A dessert perfect for sharing with your little ones!!
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| Sounds good! Enjoy and click here for nutritional information and tons more Healthified recipes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Healthified Carrot Cheesecake Bars
From one of my favorite websites Eat Better America, a great recipe that is healthy and yummy!
A dessert perfect for sharing with your little ones!!
A dessert perfect for sharing with your little ones!!
Monday, August 23, 2010
More from the Stonyfield/Seventh Generation Party!
So, as I blogged about yesterday, some of my friends and I had a very nice time hanging out together talking about and sampling products from Stonyfield Organics and Seventh Generation.
The companies sent us some great samples to try out- and we had fun talking about all of them. Some of my friends were regular users of the products, and some of us were introduced to new items!
My son's absolute favorite thing lately is the Stonyfield Organic Yogurt Squeezers! I put them in the freezer and he gets a little yogurt popsicle! He literally squeals with joy every second and every bite. It is very cute. Some of the Mom's were very excited about these because they are so convenient and are so much better for you than some of the other brands (all of which add yucky ingredients that none of us want in our kids bellies!)
Here are some fun pictures from the party! Some are silly and all show off how much fun we were having!
The companies sent us some great samples to try out- and we had fun talking about all of them. Some of my friends were regular users of the products, and some of us were introduced to new items!
My son's absolute favorite thing lately is the Stonyfield Organic Yogurt Squeezers! I put them in the freezer and he gets a little yogurt popsicle! He literally squeals with joy every second and every bite. It is very cute. Some of the Mom's were very excited about these because they are so convenient and are so much better for you than some of the other brands (all of which add yucky ingredients that none of us want in our kids bellies!)
Here are some fun pictures from the party! Some are silly and all show off how much fun we were having!
Look at all of the yummy yogurt!
Amazing! Look at the wholesome ingredients!! (Thanks to Erin for being such a great model!)
Isn't Baby E the cutest thing you have ever seen?! He was enjoying the Seventh Generation chlorine-free diapers!
This is the fun box of goodies that Stonyfield/Seventh Generation sent for us to enjoy! Games, helpful information and lots of great coupons and samples.
Again, it was a really fun afternoon! It is always nice to learn about new things, find out how to provide the best for your family and get to try out new products. Thanks to Stonyfield Organics and Seventh Generation for sponsoring our party!
(as a disclaimer, I was not paid by the companies to host this party, but was given free samples and coupons to share with my friends! They just wanted me to blog about it to spread positive word-of-mouth!)
(as a disclaimer, I was not paid by the companies to host this party, but was given free samples and coupons to share with my friends! They just wanted me to blog about it to spread positive word-of-mouth!)
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Stonyfield Organics/Seventh Generation Party
So- awhile back I was chosen to host a party for Stonyfield Organics/Seventh Generation. The company sent me a great box full of samples, coupons and great information about their products and information on the safety of the things we eat and have around our house.
It was a great time! I invited some friends over to enjoy food and some nice conversation away from the kiddos! It was great to relax, take it easy and enjoy the samples.
I will be posting more information about the party and the products in the next few days as well as posting pictures from our get together! (My son is currently asleep where my camera cord is located...not going to wake him up for anything, haha!)
I will also be sharing some amazing information given to us at the party about how we can reduce waste, pollution and other toxins from our daily lives that research is showing to cause all sorts of really bad health issues.
Thanks to Stonyfield Organics/Seventh Generation for the products!
(as a disclaimer, I was not paid by the companies to host this party, but was given free samples and coupons to share with my friends! They just wanted me to blog about it to spread positive word-of-mouth!)
It was a great time! I invited some friends over to enjoy food and some nice conversation away from the kiddos! It was great to relax, take it easy and enjoy the samples.
I will be posting more information about the party and the products in the next few days as well as posting pictures from our get together! (My son is currently asleep where my camera cord is located...not going to wake him up for anything, haha!)
I will also be sharing some amazing information given to us at the party about how we can reduce waste, pollution and other toxins from our daily lives that research is showing to cause all sorts of really bad health issues.
Thanks to Stonyfield Organics/Seventh Generation for the products!
(as a disclaimer, I was not paid by the companies to host this party, but was given free samples and coupons to share with my friends! They just wanted me to blog about it to spread positive word-of-mouth!)
Friday, August 13, 2010
From Wholesome Baby Foods
You all know that I love the website Wholesome Baby Food. They give so many great recipes and tips- it was my go-to site when I started making food for my son. I found an interesting article and thought I would share and see what you think about the topic!
(http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/babyledweaning.htm)"What is Baby Led Weaning and is it the right approach to Introducing Solid Foods?
More and more parents are turning to "Baby Led" approach to weaning and introducing solid foods to baby. Many parents choose to offer their babies food that is puréed while others prefer to jump straight into "table foods". Introducing your baby to "table foods" rather than purees is what Baby led Weaning is all about.
What is Baby Led Weaning?
So what exactly is Baby Led Weaning as relates to solid food introduction? In short, Baby Led Weaning (BLW) is skipping thin and runny purées and not feeding your baby with a spoon.
Baby Led Weaning means offering your baby (age appropriate) foods that are soft-cooked and cut or mashed into small easily manageable pieces. These foods are then given to your baby to eat. You do the cooking, the dicing or mashing and the offering of the foods and your baby does the rest. You may choose to offer your baby a large hunk of apple that she can easily hold and gnaw on or a bowl full of soft cooked mashed apples; the choice is yours. It is important to note that your baby should be in control of what he is eating and you should never put the foods into his mouth!
As with breastfeeding on demand, Baby Led Weaning is a method of introducing solid foods that leaves it up to your baby to decide what, when and how much to eat. While not necessarily a "hands off" approach, Baby Led Weaning does advocate allowing your baby to make all food choices for him or herself.
Visit our new Do I just give my baby the food and then "walk-away"?
Many who have researched BLW have the misunderstanding that the "hands off" approach means that there should never be any intervention by the parent. This is a common misconception and one we feel is in need of clarifying. I have had many parents ask "how can I just give my baby food and then not help her eat it or feed her the food?".
While Baby Led Weaning does encourage the infant to lead the way, parents must realize that they need to help guide and direct their babies through the weaning process. It might be easier to think of Baby Led Weaning as paying strict attention to your baby's cues rather than trying to establish set feeding schedules and set portion sizes. Watch your baby as she experiments with the food and if need be, show her how to guide the food to her mouth. You will not be spoon-feeding your baby, rather your baby will be feeding (or smooshing and squishing and tossing) herself. When it is time for introducing solid foods and weaning a baby onto solid foods, you must feel comfortable in the methods and the foods that will make up the introduction to solid foods.
As we noted in our How Much Should My Baby Eat? page, "following your baby's cues during feeding time will ensure that your baby is eating the proper amounts of food for him or her." You see, the majority of healthy babies will eat just the right amount of foods that they need. Many who advocate Baby Led Weaning believe that babies who feed themselves early on are better able to control just what their bodies need to nourish them.
Offering your baby a well balanced diet of solid foods will help ensure that your baby is eating the right amount of the right foods. It is important to pay close attention to your baby's cues as your baby's feeding patterns will change daily and may be affected by the goings-on around him. You do not want to accidentally override your baby's ability to self-regulate his or her feeding by continuing to try and feed your baby. The Baby Led Weaning approach is much the same as we noted above.
Is it dangerous to skip purées and begin with "table foods"?
The answer to the above question is both yes and no. If you are delaying solid foods until after the age of 6 months old, then your baby may readily accept textures and "table foods". On the other hand, if you are beginning solid foods between the age of 4 and 6 months old, it is highly unlikely that baby would be able to handle "table foods". You should ensure that these foods are offered in a manner so as not to pose a choking hazard.
Please keep in mind that all babies are different and will eat textures, bits and chunks of foods at their own pace. For more information about solid food and weaning, read our Ready for Solids page.
Is Baby Led Weaning right for your baby?
Visit these links to learn more:
We have received a few emails asking why our website has recipes for purees and why we are promoting baby food in purée format; purees are dangerous for babies they say. Baby Led Weaning is a great option for introducing solid foods to your baby! However, many advocates say that if you don't practice Baby Led Weaning, then a baby is just not learning to eat real foods. Real foods are prepared in your kitchen from fresh ingredients whether they are pureed or not, they do not come out of jars. Homemade baby food in puree form is real food as is "homemade baby food" in chunks, pieces, mashed bits, etc. Of most interest [and concern] is the assertion that if you feed your baby purees, then your baby will become ill, will not learn to chew and will become obese and constipated. After many days and hours of scouring through various medical resources such as the AAP, WHO and UNICEF, no studies or firm professional conclusions could be found that purees are dangerous for babies and feeding babies purees will lead to various and sundry complication"http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/babyledweaning.htm
So- after reading this- what do you think? Would you just skip straight to table foods or do you believe that purees are the way to go? For me, this offered great comfort because my son was never very interested in purees. He only wanted mama's milk and would only eat a few tablespoons of pureed food at each meal for several months. I fed him solids at 6 months, but at around 8-9 months, I just ditched the purees and gave him age-appropriate table foods. He ate much more and loved it! It worked out great for us and made me less nervous...it does seem strange to see a baby eating big people food.
Let me know your story!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Healthier School Meals Ahead!
(Thanks to One Hungry Mama for the post)
Today, the senate unanimously passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. YES! Now the bill will move on to the House, where it is expected to pass as well.
In a statement from Spain, Michelle Obama (who wrote her first op-ed about the bill in the Washington Post earlier this week) explained that the bill “will help us provide healthier school meals to children across America and will play an integral role in our efforts to combat childhood obesity.”
According to Obama Foodorama, the bill will provide a $4.5 billion investment, the largest ever, in child nutrition programs over ten years. It will also set nutritional standards, making sure that schools are serving healthier meals. You can read more details on the bill at NY Times.
What a great victory for all of our children!!
www.onehungrymama.com
Today, the senate unanimously passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. YES! Now the bill will move on to the House, where it is expected to pass as well.
In a statement from Spain, Michelle Obama (who wrote her first op-ed about the bill in the Washington Post earlier this week) explained that the bill “will help us provide healthier school meals to children across America and will play an integral role in our efforts to combat childhood obesity.”
According to Obama Foodorama, the bill will provide a $4.5 billion investment, the largest ever, in child nutrition programs over ten years. It will also set nutritional standards, making sure that schools are serving healthier meals. You can read more details on the bill at NY Times.
What a great victory for all of our children!!
www.onehungrymama.com
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Nursing Made Normal
Another article on breastfeeding! I know, I have posted a lot lately, but there has been so much great literature available since it is World Breastfeeding Week. I love it!!!!!! Thanks to my friend Mairi for the link!
Nursing Made Normal
Posted by Lillian Shipman on August 10, 2010 at 8:00am 
At one of my first prenatal appointments my midwife asked if I was planning to breastfeed. Apparently my “yes!” was resounding and refreshing, as she explained that most women said “Well…I’m going to try.”The thought of bottles and breastfeeding never entered my mind during my pregnancy. Nursing my baby was just something I would do.
It seem fitting then, that through my troubles with nursing my first baby I met and got to know one of the first and best known breastfeeding experts to propose we ditch “breast is best.” In her 1996 essay “Watch Your Language,” Diane Weissinger argues that this phrase formulated by the formula industry elevates breastfeeding to an unattainable fantasy. So little in our lives falls into the "best possible" or perfect dreams we have for ourselves. Putting breastfeeding in this category makes it easy to brush aside as one of those parts of parenthood that only the special few attain. While this mind set can definitely affect individuals, I believe it is best looked at on the societal level. It is also a two-fold issue; nursing needs to be a normal action in culture, just as breastfeeding deserves to be recognized as the biological norm.
The cultural issue basically comes down to this rarely heard point: girls and young women learn about breastfeeding by seeing it. I often hear that contrary to popular thought nursing does not happen naturally but needs to be learned. But how much of that would change if a woman had seen her mother, sisters, friends and even strangers on the street navigating their end of the nursing relationship, instead of retreating to another room or covering up for a feeding. We as women would know what a normal latch looks like, what positions are comfortable and the differences between each mother and baby pair is a wide sea of normal. No longer would we require “experts” to tell us how to do it, except in the most necessary cases. The difference would be that of over time soundly learning material for a test compared to cramming for it at the very last moment.
Recognizing breastfeeding as what a baby is biologically expecting adds another level to this. This is a beautifully complex system that has worked for thousands of years. If it didn’t none of us would be here. At this time only a fraction of it is scientifically understood. But it is known that it is more than food; it is comfort, part of a baby’s early immune system, and access to vital skin-to-skin contact that promotes brain development. These things are not just nice side affect, but part of the normal development of a human being.
We can see that formula has silently become the norm of measurement when the health difference in breastfed children over formula-fed children are called benefits, advantages, and the like. Rarely are tables turned and we label formula in this way. What would we call this substance when compared to breastmilk as the biological standard? With increased chances of later obesity, childhood ear infections, even death (yes, even in the US) words like risky and substandard come to mind.
When my own first son was born I wouldn’t call our situation normal. He was born at 34 weeks gestation. He had twig like arms and the tale-tell bug eyes of a preemie. After a twelve hour separation breastfeeding was a struggle. When supplementation started I was heart-broken. From years of learning since then, I know there was much mismanagement of our case, and I still debate with myself whether the formula was necessary. I have come to terms that if it was a necessity then it was truly life-saving in our situation where no donor milk was available. There is no denying that formula is a lifesaving substance for those who truly cannot breastfeed and are unable to obtain donor milk.
I feel fortunate to have worked through my difficulties nursing, stopping supplementing by six weeks and to go on to have a long-living nursing relationship. I give a large chunk for credit for this to my belief from the beginning that this was just what was done.
What this all comes down to for society, women and babies, is that changes in out perception of breastfeeding need to change. Until the healthcare community recognizes breastfeeding as the norm, formula will continue to be pushed with little regard for the risks. Situations like mine, in the mean time can leave mothers with guilt, denial and confusion as they wonder if the risk was worth it, along with the babies left more vulnerable. Struggles in nursing are generally solvable with more breastfeeding. Support focused on this from the medical community, paired with a lifetime of exposure and learning behind them could very well empower women to continue breastfeeding when faced with difficulties.
[Photo: Flickr member c r z licensed for use under Creative Commons license Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic
(http://www.wearegoodkin.com/family/community-story/nursing-made-normal)
Monday, August 9, 2010
I Want Your Reaction!!
There was a recent magazine article where supermodel Gisele Bundchen made the comment that breastfeeding until 6 months should be enforced by law.
Of course- this comment drew wild criticism and people are up in arms abut her criticizing formula feeding moms.
A doctor, Dr. Jay Gordon, has written a response to this in an article on the Huffington Post:
"Gisele Bundchen- Nutrition Expert?
Yes!
In a recent magazine article, Ms. Bundchen was quoted saying that breastfeeding should be the legal norm for all babies for the first six months of life.
Of course, this generated a storm of protest about "feeding choices" and whether or not we should listen to someone with her lack of credentials. Lost in the fabricated drama and controversy is the fact the we must listen if her advice and high profile can save babies' lives. I'm sure that this one famous mother's words will be heard and heeded by more mothers than we pediatricians can possibly reach. (Ms. Bundchen's statement that post partum weight loss is faster because of breastfeeding is very much in line with current medical literature and will certainly appeal to most new mothers.)
It's easy to misinterpret a forceful metaphorical statement about "chemical food"--infant formula--and the crucial lifesaving value of breastfeeding for six months. And, that's exactly what pundits did to turn this into an "us against them" issue. "How dare she . . . "
While it is tragic that a supermodel-mom dispenses better advice than many doctors and most governmental agencies, it's impossible to misinterpret what the World Health Organization says about these artificial (chemical) feeding options:
Read just one sentence above aloud:
"Infants who are not breastfed in the first month of life may be as much as 25 times more likely to die than infants who are exclusively breastfed."
No parent in America is allowed to let their infant travel in a car in the "second best" way possible: Car seats are the law in all 50 states. A breastfeeding law will not be passed soon, but there is a moral, ethical and medical imperative to get this nutrition information to mothers and families any way we can. Hyperbole is easy to ridicule but, in this case, the hyperbole will prevent the deaths of many, many babies worldwide.
The World Health Organization estimates that one-and-a-half million babies die from lack of breast milk each year. 1,500,000.
If Gisele Bundchen's magazine interview, comments and the resultant furor cause more mothers in developing nations to breastfeed, thousands and perhaps tens of thousands of babies will be alive a year, two years or five years from now who might otherwise have succumbed to diseases caused or fatally exacerbated by lack of mother's milk.
I certainly wish that this legal proposal/metaphor had been issued by the government, health insurers or the American Academy of Pediatrics. In lieu of those recommendations, the very intelligent suggestion of a really smart mom will have to do."
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jay-gordon/gisele-bundchen-nutrition_b_675130.html)
Now- I want your opinion!!! What do you think? Should people really speak up and share the facts of breastfeeding? Should doctors use stronger language warning of the risks of formula feeding? Should we all just keep our mouths shut and be supportive?
My opinion, if anyone cares, is somewhere in the middle. I strongly support breastfeeding. I think everyone who has children needs to breastfeed their child. Nursing is hard, and I think education is hugely lacking in our country to help Mom's successfully nurse. I think doctors and professionals, as well as Mom's, should make breastfeeding the norm. Not "What is BEST" just "what you do" when you have a child.
But, I also strongly believe that being a Mom is so freaking hard, that attacking each other in such a mean way is completely unnecessary. I just try and reach out to my friends who are pregnant and talk to them about breastfeeding, offer my support and let them know that I am here if they need anything while beginning the breastfeeding journey.
Share your thoughts!!!!!!What do you think???
Of course- this comment drew wild criticism and people are up in arms abut her criticizing formula feeding moms.
A doctor, Dr. Jay Gordon, has written a response to this in an article on the Huffington Post:
"Gisele Bundchen- Nutrition Expert?
Yes!
In a recent magazine article, Ms. Bundchen was quoted saying that breastfeeding should be the legal norm for all babies for the first six months of life.
Of course, this generated a storm of protest about "feeding choices" and whether or not we should listen to someone with her lack of credentials. Lost in the fabricated drama and controversy is the fact the we must listen if her advice and high profile can save babies' lives. I'm sure that this one famous mother's words will be heard and heeded by more mothers than we pediatricians can possibly reach. (Ms. Bundchen's statement that post partum weight loss is faster because of breastfeeding is very much in line with current medical literature and will certainly appeal to most new mothers.)
It's easy to misinterpret a forceful metaphorical statement about "chemical food"--infant formula--and the crucial lifesaving value of breastfeeding for six months. And, that's exactly what pundits did to turn this into an "us against them" issue. "How dare she . . . "
While it is tragic that a supermodel-mom dispenses better advice than many doctors and most governmental agencies, it's impossible to misinterpret what the World Health Organization says about these artificial (chemical) feeding options:
The protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding rank among the most effective interventions to improve child survival. It is estimated that high coverage of optimal breastfeeding practices could avert 13 percent of the 10.6 million deaths of children under five years occurring globally every year. Exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life is particularly beneficial, and infants who are not breastfed in the first month of life may be as much as 25 times more likely to die than infants who are exclusively breastfed." ...Moreover, not breastfeeding has been found to double the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
There is a common misconception that in emergencies, many mothers can no longer breastfeed adequately due to stress or inadequate nutrition, and hence the need to provide infant formula and other milk products. Stress can temporarily interfere with the flow of breast milk; however, it is not likely to inhibit breast-milk production, provided mothers and infants remain together and are adequately supported to initiate and continue breastfeeding. Mothers who lack food or who are malnourished can still breastfeed adequately, hence extra fluids and foods for them will help to protect their health and well-being.
If supplies of infant formula and/or powdered milks are widely available, mothers who might otherwise breastfeed might needlessly start giving artificial feeds. This exposes many infants and young children to increased risk of disease and death, especially from diarrhea when clean water is scarce. The use of feeding bottles only adds further to the risk of infection as they are difficult to clean properly."
Read just one sentence above aloud:
"Infants who are not breastfed in the first month of life may be as much as 25 times more likely to die than infants who are exclusively breastfed."
No parent in America is allowed to let their infant travel in a car in the "second best" way possible: Car seats are the law in all 50 states. A breastfeeding law will not be passed soon, but there is a moral, ethical and medical imperative to get this nutrition information to mothers and families any way we can. Hyperbole is easy to ridicule but, in this case, the hyperbole will prevent the deaths of many, many babies worldwide.
The World Health Organization estimates that one-and-a-half million babies die from lack of breast milk each year. 1,500,000.
If Gisele Bundchen's magazine interview, comments and the resultant furor cause more mothers in developing nations to breastfeed, thousands and perhaps tens of thousands of babies will be alive a year, two years or five years from now who might otherwise have succumbed to diseases caused or fatally exacerbated by lack of mother's milk.
I certainly wish that this legal proposal/metaphor had been issued by the government, health insurers or the American Academy of Pediatrics. In lieu of those recommendations, the very intelligent suggestion of a really smart mom will have to do."
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jay-gordon/gisele-bundchen-nutrition_b_675130.html)
Now- I want your opinion!!! What do you think? Should people really speak up and share the facts of breastfeeding? Should doctors use stronger language warning of the risks of formula feeding? Should we all just keep our mouths shut and be supportive?
My opinion, if anyone cares, is somewhere in the middle. I strongly support breastfeeding. I think everyone who has children needs to breastfeed their child. Nursing is hard, and I think education is hugely lacking in our country to help Mom's successfully nurse. I think doctors and professionals, as well as Mom's, should make breastfeeding the norm. Not "What is BEST" just "what you do" when you have a child.
But, I also strongly believe that being a Mom is so freaking hard, that attacking each other in such a mean way is completely unnecessary. I just try and reach out to my friends who are pregnant and talk to them about breastfeeding, offer my support and let them know that I am here if they need anything while beginning the breastfeeding journey.
Share your thoughts!!!!!!What do you think???
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
"The Normal Newborn"- Why Breastfeeding is SO Amazing!!!
Got this link to a great article from KellyMom on Facebook:
(http://www.drjen4kids.com/soap%20box/normal_%20newborn.htm)
The Normal Newborn and Why Breastmilk is Not Just Food
What is a normal, term human infant supposed to do?
First of all, a human baby is supposed to be born vaginally. Yes, I know that doesn't always happen, but we're just going to talk ideal, normal for now. We are supposed to be born vaginally because we need good bacteria. Human babies are sterile, without bacteria, at birth. It's no accident that we are born near the anus, an area that has lots of bacteria, most of which are good and necessary for normal gut health and development of the immune system. And the bacteria that are there are mom's bacteria, bacteria that she can provide antibodies against if the bacteria there aren't nice.
Then the baby is born and is supposed to go to mom. Right to her chest. The chest, right in between the breasts is the natural habitat of the newborn baby. (Fun factoid: our cardiac output, how much blood we circulate in a given minute, is distributed to places that are important. Lots goes to the kidney every minute, like 10% or so, and 20% goes to your brain. In a new mom, 23% goes to her chest- more than her brain. The body thinks that place is important!)
That chest area gives heat. The baby has been using mom's body for temperature regulation for ages. Why would they stop? With all that blood flow, it's going to be warm. The baby can use mom to get warm. When I was in my residency, we would put a cold baby "under the warmer" which meant a heater thingy next to mom. Now, as I have matured, if a baby is "under the warmer," the kid is under mom. I wouldn't like that. I like the kids on top of mom, snuggled.
Now we have a brand new baby on the warmer. That child is not hungry. Bringing a hungry baby into the world is a bad plan. And really, if they were hungry, can you please explain to me why my kids sucked the life force out of me in those last few weeks of pregnancy? They better have been getting food, or well, that would have been annoying and painful for nothing.
Every species has instinctual behaviors that allow the little ones to grow up to be big ones and keep the species going. Our kids are born into the world needing protection. Protection from disease and from predators. Yes, predators. Our kids don't know they've been born into a loving family in the 21st century- for all they know it's the 2nd century and they are in a cave surrounded by tigers. Our instinctive behaviors as baby humans need to help us stay protected. Babies get both disease protection and tiger protection from being on mom's chest. Presumably, we gave the baby some good bacteria when they arrived through the birth canal. That's the first step in disease protection. The next step is getting colostrum.
A newborn baby on mom's chest will pick their head up, lick their hands, maybe nuzzle mom, lick their hands and start to slide towards the breast. The kids have a preference for contrasts between light and dark, and for circles over other shapes. Think about that...there's a dark circle not too far away.
Mom's sweat smells like amniotic fluid, and that smell is on the child's hands (because there's been no bath yet!) and the baby uses that taste on their hand to follow mom's smell. The secretions coming from the glands on the areola (that dark circle) smell familiar too and help the baby get to the breast to get the colostrum which is going to feed the good bacteria and keep them protected from infection. The kids can attach by themselves. Watch for yourself! And if you just need colostrum to feed bacteria and not yourself, well, there doesn't have to be much. And there isn't because the kids aren't hungry and because Breastmilk is not food!
We're talking normal babies. Breastfeeding is normal. It's what babies are hardwired to do. 2009 or 209, the kids would all do the same thing: try to find the breast. Breastfeeding isn't special sauce, a leg up or a magic potion. It's not "best. " It's normal. Just normal. Designed for the needs of a vulnerable human infant. And nothing else designed to replace it is normal.
Colostrum also activates things in the baby's gut that then goes on to make the thymus grow. The thymus is part of the immune system. Growing your thymus is important. Breastmilk= big thymus, good immune system. Colostrum also has a bunch of something called Secretory Immunoglobulin A (SIgA). SIgA is made in the first few days of life and is infection protection specifically from mom. Cells in mom's gut watch what's coming through and if there's an infectious cell, a special cell in mom's gut called a plasma cell heads to the breast and helps the breast make SIgA in the milk to protect the baby. If mom and baby are together, like on mom's chest, then the baby is protected from what the two of them may be exposed to. Babies should be with mom.
And the tigers. What about them? Define "tiger" however you want. But if you are baby with no skills in self-protection, staying with mom, having a grasp reflex, and a startle reflex that helps you grab onto your mom, especially if she's hairy, makes sense. Babies know the difference between a bassinette and a human chest. When infants are separated from their mothers, they have a "despair- withdrawal" response. The despair part comes when they alone, separated. The kids are vocally expressing their desire not to be tiger food. When they are picked up, they stop crying. They are protected, warm and safe. If that despair cry is not answered, they withdraw. They get cold, have massive amounts of stress hormones released, drop their heart rate and get quiet. That's not a good baby. That's one who, well, is beyond despair. Normal babies want to be held, all the time.
And when do tigers hunt? At night. It makes no sense at all for our kids to sleep at night. They may be eaten. There's nothing really all that great about kids sleeping through the night. They should wake up and find their body guard. Daytime, well, not so many threats. They sleep better during the day. (Think about our response to our tigers-- sleep problems are a huge part of stress, depression, anxiety).
I go on and on about sleep on this site, so maybe I'll gloss over it here. But everybody sleeps with their kids- whether they choose to or not and whether they admit to it or not. It's silly of us as healthcare providers to say "don't sleep with your baby" because we all do it. Sometimes accidentally. Sometimes intentionally. The kids are snuggly, it feels right and you are tired. So, normal babies breastfeed, stay at the breast, want to be held and sleep better when they are with their parents. Seems normal to me. But there is a difference between a normal baby and one that isn't. Safe sleep means that we are sober, in bed and not a couch or a recliner, breastfeeding, not smoking...being normal. If the circumstances are not normal, then sleeping with the baby is not safe.
That chest -to -chest contact is also brain development. Our kids had as many brain cells as they were ever going to have at 28 weeks of gestation. It's a jungle of waiting -to-be- connected cells. What we do as humans is create too much and then get rid of what we aren't using. We have like 8 nipples, a tail and webbed hands in the womb. If all goes well, we don't have those at birth. Create too much- get rid of what you aren't using. So, as you are snuggling, your child is hooking up happy brain cells and hopefully getting rid of the "eeeek" brain cells. Breastfeeding, skin-to-skin, is brain wiring. Not food.
Why go on and on about this? Because more and more mothers are choosing to breastfeed. But most women don't believe that the body that created that beautiful baby is capable of feeding that same child and we are supplementing more and more with infant formulas designed to be food. Why don't we trust our bodies post-partum? I don't know. But I hear over and over that the formula is because "I am just not satisfying him." Of course you are. Babies don't need to "eat" all the time- they need to be with you all the time- that's the ultimate satisfaction.
A baby at the breast is getting their immune system developed, activating their thymus, staying warm, feeling safe from predators, having normal sleep patterns and wiring their brain, and (oh by the way) getting some food in the process. They are not "hungry" --they are obeying instinct. The instinct that allows us to survive and make more of us.
back to www.drjen4kids.com
(http://www.drjen4kids.com/soap%20box/normal_%20newborn.htm)
The Normal Newborn and Why Breastmilk is Not Just Food
What is a normal, term human infant supposed to do?
First of all, a human baby is supposed to be born vaginally. Yes, I know that doesn't always happen, but we're just going to talk ideal, normal for now. We are supposed to be born vaginally because we need good bacteria. Human babies are sterile, without bacteria, at birth. It's no accident that we are born near the anus, an area that has lots of bacteria, most of which are good and necessary for normal gut health and development of the immune system. And the bacteria that are there are mom's bacteria, bacteria that she can provide antibodies against if the bacteria there aren't nice.
Then the baby is born and is supposed to go to mom. Right to her chest. The chest, right in between the breasts is the natural habitat of the newborn baby. (Fun factoid: our cardiac output, how much blood we circulate in a given minute, is distributed to places that are important. Lots goes to the kidney every minute, like 10% or so, and 20% goes to your brain. In a new mom, 23% goes to her chest- more than her brain. The body thinks that place is important!)
That chest area gives heat. The baby has been using mom's body for temperature regulation for ages. Why would they stop? With all that blood flow, it's going to be warm. The baby can use mom to get warm. When I was in my residency, we would put a cold baby "under the warmer" which meant a heater thingy next to mom. Now, as I have matured, if a baby is "under the warmer," the kid is under mom. I wouldn't like that. I like the kids on top of mom, snuggled.
Now we have a brand new baby on the warmer. That child is not hungry. Bringing a hungry baby into the world is a bad plan. And really, if they were hungry, can you please explain to me why my kids sucked the life force out of me in those last few weeks of pregnancy? They better have been getting food, or well, that would have been annoying and painful for nothing.
Every species has instinctual behaviors that allow the little ones to grow up to be big ones and keep the species going. Our kids are born into the world needing protection. Protection from disease and from predators. Yes, predators. Our kids don't know they've been born into a loving family in the 21st century- for all they know it's the 2nd century and they are in a cave surrounded by tigers. Our instinctive behaviors as baby humans need to help us stay protected. Babies get both disease protection and tiger protection from being on mom's chest. Presumably, we gave the baby some good bacteria when they arrived through the birth canal. That's the first step in disease protection. The next step is getting colostrum.
A newborn baby on mom's chest will pick their head up, lick their hands, maybe nuzzle mom, lick their hands and start to slide towards the breast. The kids have a preference for contrasts between light and dark, and for circles over other shapes. Think about that...there's a dark circle not too far away.
Mom's sweat smells like amniotic fluid, and that smell is on the child's hands (because there's been no bath yet!) and the baby uses that taste on their hand to follow mom's smell. The secretions coming from the glands on the areola (that dark circle) smell familiar too and help the baby get to the breast to get the colostrum which is going to feed the good bacteria and keep them protected from infection. The kids can attach by themselves. Watch for yourself! And if you just need colostrum to feed bacteria and not yourself, well, there doesn't have to be much. And there isn't because the kids aren't hungry and because Breastmilk is not food!
We're talking normal babies. Breastfeeding is normal. It's what babies are hardwired to do. 2009 or 209, the kids would all do the same thing: try to find the breast. Breastfeeding isn't special sauce, a leg up or a magic potion. It's not "best. " It's normal. Just normal. Designed for the needs of a vulnerable human infant. And nothing else designed to replace it is normal.
Colostrum also activates things in the baby's gut that then goes on to make the thymus grow. The thymus is part of the immune system. Growing your thymus is important. Breastmilk= big thymus, good immune system. Colostrum also has a bunch of something called Secretory Immunoglobulin A (SIgA). SIgA is made in the first few days of life and is infection protection specifically from mom. Cells in mom's gut watch what's coming through and if there's an infectious cell, a special cell in mom's gut called a plasma cell heads to the breast and helps the breast make SIgA in the milk to protect the baby. If mom and baby are together, like on mom's chest, then the baby is protected from what the two of them may be exposed to. Babies should be with mom.
And the tigers. What about them? Define "tiger" however you want. But if you are baby with no skills in self-protection, staying with mom, having a grasp reflex, and a startle reflex that helps you grab onto your mom, especially if she's hairy, makes sense. Babies know the difference between a bassinette and a human chest. When infants are separated from their mothers, they have a "despair- withdrawal" response. The despair part comes when they alone, separated. The kids are vocally expressing their desire not to be tiger food. When they are picked up, they stop crying. They are protected, warm and safe. If that despair cry is not answered, they withdraw. They get cold, have massive amounts of stress hormones released, drop their heart rate and get quiet. That's not a good baby. That's one who, well, is beyond despair. Normal babies want to be held, all the time.
And when do tigers hunt? At night. It makes no sense at all for our kids to sleep at night. They may be eaten. There's nothing really all that great about kids sleeping through the night. They should wake up and find their body guard. Daytime, well, not so many threats. They sleep better during the day. (Think about our response to our tigers-- sleep problems are a huge part of stress, depression, anxiety).
I go on and on about sleep on this site, so maybe I'll gloss over it here. But everybody sleeps with their kids- whether they choose to or not and whether they admit to it or not. It's silly of us as healthcare providers to say "don't sleep with your baby" because we all do it. Sometimes accidentally. Sometimes intentionally. The kids are snuggly, it feels right and you are tired. So, normal babies breastfeed, stay at the breast, want to be held and sleep better when they are with their parents. Seems normal to me. But there is a difference between a normal baby and one that isn't. Safe sleep means that we are sober, in bed and not a couch or a recliner, breastfeeding, not smoking...being normal. If the circumstances are not normal, then sleeping with the baby is not safe.
That chest -to -chest contact is also brain development. Our kids had as many brain cells as they were ever going to have at 28 weeks of gestation. It's a jungle of waiting -to-be- connected cells. What we do as humans is create too much and then get rid of what we aren't using. We have like 8 nipples, a tail and webbed hands in the womb. If all goes well, we don't have those at birth. Create too much- get rid of what you aren't using. So, as you are snuggling, your child is hooking up happy brain cells and hopefully getting rid of the "eeeek" brain cells. Breastfeeding, skin-to-skin, is brain wiring. Not food.
Why go on and on about this? Because more and more mothers are choosing to breastfeed. But most women don't believe that the body that created that beautiful baby is capable of feeding that same child and we are supplementing more and more with infant formulas designed to be food. Why don't we trust our bodies post-partum? I don't know. But I hear over and over that the formula is because "I am just not satisfying him." Of course you are. Babies don't need to "eat" all the time- they need to be with you all the time- that's the ultimate satisfaction.
A baby at the breast is getting their immune system developed, activating their thymus, staying warm, feeling safe from predators, having normal sleep patterns and wiring their brain, and (oh by the way) getting some food in the process. They are not "hungry" --they are obeying instinct. The instinct that allows us to survive and make more of us.
back to www.drjen4kids.com
Monday, August 2, 2010
Grilled Sweet Potato Fries!
Now- I am the first to admit that french fries are one of God's gifts to humans. They are seriously one of my favorite foods. The really good ones are horribly bad for you though, which makes it more of a 'once in awhile' kind of treat.
There will come a day when my son will get to eat french fries. I will actually like to share a big basket with him and enjoy the salty deliciousness...HOWEVER, he is only 2! Not time to clog his arteries yet.
(A side note- I will always try to feed healthy foods to my family, but I always get asked the question: "Will you EVER let your kids have junk food?" The answer is yes. I am not going to be a crazy psycho and never let my kids enjoy some fun and unhealthy treats...but I strongly believe that the first 5 or so years of a child's growth and development are the most important and therefore, healthy food is a must and junk food is a big NO!)
BUT you can make some of your favorite treats healthier and still yummy! Here is a great recipe for grilled sweet potato french fries from the website One Hungry Mama...they sound amazing and I would definitely let my son eat these!
Grilled Sweet Potato French Fries
Click here to visit One Hungry Mama for even more amazing recipes! (She groups the recipes by age, ingredients or type and it is one of my new favorites!)
There will come a day when my son will get to eat french fries. I will actually like to share a big basket with him and enjoy the salty deliciousness...HOWEVER, he is only 2! Not time to clog his arteries yet.
(A side note- I will always try to feed healthy foods to my family, but I always get asked the question: "Will you EVER let your kids have junk food?" The answer is yes. I am not going to be a crazy psycho and never let my kids enjoy some fun and unhealthy treats...but I strongly believe that the first 5 or so years of a child's growth and development are the most important and therefore, healthy food is a must and junk food is a big NO!)
Grilled Sweet Potato French Fries
Click here to visit One Hungry Mama for even more amazing recipes! (She groups the recipes by age, ingredients or type and it is one of my new favorites!)
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