Breastfeeding tips and natural remedies!!

Breastfeeding is by far the greenest option for feeding your newborn. You do not have the manufacturing of formula and you can also go without bottles for as long as you wish. No clean up! I have successfully breastfed my now 2 year old for a year.. There is a great sense of accomplishment that comes with this. Breastmilk has the best nutrients, antibodies to fight off viruses, and it is free! I breastfed my first child til she was almost 17 months! 
 To help with milk production I drank Traditional Medicinals Mother's Milk tea. I brought it with me to the hospital and drank a few cups a day. Then every other day. It really worked great and tastes good with Stevia to sweeten it.  Now I am preparing for my 3rd baby due in the next week and I have stockpiled Mountain Rose Herbs Nursing Tea.  You can click the ad on this blog to purchase some for yourself!

My second baby was rarely collicky!! She had only had breastmilk. The only thing I had to change in my diet was stop drinking goat milk because it made her spit up more. She only seemed fussy when she was hungry and got gassy if I ate too much garlic or broccoli. I have read about what to eat and what not to eat to prevent colic or fussiness. It seems to vary among babies. What I have found to be a common factor among several women is that they must stop eating dairy because it has a negative effect on the infant. What I did find surprising is that you should avoid peppermint and parsley because it can halt milk production. Remember also to avoid caffeine and alcohol or use the test strips to check your milk after you have a drink. I truly believe each baby is different and you just have to see what works for you. If you have a family history of certain food allergies, your baby may be allergic as well. Common allergens are things such as wheat, eggs, corn, dairy, shellfish and soy.

If you plan on breastfeeding there are certain things I feel are essential to make it as easy as possible. First you need Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Cream. There are other brands but this is lanolin free, organic and doesn't need to be washed off before feeding your baby. You can also use raw coconut oil to moisturize as well.  If you get an infection known as mastitis...I have read that you can use on drop of Geranium oil(Young Living Brand) and one drop of Lavender(Young Living Brand) and combine with a pint and a half of  cool water and soak a wash cloth in the mixture to use as a cold compress.  I have my oils ready for this since it occasionally happens.(You can look at the Young Living link above for wholesale sign up info)
    A breast pump is great to have. They are pricey but well worth it! The Medela Freetyle is what I have and it also comes in handy when it is time to mix milk with baby cereal like oatmeal. Or you can express by hand which works to add milk to oatmeal... but it is not easy...milk just seems to go all over the kitchen and not much in the oatmeal bowl! So I suggest a pump of some sort! As far as bottles...I used the medela BPA free that go with the breast pump.  This time I didn't even pull out my breast pump or get bottles ready.  I will nurse and may eventually use glass since all of the recent backlash on BPA free bottles still containing harmful chemicals. For working moms who need to store milk and freeze...do your research.  Heating the bottle with milk in it is what worries me.  Consult a lactation specialist on this one.  Nursing bras and tanks are great too. You will want to have one per day or you will smell like sour milk. I like the nursing tanks for the winter to keep extra warm. Instead of the disposable breast pads filling up landfills, I like the organic cotton reusable breastpads. It is also good to have a few nursing tops to make it easier to feed when you are in public....even better! A button down shirt will work also but if you have a fussy baby, easy access is best! The fabrics you wear should really be cotton or wool or hemp and not washed with any harmful detergents as your baby is inhaling them.  A good nursing pillow is helpful but the popular brands are made from toxic materials such as polyurethane foam!! Here are Natural options for nursing pillows. You can use a latex pillow which is safe as well or lay down to nurse which is so relaxing. Remember women have breastfed for ages without a nursing pillow!!! Whatever option is best for you, please give breastfeeding a try! You can contact your local Le Leche League for help if your hospital does not have a lactation consultant.Happy Breastfeeding Week!!

Help Heartburn During Pregnancy Naturally with Essential Oils!

During pregnancy all sorts of things happen to the body that may need a little help from an all natural remedy.  The one that I have been waiting and waiting for is heartburn!  I expected it to happen at the beginning of the third trimester and surprise it never came until about a month ago.  With my other two pregnancies it was something that occurred mostly at night and sometimes I needed to sleep somewhat upright to avoid it.  With this pregnancy I have been using Young Living Peppermint Oil in water mixed with Lemon Oil as a refreshing afternoon pick me up some days. Perhaps that is helping. Peppermint oil has all sorts of uses, I just didn't expect it to keep heartburn at bay! I also purchased a bottle of the Young Living Alkalime months ago in preparation for this heartburn which I thought we be as it was in prior pregnancies.  I have only used the Alkalime 4 times and it works immediately!!!!  I also watch what I eat and do not eat raw onions, only roasted and just a few bites.  My diet is healthy as it was with all pregnancies. I have not once had to sleep upright!!! The only thing I can attribute to not having heartburn nearly everyday and night is the Young Living Peppermint oil since I did not use it in other pregnancies...wish I had or my  sleep at night would have been much better! I will need to stop using it once a go into labor since Peppermint is known to halt breastmilk production...for now it is my favorite oil!
If you want more info on Young Living Oils and how you can get them wholesale..contact me!

From baby bottles to bakeware....glass is the safest!

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 a 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!!!

Grill with Caution this Summer!

You may be able to grill year round or just in the summer. Whenever you do, be sure not to overcook your food. Those grill marks on meat and char-grilled hot dogs may be tasty, but they also may be bad for your health according to studies. Whenever the meats are cooked for long periods of time at high temperatures, they can form certain chemicals that are carcinogenic.

There are some things you can do while grilling to lower the exposure of toxins. You can marinate your food which seems to protect the meat. Opt for chicken or veggies on the grill rather than fattier meats such as beef or pork.
If you must have that steak on the grill every once in a blue moon, flip it instead of pricking it with a fork. Another chemical reaction happens as meat juices drop to the bottom of the grill making even more toxic gases around your dinner steak. Use a thermometer so you don't overcook or leave the food on the grill any longer than necessary. Most importantly, keep your grill clean!!! Those charred crumbs of mystery meat left on the grill will heat and release more chemicals. Start with a clean grill before each BBQ to ensure you are not increasing toxin exposure.

This from aolhealth:

"A 2003 study conducted by a French environmental campaigning group Robin des Bois found that the average two-hour barbecue can release about the same level of dioxins, a group of chemicals linked to the increased risk of cancer, as 220,000 cigarettes. Cooking on an elevated rack to allow fat to drip away helps further reduce exposure to dioxins, suggests the Illinois Department of Public Health."


Have I totally ruined your idea of a summer BBQ??? Just be cautious. Don't eat blackened or charred foods. It is especially important for your young children not to have them or for those men and women trying to conceive a child. You do not want anything toxic going in your body during this delicate time. Women breastfeeding should also use caution as well when ingesting food from a BBQ. The studies speak for themselves. Have a Happy and Safe BBQ! More on how to have a safe BBQ.

More info from The American Cancer Institute.





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Spring is bittersweet! Beware of what lurks in your neighbors yard and garden!

Many people love spring...I love summer! The main reason I cringe every spring is due to the numerous ads for pesticides and fertilizers to keep your lawn free of weeds, make your flowers prettier, and veggies bigger. All of these ads for products fail to tell you the about the dangers of chemicals that are toxic to you, your pets and the environment. Especially vulnerable are young children and pregnant women and couples who are trying to conceive a child. The problem is you don't know what your neighbor is using and unless we start spreading the word about toxins in the lawn...they may be seeping into our vegetable gardens!! There are safer alternatives to lawn care and gardening. Don't be fooled by the numerous ads you see and hear on television or on the radio. They are so numerous in the spring I see or hear them everyday! This is quite an interesting quote from the article I came across..." Canada, and two U.S. states, Connecticut and New York, have enacted laws that just say no to weed 'n feed, Roundup, Sevin, at least (in the case of New York) on playing fields used by kids. Dozens of other products commonly sold in much of the U.S. Home Depot's 266 Canadian stores have removed all synthetic pesticides from their shelves, and the company president stated the retailer wanted "to be friends of the environment" in doing so. And while all those products are still sold in the U.S., Connecticut has taken the bold step of removing them from all school grounds in grades K-8." Now if every state would follow their lead...just think about how many toxins would be eliminated!!! I came across this articles which has lots of helpful info on keeping a healthy non-toxic lawn!!!21 Expert Organic Lawncare Tips. They also mention the book "The Organic Lawn Care Manual"....which I love!!! You can protect your pets and family by choosing non-toxic, organic products for your lawn and garden this year!!

Organic Easter Candy and Biodegradable Eggs!

Hard to believe this post was from 2 years ago! Brooke has her organic chocolate list for the Easter Bunny this time! Even more important this time around is to find candy that is free of GMOs. That is easily done by choosing organic. We all know the true meaning of Easter. To make it fun for kids who are too young to grasp the meaning....Easter Egg Hunts are a fun way for them to celebrate. There are Eco-Friendly ways to do this with Bio-degradable eggs that you can fill with Organic or Fair Trade Chocolates and Dye-Free Candy. I found them at The Natural Candy Store.com. They also have them at Eco Eggs.

You can also fill your basket with Bio-degradable grass instead of the plastic grass. I found it on amazon. They also have it at Party City...who would have guessed?

If you are still wanting more treats...Try Indie Candie, Sweet Earth Chocolates, Lake Champlain Chocolates, or Green and Blacks.

Now my sweet tooth is calling and I'm waiting for my Easter treats to arrive!!! If you try to make at least one aspect of your Easter Holiday Eco-Friendly, it can make a big difference. Happy Easter!!

Essential Oils for skin flare ups during Pregnancy!

Pregnancy is a magical time in a woman's life. It also brings about many changes within the body, some of which are amazing and some that are annoying. One issue that comes to mind is the blemishes that bring you back to your teenage years! Hormones during pregnancy can trigger serious break-outs for some women. All of the traditional methods of getting rid of acne during pregnancy are off-limits such as Retin-A, Accutane, Benzoyl Peroxide, and basically anything from the pharmacy. Even when you are not pregnant, some of the ingredients and side effects of these products scare me. There is however a natural remedy that works wonders for blemishes, pimples and acne...ESSENTIAL OILS! Since they are anti-bacterial and have antiseptic properties, pure essential oils are the perfect solution for acne. There are a few oils that I recommend and have personal experience using. Lavender oil cleared up a major break-out almost overnight. It did dry out my skin, probably because I used more than needed, but the red pimples disappeared. One drop on my finger and then rub it on the area of the face that needs clearing up. Lemon oil seems to help to maintain clearer skin when applied nightly as well. A little drop goes a long way with Essential Oils. They are highly concentrated and some may need to be diluted/mixed with a little coconut oil for especially sensitive skin. You want to be sure you are getting the highest grade of essential oils and know how they are made. Much like you choose your organic food during pregnancy, know where and how your oils are made especially since some can be ingested. I have also read that Frankincense and Purification can reduce break-outs as well. When you want to look beautiful and go on that baby-moon with your hubby...don't let pimples get you down!! Zap them with Essential Oils. Learn more at about Essential Oils from Young Living.