TheBumpOC.com

We saw this article on yahoo shine and thought it had some valuable information for babymomma’s.    It was first published on Monday February 7, 2011 by Shine Staff writer Piper Weiss.  We hope you find the information valuable.

Pregnant Rachel Zoe steps out in foot-skyscrapers. (Fame/Barcroft Media/via the Daily Mail)

Have you ever worn a pair of knee-high, 5-inch platform boots? It’s like operating two mechanical bulls with your feet. Reality star and celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe is a pro at it. She also happens to be pregnant. Is it a health risk to be rocking mega heels in your third trimester?

It is if you ask foot doctors. In June, the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists issued a warning for all pregnant women to avoid the extra lift. Shoes with too much height put both mom and baby in danger. ”High heels alter your posture, shorten your calf muscles and place increased pressure on your back and knees,” podiatrist Lorraine Jones told the BBC. “In pregnancy this places extra pressure on your joints when they are already under strain—which can result in a host of foot, leg and back problems.”

High heels also leave pregnant women for vulnerable to spills. Because your center of gravity changes with a baby bump, balancing on heels is a challenge after 25 weeks, even for stiletto veterans. Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and Lilly Allen all lost their footing while wearing high heels at appearances during their pregnancy.

That’s not to say pregnant women should turn strictly to flats. The SCP recommends supportive pumps with a 1.2-inch heel on average. The tilt distributes the weight of your body in a more therapeutic way so the soles of your feet aren’t bearing all the burden. Still got those Easy Spirits from the ’80s? Now’s a good time to break them out. They may not be head-turners but at least they’re vintage.

 Attention all baby momma’s,  Livingsocial.com is offering a great deal for post partum fitness.

  There is no better way to get back into pre-baby shape than working out with your baby and friends.  Stroller strides is offering 10 classes for $50 through livingsocial.com.  Sign up and take advantage of this great fitness offer exclusively for baby momma’s.

Yoga has gained popularity these days because of it’s ability to tie in breathing, flexibility, stability, posture, endurance, strength, and relaxation.  But what about when you are pregnant?  Is it safe?  Are there things I shouldn’t do in yoga? Prenatal yoga allows you to create more space for your baby as you find yourself increasingly relaxed.   Make sure that you have permission from your doctor to practice yoga during your pregnancy.  Make sure that you are working with a certified yoga instructor that can guide you through the best postures for you at whatever stage of pregnancy you are in.  Look for certified prenatal yoga instructors.  Our office recommends the yogaworks studio in Mission Viejo.  Linda Trumpfheller, the instructor,  is not only certified to teach prenatal yoga, but she is also certified in hypnobirthing as well.  We have complimentary yoga passes to yogaworks.  Be sure to pick one up at your next visit to our office.

What is a birth plan?

A birth plan is what you would like to see happen at the time of your delivery.  A birth plan includes who you want in the room (ie. babydaddy, sister, mother, or best friend) and it also states who you specifically don’t want in the room (ie. anyone that would make you feel uncomfortable and distract you from your ability to focus.

The birth plan also includes what you want to do regarding the use of pain medications during your birthing process.  Now is the time to decide what you want to do regarding anesthesia during delivery.  Research the information that is available to you so that you can make the best decision while you are clear and level-headed and not in the heat of the moment.

For additional information on how to set up your own birth plan, please visit www.birthplan.com.

The birth process is a traumatic event for a newborn infant.  It has been documented by G.Gutmann, a published researcher, that 80% of all newboarns have had some form of nerve dysfunction resulting from the birth process.  What does that mean to your baby?  It means a decrease in the immune system response to ears, nose, and throat infections.   How can this be corrected?  Adjustments to correct spinal subluxations (misalignments of the vertebrae) caused by the  baby’s intrauterine position, and  from the journey through the birth canal or during the delivery process itself.  The adjustment to babies can be using the lightest pressure of the finger tips to correct the spinal subluxation.   According to “Explore, The Journal of Science and Healing” chiropractic care for children is deemed safe and effective.

Lamaze birthing method believes that the following are keys to having a healthy delivery process naturally.

1.  Let labor begin on its own.

2. Walk, move around and change positions throughout labor.

3. Bring a loved one, friend, or doula for continuous support.  Surround yourself with people that support  you and your birth plan.

4.  Avoid interventions that are not medically necessary.

5.  Avoid giving birth on the back and follow the body’s urges to push.

6.  Keep mother and baby together-it’s best for mother, baby and breastfeeding.

If you are in your 30’s and thinking about getting pregnant, you are not alone. Many women have opted to start a family later in life whether it is because of longer schooling, career advancement, or settling down at a later age. Fortunately, most women over age 35 will have healthy pregnancies and deliver healthy infants. Research studies shows that with advancing age, risks to both mom and babies also increases. Planning is one way that women can decrease their risks with advancing maternal age. Planning involves adopting healthy lifestyle habits and receiving good health care before conception and also during pregnancy. Women who are older than age 35 are more likely than younger women to have the following:
1. Diabetes related to pregnancy is often called gestational diabetes.
2. Hypertension or elevated blood pressure.
3. Ectopic pregnancy
4. Miscarriage- a 20% risk at age 35 and a 35% risk at age 40.
Just to name a few health issues that can arise after age 35. Women over age 35 need to plan for pregnancy just like women under age 35. It is important that you take care of yourself before you begin trying to conceive and not wait until after you are already pregnant.
A few things you can do to start preparing your body today are the following:
1. Take Folic acid in the bio active form. Please see our previous article about how important it is to have it in the bio active form. Call our office if you have any questions.
2. Quit smoking and drinking alcohol. Before you think about trying, quit the stuff that will cause harm to you and your baby.
3. Reduce stress. This seems hard to do at times but it is crucial to a healthy successful pregnancy. Stress hormones such as cortisol have a negative impact on your pregnancy and can lead to miscarriage. Do not underestimate the power of stress in your life and in the success of your becoming pregnant.
4. Eat a healthy diet. Nutrition is the building blocks of your body and also your baby. Provide your baby with the best available nutrients that you can through good nutrition for yourself.
5. Get regular exercise. Look up in our previous articles about how important exercise is for you regarding easing through labor. Start your program now!
6. Weight management is important also. Reduce your risks by maintaining an appropriate weight.

Okay mommies-2-be, we’ve got you covered in the munchies dept.  No, this isn’t the eat off the veggie tray only list.  BORING, don’t you think?  How about some lettuce wraps stuffed with organic chicken, water chestnuts, and carrot straws sauteed with ginger, garlic, in a splash of canola oil?  Is your mouth watering???  Well then read on…the keys to surviving the super bowl food fest is maintaining your blood sugar levels to curb food cravings and to treat yourself to some yummy culinary delights that support your nutrition goals for your pregnancy.  

On game day, start on the right foot nutritionally.  Even though kick off isn’t until the afternoon, your nutrition game starts in the AM.  Your first play of the day should be a balanced breakfast such as: egg whites scrambled with organic broccoli, red bell peppers, and a 1/4 c. of yukon gold potatoes.  Add a sprinkle of low fat  sharp cheddar cheese to kick up the flavor.Wrap this in a whole grain low-fat tortilla and some mild salsa and you’ve scored a few points for nutrition, flavor, and satisfaction!   

For your next play of the game, have some tasty treats like the asian lettuce wraps mentioned above, or baked potato skins stuffed with seasoned chicken and sprinkled with sharp cheddar cheese.  We think that the baked skins is a field goal solution for you and baby. Potatoes are a Super Bowl MVP in our book because it has a low glycemic load and has an enzyme found in the “juice” of the potato that signals the brain that your full!   Another great snack is hummus with grilled zucchini. We think that this will be sure to score some points for your running game. 

If you find yourself not able to prep some of these fab dishes we mentioned, don’t get blind-sided!  Make a play for  the baked low fat organic tortilla chips and double team it with a black bean dip or mild salsa.  Grilled organic chicken on a stick, dipped into some fun creative sauces will be a touch down right before half time. 

You don’t have time to run any of these food plays we mentioned?   Follow our drop back ten yards and punt rule; steer clear of overly spicy or greasy foods that could cause heartburn or indigestion. BabyMomma you’ve got the play book, let us know how you score!  Run your best offense nutritionally and you will be a winner on Super Bowl Sunday.

Need a little help in moving around while pregnant?  We’ve got a class for you!  Dr. Malley is sharing some healthy baby-momma secrets to make your pregnancy a safe and comfortable one!  Call our office today to get registered for this complimentary pregnancy ergonomics class.

Topics to be discussed

1. Bedroom ergonomics

-from sunrise to sunset and all that happens in between. We’ve got tips to keep you comfortable all through the night.

2. Work station ergonomics

-making changes at the office that make working while prego a little more comfortable

3. Automobile ergonomics

-entering & exiting the car safely

4.  Shopping

-from bagging it, carrying it, and loading it.

Interested in attending our class?  Contact our office for further details on the next class.

Wow! We hope that this will be exciting and promising research for those of you trying to get pregnant but are having trouble because of endometriosis.

What is endometriosis?  

Endometriosis is a condition where endometrial cells that normally line the uterus,  grow on other parts of the pelvic cavity outside of the uterus.  This is an extremely painful condition, especially during a women’s menstrual cycle.

How does nutrition play a part in the treatment of endometriosis?

We know from research that EPA/DHA naturally occuring in both fish oil and flax seed oil is excellent at quieting down inflammatory pathways in the body.  It has been used successfully in the treatment of other health conditions such as arthritis and heart disease.  It shouldn’t be a suprise to see that research is now being done with EPA-DHA with regards to other inflammatory conditions such as endometriosis.  We found a recent research study lead by Dr. Sachiho Netsu involving EPA/DHA and rats with endometriosis.  It was found that the EPA/DHA supplementation had a positive outcome.  The part of the uterine lining where most of the endometriosis occurs was suppressed by almost 50% in the supplementation test rats compared to the control group rats who were not given the supplement.

This article is for informational purposes only.  It is not intended to replace medical care.  Please contact our office  for further information about how nutrition can play an important role in the treatment of endometriosis.

References

“Oral eicosapentaenoic acid supplementation as possible therapy for endometriosis,” by Sachiho Netsu, M.D. Fertility and Sterility, Volume 90, Issue 4 Supplement, Pages 1496-1502 (October 2008).