Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Crazy Or Just Nuts?

One of the top news stories this morning is nuts! For a number of reasons......The new news is that pregnant women can and should eat nuts again. I didn't even know that nuts had been blacklisted.

Nuts are fantastic! They are an invaluable source of iron, calcium, and all the minerals you and your baby need. And they are concentrated, meaning that you do not need to eat volumes, you can consume them in small or medium size snack portions, making them an excellent choice when even a small meal  feels difficult to digest.

Apparently nuts were declared fooda non grata when the AMA started studies to explain the spike in peanut and tree nut allergies in children. And the first place to which they pointed their studies was pregnant mothers who consumed nuts during pregnancy. Obviously, these were women who themselves were non-allergic. The new study actually proves just the opposite. That non-allergic women who consumed nuts during pregnancy had children who were less likely to develop peanut and tree nut allergies.

Here are links to articles:
CNN:Study: Eating nuts during pregnancy may reduce baby's allergy risk
CBS: Eating nuts during pregnancy may lower chid's chance of peanut allergy
JAMA: The Study

So between studies, the first with unreliable and scant information, and this new improved more trustworthy study, the warning against nut consumption and a semi-official ban on nuts was promoted by doctors and perpetuated along the pregnant grapevine. So sad. And nuts!

Firstly, How often does the AMA reverse itself? Often. Secondly, these studies take decades to amass clinical evidence, while negative publicity goes out in a second, and the AMA releases hypotheses and the fact that they are conducting a study as though the study has proved itself.....and they do this as  news releases. Thirdly, doctors either read or have heard about these unreliable studies and "authoritarianly" spread the advice. And Fourthly, pregnant women who are one of the most vulnerable targets of studies, either as the cause of something or the ultimate preventers of something are held hostage to their desires to do the best for their baby....to the detriment of actual true nutrition.

If you are concerned about any food item. ....if your doctor has said this or that......If another pregnant woman has said, "Well, I heard............."
My advice: Do your own research and make your own self-educated decisions. There is a plethora of resources available to you. You can inform yourself with information, with personal experience, and with instinct. You can synthesize all three and you can have your own path. You also can be respectful of your fellow pregini and not spread heresay as fact, but encourage her own self education and even team up to collect information together.

Disclaimer: Please do not think that I am anti-doctor, or do not trust doctors. Quite the contrary, I say, "Make sure you have a doctor that you can trust, that you like, and that you feel postive about."

Come to our Meet-Up, Thursday, January 9th. The subject will be: "Iron: Preventing Anemia During Pregnancy". Almonds are high on the list!
email me, Jody at brooklynheightsprenatal@gmail.com to register

Friday, December 20, 2013

Lost and Found: One Pregini Sonogram

You and your baby will love Prenatal Yoga! 
No previous yoga experience necessary.
Thursday evenings 5:45-6:55 pm
Saturday early afternoons 12:40-1:50 pm
AREA Yoga Brooklyn Heights  144 Montague St, Brooklyn, NY 11201.  Phone number is 718-221-9642.
Sunday afternoons 2:00-3:30 pm
AREA Yoga Carroll Gardens  389 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231.  Phone number is 718-797-3699.
First timers.....arrive early to register

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful......But Your Womb Is So Delightful.......

This pic is from the blog of Emily Malone, mother and chef. Her blog is called "Daily Garnish"(link). She posts of family life, health tips and RECIPES. Her current pix of her baby are adorable. Her recipes look scumptous! Would you like to start your own blog? I know how and can teach you in one lesson!
Write me at brooklynheightsprenatal@gmail.com

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Happy Holidays!


The above confetti is the protein Hemoglobin. Happy New Year! May your blood supply be rich in Iron (in green). Attend the Meet-Up January 9th to learn more about Iron, Nutrition and preventing Anemia. Email Jody at brooklynheightsprenatal@gmail.com

Friday, December 13, 2013

The Most Popular Baby Shower Gift


Every morning I awake to an email from my favorite Listserve Brooklyn Heights Parents, a Yahoo Group (link to join). A funny For Sale posting from a Brooklyn mom-to-be caught my eye: FS:Snotsucker.  As the post went on to say she had already purchased one and received four at her baby shower. I asked to purchase two. She visited me at my office at Area Yoga, on Montague St, so we could become acquainted. I was treated to a delightfully enchanting ninth month pregini (my word for pregnant lady) who filled out the story.
"I opened opened one after the other. It was like invasion of The Snotsuckers!!!"
Click pic for site

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Prenatal Massage

My last two pregnant clients said the same thing at the end of their massages.
"If I knew this was going to be so wonderful I would have done it sooner."
Don't wait! Book your appointment now.
Phone me, Jody Caravaglia, New York State Licensed Massage Therapist, Prenatal Massage Certified.
718-624-5489
All massages are done at Area Yoga 144 Montague St
and include the gift of a free Prenatal Yoga Class
718-221-9642
Gift Certificates are available. So put us on your holiday wish list. Makes an excellent baby shower gift as well.