Breastfeeding Support
LA LECHE LEAGUE has a rich history and an established philosophy of mothering through breastfeeding. Find local meetings, support, and extensive research and resources.
Dr. Jack Newman & Edith Kernerman offer this amazing online resource for breastfeeding. This is a site (and DVD) I recommend to all my clients and students.“There are two principles at the base of understanding breastfeeding and understanding how to help new mothers breastfeed. One is that babies learn to breastfeed by breastfeeding. The other is that there is much more to breastfeeding than the breastmilk alone. As important as breastmilk is, breastfeeding is that much more.” Dr. Jack Newman
Love Your Baby – Breastfeeding and Beyond… A mother who wants to feed her baby naturally needs access to the information and answers to important questions and problems straight from the experts. My friend Erika’s site is full of great info and resources. Erika has diplomas in lactation management and breastfeeding counseling and years of experience – both personal and professional.
Delayed Cord Clamping
Dr. Sloan shares information and current research on delayed cord clamping after birth, in a helpful Q&A style format that consumers and professionals can use to discuss this important topic.
Bedsharing & Co-Sleeping
Dr James McKenna Library If you are considering bedsharing and co-sleeping, and are confused by the many opinions and information out there, then this is a GREAT resource for you! Dr McKenna is the the director of the University of Notre Dame Mother-Baby Behavioral Sleep where his research has created evidence based information on bedsharing and co-sleeping, and the connection this data might have in addressing SIDS risks.
Babywearing
Mamatoto means “Mother-Baby”…The Mamatoto Project was created to educate the general public on the advantages of babywearing, and to promote the use of a simple piece of cloth as a traditional baby sling among those who care for infants and toddlers. We offer how-to guides for babywearing parents and caregivers.
The BabyWearer… the online babywearing resource centre! Take a moment to explore the site through the navigation links above, or read below for tips on finding the most commonly access information requested by our readers.
Learn about Babywearing at “Love Your Baby”, the website of my friend Erika. It is a personal and comprehensive resource with a ton of info about babywearing! Erika is a happily married mother of three – 2 daughters and a new baby son. She is also a licensed physical therapist specializing in child and baby development.
The Circumcision Decision
The Circumcision Information and Resource Pages are an Internet resource that provide you with information about all aspects of the genital surgery known as circumcision. Includes many links to a variety of sites.
Circumcision Information Resource Center of Colorado Parents can have a difficult time finding accurate and complete information when faced with the circumcision decision. Our statewide organization is devoted to providing information about the medical facts, ethical considerations, and sexual implications of circumcision.
The Birth Survey
The Birth Survey is a part of the Transparency in Maternity Care Project by the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS – see below). You can take the survey, read survey results and learn about this powerful project! www.thebirthsurvey.com
Coalition for Improving Maternity Services
CIMS (Coalition for Improving Maternity Services) is a coalition of individuals and organizations with concern for the care and well-being of mothers, babies, and families. Our mission is to promote a wellness model of maternity care that will improve birth outcomes and substantially reduce costs.
The principles underlying the CIMS model of maternity care are:
- NORMALCY: treat birth as a natural, healthy process.
- EMPOWERMENT: provide the birthing woman and her family supportive, sensitive and respectful care.
- AUTONOMY: enable women to make decisions based on accurate information and provide access to the full range of options for care.
- First DO NO HARM: avoid the routine use of tests, procedures, drugs, and restrictions.
- RESPONSIBILITY: give evidence-based care used solely for the needs and in the interests of mothers and infants.
BOLD: Birth on Labor Day
BOLD global movement to make maternity care mother-friendly through education, truth, and action.
BOLD events raise awareness about local, national, and global maternity care issues. Throughout the world maternity care systems are not working for mothers.
Through education, truth and action BOLD believes maternity care can change for the better.
BOLD is using the play, Birth, and Red Tent events as educational tools to spark change in maternity care. Much like how V-Day used The Vagina Monologues to spark a movement to end violence against women, BOLD is educating people through theater/performance and the arts.
Historically, social change comes from people rising up and taking action. In Germany
midwifery was fading until the government tried to take midwives away and then the people organized and said, “No – we won’t allow that.” This saved midwifery in Germany and resulted in a revival of the use of midwives.
Mothers Acting Up!
Mothers Acting Up is dedicated to mobilizing the gigantic political strength of mothers* to ensure the health, education and safety of every child, not just a privileged few. We realize that we live in a world that does not prioritize or protect our children’s well-being and that this will not change without each of us finding the courage and commitment to speak out on their behalf.
MomsRising!
MomsRising has a goal of bringing millions of people, who all share a common concern about the need to build a more family-friendly America, together as a non-partisan force for 2008 and beyond. Shocking but true: There is deep bias against mothers in America today. One study found mothers are 44% less likely to be hired than equally qualified non-mothers, and are offered an average of $11,000 lower starting salaries. Another study found women without children make 90 cents to a man’s dollar, mothers make 73 cents, and single mothers make about 60 cents to a man’s dollar. Our nation claims to be family friendly, yet this continues. We need to ask why… then we need to act.