Although scientific research continues to show that BPA is harmful to humans and BPA has been banned in baby bottles by Canada, the European Union, and nine other states, the attempt to ban BPA in baby bottles and sippy cups in Oregon that passed in the Oregon Senate (SB695) but has stalled in the House.
Right now the bill remains stuck in committee. What can you do right now to get it to a vote?
“Make it loud and clear to everyone you know that we won’t shrug our shoulders and let our attention to BPA fade away. Ask your State Representative if they have done everything they can. And stay tuned here for the latest strategy as it emerges.”
Posted May 15th, 2010 in health | Tags: Text4Baby | Comments Off
Received this press release from Multnomah County about an interesting health information initiative for new and expectant parents:
Multnomah County announced today that they have become an outreach partner with text4baby–a free mobile information service providing timely health information to pregnant women and new moms from pregnancy through a baby’s first year. As an outreach partner, Multnomah County will share information about the service with clients in programs such as the Early Childhood Services and Women Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program.
Text4baby is a free mobile information service designed to promote maternal and child health. An educational program of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB), text4baby provides pregnant women and new moms with information to help them care for their health and give their babies the best possible start in life. Women who sign up for the service by texting BABY to 511411 (or BEBE in Spanish) will receive free SMS text messages each week, timed to their due date or baby’s date of birth.
The program is meant to pass along critical health information via a commonly utilized technology. The infant mortality rate in the U.S. is one of the highest in the industrialized world. Locally, approximately 6.4 percent of babies are born with a low birth weight, a risk factor for infant mortality.
The Nosefrida is more than just a cool name (well I think it’s cool, at least). It is a nasal aspirator that removes mucus from your child’s nose but unlike a bulb it doesn’t require you to place anything all up in your child’s nose. And unlike a bulb, you have full control over the amount of suction applied. The result is more effective mucus removal and more tolerable experience for your baby or toddler.
But how does one market a device that is for sucking snot? The folks at DadLabs have a few ideas:
The Nosefrida is BPA & Phthalate Free. Get the Nosefrida in our Portland boutique or on-line.
Posted March 11th, 2010 in health, Products | Comments Off
We carry a wide variety of Oregon-made Earth Mama Angel Baby products, including Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash!
This lovely wash is perfect for sensitive baby skin. USDA Certified Made With Organic Ingredients this wash is 100 percent pure, with zero toxins and no harsh detergents. Angel Baby Shampoo & Body Wash is a real castile soap with a gentle, naturally pleasing scent, that is clinically tested and hospital recommended.
Safe enough for your sensitive baby and safe enough to use as a body wash and hand soap for the whole family.
We have partnered with the Red Cross to offer a special Infant CPR class at Milagros on the second Tuesday of every month. This is a class we recommend for any expectant or new parent.
The class provides hands-on instruction on what to do if your infant or child is choking, rescue breathing, basic CPR and First Aid. You are welcome to bring your baby with you to this class.
We have just learned that the February 9, 2010 class is full but there are still openings for the March class.
Class fee is $25 and registration is required. To register contact Shelley or Carolina at the Oregon Trail Chapter of the Red Cross at 503.280.1440 and let them know they are registering for the “New Parents” class at Milagros.
Having distressing or even frightening emotions during a time that has been envisioned as full of joy and fulfillment can feel very isolating and confusing. Too often symptoms of depression or anxiety are ignored or hidden by mothers out of a sense of guilt or inadequacy – shouldn’t I be happy?
If you are feeling this way, you are far from alone. The truth is that as many as half of all women experience some depression and/or anxiety before or after pregnancy; in many cases this distress can last for months. Experiencing depression or anxiety during a pregnancy or postpartum can happen to first time moms and experienced moms who have had no depression during prior births.
Motherhood is not an easy experience. A mother experiencing depression or anxiety can’t just “pull herself together” any more than she could if she had the flu, diabetes, or any other physical illness. Seeking help you need doesn’t make you any less successful as a mom.
If you live in the Portland/Vancouver area and are experiencing any symptoms of prenatal or postpartum depression or anxiety, we encourate you to contact Baby Blues Connection. BBC is a local non-profit that provides peer support and information to ensure that moms like you get the help needed to feel better. This support is available over the phone and in local mom-to-mom support groups.
Why hasn’t this been created before? It seems so basic but try as I might I had no luck finding a basic alternative care first aid kit – until now!
Two Portland-based naturopathic doctors have put their energy into creating Naturokits! The Naturokit is a naturopathic first aid kit built for a variety of situations — bumps, bruises, burns, bites, cuts, etc. The remedies in the kit are perfect for children over one year of age as well as adults (for children under one year of age, please consult with a healthcare practitioner).
The types of situations for busting out your Naturokit?
It’s 7:45 on a January morning and you are frantically racing out the door for an 8:00 meeting. You slip on the icy first step, land on your keister, and spill your cup of scalding organic fair-trade coffee all over your bare hand‚Ķ
Both your 4 year old son and your 11 year old cat are experiencing sweaty palms after the fireworks start on the 4th of July…
You’re installing your storm windows during the season’s first freeze-over and you slam your finger in the pane‚Ķ
You hiked up the west slope of Steep Peak with your boots rubbing all the way, you got way too much sun, the mosquitoes had you for lunch and now your muscles are screaming…
Your little leaguer slides into home plate and embeds a good deal of it into her knee…
And so on…
This is the kit to have on hand for emergencies – the one to throw into your beach bag, backpack, glove box, or that to send off with your children as they depart on adventures.
Posted October 30th, 2009 in Classes, health | Comments Off
Come to a workshop and Milagros on 11/6 or 11/13 at 11am and learn about how to easily create a “Toxins-free Home”. Plus you will get some great free samples and coupons to help you get started!
These free presentations are part of the Million Baby Crawl campaign. The purpose of the Million Baby Crawl campaign is to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act so that items such as household cleaners, disposable diapers and other baby products will need to list their ingredients. This type of labeling will give parents the info they need to choose less toxic alternatives. Info that they are not easily getting now!
These workshops are free, open to all, and don’t require a rsvp needed.
Posted October 27th, 2009 in health | Comments Off
There was a thread on UrbanMamas recently regarding H1N1 and access to the vaccine locally. Like many families out there, we have decided to vaccinate our children but are having some challenges accessing a version of the vaccine that is thimerosal-free. At this point, this may be wishful thinking on our part since access to any version of the vaccine is pretty limited.
Here is the latest word from Multnomah County on what’s happening and how to find more info:
Oregon vaccine planners as recently as late September were anticipating initial shipments to be small and then ramp up through the end of October, reaching a point where the vaccine would be widely available to the public through multiple channels.
Recently, the Centers for Disease Control announced that unexpectedly low yields from vaccine manufacturers were delaying the roll-out of larger vaccine batches. Vaccine shipments have been at a steady trickle since Oct. 5, with roughly 6,000 to 12,000 doses arriving in Multnomah County each week.
Facing lower initial shipments of H1N1 flu vaccine, the Multnomah County Health Department will focus vaccine that becomes available on two groups at higher risk for flu complications: pregnant women and children under 5.
The county only expects to receive 6,000 doses this week (October 26). There are an estimated 14,000 pregnant women in Multnomah County and an estimated 48,800 children under age 5.
Pregnant women have been hospitalized at five times the rate of the general population; the rate for children under 5 has been 45 percent higher than the general population. The data reflect admissions since September 1 in Multnomah County and are in line with national figures.
Health officials are now making decisions weekly about vaccinations, considering local data and where a limited supply of vaccine can do the most good.
With vaccine continuing to be in short supply, the Multnomah County Health Department has decided to reduce the number of public vaccination sites until vaccine becomes more readily available.
Future vaccination sites will be posted on the county’s website, www.mchealth.org The State of Oregon Flu Hot Line is also a resource to help people determine where they can get a flu shot: 1-800-978-3040
The Health Department also is in charge of distributing vaccines to private medical practices that have asked to be vaccine providers. The department, rather than distribute the vaccine across the board, is placing an emphasis on filling orders placed by obstetricians and pediatricians.
Our Health Department is coordinating with other Health Departments in the region as well as the state to ensure that information is made available to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. Please visit our website, www.mchealth.org, the state of Oregon’s Flu website, http://www.flu.oregon.gov/ and the Center for Disease Control’s website http://www.flu.gov/ for valuable information and resources.
Lots going on Halloween (including non-candy treats at Milagros)! Among other things is this fun, informative event being presented by the Josiah Hill Clinic:
Multicultural Healthy Kids Healthy Homes Fair
When: Saturday October 31st. 11-3pm Where: The Friends of the Children Building, 65 NE Stanton, Portland, OR
Workshops on renters’ rights, lead poisoning prevention, and green cleaning!
Lead-free toy giveaway for infants and toddlers – while
supplies last!
Healthy food and beverages!
Blood lead testing and hemoglobin testing!
Toy and dishware/pottery lead screening (up to four items per household)!
Spanish and Russian Interpreters Provided. For more information call 503.802.7389 or visit www.jhillclinic.org
We keep our shelves BPA free at Milagros and we do what we can to keep our house free of it as well. 
