Postpartum
-For general
upset: try mother and baby get into
a warm bath with a large squirt of
Rescue Remedy (available at Change) in the water and
massage rescue remedy into
baby's hands and feet-repeat nightly as needed
-For perineal
tears: comfrey and/or yarrow tea in
sitz bath/ lavender hydrosol in sitz
bath
-For hormone
balancing: 1 teaspoon of rose
hydrosol (available at Change) per cup
of water or spritzed into air or in bath
CHANGE mom/baby classes and infant massage, other
specialty workshops
Park and Rec Depts have music classes, SM has
strollerrobics
La Petit Baleen has swimming for little ones
All hospitals have breastfeeding support groups
Mills has a mommy and me class (696-5600 for
details)
Mommy Boot Camp (look on web…lots of chapters)
Postpartum Depression:
Hormones wreaking havoc with your emotions is very
normal, crying jags, feeling
overwhelmed. To help balance out:
1 teaspoon of rose hydrosol (available at Change) in
cup of water as needed and 2
drops of 5-flower (rescue remedy) in your water up
to every 15 minutes.
Sometimes the situation is more serious. To help
recognize postpartum depression you
can take a questionnaire at www.ppdhope.com.
If you have 5 or more of the following
symptoms please seek help. Your healthcare provider
can help direct you:
I am not interested in activities I usually enjoy
I feel hopeless about the future
I can't make decisions
I feel sluggish or restless
I feel guilty or blame myself when anything goes
wrong
I am gaining or losing weight
I am sleeping too much, or can't sleep even when the
baby does
I feel unhappy
I feel irritable or anxious for no good reason
I think about dying or killing myself.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding/breast care:
-101 Reasons to
breastfeed:
http://www.promom.org/101/index.html
-In case of
engorgement: place a wilted cabbage
leaf between bra and breast (do not
use if you are allergic to sulfa drugs…it will dry
up your milk)
-In case of sore
nipples: some books claim that
1 mo before delivery use rescue
remedy cream, some students have used Burt’s Bees
Res-Q-ointment with success.
After breastfeeding, apply ointment and then wipe
off before feeding again; leave some
breast milk on nipple and air dry
-In case of
mastitis: start with hot compress,
hot shower; if no improvement add 1-2
drops of lavender e.o. on hot compress washcloth,
try Alexander shoulder roll and get
support at
http://www.yogaatchange.com/Mastitis.htm
-For engorgement
use cabbage leaf if you are not
allergic to sulfa drugs.
-For thrush (candida albicans): gentian violet 1-2%
on nipple, baby latches on
immediately. Try just one dose, if that doesn't work
try another. Then also drink Yukult
(available at Asian grocery stores in the
refrigerator section) for the highest amount of
acidopholous, The acidopholous “Jarrow” is
recommended by some...yogurt is not
enough. Also, use Grapefruit Seed Extract. Combine
10 drops with 2 oz. water and
pour over cotton balls in ziplock bag. Swab nipples
with cotton balls after each feeding.
Use different cotton ball for each nipple. Also, try
all-purpose nipple ointment. Must get
rx. from your doctor. Available at Broadway
pharmacy.
-To increase
milk supply: 2- 6 capsules of
500-610mg of Fenugreek at each meal
until you smell like maple syrup, do not come off
fenugreek until ready to wean…it can
majorly decrease milk supply.see http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/
fenugreekoverlooked-print.html
Mama Baby Tea for upset stomachs for mom and baby
and for increasing milk
supply…good for
reflux.
Recipe by Ruth Boudreaux
2 Raspberry Leaf (Traditional Medicinal, Female
System)
2 Tummy Mint (Celestial Seasoning Wellness Tea)
1 Ginger (yogi Tea)
2 Chamomile
Steep for 5 minutes in 4 cups of hot water and
transfer to pitcher and add water and
Five Flower drops 1/4 dropper full and chill.
More helpful websites:
www.Breastfeeding.com
http://www.mommysthinkin.com/Great_Links.htm#Parenting%20&%20Breastfeeding
Trush and treatment:
http://www.bflrc.com/newman/breastfeeding/gentviol.htm
General Breastfeeding Resources:
Nursing Mother’s Counsel:
free lactation services run by volunteers
Contact them: 650-327-6455
Hospital Breastfeeding support groups:
Mills, Sequoia and Kaiser…no need to have
given birth there.
La Leche League's website for FAQ for new moms about
the
first few weeks of breastfeeding:
www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBearlyweeks.html
Yoga Classes:
Mom/Baby Classes: Wednesdays 10:30-12noon
Available at CHANGE: 400 Ben Franklin Ct, San Mateo,
650-340-9642
Baby Resources
Babies do best with lots of skin contact…this helps
them sleep better and helps
with their overall health and well-being. Try to
give them at least 20 minutes
every day…lots more if possible.
Adjusting to life outside the womb/any birth trauma:
5-flower(rescue remedy-available at Change) on the
anterior fontenel (front soft spot).
For any issues you can go to www.abchomeopathy.com to figure out which remedy
might be best for you or your baby…or contact a
homeopath from above.
If baby experiences a “dry birth” they may act
colicky or have trouble sleeping, please
make your life easier and get them some cranial
sacral (Laureen Fanucchi listed in
prenatal massage, or Melvin Friedman, DO listed in
osteopath above, or Simon Yu
listed in Chiropractic above) This can also help if
the baby seems to be starting to get
“Flathead”.
Baby Colic:
-Try the 5 s's...from The Happiest Baby on the Block
-Do yoga for their spine...pick up feet like
changing the diaper and roll them on their
spine up to their shoulders and then back down 3-5
times.
-Try homeopathy
-Chamomilla often helps
Baby Reflux:
Mama Baby Tea (recipe under breastfeeding section)
Lots of sling carrying
Baby hammock… www.ambibaby.com
www.hpakids.org
Baby Carriers:
Maya Wrap and Slings, Didymos,
http://www.didymos.de/english/index_e.htm (both
shoulders)
For wrap instructions go to peppermint.com or for a
private tutoring by Becca Bennett
650-349-0839
http://www.thebabywearer.com/articles/HowTo/WrapLinks.htm
Also,
www.childrensneeds.com is a great place
to buy slings / wraps. The owners are
great and very honest.
Ergobabycarrier.com still does both shoulders
without a need to learn the wraps.
Also, check out: Ergonomic Infant Chair 6 wks+http://www.bumbobabyseat.com/
Product Safety & Reducing Toxins:
You shouldn't use anything on a regular basis that's
not a green light product, yellow is
okay on occasion. http://www.ewg.org
Scroll down to the "Skin deep" article and click on
that to check most bodily products!
Books:
When ready to add solid foods, check out:
Child of Mine: Feeding With Love and Good Sense and
Mommy Made and Daddy Too: Home Cooking for a Healthy
Baby & Toddler
FOOD Containers:
Elisa Song, MD recommends the following containers
if you must use plastic to store food (don’t
store acidic food in plastic):
Safer Choices
Glass, ceramic, stoneware
Stainless stell-www.kleankanteen.com
Never reuse “single-use” bottles
Don’t heat/microwave food in plastic (and don’t
drink the bottled water that has been
sitting in your hot car all afternoon)
#2 HDPE Safer Choices:
.Betras USA Sport Bottles, Betras USA Nestable Quart, Betras Long Neck
Bottles,
Carlisle Store “N Pour 4 quart square, FMP Quart
Bottle with lid and spout, Impact
Stackrack Jug 5 gal., Nalgene Wide Mouth Round 1
Quart, Playtex Straw Cups,
Tupperware Freezesmart ,Tupperware Ice Cube Tray,
Tupperware, Ice Tups Set,
Tupperware Jet Ring Mold
#4 LDPE Safer Choices:
.Best Bet Clear Plastic Wrap, Bell Brand Authentic
Squeeze Bottles, Brita Fill and, Go
Water Filtration Bottle, Glad Cling Wrap, Glad Food
Storage Bags, Glad Lock Bags,
Glad Sandwich Bags, Hefty Baggies, Hefty One Zip
Slider bags, Saran Cling Plus,
Ziploc Bags, Ziplock Double Guard Freezer Bags
#5 PP Safer Choices:
Arrow Canteen, Arrow Colored Measuring Cups, Betras
USA Mondster Mugs, Betras
USA Insulated Travel Mugs, Betras USA Termo Mugs,
C&K Manufacturing Flash Chill 2
liter plastic, The Container Store Tellfresh Snack
Box, The Container Store Tellfresh
Screw Top, The Container Store Tell fresh oblong,
Gladware containers, Playtex
Spillproof cups (lids #2), Rubbermaid (all food
storage containers), Rubbermaid Sipper
Seal, Rubbermaid Chuggables Bottles, Rubbermaid
Pitchers (colors), Rubbermaid
Sippin Sport Bottles, Sterlite (all containers,
bowls, pitchers, tumblers), Sweetheart
Round Storage Containers, The Container Store Stack
N Store Containers, The
Container Store, Fresh Date Containers, The
Container Store Rectangular Bulk Food
Storage, Tupperware Bowls I all), Tupperware Crystal
Wave Microwave Containers,
Tupperware Modular Mates, Tupperware Quick Shake
Containers, Tupperware One
Touch Reminder Canister, Ziploc Containers(all),
Ziploc Table Top Bowls
Reducing Toxins in the home website:
http://www.lesstoxicguide.ca/print.asp?mode=whole
http://www.reduce.org/toxics/ According to the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency
(EPA), only a fraction of the more than 75,000
registered chemicals have gone through
complete testing for human health concerns. Some
chemicals have immediate toxic
effects. Others are toxic to our bodies only after
repeated, long-term exposure. This
guide helps expecting and breastfeeding moms to
reduce toxic chemical use in their
homes.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
Skin Deep pairs ingredients in nearly 25,000
cosmetics and personal care products
(including baby care products) against 50 definitive
toxicity and regulatory databases,
making it the largest integrated data resource of
its kind.
House wise
Healthy house…for all types of allergies and to
prepare the house for little lungs
http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/home/index.asp
National Geographic's "The Green Guide" features an
article and provides links to a
variety of information sources about building an organic and non-toxic life
for your
baby. Topics include diapers, furniture, bedding,
toys, clothing, and more: http://
www.thegreenguide.com/doc/119/greenroom
Support group after the baby:
Mommy and Me with Donna Lanam at Mills Hospital…2
different age groups
Mom/Baby Yoga class at CHANGE Wed 10:30-12 noon
yogaatchange.com
Additional Helpful Websites
Birthing
www.Gentlebirth.org-General
info written by midwives
www.parenting.ivillage.com/
www.babycenter.com
Anatomy
http://www.maternitywise.org/mw/topics/pelvic-floor/index.html....pelvic
floor
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus
www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/pubicpain.htm
Aromatherapy
http://www.moondragon.org/aromatherapy/aromapreg.html...midwife
in Salem,MA
Flower Essences
http://www.essences.com/vibration
http://flowersociety.org/
Breech babies
http://www.mother-care.ca/breech.htm#deep
http://www.birthinternational.com/articles/andrea13.html
Natal Astrological Charts
www.Astro.com-free
astrological chart
Support after neonatal death
http://www.handsupport.org/
Baby Wearing:
www.peppermint.com
http://www.thebabywearer.com/articles/HowTo/WrapLinks.htm
www.childrensneeds.com
Aromatherapy in general
Pacific Institute of Aromatherapy:
www.pacificinstituteofaromatherapy.com/
Original Swiss Aromatics:
www.originalswissaromatics.com/Default.asp?
Essential Aura Aromatics www.essentialaura.com
Sabia
www.sabia.com (sells OSA products and
others)
www.Adriaflor.com (this
is Catherine who lives in HMB and does workshops for
CHANGE)
Herbs
Bulk:
www.moutainroseherbs.com
Packaged…at good prices: www.herbsmd.com
Bisphenol A
http://www.ewg.org/node/20943
Article entitled: "Chemical Linked to Birth Defects
found at Unsafe Levels in Canned
Food Plastics Compound Highest in Soup, Pasta, Baby
Formula." Deals
with Bisphenol A.
http://biology.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371%
2Fjournal.pbio.0050193#8837432708112924205
Journal article entitled: "The Toxic Origins of
Disease: Researchers say endocrinedisrupting
chemicals can permanently harm the developing
organism
and may even promote obesity. But the chemical
industry doesn't want you to believe
them." Deals primarily with Bisphenol A.
http://biology.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=get-document&doi=10.1371%
2Fjournal.pbio.0050193#8837432708112924205
Journal article entitled: The Toxic Origins of
Disease: Researchers say endocrinedisrupting
chemicals can permanently harm the developing
organism
and may even promote obesity. But the chemical
industry doesn't want you to believe
them. Deals primarily with Bisphenol A, which is
found in nearly
all brands of baby bottles.
Medication use during pregnancy
http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5314,00.html
Categorizes antibiotics according to their relative
safety during pregnancy.
http://www.having-a-baby.com/chart.htm
The FDA's guide to use of prescription and
over-the-counter medication during
pregnancy.
Vaccinations
http://www.909shot.com,
http://www.vaccineawakening.blogspot.com/,
http://
thinktwice.com/.
Vaccinations, a Thoughtful Parent's Guide by Aviva Jill Romm. This book shows both
sides.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vaccines/HQ01629
The Mayo Clinic's official vaccine
schedule for children.
The general Yahoo! group on this topic can be found
here:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Vaccinations/
Autism
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/06/15/couricandco/entry2934107.shtml
Article entitled: Autism: Why the Debate Rages, by
Sharyl Attkisson, the Capitol Hill
Correspondent for CBS News. The Bay Area Yahoo!
group on this topic can be found
here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Slowandnovaxmoms/
Miscellaneous Websites:
Housing for
abuse victims:
http://sanmateo.networkofcare.org/mh/resource/find.cfm
Natural Resources
(SF)
www.naturalresourcesonline.com (415) 550-2611
Agencies providing perinatal services:
http://www.plsinfo.org/healthysmc/
6/128.html...county
The Environmental Working Group's guide to eating fish while pregnant:
http://
www.ewg.org/fishguide
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/cribsafe.html
U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission's guide to crib safety and SIDS reduction.
http://lifestyle.msn.com/familyandparenting/babyandpregnancy/article.aspx?cpdocumentid=
3058607
Brain-boosting activities for newborns and babies.
http://parentsguidecordblood.org/content/usa/banklists/listusa.shtml
Since 1998, the
Parent's Guide to Cord Blood has
been providing expectant parents
with unbiased information comparing cord blood
banks.
http://falcao.best.vwh.net/local/resources.html
One mid-wife's guide to Bay Area
resources for
natural pregnancy and birth,
breastfeeding support, and other
services.
http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBNovDec95p172.html
La Leche League's pro/con discussion about the
use of pacifiers.
http://www.weehands.com/ Wee Hands offers sign language classes and
products
helping parents to use ASL to better communicate
with their infants, toddlers or
preschoolers. (The Bay Area Yahoo! group on this
topic can be found here: http://
groups.yahoo.com/group/Signwithyourbaby/)
Attachment parenting online support group is www.appen.org.
Buy and sell maternity clothing:
www.MaternityXchange.com
http://www.pediatrix.com/homepage_screening.cfm?id=94&oTopID=94
Each state is charged with creating and managing a
program to screen newborns for
inherited disorders.
However, many states include only a handful of disorders, leaving
thousands of newborns unscreened for dozens
disorders every year. According to the
March of Dimes, screening for at least 29 core
newborn conditions is required and fully
implemented only in Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, the
District of Columbia, Iowa,
Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, New
Mexico, New York, Rhode Island,
Virginia, and Wyoming. Caught in time, many
disorders are manageable. Pediatrix
Screening offers a service that determines a baby's
risk for more than 50 inherited and
metabolic disorders, using a simple procedure to be
coordinated
with your doctor and completed within 48 hours of
delivery.
Preparing the house for baby:
House wise
Healthy house…for all types of allergies and to
prepare the house for little lungs
http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/home/index.asp
Reducing Toxins in the home
http://www.lesstoxicguide.ca/print.asp?mode=whole
http://www.diaperfreebaby.org/
This practice is followed worldwide and is known as
Elimination Communication,
Natural Infant Hygiene, and Infant Potty Training.
The process involves observing
one's baby's signs and signals, providing cue sounds
and elimination-place
associations, and can be done with or without any
diaper use. (The Bay Area Yahoo!
group on this topic can be found here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mid-PeninsulaDFB/