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	news bulletins february 2006

• Stuffed Toys: Warm, Fuzzy and Toxic
• Books to Help Kids Break Out of Gender Stereotypes
• House of Babies: Television Series on Midwifery
• Student Midwives Needed
• Top Five Pilates Exercises for Pregnant Moms

Stuffed animals are commonly thought of as being among the safest of children's toys: considered appropriate for the mouths of teething toddlers, and fine for endless snuggling. But according to new research, the cuddly critters are not benign, as previously assumed. A study presented at the November, 2005 conference of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) showed that stuffed animals carry a variety of contaminants. Among the worst? Brominated flame retardants (PBDE's) and organochlorine pesticides (OP's) including the long-banned pesticide DDT. These toxic, semi-volatile compounds are easily absorbed by polyester and polyurethane, materials used in stuffed animal fur and stuffing. Currently, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission advises parents to purchase toys with "safety labels including 'Flame retardant/ Flame resistant' on fabric productsa" (CPSC publication Think Toy Safety By Knowing the Nine Dangers). This recommendation, and toy manufacturer's widespread use of PBDE's and OP's, ignore the known risks of flame retardant exposure.

Flame retardants are proven to disrupt thyroid hormones. Fetuses and infants are especially sensitive to flame retardants and also to challenges to the thyroid system. Many of the known negative health effects of PBDEs are attributed to their ability to disrupt the body's thyroid hormone balance, by depressing levels of hormones important to metabolism. Hypothyroidism is thought to affect as many as 10% of women over age 50. Thyroid imbalance can lead to reduced fertility in humans and has been shown to reduce learning and memory in mice and rats.

Parents can launder stuffed toys to reduce levels PBDE's and OP's applied in manufacturing, and thus should seek stuffed toys which are machine washable (many stuffed toys are "surface washable only"). One toy in the study with particularly high levels of flame retardant was made of recycled materials, suggesting that the label "recycled" may not equal healthy or environmentally friendly. Efforts to lobby state governments for reductions in PBDE production are gaining momentum. Parents can watch locally for calls to action.

Gender stereotypes hurt us all. Girls tend to stifle their opinions, and boys tend to stifle their emotions, in order to be socially acceptable. This can lead to lowered self-esteem, eating disorders, learning difficulties, depression and even suicide.

The Brave Girls and Strong Women book list features over 70 little-known titles, all from small publishers, which are empowering for girls. Many of the books are multicultural as well.

The site now features a section to help boys break through gender stereotypes, including suggested reading for boys and books for adults who care for boys.

This information is useful for parents, teachers and librarians who are looking for little-known books to help kids see outside the gender stereotypes which are often so prevalent.

In addition, the site offers free study guides for some books; links to relevant organizations; and more.

Though delivering babies at a hospital is a relatively new way of birthing, it is the most prevalent way in the United States. But even in the high tech, surgery-driven US, the ancient practice of midwifery is alive and well.

Shari Daniels is the head midwife and owner of the Miami Maternity Center, a birth center and midwifery school located in Miami, FL. Shari is well known within the midwifery community as an energetic, tell-it-like-it-is veteran, expert in facilitating natural birth. Shari's birth center not only delivers several hundred babies each year, but her tuition-free school also graduates 20 new midwives annually.

Shari's efforts caught the attention of Video Arts Studios and Bosch Media, producers of factual cable television shows. According to Mary Ann Phillips, Vice President of Video Arts Studios, "Shari had the personality, experience and passion we were looking for when we were developing a new series to pitch Discovery Health Channel." Executive Producer Dale Bosch says, "Discovery Health was looking for fresh ways to tell birthing stories and midwifery—so often overlooked by the mainstream—was an obvious choice.

Discovery Health contracted for 26 episodes of House of Babies and began airing the series in the fall of 2005. Executive Producer Dale Bosch says the network is very happy with the initial ratings and second season talks are already under way.

Shari Daniels believes the success of her birth center and the television show, House of Babies, is due to a renewed interest in natural childbirth. "Mothers are looking for alternatives to drugs and surgery during childbirth,?? says Shari Daniels. The gritty, see-it-as-it-happens style of the show has drawn positive reviews from many viewers; the show is real, powerful, and unscripted. House of Babies can be seen every Monday, Tuesday and Saturday, on Discovery Health. Check listing for times in your area at www.discoveryhealth.com.

The Juneau Family Birth Center in Juneau, Alaska is currently seeking a student midwife for full-time apprenticeship. This freestanding center hosts 60 - 80 births a year, and is staffed by direct-entry midwives, doulas, and childbirth educators. This opportunity to gain clinical skills and advance one's path towards life as a midwife entails a commitment of at least a year, and only the most serious of candidates are encouraged to apply. For details, contact Kaye Kanne at 907-586-1203.

Think Pilates is an expensive toning program requiring specialized equipment? Think again. Erika Bloom, an expert in pre- and post-natal Pilates has developed a do-it-yourself program, the Plus Method, combining Pilates with the best of complementary body methods such as yoga, sports conditioning and the Feldenkrais technique. The Plus Method includes the following exercises, which can be done at home, and are recommended for pregnancy and beyond:

1. Pelvic Floor (Kegels): Sitting in a chair, engage the pelvic floor by squeezing as though to stop yourself from urinating. Hold through one long exhale, then release and inhale. Repeat the engagement on each exhale for 10-20 reps. Muscles worked: pubococcygeus muscles.



2. All-fours Opposition Reach: Start on all fours, keeping abdominals lifted against the belly, long spine, shoulder blades down and wide. Reach one leg back and the opposite arm forward, lifting both straight out in line with the torso. Hold for 3 breathes then switch sides, lifting the opposite leg and arm. Repeat for a total of 4 on each side. Muscles worked: abdominals, back extensors, glutes, hamstrings, deltoid, lower trapezius.



3. Side-lying Pushup: Lie on your left side, both knees bent, right leg behind the left.  Place the left forearm on the belly so that you are lying on the upper part of the arm. Place the right palm on the ground in front of the breastbone.  Press into the right hand to straighten the arm and lift the torso off the ground. Bend the elbow to lower the torso back to the ground. Repeat 7-10 times on each side. Muscles worked: obliques, chest, triceps.



4. Squat on the Wall: Start with the back against the wall (or a physioball on the wall), feet hip-width apart, heels approximately one foot in front of the hips. Bend the knees, keeping the knees in line with the feet, sliding the back (or ball) down the wall. Hold at the bottom, not allowing the knees or hips to bend more than ninety degrees or the knees to go past the toes. Press back up to straight knees, keeping the back on the wall or ball. Repeat 10-20 times. Muscles worked: quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes.



5. Side Legs, Butterfly: Lie on your left side with both knees bent and legs stacked so that heels are in line with the torso and the knees are in front. Rotate the right thigh out to open the right knee towards the ceiling while keeping the feet touching. Turn the leg in to bring the legs back to a stacked position to finish. Perform 15 repetitions on each side. Muscles worked: External rotators, glutes, abductors.