• Created on 8/16/12 by emilyfrischmann

Paul Corby A 23-year-old man is being refused a possible heart transplant by the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania because he is autistic, says his mother Karen Corby. Paul Corby, who was diagnosed with a deadly heart condition four years ago, will die without a new heart–but so far the hospital has refused to place him on the transplant list. Karen sent this plea: Paul’s doctor says one of the reasons he doesn’t qualify for a transplant is that he can’t name all the medications he’s on. This is ridiculous, because Paul... read more

• Created on 8/16/12 by emilyfrischmann

A paradox: our culture is rabidly preoccupied with physical form, and we bully our forms mercilessly so they’ll conform to truly weird standards…and yet we don’t respect or even have much understanding of the central role our bodies play in shaping our basic experience of life. Here are five empowering insights into how our bodies fundamentally shape our lives; use them to literally be happier, and to help your children thrive in an era in which our disrespect for the life of the body may be putting them at great risk. 1. The body is the first to know — The... read more

• Created on 8/15/12 by emilyfrischmann

sponsored content Do I really need to do Kegel Exercises?   And other questions answered by pelvic health expert Dr. Susan Kellogg Spadt This week, I got a chance to talk to Dr. Susan Kellogg Spadt.  Dr. Susan Kellogg Spadt is the co-founder of The Pelvic and Sexual Health Institute of Philadelphia where she functions as The Director of Sexual Medicine. In this capacity, Dr. Kellogg Spadt performs direct patient care and consultative services as a vulvovaginal specialist, colposcopist, researcher and sexual dysfunction consultant. Like many... read more

• Created on 8/15/12 by emilyfrischmann

Want to cause a ruckus? Criticize attention-deficit meds. Over three million U.S. kids take these drugs. Parents may not be thrilled to dose their children but they are following expert advice.  They typically see results. And they don’t need to be judged. But it helps to pay attention to what works for parents who don’t  put or keep their kids on meds. My son was diagnosed with ADD when he was in first grade.  There was a great deal of pressure from his teacher to put him on medication. As many parents do, I struggled to find ways to alleviate... read more

• Created on 7/25/12 by Melanie Mayo

sponsored post Safe Use of Herbs for Moms & Kids By Dr. Mary Bove, N.D. Many moms come to my practice asking which herbs are safe for pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, and if herbal medicine is safe to use for their kids. With the media focusing primarily on the dangers of using herbs, it’s no wonder that women question the safety of botanical medicine for their families. Although fear makes for a better news story, the truth is that many plants have been used safely (longer than most pharmaceutical drugs, in fact) to support the various... read more

• Created on 7/23/12 by Mothering Editorial

By Alexandra Kolkmeyer Issue 102, September/October 2000 Our 18-year-old son, Sonny, awoke from his surgery and screamed. "Reynolds," he yelled, his mouth and nose filled with the effects of anesthesia. "Come here!" He didn't call for Mom. He didn't even ask for his favorite person in the world, Dad, who he refers to as Dr. Feelgood, Dad's DJ name. No, he much preferred his best friend, the 105-pound Golden Labrador asleep near the heart monitor. Reynolds ran over to the bed and put his huge head on the mattress to comfort Sonny. After 12 surgeries, we were grateful... read more

• Created on 7/23/12 by Mothering Editorial

By Pascale WowakWeb Exclusive - September 10, 2007 When my baby daughter was two weeks old, I noticed a red dot on her torso and another one on her forehead. My husband proclaimed them to be moles. I wasn't so sure, and quickly sought the opinion of our daughter's pediatrician. "Hmmmm," the doctor said as she said as she looked at them—over and over again for what felt like the longest time. It was the kind of "hmmmm" that seemed to be saying: "I'm stalling because I know what this is but I don't want to scare you so I'm going to triple check and take my time figuring... read more

• Created on 7/23/12 by Mothering Editorial

By Sherri J. TenpennyIssue 120, September-October 2003 The time has finally arrived for the highly anticipated trip out of the country. The plans began long ago: airplane tickets, hotel reservations, rental car, sightseeing plans. The bags are being pulled from the attic to be packed, and the excitement mounts with each passing day. Everything is a go. But wait-what about vaccines? Is this one more preparation that needs to be added to the "To Do" list? Traveling out of the country can feel like a venture to another planet. Pictures of exotic destinations coupled with... read more

• Created on 7/22/12 by AdinaL

This giveaway has ended.  The winners are…(winners will be contacted by email to claim their prizes) Christine We all get lots of exercise/physical activity. I try to make healthy choices for my body and mind and love myself in the hope that my daughters will see that and love themselves, too. Rachel The biggest thing I do to keep my kiddo healthy is to be a good example of healthy habits. Monkey see, monkey do, right? I try to eat right and stay active and since he eats what I eat and comes along with me for all of my activities... read more

• Created on 7/22/12 by Mothering Editorial

The Toxic Truth: How Everyday Products Threaten Healthy PregnanciesWeb ExclusiveBy Erika Schreder and Sharyle Patton07/19/2010 You can follow the stories of women who are chronicling their struggles with toxins in pregnancy and during breastfeeding on our blog: All Things Mothering. July 17, 2012 news update: FDA Bans BPA from Bottles and Sippy CupsAmy Ellings knows a lot about being healthy. In fact, she has worked to teach others about health and nutrition for the past ten years. So when she agreed to have her blood and urine tested for toxic chemicals as part of a... read more