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.
Read MoreRed 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)
Read MoreOver 75% of menstruating women experience premenstrual syndrome, otherwise known as PMS. Symptoms of PMS can start a week or sometimes up to two weeks before the menstrual flow begins. Symptoms can range from mild to severe.
Read MoreIt is estimated that 25 million Americans have thyroid disease, and roughly 50% don’t even know they have it and go undiagnosed or, worse, misdiagnosed. There is a connection between the thyroid and the adrenal glands and how they work together, especially under stress.
Read MoreSix to eight weeks after birth is when you can start to consider adding in your new movement routine, not much before. Remember your body just went through a major event and needs to heal. Please allow yourself that time to heal before you consider exercising.
Read MoreBeing a mother of three little girls has led me to make a much more conscious effort to use natural products in our everyday life. I’ve switched over to natural laundry detergent, natural body wash, natural dish soap, natural shampoo, and so on. If I am being honest I can say I’ve never given too much thought to my deodorant.
Read MoreWe often write and talk about issues that affect the child-bearing years, but very seldom do we address the very special time of life known as the post-menopausal years. For some women, this is a time of freedom, enlightenment, travel, and finally getting to do what YOU would like to do. After dedicating your life to everyone else for 30 or 40 years, you finally have a chance to do something for yourself.
Read MoreEndometriosis is when the endometrium, or tissue that lines the uterus, grows in locations where it is not supposed to. The most common areas of growth are the abdominal cavity, the fallopian tubes, the ovaries, the intestines, and sometimes the bladder.
Read MorePostpartum hair loss is so common and typically only lasts a few months up to one year. However, although it is normal, it is certainly not optimal. We know that a lot of our hair loss is inevitable but there are some things we can do to help it not get so out of control that it brings on more stress.
Read MoreIf you suspect Candida overgrowth, the best place to begin with is your diet. Focusing on a nutrient-dense whole food plan, like a paleo-style diet, will be the most beneficial to you. Candida bugs feed off sugars and thrive in an environment with foods that convert into sugars like carbohydrates, grains, fruits and fructose, alcohols, and other yeasts like baker’s yeast. Even whole foods that would normally be considered healthy and a great addition to any diet can feed a candida overgrowth, adding to the candida getting out of control.
Read MoreThis is a struggle for so many mothers, “I’ve gained so much weight and I can’t get it off. How many of you have experienced this and you begin the weight loss downward spiral? You start on one diet and you lose a pound or two and then jump to the next diet when the first one doesn’t seem to work out so well. This merry-go-round continues for months and months and then you only end up gaining back the weight you lost in the first place. I want you to focus on a few things that will help you to understand that this is a process, and weight loss as a whole is not an easy road.
Have you ever wondered why you wear a bra? When your breasts begin to develop or when your mother decides it is the right time, you start wearing one. Doesn’t it seem strange that we’ve never really questioned why we wear a bra or if it benefits our health? We go our entire life wearing this piece of clothing but since it's not something we’re ingesting, we tend to forget that it can be harming our body.
Read MoreThere are many different situations which can result in not having a regular cycle. Loss of your period can be the result of various imbalances in the body. In this article, we will look at some of the causes and possible lifestyle changes which may help to correct the imbalance.
Read MoreI never knew how much I wanted to be pregnant until I was told that there was a chance it might never happen. A few weeks before my wedding, I was 22 and getting some routine bloodwork done at the gynecologist. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and told there was a 30-40% chance I would have children naturally. How was I going to tell my husband to be this? How would this affect our marriage? The doctor had said if we were going to have kids, that we needed to start trying right away because the chances would decrease even more after I turned thirty.
Read MoreThe amount of time it takes for you to start menstruating after giving birth varies greatly from woman to woman. The average time for a mother who is nursing full time is six months, but it is possible to start within weeks.You can delay your menstrual cycle up to 16 months or longer by doing the following:
Read MoreEating and drinking during labor can help you feel more comfortable and give you the energy you need to give birth. Labor is a physical task that requires stamina and restricting your food intake may cause stress, nausea, vomiting or headaches.
Read MoreMiscarriages can be devastating for someone who is excited about the birth of their child. Nutrition and hormonal balance can greatly decrease the risk of having a miscarriage. In today's world of fast food, heavily processed foods and microwavable foods, it can be difficult to get the nutrition we need to maintain a healthy pregnancy.
Read MoreThere are so many things in life we can’t predict or control! Childbirth comes with a colorful variety of these things. From pooping yourself during childbirth, tearing your downstairs, your baby getting “stuck”, or your vagina never being the same again, there are some inevitable, uncontrollable, awkward, and uncomfortable birth moments that remind us how little control we have over our bodies. But perhaps the worst thing is that there is no knowing whether or not a series of things will happen to you during childbirth.
Read MoreThe baby blues, feeling sad and a little overwhelmed after having a baby is a real thing that most moms experience. Even more than that, the baby blues, also known as postpartum depression, are a much bigger problem than most mamas care to admit. Thousands of women are silently suffering from postpartum depression and don't recognize the symptoms or are too scared or embarrassed to speak up.
Read MoreOne evening I was sitting next to a woman doctor at a charity dinner. I was excited and eager to ask her about her views and thoughts on social injustices in maternal health. Her story was not what I wanted to hear, but what I knew I would.
Maybe this conversation got too deep for a first meeting, but these stories need to be told and heard. She began to share with me, “I did my residency on the labor and delivery floor of a small Florida hospital where there was a large Haitian population. The Haitian women have a cultural song that is sung to the woman in labor, it’s a song of ceremony and community.” I knew what she spoke of, I have heard this hymn. She then explained, “The staff made fun of it, they had their own version they would sing in the staff room, but their version was not beautiful or kind, they were mocking and cruel.”
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