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Breastfeeding has yet again found itself in the news. Once again the question has been raised as to whether images of breastfeeding or a woman breastfeeding in public are “indecent” or “obscene”. In this somewhat hyper-conservative society we live in something as natural and normal as breastfeeding seems to always be in the center of one debate or another. People in North America seem to be unable to see the difference between an image of breastfeeding and an image of a breast as sexual.
This time the debate is about whether or not images of a woman breastfeeding her child are indecent and if they should be allowed on social networking sites. Members of the online social networking site, Facebook, posted personal photos on their personal Facebook page, some of the photos were of the women breastfeeding their children. Facebook moderators considered the photos to be obscene and removed the photos from the pages. When one mother asked why her pictures were removed her Facebook account was closed. Similarly, earlier this year the social networking site, Myspace also removed breastfeeding images posted on a Tacoma, WA woman’s myspace site.
As you can imagine this has “lactivists” (lactation activists) outraged and they have begun speaking out on behalf of breastfeeding mothers everywhere. They have started an online petition that already has over 10000 names on it. The goal of lactivists is to educate people about breastfeeding and to foster better laws for breastfeeding mothers. This time the focus is on their rights to use their personal online accounts to share images of themselves, including those that show them breastfeeding.
The purpose of social networking sites is the give people a place to keep in touch with old friends, meet new ones, and share information (including photos) about themselves. On Facebook your personal page is not even visible to the general public; you have to acknowledge someone as a “friend” before they can see what is on your page. So are personal photos of a woman breastfeeding her child too obscene to be posted on a personal page?
Breastfeeding is a very natural part of raising a child. In many other cultures and societies it is perfectly legal and publicly acceptable for a woman to feed her child in public, and images of a woman breastfeeding certainly don’t result in outrage. Here in North America we somehow have turned this very natural part of motherhood into an “obscene” act, that to me is obscene.
Let’s Talk Babies has been reviewed by babyhold.com along with 4 other pregnancy sites in their 2007 Baby Care Review.
“We have searched the web to bring you a collection of some of today’s best informative sites on baby care topics. Being well informed is essential to new parents and parents-to-be. From newborn care to expert pregnancy advice, the websites below are informative resources for your baby care questions.”
I am honored to be mentioned and considered along side the other quality sites in this review including Huggies, a site I have visited frequently during my own pregnancy. I am really proud of the work I do here at Let’s Talk Babies and it is a privilege to be considered a quality resource for pregnancy and baby care advice.
“Let’s Talk Babies is an extensive resource on pregnancy issues. Presented in an easy to read blog format, Let’s Talk Babies has answers on various aspects of pregnancy and post-partum topics, including resources for further reference.”
Be sure to stop by and check out the full review of the sites. Plus, babyhold.com is a great resource for baby names and information on naming your baby so while you’re there check out their resources as well. I know from experience that finding just the right name can be hard and finding a good resource can be difficult.
When I tested high on my glucose screening test several weeks ago I immediately started looking up information on the glucose tolerance test that I would have to have. What I found was that there really isn’t a whole lot of information out there about gestational diabetes and the glucose tests that are done to determine if a woman has gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is actually one of the most common pregnancy complications, occurring in about 4% of pregnancies.
Now that I have had and passed my glucose tolerance test (no gestational diabetes for me) I thought I would share some of the information I learned from my experience and what the tests were like for me. I have found that it is always better to have a little knowledge about what to expect than to go into a test blindly.
As with anything else you should always discuss your concerns, fears, and questions with your doctor. They know your situation and pregnancy best and can advise you on the specifics for you.
Glucose Screening Test: In a majority of cases your prenatal care provider will send you for a glucose screening test some time toward the end of your second trimester (this is the time when gestational diabetes most often begins). This may vary depending on your particular situation. I had my glucose screening test done at 25 weeks. This test does not require you to fast. You will go into either your doctor’s office, the hospital, or a lab (I had mine done at Quest Diagnostics). When you arrive you will be given a 50 gram serving of the glucose drink. You will be asked to drink this glucose drink and let the phlebotomist know when you have finished at which time a timer will be set for 60 minutes. You will have to sit around and wait, when 60 minutes has past your blood will be drawn. I had one small vile of blood taken from my test and from what I understand this is pretty typical. In my case the lab sent my results to my doctor’s office a few days later. What is considered a high result on the glucose screening test will depend on what gauge your doctor uses. Some doctors use 140mg/dl as the cut off while others use 130mg/dl. If your test results are higher than the cut off you will be sent in for a glucose tolerance test. The screening tells the doctor that you may be at risk for having gestational diabetes; however, it does not tell your doctor that you do indeed have gestational diabetes. The screening test, like many other screening tests, results in a lot of false positives, which is why you will be sent in for the more accurate glucose tolerance test for a definitive answer.
Glucose Tolerance Test: This test will be ordered if you test high on the glucose screening or if you have blood in your urine before the screening test was done. The glucose tolerance test is much more accurate and of course a much longer test. This test takes 3 hours in most cases and requires you to fast prior to going in for the test. You will be asked to fast for 8-12 hours prior to the test time (I was told 12 hours but I have seen information indicating that some women are told 8 hours). When you arrive for the test your blood will be immediately drawn (again about one small vile), this is your fasting test. You will then be given twice as much of the glucose drink as you were given at the screening test, 100 grams. Again, you will be asked to drink the glucose drink and a timer will be set when you have finished the drink, this time to go off at 1 hour intervals for the next 3 hours. At each hour your blood will be drawn, for a total of 4 including the fasting test.
Here is what is typically considered abnormal results on the glucose tolerance test (check with your doctor to see what they use)
- Fasting: 95mg/dl or higher
- 1 Hour: 180 mg/dl or higher
- 2 Hour: 155 mg/dl or higher
- 3 Hour: 140 mg/dl or higher
If you have abnormal an result (which is considered high on two or more of the blood draws) on this test then you will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes and your doctor will work out a treatment plan with you. Gestational diabetes is typically treated primarily with changes in diet and exercise. If this does not work then other options such as medication or insulin injections will be considered. You will be required to routinely test your blood sugar throughout the day to help monitor your condition. Women who have gestational diabetes typically have larger than average babies. Be sure to discuss any questions or concerns you have with your doctor.
One personal recommendation I can make is that you take a good book or something else to occupy yourself to both the screening test and the glucose tolerance test. It can seem like you are there a very long time, especially at the glucose tolerance test which is 3 hours or more and you haven’t eaten anything in over 12 hours.
You can read my previous article on gestational diabetes for more information on causes, treatment, and possible complications associated with gestational diabetes. You can also visit the American Diabetes Association website for more information as well.
I came across this article on the Baby Center website the other day. The article discusses how your outlook on life, your perspective on yourself and the world, and many other things will change when your baby arrives. There are 30 things listed, 15 from the author/mom and 15 from baby center readers/moms. It is amazing to think about all the wonderful ways your life will change when your baby arrives.
Here are a few of the things that the author noted will change when you little one finally arrives.
- You will finally stop to smell the roses because your baby is now safe in your arms.
- Where you once believed you were fearless you will quickly discover that you are afraid.
- The sacrifices you thought you made to have a baby no longer seem like sacrifices.
- You respect your body.
- You find a new respect and love for your parents.
- You find that your baby’s pain feels much worse than your own.
- You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child.
- You lose touch with the people in your life that you should have banished years ago.
- Your heart breaks much more easily.
- You think of someone else almost every second of the day.
- Every day is a surprise.
- Bodily functions are no longer repulsive.
- You look at your baby in the mirror instead of yourself.
- You become a morning person.
- Your love becomes limitless.
What things did you notice changing in your outlook and perspective when your baby arrived? Was it what you expected or much more (or less) than you expected?