A few links on Ultrasound safety

As I tell the students in my classes, use your BRAIN when making decisions about any type of intervention in pregnancy of labor.  What are the Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, what does your Intuition tell you, and what if you do Nothing?

I think the same can apply to the use of ultrasound.

 

 

peaceful parenting

Gloria Lemay: Ultrasound Precautions http://www.glorialemay.com/blog/?p=225

Green Health Watch News: Ultrasound - just looking can hurt http://www.greenhealthwatch.com/newsstories/newslatest/latest0701/ultrasound-hurt.html

Dr. Marsden Wagner: Ultrasound: More Harm than Good?... See More
http://www.drmomma.org/2009/08/ultrasound-more-harm-than-good.html

Midwifery Today: Questions about u/s and the increase in autism http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/ultrasoundrodgers.asp

ASRT: Potential dangers of u/s on development https://www.asrt.org/content/News/IndustryNewsBriefs/Sono/studyshows062408.aspx

Safety and Usefulness of u/s http://www.alternamoms.com/ultrasound.html

101 reasons to breastfeed your baby

http://www.promom.org/101/101reasons_2005.pdf

This is in response to my previous post, that reported a majority of Americans believe that formula is just as beneficial as breast milk.  This is a lie that formula companies pay big bucks in advertising to get you to believe.  The truth is that while formula is sometimes necessary, it can never be as good as breast milk.

Breastfeeding stats in the US

http://www.examiner.com/x-36549-Seattle-Womens-Issues-Examiner~y2010m4d19-CDC-finds-majority-of-American-women-believe-formula-is-as-beneficial-as-breast-milk

Delayed cord clamping

I learned about the benefits of delayed cord clamping 5 years ago when I was pregnant with my oldest son.  I have since had 3 babies (including him), and not once has my request to not clamp the cord, been honored.  It must be a reflex for the OB to reach for the clamp as soon as the baby is born. 

Now, as a childbirth educator I share with my students the benefits of delayed cord clamping.  I have had several students come back to me, after talking with their OB, and tell me that their doctor did not agree.  The below article is the most recent one that I have read in support of of NOT clamping the cord right away...feel free to share it with your OB!!

PS-most midwives already know this, so if you think that your OB might forget, like mine did, you might want to consider hiring a midwife to attend your birth.

http://www.examiner.com/x-36549-Seattle-Womens-Issues-Examiner~y2010m5d25-Delayed-Cord-Clamping-Beneficial

Birth by day of the week

I thought this was so interesting!!
http://peltiertech.com/Excel/Commentary/BirthsByDayOfYear.html

Breast milk contains stem cells!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/stem-cells-could-be-the-secret-reason-why-breast-is-best-1825558.html

Breastfeeding a baby with teeth

I heard something on the radio the other day that disturbed me a bit.  The DJ was appalled by anyone breastfeeding a baby who had teeth, several callers also agreed.

I have breastfed 3 babies until they had teeth, and actually breastfed them longer with teeth than without.  I thought I would share a little bit of my personal experience breastfeeding a baby with teeth....

Now, most babies get teeth around 6 months old, but some can get them sooner, even as soon as 3 months, and some babies are even born with teeth (although rare)!  The current recommendations to breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months mean that a lot of women are breastfeeding babies with teeth.  I will admit that at first I was a little scared of getting bit.  The good thing is that babies hold their tongue over their lower teeth while nursing, so the lowers you will probably never feel.

I have been bitten a few times, but your baby will learn very quick that if he wants to nurse, biting is not allowed.  I do not think it is intentional as much as babies tend to chew on things while they are teething.  I was also surprised that when my babies got their top teeth, they didn't seem to affect nursing and I couldn't feel them either.  Every once in a while (mostly while on my period, I think) if my breasts were a little tender I could feel the top teeth, but I wasn't in pain from it, just noticeable that they were there.

In the US our culture is not very supportive of breastfeeding in general, and definitely not supportive of breastfeeding toddlers.  But the AAP guidelines do recommend breastfeeding for 12 months.  The WHO recommends breastfeeding for at LEAST 2 years.  Wow, 2 years as a minimum!!!  Did you know that the average age of weaning around the world is 4 years old?  Americans have a very narrow mind when it comes to breastfeeding, perhaps we should take a look around the world.

New class dates

Don't forget about my upcoming class...
June 21-August 30!

pregnancy safe for breast cancer survivors

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36036867/ns/health-womens_health/