Eco-Friendly Luggage!!!

With the holidays coming, people will be traveling here and there. Maybe you need a new set of luggage??? I was looking at some online debating if I need an extra suitcase since we have another child. I thought to myself...I'm not buying a piece of hard plastic or something that is made from PVC/Vinyl(the toxins in the air from the off-gasing of those types of luggage will be dreadful for a newborn.) I happened to see a set of luggage made from RECYCLED PLASTIC from a company called HEYS!!! They even have sets with BIODEGRADABLE FABRIC! It is a genius idea to make biodegradable fabric since those old suitcases end up in a landfill somewhere and making a bonfire with them is not a good idea either since the plastics/chemicals emitted are toxic. My guess is that the fabric luggage is a better choice. Since I have not seen them in person I'm not sure if there is any off-gasing from the recycled ABS hard plastic luggage sets, but will update when I find out. You can almost always tell from the smell of products if it is toxic. If it has a smell...I don't buy it. ABS plastic is better than PVC and durable. Finding a material that will hold up well seems to be why luggage is still made from plastic. read more. Who knew a company could get so creative and GREEN!!! While I don't need an entire set at the moment, I know where to look when I do! So happy to know an ECO FRIENDLY SUITCASE exists!!!

Our Drug Free All Natural Birth!

If you have seen the movie "The Business of Being Born",it changes the way you look at childbirth. If you have not seen it, please WATCH IT!! Women have been giving birth for centuries without drugs or medical intervention. In the case of high risk pregnancies or when an emergency arises, it is great that medicine has advanced to help. However, women's bodies were created to give birth.

After the long labor of our first child, I knew there was a better way. We had prepared with Hypnobirthing but only for a little over a month. I was in labor for 20 hours without an epidural and having contractions 5 minutes apart that were all in my back. Because of the back labor I gave in to an epidural only to have a horrible reaction which didn't allow me to walk for 3 days. I also had uncontrolable shaking, it took 2 times to get the epidural in the correct location in my back, I had to be given a drug to stop the labor because of all this and then given Pitocin to "get going" again. The total labor was 29 hours!! I had to have an MRI to figure out why I could not walk while my husband took care of our newborn. I could not feel my left leg for 3 days. The team of neurologists, anethesiologists and other physicians in my room trying to figure out what caused this was ridiculous. Thank God it was only a temporary problem and I finally got the feeling back in my leg to walk again. The lower back pain for months after was not fun either...all from the drugs in the epidural cocktail. Our plan to achieve an all natural birth with the second child and succeed was something we knew had to happen. We took a Bradley Birth class this time and hired a doula, Kathy Shamoun from Openspace Wellness, who is also an acupuncturist. We did come across some obsticles with me being diagnosed with gestational diabetes and the doctor talking about inducing. Inducing almost always leads to an epidural because the contractions become so fierce (not as nature intended) and increases the risks of a c-section. I was able to manage my diabetes with diet and not be induced. I followed my normal acupuncture routine and did all of the recommended things to get labor started naturally and labor started on my due date! After walking up and down escalators, eating eggplant parmesian, wasabi with a spider roll, raspberry tea and other things...the contractions started about 10 minutes apart at 4pm. At first I thought it was Braxton-Hicks again, but they continued to get closer and closer together. Around 10pm they were 5 minutes apart and we knew the doula needed to come and we needed to get to the city. We made it to the hospital when the contractions were about 2 minutes apart so I was only in the labor/delivery room for about 2 hours. The doula/acupuncturist, Kathy, put needles in appropriate locations to help with the discomfort while at home. Towards the end I did have some back labor but it did not last long thankfully. Having her apply pressure to my lower back was key along with the deep breathing/gutteral sounds you are encouraged to make during contractions. It really really helped me focus, almost making me numb. It was not anything like I imagined or you would see on TV. I was silent during the pushing...no pain at all!! I went from 6 centimeters to pushing out the baby in an hour. I delivered at 3:50 am standing up while leaning over the bed as shown in the picture. This was done without drugs and without a tear or stitch needed. Read about perineal massage...the best kept secret for a natural birth!! We did not cut the cord right away and waited until the pulsating stopped. Read more on the benefits of waiting to clamp umbilical cord. This is possible!!! My recovery was so much easier than last time, my mood is better, my milk came in faster, my stomache flattened quicker too! I know a natural birth is not possible for everyone, but if you don't have complications you should at least research it and give it a try. The cesarian rates go up and up in this country. Birth should not have to be a surgery unless absolutely necessary. The all natural experience we had was amazing!

Obama Campaign Flip-Flops on GMOs

Obama Campaign Flip-Flops on GMOs

Green on the Scene: Non-toxic Bathtub Grips for Tots!

Green on the Scene: Non-toxic Bathtub Grips for Tots!: I have been on a search for months to find a bathtub mat or grips that are not made from Vinyl also known as PVC. The toxicity from t...

Non-toxic Bathtub Grips for Tots!

I have been on a search for months to find a bathtub mat or grips that are not made from Vinyl also known as PVC. The toxicity from the offgassing of Vinyl/PVC are not something you want to inhale or have your child inhale! Read more on this from Healthy Child Healthy World. Finally I have found suitable non-toxic options from GREEN SPROUTS!!!! They have tiny whale shaped mats that are made from rubber. Depending on how long your tub is, one box of 5 should prevent your child from sliping and sliding. If you have a long tub you may want 2 boxes of 5. They are sold at diapers.com. and come with a cute bath mit! GREEN SPROUTS also makes a baby bath mat which can be found at target.com You could also use this in combination with the whale for added slip protection. Diapers.com also sells it but it is out of stock. I can't believe these are the only non-toxic bath mats on the market!!! Time to toss out your smelly vinyl mats so your children can breathe easy....even if they are shaped like your childs favorite characters!!!

Executive Summary: Eat your fruits and vegetables! | EWG's 2012 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce™

Executive Summary: Eat your fruits and vegetables! | EWG's 2012 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce™

Baby bottles and cookware..glass may be the safest option!

I happened to be looking at some of my old posts(READ BELOW) and my intuition was right!!! The latest results are in and the BPA FREE bottles still contain harmful chemicals that are endocrine disrupters. Then today I read something regarding the safety of silicone cookware. I threw out our silicone cupcake pan after reading something that had me concerned a few years ago. Granted, you do need a silicone nipple even if you use a glass baby bottle. Just be sure to replace the nipples often and hand washing is preferred. Now that my 3rd baby is coming in about 6 or 7 weeks, I am not even getting out the pump or bottles. I think I tried to use them with my second baby for a bit so hubby could help out and then Hurricane Sandy hit and all I did was breastfeed for over 10 days and she lost interest in bottle of breastmilk. Read more on Silicone. Read more on BPA free Bottles and Toxicity. Three years ago I was on the search for everything organic/non-toxic for my first baby. Now that the second baby is due in August, I see there are alot more options now which is great. One item I am still not convinced is safe, is the plastic baby bottle even though they are BPA free. I have seen the stainless steel options but still aren't sure since they are relatively new. I am going to breast feed 95 percent of the time but when I do need a bottle, I want to be sure it is safe. What other chemicals could leach out of that plastic bottle in the bottle warmer??? Intuition tells me that with further research it is bound to be something else. Think about it...you are heating plastic!!! Maybe a room temperature plastic bottle would be OK in an emergency, but I think I may opt for the glass bottles. Environmental Working Group agrees with glass bottles as well with a silcone nipple...read more of their tips. Think of using the plastic inserts...they don't recommend that. Also avoid flourinated water by using filtered tap water.

Remember when your dentist said to get flouride??? He was wrong! And if you must use formula, use powdered. This should go without saying....but never microwave bottles. I think I have tried at least 6 different types of bottles and found glass to work great. Glass bottles seem to clean the easiest as well. I have a stainless bottle that I will try and see how that works. Breast is best then you don't have to worry about bottles!!!