The New York Times reported last week that many moms that have had a cesarean sections are now being denied private coverage or are being charged higher insurance premium by some insurance companies. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, according to the article, is one insurance company that charges higher rates for private insurance if a woman has had a cesarean section in the past five years. This is an issue for many women because there has been an increase in women undergoing cesarean sections.

Adoptions from Vietnam to the United States is in danger of being temporarily suspended because of investigations that shown misuse of the system. Large numbers of Americans apply for adoption of Vietnamese children each year, and because of this the waiting list has become huge. Whenever there is a demand so high there also seems to always be corruption in the midst.

In one case a Vietnamese grandmother attempted to give her own grandchild up for adoption, but was unsuccessfully able to do so. Another case in this story told of a hospital that tried to give a baby up for adoption, citing that the mother had abandoned the child, but the mother was able to somehow recover her child.

Another area of concern is the number of citations of abandoned baby’s on adoption papers amounting to 85%. The U.S. officials believe that this huge number may be a sign of foul play and corruption.

More on Adoption from Vietnam

CPSC received a report of a 10-month old boy who strangled on the changing table’s restraint strap that was hanging down into Kolcraft’s “Sesame Beginnings” Travel Play Yard where the child was located.

Twelve different Kolcraft play yards are included in this recall. All of the play yards have raised changing tables with a restraint strap that forms a loop beneath the changing table, posing a strangulation hazard to a child in the play yard.

In addition to the strangulation hazard with the changing table restraint strap, one play yard also has a raised cradle that rocks back and forth. A child can roll and get trapped against the side of the cradle in the Contours 3-in-1 Play Yard. If that happens, a child can suffocate. Kolcraft has received 45 reports of children rolling to the side of the rocking cradle attachment.

The Consumer Product Safety commission web site has more information about these recalled items.

Consumers should immediately stop using the changing tables and rocking cradle and contact the firm for instructions on receiving a free non-looped replacement strap for the changing table and a free repair kit to secure the base of the cradle. Consumers should immediately cut off and remove the existing changing table restraint strap. Consumers should always remove the raised changing table and cradle or bassinet before placing a child in a play yard.

A free repair kit for the rocking cradle will be sent to consumers separate from the replacement strap.

For additional information, call Kolcraft at (888) 655-8484 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.kolcraft.com

Some of these play yard were sold as far back as 2001. Check the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site to see if your baby’s web site is one of the recalled play yards. As a reminder, whenever you purchase a used product make sure to check the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s web site to see if the product that you purchased was part of past recall.

Several different cribs have been recalled because of the risk of suffocation. A gap can form that can lead to the baby becoming trapped and then suffocating. The deaths associated with this have been because the drop-down bar was installed upside down. There were some reported incidents when the cribs were installed properly. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Simplicity has more information about the crib recalls and what you should do if your baby is sleeping in a recalled crib.

Some of the cribs are under the Graco label, so if you have a Graco crib please view the Consumer Product Safety Commission web site to see if you baby’s crib is included in the recalls.

Simplicity and Graco Recently Recalled cribs

With all the sadness of seeing babies left to die this story has a silver lining.  This week three women left an infant between 6 months and 8 monsths with Tampa firefighter Troy Jones.

Florida law does allow babies to be left at police, fire stations, and hospitals, but it is only for infants under the 3 days.

Officials are happy that the baby was turned over.  But they are looking for the parents.

Seeing the fate that so many unwanted babies have some to makes me happy that the mother did leave the child at the firestation.  An alive abandoned child is better than a dead or abused children.

Where the baby will go from here, has not been reported, but hopefully he will find a loving permanent home

More on the story, St. Petersburg Times 

Recent stories of abandoned babies found dead-(one in Lakeland and another in Tampa)- makes anyone feel sadness. The state of Florida makes it possible for anyone to drop off an unwanted newborn at a firehouse, and hospital with no questions asked.

Tampa bay’s 10 recently did a story about one 17 year-old that was abandoned as an infant and later found when a 10 year-old boy hear him crying. He is now a happy teenager with dreams of a bright future. This should let everyone know that these babies are precious and can have beautiful futures.

My advice to anyone mother who does not want her baby is to bring that baby to a firehouse or hospital. Do not have that sweet baby suffer; there is someone that is willing to care for and love him or her.

Okay. Maybe we haven’t known each other to speak so frankly about a subject like baby making. But we will. Seriously, I came acroos a newsweek article titled”
The Ancient Art of Making Babies: It’s just amazing what some people will try to get that boy or girl of their dreams.” It was interesting. Some little tidbits I have heard of in the past, others were new to me. Do they really work? Who knows? As long as it works for you it works.

One suggestion is that men avoid hot tubs and tight clothes if they would like to have a boy. Now, in the 80s and 70s, when me wore pants that looked painted on, did they have a reduction in the amount of boys being created. Well, if the fear of not having any sons keeps men from wearing tight pants, then that wives tale or theory is worth its weight in gold.