Roundup

Since I was out of town last week on vacation I was not on my computer, I have had to catch up on a lot of blogs and birth-related news. Here is a Roundup of some interesting topics:

Women who Pump instead of Nurse
"I'm a huge fan of breast milk, just not of nursing"

Time article describes the pros for moms who exclusively pumping and feeding baby breast milk for moms. There are also cons to this method, such as missing out on some of the pros to actually breastfeeding. It is an intriguing "compromise" for women who find breastfeeding difficult or undesirable.


Jewish Midwifery  
hameyaldot ha'ivriyot

I found a blog by a Jewish midwife who writes about Jewish custom/law and pregnancy/birth. For instance, she writes of the Jewish tradition of regarding childbirth as a dangerous passage; a life-threatening state in which other laws may be disregarded (such as breaking sabbath, fasting, and so forth).

I find it particularly fascinating because 1. I studied Jews from an Anthropological perspective for my undergraduate honors thesis so its still of interest to me and 2. I'm Jewish myself and I find it interesting to learn new things as both an "insider" and an "outsider."


Breastfeeding in Public
The more something is seen, the more accepted it becomes. 

Photos of nursing in public worldwide:

A recent article published in Australia's Herald Sun indicated that many Generation-Y women polled would not nurse their babies because of fear of embarrassment over public breastfeeding. As much as 75 percent of these young women felt that nursing in public was uncomfortable and few understood the benefits of breastfeeding for themselves or their babies.

Inspired by the article in the Herald Sun (Australia), the Holistic Moms Network has launched a new project to highlight the beauty and confidence of breastfeeding women. HMN members from across North America submitted photos of themselves proudly breastfeeding their children - everywhere from the Eiffel Tower to the Brooklyn Bridge - for the Nursing Our Future video.

Photos of nursing in public across the U.S:

The Safety of Sling Baby Carriers
Infant Deaths Prompt U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Warning About Sling Carriers for Babies

"Slings can pose two different types of suffocation hazards to babies. In the first few months of life, babies cannot control their heads because of weak neck muscles. The sling’s fabric can press against an infant’s nose and mouth, blocking the baby’s breathing and rapidly suffocating a baby within a minute or two. Additionally, where a sling keeps the infant in a curled position bending the chin toward the chest, the airways can be restricted, limiting the oxygen supply. The baby will not be able to cry for help and can slowly suffocate"

This warning is actually in response to a certain type of sling carrier, ones that look like this:

BAD

This site has a lot of great info on the dangers of this type of sling and the correct way to use a baby sling safely.

1. You should always be able to see your baby's face, and check him frequently and easily without opening the fabric.
2. The carrier should mimic the way you hold him in arms. If it doesn't, it should at least keep the baby in an upright position with his airway open and clear.
3. It should be easy to get the baby into a safe position, without having to fuss with a buckle or other system.
4. The carrier should fit your body easily, and keep the baby high and tight against your chest, not low on your hips.

GOOD

 More great info on this at Dou-la-la