HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT gee I wonder if this crap is bad for me while you spray yourself over with your current deodorant filled with Aluminum Chlorohydrate?

One thing I really wanted to avoid during pregnancy and still now is anti-perspirant/ deodorant with Aluminum Chlorohydrate. During pregnancy I simply went without because I couldn’t find one that didn’t have it. (I challenge you to visit your supermarket and scan the back of your favourite deo and those of all the others on the shelf, even the roll on’s, and find one that doesn’t have Aluminum Chlorohydrate). Better yet, visit this site Cosmetics Database and type the name of your current deodorant into the search bar. You’ll see a summary of all the ingredients used in your product and a rating out of 10 for the toxicity of that ingredient including it’s health risks and an overall score out of 10. 10 being the worst. If your label deodorant isn’t in that database (as there’s mostly American brands) look on the back of your bottle and type in the ingredient one by one to find out exactly what you’re spraying on yourself. Your jaw will drop. Alternatively, Google it.

Here’s a few links to examples:

• Dove Antiperspirant Ultimate Clear Cool Essentials Rate 5/10
• Brut 24 hour protection deodorant with Trimax Original Rate 7/10
• Dermalogica Environmental Control Deodorant Rate 3/10

4 out of 10 doesn’t sound bad but when you look at the ingredients and the potential impacts to your health, you really start thinking “I need to find a zero product!” You can  access this database using the toolbar at the top to search for Makeup; Skin; Hair; Eyes; Nails; Babies, Oral Care & Sun Protection to find products with the lowest ratings and buy those. It lists least toxic to most toxic. I stopped using Loreal Revitalift Day & Night Cream after visiting this site for the first time!

Now why is Aluminum Chlorohydrate a problem? Well it’s one of many. There’s a plethora of ingredients with nasty sounding names in deodorant (BENZYL SALICYLATE, TRICLOSAN, PEG-12 DIMETHICONE etc). Many people don’t realize that the chemicals and ingredients in many beauty products and hygiene products do pose a risk. Hmmm. I was preparing to launch into a lot of research on these ingredients but I don’t think I will. Suffice to say, you’re spraying these substances on your body and there’s concern that they pose a health risk (neurological toxicity, reproductive toxicity, organ system toxicity, irritation, cancer) …so why do it?

Why when there’s a healthy alternative?

Naturally occuring Potassium Alum

Crystal Spray Deodorant contains Potassium Alum and purified water. That’s it! ZERO on the Cosmetics Database. “Potassium alum is a naturally occurring sulfate mineral which typically occurs as encrustations on rocks in areas of weathering and oxidation of sulfide minerals and potassium-bearing minerals….Potassium alum is an astringent/styptic and antiseptic. For this reason, it can be used as a natural deodorant by inhibiting the growth of the bacteria responsible for body odor. Use of mineral salts in such a fashion does not prevent perspiration. Its astringent/styptic properties are often employed after shaving and to reduce bleeding in minor cuts and abrasions, nosebleeds, and hemorrhoids.” Wikipedia

Crystal Body Spray - No Aluminium Chlorohydrate!

I cannot tell you how amazing this product is, you just have to go and try it for yourself. It smells devine, it doesn’t leave white marks on your shirt, it stings a tiny bit after you’ve shaved but barely noticeable. Myself and my hubby use the liquid Crystal Body Spray with Chamomile & Green Tea bought from our local chemist, Giant. During my pregnancy (and since) my body odour definitely changed for the worse and now it’s non-existent! You HAVE to try it. But like it says above, it doesn’t stop you from sweating but the pongy smell is totally gone!

I originally tried the Crystal Body Deodorant Wide Stick which is nowhere near as good at the aforementioned spray. The stone crumbled apart after some use. Go with the spray.

If you try it and don’t like the Crystal Body Spray (which would be surprising) look for labels that state the lack of things like aluminum, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, triclosan, hydroquinone and anything with a name that contains benzene, methyl, ethyl or paraben. These are the elements that worry most researchers who fear the products could be  hazardous.

At the end of the day, we’re built to sweat. We’ve evolved this way over tens of thousands of years! Sweat serves a purpose to expel toxins from our bodies. Stop it and there could be serious health consequences. It doesn’t surprise me there are suspicions it leads to breast cancer as blocking the sweat glands directly affects the lymph nodes in your armpit. Especially women who apply antiperspirant to open pores directly after shaving. Breastfeeding mothers should also consider the aluminum chlorohydrate and other chemicals so close to their little baby’s face a hazard.

Read the labels on your personal hygiene and makeup products and make some healthy changes for the better. Keep a watchful eye on your baby’s products too. Even if a product touts ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ always make it a habit to be aware of each ingredient.

Great Relief for Leg Cramps, Indigestion & Heartburn

Leg cramps. Oh my goodness the leg cramps! I may not have had much nausea but I endured some serious leg and foot cramping and heartburn. I can’t remember who recommended Rennie to me but wow did they help. Rennie is a white chalky pleasant tasting tablet that contain magnesium carbonate and calcium carbonate. On the box it states “Rennie is an antacid that provides fast relief from indigestion, heartburn, acidity, upset stomach or dyspepsia” but happily it also helps leg cramps! (and is much nicer than eating some vegemite off a spoon or a pinch of salt which are two old remedies that worked for me).

As with anything during pregnancy it’s a good idea to seek your GP’s advice.

When it came to morning sickness I was exceptionally lucky. I heard that nausea with multiple birth pregnancies can be chronic and last the majority of the pregnancy however mine was only very limited. Aside from some smells (like raw onion and garlic) making me feel nauseous I only ever threw up once and that was after a dodgy pizza in Japan at 3 1/2 months. (They should stick to doing traditional foods which they do exceptionally well! I’d go back just for a culinary and cultural holiday, but the skiing was to die for too).

Skiing Japan 3 1/2 months preggy

At the beautiful store Perfect Potion in Sydney I came across Spearmint Oil which when sniffed quelled my nausea to ‘trigger’ smells. It really took away the ewky feeling and reset my brain. Buy a bottle and keep it in your handbag…or ski jacket.

NOTE: Like any neat essential oil avoid getting it in direct contact with your skin. Do not buy Peppermint Oil as it is a uterine stimulant and could bring on contractions.

Sweet relief!

Lansinoh for cracked nipples. Buy it and put it in your hospital grab bag ready for the big day because that first week of breastfeeding is going to hurt while your nipples toughen up.

Bepanthen Saved our Girls' Butts!

If you have Sudocrem in your baby’s bag of tricks and your baby is still getting (even slight) nappy rash put it back in the cupboard or in the recycling bin. I used Sudocrem at every nappy change for the first 12 months (we also tried Paw Paw ointment and 100% pure Emu Oil) with our twins and they were still getting nappy rash. Mum used Sudocrem for my little brother and sister so I suppose it was a familiarity thing. Like reaching for the same brand of peanut butter purely because you recognise the colours on the pack! It didn’t seem to be working for my girls though so I was pedantically changing them almost every hour or two but it just wasn’t helping. The final straw was when Kaia developed a really severe bout of nappy rash and it actually blistered all over her bottom and spots of skin brushed off leaving a raw exposed layer of dermis. I went to the chemist and bought Bepanthen and NEVER LOOKED BACK! 7 months on and with only one application a day (at night after baths) neither of the girls have had a nappy rash since. Bepanthen has a gentle antiseptic in it to avoid infection so it also helps with skin irritations and apparently cracked nipples while breastfeeding. Not sure how great it is to be in baby’s mouth though really. I only switched to it after I finished breastfeeding. Lansinoh was wonderful for my cracked nipples. Oh, there’s yummy mummy tip #3!

I’m a small woman but by the end of my twin pregnancy I was absolutely HUGE. Big didn’t describe me but I didn’t get one stretch mark on my tummy, hips or thighs. By chance I bought a bottle of Pregnancy Oil from “Perfect Potion” early in the pregnancy and applied it every day. It’s main ingredient is avocado oil which we all know is good for us internally but now has proven itself to me externally too. I packed on 25kgs when I last weighed myself at 37 weeks and didn’t give birth till 38 weeks 5 days. So I would have easily put on at least another 5kg bringing total weight gain to over 30kgs. I attribute my very fortunate result to the avocado oil. I highly recommend you buy the oil and not the cream. In general creams just have a thickener added and it isn’t as effective or potent in it’s benefits as the oil. I’m astounded and so thankful that I didn’t get any stretch marks.

This is my Yummy Mummy Secret #1 to you!

No stretch marks!

Photo taken 2 months after birth and I had dropped all the painful fluid associated with the last 2 months of the pregnancy and pre-eclampsia. 19 months on and I’m still waiting for my ribcage to return to it’s normal position and the xiphoid process (the very last bone at the bottom of your ribcage) that was pushed outwards to go back in. I’m guessing it won’t. Well at least it’ll be in the right position for the next pregnancy!