A lot of people on my Christmas list got homemade lotion this year, and it couldn’t be simpler to make.

You can customize your lotion to your skin type and desired scent, and you can even make it for baby (calendula and chamomile…)

There are endless variations, but some of my favorites are:

• Calendula and Chamomile for baby
• Rosewater and Almond Oil
• Peppermint, Wintergreen and Ginger for sore muscles
• Coconut and Calendula for face
• Mint and green tea
• Lavender and vanilla

I’ve included my basic recipe below. You can customize by making different herbal bases in the liquid, using different oils, or even using cocoa butter or shea butter for half of the oil if you like more of a body butter consistency.

Organic Homemade Lotion Basic Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup of oil of choice (almond and coconut are good choices- coconut will make more of a body butter texture)
• 1 tablespoon of beeswax
• 1/3 cup distilled water, or brewed herbal infusion of choice (To make: boil distilled water, add herbs you are using and let sit until mostly cool)
• 1 tsp Vitamin E oil (important-to preserve)
• Essential oils of choice (optional)

How to Make:

1. In a double boiler (use an old bowl over a small saucepan that has water in it) put the oil and beeswax and stir over medium heat until the beeswax has just melted.
2. Remove from heat, add the vitamin E oil and essential oils and stir to combine.
3. Make sure water or herbal infusion is slightly warm but not hot (important step or the lotion won’t emulsify)
4. Put the water/herbal infusion in a blender or food processor and turn on high.
5. VERY SLOWLY add the oil mixture, starting with a drop at a time.
6. Continually drizzle the oil mixture into the blender until all poured in.
7. Check consistency and blend more if needed.
8. Store in a glass jar (or pump bottle if you use almond oil and have a thin enough consistency). Lasts up to two-months out of the fridge or up to 6 months in the fridge.

Ever made your own lotion? How did it go? Let me know below!!

I have to confess… for everything else I do that is natural and organic, I was late on getting on the cloth diapering bandwagon… and I’m kicking myself for it now.

For our first two children, I used disposables and didn’t think anything of it. I thought cloth diapering was a thing that our mothers and grandmothers did because they didn’t have a choice, and the horror stories of wringing out diapers in the toilet and endless loads of laundry had no appeal to me!

A couple years and a couple kids later, I decided to revisit the diapering subject, at the suggestion of some close friends (thanks ladies!).

I quickly found out that:

• There are now MUCH better options for cloth diapering that when our mothers and grandmothers were doing it
• There are a LOT of chemicals in traditional diapers (what… you think that magic gel stuff that absorbs 100 times its weight in urine is natural?)
• Cloth diapers (even the top of the line ones) save money, especially if you have more than one child.
• Cloth diapering can actually be easy!
• The new cloth diapers are CUTE!
• They actually leak much less than disposables. I’ve only had a couple of leaks in the 7 months I’ve been cloth diapering our youngest, and no outfits ruined by yellow baby poop!
• There are a lot of brands of diapers that can fit baby from birth to potty training, so it saves space too!
• They hold their value, so you can actually sell them when you are done with them if you take good care of them.

Somewhat hesitantly, I decided to try cloth diapering and quickly found that I LOVE it!

I’m certainly not an expert (though maybe some of my friends who are vetrans will offer some advice in the comments section) but I’ve found a few tips that have helped along the way. If you haven’t considered cloth diapering, I’d definitely recommend looking into it!

The Benefits

From a financial perspective, I’ve read that each child costs about $2,000 to diaper and can contribute about 600,000 diapers to the landfills. You can get a couple dozen really high quality (even organic) cloth diapers for under $500 and they can last through several children if you take care of them.

If money is really tight, it is even possible to completely cloth diaper from birth to potty training for around $100 (some people spend that a month for disposables!)

Another huge benefit that I’ve noticed is that my kids who I’ve cloth diapered have gotten NO diaper rashes, which even with a good diet, were a regular thing with disposables. With my first baby, I found within a week that Huggies diapers created an awful rash, and most generic brands did too… Pampers were ok, but of course, more expensive.

One downside is that you can’t use diaper cream (unless you make it yourself) with cloth diapers, but I haven’t needed it!

For my 7 month old, I can put double liners in her diaper and she can go all night without it leaking and without it irritating her skin…

Another benefit is that children often potty train earlier in cloth diapers because (a) they are more aware of the wetness and connect the sensation faster and (b) mom gets tired of washing out the diapers and is more motivated to potty train (ahem…).

For all the benefits, the one thing that actually convinced me to cloth diaper, was this…

See, as much as I understood the benefits and how much healthier cloth diaper are… I knew that about the time that the poop really started to get nasty and needed to be washed out in the toilet… I’d probably be pregnant.

And morning sickness combined with sticking my hands in the toilet to wring out diaper…. not happening.

This diaper sprayer is what actually convinced me to cloth diaper. Basically, it is a sprayer that hooks into the clean water supply on your toilet (before it goes into the toilet!) and uses a high powered stream of water to clean the diaper without you touching any poop.

I also found out that if you are exclusively breastfeeding, you don’t even have to wash out the diapers (even poop!) at all until you start giving baby solids.

The biggest benefit, in my opinion, is that you are reducing baby’s exposure to chemicals. Disposables are plastic and contain chlorine, polyacrylate, and other chemicals that haven’t been proven safe for use on anyone, especially babies!

There is also a growing movement back to cloth diapering and a ton of support. If you don’t have local friends who are cloth diapering and can lend support like I do, there are online support communities like Diaper Pin and others, where you can find reviews, laundry help, special offers, and even people selling their gently used cloth diapers.

Our Setup

There are as many ways to cloth diaper as there are types of cloth diapers.

We have a mix of bumGenius, Fuzzibunz and GroBabys (aren’t those names cute too?). I love the simplicity of the GroBabys but they leak a lot more. Over all, I prefer the bumGenius and Fuzzibunz, and have about 2 dozen, which is enough for 2 kids if I wash every other day (which i highly recommend!)

I use a plain plastic trash can for the wet/dirty diapers. Sometimes I use an old pillowcase as a liner (it gets washed with the diapers) and sometimes I just put them directly in.

I don’t cover the trash can, or put any kind of liquid in it, though many people have special covers or a liquid method. I’ve never had much trouble with smell this way, but it definitely is a matter or personal taste.

I use homemade disposable wipes  (omit the almond/olive oil) or use my homemade wipe solution on cloth baby wipes (baby washcloths work great and you can usually find them at garage or consignment sales).

To launder: I use a 1/2 cup baking soda in a cold pre-wash cycle that I let soak for 30 minutes. I then use a natural detergent like Rockin Green or Charlie’s soap, or my own soap (alternate) to wash. Occasionally, I use Dr. Bronners Sal Suds to strip the diapers.

Typically, I run another cool rinse cycle at the end to make sure all the detergent is out.

I run the liners through the dryer and hang the covers (outside in the summer, inside in the winter) to extend the life of the elastic.

For stains, the sun (summer especially) is great at bleaching! As soon as our dog isn’t quite so much of a teething puppy, I’ll be hanging them outside again.

Then, I just store the diapers in my little wooden crate (see above) and use like regular diapers. They work just like disposables, and are so much cuter! There are even artist series “designer” diapers and some are on sale right now.

Other Notes:

If you are considering cloth diapering, I’d encourage you to do your own research and find out what kind of diapers work best for your family.

I have a couple dozen that are mostly bumGenius and some Fuzzibunz (and a few Grobabys, which are now GroVias). You can buy them by the dozen and save a lot of money. You can even find organic all in-one diapers which are extremely easy to use and wash, and which will fit baby from birth to potty training!

I also really highly suggest a diaper sprayer since it will save you time and gross factor!

Some diapers even have flushable liners, so you can just dump them in the toilet and they are ready to wash.

If you haven’t considered cloth diapering, please at least look into it. It’s so much better for baby’s skin and isn’t really much extra work for you. I’m still new at it too, but we can learn together

What do you think? Ever tried it? Any veteran cloth diapering moms or dads out there? Please leave your advice and tips below!

Oh, pregnancy…. that wonderful time when everyone offers unwanted advice and your body changes in ways you didn’t know possible. Since I’m now in the third trimester of pregnancy myself, and starting to really “feel” pregnant, I though I would offer my own completely unsolicited advice for a healthy pregnancy. (If you’re pregnant, you are probably getting advice from the grocery store cashier, relatives, and complete strangers, so why not?)

This is only the fourth time I’ve been through all the joys of pregnancy (read about my previous pregnancies here), so I certainly don’t claim to have all the answers, but thought I’d share what I’ve learned along the way!

Healthy Pregnancy Begins Before Conception

From experience, I know that the best time to begin a healthy pregnancy regimen is before you conceive. Having a strong nutritional system in place not only increases your odds of healthy conception, but will also help your body handle the transitions of early pregnancy without all the discomfort.

For those struggling with achieving a pregnancy, optimizing diet and lifestyle factors can make a tremendous difference in successfully conceiving naturally.

Having positive dietary and lifestyle habits in place will also help minimize the discomforts of pregnancy and make sure baby is getting optimal nutrition as well.

Pregnancy Nutrition

Ensuring optimal nutrition during pregnancy is one of the best gifts you can give your baby. Doctors warn of the foods to avoid (cold cuts, excess caffeine, soft cheeses, alcohol, etc) but few give detailed advice on what optimal pregnancy nutrition should look like.

I certainly had to navigate these waters myself during my first few pregnancies, and I’ve noticed that as my diet and health have improved, my pregnancies have gotten much easier.

Unfortunately, for many women, eating the best diet for baby during pregnancy requires forgetting all the conventional wisdom they’ve ever been told on health eating.

Low fat diet- not good!

“Healthy whole grains” – not so good either!

Keeping blood sugar stable with little carb snacks all day- not really!

A woman’s body is quite literally building an entire human being during pregnancy, and as such, she needs a lot of quality sources of all the things needed to support the human body- mainly proteins, fats, vegetables and fruits, and certain supplements she can’t adequately get from food.

Foods to focus on during pre-conception, pregnancy and breastfeeding:

• Protein: Most women need 80-120 grams of protein every day for healthy pregnancy. Some research shows lower risk of preclampsia and other complications with adequate protein, and some women report less morning sickness when they consume this much protein.
• Fats: This is often the biggest hurdle for many women, but consuming adequate fats is absolutely vital to baby’s organ and brain development. Women should focus on healthy sources like meat (including red meat), butter, eggs, olive/oil, coconut/oil, nuts, limited dairy, etc
• Vegetables and Fruits: Vegetables and fruits have a variety of vitamins, minerals and fiber that are helpful during pregnancy. Eating a varied diet including a lot of green leafy vegetables can also help raise Vitamin K levels.
• Water: A woman’s blood volume actually increases during pregnancy and her body has to supply fluid to replenish the amniotic fluid the baby is in. Drinking enough water (usually around a gallon a day) can help fight off morning sickness and also helps prevent constipation and make sure mom and baby are properly hydrated.

Foods to avoid during pre-conception, pregnancy and breastfeeding:

• Caffeine: There are a lot of conflicting opinions on if caffeine is safe during pregnancy and if so, how much. It certainly isn’t necessary, and is best avoided. If you do consume caffeine, limit to one cup a day and not from soda.
• Processed Foods: With up to 200 chemicals found in the umbilical cord blood of some babies, there is certainly good reason to avoid any unnecessary chemicals in foods or environment. Processed foods also offer little nutrition and can lead to constipation and blood sugar instability (which can cause morning sickness).
• Vegetable Oils and Fats: As I’ve explained before, vegetable oils and other omega-6 fats are foreign to the body and there is no need for them. They have even been linked to cell mutation and cancers, and should especially be avoided by pregnant women due to the rapid cell development of the unborn baby.
• Grains and Sugars: Grains and sugars are certainly not the most nutrient dense food choices, and in some people, they can even cause health problems. Pregnant women should focus on the most bioavailable and dense sources of nutrition, which means choosing meats, fats and vegetables/fruits over grains, sugars and baked goods.

Supplements For Healthy Pregnancy

Supplement needs can vary by woman, and all supplements should be approved by a doctor or midwife to ensure safety during pregnancy. In general, pregnant women have higher nutrient needs and often supplements are the only way to get adequate nutrients.

These basic supplements are ones that are often beneficial during pregnancy:

• Probiotics: Best obtained from high quality supplements, fermented foods, and beverages like water kefir and kombucha. Since a baby  is born with a sterile gut and then has his or her gut bacteria begin to develop based on the beneficial (or not) gut flora of the mother this is an important factor! Adequate probiotics can also help reduce the risk of Group B strep, and have even helped get rid of Group B strep before delivery when probiotic supplements or organic plain yogurt are used vaginally.
• Omega-3s, DHA, RHA- Adequate good fats are absolutely essential for baby’s development and it is difficult to get enough from diet. Supplementing high quality sources of these fats can help reduce risk of complications and give baby the necessary nutrients for good development.
• Vitamin D- This article reports that “Compared to women who took 400 IU of vitamin D daily, those who took 4,000 IU were half as likely to develop gestational diabetes, pregnancy-related high blood pressure, or preeclampsia, Wagner says. They were also less likely to give birth prematurely.” Vitamin D needs vary, but many doctors are now suggesting at least 4,000 IU and up to 10,000 IU a day.
• Folic Acid- Well known for its preventative effects against spina bifida and other developmental struggles, folic acid is another important supplement. The current recommendation is 400 micrograms, though many doctors recommend 2,000 micrograms or more for optimal development, and folic acid is water soluble and difficult to overdose.
• Iron- Anemia can cause serious complications during delivery, and is easy to prevent. If blood tests show that iron levels are low, iron supplements may be necessary, but things like cooking with cast iron pans, eating red meat and eating a variety of fats and vegetables can help optimize iron levels.

Herbs During Pregnancy

Consult with a qualified herbalist, midwife or doctor before taking any herbs during pregnancy! This chart gives a basic breakdown of herbs that are helpful, and ones that should be avoided.

If your doctor or midwife approves, some herbs can be very beneficial during pregnancy. My favorite is to make a strong tea that I drink throughout pregnancy using the following herbs:

• Red Raspberry Leaf (4 parts)
• Nettle Leaf (1 part)
• Alfalfa Leaf (1 part)
• Peppermint (1 part or less)

I blend these dried herbs and make a strong tea by putting 3/4 cup or more in a large glass jar and filling with boiling water and letting sit overnight. I strain, and keep iced in the fridge.

According to the above article, Red Raspberry:

Red Raspberry Leaf: it is an all-around excellent herb to use for pregnancy. It is a uterine tonic, anti-abortive, and helps prevent infection. Aids in preventing cramps and anemia. Prevents excessive bleeding during and after labor and will facilitate the birth process by stimulating contractions.

Peppermint:

Peppermint: after the first trimester, may be used to help digestion, soothe the stomach and overcome nausea. It is an all-over body strengthener and cleanser.

Alfalfa and Nettle:

Can will guard against excessive bleeding as they have vitamin K; will improve kidney function and help prevent hemorrhoids.

What things have you done to help have a healthy pregnancy? Please share below!

[Note: I've got a big announcement (not pregnancy related!) coming in the next couple of days, so stay tuned!]

This pregnancy, I am seeing a wonderful group of nurse midwives who also helped with the delivery of our second child. They have an incredible v-bac rate (almost 90%) and are open to many of the natural options I choose.

The one thing I was disappointed to find out at my last appointment is that due to hospital policy, I will have to be on constant monitoring while I am in labor. This means I have a 2 foot tether to the bed. I will be able to stand, and hopefully sit on a birthing ball, but water and walking are out… not happy about this.

My solution at the suggestion of the midwife is to labor at home as long as possible and get there in time for them to catch the baby, who were were excited to find out, is a girl!

I’ve actually had a lot of energy this pregnancy, which I attribute to all the real food, and having three little ones to keep me busy. Unfortunately for my husband, energy during pregnancy means a pregnancy project, which he usually gets roped into helping with. This time….

CHICKENS!

I’ve decided that since we eat over a dozen eggs a day, and with another mouth on the way, chickens would be an economical and healthy option for us. After much pleading on my part, and much concession on my husband’s part, we have decided to get chickens.

I should note that my husband is a saint for allowing this in our yard. He absolutely hates birds, and is in no way excited for chickens, except for the fact that they attract coyotes, which he has been hoping to shoot for a while.

I’ve researched and have several breeds I plan to get, probably for a total of 18 chickens. We are converting an old shed into a coop and roping off part of the yard to keep them safe.

Today is actually coop building day while my parents are in town to visit. Should be an interesting escapade, a building project with two people who actually know what they are doing (my dad and husband), a pregnant lady and three kids under five.

I’ll let you know how it goes!

In the meantime, if any of you have ever had chickens before, please leave some advice in the comments below! This city girl is getting way out of her element, and any advice would be much appreciated! What breeds do you recommend, especially to be good with kids and good layers?

Finally, thanks so much to everyone who signed up for the 40-Day Grain Free, Sugar Free challenge. I am so excited to get to know you all better over the next 40 Days, and really appreciate all the feedback and emails so far. Sounds like some of you are seeing improvements already!

If you haven’t signed up yet, please do! I have confirmed at least 3 giveaways, including an awesome book/cookbook and coconut oil. Signing up gives you an automatic entry! If you are still on the fence about grains, this article might be interesting to you.

Thanks for reading! Have a great weekend!

-Katie

“You can’t do squats or lunges, it’ll make you go into preterm labor” “I’ve never seen a pregnant woman lift weights before – are you in the military?” and my personal favorite “If you keep jumping around like that (I was kickboxing) the baby’s umbilical cord is going to get all twisted up.” All of these things were said to me at some point during my pregnancies and having given birth to 5 babies, that left a lot of time for people to say strange things to me.

People do not know what to do with a pregnant woman who exercises. While it’s understandable – just 10 years ago the American College of Gynecology and Obstetrics recommended that women keep their heart rates under 140, and 30 years ago doctors (!) were telling women that running could make your uterus collapse – it can also be really disheartening and confusing to a newly pregnant mom to get all kinds of good, bad and just plain weird advice. Heck, my heart rate would hit 140 just carrying laundry up my 3 flights of stairs!

So what, exactly, can pregnant women do to exercise? Olympic marathoners Kara Goucher and Paula Radcliffe clocked in 60-80 miles per week running during their pregnancies. Olympic curler Kristie Moore competed in the Olympics 5 months pregnant. And Connie Neal made headlines by playing Division 1 basketball up through her 8th month. I don’t give you these examples to make you feel bad that you’re not perfecting your double-axle whilst growing adorable little earlobes but rather to show you that us women and our attendant lady bits are a lot more resilient than we give ourselves credit for.

Exercise during pregnancy provides tons of great benefits for both the mom (shorter labor and faster weight loss!) and the baby (less colic and greater physical resiliency!). Not to mention that for a lot of moms exercising makes them happier, less anxious and feel more in touch with their growing body. So it makes sense to help gestating moms stay as active as they can.

The short answer to the question of how much exercise and what type is safe is simply to listen to your doctor and do what feels good to you. Listen to your body and if something hurts, then quit. However, if you’re anything like me you’ve spent years pretty much not listening to your body (“I said, you are NOT hungry for those cookies goshdarnnit!”) and you’d like a bit more instruction than that. While I’m not a doctor (repeat: I don’t even play one on TV), here are some tips that have gotten me through 5 pregnancies during which I’ve rock climbed, ran races, lifted weights, did headstands in yoga and had a marvelous time.

First Trimester

Known as the undercover trimester, you can hold to your usual workout routine as long as you feel up to it. Your baby is only the size of a lipstick tube by the end of this tri so laying on your back, lifting weights and cardio are all kosher. There’s no physical reason yet to skip that half marathon or those yoga inversions. Just because you can do it though doesn’t mean you’ll want to. I remember running laps and stopping to throw up in the gym bathroom. Not fun. You may also have sore boobs, a super sensitive nose and be insanely tired. Those are your body’s signals to take it easy. Sometimes exercise can help – a brisk walk in the cool air can help with the nausea and give you more energy – but if you’re not feeling good then skip it and don’t beat yourself up over it.

Second Trimester

You’re finally starting to show and while that makes you adorable in your maternity clothes it also means that your uterus is large enough to start putting pressure on your vena cava when you lie on your back. This doesn’t happen for everyone but if it does happen for you, you’ll know it. As soon as you start feeling dizzy, light-headed and/or nauseated, sit up! And you should skip back work for the remainder of your pregnancy. Another fun thing to look out for is “round ligament pain” that happens usually when you twist to the side but can strike even when you’re standing still. It feels like you’re being zapped with an electric cattle prod.

The upside to this tri is that the morning sickness is usually gone and you have some more energy. You can keep weight lifting and cardio, again as long as it is feeling good. Just take extra care to maintain good form as the hormone relaxin is pumping through your body now and it will loosen up all your joints making it easier to injure yourself. Keep hitting the iron but this is not the time to go for that back squat record is all I’m saying.

Third Trimester

Things are starting to get serious – you have little feet jammed into your lungs, massive heart burn, swollen feet and the tiredness is back – and while you may feel like clocking out until the baby’s born staying active will help you both mentally and physically, especially as delivery time approaches. This is the time to really watch your step, however. Your balance is shot, you probably can’t see your feet anymore and it’s easy to misjudge how far out your belly really does extend so take it easy doing things like advanced yoga poses, step classes and other sports where you have a risk of falling. Also, while those Olympic ladies I listed up above managed to run through their whole pregnancies I’ve never been able to do that through mine. Sometime during this tri my hip flexors (the part where your leg attaches to your hip) give out and jogging becomes excruciatingly painful so I don’t. Plus they say walking helps get labor going!

Fourth Trimester

Wait, what? Don’t worry, you will only be pregnant for 40(ish) weeks. I promise. Yes, the baby has to come out eventually. But those first three months after the baby is born ought to be considered their own trimester as your body is still going through massive hormonal, physical and mental changes. If there was ever a time to be gentle with yourself this is it, ladies.

Between sleepless nights, sore nipples (and by “sore” I mean “eaten by aardvarks”) and the post-partum blues, workouts are going to be really hard to fit in. And you know what? The research supports rest! Studies have shown that women who exercise intensely right after having a baby not only don’t lose the weight faster but also up their risk of getting sick. So take it easy and use this time to get to know your new little one! Another great post-partum tip is to use a belly wrap, it will help your ab muscles knit back together and will also help support you and hold you in.

Last Thoughts

The trick with pregnancy – okay, with all things really – is moderation. I’m very bad at moderation. But being responsible for the very life of another person has a way of even making me be (sort-of) reasonable. So do exercise! But not too much. Or too little. Most of all just enjoy this time – as much as you can puking your guts out by the seafood counter in the grocery store – because it really is only 9 months out of your whole life.

What’s been your experience with exercise during pregnancy? Anyone said anything crazy to you about your pregnant self?

Written with love by Charlotte Hilton Andersen for The Great Fitness Experiment (c) 2011. If you enjoyed this, please check out my new book The Great Fitness Experiment: One Year of Trying Everything for more of my crazy antics and uncomfortable over-shares!

Pampers Clean and Go Wipes Contain:

Water, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic Triglyceride, PEG 40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Sodium Hydroxymethlyglycinate, Citric Acid, Fragrance

Clean and Go Wipes are given a 5 for hazard (out of 10) and warnings include possible allergies, immunotoxicity and organ system toxicity. No thanks!

Huggies Cucumber and Green Tea Wipes

Ingredients: Water, Potassium Laureth Phosphate, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, DMDM Hydantoin, Tetrasodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Malic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Zea Mays (Corn) Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Fragrance

These wipes have a hazard rating of 7 and ingredients have been linked to cancer, immunotoxicity, allergies, developmental problems, reproductive toxicity, organ dysfunction, endocrine disruption and cellular changes.

I used these wipes for years, figuring that if they were made for a newborn’s skin, they must be safe. Apparently not!

Are There Safe Alternatives?

My discovery of what was in baby wipes led to a search for healthier alternatives. I found out that there are natural alternatives, including wipes made from bamboo, but they are expensive! I stumbled on some recipes for homemade baby wipes, but they suggested using baby oil (mineral oil) and baby lotion- check those out on Cosmetics Database too. I figured that if you could make your own with those ingredients, you could make a healthy version too!

After much trial and error (mainly error), I finally have a great recipe for baby wipes that after using it on two kids for several weeks, has shown no irritation. A side benefit to my wipe making experiment is that homemade wipes are a lot cheaper. When I buy ingredients in bulk, the wipes end up costing less than one cent each, saving us almost $200 a year with two in diapers. Healthier and cheaper- I’ll take it!

Homemade Baby Wipe Ingredients:

• 1 roll of heavy duty paper towels (Note: I use Bounty for wipes. I don’t use them in my kitchen, but cheap paper towels do not work for wipes… I’ve tried)
• Rubbermaid #6 or #8 container- (Old wipes containers,  plastic shoe box containers, old plastic coffee containers or empty gallon plastic ice cream buckets also work. )
• 1 3/4 cups boiled water (or distilled)-cooled but still warm
• 1 Tablespoon of pure aloe vera- check the ingredients
• 1 Tablespoon of pure Witch Hazel Extract
• 2 Tablespoons of Liquid Castille Soap (I use Dr. Bronner’s)
• 10 drops Grapefruit Seed Extract or 2 capsules of Vitamin E
• 2 Tablespoons of Olive or Almond Oil
• Essential Oils of choice (optional- I use 6 drops each of orange and lavender)

How to Make Homemade Natural Baby Wipes

1. Cut the roll of paper towels in half using a sharp knife
2. If using a plastic shoe box or old wipe container, accordion fold the wipes into the container. If using a Rubbermaid #6 container (I highly recommend), place the wipes, cut side down in container.
3. In bowl or quart size jar mix the water, aloe, witch hazel, castille soap, GSE/Vitamin E and oil and stir.
4. Add essential oils if desired and stir
5. Pour over paper towels in container and let absorb- this takes about 5-10 minutes.
6. Flip the container over to make sure wipes are well soaked.
7. If using Rubbermaid container, pull the cardboard roll out from the inside This should also pull the innermost wipe out and start them for you. Depending on the brand of paper towels you use, you might have to experiment with the amount of water to get the right amount.
8. Use as you would regular wipes, and smile, knowing you are not causing your beautiful child any future health problems!
9. Note: If your child has extremely sensitive skin, you may need to leave out the essential oils or use calendula or chamomile.

Reusable Homemade Wipes

If you like the disposable wipes you make, you can make reusable ones also. Just cut up old receiving blankets and t-shirts into 8×8 squares. fold them into old wipes containers and pour the same mixture (above) onto them or spray on each wipe with a spray bottle before using. These are an even cheaper option, and I am working on using these all the time.

This has been one of my most fun homemade discoveries. These wipes are definitely kid approved. Every time I change the baby, the older two hover around the wipes to smell them, and usually try to steal one, which they use to clean things. (Guess I’ve instilled this a little too well). We inadvertently discovered that these wipes also clean tile, counters, leather, and flooring well, but they leave residue on stainless steel.

I now make a lavender or tea tree version to use for all purpose disinfecting when we’re traveling and reusable make up removing wipes for me (stay tuned for that recipe).

Please try making your own wipes. It really takes very little time and is a great alternative to store bought wipes. Willing to try it? Maybe you already make your own… please tell me about it below!

I have worked with a lot of women on this issue, and have seen very few health related problems that cause such pain and anxiety as wanting to have a child and not being able to. The good news is, that all the women who I have worked with who have changed diet and lifestyle factors have conceived. Yes, all of them…. ages 21 to 45. That is a 100% success rate, and last I saw, the success rate for invitro fertilization was just over 20%. Also, did I mention that changing diet/lifestyle costs about $20,000 less than invitro?

Infertility is often a complex problem with a simple solution. There are so many confounding factors that can cause or contribute to infertility, which is why conventional treatment is rarely as effective… it simply can’t address all the possible causes. Fertility drugs and artificial hormones of any kind, including birth control, can make underlying problems even worse and make future fertility more difficult. (this is sad, because hormonal birth control is often prescribed for various hormonal imbalances and problems)

What Causes Infertility?

Infertility can be caused by a huge number of factors: hormone imbalance, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Endometriosis, Anovulatory Cycles, physical blockage, inadequate hormone production, short luteal phase, lack of lutenizing hormone, high levels or prolactin,  and many others.

Poor nutrition often plays a major role, as does exposure to toxins. Age plays less of a role before menopause than was originally thought. While there are many wonderful naturally minded fertility specialists out there, in many cases it is not possible for them to test for and address any of these possible underlying issues. Extreme fertility treatments do work for some, but can be very emotionally and physically exhausting, not to mention very expensive. Given the choice, every woman I have worked with would always prefer to conceive naturally, with just her husband in the room!

The great news is that dietary and lifestyle changes can make a tremendous difference in fertility, and often help with other issues like excess weight, lack of energy, blood sugar problems, skin issues and insomnia in the process.

How to Reverse Infertility

This is the specific system I use when working with women on fertility, but it is also very useful for helping with PMS, cramping, fatigue, heavy periods and other hormone related problems. It is designed to address all issues that can contribute, and short of a physical inability to conceive, it will work.

Step 1: Nutrition

This is by far the most important step. Most of us these days are undernourished, despite being overweight. The body simply will not allow conception to occur or a pregnancy to continue if it doesn’t have the basic foundation it needs to sustain a pregnancy. Many women turn to a low-fat, high fiber diet in an attempt to increase health and lose weight. Weight loss has been shown to increase fertility, but losing weight in this way is rarely effective for increasing fertility because it deprives the body of the necessary proteins and fats necessary for hormone production.

To optimize fertility through nutrition:

• Remove grains, processed foods, sugars and starches from the diet. Obtain necessary carbohydrates from vegetables, some fruits and starchy sources like sweet potatoes and squash.
• Increase healthy fats in the diet especially from sources like coconuts, coconut oil, olives and olive oil, butter, grass-fed meats, eggs, avocado and nuts.
• Get enough protein especially from grass fed meats, eggs, and nuts.
• Eat a lot of vegetables, especially green leafy varieties like lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collard, chard, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and similar veggies.
• Avoid processed dairy and if you eat dairy, eat raw, organic dairy from sources like butter, ghee and heavy cream.
• Drink enough water- your urine should be very lightly colored. For most women, this is around 4 quarts a day.
• Get insulin levels under control- even if you don’t have Type II diabetes, a high carbohydrate diet often goes hand-in-hand with some level of insulin resistance. Optimizing dietary factors with the above methods will help make your body more sensitive to insulin, which will help production of other hormones and proper function of the body.

For some women, these steps alone will optimize fertility and allow conception. It is very important to continue these things once pregnant, and not stop giving yourself proper nutrition, which is even more vital for the growth of an unborn child. Of course, pregnancy is not a license to revert to a bad diet! The biggest dietary factor that often contributes to infertility is lack of enough essential fats and proteins in the diet. Your body can’t make the hormones it needs without proteins and fats, and often this factor alone can prevent conception.

Step 2: Lifestyle Factors

Any doctor, or even a Google search should reveal that habits like smoking, drug use, and high caffeine intake can severely impair fertility. There are many other lifestyle factors that contribute as well:

• Lack of sleep
• exposure to toxins
• lack of exercise or too much exercise
• high stress levels
• certain medications or supplements

Most lifestyle factors are also easy to fix with a little effort. The most common lifestyle factors that can increase fertility are:

• Getting enough sleep- Sleep plays a vital role in production of many hormones. Studies have shown that women with low melatonin and serotonin levels have a shorter luteal pahse (time between ovulation and menstruation) and consequently have a lower chance of conceiving. Lack of sleep also impairs the body’s ability to properly regulate adrenaline, cortisol and insulin, making conception very difficult. Make sleep a priority and get enough to feel rested, not just awake. This may mean taking a nap during the day or going to bed a few hours earlier. A completely dark sleep environment may also help melatonin levels and sleep.
• Minimize exposure to toxins- this should be a book in itself, but most women notice improvement from limiting exposure to household chemicals, plastic water bottles and conventional cosmetic and beauty products. (I’ll cover this later in a more detailed post.)
• Get the right amount of exercise- Getting adequate exercise is important for fertility, but too much can have the opposite effect. Most women do well with several hours of recreational activity a week (walking, fun sports, or swimming) and a few weight training sessions. Too much moderate/intensive exercise will keep the body from ovulation if done regularly. While weight loss can greatly help fertility, having too little body fat (below 15-18%) can make the body go into an anovulatory state.
• Limit Stress- Easier said than done, especially for anyone who is going through the emotions of fertility difficulties. You’ve probably been told that if you can relax, you will get pregnant. While this is certainly not true for  everyone, reducing stress is a good idea. Often, the ideas above will help with many of the physical causes of stress, leaving you more time to (hopefully) relax.
• Check with your doctor to see if any medications you are taking could impair fertility. Steroids and antidepressants have been known to do so, as well as any other hormone containing or affecting medications.

Step 3: Supplements

While diet and lifestyle alone often reverse infertility, some women notice better or faster results with the aid of natural supplements and herbs. I’ve seen women take the following herbs with good success:

• Red Raspberry Leaf- A well know fertility herb that is also good during pregnancy. It has a high nutrient profile and is especially high in calcium and is a uterine tonic.
• Nettle Leaf- Has a very high mineral content. It contains lots of chlorophyll and is nourishing to the adrenals and kidneys. It helps reduce stress and is a powerful uterine tonic. Once pregnant, it is great for getting enough nutrients during pregnancy and has a high vitamin K content to prevent hemorrhage.
• Dandelion- Contains vitamins A and C as well as trace minerals. The root is beneficial to the liver and the leaf is mildly diuretic. Can help cleanse the body and remove toxins.
• Alfalfa- Has vitamins A, D, E and K and 8 digestive enzymes. Contains trace minerals and vitamin K and is often added to commercial vitamins because of its high vitamin profile.
• Red Clover- Has a very high vitamin content and contains almost every trace mineral. It has been known to help balance hormones and restore fertility.
• Maca- A hormone balancing herb that is known throughout the world for its fertility and vitality promoting properties. Good for both men and women to increase fertility, though women should only take between menses and ovulation and discontinue to make sure it is not taken during pregnancy.
• Vitex/Chaste Tree Berry- Nourishes the pituitary gland and helps lengthen the luteal phase. It lowers prolactin and raises progesterone.

IMPORTANT: Do not take any of these herbs in combination with fertility drugs, hormone treatments or hormonal birth control!

Vitamins that promote fertility:

• Vitamin D- Vitamin D deficiency is very common in America, especially during the winter, and can be very detrimental to overall health. Recent studies link inadequate vitamin D with infertility and miscarriage. Have your levels checked to find out how much you need.
• Vitamin C- A potent antioxidant, vitamin C is good for both male and female infertility. Aim for at least 2,000 mg a day pre-conception.
• Folic Acid- Folic acid is well known as a necessary vitamin in early pregnancy to prevent complications, but it is most beneficial when taken for several month before the pregnancy as well as during. It helps cell division and promotes ovulation. Some natural doctors recommend taking up to 5,000 micrograms a day and women hoping to get pregnant should take at least 2,000 micrograms a day.
• Zinc- Very important for cell division including sperm production and ovulation. Best when taken in combination with b-vitamins.
• Selenium- Helps protect the body from free radicals and protects sperm and egg. Known to help cell division and might prevent miscarriage.
• B-Vitamins- Deficiency of b-vitamins is common in anyone who consumes large amounts of processed foods, grains or sugars. Optimizing b vitamin levels can increase lutenizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone to improve fertility.

For couples, struggles with infertility can be agonizing. Proper diet and nutrition can greatly aid the body in conceiving and carrying a healthy baby, and are beneficial in overall health. While sometimes medical treatment is necessary, couples should at least consider dietary changes first to support the body. The above system is also helpful for women struggling with PMS, PCOS, endometriosis, heavy periods or other hormonal problems.

Have you struggled with infertility? Do you get pregnant just by washing your laundry with your husband’s? Please tell me about it below, and if you have specific questions, contact me directly.

(Hint: healthy babies don’t start with rice cereal)

I am definitely stepping onto the soapbox for this one. Nutrition for the wee ones is a favorite talking point of mine, mainly because it is so important. Since babies and kids have much smaller bodies, any harmful foods can do much more proportionate damage, but this also means that healthy foods can do wonders for kids. I also must confess on this note that I did follow the recommendations for first foods with our first child, and I believe this is part of the reason he is our pickiest eater, though he does eat salad and broccoli quite happily now at age 4.

I truly believe that the healthiest first food for babies is breast milk. Recent research supports this and even formula companies agree that breast milk is best. Breast milk is full of fatty acids, antibodies, nutrients, protein and fat and is a truly perfect and complete food for babies. While formula can provide basic food if a mother is unable to nurse, it is no match for a mother’s milk, which can change to suit the needs of the baby as it grows. Research also shows that breast feeding drastically reduces the instance of SIDS (of every 87 deaths from SIDS, only 3 are breastfed babies). Studies also show numerous benefits to the mother, including decreased risk of cancers (breast, ovarian, cervical, endometrial), lower incidence of postpartum depression, and reduced chance of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

While breastfeeding is the perfect food for baby, at some point, baby will want or need solid food. Ask most mothers you know what their pediatricians recommend as first foods for their babies and most will say oatmeal or rice cereal. After that, most parents get the recommendation to add in fruit purees, starchy veggies like squash, various watered down mixtures of processed meats and over steamed veggies and eventually a nauseating array of fluffy, puffy, and sweet snacks or juices.

For those of you who haven’t already guessed my response to this: forget the grains! If they are damaging to an adult body (and they are), imagine what they can do to the stomach of a small child who has never digested anything but breast milk! Doctors say to try oatmeal and rice first because they are least likely to cause an allergic reaction, which is ironic, since both contain lectins, water soluble proteins that have been linked to formation of allergies. From a previous post:

Gluten’s sidekicks, the posse of  Lectins, are mild toxins the inhibit the repair of the GI track. Lectins are not broken down in the digestive process and bind to receptors in the intestine, allowing them and other food particles to leech into your bloodstream. Nothing like pre-digested food circulating the blood stream! The body views these lectins and the food they bring with them as dangerous invaders and initiates an immune response to get rid of them. This immune response to particles of common foods explains the allergy creating potential of grains.

Also interesting, is that starchy and sweet foods like grains and fruits are recommended first. It seems logical that habituating a baby to the taste of sweet foods first would make it difficult to introduce less sugary (yes, fruit does have sugar) foods like vegetables later. Speaking of vegetables, when is the last time you heard of someone allergic to spinach, or broccoli? It happens, but is very rare and usually associated with other autoimmune problems. I would wager that you have heard of someone allergic to peanuts (they contain lectins), wheat (contains gluten and lectin!), or soy (guess what, also has lectin!). To further confuse things, corn (a grain) and peas (a legume) are some of the first “vegetables” usually introduced to kids, and neither one is a vegetable (but guess what, they both contain lectins!) at this point, some of you are probably ready to point out that most foods contain lectins. While this is true, research has shown that some foods have higher concentrations of more problematic lectins than others.

Grains are not a necessary part of a childhood diet, or anyone’s diet, for that matter. So what foods should you introduce to your baby first? I recommend vegetables. There is a strange mentality among many moms that we should not force vegetables on babies or toddlers (perhaps because this adds to our own guilt for not eating them ourselves?).

Vegetables have a much higher nutrient content than grains and less chance of an allergic response. Unfortunately, the convenient jar baby food on grocery store shelves doesn’t have anywhere near the nutrients of fresh steamed and pureed vegetables. Ever read the labels? Besides the token vegetable or fruit, jar baby food contains mostly water and small amounts of added fillers to keep everything the same consistency. This is one case where it truly is, hands down, cheaper to make your own baby food. What you pay for in the store is so much water and filler that you could make huge amounts of fresh vegetables for your baby for less. All you need is a food processor or blender, some vegetables and a little water or milk if you need to thin things down a little. Homemade baby food can be frozen in small amounts for later, making it convenient.

Obviously, a departure from the baby food aisle will require a little more thought, but is actually a simpler option once you adapt to it. Here are some helpful things I discovered when making the switch:

• Give avocado as a first food. It has enough fat to keep baby satisfied longer and a few spoonfulls of avocado put a whole bowl of rice cereal to shame on nutrient content. I always carry a ripe avocado and a spoon in the diaper bag. If baby gets hungry, I just peel a little of the skin off, scoop out avocado and feed him. Any extra can be stored in a ziploc until you get home. No bowl or bottled water needed!
• Other great first foods are sweet potato, winter squash, asparagus, eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, carrots, spinach, greens, or green beans.
• Baby foods don’t even need to be pureed. Once baby is 6 months old (earliest you should introduce solids anyway), you can just cook vegetables until soft, cut into small pieces and put in front of baby. He or she will eat when hungry.
• Go organic whenever you can. Even small amounts of pesticides and chemicals can have a damaging effect on little bodies!
• By 7-8 months, you can introduce cooked (but still soft) egg yolks to baby. This is a great source of protein, cholesterol and fat. Also by this point, you can start introducing small pieces of meat to baby… they love protein!

I hoped to include some resources for switching to healthy baby foods, but unfortunately, there aren’t many! If you have any questions, ideas, suggestions, or rants, leave a comment below!

Some of the techniques it is my “homework” to try for the next two weeks until my next appointment are:

• Inversion: I stand(sit?) upside down on the stairs with my arms and head about three steps lower than my legs and butt. Sound ridiculous? You have no idea! Supposedly this works wonders for turning a baby and adjusting pelvic ligaments, though it is not a position I would gladly assume, pregnant or not!
• Pelvic Tilt: Almost as fun as inversion… I put one side of the ironing board on the couch and the other side on the ground, creating an angle. I then position myself with my head on the low end and legs/butt up. I hold this position for 20 minutes, three times a day. I don’t find this one so bad, at least since I found out that the alternative is doing a full handstand for 20 minutes a day. Can Olympic gymnasts even do that?
• Handstands: This one I get to do in water (because there is nothing quite like putting on a bathing suit in the third trimester and standing on your head repeatedly for an hour at the gym pool). I am supposed to swim and perform handstands in water as much as possible. Oh well, at least I won’t look as crazy as all those people doing arthritis aquatics (who am I kidding, yeah I will!).
• Elephant Walk: This is perhaps my favorite. As much as possible during the day I get to walk around on my hands and feet, basically creating an acute angle with my bottom straight up in the air. While this is surprisingly good exercise, my 3 year old and 16 month old find this hilarious and, thinking it a game, chase me around trying to tackle me.
• I will also be trying the Webster Technique tried by a chiropractor and the homeopathic Pulsatilla.

I will update on progress. For anyone else with a breech baby, check out the Spinning Babies website for some good information on turning your bambino.

In the meantime, dear Breech Baby, please turn! Love always, Mom

UPDATE: These techniques did work, and baby successfully flipped after trying the above techniques. Unfortunately,  we found out the reason he was breech when I hemorrhaged at 35 weeks because of an undetected placenta previa, but the techniques do work! For anyone interested, check out my full birth saga (of all the kids) here.