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	news bulletins september 2007

• Babywearing Help a Phone Call or Click Away
• Recognize Your Favorite Lactation Consultant
• Nicotine In Breastmilk Disrupts Infants' Sleep Patterns
• Be BOLD this September

Babywearing Help a Phone Call or Click Away

The process of learning to wear a baby can be intimidating and frustrating. The Sling Station and Peppermint.com provide three easy ways to learn babywearing:

1. Within a matter of minutes, experts at The Sling Station and Peppermint.com can help parents with issues or questions they are having with their carriers. Simply call customer service toll-free at 888-996-5464 (888-99-SLING) or log on for live chat support at www.theslingstation.com or www.peppermint.com. The experts are well versed in babywearing support for wraps, ring slings, pouches, mei tais, and structured carriers for the following brands: Maya Wrap, Ellaroo, Ergo, Moby Wrap, Hotslings, Gypsy Mama Wraps, Taylor Made, Storchenwiege, Didymos, and Zolowear.

2. Video, printable instructions and web instructions for wearing newborns, babies and toddlers as well as nursing in a sling or wrap are conveniently located on either website. Some instructions may be photocopied in full and distributed.

3. Finally, anyone who supports babywearing such as moms groups, Le Leche League leaders, or Social Workers may purchase beautiful, full-color 8.5 x 11 instructional handouts for just the cost of postage.

All are available at www.theslingstation.com.

Once learned, babywearing keeps baby happy because they are close and secure, near the familiar rhythm of mom's heartbeat. Mom is then hands-free for tasks like basic cleaning, preparing food, running errands, and other day-to-day activities. A content baby makes for a confident parent.

Mothering also offers a comprehensive babywearing primer, in the form of an article reprint from our sold-out issue #140.

Recognize Your Favorite Lactation Consultant

Nominations are being accepted for the second annual Lactation Consultant Hall of Excellence program at the 2007 International Lactation Consultant (ILCA) Conference. The program honors the hard work, dedication and best practices of lactation consultants across the United States.

Eligible nominees must be a practicing International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) in the United States and be nominated by a peer and client for their role as an exceptional professional. The nomination process requires the completion of an online nomination entry form, a letter of nomination and a letter of support from a past or present client.

The Lactation Consultant Hall of Excellence inductees receive a $5,000 grant to fund research, continue education, purchase equipment for use in their practice or donate to the charity of their choice.

Inductees are chosen by an independent judging panel comprised of healthcare industry representatives. The panel is solely responsible for judging entries and selecting the program inductees.

Program guidelines and the online nominee submission forms are available online at www.medela.com. Entries must be submitted via the online nomination form by October 12, 2007.

Nicotine In Breastmilk Disrupts Infants' Sleep Patterns

A study from the Monell Chemical Senses Center reports that nicotine in the breastmilk of lactating mothers who smoke cigarettes disrupts their infants' sleep patterns. "Infants spent less time sleeping overall and woke up from naps sooner when their mothers smoked prior to breastfeeding," says lead author Julie A. Mennella, PhD, a psychobiologist at Monell.

The findings, published in the September, 2007 issue of Pediatrics, raise new questions about nicotine exposure through breastmilk and it's affects on infant development.

While many women quit or cut down on smoking while pregnant, they often relapse following the birth of the baby. Mennella comments, "Because nicotine is not contraindicated during lactation, mothers may believe that smoking while breastfeeding will not harm their child as long as the child is not exposed to passive smoke. However, there has been very little research on either short- or long-term effects of nicotine delivered through breastmilk."

Nicotine is a pharmacological stimulant that affects the developing brain and has been shown to cause long-term behavioral and learning deficits. In the Monell study, researchers measured the feeding behavior and sleep patterns of 15 breastfed infants over a 3-1/2 hour observation period on two separate days. The infants were between two and seven months of age. All mothers were current smokers who abstained from smoking for at least 12 hours before each observation period. Results indicate that levels of infant sleep disruption were directly related to the dose of nicotine infants received from their mothers' milk.

Noting that children whose mothers smoke are more likely to smoke as teenagers, Mennella speculates that early experiences with tobacco flavor during breastfeeding may increase its appeal later in life. She comments that additional studies are needed to examine the long-term developmental effects of nicotine delivered through breast milk. The present findings highlight the need for targeted smoking cessation programs that address issues relevant to lactating women. Mennella suggests that concerns about tobacco flavor in their milk and disruptions of their infants' sleep may help motivate breastfeeding mothers to abstain from smoking.

Be BOLD this September

This September, at locations around the world, people are organizing performances of Karen Brody's documentary-style play, BIRTH, as a part of Birth On Labor Day (BOLD). Now in its second year, BOLD's goal is to globally raise awareness of the maternity care crisis, and to raise funds for organizations working to make maternity care more mother-friendly—through telling truthful birth stories. Each BOLD performance includes an audience discussion after the play with local maternity care experts and well-known authors (like Tina Cassidy and Jennifer Block).

BOLD founder Karen Brody, who also wrote the play BIRTH, says, "With BOLD I wanted to find a way to spark a movement of mothers and (concerned others) that tells the truth about childbirth today. BOLD asks mothers in communities around the world, 'How do you want to give birth? What kind of birth do you deserve? Who is out there asking mothers these questions?' I feel globally it's time to put mothers at the center of their birth experience and ask them what they want."

Over 100 performances of the play BIRTH will take place this September as part of BOLD 2007. In addition, year-round local communities can organize BOLD Red Tents for mothers to tell their birth stories. To find a BOLD location near you go to http://www.birthonlaborday.com/bold/bold2007.html. And if there's not one in your area this year consider organizing a BOLD performance or BOLD Red Tent in your community next year! Be BOLD!