In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, Traditional Medicinal, the leader in medicinal teas, has launched MothersMilk.com – an online breastfeeding resource for new mothers. The new website, www.MothersMilkTea.com provides helpful tips for nursing mothers, articles on breastfeeding techniques, instructional videos for nursing mothers, and the newest information from a panel of experts.

The Mother’s Milk website also includes deeper product information about its best selling Organic Mother’s Milk tea which has been trusted for over 35 years by nursing mothers and recommended by lactation consultants) to promote healthy lactation.  This European based formula, more popular today than ever, is a traditional formula of anise, fennel and coriander used for centuries. There are over 4 million babies born each year in the U.S., and of these babies, over 70% are being breastfed. More new moms are breastfeeding as studies continue to show that the antibodies in breast milk help boost babies’ immune systems.

As part of a mission to support breastfeeding, Traditional Medicinals has partnered with International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and Certified Nurse Midwife, Shari Criso.  Criso has spent the past 20 years working with couples throughout their pregnancy, birth and transition into new parenthood and has personally delivered over 600 babies.  Criso is the first in a panel of experts providing content for the Mother’s Milk website and sharing her experiences with Mother’s Milk tea. Criso is excited to offer her expertise with Organic Mother’s Milk saying, “I highly recommend Organic Mother’s Milk tea to my clients. It not only helps to promote healthy lactation, but creates a special moment between mother and baby. I have been recommending this product for decades and trust its formula and quality.”

Related articles:

• Relaxation Improves Breastfeeding Milk Production 63% : Free Download for World Breastfeeding Week (prweb.com)
• Health and Diet Tips a Lactating Mother Needs to Know (fitfiend.com)
• Diet and Nutrition While Breastfeeding (nutrition.suite101.com)

Extensive Online Resource Launched for World Breastfeeding Week is a post from: Babyfolk

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Well known for its annual Bounty Baby Name poll, Bounty.com has just launched a new and improved baby names  section which promises to be a one stop shop for all parents-to-be looking for help and advice in finding the perfect baby name.

Choosing a baby name can certainly be one of the most difficult decisions parents have to make, and with a recent study by Bounty finding that one in five parents regret the names they have chosen for their children – it’s more important than ever to choose a name that you and your child will love for the rest of their life. This new section features a host of unique and handy new functions and tools to help you decide on baby names. Whether your heart is set on a name and you want to find out more about its origin or meaning, have absolutely no idea how to go about choosing a name or simply want to find a name rated by others as ‘cool’ or ‘exotic’, Bounty.com is the go-to site for all your naming needs. In just one click you can search:

- Boys names or girls names

- Regional mapping (search the popularity of names throughout the UK
based on where you live)

- Middle names (search for names that are most commonly used as middle
names with your chosen first name)

- Sibling names (search for common sibling names alongside your chosen
first name)

- Rate names according to how ‘cool’, ‘great’, ‘traditional’, ‘exotic’,
‘unique’ they are

- Find out nick-names, explore famous people names, and characters
featured in books, TV or film

- Find out who else likes the names you do and ask friends and family to
confidentially rate your favourite names

- Name trend graph showing if names are in declining/growing in
popularity

- Search using letters of the alphabet, number of syllables, origin, and
meaning

- Collate your own ‘shopping basket’ of preferred names

About Bounty

Bounty is the UK’s favourite parenting club, providing information, support and products for young families throughout the four key-life stages: pre-birth, birth, toddlers and pre-school. With 2.5 million members and over 50,000 new members joining every month, Bounty reaches 9 out of 10 new and expectant parents in the UK through its Bounty bag sampling. Bounty has 750,000 opted-in members and a further 28,000 new members joining each month.

Related articles:

• 1-in-5 parents regret their children’s names (newslite.tv)
• Revealed: Baby name regrets (thesun.co.uk)

Shopping for Baby Names is a post from: Babyfolk

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With summer in full swing, so begins the season of backyard BBQ s, kicking off with the July 4th weekend. It’s vital that having a great time go hand in hand with having a safe time. There are many commonly considered – and not-so-obvious – dangers hosts and guests alike should be mindful of to avoid spoiling the party.

“It’s easy for you or your guests to focus on the fun and lose sight of potential hazards,” says Allstate Insurance Communication Manager Tracey King. “But taking a few precautions and keeping a watchful eye is a safe and smart way to help keep the party going.”

When you are about to hold a backyard barbecue get-together with family and friends, it only takes a minute of your time to scroll through the following tips and be aware of possible hazards. Indeed, it is better to be safe than  sorry.

GUEST SAFETY
Before the guests arrive, it is important to make the entire home and yard party safe. Please consider the following precautionary measures:
·    Pay attention to hazards on the property that could take a visitor by surprise, such as a hole in the ground or steep steps.
·    Erect barriers and/or warn people about any hazard to avoid.
·    Take special care of items on the property that may attract children, such as a swimming pool, trampoline, or swing-set; reinforce to guests that children must be accompanied by an adult in order to enjoy the fun.

GRILLS
According to the United States Fire Administration’s (USFA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in 2003-2006 U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 7,900 home fires involving grills per year. These fires caused 120 injuries and $80 million in direct property damage.
Here are a few safety tips for grilling:
·    Check grill for safety hazards. Gas connections should be checked for leaks by applying a soapy water solution as bubbles will form if gas is escaping. Damaged or corroded gas tanks should be replaced and not used.
·    Be careful when lighting grill. Only use charcoal lighter fluid to light charcoal.  Do not use gasoline, kerosene or any other flammable or combustible liquid. In addition, the lighter fluid should be used before lighting the charcoal – not while it is burning.
·    Don’t leave a burning grill unattended. If the grill is on, don’t turn your back. Small children and pets should also be kept away from the grilling area.
·    Turn off the gas when not using the grill. After every use, shut off the gas and store it in an outdoor location away from where children play, out of direct sunlight and at least five feet from any building openings at or below the level of the propane tank.

SWIMMING POOLS
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), about 260 children under the age of five drown in swimming pools each year. More than 100 of the victims drown in other household products such as bathtubs, spas, buckets and man-made landscape ponds.
To help keep pools safe, many local government agencies require the pool to be fenced with a latching gate. In addition to the fences, pool owners should also consider creating as many additional barriers as possible – such as door alarms, locks and safety covers – to make it difficult for a child to get into the pool area when not in use.
CPSC offers these additional tips to help prevent drowning deaths:
·    Since every second counts, always look for a missing child in the pool first.
·    Don’t leave toys and floats in the pool that can attract young children
·    Secure ladders on above-ground and inflatable pools when not in use.
·    Even if children can swim, it doesn’t make them drown-proof.  Always supervise children.
·    Even in inflatable pools, infants and toddlers should always be within touching distance. These pools generally contain about 30 gallons of water.
·    When an inflatable pool is not in use, drain the water and deflate the pool.
·    Follow the layers of protection (i.e. barriers and fences) rule with large inflatable pools.
·    Know CPR.  Be prepared to rescue a child with life saving techniques if necessary.

TRAMPOLINES
Trampoline injuries have been on the rise for more than a decade now. The CPSC estimates that more than 100,000 injuries associated with trampolines – 88 percent of which involved children under the age of 18 – occurred in 2008.
Here are the steps you can take to help prevent serious trampoline injuries:
·    Allow only one person on the trampoline at a time.
·    Due to risk of paralysis, do not attempt or allow somersaults.
·    Ensure spring, hooks and frame is completely covered with shock-absorbing pads.
·    Place the trampoline away from structures, trees, and other play areas.
·    No child under 6 years of age should use a full-size trampoline. Do not use a ladder with the trampoline because it provides unsupervised access by small children.
·    Always supervise children who use a trampoline.
·    Trampoline enclosures can help prevent injuries from falls off trampolines.

While taking these steps will help keep your guests safe, adequate protection against liability may require the purchase of an Umbrella Policy. Umbrella insurance is designed to give consumers added liability protection above and beyond the limits on homeowners, auto, and watercraft personal insurance policies. Should something happen on your property, report it immediately to your insurance company – even if it is unknown whether or not a claim is going to be made. Or to save you from any form of hassle, it is necessary to put to mind what our old folks would tell us: prevention is better than cure.

Related articles:

• The Dangers of Backyard Swimming Pools (quazen.com)
• Vigilance vital to avoid kids’ drownings (philly.com)

Barbecue Party Safety Precautions for Babies and All is a post from: Babyfolk

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A crowd of volunteer moms, dads and their newborns appeared on NBC’s “Today Show” last July 22 to celebrate Farmers Insurance Be a Hero for Babies Day, a one-day fundraiser in which Farmers Insurance hopes to raise more than $2 million to benefit the March of Dimes. The group, clad in purple and white, the signature colors of the March of Dimes, drew the attention of weather anchor Al Roker, who interviewed one of the volunteer “spokesmoms” about the March of Dimes mission to give all babies a healthy start in life. View the program by visiting http://today.msnbc.msn.com/

Throughout the country, Farmers Insurance employees, agents and district managers are holding fundraisers such as local telethons, golf outings, pancake breakfasts and pie-throwing contests to help meet and perhaps exceed the single-day goal of $2 million. Anyone can visit marchofdimes.com/farmers and make a donation, or use their cell phone to donate $5 to the March of Dimes by texting the word “hero” to 20222.

Several celebrity sports figures will join Farmers Insurance in four key markets to help support Hero for Babies Day, a one-day fundraising effort. In Los Angeles, Matt Kemp with the LA Dodgers, Jordan Farmar formerly with the LA Lakers and now with the New Jersey Nets, Mexican soccer legend Jorge Campos, Olympic Gold Medalist Kerri Walsh and Candace Parker with the LA Sparks are among the crowd of supporters on this special day. T.J. Ford with the Indiana Pacers will be in Austin; Christian Okoye, a former Kansas City Chief, will be in Kansas City; and Gerald McCoy, a former OU Sooner player currently with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will be in Oklahoma City.

As the nation’s third-largest personal property and casualty insurance group, Farmers is committed to improving the communities where their customers, agents and employees live and work. Farmers’ commitment to the March of Dimes spans more than two decades and has donated more than $31 million dedicated to research and education programs to protect infant health.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies®, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.

Related articles:

• Celebrities Take Giant Steps in March for Babies(R) – Now It’s Up to You (prnewswire.com)
• Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Baby: Prenatal Care (parenting-success.com)

‘Today Show’ Highlights Be a Hero for Babies Day is a post from: Babyfolk

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The Juno Company, one of the country’s most innovative children’s media companies creating products that encourage music appreciation in young children, has announced the launch of its publishing line, beginning with the release of Juno’s Musical ABCs board book. Well-known actress, author and model, Brooke Shields, lends her voice for the audio narration of this title, as well as three upcoming storybook CDs. As with all Juno Baby products these storybook CDs are part of The One For All Program. For every Juno Baby product sold, the company donates a special music education DVD to a child in need. Juno Baby’s motto is “Buy One. Give One.”

Juno’s Musical ABCs board book takes children on a lyrical journey through the alphabet as they learn the letters one by one, including “A is for applause” and “W is for waltz.”  All about music, this board book will delight audiences young and old with its rhymes, colorful images of beloved Juno characters and introduction to various musical elements. For a limited time only, with the purchase of the new Juno’s Musical ABCs board book, consumers can register to download for free the audio version from JunoBaby.com, narrated by Brooke Shields.

“It’s our objective to lead the children’s media industry by putting only the highest quality products into the marketplace and making them accessible to children from all walks of life,” said Barrett Cohn, CEO of Juno Baby, Inc. “And I am thrilled that Brooke Shields, a great actress and doting mom herself, is lending her voice to help bring our stories to life in the recording of the first books from the Juno Baby publishing line.”

“I am so excited to be the narrator of some of the wonderful Juno Baby books,” said Brooke Shields.  I am a true believer in the power of music and the importance of bringing it into a child’s life at an early age. “I look forward to giving these inspirational and charming stories a voice and becoming a part of something that will enhance creativity in young minds.”

Juno Baby’s Emmy Award-winning DVDs are part of a larger line of children’s products, which seek to inspire a lifelong love of music in children from 12 months to five years of age.  Founder, mom and composer Belinda Takahashi’s original music is performed by live orchestral musicians and paired with a cast of endearing puppet characters created and performed by the talented hands behind some of your favorite Muppet and Sesame Street characters*. Juno Baby is helping to inspire and nurture the minds of children through beautiful music.

Like all Juno products, the Juno’s Musical ABCs is part of the Juno Baby One For All Program. For every Juno Baby product purchased, the company donates a very special music education DVD to a child in need.  With the strong belief that beautiful music enriches lives, and the importance of instilling the value of giving to those less fortunate, Juno Baby has partnered with the National Head Start Association (NHSA.org) with the mission to bring beautiful, orchestral music to children in the U.S., with ultimate goal of giving 1 million very special music education DVDs to children in need. Consumers can get a peek at Juno’s Musical ABCs board book by hitting ‘preview’ here http://www.junobaby.com/Books and, can get the digital download of Brooke Shields’ narration free, via the registration page located athttp://www.junobaby.com/audiobookdownload.

Related articles:

• Baby Genius Board Book Series Earns the Mom’s Choice Awards Top Honor (eon.businesswire.com)
• Parenthood: Story time as playtime (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Brooke Shields Lends Voice for Baby Audio Book is a post from: Babyfolk

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Ryan was nominated by his mother Maggie Garcia-Schubert of Miami, FL for PicPad’s MVP Father of 2010. Along with a photo of the smiling dad with one-month old Catharine, nick-named “Catie”, Ryan’s proud mother submitted the following description:

Ryan Schubert, Army Ranger deployed to Afghanistan just after becoming a dad for the first time not only participated in the birth, but arranged for someone to always be with Mommy, kept house, changed diapers and watched the baby while Mommy rested- all while readying his platoon to deploy.

When PicPads contacted Maggie to let her know that her son had been voted MVP Father of 2010, she exclaimed “THAT IS WONDERFUL!! I’m going to send my son Ryan an email right away. As you know, he’s in Afghanistan and missing his new baby and wife like crazy. I know this MVP Father of 2010 title will list his spirits a lot! Thanks so much!”

In honor of all the great fathers, PicPads founder Laura Eiman created this special award as a way to “show appreciation for the big and the little things dads do everyday.” Nominations were open to the public by simply submitting a photo along with a description of why this particular dad was an MVP. Five finalists were chosen by an expert panel; judging was based on the photo and the reason as to why this particular father inspired the nomination. The winner was then decided by public vote on picpads.com. Photos and descriptions of the winning MVP Father of 2010 and the other four finalists can be found on http://picpads.com/photocontest.php.

Maggie Garcia-Schubert, for nominating the winning father, receives a $50 PicPads Gift Certificate. The nominators for all five Finalists receive a set of color PicPads featuring the submitted photo.

Related articles:

• PicPads Announces 2010 MVP Father: Lieutenant Ryan Schubert, Army Ranger Serving in Afghanistan (prweb.com)
• PicPads to Award its 2010 MVP Father on June 17. Nominations accepted May 27 – June 8 (prweb.com)

Lieutenant Ryan Schubert, PicPads’ MVP Father of 2010 is a post from: Babyfolk

Many people think of the Baby Naming Ceremony as a civil baptism, in which the baby’s presence in the family and in the world is celebrated – along with good wishes for his or her future life and contributions to humanity. The ceremony officially names the child in the presence of family and friends, and includes a series of questions for the parents, the grandparents (if present), and the family’s circle of friends. They are all asked to bring up the baby in love and respect, instilling him/her with confidence and tolerance, and emphasizing their various roles in the baby’s emotional and intellectual growth. The parents are also asked to renew their wedding vows in the presence of their child. Additionally, a few poems and readings are interspersed throughout the ceremony.

“Many of our Baby Naming Ceremonies have been celebrated with couples whom we have previously married,” says Aurore Leigh Barrett, President of Weddings Las Vegas, “but as it becomes more widely publicized, we are receiving increasing inquiries from couples who were married elsewhere – not only from the United States but especially from the United Kingdom and Canada.”

Not that they really need another reason to come to Las Vegas, but the Baby Naming Ceremony in Las Vegas as presented by Weddings Las Vegas is a reason with great meaning for the new family – almost as important as the wedding itself. “A trip to Las Vegas for this meaningful ceremony,” says one father, “ is the perfect pairing of style and substance.” The Baby Naming Ceremony in Las Vegas can be performed in just about any location used for weddings, but it is especially suited for At-Home or In-Suite celebrations.

Weddings Las Vegas, the premier provider of weddings and wedding packages in Las Vegas has added the very special Baby Naming Ceremony to its list of services to brides, grooms, and families from around the world. This new feature was added to their “Beyond the Vows” repertoire of after-the-wedding services. Recognizing the reality of today’s world in which many couples already have a baby at the time of their wedding, the Baby Naming Ceremony can even be incorporated into the wedding ceremony or celebrated separately afterward. So now, if somebody pops the question, a baby naming ceremony in Las Vegas? How can you say no to that!

Related articles:

• Three Great Locations in Las Vegas to Get Married (wedding-planning.suite101.com)
• Las Vegas All Inclusive Just Announced the Launch of Its New Easy to Navigate Website (prweb.com)

Baby Naming Ceremony Las Vegas Style! is a post from: Babyfolk

Research has shown that relaxation can increase breast milk production by 63%  when mothers are given a 20 minute relaxation tape to listen to. Stress hormones, anxiety and fatigue are known to inhibit milk supply and so relaxation training can be of very real benefit to both mother and baby, both physically and psychologically.

Stress can be a very real part of life when a new baby arrives, and this can make breastfeeding difficult for even the best-supported of mums. To support mothers in World Breastfeeding Week (Aug 1st – 7th), HypnosisDownloads.com are giving away the mp3 session “Breastfeeding Relaxation”. Lyndsay Swinton of Hypnosis Downloads.com, who breast fed both her children, has made the Breastfeeding Relaxation download available free.

“I used self hypnosis all through my pregnancy and would listen to the breastfeeding relaxation download before breastfeeding. It gave my sleep deprived, hormonal body a bit of time out and topped up the motivation to keep breastfeeding, which can only have been good for both me and my babies”.

Mums who want to give the breastfeeding hypnosis download a try should go to http://www.hypnosisdownloads.com/pregnancy-childbirth/breastfeeding where they can download it free. Also free from this page is a self hypnosis training download for those who need a little more help to get into the self hypnosis groove. To speak to Lyndsay Swinton about her experiences with using relaxation to increase breast milk production, please call +44(0)1273 776770.

Related articles:

• Relaxation Improves Breastfeeding Milk Production 63% : Free Download for World Breastfeeding Week (prweb.com)
• Healthy Memphis: Breastfeeding is the best choice for moms and babies (commercialappeal.com)

How to Increase Breast Milk Production is a post from: Babyfolk

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It is estimated that virtually all women experience some degree of musculoskeletal discomfort during pregnancy, and 25% have at least temporarily disabling symptoms. During “baby season,” the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is educating pregnant and postpartum moms about health conditions that can arise during those periods, including low back pain (LBP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

To educate moms and moms-to-be, APTA will hold a tweet chat on July 13 from 1 to 2 p.m. EST to answer questions about LBP, SUI and a variety of other conditions that can result from pregnancy and that physical therapists can treat. Care by a physical therapist can be critical in preventing and treating these conditions since the type and amount of treatments that can be applied during these periods is limited.

“The prenatal and postpartum periods are a time of great change for women physically, emotionally, and hormonally, and musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction is common. But you don’t have to grit your teeth and bear it,” said APTA Media Corps member Jill Boissonnault, PT, PhD, WCS.

Low Back Pain According to one study, LBP affects approximately 50% of pregnant women, forcing nearly 30% of those women to stop performing at least one daily activity over the course of their pregnancies. LBP is also reported in 30% to 45% of women in the postpartum period. Depending on a woman’s specific needs, treatment by a physical therapist typically focuses on reducing discomfort and maintaining function during pregnancy. This may involve recommendations for sleeping positions, exercises to help postural alignment and body balance, exercises to improve strength, mobility and flexibility, and bracing for lower back support. Boissonnault stresses that, “patients who are experiencing low back pain that is preventing them from performing normal daily activities during or after pregnancy should seek the expert advice of a physical therapist.”

Stress Urinary Incontinence While there are different types of urinary incontinence, SUI most commonly affects pregnant and postpartum women. This often under-reported and untreated condition is characterized by involuntary leakage of urine upon effort, exertion, or physical activity. A 2009 study found that SUI affects up to 67% of women during pregnancy and as many as 38% of women during the 3 months following delivery. “Stress urinary incontinence has a severe impact on women emotionally and physically and often impacts women’s ability to exercise. This condition can in itself affect women’s health across their lifespan,” says APTA Member Ruth Maher, PT, DPT, WCS. To help pregnant and postpartum women regain control over their lives and their bladders, physical therapists design individualized treatment plans, which may include exercises to strengthen the pelvic muscles and advice on how to change behaviors that contribute to incontinence. “Many women feel that stress urinary incontinence is inevitable postpartum and is a normal part of aging,” said Maher. “I believe this misconception deters women from speaking with their health care providers regarding their incontinence.”

Research has shown that physical therapy has a success rate of more than 80% for individuals with SUI. Additionally, those who engage in physical therapy-led targeted exercise programs for the pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy are less likely to report urinary incontinence late in their pregnancy. Physical therapists educated in the area of women’s health have extensive knowledge about women’s health issues in all stages of life, from childbearing years through the post menopausal period. Visit www.moveforwardpt.com to find a physical therapist in your area and to learn more about these conditions and others that physical therapists treat. As experts in mobility and motion, physical therapists can reduce or eliminate a person’s need for surgery or the long-term use of prescription medications and their side effects, in many cases.

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Summer is the Season for Babies is a post from: Babyfolk

Having kids running around our house is a wonderful feeling for every parent. For most, a family is not complete without children. Unfortunately, some couples find it very hard to conceive. So, they resort to procedures and other means to have babies of their own. Fertility drugs and certain procedures are blessings to couples who are having a hard time creating a child. These have made huge changes to the lives of millions of couples worldwide. However, along with the benefits, there are also some possible risks and side effects..

The widespread use of fertility drugs, not just high-tech laboratory procedures, plays a major role in causing multiple births and  contributes to the problem of premature birth in the United States, experts said at the March of Dimes National Communications Advisory Council luncheon.

Working with experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Joann Petrini, PhD, assistant director of research at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut and an advisor to the March of Dimes, found that controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) drugs — which are used to stimulate a woman’s ovaries to speed the maturity and multiply the production of eggs — account for four times more live births than assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) such as in vitro fertilization.

“Many people have focused on the role of ARTs in multiples and have not fully appreciated that fertility drugs alone are responsible for one out of every five multiple births,” said Dr. Petrini. “There is a very high possibility of multi-fetal pregnancy resulting from these drugs, and that brings a high risk of prematurity and lifelong health problems for the babies as a consequence.”

Patients should inform their doctors that their goal is a single baby and that they wish them to use treatments that minimize the risk of multiple pregnancy, said Richard Dickey, MD, PhD, medical director of The Fertility Institute of New Orleans and Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences School of Medicine at New Orleans.

“A doctor’s goal when prescribing fertility drugs is one healthy baby,” said Dr. Dickey. “Doctors should not hesitate to cancel ovulation stimulation cycles and to tell their patients to avoid trying to get pregnant if an ultrasound shows there are too many eggs present in a cycle and the risk of multiples is high. “The March of Dimes urges more research and leadership from professional societies to develop specific guidelines and encourage acceptance of best practices for the proper use and dosage of fertility drugs, as well as the careful counseling and monitoring of women treated with these drugs.  Also, the March of Dimes said a system is needed to monitor how many multiples births are caused by fertility drugs and to hold professionals accountable to industry guidelines. Women who are taking fertility drugs should always ask their doctor what they can do to prevent having a multi-fetal pregnancy.

About 88,000 babies are born preterm annually as a result of the recent increase of twins, triplets, and other multiple births.  About 60 percent of twins, more than 90 percent of triplets and virtually all quadruplets and higher-order multiples are born prematurely. In addition to the increased risks associated with multiple birth, studies have also suggested that even infants born singly but conceived with ovulation stimulation are at increased risk for preterm birth than naturally conceived single births, the study authors pointed out.

The March of Dimes said it is critical for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and other clinical societies to develop clear guidelines on the use of fertility drugs to help prevent many premature births.

More than 540,000 babies are born too soon each year in the United States.  Preterm birth costs the nation more than $26 billion annually, according to the Institute of Medicine. It is the leading cause of newborn death, and babies who survive an early birth face the risk of lifelong health problems, such as breathing problems, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and vision and hearing loss.  Even babies born just a few weeks too soon (34-36 weeks gestation, also known as late preterm birth) have higher rates of death and disability than full-term babies.

For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.

Related articles:

• Fertility treatment tied to risk of cerebral palsy (nationalpost.com)
• Six little miracles (thesun.co.uk)

Multiple Births and Prematurity Blamed on Fertility Drugs is a post from: Babyfolk

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“By creating ‘Who Do I Look Like?’ for use on the Facebook platform, users are able to reach out to their social network and allow their friends to give their opinion on who their baby most resembles,” says the founder of DaddyBluez.com.

“And it’s really fun,” says content manager Michelle LaRowe. “If you think your baby looks like Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt, go ahead and place your baby’s photo beside a photo of your favorite celebrity and let your friends decide. With the click of the mouse, you friends can let you know what they really think.”

With “Who Do I Look Like?” parents can end the family squabbles of who their baby looks like once and for all. “Once the votes are tallied, users can print off a certificate stating who voters think their baby most resembles,” says LaRowe.

Dedicated to empowering dads and expecting dads, DaddyBluez.com is filled with useful tools men can use to play a more active role in their partner’s pregnancy and their child’s first three years of life. Filled with over 80 videos and 650 articles written by more than 40 parenting and fatherhood experts including Mr. Dad, Armin Brott, Rick Johnson, best-selling parenting author of Better Dads, Stronger Sons, Bruce Sallan, syndicated parenting columnist, Dr. Caron Goode of the Academy of Coaching Parenting International and Dr. Lynne Kenny author of The Family Coach Method, DaddyBluez.com is the one-stop resource for dads and dads-to-be.

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Daddies Play The Game Of ‘Who Does My Baby Look Like? ‘ is a post from: Babyfolk

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Sawyer gave birth to healthy twin girls in May. The day she brought the girls home from the hospital is also the day she got the news that LibraKnits Luxurious Handmade Baby Hats had been picked by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the magazine’s 100 Brilliant Ideas for 2010. “I am absolutely thrilled,” Sawyer says. “I am the luckiest woman alive. That it all came together both personally and professionally at the same time is just amazing and wonderful.” Every year, Entrepreneur Magazine’s June issue features its annual “100 Briliant Ideas” list. The list includes companies from ten different industries, but each company has one thing in common – entrepreneurial spirit and great story. 2010’s list includes one special “mompreneur” who had a particularly extraordinary spring.

Fashion forward moms have chosen LibraKnits hats to keep their babies cozy and stylish. This unique company offers only the most luxurious, posh hats on the market, in a variety of styles. The hats are knit by hand out of the best materials found around the world, from silk, bamboo, and angora to the softest organic cotton.

Sawyer’s vogue infant hats are flourishing among new moms who refuse to sacrifice style just because they have children. Not surprisingly, these chic hats have spread to the hottest celebrity trendsetters, such as Jessica Alba and Sarah Jessica Parker. LibraKnits products have also been featured in numerous TV spots and magazines, and they are only rising in popularity.

Each hat is one-of-a-kind, made for a special baby whose mom is at the peak of the fashion trends. They are offered in an array of flattering colors to make each baby look his or her best. Sawyer continues to expand her business with new lines of LibraKnits hats, and is branching into other knit accessories, such as mittens.

Related articles:

• Knitting and Finishing a Baby Gift (knittingcrochet.suite101.com)
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A Woman’s Grief Turned into an Award Winning Idea is a post from: Babyfolk

This raises for me all sorts of disturbing issues. Who will decide what beauty is, for instance? And is not beauty a quality of the inner heart and of character as much as a visual phenomenon?

Managing director Greg Hodge said: “BeautifulPeople.com has launched a fertility introduction service to help members and non-members alike procreate.  There are no financial benefits for us in doing so – we are simply responding to a demand for attractive donors.  Every parent would like their child to be blessed with many fine attributes, attractiveness being one of the most sought after.  For a site with members who resemble Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Angelina Jolie you can imagine the demand.” Since its creation in 2002, BeautifulPeople.com has become the world’s largest community of beautiful people with over 600,000 members from 190 countries.

Founder Robert Hintze added: “Initially, we hesitated to widen the offering to non-beautiful people.  But everyone – including ugly people – would like to bring good looking children in to the world, and we can’t be selfish with our attractive gene pool.”

In an attempt to explain this initiative, Jean Smith a cultural anthropologist said, “BeautifulPeople.com is doing what people are doing anyway, which is securing what they believe to be the highest level of genetic material they can, to ensure the best chance of success for their offspring. This service makes it easier for those who subscribe to the same ideal of beauty as those of ‘Beautiful People’ to find donors whom they perceive to supply appropriate genetic material.” As a testament to it’s success in helping attractive people meet, already, over 600 beautiful babies have been born to couples who met through the site, a fact which is attracting the attention of broody individuals and fertility clinics.

How the virtual sperm bank will work

The BeautifulPeople.com virtual sperm bank is a forum where members register and state their procreation interests.  A number of members already registered on the forum are married or in a relationship where for many reasons, an external donor is required.  Likewise, many men have been able to register to help infertile couples or single women to conceive healthy, attractive offspring.

There are many levels on which this virtual sperm bank can benefit the community.  As well as non-members, men and women within the BeautifulPeople.com community who are seeking more than romance or social interaction are able to use the forum as an additional facility where they are able to enter relationships, but with an upfront attitude to their family goals. Members wishing to donate will be able to access information on which clinics to contact and gather information on the donor protocol.

espite the seemingly conceited approach, there is a good side to this program. Dr Mohamed Menabawey, media director at The London Bridge Fertility, Gynecology and Genetics Center is positive about the BeautifulPeople.com donor service, “The removal of donor anonymity has created the massive UK shortage. The cost, confusion and damage of what many believe now to be failed anonymity legislation is there for all to see. It is manifested in the shortage of donor gametes and growing fertility tourism.”

BeautifulPeople.com member James Frederiksen is one of many singles who have used the fertility forum and expressed an interest in donating sperm. “I’m from Norway and it’s very common for young, healthy men there to donate sperm. There seems to be a shortage worldwide, being a BeautifulPeople.com member I wanted to do whatever I could to help others create beautiful babies.”

You may call this nepotism – we just adore ourselves too much that we just need in an extremely boastful way to flaunt it, or may be it’s just simple vanity – we can afford everything we want so why not a beautiful baby in tow as well, and lastly maybe we want to be like God and be able to control the physical attributes of our babies. Whatever reasons people may have for joining this program, it is best to remember that a baby’s entry into this world is a miracle by itself and that is enough reason to call all babies as beautiful!

I remain wholly sceptical of this initative and hope that others will be too. I think that it is misguided to select one aspect of beauty over another in this facile way.

Related articles:

• BeautifulPeople.com Launches Virtual Sperm Bank (newswire.ca)
• Dating Site Launches Online Sperm and Egg Bank for “Beautiful People” (mashable.com)
• BeautifulPeople Dating Website Now Selling Designer Sperm and Eggs [Dating Sites] (gizmodo.com)

Virtual Sperm Bank Offers Parents Beautiful Babies is a post from: Babyfolk

“Our family of iPhone Birth Announcement apps for Your family”

ItsABoy! ItsAGirl! ItsTwins! ItsTwins2! ItsABrother! ItsASister! ItsAGranddaughter! ItsAGrandson! ItsANiece! ItsANephew!

For $1.99 you get the app and you can email as many birth announcements as you want. No Postage! Send it right from the hospital!

Makes a great baby shower gift!

Visit http://www.dawnkempf.com for more information

iPhone Birth Announcement Apps is a post from: Babyfolk

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These nurses are passionate about nursing and work tirelessly to improve maternal and infant health, according to the March of Dimes. “The March of Dimes is proud to help these nurses succeed and continue their nursing education,” said Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes. “We hope these scholarships will help them achieve their goals of improving the health of women and babies.”

The March of Dimes Graduate Nursing Scholarship was founded in 1997 to recognize and promote excellence in the nursing care of mothers and babies. Each recipient receives $5,000 to continue their graduate maternal-child nursing studies. The four scholarship winners for 2010 are:

Amana Alcala-Moss, MN, RN, of Corvallis, Oregon, who is pursuing a master’s degree in public health and a doctorate in nursing at Oregon Health and Science University.  Ms. Alcala-Moss has been a nurse for 12 years and has worked as a mental health nurse practitioner, specializing in trauma and perinatal mental health. She is currently working with immigrant and refugee women from Latin American, Middle Eastern, and African countries suffering from psychological trauma.  She is multi-lingual, and plans to continue work in many countries around the world, including Spain, Morocco, and Mexico as well as in the U.S.

Kirsten Hanrahan, ARNP, DNPc, of Iowa City, Iowa, who is pursuing a doctorate in nursing practice at the University of Iowa.  Ms. Hanrahan is a pediatric nurse practitioner and has a long history of activism in neonatal nursing.  She has used her past positions as a staff nurse and now as a nurse practitioner in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to study methods of providing the best care possible for babies.  She investigated the effects of non-washable toys on premature infants in the NICU and developed and implemented an evidence-based protocol in her hospital which resulted in decreased infection rates.

Amy Starke, MPH, RN, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, who is pursuing a master’s degree in nursing, specializing in midwifery, at the University of Michigan.  Ms. Starke has significant international experience, including work in the Peace Corps in Burkina Faso, Republic of Congo and India.  She is currently working on a project in Liberia, West Africa, to help reduce maternal and infant mortality in that country.  The ultimate goal for this project is to develop targeted community-based interventions for severe pregnancy complications.  She plans to continue this international work in the service of women and infants when she completes her midwifery degree.

Leah Peterson, RN, SNM, from San Francisco, California, who is working toward a master’s degree in nurse midwifery at theUniversity of California at San Francisco. In addition to her schooling, Ms. Peterson volunteers in the “Women’s Community Clinic” where she serves women with free health care.  Since Ms. Peterson is fluent in Spanish, she is able to communicate with her patients in their own language, assuring that they have a full understanding of their health during pregnancy.  Ms. Peterson spent two years volunteering as a doula with AmeriCorps in Denver, Colorado, where she helped largely Spanish-speaking patients and she intends to work with this population after graduating.

Qualified applicants for the March of Dimes graduate nursing scholarships are registered nurses currently enrolled in a graduate program in maternal-child nursing at the master’s or doctorate level.  Applicants must be a member of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the Association of Women’s Health,x Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, or the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. Applications for the 2011 scholarships will be available this fall on the March of Dimes website atwww.marchofdimes.com/scholarship, or by calling the March of Dimes at (914) 997-4609.  Applications are due January 15, 2011.

Related articles:

• Nurses launch public awareness campaign to promote the profession (newswire.ca)
• Everyone’s Going to Nursing School (digitaldoorway.blogspot.com)

Scholarships Awarded for Exceptional Work in Maternal and Infant Care is a post from: Babyfolk

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The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) signed a Memorandum of Understanding this week with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Laerdal Medical AS, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and Save the Children.  The objective of this Global Development Alliance (GDA) is to reduce newborn mortality by expanding access to high-quality, affordable newborn resuscitation training materials and devices, improving the competence of birth attendants to resuscitate newborns, strengthening health systems and promoting global commitment and resources for life-saving newborn care.

The GDA fits in directly with President Obama’s Global Health Initiative’s emphasis on maternal, newborn and child health, achieving significant health improvements through expansion of proven life-saving interventions, collaborating for impact with not just governments and development partners but also with the private sector, and an emphasis on innovation and promising new approaches to achieve results. “This GDA is unique in that it brings together a diverse group of organizations to respond to multi-faceted program needs that include training materials, equipment, systems strengthening, evaluation, and advocacy for increased national commitment and resources,” explains Lily Kak, USAID’s Senior Newborn Health Advisor.  Kak also emphasized that the founding group of partners would welcome partnership and collaboration with any organization that helps achieve the objective of reducing newborn mortality due to asphyxia.

Each member of the partnership will play a unique and complementary role that, together, will leverage their resources, creativity, and expertise to scale up newborn resuscitation globally. NICHD will support evaluation; AAP will help improve the skills of health providers and will provide royalty-free licensing to all partners of the Alliance to scale up their new evidence-based training curriculum “Helping Babies Breathe;” Laerdal will provide high quality, affordable resuscitation devices on a not-for-profit basis and will also improve resuscitation skills of health providers; and Save the Children will provide global technical leadership.  USAID will provide global technical leadership, strengthen systems, develop a community of practice, and support the rollout of newborn resuscitation through its implementing partners – Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program (MCHIP), Health Care Improvement (HCI), HealthTech, the CORE Group, and other programs at the country level.

For more information about USAID’s programs around the world, please visit: www.usaid.gov .

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Conducting Baby Resuscitation to Reduce Newborn Mortality is a post from: Babyfolk

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The innovative and award-winning mamaRoo was highly anticipated in the months before its launch, and is now exceeding expectations. Retailers are reordering at an unprecedented rate in order to keep units on their shelves, and customers are raving about the product in online forums and on product review sites.

“We couldn’t be happier with the response to the mamaRoo,” says Patrick Brady, Director of Sales at 4moms. “We’ve already sold thousands of units, and more orders come in every day. The best part of the product’s launch, though, is reading the all the Facebook comments, blog posts, and online reviews that our customers are writing. Parents and babies all over the country are loving the product, and we’re thrilled.”

About the mamaRoo
The only infant seat of its kind, the mamaRoo takes a unique approach to motion: it moves “like you do.” Parents don’t vibrate like bouncy seats or swing like swings. They bounce and sway, and so does the mamaRoo. Combining sleek, modern design with an innovative approach to motion, the mamaRoo offers parents a better option for soothing and entertaining their children. The mamaRoo won the JPMA Innovation Award in 2008.

Features: five unique motions, five nature sounds, adjustable speeds, toys inspired by classical artists, mp3 hookup, reclining seat, machine-washable fabric in six different colors.

Specs: weight limit 25 lbs. or until the child sits up unassisted, product weighs 14 lbs, six-month warranty. Not wanting to add batteries to landfills, the mamaRoo runs on wall power only.

Related articles:

• 4moms mamaRoo Infant Seat Wins The National Parenting Center’s 2010 Seal of Approval (prweb.com)

Infant Seat Imitates a Mother’s Bounce and Sway is a post from: Babyfolk

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Not any more! Jamboo Creations is introducing a line of products that simultaneously merges stylish interiors and plush baby-proofing! Jamboo’s debut product addresses one of the greatest areas of concern for child safety at home: The sharp-edged area around the fireplace hearth, which also happens to be a major focal point for entertainment and family gatherings. The founders of Jamboo Creations and parents of a vivacious 4-year-old, Gina and Bill Maguire, have blended the elements of design and safety into one unique and creative baby-proofing solution, with HearthSoft™, by Jamboo Creations- the first fireplace hearth cover that accomplishes two clever and essential objectives:

1. Add a safe layer of protection for your child or loved one (including those with disabilities) around the hard surfaces and sharp edges of the fireplace.
2. Create an attractive home furnishing piece that enhances the look and usability of any room, using durable, easy-to-clean and flame-retardant designer fabrics.

“When our son, Jack, was born, we scoured the internet and mass-market baby product stores for something more attractive and practical than those standard rubber corner covers, “says Bill Maguire, co-owner of Jamboo Creations. “After ending every shopping trip disappointed and empty-handed, my wife went to work creating the perfect hearth cover for baby. The response from our family and friends let us know that this was a vastly-needed product from which any family with a fireplace could benefit.”

The company name is an acronym derived from combining the initials of Gina and Bill’s son, Jack Allen Maguire, who the couple affectionately calls “Boo”…thus, Jamboo Creations.

About HearthSoft

The patent-pending, durable, lightweight HearthSoft unit is custom-tailored to fit any hearth and decor and goes directly from shipping box to the fireplace hearth, with no assembly required. Zippered entries further enhance the convenience factor, allowing for easy cleaning when necessary. In addition, the padded skirt folds effortlessly underneath for easy storage in a closet or under a bed. The top pad of the HearthSoft contains 2” of dense, flame-retardant polyfoam that is wrapped in Dacron. The skirt contains 1” of dense polyfoam. Available in 12 colors, HearthSoft’s unusual hearth shapes and custom fabrics to fit any décor are also welcome, as part of Jamboo’s commitment to bringing safety and style to any interior design specifications.

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• Time To Baby Proof The Home (mamasbagoftricks.blogspot.com)

Bye Bye Ugly Furniture, Hello Fashionable Home Baby Proofing is a post from: Babyfolk

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BABY WEEK welcomes the arrival of NICU, an original 10-episode docu-drama series that goes behind the scenes of top national neonatal intensive care units, showing the day-to-day care required to sustain the smallest of lives.  Premiering Thursday, July 15, at 10 PM (ET/PT), NICU follows real families as they experience the rollercoaster of emotions that come with having a premature baby.  The series also features doctors and nurses from leading hospitals in Baltimore, San Diego andCleveland, as they work around the clock to ensure the survival of their tiny patients.  Subsequent premiere episodes of NICUwill air weekly throughout the summer on Thursdays at 10 PM (ET/PT).

BABY WEEK also features six of the buzzworthy, gripping and occasionally bizarre one-hour specials that originally made the event so popular with viewers.  STRANGE PREGNANCIES details the most extraordinary and unheard-of delivery stories ever highlighted on television—including a woman with two separate uteri experiencing concurrent pregnancies.  Later in the week,BORN ON A BAD DAY profiles women giving birth under the worst possible circumstances—from hostage situations to natural disasters.  All six BABY WEEK specials need to be seen to be believed.

The following is a full rundown of all-new premiere programs:

• STRANGE PREGNANCIES

Every woman experiences pregnancy differently—but for these women, their pregnancies are unusual and downright bizarre.  This hour-long special focuses on three extraordinary pregnancies, from a woman with two functioning uteri, to a woman facing a rare and risky form of ectopic pregnancy, to a 56-year-old woman bearing triplets—for her daughter!

• A BABY TO SAVE OUR SON

Is it ethical to use one child to save the life of another?  Three-year-old Charlie has a rare genetic blood disorder—and without a bone marrow transplant, he could die before his seventh birthday.  This hour-long special follows Charlie’s journey and the difficult decisions his parents face in order to save their son’s life.

• BIG BABIES

This hour-long special follows the journeys of four obese, pregnant women as they struggle through the final weeks of pregnancy with supersized babies.  Showing the world through their eyes—along with the prejudices and challenges they face—BIG BABIES also records the crucial first months of their overweight infants’ lives and considers what the future holds for our supersized infants.

• TOO MANY BABIES? THE FIRST 16 MONTHS

Last spring, America fell in love with the Jones family and their five unexpected “blessings.”  Now, as they prepare for the next stage in their whirlwind lives, TOO MANY BABIES? THE FIRST 16 MONTHS will show the Joneses in a whole new light.  This hour-long special brings viewers behind the scenes in the quintuplets’ first year with never-before-seen footage and catches up with all that’s current in their ever-changing world.

• BORN ON A BAD DAY

BORN ON A BAD DAY presents the true and remarkable tales of moms giving birth during natural disasters and other precarious situations.  From a woman who delivers a baby during a hostage situation in the maternity ward, to a mom who delivers by flashlight during a tornado, viewers will be amazed by these incredible tales—and by the babies who survived them.

• THE 10 MOST UNBELIEVABLE BIRTHS

This hour-long special celebrates the most dramatic pregnancy and delivery stories ever told on Discovery Health.  The dynamic real-life obstetricians from the network’s hit series DELIVER ME, Drs. Alane Park, Yvonne Bohn and Allison Hill, lead us through an hour filled with harrowing and heartwarming tales of human reproduction.  The 10 shocking stories include a young woman who didn’t realize she was pregnant until she delivered, a transgendered couple who accidentally conceived against all odds and the extraordinarily rare birth of double identical twins.

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Amazing Babies Week On Discovery Health is a post from: Babyfolk

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In tough economic times it’s no surprise that more budget-strapped parents are switching to cloth diapers to save money. In fact, a new online survey out today conducted by Harris Interactive for DiaperShops.com, a leading online cloth diapering boutique, reveals that one-third (33%) of parents who use disposable diapers say they would be “extremely” or “very likely” to switch to cloth diapers after learning that cloth diapers could save them $2,000 over the course of their baby’s diapering years.

However, just because parents say they are willing to switch doesn’t mean they are. The survey found that only approximately one in ten parents (9%) with children in diapers (ages 0-2 years) use or have used cloth diapers. This number represents a substantial minority of the parenting population.

Kelly Wels, the founder of DiaperShops.com, says this study exposes a knowledge gap among American parents. “It is true that cloth diapers can save a family $2,000 and more over the course of their baby’s diapering years; that said, it’s evident from this survey that parents don’t know just how much is at stake by switching to cloth diapers,” she says.

Environment, Diaper Rash Top Concerns for Parents
One-third (33%) of disposable diapering parents say they would be “extremely” or “very likely” to switch to cloth diapers after they learned how disposable diapers negatively impact the environment. Experts say disposable diapers take 250-500 years to decompose in a landfill and more than 27 billion diapers end up in landfills each year.

Other key findings from the DiaperShops.com and Harris Interactive survey include:

• Moms are more likely than dads to switch to cloth diapers out of concern for the environment. Sixty percent of moms say they would be likely to switch to cloth diapers for environmental reasons, while only 49 percent of dads were likely to do so.
• Moms are more concerned about diaper rash. Almost 30 percent of moms say they would be “extremely or very likely” to switch to cloth diapers if it could ease or eliminate diaper rash. Only 19 percent of dads say diaper rash is a reason to switch. (Note: This survey was conducted just prior to the firestorm surrounding diaper rashes alleged by parents using Pampers Dry Max for their babies.)
• Dads like the convenience of washing diapers at home. Forty six percent of dads who use disposable diapers for their babies say they would be “extremely likely” to switch to cloth diapers after learning that cloth diapers can easily be washed at home with only 2-3 extra loads of laundry per week. In comparison, only 35 percent of moms say they are “extremely likely” to switch for the same reason.
• Convenience is the number one reason for choosing disposable diapers. Of the 91 percent of parents with children ages 0-2 who currently use disposable diapers, an overwhelming majority (85%) cite convenience and ease of use as the main reason for their choice. Sixteen percent choose to use disposable diapers because they think that cloth diapers are more expensive.
• Financial reasons for using cloth diapers are greater for parents in the Midwest. In fact, 68 percent of parents say they would be “extremely,” “very” or “fairly likely” to switch to cloth for financial reasons. Compare that to 55 percent in the Northeast and 52 percent in both the South and the West who say they would switch to cloth diapers to achieve financial savings.

“Cloth diapering has been a growing phenomenon among today’s modern parents, especially when parents have done their homework to learn about all of the easy-to-use cloth diapering options like FuzziBunz®, Happy Heinys, GroVia, Kissaluvs, BabyKicks and bumGenius,” said Wels. “However, even though these options exist, this survey reveals that there is a significant misinformation about cloth versus disposable diapers.”

Tereson Dupuy, the founder of FuzziBunz® and mother of the modern cloth diaper, agrees, “To solve this knowledge gap, we need conscientious parents to take an active role in learning about their diapering options and finding what truly works best for them by taking into account cost, health of baby, convenience and style. Cloth diapers have come a long way and are nothing like the diapers of yesteryear!”

Related articles:

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• My Experience with Cloth Diapers (bethstedman.com)
• Just One Thing: Green Your Baby’s Diapers (abcnews.go.com)
• Peace of Mind Is A Luxury You Deserve (amominredhighheels.com)

Parents Likely to Switch to Cloth Diapers for Financial and Environmental Reasons is a post from: Babyfolk

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Keystone Mercy Health Plan, the largest Medicaid managed care organization in Pennsylvania, has partnered with The Maternity Care Coalition and the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies (HMHB) Coalition, to launch the Philadelphia text4baby campaign. In supporting the new initiative, Keystone Mercy plans to educate and encourage the use of the service to its Wee Care prenatal program members. Text4baby is a free National Program, mobile information service designed to promote maternal and child health by providing pregnant women and new moms with detailed health tips, via SMS text message, to assist them in caring for themselves and their children. The program, which was launched nationwide in February 2010, has nearly 35,000 enrollees, including 1,042 participants in Pennsylvania.

Women sign up for the free service by texting “BABY” (or “BEBE,” in Spanish) to 511411. Each woman receives three, SMS text messages every week, timed to their due date or baby’s age, up to the child’s first birthday. Messages include subject matter geared toward nutrition, immunizations, labor and delivery, car seat safety, breastfeeding and mental health.

Keystone Mercy Health Plan, through its support and collaboration with text4baby, plans to promote the initiative among its more than 5,000 Wee Care prenatal program participants. Similarly to the text4baby mission, Wee Care is a program devoted to educating pregnant women and new moms on health information and available services. The most notable health series, through the Wee Care program, is the community baby shower events, where Keystone Mercy Health Plan, goes into its members communities and provides important prenatal care information and screenings. Over the last three years, Keystone Mercy has also collected and donated newborn essentials to Wee Care members.

Commenting on text4baby, Dr. Eric Berman, chief medical officer, Pennsylvania Managed Care, Keystone Mercy Health Plan said, “We are very excited to assist in presenting this new, innovative program to our members and to expectant and new mothers throughout the City of Philadelphia. More than 11,000 babies were born to our members last year, and it is our job to ensure that we continue to provide the best in health services, to both mother and baby. This program helps us reaffirm our commitment by communicating health tips and information about the child’s development, between prenatal visits.”

About Text4Baby
Text4baby is made possible through a broad, public-private partnership that includes government, corporations, academic institutions, professional associations, tribal agencies and non-profit organizations. Founding partners include HMHB, Voxiva, CTIA – The Wireless Foundation and Grey Healthcare Group (a WPP company). Johnson & Johnson is the founding sponsor, and premier sponsors include WellPoint, Pfizer and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. U.S. government partners include the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense Military Health System. The mobile health platform is provided by Voxiva and free messaging services are generously provided by participating wireless service providers. Implementation partners include BabyCenter, Danya International, Syniverse Technologies, Keynote Systems and The George Washington University. MTV Networks is a media sponsor.

Related articles:

• Health Net Partners with text4baby: An Unprecedented Public-Private Partnership Addressing Rising U.S. Infant Mortality Rate (eon.businesswire.com)
• Text Messaging in Healthcare (womenshealth.suite101.com)
• First Free Nationwide Mobile Health Information Service Developed by Voxiva Now Available to Promote Maternal and Child Health (eon.businesswire.com)

Text4baby Campaigns for a Healthy Mommy and Baby is a post from: Babyfolk

With the recently published Journal of the California Dental Association which is an expert guidance on dental care during pregnancy, health care providers now have evidence-based guidelines to emphasize the importance of pregnant women maintaining good oral health care and the safety of providing appropriate treatment during pregnancy as published in the June .

“Oral Health During Pregnancy and Early Childhood: Evidence-Based Guidelines for Health Professionals” was developed by a panel of state and national medical, dental, and public health experts who reviewed scientific literature and recent research on the relationship between oral disease, treatment and pregnancy outcomes.

The guidelines, which contain clinical recommendations tailored to specific health professionals, are intended to assist health care practitioners in private, public and community-based settings in understanding the importance of providing oral health services to pregnant women and making appropriate decisions regarding their care.

“Despite the multiple benefits of dental care for mothers and their babies, many women have nagging concerns about its safety during pregnancy,” said Lindsey Robinson, DDS, chair of the California Dental Association Foundation, which convened the panel in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, District IX. “We hope these guidelines put to rest some of those worries and make dental treatment a recognized staple of prenatal care.”

The panel concluded that prevention, diagnosis and treatment of oral diseases, including dental x-rays and the use of local anesthesia, are highly beneficial and can be undertaken during pregnancy with no additional fetal or maternal risk when compared to the risk of not providing care.

Specifically, studies show there is no evidence relating early spontaneous abortion in the first trimester to dental treatment. The panel also found that preeclampsia, a challenging condition in the management of pregnant patients, is not a contraindication for dental care. Additionally, control of oral disease in pregnant women has the potential to reduce the transmission from new mothers to their infants of the pathogenic bacteria that causes dental disease.

Robinson hopes the guidelines will encourage prenatal care providers to fully integrate oral health into the care of their pregnant patients. “Pregnancy is a teaching moment for expectant mothers who should be encouraged to include dental hygiene and treatment in their prenatal care for their own health and their baby’s well-being,” Robinson said.

Related articles:

• Pregnant Women Need Dental Checkups, Too (livescience.com)
• Good oral health is essential during pregnancy (physorg.com)

Dental Care During Pregnancy Proves Beneficial to Mother and Child is a post from: Babyfolk

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“Our family of iPhone Birth Announcement apps for Your family”

ItsABoy! ItsAGirl! ItsTwins! ItsTwins2! ItsABrother! ItsASister! ItsAGranddaughter! ItsAGrandson! ItsANiece! ItsANephew!

For $1.99 you get the app and you can email as many birth announcements as you want. No Postage! Send it right from the hospital!

Makes a great baby shower gift!

Visit http://www.dawnkempf.com for more information

iPhone Birth Announcement Apps is a post from: Babyfolk

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“New Yorkers never disappoint, and they always support fellow New Yorkers in need,” said Baby Buggy Founder Jessica Seinfeld. “Families need Baby Buggy now more than ever – our sites are reporting a 15% increase in need over this same time last year. Many parents who already depend on Baby Buggy are now unemployed and forced to make difficult choices between things like paying rent, or buying medicine versus purchasing a crib or buying diapers. Thanks to our generous corporate sponsors and supporters, the money raised at this event will mean fewer parents having to make painful choices in how they provide for their children.”

Target was lead sponsor. Additional sponsors were Aveeno Baby®, Nickelodeon, Delta Children’s Products, Natural Care by Danny Seo, Lansinoh, Rosie Pope Maternity, MeeGenius! and Skip Hop.

The Target tote gift bag contained up & up™ hand sanitizer, up & up baby sunscreen, Aveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion, Aveeno Baby Wash & Shampoo, Delta toddler hangers, Cleanwell, HIT Entertainment DVD, Sprout Coloring Book, Observer Playground, MeeGenius! Postcard, Lansinoh Clean & Condition Cloths, Rosie Pope Maternity bib, Gruber Photographers coupon & free passes to SoulCycle and Citibabes.

ABOUT BABY BUGGY

Baby Buggy®, founded in 2001, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing New York City families in need with essential equipment, products and clothing for their infants and young children. With an extensive network of community-based organizations, Baby Buggy has donated over 4.1 million items to thousands of children. www.babybuggy.org

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McGehearty suggests that planning for a beach trip starts with packing. Her must-have items include:

• Sunscreen: Children’s delicate skin can burn in as little as ten minutes without protection. Water and sand reflect UV rays, making the need for sunscreen even greater. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that all children — regardless of their skin tone — wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.



Image by dericafox via Flickr

• Water: Don’t assume you’ll be able to find good drinkable water at the beach. Carry it yourself and save a few dollars. Even better, carry filtered tap water and save the environmental cost of producing bottled water. Keep your kids hydrated by making sure they drink every hour or so.
• Towels and Blankets: Stash a few extra towels in case some get wet or sandy, and a blanket to stretch out on. A Tuffo water-resistant blanket can keep the family dry, even on wet sand.
• Sunglasses: Look for glasses whose lenses offer 100% UVA and UVB protection, and are comfortable enough that kids will keep them on.
• Sun Hats and T-shirts:In Australia, they say “Slip, slop, slap.” Slip on a t-shirt, slop on the sunscreen, and slap on a hat. By keeping your kids protected from the sun, you’ll ensure them a more comfortable time now, and a reduced risk of skin cancer later.

Once you’re at the shore, plan to be especially vigilant when your children are around water. Don’t let them swim in areas without a life guard, and make sure to teach older children how to fight undertows (by swimming parallel to the shore). If you’re’ going to a remote area, check the tides, and be especially careful around logs, and cliffs.

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Fun and Safe Beach Babies is a post from: Babyfolk