A battle that brews in the mother’s womb between the father’s biological goal to produce the biggest, healthiest baby possible vs. the mother’s need to live through delivery might help explain preeclampsia, an often deadly disease of pregnancy. The fetus must be big enough to thrive, yet small enough to pass through the birth canal. […]
Health
Blood Test Detects Genetic Defects During Pregnancy
If a couple chooses to test for genetic defects in their unborn baby, they must go through a series of invasive procedures that can be potentially risky to the fetus and the mother. Amniocentesis, which typically tests for Down’s Syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and spina bifida at around 20-weeks of pregnancy, tests the amniotic fluid around […]
Wonder What Toxins You’ve Been Exposed To? Just Ask Your Breasts.
There was a recent segment on NPR about our environment and its impact on our breast health. Breast tissue, consisting of mostly fat, acts as a sponge absorbing all the elements of our surroundings. When Florence Williams, author of Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History, read an article about toxins, she became curious about […]
The Importance of Choline For Mother & Baby
When I was pregnant with my second son and my blood pressure became a concern, my midwife put me on an egg-eating regimen. With a history of pre-eclampsia, we were on a mission to avoid that diagnosis at all costs. I was advised to eat one egg and drink a half cup of milk every […]
Fetal Cells Impact Mother’s Health For Decades After Birth
It’s no secret that every pregnancy a woman experiences leaves its impact on her forever. Experiencing a life growing inside of you and becoming a mother can change you forever. But did you know that fetal cells from every pregnancy remain in the mother, sometimes even 50 years later? During pregnancy, fetal cells cross […]
Detoxing Through Oil Pulling
Last week we talked about the Ayurvedic method of heating the placenta to revive an unresponsive newborn. Another Ayurvedic technique that may be able to boost your health is oil pulling. Oil Pulling is the act of swishing 1 tablespoon of a healthy oil (olive or coconut will do the trick) in your mouth […]
