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Euphoria’s Blog has Moved!!!

May 16, 2008 at 3:43 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

That’s right, we’ve found a new home and a whole new look. The new Euphoria’s Blog enjoys a modern look, fresh new tagging features, and an easier-to-read format. Please change your settings to http://euphoriamaternity.wordpress.com/

See you there!

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20% off at ReusableBags.com!

May 15, 2008 at 6:30 pm · Filed under Just for Fun!

Mamas, I just came across this 20% off discount that I had to share! If you’re planning to buy a reusable, stainless drinking bottle or a SIGG, you should take advange of this coupon for www.ReusableBags.com. Reusable Bags is the most popular site for safe, reusable drinking options and they have lots of other great products too.

1. Visit www.reusablebags.com
2. Add desired items to cart
3. Proceed through check-out
4. Redeem your special code: Enter the following code in the Gift Certificates/ Discount Coupons section: 102275.
5. Complete check out process (discount will be shown before confirming the order).

Special offer is valid from 5-1-08 to 5-28-08. One use per customer.

My family uses the Guyot bottle, which is most like the Nalgene (but not plastic!). I’ve also been eyeing those adorable lunchboxes by Mimi the Sardine lately. If only my daughter needed one…

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The Business of Being Born

May 15, 2008 at 2:10 pm · Filed under Pregnancy

This weekend I watched Ricki Lake’s documentary, “The Business of Being Born”. I was absolutely blown away by the clarity and gentleness by which the film discussed what is so often a messy topic: what should birth and maternity care look like?

The film brought together the voices of OB/GYN’s, Labor & Delivery Nurses, Midwives, Pregnant women and Postpartum mothers to take a fair, unbiased look a the issues at hand. What issues, you say? Well, when you look at the stats on maternal mortality, infant mortality, and c-section rates, the United States trails most every ”developed” country and even lags behind certain “undeveloped” countries. And this despite the fact that Americans put soooooooo much more money into maternal and infant healthcare! We pay more and get less. What’s going on here?

You have GOT to watch the film to find out, but here’s a taste of the action from the director, “When my friend Ricki Lake approached me about making this film, I admitted to her that I was afraid to even witness a woman giving birth, let alone film one. I had never pronounced the word “midwifery” and I thought Ricki insane, as she planned the birth of her second child, for passing up an epidural in a hospital delivery.

But as I did the research, I discovered that the business of being born is another infuriating way medical traditions and institutions – hospitals and insurance companies – actually discourage choice and even infringe on parents’ intimate rites, ultimately obstructing the powerful natural connection between mother and newborn child.”

I LOVED THIS VIDEO! If you’re pregnant, you should watch it. It’ll give you such a realistic preview of what healthy birth looks like, including all types of normal births from vaginal to breach to medically necessary c-section. It was inspiring to the point of tears, and entirely real through and through. Before you make your birth plan, watch ”The Business of Being Born”!

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Stem Cells in Breast Milk!

May 12, 2008 at 1:49 pm · Filed under Breastfeeding

If you read pregnancy magazines, you’ve heard about stem cells which are typically harvested from cord blood at the time of birth. Collecting and storing your baby’s stem cells for use later on (which is called cord blood banking) is big-business. Mega-corporations like CBR cash in on parents’ deep-rooted desire to protect their family’s health by claiming that known and unknown diseases may be treatable by stem cells when they manifest in later years.

This year Dr. Mark Cregan, a molecular biologist at The University of Western Australia, discovered that human breast milk actually contains stem cells! Not only does breast milk provide ideal nutrition for baby, it also ”contains key markers that guide his or her development into adulthood.” That’s why breastfeeding makes many diseases less likely and has been shown to increase IQ, for example. The existence of stem cells in breast milk may explain these benefits and potentially provides many more benefits that are as yet unknown. Dr. Cregan says that mom’s mammary glands ”provide the development guidance to ensure a baby’s genetic destiny is fulfilled.”

For more on the study visit Breast milk contains stem cells by Catherine Madden.

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Enter to win a FREE bottle of “Perfect Prenatal” Vitamins!

May 5, 2008 at 8:11 pm · Filed under Giveaways

Everyone knows that prenatals are important. Take them once you start trying to get pregnant and throughout your time breastfeeding. To give your body the best nutrition possible, choose a prenatal vitamin that’s organic and whole food, like the “Perfect Prenatal” from New Chapter. Organic, because why ingest pesticides daily when your baby is so vulnerable? Whole food, because the complexity of whole food will nourish your body much more effectively than the synthetic vitamins, minerals and chemical herbal isolates you’ll find in most supplements. So it’s almost like you’re eating those leafy greens every day… almost.

Here’s what New Chapter has to say, “Perfect Prenatal delivers 23 different easily digested, energizing and protective probiotic vitamins and minerals as well as 13 stress-balancing and free-radical scavenging herbs cultured for maximum effectiveness. Herbs like lavender and lemon balm have been revered for their soothing properties while other antioxidative herbs like peppermint, clove and rose hips provide key health benefits that support and sustain.”

Pregnant mamas will appreciate that this prenatal is cultured in organic soy using nature’s most prized and studied probiotics, featuring Lactobacilli acidophilus, bifidus, rhamnosus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These factors make it easy to digest, even on an empty stomach. You know, in case you’re not keeping much down these days.

Enter to Win! We are giving away THREE 180 tablet bottles of the “Perfect Prenatal”! Entering is free and no purchase is necessary. Just share one change you hope to make in order to have a healthy pregnancy or breastfeeding experience. Do so by adding your comment below. Enter now through May 31st. We’ll choose a random winner from all participants!

Euphoria will pay shipping. Winners will be notified by email, at which point a shipping address will be requested.

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And our Mama Black Winner is…

May 2, 2008 at 1:10 am · Filed under Giveaways

Lucky post 15! Congratulations to Jennifer Williams winner of her favorite Mama Black jeans, the Cha Cha. You’re going to LOVE those jeans, Jennifer.

I have to say that Celebrity jeans won out on the overall popularity contest by a landslide. And, go figure, they’re our best selling style too!

May’s giveaway will have 3 winners. Check back on Monday to enter to win!

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The Nursing Mother’s Companion

April 29, 2008 at 2:14 pm · Filed under Breastfeeding

Planning to breastfeed? Never done it before? Wondering how it will go? You know I love to recommend a good book! “The Nursing Mother’s Companion” by Kathleen Huggins is an excellent book that provides practical, reassuring advice and support for today’s expectant and nursing mothers. It includes easy-reference survival guides that help identify and resolve problems at each stage and many illustrative drawings.

“Most books about breastfeeding are heavy on nursing’s mystical rewards and light on actual technique. Huggins, a maternal nurse and professional lactation consultant, corrects the imbalance with a lucid, trouble-shooting guide… The author tackles various common and uncommon complaints about breastfeeding from inadequate milk supply, breast pain, engorgement and fussy babies to infections, allergies and breast-milk jaundice that could affect the child. In a chapter on nursing mothers who work outside of the home, Huggins offers an instructive review of breast pumps. Her reassuring, practical suggestions make this book an excellent informational companion.” – from “Publishers Weekly”

One first-time mom said:

“I’m still happily nursing my 8-month-old son, thanks in large part to this book. Our first few weeks were tough going, but Kathleen had the answers to ALL my questions, which helped me to stick with it. I wish hospitals gave this book to every new breastfeeding mom, but since they don’t, it’s going to become a standard baby shower gift from me.”

A book is a great resource for those problems that strike in the middle of the night! But, if things aren’t going well, don’t be shy to ask a friend who’s breastfed to help. I know it may seem a little odd to talk about your boobs, but we women who have breastfed generally don’t feel uncomfortable discussing the details with fellow moms!

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Safe Sunscreens for the Family

April 24, 2008 at 2:29 pm · Filed under Breastfeeding, Green Baby, Pregnancy

We know that too much sun exposure is not wise, but are sunscreens themselves really safe? Of all the body care and cosmetics you use, sunscreens are likely to be filled with the most dangerous chemicals. When sunscreen soaks into the skin, we absorb known carcinogens and estrogen-imitating chemicals, which can cause a whole host of serious problems. In fact, some research has shown that countries in which chemical-laden sunscreens are most commonly used actually report the greatest increase in cancer melanoma (skin cancer).

What’s safe? Look for sunscreens that contain only zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These non-chemical sunscreens are often marketed for babies or those with sensitive skin, but they’re the best choice for all of us. Instead of soaking into the skin, these sunscreens sit on top of the skin and deflect rays. Here’s a list of safe sunscreens from Nature Mom’s Blog post “Safe Sunscreens for the Family” :

California Baby SPF 30 + Sunblock Stick – No Fragrance – My top pick for kids! This is a non chemical sunscreen. It uses non-penetrating titanium dioxide (no nano particles) to protect against the sun. It is also made with organic & sustainably grown ingredients.

California Baby SPF 30 – This is specially for children to be safe and it a favorite among many natural parents. I have used this on my own kids and I really like it. I usually opt for the fragrance free versions.

California Baby SPF 30 + Bug Repellent – This is a good sunblock/bug repellent combo that is DEET free.

Badger Face & Body Sunblock SPF 30 – There was huge run on this sunscreen not long ago and you could hardly get it. It is known to be one of the safest sunscreens out there.

Lavera Baby and Children Sun Screen Lotion, SPF 30 – Contains organic peach seed, apricot seed oil and calendula and protects against UV A, B and C rays with waterproof protection.

Jason Natural – Sunbrellas Chemical Free Sun Block SPF30+ – Chemical, Fragrance and Paraben Free Complete UVA & UVB Protection Ideal for Sensitive Skin.

Dermalogica Ultra Sensitive Faceblock SPF 25 – Another chemical free sunblock using non-penetrating titanium dioxide. This has a hint of color…most likely to hide the streaky whiteness of the natural titanium dioxide.

For more info and details about sunscreen safety, read Tiffani’s whole article, “Safe Sunscreens for the Family“

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Five Favorite “Green” Tips

April 22, 2008 at 8:18 pm · Filed under Just for Fun!

On earth day there is no limit to those inspiring ”go green” lists. Lists of 100, 50, or even 25 ideas tend to leave my mind realing with the possibilities. It’s important to take steps to live lighter on the planet, year by year. Ready for something more manageable? Here are five of my favorite ways to go green this year:

Line-dry Laundry: The dryer is the single biggest consumer of electricity in your house. Line drying is a lifestyle change that will force me to spend more time outside, possibly in quiet contemplation (doesn’t that sound nice?). As an added bonus, it’ll make my clothes last longer too.
Reduce Errands: I hate running to the store for one thing. Talk about a time-sucker! Reducing and combining errands will make an impact on the air quality in my community and on my bank account, considering gas prices today. I want to learn to wait longer between errands and plan ahead better to get everything in one outing. My kids will be glad too!
Choose Cloth: I switched to cloth diapers last year. I could never imagine going back! Now it’s time to switch to reusable cloth anywhere and everywhere else: shopping bags, napkins, towels, even menstrual products. I’ve tried cloth products in all these areas. Turns, out cloth is actually NICER to use. The disposable product category is such a marketing gimmick!
Eliminate Junk Mail: It’s as easy as writing to Mail Preference Service, c/o Direct Marketing Association, PO Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008 (include date, name, address, signature, and the message “Please register my name with the Mail Preference Serivce”). I’ll also call catalogs that I don’t want to receive and ask to be removed from their mailing list.
Shop Smart: I want to continue to think long-term about the products I buy. Is it high quality? Will I still love it next year? Was it manufactured safely, without dangerous chemicals? I hope to consume less by repurposing items I already own, borrowing when possible, and only buying real quality that is meant to last. It’s shopping with an eco-conscience.

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Canada Get’s It

April 17, 2008 at 8:46 pm · Filed under Green Baby

Rumours that Canada Health is taking steps to label BPA (bisphenol A) plastics as “dangerous” are sweeping through the press. Stores across Canada are said to be pulling BPA plastics from shelves as customers continue to reject these controversial products, especially in the baby isle. Canada’s labeling BPA as “dangerous” could be a wonderful example to the international community, paving way for potential bans, action, or regulation of the hormone mimicking chemical.

Action north of the border may be helped along by a study released by a key U.S. government agency, the National Toxicology Program of the U.S. National Institutes of Health. This agency is responsible for evaluating hazardous substances. Just this week, the agency released a draft report linking exposures to BPA to breast cancer and the earlier age of puberty in girls. If you’ve heard studies say otherwise, examine their source. Isn’t it strange that independently funded studies continue to find problems with BPA, while manufacturer’s studies show no need for concern?

We’ve already replaced our drinking containers with glass, stainless, or bpa-free plastic options. And, although I’ve purchased some new glass Pyrex storage containers, some BPA contaminated plastic containers still linger in my cabinets. I hereby pledge to send them to the garage to be repurposed as storage solutions for my husbands screws, bolts, and what-nots… Today!

Have you made the switch? Purge your house of all food-related plastics with a 6 or 7 triangular plastic symbol, usually located on the bottom of your container. No symbol at all? Well, if it’s clear, rigid plastic it’s suspect. Better be safe than sorry!

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site.euphoriamaternity.com Blog

Euphoria’s Blog has Moved!!!

20% off at ReusableBags.com!

The Business of Being Born

Stem Cells in Breast Milk!

Enter to win a FREE bottle of “Perfect Prenatal” Vitamins!

And our Mama Black Winner is…

The Nursing Mother’s Companion

Safe Sunscreens for the Family

Five Favorite “Green” Tips

Canada Get’s It

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