Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Human milk still best bet for premature newborns’ survival (The Columbus Dispatch)

Before the 20 th century, many newborns died if they could not breastfeed because of the widespread infectious diarrhea that plagued bottlefed infants. The advent of refrigeration and changes in the protein of formulas cut mortality rates, but many premature babies could not tolerate the cow-milk formulas.

It was not until the late 1940s that scientists began to study the factors and components in milk and determine the best course for small or sick newborns.



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Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Ariz. bill on public nursing advances (www.azstarnet.com)

PHOENIX — Mothers would not have to leave public places under threat of arrest if they breast-feed their children under legislation approved unanimously Monday by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The legislation would give women breast-feeding rights that would mean a business owner could not ask someone to leave for that reason.

The proposed law also would create an exemption from state laws that make it a crime for a woman to expose a nipple whenever anyone else is present and a reasonable person would be "offended or alarmed."

The measure, which already has been approved by the House, now goes to the full Senate.


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Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition: Petition

Help us fight formula company gift bags.

The Massachusetts Breastfeeding Coalition has set up a petition on their website:

Should hospitals allow big drug companies into hospital rooms to market their products to patients? Governor Romney says yes. If you disagree, please consider signing a petition to support a ban against marketing of infant formula by hospitals. About 80% of formula in the US is sold by large pharmaceutical companies...

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Monday, March 20, 2006

Don't be boobs (The Anniston Star)

Legislators on Goat Hill may soon face a true dunderhead test. A bill working its way through the House would allow new moms to breast-feed their babies in public. Anyone with sense should vote for it; those who reject it rightly deserve to be tarred "anti-mother" and "anti-child."
Rep. Laura Hall, D-Madison, was moved to sponsor the legislation after hearing stories of mothers being asked to leave places where they were breast-feeding. Some folks need to grow up, it seems. There’s nothing remotely sexual about breast-feeding. It’s simply nature’s way of providing babies with the best possible nutrition and protection against disease.


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Sunday, March 19, 2006

Breast-feeding a baby in public shouldn't be such a big deal (Huntsville Times - al.com)

The baby cried. The mother tried. In fact, she tried every trick in the book. The mother cuddled her child, jiggled her up and down, and offered her the plastic car keys she loved. Still, the baby cried. So, the mother, having used up all her ammunition, pulled out the big guns, so to speak.

The mother breast-fed the child, right there in the coffee shop. The effect was immediate. The baby hushed, then nursed, making those soft cooing noises young creatures make when they eat.

Safely hidden under her mother's red poncho, the child took her meal at a back booth. The mother and the child were discreet. Well, the mother was, anyway; the child had not yet learned about discretion. She just knew she had been miserable and now she was happy.



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Monday, March 06, 2006

Governor signs breast-feeding bill (AP Wire)

TOPEKA, Kan. - Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has signed legislation making it clear that a mother has the legal right to nurse a newborn in public.

"We all want children to have the opportunity to grow up happy and healthy," Sebelius said in a written statement Monday. "By reaffirming that mothers can breast-feed anywhere they have a right to be, we can help mothers and their babies."

The new law, which takes effect within two weeks, says a woman can breast-feed in any place she has a right to be.


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Thursday, March 02, 2006

Breastfeeding should not be an issue in 2006 (The Courier)

IT IS hard to believe that, in 2006, we still squabble over the right of a woman to breastfeed in public.
Australian netballer Janine Illitch's request that she be allowed to express breast milk to feed her six-month-old son, Heath, during the Commonwealth Games was initially greeted with indecision.

Okay, expressing is a little different to breastfeeding, but it shouldn't be any more of a problem.

Janine will be staying with her team-mates at the Commonwealth Games Village, while baby Heath will be with family elsewhere.

Naturally, she is keen to provide her child with the ongoing nourishment that breastfeeding is - benefits espoused and encouraged by health authorities around the world.

Thankfully, Netball Australia has seen fit to allow Janine to express milk while she is away from her baby, but not before the issue created a mini-storm.

What should have been a straight-forward "no problem" response to her request turned into a debate about the rights of other athletes.

"There's not a lot of room (at the village) and the players might need their rest and she is in there expressing," coach Norma Plummer was quoted as saying.



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Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Big win for Ilitch (Herald Sun)

AUSTRALIAN netballer Janine Ilitch was relieved last night to gain the full backing of Netball Australia in her quest to continue breastfeeding during the Commonwealth Games.

Netball Australia has bowed to public outrage over pressure to stop Ilitch from breastfeeding before the Games begin.

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Breastmilk storm: netballer gets the OK (smh.com.au)

Netballer Janine Illitch will be allowed to express breastmilk in the Commonwealth Games village, despite reports team officials opposed the plan.

Netball Australia chief executive Lindsay Cane today said issues remained as the association had not yet seen the Games Village facilities, but coaches, support staff and players were united in supporting Illitch.



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Village breastfeeding dilemma (Herald Sun)

TOP medal hope Janine Ilitch is under pressure to stop breastfeeding her new baby before the Games begin.







The netballer is due to move into the Commonwealth Games village soon.
But even though six-month-old baby Heath won't be with her in the village, the dual Commonwealth gold medallist is determined to continue breastfeeding -- by using a breast pump -- throughout the 10-day tournament.

Team officials have voiced concerns to her. However, the mum of two said it was her right and was prepared to take her own expressed milk into the village.

"I'm sure there's a way to do it," she said.

"I feel very strongly that I want to continue breastfeeding. It's my right.

"I'm just an ordinary woman who likes feeding and I want it to be my decision when I stop."

But Australian coach Norma Plummer said facilities may not be appropriate.



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Can Breast Milk Help Treat Cancer? (Click2Houston.com)

BALTIMORE -- In the war against cancer, chemotherapy is often the weapon of choice. But one woman believes an unconventional and controversial therapy has added months to her life, Baltimore television station WBAL reported.

With every delivery of human breast milk comes a package of hope for Dorothy and Liston George. Dorothy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January 2005.

"We were told, initially, that the chemo would give us a few months," Liston George said.

"At that point, I was ready to change anything," Dorothy George said.

WBAL reported the milk is prescribed from the Breast Milk Bank at Christiana Hospital in Delaware, where it is screened and processed for safety.

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Proposal Seeks To Ease Workplace Breast-Feeding (ChannelOklahoma.com)

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Most Oklahoma newborns aren't getting the best nutrition possible.

Local experts say that's because many mothers stop breast-feeding too early or never start all so they can go back to work. However, Oklahoma lawmakers want to make breast-feeding in the workplace more comfortable for mothers.

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