Nasal Congestion and Nursing

I frequently receive calls from new mommies (and daddies!) concerned their babies are having difficulty nursing because of nasal congestion. If the congestion is loose enough, you can use a nasal (bulb) syringe to remove it.

If the mucus is too thick to remove easily, use saline water to first loosen it. To do so:

1. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt into one cup of warm water
2. Drop the saline mixture into baby's nostrils.

Your baby may not like it, but it will do the trick!

ICAN and you can, too!

Have you been a victim of insurance discrimination?

 

If you have been a victim of insurance discrimination based on a previous cesarean, ICAN (The International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. www.ican-online.org is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean {VBAC}) needs your help!

 
Discriminatory practices include:

• demands for sterilization,
• restriction on when you can have another pregnancy covered,
• higher premiums
• excessively high deductibles for maternity care
• and restriction on the total amount of benefits they will pay.

 
Share your story and make a difference! Get Active!

Proper Nutrition During Pregnancy

I cannot express with enough emphasis the importance of proper nutrition. Please check out this link for more information on the Brewer diet for pregnancy to prevent any chance of developing Metabolic Toxemia of Late Pregnancy (MTLP) at http://www.bradleybirth.com/PD.aspx

This is a condition that is very serious for both the mother and the baby.

Please, please, please drink "enough" water. Your body when pregnant is like an aquarium trying to filter the water and keep it clean. Your liver and kidneys are working extra hard when pregnant to filter and eliminate the toxins and impurities that build up in your system. Additionally, you are filtering, cleansing and replacing the amniotic fluid as dead skin cells and other impurities accumulate.

An absolute minimum of two liters a day of pure water is necessary for a healthy pregnancy. I recommend my clients get a 2 liter water bottle and fill it in the moring, empty it by noon, refill it and empty it again by nighttime. This is much easier than trying to keep track of 8-10 8 oz glasses per day.

Healthy Immune System = Healthy Body

My family, which includes four young children, has no insurance. It is cost prohibitive. We are healthy (thank God!) and choose not to immunize, vaccinate, or do "well-baby" or "well-child" check-ups.

When we get sick, we tuck into bed with bee propolis, Emergen-C and Airborne, and wait for it to pass. I welcome a healthy fever as I believe it is the body's way of "burning off" the illness.

This is a well thought-out regimen. I am very well acquainted with infectious disease and immune response due to previous experience as an "expert" in infectious disease transmission. I also sincerely believe our health care system is flawed and welcome an attempt to "fix it".

H1N1 (Swine Flu) Vaccine

Many of my expectant moms are asking about the vaccine for H1N1. While I caution that it is a very personal decision and not one I should make for them, I do share my concerns.

Firstly, I have heard numerous anecdotes of physcians and politicians who are not advising or administering it to their own family members due to concerns about its safety. Apparently they are concerned there has not been sufficient testing.

Secondly, I am angry at the pharmaceutical companies and the media for capitalizing on Americans' fear.

Lastly, I choose not to immunize or vaccinate my own children as I believe the best defense is a healthy immune system. My family routinely uses bee propolis, Emergen-C, and Airborne to fight colds.

Prenatal Vitamins

Please consider taking a prenatal vitamin purchased at the health food store or from a chiropractor or acupuncturist. There are many choices available in discount stores and I understand not wanting to pay more than you have to. However, they are not all created equal.

The main issue with prenatals is that many of them do not absorb well. It is definitely worth paying the extra to get a supplement that your body can actually use, as opposed to something your body may not assimilate well, giving you a false sense of security.

On another note, I hope everyone has a safe and happy Halloween!