Saturday, March 28, 2009

Ergo baby carrier being given away on Give Them Roots

A cyber-friend of mine runs and awesome blog www.givethemroots.com and she is currently giving away an ergo baby carrier. You must enter by March 30th to be entered. Check out her blog and her giveaway. Here is the link to the contest http://www.givethemroots.com/2009/03/ergobaby-carriers.html

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

This article made my blood boil. I can't even put it into words so I will just post the link and I would love to hear others thoughts on it. It's called The Case Against Breastfeeding and it has caused alot of upheaval over the last couple of weeks.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200904/case-against-breastfeeding

This next link is for an article released by the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine that discusses the benefits of breastfeeding.

http://www.bfmed.org/Media/Files/Documents/pdf/Press%20Releases/Strong%20Evidence%20Base%20for%20Benefits%20of%20Breastfeeding%20(3-19-09).pdf

Risks of Secondary C-Sections

One of my biggest pet peeves is how women who want to attempt a vbac are made to feel like they are putting themselves and their unborn child at such high risks but no one ever discusses the risks of repeated c-sections with them. This article discussed in great detail the risks of repeated c-sections an also discusses the true risk of uterine rupture in vbac as well as in a primary vaginal birth. The risk of uterine rupture exists even in a vaginal birth with no history of c-section but no one ever tells the vbac mom that. Check out the article and I would love to know your thoughts.

http://www.naturalnews.com/025870.html

Snacking during labor is ok

The British Medical Journal has published a study saying that snacking during labor is ok. I have never really understood the reasoning behind why it wouldn't be anyways. I know that the reasoning is aspiration if under general anesthesia but a general is used so infrequently anymore that it just isn't necessary to starve women in labor anymore. Not allowing a woman to eat while in labor is like asking a marathon runner or triathlete to fast the morning of a race. Hopefully hospitals will take a look at this study and consider changing their antiquated views on labor and childbirth.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090325/hl_afp/healthwomenpregnancyfoodoffbeat

Monday, March 23, 2009

Flexible Spending Accounts

I know a lot of people have health care flexible spending accounts. You know the kind where you put money in pre-tax and then you send in receipts for co-pays and such and get reimbursed. I know some doulas have clients who have had luck getting reimbursed for doula services. I had a client that is waiting to hear back from hers. She sent in her receipt from me so we'll see if they cover it. I am hoping they do because I would love for my clients to have this option.

I have a friend who had a baby last week and she asked me if insurance would cover a breast pump and of course they don't. Out of curiosity my husband called her FSA people today and they don't reimburse for a breast pump unless you have a script from a doctor that says it is a medical necessity but not if you just need it to continue breastfeeding when you return to work.

I think if you are returning to work and want to continue to breastfeed there are any number of reasons why having a pump is a medical necessity. Here's my list:

If you go 8 hours without pumping you will at the least be very uncomfortable and at the worst get mastitis.

If your baby is in daycare he/she needs the antibodies in your milk to keep him/her healthy.

Going back to work is hard enough. I really had no symptoms of Post-partum depression until I went back to work and breastfeeding was the only thing that made it bearable for me. I at least felt connected to my baby while I was pumping and knowing that she was getting that from me while I was at work. It also relaxed me and made it better when I sat down to nurse her when I got home. So medically it kept me off anti-depressants.

I am sure I will come up with more after I have time to think about it.

The real kicker is they cover things like lasik but not breastpumps. I wanted to call and ask them about whether they will cover formula.

Has anyone out there ever get a pump covered? I think maybe this warrants some letter writing campaigns.

Amy

Another reason to breatfeed

This is an article about how breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS. I don't think this is really new information because I heard this several years ago. I guess this is just a newer study that shows it. I know SIDS is such a big concern for new mom's. I was absolutely terrified of it with both of my children. I got up many times and listened to them breathing. So here's just one more reason that breast is best.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090302/hl_nm/us_breastfeeding_sids

Early Pacifier Use Leads to Shorter Breastfeeding Duration

Here is an article that tells me something I already pretty much knew. My daughter was an exception to this though. I didn't want her to have a pacifier early but the nurses plopped one in her mouth while I was showering the day after she was born. Luckily for me she still nursed just fine even after the binky. I know some mom's who really struggled with latch issues and some that never did get their baby to latch after pacifier use in the first couple of weeks. A newborn should nurse when they cry and not have a binky. Early pacifier use can cause latch issues, nipple confusion and a low milk supply. Here is the link to the article.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090316/hl_nm/us_early_breastfeeding

500th baby born at The Midwife Center

We have one liscensed, out of hospital birth center in the Pittsburgh area. It is run by a fantastic group of CNM's (Certified Nurse Midwives) and the RN's in the group are awesome as well. They opened a new birth center in the summer of 2003 and this morning at 12:06 a.m. they welcomed baby number 500. Congratulations to the midwives and to the family on the birth of a new baby.


http://www.post-gazette.com/multimedia/?videoid=101614

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Benefits of Breastfeeding

Here is a well written article about the benefits of breastfeeding that I came across.

http://www.naturalmomsblog.com/breastfeeding-benefits-to-mother-and-child.html

Friday, March 6, 2009

How to make breastfeeding difficult

Here is an article I found that was written in 1986 by an IBCLC and I think it is still true today. If you really want to see someone fail at breastfeeding here's what to do.


http://www.bflrc.com/ljs/myths/glct_dum.htm