The Importance of Essential Fatty Acids, Omega 3 and Omega 6, DHA, EPA and ALA

Omega-3 fatty acids are "good fats," and are among the most important nutrients lacking in Americans' diet today and one of the biggest missing nutrients in a pregnant woman's diet. 

As well a new borns and toddlers diet. 

DHA is the most abundant omega-3 fat in our brains. And, because our bodies don't efficiently make DHA, we need to eat foods rich in this important nutrient in order to keep our brains functioning optimally. However, because our food is generally so processed, toxic and not properly grown and allowed to ripen, like many nutrients, it is mostly not attained at all. 

Omega-3 fatty acids, such as DHA, are vital part of every cell in the body. Research suggests

omega-3s can help...

Feed the brain. 

DHA specifically plays a role in how well cells can communicate with each other. 

There actions may help with memory, clear thinking and may offer a protective effect against age-related memory loss, including Alzheimer's disease and dementia
Lower risk of heart disease (when part of a healthy lifestyle)
Lower triglyceride levels
Help improve memory
Fight inflammation in the body
Improve blood flow through the arteries and slow the building of plaque inside arteries
Keep blood vessels nimble and flexible
Decrease blood pressure and maintain a steady heart rate
Curb or lessen symptoms of postpartum depression, manic depression, bipolar disease and seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Keep optimal eye health and reduce the risk for age-related vision problems
Reduce soreness and tenderness of joints in people with rheumatoid arthritis

When you see omega-3, it's important to realize that not all omegas are created equal. This chart explains the difference between DHA, EPA and ALA
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA)

DHA is a long chain omega-3 fatty acid important for brain and eye development and function throughout life. It also supports heart health. DHA is the most abundant omega-3 in the brain and retina and is naturally found in breast milk.

Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA)
EPA is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid important for overall health. However, unlike DHA, the body does not store EPA in significant quantities in the brain or retina (DHA is found in every cell throughout the body, EPA is not).

Alpha-linolenic Acid (ALA)
ALA, an essential fatty acid (EFA), is a shorter-chain omega-3 that
serves as a source of energy and as a building block for long-chain
omega-3 fatty acids (DHA and EPA).

According to this doctor chart, this is the breakdown. Although I'd have to verify this more thoroughly it looks pretty accurate. 

A Little Light in a Dark World of Excessive Intervention

Many of you who are local, have heard of the famous Dr. Ronald Wu, he is the head of obstetrics at Glendale Adventist hospital. He is one of the the extremely few doctors who know how to do manual procedures and get women out of a c-section when there seems to be "no other solution". The problem lays in the fact that, unfortunately Doctors, as in OB/GYN's are no longer very well- if at all trained to do manual procedures, they are only and exclusively trained to cut women open and do c-sections. Now there are times, when a c-section is absolutely life saving, there is not doubt about this.

However, excuses for c-setions are abundant. Let me tell you this little secret, almost ANY "situation" that has become an easy excuse to c-section someone has a manual solution. That's right, there IS in fact safe an alternative technology for most issues, even "alarming" issues, such as a cord prolapse, and breech babies, etc.

Believe you me, it IS possible. As us Latinos say sometimes "Si Se Puede!". So don't get overwhelmed by the barrage of false reasons and "precautions" why a c-section is the "only" way or a v-bac is "so dangerous", etc. Just believe me when I tell you, with the correct education, information, with the properly trained professionals who are competent in the procedures called for, you can achieve a vaginal delivery,which will save your body from major surgery and a longer more painful recovery and will save your uterus for a safer future vaginal delivery without so many restrictions as unfortunately come with a VBAC- at least restrictions on paper and per hospital policy.

Back to Dr. Wu.
Doctor Wu is amazing, he helped us last week to achieve a vaginal delivery in a case where another doctor would of suggested a "quick c-section". He told me once, after many many years of knowing him that he takes the brightest Doctor of the residents that come through Glendale Adventist and gets them as trained and educated on manual procedures as he can before they move on.

He told me in this past birth he has a dream to one day find a humanitarian, benefactor, who would allow him and us to focus on vaginal delivery only, no surgery. He'd like to work with and train midwives and doctors to do all the things he knows how to do. I really liked that. So I thought I'd pass it on for the rest of you.

Now don't get me wrong, the wonderful Doctor Wu is still very much an MD and has the usual MD philosophies on epidurals and augmentation, etc. But he is amazing at achieving what others can't in regards to attaining a vaginal delivery. And just a diamond in the rough- in terms of the current society of surgery we live in today. Anyway, Hip, Hip, Hooray! Dr. Wu. Thank you for all your help.
It was a good birth last week.

I hope he's with us locally here, for many, many, many more years to come!

Much Love, Your Blogger, Student Midwife, Doula
Claudia

Sharing My Review Of Kaiser Woodland Hills

Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center  

Pretty OK. Went in with client early in labor this week. Midwife took us in, kinda rough with her internal exams. Over all the birth was OK, they gave us many freedoms, almost didn't fight everything my client requested. The nurse helping us was very helpful. My client achieve natural birth of a very large baby, no drugs, and no unnecessary interventions. But it was a tough birth and we did have to make some decisions to safeguard her birth experience, we left and came back, because we could see there was going to be some excessive or unnecessary interventions had we stayed there. Overall, experience was certainly better than with other Kaisers I've been to, and other births I've had at this Kaiser.
Spaces were very cramped and we happen to have gone in on apparently the worst day- due to a ridiculous number of births happening all at once. The good thing, is we were able to birth basically by ourselves and at the end with nurse- which actually made the experience BETTER, not worse. LOL. Doctor came in at the tail end, and she was very supportive of my clients birth plan, even though not a midwife. So there you go. Just wish they had more amenities for guests, water, coffee, showers, etc. And certainly don't recommend coming in unprepared with a thorough birth plan and bringing a support person is a MUST. DON'T COME IN EARLY!