Huge Danger, Must Know Information Regarding Yaz, Jasmine and Contraceptives Containing "DRSP" Drospirenone, Law Suits and Health Concerns.

Recently the following news has surfaced, alike many drugs- in my personal opinion- to be claimed as "safe" and OK to use, suddenly the information surfaces that the approval that the FDA gave ALL birth control methods using the component "DRSP" or Drospirenone was based on FALSE evidence that the drug was safe! Ahhh! 

Commissioner for the FDA, D. Kessler has testified that the initial approval of the DRSP (DROSPIRENONE) family of pills was tainted by non-disclosure of important data or information. The pills have been confirmed as increasing the risk of blood clots in comparison to other pills and recent FDA hearings confirmed the need to update the warning label – for a 3rd time in the last 24 months – to communicate this risk to users.

Given that the DRSP(DROSPIRENONE) family of contraceptives have been available in the U.S. for a decade more lawsuits are anticipated in the future. 

In the past, the FDA has repeatedly allowed the manufacturer – BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS – to update or change the warning label to the pills at issue. As a result, many women were not warned of risks that have come to light in recent months!

This is why I must reemphasize the distrust in this corrupt system of mainly drug based medicine and emphasize that you do all research possible on anything that is produced by pharmaceutical companies or large corporate drug companies. 

BAYER HEALTHCARE PHARMACEUTICALS is one of many who produce damaging or deadly drugs without a care for the human population, but concern for the corporate billions that they gain from us and our insurance companies, every single year. Spiking the cost of insurances and actual needed health care. Hindering the way for workable alternative health technologies that actually help people, since they do not require the use of drugs and literally shattering our future potential, changing the chemistry,biology and in some cases warping and damaging the DNA structure of our bodies! 

Some of these drugs pass on through the body for generations, leak into our water system, where our filtering technologies have no way of removing them, through our use of our facilities, toilets, sinks, etc. Being fed into the ocean where the fish and other oceanic life consumes it and thus coming full circle back to us accumulating and making our bodies toxic, sick and killing us either slowly or quickly. 

This is no longer a mild concern! This is serious business ladies and gentlemen! 

Please help me spread the word. 

Just Forwarding the La Leche League Guidelines for Storing Breast Milk to All My Mommies. ;)

What are the LLLI guidelines for storing my pumped milk?

Your milk is a living substance so precious some call it "white blood". It is essential to store your expressed (pumped) milk properly to maximize its nutritional and anti-infective qualities. Human milk actually has anti-bacterial properties that help it to stay fresh. Giving your baby the freshest milk you have pumped ensures its high quality.

This information is based on current research and applies to mothers who:

• have healthy, full-term babies;
• are storing their milk for home use (as opposed to hospital use);
• wash their hands before expressing;
• use containers that have been washed in hot, soapy water and rinsed.

Storage Guidelines

All milk should be dated before storing. Storing milk in 2-4 ounce amounts may reduce waste. Refrigerated milk has more anti-infective properties than frozen milk. Cool fresh milk in the refrigerator before adding it to previously frozen milk.

Preferably, human milk should be refrigerated or chilled right after it is expressed. Acceptable guidelines for storing human milk are as follows. Store milk:

• at room temperature (66-78°F, 19-26°C) for 4 hours (ideal), up to 6 hours (acceptable) (Some sources use 8 hours)
• in a refrigerator (<39°F, <4°C) for 72 hours (ideal), up to 8 days (acceptable if collected in a very clean, careful way)
• in a freezer (-0.4 to -4°F, -18 to -20°C) for 6 months (ideal) up to 12 months (acceptable)

What Type of Container to Use

The best options for storing human milk:

• are glass or hard-sided plastic containers with well-fitting tops
• containers not made with the controversial chemical bisphenol A (BPA)
• are containers which have been washed in hot, soapy, water, rinsed well, and allowed to air-dry before use
• containers should not be filled to the top - leave an inch of space to allow the milk to expand as it freezes
• freezer milk bags that are designed for storing human milk
• put only 60 to 120 ml (two to four ounces) of milk in the container (the amount your baby is likely to eat in a single feeding) to avoid waste

Disposable bottle liners or plastic bags are not recommended. With these, the risk of contamination is greater. Bags are less durable and tend to leak, and some types of plastic may destroy nutrients in milk. Mark the date on the storage container. Include your baby's name on the label if your baby is in a day care setting.

How to Warm the Milk

Frozen milk: thaw in the refrigerator overnight or under cool running water. Gradually increase the temperature of the water to heat the milk to feeding temperature.

Refrigerated milk: Warm the milk under warm running water for several minutes. Or immerse the container in a pan of water that has been heated on the stove. Do not heat the milk directly on the stove. Some babies accept milk right from the refrigerator.

Do not bring temperature of milk to boiling point.

Human milk may separate into a milk layer and a cream layer when it is stored. This is normal. Swirl it gently to redistribute the cream before giving it to baby.

Do not use a microwave oven to heat human milk. It may cause the loss of some of the beneficial properties of the milk. Microwaves do not heat liquids evenly and may leave hot spots in the container of milk. This could be dangerous for infants.

Sometimes thawed milk may smell or taste soapy. This is due to the breakdown of milk fats. The milk is safe and most babies wil still drink it. If there is a rancid smell from high lipase (enzyme that breaks down milk fats) activity when the milk has been chilled or frozen, the milk can be heated to scalding (bubbles around the edges, not boiling) after expression, then quickly cooled and frozen. This deactivates the lipase enzyme. Scalded milk is still a healthier choice than commercial infant formula.

If you or your baby has a thrush or yeast/fungus infection, continue to breastfeed during the outbreak and treatment. While being treated, you can continue to express your milk and give it to your baby. Be aware that refrigerating or freezing milk does not kill yeast. After treatment is finished, any leftover milk that was expressed during the infection should be discarded.

Thawed Milk

Previously frozen milk that has been thawed can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. While there is limited evidence to date that milk thawed for a few hours may be refrozen, this results in further breakdown of milk components and loss of antimicrobial activity. At this time, the accepted practice is not to refreeze thawed milk. While some mothers and caregivers reheat expressed milk that was leftover and refrigerated after a previous feeding, there is no research on the safety of this practice. There is also no research about whether freshly expressed milk left unfinished at room temperature should be discarded, or can be saved for a short time (perhaps up to one hour as reported by some mothers and caregivers) to finish the feeding if the baby wakens from having fallen asleep or still appears hungry.

According to THE BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK, page 228, research indicates that human milk has previously unrecognized properties that protect it from bacterial contamination. One study, Pardou 1994, found that after 8 days of refrigeration some of the milk actually had lower bacterial levels than it did on the day it was expressed.

Expressed milk can be kept in a common refrigerator at the workplace or in a day care center. The US Centers for Disease Control and the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration agree that human milk is not among the body fluids that require special handling or storage in a separate container.

Resources

Attend a La Leche League Group meeting in your area for additional information and support. To find a Leader of a local Group, visit Finding a Local LLL Group.

Additional information on pumping and milk storage can be found on our milk storage and pumping resource pages.

These items may be available from the LLLI Online Store or from your local Leader:

THE WOMANLY ART OF BREASTFEEDING, published by La Leche League International, is the most complete resource available for the breastfeeding mother.

Nursing Mother, Working Mother, by Gale Pryor: Mothers who have decided to combine breastfeeding with working will find this an immensely helpful and reassuring book. The author includes practical information about planning for and returning to employment, clear concise tips on breastfeeding, pumping, storing, and transporting milk, and possible alternatives to full time employment such as job sharing, working from home, and budgeting to stay home full time. The book suggests numerous ways that mothers can build and maintain closeness with their babies in spite of separation.

Storing Human Milk: Describes the procedures taken when storing human milk. (Pad of 50 tear-off sheets)

Expressing Your Milk: Includes two pamphlets helpful to mothers who need to pump or express their milk: "The Balancing Act" and "A Mother's Guide to Pumping Milk." Also contains two tear-off sheets: "Manual Expression of Breast Milk -- Marmet Technique" and "Working and Breastfeeding."

Our FAQs present information from La Leche League International on topics of interest to parents of breastfed children. Not all of the information may be pertinent to your family's lifestyle. This information is general in nature and not intended to be advice, medical or otherwise. If you have a serious breastfeeding problem or concern, you are strongly encouraged to talk directly to a La Leche League Leader. Please consult health care professionals on any medical issue, as La Leche League Leaders are not medical practitioners.

Page last edited 2012-07-28 02:39:13 UTC.

The Truth About The Glamorous Cedars Hospital

Some of you may have seen my Yelp review on Cedars hospital, "Hospital to the Stars". 

Some of you not. For those that are interested in how this hospital rates on my most recent visit there, read the following article. It is not pretty, I'm sorry to say.

I remember in the early to mid 2000's Cedars actually used to leave you alone if you wanted natural birth, kinda just leave you be in the room without bothering you, I would of LOVED that treatment this time around, however, no luck. The nurses, specially Nurse "Violet" invaded the space constantly, being overly sweet almost like the Doctor had asked her to stick to us, constantly trying to convince my patient to do this intervention and that, and straight out lying to her the whole time. I couldn't get a word in edgewise, and I didn't really have time to discuss anything in private with my client. 

The whole time not only was she invasive in her nursing, she decided she needed to take one entire side of the bed, during pushing and her Husband and I had to stay to one side. Now, I have very rarely ran into such petty troubles at any hospital before. Nurses usually are respectful that one has a coach, and of course their spouse is there also to coach, they usually respectfully allow us to do our job and leave us alone. All the meanwhile she was screaming pushing instructions to my client, "push, push, push! In your bottom, it's your bottom, In your bottom! Push!" I could of knocked her out. But instead, I stepped aside to allow the husband to help me on my side, offered him my chair which he politely declined and we both stayed to one side. I have never felt so intruded at a birth. Constant weird vibes, resentfulness from the nurse and strange indignant attitudes from both Nurse and Doctor, as if they couldn't conceive of any other method birth, and I was crazy for trying to get a client a more natural experience. I don't know if this had to do with the cultural differences of both major participants in this birth Nurse Violet and Doctor Baud-aria. I'd hoped not, but honestly other people I have dealt with- even in past experiences at Cedars at least in relation to their attitude, haven't been this much trouble, I haven't had this much drama at any hospital. So, I guess I'll say it's a combination of bad circumstances and terrible luck. 

In this most recent birth my client was told that 97% of women at Cedars get epidurals- if that's not a red flag of a statistic, I don't know what is! 

Instead of being angry, Like I was in my review. 'll give you a list of things to consider. No, I do not recommend Cedars if you intend a natural childbirth. If you intend to get drugged-up anyway and could care less 'cause you believe that nothing really affects you or your baby, than by all means, Cedars will be the perfect "friendly" place for you. They'll accommodate to your every need. 

They love intervention and DRUGS, they LOVE DRUGS, and even when they promise you they don't intervene, wont offer you drugs, will allow natural birthing options, alternative methods of laboring and alternative pushing positions, they do not. 

My client had a very, very specific birth plan, it was completely natural and entailed even things like husband wanted to catch the baby, etc. This is what happened to the major points of it. 

Birth Plan Violation #1 (Do not offer me drugs) Requested No epidural- was literally convinced into epidural- was told epidural had no narcotics. By Nurse Violet and two other attending nurses, all with a dismissive "oh, no, of course it doesn't!" No narcotics, ever! (While the MD Anesthesiologist) confirmed the fact that their particular epidural combination HAS and did in fact have a narcotic component which was in fact put into my clients body and was probably what was causing the itching and discomfort- allergic reaction. 

Birth Plan Violation #2 (No Residents, or not fully licensed professionals)  Requested no Residents work of her or her baby- 3 Residents were forced upon us, and Doctor and Nurse gave them OK to work on baby despite the fact that I just informed the pediatric team she did not want residents to work on her baby. 

Birth Plan Violation #3 (My Doula speaks for me and forwards you my reuqest) Upon attempting to discuss something in private with Client, Nurse Violet decided to have a screaming confrontation with me telling me I couldn't give the client a professional perspective because "she" was a professional and I wasn't. And I was "biased" against pitocin- not having spoken to my client about pitocin until that very moment in time. I had an internal chuckle at this- because whatever choices she made about Pitocin came from her own research and her Lamaze class. So, I just snapped and told her, I actually haven't' spoken to my client about Pitocin at all. And it was a mess. A horrible dramatic mess right in front of the patient. I don't generally loose my cool, but my last couple of hospital experiences one at Kaiser Sunset and Cedars, have left me a little more on edge, because they have both been very concerning. 

Birth Plan Violation #4 (Please do not give me pitocin) was talked into Pitocin due to "non effective contractions" per Doctor and Nurse Violet who told her that Pitocin has "no known links to c-section". I just shook my head at this point. 

Birth plan Violation # 5 (Asked to use alternative pushing positions, was told she could use bar to squat and push.) Nurse Violet brought in pushing bar, and proceeded to humorously tell doctor what the "theory" behind using bar was. Doctor simply laughed at her and told her she wasn't going to use bar and she was going to push out baby on her back because baby was already on her way down..

Birth plan Violation # 6 ( Do light massage of uterus.) Doctor proceeded with an extra ordinary invasive uterine massage, told her "She didn't care if she killed her, she was going to it to save her from bleeding". Patient had NORMAL bleeding. Nothing extraordinary, uterus clamped down as normal right away.

Birth Plan Violatio #7 (Unecessary Interventions) Was told baby had an emergency and thus birth plan options did not apply. Baby had a debatable +3 meconium, which was actually about +2, I saw it myself, I've seen +3 meconium, there's no doubt, that this was not what this was. I observed it, the original attending OB confirmed a +1, +2, baby was immediately responsive, yet they kept working on her as if she wasn't. They scared the shit out of the parents, because the fully licensed Pediatric Nurse was teaching 3 other students- thus- I'm sure the full display of "all the things that can happen with a meconium baby" had to be achieved. Violating present and clear research that was recently published regarding proceeding with aggressive suctioning and old meconium procedures despite responsiveness of newborn. She was put on an oxygen measurement machine, though she was pink and responsive. I could go on, but it will get too technical.

Birth plan Violation # 8 (Do not do unathorized procedures to the newborn) Bloods were drawn on the baby for sugar levels, according to the nurses (Nurse Violet) and the Pediatric Nurse, due to "concerns for sugar levels with meconium babies). I asked them for this protocol in writing, never having heard of it, and never having heard of correlation between meconium babies and low sugar levels.) Unless they were trying to determine if baby had suffered an oxygen insult above and beyond the normal process of birth- but even then, the fact that the newborn was responsive 1 min after birth. They stared blankly at me and left the room, never giving me an answer. Turns out, best we can figure that they assumed the baby was small for the gestational age of pregnancy, even though patient told them repeatedly that small babies ran in her family and culture. Not only was blood drawn from babies arm without consent or full disclosure, upon asking Nurse Violet if bloods had been drawn before newborn had a chance to breastfeed, making the results questionable, she said "No, way, never! No, we don't do that here without you breastfeeding first, ever!" AFTER the fact that it had already done it. . 

Turns out baby was "fine". No problems breathing, with oxygen loads, with sugars, with anything. And yet all the drama. I don't believe that I should be able to recognize a baby who is responsive and be able to recognize meconium stages better than the "professionals" but apparently- YES. That is correct. I don't know how they have never seen a responsive baby Vs a non responsive baby.

And how they have never seen actual +3 meconium, but I have and can recognize the difference in how it looks, and how it interacts with the newborn.

And I'm going to assume that they have in fact seen a SGA baby before- Small for Gestational Age baby before- rather than a circumstantially small child, and they actually know how to tell the telltale signs of an actual SGA and can tell the difference!

I'm going to assume that the reason these unnecessary things were done to the fragile, traumatized newborn, who took in about 8 loads of epidural an one heavy load of pitocin  was not because they are stupid but because they needed to check off some items in the pediatric teams licensing.

Birth plan Violation # 5 (Please do not do any of the "Standard" procedures on baby until 24 hours of birth) All procedures where done to baby at once. Arythromicin, Vitamin K, possibly even Vaccines.
(I'm horrified, all this time the mother was asking for her baby. Which she asked for them to work on on her bed- which they didn't.)

Birth Plan Violation # 9 ( Breastfeeding only) Was told to give baby formula in between breastfeeding due to a few oz "too much" weight loss after delivery. Despite the fact they had pumped her with 4 x the usual fluids during labor. And they did not properly inform her of the possible bad affects of giving a new born formula and how that would affect breastfeeding for her- which it did.

Those are the major things. I hope you can see why I had to write this. And I hope you can use the information for your own good.

Much Love,
Claudia

Good Bread!!!

I found this new wonderfully tasting healthy, GMO free, Certified USDA Organic bread that is relatively lower in carbs and higher in nutrient and protein content. For pregnant women and breastfeeding women or women whom are just trying to become healthier or eat less processed foods. This bread is heaven sent! We've been using a lot of Ezekiel bread until now. We will still use Ezekiel bread, but this is a much tastier option! I highly recommend it. Our local VONS in Hollywood happens to carry it- of all places! Pick up a loaf today! Many different types too!

Realistic & Common Hospital Delivery and Attitude...

Wow! I really need all soon to be mothers to see this video, because this is not an unusual thing and do you see how this "little" cut turned into several cuts? And I have to say, this HORRIBLE Mother, should of never been invited to this birth. This is why you have to CHOOSE CAREFULLY who you invite to be with you. Between the horrible doctor, who was providing no perineum support, and the horrible ignorant Mother of the woman birthing, I feel terrible for her! :(

A Word From A New Father

Working with Enlightened Birthing Services is work. As much as Claudia our Doula and teacher would like to deliver your baby for you, she can’t. She teaches you and your partner how to work as a team to be ready to handle the unknown. How to find and eat the right foods, supplements, patient rights and advocacy, the birthing process, prenatal, postnatal and quality of life. We studied and trained like scholar athletes getting ready for the biggest life changing event you will ever know.
I was born at home and know in my heart that it doesn’t have to be as complicated as the Medical industry would like you to believe. It’s a beautiful natural process that deserves respect and care. Claudia helped educate us all the way through the process and became a friend along the way. She worked with our requests and needs to create the kind of experience we wanted. Drug free and as peaceful as possible. 
Becoming a father is greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I am amazed on a daily basis of the miracle of life and love. Our family is forever grateful for Claudia’s hard work and diligence to honing her craft in the lost art midwifery and natural birthing. Rock on!

Salad, Delicious Salad. How to eat your green supplements better.

For pregnant mommies, I would recommend this salad, later in pregnancy, or minus the heavy parsley. 

I have this hay fever thing going on this week. So, naturally in trying to get rid of it and out of my system, I have upped my antioxidants*. I decided why not try something different in taking my powdered green supplements as well and make it into one! Try this if you get tired of drinking your greens with juice or water.

Take salad basics, in this case organic greens, washed and dried.

Cut up the following ingredients, all fresh, no dried ones- cucumber, tomato, onion, garlic, cilantro and parsley. Throw in some olive oil, red wine vinegar and a spoonful of your favorite green supplement…

Here is the one I use- pH Miracle’s, Doc Broc’s Power Plants, I’m sure you have a good green supplement of your own.

Don’t forget salt & pepper to taste! Salt and pepper make everything taste extra good!

Mix the two up and toss.

Enjoy your delicious healthy antioxidant rich salad!

Here’s the definition of antioxidants from Medline:

*Antioxidants are substances that may protect your cells against the effects of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules produced when your body breaks down food, or by environmental exposures like tobacco smoke and radiation. Free radicals can damage cells, and may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases.

Antioxidant substances include

·        Beta-carotene

·        Lutein

·        Lycopene

·        Selenium

·        Vitamin A

·        Vitamin C

·        Vitamin E

Antioxidants are found in many foods. These include fruits and vegetables, nuts, grains, and some meats, poultry and fish.

How To Read Nutritional Labels and Who Decides What Goes Where... (FDA)

Pretty Neat Guide I snagged from TJ's! It really explains food labels and how the FDA- Food And Drug administration decides how things are displayed. Isnt' it funny that the "Food And Drug" Administration deals with both "Foods AND Drugs"? Like what's THAT about? Makes me take a step back, sense GMO manufacturing was started by the big PHARMA, huge drug companies that make terrible drugs like "paxil, zoloft, welbutrin", etc. Makes you wonder... WHY are they also handling our FOOD quality and how can they possibly decide how good and healthy food is, if they have approved SO many terrible drugs? Hummmm...... 

SOMETHING's A FISHY......

Respect the Body and it's Natural Functions- The Core Values of Enlightened Birth & Doula Services

Over my many years of being in this field of Birth, I have seen a lot of things which people do to disrespect the natural functions of the body. Such as enhancing or speeding up birth, assuming that drugs don’t affect the body of both mother and child, assuming that the child inside the womb feels nothing and is affected by nothing. Restricting the mothers body during labor, etc.

I consider that one of the natural functions of the body, it to maintain a peaceful environment inside the womb for the child, for labor to start when it starts and for it to take as long as it takes.

However, I am not new to birth, and I understand that for some people, natural enhancement are required to get things rolling. And I believe that as long as we do not cross the line between helping the body to

accomplish it’s goals, and FORCING the body we are doing better than how we have been doing since “Modern” Medicine became Modern Medicine.

Some of you may disagree, and prefer to labor in very medical, hospital setting. Happy news is, this Core Value still applies to you! Even by doing just a little bit, you can help someone achieve a much nicer birth in a hospital

If a mother in labor feels hunger, feed her, if she is thirsty let her drink, if she wants to use the bathroom, let her walk herself to it, let her move, let her labor in peace. The paranoid rules that hospitals enforce on all mothers are meant to prevent major complications in High Risk patients– we are not all “High Risk” and these labels do not apply to all people. Respect the body and it’s natural functions and birth will be less of a hardship on the mothers body, and the baby’s body and help to decrease the fear of natural birth.

Why You Want A Fat Or Chubby Baby!

Very good article with very important data. Around Los Feliz and Silvelake, I see a lot of skinny babies and toddlers, makes me a little worried. So I thought I'd share this data about why fats are SO important to your babies and children! Now before everyone gets upset about this subject, lets clarify some things, there is such a thing as a constitutionally small baby AND a constitutionally large baby. Here's the definition of constitution, I looked it up myself as it recently came up with one of my clients.

the composition of something.
"the genetic constitution of a species"

Now, let's review, before you read forward, so we can agree on what we're talking about. I am NOT advising you to make your child obese, this is a whole different thing, here is the definition of obese, so we're all clear:
o·bese
ōˈbēs/Submit
adjective
1. grossly fat or overweight.

I pulled some baby pictures off the Internet from related articles so we can have some examples of baby weights, You will see the description in the captions of the photos.
You will see a Constitutionally large baby, an underweight baby and an obese baby, probably born to a mother with Prenatal Diabetes. And finally, a baby with some normal, lovely rolls of fat.

Constitutionally Large Baby

Underweight Baby

Obese Baby

Normal Weight Babies

There is so much hype about childhood obesity that it has scared some parents into restricting fat altogether. Although the childhood obesity epidemic is very real, it is crucial that our kids receive the appropriate amount of fat. The fat we need as adults is very different from the amount of fats babies and toddlers need for growth and brain development. Fat provides energy and sustains hunger and promotes wound healing. Enough fat also gives flavor to food and will encourage your kid to eat a variety of foods (even veggies!).

Linoleic and alpha-lenolenic acids are not made in the body, so they must be provided though foods. Also, Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble and need fatty foods to be absorbed by the body.If you provide meals and snacks that provide low, moderate, and high amounts of fat your child can choose what and how much to eat depending on hunger levels and needs. As a parent, we know it's sometimes hard to relinquish control, but kids are great at regulating food needs and will eat more or less depending on what they need. It's important that we trust them.

Operation Fat Baby
As a registered dietitian and obsessive baby-food maker, I was well aware that my kid needed as much as 40-50 % of her food calories to come from fat at least until age 2 and then slowly reduce fats to about 1/3 of total calories around age 5 or 6. I made sure she had plenty of whole-milk products, fatty fish and eggs, avocados and other healthy fats and oils. Even then, at her 15-month pediatrician appointment, we discovered that she dropped from the 75th percentile at 9 months to the 10th percentile. I knew some decrease in weight is very normal at this age, and that the fat in breast milk also decreases over time, but I have to admit that dramatic increase through me for a loop. That is when "operation fat baby" began.

My first step was to cut back on nursing a little. Lilia was a bit of a breast milk grazer which was making her less hungry at meal time. I also needed to make sure that each of her meals and snacks had a good amount of fat included. It's early days yet, but so far "operation fat baby" has helped to increase Lilia's weight by 3lbs in 2 months, which is about normal at this age, and over time I am confident she will increase weight-for-age percentiles.

How to Add Healthy Fats
I had already learned from experience that we couldn't dictate what Lilia eats - but rather offer a variety of healthy fats that Lilia could pick and choose from to help regulate her weight. I also knew it was important for my husband and I to limit saturated fats (even though my husband is religiously pro-butter, he knows he wants his heart to continue beating). Here are a few ideas to add fats to your baby, toddler, and preschoolers foods:

When offering a lower fat menu option for dinner make sure to allow your child unlimited access to high-fat spreads, sauces, and salad dressings.
Occasionally fry meat, fish, and other foods.
Add sour cream, whole-milk yogurt, butter, and cheese to casseroles.
Add extra eggs when baking
Add powdered milk to soups, sauces, casseroles, potatoes, and milk.
Offer avocados, peanut butter, whole-milk yogurt, and other high-fat foods as snacks.
Add gravies, sauces, and butter to veggies, pasta, and rice.
Too Much of a Good Thing
Make sure not to go to any extremes with adding fat to your child's diet. Childhood obesity is real and pushing or forcing kids to eat fats will backfire in the end.Your young child should be getting the majority of their calories from nutrient dense foods and not empty calorie foods such as sweetened-beverages, fast-foods, and processed foods laden with high-sodium and trans fats. As I mentioned in my post 10 Guidelines for Raising a Healthy, Happy Eater, if you are concerned about your child's diet, weight, or fat intake check in with your family doctor or a registered dietitian.

With Lilia gaining weight at a healthy pace, my concerns about fat intake have eased somewhat. But as a family, we still work hard to ensure that plenty of healthy, nutritious (and hopefully tasty!) fats are on our plates regularly. Avocados, olive oil, butter and cheese all feature heavily in family meals. As with most things in parenting (and life), it's all a case of moderation - but (when it comes to fat at least) what moderation means for babies, and what it means for adults, are two different things.

Full article @: http://parentables.howstuffworks.com/health-wellness/why-you-want-your-baby-be-fat-no-seriously.html

Pregnancy & Baby Safe Carpet Cleaning

A great way to keep your carpets fresh, without putting your baby's or your own health in danger, with toxic chemicals from the usual carpet cleaning products, is by using this simple alternative recipe instead!

. You can make your own carpet cleaning, dry shampoo with 1/2 cup cornstarch, 2 cups baking soda, four or five crumbled bay leaves and 1 tbsp. ground cloves. Mix it well, then sprinkle it onto your carpet. Let it sit for an hour, and then vacuum.

Simple, safe and smells great!

A Healthy Alternative On The Go

If you're in a hurry like I am, most of the time. The temptation to fast food is great, to say the least. It's cheap, easy and most of the time you dont even have to leave your car. If you have children on board you can even be more tempted since having to cart them in and out of the car can take it's toll. Here's a healthier alternative when you're going to get something on the go anyway. Most places nowadays carry delicious salads that you can order right through the drive through. Now this may not surprise most of you, however if you haven't tried them in a while, the taste and freshness of them might! Hopefully gone forever are the stale to-go salads of yesteryear. Wendy's, Carl's Jr., even McDonald's carries and new and fresh assortment of delicious salads that might just make up for all those years of sneaking the weekly greasy hamburger combo from the drive through as your last resort or perhaps your hidden addiction. If you need a little fifteen minute break,  go to a place like Starbucks instead, free bathroom, free water, air conditioning and take  a momment to relax and pick one of their new healthy salads. I just tried their new "Zesty Chicken & Black Beans" salad. And I have to say, since they've changed their bakery provider to La Boulange, things are looking up. This salad, I believe still made by Starbucks headquarters, or where ever their salads come from. Has a fresh, protein focused arrangement and it is delicious! It has quinoa and black beans with a deliciuos mild, mild chili sauce dressing. I highly recommend it to mothers on the go, to my pregnant beautiful ladies. Specially if I have recommended a protein focused diet for your pregnancy. This is a great alternative if you're looking for something light that still tastes delicious. Now the only thing to know on this one if you're pregnant is that it has a little tiny bit of feta cheese and I don't know to what degree of raw that feta is if any. Hope this gives you some ideas for healthier alternatives!
Much Love,
Claudia Perez- Certified Master Doula, Certified Advanced Midwifery Asst. & Student Midwife

The salad I ate today is carried by Starbucks on Prospect Ave. & Sunset Blvd. In Los Feliz.

Pregnancy Leave Laws

An Attorney friend of mine wrote this great article about Pregnancy Leave at Work. 
He educates employers and Business Owners, on employment law. 

I though this article was very relevant to everything Mommies, so Why Not! If you have a business and would like his advice, information is:

Natural Recipe For Killing Cockroaches "Roach Balls"

Natural Recipe For Killing Cockroaches "Roach Balls"

As you may agree, natural health is an all encompassing lifestyle for some of us. I try to keep pesticides away from my home as much as possible. My Husband found this very effective recipe on line and it got rid of roaches for us in a FEW days! 

I can't guarantee it will work the same for you, but I believe it will help tremendously. 

Other reasons roaches persist are, food or other left overs of many things which are  edible items to them including: Skin dander, hair, cardboard, paper, etc. 

Because of this, I recommend a thorough deep cleaning, a strict cleaning routine, as in a thorough periodic cleaning every week, including behind and under furniture, moping floor fully- not just wet wiping floors. Washing carpets with natural soaps on a cyclic schedule, as in every few months or at least twice a year. As well as routine de-kludge (getting rid of old things, getting rid of unneeded items, bags, cardboard, paper, things in storage boxes, etc.) Anything which attracts the attention of many a pest. 

This also helps you clear your mind as well and open up your space- for lack of a better word- to other new things coming into your life. I've always found it very therapeutic. I do it every six month or so, if the house has been particularly busy or has had extra use so to speak, as in guests or extra activity, I do it every 3 months. 

I hope this helps to rid you of some nasty little critters. 

Much Love,

Claudia 

RECIPE: 

White Flour
Boric Acid
Confectioners (Powdered) Sugar 

• Mix 50/50 flour and boric acid. Sprinkle in some confectioners sugar (about 1/4 of the amount of flour used). Make a dough by adding in water, don’t make it runny.
• Roll the dough into small marble sized balls and place them in corners, dark cupboards, behind heavy appliances, along floor boards and around the garbage.

Within a month the critters should be gone.

If the infestation is particularly bad:

• Double the effort by making a mix of 50/50 boric acid and brown sugar then pour the mixture in a thick line around the entire room and entrance ways. The roaches will get the stuff on their bodies and carry it back to the nest. Once there is no trace of the pest left (usually within the month), vacuum up the powder.

Keep away from children and pets. If you have little ones running around, keep the balls behind furniture and heavy appliances and inside cupboards.

More tips:

• You can also use Borax as a substitute for the boric acid, but the boric acid is more effective.
• Replace old, hardened balls with fresh ones as needed.

Pregnancy Time Lapse Video

Something sweet and beautiful for the weekend. :) 

IV Fluids In Labor, Leading To The Appearance Of Exaggerated Weight Loss In New Borns?

This is a great and thorough article explaining weight loss, it's meanings to Doctors and Nurses inside the hospital and great valuable data regarding IV Fluids. It is something which makes sense. I've been looking at it for a while. And I agree, that unless a mother is truly experiencing dehydration IV Fluids should not be administered, instead the mother should be allowed to drink. However most hospitals won't allow the mother to drink. Once you're checked in- at least in the United States. Advise Mothers to get proper guidance and a skilled coach that knows facts and handlings and can detect indications in the body, so they must not just be a "Coach" or "Doula" but understand the body's physiology and detect the bodies' indications and advise them to stay out of the hospital with that Doula or Coach as long as possible, if they haven't been classified as "High Risk". If Classified as "High Risk" you need to work with someone as trained as me or a Midwife and you may have to go in the hospital sooner, but your rights will be more protected the more training your coach has. ;) THIS will allow you to DRINK and EAT as you need to, in order to keep your basic body needs in! Which helps tremendously when you're trying to accomplish natural birth as your pain threshold diminishes by about 50% when those our out! Ahh. So much introduction for this article! ;) But you understand now why hospital procedures turn into a chain reaction of intervention, they don't let you eat or drink, thus you're out body basics aren't being met, and then you get dehydrated, thus to re-hydrate you they give you IV Fluids, etc. You get the point. ;) 

Best Wishes!
Claudia Perez Silva- Certified Master Doula & Advanced Midwifes Asst. & Student Midwife

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The significance of weight loss in the first few days after birth.

Nearly nine years ago, I was well into the second day of snuggling with my hours-old youngest son. For his birth, I had chosen the hospital in which I was employed. I hadn't done that for either of my older two sons because of insurance reasons and because I wasn't exactly sure that I wanted to blur the line between my personal and professional self for such an intimate event. But, his birth was beautiful and I was thoroughly enjoying my sweet little snuggly son. At about midnight, the (unfortunate, unlucky, brave) nurse who was taking care of me and Ethan came in to check on us. She looked scared. She stepped (sneaked? tip toed?) maybe two feet into the room and said, "How is the breastfeeding going?" It had been great and I said as much. Her next words tumbled out in a rush. "Good, because he's down 10% from his birth weight." And whoosh, she was out the door. I do not know what I would have done in her place. I would not have wanted to tell me that news either. As I absorbed her words, I did what any other board-certified pediatrician who had earned her IBCLC would do; I burst into tears. The rational part of my brain, such as it was, would eventually win when the sun came up. Those were a long few hours.

If I asked you to lose 10% of your weight in 48 hours, how would you do it? Not eating might get you there, but probably not in that short of a time span. How about terrible dehydration from food poisoning with really awful vomiting and diarrhea? Maybe 48 hours of continual exercise? Or exercising while pooping and puking? Right. The suggestions are absurd. Ten percent is a lot of weight to lose in a few days. But newborn infants often do lose 10% of their weight in the first few days after they are born. What factors are contributing to that weight loss?

First, we should understand that 10% or 7% (or whatever the worry threshold is where you are) is just a number. I have mentioned that I get very frustrated when I hear numbers given out of context, especially when we act on numbers just because they are numbers. When we look for signs of health and well-being in a newborn, we gather all sorts of pieces of information that collectively give us a picture of that baby. That context helps us interpret numbers. Newborn weight loss needs a context to be meaningful. The concept that numbers need to contribute something to the care of the infant in a meaningful way is the theme behind my three B's: bilirubin, birth weight and blood sugar. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that healthy, term infants who have a weight loss of 7% from birth, should have their feeding assessed and that providers should "consider more frequent follow-up." Hopefully, we are looking at the feeding of any newborn, frequent follow up is standard of care where you are and the AAP's suggestion is reinforcing best practices and not breaking new ground. If not, you have an opportunity to change the world.

That 7% value seems to be a standard trigger for increased attention to a baby's feeding. And unfortunately, 10% weight loss seems to be the trigger for supplementation. But excessive weight loss, typically defined as weight loss greater than or equal to 10% of birth weight, is actually pretty common. Losing 10% of birth weight is common? Yes, and 7% is likely a normal, average weight loss.

In a study by Chantry et al, the authors found that 19% of exclusively breastfed infants experienced excessive weight loss in the first 3 days of life, but by day 7 most babies had regained that weight. They also determined, in what we will see is a common theme, that intrapartum IV fluids were an independent risk factor for excessive weight loss. An independent risk factor is one that can cause the outcome regardless of other factors, so, in this study, intrapartum IV fluid could cause newborn weight loss all by itself.

From the study: Distribution of weight changes from birth to day 7 of life according to formula supplementation category on day 3 (on left) and day 7 (on right).

By day 3, 19% of exclusively breastfed babies lost 10% or more of their birth weight.

Another study, by Noel-Weiss et al, also found that intrapartum fluids are a risk factor for excessive weight loss. "Timing and amounts of maternal IV fluids appear correlated to neonatal output and newborn weight loss. Neonates appear to experience diuresis and correct their fluid status in the first 24 hours. " The authors suggest a (pretty cool) conceptual framework:

Conceptual framework includes potential confounding variables and effect modifiers. Noel-Weiss et al. International Breastfeeding Journal 2011 6:9 doi:10.1186/1746-4358-6-9

In a study done in rural Zaire, the average weight loss after delivery was 7%. Another study done in Italy found that weight loss of 10% was common in the first few days of life, especially after C-sections.So, lots of exclusively breastfed kids lose weight and at least one reason to explain that weight loss is that they are peeing off IV fluids. This just makes sense. And makes a whole lot more sense than they are exercising or suffering from food poisoning. I might be making a case here for not worrying about weight loss in the neonatal period at all. But we can not be that cavalier.

Weight loss is important because some kids who lose weight need no intervention at all. Some weight loss is preventable. And some weight loss is real and scary. The key is knowing which babies are in trouble and then having access to somebody with the skill set to know which weight loss is significant and needs intervention.

One way to assess adequate transfer of breastmilk is to monitor stool output. Urine output is usually a good way to monitor fluid intake, but if our baby is going to be peeing off lots of fluid from birth interventions, urine output may be great. In fact, the urine output might be awesome. But, in the first few days after birth, the urine output maybe artificially good as the baby becomes less of a water balloon. So, what did not get messed up by delivery? Poop.

Colostrum is full of oligosaccharides: prebiotic, non-digestible sugars that play a crucial role in the development of the neonatal immune system. Since oligosaccharides are abundant in milk and are non-digestible, the more the baby gets, the more poop there is. The more milk the baby gets, the more stool output. We can use stool output as a good marker of the adequacy of breastfeeding. We would like to see the baby clear all the meconium by 4-5 days of life (maybe a day later for babies born via C-section).

Weight can also be influenced by which scale we use, under what conditions the baby is weighed (dressed, naked?), and whether they have just eaten, peed or pooped (every ounce counts!) before we put them on the scale. We can also look at the trend in weight loss over time. If a baby has lost 10% in 72 hours, what was the pattern of the weight loss? If the baby experienced a normal fluid diuresis, the weight loss pattern may have been 8% in the first 36 hours and only 2 % since.

Neonatal weight loss can therefore be interpreted in a context which looks, not just at the number, but at the baby, the stool output, the conditions of mom's labor, the conditions under which the baby was weighed and a good assessment of feeding. Understanding the many variables that can influence weight loss helps us decide which baby needs intervention and which babies do not. However, too often we are not putting weight loss into context. Kids are getting supplemented just because of a number. Just one bottle of formula can make a huge difference in how that baby's immune system develops. We should have a very good reason for supplementing. But do we? I would guess that some of that supplementation is done because of weight loss and a number out of context.

Check out the graph from the CDC, specifically the blue line. According to this graph, more than 20% of kids in the US are being supplemented with formula before 2 days. That makes no sense. Surely, our species can do better than having one in five newborns needing supplementation to survive the first 2 days of life.

Since we know that weight loss after birth is influenced by many factors, we could not only educate providers, but share that information with the mother. Empowering the mother and her support system with knowledge about what is normal and expected is crucial. And may even prevent her from crying and feeling like a failure at midnight.

Jenny Thomas, MD, MPH, IBCLC, FAAP, FABM (and Ethan)

www.drjen4kids.com