Babies are born covered in a thick, white, cheese-like substance called vernix caseosa. In the hospital it is typical for babies to be bathed immediately to remove the vernix. However, an immediate postnatal bath may not be the best option for a baby and should be reconsidered. Vernix Caseosa has many benefits. Produced during […]
Hospital Issues
The Power Of Your Voice: NYU Hospital’s New Placenta Policy
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead A new mother should be enjoying the precious moments following birth. A new mother should be taking in the sweet smells of her new baby, bonding, and, most importantly, […]
The Nation’s First Inpatient Unit For Moms with Postpartum Depression
For new mothers who find they are in the grips of postpartum depression, the decision to get inpatient treatment can be a lot to bear. Because psychiatric inpatient units do not typically allow babies, some new mothers experience overwhelming guilt associated with leaving their new baby. For moms who are breastfeeding, the decision to be […]
The Third Stage of Labor: The Way Mother Nature Intended
You are in the final moments; you’ve worked so hard, come so far.Your body urges you to push. You bear down, giving it your all; and, alas, you have delivered your precious baby.You soar with excitement and, in an instant, a profound relationship is born. What happens next is the third stage of labor, the […]
The New York Magazine talks placenta
I was interviewed a while back for an article that has just been published in the New York Magazine. It’s a very good article, one of the best ones I’ve read recently. I like it because it puts a very personal touch on the concept of placenta encapsulation. Of course, Mark Kristal, my favorite […]
Rally at Summerlin Hospital
This is a followup post on the situation at Summerlin Hospital in which a nurse called social services on the parents of a newborn baby girl with a mild level of jaundice. If you need background on the case, you can read my original post with the press release. We held a peaceful rally […]
