3.30.2010

Wearing your baby


(Breastfeeding at a restaurant)
I know many mothers struggle with how to carry their baby around. There are so many choices in strollers, car seats and slings/baby carriers. And, you will probably not know exactly what you do prefer until you have tried them all! My first suggestion before you buy anything is to ask friends what they like, how often they use it, how easy it is to use and would they have done anything different. After my extensive reading, I knew that I defiantly wanted a sling. A sling provides that ultimate closeness between mama and baby that is so important. It keeps baby feeling warm and safe, while mama still has her hands free. I prefer the ring slings that you can adjust to fit yours and baby's body and there are several baby-wearing positions, versus the "peanut shell" kind. The ring slings also have a long "tail", which you use to adjust the sling, but it also makes for a great cover to breastfeed. Even to this day, I carry Nolan around often in the sling when we go out, especially when I know that he will want to feed. When you shop for a carrier, be aware of the age/weight requirements. Some you can not use until baby is a certain weight (around 8 lbs.). With having a small baby (6lbs, 13oz), I could not use mine right away. Be aware of the baby-carriers that have the babies in a "hanging" position with the legs dangling. Much research has been done regarding that this can be dangerous to the ligaments in the baby's hips, especially at infancy. Imagine the amount of tension on their tiny ligaments that connect their legs to their torso, and that tension pulling everytime you take a step as they bounce up and down!! Always make sure that the hips are flexed atleast 90 degrees (knees at the hip level or higher) as they sit in a baby carrier.
(sightseeing at a museum)
A sling is easy to put on and fold up in your diaper bag. Even if you prefer to push the baby around in a stroller, carry your sling with you for when baby is fussy or wants to eat. Mine is always in the bag or in the car. Many times, Nolan will fall asleep in the sling. I think it's just because he is so comfortable in there. He puts his little head down on my shoulder or chest and relaxes, knowing Mama is holding him. What he does not know is that I am still able to easily shop, fold clothes, talk on the phone, type on the computer - whatever without jiggling him around. Besides, I love having him close to me! I know that there will be the day when he wants to run and play and not be held. I want to keep him as close as I can. I love that I can smell the scent of baby shampoo on his hair, and that sometimes he reaches his hand around and rubs my back. Why would a mother NOT want to experience this? I personally have a stroller (the kind with the car seat that fits into the stroller), a sling and most recently a front/back baby carrier for longer treks through town. The type of sling that I have only allows me to carry Nolan all wrapped up in the front, which he does not prefer anymore, or on the hip, which bothers my back after a long period of time - he is getting heavy! The front/back carrier displaces the weight more evenly - great for hiking!
 (grocery shopping)                                                                                                             
The sling is great for when you have to run a bunch of quick in-and-out errands around town. No open and closing the stroller a hundred times. It has a handy pocket for keys and wallet. And I always get complemented on it. The only draw-back is I have to keep taking him in and out of his car seat. If only he could just sit on my lap while driving.....                                          (at the park)

3.24.2010

Dear Nolan...

My Dear Sweet Boy,
You are such a lucky little baby to be exclusivly breastfed. From the minute you were born into this world, you were brought to my breast to be comforted and fed. You stay close to me so I know your cues of when you want to be fed and when you just want love. There is no need to speak, no need to hurry. Your tiny body is so soft against my skin. I love watching you, bonding with you, knowing that you feel safe and warm.

Before I even became pregnant, I did my homework. I did this for you. I wanted to give you the best start in life. I knew that "breast was best", but I wanted to learn more. I wanted to learn all that I could so I could be prepared for your birth-day.

 It is so satisfying to know that I can nurture you all by myself without any intervention. I can provide for you the perfect food at any given time and it does not cost anything. I do not have to stop to mix formula, clean a bottle or worry about the ingredients.

Baby boy, as I hold you in my arms, the feeling to provide this nurishment for you   is amazing. I know that breastmilk contains natural antibodies to protect you from    colds and viruses. I can even put it on a boo-boo to help it heal faster. It keeps you strong and healthy. There is nothing else out there that even comes close.

Yes, breastfeeding IS love!

3.21.2010

Starting solid foods...what

Ok, here is the second part of our food discussion...the "what" to feed your kids. As I mentioned before, let your child lead the way for when they are ready. When they seem interested in food, let them try a bit. Avacado, banana and sweet potato are great starts. A little plain hummus is fine too. Letting your child experiment with different tastes and textures will help build their palate.

Remember that solid food is new to their little digestive system, so a slow introduction is best. Try one new food at a time, and start with small amounts. Look for signs of allergies to new foods. After trying a new food for about a week and there are no problems, you are usually safe to try another. A small bowl of mashed banana or avacado mixed with the familiar taste of breastmilk/formula might ease the transition.

You can then move onto steamed apples, pears, carrots and beets. If you have a good blender, you can blend these fruits raw and add breastmilk/formula as needed to keep the consistency soft and easy to swallow. Try to prepare as many raw fruits and vegatables as possible. Unfortunately, when you cook food, it looses alot of nutrients.

As baby gets older, you can try egg yolk (we did around 9 months). When they start getting teeth, the food can become a little chunkier, so they can practice chewing.

Processed foods:
In my opinion, you and your baby should avoid as much processed foods as possible. Canned, boxed and jarred foods contain preservatives and lots of sodium - how else then do they last a few YEARS without going bad?! Do you really want your baby ingesting preservatives and any other ingredients you may not know about? The same goes for highly salted or sugary foods - it may seem convenient to stop at a drive-through, or feed your baby food from your plate to stop them from crying when you are out at a restaurant, but you shouldn't. Although these foods are not good for us as adults, our bodies at least are larger and can process the sugars and salts better then a baby whose little organs are just learning what to do. So, please think first before you let your child try the cinnamon bun at breakfast or the french fries at lunch, and know that even though they are crying and want to grab that food, you are helping them in the long run make "a better choice in food".

What about the "rice cereal" that so many sources, including peditricians, recommend you start babies on? First of all, look at the ingredients on the box of rice cereal. There are alot more ingredients then there should be, many of which I can not even pronounce. Why would you want to give your child that? But you do want to add some more substance to the fruits and veggies. A great alternative is quinoa. Quinoa is a grain that has been a staple in South American food for over 6,000 years. It has become highly appreciated for its nutritional value, as its protein content is very high. Unlike wheat or rice (which are low in lysine), quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete protein source. This is great for vegatarians, who usually do not get the all the amino acids they need since they do not eat meat. It is a good source of dietary fiber and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is gluten-free and easy to digest, which makes it perfect for babies. It also has a higher ratio of omega-3 to omega-6, a positive contrast to other grains which are higher in omega-6. You cook it like rice on the stove and will keep in the fridge for about a week. Perfect for mixing with blended fruits or veggies.

Allergenic or problematic foods for babies to avoid until 1 year old  or more are: cow's milk, wheat, anything that contains gluten, strawberries, nuts, peanuts/peanut butter, egg whites, shellfish, soy, cabbage, beans, honey and chocolate (you can reasearch these foods more specifically on your own). For everyone: please note that cow's milk and wheat products cause a great deal of inflamation in the body. Too much of these products can result in the development of allergies, skin irritations, headaches and GI (gastro-intestional) problems. Sugar supresses the immune system, allowing bacteria and viruses to proliferate. Try to eliminate these foods as much as possible, and increase your fruit and veggie intake, as well as foods high in essential fatty acids (EFA) - avacados, EVOO, fish, almonds and walnuts.

Fresh, raw fruits and veggies are the most nutrient dense and therefore best for a growing and developing baby. That is why I thinking making your own baby food is best. You know exactly what is in it. My husband and I make alot of smoothies with a variety of fruits and veggies. Many times we will let Nolan have some or freeze what we don't use to feed him with later. In the next food blog "how" I will show you the quick and easy way to make your own baby food!

Of course, continue breastfeeding your baby as much as possible. This not only continues to be the perfect balanced food of protein, fat and carbs, but will protect the baby from colds and illnesses.

3.15.2010

Starting solid foods...when

Many mothers ask me about starting solid foods; when, what, how? Since this is lengthy discussion, it will be broken up into several posts. I will first start with "when". The first thing to remember is that all babies are different and will start solids at different ages. When your baby is ready, they will start by showing signs of interest when you are eating - they might try to grab the food, or want to sit on your lap when you are at the table. They should be able to sit up on their own. And, when you do feed them food, they should move the food from the lips to the back of the mouth with their tongue instead of pushing it out. Eating should be fun! If your baby spits out the food, turns their head or cries, they are just not ready. And that is ok! Around 3-4 months, Nolan wanted to touch everything we were eating. We started with avacado, banana and sweet potato, which are easily digestable foods that are highly nutritious. At this age, I feel that is it perfectly fine to let them taste age-appropriate foods. This will build their interest in diffferent tastes and textures, rather then discourage it. Many parents read that they should soley breastfeed their children for 6 months, 1 year, 2 years. Breastfeeding your child as long as you both want is strongly encourged and will continue to help protect your baby from colds, allergies, ect. Breastmilk/formula will continue to be the main food for your baby for the first year. However, it is important not to stifle their interest in food. I feel that if you prevent real-food tasting and small meals, you might be setting yourself up for a picky eater. Embrace their desire to try new things, and hopefully this desire for eating a variety of foods will continue as they get older. Your job as their parent is to provide them with wholesome and nutritious food choices, but your baby will tell you when they want to eat. Remember to start slow with new food, introducing one at a time. Keep your eyes open for changes that may indicate a food is not agreeing with baby - rash, gas, constipation, diarrhea or vomiting.

Some great books to check out are "Whole Foods for Babies and Toddlers" by Margaret Kenda (presented by Le Leche League International), and "Cooking for Baby" by Lisa Barnes. These books outline some great recipies, as well as food choices to start with and to avoid. I will be detailing them out also in the next food blog "what".

3.12.2010

What you might not know about breast milk....

I was at the Health Department one day to inquire about a breast pump with the lactation consultant. As I was waiting in her tiny cubicle in the back of the office, I noticed two small posters on the wall. I quickly pulled out my camera and snapped these atttached photos. Such great information that I just had to share!! The sad thing is this: any other mothers that went into the Health Department would never, ever see these signs unless they asked to see the lactation consultant. If you have an appointment to see her, then you already know that breastfeeding is the best thing you can do for your child. Why weren't these signs plastered all over the main office where everyone that walks in will see them?? I asked her please to do that. Most of the mothers were there for WIC, food stamps or some other govermental help - and were not breastfeeding. Even more of reason to breastfeed! Breastmilk is completely free! No formula, no bottles, no water, no cleaning equipment. And, it helps build a baby's immune system so less doctor visits, less medication, less spending money. I am sure that all mothers know that breastmilk is better then formula. What they don't know is the consequences of NOT breastfeeding...

3.10.2010

Welcome!

Hello Mamas,

Welcome to The Natural Mama blog. I hope you find it inspiring and useful, whether you are pregnant, already a mama or even just thinking about it!

Becoming a first-time mama to my son exactly 9 months ago has changed my life in so many wonderful ways and I am so excited to share my experiences with you.

The topics I will be blogging on will include: food and recipie ideas, home-made baby food, natural home cleaners, exercise tips for prenatal and post-partum, natural baby products, natural childbirth and home-birthing, breastfeeding, chiropractic care, natural home-remedies and much, much more... so keep checking back in often!

~The Natural Mama