Shame on Oprah

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Today as I was watching TV with Grandmama, I saw a commercial for Oprah’s show this afternoon. The ad made mention of overwhelmed parents. So I asked my husband to set up our TiVo to record the program as I thought that maybe Oprah would be talking about Postpartum Depression or something similar. I was OH SO WRONG and OH SO MISLED by the ad.

I turned on the show to watch just a few moments ago and deleted it just a few minutes into the program. The topic was about overwhelmed parents but the lead interviewee was a mom who had tragically left her two year old daughter in her car for eight hours. Graphic 911 calls were played prior to the first commercial break (which, by the way, I did not make it to) and the mother wept as they were played.

Really, Oprah? REALLY?

Yes, this is a tragedy and needs to be addressed. But to advertise it as a show about overwhelmed parents with no warning regarding the true topic and stories to be included is sheer irresponsibility. Clearly this is a situation that may arise from being overwhelmed but I would say this is more than just Overwhelmed. My heart and prayers go out to this family as I cannot imagine being in their shoes but SHAME ON OPRAH for misrepresenting her topic and possibly causing harm to a mother out there who may be suffering from Postpartum Depression and had been told to watch the show by some well-meaning family member or like me, seen the ad and decided to watch because SHE TOO was feeling a bit overwhelmed and saw the possibility of hope and help. Afterall, it IS OPRAH and that’s what she does, right?

Perinatal Disorders and Poverty Assessment Training

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The Keeler Women’s Center in Kansas City, Kansas,  will be holding a training event on October 1st. The event is entitled Perinatal Disorders and Poverty: Assessment of Resources for Treatment. All professionals who serve women suffering from postpartum depression are welcome to attend. Ministry of the Benedictine Sisters. 1-4 p.m. Oct. 1, Keeler Women’s Center, 2220 Central, Kansas City, Kan. Register. www.mountosb.org/kwc (913-906-8990)

Henna, Childbirth, and the Postpartum Period

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"Henna Foot" By Jason. Tabarias @flickr (http://tinyurl.com/35f4yj4)

Here is an excerpt from a wonderful article I located last night regarding this topic. The entire article is absolutely fascinating and DEFINITELY worth the read.

Hennaing a woman after she gives birth is a traditional way to deter the malevolent spirits that cause disease, depression, and poor bonding with her infant. The action of applying henna to a mother after childbirth, particularly to her feet, keeps her from getting up to resume housework! A woman who has henna paste on her feet must let a friend or relative help her care for older children, tend the baby, cook and clean! This allows her to regain her strength and bond with her new baby. She is also comforted by having friends who care about her well-being, and is helped to feel pretty again. It’s a comfort to have feet beautified when you haven’t seen them for several months. The countries that have these traditions have very low rates of postpartum depression.

Friday Soother 09.26.2008

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Sooner or later we all discover that the important moments in life are not the advertised ones, not the birthdays, the graduations, the weddings, not the great goals achieved. The real milestones are less prepossessing. They come to the door of memory unannounced, stray dogs that amble in, sniff around a bit and simply never leave. Our lives are measured by these. – Susan B. Anthony

(Today is my birthday but this quote is so right – the important moments in life ARE the little ones!)

Milking cows is cruel; Milking Humans? Not so much!

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PETA, the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals has taken it a little too far. Way too far, actually.

Apparently they’ve written a letter to Ben & Jerry’s asking them to use human breast milk in their ice cream because and I quote, “cow’s milk is hazardous and that milking them is cruel.” Yet milking human women isn’t cruel?

As a mother who Exclusively Pumped for seven months, I can attest to how difficult breastmilk is to extract. Not only would it be cruel and unusual to milk women, the price of Ben & Jerry’s would sky-rocket if they were to use breastmilk.

Here’s a link to the PETA site with their side of the story.

I am disgusted with this recommended course of action, even if it is just some sort of attention grabbing ploy. How absolutely disrespecful and misunderstanding of the nursing relationship does one have to be in order to even CONSIDER suggesting such a ludicrous action? Apparently cows rank higher in importance to the folks over at PETA than Nursing Moms.