To pamper the expectant mom in your life, you might need to get creative. The pandemic means that most pregnant women are staying closer to home and taking extra precautions to stay safe. But there are ways you can lend support, even from a distance. Check out these heartfelt ideas from Emily Graham at Mighty Moms and help the mom in your life feel special.
Checking in with a pregnant loved one can do wonders during the pandemic, especially if they’re feeling stressed or lonely. Try to ‘be there’ emotionally and offer support.
Meaningful gifts are always well-received by expectant mamas. Put together a thoughtful care package to help ease stress during mom’s pregnancy.
The toughest thing about pregnancy during the pandemic is that families may have different expectations or comfort levels when it comes to celebrations and well-wishers. Listen to your mama friend and follow her lead.
Pregnancy can be a magical yet overwhelming time for many expectant moms. But with these ideas, you can help make her experience more special and less stressful, even amidst a pandemic. Need more ideas for baby gifts or ways to inspire the new mom in your life? Visit the Hello Baby Organics Shop today.
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This is not an article about emergency c-section. It is an article addressing why moms are electing c-section as their birth plan. Why are moms electing major surgery over a natural process their bodies are meant to experience?
There seems to be a consensus that a c-section birth is convenient, whether for the doctor or for the mom undergoing the surgery.
I have had the conversation(s) with the doctor(s). Not as a writer, but as a patient. I have sat across from that doctor who looked at his schedule and did his best to fit me in.
Am I missing something here? Isn't birth supposed to be determined by a combination of involuntary signals between mother and baby? And what do these involuntary signals trigger in both the mother and the baby? Any chance labor and childbirth is good for both mom and baby and preventing this process from happening may not be the best idea, even for convenience?
Ok, that was a little sarcastic. But my point is, why are we trying to avoid going into labor by scheduling an unnecessary intervention?
Please let me be blunt for a moment. Recovery from c-section is decidedly inconvenient. Referring strictly to the pain, it disrupts the natural course of things between mother and baby. The surgery itself prevents the release of oxytocin, a hormone which is released during labor and softens the traumatic experience of childbirth and gives moms that happy feeling for a year! No, that's not scientific, but it's my experience.
The difference between life in the year after c-section and life in the year after vaginal is disturbing. <-- PLEASE READ THAT AGAIN.
It is decidedly inconvenient that c-section recovery is not just physical. As I mentioned above, the year after a c-section is without a doubt one of the hardest years I've ever experienced in my life. Again, I've experienced this three times.
That's right. Thousands of women are "choosing" repeat c-section because it is an implied requirement. Hospitals have started requiring women who have already had one c-section, to have another. In fact, this is so common, that most c-section moms already know, "once a c-section, always a c-section," before they even leave the hospital.
Let me clarify something, though. A hospital or a doctor cannot force you to have a c-section. They even have you sign documentation in the form of "consent" to establish this. This means you sign your name, acknowleging that the hospital is not forcing you to choose c-section. When you sign that consent form, you have elected to have voluntary, unnecessary (not an emergency) surgery.
Why, then, does it seem like you don't have a choice?
You have to give consent for a doctor to perform surgery on you. And many hospitals are refusing service to moms who refuse to consent. This consent is generally required upon registration. I have definitely had many a heated argument with registration over this. I did not want to consent to c-section because I DID NOT WANT C-SECTIONS.
In the end, they always got me. And in the end, ultimately, even though it was elective, voluntary, unnecessary surgery, it was always "my choice" ... supposedly.
I can't tell you how many times I've heard a woman be thankful for the option of a c-section because she felt self conscious about giving birth. It sounds outrageous, but unfortunately, this is the world we live in.
There should be no shame or feelings of embarrassment surrounding natural childbirth. But this is another way to get women to agree that scheduling the surgical birth of their child is better than letting the baby come naturally.
When we sign up for a c-section, we are given a list of possible complications buried in stacks of paperwork, although those possible complications are generally not thoroughly gone over and explained as they should be.
As horrific as that is, chances of a surgical mistake is not likely. The physical and mental effects of major surgery as well as the consequences of major interference with a natural function, both that of the mother and the baby, are widely accepted as normal and most times not mentioned at all.
Many life long side effects of c-section are not only not mentioned, either verbally or in writing, they are not even generally acknowledged. How can a mother be expected to make the best decision for her and her child if she doesn't have all of the information?
Before I get to some of the side effects linked to c-section, let's talk about the difference between natural childbirth and a c-section.
There are three stages of natural child birth.
Stage one involves early labor, active labor and transition beginning with the onset of uterine contractions and ending with full dilation of the cervix. For some women, this will begin with or include sometime in this stage, what is generally referred to as her water breaking. This happens when the amniotic sack containing the baby bursts. This may or may not happen. It is not uncommon for doctors to "break your water" to "speed things up," another unnecessary medical intervention.
Stage two involves pushing and the birth of your baby. This when your baby descends down the birth canal and is born.
During this stage of natural childbirth one extremely important thing happens that does not happen during a c-section and that is your baby's entire body is exposed to your friendly bacteria inside the birth canal and on your skin immediately following birth.
Stage three is delivery of the placenta.
Unlike natural childbirth, there aren't any stages to go through other then preparing for major surgery when opting for a c-section delivery.
First, as mentioned you are prepped for surgery. This includes no food or drink for at least twelve hours prior, being hooked up to IV fluids, having your lower abdomen and upper pubic area shaved and administering of anesthesia.
Second, an incision is made in your lower abdomen that will go through all layers of skin, fat, muscle and your uterus until access to the baby is gained. Your baby is pulled out through this incision.
Third, your placenta is pulled out through the incision and you are internally repaired and stitched up and your external incision is stitched or staples closed.
And finally, recovery, during which time you are instructed to lift nothing heavier than the baby. Complete recovery takes about twelve weeks.
During natural childbirth your body releases a mixture of hormones that greatly benefit mom in recovery and in the year following childbirth. A scheduled c-section situation prevents all of the natural processes including release of hormones helpful in promoting the mom/baby bond, production of milk, and along with many other positive effects the reduced likelihood of developing postpartum depression.
Your baby's microbiome is colonized very shortly after birth. What type of bacteria colonizes your baby's microbiome is entirely dependent on what type of bacteria he or she is exposed. Ideally, he/she will be exposed to the bacteria in your birth canal and then on your skin. In the case of a c-section, your baby's first exposure to bacteria are whatever microbes can survive in the sterile environment of an operating room, followed by whatever is in the water he/she is bathed in.
Due to my experience with one natural birth, one emergency c-section, two forced elective c-sections and one VBAC, I can tell you that there is a difference, postpartum. The years following c-section were not even comparable to the years following natural childbirth when it came to the over all difficulty with recovery and acclimating to life with a new baby. To say that life after c-section was a struggle is an understatement.
I experienced an extraordinary amount of postpartum pain due to surgeons pulling and pulling on an incision cut to accommodate a nine pound baby when I was delivering an eleven pound baby. The pain of recovery from c-section compared to natural childbirth is also not comparable.
And two of my three c-section babies developed allergies, one of them life threatening to nuts and shellfish.
I wouldn't have known what I know about any of this had I not been faced with the consequences of elective c-section so many years later.
I hope you are able to learn from my mistakes.
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The world is becoming an increasingly hostile place to raise children. I could really get into a lot, here, write a book about it even.
But today I’m only talking about one thing: Should you be considering the difference between conventional and organic products for your baby? Is it possible that this decision could be the difference between health and disease?
Moms everywhere are jumping on the organic bandwagon. The stereotypes are starting to blend together. Hippy, crunchy, young, attachment, millennial, natural, and those who just identify as Organic Moms all have one agenda. Our priorities have aligned in an effort to raise healthy babies.
Whether you are in it because it seemed like the thing to do, or because you were scared of the increasing numbers of kids being born with and developing issues that were considered rare 30 years ago, one thing is true: The demand for products that conform to the new organic life standard is skyrocketing.
We’re not in Kansas anymore. In other words, the world has changed a lot since your grandma was growing up. Back in the days of happy ignorance, parents didn’t give a second thought to how the new chemicals that were making products better would affect anyone in the future. The thought was a general, this is how I was raised and look at me, I turned out fine. And twenty years later when their children were having children, and the new mom decided, maybe I’ll do it this new organic way, her parents were still sticking with, this is how we raised you and look at you, you turned out fine.
But the fact of the matter is, things have changed dramatically. Statistically speaking, childhood disease is on the rise. Chromosome disorders, obesity, autoimmune diseases and immune deficiencies, deadly food allergies, childhood cancers, and disorders like autism which have no scientific test to diagnose are growing at alarming rates. As a parent, you don’t really even have to be paying that close attention to know this. Just take a look around.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand why there’s a movement towards organic living. When chemicals in artificial sweeteners, and fire retardants and artificial flavors, preservatives and colors were first being put into our food we were assured it was safe. And who wouldn’t believe the officials put in charge of keeping us safe? When big corporations first started using glyphosate (a pesticide that initially killed the crops it was sprayed on) we didn’t question its safety because, again, the 'officials' assured us we had nothing to worry about.
But times, they are a changing. In the age of GMO (Genetically Modified Organism), some questions have been asked. Particularly, if your pesticide is safe, then why is it killing your crop? And how is genetically modifying it changing anything with regard to safety?
Again and again, we are told not to worry. The chemicals are “food grade.” The colors are “food grade.” Fire retardant won’t hurt you in small amounts. Glyphosate does not affect human cells.
Yes, I said fire retardants in food … Google it. And let’s not talk about what affect glyphosate has on the human microbiome (non-human microbes that sustain human life). And all of that, just one grain of sand on a planet covered in it.
I digress.
If not, what would be the reason for the slow but sure migration towards a higher demand for organic products? With the exception of a few followers who generally do what their neighbors do, this cannot just be a fad.
The supply for products that aren’t poisoning our future generations is sure to continue to grow with the demand. And this is a good thing. Moms and dads everywhere have spoken.
What’s your perspective on this? Leave a comment! Let’s talk about it.
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Over the past 20 years, there has been a growing group of moms who all agree on one thing:
c-section is where it's at!
I’ve heard many moms ‘swear by’ the c-section, claiming they wouldn’t have it any other way.
And while the world-wide rate of c-section is at about 19% of births, The US rate is closer to 33%. What could possibly be the reason that the US rate is so much higher than the rest of the civilized world? Only one thing I can think of and that is the growing popularity of The Elective C-Section.
Having had an “emergency c-section” in 1996 and two more following repeated requests (i.e. begging doctors) to let me try for a VBAC, this preference for surgery has me baffled.
Speaking with these moms, it almost sounds like c-section is the luxury-upgrade option. As if the whole thing is as simple as placing an order for a baby, to arrive on the day and time of your choosing.
It sounds good, right?
NOT SO FAST.
Now, before you get offended, let me just acknowledge the legitimate need for the option to have a c-section in an emergency situation. I get it. As a matter of fact, as I already mentioned, I have had an emergency c-section. So I'm most definitely not in a position to judge. Whether or not my c-section was actually necessary, well, that’s a subject for a different day. But, again, no judgment.
For that matter, I'll not judge any mom who chooses the convenience of c-section over waiting to go into labor who knows when. To each, their own is my motto! Genuinely, truly and respectfully.
I do wonder, though, if moms knew the risks, would they still choose the unnecessary, elective surgery for convenience?
I tend to believe that if given the choice, moms will do their best to avoid the unintended consequences of anything that carries a risk and that includes c-section.
In a 35 year study published in the journal Pediatrics, done on Danish babies, researchers determined that children born by c-section had a significantly increased risk of asthma, systemic connective tissue disorders, juvenile arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, immune deficiencies, and leukemia.
This is cause for concern and just some of the considerations when making a conscious decision about how you will birth your child.
I am writing this article because I want every single mom who has a choice to be 100% informed about the choice she is making.
This is just the first in a series of articles I will write about what I believe is a c-section epidemic in the US.
I will do my best to list all the reasons to opt-out of c-section when given the choice, as well as share my personal story.
Again, out of my five children, three of them were born by c-section. I’ll explain how one of my c-sections was considered an emergency and the other two, while the appearance of no-choice was there, elective, nonetheless.
And, I will share how I finally got my VBAC with baby number 5 and lived to tell about it.
For all the moms out there who have chosen c-section, there is no shame in that. You weren’t choosing the risk, you were choosing how to give birth. That you may not have understood that the method of delivery would carry increased risk later in life is not your fault.
Please, for the love of life, don’t shoot the messenger! I want nothing but the best for every mom and every baby.
But my mind has been blown by the number of women who have chosen elective c-section. This leads me to believe that by and large, expectant mothers are being hoodwinked by their doctors and the medical community as a whole.
It is my belief that it is the duty of your doctor to disclose information regarding evidence-based conclusions on c-sections. And yet, this is likely not happening.
Let’s say, your doctor says to you, straight up, “Let’s go ahead and get you scheduled for that c-section – oh but wait, before we do, I need you to understand that this c-section will increase your child’s risk of developing a deadly food allergy (peanuts), oh and a bunch of other stuff, too...” How ok are you with that?
Talk to the mom with the child with the peanut allergies & immune deficiencies (hello! that’s me) and find out if she would take back that c-section if it meant she didn’t have to worry about whether her kid would be exposed to a deadly allergen at school every day. ME! ME! ME! Yes, that’s me. I would. If I knew the risks; if someone had told me; I would have bent over backward to get out of that required (if I wanted to have a doctor) elective c-section.
I would love to hear stories of moms who either chose or had emergency c-sections.
Obviously, not every c-section baby will grow up and have obviously related issues. And risk is everywhere in life, so it’s easy to have no regrets when you don’t see the negative side effects – I totally get that.
But, risk seems to be increasing, which means odds of developing negative side effects are increasing. And just because something doesn’t happen until later in life, does not mean that it wasn’t related to how you were born.
Stay tuned for the next chapter in The C-Section Epidemic.
And if you like this article, it helped you and/or you think it may help someone else, PLEASE SHARE IT!
]]>One course of antibiotics disrupts the gut microbiome for a whole year.
Think about that. Now, if you don't know what a gut microbiome is, understandably, you may be thinking: so what?
Ok, let's briefly refresh about what the gut microbiome is and why it's so important. That'll be where we start with the 5 reasons to say no to antibiotics for your baby.
The microbiome is made up of quadrillions of microbes and is centric to human health as a whole. The human immune system is reliant upon the microbiome. Some would even say that the microbiome is the human immune system.
The microbiome is made up of many types of microbes also known as microorganisms, most notably bacteria. The body needs good bacteria.
Agents meant to kill bacteria, known as antibiotics, do not discriminate. In other words, while antibiotics kill bad bacteria that cause disease, they also kill the good bacteria necessary for maintaining a healthy human microbiome.
I'll say it again because it bears repeating:
A superbug is a strain of bacteria that has become resistant to antibiotics.
So herein lies the question:
If the recommendation is against the use of antibiotics, why does this matter?
Well, studies have shown that the evolutionary process these bacteria go through to become antibiotic resistant is actually making them stronger, and more difficult for the human immune system to fight off.
Studies have shown that children who were exposed to antibiotics in the first year of life were more likely to be diagnosed with food allergies. Multiple exposures have been strongly associated with an increase in the odds of being diagnosed with food allergies.
This may not seem like a huge deal. It seems everyone is allergic to something nowadays. Let me share, from experience, it's no fun having to carry an epipen for a child with deadly allergies to nuts & shellfish. Not to mention the over 100 other foods and substances he is allergic to.
Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and celiac disease occur when the body is prompted to attack itself.
Studies are starting to show increasing evidence that autoimmunity is associated with the unfavorable changes in the microbiome caused by the use of antibiotics.
If the above reasons aren't a good reason to at least research whether or not antibiotic use is a good idea, how about the fact that in most cases they are 100% unnecessary.
Most parents don't consider whether or not a common illness is life-threatening when deciding to run to the pediatrician to get a prescription for antibiotics.
But why not?
The unintended consequences are not your fault! This is the way we live!
But I do encourage you to consider two things before turning to antibiotics:
1. Unintended Consequences
2. Necessity
This is your decision! I hope I've helped make it an easier one for you.
]]>First let me be very clear: Getting rid of cradle cap can take a while!
Notice I didn't say it was difficult. At this time I'd like to establish the difference between difficult and time-consuming. YES, eliminating cradle cap, properly, efficiently and entirely can be time-consuming. It requires patience and sometimes, yes, this can be difficult. Especially when we're talking about getting rid of cradle cap.
Trust me, I understand, you want it gone now. So do I.
While the process of eliminating cradle cap is not complicated or difficult to understand, and in fact quite simple, cradle cap is serious business. I'd venture to say it's not really even hard to kill the yeast that causes it, but the sticky glue like crusts that they leave behind are a whole different story.
Think of the aftermath of cradle cap as a scab. In the same way a scab would dry up and fall off, the crusty plaques that have formed and attached to your baby's head need to either dry up entirely and flake off on their own, or you can help them along by following these four super easy steps:
Notes On The Use Of Oils
Until next time-
If this article was helpful, check out the others in the series and please use the buttons down below to share with other moms!
For the most detailed information, get my FREE E-Book:
What Is Cradle Cap?
What Causes Cradle Cap?
Best Cradle Cap Brush On The Market
Here's the thing. Maybe doctors are baffled because they, as a community don't understand root causes, or the aftermath commonly known as the symptom.
What do I mean by that?
Well, cradle cap is a common skin condition that presents very similar to adult dandruff only it can get much worse than an average case of dandruff very quickly. My reference to pre-existing condition vs. symptom has to do with why a baby would be more or less likely to get cradle cap in the first place.
The WHY is the root cause, or so-called pre-existing condition. The SYMPTOM is the actual appearance of cradle cap.
There are many circumstances or environmental situations also known as pre-existing conditions that may predispose your baby to cradle cap, but once your baby actually has cradle cap, studies have pointed to obvious culprits.
In other words, whatever predisposed your baby to cradle cap may not be the demon you are battling now. And unless you know your baby will be predisposed to cradle cap and are actively seeking to stop that from happening while you're pregnant, chances are you are dealing with a symptom; the aftermath.
That's ok, though. Because as I mentioned above, studies have proven what is causing the actual cradle cap. And when done right, cradle can be eliminated pretty easily.
Yes, it is that simple. But let me explain.
Malassezia furfur is a naturally occurring yeast. It exists on all human heads. Sebum, also naturally occurring is a protective substance secreted by all human skin.
You may be wondering, if we all have these things on our heads, then why don't we all have cradle cap?
Well, first of all, cradle cap is just another name for infantile seborrheic dermatitis. And dandruff is just another name for seborrheic dermatitis. So there is cradle cap (baby version) and dandruff (older human version). So, yes, many people suffer with this condition.
Second, it generally takes a little more than an average amount of sebum to encourage the Malassezia furfur to overgrow. Again, despite the reasoning for this excess sebum and the tendency for Malassezia furfur to proliferate, cradle cap can be successfully eliminated when addressed properly.
As mentioned above, Malassezia furfur only becomes a problem when there is overgrowth. Overgrowth can occur for many reasons but the most common reason is that scalp is providing a life-sustaining environment. In other words, too much sebum or just enough, actually, is all takes for this yeast to attempt to run wild all over your baby's head.
Malassezia furfur is a lipophilic yeast. This means it survives on lipids, also known as fats. Malassesia furfur consumes saturated fats provided by sebum and leaves behind a crusty build-up that sticks like glue to your baby's scalp.
Studies on babies with cradle cap have established the association between the life-cycle of Malassezia furfur, sebum, and infantile seborrheic dermatitis.
Get rid of that dastardly duo, and you're well on your way to a squeaky clean melon!
Don't get me wrong, it will take some time, the right supplies and the sense to avoid making the problem worse in the attempt to fix it, but trust me, YOU CAN DO IT!
Until next time-
If this article was helpful, check out the others in the series and please use the buttons down below to share with other moms!
For the most detailed information, get my FREE E-Book:
What Is Cradle Cap?
4 Easy Steps To Eliminate Cradle Cap
The Best Cradle Cap Sponge On The Market
By 1 month your baby has a 10% chance of being affected by Cradle Cap. By 3 months, that number goes up to 70%. This is why we recommend prevention of Cradle Cap before it starts.
Cradle Cap generally presents as a flaky looking dandruff on your baby's head.
More severe cases can look like oily plaques and extend from the top of your baby's head on to the face and behind ears.
Many experts claim not to know the cause of cradle cap. But many say it is caused by one or a combination of the following:
There may be no way to prevent Cradle Cap's attempt to invade your baby's skin. But there is a way to decrease the chance that it is successful.
Until next time-
If this article was helpful, check out the next in the series and please use the buttons down below to share with other moms!
For the most detailed information, get my FREE E-Book:
What Causes Cradle Cap?
4 Easy Steps To Eliminate Cradle Cap
Best Cradle Cap Sponge On The Market