Bringing home baby changes everything, including, of course, your sleeping habits. I can say with almost certainty that a complete night of sleep will never be the same again once you become a parent. But the first few months are undoubtedly like no others. You are anxious about leaving your little angel for even a few moments of rest. What if you fall so soundly asleep that you miss some urgent need your baby may have? And when you finally are exhausted enough to drift off and relax, that little bundle is sure to wake you up with a piercing cry that you certainly could not have missed if you were in a bunker. Read the rest »

Good fats for better fertility

Once upon a time, and not that long ago, fat was a four-letter word. Diet and nutrition gurus told us (and some still tell us) to cut back on fat whenever and wherever possible. Millions of Americans have dutifully followed that advice. Guided by the low-fat mantra, we tossed out salad dressings and mayonnaise made with olive oil or canola oil in favor of fat-free versions made with extra sugar. We replaced other fats in the diet with carbohydrates, usually the rapidly digested ones in white flour, potatoes, white rice, and sugar. This purge didn’t make us any healthier. It had no effect on heart disease, its intended target. And it may have contributed to the epidemic of obesity sweeping the country. Read the rest »

Most women with real postpartum depression are never diagnosed. Even though postpartum depression is very common, and even though identifying it can help both the baby and the mother, most cases slip through the cracks. A simple new 3-question test has proven very reliable at detecting postpartum depression. Read the rest »

I’m about 14 weeks along with pregnancy #2, and I’m just looking forward to that glorious day when this morning/all-day/worst-at-night sickness finally passes. Oh please don’t let me be one of those unfortunate women who have it throughout the entire pregnancy.

Some days aren’t so bad, but there are times when I feel like I’ve just gotten off a nasty roller coaster…that I’ve ridden 10 times. I always have some crackers by my side, but when that’s not enough, or when I’m just sick of them, I’ve got a few other tricks up my sleeve. If you’re on the same nauseating boat as me, give these three products a shot. Read the rest »

More than four million acres of American farmland have already been dedicated to organic farming, helping our health and our future. That’s four million acres farmed without the use of toxic pesticides or other toxic chemicals; four million acres nurtured with both ancient and modern techniques that are in balance with nature, helping to reduce the production of greenhouse gasses and reduce the threat of global warming. Read the rest »

Operation Shower gathered last Saturday in Fort Bragg, North Carolina for a Mother’s Day celebration to complete the mission of showering 100 new moms and moms-to-be whose husbands are soldiers. Twenty moms and their soon-to-be redeployed husbands from the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion gathered for an afternoon of food, gifts, raffle prizes and fun. Read the rest »

There are certain microscopic bacteria that can pose special health risks to pregnant women and to their babies. Although most people can safely eat food containing a type of bacteria called Listeria, pregnant women are ten times more likely to get sick if they eat those same foods. And if they do get sick, the infection can be devastating for the baby. The tricky thing about Listeria is that, unlike many bacteria, they can thrive at refrigerator temperatures. To be sure, ensure your partner avoids the following: Read the rest »