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."
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]
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."