Among the many pain management tools one can use for labor, the birth ball is definitely a must have! The ball is extremely versatile, inexpensive and effective!

Benefits of the Ball
Most women instinctively start to sway or rock when seated or leaning against the ball. This movement helps create a natural rhythm which encourages open, easier breathing. Movement also encourages pelvic mobility which can help move the baby into an optimal birthing position. Also, in many of the positions assumed with the use of the birth ball, the spine and pelvis are in a favorable position to help properly align the baby into a good birthing position and relieve maternal back pressure.

Positions to try!

Leaning over on all-fours

The all-fours position is a popular and favorite position to assume during labor. It takes the pressure off the mother’s back and helps to encourage the baby to stay in a good position. Since labor may last a while, it is a lot more comfortable to spend the time draped over the birth ball than it is to have the palms completely pressed into the floor with pressure on the wrists. This position also slightly angles the torso upward and uses gravity to press the baby’s head downwards against the cervix, which will encourage dilation.

Sitting or Rocking on the Ball
Sitting on the ball helps shift the pelvis into good spinal and pelvic alignment. It is also very easy and comfortable for the mother to rock or circle her hips in a figure 8 position. Sitting on the ball also offers soft support for the perineum at a time when a hard surface may no longer feel good. Try placing a warm compress or towel on the ball when sitting on it. This can help relax the pelvic floor and in general feels nice for the mama. While I could not find any data to support this, it would make sense that the skin and muscles would soften against the application of warm water, just like they do when in the bathtub. This may help prevent tearing if done close to the second stage of labor.

Placed on a bed or table and leaning against it
A similar usage as leaning on the ball on all fours is to put the ball on a bed or couch and have the mother hang over it. While the mother is at rest on the ball, the birth partner may be massaging her back or applying counter pressure, heat or ice. Again, this position promotes a natural swaying and movement of the body, tips the belly forward taking pressure of the lower back and uses gravity to help the move the baby deeper into the pelvis.

Support when squatting
Some mothers find sitting into a low squat very effective in feeling grounded and open during their contractions. (On a side note — squatting also opens the outlet of the pelvis 28% more then if the mother was reclining). With the support of the ball, the mother can lean back and gently rock from side to side as she works through the contraction. This rocking and shifting movement can be helpful in assisting the baby into a good birthing position. Also leaning back against the ball is especially helpful if the mother has a hard time getting her heals down when squatting on her own.

Baddha konasana while leaning forward on the ball
This could be a good position to use the ball if the mother has to stay in bed or has an epidural which limits mobility. In this position, the mother can still rest her weight forward, encouraging an anterior tip of the pelvis (good for keeping baby in an anterior position). The mother can also rock or sway in this position and has her back exposed so her partner can massage her back if she likes.

A Few Tips About Birth Balls

• If your water breaks, you can still use your birth ball! Just cover it with a chuck pad. (Wee wee pads will do just fine.)
• Sizing- 65cm for under women under 5 ft 8 inches; 75 cm for over that height.
• You can get a birth ball or physio ball at most sporting goods stores or even Bed, Bath and Beyond. They are pretty easy to come across.
• If you are going to use one that belongs to the hospital or birth center you are birthing at, either wash it before using it, wrap it in a hospital gown or put a chuck pad on it. Who knows how often the hospital washes them and you will be coming into close contact with it if you choose to use it.

P.S. The ball is great for postpartum use as well! Babies are often lulled to sleep by the rhythm of a mama or papa holding them and gently rocking or bouncing on the ball.

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*Disclaimer- not meant to take the place of medical advice.

Debra Flashenberg, CD(DONA), LCCE, E-RYT 500 is the director of the Prenatal Yoga Center. She has spent most of her life performing and was introduced to yoga through a choreographer in 1997. After several years as a yoga student, she decided to continue her education and became certified as a Bikram Yoga instructor. After being witness to several “typical” hospital births, Debra felt it was important to move beyond the yoga room and be present in the birthing room. In 2006, Debra received her certification as a Lamaze® Certified Childbirth Educator. In September of 2007, Debra completed a Midwife Assistant Program with Ina May Gaskin, Pamela Hunt and many of the other Farm Midwives at The Farm Midwifery Center in Tennessee. Drawing on her experience as a prenatal yoga teacher, labor support doula and childbirth educator, Debra looks to establish safe and effective classes for pregnancy and beyond. She is the proud (and tired) mother of new baby boy, Shay.

* Healthy Living is section of our website co-hosted by Mott’s. Mott’s has compensated Mommybites to be a partner in this awesome Healthy Living section on our website. This partnership does not influence the content, topics or posts made on this blog. We always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on all topics, products, and services.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog contributor’s. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Writers may have conflicts of interest, and their opinions are their own.

So I think I may be one of the last people on the planet to say this, but – I recently ditched (reluctantly, I may add) my Blackberry for an iPhone. I loved my Blackberry and thought I was kinda cool in a vintage, rustic way for having a phone that was over 4-years-old. That is, until I whipped that bad boy Blackberry out in the back room of the Stone Pony during a Chris Robinson solo concert this past fall. I mean, who else could I openly flaunt my “it’s so old it’s cool” phone in front of  than my fellow Black Crowes lovers? Based on the alarmed reaction of the people around me, however, I was mistaken. One cool cat dude actually flaunted his iPhone, looked at my Blackberry and said to me, “Babe – you gotta get with the decade, Mama.”

In addition to my new phone and “Otter Box” given to me by my older son for Mothers’ Day, I also now have TWO apps! One is a white noise app and the other is an app called Mommy Nearest that was recommended to me by a friend. I highly recommend both (and both are free)! The white noise is perfect for traveling (my fave is “Rainstorm”) and Mommy Nearest is just plain perfect for all moms. “By combining an exhaustive list of places to take the little ones with the knowledge and expertise of some of the city’s most savvy parents, Mommy Nearest has quickly become the premier mobile app for a kid-friendly NYC.” It pinpoints where you are in the city and then lists just about everything a parent would want to know that is nearby. The FREE app is available on both iPhone and Android devices. So take that, Chris Robinson groupies!

Here’s to embracing new technology that makes our lives easier and to the fact that sometimes I’m not the oldest person at a concert.

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Just in time to get healthy for the summer, Mommybites is thrilled to announce our new co-host of our Healthy Living section – Mott’s! As many of you may know, our Healthy Living section was created about a year ago and since then we have featured hundreds of articles, tips and resources on how to live a healthy and sustainable life as well as better one’s emotional health and well-being. Mott’s is also dedicated to this mission which is why we are excited to have them as our new Healthy Living co-host! Moms move the world; let’s make it a healthier one.

What is our Healthy Living section all about?

Healthy Living is a place on our website where you can find more about how to live a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. There are so many factors in our daily lives that all contribute to our overall health – nutrition, environment, products, relationships, stress – it is important for us to take a holistic look at how we can better our physical and emotional health in all we do.

Each week we will share – and invite healthy living experts to come share – the tips and tricks we can all use to create a better environment and lifestyle for ourselves and our families and largely our world.

How often will we see new posts on Healthy Living?

We aim to have between 1 – 3 new posts per week.

Who will be contributing to this section?

Some of our regular contributors include:

• Elise Jones, who writes the monthly Green Parenting column that is found on both our blog as well as in the Healthy Living section. The green thing is really contagious and healthy living is Elise’s mantra!
• Aimee Raupp is a licensed acupuncturist, herbalist and author of Chill Out & Get Healthy. She has written for our blog on many health topics and has always opened our eyes to what’s really going on!

Plus regular guest posts from a range of experts from across the country!

So be sure to check daily to see what is new with our Healthy Living section. It is our hope that through all of this fantastic information you will be inspired, awakened and motivated to live a healthier life!

We invite people to listen to a teleclass by one of our Mommybites experts on dealing with a picky eater, which was sponsored by Motts.

Have any burning questions about healthy living? It can be anything at all about leading a healthier, greener, sustainable, environmentally conscious life. Feel free to email me at jennifer.rojas@mommybites.com and I’ll get you an answer!

*What exactly does ‘co-hosted by Mott’s’ mean? Well it goes a little something like this: Mott’s has compensated Mommybites to be a partner in this awesome Healthy Living section on our website. This partnership does not influence the content, topics or posts made on this blog. We always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on all topics, products, and services.

Mott’s for Tots: With 40% less sugar than our 100% apple juice and essential nutrition they need.

I’m sure you’re all super busy moms, coming to this site to find ways to make your life as a mom better. Well, what better way to improve your life than to feel better all month long?  A lot of women I see in my clinics deal with PMS. They have a week or two each month where they are bloated, irritable, tired, hankering for chocolate and dealing with breakouts. Not to mention — they are also busy moms having to juggle everything else in their busy lives.  Who wants to deal with PMS?

So to keep it simple, because I know simple is key, here are three things you can do right now to help manage — or dare I say, rid yourself of PMS:

1. Eat green leafy green veggies like kale and spinach and brussel sprouts. Get a daily dose of these vitamin B rich foods and balance that estrogen-progesterone scale in your body to ease PMS symptoms. Studies show that women who eat plenty of leafy green veggies cut their PMS by 40%!

Get in a daily dose of omega-3 rich foods. These foods like salmon, flax seeds (Note: Please consume fresh ground flaxseeds NOT flaxseed oil, read why here. Pastured-organic eggs (with the yolks!), pumpkin seeds and walnuts. Omega 3 fatty acids really help balance out hormone levels in your body and help PMS go away for good.

1. Skip the soy. I know I’ve blogged about soy on this site in the past and I’ve talked about it in my book, but take a look at this. Really make a point in avoiding soy, not only because its overly processed and is an anti-nutrient, but also because it will increase the amount of estrogen in your body and therefore exacerbate your PMS.

For me, the best way to fit all of this into my hectic life is to do the following:

1. Start each day off with one or two eggs. If I have time, I make them over-easy in my skillet (cooked in coconut oil or pastured butter) and if Im running late, I throw two eggs in a saucepan and boil them for 15 minutes.
2. In addition to snacking on nuts and seeds such as almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds I take 1 teaspoon of omega 3 rich cod liver oil (read why you should take cod liver oil over fish oil here). This way, I can be sure I am getting plenty of omega 3s each day.  Additionally, I make sure to cook salmon at least once per week.
3. I avoid almost all packaged and processed foods, which is where soy and its hormone imbalancing derivatives like soybean oil, soy protein isolate and soy flour exist.  If I need a quick, packaged bite, I grab a Lara bar or a Pure bar.
4. At lunch or dinner I always have a side of steamed kale or spinach, or on Sundays if I have spare time, Ill make a batch of roasted veggies or steamed kale and eat them throughout the week.

OK… now its time to incorporate these easy dietary changes into your life and say goodbye to PMS!

Like what you read? Sign up for our free newsletter so you can be informed of the latest FREE webinars & teleclasses, parenting articles, & weekly raffles.

Aimee E. Raupp is a women’s health and fertility expert, author, and founder of the Aimee Raupp Wellness & Fertility Center. Her focus is improving health and beauty, preventing disease, and increasing fertility among women whose health and wellness are challenged by the demands of Western culture. Aimee launched her new fertility-friendly beauty product line in Winter 2013. Find Aimee on Facebook and Twitter @aimeeraupp.

* Healthy Living is section of our website co-hosted by Mott’s. Mott’s has compensated Mommybites to be a partner in this awesome Healthy Living section on our website. This partnership does not influence the content, topics or posts made on this blog. We always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on all topics, products, and services.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog contributor’s. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Writers may have conflicts of interest, and their opinions are their own.

Everything begins with a story . . . stories can help show the way – the way to transformation of consciousness – thinking in one way and now thinking in another way.

Stories are psychological therapy . . . seeking harmony and balance through stories . . . Everything begins with a story. (Joseph Campbell, The First Storytellers)

Dear Readers,

In this column I deviate from my usual format to talk about – as you may have surmised from the Joseph Campbell quotation – stories. My back story is that each of three good friends of mine has recently published a book that has to do with stories. It is my pleasure to share my friends’ books with you.

Life Is Full of Sweet Spots: An Exploration of Joy, Mary O’Connor
Mary O’Connor’s Blog:  Mary provides beautiful photographs, poems and other examples of “sweet spots” every week.

Mary uses stories to nurture – nurture ourselves and others. She offers anecdotal and research-based narratives that awaken and express joy, and she makes it accessible to each of us. Using a mix of people, each contributor relates an engaging, uplifting and personal story of how and where he or she personally found relief, fulfillment or simple contentment in life.

For example, there are the stories of two parents who each lost a child, one to cancer, one to the 9/11 attacks, both of whom found joy by doing for others in loving memory of their children. There is the father who had a second chance at fatherhood and found joy by helping ex-felons and at-risk men become engaged fathers and citizens.

Readers will get to know the mom who was going through a rough patch in her life, found relief through photography and making her family’s life as simple as possible, and came to understand that her path to joy “. . . wasn’t about the big things. It was about the small things.” A smile is assured while reading about the woman who helps people commune with nature and find peace by floating in the water with the dolphins: “The dolphin has a joyfulness, a playfulness in experiencing humans . . . [people] just go into the sensations of feeling, which is a big part of a dolphin’s life.”

There are 40 stories by artists, writers, gardeners, educators, parents, grandparents, and others, each with a story that informs and inspires.

As Mary explains, the stories her contributors share are reminders that “Life is absolutely full of opportunities for meaningful happiness, replete with places of joy, ways of realizing it . . . of how life’s beauty and powers make us inwardly hum, how gardening or stargazing, touching something wild, listening to the sounds of silence, learning and loving, just simply being, all feed our emotional well-being and craving for joy.”

Mary’s captivating and exquisitely-written book helps each of us “to learn from stories and prescriptions of such things as walks in the woods and journeys to places unknown and set about making them our own.” I suspect every reader of Life is Full of Sweet Spots will inevitably be asking herself or himself: “What would my own story about joy be if Mary asked me to be a contributor?” From reading Mary’s book I found joy in contemplating my own joy, as well as that of others.

The Career as a Path to the Soul, Stories and Thoughts about Finding Personal Meaning in Life and Work, David Rottman

David creates stories for personal reflection, illumination and growth: how to find the ways a path to the soul is achieved, “a way of living in meaningful connection to something greater than our bounded sense of ourselves . . . A path to the soul gives a direction that points to how and where further development needs to take place and where there is a promise of a more creative way of living. Asking about the nature of the path, and its goal, is the first step in constructing a path to the soul.”

By having fictitious characters “talk with their therapist” — in effect, tell their stories — David is able to share his considerable expertise in psychology and human motivation in ways that are relatable, compelling, and instructive.  Through this literary device of talking with a therapist, each character is guided to discover, often with a great deal of effort and pain, his or her own higher purpose.

For example, there is Ron who begins his first session by stating, “I need the job that is absolutely right for me.” He had tried a couple of things he thought would fill this need, but, for a variety of reasons, was crushed to learn he will not be able to pursue them. He feels helpless, hopeless, overcome with despair. Through dialogue with his therapist, he has his aha! moment: “I know I have something I want to give. I want to be able to help people, I want to do something that matters,” but before he could act on this desire, it “meant temporarily sacrificing the pursuit of his immediate goal, a meaningful job, for the pursuit of self-understanding and self-acceptance,” both of which he was able to achieve with the guidance of his therapist.

Then there is the story of Jane, who totally bottomed out when she was laid off from her decades-long, administrative job of working for the corporate powers that be, a job that defined her self-image and was the very core of her being. Her devastation left her isolated, barely able to function, and at her physician’s urging, she met with a therapist.

Jane’s transforming insight came with her realization that “she had been expressing her desire to make work into a worshipping experience, but in a way that proved hollow and distorted. Her previous way of worshipping the company and its “gods,” the bosses at work, had been “profane;” it was really serving the “gods” of prestige and one-up-manship.”

Armed with this insight and by examining the truth about her relationship with her deceased mother, “This common human experience — of grief and isolation — that formerly scared and disgusted Jane, now became a door that she learned how to open, to reach others. An entirely new aspect of her personality had been created, a new chamber of the heart, one that reacted with compassion and closeness to the isolation of others.”

All seven of the stories David tells via the back-and-forth dialogue between the characters and the therapist inform and propel the reader forward on his or her own journey for those who want his or her career to be a path to the soul.

Speak Like Yourself . . .No, Really! Follow Your Strengths and Skills to Great Public Speaking, Jezra Kay
Jezra Kaye’s Blog:  Jezra publishes a monthly newsletter with thoughtful and easy-to-apply presentation tips.

Jezra’s book will give you the confidence and skills you need to tell your story effectively, be it for a presentation at work, for an organization you’ve joined, preparing for an interview, or at a more personal gathering, such as a networking or a book club meeting. Wherever and whenever you want to make a strong and memorable impact using yourself as the vehicle, Speak Like Yourself will give you realistic, step-by-step instructions.

In addition to using humor, Jezra’s book is visually easy to read and comprehend: its large fonts; effective use of bold print; delightful illustrations; shaded boxes with reminders; summaries of main points; and content “take-aways” at the end of each chapter. Included in the many additional resources at the end of the book, Jezra provides an instant speech framework that pulls together all the do’s and don’ts that have been presented.

It is telling that all the reviewers of Jezra’s book on Amazon give it the highest rating possible, my own included. For example, one reviewer writes: “Jezra Kaye’s book about public speaking is filled with practical advice that is delivered in a way that’s immensely enjoyable to read. I actually consider myself someone who is adept at public speaking — I’ve taught at several colleges, and don’t generally feel ill at ease when speaking to strangers, and still found this book to have new insights that will be useful for me going forward.”

Another writes: “I found some real nuggets of powerful information that I believe can transform anyone into a confident, poised speaker. I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone, not just people who speak. It can help with every aspect of human contact, from getting a job, public speaking, to talking your way out of a ticket, to parent-teacher conferences, to getting into college. This book is filled with advice on how to handle your own voice so the world hears the message you intended. Very powerful!”

Ask Dr. Gramma Karen is published every other Tuesday.
E-mail queries to Karen@mommybites.com

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The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog contributor’s. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Writers may have conflicts of interest, and their opinions are their own.

Advice you never thought you’d need before having a kid…

There you are, looking great, drink in hand, munching on some yummy something. You are having a wonderfully funny conversation with your friends. This is the fun night that you have been needing.

Then your partner walks over and says, “It is time to go home.”

“Are you feeling ill?”, you whisper.

“No, I just want to go home.”

“I am having a good time. I would like to stay a little while longer.” You begin to get upset and confused.

“I said I am ready to go. LET’S GO! We are leaving. NOW!”

“I don’t want to go now. Can we stay a little longer? I am having fun.”

“I SAID WE ARE LEAVING NOW!  I AM READY AND IF I AM READY YOU HAVE TO BE READY TOO!”

Now, I want you to sub you and your partner for your child and you. Think about it for a moment. Perhaps you haven’t ever been in this situation, but perhaps you have.

I cannot say how many times I hear parents demanding children come and go on their whim. Surely, the parent has a plan or schedule or reason for wanting to come or go, but the child does not know that. What happens when kids are asked to leave before they are ready to and without warning? Come on, you know. BOOM, an explosion. The fun time ends in a big tantrum or fight.

No, you do not have to stay at the playground until nightfall because your child wants to stay. Of course you do not have to skip lunch and stay at the arcade because your kid is having fun. You DO have to take a moment and look at the situation from your child’s point of view.  Step into her shoes. (If you are asking “Why should I?  I am in charge,” let me direct you back to BOOM.)  Approach the situation the way that you would want someone to approach it with you.

 GAME PLAN:

1. Let your child know the plan for the day. “We are going to play at Amy’s house and have lunch with her, but after lunch we are going to go home. We are going to go home when?” Let your child repeat it as reinforcement. When you get there, repeat the plan. “You are going to play with Amy and eat lunch with her but after lunch we are going home.” As lunch approaches repeat again. “It is almost lunch time. You can play one last game, then lunch, then home.”
2. Give a heads up.  At the mall, “We can go to one more store, but then we have to go.
3. “Where do you want to shop?” Arcade, “You can play one more game, then we are heading out.” Playground, “We are leaving in 5 minutes. Take one last swing or slid before we go.”
4. Notice what your child is doing. If the five minutes have passed and they only have 3 puzzle pieces left, give them time to finish. The way you would want to finish a conversation with a friend.

These small changes in the interactions with your kids can save hours of fights and ill will. In addition, when you really DO have to leave in a hurry, your kids will be more likely to listen and take you seriously. Respect breeds respect.

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Brandi Davis is a professional Parenting Coach, Parent Educator, and Author of O.K. I’m A Parent Now What? She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and be sure to catch her parenting podcasts on iTunes. The goal of Brandi’s practice is to bring respect, calm communication, teamwork, and FUN into the home or classroom. To discover all that Child and Family Coaching can bring to your family stop by www.childandfamilycoaching.com.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog contributor’s. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Writers may have conflicts of interest, and their opinions are their own.

For those of you who missed this wonderful teleclass, presented by Aimee Raupp, acupuncturist, author and women’s health advocate, here is a link to the taped class.

Did you know that Chinese Medicine refers to the female reproductive system as the richest place on earth? It’s the foundation for life itself, but are you caring for it correctly so that you can get pregnant when you want to? Aimee has helped facilitate hundreds of pregnancies – many to women who were told their chances of getting pregnant were slim. Just in time for Pregnancy Awareness Month this May, Aimee presented a wonderful teleclass on the topic of how to prepare for and have a healthy pregnancy.

One of the topics discussed in the teleclass was the importance of and difference between “oils”. Below is a blog post from Aimee’s website that gives an overview.

Fish oil, cod liver oil and flax seed oil. What’s the difference?

We all know that omega 3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) are great for our health… but, what is the best source of them?

Well, you know me – I’d prefer that we all ate a diet rich in omega 3s (and low in omega 6s) as these EFAs help reduce inflammation (the type that causes pain, acne, arthritis, certain digestive disorders, really any disease state), balance our hormones, prevent cardiovascular disease, beautify our skin from the inside out, make our joints more flexible, our moods more balanced, our concentration more focused and they even improve our sex drive. Woo!

The best dietary sources of EFAs are:

* Walnuts
* Eggs
* Seafood such as herring, sardines, mackerel, anchovies, oysters and salmon
* Flax seeds (the seed, not the oil! I’ll explain…)
* Pumpkin seeds

However, eating a serving of each of these foods per day may not give you all the EFAs your body desires. So, personally, I recommend supplementing with an EFA.

This is where the fun begins. When you walk into the health food store there are probably 50 EFA touting supplements to choose from…flax seed oil, fish oil, cod liver oil, EPA/DHA… the list goes on…

Let’s break it down for you.

Flax Seeds. These little guys are a great source of omega 3s. However, most people prefer to swig down the oil to eating the seeds. Here’s the thing: once the seeds are made into oil, they lose some of their health promoting luster. The oil lacks the fiber and the lignans that are present in the seeds. There is even argument that flax seed oil is an unstable oil (which is why it’s not recommended for cooking) and has great potential to go rancid inside our bodies (causing more harm than good).

The other big factor with getting your omega 3s from flax is that flax doesn’t directly contain EPA or DHA– it contains ALA (which is a precursor to EPA and DHA). So, your body has to take in this ALA and then metabolize it into EPA and DHA. If it sounds like more work, it is.

Bottom line, if you want to get omega 3s from flax, you need to eat the seeds, not the oil. Get some whole seeds, grind them in your coffee bean grinder and sprinkle them on your salad or yogurt. But, don’t pop that flax seed oil pill or swing it down. And, don’t count on flax alone to be your major source of omega 3′s.

Fish oil and Cod Liver oil. Both are also a great source of omega 3s. And, both oils unlike flax contains EPA and DHA. There’s no extra work required here.

Now, the difference between fish oil and cod liver oil is that cod liver oil is rich in both vitamin’s A and D. Both vitamin A and D are important in bone health (by working in conjunction with calcium), help boost the immune system, regulate hormones and maintain the health of your heart.

Personally, in my practice, I recommend people take cod liver oil over fish oil.

The biggest issue with taking either cod liver oil or fish oil is whether or not it’s contaminated by the likes of mercury and heavy metal (because our poor fish are swimming in such toxic waters these days). So, make it your business to stick with oil that comes from deep-water fish and only take certain tried and true brands that adhere to strict extraction and distillation processes and keep their oil clean and toxin-free.

Here are my favorite brands:

Don’t worry, I’ve done the work for you. The best brands out there are:

* Green Pasture’s Blue Ice Fermented Cod Liver Oil
* Garden of Life Olde World Icelandic Cod Liver Oil
* Carlson’s Cod Liver Oil

Personally, I take a daily dose of the Green Pasture’s Fermented Cod Liver Oil as the fermentation process makes this oil easier to digest (and it shouldn’t repeat on you). Plus, I just love the Green Pasture’s company.

———————————-

Check out this video on Aimee’s “Top 3 Favorite Fertility Foods” and read here why liver (yes, liver!) is so good for fertility.

Aimee can be reached at aimee@aimeeraupp.com

Like what you read? Sign up for our free newsletter so you can be informed of the latest FREE webinars & teleclasses, parenting articles, & weekly raffles.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog contributor’s. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Writers may have conflicts of interest, and their opinions are their own.

I saw this posted on Facebook by a fellow mom and thought I would share it in honor of Mother’s Day:

What I Want for Mother’s Day

Dear Children,

Mother’s Day is coming up, and I thought I should tell you what I want. This way there’s no guilty panic or last minute purchasing of flowers at the closest gas station. So, this is what I want, this year and every year after; it’s pretty simple really.

I want you to be a decent human being.

I want you to be who you are, but don’t be a jerk. .

I want you to work hard at everything you do, because life is too short not to give it everything you’ve got.

I want you to ask for help when you need it.

I want you to help others when they need it.

I want you to learn how to cook, do your own laundry, pay your bills and know how to clean a bathroom.

When you screw up, and you will, more than once, I want you to own it, because it’s the screw-ups that make the victories sweeter.

I want you to travel, because the world is huge and you are one part of it.

I want you to know that even when we hate each other, I will never stop loving you.

I want you to play nicely with others.

I want you to feed your curiosity.

I want you to find a way to do what you love, and realize that that might look different than you originally thought.

I want you to respect every human being’s right to be who they are.

I want you to sometimes be more interested in someone else other than in yourself.

I want you to know that you are flawed and you are extraordinary. There is no one else like you.

I want you to know that I would lay down my life for you in Lily Potter fashion any day of the week.

I want you to realize how lucky you are every once in a while even if only for an instant.

I want you to know love, even if it means getting hurt.

I want you to relax and not feel guilty about it.

I want you to know life can be brutally hard sometimes.

I want you to know that you can choose happiness even when the dark side offers you cookies.

And I wouldn’t mind breakfast in bed.

See, simple.

Love, Mom

Here’s to a very happy Mother’s Day everyone!

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The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog contributor’s. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Writers may have conflicts of interest, and their opinions are their own.

The other day before work, I picked up a quinoa muffin from Grand Central Station. It looked dry but figured I would give it a shot. It was like tasting a cotton ball.

I decided to try to make my own quinoa muffins, but make them super-moist and satisfying. If you add the right ingredients, your healthy muffins can be just as sweet and delicious as many of the less nutritious muffins out there. Make sure you cook the quinoa until it’s tender because no one wants to bite into a crunchy muffin! Look on your package of quinoa to see if you need to rinse it. I did rinse my quinoa with a colander and a paper towel,  but an easier method would be to use a fine mesh sieve. I read that by rinsing the quinoa, it can help take away some of the bitterness.

These muffins came out moist, with an earthy carrot taste. I don’t like to add raw carrots to the batter because I find them to be too raw and crunchy when eating the muffins. The carrot puree adds moisture and gives the muffins a nice, even texture.

Allison Topilow, MS, RD, CDN, Nutrition Consultant,  loves these muffins because they provide fiber, antioxidants, healthful fats, and protein.  Great for breakfast or an afternoon pick me-up!  Pair with a cup of low-fat milk or plain low-fat yogurt and fresh fruit depending on your hunger level.  Make a double batch and freeze some for when you are in a hurry!

Kid Friendly Tips: Have your child help rinse the quinoa. Kids can help puree the carrots and add the ingredients to the food processor. My kids love to press the pulse button on the food processor, with supervision of course. Have them add some of their own spices into the batter, such as ground ginger or ground nutmeg.

Carryover Book:  The Carrot Seed

Ingredients:
1 cup of pureed carrots
1 cup of rinsed and cooked quinoa
1/2 cup of brown sugar
2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup
1 cup of whole wheat flour
1/2 cup of all purpose flour
2 tsp of baking powder
1 tsp of baking soda
1/2 tsp of salt
1 tsp of cinnamon
1/4 to 1/2 tsp of ground all spice
2 tablespoons of wheat germ
3 eggs
1/4 cup of canola oil
1/3 cup of applesauce
1 tsp of vanilla

1. Steam carrots and puree in a food processor.

2. Rinse and then cook quinoa by following directions on the back of the package (I used 1/2 cup of uncooked quinoa and 3/4 cup of water).

3. Add quinoa through maple syrup to the food processor with the pureed carrots. Pulse until combined.

4. In another bowl whisk dry ingredients (flour through wheat germ)

5. In another bowl combine eggs through vanilla. Add wet ingredients (egg mixture) to carrot mixture. Pulse.

6. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients into moistened.

7. Let batter sit for about 20 minutes on the counter.

8. Add batter to greased muffin tins. Bake at 375 for about 10-12 minutes or until done.

9. Yields 12 muffins.

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Becca Eisenberg is a certified speech language pathologist and mom of two.Through her own personal challenges at mealtime with her two young children she ventured on creating a website to help parents facilitate language and make mealtime fun. Her website gravitybread.com focuses on facilitating and encouraging language with fun and easy recipes, educational books and recommended toys and apps.

* Healthy Living is section of our website co-hosted by Mott’s. Mott’s has compensated Mommybites to be a partner in this awesome Healthy Living section on our website. This partnership does not influence the content, topics or posts made on this blog. We always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on all topics, products, and services.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the blog contributor’s. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Writers may have conflicts of interest, and their opinions are their own.

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