Ready to Jump on the Baby Making Bandwagon?

Anyone who has tried to get pregnant knows that its not always fun and games. After trying for so long, not to get pregnant, it can become frustrating when it does come time to actually try and conceive. It's not always as easy as one would think!  I have had alot of friends come to me recently who are trying to get pregnant and wanted to know what vitamins or supplements they can take to help ensure a healthy, viable pregnancy.  I write this blog to share some of the information I obtained, used, and recommend to those who are trying to get knocked up!

1. Prenatal Vitamins should be taken when a woman decides that she wants to try and become pregnant. This supplement helps to ensure the body is getting enough nutrients to support a growing baby. 
2. Vitamin C is essential for both men and women when trying to conceive. It is shown to improve sperm count, mobility and viability. Vitamin C can be found in most fruits such as strawberries, kiwi, red peppers, pineapple, etc.
3. Folic Acid or Folate belongs to the B Vitamin Group. This has been shown to prevent birth defects, but is also important in improving fertility in both men and women. Food sources rich in folate include green leafy vegetables, oranges and enriched grains. It is important to continue to take Folic Acid in early pregnancy to prevent serious neural defects by up to 70%
4. Zinc improves the production of testosterone in men which helps sperm mobility and count and helps the woman's body to use estrogen and progesterone more efficiently. Sources of Zinc include meat and seafood, wheat germ and whole grains.
5. Evening Primrose oil is rich in Vitamin E and the essential fatty acid GLA. It helps to increase the woman's cervical mucus which helps create a more successful environment for sperm to swim to the egg and also allows sperm to stay alive for up to 5 days, which can enable conception even if intercourse doesn't happen again by the time ovulation occurs. Once pregnant you will want to discontinue use of these supplement, but hold on to it, because it is essential to use the last couple weeks of your pregnancy.
6. Vitamin B6 and B12 are also beneficial to conception. These vitamins help to increase sperm count and play a key role in the development of new tissue, which helps during ovulation. These B vitamins are found in eggs, meat and grains. 

Most people know that the woman needs to increase her vitamin and supplement intake when trying to conceive, but it is also essential that men do as well. After all, it takes two to tango and both partners need to take care of their bodies and get the nutrients needed to ensure a successful pregnancy. Deciding to have a child is a wonderful, life changing experience and you want to try to do whatever you can to give your baby the best possible chance at life!

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but before I end this post I wanted to share some knowledge that I wish I would have known before I started my baby making journey. I wish someone had told me, or that I would have researched for myself, how common miscarriages are. They happen 50% of the time. I know first hand because unfortunately, I suffered a miscarriage before both of my beautiful children. No matter how early in the pregnancy miscarriages are a very emotional time for both the mommy & daddy to be. Just the excitement of being pregnant, and envisioning your future with the child can be very hard when the pregnancy doesn't work out. As cliche as it sounds, everything happens for a reason. Miscarriages are actually a good thing because it is your body's way of getting rid of something that did not have the greatest chance of survival. But it doesn't make them any less upsetting. If you do have the misfortune of suffering a miscarriage it is important to remain positive because it means that you do have the ability to get pregnant. You can use this time to get your body healthy and ready to try again, and know that you are most fertile for 3 months after your miscarriage, so you can have fun trying to make another baby!

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Be Selfish! Breastfeed!

Breastfeeding is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself and your baby. It is such a special time to share with your new little bundle of joy while also offering a plethora of nutritional, immunological, psychological, economical and environmental benefits. The first 6 weeks of breastfeeding are the most crucial because it is usually between this time that most mommies tend to get frustrated and give up. As a certified Lactation Consultant I love working with mommies to overcome any obstacles they encounter to help them try to breastfeed for as long as they can. Especially working mommies, because I know first hand how hard it could be to pump at work and get an adequate supply. I encourage women who breastfeed to try and keep it up as long as they can.

Benefits of breastfeeding for the baby include lowering the risk of SIDS, boost the babies immune system (even better than vaccines!), lower risk of obesity, protect against allergies by building antibodies, boost brain development and make stronger and healthier adolescents. Breastfeeding your baby for as long as you can helps give them the upper hand in the health and well being department over formula feed babies.  Most people are aware that breastfeeding has multiple benefits for babies, but many don't know about its benefits for the Mom as well. Breastfeeding helps offset type 2 diabetes and reduce cancer as well as reduce stress and lower the risk of postpartum depression.

One concern of mine after returning to work with my daughter, and now again with my son, is how to increase breast milk supply when returning to work. I did some pumping when I was on maternity leave but it's hard to pump when you are already exclusively nursing full time. When I returned to work I was worried because the amount I pump while at work is much less than my kids drank each day, which stressed me out because I was worried about what would happen when I ran out of my frozen milk supply. I began researching my options because I wanted to avoid giving my baby formula if possible. I learned a few tricks that worked for me and helped increase my supply.

It is important for moms to have an understand of the breastfeeding laws in the state in which she resides. http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14389 gives alot of good information regarding these laws. Most states require employers to allow moms to take pumping breaks. Fortunately for me, my company is very Mommy friendly and has a private lactation room as well as a special fridge to store our milk which makes it really convenient and relaxing to pump while at work.

The problem for me, which I mentioned earlier, is that I don't get much output when I pump. I began to get discouraged and researched some sites to see what I could do as I want to try to breastfeed my son until he is at least a year old. I drink Mother's Milk tea by Traditional Medicinals as well as take some Fenugreek supplements which contain herbs that help increase milk supply. I also eat oatmeal in the morning as this is also considered a galactagogue, which means that it helps boost milk production. I also try and pump every 1.5-2 hours while at work. A couple of sites I found made the following recommendations which I follow. I feed my son before I drop him off to daycare and then when I get to work I try to pump within 20 minutes of arriving. I then pump every 1.5-2 hours until about an hour before I am supposed to go home. I have asked my daycare provider not to feed him too close to when I pick up the kids so that I can nurse right when we get home to re-establish a bond and keep my supply up. Pumping is not as efficient at getting the milk out as your baby is so the amount you pump could be significantly less then your baby gets in a feeding, so you don't want to get too hung up on the amount of milk you pump. As long as your baby is gaining weight and seems satisfied after a feeding then you shouldn't be concerned with your supply. With that being said, it's still helpful to be able to pump as much as you can to ensure that your baby can have enough to eat while you two are separated. I continue to nurse as much as I can through the evening and into the night.

I have noticed an increase in my milk supply in the past couple weeks and have been pleased. Unfortunately, I still do not pump enough to satisfy my little man during the day so in addition to the milk I have pumped for him, I also supplement with Dr. Meyenberg's Powdered Goat's Milk because Goats milk most closely resembles mother's breast milk, contains more calcium and is less allergenic than cow's milk formula. I add some cod liver oil to add some DHA to his supplement and have been very happy in my choice to supplement with goat's milk rather than commercial supplements for various reasons.

My favorite part about breastfeeding is just getting to share that special time with my beautiful baby. During our feedings we just stare into each other's eyes in amazement and I feel more and more bonded with my child each time. This has to do with the fact that breastfeeding releases endorphins in both mom and baby creating feelings of relaxation and well-being. I just love it and hope that I can breastfeed my son for even longer than I did with my daughter, obviously for the benefits, but also for my own selfish reasons of wanting to give my kids the best and doing whatever I can even if at times it isn't the most convenient solution.

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Natural Tips to Boost Your Immune System

Cold and Flu season is fast approaching and I wanted to share some tips that I use for myself and my family to protect us from getting sick, and if we do catch something we are able to get over it quickly with natural cures!

You Are What You Eat!- One of the most important things you can do for your body to protect it and help heal it is to eat healthy. Staying away from processed foods and drinks is vital as they are loaded with sugar, especially artificial, which drastically suppresses the immune system.  Eat fresh, local, organic produce as much and as often as possible. Especially when you are sick. Free range meats and unsalted nuts should also be a normal part of your diet. By avoiding processed, unnatural foods we avoid chemicals that cause our immune system to shut down. Our bodies are not meant to process things that aren't natural. By giving our bodies the best possible food we allow it to derive nutrients that are essential for health and well-being. Since we are also on the topic of unnatural ingredients, I also think it is best to avoid chemical medications when sick. Those products only mask the effects of your illness and prevent the body from healing naturally. Pumping your body full of chemical medications will cause it to malfunction and eventually shut down.

Move It!!- Exercise is another way to naturally boost your immune system and prevent fatigue. Just a little bit each day helps. Whether its a quick walk with the kids or the dog or a yoga class just try to do what you can as often as possible. Exercise helps blood circulation and gets oxygen throughout the body. However, when you are sick you do not want to work out. You need to use that energy to heal your body. Light exercise while you are sick can be beneficial. Maybe just a few stretches or sun salutations to get the blood flowing or even just a slow walk outside for a few minutes to also get some natural vitamin D.

Lastly, herbs and vitamins provide great assistance in helping the body resist and fight infections. Stress is another immune system suppressant and most herbs combat stress which in turn boosts our systems naturally. Herbs such as echinacea, chamomile, rosemary, peppermint, ginseng and golden seal strengthen the immune system dramatically.  Onions, horseradish and garlic offer the same benefits so it is good to cook with, and eat these items regularly. Adding fresh mint to a hot bath can help stimulate anti-oxidents and kill any bacteria that is in the mucus membranes. Vitamins that are good to add to your regimen include Vitamin C, Vitamin D3 COQ10 and Zinc.

Following these tips will help ensure that you are able to avoid getting sick, or when you do, which can happen a couple times a year, you can get over it quick and be back on your feet in no time. These tips are also good for children and can even benefit babies (via breast milk). Hopefully these tips will be helpful and make cold and flu season more bearable!

Sources:

http://www.healthyyounaturally.com

http://www.associatedcontent.com



http://www.naturalnews.com

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.

Welcome Baby Mason!

Well less than 24 hours after my last post we welcomed our son Mason! It couldn't have been a better day. The experience was amazing, which I think is always the case when you bring new life into the world. The delivery itself was a fast, easy birth just like I had been planning since the day I found out I was pregnant.  I literally prepared almost every day, in one way or another for the big event.

The labor itself was short and FAST. I woke up at 2am with contractions that weren't totally regular, but were about 5 minutes apart.  Some were close to a minute, some 15 seconds some 30. So I got up and walked around for a bit and sat on the birthing ball and tried to see if they would go away. They didn't disappear, but they were pretty mild so I went back to sleep for a little bit. I slept on and off listening to my hypnobirthing prompts and meditating with my mala beads and woke up around 5am still with contractions so I got up again to monitor them. They were a little more regular but still not that strong so I decided I would call the midwife around 7:30 because I didn't want to wake her up when I still felt so early on. Around 6:15 they started to get a little bit stronger and I thought it was a good idea to at least give the midwives a heads up and let the know I was most likely coming in today.  I spoke to her while I was having a contraction and told her I still felt I had some time to go and she agreed by my demeanor and sound of my voice. She advised me to get something to eat to give energy to the baby and I.

So I went into the room and my husband was shuffling around in bed and I told him I was in labor and probably going to have the baby sometime today. He was shocked and not at the same time if that makes any sense. So he ran out to grab a Starbucks while I went to get some food in my belly. So I had decided that I was going to make Apple Cranberry Walnut bread and sit in the tub while it baked and then when Mia woke up she could eat some, and I can have some before we head to the center. As I was making the bread (not anything fancy, TJ's boxed mix and adding chopped walnuts and cranberries) I had a couple pretty bad contractions.  To the point where I was literally on my hands and knees on the kitchen floor breathing through a contraction and then would stand up after to hurry and get the bread in the oven so I can soak to the tub that I had started.  I had mixed some essential oils that were supposed to dull labor pains and speed up contractions and had been excited to use them for weeks!

As I was walking to the tub I got this HUGE urge to drop the kids off at the pool, if you catch my drift! Tremendous pressure down under that most women who has gone through childbirth knows what I mean. So I called my husband and told him to get home ASAP and called my mom and told her to come get Mia immediately. At this point it is shortly after 7 am. The midwife told me to check in with the next midwife on call around 8 the last time I spoke with her. I called her up and told her it felt really quick and I was having an extreme urge to push. She told me she was worried that I wouldn't make it to the center. "I think you should get in the tub, and call the paramedics and have that baby there because I don't want you to have him in the car on the way here." OMG! EXCUSE ME LADY? WHAT?! ARE YOU NUTS!?! I almost died. "I definitely don't like that option. How quickly can you get there? We can make it!" She told me she could make it there by 7:45.

My mom and husband walked in the house at almost the same time. Marcus started loading the car with our suitcase that was by the front door and my mom started packing up for Mia and I headed to the car. We had just bought our new car exactly 2 weeks before and I did not want my water breaking in the car so we put a giant old comforter on the chair as some sort of protection.  We hauled butt to the center. The hubby was driving almost 100 on the way there. I was definitely feeling closer to having him but we were so close to the center. We pulled up and the midwife pulled up right behind us. She unlocked the door and I ran to the toilet. I sat there having a contraction and as my husband walked in with the suitcase and the midwife was grabbing my chart there was a loud sound that sounded like someone threw a giant water balloon off a balcony. My water broke. My husband couldn't believe how loud it was. I got on the bed for the midwife to check me and the baby's heartbeat. Mine was good, but the baby's was very faint. I heard her tell a nurse to call the paramedics in case they need to resuscitate the baby when he was born. At first I panicked. Then I realized that I was hardly breathing on the way over so scared that I was going to have him in the car. The poor little guy didn't have much air. I started focusing on my breathing and taking deep breaths and they gave me some oxygen. Within seconds his heartbeat was strong. When the paramedics arrived they midwives sent them away since there was no longer a need. There on the bed I had about 6 pushes and he was out.  We arrived at 7:45 and he joined us on the outside at 8:19am weighing 6 lbs and measuring 19 1/4 inches.

It was the rockstar birth that him and I had been planning for weeks. We talked about it often about how I would dilate quickly, my water wouldn't break till I was at the birthing center either fully dilated or pretty close and that he would be out with a minimum amount of pushing. The only thing that didn't go according to my plan was laboring and delivering in the water. I never even stepped a toe in a tub either at home or at the center. When I had gotten the tub ready with my special oils, I already felt so close that I was scared to get into the water and strengthen the contractions and speed it up anymore! I attribute my wonderful labor to all of the yoga, walking, meditation, and visualization I had done since the beginning of my pregnancy. Obviously, there was some drama involved, but I felt that I was prepared to deal with anything unexpected that came up and everything worked out wonderfully.

It was such an incredible experience and one that I will remember for the rest of my life, just as the day Mia arrived.  I am so blessed with two very healthy, beautiful children and will forever cherish the birthing stories that we share. I hope that the information that I have learned from my birth experiences can help other women in their future deliveries and empower them to have a positive experience that they are happy to share with others.

Disclaimer:  Please note: I am not a medical professional. Please use your careful discernment and double check with your naturopath or doctor before taking any vitamins or supplements

PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog.