more on bouncing babies: baby hammocks that bounce themselves

i cannot say enough good things about baby hammocks.  we purchased one by the kiwi company miyo (photo above) and started using it immediately after my son was born.  he loved it, because it is so cozy and womb-like.  almost like a non-constrictive swaddle (is that an oxy moron?) and a crib all in one.  it bounces gently with his movements ---again, womb-like.  they are typically used in malaysia from birth on up and have been said to help babies avoid getting a flat head--plagiocephaly--which has become a problem in western society from babies always being laid on their backs in their cribs (to avoid sids).

one of the greatest things about baby hammocks is how portable they are...not only can you hang them from a hook and chain (properly drilled into a beam above the drywall) anywhere in your house, they come with a foolproof doorway hanger, so travel with baby is a breeze. we even hung ours from a tree on the beach on vacation!  baby's gotta nap, right?

we had great success with the miyo from infancy until about 6 months (when my nearly 20 lbs son finally said, "get me outta this little thing!").  at nap time, we'd put him in and rock it fairly intensely--like a swooshing---he wasn't lulled by gentle sways and lullabies.

after the miyo, we tried out the kanoe (photo below), and are still using it at 10.5 months for all naps.  kanoe is great because they have a rental option.you can rent a brand new organic cotton kanoe for $40/month.and at any time, you can commit to buy or return it.  it is larger in size than the miyo, so i cannot vouch for how a tiny newborn would do in it, but you can check out their website for testimonials.the kanoe is equally as easy as the miyo to travel with though no doorway hanger.you can invest in a collapsible frame like this though for home and travel.

and finally, the piece de resistance!!  there is an importer of baby hammock bouncers that you can purchase a little machine from that will safely bounce the hammock for you (see it att'd in photos above and below)...how cool is that!?!  the day we started using our bouncer, baby's naps went from 30 minutes to an hour and a half!!  if you use the bouncer with a kanoe, you'll need to shorten the kanoe straps and not use the kanoe spring.  also, this bouncer comes with the previously mentioned collapsible frame.

UPDATE : we are still using the kanoe for naptime for my 22 lbs son at 18-months-old.

invest in an exercise ball for labor and baby naps...

honestly, we use our exercise ball about 100 times more than we have ever used our rocker in the nursery (maybe all we really needed was a dresser in there, since we don't use our crib either).   the ball is great for gently bouncing baby to sleep.   since i have "the boob", i usually do not need to bounce my son to sleep, but my husband and babysitters do for every nap.

some may worry about babies developing an addiction to having to be bounced in order to fall asleep, but babies actually need bouncing (and swinging, etc) in order to develop their very important vestibular system---the system in the inner ear that controls their sense of movement and balance.  read more here.

the ball can also come in handy when you are in labor---my doula tells funny stories of running through hospital hallways with a gigantic ball to her clients' births.  you can lie on it with your chest and gently hug it in order to take the weight off of your back and belly.  also, in early labor, just sitting and bouncing is helpful.

the teething is waring me down...

my son's first two teeth, on the bottom, came in at 7.5 months and were a breeze.  he's a little over 10 months now, and the top two teeth have started breaking through in the last couple of weeks.

ever since the arrival of the first 2 teeth, he became more snuggly---happy enough to cuddle up to me an hour after waking and just hang out on my boob until naptime.  this was cute, and so was the ridiculousness of him sleeping/nursing while lying ON TOP of me at night in the last couple weeks.  we do bed-sharing, so this wasn't so bad, plus it clearly was soothing him during an uncomfortable time. ok, well, now my back is officially wrecked---go figure.  it ends up that having something a fifth of your body weight lying on your chest all night for a week can do some damage.

so, today i will dedicate this post to all things natural that help for soothing during teething:

camilia drops--homeopathic drops that help with irritability and pain.

hyland's teething tablets--similar to above, but i also notice a calming effect that helps baby fall asleep.

amber necklace--popular in europe.  has pain relieving energetic properties.  and my husband keeps saying how "groovy our son looks in his puka shell necklace."

feeding pouch--you can do ice chips in these, but any fruit or veggie in here seems to make baby happier all around.  make life easier, buy a few of these.

teething rings--der.  this other cold one or this chewy silicone one is good too.

flu vaccine information

please read (or watch the video) here about the flu vaccine.  extremely important information on how the vaccine is made, its ingredients, safety, efficacy, and how to avoid the flu without it.  plus, see how distorted the cdc's facts (scare tactics) are about annual flu deaths---yet how children's deaths from the flu have hugely increased since kids five and under started getting vaccinated in 2003.

vaccine safety seminar in los angeles sunday october 18, 2009 and november 18, 2009

dr. lauren feder, according to her website, will be presenting "an overview of health, disease, and each vaccination.  includes pros, cons, risk, benefits and prevention of vaccine side effects.  syllabus provided."

lauren feder, m.d. specializes in primary care, pediatrics and homeopathy.  additional doctors in her practice specialize in gynecology and chiropractic care.  more info on dr. feder here.

the vaccine presentation will be held at golden bridge yoga on sunday october 18 from 1:30pm-4:40pm.  please purchase tickets soon as seating is limited.  please click here for more info.

additionally, she will be presenting a month later at yo mama yoga in santa monica on wednesday november 18 from 6:30pm-8:30pm. please click here for more info.

golden bridge yoga and yo mama yoga are wonderful communities that offer a variety of pre-natal yoga classes, mommy and me yoga classes, and workshops.  you should check them out!

great site for natural health information

most of us can gather western medical information pretty easily....call your doctor, ask your mom, or google a topic.  but where can you go when you want to learn about the other end of the spectrum?...meaning, perhaps an eastern philosophy on health or homeopathy or curing/avoiding illness with nutrition.

there is a website that--yes some may call fanatical--i always go to because it is very thorough and is good about listing its sources.  it is mercola.com and run by dr. joseph mercola who is a doctor of osteopathic medicine.  an osteopathic physician's training is similar to an md, but has a greater emphasis on primary care and holistic health. he is legit, has been published in the british medical journal on numerous occasions, and has incredible information on his site.  he's truly down for the cause.

here are just a few of his many articles about pregnancy, infants, etc to check out:

"having a baby?  do it naturally."

"clamp the umbilical cord early and risk injuring your child's brain"

"letter from parents to their doctor on their upcoming delivery"

"antibiotic use by pregnant women should be minimized"

"very important vaccine question"

try to check out the "related articles" list at the bottom of each article if you would like further reading.  plus, also at the bottom, readers write in and comment which can sometimes be helpful.  finally, mercola offers a full assortment of natural products ranging from pink himalayan salt to safe sunscreen to a set of non-teflon, non-toxic ceramic cookware.

cutest organic clothing! on sale!

i love me some kate quinn organics.  she has the most adorable line of organic clothing that has fantastic vibrant colors and stylely styles for babies and kids.  right now, she is having a great sale.  here are details:

$20 off orders over $100--coupon code 20SSS09
$50 off orders over $200--coupon code 50SSS09

something to make your life a little easier as a new mom...

sorry, no, it's not a home-delivered male masseuse or a personal chef for a year. but it is kind of cool...it's a clock that projects the time up onto your bedroom ceiling. if you do bed-sharing, these are particularly fantastic, because you can easily see the time without getting a crick in your neck uncomfortably twisting your head around to see your bedside clock. constantly checking the time becomes somewhat of a pattern if you are still feeding/breastfeeding at night in order to keep tabs on how often baby is eating.

these are atomic clocks which means they synchronize the time with a base station twice a day. plus, many of them come with features like indoor or outdoor temperature (projected) and humidity levels. they project in large red or blue 6" numbers. love, love, love it....

snot suckers and whatnot : baby cold season is upon us

if you're like me, when your baby gets his first runny nose, you have a mini panic-attack inside.  he's sick!!  how will he breathe while he breastfeeds?  will he be up all night?  is it more than just a cold?

never fear, the snot sucker is here.  have you heard of this thing the nosefrida?  it's a self-proclaimed bpa/phthalate-free $15 snot sucker from sweden (leave it to the land of ikea, right?)!  these are great because the syringe-looking thing goes into your baby's nose, and you can control the amount of vacuum/sucking and see what's coming out. did i forget to mention the part where you are the one sucking on the small plastic hose attached to it?

be sure to replace the little disposable filter as to avoid getting your baby's cold 4 days later because you've been inhaling all of his germs for days (who me? yes, i'm speaking from experience here...).  buy a pack of extra filters.

always try to boost baby's vitamin d levels with at least 10 minutes of direct sunlight daily (whether he's sick or not),  and boost your own system with zinc, elderberry, and vitamin c at the first sign of a cold.   if you prefer an organic hand sanitizer, this one is great.  no synthetic filler.

the most common breast infections and how to avoid them while breastfeeding

first, let me say that hopefully none of these infections will ever be considered deal-breakers for you. we are not mothers because we thought it would be easy and always convenient, right?   all of this stuff is fixable....i just wish i had known ahead of time about a couple of potential breast infections, so that i may have been able to avoid them.   here's your head's up....

thrush:
otherwise known as a yeast infection in your breasts (who knew?), can be extremely painful and very challenging to get rid of if you choose to do it naturally. it often first shows up in baby as diaper rash and, worst case, as white spots in baby's mouth. other symptoms include painful shooting pains in your breasts.

like the other kind of yeast infection that women can get, this one can be caused from too much sugar in your diet. don't forget that even too much juice, fruit, and bread can push your body into the sugary yeast zone. help the good bacteria in your intestines kick the yeast's ass by taking a probiotic or acidopholus. you can get these in foods like kefir or yogurt (go plain here or it's really high in sugar), or in capsule form.

if you or baby end up taking antibiotics anytime before, during, or after birth, you are at risk of a yeast infection....as antibiotics wipe out the bad and good bacteria in your intestines. yeast can also be caused from constant moisture against the breasts and nipples. be sure you air out your nipples as much as possible. i know that sounds impossible when they are leaking like a faucet several times a day....but you can do it!

there are several options for trying to rid your life of yeast after an infection---all of which are fairly laborious---and it can be hard to find the time as a new mom.

plugged ducts and mastitis: 
one of your many milk ducts can become clogged and form a little pea or grape size nodule in your breast. be sure to feel your breasts at least once a day to check for these. if you have a plug, you'll want to massage the area with your hand under warm shower water, or use a warm wet rag (a wet diaper in the microwave works great too!) several times a day to try to loosen the clog---and feed, feed, feed baby. yes, it feels a little weird to massage a little hard lump in your boob, but you gotta do what you gotta do, because you do not want it to turn into mastitis.

mastitis is not the end of the world--i have had it 3 times in the last 10 months. the symptoms can range from a sudden onset of chills (always in the evening for me) that turn into flu-like achy symptoms for about 12 hours to the random appearance of a red hard sore area on your breast--or both. you'll need to rest as much as possible and massage the sore area several times a day like you would do with a plugged duct--and feed, feed, feed baby.  sore spot usually disappears in a few days.

avoid plugged ducts and mastitis by not skipping feedings, breastfeeding in multiple positions (cross-cradle, football hold, side-lying), not wearing a bra that can constrict ducts, keeping breasts dry, and resting when you feel run down (ha ha, i know).

tips for bed-sharing

just to clarify, bed-sharing is different than co-sleeping. bed sharing is having the baby in the bed with you throughout the night. co-sleeping can be a variety of set-ups where your baby sleeps in a co-sleeper (3 sided) crib next to you and may or may not come into the bed with you at some point.

the first days after my son was born, he would either sleep lying across my chest/belly and latched onto one breast or we would side-lie facing each other---his face at my breast, feet at my bent knees.

because i wanted to be extremely safe in the first few weeks as i was feeling out bed-sharing, i found that these little rechargeable night-lights came in really handy. i stashed one on either side of my pillow, so i could easily grab it in the middle of the night to be sure my son was positioned properly. the dim light is better than getting up and turning on a bright light and waking everyone up in the meantime.

if possible, try to have a separate comforter or blanket for you and baby to share.  twin size will work.  this will help you control the covers over you and the baby (as dad thrashes about with his own).

while baby is tiny, you may want to roll up a little swaddling blanket and place it behind his back...running in the direction of his spine.  this will help him stay in place while side-lying.  my son never really needed this, but some may.

it's easy to nurse if you sleep in a great lounge top like this organic cotton one or this one that will keep you warm and has easy access for baby.  you may need long sleeves, since your upper body will be exposed ---- your sheet/blanket will be down near your belly as to not cover baby.

if the breast that isn't feeding your baby leaks, you may want to keep a little wipe or two handy that you can press against the breast to stop the flow.  these wipes are great (for all sorts of things!).  if you need more support at night, you can wear an organic cotton bra for small or large breasts....and add reusable/washable pads if necessary.  just be aware to not let something moist stay against your breast for too long---in order to avoid mastitis or thrush (yeast).

your body may feel slightly unstable while side-lying, and if so, you can put a pillow between your legs.  my physical therapist says the pillow should support your pelvis by running it from your knee to just below your ankle.  additionally, a pillow behind your back may help.you will have to offer a different breast to your baby every few hours to avoid engorgement.  either grab baby and roll him over with you, or get up on all fours and slide him over.

finally, when baby starts to roll around on his own, you may fear (rightfully so!) that he could fall off the bed.  you have a few options: put your mattress on the floor, roll up a towel and stuff it under your fitted sheet along the edge of your bed, or buy a crib rail like this.  for what it's worth, in 10 months, my son has never fallen off the bed.  he snuggles up to me to nurse every few hours, so he basically never gets too far away.  granted there have been a few close calls now that he's crawling, because he wakes to nurse sort of half-awake and searching for me, which can be dicey if he's on the bed edge side of me.

sweet dreams!

best pregnancy books

gosh, there are so many books on pregnancy out there, it can be hard to know where to start.  here are some goodies:

birthing from within--my and my husband's personal fave (though i opted out of the pregnancy art chapters).  if you're aiming for a natural birth, this is a must-read...thoughtful and empowering.

the thinking woman's giude to a better birth--with a slant toward natural, this book really covers all bases in regards to statistics, etc.---though not too heavy....informative and thorough.

the complete book of pregnancy and childbirth--great for when you first find out you're pregnant.  photos of births and the changes your body will go through....oh and some writing too--for the masses, but smart.

bed-sharing is safe and wonderful

the idea of having a baby in a bed with two adults scares most americans. understandably, the logistics of it all are a little fuzzy until you actually try it yourself.  certainly, most people who have not witnessed it have images of pillows, blankets, and bodies smothering a tiny little baby.  bed-sharing is something that most parents do not plan on doing....particularly since it is looked down upon by most as being irresponsible and dangerous.  actually though, there is an order to it all, and it works beautifully.

from the minute my son made his way into my arms, i never wanted to let go. the very first night, he laid beside me and nursed and snoozed. from then on, it just felt right to have him sleep nights next to me and nurse whenever he was hungry. and it actually allowed me to get some sleep!! granted word sleep takes on a whole new meaning after becoming a mother....but, seriously, it has to so that you can quickly react and protect your child if necessary (wherever they may be sleeping).

when my son was 2 months old, i came across some research on how bed-sharing can actually prevent sids. not only that, it is hugely beneficial to your child emotionally. if you are someone who enjoys clinical trials and research on these sorts of things, check out james mckenna and his mother-baby sleep behavioral laboratory studies at notre dame.  mckenna is the go-to guy on seeing in black and white why bed-sharing is safe and beneficial.  plus, it is interesting to read about how mother and baby participate in a sort of synchronized dance at night---one moving and the other shifting in harmony.

these are the personal benefits i have experienced with bed-sharing:

--a connected, secure, warm, friendly, content baby
--watching your baby wake up and see your face and smile--the meaning of life encapsulated
--continuous sleep in bed while baby nurses when needed
--allows for a different nursing position other than "cradle" (which can help avoid plugged ducts)
--makes for a happy dad who is connected to baby all night and good family cuddling in a.m.
--allows some regulation of baby's sleep schedule (can quickly nurse back to sleep)
--extremely soothing during teething (in conjunction with nursing)
--baby has only woken twice in 10 months--fully awake and can't go back to sleep--in the middle of the night.  otherwise only "wakes" when hungry, then is quickly back asleep again

stay tuned for an upcoming post on helpful bed-sharing hints, including safety tips...

cord blood--to bank or not to bank?

this is just one of those things in life where you have to go with your gut and make your own decision (darn it!). do you want to interrupt stem cells from flowing through the umbilical cord into your baby after birth in order to remove blood for banking? will the baby benefit more from getting all of the stem cells at birth---or some at birth and maybe some later?  we believed that getting all of them at birth would help our baby build a strong immune system that would ultimately help prevent diseases.

we also suspected that there may be an excess of banked cord blood/stem cells if we were ever in need.

while we're on the topic, after your baby is born, it is best to allow the cord to pulse until it completely stops before doing anything to it (clamping, etc).  also, the baby should ideally be lying on your belly or in a similarly low position so the blood can flow smoothly through the umbilical cord to him.  if you feel strongly about this, be sure it is in your birth plan.

pregnant? worried about what the placenta feels like coming out?

let's put it this way, if you are doing an unmedicated birth...you don't even need to worry for 2 seconds about whether it is difficult or painful to "push" the placenta out. i had a natural birth and everything after the baby came out was a blur.  meaning, the doctor mentioned something about a couple of stitches and maybe at some point the placenta came up in conversation...but i basically felt none of this.  pushing out a baby's head trumps everything so far.....and immediately thereafter, you are on the biggest high of your life---flooded with love and love hormones galore!

UPDATE : spoke recently with a friend who had a natural birth and her placenta did not detach quickly on its own, so doctor had to manually remove it.  this is a painful procedure, yet very rare.  if you have an epidural, pain is minimal.

who doesn't love a frozen maxi pad?, mesh underwear, and more....

be sure to warn your husband, if he likes to grab a cold snack while half-asleep at night, that the new "treats" in the long box in the freezer are not ice cream sandwiches.  a vaginal birth can will leave you tender and tow' up (from the flow' up), so it's not a bad idea to have some maxi pads stashed in the freezer to be able to use for soothing.

you may also want to buy some mesh disposable undies (um, kind of similar to those shown above...does he have eyeliner on?...who cares!) as you may likely bleed through your maxi pad and ruin all of your underwear. and for bleeding beyond that, which is relatively normal, send your hubby out to the drug store to buy some disposable underpads to protect your bed sheet.

then ask him to put on some mesh underwear and some of your eye make-up.

take the kids to the l.a. county fair this weekend!

you could spend all week at the los angeles county fair and still not see all of the exciting stuff they offer.  they have pig races, mexican wrestling, carnival rides, an art gallery, a flower and garden pavilion, funnel cake for days....mmmm!....and so much more....

don't forget to check out fairview farms and the big red barn where there will be animals, organic gardening, and even a farmhouse kitchen where you can learn how to cook healthy meals.

the los angeles county fair is in pomona and is open wed-sun through october 4th.

more on attachment parenting....

i just came across a review of an attachment parenting book that so eloquently describes this natural method of parenting, and i want to share it with you:

"Attachment to and dependency on parents... is a normal, healthy aspect of childhood and not something that needs to be discouraged." This quote fromAttachment Parenting: Instinctive Care for Your Baby and Young Child sums up the attitude behind the growing shift in many Western cultures toward a labor-intensive but arguably more rewarding, effective, and "natural" way to raise children. This philosophy, termed "Attachment Parenting" by its champion, pediatrician and father of eight Dr. William Sears (author of the popular child-care manual The Baby Book, among others), sees infants not as manipulative adversaries who must be "trained" to eat, sleep, and play when told, but as dependent yet autonomous human beings whose wants and needs are intelligible to the parent willing to listen, and who deserve to be responded to in a reasonable and sensitive manner. As with Sears's books, there are no plans or schedules here, no specific prescriptions for what to do with your child. Techniques to facilitate connection and communication are outlined, but mostly the book is an exhortation to listen and to trust yourself, and to trust your child's ability to convey to you what he or she needs."

the best unique handmade baby gifts on etsy!

how dang cute are these little booties?  etsy has the most incredible assortment of handmade items for babies and kids.  it's a great site to check out when you want something extra special.

here are some of the artists (click on photo to link to etsy artist):

kegels are not just for sexy times.

yes, yes, yes...i know you know about kegels.  you used to do them at every stop light during your early twenties.  now back to reality.  if you're having a baby they are super important.  not only should you be doing kegels up until you deliver, but it is imperative that you do them immediately after birth.

if you have no idea what the hell i'm talking about, a kegel is--according to wikipedia--an exercise that "consists of contracting and relaxing the muscles that form part of the pelvic floor."

i had a pelvic injury during birth, and it ends up that this is not uncommon.  more on that later.   weakened pelvic muscles can lead to issues including hemorrhoids, incontinence, and bladder prolapse--and some of these may not show up right away.  just add kegels to your list of important things to remember immediately following birth.

the phenomenal, phabulous, liphe-saving physical therapist, anita russek-lendach, taught me the proper way to do a kegel.  as it ends up, i was doing it half-right all these years---sorry guys.  you may have heard a kegel described as a tightening of the muscles that you use to stop your pee.  well yes, use these, but also incorporate your anus. you want to tighten/pull the pelvic muscles from the front (vagina) and the back (anus) toward each other and have these 2 groups meet right around the perineum---then pull them all upward and toward your belly button in one fell swoop....i always find that, if i visualize while trying, these pelvic exercises just somehow come together properly.