Passing on the love (bacteria)

With all the mamma guilt I often wondered if some of Jimmy's health issues are due to the way he entered the world. Via C-section.

It made sense to me when I heard Cyndi Omeara talk about gut health and the start up of our biome through labour. So I did some more digging. 

So a natural delivery introduces the baby to good bacteria through the vaginal canal. Breastmilk helps feed the bacteria. Although the sugar in breastmilk is not easily digested it feeds the gut bacteria.  

Thinking about this makes me again question what society is doing to ourselves as humans. I had to have a c-section after loosing a large portion of my uterus  through myomectomy the previous year. I was very lucky to fall pregnant at all, and when I did I knew I had to have a early c section to ensure I could have this baby. 

But if I'd had a drug free natural birth would he have asthma? would his immune system have been stronger to deal with his first Cystic Fibrosis infection? 

So many questions. Im not meaning to mamma guilt myself, but I'm looking at these facts as questions. It's so very interesting. 

In South American they are doing research into passing the mothers viginal fluid manually with gauze after birth to new borns who missed the good stuff via natural labour. What exciting research! Makes me wonder if it would assist other children in later infancy ;) 

Links 

http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2014/06/birth-canal-bacteria-c-section

http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4067184.htm

https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/up-for-a-chat/id584063992?mt=2&i=279720807

Healthier Alternatives for NG tubes

Healthier alternatives for nasal gastric feeding (although can be used with a peg too). 

I argued with J's pead for months on getting an NG tube. As his parents we see a child who is genetically small, who was premmie, has a high metabolism and does not stop for a single waking moment. The Rch though see a child with CF who needs weight on him for "stores" incase he gets unwell. Research also indicates a healthy bmi supports lung function. So eventually I gave in (a little threat about calling docs clearly persuaded me too!).

Now that the tube has been fitted (that was a tough bit!) it's hooked up over night to give him extra calories as he sleeps. It's pretty fool proof to use and during day naps I even manage to get done goodness in to with a green shot full of flax seed oil, coconut oil, probiotics, super greens, water kefir, bone broth and more. 

The hospital will recommend Nutrini (750 calories) or pedisure along with others. These big pharma products are full of my worse nightmare ingredients -

Water, maltodextrin, vegetable oils (canola oil, sunflower oil), sodium caseinate (from milk), whey protein concentrare (from milk) emulsifier (soy lecithin), fish oil, acidity regulator hydrogen phosphate, sodium chloride, calcium hydroxide, tri potassium citrate, choline chloride, carotenoids (contains soy) (β–carotene, lutein, lycopene), sodium L- ascorbate, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, taurine, ferrous lactate, zinc sulphate, L-carnitine, nicotinamide, DL- αtocopheryl acetate, retinyl acetate, copper gluconate, sodium selenite, cholecalciferol, manganese sulphate, D-biotin, calcium D-pantothenate, thiamin hydrochloride, chromium chloride, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, pteroylmonoglutamic acid, potassium iodide, sodium fluoride, sodium molybdate, phytomenadione, cyanocobla 

Hmmmm yummy! NOT! Not sure what you read, but for me I see GMO, additives, preservatives, refined, processed crap laced in endocrine disturbers. I am disturbed. This is to aid health? 

Anyway so back to my quest for a natural alternative.. I found a few to share the love! 

 Functional formularies seems a great product for illness feeds but not high cal / fat. However if you have a friend / family member needed additional feeds (oncology, icu etc) through a peg this stuff looks fabulous! And they will ship to Australia. 

http://functionalformularies.com/liquid-meals/

Pediasmart 

This is our choosen favourite. It tastes and looks like pedismart but it's organic and tastey to even add to milkshake. 

The first order I got from the U.S. I was ripped off by some sharleton charging $55 and took 6 weeks to ship! At the time I was desperate as the tube went in earlier than expected. 

Iherb later got it back in stock at a much nicer $13.65 a can. 

Ingredients 

Organic rice oligodextrin, organic evaporated cane syrup, organic lactose free milk protein concentrate, organic high oleic sunflower and/or safflower oil, organic soybean oil, organic coconut oil, organic vanilla, natural flavors, potassium citrate, magnesium phosphate, potassium phosphate, potassium chloride, choline bitartrate, calcium phosphate, sodium chloride, organic soy lecithin, ascorbic acid, magnesium chloride, taurine, natural vitamin E acetate, ferrous sulfate, inositol, biotin, l-carnitine, calcium pantothenate, niacinamide, vitamin A palmitate, phytonadione (vit. K1), zinc oxide, cholecalciferol (vit. D3), thiamin mononitrate (vit. B1), manganese sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vit. B6), riboflavin (vit. B2), copper sulfate, cyanocobalamin (vit. B12), potassium iodide, sodium selenate, folic acid, chromium chloride, sodium molybdate.

Contains milk, soy & coconut

Gluten Free. Suitable for lactose intolerance.

Made without corn & GMO ingredients.

Pasteurized during processing to unsure safety.

There are still a few questionable things in the list but my goodness better than nutrini energy being shipped to us in 8 cartons! 

I believe nothing 'packaged' is the answer but when you are in hospital you can't make your own and need alternatives! 

Lastly ENU

These guys looked great! But they sadly didn't ship to Australia. 

http://www.drinkenu.com/

I'm aware there is another company in the process here but not yet!

Of course you can make your own too but you must make sure it's super blended to avoid blocking the tube. 

💋 Katherine