——————————————————

My LLL toddler group has been kicking around the idea of writing our
own kid’s book that would contain positive depictions of moms
breastfeeding. There are literally thousands of books on the market
depicting newborns, babies, baby animals, even baby monsters, with
bottles and pacifiers. There are very few books on the market
depicting moms breastfeeding in the normal course of the day. A few
books focus exclusively on the concept of breastfeeding. These are
typically heavy handed with a limited audience. Breastfeeding babies
and toddler adore these books, other families aren’t interested.

We are constantly looking for really good kids books where moms
happen to be breastfeeding in the picture. It just doesn’t exist.
While I haven’t read every single book on the market, it is
startlingly absent. I wrote to a users group of children’s book
illustrators to ask them why so many children’s books depict bottle
feeding of newborns and young babies. I got a huge response from
illustrators, most of whom were super frustrated with their
publishers! They said that the major publishing houses forbid the
depiction of breastfeeding, male nipples as in dads in the swimming
pool, ancient greeks in togas, Native Americans in buckskin… AND
ALSO, NO UDDERS ON COWS. This tipped me over the edge! No UDDERS!

My LLL group, of 96 moms, has put together a project proposal to an
entrepreneurial website called ideablob.com. This is an online
community of entrepreneurs. Anyone in the world can propose any
project or business idea, no matter how small or unusual. Thousands
of people visit the site and vote for different ideas. The idea with
the most votes is awarded $10,000 to implement their idea.

At the moment, our project idea — a book for children containing
positive depictions of breastfeeding — is among the top ranked. We
have one week left to garner the votes needed to earn the $10,000
grant. We’ve sent the idea around the world and are in the top
scorers for the runoff. Would you be willing to vote for my project?
What would be very helpful would be for you to forward this message
to your friends, asking them to vote, as well. You do need to
register for the site but they are very respectful about not
bombarding you with messages…

Here is the web page:
http://www.ideablob.com

Thanks for your help, everyone! We really do have a chance to win,
but everyone’s gotta vote.

MSU Extension Conference Room, 963 S. Raisinville Rd., 10:30am - noon

This months topic: “Play, Learning and Household Fun!”

Learn about different types of play and easy creative games/projects your family can do with item you have around the house. No lunch is provided, but families are encouraged to bring a sack lunch. Lunch Bunch is a breastfeeding-friendly environment (although breastfeeding is not required).

Brought to you by the Monroe County Breastfeeding Collaborative

Each month we have different discussion topics/guest speakers depending on parent interests. For more info, call Stephanie Garrett at 734-240-7946

_________________________________________________________________________

http://www.blogsmonroe.com/homemaking/2008/06/26/free-sewing-patterns/

My heart aches for these girls.  Supposedly a number of these girls made a pact to become pregnant together so they could raise their children together.  What is the real reason behind having a baby so young?  Do they not have a stable environment at home?  Do they have a low self esteem and need to feel important, or a part of something?  Not one of these girls is older than 16.  The decision to get pregnant together so they can raise their kids together shows their immaturity and their inability to see reality.  Teen pregnancy happens.  There are some amazing teen parents out there.  But more often than not, teens are not ready to become parents.  When they thought about raising their children together, did they consider how they would be able to finish school, keep a well paying job, find a good child care situation, and still have time to spend with their child?  What about the stability of family relationships - will this child know its father?  Will its father be an active part of their lives?  Are these teens on the edge with their parents, and will the baby be around constant fighting and stress?  Will these teens live with their parents, or find another housing situation to get out on their own?  If they stay at home with their parents, will they have their parents raise their child so they can go out often and have a good time, like teenagers who don’t have children are supposed to do or will they take responsibility and give up a typical teenagers life to raise a child?  Are these teens in committed relationships, and can it stand the stress of a new baby so young?  Are they expecting the experience of parenting a baby so young to be a fun, easy experience?  When they’re older, will they regret giving up the last part of their ‘childhood’ to raise a child?  There are so many questions to ask - and sure, anyone planning a baby or expecting a baby can ask themselves these questions.  But in many cases, when you’re just a bit older and planning a baby more of your life has already fallen into place.  You can focus on other things.  Teens have to question and focus on things that pertain to their age range… There are a lot more issues at play, a lot more to deal with emotionally, and a lot more challenges.

Teen pregnancy is a growing concern.  Many teens are becoming pregnant at a very young age and while I don’t hold anything against teen parents and feel many of them become awesome parents, it’s hard to hide the fact that there are also many more (more so than adults?) that shirk their responsibilities, continue to party and bring bad influences around their children, don’t have the experience or maturity to properly train and discipline, and make immature and irrational decisions based upon a fairy tale perception on life rather than reality. 

I’ve worked with some great expectant teens who WANT the best for their children.  After talking to them after they’ve had their baby, it turns out life isn’t what they expected it to be.  It’s harder.  It’s harsher.  There isn’t much anyone can tell them about life after having a baby until they’ve lived it themselves.  But they continue to learn.  They grow up real fast.  Life changes dramatically.  They miss out on a lot of their teen ‘rites of passage’ so to speak because they have a baby depending on them. But they make it work.  I love working with these teens.  They give me hope.  I hope their influence will inspire other teens who are stuck in that “I know it all” mindframe (we’ve all been there, no?) to let themselves learn and most importantly, fall in love with their baby. 

I pray that these girls are the type that want to learn, have the desire to dig in and do whatever it takes for the baby they are bringing into this world, and make sound decisions. 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7447942.stm

In case you haven’t heard about this yet…

*For Immediate Release*

******

*Insurance Companies Rejecting Women with History of Cesarean*

*Some Companies Require Surgical Sterilization for Coverage; *

*

*

*Trend Gives New Imperative to Learn Ways to Avoid Unnecessary Cesarean*

Redondo Beach, CA, June 1, 2008

– As reported in today’s New York Times, ICAN has begun tracking an alarming new trend of insurance companies refusing to provide health insurance for women with a history of cesarean surgery. In some cases, women are being rejected for coverage outright and in other case they are being charged significantly higher rates to obtain the same coverage as women without a history of cesarean. With over a million women each year undergoing this surgery, this practice has the potential to render large numbers of women uninsurable.This trend surfaces as the rate of cesarean surgery, including unnecessary cesareans, continues to rise. In 1970, the cesarean rate was 5%. In 2007, it was 30.1%. Experts often cite the incentives within the health care system for driving up the rate of cesarean unnecessarily, including physicians’

medical malpractice fears, better reimbursement for surgery, and lifestyle conveniences for care providers and staffing efficiencies in having more “9-5″ deliveries.

“Women are caught in the middle of a dysfunctional system. Doctors are telling them they need surgery, even when they don’t, and insurance companies, who are tired of paying the bill for so many frivolous surgeries, are punishing women for the poor medical care of doctors,” said Pam Udy, President of the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN).

The trend is highlighted in the cases of women like Peggy Robertson of Colorado. When she applied for health insurance coverage with Golden Rule, her husband and her children were accepted, but her application was denied.

After multiple inquiries directed to the insurance company, she was finally told that she was denied because she had delivered one of her children by cesarean. “It was shocking. I assumed that as a woman in good health I would be readily accepted,” said Robertson. “When I finally found someone who would explain why my application was denied, they had the audacity to ask me if I had been sterilized, stating that this was the only way I could get insurance coverage with them.”

As the incidence of cesarean increases, the evidence of the downstream medical complications for women and babies, and the associated medical costs, becomes increasingly apparent. Risks of cesarean in later pregnancies include increased incidence of infertility, miscarriage, fetal deformities, overgrowth of scar tissue leading to bowel problems, and potentially deadly placental abnormalities in subsequent pregnancies.

And though most women with a prior cesarean are being encouraged and often coerced into having repeat cesareans by their doctors and hospitals that have banned vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), a pair of recent studies done by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal

–Fetal Medicine Units Network demonstrates that women who deliver vaginally after a cesarean fare significantly better than women who deliver by repeat cesarean. (Obstetrics & Gynecology 2008;111:285-291, Labor Outcomes With Increasing Number of Prior Vaginal Births After Cesarean Delivery, Mercer et al, and Obstetrics & Gynecology 2006;107:1226-1232 Maternal Morbidity Associated With Multiple Repeat Cesarean Deliveries, Silver et al.)”Most women are looking to avoid cesareans. But physicians often make surgery difficult to avoid by insisting on non-evidence based practices,”

said Udy. Practices that fail to improve the outcomes for mothers and babies and increase the risk of cesarean section include inducing for going post-dates, inducing for suspected large baby, requiring fasting during labor, requiring women to be confined to bed for continuous fetal monitoring, and failing to offer continuous support to a mother in labor.

“These care practices serve the system well, but not mothers and babies” Udy added.

In fact, women and their babies may be paying a higher price than being denied health insurance. Last August, the Centers for Disease Control reported that, for the first time in decades, the number of women dying in childbirth has increased.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr55/nvsr55_19.pdf Experts note that the increase may be due to better reporting of deaths but that it coincides with dramatically increased use of cesarean. The latest national data on infant mortality rates in the United States also show an increase in 2005 and no improvement since 2000. 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/prelimdeaths05/prelimdeaths05.htmInternationally,

the U.S. ranks 41st in maternal deaths and has the second worst newborn death rate among industrialized nations.

Women who are seeking information about how to avoid a cesarean, have a VBAC, or are recovering from a cesarean can visit

www.ican-online.org for more information. In addition to more than 90 local chapters nationwide, the group hosts an active on-line discussion group that serves as a resource for mothers.Women who want to reach their lawmakers can visit

http://www.votesmart.org/.Women who want to reach their state insurance commissioner can visit

http://www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm .*About Cesareans: **ICAN recognizes that when a cesarean is medically necessary, it can be a lifesaving technique for both mother and baby, and worth the risks involved. Potential risks to babies include: low birth weight, prematurity, respiratory problems, and lacerations. Potential risks to women include: hemorrhage, infection, hysterectomy, surgical mistakes, re-hospitalization, dangerous placental abnormalities in future pregnancies, unexplained stillbirth in future pregnancies and increased percentage of maternal death. *

http://www.ican-online.org/resources/white_papers/index.html*Mission statement: **ICAN is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery and promoting vaginal birth after cesarean. There are 94 ICAN Chapters across North America, which hold educational and support meetings for people interested in cesarean prevention and recovery.*

Contact: Gretchen Humphries (734) 323-8220

We’re in south Toledo now, having moved from our apartment to a 4 bedroom house.  Business is continuing as usual and I am now offering free breastfeeding and cloth diapering classes from my office, which is now located within my home.  Classes are available to anyone from Toledo, and anyone willing to travel here. 

I’ll be getting back to blogging here shortly!  I just wanted to post a short note here to let you know I’m not gone for good, I haven’t left the blog forever and as things start settling down I’ll be getting back into the normal swing of things.

Studies have shown that homebirth is safe for low risk pregnant women and their unborn babies.  There are many reasons couples choose to have their babies at home.  These days, homebirth is becoming increasingly popular!  Midwives are trained to handle many complications, but they are also trained to detect problems before they become serious so they can transport or call for help if needed.

Advantages for Baby

• Baby is more likely to be born vaginally, without breathing difficulties often cause my cesarean birth or anesthesia.
• Less likelihood of infection.
  • Why? Fewer, if any, vaginal exams and intervention involving the vagina are performed on mom, which can introduce bacteria and cause an infection.   As well, babies are kept with them other after birth and not transported to a nursery, where illness can also be spread.
• Baby’s experience at birth can be recognized and made as gentle as possible. 
  • Low lighting, low voices, birth happening slowly and naturally without force, etc.
  • Routine procedures such as deep suctioning, Vitamin K shot, scrubbing the baby, etc. can be avoided.
• The mother-infant bond is allowed to occur naturally as the baby never leaves mom, can nurse immediately and can have constant skin-to-skin contact with mom as long as needed.
  
  

Advantages for Mom

• Mom is not subject to routine procedures such as electronic fetal monitoring, IV’s, bed or food restrictions.
• Mom can eat, walk freely and give birth physiologically – her body works with nature.  She can birth in a position she feels is best – not on her back unless she chooses, which is a traditional hospital birthing position.
• Mom will have continuity of care with her attendants, increasing safety.
• Mom and labor will be evaluated on an individual basis.  She won’t be sacrificed to protocols or be forced to labor on a time limit.
• Mom is much more likely to birth naturally, without medication, episiotomy, instrumental or cesarean delivery.
• Mom will be more comfortable in her own surroundings.
• There is less chance for infection.
• No traveling to/from a hospital while in labor or recovering from birth.
• Mom won’t be woken up while sleeping for the routine checks done after delivery, and the frequent removal of her infant for weighing and temperature taking, etc.
• Postpartum depression is less common  since there is no seperation.

Advantages for the family

• Husbands are in their own home and can participate as fully as they want.  Many times, the husband is encouraged to catch his baby!
• Other children can be present.
• Other family and friends can be present during labor and birth if requested.
• Life can go on as usual, as much as possible, during labor.  Meals can be prepared for everyone, the family is in their own surrounding and knows the location of anything they may need, and can move from room to room, or alternate between indoor and outdoor settings as they please.

Disadvantages

• A homebirth requires a higher level of responsibility and effort from the family
• Homebirth is not often supported by society or doctors
• Homebirth is not often covered by insurance, requiring the family to pay out of pocket or in some cases barter services
• Access to some emergency equipment can be delayed and require transport.

Minimizing the risk

Birth at home, as in a hospital, carries some degree of risk.  These risks can be minimized by the following ways:

·         Following good nutrition with a quality vitamin designed for pregnant women.

·         Do not smoke, drink alcohol, or use drugs.

·         Get good prenatal care

·         Find a good midwife who is skilled, confident and experienced with birth at home.

·         Inform yourself about pregnancy, birth and postpartum through reading, childbirth and new parent classes, videos, and asking questions.

·         Make sure you have all the supplies you will need at home well before your estimated delivery date.

·         Make sure you don’t have any problems or complications that could put you at risk during a homebirth. 

·         Make sure your baby is in a favorable position (head down, unless your midwife is very experienced with breech births)

·         Have adequate support during labor, birth, and postpartum.

·         Have an emergency back up, with numbers and clear directions posted by the phone and/or in easily found areas such as your refrigerator or family message board.

Alright, that was a slightly delayed reaction because we’ve known for a few weeks now but I figured becauase this is a birth and baby blog, that this was the more appropriate area to announce the news.  Yes, we’re pregnant again and due in November!  We are planning another homebirth (this will be our third homebirth, my first was born in the hospital), and will not know the sex until s/he is born.  Exciting times lay ahead (and certainly many chaotic ones also).  My goal is to continue nursing through my pregnancy (have never been able to do that, but my other babies were ready to wean themselves anyway.  My youngest is only 8 months old so I want her to continue nursing).  One up side to nursing is that come labor day, nursing can be used to help labor progress - nipple stimulation in general will help labor.  My pregnancies have all been closely spaced but this is the closest spacing so far - 16 months apart.

Anyway, back to blogging the topic at hand.  Things have been pretty quiet on the blog and I want to start another series like I did back with cesareans and epidurals.  Maybe the process of birth?  Intervention helps and risks?  What’s on your mind?

Very informative and interesting!