Category: Baby + Child

Baby + Child, Pregnancy + Birth

A Deeper Look at Prenatal Ultrasounds

Kristine

It’s easy to take prenatal ultrasounds for granted. They are such a deeply ingrained part of birth culture in Western medicine, that most women don’t even think twice about going in for several scans during the course of a pregnancy.

While routine ultrasounds are now considered a part of standard prenatal care in most developed countries, this technology is not as helpful, or benign as we have been led to believe. In her article, “Ultrasound Scans — Cause for Concern,” Dr. Sarah Buckley states, “Although ultrasound may sometimes be useful when specific problems are suspected, my conclusion is that it is at best ineffective and at worse dangerous when used as a ‘screening tool’ for every pregnant woman and her baby,” (2005).

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Baby + Child, Pregnancy + Birth

Honoring the Placenta After Birth

Kristine

Photo Source: Tribe de Mama

Updated February 27, 2022

In most of the developed world, once a baby is delivered and their umbilical cord has been severed, the placenta, or “afterbirth,” is thoughtlessly disposed of as medical waste. However, many traditional cultures have beliefs and customs that honor the placenta and its important role in the bringing a child into the world.

“In Bali, for example, the placenta, or ari-ari, is said to live on in spirit as one of the child’s four siblings or guardian angels, which can be called on in times of need. A Balinese child greets his or her placenta on rising in the morning and prays to it for protection at night. Every new moon and full moon, and on each holy day, offerings are placed at the burial site of the placenta.

After death, the placenta is believed to accompany the soul of the deceased to heaven to testify as to whether the person fulfilled his or her duty in this lifetime,” says Dr. Sarah Buckley (191).

There are many different and beautiful ways to honor the placenta after birth. The following are a few ideas.

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Baby + Child, Pregnancy + Birth

Severing the Umbilical Cord: Preparing for your Baby’s Separation from their Placenta After Birth

Kristine
Photo Credit: Monet Nicole
Updated February 28, 2022

The placenta plays a vital role in the well being of mom & baby throughout pregnancy and the immediate post-partum period. “During pregnancy and after birth, the placenta makes maternal and child survival possible. It provides for our nutritional needs and aids in our development. It acts as a barrier guarding us against harmful bacteria and most foreign molecules,” says midwife, Robin Lim [1].

After the birth, the baby and plancenta will eventually separate. There are several ways to go about this. I like the advice Lim gives in her book Placenta: the Forgotten Chakra. “Remember to choose what is the gentlest path that feels right for your family and the sweetest way you can imagine; your baby cannot choose, but depends on you to be wise” [1].

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Baby + Child, Pregnancy + Birth, Resources

My Favorite Books About Pregnancy, Childbirth, & Post-partum

Kristine

Photo Credit: Milk and Hannah

Updated March 1, 2022

When you’re pregnant for the first time, it can be really hard to know what to expect over the next several months of pregnancy, during the birth, and once you are responsible for raising a newborn. Even if you’ve had a child before, every pregnancy and baby are different, so you may be having new issues this time around or you may want to be better prepared for this birth.

Thankfully there are plenty of excellent resources to help be more informed about your pregnancy, more educated about your options for birth, and better prepared to raise your baby.

Below are some of my favorite books for pregnant and new mommas. Get ahold of some of these books in early pregnancy so that anytime your body is telling you to slow down and take it easy, you have some reading material on hand.

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Baby + Child, Pregnancy + Birth

Herbs to Promote Breastfeeding

Kristine

Photo Credit: Milk and Hannah

Updated March 1, 2022

Herbs are a natural, gentle way to support and nourish a breastfeeding mom and baby. Certain herbs, called galactagogues, actually help to encourage and increase breast milk. Many of these plants also provide essential vitamins and minerals to help keep mom healthy and relaxed through the stresses of breastfeeding and infant care.

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Baby + Child

Why Use Cloth Diapers + DIY Cloth Baby Wipes & Non-toxic Baby Wipe Solution

Kristine

Updated March 1, 2022

Babies generate more than 2,000 dirty diapers in just their first year. So, for parents the decision about what kind of diapers they will use —cloth or disposable — will have a big impact on their finances, the health of their baby, and the environment.

Why use cloth diapers?

There are many good reasons to use cloth diapers instead of disposable ones. If you wash your baby’s diapers at home, cloth diapers will cost about $1,000 less than disposables over three years. Cloth diapers are also more breathable and don’t contain harsh chemicals, making them more comfortable for baby and less likely to cause diaper rash and other issues.

Cloth diapers are also much more environmentally friendly. Disposable diapers use 20 times more raw materials than cloth diapers. Producing a one year supply of disposable diapers for one baby requires more than 300 pounds of wood, 20 pounds of chlorine, and 50 pounds of petroleum. Disposable diapers also generate 60 times more solid waste. Over 90 percent of disposable diapers end up in landfills, where they make up 4 percent of all solid waste. Estimates are that it takes 250 to 500 years for these diapers to degrade in a landfill.

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