Veggies for Baby
Jun 10, 2008
While reading the other day I confirmed something I’ve always suspected but never looked into. My assumption was that what I eat while pregnant/nursing will set the stage for what my baby will prefer later. Research at the Monell Chemical Senses Center indicates that babies adjusted to foods quicker when they had been introduced to them before they were born. I guess this gives me one more motivation for eating healthily!
Once baby starts eating you can help them to like veggies by not giving in when they make a face or turn away from them. Research shows that if you keep trying to give it to them they will take it. With our daughter Emma we had her eat whatever we were eating. We would put portions of our dinner into a little hand-cranked baby food grinder. It was convenient to just throw the grinder in the diaper bag when we went out and made eating at home easier too because we didn’t have to warm up something special for her.
Source: Want to Raise a Fruit-and-Veggie Lover? Be Persistent
Posted In: Parenting | Pregnancy • Comments (0)
Pregnancy Sickness
Apr 16, 2008
I apologize for my absence on here lately. I’ve been fighting horrible pregnancy sickness. Thankfully though, things have gotten much better. A midwife friend recommended I take milk-thistle supplements to help with the nausea and boy was I glad she did! While they have not eliminated all nausea, they have helped greatly! I was at the point where I wasn’t able to do ANYthing. All I could do was curl up in a ball and be miserable. While I still can’t stand to cook food, I am much more active and not in endless misery.
I recently read a great book called, “Pregnancy Sickness: Using Your Body’s Natural Defenses to Protect Your Baby-to-Be” by Margie Profet. This book explains how my food aversions are a way of protecting my unborn baby from potential toxins. I’d always seen food aversions and nausea in the first trimester as just a royal pain that had to be endured. I’m much relieved to learn that this sickness actually serves a purpose! Reading the book also helped to eliminate my guilt over not being able to eat a huge variety of foods right now. I highly, highly recommend you read this book if you are planning on getting pregnant or if you’re newly pregnant! Seriously!
Posted In: Pregnancy | Book Reviews • Comments (1)
Safety of Ultrasound
Mar 17, 2008
With my first pregnancy my midwife recommended that we stay away from ultrasounds. At the time I wasn’t sure why but I trusted her judgment and wasn’t that concerned with knowing the baby’s sex anyway. Now that I’m pregnant again I started investigating ultrasound to see what the issue is. What I found confirms the concerns of my midwife.
It turns out there is a strong correlation between ultrasounds and autism. I always thought vaccinations were to blame for this but the evidence is quite convincing that ultrasounds play a large part in the problem of autism. Despite Thimerosal being removed from vaccines the rates for autism are still increasing. Interestingly, there is a higher rate of autism among twins. Usually mothers carrying multiple babies are scanned more frequently. This doesn’t sound like a coincidence to me. There is enough evidence regarding the harmful effects of ultrasound to keep me away from it. It’s a shame that women aren’t informed of the risks before they choose to have an ultrasound done. That’s the way our medical system works though. They aren’t always looking out for our best interests.
You can read about ultrasound in this article from Midwifery Today.
Posted In: Pregnancy • Comments (0)
We’re Having a Baby!
Mar 17, 2008
I’m pleased to announce we’re having another baby! After wanting another child for quite awhile we are so thankful to be pregnant again! My four-year-old daughter has been praying for a baby and finally her prayers (and ours) were answered with a “yes!”
By my calculations I will be due in early November. We’re excited to meet our new midwife this week! Hooray! I’m so excited and thankful for this new little life.
Posted In: Pregnancy | My Life • Comments (1)
The Pregnant Patient’s Rights
Oct 15, 2007
If giving birth in a hospital or birth center, it’s important to be aware of your rights. With the birth of my daughter I had no idea that I could refuse the many monitors and wires that kept me on my back in bed. I had no idea that I was allowed to walk around freely or choose the labor position I wanted to be in. While you do have the following legal rights, keep in mind that the hospital has their own standard policies (such as wearing a hospital gown) and can refuse treatment if you do not abide by them. It’s best to find out about these in advance so you can be prepared.
Here are some of the most important of your legal rights:
You have the right to choose where you will give birth.
You have the right to be informed of the credentials of those treating you (including whether or not they are medical students)
You have the right to refuse any drugs, tests, procedures or treatments.
You have the right to be informed of the risks/benefits associated with proposed procedures or medications. Alternative options should also be disclosed. You have the right to accept or refuse the proposed procedures and then have the right to change your mind.
You have the right to access to any of your medical records.
You have the right to know why any procedure is being done.
You have the right to birth in whatever position is most comfortable (including ones that free you from the medical equipment).
You have the right to uninterrupted contact to your baby at all times unless separation is medically required (not currently entitled by the legal system but most likely upheld).
Information taken from the pamphlet: The Rights of Childbearing Women
Posted In: Pregnancy • Comments (0)
