Categories
Imagine having your baby taken away from you for almost a month. For breastfeeding her.
Following an international campaign backed by childcare guru Sheila Kitzinger, a Spanish mother has won back custody of her 15-month-old child. Habiba and baby Alma were finally reunited three weeks after a Madrid social services committee temporarily removed the infant, allegedly because the mother "breastfed on demand".
Habiba's lawyer, Juan Ignacio de la Mata, claimed the reunion between mother and child was amazing to witness. "The child wouldn't leave her mother alone and you could see both of them slowly being transformed by the encounter. It was moving and very beautiful."
Habiba, who lived in a publicly funded home for single moms, was reportedly criticized for her breastfeeding habits and for co-sleeping with Alma. However, social services sources deny that Habiba's parenting style had anything to do with the child being removed.
"The report exists and forms part of her file," said De la Mata. "[Social Services'] judgments were made based on absolute ignorance." He claimed the decision to remove Alma had stemmed from Habiba's poor relationship with the home rather than her relationship with the child.
In many countries, a mother has a legal right to defend herself before social services can forcibly remove her child. In Spain, that system is backwards and archaic, with authorities "acting first and the mother having to appeal to get the child back".
It was only after three senior Spanish pediatricians rushed to Habiba's defence, claiming she seemed "more in tune" than Social Services when it came to international guidelines surrounding breastfeeding and sleeping patterns, that Alma was returned to her mother.
As a result of the lobbying, Habiba now has a new home (in an apartment for vulnerable women and children), offers of paid employment and a baby girl she never wants to leave her arms again.
Breastfeeding and co-sleeping is grounds to take away your baby? This has to stop.
"It seems politicians aren't the only ones being caught sending inappropriate text messages these days. Even the notoriously technology shy Amish are guilty of sexting.
A 21-year-old Amish man was arrested last week after he tried to meet a 12-year-old girl. ABC News claimed that Willard Yoder arrived at a Milroy, Indiana restaurant (via horse and buggy, of course) where he was arrested by an undercover cop after sending nearly 600 sexts, nude photos and explicit videos to the girl he planned to meet there.
According to the police report, Yoder didn't even know the girl and had made contact with her "by chance", claiming he thought she was 13-years-old. Well then, that's a relief.
Apparently he randomly typed in her number, repeatedly asking for nude photos.
"He just punched a number, hoping for a reply. If that is true," Det. Craig Pennington told ABC, "that's kind of scary because I'm sure that's not the first time that ever happened." It also means anyone's child could be at risk, by virtue of owning a cell phone.
Yoder is charged with soliciting sex from an underage girl.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has recalled bagged salad sold in Ontario for fear that it could cause food poisoning.
The "Italian Blend Salad" by Dole may be contaminated with listeria, according to the government agency. Although the 283-gram plastic bags of salad might smell and taste fine, they could carry Listeriosis, an illness caused by listeria, which can lead to high fever, headache, stiff neck and nausea.
For pregnant women, listeria can also cause miscarriage.
Imported from the United States, the salad bags have been distributed throughout Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick and possibly other provinces as well.
Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. of California has voluntarily recalled its product, which carries the code 071430008195 and a best before date of June 19, 2011.
For further information, CFIA can be reached at 1-800-442-2342 or via their website.