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I personally feel as though everyone should be vaccinated, but if the parents understand the risks that they're taking with their children's life then its their decision. I think its important as a nurse to explain or at least give the parents the information needed to explain with evidence based research that could sway them to vaccinate their child.

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Cassandra Ashong
PROS
1. Superior nutrition
2. There is an increased resistance to infections, and therefore fewer incidents of illness and hospitalization.
3. Decreased risk of allergies and lactose intolerance.
4. Breast milk is sterile

CONS
1. Breastfes babies need to be fed more often.
2. There's dietary restrictions
3. Nursing in public is not always fun
4. It can be uncomfortable and painful
5. You do not know how much milk baby is getting.

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Bottle feeding vs. breast feeding. While most of the information i found was supportive of breastfeeding, and natural milk being better for immunity and growth of the baby, i dont like that there is a negative stigma about bottlefeeding. There are many reasons why a mother can not, or does not want to breast feed. Pumping and bottle feeding is a little more convenient i think, but i just found there really wasn't many resources available for the mothers who aren't able to breastfeed.

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I thought it was neat to hear the pros and cons of eating the placenta. I personally would never bc that's nasty but, it was kind of interesting to hear both sides. I thought there would have been a whole list of positive benefits but there isn't actual evidence of It being beneficial to anyone.

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I found the topic of ingestion of the placenta to be most interesting.  There aren't enough resources that prove that ingesting your placenta, let alone your family, to be beneficial.  Therefore, I am against eating my placenta.  The group against ingestion of placenta, made a very valid point when they said that one of the functions of the placenta was to remove wastes, and so we shouldn't be eating it.  It did what it needed to do and the body releases it for a reason, to throw in the trash.  There are other ways to supplement for what people believe the placenta provides.

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I believe that everyone should be vaccinated. It protects us against contagious diseases. Vaccines can save children's lives. A study showed that most childhood vaccines are 90%-99% effective in preventing disease. Vaccines cost less money and time then catching an infectious disease, taking off of work (to care for yourself or sick child)potentially contract a long term disability, and medical costs. Vaccines protect future generations. Vaccinated mothers protect their unborn children from viruses that could potentially cause birth defects. Vaccinated communities can help eradicate diseases for future generations. Vaccines should be mandatory.

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I'd like to comment on vaccines. I have never in my  life gotten a vaccine until  I enrolled at CTC. (Except when I was a baby/child and my parents made that decision). I don't feel  they are necessary and are not a guarantee.  First they have harmful ingredients and they can cause negative side effects even death.
When you get  the flu shot it's not even a guarantee you are getting it for the strain of flu that is going around.
I am also against the fact that it can be mandated that people get certain vaccines, it infringes on peoples rights. It should be a choice.

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Although I am pro bottle feeding i'm also for breastfeeding, just find it very interesting that formula feeding mothers are often shamed and even shunned by breastfeeding "mommies."  Some mothers may want to breast feed but are obligated to formula feed due to a specific illness and others may be biased against it and look at formula feeding mothers as "selfish quitters." While breast feeding your new born baby has many benefits, so does formula feeding. I agree that a mother may change her mind depending on the circumstances after birth but I do not agree with shaming a mother for choosing either or because regardless of how you are providing your child with their necessary nutrients, we are all mothers. Not perfect!

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In my opinion, I believe bottle-feeding is okay as long as it is breast milk. I believe breast milk is better for the baby rather than formula. It should be the mother’s first option and then of course if she runs into problems with pumping milk or latching, then the alternative would be formula. On the topic of circumcision, I understand why people don’t circumcise their child, but I see no harm in it and I think it will be easier for the boy going through life. As far as lotus birth, I am very open-minded and see no harm in keeping the cord/placenta attached. There are many potential benefits. If you are willing to go the extra mile and believe it is best for your kid, then all power to you. As far as eating the placenta, I believe it is no stranger than eating another living organism’s organs. If you feel like it’ll make you healthier, and even if it is just placebo, there is no harm done. I probably would consider doing so.

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I liked hearing about how there is no benefit to ingesting the placenta. I feel like a lot of people just do it because celebrities do so its turned into a big fad. It just seems kind of gross to ingest an organ that filtered toxins from your own body and came out of you. And i do believe when people say there are health benefits to ingesting placenta it's probably just the placebo effect; they experience mood changes because they wanted the pill to do that for them. Yes, animals ingest their placenta but as humans we don't have predators after us trying to eat our children so theres really no need to eat it.

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I enjoyed hearing different views on how people feel. I did not realize that people could not breast feed simply because there baby does not latch on. I am for breast feeding even though I was not breast feed. I think that a certain amount of immunity does not necessarily come from breast feeding since I do not get sick very often and I was not breast feed. I thought it was interesting to hear what people thought about consuming their placenta and some of the benefits that might come from it even though I do not think that I would be ingesting my placenta.

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I though it was interesting hearing both pros and cons of the lotus births. I didn’t realize not cutting the cord was able to give your baby a higher blood cell volume. Also I really liked the point it’s less stressful right after birth for the baby. But honestly I think this needs more research to actually do it. I don’t think there is that big of a benefit to actually do it. I am worried about the possible risk of infection that comes along with it. And personally I wouldn’t want to look at that for a week and smell it.

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I agree to breastfeed your baby I think they get all those nutrients and immunities they don't get from formula. It helps with the shrinking of your uterus and cuts cost on having to buy formula.

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I thought it was interesting to hear the cons of circumcising your baby. I understand why people do not for cultural beliefs, however I personally would circumcise my baby. If it can help prevent infections, I am all for it. I completely agree that breast milk is the best milk for the baby. Not only does it provide the baby with tons of nutrients, it also promotes bonding. Not to mention I enjoyed the video that was played after the bottle feeding group, as it showed all of the judging mothers coming together as one (eventually). After this debate, I realized that I would not be able to eat my placenta.

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I agree with the benefits of breastfeeding for the baby. Unfortunately not every mother produce enough milk. Bottle feeding is a process the baby have to adapt soon or later, even with breastfeeding sometimes the mom have to put the milk on bottle if baby is attending to daycare. I will never agree to eat my placenta and as a nurse I will not encourage any of my patient to eat or drink their placenta. Lotus birth was an interesting topic, but I agree to cut the umbilical cord at the moment of birth. Circumcision have positive and negative sides, but at the end we all agree to circumcise our children, but I will never forget the regret I felt every-time I had to clean my baby's I knew he was in pain and I agree to that, but at the end it will be beneficial for his future.

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I agree that you should cut the cord. There is not proven benefits of having the placenta still attached. It only puts the child at risk for injury especially if you are a First time mom. You are already nervous holding the baby and having to hold the placenta too you are more prone to drop the baby. Also once the cord dries and hardens. plus if you do not hand the placenta right you can it can get infected  which mean the baby is now getting the infections too. 

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I agree that you should cut the cord. There is not proven benefits of having the placenta still attached. It only puts the child at risk for injury especially if you are a First time mom. You are already nervous holding the baby and having to hold the placenta too you are more prone to drop the baby. Also once the cord dries and hardens. plus if you do not hand the placenta right you can it can get infected  which mean the baby is now getting the infections too. 

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I agree that male circumcision is the best and smartest decision if you have a male baby. It lowers your child’s risk for getting an infection and protects his future partners from getting cervical cancer or an infection. Also, if your baby is not circumcised you have to take more time into cleansing their genitals and it seems like such more of a hassle than what it actually has to be. The baby may be in pain for a few days following the circumcision, but later in life they would suffer more since there is higher risk for infection. If the genitals are not cleaned correctly they can get sore, and that is extremely painful. I also think it is somewhat degrading to the child as well.

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I thought there was just two sides to feeding a baby. I never knew there was one that could be more beneficial. I agree that breastfeeding is more beneficial and has more health benefits for not only the baby but the mom as well.  I still look at it that if the baby is fed and getting the proper nutrients it needs, then i don't care if the baby gets bottles fed of gets breast fed. I think both are healthy for the baby. Also, after what i heard today i still don't think i would personally eat my placenta.

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Personally I am for circumcision. I do think however the team that debated for the con of circumcision gave a lot of valid and interesting information.  I think hearing the debate I may of considered not doing it... for a moment at least.

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I was very surprised to hear the arguments for people eating their placenta. I was surprised that people were so into eating it considering the fact that none of the oxytocin makes it to the recipient and there's nothing in it that can't be replaced in other ways easily.

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I am against one eating their own placenta. There are really no studies that are out there to show that there is a lot of nutritional value and really any kind of benefit over not eating it.
I do agree that breastfeeding is more cost efficient and Breast feeding also ensures that the baby is getting all the nutrients that it needs. On the flip side it does leave the woman's nipples dry, cracked and sore. Also can be an inconvenience to the mother at time.

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I agree that breastfeeding is best for the baby. It's cost efficient, and beneficial healthwise to the mother and baby.

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It was very interesting to hear all of the pros and cons on both the circumcision and the placenta eating. I personally don't agree with the eating of someone's placenta whether it'd be your own or someone else's. Especially not if it is someone else's.  There are studies that show no nutritional value, and let's be honest, it's gross

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I agree to circumcise your baby. I circumcised both of my sons because I did not want them to have pain or discomfort. I know people personally who have not been circumcised and they end up having discomfort later on in life.

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I didn't realize how beneficial breastfeeding was to a baby until we researched it more today. I had always heard "breast is best" however I was bottle fed as a child so I never thought anything of it since I'm decently healthy. Either way, as long as the child is getting the proper nutrients and being fed on an appropriate schedule I think they are both healthy for the baby. Regardless, I am leaning more towards pro-breast feeding specifically because of the information I learned today and how beneficial it is for both the mother and child. Whatever the situation, health is the most important aspect for BOTH the mother and the child.

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I thought that it was a good point that when you take the placenta out it is no longer sterile and then you try and eat it and it's touched several other things.

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I personally think that the placenta should not be eaten because, 1) it’s gross. 2) It comes out of your own body. 3) Even though animals would eat it to stay away from their prey. We are not animals that have to fight for our safety of someone eating us. Also the placenta is not sterile once it comes out of the vagina cavity. Also people think the placenta gives you more oxytocin but once you eat it the body filters out the oxytocin and you don’t end up getting any from the placenta. Also this debate was fun the end.

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I was very surprise that so many people are against bottle feedings. As, a nursing student and a future nurse it is going to be hard to breast feed your child whenever they are hungry. I believe that bonding can still occur and you should not be selfish with your baby. You were able to carry your baby for 9 months and enjoyed that bonding time. Now it's time for others to get that same experience. Sharing is caring!
Also, breastfeeding is not for everybody. Personally, I tried it and I just could not do it! I always say power to any mom that can do it because I know how hard it was for me!

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I agree that breastmilk is most beneficial for the baby and most cost effective but not everyone is able to breastfeed or wants to- and that is ultimately their choice. A fed baby is what matters at the end of the day! It's also worth noting that there are programs like WIC that assist with the cost of formula and many insurances will cover a portion of the cost if the child requires a specialized formula due to allergies or intolerance. I am also a huge fan of pumping and bottle feeding- though that requires a lot of extra work for mom but is a great alternative for US moms who have to return to work after only 6 weeks and still want the benefits of breastfeeding.
And re: eating placenta- Is it safe to eat if birth occurs in a hospital setting where it is susceptible to all of the germs and diseases there? What precautions are taken to ensure it is safe to eat, especially if they plan to eat it raw?

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I appreciated the rebuttal of the placenta staying attached because when you think about the placenta staying attached you think it will be attached for a long period of time when it is about if the umbilical cord takes to heal which I thought was interesting.

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I was interested to hear the cons to breastfeeding. It upsets me that society shames women who do not breastfeed. I never thought of that as something that actually happens before. Mothers are all just trying to do what is best for their child. However, women who do breastfeed also get shamed for showing their breast in public. I feel that either way you will get shamed. All you can do is try to do what you believe is best for your baby.

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I was surprised that there is no scientific research supporting consuming the placenta. I always thought the placenta was full of nutrients and had multiple benefits for the mother, but all of the listed benefits have no evidence behind them. It seems that most people do it because it is popular or they want to be like others. There are many negatives to eating the placenta that are backed by research, including the transfer of bacteria to the mother and actually passing on bacterial infections to the baby though breast feeding. Eating the placenta is not natural for humans, they are not going to be preyed on neither do they NEED it for nutrients. You can get nutrients from supplements from CVS or Target. I may support consuming the placenta in the future if more research comes out.