You may have heard in the news that mothers’ milk is contaminated with toxic chemicals. It is true. It is also true that everyone agrees that breastmilk is the first choice food for babies. All major public health organizations promote breastfeeding. Even though we live in a world where harmful chemicals are in our environment…
Category: Benefits
Mental health for mamas
There is loads to say about this – having a baby is a huge life stress as well as a welcome joy. Breastfeeding often gets blamed for lots of problems with lack of sleep being on of the biggies. According to an article by Kathleen Kendall-Tackett (one of my very favorite authors on the topic…
In defense of (real) food
Check out this Colbert Report with Michael Pollan, the author of In Defense of Food. (I’m sorry that I’m not techno savvy enough to embed this video.) The cool thing is this: Pollan says, “We have been trying to synthesize breast milk for 150 years, and we still don’t know how to do it. And…
Gift #1: A special relationship
There are very few times in our lives where we experience that feeling of falling in love. It’s that happier-than-anything feeling that someone else is perfect for us. It may be romance, it may be that new best friend, it may be that little baby that we’ve brought into our family. Part of this perfect…
Gifts to ourselves
It’s Mothers’ Day. I hope all of the mothers out there have a lovely day. Mine has been really nice. In Madison today it’s sunny, cool, and all the spring flowers are blooming. All my kids are getting along and they’re all doing their work — even my oldest who needs to study for finals….
Sleep Survey Results
You may remember a post a while ago where I linked to a sleep survey for mothers of new babies. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett and Thomas Hale (authors of The Hidden Feelings of Motherhood and Medications and Mothers’ Milk respectively) have been collecting data about how new mothers sleep, where new babies sleep, how the babies are…
Some new research (and an old joke)
Here’s the joke: “A blonde is walking down the street with her blouse open and her right breast hanging out. A policeman approaches her and says,”Ma’am, are you aware that I could cite you for indecent exposure?” She says, “Why officer?” “Because your breast is hanging out.” he says. She looks down and says, “OH…
More thoughts from the New Yorker
Jill Lepore goes on to look at what part of breastfeeding is the part that is important to babies’ well being: is it the breastmilk? or is it the interaction with mothers? And if it is (even at least in part )the interaction, why is pumping given so much priority? Rhode Island’s Physicians’ Committee for…
More gifts of breastfeeding…
Unfortunately many international aid organizations have given emergency and long-term aid that has undermined breastfeeding in the countries they are helping. In both the short and long-term this hurts babies and mothers. If you’d like to be able to make an international donation that supports breastfeeding, Mercy Corps has the option of a specific breastfeeding-support…
Fighting Poverty
A lot of people think about poverty and giving during the holiday season. UNICEF executive director James P. Grant said this: “Breastfeeding is a natural ‘Safety Net’ against the worst effects of poverty. If a child survives first month of life (the most dangerous period of childhood) then for the next four months or so,…
Madison Breastfeeding Help 