No Paid Maternity Leave: Why Breastfeeding often Fails

Mothers often fail at breastfeeding not by fault of their own, but because they have no no paid maternity leave. Without a safe bubble of relaxed time together, it can be difficult to overcome breastfeeding issues, to develop a stable milk supply and to begin that beautiful deep bonding experience. Back at work, pumping can be quite challenging and sometimes not doable.

In July, 2016, journalist Jennifer Grayson writes in an Op-Ed for the Los Angeles Times, "the fundamental ability to nourish their young with free, life-sustaining mother's milk has been turned into a luxury for the elite, or a hard-fought prize for the intrepid." 

Grayson blames US law, which does not provide paid maternity leave. 

Many mothers do not know that the US is the only first-world country that does not provide mothers with extended paid leave.

For instance, in Switzerland where I lived many years mothers are guaranteed six months paid maternity leave and an option for another six months non-paid leave with the guaranty that your job will be held for you during that full year.

It is understood in other first-world countries that you simply cannot talk the talk without walking the walk when it comes to family law.

The talk is this: breastfeeding is best.

The talk is this: bonding is essential.

The walk is this: mothers and babies need undisturbed, relaxed time together for at least six months after childbirth.

As it is today, we talk the talk -- we tell moms they should/must/absolutely have to breastfeed, but we do not walk the walk. Mothers are not provided with stress-free, extended time together. This actually sets mothers up for failure, and for the devastating emotions that accompany that failure (which I talk about in my book, Healing Breastfeeding Grief.)

As a society, we have to get over our hypocrisy and walk our talk. 

It is not fair when we urge and push moms to exclusively breastfeed rather than urging and pushing our congress and senate for better family laws.

For more information: http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/p/cm/ld/fid=105#usbcresources

Supplements offer Protection From Dirty Electricity

Bees Make Propolis

I spent the morning listening to a lecture in which controversial doctor Dietrich Klinghardt explains the importance of protecting vulnerable children from electromagnetic fields and "dirty electricity." His recommendation: propolis, given to children every day, and also liposomal melantonin. Only liposomal melantonin penetrates into the brain and provides protection... but if you have a vulnerable child, there's more stuff to know before safely giving melantonin. (See lecture for full info.)

In looking for a study, I found this one. It discusses the protective effects of both melantonin and propolis against the damage done by a smart phone on the kidneys of rats.

Ever carry your smart phone close to your flanks, as in your back pocket? Or close to your heart, as in your shirt pocket? It's a good habit to break!

EVER CARRY YOUR PHONE CLOSE TO YOUR BABY???? 

Time to learn more about liposomal melantonin and propolis.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16132682

Mol Cell Biochem. 2005 Aug;276(1-2):31-7.

Comparative analysis of the protective effects of melatonin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on mobile phone-induced renal impairment in rat.

Abstract

Melatonin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a component of honeybee propolis, were recently found to be potent free radical scavengers and antioxidants. There are a number of reports on the effects induced by electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in various cellular systems. Mechanisms of adverse effects of EMR indicate that reactive oxygen species may play a role in the biological effects of this radiation. The present study was carried out to compare the protective effects of melatonin and CAPE against 900 MHz EMR emitted mobile phone-induced renal tubular injury. Melatonin was administered whereas CAPE was given for 10 days before the exposure. Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG, a marker of renal tubular injury) and malondialdehyde (MDA, an index of lipid peroxidation), were used as markers of oxidative stress-induced renal impairment in rats exposed to EMR. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were studied to evaluate the changes of antioxidant status in renal tissue. Urinary NAG and renal MDA were increased in EMR exposed rats while both melatonin and CAPE caused a significant reduction in the levels of these parameters. Likewise, renal SOD and GSH-Px activities were decreased in EMR exposed animals while melatonin caused a significant increase in the activities of these antioxidant enzymes but CAPE did not. Melatonin caused a significant decrease in urinary NAG activity and MDA levels which were increased because of EMR exposure. CAPE also reduced elevated MDA levels in EMR exposed renal tissue, but the effect of melatonin was more potent than that of CAPE. Furthermore, treatment of EMR exposed rats with melatonin increased activities of SOD and GSH-Px to higher levels than those of control rats. In conclusion, melatonin and CAPE prevent renal tubular injury by reducing oxidative stress and protect the kidney from oxidative damage induced by 900 MHz mobile phone. Nevertheless, melatonin seems to be a more potent antioxidant compared with CAPE in kidney.
(Mol Cell Biochem 276: 31-37, 2005).

PMID:

16132682

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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