We all know the important role exercise plays in living a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Now there is even more evidence supporting exercise during pregnancy.
Read this article which outlines all of the positive affects exercise has on both the pregnant mom and her baby. Pass the information along to an expectant mom and help support her in maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
See you at a FITMOM 2 Be Class soon!
FITMOM Durham specializes in prenatal & mom and baby fitness classes in Durham Region (Ajax, Pickering, Whitby, Oshawa, Brooklin Courtice and Bowmanville)
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
New Guidelines and Benefits of Babywearing
The benefits of baby wearing are well known. In the immediate postpartum period, wearing your baby facilitates and supports breastfeeding because you are ready and available to nurse your baby at the earlierst signs of hunger. Mothers who wear their babies, expecially skin to skin, experience a natural rise in oxytocin levels. This hormone is often called the "love hormone" and it is an important factor in establishing the infant-mother bond. Baby wearing supports the natural desire of mom and baby to be together and is known to reduce both the instances and severity of post partum depression. When babies are placed in a wrap, sling or carrier there is a significant decrease in infant crying, colic and infant acid reflux disease. Baby wearing also promotes the healthy physical development of the spine, nervous system, vision and brain. Babies who are placed in a soft carrier spend more time in the quiet alert state, which is optimal for learning.
Recently, the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance released a position paper with new guidelines for ensuring the safety and well being of babies in soft carriers and to promote and encourage baby wearing. The BCIA now recommends that soft carriers mimic the natural hold of an in arms carry so that the mother's and baby's bodies are in close contact together and the infant is inward facing. There are several positive benefits when your baby is inward facing: the spine is better supported, reducing the risk of spinal curvatures and hip dysplasia; there is greater protection from environmental overstimulation which promotes sleep.
The baby should be cuddled directly against the caregiver’s body, with the baby’s head ABOVE the caregiver’s chest, near the caregiver’s collarbone. Ideally, physical obstacles between parent and child should be eliminated, allowing for proper skin to skin contact.
For more information on baby carrier safety visit the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance.
Recently, the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance released a position paper with new guidelines for ensuring the safety and well being of babies in soft carriers and to promote and encourage baby wearing. The BCIA now recommends that soft carriers mimic the natural hold of an in arms carry so that the mother's and baby's bodies are in close contact together and the infant is inward facing. There are several positive benefits when your baby is inward facing: the spine is better supported, reducing the risk of spinal curvatures and hip dysplasia; there is greater protection from environmental overstimulation which promotes sleep.
The baby should be cuddled directly against the caregiver’s body, with the baby’s head ABOVE the caregiver’s chest, near the caregiver’s collarbone. Ideally, physical obstacles between parent and child should be eliminated, allowing for proper skin to skin contact.
For more information on baby carrier safety visit the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Let's do the time warp again.....
It's just a jump to the left.
And a step to the right.
Put your hand on your hips.
You bring your knees in tight.
But it's the pelvic thrust, that relly drives you insane.
Let's do the time warp again!
Today we gained an hour of sleep.
Or did we?
Maybe before you had kids you could enjoy the extra hour that is a result of turning the clocks back, but not this year!
If you're really lucky your monkey handled the day just fine. But, if your kids are anything like mine you may have experienced the following:
Sleep, and lack there of, is a common complaint for mom's. Some families are lucky enough to have naturally good sleepers, while others need to work at helping thier babies develop healthy sleep habits.
If you fall into the latter group, then visit www.wiseparent.org and register for the upcoming FREE session they are hosting on developing healthy sleep habits. The workshop is taking place on Wednesday, November 17 2010 from 1-2:30pm at the Whitby Ontario Early Years Centre.
And a step to the right.
Put your hand on your hips.
You bring your knees in tight.
But it's the pelvic thrust, that relly drives you insane.
Let's do the time warp again!
Today we gained an hour of sleep.
Or did we?
Maybe before you had kids you could enjoy the extra hour that is a result of turning the clocks back, but not this year!
If you're really lucky your monkey handled the day just fine. But, if your kids are anything like mine you may have experienced the following:
- meal creep
- shortned naps
- early to bed
- late to bed
- frequent wakings
- cranky, irritable, prickly personalities
Sleep, and lack there of, is a common complaint for mom's. Some families are lucky enough to have naturally good sleepers, while others need to work at helping thier babies develop healthy sleep habits.
If you fall into the latter group, then visit www.wiseparent.org and register for the upcoming FREE session they are hosting on developing healthy sleep habits. The workshop is taking place on Wednesday, November 17 2010 from 1-2:30pm at the Whitby Ontario Early Years Centre.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Are you up for the challenge? Do the math!
This week my mom has been participating in a challenge to bring awareness to our community about living in Durham Region and receiving support from the local food bank. Over 30 people picked up their standard food hamper from Feed The Need in Durham and will be documenting their experiences through a variety of social media outlets.
I thought I would share a few of her observations with you, as I thought that they were profound.
Most of us have supported the local food banks by giving items during food drives, but how often do we really think about what we are giving? The nutritional value that is derived from the items and how difficult it can be to make nutritious meals from them.
From reading about my mom's experience this is what I have learned so far. A standard food hamper that can support a single person typically includes the following items:
2 packages of pasta, 2 cans of pasta sauce, 2 pkg KD, 1 can tuna, 1 can salmon, 3 can of veggies, 2 canned pasta, 1 jar Peanut Butter, 2 cans of soup, 1 box of cup of soup, box of crackers (that was her extra), box of cereal, pkg of powdered milk, 1 can of peaches, 4 small apples, 4 small potatoes , 2 onions and a loaf of bread.
This is suppose to last 13 meals. However, for many people who rely on the help and support of Food Banks, they may have to make these items last even longer.
If a single person on welfare collects $578.00 per month, and the average rent for a room is $400. 00, that only leaves $178 for the rest of the month. Fresh fruit, vegetables and meat are likely not an option, and very few food banks are able to provide these items to the men, women, and families who access the food banks.
After reading some of the blogs from the participants of the challenge (including my moms) I couldn't help but notice that there were several common themes: lack of energy, inability to focus on tasks, feeling hungry, headaches, hungry, hungry, hungry, missing fruit and vegetables and having choice. Chosing to eat what they want, when they want and having a healthy budget to be able to purchase those items.
I encourage you to check out Feed the Need Durham and read up on some of the participants experience with the challenge, and if you have the time complete the Do the math challenge. The quiz only takes 6 minutes to complete and it will show you how dramatically your situation would change if you had to rely on social assistance. Would you still be able to live a healthy lifestyle?
I thought I would share a few of her observations with you, as I thought that they were profound.
Most of us have supported the local food banks by giving items during food drives, but how often do we really think about what we are giving? The nutritional value that is derived from the items and how difficult it can be to make nutritious meals from them.
From reading about my mom's experience this is what I have learned so far. A standard food hamper that can support a single person typically includes the following items:
2 packages of pasta, 2 cans of pasta sauce, 2 pkg KD, 1 can tuna, 1 can salmon, 3 can of veggies, 2 canned pasta, 1 jar Peanut Butter, 2 cans of soup, 1 box of cup of soup, box of crackers (that was her extra), box of cereal, pkg of powdered milk, 1 can of peaches, 4 small apples, 4 small potatoes , 2 onions and a loaf of bread.
This is suppose to last 13 meals. However, for many people who rely on the help and support of Food Banks, they may have to make these items last even longer.
If a single person on welfare collects $578.00 per month, and the average rent for a room is $400. 00, that only leaves $178 for the rest of the month. Fresh fruit, vegetables and meat are likely not an option, and very few food banks are able to provide these items to the men, women, and families who access the food banks.
After reading some of the blogs from the participants of the challenge (including my moms) I couldn't help but notice that there were several common themes: lack of energy, inability to focus on tasks, feeling hungry, headaches, hungry, hungry, hungry, missing fruit and vegetables and having choice. Chosing to eat what they want, when they want and having a healthy budget to be able to purchase those items.
I encourage you to check out Feed the Need Durham and read up on some of the participants experience with the challenge, and if you have the time complete the Do the math challenge. The quiz only takes 6 minutes to complete and it will show you how dramatically your situation would change if you had to rely on social assistance. Would you still be able to live a healthy lifestyle?
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