Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Trump Vows to Ease Rules for Drug Makers, but Prices Remain a Focus


By KATIE THOMAS from NYT Health http://ift.tt/2kOp0Nt
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Talk of Repeal Sends People Running to, and From, Affordable Care Act


By ABBY GOODNOUGH and ROBERT PEAR from NYT Health http://ift.tt/2jRWk1T
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Can I Drink Alcohol While Breastfeeding?

While it has been a long held belief that a breastfeeding mother should, under no circumstances, consume alcohol while breastfeeding her infant as the alcohol might pass through the mothers milk into the baby, or at the very least, if she does drink she must “pump and dump,” I’m here to share the latest evidence based research that states that this might not be the case!

Old evidence suggest that not only is drinking alcohol a big no-no if you are breastfeeding, but also suggests that drinking alcohol can act as a galactagogue (a supplement that will help increase milk supply).  So, which is it?  Can I drink alcohol or not?  The good news is YES!  You can!  Under certain circumstances.

First, the Not So God News…

Alcohol has been known to block the release of oxytocin, which in turn blocks the milk ejection reflex.  It has also been studied that infants ingested less breastmilk after their mothers drank an alcoholic beverage.  This was also after the smell and taste of breastmilk has been studied in these lactating mothers, suggesting that the change in said taste and smell was enough for baby to not ingest as much of the milk.

Now For the Silver Lining…

When you drink an alcoholic beverage (lets say a glass of wine) it passes into breast milk in the same concentration that is in your bloodstream.  Alcohol concentrations will peak about 30-45 minutes after after that glass and will start dropping as your body starts breaking it down.  Once you have sobered up, your milk will be alcohol free again with no need to “pump and dump!”

An interesting article that I have found (linked at the bottom) suggests “Even if you’ve refilled your glass a few times, there is very, very little alcohol in your milk—and very little ingested by your baby. If a 150-pound nursing mom downs four alcoholic drinks—say, four 5-ounce glasses of table wine—and then breast-feeds her 13-pound baby 4 ounces of milk when she’s at her tipsiest, her baby will end up with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.0038 percent—the same blood alcohol concentration her mom would have after consuming a mere 1.5 ounces of Bud Light (one-eighth of a 12-ounce bottle).  Ultimately, there is a higher concentration of alcohol in some fruit juices—which can contain up to 0.1 percent alcohol due to fermentation of the sugars—than there is in the breast milk of a tipsy nursing mom.”

But What Are The Risks?

So even though it is studied that drinking while breastfeeding and waiting until the mother has sobered up to feed her baby is acceptable, that is not to say that there aren’t risks associated with drinking with a baby.  It’s important to know the difference between having a few occasional drinks and binge drinking.  Some risks associated with this may include, dropping your baby while intoxicated, accidental smothering of baby if bed sharing, or accidentally hurting baby (Research suggests you are three times more likely to have an accidental fall if you’ve been drinking than if not).  It is also not advisable to breastfeed baby is alcoholism is a problem with the mother or her family has a history of alcoholism.  This opens a whole new group of problems.

Will Alcohol Help My Milk Supply?

It is also a myth that alcohol can stimulate milk production.  Alcohol reduces the release of  milk via the let down reflex.  Babies that were fed after their mother drank alcohol were shown to have eaten 20% less, although they made up for the loss by eating more frequently later on.  But, what about beer?  I’m sure we’ve all heard that the darker the beer, the better it is for milk production.  “There is limited evidence that barley, used to make beer, can stimulate the secretion of the hormone prolactin, which is involved in milk production. The big question is how the two opposing forces—the milk-stymieing effects of alcohol and the milk-promoting effects of barley—balance out when a nursing mom imbibes a beer. No studies have tackled this one yet.”

In Conclusion, Worry Not!

So, with all that being said.  It is not necessary to worry about having few drinks here and there.  Please exercise caution while drinking and around your baby while waiting to sober up to feed, but also know that baby is not going to get drunk off of a few glasses that you have before nursing her to sleep as long as you wait to sober up.

Sources

“Breastfeeding & Human Lactation Enhanced Fifth Edition.” 2016.  By Karen Wambach and Jan Riordan

http://ift.tt/1zmIglW

http://ift.tt/2c3oDeb

 



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Visiting A Garden in Miami

Whenever I travel, I always try to fit in as much as I can - I love visiting new places that are both informational and inspirational. Recently, I [&hellip...

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Monday, January 30, 2017

In South Africa, Deadly Tuberculosis Strain Is Spread Directly


By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. from NYT Health http://ift.tt/2jM4FXx
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The $4,500 injection to stop heroin overdoses


The $4,500 injection to stop heroin overdoses
Kaleo, a privately-held pharmaceutical firm, has an antidote for the opioid epidemic — but its fast-rising price is putting it out of reach.

January 30, 2017 at 09:31PM
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Drug Makers Accused of Fixing Prices on Insulin


By KATIE THOMAS from NYT Health http://ift.tt/2jObOUY
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Mulching, Composting and Repurposing at the Farm

Winter is the best time to cover garden beds with a rich layer of organic mulch or compost. Here at my Bedford, New York farm, I am able [&hellip...

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Sunday, January 29, 2017

Whose Body is This Anyway? Part 2- It's All About the Boobs

Like many of the things pregnancy and baby-related, I thought breastfeeding would be simple. As simple as: you have the baby, your milk comes in, you breastfeed the baby until you see fit. That’s how it goes- as simple as that- in VERY FEW CASES! Breastfeeding is not as easy as you may think, but this post is not about breastfeeding. It’s about the stuff that happens to you actual BREASTS that no one bothers to mention or at least they don’t go into it in much detail- Have no fear, Queen Overshare is here!

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Somewhere during that 2 hour period of skin to skin bonding with my baby, a midwife came in and asked me if I was going to breastfeed him and if I wanted to try. I said yes, they turned Liam’s head towards my breast and he made his way- unassisted to the nipple, latched on and fed until his little heart was content. Great right? Amazing! Loving, sweet touching and all that!

Why however did the boob he wasn’t feeding from hurt?! And more so, why did no one tell me about this? So with that put out there, here goes my list of things that happened to my boobs that I wasn’t prepared for…

  • In Trinidad, we have a saying ‘don’t let yuh right hand know what the left is doing‘ (or something like that). If this applied to breasts, then I’d be in trouble. Aside from the ‘pain’/tingling in the breast that I wasn’t breastfeeding from, out would spout milk as well. Anywhere from a goteo to a full fledged chorro. Granted, this happens more if the baby hasn’t breastfed in a few hours and not every time you breastfeed. But it almost always still catches me by surprise.

What can you do? Wearing breast pads is handy so that you don’t get your shirt wet. My favourite disposable ones are Medela and Chicco brand. They’re soft and discreet and not too expensive. I also bought some washable organic bamboo nursing pads but as fancy as that sounds, I honestly didn’t like them that much. They’re bigger than the disposable ones and absorb a bit more, you can also obviously wash them and use them time and time again, but I just prefer the disposable ones.

 

  • I don’t know if this has to do with pregnancy and breastfeeding or my skin just happened to be really dry but OH DEAR LORD did my boobs itch the first  couple of months! Obviously you can’t scratch too hard because breasts are sensitive, that or you’ll end up squirting milk everywhere! But I just wasn’t prepared for the constant itchiness.

What can you do? There are tons of creams for this but I didn’t like any that I tried. What worked for me was olive oil- extra virgin. Right after getting out the shower I’d rub olive oil all over my boobs and let them air dry (or at least try to- let’s face it, long, luxurious showers are a thing of the past). If you don’t have time to let them air dry; you can gently pat them dry. The olive oil on your nipples is safe for the baby as well. (Says our pediatrician).

 

  • Then there was the one (read thousand) time, my boobs were so full that they were rock hard, a little lumpy and hurt like a bitch! This happened a lot in the beginning. They recommend you feed the baby every 2-3 hours for about the first 2 weeks, then you feed on demand- that can be as often as every hour or two or more than 5 or 6  hours if your baby sleeps a lot. Because our bodies are wiser than we realise, so our boobs tend to fill up around the time our baby will want to be fed. Perfect! Or maybe not, because sometimes they fill up really fast and you might have the spillage I mentioned before long with some pain and tingling. But what you may also notice is that your boobs are hard (call them firm if it makes you feel better) and they hurt to touch. They also look very ‘veiny’.

What can you do? Take a warm shower or put warm wash cloths on your boobs. This alleviates some of that pain and tenderness and it helps get rid of some of those lumps. It may cause the milk to leak out though.

 

  • WHOSE boobs are these?! There is so much that can go under this heading. The fact that your baby is now the CEO of your breasts is probably the top of the list. Your baby gets the boobs when are where he/she wants/needs. Once they hit about 2 or 3 months and start observing things around them, so they pull your boobs in which ever direction that catches their attention and without much gentleness while feeding! Also the fact that it’s hard for your boobs to be used during ‘sexy time’ because getting milk squirted in your eye or face is pretty much un-sexy (unless you’re into that kinda thing…). But in direct response to my question… your boobs when full are round and firm. After breastfeeding they are soft and saggy! My haven’t fallen to my navel just yet but once they aren’t full, they are somewhat sad looking! The joys of motherhood, I suppose! Does this get better? I’m not sure because I’m only 5 months in and will probably be breastfeeding for at least another 5! Who knows though. I hope it does but if it doesn’t at least I know my saggy boobs would be the result of a good deed and a full baby!

What happened to you boobs after pregnancy? Anything really strange or funny? Please feel free to share in comments.

 

***Just as a disclaimer (after the fact): This is about my experience. While other mothers have shared that most, if not all of these things have happened to them as well. This is not a guide to what will happen to you but if any of it does- know that it’s perfectly normal or at least, that it’s happened to me! However, if anything feels uncomfortable, too painful or just off, please see your doctor, midwife or lactation specialist.



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For Some, the Affordable Care Act Is a Lifesaver. For Others, a Burden.


By SONA PATEL and FAHIMA HAQUE from NYT Health http://ift.tt/2jGWM5A
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Want Fitter, Healthier, And More Productive Kids? Just Start School Later


Want Fitter, Healthier, And More Productive Kids? Just Start School Later
Enough with the cruel early morning school start times — just let the kids sleep. It's not their fault — it's science.

January 29, 2017 at 07:52PM
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The Unpleasant Side Of Breastfeeding

Congratulations!  You are having a baby, or maybe you are just thinking about it.  At some point you are going to have to make decisions and answer questions about your child before you have even met them.  Are you going to breastfeed?  Are you going to pump?  How are you getting a pump? Will you have formula in case you need it as a back up?  What if you don’t produce enough milk?  These are just some of the obvious questions, although still annoying.

Let me begin with my story.  My answers to these questions were simple.  Yes, I am going to breastfeed.  My original plan for a pump was to rent one through our insurance.  Luckily, my husband’s aunt, who is a lactation nurse, gave me one at a baby shower.  What a life saver, but I will get into that later.  I learned a lot more about pumping later, but duh, I have a pump now so I will use it.  Formula?  I gave away my samples that were sent in the mail.  I had already decided it was not an option.  I don’t have anything against formula, I had just decided for myself that I was going to do whatever it took to make my breastfeeding journey a success.  Oh boy, and was that journey a tough one.

So let me skip ahead past all those glorious months of pregnancy (insert eye roll).  After 12 hours of labor, my daughter made her grand entrance to the world 8 days early.  One of the nurses asked me if I want to try and feed my daughter for the first time, way to put me on the spot.  Saying you are going to breastfeed is the easy part.  So I, uh, just put her on my boob and uh, nature takes over?  If it was that easy, wouldn’t every mother be doing it?

I had no clue what to do at this point.  I had read that getting the latch right the first time was the key to successful breastfeeding.  So we tried, and we failed.  We tried some more, but the latch was so wrong.  Then one evening, my saving grace walked through the door; my husband’s aunt, skilled in the art of breastfeeding.  She worked with me for almost 2 hours showing me different positions, when and how to create the perfect latch, and explained everything I needed to know in great detail.  One key fact I can share that I had never heard of was the shape of your nipple when you break the latch.  If your nipple looks like a tube of lipstick, with the angled end, then the latch isn’t right. That was one of the most frustrating experiences I had because every time we unlatched, we saw the lipstick nipple.

Three and a half days in the hospital and its now time for my party of three to go home and do this all on our own.  Having a baby is exhausting, but there isn’t much time for rest.  After she has been fed and goes to sleep, for about an hour at at time, now I must pump.  My first pumping sessions were extremely defeating.  I could hardly get an ounce out.  Is this a reflection of how much my baby is getting?  Once again, my husband’s aunt comes to my rescue.  She explained to me that it doesn’t take much to fill my baby’s tiny stomach and that pumping is not necessarily a reflection of my supply.  As she requires more milk, my supply will start to accommodate to her needs.  So with that in mind, we began the continuous cycle of feeding, pumping, cleaning pump parts, and maybe a little bit of rest before the cycle starts over again.  I fed her every hour and a half, if we made it that long, because that is what worked for us.  I never knew exhaustion like this before.

After a very long week of the feeding cycle, I was ready to stretch my legs and get out of the house.  I decided we should all take a trip to grocery store, that is when everything started to fall apart.  As we were standing at the deli counter I had a wave of weakness overcome me.  I started to shake from being so cold.  It couldn’t be from the weather, it was May!  I turned to my husband and told him we had to leave now, something was wrong.  We went straight home and I went to bed, only waking up to feed my baby.  My temperature was going up and was over 103 even hitting 104.  I had flu like symptoms, but my right breast wasn’t quite right either.  After googling and doing some research I realized I most likely had mastitis.

Okay, I have heard of getting clogged ducts but no one tells you about mastitis.  My right breast was not emptying like it should, maybe I was favoring my left side more because it was my “good” breast.  I called my doctor and they saw me immediately.  After a round of antibiotics, I still had a knot and large red spot on the side of my breast.  I was told to keep a heat pack on the lump and gently massage it to try and release the clog.  At one point, it even peeled like a sunburn.  So I was put on a second round of antibiotics and sent to a breast surgeon.  She was convinced I was going to have to get those ducts drained because of the size of the knot.  After viewing the ultrasound, which by the way looked so cool, she was able to see that the knot was scar tissue.  So I was sent home to continue my the antibiotics, heat pack and massaging.  The best thing that I could do in this situation was to continue feeding and pumping until empty.

I can remember feeling so engorged one morning, so I jumped in a warm shower.  I can remember crying and squeezing my sore breast with no success.  My husband calmly joined me and asked if he could try.  It was like he had done it before, he gently began massaging and squeezing and then a stream of milk came shooting out.  It is a relief I can’t even begin to describe.

So many mornings began like this, waking up to one or the other or even both breasts so full and so painful.  There was no time to set up my pump because I needed immediate relief.  I would grab an empty bottle and squeeze straight into it, because I did not want to waste a drop of my liquid gold.

Looking back, there were so many times where I could have given up.  When I looked at my daughter, all I could think was that I wanted her to have to best and the best I could give her at the time was milk from my body.  After months it became second nature.  When in doubt, give the boob.  It was the answer to everything.  Not only did my breasts feed her with the nutrients specialized for her needs, but it provided comfort, pain relief, healing, and an overall bonding experience that only the two of us shared.  Would I do it all over again?  Absolutely.



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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard

The Uncertain Future of HIV Treatment After the Affordable Care Act


The Uncertain Future of HIV Treatment After the Affordable Care Act
Obamacare’s repeal is imminent and many HIV-affected people accessing care via the insurance system will be left scrambling for new ways to obtain preventative medications or treatment.

January 29, 2017 at 01:35PM
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Thousands of People Are Fighting to Keep Kratom Legal


Thousands of People Are Fighting to Keep Kratom Legal
The backlash started when the DEA announced plans to ban the supplement.

January 29, 2017 at 09:31AM
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Saturday, January 28, 2017

Did IUD insertions spike after Trump’s election? A big new data set says yes.


Did IUD insertions spike after Trump’s election? A big new data set says yes.
Data from 2,500 doctors suggests the new president caused an IUD boom.

January 28, 2017 at 11:21PM
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The Attack Of The Superbugs


The Attack Of The Superbugs
As the antibiotic era ends, pan-resistant bacteria are here to stay.

January 28, 2017 at 09:00AM
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Black Markets, Bus Trips: Abortion’s Future If Roe v. Wade Is Reversed


Black Markets, Bus Trips: Abortion’s Future If Roe v. Wade Is Reversed
Women seeking to end pregnancy might have to travel great distances or self-induce with pills — but it won't look as bad as the 1950s either.

January 28, 2017 at 09:00AM
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Visiting My Chickens

Here at my farm in Bedford, New York, I always enjoy bringing visitors down to see my chickens. I’ve long enjoyed the pastime of raising chickens. I began [&hellip...

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Friday, January 27, 2017

GUJARATI RASAWALA METHI MUTHIA - BAKED VERSION

Gujarati Methi Muthias are fist sized deep fried snacks made of mixed flours and flavoured with fenugreek leaves and spices. They can be enjoyed as it as a snack or added to gravies, dals or kadhis.  They are a mainstay in the Gujarati kitchen.

I have quite a few Gujarati friends, and it is from them that I got acquainted with this interesting dish. Today I have prepared a healthier version of muthia, where instead of deep frying, I have baked the muthias. The muthias have been kept gluten free and I have used only gramflour to prepare them. Fresh green fenugreek leaves add to the nutritive content of the dish. The muthias have been then added to a gravy or kadhi. This dish is best enjoyed with steamed rice, rotis or bajra khichadi.

Preparation Time: 20 mins  Cooking Time: 30 mins

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

For the Muthias

  1. Gram Flour or Chickpea flour – 1 cup
  2. Fenugreek leaves – 1 cup
  3. Salt to taste
  4. Red chilly powder – to taste
  5. Turmeric Powder – 1 tsp
  6. Carom Seeds (Jeera) – ½ tsp
  7. Oil – ¼ cup
  8. Ground to a paste – 1 creen chilly, ½ inch ginger, half bay leaf, 1 tbsp of cumin, fennel, cardamom, clove, cinnamon combined

For the Kadhi or Gravy

  1. Gram Flour/ Chickpea flour – 2 tbsp
  2. Curd – 1 cup
  3. Ghee/ Oil – 1 tsp
  4. Asafoetida – 1 tsp
  5. Jeera or Cumin Seeds – 1 tsp
  6. Red Chilly powder – 1 tsp
  7. Turmeric Powder – 1 tsp
  8. Salt to taste

Method:

Muthias

  1. Finely chop the fenugreek leaves
  2. Combine all the ingredients with a little water and bring it together into a smooth, pliable dough
  3. Pinch fist sized balls from the dough and shape into croquettes or muthias
  4. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 180 degree centigrade for around 12-15 minutes

Gravy

  1. Whisk the curd and mix with gram flour to get a smooth batter of pouring consistency
  2. Heat oil in a pan and add the asafoetida and cumin seeds and let the seeds splutter
  3. Pour in the chickpea paste and stir for a minute
  4. Add in one cup water and stir to mix
  5. Add the salt and spices and simmer for a few minutes, stirring from time to time
  6. Adjust quantity of water to get the desired consistency
  7. Remove from heat once the kadhi boils over

Assembly

  1. Prepare the gravy while the muthias are baking
  2. Add the muthias to the gravy/ kadhi and let it simmer for a few minutes
  3. Servee hot with rotis, khichadi or rice


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Trump’s Pick for Health Secretary Under Scrutiny for Investments


By KATIE THOMAS from NYT Health http://ift.tt/2k1mjoQ
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Becoming a Hucow - New Novelette

becoming-a-hucowBecoming a Hucow

Madeline’s ready to fulfill her biggest fantasy and get a job at the Dairy. The Dairy is full of beautiful naked hucows and handsome men, the “bulls”, all helping sustain the worlds milk habit.

Madeline quickly learns that becoming a hucow is one of the most pleasurable experiences she will ever have. Her breast grow into enormous udders sensitive and full of milk and her sex drive sky rockets. From beautiful the well endowed hucows ready to help her with her bodies changes and increased desires, to the bulls, ready to lend a hand to any distressed and horny hucow, Maddie discovers that life on at the Dairy is anything but boring.

Buy Becoming a Hucow on Amazon



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Nursing Home Residents Gain New Protections


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An Update on My Pets

So many of you always comment on how much you love the updates on my pets - my dogs, cats, canaries, horses, donkeys, chickens, peafowl, and pigeons. I [&hellip...

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Thursday, January 26, 2017

Someday Soon We Might Start Harvesting Human Organs From Hybrid Pigs


Someday Soon We Might Start Harvesting Human Organs From Hybrid Pigs
And this presents quite the ethical dilemma.

January 26, 2017 at 05:41PM
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Two Infants Treated with Universal Immune Cells Have Their Cancer Vanish


Two Infants Treated with Universal Immune Cells Have Their Cancer Vanish
In a medical first, the children were treated with genetically engineered T-cells from another person.

January 26, 2017 at 04:21PM
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What Would Happen If You Never Took Your Earbuds Out?


What Would Happen If You Never Took Your Earbuds Out?
This is What Would Happen If, a close examination of mundane hypothetical situations. Each week, we look at something that you could do but probably never would, and take it to its logical endpoint. This week: What would happen if you never took out your earbuds?

January 26, 2017 at 08:13AM
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Paying doctors bonuses for better health outcomes makes sense in theory. But it doesn't work.


Paying doctors bonuses for better health outcomes makes sense in theory. But it doesn't work.
The best evidence reveals that giving doctors extra cash to do what they are trained to do can backfire in ways that harm patients’ health.

January 26, 2017 at 07:51AM
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Feeding Wild Birds in Winter

I always enjoy watching the variety of birds that gather and feast outside my window. One of the easiest and most beautiful ways to observe and appreciate wildlife [&hellip...

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Wednesday, January 25, 2017

W.H.O. Warns of Worrisome Bird Flu in China


By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. from NYT Health http://ift.tt/2j6fAMW
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Mice cured of diabetes by cells grown inside rats - are humans next?


Mice cured of diabetes by cells grown inside rats - are humans next?
It’s possible to grow organs of one species inside an animal of another species and then transplant that organ to cure disease, according to a new study published in Nature.

January 25, 2017 at 07:26PM
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Vaccine exemptions are on the rise in a number of US states


Vaccine exemptions are on the rise in a number of US states
Non-medical vaccine exemptions are rising in certain states, including ones that haven't previously been considered hotbeds of anti-vaccination sentiment.

January 25, 2017 at 03:49PM
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Catapult | A Strange Language: How a Chronic Heart Condition Has (and Hasn’t) Changed My Life | Sarah Gundle


Catapult | A Strange Language: How a Chronic Heart Condition Has (and Hasn’t) Changed My Life | Sarah Gundle
"My heart condition is far enough in the background that I no longer have to worry every moment; close enough to the surface that I must remember to listen."

January 25, 2017 at 09:29AM
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Pruning Berry Bushes at the Farm

Pruning chores continue at my Bedford, New York farm. I love growing berries and have been growing them for many years. I currently have large patches of red [&hellip...

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You May Not Like Technology But It Likes You


You May Not Like Technology But It Likes You
Science and the digital world have overhauled our world, but the stakes just got higher: Now technology wants to remake you, using everything from the internet to stem cells.

January 25, 2017 at 04:33AM
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Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Don't tick off a pumping mom!

14046084_1105679159480500_2392043074594875327_n

Une femme assistant à un événement dans un hôtel a demandé au personnel s’il y avait un endroit privé où elle pouvait pomper, seulement pour être dirigé vers une salle de bains.

Étant un client payant, elle raisonnablement demandé si elle pouvait utiliser un bureau ou une chambre, même un qui n’avait pas été nettoyée pour le moment. Le personnel a répondu qu’ils “n’étaient pas à l’aise” la mettre dans le “seul bureau” et qu’il n’y avait pas de chambres disponibles (ce qui s’est avéré être faux).

Coupé, la mère a décidé de pomper dans le hall de l’hôtel en face de la réception.

Vous pouvez consulter le post original ici.

Pouvez-vous le croire? Comment vivons-nous encore dans un monde où les mères ne sont pas accueillies pour le besoin fondamental de fournir du lait à leurs bébés? Pourquoi est-ce toujours un problème? Il semble que les lois sur l’allaitement maternel ne soient pas encore suffisantes pour certains employés.

Dans quelques années, nous aurons honte que ce soit même un problème.

Avez-vous déjà dû défendre votre droit d’allaiter ou de pomper dans un environnement sécuritaire et sanitaire?

~*~

A woman attending an event at a hotel asked staff if there was a private place where she could pump, only to be directed to a bathroom.

Being a paying customer, she reasonably asked if she could use an office or a room, even one that hadn’t been cleaned yet. Staff responded that they “weren’t comfortable” putting her in the “only office” and that no rooms were available (which was found to be untrue.)

Ticked off, the mother decided to pump in the hotel lobby in front of the reception desk.

You can check out the original post here.

Can you believe this? How do we still live in a world where mothers are not accomodated for the basic need of providing milk for their babies? Why is this still an issue? It appears that breastfeeding laws still aren’t enough education for some employees.

Years from now, we will be ashamed that this was even an issue.

Have you ever had to defend your right to breastfeed or pump in a safe, sanitary environment?



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Are New Drugs for Hepatitis C Safe? A Report Raises Concerns


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Preparing the Farm for a Storm

Here in the Northeast, temperatures are expected to hit 40-degrees Fahrenheit today, but with drenching rains and high winds up to 40-miles-per-hour - all from the year's first [&hellip...

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Monday, January 23, 2017

Malnutrition Wiping Out Children in Northern Nigeria, Aid Workers Say


By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. from NYT Health http://ift.tt/2k9VJJP
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GOP senators present Obamacare alternative


GOP senators present Obamacare alternative
Senators Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Susan Collins of Maine unveiled a bill that they are describing as an "Obamacare replacement plan." They promise the proposal would give more power to the states on health care policy, increase access to affordable insurance and help cover millions of Americans who are currently uninsured.

January 23, 2017 at 09:54PM
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7 Young People on Their Views of Gender


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The Fight Trump Faces Over Drug Prices


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Raspberry Leaf

Who doesn’t love raspberries!?!? So sweet and plump with a perfect tart in some of them… One of my favorite berries, it brings me back to my childhood. Warm summer days with a slight breeze cooling us off and red stained hands spotted with a few prick marks if we weren’t careful. My dad would plop down that square plastic carton or a ice cream pail and we would pick them until they were full. When we moved to Seattle 6 years ago we lost those moments. There were wild blackberries but those weren’t the same for me :/ Now we are back but wont have raspberry plants for a while. But I digress, we are here for a different reason!

Raspberry leaves! No, they aren’t sweet like the berry and to get the benefits in a tea you DONT want raspberry flavored. Sorry, most flavorings aren’t good for you for one, but the leaves are what help you here. They still have the most wonderful smell alone though and every time I open my bag it takes me back to those lost moments of ours.

One of my best friends started taking the tea before I even was far into hippy mode. She used it to help regulate that oh so fun time we women enjoy. HA. I thought it was a good idea but taking something every day for a good 30 years wasn’t my idea of fun, or even attainable for me I thought. Heh. Every time I think of the tea I think of her. From her output and others, it has been said to help a lot.. I didn’t start taking it until I got pregnant though and wont know personally on that area for a while I hope, haha.

But I guess now I AM taking it daily,  funny how things work. I can attest to it working throughout my pregnancy, labor, and I also believe nursing. All of those a product of hormone balancing like regulating your cycle.

Here is a short synopsis of Raspberry Leaves.

(While generally safe, PLEASE do read to the bottom, as there are some cases you do NOT want to take R.L. )

Contains:

  • Vitamins A, B complex, C, and E
  • Calcium
  • Potassium
  • Magnesium
  • Phosphorous
  • Iron
  • Pectin
  • Very high in anthocyanins (A natural antioxidant and the pigments that color red, purple, and blue plants. They have many benefits but may help by being anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-cancer to name a few)

It helps increase fertility, tones and strengthens the uterus( which may be beneficial for VBACS!), regulate hormones,  ease labor, remedy many other ailments, and helps with breastmilk production. It can help with morning sickness and also the leg cramps and swelling. The minerals, vitamins, and plant compounds found in R.L  help to give you “rich milk”.

Now the lengthy part..

Its been long said that raspberry leaf tea may make labor and childbirth easier. However it doesn’t speed it up. I know, I know.. I am sorry. For hundreds of years at least! In fact they tested Raspberry Leaf Extract on pregnant rats in a study published. They found it did help with contractions during labor. I think I would agree! I feel it even helped with after birth for me! I had two homemade gatorades made with my Pregnancy Tea but forgot to drink them until after birth. I had drank my daily tea before labor though. Its muscle relaxant properties are at work with both of these situations. It has been said it makes contractions more effective by concentrating them and can also help with bleeding during labor. Raspberry can also strengthen the membranes protecting baby in birth!

What about after? R.L could help you with lactation and depression! It balances hormones which will help with that and cramping too!

For menstruation it helps by regulating your cycle including the frequency and length. It also reduces just about ever symptom you get. Pretty cool huh? Even though Raspberry has all these hormone related benefits, it can actually help remove extra hormones your body doesn’t need, which is one way it helps to regulate them!

Other remedies not specific to women include digestion, diarrhea, gas, helps with colds/flu, sore throats, may fight infections, helps skin rashes,  diabetes, heart and respiratory problems, and purifying your skin and blood!  Men can also look forward to its cleaning extra hormones effect, many men are exposed to estrogen/ estrogen mimicking chemicals daily with plastics and chemicals.

It is generally safe for all ages and some people drink one cup and some have drank up to a gallon daily. DO exercise caution and be wise. Honestly 2-3 cups would be ideal for a pregnant lady, less for children. And personally I would think unless you are very deficient that much more is probably not needed. Now read below for some important mumbo jumbo. Seriously.

 

Now to the don’t do this or that part.

In a report in 2007, “International Journal of Toxicology” reports that Castoreum, an extract derived from secretions of a beaver’s anal glands, is an FDA-approved natural food additive that has been used for decades to flavor foods. It is commonly added to vanilla ice cream and raspberry-flavored products, such as raspberry tea. So make sure you get the LEAVES!

While no side effects have been reported. It is still wise to use precautions, as always!!

WebMD says:

Pregnancy and breast feeding: It’s LIKELY SAFE to eat red raspberry in food amounts during pregnancy. Red raspberry leaf is POSSIBLY SAFE for use in medicinal amounts during late pregnancy, but only under the direct supervision of a healthcare provider. Red raspberry leaf is commonly used by nurse midwives to ease delivery. Don’t take it on your own. The concern is that red raspberry might act like the hormone estrogen, and this might harm the pregnancy.

Not enough is known about the safety of taking red raspberry during breast-feeding. It’s best to stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids: Red raspberry might act like estrogen. If you have any condition that might be made worse by exposure to estrogen, don’t use red raspberry.

 

Hopefully you learned a bit here! What have you used it for or what will you try it for now?

 

 

 



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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard

Clipped

I mentioned baby boy had a tongue & lip tie in my previous post. Well, they are no more! We got them clipped today. We saw a local holisitic pediatrician and board certified LC who is known around town as the only one to do it before a baby is 6 months.  

The past week since trying EBF & quitting pumping has been difficult. Baby latches on and off during feeds, latches incorrectly, gums me, feeds constantly, etc. So today brings a sense of relief and a step forward for us. Before the procedure, I breastfeed for the doc to show her what we are experiencing with our feeds. She observed for a bit and then examined him only to confirm that he did indeed have both ties. She then explained the clipping to us which took longer than the actual action itself.  It literally took 30 seconds to do it. I cried more than he did I think. Immediately following the clipping he was put back on my breast to feed. I guess the breast is the medicine for all. 

He latched on well and stopped crying right away & he hasnt shown any signs of pain or discomfort since thankfully. I was told that is the norm since they are so young. I am feeding him as we speak and plan to do so as much as he needs, even for comfort today. So far so good with the latch. I also purchased a recommended supplement to increase my supply and my lovely mom made me 4 dozen delicious lactation cookies. We have a follow up next week & hope to have good news to report.


In other news, Isaac gained another lb since our last appointment! I am so grateful for this since we have had some feeding challenges. He now weighs 9 and 1/2 lbs. He is getting so big so quick! Almost all his newborn clothes have been outgrown now. 

I just realized this is the first post as a mom I have written in paragraph format. All of my posts since his birth have been list style, bringing me to my point…pregnancy brain is real, but mom brain is no joke. Its been hard to fathom compiling all my thoughts into something that could be easily read, so forgive me if this is jumbled. 

I had my postpartum visit the other day. All looks well and I have been released back to my “normal” activities (exercising, intercourse, bathing, etc.) I am excited to start stroller walking daily, in fact we already began as a family of 3 plus the 2 dogs. It was great and baby seems to sleep much better. He is also loving bathing in his 4 Moms tub. Up until he turned a month old we had been doing just sponge baths which he hated. When we put him in the tub he looked simply amazed. Perhaps a feeling of being back in the womb? Anyways, it has become a highlight of my day to see him so relaxed in there. 

We have been getting out a bit more, Isaac ate inside his first restaurant with our in laws who are visiting from Ohio. I have been avoiding a lot of indoor public places as it is flu season and I did not get a shot for it. He really loved looking all around and being so stimulated. I just love to watch him, we are so very blessed. 


I guess that is all for now, thinking of all you no matter where you are in your TTC journey. God Bless ❤️



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Dressing Diabetes


Dressing Diabetes
When dresses and insulin pumps collide.

January 23, 2017 at 01:18PM
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Oatmeal Waffles (good for lactation!)

First and foremost, this is not just a recipe for lactating moms!  JT has eaten these and hasn’t had problems with unwanted milk production.  So if you are just looking for a way to make waffles a little heartier this is also a recipe for you!

As a exclusively breastfeeding mom, I’m always on the lookout for ways to increase my chronically low supply so that I don’t have to switch Gem over to formula. (Note: I’m not mom-bashing, I have no problem with formula fed babies. I’ve had to supplement with formula in the past and its possible I’ll have to do so again.  Fed is best.)  The internet has all sorts of ideas on how to increase supply, but the one I’ve seen all over is the lactation cookies.  I have a killer sweet tooth so I could just eat cookies all day everyday, but I know that I need a bit more sustenance, and I’d like to lose a few pounds so chowing down on cookies all hours isn’t really ideal.

I began looking for recipes that I use on a regular basis that would be fine with an addition of lactation boosting ingredients.  The one I stumbled across that I knew would work for me was my grandmother’s waffle recipe.

Note: This post contains affiliate links.  This means that I may receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if you purchase items through the links provided below. (Read more here.)

ingredients.jpg

Ingredients

  • 1 cup bisquick
  • 1 cup oats (old fashioned rolled, not instant)
  • 2/3 cup of brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseed (or flaxseed meal)
  • 2-4 tablespoons of brewer’s yeast
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tablespoons of your choice of oil (vegetable, coconut, canola)
  • 1 1/3 cup of milk (or milk substitute if you are dairy free)
  • Cooking spray

Preparation

  1. Combine and mix all dry ingredients (bisquick, oats, brown sugar, flaxseed, yeast).
  2. Mix in eggs, milk, and oil.
  3. Spray waffle iron with cooking spray between each round of waffles
  4. Follow the instructions for your waffle iron (my mom gave me this one which I love!).  Mine takes about 5 minutes for regular waffles but because of the composition of these waffles, they take a minute or two extra to cook all the way through.
  5. Top with your favorite waffle toppings and enjoy!

Makes 8 four inch Belgian waffles.

nobite.jpg

Options

  • The ingredients that help lactation are oats, ground flaxseed, and brewer’s yeast.
  • If you wanted to make it without the yeast and the flaxseed, they are still very tasty!
  • In my house we top waffles with peanut butter for the little bit of protein and then a drizzle of syrup.
  • I make 2 or 3 batches of these at one time and freeze (flat) the extras.  To reheat you can pop them in a toaster oven or a regular toaster with wide slots for bagels.
  • Because of the oats and extra ingredients, these waffles are quite hearty.  One waffle with peanut butter plus a glass of juice or milk provides the perfect sized breakfast for me!


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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard

Winter at Skylands

We're expecting a nor'easter here in Bedford today, with high gusty winds. Temperatures are expected to be in the upper 30s, so we won't be getting any snow, [&hellip...

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Sunday, January 22, 2017

Cervical Cancer Taking Deadlier Toll in U.S. Than Had Been Thought


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Trump’s Lies vs. Your Brain


Trump’s Lies vs. Your Brain
Unfortunately, it’s no contest. Here’s what psychology tells us about life under a leader totally indifferent to the truth.

January 22, 2017 at 04:52PM
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No, Gwyneth Paltrow, women should not put jade eggs in their vaginas, gynecologist says


No, Gwyneth Paltrow, women should not put jade eggs in their vaginas, gynecologist says
Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle blog "Goop" recently published a piece talking up Jade Eggs — smooth stones you can "wear" inside your vagina to increase sexual appeal and vigor. As for doctor's orders: don't bother.

January 22, 2017 at 02:43PM
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Welcome to Breastfeeding Matters

Hi there! Welcome to Breastfeeding Matters where you’ll find all things breastfeeding (and birth and the occasional women’s rights’ post)! This is just a quick welcome post to invite you to follow us during your pregnancy and breastfeeding journeys and beyond. As the blog is under construction things may take some time to fall into place and be fully functional, but we hope that you decide to stick with us as we continue to grow. Sending love to all you beautiful mommas!



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Saturday, January 21, 2017

Human Elements

The Human Elements

Outside of Grayson getting the all clear, I believe the most relevant part of this journey so far is to make mention of the glue that held things together – the people.

Beginning first with those with whom I have a history:

First and foremost, my partner, Matthew. Without him I would have derailed long before things got really scary.

And also our closest family and friends. Thank you for the love, support and space we needed to process and persevere.

Then there are those individuals we encountered through their professional expertise and our circumstances: the incredible staff at Brampton Civic Hospital and those they referred us to.

We want to acknowledge their collective support, which was essential to us throughout Grayson’s life so far! Their person centred approaches have made all the difference in the world.

It is pretty incredible that I can say this most terrifying experience was at the same time so rewarding. The memories and meaningfulness of the time we spent at BCH is invaluable.

Without exception, from admission through discharge and now being at home – the professional support and personal approaches of our Health Care providers has been amazing. Thank you to all of you.

Key to our Care – 

Additionally, there are a few people who have especially stood out and so I offer a few words to each of you.

Dr. Hall –  (who delivered our baby) thank you. Your read on me and my needs from the moment we met made me feel comfortable and safe. I am someone who has struggled with balancing my desire to have physical and emotional privacy while doing what I know I need to. You understood that without me saying so and for that I could not be more grateful. It was such a privilege to have you deliver our baby and a blessing that he was born before you had your shift change. Thank you, too, for your calmness and reassurance when Grayson showed distress and for your follow up care. Your kindness, honesty and support is a real gift to our family.

Lauren – (the RN who provided tremendous care) thank you for being there with me from epidural to almost the birth of our baby boy. I appreciated your kindness and commitment to the best care throughout our labour and (almost) delivery.

Jackie –  (the Lactation Consultant) you made our time at BCH more comfortable with your sincerity and support. I looked forward to your visits and appreciated how responsive you were to our baby and I. Also, a HUGE thank you for even arranging for Matthew to attend the breastfeeding class with me and the other new moms in postpartum.

NICU staff –  what a team. Thank you all for the commitment you have made to providing care to beautiful babies and to families. Each one of you brought a level of care that we believe went way beyond job expectations to support us.

 



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Longer Pump Times- Increase Supply Part III

This is the third post in my “what worked for me” series including increasing fluids, increasing calories, and increasing pump times.

The standard advice in the lactation world is to pump for 15-20 minutes every 2-3  hours.  This is the advice I was given in the NICU (both times) by IBCLCs and that every mom I’ve spoken with has been given.  I don’t know where this number came from- if there have been studies or if it’s just a guess. What I do know, is that for some of us, this is not nearly enough to establish and maintain an adequate milk supply.

My babies on tap were FAST… none of them nursed for more than 15 minutes per session.  They were all fed on demand so sometimes they were constantly back on the breast, and we were okay with that. Taking this into consideration, one would think that equal pump time should be sufficient.  The reality is, no pump is as effective as a human infant at extracting milk. Having an infant at breast also increases all kinds of feel good hormones that help the milk flow. The baby licking and stimulating the nipple is another wonderful stimulant.  Back in my days of nursing, just being around my sweet little ones could cause a let down.  This hasn’t happened to me with exclusively pumping. You can read my road to milk here.

With this baby, I’ve had to dramatically increase the time I spend attached to the pump in order to establish and maintain a decent milk supply.  Sadly, I’m not a major over supplier with milk to go around- at my absolute highest, I maxed at 36-40 opd.  Currently I sit around 32 opd with a drop just before my monthly arrives (but that’s another post). This is enough milk to meet a fully breastfed infants needs (24-30 oz is what a breastfed infant requires).

I have maintained that if I followed the well known advice of only pumping for 15-20 minutes per session, I would have lost my milk supply.  I did a little study one day, you know, for scientific purposes.  I switched bottles out every 20 minutes during my pump sessions to measure and record how much I had at each juncture and how much I ended up with at the end of the session.  These sessions are representative of my average sessions- first morning (after 7-8 hours of sleep because I am much further into the pumping game) is 90-100 min with a total output of 12-16oz and later sessions are 60 min with 5-8oz output (depending on how long I go between sessions).  For the first 12 weeks, I didn’t go longer than 4.5-5 hours at night EVER.  This is important for establishing supply.

img_3346

First morning pump- after 8 hours of sleep.  20 minutes of pumping yield is 5 oz.

img_3347

At 40 minutes, I’m up to 9.5 oz.

img_3348

60 minutes in, I now have 11.75 oz.

img_3349

At 100 minutes, I stopped pumping at just shy of 15 oz.

This is my LARGEST pump of the day- accounting for 1/3 or more of my daily total.  If I stopped at 20 minutes, I would have 5oz or only 1/6-1/7th of needed supply. Now, let’s looks at my second pump of the day- FOUR hours after my first morning pump session.

img_3378-1

20 minutes in, I have 3.5 oz of milk.

img_3379-1

At 40 minutes, I have 5.5 oz of milk.

img_3380

At 60 minutes, I have just about 7 oz of milk.

This is my second largest pump session of the day.  I pump 5-6 x daily at this stage of our journey. The next pump, I expect 6 oz at 60 minutes and then I will drop to 4.5-5 oz for the last two sessions of the day.  This is assuming an optimal supply day.  Some days, my total number is closer to 32 oz, which means each of my pumping sessions yields 1-2 oz less. If I pumped for 20 minutes, after my two largest pumping sessions, I would have collected a total of 8.5 oz. This would be incredibly discouraging.  It also would mean that my breasts are not completely empty which is likely to lead to a multitude of issues including:

  • clogs
  • mastitis
  • lower fat content of milk
  • low milk supply or losing supply from inadequate pumping
  • having to supplement with donor milk or formula
  • discontinuation of pumping because of loss of supply or feelings of inadequacy.

I haven’t taken the time to repeat this same experiment with an entire day of pumping, but I know what my body does and what it takes to get milk out.  I have found a couple of things that now allow me to speed up my pumping time now that my milk supply is established.  One is using the Symphony, Sonata, or Spectra (I have some caveats to this as it didn’t fully empty me) breast pumps. I get similar results with the Symphony and Sonata pumps. When my supply is normal and well regulated- I can usually stop pumping at 60-70 minutes in the morning now and 45 or so  minutes during the day sessions.  When my supply is dipping due to my menstrual cycle, I increase my pump times to encourage greater production.

There is considerable time in between let downs when I pump for this length of time, I often push the letdown button again to stimulate more flow. By pumping for extended periods of time, I have been able to maximize my output, pull all the fat out (I get nice, fatty milk- up to 30% at times!), avoid clogs and mastitis and feel confident in my ability to feed my baby 100% mamas milk. It takes serious dedication.  For the first 13 weeks, I spent EIGHT hours every day dedicated to milk collection.  That’s more than a full time job, since it’s a seven day  per week task.  Now I spend between 5-6 hours per day collecting and storing milk (still a full time job when you multiply by 7 days per week). This is not easy.  It is not simple.  It is time consuming, it is emotional, it is hard, household tasks don’t get done on time, I have tears sometimes, my preschooler may watch too much Amazon Prime some day  (I’m anti TV, so this is a hard pill for me to swallow), I’ve gained weight… BUT it is WORTH IT.



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1 in 4 men have genital HPV infections that cause or are linked to cancer


1 in 4 men have genital HPV infections that cause or are linked to cancer
Nearly half of all men in the US have some type of genital human papillomavirus infection — and about 25 percent have a type linked to cancer, according to a study appearing Thursday in JAMA Oncology.

January 21, 2017 at 09:55AM
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Caring for Seedlings in My Greenhouse

The seeds we've been planting in my greenhouse are growing so nicely. My gardeners, Ryan and Wilmer, plant seeds into flats every week from now through March, when [&hellip...

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Friday, January 20, 2017

G.O.P. Governors Seek Flexibility on Medicaid and Health Markets


By ABBY GOODNOUGH and ROBERT PEAR from NYT Health http://ift.tt/2iSVO2B
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Using Our Urban Cultivators

As many of you know, I am a very passionate gardener and love to grow lots and lots of vegetables. I enjoy them in my daily green juice, [&hellip...

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The Two-Day, $5,000 C-Suite Physical


The Two-Day, $5,000 C-Suite Physical
Executive Health is to a doctor’s visit what the Concorde was to domestic coach, designed “for the busy executive on the go.”

January 20, 2017 at 07:53AM
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Thursday, January 19, 2017

A 'civil war' over painkillers rips apart the medical community


A 'civil war' over painkillers rips apart the medical community
As doctors and regulators restrict access to opioid treatments, many patients who genuinely need drugs to manage their pain say they are being left behind.

January 19, 2017 at 11:40PM
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Why Some Argentine Nutritionists Don’t Think Ultra Processed Foods Are That Bad


Why Some Argentine Nutritionists Don’t Think Ultra Processed Foods Are That Bad
The World Health Organization recommended South American countries reduce their ultra-processed food consumption. Some Argentine nutritionists disagree.

January 19, 2017 at 07:05PM
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Thirsty Thursday Smoothie

‘Get this Green’Smoothie Recipe

1/2 c. water

2 handfuls fresh baby spinach

1 c. frozen mangos

1 green apple cored and sliced with skin on

1 TBSP ground flax seed 

1 tsp honey 

*I added fenugreek powder from a capsule
Start with water and spinach leaves blend till it’s smooth. Next add in frozen mangos, green apple and honey, blend that till you are happy with the consistency. Then add in the flax seed {and powder be it fiber, protein or in my case fenugreek}. Pour, drink and enjoy!

Again, please feel free to share your favorite smoothie recipes I would love to try!



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This is how American health care kills people


This is how American health care kills people
Matthew Stewart thought he had good insurance. Then he started vomiting blood.

January 19, 2017 at 01:44PM
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The Fight to Fix Your Brain


The Fight to Fix Your Brain
New companies are creating technology to calm us, help us sleep better, and create a general sense of wellness. Do the devices work?

January 19, 2017 at 08:30AM
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Building a Fence for My Courtyard

So many of you ask about my pets - my dogs, cats, canaries, horses, donkeys, chickens, and the peafowl. I love giving you updates on all of them. [&hellip...

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Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Donors and Drug Makers Offer $500 Million to Control Global Epidemics


By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. from NYT Health http://ift.tt/2jybaha
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Rate of U.S. Abortions Hits Lowest Since Roe v. Wade


By JAN HOFFMAN from NYT Health http://ift.tt/2iJrEil
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Running May Be Good for Your Knees


Running May Be Good for Your Knees
Many people worry that running ruins knees. But a new study finds that the activity may in fact benefit the joint, changing the biochemical environment inside the knee in ways that could help keep it working smoothly.

January 18, 2017 at 06:59PM
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The 3 deadliest drugs in America are legal


The 3 deadliest drugs in America are legal
As these charts clearly illustrate, alcohol, tobacco and opioids outpace other drugs in number of overdose deaths by a long shot. Meanwhile, there's never been a direct death linked to marijuana. Just saying.

January 18, 2017 at 06:05PM
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Sweet Flax Seed Balls - Alsi ke Laddoo

Laddoos are a speciality of India and during winters every Indian mom prepares laddoos or sweet balls using various flours, sugar, jaggery, nuts, seeds and ghee. These balls are extremely healthy and the ingredients like jaggery, ghee (clarified butter) and dry fruits provide warmth during the harsh winter months.

Seed balls are a rage in the west these days, I hear. Do not be fooled dear readers, seed balls are a winter staple of India and a mainstay of our kitchens. They are extremely healthy and easy to prepare. So, make your own, instead of paying big bucks to buy them from a gourmet store.

You can find various seed balls and laddoo recipes on my blog as well, as I prepare them regularly for my family like Dry Fruit Laddoo, Sesame Seed Laddoo, Besan Laddoo.

I remember my mom packing laddoos in my lunch box for school and even as an after school snack. I use this versatile food primarily as a snack and travel food. I keep mixing and matching recipes, and this time thought of using flax seeds as the main ingredient in these balls. I am pleasantly surprised by the result, the laddoos are scrumptious.

Cooking time: 30 mins

Ingredients:

  1. Flax seed powder/ Ground flax seeds – 1 cup
  2. Whole wheat flour – 1 cup
  3. Powdered jaggery – 1 cup
  4. Sesame seeds – 2 tbsp
  5. Finely chopped almonds – 2 tbsp
  6. Ghee (clarified butter) – 1 and 1/4 cup

Method:

  1. Dry roast flax seed powder on low heat and keep aside once a pleasant aroma is released
  2. Dry roast the sesame seeds on low heat till they pop. Keep aside
  3. Heat ghee in a thick bottomed pan and roast the wheat flour in it, until darker in colour and it starts releasing a pleasant aroma
  4. Add in the jaggery and mix to combine. Add in all other ingredients and mix thoroughly
  5. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly. Take a little mixture between greased palms, press and form into balls/ bites. The laddoo mix needs to warm else the balls will not be formed. Cool and store in an airtight container
  6. If you are unable to form the balls, heat a little ghee and add the mixture and roast for a couple of minutes and try again


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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard

Pruning My Apple and Pear Trees at the Farm

It’s time to prune the apple and pear trees! If you grow these wonderful fruit trees, the best time to prune them is now - in winter - [&hellip...

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Momtastic - The Cookie Lady - Nadia Moolman

The purpose of my blog has been to share my journey as a parent, and to celebrate motherhood! Not just me, but mommies all around me as well! And with that in mind, I am starting a new section called MOMTASTIC :)!  I will be interviewing inspirational mommas who are wearing multiple hats, and managing it all with panache!

My mommy for January is someone most new moms in Doha already knows well, and one who bakes the best ever lactation cookies – Nadia Moolman of Milking Cookies. At QR 35 for a pack of 12, her cookies were not only reasonable, but also delicious and incredibly healthy!

Nadia has been in Qatar for almost six years, and has had an excitingly eventful journey to say the least! She came here as cabin crew, met her husband, had two babies – her son is 2 years old, and her daughter is nine months. But now it seems the time has come for her to move on to the next big adventure, and we wish her the very best for everything in the future!

screen-shot-2017-01-18-at-10-37-26-amName:
Nadia Moolman

Explain yourself in about 10 words:
I am a chocoholic health food fanatic who loves traveling and all things pretty!

Tell us about your project:
Milking cookies is a small home based business, where I make and sell lactation cookies and snacks, which help new moms increase their supply. It is healthy, and I make different flavours including chocolate chip, double chocolate, coconut, honey and oats, and peanut butter. I recently started doing cupcakes as well.

Why did you launch this?
Milking Cookies started as a project of love. I was looking for a way to stomach brewers yeast, flax meal and fenugreek when exclusively breastfeeding my first, when I came by recipes for cookies. After trying and testing a few recipes I perfected one and made them for myself. They really increased my milk supply and doubled as breakfast or afternoon snacks while working. When I fell pregnant with my 2nd child, I had to resign my job as a teacher due to exhaustion of pregnancy and having a baby at home. Looking for extra income and something to keep me from going crazy from boredom I decided to share the cookies with the moms in Qatar. I was overwhelmed by the response I got, and I have never looked back.

4154How do you find the time to juggle motherhood and your work?
It’s challenging! I’ve baked with a baby rocking in front of the oven and a toddler sitting on the kitchen counter singing ‘Wheels on the Bus’, to keep them entertained while weighing out ingredients. But I have realized that sometimes you need to stop what you are doing, give your kids a hug and the attention they need and continue your work when they are asleep. You need to remember that they come first and that they will not be so small forever so enjoy each day.

How do these cookies help, and how should one take them?
They are packed with nutrients such as omegas and b vitamins and fiber, and oatmeal and flax fenugreek are natural ingredients that increase milk supply. 2-4 cookies a day can help increase supply, curb sugar cravings and are filling for breastfeeding moms who need to snack constantly.

So, we hear you are leaving. Where is the adventure called life taking you next?
Back home to South Africa. I am hoping to use my skills, and start a company that focuses on children’s nutrition.

Any parting words to moms in Doha?
Make the most out of your life in Doha. It’s easy to get caught up in the negativity many expats here have. Focus on the great things this country has to offer, learn about the culture or experience many of the activities that is found only here – take up a language class, try the local foods, go see the flamingos and kayak through the mangroves. Make memories that can be cherished, because at least for now, this is where you call home.

What is the most important parenting rule you live by?
Raising confident and polite children who respect themselves and others, is much more important than the brand of shoes they wear, the stroller they sit in, whether they wore cloth diapers or if their cereal was organic. In the end we’re responsible for raising kind human beings.

 

 

Go on and drop her a line: http://ift.tt/2k3alh8

And! If you know any mamas who you think deserves to be featured, do give me a shout! 🙂



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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

How To Find Your First Therapist


How To Find Your First Therapist
The cool thing about therapy is that everyone can benefit from it. Still, there are dozens of hurdles — social, bureaucratic, economic — to overcome in order to find help. Here, a simple guide to navigating the complex world of mental health.

January 17, 2017 at 10:56PM
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The Heroism of Incremental Care


The Heroism of Incremental Care
We devote vast resources to intensive, one-off procedures, while starving the kind of steady, intimate care that often helps people more.

January 17, 2017 at 08:51PM
via Digg http://ift.tt/2iFEuOd

Iceland Knows How To Stop Teen Substance Abuse But The Rest Of The World Isn’t Listening


Iceland Knows How To Stop Teen Substance Abuse But The Rest Of The World Isn’t Listening
​In Iceland, teenage smoking, drinking and drug use have been radically cut. Why aren't other countries following its lead?

January 17, 2017 at 07:10PM
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Does Milk Actually Make Kids Grow Taller?


Does Milk Actually Make Kids Grow Taller?
As to where the claim comes from, nobody’s exactly sure.

January 17, 2017 at 06:17PM
via Digg http://ift.tt/2jlyyMA

Completion: On getting stuff done

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My whiteboard this summer has been taken over by my book project

Every year, I choose three words and write them on a post-it note above my desk. They help me guide my decision-making for the year in a more intentional way. In 2016 one of my words was Complete.

I actually chose that word based on my desire to finish a whole lot of work related projects during the year. I had a whole pile of half-written stuff, and I often prioritised working on what I felt like or what someone else might want me to do (whether they had asked me or not). I wanted to work towards completing some of these projects and getting them ‘out the door’.

It has been a crazy-productive year. I was applying for promotion, so I spent a significant amount of time adding up all the stuff I had done, and trying to get other projects completed so I could write them up as ‘forthcoming’. I also knew I wanted to save the summer (from November onwards in the Southern academic year) to work on my book, so I really needed to think about what I could get out the door before that time.

But in all the completions that happened (none of which I will bore you with here), it struck me again as I looked at the word Complete, that I am complete. I don’t need to finish things and get patted on the head and promoted and praised (although those are nice), because to be complete does not mean to be an achiever or to get stuff done.

So in the last few months of the year, I also started to use the word as a way to make decisions about my own personal and spiritual development. Should I stay in my office and check facebook for a break, or go to yoga class? Complete – yoga wins. Should I sit with a cup of tea in the backyard and watch the kids on the trampoline, or get back inside and clean the toilet? Complete – enjoy the moment with the kids and tea. Should I stay at home out of working-mother guilt or go out and join music practice for Sunday service? Complete – music wins. I really only just started to get into this way of thinking when the year ended.

With connect and complete, I feel like I have only taken baby steps towards understanding the deeper meanings these imply, so we might find them on a new post-it note for 2017!



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