We live in a world that is bombarded by information. Weeding
through all of the information to find what is best for you may seem daunting,
but let me tell you what has worked for my growing family. It did not mean
changing everything at once, nor did it mean throwing out everything I had and
buying new, expensive natural products. I started at my doctor’s
office. My doctor was my greatest resource during my
pregnancy; every option from cloth diapers to my baby’s cord blood was covered and allowed me to decide
what’s best for my family.
Natural living does not need to be expensive. Organic
produce and other natural products are more widely available today. The prices
are coming down and good sales are more frequent now than ever before, as demand
rises. There are many co-ops for natural products including food, clothing and
other baby essentials. Homemade cleaning solutions are almost always less
expensive than their commercial counterparts.
Transitioning to a Better Diet
I began by incorporating more natural foods into my diet. By
natural foods I mean fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and natural
sugars. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain higher levels of nutrients than
their canned, processed counter parts. They also help to alleviate some of the
common side effects of pregnancy, such as constipation. As finances allowed, I
purchased organic produce, local cheese, honey and free-range eggs. Carrying a
copy of the clean 15 and the
dirty dozen will help you organize your produce list to avoid the most
contaminants. These contaminants are harmful enough to our bodies, let alone
our growing babies.
Buying fresh produce and organic products is good, but you
have to use them too! I rearranged my pantry to reflect how I wanted to eat by
placing processed foods on the lowest shelf and natural ingredients at eye
level. Tight grocery budgets may make you cringe at the thought of
wasting food, so don’t. Use your processed foods up a bit at a time, donate
them to a food pantry or use them to serve an ailing friend or neighbor.
Creating a meal plan based around the family’s schedule helped me incorporate
natural foods into our diet while cutting out the stress of what’s for dinner
after a full day of activities.
Preparing a Clean Environment for Baby
Your surrounding environment plays a huge role in how you feel and your overall health. There are many factors to consider when evaluating your surrounding environment. What you wear, personal hygiene products, cleaners, even scented candles in your home could affect your health. Fortunately there are many safe, natural alternatives to all of the above.
Organic clothing is widely available now. I choose organic clothing
for those pieces worn closest to the skin. Bedding and blankets are also a wise
purchase for those looking to reduce their exposure to the chemicals found in
clothing. How we clean our clothes matters, too. Sure commercial detergents
smell good, but all we really smell are the chemicals that we are then putting
next to our skin. Finding an alternative to laundry detergent was high on my
priority list.
Many manufacturers are offering natural versions of their
most popular products, like household cleaners and beauty products. Oftentimes
a homemade solution is just as effective and 100 percent natural. From
all-purpose cleaners, to facial cleansers and deodorants, recipes abound for
those interested in all-natural household
products made at home from common ingredients. Sometimes it is a
single ingredient, such as vinegar, that can replace several commercially
prepared cleaners. I have found vinegar to be just as effective as my
previously purchased cleaners and less expensive too.
With
these easy adjustments to your lifestyle, you will be doing your baby and
yourself a huge favor by feeling better and growing your baby in a great
environment. Even after my pregnancy, my husband and I kept our new natural
habits up to raise our daughter in the best environment possible.
Photo credit: Ossi Petruska
