Bunchland

A woman’s community rallies to support her kids now that she can’t

Michal Lura Friedman tried for seven years to get pregnant, but sadly died suddenly mere hours after given birth to healthy twins. She never even got to hold her babies, let alone feed them. Jay Snyder, Friedman’s widower, says that his wife felt strongly about nursing her children, so he accepted when a friend of his wife’s sister offered her own breast milk for the twins.

That friend, Jessica Provenz, was nursing her own 6-month-old and figured that donating her milk might be of use to Snyder’s family. She ended up coordinating a breast milk drive that ensures Michal and Jay’s twins have plenty.

“Since Michal’s death, a loosely connected network of about 30 mothers has been regularly donating milk to the twins. Three months later, the twins are thriving, rising above the 50th percentile for both height and weight and consuming 80% donated milk and formula at night.  Read more...

You test it with Milkscreen

Bunch reader Stephanie passed along this interesting link from Mommy beta which addresses an important concern for many young moms wanting to resume aspects of their pre-baby lifestyle: After one’s been moderately boozing, when is one’s breast milk safe for consuming? Turns out there’s an at-home test that will detect the alcohol level in your breast milk.

And where did Mommy beta Alex learn of this at-home test? Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami:

Mommy beta reports that Milkscreen inventor Julie Jumonville came up with the idea when she was on Matron of Honour duty and didn’t want to miss her sister’s wedding festivities, but also didn’t want to do anything to compromise her baby’s health.  Read more...

What we’re reading today:

1. Crystal Smith at the Achilles Effect transcribed a bunch of toy commercials and created word clouds for “girl” toys and “boy” toys. The above word clouds were the results. So yeah, basically G.I. Joes for boys and Barbies for girls, just like it’s been for the last generations. Via BoingBoing

2. A recent study found that new moms are missing out on their vegetables. Also, exercise. New dads had no change to their diets. Via Jezebel.

3. The Hospital for Sick Children says it’s a bad idea to let your toddler eat in front of the TV. Dr. Catherine Birkin who led the study said, “Research has shown that greater amounts of screen time are linked to delayed language development and aggressive behaviour, as well as cigarette smoking and obesity later in life.” Via Parentcentral.ca  Read more...

What we’re reading today:

One London restaurant is offering pure, organic and totally natural ice cream. And it’s made from breast milk. Says the restaurant’s founder, “If it’s good enough for our children, it’s good enough for the rest of us.” (BBC Via Newser)

With a new ban on incandescent light bulbs kicking in next year in the U.S., the Internet got all in a panic that this meant the end of the Easy Bake Oven. (Recently named one of TIME‘s most influential toys) Never fear! The Easy-Bake Over will be re-released as the Easy-Bake Ultimate Oven, with the light bulb replaced by something a little more eco-friendly. Francis Lamb at Salon says that’s not the point. He says the oven will lose a little of its magic and will become “just a box that does …something.”  Read more...