PLATYPUS POST, Number 15, August 2005, World Breastfeeding Week IssuePLATYPUS POST, Number 15, August 2005, World Breastfeeding Week Issue
A regular publication of Platypus Media, an independent publisher of books for families, teachers and parenting professionals.
WELCOME to Platypus Post, an electronic newsletter from Platypus Media. We hope you find that the parenting, teaching, and breastfeeding information we provide here is useful. Feel free to forward the newsletter to friends or colleagues.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: ** SPECIAL BREASTFEEDING ISSUE **
DIA'S DIARY: It's That Time of Year Again - World Breastfeeding Week!
World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) is coming. Officially celebrated from August 1-7, this is the greatest outreach vehicle for the breastfeeding movement. It is celebrated in communities all across the U.S. as well as in over 120 countries. The theme for 2005 is "Breastfeeding and Family Foods: Loving and Healthy."
This year's World Breastfeeding Week comes at a time when the United States in-hospital breastfeeding rates have just shown their first decline following a decade of increases. The nationwide breastfeeding initiation rate in the U.S. is now 66%.
The good news is that there is substantial breastfeeding success in some places. In particular, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington have all achieved all of the Healthy People 2010 (http://www.healthypeople.gov/ and http://www.cdc.gov) objectives in breastfeeding. These include an imitation rate of 75% with 50% breastfeeding at six months, and 25% continued breastfeeding with complementary foods at one year.
The bad news is that the groups who have the most to gain from breastfeeding -- black and Hispanic mothers, mothers under 24-years-of-age, mothers with just a grade school education, and mothers with low-birth weight infants are still breastfeeding at the lowest levels.
To find out how your state ranks in breastfeeding, The Centers for Disease Control has state-by-state data. You can read this at www.cdc.gov.
While many more families could reap the benefits of breastfeeding, the federal government is throwing in their two cents. Through the Office of Women's Health, the National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign continues to run, supported by a contract with the Ad Council. Using a provocative collection of TV, radio, and print ads, the campaign is effecting significant changes in knowledge and attitudes with the message that "Babies Were Born to be Breastfed." For more information, visit, www.4woman.gov.
The other good news is that the American Academy of Pediatrics recently issued a wonderful, clear and comprehensive statement on the importance of breastfeeding. Numerous benefits of breastfeeding for both child and mother are well documented. The statement reports there are few contraindications for breastfeeding, that breastfeeding newborns should not receive supplements, that all breastfeeding infants should be seen at 3 to 5 days of age by a pediatrician or nurse knowledgeable about breastfeeding, and that exclusive breastfeeding is sufficient for optimal growth until about 6 months of age. To learn more, go to: http://pediatrics.jwatch.org/cgi/content/full/2005/328/1.
Whether or not you have a nursing child, please consider joining in celebration of World Breastfeeding Week, 2005. To find out how you can join in the WBW 2005 fun and fundraising while increasing breastfeeding awareness in your community, read the next section of this newsletter and visit the La Leche League in the USA WBW page at: www.lllusa.org/lllusa/wbw.html. To learn about WBW activities around the world, visit http://www.waba.org.my
Platypus Media is a proud sponsor of the LLL in the USA WBW efforts. We encourage you to participate in your community. And remember; put your best breast forward!
A GREAT IDEA AND A GREAT OFFER: Donate Books, Support Breastfeeding and Promote Literacy in Your Community!
DONATE NOW WITH GREAT SAVINGS!!!
We have a number of titles that support both breastfeeding and literacy. We are happy to make our titles available to individuals and groups for library donations at 50% OFF.
Just give us a call at 1-877-PLATYPS (1-877-872-8977) and ask for Megan, or email her at Megan@PlatypusMedia.com. We'll help you put your order together. This is a great way to support breastfeeding and promote literacy!
All you need to do is order a minimum of ten titles (any combination) and let us know what library or district they are for. This offer can be used to provide books to school, public, military and community libraries. We'll even sticker them stating that they were donated by your group.
For young children and pre-readers, we recommend:
For older kids, we recommend:
For adults, we recommend:
SPREAD THE WORD: Free Articles for World Breastfeeding Week
Many people want nice articles or handouts to post, reprint or distribute for World Breastfeeding Week. There are a number of resources out there that serve this purpose nicely. Check out...
La Leche League International's press releases: http://www.lalecheleague.org/Release/worldhealth.html
International Lactation Consultant's Association press releases: http://www.ilca.org/pressroom/index.php Also from LLLI, Summary Of Breastfeeding Legislation In The US: http://www.lalecheleague.org/Law/summary.html
Dr. Jack Newman's Breastfeeding Handouts: http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/newman.shtml.
At Platypus Media, we also have a number of articles that can be used freely. Visit http://platypusmedia.com/main_educate.html and click on "Handouts." Titles include:
Also, if you click on "Newsletter" from the same location, you will find copies of our newsletter. A number of the "DIA'S DIARY" columns make nice handouts and can be used freely. See:
A SONG TO BRING TEARS TO YOUR EYES: "Let Them Be Little"
Platypus Media had the wonderful opportunity to experience the La Leche League International Conference in Washington, DC, in early July. One of the highlights of the conference was the Founder's Tea where Janet Jendron of the Alumnae Association presented a DVD of singer Billy Dean performing his song, "Let Them Be Little."
Whether folks were country fans or foes, everyone loved this powerful footage of a father embracing the magic of childhood. The video can be found online at: http://countrymusic.about.com/library/blbd-letthembelittle.htm
The CD can be ordered at http://billydean.com
Those of us who were there felt honored to watch this moving video in the presence of so many mothers who have dedicated their lives to helping children. Thanks Janet!
Take a few minutes out of your day and watch this video. It will make you smile.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH... From A General Theory of Love
...in its baldest tally of values, our culture automatically equates a dedication to full-time parenting with the absence of ambition. But in what human activity could there possibly be more?
~ Thomas Lewis, MD, Fari Amini, MD and Richard Lannon, MD
A General Theory of Love, Vintage, 2001
DONATION SPECIAL: Save Money While Supporting Your Community!!
DONATE BOOKS TO A LIBRARY - AND SAVE 50%!!!
We have a number of titles that support both breastfeeding and literacy. We are happy to make our titles available to individuals and groups for library donations at 50% OFF.
Just give us a call at 1-877-PLATYPS (1-877-872-8977) and ask for Megan, or email her at Megan@PlatypusMedia.com. We'll help you put your order together. This is a great way to support breastfeeding and promote literacy!
All you need to do is order a minimum of ten titles (any combination) and let us know what library or district they are for. This offer can be used to provide books to school, public, military and community libraries. We'll even sticker them stating that they were donated by your group.
WOMEN'S HEALTH STATISTICS, BY STATE, AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Which states has the highest female suicide rate? Which states have the highest rate of female smoking? Which states have the highest incidence of heart disease? Women in the District of Columbia, where Platypus Media is based, for instance, have the highest rate of coronary heart disease in the nation. On the other hand, DC leads the country in the percentage of women who eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables a day and is among states with the lowest percentages of women who smoke. Though we have among the highest levels of health insurance coverage nationally, we have a high percentage of mothers who do not receive adequate prenatal care.
These and other fascinating facts can be found in the publication, "Women's Health and Mortality Chartbook: State Trends in Health and Mortality," by Dr. Kate M. Brett, and Dr. Suzanne G. Haynes, put out by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Woman's Health, August 2004. You can find the data online at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/healthywomen.htm or call 301-458-INFO.
PLATYPUS MEDIA In The News, Online... And On The Road
The book, published in Malaysia, is organized into five sections: historical overview; key breastfeeding documents; industry statement; HIV and breastfeeding; and resources. Each section contains a selection of materials such as articles by specialists and official statements from organizations and governments. The resources section includes a bibliography, a list of contacts and events, and creative resources such as poems and illustrations.
The book can be ordered through their website, www.waba.org.mys.
Look What I See! Where Can I Be? In the Neighborhood and If My Mom Were a Platypus: Mammal Babies and Their Mothers have just been reviewed:
These are two wonderful books that promote a more attached family set of values. Just good reading! It is nice to see attached parenting and family life portrayed as normal and to have books like these to read to my own children, books that display the tender-hearted way my husband and I are raising them. Just to have books that show baby carrying made me feel very happy to place it on our bookshelf here at home.
April Almeida, July 2005
PLATYPUS MEDIA On The Road
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About Platypus Media
At Platypus Media, our mission is to produce high quality books with a broad appeal to families from different backgrounds that share a commitment to attachment parenting or simply believe in the importance of family closeness. Our goal is to create books and products that parents love, children enjoy, teachers appreciate, and parenting professionals value in their work.
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