Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby: The Co-op Way

A while back, I gave birth at home to a beautiful, huge (9 lbs. 2 oz.), healthy baby boy. Through-out this experience, the Co-op was my supplier for a multitude of my needs, nutritional and otherwise.

Conception: The First Really Fun Part!
If you are planning to get pregnant, there are many tools at the Co-op that can help facilitate a joyous conception. First, start taking your prenatal vitamins now. I recommend ones that are food based for easy absorption. Several foods are known aphrodisiacs, including mango, papaya, pomegranate seeds and more. The fellas can take some yohimbe tincture and up their intake of gin-seng root. Basically, consciously making a baby can be a very dif-ferent experience from the usual intimacy you might share with your partner. Of course, the most important ingredient of all is love. The love you share with your partner manifests in your child.

Early Pregnancy: I’m Pregnant But I Feel Terrible
So, now you’re pregnant, congratulations, but what? You feel lousy? Many women get “morning” sickness day and night for the first 12 weeks or so. Favorite foods become revolting, and revolting foods remain dis-gusting. Hang in there because this nasty stage only lasts for 3 short months, then like magic, it usually disappears. Try upping your intake of protein every time you feel nauseous. I became an ex-vegetarian during my first tri-mester. The Co-op’s meat depart-ment has organic, nitrate-free, delicious meats. You don’t need a 16-ounce porterhouse steak; just a few ounces of chicken will do the trick. And, now’s the time to ditch your caffeine and sugar habits. Sugar consumption during pregnancy can lead to a number of complications, like gestational diabetes and fat babies. Also, you can now officially start drinking Pregnancy Tea sold in the tea aisle. Only one cup a day, but it can help with the nausea, too.

The Second Trimester: Pure Bliss
I loved this part of my pregnancy when my body just took over. At about month five, I was tempted to get one of those stupid t-shirts that say “BABY” with an arrow pointing to my ever-increa-sing tummy. I really focused on eating super well during this part of my pregnancy. In lieu of sugar, I made molasses treats for myself. Instead of orange juice, I drank tons of water and tea. Sweet potatoes replaced my fruit habit. All these sugars are ones that make your baby have a lot of heft, with little substance.

The Third Trimester: Can Someone Please Tie My Shoe’?
This is the time to prepare for the big birthday. Stock up for the actual event with snacks for you and your birthing companions, a few bottles of Recharge (for you), and a meal or two in the freezer specifically for this day. You won’t eat them, but your family will. We also made lots of frozen meals for ourselves for after the birth and we’ve consumed them all. You can spend the bucks and just get pre-made frozen dinners at the Co-op, or make double of all your regular favorites, freezing half, for the last three months while you’re pregnant.

Stock up on all your basic needs, like flour, rice, beans, toilet paper, etc., because you will not feel like shopping for awhile after the baby comes. And, if you are prepared, you shouldn’t have to do anything but marvel at the miracle your body and love created.

After The Birth: Riding the Postpartum Roller Coaster
Elation! Despair! Excitement! Exhaustion! When your milk comes in on day two or four is when the compost hits the rototiller, if you catch my drift. Everyone who lives with you and all your friends should be prepared for this trying time. You will be cruising along with some pretty wacky hormones racing through your body. You can be prepared for this time, too. Take time alone with your baby and without. Nap when your baby naps, get someone else to do the dishes or just leave them crusty in the sink. You shouldn’t do anything for that first week at least. Splurge or connive your way into a massage. Keep reminding yourself that your body is in a state of shock after going through some pretty major body trauma. Be gentle with yourself.

Most of all, taking time to recover is mandatory. Start drinking Mother’s Milk tea to help get your milk production up, and avoid all processed and non-organic foods. Drink tons of water, all day and night long. And, keep taking your prenatal vitamins for as long as you are breastfeeding your baby.

Settled Baby: Hungry for More than Mom
This is what our family is dealing with now. We’re starting the solid foods, and is it FUN! Even though it’s now possible to buy jarred baby food, and you should keep some on hand for emergency purposes, it is so simple to make your own baby food. If you can, spend the money and buy only organic foods for your baby. If you think about it, the amount of chemicals, fertil-izers, pesticides and herbicides that are in non-organic food may be small for an adult. But for a baby, these toxins are proportionally much greater in their little systems. Your baby will eat such small amounts of food (at first), that it’s really worth the extra money.

Finally, the Co-op provides community for your growing family. There are lots of moms, dads and informed others who can be found either shopping or working at the Co-op. Ask other parents what they’re doing for their kids. It’s a great place to meet people for socializing too. Or, if you want to start a play-group, you’ll be surprised how many responses you get if you hang a sign on the kiosk outside the store. Thanks to the diligent efforts of its caring staff, the Co-op really can help you have a fantastically healthy baby.