Less than 40 percent of mothers worldwide breastfeed their infants exclusively in the first six months, as recommended by the WHO. Many abandon it because they don’t know how to get their baby to latch on properly or suffer pain and discomfort.

It was said that both poor and rich countries have this same problem. WHO expert Constanza Vallenas is calling for additional assistance from hospitals, clinics and communities to help and support new mothers.

The WHO recommends that babies start breastfeeding within one hour of their birth, and ingest only breast milk for the first six months, avoiding water and other drinks and foods.

This can give children vital nutrients and strengthen their immune system to fight diseases like diarrhea and pneumonia. Formula milk does not provide the same immunity and local water can be contaminated or unsafe in many parts of the world.

Raising to 90 percent the global breastfeeding rate for infants to six months would save an estimated 13 percent of the 10 million under-age-5 deaths a year, Vallenas said.

In a statement released to mark World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said it was also important that mothers in disaster zones be given the support they need to continue or restart breastfeeding.

Read the whole report here.

Image by littleREDelf.

But the focus is very often on what NOT to eat. And the list is loooong.
I would like to turn it around and talk about what TO eat when you are pregnant.

Here are 6 Super Foods for Pregnant Women:

1. Avocados:
This fat fruit will give you valuable fats, vitamins and minerals. Avocados can be used in salads, as bread spread, or make a fresh guacamole and let your immune system benefit from the garlic as well.

2. Coconut oil:
Coconut oil contains lauric acid which also can be found in mother’s milk. It has strong anti fungal and antimicrobial properties.

3. Pumpkin seeds:
Both the zinc and the vitamin A in pumpkin seeds prevents stretch marks and lowers the risk of tearing during birth as they keep your tissues elastic.

4. Salmon:
Both you and your baby will benefit from the omega-3 in salmon. Omega-3 is important for you baby’s brain development both during pregnancy and during breastfeeding. Low levels of omega-3 has been linked to

• increased risk of premature birth
• postnatal depression

On top of this salmon is a high in proteins and a excellent source of selenium, phosphorus, magnesium, B6 and B12. Read more about omega-3 and pregnancy risks in this article: 2 things you must know if you ever want to get pregnant

5. Sesame seeds or tahini:
Sesame seeds is a great source of calcium.
Tahini is ground sesame seeds and can be used as peanut butter. It is has a thinner texture and a more bitter taste.

6. Sweet potatoes:
This orange friend keeps your blood sugar at a good level and helps you to stay away from unhealthy snacking. Just like pumpkin seeds is also loaded with Vitamin A which makes your tissues elastic.

First they present evidence that our sons can become infertile and get testicle cancer due to chemicals in body creams and perfumes.

Then they advise us not to panic.

Many cosmetic products contain chemicals that can damage reproductive system of the male foetus.
Research on rats carried out by Professor Richard Sharpe, principal investigator at the Medical Research Council’s Human Sciences Unit, has found that the damage can happen as early as in week 8 of your pregnancy. A time when many women do not even know that they are pregnant!

Professor Sharpe says that: “We have found the male programming window, which occurs far earlier in foetal development than was previously thought”.

Even if they don’t have fully conclusive evidence yet. Even if they don’t know if it is the chemicals alone or the combination of them that is causing the damage. I don’t understand:

WHY ARE THESE CHEMICALS STILL ALLOWED?

Infertility or testicular cancer both growing medical problems across the world.

Here are some unpleasant facts from the article:

1. Undescended testicles is the most common birth defect in boys.
2. Undescended testicles is linked to infertility and a risk factor for developing testicular cancer later in life.
3. Testicular cancer is increasing worldwide by between 1% and 6% a year.
4. In the UK about 14% of all couples have difficulty conceiving at some time. About one third of these cases are due to problems in the man such as sperm count and quality.

The first time I held my newborn baby my life changed. The pure, innocent tiny person lying in my arms needed my protection.

Just like us babies absorb chemicals applied to their skin. The last thing you want to do is add toxins to your baby’s sensitive skin.

The diaper areas is a real problem area and so many poor babies get diaper rash. And no wonder.
The diapers are loaded with chemicals.
The wipes are so bad that the hospital where my daughter was born have stopped using them.
On top of this we apply baby care products that are full of potentially harmfull toxins.

You don’t have to go down that road. You can choose a natural, organic option for your baby.

Throw away the wipes! Instead use the Baby Bottom Cleansing Gel. Wipe off the gel gently with a soft damp cloth. No need to rinse.

Then use the Baby Barrier Balm to protect you baby’s sensitive area. Use it on your baby to prevent and heal diaper rash.

These products are one of a kind.

They are certified organic to food standards. In other words, the are good enough to eat.
They nurture your babies sensitive skin and they are gentle enough for newborn babies.

Baby Bottom Cleansing Gel
A very gentle, yet effective cleanser for nappy change time.
Soothing organic marshmallow, chamomile and calendula
calm and soothe baby’s sensitive skin. Organic aloe vera
inner leaf gel and yucca juice gently cleanse and soothe
baby’s bottom. A hint of organic vanilla helps neutralize
odors. Gentle enough for newborns.

Baby Barrier Balm
A soothing balm that protects your baby’s sensitive
areas. Softens dry patches, soothes irritated skin and
calms minor skin inflammation and redness. Repels
moisture and protects nappy area from chafing. Soothes
chapped skin & lips and can also be used for relieving
cuts, scrapes, bites, sun & wind burn.
It works for the whole family.

Check out the whole new CERTIFIED ORGANIC baby product range.

It is complete with baby wash,baby lotion, bottom cleansing gel and a powerful belly and breast balm for mothers who wants to avoid stretchmarks.

Experts say that it is normal and the hair grows back. My daughter in now 16 months old and my new hair is about 2 inches long.

But what if you have lost a lot of hair and don’t feel like waiting year before it is back to full length?

Here are some natural ways to stimulate hair regrowth:

• Increase blood circulation in you scalp with a daily scalp massage and vitamin B.
• Zinc stimulates hair growth. You need about 50 ml a day.

I prefer getting my vitamins from my food instead of supplements. If you eat 5 portions of fresh fruits and vegetables a day you get enough vitamin B and zinc plus also vitamin C and iron which are also important for a healthy hair.

But if you really feel that you want to boost your vitamin/mineral intake a very good and inexpensive way is to eat sprouts. Use them in salads, on bread, on cereal or just as snack. The seeds are very cheap and all you need to sprout them is a colander.

• Rye and sunflower sprouts are especially good for your vitamin B intake.
• Pumpkin sprouts are great if you need extra zinc.

Learn how to grow sprout on:

How to grow your own natural super food.

Baby wipes are loaded with chemicals. Have you ever turned the package around the looked at the ingredients label? It’s disgusting. But what can you expect from a paper tissue that stays wet for years. Not very natural is it.

But baby wipes are great to:

• remove stains
• give your baby a diaper rash

I use baby wipes to clean the table and the kitchen floor after my kids have had a drawing session. It works great. A friend of mine even removed an oil stain on the car seat with baby wipes.

But would I use them on my baby’s skin? No way!

Instead I just wash her with water. I hold her under the running tap. Of course I’m very careful with the temperature.

At first I kept a small pack of baby wipes in the diaper bag. Just in case I ended up changing my daughter somewhere where there was no water. Well as it turns out that after nine months it still hasn’t happened. 

Once there was no running water. But paper tissue and water from a water bottle did the job. So the last couple of baby wipes are in the bin too.

They are important from the moment of insemination through the full pregnancy and breastfeeding.

If a pregnant women has folic acid deficient this poses a number of risk for the infant:

• low birth weight
• premature birth
• neural tube defects
• slow overall growth rate

Raspberries are great:

1. They taste fantastic
2. They give you the folate you need for both you and your baby
3. They contain zinc which support male fertility

On top of this raspberries contain a whopping 10 times more antioxidants than tomatoes.

Another great source of folic acid is beetroot.

Fats are probably more important than you ever thought. Wrong fats can cause infertility, premature birth and brain development of your future baby. Read on and I will let you know how avoid the most common hazards.

Read the labels and avoid trans fats
Trans fats are hydrogenated oils. They are so unnatural that livers can not process nor break them down. Instead they are stored in our bodies where they cause a lot of damage. One this you must know is that they can make you infertile.

Trans fats can prevent women from ovulating. According to American Journal of Clinical Nutrition tiny 2% increase of trans fats in your diet causes a terrifying 70% higher risk of becoming infertile. The study compared an intake of trans fats compared to carbohydrates, polyunsaturated fats or monounsaturated fats and in all cases the infertility rose with 70% or more.

Trans fats are widely used in processed foods. But I find that if I read the labels on the food I buy I almost always find a good, similar product without them. There are cookies with and without trans fats. There are soups with and without trans fats.

It might seem a bit tedious to read the labels on every product you buy but it’s really only the first time. The second time you buy a product you already to which brand you chose last time. Just pick the same one!
And if you want to get pregnant, can you afford not to do this?

On to the next..

Eat Omega-3

Omega-3 is a fatty acid that we can not do without. The balance between omega3 and omega-6 is what really counts to stay healthy. The problem is that today our foods are filled with omega-6 (most vegetable oils and soy) but contain very little omega-3 (cold water oily fish and flax seeds). An optimum diet contains equal amount of omega-3 and omega-6. Most of us have a diet that contains 50 times more omega-6 some even 1000.

If you are pregnant omega-3 is crucial for both your and your baby’s health. Low levels of omega-3 have been linked to:

• increased risk of premature birth
• postnatal depression

For your baby, the last 3 months of the pregnancy and the first year, its brain development is at its peak. Studies have shown that infants who have low amounts of the omega-3 acid DHA in their diet have lower brain development and reduced visual acuity.

Babies are supposed to get their omega-3 from their mothers during pregnancy and, after birth, through breastfeeding. The question is do you have enough omega-3 stored in your body for both yourself and your baby?
A random test with pregnant Swedish women showed that NONE of them got sufficient omega-3 through their diets.

The recommendations used to be to eat cold water oily fish once a week. But with our current diet more and more experts are saying that this is not enough. Some even recommend 4-5 times a week. And do you know what? I don’t even manage with once a week.
So what do I do? I supplement. Eskimo-3 is my personal choice, because it is of very good quality, it is stable and it is natural.

This concerns any women who would like to get pregnant sometime in their life. Make sure you avoid trans fat and that your diet contains enough omega-3.

Some people think that diaper rash is part of being a baby but I don’t think that we as parents should settle for that. After all a baby who does not wear a diaper does not develop a diaper rash.
Here are some really great ways to heal and avoid diaper rash.

Can the cause be in diapering?

1. Do not use wipes, they are full of chemicals, instead wash your baby with plain water.
2. Change often, especially after bowels movement. Modern disposable diapers are so absorbent that the babies don’t get wet and you might feel that you don’t need to change.
3. Do not use perfumed lotions or salves.
4. Leave the diaper off as much as possible. Put the changing mat on the floor with a cloth diaper or towel on top and lay your baby down without a diaper, bottoms up. Make sure your baby does not get cold. To air out the rash is not just good for the diaper rash; your baby will love it. It’s comfortable and it’s much easier to move around.

Or maybe the cause is in the diapers themselves.
Disposable diapers are loaded with chemicals, perfumes and gel. The cause of the rash may very well be in the diapers.

1. Try a different brand of diapers.
   That’s how easy it can be to get rid of the rash sometimes. If your baby is sensitive to a chemical in one diaper a different brand might not contain that chemical.
2. Try gel-free diapers.
   The absorbent gel is said to be one of the biggest reasons that babies develop a diaper rash. The gel is so absorbent that it removes the water not only from the waste but also from your baby’s skin.
3. Use cloth diapers.
   I have 3 kids and still I’m a fan of cloth diapers.
   If you buy second hand or organic cloth diapers you are sure that your baby is not rapped in chemicals anymore. Using cloth diapers is easy especially if you use fitted diapers. There is no folding involved, simply put on a diaper and a diaper cover.
4. Try infant potty training.
   The ultimate way to get rid of diaper rash is of course to get rid of diapers. If your baby is less than 6 months it is well worth a try. My daughter actually peed the very first time I put her on the potty, she was then 2 months old. I did not get her potty trained that early. I simply found that infant potty training was not for me. But we found our own solution. Every time I changed her I also put her on the potty. This saved us the rash causing poop diapers as she decided to do her “heavy” needs on the potty.

I fit in my normal pre-pregnancy clothes.

The changes I have done to succeed are so small I can’t believe I got results.

• I eat less candy and empty calories, and less food at night.
• I run a bigger part of the way when I bring and pick my kids from school.

It’s not far so even if I run all the way it still won’t take me more than 10 minutes. But that is not the point. The point is that my hopelessly unfit body is slowly waking up. I’ve come to enjoy the walks so much I take an extra 30 minute walk on my way back in the morning. After such a long walk my baby daughter is fast asleep and usually sleeps of another 2-3 hours. This gives me a lot of precious time to do what I want.

I’ve also adjusted the WAY I eat. I try not to stuff myself with too much food as it only makes me crave something sweet after dinner. And I eat slowly. With 3 kids under 5 it can be hard to eat slowly and enjoy your food but when it works I really feel a difference. Read more about how to eat to get the most out of your food.

By not expecting fast results I was able to take a relaxed approach to improving my wellness. I’ve tried changing different things and only continued with what felt good. This way I managed to stay focused without feeling that my getting fit program was a burden. Instead it has made me more energized and made me feel much healthier. My daughter is now 2,5 months old. My body feels fine and I fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes. Not bad.

Do you need a little more guidance?
Try this program!