Sunshine, Natural Immunity & Real Food

You may have noticed that the baby widget is gone, because my little baby is now out in the big wide world & he’s already passed the one month mark - time flies.
So, it’s been a little while since I’ve written anything on here.

It took me a week after Daniel was born before I even opened up my computer to check my emails - I just had no desire to know what was happening in my cyber world - very strange considering before Daniel, checking my email was close to the first thing I did every morning.

Over the last month I’ve learnt how to type short emails with one hand while I’m feeding my baby - as for longer emails or writing on my blog, that’s been a little out of my reach. Even now, Warren is asleep on the couch with baby Daniel & it was a toss up for me between going to bed myself, or finally getting back in to writing. Over the last month I’ve been successful only on about 3 occasions to actually get a little solitary sleep time - usually as soon as I lie down, Daniel would wake up ready for his next feed.
I’m learning flexibility although it is a little frustrating when I do try to follow the common advice of sleeping when the baby sleeps. I tried it 3 times today - I’d feed him, he’d fall asleep in my arms, I’d gently lie down on the sofa with him in the crook of my arm (I have a big sofa) & five minutes later he is fussing and awake - as I said, I’m learning flexibility. I wish I could have some way of knowing which of his sleeps are going to be long (2-4 hours) and which ones will be short (don’t even bother trying to lie down and sleep as well).

Now that I’m back into the writing, I think this blog is going to change direction a little, now that my gorgeous little boy is my main focus. I think the title “Sunshine, Natural Immunity and Real Food” will still fit, but it will be in the context of mums and babies and their health - something I’ve been passionate about, but didn’t quite feel like it was time for me to speak too much about it. Well that has changed now & I’ll be sharing my opinions a little more strongly from here on.

Helena

This report  was published April 22, 2008 in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal.

We don’t know exactly what vitamin D does to support brain development and function, but a new report cites biological evidence suggesting its effects are crucial. The conclusion comes from scientists at Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute in California, who also note that although vitamin D’s influence on behavior remains unclear, anyone running low on “D” should take supplements. Vitamin D plays a key role in bone strength by promoting the body’s absorption of calcium, but recent research has suggested it also is involved in differentiation of tissues during development and in proper immune system function. The report noted that more than 900 genes have the capacity to bind vitamin D receptors on cells throughout the body through which “D” exerts its effects. Accumulating evidence suggests that vitamin D helps protect against autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis and type I diabetes, as well as with reduced rates of 18 types of cancer. 

Nalgene recently announced they are pulling their hard-plastic bottles from shelves nationwide in the next few months. The polycarbonate plastic bottles, made with bishephonol A (BPA), have been found to cause cancer and increase risks of other serious health problems.

read more | digg story

Here’s an interesting snippet for you from my latest “Babycenter” email (it tells me how many weeks pregnant I am - like I really need a reminder )

Medical intervention to induce labor is on the rise. Over 20 percent of U.S. births are induced - more than double the level in 1989.

So what is happening here - why are more women holding back (almost as if trying to avoid the birth)?

Perhaps the orthodox medical system perpetuates this fear in women by insisting that pregnancy is a “medical condition” rather than a natural, life-promoting process. Or the excessive focus on pharmaceutical pain relief - giving women the impression that the pain of the birth process is beyond their capabilities.

Rhea Dempsey, a highly sought after birth attendant and educator says that statistically, women in labour who are supported by an experienced birth attendant have shorter labours, use less pain-relief medication and have fewer forceps, vacuum or caesarean deliveries.

On the home page of her website, Rhea has the following passage:

Pregnancy and birth involve profound changes. Your body alters. Relationships develop in unexpected ways. Your attitude to the world around you undergoes a deep shift. Confusing and ambivalent feelings can surface, filling you with joyous expectations but also confronting you with fears about life and death, and your ability to face the challenges of birthing and mothering.

In many cultures and across time the challenging journey of pregnancy and birth was celebrated and honoured as a transformational process, a ‘rite of passage’. Women were supported in this journey and enabled to find the inner resources they would need to become powerful mothers. Often in our current ‘labour-bypass’ era, a woman’s need to consciously experience this transformational process is not fully recognised or adequately supported. Birthing Wisdom offers support to women who wish to honour this inner process.

By exploring the emotional and psychological aspects of the birthing journey as well as developing physical resources, Birthing Wisdom allows space to create a meaningful birth experience for you, and a safe and loving welcome for your baby.

So again, as with all health issues, it pays to be informed and to have support in your informed decisions.

And be brave enough to step outside the boundaries of current orthodox or mainstream thinking.

Helena

I’m definitely at the business end of my pregnancy now - 35 weeks this week - officially only 5 weeks to go.

Today we had the Birth Planning meeting with our midwives - something I don’t recall having with my first pregnancy with an obstetrician - but then everything is different with this pregnancy than it was with the first.

I’m not quite sure what to expect this time. The first time round I had all drugs available - pethidine injection, gas and an epidural (or spinal) because I was given the artificial oxytocin to bring on the contractions - I don’t recall being told that the contractions would come on so quickly (and so painfully) when given the drip.

My intention for this labour is no drip, no drugs at all - plenty of women have done it this way and have come out the other side stronger and more self assured, and, this allows for greater bonding between mother and baby (when there is no drug haze) - something I really want.

It’s a shame that it has become so commonplace now to have so many interventions during a natural process (labour and birth) that in the majority of circumstances are unnecessary.

At this stage, all I do feel is that this birth, the way I’m choosing to do it, will be a major turning point for the better in my life and will provide an amazing start for my baby.

Helena