Welcome to Best Start Parenting Center!

Due to the weather (AGAIN) our Mother's Tea scheduled for Wednesday, March 3rd at 10 AM is in jeopardy.  We have decided to go by the Lynchburg City Schools closing schedule.  If schools are closed our Tea is cancelled.  BUT if school is simply delayed we WILL hold the tea Please check the link below about Lynchburg City Schools Closings. 

http://static.wset.com/closetext.html

 

Best Start Parenting Center is a childbirth, breastfeeding, and parenting resource center. We provide the highest quality education, information, professional services and products to parents. Our primary goal is to promote good parenting, via a healthy pregnancy, positive childbirth experience, breastfeeding, and a close, loving parent-child relationship.

We believe strongly that parents deserve accurate, professional, up to date information and support to make the best choices for their children so they may have the best start in life.

 

 

Click Here to Read Our Latest Newsletter!

Visit our Blog at http://babiesbeststart.wordpress.com

 







 

Disaster in Haiti !
How can you help mothers and babies?

The earthquake in Haiti on January 12 has us all looking for ways we can help. We worry about everyone, but especially the mothers and babies trying to survive without proper shelter, food and water.

The best thing YOU can do is to donate through credible organizations; like the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders, so appropriate aid can be brought to the people. These organizations know the current situation, what kind of aid to give, how to get it there. Too often in the past emergency aid of donated items have piled up, spoiled, and tons and tons wasted due to multiple problems.

As far as mothers and babies are concerned, one of the most important thing is encouraging breastfeeding support as a vital part of the disaster and relief aid. The International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) released a statement in January 13, 2010: "ILCA discourages donations of infant formula since artificial baby milk feedings can increase illness and disease in an emergency. . . . According to the Emergency Nutrition Network, artificial baby milks (formula) were distributed to 72% of families with infants following the December 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean. This predominately breastfeeding region of the world experienced a dramatic decline in breastfeeding rates as a result and, . . . the well-meaning donations of formula were linked to a tripling of the rate of diarrheal disease. More that 70% of infants experiencing diarrhea had been fed the free provisions of infant formula. . . . mothers affected by a disaster CAN continue to make milk, even if they are stressed or malnourished." What is really needed is appropriate food and water for the mothers so they can feed their infants and to be assisted to maintain their milk production if separated from their babies using hand expression or a breastpump. Mothers who have weaned can also be helped to reestablish their milk production.

ILCA encourages the general public to avoid donating infant formula and to instead donate funds to relief organizations for use in meeting highest priority needs.  Click on the link below to access the news release from ILCA.

ILCA Encourages Breastfeeding Support in Haiti

Jane Bradshaw RN, BSN, IBCLC, RLC

 

 

BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT ENCOURAGED IN HAITI

 

In the aftermath of the powerful earthquake disaster in Haiti, the International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) urges health care providers and rescue workers to include breastfeeding support as a vital part of disaster relief and humanitarian aid efforts.  ILCA also discourages donations of infant formula since artificial feeding can increase illness and disease in an emergency.  

 

Angela Smith, President of ILCA’s 5,000 member international organization of International Board Certified Lactation Consultants stresses that “supporting mothers to continue breastfeeding in an emergency such as this has proven to be the safest, most sanitary and most consistently available food source for babies.  Human milk also contains important anti-infective properties that protect infants from malnutrition, diarrhea and other diseases that commonly arise during an emergency such as this tragic situation in Haiti.”

 

According to the Emergency Nutrition Network, artificial baby milks were distributed to 72% of the families with infants following the December 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean.  This predominately breastfeeding region of the world experienced a dramatic decline in breastfeeding rates as a result and, according to Smith, the well-meaning donations of formula were linked to a tripling of the rate of diarrheal disease.  More than 70% of infants experiencing diarrhea had been fed from the free provisions of infant formula. 

 

Jane Bradshaw RN, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant from Best Start Parenting Center in Lynchburg states “Many are surprised that mothers affected by a disaster can continue to make milk, even if they are stressed or malnourished.  Providing emergency food and water to the mother is more life saving and provides the baby with a consistent food source over donated formula.  Families may have no electricity, or clean water and formula is usually not consistently available.  Families are easily influenced by donations from powerful “modern” countries like the US and don’t realize how dangerous it is for them to stop breastfeeding and rely on formula in their situation.”

 

Recommendations from ILCA include:

  • Encourage mothers to continue breastfeeding to give infants sanitary, safe nutrition, to help fight infection and disease , and to keep infants warm;
  • Feed the mother so she can, in turn, feed her infant;
  • Provide a safe environment for breastfeeding or expressing milk, including providing a private area or a way to breastfeed discreetly, if the mother desires it;
  • Assist mothers who are separated from their infants with regular milk removal to maintain their milk production and avoid engorgement;
  • Provide donor human milk from a human milk bank if a mother is injured or unable to directly breastfeed;
  • Assist mothers with re-establishing their milk production if they have already weaned their baby

 

These recommendations are consistent with directives from organizations such as UNICEF and the World Health Organization’s document, “Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding,” as well as the “Infant Feeding in Emergencies” guidance from the Infant Feeding in Emergencies Core Group, which includes UNICEF and the Emergency Nutrition Network.

 

ILCA also encourages the general public to avoid donating infant formula and, instead to donate funds to relief organizations for use in meeting highest priority needs. 

 

To learn more about breastfeeding in emergency situations, visit the ILCA website at www.ilca.org or contact the ILCA office at info@ilca.ore, or (919) 861-5577 or locally contact Best Start Parenting Center 434-384-MAMA (6262), www.babiesbeststart.com.

 

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS to our WINNERS!

WINNERS of  three wonderful SALON treatments for three special moms, Courtesy of Signature Studio! Prizes are as follows:

 

Lizhi Daily wins -- A Half Day at the Salon -- a $75 value

Amy Ferguson wins -- A Day at the Salon -- A $150.00 value

Kathryn Hansen wins -- A NEW YOU!!! -- A $200.00 Makeover!!!

Special Thanks to Janette Lacy from Signature Studio (434-821-0500) for her generous donation of this prize!

 

 

NEW from the makers of bumGenius!

 

FLIP Diapering System:  The no mess, no fuss, no worries way to cloth diaper!

Cloth diapering has never been so easy!
• TOSS the used insert into your diaper pail
• REPLACE the insert with a clean one
• REUSE the cover. The one-size cover and insert adjusts to fit most babies from 7-35 pounds.
 

 
"I love the FLIP diapers - they are so trim, affordable, and easy to take care of. My husband even likes them. I also save time because I don't have to stuff liners inside. They are great to use when we go out because they take up so much less room in my diaper bag. Also, I know that we will be able to use them until our daughter is bigger since they are one size fits all. I  haven't had any leaks yet, even overnight or with bowel movements. The snaps are also great - some diapers I have with snaps are awkward to close - I feel like I am squishing my daughter's stomach. The FLIP diapers are fantastic - I don't know if I will buy any others!" -- Melissa Tyree
 
"I've only used these diapers for two days and wish I could replace my whole collection with these.  They keep my 3 month old dry and fit him snuggly with the snap closures.  Replacing the insert during the day is so easy, and the cover wipes clean easily.  I was amazed when I took out the insert and felt how the design wicks away the moisure from my baby's skin.  I highly recommend these to anyone who wants to try to cloth diaper because they are so easy to use." -- Joy Rhodes, Mom to Hanan, 3 months old 

 

 

Econobum: The Affordable Choice in Cloth Diapering!

Econobum™ is the cloth diapering solution for every budget! Save money while making the environmentally friendly choice to cloth diaper little one's bum. The one-size cover and prefold adjusts to grow along with your little one.

 

Click Here to view more information about these wonderful new products!
 

  

Having a Garage Sale?
Got Baby Items that you want to sell?
 

Advertise on our website in our Mommy's Classifieds!

NOW FREE OF CHARGE!

 Click Here to learn more on our website about this new exciting feature of our website.

 

 

 

Best Start Parenting Center uses AvaHost.net to host our website!  If you are looking for a place for your website, go to their website by clicking the image below and you can get a 15% discount on your order!  Please use the affiliate code: AFFHOST15 for your discount!