tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2906654715597333892024-02-19T04:00:37.837-08:00Natural Mum on the Cheap - Simply ParentingThere are hundreds of companies telling us what we need to buy, spend or use to be a good parent. This blog is about finding a simpler outlook to parenting and is filled with my ideas on how to spend less and parent more.Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-88342734905410388812013-05-17T23:20:00.002-07:002013-07-04T14:20:28.818-07:00You're a good mum<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may (or may not) have seen the post floating around facebook that is addressed 'To the mom who is...' it goes on to list things that mums do and affirming those choices, whether they are to breastfeed or bottle feed, cloth diaper or disposable diaper. I both love and hate this post. I love it because at heart, it's right. There are so many different ways to be a good parent that it's impossible to pick one or two aspects and use them to measure your success as a parent. Judging other parental choices is fairly arbitrary and doesn't actually help us support each other. So kudos for writing this.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I dislike this post because even though it talks about accepting certain parenting choices, it still frames those choices in a way that manages to still exclude a whole spectrum of parenting values that are just as valid. Sometimes parenting isn't just about breastfeeding versus formula feeding or happy meals vs organic meals. There is more to it than that, and by omission this post actually does more to exclude some parenting options than it does to support all parenting choices. I am fully aware that this post was more than likely written entirely from someone's personal perspective, so of course they are going to post about what is relevant to them, and that's okay. But I've decided to do my own version in response. I hope you like it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I apologise in advance for this being addressed to mums, I appreciate that most of these things are a parental issue not necessarily just a maternal issue. But I wanted to keep it simple. So where it says 'mum' you can simply assume that dad or parent would work just as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the mum who’s breastfeeding: Awesome work mama, breastfeeding is valuable, to you and your baby and any length of time that you manage between you is phenomenal. Whether that is 4 days or 4 years. You’re an awesome mum</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the mum who’s bottlefeeding: Awesome work mama, you’re feeding your baby, and whether that’s expressed breastmilk, formula or donor milk, you’re doing an amazing job and your baby values those close moments. You’re an awesome mum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the cloth nappy mama: Cloth nappies are just so darn cute, the environment and your baby’s bum thank you. Stunning work, you’re a good mum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the sposie mama: Laundry is tough work and skipping the extra loads frees up time to be with your baby. Stunning work, you’re a good mum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the stay at home mum: You’re doing a 24/7 job with no sick days or holidays, but your boss loves you and even though the going can get tough, you’re up to the task. The time you spend now is so valuable. You’re a great mum</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the working mum: Being away from your babies can be tough sometimes but you still rock it. You may not be at home as much but you make it count, your children value your contribution to the family and your house is filled with love. You’re a great mum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the co-sleeping mum: Holding your baby close is an amazing way to nurture them at a physiological and emotional level, those close times during sleep will be with them their whole lives. What am amazing gift you are sharing. You’re a good mum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the cot-sleeping mum: You’ve made a special space for your baby to sleep, as you settle them gently to sleep each night they can feel your love, they know if they call out you’ll be there to give comfort if they need it. What a lovely sleep space you’ve got. You’re a good mum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the comfort suckling mum: It’s wonderful that you can provide your baby’s emotional and physical need to suckle at the breast. You’re a good mum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the pacifier mum: Sometimes your baby wants to suckle for comfort but doesn’t want or need a feed, a dummy is a great option for those moments. You’re a good mum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the baby led weaning mum: What a great idea, feeding your baby whole foods and in a natural form is an excellent way to introduce them to food when they are developmentally ready. You’re a good mum</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the puree mum: Pureed food introduced at the right time is a lovely way to be engaged in feeding your baby. You can sneak so many good things into those purees too. You’re a good mum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the babywearing mum: Babywearing is an amazing way to hold your baby close and still get on with life. It’s the best of both worlds, enjoy it while it lasts! You’re a good mum</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the stroller using mum: Strollers are an amazing way for both of you to get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors. Have fun on your adventures. You’re a good mum</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the whole food mum: Phenomenal, you have made an effort to feed your child the best possible food within your family budget and they will get value from that throughout their life. You’re a good mum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the quick meals mum: You do the best with what you have, sometimes there is not enough time in the day to make the food you’d choose to if you had unlimited time and money. And you know what, even though you’re pushed for time those kids are fed and nourished. You’re a good mum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the vaccinating mum: Good work, you’ve made an informed decision and it is the right decision for your family. You’re a good mum</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the non vaccinating mum: Good work, you’ve made an informed decision and it is the right decision for your family. You’re a good mum</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To the smacking, shaming, emotionally neglectful, circumcising (medical circumcisions excluded) parent. Being a parent is hard. It's hard to always do the right thing or make the right decision. It's okay to make mistakes and move past them. It's okay to do some more research to understand why these things are harmful. Forgive yourself and move forwards. If you ask, your child will forgive you too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-87009120818049247292013-04-05T04:06:00.000-07:002013-04-05T17:09:47.735-07:00Why Everybody Hates Breastfeeders<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"></span><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mislactony is probably a </span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">word you had never heard of, but I’ll bet you have heard of misogyny.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="line-height: 12pt;"><span style="color: #333333;">Misogyny is: Misogyny (pron :</span></strong><span style="color: #333333; line-height: normal; white-space: normal;">mi-</span><span class="boldface" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; white-space: normal;">soj</span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: normal; white-space: normal;">-</span><span class="ital-inline" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-style: italic; line-height: normal; white-space: normal;">uh</span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: normal; white-space: normal;">-nee</span><strong style="line-height: 12pt;"><span style="color: #333333;">) is:</span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="line-height: 12pt;"><span style="color: #333333;">The hatred or dislike of women or girls. Misogyny can be manifested in numerous ways, including sexual discrimination, denigration of women, violence against women, and sexual objectification of women.</span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12pt;">Mislactony is a word I made up, (What? You can do that???) sure, why not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 12pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><b>Mislactony: (pron.:/ </b>mis<b>-</b></span></span><span style="color: #212121; line-height: 19px;"><b>lak</b>-tuh-nee </span><strong style="line-height: 12pt;"><span style="color: #333333;">is:</span></strong></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12pt;"><strong><span style="color: #333333;">The hatred or dislike of breastfeeding. Mislactony can be manifested in numerous ways including discrimination against breastfeeding women, denigration of breastfeeding and women who breastfeed, violence (verbal or otherwise) against women who breastfe</span><span style="color: #333333;">ed and the sexual objectification of </span></strong></span><strong style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12pt;"><span style="color: #333333;">women in such a way that interferes with breastfeeding.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I made up this word because I believe there is a singular culture that sits alongside misogyny and it is the process whereby <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/05/breastfeeding-photos-banned-facebook_n_3016688.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003">breastfeeding women and advocates are denigrated, undermined, treated with verbal violence, objectified, sexualised and discriminated agains</a>t.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12pt;">Some of you reading this will take this as a cue to roll your eyes. No WAY you think, breastfeeding women have it ALL, not only do they think they are gods gift to human kind, but they are smug know it alls that get government support AND a bigger cup size. How dare they complain?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 12pt;">But the truth of the matter is that women who breastfeed are still in the minority, the</span><a href="http://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/en/" style="line-height: 12pt;"> WHO </a><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 12pt;">advises that less than 40% of infants less than six months of age are exclusively breastfed worldwide. When you look at figures at 12 months and 2 years, breastfeeding becomes very niche indeed. Women who breastfeed are still excluded from basic rights such as fair employment or being allowed to eat in public. Breastfeeding is still both actively and passively undermined, and people who advocate for breastfeeding are still openly criticised and bullied.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12pt;">There are people who actively hate breastfeeding and all boob kind and there are people who </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">undermine breastfeeding while at the same time purporting to support it. For many women the pressure to </span><u style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">not</u><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> breastfeed is strong and </span><a href="http://www.koraorganics.com/blog/live-in-my-skin/all-things-organic/organic-certification/so-much-pressure-mums-who-are-pushed-to-bottle-feed/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sometimes it is relentless.</a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12pt;">Despite all of this, many people still think that breastfeeding and breastfeeding advocacy is a </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sanctimonious and blessed pastime reserved only for the self indulgent, privileged or the very stubborn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what does mislactony look like? A lot like misogyny</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #333333;">Control of attire:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> When women are told how much or how little they can wear, or what style of clothing they can wear, this is misogyny. When a breastfeeding woman is told to<a href="http://jezebel.com/5973622/mall-cops-ask-breastfeeding-women-why-theyre-exposing-themselves-tell-them-to-cover-up"> ‘cover up’</a> ‘feed discretely’ or be ‘modest’ this is mislactony.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="line-height: 12pt;"><span style="color: #333333;">Reduced rights in employment</span></b><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 12pt;">: When women are excluded from employment or receive lesser pay or prestige based on their sex, this is misogyny. When a breastfeeding woman <a href="http://www.momsrising.org/blog/mom-fired-for-needing-to-pump-at-work-take-action-now/">is refused employment</a> or she experiences discrimination based on her lactation status, this is mislactony. In NZ 38% of all women who stop breastfeeding at 3 months, do so because they must return to work.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="line-height: 12pt;"><span style="color: #333333;">Socially acceptable derogatory terms:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 12pt;"> When a woman is called a feminazi, bull dyke lezzo or butch bulldog for requesting equal rights, this is misogyny. When a lactivist is called <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/7595532/Breastapo-tactics-upset-bottle-feeders">‘the breastapo’</a> or a <a href="http://www.lactivist.net/are-you-the-breastapo/">‘BF Nazi’ or a ‘tit hitler’</a> for requesting equal rights, this is mislactony.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="line-height: 12pt;"><span style="color: #333333;">Body autonomy:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 12pt;"> When a woman is not afforded the rights to her own body this is misogyny. When a breastfeeding woman is told that<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/01/france-breast-breastfed-baby-death"> her breasts are for her husband</a>, or that she is simply not allowed to breastfeed, this is mislactony.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="line-height: 12pt;"><span style="color: #333333;">Derogatory terms based on sex:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 12pt;"> When a woman is called a bitch, a slut, a whore, a witch or other gender based insults, this is misogyny. When a<a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10784081"> breastfeeding woman is called a cow</a> or similar based on the function of her breasts, this is mislactony.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="line-height: 12pt;"><span style="color: #333333;">Control of basic day to day activities</span></b><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 12pt;">: When a woman is prevented from leaving the house, is not permitted to drive or perform other normal day to day activities, this is misogyny. When a breastfeeding woman is told to<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/katharine-mckinney/breastfeeding-in-public_b_2814004.html"> ‘stay at home’ to feed their baby or ‘express to feed’ or simply to bottlefeed rather than feed in public</a>, this is mislactony.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="line-height: 12pt;"><span style="color: #333333;">Denigration of specifically female functions</span></b><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 12pt;">: When women are degraded based on their physical attributes or their sex, this is misogyny. When a breastfeeding woman has the act of <a href="http://theleakyboob.com/2012/01/exploring-the-body-fluids-debate-about-breastfeeding-in-public/">breastfeeding compared to defecating, urinating or other acts that are considered unpleasant </a>this is mislactony.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="color: #333333; line-height: 12pt;">Controlling of how we manifest</b><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 12pt;">: When women are told how to behave to meet certain societal expectations of sexiness, attractiveness and modesty, this is misogyny. When breastfeeding women are told how they must breastfeed, </span><a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-narcissism-epidemic/201205/it-s-not-the-breastfeeding-s-wrong-it-s-the-indulgence" style="line-height: 12pt;">how long they must breastfeed,</a><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 12pt;"> when they must breastfeed. This is mislactony.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="line-height: 12pt;"><span style="color: #333333;">When support systems are removed</span></b><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 12pt;">: When support networks or systems that are essential to women specifically, such as rape crisis, fertility support and women’s refuge are removed, maligned or attacked, this is misogyny. When support systems such as<a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10785052"> volunteer service La Leche League are attacked</a> or there is limited access to medical staff who are trained in lactation support, not enough lactation consultants or even medical staff who actively undermine breastfeeding, this is mislactony.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <b style="line-height: 12pt;"><span style="color: #333333;">When advocacy is shut down:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 12pt;"> When women who talk about feminism or womens rights are shut down using predictable rhetoric such as accusations of misandry or man hating. This is misogyny. When breastfeeding women who advocate for breastfeeding are shut down with <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/7589459/Breastapo-attacks-formula-feeding-mums">predictable rhetoric such as accusing them of hating on formula feeding mums</a>, this is mislactony.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="line-height: 12pt;"><span style="color: #333333;">When inherent abilities are undermined:</span></b><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 12pt;"> When women are told they are inferior simply on the basis of their sex, this is misogyny. When breastfeeding women are told that their <a href="http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23:is-my-baby-getting-enough-milk&catid=5:information&Itemid=17">milk is inadequate</a>, <a href="http://www.askdrsears.com/content/breastmilk-nutritionally-useless-after-one-year">runs out of goodness</a> or that their <a href="http://thefeministbreeder.com/why-subscribe/when-it-comes-to-breastfeeding-we-cant-handle-the-truth/">breasts are inadequate</a>, this is mislactony.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sexual double standards:</b> When women are judged based on their sexuality in ways that men are not, or are required to be both sexy and virginal at the same time, this is misogyny. <a href="http://theleakyboob.com/2013/01/fear-and-breastfeeding-in-las-vegas/">When women who are breastfeeding are told to keep their breasts concealed</a>, that no one needs to see that or that they are disgusting and getting a thrill from feeding their child, while at the same time we have breasts plastered all over our malls, billboards and magazines and sex is used to advertise almost everything under the sun, this is mislactony.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12pt;">I know that to many of you a lot of these seem extreme or tenuous, but the thing is, they are not. These are real incidents and they happen on a daily basis. If we want to give every woman a chance to best meet her breastfeeding goals, it is not to tell them how breast is best, or how bad formula is. It is simply to stop all the mislactony!</span></div>
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Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-55124415674782546272013-04-01T20:34:00.001-07:002013-04-01T20:40:10.055-07:00Birthing Affirmations<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trusting our own births is one of the most important thing you can do to ensure a physiologically normal birth. A calm relaxed body dilates faster, a relaxed body allows the muscles of the uterus to work more effectively and puts baby under less stress. If <a href="http://www.birthingnaturally.net/pain/ftpcycle.html">anxiety and fear slow labour</a> and <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0022399976900246">make it more painful</a>, then calm and relaxation hasten it and make it feel better. Women who reach deep levels of relaxation can actually have euphoric or <a href="http://www.orgasmicbirth.com/what-is-orgasmic-birth">orgasmic births</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The problem comes when we live in a society that tells us birth is to be feared, that it is dangerous and painful and deadly. These messages reinforce our inner doubts and anxieties. A woman who fears birth does not trust her body, she doubts her ability to birth and in a nasty twist of irony, this actually lessens her ability to birth well and birth safely. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />A tense and scared body cannot relax, the uterus does not contract as effectively and it contracts painfully, which ends up being a vicious circle of fear and pain. A tense body does not release oxytocin or endorphins,<a href="http://physrev.physiology.org/content/81/2/629.long"> it releases catecholamines (adrenaline and other hormones) which block oxytocin.</a> This increases heart rate and breathing rate and stresses your baby.<br />So how do we trust birth again?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />One thing that can help are birthing affirmations. They speak to your inner conscious and repeated enough will actually reaffirm your trust in your body. Here are some affirmations you can use. I had mine playing on an audio track so I could listen to them while walking or resting. Print them and put them on your loo wall, make flashcards, have your birthing partner read them to you. Every day absorb these affirmations and let them do their work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />My body is completely relaxed and ready for birth<br />I feel the waves of labour wash over me<br />I relax my mind and my muscles.<br />My body will give birth in its own time.<br />My body is totally relaxed<br />My jaw is relaxed my cervix is opening<br />My baby is totally relaxed<br />I am not afraid, I am serene<br />I surrender my body to birth my baby<br />Every surge brings my baby closer to me<br />I am a strong and capable woman<br />I can feel my baby move along the birth path<br />I surrender to the power of labour<br />Each wave brings my baby closer to me<br />My cervix opens like a blossom in the sun<br />Childbirth is a normal, healthy event<br />I trust my body, I trust my baby<br />I relax my body to birth my baby<br />I will labour like the women before me, with power and in peace<br />With each breath I relax, my baby is ready<br />My body is filled with the power and serenity of birth<br />Birth is a natural and happy event<br />I feel safe, secure and relaxed<br />I feel my body relaxing more and more<br />My baby is ready<br />I breathe my baby down the birth path<br />My body opens to birth my baby<br />My body is loose and limp, my jaw is loose and limp<br />Each breath brings my baby closer to me<br />My body is powerful and capable<br />I am deeply relaxed</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My pelvis releases and opens as have those of countless
women before me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My muscles are warm and heavy and I am totally relaxed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a sacred moment for my baby and I<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am in the moment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel each breath as it comes, I feel each surge as it
comes and it is wonderful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I move, I sway, I dance, I walk, I squat, I kneel, I birth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am ready to birth my baby<br />I trust the process of birth<br />Birth is a happy and healthy state of being<br />Babies are made to be born and my body is made to birth them<br />Birth is normal and natural<br />I follow my baby's lead<br />Babies are made to be born, women are made to birth<br />I am peaceful, my baby is peaceful<br />My body opens naturally and with euphoria</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I trust my body and my baby<br />I am filled with love for my baby, my baby is filled with love for me<br />The hormones for loving and birthing are the same. Love birth</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With each surge I feel stronger and more relaxed<br />I close my eyes and sink deeper into a place of serenity<br />My pelvis is flexible and open, my baby is ready</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The power of birth flows from my head to my belly, from my lungs to my cervix</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I honour my mother and my grandmother with this birth<br />My power comes from within<br />I breathe, I roar, I sing, I moan I birth.<br />I look forwards to the time of our birth<br />My body grew this baby, it can birth this baby<br />The hormones that birth this baby will let me feed my baby<br />I sink into the powerful feelings of birth<br />As each wave crashes on the beach I breathe<br />Birth is as old as humanity, it is perfect<br />My body knows what to do, I relax and let it birth in peace<br />I am serene<br />I am an island in the ocean and the waves crash over me<br />We are ready for this baby<br />Our baby is loved and welcomed and ready<br />I am ready for birth<br /><br /><br />Obviously some of these will resonate with you and some will not, you can even write your own! But the key is repetition, every day talk to yourself (er just not out loud?) and reaffirm your power to birth well.<br /><br />Trust me, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Trust YOURSELF, trust birth ;)<br /><br /></span><br />
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Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-45562415363951618052013-03-17T19:29:00.001-07:002013-03-17T19:46:15.863-07:0020 Days of Mess<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Often when I post pictures of my house people tell me how clean it is in tones of hushed awe and disbelief. No one with kids can have a clean house - surely? Surely I don't! </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photos only ever tell half of the story, more often than not I pick a good moment or photograph with a clear background. Nothing spoils a beautiful shot more than a looming pile of laundry in the background. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reality is my house is in a constant state of ever evolving clutter.<br /><br />Housework is often the last thing on my list during a busy day of parenting, and I mildly resent housework being considered to be the role of a stay at home mum, almost more than parenting is. There are <a href="http://www.flylady.net/">whole websites</a> devoted to women keeping the house clean and pinterest pages extolling the virtues of decluttering and organisation. I dream of having a house that tidy, but my dream falls short of devoting every spare minute to it. My husband and I share housework and as result, during the day, our lounge often looks like a clothing bomb exploded inside. It's a rare day that the sofa isn't covered in laundry and the floor is not covered in toys. But we enjoy our days, which means more to me than a tidy floor.</span><br />
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Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-1894435997570180642013-03-15T03:54:00.000-07:002013-03-17T19:36:13.794-07:00Why are clouds so big?<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;">By Friday I've generally lost all my oomph for the week and a day of good intentions turns into lazy parenting, screen time and impatient mum. Its been pushing the guilt button for a month or so now, so I decided to listen to what my inner voice was telling me.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;"><br />Today when my 4yr old asked one of his tricky questions 'Why is the cloud so big?' instead of fobbing him off with the quickest answer I could summon, I decided to drop everything and follow his lead.<br /><br />A conversation about clouds turned into thunderstorms and lightning, some youtube videos helped us learn how lightning worked and we looked at some pictures of how beautiful lightning looked and listened to the noises it makes. I wanted to find a way to extend his experience I dug around in my memory banks for a favourite childhood activity and we started some wet on wet watercolours using candles as a dye resist. Before starting we wiggled the paper so that it made noises like thunder and lightning.<br /><br />From a lightning filled sky we started talking about stars, and galaxies and moons. We started another page, and after showing him how to use salt to add texture to the paints he got excited and we emptied the pantry for other things that absorbed moisture. Our paper became a textural exploration in time and space (corny I know)<br /><br />The whole time we created we talked, he asked questions, I could only answer half of them, but we had fun, so much fun. Learning this way is magical.<br /><br />Here are the fruits of our labour.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQ7CxsForpyMBa53WTXdsYZFQ8YmAzIidt9-PXM8SeRM5p8QS7ngW8VfFRRCgbqKTsSSMtDORvtndHxSzjR86HgJKe-Lc_HauK8vib8gnCRQNKybwM4O6tu2exZL51kir7ggrWME3XU8/s1600/IMG_7319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQ7CxsForpyMBa53WTXdsYZFQ8YmAzIidt9-PXM8SeRM5p8QS7ngW8VfFRRCgbqKTsSSMtDORvtndHxSzjR86HgJKe-Lc_HauK8vib8gnCRQNKybwM4O6tu2exZL51kir7ggrWME3XU8/s320/IMG_7319.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8O3ycrS7FJCM_X07Lv-JeaDf_Eol2HTZwel2SbnYRDe7YBNgpwsRQwtXpP9JdkKyrP85zy2GLtGvu-JUWVc8K7kged1JE2nNC_dFqN-N275ahIPS0SPCviU3f3tDuymL865IzIruw9hU/s1600/IMG_7335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8O3ycrS7FJCM_X07Lv-JeaDf_Eol2HTZwel2SbnYRDe7YBNgpwsRQwtXpP9JdkKyrP85zy2GLtGvu-JUWVc8K7kged1JE2nNC_dFqN-N275ahIPS0SPCviU3f3tDuymL865IzIruw9hU/s320/IMG_7335.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6q-h9oQX57WgT90ntzkSfS8EPx_cu97y2QgwzNo5Juzc1u6kdU-IssimIEmU45yKqHDhMp3lP7HcI5opGxUZxvUOSv4p2MYSvhPidqVY6q59h4FVJN2wfL-7BrNSA9pnrmn0kad_ZYPk/s1600/IMG_7342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6q-h9oQX57WgT90ntzkSfS8EPx_cu97y2QgwzNo5Juzc1u6kdU-IssimIEmU45yKqHDhMp3lP7HcI5opGxUZxvUOSv4p2MYSvhPidqVY6q59h4FVJN2wfL-7BrNSA9pnrmn0kad_ZYPk/s320/IMG_7342.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candle wax acts as a resist for the dye, magical pictures appear out of nowhere.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVU-KIosEIE0B8yqLRjZ0RW8a6HJgQo0h852Swwh3Q31nEQlLMzvxG3LsmZODU35G6iUXci-SLo6drHW3qtmtADOc-a4vfEVGn1HwsW43JJluFXuTj4XpfkDjQHqHQRF0fBU8xFvWHvo/s1600/IMG_7390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVU-KIosEIE0B8yqLRjZ0RW8a6HJgQo0h852Swwh3Q31nEQlLMzvxG3LsmZODU35G6iUXci-SLo6drHW3qtmtADOc-a4vfEVGn1HwsW43JJluFXuTj4XpfkDjQHqHQRF0fBU8xFvWHvo/s320/IMG_7390.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDGx3H5ekxFPuz_zYxnZ6DQSo2MwjkdidZFa19V0R7rbvmMVY9PerYRyiKC0SaYZpwlfZBFlXLA8IzXLau0zOuPSaSqm4VgefSFysMMlvMrudlw2IMg9zSzGPqF7YitP3gImLuWjoKwM/s1600/IMG_7438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiDGx3H5ekxFPuz_zYxnZ6DQSo2MwjkdidZFa19V0R7rbvmMVY9PerYRyiKC0SaYZpwlfZBFlXLA8IzXLau0zOuPSaSqm4VgefSFysMMlvMrudlw2IMg9zSzGPqF7YitP3gImLuWjoKwM/s320/IMG_7438.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DZOE4P7RiZyWHW6ypcqxjyVtrBL0LdmGeWinIpRD0MGyRXKfeqEgabOr6GAPuE-FA8EkQTG7Km7BJlQgNJT7wChLsiaHIwnHBhz1ELdBIDVl7820NBwU4OQob-1S5qkQvIyk5nA3FD0/s1600/IMG_7444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DZOE4P7RiZyWHW6ypcqxjyVtrBL0LdmGeWinIpRD0MGyRXKfeqEgabOr6GAPuE-FA8EkQTG7Km7BJlQgNJT7wChLsiaHIwnHBhz1ELdBIDVl7820NBwU4OQob-1S5qkQvIyk5nA3FD0/s320/IMG_7444.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sago, semolina, tapioca, citric acid and salt.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxXn5D9eznC1Cy1Rdfm8boK97b5cWdpyi8XfvyjfCdWiWYQpjYls7uRbEk8IEMZsT6XfhInWFDBvlF1f_FK9qZRQZFQu0I8_OqHHrlHGdYvklfaBxrvBEyRy-6nMpMBiQFkg796KS1Zg/s1600/IMG_7474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxXn5D9eznC1Cy1Rdfm8boK97b5cWdpyi8XfvyjfCdWiWYQpjYls7uRbEk8IEMZsT6XfhInWFDBvlF1f_FK9qZRQZFQu0I8_OqHHrlHGdYvklfaBxrvBEyRy-6nMpMBiQFkg796KS1Zg/s320/IMG_7474.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fun with textures!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zyQjmiheZbKgIbZPPML5qz1bwZvZrEQr8nUEQYkunCwyfsEZXdNQvgskcIibw2ZagnELW9Qhr5uzlS_0kQBz8yEcQhGXxV_8Z-Kqm-A-AWVo7ZCcXS85Su2SgiIug0MBmpQvh3mnzOs/s1600/galaxy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4zyQjmiheZbKgIbZPPML5qz1bwZvZrEQr8nUEQYkunCwyfsEZXdNQvgskcIibw2ZagnELW9Qhr5uzlS_0kQBz8yEcQhGXxV_8Z-Kqm-A-AWVo7ZCcXS85Su2SgiIug0MBmpQvh3mnzOs/s320/galaxy1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Salt creates a lovely speckled texture</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS09gi8AEWHHOC6WqskGAas0O9L03vFvZew4F0HM8VKwB5FOceUqV_tTAVCfXW4ICgnQOthudRx6uovHmzkyZimWP1kIb60HBH9-CwZ0346vTEXJ_1NMVfsMwftEnpTsoGu6IypuaJW1s/s1600/galaxy10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS09gi8AEWHHOC6WqskGAas0O9L03vFvZew4F0HM8VKwB5FOceUqV_tTAVCfXW4ICgnQOthudRx6uovHmzkyZimWP1kIb60HBH9-CwZ0346vTEXJ_1NMVfsMwftEnpTsoGu6IypuaJW1s/s320/galaxy10.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rice grains absorb the moisture and create swirly patterns in the paint.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We learned about red dwarf stars, he wanted to know why the stars were different colours and not just white. I muttered something about light and gases...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Looks a little bit about the pleiades</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 15.454545021057129px;"><br /></span>Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-12776396712665864312012-12-09T03:09:00.000-08:002012-12-09T23:49:56.049-08:00Stained Glass Window Biscuits<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few days ago I smashed my food processor on the ground, I'd like to say it was a fit of pique, but it was simple clumsiness and poor luck. As a result my cooking repertoire has decreased significantly. Every Christmas I make my 9 cup gingerbread biscuits. Turns out they don't go well without a food processor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what we got up to this year. But I'm not posting a recipe because they taste abominable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[edit 10 December 2012]</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay I have changed my mind. You deserve a recipe and here it is:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Sian’s 9 Cup Gingerbread Recipe.</strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lasts 2-3 weeks in the fridge and can be baked up at any time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>In a food processor bowl add:</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9 cups of standard flour</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">½ cup ground ginger</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 tablespoons cinnamon</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 grated nutmeg</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon ground cloves</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.5 cups soft brown sugar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon baking soda</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">½ teaspoon ground black pepper</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Slowly pulse this mix whilst adding:</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 block of butter chopped into squares or 2 cups of solid coconut oil</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once the mixture is well combined and ‘shreddy’ like breadcrumbs slowly incorporate the following whilst pulsing the processor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups molasses or golden syrup</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The mixture should come together in a ball, if it does this before the molasses is entirely incorporated then you can stop earlier.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These biscuits should bake in 7-12 minutes depending on oven heat, recommended baking temp is 160 degrees Celsius. I use baking paper on my trays and on my bottom try I double paper it to prevent brown bottoms. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>What you don't do.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Melt the butter and syrup together and mix it into the dry ingredients hoping that this lazy method will somehow replicate the original recipe., then when you realise you have run out of syrup and the mixture is still dry add water in the vain hope to rescue your mixture. Then crumble with defeat when you taste the final baked item and it is horrible…</span><br />
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<br />Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-73619672601428980672012-12-05T16:03:00.000-08:002012-12-05T16:03:16.152-08:00The advent of Christmas and other things.
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every now and then I spend some time lurking on Pinterest and crafting blogs. I have a whole board dedicated to yule type crafts and ideas and every so often I open it up to look at all of the projects I could do… if I had unlimited time and unlimited money. In a perfect world my house would look like a playbook of perfect projects and perfect parenting. But I don’t have money, and I don’t have time, so seeing Pretty Polly’s Perfect Party Planning and Paper Project Post makes me feel a more than a little inadequate. In fact almost every project blog makes me feel slightly inadequate, I simply don’t have the time and money to reach those levels of achievement on a weekly basis. Let alone blog about it. Sometimes I wonder if these types of blog posts set the bar too high, and create an artificial sense of inadequacy to those parents who simply accomplish the basic day to day life necessities (me most days, still in my bathrobe right now). It’s so important to realise though that these blogs are just snapshots of someone’s endeavors. Simply the finished product shown in a flattering light, after all, photographs only show one angle. And that goes for my blogs too! The parents putting these blogs together aren’t their fancy crocheted toilet roll cover or their 5 year olds haute couture birthday party. They are creative people with cameras, who like to share their triumphs. So instead of feeling inadequate I need to realise that the people behind the blogs are human too and that the stuff we don’t see is just as integral to the finished item as the pretty pictures we do see, which tell one side of the story.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year I set myself a challenge. I have wanted to make an advent calendar for the last few years. I see an advent calendar as a great way to engage with your kids if done properly. I want to make something a little special with activities, concepts and ideas. I see advent calendars as an excellent learning activity, both as a counting and a patience exercise. Given that I didn’t even start thinking about the calendar until 2 days before December 1 the deck was stacked against me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After spending hours cutting up fabric and then realizing the idea of sewing all of the pockets was beyond me right then, I had a brainwave. A few years ago, I went to wedding that had <a href="http://rubberstamping.about.com/od/templates/ss/Pyramid_Box_Template.htm">pyramid boxes</a> for the favours and from this sprung the idea of Christmas tree shaped boxes and from there the idea grew, so this is my Perfect Pinterest Project .</span></span>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pictures I took don’t show me spending too much money at spotlight or sitting up late until 2am with my almost deliriously sick and tired husband cutting out cardboard templates. It doesn’t show me facepalming because after making my own calendar to move away from the candy paradigm I ended up putting more candy in. They don’t show the wonky pencil lines or bad folding, they don’t show my half started fabric bunting calendar or the painstaking cross referencing of the little notes with my diary so the activities matched up with our work schedule and salary. They don’t show any of that, just the finished masterpiece photographed from a flattering angle. Looks great doesn’t it!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Late Night Picture when we finally finished</span></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And what did I put in the boxes day by day?</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Today is the first day of Christmas, lets find a tree and decorate it! Trees are a symbol of new life after winter. The idea comes from our northern hemisphere where it snows during Christmas time. In New Zealand we celebrate summer solstice and it is sunny. But we love the smell of Christmas trees anyway. MMmm</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Here is some candy we can use to make some stained glass window biscuits, when we hang them in the window we can see the sun shine through them. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Lets draw a map for Santa so he can find your house. Here are some doubloons for your pirate treasure.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Today we’re going to the farmers market , we can look at the beeswax decorations and listen to the buskers play music. Here is a dollar to give the musicians. What is a Christmas song you know?</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Christmas is a time to remember people who have less than us, lets get some food from the cupboards to take to the food bank. The food bank is a place that gives food to people who are hungry and don’t have money to buy food. They are very kind.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Here are some pine cones we can use to make beautiful decorations. Today we can also choose a special Christmas decoration for the tree from the trade aid store.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Here are some candy canes so you can make peppermint hot chocolate and wear your lovely new summer pyjamas.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Tonight we are going to go for a night picnic to look at the stars and see the Christmas lights on our way back home. We are going to look for Rehua (antares) which is the summer star. It symbolises summer fruit and summer heat.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. Today is your nativity play, you get to dress up today, here is your costume. Grandma and grandpa are going to watch you sing!</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. Today you go to grandmas house, here is $20 so you can buy a present for mum and a present for dad. Have fun choosing!</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11. Only 14 days until Christmas, lets going to the berry picking! Berries are the first harvest of the summer season. We like strawberries and raspberries but there are also lovely native berries likemakomako, konini and purple hinau berries.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12. Today mum makes the Christmas pudding, can you help her? Here are some lucky coins we can bake into the pudding to find!</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13. Look under the tree, here is a Christmas story for you to read with dad tonight.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14. We’re going to the beach today, lets build a really big sandcastle and decorate it.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15. Here are some stickers so we can make a card for grandma and grandpa, who else do you want to make cards for?</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16. Today we are going to make gifts for your teachers, homemade chocolates!</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17. Movie night! You get to stay up late and watch a movie with mum and dad and eat popcorn. We have a special Christmas movie for you.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18. Let’s decorate biscuits and make a gingerbread house together</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19. Here are some stamps we can use to make wrapping paper out of old newspapers and paper scraps. Now our presents can be beautiful under the tree.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20. Today is the longest day and the shortest night. It’s called summer solstice. We’re going to harvest our garlic today.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">21. You have lots of toys you don’t play with any more, can you help me choose 3 of them to give away?</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">22. Today we are going to make cheese and have a pizza party with our new pizza oven.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">23. Today is Christmas eve eve! We are going to plant a beautiful native tree to replace the one we cut down. This is the pohutukawa which is the New Zealand Christmas tree.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">24. Tonight is Christmas eve, light the Christmas Candle, hang out your stockings and leave a biscuit for santa. Does he need a key to get in?</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">25. Christmas day today. Check your stockings!</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lot of these ideas come from my current favourite book <a href="http://www.womensbookshop.co.nz/product/67411-CelebratingtheSouthernSeasons-9781869417345">‘Celebrating the Southern Seasons’ by Juliet Batten</a>. She has a blog about it <a href="http://www.seasonalinspiration.blogspot.co.nz/">here</a>. Her book is a fabulous guide to seasonal celebrations relevant to those of us in the southern hemishphere and has great ideas for creating traditions related to New Zealand and the seasons. Themes for the Summer Solstice are the colours Gold and Red, harvest with freshly baked bread, honey and berries and the traditional story Kauri and the Whale or Demeter and Persephone. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So far the advent calendar is going down a treat, and my sons don't care if I took pretty pictures and blogged about it or not.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsRyit0yZXbagjNimevQPrNgGvMxkLMQSC8g9jp3NuuXsyByN2_2X46IgWGtHf-8cDh1J2UiqZcMVV2sM_AmhQcDrEMy2pA7OxQ51pXDFltzbcnF9cyZgexcMpLGScqWznj1LgCgJ6l4/s1600/creative_advent_calendar_ideas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsRyit0yZXbagjNimevQPrNgGvMxkLMQSC8g9jp3NuuXsyByN2_2X46IgWGtHf-8cDh1J2UiqZcMVV2sM_AmhQcDrEMy2pA7OxQ51pXDFltzbcnF9cyZgexcMpLGScqWznj1LgCgJ6l4/s320/creative_advent_calendar_ideas.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Candy Cane Hot Chocolate</span></td></tr>
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Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-55401598774585584682012-11-23T15:51:00.000-08:002012-11-23T16:24:42.330-08:0040 ways to Praise your child without Praising them<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For most parents saying ‘Good job’ or ‘well done’ is automatic, it is considered a part of positive parenting and we very rarely even think about it when we say it. So many parenting advice books say ignore bad behaviour and reward good, so it’s something that is built into our parenting collective conscious. For me it was like an automatic tic, I said it whenever I could see my son had achieved something be it small or large. It required little thought and no follow through. It was easy.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBASQ0C5aj5SI9SW-wVXz5l3DvTS5v6nnKdh4V2WhinUhOtewudyzyEDR60ZNPzjfRooULlNbWHRkQhRXT-pUs1OAW7qzdnkra2F7FXMOlxfz0h8JxBJkLAO6AFaNqh4zb2rfafBV_GLE/s1600/Alfie_kohn_praise_good_job.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBASQ0C5aj5SI9SW-wVXz5l3DvTS5v6nnKdh4V2WhinUhOtewudyzyEDR60ZNPzjfRooULlNbWHRkQhRXT-pUs1OAW7qzdnkra2F7FXMOlxfz0h8JxBJkLAO6AFaNqh4zb2rfafBV_GLE/s320/Alfie_kohn_praise_good_job.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I read some <a href="http://www.alfiekohn.org/parenting/gj.htm">Alfie Kohn</a> and some <a href="http://teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/seven-things-to-say-instead-of-good-job.html">Teacher Tom</a> and I reviewed my opinions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I won’t go into a long spiel about why using non specific praise and positive feedback isn’t ideal, because there are many people who can speak more eloquently on this topic than I ever could. What I will say is that saying ‘good job’ and offering non specific praise does nothing to build confidence or let your child find their inner motivation. <a href="http://codenamemama.com/2010/06/02/good-job/">Using the carrot and the stick does not breed free thinking or critical thought</a>; it breeds affirmation seeking and compliance. This is not me saying that praise is bad, there are times when it is totally appropriate and if you use one of those phrases inadvertently you are not damaging your child or destroying their independence forever. Parenting doesn’t work like that.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5_13g2HlbNHDXkeabqFSGNk74q_8zi6P8-4b5Ti4Qsr_OiF1SkYXQxdcGoXXGagVUgoL4o8O94KKqvj18lhF0neYe9vxMDhO9ey4XUxE0M5bT3YV-zREE8HyAg9mBVQ6JhvZFX5EC9U/s1600/good_praise_bad_praise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5_13g2HlbNHDXkeabqFSGNk74q_8zi6P8-4b5Ti4Qsr_OiF1SkYXQxdcGoXXGagVUgoL4o8O94KKqvj18lhF0neYe9vxMDhO9ey4XUxE0M5bT3YV-zREE8HyAg9mBVQ6JhvZFX5EC9U/s320/good_praise_bad_praise.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I first heard about this whole inner motivation thing I was irritated because all of the blogs I read about it focussed on why it was wrong and had an overwhelming message of ‘tsk tsk don’t do it’. So I filed it under yet another way that I am Doing. It. Wrong. But, for all of that, these articles sung for me a little because I personally seek praise all of the time, and if someone criticises my ideas then I am easily brought down. It irritates me that I am so reliant on external feedback and it’s only later in life that I have built the confidence to be satisfied in my own right. Even now I struggle with criticism, so maybe this Alfie Kohn isn’t so wrong after all.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluGtcyAvkDibTyv0MML7xU0JXcL1KFKC4KROgTj3thGixzva0aMmnWzcFR1YWwpiaA-JtgKGU3o8xqYo1GiVaQCdZ86GOsMYkZT_GpUFxQBp4qOtHxrWd5-BN-YRk1arx3HuQ0sfeD2M/s1600/internal_motivation_teacher_tom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiluGtcyAvkDibTyv0MML7xU0JXcL1KFKC4KROgTj3thGixzva0aMmnWzcFR1YWwpiaA-JtgKGU3o8xqYo1GiVaQCdZ86GOsMYkZT_GpUFxQBp4qOtHxrWd5-BN-YRk1arx3HuQ0sfeD2M/s320/internal_motivation_teacher_tom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So in saying all of that, this blog is not about how you shouldn’t parent, we have enough of those. This blog is about what you CAN do. Here is a little tool kit of things you can say instead of ‘good job’ and even if you do say good job from time to time. It’s not a biggie, the parenting police won’t come and get you. I promise.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>What to say when they’ve done something helpful.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for that</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really appreciate your help</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was really helpful</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because you did X we can now do Y</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was very kind</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It really helps me when you do X</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s really nice when you help me out</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doing X makes me feel good</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love helping you</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>When they achieved something great or they impress you</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look you did it</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did that feel good?</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am really impressed at how you (be specific)</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can see what you did there</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I see that you did x y z</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It looks like you thought really hard about that</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can see you put a lot of effort into that</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow, look at all of those colours/shapes etc</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I see that you did this and look what happened</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have been practicing that for a long time</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You worked really hard on that and I can tell!</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow, how many colours did you use?</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How did you do that?</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m impressed, how do you feel about that?</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tell me about what you did.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>When they show empathy and kindness</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bet x felt really great when you shared that with them</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It feels nice when your brother sister is smiles doesn’t it</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Look at your brother smile, he loves playing with you</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It makes me so happy when you share with me</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That cuddle made me feel happy</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That was very kind to share your x with y</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">General praise (for those little achievements in life)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I see you worked together to do this</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I see you thought really hard about that</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How exciting for you</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like to see you thinking about things</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really like to see you play</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seeing you enjoy your game makes me happy</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bet that feels much better now that you pooped/changed your clothes/wiped nose etc</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does that feel better?</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that you’ve done x, y happened</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>If in doubt.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Be specific – if you’re going to praise make it very specific rather than a general ‘good job’</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don’t assign a grade or rating (good/bad etc)</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speak from the heart - if you are impressed then say it</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ask questions – people love it when you are interested in what they are doing</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make observations – just stating what you see can be perfect in itself</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Talk about consequences – doing this resulted in this</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Say nothing and just enjoy being in their creative space</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It takes a bit of practice and sometimes I am lost for words, or my comments come out garbled. Sometimes I miss an opportunity to appeal to their inner motivation and fall back on old habits, but it doesn't matter. Sometimes parenting is just about enjoying each moment as it passes and then moving on to the next one. I have noticed a shift in my sons confidence levels since changing my language and that has been nice. It's like watching a flower unfold. Worth a shot?</span><br />
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Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-45814892637109293882012-11-21T01:39:00.001-08:002013-01-15T15:19:16.384-08:00Toddler First Aid<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My youngest son is now on the move. Unlike his older brother who was walking at 9 months, he has remained a crawler, but he has mastered the art form! It won't be long before he is on his feet and we will be into the realm of bumps, bruises, scratches, grazes and boo boos of all shapes and sizes. Toddlers are accident prone, some more than others. In general they are pretty resilient but sometimes a day doesn’t go by when I have to soothe a sore child or apply a little home first aid for a variety of ills. Being trained in a first aid course is a big weight off of my mind as I know what to do in the immediate situation when something serious (or not so serious) happens. But how do we deal with the numerous small injuries that toddlers seems to collect on a daily basis?<br /><br />Here is a little run down of the first aid items I have at home to help out with the daily battleground.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><br /><b>Hydrogen Peroxide.</b><br /><br />This used to be a mainstay in our house for use on any wounds that resisted healing, I would no longer recommend it for anything and everything but it does have a very specific use. My brother also used it to give himself bleached tips, but that’s another story. Hydrogen peroxide is the best cleaning agent for deep puncture wounds as it naturally lifts dead material and debris in a cleaning action. It oxygenates the wound, preventing bad bacteria from replicating and taking over. It prevents anaerobic bacteria from being healed into a wound which means it is ideal for tetanus protection as the tetanus bacteria (Clostridium tetani) proliferates in an anaerobic environment.<br /><br /><b>What for:</b> Deep wounds to prevent tetanus<br /><br /><b>How to use:</b> Hydrogen peroxide is used to irrigate the wound with a syringe until it stops bubbling, repeat if the area closes over before the infection leaves. For shallower wounds it can be blotted on or used to bathe the area. For really deep wounds you want to soak the area in warm water to really clean the wound out at least twice a day and you can add epsom salts if you have it on hand. Hydrogen peroxide is like a one shot bullet, single use only. Used repeatedly on wounds it will actually inhibit healing as it inhibits granulation and lifts natural scabbing.<br /><br /><b>Where:</b> Hydrogen peroxide at 6% strength can be purchased from most pharmacies for use you want to dilute it to 1.5% (1 part h2o2 to 3 parts h2o)<br /><br /><b>Home version: </b>Some diluted cider vinegar will sub in for hydrogen peroxide at a pinch but it doesn't have the oxygenating effect.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRb7_pbh7rhy5NzJk9vnKSaTuqUz74Jc8FNpKbJzVZgO56Km-9CY4es_3Nd9kzsaEhuS_OwvXs-8mNH1tNqo-ZLhPEbPlqifJoyU7fISgKexSXZurp5h4LqN-xcw0A4SlnQ5qz6fgL5-w/s1600/HYDROGEN_PEROXIDE_TETANUS_FIRST_AID.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="135" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRb7_pbh7rhy5NzJk9vnKSaTuqUz74Jc8FNpKbJzVZgO56Km-9CY4es_3Nd9kzsaEhuS_OwvXs-8mNH1tNqo-ZLhPEbPlqifJoyU7fISgKexSXZurp5h4LqN-xcw0A4SlnQ5qz6fgL5-w/s200/HYDROGEN_PEROXIDE_TETANUS_FIRST_AID.png" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hydrogen Peroxide or h2o2</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Calendula & Hypericum – Hypercal</b><br /><br />Calendula and Hypericum are both excellent skin healers, you can buy them independently as salves or as a combination known as hypercal. Hypercal is the Porsche of wound healing. I have the tincture in my medicine cabinet and add a few drops to water before I cleanse wounds and scrapes. Calendula is a natural astringent and antibacterial, hypericum perforatum is also known as St Johns wort and is commonly used as an antidepressant however it is also excellent at healing skin lesions and ameliorating pain and swelling. So the combination of Hypericum and Calendula is really ideal for all of those common childhood war wounds.<br /><br /><b>What for</b>: Cuts, grazes and scratches<br /><br /><b>How to use:</b> Use the tincture diluted in water to clean wounds or apply to rashes and grazes. The lotion can be applied throughout healing process as required.<br /><br /><b>Where:</b> I get my hypercal tincture from <a href="http://www.simillimum.co.nz/index.php/sales">Similimum</a>, one bottle lasts an AGE.<br /><br /><b>Home version:</b></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> If you have a calendula or pot marigold plant in the garden you can make a quick </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">paste using a mortar and pestle out of the crushed petals and virgin coconut oil to apply to the wound.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1WAdGewiu1XNzX4ClyVNFThq1ozXLHYMg4VKFgwQWZKC4EGM89AsJmm-GY8Q60Lp8YmZfq2zP4OE7itbnFPU451xQmvsCoc5d4GgtPUDmWNDsvKW-HNC2ibogObTxndrqYJquLkX72U/s1600/hypericum_perforatum_hypercal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="160" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ1WAdGewiu1XNzX4ClyVNFThq1ozXLHYMg4VKFgwQWZKC4EGM89AsJmm-GY8Q60Lp8YmZfq2zP4OE7itbnFPU451xQmvsCoc5d4GgtPUDmWNDsvKW-HNC2ibogObTxndrqYJquLkX72U/s200/hypericum_perforatum_hypercal.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">St Johns wort, <i>Hypericum perforatum</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0y5XopfJ_BHgiOCl8y448LMkz3ShvVbF-qrz33qtbi9AVlCRb8RUVb1uXX3TFVHR13dkAweAbcE0KZdWM_csjZ-f7yyDdhjBSzQdxJBq3jvNihliOu5E8nZW-S5K-tVtpcqcWsLnTa4/s1600/pot_marigold_calendula_officinalis_hypercal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX0y5XopfJ_BHgiOCl8y448LMkz3ShvVbF-qrz33qtbi9AVlCRb8RUVb1uXX3TFVHR13dkAweAbcE0KZdWM_csjZ-f7yyDdhjBSzQdxJBq3jvNihliOu5E8nZW-S5K-tVtpcqcWsLnTa4/s200/pot_marigold_calendula_officinalis_hypercal.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pot marigold, <i>Calendula officinalis</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Chickweed</b><br /><br />Children often get into mischief with plants or substances that cause irritation especially in spring when everything is blossoming and blooming. Chickweed is a common garden weed and is a marvellous antipruritic and vulnerary that can be applied to rashes, itchy bites, stings and hives. It soothes the skin and takes the heat and swelling out of any irritation.<br /><br /><b>What for:</b> Rashes, hives, irritations, and itchy bites. Can be used for stings after the sting has been removed and a bentonite clay poultice has been applied.<br /><br /><b>How to use:</b> Apply directly to skin as required to soothe itching.<br /><br /><b>Where to buy:</b> <a href="http://www.thymeheal.co.nz/our-products/chickweed-cream/">Thymeheal</a> do an excellent chickweed salve which has thyme, peppermint and lavender. If you are sensitive to peppermint and have a serious itch to scratch then my personal favourite is the <a href="http://www.artemis.co.nz/products/4-Itch_Calm_Cream_Extra_Strength">Artemis Itch Calm</a> which is a soothing lotion rather than a balm.<br /><br /><b>Home version:</b> A handful of chickweed from the garden, crushed up before applying to the irritation is a fabulous instant cure for an itch.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSpj2Qq_KvHgKA2WOfMmVCVwVAVa_7OaLPT28CK5PBxQ0YWnICe8BAGSrYFWbp7PPi-2nr-upMnhaynfrHzNr-sr2iIWu1VMafndcnBOoNJk5RYaqPa0Fg735De2cFwjUCVPn3Uets0I/s1600/stellaria_media_chickweed_itch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSpj2Qq_KvHgKA2WOfMmVCVwVAVa_7OaLPT28CK5PBxQ0YWnICe8BAGSrYFWbp7PPi-2nr-upMnhaynfrHzNr-sr2iIWu1VMafndcnBOoNJk5RYaqPa0Fg735De2cFwjUCVPn3Uets0I/s200/stellaria_media_chickweed_itch.jpg" width="199" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chickweed, <i>Stellaria Media</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Aloevera</b><br /><br />Aloe vera is a succulent plant that has a gel in its leaves; this gel is incredibly soothing for burns and can be used topically, directly from the plant. It both soothes the skin as an emollient and encourages healing as a cell proliferant, as well as providing improved blood flow to the skin to promote healing. Be wary of commercial sunburn mixes as these are often for cosmetic purposes only and will contain alcohol which will sting when applied to burns.<br /><br /><b>What for</b>: Burns of any type including sunburn.<br /><br /><b>How to use</b>: First aid for burns is cool or tepid running water for 10 minutes. If you have a heat burn bigger than the size of your baby’s hand then call an ambulance. Once the burn has cooled you can apply aloe vera directly the area to aid healing.<br /><br /><b>Where:</b> A handy healing spray on mist you can use is <a href="http://www.lifestream.co.nz/Products/Lifestream-Biogenic-Aloe-Vera/Aloe-Vera-Mist/default.aspx">Lifestream Biogenic Aloe vera mist</a> with Vitamin E, in addition to Vitamin E which assists in skin healing, it has chamomile and cucumber to soothe and witch hazel as a natural astringent.<br /><br /><b>Home version:</b> Grab a leaf directly from the Aloe vera plant and peel once side before applying directly to the wound. If you don’t have a plant but do have some digestive aloe vera juice in the fridge you can use this as well.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aloe vera, <i>Aloevera Barbadensis</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Clay powder (bentonite)</b><br /><br />Bentonite clay is a powerful drawing substance, due to the shape of its molecular structure and it’s negative ionic charge it draws toxins and foreign substances out of the body when used as a poultice. Useful for stings and bug bites as it can draw organic substances out of the wound. Clays are tiny flakes of silicate rock weathered from glassy lava beds, calcium bentonite is useful as it specifically targets bacteria and has a strong ‘drawing’ effect. It is also used for facemasks and clay baths to detoxify and cleanse skin. It is great for acne as well as first aid.<br /><br /><b>What for:</b> Splinters, boils, stings, bites, ingrown hairs, septic wounds, cysts and slow healing closed wounds.<br /><br /><b>How to use</b>: Mix the clay with a little water until it is a paste and apply to the area required. While it dries it should draw the toxins out and bring splinters closer to the surface <br /><br /><b>Where to buy:</b> <a href="http://www.gonative.co.nz/shop/Clays+and+Muds/Bentonite+clay.html">Go native sell a really high quality bentonite clay</a> suitable for detox and first aid purposes. It is a completely natural sun dried<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> magnesium-rich, volcanic-origin smectite which is taken from the ground and milled to 325 mesh.</span><br />Home version: Making baking soda into a paste will have a similar effect but is not as powerful at drawing. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoEGgLlC17xizuRMWzuhGg7ibtGhxjcxuFE7sRw1pZu6wtrhRaLZdXka27sUSZRnGpopRZrcY6SKnpk6EyoVn3ufOg_RvTeGs4bdb9OVqfdQuvcN2o-_PZtuLN-VnoLmuKU_9CcgjEEw/s1600/bentonite_clay_poultice_splinter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="170" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoEGgLlC17xizuRMWzuhGg7ibtGhxjcxuFE7sRw1pZu6wtrhRaLZdXka27sUSZRnGpopRZrcY6SKnpk6EyoVn3ufOg_RvTeGs4bdb9OVqfdQuvcN2o-_PZtuLN-VnoLmuKU_9CcgjEEw/s200/bentonite_clay_poultice_splinter.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Calcium Bentonite clay</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Saline solution</b><br /><br />Saline solution is basically a salt water mix that is used to flush wounds and clean mucosal membranes. You can make a homemade solution, but every first aid kit should have a few tubes of saline for emergency use.<br /><br /><b>What for:</b> Flushing wounds <br /><br /><b>How to use:</b> break the end off of the tube and use to rinse wounds <br /><br /><b>Where to buy:</b> You can get saline from most pharmacies or first aid kit suppliers<br /><br />Home version: Home made saline can be made by mixing 1 cup of boiling water with a teaspoon of salt and allowing to cool. This keeps for a few days in a sealed container or can be used immediately it reaches an appropriate temperature.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxNMW4FZx6enZuDZTXW4RmVUo2OIEzukVYjeQHM0C136CCwDveZ0auBHyBkhnrnXoBoxXkKPXkBXyi_TS3Pq3HOUiyJkLXy719EpqITkmD9mJhPEUAVEGy7FnBR3GaU8dYfMccgmL-UI/s1600/saline_solution_irrigation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxNMW4FZx6enZuDZTXW4RmVUo2OIEzukVYjeQHM0C136CCwDveZ0auBHyBkhnrnXoBoxXkKPXkBXyi_TS3Pq3HOUiyJkLXy719EpqITkmD9mJhPEUAVEGy7FnBR3GaU8dYfMccgmL-UI/s200/saline_solution_irrigation.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saline solution</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Witch hazel:</b><br /><br />Despite its ominous name, Witch Hazel is a helpful plant and is a really handy thing to have on the shelf for big bleeds and swelling. It is highly astringent and applied directly to a profusely bleeding wound (scalps are notorious for this) or a quickly swelling limb, it can stop the bleeding much more quickly than usual. Witch hazel is also excellent for flushing eyes out when they have been injured but not if it is the alcoholic tincture. Understandably that would smart more than a little! If it is obvious to you that the bleeding is out of hand then you need to call an ambulance.<br /><br /><b>What for: </b>Profuse bleeds and serious swelling<br /><br /><b>How to use:</b> Pour some onto a sterile cloth or cotton pad and apply as a compress to a wound or swollen area.<br /><br /><b>Where to buy:</b> Go native sell a certified<a href="https://secure.zeald.com/gonative/results.html?q=witch+hazel"> organic witch hazel</a> suitable for wound treatment.<br /><br /><b>Home version:</b> Strong black tea is also rich in tannins and will have a similar effect. If you happen to have a witch hazel tree outside you can make your own decocotion from bark and leaves, this will only keep for a few days in the fridge but is excellent for rinsing out eyes.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw14HU1wQIVoqNxxJ1GXUz87ue118daBxmdPDt2G2_hlfLTE5QgRMQzzPM8ZNakP-32e9jEXz1KgJLO5T4DHtXqM024t70ysGuj_ZW9RL0UTIURg9czLwoIQNXdWlAeJzxdXOSGvqEg0Y/s1600/witch_hazel_astringent_stop_bleeding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw14HU1wQIVoqNxxJ1GXUz87ue118daBxmdPDt2G2_hlfLTE5QgRMQzzPM8ZNakP-32e9jEXz1KgJLO5T4DHtXqM024t70ysGuj_ZW9RL0UTIURg9czLwoIQNXdWlAeJzxdXOSGvqEg0Y/s200/witch_hazel_astringent_stop_bleeding.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Witch hazel, <i>Hamamelis virginiana</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Manuka honey with UMF</b><br /><br />Active manuka honey is a powerful antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral. For it to be effective it must have a UMF(unique manuka factor) rating. The higher the rating the more effective the honey is (and the more expensive it is). Manuka honey has been shown to be particularly effective against staph infections and festering wounds. Excellent to put on boils and sores or anything that is taking a long time to heal. Manuka honey is also excellent to have in the kit to deal with serious blood sugar lows and to assist with painful procedures such as splinter removal because sweet things are shown to offer immediate pain relief for acute pain.<br /><br /><b>What for:</b> Slow festering wounds and infections like Staph or MRSA<br /><br /><b>How to use: </b>Apply liberally to the wound and then cover with a light bandage if it’s in a ‘high use’ area. Change the dressing at least twice a day gently washing the wound in between.<br /><br /><b>Where to buy:</b> <a href="http://www.nzartisanhoney.co.nz/productdetails.php?prod=11">J.Friend and Co</a> is a New Zealand artisan honey company that do a UMF 10+ and a UMF 15+ both suitable to include in a first aid kit. When you buy your honey you can see where it was collected and who owns the hives. What could be better than that?<br /><br /><b>Home version</b>: If you don’t have any fancy Manuka honey then any honey will do as even standard honey has antimicrobial effects although not nearly as powerful as Manuka honey. The cheaper and more processed the honey is the less effective it is. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bampYmqNm5_gSIeY_POqh-q4rLECtX1RPXCVLAs9S_ZGX4wPEdLCGzakhbGEUOI_K-mt0V-1RTIuVa2Oz9CjsZvTN9NnUWoYC-MdlblxGImlEH4RDMC7vHI9u45AsKUvrnWcUh4uXEw/s1600/manuka_honey_UMF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bampYmqNm5_gSIeY_POqh-q4rLECtX1RPXCVLAs9S_ZGX4wPEdLCGzakhbGEUOI_K-mt0V-1RTIuVa2Oz9CjsZvTN9NnUWoYC-MdlblxGImlEH4RDMC7vHI9u45AsKUvrnWcUh4uXEw/s200/manuka_honey_UMF.jpg" width="166" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Manuka Honey</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Rescue remedy</b><br /><br />Rescue remedy is a bach flower remedy made with a combination of flower essences that are specifically helpful for moments of panic, anxiety and shock. These flowers are Rock Rose, Cherry plum, Clematis, Impatiens and Star of Bethlehem. Excellent for accidents or to soothe children before dressing a wound. Also handy to have for emotional storms and tantrums.<br /><br /><b>What for:</b> Shock or fright<br /><br /><b>How to use</b>: Spray 2 sprays to under the tongue. For very small infants and children you can spray it onto the back of their head.<br /><br /><b>Where to buy</b>: <a href="http://www.healthpost.co.nz/">Healthpost</a> is my all time favourite one stop shop for most health products, it helps that they operate out of my old home town! They do a self branded <a href="http://www.healthpost.co.nz/supplements-and-natural-health/a-z-of-natural-health/bach-flower-remedies/BFRRT/Rescue-Remedy-Treatment-Bottle.html">Rescue Remedy</a> which is great value for money. Many of the other remedies listed here can be purchased from Healthpost which makes setting up your own first aid kit much simpler!<br /><br />Home version: A sweet lozenge or spoon full of honey can soothe a panicked child. Massage and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZTHjjGtuDA">acupressure</a> can also be used to settle or relieve pain. Another trick is to bruise Rosemary between your palms and take a deep breath of it.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sGon3NRL_ln8cINF0N_lPVlXutMObO2pKgKTehaK8rwRIQGTVAReg53308GTXePB28r9a6WPT2FXva0zA0wPWpPw4nahMqz_VZNhfnKE-OqbGFGIQiQhgKtAbwS9Qaf0PjAwuAwXWk0/s1600/rockrose_impatiens_starofbethlehem_clematis_cherryplum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="134" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0sGon3NRL_ln8cINF0N_lPVlXutMObO2pKgKTehaK8rwRIQGTVAReg53308GTXePB28r9a6WPT2FXva0zA0wPWpPw4nahMqz_VZNhfnKE-OqbGFGIQiQhgKtAbwS9Qaf0PjAwuAwXWk0/s320/rockrose_impatiens_starofbethlehem_clematis_cherryplum.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rock rose, Clematis, Star of Bethlehem, Cherry plum, Impatiens</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Arnica</b><br /><br />Arnica Montana is a plant that grows in the mountains, its healing properties were first identified when the local people noticed the wild mountain goats would consume it when they experienced falls but at no other time. Arnica is one of the most commonly used remedies for bumps and bruises. It works by stimulating the activity of white blood cells which process congested blood, and by dispersing trapped fluids from joints,muscles, and bruised tissue. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial qualities and it is these that help to reduce pain and swelling as well as improving wound healing.<br /><br /><b>What for:</b> Bumps and bruises<br /><br /><b>How to use:</b> Apply the cream liberally to the bruised area as soon as possible after the accident occurs. Do not use on open wounds or broken skin. Homeopathic Arnica pilules can be taken internally and I often dose with both, the sweetness of the pilules certainly distract from any pain!<br /><br /><b>Where to buy:</b> <a href="http://www.simillimum.co.nz/index.php/sales">Simillimum homeopathic pharmacy</a> do a 10% Arnica cream which is good value for money and very effective. They also supply arnica pilules in 30c strength which is suitable for most around the home bumps and bruises.<br /><br /><b>Home version:</b> Use your R.I.C.E (rest, elevation, ice and compression) for bruised areas, a dilution of vinegar and water applied to the site as well as consuming lots of garlic can help the bruise fade more quickly.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arnica Montana</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Comfrey</b><br /><br />Comfrey is a potent healer for ligaments, joints and bones, in fact its hedge name is ‘knit bone’ for it's ability to heal bones and tendons. It is a strong astringent so is excellent for resolving any internal bleeding or large bruises such as haematoma. Comfrey is rich in allantoin and is one of the best cell proliferants in the herbal kingdom which makes it the ideal remedy when there is any damage from strains and sprains that need to be healed. The leaves are also rich in mucilage which is a binding agent and a demulcent.<br /><br /><b>What for: </b>Extended bruising and haematoma, strains, sprains and fractures.<br /><br /><b>How to use:</b> Apply a comfrey cream or salve directly to the damaged area and repeat a few times a day. It's important to not apply comfrey to a bone that has not been set correctly as it can facilitate healing on a bad join. Most home use will be on smaller injuries anyway!<br /><br /><b>Where to buy</b>: Kiwiherb are the foremost herbal dispensary in New Zealand and they do an excellent <a href="http://www.kiwiherb.co.nz/afawcs0145625/CATID=11/ID=39/SID=103555750/productdetails.html">comfrey ointment</a> made with certified organic sunflower oil.<br /><br /><b>Home version:</b> A poultice made out of lightly steamed and chopped comfrey leaves is a powerful healer, and when you have some serious healing to do the roots can be mashed up and applied directly to the wounded region along with the leaves. Crushing the leaves releases a thick stringy goop which is the binding and healing agent. This component will also draw open wounds closed and bind it up. For large wounds I suggest seeing a Doctor before taking any action yourself, however once a wound has been treated conventionally you can still use comfrey during the healing process. Comfrey can also be taken internally but I would only recommend this under the supervision of a naturopath. Interestingly Comfrey leaves used to be battered and fried as an alternative to fish during the leaner years of the great depression as it has a similar flavour.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Comfrey, <i>Symphytum offinalis </i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Lavender</b><br /><br />Lavender essential oil is a fabulous item to have in any first aid kid because of its versatility. It is a pain reliever, a healing agent, vulenary, antiseptic and even an antidepressant. The cicatrizant properties make lavender excellent for wound healing and helping to treat eczema and psoriasis where there is open weeping skin. <br />A few drops on a warm facecloth applied to the temples can relieve headache, a little massaged into the skin with some carrier oil can relieve pain and stress, applied neat to wounds it can relieve pain, itching as well as aid healing. Lavender oil is renowned for its ability to help heal burns. Once first aid has been used lavender oil can be applied to healing skin neat (do not use other carrier oils with it as they pull the heat into the wound)<br /><br /><b>What for</b>: Burns, wounds, weeping rashes, eczema and tension.<br /><br /><b>How to use: </b>Apply neat to skin (one of the only essential oils that can be used this way) or diluted with a little carrier oil. Even sniffing the bottle can relieve tension and stress.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Where: </b>I use a specific genus of lavender oil call Pacific Blue from <a href="mailto:chris.ginny@actrix.co.nz">Arbordale Lavender farm</a>. This is a very gentle and safe lavender oil which is low in camphor and can be used neat even on very small children. Cheap lavender oils are made in spike lavender which is not only high in camphor but low in healing properties. Many people find that spike lavender will give them headaches. To order contact Arbordale Lavender Farm on</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 03
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Home version: If you have a lavender bush then you can bruise a few flowers and inhale them or make a tea from the flower heads to bathe wounds and burns in (make sure the water is cool or tepid)</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lavender, <i>Lavandula angustifolia</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Manuka or teatree oil</b><br /><br />Manuka oil is a powerful antifingal, anti septic, and anti microbial. I consider manuka oil to be the ‘big guns’ of infection management. Teatree oil is more commonly used but I like to use Manuka oil as it is a native to New Zealand and their properties are almost identical with Manuka oil actually being more powerful in the antifungal and antibacterial areas. The active component responsible for most of Manuka oil’s healing properties is the The β-triketone complex. This is a powerful complex and is currently being studied with great interest. Manuka oil has the ability to ability to fight all microorganisms including gram negative and gram positive bacteria. Manuka also comes with analgesic properties to ameliorate pain.<br /><br /><b>What for:</b> Festering wounds that won’t heal or as a topical disinfectant for wounds after cleansing such as bedsores, festering splinters, abscesses and carbuncles. Because of its antifungal properties Manuka oil is also great for ringworm, athletes foot and impetigo.<br /><br /><b>How to use:</b> This oil is powerful and should not be used neat. A few drops mixed in with warm water to bathe a wound or a few drops in some carrier oil is sufficient. <br /><br /><b>Where to get it:</b> My favourite brand to use is <a href="http://teatreeoil.co.nz/">New Zealand Coromandel Mountains Tea Tree oil</a> which is made from a blend of Manuka and Kanuka oils in the Coromandel and is hand harvested. It is Biogrow certified organic and a top quality essential oil.<br /><br /><b>Home version:</b> Not much matches up to the powerful nature of Manuka oil, if you have a Kanuka or Manuka tree in the garden then you can use the leaves and bark to make a decoction which can be used topically. Manuka tea also makes a great mouthwash to combat gingivitis. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Manuka, <i>Leptospermum scoparium</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Chamomile</b><br /><br />Chamomile is a powerful pain reliever and mild sedative, Peter Rabbit was soothed with a cup of chamomile tea after over indulging and so chamomile tea is an excellent carminative and digestive aid for upset tummies. Chamomile tea can be used topically to relieve pain or internally for gastro upsets. It is also good for soothing grumpy children, for teething dramas and to aid in sleep and rest. Every first aid kit for children should have some dried chamomile in it for these reasons.<br /><br />What for: Tantrums, tummies, teething and pain<br /><br /><b>How to use:</b> If you have chamomile teabags you can dip them in warm water before applying directly to sore spot. For tummies, teething and tantrums it is best given as a tea and can be easily made up like any other tea. Giving children a small cloth bag of chamomile to sniff if they are having a grouchy day can help lift their mood and the same bag under a pillow will help with sleep and sweet dreams.<br /><br /><b>Where to buy:</b> My absolute favourite chamomile tea is <a href="http://www.artemis.co.nz/products/50-Baby_Gripe_Tea">Artemis baby gripe tea</a> as it also has the added benefits of aniseed, fennel, licorice, peppermint, dandelion and cinnamon. All of these ingredients aid digestion and soothe troubled minds. The plants used are processed to maintain full potency and not diluted with fillers such as fruit fragments or poor quality flowers. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Note: if your baby has reflux then I would avoid this mixture and go straight to pure chamomile flowers as peppermint can relax the oesophageal valve worsening any reflux. </span><br /><br />Home version: Any chamomile tea will do though most commercial brands are weak, if you have a plant out the back then so much the better. A handful of flowers in warm water makes a perfect panacea.</span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chamomile, <i>Matricaria recutita</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>First Aid Kit in a Jar</b><br /><br /><a href="http://www.potofgoldbalm.co.nz/">Pot of Gold Skin Balm</a> made with Pine Rosin and Grapefruit peel extract is the perfect one stop shop for most Boo boos and is the perfect size to fit in a purse or nappy bag. The ingredients in Pot of Gold aid healing both internally and externally. It is also a great chapped lip balm and soother for skin issues. The ideal one stop shop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Other useful things</b><br /><br /><br />Wheat bag – great for warming poultices and soothing sprains<br />Matches – used to sterilise needles and tweezers for splinter extraction<br />Needles – for splinter extraction<br />Sharp scissors – to cut bandages and remove clothes<br />Wound tape – to hold wounds closed<br />Physio tape – to strap a twisted or sore joint still<br />Tweezers – to help clean wounds and remove sforeign bodies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gloves – to protect you from infection or damage<br />Wound dressing – to place over wounds once treated<br />Alcohol wipes – to sterilise the skin around a wound<br />Syringes – for use with irrigation and dosage<br />Reading glasses – any cheap high magnification ones are excellent for seeing small wounds and splinters<br />Crepe bandages - no first aid kit is complete without a crepe bandage</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Large cloth - used for supporting limbs or making slings. A belt or scarf will also do<br /><br /><br /><b>How to make a homemade poultice</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Poultices warm or cool, drawing or healing are an excellent home tool to use for treating injuries with herbs from the garden. Every first aid kit should have half a dozen squares of clean cotton to use for poultices. An old sheet cut into 40cm squares is ideal but any hemmed cotton squares or rectangles will do. To make a poultice you simply encase the macerated herbs in the middle of the cloth and roll it up before placing on the injury. If the area harmed is a limb you can use the longer tails to tie the cloth on or secure it with some gladwrap. If you are using a liquid or decoction for the poultice you simply soak the cloth in the liquid before folding it up and placing it on the injury. To keep the poultice warm you can use a wheat bag or hot water bottle placed over the back of the poultice. Some poultices you can leave over night but ideally they will be changed every couple of hours, especially if it is a drawing poultice. A drawing poultice is designed to pull infection, foreign objects and toxins out of the body. A healing poultice is designed to bathe the injury in a healing medium. Most poultices will do both. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>Product Key:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">1. Lifestream Biogenic Aloe vera mist</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">2. Simillimum Hypercal tincture</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">3. Go Native Witch Hazel<br />4. J.Friend & Co Manuka Honey 10+ UMF</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">5. Artemis Itch Calm ointment</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">6. Simillimum Arnica cream<br />7. Kiwiherb Comfrey ointment<br />8. Simillimum Arnica pilules 30c<br />9. Arbordale Pacific Blue Lavender Essential Oil<br />10. Health Post Bach Flower Rescue Remedy<br />11. Go Native Calcium Bentonite Clay (packaging differs from standard retail)<br />12. New Zealand Coromandel Mountains Tea Tree - Manuka and Kanuka Essential oil<br />13. Thymeheal Chickweed cream<br />14. Artemis Baby Gripe tea</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">15.Home Essentials hydrogen peroxide</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Not numbered: Pot of Gold Skin Balm</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I have put together my ideal first aid kit based on the products I would use and consider to be the best for the job. If you like what you see then <b>comment on this blog post before January 7 and you will be in to win this entire set.</b> Entries are open world wide. Please note the final prize may differ from this image. Some items such as matches, tweezers and bandages may not be included in the final item. If you are an overseas winner it is your responsibility to ensure you check that all items will be allowed into the country and cleared through customs.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Terms and conditions:<br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. By entering the competition or promotion each entrant will be deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions and to have agreed to be bound by them. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">2. Failure to supply all requested personal information at the time of submitting an entry might result on the entry being invalid. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">3. No responsibility will be taken for late/lost/misdirected mail, incomplete entries or entries with incorrect postage. Entries will be deemed to be void if stolen, forged, mutilated or tampered with in any way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">4. Only one entry per person, placing a comment on this specific Blog post automatically enters you in the draw.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">5. By entering the competition winners agree to their names being published and to be photographed and/or interviewed by Natural Mum on the Cheap or the promoter and that the promoter may use their names and such photographs and/or interviews for publicity purposes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">6. The prizes are not transferable or exchangeable, and cannot be redeemed for cash. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">7. All prizes are subject to standard terms and conditions of the company supplying the prizes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">8. Full details of the prize items can be found on respective websites as detailed above</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">9. Only entries received by the closing date 7 January 2013 will be accepted. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">10. Winners will be drawn on random.org in Dunedin, New Zealand on 31 January 2013</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">11. Winner will be notified by announcing on the Natural Mum on the Cheap Blog</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">12. If the prize winner cannot be contacted within 3 days, at The Press' option that winner will forfeit the prize with no right of compensation and the prize will be redrawn. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">13. Subject to any applicable law which cannot be excluded,Natural Mum on the Cheap and their associates are are not responsible for any loss or damage whatsoever that is suffered (including but not limited to indirect or consequential loss) or for personal injury suffered or sustained during the course of accepting or using the prizes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">14. Entry is open worldwide</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">15. The decision of judges in relation to any aspect of the competition is final and no correspondence will be entered into. </span><br />
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Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com109tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-86964038531696349162012-11-14T23:42:00.000-08:002012-11-14T23:42:36.340-08:0030 Ways with Puree<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having gone the Baby Led Weaning route we didn’t have a big use for purees and mashed food. However with our first boy I had stocked up on a whole lot of it intending to make my own delicious organic alternatives. My mum in law also kept our freezer well stocked in lovely seasonal produce that she had lovingly stewed and sieved. So once it became apparent we didn’t have a lot of use for it I devised a number of interesting ways to dispose of our lovely purees.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkvIR-PhFUsK3AOGi0Q4xaZRel1T1HtXT57euZ1kg5o2hZxTx1pPD4TLtG1daUzwf91lT8a9iSlVtRUl1M2wSUQsvxYxO-aJGpA7EFhAzGVabOHSzoXWX6ECO4etzzePeS99jTnKlEbM/s1600/puree_BLW_baby_Food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkvIR-PhFUsK3AOGi0Q4xaZRel1T1HtXT57euZ1kg5o2hZxTx1pPD4TLtG1daUzwf91lT8a9iSlVtRUl1M2wSUQsvxYxO-aJGpA7EFhAzGVabOHSzoXWX6ECO4etzzePeS99jTnKlEbM/s320/puree_BLW_baby_Food.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Freeze it into iceblocks, my <a href="http://siananigan.blogspot.com/2012/06/icecream-good-for-what-ails-you.html">sons love iceblocks</a> in the bath and puree makes excellent non drip iceblocks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Instead of sugar laden jam, use fruit purees to spread on toast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. I love porridge with a little fruit on the side, fruit puree is a low sugar healthy alternative.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. A lot of baked goods are high in fat, you can use fruit puree to replace oil or butter content without losing moistness or flavour. <a href="http://spryliving.com/recipes/black-bean-prune-brownies/">These brownies</a> are a great example made with black beans and prune puree.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. Replacing eggs, just as above eggs are often used to put moistness into baking. If you run out, open a jar of puree instead. <a href="http://wewerebuilttolast.blogspot.com/2008/03/milk-free-egg-free-applesauce-muffins.html">This muffin recipe</a> is healthy and delicious.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. If you have a dehydrator, fruit puree makes an excellent fruit leather for lunch snacks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. Cold cuts of meat or roasts are lovely with a side of fruit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Edible finger painting, a fun game that you can lick off of your fingers when finished. Sensory fun for all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. If you have a really yummy fruit puree you can freeze it into icecubes for smoothies</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. Mixing fruit puree with chia seeds makes a delicious and <a href="http://www.eatingbirdfood.com/2012/05/easy-strawberry-chia-seed-jam/">nutritious jam</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11. If your child is all about the finger food, fruit puree makes a great dipping sauce </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">12. We have just discovered the addictive nature of tomato sauce in this household. Mixing it 50/50 with fruit or vegetable puree (carrots is my fave) is a great way of reducing sugar and salt intake while keeping that great t-sauce flavour. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13. If you are making a soup, stew, casserole or pasta sauces then puree can really bump up the veggie content and the flavour.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">14. Instead of buying fruit yoghurt pots that are mostly sugar, add a little fruit puree to natural yoghurt. Yum</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">15. If you have a massive stash of apple puree then you can make <a href="http://stickygooeycreamychewy.com/2011/01/25/bubble-bubble-toil-and-trouble-homemade-apple-butter-recipe/">apple butter</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">16. If you have any savoury purees they can easily be added to rice or quinoa to make a nutritious risotto.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">17. When you’ve had a stressful day with the kids a fruit puree will make a lov<a href="http://oddlyhealthy.com/healthy-advice/an-assortment-of-homemade-fruit-facial-masques-that-provide-nourishment-to-your-skin/">ely face masque.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18. If you have guests coming over and have nothing for dessert ,then a packet of pastry and a jar of puree will whip up to a delicious batch of Apple McGinties in less than 15 minutes. Just spread the puree on one sheet, top with another sheet, bake, and done. Voila!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">19. Add to apple pies or strudels for bulk when you are low on fresh fruit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">20. Make <a href="http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/23584/no-added-sugar-apple-oat-flapjacks.aspx">these yummy flapjacks</a> to put into lunch boxes instead of sugary muesli bars. (just replace puree for juice)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">21. On a hot day you can use fruit puree icecubes to make this delicious <a href="http://www.molliekatzen.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipe=fruit_sorbets">food processor sorbet</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">22. Stacked with icecream and cream in a parfait glass a puree will become a not so naughty dessert. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">23. Soak some oats, grains and dried fruit overnight with a splash of water and some puree. You will have a delicious <a href="http://www.nigella.com/recipes/view/basic-bircher-muesli-4010">bircher muesli</a> for breakfast. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">24. A great child friendly dessert is this <a href="http://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipe/apple-and-sultana-baked-custard-L4140.html">tasty baked apple custard</a> with puree instead of diced apple.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">25. When you’ve had one of those days use some of those fruit icecubes to chill yourself a delicious <a href="http://www.lostsaloon.com/mixology/how-to-make-an-apple-martini-the-appletini-recipe/">appletini</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">26. If you have a teething baby fruit pure makes an excellent and edible frozen teether.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">27. On a cold and rainy day make this <a href="http://recession-proof.savvysugar.com/Mollie-Katzens-Moosewood-Brazilian-Black-Bean-Soup-2518436">divine black bean soup</a> and instead of orange juice you can use an apricot or nectarine fruit puree.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">28. Make this delicious <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/small-batch-recipe-an-adaptable-chutney-urban-preserving-with-marisa-mcclellan-173002">small batch fruit chutney.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">29. Pancakes are my favourite breakfast, topped with fruit puree they are a little less naughty.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">30. Fruit puree makes a fabulous marinade for chops or chicken bits and an excellent glaze for hams.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And if all else fails. I guess you can bathe in it?</span>Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-75970069886737482032012-10-11T02:11:00.001-07:002012-10-11T12:11:39.728-07:00My Baby Wearing Journey<br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My introduction into baby wearing was
fairly inauspicious. A kind friend gave me their elite front pack and I was an
instant convert. I loved wearing my wee boy, he loved it too. It was one of the
best gifts I had, it totally changed my parenting and for the better. Being up
at my height and being able to interact with the world was right up his alley.
He refused point blank to face inwards to me and instead demanded to be
outwards facing to enjoy the goings on around us while still being close enough
to cuddle. My absolute favourite thing was taking him on bushwalks, I would go
every week to wander through the forest with him, the freedom of being able to
go ‘off piste’ was great and not having to deal with a stroller in and out of
the car was really handy. It was safe to say my baby wearing addiction was
sealed. When he grew out of his front pack at 6ish months I invested in a
pocket sling and once again lived the high life of baby wearing. Supermarket shops
were a dream, having him close enabled him to interact with me but also kept
him from pulling everything off of the shelf and losing his business at me. The
only downside was that due to bad positioning and a pre-existing imbalance in my body it slowly pulled at my shoulder
making me uncomfortable, this threw my hip out of alignment and ended up with a
dodgy knee, wrist and about 6 months of physio. After this experience you think
I’d give it up. But I loved being close to my boy, and wearing him meant I
could out-manoeuvre any stroller on any terrain. So when he gave up wanting to
be carried at 2 years it was with a sigh I packed away my sling.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FWxJr2NrVKPY9pZrK4dihtwJPMJ2DY-Dd7hc7Cpc8iaG2c4lAxAdy3WfSXGdVFN4O7f9j_r8paGs8PAsTlCIISxm6RDrWjmsDp2d7DdLbAxbEC5m-9EaDlvUyCh6c8tt9ESFR6efbPc/s1600/elite_frontpack_crotchdangler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FWxJr2NrVKPY9pZrK4dihtwJPMJ2DY-Dd7hc7Cpc8iaG2c4lAxAdy3WfSXGdVFN4O7f9j_r8paGs8PAsTlCIISxm6RDrWjmsDp2d7DdLbAxbEC5m-9EaDlvUyCh6c8tt9ESFR6efbPc/s320/elite_frontpack_crotchdangler.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
2 years later I got knocked up and started to research carriers again.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That is when I found out I was <a href="http://www.lolbrary.com/content/418/walking-the-dog-youre-doing-it-wrong-11418.jpg">Doing. It.Wrong</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At first I was a bit shocked and defensive,
‘It worked for us’ was my response when I heard people talk about the dangers
of outwards facing and ‘crotch danglers’. I was absolutely certain that my boy
was fine therefore front packs were fine. He wanted to forwards face, so it
must have been right, right?</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The truth is, front packs like the elite or the baby bjorn are not designed to
be safe on baby’s hips or their wearer and cause not only a bad posture in the
person wearing them but an unhealthy posture in baby. They are very trendy though, not a day
goes by when a celebrity isn’t <a href="http://cdn.blogs.babble.com/famecrawler/files/2011/10/39262PCN_SJP36.jpg">snapped with a baby dangling from their front</a>. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Narrow crotched baby carriers put pressure on
the spine of baby and force the person wearing them to thrust their hips out.
They also <a href="http://www.hipdysplasia.org/developmental-dysplasia-of-the-hip/prevention/baby-carriers-seats-and-other-equipment/">don’t support the hip joints as they should and can cause hipdysplasia</a>. I was lucky that I had a big butty boy with big butty nappies. I was
lucky that he grew out of the carrier before too long and I upgraded to a
better carrier. (well better for him anyway). </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVpeRsn9_klXz4WMnZXr6EqfKs0CP9bT2XCKdnRPv1FMn7vy7XEQBBXHd7ZDOz2vLPG9LZcKRbEkDnz1aBjbq2e7hD1khKCvz0AqE-lYvSvmdc65nW7jbWdSC6Nf-LFHRPyjUjwExLKI/s1600/IMG_1650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyVpeRsn9_klXz4WMnZXr6EqfKs0CP9bT2XCKdnRPv1FMn7vy7XEQBBXHd7ZDOz2vLPG9LZcKRbEkDnz1aBjbq2e7hD1khKCvz0AqE-lYvSvmdc65nW7jbWdSC6Nf-LFHRPyjUjwExLKI/s320/IMG_1650.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I was lucky that I was surrounded by knowledgeable women who were also kind and
understanding. I was never made to feel bad for my decisions or openly
criticised, (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ConsciousParentingDunedin?ref=ts&fref=ts">thank you Conscious Parenting Dunedin)</a> but I was provided with the right info to make an informed choice.
At first I fought back against that informed choice. I demanded to know safe
ways to carry my second boy forwards facing in case he was like his brother. I
dove into a little pond of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance">cognitive dissonance</a> and wallowed in it for a while.
After I got over myself I came to acknowledge I hadn't made the best decision
carrier wise, I forgave myself and moved on. I learned that instead of outwards
facing I could do a back carry which was more comfortable for both of us and
enabled him to face out and me to free up my front. I learned how to position
baby in a safe position for their hips and spine. I learned how to use a
carrier without stuffing my body up. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwkxbdXrJtvpnmIaM6iPAo4XW2_PhrTKzf8g_PtcH61e2Iyyy6A5GC7tsJWFhxP5FMk-TI11iNyVuL-TvZ4rVZKrdDlN1PkNjpmXMyC6JvVgN4EePD8k5f1eT9bdP2jM6RYROgTLspz0/s1600/New+wrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwkxbdXrJtvpnmIaM6iPAo4XW2_PhrTKzf8g_PtcH61e2Iyyy6A5GC7tsJWFhxP5FMk-TI11iNyVuL-TvZ4rVZKrdDlN1PkNjpmXMyC6JvVgN4EePD8k5f1eT9bdP2jM6RYROgTLspz0/s320/New+wrap.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> And thus started the great baby wearing addiction of 2012, I am so at ease with
baby wearing and so in love with the convenience, ease and closeness that I
don't even miss our stroller – which I sold to pay some bills a few months ago.
I now have a beautiful third hand <a href="http://www.mynaturalbaby.co.nz/manduca-baby-and-child-carrier.html">manduca</a> gifted to me by a wonderful friend, a
second hand Storchenwiege woven wrap that I snapped </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">up on a crunchy mums
trading page and I still have <a href="http://www.unido.co.nz/">my trusty pocket sling</a> to use for short trips and
as an emergency carrier in my purse for those delicious close snuggly carries. I cannot confirm or deny any perusal of
sites offering the beautiful <a href="http://www.wearababy.com/shop/girasolbabywraps?page=shop.product_details&flypage=vmj_genx.tpl&product_id=256&category_id=1">Northern Lights girasol wrap</a> or the manduca
limited edition carriers.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzZL0bwzRaJnleW2jxPfKHr5OCQVuG7wn6w4ENQNZl6KhEUJSQkIxNTeUBCBlpsuJm2Mu1zWgxMuIZq3kU-8cZhQLNCt6qW9A0jMT2q9vd60fwsDleRKHLm2c320NemV-Mgl3lseOhMY/s1600/304801_10151161408010829_2018907060_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzZL0bwzRaJnleW2jxPfKHr5OCQVuG7wn6w4ENQNZl6KhEUJSQkIxNTeUBCBlpsuJm2Mu1zWgxMuIZq3kU-8cZhQLNCt6qW9A0jMT2q9vd60fwsDleRKHLm2c320NemV-Mgl3lseOhMY/s320/304801_10151161408010829_2018907060_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...and luckily for me there are LOADS of great resources out there to feed my addiction. Thank you <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WearingYourBabyDvd?ref=ts&fref=ts">Anna</a> and <a href="http://www.slingbabies.co.nz/Site/Positioning_2.ashx">Slingbabies! </a></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And hooray for New Zealand Baby Wearing Week!</span>Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-56998966692543862322012-10-03T02:50:00.000-07:002012-10-03T02:50:14.254-07:00A pox on all your houses<br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The house has been struck by chicken pox,
after a winter of full on illnesses this seems like the last insult to injury.
But unlike the last litany of mystery bugs and viruses, Chicken Pox is
something I know how to deal with. It’s a familiar childhood illness,
ubiquitous and predictable. However knowledge on how to minimise Chicken Pox
effects is starting to wane and as such I am putting together a Chicken Pox
guide to help parents deal with this virus in a proactive and effective manner.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQATr4S-aG7PYZXcMX2amOOxVrgp30feirIBrvcXrKBBnmAdY7ad90sJUIAYA6f2tN95c0Req5X2MSVxyE44k1KQnbHyDeHjzXUD-XtnEAc8hEdXO8KPht8ZGi_kPAljgWU5FvuNPbqZw/s1600/Chicken_pox_varicella_zoster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQATr4S-aG7PYZXcMX2amOOxVrgp30feirIBrvcXrKBBnmAdY7ad90sJUIAYA6f2tN95c0Req5X2MSVxyE44k1KQnbHyDeHjzXUD-XtnEAc8hEdXO8KPht8ZGi_kPAljgWU5FvuNPbqZw/s320/Chicken_pox_varicella_zoster.jpg" width="203" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chicken Pox Painting by <a href="http://pulpfactor.com/art/6510/realistic-paintings-by-annemarie-busschers/attachment/chicken-pox-painting-by-annemarie-busschers/">Annemarie Busschers</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Typical medical practice for managing chicken pox (Varicella zoster virus) is
to prescribe acyclovir as an antiviral in the early stages, paracetamol for fever, antihistamines
for itch and pinetarsol baths for itch as well. My concern with the first three
at least is the pressure they put on the liver and kidneys and the fact that
some of the adverse effects seem as bad if not worse than the infection itself.
I also worry that it is commonly children that are affected by Chicken Pox and
very rarely are these drugs tested on small children, Acyclovir in particular
is not recommended for under twos.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So if you want to take an alternative route
here is my guide to managing Chicken pox at home.</span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First here is a little overview on how chicken pox manifests:</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Varicella zoster virus is extremely
contagious and has an almost 90% hit rate in people with no prior immunity. The
virus incubates for 10-21 days and you become contagious a couple of days
before the spots appear (sneaky isn’t it, this virus knows how to get around).
Chicken pox is usually spread by airborne droplets (coughing) and from the
liquid in the blisters. While it is highly communicable it is considered mild
and self limiting unless a complication arises. These complications usually
occur in compromised individuals who do not manage the illness well. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chicken pox is usually diagnosed by the
distinctive vesicular rash which forms primarily on the face, torso and groin
though it can appear anywhere including on the eye, in the ears and in the
mouth and throat. The rash forms fluid filled blisters which will eventually
burst and crust over. Once all the blisters have crusted there is no longer a
chance of contagion though your child may not be accepted back into society
until the marks have faded. (unclean unclean). Often people with Chicken pox
will have a low grade fever and nausea, usually manifesting up to four days
before the spots appear.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you are pregnant, immune compromised or
have had a course of steroids recently then you are at high risk of
complications and seeing a doctor is advisable. If you are none of these and
you feel confident to manage the disease then it might be best to keep your
germs to yourself and stay out of the doctor’s waiting room.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Things to watch out for:</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The rash does not start crusting after 5 days of infection and continues to
worsen</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The fever worsens after a few days of
infection and does not let up</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The blisters seem reddened or infected</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Child seems listless and worsens instead of
improving</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So how do you treat Chicken Pox?</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First
stage: Exposure and Incubation</span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If your family have exposed and you feel
you may be incubating chicken pox (fever, runny nose, tiredness) then don’t be
a hero. Keep your kids at home and stay away from infants, pregnant women and
the elderly.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The first thing to do is ensure anyone
affected is well hydrated, keeping fluids up is very important.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The second thing to be aware of is
nutrition, people who are low in the amino acid L-lysine are at risk of
complications and increased severity of infection. Taking an additional
supplement of lysine while Chicken pox is circulating and once infection is
established is a good idea, these supplements are far more effective in the
incubation stage than when the pox has erupted. Also ensuring a strong immunity
by maintaining Vitamin D levels and maintaining good nutrition is a must.
Poorly nourished children who are low in essential nutrients are at a much
higher risk of complications.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So to
summarise supplements</span></span></span></b><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vitamin D</span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vitamin C</span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vitamin B complex</span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">L-Lysine</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recommended dosage is 1000iu daily for
Vitamin D and 12mg of L-lysine per Kg of body weight in children over two.Taking Sodium ascorbate or Lipospheric Vitaman C in
a bolus dose when contact with Chicken pox can bolster the immune system, up to
2000mg over the course of the day can be easily tolerated though exceeding this
can cause an upset tummy, there is no hazardous upper limit with Vitamin C
though large doses can cause your bowels to be a bit more hasty. These doses
are a guide only. No upper limit has been established with Lysine, though
higher doses have been associated with gallstones.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you prefer not to supplement then you
can stock up on lysine rich foods such as eggs, dairy, most nuts, red meat,
beans, fruit and veg, brewers yeast, mung bean sprouts and spirulina. It may also
be wise to avoid foods rich in L-arginine as arginine uses a similar pathway
for uptake in the body as lysine, therefore food high in arginine may increase
lysine requirements and reduce availability. Foods rich in arginine to be
avoided are chocolate, fish, coconut, wheat flours, carob, peanuts chickpeas,
raisins, brown rice and gelatine.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Getting sunshine will increase your D
intake but ensure it is large areas of skin for periods of 10-15 minutes at a
time, longer exposure will slowly reduce Vitamin D synthesis. Vitamin C can be
obtained though fresh fruit and vegetables, kiwifruit in particular is a good
source, but it must be fresh.</span></span></span><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Taking a B
complex is a good idea too, or eating vitamin B rich foods, such as avocados, oats, organ meats, legumes and brazil nuts. </span></span></span>
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Its really important to understand that
these supplementations or diet changes are a short term course of action to limit
the severity of Chicken pox and not a long term lifestyle choice. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Second
Stage: Rash appears</span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Once the rash appears treatment of Chicken
pox is more about ameliorating discomfort, preventing itching and reducing risk
of complication.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The skin is performing an important role at
this stage by maintaining an environment that prevents the spread of infection.
Our skin is usually dry with a high salt concentration due to sweat. These
conditions are not favorable for bacterial growth. Sweat and sebaceous skin
secretions also contain substances that kill </span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">bacteria</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">. The skin is also associated with the <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21734715">lymph system as aperipheral lymph organ </a>and acts as part of the adaptive immune response. It’s
important to let the skin do its job. The key to avoiding secondary infections
and complications, is to assist this natural defence system. Things that
prevent your skin from doing its job include over-bathing, poor nutrition, inappropriate
care of sores, dirty fingernails and scratching. A lot of common chicken pox
treatments actually increase risk of infection. Instead here is a list of
treatments that will reduce risk and aid healing.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Skin
Ph</span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Skin sweats salts and maintains a Ph that
is hostile to bacteria. Destroying this balance can lead the way to infection.
Avoid baking soda baths, as even though they reduce itch they will change the
ph and make the skin vulnerable. Heavy soaping and drying is also a bad idea.
If you are using baths to reduce itch then after each bath restoring the skin
Ph is a must. Daubing your child gently with a saline and cider vinegar mix
will help restore the right acidity and avoid bacteria from spreading. If your
child will tolerate it you can put this mix into a spray bottle.</span></span></span><span class="usercontent"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Saline Vinegar mix</strong></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 cup water</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 teaspoon salt</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 tablespoon cider vinegar</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lavender
oil, </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lavendula officinalis</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lavender is fabulous for skin healing,
preventing infection and promoting healing. I source a local Pacific Blue genus
of Lavender that is low in camphor from <a href="http://whitepages.co.nz/w/Arbordale+Lavender+Farm+and+Giftshop/103016294_BUS.html">arbordale lavender farm</a>. This is gentle
enough to be applied neat but diluting it 1 part lavender oil to 9 parts
carrier oil is a best to avoid evaporation. This mixture can be applied
directly to the pox sores to take the itch out. I have used this on my boy and
he hasn't scratched once. A note on lavender, a study was done which indicated
that Lavender essential oil and tea tree oil were linked to breast tissue
growth in boys. This <a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa064725">study</a> was very poorly conducted and included only 3 test
subjects with absolutely no research done on what other products these children
were putting on their skin and in one instance one of the lavender products
cited as being an issue only negligible amounts of actual lavender in it. There
is far more science to indicate that artificial fragrances are an issue. In any
instance, the use of lavender oil for chicken pox is short term and for any
danger to the endocrine system to be present it would have to be long term
chronic use.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5d0KBR2FMdd6mKgwX3UFmuRvWpz4TAZjgr96DV006Q2GvUpLdFZ_UHBfemwOZYdpLGSvUlGYwdXbg54bqFaL19SuLqBu6RneVdf7u070_eYL2C1AP_sYWexTFOpzSOvRVv9FHuA4Kqg/s1600/lavender_oil_chicken_pox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK5d0KBR2FMdd6mKgwX3UFmuRvWpz4TAZjgr96DV006Q2GvUpLdFZ_UHBfemwOZYdpLGSvUlGYwdXbg54bqFaL19SuLqBu6RneVdf7u070_eYL2C1AP_sYWexTFOpzSOvRVv9FHuA4Kqg/s320/lavender_oil_chicken_pox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chickweed, </span></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stellaria media</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Chickweed is a very cooling and soothing
herb, many chicken pox creams and lotions include this as a primary ingredient
as it will help stop the itching. Chickweed is a common weed (no surprises
there) and you may find you have it in the garden. If you do then you can actually
make your own chickweed itch salve. Here is the recipe.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Chickweed salve</strong></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1 litre of olive oil (extra virgin organic
if possible)</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">100 grams of beeswax</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2-3 cups of chickweed</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(packed down)</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Collect your chickweed after the morning
dew has lifted when it is nice and dry. Avoid harvesting it after rainfall.
Once picked shake excess dirt off of it and leave it to wilt somewhere cool and
out of direct sunlight. It should be withered in a couple of hours but
overnight is ideal. Once it has withered pack it into a clean glass jar and
cover with olive oil. Be sure to get any air-bubbles out and to cover any plant
material with at least an extra centimetre of oil. Put the jar somewhere warm
and dark for a couple of weeks. 3 days will do at a pinch. You can gently warm
the oil in a saucepan before pouring it over the chickweed which will make the
process faster, but this degrades the oil. Better to be patient.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Once the chickweed has infused into the oil
you melt the beeswax in a saucepan and add 100mls of the oil. Once it is all
liquid you can add the rest of the oil slowly, do not allow the oil to overheat
for the reasons stated above, once all combined pour it into containers
promptly before it sets. If you can’t be bothered with the balm step it’s fine
to use it just as an oil.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByHJjWRSo4y_4RG3Xl7h8vWjRtOmIW-YLsNlvRS05JYgs-w75d1XoxvfwMuY2wOTIWcMJsgEO6WOijiyPjbJF8cwK2dRhqig9qn5BiTFYoJA0MkKqXLPBIZ6mlPmfOL-8hYbsix1Ua5Y/s1600/STELLARIA_MEDIA_CHICKWEED.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhByHJjWRSo4y_4RG3Xl7h8vWjRtOmIW-YLsNlvRS05JYgs-w75d1XoxvfwMuY2wOTIWcMJsgEO6WOijiyPjbJF8cwK2dRhqig9qn5BiTFYoJA0MkKqXLPBIZ6mlPmfOL-8hYbsix1Ua5Y/s320/STELLARIA_MEDIA_CHICKWEED.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Homeopathy</span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not everyone’s cuppa but if you are that
way inclined then the following remedies can be of use. Homeopathy can be used
to manage all stages and manifestations of pox.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rhus tox</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">: This is the key
homeopathic remedy for Chicken pox and should be offered in 30c or 200c potency
when itching worsens</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mez</span></span></span></b><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">: This is the top remedy for itch and relentless scratching.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Varicella
nosode</span></span></span></b><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">: This is a remedy made from the Varicella
virus. You would take this to try and avoid catching Chicken pox but because in
homeopathic literature Chicken pox is considered a beneficial virus to have had
this is only suggested if you are a non immune adult who has been exposed to
the virus or taken once the rash has erupted to bolster immune response.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ant
tart </span></span></span></b><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">- Great remedy for restless children who
fidget a lot and have intense itching that worsens when scratched</span></span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ant
crud </span></span></span></b><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">–</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sulky
irritable children with a white coated tongue. The sores would be burn and itch
and would be thick with a honey like discharge.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Merc
sol</span></span></span></b><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> – For any infection of sores, particularly
sores that weep</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Loose
clothing</span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">My son has spent the whole week in his
pyjamas, loose but warm cotton clothing that absorb any excess moisture and
breathe easily. It is also soft enough to not irritate any of the sores yet
loose enough to breathe. If your child is still in nappies then give them as
much bare bum time as possible and if they are not dry through the night
instead of putting night nappies on I would put a waterproof layer on the bed
and a couple of towels </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">to absorb any
moisture as nappies can heat the area up and irritate any spots. If you use
cloth then a temporary switch to disposable is advisable.</span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Colloidal
oats, Avena sativa: </span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Often Doctors will recommend colloidal
oatmeal in the bath water to resolve itchiness. Rather than buying colloidal
oatmeal it’s a simple matter to grind up some whole oats in your blender or
spice grinder and putting it in the water. I avoid commercial oat, skin
products as these often contain parabens and chemicals. Bog standard oats from
the supermarket are cheap and effective. Don’t use soaps in the oatmeal bath, a
few drops of oil will keep the skin from drying out too much. Remember to
rebalance the Ph afterwards.</span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hygiene</span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Trim the fingernails as soon as the first
blisters appear, and keep the hands clean to prevent infection. For very severe
itching you may want to gently bandage the hands at night and keep your
children distracted during the day with gentle but engaging physical activity,
puzzles, activity toys and art are ideal - things that keep the hands busy. My
son found baths really helpful so I moved a plastic tub into the lounge for him
to bathe in, it kept him in the family space so he wasn’t alone and allowed me
to keep an eye on him.</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stage
three, crusting.</span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Once all of the blister have crusted your
children are no longer contagious. This does not mean you can just leave them
to it. This is the worst stage for scratching and scarring.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To help with itching you can continue to
use the remedies above but if you notice any slow healing spots you can use
Vitamin E or Calendula oil to help out, just dabbed on the spots.</span></span></span></div>
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</span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Things
to avoid:</span></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Calamine -this is a mixture of zinc oxide
and ferric oxide that can be purchased over the counter at most pharmacies. It
is quite drying and can cause scarring. It has no active medical properties
except as an antipruretic to relieve itching. I avoid this as it will not help
the pox heal.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gentian violet -also known as Methyl violet
it is a triarylmethane dye that has antibacterial, antifungal and anthelmintic
properties. As a topical application it can help prevent infection and heal up
sores without the sting associated with other applications. But it is also
messy and can stain skin or even tattoo open wounds. It has also been linked to
cancer in lab animal testing.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tight clothing and hair in the face - keep
hair tied back and clothing loose, anything tight or constricting can irritate
the sores. Vigorous hair brushing is also a bad idea as it can burst any
blisters on the scalp..</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Junk food - nutritionally void food and
simple carbohydrates that are high in arginine will hinder recovery.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Over bathing - his will change the skin Ph,
baking soda baths without redressing the balance are a big no no.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vigorous towel drying - this can burst the
blisters. Sun drying is the very best but the next best is wrapping gently in a
towel and getting your children to lie or sit still until they are bone dry
before dressing.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Febrifuges like paracetamol and nurofen,
these will inhibit your immune response which is the opposite of what you want
to happen. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><strong>Recovery</strong><br /><br />Once the spots start to fade you may notice a boost in their demeanour and a development leap. This is normal and rather lovely.<br /><br />Hopefully the threat of Pox isn't as intimidating as it was previously with this resource on hand.</span><br />Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-19591741441652759592012-09-21T22:35:00.000-07:002012-09-21T22:39:02.771-07:00How to save $7379 in the first year of your baby’s life.<br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having babies is expensive, however I
tentatively put forwards that we make them more expensive than they need to be.
Every baby forum, store, website and magazine seems to have a list as long as
your arm telling you what you ‘need’ to buy. But with a little restraint and a
little creativity you can avoid buying most of these must have ‘necessities’.
Now I am not saying you have to parent frugally if you don’t want to and I
imagine there are a load of things you are looking forwards to buying, also, what
one person finds useful another will find useless. Nor is this a list of
commandments, choose to utilise or ignore my advice as you decide. But this is
me telling you that you don’t have to buy all of the things. You can get by with
less and not miss it, if you choose to.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Mfg_Fv3m-QdO9QusCsZNQXZ6n0NQOCEKsBex76led8Ak1xz8L3c4ohQfabBhExgMrF7bYVRuoS1LicrPDtwyRS892pe7UzLRKodekHyzvBKidlGlw-yDx8r6w-fbKVuu9MXK1rXAURk/s1600/babies_cost_money.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Mfg_Fv3m-QdO9QusCsZNQXZ6n0NQOCEKsBex76led8Ak1xz8L3c4ohQfabBhExgMrF7bYVRuoS1LicrPDtwyRS892pe7UzLRKodekHyzvBKidlGlw-yDx8r6w-fbKVuu9MXK1rXAURk/s320/babies_cost_money.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nappies</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most people know you can save money by
going cloth with nappies, just one nappy can save you approximately $320 per
year. There is a little problem in that once people go cloth they fall into a
wormhole of cute MCN madness and buy ALL OF THE NAPPIES. If you can avoid this
trap and stick to prefolds or old fashioned flats then you can save a bundle.
The saving schedule for this one is a little complex and includes calculations
for savings over 3 years vs outlay, laundry costs versus disposal cost and
purchase cost for nappies. The figure reached is approximate based on
information provided by </span><a href="http://www.nudeyrudey.com/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nudey Rudey.</a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost for disposable $4510 Cost for cloth
$595 </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(calculated over a 3 year
period)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$3915 SAVED</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No Nappies</b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you decide to give Elimination
Communication a go you won’t even need nappies or you could certainly get by
with less. If you are doing dedicated EC you would need a potty, no more than 5
cloth nappies and some baby knickers or baby training pants.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost for cloth $595 Cost for EC $85</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$510 SAVED</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Change table</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While we are on the topic of nappies and
changing, babies don’t need to have a change table. It might be useful to store
nappies in, but an old basket will do just as well for that. We change our son
on the floor or bed, it’s safer and cheaper. You can use a change mat, or even
an old towel will do.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of nappy change table $479 Cost of
change mat $29</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$450 SAVED</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1zYAFdyS2Wo_N9r_Yt6gPmOVSykt9ACYE6uycelxFPscrr-d0U5xAGhDMfuhWa-jCB6nweWLbWsdPqvGHzKque8KdrUkz1CJnKJ7-xhgjaCBP3mbWW-68huRrGLQLY661rRYgVwp6lM/s1600/nappy+change.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1zYAFdyS2Wo_N9r_Yt6gPmOVSykt9ACYE6uycelxFPscrr-d0U5xAGhDMfuhWa-jCB6nweWLbWsdPqvGHzKque8KdrUkz1CJnKJ7-xhgjaCBP3mbWW-68huRrGLQLY661rRYgVwp6lM/s320/nappy+change.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Wipes</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wipes are one of the highest nappy rash
factors, to save your baby’s bum and your wallet Instead you can buy a couple
of sets of facecloths and use warm water for changes.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost for commercial wipes $622 Cost for
facecloths $30 (calculated over 3 years)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$592 SAVED</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nappy bag</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Purpose made nappy bags are handy, the
really fancy ones are a fashion statement and a convenient carry all for baby
related stuff. But you don’t need them. A large purse, existing back pack or
sturdy shopping bag will do. You can put your nappy related stuff in a handy
plastic ziplock back and tuck it into whatever you currently use. I have made
an art of not needing a bulky nappy bag, it means I can get around a lot more
easily</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of nappy bag $140 Cost of no nappy bag
$0</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$140 SAVED</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Stroller</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strollers are handy, I used our stroller
almost every day for nap time. But they are usually expensive (Between $299-$1300
for sturdy ones) and they are not essential. I know that is a huge paradigm
shift for most parents but since I ditched the stroller I have found getting
around easier, more comfortable and much quicker. If you get a baby carrier
instead, which range in cost from $80-$230 you can save yourself some dollars
and get some nice one on one time with your baby, it also means you can get to
a lot of places much more easily than parents who are trying to wrangle a
stroller.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of stroller $399 Cost of baby carrier
$120</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$279 SAVED</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XnSG6ZMFMv1nFGqKj5Ae5ZJrbgNaDGQmaMpirldTgP-c-OhqYSclzbcAYG37JgpikfOuv29w0yu4bPkeob-9PaYTBBmfYjlbEOSXVjiW2AqMke5LWKEZ9eNRQJMs9881DVgoc9YpejU/s1600/antique_baby_carriage_march07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_XnSG6ZMFMv1nFGqKj5Ae5ZJrbgNaDGQmaMpirldTgP-c-OhqYSclzbcAYG37JgpikfOuv29w0yu4bPkeob-9PaYTBBmfYjlbEOSXVjiW2AqMke5LWKEZ9eNRQJMs9881DVgoc9YpejU/s1600/antique_baby_carriage_march07.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Milk</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I get it, breastfeeding is not for everyone
and for some of us it can be hard hard work. But if you can get the support you
need and work through any issues then it can be a huge cost saver. Most women
don’t have to increase their diet much if at all to account for the extra 300
calories used to make breastmilk and even then it’s just another sandwich and
some fruit. If you avoid the need for pumping you save any more. Most nursing
mothers need nothing more than some loose comfortable tops, some reusable
nursing pads and a really great nursing bra or two. When you compare this with
the cost of formula, bottles and steriliser it’s a big saving.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of formula and equipment $1429 Cost of
breastfeeding $195</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$1234 SAVED</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycO1QKq_cNvyoAMoAHD8Ca3TISPVOPBoL1XiSqPfYAhwYKXOKBUR4AHoeLULQFfWilOPUC0nx63atFq9KCUKQCKNq5BU3PjWBMY-_9kMTK0vH7ubn9Ued7GYjeU4l6BbgCKDu0aRkHhI/s1600/Bottle_feeding_expensive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycO1QKq_cNvyoAMoAHD8Ca3TISPVOPBoL1XiSqPfYAhwYKXOKBUR4AHoeLULQFfWilOPUC0nx63atFq9KCUKQCKNq5BU3PjWBMY-_9kMTK0vH7ubn9Ued7GYjeU4l6BbgCKDu0aRkHhI/s1600/Bottle_feeding_expensive.jpg" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nursing or feeding cushion</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any old pillow will do, or even better use
nursing techniques that don’t require cushions. If you are bottle feeding,
instead of propping you can hold your baby.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost for specialised nursing cushion $109
Cost for existing cushion $0</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$109 SAVED</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Baby food</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Babies need to eat at some stage, this is
true. But they don’t need to eat as early as 4 months and they don’t need pre
packaged food. You can skip the puree stage altogether and at $1.50 per jar
that’s not small change. Babies can eat what you eat or you can make your own
puree for them if you are taking that route. Overall a much cheaper proposition
by up to half the cost of pre prepared baby food.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost for packaged baby food $864 Cost for
home made baby food $432</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$432 SAVED</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Bouncer/Walker/ Jolly Jumper/ Entertainment
unit</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay well the last one was a joke, kind of.
I was in a baby store the other day and saw a wiggling, jiggling, music
playing, hypnotising strap in baby pod. I had flashbacks to the matrix. Now
babies do love to be jiggled, sung to and held it’s true but you don’t need to
buy something to do it.You may want to, but if you are money conscious you
don’t have to, and there is actually plenty of evidence that indicates a lot of
these things can be developmentally inappropriate or downright dangerous. Best
to skip them or if you really want a baby gym then a string tied between some
furniture with socks or pegs hanging off of it is just as exciting.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of bouncer or equivalent unit $149
Cost of alternative $0</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$149 SAVED</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQ9_BcGRNGfTjCcnpF4FoA-qoyP1H2AbfpL99bINlPYn-IQ32jn0cc_rJoYTWY6BQJX-ruKgx3qKkMtHdSUbDLGtGSBUp-BMPeXPJAbAPiIFKsUriGYsAmW1QjHUiPxiRfUyPZjrlAOU/s1600/baby_walker_dangerous.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQ9_BcGRNGfTjCcnpF4FoA-qoyP1H2AbfpL99bINlPYn-IQ32jn0cc_rJoYTWY6BQJX-ruKgx3qKkMtHdSUbDLGtGSBUp-BMPeXPJAbAPiIFKsUriGYsAmW1QjHUiPxiRfUyPZjrlAOU/s320/baby_walker_dangerous.png" width="194" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Shoes</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Babies don’t need shoes. Shoes will not
help them walk faster or better. Shoes DO make great chew toys, they are
excellent at falling off of feet and making your child’s journey from rolling
to crawling and sitting a little more cumbersome</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Cost of shoes $80 Cost of no shoes $0</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$ 80 SAVED</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Clothes</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay you got me, babies probably DO need
clothes, but I bet they don’t need as many as you have bought. For newborns,
the best way to regulate temperature and keep baby content and protected is to
wear them close to you and to wear them skin to skin. Wearing a baby means less
layers and less clothes overall. Especially in newborn sizes. Babies also don’t
need to be changed and bathed every day. Layers close to the skin can be left
on for up to 3 days or more barring any poosplosions.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of full layette for newborn baby $199
Cost of baby basics $100</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$99 SAVED</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Eating utensils</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are skipping the puree at early ages
you can ditch the special plastic weaning spoons, you can also skip the food
storage containers and food bowls. If you choose to do baby led weaning then
the only utensils baby needs are known as ‘left’ and ‘right’ and they have five
fingers each. When your miniature gourmand moves on to cutlery there is nothing
wrong with the family cutlery, family plates and family cups. Learning to drink
from a cup is a steep learning curve but it is surprisingly quickly mastered if
you just let them have at it and accept a short period of mess. If you really
must have a sippy cup you can jerry rig one out of a mason jar and a straw or
use your own reusable eco coffee cup.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of full utensil and dish set with
sippy cup $59 Cost of eco cup and existing foodware $7</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$52 SAVED</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Bibs</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know what works just as well as a bib?
A teatowel and a peg. High tech I know but you should try it one day!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of bib set $30 Cost of existing
teatowels $0</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$30 SAVED</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Highchair or specialised seat</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s often assumed that a high chair is
essential to feeding your baby, but they are not. Especially if you are using
baby led weaning, a rug on the floor is sufficient. Highchairs are really only
essential if you are starting to feed your child before they are able to sit
unsupported and even if you are doing this there is nothing wrong with sitting
your baby on your lap, at the table and feeding them this way. If you are handy
with a sewing machine you could even sew a strap in seat for the family dining chairs.
We have a high chair, but 90% of the meals are eaten on the floor on a kai mat.
Easy as and much less cleaning.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of high chair $199 Cost of washable
rug $24</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$175 SAVED</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsI6yHkdHhq0T-qIPi8gVrwo2thNbFK0byK-ErxM2KfnU0HWBvObiUPIXMy-Nih3j4XCKsqEqNGxT78DhGJx5IcBGBFnJZceKfvhdvvm6fHqDc8TDeDWrfXLsXMPgLZc_5SHNGFui5xk/s1600/high_chairs_unnecessary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsI6yHkdHhq0T-qIPi8gVrwo2thNbFK0byK-ErxM2KfnU0HWBvObiUPIXMy-Nih3j4XCKsqEqNGxT78DhGJx5IcBGBFnJZceKfvhdvvm6fHqDc8TDeDWrfXLsXMPgLZc_5SHNGFui5xk/s320/high_chairs_unnecessary.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Toys</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Babies don’t need toys, they don’t need
flashing lights, canned music or bright colours. A full toy box does not
necessarily indicate a happy engaged child. Babies are happy exploring anything
really and can learn more about the worlds from an interesting stone or a bowl
of water than they can from the latest gee gaw. Before toys became a commercial
endeavour babies played with piles of stones, they emptied out the pot cupboard
and explored the wooden spoons. Mums scarf collection became a sensory
adventure and dads tie collection became a visual smorgasbord. Entertain your
tot with a bowl full of pegs or a bowl full of soapy water. Macaroni becomes a
great threading toy and can be eaten later, autumn leaves are a great rustly
toy and can be composted. An afternoon strolling at the beach can fill a toybox
with wonders that can be returned to the ocean when we are finished. And don’t
feel that you are depriving your child with less toys. There is every reason to
believe that the opposite is true.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of a range of toys and toybox $299
Cost of home made toys $0</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$299 SAVED</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmt1hEBniup4okyrB3rLkZUdAe7FYgVXu1sH3k3vi2dJoBqwVRTmCkgNe5nMsIM4RCwLXjGU2SJfYpz9By4Yj7J4gbsmNbd5p2KsRPbp7mszIC1zjMDpKH7ylfjeOpfNVpZTK6uiuO3c/s1600/vintage-baby-gear-click-americana-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYmt1hEBniup4okyrB3rLkZUdAe7FYgVXu1sH3k3vi2dJoBqwVRTmCkgNe5nMsIM4RCwLXjGU2SJfYpz9By4Yj7J4gbsmNbd5p2KsRPbp7mszIC1zjMDpKH7ylfjeOpfNVpZTK6uiuO3c/s320/vintage-baby-gear-click-americana-7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Skincare</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a perfect skincare regime for
babies, it’s called use-nothing and water. When babies are born they come with
their own protective layer, they don’t need a hasty bath. Later on they only
really need to be bathed if they have had a poosplosion and in almost all cases
water will suffice. A little sensitive or natural bar soap is sufficient to
remove any stubborn grime and if their skin needs moisturising then a skin
friendly carrier oil will do. Olive oil is fine and most people have that in
their pantry.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of skincare range $39 Cost of water
and olive oil $3</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$36 SAVED</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Bath</b></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don’t know about you but bathing a baby
in a baby bath is a pain in the neck, or back to be more precise. I prefer to
just hop into the big bath with baby when I have my own bath experience. If
baby really needed a clean when I wasn’t going to bathe then a washing tub
bucket or sink worked just as well.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of baby bath $20 Cost of using
existing bath, bucket or sink $0</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$20 SAVED</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrdVKDdQK4aR73SHvTntW98clAogqJcm71e_nxzdDLdwQa5ayhbqRXHgV_vgz1q25p78jMtJ25QSpfs08be6pLAk47-oMjsl9QTJtcICbCGq0lKM9rMKORKoGPMGWt8VTc-9e8jYBrWk/s1600/adorable-baby-brushing-teeth-while-sitting-in-sink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrdVKDdQK4aR73SHvTntW98clAogqJcm71e_nxzdDLdwQa5ayhbqRXHgV_vgz1q25p78jMtJ25QSpfs08be6pLAk47-oMjsl9QTJtcICbCGq0lKM9rMKORKoGPMGWt8VTc-9e8jYBrWk/s320/adorable-baby-brushing-teeth-while-sitting-in-sink.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Co-sleeping</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sharing a room is a good money saver, and
here is why. Setting up a separate baby nursery has a lot of cost involved.
Some people go all out and gussy up a room for baby and others simply put a cot
in the spare room but most people stand somewhere in the middle and do a little
decorating to make a special space for baby. But here is a newsflash, the most
special place for baby is next to you. That’s what they love the most. But
that’s not the only benefit from sharing a sleeping space. Moving the cot into
the master bedroom means you can ditch the baby monitor as well as any extra
baby related furniture. It also means you are heating one room instead of two
so you can save on power bills as well.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of nursery décor, baby monitor and
heating $1689 Cost of co-sleeping $0</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$1689 SAVED</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Bassinet </b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you’re planning to sleep baby in their
own space you should know that a bassinet is not essential. It’s a nice to
have, but babies can progress straight to a cot. They don’t need a bassinet and
at a pinch, if you really want baby to sleep in a smaller space initially then
a banana box made up with a well fitted mattress is perfectly safe. I can hear
a collective gasp, but this method is approved by the NZ Parent Centre and if
you have nothing else then why not?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of bassinet plus bedding $339 Cost of
no bassinet $0</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$339 SAVED</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Bed sharing</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bed sharing isn’t for everyone; I prefer my
own sleeping space even though our second son had a different plan. For many
bed sharing is a safety issue, there is however plenty of science to indicate
that bedsharing is just as safe, if not safer than isolated cot sleeping. If
you choose to bedshare it means you don’t need to buy a cot and if the family
bedding is safe then you don’t need to buy any baby blankets. Because you are
close enough to regulate and monitor your child’s breathing you also don’t need
a breathing alarm system.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of cot, mattress, bedding and sleep
alarm. $1600 Cost of bedsharing $0</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$1600 SAVED</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Carseat</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is one area where you shouldn’t
economise. Don’t get a second hand or expired seat, don’t buy an unknown or
unrated brand and certainly don’t do without. For the safety of your child you
should buy your seat brand new and get one that rear faces until at least 2
years of age.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost of </span><a href="http://www.cheekycherubs.co.nz/webapps/p/81891/167095/559662" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">top of line rear facing car seat</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
$500 Cost of </span><a href="http://www.babyuniverse.co.nz/product/32169/cosco-scenera-convertible-car-seat/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">budget rear facing car seat</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> $199</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$300 Saved</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtnEu5JdKH7GmZoM8KqrzdwhG5iRiQQ4fiMK3a9kp_asLxpA3mbVQ4aUWIiequXzY9K9elabpRLdPXU_wv_SUcisYMdQA96BVBfmzr7DSAc0dW3Oyc84CnyH52bXVkPOZHjivQBoggyA/s1600/rear_face_carseats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtnEu5JdKH7GmZoM8KqrzdwhG5iRiQQ4fiMK3a9kp_asLxpA3mbVQ4aUWIiequXzY9K9elabpRLdPXU_wv_SUcisYMdQA96BVBfmzr7DSAc0dW3Oyc84CnyH52bXVkPOZHjivQBoggyA/s320/rear_face_carseats.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
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<br /></div>
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</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As soon as I post this I expect a barrage
of people telling me that they personally didn’t spend as much as I have
estimated or that with a little ingenuity you can build, beg or borrow any
number of these things. Which is totally true, I myself have done this. Using
this tactic it’s totally possible to compress the numbers I have estimated
somewhat which is another excellent way of saving dollars. The idea of this
post is to question the assumptions of need vs want and hopefully offer up
alternatives previously unthought of by most. Ideally this post is to
acknowledge that to parent well you don’t need things to do this and that the
most valuable ‘thing’ you can offer is closeness to your child.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>
Methodology</b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sourced my prices from NZ based websites
and stores. If there was a price range from very cheap to very expensive I
tried to pitch close to the middle or median price range. For things like
nappies where there is an initial outlay I made a comparison over the expected
life span of the products but the final figure calculated for the title of the
post was for one year only so in the instance of longer estimations I simply
divided the final figure by the number of years I extrapolated for. In some instances
you could spend less and in some instances you could spend more but the general
figures are based on common prices for common purchases. When there was an
option of picking between two kinds of cost saving exercises I chose the most
socially acceptable to get to my final figure. In this instance it was cloth
nappies and co-sleeping vs Elimination Communication and bedsharing. The final
figure if you chose the latter options was $9498. In the instance of
breastfeeding I elected not to assume that pumping was a necessary part
breastfeeding. I did this because quite simply it isn’t, and often it is a
marketing tactic to imply that breastpumps are essential to good parenting and
successful breastfeeding. Which can more often than not lead to unnecessary
outlay of money and breastfeeding failure. If you wanted to add pumping to the
breastfeeding equation the figure is approximately $390 including bottles, steriliser
and pump.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So give it a go, change the world.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdNNNcQv1degriewk9EnF-Dda2S_kVCPDugWl26tIURuJ0fhM0hCDNEcQ1PVYSzw6P1IJrVKTaPsKJtxh4IB6WTw9YmYMYrjhKwbNqtB88dU57PDyd-iv5obTv-_qacWGHYLAzqOZ-Cg/s1600/baby_wearing_love.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdNNNcQv1degriewk9EnF-Dda2S_kVCPDugWl26tIURuJ0fhM0hCDNEcQ1PVYSzw6P1IJrVKTaPsKJtxh4IB6WTw9YmYMYrjhKwbNqtB88dU57PDyd-iv5obTv-_qacWGHYLAzqOZ-Cg/s320/baby_wearing_love.jpeg" width="311" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-35980666610353057562012-09-18T04:39:00.001-07:002012-09-18T23:36:57.231-07:00Galactagogues<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When Heracles was a baby his father Zeus took him from his mortal mother Alcmene and let him nurse at his wife Hera’s breast while she was sleeping. When she awoke she thrust the infant Heracles from her in a rage and milk flooded the night skies, thus creating the milky way. The Greek name for galaxy </span></span></span><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Γαλαξίας or</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Galaxias is derived from the word for milk, gala. The theme of milk is not isolated to Greek mythology, the Romans, Egyptians and even older Greek stories all have some reference to milk, whether it be from the gods or astral cows. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And galaxy is where we get the term ‘galactagogue’ from. Galactagogues, or lactogenic herbs are supplements that are said to increase milk supply. As you can imagine, in a society where ‘low supply’ is one of the key reasons for the end of a breastfeeding relationship, galactagogues are in high demand.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3AmZ5Ic9X9zZ3u6IjSSppJAYj2Y_t3QJlBD4YgoiTkJzHvBFw9jU4lG_T9-64KZxq6NCRAnGDsGL6BCc7GMZsRHvmpoCnQumhfIRea9vrLj7XXnIJv0CqVrIYjtvpnwXaIpBOUOO7VU/s1600/1636_Rubens_The+Birth+of+the+Milky+Way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3AmZ5Ic9X9zZ3u6IjSSppJAYj2Y_t3QJlBD4YgoiTkJzHvBFw9jU4lG_T9-64KZxq6NCRAnGDsGL6BCc7GMZsRHvmpoCnQumhfIRea9vrLj7XXnIJv0CqVrIYjtvpnwXaIpBOUOO7VU/s320/1636_Rubens_The+Birth+of+the+Milky+Way.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rubens, Birth of the Milky Way</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I follow a lot of breastfeeding support pages and not a day goes by where someone doesn’t ask about supplements to boost their supply or offer some secret recipe that will guarantee more milk. These posts always make me sigh, it’s not that I don’t love breastfeeding support. It’s just that no matter how well placed these suggestions are they can just be one more booby trap interfering with the breastfeeding relationship.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That’s not to say that these remedies don’t work, some of them can be very efficacious. But if you have the basics wrong then no galactagogue on earth will successfully increase your supply in the long term. So if someone tries every galactagogue under the sun but doesn't fix a poor latch, then they are destined to fail and that can be really hard on nursing mamas. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So before we dive in to taking supplements the first thing we need to do is establish any obstacles to supply. Common obstacles are having a </span></span><a href="http://www.bestforbabes.org/science-you-can-use-cesarean-birth-without-labor-associated-with-breastfeeding-problems-say-two-new-studies"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">caesarian birth pre labour</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">, </span></span><a href="http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=82:the-importance-of-skin-to-skin-contact-&catid=5:information&Itemid=17"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">reduced skin to skin contact</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">, early routines, reduced breast stimulation, timed feeds, poor latch, certain medications, lack of sleep, stress and poor support.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Routines</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some of these things are easy to resolve, for example if you are engaging in a strict routine or timing breastfeeds then taking a step back and letting baby dictate the pattern will help immeasurably. If baby can’t dictate supply then supply will drop, unlimited access to the breast, especially in the first 72 hrs is one key factor to ensuring supply meets demand. The sooner baby gets to the breast after birth is also an indicator. If you have a surgical birth it’s important to push for contact with your baby as soon as is possible. If nothing prevents you, immediate skin to skin for at least 90 minutes and longer is ideal. Kangaroo care for premature babies whenever possible is gold standard even if they cannot nurse.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stress</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Stress is another obstacle. Contrary to popular belief stress does not explicitly affect supply but it does </span></span><a href="http://thetruthaboutbreastfeeding.com/2009/04/20/can-stress-affect-the-let-down-reflex/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">inhibit let down and loss of supply can be a secondary effect</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">. If mum is stressed out and tired then a roster of drop off meals, friendly helpers and house tidiers would be ideal. A supportive partner even more so. A shoulder rub, foot soak or relaxing bath can help relieve the stress and release the hormones responsible for milk production and let down. Someone to bring you snacks and drinks of water can take the pressure off and simply taking time to breathe and be mindful can take you out of the stress loop. Remembering that your first and only task is to provide for your baby, can help you re-prioritise.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Touch</span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you are doing a lot of tight swaddling, sleeping baby alone and limited carrying or holding of baby then you both might be experiencing a lack of skin to skin contact which will inhibit milk production. The reason for this is twofold, first off skin to skin contact releases oxytocin which is not only the bonding hormone but is responsible for let-down. Secondly babies naturally know how to build supply by <a href="http://givingbirthwithconfidence.org/2012/08/the-importance-of-hands-free-breastfeeding/">kneading, massaging, pummeling and stroking the breast</a>. If they are swaddled tightly or have reduced physical access to the breast then this can limit their ability to maintain supply. I often think of babies as little milk farmers, they know how to nurture their ‘crop’ of milk. </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Taking a <a href="http://www.hobomama.com/2009/08/starting-breastfeeding-right-with.html">‘babymoon’</a> in bed with baby for even a couple of days can help immeasurably. Wrapping baby close to the chest without clothes on, or even giving safe co-sleeping a go will help boost oxytocin levels and help mum become more responsive to baby’s cues. Skin to skin is even more vitally important for mums who have had medical births or pre-labour caesarians. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Medicines</span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Your Doctor may not be up to date on how certain medications affect breastfeeding and some over the counter drugs can inhibit supply as well, especially some painkillers, hayfever, or cold and flu meds. Before taking anything, contacting your local La Leche group is a good idea. They have access to documentation on a huge variety of medications and can let you know which ones to avoid. They can also let you know which medications are safe. Often mothers are told to end breastfeeding simply because a health professional is not sure about the effects of a medicine they wish to prescribe, when another medicine will do perfectly adequately or the the medicine is in fact safe.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Latch</span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The most common issue with poor supply is related to latch, indications of a bad latch can be pain during feeds, a damaged or flattened nipple when the feeds end, a frustrated baby who doesn’t fall into a good suck suck swallow pattern and long feeds that end with a still hungry baby. Latch is vital because if the breast isn’t being emptied then milk production falls and baby gets hungrier and hungrier and in the earlier days they can become weaker very quickly. If you suspect your latch is not great then seek help, a friend who has a lot of breastfeeding experience is a good start but you will get the most knowledgeable support from a La Leche leader or Lactation consultant. </span></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj9tLgYn-bA"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr JackNewman has some great videos</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> on the topic and also covers breast compressions which help immeasurably. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Medical Conditions</span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> There are other reasons for low supply including PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), IGT (insufficient glandular tissue), thyroid issues and breast surgery. If you have a more complex issue going on then it’s really important you have a health professional assisting you. These conditions don’t rule out breastfeeding but you will need a lot of support and perseverance. A naturopath can help in some instances and if supplementary feeding is happening then using a tube feeding system is your best bet for nurturing supply. Again your local La Leche organisation will have a host of resources that can help you along.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Once you have ruled out all of the above and you would still like to boost supply then the following galactagogues can help. It might be that upon facing one of the difficulties above your supply needs help getting back up or it may be that you want to pump for future supply or simply want a little help to meet demand. Some people will use lactogenic herbs to bring in supply for adoptive feeding or to help keep supply up for a premature or preterm baby. It’s important to realise that different women will respond differently to the many options available so what works really well for one person may not be so effective for another. It’s worth trying a few things.</span></span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fennel </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Foeniculum vulgare</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></span></b><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fennel does not directly affect your supply but it does improve your ‘let down’ it is perfect for the four o’clock fuss, stressed mums or babies who experience sore tummies, as it is also carminative. Great for mums who find it hard to express due to let down issues. You can get it as a tincture from an herbalist, or make your own tea or decoction with fennel seeds. You can find them at most organic, health or ethnic stores. Twinings also make a tasty fennel tea which is pricey but convenient. </span></span><a href="http://www.healthpost.co.nz/food-and-household/food-and-beverages/herbal-tea/fennel-tea--loose-vffen"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fennel tea</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> is a great ‘go to’ for new mums who aren’t having supply issues but want a soothing tea that facilitates breastfeeding.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Safe in pregnancy? Not in high doses. Tea is fine</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fenugreek </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Trigonella foenum-graecum</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Fenugreek is one of the most common galactagogues and can be purchased in capsule form. Doses usually have to be quite high (3 grams + a day) for it to be effective but once supply is boosted you can stop taking them providing breast stimulation is sufficient. Taking lots of </span></span><a href="http://www.healthpost.co.nz/supplements-and-natural-health/a-z-of-natural-health/herbs/fenugreek-seed-610mg-nwfg"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">fenugreek</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> can make you smell like maple syrup and may cause a sore tummy in some people if taken in very large doses. It’s important to note that even though Fenugreek is considered very safe, that in the large doses recommended for increasing milk supply it is not recommended during pregnancy.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Safe in pregnancy? No</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oats </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Avena sativa</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">: </span></span></span></b><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Oats support lactation and aside from that, are a nutritious powerhouse that will help stabilise blood sugars. Found in a bowl of porridge near you </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Safe in pregnancy? Yes</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dark beer:</span></span></span></b><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> When my mum gave birth in Ireland she was given a pint of Guinness to bring her milk in. While I don’t suggest mothers glug down beer to support breastfeeding </span></span><a href="http://evidencebasedmommy.blogspot.co.nz/2011/09/whats-on-tap-mom.html"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">a small glass of an eveningwon’t hurt. </span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Normally alcohol inhibits letdown but the beta-glucan in the malt, brewers yeast and hops all have a lactogenic effect which means dark beer can act as a galactagogue. But if you prefer not to be a lush you can get brewers yeast, malt and hops individually and take them as supplements. Be wary though, too many hops can make you drowsy!</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Light beers will not work. For more information on how beer works as a galactagogue I highly recommend this blog, the </span></span><a href="http://lactogenicdiet.blogspot.co.nz/2011/10/beer-as-galactagogue-brief-history.html"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">lactogenic diet.</span></span></a></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Safe in pregnancy? Not recommended</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brewers yeast </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> This is often seen as an ingredient in nursing cookies or tigersmilk. It is a great galactagogue and can be easily disguised in baking. Because brewers yeast is a food it can be eaten to taste. Brewer's yeast comes from the Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungus and is a great source of B vitamins, including niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, and biotin. </span></span><a href="http://www.healthpost.co.nz/shop-by-brand/supplements-and-natural-health/thompsons/brewers-yeast-500mg-tnby"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brewer's yeas</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">t also contains trace minerals such as selenium and chromium, which are a great health booster for nursing mothers. If you are prone to fungal or yeast infections then brewers yeast may not be for you.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Safe in pregnancy? Yes</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Alfalfa </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Medicago sativa L</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">: </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a galactagogue that helps support the glandular tissue of the breast, and can be taken through the last trimester of pregnancy as well as during breastfeeding. It is available from many health food stores in capsule form. </span></span><a href="http://www.healthpost.co.nz/supplements-and-natural-health/a-z-of-natural-health/herbs/alfalfa-340mg-nsalf"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Alfalfa</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> is a wonderful superfood as well, rich in chlorophyll, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, silicon, zinc-numerous vitamins-A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, D, E, and K-as well as essential and non-essential amino acids. Make sure you adhere to the dosage advice as it is a mild uterine toner, it has not been linked to any pregnancy complications but it is still better to be cautious.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Safe in pregnancy? Yes – in normal doses</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blessed thistle </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cnicus benedictus</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">: </span></span></b></span><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.healthpost.co.nz/supplements-and-natural-health/a-z-of-natural-health/herbs/blessed-thistle-325mg-nsble"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blessedthistle</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> increases the flow of gastric and bile secretion, and is said to increase milk supply by increasing blood flow to the breast tissue. You can get it from health stores as a supplement and should not increase the dose beyond what is recommended as it can act as a purgative in very high doses. For you to harness the digestive benefits you need to have it as a tea or tincture to stimulate your tastebuds with the bitterness.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Safe in pregnancy? No</span></span></span><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Goats rue </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Galega officinalis</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">:</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> This is a great supplement for mothers with insufficient glandular tissue (IGT).</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Goats rue is a stinky herb that is toxic when fresh but safe when dried. It is also used to balance blood sugar. Should be avoided if you regularly have low blood sugar but fabulous if you have borderline high blood sugar. You can get it at most health food stores as a tea or a tincture.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Safe in pregnancy? No.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Garlic </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Allium sativum</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">: </span></span></span></b><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Garlic does not actually</span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">do anything directly to boost supply but several studies have shown that garlic makes the breastmilk more pleasant for babies and as a result they spend more time at the breast. Garlic is an amazing super food so no harm in boosting your intake.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Safe in pregnancy? Yes</span></span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hops </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Humulus lupulus</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">: </span></span></span></b><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hops are deeply relaxing and are useful in instances where stress is inhibiting let down, hop tea or a hop compress directly on the breast can help. Avoid hops if your baby is overly drowsy as hops are a powerful soporific and may make your baby less easy to rouse.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Safe in pregnancy? No</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nettle </span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Urtica dioica</span></span></i></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">: The function by which nettle improves supply is unknown but there is a long history attached to nettle being an effective milk booster and a number of scientific studies linking it to improved milk output in herd animals. Nettle is </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">a good source for calcium and iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sulfur, zinc, copper, chlorophyll, fatty acids, folate, plus vitamins K, B1, B2, B3, B5, C, and E. The minerals in nettle help build blood, and it is a wonderful tonic in the treatment of iron deficiency. Nettle is a fabulous all rounder to take during pregnancy and post partum as it will help with fatigue, blood loss and deficiency. Traditionally it is </span></span><a href="http://www.healthpost.co.nz/food-and-household/food-and-beverages/herbal-tea/nettle-tea--loose-mlnet2"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">taken as a tea</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> but you can eat cooked nettle greens or buy it in supplement form.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Safe in pregnancy? Yes</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Umbel Seeds</span></span></span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background-clip: border-box; background-origin: padding-box; background-size: auto; background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a broader category that encompasses </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anise, caraway, cumin, dill, fennel, and lovage. These plants all share similar properties. Umbel seeds are believed to promote supply and let down as well as offering digestive benefits for colic in babies. There are substances in them similar to oxytocin and they are mildly relaxing. In one study, umbel seeds tested on rats generated greater mammary tissue growth than was seen with rats on a control diet. Interesting to note, the seed formation of the umbelliferous plants mimics that of the milk glands and ducts in the breast. Because umbel seeds are aromatic the traditional way of taking them is steeped in tea, up to 3 cups a day.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Safe in pregnancy? Not in high doses but teas are fine.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Recipes:</span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tigers milk is frequently recommended to nursing mums to improve supply, if nothing else it provides a nutrient dense meal to help nursing mums along. It’s a recipe first created by Adele Davis, in her book "Lets Get Well" (which was written in about 1970's) and included milk, milk pwder, malt, raw egg, wheatgerm and brewers yeast. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is my version of her recipe.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Soak overnight: 1 tablespoon of pumpkin seeds, 8 almonds and 1 tablespoon of sesame seeds</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the morning strain them and place in blender with 1 banana, ½ teaspoon of </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">raw cacao, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 heaped teaspoon of brewers yeast, a splash of coconut milk and 1 cup of water. Blend until smooth and drink while nursing. You can use any milk or milk analogue you like instead of water but the nuts should provide enough creaminess to omit it if you want to.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">and here is my recipe for </span></span><a href="http://siananigan.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/pina-colada-nursing-cookies.html"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">delicious lactation cookies.</span></span></a><br />
<br />Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-41840239725854120072012-09-16T21:14:00.000-07:002012-09-16T22:21:17.363-07:00Spring has Sprung<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So spring has sprung and I’ve started thinking about gardens and chicken coops and lambs. I am always a bit cautious about Spring in Dunedin, no sooner do the days get longer and the winds get warmer than a whole bunch of weather pops up from no-where to give us what for. This spring was no exception. No sooner had I got some seedlings in the ground than a cold front swept over Southern New Zealand bringing a dumping of snow and hail. Luverly.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvqtDANkD491J3V9xc0ZmgXyEnn5S4lSG4tkgYJ7TRpwL1TbfssKaZDuqDSc6XolhDIvT5sK9LR2mhmoTk9luF4JHMn5KMvBMTqxXUhyphenhyphen4VzMcGk6Sz0ZGT_0yYMrQYpFB3bBUwWaFVwE/s1600/Snow_spring_imbolc_eostre.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvqtDANkD491J3V9xc0ZmgXyEnn5S4lSG4tkgYJ7TRpwL1TbfssKaZDuqDSc6XolhDIvT5sK9LR2mhmoTk9luF4JHMn5KMvBMTqxXUhyphenhyphen4VzMcGk6Sz0ZGT_0yYMrQYpFB3bBUwWaFVwE/s320/Snow_spring_imbolc_eostre.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me, Spring is when we should be celebrating Easter. It feels wrong to me, to be celebrating new life and fertility in Autumn. Easter is now a Christian holiday but it’s no coincidence that we celebrate it with chocolate eggs and baby chicks, it was originally Eostre, a pagan celebration of the changing seasons and new life. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spring is when chickens start laying cackleberries left right and centre and so it felt right to me to celebrate Eostre in the correct season, using recipes that utilise eggs. Eggs are also a nutritional powerhouse, I don’t know about you but whenever I find a recipe that uses egg yolks or egg whites I scour my recipe books for a complementary one that use the equivalent number of eggs so as not to waste any egg! That’s why my famous 8 egg black pavlova always comes with <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2008/02/seven-yolk-pasta-dough/">8egg home made pasta</a> or a luscious crème brulee.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or when I make fluffy egg white pancakes I also make Jamie Oliver’s tomato and <a href="http://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetarian-recipes/tomato-soup">egg yolk soup</a>. Yumm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And as such here are 2 egg recipes for you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What to do with 4 eggs</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spring Linzer Bikkies</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usually these biscuits are made in two circles, one with a hole in and then sandwiched together with jam in the middle. My spring version were plain and cut out in festive spring animal baby shapes. I like how easy these biscuits are and they have a delicious bite to them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup almonds</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup hazelnuts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">1 cup sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 cups flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 block butter – softened and cut into cubes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zest of two lemons</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 egg yolks</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grind the almonds and the hazelnuts until they are a fine meal. I leave the skins on, it’s not as pretty but it has a better</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">flavour and nutrient value so looks shmooks! Then it’s a simple matter of placing everything in your food processor and pulsing until it starts to hold together.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you don’t have a food processor then roll up your sleeves and get rubbing! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bake the cookies at 160 degrees Celsius on paper lined baking sheets, they only need 10 minutes or so until they catch the barest hint of golden brown.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3031VUyJr-8il-imUsbauGnOxpZvc9rjtLyrSFUJffrCpiiY1lDcwwUsqcomVgOKFvXzeAGZ20d8I3OYOqYgaJgWaWKonQgSicjvQVavWDMalGcoHw0JGNmxaZPq8x7_SKDz1ZOW1BsI/s1600/milk+in+cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3031VUyJr-8il-imUsbauGnOxpZvc9rjtLyrSFUJffrCpiiY1lDcwwUsqcomVgOKFvXzeAGZ20d8I3OYOqYgaJgWaWKonQgSicjvQVavWDMalGcoHw0JGNmxaZPq8x7_SKDz1ZOW1BsI/s200/milk+in+cookies.jpg" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_SK6voY9LT_gKxEo5jtqE6BqtD5jZRvSG894TZoIOjptp9-5DJfRmZ0AZfipx917P-LdBDUXsDSJWK_E6VwSTlpRK6CB2dGo0tHob3RjtB00CLr2P6xInpLijBPhs9q75Np9TCndP2Y/s1600/linzer+cookies+on+plate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_SK6voY9LT_gKxEo5jtqE6BqtD5jZRvSG894TZoIOjptp9-5DJfRmZ0AZfipx917P-LdBDUXsDSJWK_E6VwSTlpRK6CB2dGo0tHob3RjtB00CLr2P6xInpLijBPhs9q75Np9TCndP2Y/s200/linzer+cookies+on+plate.jpg" width="158" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dairy and Gluten free Coconut Chocolate Macaroons</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 egg whites</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vanilla</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 cups organic dessicated coconut, I prefer coconut threads for a more rustic texture</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 block dark Ghana whittakers chocolate (dairy free)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First off toast the coconut. You don’t have to but it improved the flavour a huge amount. A light toasting is all that is needed. Once it has been toasted, cool and set aside. Beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and then slowly add the caster sugar beating the whole time. A splash of vinegar at the egg white stage will prevent them from becoming overbeaten. Once the mixture becomes glossy and heavy and all of the sugar has dissolved stir in the coconut and vanilla being careful not to collapse the mixture too much. Dollop onto a paper lined baking tray (or pipe if you are a perfectionist, though this recipe is intentionally a little rustic) and bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes at 165⁰C. Once they are cooked take them out to cool and prepare your ganache.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Melt one block of dark Ghana chocolate and whisk in 3/4 cup hot water until it becomes glossy and shiny. It might ‘catch’ and look a bit rough at first but if you keep mixing it should come together and smooth out. Once the macaroons are cooled and while your ganache is still warm, dip the bases of the macaroons in it and then sandwich them together base to base. Decadent!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And there you have it. 4 ways with eggs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-54388091249973999332012-09-11T01:54:00.000-07:002012-09-11T01:54:59.051-07:00Competition Time<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's not often I do something like this but I know a really awesome group of women in my parenting world who run fabulous W.A.H.M businesses. We decided to put our heads together and run a little competition.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be in the draw all you have to do is be a liker of my facebook page </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/NaturalMumOnTheCheap?ref=ts"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Natural Mum on the Cheap</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and then like at least one of the following three pages:</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/worldsbestnappies?ref=ts"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nudey Rudey</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - a fabulous organic store that supplies a whole range of parenting things including my favourite Mothers Little Helper and of course the most amazing Organic Cloth Pocket Nappies</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/PotofgoldNZ?ref=ts"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pot of Gold</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - manufacturers of an amazing healing balm good for scratches, bites bruises and rashes and everything else under the sun.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/unido?ref=ts"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unido slings</span></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - my absolute favourite pocket slings, comfortable, stylish, easy to use and above all one of the safest designs on the market.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can like just one or all three to be in the draw for all three, but you MUST be a liker of Natural Mum on the Cheap to be entered.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And what are the prizes?</span>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.nudeyrudey.com/categories/organic-pocket-cloth-nappies/6-organic-pocket-cloth-nappies">Nudey Rudey</a> are donating a fabulous pack of Organic Cloth Pocket Nappies.</span>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.potofgoldbalm.co.nz/home.html">Pot of Gold </a>are donating a Mother and Baby balm pack</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And <a href="http://www.unido.co.nz/">Unido Slings</a> are donating a sling of the colour and size of your choice</span>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><br />The winners will be announced on this blog and also on the facebook pages of the participating companies. The prizes are subject to availability and not exchangeable for cash.<br /><br /></span></div>
Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-28439428427950762402012-08-30T13:47:00.000-07:002012-08-30T13:48:49.755-07:00Imbolc<br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spring is here! I love the change of seasons. All of a sudden we seem to
go from cold quiet earth to little lambies springing about and trees in
blossom. You can almost feel mother nature taking a huge breath out. I always
thought that it was such a shame that Easter (or Eostre) wasn’t celebrated in
spring, all of the allusions to fertility and new life with rabbits and eggs
seem a bit lost on Autumn. Being a bit of a celebration fiend I feel that most
of the ‘traditional’ commercial holidays are a bit off in the Southern
Hemisphere and as such I have recently bought a NZ published book called</span></span><a href="http://julietbatten.wordpress.com/books/"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-NZ"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Celebrating the Southern Seasons</span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: Rituals for Aotearoa</span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-NZ"><a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/Celebrating_the_southern_seasons.html?id=1vCFAAAACAAJ"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></a></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">written by Juliet Batten. </span></span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s
a fabulous book which looks at seasonal changes, pagan ceremony and native
maori traditions to construct a more logical way to celebrate the change of
seasons. </span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-weight: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlD7vZUy_RC0uIra32lFoLxZZhMMCVoqKUK0CuTYysRkmDwEwwwXoC-xz_qtyx4rew40Zng8mRSLcz364lL5hReSx03Ojb7SFaGk_Pc8BFacS5VOC0RVSO0Lr1z3xPXMepXOpoaAehdk/s1600/orion_Large%2520e-mail%2520view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlD7vZUy_RC0uIra32lFoLxZZhMMCVoqKUK0CuTYysRkmDwEwwwXoC-xz_qtyx4rew40Zng8mRSLcz364lL5hReSx03Ojb7SFaGk_Pc8BFacS5VOC0RVSO0Lr1z3xPXMepXOpoaAehdk/s1600/orion_Large%2520e-mail%2520view.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bird Hunter Tautoru, also known as Orion the hunter</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On August the second we had Imbolc or ‘first light’, in ancient Celtic
tradition this was symbolic of the flowing of milk or the birth of new
stock.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The word Imbolc literally means
‘ewes milk’. For New Zealand Maori </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">this
change of seasons was known as Hongonui, a cold time to light fires. This is
when the ground would be prepared to plant crops. The constellation Orion was
known as Tautoru the bird hunter and after Matariki when the <a href="http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/matariki-maori-new-year/1/1">Pleiades</a> entered
the Southern skies time was spent observing Orion and the Pleiades movement in
the night sky. When I was little I remember dad pointing out Orions belt to me, it is my favourite constellation!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rituals associated with first light are the lighting of candles,
drinking of milk or eating milk based meals, feeling the earth (<a href="http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/papatuanuku-the-land">Papatūānuku</a>),
spring cleaning, star gazing and lighting fires.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We celebrated Imbolc in a low key manner (which is the tradition) with a
candlelit dinner and a peek at the night sky. It strikes me that if you were an
Easter type person then now would be the time to decorate eggs and <a href="http://realfoodfreaks.com/2012/03/29/roasted-bunny-just-in-time-for-easter/">eat rabbit</a>.
You could also do something earthy and pagan like pouring milk into the earth.
Next year I might be a bit more organised and go a little more into the
ceremonial side of it. As it was it felt really amazing to actually be engaged
in a celebration that had some relevance to our life in the antipodes. I felt
more in touch with our seasons and what they mean to us and, almost like magic, as soon as Imbolc
had passed all of my farmy friends suddenly had lambs, goats, sheep and cows
being born left right and centre. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></o:p></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spirits were dampened however by almost a whole month of rainfall
(scuse the pun) which drove everyone with kids stir crazy and turned the ground into a mucky mire. As a result a coccidiosis epidemic</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">occurred which knocked out a lot of new life.
And that’s the understanding really, when we are more in touch with the land
and the seasons there is the flipside, new life and death go hand in hand. It’s
easy to see how celebration and ceremony could be turned into superstition and
sacrifice! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some family friendly things you can do to celebrate imbolc</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Build a
<a href="http://www.richsoil.com/hugelkultur/">hugelkultur</a> or start a compost heap</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2.</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Make <a href="http://mykitchenfromscratch.wordpress.com/2010/03/30/jamie-olivers-proper-english-custard/">real custard</a> out of eggs and milk to eat with spring fruit</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3.</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a milk bath
like Cleopatra</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4.</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Camp out for the
evening and do some star gazing ( <a href="http://greensolutionsexpress.com/go-green-light-pollution-stargazing.html">this works so much better in the countryside</a>)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5.</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Decorate some eggs
a la Easter</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6.</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have an easter egg
hunt</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7.</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bake some spring
biscuits</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8.</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have a candle light
dinner</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9.</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Build a bonfire
(check with local council regulations first)</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10.</span><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Float tealight
candles in a pond or pool</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">11. Make a<a href="http://www.doc.govt.nz/getting-involved/home-and-garden/attract-birds-to-your-garden/make-a-pine-cone-bird-feeder/"> bird feeder </a></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-language: EN-NZ; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FKfCyYFMCyIwJxT_GKwmOt5uUZTX2ZRUeAio9xKG-Chua1f4FrYtaKnQB8CDQ9i0w-DuYQymRYOe5xF7kHTjCxOLOZPczMAy46BpXlDyiBR8VHaRGbkDqs4tXrp1GEyDhywYEICJNH0/s1600/starchart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0FKfCyYFMCyIwJxT_GKwmOt5uUZTX2ZRUeAio9xKG-Chua1f4FrYtaKnQB8CDQ9i0w-DuYQymRYOe5xF7kHTjCxOLOZPczMAy46BpXlDyiBR8VHaRGbkDqs4tXrp1GEyDhywYEICJNH0/s320/starchart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-28161122918628624632012-08-22T21:12:00.000-07:002012-08-22T21:37:00.510-07:00I fudged it up<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found a really yummy looking raw fudge recipe on facebook
that got me excited, the picture made me salivate with anticipation! The
thought of a tasty chocolate recipe that was sort of guilt free had me sweating
like a jogger with anticipation. Even more exciting</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- I had all of the ingredients on hand. I
almost lost the plot. So I immediately got my dates out and started soaking
them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the recipe here. Posted by </span>
<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/IncredibleSmoothies"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.facebook.com/IncredibleSmooth</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ies</span></span></a></span>
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<b>Ingredients:</b></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">26 medjool dates,
pitted and soaked for 20 minutes</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup raw cacao
powder</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1/2 cup coconut oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Directions:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First, make sure you
have some soft coconut oil (coconut butter). It doesn’t have to be liquid, but
it shouldn’t be white and hard either. Leave it out at a warm room temperature
so that it is soft enough to work with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then soak 26 medjool
dates in water for about 20 minutes. This helps to soften them up so that they
are easily blended. Be sure to pit them first.</span></div>
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processor, mix the coconut oil and dates until almost mixed. Next, add the
cacao power and blend until completely mixed. The mixture will become thick and
form a ball in the blender or food processor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Press the ball of fudge into the bottom of a small pan and
let is sit in the refrigerator for about on hour. The coconut oil will help
further solidify the fudge. I topped mine (before putting in fridge, press down
lightly) with buckwheat groats and cacao nibs!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then cut it into
pieces and enjoy </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-wLhxFGmVDRuWRmnK8Li8qFy8BPnubU9Gm2YBHHsYNlFDjuzUhr5ircBj2ydUtJfP25wgzc66Emh-6kQDLPaGt0zo5hl7-Q13LBT-MO_geJWhKI1U1c_TV1zoLFdXucFBqgtB-Bm9-E/s1600/Brownies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-wLhxFGmVDRuWRmnK8Li8qFy8BPnubU9Gm2YBHHsYNlFDjuzUhr5ircBj2ydUtJfP25wgzc66Emh-6kQDLPaGt0zo5hl7-Q13LBT-MO_geJWhKI1U1c_TV1zoLFdXucFBqgtB-Bm9-E/s320/Brownies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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picture. Looks yummy right?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The problem with some recipes is that they don’t always turn
out as expected, I suspect a combination of happy go lucky measuring and
ingredient differences resulted in a mixture that resembled cow pats, cow pats
that wouldn’t set. After 24 hrs in the fridge I decided to give the freezer a
go, surely if I got it cold enough it would harden up? Right? Right????</span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> One week in the deep freeze and the mixture was still too soft to use for
anything. I almost despaired. Then I had a brainwave! 2 blocks of dark Ghana chocolate,
a big old mess and a lot of fun later I had some delectable, dairy free,
nutritious one hit wonder truffles. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAbLUK4HqD6ttnqqFzMEoAwjL2OFnUftK2hyguIzPa82SmJBFvp67wVqq46Xr7bNi-22WRN0ITVdrFGyhxITQLqA-urYo8VdCYyxWApZ1mrhmeirr0O5_WrckTktVGJJA1AfaCg1-GXA/s1600/Truffles_raw_vegan_coconutoil_dates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzAbLUK4HqD6ttnqqFzMEoAwjL2OFnUftK2hyguIzPa82SmJBFvp67wVqq46Xr7bNi-22WRN0ITVdrFGyhxITQLqA-urYo8VdCYyxWApZ1mrhmeirr0O5_WrckTktVGJJA1AfaCg1-GXA/s320/Truffles_raw_vegan_coconutoil_dates.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Nom!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So let this be a lesson to you, ALWAYS follow the recipe
gram for gram and be prepared to innovate….</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mFUvCay5eLyUGeeCB6vOK7TOcZk0DR9fxpRf5guw_WUYZvyM3E1zYbWhU2VlrCfQd-0ILOYAIfLHz-cU_III8wPPt7fggMP4AH84bz4XVufe6dm-9NdOIu0mWnu2eppyNkLcKND1AFs/s1600/Truffles_chocolate_raw_cacao.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mFUvCay5eLyUGeeCB6vOK7TOcZk0DR9fxpRf5guw_WUYZvyM3E1zYbWhU2VlrCfQd-0ILOYAIfLHz-cU_III8wPPt7fggMP4AH84bz4XVufe6dm-9NdOIu0mWnu2eppyNkLcKND1AFs/s320/Truffles_chocolate_raw_cacao.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-30162442661748145902012-08-18T16:40:00.001-07:002012-08-18T16:42:33.983-07:00Green Garlic Butter<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love garlic, I love garlic butter. Currently I have 2
whole beds of little garlic shoots sprouting up and each and every one of them
is probably destined to be garlic butter. My poor heart. Or is it?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Garlic has some phenomenal <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090130154901.htm">health benefits</a> including cardio
protective properties and butter even has some <a href="http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/12/07/why-is-butter-better.aspx">healthy components</a>, such as
medium chain fatty acids. I doubt we’ll be hailing garlic butter as the next
health food but it’s still not as bad as we might thing – especially when made
properly.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9enqNBUEde2iis5TFs-s3znYL8MJvuDvO8gVnoV-llEXezwS5LUu7a6Ir-BS0JnaJSHrCMN9h97rfpMBcDnFO7XD2p2e2ykyW5Q4kuOLEhy6pc3dW-H4PKN4i4R5MJqFoEmgJKSlvsAg/s1600/Garlic_butter_healthy_coconut_oil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9enqNBUEde2iis5TFs-s3znYL8MJvuDvO8gVnoV-llEXezwS5LUu7a6Ir-BS0JnaJSHrCMN9h97rfpMBcDnFO7XD2p2e2ykyW5Q4kuOLEhy6pc3dW-H4PKN4i4R5MJqFoEmgJKSlvsAg/s320/Garlic_butter_healthy_coconut_oil.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>
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Here is a little recipe I concocted to harness the antiviral and cholesterol
lowering goodness of garlic in a spreadable butter!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Green Garlic Butter</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">200 grams butter</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 50 grams softened coconut oil – deodorised.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Fist full of parsley</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
Whole head of garlic peeled and crushed</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
½ cup of extra virgin olive oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a saucepan sizzle the garlic in a tablespoon of your
butter. You can skip this step but you lose heaps on overall flavor if you
do.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Crushing the garlic releases the
sulphur compounds and has the biggest health benefits by activating specific
compounds. When you sauté it you do not need to brown it, only the slightest
sizzle is needed and this will preserve the integrity for maximum health
benefits and flavor. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Technique is everything for this one, here are a few key things
to get right. The coconut oil MUST be soft, not melted but soft like spreadable
butter. The butter also needs to be soft, a little bit melted is fine but not
liquid.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If it goes liquid then it will
lose its creamy goodness and split. If it's too hard then it won't combine and
you will end up with butter that has coconut lumps in it.</span>
</i><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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Once the garlic is sautéed tip it into your blender with the, parsley, softened
coconut oil and butter. Add a pinch of Himalayan rock salt then blend until
smooth and light green. I used my magic bullet but any blender will do. If the
mixture is too thick then warm it a little and then repeat the blending. Pour
into a glass jar and refrigerate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Perfect for spreading on toast, basting roasties, a butter rub or adding
to savoury dishes for flavor.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibevioL0GLKlM5AQ0Gm1nD7ImgUU572AwZjUBKBvoPiWJ4U39idUKoW576lKZ0-BkqA0UEwYCTFPjpl8Z6gsDalJ9C_gy_Ua7UPOMovLkdA4wZG72JzzN2YZjx7Ulx_vh1mqxdeZFOl2Y/s1600/garlic_cardioprotective_green_parsley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibevioL0GLKlM5AQ0Gm1nD7ImgUU572AwZjUBKBvoPiWJ4U39idUKoW576lKZ0-BkqA0UEwYCTFPjpl8Z6gsDalJ9C_gy_Ua7UPOMovLkdA4wZG72JzzN2YZjx7Ulx_vh1mqxdeZFOl2Y/s320/garlic_cardioprotective_green_parsley.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-75446285390378922552012-08-16T04:12:00.000-07:002012-08-16T04:12:02.889-07:00Wash Your Fruit<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pesticides on fruit and veg don't just sit on the surface of the skin, they soak into the flesh and are absorbed into the leaves and stems. Peeling or washing your produce will only remove a percentage of the pesticides but you should still do it. And here is why.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyFYNRIlUbp-qSUJkMSs7jeLNhwD61yNuznkUZuRzlmLvdM_LoMQAuCmBCk9a7pOHfhsMaiHRmpDptT5cgdKEu1zRDESsJhP6JiWUqjUqShrMqJutcCZEeFmrh__YfXWNmx4buskypeE/s1600/2012-08-15+11.37.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyyFYNRIlUbp-qSUJkMSs7jeLNhwD61yNuznkUZuRzlmLvdM_LoMQAuCmBCk9a7pOHfhsMaiHRmpDptT5cgdKEu1zRDESsJhP6JiWUqjUqShrMqJutcCZEeFmrh__YfXWNmx4buskypeE/s320/2012-08-15+11.37.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glass on the right is vinegar mix before washing, Glass on the left is vinegar mix AFTER washing</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I use a vinegar fruit wash to clean my produce, it helps reduce mould growth (great for berries), kills any surface bacteria and helps to break down the waxes and pesticides on commercially grown fruit. </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>My recipe is</b></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 part vinegar</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 parts water</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 tiny squidge of eco grade diswashing liquid - less than a drop. This breaks the surface tension and acts as a wetting agent.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Submerge your fruit in this mix for 3 minutes before rinsing off.</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clean fruit!</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />You can also make a 50/50 mix to put in a spray bottle for bigger fruit that won't handle soaking even for short periods.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-42042782329829055582012-07-04T04:21:00.000-07:002012-07-04T04:28:15.734-07:00I love Muesli... or do I?<br />
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really love muesli, the perfect muesli is
a crunchy, chewy delicious start to the day. With the right combination of
berries, yogurt and juice it could almost be considered manna from the heavens.
I also hate muesli, let me tell you the ways!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMXiUXFdoD0_9D-g8z8Pi9i5kSNNUgTLh5s9QsNyarr_tVTUypD9qtl9B5Qru9ojZ5_b4oyCMeBbB-sSiXbwNyUKB9bLOejxyp_58L1lioAqybJQFKbU4HiY1jkuafJX8BvZP-Vjiqn8/s1600/raw_vegan_muesli_grawnola_dehydrator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMXiUXFdoD0_9D-g8z8Pi9i5kSNNUgTLh5s9QsNyarr_tVTUypD9qtl9B5Qru9ojZ5_b4oyCMeBbB-sSiXbwNyUKB9bLOejxyp_58L1lioAqybJQFKbU4HiY1jkuafJX8BvZP-Vjiqn8/s320/raw_vegan_muesli_grawnola_dehydrator.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hate paying $8 for a tiny box that is
mostly packaged air, so that pouring yourself a bowl of muesli leaves you with exactly
enough muesli for 1 and a half maybe 2 more bowls if you are lucky.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hate that when the box says ‘delicious
Almond and Blueberry’ you have to engage in a culinary ‘Where’s Wally’ to find
the 3 almonds they hid in the box</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hate that when the box says ‘delicious
Almond and Blueberry’ the blueberries are almost certainly currants that have
been dyed and flavoured.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hate how much sugar is in most
pre-packaged mueslis</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hate the marketing which paints something
that is nutritionally uneventful as some sort of miracle superfood. Most
commercially available mueslis share more in common with a box of candy than a
box of healthy grains.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hate muesli fillers like textured processed flakes and chunks that bulk up boxes of muesli for low cost and low nutrition.</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mostly I hate papaya. Papaya is something
that muesli makers put in their boxes to torture me. A perfectly good box of muesli can be ruined by small sticky, sickly sweet globs of papaya.</span></span></li>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have tried a variety of times to make my
own muesli, but always had fairly lack lustre results, often ending up with a
combination of overtoasted and raw muesli. The heartbreak of wasting so many
ingredients on muesli misfires finally wore me down and I stopped.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Until I unearthed my old harvest maid
dehydrator and a recipe for gRAWnola that tickled my interest. A friend of mine
follows a <a href="http://www.choosingraw.com/edible-giving-continues-lower-fat-apple-cinnamon-raisin-buckwheat-granola/">raw vegan blog</a> and while raw vegan has never been a food jag that
appealed to me, a lot of the recipes used by raw vegans are excellent examples
of nutrient dense food on a budget so hearing about healthy, tasty granola that
can be made in the dehydrator made me think of muesli.<br />
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Without further ado I emptied out the dry goods cupboard and threw together the
most delicious muesli I have ever had. Even better, for the same cost of a box
of premium muesli I made almost 5 litres of muesli which should last us a good
fortnight or more.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>This is what I chucked together</b></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups of organic buckwheat groats</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.75 cup of unhulled sesame seeds</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup of pumpkin seeds</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups sunflower seeds</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 cups of oats</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.5 cups of coarsely chopped almonds</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup chia seeds</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup sultanas</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.5 dried apricots diced up</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup of dried cranberries</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup linseed</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 cup shredded coconut</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2 diced apples </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3 tamarillos (I just squashed the flesh out
in chunks)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 heaped teaspoon of cinnamon</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 teaspoon of ginger powder</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then I melted .5 cup of virgin coconut oil
and .5 cup of honey (please note, honey is not vegan) together before tossing the mix together to ensure an even
coating. You could use juice concentrate, molasses, agave, maple syrup, pureed date or really anything you please as a
sweetener and any oil as a binder. Important to note that all of these proportions
are approximate, in most cases I literally just cleared out what was leftover
in the cupboard.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I layered it onto my dehydrator and then
had it on level 2 overnight. <br />
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The result was delicious!!!</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIAA01WuBlO_Ebq3sxVJMFJf9lF3BLvYPJb0qxSUl90pPh_UY7WdshfLCgCVfGGwHlJbHweRX71EPrGB32g4Io9bUuwYE_67anzVbX43VO8_m_7s705QcSQPqmK9x-XzdqVYIvSmH_28/s1600/Buckwheat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIAA01WuBlO_Ebq3sxVJMFJf9lF3BLvYPJb0qxSUl90pPh_UY7WdshfLCgCVfGGwHlJbHweRX71EPrGB32g4Io9bUuwYE_67anzVbX43VO8_m_7s705QcSQPqmK9x-XzdqVYIvSmH_28/s320/Buckwheat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Buckwheat groats form the basis for this recipe.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAuVqxuaygUmTerjs9up3PAvA3OedkNyrCTjSM07IhgC0X-9hqg7jH2eTqIcwvdW_zKXmOTHmuV2q8hhjgLj-sqjhcyyR-Hh36UdMrvHjygfOI4yf9pr4PsqKF2oxlwx8113PW0X9dSg/s1600/chia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqAuVqxuaygUmTerjs9up3PAvA3OedkNyrCTjSM07IhgC0X-9hqg7jH2eTqIcwvdW_zKXmOTHmuV2q8hhjgLj-sqjhcyyR-Hh36UdMrvHjygfOI4yf9pr4PsqKF2oxlwx8113PW0X9dSg/s320/chia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chia seeds are nutrient dense little powerhouses</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYRl22oREhb8sXZ03iAns9TlOwnTFMMoiR0IXUTw1Jvr6XPc5U2deeMmysRjeDp8QH8gkmDlDOhKRVma_cbGXPpdxowv-Qe5DZjAXJgqszWTEeFhu4m-ZBBVPx3K7OE9wP-phHOQbiPM/s1600/chopping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYRl22oREhb8sXZ03iAns9TlOwnTFMMoiR0IXUTw1Jvr6XPc5U2deeMmysRjeDp8QH8gkmDlDOhKRVma_cbGXPpdxowv-Qe5DZjAXJgqszWTEeFhu4m-ZBBVPx3K7OE9wP-phHOQbiPM/s320/chopping.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An excellent example of safe almond chopping</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWz6ucCwAFJ6L5vl9Yt5aNR0sf7-9U3CsJ6E6IZwP_-b2V5RS1aJwZf7Z5WXJOlJZxQargs-tKepPLYnWd6YTPXX22HCs8BZfT30R1d7ObY6ojLP7CxMYFGUv9paplzIOpoz2OB8ayxvs/s1600/almonds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWz6ucCwAFJ6L5vl9Yt5aNR0sf7-9U3CsJ6E6IZwP_-b2V5RS1aJwZf7Z5WXJOlJZxQargs-tKepPLYnWd6YTPXX22HCs8BZfT30R1d7ObY6ojLP7CxMYFGUv9paplzIOpoz2OB8ayxvs/s320/almonds.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Into the bowl they go</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmZLo6R4JFt0tlGB-fSNJawDWqWtvHa0DtR-ZrN0kndvq4J-sEcm4FopdZZ1g54XNDU4LWxhLrfP4EJDwDWRLe-_cfki9N2R1Zl0-j_H3xZ3RZpikXvaR-S6DrgolTpQNg6Z2CEH0Pjk/s320/mixing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mix it all up</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirmZLo6R4JFt0tlGB-fSNJawDWqWtvHa0DtR-ZrN0kndvq4J-sEcm4FopdZZ1g54XNDU4LWxhLrfP4EJDwDWRLe-_cfki9N2R1Zl0-j_H3xZ3RZpikXvaR-S6DrgolTpQNg6Z2CEH0Pjk/s1600/mixing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDK0NSDQXdoXa3bMVq7n2N368CBZW4EiIJLCyGZO5tzenL4SIuWbnCFIVvJFxBw_-9tjjZ5UcYYEr2sye2slGJpXXGQJKLcvktaW1-N16HlJ6WlrbkmHoIdNdke6NsgMbFFxOe7jwXdk/s1600/more+mixing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDK0NSDQXdoXa3bMVq7n2N368CBZW4EiIJLCyGZO5tzenL4SIuWbnCFIVvJFxBw_-9tjjZ5UcYYEr2sye2slGJpXXGQJKLcvktaW1-N16HlJ6WlrbkmHoIdNdke6NsgMbFFxOe7jwXdk/s320/more+mixing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-yXScehZchJXS8lh6Ixrn-O-EJe-TmcTHRsTSGrnhwn0ZM6CJDYGykCXFMY4D21d7nZ5hQ1-W9LgTG98aS5A8aDLj-5lvLDb9c7dR2pj9qo4fMYUWl9FiVv6lIAOpTxVFIan1bJHGHU/s1600/stirring+the+bowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic-yXScehZchJXS8lh6Ixrn-O-EJe-TmcTHRsTSGrnhwn0ZM6CJDYGykCXFMY4D21d7nZ5hQ1-W9LgTG98aS5A8aDLj-5lvLDb9c7dR2pj9qo4fMYUWl9FiVv6lIAOpTxVFIan1bJHGHU/s320/stirring+the+bowl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kids love the mixing</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissNJ4Pz-Qf9_wagMBlQ2Tdps4WaNsddXrWcpxDhXFnBdNjRqHtpRyvEZoirqTlATaQv9HuLFF2N6ezmgeSHczzqYD408HIAwdZlbMr_OJlEbbv5SfRnwLkdR6jWiuvRrsKX1zSQoE9eY/s1600/cinnamon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEissNJ4Pz-Qf9_wagMBlQ2Tdps4WaNsddXrWcpxDhXFnBdNjRqHtpRyvEZoirqTlATaQv9HuLFF2N6ezmgeSHczzqYD408HIAwdZlbMr_OJlEbbv5SfRnwLkdR6jWiuvRrsKX1zSQoE9eY/s320/cinnamon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cinnamon and Apple</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOaLE70YG_CFESxlxZ7A4K0vW3gGTrJcEmOIqteAmYrDPseEjsUQ8pRcwSIXlijs_0BHkrK1Dhdi3M4GYuPHk5QgfNObi_6lreo9K3brHu3fthMkH6CycfqrbBy2uMgmuPy90O0rbxCA/s1600/packet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOaLE70YG_CFESxlxZ7A4K0vW3gGTrJcEmOIqteAmYrDPseEjsUQ8pRcwSIXlijs_0BHkrK1Dhdi3M4GYuPHk5QgfNObi_6lreo9K3brHu3fthMkH6CycfqrbBy2uMgmuPy90O0rbxCA/s320/packet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cranberries are a tasty treat but can be high in sugar</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqzRt55ZMIPRq-Ho2W2S24MNErCJmrUbyNgIVUCOCVrMNKhY5SjxH-mZtNR81taIzt1W4Tf2i2ZDUm83uo3a3EoSc1IqBAadTUPcySwytqWe7gxR24adcow4T3hGFDxd2pXNWV1f8WQw/s1600/cranberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRqzRt55ZMIPRq-Ho2W2S24MNErCJmrUbyNgIVUCOCVrMNKhY5SjxH-mZtNR81taIzt1W4Tf2i2ZDUm83uo3a3EoSc1IqBAadTUPcySwytqWe7gxR24adcow4T3hGFDxd2pXNWV1f8WQw/s320/cranberries.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMC1TIlR1QEKVqGomJAFgmXTZlpuO61BeKDolLV496iAmKA3G3kWurMlmuQaXxTisEueVZyOElVgwyKHAvdO8Qkek78RbTP_Gczhm2rM-Lx8wN905bG-zRQB8UtM0Y35lvCA4YYwuPy0/s1600/Honey+coconut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUMC1TIlR1QEKVqGomJAFgmXTZlpuO61BeKDolLV496iAmKA3G3kWurMlmuQaXxTisEueVZyOElVgwyKHAvdO8Qkek78RbTP_Gczhm2rM-Lx8wN905bG-zRQB8UtM0Y35lvCA4YYwuPy0/s320/Honey+coconut.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Warming the honey and coconut oil together, the smell is heavenly.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSicrtPwfO2OwJhwKBsWXidShsQ4uK3CzjZvUyxiJ9-QxWgUM5pzvnmNX6jMF4MfiYhHazyvORuKesVujosLuLs3RO-C40pNnIcRKosNhHM5fHCXmILFtzOms8Kn-_059U2qf1XzP7dnQ/s1600/hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSicrtPwfO2OwJhwKBsWXidShsQ4uK3CzjZvUyxiJ9-QxWgUM5pzvnmNX6jMF4MfiYhHazyvORuKesVujosLuLs3RO-C40pNnIcRKosNhHM5fHCXmILFtzOms8Kn-_059U2qf1XzP7dnQ/s320/hands.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sticky fingers!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmId0sZz64EvgAfGGmXBSmyrSNbhHNbsV21W1Z82yj_l9nfQizqQ5ZVZtEReeHNJsQHt4LABNGEO6YhIeQZwCHu2AP4ziJs5VOK9CpIE-KsFf6cX_5nVQVbDW9gdZud81fjNDJIleGlyc/s1600/dehydrator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmId0sZz64EvgAfGGmXBSmyrSNbhHNbsV21W1Z82yj_l9nfQizqQ5ZVZtEReeHNJsQHt4LABNGEO6YhIeQZwCHu2AP4ziJs5VOK9CpIE-KsFf6cX_5nVQVbDW9gdZud81fjNDJIleGlyc/s320/dehydrator.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A nice thin layer is best</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MrUwIbuiHVqYTKbd2DhtovoOxJBoUC-I-zy0voEr99pZq-5lnBdFMfQ2h4VmrBuKtrzrPMGDoA1wLm8blMaYAzhrZClaHBBLenyP0RsynSz0Lia4lyF9lNhAngA8UwIhCFXN3-FkkUU/s1600/bottle+of+muesli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MrUwIbuiHVqYTKbd2DhtovoOxJBoUC-I-zy0voEr99pZq-5lnBdFMfQ2h4VmrBuKtrzrPMGDoA1wLm8blMaYAzhrZClaHBBLenyP0RsynSz0Lia4lyF9lNhAngA8UwIhCFXN3-FkkUU/s320/bottle+of+muesli.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Et voila!</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-46607152194861006422012-06-19T20:57:00.003-07:002012-06-19T20:58:36.966-07:00Black smoothie<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love smoothies, they are the cheats way of getting your 8+ fruit and veg a day, they are delicious AND nutritious. I am on a bit of a smoothie bent this winter, which is good because all of the other food I am eating is a bit barren veggie wise.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziDdRYVK2znCoX3WhpvvijlMHLb9855wQ61hepGLUXtxKvcb_zraHtEPlGiESuaSL3kOBKboi-2GuNRWMcCtWiJs-Dz9Jq4HcixVXY7CdCQwA-vBctpN5xXEfZE9l9Qn80vD0LN_HWi4/s1600/green_smoothie_black+smoothie_chia_blueberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjziDdRYVK2znCoX3WhpvvijlMHLb9855wQ61hepGLUXtxKvcb_zraHtEPlGiESuaSL3kOBKboi-2GuNRWMcCtWiJs-Dz9Jq4HcixVXY7CdCQwA-vBctpN5xXEfZE9l9Qn80vD0LN_HWi4/s640/green_smoothie_black+smoothie_chia_blueberries.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what I am drinking at the moment</span>.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-29586164896604251122012-06-18T02:10:00.001-07:002012-06-18T03:50:16.676-07:00Our beautiful hypno birth<br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the week leading up to ‘birth day’ we had been getting a few practice or prodromal labours. The first one was on Wednesday and it seemed so genuine we even filled the pool! They were a really great opportunity to practice my relaxations and I spent a lot of time circling my hips on the birth ball visualising my cervix opening like a blossom or in the bath practicing my deep relaxation and visualising baby in the perfect birthing position. My husband had been amazingly supportive through the week, helping me with my <a href="http://www.hypnobirthingdunedin.co.nz/">hypnobirthing</a> visualisations, practicing his acupressure and giving me foot rubs, We did a little <a href="http://www.birthingnaturally.net/cn/tool/rebozo.html">rebozo</a> technique as well as some other positioning techniques because we knew baby was tending towards posterior and wanted to get an anterior presentation if possible. I spent a lot of the time visualising my healing room which is a space deep within your subconscious where you feel warm and safe, the process of reaching this healing space was a scripted relaxation process which began by building the details of my 'healing room' one by one and then stepping into it. I found this a very powerful way of going really deep into relaxation and positive visualisation for a peaceful birth.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeiF-k1q9ZyfhCYzxxkO06LzCMWs94Qn1BN8iZbYaPGwjvTLP1bdV8cZNcfkfhOQH-el4snKTDGvWXYKlG1Ilbq2Y5nsG2Lz7BbI9JmYvFxplRZpTEYTi9j5vjQ1oPqQgfbXunzjHF2I/s1600/Waterbirth_hypnobirth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeiF-k1q9ZyfhCYzxxkO06LzCMWs94Qn1BN8iZbYaPGwjvTLP1bdV8cZNcfkfhOQH-el4snKTDGvWXYKlG1Ilbq2Y5nsG2Lz7BbI9JmYvFxplRZpTEYTi9j5vjQ1oPqQgfbXunzjHF2I/s320/Waterbirth_hypnobirth.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by <a href="mailto:jorinderapsey@gmail.com">Jorinde Rapsey </a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Even though I expected baby to be late and had
even worked out a second possible birth date based on my longer cycle I found I
was getting crabby and short tempered to the extreme so after 3 days I took a
dose of my homeopathic constitutional remedy – Sepia 1m - and instantly my mood
improved, I felt a sort of release of all the grumbles I had been storing up
and was really able to engage in my relaxation.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Saturday morning at 2am I started having surges again and at about 3am I realised I wasn’t going to sleep so I got up and practiced my breathing on the birth ball, I really enjoyed each surge at this stage and found it very easy to relax into them and breathe. I hadn’t woken my husband but he got up shortly after and made me a chamomile tea. I decided to have a bath at that stage and listen to my labour track list </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">which had
Marie Mongan’s Rainbow relaxation and relaxation tracks as well as some ocean
and thunderstorm soundtracks which I found very lulling.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We really felt that this was just another practice. My husband reminded me to embrace it instead of resenting it. Good man.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was so deeply relaxed in the bath I didn’t ‘come to’ until almost 8am when I decided to go back to bed, except instead of settling down the surges picked up intensity. My husband popped in from the lounge and we realised the surges were spaced at 4 minutes and close to 60 seconds long. We called our midwife even though I felt like it may still be a practice. When she arrived I was on the birth ball breathing and relaxing. She said I was so relaxed and quiet it was hard for her to time the surges, our student midwife took my BP and checked the position which had gone from almost full posterior to partial spine showing. We felt very positive about this. Sh<a href="http://www.drmomma.org/2010/04/myth-of-vaginal-exam-in-pregnancy.html">e didn’t check my cervix as I had specified I didn’t want one unless necessary</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our midwife said she was pretty sure we would have baby today but that she would be back in a couple of hours. She suggested I get some breakfast and go for a walk so My Husband made me some scrambled eggs and marmite toast which I wolfed down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really didn’t feel like walking so I had a shower instead. Even though I was lucid and moving around I felt very dreamily relaxed. It was at this point I decided I really should go for a walk so I got dressed and headed outside. My husband offered to come but I said I would be fine alone and would text him if I needed him. It was <a href="http://www.brainentrainment.net/tag/endorphin-release-pressure-points/">amazing and sunny</a> outside and I found that walking really helped me work through each surge. Listening to the relaxation track really put me in the ‘zone’ or ‘labour land’ and the walk was very surreal, I had my eyes mostly closed and was using my surge breathing throughout so I must have looked very interesting! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Towards the end of the walk the surges were getting so intense I had to stop to really relax into them. The last 100 metres were pretty full on and I started to get that teary transition feeling. I got home and went straight to bed and lay on my side to re-centre. I had barely noticed time passing but I had been gone for a full hour and my dear old husband was getting worried With the next surge my waters broke and I could feel baby shoot down into the pelvis. I swore at this stage more from being startled than from labour and decided to go sit on the toilet for a spell. We decided it was time to get our midwife back and she arrived shortly with our student midwife. The <a href="http://anthrodoula.blogspot.com/2011/09/meconium.html">waters had meconium</a> in them but we weren’t that worried as baby was 41 weeks and meconium in the waters at this stage is very normal at this stage. We checked baby’s heartbeat which was lovely and strong and calm and our midwife noted that baby had turned nicely into anterior and descended well into the pelvis. My breathing was getting very vocal at this stage and I was very conscious of keeping my jaw relaxed and allowing my cervix to relax. I still didn’t feel as relaxed as I could be – I was working hard! But my husband said I was very relaxed and quiet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided to get into the pool, the midwife told me it was a bit hot but it felt perfect to me, she was probably more worried about the baby than me but at this stage, didn’t realise how close I was to birthing my baby. Everyone was bustling around setting up the things they needed but I concentrated on being in my own little world. To me the surges were all consuming and I didn’t feel I was relaxed but again my husband and the the student midwife tell me I was very loose and limp and they could see me relaxing my jaw with each surge. My husband was fabulous, using the <a href="http://www.hypnos.co.uk/hypnomag/valente.htm">hypnotic anchor</a> of touching my shoulder and saying ‘deeply relaxed’ to refocus me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My midwife breathed with me to help pace my breaths and at this stage I could definitely feel a change in the surges to an intense downwards pressure so I transitioned to my <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eU1DP18pCBs">birth breaths</a> to breathe the baby down. I still had no idea that baby was so close so when with the next breath baby dropped down into the birth canal I let out a huge roar. At the back of my mind I was ecstatic because I never got to experience this stage with my first son and I knew I would be seeing my baby very soon. As baby started to crown my midwife put her hand over my perineum to help me ease baby out bit at a time, this combined with breathing rather than pushing is most likely what kept me from tearing and made the last two surges very smooth. I put my hands down and I could feel the head, perfectly placed at this stage I am pretty sure I said ‘my baby, oh my god my baby!’ before telling everyone I was going to lie back to birth the rest of him. I floated back and within two more surges the rest of baby came out perfectly and my midwife helped me scoop him up into my arms. I had a quick peek and saw that he was another wee boy, it was amazing that I was the first one to hold him and I got to check his gender. He was so alert and quiet, looking around at his world. I felt such a wave of euphoria and felt so relaxed and calm and centered. It was such a different experience from the first birth which felt very detached at this stage and I felt very removed from the whole process. I latched him almost immediately and just enjoyed a few moments in the bath while everyone prepared for us. </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After I had held and cuddled the wee man for a good 20 minutes our student midwife was very excited to help my husband cut the umbilical cord which was lovely and empty and after I got out she gently helped me birth the placenta which was
facilitated by latching our little boy, almost the second after he got a good
suckle going I could feel the afterpains intensify and the placenta came away.
I was informed it was a very healthy placenta and had come away perfectly.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Compared to my first birth experience this birth was an amazing, calm and serene experience. My midwife commented that she didn’t even need to be there as we did all of the work ourselves. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PFhPPsBkLC7WppsUnR27m8sFUFfUiRfRYlBVyi6DNQxMamY9CHLE4g7iG9tp97xo-p3tS5YcEMyJcNuT_A21pgVW1SszHHbpJum8X364m02AfpRlralyn0SaMf9zHhvEAEkp24OI8RQ/s1600/birth_pool_hypnobirth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PFhPPsBkLC7WppsUnR27m8sFUFfUiRfRYlBVyi6DNQxMamY9CHLE4g7iG9tp97xo-p3tS5YcEMyJcNuT_A21pgVW1SszHHbpJum8X364m02AfpRlralyn0SaMf9zHhvEAEkp24OI8RQ/s320/birth_pool_hypnobirth.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by <a href="mailto:jorinderapsey@gmail.com">Jorinde Rapsey</a><br /><br />To learn more about hypnobirthing you can read about it <a href="http://www.hypnobirthingdunedin.co.nz/">here</a></span></td></tr>
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<br />Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-74011103843405975452012-06-17T01:58:00.001-07:002012-06-17T02:00:12.462-07:00Hormones in labour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyjA87Ab0ucoAej0mHhgXoYqLgjaAbPbGkZEXVWcvVu5X4Fly6PCN9MKyMwXTnYAUEqRSB4jduJEeUO62yXZAu3a_VLvEcqjqMZ_qUBExCuXFFxJm4LxHsiPo5bnQUrY5Zcsyxkgxubs/s1600/Hormone+infographic+flattened.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbyjA87Ab0ucoAej0mHhgXoYqLgjaAbPbGkZEXVWcvVu5X4Fly6PCN9MKyMwXTnYAUEqRSB4jduJEeUO62yXZAu3a_VLvEcqjqMZ_qUBExCuXFFxJm4LxHsiPo5bnQUrY5Zcsyxkgxubs/s320/Hormone+infographic+flattened.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A little infographic I put together about hormones and labour.</span></div>Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-290665471559733389.post-34833700505419801352012-06-16T19:20:00.000-07:002012-06-17T02:01:03.030-07:00Hypnobirthing<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-NZ" style="line-height: 115%;">I have become a convert to hypnobirthing. When I was pregnant with
my first son I was rather sceptical of natural birth, I was keen for any pain
relief possible and any mention of a pain free orgasmic birth made me cringe.
After a less than spectacular first birth experience which resulted in an
intervention cascade and a painful traumatic 21 hrs (<a href="http://siananigan.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/my-first-birth-story.html">you can read about it here</a><span style="font-size: small;">)
I was willing to check out my options. Turns out that pain medication and a
safe healthy birth aren’t always compatible. So when a friend of mine started to talk about
hypnobirthing I was ready to listen, and what she was saying made sense. She
had used hypnobirthing for her first labour and was so convinced that she
decided to become a hypnobirthing tutor, I feel super lucky that she did
otherwise there is no way my second birth would have been anywhere as peaceful
and as easy as it was. </span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hS934rnhyjmeJbOCWoEzq7Fm15-8J9iqCIptfEgwomH9ale5uYAhgNWIrkjQOBlXFqiD1U52YJO4MtMfU8nQZXA7es_SHUIhgsJ-HQtJ0et510Q8U96ZuParjTe8Y5WlEkasS-P6mSk/s1600/Hypnobirthing_birthpool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4hS934rnhyjmeJbOCWoEzq7Fm15-8J9iqCIptfEgwomH9ale5uYAhgNWIrkjQOBlXFqiD1U52YJO4MtMfU8nQZXA7es_SHUIhgsJ-HQtJ0et510Q8U96ZuParjTe8Y5WlEkasS-P6mSk/s320/Hypnobirthing_birthpool.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">When you go into labour stressed out,
tense or fearful then your body does not function as it should. Based on our
current societal conditioning </span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;">we are programmed to
think labour is painful and usually needs medical assistance. What happens
when we hit the fear response is that the body goes into fight, flight or freeze mode
taking blood and oxygen away from non essential organs such as your uterus and
diverting it to essential organs such as the heart and lungs. This causes the
muscles in the uterus to fatigue and not work as well as they normally would.
We also release adrenaline - which blocks endorphins and tenses all of our
muscles making it harder for the involuntary muscles responsible for labour to
do their job.<span class="apple-converted-space"> A fearful labour takes place in
</span><a href="http://www.becomehealthynow.com/popups/sympth_parasympth.htm">sympathetic system</a>, this is 'the emergency room' of our body and is
basically your <a href="http://www.thrivingnow.com/flight-fight-or-freeze/">flight or fight or freeze</a> response. When we are in this mode we
release adrenaline and block oxytocin which in turn makes labour slower and
more painful. Hypnobirthing uses the body's <a href="http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth/ecstatic-birth-natures-hormonal-blueprint-for-labor">natural hormonal processes </a>to both enhance labour and remove pain, flooding the body with endorphins is the trick to a pain free labour. To do this we must activate the <a href="http://www.veroniquemead.com/pns.php">parasympathetic</a> nervous system.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ" style="background-color: white; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every principle and practice of hypnobirthing is about
reaching a state of very deep relaxation so that the uterine contractions are
as effective and as pain free as possible. Nothing is forced, in a proper
hypnobirth, there is no<a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CYD/is_6_38/ai_99376501/"> purple pushing</a>, there is <a href="http://birthingbeautifulideas.com/?tag=purple-pushing">no panting and screaming</a>. It
is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRUxqyzk9EE">quiet(ish), controlled and effective</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">After my first birth experience
anything that would give me the skills to birth more effectively sounded great.
Talking to my husband we realized this would be a really effective way of</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> being proactive about birth and address our fears effectively. We
signed up.<br />
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The basics of <a href="http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/vaginal-childbirth-methods.html">hypnobirthing</a> are broken into three main approaches<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span lang="EN-NZ" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">Learning to achieve and maintain deep levels
of relaxation through self-hypnosis & breathing techniques</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Positive
repositioning of birth in our subconscious through various techniques such
as visualisation, affirmations, fear release and self-hypnosis.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Education about normal, healthy pregnancy,
labour & birth, and practical physical approaches to birthing effectively.</span></li>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These techniques together become a
powerful birthing companion, they enable you to birth well as well as giving
your birth partner really practical ways of assisting<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hypnobirthing is actually just a fancy
name for what women have been able to do for centuries, at its simplest level
it is essentially just deep relaxation free from fear. Many women ‘hypnobirth’
naturally as part of their labour coping mechanism. Hypnobirthing as a formal
technique was developed by Marie Mongan as a response to what she saw as a
social and medical undermining of women’s ability to safely birth without
intervention. Many people think that hypnosis is the premise of stage shows and
kooky 1970’s psychiatrists, I have to admit when I first heard the term, people
quacking like a duck on stage passed through my mind. I couldn’t shake the
Derren Brown associations. However hypnosis is simply a very powerful way of
talking to your subconscious which is already used by high performance
athletes, powerful business professionals and performers. We actually engage in
self ‘hypnosis’ on a daily basis with our self talk, how often have you heard
that using positive self talk will get positive results? Hypnobirthing is no
different. We didn’t walk into a room of
swinging pendants or spiraling circles. We simply learned how to access deep
relaxation and self hypnosis on our own!<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Siandrew" datetime="2012-06-17T11:35"></ins></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Surge breathing during early labour. <br /><i>A dark space helps promote melatonin which in turn helps to promote oxytocin</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what is hypnobirthing?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-NZ">Aim:</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ"> to give mum
and birth partner tools and techniques to approach birth positively &
confidently; birth is calmer, safer, easier
and more comfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-NZ">Philosophy:</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ"> Birth is a
natural, normal, healthy life event, and for a healthy mum, baby and pregnancy,
it does not need to be over medicalised. Interventions are not necessary during
a normal healthy pregnancy and birth, women’s bodies are not destined to
malfunction, birthing with the body is achievable for up to 95% of all mothers.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is about families at an
incredibly special time having the best possible birth for them!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-NZ">Goal</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ">: Gentle
safe birth for mum & baby: Both mum and baby are healthy and happy. One is
not at the expense of the other. Trust in birth!<br />
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<i><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Calm + relaxed = parasympathetic system = endorphins = effective,
manageable contractions<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-NZ">Obstructions
to a relaxed calm and safe birth:</span></b><span lang="EN-NZ"> Anxiety, fear and tension <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fear, anxiety and tension
triggers the sympathetic nervous system response which is FIGHT/FLIGHT/FREEZE <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN-NZ">Adrenalin no endorphins<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span lang="EN-NZ">Tension in birthing muscles<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-NZ">-
</span><span lang="EN-NZ">Less blood/oxygen to birthing muscles, the uterus is not a defence
organ<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=290665471559733389" name="_GoBack"></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-NZ">-
</span><span lang="EN-NZ">Contractions less effective and more painful<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-NZ">-
</span><span lang="EN-NZ">Mind sends message to body that it’s not safe to birth<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fear + tension = sympathetic nervous system = longer more painful
birth+ higher chance of intervention<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hypnobirthing classes are
designed to give us the tools to keep mum and baby calm throughout labour and
birth<span class="msoDel"><del cite="mailto:Siandrew" datetime="2012-06-17T11:24"></del></span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="msoDel"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-NZ"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They teach:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-NZ">-
</span><span lang="EN-NZ">How to achieve and maintain very deep levels of relaxation<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-NZ">-
</span><span lang="EN-NZ">Breathing techniques<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-NZ">-
</span><span lang="EN-NZ">Self- hypnosis, positive imagery, visualisations, affirmations,
fear release to change negative beliefs/ideas (often held subconsciously)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-NZ">-
</span><span lang="EN-NZ">Anchors: touch, smell, words to deepen relaxation<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-NZ">-
</span><span lang="EN-NZ">Light touch massage, acupressure<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-NZ">-
</span><span lang="EN-NZ">Education: physiology, nutrition, exercise, DVDs<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>A huge thanks to <a href="http://www.hypnobirthingdunedin.co.nz/">Carolyn</a> for providing these hypnobirthing notes.</i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The whole focus of the classes was about
giving us the skills to birth well, they gave me the skills to relax deeply
enough and my husband the skills to actively assist in a meaningful and
practical way. The classes themselves were really calming, they were my serene
spot in the week. Since I stopped doing yoga re-learning to relax was difficult
for me and the classes offered some effective tools to do this. We spent a lot of the time doing deep
relaxation and visualization exercises as well as learning about the physiology
of labour. I couldn’t help compare these classes to what I learned in my
antenatal class and there were<span class="msoDel"><del cite="mailto:Siandrew" datetime="2012-06-17T11:25"></del></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">significant differences. Traditional antenatal classes often tell you
that being relaxed makes for a better labour but there is very little info on
how this is actually done. Most antenatal classes seem to prepare you for the medical</span><u style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> </u><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">model
of birth. Whereas hypnobirthing explains how your body works in labour and how
to optimise that. A relaxed body enables
dilation to progress more smoothly and which exercises will allow this to
happen.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were
given a CD with relaxation tracks of hypnotic music and Marie Mongan (the
creator of hypnobirthing) talking you through the relaxation process as well as
birthing affirmations. For hypnobirthing to work effectively you really need to
engage in the process, much of the work done is about re-writing your
expectation of birth. Cultural stereotypes like women screaming in hospitals in lithotomy with useless
looking husbands being cursed at while authoritative surgeons did all the hard
work are prolific. They sit deep within our psyche and build the expectation
that birth is painful, traumatic and most of all – beyond us. This is simply
not the case. There are a small percentage of women who are unable to have safe
births without intervention. But for the majority of us, when we are given the
correct information, tools and support, birth can be powerful, calm and
effective. I knew that to have a birth like that I really needed to believe in
my body 100% and as such threw myself into relaxation exercises completely.
Every night I listened to my <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RONRewr8oA">rainbow relaxation</a>, at work when I was typing
emails I had my birthing affirmations playing on loop. During the evenings my
husband and I practiced light touch massage, acupressure, setting hypnotic
anchors and deep relaxation. We did visualization exercises together and while
he watched movies I listened to my tapes. Because my first birth had been so
traumatising I had a lot of work to do to undo my subconscious fears. Our
hypnobirthing tutor was amazing at leading us through exercises that helped us
break down those expectations. I started to trust my body and was looking
forwards to labour, which was completely unexpected. I literally felt like a
veil had been lifted. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ek2W79ag_UoQE3FjJJYSI5-fH3WiXpgNY8dvNLtialu0ZylFLcXGRBAGkSNYvKylPlgi6yiq5unO0akuiM8Iet1x8HfEMd6J91msYQKl0HQikTyiZGCtbwvEpKTL_GRHczo565TKO1g/s1600/Hypnobirthing_shower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ek2W79ag_UoQE3FjJJYSI5-fH3WiXpgNY8dvNLtialu0ZylFLcXGRBAGkSNYvKylPlgi6yiq5unO0akuiM8Iet1x8HfEMd6J91msYQKl0HQikTyiZGCtbwvEpKTL_GRHczo565TKO1g/s320/Hypnobirthing_shower.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Relaxing in the shower an hour before birth</span></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As our guess date drew nearer I felt more
connected with our baby and the impending birth, I felt so much more prepared
than I had for my first birth. My husband was a changed person, he had been
anxious about birth and had even asked to not be there. After classes ended he
was confident and so calm. When we first started classes we were settled on a
hospital birth, without question, but as classes progressed and as we realized
we were entirely capable of birthing this baby, we realised a home birth was what
we wanted. I didn’t want to be offered drugs, given multiple vaginal exams or
hooked up to sensors. I wanted the freedom to birth without an </span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15561659">arbitrary</a> <a href="http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/273053-overview">timeline</a><span style="font-size: small;"> and without being bossed into interventions that were not necessary. I
didn’t want to relive that feeling of helplessness and fear. So we made the decision to switch to a
homebirth and it was the best decision we made. How did it go? </span><br />
<br />
You’ll have to check out my birth story which I’ll be posting up soon.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3qiix_wo1rf91xVrkywN5QkwH2oikmtw582VpIY62Amk5RDzfuqix7XeMQUEVEDmSLlKlAzNGVd_EWDR7txxiP-gBhYYQyCNvETWJrUHvVcp06BHw59THRoNRsqv2ckz3CwMeNOR2FI/s1600/First_breastfeed_newborn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3qiix_wo1rf91xVrkywN5QkwH2oikmtw582VpIY62Amk5RDzfuqix7XeMQUEVEDmSLlKlAzNGVd_EWDR7txxiP-gBhYYQyCNvETWJrUHvVcp06BHw59THRoNRsqv2ckz3CwMeNOR2FI/s320/First_breastfeed_newborn.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our first feed out of the water. <br />With special thanks to <a href="http://jorinderapsey@gmail.com/">Jorinde</a> for these beautiful photos</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>Nettle Farseerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15893781186173567419noreply@blogger.com2