Pregnancy & Infant Loss
Pregnancy & Infant Loss

In 1988, President Reagan declared October Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month to recognize the unique grief of bereaved parents who would otherwise go unnoticed and unsupported. I was eight years old playing with my baby dolls and roller skates that strapped on to my shoes when the whole country wrapped parents with empty arms in a symbolic hug. I didn’t know exactly twenty years later that social support would be a hug for me as well because I’d be lighting my first candle, two of them actually, to honor the memories of my sweet girls alongside thousands of other parents across the county.

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Pregnancy CareSprigs LifeComment
Get your Summer Sweat On!
Get your Summer Sweat On!

Summertime is a great time to take your exercise outside and combine the benefits of movement with sunshine and fresh air. Instead of jogging, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, or biking at the same pace for your entire workout, try mixing it up with intervals. Intervals can improve your resting heart rate, meaning your heart does not have to work as hard when you are at rest, as well as improve your lung capacity.

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Sprigs LifeComment
How to Get Out of Mom Guilt
How to Get Out of Mom Guilt

Mom guilt is a very real thing. I feel as though it's something that mothers can experience even before giving birth. Things like worrying about how they want to raise a child, worrying about going back to work, trying to find a balance between relationships and parenting, and so much more are difficult things for anyone to face and handle appropriately. But the best way to defeat mom guilt is to face it and become a solution seeker. The more we meditate on our shortcomings, the less time we are actually dedicating toward fixing them.

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Imani Colesmom guilt, Motherhood, ParentingComment
10 Unusual Uses for Breastmilk
10 Unusual Uses for Breastmilk

Breastmilk, simply put, is amazing. Its uses are nearly endless. A medical journal mentioned breastmilk has been linked to killing at least 40 different types of cancer cells! For many moms, breastmilk has replaced a few medicine cabinet items such as Neosporin or medicated lotions/soaps for baby acne. Here are 10 uses below and if you’ve used breastmilk in your home, please share with us in the comment section.

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Women's HealthImani Colesbreast feeding, Women's Health, home remediesComment
10 Ways to Combat Pregnancy Nausea
10 Ways to Combat Pregnancy Nausea

During my recent pregnancy, I was blessed to only experience nausea three times. It was not a good feeling. This was particularly the case when accompanied by cold sweats, dizziness, and a strong feeling of both hunger and not wanting any food at all. It was quite the experience because I wanted to eat as little as possible; however, I wanted to make sure I was eating enough to support my growing fetus. I didn’t want to use typical over-the-counter medicine so I used tactics such as taking deep breaths, acupressure, placing a cold compress on my forehead and neck, and eating dry foods like corn muffins or crackers. In this article, we will cover natural and herbal remedies for nausea during pregnancy.

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Pregnancy CareImani Colespregnancy, Women's Health, natural remediesComment
How to Encourage Independent Play
How to Encourage Independent Play

My son is my first and only child and I’d never been around a baby for long before I had him. Needless to say, I wanted all the cuddles. He has always been a baby that likes to hug and snuggle and I wanted to soak in that stage. As he’s gotten older and has become better at being independent, I’ve found that my obsession with him may have interfered with some of the things he was ready to learn. For example, I held him a lot but he was probably ready to crawl long before I let him explore on his own. I helped him during playtime all the time and he knew how to entertain himself.

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Children's HealthImani Coleschildren's health, independent play, child developmentComment
Natural Pest Control (3 Things You Can Do To Keep The Bugs Away)
Natural Pest Control (3 Things You Can Do To Keep The Bugs Away)

Spring brings warmer weather, blooming gardens, and sometimes pesky unwanted visitors. Who doesn’t like having their fruits and veggies readily available for family members to snack on after a long day? This becomes hard to do when we start finding fruit flies and other bugs on our food. Not wanting to use harsh chemicals and poisons? Here are some natural pest control remedies that we’ve found to be helpful in our home.

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General HealthSprigs LifePest Control, natural remedies, home remediesComment
Invite Healthy Foods to the Barbecue
Invite Healthy Foods to the Barbecue

Barbecues are commonly known for their indulgence! Pork, chicken, burgers, hot dogs, macaroni salads, and whatever else you can fit on the grill. This is typically coupled with sweet juices or sodas and feel-good desserts. I would feel weighed down by all the heavy foods and I might even take a few naps to try to shake the feeling. That made me think, what would a healthier and lighter barbecue entail? How can I infuse my beliefs that food should give you energy into a gathering where the foods do the opposite? Is it possible to invite herbs to the barbecue without sacrificing flavor or the use of the grill? Let’s find out!

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Imani ColesBBQ, Healthy Living, foodComment
Natural Relief for Teething
Natural Relief for Teething

Around three months of age, most babies will begin drooling. People incorrectly assume at this point that it's a sign that babies are beginning the teething process. There isn’t much you can do about excess drooling, but you will want to keep a bib or something under their chin to help keep the front of their clothes from becoming wet. If the area under their neck and chin, or their chest becomes wet and stays wet, they may develop a rash.

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Children's HealthImani Colesteething, baby health, natural remediesComment
What to Eat for a Healthy Pregnancy
What to Eat for a Healthy Pregnancy

In this article, we will be looking at what types of foods we should be eating for a healthy pregnancy – those that will give both mom and baby all of the nutrients they each need. Once conception takes place, all of the nutrients your baby needs to grow and develop will come from your body. If the mother’s body is weak and nutrient depleted, the baby will have a difficult time obtaining the building blocks (nutrients) he/she needs to develop properly.

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Pregnancy CareSandra Ellis, MHpregnancy, diet, nutritionComment
Red Raspberry Leaf: A Woman’s Best Friend
Red Raspberry Leaf: A Woman’s Best Friend

Red raspberry bushes were said to have been discovered and much loved by the Olympian gods on Mount Ida in northwest Turkey, where the botanical name Rubus idaeus is said to have come from. It means ‘bramble (branch) bush of Ida’ in Latin. According to Societe’s Materia Medica blog, “In the story of Ida, the nursemaid to the infant Zeus, she pricked her finger while picking the snow-white berries, staining them red for all eternity.” (Societe, 2018)

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Women's HealthSandra Ellis, MHred raspberry, Women's Health, herbsComment
Exercises That Boost Thyroid Health
Exercises That Boost Thyroid Health

The thyroid produces a hormone that regulates your metabolism. Hypothyroidism refers to an under active thyroid. When the thyroid doesn't produce enough hormones, it causes a slower metabolism. Hypothyroidism has a number of symptoms such as constipation, low body temperature, fatigue, brain fog and problems with hair, skin and nails. It can also cause menstrual problems and depression.

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General HealthImani Colesthyroid, hormones, exerciseComment