“The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a Woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she knows.”

— Audrey Hepburn

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.

For many people’s pregnancy journey part of the fun is preparing the nursery to welcome their new baby home. This often involves a “fresh” coat of paint, new curtains, some “nice” new furniture (cot, change table, rocking chair, toy box, bookcase and maybe even new carpet and colourful rugs). The problem is these purchases are anything but fresh or nice.  Your nursery will be a toxic hotpot during this time. All of these items are certain to release toxic chemicals from their glues, wood, fabric treatment, particleboard, paints, wood stains etc and it can take 12 months (and more) for off-gassing to reach safe levels inside that room. (See article “Your House is a Toxic Soup“) It is imperative not to furnish your baby’s nursery in this fashion or if necessary buy everything well in advance of baby’s arrival (9 months at least and let all the purchases air in a well ventilated room or clean garage).

For baby’s health all the room really needs is to be clean – free of dust, mould and mildew. Walls can often be freshened up with a good wash down with sugar soap (available from hardware stores and supermarkets), curtains washed and the carpet steam-cleaned (well ahead of time as this has it’s own hazards). If the nursery must be painted, try to have it done asap in the pregnancy (and not by the pregnant mother!) with Low VOC paint and kept well ventilated till baby arrives.

If you can lay your hands on good second-hand furniture they are GOLD purchases. There’s definitely a stigma around using another child’s cot for your own. Parents want to buy “the best” for their baby but don’t realise they really aren’t buying ‘best’ for their baby by purchasing all new highly toxic items. Second hand furniture has had time to off-gas noxious and dangerous chemicals and are ideal for a nursery. Always check the ACCC product safety requirements to make sure what you are considering purchasing doesn’t pose a danger to your baby’s safety. The “best” for your baby is to buy second hand items in top condition with no structural or operational damage and ensure there has been no recall advice for the item you’re considering. Visit the above link to learn more.

The biggest hurdle is resisting the temptation to renovate old furniture with a new stain or coat of paint as it negates the benefits of buying Pre-Loved furniture – the reduction of toxic chemicals. If the furniture or flooring must be bought brand new try to have it all completed early in the pregnancy or ensure the baby sleeps elsewhere for the first few months while the paint/lacquers/particleboard/glues all offgas. The Nursery will definitely be a toxic hotpot for at least a year and if it’s winter and the windows stay closed it will have severe health impacts on your baby and yourself. Moreso your baby due to their size. See article “Your House is a Toxic Soup” referring to Clause 6.4 “The higher risk to children is a result of their higher metabolic rate, higher intake of airborne pollutants and lower resilience, resulting in a two to four times higher absorption rate (Gilbert and Black 2000)”

Your baby’s cot mattress should also be bought as early as possible and left in a spare room with the windows open or in a clean garage to off-gas for as long as possible before use. When pregnant I took our babies’ mattresses outside and unzipped them every day to air and brought them in at night. Even though we avoided mattresses with latex, foam or PVC components I still felt more comfortable doing this than not. We bought Airflow Innerspring mattresses for our twins. As it is not a dense mattress filled with layers of foam and latex (which was the point of buying it) it allows cool air within it so should be lined with a number of cotton blankets and a woolen underlay to ensure that baby doesn’t catch a chill in winter (and even in summer I believe it should have a cellular cotton blanket put down beneath the sheet). If you’ve ever been soft camping or stayed on a friend’s floor on an air bed you’ll know that when you sleep on cold air with no insulation beneath you no matter how many blankets you put on top of you, you’ll wake with the sorest bones of your life! Not to mention a sniffle. Babies need to be even better protected as their internal heating system is not fully functioning yet. (I have a story about a baby in a pram suffering from a parent’s neglect to notice their baby shivering on a hot day. See “The Weather – Baby Needs Your Attention to Detail“) So make sure your bub has adequate insulation under them if you buy an innerspring mattress.

In our babies’ room I didn’t paint the walls (we had them steam cleaned to remove any grime or dust particles), nor did I install new window dressings, adhere anything (decals or stickers) to the walls, put down any rugs, nor buy any brand new furniture. We thankfully have two wonderful friends who had twin girls themselves 6 years ago and still had a cot, change table and clothes to gift to us. (Thank you beautiful friends Dean & Amanda!) And we bought a second cot from ebay. But when it came to considering painting and ‘tarting’ up the room I decided against it (aside from some beautiful printed images as a visual stimulant for them, and now the girls’ vegetable paint canvas paintings and drawings). I am happy to say that not one plastic toy resides in their sleeping environment. They are all downstairs in the lounge area that I keep well ventilated every day. Some people may think “What a bore! No decorations in the baby’s room?” To me making sure their health is protected is my priority, not spec’ing it up with modern, fancy accessories and keeping up with the Joneses. That concept is absolutely ridiculous to me. I’m in no way a ‘hippy’ but I certainly care more about my kids than our image. There’s no point having a child’s room look ‘cool’ or ‘chic’ only to develop a cancer or condition of some sort early in life due to the copious amounts of air toxics in their home environment.

The insanity of keeping up with the Joneses - A toxic hotpot

I have gleaned excerpts from the Australian Government website and article Air Toxics and Indoor Air Quality highlighting 28 Priority Air Toxics found in the home but urge you to read the full factsheets or if time-poor, read 3 areas ‘Common Uses’, ‘Consumer Products that may contain X’ and ‘Health Effects’ or visit my full article at Your House is Toxic Soup.

For your ease of reference I compiled information from the factsheets of the Australian Government’s 28 Priority Air Toxics found in the home in relation to common consumer goods found in a baby’s nursery.

Formaldehyde in furniture and carpets (Irritates eyes, nose and throat, causes skin & lung allergies, throat spasms, fluid on the lungs, eye & skin burns, asthma-like allergies, and repeated exposure causes bronchitis. Known Human Carcinogen);
Lead used in the manufacture of plastics, rubbers & metals, it is in pigments, dyes, paints and coatings and is a flame retardants for plastics (Bad news for everyone. Damage to brain, kidneys, reproductive organs, mood changes, disturbed sleep, premature birth weight and miscarriages, decreased intelligence scores, slow growth, learning difficulties and defective hearing. Known Human Carcinogen);
Methyl ethyl ketone in paint primers and undercoats (affects the nervous system & the brain);
Phthalates or DEHP in PVC products such as toys, mattress protectors, vinyl upholsery, adhesives and coatings (possible Endocrine disrupter);
Styrene in the backing of carpets (affects the central nervous system causing depression, concentration problems, muscle weakness, fatigue, unsteadiness, nauseous. It also affects the respiratory system and is an ear/nose/throat irritant. Possible Human Carcinogen);
Toluene in paints, inks, dye, household painting and lacquer removal, coatings, particleboards, solvent thinned products (ie primers, interior stains, clear finish, wood office furniture and vinyl flooring)
Toluene-2,4-diisocyanate from polyurethane coatings and polyurethane cushions and pads. Possible Human Carcinogen)
VOCs are emitted from some fabrics, carpets, fibreboard, plastic products, glues and solvents, some spray packs and some printed material, paints, varnishes and wax. The rate of emission may decrease over time as the volatile components are depleted. General effects of lower concentrations include eye, nose and throat irritation; headaches; loss of coordination; nausea; and damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system. Some VOCs can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans. Build-ups of VOCs in indoor environments have been associated with ‘sick building syndrome’.)

Australian Government website – Indoor Air Quality in the Home, School, Office and other areas

As you’ve no doubt gathered I’m pretty passionate about this subject and willing to spend time to help other parents become aware of the dangers of everyday consumer goods affecting their family’s health. Please if this subject interests you, do some more research and make changes in your life to exclude as many things as possible that are harming your kids every second of every day they breathe the air in your home.

On a warm but breezy day out shopping, I saw what looked to be a week-old baby in a pram sockless and bare legged with a light sheet thrown haphazardly over her and she was shivering and her little chin was shaking. There was a man standing next to her not paying very much attention so I made an obvious point as we walked past to stare concerned at the baby and say in a raised voice “Oh no! She’s COLD poor little thing!” and his attention returned to the baby (if only to lazily adjust the blanket). My point is a baby’s temperature really needs to be monitored. You may think it’s hot but baby may not have enough covering on to keep her core temperature at a safe level. Conversely you may not think it’s not hot but she may have one layer too many on and be suffering. Especially while asleep babies really need looking after and a mindful eye watching out for sweat around their hairline or shivering, teeth chattering or a change in skin colour. I make a habit of placing an open palm on our girls’ backs to check their body temp is ok and change their clothing immediately if it’s not.

I’m probably getting off topic here but I have to say again how important natural fibres are for your baby, especially while very young pre-6 months of age. Polyester gets very sweaty even if it’s just a polyester blanket wrapped around them. The madness I see in toddlers & bigger kids clothing is throughout their wardrobe but it baffles me why they use polyester in pajamas! The last thing you want to do it sweat in bed.

A Polyester blanket is a sweat trap! Soft to touch but terrible for baby.

With polyester you can find they develop heat rash or sweat pimples because the fibres don’t breathe or allow your baby’s sweat to be absorbed and evaporate. In my other articles in this category Baby Clothing I talk about organic or pre-loved clothing to avoid PBDE’s (fire retardant chemicals) but it’s really important to avoid non-natural fibres too. It can cause a whole host of problems and skin conditions for your child. Stick with natural fibres preferably organic or pre-loved (ie pre-washed) to sidestep the chemicals AND the man-made synthetic fibres.

Your baby will thank you for it with good health!

Our girls both had sniffly blocked noses at 2 weeks of age that I tried to clear using a baby nasal aspirator. It worked quite well on liquid snotty gobbles but not so well on hardened ones. I always moistened the soft insert with water before putting it in their nose. Tip: I found that holding one nostril closed briefly while sucking the other really helped to pull the muck out. It helps seal the escaping air. The aspirator we bought had a stopper which was the right length for their nostril taking the guesswork out of it but if it’s your first baby it’s still a scary thing to attempt!

I was a pro by their second winter at around age 1. Leila really hated the ‘nasal invasion’ experience (I don’t blame her!) and Kaia although hating it submitted herself without protest because she knew she’d feel better afterwards. She had this “Urgh okay if you must. Come on, get it over with” look on her face. ha ha. That difference in their personalities (being identical twins) has permeated throughout their lives. Kaia is sort of a tough cookie SAS-type that rarely whines or complains and Leila manages to find the drama in everything! I’m sure she will have a great career in acting.

If your baby is born with little hair (or loses some shortly after birth) remember in winter how cold his/her head can get in an unheated room, or especially outside and how much body heat is lost via the head. Our babies constantly pushed their little beanies off during the night and I was constantly putting them back on (adding to my sleeplessness). Exposed hands also get a chill so mittens are a must. If you can’t lay your hands on mittens, baby socks do just as well.

Good luck to all those nervous new mums attempting to poke a rubber snotty gobbler up their baby’s nose for the first time. Remember you’re not alone and it gets easier the more you need to do it.

Oh, another tip. Have a tissue laid out ready next to you so you can squirt the snotty straight onto it and go back for more if needed. The last thing you want to do is have to run around finding one with a cranky baby squirming in your arms! Get it all done in one sitting and go on with your day…with a happy snot-free baby.

“The worst thing one can do is not to try, to be aware of what one wants and not give in to it, to spend years in silent hurt wondering if something could have materialized – never knowing”

Skills: Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems; wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenges; wish for more wisdom.

Growth: Don’t join an easy crowd. You won’t grow. Go where the expectations and the demands to perform and achieve are high.

Change: We generally change ourselves for one of two reasons: inspiration or desperation.

Activity: The few who do are the envy of the many who watch.

Success: Success is what you attract by the person you become.

- Jim Rohn

Love yourself

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
- Buddha

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.