Best Sunscreens

Are you overwhelmed when you go the sunscreen isle at your favorite store? There are so many brands, it's hard to choose which one is right for your family. This information from Consumer Reports should help.

FROM NBC: Consumer Reports has released its latest sunscreen ratings -- which suggest you don't have to spend a lot of money for sun protection. The magazine gave three sunscreens its "best buy" rating -- those were Up and Up sport, Equate Baby and No-Ad with aloe and vitamin e.

The Up and Up is Target's generic brand, and Equate is the generic brand sold at Walmart. Consumer Reports looked at how well each product protected against both UVA and UVB rays even after going into water.

Other sunscreens that ranked well were Banana Boat Sport Performance, Coppertone Sport Ultra Sweatproof, CVS Fast Cover Sport, Ocean Potion Kids Instant Dry Mist and Walgreens Sport.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea, than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

2011 Mom Makeover Winner!

The 2011 Mom Makeover Winner is Nikki Cihi of Peoria!(on the left)

Nikki will be enjoying:

1. Enjoy at Half Day of Beauty, 3 ½ hours worth of pampering, at Skin Dimensions Day Spa. This package ($170 value) includes:

* Custom Facial

* 30 Minute Massage

* Spa Manicure & Pedicure

* Makeup Application
2. Hair Cut, Color and Style by Melinda Stoneking: Melinda styles hair at her salon Silver Couture at 4609 North Prospect, Peoria Heights 61616.

3. The winning mom will get a personal shopper to help her find a new outfit! Belle Mie was created to bring the ladies of Peoria fashionable clothing by designers that Peoria has never seen! With impeccable customer service and personal shopper assistance available, Belle Mie customers are happy to shop and feel good about getting dressed! Fashion for the clothes minded is what Belle Mie is all about!!

4. OSF Saint Francis Women's Services is proud to help women take good care of themselves. They are giving out a 3-month RiverPlex membership to the lucky winner! OSF Saint Francis Medical Center is proud to be part of RiverPlex. a state of the art Wellness and Recreation center located on the beautiful riverfront in downtown Peoria. In collaboration with the Peoria Park District(PPD)this facility offers the community unsurpassed opportunity to improve health and well being in medically based fitness center.

Nikki was nominated by her friend, Ann, wrote:

My name is Ann, and I would like to nominate my closest friend, Nikki for the makeover contest. Nikki is a caring, selfless, and supportive mom and daughter. She is currently is not only the mother of two kids, but she is also the primary care giver for her dad who has had a stroke and is no longer able to completely care for himself. Nikki is one of those people that I can rely on any time, any day and if it is within her power, she is always there to support me in any way. The last few years have been hard on her, not only did her dad suffer the stroke, but her son was a St. Jude patient (who is now in remission).

Thank you to our sponsors and this year's judges!

Autism is now Common

It's hard for me to tell whether there are more developmental problems or just better diagnosis because my kids are so young. I have talked to teachers who say they are seeing more problems now compared to 10-20 years ago. So I guess I am leaning toward more disorders. What do you think?

FROM ABC: It seems that doctors are finding autism more and more common. Now a new government study continues the trend-- which includes other developmental problems. Autism and other childhood development difficulties have increased seventeen per cent in the last ten years.

That's the finding of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-- published in the journal "Pediatrics." Based on data from children age three to seventeen, the authors found a rise in those with: - autism - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - cerebral palsy - mental retardation (and) - seizures Autism had the biggest increase, rising four-fold between 2006 and 2008.

But Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder rose thirty-three per cent-- the biggest reason for the higher incidence of developmental problems. Boys had a higher prevalence than girls. The experts say the increase may be due to more pre-term births and parents having kids at later ages. They also cite better awareness and detection.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Skin Dimensions, SB products are manufactured with Pharmaceutical-Grade ingredients. Products are not just "Feel Good Products," as they contain unique and innovative ingredients in concentrations that can assist you in the achievement of your own personal skincare objectives. Our products contain higher percentages of Glycolic, Vitamin A, C, E, Co-Q10, green tea, than what you can usually purchase over the counter.

Teens getting Plastic Surgery

I am going to sound really contradictory on this story, but I think a lot of you will agree. I do not think it's appropriate for young kids to have plastic surgery for bigger boobs or liposuction. It rubs me the wrong way. Having surgery to pin a child's ears back? That one doesn't really bother me. Granted, I don't know the risks, etc. But for some reason, that doesn't seem like such a drastic move. I do think the teenager should do it for themselves and not because kids are teasing them. However, I think the little girls in this story are super cute and don't really need to do anything to their ears.

FROM NBC: Some teens and their parents are dealing with bullying by turning to plastic surgery. For some, they're opting for surgery: a nose job, liposuction, or breast augmentation as a way to blend in. Lady Gaga SOT: "They said I had a big nose, and I had buck teeth... I had my teeth fixed. and I got thrown into the trash can." On Monday lady gaga told the hosts of "The View" that growing up, she was bullied because of her appearance... Rachel Glee NAT: "Are you suggesting I should get a nose job?" On a recent episode of the T.V. show "Glee," a teen considered plastic surgery to fit in. in real-life, 13 year old Aubrey Woodward is considering plastic surgery as a way to avoid bullying at school. Aubrey SOT: "I'm really self conscious about a lot things like what I wear, how my hair looks and then when you add my ear, something that I have no control over, it makes me feel really bad. She says her protruding ear has made her a target at school. "Aubrey SOT: "This tip right here, instead of going back a little, it sticks out..." With their parents blessing, Aubrey and her 11 year old sister Brooke recently met with plastic surgeon Robert Anderson to discuss getting their ears pinned back. DOCTOR SOT: "I think parents are recognizing the emotional and psychological trauma that the children have and they're being more proactive about it." For teens, ear surgeries are the most common cosmetic surgeries followed by nose reshaping, and breast reductions. London Woodward, the girls' mother, had work done on her right ear when she was twenty. she supports her girls' decision to consider plastic surgery now. London Woodward SOT: "We by no means pushed her in any direction,// she know she can't wait. She doesn't have to do it. It's all her decision." Robi Ludwig SOT: "A child might intuitively feel that if they fix something it might help them to fit in better. Is it a guarantee? of course not. ...but how young, is too young? According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, ear surgeries are recommended for some kids as young as five or six: "Correction of the ears prior to the child entering school helps eliminate potential psychological trauma from the teasing of classmates."

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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Refusing Obese Pregnant Women

If it's a private OB/GYN I don't see why this is discrimination. I think they have the right to treat who they want to treat. It is a business. If it were me, I would rather see a specialist if I was at higher risk(which I was for other reasons.) I would love to know what you think of this!

FROM NBC: It's been reported that some obese women are facing a type of discrimination in the healthcare world. Pregnant women are being denied treatment by obstetricians because of higher health risks and malpractice concerns.

For years, Desiree Contin struggled with her weight. But now, at 25 she's finally embracing her full figured body, and her expanding waist line at nearly 5 months pregnant.

Desiree Contin/Expectant Mother: "I'd rather just be healthy at whatever size I am than starve." But a recent article has her outraged and sounding off on her blog. Desiree Contin: "I weighed about 280 when I conceived. i'm having absolutely no complications."

It's being reported that some OB-GYN physicians will not treat overweight pregnant women- instead choosing to send them to specialists. It's a practice that has Desiree fired up.

"It's basically discrimination."

Dr. Bruce Zafran/OB/GYN:
"I think its very difficult to make a blanket statement on any patient based on a specific number." Dr. Bruce Zafran has practiced obstetrics and gynecology for 25 years.

He's never turned down a patient due to weight, but can understand the difficulties some obstetricians may have when it comes to delivery. Dr. Bruce Zafran: "The liability, the local environment and demand for perfection makes the specialty very very challenging."

Studies have shown obese patients are at higher risk for elevated blood pressure, pre eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and the list goes on. At 288 pounds, Desiree was encouraged to see an endocrinologist where she recently received a clean bill of health.

Desiree Contin:
"Lets send you to a specialist that's one thing, but that could happen whether your 100 pounds or 300 pounds."

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

If you love Bare Escentuals® don't miss Bare Escentuals® Week at Skin Dimensions Boutique and Day Spa locations. GIFT WITH PURCHASE Purchase $60 or more of Bare Escentuals® and receive a Free Gift (up to $22 value), plus a $10 Off Coupon for any product purchase redeemable June 1-8, 2011. (While supplies last.) BONUS GIFT! Purchase $150 of more
of Bare Escentuals® and receive a Bare Escentuals® Tote Bag. (While supplies last.) PARTY TIME! Register to win $200 of Bare Escentuals® Makeup and a Spa Party with two friends!

Rise in Home Births

More women are having home births, but it looks like they are finding it harder to get qualified medical help. I have heard of people just having a doula. I had my babies in the hospital, but I was born at home. So I guess it's not as shocking of an idea as it is for some people. However, I do think it's risky to have someone who isn't qualified delivering a baby. What are your thoughts?

FROM ABC: According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control, there were over 28-thousand home births in the US in 2008, a twenty-percent increase from 2004. Home births still make up less than one-percent of U-S births. But the new numbers are the highest since 1990. And the rise is mostly being driven by non-hispanic white women. For them more than 1-percent of births occur at home.

In 2008 the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued a statement warning their members to have nothing to do with the "trendy" movement to home births. Of course before 1900 virtually all births were home births. The warning has had its effect.

For example, in New York City, midwifery is currently impossible - illegal - because a midwife must have An affiliation with a hospital. The only hospital to support midwives in New York recently closed, and no other hospital will sanction them. But the safety of hospital births can also be questioned.

The U-S spends enormous amounts of money on pregnancy and birth-related hospital costs, yet it has one of the very worst rates of maternal mortality in the industrialized world - ranking 39th according to a study done in 2008 and reported in the prestigious British Medical Journal Lancet.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

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