Glamping, a popular portmanteau for “glamorous camping,” essentially takes a hotel room and puts it in the middle of nature. It’s a nice compromise for parents who can’t agree on how to introduce their children to the great outdoors. Simply put, my husband would love to rough it for a weekend in the middle of nowhere with a tent and sleeping bag, whereas I tend to favor a comfortable bed, indoor plumbing and civilization. Destinations El Capitan Canyon Resort, located 20 miles…
It is a well known fact that breastfeeding suppresses a woman’s fertility in the early months after giving birth. However, many women do not feel comfortable relying on breastfeeding as a form of birth control or natural family planning because they have been told it is unreliable, or perhaps because they know someone who became pregnant while breastfeeding. As a Certified Lactation Educator, I can tell you breastfeeding alone is not fool-proof. Many women mistake breastfeeding with the Lactational Amenorrhoea Method (LAM). How…
Life is an adventure for little ones! My boys have fun playing and learning with everything around them, from sticks and rocks to kitchen gadgets. Having few actual toys means their imaginations have room to work instead of the toy doing the work for them. It’s especially challenging when special days like birthdays and holidays come around we want to give gifts to our children in addition to the ones they receive from friends and family. We take this opportunity to gather previously…
What is Traditional Chinese Medicine? Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM is an ancient healing art and one of the oldest forms of healing, dating back to over 3,000 years. TCM is based on ancient Chinese Theories that focus on the whole body, by stimulating the body’s own innate healing abilities. What is acupuncture? Acupuncture is a natural approach to diagnosing, treating, preventing disease and promoting our well-being as well as addressing the causes and symptoms of illness. This occurs by…
Homeopathic remedies have a 200 year history of use during pregnancy and childbirth and are rendered safe, gentle, non-toxic, FDA approved and and when correctly chosen, energetically stimulates the body’s natural defenses to heal itself. Homeopathy can help tremendously leading up to the birth of a baby, avoiding or reducing some of the problems associated with labor and in dealing with post-natal symptoms. Homeopathy uses ultra dilute “micro” doses in which the original substance (usually derived from a plant or mineral) is…
I have been drawn to crystals and gemstones since I was a child. They are one of Mother Earth’s most beautiful and awe-inspiring objects of desire. Beyond their beauty, each stone possesses a profound mystical and healing benefit that can manifest energies to create abundance, healing and harmony in your life. When selecting crystals and gemstones, choose one that offers a vibrational match to your frequency. This is best accomplished by holding the crystal in your hand (if you’re buying it…
According to this study on ‘the effect of late pregnancy consumption of date fruit on labour and delivery’: “We set out to investigate the effect of date fruit (phoenix dactylifera) consumption on labour parameters and delivery outcomes… 69 women consumed six date fruits per day for 4 weeks prior to their estimated date of delivery, compared with 45 women who consumed none… The women who consumed date fruit: Had significantly higher mean cervical dilatation upon admission compared with the non-date fruit consumers…
In times past, extended families lived closer together and communities were tighter-knit providing villages of built-in postpartum support. Women who had just given birth would stay indoors for 40 days to rest, regain her strength, and bond with her baby while family members and women in the community would support her. The below suggestions are meant to help and support new mamas and families who have just experienced a very physical and emotional life-changing event. Schedule visits in advance instead of dropping by unannounced…
Herbal baths are sure promoters of postpartum healing and comfort. There are many herbs that can be used to soothe tender perineal tissue, heal tears and episiotomies, reduce inflammation, and even shrink hemorrhoids after a vaginal birth. They are also relaxing and antiseptic. If you don’t feel like fully immersing or don’t have a tub at home, try a sitz bath instead. A sitz bath is a basin that fits perfectly into your toilet seat and let’s you get a…
I wanted to write about the importance of safe co-sleeping and bed-sharing and also dispel any myths associated with it. Many families either believe it is unsafe or don’t fully understand its benefits and aren’t open to it, or alternatively, they don’t take proper safety precautions and put their babies at risk. What is the difference between co-sleeping and bed-sharing? Many terms related to infant sleep are used interchangeably, which can create confusion. API (Attachment Parenting International) uses the following…