Happy 2018! And Why Does Breastfeeding Need to be Exclusive?

This exclusive breastfeeding initiative bothers me for several reasons:
- The goal is a healthy baby. Demanding a specific path to that goal is unnecessary and produces rules and policies in line with exclusive breastfeeding that are not necessarily in line with the real goal of a healthy baby. It's like locking 3 out of 4 exits in a burning building. Sure, maybe it's not ideal that people go through the kitchen to escape the building, but the goal is that they get out alive, right?
- Is there any evidence that supplementing with formula in addition to breast milk is not as good as exclusive breastfeeding? Why this emphasis on exclusivity?
- An unknown percentage of women are unable to breastfeed for various reasons. This unnecessary emphasis on exclusivity sets them up for disappointment and feelings of failure, during a particularly challenging time both physically and mentally.
- When studies controlled for factors like economic status, education, and mother's IQ, there was very little difference between exclusive breastfeeding vs formula feeding.

Much more info here at https://fedisbest.org/about/

Recommendations on feeding newborns, Kyla La Grange - Skin

Recommendations on Improving Hospital Safety to Prevent Newborn Starvation and Injury

I was surprised that this topic hasn't had more publicity or concern, when 1 in 5 women may have delayed lactation or no lactation at all. Teaching women how to confirm whether they're producing breast milk seems like a basic sanity check. And also teaching how to supplement when not producing enough milk seems like a basic precaution, even if it were uncommon.

There also seems to be a widespread misconception that newborns can't drink that much, but the newborn stomach has been measured at 20mL.

One of my favorite singers, Kyla La Grange:

Happy 2015!

I've been watching these hip hop dance move videos - easy for me to follow.

http://www.howcast.com/guides/826-HipHop-Dance-Workout

I totally identify with this bride's thoughts.

Rather than be thin, I want a flat stomach. I also want to exercise more just to feel healthy, but above all, I want a flat stomach.

My reasons:
* If I had a flat stomach, I would look good.
* A flat stomach is a symbol of success.
* I am not confident about the way I look
* If I had a flat stomach, I could wear anything.
* If I had a flat stomach, I'd feel beautiful.
* If I had a flat stomach, I wouldn't care what anyone thought of me.
* If I had a flat stomach, I could own the room!

Funny what hopes we pin on something that really isn't important.
But this is what my mind is thinking.

I know from experience that dieting does not create confidence or self-worth. I know so many brides who lose weight for their wedding, still feel insecure and gain all the weight back on the honeymoon. Skipping the "weight loss" and working directly on our insecurities is the only way to create a confident and sexy bride. And amazingly enough, it's the most effective weight loss strategy and the ONLY way it's permanent.

After a few months of confidence boosting exercises, forgiving her past, connecting with her femininity, deepening her relationship with her fiancé and discovering her life's purpose, Julia far exceeded her goals for the kind of bride she wanted to be.

.

It makes a lot of sense. I should try this.

I got a belly dance dvd a while ago, but it's boring. It's well done and instructive, but boring.
My tai chi book is even more boring! I guess hoping that I could learn tai chi from a book was already rather doomed to failure.
But rather than waste money, I want to slog my way through each. I'll do one exercise a night starting tonight.

being healthy: inspiration

I am by no means obese, but I have been talking about exercising for years, and have not done much about it. So I found this woman's experience very valuable. She has five kids! I really have no excuse.

For general inspiration, I like this post:
http://missericasblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/power-of-choice-difference-between.html

a different perspective on food

http://twowomenblogging.blogspot.com/2010/05/who-provides-us-with-sustenance-by-jay.html

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and the Social Control of Mothers

Interesting information in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and the Social Control of Mothers.

I'm rather shocked that "It turns out that only about 5% of alcoholic women give birth to babies who are later diagnosed with FAS."

i just don't understand

Why should someone else's religion dictate my health care? It doesn't make any sense.

And I do think there is a need for ethical evaluation of technological innovations, which includes medical advances, but this is distinct from moral judgements on what medical care should be provided. Ethics are distinct from morals.

The First Death by Jay

The First Death by Jay

tomatoes

In an effort to be healthier, I bought a bag of fresh tomatoes into work. Two for breakfast today, and more for snacking or tomorrow's breakfast. I meant to buy some yogurt but haven't made it to the convenience store yet.

If I ever move back to the U.S. it'll take a while to get used to the inconveniences like no healthy foods in the convenience stores...

positive thinking

useful stuff on being positive:

This week’s tip for my Living Smarter Not Harder series addresses how we as women talk to and about ourselves. I’ve noticed how comfortable we women are focusing on our perceived shortcomings, belittling our accomplishments, and making self-destructive comments like “I’m such an idiot” or “I’m so disorganized” or “My book will never be a best seller”. At the very least, this way of living is negative; at it’s worst, it prevents us from experiencing our potential.

Our bodies, for example, are our prime targets of sabotage.

Today's thought: My body is my friend.

spf and powder products

I was wondering how effective powder SPF products are, so did some searches.

According to this link, you'd have to use a lot of powder to get the stated SPF!

When scientists test facial powders to determine SPF (as mandated by the FDA), they typically assume that 2mg of product will be used per cm2 of skin. The average face is about 600cm2 (although that varies from person to person, of course), meaning that a person needs to apply about 1.2g of facial powder to get the SPF stated on the product's label

It's funny how unclear the details of SPF are.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunscreen#Sun_protection_factor

http://www.fda.gov/cder/offices/OTC/understanding_spf_sunscreen.htm

http://www.slate.com/id/2171789/
http://health.howstuffworks.com/spf.htm/printable
The above two articles have interesting similarities...

ibuprofen in Japan

If you're looking for Ibuprofen in Japan, you can find it sold as "Eve." There are probably other brands under which it is marketed, but that's the first one I've found.

health: on losing fat

A summary of Tummy Exercises:

Maintain good posture.

Eat a healthy and balanced diet.

Exercise (both aerobic exercise and weight training).

Good guidelines for healthy living in general.

english-speaking dentist in tokyo

Whew. It's all a little confusing, but a few of the embassies have lists of English-speaking dentists:

The American Embassy's list (longest list)
The British Embassy's list (in between in both formatting and length, but clearly notes when dentist accepts National Health Insurance)
The Australian Embassy's list (nicest formatting, shortest list)

Interestingly, all lists are different. You'd think they'd pool knowledge or something.

bone marrow donors

I just heard that a friend's mother needs a bone marrow transplant.

Have you registered for bone marrow donation? I haven't, but apparently the process involves a mere 15 minutes and a swab inside the cheek. I will look into it. In the U.S., there is the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP) Registry: www.marrow.org.

Asian donors in the U.S. are uncommon.