Attached at the Hip

Not-So-Medical Advice

I have been a proponent of natural/alternative/complementary therapies for quite some time. In fact, over the last 5 years, we've gone from a household of mostly conventional medical treatments to mostly alternative treatments.  We use a combination of homeopathy, herbs, amino acids, vitamins, and other nutrients to treat ailments on a daily basis.

Still, it can be hard to remember the details of each remedy and which situations it is best suited for.  That's when I turn to my favorite resources for treatment recommendations.  I keep Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child on my bookshelf at the ready for treating the kids, as well as Smart Medicine for Healthier Living, the adult counterpart.  These two volumes are arranged in an easy-to-use format, with information on common (and some not-so-common) ailments, along with a variety of treatment options.  Having details on conventional medical treatments side-by-side with herbal, homeopathic, and nutritional therapies is very helpful in making informed decisions.

For times when I don't have my books at the ready, I've discovered the University of Maryland Medical Reference on alternative medicines to be a very thorough and handy tool.  You can find details on specific remedies (such as the echinacea and astragalus that I dosed my kids with today), as well as information on the types of treatments (a very readable history and background of homeopathy is included), and even data on nutrient depletions that may be caused by other drugs.  With an iPhone app available, too, the UMMS Medical Reference is an excellent go-to resource with a bounty of balanced information.

As you explore options for your own family, I hope these resources will be helpful to you, too.

The Effects of Fear

I recently posted a link on Facebook to an article I found about the disturbing effects of cesareans on women's fertility.  The issues discussed in the article include secondary infertility as a result of a primary cesarean, as well as the emotional and psychological scarring that leads many women to refuse to have more children.  These women simply can't face the possibility of having another cesarean, even if they know that a VBAC is also an option.

One of the most concerning things to me about an article like this is that the vast majority of women do not go into birth knowing the true risks of cesarean.  They are not told about the risks to future fertility (something like 13% had issues, as described in the article), to their future children, and to themselves.  Most women who have cesareans believe it is in the best interest of their child and themselves, but statistically we know that most cesareans are not necessary.

As they say near the end of the article, necessary cesareans account for approximately 5% (WHO says up to 10% is acceptable) of all births. In the US, it's 36% nationwide! We are, without question, at a point when we are causing more harm than good. It's statistics, and the evidence is abounding. Rather than saving lives, we're taking them. Rather than preventing harm, we're causing it. We're past the point of diminishing returns, and the blasé attitude in this country about cesareans is only making it worse.

It is true that many people escape cesareans "relatively unharmed." And there are, certainly, those 5-10% of cesareans that truly save lives. But 26-31% of women in America are undergoing major surgery; being introduced to the risk of infections (which can be major), damage to internal organs, and fertility issues; and having their babies health and breastfeeding relationships jeopardized for no reason. They are completely avoidable, mostly iatrogenic (caused by a hospital/doctor), superfluous cesareans that do more harm than good.

Fear is a huge enemy to birth. Unfortunately, our society and our medical professionals create an atmosphere of fear around every.single.birth. This fear that "something could go wrong" (and I am very familiar with what can, truly, go wrong in pregnancy and birth) makes women dependent on doctors and medical technology. Instead of relying on their bodies and the Omniscient Creator of their bodies and this awesome thing called birth, they rely on the god of Technology.

Unfortunately, study after study and uncountable real life situations have proven that these technologies are NOT creating better outcomes. In fact, in the US, where we use a laundry list of technological interventions because of our inordinate fear of birth (such as ultrasound, pitocin, continuous fetal monitoring, epidural, vacuum, forceps, and cesarean), our neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality rates are climbing. We are one of the worst countries in the world for mother/baby health.  And, yet, these Technologies are touted as saving lives and preventing problems. Do they? Sure, in some situations. But they're overused and are responsible for so many of these problems.

And it's all because of fear. 

Women need to be informed, and by being informed, empowered. I have studied birth extensively, and I am firmly convinced that it is, as one midwife said, "as safe as life gets." There are risks everywhere, and birth is no different, when it is allowed to progress as designed.

It is, ultimately, a God-designed and God-ordained process that has very specific goals for both mother and child. When allowed to follow these processes, it is an amazing, enlightening, empowering, and wholly transforming experience. For every interference, some of that is lost, and the risks are increased.

I do highly recommend Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care, by Jennifer Block, as a very thorough look at our modern birth care system. I feel that every woman (and her spouse) should read it, specifically, the first few chapters. Those interested in cesarean, VBAC, and birth advocacy should read the entire book (and likely won't be able to put it down).

Save Handmade - CPSIA Blog-in Day

Some of the wonderful artisans of etsy have designated today as a blog-in day to raise awareness of the impending ramifications from the CPSIA legislation.  This is a major law that will affect everyone if not amended.  Read on to see just how it may affect YOU!

As parents and concerned citizens I’m sure most of us at one time or another have been confronted with the question of lead poisoning. But have you asked yourself what your government is doing to protect your children from lead contained in toys? The answer? They're banning toys, taking books from schools and libraries, hurting low income families, killing entrepreneurial spirit and risking putting the economy in an even greater depression than we've seen in decades. I'd like to introduce you to their solution: the CPSIA.

Do you know about the CPSIA? No? Then I ask you to take a few minutes to find out about it.

The CPSIA stands for Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, a new set of laws that will come into effect on 10 February, 2009 and will impact many, many people in a negative way. Make no mistake, this is very real. View it for yourself. If Forbes, the American Library Association and numerous other media are paying attention, perhaps you should too. 

How will these new laws affect you? Well, here are a few examples: 

To the Parents of Young Students:
Due to the new law, expect to see the cost of school supplies sky rocket. While those paper clips weren't originally intended for your student to use, they will need to be tested now that your 11-year-old needs them for his school project. This law applies to any and all school supplies (textbooks, pencils, crayons, paper, etc.) being used by children under 12.

To the Avid Reader:
Due to the new law, all children's books will be pulled from library and school shelves, as there is no exemption for them. That’s okay though, there's always television. Our children don’t need to learn the love of reading after all.
Article from the American Library Associationhttp://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=1322

To the Lover of All Things Handmade:
Due to the new law, you will now be given a cotton ball and an instruction manual so you can make it yourself since that blanket you originally had your eye on for $50 will now cost you around $1,000 after it's passed testing. It won't even be the one-of-a-kind blanket you were hoping for. Items are destroyed in the testing process making one-of-a-kind items virtually impossible. So that gorgeous hand-knit hat you bought your child this past winter won’t be available next winter.

To the Environmentalist:
Due to the new law, all items in non-compliance will now be dumped into our already overflowing landfills. Imagine not just products from the small business owners, but the Big Box Stores as well. You can't sell it so you must toss it. Or be potentially sued for selling it. You can't even give them away. If you are caught, it is still a violation.

To the Second-Hand Shopper:
Due to the new law, you will now need to spend $20 for that brand new pair of jeans for your 2-year old, rather than shop at the Goodwill for second hand. Many resale shops are eliminating children's items all together to avoid future lawsuits.

To the Entrepreneur:
Due to this new law, you will be forced to adhere to strict testing of your unique products or discontinue to make and/or sell them. Small businesses will be likely to be unable to afford the cost of testing and be forced to close up shop. Due to the current economic state, you'll have to hope for the best when it comes to finding a new job in Corporate America. 

To the Antique Toy Collector:
Due to the new law, you'd better start buying now because it's all going to private collection and will no longer be available to purchase. “Because the new rules apply retroactively, toys and clothes already on the shelf will have to be thrown out if they aren't certified as safe.”http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123189645948879745.html

To the American Economy:
Already struggling under an economy that hasn’t been this weak in decades, the American economy will be hit harder with the inevitable loss of jobs and revenues from suppliers, small businesses and consumers. The required testing is far too costly and restrictive for small businesses or individuals to undertake. 

To the Worldwide Economy:
Due to this new law, many foreign manufacturers have already pulled out of the US market. You can imagine the impact of this on their businesses. 

If you think this is exaggerating, here is a recent article from Forbes
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/16/cpsia-safety-toys-oped-cx_wo_0116olson.html

And for those of you prepared to be stupefied and boggled, The New Law
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/cpsia.html

Did you know? If this upsets or alarms you, please react.  You can get a badge (and tons of other helpful info) in the Etsy CPSIA Action Kit:
Download the PDF file here.
http://www.etsy.com/storque/media/bunker/2009/01/CPSIA-Etsy-Resources.pdf

To be Human is to be Fallible

I've finally picked up The No-Cry Discipline Solution by Elizabeth Pantley (author of such great resources as The No-Cry Sleep Solution and Kid Cooperation), which has been sitting beside my desk and beckoning to me for several weeks. The book promises to be excellent, if the first few pages are any indication. I'd like to share a few of the quotes that jumped out at me from the section, "Banish the Myths."

You could do absolutely everything right. In fact, you could be a truly magnificent, spectacular, utterly faultless saint, and your child would still misbehave. The truth is all children misbehave. All children make mistakes. All children will whine, fuss, and have temper tantrums. This is true because all children are human beings--young, inexperienced, naïve human beings. And to be human is to be fallible--to make mistakes, to make poor decisions, and, hopefully, to learn from these. (page 9)

Parents are people, and people are not perfect. No matter how many wonderful skills we have, no matter how much knowledge we have, there will be many times when our emotions interfere and we don't react in the best ways. As a matter of fact, the more we know, the more critical we are of ourselves. We begin to see the mistakes more clearly and judge our own faults more harshly. The best parents are the ones who try the hardest, yet they judge themselves by the strictest guidelines. (page 14)

There are several other nuggets that are also worth pondering, printing, and pasting on your wall. But, I recommend you pick up the book rather than simply reading my favorite points! With the experience of her other work and the excellent beginning of this one, I'm quite certain it will be worth the read.