Cod liver oil: nature’s most potent superfood?

In general I think we should try to meet most of our nutrient needs by eating fresh foods.

After all, that’s the the way humans are adapted to absorbing nutrients.  Isolated, synthetic nutrients don’t have the same effect on our bodies, because most nutrients require co-factors and enzymes to be properly absorbed and activated.  These are not often present in supplements.

Cod liver oil is a notable exception.  In fact, even though most people think of it as a supplement, it’s more accurate to refer to it as a food – or perhaps “superfood”.

In particular, I recommend that all men and women trying to get pregnant, and all women that are pregnant and breastfeeding, take fermented cod liver oil (sold by Green Pastures – I have no affiliation with them).

Why cod liver oil?

It has large amounts of pre-formed vitamin A (retinol).  Vitamin A plays several crucial roles in reproductive health.  It promotes full-term pregnancy,  proper development of the face, kidneys and lungs and prevents prolonged labor, deafness and internal organ displacement – among other things.  As I mentioned in a previous article Why You Can’t Get Vitamin A From Vegetables, animal foods like liver and cod liver oil are the only significant sources of vitamin A in the diet.

It has more vitamin D per unit weight than any other common food.  Vitamin D is another important nutrient for fertility and pregnancy that up to 50% of women are deficient in.  Vitamin D promotes proper development of the bones, especially in the 3rd trimester when the fetal skeleton begins to grow rapidly.  It also plays a role in the development of the lungs, and protects newborns from tetany, convulsions and heart failure.

It has vitamin E, vitamin K2 (mk-7 form) and various quinones.  These fat-soluble vitamins are important to health and, in the case of K2 especially, aren’t commonly found in foods.

It has healthy amounts of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, EPA & DHA.  DHA is particularly important for fertility (both male and female) and pregnancy.  DHA is preferentially incorporated into the rapidly developing brain during pregnancy and the first two years of infancy, concentrating in the grey matter and the eyes.  It’s also crucial to the formation of neurons – the functional cells of the brain – and to protecting the brain from oxidative damage.

Why do I specifically recommend Green Pastures fermented cod liver oil?

It is cold-processed through fermentation.  This is important because processing with heat (which is what almost all other brands do) can damage the fragile long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, which in turn makes them potentially harmful to ingest.

It contains naturally occurring fat-soluble vitamins.  Most companies bleach and deodorize the cod liver oil in processing it, and before they do that, they have to remove the naturally occurring vitamins to prevent them from becoming damaged.  Then they add the vitamins back in afterward – except that when they do, they add back synthetic vitamins instead of the naturally occurring ones.

I recommend a dose of between 5 mL to 10 mL per day for women trying to get pregnant or who are already pregnant or breastfeeding, and a dose of 5 mL per day for men.

Author,
Chris Kresser

Bringing Baby Home: How to Prepare for the Arrival of Your Newborn

One of the most cautious drives you’ll ever take is the one bringing your baby home with you. Newborns look and feel fragile, and they represent a new of world of uncertainty. Here’s what you need to know to make your transition to parenthood easier.

It’s true: There’s no official instruction manual for becoming a parent.

But relax. You’re not the first parent to wonder why you’ve been entrusted with a little person without an instruction manual. The 40 weeks (give or take) of pregnancy allow time for more than just picking out names; it’s your opportunity to plan and prepare. The more you know about your newborn, the better equipped you’ll be when she arrives.

Once your baby is born, doctors will be looking for a few key signs that she is healthy and ready to go home, says Vinod K. Bhutani, M.D., FAAP, professor of pediatrics at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University School of Medicine. “First they will want to see that the baby is able to breathe well and maintain her body temperature,” says Dr. Bhutani, who is also a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Fetus and Newborn.

Newborns must also demonstrate that they can feed well. Regardless of whether she’s breastfed or bottle-fed, all babies should be wetting at least three or four diapers in a 24-hour period, says Dr. Bhutani. And while many newborns have some jaundice — a yellowish tint to their skin — their jaundice will be evaluated before they’re sent home from the hospital. If necessary, your pediatrician will discuss a follow-up plan for monitoring your baby’s jaundice.

Healthy at Home

 

Most healthy newborns go home after two or three days, yet the transition for parents is just beginning. “It’s OK to be a little scared — the first week after babies are born is when they’re most vulnerable,” says Dr. Bhutani. “Newborns can have multiple medical problems that if left unattended can become serious.”

Dehydration is sometimes a concern for newborn babies that can continue once they’ve left the hospital. Your pediatrician will discuss dehydration with you so you’llknow what to look for, how to respond, etc.

Parents should also watch for signs of infection in their newborn. Infections can be picked up during birth or from people other than the parents handling the baby, such as visitors. “Most people think only of fevers, but newborns can have dropping temperatures or a low temperature that’s of concern,” says Dr. Bhutani. It’s always wise to watch for signs of infection around the belly button or circumcised foreskin, such as poor sucking during breastfeeding, a lack of appetite, poor weight gain, weak crying, and increasing irritability.

Jaundice happens in most every baby, peaking in the first week as newborns learn to excrete the yellow pigment called bilirubin in their stools. “Babies tend to have slow liver function at first and may have some evidence of jaundice as their livers quickly mature over the first several days,” write Drs. Laura Jana and Jennifer Shu in Heading Home With Your Newborn. “The bilirubin level generally peaks by about 5 days for term babies and about 1 week for those born prematurely.” If your baby continues to have signs of jaundice — very yellowish skin and eyes — after day four, consult your pediatrician.

Although most babies remain perfectly healthy after they’re discharged from the hospital, it’s important to watch for any signs of illness and take your child to the pediatrician for evaluation within a day or two of leaving the hospital. “Every baby needs to be seen by a pediatrician on day three, four, or five,” says Dr. Bhutani. “It’s a must.”

Finding a Pediatrician

 

As a new parent, it’s important to find a pediatrician with whom you feel comfortable. If your child becomes ill, you want to have a good working relationship with a doctor you trust and respect, and who will be there to support you.

Begin by evaluating the pediatrician practices in your local area. Determine whether it matters to you if you have a male or female pediatrician. Be aware that while it’s all the same to infants, some children as they get older feel more at ease working with a doctor of the same sex. If possible, visit the offices and meet the physicians in person. Or find out if your hospital has a “Meet the Doctors” night attended by area pediatricians.

Since you’ll be visiting a pediatrician shortly after bringing your child home, don’t leave this task until the last minute. “You have nine months to plan. You should always choose your pediatrician beforehand,” says Dr. Bhutani.

Quick Tips: Time to Call the Doctor

 

Watch for these signs that it’s time to call your pediatrician:

• Your newborn’s breathing is faster or irregular
• You notice blueness or a darkness on the lips or face 
• Your newborn has a fever 
• Your newborn’s body temperature has dropped
• You see signs of dehydration (less than 3 to 4 wet diapers in a 24-hour period)
• Your baby’s belly button or circumcision area looks infected
• Your newborn’s jaundice does not decrease by the fifth day 
• Your baby is crying a lot or appears sluggish
• You think your baby is not looking or feeling well

Quick Tips: Choosing a Pediatrician

 

The following are a few questions from the AAP to help you select a pediatrician:

• What are the office hours? Is emergency coverage available 24/7?
• Which hospital does the pediatrician use?
• Do they accept your insurance plan and how does the office process billing and claims?
• What are the qualifications of the pediatrician? Is he or she an AAP member (i.e., “FAAP,” a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics)?

What is Preventing Your Baby from Sleeping Through the Night?

Here’s something that may really surprise you: As much as we may want our babies to sleep through the night, our own subconscious emotions sometimes hold us back from encouraging change in our babies’ sleeping habits. You yourself may be the very obstacle preventing a change in a routine that disrupts your life. So let’s figure out if anything is standing in your way.

Examine Your Own Needs and Goals

Today’s society leads us to believe that “normal babies” sleep through the night from about two months; my research indicates that this is more the exception than the rule. The number of families in your boat could fill a fleet of cruise ships.

“At our last day-care parent meeting, one father brought up the fact that his two-year-old daughter wasn’t sleeping through the night. I discovered that out of 24 toddlers only six stayed asleep all night long.” …Robin, mother of thirteen-month-old Alicia

You must figure out where your own problem lies. Is it in your baby’s routine, in your management of it, or simply in the minds of others? If you can honestly say you want to change your baby’s sleep habits because they are truly disruptive to you and your family, then you’re ready to make changes. But if you feel coerced into changing Baby’s patterns because Great Grandma Beulah or your friend from playgroup says that’s the way it should be, it’s time for a long, hard think.

Certainly, if your little one is waking you up every hour or two, you don’t have to think long on the question, “Is this disruptive to me?” It obviously is. However, if your baby is waking up only once or twice a night, it’s important that you determine exactly how much this pattern is disturbing to you, and decide on a realistic goal. Be honest in assessing the situation’s effect on your life. Begin today by contemplating these questions:

Am I content with the way things are, or am I becoming resentful, angry, or frustrated?

Is my baby’s nighttime routine negatively affecting my marriage, job, or relationships with my other children?

Is my baby happy, healthy, and seemingly well rested?

Am I happy, healthy, and well rested?

Once you answer these questions, you will have a better understanding of not only what is happening with regard to your baby’s sleep, but also how motivated you are to make a change.

Reluctance to Let Go of Those Nighttime Moments

A good, long, honest look into your heart may truly surprise you. You may find you actually relish those quiet night wakings when no one else is around. I remember in the middle of one night, I lay nursing Coleton by the light of the moon. The house was perfectly, peacefully quiet. As I gently stroked his downy hair and soft baby skin, I marveled at this tiny being beside me—and the thought hit me, “I love this! I love these silent moments that we share in the night.” It was then that I realized that even though I struggled through my baby’s hourly nighttime wakings, I needed to want to make a change in our night waking habits before I would see any changes in his sleeping patterns.

You may need to take a look at your own feelings. And if you find you’re truly ready to make a change, you’ll need to give yourself permission to let go of this stage of your baby’s life and move on to a different phase in your relationship. There will be lots of time to hug, cuddle, and love your little one, but you must truly feel ready to move those moments out of your sleeping time and into the light of day.

Worry About Your Baby’s Safety

We parents worry about our babies, and we should! With every night waking, as we have been tending to our child’s nightly needs, we have also been reassured that our baby is doing fine — every hour or two all night long. We get used to these checks; they provide continual reassurance of Baby’s safety.

“The first time my baby slept five straight hours, I woke up in a cold sweat. I nearly fell out of bed and ran down the hall. I was so sure that something was horribly wrong. I nearly wept when I found her sleeping peacefully.” …Azza, mother of seven-month-old Laila

Co-sleeping parents are not exempt from these fears. Even if you are sleeping right next to your baby, you’ll find that you have become used to checking on her frequently through the night. Even when she’s sleeping longer stretches, you aren’t sleeping, because you’re still on security duty.

These are very normal worries, rooted in your natural instincts to protect your baby. Therefore, for you to allow your baby to sleep for longer stretches, you’ll need to find ways to feel confident that your baby is safe—all night long.

Once you reassure yourself that your baby is safe while you sleep, you’ll have taken that first step toward helping her sleep all night.

Belief That Things Will Change on Their Own

You may hope, pray, and wish that one fine night, your baby will magically begin to sleep through the night. Maybe you’re crossing your fingers that he’ll just “outgrow” this stage, and you won’t have to do anything different at all. It’s a very rare night-waking baby who suddenly decides to sleep through the night all on his own. Granted, this may happen to you—but your baby may be two, three or four years old when it does! Decide now whether you have the patience to wait that long, or if you are ready to gently move the process along.

Too Fatigued to Work Toward Change

Change requires effort, and effort requires energy. In an exhausted state, we may find it easier just to keep things as they are than try something different. In other words, when Baby wakes for the fifth time that night, and I’m desperate for sleep, it’s so much easier just to resort to the easiest way to get him back to sleep (rock, nurse, or replace the pacifier) than it is to try something different.

Only a parent who is truly sleep deprived can understand what I’m saying here. Others may calmly advise, “Well if things aren’t working for you, just change what you’re doing.” However, every night waking puts you in that foggy state where the only thing you crave is going back to sleep—plans and ideas seem like too much effort.

If you are to help your baby sleep all night, you will have to force yourself to make some changes and follow your plan, even in the middle of the night, even if it’s the tenth time your baby has called out for you.

So, after reading this section and you’re sure you and your baby are ready, it’s time for you to make a commitment to change. That is the first important step to helping your baby sleep through the night.


Author,
Elizabeth Pantley

Dogs and cats help babies' health, study finds

Fido the dog and Ginger the cat need not worry about being replaced by a new baby — in fact, they could be helping parents raise healthier children.

A new study finds that children who lived with dogs or cats during their first year of life got sick less frequently than kids from pet-free zones. The study, published in Monday's edition of the journal Pediatrics, provides fresh evidence for the counterintuitive notion that an overly clean environment may not be ideal for babies.

Sharing a home with a pet may be an early form of cross-training for the body's defense systems. Previous research has shown that owning a cat or dog was associated with less risk of gastroenteritis in young children.

Studies also suggest that the dirt — and microbes — brought indoors by pets could bolster the communities of helpful bacteria, yeast and other microscopic creatures that live in a developing child's body.

For instance, a paper presented last month at a meeting of the American Society for Microbiology showed that mice fed dust from homes with dogs were less likely than other mice to contract respiratory syncytial virus, which is thought to play a role in the development of childhood asthma. In addition, the composition of microbes in their guts was significantly different from that of mice that were not exposed to doggy dust.

For the new study, European researchers tracked the health of 397 Finnish children born between September 2002 and May 2005. When the infants were 9 weeks old, parents began keeping weekly diaries to document a number of indicators of their children's health, including runny noses, coughs and ear infections. Parents also noted when their babies were given antibiotics. When the children celebrated their first birthdays, the parents were asked to complete a questionnaire.

Overall, the researchers found that cats and dogs were linked to a reduced incidence of various types of illness. The effect was stronger for dogs than for cats: Babies who lived with dogs were 31% more likely to be in good health than their counterparts who didn't, and babies with cats had a 6% advantage over those without feline family members.

The children with pet dogs were 44% less likely to develop ear infections and 29% less likely to have used antibiotics during their first year, the report said.

Here's where the plot thickened: Although living with a cat or dog was correlated with good health, the benefit was biggest when those pets weren't around the house very much.

In cat-owning households, babies whose cats were indoors more than 16 hours a day were healthy 70.8% of the time. But in homes where the cat was inside for less than six hours a day, babies were healthy 78.2% of the time. For the sake of comparison, young children who lived in cat-free zones were healthy 66.1% of the time.

A similar pattern held for dogs: Kids with homebody canines were healthy 72.2% of the time, and that figure rose to 75.7% for children whose dogs spent fewer than six hours indoors each day. In dogless households, babies were healthy 64.8% of the time.

The researchers offered a possible explanation for the puzzling pattern: Pets that spent more time outdoors brought more dirt into their homes, giving babies more opportunities to encounter it. That exposure could have caused their immune systems to mature faster than they would have otherwise, they wrote.

Until now, studies on the ways pets influence human health have largely focused on allergies, not illness, said Dr. Danelle Fisher, vice chair of pediatrics atSt. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, who wasn't involved in the study.

"It's more support in a growing body of evidence that exposure to pets early in life can stimulate the immune system to do a better job of fighting off infection," Fisher said.

The new findings could help assuage parents-to-be who worry about the health consequences of exposing their infant to a pet.

"What I always tell them is this: It's actually very helpful to have a cat or dog around because we tend to see less allergies," Fisher said. "And now I can tell them we've even seen less chance of upper respiratory infection in the first year of life."

 Author,

Amina Khan.

Breastfeed or formula feed

Choosing whether to breastfeed or formula feed their baby is one of the biggest decisions expectant and new parents will make.

A number of health organizations — including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) — recommend breastfeeding as the best choice for babies. Breastfeeding helps defend against infections, prevent allergies, and protect against a number of chronic conditions.

The AAP recommends that babies be breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months. Beyond that, breastfeeding is encouraged until at least 12 months, and longer if both the mother and baby are willing.

Although experts believe breast milk is the best nutritional choice for infants, breastfeeding may not be possible for all women. For many, the decision to breastfeed or formula feed is based on their comfort level, lifestyle, and specific medical situations.

For mothers who are unable to breastfeed or who decide not to, infant formula is a healthy alternative. Formula provides babies with the nutrients they need to grow and thrive.

Some mothers worry that if they don't breastfeed, they won't bond with their baby. But the truth is, loving mothers will always create a special bond with their children. And feeding — no matter how — is a great time to strengthen that bond.

The decision to breastfeed or formula feed your baby is a personal one. Weighing the pros and cons of each method can help you decide what is best for you and your baby.

How to care for your new born baby

The moment your baby is born can be both magical and stressful. A newborn experiences rapid change in physiology at birth and during the initial few days of life. This is the period when many infants would fall sick. So care during first few days of life is very important and can lay a good foundation for a healthy childhood. Irrespective of the mode of delivery, opportunity should be utilized for bonding and initiation of breastfeeding. Because separation of a normal infant from the mother even for a couple of hours can pose an effect on successful breastfeeding. 

Breastfeeding is the best way to provide infants with the nutrients they need. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding starting within one hour after birth until a baby is six months old. Once you are ready for discharge from the hospital make sure that your kid gets all the vaccinations (BCG, OPV & Hepatitis B). The infant can be bathed at home once discharged from the hospital. A variety of traditional practices are common in India.

 These can be beneficial such as oil massage, however there are a variety of harmful traditional practices such as applying kajal/surma in eyes, putting oil in ear and nose, putting boric acids in nostrils or applying substances such as cow dung on cord must be avoided. All healthy babies should preferably be placed down for sleep on their back only. If your baby’s birth weight is below 2000 grams then you can do kangaroo mother care (KMC), in this method the infant is placed between mother’s breasts in direct skin-to-skin contact because of benefit on breastfeeding, better weight gain, and lower risk of respiratory infections.

 Author,

Dr. Kumar Ankur

Baby Care Tips for New Moms

Taking care of a newborn baby is such a stressful thing to deal with, yet the joy still overcomes the tiredness you may feel. There are tricks and baby care tips you must know to make the burden lighter. These simple baby care tips can help you handle your baby properly while still being a beautiful wife to your husband.

Crying Can Mean Many Things

Specialists once thought that when a baby cries, it means they are experiencing stomach ache. Now, studies have shown that it may also be the cause of acid reflux. Experiencing this is painful for adults, let alone for babies. When your baby does constant screaming, back arching, and spitting up, these may be a sign of acid reflux. It's of utmost importance to go to a pediatrician to know what really causes your baby to cry.

It's Okay to Hold Your Baby

There has always been this rule that you can't hold your baby too much because he or she might get over dependent. Ignore this because you can't spoil a baby just by holding him or her. In fact, babies who are held often are more satisfied because their needs are met right away. They are more likely to have a higher self-esteem while growing up. It's the natural thing to do, so don't hesitate doing it.

Don't Depend On Baby Wipes

Baby wipes are costly and may cause irritations for sensitive bums. Instead of risking your baby's smooth skin, just use a damp cloth. Studies say that breastfed babies don't need baby wipes because their feces and urine are low in acid and bacteria. You can easily clean them off with a damp cloth.

Faster Sterilization

You might think that sterilizing the baby bottles is time-consuming and stressful, but it isn't anymore. Doing it the old-fashion way with an expensive home sterilizer is not the only way to do it anymore. Just toss everything inside your dishwasher, put some soap, and run it on a short and hot cycle.

Babies like Music

Although you might think that babies can't appreciate symphonies and melodies, they can. The sound of soothing instruments and a warm voice can calm your baby down. You can turn on the CD player while on the road and it can even put a baby to sleep.

No Rush for Shoes

You don't really need to put shoes on your toddler's feet until he or she can walk. Socks are the only feet accessory babies need just to prevent their feet from getting dirty. It's more practical to save the money until your baby really needs them.

With a little bit of pediatric help and online research for baby care tips, you can take care of your baby with ease and assurance. Don't make the task harder than it should be so you could enjoy a good night's sleep along with your newborn.


Author,
Kate Q Wills