How to be a Natural Mama

How To Be A
Natural Mama
By Genevieve Mama Natural
Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 3
Change your diet, change your life ..................................................................................... 5
Shoot for a natural childbirth............................................................................................... 8
Breastfeed ................................................................................................................................ 11
Think twice about circumcision ........................................................................................ 15
Wear your baby ..................................................................................................................... 17
Consider cloth diapering ..................................................................................................... 19
Use natural products ........................................................................................................... 22
Nourish your kids ................................................................................................................. 25
Be intentional about vaccines ............................................................................................29
Stay informed and spread the word.................................................................................. 31
Version 1.2
© 2013 Mama Natural
http://MamaNatural.com
2
Introduction
definitely much more fun when you have fellow natural
mamas walking alongside you.
Hence http://MamaNatural.com.
Please know that I’m here for you, and so are thousands
of other people in the Mama Natural community. Welcome!
W
A little background…
hat exactly is a natural mama? I’ll start by
telling you what she’s not. She’s not part of an
elite group of women who do everything
perfectly, from pushing out their babies in serene silence, to
only eating organic foods grown from biodynamic gardens,
to making cloth diapers from odds and ends around the
house.
Now, don’t get me wrong, if you do any or all of these
things, you go girl! But, I don’t want natural living to appear
intimidating or unachievable.
Natural living is a roomy place that can be as simple as
avoiding MSG or kicking your daily Big Gulp.
The word natural means, “existing in or caused by
nature; not by humankind.” And that’s what natural mamas
do. We avoid as many artificial things as possible such as
drugs, processed foods, and toxic cleaning products.
In my experience, natural living is a lifelong journey
that has its joys, discouragements and revelations… and it’s
I wasn’t always a natural mama. I used to smoke. I drank
excessively. I had a half a dozen Diet Cokes and a plenty
pack of gum a day.
I ate your standard American diet.
Even worse, I used to binge on sugar. A lot. So much so
that I was 60 pounds overweight and my health was
deteriorating. I was miserable, depressed, and felt hopeless.
By God’s grace, I finally realized that I was slowly
killing myself and made a soul decision to be well. In my
experience, it takes a deep place of commitment to break
unhealthy habits and embrace life-giving ones.
My natural journey began on January 1, 1999 and I
haven’t looked back.
By eating whole foods and cutting out nicotine, alcohol,
nutrasweet, and white sugar, I lost 60 pounds and have kept
that weight off for well over a decade with a healthy
3
pregnancy included. More importantly, I rely on God and
others to continue my health journey, which includes
physical nourishment but also mental, emotional and
spiritual.
Moral of this story: It’s never too late to change your
life for the better! (And God will help you if you ask Him.)
How to use this guide
I used a list format because everybody loves lists, right? This
will also help you find the sections you’re interested in and
skip the ones you’re not.
Along the way, you’ll discover plenty of links to articles
and videos, so you can dive deep if you’re so inclined.
Questions? Comments?
Reach out to me at [email protected] with
feedback, or connect with me on Facebook, YouTube,
Twitter, or Pinterest.
I wish you all the best!
Genevieve
Chicago, IL
4
1.Change your diet,
change your life
O
ne of the simplest ways you can be a natural
mama is by consuming luscious, life-giving foods
and beverages.
Did you know that processed and fake foods like white
sugar, white flour, and diet soda actually strip your body of
minerals? Yep, they’re called “antinutrients” because your
body has to burn stored minerals in order to digest these
foods and beverages.
Even worse, processed foods leave you feeling hungry
and depleted and, as a result, you want MORE. It’s a vicious
cycle, and one that I lived in for many years.
But changing your diet doesn’t doom you to a menu of
celery sticks and boiled broccoli. No, consuming real, lifegiving foods can be delicious, nutritious, and even decadent.
By making the small changes outlined here, you’ll make
a big impact on your health and well-being.
Get rid of the white stuff
To begin, you’ve gotta significantly reduce or, better yet,
eliminate white sugar.
Stick with me here. I’m not saying you’ll be deprived of
all sweetness in your life. In fact, there are many healthy
sweeteners that taste even better than refined sugar:
1. Raw honey
2. Real maple syrup
3. Coconut nectar (coconut palm sugar)
4. Date sugar
5. Stevia (in moderation)
Not to mention all of the delicious natural sugars found
in fruits. Nature provides us with all sorts of sweetness – you
just gotta know where to look.
Click to discover Healthy & Natural Sugar Substitutes
5
Change up that other white stuff
Embrace fats (healthy fats, that is)
What I’m talking about is something that was so precious
that at one time it was considered a currency. It’s where we
get the word “salary.”
Salt is essential for life, not to mention a great food
seasoning and preserver. Popcorn would suffer terribly
without it. Thing is, modern day table salt is usually a
bleached and chemically altered substance that is harmful to
the body. But, a natural mama like you has options, such as:
1. Moist Celtic sea salt with naturally occurring trace
minerals from the sea
2. Himalayan pink salt that is loaded with trace minerals
from the earth
3. Kosher salt – for it’s clean flavor and simple profile
Remember the fat phobia we had in the nineties? Everything
was “light” and “fat free,” which gave birth to Snackwell’s
and fat-free salad dressing (how is that even possible?).
Thankfully, even the USDA understands that there is such a
thing as healthy fats.
Fat is an essential part of a balanced diet. In fact, it
helps us absorb and assimilate important minerals the body
needs. And, fat is our friend if we like shiny hair, soft skin,
and regular bowel movements (that’s right, I said it).
Here are some healthy fats to enjoy:
1. Raw butter, ghee and cream
2. Organic coconut oil
3. Raw olive oil and olives
4. Avocados
Click to hear more about the right kinds of salt
6
Click for more info on the right kinds of fats
Prepare whole grains properly
Whole grains have gotten a bad rap in recent years from the
low carb and the paleo circles, but people have been
flourishing on properly prepared whole grains for thousands
of years. In fact, we can thank whole grains for creating
stable communities and enabling civilization as we know it.
Harvard researchers followed over 20,000 participants
in the Physicians Health Study over a period of nearly 20
years. They found that men who enjoyed a daily bowl of real
whole grain cereal had a 29% lower risk of heart failure than
those who didn’t. Pretty incredible!
But whole grains can be hard to digest. Many ancient
cultures knew this instinctively, so they took time preparing
their grains by soaking, sprouting, and sour-leavening.
If you want to make your grains as digestible and
nutritionally dense as possible, you’ll want to do something
similar. A simple way to begin is, before cooking your
grains, soak them in lukewarm water overnight with a
squeeze of lemon or dash of vinegar. This acidic medium
helps to break down the grain so that it’s easier to digest and
better for you.
Reap the rewards: healthy body,
healthy pregnancy, healthy child
By eating luscious, life-giving foods, you can literally
change your physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual
nature. Life becomes easier. You won’t feel as stressed.
Your body will be humming as nature intended.
When you’re in your childbearing years – either
preparing to get pregnant, pregnant, or actively nursing –
you’ll want to add special foods and beverages that will
nourish your body for the monumental task of conceiving
and caring for a little one.
See the top foods I recommend if you want to conceive
naturally and have a healthy pregnancy
7
2. Shoot for a natural
childbirth
gnarly scar is burned into my memory.
Of course, epidurals are seductive – who wants to
experience pain? But epidurals can also begin the domino
effect that leads to a caesarean section.
Epidurals are a relaxant. For some mamas, this doesn’t
pose a problem. But for others, epidurals slow labor down.
Which means that doctors need to speed it back up.
How do they do that? Pitocin!
S
peaking of babies, once the news sinks in that
you’re pregnant, your whole world changes in a
blink of an eye. Martinis, fast food, or other
indiscretions become a thing of the past as you nurture this
new life growing inside of you.
As a natural mama, we want to go to great lengths to
have a natural childbirth.
In fact, once we learn about all the benefits, it’s really a
no brainer (unless of course, you aren’t physically able.)
But still, it can be scary
Honestly, it was more fear than a noble cause that made me
want a natural childbirth. I was into clean living for many
years before I became pregnant, so the idea of hospitals and
hardcore drugs didn’t excite me. But the fear of surgery was
a bigger motivator. My mom had two C-sections, and her
Pitocin is a medication that contains oxytocin, a naturally
occurring hormone that triggers the body to create
contractions. But being put on a Pitocin drip can be
extremely painful for mamas since the quantity of oxytocin
being released into the bloodstream is anything but natural.
Our bodies start fighting between the downer of the epidural
and the upper of Pitocin, and this awkward dance can
complicate things, cause “failure to progress,” or stress the
baby – direct tickets to an emergency C-section.
C-sections are no walk in the park – we’re talking major
abdominal surgery. My physical therapist sees many mamas
struggle with balance and core strength after C-sections.
Recovery can take weeks, even months.
8
Recovery from a natural birth is a
different story
A few hours after I delivered, I was eating Mexican food and
relaxing with my husband. The next day I was up, walking
around, and felt relatively normal. It was amazing!
Don’t get me wrong
Labor was HARD and PAINFUL! Yes, there are some
enlightened souls out there who experience very little
discomfort – even bliss – while laboring. But not me. Maybe
next time? (From my lips to God’s ears!)
But I wouldn’t change a thing
I was able to give birth without pain mediation and
deliver vaginally. I did have 2 drops of Pitocin at the end,
since my uterus was exhausted after 27 hours of laboring.
My delivery wasn’t “perfect,” but it was transformational
and life changing and utterly empowering.
Click to see scenes from my natural childbirth
It helps to have a plan
With the intensity of the delivery process, it helps to have a
birth plan to keep you on course. It’s also a great tool to give
to your medical team, reminding them of your desires for the
childbirth and after care. This helps prevent things like the
premature cutting of the cord or undue pressure to have an
epidural.
Click here to download a Microsoft Word copy of my
birth plan as an example. Or click here to download it as a
PDF.
9
Forgive yourself if natural childbirth
doesn’t work out for you
This is important. If you’ve had a caesarean, epidural, or any
other intervention, and if you’re feeling bad about it, you
need to forgive yourself right now.
I know it can be hard to do
This might sound silly, but I had a terrible time
forgiving myself for getting two drops of Pitocin during the
last 30 minutes of my pushing. Here I am, “Mama Natural,”
and my birth wasn’t 100% perfect. Sigh.
We can have the best intentions, but things don’t always
work out the way we want them to. This is life. To accept
this truth with grace is a sign of emotional maturity and
spiritual strength (two traits I lack at times). So, allow
yourself a few days to throw a pity party and then move
on… because you have a beautiful new baby to fall in love
with.
A natural birth does not equal a
natural mama (and vice versa)
you’re among them.
But there’s SO much more to being a natural mama than
childbirth! From preparing healthy food, to limiting screen
time, to practicing love and patience over strict punishment
– there are plenty of ways you can raise your kids naturally
and outside the processed world we live in.
Thank God for C-sections
According to the World Health Organization, a 10% Csection rate is normal, even healthy. When they see
developing nations with C-section rates below 10%, they
worry. Because it means that women and babies are dying
due to lack of medical care.
Fact: Childbirth used to be the #1 killer of women and
babies prior to 1940. As soon as the standard of maternal
care improved, maternal mortality rates plummeted.
Your birth was a success
At the end of the day, if mama and baby are both healthy
and ALIVE, the birth was a success.
At times, it can seem like there’s a cliquey club of natural
mamas. You’re either one of them or you’re not. And a Csection or epidural can feel like a mark of shame when
10
3. Breastfeed
L
ike natural childbirth, I thought that breastfeeding
would be a relatively intuitive and empowering
experience. Yes, wiser mamas told me it can be
difficult, but, frankly, I didn’t believe it would be for me.
How wrong I was.
The reality for most women is that breastfeeding takes a
lot of work and patience.
Mama Natural used a nipple shield
the way, I’ve talked with other moms, consulted with two
lactation consultants (who should get extra angel wings for
their amazing service to motherhood), and leaned on my
ever-wonderful husband.
I understand the temptation to switch
to formula
Breastfeeding is not for the faint of heart. I wanted to
breastfeed Griffin for at least a year, but after getting
through the first week I was convinced I couldn’t make it!
At 6 weeks in, I saw a turning point. It started to get
easier. By now, baby “gets” how to eat this way and you
“get” that your baby won’t starve to death. Your nipples are
used to it by now, and you have something like a routine
down. But, you can still have ups and downs.
When Griffin was born after a grueling 27-hour labor, he
came out of the womb crying (I’d be too if I were stuck in
the birth canal for three hours). It took us nearly an hour
before my doula, midwife and I could get him to latch, and
to do so we had to use a nipple shield. Talk about a wake up
call. This wasn’t the vision I had of providing my baby
nourishment and comfort.
I got Griffin to latch the next day without the nipple
shield, and we’ve been getting better at it ever since. Along
11
10 breastfeeding benefits you may not
have heard of
10 tips that made breastfeeding easier
for me
As natural mamas, you and I know that breast milk is a
superior form of nourishment for babies. But every day, it
seems like we discover more breastfeeding benefits for both
mother and child.
From the props I used, to video resourcess on getting the
right latch, here are 10 tips that helped me get through those
first few months of breastfeeding.
Click to see these 10 surprising benefits
Click to see these 10 tips
12
Consider hiring a lactation consultant
Breastfeeding will get easier for you
Think of lactation consultants as your personal trainer in all
things breastfeeding. As health care providers, they
specialize in nursing assistance and education for families.
Now at nearly 2 years in, breastfeeding is easy peasy. I’m so
grateful I hung in there. But don’t just take it from me.
Click here to see how they work
Click here to hear how it got easier for dozens of fellow
mamas
13
Forgive yourself if breastfeeding
doesn’t work out for you
Just like natural childbirth, breastfeeding doesn’t work out
for everyone. One of the most common reasons is that mama
isn’t producing enough milk. But don’t despair! This
problem can be resolved in many cases with these helpful
tips.
Also, I cannot recommend enough meeting with a
lactation consultant. She will help you solve 99% of your
problems and establish a successful nursing relationship with
your baby whether you have inverted nipples, your baby is
tongue tied, or you simply can’t get that latch to work. To
find one in your area, click here.
But some mamas simply can’t make it work no matter
how hard they try. If that’s the case with you, FORGIVE
YOURSELF! You are no less of a mother or a natural mama
because your anatomy isn’t cooperating at the moment.
And know you have OPTIONS.
1. Pump and bottle feed.
2. Use donor milk. Or better yet, get in with a network
of new local moms who will help.
3. If all else fails, talk to your doctor and use this
formula.
Remember, thousands of us grew up on formula,
without one drop of breast milk (my husband included), and
we’re still alive and kicking! So breathe deep and know that
you can foster healthy kids as you feed them nourishing
foods for the rest of their lives.
14
4. Think twice about
circumcision
f you have a baby boy, you’ll want to question the
need to circumcise him. Instead of blindly going with
the status quo, be sure to take a hard look at some
circumcision myths and facts.
I
Myth: Almost all men are circumcised.
Fact: Not so much. Globally, fewer than 1/3 of all men are
circumcised [World Health Organization, 2008]. And in the
USA, recent studies show that fewer than half of all boys
born in conventional hospitals from 2006-2009 were
circumcised.
Myth: Circumcision is recommended
by doctors and medical associations.
Fact: The American Medical Association and the American
Academy of Family Physicians agree that circumcision is
not recommended as a routine procedure.
Myth: It’s just a bit of skin; he won’t
miss it.
Fact: The prepuce (foreskin) contains about 10,000 superspecialized nerve endings and a few feet of blood vessels.
It’s important for sex, but it also protects the penis. Sounds
like he’ll miss it to me!
Myth: It’s easier to take care of a
circumcised penis.
Fact: All you have to do with a child’s intact penis is pretty
much leave it alone. Yes, let water rinse the outside of the
penis but do not force the foreskin to retract from the penis.
This can cause pain, blood and injury! The foreskin will
retract at its own pace. Usually, by puberty, the boy can
clean his penis freely.
Myth: Circumcision prevents urinary
tract infections.
Fact: Urinary tract infections just aren’t that common in men,
nor are they life threatening. Circumcision does help prevent
UTIs, but, statistically, it’s very insignificant. Here’s a
detailed report on the subject.
15
Myth: Circumcision prevents penile
cancer.
Fact: In a letter to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the
American Cancer Society stated that it “does not consider
routine circumcision to be a valid or effective measure to
prevent [penile or cervical] cancers… Penile cancer rates in
countries which do not practice circumcision are lower than
those found in the U.S.”
Myth: Intact kids will get teased in the
locker room.
Click to see my video about circumcision myths & facts
Fact: These days nearly 50% of boys nationwide are left
intact – so the circumcised boys may be just as likely to get
teased.
One last fact:
Mama Natural is not here to judge. Circumcision is a
personal and sometimes religious decision. Thing is, it’s an
irreversible decision. So do you homework, get the facts,
and do what’s right for you and your baby boy.
16
5. Wear your baby
A
s a natural mama, you’ll want “skin-to-skin” time
with your baby immediately after birth. Not only
is it a terrific comfort, it also regulates baby’s
heart rate, breathing, and body temperature. For mama, skinto-skin contact floods our system with bonding endorphins
that support breastfeeding and a strong parental relationship.
Daddy can participate too!
And the closeness doesn’t have to end! Babywearing is
a natural transition for child from womb to world. If you
think about it, baby was all snug and warm inside you for 9
months. Babywearing simulates this safe environment on the
outside.
Strollers ain’t the norm
While in the West we’re accustomed to seeing strollers and
car seats, in most cultures, these items are the exception.
Instead, babies are held or worn by their caregivers
throughout the day. Anthropologists and psychologists
report that when mothers and babies are together in this way,
they positively shaping each other’s behavior. For example,
if baby starts to whimper or giggle, mama responds
appropriately. If baby is hungry, mama can easily offer her
breast.
Confident baby
By being worn close to mama, baby sees the world with a
witness, which can lead to a more secure and confident child
that understands human interaction at a young age. For
example, we’ve all see a baby shy away from new people or
experience but if mama or papa is wearing the child close,
they can help baby overcome the fears and learn more about
the world.
Multitasking Mama
Another great benefit of baby wearing is that mama or papa
can multitask while still being close to baby! Mom can clean,
run errands, make phone calls and accomplish the daily tasks
of running a home, all while wearing baby. Babywearing
establishes a closeness even when parents cannot give baby
100% of their attention. And it’s a lot safer than leaving a
baby unattended for a few moments in a room.
17
Finally, it’s much easier to leave the house without a
bulky stroller or other outdoor equipment. Babywearing
even helps mama burn a few extra calories due to her
carrying the extra body weight.
There are some wonderful slings and carriers out there
but my favorite is the ERGObaby Carrier.
Click here to see my ERGObaby Carrier review
Sources:
http://www.lalecheleague.org/nb/nbnovdec04p204.html
18
6. Consider cloth
diapering
super absorbent, easy to use, and simple to clean in your
own washer and dryer. (No safety pins!)
And you can feel good about using cloth diapers…
here’s why:
1. Cloth Diapers are cheaper
I
’ll be honest here. At first I wasn’t that psyched about
the prospect of scraping poop off of a diaper… and
then reusing it. But my husband convinced me to give
it a go, and I’m SO glad I did.
Before we even get to the environmental benefits of
cloth diapering, let’s talk about how it’s safer for your baby.
Of all products, we want our diapers to be the least toxic
since they cover our baby’s most private parts.
Most disposable diapers contain dioxin, a chemical that
can cause cancer, birth defects, liver damage, skin diseases,
and genetic damage. They also contain tributyl-tin (TBT)
and sodium polyacrylate, toxic pollutants that can cause
hormonal disruption and respiratory problems in children.
YIKES!
So, if you haven’t already committed to the cloth, I hope
you’ll reconsider.
The truth is, the new school of cloth diapers are great:
Disposable diapers will set you back at least $2,000 before
your child is potty trained. And if you buy premium, safer or
biodegradable options, that number will look more like
$3,000.
Whereas twenty of the most expensive cloth diapers will
set you back less than $400. Factor in detergent and water
bills, and you’re still looking at half the cost of disposables.
2. Cloth diapers are way better for the
environment
An average child will go through anywhere from four to
eight thousand diapers in his or her life. Nationwide, parents
in the USA use an estimated 27.4 billion disposable diapers
each year. That’s around 3.4 million tons of diapers that end
up in landfills each year.
Now think about all the trees that are used to make the
diapers. And all the plastic, which is made from petroleum,
19
and all the chemicals used in the process. And the water.
Then all that water and chemicals returning to the
environment as waste. Then the plastic packaging, the
transportation – airplanes and trucks carting those diapers
around the world – not to mention the energy you use
driving to the store and back. And then the energy used to
produce your garbage bags, the trucks to haul that trash to
the landfills, the equipment used to manage the landfill.
The environmental footprint of disposable diapers is
staggering.
Compare that to using the same twenty cloth diapers
over and over, cleaning them with safe detergent in a high
efficiency washer. There’s just no contest.
3. Disposable diapers contain nasty
chemicals
As I stated earlier, most disposables are bleached with
dioxin, which, in animal studies, caused nerve damage, birth
defects, increased rates of miscarriages and changes to the
immune system. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
has classified dioxins as a probable human carcinogen.
Next up is sodium polyacrylate, the super absorbent
gelling material, or AGM, that allows your baby to go long
periods in one diaper. Sodium polyacrylate has been linked
in the past to toxic shock syndrome, as well as allergic
reactions, and it is potentially lethal to pets.
Now, big diaper manufacturers point out that these
chemicals exist in very small doses in the diapers, and so
don’t post a risk. And, sure, more studies need to be done.
But Mama Natural says, why risk it?
5. Cloth diapers help protect your baby
boy’s jewels
German scientists found that the skin temperature around
baby boy’s genitals was significantly higher when they wore
disposable diapers as opposed to cloth. While the scientists
called for more research, they suggested that prolonged use
of disposable diapers in infants could be an important factor
contributing to the decline of sperm production in adult
males.
6. Cloth diapers are cuter than
disposables
Colors, patterns, textures. Let’s face it, cloth is WAY cuter…
especially when your baby is dressed in a diaper only. In fact,
there is even a Cloth Diapers Anonymous for mamas that
can’t stop buying all of the adorable designs!
20
So, are you with me on the cloth diapers? Your baby will be
safer, cuter and covered… and you’ll feel good inside,
strengthen your gross factor and be more in tune with baby’s
digestion… for better or worse.
Click here to see Mama Natural’s cloth diaper set-up
Cloth diapering sources:
1. Consumer Reports (July 8, 2009). “Cloth vs. disposable diapers: Getting started”
2. http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/dioxin.htm
3. http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2004/04/63182
4. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1702357,00.html
5. The number of diapers a child uses comes from the conservative estimate of six per day x
365 x 2 years
6. http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2004/04/63182
Click here for 6 reasons why cloth diapers are better than
disposables (and 1 reason why they ain’t)
21
7. Use natural products
Luckily, there are some good products out there that
have minimal toxins. And here’s a good watchdog site that
you can use to see how your beauty products stack up:
http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
Y
ou wouldn’t rub methylisothiazoline onto your
liver, would you? Or lather up your heart with
formaldehyde? But many of us unknowingly do
this with another precious organ, our biggest, our skin.
As natural mamas, we want to find products with clean
and gentle ingredients. Usually, a good rule of thumb is: the
fewer the ingredients, the better.
It’s one thing to occasionally squirt some perfume on
for a night out, or use hairspray once in a while, but we want
to avoid consistent use of these types of products.
Our bodies like to maintain homeostasis at all costs…
it’s survival. Like a plant, we can endure the winds and rains
or occasional drought because of our deep roots, but if we
stress ourselves too much, we will start seeing damage and
decay. Bombarding our bodies with heavy perfumes,
chemicals and toxic ingredients on a daily basis can
overburden our systems and cause problems.
Click here to see my favorite beauty products
Now, just cause we’re natural mamas doesn’t mean we
can’t get gussied up every once and awhile…
22
Home Cleaning
Click here to see what’s in Mama’s makeup bag
Baby Body
Once we’ve cleaned up what we put on our bodies and
babies, let’s start thinking about our homes. Get rid off the
chemical cleaners and replace them with non-toxic products
made by Meyers, Seventh Generation, or Simple Green. If
you want to save money, distilled white vinegar, baking soda
and lemon make great natural cleaners.
Also, add PLANTS! Plant life not only boosts oxygen
levels in the home but also cleans and improves the overall
air quality. Not to mention, the beauty and earthy touch that
makes a house a home. According to NASA and Wiki, here
are some great breeds that will keep your home clean and
green:
Of course, we want to be extra careful when we think about
what we use on baby. Their immature systems aren’t
prepared to handle most of the products you’ll find in the
beauty supply shop or hair salon.
My favorite baby skin care brand is Sweet Knee. You
could literally eat their products. We’re devoted users of
their diaper ointment, soap and body oil. Griffin’s skin is
clear and soft as a result.
You can even make your own. Mix organic unrefined
coconut oil and olive oil with a few drops of a mild essential
oil and you’ve got a great lotion. Add some non-GMO
cornstarch and you’ve got a diaper salve.
1. English Ivy
2. Spider plant
3. Golden pothos
4. Peace lily
5. Chinese evergreen
6. Snake plant
7. Heartleaf philodendron
8. Red-edged dracaena
9. Cornstalk dracaena
10. Rubber Plant
23
Baby Toys
How about baby? What is she putting into her mouth?
Plastic toys with harmful chemicals like BPAs? Plastic
bottles? Food stored in cheap tupperwear? As natural mamas,
we want to find wood toys, glass bottles (if needed) and
stainless steel or glass for food storage. There are a few
forms of “safe” plastic out there so be sure to read labels.
Avoid plastics labeled number 3, 6, or 7, while 1 and 5 are
considered safe for occasional use.
Baby Gear
Speaking of gadgets for babies, when you’re pregnant for
the first time and need to transform your home to prepare for
baby’s arrival, the process can be… well… overwhelming.
Have you walked the aisles in Babies R Us? Yeah, I was
flabbergasted the first time too. As natural mamas, we want
to have all that we need for baby’s comfort and happiness
and nothing we don’t.
Through trial and error, and lots of help from friends, I
came up with my ideal: a Natural Baby Registry Checklist
that’s pretty minimal without skimping on baby’s comfort.
Download my free Baby Registry Checklist
24
8. Nourish your kids
Baby (0-6 months)
Okay, reality was a little different.
I knew six months was around the time to start thinking
about solids, but I wanted him to tell me when he was ready.
Some doctors believe (and I couldn’t agree more) that you
can actually cause harm by forcing a child to eat solids. It
can lead to premature allergies, digestional distress, and
bowel complications. Trust their urges, since they know
their body best.
Without a doubt, the best first food for baby is breast milk.
God designed it with just the right balance of fats,
carbohydrates, and protein, as well as nutrients and
protective antibodies needed for baby to grow and flourish.
Of course, there are some exceptions, but you’ll want to go
to great lengths to develop a successful breastfeeding
relationship. In fact, the longer you breastfeed, the greater
the health benefits for baby and mama.
See Chapter 3 of this book for more breastfeeding
benefits.
Click to see the top 5 signs your baby is ready for solid food
Baby (6-12 months)
I loved breastfeeding, but I was also excited to start my son
on solid foods. I had visions of him squealing in delight over
homemade pears and clambering for more roasted squash.
Now that you know your baby is ready to try some
foods, the question is, what do you feed them?
Most pediatricians recommend iron fortified rice cereal
for baby’s first food, but as natural mamas, we ain’t buying
25
it. First, it’s a processed food, which isn’t good for anyone.
Secondly, the iron found in breast milk is usually adequate
and much easier for baby to digest and assimilate.
Click to see how to prepare and store your own baby food
Click for the top 5 foods I recommend to start your baby on
So you know your baby is ready for solid foods. You
know the best first foods for baby. Now it’s time to start
preparing and storing your own baby food.
Click to see Griffin’s baby food taste test :)
26
Toddler (1-3 years)
Right around 12 months, most babies will be getting more
calories from food as opposed to breast milk. But, don’t
freak out if it isn’t the case with your little one! Some babies
take longer. As long as their weight and height is continuing
to grow and they are meeting developmental milestones,
relax.
My son wasn’t much interested in food till his 1st
birthday, when it finally “clicked.” It’s been a wild ride ever
since.
As soon as you can, encourage baby to eat on his/her
own. Cut up small pieces of food and let them eat, play, spit
out and experiment with food. As she reaches 18 months (or
even earlier), introduce small silverware for her to practice
piercing soft foods. You can even experiment with small
cups of water in which they sip without a lid or straw.
In terms of types of foods, I would practice the same
principles that I spelled out in Chapter 1 of this book. But,
with babies, focus on a few other fundamentals:
1. Variety: Can you imagine tasting citrus for the first
time? Or yogurt? Or a navy bean? Rotate foods often so
baby is exposed to as many different nutrient profiles as
possible. Shoot for a different fruit, vegetable, and grain or
protein at each meal. Some great choices are: Green peas,
cut up grapes, sautéed carrot coins, frozen blueberries, cubes
of soft cheese, bite size pieces of sprouted toast, avocado
slices, and soaked oatmeal.
2. Balance: If it were up to most babies, every meal
would be fruit and starches. It’s our job to balance their diets
with all food groups throughout the day. If you are going to
serve your baby meat, be sure to use the organic, free range,
hormone-free varieties. Also, be sure you use high quality
eggs, dairy products (preferably farmer fresh and raw), and
organic fruits and vegetables.
3. Flavor: Have you ever tried jarred baby food? The
fruits and grain varieties are passable in a pinch but I’m
talking about the “dinner” meals like chicken with wild rice
or lasagna with meat sauce? *Shudder* Not only are they
soft and mushy, they have no flavor! Just because babies’
systems are more delicate doesn’t mean we can’t enhance
the flavor of foods with fresh and dried herbs, spices, sauces
and creative combinations.
My son’s favorites include: Roasted vegetables with
sage and olive oil, rice parmesan (tomato sauce and brown
rice topped with melted cheese), and sprouted corn blueberry
waffles with real maple syrup
27
Nourished Baby – the ebook
If you’re looking for a one-stop-shop on what to feed your
baby or toddler, I recommend Nourished Baby by Heather
Dessinger. This comprehensive ebook provides the rationale
and recipes for an amazing, healthy diet. Some of my
favorite recipes include Sweet Marrow Custard With Vanilla
Bean and a Piña Colada Smoothie. She even includes tips on
how to reverse food sensitivities
Click here to check out Nourished Baby
28
9. Be intentional about
vaccines
I also need to stress… I AM NOT A DOCTOR. Nor am
I a medical professional. I’m just one natural mama sharing
her perspectives. Take what you like and leave the rest.
As you think about vaccinating or not vaccinating your
child, consider:
1. Is your child in daycare?
2. Does your child have siblings who are in school or
daycare?
3. Does either parent or caretaker work in a school or
hospital, where they are exposed to many germs?
4. Has the child shown any signs of a weakened
immunity such as eczema, thrush, asthma, allergies,
hives, and so forth?
5. Do you plan on traveling internationally with child?
I
often get asked “what’s your take on vaccines?” And
“are you going to vaccinate your son?” Initially, I
avoided doing a vaccine video series because it’s such
a controversial issue, and there isn’t one “right” course of
action for everyone.
However, after much thought, I decided to do it as a
way to provide food for thought for mamas and papas
making choices regarding vaccination. I say choices because
there are so many ways to address this issue. You can chose
not to vaccinate at all. You can choose to vaccinate your
child according the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
schedule. Or you can pick and choose which vaccines you
want to give your child. And there are many choices inbetween.
As I did my homework researching the different
diseases and vaccines, my views on a few vaccines actually
changed. Bottom line: there are no easy answers.
These considerations can either lead you to choose not
to get vaccines due to your child’s more delicate immunity
or to choose to get vaccines to protect him/her from various
diseases (see, the choices!). At a minimum, you may want to
give your child vaccines at a slower rate than the current
AAP schedule.
What am I doing about vaccines? Well, turn the page.
29
My Vaccine video series
Jump to a specific vaccine video
I made a series of nine videos on all the common childhood
vaccines, looking at several key questions for each vaccine:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
• What is the vaccine?
• When is it administered?
• What is the disease?
• Is it serious?
• Is it common?
• And then my take on the vaccine
Series Intro
DTaP
Hep B
Hib
MMR
PCV
Polio (IPV)
Rotavirus
Varicella (Chickenpox)
Sources:
1. The Vaccine Book by Dr. Sears
2. http://www.cdc.gov.
3. Deadly Choices by Paul A. Offit M.D.
Click here to see all my vaccine videos
30
10. Stay informed and
spread the word
Y
ou’ve taken the first step toward natural
mamahood by subscribing to my blog! Now keep
that mojo going. Like anything, we need each
other to stay inspired and keep growing in the natural life.
Watch the Mama Natural Show!
Spread the Mama Natural love
Mama Natural is a little site with a big mission: to bring
whole living to a processed world. And you can help! If you
like what you see, please share the love. Send this ebook to a
friend. Or post our show on your Facebook wall.
I hope you know that you’re not alone in your quest for
natural living. There’s a whole community of support here at
Mama Natural. And you can always reach me at
[email protected].
Your role as mama is incredibly important and your
influence is everlasting. May God bless you with all of the
love and light you need along the way.
Here’s to healthy, happy families everywhere!
Every Thursday, I publish a show for natural mamas just like
YOU! The goal is to raise awareness about natural living –
everything from breastfeeding to childbirth to nutrition and
beyond. Each week, yours truly:
1. Recaps hot natural news
2. Share stories from moms in our community
3. Feature a thought-provoking Question of the Week,
which garners rich discussion
4. And host a great giveaway with natural-friendly
brands
You can watch the show on my blog, my YouTube
channel, or on Facebook.
31