Thursday, November 20, 2003

'Chick Lit' queen reigns at library

News of Delaware County
By Joe McAllister , CORRESPONDENT
11/19/2003
"Author Jennifer Weiner is experiencing a personal and career vortex where 'worlds collide.' Blue-collar town newspaper reporter, best-selling novelist, broken relationships, soul mate, parenthood, black-tie affairs, 'slumping around in sweat pants,' Cameron Diaz, baby wipes, HBO series, stay-at-home mom, self-described 'dork,' and hot new author - all of this to a girl who says she 'never got the guy.'
The whirling world of Jennifer Weiner (pronounced WHY-NER) stormed the Haverford Township Free Library recently in a rousing kick off of its 'Right to Read' campaign, a literary promotional partnership with the local Rotary Club.
'As part of the Rotary's Centennial Celebration, they chose us to promote literacy and love of literature. Through books, we explore, learn and travel - that should be everybody's right,' says Adeline Ciannella, library director. 'Getting Jennifer was just wonderful. She loves libraries.'
Weiner is the author of 'Good in Bed' and 'In Her Shoes,' best-selling novels that have been optioned into an HBO series a la 'Sex in the City' (with sensibilities) and a major studio movie starring Cameron Diaz.
'Personally, I would give Janeane Garofalo every part,' jokes Weiner, 33, to the attentive crowd in the library basement.
The current reigning queen of 'Chick Lit' talked of life and love, fame and fortune, breast-feeding and '27 hours of unmedicated labor' to a 99.9 percent female audience of adoring fans.
Weiner treated the faithful to a reading from her new book in progress, whose working title is 'Little Earthquakes.' It's a book about her present life situation - new husband, new baby, new parent and the life-altering changes therein.
'I can only read this when my husband Adam is not around,' she says, literally pulling the unedited pages from her purse and reading candidly about 'the first sex after the baby' and 'new parent foreplay.' ..."
Health officials: More women should breast-feed their children
By TAMARIA L. LIDDELL
Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
"LANCASTER -- More than half of Fairfield County's low-income new mothers are breast-feeding, but that's not enough, said local health officials. By 2010, state officials hope to increase the total number of all new mothers breast-feeding at birth to 75 percent. To meet this goal, a pilot two-year program will be launched in 11 counties, including Fairfield County. Breast-feeding Peer Helpers will educate mothers about the benefits of breast-feeding. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health, breast milk is the best nutrition for infants and contains more than 200 infection-fighting agents that can't be replicated.... "
Effect of breast feeding on blood pressure may be overestimatedEurekalert.org

"Effect of breast feeding in infancy on blood pressure in later life: systematic review and met-analysis BMJ Volume 327, pp 1189-92
Previous research may have overestimated the beneficial effects of breast feeding on blood pressure in later life, say researchers in this week's BMJ.

Christopher Owen and colleagues reviewed 24 studies to determine whether breast feeding in infancy was associated with lower blood pressure at different ages compared with bottle feeding formula milk. "
Lower DHA Status Linked to Risk of Postpartum DepressionThursday November 20, 5:13 pm ET

COLUMBIA, Md., Nov. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Martek Biosciences Corporation (Nasdaq: MATK - News) commented today on the results of a study conducted at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. The study, published in the journal Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, suggests an association between low levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) after pregnancy and the occurrence of postpartum depression."