Come celebrate with us!
We are counting down to our 200th post.
This is post 196!
We are counting down to our 200th post.
This is post 196!
We will have guest posts and giveaways! Tell your friends, they will not want to miss out on the fun!
I am kicking off the celebration with a guest post from a new friend, her name is Katie Moore. She is a fellow Mommy who likes to blog.
Let's give Katie a BIG Boo Boo Princess welcome!
When I learned that I was
finally expecting my first child, my excitement was almost overwhelming. I
couldn’t wait to be a mom! The other overwhelming change can be all of the new
health information that you become aware of as you realize that everything you
do affects this little baby growing in you. To give my baby the best start to
her life, I wanted to take health, wellness and natural living to a whole new
level.
Even though I'd always been a healthy eater and had abstained from smoking, excessive drinking and other risky behaviors, I knew my lifestyle had serious room for improvement. My diet was my first concern. Although I'd always loaded up on fruits, veggies, whole grains, and other nutritious foods, I knew that I had to be extra cautious while I was carrying a baby. Per my OB/GYN's instructions, I began taking a daily prenatal vitamin and filling my diet with foods high in folic acid, calcium, iron and other essential nutrients. Combined, these vitamins and minerals can prevent birth defects, build healthy bones and lead to all-around healthy growth for a developing fetus. They also provided benefits for me, as well, including increased immunity and energy and the prevention of bone loss.
To keep my blood glucose in check, I cut out processed sugar and harmful high fructose corn syrup. I traded my daily soda for freshly-squeezed juice or water with fruit, and I calmed my pregnancy sweet tooth with high-fiber breakfast cereals and naturally-sweet apples and berries. Also, in order to prevent high blood pressure, which is increasingly common among pregnant women, I cut out salt and processed foods that are high in sodium. To my surprise, I felt absolutely wonderful. I'd always heard horror stories about the first trimester of pregnancy, but I felt strong and energetic, yet calm and content.
A big part of living naturally involves the products we use every day. As a mother-to-be, I was concerned about all the chemicals in products like cosmetics and household cleaners, so I started researching natural cleaning products and beauty products. I began cleaning my house with products made from ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda and sea salt, which provided the cleaning power without the risks of harmful chemicals. I felt much better knowing I was avoiding dangerous side effects to my baby and myself, and my house had never been cleaner!
At first, I was skeptical when it came to natural cosmetics. Looking good has always been important to me, and I was uneasy about giving up my makeup, hair dye and other beauty tools. However, I found that all-natural, organic cosmetics were available, and that they worked just as well as my old products for around the same price. These products were also soothing to my skin. They didn't cause breakouts and irritation like my old cosmetics, no matter how often I used them or how long I left them on my skin. The makeup impressed me so much that I decided to switch to all-natural deodorant, shampoo, conditioner and body wash as well. Again, they worked just as well without any of the potentially-harmful ingredients.
There are so many options and choices to make during pregnancy to prepare for motherhood. I always turned to my doctor for the best information—everything from cloth diapers to cord blood banking was discussed—and felt as prepared and energetic as I could ever be for delivery. After my baby was born, I continued my all-natural lifestyle. Now that I have a toddler, I'm more cautious than ever about what's lying around the house. However, I know I'm doing all I can to protect my health and my baby's. Living a natural life gives me the peace of mind every mother deserves, and I plan on doing it for the rest of my life.
Even though I'd always been a healthy eater and had abstained from smoking, excessive drinking and other risky behaviors, I knew my lifestyle had serious room for improvement. My diet was my first concern. Although I'd always loaded up on fruits, veggies, whole grains, and other nutritious foods, I knew that I had to be extra cautious while I was carrying a baby. Per my OB/GYN's instructions, I began taking a daily prenatal vitamin and filling my diet with foods high in folic acid, calcium, iron and other essential nutrients. Combined, these vitamins and minerals can prevent birth defects, build healthy bones and lead to all-around healthy growth for a developing fetus. They also provided benefits for me, as well, including increased immunity and energy and the prevention of bone loss.
To keep my blood glucose in check, I cut out processed sugar and harmful high fructose corn syrup. I traded my daily soda for freshly-squeezed juice or water with fruit, and I calmed my pregnancy sweet tooth with high-fiber breakfast cereals and naturally-sweet apples and berries. Also, in order to prevent high blood pressure, which is increasingly common among pregnant women, I cut out salt and processed foods that are high in sodium. To my surprise, I felt absolutely wonderful. I'd always heard horror stories about the first trimester of pregnancy, but I felt strong and energetic, yet calm and content.
A big part of living naturally involves the products we use every day. As a mother-to-be, I was concerned about all the chemicals in products like cosmetics and household cleaners, so I started researching natural cleaning products and beauty products. I began cleaning my house with products made from ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar, baking soda and sea salt, which provided the cleaning power without the risks of harmful chemicals. I felt much better knowing I was avoiding dangerous side effects to my baby and myself, and my house had never been cleaner!
At first, I was skeptical when it came to natural cosmetics. Looking good has always been important to me, and I was uneasy about giving up my makeup, hair dye and other beauty tools. However, I found that all-natural, organic cosmetics were available, and that they worked just as well as my old products for around the same price. These products were also soothing to my skin. They didn't cause breakouts and irritation like my old cosmetics, no matter how often I used them or how long I left them on my skin. The makeup impressed me so much that I decided to switch to all-natural deodorant, shampoo, conditioner and body wash as well. Again, they worked just as well without any of the potentially-harmful ingredients.
There are so many options and choices to make during pregnancy to prepare for motherhood. I always turned to my doctor for the best information—everything from cloth diapers to cord blood banking was discussed—and felt as prepared and energetic as I could ever be for delivery. After my baby was born, I continued my all-natural lifestyle. Now that I have a toddler, I'm more cautious than ever about what's lying around the house. However, I know I'm doing all I can to protect my health and my baby's. Living a natural life gives me the peace of mind every mother deserves, and I plan on doing it for the rest of my life.
Katie Moore has written
and submitted this article. Katie is an active blogger who discusses the topics
of, motherhood, children, fitness, health and all other things Mommy. She
enjoys writing, blogging, and meeting new people! To connect with Katie contact
her via her blog, Moore From Katie or her twitter, @moorekm26
If you or someone you know would like to participate in the celebration, either with a giveaway or a post, just let me know!
