Placenta Chat-Have a Good Laugh
I thought today should just be funny day and I would post some videos I recently found on Hollywood stars and placenta chat. Hope you ENJOY! And that it makes you laugh.....I did!
In Peace,
Rachel
Spontaneous Creation: 101 Reasons NOT To Have Your Baby In A Hospital
2 You want your baby to live.
3 You don't want a cesarean section.
4 You don't want another cesarean section.
5 You don't want to hemorrhage.
6 You don't want an episiotomy.
7 You don't want epidural anesthesia.
8 You don't want your baby to have birth defects.
9 You don't want your baby to be taken away from you.
10 You want to bond with your baby.
11 You don't want someone to deliver your baby.
12 You don't want your baby delivered with forceps.
13 You don't want your baby delivered by vacuum extraction.
14 You don't want your baby to be stillborn.
15 You want your birth attended by a woman.
16 You want your birth attended by your husband.
17 You want your birth attended by your children.
18 You want your birth attended by your caregiver.
19 You want a quick birth.
20 You want a personal birth.
21 You want a private birth.
22 You want a natural birth.
23 You want a spiritual birth.
24 You don't like pain.
25 You want to give birth in a position of your choice.
26 You are not afraid of your pelvis.
27 You are not afraid of your umbilical cord.
28 You don't want to give birth according to a doctor's schedule.
29 You don't want to please a king.
30 You want your baby to be smart.
31 You want your baby to be astrologically correct.
32 You want your baby to smile.
33 You want to participate in an ancient process.
34 You believe in nature.
35 You believe in science.
36 You don't believe that the female body is defective.
37 You don't believe in the male mother.
38 You want to surrender to nature, not culture.
39 You want to feel empowered.
40 You want to eat during labor.
41 You want to drink during labor.
42 You're not fooled by the term "birthing room."
43 You're not fooled by the term "informed consent."
44 You're not fooled by the term "due date."
45 You're not fooled by the term "high risk."
46 You're not fooled by the term "birth plan."
47 You don't want to ride in a car during labor.
48 You want to give birth naked.
49 You want to have an orgasm.
50 You don't want to experience prolapsed cord.
51 You don't want to experience postpartum depression.
In Peace,
Rachel
Aspartame: Weight Gain Or Retardation in Baby? You Decide!
 |
| img Ok, my friends. I'm sure that many of you already know this information but.....I HAD to share. I have a mother (who I LOVE dearly) who is a diet coke addict. She drank coke during ALL her pregnancies. I am surprised with all the health knowledge that is around today how women STILL, whether pregnant or not, drink ANYTHING or even INGEST anything with aspartame in it. As you notice above, DEATH can be a side effect of drinking aspartame. Some recent studies done on preterm birth and diet soda. Here's a short video below which discusses that. Read the articles below to learn more about the negative effects of aspartame on your health and the health of your baby. In the second article, you read an article from the BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH FOR CHILDREN website, how one women thinks her large consumption of aspartame caused retardation in her infant. Another MUST WATCH video on the effects SEVERELY negative effects of aspartame on YOU and YOUR UNBORN INFANT! "Aspartame is sold as NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure. These artificial sweeteners are all aspartame, just with different names. Neuroscientist, Dr. Russell Blaylock discusses in his book Excitotoxins that there are several toxic breakdown chemicals from these aspartame products that make them dangerous for a developing fetus but also for mothers." "The aspartame controversy was first brought to BDRC's attention by a pediatric nurse who put us in touch with the Mills family in Georgia. Their son Brandon was born with serious neurological impairment and developmental delays. Karen Mills was exposed to excessive doses of aspartame and phenylalanine during her pregnancy." Please watch the video at the beginning of the article below. Very Fascinating! Proven Unsafe But FDA Approved-Are You Still Consuming This Man Made Poison "According to former Sentator Howard Metzenbaum, who reviewed the FDA's approval process of aspartame in the Senate in 1987, "I think there were a lot of politics involved in its being approved." Research scientist Dr. Olney is even more blunt, "the issue (aspartame) is really not an issue of science, it's an issue of politics." Not only does ingesting aspartame cause potential harmful effects for you and baby, it does and can, create excess weight gain. Watch the video below to find out how and why that works! Here are some links to previous blog posts that might be of interest to you that are related to the subject at hand. I hope that everyone reconsiders their dietary choices ESPECIALLY in pregnancy! It is vital for the health of future generations that Mom's and Dad's take full responsibility for their health and the health of their children. In Peace, Rachel |
Can You Change Old Negative Belief Patterns to Help Your Baby Change The World?
Raising consciousness and thought levels of humanity through understanding what actually takes place in the womb is subject matter that is a HUGE passion of mine. Women are the main creators of human kind that shapes and forms what our world will look like in the future.
 |
| I have worked with women in some form or another for the past 16 years. I have seen the struggle women have to move and shapes their lives in the way they want and need for their happiness. We live in a world where we believe our happiness comes from some outside source but this is probably one of the BIGGEST lies we feed ourselves. This lie is then passed from one generation to another which ends up making personal responsibility and personal growth quite difficult. The difficulty lies in the woman's ability to see her happiness and ALL humans happiness is an internal compass not an external one. |
The NEW research and science that is being done by the APPPAH (Association for Perinatal Psychology and Health) is quite PHENOMENAL. EPIGENETICS is a new form a science that is showing how diet, lifestyle choices, social interactions, thoughts, feelings, emotions, perspectives and beliefs really do shape our world while in utero. Those belief patterns are then passed onto future generations. I have written a few times on the subject. Click the links below to understand more about what perinatal psychology is and how it NEEDS to be understood to help future generations.......Please watch the video below, which is actually quite funny, that explains the science behind epigenetics more clearly. YOU CAN SHIFT AND CHANGE future generations in a WIDE variety of holistic way!
In Peace,
Rachel
Infant Formula Kills Healthy Cells 45% to 99% of the Time
 |
| img |
I've written a few posts on the the benefits of breastfeeding and the many problems of infant formula on the human system. The notion that formula, in any way, compares to breast milk is like comparing wheatgrass to a juice from concentrate with sugar added for sweetness. Yes, they both have nutrients the body needs and yes, they will supply the body with those nutrients.......but the wheatgrass is ALIVE and full of enzymes, phytochemicals, antioxidants, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and essential fatty acids.
The juice on the other hand has been pasteurized, which means many, if not most, of the nutrients have been killed or devitalized in some way which makes it a completely dead food. When we eat foods that are dead, our body has to withdraw vital nutrients from the bones and tissues to make it a food that the body can even digest. The body does not even have the ability to digest those foods with pulling from stores from your system. Plus, sugar has been added to make it sweeter.....and honestly, if you don't already know that sugar isn't HORRIBLE for you.....then PLEASE go do some research.
Truthfully, I am SHOCKED that people think they can compare breast milk to formula. They are NOT one in the same or even close to the same AT ALL! Click on the links below to read some of the articles I've already written on formula vs. breast milk
Breastfeeding ROCKS! Here's WHY!
Breastfeeding: MMMmmmm...DELCIOUS & GLORIOUS!
"I'm a HUGE proponent of breastfeeding. It is, by far, one of my personal favorite things to do. The bonding, connection and attachment that takes place between you and your little one when breastfeeding really is beyond description. "
"Microscopic image of cells shows the effects of breast milk vs. infant formula digestion. Cells are alive and healthy after the digestion of breast milk (top row) with only one cell having any deformation. In contrast, the cells in the bottom row all ruptured after being exposed to the digestion of infant formula. Image Credit: Alexander Penn, Department of Bioengineering, UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. Blue tint added for visual clarity."
Click on the link below to read more about it. Comment below and let me know what you think.
In Vitro Study Finds Digested Formula, But Not Breast Milk, is Toxic to Cells
"Overwhelmingly, the digestion of formula led to cellular death, or cytotoxicity – in less than 5 minutes in some cases – while breast milk did not. For example, digestion of formula caused death in 47 percent to 99 percent of neutrophils while only 6 percent of them died as a result of milk digestion. The study found that breast milk appears to have a built-in mechanism to prevent cytotoxicity. The research team believes most food, like formula, releases high levels of free fatty acids during digestion, but that breast milk is digested in a slower, more controlled, process."
Lastly, here is an article by an AMAZING doctor who promotes breast feeding over bottle feeding. In the article below, he discusses by infant formula and bottle feeding can actually be harmful for your baby and why.
"In susceptible families, early exposure to cow’s milk proteins can increase the risk of the infant or child developing insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. (IDDM) (Mayer et al, 1988; Karjalainen, et al, 1992)"
In Peace,Rachel
In Vitro Study Finds Digested Formula, But Not Breast Milk, is Toxic to Cells
"Overwhelmingly, the digestion of formula led to cellular death, or cytotoxicity – in less than 5 minutes in some cases – while breast milk did not. For example, digestion of formula caused death in 47 percent to 99 percent of neutrophils while only 6 percent of them died as a result of milk digestion. The study found that breast milk appears to have a built-in mechanism to prevent cytotoxicity. The research team believes most food, like formula, releases high levels of free fatty acids during digestion, but that breast milk is digested in a slower, more controlled, process."
Rachel
Help Your Kids Have More Life Long Diseases By Vaccinating Them
It's, of course, no surprise to me that children who have been vaccinated have potential health issues that children who haven't.... DON'T! Come on guys, let's just be honest here, we are putting a virus or bacteria into the human system in such a way that the body struggles to FIGHT that virus or bacteria through it's normal route of doing so.
You can read a great blog post I made a few months back about vaccinations below. Please take the time to read it. It is VERY informative!
Vaccinations-Most Definitely NOT What They Are Cracked Up To Be & Oh, BTW...Know The FACTS!!
Let me explain what I mean. The human system has areas of the body which infection can enter. The eyes, nose, and mouth....etc. There are other areas of the body that infection can enter but the majority of infection is passed from hand to mouth or hand to nose.
Let's just look at our mouth, for example. There are LYMPH and GLANDS within the mouth that starts initiating the process of fighting bacteria BEFORE it even enters the body. This way the body can start building the needed white blood cells and such to combat the ailment before it might completely take hold and you totally get sick.
 |
| Click here to find out healthier/homeopathic option instead of routine vaccinations |
The way vaccinations work is, as most everyone knows, is that they inject the actual virus or bacteria directly into the blood stream instead of presenting it through the mouth and nose in order to build a immune response from the body to start taking action on fighting the infectious materials.
Now I know there are some new vaccine that they inject through the nose, like the flu shot. Which don't get me started on the flu shot because I think it's ABSOLUTELY ridiculous since we have like so many flu strains and they decide to just pick a couple that they think will be the worst. Truth be told, all we are doing with the flu shot is giving people the flu so they can then pass it on to everyone else around them. Not sure where the logic is in that! But ok......
When we inject a vaccination into the body WITHOUT the normal, healthy immune response taking place, by the glands and lymph of the body, it only makes logical sense to me, (but what do I know) that the body would struggle to know how to really integrate and utilize the vaccination in the proper fashion to fight infection. The infectious material then sits and floats within the body finding space to land.
I know my opinion on this is quite simplistic but once the vaccine enters the system you then have all kinds of foreign materials that the body has no idea how to integrate properly because it hasn't entered the system by means of stimulating a immune response. Without that immune response, you have not battled and fought off the virus/bacteria to build immunity to it.
An example of this would be someone who decides to get the chicken pox vaccine. Another RIDICULOUS vaccine, IMO! They may not get the chicken pox as a child but they may go on to get shingles as an adult. If they really did build an immunity to the actual chicken pox vaccination, why in the world is shingles presenting itself later in life?
My opinion......all they did was let that vaccination enter the system, wreek havoc on the body by potential lowering the immune system, not making it stronger because the body isn't really fighting anything. And then....later in life, when the immune system is potentially struggling in some way.....WHAMO! .....the bacteria takes hold and actually creates MORE of a problem than just getting the chicken pox as a child would.
Ok, I'm shutting up now. Just read the article below and find out for yourself how vaccinations can have LONG TERM effects on the health of your child.
The Science Behind Co-Sleeping
 |
| img |
As you all know I feel very passionately about co sleeping. I believe that it is extremely safe when Mom and Dad are EDUCATED on the as to how to make it as safe as possible. Indigenous tribes and people's have co slept for eons of time. There is actually a science behind how and why co sleeping can help babies holistically to be healthier and happier. You can read more about my opinions and feelings on co sleeping by clicking the links below.
Just Encapsulate Your Placenta: More Reasons WHY!
You will find regular posts on my site about placenta encapsulation. That's because I think it pretty much ROCKS and helps Mom postpartum in VOLUMES of ways. Along with the links I post below that discuss the benefits of placenta encapsulation and how AWESOME it truly is...... You can go to my PLACENTA ENCAPSULATION page and learn more about my services.
 |
| img |
How to Make Home Made Vitamin Water with Coconut Kefir
 |
| img I thought that these drinks looked AMAZING!!! And then......I realized that there was a way you could make this vitamin water even HEALTHIER for you. Instead of using just juice or water you could use COCONUT water or even BETTER fermented coconut water. Coconut water in and of itself is a PHENOMENAL source of vitamins, minerals, animo acids, enzymes, growth factors and electrolytes. But even just as important as all of that.....it also helps immensely to alkalize the body. When the body is in a balance and alkalized state, it has the ability to aid in self healing. This means your whole system functioning in a more whole and healthy way. Click on the link below to learn more about the health benefits of just coconut water itself. Make sure to watch the video at the end of the article. Now that you can see the great health benefits of just plain raw fresh coconut water, let's delve into how you can even make it that much healthier by fermenting the coconut water BEFORE making your vitamin water. By fermenting your coconut water, you INCREASE all of the health benefits! Not only that.....but you are feeding the gut flora which helps build and boost EVERY physiological function of the human body. Click the link below to read more about coconut kefir and its WONDERFUL healing properties. Below is an article which clearly shows how fermented coconut water has helped heal. Though I am not a fan of all that the Body Ecology diet teaches, there is some excellent information on the benefits of all fermented foods on her website. Now that you know all the healing benefits of coconut water and coconut kefir. I thought I would share the EASY way that I make it. For those of you who know me, you'll already know that I'm a HUGE fan of the majority of Garden of Life products. They have a dynamic line of probiotics that are some of the best on the market. When making my coconut kefir, I use the women's formula probiotic. Click below and watch the video on the side bar for an explanation of their probiotics and why they work. When making my coconut kefir, I just add 1 to 2 capsules of this probiotic to my coconut water. Then I stir that in and let it sit for 12 to 24 hours depending on how fermented I want it to taste. Viola!!! Simple, quick, easy and oh so......DELICIOUS!! Once your coconut kefir is ready, then add the ingredients you wish to spice it up (like it says above the picture)......and SWEET, HEALTHY ambrosia is only a swallow away. In Peace, Rachel |
Low Milk Supply Stimulated by Fear
I ADORE breastfeeding! Probably my one of my very favorite things to do. I am consistently surprised by the amount of people who claim to have a lack in milk supply. When I delivered my first baby, 16 1/2 years ago, I had many friends who were breastfeeding. I honestly do not remember having regular discussion with friends who struggled with milk supply. Nor did I ever feel even concerned that I wouldn't have enough breast milk. Quite the opposite! All I knew is that's what breasts were for after you deliver......To feed your baby and produce milk. But NOW.......I have clients who quite often complain of lack of milk production OR even better have a HUGE fear that they won't have enough.
I have 2 theories on why breast milk production can be low. Of course, you have the usual issues of poor latch on or weak suck or all of the other many reasons for low milk supply. But.....I have my own opinions and beliefs as to why women struggle with milk supply. Not that the other reasons aren't valid as well but I think just considering my opinions might help a women who can't seem to get produce enough milk.
First theory......That the nutrition of the mother inherently effects milk supply. We currently live in a world where we are undernourished and over fed. Obesity is at an all time high. Even though we may look at a women who is overweight and believe that she should be able to build volumes of breast milk, studies have shown that obesity can be a factor for low milk supply. Read more about it below.
39 Weeks- Is It Long Enough To Wait?
 |
| img I saw this picture today and had to share! So often we feel comfortable making choices about the timing of the birth of our babies. We believe what we're being told that babies born before 39 weeks is really okay. We believe that if our babies are born before 39 weeks that they, most likely, are fully developed and all is well for their birth to come. Sad part about that last sentence is that moms are choosing to induce based solely on their personal discomfort. Now, I know there are LOTS of reasons to induce that are truly medically indicated. Labor induction rates are about the same as c-section rates. About a 3rd of all women will use pitocin to induce labor....And just like the c-section being so high for a wide variety of absolutely ridiculous reasons. Let me just state though that just because they are showing some of the reasons to wait until 39 weeks to deliver. I hold true that babies will come when they are GOOD and READY! Yeah, you read that right. Who knew? That babies actually KNOW when they are fully developed and it's time for them to enter the world. So....the down low is that babies actually produce a hormone that they excrete to let the Mom know that it's time for her hormones to kick in and initiate labor. You can read all about it by clicking the link in the article below. "Now, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas researchers have found that it is in fact the fetal lungs themselves which provide the signal to initiate labor. Drs. Carole Mendelson, Jennifer Condon and Pancharatnam Jeyasuria published findings that a substance secreted by the lungs of a developing fetus contains the key signal that initiates labor." If babies really decide and know when it's time for them to be born, I'm not quite sure why we are inducing moms for labor BEFORE the initial onset of contractions has started. Waiting for baby to come when he/she is ready, limits the likelihood, like shown above, of complications with baby after birth. I believe induction is a MUCH greater risk your taking with babies ability to cope outside of the womb, than any risk that may take place by waiting until baby is ready to be born. I've seen moms wait til 42....even 43 weeks before they delivered. GASP, you say! I foresee MUCH less risk with a mom who's babies stays in just a bit longer than a mom who wants that baby out just a bit early. A bit early has a wide variety of consequences a bit late just doesn't have. Now, there are complications that can and do take place from delivering a post date baby but the risks of induction seem far greater to me and induction is the bigger risk. You can click the link below to read more. Patience and little understanding of the process of birth is really ALL you need to avoid an induction. But....YOU are the one the chooses how and when for your baby to be born because you LISTEN and WAIT for that baby to tell you! In Peace, Rachel |
Breastfeeding ROCKS! Here's WHY!
I find it interesting that the debate of the health values of breast milk are still in full force. It seems to me that we now have enough current data that shows the increased benefits of breast milk in comparison to formula. And in my opinion, THERE IS NO COMPARISON!!
Yes, breast milk will feed your child and even somewhat nourish them. But, exclusive formula feedings can cause a WORLD of problems down the road for the health of your child. There seems to be study after study on the ill effects of formula on your baby. From common allergies to respiratory infections to ear infections. Truth be told, it may be that the actual formula is causing infections but you also are starting your child off with a compromised immune system because of the lack of needed colostrum that breasts offer.
Just so you know the numbers.....by the 1970's almost 75% of women were bottle feeding their babies. I was bottle fed and so were all the brothers and sisters. And.....when I asked other friends of mine who are around my age, if they were breast or bottle fed, almost ALL of them were bottle fed.
Click the link below and read about it for yourself. I'm just shocked at our ignorance on the subject and, it seems, so many women's and couples refusal to learn more about breastfeeding and why it's REALLY best!
I understand that there are those rare and few women who cannot breastfeed their babies because of lack of breast milk production or other reasons. But....as a women who has lost ALL of her breast milk before and regained it back within a month AND who has breast fed ALL 5 of my children for over a year, ( my last I nursed until she was 3 1/2 or so), AND who has helped MANY, MANY other women learn how to breast feed their own children........I believe it is very RARE to not be able to breast feed your baby. (If you want to know more about this or are curious to find out how you can make that happen EVEN when you haven't been able to in the past, feel free to email me)
Formula can literally change the gut flora of the intestinal tract with just one bottle. Our intestinal tracts has millions of little microflora or good bacteria that feed almost EVERY physiological function of the body. When that AMAZING microflora is damaged in any way, it then sets the stage for each system of the body to start a potential break down process in the health of the person. That break down process can take YEARS to manifest itself. It doesn't have to happen over night. Click the link below to understand more about how formula can potentially forever change the health of your child.
- "Infant formula should not be given to a breastfed baby before gut closure occurs.
* Once dietary supplementation begins, the bacterial profile of breastfed infants resembles that of formula-fed infants in which bifidobacteria are no longer dominant and the development of obligate anaerobic bacterial populations occurs. (Mackie, Sghir, Gaskins, 1999)* Relatively small amounts of formula supplementation of breastfed infants (one supplement per 24 hours) will result in shifts from a breastfed to a formula-fed gut flora pattern. (Bullen, Tearle, Stewart, 1977)* The introduction of solid food to the breastfed infant causes a major perturbation in the gut ecosystem, with a rapid rise in the number of enterobacteria and enterococci, followed by a progressive colonization by bacteroides, clostridia, and anaerobic streptococci. (Stark & Lee, 1982)* With the introduction of supplementary formula, the gut flora in a breastfed baby becomes almost indistinguishable from normal adult flora within 24 hours. (Gerstley, Howell, Nagel, 1932)* If breast milk were again given exclusively, it would take 2-4 weeks for the intestinal environment to return again to a state favoring the grampositive flora. (Brown & Bosworth, 1922; Gerstley, Howell, Nagel, 1932)"
If you haven't read WIKIPEDIA and what they say about the breastfeeding.....YOU SHOULD! They have quite a bit of information of all kinds on the subject of breastfeeding. Good stuff!!
Since we are on the breast feeding topic and since I breastfed my daughter for over 3 years, I thought I would share this video. Our perspectives on breast feeding have been SEVERELY skewed, in my opinion. All around the world, length of breastfeeding rates vary. As Americans, we tend we wean our children MUCH earlier than other countries do. I often wonder why that is? Here's a video on women who breast feed older children in public and some of the reactions they were getting for doing so.
And lastly, a FUNNY little article I saw today that I HAD to share because I think this women is HILARIOUS!! Enjoy!
Click on the link below to read the article.
Please educate yourself on ALL the advantages for both you and baby for breast feeding and DO YOUR BEST to make sure you give your newborn the beginning he/she deserves!
In Peace,
Rachel
Reminder: Kale Chip Class TOMORROW NIGHT! Read Below
Just a reminder about tomorrow's class!! Here's some preview pictures of the kale chips I've been making! This will be a FUN class.....Don't miss it! Hugs, Rachel
- How to make 2 different flavors of kale chips- MY cheesy kale chips (of course) & a SURPRISE flavor!
- The benefits of raw foods and why more raw foods creates increased health and happiness in your LIFE!
- Find out why kale is one of the BEST foods for you!
- Learn the health benefits of ALL the other ingredients put into the kale chips
- Understand more about how your body responds to the AMAZING health benefits of kale chips
- See the ease of making kale chips and learn how to incorporate them into your life
- Of course.....you will be tasting and trying each of the kale chips
- Lastly, I will have extras to SELL at the end of the class
Love & Nurturing Stimulates Larger Brains In Our Children
This isn't a surprise, really? I mean....is it? I only ask the question because it seems to make logical sense to me that when we nurture and love our children, the WAY they were meant to be loved and nurtured.....then, of course, they'd be more intelligent and grasp new ideas about the world around us in a healthier way! I believe that LOVE is truly the only healer and worker of magic when it comes to total health and happiness. How can it not stimulate our children's brains to grow larger so as to hold more information and build a greater curiosity of the world around them?
I wonder if the brain growth and size takes place because growth, of any kind, can be stymied by fear. If a child enters the world feeling a sense of dread and fear of the world around them....I wonder....do their brains then restrict growth to be able to protect the infant of exploring too far the world around them? If they can't comprehend more, then maybe the system believes they can protect themselves from treading too far into a scary, unsafe world? I have no factual evidence to correlate with my opinion & honestly, I'm too lazy to spend the time looking....but what if????
Birth itself can be extremely traumatic on a newborn. Their nervous systems are about 150 times more sensitive than ours as adults. That only means that their ability to view their own birth experience as traumatic is much greater. Looking into the world of how we birth our children.....not just their treatment and care after delivery, might feed into the insights and studies that are being done on children's brains.
I have no doubt that growth restrictions can even take place in utero. This can happen based upon the Mother's fears and negative belief patterns about herself or the world at large. She then passes those fears and negative belief patterns onto her unborn child in an attempt to help the baby acclimate to the new world it's entering. It's a protection, you see. The only downfall with that protection is then the baby inability to feel safe in our world and choose to explore it. Exploration and experience truly are the greatest teachers for our children.
Below is the first article which shows an image of 2 brains. One where the child was nurtured and love and the other where the child was extremely neglected. Notice that the neglected infant's brain is almost half the size of the loved child. This is a HUGE difference! Not just a mild one......Click the link below to read the full article.
"Experts say that the sizeable difference in the two brains is primarily caused by the difference in the way each child was treated by their mothers."
The article states that not only will the child's brain size be smaller but that there are also LONG term effects of the restricted growth.
The first hour or so following birth can be some of the MOST CRITICAL bonding and connecting time for you and your baby. Think back about the birth of your own children. Did they whisk your baby away immediately after birth or did they let you hold and cuddle your baby for as long as you wanted? Did they poke and prod your baby with needles and hands or did they keep your baby close to you as they gently talked and soothed your baby as they did any needed testing? These are just 2 examples of a stressful situation for you and your baby that might negatively effect your baby's ability to feel love and their brain growth patterns.
This second article is explains more in details the REASONS for the restricted brain growth and why and how it happens. Here's a great quote from it.....
"Myths inevitably survive long after they’ve been scientifically disproven. Such is the case with the fantasy that mental illnesses can be written off solely to genes and chemicals. Over the last decade a string of scientific discoveries has shown that the biology driving mental illness has at least as much to do with the environment as with chemicals or genetic inheritance. And it increasingly appears that the single most powerful environmental factor is the love - or its lack - that children receive from their parents. So in a very real way we parents are back on the hook for the lifelong emotional well-being of our kids."
Click link below to read the whole article....
Know the Signs & Ways to Avoid a C-Section
 |
| img |
So....I have passionate feelings about our current c-section rate which seems to be holding strong at 32%. We all know what 32% means, right? Let me spell it out a little bit more.....32% means that 1/3 of ALL babies in the United States are getting surgically cut out of Mom's. That's one in every 3 women. Does that seem extreme to you? Because it, MOST DEFINITELY, does to me.
Did you know that in some areas of the United States the c-section rate can be as high as 50-60%? This seems ABSOLUTELY ridiculous to me but Brazil actually carries a 82% c-section rate.....82%!!!! Can you believe it? I read that number and honestly, my head just spins.
The most fearful part about that 82% is that we, as American's, are on the same road. I am aghast that women will blindly walk into the operating room and say NOTHING! Or even worse, request that their baby is surgically removed. Please don't get me wrong, I believe in every woman's right to choose whatever birth experience she wants but.....I believe that choice should only be made after proper experience, understanding and knowledge of what a c-section is and the consequences to choosing to have one.
Read more about that 82% c-section rate at "BRAZIL WOMAN REBEL AGAINST C-SECTIONS"
 |
| img |
Below is some information from Wikipedia about what The World Health Organization believes are c-section rate should be. They feel it should be cut in half at 15%. I recommend searching this subject online to get more information about it but some studies have concluded that, in the United States, our c-section rate should be as low as 10%.
Analyzing the rise in Caesarean section rates
The World Health Organization has determined an “ideal rate” of all cesarean deliveries (such as 15 percent) for a population. One surgeon's opinion is that there is no consistency in this ideal rate, and artificial declarations of an ideal rate should be discouraged. Goals for achieving an optimal cesarean delivery rate should be based on maximizing the best possible maternal and neonatal outcomes, taking into account available medical and health resources and maternal preferences. This opinion is based on the idea that if left unchallenged, optimal cesarean delivery rates will vary over time and across different populations according to individual and societal circumstances.[65]
The question is.....why are c-section rates so HIGH? Well, of course I believe their are a variety of reasons. Those reasons go anywhere from a busy doctor feeling more in control of the birth environment by performing a c-section so he recommends them regularly to a intervention overload which baby cannot handle and the inevitable response is baby struggling during delivery.
But.....in my opinion (which doesn't matter much really), the reason for the HIGH c-section rates really is just lack of education on the part of the mother and the father. I gotta be honest, I'm always a bit surprised when I meet a couple who is getting ready to deliver their first baby and their understanding of the birth process is almost non existent.
Now, the mother in her wisdom, will hopefully make wise choices in her care provider while educating herself on the process of conception, pregnancy and birth. This is her BEST BET to A) avoiding a c-section and B) create and stimulate a BLISSFUL pregnancy and birth for herself. With all that being said, below are some interesting link I recommend you click on to educate yourself and be more aware of your choices and how to avoid a c-section.
I truly believe that education is KEY to knowing, finding, creating and having an AMAZING pregnancy and birth. It just is! We may have LOTS of other answers to fixing the problem. And I'm sure they are VERY good answers. But....education lifts the wisdom of a women to a place where she finds her power and strength to deliver her child in peace and joy.
First: Here is an EXCELLENT article that should help you understand the "set-up" for the c-section. Click on the link below.
"TOP TEN SIGNS YOUR DOCTOR IS PLANNING TO PERFORM AN UNNECESSARY CESAREAN SECTION ON YOU"
Second: Here are 2 great article showing you how you can avoid a c-section and what actions you might take. Click on the links below!
"TIPS AND TOOLS FOR AVOIDING A CESAREAN SECTION" -The Childbirth Connection is a very informative website and I would take the time to search their whole site. :)
"5 WAYS TO AVOID A C-SECTION"- As you read this article, educate yourself on what it means to have a "medically necessary" c-section. So often we confuse the opinions of our doctors with what a true medical emergency is. Find out BEFORE you deliver and then when your doctor throws out big words as to why you need a c-section, your decision will be based in your knowledge and not fear of the situation.
Lastly: It only makes sense that the Amish might have answers to help lower the c-section rate. But....the answer almost always is.....if you want to avoid a c-section....The MORE you leave a mother ALONE during her birth process, the MORE likely her birth will be a safe, vaginal birth. Click the link below to find out what's working for the Amish.
"AMISH OFFERS CLUES TO LOWERING US C-SECTION RATES"
Have a VERY happy Wednesday!
In Peace,
Rachel
P.S. I didn't even go into the potential birth trauma for Mom and baby during and after a c-section. Check back for another day where I will touch on that subject. But again....another point to look at when educating yourself about c-sections!