Natural Family Awareness

The Nourishing Our Families Mission Statement:

Nourishing Our Families started as a way to provide consolidated and accurate information and support for people involved in the Traditional Foods community. We are dissatisfied with the misinformation or lack of information given to young families, and particularly breastfeeding mothers, by both other non-profit organizations and the culture at large.

Our purpose is to provide accurate information for making informed decisions in all areas of lifestyle, home and health. Accurate information and informed choice is critical in decision making in order to nourish the body, mind and spirit so that your family will reach its full potential. We wish to combine the facts and theories of solid nutrition and lifestyle with encouragement and support for helping you to feed and nourish your family in the best way possible.

Our goal is to give you the tools, resources and support you need for all facets of the Traditional Foods and Natural Family Living Lifestyle. We believe that Natural Family Living is an inherent extension of a traditional diet. It is critical to the health and sustainability of our families, and the betterment of our society.

http://www.nourishingourfamilies.org/community/

http://milkshare.birthingforlife.com/

MilkShare was formed in 2004 by Kelley Faulkner, a mom who is unable to produce enough breastmilk due to a congenital breast abnormality. Knowing the significant benefits that only breastmilk can offer, she sought to provide the best possible nutrition for her children using donated breast milk. Thanks to more than 30 generous and loving nursing mothers, she has received tons of donated breastmilk for her children. Her second son has been exclusively fed with donor milk and will continue to be through his first 2 years of life. Read our story.

Kelley’s passion for empowering families, includes educating families about the many benefits and the various options and considerations for sharing human breastmilk for the benefit of babies that might otherwise go without. She believes that breastfeeding is important for all infants and is dedicated to community awareness about the benefits of breast milk, options beyond milk banks, and the value of milk donation. Her vision is to improve the quality of human life through increased breastfeeding across the world…even when Mother Nature is seemingly uncooperative.

Kelley was first inspired by Jennifer Connel, a Massachusetts mom who sought to solely breastfeed her children after a double mastectomy. Jenn has successfully provided breastmilk for her two sons through their first year of life and beyond.

The International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. (ICAN) is a nonprofit organization founded by Esther Booth Zorn in 1982. ICAN’s mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC).

http://www.ican-online.org/index.php

INTRODUCTION – Why should You Be Concerned about Plastic Toys?

The reason is because PVC, the most toxic plastic, is the type of plastic commonly used in soft children’s products such as bath toys, squeeze toys and teething rings.

Phthalates (pronounced thay-lates) are added to make the PVC soft and squishy for use in infant toys that are chewed and sucked primarily to relieve teething irritation. Heavy metals like lead and cadmium are added to make the rigid type of PVC more durable for use in older children’s toys and other consumer products.

The toxic components in the PVC plastic used in these toys are not stable; the chemicals can leach out. These chemicals can be consumed by children when children suck or chew on the soft plastic and can show up in the bloodstreams of children. Laboratory studies show that some of these chemicals are linked to cancer and kidney damage and may interfere with the reproductive system and development.

Studies have shown that these chemicals are hormonally active and may interfere with hormone systems that regulate normal growth and reproductive development in children.

Are all soft plastic toys made from PVC?

Almost all soft plastic toys for infants and toddlers that are sold are imported from factories in Asia where PVC is very widely used. There are, however, other types of plastics that are naturally soft (e.g., polyethylene and ethylene vinyl acetate) that do not contain plasticizers like phthalates. The safer plastics are often harder to find.

Fast Facts:
Since 1997, bans on phthalates in soft PVC, or vinyl toys have taken effect in Austria, France, Greece, Mexico, Norway and Sweden.

Testing by the governments of Denmark and the Netherlands concludes that children can ingest hazardous chemicals from PVC toys during normal use -sometimes at unacceptable levels!

Lead and cadmium are also used in Plastics

Heavy metals like lead and cadmium are added to make the rigid type of PVC more durable for use in older children’s toys and other consumer products. These additives are all capable of leaching out of PVC plastic.

Lead causes damage to the nervous system, leading to decreased learning ability and behavioral deficits. Children are especially susceptible because they absorb and retain lead more easily than adults and also because their brains are still developing. Cadmium is known to produce cancer and in animal tests causes kidney damage; it can affect the developing brain.

ALTERNATIVES TO TOYS MADE WITH PVC: Look for and ask for PVC-free toys! There are many alternatives to vinyl and the following toy-makers are among those companies committed to safe, PVC-free toys:

Small World Toys (makes PVC-free teething toys and “Gertie” balls)
Early Start
BRIO Corporation
APRICA Kassai Incorporated
Lamaze Infant Development
Little Tikes (Rubbermaid)
Ravensburger
Turner Toys
Lego Toys
Toys R Us, in November 1998, announced its ‘immediate plans for the worldwide removal of all direct-to-mouth products for infant use containing phthalates, such as teethers, rattles and pacifiers.’
Alternative plastics include polypropylene, polyethylene, EPM, EPDM, EVA, and bio-based plastics. None of these plastics require vinyl’s extensive use of toxic additives, and none contain reactive chlorine as an essential component. In addition, traditional materials such as wood and textiles have been used successfully for years.

How do I dispose of unwanted PVC toys?

When burned, PVC plastic releases dioxins; research has shown these to be highly toxic even in small quantities. Therefore, it is best to ensure that PVC toys go to a landfill site, not to a municipal incinerator.

http://www.oregontoxics.org/toys.html

by Laura Simeon, MA, MLIS

1. Wearing a baby is convenient.

When we carry a baby in a sling, we can walk around freely and not have to worry about negotiating steps, crowds or narrow aisles with a stroller. Plastic “baby buckets” and removable car seats are heavy and awkward for parents, babies often look uncomfortable, and they are kept at knee level. A sling can block out excess stimuli when breastfeeding a distractible baby, and it allows for discreet nursing in public places. A sling can also double as a changing pad, blanket, or cushion when away from home. I’ve found my sling especially handy when negotiating busy airports with a small child and several bags!

2. Wearing a baby promotes physical development.

When a baby rides in a sling attached to his mother, he is in tune with the rhythm of her breathing, the sound of her heartbeat, and the movements his mother makes – walking, bending, and reaching. This stimulation helps him to regulate his own physical responses, and exercises his vestibular system, which controls balance. The sling is in essence a “transitional womb” for the new baby, who has not yet learned to control his bodily functions and movements. Research has shown that premature babies who are touched and held gain weight faster and are healthier than babies who are not1. Mechanical swings and other holding devices do not provide these same benefits.

3. Babies worn in slings are happier.

Studies have shown that the more babies are held, the less they cry and fuss2. In indigenous cultures where baby-wearing is the norm, babies often cry for only a few minutes a day – in contrast to Western babies, who often cry for hours each day. Crying is exhausting for both the baby and his parents, and may cause long-term damage as the baby’s developing brain is continually flooded with stress hormones.3 Babies who do not need to spend their energy on crying are calmly observing and actively learning about their environment. Baby-wearing is especially useful for colicky or “high need” babies, who are far happier being worn, but placid, content babies and children will also benefit greatly from the warmth and security of being held close.

4. Baby-wearing is healthy for you!

It can be challenging for new mothers to find time to exercise, but if you carry your baby around with you most of the day or go for a brisk walk with your baby in her sling, you will enjoy the dual benefits of walking and “weightlifting”. A long walk in the sling is also an excellent way to help a tired but over-stimulated child fall asleep.

5. Toddlers appreciate the security of the sling.

Slings are usually associated with infants, but they can be very useful for toddlers as well; most slings accommodate children up to 35 or 40 pounds. The world can be a scary place for toddlers, who feel more confident when they can retreat to the security of the sling when they need to do so. Toddlers often become over-stimulated, and a ride in the sling helps to soothe and comfort them before (or after!) a “melt-down” occurs. It can be very helpful in places like the zoo, aquarium, or museum, where a small child in a stroller would miss many of the exhibits.

6. Baby-wearing helps you and your baby to communicate with each other.

The more confidence we have in our parenting, the more we can relax and enjoy our children. A large part of feeling confident as a parent is the ability to read our baby’s cues successfully. When we hold our baby close in a sling, we become finely attuned to his gestures and facial expressions. Many baby-wearing parents report that they have never learned to distinguish their baby’s cries – because their babies are able to communicate effectively without crying! Every time a baby is able to let us know that she is hungry, bored or wet without having to cry, her trust in us is increased, her learning is enhanced, and our own confidence is reinforced. This cycle of positive interaction enhances the mutual attachment between parent and child, and makes life more enjoyable for everyone.

7. Slings are a bonding tool for fathers, grandparents, and other caregivers.

Slings are a useful tool for every adult in a baby’s life. It makes me smile when I see a new father going for a walk with his baby in a sling. The baby is becoming used to his voice, heartbeat, movements and facial expressions, and the two are forging a strong attachment of their own. Fathers don’t have the automatic head-start on bonding that comes with gestation, but that doesn’t mean they can’t make up for this once their baby is born. The same goes for babysitters, grandparents and all other caregivers. Cuddling up close in the sling is a wonderful way to get to know the baby in your life, and for the baby to get to know you!

8. Slings are a safe place for a child to be.

Instead of running loose in crowded or dangerous places, a child in a sling is held safe and secure right next to your body. Slings also provide emotional safety when needed, so that children can venture into the world and become independent at their own pace.

9. Slings are economical.

Slings cost far less than strollers, front-carriers or backpacks. Many mothers consider the sling to be one of their most useful and economical possessions. Inexpensive used slings can be found in consignment and thrift stores, and new ones can be bought for about $25 -$50 (U.S.) - not bad for an item many parents use daily for two years or more! A sling can also be sewn for the price of a length of cotton, some rings and batting; sling patterns are available.

10. Baby-wearing is fun.

Who doesn’t love to cuddle a precious little baby? And when your baby is older, having her in the sling makes conversations easier and allows you to observe her reactions to the wonders of the world around her. It’s also fun for baby, because when she is up at eye level, other adults notice and interact with her more. Your child will feel more a part of your life when she is in her sling, and you will find yourself becoming more and more enchanted with this special little person.

What to look for in a sling

1. Does it fit your height and build?

Most brands come in different sizes; choose one that is right for you (consider your shoulder width, bust, and length of torso). A brand or size that is perfect for a friend may not be the best one for you.

2. How easy is it to adjust the sling?

Most slings have shoulder rings that allow for tightening and loosening by pulling excess fabric through. The sling will be pulled snugly for an infant, and loosened over time as the baby develops. Test this in the store, because a sling that cannot be easily adjusted will not be used as often as one that is better constructed.

3. Examine the padding.

Some people like slings with padding, while others do not. Try out various styles, and choose the one that works best for you.

Related books

Babywearing: The Benefits and Beauty of This Ancient Tradition by Dr. Maria Blois
Attachment Parenting: Instinctive Care for Your Baby and Young Child by Katie Allison Granju
Our Babies, Ourselves: How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Parent by Meredith Small
The Vital Touch: How Intimate Contact With Your Baby Leads to Happier, Healthier Development by Sharon Heller

Related websites

Wear Your Baby (Mamatoto Project) - detailed information on a wide variety of carriers, numerous online videos on babywearing and breastfeeding, and a page of common sense safety reminders.
Hands Free Breastfeeding Illustrated - PDF file
Bebé Koala - Spanish babywearing forum
Familia Libre - Spanish/English babywearing website
Heart to Heart - slings, baby photo gallery, and feedback from readers
Elizabeth Lee - sling patterns
Why to Babywear - physical and psychological benefits
How to Babywear - 6 babywearing positions described and shown in photos

1 “Current knowledge about skin-to-skin (kangaroo) care for pre-term infants”. J Perinatol. 1991 Sep;11(3):216-26.
2 Hunziker, U.A. and R.G. Barr (1986). “Increased carrying reduces infant crying: A randomized controlled trial”. Pediatrics. 7:641-648.
3 Powell, A. “Harvard Researchers Say Children Need Touching and Attention”, Harvard Gazette.

Laura Simeon is a mother of one & a school librarian. She can be reached by email at mailto:Laura.Simeon@alumnae.brynmawr.edu

http://judicialwatch.org/6299.shtml

Judicial Watch Uncovers Three Deaths Relating to HPV Vaccine
Event Reports Obtained from FDA Detail 1,637 Adverse Reactions to Gardasil

(Washington, DC) — Judicial Watch, the public interest group that
investigates and prosecutes government corruption, today released
documents obtained from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, detailing 1,637
reports of adverse reactions to the vaccination for human
papillomavirus (HPV), Gardasil. Three deaths were related to the
vaccine. One physician’s assistant reported that a female patient
“died of a blood clot three hours after getting the Gardasil
vaccine.” Two other reports, on girls 12 and 19, reported deaths
relating to heart problems and/or blood clotting.

As of May 11, 2007, the 1,637 adverse vaccination reactions reported
to the FDA via the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS)
included 371 serious reactions. Of the 42 women who received the
vaccine while pregnant, 18 experienced side effects ranging from
spontaneous abortion to fetal abnormities.

Side effects published by Merck & Co. warn the public about
potential pain, fever, nausea, dizziness and itching after receiving
the vaccine. Indeed, 77% of the adverse reactions reported are
typical side effects to vaccinations. But other more serious side
effects reported include paralysis, Bells Palsy, Guillain-Barre
Syndrome, and seizures.

“The FDA adverse event reports on the HPV vaccine read like a
catalog of horrors,” stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.
“Any state or local government now beset by Merck’s lobbying
campaigns to mandate this HPV vaccine for young girls ought to take a
look at these adverse health reports. It looks as if an unproven
vaccine with dangerous side effects is being pushed as a miracle
drug.”

Judicial Watch filed its request on May 9, 2007, and received the
adverse event reports from the FDA on May 15, 2007. Judicial Watch
has posted the adverse event reports below.

(A recent study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine,
also questioned the general effectiveness of Gardasil.)

I’ve been making alot of things from scratch lately! Flour, butter, sauerkraut. It’s so much fun

Make your own butter!

Make your own flour!

I’ll have to type up the sauerkraut recipe, too

-Lea

(thanks to Isa for this one!)

Before I was a Mom?
I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed.
I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom
I cleaned my house each day.
I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn’t worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on. Spit on.
Chewed on.
Pottied on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests. Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn’t want to put it down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn’t stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.

Before I was a Mom
I didn’t know the feeling of having my heart outside my body. I didn’t know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn’t know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn’t know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn’t know I was capable of feeling so much love or so much pain before I was a Mom.

I never knew I would love being a Mom. — Author unknown.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3170381

Teachers Stage Fake Gun Attack on Kids
Tenn. Teachers Stage Fake Gunman Attack on Sixth-Graders During School Trip

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. May 13, 2007 (AP)
Staff members of an elementary school staged a fictitious gun attack on students during a class trip, telling them it was not a drill as the children cried and hid under tables.

The mock attack Thursday night was intended as a learning experience and lasted five minutes during the weeklong trip to a state park, said Scales Elementary School Assistant Principal Don Bartch, who led the trip.

“We got together and discussed what we would have done in a real situation,” he said.

But parents of the sixth-grade students were outraged.

“The children were in that room in the dark, begging for their lives, because they thought there was someone with a gun after them,” said Brandy Cole, whose son went on the trip.

Some parents said they were upset by the staff’s poor judgment in light of the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech that left 33 students and professors dead, including the gunman.

During the last night of the trip, staff members convinced the 69 students that there was a gunman on the loose. They were told to lie on the floor or hide underneath tables and stay quiet. A teacher, disguised in a hooded sweat shirt, even pulled on locked door.

After the lights went out, about 20 kids started to cry, 11-year-old Shay Naylor said.

“I was like, ‘Oh My God,’ ” she said. “At first I thought I was going to die. We flipped out.”

Principal Catherine Stephens declined to say whether the staff members involved would face disciplinary action, but said the situation “involved poor judgment.”

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20070510&Category=OPINION04&ArtNo=205100379&SectionCat=sports&Template=printart

Lost amid the anxiety surrounding the tainted U.S. pet food supply is this sobering reality: It’s not just pet owners who should be worried. The uncontrolled distribution of low-quality imported food ingredients, mainly from China, poses a grave threat to public health worldwide.

Essential ingredients, such as vitamins used in many packaged foods, arrive at U.S. ports from China and, as recent news reports have underscored, are shipped without inspection to food and beverage distributors and manufacturers.

Although they are used in relatively small quantities, these ingredients carry enormous risks for American consumers. One pound of tainted wheat gluten could, if undetected, contaminate as much as a thousand pounds of food.

Unlike imported beef, which is inspected at the point of processing by the U.S. Agriculture Department, few practical safeguards have been established to ensure the quality of food ingredients from China.

Often, U.S. officials don’t know where or how such ingredients were produced. We know, however, that alarms have been raised about hygiene and labor standards at many Chinese manufacturing facilities.

In China, municipal water used in the manufacturing process is often contaminated with heavy metals, pesticides and other chemicals. Food ingredient production is particularly susceptible to environmental contamination.

Equally worrisome, U.S. officials often lack the capability to trace foreign-produced food ingredients to their source of manufacture.

In theory, the Bioterrorism Prevention Act of 2001 provides some measure of traceability. In practice, the act is ineffective and was not designed for this challenge. Its enforcement is also shrouded in secrecy by the Department of Homeland Security.

Even if Food and Drug Administration regulators wanted to crack down on products emanating from the riskiest foreign facilities, they couldn’t, because they have no way of knowing which ingredients come from which plant. This is why officials have spent weeks searching for the original Chinese source of the contaminated wheat gluten that triggered the pet food crisis.

That it was pet food that got tainted – and that relatively few pets were harmed – is pure happenstance.

Earlier this spring, Europe narrowly averted disaster when a batch of vitamin A from China was found to be contaminated with Enterobacter sakazakii, which has been proved to cause infant deaths. Thankfully, the defective vitamin A had not yet been incorporated into infant formula. Next time we may not be so fortunate.

Currently, most of the world’s vitamins are manufactured in China. Unable to compete, the last U.S. plant making vitamin C closed a year ago. One of Europe’s largest citric acid plants shut last winter, and only one vitamin C manufacturer operates in the West.

Given China’s cheap labor, artificially low prices and the unfair competitive climate it has foisted on the industry, few Western producers of food ingredients can survive much longer.

Western companies have had to invest heavily in Chinese facilities. These Western-owned plants follow strict standards and are generally better managed than their locally owned counterparts.

Nevertheless, 80 percent of the world’s vitamin C is now manufactured in China – much of it unregulated and some of it of questionable quality.

Europe is ahead of the United States in seeking greater accountability and traceability in food safety and importation. But even the European Union’s “rapid alert system” is imperfect. Additional action is required if the continent is to avoid catastrophes.

To protect consumers here, we must revise our regulatory approaches. The first option is to institute regulations, based on the European model, to ensure that all food ingredients are thoroughly traceable. We should impose strict liability on manufacturers that fail to enforce traceability standards.

A draconian alternative is to mount a program modeled on USDA beef inspection for all food ingredients coming into the country. This regimen would require a significant commitment of resources and intensive training for hundreds of inspectors.

Food safety is a bipartisan issue: Congress and the administration must work together and move aggressively to devise stricter standards.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, has deplored dangerous levels of lead in vitamin products originating in China. We must get to the bottom of this pressing public health issue, without self-defeating finger-pointing.

The United States is sitting on a powder keg with uncontrolled importation and the distribution of low-quality food ingredients. Before it explodes – putting more animals and people at risk – corrective steps must be taken.