Missouri mom Lauren Flaugher picked up a copy of the seminal book Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, which outlines the midwife’s role in a pregnancy and encourages moms to return to the natural birthing methods of the past. The book—written by a woman often hailed as the “mother of authentic widwifery”—made a big impact on Lauren.
She was pregnant at the time, of course. As she and her husband, Joe, prepared for the birth of their second child, they discussed the ideas outlined by Ina May Gaskin. People
Lauren decided that she would have a natural birth without medication. That choice would make the birth of her son all the more miraculous—but the birth did not go exactly as anticipated.
Lauren spent the days and weeks leading up to her labor studying the techniques recommended by Gaskin.
“I did a lot of visualizations, a lot of positive affirmations before the birth to kind of prepare myself,” Lauren toldFox 2 News. But nothing could prepare her for the midwives’ reaction when her son was finally born. People
On May 2, 2017, Lauren’s water broke, with her husband by her side. Joe took her hand in his. When labor began, Lauren went to the Birth and Wellness Center in O’Fallon, Missouri.
This birthing center is owned and operated by midwives and is the only freestanding birthing facility in the area that offers water birth. It was the ideal place to welcome the newest member of the Flaugher family into the world.
Lauren’s labor lasted for nine long hours.
She dealt with the struggle by alternating between the Birth and Wellness Center’s hot tub and showers. Then it was time to push.
Joe was there the whole time, supporting his wife through the entire process. “He got me popsicles when I wanted them,” Lauren later toldPeople. “And during the pushing he said, ‘You’re doing it! He’s going to be here soon!'” Fox 2 News
Lauren pushed and pushed for 20 minutes. At one point, her son (who was later named Finnis Steven Flaugher, or Finn for short) seemed to get stuck in the birth canal. The midwives guided Lauren through a series of movements and postures to free the child.
Finally Finn emerged into the world. Lauren hadn’t taken medication of any kind. Her dream of a natural birth had come true.
Instead of painful, Lauren describes the situation as “intense.”
She had trained her mind to handle what might drive others over the edge. “Part of the prep for natural birth was not to think of it as painful, but intense,” she told People. “And it was really intense. I felt very aware of what was happening to my body.”
Once their son was free and clear, the Flaughers and their midwives were in for a real shock. A midwife placed the infant onto the nearest scale. Finn could barely fit. Joe Flaugher/Facebook
“The scale only went up to 12 pounds, so our midwife looked at me and said, ‘We can’t use it,'” Lauren said. “I thought the scale was broken!”
The healthcare team brought in a larger scale—one without the 12-pound limit.
Everyone in the room stared in disbelief at the number that flashed across the scale’s display. Baby Finn, fresh from the womb, weighed an incredible 13 pounds. For context, the average baby of European heritage is just 7.7 pounds—nearly half of Finn’s weight.
“At first, I honestly could not believe it,” Lauren told Fox 2 News. “I kept saying, ‘That’s wrong, the scale cannot be right, this isn’t right.’ And they said, ‘No, that’s right. That’s actually true.'”
The Flaughers had some idea that their son would be a big kid. The 20-week ultrasound showed an infant who was a bit bigger than most. People
“They said, ‘He’s showing a little big,'” Lauren told People. “A midwife did the measurement and thought maybe he would be at most a 10-pound baby.” Of course, Finn was not just “a little big” when he entered the world. He was enormous!
Women who have given birth shake their heads in disbelief when they hear the story of Finn’s natural, medication-free birth.
News of Lauren’s natural birth and her huge son quickly spread across social media.
Joe responded with a social media post of his own. He agreed that his wife was a “superwoman” and that the natural birth of such a big infant deserved applause. Joe Flaugher/Facebook
But he wanted the world to know that his wife is fabulous for much more than the story of her second son’s birth.
“What the world doesn’t know is that, besides our children Finn and Aurea, she has had hundreds of children,” Joe wrote. “Lauren is a teacher. She has the task of teaching those who do not speak English as their first language. She has shed blood, sweat, and tears over hundreds of children… She has so much love in her heart that she has not only our own children, but her hundreds of students.”
Joe concluded with a touching and heartfelt expression of love. “While the story of the birth of our son is wonderful, this is the story of my wife that should be shared for the world to see,” he wrote.
For one Massachusetts mom, a joyful children’s party turned into a mother’s worst nightmare.
Brenda Sanderson’s two sons were thrilled to attend a graduation party in the summer of 2015. It had everything, including an inflatable, enclosed trampoline known as a “bounce house.” The boys gleefully entered the bounce house and did what you do in bounce houses—they jumped, they wrestled, they rolled and slid.
Everything seemed fine. Two days later, though, Sanderson saw some funny blemishes on her 10-year-old’s arm. She asked him where they came from. Sanderson relayed the ensuing conversation to Fox 25 News in Boston.
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“He said, ‘Well, Mommy, I think it’s from sliding around and bouncing around the bouncy house. I think I just got burned from the plastic because it was hot.”
So Sanderson treated her boy for a burn.
She covered the marks with Neosporin and kept an eye on them. To her horror, the blemishes didn’t heal. In fact, they started getting worse. Then they began to ooze and fester. Soon the 10-year-old was covered in open sores.
“It was oozing, and when it oozes, it spreads,” Sanderson said. “He said they hurt to touch.”
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These were no simple burns, Sanderson realized. It was time for a visit to the doctor.
Her son’s doctor took one look at the boy’s wounds and came up with a theory. She asked where the boy thought the marks came from. When she heard about the bounce house, there was no doubt left in her mind.
Sanderson’s little boy had a staph infection.
Staph infections are a potentially serious invasion of Staphylococcus bacteria. If the infection spreads far enough, the malady can be life-threatening. It’s vital that people with staph infections get treatment as quickly as possible.
The bacteria were hiding on the plastic surface of the bounce house’s interior. The boy must have had cuts or abrasions on his arm, and that’s how the bacteria entered his system.
“Any time you break the skin, you’re at risk of getting some sort of skin infection,” Ari Cohen, Chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Mass General Hospital told Fox 25. “Staph being probably the most common and the most talked about. As long as you wash up any wound after you get it, that should minimize the chance of getting significant infections.”
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Sanderson’s boy was treated for his infection and came out okay in the end. Still, it was a terrible ordeal, and Sanderson doesn’t plan on letting her kids back into a bounce house in the foreseeable future.
In addition to the risk of bacterial infections, playing in bounce houses leads to bruises, concussions, and broken bones with startling regularity.
A 2012 study in the health journal Pediatrics found that bounce houses caused 11,300 injuries to children in 2010. That’s twice the number of bounce house–related injuries recorded in 2008.
The study, which was conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, observed that this injury rate “equals a child every 46 minutes nationally. This epidemic increase highlights the urgency of addressing the prevention of inflatable bouncer-related injuries among children.”
So the next time you bring your kids to a rollicking birthday party complete with a bounce house, you might want to tell them to steer clear. No amount of fun is worth a staph infection or a broken bone.
Salmon is enjoying a long moment.
Maybe enjoying is the wrong term, since these cold water fish probably prefer swimming in the ocean to swimming in butter with a lemon garnish. Salmon is so popular with American seafood consumers that it is second only to shrimp, reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
But long certainly does describe the interval of salmon’s popularity, which can be traced back to a new awareness of (and obsession with) a nutrient you will surely recognize: omega-3 fatty acids.
Between 2000 and 2010, scientific journals published something like 12,500 studies on the health benefits of omega 3s. According to the literature, omega-3 fatty acids can improve heart health, give our brains a boost, and even prevent schizophrenia. Salmon is packed with this nutrient and a whole lot more.
Besides, it’s delicious. As a result, both salmon farming and commercial harvesting of the wild population have spiked since 2000.
Salmon’s popularity makes the market confusing for the average consumer. Should you buy Pacific or Atlantic salmon? Which is better for you: farm raised or wild Alaskan? Is “color-added” salmon safe?
Here’s your guide to the language surrounding one of our favorite superfoods.
Atlantic vs. Pacific Salmon
As you might have guessed, these labels refer to the oceans where the salmon in question is typically found. Pacific salmon is far more common than its Atlantic counterpart, but fish farming provides a steady supply of Atlantic salmon for the market.
Pacific salmon is usually identified by variety, which include coho (or silver), chum (or keta), king (also called chinook), sockeye, and pink salmon. These varieties are far more likely to be fished than farmed, but ask your fishmonger for more details. Keep reading for more on the “wild-caught” vs. “farm-raised” issue.
Farm-Raised vs. Wild-Caught
Endangered salmon, like the Atlantic variety, are protected from commercial fishing. Farmers around the world have stepped in to meet the demand.
Wild-caught salmon tends to be leaner and healthier than farmed fish. Ask your fishmonger what fishing technique was used to harvest your fillets, though. Troll lines are among the most sustainable fishing techniques because they limit harvest sizes.
Line-fishing also tends to return higher quality meat, since fishermen must personally handle every animal they harvest. Expect to pay a little more for line-fished fillets.
Farm-raised salmon isn’t necessarily worse for the environment (or for your health). Again, it all comes down to process. Ask your fishmonger what type of farm your salmon was raised in.
According to the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, recirculating aquaculture systems in closed tanks are far more sustainable than net pens, which can contaminate the surrounding ocean with chemicals and waste.
As consumers, we’re trained to respond to terms like “fresh” and “organic.” Of course we want our fish to be both of these things. But before you factor these labels into your buying decision, you should know that there are no USDA or other institutional definitions of these terms when it comes to salmon.
Essentially, they’re marketing terms. That doesn’t mean you should avoid fish that carry these labels, it just means that you shouldn’t let them influence your decision.
Flash-Frozen and Sushi-Grade Salmon
These labels essentially mean the same thing. Sushi-grade salmon is flash frozen on the fishing boat. This kills parasites and makes the flesh safe to eat raw. Flash-freezing is an effective means of preserving freshness, so it’s always a good thing to look for at the fish counter.
Color-Added
Wild salmon gets its distinctive red coloring from the sea plants and algae that make up its natural diet. Farmed fish tend to eat commercial fish food, which definitely does not make the flesh red.
Some farms respond by adding a red pigment to the feed, which is transferred to the flesh of the animal. That’s what “color added” means. It’s better than spray paint, at least.
When we were kids, a day at the beach always began with the same humiliating ritual.
Our mom would pour herself a fistful of sticky sunscreen and vigorously slather it all over our bodies. Not even our faces were spared. When the kids were good and gooey, mom repeated the process on herself.
We were all smeared from the same massive bottle, some generic brand with an awful odor.
We get it. Our mom was just trying to protect us from the hazards of sunlight, which are very real. The National Cancer Institute warns that “exposure to UV radiation causes early aging of the skin and skin damage that can lead to skin cancer.” Of course parents want to protect their children.
According to dermatologist Doris “No Relation” Day, who recently spoke to Reader’s Digest, dear old Mom might have been subjecting us to a whole new set of risks when she shared her sunscreen—especially when it came to our baby siblings.
“Babies need to have physical protection such as protective hats and clothing,” Day said. “They have a lower body surface-to-volume ratio, so anything that’s applied topically has a greater chance of penetrating and impacting them systematically.”
That’s why pediatric dermatologist Patricia Treadwell recommends avoiding chemical sunscreens like the ones many adults use.
To clarify, there are two general types of sunscreen on the market these days: chemical and physical.
Chemical sunscreens absorb into your skin like a fine lotion, so they must be applied 20 or 30 minutes before exposure. These substances contain chemicals like avobenzone or oxybenzone, which absorb UV radiation before it can damage the skin.
Physical sunscreens, on the other hand, simply deflect the sun’s rays with zinc oxide or titanium oxide (or both). More properly known as sunblock, these pastes coat the skin with a thick white layer of schumtz. It’s not beautiful, and some people even find it uncomfortable, leading to the popularity of chemical-based sunscreens.
Many doctors say that you should never use chemical sunscreens on your children.
If you prefer these residue-free lotions, that’s probably fine. Just make sure you only use zinc or titanium sunblock on your kids.
“The chemically based screens are absorbed into the skin in order to protect the skin from UV rays,” plastic surgeon Norman Rowe told Reader’s Digest. “These chemicals can be harmful in high doses to infants and children.”
Considering that the higher the sun protection factor (SPF) rating of chemical sunscreen, the higher the dosage, it makes sense that sunblocks are better for growing children.
“Zinc oxide blocks are generally the best, as they are not absorbed by the skin, making it one of the safest sunscreens for kids,” Rowe said.
Day agrees.
Infants shouldn’t be in the sun very much until they’re at least six months old, she said.
“Once they reach about six months it’s considered safe to use a physical protection sunscreen like those containing zinc or titanium, and always choose SPF 30 or higher,” she said.
Come to think of it, our dear old mom was probably using a zinc oxide sunblock on those visits to the beach so long ago. We’re sorry we doubted you, Mom!
In Greek mythology, the goddess Athena emerged from the head of her father, Zeus. She was fully grown and clad in armor. We’re surprised that one Florida family didn’t consider Athena as a name for their new baby daughter.
“It looked like they pulled a toddler out of my belly,” proud mom Chrissy Corbitt toldABC News after the birth. “She’s so big.”
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Chrissy and her husband, Larry Corbitt, live in Keystone Heights, Florida, with their four kids. As of May 15, 2017, make that five kids—and what a kid this latest turned out to be!
Baby Carleigh (not Athena, alas) was born at Orange Park Medical Center, and at first, Chrissy couldn’t understand why all the doctors and nurses were so excited.
Christine Corbitt via ABC News
“When the doctor was pulling her out of me I just started hearing them all laughing and excited in the operating room,” Chrissy said. “They were throwing out numbers and when they showed her to me and said ‘13.5,’ I couldn’t believe it.”
That number—13.5—refers to the infant’s incredible weight.
The average weight for an infant with Carleigh’s background is just 7.7 pounds. Only 5 percent of newborns end up outside of the “normal” range, which is between 5.5 and 11 pounds.
A 13.5 pound baby is nearly unheard of. Still, the Corbitts are truly enjoying their big bundle of joy. They’re not alone.
Christine Corbitt via ABC News
Once Chrissy had recovered from her C-section, the family brought baby Carleigh to Sweet Smiles Photography Studio. There, photographer Debbye Benson immortalized the infant with adorable pictures that quickly blazed a path through social media.
“I’m so happy I was able to meet and hold this mini celebrity,” read one social media post from Sweet Smiles. “She was such a perfect model during our session—so gorgeous and squishy!”
Despite their newfound fame, the Corbitts know that it’s not going to be easy to raise this little goddess.
She isn’t easy on the back. Also, as the Corbitts discovered on day one, finding baby clothes has been a challenge.
“She’s like a 6-month-old baby,” Larry told ABC News. “We even contacted Pampers and Huggies to help us out because everything we got to prepare is just out the door. None of it fits. She’s in size 3 diapers. The clothes she had on yesterday was a 9-month outfit.”
Then the proud father said something simple and profound that sums up the miracle of this newborn. “She’s huge,” he said.
Meanwhile, we can all enjoy the pictures of this cuddly cutie.
“She’s just filled with rolls,” Chrissy said. “She’s just a big squishy baby. She’s so adorable.” The family is getting used to baby Carleigh’s fame, although they’re a bit surprised by it.
“I had no idea she was going to be so popular,” the beaming mom said. “It’s been a great experience and I can’t wait to look back on this and share it with her to show her she became a celebrity overnight.” That’s just one more thing that Carleigh has in common with the mythical Athena.
Parenting can be really hard sometimes, especially when your baby won’t sleep for longer than 15 minutes. This is because the baby has to adapt to its new sleeping conditions out of the womb before it will feel comfortable sleeping in a crib, meaning lots of sleepless nights for the baby and for you parents.
Swaddling a baby has been the typical solution to this problem. Swaddles mimic the womb-like protection that a baby is used to by wrapping the baby tightly so that they have limited movement, as they did in the womb.
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However, there’s a problem with swaddles: Babies don’t like being constrained. They like to be able to move while still having that perimeter of space like they did in the womb. This leads to the baby breaking out of the swaddle, waking themselves up, and possibly scratching their face, which is understandable. Would you like to sleep with your arms and legs strapped to your body?
Sleeping Baby’s Zipadee-Zip is the new solution.
“The star-shaped pointed sleeves and starfish design” provides the safe, enclosed environment that the womb—or a traditional swaddle—gives while still allowing the baby to move around freely and comfortably.
It’s the perfect wearable blanket and stimulates a more sound sleep compared to that of a swaddle because of its slight resistance in the wing-span. It also looks so cute on your baby, so what more could you ask for?
Why is this necessary?
Babies like to have boundaries because of the “Moro” reflex. Because of this reflex, babies feel like they’re falling when they have too much space around them, like when you dream you’re falling and jolt awake. They can’t feel the edges of their space like they did in the womb, and it startles them, leading to frequent sleep interruptions.
This reflex is triggered when the baby stretches its arms and feels the wide open space, leading to endless cries and causing a sleepless night for all parties involved.
The Zipadee-Zip lets the baby roll and move their arms and legs safely. It aids in the “womb to swaddle” transition as well as in many other uses, so basically it’s a lifesaver for you tired moms.
Still not convinced?
Besides creating the enclosed sensation of the womb and allowing a full range of movement, the garment has many other beneficial uses for parents and babies.
The Zipadee-Zip keeps the baby’s hands warm through the night, and it teaches the baby to self-soothe to fall back sleep. This helps the baby know it doesn’t need to be held to fall back asleep, giving you parents more peace of mind when putting your baby down.
It’s also a time-saver in many ways. The simple zipper is way easier than taking the time to swaddle a baby. The Zipadee-Zip can also be easily removed when it’s time for a diaper change, and it’s a much easier alternative to pajamas when traveling. It also keeps your baby safe from germs that could get on the baby’s hands, meaning less sick babies!
Even better, the use doesn’t have to stop when the baby grows into a toddler. The Zipadee-Zip carries multiple sizes, so you’re covered from 3-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-24 months, and above.
Of course, that’s not all; its design can even help keep older babies from climbing out of their crib. It can also always be used as a snug blanket or as socks and mittens on a cold day for your babies. Seriously—what can’t this product do?
With all of these uses, you’d think the functionality means sacrificing the fashion. But with over 10 different patterns, you can choose a cute design for your baby’s new best friend. The designs are categorized as “boy,” “girl,” and “neutral.” Pictured below are a few of or our favorite designs; we can’t decide which one we like the most!
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Where did the idea come from?
Parents Stephanie and Brett Parker were having a hard time getting their daughter to sleep through the night, like most parents with young kids. She would wake up every 15 minutes because she was uncomfortable in her new open environment, causing a nightmare for the new parents.
Desperate and exhausted, Stephanie broke out her sewing machine and created the first ever Zipadee-Zip. Their daughter slept for a shocking 12 hours straight the first time she wore the Zipadee-Zip, meaning Stephanie and Brett also slept for 12 hours straight.
The Texas couple realized they could help other parents and kids actually get some sleep if they shared the genius idea, so they launched their online business, Sleeping Baby.
How has the business grown?
Stephanie and Brett utilized the ever-growing online community of moms to sell their product initially. They saw their business growing every day, and they knew they needed more support if they wanted to keep that growth flourishing, financially and professionally.
The Parkers went on the reality show Shark Tank, which allows entrepreneurs to present a business deal to five “shark” investors, who can choose to invest.
The Parkers explained how their business has grown and the amazing community they’ve created between moms, but they wanted the advice and investment of a shark to continue to grow their at-home business. They received three offers from the Sharks and ultimately decided to take Daymond John’s offer.
John has experience in the retail industry and knew he could grow the Sleeping Baby business while maintaining the personal connection between moms that the Parkers cherished.
Sleeping Baby
During negotiations after the show, however, the Parkers and John came to some unavoidable disagreements. They backed away from the deal, grateful for the mentorship of John, and have since grown their business fully on their own (heck yeah strong parents). Now, they’ve grown to have more lines, more sizes, and more styles than ever!
Zipadee-Zip’s Impact
Sleeping Baby’s motto is “Inspiring Dreams One Night at a Time.” They want to provide a night of sleep to parents and babies across the world with the incomparable Zipadee-Zip while spreading inspiration to work on your dreams—like Stephanie’s dream of being able to afford to be a stay-at-home mom.
The Zipadee-Zip will provide the ultimate happy and healthy transition for your baby, and you’ll never have to worry about getting a full night’s sleep again. You’re also buying from an awesome, genuine family, who care about others. What else could you ask for?
If you still don’t believe us, there are tons of testimonials from moms who have succesfully used a Zippadee-Zip to make their baby get a better sleep. Here are some from Sleeping Baby, but there are also tons of videos showing how they used the product to make a daily routine easier.
Sleeping Baby
The product and the company have been featured on Good Morning America, Forbes magazine, Parents, and Entrepreneur. With all of the real moms’ support, offers from most of the Sharks, features on a multitude of blogs and sites, and the positivity in the parent community, we think buying this product is a must.
Simplicity is key, especially now. In the post-’90s world of excess, we’re all aiming for that minimalist aesthetic, but it can be hard to achieve. As pop-punk queen Avril Lavigne once sang, “Why’d you have to go and make things so complicated?” Chances are Ms. Lavigne was singing about tortuous teen relationships, but this statement also directly applies to skincare.
The last thing you need is beauty regimen with an ingredients list miles-long with no end in sight. Plus, how can you trust any ingredient enough to put it on your face if you can’t even pronounce it?
Thankfully, there is a solution. Lark Skin Co. is a skincare company based in St. Louis, Missouri. Lisa Dolan founded the company based on the skincare needs that she, herself, had. When she was preparing to be a new mom, she scoured beauty stores for a regimen that was simple and natural. Plus, she wanted multifunctional products that used ingredients she could pronounce.
Now, four years later, Lisa works to share products from Lark Skin Co. that fulfill those very needs.
Minimalism is Key
Empty your shelves of exorbitantly priced products that satisfy only one need and make use of a minimalist way of life. Not only is having a million products splashed across your counter an eyesore, it also takes a ridiculous amount of time to complete your skincare routine when you have approximately fourteen different cremes and serums that all serve one purpose each.
Worry not—Lark Skin Co. makes a product specifically for the minimalist in you. The Beauty Balm is multifunctional in the sense that you can use it as a creamy cleanser, makeup remover, moisturizer, hair conditioner, or body balm.
That’s not even the best part! If you’re in a pinch and your hair or skin resembles the Sahara Desert, you can apply the balm to the ends of your hair as a conditioning treatment, or you can apply it to your skin as a deep penetrating moisturizer. This trick is perfect for long flights!
Maintaining Luscious Locks
Is there anything better than running your fingers through silky hair? The answer is no. No there is not.
Lark Skin Co. made their Hair Potion—sans-witchcraft!—which is designed to actually improve the texture and shine of your hair.
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Not to mention that this potion protects your hair from heat styling. No more using a copious amount of different products to achieve the desired effect that this product has. Talk about a triple whammy!
Take a Bath; You Deserve it
Life is rough, and you deserve to treat yourself.
There is no better way to release your stress than by taking a bath. What’s more, with the New Moon Ritual Salts you can actually start anew during your soak.
By taking a bath with the luxurious New Moon Ritual Salts, which are infused with lavender and sage, you get the opportunity to set your intentions for the month while detoxing.
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Not to mention, Lark has included Himalayan salts as one of the ingredients, which is the ultimate aid in detoxification. Whether you’re detoxing because of the New Moon or because you simply have a case of the Mondays, this is the perfect bath salt for you.
Treat Your Skin to Some Rest and Relaxation
Lark Skin Co. makes a Red Clay and Aloe Clay Mask and it’s exactly what you’ve been missing your entire life. The clay and aloe combine and work together to restore moisture to your skin while reducing any inflammation you may have. While the mask is geared toward those with sensitive and aging skin, anyone can use it. It’s never too young to be proactive about aging!
You work hard—your skin shouldn’t. Give your beautiful face the chance it deserves to be vibrant and hydrated. Take time for yourself throughout the week to give your skin some attention, rest, and relaxation.
Be Good to Yourself
Life is full of complications and compromises, but of all the things you should be compromising on, skincare is not one of them.
Your skin is only as vibrant as the time you put into it. Simplicity is key in all areas of your life, skincare included. Find a routine that checks all of your boxes while using the fewest number of products. If you’re looking to make your life easier, Lark Skin Co. is the brand for you. Give it a try; your skin is waiting!
When T.S. Eliot wrote that “April is the cruellest month,” he must have been talking about allergies.
Just as the sun finally peeks out to warm our chilled bones, the air fills with pollen, dust, and a devil’s brew of allergens designed to make those of us who suffer from seasonal allergies want to go back to bed for a few months.
You can stuff pills down your gullet. You can walk around in a gas mask. But why do that when you can make a few simple changes to your diet for an allergy-free season? This summer, eat these foods to enjoy the sunshine without choking and dripping and being generally miserable.
1. Local Honey
Angels are real, and they are called bees. Not only do our buzzing buddies pollinate our crops for us, free of charge, they manufacture the world’s finest defense against seasonal allergies (maybe—more on that later).
The reasoning is pretty tidy. Local honey is made from local pollen. Local pollen is a serious allergen. Therefore, if you get your system used to the stuff by sampling bits of local honey early in the season, you won’t get all scratchy-voiced and stuffed up.
But does it really work? Maybe, says a doctor named Lawrence Rosen, who consulted with WebMD about foods that treat allergies.
“If you take small doses of honey early in the season, you may develop a tolerance toward pollen in your area,” Rosen said. The key word here is “may.” The jury’s still out, but it’s worth a try. Besides, honey is delicious.
2. Pineapples
Pineapples aren’t just kitschy cups for tropical beverages anymore. The fruit might also help keep your nasal passages clear during allergy season.
The fruit contains this stuff called bromelain, which is an enzyme that can sooth irritation caused by allergies. It might even help with asthma, Rosen told WebMD. Just don’t try to eat the spiny skin. They may be called “pineapples,” but you can’t bite into them like a non-pine apple.
3. Salmon and Tuna
You might recognize these fishes from the semi-recent national obsession with Omega-3 fatty acids. Well, the “good” fats found in tuna, salmon, and certain other ocean residents is also good for toning down the effects of allergies.
It’s all about reducing inflammation, which Omega-3s do quite nicely, thank you.
4. Broccoli (Sorry)
Your mom was right. You should eat your broccoli. That goes double if you suffer from seasonal allergies. Broccoli contains a flavenoid called quercetin that can help to reduce histamine levels.
Histamines are the shock troops of the allergic response. They’re natural chemicals that your body releases when it senses allergens sneaking into your system. They make your eyes water, your nose run, and your skin itch, which is basically the trifecta of seasonal allergies.
5. Hot Peppers
If you thought broccoli was loaded with the histamine-busting flavenoid quercetin, you’ve got to try ancho peppers. These dried poblanos contain like 9 times the amount of quercetin that broccoli can boast. Jalapenos and serrano peppers are also rich in quercetin, so get that hot sauce brewing!
If it weren’t for electricity, life as we know it in the United States would grind to a halt. But how much do you know about where all the electricity you’re using comes from? In rough numbers, 67 percent of our electricity comes from fossil fuels: coal (33 percent), natural gas (33 percent), and oil (1 percent). The problem with using fossil fuels to produce electricity is that they generate a huge amount of pollution.
Let me give you a quick example. Your neighborhood utility company has to burn about 700 pounds of coal to keep a single 100-watt light bulb lit for a year. (Okay, I know you don’t keep your lightbulbs lit all year without turning them off, but you get the point, right?) Besides keeping the light on, burning that 700 pounds of coal produces five pounds of sulfur dioxide (which causes acid rain) and another five pounds of nitrogen dioxide (which causes smog), according to the non-partisan website howstuffworks. But the biggest problem is the more than 1,800 pounds of carbon dioxide, which is the major culprit behind global warming.
Wait, what? When I first looked at these numbers I thought there was a misprint. How could burning 700 pounds of something generate 1,800 pounds of waste? Well, it’s all about the chemistry. Each molecule of carbon from the burned coal combines with two molecules of oxygen that are already in the air. The result is carbon dioxide—CO2—which weighs something.
Anyway, back to our light bulb. Powering it by burning natural gas would generate far, far less pollution. But there are other problems associated with natural gas production. Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has released huge reserves of natural gas, but many opponents of the practice say that it’s causing earthquakes and polluting groundwater supplies.
Because of the nasty environmental fallout from fossil-fuel–produced electricity, scientists and entrepreneurs have been frantically experimenting with low-polluting, renewable alternatives, including hydropower, hydrogen fuel cells, wind, geothermal, and solar. Of these, solar is the only one that’s being marketed directly to consumers.
Should you take advantage of one of those enticing offers to install solar panels on your house? The answer is a resounding “maybe.” Let’s take a quick look at some of the pros and cons of solar energy.
The Pros
It’s everywhere and we aren’t going to run out any time soon. There are very few places on the planet that never see the light of day. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, “more energy from the sun strikes the earth’s surface in one hour than all the energy consumed on the planet in a year.” Best of all, since the sun will be around for another few billion years, we can use as much solar energy as we want without stressing about depriving our grandchildren.
It’s quiet. Most other methods of producing electricity are pretty noisy. Solar power is nearly silent. And because there are very few moving parts in solar panels, they’re pretty cheap to maintain.
It can save you money. Solar panels may allow you to produce your own electricity more cheaply than your utility company can. And if you generate more than you use, many municipal utilities are required to purchase the surplus from you.
The technology is getting better all the time. That means more efficiency and lower costs.
The Cons
It’s still expensive. Prices for solar panels are a fraction of what they were 10 or 15 years ago, but if it weren’t for rebates, tax credits, and other government incentives, they would still be out of reach for a lot of people. Unfortunately, many of those incentives are being discontinued, thereby making solar more expensive. In addition, some of the minerals and other materials used to manufacture the panels are extremely rare, and since future demand would exhaust world supplies, prices will surely increase.
It’s intermittent and hard to store. On overcast days, you’re not going to get much from your solar system. And the technology to efficiently and economically store any extra power you capture when the sun is up is still in development.
It takes up a lot of space. You need a lot of real estate to produce power. Putting panels on the roof doesn’t take much usable space, but we need a lot more acreage than we have on roofs.
There is still some environmental impact. Capturing solar radiation doesn’t produce much pollution, but the process of manufacturing the actual panels does.
Just to be clear, we think that pregnancy is a beautiful process.
A woman creates life with her body. That’s incredibly cool and important.
Still, it’s also really, really weird. In order to provide a fetus with everything it needs to grow, the mother’s body goes through some bizarre changes.
Unfortunately, many women (and most men) don’t learn about the strangest aspects of childbearing until they’re actually experiencing a pregnancy.
For instance…
1. The mother’s uterus can grow to 500 times its original size.
No, there isn’t an extra zero (or two) on the end of that number.
Think about blowing up a balloon and that’s basically what your uterus does during pregnancy.
According to the American Pregnancy Association (APA), the uterus grows exponentially during pregnancy, starting at the size of an orange and growing to the size of a watermelon.
“Think about blowing up a balloon and that’s basically what your uterus does during pregnancy,” the website casually states, as if that’s anything close to a comforting thought.
Certified nurse midwife Gigi Moore, CNM, who cares for pregnant women with the St. Joseph Medical Group in Maryland, explains the phenomenon without resorting to such a colorful metaphor.
“The uterus expands to accommodate stretching the abdominal muscles,” Moore tells HealthyWay. “The expanding uterus contributes to the low back pain that starts early on in pregnancy and can continue to the delivery.”
That’s the bad news. The good news—if there is any good news—is that the uterus “deflates” back to its normal size within about six weeks after the pregnancy concludes.
2. That growth can sometimes have some odd effects on the surrounding tissues.
Okay, so while your uterus is expanding “like a balloon,” what about, like, the surrounding muscles? What about, you know, your skin?
My pregnant belly defied gravity, and as a result my abs split wide open.
Well, we’re all familiar with stretch marks. According to the APA, stretch marks occur when the body expands too quickly for the skin to adjust. Tissues within the skin tear, scar tissue forms, and we’re left with streaks along our abdomens.
Pregnant women can limit the chance of stretch marks by keeping skin as hydrated and elastic as possible. The APA recommends eating foods rich in vitamins E, C, B2, and B3 to maintain strong production of collagen, which can keep your skin supple. You can also drink lots of water and use moisturizers on your belly frequently. iStock
So that’s the skin. Unfortunately, your abdominal muscles are also at risk. A little more than 30 percent of pregnant women showed a condition called diastasis recti abdominis—in which your abs actually split slightly apart, creating a persistent pooch—a year after giving birth. At six months postpartum, the prevalence rate was just over 45 percent. This is not a rare condition. Crystal Henry, writer and mom of two, could tell you all about it.
“I have a short torso, so rather than growing up into my esophagus, my babies grew straight out,” Henry tells HealthyWay. “My pregnant belly defied gravity, and as a result my abs split wide open. I did find an exercise that helped repair the split just a bit. But I still have a decent gap between my ab muscles.”
Like Henry suggests, there are exercises that can help recover from diastasis recti. And it’s not usually a serious medical condition, though it can lead to pain in the lower back and make it tougher to lift heavy objects. As with everything in pregnancy, if you’re concerned, talk to your physician to get help.
3. A woman’s bones can become much more brittle during pregnancy.
Notice that we said “can,” not “will.”
Osteoporosis (literally “pores in the bones”) can become an issue during pregnancy if a woman doesn’t increase her calcium intake.
The baby needs plenty of calcium to form a skeleton, and it’s greedy—it’ll suck up all of the calcium it needs from Mom. This can result in bone density loss, which can lead to serious health issues.
There’s good news, though. The mother’s body prepares for this threat, and elevated levels of estrogen and progesterone help to protect bone density. There’s some evidence that women who undergo multiple pregnancies have stronger bones than women who’ve never been pregnant.
That said, women should be sure to get enough calcium both during and immediately after a pregnancy. (Breastfeeding can also drain out some of that much-needed calcium, since milk is, you know, loaded with the stuff.)
4. Pregnancy might increase a woman’s risk of developing certain autoimmune disorders.
For decades, some scientists have hypothesized that mothers are more at risk for autoimmune disorders like lupus and multiple sclerosis. A 2011 study finally provided some evidence. Dutch researchers analyzed the records of more than 1 million women to try to find correlations. iStock
As NBCreported: “The researchers found that in the first year after conventional deliveries or cesarean sections, women had a 15 or 30 percent greater risk, respectively, of contracting such disorders.”
Now, correlation doesn’t equal causation, but researchers have hypothesized that mothers’ bodies are “activated” to a state of high functionality during pregnancy. When the pregnancy is over, the immune system may turn on the body, possibly due to fetal cells that stick around after childbirth.
The researchers now plan to study groups of women over longer spans of time to see if the body eventually corrects for this hyperactivity. As the research currently stands, however, having a baby seems to increase a woman’s risk.
4. A woman’s feet can grow during pregnancy, and in some cases, they don’t shrink after childbirth.
Yes, if you’ve ever felt self-conscious about the size of your feet, ladies, pregnancy isn’t going to do you any favors. You’re not going to move up to clown shoes, exactly, but you may have to throw out your old shoe collection. iStock
There are a few reasons for this, but mainly, your body needs to expand the pelvic joints in order to prepare for the birth of the child. When you’ve got wider hips, you need longer feet to stay balanced. Many new mothers gain an entire shoe size, and their feet don’t necessarily shrink when the pregnancy’s over. iStock
Of course, you can diminish this effect somewhat by stretching regularly, finding supportive shoes, and avoiding excessive weight gain, but absolutely everything in that previous sentence is way harder when you’re pregnant.
5. Some new mothers will lactate automatically when they hear a baby cry.
In fact, this strange phenomenon can start before the baby’s born, occasionally leading to embarrassing moments for the mother-to-be.
But why does this happen? For starters, women’s brains react to crying babies in a very unusual way. The sound causes a release of oxytocin (more on this magical little chemical later), which prompts lactation.
As for how a woman recognizes the cry of a baby, it’s partially cognitive recognition (meaning that she thinks about the sound) and part evolution. Babies usually cry in the 1,000–5,000 Hz range, and few adult voices come anywhere close to that range. iStock
It’s interesting to note that cat meows often hit the exact same frequencies, and some scientists believe that isn’t an accident. Cats might have learned to meow specifically to make demands of their human caretakers. If you’re pregnant, keep this in mind the next time you’re around a cat—especially if you find your body, ahem, responding in an unusual way.
6. Let’s talk about meconium.
Don’t do a Google image search for “meconium,” by the way. No, trust us; don’t even do a normal Google search. Unless you’re a parent, you won’t be prepared for what you see. iStock
Meconium, to put it bluntly, is a baby’s first poop. Unlike other poops, it’s not really made up of food, per se. It’s made up of epithelial cells, mucus, bile, water, and amniotic fluid (which is mostly pee, and we’ll explain that later in the list). It’s mostly sterile, as the baby hasn’t picked up many species of bacteria by this point, except for the bacteria he or she picked up during childbirth.
Babies start producing meconium while still in the womb. Ordinarily they won’t expel it until after birth, but in some cases, it comes out early, leading to something called “terminal meconium.” That sounds like an awesome theme park ride, but it’s significantly less enchanting.
7. There’s only one scientifically proven, non-chemical method of bringing on labor.
Well, okay; technically, anything that brings on labor is stimulating a chemical reaction in the mother’s body. Pregnancy is, after all, largely a chemical process (until it becomes, ahem, mechanical).
However, there is only one widely accepted and tested method that doesn’t require doctors to induce labor with administered drugs. That method? Nipple stimulation. iStock
The stimulation releases oxytocin, commonly known as a “happiness chemical.” Oxytocin can induce labor in many circumstances. In fact, doctors often use a synthetic drug called Pitocin when inducing, and Pitocin mimics the effect of oxytocin. There’s even some evidence that this natural inducement could reduce the need for cesarean births.
We want to be careful to note that this isn’t an option for every pregnant woman. Certain medical conditions can make this type of artificial inducement dangerous, so if you’re considering it, contact your physician first.
8. The baby pees in the womb, then drinks the pee. Over and over again.
In fact, that adorable little child drinks about a liter of urine per day. That’s enough to put Bear Grylls to shame.
Amniotic fluid is mostly pee, in fact. There’s rarely any poop, though, since the mother only sends nutrients on to the baby. iStock
That’s not to say that babies can’t taste; some research indicates that a mother’s food choices during pregnancy can influence the child’s taste palate later in life. Vanilla and garlic, for instance, pass into the amniotic fluid before the baby drinks them. Yes, the baby simply filters all of those flavors through pee.
So just remember, folks: No matter how important you are, how widely respected you are, or how much you’ve done with your life, you spend several months of your existence drinking your own pee. Keep that in mind—and be sure to call your mom and thank her when you get a chance.
