Good Reading: "Breastmilk... what's in it?"

I found this reading very, very interesting!  Hope you do, too.

Dreaded Ammonia...

For those who use cloth diapers, you might have had an experience (or two) with the dreaded ammonia problem. So far, I have been lucky to avoid it, but I found this info posted by another cloth diapering mama and thought I would share in case it helps someone.

Rinse, Rinse, Rinse! Use lots of water. That is the best way to get rid of ammonia. It is a by product of urine but needs water to break it down further and release it from the diaper.

I use a wet pail, and I know that isn't really practical for everyone, but it has worked really well for us. I've never had any ammonia issues.

Here's some info on what ammonia is and how it occurs:

The kidneys secrete NH3 to neutralize excess acid. It is quickly converted to urea, which is much less toxic, particularly less basic. This urea is a major component of the dry weight of urine. As a urine soaked diaper dries out, the urea breaks down back into ammonia and other by-products and the ammonia becomes trapped in the diaper as it attaches to the fibers. It is a base and is very caustic to the skin, especially when it is concentrated in a night-time diaper. Most of the chemical reactions resulting in ammonia occur in the absence of oxygen and a warm environment over an extended period of time, i.e. a night-time diaper that is usually on the child for 10+ hours, non-breathable covers with PUL or similar material and warmth from the child's own body head. Night-time diapers that do not get rinsed well and then are repeatedly used (adding to the ammonia build-up) can lead to rashes and ammonia burns.

Ammonium compounds should never be allowed to come in contact with bases, i.e. bleach (unless in an intended and contained reaction), as dangerous quantities of ammonia gas could be released. Caution should be used that the chemical is never mixed into any liquid containing bleach, or a poisonous gas may result. Mixing with chlorine-containing products or strong oxidants, such as household bleach, can lead to hazardous compounds such as chloramines.

The reason why bleach works to remove ammonia from diapers is this: Chloramine can be removed from tap water by treatment with superchlorination (10 ppm or more of free chlorine, such as from a dose of [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hypochlorite"]sodium hypochlorite bleach[/URL]; also known as clorox or household bleach, or pool sanitizer) while maintaining a pH of about 7 (such as from a dose of hydrochloric acid). [B]Hypochlorous acid[/B] from the free chlorine [B]strips the ammonia from the chloramine[/B][B], and the ammonia outgasses from the surface of the bulk water[/B]. This process takes about 24 hours for normal tap water concentrations of a few ppm of chloramine.

Residual free chlorine can then be removed by exposure to bright sunlight for about 4 hours. This completes the process of removing the ammonia.

I found this on Howstuffworks.com -

Remove Ammonia Spots and Stains From:

Cotton, Linen

Flush area with cool water until all trace of ammonia is gone. Launder as soon as possible. The acid treatment recommended for other fabrics cannot be used on cotton or linen, as they may be permanently damaged by acids.

Remove Ammonia Spots and Stains From:

Felt

With a sponge dipped in cool water and wrung out, gently brush (the method of using a stiff-bristled brush to gently remove dried stains and spots) in the direction of the nap. If any stain remains, neutralize it with a few drops of lemon juice, white vinegar, or 10% acetic acid solution. Sponge thoroughly with cool water. Since felt is composed mainly of wool fibers, an ammonia stain may damage it permanently.

I found this on a cloth diapering site, and unlike most of what I have found on ammonia on other cloth diapering sites, this seems to be very accurate, practical and helpful information.

Ammonia can be caused in two ways:

1. Chemical formation because urine contains urea ((NH2)2CO). The body really wants to get rid of ammonia (NH4+), but ammonia is toxic, so it is converted to urea in the liver. Over time and with sufficient heat, urea will convert back to ammonia in your diapers;

and

2. Biological formation due to bacterial buildup in the diapers. Often older babies have more ammonia problems, probably because they have started solids and have more bacteria in their intestines and therefore in their feces.

You can do a few things to keep ammonia at bay.

1. Keep an open pail. Many of the reactions that turn urea back into ammonia are anaerobic (don't use oxygen), so keeping the lid off will keep a higher concentration of oxygen circulating around your diapers.

2. Wash frequently with vinegar in the pre-rinse. Ammonia is basic and vinegar is an acid. An acid plus a base makes a salt and water. Usually the salt is water soluble, which makes it easier to get rid of in your wash.

3. Keep your diaper pail somewhere cool. Reaction rates double for every 10 degrees celcius rise in temperature. Therefore, if your house goes from 20 degrees in the winter to 30 degrees in the summer, you will get ammonia problems twice as often in the summer.

4. Don't use baking soda unless you want to have to use more vinegar. Baking soda is a base, so you will need more vinegar to neutralize both the baking soda and the ammonia.

5. Use enough soap in the wash to actually get your diapers clean. Getting rid of the bacteria (soap doesn't usually kill bacteria, just interacts with their ability to adhere to the fabric), will keep your ammonia problems at bay.

6. After your cold prerinse/soak, wash in the hottest water you can to completely dissolve the ammonia salts that are present in the diapers.

This was the response to a question from another mama:

"What type of soap you use probably won't affect things much. Some people find that Bac Out seems to get rid of their problems. It has no caustic ingredients (no bases), so it will not contribute to the problem anyway. Your cheapest method will probably be to find cheap vinegar in bulk and a laundry detergent that you can buy locally that has no dyes, brighteners or enzymes.

I just use normal, cheap white vinegar. I buy it in 4 L (I think that's about a gallon?) jugs and go through 1 every 2 weeks.

4 L divided by 14 days means that I use approximately 1 1/3 cups per load. I have a front loader, so keep that in mind.

I add it to the cold pre-rinse I do before washing."

Best wishes!

Bumbo Exchange

There have been some growing concerns among parents about the safety of the bumbo because it doesn't have a safety restraint for the child while seated. These concerns have been voiced to the maker of the bumbo but they have refused to add a seat belt-type restraint to increase the safety of their product. Another company, Prince Lionheart, has offered to replace any bumbo with their product called the bebePOD for the cost of shipping. The bebePOD has a safety restraint and straps to attach the seat to a chair for use as a high-chair. If you are interested in making the exchange, the deadline is coming up soon. Your bumbo must be sent and postmarked by January 31st to qualify for the free exchange.

Here is a link to find out more: www.facebook.com/PrinceLionheartFamily?sk=app_10442206389

Plastic & Chemical Exposure

I have been really thinking a lot about plastic products that we use with our baby. It concerns me when I hear talk of chemicals/pesticides/toxins and carcinogens coming in contact with my child on a daily basis. I know I can't remove every harmful thing, but with things like Autism and ADHD on the rise in an unprecedented way, I want to limit the exposure to harmful things, as much as I can.

I found this blog post today and thought it was helpful and informative so I thought I'd share.

Reducing our exposure to toxins found in plastics

Welcome to the January Carnival of Natural Parenting: Experiments in Natural Family Living
This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have reported on weeklong trials to make their lives a little greener and gentler. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.


What a great time of year to make changes towards more natural family living! 2011 was a year of change for our family, and I’d like take more positive steps in this fresh new year. This month’s Carnival theme was a perfect opportunity for our family to clear out some clutter from the kitchen. Our targets: melamine plates and plastic drinking cups.

Toxic plastic and melamine tableware

For the last 2 weeks we have been making some minor adjustments to our tableware in favour of greener and less toxic alternatives, and I’ll tell you why...

Melamine plates

Why would I want to throw out these cute melamine plates and bowls which have accumulated over the years? They have such bright, fun patterns which the boys adore, and best of all they don’t smash when dropped (or let’s face it, thrown) on the floor by a toddler.

I have actually been meaning to discard these items of tableware for some time, since I first read of the dangers of melamine during the awful melamine scandal in China^[1]. Quite honestly, there are so many things we would like to change/do better/do without, that this had slipped down my list of priorities. I had wanted to indulge in a little research first, and after a few minutes reading some articles online, I now wish I had acted a lot sooner. This is one experiment in natural family living that I want to make sure becomes a permanent change!

Melamine is a chemical compound which forms a white crystalline powder, but can be mixed with formaldehyde to produce a hard plastic, known as melamine resin. It is this resin that is used to make, among other things, the children’s plates we have been ignorantly using for the past few years. Melamine resin is not microwave safe, and can degrade when exposed to high temperatures. As the plates are worn down or damaged, the melamine resin breaks down to its component parts. In both cases, this can cause exposure to both melamine and formaldehyde which is a known carcinogen^[2].

It wasn’t hard to push the melamine to the back of the cupboard for now, and swap it for porcelain tableware for the children. Porcelain and other ceramics certainly don’t show signs of wear as quickly as melamine, and can cope with high temperatures without leaching toxins. We already had plenty of porcelain, but these sorts of ceramic plates are easy and cheap to purchase (especially second hand!). The only downside is that they are of course rather breakable. It’s currently not a problem in our family since our twins are now 4 and don’t generally fling things from the table, and our 10 month old feeds himself straight off his wooden high chair tray. Our twin’s verdict on the new plates? They didn’t even notice until I asked them, and simply shrugged like teenage boys. However, they did take far more notice of our next change...

Plastic cups and cutlery

The banished melamine plates and bowls have been joined by plastic cups and cutlery. Our boys have been rather attached to their old colourful plastic sippy cups! As much as we had tried to offer drinks in normal glass cups, they still often asked for their clever-cup-with-a-lid. Sadly for them, I now realise that they probably contain bisphenol-A (BPA) and other nasty chemicals.

Bisphenol-A is commonly abbreviated to BPA, and is a chemical used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics. It is part of a group of chemicals which exhibit similar effects to oestrogen, thus disrupting the body’s hormone system. Oestrogen (estrogen) itself is a natural hormone found in animals and some insects, which has wide ranging functions, from regulating aspects of the reproductive system to affecting fat deposition and even mental health ^[3].

BPA’s oestrogenic activity has been studied for decades. There is a huge amount of compelling research out there, and I wish I had the time to break it all down! Just a few examples of its effects on the body include:

• Hyperactivity, attention deficits and a heightened sensitivity to drugs of abuse ^[4]
• An increase in the risk of breast cancer ^[5,6] and induced cancerous growth in the lab^[7]
• Problems with the development of the reproductive system, female fertility^[8] and male sexual dysfunction^[9]
• Reduced brain function related to regulation of moods and formation of memories^[10]

The body’s hormonal system is highly sensitive, and low doses of this oestrogen-mimicking chemical have been found to cause serious health problems. There is a consensus among many experts that the average level of BPA found in humans is greater than the levels found to cause harm in laboratory studies. As you can imagine, the effects of BPA will be greater in developing babies and children. BPA can leach out of polycarbonate plastics when they are heated, scratched, cleaned using harsh detergents, exposed to UV light, and as they naturally degrade over time. BPA was banned from infant feeding bottles and cups in Europe over a year ago^[11], but some of our cups were bought before the ban came into force.

BPA-free plastic is not necessarily safe either. For years the manufacturer’s defended their use of this chemical, until they were forced to withdraw it. I wonder how many other chemicals in plastics pose health risks? In March 2011, a US research team examined over 450 BPA-free products to determine if other potentially damaging chemicals were released during use^[12]. They exposed commonly available plastic products to general wear from heat, UV light and microwaving and found that almost all plastics leached out chemicals which had oestrogenic activity. In fact, some of these chemicals in BPA-free plastics had more oestrogenic activity than BPA itself. The true health effects of many of these chemicals are unknown, and not widely publicised like those of BPA.

Even though the oestrogenic activity and health effects of BPA are well known, this chemical is still found in a whole host of plastics which commonly come into contact with our food and drink. I was surprised to read that it is used in the lining of cans ^[13], thermal paper of till receipts ^[14], and even in the epoxy resins used to reline old water pipes ^[15]! It seems hard to completely avoid exposure, which makes it especially important to switch our children’s drinking cups to a more suitable alternative.

Painted ceramic mugs

We may buy some smaller drinking glasses for the children, but for now they have been very happy to drink out of some ceramic mugs that we all painted together this week. These were actually one of their Christmas gifts, and we all enjoyed splashing some paint on the outside and setting it in the oven. For days out and about, we bought some great stainless steel drinks containers which seem really tough and easy to clean.

Stainless steel flasks - BPA free

It hasn’t been hard to stop using plastics and melamine, and we will definitely continue trying to eliminate chemicals in the kitchen to protect our health. I haven't even gone into the environmental concerns about plastic! These tainted items are currently sitting at the back of the cupboard, waiting for me to work out the best way to reuse or be rid of them. Any ideas?

The next thing to go is the non-stick cookware...

Here is the link to her original blog post with a list of references: http://gentlyparentingtwins.blogspot.com/2012/01/reducing-exposure-to-toxins-in-plastics.html

Artificial Materials and Cloth Diapering

Artificial Materials and Cloth Diapering

by Marc Pehkonen, Lori Taylor
fuzbaby
FireFly Diapers

For centuries, naturally occurring absorbent materials were used for diapering infants. These were probably picked from local fibers, easily available, and could have included materials as diverse as moss and linen. Then, in the 20th century, the amazingly rapid development of artificial materials heralded an almost total switch in the West from cloth diapering to disposables. Highly engineered absorbent gels and processed wood pulp replaced reusable natural fibers. Although the vast majority accepted these changes as the inevitable (and even admirable) progress of technology, a small percentage continued to use cloth diapers.

Perhaps you are among those parents choosing to use cloth diapers because you reject the use of artificial materials. You may be concerned to see that such materials are showing up in popular cloth diapering products. Common man-made materials may be a health threat, including polyester fibers, vinyl and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane laminate (PUL), and durable water repellent finishes (DWR).

Introducing Polyester

Polyester was created in a laboratory just 60 years ago, during World War II. It gained popularity as an apparel fiber, particularly in the 1950s, under trade names such as Dacron. It may have become a joke by the 1970s, but it remains, in its various forms, one of the most popular fibers used in clothing.

Polyester is the artificial fiber most commonly blended with cotton, where it is added to reduce cost, speed up drying times, decrease the tendency to wrinkle and improve wear-resistance. Unblended, it is used in a variety of fabrics, including the ubiquitous polyester fleece. In addition, there is a new type of polyester fiber that is made from 100% recycled soda bottles (PET on the bottle stands for polyethylene terephthalate, or polyester). The argument is made that this is a plastic fiber that apparently helps the environment.

You might think, therefore, that water-repellant, 100% recycled polyester fleece would be a good candidate for a diaper cover, and that a soft, poly-cotton blend might make a good diaper. That such a combination would function adequately is not really at issue. The point is that polyester is not the wonder fiber its manufacturers claim.

The use of certain polymeric silicones as cosmetic implants ended in a successful lawsuit against Dow-Corning; the vinyl industry is the subject of mounting litigation (and a critical documentary, the independently-made Blue Vinyl, which aired on HBO in June 2002); and now even supposedly inert polyester is running into trouble.

Researchers at Tufts Medical School noticed that cancer cells being grown in the lab multiplied more quickly in polyester test tubes than in glass. It appears that polyester slowly emits phytoestrogens, which are endocrine disruptors, or compounds similar to estrogen, which can promote certain types of cancer. Enough people are worried about these chemicals that entire conferences are being held to discuss their possible effects. You can see the concerns of the scientific community reflected in this list of topics at a conference being held as we write: http://www.grc.uri.edu/programs/2002/enviend.htm

Polymer Chemistry 101

It is probably a good idea at this point to back up a bit for some chemistry 101. Basic polymer chemistry isn't too complicated, but for most people the manufacture of the plastics that surround us is a mystery, which no doubt suits the chemical producers very well. A working knowledge of the principles involved here will make us more informed users.

Polyester is only one compound in a class of petroleum-derived substances known as polymers. Thus, polyester (in common with most polymers) begins its life in our time as crude oil. Crude oil is a cocktail of components that can be separated by industrial distillation. Gasoline is one of these components, and the precursors of polymers such as polyethylene are also present.

Polymers are made by chemically reacting a lot of little molecules together to make one long molecule, like a string of beads. The little molecules are called monomers and the long molecules are called polymers.

Like this:

O + O + O + . . . makes OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Depending on which polymer is required, different monomers are chosen. Ethylene, the monomer for polyethylene, is obtained directly from the distillation of crude oil; other monomers have to be synthesized from more complex petroleum derivatives, and the path to these monomers can be several steps long. The path for polyester, which is made by reacting ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, is shown below. Key properties of the intermediate materials are also shown.

The polymers themselves are theoretically quite unreactive and therefore not particularly harmful, but this is most certainly not true of the monomers. Chemical companies usually make a big deal of how stable and unreactive the polymers are, but that's not what we should be interested in. We need to ask, what about the monomers? How unreactive are they?

We need to ask these questions because a small proportion of the monomer will never be converted into polymer. It just gets trapped in between the polymer chains, like peas in spaghetti. Over time this unreacted monomer can escape, either by off-gassing into the atmosphere if the initial monomers were volatile, or by dissolving into water if the monomers were soluble. Because these monomers are so toxic, it takes very small quantities to be harmful to humans, so it is important to know about the monomers before you put the polymers next to your skin or in your home. Since your skin is usually moist, any water-borne monomers will find an easy route into your body.

Polyester is the terminal product in a chain of very reactive and toxic precursors. Most are carcinogens; all are poisonous. And even if none of these chemicals remain entrapped in the final polyester structure (which they most likely do), the manufacturing process requires workers and our environment to be exposed to some or all of the chemicals shown in the flowchart above. There is no doubt that the manufacture of polyester is an environmental and public health burden that we would be better off without.

You may not feel comfortable putting a potential endocrine disruptor next to your child's most sensitive areas. What about some of the other fabrics and fabric treatments used in cloth diapering?

Vinyl and Polyvinyl Chloride

One widely distributed brand of cloth diapers uses PVC or vinyl for its diaper covers.

PVC is a polymer made from vinyl chloride monomer and often contains harmful phthalates as unbound plasticizers. Before you buy a vinyl diaper cover (or anything else made from PVC, especially for your children) consider some of the information available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health on vinyl chloride, the monomer for PVC or polyvinyl chloride. Pay particular attention to the "long-term exposure" sections.

Vinyl baby and children's toys are also very popular, but have raised significant health concerns. Search the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website for references to vinyl, and see also the article in Mothering magazine, Issue #90, Sep/Oct 1998.

The independent documentary film "Blue Vinyl," which aired this spring (2002) on HBO, primarily dealt with the effects of vinyl siding on residential users and the workers who manufacture and install the siding. Remember, a diaper cover is in much closer proximity to more sensitive skin than vinyl siding and can contain the same off-gassing monomers.

Polyurethane Laminate (PUL)

Polyurethane laminate, or PUL, has gained great popularity as a fabric treatment. It is applied to the surface of a porous fabric (usually polyester, but also cotton) to provide a flexible, totally waterproof layer. Ultrex and Extreme, two woven fabrics commonly used in outdoor clothing, are also polyurethane laminates. PUL makes functionally good diaper covers--it is an effective barrier to liquids.

But what are the precursor monomers for polyurethane? Most are based on TDI, or toluene 2,4-diisocyanate, a highly toxic carcinogen. Again the Disease Control and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health have information about TDI, the polyurethane monomer.

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO)

Durable Water Repellant Finish (DWR)

Durable Water Repellant finish is a generic term (rather than a trademark) in the outdoor gear industry for a water repellant surface layer, usually sprayed onto the fabric. This layer does not completely fill all the fabric pores (unlike PUL), so the fabric remains breathable. Goretex is probably the most well-known example of a DWR-treated fabric and its treatment contains a fluorocarbon similar to Teflon. The outdoor clothing manufacturer Patagonia describes their DWR finish as "polyurethane" and recommends re-treating "once per season, or more often if the piece gets a lot of use or washing." (Patagonia Product FAQs)

Patagonia recommends the use of Nikwax for re-treatment, which is based on a compound called ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), blended with a mineral wax. It also contains small amounts of an acidified zirconium salt of a weak acid (acetic acid) and ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) to stabilize the emulsion. If you are interested in digging deeper, you could even read a patent for Nikwax or any proprietary formulation. (Nikwax patent).

Patagonia suggests re-treatment if the garment is washed frequently. They cannot expect their hiking garments will be washed as often as diaper cover would be. DWR treatment would not be effective as a barrier unless you keep a bottle or can of Nikwax handy to restore your cover every few washes.

So, What's the Harm? What's the Choice?

You might ask after reading all this, so what is the actual risk to our babies and families? What if we use some PUL or DWR or fleece for the outer parts of diapers and covers that don't touch the skin? How much of the monomers are actually given off? Has anyone performed a study on this?

The problem is that we are not aware of any such specific study. What we do know is this: The short-term risks of exposure to all of the chemicals mentioned is well documented. The exposure tests are usually performed on animals, since most people would not willingly submit themselves to those kinds of tests and would certainly not volunteer their children. Then exposure limits are estimated, usually for adult males. In some unfortunate cases, actual exposures from industrial accidents and the like have been used to refine these limits.

The effects of long-term exposure are more problematic to predict than short-term; often symptoms take years, or even generations, to show up. Long-term studies of the effects of all the monomers mentioned in this article are still underway. Remember also that these chemicals may respond very differently when used for diapering--the long-term studies are considering only the action of these chemicals in water or air. The presence of urea, ammonia, and the salinity of urine may alter the behavior of monomers in unpredictable ways. In the meantime, wool, hemp, and cotton, particularly when grown and processed organically, are not carcinogens.

The main focus here has been the possible health risks of using these materials. Remember also, that continuing to use these materials supports the industries that produce them. That means continued consumption of the world's oil, mineral and energy resources and continued pollution of our air and water. It also means continued exploitation of chemical workers around the world, especially in countries with low safety standards. The fate of these materials after we are done using them also needs to be considered. Are they biodegradable, reusable, recyclable?

There are many reasons to consider the natural alternatives to artificial materials. Wool is breathable, and micro-absorbent, and naturally moisture repellant (but can be treated with lanolin if necessary, but please don't use Nikwax, despite manufacturer recommendations). Wool makes wonderful diaper covers. Cotton and hemp are both highly absorbent and hemp especially can be grown easily without pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Cotton is not so easy to grow organically, but every year more acres are being converted from conventional production. It is becoming widely available as a diapering fabric. Ask for organic cotton specifically.

As you can see, there's no good reason to use petroleum-based products like polyester, PUL or PVC in your child's diapers when natural fibers work so well and pose no health risks. Choose natural materials, manufactured with minimal processing under fair labor environments.

http://www.diaperpin.com/clothdiapers/article_artificialmaterials.asp

Breasts for Babies

Breasts sell beer but for heaven's sake, they shouldn't be seen feeding babies! (tongue in cheek)

A great article on this topic:

http://www.lifetimemoms.com/multicultural-moms/blog/breasts-to-sell-beer-good-breasts-to-feed-baby-bad?cmpid=PaidMedia_Outbrain_LTM_AllChannels

I’m not really sure why breasts can be openly used to sell beer and entice you to eat chicken wings at Hooters, but when they are used in their actual context—feeding a baby—people get all Puritanical.

Oh, the hypocrisy!

This week another breastfeeding mom, who was covered up, was forced to stop feeding her four-month old in the hallway of Washington D.C., DMV office when two (GASP!) female security guards told her to stop because it was indecent.

Simone Dos Santos, a lawyer herself, was waiting for a traffic hearing and stepped out into the hallway to breastfeed when the guards approached her, though she was covering her baby with a jacket.

"I was shocked, upset and angry that by providing food for my son, I was being treated like a criminal," she said in recent news reports.

As an attorney dos Santos knew that legally she had rights -- 28 states as well as D.C. exempt breastfeeding from public indecency laws.

But it’s a shame that the laws of common sense don’t govern most people. And it is our rights as mothers and the health of our babies who ultimately suffer when women are made to feel uncomfortable when performing the biological norm for infant feeding.

Breastfeeding is what our bodies were made to do. And breast milk is the best preventative infant health we can give our babies. Feeding our young used to be as natural and instinctive as it is for any other animal, but somehow we’ve lost our instincts and our choices about our babies first food are more based on cultural norms than research or facts.

And the oversexualization of the breast hasn’t helped. Breasts are everywhere: on billboards, in magazines and spilling out of skin-tight attire. Bathing suits have grown skimpier by the year. I wonder if any of those female security guards have purchased those tiny bikini tops they are now marketing to 9-year-old girls? Women spend much money to make their breasts bigger, bouncier, rounder and or more perky, but everyone forgets this one indisputable truth: that they are merely mammary glands – fatty tissue with milk ducts designed to feed babies.

Wake up women! Society has told us that it is perfectly acceptable to show our breast on their terms—pushed up, dangling, with a beer, in a wet-T-shirt contest, or parading around a pole, but to show our breasts to feed our babies is indecent!!

I really can’t take it anymore.

Yes, I am a unapologetic first food advocate. I believe that every baby should have fair and equal access to the best infant nutrition possible. But women can’t make those decisions clearly, with this type of hypocrisy and hype crowding the issues. And that makes breastfeeding an issue for every woman.

If we can reclaim our breasts from the advertisers and marketers maybe then we can use them for our babies without being made to feel uncomfortable. Are you ready to get your breasts back?

Oh and the next time I see a man with boobs topless, I’m calling the police. Who's with me?

Treatment for Colic

There has been a lot of research, recently about possible causes of colic and how to best treat them. Many scientists now believe that colic has roots in digestive upset. An article in the NY Times was published not too long ago about the possible benefits of using probiotics for infants to help treat colic symptoms.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/health/15really.html?_r=1&ref=health