Green Products I Love

Recently, I attended a cloth diapering demonstration and met Kristi Rooks from Hip Green Baby. I bought all kinds of organic and eco-friendly baby products for our little one on the way. Here are just a few of the products that she carries that I LOVE and highly recommend!

• Unbleached Cotton Prefold Diapers
• Amber Teething Necklaces
• Maggies Soap Nuts Liquid Cleaner
• Waterproof Diaper Pail Liners
• Planet Wise Wet Bags
• Cloth Wipes
• Babywearing Accessories

Mommies and Mommies-To-Be, I believe it is so important to preserve our delicate planet by consuming eco-friendly and reusable products. Not only is it important for the planet, but for the precious little baby we care for each day.

Please visit Hip Green Baby to see what products you and your baby can enjoy to support a healthy lifestyle and conserve our planet.

It is never too late to start going green!

Organic Coconut Oil for the Blooming Belly

Recently, my mom was in town and brought with her some coconut oil she uses for everything. I love to cook and bake with it myself, but hadn't yet tried to lather it on my belly yet because I have been using my new Earth Mama Angel Baby Stretch Oil (which I love, love love!). My mom also suggested I try to put it on a skin tag that had conveniently popped right under my bra line during my pregnancy. It was becoming irritated and painful but was still hanging on for dear life. After putting coconut oil and a bandage over it for three days, it fell off and I am happy to report...no more irritation.

Thank you, Mother, for leaving your Spectrum Organic Coconut Oil with me. I have been lubing up my belly every night this week. Personally, I love the smell of coconut and don't mind the slipperiness of it on my belly at night. Knock on wood, the only tiny stretch marks that have appeared are coming from my appendectomy scar and the two very low scars from my ectopic pregnancy surgery. I am hopeful and determined to steer clear of stretch marks with the use of all of these great oils.

Gotta love a product with multiple uses! Coconut oil can also be used for:

• Skin Care: Besides stretch marks, it is a great moisturizer for dry skin, dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, and other skin conditions.
• Stress Relief: Massage a bit into your skin in sore or stressed areas.
• Aiding Digestion: It has anti-bacterial properties. You can swallow it plain or add it to your cooking to help the absorption of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
• Fitness: It can stimulate metabolism, improve thyroid function, and increase energy levels.
• Healing: Apply to cuts and scraps to protect against bacteria and virus and can speed the healing of bruises.
• Hair Care: Can be one of the most nourishing products for your hair. Use it to prevent dandruff and dry scalp.

Anyone else had great success with coconut oil?

Stretch Marks Anyone?

Currently, I am trying two different products on my 24 week, growing, stretching belly. I believe it is really important to be careful, especially during pregnancy, about what you put on your skin. What you put on or in will get to baby. Use organic, chemical free, paraben free products that aren't made with artificial preservatives when at all possible.

One product I love is made by Earth Mama Angel Baby. It is an organic shea butter stretch mark lotion called Earth Mama Body Butter. Made with chamomile and calendula essential oils, it goes on very nice and smooth and feels very nice on the tummy.

The other is called Tummy Honey and it is a thick, oil-based formula that smells of sweet, natural cocoa butter and feels amazing. It glides on easy and does not leave a sticky, greasy residue.

Book Pick of the Week

Birthing From Within
by Pam England, CNM, MA and Rob Horowitz, PhD

This book helps inspire you to bring out your inner "artist" while pregnant and adds a new dimension to your pregnancy and birthing ideas. Understand how getting creative in your mind and thoughts can help you have an amazing birth.

Prenatal Vitamins

I recommend a prenatal vitamin from New Chapter called Perfect Prenatal. They make an organic line of products that I use and enjoy. The supplements are derived from whole, organic foods. You can purchase these at stores like The Vitamin Shoppe, Veria Wellness Center, Central Market, or online.

Check out the website at: http://www.newchapter.com/

Birth Jewelry

I have found the most amazing website for "birth" jewelry. This woman makes the most incredible jewelry for home births, pregnancy, doulas, midwives, and nurses. The dangling stones represent the birth stones for the home birth babies. The sterling silver captures the beautiful curves of a pregnant woman .

http://www.moonovermaize.com/about.html