Safe Baby Wearing

A link to CPSC guidelines on safe baby wearing including pictures:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11044.html

Heartsounds believes that baby wearing is an important part of the postpartum period and can really help soothe a baby.  We especially love the Moby Wrap!  These guidelines are a good rule of thumb to go by when wearing your baby.

Sending doula love,

CCMalkin

MMR Vaccine and Autism

An interesting article for parents to read about the MMR vaccine and a past study on the link to autism:

http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.c5347

Sending Doula Love,

CC

Postpartum Service International

I just became familiar with Postpartum Service International.  It is a non-profit organization headquartered in Portland Oregon but has volunteers in every state in the United States and representatives in over 36 countries.  Their mission is to promote awareness, prevention and treatment of mental health issues relating to childbearing.

Postpartum Depression is a serious issue and effects over 13% of women in this country.  The PSI provides wonderful resources and support for mothers and family members that are affected by this illness.

There website is:

postpartum.net

Please visit this site to help promote awareness for PPD.

And of course, if you or someone you love is suffering from PPD, please find support to create a treatment plan. A postpartum doula is a great place to start!

Sending Doula Love,
CC

Side Effects of Reglan

Breastfeeding Mothers who are experiencing difficulty with low milk supply have sometimes been prescribed Reglan to boost milk production without being told about long term side effects of the drug.

One side effect is the chance of developing Tardive Dyskinesia (TD). Reglan causes damage to the bodily systems which produce dopamine. The symptoms of TD are irreversible, uncurable and similar to Parkinson's disease. The disease continues after the use of Reglan is discontinued.

For more information, contact Banjamin Leer 800-584-6601, National Awareness Coordinator, Tardive Dyskinesia Center.

Breastfeeding and Medications

On Thursday, Betsy and I attended an Arizona Latch Seminar.  The speaker this meeting was Amy Spangler, MN, RN, IBCLC who has authored several breastfeeding books including Breastfeeding, A Parent's Guide.  The two topics she discussed were on breastfeeding and medication and Vitamin D deficiency.  This blog entry I will discuss breastfeeding and medication.

The take home message for mothers to know is that there are many medications that are safe to take while breastfeeding.  As a side note, medications that are safe for a breastfeeding mother are not necessarily safe during pregnancy.  During pregnancy, the placenta and medication transfer is different than medication transfer into breast milk.  When a breastfeeding mother takes a drug (depending on the form) the drug must be absorbed through the GI tract, into the milk supply, then pass through the infants GI tract to then end up in the babies bloodstream.  There are many obstacles and processes that must occur that result in the infant only receiving a minuscule amount of medication in the bloodstream.

Talk with your doctor before taking any medication.  Also, be an informed patient and refer to a great online resource for a list of approved medications (prescribed and over-the-counter):

http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov

A great set of questions Spangler believes you should ask yourself and your doctor are:

• Is the drug really necessary?
• Is there a topical alternative?
• Can the drug be safely given directly to baby?
• What do reliable sources of information say about the drug?

Remember, breastfeeding is the best choice for you and your baby.  Be an informed patient and advocate before taking medication while breastfeeding or before weaning your baby in order to take a medication.

Sending Doula Love,

CC

Graco Stroller Recall

Recall for Graco Quatro and Metro Lite strollers due to risk of strangulation.  Recall for Graco Quattro Strollers manufactured prior to November 2006 and Metro Lite Strollers manufactured prior to July 2007.

For more information, click on the link below:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml11/11015.html

For new parents, when shopping for baby products at second hand stores and garage sales, it is important to be aware of older models potentially being recalled.

Evenflo Maestro Car Seat Recall

Parents with Evenflo Maestro Child Safety Seat, check out the recall on NHTSA Website:

http://www.nhtsa.gov/CA/10-15-2010