Ear infections seem to be the ailment of choice lately for kids and adults too! Every facebook group I am in has had multiple posts that look something like this
Today I am going to cover everything you need to know about ear infections! While it is very unfortunate that in a lot of places it is next to impossible to get your child seen for an ear infection, there is a lot you can do to help manage them at home. I will also cover things that you can do to help prevent ear infections, and when you should seek medical attention.
For starters, when people are talking about “ear infections' ' they usually mean otitis media which is an infection of the middle ear, just behind the eardrum. You can also have what is usually called swimmers ear or otitis externa which is inflammation or infection of the ear canal (aka where your finger or a q-tip can reach…but remember never to put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear)
Ear infections are more common in children because the Eustachian tube, which connects the middle ear to the sinus, is more horizontal in children under the age of 5-6. The tube being more horizontal can contribute to fluid stagnating in it more easily and becoming infected. Fluid can also stagnate in the Eustacian tubes if the adenoids are enlarged
50% of children will have had an ear infection by the time they reach 2 years old, and 75% of children experience one before starting school. The most common age range for ear infections is 3-24 months. The good news is that for most ear infections, approximately 80% are attributed to viruses and will get better without the use of antibiotics. For children 6 months of age and older, the Canadian Pediatric Society recommends watching and waiting for 48 hours with an ear infection unless the child has a fever of more than 39 C (102.2 F), are moderate to severely sick otherwise, or have significant ear pain. So learning how to manage an ear infection in those first 48 hours is an important skill to have! It can help from a comfort point of view, and can reduce the chance of them needing antibiotics for treatment
Ways to Help Prevent an Ear Infection
What to do When you Think your Child has an Ear Infection
First I am going to review the red flags of an ear infection. As stated above, if it is lasting more than 48 hours, or they have a fever of greater than 39 C (102.2F), are looking unwell or are experiencing severe ear pain, they should be seen by a doctor.
And now for the one that may sound a little out there- Onion Ear Muffs
Onion ear muffs, also known as an Onion Poultice, are very helpful for pain management and stopping a viral ear infection from turning into a bacterial ear infection. This works because quercetin in the onion is a strong anti-inflammatory and helps to move fluid and reduce swelling. This helps to facilitate drainage of the Eustachian tubes, which reduces the pressure from the fluid build up behind the eardrum and greatly helps to reduce the pain.
How to do Onion Ear Muffs for Ear Infection
Can do 3-5 times a day to help relieve the pain associated with an ear infection.
So there you have it, how to treat an ear infection at home. The nice part is almost everyone has an onion hanging around and can do this soon after the first symptoms are reported to stop the ear infection from getting worse and more painful.
If you found this helpful, share it with your friends who have small kids.
]]>The Science Behind Cold Wet Socks: You might be wondering how on earth cold, wet socks could have any health benefits. Well, the secret lies in how our bodies react to this seemingly unusual treatment.
🧦 Vasoconstriction and Blood Flow: When you apply cold water to the soles of your feet before bedtime, it triggers vasoconstriction—the narrowing of blood vessels in your feet. This natural response sends a signal to your body to increase blood flow to the feet.
🪄 Enhanced Circulation: The increased blood flow isn't limited to just your feet; it actually benefits your entire body. Your circulatory system becomes more efficient at distributing oxygen and nutrients to your internal organs and immune system. This boost in circulation can have a profound impact on your lymphatic flow and immune system response
⬆️ Improved Well-Being: With improved circulation, your body becomes better equipped to support the healing process and maintain overall well-being. This therapy can be particularly beneficial for those looking to enhance their immune system's function, reduce fever and congestion.
How to Perform Cold Wet Socks Therapy: Performing cold wet socks therapy is incredibly easy and can be done in the comfort of your own home. Here's a step-by-step guide:
✔️ Gather Your Materials: You'll need a pair of cotton socks and a pair of wool socks.
✔️ Soak the Cotton Socks: Fill a basin with cold water and immerse the cotton socks. Allow them to soak for a few minutes until they are thoroughly wet.
✔️ Wring Out Excess Water: Take the wet cotton socks and gently wring out any excess water. You want them to be wet but not dripping.
✔️ Put on the Wet Socks: Place the wet cotton socks on your feet. It's important that your feet are warm before doing this, as the contrast in temperature is what triggers the body's response.
✔️ Cover with Wool Socks: Immediately cover the wet cotton socks with a pair of dry wool socks. This helps insulate the moisture and keeps your feet warm.
✔️ Sleep and Let Magic Happen: Go to bed as usual and let the magic unfold overnight. By morning, you'll find that the cold, wet cotton socks have miraculously become dry.
Cold wet socks therapy may sound unconventional, but it's a simple and effective way to boost circulation, support your immune system, and improve your overall well-being. So, the next time you're looking for a little magic in your life, consider giving this age-old remedy a try. It's a small step that can lead to big improvements in your health and vitality.
Dr. Alexis
Dr Alexis works via telemedicine, and is accepting patients that live in Ontario
Click here to book your appointment
]]>Many moms want to get out and do winter activities with their babies and kids, and it is very healthy to do so! I am here to take the worry out of those winter outdoor trips!
Here are 3 quick tips to keep your baby or child's skin smooth and hydrated this winter
1) Before going out in the cold, slap on some Baby Face Cream and Lip Balm. The cold and wind in the winter is extra drying and harsh. A good barrier cream is a necessity to protect their sensitive cheeks and chin from the blustery winds. Lips are often overlooked with kids. Many kids are lip lickers, and our Lip Balms are natural and safe for children
2) Moisturize the entire body twice a day with Baby Lotion. Baby Lotion isn't just for babies! It is designed for anyone with sensitive skin, and works great for toddlers and kids. My favorite tip is to apply baby lotion to damp skin after the bath for even better absorption.
3) Winter germs got the best of you? Our Chest Rub helps to soothe your little one! Can be applied to the chest, back, bottom of the feet and sides of the nose
Keep it simple and get outside this winter to enjoy the beautiful white snow with your baby.
If you are looking to stock up on our cold-weather essentials, grab our February deal before it's gone! No coupon code needed, simply add Baby Lotion, Baby Face Cream and Chest Rub to your cart and get 50% off of our Chest Rub
]]>Eczema is a very common childhood condition. In fact, 30% of children will experience eczema at some point in time, usually before they are 5 years old. But while eczema is common, healing eczema can still be an overwhelming process - especially if you want to know how to treat eczema without steroids.
Many parents feel stuck in the cycle of: apply steroid creams for 2 weeks, the eczema gets better, stop applying the steroids, and it comes back as bad or worse than before.
Parents of kids with eczema often find themselves looking to get to the root of the problem, instead of the bandaid solutions steroids provide. If you are looking to avoid the dependence on steroids, or want to try some natural solutions before your child progresses to needing steroid treatment, keep reading to learn more about how to treat eczema without steroid cream.
In this post, we’ll cover:
But first, let’s get a little refresher on what eczema actually is.
Eczema is also called atopic dermatitis, and it is a skin condition that can make the skin red, itchy, weepy and inflamed. The cause of eczema is not yet known, but there are some genetic predispositions to be aware of.
If one of the child’s parents has or had eczema at any point in their life, for example, the child’s risk of eczema increases. Eczema, food allergies and asthma are also all grouped together in the category of atopic disease. Having one of these three conditions increases the risk of having the other two.
Eczema is also thought to be linked to a lack of a protein in the skin called filaggrin. People with eczema have less of this protein in their skin which leads to the skin having a compromised barrier. Skin is drier, and more prone to develop eczema.
While the symptoms of eczema can vary, children with eczema often suffer greatly from being itchy. The itchiness is one of the biggest concerns with eczema as the scratching can lead to the skin getting infected, and it often impacts the child's (and their parent’s) sleep. If their eczema is severe, weeping skin can become a problem. As children get older, having eczema can also lead to them becoming self-conscious about their skin.
Eczema is trying for the whole family. And the common use of steroid creams to heal eczema can play a big role in the stress surrounding eczema.
Eczema occurs because of a leaky skin barrier, usually due to the lack of filaggrin protein, and an overactive immune response. This overactive immune response leads to inflammation of the skin. First line treatment for eczema is typically topical corticosteroids.
Steroids are used to treat eczema because they help to reduce inflammation in the skin, and suppress the overactive immune response that is happening in the skin. Babies and children are often started on a 0.5-1% hydrocortisone if they are presenting with mild to moderate eczema. If a child has more severe eczema, they will be prescribed stronger steroid cream or an immunosuppressant like protopic or elidel.
However, there are times when steroids may not be the best or only option and it may be worth looking into how to treat eczema without steroids.
Many cases of mild eczema can be managed by sticking to a quality, non- aggravating skincare routine. Because people with eczema often have less of the protein filaggrin in their skin their skin tends to be drier. Dry skin leads to an increased susceptibility for eczema. It is very important for anyone with eczema to keep their skin well moisturized.
In some cases of mild to severe eczema, children may experience the “rebound effect” of steroid treatment: they us the steroid cream for 1-2 weeks, their eczema gets better then it comes back as bad or worse then before.
In these cases, it is a wise idea to do more of a deep dive into discovering their eczema triggers to help break this cycle. Natural solutions for eczema, like non-steroid creams can be transitioned to while figuring out eczema triggers. This approach gets to the root of the problem to treat eczema without steroids, instead of using the “bandaid” solution approach that steroids often provide.
The quick answer is yes. The goal of treatment is to avoid the dependance on steroids, not to avoid the use of steroids altogether. Steroids have their place, and can be used to help calm flares while in the process of figuring out the individual cause of your child’s eczema.
So what causes eczema? There are several factors that may be at play, so it’s important to take some time to explore all of them when you’re exploring how to treat eczema without steroids.
There are many common triggers for eczema in babies and children. One of the first things that is often suggested if your baby or child is suffering from eczema is to change their laundry detergent. I also suggest setting your washing machine to a double rinse to make sure no soap residue is left on their clothes.
Food triggers also play a big role in eczema in babies and kids. Some of the top food triggers for eczema are:
Less common, but still relevant triggers can be: avocado, banana, rice and oats.
Food triggers can be identified by removing them from the diet for 3 weeks and tracking to see if there is an improvement in eczema. If a baby is being breastfed, these trigger foods will also need to be removed from mom’s diet.
Gut health and gut flora (the bacterial flora that is housed in our digestive system) can have a huge impact on whether or not someone develops eczema, and what severity it is.
A study from 2021 from King’s College in London UK showed that infants that experience eczema have more of the bacteria Clostridium sensu stricto in their digestive systems, then babies who do not suffer from eczema. Babies who are born by Caesarean have less diversity in their gut bacteria (but that this can be rectified with probiotics), and that early introduction of allergens accelerated the development of greater gut bacteria diversity.
Certain strains of probiotics have been studied to be beneficial for reducing eczema. Lactobacillus rhamnosus is the most well studied probiotic for eczema. It has been shown to help reduce the severity of itching with eczema.
There are certain vitamins and minerals that can be helpful in eczema.
If your baby/child’s eczema is weeping and oozing then zinc is one to try. When skin is weeping and oozing, zinc is lost through that fluid. Zinc is helpful in skin repair and helps to modulate the overactive immune response that is present with eczema
Fish oil, especially one containing gamma linoleic acid (GLA) is also a good choice for eczema. Studies have shown that taking 2g of fish oil a day greatly reduced the severity of eczema in 12 weeks. Fish oil works to reduce levels of leukotriene B4, which is an proinflammatory mediator linked to eczema. Eczema has also been linked to a deficiency in delta-6-desaturase which converts linoleic acid to gamma linoleic acid (GLA), this is why supplementing with GLA is beneficial.
Vitamin D is another supplement that is good for eczema. It helps to modulate the immune response with eczema, reduces inflammation and promotes a better skin barrier.
Skincare is an important part of managing eczema. Reducing exposures to ingredients that aggravate eczema is helpful for reducing inflammation and the immune response.
The top 3 offenders for worst ingredients for eczema are:
If you want to learn how to treat eczema without steroids, then it’s important to find an effective non-steroid cream. The key things to look for in a non-steroid eczema cream are ingredients that help to maintain the skin’s barrier and contain eczema-friendly ingredients that are anti-inflammatory, wound healing, anti-itch and antibacterial.
It is also a good idea to avoid creams that use nut oils (like almond oil) as children with eczema have an impaired skin barrier and this can lead to nut proteins entering through the skin and increasing the risk for food allergies.
The best non steroid eczema cream should include some of these ingredients:
Baby eczema can definitely be overwhelming, so where should you start if you want to explore how to treat eczema without steroids? The first thing I suggest trying is changing your laundry detergent to either Seventh Generation Free and Clear or Tide Free and Gentle, and setting your washing machine to have a second rinse cycle.
For foods, I generally recommend taking out the ones they are eating the most frequently from the list above and watching to see what happens with their eczema for 3 weeks.
If you are already using a steroid cream consistently it is a good idea to implement some of the suggestions above (switching laundry detergent and removing suspected food triggers) before stopping the steroid cream abruptly. It is best to complete the course for the steroid cream then slowly wean off of it.
Adding in a probiotic that is high in the strains of bacteria that are beneficial for eczema is a good next step.
Ready to treat eczema without steroids right away? I cover the step by step approach of how to manage eczema naturally in my Eczema Eraser Workshop.
In this workshop, you’ll learn:
In the workshop I will also give you a full resource list of all my favorite products for eczema, from clothing to probiotics, to bathing routines, and more.
Register for the Eczema Eraser Workshop now.
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Top 5 Reasons You Wake Up Between 1-3 am
Do you wake up during the night? Post in the comments below.
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis practices via telemedicine is an accepting new patients who live in Ontario. Click here to book
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Do you wake up in the morning feeling refreshed, full of energy, and confident that you can take on the challenges of the day? No? Let me tell you, you are not alone. One of the questions I always ask in my new patient intake is “Do you feel refreshed when you wake up?” Most of my patients give me a “is she for real?!” look. While it may have been a while since you have felt refreshed in the morning, especially if you are a mom, please know that you can feel that way again.
Are you like the majority of my patients who wake feeling tired and then need boosts of caffeine and sugar to get through the day. These patients have also often gone to their doctors, had blood work done, and have been told that everything is within the normal range. So why then do they feel so “not normal?”
The main cause of these symptoms is Adrenal Fatigue. I go over a more in depth explanation of adrenal fatigue in this blog post. The adrenal glands are responsible for secreting our stress hormone cortisol. It is cortisol that helps us to have the “fight or flight” response. If you are under stress for a long period of time, your body keeps secreting cortisol, because it thinks that you are being chased by a bear. In modern times we are chased by a lot of bears: deadlines at work, kids that won’t sleep or stop crying, making ends meet, and saving for the future. Your body can’t tell the difference between a life threatening stress and the kind that we are faced with every day. It just secretes cortisol in response. If too much cortisol is secreted over a long period of time you can get to the point where your body does not respond to stress as well, AKA Adrenal Fatigue.
Sound a bit like your life?
Here are some signs that your adrenal glands are at the root of your lack of energy
Now that you know the symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue, what can you do about it? First off, it is important to see your Naturopathic Doctor to make sure nothing else is going on. Thyroid dysfunction in particular, as it can have similar symptoms. There are tests that can be run to determine the health of your adrenal glands, and there is plenty that can be done to heal your adrenal glands with the right diet and lifestyle choices. I go over a few of those diet and lifestyle interventions in this blog post.
I hope you learned something in today’s post and are feeling ready to get your adrenals back on track
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis practices in Stittsville at Living Science Wellness Centre and is accepting new patients. To schedule your appointment, please call 613.836.7901
]]>I will admit I was the first to think….meal planning, what a pain?! With that being said, I have been doing it for the first time for the last 3 weeks and I am actually quite enjoying it. When life gets super busy it is nice to know what is for dinner and that you will have leftovers for lunch. Healthy eating can be really expensive, and it helps you to not waste food, have a good supply of common ingredients and plan your meals around what the sales are that week.
One of my favorite easy breakfast foods is Chia Seed Pudding. It is a good source of
-Protein
-Omega 3 fats
-Fibre
-Calcium
-Manganese
-Magnesium
Best of all it keeps you full! It is best made the night before and makes for an easy on the go breakfast
Chia Seed Pudding Recipe
2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
1 Tbsp Hemp Hearts
½ Cup Full Fat Coconut Milk (from the can)
½ Tsp Maple Syrup (can omit)
½ cup Berries of Choice
Place the seed in your container, add coconut milk and maple syrup and stir. Layer berries on top of the chia seed mixture and put in the fridge overnight. Enjoy the next morning.
What tips and tricks do you have to eat healthy on a budget? Please share in the comments below
Dr Alexis
]]>
What is a Detox?
The word detox has taken on so many meanings. It can be as simple as reducing your toxic exposures to something more extreme such as a 5-7 day juice cleanse. The theory behind detoxing is to reduce or eliminate the number of toxins coming into the body. One of the biggest questions I get asked about detoxing is “doesn’t my liver do that already on its own”. The simple answer is YES! Your liver is essentially the filter for your body. It works to make the toxins in your body more water soluble so that they can be eliminated via your urine and stool. Your liver is VERY busy. Along with filtering the blood and eliminating toxins the liver also
-Aids in processing nutrients that the intestines absorb
-Breaking down and metabolizing alcohol
-Produces chemicals that help the blood to clot efficiently
-Regulates blood sugar
-Destroys and “cleans up” old red blood cells.
Our liver’s have a tonne of work to do. In the past, before we were exposed to the 60,000 environmental toxins that have been introduced since World War II, our liver’s were able to keep up with the break down and elimination of toxins. Now our liver’s are having to work overtime. A detox can be beneficial as a way to greatly reduce toxin exposures for a period of time. During a detox it is important to give the liver the nutrients it needs to break down the toxins into the water soluble form so that they can be eliminated. One of the key messages I want to get across is DETOX DOESN’T HAVE TO BE EXTREME. You can benefit greatly from a food only detox, and it is a great place for beginners to start.
You Could Benefit From a Detox If You Have:
-Difficulty Losing Weight
-Acne
-Trouble Regulating Blood Sugar
-Constipation
-Painful and/or Irregular Periods
-Brain Fog
-Bloating/Gas/Heartburn
In next week’s blog I will be talking about which foods to include and which to avoid while doing a detox.
Do you have any questions about detox? Please leave them in the comments below.
Talk Soon
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis practices in Ottawa at Life Therapies. To book your appointment, visit www.lifetherapies.ca or 613.422.8939.
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It’s that time of year again….allergy season. While most people around you may be jumping for joy that it is spring, you are not so happy about it! If this is your first time breastfeeding you may be surprised to learn that many of your go to allergy medications are off the table. Fear not. We will go over ways to help manage your allergies naturally (this is possible).
To start here is a link to Motherisk, via Sick Kids Hospital which reviews which medications can be safely used during breast feeding. Unfortunately, it is primarily the first generation antihistamines, which are the ones that cause drowsiness, probably not the best side effect for chasing after a little one when you are already tired, but it is good to know your options
Top 7 Tips to Manage Allergies Naturally
It is best to start tackling allergies before the allergy season starts, as it can take time to lower histamine levels naturally. For next year, consider going to see your naturopathic doctor 4-6 weeks before your symptoms typically start.
Talk Soon,
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis practices via telemedicine and is currently accepting patients who live in Ontario. Click here to schedule your appointment
]]>
I will admit I was the first to think….meal planning, what a pain?! With that being said, I have been doing it for the first time for the last 3 weeks and I am actually quite enjoying it. When life gets super busy it is nice to know what is for dinner and that you will have leftovers for lunch. Healthy eating can be really expensive, and it helps you to not waste food, have a good supply of common ingredients and plan your meals around what the sales are that week.
One of my favorite easy breakfast foods is Chia Seed Pudding. It is a good source of
-Protein
-Omega 3 fats
-Fibre
-Calcium
-Manganese
-Magnesium
Best of all it keeps you full! It is best made the night before and makes for an easy on the go breakfast
Chia Seed Pudding Recipe
2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
1 Tbsp Hemp Hearts
½ Cup Full Fat Coconut Milk (from the can)
½ Tsp Maple Syrup (can omit)
½ cup Berries of Choice
Place the seed in your container, add coconut milk and maple syrup and stir. Layer berries on top of the chia seed mixture and put in the fridge overnight. Enjoy the next morning.
What tips and tricks do you have to eat healthy on a budget? Please share in the comments below
Dr Alexis
]]>Most babies spend 2-3 years in diapers, and you are one of those unicorn parents if you make it through that entire time without having to tackle a diaper rash. We have had to deal with one bad rash already after my son had to have a round of antibiotics. Did you know that antibiotics can trigger a diaper rash? There are too many causes of diaper rash to cover in the post, but I will explain the most common ones below
Causes of Diaper Rash
-Prolonged contact with urine or stool- Urine and stool contain waste products and can be quite acidic.
-Reactions to diapers, wipes or creams.
-Teething- It is quite common to see at least a mild rash with teething from the excess saliva causing changes to the stool which can aggravate the skin.
-After a round of Antibiotics- Antibiotics kill not only the bad bacteria, but the good as well. This can lead to a change in the ecosystem on your baby’s bottom which allows yeast to flourish.
-Acidic Foods- Eaten by either mom, if breastfeeding, or baby, this can cause the stool to become more acidic and when it sits on the bottom can cause irritation.
-Food Intolerances- Foods that baby is reacting to can cause irritation anywhere on the skin, but it is especially prevalent in the diaper area. This is even more common in babies who have eczema.
How to Prevent Diaper Rash
As I said above, even if you do everything perfectly, there is no way to guarantee that you will prevent a diaper rash. So please do not beat yourself up if/when you baby gets one!
-Frequent Changing- The best defense is to change the baby as soon as they soil the diaper to minimize the time for contact irritation to occur.
-Wipes- Choose wipes that are non-toxic, with simple ingredients and non-irritating. My personal favorites are: Seventh Generation, Water Wipes and Pampers Pure.
-Diapers- Same thing goes for diapers. Choose either cloth, or non-toxic disposables. Regular diapers contain, chlorine, dioxin and fragrances. My favorites are Pampers Pure, Rascal and Friends and Seventh Generation
-Barrier Cream- When most people think of a barrier cream the first thing that comes to mind is zinc, but zinc is not the only or best option. For starters, zinc cannot be used on cloth diapers, as it reduces their ability to absorb. Our Diaper Cream acts as a barrier, because is 100% oil and butter based. How it works is based on the science of oil repelling water. This helps to keep the water/moisture off your baby’s bum. Having too much moisture on the bum allows bacteria and yeast to flourish.
How to Help Once Your Baby Has a Rash
-Frequent Changing
- Diaper Free Time- “Airing out” the bum helps to keep too much moisture from getting trapped.
-No Wipes- When your baby has a rash, skip the wipes altogether and use a cloth and warm water.
-Baking Soda- Add 1 TBSP of baking soda to the bath water to help with the pH balance on the bum.
-Hair Dryer- Dry baby’s bum after every change with a hair dryer on the air setting. If they are still wet after wiping and have a rash, it can encourage the growth of yeast and bacteria.
-Offending Foods- Remove both citrus foods and tomatoes from mom, if breastfeeding, and baby’s diet until the rash is healed
-Herbs- Choose a Diaper Cream with herbs! Our Diaper Cream contains herbs that are anti-bacterial, anti-yeast, anti-inflammatory and wound healing to help reduce baby’s discomfort and get their rash healed faster, often overnight.
So, there you have it. I hope you learned something from this blog! It is one to bookmark, as you are almost guaranteed to encounter a diaper rash at sometime in your parenting journey!
Has your baby had a bad diaper rash? What did use that helped? Post in the comments below?
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis sees patients via telemedicine and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
]]>Eczema is a common childhood skin condition that affects up to 30% of children. Most children who are going to have eczema experience their first flare before the age of 5. The most common time for eczema to start is between 6-18 months. So what does eczema look like on babies? Let’s explore some of the common symptoms of baby eczema.
There are many risk factors for eczema, the main one being having one or both parents who have eczema. Symptoms of eczema can look different from baby to baby but there are some symptoms that are typically seen, including dry, scaly, itchy red skin. Different types of baby eczema can also be weeping or oozing, which results in the formation of a crust on the surface of the skin.
Eczema tends to present first on the cheeks, abdomen, and back. As your baby gets older, it is common for them to develop it behind their knees, and in their elbow creases. As they become able, babies frequently scratch eczema, sometimes even to the point of making it bleed. Eczema does not tend to present in the diaper area, so this can be helpful for figuring out if the rash your baby has is eczema or not.
Soothing eczema can be challenging for a variety of reasons. Signs of baby eczema are not always super easy to recognize. Babies can get red cheeks from teething, and also from eczema. A baby can have dry skin, but not eczema.
Your doctor, midwife, or other healthcare provider can help to diagnose eczema, but keep reading to learn the symptoms of baby eczema to look for at home.
The most common symptoms of eczema are:
This is a fairly typical mild to moderate case of eczema in a baby. Their cheeks are usually one of the first places to get eczema. While cheeks can get red from teething, that looks more like a flush. Redness from eczema looks like irritation and if you look closely, you can see there are some small red bumps as well. Redness can definitely be a sign of baby eczema, but redness alone does not mean it is eczema.
In babies 6 months and older we often find eczema behind their knees and in their elbow creases. It generally looks red, or darker, and scaly. Behind the knees and in elbow creases are usually itchy areas. If your baby is old enough, they may scratch at eczema patches. This itchiness can be another symptom of baby eczema vs dry skin.
This is what moderate to severe eczema can look like. Cheeks, forehead, eyelids and behind the ears are all impacted. It is red, scaly, itchy and has been oozing, as it has a yellowish crust. His skin also appears to be very dry.
It can be hard to distinguish between symptoms of baby eczema and other skin conditions. The two other skin conditions that I find parents confuse the most with eczema are baby acne and cradle cap.
Baby acne also causes red skin and bumps, which can be red or white. Baby acne tends to present on the cheeks, nose and forehead. It is fairly common, and the cause is unknown. One theory is that it is the baby’s skin getting rid of the mom’s hormones the baby was exposed to during pregnancy. Baby acne can also be found on the chest and back. Baby acne tends to develop earlier than eczema, around 2 to 4 weeks of age, and usually resolves by 3-4 months of age.
Cradle cap is very common in newborns and young babies. It’s the common term for infantile seborrheic dermatitis and usually clears up on its own as babies grow older. Common signs of cradle cap include patchy scaling on the scalp, dry skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales, skin flakes and mild redness.
There are 3 main types of eczema, some of which are more common in babies.
This is the most common type of eczema seen in babies. It is eczema that tends to present on cheeks, abdomen and back first and then may progress to elbow creases, behind the knees and hands. It is what most people think of when they think about eczema; red, dry, scaly and itchy.
Contact dermatitis is a red itchy rash that results from contact with something; Laundry soap is a common culprit for babies. It is red and itchy, but it does not usually have bumps or is scaly. It also will resolve when the trigger is removed, so it tends to not be present as long as eczema.
Seborrheic dermatitis is commonly known as cradle cap. Cradle cap tends to present on the scalp only, but it can travel down to the forehead as well. It causes crusty, flaking and oily patches. Cradle cap is typically not itchy and does not bother the baby. Cradle cap can be present from shortly after birth, and tends to clear up by 6 months of age. The peak age for cradle cap is 2-3 months.
If you think your baby has eczema, and you’re seeing symptoms of baby eczema that go beyond mildly red cheeks, it is important to take them to your doctor or healthcare provider to get a diagnosis.
Most doctors can diagnose eczema just by looking at it, based on its appearance, your description of your baby’s symptoms, your baby’s health history and your family history of eczema. There is no test to diagnose eczema.
There is plenty you can do if you suspect your baby has a mild eczema or while you are waiting for your doctor’s appointment.
The number one thing I recommend to address symptoms of baby eczema is to remove scented products from the house. This included cleaning products, air fresheners, and soaps. Laundry soap can be a big trigger for babies with eczema and sensitive skin. Look for one that is fragrance free and gentle enough for baby’s skin. I suggest Seventh Generation Free and Clear.
Finding skincare that is designed for sensitive skin and won’t aggravate eczema is also very important. There are some really good ingredients for baby eczema to look for. A skin cream that contains these soothing ingredients can do wonders to help calm the skin, and ease itching.
Beyond topical treatments, it is important to figure out what your baby’s triggers are so that you can remove them and get to the bottom of the cause of their eczema. Common baby eczema triggers are foods like dairy and eggs, fragrance, and baby getting too hot.
Feeling overwhelmed by all of the symptoms, causes and possible treatments for your little one’s eczema? Explore our Eczema Eraser Masterclass to learn more about how to identify eczema triggers and start treating eczema naturally at home.
]]>It can be super difficult, especially if you are trying to stop their dependence on steroid creams, to find lotions, baby wash and cream that don’t irritate their sensitive skin. Even more of a needle in a haystack is finding natural products for eczema that actually help.
So what natural ingredients can be helpful for eczema? What should you be looking for in a natural eczema cream for your baby or child?
In this post I will teach you what I have learned over the last 9 years treating eczema in my practice as a naturopathic doctor about which ingredients are good for eczema, and which ones aren’t the best.
But before we dive into the best ingredients for eczema, let’s explore what eczema actually is.
Eczema is an inflammatory condition of the skin. It causes the skin to become itchy, red, scaly and flaky. It can be either dry, or weeping. Common areas to get eczema are: in the elbow creases, behind the knees, hands, ears and eyelids, face and abdomen.
The exact cause of eczema is still unknown. But we do know that some people have a genetic predisposition to developing eczema because they have a loss of function mutation in their filaggrin gene.
What this means is the filaggrin gene produces a protein that is in the outermost layer of the skin, the epidermis. If you do not have as much of that protein in your skin, it makes it harder for your skin to maintain its barrier.
Think of your skin like a coffee filter. Your skin is semipermeable, so it should let some things in and some stay out. In people with a filaggrin gene mutation (which increases your risk of developing eczema), it's like their coffee filter has tears in it. This means things get in through the skin that shouldn’t, and you also lose more moisture through the skin, resulting in dry, flaky skin,
A child is more likely to suffer from eczema if one or both parents have it, or if they had it as a child. Children with allergies and asthma also have a higher risk of developing eczema.
Rates of eczema in children have also been on the rise. In the 1990’s, only 8% of children had eczema, now 15-30% of children under 5 have eczema. And 5% of those children suffer from what is classified as severe eczema. Eczema is also much more prevalent in North America than in other parts of the world.
Foods and environmental exposures can be triggers of eczema, which could explain some of the rising rates of eczema and the difference in eczema rates around the world.
Once you’ve identified some potential triggers for your child’s eczema and are ready to start treating your little one's skin, it’s important to explore which ingredients can be helpful and which may not be.
The following are some of the best ingredients for eczema relief:
Aloe Barbadensis leaf juice is the liquid that is extracted from the leaves of the aloe plant. It has been recognized for centuries for its medicinal purposes, and has been used topically for burns and irritations. It has a cooling effect on the skin, which can relieve the feelings of burning and itching.
Aloe is very hydrating, which can help relieve dry skin from eczema. It is anti-inflammatory, which helps with itching and redness, antibacterial and antifungal to help reduce the risk of secondary infections.
Safflower oil comes from the safflower plant that is grown in California and the Canadian Prairies. It is a great oil for skin care because it is not an allergic oil (like the nut oils) and is high in linoleic acid, which helps maintain the skin’s barrier. This is one reason it’s among the best ingredients for eczema.
It soothes dry an inflamed skin, and contains high levels of vitamin E. Safflower oil has also been shown to aid in wound healing.
Shea butter is a plant based fat that is extracted from the nut of the shea tree that grows in Africa. Shea butter is a superstar in the skincare world. It is so nourishing and versatile that it is used in all different kinds of applications from creams and lotions to hair care products. Shea butter is high in oleic acid, stearic acid and linoleic acid, melts at room temperature and easily gets absorbed into the skin to provide moisture.
It is a fantastic choice for eczema prone skin because it helps increase moisturization, is anti-inflammatory, aids in wound healing and contains many vitamins and antioxidants. Vitamin A is high in shea butter and it has been shown to help with eczema and dermatitis.
It also helps to relieve itchy skin, which is all too common with eczema. Shea butter has traditionally been used to help with eczema and diaper rash.
Goldenseal is a herb from the buttercup family that grows across North America. It is a herb that has many applications because it has so many properties. It is best known for being antibacterial and anti-yeast.
Goldenseal is one of the best ingredients for eczema. It has wound healing properties, is anti-inflammatory, and astringent. Astringent means the drying of fluids, so it is helpful for weeping eczema.
When most people think of echinacea, they think of it helping with colds and flus, but its properties extend well beyond just that. Echinacea is a beautiful pink/purple flower that is found across most of North America.
Echinacea is a hidden gem for skin and one of the best ingredients for eczema. It is antibacterial and antiviral which can help reduce the risk of getting an infection when eczema causes the skin to be open. Echinacea has been shown to be able to increase your skin’s own moisture levels by increasing the amount of ceramides in the skin. Like goldenseal, it has astringent properties which makes it particularly helpful for weeping eczema.
Calendula is one of the most commonly used herbs in skincare and one of the best ingredients for eczema. It is a beautiful orange flower that is also known as a marigold. They are native to many parts of the world. Calendula is so widely used in skincare products because it has a variety of benefits for the skin. It has been used traditionally to soothe eczema, dermatitis and dandruff.
It is a gentle yet powerful herb and is very helpful for calming eczema. It has wound healing properties, and is often used on wounds that have a lot of redness, pain or are difficult to heal. It soothes itching, and helps to moisturize dry skin. It also helps to promote collagen production, which helps keep the skin moisturized and aids in the speed of wound healing. Calendula is very gentle for sensitive skin, and is often included in skincare products for babies.
Although its name has weed in it, chickweed is very useful for the skin. Fun fact, it is one of the most common weeds found on front lawns, so you likely have some at your house! It is very valuable for eczema for a few reasons.
Chickweed contains many beneficial compounds for eczema including: Vitamins A, B and C. It acts as an anti-inflammatory, soothes itchy and dry skin, can help heal wounds, and gives a cooling feeling to the skin.
St John’s wort is a herb most people have heard about for helping to treat depression, but its uses extend far beyond that. St John’s wort helps to ease nerve pain, so it can be useful to reduce the burning and stinging pain of eczema.
In one study, a cream containing St John’s wort was applied to one side of the body and a placebo to the other for 4 weeks. The study concluded that the area that was treated with the St John’s wort cream showed an improvement in redness, scaling, crusting and skin thickening, and had less of a risk of skin infection. (Schemmpet, et al, 2003)
Oat extract is made from the oat straw, which is the stems and leaves of the plant, whereas oatmeal and oats are the seed of the plant. They are both the plant Avena sativa, but people who are sensitive to the oats (seed) are usually not sensitive to the leaves and stems (the oatstraw) because they contain negligible amounts of protein.
Oat straw is great for eczema because it is soothing, reduces itching, and helps place a moisturizing coating on the skin that helps severely dry skin. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is high in antioxidants.
There are so many do’s and don’t for eczema. Now that we’ve explored the best ingredients for eczema, here is a list of some of the worst ingredients for eczema.
Fragrance is irritating to any form of sensitive skin, but is especially aggravating to eczema. Did you know that any product that contains fragrance that is not an essential oil, contains parabens and phthalates, even if it is labeled as paraben or phthalate free?!
This is a loophole in cosmetic labeling in North America that allows manufacturers to keep their fragrance info as proprietary, meaning they don’t have to disclose if it contains parabens or phthalates and can still call their products paraben or phthalate free.
So what should you look for on labels? Look for products that do not say fragrance or perfume any where on the label, or are unscented.
It is best to avoid parabens in your skincare products because they have been shown to disrupt hormone levels, are detrimental to reproductive organs and increase the risk of cancer.
For people with eczema, there is a higher risk of allergic reaction to a product if it contains parabens because people with eczema have a problem with the integrity of their skin’s barrier. This means that the parabens are more readily absorbed into the bloodstream, triggering allergic responses, as well as the negative impacts listed above
Phthalates have also been shown to be linked to hormonal disruption, developmental and reproductive toxicity and an increased risk of cancer. Exposure to phthalates while pregnant has been shown to alter immune responses and increase the risk of eczema and asthma.
Phthalates have also been shown to aggravate atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, in children.
Short term use of steroids, or hydrocortisone cream can be helpful to get eczema under control. Where the issues arise is with long term use. This is for two reasons: the risk of thinning of the skin and topical steroid withdrawal from extended continual usage of steroids (this can be as short as two weeks in children).
In fact, eczema often rebounds worse than it was before once the steroids are no longer being applied. The use of steroids long term is a band aid solution, and it is not getting to the root of what is causing eczema. After all, common triggers of eczema are: food (dairy, eggs, soy), environmental (laundry soap, cleaning products) and stress.
Now that we’ve explored some of the best ingredients for eczema, you might have noticed one thing they all have in common: they come from nature. Unfortunately, many doctors don’t start with these natural solutions when it comes to healing eczema.
Instead, typical recommendations for treating eczema is to apply glaxal base, aquaphor and vaseline. For severe cases, steroid creams are typically recommended. All of these options have downsides.
Aquaphor and Vaseline contain either paraben and phthalates or petroleum ingredients. There are a few issues with petroleum ingredients. They are also a byproduct of the petroleum manufacturing process and often are contaminated with ingredients that are known to increase the risk of cancer. Steroids, as we’ve already discussed, can lead to thinning of the skin and even withdrawal symptoms of the skin.
Natural ingredients for eczema, on the other hand, bring so much to the table for helping eczema. As you have seen in the ingredient descriptions above, every ingredient has multiple ways that it helps. Whether that is by being anti-inflammatory, wound healing, anti-itch, anti-bacterial, moisturizing or helping reduce scaly skin.
When it comes to choosing the right product for your child’s eczema, natural options are the way to go.
When you focus on using the best ingredients for eczema, you get to take advantage of all the properties that they inherently have, without having to worry about the downsides of parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrance.
The best eczema creams and products will contain these ingredients we’ve discussed: things like Shea Butter, a non-nut oil (stay away from almond oil in creams), and herbs that can help the skin heal and reduce discomfort. My favorites are: Calendula, Goldenseal, Chickweed and Echinacea.
If you’re ready to take a more natural approach to your child’s skincare, start by switching to non-toxic skincare products. Our Skin Conditioning Cream is perfect for soothing dry, red, flaky skin and is packed with some of the best ingredients for eczema.
Need to learn more about managing your child’s eczema? In my Eczema Eraser Workshop I’m sharing my best tips to heal and prevent baby eczema based on my years as a naturopathic doctor and my own experiences managing my son’s severe eczema. Click here to register now.
]]>Questions like this are the type of key information that most first time moms are missing when they are sent blissfully unaware home from the hospital. We need to do better at helping and supporting new parents while they navigate the first year of their baby’s life. There needs to be more info on new mom essentials.
I wanted to do something about this knowledge gap, so I asked 10 experts in pregnancy, postpartum, babies and toddler what their top new mom tips are. This blog post is the 2nd in a series I wrote on the topic, so if you missed the 1st one click here Consider this your new mom survival kit!
10 Tips for New Moms from a Registered Dietician, Naturopathic Doctor, Child Safety Expert. Psychologist, PhD, and a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist
1) Returning to Exercise- Starting with foundational breath, learning to connect with your core and pelvic floor is your best bet for building a strong foundation- Reena Parekh, Pre and Post Natal Fitness Coach
2) Picky Eating- Keep offering foods even if they reject it and make sure to switch up how you serve it (flavors, textures, temperatures, etc etc)- Alyssa Miller, Registered Dietitian
3) Birth- Trust your body and your baby. Don't let societal pressures or policies change your perspective about what you want and need while pregnant, going through childbirth or postpartum during this pandemic- Dr. Jessica Dupont, Naturopathic Doctor and Birth Doula
4) Baby Eczema- Steroid creams can help, but they are a band aid solution. Get help figuring out what your baby’s eczema triggers are, it goes beyond just having a cream for baby eczema- Dr. Alexis Reid, Naturopathic Doctor and Founder of Eco Chic Movement
5) Car Seat Safety- Feeling overwhelmed about your car seat? There are certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians all across North America who can offer you hands-on, in-person assistance that is either very low cost, or often times, free! You can find a local technician in your area by visit safekids.org (US) or cpsac.org (Canada)- Holly Choi Co-Owner Safe Beginnings First Aid
6) Pelvic Floor- Attention to your pelvic floor ideally should happen BEFORE you are pregnant - a solid conscious conception plan should include many health promoting behaviors including understanding pelvic floor fitness and function - whether is it reducing the likelihood of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain or improving pelvic floor status through pregnancy and the postpartum periods - engaging in pelvic floor fitness ahead of pregnancy is most protective- Dr Sinead Dufour PhD- Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist, Associate Clinical Professor
7) Tantrums- "My child is not trying to give me a hard time, they are having a hard time"- Chelsea Bodie & Caitlin Slavens Mama Registered Psychologists
8) Breastfeeding Difficulties- Breastfeeding through food reactivity is absolutely an option as is specialized formula. Know that you can decide what is best for your feeding decisions and you can feel comfort in that- experience, it’s just another day at work for your provider-Dr Trillitye Paulin- PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology
9) Birth Plan- A super strong birth plan has very little to do with the template you choose. The most important thing is to research the why behind everything you put on your plan and to have a strong advocate voice to ask for what you want- Lizzie Bolliger, Birth Educator.
10) Relationships- Schedule a weekly check in with your partner. Taking 10-20 minutes once a week, without distractions, can help build connection and improve communication around difficult topics. Prepare a list of questions that you might choose to use in every meeting- Dr Tracy D Registered Psychologist
If you enjoyed these tips and want to learn more, join the waitlist for The New Mama Summit for 4 Days of FREE Motherhood Education for the Expecting and New Parent
If you found these tips helpful, please share them with a friend/family member
Are you starting on your baby's nursery? Grab our FREE GUIDE- 5 Ways to Reduce Toxins in Your Baby's Nursery
Dr. Alexis
Dr Alexis sees patients virtually (for those who live in Ontario), and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
I asked some of the top experts in the pregnancy/postpartum/babies field and what their top 1-2 tips for new moms were. Trust me when I say this is the best use of your time before your new baby comes, not Pinteresting baby shower themes or nursery designs…but I get it, that is pretty fun to do.
Top 10 Tips from psychologists, dietitians, naturopathic doctors, pelvic floor physiotherapists, birth educations, child safety experts, and PhD’s.
If you enjoyed these tips and want to learn more, join the waitlist for The New Mama Summit for 4 days of FREE expert, science-baked advice to support your journey into new motherhood.
If you found these tips helpful, please share them with a friend/family member
Dr. Alexis
Dr Alexis sees patients virtually (for those who live in Ontario), and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
]]>If you are like many of my patients, you have had your blood tested, told that your iron levels are fine and that it is not the cause of your symptoms. In todays post I am going to cover the ins and outs of iron levels, and why even if you have been told they are fine, that that may not be the case
Why is Iron Important?
Hemoglobin (Hb) is a protein within your red blood cells, that helps to transport iron around your body. Hb is the bus that picks up iron and drops it off where is needed (brain, heart, muscles etc.)
Ferritin- refers to your body’s iron stores. When your Hb is low, your body has to dip into its iron stores
With iron, as with most things in the body, there is a “Goldilocks” effect
Too little iron= bad
Too much iron= bad
You need it to be just right
Iron excess, called hemochromatosis, is not very common in women between the ages of 14-50 because of menstruation. To be throughout, I should add that you could have hemochromatosis if you have an IUD that stops/reduces your period).
What is most common in women, I see multiple cases of it most weeks in my practice, is low iron or iron deficiency.
Low Iron/Iron Deficiency
Causes of Low Iron
Many women do not consume enough iron. The recommended daily intake for women is 18 mg. If you are not meeting this need via your diet, you should consider supplementation (more about this later)
Food Sources of Iron
Heme Iron
3.5 mg/serving= 3 oz of beef/chicken liver, mussels or oysters
2.1 mg/serving= 3 oz of beef or sardines
0.6 mg/serving= 3 oz chicken, turkey or ham
Non Heme Iron
3.5 mg/serving= fortified cereal, 1 cup of beans, ½ cup of tofu
0.7mg/serving= 1 oz of nuts, 1 medium broccoli stalk, 1 cup spinach, 1 cup pasta
As you can see, it is challenging to get enough iron through the diet.
If you have digestive issues, you may not absorb iron well. Eating iron rich foods or taking a supplement at the same time as having tea or coffee can also reduce the amount of iron you are able to absorb. Tea and coffee contain tannins, which bind to the iron and result in it not being absorbed. You can increase the amount of iron your body will absorb, by having vitamin C at the same time as iron
Many women struggle with low hemoglobin or ferritin in pregnancy, so you are already starting from a spot of lower iron. All birth, even if it is textbook, involves quite a bit of blood loss (we lose iron via the blood). On top of this breastfeeding is another demand on the body that can further reduce iron stores. Studies have shown that 30% of postpartum women are anemic, but this is likely much lower than the real number because women are not having their hemoglobin and ferritin levels checked routinely postpartum
Symptoms of Iron Deficiency
-Unrelenting Fatigue- does not get better form sleeping more
-Shortness of Breath doing things that don’t normally cause that like walking up a flight of stairs
-Hair Loss- From all over the head, not forming bald spots
-Brain Fog/Difficulty Concentrating
-Palpitations- feeling of skipped heart beats or the awareness of your heart beating “weird”
-Headaches
-Restless Leg Syndrome
Why You Get Told That You Are Fine
Your hemoglobin should be over 121 g/L (Canadian units) or 12.1 g/dL (American units).
Most labs report a ferritin of 12 as being normal, but most women have symptoms of iron deficiency if their ferritin is under 30. You need your ferritin to be 40 for proper hair growth, and ideally you want your ferritin levels to be between 60-70.
Iron Supplementation
Many women that I see in my practice already know that they have low iron but have had bad experiences/side effects with supplementing with iron in the past, namely constipation and GI upset.
Iron comes in many different forms. It may be as simple as trying another form of iron that works better for you. In my practice, I have the best results at increasing iron levels without causing side effects by using Carbonyl Iron. Another tip with iron supplementation is to take twice the dose, every other day. Studies have shown that having a “24 hour holiday” increased iron absorption and decreases. Side effects. Iron is best taken every other night at dinner
I hope you found this post helpful.
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis sees patients via telemedicine and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
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Many moms think that they are “just a little tired” not necessarily burned out because they don’t feel like they need an IV caffeine drip, but there are more subtle signs before you get to this degree of burnout. The earlier you can catch and correct course on burnout the easier it is to recover from it.
5 Sneaky Signs That You May Be Suffering from Mom Burnout
These are some of the more frequent sneaky signs that I have seen in my practice treating hundreds of women with mom burnout. This is not a complete list of the signs and it will be a little different for everyone, but if you are identifying with at least 2-3 of these there is a very good chance that you are burned out or on your way to being so very quickly.
If you want to see what your food cravings tell you about your level of burnout, click here to take the 45 second quiz.
I hope that helped to give you some insight on the breadth of symptoms that are associated with mom burnout.
Are you suffering from the above symptoms? I would love to hear from you. Either hit reply or post in the comments below.
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis practices online via telemedicine and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
Naturopathic Medicine is covered by most extended health benefits
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Recently, there has been a big push on for self-care. While I don’t disagree that mom’s indeed do need to look after themselves, I fear that the push for self-care is yet another item added to the already never ending “to-do” list. When mom’s feel like they aren’t doing a “good enough” job with self- care it becomes a source of guilt and stress. Self-'care has also been sold as these bigger or more extravagant things that require a lot of time, energy or planning around your family. Things like going to the spa, booking a massage, getting your nails done, girl’s night out, you get the drift.
I prefer to think of self-care as little do-able things that become part of your routine, much like brushing your teeth, so that they do not become yet another thing to add to your to-do list. I think of my nightly routine of washing my face, and putting on creams before bed as self-care, and it is something that is easily accessible for me to do on most nights.
I do not consider things that are part of basic hygiene, like taking a shower, to be self-care. Mom’s deserve showers as a right! Not a treat.
So where did all of this come from? Did the mom’s who came before us have an easier time taking care of themselves? How did the pioneer women do it? They had to help run farms, grow all their food, cook everything from scratch, do laundry by hand. What did their self-care look like? Is it the lack of community now that is really impacting moms in particular?
Is it that moms are out of energy by the time that they take care of everyone else, there is no gas left in the tank for themselves?
As I said, more questions than answers this week. I would love to know what you think! Please post in the comments below.
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis practices online via telemedicine and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
Naturopathic Medicine is covered by most extended health benefits
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Are you experiencing mom burnout? I have to admit I was feeling burned out and overwhelmed over even writing this blog post! Mom burnout is so prevalent today for many reasons
This list could be a mile long, and is a bit different for everyone. What I want to focus on today is how to help reduce some of this burnout quickly to keep you from going further and further down the burnout rabbit hole! I want to keep this post short and sweet and to the point, to not drain anymore of your limited energy! If you want to learn more about causes of burnout, check out this blog post.
3 Easy Steps to Take Today to Reduce Mom Burnout
There you have it! Which change will be the easiest for you to implement? Post in the comments below!
Dr Alexis Reid
Dr Alexis practices in Kanata and is currently accepting new patients. To schedule your appointment, click here.
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When you are pregnant everyone is interested in how you are feeling, how far along you are, how big the baby is, if you are feeling movement, if you are sleeping, the list goes on and on. Mom and baby are treated as a unit and there is equal interest in both. Many moms will say this all changes once the baby is born. This change occurs with friends and family, but also when it comes to healthcare. As soon as the baby is born, that is where the focus shifts. Everyone wants to hold the baby, visit the baby, take pictures with the baby and very few people ask the mom anything about herself. The few people who do are often new moms themselves, who clearly remember the lack of care that they also received. Postpartum is a phase that is largely forgotten about in North American Culture. In other cultures, the mom is looked after, brought food, supported, but in our culture mom is often left alone with her partner to figure out how to breastfeed after having gone through either major surgery or a vaginal birth. Both of which leave you with a wound the size of a dinner plate in your uterus, under normal circumstances of an “injury” like this you would be able to rest and recover. Not so with a newborn. Newer policies have you home from the hospital in 24-48 hours even with a cesarean and many women are home at 4 hours with a midwife.
During pregnancy there are numerous visits with the care provider. Postpartum, you get one that’s it and that one visits according to all the pelvic floor physiotherapist I know is not very throughout. After 6 weeks, no one checks in on mom. Why are we not checking in on mom at well baby visits? Not only are we not checking in, often times mom’s concerns are dismissed, and she is told that she is just a “first time mom”. This is exactly what happened to me with Harvey at his 4-month visit. He clearly was reacting to foods through my breastmilk and I was told that wasn’t possible and I was just an anxious first-time mom. I removed many foods from my diet in an effort to help him, he had severe eczema and wasn’t gaining weight, and was met with the same criticism at the children’s hospital when I had to take him when he was 6 months old for the “worse eczema” the ER doc had ever seen. I had only been eating 4 foods for 14 weeks at this point in time and he was still having reactions. They wanted to start him on hypoallergenic formula, the kind that is amino acid based and $70 a can. When I said I already tried it and he reacted to it the resident laughed at me and said that that was “not possible”. Why are mothers dismissed for their observations? We are the ones with our children 24/7. If a mother says something is going on that should be listened to. Turns out there was a good reason he was reacting to all hypoallergenic formulas, they all contain coconut, and as his allergy testing just revealed, which I suspected for months, he is allergic to coconut.
This is just one example from my relatively short motherhood journey, but I see and hear others that are similar all the time. Why are mothers so invisible in our society? Why are we not listening to their observations, why are we not celebrating, or at least acknowledging, all that they are doing? Why are we letting so many mothers struggle?
Interested in learning more? Check out 5 Sneaky Signs You May Be Suffering from Mom Burnout
How have you felt dismissed, overlooked, not heard, invisible? Post in the comments below so we can change the narrative for new mothers
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis practices online via telemedicine and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
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Factors that I have seen contribute to having a more difficult time coming off the pill include:
-How long you have been taking it
-How young you were when you first started taking the pill
-Your reactions/side effects to different pills
-If you were on the pill only for birth control vs to help “treat” other problems
I have treat in quotations because the birth control pill does not treat the conditions that women are put on it to help with. It merely helps to mask the symptoms. This means that if you were put on the pill to help with acne, heavy periods, painful periods, absent period, or polycystic ovarian syndrome it is quite likely that these issues will still be there when you stop taking the pill. Do not let fear of symptoms returning or being worst that before stop you from coming off of the pill. There is plenty that can be done from a naturopathic medicine perspective to help to regulate your hormones and actually heal the underlying conditions that are causing your symptoms.
Also, don’t feel guilty about being on the pill in the first place. Yes, it is true if you were never on it then you wouldn’t have to go through the process of coming off of it. But if your experience was anything like mine, and you went to university in the 2000’s, there was quite the push for the birth control pill. I remember in university I could go into Health Services for a suspected strept throat and have the doctor offering me the birth control pill before I left?! I am hoping that things have changed more now and there are more options available for birth control that are non-hormonal. I am not going to touch on them here, as this blog will be long enough, but I may save that for a future blog post.
Most Common Symptoms Post Birth Control Pill
-Heavy Periods
-Painful Periods
-Absent Periods
-Acne
-Hair Loss
3 Steps for Coming off of the Birth Control Pill
When you are on the pill it essentially takes over your body’s hormonal signaling. When you are on the pill you do not ovulate. The period you have every month is not a real period. It is what we call a withdrawl bleed. When you stop taking the pill your hormones, namely lutenizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone have to figure out how to kick back into action to trigger ovulation. After ovulation, progesterone is released from the corpus luteum (the coating that forms on an unfertilized egg). Progesterone remains high for approximately 12-13 days at which point the corpus luteum disintegrates which causes progesterone levels to drop. This triggers the shedding of the endometrial lining which is your period. That is a coles notes version. Here is a link to a You Tube video that gives a great easy to follow explanation.
Once you are off of the pill your body has to “wake up” and start to do all this hormonal signaling. Being on the pill increases the levels of estrogen in the body. One of the first steps is to get your liver functioning well so that it can help to eliminate the excess estrogen
Supplements for Coming off of the Pill
There you have it! It can seem overwhelming and scary but remember I have helped hundreds of women come off of the birth control pill and they do not look back! If you live in Ontario, this is something that I can help you with.
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis practices online via telemedicine and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
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I always say that postpartum hair loss is up there amongst all the other things like diapers, (not for the baby), extreme exhaustion/lack of sleep, and the first postpartum bowel movement that everyone forgets to mention when they are reminiscing, with bliss, about their postpartum experience.
Postpartum hair loss or shedding that is significant occurs to up to 50% of postpartum women. Some of this shedding is physiological, or in simpler terms, happens for good reasons because your body realizes that it is no longer pregnant. Shedding typically starts at 3-4 months postpartum and usually slows by 6-7 months postpartum. Some women also experience another shed when they stop breastfeeding, if they breastfeed longer than when they had their initial shed.
Why Does Postpartum Hair Loss Happen
When you are pregnant you have very high levels of estrogen and progesterone circulating in your body. These hormones cause your hair follicles to stay in their active growing phase called anagen. This is also why many women experience thicker than usual hair with more body during pregnancy. Shortly after your baby is born, your hormone levels return to close to normal levels, staying slightly elevated if you are breastfeeding. It takes hair follicles approximately 3-4 months to shift from their growth phase, anagen, to their resting phase telogen and on to the shedding phase exogen. This shedding typically lasts for 2-3 months and it is essentially shedding all the hair that you did not lose while you were pregnant. If the shedding continues beyond 2-3 months, or if you are losing handfuls of hair and noticing that areas are thinning, then this may not be just “normal shedding of postpartum”
Other Causes of Hair Loss Postpartum
Hair loss can be a complicated to figure out. There are multiple causes that can be contributing, but here I will cover the most common causes I see in my practice
Supplements for Postpartum Hair Loss
Click this link to shop for a Prenatal, Iron and Collagen supplements
Supplements for Persistent Postpartum Hair Loss
For women experiencing beyond the normal amount of postpartum hair loss or for longer than it should be occurring I suggest adding in the following nutrients as well as the supplements mentioned above
Click this link to shop for Biotin and Multi Minerals
I also suggest switching to a natural shampoo as paraben, phthalates and silicone in conventional shampoo can irritate and cause inflammation in the scalp which can exacerbate hair loss.
If you liked this blog, click here to read "What to Eat for Hair Growth"
Did you have a lot of hair loss postpartum? What did you find helpful? Do you wish you were more prepared mentally for it?
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis practices online via telemedicine and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
]]>Top Costco Picks
Frozen Section
Fridge
Pantry
Things My Husband Buys at Costco
Two bonus item I forgot about until I was reviewing this list are Organic Olive Oil and Organic Coffee.
There you have it. We don’t buy these every time we go, but these are a few of the items that seem to always be in the rotation for us.
What do you find you always buy from Costco? Post below to let me know.
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis practices online via telemedicine and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
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I know what you are thinking “prenatal, did I read that right, I had the baby already”. Yes, it’s not a typo, the one supplement that I recommend that all postpartum moms continue with is their prenatal. Birth is a marathon and you need a good “post workout recovery” formula. A prenatal helps to cover your bases and makes sure you are getting most of the nutrients you need in a time when your eating patterns may be sporadic and not the most nutrient dense.
Everyone’s needs are a little different and factors such as how difficult of a birth you had, how much blood loss and if you are breastfeeding are definitely factors the impact what supplements you should be taking.
Nutrients that are Important During Postpartum
Iron- Even with the smoothest of births there is blood loss. A uncomplicated vaginal birth typically results in 500 ml of blood loss and during a cesarean birth you can lose up to 1L. Up to 18% of women may experience a postpartum hemorrhage, and most women continue to bleed for up to 6 weeks post-delivery. Many women’s iron stores aren’t great in pregnancy to begin with. Couple that with the blood loss and it is the perfect set up for low iron. Did you know that on most bloodwork ferritin, which is the stored form of iron, levels are considered “normal” if they are over 12? I like to see ferritin be at a minimum of 40 for overall energy and 60-70 for reducing hair loss. If you have been told your iron is fine but are tired, experiencing increased hair loss even if you are not postpartum as what your ferritin level is. Chances are it is closer to 12 then 50.
Iodine- Iodine is a key ingredient that the body uses to make thyroid hormone. Postpartum is one of the times in life that the thyroid is most vulnerable. It is quite common to experience postpartum thyroiditis and other fluctuations in thyroid hormone levels. Our soil in most of North America, but especially in the Great Lakes region is deficient in iodine so that means that the vegetables we eat are not absorbing adequate amounts of iodine as they grow. Iodized salt contains iodine, but many people do not consume much salt, and it is not the best form to get your iodine.
Protein- protein and its building blocks amino acids are critical for postpartum recovery. Eating adequate protein (20g in the morning) helps to stabilize blood sugar levels for the rest of the day. Collagen and elastin are made up of amino acids. Having an abundance of amino acids in the diet is important for tissue repair and healing. Other amino acids like glutamine are helpful for the integrity of your gut lining which could be compromised if you had to have antibiotics during or after labour.
Fatty Acids- Omega 3 fatty acids have been studied to be beneficial for postpartum depression. If you are breastfeeding, they are also transfer to the breastmilk and are helpful for baby’s brain development.
Calcium and Magnesium- Magnesium has also been shown to help reduce postpartum depression. Calcium and magnesium in a 2:1 ratio is helpful for bone health and reducing calf cramps. If you are breastfeeding, your calcium requirements are increased to 1300 mg/day, not getting enough calcium can result in the calcium in your bones being leached and can put you at higher risk for osteoporosis later in life.
B Vitamins- Helpful for energy levels, which every new mom needs! Vitamin B5 is beneficial for your adrenal glands, the body’s batteries, which are often depleted by pregnancy. Vitamin B6 is helpful for painful breastfeeding if it is due to vasospasm of the nipples.
4 Most Important Supplements for Postpartum
Here is a link to brands and specific supplements I recommend.
Bonus: Collagen- Besides being a good source of protein that is quick and easy to stir into your drink for a new mom, collagen helps with recovery in so many ways. It helps immediately with wound healing and increasing skin elasticity. It is beneficial for the gut lining, which may have been compromised if you had to have antibiotics in labor or after. Of concern to most postpartum moms, it can help to slow postpartum hair loss. Collagen, coupled with a good prenatal and adequate iron has been my personal secret to little to no postpartum hair loss.
Did/do you continue to take your prenatal after you had your baby? Please post in the comments below.
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis practices online via telemedicine and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
Naturopathic Medicine is covered by most extended health benefits
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Do you have any questions about skincare? Please post them below
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis practices online via telemedicine and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
Naturopathic Medicine is covered by most extended health benefits
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So there you have it! Has your skin changed since having your babies? Post in the comments below.
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis practices online via telemedicine and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment.
Naturopathic Medicine is covered by most extended health benefits
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Why Natural Sunscreens are a Smart Choice
As I have went over in previous blog posts, toxins found in skincare products, sequester or “hang out” in our fat cells. This is particularly problematic for babies and kids because this means that they are not only exposed to those toxins when the product is applied, but the toxins are stored in their fat cells and released as they grow.
-Babies in particular, have a big surface area of skin versus body weight as compared to adults so this make it possible for them to absorb more from skincare products.
-Babies and children have immature detoxification pathways and processes
-Babies and children have a higher % body fat in which to store toxins from sunscreen.
You may have noticed in the last few years that many of the conventional sunscreen brands have come out with more natural or “simple” formulations. This is no coincidence. In 2019 and 2020 the FDA published reports that oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate and avobenzoate are all systemically absorbed into the body after one use. These ingredients have not had sufficient testing done on them to be generally regarded as safe” as they were just allowed to pass as safe without being tested when sunscreens were coming onto the market in the 1970’s. Some of these chemicals have been shown to be skin irritants, mimic estrogen, impair thyroid function and alter the reproductive systems of animals. Zinc oxide and Titanium oxide are the only 2 sun blocking ingredients that has received the designation of Generally Regarded as Safe by the FDA. Zinc oxide acts as physical barrier (which is why it is harder to rub in) and helps to protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
Sunscreen in Babies Under 6 Months
The recommendation to not use sunscreen on babies under 6 months is referring to conventional sunscreens. Babies under 6 months old can use zinc oxide-based sunscreens. Zinc oxide is one of the main ingredients in many diaper creams. Babies under 6 months however usually do not require sunscreen because they are not yet mobile, so it is much easier to keep them covered and in the shade. If that is not possible, it is ok to use a zinc oxide-based sunscreen.
What About Vitamin D?
It is important to avoid sunburns and over exposure to the sun, but your baby should not avoid the sun altogether. Babies, especially if they are breastfed, are at risk of Vitamin D deficiency. Exposure to the sun from May to October, in more northern areas like Canada, is an easy way to build your baby’s Vitamin D stores. You only need to expose their skin for 5-10 minutes per day to help insure adequate levels of vitamin D. This should not be done midday between 10-3pm, when the UV index is typically the highest. Vitamin D plays an important role in the proper functioning of the immune system, bone development and has been shown to help reduce the incidence of some cancers.
My Favorite Sunscreens
Here is a round up of my top picks of sunscreens for babies and kids
All of these sunscreens canbe found a Terra20. Terra20 offers shipping across Canada
Sunscreen Causing Skin Dryness
One of the side effects of using a zinc oxide-based sunscreen can be that it dries your baby’s skin out with frequent use. My favorite way to prevent this is to apply Eco Chic Movement’s Baby Lotion and Baby Face Cream before bed.
I hope this helped to answer your natural sunscreen questions. If you have any questions/comments, feel free to post them below.
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis practices online via telemedicine and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
Naturopathic Medicine is covered by most extended health benefits
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From the time Harvey was 4 months to 7 months, I was on what is called a total elimination diet to try to figure out what was causing his eczema. For the 12 weeks I was on this diet I was only eating 4-5 foods. For the first 8 weeks they were chicken, coconut, rice, spinach, and blueberries, then for the final 4 it was lamb, sweet potato, spinach, and blueberries. I had already decided before all of this happened that we were not going to be doing baby cereals, as babies have low levels of amylase which is an enzyme required to digest grains for the first year of their life. Their guts are also quite immature and are by design still “leaky”, so grains are also not the best choice for this reason. The primary reason baby cereals are used is to ensure that the baby is getting adequate levels of iron.
Iron Requirements in Breastfed Babies
In babies that are exclusively breast fed, the requirement for iron increases due to the depletion of stores from birth and the amount that is accessible in the breastmilk. Baby cereal is used by many as a way to fill this requirement. We chose to use iron rich liver, meats, and veggies instead. I used many resources when I was preparing to introduce foods, but the one that I had on hand in the kitchen the most for recipes is Super Food Nutrition for Babies.
Baby Led Weaning Yes or No?
We decided not to do baby led weaning at this point in time for a few reasons. My main objective with feeding Harvey is nutritional optimization. With BLW I would not be able to quantify how much of each food he was taking in and I also did not like the food waste associated with it as I purchase him high quality food. I tend to run on the anxious side and the gagging was not something that I needed to be dealing with, especially after having gone through so much with his eczema. He did not have a pincer grasper grip at 7 months but has developed a great one now at 9 months. If I am being honest, I also do not like the mess of it all and the multiple baths a day, which can aggravate eczema. There is also research that having a first exposure to a food through an opening in the skin can lead to the development of food allergies and he still has some open skin on his face from eczema. I liked being able to ensure that the purees got into his mouth and not on his face. We use our Diaper Cream on his cheeks before meals to help keep food particles from getting into his system via his skin.
7 months (1 meal/day)
We introduced Harvey’s first foods at 7 months. He was not showing much interest before this, as he loves his milk, and we were waiting until after his initial visit with the allergist. Iron, Vitamin D and Zinc are very important in the 6-8 month range, as demand increases and it is not able to be fully met by breastmilk alone. I had my Vitamin D levels tested near the end of pregnancy and they were high normal, and Harvey’s were also tested to be high normal, so this was not a concern for me. I continued supplementing as we had been.
Iron and Zinc
Instead of baby cereal, we introduced lamb liver as one of his early foods which is a great source of iron. There is a risk of Vitamin A toxicity with feeding liver, but lamb liver is much lower in vitamin A than beef liver. More info on this is available in the Superfood Nutrition for Babies book. Lamb meat, which was another first food is also a good source of iron. Kelly Mom has a good detailed article on iron supplementation for breastfed babies.
Zinc is another important mineral for baby’s brain and immune system development. Low levels of zinc are also associated with eczema. Meats are a good source of zinc for babies.
First Foods
Our focus with food introductions was to get the most nutrient dense foods into Harvey and to pick foods that he would easily be able to tolerate. This approach is working very well, and his allergist was impressed that now at 9 months he is eating 26 different foods without reactions. The first foods we introduced, were the foods that I had been eating on my total elimination diet. All foods I give to him are organic and the meat is from local organic, pasture raised farms. I soak/wash all his fruits and veggies with Nature Clean’s Fruit and Veggie Soak to remove any organic pesticide residue.
Bone Broth
Bone broth made from lamb was the first food we tried. He took to it well. The one tip I would offer with bone broths is to make sure that you freeze the broth soon after making, do not leave in the fridge for a day, as the longer it is in the fridge the most histamine it will contain which can cause reactions for sensitive babies
First Foods List- Spoon Fed Purees
Lamb Broth
Lamb Liver and Breastmilk
Lamb Meat and Breastmilk
Sweet Potato and Breastmilk
Blueberries and Breastmilk
Squash and Breastmilk
Zucchini and Breastmilk
Avocado and Breastmilk
8 Months (2 meals/day)
Introductions to solids were going fairly well with only a few reactions and eczema flares. He was not able to tolerate avocado, it was increasing his eczema, but we recently reintroduced it at 9 months with no reactions. We moved to foods being pureed without breastmilk for a little chunkier of a feel. I made the purees using our mini food processor
Moose- very high in iron and a good source of protein, my dad hunts, so that was our source.
Beets- also high in iron
Apples
Pears
Parsnip
Green Beans
Carrots
Cucumber
9 Months (3 meals/day)
Harvey stopped letting us spoon feed him purees for the most part so we transitioned to chunky purees he could pick up and small bits of food for self-feeding. He started experiencing a bit of constipation, so we introduced water (1-2 oz/day). He uses the EZPZ tiny cup and got the hang of it after a day! Prunes caused a major eczema aggravation and pears and peas were not really helping so I made him chia seed pudding which worked great. Chia seed are high in fiber but are also a good source of omega 3’s and protein which is an added bonus. The recipe is linked here.
Beef- great source of iron and protein
Beef Tallow- this was the only fat he could tolerate for some time, but now can eat avocado and olive oil
Raspberries- also good for constipation
Cauliflower- use riced cauliflower sautéed until soft and he self feeds
Spinach- I give him spinach in the form of jarred baby food because of the high nitrate content you are not supposed to make this one yourself
Prunes- worked well but aggravated his eczema
Chia Seeds- the “constipation cure”
Mango
Broccoli
Coconut- gets red around the mouth unfortunately.
Gelatin Jigglers- great for self-feeding and gelatin is a good source of protein and good for the intestinal lining. I make them with pureed apples or pears, he loves them. Recipe from Superfood Nutrition for Babies.
Timing of Food Introductions
Due to his high risk for food allergies, we started off only introducing a new food every 3-4 days. After about a month we became confident that his reactions, especially the eczema aggravations, were happening within one day. We then switched to introducing a new food most days
But What About Breastfeeding?
Breastmilk, or formula, is still supposed to be their main source of nutrition for their first year. We never ended up supplementing with formula because Harvey reacted to all of them. Even the hypoallergenic amino acid ones, and the super expensive organic German formulas. In months 7-8 he was not eating as much food, so I was still breastfeeding every 2-3 hours round the clock. At 9 months I now feed him first thing in the morning an hour before breakfast, an hour after breakfast before his first nap, after his first nap and hour before lunch, before second nap and hour after lunch, after second nap an hour before dinner, and before bed. I feed him 2-4 times overnight as well.
Average Meal Size
I offer him these amounts, and if he eats it all I offer more
7 months 2 TBSP of food per meal (1 meals/day)
8 months 2-3 TBSP of food per meal (2 meals/day)
9 months 3-4 TBSP of food per meal (3 meals/day)
10 months 4-6 TBSP of food per meal (3 meals/day)
Which Meals Came First?
I started with dinner when he was 7 months because I was nervous about introducing foods to him and him having a reaction and being home alone. I also thought it may help to keep him fuller for the evening so he would not feed as often at night, which did not happen 😊. At 8 months we started doing lunch and dinner and then at 9 months introduced breakfast. I find he always eats the most at dinner and the least at breakfast. Lunch is hit or miss, he either devours the food or does not eat much like breakfast.
Woah, that was a long one! If you made it this far you must be really interested in infant feeding because anyone else would have quit reading a while ago! I think I covered everything on our introduction to solids foods journey so far. If there is anything that I missed that you wanted to know, please feel free to reach out!
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis sees patients via telemedicine and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
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Normally, breastfeeding mothers notice an increase in appetite for the duration of the time they are feeding although it may be the most intense during the first 6 months when breastmilk is their baby’s sole source of nutrition. On average, breastfeeding requires 500 additional calories per day. In comparison, pregnancy only requires about 300, depending on what trimester you are in, so it is no wonder you are feeling hungry! The extra calories are also nature’s way of helping moms be able to continue to function well in the day with how much they are up feeding at night. Breastfeeding causes an increase in prolactin (big part of what makes milk get produced), but breastfeeding at night causes an even bigger increase in prolactin. This spike in prolactin increases hunger, especially for carbohydrates, which helps to make sure that mom has the energy to overcome her disrupted sleep. Lack of sleep also disrupts insulin production, which makes carbs more appealing as well. I can attest that I have felt not nearly as tired as I would have pre-Harvey on very little sleep. My hormones must be giving me some assistance.
What to Eat to Optimize Breastfeeding
Just because carbs are what the body is craving does not mean that they are the best foods to be fueling your body with. A wide variety of foods that include many different nutrients are your best bet. It also does not hurt if they are easy to eat on the go or with one hand!
Breastfeeding Superfoods
Supplements for Breastfeeding Moms
I hope you took away some new food ideas, and ways to help yourself feel you best when your body is under a lot strain! I always say babies are like little parasites and will take what they need from you. So, your baby will take all the nutrients he or she needs from your milk and leave you depleted. Help protect yourself from getting run down by focusing on having good nutrition and supplementing where necessary.
Were you starving while you were breastfeeding? What were your go to foods? Post in the comments below
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis sees patients via telemedicine and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
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Easy Ways to Help Support Your Immune System
I also want to mention, that it goes without saying that proper handwashing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick. Hands must be washed before you eat and should be washed when you get home. Be sure to scrub with soap for 20 seconds. Antibacterial soap is not necessary, any soap will do! You can sing Happy Birthday to yourself while you wash to help you time.
If your hands are dried out either from frequent washing, or winter, I would recommend our Hand Lotion. It was formulated, with the help of nurses, to be fast absorbing but very moisturizing!
What is your favorite trick to keep your family healthy? Post below
Dr Alexis
Dr Alexis sees patients via telemedicine and is currently accepting new patients. Click here to book your appointment
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