Everything I Need to Know I Learn from My Infant

It's true... I realized that all of life's lessons can be learned from your very own small, wrinkly Yoda. Ok, so your baby is way cuter than a million year old Star Wars icon, but when you truly observe their presence and are open to their most basic lessons on being human, it's amazing to realize how far we can let the chaos and BS of modern life take us away from our instincts.  As a new mom, each day I marvel at the human being growing before me. It is a remarkable experience to watch a child "develop from scratch" for lack of a better phrase. You start to realize the incredible amount of things she must learn to do, the world she must come to understand and the seemingly "simple" skills she must develop to become a functioning, communicative, and happy little person in our society. The privilege of watching a baby grow and mature makes you realize they are so pure and untainted by all the chaos and derailment the world will eventually throw their way. How do we harness and regain some of that innate power back? Well... everything you need to know you can learn from a 5 month old... actually that was my original title when I thought of this blog. And in true new mom-fashion, nothing gets done on time...so my baby is now a year old! I'm glad I have had this sitting in my drafts because I have learned even more in the last 7 months. Here we go...

1. Failure is not an option - babies continue to learn, grow and explore every waking second, they are not stopped by the fear of failure. They have not learned disappointment yet. So what do they do? They try things. They accidentally accomplish new things and realize they made it happen so they learn to repeat that new talent if it benefits them. They also start to learn what does not behoove them, opting for the actions that bring them reward. Either way, they persist until their needs are met. When was the last time you approached a goal this relentless in life? With such tenacity and conviction... makes you wonder "what could have been" and "what can be".

2. The statement "I don't have time" is taken to a whole new level as a mom - When I was pregnant I had a severe misconception that I could be a Supermom defying all time warp odds. I was going to strap my baby to me and continue my daily workaholic tendencies. HA! The reality is I learned that nothing is as important as being there for my child every day. When she is awake I want to be experiencing her every "first" alongside her, not glued to my laptop like my formerly single, non-mom self. Your baby will have a mind of her own and just like anything in nature; she needs love, attention, nourishment and sunlight to grow - who'da thunk! That means that this blog entry was started when my beautiful daughter was 5 months old and is now being finished as she celebrates her first birthday. I blinked and that happened... so babies make you realize that time warping is inevitable and you just have to let your anxiety about not accomplishing enough other things in a day go. To be honest I am still working on that! I definitely still have my many moments of frustration for not getting enough done. So I remind myself, "What do I want more, life experiences and memories as a family or a pen mark through another action item on my to-do list??" Easy answer when you put it like that. 

2. Food is for Thrival (not just survival); not to cease boredom, provide an emotional hug, soothe anger or keep you company - food is the foundation for our livelihood. Babies aren't enticed by silky ribbons of chocolate calling their name across the TV screen in between sitcoms or the wafting of cinnamon from a grocery store bakery. They feel true hungry and they know they need to end that discomfort. As adults, our food should be well thought out and not a mindless numbing. Babies eat for survival, body growth, brain development, and so on. When did we start getting away from that as kids or adults? Next time you go to eat, think about what purpose that food serves for you... and make a better THRIVAL choice. Does it help you fight disease? Does it help you feel energized? Does it help you meet your physique goals?...and so on. 

3.Wake up hungry - breakfast is the spark-plug for your daily motor. It revs us up from a fasting slumber and it fuels our day’s intentions. Make breakfast meaningful by not shoving some sugar drizzled unwrappable into your mouth during rush hour. Be grateful you woke up this morning; be thankful you have the ability to take on another day. Give your body the respect it deserves by putting some premium high octane into it! When was the last time a baby slept and didn't wake up hungry and primed for nutrition? 

4. When you eat... just eat! Is your infant checking their email and gossiping on the phone? No ma'am, she is focused on her top mission, feeding! She is getting comfort from the experience of sharing a meal with you. Just as new moms are encouraged to feed their babies in a quiet room and make eye contact with their child, we as adults should maintain that practice. Eat while calm. Eat slowly and enjoy the actual experience. Appreciate the people you are sharing that meal with. 

5. A laugh or smile can change a room - who can resist the sound of a baby laughing? No one with a beating heart! Perfect strangers will smile from across a restaurant wave at my daughter from 30 feet away and just become completely smitten with her head tilting, eye flirting and ear-to-ear grin. A simple smile can make a person’s day. We all want to feel good and one person leading the way can become infectious. So try smiling no matter how you feel on the inside and you just may find you not only turn someone else's day around, but you start to actually feel your smile from within. 

5. Sleep is important. Yep, sounds like a pretty "duh" statement, but I think between 5-Hour Energy Shots and Starbucks being mainlined into our society’s veins, we ignore the sheep that keep trying to count us to sleep. Instead those sheep lay on the floor next to us while we catch up on social media, tinker with house chores and waste time with the boob tube. Why does a baby sleep so much? They need to grow and repair. Guess what...so do adults! We grow mentally when we sleep. It allows our brain and body to recharge. Why do you think sleep deprivation leads to premature aging and inability to focus. Sleep keeps us youthful. 

6. Stretching - the lost art. Nowadays we have to schedule and pay $20 bucks an hour to be shown how to stretch our own bodies! I am not knocking yoga, in fact I started making it a part of my weekly MUST HAVE's, but that is because I have gotten so stiff that my body feels older than my true age. This scares the bejesus out of me. I envy my daughters flexibility. Babies and animals stretch very frequently in a day, and they always stretch upon waking - I think they are on to something ;-)

7. Being able to communicate is the key to not being frustrated. Teaching my daughter basic sign language has saved us and most importantly her, tremendous frustration in knowing if she is hungry for milk vs. food, finished eating or wants more and so on. Do you clearly communicate your needs or do you assume people know what you want? I have some work to do in that department!

8. Constant Movement. We are meant to move, harness, and capture and recharge energy and movement; they are life forces. Babies don't spend hours a day staring at computer screen, in a cubicle or car or watching TV. After a couple months old they move pretty much constantly with every waking moment. From birth to a few months old, they have spontaneous movements they cannot control, as their mind-body connection is trying to work out the wiring and misfiring, but nonetheless, the human body is built for movement. We are living creatures and as such need movement of energy - stop being a slug and use your body. If you neglect regular physical activity start by working more movement into your daily routine and build up to additional beneficial workouts. 

8.Being able to put your foot in your mouth is a lost art. As adults it means we really should have stopped commenting on something long before our brain got the message our mouth was running a muck.  But a baby putting their foot in their mouth just goes back to my point about flexibility. :)

9.Falling down doesn't/shouldn't phase you if you know you can always get back up - and when you are tired of getting back up your loved ones pull you up (surround yourself with people who pull you back up)

10. Thriving is not an all or nothing attitude, but a try try try again mantra. When we take on an all or nothing mentality to a lot of goals and tasks in life we set ourselves up for failure. My daughter wanted to learn how to get in and out of her plastic toy car on her own and I sat with her as she climbed in and bout 52 (FIFTY TWO!!!!) times in a row before being satisfied with her new skill. Now that is some tenacity my friends! Have you given up on something too soon?

11. Truly taste your food. Food is a sensory experience and should be consciously eaten, experienced and processed. Trying something once doesn't mean you don't like it, it means maybe you may not have tried if enough times to like it yet. I watch my daughter delight in trying new foods almost daily and it is truly remarkable to watch her expressions. You can almost see her wheels turning as she moves the food around each part of her tongue allowing different taste receptors a chance to weigh-in before making a final judgment to dip in for more and send it flying across my white carpets. (Note to parents, painters tarps and wood floors are your two best friends when your child begins solids)

12. This next lesson my father has drilled into me since I was little, but it couldn't ring any louder in my ears now that I am a mom. If you have your family and your health you have everything and without those two things you have nothing. Cherish, nourish and care for them every day like your life depends on it... oh that's because it does. 

13. A tutu is always appropriate and it is never too early in the day to put on your pajamas. As a child you can get away with wearing pretty much anything and people will be drawn to your adorable nature. As adults we should put on metaphorical tutu's - we should all walk into a meeting, event, or wherever with something that makes us confident and happy tucked into our minds or on our persons. 

14. If you can learn to nap just about anywhere with any noise level going on as an infant, you will be golden when you travel, go off to college or need to sneak an office parking lot nap in as an adult! Don't ask... I won't admit who I worked for when I had to do that! 

15. When did asking questions make you sound dumb? As adults I think we fear asking questions sometimes because we don't want people to think we don't know everything we need to know already. My daughter, in her own unique grunt and point kind of way "asks" about everything... and you know what... that makes her GENIUS! How is she supposed to learn if she doesn't ask? How am I to know that strikes her fancy if she doesn't make a commotion about it. SPEAK UP in your life, ask the questions even if they feel silly or are tough to hear the answers. Knowledge is always power. 

16. Life's simple pleasures are what make it all worthwhile. I don't need a gambling weekend in Vegas, a surf lesson in Maui or the finest bottle of Merlot in Italy to appreciate what life has to offer. I need my family. I need the moments that make us laugh, the quiet, watchful moments that bring a happy tear to my eye, the funny sounds my daughter learns when imitating animals for the first time, the kisses my own mothers gives my daughter the second she see's her, the glances I exchange with her daddy when we know she is about to do something for the first time and we don't want to startle her, the gushing praise I overhear my father giving about my daughter, those are the experience I will always cherish and remember. Not the nights out at the bars or the designer dresses on sale. I want moments of true simplicity in all that is right with growing a family and being a decent human being. 

17. You can never do enough loads of laundry to come out a winner. 

18. No, Oxyclean is not God's gift to regurgitated sweet potato puree on a soft pink dress.

19. All the things you thought you needed to register for before the baby came were really useless... thank goodness you invited some people who are already parents to your shower. 

20. Babies thrive on routine. As adults we fool ourselves into thinking we thrive in chaos. It's our bravado. Our chest beating I-am-stronger-than-you-I-have-super-powers-and-can- thrive-in-madness mantra... but all these years I have been fooling myself. By not establishing a daily sleep/play/eat routine we are now paying for it with sudden sleepless nights. I realized my work chaos and constantly changing schedule negatively impacts my daughters’ ability to calm down and stay asleep at night or nap a second time during the day. Humans need the security and comfort of knowing what is coming next. When we know what to expect we can handle a situation much more aptly. So this week I have started to create routine for us all ... and pretty quickly it seems to be rewarding us... keep you posted! 

What have you learned from your children? Would love to hear your take!

- Briana Michel
www.SimplyBHealthy.com
www.BrianaMichel.com

Lovin' Lutein for Baby's Memory

You may have seen lutein in your vitamin aisle or heard the buzz about how it is good for your eye health but did you know your baby could benefit in more ways than one too? Lutein supports eye health in two ways: absorbs potentially damaging light and protects against oxidative damage. Now research shows that this important nutrient is found on the infant brain areas linked to memory and learning. The lutein in your diet can be passed to your baby through breast milk. 

You can find it in many healthy foods such as leafy greens, corn, green beans and egg yolk. It is important to get lutein through your dietary choices because it cannot be manufactured by your body. For infants, dietary sources of lutein include colostrum, breast milk and formula's enhances with lutein. 

Lutein packed Lunch recipe:

2 cups mixed dark leafy salad greens 
1/2 ear of fresh sweet corn, cut off the cob
2 hardboiled eggs
1/3 cup raw papaya chunks
1/2 cup chopped raw broccoli
1 Tbsp raw sunflower seeds

Dressing
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp agave
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp dijon mustard
pepper to taste
whisk ingredient to make a single serving dressing. The fat in the olive oil helps maximize nutrient absorption of fat soluble vitamins, like vitamin K needed to proper blood clotting. 

Stop and call your Dr. if while exercising you...

Just a reminder to ALWAYS listen to your body! If doing any exercise even walking and you experience any of the following stop and call your midwife or physician ASAP

Any of these symptoms could mean you've put too much stress on your body:

• Vaginal bleeding or leakage of fluids
• Difficult, labored, or uncomfortable breathing
• Heart palpitations or pain in your chest
• Headache, nausea, or vomiting
• Dizziness or fainting
• Sudden change in temperature, clammy hands, or overheating
• Swelling or pain in your ankles and calves
• Decreased fetal movement
• Blurred vision
• Pain in your abdomen

Ginger Based Recipes for Mommy's Tummy

Ginger and Cilantro Baked Tilapia

serves 2 (recipe from kitchn.com)

1 pound domestically farmed tilapia fillets
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
3 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1 inch fresh ginger, grated, about 1 tablespoon
1 jalapeño pepper, roughly chopped (optional) - leave out if your have heartburn/acid reflux
1/3 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves
1/4 cup white wine
2 tablespoons soy sauce (aim for gluten-free/low sodium)
1 teaspoon sesame oil
Scallions, chopped for garnish
Extra cilantro, to garnish

Heat the oven to 475°F. Pat the fish dry, season lightly with salt and pepper, and lay in a 9x9-inch or 8x8-inch ceramic or glass baking dish.

Put the garlic, grated ginger, chopped jalapeño, and cilantro in a small food processor with the white wine, soy sauce, and sesame oil. Whir until blended. (Alternately, you can finely chop or mash the aromatics in a mortar and pestle, then whisk together with the liquid ingredients.)

Pour the sauce over the fish, rubbing it in a little. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily and is cooked through. It will be very moist and even a little gelatinous, still.

Serve immediately over brown rice, quinoa or orzo, garnished with the additional scallions and cilantro.

Lime- Ginger-Grapefruit Juice (great immune booster!)

• 
• 3 tbsps cane sugar (natural) or stevia to keep your calories/sugar grams lower
• 2 tbsps ginger (peeled then grated)
• 1 cup water (or use club soda for a fizzy version)
• 12 cup fresh lime juice (2 juicy limes)
• 1 13 cups grapefruit juice (fresh, 2 juicy grapefruits)

Stir Fry Ginger Beef

• 2 Tbsp unseasoned rice vinegar
• 5 Tbsp South River Miso or umeboshi vinegar or soy sauce (but limit soy while pregnant)
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 1 Tbsp peeled, grated fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon chile pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• Note: umeboshi itself contains high amounts of alkaline minerals such as iron, calcium, manganese, potassium. Pregnancy tends to cause more acidity int eh body to umeboshi may help rebalance your pH. 

Beef and stir-fry

• 1 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 lb top sirloin steak - grass fed- hormone free! (good for iron building while pregnant)
• 1 Tbsp corn starch
• 2 Tbsp vegetable oil (preferably peanut)
• 1 Tbsp sesame oil (optional)
• 3-4 green onions, cut on a diagonal, 1/2-inch apart, including the greens
• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 2-3 hot chiles, preferably red serranos, seeded, sliced
• 1-inch nob of ginger, peeled, cut lengthwise into matchstick shapes
• 1/2 cup loosely packed, chopped cilantro

1 Chill the steak in the freezer for 30 minutes before you slice it, this will make it easier to cut in thin slices. Slice the steak first crosswise in 1/2-inch thick slices. The cut each slice lengthwise into strips.

2 In a medium bowl, whisk together the marinade ingredients; the soy sauce, vinegar, grated ginger, honey, red chile flakes, and cumin. Mix the beef in with the marinade to coat and let it sit for at least 30 minutes, and up to 4 hours, in the fridge.

3 In a small bowl, mix the corn starch with 2 tablespoons of cold water to make a slurry.

4 Heat the oil in a wok, or a large sauté pan, over high heat until it is nearly smoking. As the oil is heating up, pat the beef dry and separate it into small batches no larger than what can fit into the palm of your hand. Working in batches, sauté beef until just brown outside but rare inside, no more than 1 minute. Transfer beef to a bowl.

5 When all of the beef is cooked, put the chiles and garlic into the pan and stir-fry 30-45 seconds. Add the julienned ginger and cook for 30-45 seconds more. Add the beef back to the pan. Add the cornstarch slurry. Add the scallions and mix everything together. Cook for 1 minute.

Turn the heat off and mix in the cilantro. Serve at once with steamed white rice.

Yield: Serves 4-6

Green Soup with Ginger

(from 101 Cookbooks)

 large yellow onion (250g)
2 tablespoons (30 ml.) olive oil 
1 teaspoons sea salt, plus more to taste
1 large sweet potato (12 ounces)
1 large leek, white and light green parts (5 ounces)
1 bunch spinach (8 ounces)
1 large bunch green chard (12 ounces)
3 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger, plus more to taste
2 cups  good-tasting vegetable broth
2-4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
freshly ground black pepper

Chop the onion and cook it slowly in the olive oil with a sprinkle of salt, stirring now and then, over low heat until it is soft and golden, about half an hour.

Meanwhile, peel and dice the sweet potato and put it in a large soup pot with 4 cups (1 liter) water and a teaspoon of sea salt. Thoroughly wash the leek, spinach, and chard, chop them coarsely, and add them to the pot, along with the chopped ginger.

Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer the soup, covered, for 30 minutes, or until the vegetables are completely tender. Add the caramelized onions when they are ready. When the vegetables are soft, add the vegetable broth (you can add less if you like a thicker soup) and decide whether you want your soup chunky, like this, or smooth. If the latter, puree the soup in a blender, in batches, or with an immersion blender until it is smooth.

Stir in 2 teaspoons of the lemon juice and a few grinds of black pepper. Taste, and correct the seasoning with additional salt or lemon juice.

Serves 5-6.

Help My Tummy Ginger Oat Lactation Cookies

(basic recipe and image found on yummly.com but I "Healthed-Up" the recipe for mama's-to-be!)

1/2 cup coconut oil* (see below for benefits for mom & baby)

1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

1/2 cup stevia or sugar1 cup firmly packed brown sugar6 tablespoons water2 TBSP flax seed meal

2 TBSP Hemp Seeds

2 TBSP Chia Seeds

2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups gluten-free flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 cups oats
1 cup chocolate chips
2 -4 tablespoons brewer's yeast
1 TBSP ginger powder or 2 TBSP fresh grated ginger

Preheat oven to 350°.Mix the flaxseed meal and water and let sit for 3-5 minutes. Beat coconut oil, Greek yogurt, sugar, and brown sugar well. Add eggs and mix well. Add flaxseed mix and vanilla, beat well. Sift together flour, brewers yeast, baking soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients to butter mix. Stir in oats and chips. Scoop onto baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes.
Let set for a couple minutes then remove from tray. 

*WHY COCONUT OIL FOR MOMs: "Coconut oil contains large amounts of lauric acid, a powerful anti-microbial fatty acid that protects the immune system of the fetus and newborn. Pregnant and nursing mothers should eat coconut oil to increase the quality of the womb environment and breast milk”

- Dr. Claudia Pillow

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...

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.