PureHope

New allergy forums!

2009-03-29T14:45:00.002-06:00

I think a forum is a better way to convey allergy information since it allows us to communicate more effectively than blogger.com's comment system.

So, I asked my husband to set one up and here it is:

PureHope's Allergy Forums

Food Allergies and Travel

2006-04-20T07:18:00.000-06:00

This topic has been on my mind for the past few days as I have recently returned from an amazing all-inclusive vacation in Cuba. I have an anaphylactic allergy to shellfish and had no problems eating at the resort I stayed at, Sol Cayo Guillermo. I just made sure I stayed away from things where I wasn’t sure of the ingredients and focused on simple, safe, foods. Easy enough for an adult with a single food allergy to do.

Unfortunately, I am not sure how easy this would be for someone with multiple food allergies (like my son). One reason is the language barrier. If you do not speak the national language where you are staying, and if the resort workers do not speak fluent English, the seriousness and severity of your allergy can get lost in translation. Another reason is that most of the meals are done in a buffet style restaurant – how can you be certain that they staff are aware of cross-contamination and what means do they use to prevent it? I wasn’t completely comfortable in this regard at the resort I stayed in so I just did not choose foods that were close to where the shellfish was. However, this is more difficult when you are dealing with multiple food allergies.

I found this fantastic website called Select Wisely (www.selectwisely.com). They create cards that state your allergy and they can be customized in 15 standard world languages. You can also put in a special order for allergies that are not in their standard list and for additional languages that are not part of their standard list. The cards have pictures as well as text so that there can be no question as to your food allergy. I think these cards, or something similar, are a travel must have for those with multiple and/or severe food allergies.

Allergy Friendly Home Daycare

2006-03-31T13:42:00.000-06:00

We recently found out that our son’s current daycare worker is moving to Toronto in July. Her husband is in the military and has been transferred. It’s a great career move for them, but it leaves us in a predicament. I interviewed close to 20 home daycares prior to finding the lady we chose and none of them came close to being a safe environment for my son. We thought we would send him to a daycare center, however the cost for a baby his age (17 months) is almost $42/day. Including the amount we pay for our daughter, this would bring us up to $1500/month in daycare costs. We both have decent jobs and make decent money but that is just not an affordable cost. I though about applying for a subsidy considering my son has a type of a “special need” and can’t just go to any old daycare. However, I immediately felt guilty even thinking that as the subsidy money is there for people who desperately need it – I don’t think we are at that point.

When I was searching for daycare for Liam the first time around, I was surprised at the number of daycare workers who did not feel comfortable having an allergic child as part of their group. Now when I reflect on it, it doesn’t seem surprising to me at all. It is a lot of extra responsibility. I find it funny though how they get to choose not to accept that responsibility, as parents, there is no choice. I often think a lucrative business would be an allergy friendly home daycare with reasonable rates. There was once a time when I thought I would take on this business venture, however, I quickly realized that I might not have the patience a good daycare worker needs to enjoy and be successful at their career.

Anaphylaxis Plan

2006-03-28T13:52:00.000-06:00

I recently found the following website and thought it might be useful for those individuals dealing with anaphylaxis who do not have a medical background. They have an Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan that you can download and personalize. These plans are useful in schools, daycares, for the babysitter, or just to keep on your person along with your epi-pen. http://www.allergysafecommunities.ca

This specific page, http://www.allergysafecommunities.ca/default.asp?catid=35, has a sample school anaphylaxis plan as well as a sample letter from the principle to parents regarding the schools anaphylaxis plan and a letter from the teacher to parents about how allergies are handled in the classroom.

Weekend to End Breast Cancer - Count me in!

2006-02-22T12:08:00.000-06:00

60km Walk! Come again?

I am about to do something a little bit crazy, fairly demanding, but a lot of fun. I have registered, along with my firend Claire, to participate in The Weekend to End Breast Cancer. For those of you who have not heard of this event, the goal is to walk 60 kilometres over two days throughout the neighbourhoods of Ottawa. The event will take place on July 21-23, 2006.

By registering for this event I have committed to raising $2000 and am asking for your help to complete this task. The money I raise will go directly into research initiatives at the Centre for Cancer Therapeutics at The Ottawa Health Research Institute. They will use it to investigate better ways to treat breast cancer, including targeted treatments that minimize the negative side effects while still effectively combating a patient’s cancer. They are also learning more about how to predict and prevent breast cancer. Since I work in research, I know first hand the benefits the research institutes derive from this type of fundraising.

On a more personal note, I am doing this for my mom who had a breast cancer scare this year and I am doing this for those close to me who have lost loved ones to this disease. I am doing this because 1 in 9 women will develop breast cancer over their lifetime and I don’t want my family or friends, to be a statistic.

If you would like to support me by making a donation please click on the link below and it will take you to my personal donation webpage.

Thank you and I will be keeping all of my donors in mind, and in my heart, as I walk

http://www.endcancer.ca/site/TR?px=1252401&pg=personal&fr_id=1160

MMR Vaccine in Children with an Egg Allergy - Update

2006-02-21T13:25:00.000-06:00

I thought I should update my previous post on MMR in children with an egg allergy. I did my own research, asked others who worked in research, and discussed this topic with my allergist. It is well supported that children who have an egg allergy do not have a significantly higher risk of having an allergic reaction to this vaccine. Unfortunately, my family doctor did not feel comfortable giving my son the vaccine in her office and wanted me to get it done at his allergists office. I was upset about this because of logistic reasons – but in the end I was glad he got his shot at the allergists office.

My little boy had to become a statistic! He had an allergic reaction to the vaccine, but thankfully it only involved one system, his skin. The allergist administered an antihistamine in the office and we waited in total about 2 hours to see how his reaction progressed. Once we were cleared to leave the office I was on allergy alert all day as directed by our allergist. If his symptoms were to get worse or if he were to develop new symptoms then we were to call the Drs. hotline and bring him to the hospital.

Luckily, he was fine. I still believe in the research that supports the administration of MMR to children with an egg allergy. Unfortunately, you can never be sure if your child will be in the group that doesn’t react to the vaccine or the group that does.

Dairy Free, Egg Free, Peanut Free, Tree Nut Free Products

2006-01-31T14:42:00.000-06:00

I was doing my grocery shopping this weekend when a woman stopped to talk to me about the soy yogurt I was buying for my son. She mentioned that her son is also allergic to cow’s milk protein and was curious if my son liked the soy yogurt. As I was speaking to her I noticed that she was holding a package of rice cheese in her hand. I asked her if she was buying that for her son and she said she was. At that moment I realized that she probably didn’t know how to read an ingredient list for the other names cow’s milk protein is referred to. The rice cheese she was holding has casein in it – that is another term for cow’s milk protein – and obviously very dangerous for her son.

This has prompted me to start compiling a list of the products I find that are safe for my son to eat, or seem to be safe so far. I cannot guarantee that these products will always be safe to eat as manufacturers change ingredients in the products, or change the factories where the products are made, frequently. Therefore, please read the ingredients list every time you go to buy the product. All of these products I can get at my local grocery or health food store. I will update this list as new products come to my attention. In addition, I will post a list of things to look for while reading ingredient lists for potential allergens.

Betty brand bread and buns
Life Stream Eggless and Dairy Free Waffles – Hemp or Berry
Healthy Choice Chicken Nuggets
Honey Maid Graham Wafers
Decadent Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Primo Chicken and Rice Canned Soup – None of the pasta versions are safe
Tofutti Mozzarella Soy Cheese Slices (make sure the cheese indicates that it is casein and lactose free)
PC Organics Spaghetti Sauces (or any jarred sauce that does not have pine nuts or cheese in it)
Premium Plus Crackers
PC and Harvest Whole Wheat Pasta
Uncle Ben’s Natural Selection Wild Rice Microwaveable Package
Quaker Plain Rice Cakes
Rice Krispies
Cheerios – however, I have some concern as to how they keep the plain Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios Separate – I will have to call the company on this one.
So Nice Soy Milk – Chocolate and Regular
So Nice Soy Yogurt
Rice Dream Milk
Chickpeas, Kidney beans, black beans etc. (If your child is allergic to peanuts, lentils and split peas may not be safe as they are closely related).
Dare Simple Pleasures Oatmeal Cookies
Rold Gold Pretzels
Regular Potato chips (most varities)
Life Choice Chicken Nuggets and Fish Sticks (these are made in a factory that makes other things that have milk in them but my son has never had a reaction).
PC Turkey Tornados (yes, processed food, but it is a quick and easy meal and sometimes you need that).
More to come....

A Happy and Healthy New Year

2006-01-06T09:06:00.000-06:00

Okay moms, here we go…

One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions for women, especially those who have just had a baby, is to lose weight, get fit, and stay that way.

How often do we make this resolution only to fall off the wagon, never to get back on, until the time comes around again to make another New Year’s resolution.

Well, I think 2006 is a good year to stop this cycle. 2006 should be a year that we forget this resolution nonsense and to just try to clean up our lives step by step. It shouldn’t be about the pounds or the inches; it should be about how you feel about yourself. Make those changes, big or small, that will boost your self-esteem, help you remain positive, and will make you happy.

This is my goal, and not just for 2006. I will make little changes that in turn will make me happier and as a result healthier. I believe that if you are happy, then automatically you will be healthy – I guess it’s a mind/body connection thing (which I really don’t know anything about). To start, I committed to a weekly outing with my friend Claire. I enjoy spending time with her and that makes me happy. As an added bonus, our outing is a physical activity, so as well as getting to spend time with her, I also get to exercise. My husband and I are spending more quality time together, which also makes me happy, and I am focusing more attention to little things I enjoy like reading, cooking, and playing.

Six days into 2006 and I already feel happier and healthier then I did for the last few months. There must be something to this way of thinking.

Valuplus Bread Is No Longer Dairy Or Egg free!

2006-01-04T20:18:00.000-06:00

My family had a very close call recently. My friend Claire was notified by our mutual daycare centre that Valuplus bread has now added both eggs and milk to their recipe, making it no longer safe for my son or hers. Until now, there were only two brands of “regular” whole wheat bread that they could eat: Valuplus and Betty breads.

That was fine. I went home, tossed our Valuplus bread out and went on with our holiday celebrations. What I forgot to do was call Liam’s daycare worker (who is different from the daycare center that discovered this change) to let her know. When my husband picked Liam up from his daycare on Tuesday night our daycare worker told him that she was just about to make him some toast from the Valuplus bread when she noticed on the ingredients that it now contained milk and eggs. We forgot to tell her and she still caught the change.

I don’t think there is anyway to explain how horrible we felt. We came very close to losing our son because we did not remember pass this information along to our daycare worker. We are lucky that she is so vigilant. I know this is a learning experience for us, but that was a little too close for my comfort.

What I do not understand is why companies change their ingredient lists so often – it makes it so difficult for families/individuals dealing with food allergies to find safe products. The Valuplus bread was listed on several sites that document dairy free products and I am sure they were getting good publicity for that. I cannot believe that adding eggs and milk make it more cost-effective to produce, they are expensive ingredients.

All I know is that we were lucky this time. Mistakes can cost my son his life and I will not let something like this happen again.

Cartoons!

2005-12-16T19:09:00.000-06:00

I had a fun conversation with some friends at work about watching Saturday morning cartoons the other day. We had stumbled upon the topic when I commented on the fact that one of my colleagues was listening to the theme music from Charlie Brown’s Christmas special – which is one of my favourite cartoons of all time. This sparked an amazing conversation about which cartoons we like the best when we were kids. A conversation we probably wouldn’t have had otherwise, if the Charlie Brown theme music wasn’t playing that day. It’s sad to think that as we get older (and older and older), we tend to forget, or at least not think about on a regular basis, the things that made us happy as children. Who could forget the Smurfs, Adventures of the Gummi Bears, Scooby and Scrappy Doo, She-Ra: Princess of Power and her beau He-Man: Master of the Universe)…I could go on and on and on.

These days the cartoon’s that make me happy are the ones I watch with my kids. The Backyardigans, Dora the Explorer (of course), and a super cute one called Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks (a story about an Irish Pig and his friends). Out of these three, I have to say that the Backyardigans is my absolute favourite. The animation is amazing (CGI and 3D techniques) and the music is so entertaining that you will catch yourself singing for hours afterwards. The premise of the show is that 5 friends (Pablo, Tyrone, Uniqua, Tasha, and Austin) meet in their backyards and use their imaginations to go on amazing, colourful, and entertaining adventures of all kinds. My 3.5yr old daughter loves to dance and she has the best time making up new moves to all the fun songs. Parents, this cartoon is awesome! As is Dora and Jakers….but for me, there is something magical and fun about the Backyardigans…I guess its right up there with the Smurfs in my book!!

Christmas Baking for Those with Allergies

2005-12-15T13:24:00.000-06:00

I have had to revamp my entire Christmas Baking process this year due to Liam’s allergies. Thankfully I have a lovely friend, Claire, who has a son with the same allergies that Liam has and is a wealth of knowledge. She introduced me to Kingsmill Egg Replacer to use in recipes instead of egg and informed me, that when used in baking, original rice milk in the place of cow’s milk works quite well. Also, its important to add a little more “wet” ingredients to replace the wetness that egg adds – since the egg replacer is actually a powder that works as a binding agent. I am happy that I can still make my traditional apple crisp, using dairy-free margarine in the oat topping instead of butter.

That said, here are a few recipes that I have found and/or been given, which I am going to try out this week. Keep in mind that I am also baking without wheat flour, as two people in my family are intolerant to wheat. I am also looking into a butter free shortbread recipe. Wish me luck!

Dairy Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Chocolate Cake

1 1/2 cups lite spelt flour
1 cup white sugar
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon white vinegar
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup water

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine flour, sugar, salt, soda, and cocoa powder together into an 8x8 inch cake pan. Add, oil, vinegar, and vanilla. Pour water over all, and stir well with fork.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 to 40 minutes, or until tooth pick inserted comes out clean. Frost with your favorite dairy, egg, and nut free frosting, or just sprinkle with Dairy Free Chocolate Chips which is my favourite.

Frosting Recipe

1/4 cup margarine, softened
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups confectioners' sugar
4 tablespoons water

Mix until smooth.

Chocolate Chip Cookies (dairy, nut, egg free)

Ingredients:
1 cup shortening (all vegetable, no dairy)
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
Kingsmill Egg replacer for 2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups lite spelt flour
2 tablespoon ground flax seed (optional)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets. In a large bowl, cream together the shortening, brown sugar and white sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg replacer, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, flax seed, baking soda and salt; gradually stir into the creamed mixture. Finally, fold in the chocolate chips. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 (for chewy) to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until light brown. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Apricot Squares

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups chopped dried apricots
2 cup water
1/4 cup raw honey
1 1/2 cups oat flakes
1 1/2 cups spelt flour
1/2 cup unrefined or cold pressed oil
1/2 cup raw honey

Directions:
Mix first three ingredients in saucepan. Bring to boil and then simmer uncovered on low heat for 10 min. Mix rest of ingredients and press half of mix into bottom of 8 x 8 pan. Spread Apricot mixture on top and sprinkle the rest of the oat mix on top of that. Bake 20 - 30 min at 350* until lightly browned. Cool and cut into 16 squares.

-'The Simpler Life Cookbook' from Arrowhead Mills, by Frank Ford

Gingersnaps

3/4 cup margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons oil
1 1/2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon baking powder, mix with oil and water for egg substitute
1/4 cup molasses
2 cups lite spelt flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375.
Beat margarine at medium speed until fluffy, gradually add sugar, beating well.
Add oil/water/powder mix and molasses. Mix until well blended. Combine dry ingredients and gradually add to creamed mixture.

***NOTE: the texture of the dough should not be sticky or stiff. It should hold its shape when rolled; if it is too sticky, add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.

Cover, chill 1 hour. Shape dough into 1" balls and roll in icing or white sugar. Do not flatten. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets and bake at 375 for 9-11 minutes.

MMR Vaccine for Children with an Egg Protein Allergy

2005-12-14T07:39:00.000-06:00

In a previous post I mentioned that my son has several anaphylactic allergies, including egg protein. He turned one on October 28th and was due for his MMR vaccination. He was sick at the time so the appointment for his vaccination was postponed until he was over his cold. In the meantime, we had his allergy testing and discovered his allergy to egg white protein. Our family Doctor now does not want to give Liam his MMR vaccination as the vaccine is grown in egg white and she is afraid of an allergic reaction.

However, after researching this topic I found that the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (www.aaaai.org) feels this vaccine is quite safe for those with egg protein allergies:

“In regard to the MMR, the RED BOOK is an excellent resource for Pediatricians and Family Practice physicians in regard to vaccines that are or are not an issue for children with food allergies. Specifically in regard to egg and MMR, the book indicates, based upon original research articles, that the MMR does not contain significant egg protein and is therefore not a particular risk for persons with egg allergy (there are other vaccines with appreciable egg protein). Children with egg allergy had about the same risk of an immediate allergic reaction to the vaccine as persons without an egg allergy (e.g., anyone could have a reaction to a vaccine, those with egg allergy were not at extra risk).
-Dr. Scott Sicherer of the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York.

I brought this information, and additional evidence that I found, to my family physician’s attention. Well, to the attention of her nurse at any rate. Unfortunately, she still feels uncomfortable giving the vaccination in her office.
This is a problem for me because it means I need to contact my allergist, who is difficult to get a hold of, and book an appointment to have the vaccination done there – its inconvenient.

I wonder if the only reason my family physician does not want to give the vaccination is that she is not prepared to handle a possible anaphylactic allergy – all Drs. offices should be prepared for that.

I think my biggest issue with all of this is that it is obvious my family physician is not up to date on current research, or even not so current research. So here is the question, do I give up a family doctor, which is increasingly hard to find these days, just for this reason? Or do I stay with a doctor who may not be providing me, and my family, with the right medical advice because she is not aware of current findings/changes/updates in medical research? Tough choice.

Hello Friends!

2005-12-11T16:05:00.000-06:00

So, I have been exposed! I never meant for my blog to be anonymous, but I also never expected it to be discovered my colleagues. Thanks Ray!

Well, that’s it, I am out there now. Welcome friends to Purehope.com! This is a blog directed to moms/parents around the world. I started it after my second child was born in October 2004. I wasn’t sure what I intended to do with Purehope.com but then I just started to write whenever things were on my mind or whenever I had time, which is not often when you have two kids, a messy house, and nine loads of laundry to do.

Anyway, I invite anyone to post comments, start discussions, and forward advice. Again, Ray thanks for spreading the word. Now I have to start adding content on a more regular basis!

Food Allergies

2005-11-11T13:23:00.000-06:00

I never thought that this would happen to me. I never expected that I would have a child with food allergies, serious food allergies…anaphylactic allergies. I have an anaphylactic allergy to shellfish, I know what its like to have a life threatening allergy, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.

I suspected that my son Liam might have an allergy or intolerance to dairy that was contributing to his eczema. You can imagine my surprise at the allergist’s office when she told my Husband and I that Liam was severely allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, and eggs…I had never expected nuts or eggs. Dairy didn’t even show up as an allergy, which shocked me some more, however we are waiting for a more conclusive test so we know for sure.

My husband took it all in stride and was happy that we finally knew what Liam’s allergies were. I was floored, a nut allergy I kept repeating in my head, that is a really scary allergy. I was really scared.

I took Liam home after the appointment, put him down for his nap and started to surf the Internet. Looking for information, any information that could help alleviate this fear. I read stories of people who inadvertently ingested peanuts on products that they thought were safe because peanut wasn’t listed in the ingredient list. It turns out those products ended up being made on the same machines that make products with peanuts in them – cross contamination, my nemesis.

For some reason the egg allergy didn’t faze me as much as the nut allergy. Probably because I think they are easier to avoid. Kingsmill makes an egg replacer that you can use in baking and you can find egg replacer recipes all over the Internet. However, nuts are small, leave a greasy residue, and are in everything – to me, peanut butter is a lethal weapon.

Then I read about the measures that are being taken to keep kids with food allergies safe. I read about Sabrina’s Law and thanked god that I live in Ontario. Ontario is the first Canadian province requiring public school teachers to be trained to recognize allergic reactions and know how to treat them. The schools are required to keep a file on every child who has an anaphylactic allergy, emergency procedures in place, and proper storage for epi-pens. I feel better knowing that this law is in place. Liam is one now, he has a few years until he starts school, hopefully Ontario will continue to progress in this area so when he does attend school, I can be confident in his care.

Knowledge is power. We need to educate everyone that currently is involved in my son’s life. That includes grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, friends, and especially, his daycare worker. I am armed with pamphlets, journal articles, support group information, ingredient lists, and a load of epi-pens. I am getting Liam a button that says, “Stop, Don’t Feed Me, I Have Severe Food Allergies”. Our home is in the process of becoming a nut-free home – once it is, I will put a sticker in the window advertising this. No one will be allowed to bring nuts into my house. Strict avoidance will also give Liam a better chance of outgrowing this allergy.

To all those parents who deal with food allergies, I invite you to post comments and suggestions, even words of support for other parents. We have to stick together and raise awareness.

Recommended reading:

Post-Natal Yoga and Pilates

2005-01-30T10:29:00.000-06:00

All new mom's know about the benefits of exercise during your pregnancy, and for those who stuck to an exercise program throughout those nine months, now is not the time to quit! Exercise will not only help you in getting back your pre-baby body, but it will also help with the extreme fatigue, back strain, stress, and anxiety that go hand in hand with bringing a newborn baby home. Most women are able to start a fitness program 4-6 weeks within having a baby, however it is recommended that you get your Doctor's approval before starting any exercise program.

Yoga

Mom and baby yoga classes focus on specific warm-up and yoga postures that are beneficial to the stresses and strains that new moms are exposed to. The postures will assist in strengthen the back, abdominal muscles, and pelvic floor muscles – all areas that are affected during pregnancy and after you bring the baby home. In addition to strengthening the above areas, the benefits of post-natal yoga include improving your posture, decreasing overall stress and tension, and meeting other new moms in your area.

The best classes offer a segment where you include your baby in the yoga postures or focus on postures specifically geared towards the baby. A posture that my baby loves is the Knees to Chest/Bicycle where you straighten the baby's legs out and then gently move them in toward their stomach. This move is especially good to relieve gas and constipation. Some of the best Yoga postures for new moms include Downward Dog, Triangle Pose, and Cobra. Once you build your strength up you should include some more difficult poses such as the Warrior.

To find classes in your area check out your local community centers. They usually offer classes that are reasonable priced compared to yoga studios, which is a valid concern for someone who is on maternity leave and needs to stick to a budget. However, if you can afford to spend a little bit more, call around to some local Yoga Studios in your area. The benefit of a Yoga Studio, besides the experienced instructors, is that they offer a variety of classes so you can graduate to a more difficult class when you are able. If you are unable to attend a live class, there are some very good Mom and Baby Yoga tapes out there. My favourtie one right now is Mom and Baby Yoga with Gurmukh Khalsa by The New Method. This is a very easy to follow taping of a live class that focuses on strengthening your abdominal muscles. It has a nice little segment for the baby as well as a meditation period.

Before you commit to a class, ask to try one out to see if you like it. When you are participating pay attention to the tone of the class, how the instructor reacts to a group full of cranky babies, and whether or not they offer a segment of postures for your baby. Ask yourself if you felt challenged enough. There is no point in talking a class that is too easy for you as you may not receive the full benefit from it.

Pilates

Less common, I find, are post-natal pilates classes that incorporate the baby. However, if you are lucky enough to find one in your area the benefits are numerous. Pilates tones the torso by using the abdominals, hips, butt, and lower back to form a powerhouse which generates the force behind all the positions. The key to getting the most from this workout is to pull your navel to the spine every time you exhale through your mouth.

The benefits to pilates include improving overall strength and muscle tone, improving posture and flexibility, and relieving back pain and tension (especially important for breastfeeding moms). The number one benefit for the new mom is flattening your tummy!! As all of the pilates movements target your core muscles they are all beneficial to the new mom. You may find them very difficult at first, especially for those mom's who seem to have no abdominal muscles after pregnancy (I still cannot do the roll-up), but if you stick with it and follow the modified movements you will build your strength and see benefits quickly.

To find a class in your area, check with you local community center and gyms. Some gyms offer a pilates session along with their aerobics classes. If you cannot find one in your area, you can try a post-natal pilates video such as Sarah Picot's Post-natal Pilates Video available at Amazon. I have used my regular beginner's pilates exercise video and modified the movements to allow me to incorporate my baby. For example, I place my son with his back on my upper thighs during the hundred and on my chest during the roll-up.

Whichever you choose, yoga or pilates, you will benefit from the exercise while experiencing the joy of being able to exercise and bond with your baby.

Baby Formula - Organic or Not?

2005-01-29T10:05:00.000-06:00

Many people do not question giving their baby organic baby food as they know that organic meat and vegetables are free of unhealthy pesticides and unnecessary growth hormones. However many people do not know that you can also get organic baby formula.

The benefits of organic baby formula are fairly straightforward. Organic baby formulas are made with certified organic ingredients and the makers must meet organic certification standards. This means that dairy based baby formula are made with milk produced by cows that have not been fed with pesticide sprayed feeds or injected with growth hormones.
The major drawback of organic formula however is the expense. Standard formula sold on the market today is expensive as is, throw in the price of “organic” and we are talking a significantly more expensive product that some just cannot afford.

An basic Internet search for organic baby formula yields several brands in the UK and Australia and a couple available within the United States. All are available to purchase on line if you choose. I would however steer clear of recipes on making your own organic formula as your baby has specific nutritional needs that you cannot be sure you are meeting at the recommended levels. Whether you choose organic formula or regular formula ensure that the formula you are using meets the standard pediatric nutritional requirements or your baby may be missing out on vital nutrients. If you are unsure, call the manufacturer of the formula and/or ask your pediatrician.

Thirdsite.com

2005-01-27T18:45:00.000-06:00

If you get a chance, please visit my sidekick's site. http://www.thirdsite.com/

Lots of interesting information about computer games, making money, websites - good reading.

Losing Weight Safely After Baby

2005-01-23T12:07:00.000-06:00

It is well known that breastfeeding mom's should not diet to lose weight as they need to eat a well balanced diet to replenish the nutrients going into their breast milk. It is suggested that a breastfeeding mom eat about 300-500 extra calories on top of their daily recommended caloric intake.

The key to losing weight lies in the simple fact that you must expend more energy then you consume. Therefore a balanced diet and daily exercise should be enough to promote postpartum weight loss.

The recommended MINIMUM daily nutrient requirements for breastfeeding women are as follows:

Protein : 7 servings, at least one vegetable protein
Bread and Grains : 7 servings, at least 4 from whole grains
Milk Products - 3 servings
Fruits and Vegetables - 1 serving
Vitamin C rich food - 1 serving
Vitamin A rich food- 1 serving
Other - 1 serving
Unsaturated Fat -3 servings

Although breastfeeding uses up a lot of energy, it can take several months to get back to your usual weight - do not despair!

Tips for losing those last few pounds include:

- Grill, steam, bake or casserole lean meat, fish and poultry.
- Eat vegetables: five servings per day.
- Eat fruit: at least two servings per day.
- Choose low-fat dairy products.
- Use butter and margarine sparingly.
- Avoid high fat foods.
- Limit your intake of sugary foods.
- Exercise : working up to at least 30 min per day

In addition to cardiovascular exercise, you should try to incorporate strength training into your exercise routine. Increasing your muscle will increase your metabolism and allow you to burn more calories. Keep in mind that muscle weighs more than fat so you may not see the scale drop dramatically, but you will see a huge difference in the way your clothes fit. For those who cannot afford a personal trainer, there are several websites dedicated to the proper way to lift weights. A favourite book of mine for beginner exercisers is "Strong Women Stay Thin". I also find very interesting and challenging routines in fitness magazines such as SELF, SHAPE, and FITNESS.

Problems With breastfeeding?

2005-01-23T11:55:00.000-06:00

It is common knowledge that “breast is best” and you will be hard pressed to find arguments against that fact. However, for those Mums who cannot breastfeed or continue to breastfeed for any reason often experience feelings of guilt and extreme anxiety stemming from the thought that they are not doing the “best” for their baby.
I experienced this after the birth of my daughter Sydney. She was born via cesarean section and was a sleepy baby from birth. I was told to wake her every two hours using cold washcloths and to strip her down and expose her little body to the cold air. Even though I did everything I was instructed to do, she was difficult to waken and her latching was lazy. Her weight dropped to over 10% of her birth weight resulting in her being too weak to eat. I was told to pump and feed her two ounces every two hours via bottle. While this gave her the sustenance she needed to get her strength back and eased my anxiety over the feeding process I was encouraged to get her off the bottle and back onto the breast ASAP because “breast is best”. Well, my question was, and still is, is breast milk out of a bottle not the same as breast milk from the breast? Understanding that the skin to skin contact you get with breastfeeding fosters bonding with your baby, doesn't bottle feeding with the same skin to skin contact promote the same feelings? I know they did in my case.
Even though I was successful in getting Sydney back on the breast I often wondered if all the tears and feelings of guilt were worth the struggle. She was feeding fine and getting all the nutrients she needed drinking breast milk from the bottle and the struggle to get her back on the breast was one that caused anxiety in both her and me, as well as my poor husband.
My advice to those who are going experiencing a similar problem is to go with your gut instinct instead of listening to those who have not walked a mile in your shoes. Even though you may be a first time Mom, the maternal instinct is often the correct instinct and you will save yourself a lot of sleepless nights if you listen to it.
Even though I am not an expert in this area, I do have experience as a mom. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about breastfeeding or babies in general.