Preterm Births

Great, now we want to give pregnant women hormones to prevent premature labor & delivery. What a great idea [sarcasm mode=off].
Link: Hormone Shots Could Cut Preterm Births - Study

How about the importance of good nutrition?
Link: The Brewer Diet
Link: Dr. Mercola

Recently I ran into a woman I know who has given birth to not one but two 23-week preemies. She was 30 weeks pregnant and thrilled. I asked her what she had done differently with this pregnancy. First she answered "prayer". And then she mentioned the name of the nutraceutical vitamin supplements she is now taking.

Groundhog Day

Jonah Goldberg of The Corner wants to know why the movie Groundhog Day was "one of the best films of the last few decades and will undoubtedly hold up for generations to come." Groundhog day is one of my family's very favorite movies, and I've pondered that question myself, as I've watched it over, and over, and over. When your 3-year old suddenly bursts out with "wrestlemania, no way!" at the dinner table, you'll see what I mean.

icouldbewrong's blogger disagrees.

Midwifery Legislative Update III

And Nebraska.

An interesting article about birth from our friends across the pond:
Who can mothers trust in childbirth?

Midwifery Legislative Update II

Add Alabama to the list.

Link: A Woman's Right to Natural Birth

Previous Post: Midwifery Legislative Update

Saturday Library Trip - 01/27/05

I'm seriously considering changing the Saturday library trip to the Thursday library trip. Especially since I found out that storytime is on Thursday nights. And the Saturday trips seem to be happening on Thursdays, anyway.

• Video: Bob the Builder: A Christmas to Remember
• Video: Dora the Explorer: City of Lost Toys
• Video: Clifford: Best Friends

Fat Land

Law.com reports Part of Parents' Obesity Suit Against McDonalds Revived.

Texas State Senator Leticia Van de Putte has introduced a bill (SB205)which would require public schools to report student's body mass index (BMI) on report cards.
Link: CNN.com article

I just finish reading Fat Land: How Americans became the Fattest People in the World by Greg Critser. The author, correctly in my opinion, points to the prevalence of high fructose corn syrup in our diet as one of the main causes of "where the calories came from". The book also explores something that I have long known - that large restaurant portions are a product of the economics of food service - but brings out another point, and that is "nutrient control." In other words, when I eat out at a restaurant, I have no idea what is in the food I am eating (as long as it tastes good) or how it is prepared. Nor do I care especially. If I am cooking from scratch, I know that the yummy brownies I just made contain four eggs and twice as much sugar as flour. So I make decisions, perhaps not even fully conscious ones, to bake them a little less often than more healthful treats, and to eat smaller portions, because am aware of their caloric density. Anyhow, a good book if you are interested in such things.

Midwifery Legislative Update

Virginia , Wyoming, and Utah have bills pending in their respective legislatures to legalize and/or regulate direct-entry midwifery.

Quote of the day:
"Hospitals are for people who are ill, not women doing what Mary did in a barn by herself." - Elizabeth Smith

Tech Law Advisor: Belly Up to the Bar III

The blawgosphere is all abuz this week about Tech Law Advisor's : Belly Up to the Bar III . Looks good. Check it out.

The Terrific Twos

The Little Champion is two today. Not so little anymore. Happy Birthday sweet pea!

Saturday Library Trip - 01/22/05

Not much this week.

• Book: Manners at the Library, Alison Tharen
• Book: Manners at the Table, Alison Tharen
• DVD: A Bug's Life

Infant Formula Promotion Prohibition

Legislation has been introduced (text follows) as HB 302 and SB 113. You can check on there status at Texas Legislature Online. If you live in Texas (or even if you don't) please contact your Senator and Representative and urge them to vote for this bill.

"BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 165, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 165.005 to read as follows:

Sec. 165.005. INFANT FORMULA PROMOTION PROHIBITION. (a) A hospital, birthing center, physician, or other health care provider that provides services to mothers and infants may not promote the use of infant formula, including by:

(1) distributing without charge an infant formula or any item containing the name of an infant formula; and

(2) advertising an infant formula.

(b) The executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall adopt rules to implement this section.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005"

Bloggers Bring Down Bill

A Chesapeake, Virgina lawmaker withdrew House Bill 1677 after he recived more than 500 emails, fuled for the most part by blogs and bloggers. The bill, which would have required women to report to law enforcement officials fetal deaths which occurred without medical attendance, was meant to apply to situations where mothers abandon newborns and allow coroners to determine whether the baby was born dead or alive. However, the bill was so broadly worded as to apply to a woman having a miscarriage before the point of viablilty and imposed criminal penalties.

Links:
Democracy for Virginia
Delegate to withdraw HB 1677 (Augusta Free Press)
Del. Cosgrove pulls bill after Internet fuels fiery protest (HamptonRoads.com/Pilot Online)

Saturday Library Trip - 01/13/05

O.k. I lied. Last week was not the last non-saturday Saturday library trip. We are going out of town this weekend so it was another Thursday trip. We finally got a VCR that works (we hope), but only just, so no videos this week.

• Book: The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, Jack Canfield
• Book: The Broker, John Grisham [ooh.. fiction!]
• Book: Truth and Fiction in The Da Vinci Code, Bart D. Ehrman
• Book: Austin, Richard Zelade [Lone Star Guides]
• Book: Bob, Lauryn Silverhardt [Bob the Builder]
• Book: Thomas the Tank Engine Counts to Ten
• Book: Today is Monday, Eric Carle
• Book: Domino Games, John Belton & Joella Cramblit
• Book: Manners On a Car Trip, Alison Tharen
• Book: Chess for Kids, Michael Basman
• DVD: Dora the Explorer: Map Adventures

Cytotec Liaibility

A doctor and hospital in Cape Town, South Africa were found liable this week after a baby sustained brain damage during labor. Labor had been induced using Cytotec (Misoprostol) and the court found that the doctor did not properly direct the nursing staff to continuously monitor the condition of the baby.

Note from the Mommy Blawger - the manufacturer of Cytotec recommends that it not be given to pregnant women because is may cause uterine rupture. It is a Pregnancy Category X drug.

Link: Cape Times - Doctor, nurses found liable for damages

Saturday Library Trip - 1/08/2005

Lots of books for mommy and the boys this week. Still no functioning VCR.

• Book: My First Dinosaur Board Book [DK Publishing, Inc.]
• Book: Grandma, Debbie Bailey
• Book: A House for Hermit Crab, Eric Carle
• Book: Holy War on the Home Front: The Secret Islamic Terror Network in the United States, Harvy Kushner
• Book: Greater Expectations: Overcoming the Culture of Indulgence in America's Homes and Schools, Wiliam Damon
• Book: Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World, Greg Critser

Lego Land

The friend who sent me this link writes:
"I'm sure that in the Lego fanatic world this is normal, but wow."
That about sums it up.

Link: Abston Church of Christ

Milk - not just for babies anymore?

Jewish World Review writes that the Mothers' Milk Bank in San Jose, CA has quietly been offering milk to cancer patients and others with serious medical conditions.

Link: Cancer patients rely on breast milk to help relieve symptoms.

Fake Baby Milk

There is some justice in the world after all.

Link: Fake milk producer jailed for seven years in China

The Blawggies

Dennis Kennedy has posted the 2004 Legal Blogging Awards (a/k/a "The Blawggies").