PAPA

Unconventional Health Tips for the Pregnant Mom
July 02, 2009 (Thursday)

With the recent restructuring of official pregnancy guidelines, very overweight pregnant moms are looking for ways to safely and effectively keep their weight gain to a minimum. Starting before pregnancy is ideal, but healthy steps can be taken at any time. There are an infinite number of ways to take control of one's health and weight. Here are some not-so-common health tips, and a few can be implemented immediately. 

The natural health movement has been saying for years that an overload of toxins can keep body fat high as the body must store toxins until an accumulating reprieve is found. Toxins can mean anything from pesticides and car exhaust to heavy metals and normal metabolic wastes. Removing toxins is not only beneficial for the mother's baby and her health, but many medical doctors adhere to the theory that toxins are stored in fat cells.

The book, "Conscious Breathing," by Gay Hendricks, discusses how deep diaphragmatic breathing may remove up to 70 percent of the toxins in the body. Breathing deeply is known as a de-stressor that works against the release of the body’s main stress hormone, cortisol. Not only are sustained cortisol levels directly associated with maintaining excess body fat, one's body will not prioritize the detoxification of normal metabolic wastes when one is in a state of stress. This book offers an easy introduction to learn how to breathe away internal toxins.

To apply this information, while breathing deeply, take a walk somewhere in order to establish the healthy habit of exercise. Walk to the store, walk to a friend’s house, or rescue a dog if extra motivation is needed.

Eat unprocessed foods. Dr. Weston A. Price, who searched the globe looking for the healthiest moms who birthed the healthiest babies created a diet that pregnant and nursing mothers from traditional cultures used to birth healthy babies. This diet is posted online at http://www.westonaprice.org/children/dietformothers.html.

Sleep between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. as often as possible. Lack of sleep creates “disturbances in thyroid function that put people at risk of gaining weight,” according to "The Body Clock Guide to Better Health," by Michael Smolensky, PhD., and Lynne Lamberg. Sleeping in anything lighter than a pitch black, cave-like atmosphere can potentially destroy one's hormone timing and biological rhythms.

Finally, and most importantly, it is good for a mother to think of herself as a beautiful, vibrant, healthy, and optimally toned woman. It will not be long before her body follows this instruction, according to documentaries like "What the Bleep" and "The Secret," as well as Dr. Emoto’s famous water studies and The Blue Zone’s suggestions about maintaining a positive outlook in everything we do.

Please remember that cutting calories is not considered healthy or even effective for permanent weight loss, whether pregnant or not. If you are in the 45 percent of the childbearing population who are not considered overweight, you must gain weight during pregnancy in order to have a healthy baby.

James and Kim are certified nutrition and lifestyle coaches who assist pregnant moms and new parents to achieve optimal health. They can be contacted at FitForBirth@gmail.com or through their websites at GetFitForBirth.com, SecretsofPainlessChildbirth.com, and YourSuperBaby.com

UTM student found dead after giving birth
July 01, 2009 (Wednesday)

Pickup story from The Star. A Universiti Teknologi Malaysia student was found dead in her campus dormitory after she had given birth to a baby boy. The baby, whose umbilical cord was still attached to his mother, was also dead.

The 26-year-old fourth-year student, who was unmarried, was found in her dormitory by a warden around 5pm on Monday.

Johor Baru (North) OCPD Asst Comm Ruslan Hassan said initial investigations revealed that the student, who was from Kelantan, had been dead for more than two days.

“We believe she died after giving birth.

“However, we are not ruling out the possibility of a criminal element in her death,” he said.

He said the victim’s partner could be a fellow student.

“The bodies have been sent to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital for post-mortem,” he said.

ACP Ruslan urged anyone with information to contact the police hotline at 07-2212 999 or the nearest police station.