More Catch-Up: Links in Review

The Case Against Reasoning, by Morgan Gallagher

Morgan sums-up something I've been struggling to explain to others: formula is suboptimal. She says,

There is less in formula milk, than there is in human milk. There is less physiological growth in bottle feeding, than there is in breastfeeding. Combine the two, and add in that modified cow's milk destroys the natural flora in the new born gut.. and you have an activity that increases health risks in homo sapiens: formula feeding.

She also expresses aptly the way business drives culture, and how advertisers manipulate us so effectively into believing that something that is suboptimal is normal, and something normal is achievable only if you're Superwoman. It's a cleverly devious bit of psychology: breastmilk is "best" so formula is "okay" claim the formula companies - but it's not true!


Yoga for Hip Discomfort: Eka Pada Rajakapotasana (One-Legged King Pigeon Pose)

BirthActivist recommends this pose for hip pain during pregnancy. Those loosening joints are sometimes uncomfortable, so this may help.

I interviewed a client several months ago who was experiencing hip pain, and I wish I'd known about this back then!


Clean Eating Magazine: Recipes and Meal Plans

I am quickly becoming a BIG fan of this magazine. Wholesome food recommendations, awesome recipes, informative nutrition articles... The meal plans alone are worth the price of the magazine - each day's meal plan has a sum of total calories, fats, fibers, sodium and proteins consumed.

There's a link between eating well in pregnancy and avoidance of eclampsia and HELLP syndrome. Most pregnancy nutritionists recommend eating between 80 and 100 grams of protein daily, among other guidelines - and these meal plans could be a big help to the mom who doesn't regularly track her food intake.


Calm Birth, by Dr. Robert Bruce Newman

I ordered both the Calm Birth book and CD recently. The book is more or less a review of stuff I already knew, but I found the history and research-backed information about the effects of meditation very interesting and potentially helpful for my clients. I've been recommending the Hypnobabies "Relax Me" scripts to my clients, but for those who think hypnosis is hooey, I think Calm Birth may be more approachable.


Two new blogs on my blog feed: Kayce's Doula Journey and Doula Momma

Doula Momma is a DONA doula and Lamaze childbirth educator; Kayce is a self-described birth junkie and future midwife. Both offer lots of stories and data worth looking at.