National Breastfeeding Month Birth Matters August 2018 By Laura Maxson LM Every August, the world turns its attention to protecting and promoting breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is the great equalizer. Every child, rich or poor, has access to essentially free, nutritious food that comes with unmatched immunity builders and specialized nutrients. In this modern age, the perfection and synergy of breastfeeding for mother and baby remain vital. Globally, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) spearheads World Breastfeeding Week, August 1 – 7, each year. This worldwide network of individuals and organizations is concerned with the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding worldwide. No matter if countries are large or small, impoverished…
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Taking the Plunge: Birth Matters
Taking the Plunge: Birth Matters By Laura Maxson, LM Warm, weightless, relaxed, soothed…what better way to experience labor? Getting into warm water during labor is almost universally popular and readily available to most. All the local hospitals provide access to warm water in labor with showers. Laboring in a tub is an option at Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center, where they offer four labor rooms with tubs and one separate tub room; or at Dominican Hospital’s single available tub room. Watsonville Community hospital does not offer tubs at this time. While actually giving birth in the tub is a popular request of expectant parents, waterbirth is only an option for…
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Yes, the Law Says You Can Breastfeed at Work: Birth Matters
Yes, the Law Says You Can Breastfeed at Work: Birth Matters By Laura Maxson, LM Between the physical recovery from childbirth, getting to know the new baby and figuring out breastfeeding, the weeks after giving birth can be intense. Even when all goes fairly smoothly, there’s a big learning curve. For many, just as things start to settle down, it’s time to go back to work. Some families can manage three to six months or more before going back to work. Other families find it difficult to take even the customary six weeks off before financial realities cut the baby-moon short; many go back to work after just two or…
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Birth Happens: Reading Can Help
Birth Happens: Reading Can Help By Laura Maxson, LM Birth Happens-Reading Can Help is one of a series of ongoing, collaborative projects from Birth Happens Santa Cruz. Posters of recommended books for expectant parents will be featured on a monthly basis, with the first poster featuring recommendations by Birth Network of Santa Cruz County. Their poster of five recommended books can be seen during the month of May at Bookshop Santa Cruz. Birth Happens is a series of ongoing projects organized by three local midwives, Elizabeth Yznaga, Linda Walsh and Kate Bowland. The three, with the help of other volunteers, have brought us Midwives at the MAH, an interactive exhibit…
