Strollerderby : breast feeding

Babble Talk: The Cult of the Bad Mother

Shannon LC Cate — Sat, 30 May 2009 14:30:00 GMT

In her controversial Dispatch this week, Katie Allison Granju wonders if it may be time to re-stigmatize certain parenting behavior. She wonders, "if everyone is a "Bad Parent," then where is the line between reasonable and unreasonable maternal imperfection?"

Most interestingly, she challenges the bad parent confessional on class lines: "The mostly-white, mostly-college-educated mothers (like me) who pen "momoirs" about things like letting their third grader navigate public transportation sans adult supervision get appearances on talk shows. However, a poor, minority or immigrant mother who made the same parenting choice would more likely get a visit from Child Protective Services."

Of course, the concern (expressed by some commenters) that shame was not ever a good thing and should not be revived is reasonable too. Even the worst parent any of us knows may well be fighting uphill battles we don't know. A little discernment and offers of support would probably go further to help a "bad parent's" children in 99% of cases than a heavy dose of shame.

But like Katie, I sometimes wonder if the "Bad Parent" phenomenon has led us to such a relativist state that when we do admirable things for our children, we have to hide them, for fear we're not "bad" enough. And the assumption that doing these admirable things is somehow a judgement against those who don't do them is one of the main ways this problem shows itself.

Every mother who decides to breast feed for a year (or three) is not, per se, a "nipple nazi" judging mothers who use formula. (People who throw the term "nazi" around so lightly? Definitely deserve judgement.) A mother who makes her own baby food is not, per se,"smugly" judging mothers who feed out of jars. (Can we call a moratorium on the word "smug" for six months?) A mother who forbids television is not, per se, a "sanctimommy" judging families that spend snuggle time on the couch watching their favorite shows. (Whoever invented that fake word, is hardly mother-friendly.)

But lately, if you make any of the former choices, like as not you'll feel the need to hide them, lest you be seen as having made your decisions over and against those of your fellow moms. Better you should just go ahead and get the new flatscreen to make sure no one accuses you of being judgemental.

Feed your kid McDonald's all you want. The stuff will never pass my children's lips under my watch (doubtless it will when my back is turned). But you cloth diaper and I'll poison the planet (and possibly my children) with disposables. I can't stand the thought of yet more laundry. I let videos "babysit" my kids for up to two hours a day, some days. But my kids eat less than a teaspoon of refined sugar per month.

The fact is, we all weigh what we value most, what we can let slide, what we can afford, what we need and what we enjoy -- or at least don't mind -- doing and what we loathe doing. And we make our judgements--about how to live our own lives--accordingly.

My kids just do not react well to sugar. It literally changes my older daughter's personality within minutes for very much the worse. In fact, I suspect if she ate a fairly normal amount of it (the amount that doesn't harm most kids) she'd be eligible for an ADHD diagnosis. My younger child doesn't share her extreme reaction, but she doesn't get sugar either, because that wouldn't be fair. If I bring my own snacks to a play date at your house, it doesn't mean I think you're evil for giving your kid cinnamon grahams. It means sugar doesn't work for us.

I made all the baby food for both my kids. I found it easy--even fun--and my kids loved, loved, loved it. The savings helped us spend our money on other things--some "good" like organic groceries, some "bad" like cable television. And it was my call, having absolutely nothing to do with someone else's desire not to spend an extra split second in the kitchen if she doesn't have to. Just like my losing battle with laundry keeps me from cloth diapering.

In a way, I guess I agree with Katie here. When everyone's a bad mother, no one is. Mostly though, I think that's a good thing. There really are very few parents so bad that they deserve to lose their children. But I also agree with Katie that the whole "Bad Parent" thing may be overplayed. Especially when the good things we choose to do for our kids end up making us feel bad--or not bad enough, as the case may be.

WATCH: Man Drinks Daughter's Breast Milk to Cure Cancer

Cole Gamble — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Tim Browne puts a little something extra in his corn flakes every morning, and he’s hoping it will save his life. Browne’s colon cancer spread to his liver and lymph nodes. His future looked grim. Then his daughter, Georgia, came up with a radical suggestion: drink her breast milk. She came up with the idea after seeing a TV show about the benefits of breast milk. Now after feeding her son Monty, she sets aside a few ounces for dad.

"I found the milk not unpleasant, but slightly pungent and oily, but once it was mixed with cow’s milk I couldn't taste it,” Browne said.

AND NOW HERE IS YOUR QUOTE OF THE DAY:

Browne continued, ““If I have a lactating daughter, why not take advantage of her? As long as Monty didn’t mind,” Browne said.

Browne admitted slight improvement in his cancer but cannot tell if it’s the milk or his chemotherapy regiment.

watch it here

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Poolside Breastfeeding Violates No Food Rule

Brett Singer — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:00:00 GMT

This is annoying. And funny.

Laura Whotton of Nottingham (no relation to the Sheriff of Nottingham) was "rebuked" when she tried to breastfeed her son at the pool. Her older boy was swimming at the time, and she wanted to keep on eye on him while the baby had a snack.

The mother, of course, was upset. "People in bikinis were showing more skin and breast than I was." With all due respect, that seems unlikely since breastfeeding requires exposing a breast, although I suppose it's possible she was using a Hooter Hider (that's a real product name, by the way) or similar covering. Mrs. Whotton also said that the incident "could put people off going swimming," which seems a little overwrought. As for being "rebuked by a staff member at the John Carroll Leisure Centre" (hee hee -- the English talk funny), I see her point. It's annoying and uneccessary.

The City Council has since rewritten their rules on poolside noshing in order to accomodate future breastfeeders.

This is not the first time a mom was told to put "the girls" away at the pool. (I know, it's not like she was stripping, I'm just trying to turn a phrase.) Something similar occurred in Canada back in October of 2008.

Here's a funny angle on the story. In general, breastfeeding advocates will say things like, "It's just eating." Right? Well, doesn't that mean that breast milk is food? And therefore, if there is a ban on food and drink at the pool, why doesn't that rule apply to breastfeeding?

To me, the answer is that there's no crumbs. What do you think?

Source: Telegraph

Image: Amazon

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Did This Woman Commit Suicide Because She Couldn't Breastfeed?

Brett Singer — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:37:00 GMT

MomLogic points us to a sad story from the Daily Mail. Katy Isden, a British woman who lived in New York City, committed suicide last year. The police report says that she depressed because she was having difficulty breastfeeding her child.

Before I say anything, this is a terribly sad story. It's awful that Ms. Isden felt so horrible that she ended her life.

The only thing wrong about that last statement is that I really don't know why she killed herself. I realize that the report says it was because she had trouble breastfeeding. By framing the issue this way, doesn't that help to create more pressure for women? Not only is there pressure from "nipple-nazis", but there's pressure to not feel pressured.

Why not call it post-partum depression? I interviewed Lisa Rinna recently about her upcoming book (an interview she was very happy with, by the way -- she even tweeted it) and one of the things she talked about openly was her own battle with PPD. She said that she felt uncomfortable telling anyone she was depressed, because "After having a baby, you're supposed to feel so blissful." By talking about her own experiences, she hopes that other women will be able to seek help if they need it.

MomLogic asks if "there is too much pressure put on moms to breastfeed." I have a different question. Do you think this mother committed suicide because she was having trouble breastfeeding?

Source: Daily Mail via MomLogic

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What Should A Man Do While A Woman Breastfeeds

Brett Singer — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Scene: a toddler's birthday party. A father is chatting with a woman that he knows from the kids' pre-school. The woman is holding a baby.

The baby stirs. Opens her tiny mouth. Starts... what was the word again?

Oh! Right. Rooting. When they're hungry. That's it.

The woman starts to undo her shirt. Then her bra. She takes out her breast and the baby eagerly starts to eat.

OK dude. Now what?

I'm a fan of breastfeeding in general. I don't think anyone should be pressured into doing it but I believe that it's healthy for the baby, and if the mother is able to do it, that's great. I also believe that women should be able to breastfeed wherever they want. (Maybe not on a Broadway stage while the show is going on, or even in the audience of the theater while the show is going on. But the lower lobby? Sure.) So this isn't about that.

The question is, which is more offensive? Looking? Or looking away?

I don't have an answer, so I'm curious what our readers think. In general it seems rude to head for ze hills as soon as the little one starts her liquid lunch. On the other hand, if I'm standing and the woman is seated, it's difficult to talk to her without seeing her breast. Which in any other situation is considered quite rude. This isn't a sexual thing. I don't think breastfeeding is hot, or inappropriate, or anything of that sort. At the same time I don't know how a woman feels about being on display like that. Or even if they feel on display at all.

So. Help me out here! What's the right thing to do?

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Fired For Pumping Case Reaches Higher Court

Brett Singer — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 13:30:00 GMT

A woman who worked for Totes/Isotoner Corp. was fired for taking too many bathroom breaks. No, she wasn't snorting coke in there. She was pumping breast milk.

After losing in court in 2008, and again on an appeal, LaNisa Allen is appealing to a higher authority -- the Ohio Supreme Court.

The legal argument seems to be that "the company didn't discriminate because breastfeeding doesn't legally constitute an illness or medical condition." Attorneys for Totes/Isotoner also say that "there is legal precedent showing that employers don't have to give extra breaks to breastfeeding women."

That may be true. But so what? (I mean, it's not like she was driving while she pumped.) No, breast feeding isn't an "illness" but I was surprised to read that someone was fired for doing it at work, sued, and then lost. Twice. It will be interesting to see if the Ohio Supremes are more sympathetic to Allen's cause. Even if the company was legally correct, it seems like bad policy to punish a breast feeding mother like this.

Anyone have any experiences, good or bad, with pumping on the job?

Source: Dayton Daily News via Slate

Image: ymswwc.com

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Breast Milk Cupcakes

Brett Singer — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT

I was more skeptical of this one then I was of the snow ice cream. What would inspire someone to do this? (Other than needing something to bring to a La Leche meeting, I mean. I kid.)

Curiosity I suppose. But according to Viceland (note: the site has language and images that are not safe for work, click the "source" link below if you're OK with that), these made with mommy milk cakes are quite tasty. In fact, in a taste test, they beat out cupcakes made from cow's milk.

A comedian whose name I can't recall once wondered about the first person who thought it would be a good idea to milk a cow. "Hey, look at those things hanging down underneath Bessie. I wonder if liquid comes out when I squeeze them. It does! Hey, I wonder if I can drink it? I can! Clem! C'mere, check this out!" Or eggs. "Look what came out of that chicken. I wonder if it would if the goopy stuff inside of it would taste good fried and served with grits. Mmmm. Clem! Get back out here!"

When you look at it that way, breast milk cupcakes don't sound nearly as weird. (Actually, lots of people question whether or not cow's milk is something humans should be putting in their bodies. But that's another topic.)

I always wanted to try breast milk while my wife was nursing. It felt somehow wrong, though. Like it wasn't mine to eat, y'know? I did taste a teeny bit when I was warming up a bottle, and if I recall correctly it was kind of salty.

We had a freezer full of milksicles at one point. I never realized that this was a tasty frozen treat.

Has anyone ever tried cupcakes, or any other food, made with breast milk? Would you?

Source: Viceland via Buzzfeed

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UPDATE - Video Interview Of Woman Caught Driving And Breastfeeding

Brett Singer — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:00:00 GMT

UPDATE:

"If my child's hungry, I'm going to feed it."

Genine Compton, the Dayton, OH mother who was charged with child endangerment for breastfeeding her child while she was driving. Oh, she was also on the phone, but that's been pushed to the side for now.

See, Compton's kid is breastfed at this exact time each morning. The police don't really care what the reason is, it's dangerous, and also illegal. First, there's that whole carseat thing, but also "the danger [of] an accident [and] possible deployment of the airbag," according to police. Compton says it's the same thing if she gets hit with an airbag. She also says she'll do it again if she feels the need to do so.

The potential penalty of 180 days in jail would put a pretty big damper on the baby's eating schedule, although I suppose Compton could pump and then pass her milk through the bars for someone else to give to her child. Still, one would think that simply not breastfeeding while driving from now on would be a simpler solution.

Visit whiotv.com for the video.

Original post follows:

*-*-*-*-*-*

A woman in Ohio was driving while breastfeeding. Oh, and she was also talking on her cellphone.

To paraphrase my fellow Strollerderbian Jeanne Sager -- Now this is what I call multi-tasking.

I have a confession to make -- I've never breastfed, obviously, but I have given my infant son a bottle while talking on the phone. I wasn't driving, however. My way seems a little safer.

Driving While Breastfeeding would be DWB. I guess this could be DWBTC? Driving While Breastfeeding and Talking on a Cellphone?

The woman in question was allegedly caught in the act by a fellow motorist, who called the cops. The police then used the license plate number to track down the chatty momma. Her response? "39-year-old Genine Compton...told them she was breast-feeding and wouldn’t let her child go hungry."

Oh. OH. I see. Could you, perhaps, pull over to the side of the road? Just asking.

The charge is a misdemeanor, and the potential consequences are $1,800 fine and 180 days in jail. That seems like a lot of jail time for a misdemeanor, but what do I know.

Dayton police office Michael Burke pointed out that "the legal concern is that Compton had a child in her lap, not that she was breast-feeding in public." Well. Glad we cleared that up.

Source: MSNBC

Image: sxc.hu

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Mom Accused of Feeding Meth-Tainted Breastmilk to Daughter

Cole Gamble — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:00:00 GMT

According to her family and friends, Michelle Megan Hastings deserves credit because she hasn’t used meth for several months. Except, of course, that one day when she breast fed her child.

Hastings was arrested and charged with criminal mistreatment after police say her daughter tested positive for methamphetamine. She faces 17 months in jail if convicted.

“She has been doing wonderful," said neighbor Lisa Lyche. "For months and months she has been going to treatment programs daily, like several times and different treatment programs every day."

Unfortunately, that effort wasn’t enough to protect Hastings’s daughter.

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Farmers Raise Goats to Produce Human Breastmilk

Madeline Holler — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:02:00 GMT

Udder is best? Doesn't have quite the same ring as "breast is best" but if Russian scientists have their way, they'll basically mean the same thing.

Researchers in Russia and Belarus are working on genetically engineering goats so that they'll produce milk that is identical to that produced by lactating humans.

Sure, but how will it taste crumbled over a spinach salad?

Anyway, they think the goat-produced mama's milk will also help to develop new medicines because of the antibiotic effect of lactoferrin,which is abundant in women's breastmilk.

After mice that had been implanted with human genes produced loads of lactoferrin, they decided to try it on goats.

From the Daily Mail:

Now 90 females sired by GM male goats are being raised on a secret farm outside Moscow.

They believe that from later this year when the goats mature they will obtain larger amounts of lactoferrin than found naturally in human breast milk.

... Igor Goldman, head of the transgenebank at the Russian Academy of Science, said: 'Human lactoferrin is a natural antibiotic, and it provides babies who don't have their own developed immune system.'

He dismissed complaints about genetic engineering. 'In this case, genetically modified milk is a drug, not a food.

He also said the milk could be drunk by adults, not just babies. Well then, bottoms up!

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Smackdown: Damned if You Do, Doomed if You Don't (Breastfeed, That is)

Madeline Holler — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 15:31:00 GMT

Here's the problem with any debate about breastfeeding: you're damned if you do, a shitty mom if you don't. Damned if you do because you're either (1) being gross or (2) being a show-off. A shitty mom if you don't because breast is best and you're not giving your child the best (students of logic will point out this doesn't entail that you are giving your newborn child the worst. The worst would be water, or, you know, battery acid.)

The so-called breast vs. bottle debate is no debate at all. Rather, it's two sides (or nine -- there are tons of baby feeding combos out there that need defending) talking past each other about different things. Formula-feeders want others to know they're good parents; breast-feeders want others to know it's good (and free!) food. From a boob. So what we get are arguments, like Cole's, that breastfeeding has been oversold. Or ones like Brett's that call moms who don't breastfeed too "lazy" to give the best to their child.

A lot of breastfeeders (I'm one of them) think breastfeeding has been undervalued (celebrated, sure, but undervalued in society). Many, many women who do or would like to breastfeed want more support -- at work, at home, from their doctors, from Facebook. But that call for support often gets twisted and interpreted as some mandate that all moms should give up careers, or nurse their toddlers, or wear a smart belt and matching pumps when serving roast promptly at 6 for dinner. (Think I'm kidding? Read this and then this.)

At the same time, many women who wanted to breastfeed but couldn't manage to didn't have the right kind of support and information and modeling. So they think their bodies are broken. And for that, they feel guilty. Guilt plays a BIG role in the breastfeeding discussion. We have to tiptoe around when and how and why to breastfeed because you never know who did what and damn if you don't want to be know as the playgroup boob-Nazi.

But the problem with not talking about breastfeeding -- or dismissing it as a ridiculous, body-destroying little hobby enjoyed by delusional wifey types -- is that new moms are left to figure out breastfeeding in a vacuum. Or our kids don't hear about it. Or we're off in little breast or bottle camps feeling all defensive and judged. Despite what we're told in magazines and TV shows, breastfeeding is not intuitive or automatic once you're holding a newborn in your arms. Still, you don't dare encourage a new mom who's breast-curious for fear of coming across as a bully or a lactivist or, even worse!, a representative from La Leche League (boy that's a group that -- thanks to a small percentage of really aggressive "helpers" -- needs to work on its image).

Instead, you let the breastfeeding class your pregnant acquaintance took six weeks ago -- or the words of some surgically gloved woman she just met and who is now handling the new mom's breast, stroking her nipple against the newborn's cheek! -- get the breastfeeding started. Not only is the long-ago class not so helpful (explaining how to breastfeed is as easy as explaining how to whistle, which is to say it's not easy to explain), the nipple stroker also doesn't go home with the mom, which is when she might really need her.

Sure, there are breastfeeding assholes and smug nursers who will call you out on that bottle filled with formula hidden deep in the stroller. There are also those perfectly happy with formula who stand in the background screaming "just give him a bottle and get some sleep!" when a wannabe breast-feeder calls for advice. Which one is worse? Answer: it doesn't matter, they both suck. Which mom is better? The one who feels guilty about formula or the one trying to breastfeed despite obstacles? Answer: it doesn't matter. It really doesn't matter.

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Smackdown: Breastfeeding -- Why Not?

Brett Singer — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:15:00 GMT

Cole challenged me to a Smackdown on breastfeeding, and of course I said yes. I never back down from a challenge, at least not one as harmless as a blog face off. (In other words, don't challenge me to get in the ring with Mike Tyson. That, I will decline.)

Breastfeeding is a controversial subject, but it wasn't always. Back in the day (as in, black and white televisions, Uncle Milty, etc.) many women took a pill to dry up their milk ducts. They didn't feel guilty about it, and those children grew up to live happy lives despite being denied breast milk.

There was also a point in our history when women didn't have the right to vote. In other words, times change. We've learned a lot about human health, and there is definitely evidence that breast milk CAN be good for your kids. Is it conclusive? No. So what? If you are able to breastfeed, isn't it worth the potential benefits?

Now for some specifics:

1. The Guilt Factor: No disagreement here. It's wrong to bully a woman, especially a new mother. However, let us not ignore…

2. The Laziness Factor: There are a number of reasons why some women don't breastfeed their kids. I've heard at least one new mom who said that breastfeeding her child made her feel "gross"; she had no problems with her child latching on, she just didn't like having a baby suckling at her "teet." It made her, "feel like a mammal." When someone says that, I want to ask them a simple question: If you are able to do something that has potential health benefits for your child, why wouldn't you? If you can't breastfeed, you can't breastfeed. But if you tried once and just bailed, that seems like a cop-out. Some of the La Leche people may be a little nuts, but many lactation counselors are very good at what they do. If you have trouble with latching or other breastfeeding issues, it's worth trying a counselor just for the potential health benefits.

3. Expressed Milk in a Bottle: Cole, I love ya, but sometimes I wonder if you've been sipping from a different type of bottle. (A glass one. Filled with bourbon.) Who says that expressed breast milk is a bad thing? As I understand it, the debate is usually between breast milk and formula. And I have yet to see a study that says formula is undeniably better for the child. At best, some say that breast milk may not have the benefits that some claim. Which brings us to the next point:

4. "No Proof That Breast Feeding is Healthier": Is there proof that it's harmful? There is certainly evidence that breast milk is good for babies. Again, why not give it to your children if you can? There was a time when doctors said that smoking was healthy. Look at how that turned out.

5. Formulas Aren't Perfect Either: I haven’t done extensive research but I know that whenever there is a product that is mass-produced, there is the potential for problems. Remember the Chinese milk recall? Ever heard of a breast milk recall? I didn't think so.

There's a difference between "can't" and "won't." No one should be bullied into breastfeeding (sorry, La Leche). But if you won't even try because you just don't want to, or you feel like you want to "rebel" against the "breastfeeding nazis", maybe you should rethink your position. Cole is right -- you shouldn't do anything JUST because of peer pressure. But if everyone isn't jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge, that doesn't mean you should. (Think about it for a minute, I'm pretty sure it makes sense.)

Read Cole's take on the matter here.

Read Madeline's take on the matter here. (And I didn't say that ALL women who don't breastfeed are lazy. I mean, c'mon.)

What do you think? I'm right and he's wrong, yes? (Even if you think I'm wrong, let us know in the comments.)

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Pumping at the Playground

editors — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:37:00 GMT

image from parentdish.

As someone who found breastfeeding, um, challenging, it would have been nice to have these moms around giving supply and pump advice. Check out what these Babble Playground ladies have to say about b’fing and b’pumping b'here.

And while you’re there stop by the January Photo Contest: Baby New Year where you can win a top-of-the-line breast pump. We’ve obviously got one track minds this month at the Playground. But that’s not all you can win! Enter the photo contest to win the fabulous Medela Freestyle, Medela nursing cami and Medela glass 4oz bottles and . . . the king of car seats – the Britax Boulevard CS. Everything you need for your new baby. Enter today! - April Peveteaux

Counterpoint: Newborns Are The Cutest!

editors — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:39:00 GMT

While Jeanne may think newborns are “alien cute” we know that your brand new baby is just as adorable as this little bugger. So show him off! The Babble Playground Photo Contest is in full swing and we want you to add your brand new baby pics to the brood. Go here and enter to win big prizes that help with the bringing home baby transition: a Britax Boulevard CS car seat (a going-home-from-the-hospital must), a Medela Freestyle breast pump, nursing cami and glass 4oz bottles (a feed-that-baby must). Enter to win today. Good luck! – April Peveteaux

Woman Arrested For Breast Feeding At A Bar

Brett Singer — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Allanah Earley went to a Durham, Connecticut bar to have a couple of drinks. Nothing wrong with that, right? But the 36-year-old brought her baby. Hey, lots of us think that's fine as well. Then she started breast-feeding the baby, who is seven weeks old.

Two new acronyms have popped up as a result – DWB (Drinking With Baby, from NBC Connecticut) and BWI (Breastfeeding While Intoxicated, from ParentDish). BWI works better, I think. The official charge is "risk of injury to a minor", which sounds pretty, um, minor. At the moment, Earley is free on $10,000 bail.

Imperfect Parent asks, "Wonder where the breastfeeding advocates stand on this issue." Well, it's generally thought that drinking alcohol while breast-feeding is a bad idea. Especially if you literally drink alcohol WHILE YOU ARE BREAST-FEEDING. Like, have a couple of drinks, feed the kid, have another shot, and so on. That's what Allanah Earley is accused of: The Middletown Press says that when police interviewed Earley, she was visibly drunk, and admitted to officers that she'd had seven drinks. I'm guessing even the strictest La Leche Leaguer would suggest formula in that situation.

Poor kid. Even without the breast-feeding, mom's got some problems.

One report says that bar patrons called the police when Earley left the bar and "wandered out into the cold" with the baby, eventually finding her way to a friend's house, where she kept on drinking and breast-feeding. (Ah, reminds me of my college days… sorry, not funny.) In other words, the "concerned customers" didn't make the call while Earley was at the bar.

Would you do something if you saw a mom drinking and breast-feeding her baby at a bar? It's trickier than it sounds, I think – one the one hand, she has a right to do what she wants as long as it's legal. But as she becomes more and more intoxicated, the baby could be in danger, right? I'm not sure what I would do. How would you handle it?

Source: wfsb.com, others

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editors — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:06:00 GMT

Did you capture those first newborn moments on film? Of course you did. Babble wants to reward you for having your camera at the ready. Head over to The Babble Playground, join up, fill out your profile, take a look around and join the January Photo Contest: Baby New Year. Voila! You’re entered to win big prizes from Medela and Britax. See what you can go home with here. Hint – it’s just about everything you need to bring home that baby. Happy New Year! – April Peveteaux

Pete Wentz: "I've Tasted Ashley's Breast Milk."

Cole Gamble — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:30:00 GMT

To take heat off his decision to name a child Bronx Mowgli, Pete Wentz recently announced he’s tasted Ashley Simpson’s breast milk.

So what did Pete think?

Unfortunately, Pete thinks Ash’s BM (not bowel movement, people) tastes “weird” and “sour.” Thanks, Pete.

You know what; we’ve probably all done this. Usually accidentally, I need not go into details, but you get it. We all know the taste of breast milk. The difference is most of us aren’t a principal player in a popular emo band and therefore have a forum of millions to share this breast milk tasting news.

At least it was Ashley’s milk he was sampling and not someone else’s. Is this gross? The tasting and/or the proclamation of said tasting. How many mothers have appraised their own juice?

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Things You Should Never Say To A Nursing Mother

Brett Singer — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:30:00 GMT

For most of these, we'll assume that you are speaking to your significant other, unless otherwise indicated.

- “Can I get a squirt of that?” The answer is no. If you're desperately curious about the taste of breast milk, try some that the mother of your children has expressed into a bottle.
- Two words that should never go together: “Tittie milk.” Not funny. Trust me.
- “How far can you squirt that stuff? Can you hit this cup on the shelf? How about if I move it closer? Honey? What are you doing with that hammer? OW!”
- “You and the baby are being really loud. Can you do that someplace else? I'm watching TV.”

And here are a few things not to say to a woman you don't know if you see nursing in a public place:

- “Ew! Gross!”
- “Niiice.”
- "Hey baby. Get it? Hey... baby...?" (It's not funny. I know you think its funny. But it's not.)
- A blank stare.
- A lascivious stare.
- Any sort of stare at all.

Anything to add? Remember – it takes a village.

image: Flickr

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They Say: Nursing DOESN'T Make Your Breasts Sag

Amy S.F. Lutz — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:33:00 GMT

You could have knocked me over with a feather when I read about a new study, published in Aesthetic Surgery Journal, that disproves the popular conception that nursing results in sagging breasts - a condition technically known as breast ptosis.

The real causes of sagging breasts, according to the researchers, are far less noble: increased age, higher BMI, number of pregnancies, bigger pre-pregnancy cup size, and smoking.

Lead author Dr. Brian Rinker expressed his hope that the study would persuade women who were thinking about not breastfeeding their babies because of concerns about sagging to re-think their decisions.

Breaking News: Cadbury chocolate made in China recalled

Brett Singer — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 03:15:00 GMT

The AP is reporting that Cadbury is "recalling 11 types of Chinese-made chocolates after tests found they contained the industrial chemical melamine." This follows the recall of tainted milk powder in China.

AND, according to Newsinferno.com, a specific candy made by Cadbury called "White Rabbit" has been found to contain Melamine, the substance that cause more than 50,000 children to fall ill in China. The candy has been "distributed to California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington state through wholesale distributors to retail stores."

Before you say what I said ("Newsinferno? What's that?"), here's a link to the FDA's press release about the recall.

Newsinferno also reports that, "Pizza Hut suspended supplying cheese powder found to be contaminated by melamine in Pizza Hut’s Taiwan branch." Unless you happen to be in Taiwan, this one is pretty easy to avoid, but the White Rabbit stuff sounds like it could be in your local candy shoppe. Plus there are 11 other varieties, such as Eclairs (sold in Australia). So be careful.

But wait! There's more! According to Wikipedia, this White Rabbit stuff was recalled last year in the Philippines because it contained formaldehyde. Yum!

Anyone else in the mood for some good news? Like, "Field of unicorns found frolicking in Central Park, film at 11"? Sorry, I made that one up. Sounds good though, right?

Sources: CBS News/AP, Newsinferno.com, Sydney Morning Herald, Wikipedia (also image)

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Chinese Milk Scandal Heads to Europe. Is the U.S. Next? Yes!

YOU say: I got fooled (update to "They USED to say: give babies cola")

UPDATE: Tainted Milk Tally tops 50,000

Brett Singer — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:00:00 GMT

An update to the tainted milk story from VOANews.com:

China is vowing to stop tainted milk from reaching export markets, amid a growing scandal...Four Chinese infants have already died from drinking toxic milk products and more than 53,000 others have been made sick...The widening scandal has already claimed resignations from several officials, including Li Changjiang, the head of China's top quality inspection agency.

Apparently this was a known problem for eight months before anyone did anything about it.

53,000 kids sick? Nasty.

Original post follows.

*-*-*-*-*

The number of children affected by a dangerous chemical in certain brands of Chinese-made baby formula is going up. CNN is reporting that more than 13,000 children in China have been, "sickened by tainted milk."

The details are even worse: four babies have died, and a 3-year-old girl in Hong Kong was hospitalized after drinking the tainted formula. The little girl was released, but this means that the illnesses are no longer isolated to Mainland China.

AND: "In addition, nearly 40,000 other infants and young children have received outpatient medical treatment and consultation as a result of the tainted milk," according to Xinhua, China's state-run news agency.

The issue, according to published reports, is that the formula contains a chemical called melamine, which is a "key ingredient in most fire retardant materials." In other words, not something anyone should be eating.

Full details are on CNN.com.

A reader emailed to ask if we knew whether or not any U.S. formula brands were affected. We do not. That's not to say that there is any reason to think that there IS a problem with any U.S. baby formulas; as far as I know (the key words there are "as far as I know") there have been no recalls or reports of infants becoming sick from baby formula in the United States. Still, I would be very careful with any formula that you buy, especially if you have any reason to believe it was manufactured in China. To clarify: we are NOT saying that you should avoid any brand of baby formula, we are only telling you what CNN has reported. There has been some concern that boxes of Sanlu-brand formula may be on store shelves in Chinese grocery stores in the United States; more details are here.

Source: CNN
Image: china.org.cn

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A Guy's Take on Why Breastfeeding Isn't That Great (and why it is great) -- Part II

Cole Gamble — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:00:00 GMT

We’ve covered some of the drawbacks and false benefits of breastfeeding, now here is the good stuff:

1) Breast Milk Has Antibodies. A breastfed baby is less susceptible to illnesses thanks to the good stuff found in breast milk.

2) You Save Money. No formula or bottles to buy.

3) Makes Mommy Feel Attached. Studies may have found that breast feeding has no particular psychological benefits for children, but it can’t hurt a mother’s bond with her child.

4) Breast Feeding Promotes Jaw Strength. And I don’t mean yours after gritting your teeth at 3 am because you’re up with the baby and your significant other is sleeping soundly. I mean the baby has to work his little jaw harder to get that precious milk, exercises it until he’s got a super jaw. And who doesn’t a toddler that looks like Jay Leno and can chew through steel?

5) Breast Milk Might Make Your Kid Smarter. The evidence on this one isn’t conclusive, but one study found a link between breast feed children and slight increases in I.Q. However, there is a fairly strong argument that the relationship between breast milk and I.Q. is correlation and not causation. The breast milk itself may have nothing to do with grey matter, but mothers (and couples even) who breast feed are more inclined to be attentive and nurturing toward their children generally. So the magic milk may not be the solution, but once again, it couldn’t hurt.

Back to Part I: Breastfeeding Negatives

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Special ingredient at Swiss Restaurant? Breast Milk!

SunnyChanel — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:52:00 GMT

We all know about the benefits of breast milk for our babies, but the benefit of breast milk as a culinary ingredient for us grown ups? The owner of a Swiss restaurant wants to include in his menu dishes (such as stews and sauces) that include about 75% of mother’s milk. "We have all been raised on it. Why should we not include it into our diet?" Hans Locher the owner stated and continued to say "I first experimented with breast milk when my daughter was born. "One can cook really delicious things with it. However, it always needs to be mixed with a bit of whipped cream, in order to keep the consistency."

He garnered attention for his plan of including human breast milk at his eatery from an ad he posted trying to find lactating women to sell him their milk. This of course got the attention of the Swiss government but there seems to be a gray area. You can’t use apes and primates as they are “banned species” but there isn’t anything on the books about not using human milk commercially.

(source and image from the Telegraph)

iPhone app for nursing, diapers, wedding day

Brett Singer — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Actually, these are all separate apps, and are not necessarily to be used in that order. (Not that there's anything wrong with doing things in that order, of course.)

Proving that the iPhone is good for more than just viewing dopey YouTube videos, ANDESigned has released iPhone apps to help busy parents remember that the kid is hungry, smelly, and oh yeah, shouldn't you be married?

Here are the apps:

- Baby Tracker: Diapers
"With the tap of a button, Baby Tracker: Diapers records everything you need to keep track of concerning this “stinky” part of child rearing! Forget about journaling, lists and charts...Baby Tracker: Diapers does the remembering for you!"

Me, I didn't keep track of any of this stuff, but if I did, this seems like it would be an easy way to do it. At 99 cents, it's actually cheaper than some notebooks.

- Baby Tracker: Nursing
This more expensive ($7.99) app "keeps track of your nursing sessions with just a few clicks, allowing you to relax and focus on feeding your baby without worrying about lists and sheets of paper, stop-watches and safety pins in your bra, or extraneous ribbons and bracelets!" This one I admit to being totally ignorant about, so I ask the readers: is this something nursing mothers keep track of, which breast, etc.? To my completely untrained eye, it always looked like the schedule was partly dictated by baby hunger, and partly by reality (must… get… milk… out… NOW…).

This feature is interesting: "Multiple baby support (up to 6), with names and easy switching (slide your finger left or right)." Is it possible to nurse that many babies? That's a LOT of milk.

- Wedding Day
Again, the order these are listed in is probably accidental, but with teen pregnancy being much in the news of late, it's sort of funny that Wedding Day comes after diapers and nursing.

This app (not yet available) will cost 99 cents, and seems to be arguably the most useful in terms of helping someone to organize things. I found my wedding plans to be incredibly complicated, and most of my involvement was limited to, "If we use that band, I’m not coming."

Any iPhone users out there planning on trying these apps?

See also: techmamas, Gizmodo, daddytypes

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Babies R Us tells breastfeeding mother to get out

Brett Singer — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:30:00 GMT

A reader sent us a link to this post on Consumerist. Basically, a woman shopping at a California Babies 'R' Us tried to use a nursing chair, "for its intended purpose, she was told that she was not allowed to breastfeed on the sales floor." Apparently, this is illegal under California law. Something similar happened in New York at the Times Square Toys 'R' Us; that time, the ACLU got involved, since the New York law is similar to the one in California – breast-feeding anywhere, anytime.

I admit to being a little torn on this one. While I agree that all companies should follow the law, and that it's not unreasonable for a woman to breastfeed in public, I've also seen situations where I felt like it was a bit inappropriate. I can't imagine anyone wanting to nurse a baby at the Toys 'R' Us in Times Square, for example. (I also can't imagine anyone wanting to spend any time there at all, so maybe I'm the wrong person to ask about this.)

The comments on the site are similarly divided. The first one was 'disemvoweled', but I think it used to say something like, "So, they provide a room and that still isn't good enough?" along with something about "self-righteous parents." ('Disemvoweling' means the vowels were removed; this is the preferred fate for potentially offensive comments on many sites. If you don't know what that means, consider yourself lucky that you have better things to worry about; if you want to know, click here.) Not very nice, but does he/she/it have a point?

A more measured approach is shown in this comment: "Personally, I would use the room. I don't see the point of breastfeeding in public when a private room is available. It's not that breastfeeding is 'dirty' or 'wrong'…[but] it's not something I'd like to share with other people who could gawk because of their own insecurities."

And the award for the best comment on that post goes to: "First rule of Fight Club is: Don't get the La Leche League on your ass."

Now, obviously the employee was, at best, a jerk, and at worst was violating the woman's civil rights. (I'm not a lawyer so forgive me if I've used that term incorrectly.) But is the woman in the article going a little too far as well? What do you think?

source: Consumerist, via a reader (thanks!)

image: msnbc (not related to this story, its from a "nurse-in" in 2006)