They are in your food and on your body... Now what?

Psst... It's on our face, all over our skin, at our kitchen table, in our pantry, sitting on our refrigerator shelves! What is it? A CHEMICAL INVASION! As if we don't have enough to worry about on a daily basis as we prepare for birth or as new moms, we need to be aware of the DAILY environmental exposures that could be disrupting our own health as well as our baby's. The more research I do the more my mouth falls agape in disbelief... well maybe not disbelief but more disappointment in our manufacturers and large companies. I love the companies they are finally standing up and making a statement by being truly organic and chemical free, but let's face it, they are few and far between because the higher profit margins come in the synthetic products. 

When you stop to think, it is truly mind boggling that we as human beings EVER thought - hey you know what would be a great idea... let's jam pack our foods, packaging, containers, clothing, household goods, cleaners, beauty products and so on full of gnarly chemicals that if served to us in a shot glass you couldn't pay us to sling back, but we willingly and many times unknowingly encounter hundreds if not thousands of offenders EVERY day! Our precious bodies are not made to handle these heinous materials.

However, I realize that my goal is not to completely panic about all the thing we cannot control and instead decide on what things we can control and do something about those. It is my hopes that you join me in the education of our consumer products and start taking action to minimize your exposure. Education is key to determining what we CAN control. The more we as consumers demand better products, i.e organic, natural and harmless, the more big business has to start listening. In case you haven't gathered from my other writings, I am a believer that ignorance is only ever momentary bliss, then the repercussions can be devastating. I propose we take a moment to focus on the what and why's that impact our family's health and our home and then move on to the "what we can do now". Sound like a plan? (well I suppose if you keep reading then you agree :) )

Did you know: (insert expression of horror and shock below!)

• Over 69 million Americans live in areas that exceed smog standards (cough, cough!)

• Most drinking water contains over 700 chemicals, including excessive amount of lead. (are filling that glass of ice with someones else's pharmaceutical residue?!)

• Over 3,000 chemicals are added to our food supply (I hardly call those "foods"! Do you?)

• As many as 10,000 chemicals in the form of solvents, emulsifiers, and preservatives are used in food processing and storage. (Why should ANY chemical be allowed into OUR FOOD? Does that store bought cookie really sound that good anymore?)

• U.S chemical companies hold licenses to make 75,000 chemicals for commercial use; the federal government registers an average of 2,000 newly synthesized chemicals each year. (And our government has our well-being in mind???)

• 500 chemicals are used as active ingredients in pesticides (Buy organic produce when possible. Click Here for the "Dirty Dozen List")

• Chemicals companies are not required to tell the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) how their compounds are used or monitor where their products end up in the environment. (WHY NOT?)

(Source for statistics listed above: Goldberg group, pg. 168; www.bodyburden.com)

• Women take in 2-5 pounds of chemicals each year just through their skin from creams, lotions, makeups and other products.
• Close to 800 chemicals are known to or suspected to be  capable of interfering with hormone receptors, hormone synthesis or hormone conversion.

What does all this mean? Just because something is on a shelf doesn't mean it is safe for us! We have to be our own best advocate, because these companies are not looking out for our well being.

What are these chemicals doing to us? ..and this is the short list! I wasn't sure I had enough room to include ALL the detrimental effects...and we are discovering more and more every year!

• Many are human carcinogens (cancer causing; just about every type of cancer you can imagine!)
• Affecting our nervous system
• Endocrine disrupting (hormone disruption)
• Birth defects
• Obesity (damage to our "appetite switch" and how we store fat)
• Exacerbate hyperactive children
• Increase risk of diabetes
• Early onset of puberty in our children
• Alzheimer's
• Memory confusion and loss
• autoimmune diseases

Some great info about our cosmetics ladies...if this doesn't make you rethink your cosmetic bag, then I don't know what will!

(I have no affiliation with any of the products, websites or authors linked below, they are simply informative ones I came across in my research)

http://www.breastcancerfund.org/clear-science/chemicals-linked-to-breast-cancer/cosmetics/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/estelle-hayes/chemicals-in-cosmetics_b_826191.html

Find safe, healthy, green & ethical products based on scientific ratings http://www.goodguide.com/

So what can we control?

So glad you asked! We can control our pocket books, our hand-to-mouth reaction and the amount of knowledge we arm ourselves with. Two things we can control absolutely, what we put in our mouth and what we spend our money on. What does that mean?

Buy products with ingredients you can pronounce AND know are safe and natural (I have spent many an hour in store aisles Googling the ingredient lists on everything from baby wipes to shampoo... and you know what...if I have to google it it probably isn't worth bringing into my environment)

1. Use natural household solutions, like white vinegar solution instead of chemical spray.
2. Steer clear of anything with "fragrance" listed in it (companies do not have to disclose what makes up those fragrances and it seems most are health HARMFUL)
3. Buy organic produce whenever possible. Wash  and peel all produce thoroughly before ingesting.
4. Seek out organic, grass-fed meat and poultry
5. Try organic cosmetic lines like Juice Beauty and check out fantastically  supportive sites that take on the effort for you of digging to find green products like at Village Green Network
6. Stay out of the processed and prepackaged food aisle! Nothing good comes from being overly processed, "enriched" and put on a shelf for years. You and your family deserve much better. Stick to the perimeter of the grocery store, shop local farmers markets and health food stores (a note about health food stores,;just because they have greener products doesn't mean that every item there them is suitable for your goals, they can still have excess sugars, some trans fats and chemicals in things like many mainstream "protein bars" and dyes and preservatives in things like vitamins)
7. Use organic oils instead of chemical laden lotions. Try almond, olive or apricot oil after a shower or try on them your baby belly several times a day or on baby after her bath (great time to massage baby too!) Use fresh avocado on your face at night, use lemon as a face toner and pore reducer. (I will add home skin remedies on another post!)
8. Use essential oils like tea tree as a disinfectant on cuts, dry scalp and acne
9. Choose shampoos and conditioners without sulfates and parabens like Aubrey Organics
10. Armed with these simple ingredients, visit this DIY site for household cleanser ideas
    
    • Baking Soda
    • White Vinegar
    • Hydrogen peroxide
    • Borax
    • Essential oils, like tea tree oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, or lemongrass oil
    • Castile soap (like Dr. Bronner's)
    • Fresh herbs, citrus, or citrus peels
    • Olive or vegetable oil
    • Water
11. Unsure about products your currently own try this product analyzer below based on what is important to you. Neat concept! http://shopping.goodguide.com/about 
12. Consistently eat very wholesome organic foods with an emphasis on fresh vegetables and fruits for their high antioxidants and anti-cancer properties.
13. Drink lots of purified water each day - FLUSH those toxins!
14. Scrub your skin regularly (dry brushing or wet scrubs work) - it will help exfoliate and improve circulation so your body can release that toxic build up
15. Drink from glass bottles not plastic ( I buy Kevita because their sprakling probiotic drink is delicious then I use the sturdy glass bottles to fill with water and fresh green juices that I do at home. My own mini-version of recycling :) )
16. Take your produce out of the plastic bags as soon as you get home from the store instead of tossing them in the fridge or on the counter in the plastic.
17. Store leftovers in glass containers and not plastic
18. Instead of spraying perfume on your body and burning toxic candles in your home, try natural essential oils for a clean, fresh, relaxing or invigorating scent.
19. Do not microwave foods in plastic or Styrofoam

Ignorance is not a justifiable excuse

 

I was rocking my darling baby girl to sleep tonight. As her eyes fluttered closed to enter a wonderful dreamland, she ran her perfectly tiny hands along mine, providing her own soothing as well as mine. Those hands that were created inside my body. This beautiful creature I feel unworthy of and so in love with. Tears welled up in my eyes as images of her lying in a hospital fighting for her life less than five months ago. I will always protect this child no matter what. The thought of any parent not doing everything humanly  possible to give their child a healthy and happy life truly boggles my mind. 

As I lay there breathing in my little miracle and counting my blessings, my mind flipped to a conversation a friend had with me yesterday. She told me her cousin is seven months pregnant. Which would normally be cause for celebration, but what she told me next had us both SEETHING. The pregnant cousin has celiacs disease;  for those of you unfamiliar with CD, gluten becomes the devil. If you do not drastically change your nutrition to accommodate the gluten-free lifestyle, your healthy is severely impacted. You eventually do so much internal damage that your body cannot sufficiently process nutrients.  When people with CD eat foods that contain gluten, it creates an immune-mediated toxic reaction that causes damage to the small intestine and does not allow food to be properly absorbed. Even small amounts of gluten in foods can affect those with CD and cause health problems. When food is not absorbed they are not getting the proper nutrition they need. That is bad enough for the person with CD, but now think about that baby that is trying to grow in an environment depleted of proper nourishment. Struggling to pull nutrition from a malnourished "host". This woman, and I hesitate to call her a mother, because what mother can knowingly neglect her child's needs like this, is living on pasta and grape soda! Not only is the pasta's gluten destroying her, but the grape soda is all chemicals and of ZERO benefit. She throws up every time she eats gluten, but still doesn't change her food intake. She is not taking in any fresh fruits, veggies, protein sources, healthy fats, or staying hydrated, and the list goes on. She is completely negligent in my opinion. She has not gained a single pound as she enters her 3rd trimester. The baby is underweight and this woman is doing nothing about changing her destructive behavior.She actually said :"the baby must want grape soda because that's all I can keep down". How can you possibly believe that rationale. This is also the same woman that gained almost 100 pounds with her first pregnancy. Which is a whole other massively ridiculous abusive scenario in my books. The human body needs more respect than this. Our lives as both mother and child are worth more than this simple-minded destruction.

It is sickening to me that there are no repercussions for pregnant women who don't adopt healthy behaviors to provide for the life inside them. They are allowed to abuse their children up until they are born. No one steps in to protect that child while they are in utero. That baby is dependent solely on its mothers discretion to provide an environment for which he/she can thrive. Where is the doctor in all this? Even if the doctor is urging their patients to adhere to healthier guidelines there is no enforcing agency, no one to turn the abuse in to...because while the child is still in utero apparently it's not illegal to abuse them. Which when you stop to think, it is really unfathomable. I'm done holding my silence. I want to spark you to THINK and ACT. Whether it's you who is pregnant or know someone who is, it is our job as intelligent human beings to stop cowering away from uncomfortable issues. Take a stand you might just save a life.

When you create a living being inside of you it is not your right to be able to harm that child. You should no longer have the right to treat your body like an amusement park or a back alley dumpster. It is no longer your right to be misinformed and poorly educated. I am so sick of these awful stories of women simply not caring. Then guess what you shouldn't be pregnant in the first place, because you blatantly are not ready to be a good mother. Funny, we have to get a permit and license to drive a car, we need gun permits and training to own a firearm and we need a license for boating and hunting, but any idiot can procreate and not have to know a thing about how to adequately care for a living human being or go through basic training on how to treat themselves during the journey.

I am PLEADING with any woman reading this to stop the madness. Educate yourselves on what needs to be done to be healthy for you and your family. When you see something that morally does not sit well with you SPEAK UP. Silence breeds regret and harmful consequences. We are so concerned with offending people and not sticking our nose in that we idly sit by and watch our society fall further and further from its pure and good humanity. We fall further from a well functioning and healthy society. Each generation is becoming a duller copy of the one before. We walk around in a fog of stress, ignorance and chaos. Not stopping to cherish what we have; the miraculous ability to create life and thrive as we do so.

My two cents worth....

Saving My baby's Life. What did I do wrong??...nothing...

Staring at the back of an ambulance door as we rode in dark silence, cheeks tear stained and eyes threatening to erupt again... my 32-hour old daughter lay in an incubator inside. I was 15 feet from her but could not see her or touch her. I was desperate and helpless. All I could think was what did I do wrong? The list ran through my head at a hundred miles per hour. The second I found out I was pregnant I cut out alcohol, took plant based prenatal vitamins with nothing synthetic in them, took extra DHA from a very pure source for baby's brain health, kept away from antibacterial products with triclosan in them, did away with shampoos and conditioners with parabens and sulfates, changed to all-natural house cleaning products, used organic almond oil as body lotion and makeup remover, ate organic produce whenever possible, drank chlorophyll coupled with Vitamin C sources to boost my iron levels naturally, walked and did mild exercise to help with blood flow, stopped when I had cramps and listened to my body to not push it too hard, stayed hydrated, stayed out of the sun, exfoliated my skin regularly, listened to meditation tapes at night to relax, got sufficient amounts of protein and sought the help of a midwife to be fully engaged in my care after having a less than ideal experience with a general OBGYN (this is where I say some OB's are WONDERFUl and I give them a lot of credit - I happen to not encounter that in my first trimester). I had even bought deli turkey meat one day and then remembered I probably shouldn't have it so I gave it to a stray cat. I had tuned everyone out who thought I should be induced after going over my due date. Sticking to my guns about waiting for my child to come on her own as long as there was no medical indication to deem otherwise. I had biophysicals done every few days after my due date came and went just to be sure the placenta was still hospitable and my baby was doing well.

My beautiful daughter was born at 7 lbs 8 oz, 20.5 inches long, 18 days after the "doctors determined due date"  and more than 39 hours of excruciating, knee-weakening labor later (more on inaccurate due dates in another article). No complications seemed present at birth. The first 24 hours were a hazy bliss of happy and raw emotions. I couldn't believe I had anything to do with the creation of this precious creature. Forcing myself to close my exhausted eyes was torture because it meant I had to take them off of her. I was IN LOVE...in the best kind of way. Watching her daddy fall head over heels made my heart ache it was so sweet. We were a perfect little family about to head home to start our life together and get to know our daughter, Makayla.

...But that isn't how our first weeks of her life played out. Instead of the nurse coming to tell use we were being discharged  to snuggle with our baby in the comfort of our own home- she walked in with a box of tissues and a woman who introduced herself as a cardiologist. WHAT?! Why at 8pm on Friday night instead of being sent home was I standing there watching a cardiologist sketch out her explanation of the heart defect they just discovered our daughter had. Why was I being told that the infant transport team was already on their way to get her and that I was being asked to sign over permission for them to rush her to St Joe's Children's Pediatric Cardiac ICU for "life saving medication" to be administered. In that very moment my heart shattered into a million fragile pieces. I watched those pieces hit the floor along with my burning tears and dreams of what I thought the first few days of a parent should be like. I couldn't breathe, I couldn't stop from shaking, I couldn't think of anything other than get me to my baby and get us all in the hands of the best care possible. In that moment, I realized if I could take her place I would, if I could do anything to save her I would stop at nothing. My desire to fix any ailment and take away any pain ruled over all other thinking.

These paragraphs are emotionally taxing enough to rehash still (It has only been 10 weeks since her birth) so for now I think I will spare the details for the next 15 days of her hospital stay, living out of a hotel and holding vigil by her bedside 20-24 hours a day and give you the much briefer version. Our daughter had successful open heart surgery at 6 days old to repair a coarctation of her aorta and had a cadaver graft to widen her arch.

What is the entire point of me sharing my story? I want people to know you OWE your child every fighting chance they can possibly have with how you treat them in utero. WE can't control congenital defects but we can create the most nourishing and hospitable environment possible for your baby to thrive while she is inside you.

If you are a parent who has ever had your child sick or injured I don't have to tell you time stops until they are healed. You think about nothing else but their well-being and how to expedite the process. You are skeptical of anyone who is supposed to be treating them and you all but fall asleep standing up because you won't leave their side. You tune out phone calls, emails, text messages and simply anything that doesn't pertain directly to helping your child. And you won't make apologies for being any other way. I went right from giving birth to standing hours a day or sitting on hard chairs, not sleeping, not eating enough and just simply not recovering well. I was getting sick and rundown. While in my heart  and in my professional training I knew I had to keep up my own strength and recovery, but initially it simply took a back seat to making sure I was with my daughter. When I started to get really run down I was reminded that my daughter needed me to be strong for when she came home and if I got sick I couldn't be near her in the hospital. So I refocused on healthy eating, hydration, supplementation and a little more napping - but in the hospital room with her where we both dozed off to sounds of the rain forest or Mozart's lullaby's :).

It dawned on me that while my daughters congenital heart defect was most likely unavoidable and not a result of anything I did or didn't do; that because my pregnancy was so healthy I gave her the strongest fighting chance to recover. That awakening has made me very feisty about helping moms-to-be treat themselves and their fetus with great respect and truly doing the most we can do while pregnant to give our children the healthiest start to this life. My absolute biggest pet peeve other than obese children is pregnant women who eat like crap and gain massive amounts of weight. YOU ARE HARMING YOUR CHILD...PERIOD.

IT DOES MATTER...

WHAT YOU PUT IN YOUR BODY (food/drink/medications)
WHAT YOU PUT ON YOUR BODY
HOW ACTIVE OR INACTIVE YOU ARE
WHAT KIND OF CARE YOU RECEIVE
WHAT SUPPLEMENTS YOU DO OR DO NOT TAKE
THE AMOUNT OF REST/SLEEP YOU GET
HOW HEALTHY YOUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE
HOW CARED FOR AND SUPPORTED YOU FEEL

I urge you, moms-to-be and those who know pregnant women to learn as much as you can about what will make your (their) pregnancy most healthy for you (them). It is my hope through this blog that you will at least begin to take action and find what works well for you. You should always discuss food, fitness and supplementation with your care provider as I am NOT a doctor. I only take what I know through my nutrition schooling, 12 years in practice, being a new mom myself and feedback from other moms.  

I am thrilled to report that Makayla is home and doing wonderfully! She will have periodic check-ups with her cardiologist for the rest of her life, but will be able to be active and normal like other children. She will be our ultimate experiment in raising a child in a healthy lifestyle. She can never afford to have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, and I will see to it she understands what it all means so she can live happy and healthy. It will never be about what she can't have or can't do it will  always be about all the wonderful things she can do and the wonderful whole foods she can have! Life is about attitude, action and perspective. When all of those things move in a positive direction you live the life you desire. Health is a privilege and if you don't treat it with respect and value what you can do for yourself and your child every day, then I am sorry to hear you are missing the boat. You are not setting your child up for success in life and isn't that the basic job of EVERY parent?? Food for thought...

Merry Go Round

I love this tidbit written by my partner in crime at Simply B and the father of my daughter. It is a great piece to apply to weight loss, motherhood, and pretty much how we should approach life and challenges in general.

Merry-go-round.. Life's greatest lesson by Jim White

www.simplyBhealthy.com

1.  Although we always want to get best horse, we have to be happy with the one receive and make the most of it.   Life is learning to deal with not always getting what you want.

2.  Like the ride, your life will be filled with many ups and downs. The key, however, is to learn to enjoy and celebrate both because they each have value.

3.  Even though you may feel silly(cause your riding a gorilla) out of place, or dizzy from the spins the ride may throw at you, be confident that you will settle in and find your direction.

4.  Sometimes you will feel like you are in the front and other times in the back.  As time moves forward, however, you eventually realize the ride is about the journey, not a destination.

5.  Although we hang on tight and try our best to keep everyone safe, you will have to say hello and goodbye to the people closest to you numerous times on the ride.

6.  Every rider should smile more, raise his or her hands and make some noise because  when the ride is over, you have no choice but to get off.  The biggest mistake is to leave all the excitement and greatness within you on the ride.

7.  Your purpose is to be the rider you were born to be.  Regret will not be the result of things you did on the ride, but from all the things you did not do..

8.  The ride can be hard to enjoy because you know that sooner or later this ride has to end.  Part of the ride should be spent developing a philosophy to deal with this.

9.  Our responsibility is to leave the ride better than we found it because there is always another group of riders ready after we leave. 

10.  As the ride comes close to stopping, you won’t be alone wishing for a chance to do it all again.

The Merry-Go-Round reminds us that the hardest thing to do in life is to live in the moment.  Not to worry about the past or the future.  Just to be.  We are often so busy or “in a rush” that we commonly forget to enjoy the ride.  This week is your chance to reflect and remember to enjoy the breeze in your hair and to live life in every breath. 

 So here is this week’s challenge: the next time you leave the house angry, go to bed upset, or worry yourself about something that happened in the past or might happen in the future, remind yourself this is your one and only ride.

Ride on.

Protein Treats for Mama

At my wellness company, Simply B (www.SimplyBhealthy.com)Protein  we make it a point to provide tasty treat ideas that are satisfying but made with a PURPOSE. This is especially important while you are pregnant. As your baby grows you will have less and less room to take in food at each sitting, so your foods MUST serve a nutritional purpose and not just be filler. Snacks should pack some power for you and baby. Here are some protein and nutrient packed recipes sure to satisfy a sweet tooth and possible put the squash on things like nausea and heart burn. Skip the empty calorie desserts and try these on for size.

* IMPORTANT NOTE about protein powders: If you are not going to be using Simply B Natural Whey protein (which is safe for moms-to-be), please be sure you choose another brand that does NOT contain the following: Soy proteins (extremely important if you are having a boy baby), aspartame, sucralose, hydrogenated oils, artificial coloring/dye

Protein Snack Recipes

Sustained Energy Pumpkin Bars

• 1/2 C natural organic brown sugar (can't find the xylitol brown sugar)

• 1/2 C natural organic unsweetened applesauce

• 1/16 tsp clove (1/2 of the 1/8 tsp measuring spoon)

• 3 tsp of cinnamon

• 3 tsp vanilla extract (spice island organic)

• 1/8 tsp Ginger

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 5 egg whites

• 4 scoops of Simply B Natural cinnabun protein

• 1 scoop of Simply B Natural vanilla protein

• 5 scoops of  whey crisps

• 3/4 Cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk

• 2 1/4 C organic oat flour

• 1 - 15 oz Can of organic pumpkin purée

 

Mix all ingredients together and spread in glass pan sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake at 350 until golden and no batter pulls out with a knife poke.

 

PB Protein cups:

1 scoop chocolate protein powder

1 TBS cocoa powder

4 TBS water

2 packets Truvia

1 TBS of nut butter

Mix all ingredients together and freeze 30 mins. Stir and freeze another 30 mins.

 

Cinnabun Banana Ice Cream

 

3 frozen organic banana's

1 scoop Simply B Cinnabun protein

1 tbsp agave nectar

 

In food processor, whip the frozen, peeled banana's until creamy smooth. Add in protein powder and blend again. Place miz back in freezer for 15 minutes. Take out and drizzle with agave nectar. Other toppings "ice cream": unsweet coconut, chopped nuts, dusting of pumpkin or apple spice, diced fruits. etc.

 

No Bake Protein Oat Nuggets

 

2 cups unsweet almond milk

1/3 cup natural peanut butter (when pregnant buy processed main stream brands like Skippy Natural or Jiff and NOT raw nut butters as they may have a bacteria that pregnant women are more susceptible too and very harmful to baby)

2 cups old fashioned oats

2 scoops Simply B Natural Cinnabun protein

1/4 cup Mini chocolate chips (try brands without hydrogenated oils like "Enjoy Life" http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/chocolate-for-baking/) 

 

On a stove top - bring almond milk and nut butter to a boil- stirring regularly. Remove from heat and stir in oats and then protein powder. Dough should be moist but stick together when scooped with a spoon. Line a pan with foil. Scoop out dough ball smaller than a golf ball - and palce on foil. Place entire tray in the fridge for 15-20 minutes. Once dough cools, dip just the top in mini chocolate chips (so they dont melt). Place back on on foiled tray. Keep in fridge and snack on one or two when you get the need to nibble or in between healthy meals.

 

Our 1st Super Mompreneur! - Kristine Freed

Our first "Baby Belly Fit Mompreneur"

As a soon-to-be-mom myself who owns two companies (www.SimplyBhealthy.com and www.TestimonialsInternational.com) under which many successful ventures fall, I love to see what other moms are doing for inspiration and passion outside of being a wonderful mom. Can we really juggle a million balls and not let them drop? While there will always be some compromise, I truly believe doing something you love or creating a business from the ground up can be extremely rewarding without sacrificing being #1 to your little one(s). As women we need an outlet, "me time" and something that gratifies us outside of the home. It's when our entire identity is "mom" that we find ourselves disatisfied, lonely or lost once our kids grow up. I'm not saying every woman needs a career, but I am suggesting we all need activities that help us keep our spark. Whether it's a hobby, talent, new friendships, partime or full time career - we need to maintain a sense of self. Each month I will be featuring an inspiring Baby Belly Fit Mompreneur to help us support one another and get inspired. It is with great pleasure that I introduce our first inductee!

It takes a special eye and talent to make a pregnant woman feel comfortable taking photos when she is at her most vulnerable. When you feel stretched beyond possibility, swollen like a puffer fish and hormonally challenged like a 13 year old. To be able to capture the beauty that is a woman creating a life is a precious art. Kristine Freed of Kristine Freed Photography does just that. She is this month's "Baby Belly Fit Mompreneur"

What is your occupation?

I am a Mom to 7 year old twin boys and Photographer!

Were you a photograpther before you had kids?

Before my boys I was an elementary school teacher. Once pregnant with them I knew I couldn't be the teacher AND the wife/mom I'd want to be. Luckily I was able to stay home with them. I found myself with a camera in my hands ALL the time, wanting to capture each moment of their lives. Through them I grew a deeper love for photography and wanted to capture other's moments as well!

Why did you choose a business in photography?

I have always loved kids and always loved taking pictures, so this gives me the best of both worlds. I love capturing the many faces of people- whether it be a smile, serious/curious/intense look, or even a silly face! Nothing is better than when my clients see their pictures for the first time and are in LOVE with what I have captured for them!

What message you hope being a self-employed mom will send to your kids?

I hope my boys grow to love photography as much as I do. I think it's so important to document life and have those memories forever. It thrills me every time they ask to use the camera and walk around taking pictures. I hope they see that hard work pays off and I hope I inspire them to always follow their dreams.

How does it feel to contribute to the family income?

I don't contribute to the family income much- most of my income has gone back into my business, but it is nice to have a few extra dollars to spend on myself here and there ;).
Was it ever a question of if you would work?

What's nice is that my job doesn't feel like work. I love doing it so much that it's just so much fun for me! I knew I didn't want to go back to teaching and I'm so grateful that I was able to pursue a dream and do something I just enjoy.

How do you balance working for yourself and family time?

This is the tough part, and I haven't conquered it just yet. There is so much that goes into photography on top of the session- emails, consults, editing, ordering, packaging, delivering, marketing, learning, learning & more learning! During the school year I TRY to do as much as I can while my boys are in school, but I still end up on the computer in the evenings. If anyone has perfected this, PLEASE share! ;)

What is your business website? Contact info
www.kristinefreed.com
www.facebook.com/kristinefreedphotography
mail@kristinefreed.com

Any specials, event or contests you are offering?

I am currently offering a Senior Portrait Promotion and looking for Class of 2013 Senior Spokesmodels! I will also be posting Holiday Session info soon! THANKS! ;)

Surviving Birthing Class...w/ Humor

You're most likely in our third trimester by the time you've worked up enough gumption to register for a "Birthing Class". I am a firm believer if this class were mandatory in high school there would be a lot fewer teen-moms! But I digress.The "this baby actually has to come out" reality has taken a (choke)hold. Even nervous dad-to-be has come to grips with the fact that it will be a cold day in you-know-where to be able to get away with the 'cigar-in-hand and buddies at his side in the waiting room' stance. Mama's now say if you did this to me.. You SOB (I mean you darling man)...you better believe you are going to be present to get us ice chips, rub our back, be our sounding board (aka, target of profanity during contractions), remind us to breathe and let us break your ever supporting hand should the mood strike if an epidural is not on our cocktail menu. While classes will vary all around the country... There are a few commonalities that run through them all. Hope these help as you prepare.
What to bring:

• Pillow - your back and behind will thank you
• Possibly a yoga mat if you know the class is more centered around Lamaze or breathing and meditation activities
• Layer your clothing (hot cold hot cold... A room full of hormonal women... Dress in layers need I say more)
• Notebook and pen(s)
• Water bottle (luckily you wont be the only one interrupting class 50 times to run to the ladies room...so stay hydrated - and keep that amniotic fluid a lovely full swimming pool for baby!)
• Healthy snacks - that will keep blood sugar steady. (see recipes and snack ideas here)
• A list of questions if you have some running through your head prior to class.
• Your birthing partner (whether this be your man, sister, best friend, midwife, etc - don't feel you have to go alone)
• If your class is at the facility you will be delivering at you may be going on a tour - wear comfy shoes.

During class - take notes for things pertinent to your needs, write and ask questions. Check in with your partner/birthing coach to see what questions/concerns they too may have.

During  class breaks, in your head make up stories about the odd arrangements of couples you see around you (and yes there will be a few in EVERY class!) - it's quite amusing to later share with your partner to lighten to the mood on the way home! 

Refrain from comparing bellies, weight gain, etc with the other ladies in the room. Yes, you will do this a bit naturally - but don't get caught up in comparisons. You are beautifully unique and as long as you are treating you and baby healthfully... stop stressing about other prego's or fitting some "norm". I can tell you I have yet to see two pregnant women with the exact same physique, symptoms or growth rate. So simmer down and keep your eye on the prize...YOUR BABY!

It will be difficult not to have fleeting moments of panic and excitement during class. It is my hope that each one of you lovely mama's-to-be has a great partner to comfort you during class and to chat about your concerns after class.

Suggestion: upon arriving home after class with your baby's father - be a nice partner and go directly to the kitchen to make him his favorite cocktail - do not pass go, do not collect $200...he has seen and heard things at class that he is going to want to fade/dull from memory and minds eye.

Mama Bri's Healthy Cookie Recipe

I may be fortunate enough to not crave junk food during pregnancy (side note: mostly because I fuel up on nutrient packed foods, my body doesn't prompt me to keep searching for more and more food to satisfy its needs, which is what happens when we snack on junk all day)... but like any other female on this planet I'll take some chocolate now and again to keep my sanity. I love to bake and experiment with healthier options, but I hardly use recipes or measuring utensils...so my recipes may require your own slight doctoring to make it the way you like, but here is a start to some healthier options that can still benefit you and baby without taking in awful fake chemicals and trans fats during pregnancy (and beyond!). If you have other children at home, test these goodies out on them too - I bet you'll find you can eventually makeover an unhealthy pantry into a tasty, fun and healthy one!

Mama Bri's Oat Chocolate Cinnabun Protein Cookies
(fresh from the oven these are divine!)

3 cups gluten-free oats (dry,raw)
2 handfuls of dairy free chocolate chip morsels (I like Enjoy Life brand) - more of less to your liking
3 big spoonfuls of plain or vanilla Greek yogurt
1-2 scoops Simply B Natural Whey - Cinnabun (safe for prego's and on sale this month at www.ACauseforprotein.com)
1 cup grated carrots or carrot pulp (if you juice carrots save the pulp for this recipe)
2 Tbsp Olive oil butter or just coconut or olive oil
1/3 cup almond or flax milk for moisture.
2 Tbsp Chia or flax seeds
Cinnamon and nutmeg to taste
Optional Stevia, agave or honey for added sweetness
(can also add nuts, dried fruit, unsweet coconut shreds - get creative!)

Mix all ingredients. Dough should be moist but clump together in balls easily - not runny. Spray baking sheet with non-stick spray. Space bite fulls only 1/2 in apart - cookies wont spread out so no worries about them sticking together or being overcrowded). Bake at 350 until golden (you can usually tell by looking at the bottom of a cookie - a deep golden color), moist but thoroughly cooked through. Enjoy with a glass or organic milk, almond or flax milk. I love almond milk with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top to wash them down.

www.BrianaMichel.com for more resources, products and programs for healthy living!

Hurricane Prep for Momma's-to-be

My wonderful midwife Sizzly Auer at Childbirth Options sent this out to her clients and I thought, especially for us Floridians, that we have some basic Hurricane prep guidelines in place. Your safety and well-being is TOP priority now that you are more than just one person walking around.

Hurricane Tips: Pregnant Women

Hurricane season can be a very stressful time for all Floridians, but especially for pregnant woman. To help reduce your stress, and aid in the preparation for a hurricane, a list of helpful suggestions has been provided. The more prepared you are the more comfortable and safe you will be.

Before the Hurricane

The following suggestions will serve as guidelines to help you prepare for a hurricane or other disaster:

Medications:

- Prepare a current list of all prescriptions and prenatal vitamins you are taking. Put this list in sealable plastic bag then in a secure place among the belongings you plan to take with you if you leave your home.

- Bring at least a two week supply of all medications with you if you choose to relocate or go to a shelter during a storm.

- When possible, always bring medications in their original prescription bottle. In an emergency, an emergency decree allowing pharmacies to refill medications may be made, but you must have the original bottle.

- Place your medications in a sealable plastic bag to keep them dry and protect the information on the label in case you need to obtain refills.

- Make sure you have an additional supply of equipment needed to administer medications. For example, if you are diabetic bring your insulin, testing equipment, and supplies; while those with asthma may need a nebulizer.

Call your Physician

- Communicate with your health care provider’s office to let them know where you will be; if you plan to leave town bring a copy of your medical records including prenatal record, immunizations, and current medications with you.

- Make sure that your health care provider has a current telephone number of where you will be staying.

- If you had or are having complications in your pregnancy, check with your health care provider to discuss whether it is safe for you to leave prior to the storm or if it would be better for you to go to a hospital or general shelter during the storm.

-

If you have a chronic medical condition or pregnancy related complication and decide to leave town, it will be extremely important to bring your current medications, your recently updated medical record information, and the name and telephone number of your health care provider to assure proper treatment should you need it.

- If you choose to go to a hospital shelter you will need to bring a few personal items, but remember space is usually limited.

Check in advance to see who may come with you to the hospital shelter and which supplies you will need to bring. Call the hospital in advance to make sure they have room and that this is where your doctor wants you to go.

-

Healthy Start Women– If you are part of Healthy Start, or have another case manager, let your care coordinator know where you are going. If you decide to leave town, provide a telephone number where you will be staying. If you are planning to go to a hospital or shelter, then let the care coordinator know where you will plan to go. Remember to bring your prenatal vitamins, medications, and any medical supplies or equipment.

If you go to a hospital shelter or general shelter during the storm:

Do Not go to the hospital shelter or general shelter until you know that they are accepting people. Call the hospital or general shelter in advance to verify that you can take shelter there; if you go, please follow the directions for that shelter.

Ask the hospital or general shelter if you should bring food and water. They may recommend that you bring bottled water, non-perishable snacks, and/or money to buy food.

 

Bring all medications that you are taking as well as your prenatal vitamins. If possible, they should be in the original bottle.

Bring the following items unless the hospital or shelter facility gives you other directions: Blanket, pillow, sleeping bag, and any toiletries, flashlight, batteries, something to help pass the time, any additional items the hospital or shelter recommend that you to bring.

(Note all writing in PINK is written by not Child Birth Options)
Briana's Food Tips:
You should pack a "bug-out bag" that you can grab and take with you to sustain you and baby-to-be if you are without power, ability to cook, running water etc. Don't rely on other people to be prepared for you or even worse... thinking nothing can happen! 

Items to consider packing in a 72- Hour Get-Out Emergency Bag:
1. Non-perishable food items like:

•    KIND bars, Mojo bars, Nature Valley granola bars, LARA Bars
•   Canned chicken (with can opener or  buy tear packets)
•   Nuts, seeds and dried fruit - try making your own trial mix in resealable bags
•   All-natural whey, egg white or vegan protein powders (baby needs PROTEIN!) that you can mix with water try Simply B Natural Whey
•   Low-sugar, high protein and fiber cereals like Kashi Go Lean
•  Jarred baby food for kids you currently have (and you can eat it too!)
•  90 second Uncle Bens rice (worse case you can eat it out of bag cold)
•  Prenatal vitamins (I also like Emergen-C Packets to add to water)
• plastic cups of sealed fruit - ex: Dole or Motts fruit cocktail, peaches etc.
• Soups with pull-top tabs

Other Items to Pack in your 72- Hour Emergency Bag:
Water proof matches, lighters in plastic bags to protect
Several liters of plastic bottles
Flashlight
4 extra full sets of new batteries 
Tupperwear bowls that seal tight 
Zip lock bags
Utensils
Extra cell phone battery and car or home charger (in case you get to power)
Roll papertowls (with rubber band around it)
Toilet paper rolls (Pull cardboard sleeve out to flatten to take up less space)
Baby wipes
Basic First-Aid items - antiseptic spray/cream, band aids, gauze wrap, athletic tape, ace bandage
Dental Floss, toothbrush, toothpaste
Latex gloves
2 Pillows (one for head other for side lying in between your knees) and blanket (wrap in new trash bag to protect)
Rain coat, pants and shoes
Several changes of underwear and clothing (to layer)
Socks and sneakers
Hair brush/ ponytail holders
Hat
Swiss Army knife
Contacts, case adn soultion if you wear contacts / glasses & glasses case

Not all storms will cause you to leave home. If you are able to stay at home. or end up stranded at home.. be sure to stock LOTS of water, food, tolietries, flashlights. As a rule of thumb have a minimum of 3 days worth of everything you need to live on and be confortable as possible.

Tip: Fill your clean bath tub up with water when a storm is brewing (so you have mroe drinking and cooking water options). Also fill a couple buckets with water so you will be able to flush your toilets.
Tip: Never let yoru car gas tank go below the half point line. Keep full!
Tip: Keep cellphones and ipads fully charged

After the Hurricane

Once the hurricane has past, there will be a period of cleanup and recovery. This is the time when you must be very careful not to become dehydrated and/or over-tired. Dehydration can be a contributing factor to premature labor. To prevent dehydration and exhaustion follow these suggestions:

• Drink plenty of water or beverages that do not contain alcohol or caffeine.

• Take a cool shower or sponge bath and try to stay in the shade or an air conditioned area if possible. If you have to be outside in the heat, bring water and an umbrella to provide shade.

• Do not lift heavy objects.

• Be sure you do not over tire yourself, take frequent rests.

• Try to eat a healthy diet as soon as possible.

• Keep all doctor appointments.

If you are concerned about the condition of your baby or yourself contact your health care provider or emergency room immediately.

Information above  written in black is used with permission by:

www.childbirthoptions.net

Childbirth Options LLC

5854 Argerian Drive St 103

Wesley Chapel, FL 33545

For more information

Family Health Line 1-800-451-2229

National Flood Insurance Program 1-800-427-4661

State of Florida

www.myflorida.com

Florida Department of Health: County Health Departments

www.doh.state.fl.us/chdsitelist.htm

Florida Division of Emergency Managemen

www.floridadisaster.org

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

www.whitehouse.gov/homeland

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

www.cdc.gov

 

USDA Food Safety and Consumer Information

www.fsis.usda.gov/Food_Safety_Education/

 

March of Dimes

www.marchofdimes.com