The International Breast Milk Project (IBMP) is an organization that helps mothers in the United States send their breast milk to infants in need, who have either lost their mothers or whose mothers are not able to breast feed due to HIV infection, untreated tuberculosis, serious illness, and/or severe anemia or malnourishment. IBMP is the only international organization to provide breast milk to infants in developing countries. The recipients of the donated breast milk are infants of South Africa. It is estimated that 1.5 million children in South Africa have lost their parents due to HIV/AIDS, and many more have mothers who are unable to breastfeed because they are ill.

The organization estimated that it will be sending 262,655 ounces (7,767 liters or 2052 gallons) of healthy breast milk by the end of this year. This calculates to feeding 2,188 babies one bottle of milk a day for 30 days. New mothers, this is a meaningful, yet simple way to help make a difference. Help this orgization reach their goal.

Jill Youse, Executive Director of IBMP explains the donation process as follows, “Applications are completed online, blood work is done in the donor’s home, and coolers are shipped directly to doorsteps, making the process seamless and easy for a mom with a new baby at home.”

Do visit the website to learn more!

Actress, Activist and Producer Salma Hayek was moved to take action while on a recent visit to Sierra Leone, West Africa. Before she reached her hotel, her and her crew stopped at a hospital. “(A woman) was trying to breast-feed the baby, and the baby wouldn’t take it anymore. I said, ‘I think we shouldn’t be here.’ As we walked out, two to three minutes later, the baby died,” she says. “I’ll never forget the look of desperation on that woman’s face. How can you not get involved, especially when you have a child yourself?”

With the camera crew of ABC’s Nightline following her during the duration of her stay, footage of Ms. Hayek breastfeeding a hungry baby was documented. The infant’s mother was unable to produce any milk to feed her child so Ms. Hayek was compelled to become the baby’s wet nurse. She went on to say, “It’s about women sticking together and we really need to help the children in any way we can.”

Ms. Hayek was in the routine of breastfeeding her one year old daughter at the time and had extra milk to share.

As many of you have heard, earlier this week, a woman delivered 8 babies at once. Check out Inhabitots’ site to read more about what this new family may go through in order to breastfeed all EIGHT babies.

from The New Yorker

An article is coming out in next week’s New Yorker called Baby Food by Jill Lepore. Lepore cleverly weaves us through the frigid timeline of the changes and perspectives of breastfeeding within this so called modern society. From the Enlightenment doctors & philosophers’ of the mid 1700’s advocacy for nursing mothers to the security guards at LaGuardia airport dumping out a mother’s two-day supply of expressed milk due to airport regulations, Lepore holds the mirror up to our society and begs us to really look at our reflection as a human race (influenced by the Western Civilization). Is this what this is supposed to look like? I don’t think so.

For a while now, I have realized how devastating the effects of the industrial revolution have had on the human race. Our dependency on machines and detachment from the mechanics called human nature has had a whole sleuth of less than positive effects. I find it interesting that Lepore points out how in the 1887, around the time when the invention of artificial infant foods was introduced, and cows were proclaimed the new “wet nurse for the human race”, doctors at the time where convinced that women’s mammary glands were not working properly and influenced the women’s’ psyche. By the time reports came out that cow’s milk was causing illness and sometime deaths in newborns, women were convinced that their breast did not work and conducted using formula. Thankfully, by 1997, a statement by the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that babies should exclusively intake breast milk for at least the 1st 6months of their life.

The article starts and ends talking about the growing popularity of expressing milk and the popularity of breast pumps. Though it still allows for infants to feed on their mother’s milk, the bonding benefits of breastfeeding are lost. Lepore does a great job at playing the devil’s advocate. A lot of cases where women express and pump are because they have no other choice for they have to return to work, others, well its growing to become a social norm. When will our society be truly breastfeeding friendly?

I definitely recommend reading this interesting article.

The FDA has reached their conclusion that levels of melamine alone or cyanuric acid alone, at or below 1 part per million (ppm) in infant formula do not raise public health concerns. Traces of any amount, especially those above the FDA’s minimum raises alarm in my mind as well as many others I am sure.

Melamine is widely used in plastics, adhesives, countertops, dishware, whiteboards. Because melamine is rich in nitrogen, companies who are trying to increase their production of formulas add the substance to increase the apparent protein levels of their product. This in addition to diluting the raw milk with water. It is not naturally occurring and is not approved to be directly added to food in the United States. Though, somewhere in the world of governed loopholes, melamine is approved for use as part of certain food contact substances. This does leave legal room for traceable levels of melamine to show up in certain food commodities.

Behind the scenes, the FDA had conducted tests over the past several months on U.S. made formula. You can check out some of those results here. Some definite red flags from the report show that melamine and cyanuric acid, a related chemical were found in the baby formula made by U.S. manufacturers Abbott Labs, maker of Similac; Mead Johnson, maker of Enfamil; and Nestle, maker of Good Start. The sad and alarming news is that these 3 brands make up 90% of all of the formula sold in this country.

Shortly after the China infant formula contamination scare, Nature’s One made it a integral operational process to test each production run of their “Baby’s Only Organic” and “PediaSmart” products for Melamine. The products are manufactured in the U.S.A. with no milk protein or dairy derivatives purchased from China.

They also are the only carriers of organic lactose free milk based formula, Baby’s Only Organic® Lactose Free. It is a great solution for parents who wish to avoid soy proteins and for babies who are lactose intolerant. Instead of corn syrup, which is found in all other lactose free formulas, the company uses brown rice syrup. The formula is designed to address common digestion problems that result in fussiness, gas and bloating. You can only purchase here and the company offers free shipping if you buy by the case or they have a maximum shipping rate of just $5.95.

Of course I have to mention that the healthiest, sustainable, economical sense for providing your baby with the nutrients and goodness he or she needs is breastfeeding. Here are just a few benefits of breastfeeding as referenced from the NRDC:

• Breast-fed children are more resistant to disease and infection early in life than formula-fed children
• Breast-fed children are less likely to contract a number of diseases later in life, including juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and cancer before the age of 15
• Mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop osteoporosis later in life, are able to lose weight gained during pregnancy more easily and have a lower risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer

First off, I have to applaud Angelina for gracing the cover of the new W magazine while breastfeeding. The photographer just so happened to be Brad Pitt. Angelina is inspirational because she has confidently taken a stand and is sending a message loud and clear. Women who are mothers are naturally beautiful and breastfeeding is a normal natural phenomenon that should be accepted as a social norm. Though the cover picture is just a simple black and white photo, and there were no fancy film crews in their home, still remains evident a beautiful halo of motherhood. Breastfeeding is healthy and super beneficial for mother and child. It is unfortunate that over the years, breastfeeding has been given a taboo cloak. Because of these tainted views, many women aren’t given the freedom, encouragement and support that they need to give nutrients to their child, build their immune systems, reduce a their own risk of certain types of cancer, and more. With this cover, a dialogue can begin again.

And secondly, Brad Pitt has collaborated with beauty brand Kiehl’s to create the first ever Cradle-to-Cradle certified beauty product (environmentally safe, healthy , designed for material reutilization,etc.) The Aloe Vera Liquid Body Cleanser that Brad helped design and developed the scent, debuts this month. He also wrote a little message on the label to inform everyone where proceeds from their purchase will go:

These two people are amazing and inspirational.

A new tool being dubbed “a Must-Have for All Breastfeeding Women” has just been unveiled to the market. It is called LatchAssist, by Lansinoh. It was “created to gently draws temporarily flattened nipples out so baby can more easily latch on during the early days of breastfeeding”, says Rubina Mason, international board-certified lactation consultant and member of the Lansinoh Laboratories breastfeeding advisory board. Ms. Mason spoke to the PRnewswire and urged new mothers not to be discouraged. Often new mothers become discouraged for breastfeeding while engorged can temporarily flatten the nipples and baby may have difficulties latching on. In these cases, Ms. Mason suggests using an ice pack to keep the swelling down after nursing.

Lanisnoh also is the maker of HPA® Lanolin. This topical nipple treatment, used for sore and cracked nipples, is the only one endorsed by La Leche League International. It is virtually odorless and contains no preservatives, no additives, no water, no chemicals, and no perfume, and most importantly, it is safe for the baby and therefore does not need to be removed before breastfeeding.

Head on over to Euphoria Maternity to check out a super cute collection of organic maternity tees and nursing tops. They are reasonably priced, made from 100% organic cotton, and are just the perfect addition for your fall wardrobe.