News

There's a lot happening at API. Whether it's new API offerings, or API Board Members and staff bringing AP to the forefront in the media, this is the place to check for the details on all API News.

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Current News Items

API Membership Special for July - 15% off!

July 2, 2009 - Now through July 31st, save:

The Attached Family Magazine - Attached at the Heart Special Edition

June 26, 2009 - The special Attached at the Heart edition of The Attached Family Magazine (PDF) magazine is now available. This edition features a preview of API's 15th Anniversary Celebration, an interview with API co-founders and book authors Barbara Nicholson and Lysa Parker, information on a free drawing, details on the $15 API Membership Special, and so much more!

Support the Breastfeeding Promotion Act

June 23, 2009 - Tell congress to support the Breastfeeding Promotion Act to help working families stay healthy!

API Celebrates its 15th Anniversary

June 6, 2009 - This first weekend of June, API will celebrate its founding and mark 15 years of support for families all over the world. To commemorate this occasion and honor the contributions of our founders, Lysa Parker and Barbara Nicholson, we're hosting a weekend celebration event with our co-sponsor Belmont University August 29-30 in Nashville, TN - the birthplace of API.

Abolishing Corporal Punishment of Children

June 2, 2009 - Read the Council of Europe's plans to abolish corporal punishment of children (PDF).

Attachment Theory in Everyday Life

May 22, 2009 - API Research Group member Lauren Porter, MS, is featured in the current issue of Mothering. Her article is on the topic of "Attachment Theory in Everyday Life"; the magazine is on newsstands now.

Mothers' Talk is Key to Kids' Social Skills

May 18, 2009 - A British study shows that there is a link between the way a mother talks to her children when they are younger and the social skills that the child eventually develops. The study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, found that children whose mothers often talked to them about people's feelings, beliefs, wants and intentions developed better social understanding than children whose mothers did not.

Read the full text on our forum.

Family Bonding Protective Against Suicide Even for Older Teens

May 14, 2009 - As teens get older and head into the world, parents may feel like they aren't as important as they once were. But when it comes to suicide prevention, says a new study, having strong family support may make all the difference. "Our findings suggest that the protective quality of family support and bonding, or having an intimate partner, are not replaced by peer support and bonding in emerging adulthood," says lead researcher James Mazza, a University of Washington professor of educational psychology. "In fact, it appears that older adolescents -- 18- and 19-year olds -- who maintain strong family ties are less likely to engage in suicidal thinking, regardless of their peer relationships."

Read the full text on our forum.

Attached at the Heart on Parenting Unplugged Radio

May 12, 2009 - API Co-founder Lysa Parker chatted live on Parenting Unplugged Radio on May 12. She talked about her best-selling new book, Attached at the Heart, and API's Eight Principles of Parenting for raising connected and compassionate children.

Download the audio from Parenting Unplugged Radio.

The Attached Family Magazine debuts

API launches new look and name for popular attachment parenting publication, now called The Attached Family. Editor Rita Brhel orchestrated a move toward a friendly, inviting magazine cover and a name that resonates API's mission and commitment to families. Watch for The Attached Family in your mailbox, or become a member of API now and receive it by postal mail or electronically.

Breastfeeding Recommended to Protect Infants During Swine Flu Outbreak

Washington, DC—As the nation monitors the intensifying "swine flu" outbreak, the United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC) recommends breastfeeding as a critical strategy to prevent infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued updated guidance today on H1N1 (swine) flu considerations for pregnancy and breastfeeding, stating that: "Infants who are not breastfeeding are particularly vulnerable to infection and hospitalization for severe respiratory illness. Women who deliver should be encouraged to initiate breastfeeding early and feed frequently."

Medical experts agree with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in recommending exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continued breastfeeding for the first year of life and beyond. USBC Chair Joan Younger Meek, MD, MS, RD, FAAP, FABM, IBCLC, affirms the importance of breastfeeding in emergency situations: "Research clearly shows that breastfeeding provides a safe, reliable food source, full of disease-fighting cells and antibodies that help protect infants from germs and illnesses. Mothers exposed to influenza produce specific protection for their infants and transmit this through their breast milk. Infant formula does not provide these specific infection fighting properties. Unnecessary formula supplementation should be eliminated so the infant can receive as much benefit as possible from maternal protective antibodies and other immune protective factors."

Women can continue to breastfeed while receiving antiviral medications. CDC guidance recommends that if a woman is ill, she should continue breastfeeding and increase feeding frequency. If the mother or infant is too ill to breastfeed directly at the breast, the mother should be encouraged to pump and feed her breast milk to her infant. In certain situations, infants may be able to use donor human milk from a milk bank certified by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America.

The CDC reports that although the risk of H1N1 (swine) flu transmission through breast milk is unknown, reports of seasonal flu being transmitted through breast milk are rare. In addition, by the time a mother begins showing symptoms of the flu, her infant has already been exposed. The mother's milk can provide additional protection for the infant from complications of the flu, such as severe respiratory symptoms, diarrhea, other gastrointestinal infections, and dehydration.

In addition to continued breastfeeding, parents and caretakers can help protect their infant from the spread of germs when they:

Wash adults' and infants' hands frequently with soap and water, especially after infants place their hands in their mouths.
Keep infants and mothers as close together as possible and encourage early and frequent skin-to-skin contact between mothers and their infants.
Limit sharing of toys and other items that have been in infants' mouths, and wash thoroughly with soap and water any items that have been in infants' mouths.
Keep pacifiers (including the pacifier ring/handle) and other items out of adults' or other infants' mouths before giving them to the infant.
Cover the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.

For more information about H1N1 (swine) flu, visit the CDC's H1N1 Flu Web site. For more information about breastfeeding, visit The National Women's Health Information Center. Physicians and other health care providers can offer assistance and answer questions about breastfeeding, and knowledgeable breastfeeding support personnel can be located through the International Lactation Consultant Association, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program, and La Leche League International.

Past News Items for 2009

Choosing a Birth Care Provider? The Birth Survey Now Offers Access to Reviews of Local Maternity Care Providers and Facilities

Raleigh, NC (April 28th, 2009)—CIMS, the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services, a group working toward transparency in maternity care, today announced that consumer survey results rating health care providers and birth facilities are now available online at www.thebirthsurvey.com.

The CIMS Transparency in Maternity Care Project: The Birth Survey is the first ever consumer ratings website dedicated solely to providing feedback on obstetricians, midwives, hospitals, birth centers, and home birth services. The consumer reviews include overall ratings and recommendations for birth facilities and care providers, and also a seven-item set of questions on providers' interpersonal and communication skills, facility intervention rates, and information on finding good care. A national average of ratings is also displayed to provide comparison with individual ratings.

"While consumers have long been sharing information online about products and services, more data was available for the purchase of a digital camera than had ever been available to women as consumers of maternity care. The Birth Survey directly addresses that information deficit," said Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE, author of The Complete Illustrated Guide to Pregnancy and member of The Birth Survey Committee.

The Birth Survey is a user-friendly, free Website where mothers who have given birth within the last three years can provide detailed, anonymous feedback about their experiences. The survey questions are based upon the Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative, an evidence-based model of high quality maternity care. Additionally, the interpersonal and communication questions are based upon an AHRQ survey, which represents a well known set of questions currently used by doctors and hospitals.

More than 17,500 ratings for providers and 6,500 ratings for facilities have been submitted since the national launch six months ago. Now, parents-to-be can retrieve the pooled reporting on local providers and facilities.

The national averages of the consumer feedback collected indicate that midwives were rated more highly than the physicians. For example, 58 percent of respondents would recommend their doctors to family and friends, compared to 90 percent who would recommend their midwives. Across all providers, 77 percent of women reported that they had their questions answered completely, and 73 percent felt they were as free as they wanted to be in making their own decisions about their care. Averages, however, varied widely between individual providers.

The Website ratings pages also provide links to hospital and birth center obstetric intervention rates, such as c-section, for facilities in nine states. This information is part of The Birth Survey's nationwide campaign to make facility-level intervention data available to the public. This kind of public reporting supports informed choice and fosters transparency, which improves outcomes.

Consistent with a new series of government Public Service announcements that encourage consumers to get involved in their health care and ask questions of their care providers, The Birth Survey offers links to information on how to choose and evaluate providers, including the "CIMS Ten Questions to Ask." B y offering more than a conventional five-star rating, The Birth Survey offers information that is vital for women to make more informed decisions.

"A woman who looks at a list of names from her insurance company is often choosing a provider on nothing but blind luck. Where and with whom to give birth are important health care decisions. Research shows that both provider and location have a significant impact on birth outcomes. CIMS wants expectant parents to ask questions of their providers and facilities, and have access to more information about their local options," said Elan McAllister, founder of Choices in Childbirth in New York City and Co-chair of the The Birth Survey committee.

The Birth Survey is an ongoing project. In the summer of 2009, free-text responses will be displayed on the website, and in 2010, detailed information on patients' experiences with prenatal, labor, birth and postpartum care will be added to the website as searchable custom reports.

Today is Spank Out Day USA

Public News Service-TN

April 30, 2009

Today is Spank Out Day USA

Nashville, TN - Today is Spank Out Day USA, an event meant to publicize numerous studies that show spanking and other physical disciplining of children doesn't have the desired effect and does have many negative ramifications.

Among the groups supporting the event is Tennessee-based Attachment Parenting International, whose co-founder, Lysa Parker, says spanking just doesn't work.

"Spank Out Day was started to raise awareness about the ineffectiveness of spanking and its long-term detrimental effects on children."

Tennessee school districts have a wide range of spanking policies. Parker says Nashville's school system banned spanking after careful consideration.

"In Nashville, the Board of Education was asked to provide research that showed that spanking was actually effective - and they really couldn't find anything."

Instead, Parker says, numerous studies show that spanking increases the rates of depression and suicide among children under eighteen.

Detailed information on studies showing the negative results of spanking is available on line at: www.stophitting.com

Breastfeeding and the Equal Sharing of Responsibilities between Women and Men

As people increasingly strive for gender equality, the list of gender-linked tasks and responsibilities, which once were assigned to men or to women only, is shrinking fast. Breastfeeding, though, is still a challenge. Is it possible to share responsibility for work, decision-making, and well-being equally between men and women, when women breastfeed and men do not?

Read more here (PDF)

Attached at the Heart - iUniverse Top 10

On the heels of the news that Attached at the Heart sold out at the first book signing in Nashville comes the exciting news that the book made the Top Ten Best Seller List at iUniverse.com for March 2009. Attached at the Heart came in as the number four best selling book at iUniverse. Congratulations to Barbara and Lysa!

Attached at the Heart available for download

Attached at the Heart is now available for download on Amazon's Kindle.

Attached at the Heart Book Signing A Success - Davis Kidd Bookstore in Nashville Sold Out

Davis Kidd bookstore sold out of 71 books and will be adding Attached at the Heart to their bestseller list this week! So the bar has been set and we hope to keep the momentum going with the help of all of you. We appreciate your great comments. Now we urgently need reviews of our book on Amazon! This will make our publisher very happy and help us attain the next level of success in their program. Next stop is Austin, Texas on April 19th. If you live in or near Austin come by and see us!

- Barbara and Lysa

Report on Physical Punishment in the United States

A new report released by Phoenix Children's Hospital in collaboration with a researcher at the University of Michigan concludes that there is little evidence that physical punishment improves children's behavior in the long-term. Rather, the report cites substantial evidence that physical punishment puts children at risk for negative outcomes such as increased aggression and mental health problems. Read more about this report here (PDF).

Attached at the Heart Available Now

March 12, 2009 - The big day is here! We are thrilled to announce that Attached at the Heart is available now for purchase! We will be sending out press releases to the media and information to all of our groups about how to help us get the word out. We deeply appreciate the support and patience that all of you have given us over the last year. For us it has been a 15 year process of gathering research, information and practical wisdom from thousands of AP families. We could not have done this without you! Click on the links below and you can purchase your book today!

API urges support for the octuplet children

March 2, 2009 - The California octuplets shouldn't suffer for their mother's poor judgment, says API Founder Barbara Nicholson. Read the Public News Service press release for more information.

After Abuse, Changes in the Brain

March 2, 2009 - A New York Times article looks at the "biology behind the wounds of a difficult childhood and hint at what constitutes resilience in those able to shake off such wounds." Read the entire article: After Abuse, Changes in the Brain.

API Welcomes New Board President

February 11, 2009 - Attachment Parenting International expresses its gratitude to Barbara Nicholson and welcomes Janet Jendron and new board members at its Winter quarterly meeting. After 15 years, Barbara stepped down as Chair of the API Board of Directors on February 1, 2009, a position she led with passion and grace since API's founding. Barbara remains on the API Board, with co-founder Lysa Parker, both still very dedicated to API's mission, while recognizing new opportunities. By bringing on new leadership, API will benefit from the increased time afforded Barbara and Lysa, as they promote API through their new book, Attached at the Heart. The ability to pass the torch is a testimony to the strength of the organization that Barbara and Lysa initiated and nurtured. API is now fortunate to look to leadership from a long-time friend, supporter and API Board member - Janet Jendron. After consideration for nomination by the Board nominating committee, and careful contemplation by Janet, she was elected Board president unanimously by the Board. We are excited to have her guidance and leadership into the next era of support to families and the AP community. Janet brings not only her passion for attachment parenting and API, but also many years of experience and gifts in nonprofit management and fundraising. Barbara Nicholson is thrilled and confident in the Board's choice: "Janet is a long time champion of mothers, fathers and babies and brings so much dedication and commitment to the organization." She served for eleven years on the LLLI Board of Directors and many years on the LLLI Alumnae Association Council. Janet has also served on numerous other non-profit Boards, including church-related and wish granting organizations.

At this meeting API also welcomed new board members Judy Sanders and Maria Blois. Continue reading to learn more about all of the API Board of Directors.

Study Finds Broad Access to Parenting Support Lowers Risk of Child Maltreatment

February 9, 2009 - The CDC has published the results of a study that looks at the importance of parent support.

API Announces New Page on Safe Infant Sleep

February 3, 2009 - Attachment Parenting International introduces the Safe Infant Sleep Guidelines brochure as well as online community and media kits about safe infant sleep. This information may be found at our new page on safe infant sleep.

Attachment Parenting and Toddler Nutrition

January 29, 2009 - "Watch your toddler, not the plate." Blogger Annie writes about Attachment Parenting and Toddler Nutrition for LittleStomaks.com.

Journal of Marriage and Family stresses importance of pre-natal involvement

January 23, 2009 - The Journal of Marriage and Family examines "the importance of the pre-natal period in the formation of non-traditional family patterns." Read the press release - Active Role during Pregnancy Predicts Later Paternal Involvement.

Crib recalls announced

January 20, 2009 - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recently announced several crib recalls: Jardine Crib Recall Expanded, Stork Craft Recalls More than 500,000 Cribs and a Fisher-Price Portable Play Yard Recalled.

Be Mine! - Membership Special

January 18, 2009 - Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Pay homage to each and every person in your life who has provided you with love, connection, and nurturing: Purchase or renew an API membership.

With any membership purchased between now and February 28th, API will include a complementary 2009 Ask API teleseminar for the recipient of your choice. You will receive an e-card that you can print or email to the recipient for them to redeem at any time in 2009.

Lamaze International issues press release on interventions and birth

January 9, 2009 - Lamaze International has published a press release discussing the overuse of routine procedures in maternity care - Best Practices in Maternity Care Not Widely Used in the United States.

API Reads to Feature Judy Arnall

January 5, 2009 - Judy Arnall, author of Discipline Without Distress, will be joining the API Reads forum for an interactive discussion from January 19-23, 2009. Access to the API Reads author discussion forum is one of the many benefits of API Membership. For more information on obtaining access to this exclusive discussion session, please visit the API Forums.

What is API Reads? API Reads is an online book club with discussions taking place on the API Forums. The book club is open to any forum member while the author chats are available by individual subscription or as a benefit of API Membership.



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