It goes by many different names. The International Day of the Child. The Universal Children’s Day. The National Child Day in individual countries.

However, it doesn’t matter what it’s called. November 20 is a special day for children all over the world.

When it all started

It was almost 55 years ago when the General Assembly of the United Nations recommended that the special day be observed to celebrate “worldwide fraternity and understanding between children.” The Assembly decided on November 20 as the special day which also marks the day when the Declaration of the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1959 and Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. Today, all over the world, countries, organizations and schools celebrated this very special day.

How I celebrated the Universal Child’s Day

I live in Switzerland, one of the smallest but most diverse countries in Europe. When one of my sons’ teachers asked for extra help for this day, I immediately volunteered despite my full schedule. Each class at the school had chosen a country to celebrate its culture and tradition. One of my sons’ class had chosen England; the other Pakistan. The schoolchildren from the neighboring town were invited over so they can celebrate together. My task was to show the children how to prepare cucumber sandwiches and tea for a typical English repast – English tea. I am not English, but I am familiar with the culture and I speak the language.

The classrooms were so wonderfully decorated according to the theme country and many parents lent a hand. A Daddy from Togo played African beats on drums. A Mommy from Thailand made lots of spring rolls while a Swiss Mommy married to a Pakistani baked patties from her husband’s region.

All 500 plus of the school kids then gathered outside, joined hands, and formed a big circle around the school house. Afterwards, Universal Child Day balloons were released.

It was a long morning for the kids. It was great chance for us moms to participate in such an event. My sons were so proud to tell their classmates “That’s my Mom. She helped us make the cucumber sandwiches.”

What the Universal Children’s Day means

As the name indicates, today was a day dedicated to each and every child in the world. However, it doesn’t stop there. It is also the chance to draw attention to the plight of children in low income regions. Yes, somewhere in the world, children still suffer from:

• Poverty. According to a study, 1 in 3 children in developing countries has no access to sanitation facilities. 1 in5 has not access to clean water.

• Child labor. The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that 218 million children are being used as labourers, with the highest numbers in the Asian-Pacific region.

• Child abuse. 80 to 98% of children suffer from physical punishment at home. More than 50,000 die as a result of homicide.

• Diseases. Millions of children die from malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases which are easily preventable and curable in developed countries.

• Lack of education. 13% of children aged 7 to 28 years in developing countries (approx. 140 million children) have never attended school, most of them girls.

• Discrimination and racism.

Many of us may not realize that these things are not only happening in some remote country. It may be happening in our own neighborhood. Here in Switzerland, the main problems children have to contend with are racism and discrimination.

I really applaud the school’s efforts to introduce the children to other cultures, thereby broadening their horizon and promoting tolerance, respect and appreciation for diversity. I was proud to be part of this effort. And I hope that other parents will participate more in the coming years to help make this world a better place for our kids.

November 18 is Prematurity Awareness Day.

I am one of those moms who had firsthand experience with prematurity. My twin boys were born 5 weeks early 6 years ago. Even though they’ve grown to be healthy boys, we had to struggle with low birth weight and health problems during the first year of their lives.

This is the reason why I tend to follow closely the latest new updates on prematurity. This is why I am sharing with you today some facts and figures on prematurity.

What is Preterm Birth?

Preterm birth is defined as delivery before 37 weeks of gestation is completed. In recent years, preemies have been loosely classified into 3 categories:

• Very preterm infants are those born before the 32^th week of gestation.
• Moderately preterm infants are those born between the 32nd and 34^th week of pregnancy
• Late preterm births are those which occur between the 34^th and the 36^th week of gestation.

Children born prematurely have a higher rate of health problems such as cerebral palsy, sensory deficits, and respiratory conditions, and learning disabilities compared to children born full term.

Statistics on Prematurity

Let’s look at some statistics on prematurity:

• Almost 13 million babies from all over the world are born prematurely each year.

• More than 1 million of these preemies die as a result of preterm delivery.

• More than 85% of preterm births occur in low- and middle-income countries of Africa and Asia

• One in 8 American babies is premature.

• The rate on preterm deliveries in the US has increased by 36% during the last 25 years, higher than most developed countries.

These figures are cited in the white paper of March of Dimes on Preterm Birth. The numbers are based on data collected by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Global distribution of preterm births

The white paper also reports the following preterm birth rates per region:

• Africa – 11.9%

• Asia – 9.1%

• Europe – 6.2%

• Latin America and the Caribbean – 8.1%

• North America – 10.6%

• Oceania – 6.4%

According to income or resources, the preterm birth rates are as follows:

• High income countries – 7.5%

• Middle income countries -8.8%

• Low income countries -12.5%

The figures clearly indicate that preterm birth rates are related to income or resources. What is surprising, even troubling is the fact the preterm birth rate in North America is quite high, higher that the rate in middle income regions.

Preterm birth rate in the US is high – and rising

Breaking down the North American rates among individual countries, the rate is 12.7% in the US according to U.S. National Center for Health Statistics and 8.2% in Canada according to a Canadian government report. The rate of preterm births seems to be increasing in some countries including the US, Denmark and Norway. There are several factors that contribute to the increasing rate of preterm births in the US and other countries, and include

• Increased births due to assisted reproduction which lead to multiple pregnancies that necessitate early delivery.

• Increased number of pregnancies in women older than 35

• Increased use of elective Cesarean sections close to term, thus increasing the number of late premature births.

In contrast, not much is known about the causes of premature births in low income countries but they are presumably related to poor health care system and economic problems.

Prematurity is a global problem and seems to be increasing due to many different reasons. But it all boils down to the fact that preterm births, unless medically necessary, do not benefit baby or mom.

Can you imagine your toddler growing up to be 80? 90? 100? It’s not as unlikely as you think.

What a paradox. Children nowadays are purported to be unhealthy – overweight, sedentary, raised on junk food and hooked to the TV and the Internet. They are likely to develop diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. On the other hand, the same generation of children is expected to live longer than their parents and their grandparents, according to a study by German and Danish researchers. They are the future centenarians.

Which Countries Have the Highest Life Expectancy?

Life expectancy has been improving with each generation. At least in developed countries. Japan and San Marino have the highest life expectancies in the world today: 86 and 81, respectively according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report. Canada is not far behind at 80.5 years. US life expectancy is 78.5.

If this trend of improvement continues, 75% of present day children born since 2000 will reach 75, even a hundred years old. Furthermore, the senior citizens of the future will be fitter, with less disability and functional limitations.

Why Are People Living Longer?

Advances in medical treatment and better health care seem to be what is making people in developing countries live longer despite the increased incidence of chronic diseases, pollution, and unhealthy lifestyle.

With all the efforts exerted to fight aging, diseases, and disability, it is a great to know that these efforts are bearing fruit. There are still countries with a life expectancy between 40 and 50 years due to poor health care and war.

Some Downsides to Having an Older Population

Despite this apparent victory against aging, there are some downsides to consider:

• Increased life expectancy and low birth rates will result in a population dominated by retirees and pensioners. Experts believe that in 5 to 10 years, some countries’ demography will reach a point wherein there will be more 65 plus citizens than under-fives. It would be a world with more grandparents than there are grandchildren to go around.

• Such a population structure described above can result in collapse of health care and welfare systems of developed countries.

• Even if birth rates are increased, Mother Earth can only support so much. We may reach a point when our population will outgrow our planet.

Experts believe that country leaders should act now and start preparing for the foreseeable future.

Can you imagine your toddler to live to be 100? Do you want to live to be 100?

Here’s your opportunity to kick off the holiday season by doing something nice. Even the most time-strapped parents of toddlers can take the time to send a Christmas card to a little boy for what may be his last Christmas.

Five-year-old Noah Biorkman has been battling neuroblastoma cancer for two-and-a-half years. He was diagnosed with Stage IV neuroblastoma in February 2007. It went into remission in August of that year, but returned in September 2008 with legions on Noah’s right arm and leg. After six different clinical trials, the cancer continues to spread.

His family, including his mother Diana Harrison Biorkman, will celebrate Christmas with him early this year – what is likely to be Noah’s last one. Noah loves Christmas cards, so his mom is asking everyone to send him a card. His address is:

Noah Biorkman
1411 Fountain View Circle
South Lyon, Michigan 48178

Snopes Verified

According to Snopes.com, DJ Ed Carter WKSR in Pulaski, Tennessee, who is an acquaintance of Mrs. Biorkman, has verified the story on the air. You can also read updates on Noah at his section on CarePages. Be warned that his mother’s blog is a definite tearjerker. I’m actually sitting here with tears in my eyes, holding my one-year-old daughter, as I read.

On Thursday, Noah received 416 cards and they continue coming in. The celebration is planned for this weekend. But it’s not too late to send a card with well wishes for this beautiful and brave little boy.

Private thoughts, prayers and well wishes for a “Christmas miracle” won’t hurt either, I’m sure. While Noah sleeps a lot, the medication that keeps the pain at bay does permit him to walk and play, as well. He is filled with wonder at the well wishes he’s receiving and is making the most of his time with his family in the ways only a child can.

About Neuroplastoma

Mrs. Biorkman describes her son’s cancer on the blog: “Neuroblastoma cancer really sucks and is a beast.” Noah’s doctors continue working hard to find a cure for children who relapse, and Mrs. Biorkman hopes the clinical trial’s Noah has taken will help them in their efforts.

Neuroblastoma is a cancerous tumor beginning in the nerve tissues – often in the adrenal glands in the abdomen — of infants and toddlers. About 650 cases of neuroblastoma are detected in the U.S. each year and most are diagnosed in children under 5 years old.

As with most cancers, the prognosis for children with neuroblastoma varies depending on how early it is detected, and how quickly the cancer progresses.

Read more about Neuroblastoma at https://www.nbhope.org

Before there was an embryo, there were an egg and a sperm, collectively called gametes. And before the gametes, there were germ cells. The pathway from germ cells to gametes to embryo is long and complicated and occurs only in the human reproductive organs. Or at least it used to.

There have been previous similar claims of artificially creating gametes in the lab. Some claims had some degree of credibility. Some were simply hoaxes.

If you remember, just a few months ago, British researchers from the University of Newcastle claimed they did it first. However, their report published in the journal Stem Cells Development was later retracted due to plagiarism claims so that their claim to be “first” is currently still unsubstantiated.

Well, the latest claim to achieve this feat is coming from no less than researchers of Stanford, an educational institution of impeccable reputation. And the fact that the results have been published in no other than the highly esteemed science journal Nature tells us – this is really it.

The Stanford researchers developed a technique to isolate germ cells from embryonic stem cells. However, they went further and induced the germ cells to give up half of their chromosomes in the process called meiosis. Eureka! The first “lab-made” sperms are here. OK, so they were actually only spermatids, i.e. immature sperms.

But hey, can you imagine the controversy this latest development triggered? If sperm (and eventually eggs) can be made in the lab, the next logical step is to use these lab-made gametes in IVF. This is definitely taking the “test tube baby” one step further. Is this the start of the eugenics era?

However, the researchers claim they have different intentions and site the following benefits that may come out of this discovery:

• Learn more about the earliest stages of human development

• Understand inherited diseases better

• Find treatments for infertility

Understandably, there are those are not too happy about such scientific advancements. Those who object would probably base their objections on the following:

• The use of embryonic stem cells.

• The act of playing God, trying to make human beings in the lab.

Some scientists, however, dismiss these objections as groundless and irrelevant. According to a Bioethics professor:

“It seems to me this is one of those examples where people are groping around for a problem and there literally isn’t one.”

So how do you feel when you hear about such developments? Outraged? Scared? Skeptical? Or fascinated?

Road traffic safety and prematurity are just a few of the many interesting health-related events going on in November. However, I’ve prepared a short list focusing on family health.

GLOBAL EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES

• November 14 is World Diabetes Day

• November 16 is World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

• November 19 to 20 is the First Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety

• November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

US EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES

• November is American Diabetes Month
  by the American Diabetes Association

• November is National Adoption Month
  by the Child Welfare Information Gateway
  “You don’t have to be perfect to be a perfect parent”

• November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
  by the Alzheimer’s Association

• November is National Family Caregivers Month
  by the National Family Caregivers Association

• November 18 is Prematurity Awareness Dayby the March of Dimes Foundation

• November 6 to 8 is the Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Movement Weekend and half marathon/5K race
  by the Gynecological Cancer Foundation’s (GCF)

• November 19 is the Great American Smokeout
  by the American Cancer Society

HEALTH WEB CHATS AT CLEVELAND CLINIC

Check out the online health chats with Cleveland Clinic’s health experts. It’s free.

• November 6: Facelifts with Dr. James E. Zins

• November 9: International Adoption Right For You? with Dr. Elaine Schulte

• November 11: Congenital Heart Disease in Children, with Dr.Constantine Mavroudis

• November 13: Ask the Expert: Menopause: Ready or Not!, with Dr. Holly L. Thacker

• November 19: Are You Concerned About Your Baby’s Motor Development?, with Ann Marie Pace, MPT and Merri Jo Somodi, PT

The flu, especially the swine flu is making headlines everyday and I deemed it wise to give you the latest flu updates that may be relevant for you and your family.

Swine Flu Shots in New York Schools

Schools in New York City will start offering H1N1 shots end of October, the NY Times report. Those of you residing in NYC might already have received the consent forms. The vaccination will cover primary public schools but private schools who want to participate will also get access to the vaccine. The shots or nasal sprays will be administered by school nurses. Middle and high schools are scheduled later in November and December. Other cities and states are expected to follow suit.

Pregnant Women Urged to Get the H1N1 flu Vaccine

Pregnant women are on top of the H1N1 vaccination priority list. This is because pregnant women seem to be especially vulnerable. Health authorities say that the mortality rate among women infected with H1N1 is six times higher than what is normally observed in the general population. The reasons for pregnant women’s vulnerability are their young age and an immune system that is naturally weakened in order not to reject the growing fetus. It is, however, very hard for pregnant women to accept the flu vaccine despite health official’s reassurances of its safety. So far, 28 deaths have been reported among pregnant women in the US but health officials think it could be more. Many cases go unreported for confidentiality reasons. An NY Times report features one almost fatal case.

Tamiflu for Children in Short Supply

In another report from the NY Times earlier this month, Mary Poppin’s advice that a spoonful of sugar would make medicine more palatable may also be true for the flu drug Tamiflu. The liquid pediatric version of the drug is in short supply as drug companies are concentrating on producing more pills which are definitely much faster to manufacture than Tamiflu syrup. Some sources say that the manufacturing process for the suspension is almost 25 times longer than for the pills. Pharmacists are therefore advised to mix Tamiflu capsules in a liquid that consists of sugar, purified water, artificial cherry flavoring. The instructions on how to mix the liquid version are given in the Tamiflu labels, the report says. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also gives easy to understand instructions in their site.

Flu Fears Prompt Review of the Sportsman Handshake

The hockey season has started and sports associations are scrambling to come up with hygiene guidelines that would hopeful prevent the swine flu. CBC reports that the chief medical officer of Hockey Canada sent out a bulletin with recommended precautionary measures which include no sharing of water bottles and – yes – maybe even do without the end-of-game handshake. It’s not only hockey that is affected. I am a soccer mom here in Switzerland and as early as school start in August, there were already instructions to avoid the sportsmen handshake, if possible. Just one more challenge for parents to find the balance between short-term preventive measure and long-term character building. At least hockey players wear gloves…

Fourteen years is a long time. In this period of time, many of us have:

• upgraded our cell phone, computer hardware, and software several times.

• gotten married, delivered babies and have raised them up to puberty.

• moved into the digital age, set up our blogs, and expanded our social media.

• updated our knowledge of parenting, the environment, and nutrition.

In the meantime, obesity has become an epidemic, even among children, and smoking bans are in place almost everywhere. Very few things have remained unchanged during the last 14 years. And one of them is the US Nutrition Standards and Meal Requirements for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). No kidding! The standards have been in place in 1995 and haven’t been updated ever since.

In July this year, Joan Blades of MomsRising.org challenged moms to take the following test

Which of the following is considered a junk food according to national school nutrition standards?

• A. Hi-C Blast – vitamin fortified sugar water

• B. Poland Springs seltzer water – water with bubbles

• C. French fries

• D. Candy Bars

I am sure most, if not all of us, got it wrong by just using our common sense. The correct answer is – brace yourself – B water. No, this isn’t a joke. Based on the current nutritional standards, it is the only item on the list that does not contain any vitamins or minerals. If you think this is all rubbish, then you are not alone. In fact, MomsRising prepared a petition to the Congress to “update outdated nutrition standards immediately to ensure our schools provide healthy food for our children.”

It seems that their prayers have been answered. Earlier this week, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released the report School Meals: Building Blocks for Healthy Children which reviewed the NSLP as well as the US School Breakfast Program (SBP). And on top of the list of the IOM recommendations are: more fruits and vegetables! The recommendations are aiming to be consistent with 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans set by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA). In general terms, the IOM committee advise to take the following into consideration in menu planning:

• increase the amount and variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

• set a minimum and maximum level of calories.

• increase the focus on reducing the amounts of saturated fat and sodium provided.

Here’s what the changes, if ever implemented will bring:

• An increase in the amount of fruit offered in school breakfast to 1 cup per day for all students

• An increase in the amount of fruit offered in school lunch to 1 cup per day for students in grades 9-12

• An increase in the amount of vegetables offered in school lunch to ¾ cup per day for grades K-8 and to 1 cup per day for grades 9-12

• An acknowledgment that improving the nutritional value of school meals by increasing servings of fruits, vegetables and whole grains will increase the cost of breakfast by 25% and lunch by 9%

• A requirement that students take at least one serving of fruit at breakfast and at least one serving of fruit or vegetable at lunch.

• A reduction in sweetened beverages to be replaced by water, low-fat or nonfat milk, and unsweetened fruit juices.

With these recommendations, the answer to the above question completely changes. In fact, our common sense was right in the first place. Let’s hope it won’t take another 14 years for the recommendations to be implemented…

The IOM report comes in a timely manner. Oct 5 was National Child Health Day and Oct 12 to 16 was National School Lunch Week.

Not Bright Enough to Marry?

For 17-year old Kerry Robertson, what stands in her way to marriage and motherhood is her learning disabilities. Social workers already canceled her wedding to her 25-year old fiance Mark McDougall 2 days before the church ceremony. The Fife Council where Robertson lives feels that her learning disabilities render her incapable of understanding the institution of matrimony. Under such circumstances, according to Scottish Law, authorities have the right to refuse sanctioning a marriage. Her age is not a factor here because the minimum legal age for getting married is the UK is 16. Although some places require written consent from guardians of those under 18, this is not the case in Scotland where Robertson lives. Besides, Robertson’s guardian is her grandmother who doesn’t oppose the nuptials.

Not Bright Enough to be a Mother?

Robertson’s lack of mental capacity to comprehend marriage also extends to her understanding of motherhood, the authorities say. She won’t therefore be allowed to keep her baby boy after her delivery in January next year as she lacks the mental capacity to take of the baby. What about the father of the child? He, too, is not deemed eligible to keep the baby boy because he’s not legally married to Robertson in the first place.

Social Legislation Gone Awry?

To be fair, social legislations are in place to protect those who need protection. But how far should the authorities meddle in people’s affairs on the grounds of benevolence and protection?

In halting the marriage, the social services feel they are protecting Robertson from getting into something that she might do her more harm than good, something she might regret later. Well, tell that to millions of people who entered matrimony and got out again, many via messy divorces.

In taking away the baby from his mother, the social services feel they are protecting the baby. The baby will be placed in an institution and put up for adoption. Would the social institution prove to be a better alternative to a mother who wants and loves him?

What’s Social Services Have to Say?

The authorities say they cannot divulge all the details that made them reach their decisions for confidentiality reasons. However, according to a spokesperson, they try to “balance risk and welfare while supporting people at times of personal or family need.” Platitude or genuine concern?

What the Couple Has to Say

According to Robertson and her fiance, Robertson’s learning disabilities are “mild”. She can read and write and she is “loving and caring” and “enjoys being pregnant. They already named the unborn baby boy Ben.

Social Services Mean Well But…

We may never know everything about this affair or hear what the full truth from both sides. But we know for sure that this isn’t the first time nor last time that social services or child protection authorities interfere with people’s lives for the “right” reasons. In most cases they succeed. Think about how many children are rescued from their abusive parents each year. But in some cases they fail.

Take the following cases:

• A teenager who committed sexual offenses was placed by social services in a foster family in Wales who wasn’t informed of his personal history. He sexually abused the family’s two young children. In protecting the teenage boy, social services failed to protect the foster family.

• In the US, a 5-year old girl and her younger sister were taken away from their birth mother and placed in a foster family. The 5-year old was found dead in the foster family’s cellar. She was restrained in a high chair with duct tape and died of asphyxiation. The foster mother was a respected case worker at Maine Department of Human Services.

• More painful is the plight of Australia’s stolen generation wherein aborigine children were taken away from their parents to be raised in a “civilized” way.

Do you think social services have the right to stop Robertson’s marriage?

To take away the baby from parents who want him?

It used to be said that a mom is always sure it’s her child but a man’s paternity can always be questioned. Not anymore.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of embryos are implanted into women’s wombs during in vitro fertilization (IVF). What are the chances that an embryo is implanted in a womb where it isn’t supposed to be? No, this is not something out of Private Practice. It happened before and it has happened again.

According to this CNN report, when the couple Carolyn and Sean Savage got a phone call informing them of the mistake after implantation, shock is a poor word to describe their feelings. It is not only about the “strange” embryo that is growing in Caroline’s uterus that concerns them. In fact, there are many things one has to consider when one is involved in embryo mix up situation.

Health and Future Pregnancy

If you were the one who is carrying the embryo, how would this pregnancy affect your health? Does it put you at risk for pregnancy complications? Does it jeopardize your chances of getting pregnant again? And as the DNA mom, are you willing to wait out this pregnancy until you try for the next one? Is your age a determining factor?

After going through miscarriages, several failed IVF cycles, health problems and difficult pregnancies, this could be Carolyn’s last chance to have another child. In fact, the doctor has advised Carolyn from getting pregnant again.

Religious Beliefs and Convictions

In cases of mix ups, a termination of the pregnancy is a very likely outcome. How would you feel about an abortion if you were the DNA-mother? If you were the accidental surrogate mother?

Carolyn and Sean, due to their religious beliefs, strongly believe in human life in the embryos. Carolyn is not willing to terminate this pregnancy. To complicate things, the couple still had 5 frozen embryos left over from IVF which they are not willing to destroy or leave frozen forever. They are now looking at surrogacy options for these embryos.

Unintended Surrogacy

What is your attitude towards surrogacy? How would you feel if you became a surrogate mother unintentionally? Would you treat this pregnancy the same way as any other normal pregnancy? A clinic in Wales accidentally implanted the last of a couple’s embryo in another woman. The unwilling surrogate mom decided to terminate the pregnancy and the couple was left with nothing.

Isn’t it ironic that Carolyn and Sean are looking for a surrogate mother for their embryos when Carolyn herself has become an unintentional surrogate mother to somebody else’s embryo?

Custody

Whose child is it? In 1993, a white couple in Australia gave birth to black twin babies after going through IVF. At that time, according to the Australian Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, a woman delivered the child, even if it is not through genetically hers, is the “legal mother”. Paternity, however, is “open to legal interpretation.” In another mix up case in 2004, an American woman who got implanted with the wrong embryo was sued by the DNA parents for custody after delivery. Laws change but still vary from country to country or even from state to state in the US.

Carolyn is the biological or womb mother but she is not the DNA mother of the child. It is not clear how the law will decide when it comes to a custody battle. Fortunately for the DNA, Carolyn, again due to her strong religious principles, will never put a claim to a child that is not hers despite the ordeal she has to go through. Both sets of parents are talking to each other to find a solution. After all, this was none of their fault. Nor it was that of the unborn child.

Bonding

Mother-child bonding starts at the womb. Will you be able to give up a baby after carrying it for 9 months in your womb? Surrogate moms can do this but Carolyn is not just any surrogate mom. She really wanted, fought for, and risked a lot for this pregnancy.

In the current case, will the DNA mom bond with her baby? She, too, wanted to be pregnant and now she has been denied of the privilege (at least this time around) of carrying her baby in her womb.

Nowadays, mix ups are discovered before delivery. In case of the Australian couple, and another reported case in the Netherlands, they only found out about the mistake at birth. The blow in these cases is much harder since mom and baby have already strongly bonded for 9 months without any doubts about their relationship.

This is not the first case of embryo mix ups. According to American Fertility Association experts, the odds of this happening are 1 in a million, mainly due to human error.

So what would you do if you were involved in an embryo mix-up?

After a slow summer, autumn brings us lots of health-related events in the form of awareness campaigns, observances as well as podcasts and webchats. Once again, I’ve compiled a list which I think might be interesting to out BOL readers.

EVENTS ABOUT CHILDREN’S HEALTH

• October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month
  National Down Syndrome Society

• October is National Spina Bifida Awareness Month
  Spina Bifida Association
  Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month
  First Candle/SIDS Alliance

• October 5 is National Child Health Day
  Maternal and Child Health Bureau
  Health Resources and Services Administration
  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

• October 12 to 16 is National School Lunch Week
  School Nutrition Association

EVENTS ABOUT MOM’S HEALTH

• October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Board of Sponsors

• October 13 is Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day
  Metastatic Breast Cancer Network

• October 14 to 17 is NPWH 12th Annual Premier Women’s HealthCare Conference
  Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health

EVENTS ON FAMILY SAFETY

• October is Eye Injury Prevention Month
  American Academy of Ophthalmology

• October is Halloween Safety Month
  Prevent Blindness America

• October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
  Domestic Violence Awareness Project
  National Resource Center on Domestic Violence

• October 4 to 10 is Fire Prevention Week
  National Fire Protection Association

• October 5 to 11 is Get Smart About Antibiotics Week
  Division of Bacterial Diseases
  National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• October 14 is Stop America’s Violence Everywhere Today
  American Medical Association Alliance

ONLINE CHATS AND PODCASTS ON FAMILY HEALTH

Webchats at Cleveland Clinic

• October 15
  Are You Concerned About Your Baby’s Motor Development? by A. Pace, PT and MJ Somodi, PT

• October 16
  Breast Reconstruction hosted by Risal Djohan, MD

• October 27
  Male Infertility: Your Questions Answered by Edmund Sabanegh, MD

Available Radio Podcast at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

• Gestational Diabetes: A Guide for Pregnant Women, from September 30 on

Available Podcasts at CDC

• Snort Sniffle Sneeze: No Antibiotics Please from September 29 on

• 2009 H1N1 ACIP Vaccination Recommendations

The flu season is here and if it isn’t bad enough dealing with the threat of the seasonal flu, the H1N1 flu (aka swine flu) is also ready to add its virulence to autumn-winter sniffles. Mexico is already possibly seeing the second wave of H1N1 flu and it is only a matter of time till the bug again crosses the border to the rest of the Americas and the world.

Many parents with little children (including me) are on the verge of panic and are scrambling to find out how to best protect their families from the pandemic that’s almost here. Other than the options of moving to South Pole, to a remote tropical island or isolated cave, we can’t avoid being exposed to the flu. My physician told me she believes everybody will get it sooner or later and I tend to agree with her. So how do we live with the epidemic that’s hanging over our heads? Here are some tips aside from the usual wash-your-hands-and-cover-your-nose advice.

Be Informed About the Flu.

This may be an overused cliché but the “knowledge is power” adage still holds true. Inform yourself about the disease, the symptoms, and the treatment. There questions about the flu that can only be answered by gathering as much information as we can. Only then can we make “informed” choices.

Flu Prevention.

I will use another overused adage here. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And prevention is not just about washing hands. It’s about a whole lifestyle of healthy nutrition, physical fitness, and thinking positively.

Here is a list of resources on prevention which I found useful and therefore would like to share:

• 100 Healthy Hacks to Help You Through Cold & Flu Season at Online Nursing Programs

• What You Can Do to Stay Healthy at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• For those with kids in college: CDC Guidance for Responses to Influenza for Institutions of Higher Education during the 2009-2010 Academic Year

• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) H1N1 Flu Information.

To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate.

I am an advocate of immunization but I always drew the line when it came to the seasonal flu vaccine. I thought I and my family never had a need for it. But with the added threat of H1N1 flu, I have to rethink my options. To vaccinate or not to vaccinate, that’s a big question. So what do we know about the flu vaccines?

Flu Vaccination Updates:

• The US FDA approved the new batch of seasonal flu vaccines last month. It was developed from the most common strains of the previous season as well as strains isolated during the winter flu season in the southern hemisphere. It is indicated for adults and children.

• The US FDA has also approved the H1N1 flu vaccine but it is currently available for adults only. The vaccine is still being tested in children and, according to the Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is showing promise (CNN reports). If approved for pediatric use, children ages 6 months to 9 years may need 2 doses versus the single dose mean for adults and children older than 9. For those who would like to know about thimerosal, some formulations of the vaccine have it, and some not. Thimerosal is normally not present in children’s vaccines in the US.

• The AAP has recently updated it guidelines for flu vaccines. It highly recommends that children ages 6 months to 18 years old should receive the current season flu vaccine.

Know Your Family’s Susceptibility.

Children are especially susceptible because they had limited exposure to the seasonal flu. In the UK, the cases of H1N1 among children have doubled since school started a few weeks ago.

Thousands have caught the swine flu but fortunately, it is not as deadly as previously thought. There are certain sectors of the population which are more likely to develop serious symptoms and complications that can result in death.

Here are some of the latest statistics on fatal swine flu cases in children:

• As of end of August, 36 children (under 18) have died of the H1N1 flu in the US (Source: MedicalNews Today).

• The youngest victim was aged 2 months, and the oldest was 17 years.

• Five fatalities were under 2 years old and 7 were under 5 years old.

• The majority of children who died (24 out of 36) have at least one other medical condition that made them highly susceptible. These conditions include developmental delay such as cerebral palsy and chronic pulmonary problems such as asthma.

Thus, considering that there probably won’t be enough vaccines to go around, the AAP suggests that the following high-risk groups should receive the vaccine first:

• Children ages 6 months through 24 years

• Parents and caretakers of infants younger than 6 months

• Pregnant women

• Health care workers and emergency services personnel

• Adults ages 25 to 64 with chronic health conditions

Think about your family’s susceptibility. Does anybody have a serious condition that makes vaccination worth considering? Does anybody have a higher likelihood of more exposure than usual (e.g. healthcare professionals, school teachers, etc.)?

Take care of yourself.

Finally, moms, do not forget to take care of yourself. It is our jobs to look out for our families in good times and bad times and it seems that bad times may be coming. All the more reason that we should stay healthy.

Eighteen months after giving birth to her daughter Jada, Kim Clijsters is back in the tennis circuit, fitter and better. The funny thing is, the Belgian tennis Mama, who used to be the world number 1 and winner of several titles, entered the US Open tournament without a ranking (a real wildcard) after a 2-year hiatus that included marriage (she is married to American basketball star Brian Lynch) and maternity. She is now up from nothing to 19^th in WTA rankings, beating Venus and Serena Williams to win the US Open woman’s title.

Mother and Champion?

At the beginning of the year, Clijsters was just a mom of a 1-year old toddler and a has-been tennis star. She decided to come out of retirement and return to the WTA tour in March when she went for an exhibition match in Wimbledon. The 2009 US Open is just Clijsters 3^rd tournament since her comeback in August this year.

Clijsters is 26 years old, not that young by tennis’ standards but still young enough to make it back to the top. However, going back to professional tennis after childbirth is not easy. Tell that to the likes of Chris Evert Lloyd and Lindsay Davenport. According to CBC sports, Clijsters is the first mother to win a major title in almost 30 years. The last tennis Mommy to do this was the Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley who won in Wimbledon in 1980.

Clijsters herself was not sure how she could manage things on and off court, including traveling with a baby. With this title, she proved to herself and to the world that it is possible to be a mom and a champion at the same time.

Naptimes and matches

According to Telegraph UK, part of Clijsters’ preparation for her final match was to arrange her daughter’s naptime schedule so the little one could watch her Mommy play. Sounds familiar?

This really paid off because little Jada was in real good spirits and delighted the crowd as she shared the center court (and eventually upstaged) her mom! But tennis Mama didn’t mind. She had 2 trophys – the silver cup and her daughter – and she knew which one was the most precious.

For Clijsters, it’s back to nappy changing, playdates, and naptime schedule till her next major – the Australian Open in early 2010.

Fatherhood and tennis

Fatherhood, on the other hand, never seemed to have stopped male tennis players from pursuing a career. Think of John McEnroe and Andrei Agassi. It definitely wasn’t a hurdle for Roger Federer who became “double” dad to twin girls last July although he lost the US Open finals to the Argentinian Juna Martin del Potro.

Eight years after the September 11 attack at the World Trade Center, the children of 9/11 are still hurting but the feelings of sympathy seem to be waning.

• Almost 3,000 children under the age of 18 lost a parent during the 9/11 attack.

• The average age of the orphaned 9/11 children is 9 years; some were still in the womb when their father died at the attacks, either as victims on the ground and on the planes or as rescuers.

• The ratio of men to women among who died was 3:1, leaving a lot of fatherless children.

• 8 children died during the attacks, mostly as airline passengers

The Support

After the attack, several non-profit groups and charity organizations opened their arms to these children, offering the following support:

• Counseling

• Special camps

• Music and art therapy

• Scholarships

The 9/11 fatigue

Years later, the children of 9/11 are growing up – and are slowly being forgotten. According to those support groups and organizations, the so-called “9/11 fatigue” has set in. Funding for projects is drying up. Due to the economic crisis, sponsors and donors are cutting down on charity donations as part of austerity measures. Even on the familial level, friends and relatives are also getting tired of helping out, thinking that the 9/11 children should move forward and get on with their lives. But the question is: can they?

The Ongoing Problems

A study by researchers at the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York showed that children who lost loved ones during the 2001 attacks have double the rate of psychiatric disorders than those who were not affected. The researchers followed up forty five 9/11 children for over two years and found the following:

• More than half had some kind of anxiety disorder

• A third exhibited symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

• 27% showed separation anxiety

• 14% had a major depressive disorder, a rate which is 3 times more than those not affected.

Other observations from the support groups are:

• Boys are particular affected, grieving silently.

• Many children are only just opening up and starting to express their grief.

It goes without saying that now is not the time to abandon them. Eight years is a long time for some people. For many of these kids, it’s a whole lifetime. Losing a parent is hard enough. Losing a parent in such a violent manner, with maximum media coverage is the worst thing for a child to go through. For the 9/11 children, getting on with their lives is not a simple thing.

Tuesday’s Children

The support group Tuesday’s Children was set up in 2001 immediately after the attack. It was set up by family and friends of 9/11 victims “with the long term commitment to safeguard the health, happiness and future of both individual and family.” During the last 8 years, the group has extended to support to more than 5,000 family members.

Project Common Bond

The psychiatric problems mentioned above have been observed not only in 9/11 children but in children from other parts of the world whose lives have been touched by terrorism. The terrorist attacks in London, Madrid, India, Kenya, and Indonesia, just to name a few. Thus, Tuesday’s Children established the Project Common Bond, the organization’s International Community for Children Impacted by Terrorism. It organizes global youth leadership camps for young people from all over the world aged 14 to 18. With the motto “Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief”, Tuesday’s Children hopes to help these children to find healing and peace.

Like other support organizations, Tuesday’s Children is also feeling the pinch. It has teamed up with the NY Road Runners for the ING NYC Marathon. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to the group.

In many parts of the world, including the US, September marks the month when kids start or go back to school. It is most appropriate that a lot of health observances in the month of September have something to do with children and family health. Below is a list I have compiled for Babies Online readers.

EVENTS ON PHYSICAL FITNESS

• America On the Move’s September Campaign
  America On the Move Foundation (AOM)
  AOM’s annual one-month promotion for healthy eating and active living

• America on the Move Week – September 21 – 27r
  YMCA of Greater Hartford

EVENTS ON CHILDREN’S HEALTH

• September is Childhood Cancer Month
  Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
  Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children younger than 15
  

• September is Craniofacial Acceptance Month
  Children’s Craniofacial Association
  “Empowering and giving hope to those affected by facial differences”

• Leukemia & Lymphoma Awareness Month
  The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

• September is National Infant Mortality Awareness Month
  National Healthy Start Association
  “healthy families = healthy babies”

• September is National Pediculosis Prevention Month/Head Lice Prevention Month
  National Pediculosis Association, Inc.
  “Precaution, Preparedness & Peace of Mind”

• September is Reye’s Syndrome Awareness Month
  National Reye’s Syndrome Foundation
  Check your medications for salicylates!

• September 15 is Get Ready Day
  American Public Health Association
  “get ready for the flu season“

EVENTS ON FAMILY NUTRITION

• September is Fruit and Veggies – More Matters Month
  Fruit and Vegetable Program Office

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH)
  How much fruit and veggies you and family really need. Get tool kits with timely ideas on how to stretch food dollars with fruits and veggies.

• September is National Cholesterol Education Month
  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Health Information Center

• September is Grains Month
  Whole Grains Council

• September 13 is National Celiac Disease Awareness Day
  Celiac Sprue Association

EVENTS ON PARENTAL HEALTH

• September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
  National Ovarian Cancer Coalition
  “…raise awareness and promote education about ovarian cancer”

• September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month
  American Cancer Society

• September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
  Zero – The Project to End Prostate Cancer

• September 21 – 27 is Prostate Cancer Awareness Week
  Free or low cost screenings available!

• September is Healthy Aging®Month
  Educational Television Network, Inc
  “because there’s lots of living left to do...”

• September is Sports and Home Eye Safety Month
  Prevent Blindness America

For the record, I am a military wife and my husband is set to deploy to Iraq in two months. He leaves today actually, for some additional training and briefing.  We have a two-year old daughter.

A recent study reveals that children of  U.S. Veterans who have been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq are showing elevated signs of anxiety and many other emotional difficulties.   The study, based on a questionnaire and published in the Journal of Developmental and Behaviroal Pediatrics, followed 116 spouses and children of deployed Army personnel.  The results of the questionnaire found higher incidences of anxiety, of being worried and crying at a higher rate in military children; about twice the U.S. norm.

The results also found high-levels of stress in the spouses –mostly mothers– left behind.  Could this be playing the major role in their kids’ anxiety issues?  The researchers seem to think so.  They found that spouses who reported having access to support groups reported less stress for themselves and their children.

What Support is Available for the Military Spouse?

I’m glad to say that the study results ends on a high note by giving families insight on how they can ease the separation.  Aside from seeking support from church groups, family members and friends, the military has created a site, MilitaryOneSource.com that offers a plethora of help and resources for military families.  They offer, among other things:

• Support on the phone available 24/7
• Medical counseling
• Learning materials in the form of webinars, CDs, web links
• Discussion boards where families can log in and ask questions, state concerns towards others who have been through, or are going through, the same experience.

That’s just one of many.  Through the site, I found information on summer programs for children, financial help such as getting discounts for daycare, etc.  The information here is invaluable to military families.  If you’re a military spouse, or if you know someone who is, spread the news about the Military One Source site, as many military families still do not know of existence.

As a little girl, my ultimate dream was having a doll that could walk. I can’t remember when Santa Claus finally granted my wish but yes, I eventually got my walking doll. Since then, the whole toy industry has rapidly undergone a revolution, with dolls which can talk, cry, sing, dance, drink and do anything else that is close to a little girl’s heart. Anything that technology can do.

Thus, it is not surprising that somebody came up with a breastfeeding doll. Meet Bebe Gloton, the creation of the Spanish toy company Berjuan, the company that makes Munecas con Corazon (Dolls with Hearts). Bebe Gloton translates as “Greedy Baby” in English and it definitely tries its best to simulate one.

Here is how Bebe Gloton works:

It comes with a bra-like halter that “mommy-child” can wear. Two flowers represent the nipples. The doll latches on to the flower and make suckling sounds (”chup, chup, chup”). After feeding, the baby needs to be burped to stop its crying.

It is also not surprising that such a toy can trigger strong reactions both negative as well as positive. Here’s what parents have to say about Baby Gloton:

Positive Opinion of the Breastfeeding Doll

Bebe Gloton encourages the natural process of breastfeeding. Some parents think that many women are uncomfortable with breastfeeding, especially in the public. They feel that incorporating breastfeeding in a child’s play can help girls get used to the natural process early in life. Indeed, that is how the toy company is promoting the product – the first step towards breastfeeding.

Negative Opinion of the Breastfeeding Doll

Bebe Gloton is inappropriate, and promotes sexualization of little girls and the act breastfeeding. While many parents believe breastfeeding is a natural process, they feel it is inappropriate to allow young girls to mimic it. Breastfeeding is for adults only and such a toy is absolutely age (not to mention socially) inappropriate.

The doll is quite life-sized, like the average size of a real new-born baby (19.6 inches) and is available either as boy or a girl. It costs about 44 Euros and is currently only available in Spain. It goes without saying that there is a whole collection of wardrobe and accessories available for Bebe Gloton.

I am all for breastfeeding but I don’t really believe that the company is simply doing this to promote the natural process of lactation. In the end, it’s all about making money. However, I also do not believe that Bebe Gloton can lead to sexualization. It’s just a doll.

What do you think?

What is your opinion about the Bebe Gloton brestfeeding doll?

If you leaf through your baby or parenting magazine you’d be sure to find one of those cute pictures of babies, pictures that will tug at any mommy’s heart. Unfortunately, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is not pleased with many of them. Not in the least, according to this US News report. Because most of the pictures, especially those of sleeping babies do not reflect the safety guidelines to prevent sudden infant death (SIDS) as recommended by the AAP. Great photos as they are, they nevertheless set a bad example to parents and care givers.

Baby Ad Inconsistencies in Regards to SIDS:

• Babies sleeping on their tummies. The AAP and other health organizations have been advocating the “Back to Sleep” campaign to prevent SIDS.

• Babies on soft surfaces. The AAP discourages the use of pillows and soft blankets to prevent suffocation and overheating. Overheating is another factor that causes SIDS.

• Babies co-sleeping with mommy. There is nothing sweeter than a sleeping Madonna and her child. The AAP doesn’t think so because it is strongly against co-sleeping even though many other groups advocate co-sleeping for the sake of mom-baby bonding and promoting breastfeeding.

• Babies co-sleeping with other babies. The picture of Jennifer Lopez’s twins Max and Em sleeping in the same crib was really a slap at AAP’s face. I have twins myself and I admit I never let them sleep in the same crib mainly for practical reasons – they slept better that way and were less likely to disturb each other when one wakes up. But I know twins who couldn’t sleep away from each other.

Clearly, there is a big difference between what is safe and what makes a good photo. From a photographer’s view for example babies may look cuter “bottoms up.” And ads are all about photos that are cute and appealing and nice to look at. Plus the artistic license, of course.

What do you think?

Do you think the AAP has the right to “police” baby photos in ads, print and web media for safety reasons?

The AP is reporting that the “No shoes, no shirt, no service” signs commonly found in fast food and other restaurants may have been enforced a little too strictly at a St. Louis Burger King.

The article says that Jennifer Frederich, along with her mother and her infant daughter stopped at Burger King on Sunday. The baby was not wearing shoes, her mom figured that her tiny baby feet were exempt from the rule.

But workers asked the family to leave because the shoeless baby was violating a health code. In fact, there is no such policy in that county and the restaurant eventually apologized to the family.

As a mom of two, I know that baby shoelessness is a common occurrence – at least with my kids. Even my toddler daughter, who is known to kick off her shoes the minute she is strapped into her car seat, sometimes is brought into restaurants or stores sans shoes. Be it because she is asleep or because we just don’t feel like fighting her about it – but never sets bare feet down on the floor. Perhaps if the young baby was walking on the floor it might have been grounds for a health code violation, but to require babies to wear shoes is a bit extreme. Heck, our seven month old son doesn’t even own shoes!

What do you think?

Did they take it too far at this restaurant, or should babies be required to have on footwear?

What do you think about the mother in this case? A 26-year-old North Dakota mom was arrested for breastfeeding her baby while she was drunk.

Police were called to her home to investigate a domestic disturbance, and found Stacey Anvarinia breastfeeding her 6-week-old baby. The officers believed that she was drunk and arrested her. Last week she pleaded guilty to child neglect charges, and is due to be sentenced next month.

North Dakota authorities said that they believed that the police were correct to make the arrest, even if the mother hadn’t been breastfeeding, out of concern that the child was being taken care of by someone who was intoxicated.

Getting falling-down drunk then breastfeeding is one thing. But having a glass of wine in the evening – is that something that a mom could be arrested for? I hope not. Unwinding at the end of the day when baby is in bed with a little TV and a glass of wine is sanity-restoring to many moms.

The La Leche League says that light drinking is compatible with breastfeeding, and that one drink a day or less isn’t harmful to your baby.

So can you drink alcohol if you are breastfeeding? And should you be worried about being arrested? Alcohol certainly gets into breastmilk in small quantities.

So the most sensible thing for nursing mom to do is just a little planning. It takes a couple of hours for your body to process one drink – like a glass of wine or a bottle of beer. So if you have a glass of red wine in the evening just after you put baby to bed, knowing that the next time you’ll need to nurse won’t be for a couple of hours at least, then you and your baby should be fine.

And if you have more than one drink? What if you are going to a wedding, or a night out? Some mothers avoid breastfeeding their babies for several hours after drinking, either pumping breastmilk beforehand to feed the baby, or using formula. Then, after drinking alcohol, pumping milk and dumping it eases any engorgement and gets rid of any milk which may have alcohol in it.

What do you think? Are you a nursing mother who drinks alcohol? How much is too much? Or should nursing moms never drink alcohol?