For The Sake Of My Health: Going Gluten Free

Prior to September 17th, I guzzled, on average, one bottle of pepto each week. I had a stomach ache three or four days of every week. And, every month or so, I would have a "flare up" deeming me essentially useless and confined to my bed. This coming from someone who is accustomed to being so healthy, I don't even have a General Practitioner.  WTH?  (My sentiments exactly, although I might have used the letter 'F' more than once or twice).


Since February, I have seen three doctors and had full panels of blood drawn. All to be told there is nothing wrong with me. But, there was! I knew it. Until I found out what it was, I wasn't willing to give up. Thankfully, I did not have to search past a fourth (naturalistic doctor). Someone who finally listened to me and took a different approach to discover the culprit: gluten.


Normally, we write about parenting here, and I get it, this is not nearly as exciting as say, potty training stories. But, this is important stuff. Feeling like I felt, there was no way I was being the best Momma I could be to Baba. I just felt so dreadful. All the time. And, I can safely, gratefully and confidently say that I have not felt better in almost three years.


Backing up: what is gluten? Gluten is a protein composite found in several types of grain; mainly wheat, rye, barley and spelt. (Yeah, not sure I even know what spelt is...)


What's the thing about gluten? The thing is this, and it's simple: It's the only nature-based substance we put into our bodies that we cannot fully digest. Did you catch that? We can't actually digest gluten all the way and so it sits in our guts. And, often times it leaks out - into our blood stream. OK, enough about that.


Going without gluten does no harm whatsoever. There is no benefit to gluten that cannot be found elsewhere in our diet. So eliminating it made perfect sense. But, full confession here: I was super skeptical. I didn't want to hop on another fad bandwagon.


I'm not skeptical anymore. Coincidentally (or not), my last stomach ache was exactly 144 days ago.  (Yes, I am counting.  It's that big of a deal.)  In those 144 days, I have more energy than before I got pregnant. I sleep better than I have in at least three years. My hair is looking shinier than I can recall it ever looking. And, my skin has cleared considerably - with my crow's feet looking shallower than that time when I was 20.


Some people have no issue with gluten. It does not negatively impact them at all. And, if that's you, good on ya. If you're anything like me, and wonder why you're constantly feeling like you ate a balloon, you're not alone. Take 30 days and eliminate gluten. When you add it back in (if you even want to, you might be feeling so good!), watch for your body's reaction.


I couldn't be happier in my decision and rest easy in the fact that I listened to my body and made clear changes that have positively impacted not only my physical state, but also my emotional and mental well-being. Add my ability to parent Baba like she deserves and it's a home-run to me!

Please and Thank You.

I Had a Natural Birth and I Did it on Purpose

Disclaimer: This is gonna be a long one, but hang in there with me!

It seems to me that every mom and mom-to-be loves a good birth story, all the details included (ok, maybe not every single one), and so I thought it might be of value to share one of my birth stories. 

I say only one of the birth stories for a reason.  Both of my children's births were remarkable quite simply because at the end I had my healthy, perfect baby.  But one experience far exceeded the other and you might be surprised why - it was a completely natural childbirth.

There is so much fear for women surrounding the birth of our children and I believe it just does not have to be that way.  I also feel that every woman in this world is entitled to the birth experience they desire, whatever and however that might be.  Sometimes its just a matter of having the right knowledge and support in order to produce that experience.

My first child entered this world 27 hours after my first contraction arrived.  Needless to say and to summarize, I was exhausted by the end and resorted to the one thing I had hoped to avoid- an epidural.  He arrived slowly and surely though and we were in love from first sight.  This birth was in a hospital with the on-call OB/GYN - I saw the doctor for literally about 15 minutes - most of the labor was monitored by the nurses who could have done the whole job in my opinion.  She was there for the last few pushes, stitched me up, and on she went. I didn't even have a chance to get a picture with her and my baby.

When I found out I was pregnant with my second baby, I knew I wanted this experience to be different.  I also knew that my first birth was not the total birth experience I wanted - mainly because I did not have the knowledge and the tools to create the birth I longed for.

I did some research and found an amazing OB/GYN office - which also staffed three midwives - and happened to be right down the road from my house.  I promptly made an appointment with a midwife to confirm the pregnancy.  After my first visit, I was overwhelmed. I knew this was exactly what I wanted but I was also scared...

These amazing midwives also did something unique called Family Circle.  For the duration of of pregnancy, instead of monthly office visits, we met with couples due the same month as us and discussed topics, shared stories and gained incredible knowledge related to birth and babies.  (Don't worry- there was also time during the monthly meetings for private medical visits with a midwife.)  But really the main takeaway for me was leaving this experience with that knowledge and those tools that I was craving.  Namely, how to make it through the labor and delivery without drugs.

Now, I will preface this all by saying that probably one of the main reasons my drug-free experience went so well was because my little baby arrived in record time.  Granted, she arrived 9 days late, but that's another story for another day.  And, definitely not a sunshine and roses story. If you have been overdue, you know what I'm talking about!

The final detail was to assemble the birth team I knew I needed to get me through this.  I had the midwife selected.  Next in line was husband and being absolutely convinced that he knew his role.  Just to make sure he knew my expectations, I turned on my Type "A" personality, typed up a list of all the things I wanted/didn't want during the labor and delivery process and beat him senseless with it. Finally, there was my mom- who not only is a nurse but had three of her own natural deliveries (one a home birth - My mom is way ahead of her time it seems and also my inspiration for doing life naturally). 

I'll skip the gory details and give you a recap of what matters.

I had contractions - but none that lasted or were very severe - for several hours and then they stopped around 2 am.  I went to bed exhausted but also disappointed.  Let's remember, I was 9 days overdue at this point. I just wanted that baby OUT. 

Next thing I know I woke at about 4:30 am with extremely strong contractions averaging 2-5 minutes apart.  With my first birth, I don't think I felt one contraction before the epidural as strong as these were coming.  In hindsight, that should have been a sign to all of us this was moving faster than we anticipated.  Somehow I got myself into that "zone" everyone talks about.  Husband called the midwife, she said get to the hospital and we started to get dressed.

Well, that took what seemed like an hour.  Actually, I think it was an hour.  When you have to stop every minute for a two-minute contraction, it kinda slows the process down.  All I really remember is my husband trying to make me move faster and my mom telling him to shush because I was in so much pain and could barely move. 

So, off to the hospital we go (the car ride likely deserves its own post).  My mom, being the strong-willed, don't-take-no-for-an-answer woman she is, refused to take a "no" from the ER staff that I needed to stay for the filling out of the paperwork and literally pushed me in a wheelchair up to labor and delivery.  I was also able to skip the triage thanks to my amazing midwife Janice who somehow knew we didn't have much time to waste. 

We get into the room and its a blur from there.  I remember being so excited to get into the tub they were filling up for me.  Little did I know but that baby would be out before the tub was even full (Side note: it might be a good idea for the hospital to consider a quicker way to fill a tub than a hose from the bathroom sink.)  At this point, it was just about 7 am and I was 6 cm dilated.  They had to hook me up to monitors for 20 minutes to check the baby's vitals. 

Unfortunately, laying flat in bed was not an option at this point so I was on all fours working through the contractions.  I focused solely on my husband's and my mom's voices and nothing else.  They told me what to do and I did it.  Breathe, relax your shoulders, breathe, loosen your grip, breathe...

At some point, what felt like hours later, but was only about 30 minutes, I clearly remember thinking: wow, the pain in my stomach is gone.  That feels amazing.  Meanwhile, there was a stronger, more intense pain down lower.  But it was different and in a way, better, although my husband wouldn't agree with this from the other noises I was making. What I did not know was what that meant nor could I verbalize this (or anything else for that matter- I was communicating in grunts). 

Within a minute of this change, my midwife Janice wanted to check me and when she moved my gown, she was greeted with a surprise - the top of a baby's head!  So, that explains that new and different feeling.  It was a head emerging. One more contraction and that little baby girl (It's a girl!) was out.  RELIEF.  The relief from the pain was completely instant.  And, it was 7:44 am. 

It took me a while to catch my breath and open my eyes.  Meanwhile, the baby was latched, I was cleaned up, and we finally took in all that had happened in what felt like record time. 

I am so grateful for my quick, yet incredibly intense, labor and birth.  It was, without a doubt the most amazing, raw, and empowering experience of my life. I also know how incredibly lucky I am that I was able to have this experience, because as we all know, when it comes to birthing a baby there are a lot of things that can go wrong.

My mid-wife used the analogy of a freight train and I wouldn't disagree.  But, I DID IT.  It still brings tears to my eyes to think about that magical moment.  One I wish I could repeat (yes, I said repeat) if only to capture and remember every little detail of my girl coming into this world, even the painful parts. 


There she is!

Here's what I have learned:
1.  I can do ANYTHING. I am strong, I can endure, and I can overcome pain (and I am a wuss when it comes to pain).  Nothing before or since has made me feel so empowered.  When faced with any challenges since this moment, I literally think to myself: well, if I could get through that, then I can make it through this.

2.  Our bodies can do anything.  I know it sounds cliché but it is entirely possible.  I don't know who to blame but "they" have conditioned us as women to believe that we cannot endure this pain of childbirth.  Women have been birthing children for centuries without drugs. This is largely what connects us as women. Knowledge is power and with that women have the power to make their own decisions regarding the kind of child birth they desire, whatever it is. 

3.  Doing it natural is easier.  Yes, for real, and in my own personal experience, of course.  With my first birth, I had an epidural for about 9 hours.  That's a whole lot of extra fluid to deal with at the end, not to mention having anesthesia in your body which takes days to completely vacate. After this birth, I felt amazing, I wasn't tired or sluggish, and I had energy I hadn't experienced in months!  I am sure there is a chemical/hormonal thing going on here to make me feel this way, but in the end: my recovery was by far quicker and easier than my first birth.   


The Baby Food Band Wagon

It seems nearly everyone is making their own pureed baby food these days.  There are gadgets and expensive appliances galore to assist you in accomplishing this task.  It has, no doubt become the "it" thing to do.  But, let's just remember: this is something that moms have been doing for years, and without all of the expensive equipment.

When I was a baby, my (self-proclaimed, slightly hippie) mom cooked anything and everything for dinner for my father and herself, added some of it to her blender, and viola - dinner for me!  She did not try one food at a time for 3 days to see if there was a reaction, she just fed me the whole meal.  Granted, food allergies nowadays make this type of introduction to food somewhat more difficult; however, I have basically utilized her method of baby food preparation and serving. (NOTE: How you introduce is entirely up to you. With my second child, I was much less nervous. Sarah stuck with the three day rule at least through the Stage 1 Purees).

Its really quite simple, and bonus, CHEAP.

Pureed Baby Food:
1. Chop, steam or cook desired food(s) for pureed food. (yes, you can combine foods in the cooking process. eg. peas and carrots)
2. Add said food(s) to food processor. (I had a large 12-cup model which was perfect. However, you can use a blender or even a hand-held mixer)
3. Add approximately 1/2 cup to 1 cup liquid, depending on food and desired consistency. Liquid choices: water, cooking water from steamed veggies, pumped breast milk, formula)
4. Puree or mix foods to desired consistency (Note: when first feeding baby solids, you want food as smooth as possible.  Then, as they become more accustomed to it, you can leave some chunks in it for a little more texture)
5. Add pureed food to containers for freezing. (i.e. ice cube trays, pureed baby food storage containers)
6. Freeze and defrost when ready to consume!

AK: 0  Beets: 1

See, it's really that easy!  I typically would aim to make about 2-4 weeks worth of food at a time consisting of 5-10 different combinations of food.  And this would last me anywhere from a few weeks to the entire month depending how much food my baby consumed at that particular time.

Babies usually do not eat pureed foods for too long, so really why invest in all of the expensive stuff?  My second baby, EM, only ate pureed foods for about 3 months before she was over it and wanted the REAL thing. 

Now, for what to make.  Obviously at first, simple, one-item purees are best as your baby gets used to chewing, swallowing, and different tastes.  Then, two to three-item combinations can be introduced to incorporate more than a vegetable or a fruit, and include a grain or protein.  The below recommendations both myself and Sarah had a lot of success with for all three of our children.  Just remember- this is by no means an exhaustive list, so be creative!

Stage 1 Purees:
Carrots
Banana
Avocado
Butternut Squash
Sweet Potato/Yams
Peas
Mango
Green Beans
Pears
Apples
Pumpkin
Beets

Stage 2 Purees:
Broccoli/Cauliflower
Carrots/Spinach
Peas/Carrots
Black Beans/Sweet Potato or Pumpkin
Ground Turkey/Spinach/Carrot or Sweet Potato
Ground Turkey/Sweet Potato or Butternut Squash
Whole Wheat Pasta/Parmesan Cheese/Organic Marinara Sauce (A favorite of AK's!)
Soup (if it has chunks in it, just puree it up a bit)
Mango/Banana
Apple/Banana
Apple/Pear

Becoming a Believer... in the Homeopathic Lifestyle...

A few weeks ago, I posted on the winter-time struggles we have had with AK's health and I shared some of the new attempts we were making to combat these illnesses and to perhaps even get ahead of the game by warding them off before they even started. Look at me getting all proactive on you...

I am here to say that I really wasn't sure how this was all going to turn out.  And, yes, I am aware that winter is not quite over and this doesn't mean that as soon as spring hits, all will be perfect. But, I was willing to try anything that would keep my AK from being sick more often than she was well.  To refresh your memory, we have battled:
1.  Countless ear infections (six to be exact)
2.  RSV
3.  Croup (twice)
4.  Pneumonia
5.  The Flu

And, we have now started practicing the following:

1.  Humidifier:  running as often as possible
2.  Pro-biotic:  a pinch in every meal
3.  Chiropractor:  twice a week
4.  Whole Food Supplements (see March 9th post for more information)

I've been diligent with the above methods.  Perhaps to a fault, but the RSV contracted days after the pneumonia ended made me just a bit neurotic, not to mention exhausted.

I have become, without question, a believer.  We are going on four and a half weeks with no illness. That hasn't happened since November.  (I'm not looking for pity here, but a little shock would be appreciated!) All four of these methods, on their own, would likely help slightly.  But, together, they are making her, as the chiropractor says, "bullet proof."

You may have your own beliefs about the chiropractor and I am not here to change them (OK, maybe I am.)  Chiropractic care is one of the most ancient forms of medicine, and when broken down, makes perfect sense.  Bottom line:  your body functions best when it is in its natural alignment.  When knocked out of alignment (which happens by just living), it's more difficult to fend off illness, more difficult to digest food and more difficult to sleep.

Each time I take AK, our Chiropractor (that's Dr. Dave to you) can immediately sense which vertebrae or rib need adjusting.  He also says - before I lead him down any road - "this rib is out.  It would affect her lungs.  Does she have a cough?"  Well, yes, doctor, she does.  It's pretty simple, actually.  And, it works.

A weekly adjustment with Dr. Dave

What I am most pleased with is two-fold.  First, AK's ears are getting a moment to heal.  She has had six ear infections this winter and it's impossible for them to heal when they pummel her one after another. Second, her body is returning to a more natural state, without antibiotics and steroids, and it's getting an opportunity to actually build immunity.

Listen, I'm not here to get all Polyanna on you and lead you to believe that my little one is never going to get sick again and live in this natural state of purity forever. But, I am here to encourage you to pursue other methods of combating these common illnesses in children.  If my child needs medicine to truly feel and get better, I'll be first in line at the pharmacist.  But, if I can make some headway and fend this garbage off before it starts, we're all in a much better state of health!