B.I.R.T.H. Fair 2014

Every year, Houston birth workers, education professionals, infant and young child professionals, and parents converge in one location to share information and support with their community. Picture this: hundereds of women, their partners, and their nurslings milling about. There are fashion shows, children's craft and learning areas, keynote speakers, workshops, movie screenings, and educational booths for everything from midwives and doulas to baby wearing and homeschool co-ops. 

Every year, the Houston Doula Co-Op and Sage Beginnings (me) are there. Every year, we speak to our community during the workshops. Every year, we meet hundreds of amazing women and their families - will you be one of them?  

Join us for our 13th annual BIRTH Fair as we celebrate natural parenting and pregnancy. Get the latest information about vaccines, birthing options, breastfeeding, babywearing, VBACs, and more! We will have overstuffed goody bags for our guests, activities for children. Birth Fair will be held on October 4th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the United Way Center on 50 Waugh Drive. Check us out on Facebook (www.facebook.com/houbirth) for our latest giveaways, or visit www.houbirth.org or call 832-499-6029 for more information. This event is free and open to all ages.

Mama, Talk About When Max Was Born

S. Marie Olson, "Mama, Talk About When Max Was Born"

I was so delighted to get my copy of "Mama, Talk About When Max Was Born" in the mail. Toni Olson (author) and S. Marie Carlson did a phenomenal job with this book and it has become my new go-to for young children awaiting the home birth of their new sibling. It is a beautifully written and illustrated book about a young girl and her mom, talking about their families recent homebirth.


The story is engaging and I asked each of my 5 children, to give me their feedback on the book.

Xander, 5 years old: "I love the pictures. My favorite part is when the baby comes out into the pool. Look! She has a ball just like you! They look a lot like our family, but we have a lot more kids."

Charis and Jocelyn, 8 years old: "We loved when Max was born. It made me feel sweet and happy inside. I liked the story because it was so sweet, and when Max was first born and I could see his face he was so cute. Presleigh is cute, she's like me, and she's careful with her brother Max, which is nice, but does she actually have pink hair? I like her hair."

Kairi, 9 years old: "My favorite part is when Max is born. I liked how the doula brought in tea and how Presleigh kissed her brother's forehead. I did that when my brother was born! I also like that she got to hold her brother so soon after birth. It should always be that way. The story made me feel really relaxed, who wouldn't love a bath at home for birth... having people there to comfort you.. but not too many people. Oh, and candles. Don't forget the candles!" 


Briaunna, 12 years old: "My favorite part of the book is when Max is born because it reminds me of when Xander born. I loved how the illustrator put the colors in people's hair, it was so pretty, everyone looked happy and relaxed, not frustrated or uptight. I love how it's a homebirth. I plan on having a homebirth when I grow up and this is how I want my birth to be. I love the detail of the story and pictures, I could feel myself being a part of their birth. I felt like there were a lot of people in the room, I think that might bother me, and I think I would have wanted to stay and watch the baby be born if I were Presleigh, but I understand that mama was totally comfortable with that and this is her birth journey.. I guess that is what makes each of our stories OUR stories. I can also totally relate to the little girl asking, again, to hear about her brother's birth, because I always ask that of you!"

Beyond my children's critiques, I loved the little details of the book, on any given page you can find minute details that make it all the more personal and intimate, drawing you into the every day, once in a lifetime moments that define a birthing day; like Presleigh 'nursing' her teddy bear while daddy and nana fill the birth pool.

It was so simple, straightforward, and sweet, just like a home birth is. You get to meet Presleigh, her Mom, Dad, Nana, Doula, Midwives, and, of course, Max, through a touching look at Mama's retelling of her birthing time. I will definitely be recommending this book to families that are anticipating their older children to be a part of their birthing time.

I am super excited to announce that Toni will also be releasing an attached parenting book later this month entitled "Mama, Talk About Our New Baby". I can't wait to review this one as well! It will be a great teaching aid for mainstream children and alternative option families alike!

The Greater Good

The other day a dear chiropractor friend of mine slipped me a film entitled “The Greater Good” and told me to watch it. I went home, fully intending to be bored into oblivion by a tyrannical or severely biased anti-vaccination documentary. I was pleasantly and completely wrong! 

“The Greater Good” is a well-balanced documentary that follows three families through situations involving 'adverse reactions' from vaccinations. It is interspersed with interviews from numerous medical professionals including vaccine developers, pharmaceutical reps, psychologists, behavioral therapists, and pediatricians.

Although the families stories definitely called to the intrinsically emotional mother in me, the information supplied called to my deeper intellect.

My daughter, Briaunna, also reviewed the movie. This is what she had to say: 

The movie was about vaccinations and how they can affect you, good and bad. My initial reaction was anger and pain for the people who were harmed by the vaccines. Helpless children who get vaccinated with, basically, poison. I liked how people are learning more about vaccines… even though many of them have to learn the hard way in order to teach others. I also like how people are learning the true risks of vaccines. 

Did you know that vaccination does not account for the impressive declines in mortality seen in the first half of the century? It was other medical advancements, including learning to just wash your hands (microbiology).

Lately, people have been giving vaccinations to newborns, which really upsets me because I am a baby freak. Also, parents are required to give 69 doses of 16 different vaccines to children. They also put aluminum and mercury in all of the vaccines. Any form of mercury in the body is toxic and can cause damage. 

Did you know that, after 2010, 85 deaths have been reported, all after taking the Gardasil shot?

The only other thought I have is that the government has gotten too much power over us. They say that if you haven’t given your children all of the required shots, you have to go to court and get your shots…. “Or else”. They think that you will endanger your child’s life if you don’t get them vaccinated, which, of course, is all in the way that you look at it. I see more risk to their lives from taking a vaccination, but that’s just me.. and my right to not get vaccines for me or my babies.

The movie covers the historicity of vaccinations, and give us a rare look into the hearts of those who developed them.

At the same time, we hear from the lawyers who defend those families who have been harmed by vaccinations. 

When asked if they believed the business of vaccinations is involved in conspiracy, one astutely replies, "A conspiracy? Yes! But a conspiracy to do good." So much so, that the risks of vaccinations are minimized through government involvement and media bias in order to promote the 'good' that vaccinations provide to the majority.

"The Greater Good" takes a critical look at the government's involvement in implementing and mandating state-wide vaccinations, as well as how individual states are trumping parental and individual rights.

"If the state can force you to put your life on the line, or your child's life on the line, for any medical intervention, then the state has too much power"

Additionally, the movie takes on the very real, very publicly acknowledged fact that many members of our government council also hold shares in the very pharmaceutical companies that create the vaccines which the state promotes. It is as true as it gets: conflict of interest is: when my politicians have a vested financial interest in vaccination pharmaceutical companies. Or, as the movie states:

"the fox watching the chicken coop"

We are given the stats on individual state's exemptions and the bias in media exposure. We are shown the process to bring a vaccine to the public and how 'fast tracking' a vaccination intended for children was foolish. We are given real risks associated with vaccinations, and given a more in-depth look at the studies used to 'prove' the safety and efficacy of vaccination. 

I was, at times, outraged, and other times saddened... I felt I learned so much, even after having done, what I thought, was thorough research on vaccinations... but there were things that still had me dumbstruck and amazed. Just one example: the placebo used in many of these 'safety and efficacy" studies is aluminum, mercury, or a combination of the two!

Some great quotes from the movie that I hope will pique your interest:

"We know that mercury (thimersal) causes neuro-toxicity, there's no controversy about that. Does it cause autism? It contributes to the damage that leads to autism." - John Green III, MD

"There are studies comparing the hair of autistic and non-autistic children. There is much more mercury in the hair of non-autistic children, showing us, at least in part, that there is some genetic precursor that makes some children more succeptible to autism."

 Would I recommend this movie? A resounding yes! Would my daughter? Well, let's just say she is already inviting her tweenage friends over for a 'movie night' at our place - her idea. I recommend this movie to every family who have children, or who will have children, of vaccination age. 

"The Greater Good" does a wonderful job of promoting this one moral: it is not about having you vaccinate or not vaccinate. It is about ensuring that families know the risks, that the studies regarding vaccinations are fair and accurate, and ensuring that vaccines are made to be and required to be as safe as possible.

To visit them on the web

To visit them on FaceBook

Local Hero - and Call for Support

Some of you may know Krenie Stowe, a local pediatrician and friend to many in the Houston area. She is in need of our local and national birthing communities support. Please read here for more information and to consider supporting her during this time in her life. I would love to see us not only help her to pay all of her medical bills, but even pay off all of her debt so that she can continue to be a blessing to other families!

The Pediatric Airway - Guest Blogger

Terri is a newer blogger over at RN Perspective. She has been a pediatric nurse and wants to share her insight with new parents. She initially contacted me to share her awesome post about Why You Should Choose a Birth Center, and I invite you to go read it, as she is looking for feedback from people who have used a birth center instead of a hospital.

Terri also offered to write a pediatric piece applicable to the Spring/Summer season. I invite you to read it as I learned something new and hope you do as well.

The Pediatric Airway

As a pediatric RN, I’ve worked with newborns and adolescents. One of the most common problems I encounter among pediatrics regardless of the age group is an issue with breathing/reactive airway. The term reactive airway and asthma are often used interchangeable, but I’m here to tell you that they are not necessarily the same condition. 

With reactive airway disease (RAD), there is not really a specific diagnosis, it’s a term used to describe symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath with an unknown cause. On the other hand, asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways, which causes attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. So as you can imagine, there are times when kids with asthma are mistakenly diagnosed with RAD and vice versa.

Though some people think there is only one main cause of asthma symptoms, there are actually two main causes: airway constriction and airway inflammation, when the airways of the lungs are swollen and irritated (click for a look inside your lungs)

So what should you do if your child is diagnosed with asthma?

My Advice: Be a partner with your healthcare provider is finding the right combinations of medications. Be informed and reinforce education about the diagnosis with your child. Emphasize with your child that this condition is treatable and once there medication is under control they can do the same things as other children. Believe it or not, participating in sporting activities will help strengthen the lungs, so don’t limit your child. Asthma is not a shameful disease so encourage your kids to share their condition with their friends. For instance, you can have your child tell his/her friend in order for me to breathe better I need to use my inhaler before we play sports. No one wants to stand out or be different so find ways to remove the stigma.

I’m a pediatric RN on a surgical floor so I’ve seen lots of interesting procedures. The best thing about my job is that I’m able to give sick children and their families hope. I’ve learned that the most important thing in caring for a child is listening to their parents. No one knows their child better than a parent, so when a parent tells me they notice a change in their child’s behavior that’s a huge clue. I’ve always known I wanted to work with children and I could not be happier with my career. Follow me at RN Perspective to learn more.

For additional reading on alternative treatments to discuss with your care provider, see here, here, and here. Course of treatment should be decided on specific to the individuals needs, as there is no one treatment for every child.

Throughout Time - Throughout the World: Baby Wearing

"It is especially necessary for the parental generation of the human species to fully understand what the immaturity of its infants really signifies: that the infant is still continuing its gestation period, passing from uterogestation to exterogestation. Among the most important of the newborn infant's needs are the signals it receives through the skin, the first medium of communication with the outside world." - Ashley Montagu

Medieval Babywearing - circa 1400

Consider this: a newborn foal is able to stand, walk, and communicate within moments of birth. It is mobile, able to find and nurse from it's mother independent of her assistance. On the other hand, humans are born completely dependent upon their mothers to help them get nutrition, move them from location to location, and keep them clean and cared for.

Essentially, this phenomenon is considered in the childbirth community as 9 months in, 9 months out. Until your child is mobile independent of you, it makes perfect sense to provide a marsupial environment for them. As Maria Blois so aptly said, baby wearing truly does allow for a continuation of the womb-environment.

"Postnatal life should ... be considered a direct extension of prenatal life." - Aletha Solter, founder of Aware Parenting, Kindred Magazine, Dec 2006 - Feb 2007

 

This closeness has so many benefits, not only for the baby, but also for the family unit. It creates ease of which to care for the child, reduced crying, ease of nourishment, and emotional soundness in the home, to name just a few.

circa 1796

"Babes in arms almost never cried and, fascinatingly, did not wave their arms, kick, arch their backs, or flex their hands and feet. They sat quietly in their slings or slept on someone's hip — exploding the myth that babies need to flex to "exercise." They also did not throw up unless extremely ill and did not suffer from colic." - Jean Liedloff, The Importance of the In Arms Phase

Giotto di Bondone 1304-1306

Benefits for Baby
Babies who are worn/carried benefit from a more stable heart rate, more regular breathing (a 75 percent decrease in apneic episodes), longer periods of sleep, reduced stress from unneccessary crying, decreased incidence of crying, healthier immune systems through continuous exposure to their parents and higher oxygen saturation levels, more rapid weight gain, more rapid brain development, better chances of successful breastfeeding, longer periods of alertness, and easier self regulation of body temperature.

"As researchers studied brain wave patterns of infants in kangaroo care, they found two significant things. First, there was a doubling of alpha waves—the brain wave pattern associated with contentment and bliss. Second, they found that "delta brushes" were occurring. Delta brushes happen only when new synapses are being formed. So holding the infant skin-to-skin allows his or her brain to continue its work of developing neural synapses." - Midwifery Today

Benefits for Family
For parents, an increased feeling of early bonding, a feeling of competence and confidence that their baby is well cared for, and less stress on the family because of the decreased crying are just a few of the benefits of baby wearing. Additionally, parents feel able to get more accomplished in the day and report less frustration over early parenting and baby rearing.

Femme du Hartz Portant un Enfant

Additionally, a baby quickly learns their role in the family, rather than allowing for the baby to become the center of the family and communities universe. Likewise, the baby learns about their culture, society, and family rhythms.. equating to a more content and well adjusted child, and more content and well-adjusted family.

"The baby passively participates in the bearer’s running, walking, laughing, talking, working, and playing. The particular activities, the pace, the inflections of the language…. and the sounds of community life form a basis for the active participation that will begin at six or eight months of age with creeping, crawling, and then walking."- Jean Liedloff, The Importance of the In Arms Phase

Throughout Time and Throughout the World
Every culture in the world has known baby wearing in some form or capacity throughout time. Depending on the climate and the mother's role in the family, baby carriers range from small pieces of fabric at the hip, stomach, or back, to full cradle boards carrier on the back.

Many carriers have multi-uses. Native American cultures can remove their cradleboards to keep baby safe and off of the ground while they tend to more arduous tasks, while sling-like carriers have been known to be looped for a hammock-bed for babies. For earlier civilizations, it made sense to carry your baby; the world was full of sickness and predators and baby wearing kept your child from becoming a target of infection, wild animals, poisonous plants, climate exposure (snow, sleet, wind, rain), and other threats to their health.

Likewise, it made it easier for women, whom the family unit relied upon heavily for day-to-day functioning, to return to work much more quickly. They were able to carry about regular chores such as cooking, cleaning, harvesting, skinning, tanning, caring for other family members, and going to market, with their child, who was dependent upon them for food and comfort, in close proximity.

In 1733, William Kent invented a wheeled baby transportation device. In the 1830's, they were brought to America, but it wasn't until the mid 1800's that 'prams' truly became popular.

www.francisfrith.com

Queen Victoria popularized the use of the Perambulator and, as with medication for birth, formula for feeding, and hospital settings for birth, it was soon seen as 'the thing' to provide for any newborn from an upstanding and affluent member of society. As such, baby wearing, breastfeeding, home birth, and natural birth was considered something of the past - something for the lower income classes.

Much to the dismay of many newborns, the die was cast and the majority of babies were no longer carried in Western cultures.

In recent years, though, baby carrying, which never went 'out of fad' in other cultures, has been making a come-back in Western culture. Ann Moore created a new carrier in 1969 after having seen African women carrying their babies. In 1981, Rayner Gardner created the ring sling for his wife and their baby.

www.thebabyhammock.com

But, it wasn't until 1985, when William and Martha Sears began baby wearing their youngest, that baby wearing began to truly gain recognition in the United States. Coincidentally, the Sears' also coined the term “babywearing”.

Unfortunately, it has been hard to break the stigmata of baby wearing being a thing for the poor. Thankfully though, with research on our side, many in the childbirth and baby community have been able to present baby wearing to the general public as a beneficial practice to provide for babies.

References (unless otherwise linked above):

• Blaffer Hardy, S. (2000) Mother Nature – Maternal instincts and the shaping of the species. Vintage, London.
• Blois, M. (2005) Babywearing – the benefits and beauty of this ancient tradition. Pharmasoft Publishing, Texas.

What About Afterward?

We talk a lot about pregnancy and birth on this blog, but what about after baby comes? There are so many options to consider before baby even makes her arrival, from vaccination and circumcision, to breastfeeding and diapering, there are so many things to work through. This post will, hopefully, set you on a course to helping navigate all of the choices in early parenting that you will be faced with.

Immediately after birth, you will have some choices to make. These choices include circumcision, vaccinations, routine baby care, and breastfeeding. We will take a look at each of these and I will provide links to additional online sources after each one.

Cord Clamping
Cord Clamping tends to occur immediately after birth. Doctors want this to occur for a number of reasons: to hasten the birth of the placenta (traction on the cord stump), to finish a patient's care quickly, to be able to separate baby from mom to complete newborn assessment and routine procedures, and because they may fear jaundice as a result of delayed clamping. Let's address the last reason first because it is the only important one, the rest are only for convenience of the doctors: regular physiological jaundice results from delayed clamping, whereas other types of jaundice (premature, breastfed, or Rh) are not due to delayed clamping.

There are many reasons to WAIT (even if it is only for 2-3 minutes) to cut the cord. The blood in the placenta rightfully belongs to the baby, and babies not receiving this blood have the deal with the equivalent of a major blood loss or hemorrhage at birth. It is estimated that early clamping deprives the baby of 54 to 160 ml of blood, which represents up to half of a baby’s total blood volume at birth. To prevent anemia, the iron in the cord blood is vital to babies early health. Babies benefit from the increased oxygen available to them from cord-blood while waiting to take their first breaths. Earlier cord iclamping increases the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome. The last cord blood acts as a source of nourishment that protects infants against the breakdown of body protein.

For more information see below:
PubMed
Cord Issues
JAMA
Reuters

Erythromycin
This is the eye goop that they put in baby's eyes right after birth. This ointment is an antibiotic given to prevent ill effects of Chlamydia, Syphilis, or gonorrhea, so if a mother knows she does not have these infections, she might choose to refuse this intervention all together. BTW, if you or someone you know is expecting to give birth in the next 4 months, you may want to doubly consider skipping this treatment because there is a shortage of the Erythromycin eye ointment that is normally used for newborns, so many birth facilities are using substitute ointments without warning parents that there are increased risks of the side effects associated with Erythromycin.

If a parent (mother or father) has an allergy to antibiotics in this class, a baby's risk for side effects/allergic reactions increases. The ointment does cause the eyelids to become red and puffy for about 12-24 hours, as well as blurring their vision. Risks include: Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bloody stools; diarrhea; stomach pain, as well as less severe reactions (blurred vision, skin irritation, peeling). The ointment is not supposed to sting the eyes. Many families who choose to have the erythromycin applied to their baby's eyes choose to wait for 2 hours postpartum, so that early infant/mother bonding can occur without inhibition of cloudy vision.

See below for more information:
Drugs.com
Clinical Trials

Vitamin K Injection
The vitamin K injection is a routine injection given to all newborns. This is because babies are born, for the most part, without Vitamin K, a component necessary for blood clotting, so that cells can divide and multiply during gestation. Historically, newborns began getting Vit K shots when circumcision and forceps deliveries became routine. Additionally, at that time they found that some babies suffered from HDN (blood clotting disorder - brain bleeds). We now know that there are two types of HDN:

Early onset "Classic" HDN (also called Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding) occurs in the first week of life. It is an iatrogenic condition, meaning that it is caused by medical care:

• premature clamping/cutting of the umbilical cord deprives babies of up to 40% of their natural blood volume, including platelets and other clotting factors
• the use of vacuum extractor or forceps often causes bruising or internal bleeding, which uses up the baby's available clotting factors
• the use of antibiotics inhibits the baby's generation of clotting factors

Late-onset HDN (true HDN) occurs in specific circumstances:

• maternal medications interfere with vitamin K, such as anticonvulsants, anticoagulants, and antibiotics
• infant antibiotic use
• infant liver disorders (more prevelant when there is a history of liver disorders)
• infant diarrhea, hepatitis, cystic fibrosis (CF), celiac disease, and alpha1-antitrypin deficiency

In these situations, if your baby is born by vacuum or forceps assistance, or if you are planning ton have your newborn circumcised before discharge, Routine Vit K is wise.

OTOH, the other side of the debate is that babies are born without Vit K for a reason. Levels are adequate by 8 days after birth (the same day that Jewish/Christian God said to circumcise Hebrew boys), but they continue to increase for the first six weeks of life.

Studies show that there is an increase risk of childhood leukemia in children who have received the vitamin K shot as newborns, erythrocyte aggregation, jaundice and kernicterus, flushing, sweating, a sense of chest constriction, peripheral vascular collapse, and nerve or muscle damage at the injection site.

Other options are to use oral Vit K drops throughout the first few weeks of life (to baby), or increase maternal diet of green leafy veggies or vit K supplement to transfer from breastmilk to baby.

See below for more information:
Administration of Vit K To Newborns
To Inject Or Not
Making Informed Choices

PKU
The Newborn Screening Test (aka PKU test) is an analysis of the baby's blood to look for evidence of certain genetic diseases or inborn errors of metabolism. The test is performed by collecting a blood sample from the baby onto special paper, which is then sent to a laboratory for analysis of red blood cells, hormones and metabolic by-products to assess whether the findings are outside the normal range.

This is "law" in every state (I believe, verification of your personal state is appreciated) although you have a right to refuse any treatment or test. Typically, baby is taken to the nursery, the heel is warmed with a heat pack, and then the nurse or doctor will perform a heel stick and collect blood samples from the heel. Alternatives are: to refuse the test outright, to require babies collection to be done in your presence, while nursing or soothing, or to use a more humane device.

There is low risk of infection, a small risk of nerve damage at the collection site, and the risk of the breastfeeding relationship being disrupted and/or emotional trauma.

See below for more information:
Newborn Screening Test
Medline Newborn Screening
March of Dimes Newborn Screening

Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is an option for every woman who gives birth. Breastmilk is the best nutrition for a newborn/baby. It is normal and natural, BUT many women encounter obstacles along the way because, even though it is normal and natural, it is not always easy. Some hurdles that might be encountered: nipple confusion, low milk production, inverted nipples, mastitis, tongue tie, high cleft, plugged ducts, and engorgement.

Nearly all breastfeeding hurdles can be overcome by support, lactation consultation, special attention or apparatus'/treatments, perseverance, and encouragement.

Breastfeeding success can be inhibited by: premature introduction of a bottle or pacifier, formula supplementation or introduction, medications of mom or baby, prematurity, or recovery (from cesarean or other surgery). Avoiding these situations, if possible, can greatly increase your breastfeeding success.

Benefits of breastfeeding to baby include:

• Less chance of obesity - Longer periods of breastfeeding greatly reduce the risk of being overweight in adulthood as well as reduces the risk of adolescent obesity.
  
• Healthy teeth, eyes, and ears - Formula-fed babies tend to run a higher risk of jaw misalignment and are more likely to need orthodontic work as they get older. Breastfeeding improves the development of facial muscles and the shape of the palate. Breastfeeding reduces the incidence of ear infections and vision problems.
  
• Overall Health - breastfed babies have a reduced risk of severe upper respiratory infections, wheezing, pneumonia and influenza. They have less risk of diarrhea, gastrointestinal infections and constipation. Formula feeding carries a four fold increase in risk for SIDS.
• Intelligence/Coping - breastfed babies tend to score higher on IQ tests and cognition testing. Breastfed babies also tend to be more vertical in the corporate world later in life. A recent study indicates that breastfed children cope better with stress later in life. The bonding rather than the breast milk is a likely explanation.
• Later Life - Formula-fed babies have a raised risk of heart disease, juvenile/type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. Recent research indicated that breastfeeding can postpone allergies and asthma. Breastfeeding may also play a role in preventing digestive diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, as well as childhood cancers including leukemia. Other studies indicate a reduce risk for both eczema, food allergy, and respiratory allergy--throughout childhood and adolescence.

Benefits to Mom:

• Less Fatigue - women who nurse report being better rested, less stressed, and more content. This is because of a number of factors and include: no need to prepare formula/bottles, the ability to readily access nourishment for a child during nighttime feedings (which allows a woman to do this as second nature and not fully rouse), the hormone prolactin releases olfactorily, soothing a stressed mama and family members and promotes a feeling of overall well being.
  
• Weight Loss - While nursing, you will burn an additional 500+ calories every day. So, unless you continue to "eat for two", the breastfeeding may help you loose weight. The 'spare tire' around a woman's waist is actually a 'milk store' a fatty deposit that nature gave women to sustain her milk production in hard times. Women who nurse tend to loose more of this spare tire, which would otherwise continue to be a 'problem area' throughout her life.
  
• Uterine Health - The hormone oxytocin, which is released in your body during breastfeeding, helps the contraction of your uterus back to normal. Besides looking pregnant for a shorter time period after giving birth, this also means that you may have a shorter postpartum bleeding. Some studies suggest that this also reduces uterine risks later in life including prolapsed uterus, the rate/necessity of hystorectomies, and the like.
  
• Cancers and Longterm Health- Some studies indicate that the risk of getting both breast and ovarian cancer is reduced through breastfeeding. Some studies even indicate of lower incidence of osteoporosis later in life among women that have breastfed.

Breastmilk contains:

• Protein in breast milk is mostly whey, which is easier to digest than casein (main protein in cow's milk). Protein of breast milk has high amounts of amino acid taurine, which has an important role in the development of the brain and the eyes.
• Fats - These fats are nearly self-digesting, since breast milk also contains the enzyme lipase, which breaks down the fat. Fat is the main source of calories for babies, something babies need to continue postpartum growth and development. Also, fat in human milk has large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, important for brain development.
• Vitamins and minerals - in human milk are bioavailable-meaning they get absorbed well. Breast milk contains substances that enhance the absorption of minerals and vitamins.
• Stem Cells - Breast milk is the only adult tissue where more than one type of stem cell has been discovered. That is very unique and implies a lot about the impressive bioactivity of breast milk and the consequential benefits to the breastfed infant (see this article for more great information)
  
• Immune boosters. breastmilk continually passes millions of white blood cells to baby to help baby fight off all kinds of diseases. Also, when mother is exposed to a germ, she makes antibodies to that germ and gives these antibodies to her infant via her milk. Breast milk also contains factors that prevent microbes from attaching, and a long list of other antiviral, antibacterial and antiparasitic factors.

"Even more amazing, if a baby contracts an illness that mom has not been exposed to previously, he will transfer this organism through his saliva to the breast, where antibodies are manufactured on site and then sent back to baby via the milk to help him cope. ... Mothers who wean their babies from the breast during the first and even second and third years of life often notice that their child becomes sick more than before, or for the first time." Examining the Evidence for Cue feeding of Breastfed Infants by Lisa Marasco and Jan Barger

• Hormones and enzymes. Breast milk has lots of digestive enzymes, and also many hormones. These all contribute to the baby's well being.

See below for more information:

Dr. Sears on Breastfeeding

Womans Health

Vaccinations
Vaccinations definitely have benefits, and there are stark risks as well. This, like circumcision, is a touchy subject.

The wonderful thing is, there are options. Your options include selective vaccination, delayed vaccinations, and no vaccinations.

Some things to consider when making your decision:

• Immunizations provide long-term immunity, not lifetime immunity.
• Breast-feeding protects the child from diseases (excluding pertussis) through the mother’s immunity. Some advocates of delayed vaccination state to wait until baby is weaned.
  
• Vaccination protection: typically, the 1st shot in a series provides full immunity to 70% of the population. The 2nd shot in the series brings it up to 80% & the 3rd to 90% of the population.
• All vaccines carry some risks, these risks are compounded the more vaccines a body recieves.
  
• The polio vaccine has been shown to, in some cases, cause polio.
• The mumps vaccine has been shown to, in some cases, cause meningitis, febrile convulsions and epilepsy.
• The HPV vaccine has been shown to cause high incidences of: death, paralysis, thrombosis, lupus, blood clots, fainting, stroke, siezures, long term dissabilities, and there is a question as to, longterm, if it will cause infertility issues.
• Questions as to vaccines correlating with the increased incidence of autism in developed countries routinely vaccinating.
  
• Vaccines can cause allergic reactions/sensitivities to certain foods like eggs & gelatin as well as certain medications (antibiotics). While preexisting severe allergies to eggs, gelatin or antibiotics can result in severe deadly reactions to a vaccine containing these substances.
• Consider the risks of contracting the disease in your decision to immunize your child. High risks include overseas travel, frequent plane or bus travel, day care or school, or your personal job exposure to vaccination diseases.

There are many options, and I recommend families reviewing the evidence for what is the best for their families.

See below for more information:

Center For Optimal Health

NVIC

Dr. Sears and Vaccinations

Circumcision
Circumcision is a very touchy subject for families. There are pros and cons on each side of the fence and has to be a subject/decision that families are confident in BEFORE it is performed. If, for any reason, there is dissension over circumcision, it is best to NOT have it done until all parties are in agreement. Culturally and religiously, there are arguments in favor of the procedure. As a routine surgery, the AAP discourages it.

Complications can arise, and do in about 3% of all circumcisions, and include: rash or irritation, poor cosmetic appearance, bleeding (hemorrhage) and/or infection, and complications due to faulty surgical technique (Buried penis (also called denudation - penile shaft buried below the surface of the pubic skin), Chordee (abnormal downward bend of the penis), Meatal stenosis (narrowing of the urine channel [urethra] at the top of the penis), Skin bridges (foreskin reattaching to the glans), and Penectomy (accidental partial or complete penile removal)).

It is a permanent procedure that cannot be reversed and is often times not covered by insurance. The procedure takes anywhere from 5-15 minutes.

The procedure- The baby is placed on his back with his arms and legs restrained and the penis and surrounding area are cleaned. A local anesthetic (e.g., cream applied to the skin, injection to the shaft or base of the penis) is used to prevent pain. Anesthetic cream takes effect in about 20-40 minutes. The injection takes less time to work, but the aftereffects may last longer. Sometimes the baby is given a sweetened pacifier to reduce stress (sweetie). The foreskin is pulled down (retracted) from the head of the penis and clamped in place using a metal or plastic ring. If a metal ring is used, the foreskin is cut off and the ring is removed. An antibiotic cream is applied and the penis is wrapped in loose gauze. Healing usually takes 5 to 7 days. If a plastic ring (called a Plastibell) is used, the foreskin is slit and wrapped back around the ring. A piece of thread (suture) is tied around the cut foreskin, pushing it into a groove in the plastic. This is left on the penis for 5 to 7 days, after which it falls off, leaving a completely healed circumcision. An antibiotic cream is applied to the penis.

There are DEFINITE benefits to leaving the prepuce intact, and would refer you to the video below for a full disclosure of that. Please take the moment to watch this video, whether or not you choose to circumcise, so as to be fully educated and make an informed decision about the process.

Functions of the Prepuce (Foreskin) @ Yahoo! Video

Several studies have been performed to find out if there is a medical benefit to infant circumcision. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says the benefits of circumcision are not significant enough to recommend circumcision as a routine procedure and that circumcision is not medically necessary.

A recent AAP report stated that circumcision does offer some benefit in preventing urinary tract infections in infants (which is easily treatable with antibiotics and occurs less often when the foreskin (prepuce) is left alone (not retracted to clean)). Circumcision also offers some benefit in preventing penile cancer in adult men. However, this disease is very rare in all men, whether or not they have been circumcised. Circumcision may reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. Although a man's sexual practices (e.g., if he uses condoms, if he has more than one partner, etc.) has more to do with STD prevention than whether or not he is circumcised.

Study results are mixed about whether circumcision may help reduce the risk of cervical cancer in female sex partners, although this information is again skewed as to the male partners sexual practices as the cervical cancer is often a result of HPV.

Other arguements are social pressures: wanting a child to look like his father or male role model, not wanting a child to be made fun of growing up, wanting a child to 'fit in'. These arguments, IMHO, are not solid enough to base a decision to alter another persons reproductive organs on. No two penis' look alike, so the 'look like his father' argument is null and void - a child will have no issues with this discrepency as long as the father does not show any angst regarding his sons penis. The last two arguments are becoming a non-issue as more and more American males are not being circumcised. America, Canada, and the Middle East are the only locations where circumcision is prevelant, rate of incidences in the order listed.

Finally, taking into consideration all of the above information, we would be wise to think twice about the implementation of this procedure routinely.

See below for more information:

Family Doctor

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Well, I hope that the above information arms families with the starting point to begin to make the earliest choices for their children's healthcare. For more great reading, see below:

Parenting and Baby Care
Online Resources:

• 365
• Transition to Parenthood
• Real Savvy, All About Moms
• Dr. Sears
• Kelly Mom
• Mothering

Books:

• The Baby Book, Sears
• Mothering the New Mother, Placksin
• The Year After Childbirth, Kitzinger
• You and Your Newborn Baby, Linda Todd
• The Happiest Baby on the Block, Dr. Harvey Karp
• The Year After Childbirth, Sheila Kitzinger
  
• Your Amazing Newborn, Marshall and Phyliss Klaus

Breastfeeding
Online Resources:

• BFLRC - mostly for the professional
• Transition to Parenthood
• Kelly Mom
• ProMom
• La Leche League International
• Breastfeeding

Books:

• The Nursing Mother’s Companion, Kathleen Huggins
• *The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, Anwar Fazal
• The Breastfeeding Book, Sears
• Nursing Mother, Working Mother, Gale Prior
• So That’s What They’re For! Breastfeeding Basics, Janet Tamaro
• The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers, Newman and Pitman

Maternal Support, PTSD, and Birth Trauma
Online Resources:

• Post Partum Support International - for help postpartum
• Depression After Delivery - for help postpartum
• Solace For Mothers - support for traumatic birth
• TABS - support for traumatic birth and PTSD
• Birth Crisis - for birth healing

Books:

• This Isn't What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression, Karen Kleiman
• The Postpartum Husband, Sandra Poulin
• The Mother-To-Mother Postpartum Depression Support Group, Sandra Poulin

My hope is that every woman can be confident of her educated decisions as a mother! Here's to full and informed consent (refusal).