Pregnancy, Parenthood & Playtime

When I was growing up, we were always taught that we should be respectful and supportive of our President, which has apparently become taboo in society these days. When my husband was serving in the Marines he was always taught to support his Commander-in-Chief even if they disagreed with his actions.

So today I blog about a news report I just watched on ABC World News Tonight which completely floored me. In the past 30 years, more than one President has addressed the nations students during school hours, but today, parents are up in arms because President Obama is planning on addressing our students next week sometime. Not about politics, not about current events, but about education and the importance of staying in school. Not too controversial of a topic right?

Well to uneducated, ignorant, raving lunatics across this country who think that Obama has some kind of private agenda, is some kind of alien, or whatever new outlandish tales they have cooked up, are freaking out!   Why?  Because our African America (only half mind you), liberal, democrat President is going to talk to their children about the importance of education.  What do I have to say about this?

FOOLISHNESS!  No time in previous years has there been such a conspiracy theory outcry about a PRESIDENT talking to our children about education.

As a parent, I believe that all children should be taught to respect their President. Whether their parents agree with his politics, political party, or personal views.  If we start to teach our children that we can blatantly disrespect the President, where will our country go next?
If this was JFK, or even George W Bush, there wouldn’t be this kind of paranoid display.

People really need to be on their adult hats and get over it. He is our President, and he will be for a little more than 3 years, so seriously, get over it and show your support for your country.  These type of displays do nothing but show the clear lack of support for your country, that is the picture other nations will get from simple things like this.
And the terrorist’s laugh!

Vent over. 

Just a small little quiz for today’s blog, but I hope that it helps you to make healthy choices for yourself, as well as your children in the future.

1. Do you eat food containing processed sugar or refined carbohydrates more than 3 times per week? Yes (+1) No (0)
2. Do you get less than 8 hours of sleep per night on average?  Yes (+1) No (0)
3. Do you drink alcohol more than once a week?  Yes (+) No(0)
4. Do you drink coffee daily?  Yes (+1) No (0)
5. Do you engage in endurance exercise regularly?  Yes (+1)  No (0)
6. Do you feel your life is stressful on a regular basis?  Yes (+1) No (0)
7. Do you eat five servings of non starchy vegetables a day?  Yes (0) No (+1)
8. Do you eat two fruits per day?   Yes (0) No (+1)
9. Do you take antioxidants?  Yes (0) No (+1)
10. Do you take prescription over the counter medications?  Yes (+1) No (0)
11. Do you take downtime?  Yes (0) No (+1)
12. Do you cross train taking 2-3 days off per week?  Yes (0) No (+1)
13. Do you generally experience a feeling of love, happiness, and well-being? Yes(0) No (+1)
14. Do you get colds, headaches, or sore throats more than once every three months? Yes (+1) No (0)

Add your score up…

Your Score
0-5  Your immunity is most likely in good shape
5-10 Your immunity is most likely compromised. Nutrition and Lifestyling coaching is recommended.
10 and above Your immunity is most likely compromised and Nutrition and Lifestyle coaching is highly recommended.

Information provided by Jenkin’s Chiropractic in Milford.

As we approach a holiday weekend that is often the end of the summer, I must stress a simple bit of common sense that some seem to lose. Drinking and driving. It kills people and it is illegal. So if you are planning on going out for the weekend and having some drinks find someone to be your designated driver or stay home and have your drinks.

You are not the only people on the roads, there are many families traveling along with you on those roads, even in the late hours. So do yourself a favor and if you are drinking, stay where you are. Getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking can not only cost you your own life, but can also kill a family of 4 unsuspectingly driving home.

Last but not least, home owners and hosts. If you are having a get together where alcohol will be whether it is provided by you or not, take the keys of the people drinking. If they drink at your home, and then leave your home drunk, you can be held responsible!

And remember, You DON’T need to drink to have fun!

Over the past two years since the film The Business of Being Born was release putting a mainstream focus on a normally alternative birth choice of home birth, there has been a lot of himming and hawing from organizations such as The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) saying that the maker of the film who just happens to be ex talk show host Ricki Lake is trying to glamorize home birth.

The Business of Being Born

Now since the movie was release, not only have I purchased a copy, but I also have viewed it in my own home, as well as in a public forum several times, and the information is still the same as the first time I have viewed it.  Ricki Lake does not tout her own opinions, she brings in many big name professionals in the birthing field such as Ina May Gaskin (famous midwife) Robbie Davis-Floyd (Medical Anthropologist), Dr. Marsden Wagner (Former head of the WHO Women and Children’s division), Michael Odent, Tina Cassidy, and the list goes on and on. These are not no knowledge no name average joe’s. They are professionals, some who have been in the field for longer than most of us have been alive! But still ACOG insists that the scientific based evidence that the option of home birth means nothing, and that women should not birth at home.

The film points out every day statistics available to any one of us, but they aren’t routine things we all would normally look up. Infant mortality rates, maternal mortality rates, cesarean section rates, and compares them to other industrialized nations around the world, while discussing the trend with previous World Health Organization head Dr. Marsden Wagner. I can tell you when I watched this for the first time a million questions poured right into my head.
Why don’t birthing women know this?
How is our country failing compared to others when we have all this medical technology being used for the sole purpose of better outcomes?

Then they explain, so just as you are asking all the questions, they are all instantly answered for you. The advance in medical technology is not helping the birth community, it is hurting it in most cases.  Instead of Doctors making decisions for the right reasons or for what is right for their patient, choices are being made for monetary and legal reasons because the medical community, especially birthing community (OB/GYN’s) have become so scared of being sued.  Of course they have, American’s are sue happy. Turn on the TV during the daily ABC soaps, and you will see at least one commercial of a lawyers office promising they will help you get “compensation” for a birth injury.

This is one of the main reasons that cesarean rates are going up to unsafe levels, and true natural  birthing options are dwindling, which in turn is leading these women to the choice of home birth because hospitals are being build for a “one size fits all” type of birth. So leave your birth plan at the door because the majority of hospitals, especially here in Connecticut, will not even look at it. In fact, there are some hospitals, specifically in Fairfield County that the nurses insist all that do walk in with a birth plan will for sure end up with a cesarean section. Encouraging huh? Fortunately for some, there are a few good nurses working in our local Labor and Delivery units who are much more optimistic and open to natural birth. But sadly they are few and far between, not to mention clearly over worked, as most hospitals are under staffed.

But back to the movie. It is very informative, while 100% factual and really eye opening. I recommend that ever woman who plans on having children, is pregnant, or even if you have already given birth watch this.

Locally, there will be a viewing on September 9th 2009 at 6:00pm for FREE!

It will be held at Preferred Pediatrics
88 Noble Ave. Suite 101
Milford, CT. 06460

For more information or details please RSVP to
203-615-3790 or ICANConnecticut@aol.com
Or the office of Preferred Pediatrics