Our Adiri Natural Nurser Bottle giveaway will end on March 31st! Be sure to leave your comment before the end of the month to enter the contest. Our giveaway next month is an absolute must-have for all you pregnant mamas. Check back to see!!!
The Vaccination Debate: A Startling Response March 27, 2008
This February, Dr. Rahul K. Parikh published an article in Pediatrics (the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics) titled “Fighting for the Reputation of Vaccines: Lessons From American Politics“. In the article, Parikh discusses the rise of parental concern over the safety of vaccines and suggest that vaccine proponents must take a more emotionally charged approach to combating these concerns. In other words, Parikh says that the CDC (Center for Disease Control) needs to use a little less science and logic and a little more propaganda if it hopes to win over parents who no longer trust vaccines.
You may expect that Parikh’s article is itself the startling response, but actually I was referring to this comment submitted online to the Pediatric article. The author of this comment is a chemist and a father whose child is autistic:
“Parents get angry when they see the following numbers listed on the internet. These numbers have been out there for everyone to read for years. They are mathamatical facts backed by references. The way to quell parental fears would be for someone like Dr. Parikh to address these numbers. Using propaganda is not going to work and only makes the situation worse.
0.5 parts per billion (ppb) mercury = Kills human neuroblastoma cells (Parran et al., Toxicol Sci 2005; 86: 132-140).
2 ppb mercury = U.S. EPA limit for drinking water http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html#mcls
20 ppb mercury = Neurite membrane structure destroyed (Leong et al., Neuroreport 2001; 12: 733-37).
200 ppb mercury = level in liquid the EPA classifies as hazardous waste. http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/mercury/regs.htm#hazwaste
25,000 ppb mercury = Concentration of mercury in the Hepatitis B vaccine, administered at birth in the U.S., from 1990-2001.
50,000 ppb Mercury = Concentration of mercury in multi-dose DTaP and Haemophilus B vaccine vials, administered 4 times each in the 1990’s to children at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 18 months of age. Current “preservative” level mercury in multi-dose flu (94% of supply), meningococcal and tetanus (7 and older) vaccines. This can be confirmed by simply analyzing the multi- dose vials.”
After wading through those numbers I have two thoughts:
- The CDC massively failed those children of the 90’s who were exposed to so much mercury through vaccine after vaccine. Regardless of whether those children are diagnosed with autism, mercury is a neurotoxin. Period.
- I don’t get flu shots, and neither do my children. I understand that the flu is a disease that kills. I also understand that the flu shot doesn’t necessarily protect you from the flu. It particularly failed this year. While we are healthy and have access to medical support in the case of a serious infection, I’ll take my chances with the flu over injected mercury any day. I have heard that there is a flu shot available without mercury. If you choose to get the shot, be sure to request a mercury-free version.
With my own children, we practice delayed and selective vaccinations. The vaccination issue is one of the most difficult and challenging aspects of conscientous parenting, in my opinion. I believe that the decision to vaccinate or not to vaccinate should be made on a disease by disease bases individually for each child, since there are so many factors to consider, such as the child’s health, nutrition, and liklihood of exposure. For more on the issue, I recommend Dr. Sears new book “The Vaccine Book”.
Pregnancy is the Culprit! March 25, 2008
I just read an article in Fit Pregnancy that’s worth sharing: studies show that pregnancy, not breastfeeding is what’s behind saggy breasts. OK, no one wants to talk about it, but the fact is that things aren’t usually on the up and up, so to speak, after a woman embraces motherhood. A common misconception is that breastfeeding will cause sagginess, especially lengthy (i.e. super-healthy) breastfeeding. That’s just not the case, according to a study out of the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Apparently, prior nursing, number of babies nursed, or nursing duration didn’t show any link to droopier breasts. On the other hand, pregnancy itself showed up as the culprit! When your breasts swell with pregnancy, the skin is stretched and some consequental sagging is to be expected. While some women feel that their breasts are larger from a pregnancy, others feel that they are smaller or the same size. “But the experience of breasts becoming more droopy is pretty universal,” according to assistant professor Brian Rinker, M.D. Well, that’s life, ladies. Our kids are worth it, hands down!
Toxins in Baby Wipes March 24, 2008
I’ve seen moms receive more packets of wipes than you could ever imagine needing at baby showers. Some moms use wipes like they’re going out of style: two or more with every diaper change and out they come again to clean up messy faces and dirty toys. Hey, wipes are handy!
Here’s the thing: mainstream disposable wipes aren’t very environmentally friendly and are packed with fragrances and wetting chemicals that you really don’t want around your baby, really. On Skin Deep’s Cosmetic Database, wipes by Huggies and Pampers contain DMDM Hydantoin. This chemical is rated a seven on a toxicity scale of one to ten. DMDM Hydantoin is a known human immune system toxicant and is restricted in cosmetics since it can cause skin irritation and can have broad systemic organ effects. Pampers and Huggies wipes also contain Methylparaben. Even the media has been on board with the concern for parabens. Methylparaben rates a four by Skin Deep for “Allergies/immunotoxicity, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Biochemical or cellular level changes.”
All Pampers and Huggies wipes contain these concerning ingredients (so far as I can tell), even those touted as “Natural” and “Fragrance Free”. And the off brands like CVS, Target, and Rite-Aid are no better. If you use disposable wipes, buy eco-conscious brands such as 7th Generation, Tushies, and Avalon Organics. Their wipes are low on chemicals, don’t contain the worse offenders, and rate 1-2 on the Skin Deep toxicity scale.
Of course, if you really want to go all natural, nothing is more pure than cloth wipes moistened with water. I use BumGenius Bamboo Baby Wipes (available at EuphoriaBaby.com) in an old disposable wipes container. I place about 9 wipes in the container at a time and simply run them under the bathroom sink to moisten. They wash up well, never seem to stain, and seem to work better on messy bums than disposable wipes. Still, when I’m out and about, I use disposable wipes. I like to be able to simply throw them away and never have to worry about them getting dried out or moldy from infrequent use. I suspect that when I run out of disposables, I won’t buy anymore. We’ll see.
What do you use?
A Holistic Children’s Health Resource March 13, 2008
Do you wish you had a better doctor for your baby? I do! Our pediatrician is not a bad doctor, but her practice is limited to treating acute illnesses or discussing typical “checklist” questions recommended by the American Pediatric Society. I wish she had a more holistic attitude towards my child’s health and sought to inform me of issues such as BPA exposure or possible vaccine risks.
Most parents don’t have access to a holistic pediatrician, one that uses conventional medicine while respecting alternative healing techniques and taking into consideration nutrition and environmental factors. In my frustration over the complete nonexistance of what I consider a “progressive” pediatrician in my area, I did some searching for a children’s health resource book that might fill that void for our family.
Well, I am just thrilled with one of the books I found, “Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child” by Janet Zand. This resource is so balanced! It starts off by explaining the theory and practice behind a whole collection of healing practices: conventional medicine, diet, nutritional supplements, herbal treatments, homeopathy, and acupressure as they apply to children. This was very helpful for me since I’d never heard of Bach Flower Remedies and never really understood the whole homeopathy concept. Then, the rest of the book is a comprehensive illness by illness directory. Look up “ear aches” and you’ll find a description of the illness helpful for diagnosis followed by treatments ideas from all the practices above.
I appreciate that the book is holistic, but doesn’t neglect or shun conventional medicine. But, what I was really looking for was all the “alternative” recommendations. It’s so helpful to consider how diet might affect the problem and how simple herbal teas or nutritional supplements might relieve a chronic health challenge. I highly recommend adding this children’s health resource to your library!
Enter to win a FREE set of Adiri Natural Nurser Ultimate Bottles! March 6, 2008
Guess what?!? I had such fun giving away Slurp & Burp Nursing Cover-ups last month, that I’ve decided to make a “Bloggy Giveaway” monthly tradition. Our designers and manufacturers are excited to jump on board! This will be such a fun way to share some of my favorite products with you.
This month Euphoria’s Bloggy Giveaway is gifting THREE mamas with a set of Adiri Natural Nurser Ultimate Bottles. Each set will include one bottle of each stage, for a total of three bottles. Adiri’s bottles are truly ideal for the breastfeeding mama. The one-of-a-kind soft, pliable nurser nipple mimics the real thing better than any other product on the market. I know from my customers that this bottle helps lots of babies who have trouble transitioning between bottle and breast. And, of course the bottles are completely BPA-free! I appreciate that Adiri streamlined the design into three simple parts: the bottle, the base, and the lid. It’s so nice not to have millions of parts to sort, clean and thoroughly dry. So, that’s a lot of reasons to choose the Adiri Natural Nurser, but do you think that’s why most people buy it? I mean, isn’t it because it looks so cool? I’m just saying…
Enter to Win! Entering is free and no purchase is necessary. Just tell us why you would choose the Adiri Natural Nurser Ultimate Bottles for your baby! Do so by adding your comment below. Enter now through March 31st. We’ll choose a random winner from all participants!
Euphoria will pay shipping. Winners will be notified by email, at which point a shipping address will be requested.
Nursing Bra Sizing Guide March 6, 2008
Pregnancy and breastfeeding are like a rollercoaster ride for your breasts. First it’s up, then it’s down. Changes come slow and fast, with fits and stops along the way. Don’t despair of owning a well-fitted bra! Determine your bra size in the privacy of your own home with our nursing bra sizing guide: http://store.euphoriamaternity.com/nubrasi.html. It’s complete with pictures to assure you that you’re measuring exactly right. The guidelines are courtesy of the gals at Bravado, who just may be the planet’s top nursing bra experts.
I love clothes, but even the coolest top can’t do much for me if I’m wearing an awful bra. My current fave is the Nummies Nursing Bra. But, now that I’m almost ready to wean, I’m faced with the opportunity to return to my pre-pregnancy “regular” bras. So far, I haven’t made the switch because…. I like my nursing bra better!
Congratulations Slurp & Burp Winners! March 3, 2008
Thanks to all of you who participated in our Slurp & Burp giveaway. Our random winners were Victoria and Patti. We’ll be contacting our winners via email to arrange for gift delivery!
Well, this was fun. Maybe we should do a giveaway again…
