THE BUSINESS OF BEING BORNSo women have been giving birth for millions of years right? Our bodies were made to give birth just like any other animal in this wild kingdom we call earth. So why in the last 100 years has giving birth changed so drastically & become a "medical emergency"? Find out here:
A MUST watch for all pregnant women & men and any one who's ever thought of having a child: The Business of Being Born
Birth is a miracle, a rite of passage, a natural part of life. But birth is also big business. The film interlaces intimate birth stories with surprising historical, political and scientific insights and shocking statistics about the current maternity care system.
Click here to see the trailer & get more info.
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Looking for a Baby Friendly Hospital??
Go HERE (http://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/eng/03.html) to find one in your area. If you're in the Bay, Hayward Kaiser is the closest one I've found, Woo Hoo!
What is a "Baby Friendly Hospital" you ask & what does it mean?
The Baby-Friendly Designation is the globally recognized symbol of world-class maternity care. In order to be designated as a "Baby Friendly Hospital" they have to be certified by the BFHI & complete these 10 steps:
1 - Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health care staff.
2 - Train all health care staff in skills necessary to implement this policy.
3 - Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4 - Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
5 - Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants.
6 - Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk, unless medically indicated.
7 - Practice “rooming in”-- allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
8 - Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
9 - Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants.
10 - Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic
Gentle Birth Choices by Barbara HarperBelieve it or not, birth resulting from a normal pregnancy needn't take place in a hospital. Harper explains why birthing centers and home births, along with other "gentle birth choices," are beneficial to both mother and baby. It also features a history of how childbirth came to be so technological and blasts myths such as why fetal monitors save babies (they don't, very often). Harper also discusses giving birth in water and explores the connection of mind and body during labor and birth. She stresses the importance of midwives for a more natural and satisfying experience.Very good read & not too long (for mamas who aren't so keen on reading lengthy books).
This book is a MUST for the new mama (& pops) The Baby Book. Written by a Dr. & RN husband/wife team who also have 8 kids of their own! Not only is it a guide from newborn-toddler but it introduces you to attachment parenting & is a great resource!http://www.askdrsears.com/
Also Mayo Clinic: Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy is a great easy to read/understand, straight forward prenatal book. It really breaks down a lot of questions you might have regarding tests (and more) & each stage of pregnancy from the trusted Mayo Clinic.
Also check out: The Pregnancy Book. I haven't read it yet but it's from the same Dr & RN husband/wife team that brought us the Baby Book, so I'm sure it's VERY good. They even have most pregnancy info for FREE right here!! Wow-za!
Baby yoga! This book is so adorable & easy to do. My munchkin loves it! Check it...Benefits of yoga for baby:
- Deepen the parent/child bond
- Help baby sleep longer and better
- Improve baby’s digestion and ease tummy troubles
- Relieve fussiness and colic
- Discover ways to enhance your baby’s motor development
- Strengthen the immune system
- Encourage neuromuscular development
- Improve body-awareness
- Playfully relieve stress and frustration
- Increase your child’s attention span
- Provide an outlet for social interaction
- Nurture self-esteem and creativity
- Build a fit, healthy lifestyle
- Discover your child’s personality and learning style
- Learn ways to calm your child
- Build your confidence as a parent
- Reduce your stress and anxiety
- Create memorable moments with your child
- Engage in a structured physical activity
- Get more sleep!
Sign with your baby:
Another book/dvd set that I found out the library. Easy to do/use. It has helped my baby to, not only, learn sign but speak ahead of her developmental stage. She is 16 months, has a vocabulary of over 200 words & can speak some 3-4 word sentences!The benefits of signing with your baby coming soon!
Magazines: Mothering
if ur feeling Roots Mama you'll love this mag!REMEMBER: your local library is a great FREE resource, so go on & check some books & dvds out!!
PERFECT BABY SHOWER GIFT:
The Roots Mamas Kit!! The perfect kit to support the Roots Mama (or one to be) in your life.
A Sling (baby carrier)
Breastmilk Storage bags
A Nursing cover (etsy.com has good ones)
Nursing pads
Pure Shea butter (perfect 4 belly, baby & all her dry parts)
Candles
Babylegs
Sleep mask (for those times when she'll be sleeping in the day!)
& add anything else you want (The Baby Book, relaxing bath salts, coupons for bringing the new parents food, relaxing CD, diapers etc)
Throw it all in a basket, slap on a bow & you've got the Roots Mamas Kit. And believe me that Mama will thank you!!
Shoot me an email & I will send you Roots Mamas stickers to put in the kit: breadncake (at) gmail (dot) com
SLINGS
A sling is a must with new baby. I got mine from Slinglings.com & i luv it! They are simple, easy, inexpensive & are customized to fit you. Dr Sears says "A baby learns a lot in the arms of a busy caregiver. Carried babies fuss less and spend more time in the state of quiet alertness, the behavior state in which babies learn most about their environment. Babywearing improves the sensitivity of the parents." Go HERE to read more about the benefits of baby wearing.
DID YOU KNOW.... that sling babies are smarter? See why Drs find sling babies smarter HERE
DID YOU KNOW.... that sling babies are smarter? See why Drs find sling babies smarter HERE
Need a sling? Check out CarryMeAway.com. I met Laurel (Carry Me Away owner) at the Moms in Bloom Expo (also has GREAT resource directory on their website) because i was wearing my lil one in the front carry wrong. She saw me & kindly stopped to help me do it the right way! She is so nice & very helpful/knowledgeable about ALL kinds of slings. Def check her out.
(((Celeb Sling Alert))) MIA & her new baby Ikhyd! (thanks slinglady!) Check out my page w/ all CELEB's wearing their babies: HERE
DIAPERS
So ya'll know keeping our environment green is muy importante right? Well i jus found out about these "hybrid" diapers called gdiapers. They are flushable!! No laundering cloth diapers, no more disposables in the landfill, yay!! I haven't tried them yet but soon will...
(other options: cloth & disposable brands like seventh generation)
DID YOU KNOW....If you read the fine print on most diaper packages (go ahead & check yours!) it says something to this effect (who knew!): you’ll want to dump bowel movements in the toilet. Then just roll the diaper into its backsheet, using the tape or fasteners to keep it closed, and dispose of it in the trash. TRANSLATION: throw all stool from diaper into toilet please!
HERE'S WHY:
"You’re supposed to flush the fecal matter down the toilet so that it can go through the sewer system and be treated. Apparently babies and small children excrete many viruses in their feces including Hepatitis A, rotavirus, shigella, salmonellosis, amebiasis, live polio virus (from vaccines), and typhoid among others. In order to keep these viruses from contaminating underground water supplies, poop should not be dumped into a diaper pail and thrown out with the trash." -thx MamaTRUE
It's also a lot less smelly than keeping diapers in the trash & helps with potty training as your baby will get used to where the poop is supposed to go :)
The American Public Health Association made a policy statement about this in 1989.
TOYS
Melissa & Doug-non-toxic toys that won't break ur bank! lots of wooden toys (why are wooden toys so hard to find in stores?!) you can also get their stuff on amazon.com
metal rattle-wish i woulda got one. babies LUV LUV LUVmetal/shiny objects!BODYthrifty:
Palmer's Bottom Butter (for baby) smells so good (yumma cocoa butter)! n works good too
Palmer's Bottom Butter (for baby) smells so good (yumma cocoa butter)! n works good too
Palmer's Nursing Butter (for mama's nipples that first month!)
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Stick (good for tummy etc) they also have some organic products...
PURE SHEA BUTTER! me lovey! make sure if you're gonna get some it doesn't have any additives (mineral oil, petroleum, alcohol etc). it's a lil pricey to get pure shea butter BUT it lasts for a LONG time. use it on feet, hands, elbows & of course tummy!
have a lil bigger budget? check out EarthMamaAngelBaby
they have every type of organic body/baby product & u can download a free birth plan there!
HAIR
Do you have a munchkin that is mixed or just has incredibly curly hair? Try Curly Q's Milkshake it works like a charm for my babes wild tresses, has natural and organic ingredients & it smells good enough to eat! Go to Curls.biz for all their products too! If you wanna order some make sure you use my referral code: REF-5O9KGQFJ (**please**) as I get points for referring people (and you can too!)Also check this blog out for hair ideas for your curly headed cutie (especially mixed kids!):
UPDATE:Now thru 4/5/10 BeadsBraidsBeyond.blogspot.com is having a Curlformers GIVEAWAY!! Go HERE to enter
more to come...
PS feel free to also leave your recommendations!
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