THE THIRD ANNUAL LOVE WALK June 6, 2010

REGISTER TODAY
THIRD ANNUAL LOVE WALK
In partnership with the Pacific Palisades Junior Women's Club
June 6, 2010
Pacific Palisades, California
8:00 a.m. Check-in and Registration
9:00 a.m. Start of the Walk

Third Annual Love Walk - Moving Breast Cancer Beyond A Cure!
Join Dr. Susan Love and hundreds of breast cancer advocates for the Third Annual Love Walk on June 6th, 2010 at the Palisades Public Library in Pacific Palisades, California.

The 5K walk will benefit breast cancer research projects, and the pilot grant program at the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation (DSLRF). Over the past two years, we have had over 1000 participants and raised more than $100,000 for our mission to move breast cancer beyond a cure and eradicate it once and for all. This year, we know we can raise even more!!

You can help support the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation by registering to walk and collecting pledges from your family and friends. Individual registration is just $35 and Family registration is $100 (limited to a family of four). CLICK HERE TO REGISTER TODAY.

Want to Walk with a Team?
Join Dr. Susan Love’s Team! By joining the Dr. Susan Love Team, you will get the opportunity to walk the 5K with Dr. Love and help her reach her goal of raising $10,000! Click here to join Dr. Susan Love's team.

Not in the Greater Los Angeles Area?
Pledge for Dr. Susan Love’s Team and support DSLRF from afar! By pledging support to Dr. Susan Love’s Team, you can participate in the comfort of your own home and still fundraise to help eradicate breast cancer once and for all! With your support, Dr. Susan Love can reach her goal of raising $10,000! Support Dr. Love and her team!

Other Ways to Get Involved!
As we walk to raise funds for breast cancer research, we also would like to honor those that have been personally touched by the disease. This year, we are introducing Love Walk Dedication Messages, which will be displayed at the Love Walk in two different forms:

Love’s Lane Sign: Put a personal message on a sign to be displayed on the Walk route! Purchase a Love’s Lane Sign for your team, company, or favorite walker to dedicate your walk in memory of a loved one or share a message with walkers. Love’s Lane Signs are available for $25. Deadline for submittal is May 28, 2010. Purchase your Love's Lane sign today!

Dedication Wall: Pay tribute to those affected by breast cancer and write a personal message on the Love Walk Dedication Wall! Heart-shaped messages will be posted on the Dedication Wall the day of the event for all walkers to see and be inspired by! Dedication Wall messages are available for $5! Deadline for submittal is May 28, 2010, but messages can still be purchased on the day of the Walk. Honor or remember someone today by purchasing a heart message!

If you have questions about the Love Walk or would like more information, email us at Lovewalk@dslrf.org or call 310-828-0060 ext. 33.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at the Love Walk!

The 2010 Love Walk is sponsored in part by:
City National Bank, The Pump Station, On Assignment, Career Builder, and Prudential Real Estate.

Calling all moms for the Dr. Phil Show!

What: Need new moms to be in the studio audience for the taping tomorrow of the Dr. Phil Show.

When: Tomorrow, April 14th, 2010

Where: The Paramount Studios in Hollywood, must be there no later than 8:30am

Why: We are taping a show tomorrow morning all about new beginning with an emphasis on new motherhood.

Anyone who's interested can call:

Danny:323-956-3337 or Casey: 323-956-3364

Call us tonight if you plan on coming so we can get you checked into the system.

Precious Prints is coming to The Pump Station!

“It's not too early to start thinking Mother's Day...
Precious Prints is coming to The Pump Station!
1 Day Only – Your Ceramic Keepsakes will arrive in time for Mother's Day gift giving.

Santa Monica Store: Saturday, April 10th 1:30-4:30PM
Westlake Store: Sunday, April 11th 11:00-3:00PM

For more info visit: www.clayprints.com

Breast-Feeding or Fertility: A Tough Choice for Older Mothers

By Erica Kain

My daughter came out of the womb hungry. Now 10 months old, she happily nurses six times a day. We both thrive on the wonderful intimacy of our nursing relationship. But this relationship may be preventing her from becoming a big sister.

Regular nursing sessions can lessen a woman’s fertility. Although it is a nice idea to allow a woman’s body time to rest between pregnancies, this can create a real conflict when that woman, like me, is almost 39.

I am part of a relatively new subset of nursing mothers—those whose age necessitates closer-than-ideal spacing between births. Every woman’s body is different; some can continue nursing on demand and conceive, while others need to wean completely before they ovulate again. So how do we balance the needs of a current infant against the desire for another child?

Wendy Haldeman, RN, an international board-certified lactation consultant, and one of the founders of the L.A.-based breast-feeding support center The Pump Station, faces this question frequently, as most of her clients are older than 35.

Haldeman encourages mothers to exclusively breast-feed for the first six months, and then, if need be, wean all night feedings. “Often, if moms have a regular 12-hour stretch without suckling, they will ovulate. If not, they have to continue to reduce the number of feedings until they do ovulate.” But some moms, she notes, have to wean completely before they are able to ovulate.

How does breast-feeding stave off ovulation?
Although there isn’t one clear answer, it seems that high prolactin (the hormone that causes lactation) levels have a lot to do with the continued suspension of ovulation.

Dr. Pamela Berens, MD, an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center, at Houston, who researches lactation and breast milk, explained how prolactin levels fluctuate and affect reproductive functioning.

“Baseline prolactin levels typically fall after delivery, and by 2–3 months postpartum, the basal levels are about 40%–50% of initial levels,” Dr. Berens says. “Even though the basal level may have dropped, it still roughly doubles with each nursing.”

She says that the fall in the basal level is somewhat related to how often you breast-feed, but the pattern and level of prolactin do not accurately predict when your fertility will return.

According to Dr. Berens, prolactin inhibits the normal release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH is responsible for the release of two hormones—luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)—that are crucial to stimulating ovulation. And to make matters worse, when your ovaries are exposed to higher levels of prolactin, the follicles in the ovary do not develop properly.

Am I fertile yet?
Knowing when you’re ovulating isn’t as simple as having a period—it isn’t unusual to menstruate without actually ovulating while breast-feeding. My ob-gyn suggested that I test my LH levels throughout a cycle to make sure that I am actually ovulating, even though I have a regular period.

If I have no LH surge, yet wanted to conceive, I would need to knock out some of my baby’s feedings in order to kick-start ovulation.

And therein lies the quandary—do I do what’s best for this baby, or some future hypothetical child? (Especially when a recent study found that each year, more than 900 preventable child deaths occur in the United States because most mothers don’t follow the six-month breast-feeding recommendation.)

I could hope to join the ranks of the many women who have conceived while breast-feeding. According to a 1993 study published by the World Health Organization, a woman with a child younger than six months, who hasn’t had her period return, and is fully or nearly fully breast-feeding has a 2% chance of getting pregnant. But if any of these three criteria are not met, a woman’s chance of pregnancy begins to increase.

In my community alone there are dozens of women who can point to the children they conceived while breast-feeding; they were surprised by closely spaced children after they believed that breast-feeding was an effective form of birth control.

But it’s a different story for the women who have had reproductive dramas in their family-building efforts, and, like me, are approaching the end of their fertile years. We face a difficult decision between breast-feeding and fertility.

See Wendy Haldeman MN, RN, IBCLC tonight on KNBC

Wendy Haldeman MN, RN, IBCLC will address the recent Associated Press article “Breastfeeding can save lives” tonight on KNBC.

Featured Article:
Breast-feeding could save lives, money
Cost-analysis study shows profound health benefits

Wendy Haldeman MN, RN, IBCLC
Wendy Haldeman, MN, RN, IBCLC is a co-founder of the Pump Station and Nurtury™. She received both her nursing and lactation education at UCLA, is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and a certified Happiest Baby on the Block instructor. She lectures frequently on human lactation at medical and nursing schools and has been identified by publications, such as Fit Pregnancy, as an "expert" in her field. Wendy facilitates the New Mother Support groups, and teaches the prenatal Breastfeeding and Baby Care Classes at The Pump Station. She and her husband Tim are proud of their two grown daughters and will welcome their first grandchild in May.

www.PumpStation.com

Study: Breast-feeding would save lives, money

By LINDSEY TANNER
AP Medical Writer

CHICAGO (AP) — The lives of nearly 900 babies would be saved each year, along with billions of dollars, if 90% of U.S. women breast-fed their babies for the first six months of life, a cost analysis says.

Those startling results, published online Monday in the journal Pediatrics, are only an estimate. But several experts who reviewed the analysis said the methods and conclusions seem sound.

CDC: Breast-feeding varies by race, place
MOM'S CHOICES: Aging well starts in womb

"The health care system has got to be aware that breast-feeding makes a profound difference," said Dr. Ruth Lawrence, who heads the American Academy of Pediatrics' breast-feeding section.

The findings suggest that there are hundreds of deaths and many more costly illnesses each year from health problems that breast-feeding may help prevent. These include stomach viruses, ear infections, asthma, juvenile diabetes, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and even childhood leukemia.

The magnitude of health benefits linked to breast-feeding is vastly underappreciated, said lead author Dr. Melissa Bartick, an internist and instructor at Harvard Medical School. Breast-feeding is sometimes considered a lifestyle choice, but Bartick calls it a public health issue.

Among the benefits: Breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight infections; it also can affect insulin levels in the blood, which may make breast-fed babies less likely to develop diabetes and obesity.

The analysis studied the prevalence of 10 common childhood illnesses, costs of treating those diseases, including hospitalization, and the level of disease protection other studies have linked with breast-feeding.

The $13 billion in estimated losses due to the low breast-feeding rate includes an economists' calculation partly based on lost potential lifetime wages — $10.56 million per death.

The methods were similar to a widely cited 2001 government report that said $3.6 billion could be saved each year if 50% of mothers breast-fed their babies for six months. Medical costs have climbed since then and breast-feeding rates have increased only slightly.

About 43% of U.S. mothers do at least some breast-feeding for six months, but only 12% follow government guidelines recommending that babies receive only breast milk for six months.

Dr. Larry Gray, a University of Chicago pediatrician, called the analysis compelling and said it's reasonable to strive for 90% compliance.

But he also said mothers who don't breast-feed for six months shouldn't be blamed or made to feel guilty, because their jobs and other demands often make it impossible to do so.

"We'd all love as pediatricians to be able to carry this information into the boardrooms by saying we all gain by small changes at the workplace" that encourage breast-feeding, Gray said.

Bartick said there are some encouraging signs. The government's new health care overhaul requires large employers to provide private places for working mothers to pump breast milk. And under a provision enacted April 1 by the Joint Commission, a hospital accrediting agency, hospitals may be evaluated on their efforts to ensure that newborns are fed only breast milk before they're sent home.

The pediatrics academy says babies should be given a chance to start breast-feeding immediately after birth. Bartick said that often doesn't happen, and at many hospitals newborns are offered formula even when their mothers intend to breast-feed.

"Hospital practices need to change to be more in line with evidence-based care," Bartick said. "We really shouldn't be blaming mothers for this."

Not “sweet” on the idea of giving candy to your kids?

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CPSC Warning On Slings Misses the Mark

From the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine

New Rochelle, NY, March 19, 2010 — The Consumer Products Safety Commission's warning on baby slings provides vague and misleading information for parents.

The popularity of slings has increased tremendously in recent years, as more and more mothers report that slings facilitate parenting and breastfeeding on demand. "All slings are not created equal," says Arthur Eidelman, MD, vice president of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. "Unfortunately, however, the CPSC issued a blanket warning about all types of sling carriers."

Ring slings, which carry infants in an upright position snug with the parent's chest, protect the infant's airway. By contrast, the illustrations of "unsafe" slings in the CPSC warning appear to be bag or duffle slings. In bag slings, the infant is carried near the parent's hips. In this position, the infant may be curled up and the neck may be bent, making breathing more difficult.

The CPSC's advice on safe baby carrying is also misleading. The agency recommends positioning infants so "the baby's head is facing up and is clear of the sling and the mother's body." "The face out position they say is correct could be risky with a premature infant, because of the baby's unsupported neck," Eidelman says. "A baby whose face is sideways with cheek against the chest, head slightly extended and body and shoulders and yes, face, snug so that the baby can't move, is secured in a safe position."

In the warning, the CPSC reported 14 deaths associated with sling use in the past 20 years, including 3 in 2009. The agency provided no information on the types or brands of sling involved, nor did they account for the rapid increase in sling use among parents in the US. This stands in contrast with the hundreds of recalls of other juvenile products issued by the CPSC that specify the precise brand and model number involved in adverse outcomes.

"Last month, when the CPSC recalled a crib model associated with 3 infant deaths, they did not issue a blanket warning that cribs can be deadly," Eidelman notes. "Parents deserve the same precise, accountable information when it comes to baby-carrying."

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine is a worldwide organization of physicians dedicated to the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding and human lactation through education, research, and advocacy. An independent, self-sustaining, international physician organization and the only organization of its kind, ABM's mission is to unite members of various medical specialties through physician education, expansion of knowledge in breastfeeding science and human lactation, facilitation of optimal breastfeeding practices, and encouragement of the exchange of information among organizations.

Breastfeeding Medicine is the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. It is an authoritative, peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary journal published quarterly. The journal publishes original scientific papers, reviews, and case studies on a broad spectrum of topics in lactation medicine. It presents evidence-based research advances and explores the immediate and long-term outcomes of breastfeeding, including the epidemiologic, physiologic, and psychological benefits of breastfeeding.


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Contact: Karla Shepard Rubinger, Executive Director, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine,
(914) 740-2100, ext. 2153, abm@bfmed.org

Are Baby Slings a Threat to Your Baby’s Safety?

By Corky Harvey, MS, RN, IBLC & Wendy Haldeman, MN, RN, IBCLC Co-Founders of The Pump Station & Nurtury™ & Jesse Ziberstein, MPA, CLE

Yesterday one of our clients was shopping with her infant tucked up in her sling when she was confronted by a fellow shopper who angrily demanded: “Don’t you know that you are going to suffocate your baby in that thing?” Fortunately, our client was a second-time mom with lots of experience in baby wearing. She was able to calmly respond that she was a master at multi-tasking and was quite confident that she could manage to use her sling and keep her baby alive.

What prompted this verbal attack were the current headlines shrieking that infant slings are the new baby killers. Just mention babies and death in the same sentence and people understandably get very excited. Can slings be harmful to babies? Sadly, yes. However, I would argue that it is the ignorant adult using the sling that is largely the problem.

Mothers have been tying their babies to their bodies with some type of cloth or fur for thousands, perhaps even millions of years. This parenting style disappeared in many industrialized countries. With the resurgence of breastfeeding and the growing popularity of attachment parenting, “baby wearing” has once again become very popular. Manufacturers of infant gear are very aware of trends in the market place and are quick to produce their own version of whatever product parents appear to be purchasing. To date, there are no standards for manufacturing baby slings. The Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association has formed a subcommittee to work on these standards.

Slings can be detrimental to infants in several ways. A baby can fall out of a carrier. If carried deeply in a sling with excess fabric, a baby could have difficulty getting enough oxygen. If a baby is positioned low in the sling with the chin forced into the chest, breathing becomes more difficult. It is important to note that many of the babies who died in slings were low birth weight, born prematurely, or had a cold.

All slings are not created equal. The subcommittee working toward industry standards for slings has been concerned about the “bag-style” slings. These carriers typically have a deep pouch and sit low on the parent’s hip or pelvis. An example of such a sling is Infantino’s “SlingRider.” It is important to understand that sling use is safe, when the following criteria are met: 1) the sling must fit the parent; 2) the sling must be appropriate for the infant’s current size and neurological development; and most importantly, 3) THE PARENT MUST KNOW HOW TO CORRECTLY USE THIS DEVICE.

We at The Pump Station & Nurtury™ are strong proponents of sling use or “baby wearing.” Carrying your baby in a sling has numerous advantages to you and your infant. Studies have shown that the benefits include less crying, more time spent in a quiet alert phase, improved sleep, and higher IQ. Sling use can facilitate breastfeeding and bonding.

As education is key to safely carrying an infant in a sling, we offer free sling clinics in all three of our stores several times per week. At our clinics, you will have the opportunity to practice with well-designed products. Our trained staff will ensure that your sling is of proper fit and appropriate for your infant’s developmental stage. You are also welcome to bring any slings you currently own with you.

The well being of babies has always been, and always will be, our number one goal at the Pump Station & Nurtury™. That will never change.

We know that baby wearing is good for babies as well as their parents, and we are committed to continuing to help parents do this safely.

For more info on our Sling Clinics click here. . . .

You're not a bad mom if you use polycarbonate plastic.

by Jennifer Taggart, Attorney Specializing in Environmental Litigation & Compliance

You're not a bad mom if you use polycarbonate plastic. It seems that way sometimes, doesn't it? Often, we think that we are bad moms if we use polycarbonate plastic, that our kids wear pajamas containing flame retardants or have vinyl lunch-boxes. Of course, you are not a bad mom if you haven't gone green and non toxic. Or even started.

Trust me, I get it. It is overwhelming. Formaldehyde donors, phthalates, mercury, lead, flame retardants. The toxic alphabet soup of chemicals is paralyzing. Where do you start? How do you start? What the heck are phthalates and why should I care about them? How do you even pronounce that word?

And aren't the products we buy safe? Do I really need to worry? Don't the FDA, CPSC, DOT, EPA and all the other government agencies monitor and test consumer products for safety?

The truth is, however, that for some products, government agencies have no ability or authority to require pre-market testing. Take cosmetics, which includes baby bath products. The FDA has authority over cosmetics, but that authority is limited. As the FDA readily admits on its website, cosmetic manufacturers can use virtually any ingredient in their products without testing for safety, and the FDA does not conduct any premarket testing. The FDA has banned 9 ingredients in cosmetics. In comparison, the EU has banned over 1,100. That's a little scary. Actually, it is a lot scary.

But who has time to do figure out what is safe or not? Especially when you are trying to get the shopping done. Or just make it through the day.

Come and learn how easy it can be. Truly. With just a few simple steps, you can reduce or eliminate toxic chemical exposures. At the “Navigating in a Toxic World: How to Steer Clear of Toxic Baby Toys and More” class, we'll talk about potential exposures and how to reduce them. We will talk about whether you really need to avoid polycarbonate plastic, whether you need to buy organic or not, how you can reduce exposure to lead in the home, and more. We will talk about how you can save money while going green and more.

Trust me - I get it. I've got 2 kids, a husband, 2 dogs, a guinea pig and a job. I know it seems like just one more thing, and something that changes daily. But we will break down the issues together, and talk about easy solutions. You can hug that tree without getting dirty.

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Join Jennifer Taggart in The Pump Station & Nurtury’s™ Hot Topic Lecture "Navigating in a Toxic World: How to Steer Clear of Toxic Baby Toys and More"

Hollywood: March 5th and May 28th, 323-469-5300
Santa Monica: June 4th, 310-998-1981