Natural Family News

There was an article a few weeks ago in the Boston Globe written by pediatrician Dr. Darshak Sanghavi. In it, he explores the reasons why women refuse to have medication during birth. His ultimate conclusion is that it’s because we’re too stupid to do otherwise. Fellow blogger Camille Lizarríbar has a very well thought out response. I’m too irritated to offer a well thought out response– perhaps it’s just my primitive reptilian brain. Read the article and Camile Lizarribar’s response, and let me know what you think.

I thought this article was a good article on births attended by midwives. It seemed positive and portrayed midwifery as a normal option.

A recent article in Journal of Reproductive Medicine found that women who consume milk are five times more likely than vegans to conceive twins. The suspected culprit is insulin-like growth factor (IGF), which is released from animals’ livers in response to growth hormone and finds its way into their milk. Levels of the hormone are about 13 percent lower in vegan women than in women who eat dairy, the team suggests.

Theoretically, hormone-free milk should contain a lower amount of IGF, as well. So, if you’re not interested in multiplying your family at a rapid rate, especially if twins run in your family, you might want to check out organic milk. Or even better, find a local source for raw milk.

Amarillo, TX (PRWEB) May 8, 2006 -– Since blogs first surfaced in the late 1990s, more than 36 million have been created. Many businesses are discovering that blogs are a good way to establish expertise, educate and expose readers to new ideas, and keep customers informed. Alternative Phyto-Med Formulators (APMF) is a family business dedicated to doing all three.

APMF (http://apmformulators.com) offers a unique, organic, non-toxic salve for skin, but the business blog covers such topics as medical education for homeschool students, naturopathy, homebirth, midwifery, organic products, and domestic family care from a biblical worldview.

“Because it is not possible for a medical education to take place without reference to God, we look to the Scriptures as our axiom,” said Pete Hernandez, co-founder of AMPF.

APMF is one of many companies that use blogs to reach potential clients and readers. A blog, short for “weblog,” is a frequently updated web site. Most blogs are personal online journals, but businesses are learning that such web sites are also powerful and effective marketing tools.

“When consumers buy medicine, what they really want is a cure. When consumers buy a blanket, they buy warmth. When we write medical information, we want to arm readers with medical ammunition they can use. We decided to start a business blog to reach online users looking for organic products and to educate readers. We read blogs and know how important they are when it comes to sharing information.”

Through blogging, well-researched articles, products, and services, APMF supports individuals, families, medical students, and churches as they seek to implement a biblical worldview. At the APMF blog, you’ll learn how family medicine, the Bible, logic, and medical botany intersect through the time-honored approach to learning known as the TRIVIUM.

In 1994, Pete and Maribel Hernandez began studying a variety of medical courses because of a family medical crises. While researching hepatic encephalopathy, prostrate cancer, and variety of common aliments frequently suffered by family and friends, they found that clinical applications were highly toxic. They set out to learn more about alternative health care therapies.

For more information, visit the site.

Citing concerns over fetal health, California lawmakers are moving forward with a statute that would ban the personal use of ultrasound equipment. The sale of ultrasound equipment would be limited to professionals. Some studies have shown that diagnostic levels of ultrasound can harm human tissue.

Normally, I don’t post things verbatim. I usually send a link, but this article is not available online yet, and I think it’s too important to not pass along. I’m pretty sure that there is a reason that the newborn immune system functions as it does, and I think it’s scary to mess with something that sensitive.

Vaccines for newborns ‘on the horizon’
Source: Blood 2006; Not yet available online

Assessing the immunologic effects of stimulating toll-like receptors in newborns.

US researchers think they have found a way to boost the immune system of babies so that they can be vaccinated at birth rather than at 2 months of age.

Newborns have an immature immune system, which means they respond poorly to vaccines and are initially vulnerable to infection.

But Ofer Levy, from the Children’s Hospital Boston in Massachusetts, and team say that a receptor on the surface of certain white blood cells could be targeted to boost their immunity.

Previous research has shown that Toll-like receptors (TLR) form the first line of defense against infection by triggering the production of cytokines, which activate other immune cells.

Assessing the functionality of the 10 TLRs in newborns, the researchers found that, when most were stimulated, the immune response was extremely impaired. However, one of the receptors, TLR8, triggered adult levels of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha, in response to agents mimicking viral antigens.

“These findings suggest that agents that stimulate TLR8 could be used to enhance immune response in newborns, perhaps as adjuvants given along with vaccines,” said Levy.

“From a global perspective, if you can vaccinate at birth, a much higher percentage of the population can be covered,” Levy added.

Remember the Pittsburgh Steelers fan who was going to put off her birth if it conflicted with the Super Bowl? Well, she has a kindred spirit. Angela Finnegan, of England, delayed her Caesarean section so her husband, Christopher, could watch a soccer match. Well, as long as they have their priorities straight.

You may have noticed we have a new advertiser. I highly recommend visiting their site. They have really cute items for sale. My husband’s favorite is a t-shirt that says “I make milk. What’s your superpower?” I like a lot of the homebirth and attachment parenting items. Just click on the link to head over there and find out if there’s something there you like.

Moraga, CA. (PRWEB) February 20, 2006 — Amayal Center for Health & Wellness Education announces a vitally important international conference to educate health professionals and the public about the Humanization of Birth. Monterrey, México is the conference site because Monterrey suffers from one of the highest rates of Caesarian birth in the world – up to 80% according to one Newsweek article. This 3-day Humanization of Birth Conference will be held March 20 – 22, 2006.

This conference is very reasonably priced to make it affordable for all people who are seeking a change….seeking more. The scientific evidence and practical knowledge learned will promote the humanization of the birth process in our health practices and in our lives. We welcome health professionals, perinatal educators, journalists, social scientists, students, parents, and the general public.

Continuing education credits are available for health professionals and students. Most presentations will be in English. Spanish presentations will be simultaneously translated into English. Complete information is available at www.amayal.com/congreso2006.

The Humanization of Birth conference will emphasize the profound link that exists between our birth practices and the quality of life that our babies will achieve. Can we reduce violence in our societies by offering less violent births to our children? Contrary to medical evidence, some health professionals promote aggressive surgical interventions as the best, the safest, and the most comfortable birth options. However, science now indicates that there are long-term benefits to baby, mother and society when mothers and babies are able to achieve a loving, natural, drug-free childbirth.

Our speakers are experts in their respective fields. This distinguished group of perinatal pioneers and educators include: Michel Odent, MD, (London, England); Wendy Anne McCarty, Ph D, RN, (California, USA); Ricardo Herbert Jones, MD (Porto Alegre, Brazil); Barbara Harper, R.N. (Oregon, USA); Naoli Vinaver, CPM (Xalapa, Mexico).

Join us to learn about: new, evolving birth practices; what babies are teaching us about birth; prenatal & perinatal psychology’s 30 years of clinical findings, specific steps we can take to humanize our birthing practices and to better support babies in the 21st century; review US hospitals that now provide gentle birth choices; waterbirth being practiced around the world; the Primal Health Research Data Bank – an important new tool providing the criteria necessary to evaluate the practices of obstetrics and midwifery.

Complete information is available here.

The Amayal Center for Health & Wellness Education is a non-profit organization founded out of a caring passion for the value of human life, which has motivated us to become an agent of change. Our aim is to empower people with the knowledge necessary to better control their health and to provide important therapy options that help people avoid the often toxic effects of pharmaceutical drugs and unnecessary medical interventions.

I just don’t even know what to say. A recent story on a Florida televison station touted the advantages of c-sections. Rarely do I read anything that surprises me, but reading the Moms talk about needing to know when their babies would be born so that they wouldn’t be “in the middle of a project”– honestly, it sickened me. Now, I was born via section, as was my brother, but there was an honest to goodness health reason. If you can’t take out time from your busy life for the “unexpected” nature of birth, then maybe you’re just not ready to have a baby. Perhaps you should just get a fish.

My “favorite” quote was actually from a doctor:

“It’s like you have a choice for plastic surgery, or for a tummy tuck, or have a tooth replaced. I think that since this is their body they should be able to decide how they want to have this baby out,” Dr. Jack Gerkovich said.

Like I said, I just don’t know what to say.

Apparently one Steelers fan finds watching the Super Bowl to be of greater importance than having her child. Carrie Welling of New Kensington has convinced her doctor to induce her labor the day before the big game so that she won’t have to miss a thing. I find this whole trend of induction totally for convenience to be greatly disturbing, and it ought to be malpractice.

There’s an interesting opinion piece by Jeff Leach written recently that discusses how vaginal birth and breastfeeding promotes colonization of the baby’s intestinal tract by beneficial bacteria. He does a great job discussing the issue, and is a witty writer to boot. It’s definitely a worthwhile read.