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2006 Newsletters

September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006

The purpose of this newsletter is provide accurate and up-to-date information related to your parenting years. You may wish to use this information to investigate and research topics in greater depth before making important decisions regarding your childbirthing and childrearing choices. It is important to note that this information may not be applicable to every situation or circumstance. This information is not a substitute for the advice provided by your health care provider, physician or other qualified medical professionals. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified medical professional for any questions regarding a medical condition. The basic philosophy behind this newsletter is, 'knowledge is power'

September 2006
Pregnancy & Family Fitness, Health & Wellness Newsletter

General Parenting News
More on everyday chemicals
What do you use to clean your home? Do your cleaning products produce that 'clean' smell of mixed ammonia and bleach and other 'fresh lemon or lavender' scents? Chemical-based household cleansers are being linked to a variety of health problems because skin absorbs the chemical ingredients, entering the body and then they may mimic estrogen, which may in turn cause hormonal imbalances. Consider going 'all natural' with your household cleaning products for the sake of yourself and your family. Check out the variety of cleaning products by Nature Clean a Canadian company. Nature Clean products are available at Grassroots stores, www.grassrootsstore.com.

More on chocolate
Thank goodness there are always new studies promoting the benefits of eating chocolate. I try (it isn't hard) to eat good quality chocolate several times a week. The latest study says chocolate may actually benefit your skin. The antioxidants in chocolate fight cellular damage by increasing skin density, decreasing roughness and scaling, and increasing blood flow to the skin by 50 percent. Be sure that the chocolate you are eating is not junk chocolate. For health benefits the best dark chocolate must contain 60 percent or more 'high cocoa' content. Another study says that 15 minutes after eating 3 ounces of chocolate study participants scored higher on a series of verbal and visual memory tests. Remember: everything in moderation.

Parenting Workshops
Part 1 Infant/child choking & First aid
When: Saturday October 28, 10:30-12:30
Fee: $30 or $50 for 2
To register for the Infant Choking & First Aid course call Sheela at
416 604-2249 or register on the Course Registration page.

Part 2 Infant/child/adult CPR
When: Saturday October 28, 1-5pm
Fee: $40 or $70 for 2
To register for the CPR courses contact Maureen McIlveen, City CPR at
416 531-7066, e-mail info@citycpr.com or on-line www.citycpr.com.

Pregnancy News You Can Use
Strollers
Don't buy a stroller before your baby is born. As long as you have a car seat and a cloth baby carrier you can go everywhere and do everything. A 'carried' baby is a contented and happy baby. Begin to think about strollers about 4-6 weeks after the birth. I didn't buy (or use) a stroller for my babies until they were 5 months old. For many new parents there are so many choices of strollers that the variety is overwhelming.

As far as baby gear is concerned a stroller is a major financial purchase. Of all the baby equipment you will buy the stroller is the one baby item you will use the most and the longest. Take time to research strollers. Do not go with the latest trend just because you see that particular stroller everywhere. Make a list of the stroller features that are important to you --features that fit with your lifestyle. Beware of the new parent trend of buying a large and heavy stroller, which often means buying a second lightweight or umbrella stroller when your baby is 6-12 months old. My favourite stroller is the British "Maclaren". I had an earlier version of the Quest Sport model which weighs just over 12lbs, has four seat positions and a 5-point harness. I used it until my third child was 4 years old. You can find Maclaren strollers at several Toronto baby specialty stores. Test drive a few strollers with your baby before making this important financial decision..

Childbirth Preparation workshops
Pregnant couples massage (2 hours)
Partnering a woman through pregnancy and labour is the perfect opportunity to regain the skill of 'touch'. Learn special massage techniques to use during pregnancy and labour to reduce pain and increase coping and comfort levels.
When: Saturday October 14, 10:30am-12:30pm
Fee: $85+ GST
Registration: call Sheela

Connect with your unborn baby: expecting couples yoga 5-week series
A little sunbreath for the expecting couple and unborn baby. Something romantic for expecting couples to do together, a 5-week series of pregnant couples yoga. No yoga experience is necessary. Come and learn classical yoga postures that you can use to gain confidence in the pregnancy, labour and birth process. Traditional yoga postures modified for couples will enhance flexibility and calmness. You will learn yoga postures to reduce pain in labour and increase the joy of giving birth. Visualize performing yoga postures touching throughout the practice and encircling your unborn baby in positive energy and love.
When: Thursdays November 9-December 7, 6:30-8pm
Fee: $150 + 6%
To register call Sheela at 416 604-2249 or e-mail sheela@babyandmefitness.com.

Mom & Baby News You Can Use
Stay-at-home moms are more at risk for becoming over-weight than working moms according to a recent study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health in which researchers followed 1,433 women, logging their family, work and health details for 5 decades. By the age of 53, 38 percent of the homemakers were obese, compared with just 23 percent of the working moms. Could it be all those homemade cookies and banana bread, the scheduling demands of children's extra-curricular activities and general exhaustion? According to researchers women who juggle family and work have greater self-esteem, greater social status and a sense of purpose. Baby & Me Fitness encourages new moms off work for a year to think of a weekly cross-training regimen choosing a combination of yoga, cardio fit, cardio aqua fit, pilates or strollerfit (summer). These classes are designed to include activities for the babies, and have a discussion component covering popular parenting topics. It is very important for new moms and stay-at-home moms to maintain a regular and reasonable fitness cross-training routine to keep weight down and confidence up. Remember it took 9 months to grow your baby and it takes at least 9 months to regain your pre-pregnancy weight and shape.

New Moms Get Back into Shape!
Baby & Me Fitness offers fitness classes for new moms & babes 4-6 weeks following the birth, 6-8 weeks if it was a Caesarean birth. Visit our Post-Partum page: yoga, pilates, cardio fit and cardio aqua fit. We have been encouraging new moms (with their baby) to join fitness classes since 1987! Call 416 604-2249 today and get back into shape!

Time for Yourself - Book Clubs
Start a book club with a bunch of other new moms who enjoy reading. Meet at a different book club member's home each month. Each host provides the refreshments and sometimes the food goes with the book theme. When we read "The Greek For Love" by James Chatto, we all brought Greek food for a special sit-down dinner and James Chatto was the guest of honour! Often a book club member will volunteer to do some research regarding the chosen book which helps stimulate a deeper discussion.

Some of the titles we have read in my book club: The Birth House Ami McKay, Sweetness in the Belly Camilla Gibb, Prodigal Summer Barbara Kingsolver, The Island Walker John Benrose, The Time Traveler's Wife Audrey Niffenegger, Suite Française Irene Nemirovsky, The Kite Runner Khaled Hosein, Too Close to the Falls Catherine Gildiner.

Safety Tip
The world is getting louder. For quite some time I have been worrying about musical baby toys and the potential for babies experiencing eardrum damage or hearing loss. I have a lot of questions about the quality of the musical reproduction in baby toys and the effect of long-term use on a baby's eardrums. Your baby's eardrums are delicate. Once the inner ear is damaged it cant be fixed. I am encouraging new parents to evaluate the quality of the music before purchasing musical baby toys or musical baby equipment. It is unrealistic for parents to be looking for the same kind of high quality musical sound available through an in-home sound system when purchasing musical baby toys, but at the very least parents may want to limit their baby's exposure to musical baby toys.

Once those 'Listen Up Canada' stores began springing up all across thecountry and 'Listen Up Canada' television ads began featuring men and women who look like they are in their 30s I became more aware of the 'noise' in my everyday life. Apparently audiologists are now seeing older ears on younger people and most agree that personal listening systems are the cause for hearing loss as well as the fact that our world has gotten louder. Be noise aware, and turn the volume down.

Family Nutrition
Garlic, onion or coffee breath? Parsley is a powerful breath freshener rich in the plant pigment chlorophyll. You often find parsley used as a restaurant garnish on the side of your plate -- so go ahead and eat it to freshen your breath at the end of your meal. Be sure to wash that garnish in your water glass before popping into your mouth to avoid unwashed and gritty parsley.

Another tip to get rid of the smell of onions and garlic on your hands: rub your hands across your stainless steel faucet and then wash your hands with soap. Your hands will be odour free and your kitchen faucet will be clean!

Environment Tip
Static cling
Avoid using chemically-based dryer sheets when drying your baby's clothing. The off-gassing is not good for your baby's respiratory system. Chemical-free dryer sheets are available at Grassroots or avoid static cling by drying cottons and synthetics separately.

Family & Mothers' Group Outing
Baby and Toddler Show
October 27, 28 & 29 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building Featuring pregnancy and parenting advice from SickKids doctors, seminars on popular pregnancy and parenting topics, fashion shows, toddler entertainment, fantastic shopping. For details visit www.thebabyandtoddlershow.com. Baby & Me Fitness will have a booth at the show and is presenting two parenting seminars.
See you at the show.

Nutrition Workshop: Making better & natural baby food
Learn the current information on when, what and how to make your own baby food.
Where: Miles Nadal JCC, 750 Spadina Ave
When: Tuesday November 7, 10:00am-12:00noon
Fee: $35 per person. Pre-registration required.
To register: call Sheela 416 604-2249

August 2006
Pregnancy & Family Fitness, Health & Wellness Newsletter

General Parenting News
Cute Shoes or Fashion Crimes?
Are pregnant women and new moms "suffering" from the latest footwear trends? For the past couple of summers the fashion trend has been for beaded or embroidered colourful slippers and flip flops. The beaded and embroidered slippers are actually 'slippers' made to be worn at home and indoors, and flip flops were designed for the beach. Neither shoe is meant to be worn on pavement or for extended periods of time. So, if you have low back ache, sore knees and/or tired feet take a look at your footwear, then calculate how long you have been wearing the footwear and how much walking you were doing that day. I recently heard sidewalks referred to as "made up of crushed stones that can crush bones".

In my opinion the most comfortable shoes for pregnant women and new moms is a traditional Birkenstock shoe. Birkenstock shoes have a reputation for relieving knee and back problems, correcting posture and providing much needed foot arch support. My favourite Birkenstock shoe store is Dorfer Shoes Ltd., 165 Dupont Street (east of Spadina), 416 922-9458. This store also carries Birkenstock orthopedic shoe inserts for running shoes.

Nasty Summer Cold
There is a nasty summer cold making the rounds. According to The Germ Freak's Guide to Preventing Colds and Flu avoiding bacteria and viruses that can cause minor illness is important at any time and especially if you are pregnant. To protect yourself make sure you wash your hands often. It is very important to make it a hard and fast rule that no one holds your new baby unless they wash their hands first. Antibacterial soaps are not recommended for home use, they do not work any better than regular soap and water because it is not on your hands long enough for the bacteria destroying properties to work.
Fast facts: Shopping cart handles and office desks carry more bacteria than public washrooms. Only 16 percent of the population wash their hands properly and two percent of the population pushes public bathroom doors open with their elbows!

Baby Clothing & Chemicals
Minimize the amount of chemicals in your newborn's life by purchasing clothing and bedding in natural fibres -- 100% cotton. Watch out for those cotton/polyester blends. Availability of 100% organic cotton is growing. Check out Grassroots (Bloor & Bathurst & Danforth & Chester), T.H.E. Store (Hazelton Lanes), Cotton Ginny, and Roots stores. Wash all baby clothing and bedding items in plant-based, fragrance-free, environmentally friendly laundry soap or detergent. Don't use chemically based dryer sheets. To reduce static cling try drying cottons and synthetics separately.

Parenting Workshops
Part 1 Infant/child choking & First aid
When: Saturday September 16, 10:30-12:30
Fee: $30 or $50 for 2
To register for the Infant Choking & First Aid course call Sheela at 416 604-2249 or register on the Course Registration page.

Part 2 Infant/child/adult CPR
When: Saturday September 16, 1-5pm
Fee: $40 or $70 for 2
To register for the CPR courses contact Maureen McIlveen, City CPR at 416 531-7066, e-mail info@citycpr.com or on-line www.citycpr.com.

Pregnancy News You Can Use
Pregnancy swelling
During the hot summer months many pregnant women suffer from swollen ankles and feet. Pregnancy hormones encourage your body to retain fluid and the uterus puts pressure on the veins causing these fluids to "pool" in your feet and ankles. To minimize and avoid swelling pregnant women are encouraged to exercise. Join the popular Baby & Me Fitness cardio aqua bellies class. Three GTA locations: central (JCC), west (High Park) and north (BJCC).

Other recommendations to reduce swelling:

perform joint rotation exercises
are you getting enough salt in your diet?
is there too much salt in your diet?
sit with your feet elevated on a stool or telephone books
get up and move around every hour if you sit at a desk if you stand during most of your workday, sit down every hour and elevate your feet
go for a brisk walk during your lunch hour and after supper
elevate your side of the bed by putting a cushion under the mattress
be sure to hydrate (drink enough fluids during the day)

Treating your swelling during pregnancy will help you to avoid the complication of pre-eclampsia or toxemia. According to Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Years by Susun S. Weed, pre-eclampsia symptoms include swelling, edema, hypertension, and protein in the urine and these symptoms often appear after the 30th week. Pre-eclampsia is usually attributed to the expectant mother's diet. Salt intake during pregnancy is often misunderstood. Pregnant women should be eating salt to taste. Lack of adequate salt can cause pre-eclampsia.

Other dietary recommendations to avoid pre-eclampsia include:

eating enough protein
eating foods high in calcium
taking in 2400 calories a day
tone and nourish with raspberry, nettle and dandelion leaves
throughout pregnancy and especially during your last 10 weeks of pregnancy under the guidance of your health care provider

Always consult your health care provider regarding any pregnancy health issues.

Parents-to-be Courses
Unique childbirth preparation course
Empowering expecting couples to birth with the body and not with the mind "Journey into Childbirth" is a childbirth preparation for labour & birth 4-week course on Mondays 7-9:30pm at Bloor & Spadina. The series is led by Jennifer Elliott, a highly respected childbirth educator, birthing doula and hypnosis in childbirth consultant.
Fall series Mondays October 16 - November 6, 06 for couples expecting a baby in Dec. Jan or Feb.
Fee: $150 + 6%
To register call Sheela at 416 604-2249 or e-mail sheela@babyandmefitness.com Registration deadline is October 6.

Connect with your unborn baby: expecting couples yoga 5-week series
A little sunbreath for the expecting couple and unborn baby. Something romantic for expecting couples to do together, a 5-week series of pregnant couples yoga. No yoga experience is necessary. Come and learn classical yoga postures that you can use to gain confidence in the pregnancy, labour and birth process. Traditional yoga postures modified for couples will enhance flexibility and calmness. You will learn yoga postures to reduce pain in labour and increase the joy of giving birth. Visualize performing yoga postures touching throughout the practice and encircling your unborn baby in positive energy and love. Fall dates TBA.
Fee: $150 + 6%
To register call Sheela at 416 604-2249 or e-mail sheela@babyandmefitness.com.

Mom & Baby News You Can Use
Bug Spray
I'm a bit late with this information, but better late than never. There is a recent rise in West Nile Virus activity in Ontario and protecting yourself and your family from mosquitoes is a genuine concern. The City of Toronto has a pretty good mosquito awareness campaign in place. My main concern is that products containing DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide) are being recommended and even Health Canada suggests that a DEET product can be used on babies as young as six months. There is a real concern about the very serious side effects with the use of DEET especially for infants and children. I am staying away from any product that contains DEET. Do further research on the safety of DEET before using it. In the meantime I can recommend a natural alternative called Matter Outdoors Bug Dope, made by a Toronto herbalist . All the ingredients are listed on the container label: soya bean oil, eucalyptus leaves, lemongrass, pennyroyal leaves, tansy flowers; essential oils of citronella, cedarleaf, lavender & peppermint. It really works.

I have also used lavender essential oil. The main difference between the chemical bug protection sprays and herbals is the length of time of effectiveness -- the chemicals last longer. I don't have a problem with applying a natural product more often. I found that lavender essential oil protects for one hour and then requires another application. In a world that feels like a daily chemical cocktail I choose to take the natural herbal route any chance I get.

Baby Safety Tip
You may want to wait until your young baby is older to find out whether he/she is allergic to bee stings. To protect newborns and babies under 12 months old from bugs, mosquitoes, bees and wasps, use a stroller/playpen bug net made by Jolly Jumper (costs about $6), available at specialty baby stores and in the baby section in most department stores. I found a bug net was essential for cottage country, and it continues to be useful on the stroller in the city during August and September when wasps are everywhere.

Baby Blues or Postpartum Depression
"Essential fatty acids -- like omega-3 fatty acids found in fish -- can help prevent postpartum depression. When a new mother doesn't have enough of these essential fats, the baby borrows from the mother -- leaving the mother with a depleted supply of fatty acids. Research shows that omega-3s are essential for normalizing moods, and consumption of fish correlates with lower rates of depression, and especially postpartum depression." This information comes from a new bestseller called You -- The Owner's Manual, An Insider's Guide to the Body That Will Make You Healthier and Younger by Michael F. Roizen & Mehmet C. Oz.

Family Nutrition - Fish Warning Reminder
Certain types of fish are not considered safe for pregnant women or young children because they have large quantities of environmental toxins. Avoid tuna (fresh and canned), swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and any 'farmed' fish. See www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/admehg3.html for more on this fish issue. Get natural sources of omega-3s from wild salmon, wild trout, organic eggs (yolks), sunflower oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, flax seeds and flax seed oil, and lean organic meats.

Baby Flat head syndrome
Is your baby getting a flat head? Does your baby have weak neck muscles? Does your baby spend a lot of time in a car seat, car seat stroller combo, swing, bouncy chair, reclining high chair, stroller or carriage?

Plagiocephaly is the medical term for flattening of the skull which occurs as a result of consistent pressure on a particular spot. Flat head syndrome comes from a baby lying on their back for extended periods of time. Health Canada says babies must be placed on their backs to sleep to reduce the hazard of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Many new parents take the back-to-sleep rule so seriously that newborns are spending too much time lying on their backs which results in extended periods of pressure on the back of a baby's head. In all the years of teaching mom & baby fitness classes I have never seen as many babies with flat heads as I am seeing now. Lack of sufficient tummy time periods may also contribute to a baby having weak neck muscles which means a baby may have trouble turning their head to avoid suffocation. Flat head and weak neck muscles are serious physical issues.

It is very important to decrease the amount of time your baby spends on his/her back and increase the amount of 'tummy time'. Here are some suggestions:

Carry your newborn in a cloth baby carrier. I recommend the Heart to Heart sling, Little Star sling, Baby Trekker or First Journey. These are all Canadian-made cloth carriers and the only carriers to be awarded the Baby & Me Fitness Seal of Approval as 'quality products'. These carriers are available for purchase through Baby & Me Fitness.
Practise 'tummy time' as soon as the baby is born -- every day, several times a day, while your baby is awake. Make it a point to place your baby on his/her belly after each feed for as long as your baby is comfortable and not fussing.
Keep the car seat in the car. Do not let your baby sleep for hours and hours in the car seat unless you are on a long car trip. Even then take the baby out of the car seat and carry your baby at every pit stop. For more details on this car seat issue read an excellent article in Mothering Magazine "Car seats are for cars -- children who are consistently carried in car seats instead of held in arms suffer adverse physical and psychological effects" May/June 2006 issue www.mothering.com.
Invest in a Bumbo baby sitter which allows a baby to sit supported in an upright position from an early age (about 3 months old). Available at baby specialty stores across the GTA.

The more time your baby spends on his/her belly the greater opportunity for your baby to develop optimum physical and cognitive abilities. Babies who do not get enough 'tummy time' may miss important developmental milestones.

Cardio aqua babies
A cardio workout in water for moms with babies (6-18mos) in floaters being towed throughout this energetic and fun class. Babies love this class! There is a baby 'swim' segment at the end of each class.
Locations:

Miles Nadal JCC (Spadina subway)
High Park Village Fitness & Rec.(High Park subway)

For more information or to register call Sheela at 416 604-2249 or on-line on the Register page . There is rolling registration and the program runs all year so join this fit, fun and informative class at any time!

Strollerfit in the park
Join a circuit training Strollerfit class for the last 5 weeks of summer September 5 - October 7. Jogging strollers are not required!

Tuesdays: High Park (Bloor & High Park) or Withrow Park (Danforth & Logan) Wednesdays: Sherwood Park (Mt. Pleasant & Eglinton E./Lawrence E.)
Thursdays: Kew Gardens (Queen E & Bellefair) or Trinity Bellwoods Park (Queen W & Crawford).

Call Sheela at 416 604-2249 or visit the Strollerfit Schedule page for a complete schedule and list of parks in your neighbourhood and to register.

New Parent Fit Tip
Jogging strollers are a wise choice for women or men who are interested in doing casual jogging or running as part of a personal fitness regimen. For anyone who is training for a marathon using a jogging stroller is not advisable because body form is very important. Proper body form will protect a casual jogger or serious runner from injury. Always be aware of proper body alignment and form when jogging or running with a stroller. Use common sense and listen to your body. Consider attaching a special leash to your jogging stroller to maintain proper body form while jogging or running. And remember that running on pavement is very jarring on joints. Choose to jog, run or train for that marathon on a proper running track or on ravine dirt paths.

Baby Nutrition
Canadian Organic Baby Formula Breastmilk is the best food for your baby. However, for those families who have made the choice to formula-feed their baby the good news is that President's Choice has added Organic Infant Formula to their organic product list. Keep in mind that from newborn to six months old a baby has enough iron storage in their own body. Newborns do not require additional iron. Look for 'basic' organic infant formula. After your baby is six months old switch to an organic formula 'enriched with iron'. An iron-enriched infant formula may cause stress on the baby's digestive system for babies under six months old. When there is a burden on the digestive system a baby may appear to be uncomfortable, and may experience fussiness, gas, constipation, or eczema.

With Your Baby Parenting Workshop
Making better & natural baby food Learn the current information on when, what and how to make your own baby food.
Where: Miles Nadal JCC, 750 Spadina Ave
When: Saturday September 9 and Tuesday September 26, 10:00am-12:00noon
Fee: $35 per person. Pre-registration required.
To register: call Sheela 416 604-2249

Environmental Tip
Family Environment Tip
The average person has over 100 chemicals in their body because thousands of chemicals have been released into the environment (air, water and food) since the 1940s. Some of the worst chemicals have been banned but there are still chemicals in common use that are considered to be harmful hormone disrupters, i.e. phthalates used in plastics, and dioxin, a byproduct of paper-bleaching found in disposable diapers. Look for ways to minimize your family's exposure to chemical hormone- disrupters by wearing natural fibres (cotton, wool & silk), eating organic foods and choosing 'natural' personal care and household products.

Family Outing
Start a harvest season new family tradition: organic apple picking. Choose a September Saturday or Sunday and organize a trip to the countryside with family and friends for an 'apple picking picnic'. My favourite orchard is Avalon Apple Orchard located 45 minutes north of Toronto in Innisfil (north on Hwy 400 to Hwy 89). Along with picking your own apples the orchard shop offers fresh pressed cider, honey and other organic produce. There are also two short hiking trails on the orchard property. Open 10am to 5pm daily during harvest season. For more information visit: www.avalonorchards.net. or call 705 458-9902.

Words of Wisdom
"True wisdom lies in gathering the precious things out of each day as it goes by."
-E.S. Bouton

July 2006
Pregnancy & Family Fitness, Health & Wellness Newsletter

Magical Breastfeeding
If you are growing a baby, or have birthed a baby, your breasts come equipped to feed your baby. Breastfeeding can be a challenge for many new mothers and difficulties are due mainly to lack of support from the community at large. Every new mother needs breastfeeding support and encouragement from other experienced breastfeeding mothers and/or breastfeeding experts.

It is very important to keep in mind that it takes at least six (6) weeks for you and your baby to become proficient at breastfeeding. One of the best hints for successful breastfeeding is to nurse your baby "on demand". Be aware of your baby's early hunger cues: head rooting movement, lip smacking, licking lips. Don't wait until your baby is crying to offer your breast. If your baby does cry generally the main reason is because your baby is hungry.

Breastmilk is a natural, whole, organic food. It is free. There is no cost involved. It is environmentally correct. Breastmilk creates no waste, requires no packaging, shipping, trips to the store or storage. There are no additives, colors, flavour enhancers, sugar substitutes or preservatives. Added vitamins are not necessary. There is no 'best before' date and breastmilk is never recalled.

Breastmilk is the ultimate convenience food requiring no mixing, sterilizing or equipment. It is safe regardless of quality and availability of water. Breastmilk is always the right temperature and always the right amount. It is a sustainable and renewable resource.

Created for all human babies breastmilk contains hundreds of essential nutrients in exactly the right proportions which are most easily absorbed by your baby's body. Babies are never allergic to their mother's milk.

Breastmilk is so magical that it changes to meet your baby's needs. For a premature baby the mother's breastmilk will contain higher levels of the essential elements required for growth. For all babies breastmilk also contains antibodies to protect against illness and infection. On hot days the milk will have a higher proportion of water in it to keep your baby from becoming dehydrated. In cold weather, the milk will have a higher percentage of fat content. If your baby becomes ill breastmilk will provide all the fluids and electrolytes he/she needs, and the antibacterial properties help your baby to get well.

The foundation for your child's life-long good health is laid in infancy with breastfeeding. The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continuing breastfeeding until the child is two years old and beyond, with appropriate addition of solids.

Where to get support:
Toronto breastfeeding clinics are closing at an alarming rate. It is absolutely unacceptable that new moms do not have access to free lactation consultants in breastfeeding clinics. Well-documented research shows that having women breastfeeding their babies shows both short- and long-term health benefits which saves money for our health care system.

La Leche League Toronto Help Line
24-hour service and neighbourhood monthly meetings.
416 483-3368

La Leche League Canada
Breastfeeding referral service
1 800 665-4324

La Leche League International
www.lalecheleague.org

Dr. Jack Newman's Breastfeeding Help
drjacknewman@sympatico.ca
Different clinics/different days. For an appointment call 416 813-5757
Press Option #3

Breastfeeding Program at the Hospital for Sick Children
Breastfeeding Consultation Request line 416 813-5757

List of GTA Community Breastfeeding Clinics or telephone advice lines
416 813-5757 Press Option #1

Breast Reduction
For women who have had breast reduction surgery the following book comes highly recommended, Defining your own success - breastfeeding after reduction surgery
by Diane West.

Lactation consultants:
Anne-Marie Desjardins
416 695-1187

Leslie Chandler/Birth Spirit:
416 537-7951

Breastfeeding consultant:
Cindy Battaglia
416 656-4150

Pregnancy News You Can Use
Gas Discomfort
During pregnancy some women may experience varying degrees of intestinal gas discomfort. Symptoms can range from burping, bloating, pressure, gas bubbles, and excessive flatulence to severe pain and abdominal cramping. With each of my three pregnancies I found the gas discomfort became worse.

The reasons for pregnancy gas discomfort can include: lack of regular exercise, slack abdominal muscles, hormonal changes, compression of the internal organs as the uterus expands, sluggish intestinal activity, and/or a sensitivity to foods such as dairy products, beans, chocolate, caffeine, melons, cucumbers, peppers, citrus fruits and juices, and spicy foods.

To relieve pregnancy gas discomfort:

Limit gas-forming foods such as cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cucumbers, red and green peppers, onions, beans, and legumes, cow's milk, bananas, berries, and anything that contains caffeine.
Limit raw foods and eat a diet composed of 70 to 80% of cooked foods.
Eat smaller amounts of food several times over the course of a day.
Eat slowly.
Exercise (of course!).
Try natural source chewable papaya enzyme tablets available at pharmacy and health food stores. As mentioned in the May newsletter: papaya (fresh, dried, canned, or juice) contains natural digestive enzymes and many pregnancy women swear papaya relieves heartburn better than anything else. Other natural heartburn remedies include yogurt, raw almonds, fennel seed tea, organic orange peel, apple peel or pineapple.

Pregnancy Fit Tip
A recommended exercise to relieve gas discomfort:
Lie on your back on the floor. Hug your knees to your chest. Rock across your lower back from side to side. Circle your knees to the left and then to the right, massaging your lower back at the same time.

Mom & Baby News You Can Use
Aquafit babies
A cardio workout in water for moms with babies (6-18mos) in floaters being towed throughout this energetic and fun class. Babies love this class! There is a baby 'swim' segment at the end of each class.

Locations: Miles Nadal JCC (Spadina subway) and High Park Village Fitness & Rec.(High Park subway)Sunscreen:

For more information or to register call Sheela at 416 604-2249 or on-line here.
There is rolling registration and the program runs all year so join this fit, fun and informative class at any time!

Upcoming Baby Nutrition Workshops: Babies Welcome!

Strollerfit - Not just a walk in the park
Jogging strollers are not required!

Strollerfit is in full-swing - join a circuit training Strollerfit class now at one of five parks:
Tuesdays at High Park (Bloor & High Park) or Withrow Park (Danforth & Logan) Wednesdays in Sherwood Park (Mt. Pleasant & Eglinton E./Lawrence E.) Thursdays at Kew Gardens (Queen E & Bellefair) or Trinity Bellwoods Park (Queen W & Crawford).

Classes run 10-11:30am before the humidity and sun are at their highest, but still come prepared with lots of fluids. It's important to stay hydrated.

Visit www.babyandmefitness.com/strollerfitSched.shtml for a complete schedule and list of parks or call Sheela at 416-604-2249 to find the Strollerfit class in your neighbourhood and to register. or register on-line.

The last 10-weeks of strollerfit starts early August and finishes at Thanksgiving. There is rolling registration so join anytime.

I've Had My Baby, Now Where's My Body?
Baby & Me Fitness also offers year-round indoor mom & baby fitness classes:

cardio fit babies: a cardio workout with some exercises using the baby as 'resistance'. This class does not have moms wearing babies in carriers.
yoga babies: classical yoga postures for you, fun yoga postures for your baby, and yoga postures incorporating your baby.
pilates babies: classical pilates exercises which focus on building strength in the abdomen, back and pelvic floor areas. Babies are incorporated into some exercises as resistance.

Postpartum Fit Tip
To regain, or to improve, your pre-pregnancy weight and shape Baby & Me Fitness recommends cross-training. Join 3 different classes per week for the greatest fitness, health and wellness benefits, e.g. Monday yoga babies, Wednesday cardio fit babies, Friday pilates babies.

Classes are 10-11:30am or 1:30-3pm. Each class ends with a discussion period where new moms connect, bond and form friendships; and then they often go for lunch or coffee together.

Call Sheela at 416 604-2249 to register for the 3-class a week/10 week session special rate.

Family Outing
BABIES IN THE BALLPARK!
Only one game left!

Family fun with your newborn and/or toddler at an afternoon Toronto Blue Jays game with a special place to park your strollers, private change table area with diapers/wipes, and juice drinks, at no charge Seats are located in the comfort of the Club 200 Baselines in Section 233. Game price is $20 per ticket.

Wednesday August 9 Game time: 12:37pm Blue Jays vs. Baltimore Orioles
Contact: Paul Rabeau 416-341-1670 - paul.rabeau@bluejays.com to order tickets.

More News You Can Use
Safety Tip
Parents and parents-to-be should consider updating their knowledge in first aid & choking, and CPR. These two courses are offered separately. Part 1 is a two-hour course on general first aid and choking infant and child techniques. Each of my 3 children have choked several times on a variety of items, not always food, and each time was very scary for the child and the parent! Part 2 is a 4-hour CPR course with techniques for infant, child and adult. Both courses are necessary for anyone interested in keeping their children and families safe.

"Push hard push fast" is the new CPR guideline for adults, children and infants. The new universal compression-to-ventilation ratio for all rescuers responding to victims of any age -- adult, child or infant --is 30:2 -- because more compressions aim to increase blood flow to the heart, brain and vital organs.

On November 28, 2005, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation and the American Heart Association released changes to the guidelines for CPR & Emergency Cardiovascular Care. The newly revised Canadian First Aid Manual reflecting the new recommendations, changes and protocols will be released in Summer 2006. All parents and parents-to-be should consider up-dating their CPR certification according to the new protocols. Husbands, partners, caregivers and grandparents should consider the importance of taking the revised protocols CPR course.

Upcoming Workshops
Part 1 Infant/child choking & First aid
When: Saturday September 16, 10:30-12:30
Fee: $30 or $50 for 2
To register for the Infant Choking & First Aid course call Sheela at 416 604-2249 or register on-line here.

Part 2 Infant/child/adult CPR
When: Saturday September 16, 1-5pm
Fee: $40 or $70 for 2

To register for CPR courses contact Maureen McIlveen, City CPR at 416-531-7066, e-mail info@citycpr.com or on-line www.citycpr.com.

Health Tip
About 4 years ago I got rid of my non-stick coated electric frying pan and all my baking pans and cookie trays because of my concern over the chemicals used to produce Teflon. I replaced everything with stainless steel and glass. The only baking item I have been unable to find is a stainless steel muffin pan. I'm still looking for one. In recent months there has been lots of information about the potential health problems associated with chemicals used in popular brand names which are embedding themselves in humans and wildlife. A recent Globe & Mail article said: "Although average levels of the contaminants in most people are still low...for an unknown reason, levels in children can be higher than in adults".

Chemicals are everywhere. As a mother of three children I have been trying for years to reduce my family's exposure. It is very distressing to learn that people in North America have the highest burdens of chemicals in the world --10 times higher than Europeans. Currently unregulated and not evaluated by Canadian federal authorities before their commercial introduction these common chemicals, known as perflurorchemicals (PFOs), are also found in convenience food packaging such as pizza boxes and microwave popcorn containers. Take another look at your pans. There is no government ban on non-stick products but environmental groups are recommending removing these chemical-loaded items from your home.

Environmental Tip
Air Quality
Am I the only one worrying about the huge marketing campaign urging people to rid their homes of unpleasant smells by purchasing room deodorizers? At my local supermarket I saw dozens of different spray and plug-in "odour neutralizers and eliminators", including scented oils, fan ventilators, air infusions, air fresheners, and automatic "puffs and wisps", in an amazing variety of aromas. The plug-ins even came in a "night light" version.

If my house had a bad smell I would want to know the cause of that smell. For example if I had a mold problem it would be a health hazard and the problem would need to be fixed instead of being "masked" by a chemical perfume product. There are enough chemicals in our everyday environment without adding more on purpose.

If you do want your home to smell fresh try natural air fresheners.

Baking soda absorbs odours: sprinkle on musty closet floors, in smelly sneakers, on musty stored blankets, garment bags, down toilets, sink drains, tubs and showers, and in seldom-used suitcases and trunks. Add baking soda to your humidifier and bottom of your garbage pails, diaper pail and green bin. Make 'sachets' by filling old panty hose, knee highs, stockings or cotton cheese cloth with baking soda and suspending them from your basement ceiling to fight damp and musty smells.

Turn a damp and musty area into a sweet and fresh space by washing the bare floor with 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of vinegar in 1 gallon of warm water.

Boil white vinegar in water to eliminate unpleasant cooking odours. Eliminate paint and other odours by placing a small bowl of white vinegar in the room.

For bathroom odours, strike a match and blow it out after a second or two. Or, use Air Scense essential oils spray available at Grassroots and health food stores.

Food Tip
Eat only organic strawberries. Of all the fruits and veggies grown strawberries are at the top of the list for the highest concentration of pesticides. Ontario locally grown organic strawberries are available now.

When choosing fruits and veggies consider there are also high pesticide levels in raspberries, cherries, apples, bell peppers, peaches, pears, nectarines, spinach, celery, and it is recommended that we avoid all imported grapes.

Now the somewhat good news. There are low pesticide levels in broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, peas, bananas, asparagus, avocados, mangoes and pineapple.

Wash the outside of all fruits especially honeydew melons, cantaloupe, watermelon and pineapple with Nature Clean Natural Fruit and Veggie Wash before cutting them to eat. If these fruits are unwashed you are basically dragging the pesticides, bacteria and dirt on the knife from the skin through to the fruit. Yuck!

June 2006
Pregnancy & Family Fitness, Health & Wellness Newsletter

Class Notices
Yoga babies on the Danforth at Subud Toronto has been canceled effective June 21 and will resume the first week in September. We will keep you posted.

Aquafit babies at the High Park Village Fitness & Recreation Centre, Tuesday afternoons will resume Tuesday August 1.

Upcoming Events
Journey Into Childbirth: labour preparation with Jennifer Elliott for couples due August-early October.

"To birth with our bodies and not with our heads" is a unique and innovative approach to childbirth preparation.

Expecting couples learn practical, body-centered strategies for the labour and birth journey. Couples practice breathing, movement. sound and supportive touch. Couples will explore the experience of pain and develop coping strategies "our bodies do the learning and birthing"

When: Mondays July 10-31, 2006
Time: 7-9:30pm
Fee: $150 + GST per couple

To register or for more information: call Sheela @ 416 604-2249 or visit our registration page

* Our next Labour Prep workshop won't be until October 16. Don't miss out on this fantastic 4 day/10 hour workshop.*

Pregnancy News You Can Use
Leg Cramps
According to Vegetarian Times (Complete Cookbook 2005) by avoiding cow's milk, you may eliminate leg cramps which are common during pregnancy (usually in the middle of the night!). "There is evidence that an imbalance of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium causes this problem. Since milk is a high-phosphorus calcium source, many pregnant women find relief by seeking out sources of calcium that are lower in phosphorus and by avoiding processed foods and carbonated drinks.".

Calcium
Calcium is essential for a healthful pregnancy as well as for the growth of the fetus. According to Becoming Vegetarian The complete guide to adopting a healthy vegetarian diet, by Melina, Davis and Harrison, 1994, calcium is absorbed more efficiently when it is consumed throughout the day in small doses. Some of the best natural calcium sources are from fruits and vegetables like oranges, figs, rhubarb, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, spinach, bok choy, kale, swiss chard, turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens, beet greens, Chinese and green cabbage, okra, rutabaga, watercress; from legumes such as beans (chick peas, white beans, navy beans, black turtle beans, pinto beans), peas and lentils; from seeds such as sesame and sunflower seeds; and from wild salmon and blackstrap molasses.

Pregnancy Nutrition Tip
Very recent research suggests that women should not be eating any tuna during their pregnancy. Several years ago my partner and I made a decision to stop eating tuna because we were concerned about our children (and ourselves) being exposed to the high mercury levels contained in this popular fish.

Upcoming Couples Workshop
Pregnant couples yoga (5-week series) w/Karen McWilliam
Expecting couples learn and practice classical yoga postures in preparation for labour and birth. Touching throughout the yoga practice couples will have the opportunity to focus on the baby in utero and each other.
When: Tuesdays July 4-August 1, 2006
Time: 6:30-8pm
Fee: $150 + GST per couple (single class, $35+7%)
To register or for more information: call Sheela @ 416 604-2249 or online at our registration page

Pregnancy Fit Tip
To relieve a leg cramp while lying in bed, slowly stretch out the leg with the cramp, and slowly flex the foot by pointing your toes toward your knee and then release slowly. To prevent leg cramps stretch the calf muscles before going to sleep. Try this standing cafe stretch exercise: lean against the wall on your arms, take a small step back with your right foot and press your right heel into the floor, hold for 15 counts, release and then take a step back with your left foot and press your left heel into the floor, hold for 15 counts. Remember to breath throughout.

Mom & Baby News You Can Use
Here comes the sun...safety guidelines for babies

when outside babies must wear a brimmed hat at all times
keep your baby out of direct sunshine between the hours of 10am and 4pm
remember even on cloudy days there is still the chance of getting a sunburn
babies need some limited (5-10 minutes) of supervised time in the sun because natural Vitamin D is produced in your baby's body by exposure to sunlight
do not use sunscreen on babies younger than 6 months
for toddlers use natural ingredients sunscreen usually found in health food stores
use common sense regarding baby sunglasses
all strollers should have a UV cover or receiving blanket to keep the baby shaded
watch out for reflected sunshine from water, sand or light surfaces
keep babies cool in extreme heat by dressing them in 100% cotton or Hemp/Cotton blend clothing and by using a 100% lambs wool skin in the car seat or stroller

Sunscreen: There are so many choices of sunscreen products that it is hard to make a decision. I found great botanical and natural sunscreens: Alba Botanica lavender (for me) and Sports (for my teenagers and my husband), and Natural Sun by Aubrey Organics unscented. These products claim to fame is more herbals than chemicals but still effective. Available at Grassroots and health food stores like Noah's and Carrot Common.

Upcoming Baby Nutrition Workshops:
Where: Li’l niblets & baby sprouts store, 1654 Avenue Rd. (north of Lawrence)
When: Thursday, June 29 10:30am-12:30pm
Fee: $35 per person.
Pre-registration required. Space is limited to 12.
To register call 416 249-9881.

Strollerfit - Not just a walk in the park
Jogging strollers are not required!

Strollerfit is in full-swing - join a circuit training Strollerfit class now at one of five parks:
Tuesdays at High Park (Bloor & High Park) or Withrow Park (Danforth & Logan) Wednesdays in Sherwood Park (Mt. Pleasant & Eglinton E./Lawrence E.) Thursdays at Kew Gardens (Queen E & Bellefair) or Trinity Bellwoods Park (Queen W & Crawford).

Visit www.babyandmefitness.com/strollerfitSched.shtml for a complete schedule and list of parks or call Sheela at 416 604-2249 to find the Strollerfit class in your neighbourhood and to register. or register on-line.

Postpartum Fit Tip
Lunges
Most forward, backward and side lunge exercises are usually performed incorrectly and can potentially cause a hairline crack or stress fracture. Anyone with weak knee joints should avoid lunge exercises.

When executing lunge exercises the most common mistake is pushing the front bent knee forward over the toes placing stress on the knee joint. Joints must be stacked so aligned joints are protected. When performing a lunge the front shin must stay in line with the heel, the knee must be stacked on top of the heel to keep the knee safe.

Lunges are part of many popular workouts including postpartum fitness and strollerfit programs because this exercise targets the front thigh muscle. Unless the lunge is explained and demonstrated properly, and an instructor checks to ensure you are performing the lunge exercise correctly, do not do lunge exercises.

Family Outing
BABIES IN THE BALLPARK!
Here's an opportunity for some family fun with your newborn and/or toddler-see an afternoon Blue Jays game, and socialize with other parents while watching the game! The Toronto Blue Jays are hosting their 2nd annual 4-game series of Babies in the Ballpark for the 2006 baseball season. Last year's program was a great success. There is a special place to park your strollers, private change table area with diapers/wipes, and juice drinks, at no charge. Seats are located in the comfort of the Club 200 Baselines in Section 233. Game price is $20 per ticket.

The games scheduled:
Wednesday August 9 Game time: 12:37pm Blue Jays vs. Baltimore Orioles
Contact: Paul Rabeau 416-341-1670 - paul.rabeau@bluejays.com to order tickets.

More News You Can Use
Products
There are a lot of unnecessary chemicals in personal care products along with the latest flavour of the month--aloe, lavender, tea tree oil, etc. Read labels and ask questions about ingredients before putting any product on yourself or your baby. Some personal care products may be harmful from long-term use.

Baby & Me Fitness has awarded it's "seal of approval" to Matter Company for their line of Substance Baby care herbals and Substance Mom-to-be herbal personal care products. "the ingredients are the product", there is a full list of ingredients on each product.

The Baby care pack includes baby body foam (alternative to soap & shampoo), nappy rash ointment (new moms swear it is the best they have used), and baby creme (lotion nourishes and softens baby's skin).

The Mom pack includes belly jelly (pregnant women love this rich moisturizer which is high in oils to increase skin elasticity), leg & back creme (invigorating lotion to help tired, swollen, legs and ankles, and relieves backaches), mineral soak (natural salts, skin-nourishing holly, carrot and essential oils to relax stiff muscles), herbal sitz bath (promotes healing after birth with a blend of infused botanical herbals).

Safety Tips
Car Seat Safety
Canadian statistics say that 80% of infant/child car seats are installed incorrectly. Book a free car seat safety check with a certified car seat installation technician at the new Canadian Car Seat Installation Centre in Toronto by calling 416 489-3838 or emailing sharon.port@gmail.com.

Environmental Tip
It's not news that Toronto has a garbage problem. Do your bit to reduce the garbage and improve your child and family's future world. Invest in a composter. An average household produces a lot of garbage and you will be surprised at how much of it can go into the composter besides the obvious fruit and vegetable waste, crushed eggs shells, coffee grounds and filter, tea bags. You can also add to your composter: dryer lint, cotton rags, feathers, rope, wool rags, string, sawdust, wood ash and so much more.

I have two composters and I compost all year round. It is amazing how much this very simple commitment will reduce the amount of garbage you put out at the curb. And, of course, the bonus is you will use the clean, rich compost that is created in your composter to keep your garden healthy. For more information call 416 338-2010 or visit www.toronto.ca/recycle.

Recipe of the Month
Greek Peasant Salad
Ingredients (organic & locally grown where possible):

2 medium tomatoes, cut in chunks
2 medium English cucumbers, cut in chunks
1/2 red onion
1 cup feta cheese
10 black pitted olives

Dressing:

2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tsp dried oregano flakes
1/2 cup parsley
sea salt & freshly ground pepper

Method:

Combine tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese, olives in a salad bowl.
Whisk olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper.
Pour over salad and toss gently to mix.

Serve at room temperature with crusty bread. Serves 6.

Baby & Me Fitness Words of Wisdom
Helen Keller said: "I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do."

May 2006
Pregnancy & Family Fitness, Health & Wellness Newsletter

Reader Feeback
Better safe than sorry! Fact or Fiction?:
"With respect to the Swiffer Wetjet (and Garden Mulch), I checked it out on snopes.com, and apparently it is false. I am attaching the link: http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/swiffer.asp"

Mindy N. (mother of one and back for her second round of Baby & Me Fitness yoga bellies classes) Toronto, ON

Editor's note: It turns out that many of these email health issue warnings are not true, so to be safe, and for peace of mind, do a little more research before 'believing everything that you read'. Again the message is 'read all labels' and ask lots of questions before purchasing products.

Upcoming Events
Baby Time! & Parenting Show: May 5-7, 2006, International Centre, Airport Road. Friday & Saturday, 10am - 6pm and Sunday 10am - 5pm.

It is definitely worth the trip to Mississauga to attend this important baby show. When you arrive at the show plan to attend as many of the free seminars as possible, and, in between the seminars, browse the many exhibitor booths featuring new products and unique services, and shop for the great (often big savings) baby and toddler 'show specials'. Don't miss Ann Douglas, Canadian parenting author, who is presenting her two new books from The Mother of All Solutions series:
Sleep Solutions and Mealtime Solutions.

One again, I am a featured speaker presenting two seminars:
"Count Down to Labour"-a list to prepare for the best possible birth experience. "Making Your Own Baby Food"-learn when, what and how to start preparing fresh, nutritious, additive-free foods for your baby.

Drop by the Baby & Me Fitness exhibitor booth and see our 'specials' on maternity and baby products. We will also have Ann Douglas books, signed by the author, for purchase at a special show price.

At this year's BabyTime Show there are seminars and workshops on discipline, sign language, early learning, healthy homes, working from home with children, supermom syndrome, makeover diet for moms, mompreneurs--mothers of invention, secrets for breastfeeding success, daddy boot camp, baby yoga, fitness, infant massage, first aid & safety, street-proofing, and much more...

Seeking Volunteers for BabyTime Show
Baby & Me Fitness is seeking volunteers to participate in a 'baby yoga' demonstration at the BabyTime Show. The 30-minute demonstration will have moms learning and performing yoga exercises on your baby. Babies 6-weeks to crawling. To register call Sheela at 416 604-2249. Those who participate in the BabyTime Show demo will receive a free gift.

Happy Mother's Day May 14
Consider a unique gift that is different, meaningful, fun, and promotes a healthy lifestyle. Purchase a BABY & ME FITNESS gift certificate for prenatal or postpartum classes, maternity and baby products, or reserve a spot for the pregnant woman or new mother or couple in one of our parenting courses. Call Sheela at 416 604-2249 for more details.

Pre- & Postnatal Fitness Tip
Cross-training
All of one thing is not a good thing! Cross-training distributes exercise training across all your body parts increasing your overall fitness level and developing your entire body.

Pregnant women: your whole body is going through changes not just your stomach, consider cross-training throughout your pregnancy by mixing and matching aquafit, pilates, yoga & fitness classes and target more body/problem areas.

New moms: remember it took nine months to grow your baby and it takes at least nine months to regain your pre-pregnancy weight and shape. Balance your weekly exercise routine by choosing a variety of cross-training classes yoga, pilates, aquafit, fitness and strollerfit. Consider a week with yoga, aerobics (indoor or outdoor) and pilates or as the days heat up and your babies get older try a combination of aquafit, strollerfit.

Think about how you can incorporate cross- training into your daily life.

Pregnancy News You Can Use
Pregnancy heartburn?
Try natural source chewable papaya enzyme available at pharmacy and health food stores. Many pregnant women swear papaya relieves heartburn better than anything else. All papaya forms --fresh, dried, canned, juice, or tablets --contain digestive enzymes. Other natural heartburn remedies include yogurt, raw almonds, fennel seed tea, organic orange peel, apple peel or pineapple.

Nutrition Tips
I came across this interesting information in Vegetarian Times Complete Cookbook, 2005: "Contrary to what many people believe, you don't need to drink several glasses of cows' milk a day during pregnancy to get the calcium you need to help your baby's bones form. In fact, you don't need to drink any cows' milk at all! Turn to calcium-rich foods such as organic soymilks and spreads, dark green vegetables (broccoli, spinach, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, chard, etc.), tofu, processed with calcium sulfate, and legumes (pinto beans, black beans and organic soybeans)". The book notes that another reason to avoid cows' milk during pregnancy is because "your baby will be ingesting the same growth hormones and antibiotics given to many cows".

Upcoming Couples Workshops
Journey into Childbirth. (4-week series)
Baby & Me Fitness presents childbirth preparation classes for expecting couples lead by renowned childbirth educator Jennifer Elliott. Pregnant women and their birth partners will learn what to expect and how to cope in the days leading up to, during and after their labour.
Visit www.babyandmefitness.com/childbirthPrep.shtml for more information
When: Mondays May 29-June 19 (July/August due dates)
Time: 7-9:30pm
Fee: $150+7% per couple
Registration deadline: 4pm Friday May 12, 2006
To register: call Sheela @ 416 604-2249 or register online HERE.

Pregnant couples yoga (5 week series)
Expecting couples learn and practice classical yoga postures in preparation for labour and birth. Touching throughout the yoga practice couples will have the opportunity to focus on the baby in utero and each other. Visit www.babyandmefitness.com/childbirthPrep.shtml for more information
Where: Bloor & Spadina, 750 Spadina Ave.
When: Tuesdays June 6-July 4, 2006
Time: 6:30pm - 8pm
Fee: $150 + GST per couple (single class, $35+7%)
Registration deadline: 4pm Friday May 26, 2006
To register: call Sheela @ 416 604-2249 or register online HERE.

Pregnancy Fit Tip
Pelvic tilting improves posture and relieves low back stiffness and aching. Perform pelvic tilts standing, sitting, lying down and on hands & knees. Keep the pelvic tilt exercise small, slow and controlled. Remember to breathe throughout and perform 4 or 8 repetitions.
Standing: unlock and soften your knees, draw your tailbone downwards, pelvis tilts forward slightly, and release to neutral spine.
Sitting on the edge of a chair or bench: hands behind you, tilt your pelvis forward slightly and release.
Sitting on a gymnastic ball: perform pelvic tilts in all directions, front, back and side to side.
Lying on your back: bend knees, feet flat on floor, press your lower back into the floor, buttocks remain on the floor, and release. Hands & knees: stack arms (shoulders over elbows over wrists and knee joints under hip joints), draw your pelvis toward your nose as you inhale and then exhale and release to a flat back/neutral spine.

Free Seminar
Trimesters Massage Therapy Education is offering free pregnancy massage therapy sessions on Sunday May 7 1:30-3pm and a pregnancy Shiatsu treatment on Sunday May 14 at 2:30pm. Interested women 14-42 weeks pregnant must register by calling Allison Hines, R.M.T. at 416 422-2778 or by e-mail: trimest@istar.ca.

Mom & Baby News You Can Use
Choosing a Baby Formula
This information is from Nathalie who participated in our yoga bellies and yoga babies classes and is currently a Baby & Me Fitness instructor-in-training.

Organic formula: Baby's Only Organic Toddler Formula (they call it toddler formula because they want to encourage mothers to breastfeed for at least one full year but the clerk at Wholesome Foods on Queen St. East said that it was suitable for infants). The ingredients are great (brown rice syrup instead of corn syrup) and it's $20 for 21--4 fl oz servings. There is a website comparing the nutritional value with other formulas so check out www. naturesone.com.

Note: Babies are born with a 6-month reserve of iron. Iron-fortified formula may be too much iron for your baby's system from 0-6 months. Ask your health care provider for more information regarding non-iron fortified vs. iron-fortified formulas for newborns. Read labels to ensure you are purchasing the correct age appropriate formula for your baby. Iron-fortified formula is generally for babies over 6 months.

According to La Leche League International "the iron in mother's milk, while low in quantity, is extremely well absorbed. Up to 50% of the iron in human milk can be absorbed by the infant, as compared to 10% of the iron in cow's milk, and 4% of the iron in iron-fortified formulas".

Upcoming Baby Nutrition Workshops:
Where: Li’l niblets & baby sprouts store, 1654 Avenue Rd (north of Lawrence)
When: Thursday, May 25 10:30am-12:30pm
Fee: $35 per person.
Pre-registration required. Space is limited to 12.
To register call 416 249-9881. Registration deadline is May 18.

Where: Bloor & Spadina, 750 Spadina Ave.
When: Saturday June 10 or Tuesday June 13, 10-12noon
Fee: $35 +GST (bring your partner/cargiver for an additional 10$)
Regsitration deadline: 4pm Tuesday May 30
Pre-registration required. Call Sheela @ 416 604-2249.
www.babyandmefitness.com/parentWkshp.shtml

Strollerfit - Not just a walk in the park
Strollerfit is in full swing - join a circuit training Strollerfit class in session now at one of three parks:
High Park (Tuesdays),
Sherwood Park (Wednesdays) or
Kew Gardens in the Beach (Thursdays).
Baby & Me Fitness Strollerfit will be available at other parks in the GTA the week of May 23.
Visit www.babyandmefitness.com/strollerfitSched.shtml for a complete schedule and list of parks or call Sheela at 416 604-2249 to find the Strollerfit class in your neighbourhood and to register, or register on-line.

Postpartum Fit Tip
Here are three Strollerfit exercises you can do while cruising neighbourhood streets, shopping at the mall or shopping along the main street:
1. Tight Butt Walk: tighten upper thighs and butt muscles while pushing your stroller, walk briskly, using heel-ball-toe steps.
2. Heel lifts: while waiting to cross streets hold on to your stroller, feet together, lift heels up slowly and lower slowly. Repeat 8 times. On the eighth repetition, squeeze your legs together, contract your butt, abs tight, and hold the lift for 10 seconds.
3. Shoulder lifts: while pushing your stroller lift your shoulders to your ears and then lower. Repeat 8 times.
These effective exercises are so subtle no one will even notice you're exercising!

The games scheduled:
Thursday May 11      Game time: 12:37pm Blue Jays vs. Oakland A's
Thursday June 15     Game time: 12: 37pm Blue Jays vs. Baltimore Orioles
Wednesday August 9   Game time: 12:37pm Blue Jays vs. Baltimore Orioles
Contact: Paul Rabeau 416-341-1670 - paul.rabeau@bluejays.com to order tickets.

More News You Can Use
Products
Concerned about the amount of undesirable chemicals (aluminium, dyes & chemical preservatives) that are in the huge selection of popular brands of deodorants for men and women? Try a Natural Crystal, I did and I love it! Crystal deodorants are 100% effective all day, unscented, not a cover-up, have no sticky oils or gels; are hypoallergenic, are ideal for sensitive skin, and the bonus is that one Natural Crystal costs approx. $5 and lasts for one year! Ingredients: mineral salts of bauxite ore. Natural Crystal deodorants are available at health food and bulk food stores. Try it out and let me know what you think.

Other natural solutions: Tom's of Maine natural deodorant with aloe, lichen & coriander, Earthwise (Sport Plus), Jason Tea Tree Oil, Ecowise Naturals (Lavender), and The Green Beaver Company unscented natural deodorant ("fights bad odour with enzymes and lichen").

Safety Tips
Children under the age of 12 are at greater risk of air-bag injuries if they ride in the car front passenger seat. For their safety children should always ride in the back seat of vehicles. For more information about air bags and car seats (new and used), contact Transport Canada toll free at 1800 333-0371 or visit www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety

Upcoming Safety Workshops - babies welcome
Infant/Child Choking & First Aid - Keep your infant and children safe by learning up-to-date choking and first aid practical techniques.
Where: Bloor & Spadina, 750 Spadina Ave.
When: Saturday May 13, June 17, 10:30-12:30pm
Fee: $30+7% single, $50+7% couple
Regsitration deadline: 4pm Wednesday May 3,(May workshop) & 4pm Friday June 2 (June workshop)
Pre-registration required. Call Sheela @ 416 604-2249.
www.babyandmefitness.com/parentWkshp.shtml

Infant/Child CPR Certificate Course- 5 hours -$40 or $70 for 2
Where: Bloor & Spadina, 750 Spadina Ave.
When: Saturday May 13, June 17, 1:00-5pm
Fee: $40+7% single, $70+7% couple
Pre-registration required. On-line: www.citycpr.com or call City CPR at 416 531-7066

Health Tip
The current obesity epidemic (and growing associated health risks) is caused primarily by increased consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor food high in saturated fats and sugar, combined with a decrease in physical exercise. So, choose the foods you eat carefully and with full awareness, and try to put simple fitness activities into your daily life. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the number of adults who are overweight or obese passed the 1 billion mark in 2005 and this long-term trend shows no sign of reversing.

Environmental Tip
White vinegar is my new best friend. It is a great cleaning solution, full-strength in a dollar store spray bottle (don't forget to label'White Vinegar') for stove top spills, counter tops, and kitchen garbage bins. White vinegar is a natural disinfectant which protects against common kitchen bacteria. Be advised the aroma may linger for a litle while.

Food Tip
According to the British Organic Baby & Toddler Cookbook 2000, organic farming relies on the principle of sustainability by respecting the earth to ensure the resources are there for the next generation. "Organic farmers rotate crops to avoid exhausting the soil; preserve, rather than pollute, the countryside; recycle rather than deplete resources; build fertility in the soil through crop rotation instead of adding synthetic nitrogenous fertilizers; control pests with mechanical means and natural predators rather than by using chemical pesticides sprays; and protect wildlife living on their land in order to encourage biological diversity".

The more demand for organics, the more pressure will be placed on the conventional food growers and manufacturers to change their pesticide and food preservative use. As pregnant women and new mothers we have strength in numbers to affect change. It is time to put pressure on food companies to clean up their acts and provide us with safe, high quality, nutrient-dense food which will help us maintain strong immune systems. Organic food may be an important way to keep ourselves and our families healthy in an increasingly toxic environment.

Recipe of the Month
Curried Zucchini Soup
Available only with your email newsletter subscription

Baby & Me Fitness Words of Wisdom
"Patch Adams", starring Robin Williams, there really is a Dr. Patch Adams.

Here is Dr. Patch Adams' Prescription Inspiration:
1. Pick up all the trash in an area in your hometown; be its guardian. Tell others about it.
2. Be friendly to everyone at all times; experiment outrageously.
3. Offer a shoulder or foot rub in any environment.
4. Always speak up for justice, no matter how much it costs.
5. Go once a week on a 'house call' to a nursing home to cheer people up as a friend.
6. Turn off your TV and become interesting. Perform yourself.
7. Consider being silly in public. Sing out loud. Wear funny stuff.
8. Find ways to need a whole lot less money; share beyond belief.
9. Have potlucks frequently, with neighbors, co-workers, strangers. Work toward living in extended families.
10 Take your vacations in your own hometown spend the money working on projects there that help build community.

Patch Adams says make your own Prescription Inspiration list but be sure to include: Work for peace, justice and care for all the people on the planet! To see the list of books that have impelled Patch Adams ethically‚ visit www.patchadams.org.

Great Movie Rental
"The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio" with Julianne Moore and Woody Harrelson, is based on a true story about a devoted wife and mother of 10 children (!) using her writing talent to win jingle contests and support her family in the 1950s/1960s. The film is from a book written by one of the 10 children. A wonderful film.

April 2006
Pregnancy & Family Fitness, Health & Wellness Newsletter

Correction
Thank you to our readers who brought to our attention the following error in the March Newsletter. Pregnancy News You Can Use - Baby’s birth certificate: the address listed was incomplete Registering your baby's birth on-line is the easiest and quickest way to get your baby's official birth certificate. Visit www.cbs.gov.on.ca/mcbs/english/births.htm

Reader Feeback
Food Tips-More on soy:
I am so happy to be on your mailing list but there was some advice in your March 2006 newsletter that I found disappointing. I know that your author trusts mothering.com but did she read the many rebuttals by health professionals to the soy debate article that she advocates.These rebuttals point to the authors‚ 'scare tactics, sometimes inaccurate or purposely omitted data' that prevents her from telling the whole story about soy. I am planning on raising a vegetarian child who will need to consume soy in order to meet his/her dietary requirements. Please see the following link for this information:
www.mothering.com/sections/extras/soy-letters.html
Lindi L. Toronto, ON

Editor's note: The rebuttal responses in the July/August 2004 Mothering issue were read and noted. The Baby & Me Fitness newsletter information is not intended to replace in depth investigative articles. Instead our short newsletter items are meant to encourage readers to delve deeperinto issues that may impact their children and themselves.

We agree that there is much more to the soy story-not the least of which is the genetic modification of foods like soy, "where genes from soil bacteria have been inserted into soy beans to make them resistant to herbicides". (Organic Baby & Toddler Cookbook by Lizzie Vann/2000).

Soy is the hot new fad. If you are reading food labels you will see there are now hundreds of products on supermarket shelves that contain soy protein. Is there any downside to too much soy exposure?

The whole point of this newsletter is to get women thinking and asking questions. Every family is unique so it is never assumed that there is a "one size fits all" solution. And, of course, the bottom line is 'anything and everything in moderation'.

Common Household Product Alert
More on Plastics
The next time you are mixing up water and your favourite frozen juice consider switching your plastic juice container to a glass container. The glass containers I have are the 1 quart (2 litres) Luminarc brand (made in France). I recently spotted Luminarc glass containers at No Frills (Dufferin Mall) for $5.97. www.luminarc.com.

Better safe than sorry! Fact or Fiction?

Swiffer Wetjet & Garden mulch
There are a lot of cautionary emails sent around. I am reprinting these two new 'product alerts' to encourage everyone to read labels and ask questions before purchasing any popular household items. I have grown more and more concerned about household cleaning products based on the recent CBC Marketplace and CBC Radio 1 documentaries (Wendy Mesley's 'Chasing the Cancer Answer') that raised questions about the many potential carcinogens in household products.

Swiffer Wetjet. The following email notice was submitted by a new mom in our Beaches yoga babies class. It was sent to her and she is wondering if it is an urban myth, or really something to be concerned about?

"Recently a neighbour had their 5-year old German shepherd dog put down due to liver failure. The dog was completely healthy until a few weeks ago. They had an autopsy done to see what the cause was. The liver levels were unbelievable, as if the dog had ingested poison of some kind. The dog is kept inside, and when he's outside, someone's with him, so the idea of him getting into something unknown was hard to believe. The neighbour started going through all the items in the house. When he got to the Swiffer Wetjet, he noticed, in very tiny print, a warning which stated "may be harmful to small children and animals." He called the company to ask what the contents of the cleaning agent are and was astounded to find out that one of the ingredients is apparently a compound which is one molecule away from antifreeze. Therefore, just by the dog walking on the floor cleaned with the solution, then licking its own paws, it ingested enough of the solution to destroy its liver. Soon after his dog's death, his housekeeper's two cats also died of liver failure. They both used the Swifter Wetjet for quick clean-ups on their floors. Autopsies weren't done on the cats, so they couldn't file a lawsuit, but he asked that we spread the word to as many people as possible."
Editor note: I looked at the Swiffer Wetjet package and it said "Keep out of reach of children & pets." Ingredients: cleaning agents (including solvents), perfume & water. Contains no phosphate. For more information visit www.swiffer.com

Mulch.
"If you buy mulch to use in your garden or around your house be very careful about buying it this year! After the hurricane in New Orleans many trees were blown over. These trees were then turned into mulch and the state is trying to get rid of tons and tons of this mulch to any state or company who will come and haul it away. So it may be showing up in Home Depot and garden centres at dirt cheap prices with one huge problem: FORMOSAN TERMITES will be the bonus in many of those bags. New Orleans is one of the few areas in the country were the Formosan Termite has gotten a strong hold and most of the trees blown down were already badly infested with them! Now we may have the worst case of transporting a problem to all parts of the country that we have ever had. These termites can eat a house in no time at all and we have no good control against them, so tell your friends who own homes to "AVOID CHEAP MULCH " and ask questions about where the mulch came from before purchasing." Greg MacDonald, P.Eng., Senior Project Manager, Novatech Engineering Consultants Ltd. www.novatech-eng.com
Editor note:This email came from a serious gardener friend of mine.

Pregnancy News You Can Use
Babies are getting bigger! For many years the Canadian average weight for a newborn was 71/2 lbs but now there seems to be a trend for babies being born at 8lbs and over. On the positive side the reason for the bigger- baby- trend is attributed to a commitment to healthier life-style choices. The troubling news is there may be several not-so-positive reasons for higher weight babies being born, including over-nutrition, gestational diabetes, having a baby over the age of 35, the woman's size before pregnancy, and how much a woman gains during pregnancy. The recommended weight gain during pregnancy is 25 to 35 lbs.

Not addressed in the article is the fact that fitness during pregnancy improves a pregnant woman's overall health and helps prevent gestational diabetes and excessive weight gain. There are benefits for the growing fetus too. According to James F. Clapp, MD in his book Exercising Through Your Pregnancy‚ babies of exercising moms-to-be are born leaner and with a lower birth weight due to less fat.

The thought of bigger babies might be a bit scary for some second time moms-to-be if the first baby was 'big'‚ and you are told or read the chances are good that subsequent babies may be even bigger! Not necessarily so: my first baby was 8lbs 13ozs, my second was 8lbs and my third baby was 7 lbs 4ozs--all normal births. I attribute the weight differences of my babies to healthier food choices and lots of fitness throughout my second and third pregnancies! For the full article check out "Are Bigger Babies Better?" Today's Parent March 2006 issue, www.Todaysparent.com.

Upcoming Couples Workshops
Pregnant couples yoga &/or massage (preparation for labour) workshop
Gain confidence in the pregnancy, reduce labour pain and increase coping and comfort levels during the birth process through classical yoga postures, breathing, vocal toning & visualization. During the massage segment partners learn massage strokes and techniques to reduce contraction pain and raise comfort levels during the labour process.
When: Saturday April 22 10:30am-2:30pm (Yoga 10:30-12pm) (Massage 12:30-2:30pm)
Where: Miles Nadal JCC, 750 Spadina Ave
Cost: yoga & massage $150 + GST per couple or
Cost:yoga only or massage only $85 + GST
To register: call Sheela @ 416 604-2249 or online
Pre-registration required

Pregnancy Fit Tip
What are the reasons for doing 'kegel' exercises during pregnancy? Pelvic floor exercises strengthen and tone the pelvic floor muscles, may help prevent prolapses (uterus, cervix. bowel, or bladder), will improve blood circulation preventing hemorrhoids, and may reduce the risk of perineal tearing during birth. We recommend 10 pelvic floor exercises a day, 5 in the morning and 5 in the evening. The most popular method is to draw the muscles in your vagina up to your cervix as you inhale, pause briefly, then slowly lower the muscles as you exhale. Do these exercises with mindfulness, remember to breathe throughout, and keep your face relaxed. Find a 'trigger' that makes you think of doing pelvic floor exercises--e.g. when you see one of those adult women 'disposable protective fitted underwear and bladder control pads' ads on TV. You really don't want to be one of those women. Have you noticed that the adult women's (and men's) bladder control fitted briefs section is almost as big as the baby diaper section?

Mom & Baby News You Can Use
Upcoming Baby Food Nutrition Workshops
Making Natural & Better Baby Food
When: Tuesday April 4 10-12noon
Where: Bloor & Spadina, 750 Spadina Ave.
Fee: $35 +GST. Pre-registration required. Call Sheela @ 416 604-2249.

Spring Strollerfit in the park
Strollerfit is a fun and effective way to exercise with your baby in the fresh spring air. Jogging strollers are not necessary. Regular average strollers are fine. Car seat stroller frames are not recommended. Strollerfit is a designed low impact class with warm-up, muscular endurance and strength exercises, low impact jogging (walk option), aerobics, cool-down and core strengthening components. Every class ends with a discussion on a variety of parenting topics. To register call Sheela at 416 604-2249 or register on-line.

Postpartum Fit Tip
Be very careful when exercising while wearing your baby in a front baby carrier. Not all front carriers are created equal. Exercising with your baby in a front carrier carries the potential risk of neck, back and/or knee injury. Make sure your front carrier places the baby's weight firmly on your hips and not on your shoulders. The carriers that have the Baby & Me Fitness 'quality seal of approval' are the Canadian-made Baby Trekker and First Journey. Both carriers are available for purchase through Baby & Me Fitness and at baby specialty stores.

Date Night or Family Outing
BABIES IN THE BALLPARK!
Here's an opportunity for some family fun with your newborn and/or toddler - see an afternoon Blue Jays game, and socialize with other parents while watching the game! The Toronto Blue Jays are hosting their 2nd annual 4-game series of Babies in the Ballpark for the 2006 baseball season. Last year's program was a great success. There is a special place to park your strollers, private change table area with diapers/wipes, and juice drinks, at no charge. Seats are located in the comfort of the Club 200 Baselines in Section 233. Game price is $20 per ticket.
The games scheduled:
Wednesday April 19   Game time: 12:37pm Blue Jays vs. New York Yankees
Thursday May 11      Game time: 12:37pm Blue Jays vs. Oakland A's
Thursday June 15     Game time: 12: 37pm Blue Jays vs. Baltimore Orioles
Wednesday August 9   Game time: 12:37pm Blue Jays vs. Baltimore Orioles
Contact: Paul Rabeau 416-341-1670 - paul.rabeau@bluejays.com to order tickets.

More News You Can Use
Products
The Bumbo Baby Sitter from South Africa is a uniquely designed baby seat which enables a 3 month old baby to sit on his/her own. We like the Bumbo because it gets a baby off the back of his/her head, changes their 'view', and allows mom's hands to be free. It is amazing how much a new mom can get done in 10 or 15 minutes. Later on an older baby will use the Bumbo as a feeding chair. For safety reasons, (choking hazards) babies and children should always sit down while eating. The Bumbo Baby Sitter is available from Baby & Me Fitness and baby specialty stores.

Safety Tips
Infant and Toddler Safety Association (ITSA) offers free child-safety advice at a (volunteer-run) new toll-free hot line 1 888-570-0181. ITSA is the national authority on child car seats. The association answers child safety questions from individuals, and works with community groups to promote child safety.

Health Tip
Did you know that the current baby growth rate charts in your doctor's office are based on formula-fed babies? In April the World Health Organization (WHO) is releasing a new growth chart outlining optimal growth rates based on a 7-year-study of babies who were breastfed. Apparently the new growth rate chart weights will be significantly lower than the current guidelines. Growth charts are to be used only as a tracking and guide tool because every baby‚s growth pattern is unique.

Food Tips
This information came from a new mom in our Danforth yoga babies class: Catherine H. says "I've been drinking decaf. since I was first pregnant with Griffin and was convinced I was doing the right thing for myself and my baby. I recently noticed that Starbucks decaf. beans are decaffeinated using Mehtylene Chloride. Read on and weep... There are four ways to decaffeinate coffee. One way is "Swiss water processed," using pure water, and is the purest method available. Two methods of decaffeination use the solvents methylene chloride and ethyl acetate. These are the two solvents that have been approved for use in the United States by the FDA. Methylene chloride is a carcinogen. Ethyl acetate doesn't pose any risk to the consumer. The fourth method of decaffeination is water and carbon dioxide. If the label says "naturally decaffeinated" it will mean it was decaffeinated by either the Swiss water processed method, or the water and carbon dioxide method. The only way to find out which method was used is to call the company. Decaffeinated coffee manufactured in the United States is, for the most part, done through water processing. Note to also avoid bleached filters, which may contain small amounts of dioxin. Buy unbleached coffee filters or a reusable gold filter instead.

Recipe of the Month
Available with your email newsletter subscription

Recommended Reading
Consider a subscription to Today's Parent Pregnancy & Birth and/or Today's Parent magazine. These two Canadian magazines tackle many interesting pregnancy, birthing and parenting topics from a very welcomed Canadian perspective. Subscribe online at www.todaysparent.com/subscribe.

New Magazine
Canadian Family, hit the magazine racks last month and the first issue contains an excellent article on "Detox your house, boost your child's health.", as well as articles on the best breakfast cereals, 215 must-have tips, products and time savers, 10 secrets for happier kids, and family tested dinners in 20 minutes...Pick up a copy. To subscribe on-line visit www.canadianfamily.ca

Great Movie Rental
The Canadian film "Expecting" is a 2003 comedy about birth, rebirth and all the contractions in between.

March 2006 Pregnancy & Family Fitness, Health & Wellness Newsletter

General Family Rules

A reminder to wash the lids of all cans thoroughly before opening.
Often the contents spill out over the lid and will drag dirt and
bacteria back in to the food that you will be eating. Cans are shipped
from the food producer to area warehouses before being shipped to
supermarkets and stores. There is lots of time for cans to pick up dirt
and bacteria along the way. Not to mention how many little furry
creatures and insects are running around wherever food is stored. How
many children/teens drink juice or colas straight from the can? Yuck!.

Common Household Product Alert
Plastics
Try to eliminate as much soft plastic from your kitchen as possible. The softer the plastic the more chemicals may be leeching into your food. Wax paper is my new best friend. I rewrap foods like cheese and English cucumbers in wax paper and then in plastic (to keep the air out). I wrap my children’s sandwiches in wax paper (just like my mom did!). It makes me feel better knowing the food is touching wax paper and not plastic.

Plastics are synthetic materials made from different combinations of chemicals with plasticizers, stablizers, lubricants and colourants added to make them either hard or soft, clear or coloured, smooth or rough. There are varying degrees of negative health effects from overuse of plastics. According to Toronto Public Health exposure to plastics comes from three main sources:

Absorption: by direct skin contact e.g. clothing, car seats, playpens, etc.
Ingestion: by eating food packaged, stored or prepared in plastic, or by chewing or sucking on plastic things.
Inhalation: by breathing in fibres or fumes from new plastic materials e.g. building materials, shower curtain, new cars, car seats, flooring, etc.

Suggestions from Toronto Public Health: Store food in glass containers. Do not heat (or microwave) breast milk, formula or milk in plastic bottles. Use another container to heat and then pour into baby bottle. Let any new soft plastic products ‘air out’ for a few days to get rid of the off-gassing: new car smell, shower curtains, vinyl flooring, mattress covers, etc. Avoid plastic toys produced in parts of the world where regulation of chemicals is minimal. Avoid soft plastic pacifiers and teething rings.

For more information:

Environmental Health Network www.ehnca.org
Toronto Environmental Alliance www.torontoenvironment.org
Toronto Health Connection 416 338-7600

Pregnancy News You Can Use
Unique childbirth preparation course
Empowering expecting couples to birth with the body and not with the mind ‘Journey into Childbirth’ is a childbirth preparation for labour & birth 4-week course on Mondays 7-9:30pm at Bloor & Spadina. The series is led by Jennifer Elliott, a highly respected childbirth educator, birthing doula and hypnosis in childbirth consultant. Spring series for couples expecting in May or June is March 27-April 17 and the Spring/Summer series for couples expecting in July or August is May 29-June 19. Fee is $150. To register: call Sheela @ 416 604-2249 or online. Registration deadlines are March 10 & May 12.

Doing yoga together during pregnancy and connecting with your unborn baby. A little sunbreath for the expecting couple and unborn baby. Something romantic for expecting couples to do together, a 5-week series of ‘pregnant couples yoga’. No yoga experience is necessary. Come and learn classical yoga postures that you can use to gain confidence in the pregnancy, labour and birth process. Traditional yoga postures modified for couples will enhance flexibility and calmness. You will learn yoga postures to reduce pain in labour and increase the joy of giving birth. Visualize performing yoga postures touching throughout the practice and encircling your unborn baby in positive energy and love. The next series is March 28-May 2 (no class April 18). Fee $150. To register: call Sheela @ 416 604-2249 or online. Registration deadline is March 14.

Circumcision: to cut or not to cut!
Routine infant circumcision continues to be the most commonly performed surgery on infant boys in North America for reasons such as matching the father or because of cultural tradition. Is it unnecessary surgery? What are the health benefits? What is the downside? What are the current ethical and legal concerns? If you are expecting a baby boy this is a very important topic for discussion and decision making. If you are interested in the latest research on circumcision check out the Sept/Oct 2005 issue of Mothering Magazine at www.mothering.com.

Baby’s birth certificate
Registering on line is the easiest and quickest way to get your baby’s birth certificate. www.cbs.gov.on.ca/english/births.htm

Pregnancy Fit Tip
A recent study showed that women who practice yoga throughout their pregnancy may have lower risk of high blood pressure, a lower risk of preterm labour and their babies had a healthier birth weight. The study speculates that yoga promotes increased blood flow to the placenta and lower levels of maternal stress hormones. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine

Mom & Baby News You Can Use
Upcoming Baby Food Nutrition Workshops
Is rice cereal still the best first baby food? Why are some babies constipated? Why do some babies have eczema? Learn about the latest information/research on when, what and how to start your baby on fresh, nutritious, additive-free foods and how to avoid food sensitivities, intolerances and allergies. Learn how to make your own baby food, and how to strengthen your baby’s immune system.

Avenue Rd & Lawrence
Date: Thursday March 23, 10:30am-12:30pm
Location: Li'l niblets & baby sprouts store, 1654 Avenue Rd (north of Lawrence)
Fee: $35 per person.
Pre-registration required. Space is limited to 12.
Tor register call 416 249-9881. Registration deadline is March 16.

Making natural and better baby food seminar at Miles Nadal JCC
Date: Tuesday April 4, 10-12noon
Location: Miles NadalJCC, 750 Spadina Ave
To register: call Sheela @ 416 604-2249 or online www.babyandmefitness.com
Registration deadline is March 21.

Strollerfit in the park classes begin in April/May
Baby & Me Fitness were the pioneers in stroller fitness and we lay claim to setting the trend. We introduced strollerfit in the park 11 years ago--even before there was such a thing as a jogging stroller! Strollerfit is a fun and effective way to exercise with your baby using elements in the park (hills, stairs, picnic tables) as fitness tools, and the stroller and baby as a resistance weight. Not just a walk in the park, Strollerfit is a designed low impact class with warm-up, muscular endurance and strength exercises, low impact jogging (walk option), aerobics, cooldown and core strengthening components. Every class ends with a discussion on a variety of parenting topics. Registration is open now. To register call Sheela at 416 604-2249.

Postpartum Fit Tip
Begin simple exercises within two days of giving birth to relieve stress and regain strength after getting your health care provider’s OK: belly breathing strengthens abdominals, kegels strengthens pelvic floor muscles and pelvic tilts strengthens, abdominals , quadriceps and buttocks..

More News You Can Use
Products
I noticed recently that Cotton Ginny stores are carrying a line of organic cotton baby clothing. Organic cotton is cotton grown without the use of toxic pesticides, fertilizers, or genetic engineering. The term organic refers to the way agricultural products, whether food or fibre, are grown and processed. Anything labelled ‘organic’ implies a commitment to a system of agriculture that strives for balance with nature, using methods and materials that are of low impact to the environment.

Safety Tips
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are life-saving devices. New Ontario regulations say you must have a smoke alarm on every floor. Smoke alarms must also be replaced every 10 year

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2006 Newsletters

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