May 5, 2012

New Born/ Infant… Natural Skin Care

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Today I just wanted to share on caring for your newborns skin , care for belly button and circumcisions…

Since I am new to blogging and not sure how the legal aspects work..I just want to make sure I give credit to where credit is due.. Which is to www.bulkherbstore.com ..If you want to know anything as far as how to find herbs, how they work and how to make tinctures and salves, you really need to check out her blog, website and You Tube videos .. Her Making Babies Series is amazing.. I love it and am addicted to making all of the things inside the book and on the DVDs that I ordered with it..

 

So first off… My babies have always had sensitive skin… Washing my babies clothes in “Dreft” is a must for us.. I haven’t yet looked into natural laundry soaps for babies, we use the homemade version laundry soap for our clothes and love it so far, but have not tried washing Trenton’s clothes in it.. Next, I put Trenton into the Huggies brand diapers to start off with until I was up and going enough to mess with cloth diapers that I had bought.. BIG MISTAKE.. He immediately had a horrible reaction.. I switched to Pampers Sensitive and went to my cloth diapers and that fixed it.. Next is wipes.. I use Pampers Sensitive, they have been the best by far if your baby has sensitive skin..  I was going to make my own, but I tried it in the past and wasn’t that impressed, so these work and I don’t have to mess with cutting through paper towels which is worse than scratching a chalk board for me..LOL !!!!

Ok…. so right off in the first 48 hours Trenton had extremely sensitive skin.. Worst case I have ever seen with any of my kids.. I immediately made up some bath water made with the Bulk Herb Store mix of Baby Bath Herbs.. You take a 1/2 cup of the mixture of herbs and pour into 5 cups of hot water not boiling and let sit and strain like a tea.. then pour into the bath water .. It worked amazingly…( a mixture of lavender,rosemary,rose petals, and yarrow.)… then I rubbed him down with the baby cream that I made also from the Making Babies series.. mixture of ( Calendula, rose petals, lavender, coconut oil, aloe, vit E, grapefruit extract)…these are all wonderful healing, soothing and anti-fungal herbs and with the baby cream you are adding great things for the skin like vit e, coconut ect.. this all made a huge, noticeable difference.. it cleared his skin immediately and I haven’t used anything else since.. You might wonder about it not being soap and getting your baby clean, but lavender is a natural bacteria fighter and it acts as antibacterial soap..

   (the brown bottle is my belly button tincture)               (these are the baby bath herbs pre mixed from the Bulk Herb Store)

On to the belly button care.. I am so amazed at these young moms I talk to that don’t have a clue.. I have always used straight alcohol and a cotton ball , and it works, but I came across a recipe for a tincture, made with rosemary, Calendula, and comfrey, again all good skin healing herbs, you pour alcohol over these herbs and store for up to 7-14 days, I did this months ahead.. then strain and put into a tincture jar( small glass bottle with a dropper) .. I immediately started using this on Trenton, and his cord was gone in 4 days.. much sooner than all my other babies.. it healed up very nicely.. at every diaper changing, I took a cotton ball saturated it in the tincture, and dropped a few drops on to the cord, make sure you get in the crevices.. of course if it is raw or bloody, the alcohol DOES burn.. just blow on it.. baby will be fine in a few seconds.. So again awesome stuff. I had a whole bottle practically left, I have been putting it on the kids bug bites and it works great and poison ivy.. although the Bulk Herb Store just posted a new video on a poison ivy tincture.. Haven’t tried that yet though. but will be soon..

 ( this was the 4th day how his belly button looked after the cord fell off that morning)

Now to the Circumcision care.. if you decide to circumcise this is a must have.. We had Trenton circumcised, it was a lot later than we planned because of my health, and I won’t go into it, but it did not go so well.. but anyway… they recommended I only put antibiotic cream on although I had the salve made up, I went with their instructions, I went through 2 tubes of antibiotic cream, and when I ran out I switched to the salve I pre made.. I finally  realised later that the tip had been over cut on the side and it was really having a hard time healing.. once I started lathering the salve on it started to heal, and he started to become less fussy.. It is great stuff!! I also gave a can of it to each of my boys (the recipe made 5 cans)   to keep for the excema on their legs, they were scratching until they bled.. it’s has really helped to heal them up.. the mixture is (lavender, Calendula, rosemary, comfrey, and coconut oil) cooked and made into a slave with beeswax.. Again all of these recipes and the exact directions are in their books or videos, you can watch them all for free on You Tube..

 (this is the before of the circ. herbs in the jar)  the oil is a massage oil that I also made up…  ( this is the salve after)

So now we are all healed and from cord, circumcision , raw butts and sensitive skin.. I will continue to use the  ”bath herbs” for a while and continue making the creams .. I feel much more comfortable putting this on my baby’s skin than anything else… and I enjoy making it and seeing how the things God put on this earth for us to use, works so great.. So that’s my spin on caring for a newborns skin.. they don’t need tons of baths, that will dry out their skin, make sure you clean under their necks and folds and that they dry out completely before you dress and diaper them.. airing out their tushies is the best remedy for diaper rash and change their diapers frequently.. and SUNSHINE… wonderful  for newborns especially for keeping jaundice away or helping resolve it.. a few minutes at a time throughout the day.. works wonders.. If your baby is having lots of blistery diaper rashes, switch to a sensitive or hypo allergenic diaper and if that doesn’t help, you need to see what is going into his body, (whether breast or bottle fed) that might be causing  the problem.. HAPPY TAKING CARE OF YOUR BABY!!! with every one of them  it’s a new learning experience and everyone is different, I learn new things all the time.. and I am sure I will face new challenges everyday..

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Mar 7, 2012

Labor Prepping Herbs

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So as I said before if you are interested in helping yourself toward the end of pregnancy, to prepare your body for delivery I have some ideas..

DISCLAIMER!!!!!!THESE ARE TAKEN AT MY OWN RISK!!! YOU WILL NEED TO DISCUSS THESE THINGS WITH YOUR MIDWIFE.. AS MOST DOCTORS WILL NOT AGREE. . ..I KNOW!!.. ALSO BE CAREFUL WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND IF YOU HAVE OTHER HEALTH CONCERNS, YOU NEED TO DO YOUR RESEARCH…. AS WITH ANY HERBS THEY ARE NOT BACKED BY THE FDA.. SO THESE ARE SUGGESTIONS AND THINGS I HAVE DONE WITH NOW 8 PREGNACIES… USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.. I AM NOT A DR… LOL ..JUST SO YOU KNOW…. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT YOU TAKE OR DO…

OK !!! With that out-of-the-way.. I will try to pull an article to back up what I am saying and post the link.. But you have the world of knowledge at your fingertips and can most certainly find your own info….

So.. ALL of these really should NOT  be taken UNTIL 35 WEEKS along… 5 WEEKS left in your pregnancy.. got that… ok..

First I will start with RED RASPBERRY TEA…

Here is a good article http://womanplace.wordpress.com/2011/06/19/the-benefits-of-red-raspberry-leaf-tea-in-pregnancy/

Helps to tone and support  the uterus, for more efficient contractions and so many other benefits .. I personally don’t drink it until the last trimester.. Do your own research..

Next is 5W from Nature Sunshine, you can use this blend,

http://www.hardys.co.nz/shop/Search+by+brand/Natures+Sunshine/Natures+Sunshine+5+W+100+Capsules.html

or LABOR PREPARE by Mothers Herbal http://www.preciousarrows.com/Labor_Prepare_p/42260.htm

or GENTLE BIRTH http://www.mountainmeadowherbs.com/Gentle_Birth_p/g1030.htm

All 3 of these have a bit of a different formula you can choose which herbal formula suits you best.. They all basically do the same thing.. Preparing the uterus, and helping with the cervix and dilation process..

Next is EVENING OF PRIMROSE OIL…

http://www.essortment.com/naturally-inducing-labor-benefits-drawbacks-evening-primrose-51100.html

I take this at 35 weeks and increase the dosage over the next few weeks.. I really believe this has helped me with all my labors in preventing tears and for my cervix to soften very quickly in helping me to have faster labors.. Some women insert them vaginally .. I personally never have done this..My Dr. couldn’t believe how nice my labors went with such big babies and I finally told him, I believed it was from the herbs.. He basically laughed at me.. :) I had 5 babies with the same DR.. I loved him, he was great and supported whatever I did…I Just did not like the hospital experience..

If I do piddle along with contractions that stop and start.. I have taken START IT UP.. Only full term and in active labor.. and I have only used this in my last pregnancy..so I don’t have a lot to back this up even though I do have a bottle on hand this time.. http://inhishands.com/Start-It-Up.229

So like I said.. This is my labor prepping method.. DO NOT take the 5w, Labor Prepare , or Gentle Birth together, I will switch off a week at a time.. As I said also .. I personally have had good labors, it could just be God gave me a good birthing body..LOL :) or he put these herbs here to help us out with.. Regardless, I will continue taking them. But you figure out what works between you and your midwife or doctor. I hope now that I have said all of this, I don’t have some crazy horrible birthing story to share later.. LOL .. Happy Pregnancy 25 DAYS to GO .. WOOO HOOO ….

–

 

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Mar 4, 2012

The fun part of preparing for a New Baby!!

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So we are down to the last month, FYI… if you’re not keeping track ..:) Because I most certainly am.. So this is the fun and not so fun times.. Fun because of getting all the little outfits ready, washing the blankets, buying the diapers.. For us bringing all the gear out of the dungeon, replacing batteries, disinfecting, setting it up.. It’s exciting thinking there will soon be a little one swinging away or laying in the bassinet..

We obviously are out of space to have a nursery room, even when I did I never used it.. only to store clothes and diapers etc.. We have always been co-sleepers anyway, so there was no use in ever having a crib.. So my room has been converted into half nursery again, it’s a small room to begin with so we’re tight in there again. I had to buy some new furniture, for baby because again, I have nowhere to put baby clothes , diapers, blankets.. I had to buy a new car seat.. Our last one mysteriously disappeared … and new clothes.. you’d think after having 3 other boys I’d have clothes, but NO.. they are either wore out, stained or just the wrong season.. My last 3 boys were born Sept. Oct. and Dec.. this will be a spring baby and you’re talking 13, 10 and a 6 year span between boys.. thinner blankets and clothes are needed for this one.

Here’s the new furniture…

Here’s baby’s first outfit…

Here’s where blankets and slings are stored..

My diaper station..

Speaking of diapers..I have used cloth diapers in the past.. though not exclusively though.. I started about 10 years ago with #4 .. He had extremely sensitive skin, to the point his rear, facial cheeks, and arms would blister and ooze.. I could not put him in disposable diapers, they would just eat his skin…. So after a lot of research I found at the time a cloth diaper that was functional and easy to use and guaranteed safe for sensitive skin.. It was the Fuzzi Bunz Diaper, and ironically they are made in the USA and their factory at the time..(now I’m not sure) was in Louisiana about an hour from my moms, so I drove to the factory and got an awesome deal on them…after #5 , 6 and 7th kids.. I used them on and off, but it was  just more convenient with our life style to go disposable especially after Trey spending his life in the hospital from 11 months to 3 years old…. But after trying to go more natural and thinking of cleaners and products and so on, I decided  to go back to cloth..

After more research, I found the Flip diapers..

They are from newborn to practically potty trained.. They do not have the pocket like the Fuzzi Bunz, and so you only need to wash the liner and not the total diaper..and you can get a bio degradable flushable liner to line the liner to catch the solids and toss it in the toilet.. They’re pretty cool.. not sure how they will work yet, but anxious to try.. so after more research and looking the diaper over even more.. My first intention was to go cloth after baby was a little bigger, and over the mustard seed stage… Because even though the Flips are for size 1 and up and I have big babies who start in 1′s .. I thought it was a bit of a bulky diaper for a little one.. But then my thought was, If  I don’t start out using them, I probably won’t change my mind later and switch.. Why not start this from the get go.. So I found another diaper, the Gdiapers ..

they are primarily for newborns they are so cute.. no bulk and these have washable and flushable liners, I bought the kit with the flushable or disposable liners.. they are eco-friendly and you don’t have near the diaper washing with newborns.. so I can still go mostly cloth.. and I’m being nicer to the environment.. Of course, I haven’t had the baby yet and I can’t really review these until I try them out for a while..

Next we have the birthing supplies.. I have used this company for the last 2 home births and this one.. www.inhishands.com you can customize it or if your midwife is on the list you choose her kit.. I add to it personally for extra supplies and I also get my Birth prepping herbs and after birth sitz bath herbs here..

I have made my own belly button tincture from www.bulkherbstore.com in the Making Babies Series she teaches how to make the tincture.. I am quite excited to try it out.. it’s a variety of healing herbs in an alcohol based tincture… just be careful as it will stain I think as it is green in color. I also made my own baby powder, massage oil and baby lotion  from this series..

I also have my herbs in the jar ready until baby gets here then I will finish making my salve and have it ready for when we circumcise, for circumcision care… We decided after our 2nd son was born to wait the 8 days as it says in the Bible and have it done then… I will say, we had no problems in the hospital with our other sons.. just thought to follow the biblical practice. We have found a Rabbi in St.Louis that I am so looking forward  to using, in having this done.. not that I am looking forward to it at all.. :(

Carseat is ready, travel yard, swing, and all the necessities I can think of..

So now for the NOT SO FUN part.. the last few weeks feel like an eternity and you get asked everyday how much longer? or Are you pregnant  with twins? Are you sure you have your dates right??? you name it…. Like in McDonald’s this weekend the cashier couldn’t even concentrate on taking my kids orders, she was so intrigued with my belly…When are you DUE? 4 weeks… OMG YOU ARE HUGE!!!… thank you very much… This week I have developed what is called PUPPP ( a chronic hive-like rash striking women in the late 3rd trimester ) Yayyy.. It all over my belly, hips and thighs.. I am miserable and itching like crazy.. Don’t worry I’ve already investigated that and in the process of a remedy..LOL actually my lotion I made with the calendula flowers, calm it the best so far with what I hae on hand…  I can barely get up and down, roll over at night, and am peeing constantly.. out of breath, lots of pulling, hips and pubic bones popping out-of-place.. So yeah these are the not so fun things in the last few weeks of pregnancies.. Sorry to all you first time mommies.. I ‘m really not complaining. I love being pregnant, but the more you have and older you get.. it’s just not as easy.. LOL ..But it all goes away and you forget and about a year later want to do the crazy thing again :)

The good thing is I had my prenatal today ( Have I said how much I love having a Home birth and Midwife) I just sit at home and wait comfortably on my couch and we just visit and I use my own bed to lay down on instead of a hard plastic bed with paper crinkling under you rear.. lol .. Blood pressure looks great, (I have been working hard at it with diet, herbs, ect) my swelling is so much better and I’m measuring closer to where I am supposed to be instead of 6 weeks over.. I’m only measuring 4 over today.. so we think it was all the extra fluid. Sugar looks good, hem is still ok… and we did a Strep B test and will send that off to the lab.. Baby sounded great… so I’m doing good in the health dept..

My next post, because this has been a little long and only certain people will be interested in is my labor prep program.. so check back in a day or so and I will try to have that together..

SO AS OF TODAY 28 days until Baby….

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Feb 17, 2012

6 weeks to GO!!!

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The Countdown has officially begun……. 6 weeks , actually 43 days to be exact to the supposed time of arrival.. But with me you can definitely count on going 6- 10 days over.. Unless God Intervenes, or my body can’t hack it anymore, and I happen to go early for once, or on-time.. But regardless April 1st.. or April fools is day in sight..

What’s going  on? Well finally at 34 and baby#8 in 15 years, my body is rebelling… This really isn’t something I feel comfortable writing, 2 reasons..

1. This gives people a chance to mock or ridicule me and say things like” good grief doesn’t she have enough”? ” what ‘d you expect after having so many” .. If you don’t believe me just check out some of the comments about Michelle Duggar after her miscarriage.. People are cruel..

2. I don’t won’t to look like a wimp.. LOL .. How ridiculous Right?  Well for 7 pregnancies and being around a lot of pregnant women, that can be a bunch of whiners.. It drives me insane.. I have stayed active through out my pregnancies, was blessed to have minimal sickness, and wonderful non complicated births.. I floated on tubes down rapids the week I was  due.. have played on volleyball teams, I’ve done a lot of crazy things.. And considered my self tough.. Sound a little prideful???

But now, I am finally hit with high blood pressure, severe swelling, I can barely walk, I am out of breath and my heart feels like it will explode out of my chest. So much so , night before last my midwife actually stayed the night to monitor me..

I have been put on several types of herbs, I have to change my diet to high protein, I’m drinking several  herbal teas and I have to exercise 3 times a day and REST… If I can’t get it under control, I either will be on bed rest or have to see a Dr. and get put on meds, which I do not want to have to do.. So I am working very hard at following my instructions..

I am so glad to be seeing a midwife, I love to actually get to the bottom of things and fix them instead of just taking a drug that will band-aid it for a while or cause other problems… But I am not anti medication either.. If it get’s down to it, I will do what ever it takes..

So to conclude, I am dealing with new things here.. Realizing that it’s not from having so many babies, because I know LOTS of women who have trouble in their 1st, 2nd, and so on.. and realizing I finally have to step down a little and except help, except advice and take care of my self, that I’m not so tough…. This is really not a big deal, nothing on a scale of other things that can happen or have happened, but it is annoying, tracking everything you’ve eaten, making sure I eat 10grams of protein every hour, remembering to do all that I’m suppose to do.. when I have a million other things going on.. Hoping I don’t go on bed rest, or have to take meds, or worrying if it gets too bad, I might be hurting myself or the baby. Or complications with labor.. But all this will pass and I will look back at it as a bump in the road of life.. We’ve had a lot higher mountains to climb.. Like I said, it’s not a major issue just annoying..  If you hear this once from me, you will hear it a million times, God allows things in our lives for reasons…It’s what you do with it, that matters..

1st Thessalonians 5: 18

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of GOD in Christ Jesus concerning you …

It is difficult to give thanks when we are looking at events from our perspective. However, if we see these same events from God’s point of view and learn how they will benefit us, then it is easy to give thanks..

Giving thanks today,

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