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#1397: Guilt In The Age Of Natural Parenting

  On this week’s 51%, we hear from a critic of natural parenting. A high school reporting project focuses on a transgender student and find out just how far good friends go to have a baby. I’m Allison Dunne and this is 51%.

In recent years, the natural parenting movement, which praises the virtues of birth without medical intervention, exclusive breastfeeding and attachment parenting—has gained immense popularity in America and around the world. But it’s not without controversy. It’s a polarizing topic among parents, midwives, lactation consultants and licensed medical practitioners, who are often at bitter odds over the birthing and parenting philosophy.

Dr. Amy Tuteur, a Harvard-educated obstetrician and author of the blog “The Skeptical OB” has been one of the most vocal critics of the natural parenting movement. And her new book is called Push Back: Guilt in the Age of Natural Parenting, in which she questions the origins of the movement, and takes issue with many of the claims that it makes about what is best for mother and child. 51%’s Jessica Bloustein Marshall spoke with her about her views.  

That was Dr. Amy Tuteur speaking with 51%’s Jessica Bloustein Marshall about her new book Push Back: Guilt in the Age of Natural Parenting.  

Over the last couple of years, the Cheektowaga Central High School has participated in PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs. Cheektowaga is a nearby suburb of Buffalo, New York. As WBFO's Focus on Education reporter Eileen Buckley discovered, this year the students produced a story about a transgender high school student. 

How far would you go to help a good friend? It’s a question two Boulder, Colorado couples spent a year-and-a-half considering, and came up with some pretty unconventional answers. As we approach Mother's Day, we visit a report from KUNC’s Grace Hood on the final steps of a journey that started from one person’s medical misfortune. 

And that's our show this week. Thanks to Patrick Garrett for production assistance. Our executive producer is Dr. Alan Chartock. Our theme music is Glow in the Dark by Kevin Bartlett. This show is a national production of Northeast Public Radio. If you’d like to hear this show again, sign up for our podcast, or visit the 51% archives on our web site at wamc.org. And follow us on Twitter @51PercentRadio

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