Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Circumcision Information from Mother Chronicle

Mother Chronicle
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Complete, As Nature Intended©
by Karen Squires

I picked my newborn son up from the adoption agency September 21, 1983 and took him home. Later when I changed his diaper I wasn't surprised to find him circumcised, nor was I upset. It was the done thing to circumcise babies, most of my friends had their sons circumcised. I didn't even question it.

My second son was born January 2, 1997 at 9:10 p.m. Early the next morning when he was less than a day old a pediatrician came into the room to give him a check-up. He took off his diaper and said "Your son will be circumcised this morning." I replied "No he won't!" The doctor stopped what he was doing, turned to look at me for the first time since entering the room, and after glaring at me so long I was beginning to feel like a small child who had done wrong, he said, "Have you thought about this ?" "Yes I have," I replied, "I researched it well."

I was older when my second son was born, less likely to follow the crowd. When I discovered I was carrying a boy I decided to do some research on circumcision. When I was finished I knew my son would not be circumcised. My next job was to convince my husband who thought that his boy should look like him. I printed out the information on circumcision and gave it to him to read. He still wasn't sure what to do. I asked him if we were carrying a girl would he want her circumcised and he said no and that was the end of the discussion. (Female Circumcision. Male Circumcision. Is There A Difference?)

Parenting brings a whole new set of responsibilities. We have the care of another human being to consider. We can't follow the crowd when it comes to the most important job in our lives. These little children are counting on us to protect them. Here is some of the information I uncovered while making my decision on circumcision. Read this article and research the issue further on your own. Come to a decision based on collecting all the information you can gather. I am against circumcision based on the research I have done. I never found any evidence that showed circumcision is necessary, but from the information I have read I feel that circumcision is one of the biggest crimes committed against our baby boys.

"Whatever is done to stop the terrible practice of circumcision will be of tremendous importance. There is no rational medical reason to support it." - Dr. Frederick Leboyer, author, Birth Without Violence

History of Circumcision in the U.S...

When and why did doctors in the U.S. start performing circumcisions. Circumcision started toward the end of the1800's to prevent masturbation. It was performed almost exclusively on children and teens on a very limited basis and rarely on babies. Circumcision was performed in order to cause damage to the penis. Removing the foreskin reduced the sexual feelings and removed mobility of the penis and the desired result was to prevent masturbation which some doctors believed caused diseases including epilepsy, tuberculosis and insanity, asthma, deterioration of joints, alcoholism, kleptomania, bedwetting, etc, -- any disease for which there was no known cause at the time.

The American Academy of Pediatrics...

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released a new policy on circumcision. "Circumcision is not essential to a child's well-being at birth, even though it does have some potential medical benefits. These benefits are not compelling enough to warrant the AAP to recommend routine newborn circumcision." - American Academy of Pediatrics 1999 Press Release

Note the word "potential" when referring to the medical benefits. Potential means may or may not develop. Also the damage caused to the penis during circumcision was not even addressed. "Two years ago, the Canadian Pediatric Society concluded that the benefits and harms of circumcision were 'so evenly balanced' that there was no valid reason to justify routine male circumcision." - Ottawa Citizen Online

Urinary tract Infection...

The intact baby has a slightly increased chance of developing a urinary tract infection in infancy but a lower incidence of UTI (urinary tract infection) the rest of his life. UTI's in females are found at rates of up to 50 times that of males (Understanding Urinary Tract Infection, Infect Urol 8 (4), 111,114-120, 1995) and we do not alter their genitalia as a preventative measure. Most UTI's in the intact male are iatrogenic (doctor caused) by inspecting, probing and even retracting the fused foreskin and introducing bacteria the foreskin is designed to keep out. - Eileen Wayne, M.D.

"Toronto researchers studied almost 60,000 boys. The study suggests 195 circumcisions would need to be performed to prevent one hospital admission for urinary tract infection in the first year of life. Since a conservative estimate of the number of significant complications of circumcision is 2-3%, this would mean that circumcising nearly 200 boys to prevent one urinary tract infection would result in at least 4 boys suffering a major complication to prevent one easily treatable urinary tract infection." - The Lancet 1998; 352:1813-16

The breast cancer rate is incredibly high but we don't perform mastectomies on our daughters when they develop breasts in order to save them from 'potential" breast cancer.

"Submitting your son to the procedure to prevent urinary tract infections makes only a little more sense than buying insurance against being gored by a unicorn in Riverside." - Eugene Robin, MD, Stanford University Medical School San Francisco Examiner, Nov 5 1987. p. E-5

Cancer of the Penis...

Another "potential" benefit you may have heard about is a lower risk of getting cancer of the penis. This type of cancer is rare in circumcised and intact men. Penile cancer affects elderly men with a history of genital warts, genital rashes, smoking and over thirty sex partners. The only way to prevent rare cancer of the penis is to amputate the entire penis.

"Isn't it insulting to the average male's intelligence to think that surgery is preferable because he can't be entrusted with washing his genitals when somehow he manages to brush his teeth, clean his ears and blow his nose?" - Louanne Cloe, Ph.D. Sexologist San Francisco Examiner, pB-7, Aug 11, 1993.

The rate of this cancer in America is about the same as other countries and higher than the rate in intact Japan and in northern European countries. With so many circumcised American males we should see a decrease in our rate of cancer but we don't.

We would have to circumcise over 200,000 newborns to possibly prevent cancer in one elderly man and those who were circumcised would still be at about the same risk.

The American Cancer Society states "Penile cancer is extremely rare in the United States and accounts for less than one half a percent of cancers diagnosed among men and less than one tenth of a percent of cancer deaths among men. Proven penile cancer risk factors include having unprotected sexual relations with multiple partners (increasing the likelihood of human papillomavirus infection), and cigarette smoking. The consensus among studies...is circumcision is not of value in preventing cancer of the penis."

Cervical Carcinoma...

The suggestion that women married to intact men have an increased risk of cervical cancer has been disproven many times. "Having intercourse at an early age, multiple sex partners and smoking are the strongest factors in contracting this type of cancer." - Elizabeth Stern, M.D., Peter Neely, Ph.D., "Cancer of the Cervix in Reference to Circumcision and Marital History, Journal of the American Women's Association," vol. 17, no. 9, Sept. 1962

Sexually Transmitted Diseases...

Also suggested is that intact men are at a higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases. The AAP states that behavioral factors are more important in determining a persons risks of contracting diseases. If you want to do something to help your son avoid sexually transmitted diseases, education and use of condoms is the answer. The medical literature shows that circumcision does not lower the incidence of STD's, but in fact may increase the risk. ....."the odds of contracting a bacterial STD triple among the circumcised." - "Circumcision in the United States," Journal of the American Medical Association, April 2, 1997 "...the incidence of chlamydia may be 25 times higher among circumcised men." - Time magazine, April 14. 1997

Phimosis...

Circumcision can be recommended as a preventive measure for phimosis, paraphimosis, and balanoposthitis. "These problems involve the foreskin directly, so circumcision prevents problems in the same way as pulling teeth would prevent cavities.

Phimosis, is a condition that occurs when the opening of the foreskin is too small to permit the glans to be uncovered painlessly. This problem cannot be diagnosed in infancy and childhood because the foreskin is immovable then. In Europe, the first treatments involve gentle stretching, sometimes combined with steroid creams.

Para-phimosis is a similar problem except that when the foreskin is retracted the opening is tight enough to restrict blood flow to and from the glans. It is treatable the same way as phimosis.

"Balanoposthitis is an infection of the glans and foreskin which is normally treatable with antibiotics. Surgery should be a last resort, not an initial treatment." - Wayne Hampton, Negative Aspects of Routine Infant Circumcision

Psoriasis....

"Psoriasis is found only on the glans of the circumcised penis." - Robert Van Howe, M.D.

Balanitis...

"Balanitis is an infection of the glans and the circumcised penis has an increased risk of balanitis." - Genitorurin Med, 1993.

Circumcision is Surgery...

Lets talk about the possible complications of being circumcised. First let me point out that circumcision is surgery. Surgery has inherent risks, risks that you should be aware of. The most common complications are local infection, and minor bleeding. "Infection occurs after circumcision in up to 10% of patients." - Williams and Kapila, Complications of Circumcision Brit J Surg v80, Oct 1993, p1231-1236.

Other complications include excessive bleeding, complications from anesthesia, surgical mistakes, including loss of glans and loss of the entire penis, and death. Death doesn't happen often, but for the parents who's son died from cosmetic surgery, it was once too often.

"It is an incontestable fact at this point that there are more deaths each year from complications of circumcision than from cancer of the penis." - S. Gellis, M.D., Circumcision Am J Dis Ch, v132 #12 December 1978. p1168

"Most parents don't know what is actually done to a baby when he is circumcised. The baby is placed spread-eagle on his back on a board and his arms and legs are strapped down so that he can't move. His genitals are scrubbed and covered with antiseptic. His foreskin is torn from the glans and slit lengthwise so that the circumcision instrument can be inserted. Then his foreskin is cut off, usually without anesthetic." - National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers

Pain...

Is circumcision painful? A study that was being conducted on babies who were circumcised without pain killer was ended early to prevent any more babies from being subjected to the operation without anesthesia. "The researchers discovered that not only was there severe pain but an increased risk of choking and breathing difficulties." - Atlanta (CNN)

It is now recommended that parents insist on the use of pain killer during the procedure but it has been argued that injecting anesthesia can be as painful as circumcision itself. Some say that babies don't remember the pain but we know that young children can experience trauma and that although they may not remember, it can cause emotional problems.

Maria Fitgerald of University College London writes in the Medical Research Council's journal that "Reports in clinical and psychological literature indicate early injury or trauma can have long-term consequences on sensory or pain behavior that extend into childhood and beyond." - Circumcision Resource Center

A report in the New England Journal of Medicine states that babies do feel severe pain from the procedure, in fact more than older children and adults. The study recommends anaesthesia and pain management for circumcision. The report also mentions that even when anaesthesia is attempted, it is not always successful, and the use of anaesthesia adds risks to the procedure. Topical anesthetics are woefully inadequate.

"Most babies scream frantically when their foreskins are cut off. Some defecate, some lapse into a coma. The reason some babies don't cry when they are circumcised is that they can't cry because they are in a state of shock." - National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers

If you decided to have your son circumcised...

If you decide to have your son circumcised be there with him. If my son was to fall down and hurt himself, I would go to him and comfort him. If a baby is being circumcised I believe parents should be there during the procedure to do the same.

A little about the foreskin....

"The foreskin contains thousands of highly sensitive sensory receptors called Meissner corpuscles, which are more abundant there than in any other part of the penis. Richly endowed with a profusion of blood vessels, it also has a riged band of peripenic muscles that protects the urinary tract from contaminants, and an undersurface lined with mucocutaneous tissue found nowhere else on the body, which contains ectopic glands that produce natural emollients and antibacterial proteins similar to those found in mother's milk. With it's frenar ridges and its thousands of nerve endings, the foreskin not only protects the glans, which in an intact male is extremely sensitive, it also accounts for roughly one-third the penis' sexual perceptivity." - Circumcision in America - Debra S. Ollivier

"The foreskin protects the glans throughout life." - American Academy of Pediatrics

Religion....

The methods used today to circumcise removes much more of the foreskin than required by the bible. Men who had been circumcised during biblical times appeared intact.

"The Biblical technique of circumcision designed to fulfill the Covenant with Abraham removed only preputial tissue that extended beyond the tip of the glans penis (Bris Milah). By first pulling up on the foreskin, then placing a glans shield, the operator preserved virtually all of the sensitive inner lining of the prepuce. ... sensitive tissue that was preserved during Biblical circumcision, is almost always excised during "modern" circumcision with the Gomco Clamp or the Plastibell....The Biblical technique was completed much more quickly. Part of the foreskin is slid into the slit on the shield, and a knife slices off the portion above the shield in less than one second. Gomco Clamp circumcisions have been known to take up to 20 minutes. ..." - George C. Denniston, M.D. M.P.H. "Modern" Circumcision: The Escalation of a Ritual

"Some Jews are replacing brit millah with brit shalom, a bloodless baby naming ceremony." - George C. Denniston, M.D. M.P.H.

"The percentage of Jews in the National Organization of Restoring Men exceeds the fraction of Jews in the general population by several times. Religious parents who are concerned about various negatives surrounding circumcision might seek information from the Circumcision Resource Center, PO Box 232, Boston MA 02133, which specializes in religious issues."- Negative Aspects of Routine Circumcision, by Wayne Hampton

In the Book of Mormon, Moroni 8:8:

"Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me. In the New Testament it says circumcision is unnecessary and even discouraged.

Galatians 5:2:

"Behold, I paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing."

Only 15% of the world's Christian males are circumcised.

Problems your circumcised boy may develop as a man...

When the foreskin is removed the opening to the urethra is exposed. Chemical and soaps can cause irritation. Meatal stenosis which is a narrowing of the opening caused by ulcerations may occur. This can happen to men and women but being circumcised makes it worse. Another problem that can develop is painful erection and painful intercourse. This can happen if your son is circumcised too tight. Meatal ulceration, skin tags, skin bridges, tearing of tight shaft skin and testicles drawn up to the body at erection can also occur. Men complain of many other problems that are a direct result of being circumcised. An entire article could be written on this alone.

Ethics...

Ethics is an issue we can't skip in this discussion. Do we have the right to decided for another person what should be done to their body. I don't believe we do. The foreskin of a boy belongs to him and only he should be allowed to have it removed. His cries tell us he would rather be left intact.

The American Academy of Pediatrics policy on circumcision concluded by saying "however, that it is legitimate for parents to take into account cultural, religious and ethnic traditions..." I disagree, in countries where girls are circumcised because of those reasons we shudder at the thought and consider the practice barbaric, so why is it okay to take those into consideration here.

Dr. George Denniston, President of Doctor's Against Circumcision, sums up this issue very nicely: "The issue of circumcision is a very simple one. Suppose a doctor came up to you just after you had delivered your first son and said to you, "Now I am going to remove his eyelids!" What would you say to him?" Well, that is exactly what you should say to a doctor that wants to remove part of your son's normal penis." Doctor's should not be doing circumcisions. Removing normal tissue for no medical reason is NOT covered by their licenses. In addition, a doctor violates all seven Principles of the AMA Code of Ethics every time he performs a circumcision."

"My own preference, if I had the good fortune to have another son would be to leave his little penis alone." Dr. Benjamin Spock, Redbook, April 1989

"The best reason to let a baby keep his foreskin intact is that it's almost a certainty that he will be glad you did." - John A. Erickson

Cosmetics....

60% of US males are being circumcised (but over 80% of the world's males are intact) so 40% of American boys are leaving the hospital intact.

In England and New Zealand the infant circumcision rate is less than 1%, in Australia 10% and in Canada now down to 17%. All English speaking countries (outside of the U.S.) now have a combined infant and child circumcision rate less than 10%.

For parents who want their sons to look like boys who have been circumcised there isn't much reason for concern. Now that the American Academy of Pediatrics has released it's new policy and "there is not a single national medical organization in the entire world that advocates or supports routine infant circumcision - not a single one."- George Denniston, M.D. M.P.H., -The Salt lake Tribune, Thurs., March 11, 1999- more and more parents are going to leave their sons intact. It soon will be the circumcised boy who looks different. It shouldn't make any difference though if we don't all look alike, don't we encourage our children to appreciate their uniqueness. Isn't it important that he be sexually fully functional physically and sexually?

Care of the uncircumcised penis...

Care of the uncircumcised boy is quite easy, leave it alone. "External washing and rinsing on a daily basis is all that is required." - American Academy of Pediatrics

Intercourse with the intact penis...

The 1999 British Journal of Urology Supplement has a study of American women who have experienced sex with both intact and circumcised partners. "The results of the survey are truly astonishing. Among other things, the vast majority of surveyed women indicated that they overwhelmingly prefer intercourse with a man with a natural penis (approximately 90%) and that they were significantly more likely to achieve a "vagina" orgasm during "natural" intercourse. More astonishing is the fact that many women actually rated circumcised intercourse a negative experience when compared to the natural intercourse.' Kristen O'Hara, Author of Sex As Nature Intended.

Summary...

When making a decision whether to leave your son intact or not, take into consideration the possible potential benefits and weight them against the risks of surgery, trauma, pain, reduction of sensuousness, limited mobility, long term damage, loss of glans protection, death, better sex for the female and the very real possibility that your son will be glad you left him the way nature intended.

There is more information on circumcision available. It would be difficult for me to cover it all. This article should at least make you want to learn more before making a decision that will affect your son the rest of his life. Circumcision can't be undone.

"Nature knows more about designing the penis than do American doctors" - Jerry W. Warner

"Within minutes, three feet of veins, arteries and capillaries, 240 feet of nerves and more than 20,000 nerve endings are destroyed; so are all the muscles, glands, epithelial tissue and sexual sensitivity associated with the foreskin. Finally, what nature intended as an internal organ is irrevocably externalized." - Circumcision In America - Debra S. Ollivier

Dear parent, here are some organizations you can contact to get more information on circumcision. You can also look them up on the internet.

My deepest thanks to Ken Derifield of The Intact Network for contributing to this article. He can be reached at the following address; The Intact Network, 703 E. Walnut St. Washington, IN 47501 e-mail intacnet@dmrtc.net

National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers - (NOCIRC) an organization of diverse individuals committed through research, education and advocacy to securing the birthright of male and female infants and children to keep their sex organs intact. P.O. Box 2512, San Anselmo, CA 94979-2512. Tel: 415-488-9883

National Organization to Halt the Abuse and Routine Mutilation of Males (NOHARMM) P.O. Box 460795, San Francisco, CA 94146-0795. Tel: 415-826-9351 National Organization of Restoring Men (NORM) 3205 Northwood Drive, Suite 209, Concord, CA 94520-4506. Tel: 510-827-4077

UNCIRC P.O. Box 52138, Pacific Grove, CA 93950. Tel: 408-375-4326

Doctors Opposing Circumcision (D.O.C.) is an organization of physicians, and others who are opposed to routine neonatal circumcision. D.O.C. has members in 50 States, 12 Canadian Provinces and Territories, and in nations on six continents. These doctors recognize that no one has the right to forcibly remove sexual body parts from another individual. They also believe that doctors should have no role in this painful, unnecessary procedure inflicted on the newborn. Doctors Opposing Circumcision (D.O.C.) 2442 NW Market St. Suite 42 Seattle, Washington, 98107 U.S.A

"The grandest privilege of those who have the means is to alleviate suffering." - H. P. Blavatsky

"Intact"

Content.
The precious babe lay at my breast.
"Shall we cut him?"
they ask.
You shall not.
I would sooner give you a part of me
to cut off.
We shall leave him to be
Whole
Intact
As God made him.

Rachel Hyde, NY, May 1999

FREE ARTICLE: You are free to publish this article on websites and print publications. You can also email it to friends and/or associates. We just ask that you include this information with the article and let us know where you published it. This article first appeared in The Wise Mother magazine, published in Salt Lake City, Utah. http://www.motherchronicle.com email karensquires1@msn.com

Monday, June 20, 2011

Adult Baltic Amber Healing Necklaces

This is where I bought the necklace for my friend's daughter. They have very good

prices for the teething necklaces, and their adult necklaces are priced from anywhere between

$17.99-$149.99, and they ship worldwide for a flat rate of $3.95. http://www.alwaysinfashion.com/raw_amber_healing_necklaces

This site has necklaces for adults priced

from $22.95-$28.95. There are also some "mom and bubs" matching necklaces, as well as amber necklaces for dads, and also bracelets. They ship worldwide for $5.95, and are located in the Baltic amber homeland of Lithuania.

http://www.amberartisans.com/

This site has necklaces that range from $23.95-$25.95, and shipping is $3.99 in the US or Canada (more for heavier items), and $4.99 internationally (they can't ship heavier objects internationally). Also, if you spend more than $75.00, the shipping is free. Check their Shipping Information for all the

details.

http://www.hazelaid.com/C_About_Hazelwood.html

This site has necklaces for men, women, and babies. The necklaces for women are $60.00, the necklaces for men are $80.00, and the ones for babies are $38.00. They also have breastfeeding necklaces.
Their jewlery comes with a certificate of authenticity, as well as a lifetime warranty. They don't list a price for shipping.

http://www.baltikamber.com/storepage311303.aspx

Baltic Amber Teething Necklaces

What is amber teething necklace?

Once an infant starts cutting teeth, it can be a painful process for infants and parents alike with remedies including everything from clean, wet washrags to pain relief pills. One of the oldest methods available is an amber teething necklace, which the infant wears around their neck helps relieve the pain associated with teething.

Amber Teething Necklaces are designed and custom made for babies, all they have to do is wear it on their skin, to diminish the pain and discomfort caused by teething.
An appropriate length of teething necklaces is (approx 12″ or 32 cm) to ensure the majority of children shouldn’t be able to fit the necklace in their mouth while it’s been worn. Wearing baltic amber is a traditional European remedy for teething. Baltic amber teething necklace are made to be worn by teething children to provide them with natural pain relief from teething symptoms, they are ideal for both boys and girls to wear. These teething necklaces aren’t made for chewing, but rather, they’re usually made to be worn by the mother while the child is carried against the mother.

Amber is a natural analgesic and when worn on the skin, it releases healing oils that helps babies and young children to stay calm and more relaxed thoughout teething. Amber necklaces are a great natural remedy and can eliminate the need for over the counter drugs. There are some versions of the amber teething necklace that are meant to be worn by the child, but I would think you’d have to be very careful about that. If the necklaces were to be worn by babies the child should only wear it when being supervises (never while sleeping) and the clasp would have to be a “break away” clasp to prevent any sort of accidental pulling or choking!

Every amber teething necklace has been hand-crafted by Baltic amber specialists with generations of experience who carefully polish and softly round the Baltic amber beads. Unlike cheaper amber 'chips', amberbebe.com uses rounded polished beads, which lay comfortably against baby's skin. This allows maximum skin contact and gives added comfort to your child.

Teething DOES NOT have to be painful for your baby

The Baltic amber teething necklace has been designed to ensure the safety of your child by knotting before & after each bead so in the event that the necklace does break (it will break if excessive force is applied) only one bead will come off and the remaining beads will stay intact. The clasp is made from an amber/plastic, with a plastic screw mechanism. The clasp is laboratory tested to release if excessive force is applied to the necklace, which ensures the highest safety. Unlike traditional clasps used on children’s necklaces (parrot clasp and ring) which do not release, they rely on the ring or necklace breaking to release.

If that wasn't enough they also look gorgeous, great for both boys and girls young and old. We have five lovely warm colours (Butterscotch, Honey, Cognac, Cherry and Multi) to choose from. Every necklace is unique with tiny air bubbles and natural particles within the amber itself. The beads are soft with smooth rounded edges that are comfortable for babies to wear. They look fantastic.

How does they work?

In the 1930's and 40's, European biochemists discovered that succinic acid is an amino acid created naturally in every cell of the body capable of aerobic respiration, participating in the citric acid, or Krebs cycle . This is how carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are metabolized into energy. Wearing amber may also protect us against the negative influences of electrical equipment like computers, televisions, mobile phone and microwave ovens. Part of what's amazing about amber is that the chemical properties of the resin which when formed acted as a natural embalming agent, with both drying and anti-microbial properties. Ancient Egyptians actually used pine resin as an embalming agent, and doctors in the Civil War, lacking anything else, would sometimes slap tree resin on a wound as a disinfectant and saved lives that way. Worn close to the skin, the body's heat helps release minuscule amounts of oil from the amber, which is then absorbed into the blood stream.

Baltic amber has be known to reduce acidity in the human body in a totally natural way. By having the baby wear the necklace everyday it helps reduce the common symptoms related to teething such as; redness in the cheeks, swollen gums, diaper rashes and fevers.

What is amber?

Amber is the fossilised sap from prehistoric trees that grew as much as fifty million years ago, primarily in Scandinavia and elsewhere around the Baltic Sea. Amber has been worn for centuries as a natural remedy for pain relief and to promote fast healing and boost the immune system. Its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties make it ideal as a natural (no drugs) homeopathic product for babies and children.

Who can wear it?

Amber necklaces can be worn by children aged between 3 months to 2 years of age - which is about the time baby teething stops. In fact, getting your baby used to wearing an amber necklace from a young age is a good idea as the earlier the baby starts with the necklace, the easier it becomes a part of them. They are so used to it being there, that they don’t pay attention to it by pulling on it or attempting to bite it.

Safety using baby necklace

Amberizon

*The thread is knotted after each bead, if the necklace should break the beads will not scatter everywhere.
*All beads used are small enough to be swallowed but not pose a choking hazard.
*Teething necklaces should be removed when baby is sleeping or unattended!(I put mine under her pant leg, around her ankle at night)
*Amber necklaces are made for wearing, not for chewing! Amber will crack and break under too much pressure.
*Please use caution and supervise your child while using the necklace.
*I cannot assume any responsibility in the wearing of this necklace.

Disclaimer

This is "real jewellery" and should be treated just like a string of pearls. It should not be worn by any infant or child unsupervised, and should not be gummed or mouthed by the wearer. Inspect the necklace often. If the silk starts to degrade it maybe time to restring. The magnetic clasp should not be worn by, or near anyone with a pacemaker

Beliefs

New age beliefs suggest it transmutes negative into positive energy, and promotes positive thinking and attitude. It also activates the solar plexus and root chakra. Amber revitalizes mind, body and soul and helps to relieve depression. It supports physical healing and detoxification, and is used for disorders of the adrenals, liver and spleen.

One-stop-purchase

Amber necklaces can really help to soothe a child during teething. Unlike other baby teething products, an amber necklace is a one-off purchase, looks great and can be passed on from one child to the next.

What is baby teething and when do babies start teething?

Baby teething is the process by which a baby begins to get his or her teeth. A baby can begin teething as early as 3 months but the normal/average age for a baby to begin teething is between 5 and 7 months of age. Babies usually get their first tooth during that time period. Teething patterns are also often hereditary so ask your parents your teething patterns to get an idea of what you went through while teething and when you got your first tooth. There is no magic age for a baby to start teething. For additional information please consult a pediatrician or dentist and view our additional baby teething resources below.

What are the baby teething symptoms?

When a baby begins teething he/she can become irritable and upset. Baby will probably bite and gnaw a lot. Your baby will probably bite down and chew on anything he/she can including you. When your baby is teething he/she may not sleep well either. Some other normal baby teething symptoms are drooling, ear pulling, crying, runny nose and possibly a rash on the face/chin area and neck. Some less common possibly associated symptoms are low grade fever and diarrhea. However, all doctors do not agree on this. If your child has a fever and/or diarrhea and no other symptoms please consult a doctor. For additional information please consult a pediatrician

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When a friend of mine told me about her little daughter's teething pain, it made me think. I knew I had heard something about teething necklaces, but had never used one on any of my own children. At our house, the kids don't put up much of a fuss about teething. But because I love her, I looked into it...I hate knowing that her little sweetheart is in pain, and we all know how it makes us feel when our babies are crying and we can't fix it! And I figured that worst case scenario, it won't work. She just got it today...so I'll keep you posted.

These are a couple of the best ones I've found so far:

I sent my friend one from here, as the shipping is the same anywhere in the world, and she is in the UK:
http://www.alwaysinfashion.com/amber_teething_necklaces

I ordered mine from "greenbabybargains.com", and it was 50% off. Not a bad deal! They have deals everyday on "green" products for children, so go check them out!

The place I got my necklace from is called "Inspired By Finn", and it just came in! I'm so excited to get it on my daughter after she gets up from her nap. She's cutting two teeth, and nothing I do seems to make her feel better. Hopefully this works for her!! (You can also follow "Inspired By Finn" on Facebook.)
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So, we have had the amber teething necklace from "Inspired By Finn" for a while now. My daughter has now cut 3 teeth since getting it, and has been working on another one for two weeks now...not one bit of fuss at all!!! When I bought this, I didn't know if it would work...but desperation drove me to it. And I'll tell you, I have been BEYOND impressed by it!!! I once again have my sweet happy baby back.
I also took the necklace off of the baby when I had a migraine, not knowing if it would work or not...nothing else was, so what was the worst that could happen...right? Well, a two-day migraine was gone within an hour and a half after putting it on! 0_0
I'm going to be going out of my way to get myself my own necklace for migraine PREVENTION.

**I am now selling teething necklaces for $20 each (free shipping in Canada and the US), so if you're interested in one, check out THIS POST. They are genuine baltic amber, shipped from Lithuania. I don't have a business, and actually just bought these necklaces to sell at a mom-2-mom sale, so I don't need to charge what places like "Inspired By Finn" charge. These necklaces aren't paying my bills...they're just a little extra money.
You can order a necklace by sending me an email at: chewygranolamomma@yahoo.ca
or by leaving a post on the Facebook page.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Killing The Myth Of Identical Twins

Taken from: "When you're expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads", by Dr. Barbara Luke and Tamara Eberlein. Chapter 1, pages 6-8

(Dr. Luke, Sc.D., M.P.H., R.D., a professor of obstetrics and gynecology, directs a successful prenatal program for mothers of multiples at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She is also a practicing dietitian and the author of "Every Pregnant Woman's Guide to Preventing Premature Birth", and "Good Bones: The Complete Guide to Building and Maintaining the Healthiest Bones".)

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Conception of Identicals.

~Every month during a woman's childbearing years, her ovaries release a mature egg. It's called OVULATION.

~The egg travels down the fallopian tubes, where FERTILIZATION (or CONCEPTION) occurs if the egg unites with the father's sperm. During FERTILIZATION the genetic material from both father an mother combine. Then the egg begins to divide.

~Within a week of FERTILIZATION, the dividing egg (which is now called a ZYGOTE), embeds itself into the lining of the uterus.

~The egg begins to separate into inner and outer layers.
The outer layer grows to form the PLACENTA.The inner layer becomes the EMBRYO, which develops into the baby itself.

~By the second week of life, the EMBRYO is firmly implanted in the lining of the uterus.

The conception and development of multiples is similar to that of a singleton baby, but with a few small differences:

**Identical twins begin the same way as a singleton--WITH ONE EGG and ONE SPERM.**

~The ZYGOTE (which is what the dividing egg is called) then divides yet again, producing two separate and identical ZYGOTES.
~Identical twins are also called MONOZYGOTIC, meaning they developed from a single (mono) egg.

The timing of the additional division of the egg determines the structure of the fetal membranes:

~When the split happens within three days of conception, while the single, original ZYGOTE is still travelling down the fallopian tube, these identical twins will have two separate placentas...two outer membranes (called CHORIONS), and two inner membranes (called AMNIONS). This is called a "diamniotic, dichorionic" twin pregnancy.

~When the split happens 4-7 days after conception, the twins will have separate AMNIONS, but will share one CHORION, and the placentas will be fused. This is called a "diamniotic, monochorionic" twin pregnancy.

~If the split happens after the 8th day following conception, the identical twins will share a placenta, chorion, and amnion. It is called a "monoamniotic, monochorionic" twin pregnancy.

Other Identical Twin Facts:

~Approximately 1/3 of all twin pairs are identical.

~Because identical twins share 100% of their genes, they are always of the same sex, and have the same basic physical features, such as hair/eye color.

~Some pairs are mirror-image--one is right handed, one is left handed; their hair whirls can be reversed; they may have matching birthmarks on opposite sides of their bodies...

~They can vary significantly in size at birth because one may have received a disproportionate share of nourishment in utero, by adulthood, height usually differs by less than two inches.

~Identicals have very similar IQ's, and often share many personality traits.

**So the whole "the sperm divides the egg" myth is nothing more than that. A myth. The sperm has zero to do with the egg dividing...only the mother does In fact, sperm has NOTHING to do with determining ANY twin type. (In the case of fraternals, women alone can determine how many eggs are going to be dropped. All the fraternals in the world on her spouse's side of the family isn't going to change that fact.) Sperm ONLY FERTILIZE an egg, NOTHING MORE. The egg just happens to divide one extra time with identicals, which happens AFTER conception...AFTER the sperm has completed it's mission.

"....monozygotic (IDENTICAL) twinning is completely random..." (page 12)

Hopefully this will be the end of that insane myth. Every time I hear it said, I picture the sperm with tiny saws, cutting the egg in half to make two babies instead of one. Or a sperm with muscles so big that when it runs into the egg, it just immediately bursts into two from the sheer force of impact. I hope in my lifetime that this knowledge will become common. (I also hope that one day I'll stop having people ask me if my b/g twins are identical.)

Spread the message. End the madness.

Safe Plastics vs Unsafe Plastics

So, we all know about BPA, right? Really? What do you know about it? And did you know that BPA isn't the only plastic-related health issue? Did you know that there are safe plastics and unsafe plastics? I didn't.

Since I obviously don't know what information you actually have on it, I'll tell you what I knew about BPA. I knew it was bad. I knew it was in plastic baby bottles, and that all plastic baby bottles had been recalled and replaced with

glass, and then with BPA-free plastic. That's about it. And I had no idea what the numbers on the bottom of plastic containers meant. I thought it was a recycling code or something. There's more to it, and it could hurt you or your kids if you don't know the facts.

I found all of this out when I was skimming through my "learning" package given to me when I went to the hospital to pre-register. There's a 3 page "Smart Plastics Guide" that has info about Bisphenol A (BPA). I normally don't even read these "guides", and I was surprised by what I read.

..."Studies have shown the main source of exposure for newborns and infants is from bisphenol A migrating from the lining of cans into liquid infant formula and migrating from the polycarbonate (hard, clear plastic) baby bottles into the liquid inside following the addition of boiling water.

Therefore, Health Canada is working with infant formula manufacturers to reduce levels of bisphenol A in the lining of infant formula cans, and encouraging the development of alternatives..."

Advice for Parents and Caregivers

If you continue to use polycarbonate baby bottles, it is recommended that you do not put boiling water into them. Very hot water causes BPA to migrate out of the bottle at a much higher rate.
If you are unsure as to whether your bottles are polycarbonate, check to see if the bottom of the bottle has the number 7 in the center of the recycling symbol. Although the number 7 is a broad category, you can only be sure it is polycarbonate if the number 7 also has a PC beside it. If the bottle does not have a recycling symbol, there is no certain means of identifying whether it is made from polycarbonate or not. ( I recommend erring on the side of caution on this one.)
Water should be boiled and allowed to cool to luke warm in a non-polycarbonate container before transferring into baby bottles. This advice is consistent with proper instructions for the preperation of infant formula. (If you want to read that, it'll be on the website.)

It goes on to talk about proper ways to sterilize bottles, and how breastfeeding is the best food for optimal growth in newborns and infants. If y

What Plastic Labels Mean

Not all containers are labeled and a recycling symbol on a product doesn't mean it's recyclable. Commonly, only #1 and #2 with narrow necks are

recyclable, but some communities recycle other plastics with narrow necks. Check with your l

ocal municipality or waste disposal company.

GOOD PLASTIC

A recycling symbol with the #1 in it (which could have "PETE" labeled under the symbol) PETE: Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene, used for soft drink, juice, water, detergent, cleaner and peanutbutter containers.
A recycling symbol with the #2 in it (which could have "HDPE" labeled under the symbol) HDPE: High density polythylene, used in opaque plastic milk and water jugs, bleach, detergent, and shampoo bottles, and some plastic bags.
A recycling symbol with the #4 in it (which could have "LDPE" labeled under the symbol) LDPE: Low density polythylene, used in grocery store bags, most plastic wraps and some bottles.
A recycling symbol with the #5 in it (which could have "PP" labeled under the symbol) PP: Polypropylene, used in most Rubbermaid, deli soup, syrup, and yogurt containers, straws and other clouded plastic containers, inclucing baby bottles.

BAD PLASTIC

A recycling symbol with the #3 in it (which could have a "V" labeled under the symbol) PVC or V: Polyvinyl chloride, used for cling wrap, some plastic squeeze bottles, cooking oil and peanut butter jars, detergent and window cleaner bottles.
A recycling symbol with the #6 in it (which could have a "PS" labeled under the symbol) PS: Polystyrene, used in styrofoam food trays, egg cartons, disposable cups and bowls, carry-out containers and opaque plastic cutlery.
A recycling symbol with the #7 in it (or any other # not listed) OTHER: Usually polycarbonate, usedin most platic baby bottles, 5-gallon water bottles, "sport" water bottles, metal food can liners, clear plastic "sippy" cups and some clear plastic cutlery. New bio-based plastics may also be labeled #7.

PVC: The toxic Plastic

Polyvinyl chloride, also known as vinyl or PVC, poses risks to both the environment and human health. PVC is also the least recyclable plastic.

Vinyl chloride workers face elevated risk of liver cancer.
Vinyl chloride manufacturing creates air and water pollution near the factories, often located in low-income neighbourhoods.
PVC needs additives and stabilizers to make it usable. For example, lead is often added for strength, while plasticizers are added for flexibility. These toxic additives contribute to further pollution and human exposure.
DIOXIN in air emmissions from PVC manufacturing and disposal or from incineration of PVC products settles on grasslands and accumulates in meat and dairy products and ultimately in human tissue. Dioxin is a known carcinogen (cancer causing agent). Low-level exposures are associated with decreased birth weight, learning and behavioural problems in children, suppressed immune function and disruption of hormones. in the body.

Health concerns with food use of plastics

BPA (#7)

A chemical that mimics the action of the humane hormone estrogen, can leach from polycarbonate plastic. Human exposure to BPA is widespread. A CDC study detected BPA in the urine of 95% of adults.

BPA has been found to stimulate prostate cancer cells and cause breast tissue changes in mice that resemble early stages of breast cancer in both mice and humans.
One study found an association between ovarian dysfunction and higher levels of BPA in urine.
Early life exposure to BPA can also cause genetic damage. Research shows that BPA causes chromosomal errors at low levels which in mice can lead to spontaneous miscarriages and birth defects.
In humans, one study found that women with a history of recurrent miscarriages had over 3fold higher levels of BPA in their blood compared to women without a miscarriage history.

Exposure to BPA (#7) can cause the following adverse effects:

Early onset of puberty, and stimulation of mammary glad development in females.
Changes is gender-specific behaviour
Increased prostate size
Decreased sperm production
Altered immune function
Behavioral effects including hyperactivity, increased aggressiveness, impaired learning and other changes in behaviour.

DEHA (#3) is one of several plasticizers (softeners) to which people have daily exposure through food, water, air, and consumer products. PVC cling wrap contains DEHA, which can leach into oily foods on contact and when heated. DEHA exposure is linked to negative effects on the liver, kidney, spleen, bone formation and body weight. It is also a possible human carcinogen (cancer causing agent), affecting the liver.

Styrene (#6) can leach from polystyrene plastic. It is toxic to the brain and nervous system, among workers with long-term exposures, but also has been found to adversely affect red blood cells, liver, kidneys and stomanch in animal studies. Aside from food containers, children can be exposed to styrene from secondhand cigarette smoke, off-gassing of building materials, auto exhaust fumes and drinking water.

FETUSES AND YOUNG CHILDREN ARE AT GREATEST RISK.

Young children's immature immune systems, rapid development and different eating patterns make them more vulnerable to these toxic exposures. Long term exposures to these chemicals or a few large exposures at a critical time in development could adversely impact children's health.

DISCARD old, scratched polycarbonate baby bottles and "sippy" cups. Plastic that shows signs of wear-such as scrates or a cloudy, crackled appearance-more readily leaches chemicals. Scratches can also harbor bacteria.

Now, there's more about all of this on the Health Canada website, and at: iatp.org/foodandhealth

Circumcision Facts

Everyone has an opinion. Honestly, opinions don't matter in this. FACTS do. Facts don't judge, they don't say you're a bad parent for doing something to your child that you thought was best at the time. Facts educate. Facts show us that sometimes, even when we thought we were doing the best thing, sometimes we can be wrong. This isn't intended to judge. This is intended to educate. It's amazing what a little education can do to open people's eyes to something they were mis-informed or lied to about.

And, ftr, I too believed in circumcision until I researched it. Turns out the facts are entirely different than the bad information I grew up hearing.

1. An intact (not circumcised) penis is NOT harder to wash than a cut one. If you can manage to wash your finger, you can wash an intact penis. The foreskin is fused to the glans (head) of the penis until anywhere from 4-5 years old, up to adolescense. The ONLY person that should ever retract a penis is the person who owns it. Retracting it can cause tearing, which leads to infection and injury of the penis. IF INTACT, DON'T RETRACT. JUST CLEAN WHAT'S SEEN.

When the child retracts their own foreskin, all it needs is to be pulled back and wiped quickly with a wet cloth. No soap is needed as it is a mucus membrane. It takes longer to wash your hands after using the toilet than it does to retract and wipe a penis. (And ladies, if you have children, you clearly don't have a fear of penis. So no excuses here!)

2. Circumcision doesn't prevent UTI's. Find information HERE.

3. According to the CDC, 67.5% of babies were left intact in the US in 2009. In Canada, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, 90.8% of boys remained intact in 2009.

4. There are no health benefits of circumcision.

5. Circumcison is not recommended by ANY Health Organization in the WORLD.

6. Circumcision removes 20, 000+ nerves from the penis. They cannot grow back, even with restoration.

7. Circumcision does not prevent HIV. Condoms do.

8. Every year babies die of circumcision.

9. 90% of the men in the world remain intact.

10. Circumcision was originally done to prevent masturbation.

11. Every person, male or female, deserves the right to genital integrity.

12. Circumcision is in direct violation of a child's human rights.

13. Circumcision is both extrememly painful and completely unnecessary.

14. Female circumcision was only banned in 1997.

15. Protecting girls, but circumcising boys is sexist. Boys deserve the same protection as our girls do.

16. A boy doesn't need to "match" his father. No one will ever ask them to drop their pants as proof to their relationship. They share DNA. That is enough.

17. Every little boy is born with a foreskin. It is not a birth defect and does not need to be removed.

18. Mis-information is the leading cause of routine infant circumcision. Get educated.