amygeekgrl's blog http://www.blogher.com/blog/9571/atom/feed 2008-04-02T14:30:44-05:00 The Baby Borrowers: Reality TV gone too far? http://www.blogher.com/baby-borrowers-reality-tv-gone-too-far 2008-07-03T18:18:24-05:00 2008-07-04T17:30:54-05:00 amygeekgrl NBC's new reality show "The Baby Borrowers" takes five teenage couples through a crash course in adulthood tasking them with responsibilities such as a house payment, a job, and for three days, the care of a baby (and later, a toddler, pre-teen and elderly person). Many bloggers and others are up in arms over infants being separated from their parents for so long for a so-called "social experiment" saying it is irresponsible television and some have even called it child abuse.

]]> NBC's new reality show "The Baby Borrowers" takes five teenage couples through a crash course in adulthood tasking them with responsibilities such as a house payment, a job, and for three days, the care of a baby (and later, a toddler, pre-teen and elderly person). Many bloggers and others are up in arms over infants being separated from their parents for so long for a so-called "social experiment" saying it is irresponsible television and some have even called it child abuse.

The Baby BorrowersAlthough my stomach lurched when I first heard about this show with a catchy name and the slogan "It's not TV. It's birth control!" and had no intention of watching it, I decided that if I was going to write about it with any sort of authority I really needed to take a look at least some of it. I watched the second half of the first episode, when the parents dropped off their infants to the teenage couples, and most of the second episode which also dealt with the couples caring (or not) for the babies and their first days going to work outside the home.

As I watched it one word kept coming to mind: exploitation. The whole show reeked of exploitation - exploitation of the infants and of the teens. I've read people argue that it's not like these babies were kidnapped. After all, their parents willingly signed up to participate and handed them over for the show. But my concern is not what the parents' opinion or thoughts on participating were or that safety measures were all in place, it is that the babies had no say in the matter. They weren't able to voice their feelings and say, "No, I don't want to leave you, Mommy and Daddy, and go live with strangers who know nothing about babies for three days." They were only able to cry, and cry they did. These poor babies had no idea how long their parents would be gone, or really if they'd ever return. My heart broke every time one of them cried, was called "it" (which happened on many occasions), was told to "starve" (as one was when he wouldn't eat), or was juggled about haphazardly.

Yet not all of the show consisted of upset crying babies. There were happy times for them as well and a few of the teenagers really seemed to rise to the occasion and take their parenting role seriously. But we'll never know what really went on behind the scenes, how much was edited or how NBC's "social experiment" will affect these little people in the immediate future or further down the road.

Zero to Three, a national nonprofit multidisciplinary organization who's mission is "to support the healthy development and well-being of infants, toddlers and their families," issued a response to The Baby Borrowers citing studies that have been done on babies who have been through prolonged separation from their family. Here is just a bit of it:

For the past 80 years, many studies have shown unequivocally that babies and toddlers suffer when they are exposed to this kind of prolonged separation from family and left with people that they do not know or love. As all parents know, babies and toddlers are very distressed by separation. They cry, cling, and search for their parents. The longer the separation, the more upset they become. Some children are unable to sleep and refuse to eat. The responses routinely last long past the child’s reunion with the parent. Prolonged separations heighten young children’s separation anxiety and damage their trust that their parents will be available to protect and care for them. Children can become angry and rejecting of their parents after being reunited with them, damaging the fabric of the child-parent relationship.

Studies show that babies and toddlers need to feel safe and secure in order to form a positive sense of self, to form healthy relationships, and to feel confident to explore their world. This sense of security is dependent on the availability and stability of their trusted primary caregivers. Being separated for a three-day period from a parent or trusted, familiar adult, and being thrust into the care of a total stranger who has no experience with the child—how he or she is comforted, likes to be fed, held, etc.—and who has no experience caring for young children at all, can be very stressful for the child.

Due to her concern for the "present and future emotional health of these babies," Jan Hunt of The Natural Child Project wrote an open letter to NBC. Here's a clip of it:

Babies do not have the mental capacity to anticipate the return of a mother who has gone; they cannot use imagination or project into the future. Research consistently shows that babies separated from their mothers have skyrocketing cortisol levels. This is neurotoxic, damaging brain tissue in the prefrontal lobe areas that regulate emotion, leading to a lifetime vulnerability. When cortisol is produced due to emotional stress, the next stressful experience creates an even larger surge of cortisol. By the time a stressed child reaches adulthood, he is likely to overreact to all stressful situations, making it harder to cope with life's challenges. For all these reasons, babies and young children should be kept as stress-free as possible, to protect their future psychological and physical health.

As traumatic as this experience will surely be for these babies and children, the effects will not end when they return home. Will their parents then understand and empathize with their inevitable sadness and regressed behavior? Probably not, because few parents are aware of the critical importance of early childhood experiences. There is every reason to believe that this kind of trauma will have long-term effects, making it harder for these children to trust their parents or indeed, anyone else.

Ashlee at Mama's Nest says, "I can not imagine what would motivate parents to put their babies through this… oh, wait, it’s America- anyone wanna guess how much money they made? ::end rant::"

I actually had the same thought as Ashlee, but according to The Washington Post article, "NBC says the families who came on the show did not get paid to appear." Really? Wow. That leaves me wondering if not money, then what were their motivations?

The blogger at RunningAmuck wrote, "Watching all those mamas hand over their precious babies to total, very inexperienced and self-absorbed, strangers… left me with a knot in the pit of my stomach. I could not even imagine doing it myself. The parents did get to watch via cameras and there were professional nannies at each home to monitor the safety of the child. They were not to step in unless the baby was in danger. Slight comfort. I had tears welling up every time I watched one of the parents say goodbye to their babies."

On Mom Exchange jencct wrote, "While I am quite interested to see how things pan out, I also wonder [what] parents in their right mind would "lend" their six-eleven month olds to teenagers who have no clue about babies! I guess I'm not their target market. I could not even think about leaving my kids with other people!"

So what could motivate a parent to leave her child in the care of strangers? The publicity and exposure? The chance to get their little one noticed? According to Natalie Nichols, one of the mothers who gave up two of her children - daughter Etta (6 months) and son Benjamin (2) - for the show, it was because she was a teenage mother herself and says it was that experience that motivated her to let her children be a part of the show. She wanted the teens to learn how hard it really is to be a parent. Lil Sugar blog has an interview with Natalie and The Washington Post posted an article about Natalie, which contained some very surprising information (at least to me) about her being a breastfeeding and co-sleeping mom.

Natalie describes not sleeping for the three days that Etta was with Sean and Kelsey. "It was harder with Etta being there than Benjamin," she said, "[Etta] was more needy so I had to really supervise." Because Natalie was nursing Etta at the time of the show, she was pumping and sending milk over to the teen house. As preparation for the show, Natalie and Chet had to make sure that Etta would take milk from a bottle.

On screen, the cameras show Etta crying for much of the episode, frustrating her young caretakers. Off screen, though, Natalie says Etta was happy during the day. Nighttime was a different story. Etta, normally a co-sleeper, wouldn't settle alone in a crib, so Sean had to stay up holding her all three nights. After several hours of watching the caregivers' frustration escalate, Natalie went over to have a little chat with Sean and Kelsey. After that, Natalie says, Sean stepped up and put Etta's needs ahead of his own.

So, what happened to Etta after the show? "You would have never known she had been there. She was not traumatized. It was like she made a new friend," said Natalie, who gave Sean a cast made from Etta's hand as a gift.

I'm glad that doing the show didn't seem to have an effect on her, but no comment on whether or not she may have been traumatized. I mean, how can she really know if it will have a lasting effect on her?

Although Etta was a breastfed and co-sleeping baby, from what I saw on the show there was no mention of pumped breastmilk or that she was used to co-sleeping. I feel like NBC had the chance to educate teenagers (who they claim was their target demographic for the show) that breastmilk is a healthy, normal way to feed a baby, but they dropped the ball (yet again). They did, however, show the teenage boys shopping on the formula aisle in the grocery store. Now that I think about it, I didn't notice if any formula companies sponsored the show, as I TIVO'd it and skipped over commercials, but I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case. I don't know why I would expect NBC to redeem themselves by discussing breastfeeding on the show (which might be a big reality check for these teens - breasts have a function other than to look good in a shirt), but I had hopes there'd be some sort of positive message to come from all of this.

A comment from Asia84 on Lil Sugar's blog asks the question that I want answered too, "Has anyone thought about how the infants themselves feel???? One minute, I was with mommy and daddy, and I had my favorite binky. Life was grand. Then, next thing I know I'm being handed over to this pretty girl and this guy who looks at me funny. Do I have applesauce on my nose?? I'm teething, so I DON'T wanna eat, but I'm hungry, so I'm gonna cry. I want my mommy. I want my mommy. I want my mommy. I'll even settle for daddy. I just want my mommy!"

Angie Felton at Parent Dish believes there are other, better ways to educate teens on the immense responsibility of raising children.

I'm all for educating teens on child care getting rid of the notion that parenting is one big ball of baby powdery fun, but there ARE better ways than dumping a baby off with complete strangers for a television show. Working at a childcare center, volunteering at a church nursery or preschool, or even babysitting are all good ways to get a small idea of what life as a parent is like.
What exactly is going on with our society that makes babies fair game for a reality series, anyway?

I think NBC made some poor choices in creating this show the way that they did. They could've taught responsibility without exploiting babies. And then there is the question is this show reaching it's targeted demographic and is it influencing their choice of whether to have children now or to wait? Or are teens going to watch it, think "hey, that doesn't look so hard" and have babies anyway?


Edited on 7/4/08 to add: If you are interested in voicing your opinion regarding The Baby Borrowers to NBC, please take a look at Attachment Parenting International's response (where they state the show is in direct violation of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child) and they also give the contact information for Mr. Jeffrey Zucker, president and CEO of NBC.

Did you watch the show? What do you think? What would you do?

Contributing editor Amy Gates writes about attachment parenting, activism, green living and photography at Crunchy Domestic Goddess.

]]> Ain't no power like the power of the mama http://www.blogher.com/aint-no-power-power-mama 2008-06-26T11:45:37-05:00 2008-06-26T10:40:50-05:00 amygeekgrl About nine months after I had my first child, I went (with the kiddo in tow) to my first Mothers Acting Up meeting. It was my first foray, at least post-children, into an organized activist group. While the timing wasn't right for me to become a regular member, I gleaned a piece of knowledge from that meeting that I think will always stay with me. That is that mothers as a whole are a very, very large group, and if they use their power for good, they can become a force to be reckoned with.

]]> About nine months after I had my first child, I went (with the kiddo in tow) to my first Mothers Acting Up meeting. It was my first foray, at least post-children, into an organized activist group. While the timing wasn't right for me to become a regular member, I gleaned a piece of knowledge from that meeting that I think will always stay with me. That is that mothers as a whole are a very, very large group, and if they use their power for good, they can become a force to be reckoned with.

That little gem has stuck with me over the years especially as I blog. Once I became a mom, specifically a stay at home mom, I had more time to think about the things in the world that I wanted to make better and the ways that I could make a difference, no matter how small, in the life of my child or the life of another mother or child. That was actually my motivation behind starting my blog in the first place. I came to realize that, in the words of Edward Everett Hale, "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do."

I often think about all of the power we as women and we as mothers have and wish there was an easy way we could harness it. Thanks to access to the Internet, getting involved and harnessing that power is easier now than ever before. If you are looking for a way to affect some change for the better in your world or the lives of children around the world, chances are there is an organization out there that's right for you.

Here are some of the mother-centric advocacy groups out there:

MomsRising

... is working to bring together millions of people who share a common concern about the need to build a more family-friendly America. Started in May of 2006, MomsRising has gained over 140,000 citizen members and is rapidly growing. More than 85 national and state organizations have signed on to be aligned with MomsRising.

Our members are bringing important motherhood and family issues to the forefront of the country's awareness. We are working to create both cultural and legislative change. It is time to break the logjam that has been holding back family-friendly legislation for decades and to advance workplace policies that will support families.

MomsRising offers easy entry into citizen advocacy and is bringing the power of online organizing to motherhood and family issues.

Mothers & More

...is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of mothers through support, education and advocacy.

We address mothers’ needs as individuals and members of society, and promote the value of all the work mothers do.

Mothers Acting Up

...exists to inspire and mobilize mothers (and others) to advocate on behalf of the world's children.
MAU inspires, educates and engages mothers — a gigantic force to be reckoned with— to prioritize children in our corporate and public policies. MAU believes that when mothers lead, generations of global citizens will follow.

Children's Defense Fund

...The voice for all the children of America. The Children's Defense Fund’s Leave No Child Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.

CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves.

We pay particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities.

When Ava was just shy of a year old, my husband with Ava on his shoulders and I walked in the annual Mothers Acting Up Mother's Day parade on the Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, Colo. The parade was followed by a rally in front of the courthouse and it was a pretty powerful event to be a part of as I celebrated my very first Mother's Day as a mom. As the mothers (and others) walked in the parade we chanted, "Ain't no power like the power of the mama and the power of the mama don't stop." Remember that, mamas. The power is ours for the taking. We are women. Hear us roar.

Activist mommy bloggers and other activism sites:
Moms for Modesty
Mojo Mom
Eco Child's Play
Moms Speak Up
MOMocrats
Nature Moms Blog
PunditMom
Healthy Child, Healthy World
Feminist Moms
Mothers Acting Up (blog)
Attachment Parenting International

Contributing editor Amy Gates writes about attachment parenting, activism, green living and photography at Crunchy Domestic Goddess.

]]> As my daughter turns 4, I'm thankful for health care http://www.blogher.com/my-daughter-turns-4-im-thankful-health-care 2008-06-17T22:54:43-05:00 2008-06-17T23:21:52-05:00 amygeekgrl In less than a week, my firstborn child, my baby girl Ava will turn 4. While this isn't often considered a major milestone, it is still very dear to my heart, being her mother and all. It got me thinking about how good we have it here in North America. I feel fortunate to live in a country where we have access to things such as clean water, nutritious food and medical care.

]]> In less than a week, my firstborn child, my baby girl Ava will turn 4. While this isn't often considered a major milestone, it is still very dear to my heart, being her mother and all. It got me thinking about how good we have it here in North America. I feel fortunate to live in a country where we have access to things such as clean water, nutritious food and medical care. Elsewhere in the world, however, in places like Darfur, Nepal and Afghanistan, where those basic essentials are lacking, a child living to see his or her fourth birthday truly is a major milestone.

Even if our health care system in the United States is not ideal, at least we have access to medical assistance when we need it. When Ava was 13 months old she came down with a nasty case of croup. "Croup is a viral infection that affects mostly younger children (under 5-6). It causes swelling in the child's vocal cords, which is what causes the barky cough. The vocal cords are already the narrowest part of the air passages, and any swelling from infection may narrow the airway enough to obstruct breathing."

We kept a close eye/ear on her breathing and did the recommended trips to the steamy bathroom, then out into the night air to help open her airways, but her condition continued to get worse. By 2:30 a.m., as I lay with her on my chest on the couch in our living room her breathing became very labored. Her sternum started to cave in as she inhaled, and that combined with the stridor (whooping sound) were enough for me to tell my husband Jody that we needed to get her to the Emergency Room NOW.

072905-1-s.jpgI feel so fortunate that the nearest hospital is less than three minutes from our house because by the time we pulled into the ER parking lot, the skin around Ava's little mouth was turning blue. Jody dropped me off at the door and, with my little girl in my arms, I ran in. A nurse immediately heard Ava's labored breathing and we were seen right away.

Ava ended up needing to be admitted to the pediatric unit for two nights. By the time we went home, our little girl was doing much, much better.

Ava and daddy in the hospital 7/29/05It's easy for me to take the medical care Ava received for granted. After all, I've never been in a situation where we've been without it. But if I stop to think about what would've happened if we hadn't had access to a hospital right then when we needed it most, it's enough to bring me to tears. It's a very frightening thought to imagine living without access to medical care for my children and I'm thankful that it's not something I'll (hopefully) never have to worry about.

Candace of Mamanista! and Mama Saga has blogged in the past about her daughter Baby Diva who was born with tetralogy of fallot, a congenital heart defect.

Heart defects are among the most common birth defects–approximately 40,000 babies (1-2%) in the United States are born each year with a heart defect–and they are the leading cause of defect-related infant death. And yet, there is comparatively little funding going into researching the causes of these defects and treatment options.

Without surgery, depending on the exact pathology, tetralogy of fallot has a mortality of 30% of patients by age 2 years to 50% by age 6 years, 80% by age 10 years, and 95% by age 20…and those statistics are for the more straightforward cases.

However, just one surgery with a very high success rate (95% success in the absence of complicating factors) and Baby Diva now has a good chance to live a normal life.

My fellow BlogHers Act CE Her Bad Mother recently blogged about having to take her newborn baby back to the hospital for tests.

When they tell you that you need to bring your baby to the hospital for tests, that they need to check his spine, that he has some markers for spinal problems, for serious things but maybe nothing but still maybe serious, that it might not be anything but maybe it's something so it must be checked, it must, your heart constricts and you hold your breath.

Jenny at Crash Test Mommy wrote about the time her daughter Emma was diagnosed with pneumonia and x-rays revealed that part of her right lung had collapsed.

WOW. The doctor and I agreed that it was amazing, seeing as how Emma wasn’t acting *that* sick and didn’t look *that* sick. And WOW. Just WOW.

So now, a week’s worth of Augmentin and back-pounding later, Emma’s doing well and still coughing up lungcrap.

Astacia AKA Mamikaze at Life on the Run writes about her 3 1/2 year old daughter "Bear" who has cerebral palsy.

Even when she’s sick, she is in a good mood. She knows what she wants out of life. I suspect she wants to rule the world. Go for it, I say. It may have taken her 3 years to learn how to walk, but she is no slouch.

A year ago, Anna of Hank & Willie reflected on the birth of her son Henry at 36 weeks and his battle with respiratory distress syndrome. She also has blogged about trying to raise money for the March of Dimes March for Babies.

We remain forever grateful for the excellent care, lifesaving procedures and sophisticated equipment that were available to Henry when he was born prematurely nearly two years ago.

I think it's safe to say that like Anna, all of these mothers are thankful for the medical care their children have received and/or are continuing to receive. All of our children are alive and we are very fortunate.

At the time of this writing, the BlogHer Global Giving projects have received $6,140 in donations. In honor of Ava's fourth birthday and in hopes of helping another child across the globe reach her fourth birthday, I am going to make a donation to one of the projects. It is my hope that other mothers will consider following suit on their children's next birthday. We have a lot to be thankful for. Why not share the love and help out another mother and child?

Contributing editor Amy Gates also writes about attachment parenting, activism, green living and photography at Crunchy Domestic Goddess.

]]> Everyone's eager to meet baby, but are elective inductions safe? http://www.blogher.com/everyones-eager-meet-baby-are-elective-inductions-safe 2008-06-11T01:02:29-05:00 2008-06-11T01:08:57-05:00 amygeekgrl Elective inductions are on the rise in the United States, and while this means many excited mothers get to meet their babies sooner than if they waited for labor to begin spontaneously, it also means they are much more likely to meet their babies as a result of a cesarean section, which of course comes with it's own set of risks to both mother and child.

According to a study linked on Birthfriend's Place to Ponder:

]]> Elective inductions are on the rise in the United States, and while this means many excited mothers get to meet their babies sooner than if they waited for labor to begin spontaneously, it also means they are much more likely to meet their babies as a result of a cesarean section, which of course comes with it's own set of risks to both mother and child.

According to a study linked on Birthfriend's Place to Ponder:

In 2004, the National Vital Statistics Report showed the total induction rate (in the United States) to be 21.2%. Of that number, 25% were reported to have no apparent medical indication and were done for the convenience of either the patient or the physician (Martin et al., 2006). This rate represents a 9.5% increase since 1990. An even higher induction rate of 41% was found by the Listening to Mothers II survey (Declercq, Sakala, Corry, Applebaum, & Risher, 2006).

The desire to bring about the onset of labor is nothing new. Throughout history, women have tried to induce labor naturally through "home remedies" such as nipple stimulation, Castor oil, herbal remedies, sexual intercourse and more. As I neared the 41 weeks marker with my son, even I tried to naturally jump start labor by way of acupuncture to increase my chances of having a home birth. I went into labor that night. Had I reached 42 weeks, my likelihood of being legally allowed to have a home birth would have decreased.

The way I see it though is the difference between using natural means of inducing labor and medical means is the end result. With either one labor will begin only if the woman's body (cervix) is ready. However, with the natural methods, if labor doesn't begin, the end result is the woman is still pregnant and has to wait until her body is ready. With the medical/pharmaceutical means of induction, if labor doesn't begin or progress according to the care provider's timetable, the end result will most often be a c-section.

It is important to note that a woman should consult with her care provider before trying any induction method, even natural ones.

If you are leaning towards a medical elective induction, in addition to discussing your options and risk factors with your care provider, it is also important to do your own research and be an informed customer so you can make the choice that's best for the health of both you and your baby.

Although the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists recommends against elective inductions citing "Induction of labor is indicated when the benefits to either the mother or fetus outweigh those of continuing the pregnancy" (in other words, when medically necessary), many doctors are more than happy to accommodate a mom who is tired of being pregnant. Some doctors routinely do inductions at 40 weeks, even if "it's perfectly normal for 80 percent of healthy babies to have anywhere from a 38- to 42-week gestation" and even if a woman is not asking for it.

NedaAnn (AKA Iluvmysweetpea) who blogs at The unstable mind of an unhealthy body told me on Twitter that when she was preparing for the birth of her daughter four and a half years ago, she and the rest of the women in her childbirth class were told that at 40 weeks they would be induced. "We were told that at 40 weeks our fluid started to diminish, so it was a danger to baby. That's why we needed to be induced." On top of that, she said, her doctor who practiced at Albert Lea Medical Center in Minnesota told the class they use Cytotec for inductions. Having had done her research about the safety of Cytotec, she asked him about it and was told it was "not that bad." Her daughter Trinity came a month early, so she never had to deal with a possible induction, but NedaAnn believes, "Pregnancy used to be 42 weeks long, so why are we inducing at 40 weeks or before? I know there are legit reasons in a few cases, but overall it is a matter of convenience and I just don't think the risks are worth the convenience. And Cytotec should be banned."

The issue with Cytotec (misoprostol), if you are unfamiliar with this drug, is it has been FDA-approved only for treating ulcers, NOT for inducing labor. According to Marsden Wagner, MD, MS, "On the Cytotec label it is explicitly written that this drug is contraindicated for use on pregnant women." Using Cytotec to induce labor has many "serious adverse effects ... including maternal or fetal death, uterine rupture, and severe vaginal bleeding and shock." These risks are even greater if the woman is attempting a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). According to an article on iVillage, "Cytotec's sole appeal is price. Cytotec costs pennies per induction, whereas Prepidil and Cervidil cost close to $100 per dose, and more than one dose may be needed. Cytotec also reduces the need for intravenous oxytocin (Pitocin), the hormone that stimulates contractions, another savings."

According to an article on CNN "Five Ways to Avoid a C-section," the number one way to avoid having a c-section to to get induced only if it's medically necessary and points out that first-time moms have a greatly increased risk of having a c-section after an induction.

One of the biggest risks of an elective induction is that it will, the majority of the time, end up in a c-section.

"If you decide to have an induction because your obstetrician is going out of town, or because your husband is going out of town, that may seem like a bona fide reason, but you'll pay the price with an increased rate in C-sections," said Dr. Michael Klein, emeritus professor of family practice and pediatrics at the University of British Columbia, who's studied C-sections.

Klein says studies of first-time moms show that 44 percent of those who are induced end up with a C-section but that only 8 percent of those who go into labor spontaneously end up with a C-section. Doctors say many times, inducing women way before the cervix is ready can lead to unproductive labor, which then necessitates a C-section."

A labor and delivery nurse who blogs at At Your Cervix says in her post Inductions Galore, "My last few shifts at work have been a wide variety of patients. Inductions that go no where, inductions that take off super fast and precipitously deliver, pretermers, preeclamptics, c-sections. I think I've done it all in the last few shifts. What bugs me are the inductions. These docs really dig for reasons to induce." And then she details the list of reasons doctors will induce. Then she also adds, "Then again, we have some docs who refuse to induce for made up reasons."

While many women may not have heard of this, there is a tool that helps care providers assess a woman's likelihood of having a successful induction - it's called the Bishop or Bishop's score. According to Revolution Health: "For the purpose of inducing labor with medicine, the Bishop score helps a health professional assess a woman's physical readiness to progress through vaginal delivery. The Bishop score is a rating of how soft, open, and thinned the cervix is (dilation and effacement), as well as how low in the pelvis the cervix and baby are positioned.

Bishop scores range from 0 to 10. The higher the number, the more likely a vaginal delivery will be successful. "

Want to know if you are ready for induction? You can even take an interactive quiz online that will assess the readiness of your cervix.

Jennifer Block at Pushed Birth discusses Why Not Schedule It?

What will an induction mean for you? If you induce, you’ll be admitted to the hospital and will most likely spend the next 24 hours of labor confined to bed. Because staff will need to kickstart and maintain contractions and dilation with drugs like Pitocin, Cytotec, and Cervidil, they will require IV fluids and continuous fetal monitoring. At that point you’ll very likely want an epidural, because Pitocin contractions are more painful, especially when you can’t move around. A director of OB/GYN in New York City called Pitocin without an epidural “cruel and unusual punishment.”

Jennifer adds:

If you’re considering a medically unnecessary induction, think about whom it will really benefit. While it may seem more convenient to just book it, think of the inconvenience of recovering from major surgery, or waiting for your baby to be released from a NICU — two very real possibilities. And think also about the increased risk to your pelvic parts of a pushed birth. Again, the best, healthiest option for both you and your baby is labor that your body starts on its own, progresses on its own, and concludes on its own terms.

Although there is a lot of information out there against elective inductions, there are legitimate reasons why a woman would opt for one. Christine from Watch me! No, watch me! (a woman who graduated from medical school just a month before her son was due) decided on an elective induction at 41.5 weeks. She had contracted PUPPP (Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy) at 38.5 weeks, which, in her own words, is "a HORRIBLY itchy rash that is covered in hard plaques. So, you're itchy but can't even get any temporary relief from scratching because of the hard top layer (gross, I know). Worse than that, the hard plaques themselves irritate the underlying rash. It was a nightmare. I couldn't wear clothes and even sitting down was and excruciating mix of unbearable itchiness and pain." By 41+ weeks, the rash had spread everywhere except her face and breasts and she was unable to sleep for more than two hours at a time.

The only thing that cures PUPPP is delivery, so at 41.5 weeks, Christine asked to be induced. After considering her condition and that she was getting weaker and weaker from lack of sleep, her doctors agreed to it. Due to her son being posterior, she was unable to progress past 6 cm, and decided along with her doctor that a c-section would be best, which Christine had a very positive experience with.

Christine notes that because of her medical background she was "a very well-informed patient." She adds, "I knew what was going on from start to finish and this is the route I chose."

Sheridan at Enjoy Birth Blog believes there are Five Good Reasons for an Induction, as well as Five Questionable Reasons for Induction, and Five NO Risk Alternatives to Inductions.

I've personally given birth to two children - one was medically induced with Pitocin due to my developing HELLP syndrome at 39 weeks and the other labor began on it's own (well, after a round of acupuncture the night before). The difference in the two labors was very noteworthy. When I was induced with Pitocin, my contractions quickly became nearly unbearable and I felt I had no breaks in between them. They just kept hitting me over and over. With the induction I was also restricted to laboring in bed, which I feel inhibited my ability to effectively deal with the pain. Even though I had no intention of having an epidural when I went into it, I quickly changed my tune and asked for one but was denied it due to my falling platelet levels, so I had to cope with the pain in other ways. With my labor that began naturally I was able to move about freely and change positions. The pain never became unbearable. In fact, it only got really uncomfortable in the last hour or so, but was still manageable, as opposed to my medically-induced labor that was uncomfortable and borderline unbearable for hours. Both labors lasted around 12 hours, but the differences between the two were unforgettable. I'd never choose to be induced again unless (again) I had very good reason for it. I can't imagine putting my body or my baby through that without good reason.

Additional resources:
- Mothering magazine: Let the Baby Decide: The Case against Inducing Labor
- CYTOTEC petition: Cytotec (misoprostol) for Labor Induction Consumer Awareness
- From Henci Goer, author of The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth: Elective induction of labor - "Is elective induction safe and effective?", "Who makes a good candidate for elective induction?", and "How can women considering elective induction minimize the risks?"
- From Descent to Truth. To Life. To Birth. To Motherhood.: Stop the Misuse of Cytotec to Induce Labor

]]> Loss of insurance - another price to pay after a c-section? http://www.blogher.com/loss-insurance-another-price-pay-after-c-section 2008-06-04T00:25:06-05:00 2008-06-04T00:25:06-05:00 amygeekgrl An article in the New York Times this weekend reported that some women are being forced to pay higher health insurance premiums or are being denied insurance coverage all together if they've had a Caesarean section in their past. Peggy Robertson of Centennial, Colo., was turned down for individual health coverage by Golden Rule Insurance Company because she had given birth by c-section. No matter that she was in perfect health.

]]> An article in the New York Times this weekend reported that some women are being forced to pay higher health insurance premiums or are being denied insurance coverage all together if they've had a Caesarean section in their past. Peggy Robertson of Centennial, Colo., was turned down for individual health coverage by Golden Rule Insurance Company because she had given birth by c-section. No matter that she was in perfect health. "Having the operation once increases the odds that it will be performed again, and if she became pregnant and needed another Caesarean, Golden Rule did not want to pay for it."

This could be a serious problem and affect countless women given the c-section rate in this country. It is believed that the current c-section rate in the United States is at a record high of more than 30% (that is nearly 1 in 3 babies is born via cesarean section) despite the World Health Organization's recommendation that says "the best outcomes for mothers and babies appear to occur with cesarean section rates of 5% to 10%. Rates above 15% seem to do more harm than good (Althabe and Belizan 2006)."

Tina Cassidy from The Birth Book Blog believes the situation with the insurance company all comes down to money.

As always, it is money dictating the rules of health care. Of course, money (malpractice fears) is one of the reasons why the c-section rate in the US at 1 out of every 3 births. Honestly, it is surprising that it took insurance companies this long to wake up to the fact that they are paying either way -- for the c-sections that don't get done when they should, those that get done poorly (regardless of whether they were necessary) or when a woman is denied access to a vaginal birth after cesarean, which is happening more and more...

Perhaps it does all come down to money, but if that really were the case, then why wouldn't my insurance company reimburse me a measly $2000 (relatively speaking) to cover my prenatal care, home birth, and postnatal care that I had with a midwife for my son's birth in 2006? They refused to pay me one single penny, yet had I given birth in a hospital, they would've covered the entire thing (tens of thousands of dollars since I would've had a c-section due to my son being a surprise breech) less my one-time $10 copay. Logically, I figured that they'd rather pay for the lesser of the two, but logic apparently has no place when dealing with insurance companies. Maybe Tina is right on with her assessment. After all, why would they want to reimburse me and pay $2000 when they can get away with paying nothing at all?

Sharon Holley at The Traveling Midwife feels this is a great example for why we need national health coverage and also pondered what this could mean for the future of midwives and had other questions as well.

If insurance companies are going to start denying coverage for previous cesarean sections then what is to stop them from denying coverage for any type of previous surgery? Will this help bring midwives more respect as we have better c-section rates and still maintain excellent outcomes nationwide? Currently midwives are always battling with insurance companies to reimburse for care. Even Medicare and Medicaid does not pay 100% for services when compared to same services that are provided by physicians. Will this push women to question the need for a cesarean at the time of delivery?

Heather at A Mama's Blog who has had both a c-section and a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) and has written about in the past about her c-section experience and what a c-section is really like believes the insurance situation should be alarming for all women in their child-bearing years.

Even if you have no intention what-so-ever of having a c-section, in the rare case that you did need a medically necessary one, you can be denied insurance coverage now, because the procedure has been over performed.

Doctors and hospitals must start allowing VBACs, and return to delivering breech babies, in order to lower the ever rising c-section rate. If nothing else, c-sections should be reserved for true emergency situations. Something has to change - now more than ever, our very health depends on it.

Louise at Colorado Health Insurance Insider writes about her experience in the insurance business and says:

I’ve written before about how caesareans should only be covered by health insurance if they are medically necessary - “elective” c-sections should always be patient-pay, regardless of what health insurance carrier the patient has. It mystifies me as to why someone would willingly choose a c-section instead of a vaginal birth, considering the increased risks, much longer recovery time, and permanent scar. But at the same time, a lot of doctors are also guilty of over-using medical intervention for convenience in obstetric care. Part of the problem is the ridiculous malpractice system we have in this country.

Louise goes on to add:

For women who are trying to secure individual health insurance policies, a prior c-section can be a headache. They should be able to find at least one company willing to offer coverage, but it may not be their first choice, and it may come with a higher price tag. Just one more reason why a c-section should be a last resort, and should never be performed without a medical reason.

Jennifer Block at Pushed Birth feels a policy like this is adding insult to injury.

The losers in all this, of course, are women and their families: going through unnecessary primary cesareans, then being discouraged or flat out denied normal, physiological birth for their next pregnancy, on top of that being denied health insurance because the repeat cesarean their providers are insisting upon would cost the insurer more money, and having babies at higher risk of being born too early, not to mention the risks of repeated major abdominal surgery for mom. And we call this maternity “care”?

Carolyn McConnell of Rock the Cradle - The Politics of Motherhood agrees and points out the results of a 2005 survey where one quarter of the women polled "reported feeling pressured by a medical professional to have a C-section."

And then they pay for it, in a high rate of infection of the incision, extended recovery and pain in comparison to vaginal birth, risks of injury to the baby, greater difficulty initiating breastfeeding, and greater risks of breathing problems in the baby—and finally in a loss of insurance coverage.

So, what now? On one hand I think it's good that insurance companies are finally realizing the cost they having to bear as a result of a c-section rate that is inexcusably high and perhaps this will encourage more women to become better informed about c-sections before they go to the hospital. Maybe this will also put some pressure on the OBs that are performing unnecessary c-sections. On the other hand, I don't feel it's fair to women to raise their premiums or deny them coverage based on something that many of them may have been pressured into in the first place. And in the case that it was a medically-necessary c-section, then what? Another thing that is disturbing to me in all of this is that many hospitals have banned VBACs, so even if a woman wants to have a vaginal birth after a c-section, her options are often very limited.

I don't know what the answer is, but I do know something needs to change in this country and the c-section rate must be lowered. Women, and their babies, deserve better care than this.

What are your thoughts?

Additional resources:
- Childbirth Connection - What Every Pregnant Woman Needs to Know About Cesarean Section
- International Cesarean Awareness Network
- VBAC

Contributing editor Amy Gates also writes about attachment parenting, activism, green living and photography at Crunchy Domestic Goddess.

]]> China's heroic mother and the importance of breastfeeding in natural disasters http://www.blogher.com/chinas-heroic-mother-and-importance-breastfeeding-natural-disasters 2008-05-28T00:25:48-05:00 2008-05-28T00:25:48-05:00 amygeekgrl By now many of you have probably read about police officer Jiang Xiaojuan of China who became a national, and then international, hero practically over night. After the devastating Chinese earthquake on May 12, the 29 year-old mother of a 6-month-old son, was called to duty. What she encountered when she reported for duty was babies crying in hunger and that's when her maternal instincts kicked in.

]]> By now many of you have probably read about police officer Jiang Xiaojuan of China who became a national, and then international, hero practically over night. After the devastating Chinese earthquake on May 12, the 29 year-old mother of a 6-month-old son, was called to duty. What she encountered when she reported for duty was babies crying in hunger and that's when her maternal instincts kicked in. Jiang breast-fed the infants separated from their mothers or orphaned from the earthquake, at one point breast-feeding nine babies.

Jiang Xiaojuan"I am breast-feeding, so I can feed babies. I didn't think of it much," she said. "It is a mother's reaction and a basic duty as a police officer to help."

Jiang doesn't believe what she did was noteworthy. "I think what I did was normal," she said. "In a quake zone, many people do things for others. This was a small thing, not worth mentioning." The local media, however, named her "China's Mother No. 1" and there are many others around the world praising her efforts as well.

On MOMformation at BabyCenter, Betsy Shaw wrote:

It’s stories like these, stories of ordinary people performing extraordinary, selfless acts in times of tragedy, that make all this bad news just a little bit easier to digest. They also make me proud to be a mom.

Would you do, could you, do the same if you were in a similar situation: lactating in the presence of many hungry babies?

Of the 73 responses there, the vast majority said they would do the same and breastfeed another woman's baby, though interestingly enough, many also said they would not want a woman they did not know breastfeeding their own child.

A few of the people who commented at BabyCenter, as well as one at Milliner's Dream expressed their concern about the possible transmission of HIV/AIDS through breast milk. There is conflicting information on what the risk of infection is if the woman is HIV positive, but, as another commenter at Milliner's Dream noted, Jiang would have likely known her HIV status having just recently given birth 6 month ago.

Over on Broadsheet on Salon.com Jiang was named "Hero of the Day." Sarah Hepola says:

As the death toll soars past 50,000, it's nice to have a little good news to celebrate. You can remember Jiang next time someone complains about the evils of women popping out their boobs in public.

Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes at The Moderate Voice found the story to be "beautiful" and said:

Most every night, I stay up late-late, long after everyone else is sleeping. I fly over the internet, looking, looking, trying to find something beautiful or restorative to share with you here at TMV, so either you go to sleep with a beautiful idea or image, or wake up with one.

Tonight, finding something beautiful in this wide and groaning world, was easy. Because there is Jiang Xiaojuan, a young provincial policewoman.

She went on to add:

As a mother who nursed til her offspring was practically old enough to go to school, and as the mother of a grown daughter who while nursing her own child also gave her nourishing milk to my ailing elderly father (expressed, not nursed)… I feel certain we stand with many mothers worldwide who salute Jiang Xiaojuan profoundly.

It’s a mystery women don’t often speak of publicly, what it’s like to nourish another human being… or many… from one’s own blood and bones. It is, one of the greatest honors in the world.

I think, despite the restrictive and suspicious regime of China, it’s people like Jiang who really represent the true spirit of modern China, the compassionate soul.

Tonight, it was easy to find a beautiful story to tell you. I would that it were as easy on all other nights too.

It is stories like these of this selfless mother that remind us not only of the power of human kindness, but also how important breastfeeding can be in an emergency or natural disaster.

Melissa Kotlen Nagin notes on the Breastfeeding Blog on About.com:

Unfortunately, natural disasters are out of our control, but women like Officer Xiaojuan remind us about yet another important benefit of breastfeeding. We're typically so focused on the health benefits and lose sight of the bigger picture. Here is the International Lactation Consultant Association's position paper on Infant Feeding in Emergencies, which is a wonderful resource.

Tanya at The Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog recently wrote a post dispelling some myths about breastfeeding in emergencies. She also shares:

In a disaster such as the one in Burma, breastfeeding can be a life-saving act. Why? In emergencies formula is often not available. If it is available, water supplies are often compromised. Formula mixed with contaminated water can cause diarrhea and dehydration, which can quickly become life-threatening to infants. Power to sterilize and refrigerate formula is also often not available.

Sometimes, well meaning humanitarian efforts result in such an influx of formula that efforts to protect and support breastfeeding are disrupted. This is such a concern that in 1994 the World Health Organization adopted the following policy, urging member states to "exercise extreme caution when planning, implementing, or supporting emergency relief operations, by protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding for infants," and to ensure that formula is distributed only under specific conditions.

We often like to think of ourselves as untouchable here in the United States, but Hurricane Katrina was just three short years ago and was another instance where breastfeeding saved lives. From an open letter to health care providers attending to families affected by Hurricane Katrina: The Role of Human Milk and Breastfeeding:

Human milk is a valuable resource that can not only protect the vulnerable infant from disease, but can also promote psychological health and comfort during stressful times. Human milk reduces pain and promotes more rapid healing after injuries and infections. While maternal health is of great importance, it should be recognized that even the malnourished mother will produce milk of good quality for her infant.

To learn more about the important role breastfeeding plays in emergencies, please visit the links below.

I will close by adding that I think what Jiang did was amazing and I'm so glad to see breastfeeding receiving such positive attention. I hope she has already been reunited with her son (that relatives were caring for) or will be soon and that her breastfeeding relationship with him can continue to thrive.

And lastly, just a friendly reminder that BlogHers Act/Global Giving is continuing to accept donations for the Chinese earthquake victims as well as other maternal health causes.

More information:
Keep Abreast - Breastfeeding ensures survival in a disaster
Black Breastfeeding Blog - Breastfeeding Saves Babies During Natural Disasters
La Leche League International - Keep Breastfeeding: Supporting Mothers After Natural Disasters
KellyMom - Infant Feeding In Emergencies

Contributing editor Amy Gates also writes about attachment parenting, activism, green living and photography at Crunchy Domestic Goddess.

]]> Raising Awareness about the Life-Shattering Condition of Obstetric Fistula http://www.blogher.com/raising-awareness-about-life-shattering-condition-obstetric-fistula 2008-05-21T00:42:33-05:00 2008-05-20T23:58:28-05:00 amygeekgrl If you had asked me a few days ago what an obstetric fistula was, I'd have shrugged my shoulders and told you, "I don't know." Thanks to advances in modern medicine and in obstetric and midwifery care, fistula has been eradicated in North America for over 100 years. Although the condition has been long since forgotten here, there are at least 2 million women in Africa, Asia and the Arab region living with fistula, and some 50,000 to 100,000 new cases develop each year. These estimates are believed to be low.

]]> If you had asked me a few days ago what an obstetric fistula was, I'd have shrugged my shoulders and told you, "I don't know." Thanks to advances in modern medicine and in obstetric and midwifery care, fistula has been eradicated in North America for over 100 years. Although the condition has been long since forgotten here, there are at least 2 million women in Africa, Asia and the Arab region living with fistula, and some 50,000 to 100,000 new cases develop each year. These estimates are believed to be low.

Obstetric fistula is an injury of childbearing that has been relatively neglected, despite the devastating impact it has on the lives of girls and women. It is usually caused by several days of obstructed labor, without timely medical intervention — typically a Cesarean section to relieve the pressure. The consequences of fistula are life shattering: The baby usually dies, and the woman is left with chronic incontinence. Because of her inability to control her flow of urine or feces, she is often abandoned or neglected by her husband and family and ostracized by her community. Without treatment, her prospects for work and family life are greatly diminished, and she is often left to rely on charity.

When a woman (especially a young woman who's pelvis is not fully developed) experiences an unusually long labor (several days long), the soft tissue of the pelvis experiences lack of blood flow between the baby's head and the woman's pelvis bone. The lack of blood flow causes the tissue to die and a hole forms either between the woman's vagina and bladder or vagina and rectum (or both), resulting in the leaking of urine, feces or both.

The vagina can also become perforated by violent rape.

PBS recently aired a NOVA program called "A Walk to Beautiful," produced by Mary Olive Smith, about women in Ethiopia living with fistula. You can watch the entire documentary online.

The women profiled in "A Walk to Beautiful" are treated as virtual lepers in their villages, where they are shunned by family and made to live alone. One women admits to contemplating suicide.

Through chance they learn that there are other women who share their affliction, and that the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital exists to help them—if they can manage to walk for hours to the nearest road, find public transport to the capital, and then search out the hospital in a strange and forbidding city. Once there, they enter a haven that they never imagined, surrounded by women like themselves and a medical staff of Western and African doctors who treat them like human beings, not outcasts.

It's an eye-opening story of hope and triumph over adversity. What's rather shocking is that the cost of fistula repair surgery and rehabilitative care is only $300, though many women don't know that treatment is available (or are even told by doctors that there is nothing they can do to correct fistula), they have no way of getting to a fistula hospital or, in many cases, they simply cannot afford it.

Though not a part of the documentary, Sarah Omega Kidangasi has her own fistula story to tell. She became pregnant as a result of a rape when she was a 19-year-old Kenyan schoolgirl and then developed fistula after a prolonged labor. Her baby was stillborn (as so many are who's mothers endure prolonged labor) and, upon returning to her village, her uncontrollable leaking urine made her into a social outcast.

Sarah had been living with fistula for 12 years when the pressure of her situation began to consume her, "I suffered rejection, isolation. I lived the lonely life," she said. "Life with fistula traps you. It makes it impossible for you to interact with others. I was suffering from depression. Many times, I considered suicide."

In 2007, she was taken by a neighbor to a teaching hospital for fistula surgery as well as psychiatric support. "The surgery really changed my life," said Sarah. "That was the moment I could offer a genuine smile."

Sarah has now set her sights on spreading the word about fistula and getting maternal care on the international health agenda. This week she will tell her story to members of Congress to raise awareness about the condition that is affecting the quality of life for millions of women. "I'm going beyond our African culture and tradition, going public and telling my story, so that the victims know that there's help," she said. "Fistula can be repaired."

To learn more about fistula and how you can help, please visit the Campaign to End Fistula.

Other information can be found at:

United Nations Population Fund - Obstetric Fistula: A Tragic Failure to Deliver Maternal Care
The Fistula Foundation
All Africa - Liberia: Living With Fistula
NPR - Film Captures Ethiopian Women's Medical Sagas

Blog posts about Fistula:

Kimberly at Go Green Travel Green wrote Fistula Horror Stories: Socially Conscious Travel & Human Rights
Yolanda at Perfectly Imperfect wrote about A Walk To Beautiful
Trisha at Ideas for Women wrote Obstetric Fistula - the Tragedy of a Nightmare Within a Nightmare

Contributing editor Amy Gates also writes about attachment parenting, activism, green living and photography at Crunchy Domestic Goddess.

]]> Bloggers Unite For Human Rights (May 15) is another opportunity to raise awareness about maternal health, Myanmar relief http://www.blogher.com/bloggers-unite-human-rights-may-15-another-opportunity-raise-awareness-about-maternal-health-myanmar 2008-05-14T01:39:37-05:00 2008-05-14T00:40:21-05:00 amygeekgrl On Thursday, May 15, Blogcatalog.com is challenging bloggers to Unite for Human Rights by posting words, pictures and/or videos.

While the words might change from country to country and are sometimes taken for granted, human rights represent one of the universally agreed upon ideas — that all people are born with basic rights and freedoms that include life, liberty, and justice. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations.

]]> On Thursday, May 15, Blogcatalog.com is challenging bloggers to Unite for Human Rights by posting words, pictures and/or videos.

While the words might change from country to country and are sometimes taken for granted, human rights represent one of the universally agreed upon ideas — that all people are born with basic rights and freedoms that include life, liberty, and justice. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations.

Bloggers Unite For Human Rights challenges bloggers everywhere to help elevate human rights by drawing attention to the challenges and successes of human rights issues on May 15. What those topics may include — the wrongful imprisonment of journalists covering assemblies, governments that ignore the plight of citizens, and censorship of the Internet. What is important is that on one day, thousands of bloggers unite and share their unified support of human rights everywhere.

Bloggers UniteThis is a great opportunity for BlogHers to write about the BlogHers Act/Global Giving projects which are raising money for maternal health, as well as relief efforts for the Burmese people affected by the Myanmar cyclone. Because of the great need to assist in the Myanmar relief effort, BlogHers Act has extended it's Mother's Day deadline and will continue to accept donations.

The three recently added Myanmar projects are:

  1. Provide Shelter for Survivors of Myanmar Cyclone
  2. GlobalGiving Relief Fund for Myanmar Cyclone
  3. Help Victims of Myanmar Cyclone

Take Action:
* If you haven't yet added the widget to your sidebar, please consider doing so now.

* If you haven't yet blogged about the Global Giving projects, please consider doing so on May 15 for Bloggers United for Human Rights. Together we can raise awareness. Please be sure to leave a comment below with a link to your post when you blog it.

* If you haven't yet donated, please dig deep and see if you can forgo a couple of Starbucks coffees or a dinner out. Every little bit can make such a big difference in the lives of so many.

I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has blogged, Tweeted, emailed or otherwise spread the word about the BlogHers Act/Global Giving campaign. Thank you so much! It would appear that many of you took up Denise's suggestion to give the gift of maternal health for Mother's Day as quite a bit of money was raised this past week.

The Cupcakery recently blogged about Mother's Day and how she, a mom, turned her feelings of helplessness about the Myanmar cyclone into something productive.

Mother's Day is this Sunday, May 11th. Mother's Day celebrates Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunts, Sisters, and all of those women who are "Like a Mom," adoptive Mothers, and anyone who loves and nurtures. I have always believed in "Six Degrees of Separation" and with the terrible horror of Cyclone Nargis to hit Myanmar (Burma) recently I got to thinking of all the Mothers affected by this event. Every day there are so many tragedies on different scales, which affect at least one person, or someone we know. It can make us feel helpless; but helpless does not mean hopeless. We just have to know where to look.

She goes on to write about the Global Giving Myanmar projects and other causes that benefit mothers and children around the world.

Although Mother's Day has come and gone this year, the need for donations remains. Perhaps consider upcoming family and friends' birthdays as an opportunity to donate in their name. Nothing says I love and appreciate you like a donation to a worthy cause. Pair that with a card or letter telling your family member or friend all of the ways you appreciate them and you can't go wrong. Or think outside the box. What other ways could you help raise money?

Smtwngrl at Writing Her Life recently challenged the blogosphere to leave her comments promising to donate $1 per comment received from May 5 to 9 to the Global Giving project of their choosing (majority rules).

I received 44 comments through yesterday (I decided to count all the comments made) and rounded that up to 50 for good measure. I donated $25 to the Afghan women's project, which received the most votes, and $25 to the AIDS/HIV awareness project in South Africa, which tied for the second most votes with the Nepal clinic -- perfect since I'd planned to donate $25 to the clinic in honor of my mother for Mother's Day.

Heather at A Mama's Blog took me up on my challenge and donated 50% of her sales from her online shop Little Pumpkin, Sweet Pea Designs to two of the projects.

While the sales weren’t as high as I would have liked- :-), I was able to donate double what I initally thought I could. I was torn on which project to donate to, so I ended up donating to two: I donated to Help Afgan Women Deliver Healthy Babies Safely, and to the Mother & Child Health Clinic in Rural Nepal.

Like Heather, I also donated a portion of the sales from my two online shops and was able to send just over three times what I thought I would be able to. I had a hard time decided which cause to support, so I divided up my donations among the following four projects: Help Afghan Women Deliver Healthy Babies Safely, Ensure Healthcare for 40,000+ Displaced Darfurians, Empower Women to End HIV/AIDS Stigma, South Africa, and to the Mother & Child Health Clinic in Rural Nepal - 2008. I also made a contribution in my mom's name for Mother's Day to Help Victims of Myanmar Cyclone.

Please consider what you can donate and continue to spread the word. It all makes a difference. Thank you.

Contributing editor Amy Gates also writes about attachment parenting, activism, green living and photography at Crunchy Domestic Goddess.

]]> Mother's Day + Economic Stimulus + Comment Love = 3 Occasions to Donate to Save Women's Lives http://www.blogher.com/mothers-day-economic-stimulus-comment-love-3-occasions-donate-save-womens-lives 2008-05-07T01:08:00-05:00 2008-05-07T11:06:52-05:00 amygeekgrl After reading Denise's BlogHer post last week that the gift of maternal health is the perfect Mother's Day gift, I thought "this really is perfect!" I blogged it and suggested that not only is it a great cause, but it is also a great consumerism/stuff-free gift, something that I feel, in our consumerism-driven society, is so important, but so ofte

]]> After reading Denise's BlogHer post last week that the gift of maternal health is the perfect Mother's Day gift, I thought "this really is perfect!" I blogged it and suggested that not only is it a great cause, but it is also a great consumerism/stuff-free gift, something that I feel, in our consumerism-driven society, is so important, but so often forgotten.

I had plans (and still have plans) to donate in my mom's honor for Mother's Day. I knew it wouldn't be a surprise to her since she faithfully reads my blog, but what I wasn't expecting was that she would beat me to the punch and make a donation in my honor first! My mom chose to honor me for Mother's Day with a gift to Help Afghan Women Deliver Healthy Babies Safely, a cause that I would've chosen myself. My mom said that she thought I would "appreciate that much more than flowers or anything else" and, aside from perhaps a massage (*wink*), she is right. I am happy my mom chose to donate as a gift to me and I hope she will be happy when she receives that email saying I've donated as a Mother's Day gift to her as well.

Speaking of honoring women on Mother's Day, Jen Lemen suggests honoring a woman you admire by making a donation in her name and then telling her about the ways she's inspired you. She wrote a wonderful "primer to help you make a perfect match between that woman who inspires you and an organization that's changing the world."

Aside from Mother's Day being the perfect opportunity to donate to Global Giving, Britt Bravo recently asked, "Will You Donate Your Economic Stimulus Check?" Britt said, "FinancialAidPodcast suggests paying down your debt, putting it in a savings account, or donating to a charitable organization." BlogHer Community Manager Denise left a comment suggesting people use their economic stimulus checks to make a donation to Global Giving. Another wonderful idea.

Smtwngrl at Writing: My Life recently came up with a very creative way to raise money for Global Giving. She originally vowed to donate $0.10 for each comment she received between May 5 and May 9 to one of the Blogher-supported organizations (for a maximum donation of $100). However, after realizing that her original goal may have been a little too lofty, she upped the ante, "In addition to my $25 Mother's Day donation in my mother's name, for every unique commenter each day this week (May 5th through May 9th) I'll donate $1 (up to $100) toward the maternal health cause that receives the most votes." What are you waiting for? Head on over there and get the comment love a flowing. You still have three days to get those comments in and spread the word.

In addition to the original five worthy maternal health causes (see below), Lisa Stone announced earlier today that BlogHers Act and Global Giving have added the Myanmar relief effort to provide emergency relief to thousands and thousands of people devastated by Cyclone Nargis. The storm has killed over 22,000 people, thousands more are presumed dead, and the million who's lives have been spared are without shelter and with only a few days food supply. Lisa encouraged everyone to donate and blog this.

She also announced that BlogHer and Global Giving will be matching your donation. "Whichever of the now six projects recommended via the BlogHers Act fundraising widget receives the most donations between now and the end of the week will get a $1,000 donation from BlogHer, which Global Giving has agreed to match. The other five worthy projects will also get a donation of $200 each from BlogHer."

Karoli at Odd Time Signatures answered Lisa's call to action and donated to Global Giving again, this time to the Myanmar people, blogged it and encourages others to "please dig deep" and "consider rounding up your loose change around the house, under the couch, hidden in old handbags, wallets and drawers."

I think it's important to note that no amount is too small. Every little bit adds up and can help the people, including mothers and children, in Myanmar, as well as other maternal health projects around the world. We're at $3415 donated so far. How much more can we raise between now and Mother's Day? How will you help?

More about each of the BlogHers Act/Global Giving projects:

Provide Emergency Relief - Myanmar Cyclone Victims: Donate as little as $10 to support urgent disaster relief efforts by helping provide food, clean water, and supplies for those affected by the cyclone, which has killed thousands and caused extensive flooding and damage.

Maternal Health Projects:

* Mother and Child Clinic in Nepal: $10 - 2 days' operating costs for the Clinic OR a year's worth of care for 5 women and children

* Help Afghan Women Deliver Healthy Babies Safely: $25 - 20 women will have improved quality of life through reproductive healthcare and education

* Ensure Healthcare for 40,000+ Displaced Darfurians: $25 - Trains 2 Traditional Birthing Attendants (includes 3 training sessions and training materials)

* Empower Women to End HIV/AIDS Stigma, South Africa: $50 - 2 women living with HIV/AIDS can receive counseling

* Noon Meal Improves Girls' Learning in Burkina Faso: $15 - Provides a noon meal for 50 students for one day.

Take Action Now:

1) Grab a button or donation widget to place on your blog.

2) Share this information with your readers by blogging about maternal health, the Myanmar relief effort, or the individual project you're supporting.

3) If you blog it, leave your link at the bottom of this post, so others can read your thoughts on these issues. (And so we can feature you on BlogHer.com and in our newsletters.)

4) Donate to save women's lives, today.

Contributing editor Amy Gates also writes about attachment parenting, activism, green living and photography at Crunchy Domestic Goddess.

]]> BlogHers get creative with donation ideas for Global Giving. There's still time to act and save women's lives. http://www.blogher.com/bloghers-get-creative-donation-ideas-global-giving-theres-still-time-act-and-save-womens-lives 2008-04-22T23:46:24-05:00 2008-04-22T23:50:41-05:00 amygeekgrl It's been just over two weeks since Lisa Stone announced that BlogHers Act was teaming up with Global Giving to make a difference on the issue of maternal health and asked, "How many women's lives can we save with donations from the BlogHer community, between now and Mother's Day?"

]]> It's been just over two weeks since Lisa Stone announced that BlogHers Act was teaming up with Global Giving to make a difference on the issue of maternal health and asked, "How many women's lives can we save with donations from the BlogHer community, between now and Mother's Day?"

Immediately responding to Lisa's call to action, BlogHers like Mamikaze, WhyMommy, Karianna, and SoCalMom who is "continually amazed by the accomplishments of the women of BlogHer" and challenges her readers to "show the world just what a force we really are," as well as Catherine, Broad-Sheet, and Liz all blogged it.

Nickie donated and blogged it saying, "We can use the power of our blogs to make a difference. And that's a good reason to blog. I, for one, am excited about this opportunity. The opportunity to use the privileges and rights I have to help someone who, only because she was born in a different country, needs my help."

Writes for Chocolate believes "You can be a hero." She says, "If you listen to the economists, those 'experts' on cable news will tell you the dollar doesn't buy much these days. Dig deeper, and find out that a mere $10 can cover medical care for five women and children in Nepal for a year. That's TEN dollars, FIVE people, for A YEAR. Imagine what $15 can do!" Other bloggers posted the widget in their blog sidebar, and some even Tweeted it across the Internet.

Speaking of Twitter, Corvida at SheGeeks wrote about @tedmurphy and @confessionist who said they were willing to donate to the BlogHer initiative, $25 for each new follower and up to $1000 max, within a specified time frame. @QueenofSpain was more than happy to help spread the word to her over 2,000 followers. Corvida marvels:

Talk about the power of Twitter! In this case, Twitter has become an effective substitute for "word of mouth". What might’ve been emailed, IM’d, or phoned about has now been easily and efficiently spread to hundreds of thousands of users on Twitter. Just think of how many lives may now have been saved because of this one message sent via Twitter. Though Twitter did not start out as a way for promotion or advocacy, you can’t deny that it’s an extremely effective tool for both.

Other creative donation ideas:
Average Jane suggests using some of your tax return to make a donation.

Colleen says even though the "economy is down, gas is up and people are steeling themselves for a frugal summer," she wonders how many people still indulge in a weekly or daily latte. She donated and encourages her readers to give up the $5 or $10 treat here and there and instead donate it to Global Giving as well.

In a post on my blog last week, I mentioned that I am going to donate a portion of the proceeds from my online stores to Global Giving and challenged others to consider making similar donations. Heather at A Mama's Blog took me up on my challenge and stated she will donate 50% of the sales from her online store from April 17 through Mother's Day. Anyone else want to join us in this challenge?

Lastly, Susan Getgood has some excellent advice for the "consumer companies salivating over the mom blogger segment":

If you want to reach women bloggers, especially in the United States and Canada, don't dump thousands of dollars into a big event. Devote a fraction, just a fraction, of that budget to supporting a BlogHers Act initiative. This year, the focus is on maternal health in the US, the environment in Canada, but there are other causes within this umbrella as well. I guarantee you, you will reach more people, garner more positive attention for your company, your brand, than any slick event.

When I started writing this post tonight, BlogHer had raised $1950 for the five maternal health projects. By the time I was done writing it, the total was up to $2010. Nice.
We still have two and a half weeks before Mother's Day. How much more can we raise? How will you help?

Visit Lisa's original call to action post or her excellent post on how we can work together to learn more and get started saving women's lives today. Then please leave me a comment to let me know how you are doing your part. Thank you! :)

Contributing editor Amy Gates also writes about attachment parenting, activism, green living and photography at Crunchy Domestic Goddess.

]]> Is Your Child's Sunscreen Causing More Harm than Good? http://www.blogher.com/your-childs-sunscreen-causing-more-harm-good 2008-04-20T16:18:56-05:00 2008-04-20T16:18:56-05:00 amygeekgrl The Centers for Disease Control recently came out with some bad news for nearly all Americans who use sunscreen. A recent study shows one of the commonly used ingredients in most sunscreens (for adults, children as well as babies), a chemical called oxybenzone, has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage. In fact according to the study, 97% of Americans are contaminated with this chemical.

]]> The Centers for Disease Control recently came out with some bad news for nearly all Americans who use sunscreen. A recent study shows one of the commonly used ingredients in most sunscreens (for adults, children as well as babies), a chemical called oxybenzone, has been linked to allergies, hormone disruption, and cell damage. In fact according to the study, 97% of Americans are contaminated with this chemical. Another study has showed oxybenzone is linked to low birth weight in baby girls whose mothers are exposed during pregnancy. Also worth noting is "oxybenzone is also a penetration enhancer, a chemical that helps other chemicals penetrate the skin."

Boy in the sunNo FDA regulations
The last time the Food and Drug Administration reviewed the safety of oxybenzone was in the 1970s. It republished its evaluation in 1978, and announced plans to develop comprehensive standards for sunscreen safety and effectiveness. However, it's been 30 years now and the Agency has yet to issue final regulations. "Instead, it encourages manufacturers to follow draft guidelines that the Agency has delayed finalizing at the behest of the sunscreen industry. As a result, sunscreen manufacturers in the U.S. are free to market products containing ingredients like oxybenzone that have not been proven safe for people."

No special safety standards for children
What really frustrates me is that many sunscreens are marketed specifically for babies or children, and one might expect that because of this they are somehow "safer," yet they contain the same chemicals as those sunscreens made for adults. There are no special safety standards for babies/children's products.

Additional cautions must be employed when considering the effects of oxybenzone on children. The surface area of a child's skin relative to body weight is greater than adults. As a result, the potential dose of a chemical following dermal exposure is likely to be about 1.4 times greater in children than in adults (SCCNFP 2001). In addition, children are less able than adults to detoxify and excrete chemicals, and children's developing organ systems are more vulnerable to damage from chemical exposures, and more sensitive to low levels of hormonally active compounds (NAS 1993; Janjua 2004). Children also have more years of future life in which to develop disease triggered by early exposure to chemicals (NAS 1993). Despite these well-documented concerns regarding children's sensitivity to harmful substances, no special protections exist regarding ingredients in personal care products marketed for babies and children.

What does this all mean? Is YOUR child's sunscreen safe?
If you haven't yet familiarized yourself with the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database web site, I highly suggest you do so. Products from skin care to baby care, from make up to hair care and oral care (and more) are ranked on their hazard level.

Skin Deep lists 607 skincare products containing oxybenzone. Please check the list to find out if yours or your children's is on it. Again, I'm frustrated and disturbed that one of the worst sunscreens on the list is one specifically for babies - Walgreens Baby Sunblock.

California Baby sunscreenSo what IS safe?
Here is a link to a list of the sunscreen best bets for kids.
I was relieved to find the brand and type we have been using since Ava was about 9 months old - *California Baby SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion Everyday/Year Round - is on the list (the California Baby Sunblock Stick is also on the list and might be easier to apply. I'll be looking into getting some of that, especially since we're nearly out of the lotion.). I'm thankful that many of the mommies I know (which is where I got the recommendation for California Baby in the first place) do their homework when it comes to safe baby/child skincare products.
*You can purchase California Baby sunscreen and other products at health food stores like Whole Foods and Vitamin Cottage and apparently Target carries it too, or order directly from the California Baby website.

Avoid these ingredients:

  • Oxybenzone - In sunlight, can produce allergy- and cancer-causing chemicals
  • DMDM Hydantoin - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants
  • Triethanolamine - Allergen and irritant that can form cancer-causing contaminants

Safe Sun Tips

  • Minimize sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the greatest amount of ultraviolet light exists.
  • Wear Hats. Each inch of hat brim can lower your lifetime risk of skin cancer by 10%. A hat brim of four inches or greater is recommended.
  • Wear protective eyewear. Sunglasses with UV-blocking filters are very important.

Final thoughts
It's frustrating when the groups that are supposed to be looking out for our health and that of our children let us down, but it's things like these that reaffirm my belief of questioning authority. The best piece of advice I have is to arm yourself with information and trust your instincts. If dousing yourself or your child in chemicals doesn't feel right to you, don't do it. Find another way. In this information age where so much is available to us at the click of a mouse, it can be easy to find healthier and safer alternatives. Knowledge is power.

For more information, please check out: Is Your Sunscreen Safe?

---------------------------------------

Amy
Crunchy Domestic Goddess
BlogHers Act contributing editor

]]> BlogHers Act: Help 40,000 displaced Darfurians receive health care http://www.blogher.com/bloghers-act-help-40-000-displaced-darfurians-receive-health-care 2008-04-16T01:18:31-05:00 2008-04-16T00:19:49-05:00 amygeekgrl Sunday, April 13 marked the five year anniversary of the conflict in Darfur, Sudan. Five years of systematic and widespread murder, rape, abduction, and forced displacement. That's longer than my almost 4-year-old daughter's lifetime. It's impossible for me to imagine what it must be like trying to raise your children in the midst of such conditions, yet for the people of Darfur, life must go on.

]]> Sunday, April 13 marked the five year anniversary of the conflict in Darfur, Sudan. Five years of systematic and widespread murder, rape, abduction, and forced displacement. That's longer than my almost 4-year-old daughter's lifetime. It's impossible for me to imagine what it must be like trying to raise your children in the midst of such conditions, yet for the people of Darfur, life must go on.

To raise awareness, thousands of people in over 30 countries across the globe marked the five years of conflict with protests on April 13, which was declared Global Day for Darfur.

Imagine living your entire life without ever knowing where your home is. For some one million children in Darfur who have grown up during this conflict, displacement is a way of life. Living in camps for internally displaced persons and refugee camps, many have never known the meaning of a real home.

Due to the conflict and widespread displacement, many families are unable to access health care. Health facilities are already scarce and often inaccessible when roads and entire regions are cut off.

As part of the GlobalGiving project Ensuring Healthcare for 40,000+ Displaced Darfurians, Relief International established a permanent health clinic in the Zam Zam refugee camp in North Darfur. Relief International trains indigenous doctors, midwives, and community health workers to provide services to more than 50,000 Darfurians. To view a slideshow from the Zam Zam refugee camp, click here.

Donations are greatly needed to help these people - families, mothers, children. Your donation of $15 will provide essential medicines for 100 displaced people living in the Zam Zam Camp. A donation of $25 trains two traditional birthing attendants (including three training sessions and training materials). $50 provides life-saving health services to 100 conflict-affected people in Darfur.

Creative Ways to Raise Money - Can You Do This?
After researching and writing my post last week about Afghan women and this one about the Darfurians and then reading Her Bad Mother's post about women and children in Nepal and Denise's post about the HIV/AIDS stigma in South Africa, I started racking my brain for a way that I could make a contribution to the GlobalGiving projects other than just blogging about them. I love to raise awareness for issues, but I often lack the funds to make monetary donations. Since I can't donate money already earmarked for living expenses, I had to find another way. After giving it some thought, I decided to donate a percentage of all sales from my two online stores - Attached At The Hip and Cute As A Bug - for the duration of the BlogHer campaign - from April 7 through Mother's Day, May 11. Now I'm asking those of you with online stores, Etsy shops, etc. to consider doing the same thing. Or, if you run BlogHerAds on your site, consider donating a portion of your commission from April. If you'd like to participate and donate a portion of your sales to one of the GlobalGiving causes to improve maternal mortality and save women and children's lives, please leave a link to your store (or blog if you will donate part of your BlogHerAds commission) in the comments. I will keep track of the links and post about the participating bloggers/stores later in the month.

Take Action:
Please donate, post the widget, and/or blog this today. A little effort on our part can go a long way for the people of Darfur.

Blog posts about Darfur:
Modern Musings - In Solidarity: Global Day for Darfur | The Day After
Feminists to the Rescue! - Donations for Darfur

BlogHer/GlobalGiving posts:
Myrna the Minx - BlogHer and Global Giving Campaign to Save Women and Children Around the World
Chaos Ensues - GlobalGiving-Lifesaving Programs for Women Around The World
Flamingo House Happenings - $10, $15, $25, $50 - It makes a difference

More information:
Amnesty International - Stop the Violence in Darfur

Contributing editor Amy Gates also writes about attachment parenting, activism, green living and photography at Crunchy Domestic Goddess.

]]> Help Afghan women safely birth healthy babies http://www.blogher.com/help-afghan-women-safely-birth-healthy-babies 2008-04-09T01:09:18-05:00 2008-04-09T09:06:46-05:00 amygeekgrl Yesterday Lisa Stone announced that BlogHer has teamed up with Global Giving in an effort to save as many women's lives as possible between now and Mother's Day. There are several worthwhile causes to support, one of which is helping Afghan women safely birth healthy babies.

]]> Yesterday Lisa Stone announced that BlogHer has teamed up with Global Giving in an effort to save as many women's lives as possible between now and Mother's Day. There are several worthwhile causes to support, one of which is helping Afghan women safely birth healthy babies.
Afghan women and children
In the country of Afghanistan a woman dies of pregnancy-related causes every 27 minutes of every day. That's 53 women every day and nearly 20,000 women per year or 1,900 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. According to the World Health Organization, in 2000 Afghanistan had the seventh worst maternal mortality rate in the world.

In the province of Badakhshan, "a woman faces almost 600 times the risk of dying in childbirth than do her counterparts living in North America. Of the thousands of infants left motherless, 75 percent will perish either during, or soon after, delivery."

One of the reasons for the abysmal mortality rate is gender discrimination. In Afghanistan men are seen as superior to women and sons are preferred over daughters. This translates into high rates of female illiteracy and malnutrition. Because of the preference towards sons, daughters are often married off early, while they are still children themselves. "More than 40 percent of Badakshani women are married before the age of 15 and often long before their immature bodies can cope with both the demands of sex and the rigors of childbirth. Girls un