Is Aromatherapy Safe During Pregnancy?

Essential oils that are safe during pregnancy and which ones to avoid

Since essential oils (the oils that give plants their distinctive smells) are the key ingredients in aromatherapy treatments and products, experts recommend not using them in the first trimester. Essential oils could cause uterine contractions or adversely affect your baby in his early developmental stages, explains Jill Edwards, N.D., an Oregon doctor of naturopathic medicine who specializes in prenatal care.

“In the second and third trimesters, some essential oils are safe to use, as your baby is more developed,” Edwards adds. These include lavender, chamomile and ylang ylang, which calm, relax and aid sleep. Oils to be avoided include cinnamon, clove, rosemary and clary sage, all of which can cause contractions.

Making Peace with Your Birth Experience

After giving birth, many women share a sense of disappointment, anger or fear. Despite your best efforts, your birth did not turn out the way you planned. Fortunately, if you have had a troubling birth, there are some positive steps you can take.

Continue reading... here

"New parents are told of the importance of babies sleeping on their backs to avoid SIDS, but they are not always informed about the importance of tummy time,"

"New parents are told of the importance of babies sleeping on their backs to avoid SIDS, but they are not always informed about the importance of tummy time," says American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) spokesperson Judy Towne Jennings, PT, MA. In addition, many babies spend a lot of time in one position as they are moved about in their car seat carriers. The result: Babies who do not spend enough awake time on their stomachs are at risk for delay in developmental milestones as well as orthopedic issues such as torticollis and skull deformation. The APTA offers suggestions to help avoid these issues in an article and a link to an informative brochure with photos of beneficial positions.

Childbirth Educators! Demo kits for Professionals – explain reusable diapers to your clients!

The RDIA has launched an educational Consider Cloth campaign to spread the word about cloth diapering. This is an educational campaign that provides information on:


* why cloth diapers are a good choice, highlighting their benefits and ease of use;

* the different types of diapers available today; and

* resources to learn more about cloth diapering.

RDIA has put together Consider Cloth kits that include an example of each diaper type (AIO, Pocket, Fitted, Flat, Contour, Wool Diaper Cover, PUL Diaper Cover, and Wet Bag, all donated by manufacturers), 500 brochures filled with information on cloth diapering, a Resource (& Where to Buy) List and a reusable RDIA bag. Some contents will vary depending on materials donated.

If you are a doula, midwife, childbirth educator, or lactation educator and you would like a Consider Cloth kit to demonstrate cloth diapers to your clients, submit your details. $15 USD covers shipping to U.S. or Canada. U.S. shipping is underway, and Canadian shipping will begin soon.

If you are a childbirth educator and don't need a whole Cloth Diaper sample kit, we have a less expensive way to help you promote cloth diapering to your clients. Our Cloth Diaper Literature Pack includes 50 full-color brochures and 50 resource lists including coupons and offers from several retailers. This kit is free of charge to all qualified birth educators.

Contact kit@realdiaperindustry.org to request a cloth diaper literature pack. No charge for shipping.

Consider Cloth Kit. Each kit will most likely include:
1. Diaper fastener
2. Cloth wipe
3. Flat cloth diaper
4. Wet bag
5. Fitted cloth diaper
6. Pocket cloth diaper
7. Contour cloth diaper
8. Diaper cover - PUL
9. All-in-one cloth diaper
10. Reusable RDIA bag
11. 100 Resource lists
12. 100 Brochures

500 kits are available to qualified childbirth educators on a first come, first served basis.

Kits may also include a wool diaper cover. Final contents of the kits depend on generous donations made by RDIA manufacturers.

Donors. RDIA member manufacturers donated all of the diapers and diapering accessories for the cloth diaper demo kits. Huge thanks to our generous donors!

Sponsors. Sponsoring RDIA members made the whole project possible, funding the printing of brochures, resource sheets, boxes, and bags, which enabled us to keep the diaper demo kits free to educators.

Using Facebook to strategically grow your birth business

This new DVD features Tracy Wilson Peters, CAPPA CEO. Tracy teaches you a strategic plan for using Facebook to instantly grow your birth business.


Learn all the techniques CAPPA has used to become the largest childbirth organization on Facebook. See why CAPPA has over 4200 active Facebook fans and adding 100+ a week.

This DVD goes beyond the basics of Facebook. Learn to create and successfully market your companies Facebook Fan Page.

If you want to increase your business, save money and time, this DVD is a MUST HAVE!

For more information... click here.

Does opening a milk bank in a neonatal unit change infant feeding practices? A before and after study

Donor human milk banks are much more than simple centers for collection, storage, processing, and distribution of donor human milk, as they cover other aspects and represent a real opportunity to promote and support breastfeeding. The aim of our study is to assess the impact that opening a human milk bank has had on the proportion of infants receiving exclusive breast milk at discharge and other aspects related to feeding children with birth weight < or = 1500 g or < 32 weeks gestation admitted to the neonatal unit.

Read more... here

Calling All Moms! What’s Your Mission?

We are wondering...

Do you know a Mom on a Mission?

Healthy Child’s Mom on a Mission Award was introduced for the first time in 2009.  Each year going forward we want to honor one special and inspiring American woman dedicated to creating healthier and happier environments for children and families.

Last year we honored Shelby Rodriguez, a particularly passionate and dedicated mother who successfully fought for clean air in her community.  After a massive roof tarring project caused her family to have symptoms like burning throat, sores in the nose, and a persistent cough, Shelby distributed flyers, created an online petition, appealed to her local representatives, registered complaints with the Air Quality District, and organized an EPA meeting to demand an end to the pollution.  Read Shelby's full story here, and you'll surely be as awed and inspired by her as we were.

To honor Shelby, Healthy Child flew her to Los Angeles, where she and her family stayed in a luxury, eco-friendly hotel in Beverly Hills.  She attended our annual Healthy Child Awards gala at the Montage Hotel, and was presented with her award in front of over 200 people, including celebrities, activists, policy makers, and leaders of business.  People Magazine was so impressed that they covered Shelby's story in a feature that was syndicated nationwide.

Now, we're looking for another fabulous mother to honor similarly in 2010.  Do you have someone special (or yourself) you'd like to nominate?  Get started!

All the information you need is on our website and we'll be reviewing and accepting applications until July of this year.

Healthy Child Healthy World has been empowering families for over 17 years.  In response, they've done some pretty amazing things.

What are you waiting for?

Read more: http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/calling_all_moms_whats_your_mission/#ixzz0hdpkJQ3s

Continue reading... http://healthychild.org/blog/comments/calling_all_moms_whats_your_mission/

Accelerating Efforts To Advance The Rights Of Adolescent Girls

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As leaders gather for the fifteen-year review of the Beijing Platform for Action, we, the members of the United Nations Adolescent Girls Task Force, jointly pledge to intensify our efforts to fulfil the human rights of adolescent girls. During the next five years, we will aim to increase our agencies' support to developing countries to advance key policies and programmes that empower the hardest-to-reach adolescent girls, particularly those aged 10 to 14 years.

Many of the 600 million adolescent girls living in developing countries remain invisible in national policies and programmes. Millions live in poverty, are burdened by gender discrimination and inequality, and are subject to multiple forms of violence, abuse, and exploitation, such as child labour, child marriage and other harmful practices. The full potential of these girls and their contribution to their communities have yet to be realized.

We are convinced that educated, healthy and skilled adolescent girls will help build a better future, advance social justice, support economic development, and combat poverty. They will stay in school, marry later, delay childbearing, have healthier children, and earn better incomes that will benefit themselves, their families, communities and nations. Investing in their rights and empowerment will help accelerate the achievement of internationally-agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

We will work with governments, civil society, communities, adolescent girls and boys on five strategic priorities:

1. Educate adolescent girls: Ensure adolescent girls have access to quality education and complete schooling, focusing on their transition from primary to post-primary education and training, including secondary education, and pathways between the formal and non-formal systems.

2. Improve adolescent girls' health: Ensure adolescent girls' access to age-appropriate health and nutrition information and services, including life skills-based sexuality education, HIV prevention, and sexual and reproductive health.

3. Keep adolescent girls free from violence: Prevent and protect girls from all forms of gender-based violence, abuse and exploitation, and ensure that girls who experience violence receive prompt protection, services and access to justice.

4. Promote adolescent girl leaders: Ensure that adolescent girls gain essential economic and social skills and are supported by mentors and resources to participate in community life.

5. Count adolescent girls: Work with partners to collect, analyse, and use data on adolescent girls to advocate for, develop and monitor evidence-based policies and programmes that advance their well-being and realize their human rights.

We will work in a coordinated manner with other relevant global initiatives. We call on Member States to join us in accelerating efforts to protect the rights of adolescent girls. Together, we can build a future of gender equality and social justice.

Source
WHO

Lamaze Credential is More Accessible With New, Expanded Certification Eligibility Criteria

Lamaze International is pleased to introduce expanded eligibility criteria for our three pathways to become a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator (LCCE). Now a broader array of educators and prospective educators can align themselves with Lamaze, the only NCCA-accredited childbirth educator certification. Pregnant women and their families throughout the world recognize Lamaze as the market leader in quality childbirth education.

The new eligibility requirements apply to the April 22 certification exam administration and all subsequent exam dates.

Three pathways offer alternatives based on the candidate’s level of experience and education acquired through multiple sources. For the first time, candidates new to the field have alternative adult learning opportunities that make Lamaze certification more accessible than ever.
Now, new educators may qualify to sit for the Lamaze certification exam in one of two ways. Candidates may qualify by:
* Attending a Lamaze Accredited Childbirth Educator Seminar;

* Completing a self-study from the Lamaze Childbirth Educator Study Guide; and

* Documenting practice teaching with a mentor/observer.
Or, new educators may qualify to sit for the exam after:
* Successfully completing another formal course on teaching childbirth education (including ICEA, Bradley, Birthing from Within, Birth Works, CAPPA, Childbirth International);

* Providing documentation of 25 contact hours of continuing education in the past three years or completing the four Lamaze Childbirth Education Learning modules (available July 1, 2010); and

* Documentation of practice teaching with a mentor/observer.

Lamaze International also welcomes experienced educators to join the ranks of the LCCE Educators, who may qualify by providing documentation of:

* A license as a health care professional (i.e., RN, PT, MD), a Bachelor’s degree or higher, or completion of a childbirth educator formal course;

* 25 applicable and approved continuing education hours within the past three years, attendance of a Lamaze Childbirth Educator Seminar, or completing the four Lamaze Childbirth Education Learning modules (available July 1, 2010); and

* 60 hours of childbirth education teaching experience in the past three years, revised from the 144 hours in the past five years.
Midwives and midwifery students continue to qualify to sit for the exam by attending a one-day Fast Track for Midwives or a Lamaze Childbirth Educator Seminar. Now they can also qualify by providing documentation of:
* Completion of another formal course on teaching childbirth education, including ICEA, Bradley, Birthing from Within, Birth Works, CAPPA, Childbirth International

* 25 contact hours of continuing education in the past three years or completing the four Lamaze Childbirth Education Learning modules (available July 1, 2010.)
More details on these pathways can be found on our Web site, http://www.lamaze.org/.
To earn the LCCE credential, candidates must successfully pass the Lamaze Childbirth Educator Certification Exam, which is internationally recognized as a comprehensive test of the competencies of a childbirth educator. The Lamaze Certification Exam carries the mark of excellence by earning accreditation by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA) for meeting its rigorous standards for the accreditation of certification programs. Candidates interested in taking the exam must submit their application and exam fees to the Lamaze Administrative office by the prescribed deadline.

Important
Prepare for the Exam—enhance your knowledge and performance, and obtain contact hours by using the new 2010 edition of the Lamaze Study Guide, the Exam Prep Course and other educational programs. For more details, call our Administrative Office at 202-367-1128, or e-mail certification@lamaze.org.
Additional information about the Lamaze approach to pregnancy, birth and parenting, and the competencies of a Lamaze Certified Childbirth Educator can be found at www.lamaze.org or by contacting the Lamaze Administrative Office at 202-367-1128 or certification@lamaze.org.

Human placenta cells die after BPA exposure

Exposure to very low concentrations of the plastic monomer bisphenol A (BPA) causes cellular damage and death in cultured human placenta cells, researchers report. The doses used for this study are similar to blood levels found in pregnant women. A particularly worrying finding is that effects were most pronounced at the lowest – rather than the highest – concentrations of BPA indicating that placental development could be particularly sensitive to BPA exposure.  Damage to the placenta can induce a range of adverse pregnancy outcomes including premature birth, preeclampsia or even pregnancy loss.  It is not known if exposure to BPA is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in humans.
Continue reading... here.

Pregnancy: Some Depression Relief, Without Drugs

Up to a quarter of all women suffer from depression during pregnancy, and many are reluctant to take antidepressants. Now a new study suggests that acupuncture may provide some relief during pregnancy, even though it has not been found to be effective against depression in general.

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Restricting oral fluid and food intake during labour

In some cultures, food and drinks are consumed during labour for nourishment and comfort to help meet the demands of labour. However, in many birth settings, oral intake is restricted in response to work by Mendelson in the 1940s. Mendelson reported that during general anaesthesia, there was an increased risk of the stomach contents entering the lungs. The acid nature of the stomach liquid and the presence of food particles were particularly dangerous, and potentially could lead to severe lung disease or death. 

Since the 1940s, obstetrical anaesthesia has changed considerably, with better general anaesthetic techniques and a greater use of regional anaesthesia. These advances, and the reports by women that they found the restrictions unpleasant, have led to research looking at these restrictions. In addition, poor nutritional balance may be associated with longer and more painful labours, and fasting does not guarantee an empty stomach or less acidity. This review looked at any restriction of fluids and food in labour compared with women able to eat and drink. The review identified five studies involving 3130 women. 

Most studies had looked at specific foods being recommended, though one study let women to choose what they wished to eat and drink. The review identified no benefits or harms of restricting foods and fluids during labour in women at low risk of needing anaesthesia. There were no studies identified on women at increased risk of needing anaesthesia. None of the studies looked at women's views of restricting fluids and foods during labour. Thus, given these findings, women should be free to eat and drink in labour, or not, as they wish.

Continue reading...  http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab003930.html

The Breast Whisperer

AMY BRILL, a writer who lives in Windsor Terrace, survived nine months and six days of pregnancy, then 40 hours of labor. But after a few days of nursing, she was in excruciating pain, crying every time her baby latched on. Ms. Brill’s pediatrician wrote out a phone number as if it were a prescription. “Call this woman,” he said. “She’s seen every new mom in Brooklyn.”

Continue reading... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/nyregion/21freda.html?emc=eta1

Risk Of Preterm Birth Influenced By Pre-Pregnancy, Obesity And Gestational Weight Gain

Researchers at Boston University School of Medicine's (BUSM) Slone Epidemiology Center and Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) have found that pre-pregnancy obesity and gestational weight gain are associated with an increased risk of preterm birth in African American participants from the Black Women's Health Study. This study currently appears on-line in Epidemiology.

Continue reading... http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/178905.php 

Haemorrhoids During Pregnancy & Birth

I would like to introduce you to Mr Gordon Buchannan, he's a Consultant Colorectal and General Surgeon at The London Rectal Clinic at 108 Harley Street and Imperial Hospitals, London. He has published papers on many aspects of colorectal surgery, in particular investigation of anorectal conditions and fistula-in-ano. He is presently undertaking collaborative research on laparoscopic resection of colorectal cancer. 

Continue reading...  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/179791.php

What Is Morning Sickness? What Causes Morning Sickness?

Morning sickness, also known as nausea gravidarum, nausea/vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) , emesis gravidarum or pregnancy sickness is a condition that affects over 50% of all pregnant females. The woman feels nauseous, sometimes vomits and is often tired. Women who use hormonal contraception or HRT (hormone replacement therapy) may also have morning sickness symptoms.

Continue reading... http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/179633.php

Chronic health conditions increasing in children, study finds

 The rates are higher and the illnesses are different than in previous generations, researchers say, with youths suffering from attention deficit disorder, obesity and asthma.
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Benzene exposure linked to sperm abnormalities that cause birth defects.

Men exposed to benzene at levels close to the U.S. permissible limit are more likely to have an abnormal number of chromosomes in their sperm, researchers report in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
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Oregon Senate shoots down ban on BPA in baby bottles, sippy cups

Oregon's Senate shot down a bill this morning that would have banned a potential endocrine-disrupting chemical from baby bottles and sippy cups, splitting 15-15 on a ban that Washington's Legislature has endorsed with lopsided votes.
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Weed killer atrazine may be linked to birth defect

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Living near farms that use the weed killer atrazine may up the risk of a rare birth defect, according to a study presented this past Friday at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine in Chicago.

About 1 in 5000 babies born in the U.S. each year suffers from gastroschisis, in which part of the intestines bulges through a separation in the belly, according to the March of Dimes. The rate of gastroschisis has risen 2- to 4-fold over the last three decades, according to Dr. Sarah Waller, of the University of Washington, Seattle, and colleagues.

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Exclusive Human Milk Diet Benefits NICU Preterm Babies

Study Finds Lower Rate of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Than a Diet of Bovine Milk-Based Products

Prolacta Bioscience, the first and only company to offer human milk fortifier (HMF) made from 100% human breast milk for premature and critically ill infants, has announced the results of a groundbreaking study that will have long-term benefits for the nutritional care of very low-birth-weight preterm infants (less than 2 pounds, 12 ounces or 1250 grams) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The study was published in The Journal of Pediatrics December 28, 2009 online edition at www.jpeds.com.

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China's C-Section Rate Highest Worldwide, WHO Study Says

Almost half of all births in China are via caesarean section, representing the world's highest rate for the procedure, according to a World Health Organization study published on Tuesday in the medical journal Lancet, the Boston Globe reports. According to WHO, rates of c-sections have reached "epidemic proportions" in many countries. 

Continue reading... http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/176128.php.

Labor Inductions Increase Risk Of Caesareans, Study Finds

Inducing labor prior to 39 weeks' gestation increases the risk of caesarean section, according to a study in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reuters reports. 

Christopher Glantz at the University of Rochester School of Medicine found that induced labor resulted in one to two c-sections per 25 inductions that could have been avoided by waiting for natural labor. Glantz said that the additional c-sections can quickly add up to tens of thousands of unnecessary procedures, which carry the risk of infection, bleeding, blood clots and injury to other organs.

Continue reading...  http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/175655.php