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Doula Services, Ayurvedic Treatments and Yoga

Looking for a Nanny, Daycare, Etc!

LOOKING FOR NANNY, HOME HELP ETC…nanny
Every now and then I get an email about daycare, nanny, home help etc. So, I’m putting this out there… Go to the Blog page (HERE) and post your suggestions. This is so important and so many of you ask and talk amongst yourselves. Some of you actually participate in a nanny share! Check out the bold and italic vendors below. May be a good place to start!

Here is the list of vendors I met at the Pregnancy Expos recently:
Dallas Parent (and other neighborhoods) – FREE publication!
Kid’s Directory – FREE publication!
Newborn Nightingales – night nursing, infant care, sleep consulting
Belly & Beans Associates – postpartum help 
Gibson Services – my fav of the postpartum help servers!
Milkin’ Mamas – breast milk donations
Mother’s Milk Bank of North Texas – breast milk donations
Le Leche League International – look for their Facebook page!
Play Wisely – classes from 4 months – 5 years
Anna’s Organic Birth – midwife
UNT Midwives @ Harris Methodist
Health Source Chiropractic – Jessica Martin – Argyle
Circle of Healing Chiropractor – Denise Scott – Desoto
Geeky Diaperz
The Rebecca Cloth Diaper Foundation’s Closet
Happy Family Organic Superfoods
Paperly – monogram anything!

Who is your Favorite Poet/Writer?

images-4WANTED TO OFFER UP A QUOTE FROM ONE OF MY FAVORITE POETS…

Who are some of your favorite writers? Is there a book you would recommend? We are always reading books about bebes. What about something else…

 

This quote is from the House on Mango Street. I’ve always loved the quote and the book.

Does Pregnancy Brain Exist – True or False?

 

THIS ARTICLE IS POSTED ON THE MEDICAL DAILY SITE

Does Pregnancy Brain Really Exist? The Phenomenon Behind ‘Baby Brain’ And Expectant Mothers

By  | Apr 28, 2014 05:01 PM EDT

At one point or anothepregnant-woman-post-it-bellyr, whether we’re pregnant or not, we all tend to forget to pick up the milk, misplace our keys, or accidentally burn food on the stove. These occasional bouts of forgetfulness are heightened for expectant mothers who normally tend to be ditzy, but these memory lapses could in fact be attributed to changes in the brain during pregnancy. Hormonal fluctuations, mental, and physical stress take a toll on a pregnant mother’s brain health, but is “baby brain” biologically real or just a widespread anecdotal side effect of pregnancy and motherhood?

 Pregnancy Brain: Fact or Myth?

During pregnancy, expectant mothers face endless possibilities when it comes to symptoms and side effects, but one that is the root of a lot of speculation, despite scientific and anecdotal evidence, is pregnancy brain. It is no contest that pregnant women report not feeling as mentally sharp, but whether the capacity of their brain is altered as a result is unknown. Two opposing studies leave us on the fence whether hormonal changes in pregnancy may play a part in any neurological changes that impair memory or cognition.

A popularly cited 2007 study published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology found evidence of mental impairment in pregnant women. The analysis was based on 14 studies that were conducted over the course of 17 years that compared pregnant and/or postpartum women with healthy matched controls on measures of memory. The pregnant women were significantly impaired on some, but not all, measures of memory. Although forgetfulness and slips of attention were commonly reported among these women, a specific mechanism which causes this memory impairment has yet to be identified.

In contrast, a 2010 study found there are no significant changes in memory or cognition, researchers found after following a group of women before, during, and after pregnancy. However, the researchers note late pregnancy, or the third trimester, was associated with deterioration on one of the four tests of memory and cognition the researchers conducted.

Although there is scientific data to support and retract the existence of “momnesia,” along with anecdotal evidence, the common signs of memory lapses should not be ignored. Hormonal surges, the inevitable mental and physical stress, could lead to a variety of emotions that can manifest in impaired memory or cognition.

In Your Head: Hormones and Brain Health During Pregnancy

 

Whether or not the brain cells of moms-to-be change during pregnancy, there is good reason to feel scatterbrained and absentminded. Pregnancy is considered to be a critical time for the central nervous system development in expectant mothers because it is the only time in a woman’s life where she experiences a massive amount of hormonal fluctuations, according to Healthline. The reproductive hormones, progesterone, and estrogen, can act as protection to prepare the mom’s brain for motherhood by focusing solely on her baby’s needs.

Estrogen and progesterone influence brain function affecting various neurons in the brain. Popular opinion has long held that hot flashes can contribute to degenerative or aging changes in the brain, with the hippocampus — the center of memory and cognition — experiencing the greatest change. This suggests that hormones may affect spatial memory that includes remembering where things are for pregnant women.

Pregnancy Brain: An Evolutionary Look

Moms-to-be spend a lot of time thinking about the changes that come with having a baby and how they will take care of their newborn. The physical and mental stress brought on by these concerns could possibly be explained from an evolutionary standpoint. According to the Leiden Psychology Blog at the Universiteit Leiden in the Netherlands, pregnancy-related memory impairment may be helpful because women forget about irrelevant stuff and focus on caring for the baby. It may be female intuition to become protective of their offspring and disregard other facets of life that are not related to the child.

Pregnancy Brain: Is It All Just In Your Head?

The idea of pregnancy brain has been widely accepted as an anecdotal side effect of pregnancy, as this could explain why more women report it. The Mayo Clinic notes pregnant women and new mothers are more aware about their bouts of forgetfulness and as a result may mistakenly perceive themselves to have trouble thinking straight. Overall, women who catch their minor lapses in mental ability may attribute it to pregnancy since that is the only significant thing on their minds. Also, a lack of sleep could be hiding the positive cognitive effects of pregnancy and therefore lead to impaired memory or cognition.

Whether you or someone you know believe to have experienced pregnancy brain, it is important to sharpen your mental acuity during the stages of pregnancy. Simply write everything down, get more sleep, and simplify your life so you can reduce your stress and protect your baby’s health. Pregnancy brain or not, managing your physical and mental stress can provide peace of mind during these nine months.

 

Bengkung Wrap – Holistic Birth Services/Birth Doula

Bengkung Wrap – I offer my doula clients a bengkung wrap if they would like. It’s a very long piece of fabric wrapped around the torso to hold the torso firm and give support to the uterus. I found this interesting website and decided to share. Here is one part (the benefits). The rest will be on the website.

 

andree wrapARTICLE FOUND AT www.babycenter.com – 

There’s no denying that the confinement period is a bittersweet experience for new mothers in the Malay community. The traditional Malay pantang, which lasts for 44 days, is considered a test of patience. However, many do it willingly and diligently. The reason? They believe these postnatal practices can help them regain their pre-baby figure, health and energy, as well as help them stay attractive and alluring. 

There are several pantang practices that are still widely practised today, but it is the bengkung or traditional wrap (also known as a traditional girdle or even corset) that is the cornerstone of the confinement period.

Where do I get the bengkung?

It used to be that mums sewed it for their pregnant daughters. Today, busy mums-to-be can buy the bengkung from Malay traditional wellness shops or even order it off the Internet. 

There are three types of bengkung:

  • Bengkung barut, or the bandage bengkung, is similar to the traditional cloth carrier for children. It has a left and a right string which are tied together.
  • Bengkung Mia is a corset-style cloth with criss-crossed ties.
  • Bengkung Java, or entwining bengkung, is a broad piece of cloth (about 15m long) wrapped around the torso.

How do I wear the bengkung?

It is important to choose a good-quality bengkung that won’t unravel or come loose in the course of the day. It should be worn at all times, day and night (though some mums say they could only stand to wear them for a few hours a day). 

The correct way to put it on is to start at the bottom, working your way up to cover your torso and tying it off just under the breast. 

Datin Sharifah Anisah Barakbah, founder Nona Roguy (now NR) and author of the book Ensiklopedia Perbidanan Melayu (Encyclopaedia of Malay Midwifery), cautions that a bengkung that is too short or not wrapped properly is widely believed to hinder the recovery of the uterus. 

Bengkung is not usually worn on its own.

  • Medicinal leaves such as galangal or pandan are laid out on a rag cloth which is then placed over the wrap to maintain cleanliness.
  • The bengkung is then put on after traditional oil, herbs and spices have been rubbed onto the abdomen and the back.
  • For women who cannot get the fresh ingredients, the alternative is bengkung creams sold at traditional wellness shops.

What are the benefits of bengkung?

Tradition dictates that pregnancy and birth affect a woman’s entire well-being. According to traditional beliefs, “a woman’s body and all muscle, bone, nerves, joints and other organs have changed and grown and become swollen due to the hormonal influence of pregnancy,” says Datin Sharifah. “Bengkung can flatten the stomach, shrink the uterus and tighten the vagina.” 

It is also widely believed that the traditional wrap can also help:

  • flatten the tummy, reduce weight and tone the body;
  • protect the internal organs as well as help swollen organs return to their pre-baby state;
  • tighten the abdomen and other parts of the body that have sagged or lost their muscle tone after childbirth;
  • promote good posture that will aid in breastfeeding;
  • break down fat and cellulite;
  • prevent overeating.


Strictly speaking, just wearing the bengkung is not enough. Other practices such as postnatal massage, hot compress and having herbal baths complete the confinement regime. Done correctly, they are said to help new mums to get back in shape, as well as balance their hormone levels.

Nursing Mom’s Travel Tip

~ offered by Danielle – Bebe & Me Core Instructor & Fab OmB Mama!

Hi moms and Bebe & Me fans!

 Recently in class we’ve been talking about traveling in these early months for business, or quick weekend getaways.  If you’re a breastfeeding mom, traveling without baby is often more challenging then with our little bundles.  But it can be done and you CAN bring your milk back with you.  Don’t dump it!  I said I would share some of my tips for making it a little less painful.  So based on my 4-5 trips so far (ranging from overnight to 3-4 days), here goes:
Preparing for your trip:
  • Unless you regularly express more milk than your baby requires (and how lucky you are!), you will need to start squeezing in an extra pump session or two each day a few weeks in advance to build up a freezer of milk for whoever is keeping baby.  Because I have a lot more milk in the AM, I usually get up an hour or so before baby to pump a little, then I can squeeze in a few more winks before it’s time to get up.
  • If your baby is used to falling asleep while nursing, be sure to test the waters with someone else giving your baby a bottle and putting him/her to bed.
What to Pack:
  • If you have a breastpump that operates on batteries, awesome!  But beware, those batteries wear out FAST.  Always pack extra batteries and bring your charger along.
  • I like Medela Quick Clean wipes for when I don’t have immediate access to a sink, or as a cleansing agent once you do get to rinse your parts.
  • A nursing bra – I love the Hands Free Pump Bra (www.handsfreepumpbra.com) much better than many that you find in the store.
At the airport:
  • When you go through security, know your rights.  You can absolutely carry your breast pump and stored milk through security (even bottled water to stay hydrated). However, every airport and TSA agent may behave differently when you send your bag through.  DFW has been more lax than DAL, in my experience.  You can refuse to have them dig through your bag, but if you would rather float through without conflict (who wouldn’t??), then do the following: 1) Store your milk (frozen if you can) in small quantities (less than 4 oz per storage bag/bottle); 2) Put any milk in a small cooler and send it through the machine by itself (not in your pump bag or other carry-on); 3) Try to keep your ice packs frozen.  The reason your bag gets flagged is usually due to liquids, so if you separate it, then they are less likely to want to search it or screen it.
  • Seek out the family bathroom, stat.  If you have a long flight, you’ll want to pump right before your flight takes off, and the family bathrooms have doors that lock and usually an outlet where you can plug in.  This is definitely preferable to crouching in a bathroom stall listening to toilets flushing!
  • If you have the means or the opportunity, the executive lounges often have a more comfortable place where you can pump as well.
On the plane:
  • I haven’t resorted to pumping in the plane bathroom, but I have pumped in my seat!  On one trip, I was seated in the window next to my hubby, so I put on my nursing cover and tried to be discreet.  The noise of the plane completely drowned out the sound of the pump.
  • Ask the flight attendant for some extra ice for your cooler to keep your milk chilled, if needed.
At the hotel:
  • If you’re staying in a hotel, definitely ask for a room with a mini-fridge, or ask them to bring you one.  I usually explain that I’m a nursing mom and need a place to store my milk and they are always super helpful.
  • Take advantage of the ice machine to fill your cooler as you’re heading back to the airport, or wherever.  But you may want to dump the ice before you head through security, and replace it once in the airport or on the plane.
At the office/meeting:
  • This has been the tricky one for me.  Sometimes you’re in a marathon meeting or visiting a client.  My best advice is to not be bashful in letting the person leading the meeting know that you’ll need to take extended breaks and ask for a private place to pump, as well as access to a fridge.  One trip was to a day-long meeting at Dept. of State where I had to be escorted everywhere… even to the bathroom!  So it was better to just be upfront about it.
Hope some of these tips are helpful.  I searched for articles and blogs on this topic before my first trip and didn’t find a whole lot of information.
If any of y’all have additional tips for the group based on your experiences, please share by commenting below!