Living Life The Crunchy Way

Why I'm Getting Dready

2012-08-18T06:45:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I finally made a decision I have been contemplating for a few years: throwing the hairbrush out. Some might ask why I would choose to stop brushing my hair? Well, it's just natural! I'm tired of fighting with my hair, attempting to stop what it naturally wants to do and tired of caring about looking how other people think I should look. The vanity is silly, when natural hair really is beautiful and everyone's looks so unique! This really is a liberating moment in my life. I needed this.

But why would I go the neglect route when I could just twist and rip, backcomb, or crochet and have "neat" looking dreads right off the bat? Well, these methods destroy your hair and the dreads tend to break and fall out. Plus a lot of the products that tend to be used in conjunction with these methods are no good. After all, part of dreading is the journey, right?

I look forward to seeing the changes in my not just my hair, but in my spirit.

Namaste!

Increasing Breastfeeding Rates

2012-07-29T17:17:00.000-07:00

In the United States, only 14.8% of babies are exclusively breastfed at 6 months, according to the CDC's 2011 Breastfeeding Report Card. We have the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rate in the Western world. Why is this, and what can we do to improve these rates?

In my opinion, the U.S. exclusive breastfeeding rate is so low due to lack of breastfeeding education and normalization. In this country, many people still feel that breastfeeding is somehow sexual and abnormal, and public and extended breastfeeding are seen as extreme. Another issue stems from the aggressive and misleading advertising of breast milk substitutes.

Below is what I believe are some steps that can be taken to increase breastfeeding rates:

*The U.S. needs to sign on with the World Health Organization's International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes. The code is the "international public health recommendation to regulate the marketing of breastmilk substitutes." The code mandates explanation of the risks of inappropriate feeding methods, the social implications and costs of breastmilk substitutes, prohibits samples of breastmilk substitutes and promotion of infant formulas by healthcare providers, etc. To view the code in its entirety, please view this PDF http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/code_english.pdf

* Normalization of breastfeeding and education about breastfeeding prior to pregnancy are vital. I personally feel that we really need to strive to normalize breastfeeding in our culture. This means nursing in public, nursing without a cover, and nursing with no shame! Breasts are not just sexual organs, they serve to feed our infants, no cover required. The more women see breastfeeding, the more normal it is and the more knowledgeable women will be when they give birth and breastfeed their own children. In many cultures, breastfeeding problems are extremely rare. This is because women are used to watching other women breastfeed and have learned the techniques via observation. I also believe it is important to teach the importance of breastfeeding when covering pregnancy and childbirth in middle and high school sexual education classes. This will aid in normalization of breastfeeding and help make more people aware of the many amazing things breastmilk does for the human body.

*Promotion of natural childbirth, leaving the baby whole and attachment theory. Although interventions can be necessary in certain circumstances, most women can have normal natural births with no complications. This is important because we know that interventions such as the epidural and ceserean sections both effect latching on after birth and can have long lasting negative effects on the nursing relationship. Leaving your baby whole, meaning not circumcising him/her, can be very beneficial to nursing relationships. Research has found that circumcision negatively effects breastfeeding and is associated with refusal to latch, which in turn can lead to decrease in milk supply. Attachment theory is also important. Encouraging immediate skin to skin contact after birth and immediate breastfeeding has far reaching benefits for mother and baby. Rooming and on demand feeding are also invaluable. On demand feeding encourages proper milk supply, helps baby and mother establish a stable feeding relationship, and also helps any problems be recognized early on, therefore increasing chances of breastfeeding success.

*Experienced IBCLCs on staff at all hospitals. I unfortunately know how damaging it can be to have an inexperienced lactation counselor "help" you when you are having trouble nursing. I remember her trying to force my son onto my breast while he was screaming and crying and basically telling me I was doing it right. Had there been a good IBCLC on staff, we could have solved my son's latching problem in the hospital and spared me the pain of exclusively pumping and drying up prematurely. Sadly, my story is not rare, but this experience can be prevented! Having experienced IBCLCs on staff and available to women as needed is indispensable. Better yet, Medicaid should cover lactation consultants.

*Normalize donor milk and wet nursing. Before formula, if a woman could not nurse for whatever reason, her fellow women would help her out by nursing her baby. With modern day living, wet nursing isn't as easy, but it and donor milk should be encouraged. We do have some great organizations like Human Milk 4 Human Babies, Eats on Feets and Milkshare working hard to bring donor milk to mothers around the globe, but there is still much to be done. We should encourage women who have oversupply or extra milk to donate their milk to babies in need. Every drop of breast milk a baby receives counts, and you could save a life!

*Finally, a better formula needs to be made. Realistically speaking, there are women who really truly cannot breastfeed for a variety of reasons. However rare they may be, they are out there, and until we make huge scientific leaps that will enable these mothers to nurse or until there are enough milk donors in the world to feed all the babies with mothers unable to nurse, a more nutritionally complete formula must be developed. Today's formula is still lacking in many ways. Synthetic vitamins and minerals and GM ingredients are very common. Formulas lack sufficient probiotics, human growth factors, white blood cells, antibodies, etc. We do need to make large leaps in the scientific sector, but I believe that at this moment in time there are plenty of ways we could improve infant formula like using whole food vitamins and minerals that are bioavailable, using organic ingredients, etc.

I truly feel that if we could make at least a few of these changes, we would see huge increases in exclusive breastfeeding rates!

Babywearing Basics

2012-05-25T18:40:00.001-07:00

Let me just say, I LOVE babywearing! It's so nice to have my little man close to me and actually get things done around the house. Not to mention that I rarely ever use my stroller! I recommend babywearing to everyone. But if you're going to wear your baby, you want to make sure you're doing it safely.

Aside from being cuddly and convenient for parents, baby wearing is extremely beneficial for the baby. According to Dr. William Sears, "sling babies" cry much less often and spend more time in the calm behavioral state where they are able to learn and interact with their environment more frequently. Being worn also helps teach babies to regulate their bodies. The same crying pattern was noticed in a study conducted at The McGill University-Montreal Children's Hospital Research Institute, By watching and feeling his/her mother's movement, listening to her breathing and her heartbeat, baby is able to regulate physical responses and the vestibular system earlier on. This is especially evident in premature babies whose nervous systems and weight develop faster when held often. In a study conducted at Columbia University, babywearing was found to promote secure attachment to the mother, fostering secure independence in adulthood.

Babywearing Safety

*Do not use "crotch danglers." These slings cause hip dysplasia and spondylolisthesis, a congenital abnormality of the spine. Examples of crotch danglers include Baby BJorn and Snugli. The rule of thumb is that your child's hips should be lower than their knees. If it looks like the photo on the left, it's a crotch dangler! If it looks like photo on the right, you're good to go!

*Do not use duffel slings. Duffel slings but baby in a C shape, which causes the chin to touch the chest and close the airway. Your baby could suffocate in this type of sling. These slings also put the baby at your hips and sometimes stuffed under your breasts. This cuts off your sight and can also cause overheating and suffocation. Duffel slings are sold by Infantino, Munchkin, Balboa, Edie Bauer, Premaxx and Boppy to name a few.

*You should always be able to see your baby's face and be able to kiss their head. A safe sling will also keep your child tight against your chest, not hanging by your hips.

Carrier Styles

Ring Slings:
Ring slings are basically a long piece of fabric, usually cotton, that are secured using two steel rings. Most have padding on the shoulder. This style has a lot of ways to wear it. You can face baby in or out and use it on the front, your back, or your hip. To ensure that this sling is safe, make sure that the rings are made with steel, not aluminum or plastic! My favorite ring sling is the Maya Wrap, though there are many brands!


A Maya Wrap ring sling.

Mei Tais:

The mei tai originated in Japan. It is a rectangular piece of cloth with straps to tie around your waist and another set of straps to put over your shoulders. Some of them have head supports which can be folded down as the baby gets larger and is better able to control their head. It is a very durable sling, good for small and large babies alike. It can be worn the front, the back, and yes even the hip. It is very easy to use and very adjustable, especially for larger caregivers. Personally, it is my favorite of all carrier styles. Some brands include BabyHawk, Kozy Carrier and the Infantino EcoSash.


A baby in a BabyHawk Mei Tai

Wraps:

Stretchy wraps are stretchy pieces of fabric that you wrap around yourself. There are a few variations. Some are literally a long rectangular piece of fabric and others come as two large circles of fabric linked together by another piece of fabric. The latter are easier to use for beginners, but the former provide many more options for positions as well as having no weight limit (with the exception of stretchy fabrics.) These tend to have a learning curve, but pay off with the seemingly limitless options they allow. Brands include the Moby Wrap (a stretchy wrap,) Baby K'Tan, Rebozo, Elleville, Dolcino and Sleepy Wrap.

A Baby K'Tan

Dolcino Wrap

Moby Wrap

Soft Sided Carriers:

Although Baby BJorn and the like are off limits, you can still use a carriers with a similar look. The Ergo Baby and Beco are examples of carriers that offer a similar look but are safe for babies.

Ergo Baby Carriers

If you have any questions about babywearing, post it in the comments section and I'll help you.

References

Ten Reasons To Babywear

Increased Carrying Reduces Infant Crying: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Does infant carrying promote attachment? An experimental study of the effects of increased physical contact on the development of attachment.

Infant Carriers and Spinal Stress Is My Sling Safe?

Babywearing Resource Page

Babywearing with Dr. Sears

Relactation Success, So Far

2012-05-18T16:04:00.001-07:00

If you've read my previous blog posts, you know that I am in the process of relactating. For those of you who haven't seen my previous post titled Lactivism and My Experiences with Breastfeeding, I exclusively pump. My son wouldn't latch after birth and continues to refuse the breast at 4 months old. I stopped pumping when he was 3 months old due to chronic breast infections. My pumping strike lasted nearly a month, and I began trying to get my milk back last week. Today, I am up to about 2 ounces per day, though I think I'll probably get about 3 ounces today. I am SUPER excited about this, even though I would have been so upset about such a low supply before. I am taking Domperidone, a drug that increases prolactin serum levels, which is probably part of the reason my supply has increased from drops a day to a few ounces so quickly. Tomorrow I am going to start taking More Milk Plus and hopefully that will also help increase my supply.

Babies Go Into Shock During Circumcisions

2012-05-14T17:52:00.003-07:00

98% of circumcisions in the US are performed with no anesthesia. A study conducted at the Institute of Child Development and Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, found extremely elevated cortisol levels in baby boys after their circumcision surgeries. Another study conducted at the University of Iowa found that serum cortisol levels STILL skyrocketed when the dorsal penile nerve was numbed using lidocaine. No surprise considering the dorsal penile nerve cannot be fully numbed via injection. When those well meaning nurses tell you that your baby "took it like a champ" or "slept right through it" they are misunderstanding what they are seeing. The baby is not sleeping, he is in a semi-comatose state, due to the extreme pain and stress that occurs while being circumcised. Circumcision is NOT a painless procedure, the foreskin is NOT just a flap of skin, and baby boys do not just sleep through this unnecessary cosmetic surgery.

References
THE EFFECTS OF CIRCUMCISION ON SERUM CORTISOL AND BEHAVIOR
He Didn't Cry: Babies In Shock
Neonatal Cortisol Response to Circumcision with Anesthesia
Baby Boys Go Into Neurogenic Shock When Circumcised

Why You Shouldn't Circumcise

2012-05-14T11:49:00.001-07:00

Infant circumcision is a cosmetic surgery that is not recommended by any medical organization on the planet. It removes the foreskin and the frenulum, the two most sensitive parts of the male body. The procedure is as follows: The baby is taken from his parents, usually in the second day of life, and tied down in a mechanism called a circumstraint. His wrists and feet are made immobile. The baby boy is given an erection. His foreskin, which is fused to the head of the penis during infancy, is ripped from the glans. This pain has been found to be equivalent to tearing a nail out of the nail bed. Then, in the case of a clamp circumcision, the clamp is placed over the glans and the foreskin is pulled over part of the clamp, then the clamp is tightened and the foreskin is literally crushed until it separates from the penis. If a Plastibell is used for the circumcision, the Plastibell will be placed on the penis, tightened around the foreskin until the foreskin has been crushed. Then the doctor will slice off the foreskin with a surgical knife. According to an article published by CNN, 96% of circumcisions in the US are performed without anesthesia. And studies, including one conducted at the University of Iowa Department of Medicine, have found that even when a dorsal penile nerve block, which is anesthesia injected into nerves in the penis, is used it is ineffective pain relief which fails to lower serum cortisol levels in infants. After the procedure, the baby is returned to his mother. Often times, the baby will appear as though he is sleeping. The baby, however, is not sleeping at all. When serum cortisol levels rise to a certain point,such as they do during circumcision, human beings go into a semi-comatose state which looks similar to sleep. This is a coping mechanism. Once the baby has awakened, his wound will be extremely sore and each time he urinates or has a bowel movement, it will burn intensely. If his diaper rubs against his genitals, it will be painful, and diaper changes will be especially painful due to the fact that the mother will not only need to clean his penis if he gets feces on it, but she will also have to change his gauze, clean the wound and check for adhesions. The baby will not be provided pain relief post operatively. Up to 33% of circumcisions are botched. Examples of this include too much foreskin removed causing painful erections, excessive scar tissue, ahesions, infections, meatal stenosis, buried penis, and in some rare cases entire removal of the penis, such as in the case of David Reimer. The United States is the only first world country that still practices male circumcision outside of religion.

Here are some facts about circumcision:

*Circumcision is unconstitutional under the 14th amendment which provides equal protection under law. Boys are not provided equal protection as girls, under law, and this must change.

*Approximately 100 babies die in the US as a result of circumcision complications, according to Thymos: The Journal of Boyhood Studies.

*Modern day circumcision which removes the entire foreskin was promoted by Dr. Harvey Kellogg in the 1800s in order to prevent masturbation. He also promoted putting carbolic acid on the female clitoris in order to prevent masturbation.

*Infant circumcision is not recommended by any medical organization in the world.

*Circumcision is damaging to sex. A study conducted by Dr T. Hammond and published in the British Medical Journal found that circumcision reduces sexual sensation by up to 75%. Circumcision is also associated with erectile dysfunction according to a study at conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital School of Medicine Department of Urology. Of 95 patients who were studied before and after circumcision, 28 reported erectile dysfunction after circumcision, 33 suffered from weakened erectile confidence, 41 suffered from difficult insertion during intercourse, and 31 suffered from anorgasm (inability to orgasm in a normal time frame and in some cases at all.) This is a result of losing the foreskin and frenulum to circumcision as well as keratinization and the severing of veins during circumcision. The head of the penis is not made to be constantly exposed and rubbed against clothing. In order to protect itself, it hardens through a process called keratinization. Another body part that keratinizes in order to protect itself is the foot. Keratinization drastically reduces sensation. During circumcision, veins can be severed which can cause problems with blood flow and erections in adulthood.

*Circumcision hurts women too. The foreskin plays an important role for women during sex. An intact man thrusts in an entirely different manner than a circumcised man. A circumcised man thrusts in a pounding pattern, while an intact man takes longer thrusts rather than pounding, preventing vaginal soreness. The foreskin also works to keep vaginal lubrication in the vagina so that the woman does not feel dry. sexasnatureintendedit.com shows various images and videos demostrating how this works, but is not work safe or for minors.

*The foreskin is homologous to the clitoral hood, which means it is the same organ. In the womb, before the Y chromosome kicks in, a male follows the same pattern of development as a female. This means that he develops a clitoris, a clitoral hood, and ovaries. Once the Y chromosome begins to take action, the clitoris becomes the penis, the clitoral hood becomes the foreskin, and the ovaries become the testes.

*Circumcision affects breastfeeding and has been associated with latching problems and even refusal to nurse.

Since this is one of my passions, people come to me nearly every day with questions. These questions are usually the same, because they are based on myths perpetuated in our culture.

1) "It's just a flap of skin and it is more hygenic." The foreskin is NOT just a flap of skin, but an entire mechanism that comprises half of the adult penis, on average 15 square inches. It contains approximately 30,000 nerves and is homologous to the clitoral hood. Circumcision does not create a more hygenic penis. The foreskin is a self cleaning organ. All it takes for a man to be clean is for him to retract his foreskin in the shower which, from watching my intact husband shower, takes literally a few seconds. Circumcised men still produce smegma and must still clean their penis in the shower. Another interesting fact is that women produce 20 times more smegma than men, yet we do not advocate female circumcision for cleanliness.

2) "Isn't it hard to clean an intact baby's penis?" The short answer is NO. An intact baby's penis is easier to clean than a circumcised baby's penis. To clean an intact penis you simply wipe it like a finger from base to tip. You NEVER retract a baby's foreskin or try to clean underneath it because this is not only painful, but can cause UTIs, adhesions and excessive scar tissue leading to problems in adulthood. A circumcised baby must have skin near the glans pulled away from the glans to prevent the penis from attempting to reattach the skin and form adhesions and excess scar tissue.

3) "Doesn't circumcision prevent UTIs?" Not really. A study conducted by the Canadian Paediatric Society found that it takes about 625 circumcisions to prevent a single UTI. UTIs are easily treated with antibiotics. Also, most UTIs in intact males are caused by forced retraction bringing bacteria into the foreskin, which is just one reason why it is so important to never retract an intact baby. Breastfeeding will also protect against UTIs, or if you cannot or choose not to breastfeed, giving your baby probiotics will also help protect against UTIs.

4) "I heard HIV can be prevented by circumcision." This is simply untrue. A series of three studies cumulatively called the Africa studies are often cited as having found that circumcision reduces HIV transmission by 60%. These studies were very flawed and statistics has been used to fool people. These studies were headed by David R. Tomlinson, who invented the AccuCirc device and the modern Gomco and Plastibell clamps. The studies were ended before the men's circumcisions had healed, meaning before they were even allowed to have sex again. And the 60% decrease is relative decrease not absolute decrease. Relative decrease is the difference between the percentage of HIV transmission prior to the circumcisions compared to the percentage after. Absolute decrease is the real decrease. For example, if a city's population in 2010 was 2% Asian and in 2011 the Asian population was only 1%, the relative decrease in the Asian population is 50%, but the absolute decrease is only 1%! The absolute decrease in HIV for the Africa study was a 1.3% decrease. This makes sense considering the men were not allowed to have sex yet. A study conduced by the US Navy found that circumcision has no effect on HIV transmission. Also consider Western Europe. 85% of men in Western Europe are intact and their HIV rate is 1/3 of the US's HIV rate. HIV is prevented by two things: Condom usage with as few partners as possible and by abstaining from IV drug use.

5) "Doesn't circumcision prevent penile cancer?" No, it does not. Circumcision has been found to increase risk of penile carcinoma in situ, particularly along the scar line.

6) "I know someone who needed to be circumcised in late childhood or adulthood because his foreskin was too tight" This phenomenom is known as phimosis. But here is the problem, phimosis cannot be diagnosed until after puberty because phimosis is defined as an inability to retract the foreskin! The foreskin is usually retractible between 3 and 8 years old but some men do not retract until late puberty. This is normal. Even if a man is diagnosed with phimosis in adulthood, he does not need to be circumcised. Phimosis can be easily treated with prescription steroid creams. Please remember that most cases of phimosis are caused by forced retraction during infancy, which is why it is so important that you never retract a baby's foreskin. The only person who should retract a child's foreskin is the child himself.

7) "Don't religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam require circumcision?" The answer is yes and no. I'll start with Islam and Christianity. In Islam, male circumcision along with female circumcision is recommended by books other than the Q'uran. The Q'uran specifically warns against following other books and in the Q'uran it says that Allah "created man in the best of moulds" and that Allah has "perfected everything." The Q'uran warns against body modification. Christianity explicitly forbids circumcision. Here are some verses regarding circumcision. some are offensive to those who are Jewish, but these are not my opinions, just what is written in the New Testament of the Bible.

"Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you be circumcised, Christ will be of no advantage to you" Gal 5:2

"Watch out for those wicked men- dangerous dogs, I call them - who say you must be circumcised. beware of evil doers. beware of the mutilation. For it isn't the cutting of our bodies that makes us children of God; it is worshipping him with our spirits." Phil 3:2-3

There are MANY more verses regarding circumcision in the Bible found mostly in Galatians and Paul.

In regards to Judaism, yes Judaism requires circumcision. However, the original circumcision did not remove the entire foreskin, but only a tiny piece. There are also two ways around infant circumcision in Judaism. The first is to not circumcise an infant. In the Torah it says that if a male's father did not have him circumcised as an infant that he should be circumcised as an adult if he wants to remain a member of Judaism. This is a good option because not only does it respect the culture but it preserves the man's right to choose if he wants to remain part of the Jewish religion and if he wants to be circumcised. If an adult man decides that he wants to remain Jewish or that he wants to become Jewish he can be circumcised. He will be provided general anesthesia for the procedure and proper pain relief after the procedure. The risk of complications for adult circumcision is MUCH lower. Another option is called Bris Shalom. Bris Shalom is a non-cutting naming ceremony which is performed by a Rabbi. According to the organization Jews Against Circumcision, circumcision is contradictory in Judaism because in the mitzvos Jews are commanded not to make any cuttings in the flesh.

8) After learning about circumcision, I have been asked the following question by some men "Is there a way that I can reverse my circumcision?" Well yes and no. There is a process known as restoration. Restoration uses small weights to slowly stretch the penile skin and create the look of a foreskin. Restored men have fooled doctors. Through restoration, men can gain length and girth, increase sensitivity and reverse keratinization. Unfortunately, you can never regain the nerves you lost to circumcision, but you can get the look and increase sexual pleasure. I recommend the websites mendocomplain.com and restoringtally.com to these men.

Resources:

Medical Circumcision Video (Please watch without children around, with the volume up)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6584757516627632617

History of Circumcision:

http://www.cirp.org/library/history/

http://www.parenting-boys.com/History-of-Circumcision.html

Regarding Myths About Circumcision:

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201109/myths-about-circumcision-you-likely-believe

Anesthesia Ineffective for Neonatal Circumcision:

http://cpj.sagepub.com/content/25/8/412.abstract

Effect of Neonatal Circumcision on Pain Response:

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(96)10316-0/abstract

Circumcision Trauma and PTSD:

http://www.cirp.org/library/psych/rhinehart1/

Circumcision Effects Breastfeeding

http://www.cirp.org/library/birth/

Circumcision and HIV:

http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/info/HIVStatement.html

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA458066

Circumcision and UTIs:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2851257/

http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/UTI/

Note: Most UTIs in intact males are associated with improper care of the intact penis. In a male infant, the foreskin is fused to the glans of the penis. You are never supposed to retract and intact infant penis, as this can lead to bacteria being drawn into the skin as well as scar tissue and adhesions. See this video by Dr. Bob Sears for info on proper intact care: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCpKDY77IKM&feature=player_embedded

Circumcision and Cancer:
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/PenileC...cer-prevention
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=3944860
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11405332

http://www.circumstitions.com/Cancer.html

http://voices.yahoo.com/does-circumcision-prevent-cervical-cancer-204072.html

How Circumcision Damages Sex For Men (Including Erectile Dysfunction) & Women:

www.sexasnatureintendedit.com (not safe for work or minors)

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1464-410x.1999.0830s1085.x/pdf

http://www.boystoo.com/medical/conversion.htm

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14979200

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11956453

See the Vast Difference Between the Intact and Circumcised Penis:

http://www.drmomma.org/2011/08/intact-or-circumcised-significant.html

Circumcision and Judaism:

http://www.jewsagainstcircumcision.org

http://www.jewishcircumcision.org

NOTE: Jewish males do not have to be circumcised as children. According to the Torah, they can be circumcised as adults if their father did not have them circumcised during infancy. This is a great option because it respects the man’s right to choose circumcision for himself, if this is what he wishes, in adulthood. This respects the man’s right to choose what religion he follows in adulthood and what religious rituals he would like to take part in. http://www.jewfaq.org/birth.htm

http://intactnews.org/node/142/1327690351/progressive-rabbis-creating-jewish-covenant-without-circumcision

Circumcision and Christianity:

http://www.drmomma.org/2009/06/information-on-circumcision-for.html

Circumcision and Islam:

http://www.quranicpath.com/misconceptions/circumcision.html

Foreskins Being Sold to Cosmetics Companies:

http://voices.yahoo.com/human-foreskins-big-business-cosmetics-201840.html

WHO Circumcision Bias:

http://www.kentecmedical.com/media/document/AccuCircWorkshopBrochure.pdf

NOTE: The World Health Organization currently recommends adult male circumcision to prevent HIV (remember NO health organization in the world recommends infant circumcision.) However, the expert on circumcision, David R. Tomlinson is also the inventor of the AccuCirc device as well as the modern Gomco and Plastibell circumcision devices. This is bias at its finest.

Sunscreen Safety

2012-05-12T20:35:00.000-07:00

It may be surprising, but according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer "sunscreens should not be the first choice for skin cancer prevention and should not be used as the sole agent for protection against the sun." There is much debate in the scientific community about the efficacy and safety of sunscreens. Most conventional sunscreens actually do more harm than good. They contain many synthetic chemicals, including carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. These can be especially serious for babies and young children who tend to wear sunscreen more frequently and in higher amounts than their parents and other adults. The following are common and dangerous sunscreen ingredients:

*Vitamin A (retinyl palmitate): A common sunscreen ingredient that is photocarcinogenic. This means that when it is exposed to light, including sunlight, it speeds cancer growth. In a study conducted by the FDA, lab rats coated in .5% vitamin A cream developed cancer 21% faster than the control group.

*Nanoparticles: Most conventional sunscreens contain nanoparticles which penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream. These particles, such as Oxybenzone, can disrupt hormones.

Another issue with sunscreen is that it blocks the rays which stimulate the creation of Vitamin D. Vitamin D created in the body is in a different form than vitamin D in supplements. The vitamin D created by our bodies is vitamin d3 sulfate and the vitamin D3 in supplements is unsulfated. Supplements are not a very good replacement for naturally obtained vitamin D. On top of this, sufficient vitamin D levels have been found to lower cancer risk by up to 77%, but unfortunately approximately 70% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D.

The cause of sunburn must also be considered. The body creates its own natural sun protection when it is properly nourished. A diet including plenty of vegetables, berries and micro-algae will help prevent sunburn. Green tea, black tea, fish oil and cocao have also been found to help prevent sunburn. Of course, the body has its natural breaking point, so you want to make sure to protect your skin before you burn. Get your vitamin D levels tested and get enough sun to maintain appropriate vitamin D levels. If you plan to spend an extensive amount of time in the sun, prevent sunburn first by proper clothing and shade, and then with a natural sunscreen. But remember, not all natural sunscreens are created equal. Avoid nanoparticles and vitamin A, which are often included in natural sunscreens, particularly nano Zinc Oxide and/or nano Titanium Dioxide. Check out the rating of the sunscreen you choose on the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. I recommend Badger Balm sunscreen. It is natural, made with non-nano zinc oxide and organic oils such as olive oil and jojoba oil. It works very well!

References:

Sunscreens Exposed: 9 Surprising Truths

Study: Many Sunscreens May Be Accelerating Cancer

Five Foods To Protect From Sunburn and Skin Cancer

Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep
Vitamin D and Cancer Prevention: Strengths and Limits of the Evidence

Lactivism and My Experience with Breastfeeding

2012-05-11T08:10:00.000-07:00

Before my son was born, I was a militant lactivist. I still am a lactivist, but I have learned that there are situations where breastfeeding can be nearly impossible. I try not to judge mothers in these situations. In the past, I probably opened my mouth far more than I should have, and I have certainly eaten my words. I still feel sorrow for any mothers that I may have hurt.

My birth experience was nearly the exact opposite of what I wanted and imagined for my son and I. I wanted a homebirth, but due to my living situation (we were living with my parents,) my husband and I chose to plan a birth center delivery. I went to Hypnobirthing classes, read breastfeeding and childbirth books, etc. I did all the right things. Well, January 11th, 2012 my water broke. I was dilating and effacing, but my contractions were not taking on any sort of pattern, and were pretty scarce. After about 36 hours, my midwife sent to a hospital for an induction, and that's when it all went downhill. According to Florida law, a midwife has to send a patient in for induction if her water has been broken for more than 24 hours. She risked herself by letting me go for 36 hours, but we both know that the Florida law is not science based. I went into the hospital at 5 cm, 90% effaced. After 6 hours of horrendous pitocin induced contractions with no break in between and excruciating back labor, I was still 5 cm. I got the epidural. I dilated 2 cm within a few minutes of the epidural taking effect. My son was born 5 hours later on January 13th at 6:24 am. I had him placed immediately on my chest and attempted to nurse him. He looked at me like I was nuts. I'll never forget the face he made. I believe that the epidural caused my nursing issues. I also believe that I never needed to be induced. I was dilating and effacing, my body was doing its job, whether or not I was feeling contractions or having an established pattern.

Since he did not nurse, I immediately started pumping to ensure that no issues with my supply would develop, and tried endlessly to nurse him. I asked for help from the nurses and the supposed lactation consultant at the hospital. Big mistake. All they did, including the LC, was try to force my screaming baby onto the breast and assault my nipples. He did not latch and I continued pumping. I saw a very reputable LC named Pam once I left the hospital. He still wouldn't nurse. I tried cranial-sacral therapy. Still no nursing baby! That was when my exclusively pumping journey began.

I started to exclusively pump breast milk for my son, and continued to do so until he was 3.5 months old. During the last month of exclusively pumping, I developed chronic mastitis. After natural methods failed to cure it, we tried 4 different antibiotics and none of them worked.My supply dropped drastically. I gave up pumping and started feeding my son organic formula and supplementing him with probiotics and chlorella. I tried finding donor milk, but it has been a failed mission. It has been about one month since I pumped, and I feel awful. I know my son deserves more. Breast milk is normal, formula is inferior.

I am going to attempt relactation. I can still get some milk if I hand express, despite it having been a month since I pumped. I have spoken with my LC, and she has told me how I should begin going about relactating. I really hope that I can get my son to latch and nurse. I wanted to nurse him til he weaned himself. I feel like we have been cheated. I especially feel like he has been cheated. He deserves all the antibodies, growth factors, etc that only breast milk can provide. I am determined to give my son the best.

Cloth Diapering Part Two

2012-05-10T16:02:00.001-07:00

Now that I've gone over the basic facts about cloth diapering, I think it's appropriate to start discussing the different types of diapers and what you'll need to cloth diaper from birth to potty training.

Here is a list of what you'll need:

*24 to 36 diapers in order to do laundry every other day. The average newborn goes through about 12 diapers per day, but your baby will have days when they use more. Mikey once went through 18 diapers in a day! That being said, as they get older, they need less frequent diaper changes. Mikey is currently 4 months old and goes through about 8 diaper changes a day. I'd go with 36 diapers, but that's just me.

*A pail and a large wet bag. You can use any kind of pail you want. I have one of those small garbage cans with a lid and a pedal to open the lid. You don't have to use a lid, it's really a matter of preference. The wet bag lines the pail the same way a garbage bag does. It keeps poop from getting on your pail and makes transporting the diapers to the washing machine simple and clean.

*Small and medium size wet bags. These are for your diaper bag/bags. They usually come with a zipper, but mine actually look like the photo below. I have no problem with stink. Popular brands for wet bag include Planetwise and Bummis.

*Cloth diaper safe laundry detergent. You don't want to use standard laundry detergents that contain fabric softeners, dyes, optical brighteners and enzymes. These can cause stink issues and can buildup in the diapers leading to reduced absorbancy. Common brands include Rockin Green, BumGenius, Country Save and DeeTergent. http://pinstripesandpolkadots.com/detergentchoices.htm contains a large list of detergents and a rating for usage with cloth diapers. This site also have lots of diapering info.

*A diaper sprayer, flushable liners, or a spatula. Pick the method you would like to use to remove poop when baby starts solid foods. You can also swish the diaper in the toilet, but most of us don't want to do that. I personally would go with a diaper sprayer. I feel they are more eco-friendly than flushable liners. Although the liners are biodegradable and safe, the trees cut down to make them, oil used in their transport, etc make for a less than eco-friendly product. Diaper sprayers can be purchased from BumGenius, Fuzzibuns, on Ebay, etc.

A diaper sprayer

*Cloth diaper safe diaper rash cream. You can't use regular brands like Balmex because it builds up in the diaper. Coconut oil is a great diaper rash cream and helps prevent yeast rashes (a common issue usually accompanied by oral thrush.) Other commonly used brands are Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm, CJ's BUTTer, Grandma El's and Thirsties Booty Love.

*Cloth wipes. If you're going to cloth diaper, you might as well cloth wipe too. It is easier to cloth wipe while cloth diapering, you just throw it all in the wet bag or pail! You can buy wipes from different companies and work at home moms, but I just used cheap baby washcloths. They work great. If you cloth wipe, you need to wet the wipes. Some moms use premade solutions, but I have found that using plain filtered water works just fine. I store the water in a peri bottle.

*IF you choose to use prefolds or flats (explained below,) you will need diaper covers and Snappis or pins. Diaper covers are waterproof covers that go on over prefold and flat diapers. They can usually be used for 2 or 3 diaper changes. Once baby get poop on the cover, it needs to go in the wet bag or pail. Diaper covers are made by lots of companies. Flip, Thirsties, Sprout, Bummis, and Softbums are just a few examples. A Snappi is what has replaced diaper pins. It is stretchy and T shaped and features claws at the end of each arm. The claws grab onto the diaper and keep it in place. Very few moms use pins.


A Snappi holding a prefold diaper in place

A One Size Thirsties Diaper Cover

That's pretty much all you need to cloth diaper! Some moms like to get little extras, like pins with saying for diaper covers, or Bac Out for the wash, but these things are not necessary.

Now for the different diaper styles. Keep in mind that each diaper style except prefolds and fitteds come in two versions: One Size and Sized. One size diapers keep things as economical as possible. Most babies won't fit in them til around 10 lbs though, so buying some sized diapers to use until then is a good idea. One size diapers fit from around 10 to about 35 lbs. They will fit until potty learning. The size is adjusted by rows of snaps on the front of the diaper or by elastic on the inside on the diaper.

Flat Diapers: The diapers your grandma used! Flat diapers are a large square of material, usually Bird's Eye cotton, that you fold around your baby. You secure it with a Snappi and put a diaper cover over it to prevent leaks. You can also padfold it, which means folding it into a rectangle and laying it in a diaper cover rather than wrapping it around the baby and securing with a Snappi or pins. I personally choose to padfold my flats. Flat diapers are the cheapest way to cloth diaper.


Flat diapers line drying

Prefold Diapers: Prefold diapers are the second cheapest method of cloth diaper. Prefolds are smaller squares of cloth, usually cotton or hemp, that you fold around the baby. They require less folding than flat diapers. This is because the middle is thicker than the sides of the prefold.They also require a diaper cover and Snappis or pins. You can also fold a prefold in thirds and lay it in a diaper cover. This is called trifolding. I trifold my prefolds. Prefolds come in different sizes in accordance to weight, however, if you choose to trifold them, you will usually only ever need the infant size.


An unbleached prefold diaper

Fitted Diapers: These are prefold diapers that are cut in the shape of a diaper to eliminate folding. They often require a diaper cover and a Snappi or pins, though some do come with velcro or snaps. I personally don't find fitted diapers cost effective. Fitteds are expensive because they must be purchased in each size.


Fitted diapers

Contour Diapers: These are something between prefolds and fitteds. They need a diaper cover. Some come with snaps or velcro, others you need to use a Snappi or pins. I have seen these in one size versions before.


Contour Diapers

Pocket Diapers: Pocket diapers are super similar to disposables. A pocket diaper is a diaper cover and diaper in one. The diaper cover is lined on the inside with comfortable fabric and touches the babies bottom. There is a pocket or opening where you stuff an absorbent insert. The inserts that come with these diapers are usually microfiber, but there are a large variety of options including hemp, bamboo, minky, and fleece. These are very daddy friendly diapers and come in sized and one size versions. The closure can be snap or velcro. I recommend stuffing the diapers right after they are done drying, that way when you need to change a diaper, they are ready to use.

A Happy Heiny's diagram showing a sized pocket diaper.

All-In-Twos: Also known as hybrid diapers. These diapers are diaper covers with insert that you either lay in the cover or snap into the cover. The idea is that you just change the insert and reuse the cover for 2 to 3 diaper changes. The inserts are often microfiber, but the top of the insert that touches the baby's bottom is never microfiber. Microfiber cannot touch the baby's bottom because it can cause rashes and dryness. These diapers usually come in one size versions. My experience with hybrids is that poop often gets on the cover and during the early stages when babies are going through tons of poopy diapers a day, they really aren't all that economical. I personally prefer any other kind of diaper.

A diagram by Best Bottoms showing how a one size AI2 works.

All-In-Ones: These are just like disposable diapers. They are also the most expensive diapers, although very convenient. They look like pocket diapers, but they do not have a pocket. The insert is sewn in so you never have to stuff diapers. All you ever do is put it on the baby and wash them on laundry day. No folding, stuffing, pins or Snappis. The down side is that they take forever to dry, sometimes up to three cycles in the dryer.

A BumGenius one size AIO diaper

I hope I've helped you understand the different types of cloth diapers and what their pros and cons are. There are tons of brands, I'll list some below along with places to buy diapers.These lists are by no means complete, they are just some of the popular brands.

Diaper Covers:
*Flip
*Thirsties
*Sprout
*Bummis
*Tiny Tush
*Softbums

Flat Diapers:
*OsoCozy
*Imagine
*Green Mountain Diapers
*Snooty Booty
*Hemp Babies
*Swaddlebees
*Sustainablebabyish

Prefold Diapers:
*Imagine
*Green Mountain Diapers
*Little Lions
*Cotton Babies
*Econobum
*Osocozy

Fitted Diapers:
*Imse Vimse
*Green Mountain Diapers
*Kissaluvs
*Thirsties
*Bummis
*Itti Bitti
*Blueberry

Contour Diapers:
*Kissaluvs
*Imse Vimse
*Bumkins

Pocket Diapers:
*BumGenius
*Fuzzibunz
*Diaper Rite
*Happy Heinys
*BabyKicks
*Rumparooz
*Oh Katy
*Snap EZ
*Kawaii
*Applecheeks

All-In-Twos:
*Grovia
*Best Bottoms
*G Diapers
*Weehuggers

All-In-Ones:
*BumGenius
*Thirsties
*Kissaluvs
*Rumparooz
*Swaddlebees
*Grovia
*Ones and Twos
*Itti Bitti

Here are some places to purchase diapers. You can of course get them from the manufacturer's site, but this is usually the most expensive. Other good places to find diapers include cloth diaper swap groups on Facebook.

www.diaperswappers.com There is a forum on this site that has a for sale section. This site has a review system so you can see a seller's ratings in the forum. This is my favorite place to buy diapers, you can find diapers in fabulous condition for a great price.

www.nickisdiapers.com
www.jilliansdrawers.com
www.cottonbabies.com
www.clothdiaperoutlet.com

If you have ANY questions, feel free to ask me in the comments section. I will get back to you and try to provide the best answer I can.

Cloth Diapering: A Thing of the Past?

2012-05-09T14:43:00.000-07:00

When I was 7 months pregnant with my son Mikey, my husband Michael brought up the idea of cloth diapering. I'll admit, as soon as the words "cloth diapers" came out of his mouth, all I could picture was a little man running around giggling with pee leaking out of stuffy rubber pants.

Although Michael assured me that cloth diapers, like everything else, must have advanced over the years, the images of babies in pinned flour sacks that I had come to associate with cloth diapering were burned into my mind. And then I started researching....

Turns out, cloth diapers are actually a pretty awesome alternative! After reading up on modern cloth diapering, it turns out that pins and rubber pants are generally a thing of the past, and that cloth diapers are healthier for little ones AND the environment. On top of being healthier, they are much more cost effective than disposables and let's face it, they are so much cuter!

My little man at 3 weeks old wearing a BumGenius 3.0 pocket diaper!

So here are the facts:

Disposable diapers contain all kinds of chemicals, including Dioxin. Dioxin is one of the most toxic of all the cancer linked chemicals, banned in most countries. Disposables also contain TBT, a chemical famous for its association with Toxic Shock Syndrome, banned from usage in tampons. Other toxins include chlorine and sodium polyacrylate.
Disposable diapers are estimated to take approximately 500 years to decompose. That is a lot of space in landfills being filled with petroleum products and human waste. The possibility of water contamination is pretty scary.
People often ask me about water usage and washing cloth diapers. Disposables actually use about twice as much water in their manufacture than cloth diapers. I do two loads of diaper laundry per week. My water bill has only gone up about $10. I pay $10 for a bag of DeeTergent natural laundry detergent, and each bag lasts about a month and a half. That is a lot cheaper than using disposable diapers.
A study conducted by W G Sippell and published in the British Medical Journal found that scrotal temperature is increased in disposable diapers, which could potentially cause problems with the creation of sperm.
On average, the cloth diapered baby will potty learn earlier. This is because the baby can actually feel the moisture. Disposables tend to keep babies feeling dryer for much longer, which can also lead to increased frequency of diaper rash since parents are more likely to change diapers less often.
Cloth is way cheaper! You can buy a whole stash of diapers for as little as $200! And those diapers can usually be used for more than one baby. I personally paid about $350 for my stash, but I have way more diapers than I really need. It's become sort of a hobby!
Cloth is more comfortable. What would you rather wear, soft cloth or crunchy plastic/paper diapers?

There are a few questions I get asked a lot, other than why I choose to cloth diaper. Most people ask me about washing diapers. "Is it dirty?" "Does it stink in his room?" "Do you touch poo?" "Does it damage the washing machine?" "What is your routine?"

Well, technically it is dirty, but no, I don't touch poop while putting the diapers in the washing machine. This is because you place dirty diapers in a pail that is lined with a reusable wet bag. When you're ready to do laundry, you simply flip the bag inside out over the machine and then toss the wet bag in once all the diapers are in the washer. But as a parent, you're inevitably going to touch poop at some point during your child's infancy. Diaper laundry does not damage your washing machine either. Before your child starts eating solid foods, their poo is water soluble. This means you can just dump the soiled diapers into your washer and not have to worry! Once they start solids, the poop is no longer water soluble. You have a few options: you can use a biodegradable liner and just flush the poop down the toilet, you can buy a diaper sprayer for your toilet and spray the poop off, or you can even use a spatula to scrape it off. I recommend either using liners or a diaper sprayer. Something about a poopy spatula laying around seems less than sanitary. In regards to whether or not the room where the diaper pail is stinks, no it doesn't, as long as you are washing diapers in a timely manner. If you let soiled diapers sit around for a week, of course it will smell. But washing every 2 to 3 days is more than enough.

My washing routine is pretty simple. I have a top loader. I put the diapers in the washer and do a cold rinse with one scoop of DeeTergent. Then, I do a hot wash on heavy using two scoops of DeeTergent. Then I do a final cold rinse with no laundry detergent. Remember to set your washer on the largest load. After the wash, I put the diapers in the dryer, and they usually dry in about 45 minutes. Altogether, washing takes about an hour and a half. Make sure that any detergent you use is free of enzymes, fabric softeners, dyes, and optical brighteners. Commonly recommended brands are Rockin' Green, Country Save and BumGenius. I personally love DeeTergent, it's great and smells awesome, plus the mom who makes it is local to me.

I also get asked about going out. The only differences between using disposables and cloth diapers while out and about are that you may need a larger diaper bag and you need some medium size wet bags to store diapers til you get home. I have a Skip Hop Bento for longer outings, and a mini Eddie Bauer bag for shorter trips. It's pretty simple.

There are lots of different kinds of cloth diapers. Flats, prefolds, hyrbids, pocket diapers and all-in-ones. The book "Changing Diapers" by Kelly Wels is a great resource and thoroughly explains the differences between the different styles. I think I'll make a separate post explaining the differences. But no matter what diapers you choose, they all benefit your wallet, the environment and most importantly, your baby!

Sources:
http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/diaperfacts.php
http://adc.bmj.com/content/83/4/364.full?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=Partsch&fulltext=testicular+temperature%253B+testicular+function%253B+spermatogenesis%253B+cryptorchidism%253B&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1115141121282_2790&stored_search=&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=1#cited-by
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art8829.asp

Related Reading:
*"Changing Diapers" by Kelly Wels

Related Multimedia:
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN2ulujfzWs