Don't take shots in the dark. Know your options.

Can you tell that I have been lazy and less creative on the food front? Everyday around 5PM I get pretty low-energy and so coming up with new recipes hasn't been by biggest priority.

So today, I just wanted to pass on information for books that have been helpful to me in case you were interested. I remember when Sam was born that every doctor appointment I went to, Sam needed to receive vaccines, which my doctor and I spent very little time discussing. It seemed really scary to be giving him 3 or 4 shots in one day when he was such a little baby, and without knowing what my options were at the time, I just did what the doctor ordered.

However, knowing that doctors receive their orders from the CDC, FDA, and the government (who have interests/are subject to lobbying by pharmaceuticals), I am increasingly aware that doing your own research about the topic helps you feel more comfortable with any decisions you make about your baby's health--with either way you go.

I have always been a "middle of the road" person when it comes to vaccines--and can see points of view from both sides. You obviously do not want to eliminate vaccinations and expose your child to deadly diseases. But, you want do vaccinate in such a way that there are less risks of developing autism, ADD, ADHD, and other autoimmune diseases that may be related to over-vaccinating children before they can developmentally handle the ingredients. So, while I do plan on vaccinating the new baby--I plan on doing it on a modified schedule that I will develop based on research and with my pediatrician and (hopefully) pose less risks.

So, in case you are interested, here are 2 books that were recommended to me--that present both sides of the vaccine debate and that both are written by doctors.

What your Doctor May Not Tell you About Children's Vaccinations by Stephanie Cave, MD with Deborah Mitchell: I am currently reading this one and finding it fascinating (because I am a dork). But it is helpful to see that I can delay some of the vaccines until the baby is a bit older--without risking him getting some of the diseases, etc.

The Vaccine Book by Dr Sears: I haven't read this one yet (it is next on the list), but my doula recommended it. She said if she had read it, that she probably would have given her son 1-2 of the vaccines recommended instead of abstaining from them completely (she didn't vaccinate at all because of fear of the controversies). So I am pretty sure it gives a picture of both sides of the debate--when the vaccines are neccessary and when they can be delayed.

In any case, it is something to think about before your baby is born, especially since the first vaccine is scheduled on the day of his/her birth (Hep B). If not those books, you should read a little bit about it so you feel comfortable with any decisions you make. You should also talk it over with prospective pediatricians to see what they think about the topic too, since their philosophy on it will be important to align with your own.

Hope this helps to bring up (yet another) thing to think about when preparing for your little one.

In health and wellness,
Nicole

What is BPA anyway?

While I try to make it a habit to avoid instilling fear into mommies (especially first-timers) and while worrying about every little thing will drive you nuts as a new mom-to-be, there are instances where a higher level of concern and care are healthy. Such is the case when dealing with BPA. So, I do warn you, that this post is kind of scary, but should be taken into consideration while pregnant and caring for your little baby.

When you go buy (or register for) your baby bottles and breastfeeding gear or whatever you are planning to use, there is this claim on the boxes for "BPA-free". Many people probably do not know what it means, but it sounds good right? Well, it is something every pregnant/nursing/mothers for children under 2 should be very concerned with (and really anyone for that matter) and I thought I should take the time to explain why for people who may not know or may not necessarily be taking it that seriously.

Back on August 3rd, 2009 (approx 5-6 days before I discovered my exciting baby news), the Massachusetts Department of Health released a public health advisory to consumers concerning bisphenol A (BPA). The full advisory can be found here: http://www.massmedboard.org/public/pdf/bisphenola_advisory.pdf. The advisory actually states in bold letters "The DPH is specifically advising parents and caretakers of children up to two years old to avoid the use of products that contain BPA for making or storing infant formula and breast milk. DPH is further advising pregnant and breastfeeding women to avoid products that may contain BPA."

Red flag. This concerned me. This organization rarely sends statewide warnings about public consumer products to doctors, etc; so it is something that really got my attention. I did a bit of reading on the advisory and about BPA in general and thought that other people should know about other sources of BPA other than baby bottles so you can protect yourself and your loved ones. On a side note, I think it is really sad that we need to do this, instead of the government taking strides to ensure that none of the products contain a harmful substance, but sigh...how long did we use lead paint and asbestos? And now formaldehyde and BPA? And can we please do some things to get the mercury out of our tuna fish? OK, done with politics. Back to BPA.

Basically BPA is is an organic compound that is a building block of several plastics and plastic additives. Apparently according to Wikipedia, there have been concerns over its safety for humans since the 1930's (sigh again). It is an endocrine disruptor (which means it acts like a hormone in your body) and is linked to a whole host of problems--disrupted fetal development of thyroid and reproductive systems, obesity, thyroid dysfunction, reproductive issues in both men and women, breast and prostate cancers, and sadly the list goes on.

So, something we want to avoid, right? So what are the sources of BPA, and what should we do to avoid BPA exposure?

Sources of BPA:

• BPA is used as a liner in some food and beverage cans to prevent spoilage
• Transparent (clear or colored) plastic containers or baby bottles with the recycling number 7 and the letters PC, which stand for “polycarbonate” plastic
• Liquid baby formulas

How to Avoid BPA exposure:

• Avoid eating canned foods/beverages while pregnant/nursing. Fresh/frozen foods are better choices. Jarred food in glass bottles is fine. Thank goodness we can still eat our pickles.
• Drink out of stainless steel or glass containers. Avoid plastic bottled water and canned soft drinks.
• Replace Tupperware and other food storage with glass containers.
• The most effective means of reducing BPA exposure to infants is to breast feed. If formula is needed, avoid liquid formula. Dry powder has not been shown to contain detectable levels of BPA.
• Use BPA-free products to store breast milk and formula.
• Do not heat or pour hot liquid into plastic bottles.
• Do not put plastic bottles or containers into the dishwasher.
• Do not use harsh detergents and soaps on plastics, which also causes leaching.
• Pay attention to the types of plastics used on sippy cups, teething rings, pacifiers, etc.

So, I hope you aren't freaking out and thinking that the past few months you have been doing everything wrong and have done harm to your baby. The past is the past and I didn't know any of this with my first son. You can only do something about today and days ahead. So having anxiety about the past is useless. The same can be said about all those people with mercury fillings. You cannot control what you do not now. So, now you know, and you can take action!

Start by reviewing the state of the union: all of your baby's gear, your food pantry, and the beverages you drink (and your registry). Return or toss all the items you suspect to contain BPA. Replace your tupperware and other food storage containers with glass (I keep all my dry bulk goods in mason jars, which works really well and each one is $.50-1.00 at AC Moore or Micheal's). Get yourself a cute stainless steel water bottle. Toss or give away all your plastic water bottles. Stick to glass bottles or fountain drinks when you are out and thirsty. And basically do the best you can. Any action you take will reduce the amount of exposure and that is all anyone can ask of you. I have listed some resources for you to get more info. And while my post is focused on pregnant moms and babies, it isn't that good for anyone really, including your husband or partner!

Resources:
http://www.massmedboard.org/public/pdf/bisphenola_advisory.pdf
http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/environmental/exposure/bisphenol_a_brochure.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A

In health and wellness,
Nicole