As a Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor and Childbirth Doula, I have a true passion for helping people. This passion is fuled by my loving husband, a Chiropractic Physician. Everyday, we strive to inspire people to lead a more active, healthy and natural lifestyle. As my husband and I planned to start a family, I began to educate myself more on how to lead this lifestyle throughout and after pregnancy. Both my pregnancies were so easy and enjoyable due to a healthy diet and everyday exercise. Our first son, Nolan, was born on June 9, 2009. Our second son, Blake, was born at home after only a 4 hour labor on June 20, 2013. Both our children are the most amazing little people.
I write this blog to share my story. Through my experiences, I hope to inspire you to educate yourself to make positive choices for you and your family.
YEA!!! We just invested in a dehydrator! This is going to be so awesome that we can make healthy chips, crackers, cookies, snacks and more. The difference between a dehydrator and cooking in the oven is that you can set the dehydrator not to get hotter then 115 degrees, at which point the enzymes in food start to break down. So, not only are the enzymes still intact, but when I make my own food I know EXACTLY WHAT IS IN IT! Almost any cracker/cookie you find on the shelves has preservatives it in and who knows what else. Below are the first two recipes we tried. You can see every item that went into the crackers - all good, healthy REAL food!
Flax Crackers - Spicy
Flax Crackers - Spicy
(2) Cups Flax Seeds
1/2 Cup sundried Tomatoes, soaked in 1 Cup water until soft
(1) Tbl Shoyu
1 Tsp Lemon Juice
1 Tsp Sea salt
1/2 tsp Black pepper
1/2 tsp Crushed Red Pepper flakes - or more!
1/4 cup fresh mixed herbs of your choice - basil, dill, oregano, parsley, thyme...
Large handful of spinach
Place flax in a large bowl with 2.5 cup filter water. Allow seeds to soak up all the liquid, about 30 min. Place all other ingredients, including soak water, in blender and blend until smooth. Mix with flax seeds well. Spread on dehydrator sheets, and dehydrate at 115* for 6 hours, flip over and continue another 6 hours.
Flax Crackers - Sweet
Flax Crackers - Sweet
2 cups Flax Seeds
2 cups walnuts
1/2 cup raisins, soaked in 1 cup water
1/2 cup dates, soaked in water until soft and then drained
1 Tbl fresh mint
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ginger, peeled and minced
Agave nectar added as needed
A great thing about this blog is it forces me to concentrate my thoughts to a steady stream instead of just opening the flood gates (rambling on and on) like when I talk to someone! People, especially moms-to-be, are always asking me what I did during my pregnancy, which is how this whole blog thing started in the first place. I can direct them here to read up on whatever they want instead of talking their ear off!
"How Chiropractic & Proper Exercise Together can Benefit a Woman During Pregnancy & Postpartum":
As a Certified Personal Trainer, mother to a 19-month-old, and the wife of a Chiropractic Physician, I know first-hand the amazing benefits a mother-to-be can receive from regular chiropractic care and proper exercises during and after pregnancy. I had a comfortable, easy, amazing pregnancy – I felt great the whole time! – because my body was balanced and my nervous system was functioning at 100%. I personally have seen tremendous results in my clients and myself when incorporating chiropractic and exercise during pregnancy. I stayed active throughout my whole pregnancy, biking up until 3 weeks prior to the birth. Yoga and Pilates continued (with modifications) up until just days before, and then the basic principles of Yoga through labor. I received weekly chiropractic care and massages.
Most people think of chiropractic for back or neck pain, but the true art lies much deeper then that. Chiropractors study the body - the way it moves, and the problems that arise when it doesn't move properly. They are experts on the nervous system, which is housed in the spinal cord within the spine. They specialize in facilitating proper movement of the spine (and the rest of the body) which allows the nervous system to function at 100%. Remember, the nervous system controls everything in our bodies, from the heart & blood flow to muscles, tissues, and organs (liver, lungs,etc), to the way our cells re-grow. If something is not functioning properly, we may or may not feel it or notice it. A good example is a heart attack - for most people, the first sign that they are having heart attack is that they are dead!
For me, I wanted to make sure my body was in balance and most importantly, that my unborn baby was getting everything it needed from my body to grow properly. Chiropractic care is a priority from me.
I specialize in prenatal and postnatal fitness, which incorporates mostly Yoga and Pilates-based principles, strength-training and cardiovascular exercise designed especially for the pregnant woman. Every pregnancy is different for each woman, and an experienced personal trainer and chiropractor must take into consideration the many changes to the body that occur during pregnancy, including physical, chemical & mental.
The chiropractor and personal trainer can work together to balance the pelvis and the spine for a pregnant woman. A balanced pelvis comes from a strong core, which will help support the growing uterus. If the body is not balanced, the pelvic ligaments could over-contract, causing the baby to shift into an undesirable presentation and can cause the mother pain/discomfort. Even if there is no pain, the imbalanced ligaments can cause an altered center of gravity and affect proprioception, leading to possibly many complaints.
In order to balance the pelvis, the chiropractor will facilitate proper motion in the spine and the trainer will coach the mother to strengthen the surrounding muscles of the pelvic floor, abdominals and spinal muscles. Although the mother might receive chiropractic care, and spinal misalignment are corrected, it will be temporary if the muscles are not corrected also. Proper key movement patterns will help hold chiropractic adjustments longer, keeping mother and baby balanced and comfortable.
While I was pregnant, I designed a Prenatal Fitness class, which I still teach today. I encourage every pregnant woman to find one and participate in it! All the moms-to-be credit my class to providing them with an outlet for physical activity, mental clarity, emotional support and social interaction.
My class incorporates Yoga and Pilates, which both teach body awareness, and promotes an increase in strength, flexibility, mobility, balance. This is especially important during pregnancy. As the mother’s body changes during pregnancy, the spine takes on the toll of these postural changes. As her belly grows larger, she might have a tendency to over extend the lumbar curve in the low back. This could cause tight low back muscles and tight hip flexors. To maintain a center of gravity, the thoracic spine might flex more with rounded shoulders and a forward head posture, resulting in tight neck extensors. Upper-cross/lower-cross syndrome is very common among pregnant women. Pilates utilizes your core stabilizing muscles (transverse abdominis, pelvic floor, internal and external obliques, multifidis, and spinal rotators) to keep the spinal curves in a neutral position which will alleviate many of the pregnancy discomforts. Take SI (sacroiliac) joint pain for instance: It can be caused by the additional weight of the baby out in front. Because the center of gravity is off, there might be an altered gait pattern and increased lordosis. Along with chiropractic care, Pilates can help balance the low back muscles to decrease the lordosis, thus alleviating the pain. Exercises that focus on shoulder stabilization combined with chiropractic will help mom after baby is born. Properly strengthening neck, shoulder and upper back muscles will prepare her body for picking up, carrying and breastfeeding baby.
Proper breathing is a huge component of both Pilates and Yoga. As the baby and uterus grows larger, it will start to push up on the diaphragm. This results in shortness of breath/difficulty of breathing. Many mothers then resort to shallow, chest breathing instead of deep belly breathing. Shallowly breathing into the upper portion of the lungs prevents full oxygen exchange. It also overuses the accessory breathing muscles creating tension in the neck and shoulders. The more focused the breath is, the more relaxed the mother will be, the more oxygen will be supplied to her body as well as the baby and placenta. Deep breathing and relaxation that comes with Yoga can help relieve STRESS! Stress is a main contributor to: high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, fatigue and/or insomnia, headaches and irritability. If the mother can relieve stress, she can avoid many other health issues to herself and the unborn baby.
The relaxation and meditation that I teach in my Prenatal Fitness class helps with labor and delivery. Whatever childbirth method the mother decides to use, they all have a common factor of focus, concentration, breathing and visualization, which we work on in our class. Many say that when the mother can visualized and meditate on her birth, it often goes much smoother and quicker, with less of a chance for complications.
Any reasons NOT to visit your chiropractor and personal trainer???
COMING SOON - My favorite exercises and stretches for pregnant women and breastfeeding moms! Keep checking back in!
This slideshow video was made by my amazing husband last Mother's Day, my first as a mama. I just had to share it! It lovingly depicts my mothering to my first "baby" Roxy, my pregnancy and the arrival of Nolan in my life. The song, "The Story" is a favorite of ours. I deeply connected with the lyrics the first time I heard it and thought of Nolan immediatly. The pictures and the lyrics put together are so beautiful, so honest...enjoy.
All of these lines across my face, Tell you the story of who I am So many stories of where I've been, And how I got to where I am Oh, but these stories don't mean anything, When you've got no one to tell them to Like I do...I was made for you You see the smile across my mouth, It's hiding the words that don't come out And all of my friends who think that I'm blessed, Well they don't know my head was a mess No, they don't know who I really am, And they don't know what I've been through like you do I was made for you...You know that it's true...I was made for you
Over the last weeks of my pregnancy, I surrendered to "what will be, will be". God has a master plan for all of us, and who am I to try to change his plans? I continued my regular Chiropractic adjustments, yoga and hypnosis. I wanted my body to be ready for anything! I comforted myself with long baths, naps and staying as comfortable as possible. I talked to the baby, and meditated on the thoughts of seeing him or her very soon. Special, quite time was spent with my husband - our lives were about to change; our family's new addition was to arrive any day!
I still never gave up on hope that this baby would turn at the last minute. Maybe we could still have our beautiful natural Home Birth? I sometimes think that ignorance is bliss! Maybe if I did not know all the amazing benefits to both mom and baby from a natural childbirth, I would not care so much. But I DID know these things! The thought of my baby not entering the world the way he was intended to made my heart sad, but the thoughts of very real complications made my stomach turn. Can you image being in my situation?? I was so ready to birth this baby - I was so confident, I knew I could do it all by myself! And had he been head down, I could have done it unassisted!!
As I mentioned before, the risks for a breech baby to born naturally are very high, for both baby and mother. Our baby was a Frank Breech, with both legs completely straight up, feet by the face. The little butt is much smaller then the head, so there not as much pressure on the cervix, would could lead to a very long labor. There is also a very good chance of cord prolapse, since again, the butt is smaller then the head and the cord could slip out first, compress and prevent blood flow to baby. Along with the risk of hip or clavicle dislocation and the chin getting stuck on the pelvic ring. These are the risks with any breech presentation. Fortunately, breech presentations make up only 3-5% of all births, so it is very uncommon. No one stays pregnant forever; the baby does come out eventually - but many times with serious injury. I would rather have a few minutes of intervention, that result in a lifetime of perfect health!
On Monday June 8th, I had my (last) midwife appointment. (I was 4 day past my "due date") I was totally effaced and about 1-2 cm dilated. I was waiting for "something" - and I don't really know what that "something" was - to happen. I was actually surprised when she told me how far I was already. For some reason, I thought I would have felt "more". I felt great! Comfortable, good energy and just ready! After our appointment, hubby and I took a long walk. The more we walked, the more I was starting the feel "things" - light contractions (more frequent and strong then Braxton-Hicks), and pressure. Remember how I said the mind is a very powerful thing. I believe that the confirmation by my midwife of my progress, the anticipation of meeting our baby and the fact that I had finally let go and let fate take it's course, had allowed labor to start.
I can remember that night as if it was yesterday. I clearly remember we had just moved into our new house. The bedroom had a soft glow to it, as I layed in bed and read. We received a call late that night from a good friend of ours that their baby had just been born. We had been pregnant at the same time, and surprisingly our babies were born just one day apart. I had a feeling that tomorrow could be the day, but did not want to get my hopes up. I slept very well that night.
The next day, Tuesday June 9th, Max had an appointment at the clinic. I was supposed to teach my Prenatal Fit class, but he insisted that I stay home and rest. I had light contractions all night, but still slept very well. They were now coming more frequent, about 30-40 minutes apart. And more intense. But I still felt good! I noticed a few bananas about to go bad on the counter, so I made a banana bread. The methodical actions of measuring, stirring and pouring relaxed me and made me feel grounded and earthy. As it baked, I sat down and mediated to my relaxation music, inhaling the sweet banana bread smell. By the time the bread was done, Max was on his way home, and the contractions were now 30 minutes apart. We packed up our bags, (and the bread!), and headed over for one last Chiropractic adjustment. In the half hour that I was there, I had two more contractions. We called our midwife, Kaleen, and told her we were heading over and to meet us at the hospital.
We got to the hospital and went to check in. What morons! They must have hired the most idiotic person to run the check-in desk. Here I am, clearly in labor, and she's asking me my name, address and last menstrual period! When do you think? 9 months ago!!! This was fortunately only one of the few things that bothered me about the hospital. One of the things I loved was that I was the only patient on the Labor & Delivery floor, so I had everyone full attention. And the banana bread helped too!
We went into a room. I had to strip down, put on a gown and they did a quick ultrasound. The baby was still breech. Kaleen just looked at me said, "It's not turning. We gotta get it out". Fine. The next few minutes were a blur. Before I knew it, I was being wheeled through the hallway to the OR. My sister had made it just in time to wish me good luck. In the OR, they sat me on this cold hard table, with the anesthesiologist ready to shove this giant needle in my back. I was freaking out! Where is my husband? Why was this all happening so fast? I'm not ready! I started to shake and cry. Kaleen held me and helped me breathe and focus through the epidural. That HURT! Then I layed down, covered with warm blankets. Suddenly, Max appeared at my side all gowned up. I didn't even recognize Dr. Boulting in his scrubs and mask. Before my brain even had a chance to process all that was going on, and the order of everything according to what I had read, Dr. Boulting said, "Here we are! Max, do you want to look?" "I don't know", Max hesitated. "Look!" I told him. "Come here. Look at your baby!", Dr. Boulting demanded, but in a loving way. He knew how important it was for us to be involved. He didn't want us to miss out on this. "It's Nolan! It's a boy!". Nolan was quickly brought around for me to see. Crying and bloody, he was perfect.
I love this picture, just before we touch for the
first time outside the womb.
We touched for a moment, but then they took him away. The nurses respected our wishes for no drops, no baths, no vaccines. Max watched over and helped when he could. Just a light dabbing, and he was brought right back to me. As Dr. Boulting worked on sewing me back up, Nolan was placed on my chest to breastfeed. Kaleen was there to make sure he latched on, but this baby had no problems! The anesthesiologist even said that in all his 25 years of working, he never saw a baby breastfeed in the OR. Nolan got perfect APGAR scores (even for a C-Section baby) and Max got to cut the cord. My concerns of the baby having any of effects from the epidural went out the window. From the time they put that needle in my back to when Nolan arrived was so fast, I doubt he got any!
I am thankful for trusting my instincts for one more reason - when Nolan came out, he had some meconium on his head. That means (1) that he was good and ready to come out - he was not taken prematurely, (2) because of his presentation, labor did not progress as quickly and he needed to get out and poo, and (3) if I did try to birth him naturally and it took a very long time, he could get meconium in his lungs and then that would be another complication altogether.
My poor little folded-in-half baby!
It is so amazing to me how perfectly God designs our body. When you are pregnant, and especially right before birth, a mother's nipples will get very dark. When a baby is born, they do not see very well. They see dark vs. light and can only focus about 12" away. The incredible thing is that a baby will be able to find his mother's nipple by searching for that dark spot, and he will be able to smell her milk through her skin (their sense of smell is heightened). It is well documented that right after birth, a baby will be placed on its mother belly, and the baby will actually "crawl" up to the nipple! The other perfect thing is that it is approx. 12" from a mother's face to her baby's face when she breastfeeds. Her face is the object he focuses on.
Breastfeeding in the OR, within minutes of his birth
I unfortunately had to be taken away to "recovery", but we had a plan! In our room, Kaleen had Max remove his shirt and hold Nolan skin-to-skin. This is a form of nursing. Nursing does not always mean to actually breastfeed, it means to nurture, bond and love. To this day, Nolan loves his "daddy naps" and quickly falls asleep on his daddy's chest.
Daddy "nursing" the baby, skin-to-skin
Within a hour, I was back in our room and held, nursed and loved Nolan continually. I never put him down. He breastfed whenever he wanted. Many times, mothers will put the baby in a bassinet and fall asleep. When the baby wants to be fed, the mother will not get to him quickly enough and he becomes hysterical, and unable to latch on properly. The best thing to do is hold your baby continually and let them nurse whenever. They do not need to be on any schedule but their own.
Within 24 hours, we left the hospital. It was not the birth that I had planned for, but it was the "perfect" birth that we needed to accommodate our situation. All in all, the doctors and nurses were great, respected our wishes and we had a perfectly healthy baby boy. If anyone is ever in this situation, please, please, please make sure you have your midwife or doula present to help carry out your wishes. I can not thank Kaleen enough!
As you can see in my other posts, we have had absolutely no problems with his health, breastfeeding, development and all other aspects of his life. Hubby and I joke often when Nolan's intelligence surpasses our expectations, "Not too bad for a C-Section baby!"
Next time, we will have our home birth, and Nolan will be able to observe the miracle of life with us.
According to ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), women with normal pregnancies should get 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise everyday, including: cardiovascular exercise, light strength or resistance training and stretching or flexibility training. I find that humorous because according to AHA (American Heart Association) ALL PEOPLE should get 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise everyday, including: cardiovascular exercise, light strength or resistance training and stretching or flexibility training. Soooo....whether you are pregnant or not - you need to exercise EVERYDAY!!!
OK, back to pregnancy...all women are at a different fitness levels. Some women may be able to continue their normal routine throughout their first trimester and even into their second while others may already need to make modifications. In the third trimester, depending on how big your belly is, some routines may need to be stopped completely.
During pregnancy a hormone called Relaxin is released to loosen the ligaments in the pelvis to prepare for birth. However, Relaxin also causes ALL the ligaments in the body to relax and therefore can cause instability at the joints, especially the ankles, knees, hips, pelvis, shoulders and wrists, resulting in discomfort or pain. Below I have listed out some options for the pregnant exerciser to keep her safe and comfortable. Remember, it is ok to make modifications and just because some forms of exercise work for one pregnant woman, does not always mean it will work for you. If you have any questions or concerns, find a Certified Personal Trainer with experience in Prenatal Fitness.
(1) Cardiovascular exercises: Brisk walks or even lightly jogging (if you feel comfortable to do so), bike riding (outside on a smooth surface or on an indoor bike), swimming (an excellent activity since you are weightless!), dancing (especially a form that uses large rhythmic movements of upper and lower body to keep heart rate elevated and blood flowing). Choose an activity that is low or no-impact on the body. Exercise that causes the body to “bounce”, both feet leaving the ground or have the risk of falling can cause complications and injury to your body or the baby, especially in the second and third trimesters. Avoid full running, sprints, kickboxing, skiing, and jumping.
(2) Strength and resistance training: Can be done in a strength class or on the weight machines. Weight machines are ideal since they control your range of motion. If you are accustomed to free weights, start with a low weight and be careful not to go into hyperflexion or extension with the weight, i.e. full squats, full leg extensions, deep lunges, etc. It is important to safely strengthen the muscles around the joints and ligaments to add support and stability. Do not use any machines or do any exercises that your belly is pressed into a pad or the floor, or any lying on the back. Some exercise machines that are perfect for pregnancy are the seated row, lat pull down, seated chest press, biceps, triceps, leg extension and seated leg curl. Resistance training with Therabands are also very easy on the joints and can be done anywhere.
(3) Stretching: Can be done anywhere, but a Yoga or Pilates class designed specifically for pregnant women is ideal. The instructor should be knowledgeable in poses that will benefit your pregnancy and also know the ones that can be contraindicative. The use of props to modify poses should be used. In possibly your second and certainly in the third trimester you should not be lying on your stomach (can injure baby and will be extremely uncomfortable) or on your back for an extended period of time (the weight of the baby can compress the vena cava and decrease blood flow), or go into any inversion poses (where the pelvis is above the heart). In Yoga, this would eliminate DownDog, Head/ShoulderStands, Wheel or Bridge. As your belly gets bigger and stretches out the abdominal wall, any sort of ab exercises like Crunches, or any of the Ab Series in Pilates (Scissors, Single-leg/Double-Leg Stretch, etc.) or Boat in Yoga can be extremely uncomfortable and even cause the Rectus Abdominis to separate. A knowledgeable instructor will help you with modifications. And remember to be careful with your joints. Any weight-bearing poses that put the joints into hyperflexion or extensions should be modified as there will be very little if no stability in the end ranges. An example is when you are in Tabletop (kneeling on hands and knees), if your wrists hurt from the pressure of your arms, make a fist instead to push your weight into.
Both Yoga and Pilates increases body awareness, posture, muscle tone, strength and endurance, relaxation and concentration and overall wellbeing. They both utilize deep breathing that can be used during labor and delivery as a relaxation tool. The full gas exchange of carbon dioxide for oxygen that occurs during deep breathing helps oxygenate your muscles (as well as baby!) and allows for deeper stretching and flexibility without injury. Pilates also focuses on activation of the pelvic floor muscles (Kegel exercises) which helps fire the deep stabilizing muscles of the lumbo-pelvic (low back) area and can help reduce the low back pain that almost all pregnant women have. Pilates will teach you to keep the body in a neutral position, whether you are practicing Pilates or any other activity. As your belly grows larger, you will have a tendency to over extend the lumbar curve in your low back. Pilates will help you keep that curve in a neutral position which will alleviate many of the pregnancy discomforts and prevent injury. Pilates also focuses on shoulder stabilization and neutral neck alignment. This will help prevent rounded shoulders and a forward head posture which can cause tight neck, shoulder and upper back muscles. Specific upper body strengthen exercises will prepare your body for pickup, carrying and breastfeeding baby.
Walking or jogging is free, and if you have a bicycle, take advantage of it as biking has very little impact on the joints. If you can join a prenatal or even a gentle yoga class, you will benefit tremendously. If you can't, try to pick up a Prenatal Yoga or fitness video and follow along everyday, along with brisk walks. If you sit at a desk all day, it is even more important that you take time to exercise, get your heart rate up and stretch.
When most pregnant women have their first OB or midwife appointment, they will be asked what sort of physical activities they currently are doing and to maintain moderate exercise throughout the pregnancy. Unfortunately, many moms-to-be do not exercise during their pregnancy out of fear or lack of time, energy and/or availability to a prenatal class. In this post and others to follow, I hope to give you all some insight to my personal experiences, the importance of exercise not only to mom but to baby as well, and how proper exercise can give moms-to-be a healthy, safe, active and enjoyable pregnancy.
Approx. 38 weeks
Now, I’m sure you've heard of or even thought yourself some of the “Pregnancy Myths”: You can’t workout while pregnant; It can be harmful to the baby; Exercise will be painful; I'm too tired/nauseous/busy; I’m going to gain weight anyways, why bother?....
According to ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), women with normal pregnancies should get 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise everyday, including the (3) components to fitness: cardiovascular exercise, light strength/resistance training and stretching. I will discuss in more detail these (3) components and how to incorporate them into a prenatal fitness routine. Most women that regularly exercised before their pregnancy can continue their normal routine with some modifications. Women that have not exercised regularly should start as soon as possible with their doctor/midwife's permission. Remember to start slow and easy, such as light walking and stretching and try to sign up for a Prenatal class.
Whether you are a first-time exercisers OR have always been active, remember – you are now Pregnant!! Always remember to start out slow and listen to your body along the way. If you experience any feelings of discomfort or pain, dizziness, nausea, heart palpitations, contractions, vaginal bleeding or anything else NOT normal, you should stop immediately and contact your doctor/midwife. Remember to drink plenty of water before (to prevent dehydration), during and after your workout (to replace the fluids you lost). Do not workout in extreme hot or cold weather. Always begin with 5-10 minutes of a warm-up and end with 5-10 minutes of a cool down.
Exercising during the trimesters:
First Trimester can come with fatigue and nausea. Heavy exercise might not be desirable. If you can get outside for a short walk, it can boost you energy and the fresh air will diminish nausea.
Second and most of Third Trimester can come with a burst of energy. Increased blood volume in your body will boost your VO2 (the volume of oxygen in your blood). Some cardiovascular exercises you normally would find difficult might seem easier now. Make sure your heart rate does not exceed 70% max heart rate. (I will teach you how to easily do this!)
The Third Trimester will come with an overall feeling of excitement, anxiousness, fatigue at some times and bursts of energy in preparation of the baby. Exercise can help you burn off some nervous energy, clear your mind and boost your mood.
And if you need any more benefits, here they are! Regular exercise can: Help increase stamina...Help you sleep better...May prevent or treat gestational diabetes...Improve your mood...It can help reduce backaches, constipation, bloating and swelling...Proper exercise form can help stretch out tight muscles and strengthen weak ones, helping you prevent back and pelvic pain...Although nothing is guaranteed, many women that regularly exercise have an easier labor and delivery, are less likely to need a C-section and have a shorter recovery postpartum...Most women that exercise throughout their pregnancy maintain a healthy prenatal weight and get back to their pre-baby weight faster.
What’s in it for baby? Many researchers theorize that changes in heart rate and oxygen levels in exercising moms-to-be stimulate the baby. They also think that babies that are born to active moms are more fit, born at healthier weights, smarter, better self-soothers and less risk for diabetes in the future. Plus, these babies have a strong, centered mama ready to take care of them!
Attached is the Treasure Coast Le Leche League schedule. A great idea is to attend a meeting BEFORE the baby is born, so you will be comfortable with the leader and know who to call if you have a breastfeeding problem. Remember - be PROACTIVE, not REACTIVE!
This is such an interesting study, I had to share it! Now, I'm sure some of you are reading this and getting defensive: "My kid is smart, and I didn't breastfed them"....I can hear it already! Yes, there are alot of variables, and this is certainly not a "perfect" study, but hear me out...
Of course, breastfeeding you child will not guarantee an acceptance into Harvard, but it will do plenty:
1. Breastfed babies are less likely to become obese or develop diabetes later in life compared to their formula-fed counterparts.
2. Breastfed babies are less likely to be sick - including ear infections, flu, colds, etc. - due to the immune-boosting agents in the breastmilk.
3. Breastfed babies are less likely to have colic, constipation/diarrhea, GI problems, etc., since breastmilk is easily digested, and cow's milk is not.
4. Due the constant contact and bonding with Mom, breastfed babies are typically better self-soothers, easy-going, adaptable and independant, making it easier for the care-givers to teach and play with baby.
Maybe the reason these breastfed babies end up smarter, is because they are less sick, less likely to miss school, less likely to have a suppressed immune system and fatigue and are less stressed about being away from parents when at school.
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