The Scary Little Six Letter Word in Breastfeeding

I took a class on breastfeeding while pregnant and it made it look so effortless… you know, one of those things that you could do while cooking dinner or vacuuming the house. Maybe you can do these things simultaneously, but boy, was I ever in for a surprise!

Though the breastfeeding class was helpful, there was also something that it failed to mention: a scary little six-letter word: Thrush. I had no idea what I was in for; what I did know was that the pain of breastfeeding became excruciating and the time of “bonding” that I anticipated for months’ became a time of dread.

I'm all for antibiotics, but in the case of Thrush, antibiotics can actually grow the yeast. Instead, these simple tips will help thrush pack its bags and go elsewhere:

1. Try to manage things with diet-- avoid all sugar if possible. It will starve the yeast and bring it to an end. This is a hard diet, but it will take care of things quickly.

2. Purchase a good probiotic supplement, in addition to having yogurt each day.

3. Keep your breasts, bra, and any nursing pads dry. If any leaking takes place, change the pad or bra promptly. It’s worth every bit of extra laundry you have to do.

4. Wash all laundry with vinegar and hot water until the thrush is gone. It's ideal if the laundry can dry in the sun, but the dryer works just as well.

Nursing is spectacular, especially when you conquer things like Thrush. We enjoyed a wonderful full year of breastfeeding!

Baby Skin

When our precious babies are placed in our arms for the first time, we touch the elegant softness of their skin, and we are captivated with their newness. And, with that newness, our hearts transpire into a mixture of both awe and protectiveness.

Have you ever heard that a baby’s skin is five times thinner than that of an adult? This makes it incredibly easy for chemicals to be absorbed right into their systems. And, consequently incredibly more difficult to flush out those chemicals.

I appreciate that Shaklee values the tiniest members in our world! They created an entire product line just for babies and children, consisting of Personal Care Products and supplements. The Personal Care products include: Soothing Lotion, Gentle Wash, Massage Oil (did you know baby massage can actually improve their digestion, circulation, and sleep patterns?), and Diaper Rash Cream. The Supplement for babies/toddlers includes: Multivitamin and Multimineral Powder (23 essential nutrients and prebiotics).

I recall the frustration and crankiness involved with diaper rashes, and doctors are quick to recommend products to help. What I’ve come to realize is that many of those products cause further irritation (specifically boric acid and camphor). I read through a Shaklee Science update: “In a recent study involving 163 infants and toddlers, 81% had signs of phthalates in their wet diapers after having had some type of personal care product applied to their skin.” Did you know that phthalates can potentially lead to respiratory, liver and kidney damage?

When we think about their precious skin and its rate of absorption, we can be grateful for nature and science joining together to provide products that are both safe and effective for our children.

Shaklee products are safe, effective, hypoallergenic, clinically tested, and dermatologist/pediatrician tested. There are no added fragrances, no talc, or mineral oil. Check out the entire product line.

Water's Supposed To Be Good For You... Right?

THE BAD NEWS

The Real Dirt on Water:

• 300 agricultural and industrial pollutants were found in the water in a number of states
• These pollutants contribute to liver and kidney cancer (exposure to chemical compounds)
• They can even contribute to learning disorders among children
• 25% of our exposure to lead can come from drinking water -- and the consequences are more severe with children in learning ability
• One of the most dangerous pesticides used in farming can be in the water-- causes cardiovascular and reproductive problems
• Industrial pollutants are present in the water supply
• These same contaminants can also be found in bottled water.
• The goal is to remove these things from our water.

Learn what's in your water! Go to epa.gov/safewater and take action.

THE GOOD NEWS

Shaklee has created an easy & economical way for your family to get the water it needs:

• Get Clean® Water Pitcher is the first pitcher with an automatic meter that shows gallons filtered, so you know exactly when to replace your filter—no more guessing!
• Made of Food-Safe: BPA-Free Plastic
• 10 cup capacity
• Get Clean Water is a multipatented water filtration system that uses a solid block of carbon to filter and clean your water.
• Reduces 90% of lead (Brita and PUR do not)
• Each Get Clean Water filter handles 80 gallons of water, twice as much as Brita® and Pur®2, and each filter is made from sustainable coconut shell carbon using a zero-emission process. Plus, it's the first pitcher with a refillable carbon-block filter system, so there's less waste going to the landfills.