Breastmilk: It's good for what ails you!

Here are two articles I found over at one of my favorite blogs, Peaceful Parenting, listing many things breastmilk can help. It is a tremendous natural healer, along with being the best possible food to feed babies.

http://www.drmomma.org/2009/09/medicinal-uses-of-breastmilk.html

The Medicinal Uses of Breastmilk

List compiled by Celin ChildsPhotos © 2009 Danelle Frisbie

Breastmilk is not only the best way to feed your newborn or infant, this nourishing substance has the ability to heal and protect the body as well. I am not just talking about your infant's body; I am talking about yours, as well as your older children. In this article I am going to discuss some of the basic ways you can use breastmilk to cure common ailments.

Human milk contains a balance of nutrients that perfectly matches infant requirements for brain development, growth and a healthy immune system. Human milk also contains immunologic agents and other compounds that act against viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

Since an infant's immune system is not fully developed until age 2, human milk provides a distinct advantage over formula. Children who are breastfed enjoy lower rates of several chronic childhood diseases, including respiratory infections and ear infections as well as diarrhea.

Breastfed infants develop body compositions that are quite different from formula-fed infants, resulting in fewer overweight and obese children.

Breastfeeding releases a hormone in a woman's body that causes her uterus to return to its normal size and shape more quickly and reduces blood loss after delivery. In addition, breastfeeding for longer periods of time reduces the risks of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

Pink Eye: Breastmilk has the ability to treat and cure eye infections such as Pink Eye. All you need to do is to squirt the milk into the infected eyes. You should do this frequently as possible until the eye is completely healed. If you were treating your infant's eyes for Pink Eye, the best result would be to wait until the baby is asleep. Some babies can be treated while awake, however, it may be difficult. You should squirt the milk around the crease of the closed eye and then gently lift the eyelids and allow all of the breastmilk to seep into the closed eye.

Sore Cracked Nipples: Many new mommies experience the pain and discomfort of sore cracked nipples from breastfeeding their newborn. Creams and oils can work wonders, however, the best medicine lies right inside of the breast. Breastmilk can be rubbed around the sore areas of the nipples after feeding and then left out to briefly air dry.

Mosquito and Ant Bites: Breastmilk is a sterile disinfecting concoction; so placing the substance on insect bites can actually work wonders. You should squirt a little milk on the bites and rub in thoroughly. This will help to stop the itching that may be caused by the insect bite.

Acne/Eczema/Diaper rash: Breastmilk can help to clear up these nasty skin disorders. All you need to do is to wash the infected area of the skin with clean water, and then you can apply the breastmilk all over the infected area. You should then let the milk air-dry.

Facial Cleanser: Breastmilk holds the ability to clean the skin very well. You should apply the breastmilk on the face and wipe it clean. Believe it or not, breastmilk can remove eye makeup.

Sore Throat and Mouth Sores: You should breastfeed your baby if their throat becomes sore. If you get a canker sore you can swish a little breastmilk around in your mouth for several seconds. This will help to heal the infection.

Stuffy Nose: If your infant has a stuffy nose, all you have to do is squirt a few droplets of milk into the nose and then suction or squeeze out; follow the same procedures as you would for saline.

Immunity Boost: If your older children are getting sick or they just need a little pick me up, you can give them breastmilk in order to boost their immune system.

Plugged Eye Ducts: If your infant's eyes are plugged you can squirt breastmilk into the eye crease at the nose. You should do this four times the first day and only two the day after.

Scratches, Burns, Gouges, and Scrapes: These can all be treated with breastmilk. You just have to squirt and rub breastmilk on the infected area. Then you let the area air-dry and then bandage as normal.

Sexual Lubricant: Males can squirt the breastmilk directly onto the penis in order to use as a lubricant during sexual intercourse. Females can hand express the milk into a sterile cup in order to do this. Breastmilk can be used the same as a couple would use Vaseline, KY Jelly, or Astroglide.

Contact Lenses: For people who wear contacts, running out of solution during dyer moments can be one of the most frustrating and eye painful situations. Remember, breastmilk is a sterile substance, so you can use the milk the same as you would solution for your dry contacts or to clean them.

Eye Puffiness and Redness: You can squirt breastmilk into the eye to cure puffiness and redness.

Breast Cancer: Breastfeeding your infant is one of the best ways to prevent breast cancer from developing in you. Breastfeeding provides a means of protection for you from getting the disease.

Chicken Pox: You can use breastmilk to help ease the pain of itching by using the same as you would Calamine Lotion or any other ointment.

Leg Ulcers: You can squirt breastmilk on leg ulcers in order to clear them up.

Chapped lips/skin: All you have to do is express a small amount of breastmilk onto the fingers and wipe over the lips/skin. Do not rub the milk in; you should leave the area a little wet.

Donating breastmilk can be a wonderful charitable deed. Here is a list of clinical, medicinal, therapeutic, post surgical uses for donor breast milk.

Clinical Uses of Donor Breast Milk:· Prematurely· Malabsorbtion syndromes· Renal failure· Inborn errors of metabolism· Cardiac problems· Pediatric burn cases· Failure to thrive· Short-gut syndrome· Feeding intolerance· Post Surgical· Bronchi pulmonary dysplasia

Medicinal/Therapeutic uses of Donor Breast Milk:· Treatment for infectious diseases· Intractable diarrhea· Gastrontentis· Infantile botulism· Sepsis· Pneumonia· Hemorrhagic Conjunctivitis

Post Surgical Healing:· Omphaloele· Gastroschisis· Intestinal Obstruction/bowel fistula· Colostomy ReparDonor Breast milk can also help with immunodeficiency diseases, severe allergies, IGA deficiencies, and solid organ transplant.

http://www.drmomma.org/2009/11/more-ways-to-use-breastmilk.html

More Ways to Use Breastmilk
By Liz Laing

Acne Treatment and Facial Cleanser: Wash face with a mild soap, rinse, and gently pat a breastmilk-saturated ball of cotton (not a synthetic material) over the entire face. This process is great for removing eye makeup as well.

Burns and Sunburn: Apply breastmilk gingerly to burns and they will dry up and look much better the next day. A burn treated with breastmilk and mashed-up blueberries will dry up within an hour, wrote one mom on a Midwifery Today online forum.1 Elena Michaels, PhD, CCH, LMFT, a traditional naturopath in Santa Clarita, California, told me that she often applied her breastmilk to her kids' sunburns. The soothing milk would stop the pain immediately," she said. "I believe the lauric acid found in breastmilk is antiviral, antibacterial, healing to tissue, and contains analgesic properties. Besides human breastmilk, virgin coconut oil is nature's most abundant source of lauric acid.

Chapped Lips: Dab a bit of milk onto dry lips, leaving them wet. Apply often, and lips should take only a day or two to heal.

Cold Sores and Fever Blisters: Place milk directly on a cold sore with a clean finger or cotton ball. This should speed the healing process and also help relieve some of the pain.

Cuts, Scrapes, Scratches: Clean wound first using breastmilk if you don't have soap and water. Drip milk onto the wound, then let it air-dry. You can also use a cotton ball or a 4-by-4-inch gauze pad soaked in breastmilk. If the cut is on a baby's lips or mouth area, allow him or her to nurse. An upset child will be calmed by the gentle, loving act of breastfeeding, and the milk will help heal the wound. I'll never forget when my 15-month-old daughter was bitten by her grandma's dog right on her face." says Nancy Levesque, a former La Leche League leader. "I immediately put her to my breast and nursed her as we were deciding what hospital to take her to. I'm so glad that I was able to comfort her during this traumatic time, and I believe the act of nursing did help to begin to heal her wound.

Diaper Rash: Gently pat baby's bottom with breastmilk, being especially generous when applying it to reddened or rash areas. Leave baby's diaper off for a few minutes and let the bottom air-dry.

Ear Infections: Place a few drops of breastmilk in the ear; follow with warm (not hot) olive oil and garlic, or bottled garlic mullein oil (sold at natural food stores).

Red or Puffy Eyes: Place two cotton balls saturated with breastmilk over closed eyes for a few minutes - works better than tea bags or cucumber slices!

Insect Bites: With a clean finger, dab breastmilk on the bite; this will help stop the itching.

Skin Rash/Wounds: Apply breastmilk on itchy spots - even chickenpox - for soothing relief. One woman claims that she used her breastmilk to clear up an elderly relative's leg ulcers. It's also possible that breastmilk helps heal skin wounds in nursing women themselves.

Sore or Cracked Nipples: Gently rub milk onto nipples or area of soreness and let air-dry. Another option is to bathe the sore nipple by dipping it into a clean, shallow dish of breastmilk.

Sore Throats: Baby can benefit by directly nursing.

Warts: Leave a breastmilk-saturated cotton ball on the wart for a few minutes twice a day. Continue for several days until the wart dries up.

For even more info, including articles on breastmilk's cancer killing attributes, visit http://www.kellymom.com/health/illness/healing-breastmilk.html.

Disease Killing Properties Of Breast Milk

I found this great article detailing some of the many wonders of breastmilk.  Receiving this amazing living nourishment from mother's breast is what every baby needs.  Breastfeeding properly satisfies baby's physical, emotional, and mental needs, and is highly beneficial in many ways for Mom, too!

http://www.vaccineriskawareness.com/Disease-Killing-Properties-Of-Breast-Milk

Disease Killing Properties Of Breast Milk 

One of the most important things you can do for your baby is breast feed him. Breast milk is important because: 

1. It is species appropriate milk. Human milk is meant for human babies.

2. It contains exactly the right levels of nutrients that he needs, unlike formula which is cow's milk and tailored to a calf.

3. It contains long chain fatty acids essential for human brain growth, not included in most formulas.

4. It contains antibodies to disease and white blood cells for the immune system, not present in formula.

5. It fulfils a baby's biological need to breast feed from it's mother and helps to safeguard the baby's emotional health throughout life.

6. Breast feeding mums don't get as much breast cancer as mums who have never breast fed.

Breast Milk Kills Cancer! 

One of the reasons we now have 1 in 3 people affected by cancer is that we are seeing a whole generation of people who were brought up on formula milk. 

A few years ago immunology student, Anders Hakansson1, of Lund University, Sweden, was experimenting by mixing human milk, cancer cells and bacteria. To his surprise the cancer cells were "acting up". Their volume was decreasing and their nuclei shrinking. Hakansson's supervisor, Catharina Svanborg, quickly recognized that the cancer cells were committing suicide. The phenomenon of apoptosis, whereby the body rids itself of old and unnecessary cells was well known, however for this to occur with cancer cells was unknown as their usual pattern is to reproduce in an uncontrolled fashion. Something in the breastmilk caused the cancer cells to self-destruct. Svanborg and her team had already done extensive investigation in the ability of breastmilk to protect the gut lining from invasive bacteria such as pneumococcus that causes the increased rates of upper respiratory tract infections and otitis media in children not breastfed. And so they began to track down the cancer-killing component in breastmilk. Then in 1995 they reported2 that the protein alpha-lactalbumin, or alpha-lac for short, was capable of targeting not only cancer cells but also other immature and rapidly growing cells, leaving stable, mature cells for growth and development. Alpha-lac's amazing capabilities may explain in part why formula fed infants suffer from increased rates of infectious diseases as well as childhood cancers.

References:
1. Discover Magazine, June 30, 1999

2. Hakahsson, A. et al. Apoptosis induced by a human milk protein. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 92:8064-8068, 1995

Breast Milk Kills Polio Says Inventor Of Polio Vaccine!

Did you know that Albert Sabin, inventor of the oral polio vaccine, did the first study on the anti-polio properties of breast milk? He infected mice with polio and then took breast milk from 71 American women and fed it to the mice. The breast milk had an 84% success rate at neutralising polio. (Albert Sabin and Howard Fieldsteel, 'Anti-poliomyelitic Activity of Human and Bovine Colostrum and Milk', Journal of Pediatrics, 29 (1962).

Breast Milk Protects Against HIB and Meningitis

According to the journal of epidemiology, breast milk protects against HIB for up to 10 years after you have stopped breast feeding.

'For each week of breast feeding, the protection improved.' (Journal of Epidemiology, 1997, 26: 443-450).

Breast Milk Protects Against Whooping Cough, Strep B, HIB and Meningitis!

Tropical Pediatrics also found significant amounts of antibodies in breast milk to whooping cough, HIB, strep B infection and meningitis.

'Samples may indicate a protective role for breast milk against the four infections of early childhood.' Tropical Pediatrics, 1989, 4: 226-232. 

Breast Milk Can Protect Against Complications From Measles 

Fatality from measles in third world children was REDUCED BY ONE THIRD in breast fed children, according to: 

17. Lepage P. Munyakazi C, Hennart P. Breast feeding and hospital mortality in children from Rwanda. Lancet 1981;i:40911.

Breast Milk Protects Against Rotavirus/Diarrheoa

In a study in Brazil, dehydrating diarrhoea (defined by the presence of a persistent skinfold plus at least two other signs of dehydration) was 6.0 times more frequent among non-breastfed infants than among exclusively breastfed infants. If a child already had diarrhoea, the risk of developing dehydration was 3.3 times greater for the nonbreastfed infant.

Fuchs SC. Risk factors for dehydrating diarrhea: a case-control study. Ph.D. thesis, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil, 1993.

Victora CG, Fuchs SC, Kirkwood BR, Lombardi C, Barros FC. Breastfeeding, nutritional status and other prognostic factors for dehydration among young children with diarrhoea: a casecontrol study. Bull WHO 1992;70:467-75.

Breast Milk Protects Against Cholera 

Epidemiologic studies show that breastfeeding protects against shigellosis and cholera. Breastmilk also contains antibodies against a large number of other gastrointestinal pathogens. It also protects against neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.

Hanson LA, Ashraf R. Carlsson B. Mattsby-Baltzer I, Motas C, Hahn-Zoric M, Mata L, Herias V, Cruz JR, Lindblad BS, Karlberg J, Jalil F. The Second John Soothill Lecture: breastfeeding, infections and immunology. In: Chandra RK, ed. Nutrition and immunology. St. John's, Canada: ARTS Biomedical Publishers and Distributors, 1992:45-60.

Lucal A, Cole TJ. Breast milk and neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis. Lancet 1990;336:1519-23

Breast Milk Can Protect Against Pneumonia 

In Rwanda non-breastfed children were twice as likely as breastfed children to die of pneumonia. 

Lepage P. Munyakazi C, Hennart P. Breast feeding and hospital mortality in children from Rwanda. Lancet 1981;i:40911.


Breast Milk Reduces Cot Death By 50%!

The German Study of Sudden Infant Death is a case-control study of 333 infants who died of sudden infant death syndrome and 998 age-matched controls.

RESULTS. A total of 49.6% of cases and 82.9% of controls were breastfed at 2 weeks of age. Exclusive breastfeeding at 1 month of age halved the risk, partial breastfeeding at the age of 1 month also reduced the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, but after adjustment this risk was not significant. Being exclusively breastfed in the last month of life/before the interview reduced the risk, as did being partially breastfed. Breastfeeding survival curves showed that both partial breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding were associated with a reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS. This study shows that breastfeeding reduced the risk of sudden infant death syndrome by ~50% at all ages throughout infancy.

Source: PEDIATRICS Vol. 123 No. 3 March 2009, pp. e406-e410.

Homebirth vs. hospital birth letter to my pregnant friend

Here's my most recent letter to my pregnant friend that I wrote in response to her mentioning that she would like a waterbirth. Since she is planning a hospital birth, I told her that I didn't think the OB would let her use the tub. I also asked about this on a midwife friend's Facebook page and am posting that discussion as well.

Most pregnant women automatically plan to birth in a hospital, and use an OB for prenatal care. They do not consider other options. Unfortunately, OBs and hospital typically greatly interfere in the natural birth process. Everything about our modern medical model of pregnancy, labor, and childbirth is one interference after another.From the first vaginal ultrasound at the first prenatal appointment, followed by many repeat ultrasounds, which are NOT proven safe, and babies are often shown trying to get away from the ultrasound, the interferences begin.

At the doctor's convenience, artificial induction of labor is scheduled, or even an elective cesarean section. The many interferences continue, and the laboring mom is never left in peace to do what her body needs to do to birth. Electronic fetal monitoring, being confined to bed, episiotomies, and birthing flat on your back are all the norm. If she fails to birth within the doctor's time frame, a c-section results.

Then the interferences with the baby begin. Immediate cord clamping, separating mom and baby, circumcision for boys, formula, vaccines, and more are all very common. Moms should be very thankful if they manage to leave the hospital with themselves and baby in one piece.

The typical homebirth is a night and day difference from the typical hospital birth. Labor begins naturally on it's own, and progresses without interference from anyone. Mom does whatever she feels like doing, and when baby arrives, she holds and feeds her baby without interruption.

Here's my letter to my friend.

Hey Mama!
I've got a FB thread I want you to read at http://www.facebook.com/joyinbirth#!/joyinbirth#wall
I asked a midwife friend on her wall if anyone knew about being able to have a waterbirth at Women's and Children's Hospital. So far, two people responded, the midwife and another friend who is a childbirth instructor. I think you will be very interested in the responses. Also, the midwife, Jennifer, said to call her if you have any questions at 304-552-6909. She was the birth assistant at Daniel's birth, and is a very sweet Christian lady.

A lot depends on what kind of birth you want. If you want a natural, unmedicated waterbirth, you will not get that at a hospital. You really need a midwife if you want that type of birth. OB's and hospitals constantly interfere in labor and birth. Their entire protocol begins and ends with interferences. They induce everyone nowadays, which is a big reason why we have such a high c-section rate. One interference leads to another. Inductions massively increase your risk of a c-section. Unfortunately, that's what popular now among OBs. I guess they like being able to schedule births at their convenience. I don't know anyone who is not induced except for moms using midwives. Jennifer said women have a 50% chance of getting a c-section if they are induced! I believe it! I know lots of women who wound up with a c-sec after induction. The women I know are even being induced BEFORE their due dates!

Anyway, if you don't mind taking drugs and getting an epidural (which are bad and risky in many ways for you and baby--I can tell you all about that if you want), don't mind being induced, (which causes far more painful and frequent contractions and has risks including uterine rupture), and being confined to a bed to labor (YUK!), don't mind a corkscrew in your baby's head to continuously electronically monitor contractions, don't mind lying on your back to birth (which is the WORST possible position to be in!), don't mind an episiotomy and immediate cord clamping and separation from your baby as they do who knows what to him, don't mind the hospital staff feeding him formula, don't mind the high risk of c-section, don't mind being told what you can and can't do and how you are "allowed" to labor and birth, etc, the hospital is a fine place to birth. If you don't like the idea of this likely scenario, then please seriously rethink your intended place to birth.

I am very happy to stay with you and help you in any way no matter where you choose, but I just want to make sure you are aware of what hospital birth looks like. You CAN have a natural, gentle birth in a hospital, but you need to be prepared to fight for one. It can be very hard to fight against a threatening and intimidating hospital staff in the midst of labor, which often requires your full concentration. That's why many women give in to whatever the staff wants to do to her. On the positive side, having a doula present is a proven help as the doula is there to both assist the mom and advocate for her and her wishes. Doulas really help to lower the chance of interferences as she can stand up for the mom when the mom is too focused on labor to stand up for herself. Also, the doula helps the mom remain relaxed and focused, which tremendously helps the mom to progress normally in labor and birth. The hospital environment is contrary to relaxation and focus, but the doula greatly helps. I would be serving you in an unofficial doula role.

Other important things to do to lessen the chance of a c-section are to refuse induction no matter how much they pressure you, and labor at home as long as possible. Don't go to the hospital until you are in active labor. Women who go to the hospital in early labor are far more likely to wind up with all sorts of interferences. An induced woman is at the hospital the whole time! I personally don't think you need to go to the hospital at all, but of course you need to do what's best for you. I don't think you even remotely qualify for being high risk! Our bodies are designed to birth, and they know what to do! Trust your body.
I love you!!!!!!!
Christy


Here's the Facebook thread.

Christy Lindsey

I have a question for Jennifer and anyone else who may know the answer. My dear friend is planning to birth at Women's and Children's Hospital in a couple of months and mentioned that she'd like to have a waterbirth. I told her that she needs to ask her OB, but I was under the impression that the tub is only used by ...the midwives who have hospital privileges that work through the birth center. Does anyone have any idea about this? Do ANY OB's actually let their patients use the tub?

More from me:
I, um, always think that the typical hospital protocol is to get the baby out asap using whatever means necessary, and that letting laboring women use a birthpool doesn't exactly fit in with the "assembly line" style of hospital births. I would LOVE to see her switch to a midwife, but I plan to stay with her and help her in any way I can during her labor no matter where she births. I am going to encourage her to refuse induction and labor at home as long as possible, but I worry because I know she will be relentlessly pressured to get induced. I know far too many women who were induced and wound up with a c-section. :(

From:

Sarah DeGroff

No. Only the midwives allow their patients out of bed at all (let alone to use the tub). OB protocol is break their water early (4 cm) and confined to bed until delivery including using bedpan (no getting up even for bathroom). Anyone who disagrees w/ this may want to reconsider their place of birth b/c trying for anything different will put her as a target of hostility by all staff.

MWs will allow some mobility @ CAMC & EFM on for 20 min & off for 40 min. OBs there will want continuous EFM (in bed).

More CAMC birth protocol: after a non-complicated vag birth, mother can expect to hold the baby only 20 min out of the first 3 hours after birth, thusly: after birth, immediate cord clamping & cutting & baby is taken to the other side of the room for routine procedures & evaluation for 40 minutes. Mom is then offered baby to hold for 20 min, then baby is taken away to the nursery for 2 more hours of procedures & evaluation. It is possible for a mother to fight for something different, but it will entail a real power struggle.

From:
Joy In Birth Midwifery

I'm not 100% of the answer to that, not knowing all the policies there (which is something we've talked about trying to acquire), but typically, OBs/nursing staff do not feel comfortable with a mother not doing things the "normal" way, wanting her to have continuous monitoring, etc. I can pretty much say that actually having a BIRTH in the water in hospital is out...labor might be a possibility. But, without being under a midwife's care, even in the hospital, I'd be surprised if they'd even let her labor in it. If she truly desires a waterbirth, she needs a midwife! Have her call me with any questions she has if you think I can be of help.

If she asks her doctor about it, also have her ask how many of his mothers labor in the tub, and how many ask for it. Maybe she'll actually get an honest answer without being paid lip service.


More from me:

Thank you all so very much!!! Truthfully, I am very afraid for her to birth in the hospital for all the many reasons you all are so aware of! She has said she doesn't want a c/s, but there is such a high probability of getting one, not to mention all the other many numerous negative interferences with the natural birth process and early bonding with baby. :( It really upsets me how hospitals treat laboring moms, birth, and then the babies. I hate for anyone to suffer these things, but of course am even more concerned for someone so close to me. I know a lady who told me she actually thought the hospital staff was trying to kill her during a labor and birth because of everything that happened. Her story was quite horrific! Epidural didn't work, they didn't believe her, proceeded to do an episiotomy and pour saline over it, which of course she felt, while she was confined lying down and all this was happening! Add some very rude and uncaring L & D nurses to that scene as well. And of course this entire brutal experience occurred during hard labor. I felt so bad for her. Tragically, many women have hospital horror stories to tell. It's no wonder there is such a fear of birth!

Anyway, thanks Jennifer for inviting her to call you. I will definitely let her know that! I'll direct her to this thread as well. You all are so phenomenal! Thank you!!!


More from Joy In Birth Midwifery:
Christy, stories like that literally make me cry. It hurts my heart to know that women are not treated with love, respect, honor, and care. It can be so much better than that. The midwifery model of care is so contrary to the medical model of care. Oh for more births that make women smile in the telling of it!

Why I chose homebirth

I recently threw in my two cents on a midwife friend's Facebook discussion board, which asked the question, "Why did you choose homebirth?" I wrote one of my "novellas," which is what my husband calls my lengthy Facebook comments, and I thought this would be great to share here as well. Time to get on my soapbox! :)


I have so many reasons for choosing to birth at home! My first was born in a birth center, but I wanted to birth at home then, too. I asked the birth center if they did homebirths when I very first called them, and they said no. I didn't know anyone else or any idea how to find any homebirth midwives, and at that time, I didn't even consider birthing without a midwife. So, I went the birth center route, and was very happy with the midwives, and my overall experience. I never considered wanting pain meds even during hard labor. It just seemed to me that labor is what you go through to have a baby. I did wind up with an episiotomy, and in retrospect, after 2 homebirths, I think it is because my labor was interfered with. I was sitting on the toilet when my water broke. The midwife, nurse, and doula suggested I get on the bed and had me on my back, which I hated, but was too tired to say so! I've never heard of the stranded beetle position that Sarah mentioned, but that sounds like how they had me! On back with legs up and pulled back while pushing for a long time, maybe an hour, I think I was told. Yuck! Anyway, baby's heart rate got too low and they had to cut me to hurry up and get him out for his safety. I felt like I'd been run over by a truck the next day, but did feel fine the following day. I am convinced that if they would have left me on the toilet, I would have birthed fine, and not had to have an episiotomy. Another thing that I didn't like was that they immediately cut his cord. I had wanted to wait until it stopped pulsating, but didn't even have a chance to say anything as it all happened so fast. I'm still surprised and disappointed by that. With his low heart rate, he especially needed his cord blood, although all babies should have their cord blood, except for when an actual dire emergency demands immediate separation, which is very rare.

My next 2 babies were born at home (I had found a homebirth midwife by then, although the last baby arrived before the midwife did!) I did whatever I felt like doing during my labors. I didn't push either time, but both were born in 3 contractions (after reaching the "pushing" stage) on their own as my body moved them down and out. (We also waited, while I held our new babes, until their cords turned white to cut them.) Again, I was sitting on a toilet with one and squatting in front of a toilet with the other. If I would have gone and laid down on my back when my body was trying to birth, I would have greatly thwarted my body's innate ability to birth. I also felt great right away after those births.

So, there's a little background on my birth experiences. For my many reasons to choose home, let's see...

1. Labor and birth are VERY intense experiences. If I am going to have a VERY intense experience, OF COURSE I'm going to want to be HOME where I feel safe and comfortable! Just like if you're sick or dying (varying degrees of intense experiences), you want to be HOME. I can not fathom WANTING to give birth in a hospital. It's not a fun place.

2. You MUST be relaxed to birth. Mammals will only give birth when they feel safe. If a laboring mammal is disturbed, she will stop laboring until she feels safe again. How on earth can any laboring woman feel safe and relaxed in a HOSPITAL of all places?! You'd be much better suited to birth in a quiet field or forest than in a hospital filled with strangers popping in and out, machines, bright lights, noise, and bad odors. This is absolutely NOT the safe, relaxing environment necessary to birth. Stress and tension, which a hospital is full of, directly interferes with the opening of the cervix, which is a sphincter muscle. We are all familiar with another sphincter muscle, and readily understand that this one only opens when a person feels safe and relaxed and alone, or at least with only very trusted people nearby! The cervix is the same, yet we expect a woman to be able to tune out the many incredible distractions in a hospital, and birth that baby. It is no wonder women wind up with so many interventions in hospitals. Think of all the times a laboring woman arrives at the hospital, and labor stops, and then she gets pitocin to artificially cause contractions, which are so strong they can cause uterine rupture! Think also of all the times women wind up with c-sections due to "failure to progress." These are all results of the same cause: SHE DOESN'T FEEL SAFE AND SHE CAN"T RELAX!!! Personally, I am amazed by women who have natural birth in a hospital.

3. No interventions at home! If laboring women are left alone to do whatever their body wants them to do, almost all will have a normal, uncomplicated birth. The reason why there are so many interventions in a hospital is BECAUSE of the interventions. Inducing labor, which seems to be the way OBs treat every woman nowadays, is ASKING for further interventions! Except for the few homebirth moms I know, every single pregnant lady I know of is induced BEFORE her due date! It would be bad enough to induce at all, but BEFORE the due date?!!! The baby is NOT READY TO BE BORN!!! Now that you've got labor off to a horrible start, go ahead and throw in some continuous fetal monitoring (nothing like a sharp corkscrew in baby's head to get him ready for a mean, cruel world), and confine the woman to the bed (lying down, of course), prohibit any food or liquids (let her have a few ice chips so you don't seem like a completely heartless ogre), give her an epidural (which causes chronic back pain for 20% of women, and may numb the wrong half of her body or give her a killer, incapacitating headache for a week, and always removes her body's ability to push out her baby), give her some pain killers (which makes for a very groggy, drugged baby who will likely not want to nurse), and after you've squashed all natural ability to birth, give her an episiotomy and use forceps to get that baby out, or better yet, do a c-section. Hey, why even bother with all the trouble of labor anyway? Let's just schedule a c-section when it's convenient for everyone! Ahhh... nothing like the miracle of birth! (Don't forget lots of formula to feed the groggy baby who is too tired to nurse.)

4. As if all the above weren't enough, hospitals are full of GERMS! I've read horror stories of women (and their new babies) contracting staph infections while in a hospital to birth. We hear all the time of people going into a hospital for one thing and getting some sort of infection FROM the hospital. Why have a newborn baby in a place full of deadly disease?

5. The "agony" of childbirth is far overrated. Natural childbirth is not some superwoman feat of amazing achievement. Giving birth is a totally normal physiological function, which God perfectly designed our bodies to do well. People watch these fake TV shows with a woman acting like she's being tortured while in labor. Our society has the idea that childbirth is at least equal to torture and who could ever be expected to endure something so horrendous? Well... how have women managed to give birth every day for thousands of years with no drugs? Our bodies are perfectly capable of giving birth! Sure, it can hurt, but I'd take a day of pain (more like a few hours) anytime over a lifetime of pain! Remember the 20% of women with chronic back pain following an epidural? Also, people endure far worse pain and live through it. Many people live with excruciating, chronic pain. Labor pain is temporary and very doable. The longest contractions are 60-90 seconds. Anyone can stand some pain for a minute! You just take one contraction at a time, and then you get a baby! By the way, I had fantastic results with my last birth using acupressure points: http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/birth/acupressure/index.php/. I never had any hard labor, and all my contractions were very short and not very painful at all! I used BL 32 only and held the points myself during each contraction, but there are many other points described in the article. Then there are the many horrible effects upon baby from the pain meds. I don't want to drug my baby so I can avoid pain.

6. Baby is MUCH safer! Not only does the hospital want to interfere with mom, they want to get their hands on the new baby! First, they immediately cut the cord, which deprives baby of much oxygen rich blood, just when he is taking his first breaths! They separate baby from all he has ever known, Mom, to do whatever kind of tests and observation they think he needs, when what he really needs is MOM! They put some sort of stinging stuff in his eyes to protect him from Mom's STDs, whether she actually has one or not! They give him a Vitamin K shot, a hepatitis vaccine (which has killed babies), and half of the boys have part of their penises removed, which is excruciatingly painful and traumatic. Unless Mom is adamant, baby will most likely be given formula and pacifiers and kept in the nursery at least part of the time so Mom can "rest." Hospital staff can be very intimidating to parents who want to protect their babies from these routine interventions. I've seen new parents threatened that their baby was going to get invasive digestive tract tests if they couldn't get a groggy c-section baby (induced labor) to consume more formula. I read about a man holding his new baby who was zapped with a tazer by a security guard for daring to try and take his child home before the hospital said they could leave! I think I'd be a nervous wreck trying to protect my new baby from the typical hospital procedures.

7. Birth is NOT an emergency! Hospitals, doctors, and machines are not needed! True complications and emergencies can arise, but they are very rare in un-interfered with natural labors. It's such a blessing that we have hospitals IF we need them. They are major overkill for most births and cause the very emergencies they are intended to prevent! I find it ridiculous that women who are trying to birth are told to wait for the doctor! What?! Any one of the nurses, or mom or dad could catch the baby!!! You'd have to be drugged not to birth when it's time! When my last 2 came out on their own, I sure couldn't have stopped them!

Well, I guess I about covered everything! I am now a huge proponent of un-interfered with natural birth, preferably at home or another comfortable place. I strongly believe that if a woman is left alone and doesn't fear birth (which would interfere with the necessary relaxation of the muscles and of the mind), then her body will instinctively know what to do.

Indeed, a peaceful birth is such a special experience for a woman and her family. The non-drugged, alert baby being gently welcomed into the world with love by his parents and family, and held closely and showered with kisses and smiles and tears of joy, still connected while his cord continues to give him oxygen rich blood, is a very sacred time. There's no comparison between that scene and a typical hospital birth. I think that if people knew the facts, many more would choose homebirth.
Happy birthing! :)

P.S.
I must add more info on an excellent reason to choose natural birth that I only briefly mentioned earlier, the effects of a drugged birth upon the baby. Please read this superb article on the lasting effects of birth upon people. For instance, drugged babies are more likely to become drug addicted adults, and babies who suffer violent births are more likely to become violent criminals. All babies deserve peaceful births.
http://www.natural-pregnancy-mentor.com/birth-and-the-origins-of-violence.html

Circumcision info

I want to issue a disclaimer first. I am not sharing this info to make any one feel guilty or to judge anyone. I want to share this primarily for parents who are trying to decide whether or not to circumcise their sons, and for parents who need concrete information to show those who are pressuring them to circumcise. Sometimes one parent wants to, and the other doesn't. Or, relatives and friends may be insisting that "it's no big deal" and "he should look like his dad."

When you actually research the issue, it's painfully obvious that it is a very big deal. We tend to be rightfully outraged when we hear of female genital mutilation around the world. Yet, Americans still routinely circumcise (which is male genital mutilation) their newborn sons. About half of American baby boys are circumcised soon after birth.

I have three intact sons. I never even considered removing part of their perfect penises. Man can never improve what God creates. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I am thankfully free from the Law, which required circumcision. The Bible tells us that what we truly need is spiritual circumcision of our hearts. Like many events in the Old Testament, physical circumcision was used both to set Jews apart as God's chosen people, and to foreshadow the coming of the Messiah, who would cleanse us from our sins. We are absolutely not required to circumcise to follow Christ. I Corinthians 7:19 says, "Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters."

I invite you to browse the links below, but be warned, the truth about circumcision is extremely disturbing.

This website contains a plethora of learning resources: many articles, recommended books, video clips, and tons of links to other informative websites. This is an incredible site that also includes lots of info on other aspects of "peaceful parenting," such as breastfeeding and co-sleeping, and also exposes the "cry it out" technique of popular parenting.
http://www.drmomma.org/2010/01/are-you-fully-informed.html

Learn about the incredible value of the foreskin, both as protection against contaminants and as the most sexually sensitive part of the penis here: http://www.drmomma.org/2009/09/functions-of-foreskin-purposes-of.html

Here is great site: http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org/

Another very informative site:
http://www.stopcirc.com/

Another great site on natural parenting info:
http://iinformedparenting.blogspot.com/2010/01/male-circumcision-more-excellent-info.html

This site has more links and also a reply by me to the blogger's post, in which she described her extreme guilt over circumcising her sons. In my reading, I found many more such letters by anguished parents, who can never undo a choice they made that they deeply regret.
http://onedayatatimenicole.blogspot.com/2010/05/circumcism.html?showComment=1275677894912_AIe9_BEmXuafDv-Hy_OQA-MlM-tnIWNSegya1n8ycxaoLyQBjYlqNNOr23B4STeMXT72AVXbh03s-MxEgGohAQajKcYEIpFBhcxtBZ4B7JoZsibeVioxLaDFrvxStK8Hqao9CiZQQ-oSNnEtH9pCB1nmXccpiHCyruMYM3QJ0BtaK9zSExNwLmNUBsV_8Syy2gB9w7bkwadxSL78O4liugW-nzEr-A9vi3B_dAJhgbnllxmq2ffUzYg#c3283016944928089809

Here is my reply to her post:
Thank you for sharing. I've read before that "we make the best choice we can with the information we have at that time." We can't change the past. You've surely saved many baby boys from the same fate by speaking out about a heartbreaking topic that so many Americans never even consider.

We have three intact sons. My husband and stepson are circumcised. Initially, my husband wanted to circumcise our firstborn. He was concerned about him being "different" from himself. There was no way I was going to allow my brand new, perfect baby to have part of his penis removed!!! My husband didn't have strong feelings one way or the other at the time, so thankfully, he was willing to leave our son intact.

My husband has since said many times that he wishes he still has his foreskin, and our intact boys are mortified at the thought of part of their penis being cut off. My mother in law told me that when she had her boys, the hospital just automatically circumcised them and didn't even ask the parents!

As we bring this issue into open discussion, many more parents will actually think about it, and hopefully research. I can't imagine how anyone who educates themselves on circumcision could still choose one for their son. This elective surgery still persists as "normal" because many people do not question it and think nothing of it.

Just like baby shots and hospital births, formula and day care, many common child rearing practices are NOT good! Just because "everybody does it" doesn't make it good and healthy for our children.

When we take time to learn about these things, we realize it's best to leave things alone. There is no reason to interfere with what God creates. Momma is designed to grow and birth and feed and care for babies who don't need to be injected with poisons and their body parts removed to be better than they were at birth.

PS
I found another excellent link at http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=112410. This is a discussion thread, from moms who regret circumcising their sons. It has been going strong for over five years, and currently has over 560 posts. I do hope and pray that my sharing this crucial info about the truth of what is inflicted upon these helpless babies will save babies from this horrendous fate.

Nutrition and natural health for pregnancy (& lots of good stuff for everyone else, too!)

I found this article, and since it has so much excellent nutritional information, I wanted to add it to my "online filing cabinet", aka blog. Although written for pregnancy nutrition needs, it is loaded with general info that would benefit everyone.


http://vaccineresistancemovement.org/?p=3270

VRM: Pregnancy Tips
20th April 2010 - By Joel Lord

I was recently alerted by a newly pregnant mother of a child with Autism for tips on minerals & vitamins to help strengthen her immune system during the coming months. She believes vaccines were the cause of her child’s Autism and has begun a shift away from her GP.

Based on all my research thus far this is what I sent her:

I would recommend you find as many natural sources of vitamins and mineral that you can. Best source of FOLIC ACID comes from RAW Organic leafy greens. Make this a frequent snacking food. Seek out the darker organic varieties from your local co-op; however avoid Iceberg lettuce which has zero nutritional value.

Natural sources always provide the healthiest benefits to the body. You also want to consider store bought folic acid does have certain side effects for some including nausea, insomnia, decreased appetite, flatulence, abdominal distension, difficulty concentrating and some bitter taste in the tongue. It has been said that taking too much folic acid can lead to B-12 deficiency masking that can possibly lead to irreversible damage. Also, overdose can be quite dangerous to epileptics as they have been seen to cause seizures. Allergic reactions have also been reported in a few cases.

Some other restoratives that should be high on your list:

VITAMIN C & D3 (both are EXTREMELY important and you should be taking a high quality brand of each)

NOTE: Vitamin D is actually a steroid hormone, VITAL, will give your fetus a real fighting chance during early development and stave off future signs of cancer.

VITAMIN E, the natural form that is high in gamma-E will help dampen immune reactions and reduces several of the potential inflammatory cytokines.

CURCUMIN is recommended as an anti-inflammatory, also clears the Amyloid Plaques of Alzheimer’s Disease and prevents neuro-degenerative disease. Another AMAZING power source that will give your child a big boost in life and stave off a host of disorders including Autism. Found in Tumeric.

SELENIUM IS CRITICAL. USE IT EVERY DAY. ALSO NIACIN, OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS, ZINC & MAGNESIUM. NORWEGIAN COD LIVER OIL IS A VERY GOOD SOURCE OF OMEGA 3.

PS. Obviously I also recommend you avoid ALL vaccines from here on in. you have to protect your Placenta & your baby. Also stop using Fluoride immediately (if you are in the habit of using it). Sodium Fluoride is actually a toxic by-product of Aluminum. You MUST make a concerted effort to keep all Aluminum, Mercury & other toxic heavy metals completely out of your body. Activated Charcoal will fully cleanse your system of many such toxins. N-Acetyl Cysteine is also highly touted for chelation.

Some other foods – eat KALE, CILANTRO & CELERY every day. RAW. Kale is an amazing source of anti-oxidant. The best. Cilantro is one of the best natural ways to absorb heavy metals from the body. Celery, not dairy, constitutes the true source of Calcium bones need for healthy development.

LAETRILE is very significant to overall health. Try to eat APPLE SEEDS (or apricot, peach, plum, cherry, nectarine, almond seeds) as often as possible.

Laetrile or Vitamin B17 technically belongs to a family of compounds called cyanogenic glycosides. The FDA officially banned Laetrile from interstate commerce in 1971 – probably because it works so well and is readily available in your garden. You won’t need a doctor’s permission slip to access this self-styled curative.

In the middle of a peach or apricot is a hard shell. If you break open the hard shell with a nut cracker, pliers or hammer, you will find a small seed/kernel in the middle that looks like an almond. However, it is much softer than an almond and certainly does not taste like an almond. It is this seed that is rich in natural laetrile.

CASE REPORTS: http://campaignfortruth.com/Eclub/230304/CTM-cancer%20is%20laetrile%20useless.htm

While you’re still breast-feeding by the way you need to boost your own system with Potassium daily. BANANAS!!

I personally use this regime every day to maintain my immune system:

COLLOIDAL SILVER – super natural antibiotic, aids in prevention of Morgellans Disease, counters barium damage from chem-trails
http://www.rense.com/CS/cs1.htm

ORGANIC OIL OF OREGANO – counters harmful bacteria
http://www.rense.com/general38/fight.htm

ORGANIC COCONUT OIL – natural detoxifier, anti fungal agent
http://www.naturalnews.com/z026433_coconut_oil_health_moisturizer.html

NONI JUICE – amazing product, life giver, restores the Pineal Gland neutralized by exposure to Fluoride
http://www.consumerhealth.org/articles/display.cfm?ID=19990303205600

ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR – reduces high blood pressure, restores alkaline balance in body
http://www.rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalka.htm

These are also excellent considerations for your regular regime,

ASTAXANTHIN – Miracle Antioxidant, anti-Inflammatory nutrient, king of the Carotenoids
http://www.naturalnews.com/026325.html
http://www.naturalnews.com/023177.html

CULEVIT – cancer fighter/natural treatment alternative to chemotherapy, best used in conjunction with Noni Juice
http://healing.fit-leader.com/catalogue/drugs_1.shtml#3
http://www.cancerprev.org/Meetings/2004/Symposia/991/410

ORGANIC PROBIOTIC YOGURT (OR KEFIR IF YOU WANT TO AVOID DAIRY) – rebuilds bacteria lost in process of cleansing

ORGANIC GARLIC – anti fungal agent

TEA TREE OIL – topical, add drop to your Tom’s Fluoride free toothpaste to eradicate bacterial build-up in mouth, also good for the hair

STAR ANISE – natural anti viral protection
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/11/1128_051128_star_anise.html

Sugar free diet is also essential – Refined sugar triggers a gyroscopic mineral imbalance. Also avoid Trans Fats, and empty your fridge of all GMO food.

The Thyroid is weakened & neutralized by processed food & white sugars, All sorts of problems can occur. Diabetes 2 is common amongst the youngest & most vulnerable. So that means a healthy Thyroid on your part will also greatly benefit your baby. Take heed.

The Thyroid Gland is key to overall health. Produces T3 & T4 hormones (Iodine Atoms). T3 & T4 regulate body temperature & metabolic rate of every cell in the body (biochemical reactivity).

Absolutely no Tylenol or Aspirins. This is important so read carefully.

“Tylenol uses up glutathione (GSH) stores and metabolites of acetaminophen accumulates causing direct damage to liver cells. You want their glutathione levels to be optimum because GSH main purpose is for detoxifying and eliminating heavy metals and other environmental toxins. It is essential for the function of the gut, maintains Vitamins C and E, maintains mitochondrial integrity, protects against intracellular viruses and so much more. Anything that compromises the level of glutathione needed to maintain health like Tylenol should be avoided.” Brian Jepson, MD

‘People who take NSAIDs (aspirin) for prolonged periods of time can develop several GI side effects, such as stomach aches, indigestion, or even ulcers. Ulcers can eventually lead to GI bleeding or may even perforate, spilling the contents of the stomach or small intestine into the sterile abdominal cavity. Every time they come in with bleeding, they have a 10% chance of dying.’ Dr. Joseph Mercola

For those concerned the synergy of the various ingredients in the regime will take care of any fever naturally. Anti-inflammatory supplements are key. Your standard headache medication not only suppresses the fever (which is critical to getting well again – an essential part of the body’s own natural healing process) but it also destroys the liver over time, can cause sudden bleeding & depletes the lungs of Vitamin C by depriving their white blood cells & lymphicides of it.

That being said there is an alternate method for a more urgent solution to headaches/pain:

Cayenne Pepper Ointment – Natural Pain Reliever

1. Add – pinch Cayenne Pepper, 1 ounce Bees Wax or lard
2. Blend in hot water & apply contents on sore area topically

5 of the best ways to chelate accumulated heavy metals out of body: 1) Activated Charcoal, 2) Chlorella, 3) Zeolite Rock Powder, 4) Kale, 5) Cilantro.

Also comb through these links in particular for further products to AVOID as well as safe alternatives to vaccines necessary to maintain optimum health throughout your pregnancy.

Health Matters: http://vaccineresistancemovement.org/?p=825

Safe Alternatives To Vaccines: http://vaccineresistancemovement.org/?p=662

EVERYTHING ON THIS LIST SHOULD BE HIGH QUALITY AND STRICTLY ORGANIC. IF YOU USE PILLS TRY TO GET VEGETABLE GELATIN TYPE. AVOID ANIMAL GELATIN.

NOTE: It isn’t necessary to take all of these supplements to reap the optimum benefits. But the synergy of those that you do choose will hopefully be very healthful. It’s a question of balance.