Breast Pump: New or Used?

Purchasing a breast pump to return to work can be an expensive decision. Purchasing a used breast pump lowers the price but increases mom's and baby's risk of infection. If a pump is labeled single user - it should not be used by more than one woman.

bellaonline.com

CDC: Fewer Than Half of U.S. Moms Breastfeed Enough

Fewer than half of U.S. mothers breastfeed their newborns for even half as long as advised and just 22 percent still do so at one year. The CDC found that while 75 percent of newborns get breastfed right after birth, mothers give up quickly - even though guidelines call for babies to get at least some mother's milk for the first year of life.

foxnews.com

Breastfeeding Significantly Lowers Breast Cancer Risk

Women who breastfeed their infants have a significantly lower risk of breast cancer, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

nyt.com

You may not be getting to the gym and your hand weights may be collecting dust, but lugging kids around is no small feat, Mama!

In fact, carrying an infant for half an hour burns 126 calories. Here are the number of calories you burn going about you everyday business (all figures based on 30 minutes of activity for a 150-pound woman).

• Putting Away the Groceries: 90 calories


• Walking/Playing with the kids: 135 calories


• Pushing a Stroller: 90 calories


• Playing Guitar: 108 calories


• House work: 99 calories


• Packing a suitcase: 72 calories


• Cooking: 108 calories


• Sex: 144 calories


• Gardening: 184 calories


• Ping-Pong: 135 calories

Do you feel like you never have a chance to get everything - or anything -on your to-do list accomplished?

Will you be working on getting through the to-do list over the holidays? If so, Laura Vanderkam says she has the answer to your chronic crunch. In her book, 168 Hours: You have more time than you think, she outlines ideas for making the most of every week. Here are a few of her secrets:

• There is time for everything that matters - nurturing your family, your career, your friendships, and your faith. The key is eliminating what doesn't.


• What doesn't matter? Housework is a big one. If you have extra cash, outsource it. If you can't, do the least you can get away with. If you spend 20 minutes picking up the house after the kids go to bet, it'll just get dirty again the next morning.


• TV and the Internet are a time drain.


• Mom's favorite shortcut? Ordering groceries on line.

Are you headed off to the parents or in-laws later this week?

If so, pick up a copy of Rock & Roll Playground by various artists. This great kid rock CD allows old-school musicians to join the best of the new generation of kid-music stars, including Bill Harlet and Dan Zanes. This is good old guitar-strummin' music. What will you listen to during your drive this week? Please share your ideas!

Travel Medicine Kit

Many of you will be traveling this week - here is a suggested list of the items to bring when traveling with children. Other ideas? Please share them!

• Medications your child needs for preexisting conditions (such as an inhaler or EpiPen)


• Fever reducer/pain reliver like acetaminophen or ibuprofen (over 6 months)


• Antibacterial cream such as Neosporin to prevent boo-boos from becoming infected


• Antihistamine - such as chldren's Benadryl or Claritin for possible allergic reactions


• Thermometer


• Oral rehydration solution such as Pedialyte (come in powder form for easy packing)


• Bandages


• Nasal aspirator and nasal spray if you have a baby prone to stuffy noses


• Hand Sanitizer


• Sunblock


• 1% hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching and irritation after insect bites or rashes


• Insect repellent with DEET concentration of 30%


• Tweezers for tick or splinter removal

Pregnancy is Possible Even While Breastfeeding

A survey commissioned by a sexual and reproductive health service found it necessary to issue a warning after it found that 35 percent of Australian women fail to use contraception immediately after giving birth. You can become pregnant while breastfeeding.

medindia.net

Colostrum contains high levels of nitrite. The University of Texas Health Science Center asks why?

Authors in a recent study say, "Colostrum has significantly higher concentrations of nitrite and significantly lower concentrations of nitrate than both transition and mature milk, which he believes may be nature's way of providing nitric oxide to the newborns whose gastrointestinal tract is not yet colonized by bacteria that convert nitrate to nitrite." Another way of saying - every ounce counts!

medindia.net

Connecting After Work

Working can create a feeling of distance between mother and baby - one mom describes her feelings of connectivity after a long day at work as she nurses her little one. Stopping in at lunch to nurse or nursing directly after work can create a bond that takes away the distance of the day. Enjoy the time together.

wearandnursebaby.com

Healthy People 2020

Just 3.8% of U.S. births occur in facilities that have earned Baby Friendly Certification. Baby Friendly facilities meet standards set by UNICEF and the World Health Organization for high-quality breastfeeding care. By 2020, the goals call for increasing the percentage of Baby Friendly Hospitals to 8%.

healthypeople.gov

Healthy People 2020

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be fed only breastmilk for the first 6 months of life, but only 13% of babies in the U.S. meet this breastfeeding standard. Healthy People 2020 aims to increase this rate to 24% at 6 months.

healthypeople.gov

Incorrect Medicine Doses

A new study just published by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that 98% of the top selling OTC children's medications sold in 2009 had confusing and inconsistent dosing directions and markings on the dispensers. Standardized dosing instructions are recommended and should be implemented by 2012.

npr.org

Holiday words to live by

"At every party there are two kinds of people - those who want to go home and those who don't. The trouble is, they are usually married to each other."

Ann Landers

Travel with Breastmilk

The United States TSA currently permits mothers flying without children to bring breast milk in quantities greater than three ounces. Rules can be interpreted differently at each screening city, we recommend checking your liquid to avoid extra airport scrutiny.

tsa.gov

Healthy People 2020

Every 10 years the US government sets breastfeeding goals: the new 2020 goals establish for the first time workplace accommodation goals. Currently 25% of US workplaces accommodate nursing women, by 2020 the new goal is 38%! We can do it!

HealthyPeople.com

FDA Voices Concerns on Use of Donated Human Milk

The FDA recommends against feeding your baby breast milk acquired directly from other individuals or through the Internet. There are human milk banks that take voluntary steps to screen milk donors, and safely collect, process, handle, test, and store the milk.

emaxhealth.com