Blog
August 01, 2011
When we say that something is “touching,” or we are “touched by” something, we mean that we are somehow moved by it emotionally; that it reaches a place deep within our hearts. This also happens with massage. When we are relaxed enough, and in “touch with” our bodies enough, we are able to access a place inside where all is well in our world. This state is most important in keeping babies and their caretakers happy, healthy, and bonded. Babies are like little stars that came to earth. Their light will shine brighter and brighter as they grow and laugh and feel enveloped in the love that you will bring to them.
As parents in a busy world, relaxation is often an overlooked aspect of our health. We make the time to exercise, eat right and hopefully sleep enough, but when it comes time to relax we often are remiss in giving ourselves that “luxury.” How many times do we mean to meditate, stretch, do yoga, take a walk, pray, or take a long hot bath? Not often enough. It’s important to remember
July 01, 2011
La Leche League’s “Big Latch On” event, August 6th, 2011
“Women were ready to take charge of their own bodies. There was a need.” This was her answer when one founder was asked why they started La Leche League International (LLLI).
In 1956, seven women founded La Leche League International united by a common bond: their mutual appreciation for natural birth and their healthy, happy breastfeeding babies. They nurtured, nursed and practiced what they preached, with a combined total of 63 children, 161 grandchildren, and 30 great grandchildren, as of 2008. They were encouraged by enthusiastic husbands, and inspired by their enjoyment to share what they knew with other mothers, in their Elmhurst, Illinois vicinity, who were often asking for guidance on how best to breastfeed their babies.
In the words of each of the seven founders, here are some of their thoughts and history from their journey together. Their detailed chronological history
July 01, 2011
One of the major sources of frustration and even guilt in early motherhood is breastfeeding. Yes, for some mothers breastfeeding runs utterly smoothly, but for others, breastfeeding challenges become a partially painful and uneven ordeal. The range of complaints includes cracks and fissures in the nipples, sore breasts, infections, fungi, concerns with having enough milk, and feelings of having to feed too frequently and thus becoming a milk-producing machine. These conditions make breastfeeding less of the pleasant bonding activity which most mothers envision for their unborn child. So, what can help these mothers? Perhaps a few breastfeeding tips and education.
First Recourse: Mastering the Basics
The first recourse or breastfeeding tip is naturally to make sure that the basics are in place. There is plenty of literature out there, which an expectant woman can read at her own leisure. The website
July 01, 2011
There is a deeply caring quality reflected in Ina May Gaskin’s life as a certified professional midwife for over 35 years, as an author, educator, community member, and the mother of three home-birthed children. She brings her life’s work and experience to the 340 pages of this rich resource on breastfeeding. Like her book, Spiritual Midwifery, Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding is destined to be a classic. Word is bound to spread quickly to every mother interested in “everything you need to know to make breastfeeding a joyful, natural, and richly fulfilling experience for both you and your baby.”
The contents of this book bring insights into the personal journey of becoming a family, from how your birth choices determine the quality of your breastfeeding experience, to the advantages of delaying cutting the umbilical cord. There are lists of Baby-Friendly hospitals, herbs to avoid, and how to handle sick and hospitalized
July 01, 2011
Yesterday my sister told me that she never knew what hard work breastfeeding was going to be. Last month, she celebrated her first year as a mother, and her first year of breastfeeding. She amazes me, balancing her busy schedule in the corporate world with time for breastfeeding and breast pumping in the office “pump-quarters.” I’m thrilled my sister’s breastfeeding is supported in the workplace, because breastfeeding is one of the body’s most beautiful, intelligent functions.
Breast milk is a living fluid substance, one of the most nutritious on earth. The wisdom or innate intelligence of the human body is so remarkable that a mother’s body will change the composition of her breast milk at every feeding, according to the time of day, the climate, and the baby’s age. Breast milk contains the perfect amount of every essential nutrient optimal for your baby’s growth and development at each unique moment.
As a family wellness chiropractor who is passionate about serving pregnant woman,
July 01, 2011
Breastfeeding: Nutrition for Better Brains and Super Moms
Breastfeeding can’t guarantee a super baby who walks at 4 months and differentiates colors, letters, and numbers by 6 months, but research does indicate that it is the best nutrition for your baby, helps fight infection, promotes brain development, and may even increase academic performance and IQ. And breastfeeding definitely makes you a super mom!
The best nutrition for your baby:
Breastfeeding provides the calories and nutrients that are just right for your baby. The composition of breast milk changes as your baby grows to meet her nutritional needs. Breastfed babies may need a vitamin D supplement, so ask your pediatrician.
Breast milk passes antibodies to your baby. In addition to nutrients, breast milk also gives your baby protection against infection and disease. Breastfeeding may also prevent or delay allergies. Remember that any
July 01, 2011
Midwifery in Germany differs in many details from the situation as it is in the United States. Sure, on both sides of the ocean mothers and fathers wish nothing but the best for the newborn life, but the way to achieve this may be somewhat different. This article focuses on midwife education in Germany pointing out the importance of freelancers in this area.
Midwifery in Germany is a health care profession which takes care of women in pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum. There are circa 18,000 midwives in Germany who have passed their exam at one of the total of 58 schools of midwifery existing here. As for the foreign midwives from all over the world that wish to work in Germany, they may have to visit one of the German schools of midwifery so as to improve their theoretical knowledge and gain further practical experience. The training there consists of about 1,600 hours in theory and circa 3,000 hours in practice. In order to provide a deep insight into the variety of obstetrics,
July 01, 2011
Countless articles, reports and doctors assure us that “breast is best,” and in terms of a newborn’s nutritional needs, of course it is. Thankfully, there are alternatives in the rare cases where breastfeeding, or feeding breast milk, is not possible. Those instances are rare, and as The World Health Organization states, “Only under exceptional circumstances can a mother’s milk be considered unsuitable for her infant. For those few health situations where infants cannot, or should not, be breastfed, the choices of the best alternatives are–expressed breast milk from an infant’s own mother, breast milk from a healthy wet-nurse or a human-milk bank, or a breast-milk substitute fed with a cup, which is a safer method than a feeding bottle and teat–depends on individual circumstances.” [WHO 2003]
Breast milk contains
June 01, 2011
The five subthemes are : Globalisation, Listening to Women and their Partners, The Continuum of Care, Strengthening Midwives and Midwifery Practice, and Culture, Society and Traditions.
Globalization
This sub-theme covers opportunities for midwives from all over the world to support and encourage one another through collaboration and the sharing of experiences, both similar and different. This sub-theme will highlight human resource issues and migration of midwives, developing sustainable women and child health care programmes particularly in middle and low income settings, and explore the impact of HIV/AIDS on midwifery services.
Listening to women and their partners
This sub-theme focuses on the voices of women and their partners in reproductive health and learning from these perspectives and expectations. It includes issues of communication, emotional support and the role of support/network groups in maternity care. It also incorporates
June 01, 2011
Have you ever thought of giving birth at home?
Perhaps you have not chosen this option if you have given birth in the U.S., as so few women have – currently around 0.67%. Consequently, there is only a relatively small chance that you know someone who has personally had the experience of giving birth at home. For some, it may seem unfamiliar that a birth at home should give you a greater level of security and satisfaction with your birth. However, in this article, we will examine a variety of the aspects that differ between a home birth and a hospital-based birth. And although you may in fact never choose to deliver at home, some of the features of a home birth may be an inspiration for the way you choose to give birth in a hospital.
In the small, but relatively progressive country of Denmark in Northern Europe, with a population roughly equal to that of the state of Wisconsin, a group of midwives has been working over the past twenty years in close and mutually beneficial collaboration