Nursing moms should feel good about working up a sweat. (Photo courtesty of B.O.B. Strollers)
A roundup of helpful and thought-provoking links for mothers and mothers-to-be! This holiday weekend, enjoy a two-part series of Links for Thought: Pregnancy, Birth, and Breastfeeding links today, and Mothering links tomorrow here!
Pregnancy
- 8 Reasons to Wait It Out Until Your Due Date. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists urgently recommends against elective deliveries before 39 weeks. (And many caregivers would argue for 40 weeks.) Here are the important reasons why. (Parents Magazine; hat tip to Hampton Roads doula Amara Minnis for the link)
- Did You Know Pregnant Students Have Rights? Neither Did I. News flash: professors are required by law to give pregnant students time off for childbirth. They are also required to give those mothers the same chance at earning an A grade as their peers. (The Feminist Breeder)
- Doctor, Doula, Midwife, Nurse: What Do These People Do? Clear up any confusion in a jiffy! (Being Pregnant; hat tip to Hampton Roads doula Leslie Cuffee for the link)
Birth
- Reasons for Dramatic Rise in Cesarean Births Identified. This Yale School of Medicine study shows that the increase is not due to moms who are too posh to push. Instead, half the increase is from first-time moms having unplanned emergency C-sections for subjective reasons (such as failure to progress and fetal heart rate concerns). The other half is due to repeat C-sections in women with at least one prior C-section (no doubt because hospitals allowing VBAC are rare, even though ACOG now recommends VBAC as a safe option). (Science Daily)
- OMG, you did not just cut off a third of my baby’s blood supply?! This excellent article explains why delayed cord-clamping (something you’ll almost certainly have to negotiate for in a hospital setting) is best for baby. (Erin Ellis Homebirth Midwife)
- A Look at the Research: The Link Between Epidural Analgesia and [Not] Breastfeeding. How and why having an epidural during labor may affect your level of breastfeeding success in the days and weeks after birth. (Science and Sensibility)
Breastfeeding
- Top Ten Tongue Tie Myths. Tongue ties in an infant can be difficult to diagnose and hard on a breastfeeding relationship if not resolved. Luckily, there are good solutions! (Analytical Armadillo)
- Lactation after Loss. Having milk come in after a baby has been lost can be incredible challenge, both emotionally and physically, for a mother. The pamphlet at this link offers guidance and support. (Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog)
- The Active Mommy Conundrum: Can Exercise Harm Breastfeeding? Part 1 and Part 2. The answer is: evidence indicates that exercise does not hurt milk supply or infant acceptance of milk, so have no qualms about working up a sweat! (Secrets of Baby Behavior; UC Davis Human Lactation Center)
