The Milk Debate

There seems to be a lot of controversy over whether milk is good or bad for you. Doctors and nutritionist have conflicting ideas and beliefs, but if you base the answer on unbiased research and plain logic, the answer is clear.

Milk is loaded with nutrition.
Milk has Vitamins A, B12, C, D. It's a great source for protein and calcium. Wow!

Milk is loaded with hormones.
Cows are given estrogen to to help produce more milk faster. These hormones are passed on through the milk. Imagine, as women, we already have enough of our own estrogen and now your giving a female hormone to men. Does that sound right?

Milk is loaded with antibiotics.
Cows are given antibiotics to fight illness. The conditions they are kept in are not ideal and illness loves it. These antibiotics are also passed on to us, weakening our immune system.

Milk has cholesterol.
It may have good fats but it also has bad fats and cholesterol. We all know that's bad.

Milk has lactose.
Our bodies were not meant to digest lactose. Those of us who can have adapted to it, it's not the norm.

Milk makes our bodies mad.
Our bodies consider milk an allergen, something that's attacking it. So to protect itself, our bodies create antibodies to fight it. Antibodies, as much as they like to help, cause inflammation within the body.

Milk breaks down bones.
I know doctors and nutritionist say milk keeps teeth and bones healthy, but if you look at statistics, the nations with the higher dairy intake actually have higher osteoporosis cases. North America's misconception about calcium is that it's something you need to load up on to have strong teeth and bones. Really, it's not about how much calcium you take in but how much you keep in. The North American diet is extremely acidic. For example we are huge coffee and soda drinkers. The acidity of these beverages cause our body to leech the calcium from our bones to lower the acidity in our blood. If we were to reduce the amount of acidic food we eat, our body wouldn't need to do this as often as it does.

NOW, let's take a look at this logically.

FACT: We are the only species to drink milk from another species.
FACT: We are the only species that continue to drink milk after infancy.
FACT: Being able to digest lactose is an adaptation, not something our bodies are meant to do.
FACT: Our body creates antibodies when we consume milk.
FACT: All milk from any species is meant for one thing: to nourish and fatten.

Facts that can not be disproved, show we shouldn't drink milk. Think about it. We all get grossed out at the idea of drinking human milk as an adult. What makes milk from another animal's tit any better? An animal with out the ability to practice proper hygiene, who is injected with hormones and antibodies, who bleeds puss and blood into the milk....

Grossed out yet? 

The truth about milk is there for anyone to see.

What about the doctors and/or nutritionists who still say "Drink Milk" and swear by it?
Realize that more money in the last few decades have gone towards all kinds of research besides nutrition. Now there are new methods for how to care for the umbilical cord stump, new medication for illnesses, new treatments for cancer. We laugh at the things people used to do because at the time, they were the latest and greatest methods. Only now, research is being done in regards to nutrition. So a lot of the information being taught to health care professionals (if even any) is old and out of date.

Well, there's some food for thought.

I'm Going Raw

Everyone knows that being vegan does not equal healthy. As a matter of fact, since becoming vegan, the amount of processed foods that I consume have more than tripled. Why? Because I need an alternative for this and an alternative for that. I eat "chicken" burgers and veggie dogs and a lot of other chemically engineered meats.

In my veganish journey, I have lost sight of my original intentions. My motivation went from health to surviving veganism. I love meat and especially eggs and cheese. I've spent the last couple of years searching for their equal vegan counterparts, exposing myself to more chemicals and toxins than ever before.

I've allowed myself to get full on bread and rice instead of fruits and vegetables. I eat loads of potatoes in every way possible. I slather my Earth Balance butter and Vegenaise on everything I can. I live off of pasta with marinara sauce. It's my go-to meal. Where is the healthy part of my diet? I feel as if I have failed myself and my baby. It pains me to think I have exposed her to so many contaminants while she was in the womb, and I can only imagine what I've done to my body.

When I had started off being vegan, I took the time and diligence it needed to create healthy balanced meals. I was healthy and energetic. I was too afraid to try the processed vegan foods so I stuck to what I knew. Now, I am tired and moody. I feel guilty with my laziness to assemble a half decent meal.

My wake up call came while watching Hungry for Change, a documentary about the North American diet. We fall victim to the marketing and tricks of the billion dollar food and dieting industry. Vegans are just as vulnerable as the rest. Diet Cola is vegan isn't it?

After I finish my delicious marinara sauce from Costco, I am going raw. I will stock my fridge with colourful fruits and vegetables and am going to start detoxifying and juicing. Once my body is back on track, I will never touch another canned or jarred food again. If I eat a treat, it's because I've cooked foods from the "garden" and embellished it with herbs for seasoning. This is a vow I am making to myself. I am excited and scared but damned determined. I want to feel healthy and beautiful again.

I apologize to my child and my body. From this day forward I will make it up to her and to myself. The next few months, I will update you of my progress and what I'm doing.

Please, watch the documentary. Take the pledge with me and lets get healthy together.

With Love,

PescaVegan Mama

Family and their Questioning & Misconceptions

I'm sure there are many green dieters who have faced the barrage of questions, comments, insults, and doubts from family members regarding their choice. I know I have. Every time, I calmly explain to them my reasons (that are based on facts) and still, they ask the same questions the next day.

As annoying as it is, you need to understand how foreign the concept is to most people. I was once asked if I could eat peanuts because they weren't sure if it was vegan! I still get asked by family members if I want eggs, chicken soup (because it doesn't have chicken...it was taken out), yogurt (because "it's not actually milk"). To me, and I'm sure it's the same for most, it's a simple concept. If it's an animal or came from one, I don't eat it. Of course, if you follow my blog, you'll know I still do eat seafood, but that's the only exception.

How to Manage Comments & Questions:

1. Be Patient: instead of getting angry, get passionate. You know why you changed and the reasons were great enough to make you cut out huge parts of your diet. Stay passionate and share.
   
2. Take it as an Opportunity to Educate: We were all raised with the misconception of a balanced, healthy diet. Take the opportunity to share what you've learned.
   
3. Don't Take it Personal: they're not attacking you. THEY feel like the ones being attacked and are being defensive, not offensive. Once  you understand that, their comments may seem a little less accusatory.
   
4. Know When to Stop: I have  a bad habit of not shutting up. You need to learn when words will fall on deaf ears and let it be. Just nod and do what you do. Silence doesn't mean you agree. Just agree to disagree.
   
5. Explain Your Shared Right: when all else fails, explain the your shared rights to eat as you please without reprimand. We all have the right to eat as we please, and as long as we are not harming anyone, we should be able to do so with little grief. 

Other funny misconceptions:

Gluten Free = Vegan

Organic = Vegan

Click HERE for a funny conversation I had with a family member.

Back from Another Trip to LI

Hello, everyone!

I just got back last night from my trip to Long Island. The drive down was horrible but the way back was great then tolerable.

For once there was no hurricane or hurricane aftermath :D

Christmas was wonderful.

The weather was better...much better than here.

No baby wearing fun this time. Click here --->   ;)  to see why I even mentioned that.

Less drama about my diet this time.

Yet again I was faced with the opportunity to explain why I can't eat cheese. Here's how the conversation went.

Unnamed Person: Here try this, I didn't put the evaporated milk yet.

Me: (had seen her putting cheese in it) But is there cheese?

UP: Yes, but no milk. See...(shows me the can) I didn't put it in yet.

Me: But I can't eat cheese either.

UP: Cheese is bad to?!?!

Me: Well it's dairy.

UP: But it's not milk.

Me: (mentally rolling my eyes) But cheese is made out of milk.

UP: Ohhhh. Ok....(still has an uncertain, confused look on face)

And my baby was an angel during the trip to and back!

Stay posted for my blog on how to deal with antagonizing questions from family.

Vegan Mama vs. Carnivore Papa - The Compromise

Being in a relationship with some one who isn't vegan is like being in a relationship with someone who practices a different religion. You can't tell a grown person what not to eat unless they're health relies on it. Usually, you can work out your differences, but what happens when a child comes along? My husband and I have had long discussions about how our daughter would grow up to eat and sometimes those discussions would turn into arguments. My point: health. His point: culture.

First you need to understand your intentions.

Why do you want your child to eat green? Is it because you love animals? Because you believe it's healthier? If you answered yes to the first question then you really need to consider listening to your partner's side. Your beliefs or feelings don't overrule his. So be considerate.

If you answered yes to the second question then your stance is more factual and less personal. Explain that to your partner. Try to show him the facts you have seen about the negative side effects of meat and meat products. 

Remember, your child is his/her own person as well. When the time is right, you need to allow them to chose what's right for them. As long as everything is prepared in the healthiest way, they'll still be ahead.

Compromises

Here are some compromises my husband and I came up with:

Child will be vegan up until an agreed age. Then, if they show interest in meat, allow them to try.

Some cultures put meat in everything. Try to find ways to make cultural dishes with out the meat and meat products.

If you can't have it all try to get some. No parent has the right to trump the other so agree on one part of the diet. For example: I told my husband that I am a firm believer in excluding dairy so I would like at least that. If he pushes for meat then that's fine. I'll make sure that if our child does like it, I'll prepare it in the best way. 

Reduce the amount of animal and animal products. You can agree to allow your child to have meat once or twice a week for example.

This list of compromises can be used together. In the end, it's not about pride or who's right. It's about your child's best interest. Health is the number one factor above culture or one's love of animals. 

Another thing to keep in mind is; you don't need to shove veganism down your partner's throat. I always try to make vegan versions of his country's food and fun vegan food. When I serve it to him, I don't tell him it's vegan. There were many times when he'd look up at me in surprise because I'm eating with him and he'll ask, "Is this vegan!?!?!?"

Baby Wearing in Long Island

I forgot to mention this from my first road trip with the baby to Long Island. It's a funny story. Well, I found it funny.

While I was visiting, I went to Costco with my in-laws and carried my baby in a wrap. Where I'm from, it's not common, but it's definitely not uncommon. So I didn't think twice about it. I got out of the car, popped my baby into the wrap and made my way to the store.

I was already getting stares in the parking lot. Once I get inside Costco, the stares multiply. There were lots of babies... in strollers.

Here are some of the comments I received:

"That is such a great idea! It's like being inside the belly again."

"Awe, she's like a wrapped up present."

"Is she comfy in there?"

"That is very neat!"

"You're like a kangaroo."

And anyone who didn't have anything nice to say kept it to themselves but didn't hide their looks. I got a lot of "that's weird" looks. Needless to say, I was giggling on the inside the whole time.

The Importance of Socializing

Getting out of the house becomes an art once you have a baby or children in general. You don't have the will in the first place when you have the struggle of getting you and baby ready. Punctuality is more of a dream than a reality. Fatigue....putting together a nursing friendly outfit......going over diaper bag items to make sure nothing was forgotten.....it all works against us.

BUT! I've learned it is extremely important to make the effort to get out and about. Not just for your sanity but for the benefits for your baby as well.

After going to  a few meet-up groups, I found it amazing how babies that are just learning how to crawl become friends and have preferences and fancies. Babies who have socialized from infant-hood have a head start over those who haven't.

How do you find these meet-up groups?

Start at community centres. Google/call around to find out what's available. Pick one group and go. Through those moms, you can learn about other meet-up groups that are available. The internet, I found, doesn't give up too much about what is out there but you can find enough to get your toe into the door.

Perks for Moms

One thing I loved about these meet-ups was the ability to rant to listening ears. My circle of friends don't really care about mama-hood problems. When I get together with other moms, I'm able to talk about family problems, breastfeeding, baby poop, the whole shabang.

It's a great antidote for cabin fever.

You just may meet some ladies that can become great friends.

Perks for Babies

Like I mentioned before, they're able to learn how to socialize with other babies. They get to see other people who are little like them.

Your baby can make great friends too.

Why Babies Appreciate Their Vegan Mamas

It's no news that people question my dietary choices. People accused me of caring only for myself and not for my unborn baby and now my baby. I'm not providing enough calcium, iron, protein, and so on. Now of course, being vegan the right way is hard enough on it's own. Yes, it becomes a lot harder when a child is involved  but if it's done responsibly, I believe vegan mamas can raise healthy, environmentally friendly people.

The Benefits of Having a Vegan Mama

1. Baby doesn't have to find out if dairy makes him gassy and/or colicky: How many mothers do you hear have to give up dairy because it makes their baby gassy or colicky? Plenty. That says a lot about the "benefits" of dairy doesn't it. ;)
2. Baby's mom is more energetic: being vegan allows your body to be more efficient. It spends less energy on digesting foods it was never meant to digest and leaves more energy for you. Logically, this helps out considering sleep becomes a luxury. 
3. Baby wont be exposed to hormones and antibiotics: Livestock, whether eaten or milked, are pumped full of hormones to grow or lactate faster. Then, they are pumped full of antibiotics because they live in poor conditions so that disease is rampant. Everything is left behind in the meat and meat products that are consumed. All this gets passed along to us.
4. Baby has a nutritionally conscious mom: Being vegan doesn't equal being healthy. Being vegan and not getting sick requires diligence and responsibility, forcing you to make better food choices. McDonald's french fries are vegan right? Because two major food groups have been cut you do need to make the most out of your food. This knowledge and habit get's passed along to your child.
5. Baby's mom is more environmentally friendly: I could write a book about the environmental benefits, but this is a blog, not book. In general, livestock are bread to massive, unnatural numbers. This affects soil from grazing, more water is used, more emissions are created, forests are cut down, and the list goes on. (Maybe I'll write a post dedicated to the environmental benefits sometime in the near future.) Baby can be proud of having a smaller carbon footprint.
6. Baby is a better start in life: This sort of ties in with baby learning to make better food choices. Breast is Best! as it gives children a good start. How about we continue that thought on through toddlerhood. By avoiding meat and meat products, baby's digestive system will be able to continue on its efficient way. Baby will consume less cancerous foods and food that hinders the body's efficiency.

It's always great to raise a vegan but remember, it is not a joke when cutting out two major food groups society has relied heavily on. A child's body is still growing and developing so it is important to make sure he/she get's everything he/she needs from green sources and to supplement for vitamins and nutrients you can't get in a plant based diet.

Side Note: If you haven't read my earlier posts or didn't get the hint from my name :P, I do still eat fish and other seafood. It is the only non-vegan food I consume. Here's WHY, if you're interested. Based on my research (my general finding are in the post I've linked), fish is a healthy choice to use as a source of protein, iron, and the omegas. It's a great food to keep in your diet IMHO ;).

Vaccines & Cloth Diapers

So Iyana turned two months on the 20th and had her two month appointment on the 19th. At this appointment  she was vaccinated along with her check up. Good news, my angel has gained yet another pound in two weeks!

But on to the fun stuff is the question of whether or not it is a good idea to continue cloth diapering for the two weeks after vaccines. In Canada (or at least in Ontario) it's standard for the baby to get the Rotavirus vaccine. This is a live virus taken orally which is then shed out into the poo for the next couple of weeks.
The virus is still live in the stools. To take the safe route, I decided to use sposies for the next couple of weeks. This is based on logic that the diapers sit there for a good couple of days before being washed, letting this virus breed.

Now we have a few days left of disposable purgatory. Personally, I'm TIRED of blowouts and taking poo stains out of cloths.

Road Trip with Baby

My husband and I decided on a whim to go Long Island to visit his family so they could meet the baby.
That is an eight hour trip with no baby. I'm proud to say that we did it in less than ten hours.

How?
Well we're lucky to have a baby who loves the car so we took advantage of the time she was asleep. To help, we left around her bed time and traveled through the night. She only woke up to eat and have her diaper changed.

Funny things that happened along the way?
When I say funny I mean things that we can look back on and find funny. As I'm sure you know, hurricane Sandy recently visited the east coast. My family was affected and had no power for a week. As soon ad we heard they had their power back we decided to go thinking things should be pretty much back to normal.

NOT!

The GPS takes us through New Jersey where we ended up having to fill up the tank. So we detoured, taking the first exit we saw had a gas station. It was the most eerie thing I had ever seen. The town we were in was in the dark. It was like a ghost town. There had been only a truck that had gotten off the highway with us and a cop car. Point: gas stations were closed around that exit. So we hopped back onto the highway and tried a couple exits down. Nothing. Third time is a charm because the next exit we had decided to try had a gas station open. By this point I was ready to cry because the range on our car was not looking pretty if we couldn't find something soon.

So I pulled up to the pump. And an attendant came up to the car.

"No gas for you. Your odd number," he told me.

"What?" I asked confused.

"Odd number. You can't get gas."

I couldn't believe my ears. "I need to go to a different pump with and even number?" I asked, trying to see what  number the pump was.

He had looked at me like I was deaf or an idiot. "No your plate. No good. Odd number."

Then I understood him loud and clear. Holding back my tears I had begged and asked him to give me at least a little because I was on low and had a baby. He wasn't happy about it but thankfully gave me gas.
The rule hubby and I weren't aware about was that the gas was being rationed. Odd plates got gas on odd dates and even plates/plates ending in letters got gas on even dates.

Anyways, the way back went just as well. We got home in good time with no incidents.

Last Midwife Appointment

Note: This was meant to be posted earlier but traveling got in the way!

Today was our last midwife appointment. My little one is 6.5 weeks now (time flies!). The visit went wonderfully. Iyana weighes 10lbs 5oz! Not bad for my veganish milk.

I didn't expect to feel so sad about not going back to the clinic anymore. I said goodbye to the awesome receptionist who remembered my name before I remembered hers. It was the first time leaving the clinic with out an another appointment set for the near future.

As I made my way out the door, I delayed leaving as much as possible. I'll admit that one of the things I look forward to when expecting again will be going to the prenatal visits. I feel connected with the midwives and I can't wait for the day to see them all again. They played a big role in the largest event of my life.

If there is anyone sitting on the line about whether to go with a midwife or not, I'd recommend going with a midwife. My first few prenatal appointments were with a nurse practitioner and they weren't the best experience. You're just another patient they need to process. With my midwife, I felt special. I felt like what I was going through was special. They are passionate about what they do; assisting women in labour and birth.

The clinic I went to was designed to feel comfortable and less clinical. Each room was designed like a small siting room with a comfortable sofa. They have a nice play area for children. The receptionist, as I had mentioned earlier, remembers your name and makes you feel welcome. I must say, none of my visits felt 'medical' in any way. Even when I was going to get my blood drawn or take tests. All in all, it's a more comfortable experience.

My rating for midwives: 5/5

Special Moment!

So last night, I had the most special moment with my little one. I've been dying to have her in water and be done with the sponge baths. I have no idea why but I just felt she would love it. So we got rid of the bath sling and used the baby bath on it's own. Huge disappointment. The water barely came up past her hips.

So I told my husband I would love to take a bath with her but that I was too scared. He agreed it would be great but was worried about a slippery baby. Still, last night, he pushed me to fill up the tub and take a bath with the baby. I did.

I scrubbed it down (I'm a germaphobe) and filled it up with water. After my husband tested the water (I can't tell when water is too hot even with the elbow test), I got in and he handed me the baby. He stayed by the side of the tub to offer an extra hand.

It was the most amazing, bonding experience of my life. At first, Iyana was pensive. She wasn't sure whether or not she liked it. After we turned her over on her belly, holding her up by her chest, she calmed down and enjoyed it. She was cooing and kicking her legs the whole time. We did skin to skin time in the water. I nursed her too.

Best of all, I felt a strong bonding moment between all of us, not just me and baby. I truly felt connected to my husband and baby as a family and I could feel the bond between my baby and husband. What an amazing family moment.

For any parents who are a little afraid of babies in water, don't be. We didn't put bubbles or soap in the water so we weren't slippery and you use such little effort to hold the baby above water because they are buoyant. For myself, I liked having my husband there to help with the washing as I held the baby when soap was involved.

Bath time is such a great opportunity to bond and a great way to get some skin to skin time. I can't even explain how special and amazing it was for the three of us. You don't know your baby until you him/her kicking their legs in the water. Cutest thing ever!

Remember to never leave your baby unattended in water. Infants can drown in 1 inch of water. Always test the water before putting baby in.

The Cute Things Babies Do & Nature vs. Nurture

Since having Iyana, my days are filled with moments of oohs and awes from all the cute things she does. I go crazy trying to catch the things she does on camera so I'll never forget exactly how she looked when she did what she did.

During the weeks following her birth, I can see her personality slowly unfolding and revealing itself. For one, I was sure that she would turn out to be a tomboy. My mother was one and she had me....the ultra girly girl. So I figured the pattern would continue. Now, I'm starting to doubt my hypothesis. Iyana does the cutest, girliest things with her hands. I swear when she does that whine before the cry that it sounds girly. Just her whole persona oozes "I'm a girl."

After seeing her start to grow into her own little person, I'd have to say that nature definitely plays a part in personality. Looking back at myself in pictures, I was a girl girl from the get go too, despite my tomboy mother. So my brief two cents on it: I strongly believe it's nature and nurture that shapes and forms a persons being. (As, I'm sure, most observant people believe it as well.)

So here are some cute photos of my little angel. I know I don't have many, if any, readers just yet but if you are reading this and have a photo of something cute your little one does, please send it to me and I'll add it to this post. After all, who doesn't want to see a bunch of cute babies doing cute things.

Think Fast: How many times did I use the word CUTE in this post?   ;P

So whenever Iyana falls asleep, she does it striking a pose. Notice how expressive she is with her hands? Hee hee :) I've dubbed them all with a title or a caption.


"After a hard day at work."

"The Philosopher"                                                                                                    "The Intelect"

"Oh my! Was that me?"

"Gosh it's boring out here."

If you can think of better captions, by all means let me know in the comments and I'll update them giving you the credit :D

My Thoughts on Parenting

As mentioned in my previous post, we're living in an age of what's best and "what's best" seems to be shoved down parents' throat from numerous sources. A lot of time this advice is out of date, inaccurate  and just plain unwanted.

We're obsessed with putting a label on everything and micro analyzing it to the point where everyone goes crazy and nothing seems right. Parenting seems to be another victim. So here's my theory of what parenting style is best.

Are you ready for it?

INSTINCT....GUT......INTUITION whatever you want to call it.

Before science and technology......before research....before studies, mothers mothered and fathers fathered. Things just worked. Maybe not all the time but most of the time they did.

Every parent is their own person. As much as people may think otherwise, a baby is their own person too. To negate how a relationship goes between two individuals the same way all the time is ridiculous. I believe a mother naturally knows what is right for her child when it comes to comforting, bed time, teaching. etc. Of course it's always good to listen to others with experience but in the end, a mother has to follow her gut. It's why she has it.

Like all parenting styles, there is a fault to this one.

Women are so deaf to that inner voice of intuition their rendered incapable it seems of mothering the way she should. Modern day has taught us to trust doctors and science before we trust our body. We rely so heavily on the latest research that we forget to rely on ourselves.

Even if you're not deaf, outside voices drown out your own to the point where you can't hear it at all or you can't hear it well.

I've gone through some trying times with in-laws and parents and doctors and nurses and studies.....

I thrown up my hands and decided to take them as suggestions and to just do what I feel is right for my baby and what's right for me.

I breastfeed. I wear my baby. I go to her the minute I hear her cry. I hold her until she's asleep. I feed on demand. I sing and read so she can hear my voice. When she's awake and alert, I spend every minute with her. I do skin to skin.

All these things feel right. When I'm told not to go to her when she cries, I still go because I cant fight the urge to try and comfort her. When I'm told not to rock her to sleep, I still do. I don't do it because I want to, I just do it with out realizing. So why fight my body and mind's instinct. I say follow it. We are all still animals and we need to learn how to listen to the knowledge buried deep within our beings.

Cloth vs. Sposies

First an update on weeks three and four. Baby and I are thriving. Iyana is gaining more than what the doctors require (go pescavegan milk). 

My fave go to foods to keep baby and me healthy:

• lentils
• whole grains
• beans, beans, and more beans.....beans of all kinds
• fruit smoothies

My appetite honestly hasnt been great and I do tend to forget to eat but when I do eat, I make sure to pack it with lots of nutrition.

Now on to the topic at hand. With everything regarding parenting and what's best there are a lot of opinions. One thing I'm starting to find is that research, doctors, parents, in-laws, etc don't seems to agree on the same thing. So I won't sit here and tell you what IS better but what I THINK is better. 

First off, I've chosen to use cloth diapers over disposables. I'm currently using a hybrid system as I'm still trying to get into the swing of things but cloth is my intended route. They are easier on the pocket and environment and they put less chemicals on my angel baby's bum. These were the main reasons to go this route. Once I started cloth diapering I found many more reasons to prefer it.

The first two weeks after having Iyana, I used disposables exclusively because I couldn't make the trek up and down the stairs to so my own laundry let alone diapers. 

Pros:

• Using disposables in the first two weeks allowed me to avoid meconium stains on my cloth diapers.
• Slightly (only slightly) more convenient.
• More travel friendly
• Have a little groove for umbilical cord in NB sizes.

Cons:

• More blowouts.
• Tough to find a barnd that didn't irritate skin.
• Heavy diapers sometimes broke, getting jellies all over baby's bum (research shows these jellies can be cancerous).
• More waste.

Then once I was able to tackle my stairs, I started cloth at about two weeks. 

Pros:

• Almost no blowouts (only one so far and that's because hubby didn't put it on well)
• NO chemicals. 
• Poop rarely reaches the baby's genitals. With disposables, my baby's privates were always covered in poop.
• Saves a lot of money.
• Less waste.

Cons:

• There are a couple extra steps that can sometimes be tedious.
• Gives the baby a big bum.
• Takes extra care to maintain maximum absorbency.
• Too many types to chose from and it can be confusing.

After using both, I love my cloth diapers. Why spend money and hurt the environment (it takes a diaper 500 years to START decomposing) for a little extra convenience? When it comes down to what's best for baby, there really isn't much difference. That's my unbiased opinion. Other than the jellies (which can be avoided by making sure to change baby often) there really isn't much about a disposable that's bad for the baby. 

Oh! and an added bonus: cloth goes well with the hippy image :P 

Diapers I'm using:

These are prefolds.

I use Snappies to secure them.

And I use a waterproof cover similar to this one. 

          

So you see, there aren't ancient artifacts that I dug out of the ground. Cloth has gone modern and I think every parent should at least consider them. 

First Two Weeks and Booby Traps

The first two weeks home with Iyana weren't easy but they weren't the hell everyone warns you about either. Every baby is different though so I guess I'm just lucky. In general, everything is well. I'm healing, baby is healthy and gaining, and no one has had a nervous breakdown....yet.

The topic I would like to touch on is Booby Traps. As a paranoid first time mom, I did a lot of research on breastfeeding. I plan to breastfeed at least until my baby is a year old and was worried about low supply or my milk "drying up." The fact that my mother couldn't breastfeed for too long only fueled my fears.

Through research, I discovered that only a small percentage of women actually have supply problems and that it's not a common issue. So why do so many women claim to have supply issues? Why do so many women need to supplement with formula? Asking these questions led me to the term booby trap. Witty isn't it?

What does Booby Trap mean?

When a mother has been booby trapped, it usually means she had been given false advice/information by health care professionals or other, what are supposed to be, reliable sources. By following the false advice/information, the mother interferes with the body's natural process of creating milk based on supply and demand.

Common Booby Traps

1. Your baby is not gaining weight. In the first few days, it's normal for babies to  lose weight. 
2. You're not producing enough milk. Until your milk comes in, your breasts produce colostrum  Colostrum is not produced in large amounts where you could literally squirt it out but it's extremely important for your baby. It gives your baby antibodies to help fight infections. During the first few days, your baby stimulates milk production. Milk does not come in until the third to fifth day.
3. Something goes wrong? The answer is always formula. And it shouldn't be. There are other routes to follow before resorting to formula. 

Through stories and my own experience, Booby Traps aren't as simple as the few I listed above. Even though breastfeeding is widely supported and even recommended by doctors, they throw us into a pit of quicksand and ultimately lay the blame on us.

It's not your fault!!!!

If you can't breastfeed, it's not your fault. Everyone likes to lay the blame on us and our bodies when really, it's not the case. Even with all of the research I had done, and my awareness of booby trapping, I almost fell victim to one myself.

My Booby Trap Story

Before I continue, I'd like to say I escaped this trap out of pure luck.

I delivered Iyana with a midwife, so I gave birth and went home the same day. Midwives go to your house on day 1, 3, and 5 of your baby's life to check up on mom and baby. On the first visit, my midwife found a large bruise on Iyana's head. She had gotten it from birth. My midwife said it was normal but still had to be monitored. She sent me to my doctor's clinic so they could check up on it. 

The doctor did a routine check up as well. Iyana was weighed and had lost 200g. The doctor wasnt concerned. I had to return to the clinic a few days after that so they could monitor the bruise. This time I saw a nurse practitioner (if you've read my earlier posts, you'll know who I'm talking about when I saw it was 'that' nurse practitioner). 

**Side note: she was a lot nicer this time around....sort of.

So they did another check up, bruise was fine but Iyana had lost more weight. The nurse practitioner warned me that if her weight wasn't up by the next visit, I'd have to supplement with formula. I was feeding on demand as I heard this was best. On Iyana's schedule, she was eating every three to four hours and sometimes five. The nurse said that was definitely not enough for a newborn and said I considering the amount of weight lost, I need to amp up the feedings to every 2 hours. Keep in mind, my milk came in late the day before, so I wasn't really given a chance at all.

So I went home and my husband kept on pushing to follow the nurses advice because he knew how against supplementing I was. The next couple of days were hell. No matter what I did, short of torture my poor baby, Iyana wouldn't wake up every two hours. I tried changing her diaper, leaving lights on, lifting her up, wiping her face with a cold cloth. I felt like a monster bothering her so much. 

When she would wake up, she would wake up crying. I would give her my breast and she'd take it then fall asleep after a minute. We were both miserable and tired. I was frustrated because I felt guilty for bothering her and I felt that if I would let her be, she would wake up with in three hours and feed well. With the waking up nonsense, she was barely eating because she was so tired. SO, instead of her eating more, she was eating less. My breasts were engorged because she wasn't eating so I was even more uncomfortable.

Luckily, the next visit, Iyana had reached her birth weight and passed it. The nurse didn't expect it because she seemed surprised when the other nurse came back with the numbers. 

In hind sight here's what upsets me. Why would I need to supplement when the problem wasn't my supply but the fact that my baby wouldn't wake up. If a sleeping baby wont wake up for the breast, why would she wake up for formula? This was a major booby trap.

A quick search of Booby Trap + Breastfeeding will give you a host of sources for more information.

Also a site I liked ----> http://www.bestforbabes.org/

My Advice:

Don't doubt yourself or your baby. 

Go to a real Lactation Consultant before resorting to formula.

Join sites (my preference http://www.babycenter.ca/) where you can find support from other moms. This helped me stay confident in my body. You'd be surprised how many moms are willing to share their experiences and insight on breastfeeding and other prenatal/parenting topics. They have a group for breastfeeding. Stick to that for breastfeeding advice as it's pro-breastfeeding. 

Follow reputable blogs such as Alpha Parent that promote a more natural approach to parenting. 

Stay away from breastfeeding advice on formula websites. Think: Why would they promote breastfeeding when it's their #1 competitor? 

The internet brings you so many resources to your fingertips. You just need to be smart and find the good ones.

There is so much information out there and I wish I could write it all out but this post is long enough as it is. If you have any questions, feel free to ask and if I can, I'll answer them.

Baby has Arrived!

My little princess has arrived. Iyana (pronounced ee - ana) was born September 20th at 11:45 a.m.. It was a natural birth and my baby (coming from a "pescavegan" womb), was 7lbs9oz. Iyana is healthy and alert with a full head of hair and chubby chipmunk cheeks. How's that for a veganish baby?

New Name

Since I'm no longer pregnant, I've changed the name of my blog to accommodate my new motherhood. So welcome to my new phase and follow me as I face new challenges. If I thought people would be judgmental about my diet while being pregnant, I had no idea what I was in for now that I'm breastfeeding.

Funniest thing I heard: "How can you produce good milk without cows milk?"

Let's stop and think about that one for a minute. We should ask the cows the same question. I'm sure if we spoke and understood cow, they would tell us that they just eat grass. Interesting isn't it.

Now, not only was my baby a healthy weight when she was born, but she's continue to put on weight well with my breast milk as I continue to stick to my diet.

As for myself, I'm still completely healthy and recovering at the same rate as any other mom. I've ventured out of the house the day after I gave birth and people were surprised at how well I looked. Even now almost a week later, I'm passing expectations. The only worry is my iron levels are slightly low but I believe that's due to the fact I had a small-mediumish hemorrhage a few hours after I gave birth.

So now, at the end of my pregnancy journey, I think I've proven, and I'm sure like many other green mamas have already, that you and baby can maintain good health during pregnancy while on a green diet.

I will try to post updates and tips as often as possible (in other words: as often as Iyana will allow me). I can't wait to start this journey of raising a green baby.

Click HERE for my full birth story.

Iron

Now I may not have the same problem as a vegan mother when it comes to iron because I still choose to eat fish, but people still tend to worry over how much of it I'm getting. Before I continue, I'd like to say my iron levels are great, better than meat eating moms even.

That said, there are two key things to keep in mind when worrying about iron, iron, iron.

1. What are the iron rich foods?
2. What will help my body absorb the iron?

Have good iron levels or stores isn't just about how much of it your pumping into your body, it's also about what will help your body absorb it.

Iron Rich Foods:

• Beans and Lentils
• Soy products
• Spinach
• Quinoa

...are a few examples. A quick search will shower you with all the options you have to enhance your diet with more IRONNNNN.

You see, the problem isn't finding vegan sources of iron. The real problem is that iron from plant based sources isn't absorbed by the body as well as the iron found in meat. Which brings us to what we can do to help the body absorb it.

Iron's Best Friend:

Vitamin C

It's that simple. Coupling iron with vitamin C will allow your body to get the most of what you eat.

So, iron isn't this mystical, unobtainable mineral for vegans as people would like to think. Keep in mind, a lot of vegan products are fortified with iron, along with other vitamins and minerals that meat eaters think we're lacking in.

Homemade Frappuccino!

Lately I've been addicted to Starbucks. It doesn't help that they're vegan friendly but not pocket friendly. I think I've easily spent more than $30-$50 in one week. I crave their Mocha Frappuccino that I order decaf with soy.

So, after spending loads of change at Starbucks, I set out on  mission to make this drink at home. It's not as good but it sure is enough to kill the crave. So here's how I make it.

***I use the Magic Bullet***

Ingredients:

• Ice
• Coffee
• Milk (rice, soy, etc.)
• Chocolate syrup
• Vanilla/Hazelnut syrup

Directions:

Fill the container/cup/pitcher (whatever you would like to call it) with ice. Pour in coffee (decaf is better if you are pregnant) Fill it up half way or a quarter of the way if you want only a light coffee flavour. Add two teaspoons of vanilla or hazelnut syrup and one and a half tablespoons of chocolate syrup. Fill in the rest with milk. Blend until all the ice is pulverized into a slush. 

Tip: Pulsate the blade until you don't hear chunks of ice anymore, then blend. 

Serve with a chocolate drizzle to make it look coffee shop authentic ;) and enjoy!

Heartburn - The Natural Solution

If you're like me, heartburn has been your unwanted companion during your pregnancy. Unfortunately for me, I've had it since maybe week 14 or 15. There were some nights that I had to prop myself into a sitting position because the moment I would lie down the acid would work its way up.

If you're a hippie like me (I'm not actually one, but think like one), you avoid as many pills as you can. Yes, I don't take Tums even though it's just calcium. And I don't take Tylenol either unless my pain is 11 out of 10 bad.

I don't take Tums because I can't seem to find out whether the calcium is from a vegan. Their website states that the calcium is derived from limestone but at the same time say it's "kosher dairy" so I have no idea what to believe.

So here is a list of things that have worked for me. It's all food (some that I eat more for pleasure than for heartburn) and all vegan. Remember, everyone is different so I can't guarantee it would work but it's worth a try.

Melon:
All kinds of melon but especially watermelon seems to soothe the burn. Why? I have no idea. All I know is one day I was ready to pass out from the pain and I couldn't eat anything. Some one offered me watermelon and my eyes lit up. Turns out the eyes were right because the burn was reduced. It didn't make it go away but it was a lot better than before the melon.

Coconut Water (Preferably the one by Grace because it tastes really good):
Same as the watermelon, finding out this was a burn buster was a total fluke that I was thankful for.

Alternative Milks:
Rice milk, coconut milk, soy milk.... Are all great. They are fortified with calcium which helps. Whether it's the added calcium or the milk itself, I don't know but it sure helps me.

Pudding:
It seems the only vegan puddings you can easily find are ones made with soy milk. Buy the ones that are refrigerated, I find they work better and taste better too.

And then, my midwife recommended papaya enzyme. You can get them from the supplement section. I never had a chance to try it but it seems to be the natural go to for heartburn.

On top the list I gave you, here are some tips to avoid heartburn or to further agitate it. 

• Avoid physical activity for a little bit after eating.
• Avoid bending over.
• Don't lie down after eating, instead, prop yourself up on some pillows.
• Avoid spicy and/or acidic food (I know it's obvious but if your like me, when the food is in front of you it becomes less obvious.)
• Chew your food well and eat slowly.
• Don't chew gum.
• Drink lots of water and non acidic juices (not too much juice though).

Well, this is what I use to treat my heartburn. Hope something works for you!