Yahoo! News - Premature Babies' Diet Linked to Diabetes Risk
By Alison McCook
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)
"Premature babies given a nutrient-enriched diet designed to help them catch up to their full term peers appear to be more likely to have a pre-diabetic condition in adolescence, UK researchers said Friday. However, investigators have also shown that providing pre-term infants with extra nutrition during the first weeks of life -- a period of rapid growth -- helps developing brain and bone. Currently, premature babies are given a nutrient-enriched form of infant formula to spur their growth. Despite the current findings, study author Dr. Atul Singhal of the Institute of Child Health in London said that practice should continue."
Friday, March 28, 2003
Thursday, March 27, 2003
Diet the key to helping babies' colic woes: study - theage.com.au
March 27 2003
By Lucy Beaumont
"...Breastfeeding mothers can reduce their babies' colic by adopting a low-allergy diet, a Melbourne study has found.
The study of 90 babies by the Royal Children's Hospital confirms earlier findings that many babies younger than six weeks have an intolerance to allergenic proteins ingested by the mother and excreted in the breast milk.
The director of the department of allergy, David Hill, said 70 per cent of the babies with mothers on the low-allergy diet cried at least 25 per cent less within a week.
"Our data suggests that the problem is initially one of immunological immaturity," Dr Hill said. "What the mother eats comes out in her breast milk."..."
March 27 2003
By Lucy Beaumont
"...Breastfeeding mothers can reduce their babies' colic by adopting a low-allergy diet, a Melbourne study has found.
The study of 90 babies by the Royal Children's Hospital confirms earlier findings that many babies younger than six weeks have an intolerance to allergenic proteins ingested by the mother and excreted in the breast milk.
The director of the department of allergy, David Hill, said 70 per cent of the babies with mothers on the low-allergy diet cried at least 25 per cent less within a week.
"Our data suggests that the problem is initially one of immunological immaturity," Dr Hill said. "What the mother eats comes out in her breast milk."..."
Wednesday, March 26, 2003
icWales - Pre-birth decisions `affect feeding'
Mar 22 2003
Catrin.Williams@Wme.Co.Uk Catrin Williams, The Western Mail - The National Newspaper Of Wales
A WOMAN who makes up her mind to breastfeed before her baby is born will almost always succeed.
Latest research shows
96.6% of women who planned to breastfeed for at least four months managed to start breastfeeding. But of women who intended to bottle-feed before birth, only 3.4% started to breastfeed.
"There is mounting evidence of the health benefits of breast-feeding, but many women never attempt it," said Dr Lisa Amir, from the Australian Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, yesterday.
"A good deal of research has pinpointed factors which may be associated with this, for example, older mothers, non-smokers and those with higher levels of education and income are more likely to breast-feed.
Mar 22 2003
Catrin.Williams@Wme.Co.Uk Catrin Williams, The Western Mail - The National Newspaper Of Wales
A WOMAN who makes up her mind to breastfeed before her baby is born will almost always succeed.
Latest research shows
96.6% of women who planned to breastfeed for at least four months managed to start breastfeeding. But of women who intended to bottle-feed before birth, only 3.4% started to breastfeed.
"There is mounting evidence of the health benefits of breast-feeding, but many women never attempt it," said Dr Lisa Amir, from the Australian Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, yesterday.
"A good deal of research has pinpointed factors which may be associated with this, for example, older mothers, non-smokers and those with higher levels of education and income are more likely to breast-feed.
Thursday, March 20, 2003
Nonprofit milk bank helps premature and ill infants
Thursday, March 20, 2003
By Nina Garin
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
Daily Breeze
"Life inside Lucie Nicole’s incubator is pink and rosy. She has a soft blanket, a bright name tag and plenty of mother’s milk to nourish her tiny body. But the milk that Lucie drinks doesn’t come from her own mother. Because the 2-pound, 7-ounce Lucie was born three months early, her mother wasn’t able to produce any breast milk — a key ingredient in helping the development of premature babies. So the people at the Mothers’ Milk Depot of Southern California stepped in. The Mothers’ Milk Depot is a nonprofit organization based in San Jose that collects breast milk for babies such as Lucie, who normally wouldn’t be able to receive any. “Human milk is liquid gold for preterm infants,” says Dr. Nancy E. Wight, a neonatologist at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women in San Diego. “It provides nutrition, digestive enzymes, growth factors and hormones.”"
Thursday, March 20, 2003
By Nina Garin
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
Daily Breeze
"Life inside Lucie Nicole’s incubator is pink and rosy. She has a soft blanket, a bright name tag and plenty of mother’s milk to nourish her tiny body. But the milk that Lucie drinks doesn’t come from her own mother. Because the 2-pound, 7-ounce Lucie was born three months early, her mother wasn’t able to produce any breast milk — a key ingredient in helping the development of premature babies. So the people at the Mothers’ Milk Depot of Southern California stepped in. The Mothers’ Milk Depot is a nonprofit organization based in San Jose that collects breast milk for babies such as Lucie, who normally wouldn’t be able to receive any. “Human milk is liquid gold for preterm infants,” says Dr. Nancy E. Wight, a neonatologist at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women in San Diego. “It provides nutrition, digestive enzymes, growth factors and hormones.”"
Wednesday, March 19, 2003
Couple absolved over baby son's death - theage.com.au
March 20 2003
By Lee Glendinning
"The NSW Coroner has absolved parents of a five-day-old baby found dead in his cot of any wrongdoing, clearing them of allegations the child died of a methadone overdose. Baby Ewen died of natural causes, probably a congenital heart defect, and not from the effects of methadone, Glebe Coroner's Court was told yesterday. Coroner John Abernethy used his findings to launch into a defence of the Department of Community Services, which he said was too often blamed in these cases. He also cleared Bankstown Hospital and medical staff of any involvement in the child's death. Central to the inquest was whether Ewen had died from a methadone overdose from his mother's breast milk, or if he was given the drug by someone in the house."
March 20 2003
By Lee Glendinning
"The NSW Coroner has absolved parents of a five-day-old baby found dead in his cot of any wrongdoing, clearing them of allegations the child died of a methadone overdose. Baby Ewen died of natural causes, probably a congenital heart defect, and not from the effects of methadone, Glebe Coroner's Court was told yesterday. Coroner John Abernethy used his findings to launch into a defence of the Department of Community Services, which he said was too often blamed in these cases. He also cleared Bankstown Hospital and medical staff of any involvement in the child's death. Central to the inquest was whether Ewen had died from a methadone overdose from his mother's breast milk, or if he was given the drug by someone in the house."
84,000 Women Screened for Breast Cancer
AllAfrica.com
"...The president of the Women's Fellowship of VBC International, Tema, Mrs. Ellen Adjei Danso, on her part, said since women have still not received the needed protection, their reproductive rights are still being abused from their "infancy into adulthood and even unto death." She called on women to make breast-feeding of their children paramount on their agenda, adding "we've learnt that breast-feeding prevents breast cancer." Earlier, the women had embarked on a float through the principal streets of Tema, carrying placards with such inscriptions as "I am a woman, I need my breast," "Breast Cancer can kill, kill it now," "Hey Mum!, I need more breast milk," "Generations depend on your breast," "Daddy, leave the breast for me," "It could be you, support breast cancer campaign," among other inscriptions." [ An excerpt from an article on Ghana breast cancer awareness. - JC]
AllAfrica.com
"...The president of the Women's Fellowship of VBC International, Tema, Mrs. Ellen Adjei Danso, on her part, said since women have still not received the needed protection, their reproductive rights are still being abused from their "infancy into adulthood and even unto death." She called on women to make breast-feeding of their children paramount on their agenda, adding "we've learnt that breast-feeding prevents breast cancer." Earlier, the women had embarked on a float through the principal streets of Tema, carrying placards with such inscriptions as "I am a woman, I need my breast," "Breast Cancer can kill, kill it now," "Hey Mum!, I need more breast milk," "Generations depend on your breast," "Daddy, leave the breast for me," "It could be you, support breast cancer campaign," among other inscriptions." [ An excerpt from an article on Ghana breast cancer awareness. - JC]
The debate over bed-sharing
Journal Gazette/Times-Courier Online
BY AMY BURCH, Staff Writer Monday, March 17, 2003 11:18 AM CST
"Rashida Cooper and Cha-Raya Patterson wanted their babies to sleep in bassinets or cribs -- anywhere but with them. But it didn't work out that way for either mother. "She doesn't sleep on her baby bed," Patterson said of 11-month-old Niauna. "She just kept waking up every time I kept putting her there." Both are among a rising number of parents who are choosing to share their bed with their babies. Some experts, however, warn that the trend is dangerous. Dr. James Kemp's research has found bed-sharing is responsible for the higher number of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome cases among the African-American population. Kemp is associate professor of pediatrics at St. Louis University School of Medicine. Cooper, 24, and Patterson, 18, believe their babies are safer in bed with them. They both are African-American."
Journal Gazette/Times-Courier Online
BY AMY BURCH, Staff Writer Monday, March 17, 2003 11:18 AM CST
"Rashida Cooper and Cha-Raya Patterson wanted their babies to sleep in bassinets or cribs -- anywhere but with them. But it didn't work out that way for either mother. "She doesn't sleep on her baby bed," Patterson said of 11-month-old Niauna. "She just kept waking up every time I kept putting her there." Both are among a rising number of parents who are choosing to share their bed with their babies. Some experts, however, warn that the trend is dangerous. Dr. James Kemp's research has found bed-sharing is responsible for the higher number of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome cases among the African-American population. Kemp is associate professor of pediatrics at St. Louis University School of Medicine. Cooper, 24, and Patterson, 18, believe their babies are safer in bed with them. They both are African-American."
Tuesday, March 18, 2003
The Breast Milk Cocktail
(washingtonpost.com)
By Elizabeth Agnvall
Special to The Washington Post
Tuesday, March 18, 2003; Page HE01
"...From doctors to parenting magazines to books to the buzz around the block, there seemed to be no consensus about the effects of alcohol and caffeine that babies might receive through breast milk. It was another example of the sort of medical advice about which experts are deeply divided, yet none seem able to justify except by the sort of anecdotal observation that they reject from others.
Determined to get to the bottom of the issue, I set out to delve into the scientific studies, find the best researchers and seek the answers so many breast-feeding moms want: Can we have our morning cup of coffee? Can we have an occasional glass of wine?" [The writer talks to a lot of experts and despite lots of evidence that it's ok to drink alcohol or coffee in moderation, she concludes that her pediatrician is right with rule number one, "Do No Harm." Too bad pediatricians everywhere aren't as cautious about the use of infant formula... - JC]
(washingtonpost.com)
By Elizabeth Agnvall
Special to The Washington Post
Tuesday, March 18, 2003; Page HE01
"...From doctors to parenting magazines to books to the buzz around the block, there seemed to be no consensus about the effects of alcohol and caffeine that babies might receive through breast milk. It was another example of the sort of medical advice about which experts are deeply divided, yet none seem able to justify except by the sort of anecdotal observation that they reject from others.
Determined to get to the bottom of the issue, I set out to delve into the scientific studies, find the best researchers and seek the answers so many breast-feeding moms want: Can we have our morning cup of coffee? Can we have an occasional glass of wine?" [The writer talks to a lot of experts and despite lots of evidence that it's ok to drink alcohol or coffee in moderation, she concludes that her pediatrician is right with rule number one, "Do No Harm." Too bad pediatricians everywhere aren't as cautious about the use of infant formula... - JC]
Monday, March 17, 2003
De'Ja enters a world with a fragile future
" Doctors also start talking about a step that Tonya prayed they wouldn't have to take: mixing methadone into De'Ja's milk. While methadone would ease the baby's withdrawal symptoms, she'd have to spend two to four weeks in the hospital - without her mother - so doctors could slowly wean her off the drug.
Without methadone, De'Ja's body is in shock, says Dr. Adel Abdallah, a neonatologist at Riverside. Babies in the womb can get as much as 40 to 50 percent of a mother's methadone dose, Abdallah says, but only 2 to 3 percent through breast milk - and so far De'Ja has refused to nurse.
"Her system is set to this high level, and then it comes down really quickly," Abdallah says. "That can make a baby miserable.""
[This is a shockingly frank feature about the struggles of babies born to addicts - JC]
" Doctors also start talking about a step that Tonya prayed they wouldn't have to take: mixing methadone into De'Ja's milk. While methadone would ease the baby's withdrawal symptoms, she'd have to spend two to four weeks in the hospital - without her mother - so doctors could slowly wean her off the drug.
Without methadone, De'Ja's body is in shock, says Dr. Adel Abdallah, a neonatologist at Riverside. Babies in the womb can get as much as 40 to 50 percent of a mother's methadone dose, Abdallah says, but only 2 to 3 percent through breast milk - and so far De'Ja has refused to nurse.
"Her system is set to this high level, and then it comes down really quickly," Abdallah says. "That can make a baby miserable.""
[This is a shockingly frank feature about the struggles of babies born to addicts - JC]
Friday, March 14, 2003
The food industry just loves its broccoli
By Thomas Lee Post-Dispatch
updated: 03/13/2003 10:55 PM
"Dennis Gierhart is a big fan of the stuff most kids - and more than a few adults - dread at dinner time: spinach, broccoli, collard greens. But those much-maligned vegetables might yet get their day in the sun. Gierhart believes that zeaxanthin, a compound found in green leafy vegetables, along with some fruits and eggs, can help to prevent an eye disease that causes blindness in people 55 and older. Such a benefit, however, might not be enough to convince broccoli haters. So, Gierhart, chairman and chief executive of ZeaVision LLC in St. Louis, envisions a line of tasty foods and beverages that contain the appropriate amounts of zeaxanthin. "I think this is going to be the new frontier in the food industry," he said. Gierhart has good reason to think big. Functional foods, also known as nutraceuticals, have attracted considerable interest from the U.S. food-and-beverage industry." [Good business overview of the industry; mentions DHA and ARA in infant food. - JC]
By Thomas Lee Post-Dispatch
updated: 03/13/2003 10:55 PM
"Dennis Gierhart is a big fan of the stuff most kids - and more than a few adults - dread at dinner time: spinach, broccoli, collard greens. But those much-maligned vegetables might yet get their day in the sun. Gierhart believes that zeaxanthin, a compound found in green leafy vegetables, along with some fruits and eggs, can help to prevent an eye disease that causes blindness in people 55 and older. Such a benefit, however, might not be enough to convince broccoli haters. So, Gierhart, chairman and chief executive of ZeaVision LLC in St. Louis, envisions a line of tasty foods and beverages that contain the appropriate amounts of zeaxanthin. "I think this is going to be the new frontier in the food industry," he said. Gierhart has good reason to think big. Functional foods, also known as nutraceuticals, have attracted considerable interest from the U.S. food-and-beverage industry." [Good business overview of the industry; mentions DHA and ARA in infant food. - JC]
Thursday, March 13, 2003
Mother breastfed baby with friends milk
CFCNplus.ca
13/03/2003
"Many women choose to breastfeed their babies. It’s a healthy choice for babies, and many mothers look at it as a special way of bonding with their child. One-year-old Madeline was breastfed; first by her mother Cherilyn Michaels, and then by her mother's friends. You see, Cherilyn got very sick, and could no longer breastfeed. Her friends heard about her dilemma and those who could, donated some of their own breast milk in baby bottles. “If she was getting donated breast milk she'd be all cuddly. She'd act like she was nursing. She'd fall asleep readily. Where as with formula, it was fine, but she'd drink it down like it was apple juice. It made a huge emotional difference to her,” said Michaels. “Even being breastfed through a bottle, there's something in it that could comfort her better than just formula in a bottle,” said milk donor Lindsay Rock. However, formula is safer, because there are risks of spreading disease through breast milk. Donating breast milk, through breast-milk banks, used to be a much more common practise. There’s a milk bank in Vancouver that is considered to have a safe supply and it will ship milk outside the city. "
CFCNplus.ca
13/03/2003
"Many women choose to breastfeed their babies. It’s a healthy choice for babies, and many mothers look at it as a special way of bonding with their child. One-year-old Madeline was breastfed; first by her mother Cherilyn Michaels, and then by her mother's friends. You see, Cherilyn got very sick, and could no longer breastfeed. Her friends heard about her dilemma and those who could, donated some of their own breast milk in baby bottles. “If she was getting donated breast milk she'd be all cuddly. She'd act like she was nursing. She'd fall asleep readily. Where as with formula, it was fine, but she'd drink it down like it was apple juice. It made a huge emotional difference to her,” said Michaels. “Even being breastfed through a bottle, there's something in it that could comfort her better than just formula in a bottle,” said milk donor Lindsay Rock. However, formula is safer, because there are risks of spreading disease through breast milk. Donating breast milk, through breast-milk banks, used to be a much more common practise. There’s a milk bank in Vancouver that is considered to have a safe supply and it will ship milk outside the city. "
Herald Sun: Limits on breastfeeding [14mar03] Limits on breastfeeding
By JOHN FERGUSON and TANYA GILES
14mar03
"MP Kirstie Marshall will only be allowed to breastfeed her baby in State Parliament during a vote or emergency debate. Speaker Judy Maddigan conceded yesterday she may need to sharpen her wording on planned changes to rules on breastfeeding. "This is really what you do in emergency situations," she said. The Herald Sun reported yesterday that MPs would be able to feed their babies at all times when a 146-year-old ban on "strangers" in the House is abolished next week. The move sparked new public debate, with a majority of Herald Sun readers opposing breastfeeding in Parliament. More than 3700 callers opposed the rule changes. Just 86 supported the switch." [What a disappointment - it's amazing that 3700 people would be opposed to this. - JC]
By JOHN FERGUSON and TANYA GILES
14mar03
"MP Kirstie Marshall will only be allowed to breastfeed her baby in State Parliament during a vote or emergency debate. Speaker Judy Maddigan conceded yesterday she may need to sharpen her wording on planned changes to rules on breastfeeding. "This is really what you do in emergency situations," she said. The Herald Sun reported yesterday that MPs would be able to feed their babies at all times when a 146-year-old ban on "strangers" in the House is abolished next week. The move sparked new public debate, with a majority of Herald Sun readers opposing breastfeeding in Parliament. More than 3700 callers opposed the rule changes. Just 86 supported the switch." [What a disappointment - it's amazing that 3700 people would be opposed to this. - JC]
Parliamentarians should be allowed to breastfeed: lobby group
ABC Australian Capital Territory News
13/03/2003
"The Australian Breastfeeding Association is planning to lobby all state and territory governments to allow female politicians to breastfeed their babies in parliamentary chambers. The plan follows the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly's move to become the first parliament to change its standing orders, allowing babies to be nursed." [Excellent! This is a terrific example of capitalizing on a prominent issue. - JC]
ABC Australian Capital Territory News
13/03/2003
"The Australian Breastfeeding Association is planning to lobby all state and territory governments to allow female politicians to breastfeed their babies in parliamentary chambers. The plan follows the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly's move to become the first parliament to change its standing orders, allowing babies to be nursed." [Excellent! This is a terrific example of capitalizing on a prominent issue. - JC]
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
Parliament allows Marshall to breastfeed
Ninemsn.com
17:01 AEST Wed 12 Mar 2003
"Celebrity MP Kirstie Marshall will be able to breastfeed her baby in Victoria's parliament after a ruling by speaker Judy Maddigan. Ms Maddigan said she had decided to allow breastfeeding of infant children in parliament after talks with all political parties. Ms Marshall, a former Olympic skier, was recently ordered from the Legislative Assembly after breastfeeding her baby in the chamber. The move was a breach of the so-called "strangers" rule banning non-MPs from the chamber. Ms Maddigan said she had decided to make an exception to the 146-year-old rule for infants who were being breastfed. "I have decided in relation to Kirstie, that if it is her view that is in the best interests of her child, she is welcome to bring it into the chamber at times when she is required to be there," she told reporters." [Common sense prevails! - JC]
Ninemsn.com
17:01 AEST Wed 12 Mar 2003
"Celebrity MP Kirstie Marshall will be able to breastfeed her baby in Victoria's parliament after a ruling by speaker Judy Maddigan. Ms Maddigan said she had decided to allow breastfeeding of infant children in parliament after talks with all political parties. Ms Marshall, a former Olympic skier, was recently ordered from the Legislative Assembly after breastfeeding her baby in the chamber. The move was a breach of the so-called "strangers" rule banning non-MPs from the chamber. Ms Maddigan said she had decided to make an exception to the 146-year-old rule for infants who were being breastfed. "I have decided in relation to Kirstie, that if it is her view that is in the best interests of her child, she is welcome to bring it into the chamber at times when she is required to be there," she told reporters." [Common sense prevails! - JC]
Tuesday, March 11, 2003
Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Attenborough in row over Nestlé funding 'advice' to Mandela
Steven Morris
Saturday March 8, 2003
The Guardian
"Lord Attenborough's role as a Unicef ambassador came under scrutiny yesterday after he appeared to try to persuade Nelson Mandela to accept a charitable donation from the controversial food giant Nestlé in exchange for a photo opportunity. Officials from the United Nations Children's Fund will be speaking to the film director and philanthropist about his extraordinary meeting with Mr Mandela, which was captured in a BBC1 documentary. During the meeting, Lord Attenborough seemed to be lobbying on behalf of the Swiss company, which has been criticised for pushing powdered baby milk on to mothers in developing countries and was attacked earlier this year for seeking $6m (£3.75m) from Ethiopia's cash-strapped government. Health campaigners expressed anger at the scenes and are calling on him to consider his position. Despite claiming a close knowledge of Nestlé in the programme, Lord Attenborough insisted he was not lobbying on the company's behalf and had not been paid by it. He said his remarks in the David Dimbleby documentary, shown on Wednesday, were taken out of context."
Steven Morris
Saturday March 8, 2003
The Guardian
"Lord Attenborough's role as a Unicef ambassador came under scrutiny yesterday after he appeared to try to persuade Nelson Mandela to accept a charitable donation from the controversial food giant Nestlé in exchange for a photo opportunity. Officials from the United Nations Children's Fund will be speaking to the film director and philanthropist about his extraordinary meeting with Mr Mandela, which was captured in a BBC1 documentary. During the meeting, Lord Attenborough seemed to be lobbying on behalf of the Swiss company, which has been criticised for pushing powdered baby milk on to mothers in developing countries and was attacked earlier this year for seeking $6m (£3.75m) from Ethiopia's cash-strapped government. Health campaigners expressed anger at the scenes and are calling on him to consider his position. Despite claiming a close knowledge of Nestlé in the programme, Lord Attenborough insisted he was not lobbying on the company's behalf and had not been paid by it. He said his remarks in the David Dimbleby documentary, shown on Wednesday, were taken out of context."
New York City - Vegan Couple Set For Trial
newsday.com
March 10, 2003, 12:06 PM EST
"Jury selection is due to start on Tuesday in the trial of a Queens couple accused of starving their first child nearly to death by feeding her a strict vegan diet.
Prosecutors allege that Joseph and Silva Swinton, both in their early 30s, failed to give essential infant nutrition to their daughter, Ice, before authorities took custody of her in November 2001, when she was 15 months old and weighed half the average weight of a child her age.
They were initially each charged in April with reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. But prosecutors later added a new charge of first-degree assault against both, which means they each face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
Authorities said the couple failed to feed their child breast milk or infant formula. Instead, the couple gave her a vegan diet of ground nuts, fresh squeezed juice, herbal tea, beans, cod liver oil and flaxseed oil."
newsday.com
March 10, 2003, 12:06 PM EST
"Jury selection is due to start on Tuesday in the trial of a Queens couple accused of starving their first child nearly to death by feeding her a strict vegan diet.
Prosecutors allege that Joseph and Silva Swinton, both in their early 30s, failed to give essential infant nutrition to their daughter, Ice, before authorities took custody of her in November 2001, when she was 15 months old and weighed half the average weight of a child her age.
They were initially each charged in April with reckless endangerment and endangering the welfare of a child. But prosecutors later added a new charge of first-degree assault against both, which means they each face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
Authorities said the couple failed to feed their child breast milk or infant formula. Instead, the couple gave her a vegan diet of ground nuts, fresh squeezed juice, herbal tea, beans, cod liver oil and flaxseed oil."
New experimental drug helps fight peanut allergy [Considerable research and developments on peanut allergies are reported at an annual allergy conference including a reference to peanuts and pregnancy/breastfeeding.- JC] "Also at the academy's meeting Monday, Dr. Gideon Lack of St. Mary's Hospital at Imperial College in London reported on a study of 14,000 children in Great Britain looking at the cause of peanut allergy. It found that babies who drank soy milk or were exposed to skin creams with peanut oil in them were more likely to develop the allergy.
A family history of peanut intolerance also was associated with greater risk. But contrary to some theories, babies whose mothers ate peanuts during pregnancy or while breast-feeding were not more likely to develop the allergy.
While most children with other food allergies, such as to milk or eggs, eventually outgrow them, more than 80 percent of peanut allergies persist into adulthood."
A family history of peanut intolerance also was associated with greater risk. But contrary to some theories, babies whose mothers ate peanuts during pregnancy or while breast-feeding were not more likely to develop the allergy.
While most children with other food allergies, such as to milk or eggs, eventually outgrow them, more than 80 percent of peanut allergies persist into adulthood."
03.10.2003 - Researchers call for better studies on environmental links to breast cancer
UCBerkeley News
By Sarah Yang, Media Relations | 10 March 2003
"A much broader net needs to be cast in the search for environmental links to breast cancer, concludes a report released today (Monday, March 10) that stems from a landmark gathering last year of researchers, public health officials and activists.
According to the report of the International Summit on Breast Cancer and the Environment, current research methods and health initiatives are insufficient when it comes to understanding and preventing non-genetic causes of breast cancer.
The report was submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, who organized the CDC-funded summit in Santa Cruz last May.
Research needs to evaluate contributing risk factors at all ages of a person's life, including infancy and adolescence, the report says. The report also promotes the establishment of a national biomonitoring program to track exposures using breast milk and other body fluids, the improvement of lifetime exposure assessment for complex chemical mixtures and increased community involvement at all levels of prevention and research."
UCBerkeley News
By Sarah Yang, Media Relations | 10 March 2003
"A much broader net needs to be cast in the search for environmental links to breast cancer, concludes a report released today (Monday, March 10) that stems from a landmark gathering last year of researchers, public health officials and activists.
According to the report of the International Summit on Breast Cancer and the Environment, current research methods and health initiatives are insufficient when it comes to understanding and preventing non-genetic causes of breast cancer.
The report was submitted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, who organized the CDC-funded summit in Santa Cruz last May.
Research needs to evaluate contributing risk factors at all ages of a person's life, including infancy and adolescence, the report says. The report also promotes the establishment of a national biomonitoring program to track exposures using breast milk and other body fluids, the improvement of lifetime exposure assessment for complex chemical mixtures and increased community involvement at all levels of prevention and research."
Sunday, March 09, 2003
TheStar.com - Don't rush to praise Bush's strange AIDS pledge
Toronto Star
Michelle Landsberg
Sunday, March 09, 2003
"...A lot of hard, dull and useful work goes on in legislatures, but few parliamentarians can claim to have done anything so exemplary and wholesome as Kirstie Marshall, an Australian Labour MP. Late last month, Kirstie Marshall breastfed her two-week-old daughter in the legislature.
She (and baby Charlotte) were promptly ejected, on the grounds that only elected persons are allowed in the legislature when it is in session, and Charlotte was not elected.
Breast-feeding is one of the most purely beneficial and socially constructive acts known to humankind. There is nothing in the world that comes close to it in building strong little bodies, minds and personalities. Also, it is free and earth-friendly.
Parliaments, business-owners and institutions that object to a mother quietly feeding her infant are, in the great scheme of things, idiotic.
Mind you, Canadians can't afford to be too smug. Scarcely a month goes by without some report of a conscientious mother being humiliated for responding to her infant's needs. This month it was Toronto mother Michele Choma, who was in the children's book section of Cole's book store in Cloverdale Mall when she sought to calm her crying two-month old with a discreet under-the-jacket snack.
The manager stormed over and declared, according to Choma, that this was "offensive" and "disturbing to small children" (I would have thought the opposite) and furthermore, "You're leaving and you're leaving right now."..."
Toronto Star
Michelle Landsberg
Sunday, March 09, 2003
"...A lot of hard, dull and useful work goes on in legislatures, but few parliamentarians can claim to have done anything so exemplary and wholesome as Kirstie Marshall, an Australian Labour MP. Late last month, Kirstie Marshall breastfed her two-week-old daughter in the legislature.
She (and baby Charlotte) were promptly ejected, on the grounds that only elected persons are allowed in the legislature when it is in session, and Charlotte was not elected.
Breast-feeding is one of the most purely beneficial and socially constructive acts known to humankind. There is nothing in the world that comes close to it in building strong little bodies, minds and personalities. Also, it is free and earth-friendly.
Parliaments, business-owners and institutions that object to a mother quietly feeding her infant are, in the great scheme of things, idiotic.
Mind you, Canadians can't afford to be too smug. Scarcely a month goes by without some report of a conscientious mother being humiliated for responding to her infant's needs. This month it was Toronto mother Michele Choma, who was in the children's book section of Cole's book store in Cloverdale Mall when she sought to calm her crying two-month old with a discreet under-the-jacket snack.
The manager stormed over and declared, according to Choma, that this was "offensive" and "disturbing to small children" (I would have thought the opposite) and furthermore, "You're leaving and you're leaving right now."..."
Breast-feeding may reduce risk of obesity
By Achong Tanjong
Brudirect.com
Mar 03, 2003
"Breast-fed infants are less likely than their formula-fed peers to become obese as children, according to a study from Czech Republic. Among the more than 33,000 young children researchers followed, of those who had been breast-fed in infancy only nine per cent were obese, compared with 12 per cent of those who never breast-fed. The findings suggest that breast-feeding has a modest protective effect against obesity. While some past studies have also found that breast-feeding may reduce the risk of obesity, experts have been critical that other factors such as maternal obesity and social class might be responsible for the effect. The reports said socioeconomic status of the breast-fed and non-breast-fed children was very similar. This suggests that the effect of breast-feeding on the prevalence of obesity is not confounded by socio-economic status. According to previous reports, statistics showed that only 12.4 per cent of mothers breast-feed their infants in Brunei. The number is very much lower from world-wide breast-fed rate of 35 per cent. WHO has put up effort to encourage mother to breast-feed their infants for at least up to six month or stop according to the teaching of Al-Quran that is when the child reaches the age of two...."
By Achong Tanjong
Brudirect.com
Mar 03, 2003
"Breast-fed infants are less likely than their formula-fed peers to become obese as children, according to a study from Czech Republic. Among the more than 33,000 young children researchers followed, of those who had been breast-fed in infancy only nine per cent were obese, compared with 12 per cent of those who never breast-fed. The findings suggest that breast-feeding has a modest protective effect against obesity. While some past studies have also found that breast-feeding may reduce the risk of obesity, experts have been critical that other factors such as maternal obesity and social class might be responsible for the effect. The reports said socioeconomic status of the breast-fed and non-breast-fed children was very similar. This suggests that the effect of breast-feeding on the prevalence of obesity is not confounded by socio-economic status. According to previous reports, statistics showed that only 12.4 per cent of mothers breast-feed their infants in Brunei. The number is very much lower from world-wide breast-fed rate of 35 per cent. WHO has put up effort to encourage mother to breast-feed their infants for at least up to six month or stop according to the teaching of Al-Quran that is when the child reaches the age of two...."
The Miami Herald | 03/09/2003 | Udder disgrace in the Midwest
Dave Barry writes: "Livestock judges -- who, I'm guessing, are predominantly male -- prefer cows with big, round, firm udders. The judges are not interested in cows with droopy udders, even if these cows are smarter and have nicer personalities. On Saturday nights, when the big-udder cows are basking in the glamour of the livestock show, the droopy-udder cows are back in the barn, alone, quietly chewing on Danielle Steel novels. Here's where the scandal comes in: There are people whose job is to prepare cows for livestock shows. These people are called (I swear) ''cow fitters.'' Most cow fitters are honest. ''As honest as a cow fitter'' is an expression you hear frequently in the Heartland. Unfortunately, in recent years, a growing number of ''bad apple'' fitters have been artificially enhancing udders using various injections. This ticks off honest dairy farmers such as (I swear) Elmo Wendorf of Oconomowoc, Wis., who is quoted in the Journal Sentinel as follows: ``What they're trying to do is make both rear quarters absolutely equal, both 36 double-D. It's kind of like women having a breast implant. People really hate it when I compare cows to humans, but it's kind of the same.''" [Clearly, men can't be trusted with breasts... - JC]
Dave Barry writes: "Livestock judges -- who, I'm guessing, are predominantly male -- prefer cows with big, round, firm udders. The judges are not interested in cows with droopy udders, even if these cows are smarter and have nicer personalities. On Saturday nights, when the big-udder cows are basking in the glamour of the livestock show, the droopy-udder cows are back in the barn, alone, quietly chewing on Danielle Steel novels. Here's where the scandal comes in: There are people whose job is to prepare cows for livestock shows. These people are called (I swear) ''cow fitters.'' Most cow fitters are honest. ''As honest as a cow fitter'' is an expression you hear frequently in the Heartland. Unfortunately, in recent years, a growing number of ''bad apple'' fitters have been artificially enhancing udders using various injections. This ticks off honest dairy farmers such as (I swear) Elmo Wendorf of Oconomowoc, Wis., who is quoted in the Journal Sentinel as follows: ``What they're trying to do is make both rear quarters absolutely equal, both 36 double-D. It's kind of like women having a breast implant. People really hate it when I compare cows to humans, but it's kind of the same.''" [Clearly, men can't be trusted with breasts... - JC]
Saturday, March 08, 2003
Calcium Cuts Breastfeeding Women's Lead Levels
Fri March 7, 2003 05:36 PM ET
By Linda Carroll
"NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Calcium supplements can lower blood lead levels in nursing mothers, a new study shows. This in turn may lower the amount of lead passed on to babies in breast milk, according to the authors of the study, which is published in the March issue of Epidemiology. Among women who took calcium supplements, blood lead levels were reduced by up to 16%, according to the study's lead author Mauricio Hernandez-Avila, a researcher from the Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The new study is "good news, in that it provides yet another rationale for making sure that women who are lactating--or for that matter those who are pregnant--pay attention to calcium," Joseph Graziano, associate dean for research at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York City, said in an interview with Reuters Health." [Is this really good news? Or will women take from this article the messag that breastfeeding increases their baby's lead levels? And/or that they need supplements in order to breastfeed - a message they're already getting about dha/ara. - JC]
Fri March 7, 2003 05:36 PM ET
By Linda Carroll
"NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Calcium supplements can lower blood lead levels in nursing mothers, a new study shows. This in turn may lower the amount of lead passed on to babies in breast milk, according to the authors of the study, which is published in the March issue of Epidemiology. Among women who took calcium supplements, blood lead levels were reduced by up to 16%, according to the study's lead author Mauricio Hernandez-Avila, a researcher from the Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The new study is "good news, in that it provides yet another rationale for making sure that women who are lactating--or for that matter those who are pregnant--pay attention to calcium," Joseph Graziano, associate dean for research at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York City, said in an interview with Reuters Health." [Is this really good news? Or will women take from this article the messag that breastfeeding increases their baby's lead levels? And/or that they need supplements in order to breastfeed - a message they're already getting about dha/ara. - JC]
Friday, March 07, 2003
Seattle researcher examines environmental causes for juvenile diabetes
Friday, March 7, 2003
By CAROL SMITH
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
"The trend is disturbing: Juvenile diabetes, a disease that can cost people their kidneys, their eyesight, even their limbs later in life, has been steadily claiming more victims during the past few decades. And no one knows why....
"It can't just be genes," said Dr. Bill Hagopian, a researcher with the Pacific Northwest Research Foundation in Seattle. The number of children diagnosed with the disease has been increasing about 3 percent a year since 1980, he said. Hagopian recently received a five-year, $5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to help conduct the first large-scale attempt to discern the environmental factors that cause one kid to get juvenile diabetes, and another to grow up unscathed....
Researchers are still deciding which environmental factors to track, but they have some leads. "We think early exposure to non-breast milk proteins, especially those in cow's milk, may play a role," he said. "And gluten (a protein found in wheat). It's very clear if babies are exposed to gluten in the first three months, you have a much higher risk." Infants could be exposed to gluten in formula. Some preliminary studies indicate the risk increases five-fold. In addition, there is some evidence that exposure to Vitamin D, certain fatty acids, and some common gastrointestinal viruses, such as the coxsackievirus, may be linked to development of diabetes. Scientists believe it's something about early exposure that conditions the body to get the disease. For example, about one-third of children born to mothers who had German measles while pregnant end up with diabetes. "That tells you an exposure even as early as the womb can predispose to diabetes," Hagopian said."
Friday, March 7, 2003
By CAROL SMITH
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
"The trend is disturbing: Juvenile diabetes, a disease that can cost people their kidneys, their eyesight, even their limbs later in life, has been steadily claiming more victims during the past few decades. And no one knows why....
"It can't just be genes," said Dr. Bill Hagopian, a researcher with the Pacific Northwest Research Foundation in Seattle. The number of children diagnosed with the disease has been increasing about 3 percent a year since 1980, he said. Hagopian recently received a five-year, $5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to help conduct the first large-scale attempt to discern the environmental factors that cause one kid to get juvenile diabetes, and another to grow up unscathed....
Researchers are still deciding which environmental factors to track, but they have some leads. "We think early exposure to non-breast milk proteins, especially those in cow's milk, may play a role," he said. "And gluten (a protein found in wheat). It's very clear if babies are exposed to gluten in the first three months, you have a much higher risk." Infants could be exposed to gluten in formula. Some preliminary studies indicate the risk increases five-fold. In addition, there is some evidence that exposure to Vitamin D, certain fatty acids, and some common gastrointestinal viruses, such as the coxsackievirus, may be linked to development of diabetes. Scientists believe it's something about early exposure that conditions the body to get the disease. For example, about one-third of children born to mothers who had German measles while pregnant end up with diabetes. "That tells you an exposure even as early as the womb can predispose to diabetes," Hagopian said."
Women share views on motherhood, breast-feeding
Iowa State Daily
By Shana Steidl
Daily Correspondent
March 07, 2003
"Three women shared their views on the cultural difference in mothering, including breast-feeding, in the Pioneer Room of the Memorial Union Wednesday. Vicki Abel, Mary Kay Vogel and Brigitte Gassman represented the La Leche League International, an organization with the sole purpose of helping breast-feeding mothers. Abel, Vogel and Gassman led the discussion, "Endangered! The Art of Mothering: International Perspectives, Breast-feeding, and Other Aspects." The discussion largely included the advantages of breast-feeding. In the United States, bottle-feeding is considered the norm, Vogel said. "In our culture, we don't realize that breast-feeding is a normal part of the reproductive cycle," she said."
Iowa State Daily
By Shana Steidl
Daily Correspondent
March 07, 2003
"Three women shared their views on the cultural difference in mothering, including breast-feeding, in the Pioneer Room of the Memorial Union Wednesday. Vicki Abel, Mary Kay Vogel and Brigitte Gassman represented the La Leche League International, an organization with the sole purpose of helping breast-feeding mothers. Abel, Vogel and Gassman led the discussion, "Endangered! The Art of Mothering: International Perspectives, Breast-feeding, and Other Aspects." The discussion largely included the advantages of breast-feeding. In the United States, bottle-feeding is considered the norm, Vogel said. "In our culture, we don't realize that breast-feeding is a normal part of the reproductive cycle," she said."
The Woman settles Capitol lawsuit
Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com
By Edgar Sanchez -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 a.m. PST Friday, March 7, 2003
"The state Assembly will pay $540,000 to settle a suit brought by a former staff member who maintains she was harassed for breast-feeding her baby at work, lawyers for the plaintiff said Thursday. The deal for Pamela "P.J." Harper, former head of the Assembly's Travel Office, was reached Monday when the case was scheduled to go to trial, according to Haig A. Harris Jr., one of her attorneys. It will be one of the biggest payouts made by the Assembly to settle an internal sex-discrimination dispute."
Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com
By Edgar Sanchez -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 a.m. PST Friday, March 7, 2003
"The state Assembly will pay $540,000 to settle a suit brought by a former staff member who maintains she was harassed for breast-feeding her baby at work, lawyers for the plaintiff said Thursday. The deal for Pamela "P.J." Harper, former head of the Assembly's Travel Office, was reached Monday when the case was scheduled to go to trial, according to Haig A. Harris Jr., one of her attorneys. It will be one of the biggest payouts made by the Assembly to settle an internal sex-discrimination dispute."
Thursday, March 06, 2003
DHA food increases gestation in pregnant mothers
06/03/03
Foodnavigator.com
"Pregnant mothers who ate DHA-enriched eggs during the last three months of pregnancy had an increased length of gestation, report researchers. The team found that gestation increased by six days in the group taking eggs with added docosahexaenoic acid (133mg DHA per egg) compared to the ordinary egg (33mg DHA per egg) group. They report their findings in this month's Obstetrics and Gynecology. The study, which included 291 subjects, also showed a trend for higher birth weight, length and head circumference with intake of the high-DHA eggs, although the trend did not result in statistical significance....
"This evidence further validates DHA as a critical nutrient impacting infant growth and development," commented Henry Linsert, chairman and CEO of US company Martek Biosciences, which supplied the DHA for the study. "The potential benefits of increasing gestation length are significant."" [Would any of this research be done if Martek weren't out there seeking new markets? - JC]
06/03/03
Foodnavigator.com
"Pregnant mothers who ate DHA-enriched eggs during the last three months of pregnancy had an increased length of gestation, report researchers. The team found that gestation increased by six days in the group taking eggs with added docosahexaenoic acid (133mg DHA per egg) compared to the ordinary egg (33mg DHA per egg) group. They report their findings in this month's Obstetrics and Gynecology. The study, which included 291 subjects, also showed a trend for higher birth weight, length and head circumference with intake of the high-DHA eggs, although the trend did not result in statistical significance....
"This evidence further validates DHA as a critical nutrient impacting infant growth and development," commented Henry Linsert, chairman and CEO of US company Martek Biosciences, which supplied the DHA for the study. "The potential benefits of increasing gestation length are significant."" [Would any of this research be done if Martek weren't out there seeking new markets? - JC]
Senate approves public breastfeeding
maryland news
March 6, 2003
"Annapolis - The Senate voted unanimously yesterday to grant a mother the right to breastfeed her child in any public or private location where they are authorized to be. The measure now will go to the House of Delegates."
maryland news
March 6, 2003
"Annapolis - The Senate voted unanimously yesterday to grant a mother the right to breastfeed her child in any public or private location where they are authorized to be. The measure now will go to the House of Delegates."
Yahoo! News - Pregnancy, Not Just Labor, Ups Incontinence Risk
Wed Mar 5, 5:54 PM ET
By Alison McCook
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)
"Women who have a baby are at somewhat higher risk of developing urinary incontinence later in life, even those who deliver via cesarean section, researchers said Wednesday. The highest risk of later incontinence appeared among women who delivered their infants vaginally, indicating that while vaginal delivery increases the chances of incontinence, pregnancy itself may, as well, the authors note. "Three in 13 women who deliver vaginally will be incontinent," lead author Dr. Guri Rortveit of the University of Bergen in Norway told Reuters Health. "But if the same 13 women underwent cesarean section instead, two of those 13 women would still be incontinent," she added." [I only learned recentlyt hat some women choose c-section to avoid incontinence. This research says the risk isn't worth the benefit. - JC]
Wed Mar 5, 5:54 PM ET
By Alison McCook
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)
"Women who have a baby are at somewhat higher risk of developing urinary incontinence later in life, even those who deliver via cesarean section, researchers said Wednesday. The highest risk of later incontinence appeared among women who delivered their infants vaginally, indicating that while vaginal delivery increases the chances of incontinence, pregnancy itself may, as well, the authors note. "Three in 13 women who deliver vaginally will be incontinent," lead author Dr. Guri Rortveit of the University of Bergen in Norway told Reuters Health. "But if the same 13 women underwent cesarean section instead, two of those 13 women would still be incontinent," she added." [I only learned recentlyt hat some women choose c-section to avoid incontinence. This research says the risk isn't worth the benefit. - JC]
Tuesday, March 04, 2003
AMNews: March 10, 2003. Get ready for a new -- and nastier -- West Nile season ... American Medical News From an artile predicting issues with West Nile Virus this upcoming season: "Similarly, last season's experience found evidence supporting the potential for transmission in breast milk. But because the likelihood of such transmission is slim and the health benefits of breastfeeding are well-supported, medical specialty groups have shied away from offering caution. At this point, they feel that recommending policy changes could do more harm than good."
Pacifiers may derail breastfeeding
Reuters
March 3
MSNBC.com
"Breastfeeding mothers risk creating “nipple confusion” and other problems for their infant if they provide a pacifier or formula from a bottle, which can derail healthy breastfeeding, a study said Monday. BABIES PROVIDED with pacifiers a few days after birth were at 50 percent higher risk of no longer exclusively breastfeeding a month later, the study published in the journal Pediatrics said.
Study author Cynthia Howard of the University of Rochester, New York, said it was unclear from her study of 700 infants whether the “artificial nipples” presented by pacifiers and bottles made a baby’s mouth no longer conform to mother’s nipple — resulting in pain for the mother and frustration for the baby — or whether mothers of pacified babies expressed less milk." [ This article has a free abstract online:Cynthia R. Howard, Fred M. Howard, Bruce Lanphear, Shirley Eberly, Elisabeth A. deBlieck, David Oakes, and Ruth A. Lawrence
Randomized Clinical Trial of Pacifier Use and Bottle-Feeding or Cupfeeding and Their Effect on Breastfeeding
Pediatrics 2003; 111: 511-518
Reuters
March 3
MSNBC.com
"Breastfeeding mothers risk creating “nipple confusion” and other problems for their infant if they provide a pacifier or formula from a bottle, which can derail healthy breastfeeding, a study said Monday. BABIES PROVIDED with pacifiers a few days after birth were at 50 percent higher risk of no longer exclusively breastfeeding a month later, the study published in the journal Pediatrics said.
Study author Cynthia Howard of the University of Rochester, New York, said it was unclear from her study of 700 infants whether the “artificial nipples” presented by pacifiers and bottles made a baby’s mouth no longer conform to mother’s nipple — resulting in pain for the mother and frustration for the baby — or whether mothers of pacified babies expressed less milk." [ This article has a free abstract online:
Randomized Clinical Trial of Pacifier Use and Bottle-Feeding or Cupfeeding and Their Effect on Breastfeeding
Pediatrics 2003; 111: 511-518
Chicago Tribune | Breast vs. bottle takes new turn
[Registration required]
"Breast vs. bottle takes new turn
By comparing new formula additives to mother's milk, companies mislead women, critics say
By Julie Deardorff
Tribune staff reporter
Published March 4, 2003
When a new infant formula appeared on store shelves in the U.S. last year, some scientists and pediatricians said it could narrow the nutrient gap between formula and breast milk.
Since then, however, breastfeeding activists have grown increasingly incensed over the new products, saying manufacturers mislead mothers and undermine efforts to promote breast-feeding, which is the consensus gold standard in infant nutrition.
The new ingredients in the formula had been sought for years, ever since scientists discovered that certain fatty acids found in breast milk and food are key building blocks for a baby's brain and eyes.
But for those who work to support breast-feeding, the existence of a formula that compares itself with breast milk in its advertising means breast-feeding is again under attack. They are especially angry that wording on the cans claims that the formulas, Enfamil Lipil and Similac Advance, contain nutrients found in breast milk."
[Registration required]
"Breast vs. bottle takes new turn
By comparing new formula additives to mother's milk, companies mislead women, critics say
By Julie Deardorff
Tribune staff reporter
Published March 4, 2003
When a new infant formula appeared on store shelves in the U.S. last year, some scientists and pediatricians said it could narrow the nutrient gap between formula and breast milk.
Since then, however, breastfeeding activists have grown increasingly incensed over the new products, saying manufacturers mislead mothers and undermine efforts to promote breast-feeding, which is the consensus gold standard in infant nutrition.
The new ingredients in the formula had been sought for years, ever since scientists discovered that certain fatty acids found in breast milk and food are key building blocks for a baby's brain and eyes.
But for those who work to support breast-feeding, the existence of a formula that compares itself with breast milk in its advertising means breast-feeding is again under attack. They are especially angry that wording on the cans claims that the formulas, Enfamil Lipil and Similac Advance, contain nutrients found in breast milk."
Sunday, March 02, 2003
Martek borrows $10 million from Allfirst - 2003-02-26 - Washington Business Journal Martek borrows $10 million from Allfirst
"Martek Biosciences said Wednesday that it has closed on a one-year, $10 million working capital line of credit with Baltimore-based Allfirst Bank.
Get solid leads, competitive intelligence from the Book of Lists.
Columbia-based Martek said it plans to use the new credit for "general corporate purposes," including funding expansion of its manufacturing operations.
Martek makes nutritional oils for infant formula, nutritional supplements aimed at boosting mental and cardiovascular health, and a line of fluorescent markers for use in diagnostic tests."
"Martek Biosciences said Wednesday that it has closed on a one-year, $10 million working capital line of credit with Baltimore-based Allfirst Bank.
Get solid leads, competitive intelligence from the Book of Lists.
Columbia-based Martek said it plans to use the new credit for "general corporate purposes," including funding expansion of its manufacturing operations.
Martek makes nutritional oils for infant formula, nutritional supplements aimed at boosting mental and cardiovascular health, and a line of fluorescent markers for use in diagnostic tests."
How Howard can really help families - theage.com.au
March 3 2003
"The system of child support is piecemeal, mean-spirited and ideologically driven, writes Don Edgar.
So, Aussie mums should be grateful for a Prime Minister who loves children. As Bettina Arndt puts it ("At last, a PM who wants to help all mothers", last Wednesday), "Midst all the talk of war, John Howard has been busy pursuing his longstanding interest in work/family matters". No mention of Iraqi children of course, but local mums should be grateful for small mercies.
We might have had a paid maternity leave scheme, but the bureaucrats have come up with a "better" scheme - a "baby-care payment", not means-tested and available only for the first year after a child's birth. Arndt prefers this to Pru Goward's maternity leave proposal because the latter would go only to those mums already working full-time before the baby's birth and who return to work after a few months." [An interesting essay on how parental leave packages and a national children's strategy can effect the cultural change needed to support parenting. - JC]
March 3 2003
"The system of child support is piecemeal, mean-spirited and ideologically driven, writes Don Edgar.
So, Aussie mums should be grateful for a Prime Minister who loves children. As Bettina Arndt puts it ("At last, a PM who wants to help all mothers", last Wednesday), "Midst all the talk of war, John Howard has been busy pursuing his longstanding interest in work/family matters". No mention of Iraqi children of course, but local mums should be grateful for small mercies.
We might have had a paid maternity leave scheme, but the bureaucrats have come up with a "better" scheme - a "baby-care payment", not means-tested and available only for the first year after a child's birth. Arndt prefers this to Pru Goward's maternity leave proposal because the latter would go only to those mums already working full-time before the baby's birth and who return to work after a few months." [An interesting essay on how parental leave packages and a national children's strategy can effect the cultural change needed to support parenting. - JC]
MP's breastfeeding row leaves sour taste - smh.com.au
Op/Ed: "What's more, the push for feminist concessions in the workplace is in danger of reaching farcical levels which ultimately will make employers think twice before hiring women. Take, for instance, the case of the Sydney University workers who are threatening to go on strike this week over their right to monthly "menstrual stress leave". While menstrual pain can be debilitating, why make an issue out of it? Good old-fashioned sick leave works just as well for all-purpose ailments of both sexes. In the end, those people championing Kirstie Marshall's right to breastfeed in the Victorian Parliament have fallen for a mirage. She is not a symbol of working motherhood. She is the impossible dream. Far better to champion maternity leave so that in those precious weeks after giving birth, women can concentrate exclusively on what really matters." [Marinda Devine, writing in the Sun-Herald, chastizes people for fighting for the right to breastfeed "wherever and whenever you want." - JC]
Op/Ed: "What's more, the push for feminist concessions in the workplace is in danger of reaching farcical levels which ultimately will make employers think twice before hiring women. Take, for instance, the case of the Sydney University workers who are threatening to go on strike this week over their right to monthly "menstrual stress leave". While menstrual pain can be debilitating, why make an issue out of it? Good old-fashioned sick leave works just as well for all-purpose ailments of both sexes. In the end, those people championing Kirstie Marshall's right to breastfeed in the Victorian Parliament have fallen for a mirage. She is not a symbol of working motherhood. She is the impossible dream. Far better to champion maternity leave so that in those precious weeks after giving birth, women can concentrate exclusively on what really matters." [Marinda Devine, writing in the Sun-Herald, chastizes people for fighting for the right to breastfeed "wherever and whenever you want." - JC]
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