Medicinal Roots: Natural Baby Raising (Blog Feature)

I stumbled upon a fabulous blog about a year ago that was all about raising our children naturally, DIY, and clean living. Having since built a bloggie-relationship with the author, I was able to ask her a favor- to write a blog post regarding natural baby raising for my followers. I have many friends who are veteran mothers, freshly minted mamas, and mamas who are just beginning their journey (congratulations to you all!), so I felt this information would be extremely valuable to them and for myself as well when that time comes. This week's Medicinal Roots was authored by Jennifer de Phoenix, mama of the Cupcake, blogger of DIY Cupcake. Jennifer is also an artist! Check our her Etsy Shop HERE.

Thank you Jennifer for taking the time to write this for us. 

Hospital vs. Home Birth

For many mama's, this choice is not presented as a choice.  They will birth in a hospital because... that's where you give birth, right? But for a select few women, they will read, research and find that a home birth is an option and it is safe.  They will interview midwives and find someone to assist them in labor. I was one of those women, and I couldn't be happier with my choice!  I LOVE my midwife and her assistant and her partner midwife.  My daughter is now 8 months old and I still see them every other week, just to say “Hi.”  

For some women, a hospital birth is necessary.  Either because of diabetes,  they are expecting multiples, or for other complications.  I urge those women to seek out a doula for labor support.  Over 30% of hospital births in the U.S. were cesarean births, a major abdominal surgery, with SERIOUS risks of blood clots and more. (source for %) Many studies have found that by simply having a doula (trained labor support) present at a birth reduces the use of pain medication and reduces c-sections.  Cesareans are so common that I've heard people joke about how much easier and better they are, but for the truth about the risks and complications see here.  Obviously the most serious risk is death, and no mother should be dying in this day and age from childbirth! The recommended rate for actual need of c-section should be around 15%, anything higher is unnecessary according to the World Health Organization. 

Because of the high rate of c-sections in hospital settings, I'd recommend a home birth (no c-sections there!) or a birthing center.  With a home birth and birthing center there is always the option of going to a hospital if NECESSARY, but you don't get the choice vice versa.  With a trained and licensed midwife assisting at a home or birthing center, there is little need for fear.  Although, many doctors would like you to believe otherwise.

My favorite part of a home birth? (Besides being able to eat and drink whatever I wanted?)  NO I.V.!
I think it's unfortunate for so many women to believe they need a hospital, We are built for birthing!  No other animal uses a hospital and neither did we for thousands of years (hospitals have only been birthing locations for less than 200 years)!  A Natural labor is best at home, where I could move freely, and feel every movement, I felt connected to my daughter (before I knew she was a daughter) and I felt in tune with my body, Michel Odent refers to a process in labor where a women's mind switches to old knowledge.  That old brain knows how to birth, by adding drugs and interventions women are preventing from accessing this old brain.  In labor, I gave in to my old brain and let my body do it's thing, I have never felt more empowered and self aware. 

Breastfeeding vs. Formula

Let's talk about this in a strictly financial sense.  Breastfeeding is free.  Formula requires the purchase of bottles and the actual formula.  

Let's talk about this in a strictly time sense. Breastfeeding is quick, remove nipple, insert.  Formula requires the prep. boiling water (anything less can lead to illness), bottle usage- cleaning and assembling.

Now let's talk about this in a health sense.  Breastfeeding is normal, therefore, perfect for each baby every time.  It helps the baby's digestive track health, which also leads to life long health, as this is where illness fighting takes place within the body.  Many times you'll hear breastfeeding is best, but it's not, it's normal.  Anything else, is not as good, it might be good enough, but it also might be recalled for plastic and metal shards, or it might cause diarrhea or it might literally rip open the baby's digestive track, microscopically.  Breastfeeding on the other hand is gentle on a baby's tummy and it helps reduce the mother's risk of breast cancer.  (more benefit for babies here)

Finally, let's talk about this in terms of emotional sense.  Breastfeeding releases oxytocin, a hormone that allows the uterus to contract after labor (helping to reduce hemorrhage) and also creating a bond for the mother and child.  Oxytocin is known as the love drug. It's what fills your body during your first kiss and even when you hug your parents.  It helps to bond the mother and child and from first hand experience I can tell you, it reduces baby blues.  After giving birth, I was so emotional, or not emotional I guess.  I was happy and loved my baby but wasn't sure I was feeling that LOVE that everyone talked about.  I loved my baby, but I felt like I should love her more... breastfeeding allowed me to bond with her and helped me feel like I was connected.  It really helped in moments of frustration or stress.  

I know some mom's have to return to work, but there are a few options for those moms.

1. Pump (or hand express).  While on maternity leave, get as much milk as possible, store it in the freezer for up to 6 months or the fridge for about a week and continue pumping during lunch breaks and whenever possible.  Source feed when the baby is with you.  The minimum you should breastfeed for is 6 months, that's when all the benefits really surface.

2. Use donor milk.  Eats on Feets has chapters all over, with healthy moms donating milk to other babies.  Human milk from a donor mom is the next option recommended by the World Health Organization BEFORE formula.

Cloth Diapering vs. Disposable Diapering

Cloth diapering is easy.  I know it might sound overwhelming, but hear me out.  I bought a bunch of gdiapers and some other all in one diapers.  When my daughter goes to the bathroom I rinse out poop in our back yard with a hose, then leave it out to dry in the sun, then wash it later with the laundry.  When she pees I put it into a bucket and wash it with all the laundry.  I wash them and dry them and the poop doesn't stain or stink up my clothes.  I also use E.C. which I'll explain below.  I NEVER have to buy diapers!  I am saving a lot of money, even though I had to spend a little up front (around $300). I can also reuse the diapers with future babies.

Disposables are just that; trash.  There have been recalls for chemical burns on babies bottoms, and they irritate bottoms more since they are papery.  They are wasteful and fill up landfills.  If you've ever opened a diaper up for a science project you've seen the absorbent material inside, it's not nearly as biodegradable as you might think.  It won't break down like cloth when you're done and it can't be reused. I really have nothing more to say about them because I really can't imagine why anyone would use them when the current cloth options are so cute, convenient, and bottom friendly :)

Elimination Communication vs. Diapering

Click here to read about Elimination Communication in full detail, otherwise, I'll just give you a general overview.  E.C. is when the parent learns the ques of the child and takes the baby to the toilet to eliminate instead of having baby eliminate in his or her diaper.  The theory is that babies don't want to defecate on themselves but we train them to be comfortable in their own poop and pee and then we have to untrain then later when we potty train them.  I've been using EC since Sonja was about 2 or 3 months and I do miss (as in don't notice or don't catch them in the toilet) poops and pees in her diaper, but its rare and I don't feel bad that she might be sitting in poop because usually I help her go in the toilet or sink. 

Conventional Diapering is when the parent leaves the child in a cloth or disposable diaper for 2-4 hours.  This is fine for parents who don't mind wiping up poop and pee off their baby's behind, and fine for those who don't mind using tons of oils and products to prevent diaper rash.  This is also nice when used in conjunction with EC.  many parents like to run errands and can get caught up in certain moments.  By using a combination it prevents serious messes while still fostering strong communication between caregiver and child.  I technically use a combination method, but I TRY to leave my daughter diaperless as often as possible around our home.

Baby/Child Lead Weaning vs. "Baby Food"

Child Lead Weaning is when the child or baby tells you he or she is ready for solid foods by reaching or grabbing.  As the parent, we make sure that the baby can safely consume what he or she is reaching for.  Sometimes a piece is too small, or too sharp or hard for baby to eat, if that's the case they don't eat that food.  My daughter has experienced broccoli, bananas, apples, and more but NOTHING mashed.  If she can't hold it, she doesn't eat it.  This also facilitates a longer breastfeeding relationship because she is not eating a lot of nutritional rich foods besides my milk. By drinking milk for longer period of time she is increasing her immune system.
Processed and packaged baby food is not something I want my daughter to consume.  I don't know what truly has been mixed into that mush.  I do not know the effects of the preservatives in each jar.  I do not like what I know about the BPA found in the lids of those jars.  If I was going to do the mushed food method I would steam my own veggies and I would blend them in a food processor or blender and freeze and save such food. 

Natural vs. Plastic Toys

Natural toys include: wooden blocks, metal rattles and so much more.  My daughter has a lot of books, toys and objects she plays with.  Not all are marketed as toys.  Some are wooden cooking spoons, metal bowls and pans, frozen wash clothes (while teething) and other functional objects.  I like that she is exploring real objects she will use in the future.  I also like how she will have to imagine more sounds, functions and concepts as she gets older.
Plastic toys are designed to be sold, used and tossed.  Plastic never breaks down molecularly.  It will not biodegrade back into the earth.  I am scared to death about what this culture has done with plastic, it's killing all the fish in the oceans (well not all... yet) and it's giving cancer both from production (dioxin) and from use (BPA) and yet people still think it's the coolest invention ever.  I would advise any parent to avoid ALL forms of plastic, no matter what, to keep their kids healthy.  I have a simple outlook in my home, if they didn't have it in the Pleistocene (cave man days) we don't NEED it now. 

Baby Wearing vs. Strollers

Baby wearing is the concept of using a sling or wrap to keep the baby on the parent as opposed to placing the baby in a playpen or stroller or car seat and carrying the baby around like luggage.  I see 2 obvious benefits from this: 
    1. Baby is always close to mama or papa and 
    2. It helps mama get back into her pre-pregnancy shape by continuing to carry around a few extra pounds.
Baby wearing is essential for E.C., as baby will rarely pee on the wearer when given proper opportunities to go to the bathroom.  It is also really great for baby to develop neck and back strength as opposed to those car seat sleepers who are lounging in their seats.  ALL the babies I know who were worn, more often than not, are quick sitter uppers, crawlers and walkers.  I think that all has to do with the fact that they interacted so much with their caregiver and their surroundings. 
Strollers for transportation are convenient when at the zoo, park or events.  I, however, rarely use my umbrella stroller.  I still wear my daughter a lot, she is 8 months old and over 15 pounds.  If I'm not holding her or wearing her, her daddy is.  She doesn't mind the stroller, but she will get fussy after a while, something rare if we're holding her.  I often see parents out and about with a fussy stroller contained baby; and all the while the parents are trying to reason with the baby, instead of just picking them up and giving them the affection they need. 
I guess this can be a touchy subject for many people, as lots of my parents generation will tell you, "that will spoil your child."  But, I'd really love for someone to explain to me how you can give someone too much love? I think it's interesting people wonder why we get spikes in crime (murders and rapes) MAYBE there is a connection to the disconnect we impose on new people?

Soap, Powder and Oils for Cleaning and Diapering

In conclusion, I'd like to share a few little natural tips for diapering and cleaning.  We use california baby soap and I think any of the mild soaps you find at natural grocers would be fine.  When doing our childbirth education classes we were told not to put anything on our baby that we wouldn't eat, and not that I would eat soap, but I check to see if most of the ingredients are edible.  For baby oil, we use organic olive oil as many marketed oils are derivatives of petroleum and not edible.  For such a young age, it's important to remember that so much is absorbed sublingually (through the skin) and what goes ON the baby ultimately goes IN them.  For baby powder we use corn starch, we don't trust Johnson and Johnson with our daughter's health when it comes to powders or lotions. Many "baby powders" (talcum powder) are dangerous to breathe in, so we stick with natural food based items.  Oh and one more fun thing! coconut oil is great for baby massages.  My daughter LOVES them and she smells tasty afterwards too!


Happy Natural Parenting!

Some shop resources for baby and home products I like:

Our Green House
Earth Mama Angel Baby
Organically Hatched