Making the right decisions for your baby is a priceless investment with life-long returns. However, the modern world doesn’t make it easy with conflicting information coming from all angles and cheaply mass-produced goods, including food.
Since the beginning of capitalism we’ve seen an increase in c-sections, no or short periods of breastfeeding, increased use of medications and supplements, environmental toxins, electromagnetic field, epidemic use of plastic and parental diet devoid of truly nutritious foods. Although they have become an accepted norm, all can affect baby’s immunity, often leading to allergies, intolerances, skin conditions, autoimmunity, diabetes and later on in life – decreased focus or behavioural issues.
Every parent would like to avoid the above but what can you do when there is so much information out there to filter through?
Will I ever feel prepared?
More than likely, you will have asked yourself this question more than once. Pregnancy can be both exciting and challenging. As a mum, you want the best for your baby.It is very easy to get totally absorbed in the new duties of motherhood. However, as a result it is very easy to forget about yourself. You can end up exhausted, depressed or feeling unattractive- and that is just a start!
You must remember that looking after your own needs can help to build the strength and energy necessary to bring up a healthy, happy child, and to keep a happy relationship going.
There are many other challenges for new mums. There are endless difficult decisions to make as soon as the baby arrives. Delayed or immediate cord cutting, vitamin K shots, hepatitis B vaccine. What to do with vernix caseosa, antibacterial eye drops, sugar water, further vaccinations. The list goes on! There are countless future decisions to make: which formula is the best when you are unable to breastfeed, donated breast milk, how to wean the baby and what foods are truly best to start with. These are just a few of the stressful dilemmas mums are faced with.
On thing is certain, no one can tell a parent what is best for their baby because no circumstances are identical. The outcome depends on the factors affecting genetic expression, mother’s diet before and during pregnancy, the delivery of the baby and their emotional well-being. It is the duty of the parents to analyse these various factors from their own perspective, in order to make educated decisions.
What is important though is not to neglect any signs and symptoms, even if they are considered ‘normal’. Bloated belly, constipation, dry skin, sleeping problems or lack of appetite are all signs of underlying imbalances that require attention.
If you are pregnant or hope to be soon, join me and OsteoPalma this Saturday for an interactive and practical workshop on all the above and more.
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Written by Maya Flynn
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About the authorMaya Flynn, founder of www.welcometoglow.com is a nutritional therapist, certified GAPS practitioner (Gut and Paychology Syndrome) and a natural health consultant.
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