January 22nd, 2009
Being a mom today can be really hard work and so rewarding! I Iove being able to be at home with my daughter and witnessing her first moments, hearing her run around our home, listening to her smile, and discovering the world!!!! There are so many joys to being a mom. At the same time, being a mom can be hard… diapers, meals, laundry, being up at night… I have to say that I’ll take the challenges for all the blessings!
One thing I’ve really been reminded of recently is that we need to take care of ourselves as moms! We need to make sure that we are getting enough time for us… time to exercise, eat properly, read, do a hobby, time with our husbands, and time for ourselves throughout the day! I find that as I take care of myself I am a better mother and wife!
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January 16th, 2009
I just saw the report CBC did on a study out of Toronto about mom-to-mom suppport helping with postpartum depression, particularly that phone contact with other moms helped lower postpartum depression in new moms. This is great!!! New moms really need more support and help because there seems to be lots of support before the pregnancy, and then slowly support disappears within days or a couple weeks after the baby is born.
It is great to connect with other moms! I know that I make an effort to get in touch with other moms by phone and in person, even if it’s for coffee/tea or a play date once a week.
We would love to hear from other moms if they have any ideas of how we could support each other. Just submit a comment and we’ll post it!
Melissa
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August 25th, 2008
CBC has just published an article about a study that shows that breastfeeding may reduce a woman’s risk of an aggressive form of breast cancer! For those women who can breastfeed, this is another great benefit to breastfeeding.Check out the article by CBC yourself:
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/08/25/breast-cancer.html
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August 13th, 2008
In light of all the recent research on baby bottle and plastic bottles, we came across this mini-guide to plastic bottles that is helpful:
Plastics have become such a pervasive part of our daily lives that it can be difficult to do without them, even when we are concerned about their safety. But most of the plastic bottles and containers we use carry a recycling symbol that can be a help in deciding how to use them.
You’ve been hearing all kinds of bad news reports about toxic chemicals leaching from plastic bottles and containers. If you heat these bottles or re-use them, you might be increasing your exposure to hormone mimics or any of a number of other chemicals.
But plastic is all around us, and not all of it is hazardous to your family’s health. How do you know which types of plastics are worse, and which are not as bad? One clue is the number inside the recycling symbol on the bottom of the bottles or containers. The numbers indicate which are accepted by recyclers, but they also indicate the class of plastic and its chemical characteristics:
No. 1 PETE or PET (polyethylene terephthalate)
No. 2 HDPE (high density polyethylene)
No. 3. V (vinyl) or PVC
No. 4. LDPE (low density polyethylene)
No. 5. PP (polypropylene)
No. 6. PS (polystyrene)
No. 7. Other or miscellanous
To sum up, if the bottle has the number 1, 2, 4, or 5 on the bottom, it’s made from one of the safer plastics. If the number says 3, 6, or 7, there is a greater likelihood that the bottle will be leaving a chemical residue in your beverage. Category No. 3, PVC or polyvinyl chloride, is the worst, followed by No. 7, which may contain polycarbonates (bisphenol-A).
Another rule of thumb is that the softer the plastic the more likely that leaching can occur. You can also use your nose. If you sniff a hint of plastic, find another container. Of course, your best bet is to avoid plastics for food and beverage altogether, and use glass, metal, or ceramic refillable containers whenever possible.
Children’s Health Environmental Coalition
The Green Guide
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August 13th, 2008
With all the talk about toxins in baby bottles, here is a summary of 2 studies and the references for the studies relating to the whole issue. If you didn’t already see it, check out our post the includes a mini-guide to plastics.
| We are constantly being exposed to numerous toxic compounds from air, water and consumer products. Young children are especially vulnerable to toxins because they have immature organ systems, high metabolic rates and are going through rapid physical development. A recent study shows that infants in the U.S. may be exposed to toxic chemicals even from their baby bottles. |
Two recent reports have found that six major brands of popular baby bottles leach bisphenol A, a hormone-disrupting chemical used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic. Bisphenol-A is used to make numerous plastic products soft and flexible and also in the linings of metal food cans. It is a developmental, neural, and reproductive toxicant that mimics estrogen and can interfere with healthy growth and body function.
The brands of baby bottles tested included products made by Evenflo, Gerber, Dr. Brown’s and Playtex. Laboratory testing showed that 5-8 ng/ml (parts per billion) of bisphenol A leached from all the bottles when heated to 80 degrees C (176 degrees F.). Scientific studies have shown that bisphenol A levels as low as parts per trillion may alter cell function. Heating bottles, pouring hot liquids into them, or using them to give babies acidic or basic beverages have all been shown to increase the rate of bisphenol A leaching from bottles. The use of bisphenol A in the manufacture of baby bottles should be phased out immediately.
Baby’s Toxic Bottle: Bisphenol A Leaching from Popular Brands of Baby Bottles. The Work Group for Safe Markets. www.babystoxicbottle org. 2008.
Gibson, R.L. Toxic Baby Bottles: Scientific study finds leaching chemicals in clear plastic baby bottles. Environment California Research & Policy Center. 2007.
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August 12th, 2008
Check out this article written by CBCnews.ca: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/08/12/fruit-veg-kids.html It really is great that researchers are recognizing the importance of parents being role models to their children and that education about healthy food choices starts in the home! We have some excellent resources on this topic as well that may help you out. Contact us if you are interested. We’d love to hear from you!
Melissa & Meagan
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August 12th, 2008
We would like to welcome you to our new blog! We are two moms that met at a mom’s group and we want to share some of the knowledge and experience we have gained through our own children, such as how to provide the best nutirition and nutritional supplementation to ourselves and our kids. We hope you enjoy your blog experience with us and leave a comment or question behind!
All the best to all you moms (and dads too) and we wish you a wonderful day with your children!
Melissa & Meaghan
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