Merry Christmas and holiday musings

Faithful readers: you can expect posting to be light for the next - well - several months. Aside from the upcoming holidays, y'all do remember that I am having a baby in 3 weeks or so? Keep you eye on the Baby Blawg, although I do expect to get an announcement posted here, too.

Here are some of my previous December/holiday posts of interest:

Happy Hanukkah (2004)
Handel's Messiah (2004)
Holiday Shopping Guide (2003)

And here's a new link: Martha Stewart on The Perfect Package.

Breastfeeding in Public

The Independent has an article about the movement to ensure public breastfeeding rights in the UK.

Mommy Bloggers

The Mommy Bloggers Blog has an inteview with Surfette Lisa Stone, mommy and blogger of BlogHer and LegalBlogWatch fame.

From Bad to Worse?

Kellogg to Reduce Trans Fat in Products

...and replace it with genetically modified soybean oil.

Iowa Midwifery

The Des Moines Register reports a move to gain greater hospital privileges for Certified Nurse-Midwives:

[Clara] Dugan said hospitals are denying independent admitting privileges for advanced practice midwives. Hospitals, she said, require that independent nurse midwives practice dependently under the sponsorship of two physicians who agree to take responsibility for the midwife's actions.

"If you're required to have two supervisors, you have to do it their way," Dugan said.

Dr. Rebecca Shaw, medical director for Midwife Services of Iowa Health-Des Moines, said the hospital, which has three employed midwives, does require independent midwives to have two co-admitting physicians, who are able to provide for obstetrical emergencies and complications, because it "enhances patient safety and communication between midwives and physicians at the hospital and it improves care when communication is best."

A new advocacy group, Mothers And Others for Midwives, has been formed, and last night's meeting featured speakers such as Susan Hodges, president of the national advocacy group Citizens for Midwifery, and the famous midwife and author Ina May Gaskin.

**12/19/05 Edited to add this news link: Midwives Fight Hospital Rules

You will never think of playhouse disney the same way again

I'm embarassed to link to this post from The Sarcastic Journalist. But it's hilarious. Including the comments. Warning: for mature audiences only. Let me make this plain: though the photo is not what I would consider offensive, do not load the page with your kids in the room or you will have some 'splainin' to do, of a kind you would rather avoid. Here's a hint: it seems that some moms (not me though!) have - er - romantic thoughts about certain characters on children's t.v. shows. Like Anthony Wiggle.

The Mommy Blawg does not endorse such things.

Virginia Midwifery

The State of Virginia has legalized direct-entry midwifery, and will start licensing DEMs this month. A big round of applause to the dedicated midwifery supporters in Virginia and elsewhere who made this possible.

Here's a news article, which I'm going to pick at a little, if you will bear with me:

State regulations being put in place this month will license certified professional midwives, letting dozens of homespun obstetricians come out of the closet.

Homespun obstetricians? Nothing could be further from the truth. The author clearly is oblivious to the difference between the obstetrical and midwifery models of care.

To [Midwives], midwifery is an almost mystical art. To the medical establishment, it's a threat.

A mystical art? Most midwives I know are quite grounded in evidence-based care. Art, yes. Mystical, no. What are they smoking over there in Virginia?

As far as being a threat, sure, in terms of giving women a choice. But in a state - such as Texas - where midwifery has been perfectly legal for quite some time, the homebirth rate is still so low that doctors are just not feeling the competition in their pocket-books. At all. Any OBs out there loosing business because of midwives? Let me know.

"Seeing 10 deliveries in no way prepares a person to do something that impacts two lives," said Richmond-area obstetrician John Partridge, who opposed the licensing laws. "There will be people injured--mothers who will be injured and babies who will die."

Ten deliveries? I think NARM requires 40, 20 as primary. Ten observations hardly qualifies you to assist. And yes, mothers will be injured and babies will die, but that happens at OB-attended hospital births, too. Statistically there is no difference. Oh, except that CPMs have fewer complications.

Congratulations, Virginia!

Oh. My. Gosh.

Mom says border agent made her lactate.