I have just recently come across this delightful California based on-line store named Sprout Baby. It is a one-stop URL destination for all thing eco-friendly baby, parents and home. Next time you are shopping for yourself, friends or families, add this site to your bookmark of favorites.

SproutBaby also features a new EcoPass ($99.00) that grants customers:

• Free Shipping on every order
• 15% savings on every product we sell
• Advance looks at new products.
• Exclusive offers and promotions.

Click on the images below to read more about a few of my favorite products from the site

Grass Countertop Drying Rack $19.99

Organic Diaper Clutch $62.00

Sweet Knee Bun Glaze $9.95

Boon Mini Bath Goods $10.99

Sprout Foods Variety 12-Pack for Babies Seven Months and Older $15.49

I’ll be honest, for the most part, when I heard the name Jaime Oliver in the not so recent past, I thought of the charismatic “Naked Chef” on the Food Network. Now I hear his name and I think of a courageous and passionate man/father with the drive to change the health and well-being of this country. Coming March 26th on ABC, Jaime will be kicking of his new show Jaime Oliver’s Food Revolution, a new series shedding light on our country’s epidemic of obesity and declining children’s health. While listening to Jaime speak on TED, I could not help but think I must share this with parents and future parents. It’s an eye opening, motivating clip for everyone to watch or listen to.

His message is very clear and true. We need to re-educate ourselves and most especially our children ( yours, our nieces,nephews, god children, all of them) on food, how to prepare it, where it comes from, quality-vs- additives and its effects on our health. These are essentials survival skills which are lacking. As new parents start fresh and instill these lessons within your children from the beginning.

Join his revolution!

I have read that when a baby appears to be in the transverse position, that this symbolizes the baby’s comfort and desire to be close to their mother’s heart. While this is a sweet notion, when it comes to birth, the transverse position is problematic for a desired vaginal birth.

If after 30 weeks your baby is still presenting itself in a transverse position and your care provider and your self are concerned, it is helpful to incorporate some of these natural ways to encourage the little one to turn:

• Have either your partner or friend speak to the baby, shine a flash light, or place ear phones at your pubic bone area
• Contact a homeopathic doctor to give see if Pulsatilla in 200C potency or higher will work for you
• Pelvic rocking and exercises to strengthen muscle tone.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Have a chiropractor perform the Webster technique
• Try an inversion such as the one below:

DO do the inversion if you feel strong enough and it does not cause you discomfort for 2-3 times a day. DON’T do it if you have trouble breathing. As with any exercise, ask your caregiver if there is any medical reason why you shouldn’t do this. DON’T do this inversion if the case is your baby was in a breech position and has already turned head down.

1. Have a helper to brace your shoulders so you don’t come down from the couch too fast.
2. Have your knees on the edge of the couch.
3. Come down slowly.
4. Brace yourself on your forearms.
5. Relax your belly.
6. Relax your neck and head.
7. Hold the pose for 30 seconds for a head down, posterior baby, or a minute for a breech or transverse baby, if you can. Start with shorter times in the pose and work up to 30 seconds.
8. Crawl forward, bringing one knee down to the floor and then the other.
9. Come to your hands and knees.
10. Sit up, on your heels and catch your breath.
Crawl around the room helping the weight of the womb settle forward.

(above directions from Spinning Babies)

At the same time, I found this statement via Birth Naturally

Less than 20% of the babies who are transverse at 37 weeks will remain transverse when labor begins, so another option is to wait for labor to start and attempt to turn the baby or perform a cesarean if it is still necessary.

Speaking from within the context of the statement directly above, your doula and midwife can work with you to suggest various positions during your labor to encourage the turn of your baby. Using gravity and motion can potentially save you from unnecessary internal interventions.

For whatever reason, I had a craving for raw asparagus today. Since I have been trying to focus on my physical health of late, my muscles are screaming loud and clear for potassium. While eating the asparagus I became curious to see what other benefits were attributed to it. Low and behold I found some wonderful benefits that are actually tailored for mothers-to-be and new moms. Here they are for you:

5 BENEFITS

• Eaten during the early stages of pregnancy, it helps the body to fight against certain birth defects such as spina bifida (a neural tube defect)

• A cup of asparagus provides around 263 mcg of folate (Vitamin B). Folate is very important for the synthesis of DNA. Its absence or inadequate supply causes the improper division of fetus’ nerve cells, in turn leading to birth defects

• Stimulates milk production in nursing mothers

• Has very high levels of folic acid which is known to make conception easier

• Controlling blood sugar levels and therefore, is very beneficial for people with diabetes

As a majority of my viewers are women and parents, I feel this an important message for all. Activist, Warrior, Playwright and founder of V-Day, Eve Ensler asks us all to “Embrace our Inner Girl”

Don’t forget to participate in my fundraiser this month to help contribute to V-day’s City of Joy

I often check out the many innovative and inspiring videos over on TED. Today I saw this amazing project and innovation created by Jane Chen. Her invention can keep millions of infants warm as the heal from premature birth — a design that’s safe, portable, low-cost ($25) and life-saving.

This month, when you purchase The Everyday Oils enrollment kit from the Verte boutique, $15 will be donated to V-Day and UNICEF’s City of Joy Project. The two non-profits, in partnership with the Panzi Foundation, are currently building a special facility for the survivors of sexual violence in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The City of Joy will support women to heal and provide them with opportunities to develop their leadership through programming in: group therapy; storytelling; dance; theater; self-defense; comprehensive sexuality education (covering HIV/AIDS, family planning); ecology and horticulture; and economic empowerment.

Just a few dollars have far-reaching impact and can provide much needed supplies that will make the City of Joy a comfortable, caring, and healthy place for women survivors of sexual violence to learn, lead, and inspire.

For example, $30 provides one woman with seeds for the City of Joy’s horticulture program for one year or $400 provides the salary of a local registered nurse.

On your behalf, Verte (The Green Doula’s Parent Biz) will donate $15 to one of the City of Joy’s registry category items which include:

Skills Training
Healing
Living
Education
Working
Nourishing
Or a Custom Donation

How Are You Able to Enhance Your Life While Helping to Build the City of Joy?

By incorporating “nature’s living energy” into your everyday lifestyle, you are bound to enhance your everyday life. How do you hone such energy? Well, you don’t have to for Young Living Essential Oils have already done it for you. It is Young Living’ mission to promote the ancient healing art of essential oil therapy. Offering a collection of over 140 therapeutic-grade single essential oils and unique essential oil blends, they are the world’s largest community dedicated to achieving wellness via nature’s purest, most potent gift, essential oils.

When used aromatically, applied topically, or taken internally, essential oils can calm, energize, balance, purify, and rejuvenate the mind and body. As well, such oils can be incorporated into your everyday (including pregnancy and childcare)lifestyle in areas such as:

air purification
aromatherapy + fragrance
cleaning
cooking
first aid
pet care

Your Everyday Oils enrollment kit will include the following oils and more for only $150; ideal to introduce you to the benefits and ease of incorporating essential oils into your life, receive discounts & rewards, and should you chose, the opportunity to generate extra income:

Everyday Oils includes:
(
1)- 5 ml Frankincense
(
1)- 5 ml Lemon

(
1)- 5 ml Lavender

(
1)- 5 ml Peppermint

(
1)- 5 ml Purification
 Blend
(
1)- 5 ml Panaway
 Blend
(
1)- 5 ml Peace & Calming®
 Blend
(
1)- 5 ml Thieves®
 Blend
(
1)- 5 ml Valor® Blend
As well

You can purchase the enrollment kit at any time through Verte, though the fundraiser for the City of Joy ends on February 28th. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me and db@vertenyc.com.

Keep an eye out all this month for a variety of recipes incorporating essential oils that you can incorporate into your pregnancy and infant care regime. If you are not interested in purchasing therapeutic-grade oils, but still want to contribute to the City of Joy, please make your donation here