Mommy News - Vol. 1, Issue 2
- The Amazing NAPNAP
- Bevi Bags
- The Tucker Sling
- Question and Answer
- Fun Food for Fast Moms
- Tips of the Day
- Diet Tips of the Day
The Amazing NAPNAP
Stephanie Raffelock
NAPNAP stands for The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. I recently had the opportunity and privilege of attending the NAPNAP conference in San Diego, California. This wonderful group of mostly women, but some men, is an outstanding testament to the health care provided for newborns and children in our society.
I had no idea that there were so many different specialties within pediatric care. Some nurses worked with newborns that needed surgery. These compassionate, competent practitioners were not only hands on with baby but provided a much needed resource for parents facing the fear and wrenching concern that parents deal with when they are told their newborn needs surgery. Other nurses were general practitioners that loved kids and worked with them from infancy to 18. And still others worked with marginalized communities where money and resources are scarce. Each practitioner and student that I met left me feeling a little more hopeful about the world we live in!
I attended the conference as an exhibitor, meaning that our little company, Sound Formulas had a booth which showcased our products and allowed us to talk to the NAPNAP nurses about the vitamins we provide to help women in all phases of motherhood. One of the things I love about nurses and nurse practitioners is that they are very open- minded. We were well received by this group. Many of the nurses had either heard about our products or knew of mothers that had taken our products. They had questions, comments and curiosity about After Baby Boost and Before Baby Boost.
I gave away a three bottle system of the Before Baby Boost to a pregnant nurse who confessed she had forgotten to pack her prenatal. She and her husband returned to our booth later in the day and said that they were surprised and concerned that she needed to take three capsules of the multiple. They both thought she was going to get sick, because her regular prenatal (the one that she forgot to pack) makes her feel queasy, and she only takes one capsule of that. But, she said, after taking the three capsules, her tummy was fine and both she and her husband were amazed that she had gotten so many nutrients in three capsules and she didn't get sick. That was a great moment for me. I always love to hear how people benefit from our product and feel good!
All around us at NAPNAP were other companies. I especially like the small ones like my own, and made a few new friends as a result. Because mothers are my greatest teachers in this life, I take great delight when I have the chance to meet women who have woven together creativity, adversity and strength and emerged with businesses that can help others. So let me share the inspiration of a couple of those woman:
Bevi Bags were invented by a couple of very special mothers. One of them has a Down's syndrome child name Shannon. Shannon took a special drink to school with her everyday; part fruit juice, part nectar to thicken it so that she could address her drinking skills. The hard plastic containers that carried this mixture often cracked or retained odors. The moms knew that there had to be a better way! That's the inspiration behind Bevi Bags: a disposable container (don't have to worry about containers that have the chemical BPA) always clean, and you can put anything into it. Given the cost of juice boxes, and the fact that many juice boxes are loaded with sugar and corn syrup, I think this is a great little invention. Their Web Site is: www.bevibags.com You can order the bags from their web site in varying amounts. This was their first NAPNAP conference and I am really hoping that I run into them again next year.
The woman with the booth next to mine makes something called The Tucker Sling. It's a wedge for "reflux babies" that holds that baby in place at an angle with the help of a Velcro kind of diaper and sheet. It puts the baby at an angle to help the reflux. Babies that are post surgical have Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease or Acid Reflux Disease or Pulmonary Problems are greatly helped and comforted by the position that The Tucker Sling induces. The sling is reimbursable by many medical insurance companies and if you look at their Web Site, you will find useful and glowing testimonials... plus some good pictures which explains a lot more than my attempt at description can. Terry, who owns the company, started it because she had a reflux baby. Now she is helping countless mothers with a simple and profound solution. Please visit them at www.tuckersling.com
Of course there were the big companies, like Johnsons and Johnson, Pampers and Mam, and even though their booths were bigger and fancier, I didn't get any sense of hierarchy. Everyone was just as nice as they could be. I think when you are dealing with babies and children, those little folks and their needs just naturally bring out the best in all of us.
It was really exciting talking to the NAPNAP nurses about our products, but it was equally exciting to be educated by them. Here are some things that I learned: babies will be seen by their practitioner for general health an average of 10 to 12 times in the first two years. Mothers on the other hand will be seen only one time, 6 to 8 weeks after giving birth. That statistic really got to me. This is why it is so important for mommies to take good care of themselves. They will not be exposed to the regular type of health care that their babies have. Healthy moms make better moms and certainly the experience of motherhood is so much more enjoyable if you are feeling good.
There were a lot of lactation specialists at NAPNAP that came over and talked to us. They really liked the idea of moms taking their nutrients during nursing. Did you know that is mostly the fat-soluble nutrients like Vitamins A, D, E, and K that get into the breast milk? This is a good thing. Other nutrients, in less condensed quantities gets there too. We need to remember that the baby's body is made up entirely of nutrients that have been donated by the mother. So, in pregnancy mommy needs really good nutrients for the baby she is making and in post natal mommy needs really good nutrients to help replenish what her body has given away. And in both instances, mother and baby benefits.
After three days of meeting great people and sharing great stories, I packed up and came home.
I love the NAPNAP nurses and hope to be with them again soon. And I love the moms I met that started their own businesses based on experiences with their own children. I hope you will check out their Web Sites so that you can see the good they are doing in the world.
Once again dear mommies, I wish all of you a very Happy Mother's Day!
Questions and Answers about Mommy Nutrition, by Dr. Dean Raffelock
Q: What are some of the natural things that I can do to help when I get morning sickness—which by the way, isn't very well named, because for me anyway, it doesn't just happen in the morning!
A: Each woman is different and what works for one, may not work for another. So, you have to find your way as to what works for you. Most women find that the sense of "sea-sickness" and always being on a rocking boat does dissipate after the first trimester. If, however, you are throwing up constantly and things don't normalize after the first trimester, you need to let your doctor or mid-wife know immediately. Here are some of the natural things that you can try help alleviate the queasiness:
- Try our Mommy Tummy Calm—3 caps, 3 time per day.
- Grated ginger steeped in boiling water to make a tea. You can drink it slowly either hot or cold
- Peppermint tea
- Avoid fatty foods
- Avoid strong odors
- Eat small meals throughout the day
- Bland carbs like rice cakes or crackers (make sure there are no Trans fats in the crackers!)
- Acupuncture! Many women benefit from acupuncture treatments for morning queasiness
- Acupressure Sea bands. Wear these on your wrists placing the little knob between the tendons.
- Fresh Air and walking often helps
- Drink water throughout the day and stay hydrated
- Naps! Make sure you are getting the rest that your body I asking for!
Did you know that if you order a three-month supply of Before Baby Boost prenatal, we will send you a free bottle of Mommy Tummy Calm?
Send your questions about nutrition and health to Dr. Raffelock at: info@soundformulas.com
Every mom I know seemed so concerned about getting enough calcium during pregnancy. Calcium is an important nutrient that one certainly needs to create mother's milk, but did you know that high calcium foods are not limited to dairy. In fact "greens" are a high-calcium source and an under-appreciated food.
I'm talking about collard greens, kale and chard. These leafy greens don't seem like they are all that romantic, but lightly steamed and served with white fish or grated beets, they are divine. Here's a very simple recipe loaded with nutrients!
Wash several leaves of chard and collard greens. With a knife, cut the center vein out of the greens. (It tends to be very bitter and chewy). Tear the greens and place into a steaming basket.
Grate one beet by hand or in a Cuisenart. Place grated beets on top of greens. Sprinkle greens and beets with brown rice vinegar. (about a teaspoon) Place steaming basket into pot of water (don't let water touch more than just the bottom of the steaming basket) and bring to a boil with lid on the pot. Steam for 12 minutes. Remove steaming basket and place contents onto plate. Serve warm.
I have also steamed or sautéed Dover Sole fish and added it to this concoction to make it a one dish meal.
Tension Tip of the Day: Both mom and baby benefit from fresh air! As we move into spring, there is no better time to get outside and walk. Walking around your neighborhood or around a park can get all those good "endorphins" going and make you feel happy and refreshed! (Endorphins: A neurotransmitter in the brain that is released during exercise and helps to improve mood and generates a "feeling good" kind of state.)
Diet Tip of the Day: Here are some great diet tips from my friend Gabby Reece, who has a wonderful Web Site with some great information for moms and moms-to-be. Visit her at www.thehoneyline.com )
- Don't east fast food (unless you have no other choice).
- Avoid microwaving your meals. Cook it yourself.
- Limit sugar intake. No diet, "fat-free" food.
- Limit packaged/processed foods.
- Avoid any foods that contain ingredients that no one can pronounce.
- Fill your plate during the day with foods of all colors.
- Eat slowly and chew your food well.
- Take a few deep breaths before you eat and give thanks for the nourishment.
- Eat when you are hungry and not because you are sad, mad, or stressed out.
- Limit your red meat intake.
- Foods that have a 10-year shelf life should not be eaten. Go for the real stuff.
- Eat real meals that are satisfying, not snack foods that will make you feel blah
