandma-surprised-with-monster-truck-experience/"><em>Daughters surprise monster truck-obsessed mum with high-octane adventure</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/news/news/2016/09/grandma-surprised-with-musical-flash-mob/">Musical-loving grandma surprised with flash mob on 85th birthday</a></em></strong></span></p>

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