Health Canada issued an adviorsy earlier this week advising expectant mothers and breastfeeding women not to take the vitamin-mineral supplements Maxum Matragen or Maxum Multi-Vite by Seroyal International Inc.
The concerns lie in the lack of proper labeling, certain ingredients, and lack of others. Both Maxum Matragen and Maxum Multi-Vite contain ginkgo biloba, green tea extracts and vanadium. At this point, the safety of these ingredients for pregnant women or nursing women isn’t known and there is no such labeling to that effect.
As well, the supplements don’t have enough iron or folic acid for pregnant or nursing women. These are essential …read more

Organic Green Mommy is a little off-putting at first (for some reason I hate the whole “Mommy” title) but it’s actually a super useful site for green parents. Organic Green Mommy was started by Lauren Davison in 2008. Davison, is a mama, an organic lifestyle coach, yoga teacher, holistic nutritionist, and documentary filmmaker. Organic Green Mommy is an interactive site that provides tools and tips for eco-conscious parenting and green living.
The site is pretty darn cool, my favorite two features being the customized registry section which features a green baby registry and a green kid’s birthday (and other gear) registry. …read more

If you are the parent of a young child, pregnant, breastfeeding or thinking of becoming pregnant, the swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, should be of particular concern to you.
During a pandemic, children and pregnant women are at high risk of serious complications and even death if they become ill with the flu, according to the March of Dimes. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has developed extensive plans for minimizing the impact of the pandemic flu, and once a vaccine has been developed for the virus causing the pandemic, pregnant women and children from age 6 to …read more

I was well equipped to breast feed. (Um…) Having worked at the March of Dimes for the absurd number of months I was pregnant, I had the benefits of breastfeeding drilled into my brain. The organization also gave me a free Medela Breast Pump (value – $300) and a boxful of What to Expect books. They even had a breastfeeding consultant contact me and offer pep talks. Even then, I was half-hearted about the whole concept. My new pal Dr. Laura would shake a stick at me for that. But I was big and uncomfortable and looking forward to having …read more

Have you seen this study that says that traditional parenting results to better adjusted children?
A study in the UK says
The research found that a culture of “good enough” parenting – under which children are not stretched or closely supervised – led to a greater risk of behavioural and emotional problems among young people.
The study results are of course closely linked to the length of time mothers have breastfed their children.
What does this say about the modern parenting where children are supposedly treated like adults and given no boundaries?

Pregnant and lactating women have special nutritional needs in order to feed both mother and baby properly.  Vegetarian Mother’s Cookbook: Whole Foods to Nourish Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women and Their Families, by Cathe Olson is perfect for busy vegan and vegetarian moms. 
This book contains more than 300 healthy recipes, including options to make vegetarian meals vegan, changes for people with allergies, wheat-free, and soy-free. Some of the recipes are quick and easy, while others are perfect for plan-ahead, re-heat it meals. This handy cookbook also contains complete nutrition information, helpful shopping lists, and time-saving tips.  It’s a great addition to …read more

The primary function of breasts is baby food not porn.
I was loving the Suave commercials showing the breastfeeding mother. They came under fire by National Action Against Obesity, whose President MeMe Roth Cites U.S.’s Anti-Nursing Climate as Contributor to Obesity Epidemic–”Suave Shampoo is irresponsible in discouraging breastfeeding, even in jest.”
Breast feeding DOES make breasts flat. For many, many mothers. How is that discouraging breastfeeding? To say that it doesn’t make breasts flat is to deny the reality of breastfeeding. And it inflates the importance of full breasts.
That it changes the nature of breasts, as does pregnancy, weight fluctuations and age, doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing. …read more