• Last updated 3/20/13 by mamazee

Yesterday Baby Leone, Etani, and I walked two miles to pick up Athena from school. The stepmother of one of Athena’s classmates was there, so I got to see her son, who was born three days after Leone, for the first time. The babies smiled at each other. “How much does she weigh?” The mom asked me. “I don’t know,” I began. “We don’t–” “She’s so tiny,” she interrupted. “Tiny?” “Well, maybe she just looks puny compared to MY baby,” she said. “He weighs fifteen pounds!” Of all the adjectives I would use to describe Leone,... read more

• Last updated 2/21/10 by Mothering Editorial

Does breastfeeding reduce a woman's risk of getting breast/ovarian cancer?Yes, breastfeeding does reduce a woman's risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding between 4 to 12 months has shown a reduction in pre-menopausal breast cancer by 11%, according to the New England Journal of Medicine. This study stated that, "if all women with children lactated for 24 months or longer, the incidence of breast cancer might be reduced by nearly 25%." By breastfeeding your baby for 1 to 2 years, you can also reduce your risk of ovarian cancer by almost one-third. Not only is... read more

• Last updated 8/2/10 by Mothering Editorial

Inspired by an article in the Herald Sun (Australia) reporting that young women are reluctant to breastfeed their babies due to fear of public embarrassment, the Holistic Moms Network has launched a new project to highlight the beauty and confidence of breastfeeding women.  HMN members from across North America submitted photos of themselves proudly breastfeeding their children – everywhere from the Eiffel Tower to the Brooklyn Bridge – for the Nursing Our Future video. “Breastfeeding is one of the greatest gifts a mother can give to her child,” says Executive Director... read more

• Last updated 10/27/10 by Mothering Editorial

By Celia Farber Web Exclusive Kris Chmiel is a housewife and mother of two young children, living in Denver. When she was pregnant with her second child, a movement had just gotten underway to test all pregnant women in the state of Colorado for HIV, the virus widely believed to cause AIDS. (Critics remind us that what is tested for is not, in fact, HIV, but antibodies to HIV.) She was perfectly healthy and in her first month of pregnancy. She wasn't worried - she had been monogamous with her husband for the past nine years. When the test came back "positive," she... read more

• Last updated 2/21/10 by Mothering Editorial

United States Breastfeeding Committee June 21, 2006 The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC), a coalition of 35 influential nonprofit organizations with major concerns for the health of American mothers and their babies, wishes to express thanks to The New York Times for publication of the important article "Breast-feed or Else" (June, 12, 2006). The article accurately points out that there is a large body of scientific evidence indicating the significant risks to the health of both mother and infant when breastfeeding is not undertaken. Formula-fed infants do... read more

• Last updated 3/15/10 by Mothering Blogger

by Jake Aryeh Marcus    Find Sustainable Mothering on Facebook and Jake on Twitter. A few days after the earthquake in Haiti, my Facebook account was flooded with suggestions to become a “Fan” of an organization I do not trust.  I wondered why people who should know which organizations are actually helping breastfeeding women and their children would think I would want to support this particular organization.  And fairly soon I knew: this organization had a heart string pulling photo of Haiti on its home page and a claim it was helping get donated breast milk to Haiti. ... read more

• Last updated 2/9/10 by Jennifer Margulis

When Leone emerged into the world in a rush of amniotic fluid she was scowling. James saw a frown on her upside down face even before her body came out. It was as if she were saying, “What is this place? Where am I? What am I doing here?”James imitating Leone's frown as she was being born Now that she’s three months old she often has frown lines on her brow. She’s not a fussy baby. In fact, she barely cries. On Sunday I took her to a parent meeting and she spent the two hours smiling, cooing, and drooling. But she still scowls at the world and often looks serious.... read more

• Last updated 4/7/13 by AdinaL

I am so happy when people take advantage of the fact that they know a Mothering editor. Pepper me with questions, y’all! And I am always happy to get even more advice and suggestions for the Q-ers in the form of comments. Spencer went to high school with me, and had really great cast parties after our school plays. As a contextual element, I have included my high school senior portrait. Here goes: Hi Candace, My how time flies, how are you and your kids? Molly and I are expecting our first in early April. Needless to say we are really... read more

• Last updated 11/17/10 by Mothering Editorial

By Amy Agnello Issue 107, July/August 2001 Breastfeeding is the cornerstone of the early mothering experience, building an inextricable bond between parent and baby. By nursing, we create a sense of peace and safety for our babies, providing refuge and establishing a foundation upon which healthy and happy futures are built. This is just one of many reasons why a group of American Indian women in one Minnesota community are making a concerted effort to return to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is a part of traditional Indian parenting; but a number... read more

• Last updated 2/3/10 by Jennifer Margulis

The baby has found her hands. Five-pronged flying saucers that hover in front of her face. She gets very still when they come into view, fascinated by these UFOs.Is it a bird? Is it a plane? I'll taste it and find out... Tags: baby hands, infant, UFOs This entry was posted on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 10:35 am and is... read more