Dear Mother Dear,

Why I'm Angry--
In the 1980s, the chance of getting cancer was 1 out of 8000 and now, in the 1990s, the chances  are 1 out of 3. We can stop "giving" ourselves the cancer virus; read on:

Tampons are  dangerous (for reasons other than toxic shock).  Tampons contain two things that are potentially harmful:  Rayon (for absorbency) and dioxin (a chemical used in bleaching).  The tampon industry is convinced  women need bleached white.  They think we view a bleached product as pure and clean. Trouble is,  the dioxin is carcinogenic and toxic to the immune and reproductive system.  It is linked to endometriosis as well as lower sperm counts for men. In September the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported "There  is no set "acceptable" level of exposure to dioxin." Dioxin is cumulative and slow to disintegrate; the real danger comes from repeated contact.

Rayon contributes to the danger of tampons and dioxin because it is a highly absorbent substance and therefore when fibers from the tampons are left behind in the vagina (as usually occurs), it creates a breeding ground for the dioxin, and stays in  longer than it would with just cotton tampons.   This is also the reason why TSS (toxic shock syndrome) occurs.

Sweden, Germany, and British Columbia consumers demanded a switch to a safer, dioxin free tampon, while the U.S. keeps us in danger.

Call Playtex at 1-800-961-9577 and raise hell.

Check the ingredients listed on your shampoo.  If it has Sodium Laureth Sulfate, or SLS, found in most shampoos because it produces a lot of foam but it is very strong and will cause cancer in the long run. Vo5, Palmolive, Paul Mitchell, and the new Hemp shampoo contains it. Colgate toothpaste also contains the same substance to produce  bubbles.

Anonoymous but Angry

Dear Mother Dear,

Tell the world. I had never considered the effect tobacco could have on the wonderful, incredible substance we call prolactin.

I wrote this poem late one evening while my milk was coming in. Whenever I feel let down I become a touch nostalgic. You see, I quit smoking during my pregnancy and started up again when my daughter was 4 months old because of some very serious stress in my life. I continued to breast feed at the advise of a LLL leader, but my breasts never spilled over with milk, and the experience of let down ceased. My daughter is almost two and I finally gathered the nerve to quit smoking two months ago. The first time I felt my milk come in I cried, knowing at last how I'd allowed my weakness to hurt my daughter. To this
day I have never leaked since I started smoking again.
Anyway, enjoy:

Dear Mother Dear;

I want to get my degree in Naturopathic Medicine, and plan to move to Toronto in Sept., 1999 to live there four years.  I would love to link with similar parents who support Compleat Mother ideals. I'm looking for alternative schools for my four year old I sculpt breastfeeding moms in clay and life-size, in paper mache, and offer child care services in Guelph this year. I would love to hear from anyone interested.
Sylvie Ducharme, tel (519) 836-6373
33 North St Unit 16, Guelph, ON N1H 5J6

I had great difficulty breastfeeding my first child, who is now a year old. I am expecting in August and desperately want to be able to breastfeed this one. I had to supplement because he was losing weight and obviously not getting enough milk. After a month of this we ended up switching to formula only. (I have a breast reduction surgery, but by month six of my first pregnancy, and month four of this pregnancy, I was able to express from my breasts.)
Concerned Mother

First, be proud. You had breast reduction surgery, got pregnant and had milk. Then you gave birth and produced some, if not enough, milk from your surgically altered breasts. Finally, you became pregnant six months after giving birth. You've had a lot of reproductive successes in a short time.

You want to breastfeed your second child longer than a month, and this is a worth goal. Since your firstborn is a very young toddler, it might be wise to get a breastpump and express some of that milk you have now. Give it to your big baby, by cup, spoon, on cereal, whatever way your generous gift will be accepted. Remember each drop is precious, and will help your child's brain development, physical health and feeling of being loved my mom, especially if he or she is with you when you express.

Do keep up a healthy intake of fluids and nutritious food, while pregnant and after your baby is born. Sleep when baby sleeps, and keep your baby beside you night and day. If baby has eight  cloth  (not paper, because you can't tell when they are wet) diapers a day and is content, you have enough milk. If less, supplementation is important. Donated human milk is better than cow or soybean milk. If you are supplementing, your breastmilk is vital. Breastmilk is like yogurt; put it in a big bowl of warm milk and pretty soon you have a big bowl of yogurt. Baby's tummy is the bowl.

Lucky babies have 10-20 wet cotton diapers a day; strive for that. Offer your breast to baby many times during the day in infancy; your full time job is to mother that baby. Tell us how it goes.

Flying Hands Farm Healing Herbal Salve works for all skin problems, and is non-allergenic. It is for all skin problems, and is non-allergenic. It is wonderful for baby, for diaper rash, eczema, open wounds, burns, sunburn, frostbite and skin emergencies. It is a great preventative ointment with a lovely orange fragrance. It is three years on the market, helping keep skin healthy.
Our 15 ml. jar: $8 postpaid, goeas a long way!
Flying Hands Farm
Box 835, Nakusp, British Columbia, V0G IR0   tel. (250) 265-4967

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