Don't Retract Pack

SOS Odyssey: Florida Intact Rallies



INTACT ODYSSEY:

 • A voyage marked by fortunate changes
 • An intellectual quest

The SOS Odyssey is a national intact rally, with traveling billboards, making stops in cities across the nation. We host positive, proactive, family-friendly events that raise public awareness and open doors, open hearts, and change minds for the future wellbeing of the next generation. We disperse information along the way, and empower local advocates to keep the momentum going long after we've left town.

Join us in Florida this December when we host events in Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Gainesville, and Orlando!

We will have the giant traveling billboards, and signs for everyone to use, and (provided funding needs are met) materials for you to take home and move your intact seed-planting to new heights! Come out with your family for a fun, friendly, positive day of awareness raising. Each location has been chosen with meaningful public exposure and children's participation and safety in mind.

If you live in any of these 4 locations and are willing to host 1-2 responsible, adult men in your home for one night, please message the Saving Our Sons Facebook page or email SavingSons@gmail.com. These gentlemen do not need much except for a safe place to sleep.

If you're unable to join us for the Florida Odyssey, please support this event. Each of the adults heading this tour have taken an unpaid week off work to make this happen, and will be traveling to Florida at their own expense to host. The cost of putting on this Odyssey is $1100, with gas between rally locations, overnights, and materials to give away to attendees and passerbys at each event location. Odyssey hosts will need to cover anything that isn't funded on our own -- please help us if you can. Your gift will go a long way this month, and these are the most cost-effective billboards to reach the widest number of people across the nation at each SOS Odyssey.

Thank you for your support, and we will see many of you in Florida!

♥ To give:

SOS Odyssey Supporters
With sincere gratitude - we cannot make this happen without you!

★ Jeffery S.
★ Amy E.
★ Kayla C.
★ Jessica S.
★ Robert B.
★ Aneesa B.
★ Tracie H.
★ Michael E.
★ Danelle D.
★ Brian B.
★ Elana J.
★ Brittany G.
★ Christy S.
★ Suzanna T.
★ Dawny R.
★ Bracken H.
★ Nicole W.
★ Melissa D.
★ Ryan B.
★ Courtney B.


SOS Odyssey: Florida event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1961606707428662/

Saturday, December 16: Jacksonville Event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/2025815644329009/

Sunday, December 17: Tallahassee Event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/533065730388329/

Monday, December 18: Gainesville Event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/953764631442103/

Tuesday, December 19: Orlando Event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/165348337402766/

SOS Odyssey: Florida Route


SOS Odyssey: Florida Photo Gallery
(coming soon!)

SOS Odyssey: In the News
(coming soon!)


World Health Organization (WHO) Breastfeeding Code

The World Health Organization Breastfeeding Code
Read full text: http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/code_english.pdf


According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF about 1.5 million babies die every year because they were not able to receive human milk. Many more millions of babies each year suffer from infectious diseases and malnutrition, never reaching a baseline level of health and development because they were artificially fed. When human milk substitutes are absolutely needed, they can be live-saving. However, more often than not an artificial baby feed industry preys on the insecurities of new mothers, and a culture full of 'booby traps' designed to make a buck off babies and hook parents into this billion dollar business of taking the place of human milk.

Because of this, the World Health Organization implemented an International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.

What is the WHO Breastfeeding Code?

On May 21, 1981, the 34th World Health Assembly adopted this International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes, and added it to the World Health Organization (WHO) Constitution. More than 160 countries and territories, including the United States, agreed to take steps to implement the Code. An upholding of the Code, however, is a matter for the government of each country to decide, in keeping with its social and legislative framework.

The aim of the Code is to "contribute to the provision of safe and adequate nutrition for infants, by the protection and promotion of breastfeeding, and by ensuring the proper use of breastmilk substitutes, when these are necessary, on the basis of adequate information and through appropriate marketing and distribution."

The Code (World Health Organization Publication WHO/MCH/NUT/90.1) states there will be:

• NO advertising of breastmilk substitutes to the public.

• NO free samples to mothers.

• NO promotion of products in health-care facilities.

• NO company 'mothercraft' nurses to advise mothers.

• NO gifts or personal samples to health workers.

• NO words or pictures idealizing artificial feeding, including pictures of infants on the products.

• Information to health workers should be scientific and factual.

• All information on artificial feeding, including the labels, should explain the benefits of breastfeeding [as a baseline level of health], and the costs, hazards, and risks associated with artificial feeding.

• Unsuitable products, such as condensed milk, should not be promoted for babies.

• All products should be of a high quality and take into account the climatic and storage conditions of the country where they are used.

What is occurring in the United States?

The U.S. government has formally given the WHO Code to U.S. manufactures of artificial baby feeds, along with the government's perspectives on the impact of the Code on those companies. All three major manufacturers have their own code of conduct where the marketing of infant formula is concerned, and all three have declared that they will abide by the International Code when doing business in developing countries, while reviewing their practices in industrialized countries, including the United States. However, as Gabrielle Palmer points out in her fantastic book, The Politics of Breastfeeding: When Breasts are Bad for Business, anything that supports a normal feeding of human babies puts the bottom dollar turn-out of these manufacturers at risk. Each one profits - in monumental ways - by undermining a new mother's belief in her ability to feed her baby.

In reality, it is very rare for a human mother to be able to grow a baby inside for 9-10 months, have a live birth, and then not be able to sustain this life outside. The female body is made to birth and breastfeed. When hormonal troubles come into play, we usually see them first impair the ability to become pregnant, stay pregnant, or birth a live baby. When all this takes place, it is scientifically uncommon to not also have the body produce the milk needed to continue to nourish this new life. It is only when we sabotage the normal birth and postpartum period, as well as mothering and breastfeeding in general, that we see problems arise for mothers and babies.

The American Academy of Pediatrics adopted a policy stating that the Academy would terminate the support it received from any company which promoted its products (infant formula) directly to the public. Unfortunately, there are other ways in which artificial feed companies find their ways into the pediatrics practices across the nation -- latching onto mothers when they are in a position of highest doubt (immediately before and after birth).

The United States laws put in place to protect the safety and sanitary condition of artificial baby feeds on the market are the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 and the Infant Formula Act of 1980. Complaints, information on microbiological and nutrient testing, and manufacturer's audits can be found in the amendment to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Action, International Digest of Health Legislation, 43(3):556 (1992).

A variety of groups and individuals have written articles supporting the WHO Code, and discourage people to personally or professionally associate themselves with companies that are in violation of the Code.

For these reasons and more, Peaceful Parenting ceased Google ads at DrMomma.org as of 2011, that previously brought in funds for hosting the website, and contributing to the non-profit work of Peaceful Parenting. It forced us to become dependent solely on good-will donations from readers, but also ensures we are not participating in WHO Code breaking marketing that surfaces repeatedly online today.

Furthermore, our Breastfeeding Group is one of the only community groups for nursing moms with babies of all ages that adheres to WHO Code voluntarily. This is a group that all breastfeeding mothers and lactation consultants are welcome to join, with the understanding that we take a fundamental pro-baby stance in the group.




The Case for Midwives

By Brooke Faulkner © 2017


We often see midwives as a rising trend in pre- and post-natal care, but midwives have been around in some form as long as women have given birth. Documented history of the profession dates back to ancient Egypt. There’s a good reason why the profession has lasted this long and is seeing a rise in popularity again: midwives make for safer, more peaceful and natural births than obstetricians or hospital births. More than that, in rural areas midwives are saving lives and promoting education on how to raise healthy children.

In Nigeria, a program inviting new and retired midwives to spend a year providing basic service has brought major change in the country.

Midwives are the answer to a question a lot of moms struggle with: how to have the best birth experience? What will be the safest, for both mom and baby? What birth plan is the least traumatic and will benefit the health of mother and child the best in the long run?

What Nurse Midwives Are

A nurse midwife is a medical professional who specializes in pre- and post-natal care. They are one of the many kinds of registered nurses, which means that nurse midwives are highly educated and trained in their field. They are also certified, which requires passing an exam as well as ongoing education. The American Public Health Association and the World Health Organization recommend midwives, which ranks them among the best birth care professionals.

Midwives provide healthcare, assistance and education for all phases of the birth cycle. A midwife can help pick out your birth plan, talk through your medical concerns, help birth your baby and assist with newborn care, including breastfeeding guidance. And, in the worst case scenario, a midwife also knows when it’s time to go to the hospital.

Midwives Make for Better Births

Intuitively, mothers know what’s best for them. Midwives make the best partner for births because they can help with natural, non-traumatic birthing practices. Research backs up midwives: pregnancies with midwives as the main caregiver have fewer miscarriages, are less likely to give birth before 37 weeks, and are less likely to have C-sections and episiotomies. By the numbers, that’s 2.1 percent episiotomy (compared to 33 percent in hospitals), and 3.7 percent C-sections (compared to 32 percent in hospitals).

C-sections and episiotomies are violent, traumatic experiences for mothers and children. Midwives are prone to employing safer methods, like perineum massage and waiting for fetal ejection reflex. Midwives (and homebirths) also mean a more private, intimate experience. Expecting moms who don’t like the idea of being exposed, half naked in an environment where their wishes come second place to an OB’s judgement can find the more humanized, fulfilling, blissful experience of childbirth they’re looking for with a midwife.

Afterbirth Care

Once the baby is born, parents — especially new parents — still need help with their care. In some European countries, new moms get home nurse visits. That practice isn’t commonplace here, but midwives some will visit you at home to see how life with your baby is progressing, and give struggling moms education and support on breastfeeding. Midwives mean better survival rates for newborns: they can help lower the chance of SIDS by being in the baby’s environment. After carrying your baby, and birthing him with care, midwives can help begin his life with you in a healthy, more natural way — a way of your choosing.


Due Date Calculator


Due Date Calculator

It goes without saying that nothing brings more joy into our lives than new parenthood. But along with this joy it also brings feelings of anxiety, nervousness, unpredictability and wonder. Babies are extremely unpredictable. No amount of parenting books, magazines, google searches or elders’ advice can prepare you fully for this mammoth task ahead of you. However, some amount of strategic planning can help you and calm your nerves while you wait for your bundle of joy.

Once you get a positive pregnancy test, the next step is to get it confirmed from your ob-gyn with an ultrasound. The doctor will most probably also give you your due date at this appointment. This appointment is generally held between 10 to 14 weeks. While you wait for your first appointment you can use this easy pregnancy due date calculator to help you start planning –  www.DueDate-Calculator.com.

How to use this due date calculator?

The link www.DueDate-Calculator.com will take you to the due date calculator. It is extremely easy to use. It takes the date of the first day of your last period and the approximate length of your menstrual cycle as input and gives you the estimated due date (EDD) as output.

How do due date calculators work?

Many due date calculators are available online today. They use different principles to calculate your baby’s due date. They are based on the date of the last menstrual period (LMP).

The Naegele’s rule for determining your baby’s due date is most commonly used by due date calculators. A pregnancy lasts for roughly 40 weeks from the day of conception and this duration is called the gestation period. Naegele’s rule adds 40 x 7 = 280 days to the first day of your menstrual cycle, the result of which is your baby’s due date. Here it is assumed that a woman’s period cycle runs for 28 days approximately and ovulation occurs on the 14th day.

However, some women have a menstrual cycle longer or shorter than 28 days. The Mittendorf-Williams rule takes this deviation into consideration. This makes it a more accurate method of calculating the due date. It takes different factors like race, height, weight, maternal age and average luteal phase length (second half of menstrual cycle after the day of ovulation) into consideration. This makes the calculation way more complicated.

This due date calculator uses the Mittendorf-Williams rule and hence is more accurate than other calculators you find online.

How accurate are due date calculators?

The accuracy of a due date calculator depends on multiple factors. If the expectant mother has regular monthly periods, there is a very high chance of the due date being accurate. However, for women with irregular periods it is important to confirm/determine the due date by measuring the size of the fetus during the first ultrasound appointment. Another point to note is that only around 5-6% women deliver their babies on the due date. Hence, a due date calculator provides you with an approximate due date or a range of 4 weeks between 38 and 42 weeks of pregnancy. Only a pregnancy above 42 weeks is considered overdue.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we can say that due date calculators are helpful in providing the expectant couples with a general idea of when to expect the arrival of their baby. The first day of the last period and length of cycle play a role in determining the due date. The Mittendorf-Williams method calculates the due date more accurately than the Naegele method as it takes into consideration a cycle size below or above the average. This factor makes the due date calculator more accurate when compared to others found online.