Did you know that your connection to your child is much deeper than a physical heredity of the DNA? The connection between you and your baby is physical, emotional and spiritual already before birth and into the first few years of life. You must have noticed that when you are stressed, anxious, angry or depressed, your baby does not sleep as well and often cries for no apparent reason. That is because your mood, emotions and thoughts affect your baby or your young child.

Once you know, this it helps to look at what is going on with you that you may not be consciously aware of when your child is irritable or moody for no good reason. Taking the time to work through your own angst will often bring immediate relief to your child. Try it and see for yourself how well and quickly it works!

Dr. Ifeoma Ikenze, MD

Whether you are in your reproductive phase, breastfeeding, or menopausal you need calcium for your bones. While there are all kinds of Calcium supplements on the market, that claim to be easily absorbable, the reality is that most commercial calcium supplements do not readily get assimilated or easily turned into bone. For this reason the form of calcium best suited for assimilation and bone synthesis is, of course, bone.

Don’t throw all those chicken, beef or lamb bones left after a meal. Save them in the freezer until you have enough to make a pot of bone broth. You can also save all your vegetable ends, especially mushroom stems. Mushroom stems add a lot of flavor to the broth. Put the bones in a pot with enough water to cover them. Add your vegetable ends and some onion, salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil and simmer on the lowest setting for at least two hours or more until you have a rich golden brown broth. Pass the broth through a fat separator to remove all the fat. Now you have a liquid that contains pure protein, no fat, and is very high in calcium. You can store it in small containers in the freezer and use it for all your cooking instead of water. Voila!

Q. Since I have been breastfeeding, I find that I am perspiring a lot more than I ever used to. Especially at night, and it’s embarrassing. Is there anything I can do for it?

A. Increased perspiration is normal while breastfeeding because of the increased hormones. Dressing comfortably with layers that you can easily shed helps. Especially when you have to look and be confident in the workplace. The homeopathic remedy, Sepia is very helpful for reducing perspiration due to hormonal shifts. You can find Sepia 30C at most health food stores. Take 3 pills and let them dissolve under your tongue once a day until you see a consistent improvement and then stop. After that you can take the remedy periodically as needed. In general, homeopathic remedies are taken under the tongue with no food or drink for about 15 minutes before and after the pills.

1. Be prepared! Some moms have a difficult time getting into the swing of breastfeeding. Being prepared will help you meet your breastfeeding goals, whether it's for 1 month, a year, or beyond!
2. Find a comfortable place to nurse. Having a comfy gliding chair and a nursing pillow can help alleviate the strain on your back and arms.
3. Have resources in place in case you need help. If you used a doula, arrange a follow up visit for nursing support. Or make an appointment with a lactation consultant to get one-on-one help with any challenges.
4. Drink enough fluids! Drinking 2 bottles of Mamatini each day will help keep you hydrated and support your body's ability to produce milk. Drink plenty of plain water as well whenever you feel thirsty.
5. Avoid alcohol and caffeine. A glass of wine once in a while is fine, but overindulgence in either can interfere with your sleep patterns ability to nurse and can be harmful to your baby since these substances will be present in the breastmilk.
6. Maintain a healthy diet. Extreme calorie reduction can interfere with your body's ability to produce milk. A healthy diet and the herbs and micronutrients in Mamatini will stoke your metabolism naturally and allow you to lose weight while still producing sufficient milk for your baby.
7. Be prepared for the pump! If you know you need to return to work before you plan to wean your baby, practice pumping milk in the weeks before you need to return. Having a healthy supply of breastmilk will help you cope with getting used to pumping at the office and any supply issues the stress of returning to work might induce.
8. Nip sore nipples in the bud! Sore nipples can be a common complaint among new moms. Working with a certified lactation consultant from the start to help perfect your technique and baby's latch can help you avoid and tenderness or discomfort.
9. Enjoy this time with your baby. No matter how long you plan to breastfeed, it is one of the most unique and pleasurable bonding experiences you will have with your baby. Enjoy every minute of it!
10. Don't forget how important it is to your baby's health. A major motivator to stick with breastfeeding for the first year is to concentrate on the immeasurable health benefits your baby is getting from your milk. Keep focusing on the fact that you are giving your baby something that no one else in the world can ... milk that is custom designed by your body for your baby!

Q. Help! I am developing varicose veins since I had my twins. What can I do to make them go away or at least keep them from getting worse?

A. The most important factor is proper exercise to maintain the muscle tone in your legs and promote proper venous drainage. Regular yoga is one way to strengthen the muscle tone in your legs and improve the blood flow through your pelvis, since stagnation in the pelvis tends to be the biggest factor for varicose veins in women. In addition, you can get a homeopathic remedy, called Hammamelis Virginicus in any health food store that sells homeopathic remedies. Hammaelis Virginicus is excellent for venous congestion, as in varicose veins or hemorrhoids. You should get Hammamelis 30c and take 3 pills under your tongue 2 times a day. You may need to take it for several months to shrink your varicose veins, but you should begin to see some results after about 4 weeks of treatment. The same dosage and duration can be just as effective for hemorrhoids. And you don’t have to worry about safety for your baby, because like all homeopathic remedies, Hammamelis is safe during pregnancy and lactation.

Dr. Ifeoma Ikenze, MD

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Q. My baby seems to be teething. He is so restless, won’t sleep at night, crying more than usual, and wanting to be held or to nurse all the time. I find myself giving him a lot of Tylenol and I would rather not. Is there anything natural that can help?

A. Yes, there is help besides Tylenol. You can get a homeopathic remedy from the health food store: Chamomilia 30c in little pellets or in liquid form. You administer it by placing 3 pellets or three drops in your baby’s mouth. Chamomilia can be given up to 4 times a day as needed. It helps calm a restless baby and induce sleep. In general a single dose at night is sufficient to relieve teething pain and help your baby go to sleep. The remedy Chamomilia is much more convenient and acts much faster to relieve your baby’s discomfort than trying to get your baby to drink Chamomile tea.

Dr. Ikenze, MD