Author Archives: llpitlwp

Women’s Workplace Accommodations…

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Do you know there is a United States Breastfeeding Committee ? Here is a reference to their statement concerning working moms and breastfeeding.

 

“Welcome

The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) is an independent nonprofit coalition of more than 40 nationally influential professional, educational, and governmental organizations, that share a common mission to improve the Nation’s health by working collaboratively to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding.

via Welcome to the United States Breastfeeding Committee.

UNITED STATES BREASTFEEDING COMMITTEE

STATEMENT ON LACTATION ACCOMMODATIONS IN THE WORKPLACE

The United Stated Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) affirms that conditions in the workplace

have a substantial effect on breastfeeding duration. Three out of four U.S. mothers initiate

breastfeeding,1 and more than half of mothers participate in the labor force before their children

turn one year old.2 A supportive workplace plays a central role in enabling women to breastfeed,3

but current breastfeeding rates indicate that the lack of support in the workplace is a significant

barrier to breastfeeding for many working mothers.4″

Alcohol awareness month…

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Alcohol is not recommended in any amount while pregnant…here is what the March of Dimes has to say:

Alcohol awareness month

Lots of women are aware that heavy drinking during pregnancy can cause birth defects, but many do not realize that moderate or even light drinking also may harm their developing baby. In fact, no level of alcohol use during pregnancy has been proven safe – none.

Many folks think that a glass of wine is good for your heart, which may or may not be true, but it’s not good for a developing baby.  Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause a wide range of physical and mental birth defects. The term “fetal alcohol spectrum disorders” (FASDs) is used to describe the many problems associated with exposure to alcohol before birth. Did you know that each year in the United States, up to 40,000 babies are born with FASDs? It’s such a shame because these problems are totally preventable – totally. It’s so simple, just don’t drink if you’re hoping to be or are pregnant.  Isn’t a healthy baby worth waiting a few months for that glass of vino?

We’ve given tips before about partying without the booze and offer different recipes for drinks.  We wanted to remind you of them during Alcohol Awareness Month. Take these suggestions to heart to keep your little one safe.

Tags: alcohol, alcohol awareness month, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, fetal alcohol syndrome, Pregnancy

via News Moms Need » Blog Archive » Alcohol awareness month.

children…’image gently’

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NOTEWORTHY WEDNESDAY!

Yesterday there was so much in the news about children and x-rays, in particular CAT scans.

The news ‘teasers’ kept repeating that ‘CAT scans for children may be doing more harm than good”

Scary….right?

Well, I want to post what I found related to this news so that  parents can make the correct decisions for their children without all the fear.

First, here is what the news reported:

“Number Of Children Receiving CT Scans At EDs (Emergency Departments) Increases Fivefold From 1999.

The CBS Evening News (4/5, story 5, 2:35, Smith) reported, “Radiation is used in CT scans everyday and a study out today says more American children are getting them in the ER, especially for stomach problems and head injuries than ever before.” On NBC Nightly News (4/5, story 9, 2:15, Williams) lead study author, Dr. David Larson from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital was shown saying, “What we found was from 1995 to 2008 the number of CT scans that were done in children who visited the ED increased fivefold.”

Yes, this is true and surely some of these scans and x-rays may not have been totally indicated and yes ‘gently imaging’ techniques may not have  been used properly depending on the facility where the scans were performed.

First…lets define safety:

“Definition of Safety: Safety involves the processes and strategies to avoid or minimize unnecessary risk to the patient. “First, do no harm.”

via The Society for Pediatric Radiology: Safety.”

via ACR Daily News Scan.

Safety is of concern whenever children are exposed to radiation through x-rays.

As parents what do you need to know about x-rays and kids?

You need to know this: Radiologist have established protocols when it comes to pediatric x-rays…there is a recommdation referred to as ‘image gently’. This means use the least amount of radiation to accomplish the appropriate scan or x-ray.

You need to also know:

“Fluoroscopic procedures help us save kids’ lives!

But, when we image patients, radiation matters!

Children are more sensitive to radiation.

What we do now lasts their lifetimes

Image kids with care:

Pause and child-size the technique

use the lowest Pulse rate possible.

Consider ultrasound or MRI when possible.”

via image gently.

In addition to the above, parents need to be their child’s advocate when it comes to pediatric medical care.

“Helpful to both care-providers and parents: tracking the number of radiologic studies children are exposed to helps inform treating physicians of recent similar exams, helping them to decide if exams are necessary. Tracking the number of exams and location where the images are stored can be helpful in alerting families and their care providers to the issue of radiation safety.

Similar to an immunization record, use your choice of record size to record where and when a study was performed. This is particularly important when medical care is provided by a variety of physicians/ emergency rooms/ hospitals and can help decrease the number of repetitive exams.

via image gently

When faced with a pediatric medical situation parents need ask questions and get answers that they understand. If you are in a serious emergency with your child ask for the social worker or nurse manager to help you understand more clearly what is happening.

One thing you do not want to do is impede your child’s treatment but what you definitely want is to be an educated consumer of the medical care that is being recommended for your precious child.

I hope this post was helpful…

Breast Milk Cells and Breast Cancer…

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Breast Cancer…Let’s Beat It…

As you know I like to post news concerning women’s health issues.

Here is something very noteworthy and I may add very hopeful for treating women who may be at risk for breast cancer,

Breast cancer touches so many families…it has devastated the lives of so many children of women who suffered and died from this disease.

This hopefully is another step in the direction of prevention and cure of breast cancer.

“MONDAY, April 4 (HealthDay News) — Examining cells from a woman’s breast milk may help evaluate future breast health, new research suggests.

“It looks as if we can use the cells from breast milk to assess breast cancer risk,” said Dr. Kathleen Arcaro, an associate professor of veterinary and animal sciences at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

She is to present her findings Monday at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Orlando, Fla.

via 2011.04.04 — Breast Milk Cells May Someday Help Predict Cancer.

March of Dimes… Ther-Rx and Makena

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Recently, I posted when the March of Dimes took its’ position on Ther-Rx and the availability of progesterone therapy to women in need of it.

Here is an update on the ongoing efforts of the March of Dimes concerning this important issue.

“MOD responds to Ther-Rx

In the past few weeks, there has been a torrent of concern over the availability of progesterone therapy for women hoping to prevent premature birth.  We have held discussions with physician groups, various organizations and the manufacturer of the drug.  Ther-Rx Corporation’s handling of the launch of Makena, and the initial list price, were extremely disappointing and unacceptable to the March of Dimes and the families we represent.  While Ther-Rx Corporation’s decision yesterday to reduce the list price of Makena to $690 and to expand patient financial assistance are steps in the right direction toward making an FDA-approved progesterone therapy product more widely available, it’s not enough.  The March of Dimes has decided to exercise our right to terminate our current contract and sever all professional relationships with Ther-Rx.

The March of Dimes will continue to explore all options for ensuring access to progesterone therapy for all medically eligible women. Access for women to treatment to prevent premature birth is and always has been our paramount concern. We hope that the controversy surrounding Makena has helped raise awareness that progesterone therapy is a safe and effective treatment for prevention of preterm birth and that more obstetricians will consider it for appropriate patients.

Tags: 17p, KV Pharmaceuticals, Makena, pregesterone therapy, premature birth, Ther-Rx

via News Moms Need » Blog Archive » MOD responds to Ther-Rx.”

Related posts: March of Dimes takes a stand...

Radiation found in West Coast milk.

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Radiation news is all over and it is scary.

I am committed to providing access to the links that I come across that may answer some of the questions moms and dads may have.

 

“First the scary news: Trace amounts of radiation have been found in milk from Washington and California. It’s believed that the radioactive agents were transferred as isotopes from Japan to the West Coast through wind, absorbed in the grass, which was then eaten by dairy farm cows.

Now the good news: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency released a joint statement that the iodine-131 they found in the milk was “far below levels of public health concern, including for infants and children.” In fact, the levels were 5000 times below the legal limit prescribed by the FDA.

via Radiation found in West Coast milk. What’s safe to eat and drink? – Food on Shine.

Product safety…

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There really is nothing more important than your child’s health and safety…here is valuable information from the March of Dimes.

Use it when you have questions about any products but especially children’s products that you already own or are planning to purchase.

 

Product safety database

“A new service exists for consumers looking for safety information on products they own or are thinking about buying. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) created a safety database at SaferProducts.gov as part of the Consume Product Safety Improvement Act.  This database will work in a unique way.  It will provide product safety information but will also allow consumers to report harmful incidents and safety issues.

via News Moms Need » Blog Archive » Product safety database.

Lurking Lead…

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NOTEWORTHY WEDNESDAY!

Lead poisoning is preventable…bottom line.

Yesterday, I visited my local Asian food store. I was planning to make a Vietnamese soup “Pho”.

On a recent trip to Los Angeles I ate at “9021PHO” in Beverly Hills and enjoyed a beautiful bowl of this delicious soup. It was served in a large bowl similar to the ones that I looked at in my local Asian grocer.

The bowls would have totally been an impulsive purchase and would not have made my Pho as tasty as the one I was served at 9021PHO so I did not succumb to buying the bowl.

This morning I came across this timely NYTime’s article which more than justified my not buying the beautiful but perhaps dangerous soup bowl.

Could it have been one of those ‘lurking lead’ exposures that I never think about?.

I don’t know about you but I never think about lead poisoning these days. But it is worth remaining alert to hidden exposures to lead especially if you are pregnant, have young children or grandchildren.

Children are at the most risk if they are exposed to lead especially under the age of six. This is the time that they are growing very rapidly and they put many things directly into their mouths.

Lead paint is still in some older homes especially those built prior to 1978, so children in these environments are more at risk. It is the deterioration of the paint that is of particular concern since lead then is in the household dust.

The CDC has some recommendations:

  • talk to state or local health department to test the paint and dust in your home for lead
  • keep your child away from peeling paint or any surface that they could chew on that is painted with a lead-based paint.
  • pregnant women and children should not remain in an apartment or house built before 1978 that is being renovated.
  • wash children’s hand and toys that become contaminated with household dust or exterior soil as both can be sources of lead.
  • wet mop floors and wet wipe window components every 2-3 weeks
  • prevent children from playing in bare soil.

Other recommendations regarding children:

  • avoid using traditional home remedies and cosmetics that may contain lead;
  • avoid eating candies imported from Mexico;
  • avoid using containers, cookware, or tableware to store or cook foods or liquids that are not shown to be lead free;
  • remove recalled toys and toy jewelry immediately from children. Check Lead Recalls lists.
  • use only cold water from the tap for drinking, cooking, and for making baby formula (Hot water is more likely to contain higher levels of lead. Most of the lead in household water usually comes from the plumbing in your house, not from the local water supply.);
  • shower and change clothes after finishing a task that involves working with lead-based products such as stain glass work, bullet making, or using a firing range.

The American Academy of Pediatrics continues to recommend that pediatricians continue to provide anticipatory guidance to parents in an effort to prevent lead exposure (primary prevention). Additionally, pediatricians should increase their efforts to screen children at risk for lead exposure to find those with elevated BLLs (secondary prevention).

via Screening for Elevated Blood Lead Levels — Committee on Environmental Health 101 (6): 1072 — AAP Policy.

Radiation concerns…

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Many, many questions about radiation exposure these days due to the earthquake in Japan.

The March of Dimes has made this information available to its followers.

It is specific to those who live on the West Coast of the U.S.

I hope it is helpful…I have learned more in two weeks than I ever thought I would know about nuclear accidents.

Radiation concerns

We have received several questions from people, especially pregnant women, along the west coast of the U.S. about possible negative effects that might result from any radiation coming from the disaster in Japan.  Our March of Dimes California Chapter has compiled links to great information, which we offer here.

If you are concerned about radiation exposures, you can find the latest information and resources at the links below, which are being updated regularly as the situation in Japan unfolds.

These websites are listed for information only and are not intended to be a comprehensive list of all resources on this issue.

California Teratogen Information Service

Toll free helpline: 1800 532 3749

Website: http://.ctispregnancy.org/

California Department of Public Health

Radiation exposure information line: (916) 341-3947

Website: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/

Radiation Frequently Asked Questions: http://cdph.ca.gov/Pages/RadiationFAQS2011.aspx

Centers for Disease Control / US Department of Health & Human Services:

http://www.hhs.gov/response/2011tsunami/index.html

Health Physics Society

Radiation exposure information (includes information on radiation exposure during pregnancy):

http://www.hps.org/fukushima/

Tags: Pregnancy, radiation, radiation exposure, teratogen

via News Moms Need » Blog Archive » Radiation concerns.

Swimsuit Competition…

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“They might not even be in training bras yet, but for girls who shop at Abercrombie & Fitch, it’s never too early for a padded swimsuit.”

via Padded swimsuits for all? Abercrombie and Fitch marketing padded tops to young girls.

Abercrombie and Fitch has sunk to a new low with their marketing of padded swimsuit tops to young girls.

Abercrombie is sexualizing young girls with its new line of bathing suit tops, push ups…push up what at such a young age??

The news media is all over this one…some parents are not particularly concerned…their response simply is to just not buy this particular item.

The professionals that treat adults and children are not so quick to dismiss the discussion…they are concerned about the message young girls are getting about their bodies.

They are concerned that girls are becoming too concerned about their “packaging” rather than feeling good about themselves because of their accomplishments.

Okay…what can we do?

  • we can blog, Twitter and Facebook about Abercrombie’s marketing and advertising policies.
  • we can refuse to buy other items that Abercrombie sells
  • we can keep the discussion going and let Abercrombie know what we as parents will and will not tolerate when it comes to our pocketbooks as this is Abercrombie’s bottom line…PROFIT.