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Well, everyone in our periphery is now aware of Sprout. Rob and I got into a bit of an argument on Sunday, not even really an argument, just a joined frustration, really.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/65090.php
The highlights of the article (Thanks for the article go to Belletheacd over at the MDC forum):
“– Women whose labors are induced for non-medical reasons are more likely to suffer from intrapartum fever and more likely to end up needing forceps, vacuum extraction and a cesarean surgery.
– Inductions add to the risk of poor outcomes for the health of the baby. Artificially-induced labors increase the rate of fetal distress and a serious complication of labor called shoulder dystocia (when the baby’s shoulders have difficulty passing through the mother’s pelvic bones). Elective induction babies are also more likely to need phototherapy to treat jaundice after birth, and are at higher risk for breathing difficulties and admission to neonatal intensive care.
– Use of electronic fetal monitors is more than 85 percent on low-risk women. They fail to reduce the number of perinatal deaths, the incidence of cerebral palsy or the number of admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit. Continuous fetal monitoring puts women at increased risk for an instrumental delivery, cesarean section and infection.
– Overall 1 in 3 U.S. women give birth by cesarean surgery. The majority of the operations are repeat procedures with no medical indication.
– When compared to women who have a vaginal birth, cesarean surgeries put women at risk for infections, hemorrhage requiring transfusion, surgical injuries, and complications from anesthesia, chronic pain, adhesions, hysterectomy, pulmonary embolism, placental problems with future pregnancies and death. Babies born by cesarean surgery are more likely to suffer from surgical lacerations, respiratory complications, and to require neonatal intensive care. “
The problem with anti-homebirth people is that they rebuke any information-MUCH of which is taken from the very same journals and publications that doctors read and use- as hogwash, pseudo science and anecdotal information. If it is simply anecdotal information, then why do nearly 1/3 of wimmin in the US and Canada get cut open? I would rather take the 1% chance of having a c-section after tranfering from a home delivery, than going to the hospital and having a 30% chance.
A comment on the Washington Post article from yesterday. (http://womonandsprout.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/washington-post-today/ -btw, someone want to tell me how to do hotlinking so I don’t have these huge friggen links taking up space?) I found it to be particularly interesting. Now that the name callers are done with the discussion, real discourse seems to be starting on the comment board over there.
“”All truth passes through 3 stages: First it is ridiculed. Then it is violently opposed. Finally, it is accepted as self-evident.”
I personally had my first in a hospital, with a good experience. I eventually learned about UC and progressed through all 3 of these stages of truth myself, starting with “She must be f***ing crazy!” I have had 2 UCs since, and feel very comfortable being ridiculed and laughed at. After all, I have nature on my side, and several millenia of species success. The bottom line is that I trust myself and my baby to know what is going on and decide if I (possibly) need outside ‘help’ than I trust a doctor or midwife to do this very personal job.
My sincerest regards to those fellow sisters of mine who have been tortured by our medical/malpractice industry. This discussion is one step toward changing it so it never again happens to another woman/baby/family.”
I have never found that to be more true than when it comes to something like this, or like vaccinating, or babywearing, etc.
From: http://www.geocities.com/pwrmommy/breastfeeding_articles_of_interest.htm
Did you know….
1.Human milk has over 300 ingredients, including interferon, white blood cells, antibacterial and antiviral agents, while formula has only 40 ingredients.
2.Human milk has been shown to kill cancer cells in a laboratory dish and has been used in oncology.
3. The human breast “custom-makes” antibodies to fight whatever pathogen the infant is exposed to in the environment.
4. Breast milk has been used to treat eye infections, ear infections, pimples, cold sores, and nail fungus and prevent infection in scrapes and scratches.
5. In some parts of the world, donated organs are bathed in breast milk for the protective factors.
6. There were 22 “significant” recalls of formula for potentially life-threatening situations.
7. Human milk lactoferrin is patented for use in killing E. Coli in the meat packing industry.
8. Donor milk is being used to treat malabsorption and short-gut syndromes, renal failure, inborn errors of metabolism, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, immunodeficiency diseases, burn cases, cardiac problems, and infectious diseases such as intractable diarrhea, gastroenteritis, infantile botulism, sepsis, pneumonia, and hemorrhagic conjuctivitis in both children and adults.
9. Adoptive moms, grandmothers, and yes, even men (!) have been able to lactate for an infant.
You can read more at the site!
A great article, though I am confused as to when it was printed. The date near the header is today but it speaks in past tense. It’s a good article anyway.
BTW, when they say research has shown that breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months….it doesn’t just mean children in Ghana. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive nursing for 6 months for all children and nursing until a minimum of two years of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the same except nursing for at minimum of one year.
Check it out: http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/
In honor I give you these beautiful images of Mamas and their nurslings
Do you operate a site or a blog about homebirth, freebirth, AP parenting or breastfeeding that you would like to trade links? let me know! I would love to link to you!
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