Pregnancy and Lactation

Question 1

Pregnancy: Energetics

Answer 1

• Although everyone’s constitution is different, pregnancy is generally considered a time of moisture (consider the amniotic fluid).
• During pregnancy, women can feel more hungry, emotional, lethargic, and congested (all signs of excess moisture).

Question 2

Pregnancy Energetics: Avoid

Answer 2

Avoid:
* Damp forming food (i.e. dairy, refined sugars, processed foods).
* Excess fluids, cold green smoothies, mucilaginous foods (e.g. okra).
* Sweet and high water content fruits (e.g. melons, ripe bananas)

Question 3

Pregnancy Energetics: Encourgage

Answer 3

Focus on more drying foods:
* Whole grains, legumes and generally lighter, drier, crunchier foods.
* Warmth also helps to counteract moisture so foods and drinks taken warm and small amounts of culinary herbs and spices will
be balancing (not high amounts during pregnancy and breast feeding).
* The newborn baby is also damp (childhood is the moist life stage). An infant needs breastmilk, warmth, comfort and sleep.

Question 4

Lactation and medication

Answer 4

Medicinal drugs : Some medicines are contraindicated with breastfeeding always check with your GP. Contraindicated : anti cancer drugs, lithium, oral retinoids, amiodarone, codeine, decongestants, aspirin.

Question 5

Galactagogues

Answer 5

Fenugreek
Fennel seed

Question 6

The Problem with Infant Formula

Answer 6

Modern day infant formula is the ultimate refined food, composed of highly processed ingredients such as sugar, non fat dried milk, vegetable oils and a list of synthetic nutrients.
* Infant formula lacks many key substances for development
and growth and contains no antibodies for immune protection.
* Primarily composed of sugar or lactose, dried skim milk
and refined vegetable oil which can include GM components.
* Organic formula is made of basically the same ingredients but they are not genetically modified .
* Soy based formula is made of soy protein, sugar and refined oils
* Rocket fuel, phthalates, melamine and high levels of heavy metals have been found in infant formula.
* Additives to infant formula, such as iron, DHA, AA and lab made folic acid are problematic.
* Heat damages the protein in formulas forming advanced glycation end products (a bio marker implicated in ageing and the development of many degenerative diseases), as well as compromising the nutritional value.
* Breast milk from a well nourished mother is composed of hundreds of substances over 100 fats alone

Question 7

When to wean

Answer 7

Weaning is the process of starting to introduce solid foods
* The baby needs to show signs of being ready: sitting upright, taking an interest in the parents’ food, putting food in their mouth.
* Current guidelines recommend not introducing solids until six months of age.
* At this point the gastrointestinal tract and immune system have matured to a level where new foods are more likely to be tolerated
* Weaning too early (four months) or too late may increase the risk of allergies. Breastfeeding whilst weaning (six 12 months) can protect the baby from allergenic foods via antibodies in breastmilk

Question 8

Weaning process

Answer 8

Introduce single ingredient foods one at a time with 3-4 day intervals to observe any food reactions.
* Foods which are known for allergic reactions eggs, peanuts, fish and wheat) should be introduced closer to 12 months of age.
* To introduce peanut s between 4 11 months is suggested to prevent allergy formation in children with a family history of allergies.
* Continue breastfeeding during the introduction of solids.
* Probiotics can be given to children to strengthen immune system.

Question 9

Baby-led weaning

Answer 9

• Lets babies feed themselves finger foods right from the start.
• Supports the development of hand eye co-ordination , chewing skills and dexterity
• Offers babies an opportunity to explore the taste, texture, aroma and colour of a variety of foods.
• Encourages self regulation .
• Less time consuming than preparing puréed foods.
• Baby is part of the dining experience, although that may
  encourage the baby to eat foods they are not ready to digest.

Question 10

Weaning:Foods to omit

Answer 10

• Honey should never be fed to infants because of the risk of botulism (a rare but serious bacterial
• Soya products they are hard to digest and contain compounds with oestrogen like compounds (‘isoflavones’)
• Cow’s milk apart from the side effects linked to excess protein intake, cow’s milk consumption before 12 months can cause:
• Iron deficiency anaemia (impairs iron
• Deficiency of linoleic acid (low in cow’s mikl)
• Gastrointestinal blood loss (can cause occult blood in infants)
• Type 1 diabetes (in genetically predisposed infants)

Question 11

Nappies

Answer 11

Disposable Nappies:
* Most disposable nappies contain a range of chemicals
including dioxins, sodium polyacrylate, tributyl tin, plastics, dyes and fragrances . These can irritate the skin
What’s the alternative?
* Use natural cloth nappies , wash in fragrance free, low chemical detergent.
* Dry in the sun it reduces bacterial growth.
* Allow ‘free time’ without a nappy, which may also assist potty training.
* Use calendula cream for any skin irritation.