The Natural Family Planning Method for Birth Control-I Promise It WORKS!l
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I recently received an email from a reader requesting more posts about trying to conceive. That in mind, I asked Sara (previously featured here) to share some of her resources. -Ariel
People thought Matt and I were crazy for planning our wedding in "only" seven months. We dodged a fusillade of comments like, "But that won't be enough time to book a good reception venue!" and "It can take longer than that for the dress to be delivered. And don't forget about the alterations!"
That's why I found it ironic when I also faced criticism--two years later--for spending too much time planning for conception: "Be more spontaneous. Just start trying already!" and "You'll never feel ready, so stop worrying about it."
In all honesty, I'm so thankful that I spent eight months preparing my mind, body, and life for pregnancy before we even started trying to conceive. Unlike my mother who accidentally got pregnant when she was 22 and then raised me as a single-parent, I wanted to create a prepared and intentional environment (although I think my mom managed to do a heck of a good job!). I read countless books, talked with a midwife, watched documentaries, attended a birth fair, and started stalking pregnancy and birthing websites.
Of course all families need to figure out for themselves what kind of preparation (if any) works for them. It's a very personal decision, and we need to honor each other for forging our own paths (duh!).
As for my personal path, here are some of the things we did to start preparing our life for conception:
- Destressing and Making Space for Pregnancy: When I started tracking my cycle, I realized that stress was seriously impacting my physical and emotional well-being. Eight months before trying to conceive, I started eliminating unnecessary commitments from my life (and saying no to new ones), practicing deep-breathing techniques, implementing a daily relaxation ritual, and getting to the psychological roots of why I invite stress into my life. I realized that once I got pregnant, I would need time for frequent naps, and I was preparing myself for a potential decrease in my productivity.
- Getting More Healthy: I analyzed my nutritional intake, my hydration, and my exercise (or lack thereof) and started implementing changes that would better prepare my body for a healthy conception.
- Eliminating Toxins from Our Life: We sorted through all our cleaning products, bathroom stuff, etc., and made our environment less toxic.
- Building the Bank: We started thinking through the costs associated with birth and infancy and came up with a plan for saving enough money (without buying into the hype put out there by the Baby Industrial Complex).
- Figuring Out Insurance and Maternity Leave: Matt and I actually didn't do this as part of our preconception preparation, but I wish we had! I would have been able to sign up for short-term disability insurance, which would have helped to cover part of my unpaid maternity leave. Now that I'm pregnant, I have a "pre-existing condition," and it's too late for me. Argh!
- Deciding on a Care Provider: There are so many options out there (depending on the community you live in) for prenatal care and birthing. Regardless of whether you want to go the hospital, birthing center, or homebirth route, there are tons of questions to ask and information to take in. Once you're pregnant, your prenatal care starts, and at that point, it can be stressful to sort through all the information and ask all the questions. Matt and I decided to do all of our research before trying to conceive. We even did interviews and settled on our care provider in advance. When we conceived, we simply had to call her to schedule our first appointment.
- Strengthening Our Relationship: We took a hard look at how we distribute responsibilities in our household, how we support each other, what problems we're having, whether we fight constructively or destructively, etc. We started to think about really concrete ways to strengthen our relationship in preparation for the extreme stress that can come from welcoming a new baby into a family.
- Preparing for the Change: We thought long and hard about the ways in which our lives would change forever, once we added on to our family.
Resources
I ended up creating a five-week online course called Purposeful Conception: Preparing Your Mind, Body, and Life for Pregnancy because I wanted to consolidate everything I learned into a more user-friendly format and create an online community for dialogue and support.
However, I also recommend the following books and movies to support a more independent conception planning process:
- Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Program for Maximum Fertility: This book lays everything out there for you in such a clear, concise way. It addresses how to get pregnant (through tracking your cycle) and also focuses on ways to prepare your life for conception (through nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction).
- Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health: This book really is the bible when it comes to tracking your cycle in order to get pregnant. I put it second on the list because it is very dense and it can be hard to get through. It is packed with information!
- Body, Soul, and Baby: A Doctor's Guide to the Complete Pregnancy Experience, from Preconception to Postpartum: This book is one of my favorites. The author is the director of the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine, and her perspective is wonderful. She really gets the importance of approaching conception and pregnancy with intention and mindfulness. Most of the book is about pregnancy, but there is a whole section devoted to preconception.
- What to Expect Before You're Expecting: I know there's a lot of criticism of the What to Expect series, but I was thankful for this book because there are so few out there that focus exclusively on preconception as its own stage. I found this book to be chock full of interesting recommendations.
- The Complete Organic Pregnancy: Although this book focuses solely on eliminating toxins from our lives, I loved reading it! It's a bit overwhelming, but the information is super-interesting and applicable to all stages of our lives, not just pregnancy.
- Misconceptions: Truth, Lies, and the Unexpected on the Journey to Motherhood: This book has little to do with preconception, but I am so glad I read it before I got pregnant. It's just too depressing and stressful to read when you're carrying another life around (in my opinion!). Seriously. It was a bit biased and felt like propaganda at times, but I'm so glad I read this indictment of the "hidden costs and vested interests surrounding pregnancy and birth in America."
- Before Your Pregnancy: A 90-Day Guide for Couples on How to Prepare for a Healthy Conception: I got this book for free at a public library sale, and I have to say it's another good overview of the preconception as its own phase.
As far as movies go, I haven't been able to find too much. But here are my recommendations:
- The Business of Being Born: This movie opened my eyes to a whole new world. Even though it feels biased toward a certain perspective, it helped me realize that there's so much I don't know about when it comes to giving birth in America. I highly recommend this film.
- Pregnant in America: I didn't like this movie nearly as much as I liked The Business of Being Born (not even close), but it's still worth watching, since there's simply not that much out there on these topics.
Definitely find the amount and type of preparation that makes sense for you and your family, and then go for it!
How Chemicals Are Changing Us and Future Generations & NOT For The Better
How Chemicals Affect Us
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Damon Winter/The New York Times
Nicholas D. Kristof
These days there is also growing evidence linking this class of chemicals to problems in humans. These include breast cancer, infertility, low sperm counts, genital deformities, early menstruation and even diabetes and obesity.
Philip Landrigan, a professor of pediatrics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, says that a congenital defect called hypospadias — a misplacement of the urethra — is now twice as common among newborn boys as it used to be. He suspects endocrine disruptors, so called because they can wreak havoc with the endocrine system that governs hormones.
Endocrine disruptors are everywhere. They’re in thermal receipts that come out of gas pumps and A.T.M.’s. They’re in canned foods, cosmetics, plastics and food packaging. Test your blood or urine, and you’ll surely find them there, as well as in human breast milk and in cord blood of newborn babies.
Last month, the Endocrine Society, the leading association of hormone experts, scolded the Food and Drug Administration for its failure to ban bisphenol-A, a common endocrine disruptor known as BPA, from food packaging. Last year, eight medical organizations representing genetics, gynecology, urology and other fields made a joint call in Science magazine for tighter regulation of endocrine disruptors.
Researchers warn that endocrine disruptors can trigger hormonal changes in the body that may not show up for decades. One called DES, a synthetic form of estrogen, was once routinely given to pregnant women to prevent miscarriage or morning sickness, and it did little harm to the women themselves. But it turned out to cause vaginal cancer and breast cancer decades later in their daughters, so it is now banned.
Scientists have long known the tiniest variations in hormone levels influence fetal development. For example, a female twin is very slightly masculinized if the other twin is a male, because she is exposed to some of his hormones. Studies have found that these female twins, on average, end up slightly more aggressive and sensation-seeking as adults but have lower rates of eating disorders.
Now experts worry that endocrine disruptors have similar effects, acting as hormones and swamping the delicate balance for fetuses in particular. The latest initiative by scholars is a landmark 78-page analysis to be published next month in Endocrine Reviews, the leading publication in the field.
“Fundamental changes in chemical testing and safety determination are needed to protect human health,” the analysis declares. Linda S. Birnbaum, the nation’s chief environmental scientist and toxicologist, endorsed the findings.
The article was written by a 12-member panel that spent three years reviewing the evidence. It concluded that the nation’s safety system for endocrine disruptors is broken.
“For several well-studied endocrine disruptors, I think it is fair to say that we have enough data to conclude that these chemicals are not safe for human populations,” said Laura Vandenberg, a Tufts University developmental biologist who was the lead writer for the panel.
Worrying new research on the long-term effects of these chemicals is constantly being published. One study found that pregnant women who have higher levels of a common endocrine disruptor, PFOA, are three times as likely to have daughters who grow up to be overweight. Yet PFOA is unavoidable. It is in everything from microwave popcorn bags to carpet-cleaning solutions.
Big Chem says all this is sensationalist science. So far, it has blocked strict regulation in the United States, even as Europe and Canada have adopted tighter controls on endocrine disruptors.
Yes, there are uncertainties. But the scientists who know endocrine disruptors best overwhelmingly are already taking steps to protect their families. John Peterson Myers, chief scientist at Environmental Health Sciences and a co-author of the new analysis, said that his family had stopped buying canned food.
I’m taking my cue from the experts, and I wish the Obama administration would as well.
I invite you to visit my blog, On the Ground. Please also join me on Facebook and Google+, watch my YouTube videos and follow me on Twitter.
Prenatal Pesticide Exposure May Harm Kids' Brains
Compared to children with low prenatal exposure, those with high exposure to the pesticide chlorpyrifos had abnormalities in the cortex (the outer area of the brain), says Virginia Rauh, ScD, professor and deputy director of the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University.
The cortex helps govern intelligence, personality, muscle movement, and other tasks.
The study is published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences' Early Edition.
In 2001, the U.S. EPA banned the residential use of chlorpyrifos. It still allows it on crops. It can also be sprayed in public places such as golf courses.
Some environmental advocates have petitioned the EPA to ban agricultural use.
Prenatal Exposure to Pesticides: Study Details
Rauh's team selected 40 children from a larger group of 369 children, followed from birth.
All had been born between 1998 and 2001, before the household-use ban. Rauh had sent their umbilical cord blood samples to the CDC to analyze pesticide levels.
For this study, she selected 20 children with high prenatal exposure and 20 with low prenatal exposure. She took MRIs of their brains when they were about 6 to 11 years old.
Overall brain size did not differ much between the two groups. However, the high-exposure group had enlargements in many areas and reduced volumes in other areas.
The findings reflect those from animal studies, Rauh says. In other studies, Rauh has found higher exposure to the pesticide is linked with lower IQs and a decline in working memory in children.
The pesticide works by blocking an enzyme needed by pests -- and people -- for proper nerve functioning. It belongs to a class known as organophosphates.
Chlorpyrifos and the Food Supply
In 2007, the Natural Resources Defense Council petitioned the EPA to cancel all agricultural registrations for the pesticide.The EPA is reviewing the role of chlorpyrifos in agriculture.
Symptoms of poisoning from the pesticide include nausea, dizziness, confusion, and sometimes loss of respiratory muscle control and death, according to the NRDC.
'Prenatal Pesticide Exposure: Two Perspectives
The new research finding is concerning, says Sonya Lunder, MPH, senior analyst at the Environmental Working Group. EWG supports a ban on the pesticide.
"Once you have changed the way the brain is born, and the structure, we are talking about things you can't offset with a good education or a good diet," she tells WebMD.
Meanwhile, industry groups say the pesticide should not be banned.
On a web page, "Chlorpyrifos Protects," Dow AgroSciences, its manufacturer, says: "Growers clearly need a trusted, well-established product to protect a wide range of crops from a diverse spectrum of damaging pests."
Since the pesticide was registered by the EPA in 1965, its use has become common in more than 50 crops, according to Dow. Among them are citrus fruits, apples, soybeans, sweet corn, and peanuts.
Research offers little support for claims that prenatal exposure could lead to reduced IQ scores, according to Dow.
Advice for Pregnant Women
Rauh advises women who are pregnant to avoid farming jobs.
Wash produce well before eating, she says. Buying organic produce is a good idea, she says, though not always practical. "It's a very expensive way to go and I think is out of reach of the average person," Rauh says.
SOURCES:
Rauh, V. PNAS Early Edition, April 30, 2012.
Sonya Lunder, MPH, senior analyst, Environmental Working Group.
Carolyn O'Donnell, spokeswoman, California Strawberry Commission.
Dow AgroSciences web site: "Chlorpyrifos Protects."
The High Cost Of Product Consumption-How It Effects US And Our Famililes
Chris and I have decided years ago we longed to be minimalist. To be people who consciously chose to only purchase products that we felt we absolutely needed. Our big inspiration was a book called "The Good Life."
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The book is about a couple who set out, as vegetarians, to be COMPLETELY self sufficient. We actually made a drastic move to Texas a few years back with the hopes to follow the Nearing's example. But, alas....finances halted that process.
We still strive each and every day to be fully conscious of our product and life choices. Where we shop and how the products we purchase are actually made. How what we are buying effects the planet and the world around us. Just as one of my goal is to help myself and others heal physically and emotionally....healing Mother Earth is a MUST for us to see the transitions in our own personal healing.
I hope you enjoy these videos for today. I will let them speak for themselves. Notice in the "The Story of Stuff" where she discusses how toxins in the air our effecting our breastmilk. This video was made back in 2007. Things are getting worse since then....Unfortunately not better. The chemicals all around us are effecting us negatively in almost EVERY way imaginable.
Check back next week. I have articles and videos I will show on how chemicals, just like she talks about in "The Story of Stuff", are slowly killing us and how they are even effecting our unborn children causing all kinds of ailments and disease.
If you have any questions on how we combat these problems in our home, please feel free to comment below or email me personally....rachel@livingmom.net.
In Peace,
Rachel
Breastfeeding: MMMmmmm...DELCIOUS & GLORIOUS!
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(I absolutely adore Maggie and this picture is WONDERUL. How simple and easy breastfeeding should be!)
10 Things You Should Know About Your First Week of Breastfeeding
I feel like one of the reasons that women often do not breastfeed as long as they potentially could is due to the fact that they are not always given the most honest information about what breastfeeding will be like during the first few days of nursing. I think because so many doctors, midwives, pediatricians, mothers and friends want a woman to breastfeed as long as possible, they often sugarcoat the reality of breastfeeding in order to persuade a new mother to give it a try.
(I believe breastfeeding can and should be BLISSFULLY wonderful. The way we feel about our breasts, how our diets are, the support and education we have all plays into what our breastfeeding experience ends up being.)
And that really isn’t fair. It is especially unfair when that new mom feels like a failure because she is having pain, discomfort and uncertainty while doing something that everyone else described as simple, easy and the best thing to do for your baby. That is when dishonesty leads to fewer babies being breastfed to 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and beyond.
(It is important that we are honest and clear with Moms that breastfeeding can be intense, especially at first, but in the end....when you and baby have figured each other out....it can be most fulfilling and quite WONDERFUL.)
I was very lucky as I had a solid breastfeeding support group. Formula was totally alien and foreign to me, so the thought of learning how to formula feed just seemed bizarre to me. But I realize that some women don’t have that same support group. And successful breastfeeding requires support. It really does.
So here is my top 10 list of things mothers should know about that first week of breastfeeding.
1. That first latch might hurt a bit…and by might I mean it probably will. And that is totally OK and NORMAL. It will get better and eventually, when done properly, won’t hurt at all.
(My first latch on never hurts. Its only after I've nursed for a couple days that I get the soreness. Preparation for the soreness by using herbal remedies will help to greatly alleviate the discomfort.)
2. People are going to see your boobs. It will happen. Lactation consultants, relatives, friends etc. are all probably going to see some skin while you are at the hospital and during your first several months of breastfeeding somewhat constantly. Trust me, this will be the one time nobody will care that your tatas are hanging out in a room full of people. Your new baby will be a thousand times more interesting.
(Working on emotional issues (such as shame, guilt etc..) regarding your breasts BEFORE birth can help to remove discomfort about others seeing your breasts. After all, though we like to believe breasts are merely for the bedroom and intimacy....their true job is BREASTFEEDING! Going with a bra for the first few months along with wearing shirts that are easy to get your breast in and out of make a HUGE difference in your comfort level.)
3. Your milk might not “come in” right away, even if you have been leaking during your pregnancy. Don’t freak out if it hasn’t shown up in full on your little one’s birthday. Give it a few days. Your baby will be fine noshing on colostrum in the meantime.
(It takes 3 days for your milk supply to come in. Colostrum is God's miracle for your baby. It is FULL of immune boosting properties to help your baby to thwart illness while they little systems are in a immature state.)
4. Don’t stress yourself out about your milk coming in. The majority of women in this world are able to breastfeed. Stressing yourself out over your supply will not help your supply at all. Remember, supply is just part of the equation. You also need demand. The more you allow your baby to nurse, the more milk your body will create to meet his/her demand. See more information about supply in the resources section listed below.
(She is RIGHT on with this one. Though let me make this VERY clear, if you have a large milk supply so you decide to pump in between feedings, you will produce that milk for the future. One of the problems I have seen with many women is they become SO engorged that they pump to reduce the pressure and discomfort. One are creating another problem by trying to alleviate the other. With each pumping, you are creating more breast milk which puts you into a vicious cycle of being engorged. Just be patient....it should only take about a weeks time before your milk will acclimate and the engorgement subside.)
5. When your milk does come in, it might be uncomfortable…and by might I mean it probably will. And that is totally OK and NORMAL. Yes, your boobs will grow to be even more ginormous than they already have grown to be, but they will die back down once your supply and demand levels out.
(Refer to the response above. Also, it takes 3 days for your body to regulate milk supply. How much you nurse on a Monday will then be created by Wednesday.)
6. Yes, your baby is going to want to camp out at your boobs. And that is totally normal and OK. Yes, if you talk to a woman who formula feeds, the amount of time your baby eats in comparison to her’s is going to seem like a lot. But you cannot compare the two. A baby breastfeeds to eat, establish milk supply and for comfort. A baby is given a bottle to eat only and has no supply to establish. You really cannot compare the two, so don’t.
(Your baby is looking not only for nourishment but connection and love. They are seeking a safety net to let them know the world is safe and they can ultimately trust it. Your breast offers them this safety net. Demand feeding instead of scheduled feeding creates a child who feels secure, along with all their nutriment needs being met. Just because your baby nursed only an hour ago doesn't mean their still not hungry nor does it mean they might not be needing comfort and support. Taking a 40 day baby moon guarantees you to take the needed time, without extra stresses, to nurse, cuddle, comfort and love on your baby as much as possible. Your baby will grow up so fast that, I promise, you will only look back feeling at peace and happy that you took the needed time with your baby that you will never have again.)
7. Having a baby want to nurse ALL. DAY. LONG. is frustrating. If this is your first child, you are probably use to being able to do things when you want to and are probably not use to having an extra appendage that cries, poops, sleeps and eats all day long. It is OK to feel frustrated because just like your labor did not last forever, this stage will not last forever either. Allow yourself to feel frustrated and take breaks when you need them.
(Nursing your baby all day long only becomes frustrating when you haven't set the stage BEFORE birth to find the needed support to be able to breastfeed whenever your baby needs. Having a newborn is a full time job and in our crazy, fast paced world, we want to still believe we can do it all and fulfill the needs of our baby. We can't. We will burn out or our baby will. Make sure to set the stage BEFORE delivery so that you can take the needed to time really love on this new life entering your family. It really has long term effects in your relationship with your newborn.)
8. Just like that first latch may have hurt, the next several dozen will probably hurt too. But this is what you need to pay attention to. During that first week and possibly beyond, each initial latch may hurt, but once your baby gets going, the pain should reduce and eventually go away. If that initial sting, that can at times knock the wind out of you, lasts through an entire feed, you probably have a bad latch. A lactation consultant can be a great resource for you if you are struggling with latching issues.
("The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" a book written by the Le Leche League is a MUST HAVE for every first time mother. I would NOT have made it without that book. Finding local lactation support, like stated above, is also a must to feel successful.)
9. Engorgement. I won’t lie. Engorgement is kind of a bitch. Having your boobs balloon up and ache from your milk coming in sucks. But this is again all part of supply and demand. I have always allowed my babies to nurse on demand and have yet to feel engorged for more than a few days. Pumping, showering and hand expression are all tricks that I have used to ease engorgement in addition to nursing on demand.
(Hand expressing and showering...YES....but pumping....NO! Read #4 above.)
10. Let down pain is a type of shooting/tingling pain that you will feel in your boobs when your milk is literally letting itself down to feed. Again, it feels uncomfortable, but the discomfort is allayed once you feed your child. With both of my children, I eventually quit having any sort of letdown pain whatsoever.
Breastfeeding is like anything else in the world. It has a learning curve. There is a bit of a science to it. It comes easier to some than others. But if you put in the work, you and your baby can and will reap it’s benefits.
(A let down feels different for every women, from my experience. For some women it can be painful, for others they don't even notice it. Just making sure you see your baby swallowing will, most likely, guarantee that your baby is getting enough milk. With my 1st baby, let downs were somewhat painful. By my last, I barely noticed them. For me, the sensation is quite wonderful....realizing my body can do AMAZING things for my baby. )
I am not a doctor, a lactation consultant or anything else that requires a fancy title. But I have successfully breastfed my firstborn for a year, and I am 11 months in to breastfeeding my second child. Despite having breastfeeding support, the number one thing that has allowed me to be successful at breastfeeding is my attitude. I never looked at it as something that I would “just try.” I looked at it as something that would just become a part of my life. And it did.
All the advice in the world will not guarantee that a woman will have a successful breastfeeding experience. But what will almost always guarantee that a woman fails at breastfeeding is not being honest about what the journey will be like. It can be a rough road. Things will hurt. At times, you will probably feel awkward or uncomfortable. But such is life in general.
Remember, everything in life is temporary. The pain and discomfort will subside and your baby will thrive on your milk whether you breastfeed for a day, a week, a month or a year.
Resources:
The Normal Course of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding Challenges in the Early Days (Resources)
Milk Supply
Baby Explains- Normal Newborn Behavior
Disclaimer: This post is not intended to dispense medical advice.
The BEST Raw Foods For IDEAL Health During Pregnancy & The Childbearing Years
I am a HUGE fan of raw foods and the raw foods diet. I have been eating a raw foods diet for 10 years now. I believe how we eat stimulates an life long imprinting on our unborn babies on how they will eat. Raw foods, because of the high enzymatic factors, has effective bioavailable nutrients that are not as readily obtainable for the body once they've been cooked.
You can read more about my raw foods experience on my RAW FOODS page. But today I really wanted to focus on my the importance of making the right raw food dietary choices while pregnant. Of course, for all of you who aren't pregnant, this...most definitely....can apply to you as well. Especially if you are in your childbearing years. Making sure proper nutrient intake is taking place during those years ensures you and your babies to come a greater opportunities for lasting health benefits for life.
I just recently posted about my experiences during my 5 pregnancies and how my dietary choices made a HUGE difference in my comprehensive health and that of my babies. You can still see, because of my dietary choices through each child's pregnancy, their food imprinting and the current food choices my kids are making. You can read that post HERE!
Below I have a posted a couple of videos from some of the raw food experts about what they believe to be some very needed high nutrient foods for pregnancy and your baby even after delivery. The first is David Wolfe discussing what he believes are raw foods that babies need for great health. I believe ingesting these foods while pregnant will be JUST as beneficial.
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In fact, I was thinking yesterday that if there was only ONE food I would NEVER give up, it would be my seaweed. I have eaten seaweed for years especially when I learned the benefits of seaweed for the thyroid gland. Seaweeds are actually the EXACT foods that helped to heal me of my Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Seaweeds are your HIGHEST iodine foods. Iodine just so happens to be the #1 nutrient that the thyroid needs for proper functioning. Google seaweeds and thyroid function and you'll find many websites which discuss the WONDERFUL health benefits of seaweeds.
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In my raw pregnancy I was eating many of the foods David talks about without watching this video. I was just listening to my body and eating what tasted and sounded good to me. If you strive to really listen to what your body tells you is right for you, and you have educated yourself on what deeply nutrients foods are, then you'll be building a foundation for optimal health for you and your unborn baby.
Here is David talking about phytoplankton and seaweeds and their deep mineral content to help keep growing babies growing properly.
Victoria Boutenko, the mother of Valya (the women in the video below), taught the very 1st raw food class I ever attended. Her story and her experience of curing disease within herself and her family made a deep impression on me. So much so that I almost immediately jumped into a raw foods diet.
Valya has eaten a raw foods diet since quite a young age and below she is telling her experiences. Notice how healthy and vibrant she looks. I think its easy to believe that a raw foods diet could not provide the full spectrum of health benefits. Watching Valya and Sergei grow up these last 10 years has really embedded my belief of a raw foods diet as an option for preventing disease and living healthy.
Throughout all my posts, you will find a common theme on increased vitamin and mineral contents of organic foods. Not only are organic foods higher in nutrients but they are also pesticide free. Just a few days ago, my sister and I bought organic spinach from Costco. Chris (my husband) and I had been recently discussing if larger organic companies were really providing a pesticide free products since there are some pesticides you can use and still call your product organic.
As Kim (my sister) and I were checking out with our organic spinach in hand, Kim looked down at the spinach to find some large strange looking flying bug sitting at the top of our spinach inside the container. She was somewhat grossed out and I was jumping up and down! I was SO EXCITED to find out that a bug could survive in the container which means there were not pesticides being used.
Below Gabriel Cousens is talking about the need for organic foods. Local, organic foods are optimal since they will have higher nutrient content. The longer foods sit, the more nutrient loss.
As you question what foods are right for you and your baby, I hope that you check into the health benefits of raw foods. Incorporating more raw foods in the form of fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds....will greatly increase your vitality and the vitality of your unborn baby.
In Peace,
Rachel
How We Handle Our Newborns Has Life Long Effects
How we handle our newborns does thoroughly and powerfully impress on them how to perceive and integrate the world around them. How we touch, speak to and deal with our newborn will FOREVER create an imprinting of how to trust the world and feel deep connections and bonding. When that touch is unlike the video below, their sense of themselves and the world around them become adulterated and changed to where negative thought patterns and false beliefs creep into their systems and their psyches.
So I'm normally not a big fan of bathing a newborn. In fact, I feel it can disrupt bonding, healing vernix that is on the skin to keep the babies immune system nice and strong, and can cause the baby to struggle to regulate body temperatures.
I guess after watching this video I am seeing the benefits of it especially in these conditions and this environment. The video below is WONDERFUL! Quite meditative and relaxing. Just watch the baby as the woman moves him/her back and forth in and out of the water. You feel a sense of serenity and peace just watching it.
I am posting this video today because I believe THIS is how babies want to be touched, handled, moved and dealt with. They LONG for gentility and simplicity in their interactions. Especially right after birth!
About 7 years ago, I entered with ER with a severe bowel obstruction. I had 2 bowels surgeries within my month stay in the ICU. I still remember when I awoke from my surgeries, how intense and overwhelming even communicating with others was.
I could tell my nervous system was in extreme hyper mode. Every touch, sound, and light was so stimulating that when I first awoke, I had to cover my face or even make strange sounds to help me cope with the tension and anxiety I was feeling.
I look back on that experience now believing that it was a AMAZING opportunity to truly understand more deeply what our brand new little ones might be feeling RIGHT AFTER entering our world. When a nurse would enter my room and proceed to treat me without forewarning me of what poking or prodding she might be doing, I would find myself having a panic attack.
Three and a half weeks into my hospital stay, I had finally had it with the daily x-rays, new pick lines being placed, constant needles being injected into me and so I asked them to STOP! I stated that I felt part of the reason I wasn't healing was because they just wouldn't leave me alone and I was not receiving enough emotional support for the way I was being treated.
I requested that they give me a full 24 hours of no touching, poking and needles to be able to take a break from the trauma I was experiencing. After that 24 hours, I was released within the next 2 days.
I believe because our babies systems are so HYPER SENSITIVE their little nervous systems cannot cope with the rough handling and abusive nature we put on them at birth. The reason I ADORE this video is because it shows us EXACTLY how babies want to be interacted with. How they long for slow movements, for soft touch, for delicate words and serene interactions with their care takers.
Notice how, even though we can't hear it, you see the women's mouth moving in the video. I'm assuming she's talking to him sharing with him what she is doing each and every moment she is doing it. Its nice to think that our babies really don't understand what we are saying so there is no need to explain to them what we might be doing to them. This is a false opinion.
Babies want to be told BEFORE you change their diapers. Babies want to be told before you change their clothes or move them or hand them over to someone else. Whatever action you take with your babies, they LONG for an introduction into that action.
When my nurse entered my hospital room explaining to be the procedure she or the doctor were going to perform, my anxiety diminished greatly. When a nurse walked into my room in the middle of the night to draw my blood, roughly awoke me and proceeded to poke me without an explanation....I found I was angry and hurt. Our babies feel these same emotions, I promise.
Lastly, I have concluded that sometimes an infant crying is a mechanism they use for relaxation and energy release. There was one night in the ICU when I was feeling intensely overstimulated. It was a busy night in the ER and bright lights and loud beeps where seen and heard in my room. Because my nervous system was so sensitive, it actually felt like physical pain every time I heard the beeping sound or saw the bright lights.
In order to compensate for my pain, I made a sound I have never before made in my life. And I made the sound all night long. By making this sound, I was able to relax and deal much better with the overwhelming stimulation I was experiencing.
I see no difference between my sound making and an infant's cry. They are so new to our world....our busy crazy, fast paced world....that crying, at times, helps them to acclimate themselves to magnitude of it all. Let me state, I'm in NO WAY am I saying we ever let our babies cry it out. But what I am saying is by holding your baby, gently caressing your baby, singing softly to your baby even while they are crying....helps them to feels supported and loved while in the pain. Don't we all need that? I know I do.
I guess what I'm saying is I hope you don't take this video lightly. I hope you watch it in a quiet moment of your day really feeling the connection and harmony between this women and this baby. Its quite FASCINATING and MAGNIFICENT all at the same time.
In my mind, its of the UTMOST importance how we handle our newborn right after they enter the world. You'll hear me talk about this over and over again here. In fact, I don't think I can say it enough as long as we believe babies don't understand or know what is going on around them. Until we shift the way he deal with our newborns, our sense of connection and love will always be warped.
I'm asking that we all do our parts to care for our new arrivals with tender care. Think of ourselves and how might we like to be talked to and touched and only do those types of motions and behaviors with our own babies. Better yet, request that others who come into the presence of your newborn only do the same.
In Peace,
Rachel
P.S. Check back soon! I will be discussing the WONDERFUL benefits of vernix. Super AMAZING stuff...
Sugar, Soda & Natural Flavorings: The Silent Killers
I thought it would be FUN to share with you some information in regards to sugar. I swore off sugar about 12 years ago. Now don't get me wrong, my kids still eat sugar regularly. Not because its in my house or we make it available in anyway. But because sugar is EVERYWHERE in our world. Its unfortunate too because I see sugar as nothing less than a DRUG.
I think its HYSTERICAL that we can demonized actual plants and foods that are helping to heal our bodies and systems but then pass sugar around to everyone everywhere. Sugar is one of the HARDEST things to remove from your diet and break the addiction from.
Below is a video where after 12 years of teaching my children the negative effects of sugar my 4 year old and 9 year old made a conscious choice not to eat it. I am ECSTATIC and hope it happens again and again.
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I remember 12 years ago when I first read the book "Sugar Blues." It forever changed my perspective of sugar and how it effects our bodies in such negative ways. Mostly, it lowers our immune systems to such an extent that they can scan history and find that the introduction of sugar was the beginning of many of our current diseases and ailments.
There was a time when I was scouring information about Native Americans and came across an article which discussed the wide spread of small pox among their communities once white sugar was introduced to them by the white man. It disabled their bodies from functioning properly to such an extent that after being exposed to the disease they literally fell over and died, within days and weeks.
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| Small Pox killed 1000's of Native Americans |
I'm sharing some information below about soda and how it negatively effects the human system, along with a video about sugar and the effects of natural sweetners. All 3 of these so called foods, in my opinion, are killing us through disease and immune system breakdown.
I still remember when I was taking my very first herbalist class. The women teaching mentioned how carbon dioxide is a waste product to the human body but when we drink soda we are, literally, drinking a waste product. The body excretes waste products as a way to release toxic materials from our bodies. She mentioned how after she learned that information, now every time she even thought of drinking a soda she pictured herself drinking a nice warm cup of urine. Now, I know there is such a thing as urine therapy but I'm not buying it.
When it comes to all you pregnant mamas out there, the truth is these things are FULLY negatively effecting you and your baby. As you see below, sugar...and even worse....ASPARTAME....can cause obesity for you and your baby. Sugar can effect every process of the body. And believe me, if effects every process of body creation for your fetus. Aside the fact that it stimulates a limbic imprinting where your infant craves foods that are actually unhealthy and even hurtful for he/she to consume.
Notice on the chart below the negative reproductive effects soda can have on your body. Soda does carry cancer causing properties. Recent studies are showing that drinking soda can potentially be causing preterm birth as well. I believe soda creates VAST amounts of ill health during pregnancy especially for Mom. I often wonder what effects soda is having on pregnancy induced diseases because my nutritional and herbal backgrounds would logically tell me there would be MANY!
Oh, and btw....if you don't believe me that soda and sugar is addictive and your an avid soda drinker, especially sodas with caffeine, take a week break from them. You'll find that you actually get the shakes and headaches. Both are signs of drug withdraw. If this doesn't convince you, I'm not sure what will.
Also, please read the article on natural flavorings. You'll find that some of the so called natural flavors in our food products are actually coming from the sex glands of beavers. I don't know about you but that sounds pretty gross to me. I do agree that its important that we know WHERE are food is actually coming from. I would recommend, like stated below, that you call the company asking them where they get their natural flavors from.
You will see more from me on this subject as I believe nutrition is VITAL for Moms and babies but especially for future generations. What we ingest today affects all of our children to come. It defines our egg and what DNA processes are stored in it.
In the world of conscious parenting, my hope and prayer is that all mama's to be will be aware of what they are putting into their mouths. That they will educate themselves on the foods that are negatively effecting the health of their unborn children. That they will see the damage they are doing to their own systems and the systems of their fetuses. I believe staying focused on where true nutrition comes from and how to create ideal health and well being will be a strong focus for mothers and fathers to be.
Also, that those of us with children already will guide and discipline ourselves to help set the stage for life long vibrant health for each and every one of them. I'm striving to do my part and hope you will join me!
In Peace,
Rachel
The Gross Truth About Natural Flavors
The name sounds innocent enough, but these mild-sounding words are used by the food industry as an umbrella term for some pretty horrible stuff, including certain ingredients that come from extreme animal abuse.
The exact definition of natural flavors from the Code of Federal Regulations is as follows:
“The term natural flavor or natural flavoring means the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional.”
When the phrase ‘natural flavors’ appears on a package, the best move is to call the company and find out what the flavors are actually made from. Of course, I say this assuming that we’re all the kind of people who would be horrified to find out that we might have come close to ingesting fluid from the sex glands of beavers.
Think that sounds absurd? Then you must not have heard of castoreum, which is “used extensively in perfumery and has been added to food as a flavor ingredient for at least 80 years.”
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Castoreum is a bitter, orange-brown, odoriferous, oily secretion, found in two sacs between the anus and the external genitals of beavers. The discharge of the castor sac is combined with the beaver’s urine, and used during scent marking of territory. Both male and female beavers possess a pair of castor sacs and a pair of anal glands located in two cavities under the skin between the pelvis and the base of the tail.
Castoreum is a product of the trapping industry. When beavers are skinned for their fur, these glands are taken out, and are sold after being smoked or sun-dried to prevent putrefaction…
Well, that’s a relief.
The European Beaver was hunted to near extinction, both for fur and for castoreum, which was also believed to have medicinal properties. The North American beaver population was once more than 60 million, but as of 1988 was 6–12 million, largely due to extensive hunting and trapping. Although sources report that beaver populations have now recovered to a stable level, some experts say that today’s American beaver population is only 5 percent of what it was when Europeans first settled in North America.
Castoreum is used in “high class” perfumery for “refined leathery nuances.” It is also reportedly used in some incense, and to contribute to the flavor and odor of cigarettes. In food, castoreum is used to flavor candies, drinks, and desserts such as puddings.
Grossed out? Horrified that humans think nothing of killing innocent beings so we can dress ourselves in their fur and flavor our candies with their secretions? I have a solution for you: Go vegan – really vegan. Don’t use cosmetics that are made using animal products, read the ingredients on food packages, call customer support when you see those scary words, ‘natural flavors’, and guess what? You’ll never eat anyone’s anal fluid again.
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Co-written with M Butterflies Katz
Proper Diaper Changing & Herbal Remedies to Reduce Colic
Digestive Blend
Vaccinations-Most Definitely NOT What They Are Cracked Up To Be & Oh, BTW...Know The FACTS!!
I guess its time for the vaccination post. I am NOT a fan of vaccinations nor will I ever be, I presume. None of my children are vaccinated and I am grateful for that. Though I will start with my story on how and why I chose not to vaccinate.
When my 1st son (Dean) was 2 years old, he stood up in a shopping cart and fell out right onto his head. You can imagine my discontent when I saw it happen and my extreme fear that permanent damage could have potentially taken place. A couple hours after the incidence, I was enough afraid that I decided to rush him into the ER.
Upon arriving, we were asked the normal series of questions you are asked when you first arrive at the hospital. One of those questions was if my son was up to date on his immunizations. During my pregnancy, my sister had given me a small pamphlet on vaccinations that I skimmed through briefly and so I knew a little about why I didn't want to vaccinate but I still didn't know much. Now, I'm gonna be honest here....at this point....I knew I didn't feel right about vaccinations. I would just get this knot in my gut every time I thought about injecting my son with a potential deadly virus at such a young age.
I didn't know much back then about physical health and well being but I knew enough to know what a vaccination was and how compromised my infant son's immune system was already. For me, the answer about whether or not to vaccinate was a prayerful one. My husband and I talked it over and both felt that not vaccinating was right for us even with ALL the backlash we received from friends and family.
Before taking Dean to the ER, I knew I had an answer about vaccinations but still hadn't done a ton of research on the matter. Like I said above, my answer was a made through my innate knowing and not educational knowledge. So when the nurse entered asking the questions about where Dean was at with vaccinations, I proceeded to tell that truth....that we had consciously chose not to vaccinate.
I was a quite taken back by her reply. She went to ask me if I was aware that by not vaccinating, I could be charged with child neglect. I proceeded to ask her who would charge me with it and she stated..."Well, the health department, I guess, or even the state." I then went on to ask if I was required by law in the state of Utah to vaccinate my son. I already knew the answer but was trying to trip her up a bit. She said it was not required but was still neglectful on my part as my son's parent.
At this point, I was pretty humiliated. I was embarrassed that I didn't know the facts of why we chose not to immunize. I was also extremely disappointed because I knew I wasn't articulating myself very well and could see the harsh judgment of me in the nurse's eyes. Nor had I learned at this point that unless you learn "doctor language or lingo", you will never be listened to or even tried to be understood.
Well, the situation was WONDERFUL for me. To this day, I only see it as a BLESSING and growing experience. That same day I went home and scoured and devoured every material I could get my hands on in regards to vaccinations. I read all about mercury poisoning from vaccinations. Chemical and synthetics that go into the vaccines causing all kinds of nerve and brain damage.
I educated myself on the history of vaccinations and how other countries that weren't vaccinating for the same diseases were having declines in disease at the same rate as America....who were vaccinating. I learned that the majority of diseases we are vaccinating for aren't even life threatening. My own mother had somehow survived (I say that sarcastically) the measles and mumps as a small child.
I could go on and on but won't. There is a TON of information out there now in regards to vaccinations and the damage they can cause. Below is a AWESOME video that goes in depth into the history, contamination and corruption of vaccinations. It is 2 1/2 hours long so I would go ahead and nestle up with some yummy snacks and watch away. Its quite fascinating!
The 2nd video is quite funny! I'd seen it a few years back and laughed pretty hard back then. Watch it. It'll make your day and hopefully open to eyes to some of the ingredients that are actually in your vaccinations. Formaldehyde is a KNOWN carcinogen after all and IS in your vaccinations!
Lastly, I want to say....I'm not here to tell you whether or not you should vaccinate yourself or your children. That's your decision. The common theme you will hear throughout this blog is one of SELF EDUCATION when it comes to making conscious, healthy and beneficial life long choices for you and your family.
Know the FACTS! Know both sides of every story when making a decision. I didn't when I started down the NO VACCINATIONS road. Do I think I made the right decision for me and my family....ABSOLUTELY! But I can't help anyone else make the right decision for them if I don't know what I'm talking about. And more importantly, I can't stand up for what I believe in and face judgments and ridicule if I'm not wise and knowledgeable about why I made the choice not to vaccinate in the first place.
I believe intuitive living truly IS the way to decide in EVERY regard what is best for us and our families. A greater sense of inspiration can be gained through proper education on all subjects that can potentially have damaging effects.
In Peace,
Rachel
P.S. I hope all of you will go to You Tube and watch the volumes of videos in regards to vaccinations and help educate you on your path to health and vitality.
P.P.S You can go to the website "THINK TWICE" which is Neil Z. Miller's site for up to date vaccination information. His book was the first book I read on vaccinations. He is VERY educated on the subject and visiting his site will hopefully help you make a more conscious, concrete decision.
By Christina England | April 25th, 2012 | Category: Christina England
Doctors around the world are being faced with children catching the diseases they have been vaccinated against. Rather than diagnosing these children correctly, professionals have discovered that the doctors are giving the diseases new names. This suggests a cover up is going on and the vaccinations we are all being told are safe and effective are in fact completely useless.
Vaccinations are now being given to children to keep them safe from every disease known to man. There appears to be a vaccination for everything from polio to a broken finger nail. However, many professionals now believe that the vaccinations are actually causing the diseases they are supposed to prevent.
It appears that they could be right because news has just been released that 47,500 children became paralyzed after polio vaccinations in India in 2011. According to Dr Jacob a member of the national technical advisory group on immunization and of the working group on the food and drug regulation in 2011 after receiving the polio vaccination, an additional 47,500 children were newly paralyzed, over and above the standard rate of 2 children per 100,000 non-polio AFP (acute flaccid paralysis) cases. (1)
Dr Viera Scheibner is a professional who would not be at all surprised in the above figures. She has firmly believed for many years that contrary to the belief that vaccinations prevent children from becoming ill, they are causing children to catch the diseases that they are being vaccinated against. She best explains this in her extremely well written letter published recently in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). (2) Her letter on the subject of polio vaccinations contains outstanding research and opens a gigantic can of worms that will be difficult for the pharmaceutical industries to ignore. In answer to an article titled ‘Polio eradication: a complex end game – Polio Eradication by Vaccination,’ she wrote:
She continued:
Dr Scheibner provided many examples of researched evidence proving that vaccinations have been causing cases of paralysis and polio for many years.
She could be right because concerns were being raised even during the polio vaccines early days.
In 1954, during testing, Dr Bernice Eddy (3) became very concerned after vaccinating 18 monkeys with the inactivated polio vaccine. She discovered that the vaccine was causing the monkeys to become paralyzed. She wrote:
Alarmed, she immediately informed her superiors sending photos of the monkeys. Instead of the thanks she had expected, and the immediate halt of the vaccine programme, a surprising thing happened. William Sebrell, the director of the NIH, stopped by the animal house where they were working, not to thank her for blowing the whistle but to ask if she and her co-workers wanted their children immunized with the vaccine, as it was in short supply. Needless to say neither she nor her researchers thought the vaccine was worth the risk.
Shortly after Eddy’s discovery, a study written by Peterson et al appeared in the JAMA magazine. (4) Peterson also spoke about vaccination induced poliomyelitis, this time in Idaho during the trial of the Salk (injectable) vaccine. This study was included as part of Dr Scheibner’s research in her letter in the BMJ.
To Hide The Vaccines Inadequacies Polio Develops A New Name
Many professionals believe that in order to keep up the pretence that diseases have been eradicated they are simply being renamed to cover up the fact that the vaccines are failing. According to the site whaleto.com (5) Greg Beatie wrote:
It appears that the Chinese may not have been the only country to adopt this philosophy. Anla et al reported children being diagnosed with GBS immediately after polio vaccinations in Turkey. In an article published in Neurology India. (6) Anla reported that five children became ill with GBS following a national oral polio vaccination campaign to eradicate the disease in Turkey. He wrote:
In their discussion they wrote:
Could these children actually be suffering from vaccine induced poliomyelitis, simply renamed GBS, to cover up the fact that the vaccine had caused the children to contract the disease rather than protect them from it? It certainly is a strong possibility.
Amazingly, Guillain Barre Syndrome is not the only new name given to patients developing polio after receiving the polio vaccine. Beddow Bayly author of the book “The Case against Vaccination,” (7) wrote:
This leads us to ask the question – is polio the only disease that has had a sudden name change? Sadly the answer to this question is a resounding “NO!”; this is because other diseases have also been reported to have had a sudden name change.
Smallpox Gets A New Lease Of Life
It has long been suggested that smallpox still exists and has simply been renamed to carry on the hoax that vaccination has saved us from the mighty jaws of the smallpox epidemics. In an article titled ‘Smallpox: a New Threat’ Susan Claridge (8) wrote:
Susan Claridge does not stand alone in her beliefs; Dr R Obomsawin (9) joins her, writing:
Does the deceit stop here? No of course not, the next disease to get a name change is whooping cough.
Whooping Cough Gets A Revamp
Whooping cough has also been found to have a name change. It has been reported over and over that cases of whooping cough have been diagnosed in fully vaccinated children. In fact one report stated that vaccine failure has actually been admitted. Natural News (10) reported:
Doctors have known this for a very long time and there could be many more cases than we could ever imagine. Professionals have discovered that doctors have been diagnosing whooping cough as croup!.
Dr Viera Scheibner says:
Bronwyn Hancock Vaccine Information Service agrees (12) stating:
The bottom line is parents are being duped into believing that vaccinations will protect children from deadly diseases when in fact they protect children from absolutely nothing. The truth is that more and more vaccinated children are becoming sick with the diseases that they have been vaccinated against and research is revealing that doctors are devising clever ways to cover this up. Not only this but the adverse reactions that children can have from the vaccines, are potentially worse than the diseases themselves. It seems to me that vaccinations are little more than a get rich quick scheme run by the pharmaceutical industries and endorsed by the governments. This is not only criminal it is fraud by any other name.
Research
1) K.P. Sethunath – Deccan Chronicle Rise in Paralysis Cases After Polio Vaccine http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/thiruvananthapuram/rise-paralysis-cases-after-polio-vaccine-234
2) Dr Viera Scheibner Polio eradication: a complex end game – Polio Eradication by Vaccination http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e2398/rr/578260
3) Book extract. The Health Century] Dr. Bernice E. Eddy, whose lab tests found that the Cutter vaccine had been improperly inactivated. http://www.whale.to/vaccine/eddy_h.html
4) Peterson et al (Vaccination-induced poliomyelitis in Idaho. Preliminary report of experience with Salk poliomyelitis vaccine. JAMA; 159 (4): 241-244). http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/159/4/241.extract
5) Greg Beatie Hiding Polio http://www.whale.to/vaccine/polio1.html
6) Neurology Of India – Report of five children with Guillain-Barré syndrome following a nationwide oral polio vaccine campaign in Turkey Anlar O, Tombul T, Arslan S, Akdeniz H, Caksen H, Gundem A, Akbayram S Department of Neurology, Yuzuncu Yil University Medical School, Van http://www.neurologyindia.com/article.asp?issn=0028-3886;year=2003;volume=51;issue=4;spage=544;epage=545;aulast=Anlar
7) Dr M Beddow Bayly M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Case Against Vaccination http://www.whale.to/vaccines/bayly.html
8) Susan Claridge Smallpox: a new threat? http://www.archetypeltd.co.nz/Smallpox.htm
9) Hiding Smallpox http://www.whale.to/vaccine/smallpox1.html
10) Natural News Vaccine Failure Admitted: Whooping Cough Outbreaks Higher Among Already Vaccinated Children http://www.naturalnews.com/035466_whooping_cough_vaccines_outbreaks.html#ixzz1sYoBPd4W
11) Dr Viera Scheibner Consumer Health VACCINATIONS: PART I – MEDICAL RESEARCH ON SIDS AND EPIDEMICS http://www.consumerhealth.org/articles/display.cfm?ID=19990705002005
12) Bronwyn Hancock, Co-ordinator, Vaccination Information Service Turramurra NSW Australia - Letter to the BMJ http://www.whale.to/vaccine/hancock9.html
Homeopathic Emergency Room
I'm sure many of you have seen this before. I actually saw it for the first time a few years ago. It is ONE of the FUNNIEST videos I've seen. I can watch it over and over and still laugh EVERY time. I hope this makes you laugh today as well. :)
I'm posting this right after my post yesterday just to show some of the reality of trying to treat acute cases with just alternative methods. Don't get me wrong, I most definitely think herbal remedies and nutrition can, at times, help heal acute conditions but in severe cases medical help is usually BEST!
I think the homeopathic lagar is HYSTERICAL! Hope you have a GOOD laugh today and it carries you throughout the rest of your day!
In Peace,
Rachel
Medical Therapy at its BEST!
Last night was VERY exciting at the Talley home. My mother in law (Louise) decided, yet again, that she needed to pull weeds and water our front garden area. In the process of doing so, she slipped on a step, fell backwards hard onto the cement below and proceeded to yell out in excruciating pain. We ran out to her only to find that her pain was severe enough that we couldn't move her.
I called 911 and requested an ambulance. They arrived shortly thereafter and took about a half an hour or more to reposition Louise, administer morphine, strap her down to the hard plastic board and then lift and get her in the ambulance. In the video below, you'll see Chris describing what happened and showing exactly where she fell.
Once at the hospital, they did x-rays only to find that she did, in fact, crack her hip bone. She is going in for surgery today and will, most likely, end up with a prosthetic hip. She's a trooper and it was OBVIOUS that she was in large amounts of pain which was alleviated with the help of the paramedics.
I only post this today to make a point. I am NOT a fan of medical practices in normal, healthy, low risk women when it comes to birth. Nor am I a fan of medical interventions when it comes to basic, overall health and well being of the human system as a whole. Because I feel so passionate about medical routines and protocols being questioned in regards to birth and because I use alternative therapies and methods for healing my family, I have found that others believe I am somehow against medical care in any format. This is ABSOLUTELY false.
The medical profession, along with very gifted doctors and nurses, have saved my life on more than one occasion. I would not be here without their help, assistance, care and compassion. I absolutely feel that the advances we have made in the realm of modern technology are PHENOMENAL! And truly a blessing for human kind.
What I am finding though is a polarity between the medical and alternative professions. In my opinion, alternative health care and medical health care truly are 2 separate entities. There are MANY aspects where medical care is out of control, controlling, extreme, unnecessary, and even sometimes....down right hurtful and abusive.
But on the other end of the spectrum is alternative methods of healing that are also extreme, and though I adore alternative methods for healing, that it is not always the answer. Alternative therapies can have their limitations even though, in the grand scheme, when it comes to the day in, day out illness, sickness and disease....alternative therapies greatly exceeds the medical advances for healing.
Now where the medical profession really makes HUGE differences and positive changes, as I see it, is in acute care. Like what happened to Louise last night. The ambulance showed up, completely took care of her, helped to stabilize and comfort her and now are helping to fix aspects of her physical self that might not ever heal on their own. Or if they do heal....they could potentially heal in a damaged state.
Because I see birth as a normal bodily, physiological function....along with the majority of births in our country, the medical profession really has no business messing with the process of birth like they do. When it comes to high risk women, who carry complications and problems during pregnancy and birth, THANK GOD for the medical advances that can save the life of Mom and baby.
For whatever reason, we have decided to hold onto the idea that if some Moms and babies need help, then we should go ahead and make that ALL women DO need medical help in their pregnancy and birth. I disagree with the notion. In fact, I'll go so far to say that many of the routine hospital protocols performed on Moms and babies are intrusive, ineffective, emotionally traumatic, and psychologically damaging.
My hope and prayer is that we can create a team between alternative therapies and medical therapies. That we can acknowledge each others strengths and weaknesses in our personal fields and be open and even accepting of each others ideas. If there is a better way for Moms, Dads, families and communities to gain greater health and well being, why aren't all of us looking into what modalities can put into full practice for that to take place?
I believe its time to move past the pride, past the ignorance of one another's beliefs and ideals, and open our hearts to each other. Its time to deeply listen to the insights of ANYONE working in the health care world, in any regard, and truly be receptive to what is being said....by BOTH sides. Its time that if there is a healthier, happier and more peaceful way to live....that we all...TOGETHER, work toward the creation of this by setting aside our prejudice, our labels, our diagnoses and our blames. Its time that we ALL join hands and strive to move forward with one goal in mind....a more PEACEFUL, LOVING, COMPASSIONATE world to live in.
How grateful I am for ALL the alternative therapies that have helped to heal me and my family. How grateful I am and forever will be for ALL the medical advances, along with the doctors, nurses and medical staff, that helped to save my life and care for me and my well being. How grateful I am that I get to intuitively decide which path is right for me at any given moment. How grateful I am that I get to respect and honor others choices for their own personal health care!
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| This is soon after the paramedics arrived. They are putting her on the stretcher. |
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| The ambulance with all the bells and whistles in our little tiny cul-de-sac. |
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| The HUMONGOUS fire truck! Oh and our dirty windows...LOL! |
TIPS FOR A HAPPY HOSPITAL BIRTH EXPERIENCE
A Gift From The Heart
How WONDERFUL to live in a world where women are striving to helpwomen around the world to have successful and safe birth experience. About a year ago, a local midwife passed away from a car accident. It was a very sad event for all us within the birth community.
But...for those who felt the loss of Briana Blackwelder can feel the HOPE and JOY of the gift she left behind that is now helping other women across the world. Thanks to her LOVING midwifery partner, Cathy, Briana will hold a space of healing and health for many women.
I'd make sure to pull out your kleenex before watching this video. Hopefully this gift will impact you all as powerfully as it impacted me. My prayer and hope is that ALL of us can find the space within ourselves to give to others a part of ourselves to make birth a BETTER and even BLISSFUL experience for all involved.
Hope everyone has a HAPPY weekend. I will have a FUN video on Monday about how to create a more PEACEFUL natural hospital birth experience, so check back! :)
In Peace,
Rachel
New Study: Circumsized Men Unable to Process Emotions
I'd like to start today by saying that in NO WAY do I mean offense or hurt to anyone by what I say below. Circumcision is a sensitive subject and myonly purpose in writing about it is my belief in its scarring and damaging effects on boys. I see circumcision as absolutely unnecessary and severely traumatic and hope those who read this will be open to my words without judgment or guile.
With the above being said, I've decided I'm gonna say it how I see it. Circumcisionis NOTHING LESS than sexual mutilation. Below is a link to a study done last year on the emotional effects of circumcision. I absolutely believe that every man who has been circumcised carries the same emotional energy of someonewho has been sexually abused.
NowI know there are probably 100's of men who would disagree with my opinion. But I have now met enough men who are actually on the other end of this spectrum who wholeheartedly feel that their circumcision effected them above and beyond most any other traumatic event in their lives.
Since current clinical research is showing that newborns are truly feeling, sensational and understanding beings....how can we expect anything less than severe trauma to be experienced by the infant being circumcised? I have talked with many women who have expressed their own pain after watching their own son being circumcised. The screaming sounds that their child made during the circumcision process seems to be forever locked in the minds. In fact, I have family members who, without a full understanding of the effects of circumcision and because of the pain they saw in the son during the process, proceeded to circumcise their first son only to go on to leave their next sons intact.
Circumcision DOES have life long effects as shown in the study below. It FOREVER changes men and their perception of the world. Circumcision instils levels of anger and rage within that infant that is so unrelenting that, I believe, these same men go on to create wars and contentions within societies. We are one of the only mammals who will attack and actuallykill its own species.
I believe boys who are circumcised have a large volume of distrust of people around them. After being circumcised, these men struggle to trust the world and people around them. Circumcision imprints on the infant that the world is unsafe and even a fearful place. The results are a scarred psyches that feels it will be under attack at any moment.
Just because a man doesn't remember his circumcision or doesn't agree with anything I'm saying....doesn't mean its not happening or that its not reality. Just like a women who might have been horribly raped doesn't remember the experience, a man being circumcised can have equal amounts of trauma and not remember the inner pain he carries because of it.
Our systems are quite GIVING when it comes to how they deal with trauma. Nature does not want us to suffer so instead it gifts us with the ability to"check out" during a traumatic experience. We are able to disassociate ourselves from ourselves in order to survive the experience. At the moment, this disassociation helps the system to cope with the experience and come out on the other end able to still function in our world. But at what cost?
We do live in a world where the majority of us do not understand what a true, deep connection with those we love really feels like. We've lost the ability to even desire this connection and to how to even open ourselves up to it. As human beings, we all dearly LONG for connection and the ONLY reason we might not feel that this is our deepest desire is because we've decided to connect only means emotional, psychological or even physical pain.
I am writing this post with the hopes that we all can research circumcision BEFORE we deliver our boys. That we can all search deep inside ourselves to understand the effects this practice has on ourselves, our families and, most importantly, future generations. The effects of circumcision, I believe, have changed and will keep changing our planet as a whole if we don'tlook at the real reasons we're performing such a horrendous ritual. As long as circumcision is considered a normal, routine practice, we will have to deal with the life long, devastating effects of anger, rage and sadness that then spill out onto all human kind.
I believe that if a man is willing to face the pain he carries, in regards to his circumcision, he can move past the pain and truly relearn to trust humanityagain. He is able to release the anger and rage and find within himself a sense of peace and serenity that he has been missing his wholelife.
Aman who strives to heal his circumcision wounding will find he desires forconnection more and understands what that looks like. He is willing andwanting to find his own sensitive side and help to create peace within himself and the world around him. The man who finds the strength to face thispain will then open himself up to helping other men find answers for their healing. As each man helps to heal himself, these steps would then go onto change the whole of human kind.
I believe wars would end. Men would find ways and means of resolving conflicts tranquilly. They would strive to let themselves feel the fullrange of emotions inside of them instead of believing in a false sense safety through emotional suppression. How we treat each other, how we talk toeach other, how we care for each other.....would ALL find a new ground forhealing and wholeness. We would see the new world in a new light where peace, love and connection were imbedded in all of us and we felt free and safe to thoroughly share ourselves with our earthly brothers and sisters.
As mother, its VITALLY important that we take the opportunity to research and integrate within ourselves the life long ramifications of circumcision. We are the only mammalian species who hands their young over to others to behurt and defiled. Any other mammal would rip your eyes out if you handled, treated and physically scarred their infants like we do ours. Circumcision is NOT the only traumatic event that takes place at birth but it is DEFINITELY one with the biggest physical, psychological and emotional negative effects.
I have TONS more I could say on circumcision but I will stop here. I also have several videos I could post but I will save the rest for anothertime.
Below is a video from my FAVORITE birth movie..."Birth As We KnowIt." Here Elena is discussing the harsh effects ofcircumcision. If you find that you have a hard time watching this video, I would hope you would ask yourself why. I have grown men who will walkout of my childbirth classes when I show a video of circumcision. Why? I believe its because it stimulates their own circumcision trauma so fully that it is still to painful to let themselves be present in that pain....even though it is no longer happening to them.
Please watch in the video how they handle and touch the penis. You women out there....imagine if someone handled and cut our clitoris like this. Its abhorrent to think of someone cutting off our clitoris but that practice is still happening in our world today. There is NO difference between circumcision and clitoris removal.
Also, listen closely to the infant's cries. I have NEVER heard one of my children cryin this manner. Let yourself really FEEL how watching this video makesyou feel. You'll find its quite hard to stay present while even watching this video.
I hope you will check back soon. I will post more videos and discuss more aboutcircumcision.
In Peace,
Rachel
Researchers find circumcised men have higher alexithymia scores than intact men. Alexithymia is the inability to process emotions.
The International Journal of Men's Health has published the first study of its kind to look at the link between the early trauma of circumcision and the personality trait disorder alexithymia. The study, by Dan Bollinger and Robert S. Van Howe, M.D., M.S., FAAP, found that circumcised men are 60% more likely to suffer from alexithymia, the inability to process emotions.
People suffering from alexithymia have difficulty identifying and expressing their emotions. This translates into not being able to empathize with others. Sufferers of severe alexithymia are so removed from their feelings that they view themselves as being robots. If acquired at an early age, such as from infant circumcision, it might limit access to language and impede the socialization process that begins early in life. Moderate to high alexithymia can interfere with personal relationships and hinder psychotherapy. Impulsive behavior is a key symptom of alexithymia, and impulsivity is a precursor to violence.
The idea for the investigation came when the authors noticed that American men (for whom circumcision is likely) had higher alexithymia scores than European men (for whom circumcision is unlikely), and that European men had about the same scores as European and American women.
The study surveyed 300 circumcised and intact men using the standardized Toronto Twenty-Item Alexithymia Scale checklist. Circumcised men had higher scores across the board and a greater proportion of circumcised men had higher scores than intact men.
A common reason fathers give for deciding to circumcise their son is so they will "look alike," but these authors speculate that perhaps a subconscious motivation is so that they will "feel alike," in other words as equally distant and emotionally unavailable as themselves. It was beyond this study's design to test for this, and yet the comments received from circumcised participants speak to a vast psychic wounding, which, if unresolved, might lead to an unconscious desire to repeat the trauma upon others.
The authors recommend that more research be conducted on this topic, but in the meantime, parents considering circumcising their infant son should be informed that circumcision might put their son at risk for alexithymia, including difficulty identifying and expressing his feelings, and for impulsive behavior. Psychologists counseling alexithymic patients should investigate the patient's childhood and neonatal history for possible traumatic events, including circumcision.
If this pattern of men suffering from circumcision-related trauma holds true for the general populace, this would constitute a significant mental health problem and, considering that three-fourths of the U.S. male population is circumcised, a public health problem, too.
Alexithymia is from ancient Greek meaning, "having no words for feelings." It was coined by psychotherapist Peter Sifneos in 1973 to describe a state of deficiency in understanding, processing, or describing emotions. Alexithymia tends to be persistent and chronic; it doesn't diminish with time. This is unlike other trauma-based reactions, like post-traumatic stress disorder, which typically dissipate soon after the trauma.
Source: Alexithymia and Circumcision Trauma: A Preliminary Investigation
Local Farm Sharing The Wealth
I thought this was an AMAZING video and SUPER exciting for those of us who live here in Utah County. I'm planning on going and visiting the farm sometime soon. I have a friend who has already been involved in their shares and is really LOVING it!
If you live close by and want to stop in, I say DO IT! Or if you aren't able to grow your own garden at your house, go help plant at their location. I'm a HUGE proponent of all thing sustainable and growing your food has HUGE benefits for you and your family. Also, your helping to grow a community effort for healthier living for all involved. Its most DEFINITELY what we need.
Oh, and for your pregnant mama's out there....eating locally grown food from remineralized soil boosts the health of your little one as well. When eating for two, highly nutritive foods are a MUST! Your infant in utero will take what it needs and leave you depleted, if you are not making sure to eat ORGANIC and local produce.
Like I've said in other posts, indigenous women would prepare for pregnancy by building their immunity and health by eating restoring, rejuvenating foods. These foods would be EXTREMELY high in viable nutrients so that, once she's pregnant, they help to feed the baby with health for LIFE!
Once a fruit or vegetable is harvested, it IMMEDIATELY starts losing vital vitamins and minerals. You can imagine when our food is being shipped to us from somewhere across the nation, it can takes days...even weeks sometimes...before its on your table.
To prevent spoilage they add pesticides, fungicides, herbicide etc. and all kinds of chemicals to halt the degradation process. They will radiate your food as well to slow the decay. All of these unnatural processes kill many needed vitamins and minerals. Once that denatured, adulterated food is eaten it actually mutates and KILLS healthy cells within YOUR body causing all kinds of sickness and disease.
When purchasing something local or even better growing it yourself, the nutrient content....the vitamins and minerals in your food are FRESH, VIBRANT and FULLY AVAILABLE for your system to assimilate and absorb. Utilizing local farmers and companies that offer sustainable and life giving products supports YOU and your local community as a whole. The TRUTH is where your money goes is what then grows in your community. Notice all the McDonald's and WalMarts around here. Imagine if we all STOPPED shopping there and only bought what was produced locally. I believe these kinds of shifts say what is important to us and will help to build communities who support our ideologies and desires for ourselves and our families.
Below is a video describing what a CSA is, how to find local organic farmers and where to find them. Its important to add that what you eat has a HUGE impact on your health. Make no mistake..... You are either fully LIVING or slowly dying just by what you put in your mouth each and everyday. Truthfully, I am a walking miracle because of how many times my healthy diet has saved my life. You can see this man is as well.
Raw, fresh organic, LOCAL foods heals not only you and your body but heals the community and our nation. It brings people together and promotes the local economy, along with helping to stimulate people to make healthy lifestyle choices. Choices that truly effect each other in the grand scheme of it all.
Changing your diet, growing your own food, spending your money at local markets, being conscious of Mother Earth and taking proper care of her makes a HUGE difference for all of us. Healthy living is truly right at your door. Ecstatic states of LIVING and feeling HAPPY can happen for you too! Don't be AFRAID to make the change NOW! You won't regret it. Even more importantly....you future children will THANK YOU for providing greater health for them and a more peaceful, giving world that they can enjoy being a part of.
In Peace,
Rachel