Did you know that much of your baby’s blood is outside of it’s body at the moment of birth? And, that in the United States and Europe, this blood will never make it to your child?

You read that right, the umbilical cord in most births in 1st-world nations is cut before all of your baby has received all of its blood.

In fact, one third of a newborn’s blood is still in the placenta and umbilical cord for about 90 seconds longer than modern medical practice allows for. The result is that your baby is deprived of precious early-life resources that could allow your child to flourish.

If the cord is clamped too soon, before it stops pumping, your child misses out on 60% of its red blood cells, additional iron, stem cells, white blood cells and much more. These are the ingredients that support your bundle of joy developing healthy bodily functions, intelligence, resistance to infection – the list goes on.

Even more incredible is how remarkably simple it is to prevent the loss of this biological gold mine for your new baby. Watch the video below, where I talk about exactly how our generation can tackle this problem – starting today.

TICC TOCC

We’ve started a campaign to spread this message, called TICC TOCC – Transitioning Immediate Cord Clamping to Optimal Cord Clamping. To learn more about it, watch my talk at TEDxBrussels (scroll that page for video).

If you know someone who is pregnant, please share this message with them. It will make a world of difference in the life of their young ones.

In the comments below, share with us some ideas you have about how we can spread this message.

This is super powerful stuff, and the best part is it’s amazingly simple.

How can you help make optimal cord clamping a reality?

When it comes to your skin, squeaky clean is not necessarily best. Although it’s easy to equate a good lather with good health, the well-being of our entire system is dependent upon the right balance between good bacteria and potentially harmful bacteria. Our bodies contain literally millions of healthy micro flora (otherwise known as bacteria) everywhere from our skin to our mouths and gastrointestinal tracts. For these microbes to keep our systems healthy, we need to keep them in balance. This is especially true in your baby’s skin which is still developing and more vulnerable than adult skin.

The healthy colonization of bacteria on baby’s skin occurs during the first 48 hours after birth. The micro flora transferred from mom to baby during initial skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth is essential to the development of baby’s healthy immune system. This proper colonization of baby’s skin helps optimize immunity and could minimize risk of diseases and by hospital-borne infections like MRSA.

An-out of-whack bacterial system can lead to stomach troubles, rashes and other uncomfortable flare-ups. Poor diets, stress or antibiotics all have the potential to offset this delicate balance of good and bad bacteria. When it comes to skin, a key function of our healthy micro flora is to keep the harmful bacteria at bay. Balanced skin does this in two ways: First, the good micro flora take up most of the available surface space, leaving little room for problem-causing microbes to grow; Secondly, beneficial bacterial produce acids that keep skin pH low, creating an inhospitable environment for most disease-causing bacteria.

Using probiotic-enriched products on your own skin – both before and after baby is born – can help develop and maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria at the optimal pH level. Make sure you’re supporting balanced micro flora by using healthy skin care products on your little one too. Seek out products for you and baby with a pH of 5.5, with no proteins and that are free of artificial fragrances and mineral oil.

To help ensure that your baby is getting ample quantity and quality of the right micro flora, consider using probiotic products on your own skin during pregnancy and ensure skin-to-skin contact after birth for as much of the first 48 hours as possible, and at the very least, aim for that critical first hour after birth.

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.

I’ve had a birth doula present at 3 of my four births, and at the birth where a doula was not present I had a 50+ hour labor, an epidural, a vacuum delivery, an episiotomy, and many regrets.  Sure, in the end a healthy mom and baby is what counts, but having a doula at your birth can make the experience a whole lot better!

Since 1980, research has been done to determine the benefits of doula assisted births. These studies showed that there were significant decreases in birth interventions including:

• 50 % decrease in cesarean births
• 60 % decrease in epidurals
• 40 % decrease in the use of Pitocin
• 30% decrease in the use of narcotics
• 30% decrease in the use of forceps
• Overall, a 25% decrease in the length of labor

In addition, research also shows parents who receive good support during labor:

• Feel more secure and cared for
• Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
• Have greater success with breastfeeding
• Have greater self-confidence
• Have less postpartum depression
• Have lower incidence of abuse

A doula “mothers the mother”, and offers continuous support that most doctors, midwives, and labor nurses simply don’t have time to give. During most hospital births, the doctor checks in once or twice before being called in to deliver the baby, and labor nurses are busy juggling multiple patients at once. Aside from the woman’s partner and any family members attending the birth, a doula is the one constant source of support present throughout the birthing journey. She comforts, listens, informs, and helps protect the birthing experience as an advocate, helping communicate the birthing mother’s wishes to the medical staff.

In addition to supporting the birthing mother, a doula can also help the partner and other family members feel more at ease, resulting in a less stressful environment for all. Often times the father or partner wants to help the laboring mother, but doesn’t know how- a doula can show him what to do. When a nurse says the mother is 2 centimeters dilated, 50% effaced, and a -2 station, a doula can explain what that means. When a birth doesn’t go according to plan, the doula can help the mother and partner look at all possible options and make an informed decision they both feel good about.

If the birthing mother wishes to avoid pain medications, a doula can greatly increase her chances of success. Partners and family members often have a hard time seeing their loved one in pain, while a doula can reassure the mother what she’s feeling is normal, offer coping techniques, and empower the birthing mama to make it through drug free.

A doula can also be helpful to women who plan to use pain medication and/or epidural anesthesia. Giving birth is much more than a medical procedure. It is an emotional as well as a physical journey, and having a doula can help smooth the transition from pregnancy into parenthood. Epidurals do not hold your hand, rub your shoulders, or explain what is happening. Epidurals cannot suggest position changes to help your labor progress. Epidurals will never advocate for you, or help you get what you need from the hospital staff. Simply put, an epidural does not replace a doula.

When a doula is present before, during and after childbirth, women report greater satisfaction with their birth experience, make more positive assessments of their babies, have fewer cesareans and requests for medical intervention, and less postpartum depression. No matter what kind of birth you desire, a doula truly can help you have a better birth!

So you’re ready to be a parent. Congratulations! That’s a big decision. To give yourself the best chance for a healthy pregnancy and baby, there are a few things to do before you get pregnant.

1. Go see your doctor before you conceive.

This preconception visit with your OB, family physician, internist or other care provider usually consists of a physical exam and a thorough discussion about your family history, personal medical history and any medications that you may be taking.  Certain medications are contraindicated during pregnancy and can lead to birth defects.  It’s important to switch to an alternative medication with the guidance of your health care provider before conception whenever possible.  Your provider will also make sure to discuss your weight, diet, exercise and whether or not you are up to date on your immunizations.  If you are at risk, you may also be tested for sexually transmitted diseases.

2. Start taking your prenatal vitamins 1-2 months before conception.

Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy is essential.  It is recommended that you get at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily for at least 1 month prior to conception because many young women have a folic acid deficiency.  You should continue to take a vitamin containing folic acid throughout your pregnancy. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), you can reduce the risk of birth defects like neural tube defects and spina bifida by 50-70% with just this small measure.

When shopping for a prenatal vitamin, also make sure that it does not contain more than recommended daily allowance of 770 mcg of vitamin A.  Too much vitamin A can also cause birth defects and toxicity to the developing fetus.

3. Give up smoking, drinking, and/or drugs.

This is an obvious tip, but please seek help if you are having a hard time giving up smoking, alcohol or drugs.  Many scientific studies have demonstrated that these substances can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight.  They can also negatively impact your fertility.

4. See your dentist.

That old wives’ tale of “gain a child, lose a tooth” may be true.  Oral health during pregnancy is crucial because hormone shifts in pregnant moms predispose them to gum disease that can potentially lead to loss of a tooth.  Increased estrogen and progesterone levels during pregnancy can result in swollen, tender gums that may bleed more easily during flossing.  Whatever you do, don’t stop flossing!

It is advisable to see your dentist before pregnancy and again for a cleaning at least once or twice during pregnancy.  Gum disease and oral infections have been linked to preterm birth.

5. Reduce environmental risks to reduce birth defects.

There are so many environmental hazards lurking around us and you cannot eliminate all of them, but you can minimize them.  If your job requires you to be in contact with chemicals, radiation, or consistently loud noises, you may need to make some changes prior to conceiving.  At home, also try to minimize contact with cleaning products, paint, pesticides and solvents. If you live in an older house, it may be worthwhile to check if there are high levels of lead in your paint or in your pipes that could be released into your water supply.  I recommend talking to your doctor about these potential hazards and ways to avoid or minimize your exposure to them.

Best Wishes for a happy, healthy pregnancy.

Do you have any tips for people before they get pregnant? What type of advice did you receive before conceiving?

The Borneo rainforest is 130 million years old making it the oldest rainforest in the world.  It is home to 15,000 species of flowering plants, 3,000 trees species, 221 species of terrestrial mammals and 420 species of birds.  It is one of the only remaining natural habitats for the endangered Orangutan.  In Indonesian, the word orang-utan means ‘forest man’.  (A fun fact is that orangutans share 96.4% of our human genes.)

While in Borneo, I witnessed firsthand the rich biodiversity seen in the rainforest and the sad reality of illegal logging and palm oil plantations, which are destroying it.  When someone first mentioned ‘the evil palm’ I had no idea what was being spoken about.  The evil palm is a term used to describe the palm trees that are being planted throughout Borneo for the production of palm oil, an edible vegetable oil that can be used for cooking, packaged foods, or consumer goods.  The conflict here is that profit-driven investors are destroying thousands of hectares of rainforest to clear land for these palm oil plantations.  And, as a result, the natural habitat of orangutans is being destroyed.  In fact, they are currently listed as a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.  After visiting these orangutans in their natural habitat and observing their playful nature, I realized that it would be nothing short of tragic to lose this amazing species just because we were unable to protect their home.

Besides destruction of the rainforest, the palm oil plantations are causing massive CO2 emissions.  Indonesia is now the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases as a result.  In fact, by 2020 Indonesian Borneo is projected to contribute more CO2 emissions to the atmosphere than all of Canada.

Seeing these palm oil plantations firsthand, though, was the most powerful aspect of my education on deforestation.  As far as the eye could see, there were rows upon rows of dusty palm trees next to small patches of remaining rainforest.  It was very clear to see that all of those birds, animals, flowers and trees will soon be a distant memory if this rampant rainforest destruction does not stop.  Sadly, I do know that most Americans are probably unaware that we are even unintentionally supporting the palm oil industry as palm oil is being used in many of products we use and consume including breakfast cereals, girl scout cookies, and even household cleaning products and soap.  In fact, palm oil is used in 50% of all consumer goods from lipstick to body lotion.  It is our own North American food and agriculture companies that own and operate these palm oil plantations and also purchase from them.

The best way to help stop the destruction of our precious forests is through education and awareness.  If more people knew about how rapidly and senselessly the rainforest is being destroyed in Borneo, we would be much better equipped to demand change.

For more information on palm oil plantations, please visit Rainforest Action Network or Health in Harmony.

Growing a baby is hard work, I can attest to that.  Pregnancy is such a special time in a woman’s life, but it comes with a great deal of responsibility.  As a first time expectant mom, I sometimes find myself struggling to ensure that I am eating a healthy, balanced diet full of the key nutrients necessary to grow a healthy, happy baby.  I love the thought of a fun summer salad, but those deep leafy green salads don’t particularly excite me.  In fact, I often find myself drenching them in calorie-rich dressing just to get those nutrients down.  So, I had to find an alternative way to get my folic acid, iron and antioxidants.  That’s when I started drinking green smoothies.  I think fresh juices are great, but smoothies, which retain all of the fiber and goodness of your ingredients, are better!

And now that I’m in my third trimester, I feel like a green smoothie expert after much experimentation.  And, lucky for you, I have found some simple ways to make green smoothies taste delicious because who wants a drink that just tastes like blending spinach or kale.  I look forward to the extra boost of energy that comes from a green smoothie in the morning and I’m sure baby loves it too.

My favorite green smoothie recipe: The Tropical Green Smoothie

• ½-1 cup of organic apple juice (or white grape juice)
• a handful of ice cubes
• 1-2 large leaves of kale
• 1-2 cups of spinach
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh pineapple
• ¼ small lime with peel removed

Optional additives:

• chia seeds or flax seeds
• avocado
• flaxseed oil
• protein powder

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth or according to your preferred texture. Makes 1 large serving or 2 medium servings. Then enjoy!

The great thing about blended smoothies is that you can substitute ingredients without sacrificing taste.  For instance, try banana instead of pineapple or add some yogurt for a creamier texture.  Everything is customizable and the options are limitless.  And, since the blender does all of the hard work for you, your digestive system just gets to kick back and enjoy all of the amazing nutrients!

If making green smoothies doesn’t appeal to you, look for local vendors that sell green blended smoothies, but try to stick to fresh smoothies because often store bought varieties lose much of their nutritional content due to oxidation.

I’ve recently gotten hooked on busheljuices.com because they deliver right to your door in the San Francisco/Bay Area!

Do you have any green smoothie tips or recipes that you like? Have you found any good fresh smoothie vendors in your area?