May is Pregnancy Awareness Month — a month of events and media that celebrate this special time in a woman’s life. The activities this year are being kicked off with the 6th Annual Signature Pregnancy Awareness Month™ Event on Sunday May 5th from noon to 4 p.m. in Santa Monica. Dr. Greene is speaking at the kick-off event. In honor of this important month, we are re-publishing five posts by founder Anna Getty. Originally posted May 2009.

I recently learned that on average babies are being born with over 200 chemicals in their systems. This was learned by studying the cord blood of newborns. This is not meant to scare you, although it may. This bit of information is meant to get you to be proactive at any stage of parenthood, whether you are deciding to conceive, are recently pregnant, about to give birth, or have young children already. It is not too late to get proactive, to educate yourself and make different choices.

For example, I am often told that eating small amounts of tuna during ones pregnancy is safe. Well, The Environmental Working Group recommends that women of child bearing age and young children under 5 do not eat any albacore tuna at all. Most albacore has very high levels of mercury. My doctor often asks me, “if I were to hand you a class half-full of poison and a glass full of poison, which would you drink?” My response is always a resolute, “neither.” So why chance it with fish when you have a vulnerable developing baby growing inside you?

Another study recently revealed that some infant formula has the ingredient perchlorate found in rocket fuel.  Again, the point is not to terrify you but to remind us that we are indeed living in a toxic world and it is up to each and everyone of us to do our research and seek out reliable sources to help us decipher the toxic from the healthy.

Eat organic food whenever possible, get rid of beauty products and household cleaners filled with chemicals and begin to take care of the temple that your body is. We will pass our good health onto our children.

P.S. Pick up a copy of Sara Snow’s Fresh Living: The Essential Room-by-Room guide to a Greener, Healthier Family and Home.

P.P.S And of course the new paper back addition of Healthy Child Healthy World by Christopher Gavigan.

May is Pregnancy Awareness Month — a month of events and media that celebrate this special time in a woman’s life. The activities this year are being kicked off with the 6th Annual Signature Pregnancy Awareness Month™ Event on Sunday May 5th from noon to 4 p.m. in Santa Monica. Dr. Greene is speaking at the kick-off event. In honor of this important month, we are re-publishing five posts by founder Anna Getty. Originally posted May 2009.

The most frequent question I am asked as a prenatal yoga teacher is whether it is safe to begin yoga during pregnancy even if one has never done yoga before.

Yes, if one receives the thumbs up from her doctor or midwife that it is okay to do exercise while pregnant Prenatal Yoga is not only safe but a wonderful form of exercise throughout one’s pregnancy. It is a great way to strengthen and tone your body to prepare for childbirth, a great way to stay fit during your pregnancy, and a wonderful way to connect with your body and your growing baby inside you.

If you are new to yoga stay away from non-prenatal yoga classes and if you have had a deep practice for years continue doing what feels comfortable for you, modifying the Asanas over time.

Prenatal yoga is nurturing and a modality of exercise that has been designed for your changing body and getting into a class is a wonderful way to connect with other pregnant women who are going through similar changes as you.

If you can’t find a class near you I encourage you to pick up my yoga DVD, Anna Getty’s Pre & Post Natal Yoga Workout. It includes a disc designed for all stages of your pregnancy and a second disc with 9 short post baby workouts.

If yoga is not for you find something else that feels good like Pilates, swimming, pregnancy belly dancing, or hiking. The most important thing is to keep your body moving.

May is Pregnancy Awareness Month — a month of events and media that celebrate this special time in a woman’s life. The activities this year are being kicked off with the 6th Annual Signature Pregnancy Awareness Month™ Event on Sunday May 5th from noon to 4 p.m. in Santa Monica. Dr. Greene is on their board of advisors and will, once again, speak at the kick-off event. 

In honor of this important month, we are re-publishing five posts by founder Anna Getty. Originally posted May 2009.

Nutrition and Wellness focus on eating organic foods for mother and child. Yes, of course I want everyone to pick up my book, Anna Getty’s Easy Green Organic, it is a great guide to help you learn about cooking and eating organic food as well making your home kitchen a healthier environment. But above all, my book aside, I want women to make the healthiest choices during pregnancy and as far as food is concerned it is pesticide, GMO, hormone and antibiotic free food.

We now know that babies are born with over 300 chemicals in their blood stream, I bring this up a lot because I think people just don’t believe it, (I hardly can, still) but you can read the study called 10 Americans conducted by The Environmental Working Group (watch the video here http://www.ewg.org/node/27201) and see how significant it is to eat foods that are as chemical free as possible. I will also mention that DDT a chemical banned in this country for decades is still found in breast milk.

So please, do whatever you can to eat organic food even if you are on a tight budget, make it a priority over purchasing the latest trendy stroller. Whether you go to the farmer’s market, coop’s, major super stores or grow your own help create a strong foundation of health for your child. If you want a complete list of farmer’s markets nationwide go to http://www.localharvest.org. They have a list over 21,000 strong.

If you have to prioritize based on your budget stick to organic meat, dairy and eggs and avoid the Dirty Dozen. The NRDC has a list of simple steps to help stay within a tight budget. Check it out. I assure you, that when you eat organically during your pregnancy, you are making the best choice for you and your baby.

If you want to pick up a copy of my book Anna Getty’s Easy Green Organic, I promise there are plenty of simple recipes to satisfy many of your cravings…organically.

Any thoughts on organic food?

May is Pregnancy Awareness Month — a month of events and media that celebrate this special time in a woman’s life. The activities this year are being kicked off with the 6th Annual Signature Pregnancy Awareness Month™ Event on Sunday May 5th from noon to 4 p.m. in Santa Monica. Dr. Greene is on their board of advisors and will, once again, speak at the kick-off event. 

In honor of this important month, we are re-publishing five posts by founder Anna Getty. Originally posted May 2009.

When it comes to food and pregnancy, it seems like it’s a topic always enshrouded in confusion. How much should one eat? What should one eat? What should be avoided etc. Here are a few key points that I have done my due diligence on.

• We need only an additional 300 calories per day when pregnant and 600 more when lactating.
• Avoid raw fish, raw meat like deli meat and unpasteurized soft cheeses. Some raw soft cheese like imported brie have been linked to a fetal harming bacteria called Listeria.
• Increase protein intake up to 65-70 grams per day.
• Skip caffeine, refined sugar and alcohol.
• Try to eat every two hours (always including some protein) to keep blood sugar balance.
• And stay hydrated (2-3 liters of water a day)

When it comes to pregnancy eating think about how you will want your child to eat when he is about 3-4 years old. Plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, protein, fiber, and sure, every now again a treat. Everything you eat is helping your baby grow and develop, honor your cravings but do your best to help create a strong and healthy foundation for your child. Pick up Domenica Catelli’s wonderful cook book Mom-a-licious: Fresh, Fast, Family Food for the Hot Mama in You!  You will use it for years.

May is Pregnancy Awareness Month — a month of events and media that celebrate this special time in a woman’s life. The activities this year are being kicked off with the 6th Annual Signature Pregnancy Awareness Month™ Event on Sunday May 5th from noon to 4 p.m. in Santa Monica. Dr. Greene is speaking at the kick-off event. In honor of this important month, we are re-publishing five posts by founder Anna Getty. Originally posted May 2009.

Every where I go people are asking me what the impetus was to create Pregnancy Awareness Month in the first place.

Thinking back to the inception of PAM I recall various conversations I had in my prenatal yoga classes. Women who were coming into class feeling overwhelmed, afraid, anxious and disempowered. A far cry from the glow of anticipated motherhood.

The yoga, meditation, group discussions, sense of community, and ultimately their own commitment to bravely working their own processes and fully stepping into their choices helped them, but I wanted to celebrate women embarking on this journey as well as create a national, and yes ultimately, international platform where women felt empowered, nurtured and supported while they made clear and conscious decisions about the way they chose to birth and parent.

Of course I have also made it a point to interlace the many aspects that I believe are part of a healthy pregnancy and healthy and happy baby and mom. Green, organic, and sustainable education in addition the other key initiatives is important as women who move into motherhood develop a stronger relationship to Mother Earth.

Unless you have a container of old store bought decorations sitting up in your attic this year consider forgoing store bought decorations and make your own. Most decorations that have been produced recently are made in China from cheap and often toxic materials that contain things like phalates that off gas and on top of it are not recyclable. Save money and the planet by getting creative.

Bring in the outdoor and decorate with nature. Pick up pine cones either from your winter nature walks or worse case scenario from your local florist. Ask you local Christmas tree yard for extra tree branches that are headed for the mulching machine (often times they will give to you for free) or make decorations out of old stuff you have lying around.

I took old moth hole ridden sweaters (some of my own and some picked up at a garage sale) and made a really cool sweater wreath using a wire hanger. I cut up little pieces, bent the wire hanger into a circle and looped the pieces onto the wire circle. I have a wreath fro years to come. I just have to make sure the moths don’t get to it now.

What kind of decorations have you made?

One of my most favorite traditions to do as a child was to go over to our friends house a few weeks before Christmas and take walks in the woods near their house in Northern California. The days were short and it was getting darker earlier and the mist from the ocean would move through the pine trees, and although their was no snow, everything was so mystical and magical. Afterwards we would come back to the house and make hot cocoa and Salt Dough Ornaments. Here is the recipe and directions excerpted from I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas.

What fond holiday memories do you have from your childhood?

Salt Dough Ornaments

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling the dough 1 cup salt 1 cup water Rolling pin Cookie cutters (various shapes and sizes) Cookie sheet Toothpick Used yarn or ribbon, cut in 3- to 4-inch lengths Nontoxic glue (optional) Gold and silver glitter (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 250°F.

2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Add the water and stir until the dough is well blended, until no traces of flour remain.

3. Knead the dough on a flat surface until smooth, about 8 to 10 minutes. Do not let the dough get too rubbery.

4. On a floured surface, roll out the dough until it’s about 1/4 inch thick. Using the cookie cutters, cut out shapes and place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Use the toothpick to make a hole at the top of each ornament, large enough for the yarn or ribbon to fit through and bake for 2 hours.

5. When the ornaments are done, let them cool, slip a piece of yarn or ribbon through each hole, and knot.

6. If you like, draw glue designs on the ornaments and then cover them with glitter. Allow them to dry, then shake off the glitter.

Ahhhh, it’s that time of year again. The holidays. A time when in theory, we are meant to gather and be thankful, celebrate one another and reflect on the past year. And in theory a time when we come together and create ritual in the name of hope, love and peace. Well, it seems to me we have forgotten all that and in the last, say, 25 years or so in the age of mass consumerism and technological advancement Christmas or the holiday season has morphed into stressful, endless rat race of want, desire and waste. As a matter of fact in the United States alone our waste out put between Thanksgiving and New Year’s increases by roughly 30%, yes even in these though times.

I wrote my book, I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas as both a reminder of the true spirit of Christmas as well as a guide for a less wasteful Christmas and holiday season. I truly believe that if we re-prioritize and reconnect to a deeper sense of community and sharing we have such a wonderful opportunity to create meaningful and lasting traditions. I invite you to open up my book and find (or create your own) crafts, recipes and projects that use less and mean more.

Please share yours with us.

This year on May 2nd at our 3rd annual Pregnancy Awareness Month kickoff event up at Tree People Ricki Lake (producer of The Business of Being Born and advisor on our team) shared with me that just days before the midwives in New York City had lost their right to attend home births and that Saint Vincent’s (a progressive hospital/birthing center) had shut it’s doors.

I was shocked and stunned, tears welled up in my eyes. That New York City, one of the most progressive, hip and advanced cities in the world would allow this to pass was astonishing and sad. It suddenly felt that the work we do at Pregnancy Awareness Month, to empower women as they move into pregnancy and birth seemed futile.

Then weeks later a friend and supporter of natural child birth in San Diego County, OBGYN Dr. Robert Biter had his hospital rights suspended, literally from one day to the next for no apparent reason. A man nicknamed Dr. Wonderful and who happens to have the lowest C-section rate in the county suddenly barred from his privileges to service his patients?

I ask you, what the heck is going on here?

I recently attended a rally for Dr. Biter, over 400 women, many who had given birth with him, many who had not and many pregnant women who were suddenly left without the doctor hey had chosen and entrusted all stood outside of Scripps Memorial Hospital with signs that read: BRING BITER BACK and OUR BODIES~ OUR BABIES~ OUR BITER!

It was a call to action. Some women such as Ricki Lake (mybestbirth.com) and myself, who had not birthed with Dr. Biter were there because we wanted to support a wonderful doctor who believes that a woman’s body has the wisdom and strength to birth the way nature intended. But we were all there because at the end of the day: EVERY WOMAN HAS THE RIGHT TO BIRTH HOW, WHERE AND WITH WHOM SHE DAMN WELL PLEASES!

This is our birth right, it always has been and unless we stand up and let the powers that be know how we feel, city by city and state by state the medical industry (out of fear or greed or whatever their reasons are) will close birthing centers, suspend wonderful and competent doctors, outlaw midwives and we will lose that birth right, to birth the way nature intended. So please…speak up and let the powers that be know how you feel.

About 5 years ago I taught a woman in my prenatal yoga class who was expecting her 5th child. She seemed to be in overwhelm and was frustrated by the fact that her husband was not making her 5th pregnancy easier by helping her manage the household or giving her foot rubs at night. She said he would just sit in front of the TV while she complained about her physical discomfort and fatigue. I asker her if she had, at any time communicated her need to him. She said “no, shouldn’t he just know?” I suggested she go home and let him know that night she wanted her feet rubbed.

The following week she came back to class and told the class of how her husband had “changed overnight” simply by her asking for him to do things, like unload the dishwasher, give her massages or put the kids to bed. Men are not mind readers (nor are many women, there are some) but in order for us to better take care of ourselves we MUST ask, we must express, we must communicate in the most graceful, loving and peaceful way. It is important as we move into motherhood, whether it be as a mother of one or five. We can avoid so much resentment and outer conflict by speaking our truths from a heart-centered place.

Can you share your stories?