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Mother's Milk the Ultimate Vaccine

2/25/2016

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Mothers are told to get vaccinated while pregnant for influenza and pertussis, which is Tdap, 3-shots-in-one. If a mother truly feels she needs these vaccines, perhaps after she births may be best; not exposing the unborn baby to harsh preservatives. According to the CDC she should also have MMR and Varicella, aka chicken pox, if she hasn't had it already. Varicella is a highly contagious vaccine. It's advised to avoid infants, elderly, and immune compromised. Did you know the CDC doesn't give the MMR until after a year because the baby receives a natural immunity through the Mother's Milk? Did you know Pertussis antibodies also are passed in Mother's Milk? If you get the shot it can take two weeks to develop antibodies. If your baby was exposed to a virus or disease and you breastfeed it only takes your body until the next feeding to protect your baby. If the CDC even says immunity is passed in breastfeeding, why aren't providers working harder to support an immune the system process that does work?

"A woman who has not received the new vaccine for the prevention of tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) should be vaccinated right after delivery. Vaccinating a new mother against pertussis (whooping cough) reduces the risk to her infant too. Also, a woman who is not immune to measles, mumps and rubella and/or varicella (chicken pox) should be vaccinated before leaving the hospital. If inactivated influenza vaccine was not given during pregnancy, a woman should receive it now because it will protect her infant. LAIV may be an option" http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/downloads/f_preg.pdf

"Why is MMR vaccine given after the first birthday? Most infants born in the United States will receive passive protection against measles, mumps, and rubella in the form of antibodies from their mothers. These antibodies can destroy the vaccine virus if they are present when the vaccine is given and, thus, can cause the vaccine to be ineffective. By 12 months of age, almost all infants have lost this passive protection" (it's because most infants are weaned by this age. The American Academy of Pediatrics, AAP, and World Health Organization, WHO, say to breastfeed until the age of 2 or longer as both parties desire)
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/measles/faqs-dis-vac-risks.htm


 "By breastfeeding, you may pass some antibodies you have made in response to the vaccine to your baby. When you get a whooping cough vaccine during your pregnancy, you will have antibodies in your breast milk that you can share with your baby as soon as your milk comes in. However, your baby will not get protective antibodies immediately if you wait to get the whooping cough vaccine until after delivering your baby. This is because it takes about 2 weeks for your body to create antibodies"
http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/pregnant/mom/get-vaccinated.html

"Breastfeeding has been shown to be protective against many illnesses, including painful ear infections, upper and lower respiratory ailments, allergies, intestinal disorders, colds, viruses, staph, strep and e coli infections, diabetes, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, many childhood cancers, meningitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, salmonella, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS) as well as lifetime protection from Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitis, some lymphomas, insulin dependent diabetes, and for girls, breast and ovarian cancer."..."Through your breast milk, you give your baby immunities to illnesses to which you are immune and also those to which you have been exposed. Nursing also allows your baby to give germs to you so that your immune system can respond and can synthesize antibodies! This means that if your baby has come in contact with something which you have not, (s)he will pass these germs to you at the next nursing; during that feeding, your body will start to manufacture antibodies for that particular germ. By the time the next feeding arrives, your entire immune system will be working to provide immunities for you and your baby"
http://www.llli.org/faq/prevention.html


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A Recipe for Birthing Success

8/11/2013

4 Comments

 
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​​Serves 1-2​ ​Serving size varies 1-2 or more


Preheat oven to 98.6* Bake about 41-1/7thmo.

1 (6-9lb) Baby, or more-less if preferred

1 Well trained, supportive Partner

2 Prenatal visits with a Doula, 1 postpartum

12 Weeks The Bradley Method®, of natural childbirth

10-15 Prenatal visits with a Doctor or Midwife

41-1/7th mo. Staying low risk

Dash of Parents, Friends, and/or Nurses (optional)

Garnish with lactation support

(Optional)

Add in a good place to birth, Hospital, Birth Center, Home, Car 

Directions:

1. To preheated oven, add in one baby and allow steeping; with the aid of partner. .

2. Select a well trained doula through one of the leading doula organizations, or a local doula program, such as Bella Birth Choices. (Doula comes from the Greek language meaning woman caregiver or servant) With a doula’s support research has shown women tend to result in shorter labors with fewer complications and the need for interventions and medications. With a doula mixed in a lot is relieved of the coach’s role as the doula is there as the assistant coach; though they are trained, if needed, to act as the main coach. They also, in the last step helps reinforce the garnishment, lactation.

3. Add in 12 informative weeks through The Bradley Method®. With this well incorporated; a nutritional diet and exercise routine will be established. Regular Labor, relaxation, and birthing practice will commence with the support of a well trained coach.

4. Incorporate throughout the baking process 10-15 visits to a supportive care provider, doctor or midwife. Choose one that shares the same view of a normal, natural, safe birth.

5. Stir in 41-1/7th months of staying low risk with good nutrition, exercise, education, avoidance of harmful substances (e.g. drugs, smoking, alcohol, mercury, caffeine, etc), relaxation, and avoidance of stress. (Adapted from“What You Can Do To Stay Healthy and Low Risk”. The Bradley Method® Teacher’s Manual. Pg60-62.1995/2001.) 41-1/7th month is adapted from Yale University’s study compiled in 1990 Mittendorf, et al., "The Length of Uncomplicated Human Gestation," "Obstetrics and Gynecology," vol. 75, no. 6, June 1990; not the 1800 study stating 40 weeks and the baby is fully done. This can cause under ripening of such a delicate dish.

6. Dash in a few parents, friends, and/or nurses during the final stages. Though added in at the end is so important to this process. They can help create the compiled atmosphere that the baby will be laid out in. The nurses often are the ones that determine the baby being placed directly on mom or in the incubator.

7. Once the baby has been plated on the mother’s 98.6* body garnishing can take place with good lactation support through the doula, training received in The Bradley Method®, attendance to La Leche League meetings, and hospital staff.

The place of birth is important, but more importantly are the support team surrounding the birth. Some hospitals may be more supportive towards the normal, natural birth process. Choose each element of your birth wisely, with much research, and subjectivity.

Store at skin-to-skin temperatures around 98.6*. When extra dressings, cloths, are required; baby should be dressed in accordance to the parent who leans to feeling the coldest.

*Choose quality ingredients wisely to help ensure success!

**Bella Birth Choices Labor Doula, Childbirth Educator, Belly and life Casting, Placenta Encapsulation, Tinctures, Salves, and Chocolates

(307) BABY-DAY {222.9329}; bellabirthchoices@gmail.com; www.bellabirthchoices.com

http://www.bradleybirth.com?C584

4 Comments

The Cats Purr

12/31/2012

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Ultrasound and infrasound a must read. In talking with my dad, a cardio vascular tech, he explained to me the difference in dopplers; the lower the ultrasound frequency, the deeper the image penetration. It's why fetal dopplers are 2 & 3mhz while vascular dopplers are 4, 5, & 6mhz. My daughter’s BJU press textbook talked about ultrasonic waves and infrasonic waves. It did say ultrasonic can be dangerous over a long period of time. [I’ll be blogging this info at some point] A cat’s purr, which is infrasonic, is healing. Your cat may
not just be purring in contentment though. I find the information interesting because when I'm pregnant one of my cats is extremely attracted to my pheromones and often nuggles up to my round belly and just sits and purrs. Purring is not always contentment, but also for healing. Infrasound can travel through mountains, buildings, etc; while ultrasound is made to travel short distances. 

When chickens were exposed to infrasound they grew denser bones. It's also why
cats heal better and have fewer injuries than dogs. I've heard pregnant women
can't swim with dolphins because they can see she's pregnant and they become
overly nurturing and can bump her to hard, accidentally, and she hogs the entire
dolphin’s attention in the dolphin encounters. http://paulapeterson.com/CatsPurr.html

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Don't hat a newborn!

12/21/2012

3 Comments

 
The reasons for not hatting (adapted from Carla Harlty):
1.Hats can be very dangerous. They can cause moms to have postpartum hemorrhaging. As it turns out the experience of birth is what triggers the built in safety mechanisms. This is also true for third stage. Mom being able to smell her newborn’s head is the design for the reconnection of mother and baby (smell of baby to olfactory system to limbic system = initiation of “identification” biology) and release of Oxytocin signaling the uterus to release placenta and stop bleeding so necessary for mother’s health. The smell doesn't so much trigger Oxytocin as it is that the limbic system is waiting for that smell in order to tell the uterus it is ok to proceed to the next step; anything we do to inhibit that process is dangerous to the mamma.

2.In addition to hats interfering with bonding and safety of third stage, hatting restricts the unmoulding of the baby’s skull. Plus the head is extremely sensitive in those first hours.

3.The hats we use in the U.S. do nothing for maintenance of core temp according to the studies I have found, and in fact one study showed that a hat was detrimental to maintenance of core temp. Brain cooling may actually be good for all babies and not those who have potential brain damage. And studies show that skin to skin with mom is most effective way to stabilize core temperature and that in fact, her body will heat and cool as
needed for baby’s sake as it did when baby was inside. Even if separated from mom, a hat is NOT proven to stabilize core temp unless it is woolen these stockinette or cotton hats we use are useless if not dangerous throw them away.

Brilliant! We cannot improve on this design. Why do we keep trying?

I hope you learned. I sure did, when I first heard of this concept. It’s a part of
protecting moms and protecting babies.
3 Comments

My Baby's Head Sunk In!

8/16/2010

18 Comments

 
My sister took her 4 week old baby to the pool to let him explore. He wore sun block and she kept her back to the sun. While swimming she noticed the center of her baby’s head had sunk in. She panicked called the pediatrician, who was busy, and tried Googling what was going on with her baby.

This can be quite alarming to see happen and if not handled properly can lead to greater medical conditions. The soft spot sinks in when a baby is dehydrated. This can be seen when a baby has been in hot weather, not getting another liquids, or going through the flu. It is important that if you are breastfeeding to continue to and even increase the fluid intake. Formula fed babies should also continue the formula intake to ensure good hydration.  

“Children’s skin can be quite sensitive to heat. Nursing moms often discover this, especially in the summertime, when their baby’s face turns red where it is against the mother’s skin. This redness comes from blood vessels in the area dilating to cool the skin down. Cooling the skin usually makes the rash disappear within hours, or even sooner. Prickly heat (miliaria rubra) is a type of heat rash that lasts.

Heat cramps are common with physical exertion. They usually affect the calf or hamstring muscles.

Heat syncope is fainting due to heat/dehydration.

Heat edema is swelling of the hands or feet from heat. People sometimes get this condition when initially exposed to hot weather.

Heat tetany is tingling, especially of the wrists. Hyperventilation in hot weather can cause heat tetany.

Heat exhaustion usually entails a body temperature of 101 to 104, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and fainting.

It is important to recognize and treat heat exhaustion immediately. 

Heat stroke is very serious. A person’s temperature rises over 104 degrees and he or she has an altered mental status. 50 percent of those with heat stroke die from it. There are two types of heat stroke: exertional, with profuse sweating; and classic, in which the skin is hot and dry. Classic heat stroke builds up over days and is most common in infants and in the elderly. It is a true emergency.

The smaller the child, the less likely he is to be able to tolerate heat, especially if he is already a bit dehydrated or has a fever, and if there is poor air circulation.

Heat injuries can occur at any age. Sports and physical activity are generally beneficial and healthy for adolescents; nevertheless, heat injuries are among the leading causes of sports deaths.”(1)

*If you are concerned seek medical advice and attention. This blog is just to help inform what may be going on with your infant and is not to substitute that of the medical profession.

1. Gavigan C. Healthy Begins Here. June 30, 2010. http://blogs.webmd.com/health-ehome/2010/06/heat-stroke-is-no-joke-keep-hydrated-this-summer.html.

 

 
18 Comments

Square peg into a round hole

7/29/2010

27 Comments

 
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How do you fit a square peg into a round hole? It’s called molding. Not like the mold on bread or the infamous stuff health agencies are warning about growing in your home. 

The baby’s head is not particularly square, but it is divided into 4 sections or plates. (Don’t try serving meals on your baby’s head. It will not be received well by guests) Each plate is called anterior and posterior fontanelles. The lack of a plate in the middle is what creates the soft spot.

As the baby fits out of the pelvis the skull is pushed together overlapping one another to fit through the pelvis, birth canal, and perineum. Babies will experience heavy molding as they are being pushed out of a smaller pelvis. It is rare that baby’s truly cannot fit. This is called Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD). Often this diagnosis is given when the baby has not had enough time to mold. Once diagnosed with CPD doesn’t mean you are going have it with subsequent births. Every birth, baby size, and the amount of relaxin your body produces to open the pelvis and relax ligaments, for the birthing process, is different. If you are diagnosed with CPD you will have a c-section. Research through www.google.com and www.ican.com; for further information on CPD and VBAC, vaginal birth after cesarean. Being born short or petite doesn’t mean you weren’t born to birth your baby.

Will my baby’s cone-head get stuck that way? Nope. Now some people’s head’s are a bit misshapen, but usually not grotesquely as the molding of some births. That is usually from being placed large amounts of time on their backs as infants, the way they sleep, genetics (bone growth), and that’s just the way God molded them.

Two of my favorite moldings are the cleft of the chin and the dimple below the nose. Those are where God placed His thumb on the chin, grasping the underside with the index exclaiming, “You little cutie!” The other was created when He placed his index on your lip saying, “Shhhh.” 

Next time Cone Heads is on TV just remember they had to go through lots and lots of molding to be born.


http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002270.htm
http://www.breastfeeding.com/helpme/baby_fit.html
http://www.consultantlive.com/pediatrics/content/article/10162/10976
http://fammed.washington.edu/network/sfm/newborncaremodule.htm
(picture was taken from here. I couldn’t find a copy right)

27 Comments

IBirth

7/14/2010

1 Comment

 
My 13 year old daughter has been begging for a cell phone since she was 11 years old. We being good parents, torturous to some, have resisted the teenage forces of begging, pleading, and the “but all my friends have one’s”. She used her birthday gift cards, money, and allowance that she does chores to earn, to buy an Itouch Ipod. Her dad, her, and I sat and played with it and were amazed how fast the internet speed on it is.

So how is my daughter’s Ipod pregnancy related? While playing on it I found a FREE Labor and Contraction Counter. I liked the one by Michael Kale. The other ones were $.99 and seemed more in depth, but got mixed reviews. There are also nursing counters, diaper changing apps, there is also pregnancy trackers, baby sign language, diaper bag checklists, Free name finder, there is even an eye color predictor. I am just amazed at this whole app world. I may be behind in this, but it’s worth sharing.
1 Comment

Vaseline®

7/9/2010

7 Comments

 
You may have received this at your baby shower as a gift, which it truly is. I had no idea why I was given this sticky, gloppy, even messy product. I have asked the givers why I had received such a product and what the uses were. The replies were, “It’s what was given to me.” “It was in the baby isle.” No one had and ideas what or why I should have it. I now have about 6 jars of this yellow product in various bathrooms under the sink, since I have seen it along with toiletry items at our local stores.

I have since discovered Vaseline® has so many great uses. Vaseline® is actually a household name like Band-Aid® is an adhesive bandage. Vaseline® is a brand of petroleum jelly. Some of its wonderful uses are a lubricant, plastic preserver, make-up remover, moisturizer; the list is almost endless. It has a shelf life of 8-10 years, which is good for my 6 tubs. It is said to have been discovered in raw form in 1859, but 1872 was when it was patented

The most related use to birth I have heard, and this is very recently, is during post partum. After the baby is born, just before diapering, put a thin layer of Vaseline® (petroleum jelly) on the baby’s rump. This will help keep the meconium from sticking, for easier clean-up. What an amazing idea! You’ll want to apply it to about the first 4 diaper changes of meconium. What an amazing idea!

These two sites also offer some great, practical uses for this little pot of gold.

http://gomestic.com/homemaking/22-wonderful-uses-for-petroleum-jelly/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_jelly
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  • Home
  • About Me
  • What is a Doula
  • Services
    • Birth Doula
    • Childbirth Education
    • Placenta Encapsulation
    • Belly Casting
  • Contact Me
  • Resources
  • Local Resources
    • Resources in Bay, Walton, Escambia, Leon, and Okaloosa County >
      • Health Care Providers
      • Birth Centers
      • Pediatrician
  • Bella Blogings/pregnancy info
  • Documents
  • References
  • Web board
  • Videos