Chandler, Arizona
Sweet Pea ​Births
Sweet Pea ​Births
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
...celebrating every swee​t pea their birth
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Holiday Safety Tips
Posted on November 27, 2015 at 4:39 PM |
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year… It is such a gift to enjoy this season with our
children. They are filled with wonder at
the sight of our Christmas tree. They
love to look at the ornaments, especially the ones with their pictures in
them. They are so excited about Santa
and presents and at the top of the list, the family coming to visit them from
all across the country. This year is especially poignant – like us, our older two
children recognize that this Otter’s first
Christmas. They wonder what she is
thinking as she sees the activity, and they are telling her all about the
family that she will be meeting for the first time. No matter what your faith, I encourage you to take the time
out of the hustle and bustle, the imposed rush of the season, to slow down and
enjoy this time of year with your children.
The root of the word holiday is “holy day”; so if your faith tradition
has a holiday this month, strive to make that the central focus instead of the
commercialism of the season. Get down on the floor with your children and look up at the
decorations you have put up in your home.
Tell your children the significance and why these symbols are important
to you. Take the time to tell them about
their first holidays in your family. If
this is your first holiday with your child, tell them your favorite childhood
holiday memory – you can keep this tradition going as they get older. Even if you have an infant, know that they
hear you and that you are imprinting their mind. Though they may not have a conscious memory,
you are helping to plant their roots that bind you together long after they
have children of their own. The season will be much more enjoyable if you take some
common sense precautions. I wish you all
a holiday away from the emergency room or urgent care. Here are the usual tips with my
modificaitons for families with mobile infants and toddlers. I am ever mindful that we now have students
who are parents to curious, mobile and walking one-year olds! - Use
ornaments that are not fragile, easily breakable, or that present choking
hazards. This is not the time to
break out your heirloom decorations.
Although they may not be as elegant, use adornments that can survive a
bounce and that won’t shatter and cut your child’s skin. Also keep in mind this tip: if it can fit
through an empty tube of toilet paper, it’s a choking hazard. We found some
lovely, larger ornaments at IKEA that are pretty, as well as safe and functional. Until our youngest children loose the
fondness for touching all the moving parts (most of which break off and fit
through that tube of t.p.), my collector series ornaments are safely stored for
a few more seasons. Speaking of
choking hazards, watch out for small gift bows, packing peanuts and other
packaging materials like twist ties and loose pieces of tape. Wrapping paper, ribbons and bows can also be
a suffocation hazard. - Hang
string lighting and place candles where little hands won't be able to reach. This seems self-explanatory. Remember that children are extremely curious
and very creative – think about how motivated they are to reach what you are
setting out, and make sure that you have lights and candles out of the reach of
a “stacking things so I can climb” child.
A note about candles: their fragrance may be overwhelming for
underdeveloped senses. The chemicals
used to create that fragrance are not regulated, which is another reason we personally
keep “the stink” out. We have no idea what is really causing that odor and
whether or not it’s good for us.
Flameless candles are easily found these days – they are a great way to
create ambience, thereby passing on the chemical or fire hazard component. - Check your electrical outlets and cords. Parents usually keep outlets covered with
safety caps. During this time of year,
you may pull them out to put in cords for string lighting. Make sure that you are aware of your children
around all the extra cords and open outlets.
Place the strings high enough so they don’t go in their mouths. Depending on how mobile and/or curious they
are, they may try to pull out the cords from the socket, which can also be an
electrocution risk. - Keep
poisonous plants out of reach. Speaking
of mouths…colorful plants might be a temptation to your child. After a cursory look at THIS LIST of plants, a rash or an upset stomach seem to be the main symptoms. Given a child’s smaller size and the fact
that each person’s reaction is individual and varied, it’s probably best not to
take any chances. - The force
of gravity does not take a vacation.
Evaluate your space and see where the safest places are for your
decorations and furniture so that your children will not run into them in the
normal course of their day. If you
rearrange furniture to accommodate decorations, make sure that the pieces are
not a tip-over hazard in their new location. If you move side tables, watch
their placement and don’t put anything to heavy or unstable on top of
them. If you move larger furniture, make
sure it is steady in its new position.
If you put up a Christmas tree, it can also be a tip-over hazard. You can secure it to a wall with an eye-hook
and twine, or block it off with a safety gate. Hot, hot,
hot – hot chocolate. I couldn’t resist the reference to the Polar
Express! Slow down and be aware in the
kitchen. Accidents happen - burns and
spills happen when we are rushing and when the kitchen is full of people. Take your time preparing and moving hot foods
and liquids. Be very aware of where your
children are, or maybe you can assign someone else to entertain them outside of
the kitchen if you are in charge of your holiday meal. Along the same
lines, children don’t know that tablecloths aren’t stationary – all they see is
something on which they can pull up. The
next thing you may hear is the crash of china and silver, or the screams of
pain if they are burned by food placed on top of the tablecloth or an
overhanging runner on a sideboard buffet.
You may want to skip on the tablecloths and runners and use placemats
and doilies for the time being. They
will grow up and you will deck out your holiday table again some day. I close with
this thought today: you may have seen our past posts about pregnancy and child loss. As
much as holidays are a time of joy, they are also a time of amplified sorrow
for families grieving the passing of a loved one. I invite you to take some time this season to
say a prayer for those families that have lost a loved one this year,
especially those whom have had their children called to the next journey. Their loss is ever present as they watch
other families enjoy the holidays and wonder what place their child may have played in their own holiday traditions. From our home
to yours, may you have a safe, blessed and joyous holiday season! Do you have any holiday
safety tips to share – what are they? Disclaimer: The
material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. We are now enrolling for our Spring Series March 11, 2016 to June 3, 2016 For more information or to register, please call us at 602-684-6567 or email us at [email protected] |
Inside Look: SpenceBaby
Posted on July 11, 2014 at 10:24 AM |
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InSide Look:Spence Baby One of the priorities of The Bradley Method® is to stay Healthy and Low-Risk during pregnancy by avoiding harmful substances. Many families who learn about all the different toxins we are exposed to, and how to avoid them, choose to continue to stay healthy and low-risk after their Sweet Pea’s Birth-Day. The fabric we put on our Sweet Peas exposes all of that soft, sensitive skin
to whatever is in the fabric. Whatever that is then gets absorbed directly into the
bloodstream. When you think about the
impact that makes over a person’s lifetime, it makes sense to invest in high
quality, truly organic "from source to fabric to dye" garments. I am so excited to introduce our students and readers to
SpenceBaby. This clothing company offers
the benefit of organic clothing along with timeless design and attractive
colors. We are thrilled to be able to
feature them in today’s Inside Look feature. We first heard about SpenceBaby when I went to the Club
MomMe Spring Family Fest in June. I had
the pleasure of visiting with founder Sandy Barton (“SB”) at the end of the day.
She took the time to share some of their story and walk me through her
designs and fabrics. She was kind enough
to agree to do this virtual interview with us so that we could share their
story and their amazing products with you. SPB: What was the
driving force behind Spence Baby? SB: It was almost
meant to be in many ways. My sister-in-law, Rachel, was pregnant with
my now beautiful niece Evelyn (Eve). Rachel was very much into raising Eve in a
green home and I wanted to get her some cute, fashionable, organic baby
clothes. Clothes, not just basics. Needless to say my search came up
empty. My husband and I decided this was crazy and set out to fill the void in
the market. About 4 months into research, my husband Paul and I found
out we were pregnant with our daughter Spencer Grace Barton (Spence
baby). Spencer was confirmation I was on the right track and opened up the
possibility of being able to work from home and spend more time with
Spencer. Something very important to Paul and I. SPB: Tell me more
about how you source the fabrics and the dyes you use to create premium organic
baby apparel. SB: Our early
research surfaced that the definition for
organic fabric and textiles is not really transparent. The USDA and
the Federal Trade Commission only require clothing and fabrics
wearing the organic title be made with USDA-certified organic crops, but it
ends there. This seemed crazy to us since that essentially meant you
could purchase organic fabric and treat it with toxic and harmful dyes.
Needless to say, our eyes were opened to what "Organic" and even
"Certified Organic" baby clothes really meant and it was not what we
thought. This led us to want something better and eventually to the
Global Organic Textile Standard or GOTS. GOTS raw materials must be
certified organic under National Organic Program standards but it also puts
strict limits on the types of fabric dyes that can be used and prohibits toxic
fabric finishes, including sand-blasting of denim (which poses a health threat
to workers), chlorine bleaches, formaldehyde-based finishing treatments, and
nanoparticles intended to make a product “antibacterial.” A factory’s effluent
water must be treated and filtered before release. As for worker welfare, the
certification addresses workers’ ability to unionize, forbids child labor, and
requires that workers are paid a living wage. Not even zippers (no chrome or
nickel allowed) and screen printing (no toxic PVC-based inks can be used in
T-shirt designs) escape scrutiny. And throughout the entire process, all
GOTS-certified items must be kept separate from non-GOTS-certified products to
prevent contamination. So it's simple really, we only work with GOTS certified
partners and fabrics =) SPB: Where do you
draw your inspiration for the designs? SB: I have always
had a eye for design and really pull from a number of sources. I spend a lot of
time on sites like Pinterest, Instagram, Fromupnorth, and flipping through
countless magazines. I love classic looks and try to use that as a style guide
but always add a little something unique to each item. SPB: Can you tell me
a little about how you choose the color palette for your clothing? SB:Sure, I find
my color inspiration mostly from the nature that surrounds me in my
every day life. A day at the beach, a walk through a garden in spring,
the sky when it randomly has red, orange or purple streaks. When I see a
color that catches my attention I use websites like design-seeds.com to help put together
some complimentary colors. SPB: The clothing is absolutely adorable - will you eventually
expand the line to include larger sizes? I can especially see big sisters
wanting to coordinate with little sisters :) SB: Absolutely! In fact, our company is actually Spence Apparel.
Our first collection is Spence Bay but we plane to offer Spence Kids next and
possible Spence Toddler (Fingers crossed!). SPB: Do you have a
favorite item in your shop? Which one is it, and why? SB: My favorite
item has to be the pink and white striped bubble romper that Spencer is wearing
in the website. I think all babies look adorable in them but what I love
about this one is the soft and sweet details like the ruffle trim on the collar
and plaid trim in the placket. SPB: We have lots of
mamas that are planning on going back to work, or are back to work already and
trying to do the family/work juggle. Do you have any words of wisdom to
share with working moms? Or, aspiring mamapreneurs? SB: There are a
couple things that have really helped me. 1) Date night. Getting away from it
all and spending time with my husband. Even if it's just dinner, it always
helps me clear my head and refocus. 2) Don't let frustration and fear
of failure win. I used to worry about how I would be as a Mother and if our
business would fail (and still do at times). I realized the only thing I can do
is continually strive to grow and educate myself and never stop trying. My
husband has been amazing at helping me with this. SPB: What sets your
brand apart from other offerings on the market? SB: Our focus on
making a complete line (not just basics) of fashionable apparel from
only the highest quality organic and eco friendly materials. We also
really value our customers feedback and actually have a few items inspired by
comments from we received in our next line. SPB: What is your
vision going forward as you grow your business? SB: At this point
we are taking it day by day. It is our 3-year goal to have a complete
collection of Baby and Kids apparel available for everyone who appreciates our
brand. SPB: Personally,
we can’t wait for the Kids apparel to hit the market. SpenceBaby can count on at least one customer
for their growing product line! Find SpenceBaby on
the web: Web Page http://www.spencebaby.com/ Instagram http://instagram.com/spenceapparel Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/spenceapparel/ Do you have a favorite children’s garment that you would
like to see in an organic clothing line? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted. Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
The Dirt on Diaper Wipes
Posted on May 30, 2014 at 10:59 AM |
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Diaper Wipes – A closer look at what are you putting on your Sweet Pea's bum As a Bradley Method® instructor, we teach our students to avoid harmful substances in order to have a healthy, low-risk pregnancy. Our own green journey started when we were Bradley Method® students nine years ago...so naturally, we continued the effort to keep our environment healthy and low-risk once our Sweet Pea was earthside. Little did I know I was going to be in for a rude awakening when I read a Healthy Tips
List from Environmental Working Group that listed the top ingredients to avoid in
personal care products. On a whim, I
decided to check our products, because seriously, we weren’t at risk…we used
products labeled “natural” and “-free”. I was devastated to discover that labeling and product marketing
had duped us, the trusting consumer. I
learned to read every label…including the labels on products that were going to
touch any part of our children. Part of
our “going green” journey included a switch to reusable wipes and having a cleaning
solution in a bottle. If after reading through the ingredients you decide to make
the switch to reusable products like we did, there are many options. We have seen them in the “big box” stores,
however since we strive to shop local, we support a mama-preneur and buy our
reusable cloth goods from Shannon’s Cloth and More. You can see her on our blog HERE and HERE. So today I am sharing a list of what is in the “natural” line of the most
recognized names in diapers, Huggies™ and Pampers™, plus a big box brand.
If you want another motivation to switch, HERE is
an eye-opening article from WebMD about the little thought of ingredients in conventional
wipes – preservatives that are added to the product to minimize bacteria in a
perpetually moist environment. Children are breaking out in rashes due to
an allergic reaction in supposedly harmless ingredients. Ingredients to avoid from the Healthy Tips article. I take an in-depth look at what they are and
the motivation to avoid them HERE.
Also from the EWG database: I included a quick synopsis of each ingredient in the list
below, as well as the ingredient rating. Huggies™ Natural Care – Kimberly Clark Amodimethicone (0) - Amodimethicone is a silicon-based
polymer – used as a hair conditioning agent Polysorbate 20 (3) - a surfactant and emulsifier used in
cleaners and personal care products Other HIGH concerns: Contamination
concerns; Other LOW concerns:Data gaps, Organ system toxicity
(non-reproductive) Sodium Methylparaben (4) - Parabens mimic estrogen and can
act as potential hormone (endocrine) system disruptors. Other HIGH
concerns: Endocrine
disruption; Other MODERATE concerns: Biochemical
or cellular level changes; Other LOW concerns:Data gaps Sodium Laurel Glucose Carboxylate (no rating available) – surfactant derived from
coconut or corn - More about this HERE Lauryl Glucoside (0) - Surfactant - Cleansing Agent - This
ingredient is a sugar- and lipid-based surfactant. Methylisothiazolinone (5) - It is a
widely-used preservative; has been associated with allergic reactions. Lab
studies on the brain cells of mammals also suggest that methylisothiazolinone
may be neurotoxic. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract (1) - Aloe vera leaf extract
is produced from the succulent leaves of the aloe plant, Aloe barbadensis Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E in the form of tocopheryl
acetate) (3) - Skin-Conditioning Agent - Human skin toxicant or allergen
- strong evidence; One or more animal studies show tumor formation at high
doses Huggies™ Simply Clean – Kimberly-Clark Glycerin Polysorbate 20 (3) - a surfactant and emulsifier used in
cleaners and personal care products Other HIGH concerns: Contamination
concerns; Other LOW concerns: Data gaps, Organ system toxicity
(non-reproductive) Tetrasodium EDTA (2) - a chelating agent, used to sequester
and decrease the reactivity of metal ions that may be present in a product;
Other MODERATE concerns: Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) Methylparaben (4) - in the paraben family of preservatives
used by the food, pharmaceutical, and personal care product industries.
Parabens mimic estrogen and can act as potential hormone (endocrine) system
disruptors. HIGH concerns: Endocrine disruption; Other MODERATE
concerns: Biochemical or cellular level changes Malic acid (3-4) – Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) Methylisothiazolinone (5) - It is a
widely-used preservative; has been associated with allergic reactions. Lab
studies on the brain cells of mammals also suggest that methylisothiazolinone
may be neurotoxic. Aloe barbedensis leaf extract (1) - Aloe vera leaf extract
is produced from the succulent leaves of the aloe plant, Aloe barbadensis Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E in the form of tocopheryl
acetate) (3) - Skin-Conditioning Agent - Human skin toxicant or allergen
- strong evidence; One or more animal studies show tumor formation at high
doses Pampers™ Sensitive – Proctor & Gamble Claim: Alcohol Free – Hypoallergenic Glycerin Aloe barbadensis leaf juice (1) - Aloe vera leaf extract is
produced from the succulent leaves of the aloe plant, Aloe barbadensis Disodium EDTA (0) - is a chelating agent, used to sequester
and decrease the reactivity of metal ions that may be present in a product.
GRAS PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil (3) - polyethylene glycol
derivative of castor oil; may be contaminated with potentially toxic impurities
such as 1,4-dioxane. Sodium Citrate (0) Cosmetic manufacturers use sodium citrate
to adjust the acidity of a product. Citrate, in the form of citric acid, is
also found in citric fruits and juices. Phenoxyethanol (4) – preservative – suspected neurotoxin - More about that HERE Ethylhexylglycerin (1) - Ethylhexylglycerin is a glyceryl
ether used as a weak preservative and skin conditioning agent. HIGH
concerns: Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs) Benzyl Alcohol (5) - Benzyl alcohol is a naturally ocurring
and synthetic ingredient used as solvent and preservative; has been associated
with contact allergy. Xantham gum (0) - Binder; Emulsion Stabilizer Sodium benzoate (3) – preservative – low concern:
non-reproductive organ system toxicity BIS-PEG/PPG-16 Dimethicone (3) - lubricant and conditioning
agent. Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (1) - Fragrance Ingredient;
Skin-Conditioning Agent Bisabolol (0) - Fragrance Ingredient; Skin-Conditioning
Agent Chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract (0) -
Fragrance Ingredient; Skin-Conditioning Agent Parent’s Choice Baby Wipes – Walmart Glycerin – generally considered non-toxic Phenoxyethanol (4) – preservative – suspected neurotoxin - More about that HERE Sodium benzoate (3) – preservative – low concern:
non-reproductive organ system toxicity Potassium sorbate (3) – preservative - low concern:
non-reproductive organ system toxicity Pentadecalactone (1) - Other MODERATE concerns: Organ
system toxicity (non-reproductive); Suspected to be an environmental toxin and be persistent or
bioaccumulative Aloe barbadensis leaf extract- (1) - Aloe vera leaf extract
is produced from the succulent leaves of the aloe plant, Aloe barbadensis Chamomilla recutita (matricaria) flower extract - (0) -
Fragrance Ingredient; Skin-Conditioning Agent Tocopheryl acetate (3) - Skin-Conditioning Agent -
Human skin toxicant or allergen - strong evidence; One or more animal studies
show tumor formation at high doses; Other HIGH concerns: Contamination
concerns; Other LOW concerns: Data gaps, Ecotoxicology Citric acid (2) – alpha hydroxyl acid - used in personal
care products to adjust the acidity or promote skin peeling and re-growth in
the case of anti-aging products Ology Bamboo Baby Wipes – Walgreen’s Purified Artesian Aquifer Water Polysorbate 20 (3) - a surfactant and emulsifier used in
cleaners and personal care products Other HIGH concerns: Contamination concerns; Other
LOW concerns: Data gaps, Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive) Vegetable glycerin (0) GRAS Lavandula angustifolia (lavender oil) (0) Aloe barbadensis (organic aloe vera) leaf extract (1) - Aloe
vera leaf extract is produced from the succulent leaves of the aloe plant, Aloe
barbadensis Calendula officinalis flower extract (1)
- Fragrance Ingredient Potassium sorbate (3) – preservative - low concern:
non-reproductive organ system toxicity Sodium benzoate (3) – preservative – low concern:
non-reproductive organ system toxicity Citric acid (2) –
alpha hydroxyl acid – used in personal care products to adjust the acidity or
promote skin peeling and re-growth in the case of anti-aging products Baby Bits Wipes Solution Coconut oil glycerin soap (0) organic plantain herb (0) chickweed herbs (0) virgin olive oil (1) – may cause irritation pure essential oil of tea tree (0) pure essential oil of lavender (0) I hope it goes without saying...just in case...please refer back to this post if you are going to share the information - thank you for respecting the time and effort it took to pull this information together. ~Krystyna The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Warning Labels: Epidural Drugs
Posted on May 23, 2014 at 3:22 PM |
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In light of a research study published this week, we are highlighting this blog post today, originally written on May 28, 2013. An excerpt from the article New Research: Direct Correlation Between Labor Pain Medications and Breastfeeding:
As stated below, this information is shared in the interest of true informed consent. If a mother adds another piece to the puzzle, she may decide to choose other pain relief tools aside from pain medication, or do everything to delay pain medication as long as possible in order to give her and her baby their best opportunity to get breastfeeding off to a good start. I am sharing the information below in the interest of furthering our goal that all our students have true informed consent: knowing all the benefits and risks of a drug or procedure. It is very rare for anyone to read the drug information insert that comes in all drug packages. To save you time and squinting, we are doing a “drug warning labels” series for the most commonly used drugs during labor and birth. There will be two more installments in this series. Next week we will look at the drugs used for induction, and we will conclude with drugs used for augmentation of labor. We are passionate about helping families have their Best Possible Birth. By that we mean the path that leads that individual family to a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome. We want families to have a toolbox full of tips and techniques that help them manage the ebb and flow of labor. We want them to be comfortable with the path of a normal, low-risk labor. We want them to have true informed consent by having an open line of communication with their care providers. Why do we spend time and energy preparing couples for natural birth, even when some of them will end up choosing an epidural, or maybe needing a cesarean for their Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby outcome? We know that the longer drugs can be delayed or avoided completely, the less likely it is that mother and baby will be exposed to drugs that have never been proven safe for mother and baby. As one of my favorite class handouts says, “When used wisely and at an optimal time, an epidural can give a laboring woman much needed relief and sleep. But if you are not prepared for some of the risks, you may end up wishing you had known a little more.” (read in more detail about epidurals HERE and HERE) Unfortunately, some families don’t know the side effects or possible complications of the drugs that are used in childbirth today. We assume that since they are offered, they must be safe. After all, our care provider would not purposely put us in harm’s way, right? Did you know that most drugs used in childbirth is used “off-label”? There is no drug that has been proven safe for childbirth – you can’t run a control study on pregnant women by allowing some to be drug-free and then having others use the drug. It would be highly unethical as the difference in outcomes might be devastating to the women and children involved. To be clear – we are not anti-care provider or anti-drug. We are grateful for modern medicine that saves lives in circumstances when Mother Nature needs help. It exists for a reason, and we are thankful for the opportunity to meet all the Healthy Moms and Healthy Babies when we hold a class reunion. Please read and consider this information as you prepare for the birth of your baby. I included the link to find the complete drug label on-line. Everything underneath the drug name is in quotations because I *literally* pulled it off the label available online and onto this entry. LIDOCAINE: Category B
BUPIVACAINE: Category C
CLONIDINE: Category C
FENTANYL: Pregnancy Category C
SUFENTANIL: Pregnancy Category C
DEMEROL: Pregnancy Category: B; D if used for prolonged periods or near term
This concludes the highlights I pulled out from the drug inserts. I encourage you to click on the links and read the whole insert for yourself. Going in with all the information may help you make the right decision for your family. I want to re-iterate that our perspective (Krystyna & Bruss) is that drugs are a tool, to be used wisely and at the optimal time, i.e., when the benefits outweigh the risks. If you are going to use any of these as a tool, then educate yourselves on dosage. You can ask questions like, "Is mom going to get the suggested dose all at once or over a time period?" "What can we do if she needs more than the suggested dose?" "Are there any other options?" We have had students use an epidural as a tool after a prolonged and/or especially painful labor. The epidural provided the rest and/or relief they needed, and some of them went on to have a quick progression to second stage and a vaginal birth. Their births are no less "Bradley" than our mothers who had epidural-free births. All the couples used their communication skills to make the Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby choice for their family. It all boils down to the same question, "Which choice is right for our family in the unique instance of our birth?" When you choose with a Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby filter, you can help clarify which choice works for you. The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Greening Your Nursery: Cloth Wipes
Posted on January 17, 2014 at 12:39 PM |
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Our December/January newsletter has finally arrived…here is
the link for you to find out what we are sharing with our students: After we started our journey to green our environment, I
came to the realization that our conventional wipes were no longer welcome as
we move towards as toxin-free a home as we can manage. Nothing I looked at was free of all of these
chemicals. Around the same time, I heard
about Shannon’s Cloth and More. HERE is an eye-opening article about the little thought of ingredients
in conventional wipes – preservatives that are added to the product to minimize
bacteria in a perpetually moist environment.
Children are breaking out in rashes due to an allergic reaction in
supposedly harmless ingredients. I encourage you to read the article about the rashes that
children are having as a reaction to the ingredients in conventional wipes, and
to research reusable alternatives like the products that Shannon provides. Although I was hesitant about it, and couldn’t imagine convenience and reusable in the same sentence, we started
using them over the summer. We have not looked back, and I can barely bring myself to buy the conventional product anymore.. It was a much easier transition than I
anticipated. We got some Baby Bits to
make our own cleansing solution plus spray
bottles from GoGo Natural, started using our wipes from Shannon’s Cloth, and
just started rinsing and washing our wipes as we do with our wraps. EASY! Plus – we are supporting a small business owner, saving
money since we are not buying a product that we throw away after one use,
keeping trash out of the landfill, as well as keeping icky chemicals away from
our Sweet Pea’s skin. Win. Win. Win. Do you have a green product that you like to use in your
Sweet Pea’s nursery? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and
posted. Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Birth News
Posted on January 10, 2014 at 6:31 PM |
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These are probably going to keep being evening editions - thank you for your patience as we ramp up posting again in the New Year. I am really placing a high value on being Peaceful Mama for my kiddos, which means that being on the computer is taking a back seat to homeschooling and teaching classes this season. I will be back in full swing soon - until then, please do not hesitate to contact me via email (krystyna{at}sweetpeabirths{dot}com) if you have any pressing questions about pregnancy, natural birth or breastfeeding! Birth News FERTILITY NOTE: Please read this with a grain of salt - we have had students have beautiful, term babies even though they used IVF to attain pregnancy. Simply shared as a tool for discussion with your care providers as you weigh the benefits and the risks. IVF Pregnancies Are More Likely To Result In Stillbirth, Preterm Birth, Low
Birthweight, Or Neonatal Death
Medical Daily http://bit.ly/19V24Sc PREGNANCY NOTE:I am by no means suggesting that you *should* go get a flu shot – again, I am simply offering this as information to discuss with your care provider. See what Dr. Sears has to say about the flu shot during pregnancy HERE and HERE Flu shots in pregnancy protect babies from being born too soon, Canadian studies show
Ottowa Citizen http://bit.ly/1gqKeoL BIRTH Premature 'Water Breaking' During Pregnancy Linked to Bacteria
WebMD http://bit.ly/1d31rF3 POSTPARTUM Is Placenta Encapsulation the Answer to Postpartum Depression?
Health24 http://bit.ly/1iWKgZG Doctors report uptick in number of babies with RSV, a respiratory virus, this flu season
abc13.com http://bit.ly/1gqJ8cC BREASTFEEDING Study Links Breastfeeding to Lower Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Science World Report http://bit.ly/1iWMTKQ Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
3 Whole Food Tips
Posted on June 25, 2013 at 6:48 PM |
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We talk about avoiding harmful substances in pregnancy in order to help keep
mom and baby healthy and low-risk. I had
an epiphany moment a few months ago, and ever since then we have been diligent
about avoiding food dyes. THIS post on BuzzFeed really got me thinking. I have mentioned it before, and I will link
to it again HERE : when the FDA approves something, it is not
approving that it is safe. It is simply
affirming that the approved dose is not going to kill you in that one
ingestion. It says nothing about the
long-term effects exposure to the dye or chemical. So with all this information out there on what you can’t eat, what can an expectant mom eat? How are you supposed to eat well when you have a dozen things on your to-do list that have to be done before the day is over? The transition from buying ready-to-eat food at the grocery store to making most of your food at home can be overwhelming. Here are some ideas that have worked for us. In addition, I listed some foods that we discovered as we strove to have healthier pregnancies as we learned more about what good, whole food nutrition really is. 1. Reading Labels The big two I look for are the fillers and the preservatives. Ideally, the food you buy will have neither. If something has soy lecithin or maltodextrine in it, the manufacturer has augmented what you think you are buying. In my experience, most preservatives end in –ate: nitrates, benzoates. HERE is a good list of food additives you can learn to avoid. It’s not impossible to learn the list. In the days before smart phones, I would write down ingredients to avoid on an index card. Over time, the list became familiar and I have most of it committed to memory. A good rule of thumb is that if you can’t pronounce it, you probably shouldn’t eat it. 2. Eating Whole Foods: Less is More I used to work out of the home. As a newlywed couple, it was easy to go out to eat dinner, and making a full gourmet meal was do-able because there were no other demands on my time other than working and making meals for the two of us. Then Puma was born, and I wanted to keep working. The days of spending two hours or more in the kitchen getting a meal together were over for me. I started taking shortcuts, like buying canned goods and processed foods that would help me throw a meal together in minutes. Does that sound like your story? Along came Night Owl, who despite having a healthy pregnancy and an unmedicated hospital birth, ended up with a whole bunch of food allergies. He is allergic to wheat, eggs, peanuts, soy, hazelnuts, coconut, soy and watermelon. Watermelon and hazelnuts aren’t such a big deal – it’s easy to avoid those. The others – not so much. Thanks to him, we got started on the path back to a healthy, whole food diet. We found a source for free-range meats. We eat just about everything from scratch again – we are blessed with a nanny that loves to cook and she only knows how to cook from scratch. The only prepared food we buy is our gluten-free tortillas and pastas. In an effort to eliminate foods that have more than ten ingredients in them, things that we used to buy for a quick snack are slowly being phased out: gluten-free crackers and pretzels are not making it into the shopping cart as often. We are replacing them with dried cranberries and dried currants. We also make our own soups and stocks. If you look at the ingredients in store-bought soups, they are very high in sodium and additives. It takes 10-20 minutes to wash and chop the vegetables for a basic stock; then you throw them into a big stockpot with olive oil, water and spices. I like to use sea salt (my latest "favorite" is pink Himalayan sea salt), tarragon, garlic powder and a bay leaf or two, depending on how much water I have. We add in chicken bones for the meat eaters so they get etxtra calcium in their stock. Once the stocks are made, we can use them throughout the week for making soups, rice, and pasta. 3. Snacks and Side Dishes: Plan Ahead There are a couple of options when it comes to eating fresh fruits and vegetables. You can buy a whole bunch and pray you use them all before they go bad, and with meal planning, this is more likely to work for you. If you are not a meal planner, do you have time to stop at the store every few days to load up on the produce you know you will eat? We use the EWG Dirty Dozen list to decide how to spend our grocery money. We believe that it is worth it to buy the most contaminated crops in the organic section instead of conventional. We buy conventional produce when the crops are lower on the pesticide list. Once we get the produce home, I prepare what we can wash ahead: citrus, apples, mangoes, avocados; basically, almost anything with a hard shell. I will wash and peel carrots, then slice them and put them in a container with some water. You can do this with celery as well. Voila! Now I have grab and go snacks for the times that I am in a hurry and don’t have time to prepare an elaborate snack before we head out the door. We still buy grapes, berries and peaches in season. By purchasing them in season, we find they keep longer. Those we wash right before they are going to be eaten, and enjoy them when we are snacking or eating at home. All these ready-to-go snacks only take a minute to prepare ahead or right before you eat. Getting used to preparing them during your pregnancy will set you up for a good habit postpartum. As long as baby doesn’t have a reaction to them, you are training yourself to have a good breastfeeding diet in the postpartum period. Other good grab and go snacks are nuts. Throw them together with dried cranberries and currants and we have a homemade snack sack. Reality check: even that takes time we don’t have some days. If you have a Trader Joe’s near you, check out their “Just A Handful” selections. All of them are good; most of them are healthy. We splurge on the handful bags that come with some chocolate chunks in them! Another time saver are the low-ingredient snack bars: Larabar, That’s it fruit bars, and pure organic bars. These all have seven or less ingredients and they don’t have soy or cane sugar. Snacks are a big part of the postpartum period since the constant feeding the first two to three months is conducive to a mama with a monstrous appetite! As far as veggies for lunch and dinner, we choose to shop our local farmer’s markets so we can support the small farmers around us. You can ask the farmer directly about their growing methods. Another possibility might be to save money by visiting them and picking your own produce. What if that isn’t an option, or you don’t like the variety at your market? Choosing frozen vegetables from a reputable food company are sometimes higher in essential vitamins and nutrients because they are picked and frozen at peak freshness. They are economical, and they add a nice variety to your diet. I remember being less interested in making choices in the later weeks of pregnancy. It feels like you can’t possibly get any bigger at the end of your pregnancy, all movements are taxing, and having something easy to fix is a blessing! You can make enough green salad to last three days and dress it with a citrus-based dressing to make sure it keeps. It may take some trial and error to find a dressing that works without being too runny. My favorite one is *surprise* homemade. I learned it from Danielle del Castillo-Hughes at a "Greens" class. You simply throw all these ingredients together in a blender or Cuisinart and then toss it into your salad: two avocadoes, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, apple cider vinegar, tahini, garlic, brewer’s yeast, salt, cumin, and the juice from one lemon. I hope these three points give you an idea how you can start to transition to a more whole food diet. I wish that yours is a decision that is pedestrian and not food allergy driven. While having a child with food allergies is one of the best things that ever happened to our family, it was a steep learning curve. Best wishes to you on your whole food journey! What are some of your time-saving whole food tips? The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Warning Labels: Induction Drugs
Posted on June 7, 2013 at 4:20 PM |
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This is the second post in the series that looks at the small print on the drug information sheet for consumers. In our first post, we looked at the details of drugs used in epidurals. Here is the fine print for the drugs used by hospital practitioners to induce labor. This may be offered for a variety of reasons. Whenever a drug or procedure is offered, we encourage our students to look at the benefits and the risks. There are circumstances where the benefits clearly outweigh the risks. It is up to each family to individually decide what works best for them and their baby. In the spirit of informed consent, here is the fine print and FDA Pregnancy Category for Cervadil (Brand Name for a form of Dinoprostone), Dinoprostone, Cytotec (Misoprostol) and Pitocin. To be clear – we are not anti-care provider or anti-drug. We are grateful for modern medicine that saves lives in circumstances when Mother Nature needs help. It exists for a reason, and we are thankful for the opportunity to meet all the Healthy Moms and Healthy Babies when we hold a class reunion. Please read and consider this information as you prepare for the birth of your baby. I included the link to find the complete drug label on-line. As with last week, everything is in direct quotes because the information is pulled from the drug information made available by the Federal Drug Administration (USA).
As you can see from the insert information and the pregnancy categories assigned by the FDA, these are not inherently safe just because they are commonly used. Any parent who is being asked to use these should do so after careful consideration of the risks and the benefits. You can use this series of questions to help you determine if the benefits outweigh the risks:
Any advice to offer about being induced? Please leave us a comment - it will be moderated and posted. *I think* that the amount of traffic you so generously generate has led to a lot of spam posting. In an effort to keep the spam to a minimum, I am taking the time to moderate comments now. Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
Toxin Cheat Sheet
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 7:04 AM |
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Ready to clean up your personal care products and household chemicals in preparation for pregnancy? Maybe you are pregnant and want to make the effort to have a healthy, low-risk pregnancy? Or maybe you are holding your baby on the outside and only want to use the best possible products for them and for you?? I have not found too many household cleaners that are truly non-toxic. Instead, we are Learning to be Green by trying out lots of different combinations of baking soda, lemons, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar and castille soap. Here is my cheat sheet that I use when I am researching products that we are going to use for our personal care and in the home: Words ending in "paraben" – Parabens are known
endocrine disruptors Diethanolamine (“DEA”) – pH balancer; contamination and non-reproductive organ concerns DMDM hydantoin – formaldehyde releaser Imidazolidinyl urea – formaldehyde releaser Methylchloroisothiazolinone – preservative; associated with allergic reactions Methylisothiazolinone – preservative; possible neurotoxin Phenoxyethanol – FDA warning – possible neurotoxin Sodium laureth sulfate – may be contaminated with potentially toxic manufacturing impurities such as 1,4-dioxane Triclosan – antibacterial agent and preservative: possible endocrine toxicity Triclocarban – deodorant agent, preservative: possible endocrine disruption Triethanolamine ("TEA”) – surfactant, pH adjusting chemical; possible non-reproductive organ system toxicity Ingredients usually found at the beginning of the list: Polyethylene Glycol ("PEG");
Ingredients usually found in the middle of the list: "FRAGRANCE"
"D&C" – Drugs & Cosmetics approved coloring agents COMBINATION CONTAMINATION This combination forms benzene, a known carcinogen.
This combination forms nitrosamine. Nitrosamine has also been shown to be a carcinogen.
REFERENCE/LINK LIST: Words ending in "paraben" – Parabens are known endocrine disruptors http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/bibliography/general/bib.parabens.cfm#levels Diethanolamine (“DEA”) – pH balancer; contamination and non-reproductive organ concerns http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/718373/DIETHANOLAMINE/ DMDM hydantoin – formaldehyde releaser http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/702196/DMDM_HYDANTOIN/# Imidazolidinyl urea – formaldehyde releaser http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/703119/IMIDAZOLIDINYL_UREA/ Methylchloroisothiazolinone – preservative; associated with allergic reactions http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/703924/METHYLCHLOROISOTHIAZOLINONE/ Methylisothiazolinone – preservative; possible neurotoxin http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/703935/METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE/ Triclosan – antibacterial agent and preservative: possible endocrine toxicity Possible impurity in Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract and Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Seed Extract http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/706623/TRICLOSAN/ Triclocarban – deodorant agent, preservative: possible endocrine disruption http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/706622/TRICLOCARBAN/ Triethanolamine (or "TEA") – surfactant, pH adjusting chemical; possible non-reproductive organ system toxicity http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/706639/TRIETHANOLAMINE/ "PEG" – polyethylene glycol;
Sodium laureth sulfate: may be contaminated with potentially toxic manufacturing impurities such as 1,4-dioxane. http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/706089/SODIUM_LAURETH_SULFATE/ FRAGRANCE http://www.ewg.org/files/SafeCosmetics_FragranceRpt.pdf DYES DYES: http://feingold.org/certified.php Excerpt: Phenoxyethanol – FDA warning – possible neurotoxin http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/2008/ucm116900.htm Found this combo on Truth In Aging website http://www.truthinaging.com/ingredient-spotlight/what-is-it-sodium-benzoate IF: sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate THEN: vitamin C, E300, ascorbic acid The combination forms benzene, a known carcinogen http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/726354/BENZENE/ Found this combo on the Episcencial website http://episencial.com//faq-library/#What is the real deal with Cocamidoproply Betaine? IF: Cocamidoproply Betaine http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/701520/COCAMIDOPROPYL_BETAINE/ THEN:
DEA – Diethanolamine and/or TEA – Triethanolamine The combination forms nitrosamine contamination. Nitrosamine has also been shown to be a carcinogen. See: http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/HBI/17/ http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/726336/NITROSAMINES/ Disclaimer: It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
A Look At the honest company
Posted on November 27, 2012 at 4:37 AM |
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Given that we are going to start a new Bradley Method® class series in two weeks, I am super motivated to find some products that we can offer as alternatives to our students if they want to make some changes in personal care products in order to avoid harmful substances. None of our children have two heads, however, I wish I had been more diligent about avoiding these chemicals when I was pregnant. We sure do have a lot of other issues we are dealing with that make me wonder. Any of the ingredients that appear on the Toxins All Around Us or Another Toxin or Two post are highlighted in red. Seven of their products (shown with asterisks**) appear on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database, and I list the rating next to the product. The rating is an average of the toxicity of all the ingredients, so please go over to the database (links are included) and see how the ingredients rate for yourself. Save one product, the bath and body formulas did not have any of the toxic ingredients off of my working list, or combinations of products that produce toxic byproducts in the bottle. Yeah!! Most of the cleaning products do raise my eyebrows, though. If you want to try some of the natural green recipes that we are trying out in The Bowman House, please visit our “Learning to be Green” board on Pinterest. The other partner in the company (Christopher Gavigan) articulates in their video that there is an implied trust that the items we purchase off of a store shelf are safe for use in the home and/or for our children. That really resonated with me since I have been feeling betrayed by the mainstream companies. In reality, it's my own fault for not educating myself in this area the way I advocate for our students to educate themselves about birth+. We ordered the free trial out of curiosity. I suspect we are going to stick with our Earth Mama, Angel Baby (EMAB) products since they all rate “0” on the EWG database. I am hoping that Puma is not going to get attached to any of the samples since we *finally* found an EMAB wash that she likes. While the honest co. has made a good start, I hope that they will find a way to replace the toxins they use in the household items as soon as possible.
Let me know what you think – are you going to give the honest company a try? Do you use honest products already? What are your thoughts? For your reference, the EWG scale rates like this: Low hazard: 0 – 2 Moderate hazard: 3 – 6 High hazard: 7 – 10 BATH & BODY honest body oil** EWG Rating: 0 https://www.honest.com/bath-and-body/honest-body-oil Ingredients: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) seed oil*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil*,Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Cocus Nucifera(Coconut) Oil *, Calophyllum Tacamahaca (Tamanu) Oil*,Citrus Reticulata (Mandarin) Oil*. *certified organic ingredientCertified Organic by Stellar Certification Services **EWG: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/462841/The_Honest_Company_Honest_Body_Oil/ honest bubble bath** EWG Rating: 1 https://www.honest.com/bath-and-body/honest-bubble-bath Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice* (Aloe Vera), Organic Calendula Officinalis* (Calendula), Organic Anthemis Nobilis* ( Chamomile), Organic Chamomilla Recutita* (Matricaria), Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate (and) Lauryl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycerin, Organic Citrus Reticulata* (Tangerine) Peel Oil, and Capryloyl Glycine *certified organic ingredient **EWG: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/462842/The_Honest_Company_Honest_Bubble_Bath/ honest bug spray https://www.honest.com/bath-and-body/honest-bug-spray 23% Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil*, 10% Ricinus Communis (Castor) Oil*, and Essential Oils of 4% Cymbopogon Nardus (Citronella)*, 2% Cedrus Atlantica (Cedar)*, 2% Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass)*, 1.5% Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary)*, 1% Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium)*, and 1% Mentha Piperita (Peppermint)*. Inactive Ingredients (55.5%): Water and Essential Oil of 0.5% Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen)*.*Certified organic ingredient honest conditioner** EWG Rating: 1 https://www.honest.com/bath-and-body/honest-conditioner Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*, Behenyl Trimonium Methosulfate (Grapeseed Oil), Glyceryl Stearate (Coconut Oil), Sorbitan Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Ethylhexyl Palmitate (from Coconut Oil), Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Dimethyl Lauramine Oleate (from Safflower Oil), Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein (gluten free), Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Organic Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract*, Organic Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract (Calendula)*, Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B-5), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Sodium Benzoate (kosher/food preservative), Potassium Sorbate (kosher/food preservative), Undecylenoyl Glycine (amino acid), Capryloyl Glycine (amino acid), Essential Oil of Vanilla Planifolia & Citrus Tangerina. *certified organic ingredient **EWG: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/462840/The_Honest_Company_Honest_Conditioner/ honest conditioning mist https://www.honest.com/bath-and-body/honest-conditioning-mist Water, Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Behenyl Trimonium Methosulfate (from Rapeseed Oil), Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate (Olive Oil Derived), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Dimethyl Lauramine Oleate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Organic Cucumis (Cucumber) Fruit Extract*, Organic Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract*, Organic Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract*, Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B-5), Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), UNDECYLENOYL GLYCINE (Amino Acid), Capryloyl Glycine (Amino Acid), Vanilla Plantifolia, Citrus Tangerina, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate. *Certified organic ingredient honest face & body lotion** EWG Rating: 1 https://www.honest.com/bath-and-body/honest-lotion Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice*, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Palmitate (from coconut), Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Hydroxyethylcellulose (Cellulose Gum), Xanthan Gum, Organic Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract*, Organic Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract (Calendula)*, Capryloyl Glycine, Undecylenoyl Glycine (amino acids), Sodium Benzoate (kosher/food preservative), Potassium Sorbate (kosher/food preservative). *Certified organic ingredient **EWG: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/462839/The_Honest_Company_Honest_Face_%26_Body_Lotion/ honest hand sanitizer https://www.honest.com/bath-and-body/honest-hand-sanitizer Purified Water, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose (Wood Cellulose), Vegetable Glycerin, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice), Vitamin E (DL-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate), Grapefruit/Orange/Lime Seed Oil Complex , and Sea Algae (food grade colorant). honest hand soap https://www.honest.com/bath-and-body/honest-hand-soap Purified Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine (coconut-based cleanser), Sodium Coco Sulfate (coconut-based cleanser), Cocamidopropylamine Oxide (coconut-based cleanser), Glycerin (plant-based moisturizer), Citrus Grandis (grapefruit) Seed Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil (N.O.P. certified organic lemongrass oil), Phenoxyethanol (pH-sensitive preservative), Citral (lemongrass oil-based) and Benzyl Benzoate (lemongrass oil-based) honest healing balm**(my note: looks like a diaper cream) EWG Rating: 1 https://www.honest.com/bath-and-body/honest-healing-balm Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Olea Europaea ( Olive) Fruit Oil*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Calophyllum Tacamahaca (Tamanu) Oil*, Tocopherol (non-GMO), Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract (Calendula)*, Stellaria Media (Chickweed) Extract* *Certified organic ingredient **EWG: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/462843/The_Honest_Company_Honest_Healing_Balm/ honest organic lip balm trio https://www.honest.com/bath-and-body/honest-organic-lip-balm-trio Lavender Mint: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Olea Europa (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Theobroma Cacoa (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Lavendula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf*, Tocopherol (Non-GMO Vitamin E), Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Oil*, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil* Purely Simple: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Olea Europa (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Theobroma Cacoa (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf*, Tocopherol (Non- GMO Vitamin E), Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Oil*, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil* Sweet Orange Vanilla: Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil*, Vanilla Planifolia (Vanilla) Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil*, Olea Europa (Olive) Fruit Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter*, Theobroma Cacoa (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf*, Tocopherol (Non-GMO Vitamin E), Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu) Oil*, Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Fruit Oil* *Certified Organic Ingredient honest shampoo & body wash** EWG Rating: 2 https://www.honest.com/bath-and-body/honest-shampoo Aqua (water), Decyl glucoside (vegetable origin), Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine (from coconut oil), Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate (from coconut oil), Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acid (from oat), Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein (gluten free), Dimethyl Lauramine Oleate (from safflower oil), *Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe Vera), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Aleurites Moluccana Seed Oil (Kukui Nut Oil), Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil (Macadamia Nut Oil), Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, *Organic Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract (Calendula), * Organic Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Panthenol (Pro Vitamin B-5), Tocopherol (vitamin E), Sodium Benzoate (food preservative), Potassium Sorbate (food preservative), Capryloyl Glycine (amino acid), Undecylenoyl Glycine (amino acid), Glycine (Amino acid), Vanilla Planifolia & Citrus Tangerina, Citric Acid *certified organic ingredient **EWG: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/462838/The_Honest_Company_Honest_Shampoo_%26_Body_Wash/ honest sunscreen, SPF 20** EWG Rating: 1 https://www.honest.com/bath-and-body/honest-sunscreen ONLY contains the following 8 organic, natural, and edible-grade ingredients: 25% Zinc Oxide, Eldorado Springs Artesian Water, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Organic Shea Butter, Vegetable Emulsifying Wax NF, and Vegetable Vitamin E **EWG: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/product/437790/The_Honest_Company_Sunscreen%2C_SPF_20/ CLEANING PRODUCTS honest dishwasher gel https://www.honest.com/cleaning/honest-auto-dishwasher-gel Purified Water, Sodium Citrate (corn-based complexing agent), Caprylyl/Myristyl Glucoside (plant-based cleanser), Citric Acid (citrus-based softening agent), Xanthan Gum (corn-based thickener), Enzymes, (biodegradable amino acids catalyst), and Potassium Sorbate (food-grade preservative) honest dish soap https://www.honest.com/cleaning/honest-dish-soap Purified Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine (coconut-based cleanser), Sodium Coco Sulfate (coconut-based cleanser), Cocamidopropylamine Oxide (coconut-based cleanser), Phenoxyethanol (pH-sensitive preservative), Citrus Grandis Oil (N.O.P. certified organic grapefruit oil) and Methylisothiazolinone (preservative) honest dishwasher pods https://www.honest.com/cleaning/honest-dishwasher-pods Sodium Carbonate (natural soda ash), Sodium Citrate (citrus derived), Sodium Metasilicate, Sodium Percarbonate (solid form of hydrogen peroxide bonded with natural soda ash), Sodium Sulfate (mineral), Crystalline Silica (mineral), Non-Ionic Ethoxylate (biodegradable cleaner), Sodium Polyaspartate (mineral), Sodium Iminodisuccinate (biodegradable water softener), Alpha-Amylase & Protease Enzymes (organic enzyme blend) & Polyvinyl Alcohol (biodegradable, water-soluble film) CARING CAUTION: Avoid contact with eyes. In case of eye contact, flush with water for 15 minutes. Do not ingest. If swallowed, drink water & consult your physician. Keep out of reach of children & pets. honest dryer cloths https://www.honest.com/cleaning/honest-dryer-cloths Deionized water, canola-amidoethyl hydroxyethylammonium methyl sulfate (canola oil based softener), myristalkonium saccharinate (ammonium salt preservative), propylene glycol (organic diol), and spunlace rayon nonwoven (sustainably harvested, biodegradable cellulous fiber). CARING CAUTION: For laundry use only. Keep out of reach of children & pets. Mild eye irritant — flush with water for 15 minutes and contact physician as necessary. Not intended for garments labeled as flame-resistant, as it may reduce flame resistance. honest fruit+veggie wash https://www.honest.com/cleaning/honest-fruit-veggie-wash Purified Water, Citric Acid (sugar-based), Sodium Citrate (citrus-based), Sea Salt, Vegetable Glycerin (vegetable oil-based), Decyl Glucoside (corn-based) & Calcium Ascorbate (natural antioxidant) honest laundry detergent https://www.honest.com/cleaning/honest-laundry-detergent Purified Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine (coconut-based cleanser), Sodium Coco Sulfate (coconut-based cleanser), Cocamidopropylamine Oxide (coconut-based cleanser), Phenoxyethanol (pH-sensitive preservative),Methylisothiazolinone (preservative), and Equisetum Hiemale (horsetail plant) Extract honest multi-surface cleaner https://www.honest.com/cleaning/honest-surface-cleaner Purified Water, Sodium Coco Sulfate (coconut-based cleanser), Caprylyl/Myristyl Glucoside (plant-based cleanser), Phenoxyethanol (pH-sensitive preservative), Citrus Grandis Oil (N.O.P. certified organic grapefruit oil), PPG-4 Laureth/Myreth-5 (coconut-based cleanser), Alcohol (fermented from corn sugars), and Methylisothiazolinone (preservative) honest oxy-boost https://www.honest.com/cleaning/honest-oxy-boost Sodium Percarbonate (solid form of hydrogen peroxide bonded with natural soda ash), Sodium Carbonate (natural soda ash), & Polyvinyl Alcohol (biodegradable, water-soluble film) honest rinse aid (my note: looks like it works like jet-dry) https://www.honest.com/cleaning/honest-rinse-aid Purified Water, Ethyl Hexyl Glucoside (plant-based cleanser), Urea (salt-based oxidizing agent), Citrus Limon (lemon) Peel Oil, Phenoxyethanol (pH-sensitive preservative) & Methylisothiazolinone (preservative) honest stain remover https://www.honest.com/cleaning/honest-stain-remover Purified Water, Alcohol (fermented from corn sugars), Sodium Borate (mineral cleansing salt), Caprylyl/Myristyl Glucoside (sugar-based cleanser), Sodium Gluconate (plant-based water-softener), Phenoxyethanol (pH-Sensitive preservative), Lavandula Angustifolia Oil (N.O.P. certified organic lavender essential oil), Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol (denaturant), Methylisothiazolinone (preservative) Let me know what you think – are you going to give the honest company a try? Do you use honest products already? What are your thoughts? LINK LIST: Here is our Learning to be Green Pinterest Board http://pinterest.com/sweetpeabirth/learning-to-be-green/ Disclaimer: The material included on this site is for informational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult her or his healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation. Krystyna and Bruss Bowman and Bowman House, LLC accept no liability for the content of this site, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. This blog contains information about our classes available in Chandler, AZ and Payson, AZ and is not the official website of The Bradley Method®. The views contained on this blog do not necessarily reflect those of The Bradley Method® or the American Academy of Husband-Coached Childbirth®. |
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