January 26, 2010
In Labor, a Snack or a Sip?
By RONI CARYN RABIN
Maternity wards have long forbidden women in labor to eat or drink. Even when labor goes on and on, the bill of fare is usually limited to ice chips.
Now a systematic review of existing studies has found no evidence that the restrictions have any benefit for most healthy women and their babies.
The prohibitions are meant to reduce the risk of Mendelson’s syndrome (named for Dr. Curtis L. Mendelson, the New York obstetrician who first described it in the 1940s), which can occur if the contents of the stomach are drawn into the lungs while the patient is under general anesthesia.
While rare, the syndrome can be fatal. But nowadays the use of general anesthesia during labor and delivery is also rare. Caesarean sections are generally done using regional anesthesia.
“My own view of this has always been that you could say one shouldn’t eat or drink anything before getting into a car on the same basis, because you could be in an automobile accident and you might require general anesthesia,” said Dr. Marcie Richardson, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates in Boston, who was not connected to the new study.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where Dr. Richardson delivers, estimates that just 1 to 2 percent of women in labor are given general anesthesia.
The restrictions date back almost seven decades, said Joan Tranmer, an associate professor of nursing at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, an author of the new review, published last week by the Cochrane Collaboration.
“We thought it was time to question this, now that we’re in the 2000s,” said Dr. Tranmer, who said she had seen all too many women in labor complaining of thirst and dry mouth resort to sucking wet washcloths.
“With improved anesthetic techniques, we don’t do general anesthesia a lot anymore,” she said. “And even when they have to administer general anesthesia, they’ve improved the techniques, and the risk is very, very low.
“So we turned the question around and asked: Is there any benefit to restricting oral food and fluid during labor? And we found no benefit and no harm.”
The authors acknowledged that they found relatively little evidence to analyze: 11 studies, including just 5 randomized controlled trials encompassing 3,130 women.
All of the studies looked at women who were in active labor and at low risk of requiring general anesthesia. One compared complete restriction of food and drink with complete freedom to eat and drink at will, two compared water with other liquids and foods and two compared water with carbohydrate drinks.
There were no statistically significant differences in such primary outcomes as the rate of Caesarean sections and fetal Apgar scores, or in secondary outcomes, like the need for pain relief or duration of labor. One small study, however, did find an increase in C-sections among women taking carbohydrate drinks compared with those limited to drinking water.
Some hospitals have lifted restrictions on drinking during labor in recent months, since the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued new guidelines last August allowing patients to drink clear liquids. But the guidelines kept the restriction on solid foods.
“The problem is going to be for emergency C-sections, which are rare but not unheard of,” said Dr. William Henry Barth Jr., chairman of the society’s committee on obstetrics practice. “There’s just not time in that setting to stop and do regional anesthesia. And it can be unpredictable.”
Anesthesiologists were critical of the review, saying none of the studies were large enough to evaluate the impact of eating on risks during general anesthesia.
“From an anesthesiologist’s perspective, they missed the boat on this one,” said Dr. Craig M. Palmer, chairman of the committee on obstetrical anesthesia for the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
“They looked at the impact on the progression of labor, but to be honest, that’s not an issue for anesthesiologists. Our primary concern is patient safety.”
www.BirthingWisdom.com
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
URGENT CALL FOR HUMAN MILK DONATIONS FOR HAITI INFANTS
URGENT CALL FOR HUMAN MILK DONATIONS FOR HAITI INFANTS
The Human Milk
Banking Association of North America (HMBANA), United States Breastfeeding
Committee (USBC), International Lactation Consultant Association/United
States Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA/USLCA), and La Leche League
International (LLLI) are jointly issuing an urgent call for human milk
donations for premature infants in Haiti, as well as sick and premature
infants in the United States.
This week the first shipment of human
milk from mothers in the United States will be shipped to the U.S. Navy
Ship "Comfort" stationed outside Haiti. "Comfort" is currently set up with
a neonatal intensive care unit and medical personnel to provide urgent
care to victims of the earthquake. An International Board Certified
Lactation Consultant stationed at the U.S. Navy base in Bethesda, MD is
assisting with providing breast pump equipment and supplies to the
"Comfort." Dr. Erika Beard-Irvine, pediatric neonatologist, is on board
the "Comfort" to coordinate distribution of the milk to infants in need.
HMBANA, USBC, ILCA/USLCA, and LLL are responding to requests to provide
milk for both premature infants and at-risk mothers who have recently
delivered babies on board the U.S.N.S. Comfort, but an urgent need exists
for additional donations.
At the current time, the infrastructure to
deliver human milk on land to Haiti infants has not yet been established.
As soon as that infrastructure is in place, additional donations will be
provided to older infants.
Mothers who are willing to donate human milk
should contact their regional Mothers' Milk Bank of HMBANA. A list of
regional milk banks is available at the HMBANA website at www.hmbana.org.
Currently milk banks are already low on donor milk. New milk donations
will be used for both Haiti victims as well as to replenish donor supplies
to continue to serve sick and premature infants in the U.S. Donor milk
provides unique protection for fragile preterm infants. Financial
donations are also strongly encouraged to allow HMBANA, a nonprofit
organization, to continue serving infants in need.
UNICEF, the World
Health Organization, the Emergency Nutrition Network, and medical
professionals all recommend that breastfeeding and human milk be used for
infants in disasters or emergencies. Human milk is life-saving due to its
disease prevention properties. It is safe, clean, and does not depend on
water which is often unavailable or contaminated in an emergency. Relief
workers, health care providers, and other volunteers are urged to provide
support for breastfeeding mothers to enable them to continue
breastfeeding, and to assist pregnant and postpartum women in initiating
and sustaining breastfeeding.
For more information, contact HMBANA at
408-998-4550 or www.hmbana.org . Additional information can be provided
from the United States Breastfeeding Committee at 202-367-1132
(www.usbreastfeeding.org), ILCA/USLCA at 1-800-452-2478 (www.ilca.org ; or
www.uslca.org ), or La Leche League at 847-519-7730 (www.llli.org) .
Sincerely,
Angela Smith, President
ILCA Board of Directors
www.BirthingWisdom.com
Friday, January 15, 2010
10 Tips to Avoid a Cesarean Section
10 Tips to Avoid a Cesarean Section
Did you know that the United States has a 31.1% Cesarean rate?
Did you know that the hospitals in our area have an even greater rate...40-50%?!
We need to realize that cesareans are major abdominal surgery and that includes all of the risks that go along with major surgery. To name a few: longer hospital stay; longer and more painful recovery; higher risk of infection, organ damage, adhesions, hemorrhage, embolism, and hysterectomy; higher chance of a complication with the next pregnancy; less initial contact with the baby; less success breastfeeding; higher risk of respiratory problems for the baby; and the most catastrophic complication of all: maternal death.
In Susan J. Buckley, M.D.'s book Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering, she states, "Studies show that the risk of the mother dying after cesarean surgery, although low overall, is around four times higher than after vaginal birth, even considering maternal health conditions."(1-3)
Wow! So what can we as women do about this? The following list is a compilation of tips to help any expectant mother avoid the possibility of major abdominal surgery...a Cesarean section.
10 Tips to Avoid a C-Section
1.Choose a doctor who is supportive of normal vaginal deliveries and one who believes cesareans ought to be avoided.
2. Choose a spontaneous labor.
3. Hire a doula, or labor assistant.
4. Choose to move in labor. Upright positions generally give the best results.
5. Choose intermittent fetal monitoring instead of continuous.
6. Choose an unmedicated birth. If you choose an epidural, wait until you are dilated at least 5 cm to get it. Taking a Childbirth Education Class or HypnoBirthing Class can offer many options for non-medicated births.
7. Learn about different pushing positions and talk to your doctor about this.
8. Take good care of you and your baby during pregnancy. Eat 80 to 100 grams of protein daily.
9. Learn about optimal fetal positioning. http://www.spinningbabies.com/
10. Stay at home until you're sure it's labor.
Educate yourself. Know your options. Ask questions. Know the benefits and risks of various procedures.
THE BIG THREE:
*ALLOW LABOR TO START SPONTANEOUSLY
*STAY AT HOME UNTIL YOU'RE SURE IT'S LABOR
*WAIT UNTIL 5CM IF YOU GET AN EPIDURAL
Afterthoughts: We must realize that in some cases a cesarean is needed in order to have a healthy mother, healthy baby. We are thankful for the technology we have today for those few cases that truly need that kind of intervention. If you do find yourself in this category, there is still hope. Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC) is a safe and empowering option. You can find out more information and support at the following website: http://www.ican-online.org/
References:
1. Harper MA, Byington RP, Espeland MA, Naughton M, Meyer R, Lane K. Pregnancy-related death and health care services. Obstet Gynecol. Aug 2003;102(2):273-278.
2. Enkin M, Keirse M, Neilson J, et al. Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2000.
3. Deneux-Tharaux C, Carmona E, Bouvier-Colle MH, Breart G. Postpartum maternal mortality and cesarean delivery. Obstet Gynecol. Sep 2006;108(3 Pt 1);541-548.
Childbirth Classes New York & New Jersey
Birthing Wisdom –Childbirth Classes
Please register early as the spaces fill quickly.
It's recommended that you sign up for a childbirth course three months prior to your due date.
This is a comprehensive 8 week series of childbirth and parenting education classes.
Extensive lectures in the birth process, birthing options and numerous relaxation techniques are taught. Other topics include: exercise, nutrition, anatomy, birth planning, cesarean section prevention, breastfeeding and baby care.
The philosophy of the class is based on the belief that birth is a normal and natural function of the human body. Expectant women/couples need to understand the process that lies ahead but also and more importantly, to prepare for this journey physically, mentally and emotionally. With the knowledge gained from the classes, many fears regarding birth and parenting are diminished and or relieved allowing an expectant mother to understand and trust the physical sensations she experiences.
The coach or birth partner is taught how to physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually support her throughout this wondrous journey.
Pauline Nardella shares with her expectant families 20 plus years experience as a Maternal Child health Nurse and 17 plus years as a childbirth and parenting educator.
Location: Blauvelt, NY
Date & Time: April 27th – June 15th on Tuesday evenings from 7:30-9:30pm
For further information contact:
Pauline Nardella RN, MPA
Clinical Nursing Professor
Certified Childbirth Educator
Board Certified Lactation Consultant
845-323-1830
info@BirthingWisdom.com
www.BirthingWisdom.com
HypnoBirthing® Classes in New York/ New Jersey
HypnoBirthing® -The Mongan Method
Birthing Wisdom
Please register early as the spaces fill quickly.
This is a comprehensive 5 week series of childbirth, parenting and self hypnosis education classes.
Hypnobirthing® is as much as philosophy as it is a technique. It is a rewarding, relaxing, stress-free method of birthing that is based on the belief that when a mother is properly prepared for birthing physically, mentally, and spiritually, she can experience the joy of birthing her baby in an easier, more comfortable manner.
The method is based on the belief that severe discomfort does not need to be a natural accompaniment of labor.
The aim of the program is to build confidence in the mother and for her to have confidence in her own ability to birth her baby. The philosophy of the Hypnobirthing® program is to educate the mother about the wonders of her body, to eliminate fear, as well as teach her the skills to work with the birthing process rather than fight against it. In many cases it is fear that undermines the mothers confidence in herself. The mother is introduced to techniques of self hypnosis utilizing controlled deep breathing, visualization and imagery to produce deep relaxation.
The coach and birth partner is taught how to physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually support her throughout this wondrous journey. Extensive lectures in the birth process, birthing options and numerous self- hypnotic & relaxation techniques are taught. Other topics include: exercise, nutrition, anatomy, birth planning, c-section prevention, breastfeeding and baby care.
Location: Blauvelt, NY
Date & Time: March 9th - April 13th Tuesday evenings from 7:00-9:30pm
For further information contact:
Pauline Nardella RN, MPA, CCE
845-680-0385
info@BirthingWisdom.com
www.BirthingWisdom.com
National website for HypnoBirthing: www.HypnoBirthing.com
Prevention of Obesity in Breastfeeding Mothers and their Babies
Prevention of Obesity in Breastfeeding Mothers and
their Babies
Morrisville, NC-The United States Lactation Consultant Association
(USLCA) recognizes that obesity is a common problem in the United States
for both women and children. January is Healthy Weight Management Month. One of
the easiest and most healthy ways to prevent obesity is to breastfeed and to be
breastfed. In the United States 32.7% of U.S. adults 20 years and older are
overweight, 34.3% are obese and 5.9% are extremely obese. The American Obesity Association
states that 15.5% of
adolescents (ages 12 to 19) and 15.3% of children (ages 6 to 11) are obese.These
alarming statistics also drive up health care costs by $100 billion a year.
Since 1960, the rate of obese Americans has been on the rise. Children who are obese
at a young age are at risk for diabetes, heart disease, metabolic disorders,
depression and other diseases which will impact the rest of their lives. It is
estimated that the increase of obesity in this country has also attributed to
the death rate in our country. Each year in the U.S obesity causes at least
300,000 unnecessary deaths. The states with the lowest rates of breastfeeding
generally demonstrate the highest rates of overweight and obesity.
Breastfeeding an infant through the first year can decrease childhood obesity. The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that "for each month of
exclusive breastfeeding, up to age 9 months, the risk of obesity is decreased
by 4%." By breastfeeding a child for 9 months or more there is a 30% less
chance of a child being an overweight adult. Lactation has also been associated
with postpartum
weight loss in the exclusively breastfeeding mother.
Not only do breastfed infants reduce their likelihood of childhood obesity, they
are taught and learn from an early age what the most nutritious foods are and how
to make healthy choices. These healthy choices can potentially impact an
adult's health and can avoid the many diseases obesity can cause.
USLCA president, Laurie Beck, RN, MSN,
IBCLC calls upon hospitals, physicians, and all other health care providers to
recommend and support breastfeeding as an early preventive health behavior in
the efforts to educate women on the prevention of obesity. "Educating parents
on the optimal nutrition breast milk provides is important for healthy families
and can decrease the rate of childhood obesity in this country." says Beck.
Knowledgeable
professional breastfeeding support can be obtained from lactation consultants
with the IBCLC credential (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant).
To locate a lactation consultant for assistance with breastfeeding go to http://www.uslca.org.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mission: To build and sustain a national association that
advocates for lactation professionals
Vision: IBCLCs
are valued recognized members of the health care team.
The United States Lactation Consultant Association(ULSCA), is
organized exclusively for the advocacy of Lactation Professionals, including
educational and scientific purposes as contemplated by Section 501 (c) (6) of
the United States Internal Revenue Code.
www.BirthingWisdom.com
their Babies
Morrisville, NC-The United States Lactation Consultant Association
(USLCA) recognizes that obesity is a common problem in the United States
for both women and children. January is Healthy Weight Management Month. One of
the easiest and most healthy ways to prevent obesity is to breastfeed and to be
breastfed. In the United States 32.7% of U.S. adults 20 years and older are
overweight, 34.3% are obese and 5.9% are extremely obese. The American Obesity Association
states that 15.5% of
adolescents (ages 12 to 19) and 15.3% of children (ages 6 to 11) are obese.These
alarming statistics also drive up health care costs by $100 billion a year.
Since 1960, the rate of obese Americans has been on the rise. Children who are obese
at a young age are at risk for diabetes, heart disease, metabolic disorders,
depression and other diseases which will impact the rest of their lives. It is
estimated that the increase of obesity in this country has also attributed to
the death rate in our country. Each year in the U.S obesity causes at least
300,000 unnecessary deaths. The states with the lowest rates of breastfeeding
generally demonstrate the highest rates of overweight and obesity.
Breastfeeding an infant through the first year can decrease childhood obesity. The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that "for each month of
exclusive breastfeeding, up to age 9 months, the risk of obesity is decreased
by 4%." By breastfeeding a child for 9 months or more there is a 30% less
chance of a child being an overweight adult. Lactation has also been associated
with postpartum
weight loss in the exclusively breastfeeding mother.
Not only do breastfed infants reduce their likelihood of childhood obesity, they
are taught and learn from an early age what the most nutritious foods are and how
to make healthy choices. These healthy choices can potentially impact an
adult's health and can avoid the many diseases obesity can cause.
USLCA president, Laurie Beck, RN, MSN,
IBCLC calls upon hospitals, physicians, and all other health care providers to
recommend and support breastfeeding as an early preventive health behavior in
the efforts to educate women on the prevention of obesity. "Educating parents
on the optimal nutrition breast milk provides is important for healthy families
and can decrease the rate of childhood obesity in this country." says Beck.
Knowledgeable
professional breastfeeding support can be obtained from lactation consultants
with the IBCLC credential (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant).
To locate a lactation consultant for assistance with breastfeeding go to http://www.uslca.org.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mission: To build and sustain a national association that
advocates for lactation professionals
Vision: IBCLCs
are valued recognized members of the health care team.
The United States Lactation Consultant Association(ULSCA), is
organized exclusively for the advocacy of Lactation Professionals, including
educational and scientific purposes as contemplated by Section 501 (c) (6) of
the United States Internal Revenue Code.
www.BirthingWisdom.com
Thursday, January 14, 2010
10 Ways to Dramatically Increase Your Child's Health
10 Ways to Dramatically Increase Your Child's Health
By Jane Sheppard
Copyright 2010 Healthy Child
Our children are supposed to thrive. And they normally do when we allow them to develop naturally without undue interference and provide them with essential required components for health.
I put together a list of the most important ways you can increase and maintain optimum health in your children. Keep in mind that you don't have to do everything all at once. It can be overwhelming when you try to make too many changes too quickly. You can begin slowly and take one step at a time. There are probably things you are already doing or have done (for instance, your child may be past the time for breastfeeding).
If you're a new parent with a baby on the way, this is perfect timing. This information should help you give them a great beginning.
If your child is older, rest assured that there is always something more you can do to improve your child's health. And it is never too late to begin.
This short list is an introduction to natural child health care. There is much more to know. The articles on Healthy Child's website and future articles, interviews, seminars, etc. that are published in Healthy Child newsletter will provide greater depth of information.
Breastfeed - Exclusively and Extended
You've heard the term, Breast is Best. It's absolutely true. Babies are designed to thrive exclusively on human milk. Breastfeeding promotes proper brain development and protects against infectious and chronic diseases. It provides all the nutrition your baby needs.
When you breastfeed exclusively, you give your baby only breastmilk without any additional food or drink, not even water. Supplementing with formula can inhibit the natural flow and supply of breastmilk, decrease the nutrition and immune factors a baby would receive by getting breastmilk alone, and may undermine the ongoing mother and child breastfeeding/bonding experience.
What is meant by extended breastfeeding is to breastfeed long-term (as long as possible) and let your child decide when to wean. This builds a healthy immune system, increases the mother/child bond, and is by far the healthiest thing you can do for your child. Breastmilk continues to provide nutrition and immune factors during the first and second years of life and even beyond.
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by continued extended breastfeeding with healthy foods for up to two years or beyond.
If you are unable to breastfeed, the next best thing is to receive donor breastmilk. If not able to obtain donor milk, then make your own formula according to nutritional guidelines that come as close to human milk as possible. Commercial formula is available only as a last resort.
http://www.healthychild.com/for-healthy-immunity/breastfeeding-for-a-strong-immune-system/
http://www.westonaprice.org/Children-s-Health/
http://www.westonaprice.org/Feeding-Babies.html
Formula [http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=9wrFh&m=KdSvVFZg1HeNkG&b=vx1yfbEkqdB9K43gE2VK2Q] Recipes
http://www.westonaprice.org/Recipes-for-Homemade-Baby-Formula.html
Donor Milk
This site provides an alternative to expensive milk banks that pasteurize the milk. Pasteurization not only kills bacteria (both good and bad), it may also kill the essential immune components of breastmilk.
http://milkshare.birthingforlife.com/ ;
Vitamin D - Ensure an Optimum Level
Vitamin D is extremely important to your child's health. It's crucial for your child's brain development and immune system. The current RDA and the usual amounts of vitamin D in multi-vitamins is not enough. And it's impossible to get enough from food alone to maintain optimal levels.
Children should be getting about 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) per 25 pounds of body weight. Both children and adults should have 25(OH)D levels greater than 50 ng/mL, year-round.
If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, your levels need to be optimal so that your baby is not vitamin D deficient. This article explains more:
http://www.healthychild.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-and-gestational-vitamin-d-deficiency/
20-30 minutes of summer sun exposure (without sunscreen) produces approximately 10,000 IU of vitamin D in a light-skinned person. For darker skin, exposure may need to be longer. If your child is not getting a good amount of sun exposure almost every day, vitamin D needs to be supplemented.
Listen to this interview with John Cannell, MD, Director of the Vitamin D Council on preventing vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy, babies and children. He gives specifics on vitamin D and provides important details about vitamin D supplements.
Dr. Cannell's Interview:
http://www.healthychild.com/immune-system-support/vitamin-d-deficiency-in-pregnancy-babies-children/
You'll find plenty of research and information about Vitamin D at this site:
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
Whole foods Diet
Stop buying the processed, convenience foods that are loaded with corn syrup and other refined sugars, unhealthy fats, processed white flour, preservatives, additives, and colorings. These denatured, processed foods do not provide sufficient nutrients to allow a child's body to reach its full potential of health.
Children need natural, whole foods that are prepared and preserved in a way that promotes health, not disease. Whole foods are unrefined grains, beans, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables as well as moderate amounts of unprocessed, humanely raised, grass-fed animal products. Your child's body relies on the nutrients from these foods for proper growth as well as mental and physical vitality. A deficiency of even one important nutrient can cause imbalances that can lead to disease. Whole foods also provide a wealth of protective compounds that can help prevent disease.
In addition to important minerals, children's diets should contain large amounts of natural vitamins A and C derived from fruits (oranges, strawberries, peaches, nectarines, mango) and vegetables (broccoli, carrots, squash, yams, red bell peppers). Vitamin A is also found in fish and eggs. They also need calcium, magnesium and other minerals to maintain health and process other nutrients. The best non-dairy sources of calcium are dark green vegetables and sesame seeds (or tahini). Vitamin D is needed for calcium absorption and magnesium, zinc, boron, and vitamin K are co-factors necessary for vitamin D to work properly. Please understand the body needs a varied whole foods diet to obtain all the nutrients that work synergistically to optimize health.
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/whole-foods-nutrition-for-healthy-kids/
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/processed-food-and-low-fat-diets/
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/the-health-benefits-of-grassfed-animal-products/
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/why-grassfed-is-best/
http://www.healthychild.com/teaching-wellness/encouraging-children-to-eat-healthy/
Healthy Fats
Healthy fats supply nutrients that are essential for growth and are necessary for energy as well as the absorption and metabolism of some nutrients. Fats are vitally important to the brain, which is 70 percent fat. They are used for building the membranes around every cell in the body and also play a role in the formation of hormones. Cold-pressed olive and flaxseed oils, fish oils, seeds, nuts, eggs, avocados, grass-fed meats, butter and whole, raw milk from grass-fed cows are good fat-containing foods.
These articles provide important information on essential fatty acids (EFAs):
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/children-need-fats-to-be-healthy/
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/fats-and-oils-for-childrens-health/
Reduce the Sugar
Most kids get way too much sugar in their diets. Sugar can suppress immunity and create mineral deficiencies, acidic digestive issues, obesity, diabetes, tooth decay, and a host of other chronic health problems. It also can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline and lead to hyperactivity, anxiety, attention problems, and irritability. You can reduce the amount your child eats, replace it with whole fruit and use healthier sweeteners in baking.
http://www.healthychild.com/sugar-and-sweeteners/sugar-n-spice-and-everything-nice/
http://www.healthychild.com/sugar-and-sweeteners/stevia-healthy-and-sweet/
Reduce the toxins
Babies' small bodies are much more vulnerable to toxic chemicals than adults since their neurological, immunological, respiratory, and other biological systems are still developing, limiting their ability to detoxify and excrete the many different toxins entering their fragile systems. Chemical exposure during the critical period of brain development can be particularly problematic. Low-level chemical exposures during susceptible periods of development can cause more harm than high doses later in life.
Read our comprehensive report on protecting your child from toxic exposures:
http://www.healthychild.cm/protect-your-baby-from-toxic-exposures/
More articles:
http://www.healthychild.com/preventing-toxic-exposures/
Question antibiotics
Antibiotics have saved many lives over the past 45 years. We are truly fortunate to have them available for serious bacterial infections. Unfortunately, antibiotics are excessively prescribed, especially to children. The Center for Disease Control estimates that of the 235 million doses of antibiotics given each year, between 20 and 50 percent are unnecessary. Tragically, this overuse of antibiotics can cause devastating health consequences to children.
http://www.healthychild.com/pharmaceutical-drugs/consequences-of-excessive-antibiotic-use/
http://www.healthychild.com/pharmaceutical-drugs/antibiotics-for-strep/
Question Vaccines
If you dig a little deeper into the vaccine issue, you'll find many gaps and limitations in the data and knowledge regarding vaccine safety. Vaccines are capable of causing serious damage. Because they contain lab-altered viruses, bacteria and toxic substances, vaccines have the ability to cause mild to severe neurological and immune damage, or even death, depending on the vaccine given, the combination of vaccines given, the health of the child at the time of vaccination, and the genetic or biological factors that predispose the child to this damage. Many parents and doctors are beginning to question the practice of injecting toxic substances into the bodies of small babies and artificially manipulating their fragile immune systems during the crucial time of brain and immune development.
http://www.healthychild.com/vaccine-choices/
Establish a Wellness Mindset
In raising healthy children, it's not enough to just focus on the physical aspect of health. To be truly healthy, a child's emotional health must be nurtured and strengthened. Developing a mental attitude of wellness is also essential. When we adopt an attitude of wellness, we take on a belief that being well is a natural, normal state. Our goal is to have outstanding, vibrant health, not just to be free of disease. With a wellness attitude, we know that we have control over our own body and how healthy it will be.
We can teach and help our children to grow up with an attitude of wellness. Children have much more control over their own health than you may think. The mind is a very powerful mechanism with miraculous control over health and healing. The more children learn to use the extraordinary powers of their minds, the healthier and happier they will be. They may also live longer than someone who takes a passive or negative approach to health.
Frequently remind your child that his or her body is amazing and they are healthy and well.
http://www.healthychild.com/teaching-wellness/a-wellness-approach-for-children/
Create and Maintain a Healthy Parent-Child Bond
To help our children reach their greatest potential, we must first create a strong bond and connection with them before, during, and after birth and consistently nurture and strengthen this connection throughout their entire childhood. Children who receive continual nurturing, plenty of loving physical contact, and have a healthy, bonded relationship with at least one parent know at a deep, core level that they are loved and valued for who they are - just because they exist. With a healthy sense of their value and worthiness, children can more easily tap into their natural state of health and happiness and develop their full potential - physically, emotionally, and mentally. We show them how to love and value themselves by being present for them and tending to their emotional needs.
http://www.healthychild.com/attachment-and-connection/parenting-our-children-to-reach-their-full-potential/
More articles on bonding and attachment:
http://www.healthychild.com/attachment-and-connection/
Healthy Child, 1275 Fourth Street, #118, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, USA
By Jane Sheppard
Copyright 2010 Healthy Child
Our children are supposed to thrive. And they normally do when we allow them to develop naturally without undue interference and provide them with essential required components for health.
I put together a list of the most important ways you can increase and maintain optimum health in your children. Keep in mind that you don't have to do everything all at once. It can be overwhelming when you try to make too many changes too quickly. You can begin slowly and take one step at a time. There are probably things you are already doing or have done (for instance, your child may be past the time for breastfeeding).
If you're a new parent with a baby on the way, this is perfect timing. This information should help you give them a great beginning.
If your child is older, rest assured that there is always something more you can do to improve your child's health. And it is never too late to begin.
This short list is an introduction to natural child health care. There is much more to know. The articles on Healthy Child's website and future articles, interviews, seminars, etc. that are published in Healthy Child newsletter will provide greater depth of information.
Breastfeed - Exclusively and Extended
You've heard the term, Breast is Best. It's absolutely true. Babies are designed to thrive exclusively on human milk. Breastfeeding promotes proper brain development and protects against infectious and chronic diseases. It provides all the nutrition your baby needs.
When you breastfeed exclusively, you give your baby only breastmilk without any additional food or drink, not even water. Supplementing with formula can inhibit the natural flow and supply of breastmilk, decrease the nutrition and immune factors a baby would receive by getting breastmilk alone, and may undermine the ongoing mother and child breastfeeding/bonding experience.
What is meant by extended breastfeeding is to breastfeed long-term (as long as possible) and let your child decide when to wean. This builds a healthy immune system, increases the mother/child bond, and is by far the healthiest thing you can do for your child. Breastmilk continues to provide nutrition and immune factors during the first and second years of life and even beyond.
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by continued extended breastfeeding with healthy foods for up to two years or beyond.
If you are unable to breastfeed, the next best thing is to receive donor breastmilk. If not able to obtain donor milk, then make your own formula according to nutritional guidelines that come as close to human milk as possible. Commercial formula is available only as a last resort.
http://www.healthychild.com/for-healthy-immunity/breastfeeding-for-a-strong-immune-system/
http://www.westonaprice.org/Children-s-Health/
http://www.westonaprice.org/Feeding-Babies.html
Formula [http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=9wrFh&m=KdSvVFZg1HeNkG&b=vx1yfbEkqdB9K43gE2VK2Q] Recipes
http://www.westonaprice.org/Recipes-for-Homemade-Baby-Formula.html
Donor Milk
This site provides an alternative to expensive milk banks that pasteurize the milk. Pasteurization not only kills bacteria (both good and bad), it may also kill the essential immune components of breastmilk.
http://milkshare.birthingforlife.com/ ;
Vitamin D - Ensure an Optimum Level
Vitamin D is extremely important to your child's health. It's crucial for your child's brain development and immune system. The current RDA and the usual amounts of vitamin D in multi-vitamins is not enough. And it's impossible to get enough from food alone to maintain optimal levels.
Children should be getting about 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) per 25 pounds of body weight. Both children and adults should have 25(OH)D levels greater than 50 ng/mL, year-round.
If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, your levels need to be optimal so that your baby is not vitamin D deficient. This article explains more:
http://www.healthychild.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-and-gestational-vitamin-d-deficiency/
20-30 minutes of summer sun exposure (without sunscreen) produces approximately 10,000 IU of vitamin D in a light-skinned person. For darker skin, exposure may need to be longer. If your child is not getting a good amount of sun exposure almost every day, vitamin D needs to be supplemented.
Listen to this interview with John Cannell, MD, Director of the Vitamin D Council on preventing vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy, babies and children. He gives specifics on vitamin D and provides important details about vitamin D supplements.
Dr. Cannell's Interview:
http://www.healthychild.com/immune-system-support/vitamin-d-deficiency-in-pregnancy-babies-children/
You'll find plenty of research and information about Vitamin D at this site:
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/
Whole foods Diet
Stop buying the processed, convenience foods that are loaded with corn syrup and other refined sugars, unhealthy fats, processed white flour, preservatives, additives, and colorings. These denatured, processed foods do not provide sufficient nutrients to allow a child's body to reach its full potential of health.
Children need natural, whole foods that are prepared and preserved in a way that promotes health, not disease. Whole foods are unrefined grains, beans, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables as well as moderate amounts of unprocessed, humanely raised, grass-fed animal products. Your child's body relies on the nutrients from these foods for proper growth as well as mental and physical vitality. A deficiency of even one important nutrient can cause imbalances that can lead to disease. Whole foods also provide a wealth of protective compounds that can help prevent disease.
In addition to important minerals, children's diets should contain large amounts of natural vitamins A and C derived from fruits (oranges, strawberries, peaches, nectarines, mango) and vegetables (broccoli, carrots, squash, yams, red bell peppers). Vitamin A is also found in fish and eggs. They also need calcium, magnesium and other minerals to maintain health and process other nutrients. The best non-dairy sources of calcium are dark green vegetables and sesame seeds (or tahini). Vitamin D is needed for calcium absorption and magnesium, zinc, boron, and vitamin K are co-factors necessary for vitamin D to work properly. Please understand the body needs a varied whole foods diet to obtain all the nutrients that work synergistically to optimize health.
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/whole-foods-nutrition-for-healthy-kids/
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/processed-food-and-low-fat-diets/
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/the-health-benefits-of-grassfed-animal-products/
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/why-grassfed-is-best/
http://www.healthychild.com/teaching-wellness/encouraging-children-to-eat-healthy/
Healthy Fats
Healthy fats supply nutrients that are essential for growth and are necessary for energy as well as the absorption and metabolism of some nutrients. Fats are vitally important to the brain, which is 70 percent fat. They are used for building the membranes around every cell in the body and also play a role in the formation of hormones. Cold-pressed olive and flaxseed oils, fish oils, seeds, nuts, eggs, avocados, grass-fed meats, butter and whole, raw milk from grass-fed cows are good fat-containing foods.
These articles provide important information on essential fatty acids (EFAs):
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/children-need-fats-to-be-healthy/
http://www.healthychild.com/child-nutrition/fats-and-oils-for-childrens-health/
Reduce the Sugar
Most kids get way too much sugar in their diets. Sugar can suppress immunity and create mineral deficiencies, acidic digestive issues, obesity, diabetes, tooth decay, and a host of other chronic health problems. It also can cause a rapid rise of adrenaline and lead to hyperactivity, anxiety, attention problems, and irritability. You can reduce the amount your child eats, replace it with whole fruit and use healthier sweeteners in baking.
http://www.healthychild.com/sugar-and-sweeteners/sugar-n-spice-and-everything-nice/
http://www.healthychild.com/sugar-and-sweeteners/stevia-healthy-and-sweet/
Reduce the toxins
Babies' small bodies are much more vulnerable to toxic chemicals than adults since their neurological, immunological, respiratory, and other biological systems are still developing, limiting their ability to detoxify and excrete the many different toxins entering their fragile systems. Chemical exposure during the critical period of brain development can be particularly problematic. Low-level chemical exposures during susceptible periods of development can cause more harm than high doses later in life.
Read our comprehensive report on protecting your child from toxic exposures:
http://www.healthychild.cm/protect-your-baby-from-toxic-exposures/
More articles:
http://www.healthychild.com/preventing-toxic-exposures/
Question antibiotics
Antibiotics have saved many lives over the past 45 years. We are truly fortunate to have them available for serious bacterial infections. Unfortunately, antibiotics are excessively prescribed, especially to children. The Center for Disease Control estimates that of the 235 million doses of antibiotics given each year, between 20 and 50 percent are unnecessary. Tragically, this overuse of antibiotics can cause devastating health consequences to children.
http://www.healthychild.com/pharmaceutical-drugs/consequences-of-excessive-antibiotic-use/
http://www.healthychild.com/pharmaceutical-drugs/antibiotics-for-strep/
Question Vaccines
If you dig a little deeper into the vaccine issue, you'll find many gaps and limitations in the data and knowledge regarding vaccine safety. Vaccines are capable of causing serious damage. Because they contain lab-altered viruses, bacteria and toxic substances, vaccines have the ability to cause mild to severe neurological and immune damage, or even death, depending on the vaccine given, the combination of vaccines given, the health of the child at the time of vaccination, and the genetic or biological factors that predispose the child to this damage. Many parents and doctors are beginning to question the practice of injecting toxic substances into the bodies of small babies and artificially manipulating their fragile immune systems during the crucial time of brain and immune development.
http://www.healthychild.com/vaccine-choices/
Establish a Wellness Mindset
In raising healthy children, it's not enough to just focus on the physical aspect of health. To be truly healthy, a child's emotional health must be nurtured and strengthened. Developing a mental attitude of wellness is also essential. When we adopt an attitude of wellness, we take on a belief that being well is a natural, normal state. Our goal is to have outstanding, vibrant health, not just to be free of disease. With a wellness attitude, we know that we have control over our own body and how healthy it will be.
We can teach and help our children to grow up with an attitude of wellness. Children have much more control over their own health than you may think. The mind is a very powerful mechanism with miraculous control over health and healing. The more children learn to use the extraordinary powers of their minds, the healthier and happier they will be. They may also live longer than someone who takes a passive or negative approach to health.
Frequently remind your child that his or her body is amazing and they are healthy and well.
http://www.healthychild.com/teaching-wellness/a-wellness-approach-for-children/
Create and Maintain a Healthy Parent-Child Bond
To help our children reach their greatest potential, we must first create a strong bond and connection with them before, during, and after birth and consistently nurture and strengthen this connection throughout their entire childhood. Children who receive continual nurturing, plenty of loving physical contact, and have a healthy, bonded relationship with at least one parent know at a deep, core level that they are loved and valued for who they are - just because they exist. With a healthy sense of their value and worthiness, children can more easily tap into their natural state of health and happiness and develop their full potential - physically, emotionally, and mentally. We show them how to love and value themselves by being present for them and tending to their emotional needs.
http://www.healthychild.com/attachment-and-connection/parenting-our-children-to-reach-their-full-potential/
More articles on bonding and attachment:
http://www.healthychild.com/attachment-and-connection/
Healthy Child, 1275 Fourth Street, #118, Santa Rosa, CA 95404, USA
Monday, January 11, 2010
Infant/Child CPR, Choking and Safety
Infant/Child CPR, Choking & Safety
In the US nearly 400 children under the age of four die every month due to unintentional accidents!
This class presents age appropriate home proofing and safety concerns inside and outside the home from infancy to toddlerhood. Learn how to deal with an emergency situation.
Infant/Child CPR and choking will be presented and reviewed by participants with hands-on return demonstration on sanitary "CPR Manikins."
Safety & CPR handouts are given to each participant for display at home.
Location: Full Circle Family Care, White Plains, NY
Three Class offerings in 2010.
Date: January 28th, March 4th or May 6th
Time: 10am-12:30pm
Fee: $50.00/person or $75/couple
Class size is limited so sign up early.
You can reserved your space in this class by sending the class fee to:
Pauline Nardella, RN, MPA
2 Private Lovett Ct
Blauvelt, NY 10913
Private classes also offered for 10 participants
To receive further information or to sign up for the next class
go to info@BirthingWisdom.com
or call 845-680-0385
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)