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Tips for new new mums

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As we welcomed a new baby son in October, yes it was really that long ago. Another beautiful boy to add to our family, I thought I would list some simple tips on how to keep a new mum sane!

'Tips to help settle into being a new mum' but I think you all know the golden rules.

• First week (or first 3 months) be INDULGENT and loose all GUILT, sleep, accept all offers of help, have no shame just say YES and if you are not particularly good at it learn fast.
• I can't emphasise enough how slow you should take it; REST. Think of the next three months as the fourth trimester.
• EAT. Eat good healthy wholefoods, forget biscuits and cakes, eat real food, nurture your body. Almonds are a great to snack.
• DRINK lots of water, keep rehydrated especially if you are breastfeeding, fill a jug of water to have on the bench and just keep topping up your glass through out the day
• SLEEP and generally rest and hang with your baby.
• Slowly reintroduce yourself back into the world and BE GENTLE with yourself DON'T PLACE UNREALISTIC GOALS ON YOU OR YOUR BABY.
• Want that tummy to return to normal? Try these Belly belt it will be the best investment you can ever make and will help your uterus contract and your tummy retract. (Wish I'd known about this post my babies, I wore high waisted bike-like pants; it was very difficult to go to the toilet!)
• Begin activating your PELVIC floor as soon as possible after the birth. The sooner you get started the sooner you will be in better shape in more ways than one. I wore these great high waisted 'contour shorts', yes very attractive but they pulled my uterus in much faster than after having my first child. Your tummy may never be the same as prior to pregnancy but CORE STRENGTH activation will certainly help.
• Don't make too many rules or timetables as you may just come unstuck and no-one wants that, not you nor your husband/partner or family. Everyone does love a new mum and is only willing to help - Just ask.
• Take a good quality SUPPLEMENT to help with your energy levels, best to see a health professional and be prescribed the correct therapeutic doses.
• Get out of the house and WALK, breathe FRESH AIR and mostly ENJOY your new bub because as everyone says 'they grow up so quickly'!
• Welcome to motherhood

What's your best tip for a new mum? 

Want to get pregnant? Preconception care

There comes a time when you may think about getting pregnant and maybe 'doing it' just doesn't do it!
So here are a few ideas to think about before you go 'doing it'.

First of all we are all very different, our health, our general make-up, our constitution so of course it is best to facilitate with a health care professional before hand so they can asses the best prescription for you and your partner.

Here are some general tips to help you conceive your baby.

Eat lots of wholefoods, fresh foods, home-made food

Rest and relaxation, enjoy spending time with your partner and enjoy getting jiggy
Reduce or even eliminate alcohol
Reduce caffeine
Reduce processed food intake
Stop smoking
Increase water consumption
Begin taking a vitamin B12 and Folate tablet
Increase your intake of EFA this includes flaxseed oil and fish oils but please take good quality fish oils, this means fish oils that have been tested for heavy metals contamination, PBA contamination and produced under strict guidelines.
Increase eating fish in your diet but again remember small fish are best, sardines, anchovies, mackerel because they don't tend to have mercury and toxic stores as larger fish can
Be kind to yourself and think positive thoughts
Even complete a detox and prepare yourself and your partner for your pregnancy - a healthy body = a healthy baby

Good luck on your journey, it will happen

AT WORK YOGA!

Have you ever thought of doing yoga in your lunch break but it seems like a chore to get out of the office?  I met Michele from 'At Work Yoga' the other day and she has a fantastic business operating in Melbounre called (obviously) AT WORK YOGA. She is all about yoga and it's benefits of bringing balance, health and physical strength. She is certainly walking her talk and runs great classes.

I thought that the concept was brilliant your business or corporation can arrange for her or one of her experienced teachers to take you through a 45min - 60 min session of getting bendy at your office.  Really do yourself a favour! Check out their wbsite below -

AT WORK YOGA

The Seven Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

Traditionally Naturopathic medicine or the Practice of Natural medicine is based on Seven Principles:

Here they are:

1.The Healing Power of Nature: (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)

Naturopathic medicine recognizes that all living systems have an innate ability to heal it-self. Our vital force promotes self-cleansing, self-repair, and thus self-healing. The Naturopaths role is to facilitate this natural process.

2. Treat the Cause: (Tolle Causam) Naturopaths are trained to identify and remove the underlying cause of disease; these causes can exist at the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. It is a Naturopaths role to identify, treat and remove the cause rather than suppress symptoms.

3. First Do No Harm: (Primum Non Nocere) Naturopaths use safe and effective methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects, they use the least force necessary to diagnose and assist in the restoration of health.

4. Treat the Whole Person: Naturopaths treat the person holistically, they take into account the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental factors that make up the total state of health.

5. Doctor as Teacher (Docere): The original meaning of the word "doctor" is teacher. Naturopaths educate their patients by empowering, encouraging and motivating patients to assume self-responsibility for their health by adopting a healthy attitude, lifestyle and diet.

6. Preventative Medicine: The Naturopaths health approach is all about preventing minor illnesses to avoid the development of more serious diseases. They achieve this by educating and encouraging people about life habits that support health.

7. Wellness: A Naturopaths role is to help the patient establish and maintain optimum health and balance by promoting wellness. Wellness is inherent in everyone no matter what dis-ease(s) are being experienced.

Do you need to see a Naturopath to help balance your health or address underlying issues?

TWENTY ELEVEN -Happy New Year

Here it is - it's about to begin 2011.

The new year of 2011 is here and with it comes new beginnings, resolutions and change (as with every year) but make this year different.

Accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.

Instead of proclaiming to stop things, quitting things and never doing things again be positive in your resolutions and contribute to change.

Eat healthier wholefoods instead of cutting out cakes and desserts. Try fresher homemade meals. Eat smaller portions instead of going on difficult and unforgiving diets. Enjoy organic produce and taste the flavour of foods.

Double your current amount of exercise, take on a new sport; yoga, swimming or the new Zumba craze instead of signing up for that expensive and potentially overwhelming gym membership. Walk more regularly and my favourite is just breathe.

Cut-down your current amount of cigarettes (or things you want to quit) instead of quitting or going cold turkey, this reduces the potential of failure and will help you feel better about what you are achieving.

Enjoy resting and spending time with loved ones this will help you achieve your work life balance, be kind to yourself and enjoy your new year.

What are some of the things you hope to achieve in 2011?

The best thing you can do for yourself – Body brushing

Summer is just around the corner and we all love to look and feel good.


The best thing about summer is unravelling from all of those layers and having your naked skin breathe again. Feeling the warmth of the sun and the breeze from the wind on your shoulders and swimming in the oceans, rivers and pools.


Our skin has been hybernating too, and is generally lacking lustre looking a bit dry, scaly, and even showing more signs of visible cellulite! Body brushing is the answer to beautiful healthy skin and generally feeling great. It's an easy and achievable routine which has many positive benefits including lymphatic drainage, improved blood circulation and helps reduce the appearance of cellulite. It energises the skin improving its tone and rebalances all body systems.

The skin is the largest organ in the body. It is known to be the most important eliminative organ and is responsible for one quarter of the body’s detoxification each day. The skin aids your body in eliminating waste and it has a major responsibility in protecting your body, regulating your temperature and holding everything together. So it is the first to show signs of imbalance or deficiency.

Health Benefits of Body Brushing:-

·      Removes dead skin cells

·      Cleanses and Stimulates the lymphatic system      

·      Stimulating blood circulation

·      Helps eliminate toxins from the body

·      Helps combat cellulite

·      Tones the muscles

·      Tightens the skin preventing premature aging

·      Strengthens the immune system

·      Encourages cell regeneration

·      Stimulates the glands helping all body systems perform at PEAK EFFICIENCY

·      Improves the function of the nervous system

·      Helps make your skin look great and help you feel great.

Every day dry body brushing will improve your health and help maintain your well-being.