NPR State of Things covers Breastfeeding and Feminism
Thursday’s airing of “The State of Things” with Frank Stasio on NPR covered Breastfeeding and Feminism.
The Bricks :: Birth in the News
Take Action to Save Babies’ Lives!
Babies.
Images of soft, clean skin, giggles, and all around precious moments filled your head, right?
Breastfeeding—friendly?
The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics both state that exclusive breastfeeding for at least the first six months of a child’s life is the best start. The WHO’s baby-friendly hospital initiative requires hospitals, among other things, to ban formula advertising bags. The “Ten Steps” towards becoming baby friendly create an environment where women feel celebrated and supported as they breastfeed, rather than an inconvenience to staff. You can find a complete listing of all baby friendly hospitals and birth centers on the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Website here.
Doctors Versus Midwives: The Birth Wars Rage On-TIME
In an article published on May 16th, author Jeffrey Kluger brought the political battle over birth between doctors and midwives to the forefront of the news media once again. Kluger interviews Melissa Cheyney, an assistant professor of Anthropology at Oregon State University and a practicing midwife about her insights into this tug-of-war over mothers and babies.
If we really want to help moms…
This article by Alison Stuebe, MD was printed in the News & Observer on Sunday, May 10th. Dr. Stuebe is a mother of three and an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the UNC School of Medicine. You can read the article on the N&O website here.
Americans are expected to spend nearly $16 billion this year on Mother’s Day celebrations. It’s an impressive outpouring of appreciation-and it’s also an aberration. The other 364 days of the year, American mothers are on their own, with profound consequences for public health. As an obstetrician, I see these consequences every day. When mom and baby leave the hospital, dad goes back to work, and older children get pulled from day care to save money. Saddled with responsibility for housework, older children and baby care, mothers fight for even a few minutes to nurture their infants. Three-quarters of American mothers start out breastfeeding, but more than half wean early, unable to reach the goals they set for themselves. It’s not difficult to understand why-stress interferes with the hard-wired brain circuitry responsible for mothering and nurturing babies.
Read more…
UNC-Chapel Hill Responds to Perinatal Mood Disorders in NC
The Baby Blues…almost every pregnant woman has heard of this vague and ominous condition. Many women struggle with the idea that they may not be happy about becoming a mother or deeply, inexplicably angry with their baby.
When is crying too much crying? When is tired too tired? It’s uncomfortable and disturbing and unpolite….and so thousands of women are suffering in silence every year. Read more…
Orgasmic Birth: Scandalous or Scientific?
There has been a buzz in the news lately with birth being called “ecstatic” or “orgasmic,” even. Scandalous or Scientific? Read more…
International Day of the Midwife
Midwives are a cornerstone of maternity care worldwide. They are the guardians of normal birth everywhere. In every other developed country (besides the United States), midwives attend 70-80% of women giving birth, while high-risk obstetricians handle high-risk cases. In the Netherlands, 36% of births are planned home births with midwives. Interestingly, the Dutch have lower mortality rates than the United States (Wagner, 2006). Holland’s midwives are autonomous health care providers, reimbursed by health insurance. In less developed nations, they are critical to women who may be isolated in rural areas without access to technology of any kind. Read more…