| You Are a Bright Christmas Tree |
 For you, the holidays are all about fun and seasonal favorites. You are into all things Christmas, even if they're a little tacky. |
Thursday, December 22, 2005
not tacky!
On cord blood banking....
When I was pregnant with Isabella, I considered cord blood banking. We then discussed just donating it, and was told that the banks charge huge amounts for those in need to actually get it. I was disgusted with that and chose not to do it.
On further contemplation, I now see they can treat stroke victims with cord blood. I had the awful realization that if I had gone ahead and banked Bella's cord blood for ourself (like I wanted too) my grandfather might have been able to get the transplant and have the affects of his stroke reversed.
My grandfather means the world to me. This weighs heavily on my mind today. I know that I cannot go back, and it is useless to beat myself up. But the "if onlys" are big for me today.
On further contemplation, I now see they can treat stroke victims with cord blood. I had the awful realization that if I had gone ahead and banked Bella's cord blood for ourself (like I wanted too) my grandfather might have been able to get the transplant and have the affects of his stroke reversed.
My grandfather means the world to me. This weighs heavily on my mind today. I know that I cannot go back, and it is useless to beat myself up. But the "if onlys" are big for me today.
Massachusetts becomes first state to ban formula bags
Massachusetts Becomes First State to Prohibit Formula Marketing in Hospitals
Boston, December 20, 2005— In a groundbreaking step for mothers and babies, Massachusetts became the first state to prohibit hospitals from giving out free formula company diaper bags to new parents. Giving out these bags reduces the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding and is considered unethical by many national and international groups, including the World Health Organization. Multiple studies, even from prestigious medical journals such as the Lancet, have shown that the bags interfere with breastfeeding, causing moms to switch to formula sooner, or quit nursing altogether-- even when the bags do not contain formula samples.
For decades, formula companies used hospitals to hand out diaper bags stocked with coupons and free samples. Most parents see these as a “free gift,” but the bags are a marketing technique that implies that the hospital endorses the product, successfully boosting sales of formula at the expense of breastfeeding. “One day, formula marketing in hospitals will go the way of cigarette ads on TV,” said Melissa Bartick, MD, Chair of the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition.
The new rules on formula marketing are part of a much larger update of existing perinatal regulations written by the Department of Public Health and today approved by the Public Health Council. Hospitals must follow DPH regulations in order to be allowed to operate in the state. The regulations contain many other mandates that help promote and support breastfeeding and otherwise limit formula marketing.
In banning the distribution of these items, the DPH acknowledges that there is no medical justification for the institutional marketing of formula products to new parents. The vast majority of hospitals in Massachusetts and the US give out free diaper bags containing formula to new moms, and also accept free formula for in-hospital use. This marketing practice deviates from the standards followed by health care providers and hospitals in every other respect. For example, hospitals do not give out coupons for name-brand clothing, name-brand foods outside of maternity. “We’d never tolerate the thought of hospitals giving out coupons for Big Macs on the cardiac unit,” said Dr. Bartick, an internist. Since lack of breastfeeding is clearly associated with multiple adverse health outcomes in children and mothers, distribution of formula marketing materials by hospitals and health care providers has been recognized as unethical since at least 1981, when the World Health Organization approved the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.
Members of MBC on the taskforce that drafted the new regulations helped make the case for eliminating the diaper bags. The formula bags may actually cost families money: “Not only is there the expense of formula, but parents and society end up paying for medications and time lost from work to care for a sick child,” says Dr. Kimberly Lee, a neonatologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
As proof of the companies’ influence, Dr. Lee notes that parents almost always continue to use the brand of formula their baby got in the hospital—and those formulas are typically the most expensive.
These new regulations will go far in improving the quality of care to mothers and their newborns.
source: MBC
Boston, December 20, 2005— In a groundbreaking step for mothers and babies, Massachusetts became the first state to prohibit hospitals from giving out free formula company diaper bags to new parents. Giving out these bags reduces the duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding and is considered unethical by many national and international groups, including the World Health Organization. Multiple studies, even from prestigious medical journals such as the Lancet, have shown that the bags interfere with breastfeeding, causing moms to switch to formula sooner, or quit nursing altogether-- even when the bags do not contain formula samples.
For decades, formula companies used hospitals to hand out diaper bags stocked with coupons and free samples. Most parents see these as a “free gift,” but the bags are a marketing technique that implies that the hospital endorses the product, successfully boosting sales of formula at the expense of breastfeeding. “One day, formula marketing in hospitals will go the way of cigarette ads on TV,” said Melissa Bartick, MD, Chair of the Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition.
The new rules on formula marketing are part of a much larger update of existing perinatal regulations written by the Department of Public Health and today approved by the Public Health Council. Hospitals must follow DPH regulations in order to be allowed to operate in the state. The regulations contain many other mandates that help promote and support breastfeeding and otherwise limit formula marketing.
In banning the distribution of these items, the DPH acknowledges that there is no medical justification for the institutional marketing of formula products to new parents. The vast majority of hospitals in Massachusetts and the US give out free diaper bags containing formula to new moms, and also accept free formula for in-hospital use. This marketing practice deviates from the standards followed by health care providers and hospitals in every other respect. For example, hospitals do not give out coupons for name-brand clothing, name-brand foods outside of maternity. “We’d never tolerate the thought of hospitals giving out coupons for Big Macs on the cardiac unit,” said Dr. Bartick, an internist. Since lack of breastfeeding is clearly associated with multiple adverse health outcomes in children and mothers, distribution of formula marketing materials by hospitals and health care providers has been recognized as unethical since at least 1981, when the World Health Organization approved the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.
Members of MBC on the taskforce that drafted the new regulations helped make the case for eliminating the diaper bags. The formula bags may actually cost families money: “Not only is there the expense of formula, but parents and society end up paying for medications and time lost from work to care for a sick child,” says Dr. Kimberly Lee, a neonatologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
As proof of the companies’ influence, Dr. Lee notes that parents almost always continue to use the brand of formula their baby got in the hospital—and those formulas are typically the most expensive.
These new regulations will go far in improving the quality of care to mothers and their newborns.
source: MBC
Friday, December 09, 2005
the kindness of strangers amazes me
I am working on some items to sell for the Christmas season, and I needed a piece of ribbon for a project so I had run to walmart. The kids were told to get ready and run out to the car while I grabbed my tennis shoe.
I didn't realize until I got there that only 2 of the kids put their jackets on!
So I ran in and got my stuff and went to leave when Kaitlyn walked up to me and said "here mom from this lady"
she hands me a napkin from mcdonalds and it has written on it "Do your kids need new coats?? Merry Christmas"
and wrapped inside was $300 cash!
I started bawling right there in the store. Couldn't stop.
after all that we have gone through this last month...and knowing we were not going to do much for Christmas....this happens--I feel truly blessed and know that someone was looking out for us.
I didn't realize until I got there that only 2 of the kids put their jackets on!
So I ran in and got my stuff and went to leave when Kaitlyn walked up to me and said "here mom from this lady"
she hands me a napkin from mcdonalds and it has written on it "Do your kids need new coats?? Merry Christmas"
and wrapped inside was $300 cash!
I started bawling right there in the store. Couldn't stop.
after all that we have gone through this last month...and knowing we were not going to do much for Christmas....this happens--I feel truly blessed and know that someone was looking out for us.
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Well-red is my favorite color
| Your Blog Should Be Red |
 Your blog is full of intensity and passion. You are very opinionated - and people love or hate you for it. You have the potential to be both a famous and infamous blogger. |
Friday, December 02, 2005
Murphy's Law....a force to be reckoned with
so...things have been going good for a few months. Really good...(well, excluding Noah that is) Until lately.
Grandpa had his stroke. We had a personal financial setback. and today - the car accident.
You know, I think that murphy waits until you are in a comfort zone...that you are doing well...and then he kicks the rug right out from underneath you.
and then continues to kick you after you are down.
$250 to get the car home. not too many injuries-luckily. do you know we sat out on the freeway for 2o minutes and no one stopped to help? no one even called the police.
so we are becoming the family in "Christmas with the Kranks" this year, we are skipping Christmas. I am even considering just taking the tree down instead of decorating it. what is the point? we can't do Christmas this year. We probably will not even go see the family now.
I can't even sleep tonight. Every time I close my eyes, I can feel us spinning again and see the dirt hill we crashed into rising up before my eyes. I can hear the kids scream and cry for me.
I think I need something to put me to sleep.
I think we need to round up the boys and take Murphy out so that he can stopped messing with us.
Anyone got a lasso?
Grandpa had his stroke. We had a personal financial setback. and today - the car accident.
You know, I think that murphy waits until you are in a comfort zone...that you are doing well...and then he kicks the rug right out from underneath you.
and then continues to kick you after you are down.
$250 to get the car home. not too many injuries-luckily. do you know we sat out on the freeway for 2o minutes and no one stopped to help? no one even called the police.
so we are becoming the family in "Christmas with the Kranks" this year, we are skipping Christmas. I am even considering just taking the tree down instead of decorating it. what is the point? we can't do Christmas this year. We probably will not even go see the family now.
I can't even sleep tonight. Every time I close my eyes, I can feel us spinning again and see the dirt hill we crashed into rising up before my eyes. I can hear the kids scream and cry for me.
I think I need something to put me to sleep.
I think we need to round up the boys and take Murphy out so that he can stopped messing with us.
Anyone got a lasso?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
